HEAT STERILIZATION METHOD FOR IN-CONTAINER PRODUCT

• Main Authors: IJUIN TAICHI, SUGAWARA DAISUKE, TAKATOMI TETSUYA
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.06.2008
• Subjects: CONVEYING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGINGARTICLES OR MATERIALS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; STORING; TRANSPORTING; UNPACKING

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat sterilization method for an in-container product produced by filling and sealing contents in a container made of a material transmitting microwaves, by which method the contents can be sterilized by heat uniformly in a short time without excessively heating part of the contents. SOLUTION: The in-container product 1 produced by filling and sealing the contents in the container is kept in a heat-transfer medium (steam, etc.) heated to about 100°C for several minutes to raise the temperature of part of the contents close to the periphery of the container. Then, the product 1 is exposed to microwaves (from a magnetron 5) for several tens of seconds to raise the temperature of part of the contents close to the center of the container. The overall temperature of the contents in the container is thus increased uniformly and quickly, after which the product 1 is kept in a heat-transfer medium (steam, etc.) heated to 100°C or higher for a time that is required for sterilization of the contents, and is cooled (with a cooling water shower 6). COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT