JPH03212272A - High pressure sterilization - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sterilize the content article filling and enveloping body without generating the residual deformation of the enveloping body after sterilization by constituting the enveloping body as a polyhedron which has three surfaces or more and is equipped with a constitution member made of the flexible material and the constitution member having a laminate structure having a paper layer as inner part layer, and carrying out pressurization with a specific pressure or more. CONSTITUTION:An enveloping body 1 is a cylindrical three-face body equipped with a trunk member 2, top part closing member 3, and a bottomed closing member 4 which has flexibility and is arranged at the other opened port edge part of the trunk member 2. The trunk member 2 is formed by forming the member 2a having a laminate structure including a paper layer as inside layer into cylindrical form. The enveloping body 1 filled with content article and sealed is pressed with a pressure of 1000kgf/m<2> or more. A high pressure is applied onto the content article through the constitution member, and the content article and the enveloping body are effectively sterilized. In this case, even if the volume reduction of the content article is generated, the constitution member made of flexible material follows the volume reduction, and projects inside, and the generation of deformation of the constitution member which has not flexibility is prevented. Accordingly, the generation of the residual deformation of the enveloping body after high pressure sterilization is prevented, and the sterilization of the content article can be carried out.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a high-pressure sterilization method, and particularly to a method for sterilizing contents filled in a package without causing residual deformation of the package after sterilization. This article relates to a high-pressure sterilization method that can be used.

[Conventional technology]

BACKGROUND ART Foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, etc. have traditionally been distributed in various packages, but from the viewpoint of hygiene and preservation, they have been required to be sterilized. To sterilize the contents filled and held in a package, there are two methods: filling the sterilized package with pre-sterilized contents, and heating and pressurizing the sealed package as it is. There was a method to sterilize the product. However, in the former method, in addition to sterilizing the contents and the package, it is also necessary to maintain the manufacturing equipment and the manufacturing environment in a constant sterile state, resulting in high manufacturing costs. In addition, the latter may cause the quality of the contents to deteriorate due to heating.
There was a problem in that the texture and nutritional content deteriorated.

In order to solve these problems, a high-pressure sterilization method has been proposed in recent years in which the contents are sterilized by high pressure (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-66862, etc.). This high-pressure sterilization method does not require the contents to be heated to high temperatures, so it does not cause deterioration of the quality of the contents or decrease in texture or nutrients, and can also keep manufacturing costs low, eliminating the drawbacks of the above two methods. It can be said that it was done.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, for example, if a package is filled with a beverage and placed in still water at 1000 kgf/co? By performing high-pressure sterilization by applying the above pressure, high pressure is applied to the beverage through the wall surface of the package. As a result, the volume of the beverage decreases by several percent to more than ten percent, and as a result, the wall surface of the package deforms inward into a concave shape. Even after high-pressure sterilization is completed and the package is returned to normal pressure, there is a problem in that the deformation of the package remains or traces of deformation remain, reducing the commercial value. For this reason, there is a problem in that conventionally used members that do not exhibit flexibility, such as constituent members of a laminate structure having a paper layer as an inner layer, cannot be used in the packaging due to manufacturing costs. Ta.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a high-pressure sterilization method that can sterilize the contents filled in a package without causing residual deformation of the package after sterilization. purpose.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a high-pressure sterilization method in which the contents and the package are sterilized by pressurizing the package hermetically filled with the contents via a pressurizing medium in a pressurizing device. The package is a polyhedron with three or more sides comprising at least a constituent member made of a flexible material and a constituent member of a laminate structure having a paper layer as an inner layer, and the pressurization is performed at a pressure of 1000 kglla or more. It is configured as follows.

