JPH0487934A - Method and device for retort pasturing liquid contained in plastic container and heating pasturizing tray used - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent deformation of softened plastics all over the processes of high temperature and high pressure pasturization of liquid to be treated which is contained in plastic containers by a method wherein while retaining water level in a watertank-shaped tray as high as liquid level in plastic containers, water in the tray is constantly replaced and circulated through drain holes and an overflow hole. CONSTITUTION:A tray 1 has a plurality of drain holes 2 in a bottom part. An overflow hole 3 is pierced at the same position as liquid level of contained liquid 5 of plastic containers 4. Water 6 is supplied into the tray 1 by spraying or other methods so as to fill the tray 1 with water constantly. In retort pasturing devices 7, a heating process and a cooling process are carried out successively. A plurality of plastic containers 4 are planted with a space from each other, and even if physiological salt solution 7 in the plastic containers 4 expands, the liquid pressure in the container 4 and water pressure around the containers 4 cancel each other.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 産業上の利用分野 本発明はレトルト殺菌装置を用いてプラスチック容器に
収容された医薬、食品その他の被処理液又は固液混合液
を加熱滅菌するレトルト殺菌方法、装置並びにこれに用
いる加熱滅菌用トレイに関するものである。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a retort sterilization method and apparatus for heat sterilizing pharmaceuticals, foods, and other processed liquids or solid-liquid mixtures housed in plastic containers using a retort sterilizer. The present invention relates to a heat sterilization tray used for this purpose.

従来の技術 従来からプラスチック容器に収容された医薬用液体や固
体を混在した液体などのレトルト殺菌装置による高温高
圧殺菌処理に際しては、第４図に示すようにプラスチッ
ク容器８．９を単にトレイＩｎ上に立設又は横向きに載
置した状態で含気制御装置のコントロールのもとに容器
の変形を極力少なくするよう処理していた。2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when performing high-temperature and high-pressure sterilization using a retort sterilizer for pharmaceutical liquids or liquids containing solids contained in plastic containers, the plastic containers 8 and 9 are simply placed on a tray as shown in FIG. The container was placed vertically or horizontally under the control of an aeration control device to minimize deformation of the container.

発明が解決しようとする課題 しかし、上記のようなレトルト殺菌方法では、蒸気式又
は熱水スプレー式の高温高圧殺菌機のいずれの場合にも
高温高圧の温水がプラスチック容器に直接加えられる結
果、例えば槽内温度が１）０℃近辺のポリプロピレンや
ポリエチレンその他プラスチック製容器が軟化し内容物
の自重によってプラスチック容器１）の下方が膨らむよ
うに変形されてしまう（第５図参照）という問題点がみ
られた。Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned retort sterilization method, high-temperature, high-pressure hot water is directly added to the plastic container in both steam-type and hot water spray-type high-temperature and high-pressure sterilizers, resulting in, for example, When the temperature inside the tank is 1) around 0°C, polypropylene, polyethylene, or other plastic containers soften and become deformed so that the bottom of the plastic container 1) swells due to the weight of the contents (see Figure 5). It was done.

本発明の目的は上記のような問題点を解消し、レトルト
殺菌処理を行なう際にプラスチック容器に収容の被処理
液に対して高温高圧殺菌の全工程を通じで、プラスチッ
クが軟化する場合にも変形を生じさせないレトルト殺菌
方法、その装置並びにこれに用いるトレイを提供しよう
とするものである。The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to prevent deformation even when the plastic softens through the entire process of high-temperature and high-pressure sterilization of the liquid to be treated stored in a plastic container during retort sterilization. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a retort sterilization method that does not cause sterilization, an apparatus for the same, and a tray used therefor.

課題を解決するための手段 本発明は上記目的を達成するため、殺菌方法としで、蒸
気式又は熱水スプレー式レトルト殺菌装置内で、医薬、
食品その他の液体を収容したプラスチックボトル容器を
複数個、互いに若干の間隔をあけて水槽型トレイ内に立
設し、この水槽型トレイにはプラスチック容器中の液位
とほぼ同位置まで水位を保持しつつ、常時水槽型トレイ
の水を水抜孔とオーバーフロー孔によって入れ替え循環
させ、熱交換も円滑に行なえるように且つ水圧による圧
力制御が行なえるようにした。Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a sterilization method that sterilizes pharmaceuticals in a steam or hot water spray retort sterilizer.
A plurality of plastic bottle containers containing food or other liquids are placed upright in an aquarium-type tray with some distance between them, and the water level in the aquarium-type tray is maintained at approximately the same level as the liquid level in the plastic container. At the same time, the water in the water tank type tray is constantly replaced and circulated through the drain hole and overflow hole, allowing smooth heat exchange and pressure control using water pressure.

