JP5952103B2 - Method for producing jelly confectionery with pulp - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a pulp-containing jelly confection, and more particularly to a method for producing a pulp-containing jelly confectionery suitable for degassing bubbles generated in a jelly liquid by filling the pulp during production.

  Conventionally, jelly confectionery, which has been widely used as a dessert, is rich in the soft elasticity unique to gels and has a smooth touch when ingested. This jelly confectionery is manufactured by preparing a jelly liquid that is a mixture of a gelling agent such as agar or gelatin and a sol-like liquid mixed with fruit juice or sugar liquid, and then cooling and solidifying the jelly liquid. can do.

  As such jelly confectionery, so-called jelly containing pulp, which is obtained by mixing pulp such as oranges and grapes into jelly, has become particularly popular in recent years. When manufacturing such a jelly containing pulp, for example, the container is filled with jelly liquid and pulp, and a film lid is sealed in the upper opening to seal the inside. Thereafter, heat sterilization is performed as necessary, and the gelling agent solution in the jelly solution is gelled before shipment (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  By the way, when this jelly containing pulp is mixed with the jelly liquid, air contained in the pulp remains as bubbles in the jelly liquid. In particular, when the pulp is large, many air bubbles often remain. When such bubbles remain in the jelly solution, the visual impression is particularly deteriorated after the jelly solution is solidified. For this reason, after filling the container with the jelly liquid and the pulp, it is necessary for the worker to remove the bubbles remaining under the pulp by poking the pulp with a stick or the like.

  However, such a bubble removal process is not performed in an automated line to the last, but must be performed manually by an operator, which is a big barrier to performing the production line itself fully automatically. In addition, the manufacturing time cannot be shortened, and the manufacturing cost increases.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-14509

  Therefore, the present invention has been devised in view of the above-described problems, and its object is to automatically degas bubbles generated in the jelly liquid by filling the pulp during production. It is to provide a method for producing a jelly confectionery containing pulp and a deaeration device for the jelly confectionery containing pulp.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the method for producing a jelly confectionery according to the present invention fills a pulp and a jelly liquid in a container having a flange portion formed at the periphery of the upper opening, and has a through hole in the approximate center. The container is fitted from above into the through hole in the bucket that is formed, and the flange portion is locked to the periphery of the through hole to convey the container while being suspended, and the suspension is suspended. The lower chamber having a depth shorter than the suspension length from the lower end of the bucket in the container is raised and sealed from the lower side of the bucket, and the flange is pushed up by the lower chamber to raise the flange portion. It is separated from the peripheral edge of the through hole, also sealed from the upper side of the bucket by depressing the upper chamber from the upper side of the bucket, the upper Chang In addition, the air in the sealed space surrounded by the lower chamber is sucked so that the air pressure is less than 1 atm, thereby degassing the bubbles in the jelly liquid filled in the container, and the upper chamber and the lower chamber. After the side chamber is separated from the bucket, a film lid is adhered to the upper surface of the flange.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the deaeration device for pulp-containing jelly confectionery according to the present invention has a flange portion formed at the periphery of the upper opening, and a container filled with pulp and jelly liquid in the center. From the top of the bucket in the suspended container, the bucket that can be suspended from the top by being fitted into the through hole formed in consists hanging length shorter depth than the elevated and peripheral separable from a lower chamber of the flange portion the through hole a by pushing up the container with sealed from the lower side of the bucket during sealing, an upper chamber that can be sealed from the upper side of the bucket by depressing the upper side of the bucket, surrounded by the upper chamber and the lower chamber Characterized in that it comprises an intake unit for the intake to be less than 1 atm pressure in the closed space was.

  In the present invention having the above-described configuration, since the depth of the lower chamber is set shorter than the suspension length from the bucket in the container, it becomes possible to push up the container by pushing up the lower chamber, The flange portion can be separated from the peripheral edge of the through hole of the bucket. For this reason, since the through hole is open, it is possible to suck the air in the sealed space from the upper chamber to the bucket even if the suction operation is performed by the suction unit.

  Therefore, when manufacturing jelly containing pulp, it is possible to automatically degas bubbles manually by an operator, the production line itself can be fully automated, and the production time can be reduced. It is possible to shorten the manufacturing cost and further reduce the manufacturing cost.

