JP3977567B2 - Swing / rotation type spray retort sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention heat-sterilizes a product in which contents such as foods and pharmaceuticals are hermetically filled in containers (pouches, cans, bottles, etc.) by a retort cycle process of heating, heating and cooling while swinging or rotating. The present invention relates to a swing / rotation type spray retort sterilizer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a spray-type retort sterilizer has been provided for the heat sterilization treatment of the retort cycle process. This spray-type retort sterilizer stacks multiple trays on which products are placed and stores them in a sterilization tank, and heats the products by spraying hot water or steam from spray nozzles that are placed toward the gaps between the trays. After sterilization, the product is cooled by spraying cooling water from a spray nozzle (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-3197).
[0003]
This spray-type retort sterilizer is provided with a rotating body that accommodates a plurality of trays stacked in a plurality of stages in a sterilization tank placed in a sideways state in a substantially cylindrical shape, and this rotation is performed by a roller member provided in the sterilization tank. There are swing / rotation type spray retort sterilizers that support a body rotatably and perform sterilization while swinging or rotating the rotating body by a driving device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 9-215732 and 9-215733). Issue gazette).
[0004]
The merits of sterilization while swinging or rotating are as follows: (1) Product contents (mainly liquid) are shaken to increase the temperature rising / falling speed, and (2) the tray and pallet are inclined relative to the horizontal. Therefore, it is possible to remove adhering water at an early stage, and to shorten the time required for the sterilization treatment as a whole.
[0005]
In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the driving means 60 for swinging or rotating the rotating body is a motor 61 installed on the base 5 outside one end of the sterilization tank 1, a reduction gear 62, a gear. The rotary shaft 65 fixed to one end of the rotating body 2 is rotated via the rotary members 63 and 64. In this apparatus, the tray member 3 is carried in and out by opening and closing the lid member (not shown) on the opposite side without opening and closing the lid member 1b on one side to which the driving means 60 is attached.
[0006]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the driving means 70 in another form includes an annular gear 71 formed on the outer periphery of the rotating body 2 in the sterilization tank 1 and a pinion 72 that meshes with the annular gear 71. The rotating body 2 is configured to swing and rotate by connecting an output shaft of a motor 73 provided on the outer periphery of the sterilizing tank 1 to a pinion 72. Similarly, a chain sprocket is configured on the rotating body 2 instead of the annular gear 71, and a small chain sprocket is configured instead of the pinion 72, and the output shaft of the motor 73 is connected to the small chain sprocket. Some of them rotate or rotate the rotating body by chain transmission (not shown).
[0007]
In this apparatus, the lid members (1 a, 1 b) on both sides of the sterilization tank 1 can be opened and closed, and the tray 3 can be taken in and out from both sides of the sterilization tank 1. That is, in the sterilization processing, the tray 3 can be carried into the rotator 2 from one side of the sterilization tank 1, and the tray 3 can be carried out from the rotator 2 on the opposite side of the sterilization tank 1 after the treatment. Can be performed simultaneously and work efficiency can be improved.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The apparatus shown in FIG. 8B has an annular gear and a chain sprocket formed on the outer periphery of the rotating body as power transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the motor. The maintenance work is difficult because the cost and the replacement cost are very high and the maintenance of the power transmission means extends to the inside of the sterilization tank. Further, since the power transmission means is provided in the sterilization tank in which the temperature, pressure and the like change drastically, the ring gear and the chain sprocket need a predetermined strength.
[0009]
Therefore, the present invention can carry in and out the tray from both sides of the sterilization tank and has a simple power transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the motor, facilitating maintenance, equipment cost and parts An object of the present invention is to provide a oscillating / rotating type spray retort sterilizer that can reduce the replacement cost.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The oscillating / rotating spray retort sterilization apparatus according to the present invention includes a rotating body that accommodates a stack of trays on which products are stacked, a sterilization tank that houses the rotating body, and the tray disposed on the rotating body. In a oscillating / rotating spray type retort sterilizer equipped with a spray nozzle that ejects hot water, cooling water, etc. toward the gap between them, the lower inner peripheral surface of the sterilization tank has a rotation axis parallel to the rotating body A plurality of roller members that are rotatably arranged and that support the weight of the rotating body by contacting the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body, and are disposed outside the sterilization tank. And driving means connected via each other.