又、殺菌装置としで、蒸気式又は熱水スプレー式レトル
ト殺菌装置め・内部に複数段設置され、医薬、食品その
他の液体を収容したプラスチック容器を複数個、互いに
若干の間隔をあけて立設収容可能とした水槽型トレイと
、この水槽型トレイにプラスチック容器の液位とほぼ同
位置に設けたオーバーフロー孔と前記トレイ下方に設け
た水抜孔と、前記水槽型トレイに注入される水を循環し
て入れ替え可能とし、常時オーバーフロー孔の位置まで
保持するようにした。In addition, as a sterilization device, a steam type or hot water spray type retort sterilization device is installed in multiple stages inside, and multiple plastic containers containing medicines, foods, and other liquids are set up with a slight distance from each other. An aquarium-shaped tray that can be accommodated, an overflow hole provided in this aquarium-shaped tray at approximately the same position as the liquid level of the plastic container, and a water drain hole provided below the tray, and water that is poured into the aquarium-shaped tray is circulated. It is made to be replaceable and always held at the overflow hole position.

又、これに用いるトレイとしで、プラスチック容器の複
数個を互いに若干の間隙をあけて立設して収容され、底
部に多数の水抜孔を設けると共に側壁には前記プラスチ
ック容器に収容された液位とほぼ同位置のオーバーフロ
ー孔を設けた。In addition, a tray used for this purpose is a tray in which a plurality of plastic containers are placed upright with a slight gap between each other, and the bottom is provided with a number of drainage holes, and the side wall is provided with the liquid level stored in the plastic containers. An overflow hole was provided at approximately the same position as the

作用 本発明方法、及びその装置では、蒸気式又は熱水スプレ
ー式レトルト殺菌装置内で、プラスチック容器は複数個
立設され、装置内ではこれを複数段積み重ねて装填され
る。それぞれのトレイには容器に収容された液位とほぼ
同位置まで、常時循環される水によって水位を保持して
いるので、高温高圧による液及び水の膨張と液圧とがプ
ラスチック容器の壁面を通して内外で常時相殺され、プ
ラスチックが軟化した場合にも収容液が自重で下方へ下
り容器が変形することもなくなった。トレイ内には常時
新しい水が供給されで、水抜孔とオーバーフロー孔によ
って入れ替えられるように循環されているので、昇温工
程、殺菌工程、冷却工程等全ての工程においてもプラス
チック容器の内外における水圧の差がなくなり、圧力制
御と熱交換が順調に行なわれる。Operation In the method and apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of plastic containers are set upright in a steam-type or hot water spray-type retort sterilizer, and the plastic containers are stacked in multiple stages and loaded in the apparatus. The water level in each tray is maintained at almost the same level as the liquid level in the container by constantly circulating water, so the expansion of the liquid and water due to high temperature and high pressure and the liquid pressure pass through the wall of the plastic container. There is constant counterbalance between the inside and outside, and even if the plastic softens, the stored liquid will no longer fall downward under its own weight and cause the container to deform. Fresh water is constantly supplied to the tray and is circulated through the drain hole and overflow hole, so water pressure inside and outside of the plastic container is maintained throughout all processes, including the heating process, sterilization process, and cooling process. The difference disappears, and pressure control and heat exchange occur smoothly.

又、本発明のトレイは水槽型であっで、内部に水を貯留
させることができ、プラスチック容器はこの貯留水の中
で複数個互いに若干の間隙をあけて立設される。そして
トレイの底部に多数の水抜孔を設けているので、底部か
ら水抜きされるが、各トレイには連続して水が供給され
、容器内にある液の液位とほぼ同位置のオーバーフロー
孔の高さまで、常時液位を保ちつつ、常に入れ替わるよ
うになっている。このようにトレイのオーバーフロー孔
の位置高さまで、常時液位を保っているので、高温高圧
が加えられても、プラスチック容器内の液圧とトレイ内
の液圧とが相殺される働きをする。Further, the tray of the present invention is of a water tank type and can store water therein, and a plurality of plastic containers are erected in this stored water with a slight gap between them. The bottom of the tray has many drainage holes, so water is drained from the bottom, but water is continuously supplied to each tray, and the overflow hole is located at approximately the same level as the liquid level in the container. The liquid level is maintained at all times and is constantly replaced. In this way, the liquid level is always maintained up to the height of the overflow hole of the tray, so even if high temperature and pressure are applied, the liquid pressure inside the plastic container and the liquid pressure inside the tray cancel each other out.

