JPS6331189B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a retort oven device for automatically loading and unloading products to be sterilized into a retort oven.

When transporting so-called retort pouches, which are foods sealed in a container that does not allow light or air to pass through, into a retort kiln to sterilize them by heating and pressurizing, conventionally a conveyor was installed inside the retort kiln to circulate only within the kiln. The retort pouches were arranged in trays that were manually loaded onto a conveyor into the kiln from the entrance of the kiln.

By the way, when sterilizing retort pouches,
After carrying the retort pouch into the kiln, the lid at the entrance of the kiln is sealed to prevent hot water or heated pressurized steam from leaking, and hot water or heated pressurized steam is injected into the kiln.
After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the hot water or heated pressurized steam is removed from the kiln to cool the retort pouch, and then the conveyor inside the kiln is operated to transport the retort pouch tray out of the kiln. Therefore, all parts of the conveyor in the kiln and its drive device, including lubricants and oil seal materials, are exposed to hot water or heated pressurized steam for a long time, resulting in a significant decline in the lubrication function of the conveyor drive device in the kiln. , maintenance of lubrication function,
There was a drawback that replenishment required considerable effort, and improvements were desired.

The first object of the present invention is to save labor by automatically carrying retort pouches into and out of a kiln, and the second object is to improve the deterioration of the lubricating function of the conveyor for carrying in and out of retort pouches, that is, to increase the service life. For this purpose, a retort pouch tray pusher is installed outside the retort kiln, and the device is installed independently inside and outside the kiln.
In addition, by reciprocating the trolley between the opposing rails, the retort pouch receiving tray slides on the rollers installed in the kiln to carry in and out, and the conveyor drive device is removed from the kiln to lubricate it. The purpose of labor saving was achieved by improving the functional deterioration and remotely controlling the trolley.

Structure The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to drawings of embodiments. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a retort pouch tray pusher 3 installed on the front surface of the lid 2 of the oven body 1 of the retort oven apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1.
Figure 3 is a view from arrow A in Figure 2, 4 is the base frame of the pushing device 3, 5 is the chevron-shaped rail laid on the base frame 4, 6 is the same flat rail, 7 is the trolley, and in Figure 3, 8 is the trolley. 7
9 is also a flat wheel, 10 is a trolley 7
A roller chain fixed over the entire length of the bottom surface.
In FIG. 1, 11 indicates an angle wheel 8 and a flat wheel 9.
12 is a second wheel, and 13 is a third wheel. 14 in Figure 3
15 is a sprocket wheel that meshes with the roller chain, 15 is a sprocket wheel fixed to the same shaft as the sprocket wheel 14, and 16 is a trolley drive electric motor. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 17 denotes an endless chain connecting the trolley drive motor 16 and the sprocket wheel 15. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 1, 18 is a roller shaft support plate, 19 is a mounting plate for the support plate, 20 is a sprocket wheel, and 21 is a drive shaft integrally supported with the sprocket wheel 20. roller, 22 is a sprocket wheel for chain tensioning, and 23 is a sprocket wheel. In FIG. 4, 24 indicated by a chain double-dashed line is an endless chain connecting the sprocket wheels 20, 20, . Stacked group, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of CC in Figures 2 and 4,
26 is a sprocket wheel fixed on the same axis as the sprocket wheel 23, and 27 is an electric motor with a reduction gear. Reference numeral 28 shown in FIG. 2 is an endless chain connecting the drive motor 27 and the sprocket wheel 26.
29 is the drive shaft. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 1. The truck 7 has bearings 30 and 31 shown in FIG.
are provided and support the shafts 32 and 33, respectively, and the shaft 32
A rotary actuator 35, which is a drive source that fixes the sprocket wheel 34 and reversibly rotates the shaft 32 at right angles, is connected to the right end of the sprocket wheel 34.
Similarly, a sprocket wheel 36 is fixed to the right end of the shaft 33, and the sprocket wheels 34, 36 are fixed to the right end of the shaft 33.
The space between them is connected by an endless chain 37. Axis 32, 3
Eccentric shafts 38 and 39 and saucer drive rods 40 and 41 are fixed to both ends of the eccentric shafts 38 and 39, respectively, at the left central portion of 3. 7th
The figure is a state change diagram in which the rotary actuator 35 operated by compressed air is driven to rotate the shafts 32 and 33 at right angles clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, drive rollers 21, 21
The lowest surface of the stacked tray group 25 connecting the upper surfaces maintains a gap F with the upper surface of the truck 7 and the upper surfaces of the eccentric shafts 38, 39. In the state shown in FIG. The top surface of the outer periphery in the eccentric direction is
A saucer drive rod 40 that is in contact with the lowest bottom surface of the saucer,
40 projects upward from the straight line connecting the upper surfaces of the drive rollers 21 and 21 and engages with the sides of the tray group 25. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the truck 7 taken along the line EE in FIG. 1. A roller 42 is provided at the left end in FIGS. 1 and 4 on the same plane as the drive rollers 21, 21, . . . . On the other hand, a stopper 43 that prevents the tray group 25 conveyed on the rollers 21 and 42 from moving out of the left end is pivotably supported integrally with the operating arm 44 shown in FIG. 1 in a V shape. 45. Third
46 shown in FIG. 4 is a coaxial bearing. 4 shown in Figure 1
7 is a rod nut that engages with the operating arm 44; 48;
is a piston rod, and 49 is a pressure cylinder whose one end is supported by the base frame 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the retort oven body 1 is installed with a gap G between it and the front end of the tray pushing device 3.
When carrying the retort pouch tray groups 25, 25 into the retort oven body 1 using the trolley 7, the lid 2 of the retort oven body 1 is removed to the position shown by the dashed-dotted line using a lid attaching/detaching device (not shown). Furthermore, this is the space required to lift the lid to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line using a lid lifting device (not shown). Figure 9 is a schematic front view of the kiln with the lid 2 removed, as seen from arrow H in Figure 2. Reference numeral 50 denotes a chevron-shaped rail laid within the kiln body 1, and numeral 51 denotes a flat rail, which is installed facing the chevron-shaped rail 5 and the flat rail 6 shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the J-J cross section in FIG. 9. 5
2 is a roller shaft supported, and 53 is a shaft supported sliding roller, which are arranged on both sides to form a roller conveyor. 54 is a base of the retort oven body 1, 55 is a supply port for hot water or heated pressurized steam, and 56 is an outlet for hot water or heated pressurized steam after sterilization.

