JPS6335233B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for continuous sterilization of food packages in which the food packages are continuously sterilized using microwaves.

[Prior art and its problems]

As a method of sterilizing food packages using microwaves, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-26949, the food package is sealed in a pressure-resistant container made of a material that can transmit microwaves, and the outside of the pressure-resistant container is A method of sterilization by irradiating microwaves has been proposed.

According to this method, the package can be sterilized by sealing it in a pressure-resistant container and irradiating it with microwaves, but since the pressure-resistant container is a sealed type, it takes time to store and take out the package, and it is necessary to sterilize it continuously. It was difficult to sterilize it.

A microwave sterilizer that solves these problems has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 132733/1983. In this device, a plurality of food packages are heated simultaneously in the microwave irradiation heating section. The output of the microwave oscillator of this heating section is made when there is a predetermined number of food packages in the heating section, so when the predetermined number of food packages does not reach the heating chamber, the output is generated at the start of heating and at the end of heating. , and when changing heating conditions during operation, microwave irradiation was not possible to prevent damage.

Therefore, defective products were produced at the start and end of operation and at the time of switching heating conditions.

[Problem to be solved]

To provide a method for sterilizing food packages, which can prevent the generation of defective products even when the microwave sterilizer shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-132733 is operated continuously, at the start of heating, at the end of heating, and at the time of switching heating conditions. It's about doing.

[Means for solving problems]

When heating is started in the microwave sterilization equipment, the pseudo packaging is filled with a material that can be heated by microwaves and has a boiling point higher than the set sterilization temperature, preferably 10 degrees Celsius or more higher, into the outer packaging that forms the food packaging. The problem was solved by using it at the end of the process and when changing the heating conditions.

[Effect]

By using a certain number of pseudo packages filled with a substance with a boiling point higher than the sterilization temperature at the start of heating, at the end of heating, and when changing heating conditions in the microwave sterilizer, a predetermined number of food packages are always kept in the heating chamber. Microwave oscillation at the set sterilization temperature is possible from the very end, and the generation of defective food packages can be prevented.

〔Example〕

A pseudo package is placed in an outer package made of the same material and having substantially the same shape as the outer package forming the food package, and sealed with a substance having a boiling point higher than the set sterilization temperature of the food package at the start of sterilization, at the end of sterilization, and This is a continuous sterilization method for food packages in which food packages are heated and sterilized by microwaves while passing through a predetermined number of heating sections when switching sterilization conditions.

The substance enclosed in the pseudo package must be kept at a temperature lower than the sterilization temperature.
It is preferably 10°C or more higher, and more preferably a food or a food ingredient.

Specifically, biogenic oils and fats such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, lard, and butter, paraffin, higher fatty acids,
It consists of a higher alcohol, glycerin or a derivative thereof, or a mixture of two or more of the above substances.

Furthermore, the exterior of the pseudo packaging is made of the same material as the food packaging, which is microwave permeable and heat resistant.Specifically, in the case of the bag shape shown in Fig. 1, it is made of stretched nylon (O- Ny)/unstretched polypropylene, ONy/unstretched nylon (C-Ny)/
Suitable materials include laminated films of CPP, O-Ny/saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVOH)/CPP, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/CPP.

In the case of a tray shape as shown in FIG. 2, the lid material may include the bag-shaped film,
A laminated film of PET/O-Ny/CPP is used, while the container body is made of CPP, C-Ny/CPP,
CPP/EVOH/CPP, CPP/C-Ny/EVOH/
A laminated structure of CPP is suitable.

In the sterilization method, at the beginning of sterilization, a predetermined number of pseudo packages are passed through the heating section of the sterilizer, a predetermined output is applied from a microwave oscillator, and when the heat sterilization conditions are met, the food packages are Just pass it through the heated part.

Furthermore, at the end of sterilization, if the pseudo packaging body is continued to flow after the last food packaging body until the food packaging body passes through the heating section and sterilization is completed, the food packaging body is completely sterilized. Moreover, there is no risk of damage to the microwave oscillator.

Furthermore, when switching sterilization conditions, a combination of conditions at the start of sterilization and at the end of sterilization may be used, and following the last food package to be sterilized under the previous sterilization conditions, the pseudo package is The sterilization conditions may be changed at the time when the food package passes through, and another food package may be transported following the above-mentioned pseudo package.

〔effect〕

As described above, the present invention uses a pseudo package containing a substance having a boiling point higher than the predetermined sterilization temperature of the food package, and a predetermined number of food packages are always present in the heating chamber. Since it oscillates and heat sterilizes it, damage to the microwave oscillator can be prevented.

In addition, when the food package passes through the heating chamber, microwaves are always oscillated at a constant output, so there is no risk of poor heat sterilization of the food package.
Heat sterilization is possible from one piece to the last piece.

Since the pseudo package is packed with a substance having a boiling point higher than the predetermined temperature of the food package, the pseudo package can be used repeatedly without being replaced every time it is sterilized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams showing the constant shape of the pseudo package used in the continuous sterilization method of the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Biological fats and oils, paraffin, higher fatty acids, higher alcohols, which have a boiling point higher than the set sterilization temperature, preferably 10°C or more higher than the set sterilization temperature,
A pseudo package in which an exterior body forming a food package is filled and sealed with a microwave-heatable substance made of either glycerin or a derivative thereof, or a mixture of two or more of the above substances,
A continuous sterilization method for food packages, characterized in that the food packages are passed through a heating chamber together with the food packages at the start of heating by a microwave sterilizer, at the end of heating, or at the time of switching heating conditions.