実施例 以下、実施例として示した図面に基づいて本発明の装置
及びトレイを説明する。EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the apparatus and tray of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings shown as examples.

第１図は本発明装置の要部正面図で、第２図はプラスチ
ック容器（ポリプロピレン樹脂製）内に生理食塩水を１
ｏｏｏ＋ｎＩ２．収容したボトルをトレイ上に１）０本
並へた状態を示す。Figure 1 is a front view of the main parts of the device of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a plastic container (made of polypropylene resin) containing 1 portion of physiological saline.
ooo+nI2. 1) Shows a state in which 0 bottles are flattened on the tray.

１はトレイで、底部に多数の水抜孔２を有する。３はオ
ーバーフロー孔で、プラスチック容器４の収容液５の液
位と同じ位置に穿設されている。プラスチック容器４は
それぞれ１０ｍｍの隙間をあけて立設されている。６は
トレイ内に充填された水である。７はレトルト殺菌装置
、８はスプレーノズルを示す。Reference numeral 1 denotes a tray, which has a large number of drainage holes 2 at the bottom. Reference numeral 3 denotes an overflow hole, which is bored at the same position as the liquid level of the liquid 5 contained in the plastic container 4. The plastic containers 4 are placed upright with a gap of 10 mm between them. 6 is water filled in the tray. 7 indicates a retort sterilizer, and 8 indicates a spray nozzle.

」１記の構成においで、水６は常時トレイｌに充填され
るようスプレー式その他で供給されている。レトルト殺
菌装置７内では、昇温工程、冷却工程と引続いて行なわ
れるが、本実施例の生理食塩水に対しては１０５°Ｃで
４５分間の滅菌処理をした。In the configuration described in item 1, water 6 is supplied by spraying or other means so that the tray 1 is always filled with water 6. In the retort sterilizer 7, a temperature raising step and a cooling step were successively carried out, and the physiological saline of this example was sterilized at 105° C. for 45 minutes.

本実施例は上記のような構成としたので、複数のプラス
チック容器４がそれぞれ間隔をあけて立設され、その内
部の生理食塩水７がたとえ膨張しても、トレイ１内の水
６によっで、ボトル内の液圧と周囲の水圧とが互いに相
殺され、たとえプラスチックが軟化する温度になった場
合でも容器内で生理食塩水７の自重が容器４の下方にか
かってこれを変形させるようなことが生じないように自
動的に行なわれるようになった。Since this embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration, a plurality of plastic containers 4 are placed upright at intervals, and even if the physiological saline 7 inside expands, it will not be blown away by the water 6 in the tray 1. The liquid pressure inside the bottle and the surrounding water pressure cancel each other out, so that even if the temperature reaches a point where the plastic softens, the weight of the physiological saline 7 in the container will apply to the bottom of the container 4 and deform it. This is now done automatically to prevent this from happening.

比較実験のため、本発明トレイを使用せずに同じ滅菌条
件によって処理した場合、第５図に示すように下膨れの
変形が生じた。この例の場合、当然に殺菌機内の圧力は
別途の含気コントロールシステムで最適条件に制御され
ているのであるが、軟化によるプラスチック製容器の変
化は防止できなかった。As a comparative experiment, when the tray was treated under the same sterilization conditions without using the tray of the present invention, deformation of the lower bulge occurred as shown in FIG. In this case, the pressure inside the sterilizer was naturally controlled to optimal conditions using a separate air control system, but this did not prevent the plastic container from changing due to softening.

発明の効果 本発明方法では上記のような構成をとったので、昇温工
程、殺菌工程及び冷却工程の全ての工程においで、プラ
スチック容器内の被処理物の温度がプラスチック軟化点
に近く上界しても、常に充填されているトレイ内の水に
よって周囲を同温１−圧に維持しているので、容器の変
形が生じることなく、殺菌処理が完成される。Effects of the Invention Since the method of the present invention has the above-described configuration, the temperature of the material to be treated in the plastic container is close to the plastic softening point in all steps of the heating step, the sterilization step, and the cooling step. However, since the surrounding area is maintained at the same temperature and pressure of 1-pressure by the water in the tray that is always filled, the sterilization process is completed without deformation of the container.

又、本発明装置では、それぞれのトレイ内に複数個のプ
ラスチック容器を整頓して立設さぜることができ、さら
にオーバーフロー孔と水抜孔とによって常時循環される
水をプラスチック容器の液位とほぼ同一の高さまで保持
しつつ昇温、殺菌、冷却の仝工程を行なうことができ、
その間にプラスチック容器の側壁面を介して圧力制御を
可能としている。Furthermore, with the device of the present invention, a plurality of plastic containers can be neatly placed upright in each tray, and the water constantly circulated through the overflow hole and drain hole can be adjusted to the liquid level of the plastic container. Temperature raising, sterilization, and cooling processes can be carried out while maintaining almost the same height.
Meanwhile, pressure control is possible via the side wall surface of the plastic container.