Function Next, the function of the retort kiln device of the present invention will be described. When the drive motor 27 is operated, the endless chain 2
8 to rotate the sprocket wheel 26,
Sprocket wheels 23 at both ends on the same shaft 29
The endless chain 24 is driven by the rotation of the drive roller 21, and the drive roller 21 is rotated. When the tray stacking group 25 in which retort pouches are arranged is placed on the drive roller 21 at the right end of the tray truck pushing device 3 shown in FIG. It moves to the left, hits the stopper 43, stops at the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG.

Next, after moving the lid 2 of the retort oven body 1 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the rotary actuator 35 shown in FIG. 1 is operated to move the shaft 32 shown in FIG. By rotating the sprocket wheel clockwise at right angles, the sprocket wheel 3 shown in Fig.
4, 36 and the endless chain 37, the shaft 33 also rotates at right angles clockwise like the shaft 32. The drive rod 40 and the drive rod 41 shown in FIG. 1 also protrude upward and engage with the lower side of the tray group 25, as shown in FIG.

Next, actuate the pressure cylinder 49 shown in FIG. 1 to drive the piston rod 48 to the right.
The stopper 43 rotates around the shaft 45 and opens.
The movement of the tray group 25 is released.

At this time, if the trolley drive motor 16 and roller drive motor 27 shown in FIG. 2 are operated and the sprocket wheel 15 is driven counterclockwise, the sprocket wheel 14 on the same axis shown in FIG. 3 will rotate. Roller chain 1 fixed to the underside of truck 7
0 is driven, the trolley 7 shown in FIG. while maintaining the eccentric shaft 3
8 and 39 support the lowest bottom surface of the tray group 25, and
The force of the driving roller is also added, and the truck 7 moves to the tray group 2.
5 to the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG.