[Effect]

Filled and sealed package is 1000 kgl/ca
By being pressurized at a pressure of r or more, high pressure is applied to the contents through the flexible material component of the package, which is a polyhedron with three or more sides, and the contents and the package are effectively sterilized. At this time, even if the volume of the contents decreases, the structural members made of the flexible material follow the volume reduction and protrude inward, so that the non-flexible structural members will not be deformed. Then, when the high-pressure sterilization is completed and the package filled with the contents and sealed is returned to normal pressure and the pressurization of the contents through the component made of flexible material is released, the above-mentioned The component made of flexible material follows the return of the volume of the contents and now protrudes outward to assume its original shape. Therefore, even if a non-flexible component made of a laminate structure with a paper layer as an inner layer is used in a part of the package, the contents can be sterilized without causing residual deformation of the package after high-pressure sterilization. will be held.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package used in the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the package of FIG. 1. 1 and 2, the package 1 includes a body member 2, a top closing member 3 disposed at one open end of the body member 2, and a top closure member 3 disposed at one open end of the body member 2, and a top closure member 3 disposed at one open end of the body member 2, and It is a cylindrical trihedron having a flexible bottom closing member 4 disposed at the end.

The body member 2 is a cylindrical member 2a having a laminated structure including a paper layer as an inner layer.

For example, the laminated structure member 2a includes a polyethylene resin (PE) layer/paper layer/adhesive layer/
It may be a member in which an aluminum (AI) layer/a polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET) layer/a polyethylene resin (PE) layer are laminated in this order. The paper layer is used as the inner layer in this manner because paper is superior to other materials from an overall cost and property standpoint.

The laminate structure can have various configurations in addition to the above configuration, but in any configuration, it is necessary that film layers having barrier properties against pressurized media, which will be described later, be located on both sides of the paper layer. It is. This is to prevent the pressurized medium from entering the paper layer during high-pressure sterilization, causing swelling of the paper layer, and thereby preventing the paper layer from peeling off. If the pressurized medium is water,
In the above example, the PR layer and the PET layer have water barrier properties.

FIG. 3 shows the rolled laminate structure member 2a when forming such a laminate structure member 2a into a cylindrical shape.
FIG. Figure 3 (A) is
The end faces of the rolled laminate structural member 2a are bonded and connected so as to face each other and cover the end faces from the outside (upper side of the drawing) and the inside (lower side of the drawing) so as to cover the end faces from the outside (bottom side of the drawing). This is what I did. Also, Figure 3 (B
), the vicinity of the end surfaces of the laminate structural members 2a are overlapped and adhered to each other, and the barrier film 5 is bonded and connected so as to cover the end surfaces from the outside and inside. The barrier film 5 against the pressurized medium can be appropriately selected depending on the pressurized medium used, and when the pressurized medium is water, for example, a laminate film consisting of PE layer/PET layer/PE layer can be used. . By laminating the barrier film 5 in this manner, the paper layer of the laminate structural member 2a is covered not only on both sides but also on the end face with the barrier film against the pressurized medium, and the paper layer is protected against the pressurized medium and the contents. It will not be exposed inside objects. therefore,
It is possible to prevent the pressurized medium or liquid contents from entering the paper layer during high-pressure sterilization and causing the paper layer to peel off.

The top closing member 3 can be selected from various types depending on the type of contents, how the package is used, and the like. For example, it may be a component having the same laminated structure as the body member 2 described above, or it may be a component having a laminate structure similar to that of the body member 2, or a three-layer structure such as a PE layer/AA layer/PE layer.
It may also be a component with a layered structure.

The flexible bottom closing member 4 is used to apply high pressure to the contents without causing deformation of other non-flexible components (body member 2 and top closing member 3) during high-pressure sterilization. It is something. Even if the volume of the contents decreases during high-pressure sterilization, the flexible bottom closing member 4 moves inside the package 1 to follow the volume decrease of the contents, as shown by the chain line in FIG. This prevents protrusion and deformation of other structural members of the package 1. Then, when the high-pressure sterilization is completed, the filled and sealed package is returned to normal pressure, and the pressurization of the contents through the flexible material is released, the bottom is closed. The member 4 protrudes outward and assumes its original shape. Bottom closing member 4 having such flexibility
The structure may be, for example, a structure in which PE layer/nonwoven fabric/adhesive layer/AA' layer/adhesive layer/nylon resin layer/adhesive layer/PE layer are laminated in this order from the inside of the package. As the nonwoven fabric, a nonwoven fabric of about 30g1rd can be used.