[0011]
The power transmission means is preferably composed of a universal joint.
[0012]
More preferably, at least two roller members are disposed in the circumferential direction of the sterilization tank, and cross shaft gears connected to the roller members and universal joints are respectively disposed below the roller members. The roller members are connected together by a rotating shaft that traverses the lower side of the sterilizing tank, and the rotating shafts are rotated by driving means so that the roller members are rotated at the same time.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a swing / rotation type spray retort sterilizer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
In FIG. 3 which shows the outline of the apparatus, 1 is a sterilization tank, 2 is a rotating body, 6 and 6 'are roller members, 8 is a power transmission part, 9 is a speed reducer, and 10 is a drive device.
[0015]
The sterilization tank 1 is a cylindrical container, and is fixed in a horizontal state on a base 5 as shown in FIG. Lid members (1a, 1b) are attached to both ends of the sterilization tank 1 so as to be airtight and openable / closable. This device improves the working efficiency by allowing the lid members (1a, 1b) on both sides to be opened and closed. For example, after carrying out heat sterilization treatment in the sterilization tank 1, the lid member 1b on the carry-out side is opened and the tray is opened. 3 is unloaded from the rotating body 2, and at the same time, the lid member 1a on the loading side is opened, and the tray 3 on which the product a is placed on the rotating body 2 can be loaded.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 4 (A), the rotator 2 has a framework formed by a plurality of disks 2a and a plurality of connecting bars 2b that connect the disks 2a at appropriate intervals. Each disc 2a is formed with a substantially rectangular opening 2c for storing a cart 3a in which trays 3 are stacked. At the bottom of the opening 2c of each disk 2a, a guide rail 2d by a roller conveyor is provided, and a carry-in path 2h for the carriage 3a is formed. A side guide roll 2e is provided on the side surface of the carry-in path 2h. A tray presser member 2f for holding the loaded tray 3 from above and an air cylinder 2g for raising and lowering the tray presser member 2f are provided above the carry-in path 2h. Appropriate means such as these are provided.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 4 (B), the tray 3 can be stacked on a carriage 3a, and a plurality of products a are partitioned and partitioned by a partition plate 3b so as not to overlap and move. . Further, the tray 3 is formed with four corners 3d high, and a gap 3c is formed between the stacked trays 3 so that hot water or the like can be sprayed onto the product a from the periphery. In addition, an appropriate drainage structure such as a punching metal is adopted at the bottom of the tray 3 to enable drainage.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 4 (A), the header pipe 4 has a large number of spray nozzles 4a, and is installed in the carry-in path 2h of the rotating body 2 at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction (or horizontal direction). As shown in 2 (A) and (B), it rotates integrally with the rotating body 2. The spray nozzle 4a is sterilized with hot water, cooling water, or the like supplied to the header pipe 4 from the gap 3c between the trays 3 in the stacked state loaded into the loading path 2h of the rotating body 2 toward the product a. The medium is sprayed.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1, the supply of the sterilization processing medium such as hot water and cooling water to the header pipe 4 is branched and supplied from the main pipe 4b disposed on both sides of the rotating body 2 through the branch pipe 4c. The
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the sterilization medium supplied to the header pipe 4 is connected to a circulation supply pipe 43 of hot water or cooling water including a circulation pump 41 and a heat exchanger 42. The suction pipe 43a of the circulation pump 41 is connected to the bottom of the sterilization tank 1, the discharge pipe 43b of the circulation pump 41 is connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger 42, and the outlet of the heat exchanger 42 is a circulation supply pipe. 43 is connected to the main pipe 4b. The heat exchanger 42 is for producing hot water or cooling water by heating or cooling (heat exchange) water or other appropriate liquid remaining in the bottom of the sterilization tank 1 with heating steam s or cooling water c. Heating steam and cooling water for heat exchange are switched and supplied from piping 44 and 45 through switching valves 46 and 47, and cooling water outlet piping 48 and steam drain piping 49 are switched through switching valves 50 and 51. Switchable connection. The sterilization tank 1 is connected to a vacuum deaeration unit 52 and a hot air supply and exhaust unit 53 for drying as necessary. The supply of hot water or cooling water to the header pipe 4 may be switched and supplied directly without using the heat exchanger 42.