When the truck 7 has moved to the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG.
1 protrudes from the rails 5 and 6, but the cart 7 is kept in a horizontal position on the rails 5 and 6 by the other wheels 12 and 13, and the tip of the tray group 25 is connected to the tip of the cart pushing device 3. The tray group 25 loses its fulcrum by the rollers until it protrudes from the rollers 42 and is transferred onto the rollers 53, 53, . The upper outer circumferential surfaces of the eccentric shafts 38 and 39 serve as the fulcrum of the tray group 25, and therefore, the portion of the tray group 25 protruding from the roller surface does not fall and tilt, keeping the retort oven body as shown in FIG. 10 horizontally. 1, drive rod 40 of truck 7
, the tray group 2 is slid on the roller 53.
Press 5 to finish loading.

At this time, if the operation of the bogie drive electric motor 16 is stopped and the rotary actuator 35 is operated to rotate the shafts 32 and 33 at right angles counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 39 returns to the state shown in FIG.
creates a gap F with the lowest bottom surface of the tray group 25, so in this state, if the trolley drive motor 16 shown in FIG. , the truck 7 moves to the right while leaving the tray group 25 on the rollers 53, 53, . . . and returns to the position shown in FIG.

After loading the retort pouch tray group 25 into the kiln main body 1 and returning the cart 7 to the outside of the kiln,
In the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, the lid 2 of the retort kiln is completely attached to the retort kiln body 1, the discharge port 56 is closed, and hot water or heated pressurized steam is supplied into the kiln from the supply port 55. , heat sterilize the retort pouch for a predetermined time, then close the supply port 55, open the discharge port 56 to discharge hot water or heated pressurized steam out of the kiln, wait for the retort pouch to cool, and then close the lid 2. The truck is moved to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, the truck drive motor 16 is operated again, the truck 7 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 10, the rear rotary actuator 35 is activated, and the drive rod 40, 41 as the 7th
In the state shown in the figure, after the tray groups 25, 25, . During operation, the truck 7 presses the tray group 25 with the driving rod 41, and therefore the tray group is pressed against the roller 5 of the roller conveyor in the kiln.
3, 53, . . . , and is carried out of the kiln together with the cart 7.

Effects The retort oven device of the present invention, which is configured and operates as described above, has rails facing each other inside and outside the oven, with the space G required for attaching and detaching the lid of the retort oven body 1 interposed therebetween. The trays for retort pouches are loaded and unloaded on the roller conveyor, and the trolley is run on the rails by remote control, so it is possible to load and unload retort pouches efficiently in a short period of time without the need for manpower, which saves labor. can achieve the goal of transformation.

In addition, since the cart is moved in and out of the kiln by a cart pushing device installed outside the retort kiln to carry the retort pouch tray into and out of the kiln, the conveyor drive device, its lubricant, oil seal parts, etc. Or, there is no exposure to heated and pressurized steam. Therefore, maintenance of equipment such as lubrication of drive mechanism parts is extremely easy, and the service life is greatly improved, making it a useful invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tray pusher pushing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, and FIG. A schematic view of the B-B cross section, Figure 5 is a schematic view of the C-C cross section of Figures 2 and 4, Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the D-D cross section of Figure 1, and Figure 7 is the state of Figure 6. A schematic diagram of the changes, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the E-E cross section of the trolley 7 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of H in FIG. 2.
Front view of the inside of the kiln with lid 2 removed, seen from the arrow.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the JJ cross section in FIG. 9. 1 is the retort kiln body, 3 is the trolley pushing device, 5,
6 is a rail, 7 is a trolley, 10 is a roller chain,
14 and 15 are sprocket wheels, 16 is a trolley drive motor, 25 is a retort pouch tray group, 2
7 is a roller conveyor drive motor, 35 is a rotary actuator, 38 and 39 are eccentric shafts,
40 and 41 are driving rods, 50 and 51 are rails, and 53 is a roller for a roller conveyor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Inside the retort oven, install a first rail for running a trolley and a roller conveyor for moving a tray such as a retort pouch, and outside the retort oven, install on each of the first rail and roller conveyor,
A second rail and a roller conveyor are installed facing each other with a space for attaching and removing the lid of the retort kiln, and a trolley equipped with a tray drive rod placed on the second rail is moved to the first rail outside the kiln. A retort kiln device characterized in that a tray on a roller conveyor is carried in and out of a roller conveyor in a retort oven by being driven by a drive device provided therein.