It is a side view of the manufacturing line of the jelly confectionery containing a pulp for implement | achieving the manufacturing method of the jelly confectionery containing a pulp to which this invention is applied. It is a top view of the manufacturing line of jelly candy containing fruit pulp. It is a block diagram of the vacuum deaeration apparatus mounted in the manufacturing line of jelly candy containing fruit pulp. It is a perspective view which shows the structure from an upper chamber to a lower chamber among vacuum deaeration apparatuses. It is a figure for demonstrating the deaeration operation | movement by a vacuum deaeration apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a side view of a production line 1 for pulp-containing jelly confectionery for realizing the method for producing a jelly-confectionery containing pulp according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a production line 1 for the jelly-confectionery containing pulp. It is the figure visually recognized from the upper part.

  Each block of the production line 1 for pulp-containing jelly confectionery is arranged on a table 3, and includes a container supply device 8, a filling hopper 9, a filling cylinder 11, a filling piston 12, and a filling amount adjustment handle 13. , A filling nozzle 14, a vacuum degassing device 29, a film feed 15, and a sealing device 20.

  The container supply device 8 is prepared in a state where plastic containers 21 for filling jelly are stacked on the upper stage. The container supply device 8 lowers the container 21 onto the table 3 at a predetermined timing. As a result, the container 21 is fitted into the bucket 7 previously arranged on the table 3.

  The filling hopper 9 is a storage container for storing the jelly solution. This jelly solution is constituted by mixing a gelling agent such as agar or gelatin and a sol-like liquid in which fruit juice, sugar solution, moisture, dairy product, flavor, acidulant, colorant and the like are mixed. The filling hopper 9 is provided with a heating section (not shown). By heating the jelly solution through the heating section, the jelly solution in the filling hopper 9 is held in a liquid state. Moreover, the jelly container in the filling hopper 9 may be stirred.

  Incidentally, the filling hopper 9 continues to the filling cylinder 11 through the pipe line 9a. Then, the jelly solution in the filling hopper 9 can be supplied to the filling cylinder 11 through the pipe line 9a.

  The filling amount adjusting handle 13 is connected to the filling piston 12, and adjusts the amount of the jelly solution pushed out by the filling piston 12 through one piston movement. By rotating the filling amount adjusting handle 13, the stroke of the piston movement by the filling piston 12 can be adjusted, and this determines the filling amount of the jelly solution into the container 21.

  The filling cylinder 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has a structure in which the filling piston 12 is inscribed and its vertical movement is allowed. The filling cylinder 11 is supplied with the jelly solution from the filling hopper 9 and pushed out through the piston movement by the filling piston 12. The jelly solution pushed out from the filling cylinder 11 is delivered to the filling nozzle 14 through the tube 18.

  The filling nozzle 14 is formed so that the tip extended downward becomes a tapered nozzle. The filling nozzle 14 injects the jelly solution sent through the tube 18 into the container 21.

  Incidentally, each structure of the filling cylinder 11, the filling piston 12, and the filling nozzle 14 described above may be provided independently for each row of the containers 21 conveyed via the conveyor. In the example of FIG. 2, since the rows of the containers 21 are constituted by three rows, the respective configurations of the filling cylinder 11, the filling piston 12, and the filling nozzle 14 are also provided independently over three sets.

  The vacuum degassing device 29 is a device for degassing bubbles in the jelly solution filled in the container 21. The detailed configuration of the vacuum deaerator 29 will be described in detail later.

  When the container 21 passes below the film feed 15, the film feed 15 supplies a strip-shaped film lid 16 in accordance with the passing speed. The film feed 15 places the film lid 16 on the upper surface of the container 21.

  The seal device 20 presses the seal bar 20a downward while the container 21 passes therethrough and heats it. As a result, the film cover material 16 placed on the container 21 is heated and welded to the container 21, and finally the film cover material 16 is sealed.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the vacuum deaeration device 29 will be described. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the vacuum deaeration device 29. The vacuum degassing device 29 includes an upper chamber 31 capable of sealing the upper side of the bucket 7 by being pushed down from above, a lower chamber 32 capable of sealing from the lower side to seal the lower side of the bucket 7, and the upper chamber 31. Is connected to the upper cylinder 34 and the lower cylinder 35 for controlling the upper cylinder 34, the lower cylinder 35 for driving the lower chamber 32 in the vertical direction, and the lower cylinder 35. And a suction unit 36 connected to the lower chamber 32.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration from the upper chamber 31 to the lower chamber 32 in the vacuum deaerator 29.

  The upper chamber 31 is made of, for example, metal, and is configured in a box shape with an opening 31a cut out on the lower side.