[0021]
The rotating body 2 is accommodated in the sterilization tank 1 and, as shown in FIG. 3, four points are provided by roller members (6, 6 ′) provided at four positions on the front, rear, left and right of the bottom inner periphery of the sterilization tank 1. It is supported so that it can rotate freely. As shown in FIG. 1, the pair of roller members 6 provided on the left and right of the lower peripheral surface of the sterilization tank 1 are provided on the lower side of the disk 2 a of the rotating body 2 to equalize the weight of the rotating body 2. To support.
[0022]
The roller member 6 on the front side of the sterilization tank 1 is accommodated in a case 7 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the sterilization tank 1 as shown in FIG. In the center of the roller member 6, an insertion hole 6b for inserting the shaft member 6a is formed. There is a protrusion 6c on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 6b. The shaft member 6a is covered with a tapered sleeve member 12 having a slit 12a formed in the axial direction. Then, the shaft member 6a is inserted into the insertion hole 6b of the roller member 6 from the end on the small diameter side of the sleeve member 12 of the shaft member 6a, the protrusion 6c of the insertion hole 6b is inserted into the slit 12a of the sleeve member 12, and screw The roller member 6 is fastened and fixed to the shaft member 6a by the member 11.
[0023]
Both end portions of the shaft member 6 a pass through both side surfaces of the case 7 and are rotatably supported by bearings 13 disposed outside the case 7. The shaft member 6 a and the case 7 are sealed with a seal member 14, and the bottom opening of the case 7 is sealed with a blind plate 16 via a packing member 15. For this reason, hot water and cooling water collected at the bottom of the sterilization tank 1 do not leak to the outside of the sterilization tank 1.
[0024]
The roller member 6 ′ on the rear side of the sterilization tank 1 is also attached to the sterilization tank 1 with the same structure.
[0025]
The roller members (6, 6 ′) slightly protrude into the sterilization tank 1 and contact the ring-shaped contact plate 2a1 mounted on the entire outer peripheral surface of the disk 2a of the rotating body 2 to rotate the rotating body 2. I support it as possible.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of left and right roller members 6 mounted on the front side of the sterilization tank 1 has a shaft member 6 a connected to a drive device 10 (motor or the like) via a power transmission unit 8 and a speed reducer 9. ing.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 6, the power transmission unit 8 includes a first drive shaft 81 connected to the output shaft 9 a of the speed reducer 9 via a roller chain coupling 21, and first drive shafts 81 on both the left and right sides of the sterilization tank 1. And the second drive shafts (82, 83) connected to the left and right sides of the sterilization tank 1 as universal joints. However, a third drive shaft (84, 85) in which the shaft member 6a of the member 6 is connected by a universal joint (24, 24) (constant velocity universal joint) is provided.
[0028]
The first drive shaft 81 is pivotally supported by a bearing 26 disposed on a pair of bases 25 provided on the lower left and right sides of the sterilization tank 1. One end of the first drive shaft 81 is connected to the output shaft 9 a of the speed reducer 9 via the roller chain coupling 21. On both the left and right sides of the first drive shaft 81, cross shaft gears (22a, 23a) for connecting the second drive shaft 82 are formed at predetermined positions corresponding to the left and right roller members 6 of the sterilization tank 1. .
[0029]
The second drive shaft 82 is arranged so as to be parallel to the rotation axis t of the rotating body 2 by bearings (27, 28) provided on the same base 25 as the first drive shaft 81 on the right side of the sterilization tank 1. It is supported. One end of the second drive shaft 82 is connected to the cross shaft gear 22a of the first drive shaft 81 by the cross shaft gear 22b. As a result, the second drive shaft 82 rotates at the same rotational speed as the first drive shaft 81.