In the present invention, it is also possible to use a package in which not only the bottom closing member but also the top closing member are made of flexible members. In this manner, by using a flexible component also for the top closure member, the contents are effectively pressurized via the top closure member and the bottom closure member. Even if the volume of the contents decreases during high-pressure sterilization, the top closing member and the bottom closing member work together to protrude inside the package 1, thereby preventing the body member from deforming. Therefore, the permissible range of the packaging body to follow the volume reduction of the contents increases. Therefore, it is a preferable package when the package is filled with a certain amount of gas such as air together with the contents.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another package used in the present invention. In FIG. 4, a package 11 is a package obtained by changing the shape of the package 1 shown in FIG. That is, the package 11 is a cylindrical hexahedron, the body member 2 has a quadrangular cross-section, and the top closing member 3 and the bottom closing member 4 also have a square shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the body member 2. It differs from the above-mentioned package 1 in this respect. In this package 11 as well, not only the bottom closing member but also the top closing member can be made of flexible members, as described above. Note that the same constituent members as those of the package shown in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers and their explanations are omitted.

Contents to which the present invention can be applied include various beverages, foods, medicines, seasonings such as soy sauce, sauces, sauces, dressings, cosmetics, seasoning fruit juices such as yuzu, kabosu, and 0 sudachi. It will be done.

In the present invention, various known high-pressure sterilizers, such as those using reciprocating pumps, can be used. Further, the pressurizing medium can be appropriately selected from among water, silicone oil, etc. depending on the type of contents, the method of using the package, etc.

In addition, the high pressure sterilization conditions in the present invention include a pressure of 1000
kgVa & above, preferably 3000-5000k
gf/ad, and the temperature is about 0°C to 80°C. In this way, in the present invention, there is no need to heat the contents to a high temperature, so there is no deterioration in the quality of the contents, or a decrease in texture or nutrients. Further, the pressurization time is preferably about 3 seconds to 60 minutes, and the pressure may be applied continuously or intermittently within this time. When applying pressure intermittently,
The time for one pressurization is preferably about 3 seconds to 30 minutes, the time for one pressure reduction is preferably about 2 seconds to 10 minutes, and the pressure at the time of pressure reduction is preferably 1000 kgf/al or less.

By applying pressure intermittently in this way, even higher sterilization effects can be obtained.

1 [Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the contents filled and sealed in a package can be distributed over 1,000 times through the component made of a flexible material of the package, which is a polyhedron with three or more sides. kgj/ca
Even if the volume of the contents decreases due to high-pressure sterilization at a pressure higher than r, only the flexible structural members of the package protrude inward, preventing deformation of other non-flexible structural members. When the high-pressure sterilization is completed, the filled and sealed package is returned to normal pressure, and the pressurization of the contents through the component made of flexible material is released, the above-mentioned flexible material is removed. Since the component made of flexible material returns to its original shape following the return of the volume of the contents, it is possible to sterilize the contents without causing residual deformation of the package after high-pressure sterilization. It is played.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package used in the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the package shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a seam on the end surface of the material, and a perspective view of another packaging body used in the present invention. 1.11... Packaging body, 2... Trunk member, 2a...
Laminated structural member, 3. ...Top closing member, 4...
- Bottom closing member, 5...barrier film.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A high-pressure sterilization method in which the contents and the package are sterilized by pressurizing the package hermetically filled with the contents via a pressurizing medium in a pressurizing device, wherein the package is It is a polyhedron with three or more sides comprising at least a component made of a flexible material and a component with a laminate structure having a paper layer as an internal layer, and the pressurization is performed at a pressure of 1000 kgf/cm^2 or more. A high-pressure sterilization method characterized by: 2. The high-pressure sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the constituent members of the laminate structure are covered with a film having barrier properties against pressurized media so that both sides and end faces of the paper layer are not exposed. 3. Claim 1, wherein the pressurized medium is water.
Or the high pressure sterilization method described in 2.