  The bucket 7 is made of, for example, a metal plate having a predetermined plate thickness, and a through hole 7a is formed at substantially the center. A container 21 having a flange portion 21a formed on the periphery of the opening 21b can be fitted into the through hole 7a in the bucket 7. At this time, the container 21 can be suspended by locking the flange portion 21 a of the container 21 to the periphery of the through hole 7 a of the bucket 7.

  In addition, a sealing material 41 is provided around the periphery of the through hole 7 a on the upper surface of the metal plate constituting the bucket 7. Similarly, a sealing material 42 is provided around the periphery of the through hole 7 a on the lower surface of the metal plate constituting the bucket 7. At this time, the sealing material 41 needs to be provided corresponding to the contact position of the upper chamber 31 with the bucket 7. Similarly, the sealant 42 needs to be provided corresponding to the contact position of the lower chamber 32 with the bucket 7. Incidentally, the sealing materials 41 and 42 may be made of, for example, synthetic rubber.

  The lower chamber 32 is made of, for example, metal, and is configured in a box shape with an opening 32a cut out on the upper side.

  Such an upper chamber 31 is brought into contact with the bucket 7 from the upper side, and the lower chamber 32 is brought into contact with the bucket 7 from the lower side. As a result, the upper chamber 31 comes into contact with the sealing material 41 to seal the upper side of the bucket 7, and the lower chamber 32 comes into contact with the sealing material 42 to seal the lower side of the bucket 7. It becomes.

  The upper cylinder 34 is embodied by, for example, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder hydraulic pressure, and one end is attached to the upper chamber 31. The upper cylinder 34 drives the upper chamber 31 up and down based on control by the control unit 37.

  The lower cylinder 35 is embodied by, for example, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder hydraulic pressure, and one end is attached to the lower chamber 32. The lower cylinder 35 drives the lower chamber 32 up and down based on control by the control unit 37.

  The suction unit 36 is configured by, for example, a vacuum pump, a compressor, or the like. The suction part 36 is connected to the lower chamber 32 via a hose 36a. The suction unit 36 performs a suction operation at a timing designated by the control unit 37. Thereby, it becomes possible to inhale the air pressure in the sealed space surrounded by the upper chamber 31 and the lower chamber 32 so as to be less than 1 atm.

  The control unit 37 is configured by, for example, a personal computer (PC) or the like, and controls at least the vertical drive timing of the upper cylinder and the upper cylinder 35. For example, when the upper cylinder 34 and the lower cylinder 35 are formed of air cylinders, the supply of air is switched. In such a case, an air supply unit (not shown) that actually supplies air to the upper cylinder 34 and the lower cylinder 35 may be installed. Then, by transmitting a control signal from the control unit 37 to the air supply unit (not shown), air supply control is performed independently from the air supply unit (not shown) to the upper cylinder 34 and the lower cylinder 35. May be performed.

  Next, a method for actually producing a jelly confectionery containing pulp will be described using the production line 1 for a jelly confectionery containing pulp having the above-described configuration.

  First, the container 21 is lowered onto the table 3 from the container supply device 8. Then, the container 21 is fitted into the bucket 7 installed in advance on the table 3. As described above, since the flange 21a is formed on the periphery of the upper opening, the container 21 can be engaged with the periphery of the through hole 7a in the bucket 7. As a result, the container 21 can be transported in a state in which the container 21 is suspended and supported on the periphery of the through hole 7a of the bucket 7.

  The pulp is charged into the container 21 at least before the subsequent jelly liquid is injected.

  In this manner, the container 21 is transported to just below the filling nozzle 14 with the container 21 fitted to the bucket 7. In the filling nozzle 14, the jelly liquid pushed out through the filling cylinder 11 through the piston movement by the filling piston 12 is supplied. The filling nozzle 14 injects the supplied jelly liquid into the container 21. As a result, the container 21 is filled with the jelly liquid and the pulp mixed. Incidentally, at this stage, air contained in the pulp may remain as bubbles in the jelly liquid.

  Next, the container 21 fitted in the bucket 7 is conveyed to the vacuum deaerator 29. The vacuum deaerator 29 performs a deaeration operation based on steps S11 to S15 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, only the configuration of the upper chamber 31, the lower chamber 32, the bucket 7 and the container 21 is shown, and the other configurations of the vacuum degassing apparatus are omitted.