[0030]
Similarly, the second drive shaft 83 on the left side is supported by bearings (27, 28) so as to be parallel to the rotation axis t of the rotating body 2, and the first drive shaft is formed by a cross shaft gear 23b formed at one end. It is connected to 81 cross shaft gears 23 a and rotates at the same rotational speed as the first drive shaft 81. The left and right intersecting shaft gears (22, 23) mesh with the first drive shaft 81 so that the left and right second drive shafts (82, 83) rotate in the same direction.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 7, the third drive shaft 84 is an intermediate shaft of the universal joint 8 a that connects the second drive shaft 82 and the shaft member 6 a of the member 6 via the universal joint 24. As described above, in the connection of the shaft member of the second drive shaft 82 and the member 8, the universal joint connected through the universal joint 24 is employed, so that the shaft member 6 a of the second drive shaft 82 and the roller member 6 can be attached. An error can be allowed to some extent, and the second drive shaft 82 and the shaft member 6a having different heights can be easily attached. The left third drive shaft 85 is similarly attached.
[0032]
Thus, the left and right roller members 6 mounted on the front side of the sterilization tank 1 are restrained by the power transmission unit 8 and rotate at the same speed in the same direction. Note that the left and right roller members 6 ′ mounted on the rear side of the sterilization tank 1 are not constrained by the power transmission unit 8, and thus rotate in contact with the disk 2 a of the rotating body 2.
[0033]
Hereinafter, the rotational drive of the rotary body 2 in this apparatus will be described.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating body 2 is always supported by the roller member (6, 6 ′) by its own weight. The roller member 6 on the front side of the sterilization tank 1 is rotationally driven by the power transmission unit 8 and frictionally contacts the contact plate 2a1 mounted on the outer periphery of the disc 2a of the rotator 2 to rotate the rotator 2. That is, the driving force of the driving device 10 is sequentially transmitted through the speed reducer 9, the first driving shaft 81, the second driving shaft (82, 83), the third driving shaft (84, 85), and the shaft member 6a to be sterilized. The left and right roller members 6 on the front side of 1 are rotated. At this time, since the left and right roller members 6 are connected so as to rotate at the same speed in the same direction, both roller members 6 can apply the force uniformly to rotate the rotating body 2.
[0035]
When rotating the rotating body 2 in the opposite direction, the transmission from the driving device 10 may be switched to rotate the first drive shaft 81 in the opposite direction. That is, this device can rotate the rotating body 2 in either the forward or reverse direction, and rotate the rotating body 2 in either the forward or reverse direction to form a rotary spray type retort sterilizer. The oscillating spray sterilization apparatus can be obtained by reversing the rotation direction at a predetermined cycle.
[0036]
When the rotating body 2 is stopped, the rotational inertia force of the rotating body 2 may be transmitted from the roller member 6 to the speed reducer so that the brake is applied. Thereby, for example, the burden on a stopping device such as a friction brake can be reduced.
[0037]
The rotational speed t2 of the rotating body 2 is the rotational speed t1 transmitted from the driving device 10 to the roller member 6 via the speed reducer 9, the outer diameter of the roller member 6 is L1, and the contact plate 2a1 of the rotating body 2 is If the outer diameter is L2,
t2 = (t1 × L1) / L2.
[0038]
Thereby, this apparatus can adjust the rotational speed t2 of the rotating body 2 by the rotational speed t1 of the roller member. That is, for example, the rotational speed of the rotating body 2 can be adjusted by changing the reduction ratio of the speed reducer 9 and by increasing / decreasing the output of the driving device 10.
[0039]
In this apparatus, the roller member 6 and the contact plate 2a1 of the disk 2a that contacts the roller member 6 need to be replaced in a timely manner due to wear. 2a1 is less expensive than pinions and chain sprockets and requires less replacement costs.