又、ｌ・レイについては底部の水抜孔とボトル容器内の
液位とほぼ同じ高さに設けたオーバーフロ孔とによって
循環される水が常にボトル容器の内部の液圧と同じ水圧
を維持するようにできるので、内部の液圧によるボトル
容器の変形を防止することのできるトレイを提供するこ
とができる。In addition, for L-Ray, the water that is circulated through the drain hole at the bottom and the overflow hole provided at approximately the same height as the liquid level in the bottle container always maintains the same water pressure as the liquid pressure inside the bottle container. Therefore, it is possible to provide a tray that can prevent the bottle container from being deformed due to internal hydraulic pressure.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

第１図は本発明レトルト殺菌装置の正面図、第２図はト
レイを用いて容器を立設した場合を示す要部側断面図、
第３図は同１〜レイの縮小平面図、第４図は従来例とし
てトレイを収容する場合の要部断面図、第５図は従来例
にＪ：る変形容器の例をノＪくず正面図である。 １・・・トレイ　　２・・・水抜孔 ：３・・・オーバーフロー孔FIG. 1 is a front view of the retort sterilizer of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the main part showing the case where the container is set up using a tray.
Fig. 3 is a reduced plan view of the trays 1 to 1, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the main part when storing a tray as a conventional example, and Fig. 5 is a front view of an example of a conventional deformed container. It is a diagram. 1...Tray 2...Drain hole: 3...Overflow hole

Claims (3)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] （１）蒸気式又は熱水スプレー式レトルト殺菌装置内で
、医薬、食品その他の液体を収容したプラスチックボト
ル容器を複数個、互いに若干の間隔をあけて水槽型トレ
イ内に立設し、この水槽型トレイにはプラスチック容器
中の液位とほぼ同位置まで水位を保持しつつ、常時水槽
型トレイの水を水抜孔とオーバーフロー孔によって入れ
替え循環させ、水圧による圧力制御をしたことを特徴と
するプラスチック容器に収容の液のレトルト殺菌方法。(1) In a steam-type or hot water spray-type retort sterilizer, a plurality of plastic bottle containers containing medicines, foods, and other liquids are placed upright in a water tank-shaped tray with a slight distance from each other, and the water tank is A plastic characterized in that the water level in the aquarium tray is maintained at approximately the same level as the liquid level in the plastic container, while the water in the aquarium tray is constantly exchanged and circulated through drain holes and overflow holes, and the pressure is controlled by water pressure. A retort sterilization method for liquids stored in containers. （２）蒸気式又は熱水スプレー式レトルト殺菌装置の内
部に複数段設置され、医薬、食品その他の液体を収容し
たプラスチック容器を複数個、互いに若干の間隔をあけ
て立設収容可能とした水槽型トレイと、この水槽型トレ
イにプラスチック容器の液位とほぼ同位置に設けたオー
バーフロー孔と前記トレイ下方に設けた水抜孔と、前記
水槽型トレイに注入される水を循環して入れ替え可能と
し、常時オーバーフロー孔の位置まで保持するようにし
たことを特徴とするプラスチック容器に収容の液のレト
ルト殺菌装置。(2) A water tank installed in multiple stages inside a steam-type or hot water spray-type retort sterilizer, and capable of accommodating a plurality of plastic containers containing medicines, foods, and other liquids, standing at a certain distance from each other. A water tank type tray, an overflow hole provided in the water tank type tray at approximately the same position as the liquid level of the plastic container, and a water drain hole provided below the tray, and water injected into the water tank type tray can be circulated and replaced. A retort sterilizer for a liquid contained in a plastic container, characterized in that the liquid is always held up to the overflow hole position. （３）プラスチック容器の複数個を互いに若干の間隙を
あけて立設して収容され、底部に多数の水抜孔を設ける
と共に側壁には前記プラスチック容器に収容された液位
とほぼ同位置のオーバーフロー孔を設けたことを特徴と
するレトルト殺菌装置に用いるプラスチック容器の加熱
滅菌用トレイ。(3) A plurality of plastic containers are housed in an upright position with a slight gap between each other, with a number of drainage holes provided at the bottom and an overflow on the side wall at approximately the same level as the liquid level contained in the plastic containers. A tray for heat sterilization of plastic containers used in a retort sterilizer, characterized by having holes.