  First, in step S <b> 11, the container 21 fitted in the bucket 7 and filled with the pulp 51 and the jelly liquid 52 is positioned between the upper chamber 31 and the lower chamber 32.

  At this stage, since the upper chamber 31 is pushed up and the lower chamber 32 is pushed down, the container 21 fitted in the bucket 7 is placed between the upper chamber 31 and the lower chamber 32. Can be inserted. In this step S11, the container 21 is suspended from the bucket 7, but under this state, the length from the lower end surface of the bucket 7 to the bottom surface of the container 21 is suspended. The lowering length is A1. The depth from the upper end of the lower chamber 32 is B1. At this time, the depth B1 of the lower chamber 32 is set to be shorter than the suspending length A1 from the lower end of the bucket 7 in the container 21.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S <b> 12, and the lower chamber 32 is pushed up toward the bucket 7. The pushing-up operation of the lower chamber 32 is executed based on the operation by the lower cylinder 35 described above. As a result, the upper end of the lower chamber 32 comes into contact with the lower end surface of the bucket 7. At this time, since the sealing material 42 is provided corresponding to the contact position of the lower chamber 32 with the bucket 7, the upper end of the lower chamber 32 is in contact with the sealing material 42 at the time of the contact. It will abut. As a result, the space between the lower chamber 32 and the bucket 7 is blocked by the sealing material 42, so that the inside of the lower chamber 32 can be sealed with respect to the bucket 7.

  As described above, the depth B1 of the lower chamber 32 is set to be shorter than the suspending length A1 from the lower end of the bucket 7 in the container 21. For this reason, when the lower chamber 32 is pushed up toward the bucket 7, the container 21 is pushed up accordingly. As a result, the flange portion 21a in the container 21 can be separated from the periphery of the through hole 7a.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S <b> 13 and the upper chamber 31 is pushed down toward the bucket 7. This pushing-down operation of the upper chamber 31 is executed based on the operation by the upper cylinder 34 described above. As a result, the lower end of the upper chamber 31 comes into contact with the upper end surface of the bucket 7. At this time, since the sealing material 41 is provided corresponding to the contact position of the upper chamber 31 with the bucket 7, the lower end of the upper chamber 31 contacts with the sealing material 41 at the time of the contact. It will be. As a result, since the space between the upper chamber 31 and the bucket 7 is blocked by the sealing material 41, the inside of the upper chamber 31 can be sealed with respect to the bucket 7.

  Through the steps S12 and S13, the upper chamber 31 is sealed to the outside from the bucket 7 through the through hole 7a to the lower chamber. In addition, by separating the flange portion 21a of the container 21 from the periphery of the through hole 7a, the through hole 7a can be opened without being blocked by the flange portion 21a.

  In the above-described steps S12 and S13, the case where the lower chamber 32 is first pushed up toward the bucket 7 and then the upper chamber 31 is pushed down toward the bucket 7 has been described as an example. It is not a thing. First, the upper chamber 31 may be pushed down toward the bucket 7, and the lower chamber 32 may be pushed up toward the bucket 7, or these operations may be performed simultaneously.

  Furthermore, in this step S13, the air in the sealed space from the upper chamber 31 through the through hole 7a in the bucket 7 to the lower chamber is sucked by the suction portion 36. As a result, the air in this sealed space is less than 1 atmosphere.

  In this way, by reducing the atmospheric pressure in the sealed space, bubbles remaining in the jelly liquid in the container 21 are sequentially removed. Even if air bubbles remain below the pulp 51, the air bubbles sequentially rise and escape through the jelly liquid by lowering the pressure in the sealed space. As a result, all the bubbles in the jelly liquid can be degassed.

  In particular, in the process of the deaeration operation in step S13, the flange portion 21a in the container 21 is separated from the peripheral edge of the through hole 7a, so that the through hole 7a is open. For this reason, even if the suction operation by the suction unit 36 is performed, the air in the sealed space from the upper chamber 31 to the bucket 7 can also be sucked. After completion of deaeration, the suction operation by the suction unit 36 is terminated.

  In the deaeration operation in step S13, when intake is performed with the upper chamber 31 closed, an intake valve (not shown) attached to the upper chamber 31 or the lower chamber 32 is opened to remove the air in the chamber. Deaerate. At this time, the air pressure inside the chamber is measured through a vacuum sensor (not shown), and when the vacuum sensor measures that the internal vacuum has reached a certain level, the above-described intake valve is closed. . Incidentally, the target degree of vacuum is set after a dedicated investigation is made in advance on the level at which deaeration is most possible for each product.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S <b> 14, and the upper chamber 31 is pushed up to be separated from the bucket 7. As a result, the above-described sealed space is opened. In step S14, the upper chamber 31 is not pushed up from the beginning, but first, an inlet valve (not shown) attached to the upper chamber 31 or the lower chamber 32 is opened to enter the chamber. The intake valve may be closed when the atmospheric pressure is reached, and the upper chamber 31 may be pushed up. Next, the process proceeds to step S15, and the lower chamber 32 is pushed down. As a result, the container 21 that has been pushed up by the lower chamber 32 is again supported by the flange portion 21a being suspended by the periphery of the through hole 7a.

  After the deaeration operation by the vacuum deaerator 29 up to steps S <b> 11 to S <b> 15 as described above is finished, the film cover material 16 is placed on the upper surface of the container 21 by the film feed 15.

  Further, the film lid member 16 placed on the container 21 is heated and pressed by the sealing device 20, and this is heat-welded to the container 21 and sealed.

  When the container 21 passes below the film feed 15, the film feed 15 supplies a strip-shaped film lid 16 in accordance with the passing speed. The film feed 15 places the film lid 16 on the upper surface of the container 21.

  The seal device 20 presses the seal bar 20a downward while the container 21 passes therethrough and heats it. As a result, the film cover material 16 placed on the container 21 is heated and welded to the container 21, and finally the film cover material 16 is sealed.

  Thus, since the production line 1 of the jelly confectionery to which the present invention is applied sets the depth of the lower chamber 32 to be shorter than the hanging length from the bucket 7 in the container 21, the lower side The container 21 can be pushed up by pushing up the chamber 32, and the flange portion 21 a can be separated from the peripheral edge of the through hole 7 a of the bucket 7. For this reason, since the through hole 7a is in an open state, air in the sealed space from the upper chamber 31 to the bucket 7 can be sucked even if the suction operation by the suction portion 36 is performed. It becomes possible.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. You may make it implement only the vacuum deaeration apparatus 29 independently, without using the whole production line 1 of jelly confectionery. That is, it goes without saying that the container 21 filled with jelly liquid or pulp in other lines may be deaerated using the vacuum deaerator 29.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Production line 3 Unit 7 Bucket 7a Through hole 8 Container supply device 9 Filling hopper 11 Filling cylinder 12 Filling piston 13 Filling amount adjustment handle 14 Filling nozzle 15 Film feed 16 Film cover 18 Tube 20 Sealing device 21 Container 29 Vacuum deaeration Apparatus 31 Upper chamber 32 Lower chamber 34 Upper cylinder 35 Lower cylinder 36 Suction part 37 Control part 41 Sealing material 42 Sealing material 51 Flesh 52 Jelly liquid

Claims (2)

Filling the container in which the flange portion is formed on the periphery of the upper opening with the pulp and jelly liquid,
The container is fitted from above into a through hole in a bucket having a through hole formed in the approximate center, and the flange portion is locked to the periphery of the through hole to transport the container while hanging the container. ,
By raising the lower chamber having a depth shorter than the suspended length from the lower end of the bucket in the suspended container and sealing from the lower side of the bucket, and pushing up the container by the lower chamber The flange portion is separated from the periphery of the through hole, and is sealed from the upper side of the bucket by pushing down the upper chamber from the upper side of the bucket,
By sucking the air pressure in the sealed space surrounded by the upper chamber and the lower chamber to be less than 1 atm, the bubbles in the jelly liquid filled in the container are degassed,
A method for producing a pulp-containing jelly confectionery, comprising: separating the upper chamber and the lower chamber from the bucket, and then attaching a film lid to the upper surface of the flange. A container having a flange portion formed at the periphery of the upper opening and filled with pulp and jelly liquid inside is fitted from above into a through hole formed in the substantially center, and the flange portion is disposed at the periphery of the through hole. A bucket capable of hanging the container by locking;
The suspended container has a depth shorter than the suspended length from the lower end of the bucket, and rises at the time of sealing, seals from the lower side of the bucket, and pushes up the container to push through the flange portion. A lower chamber separable from the periphery of the hole;
An upper chamber that can be sealed from the upper side of the bucket by pushing down from the upper side of the bucket;
A degassing apparatus for pulpy jelly confectionery, comprising: an intake means for sucking air so that an air pressure in an enclosed space surrounded by the upper chamber and the lower chamber is less than 1 atm.

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