[0040]
Further, the pinion and the chain sprocket need to have a considerable size in order to ensure the required strength. However, since the roller member 6 can be formed in a smaller size, the space for the sterilization tank 1 can be saved.
[0041]
Further, since the roller member 6 and the contact plate 2a1 can grasp the worn state from the outside when the blanking plate 16 of the case 7 is removed, maintenance is easier than in the case of using a chain sprocket.
[0042]
The swing / rotation type spray retort sterilization apparatus of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above.
[0043]
For example, in the above embodiment, the left and right roller members 6 mounted on the front side of the sterilization tank 1 are configured to be driven, but the left and right roller members 6 ′ mounted on the rear side also have the shaft member 6 a. You may comprise so that it may connect with the drive device 10 and drive.
[0044]
Moreover, the structure of a power transmission part is not limited to the thing of the said embodiment.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
The oscillating / rotating spray type retort sterilization apparatus according to the present invention is disposed on the lower inner peripheral surface of the sterilization tank so as to be rotatable with a rotating shaft parallel to the rotating body, and in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body. Since it has a plurality of roller members that support the weight of the rotating body and a driving means that is disposed outside the sterilization tank and is connected to the rotation shaft of the roller member via a power transmission means, both sides of the sterilization tank are opened and closed. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently carry in and out the tray on which the product is placed, and it is not necessary to form a chain sprocket on the rotating body, so that the cost of equipment and maintenance is reduced.
[0046]
By configuring the power transmission means with a universal joint, an attachment error can be allowed and the power transmission means can be easily attached.
[0047]
In addition, at least two roller members are disposed in the circumferential direction of the sterilization tank, cross roller gears connected to the roller members and universal joints are respectively disposed below the roller members, and the cross shaft gears are connected to each other. Since each roller member is rotated at the same speed at the same speed by connecting with a rotating shaft that traverses the lower side of the sterilizing tank and rotating the rotating shaft with a driving means, each roller member rotates in the same direction at the same speed. A uniform force can be applied to the rotating body. As a result, the driving force of the driving means can be efficiently transmitted to the rotating body.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal front view showing a schematic structure of a swing / rotation type spray retort sterilizer according to the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of an operation state showing a state where it is swung left and right.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an outline of a driving structure of a rotating body of the swing / rotation type spray retort sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.
4A is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a rotating body, and FIG. 4B is a schematic perspective view of a tray.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a roller member mounting structure.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a power transmission unit.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a connection structure of a third drive shaft.
8A is a schematic side view showing a first form of a conventional rotation driving means, FIG. 8B is a schematic side view showing a second form of a conventional rolling drive means, and FIG. The figure is shown.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sterilization tank 2 Rotating body 2a Disk 2c Opening part 2d Guide rail 3 Tray 4 Header pipe 4a Spray nozzle 5 Base 6 Roller member 6a Shaft member 7 Case 8 Power transmission part 9 Reducer 22, 23 Cross shaft gear 24 Universal joint 81 First drive shaft 82 Second drive shaft 83 Third drive shaft

Claims (3)

A rotating body that accommodates a plurality of stacked trays on which products are placed, a sterilization tank that houses the rotating body, and hot water, cooling water, and the like are ejected toward the gap between the trays disposed in the rotating body In the oscillating and rotating spray retort sterilizer comprising the spray nozzle
A plurality of roller members that are rotatably disposed on a lower inner peripheral surface of the sterilization tank with a rotation axis parallel to the rotating body, and that support the weight of the rotating body in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body; ,
An oscillating / rotating spray type retort sterilizer having driving means disposed outside the sterilizing tank and connected to a rotating shaft of the roller member via a power transmission means. 2. The swing / rotation type spray retort sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission means is constituted by a universal joint. At least two roller members are disposed in the circumferential direction of the sterilization tank, cross shaft gears connected to the roller members via universal joints are respectively disposed below the roller members, and the cross shaft gears. 3. The roller members are connected together by a rotating shaft that crosses the lower side of the sterilizing tank, and the rotating shafts are rotated by driving means to rotate the roller members all at once. Oscillating and rotating spray retort sterilizer.

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