CA1111808A - Method for replacing gases in cans and apparatus therefor - Google Patents
Method for replacing gases in cans and apparatus thereforInfo
- Publication number
- CA1111808A CA1111808A CA331,590A CA331590A CA1111808A CA 1111808 A CA1111808 A CA 1111808A CA 331590 A CA331590 A CA 331590A CA 1111808 A CA1111808 A CA 1111808A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lid
- gas
- liquid
- steam
- inert gas
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 59
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 30
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000009924 canning Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 238000004826 seaming Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 238000002788 crimping Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims 1
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 20
- 229910001873 dinitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 17
- 210000000078 claw Anatomy 0.000 description 12
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 10
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 6
- 239000008157 edible vegetable oil Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 101150091111 ACAN gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000011389 fruit/vegetable juice Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000002978 peroxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000013555 soy sauce Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A method for replacing gases during canning process, including the steps of continuously conveying open cans containing a liquid one after another in a horizontal direction, lifting a can in the middle of its horizontal movement up to a seamer, applying a lid to the opening of the can, carring out a seaming operation, and lowering the seamed can to be transfered to the next treatment.
Steam or an inert gas are introduced into an open can containing a liquid in a slantwise direction from above the can when the can is lifted and while the surface of the liquid keeps an inclined state due to an abrupt halt of its horizontal movement, so as to fill a head space of the can with a proper amount of steam or the inert gas. A lid is sealed to the can immediately after the head space has been filled with steam or the inert gas, and the lid is crimped to the can. An apparatus for replacing gases during canning process is also disclosed.
By these method and apparatus the gases in the head space of the can can be easily and unfailingly replaced with steam or the inert gas.
Steam or an inert gas are introduced into an open can containing a liquid in a slantwise direction from above the can when the can is lifted and while the surface of the liquid keeps an inclined state due to an abrupt halt of its horizontal movement, so as to fill a head space of the can with a proper amount of steam or the inert gas. A lid is sealed to the can immediately after the head space has been filled with steam or the inert gas, and the lid is crimped to the can. An apparatus for replacing gases during canning process is also disclosed.
By these method and apparatus the gases in the head space of the can can be easily and unfailingly replaced with steam or the inert gas.
Description
11118~8 This invention realtes to a method for removing gas from cans during canning process, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for replacing gas in the head space of a liquid-containing can with steam or an inert gas.
In canning process it is generally practiced to remove gas from cans filled with food or other things, so as to preserve the contents. This gas replacing is carried out also in canning liquid-like foods such as edible oil, juice, soy sauce and liquors. Cans containing such liquid-like foods generally have a deep head space which is subject to contain a residual air. Oxygen in the head space oxidizes the food and eventually deteriorates the taste and quality of the food.
Thug the air must be removed from the head space or must be replaced with a gas which does not affect the food, before the can is sealed.
Various methods have been employed to replace the air in the head space of a can with heated steam or an inert gas. They, however, fail to achieve a sufficient gas replacing and do not bring forth particular effects.
It is difficult to replace all the air with a proper gas, in particular, with big cans whose head space is 15mm to 20mm deep. The gas introduced into such a can escapes outside before the can is sealed. Further, the air in the lower part of the head space cannot be fully replaced with the gas. Still further, however 11118~8 properly the gas feed rate and gas pressure are adjusted, a considrably large loss is unavoidable and the air outside the can inevitably flows into the head space.
It is hardly expected of the known methods to achieve an 5 efficient gas replacing.
This invention aims to provide a method and apparatus for removing air from cans and more particular-ly for easily and unfailingly replacing the air in the head space of a can with steam or an inert gas. Steam or an inert gas is introducted into the can through a gap between a lid and the can the moment the can stops and the surface of a liquid in it inclines. Once the air has been replaced by the steam or the inert gas, the lid is sealed to the can. The gas replacing is therefore achieved effectively without a much loss of the steam or inert gas.
More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a method for replacing gases during canning process, in which steam or an inert gas is introduced into an open can containing a liquid in a slantwise direction from above the can when the can is lifted and the surface of the liquid keeps an inclined state due to an abrupt halt of its horizontal movement, so as to fill a head space of the can with a proper amount of steam or the inert gas, a lid is sealed to the can immediately after the head space has been filled with steam or the inert gas, and the lid is crimped to the can.
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for replacing gases during canning process, which comprises means for conveying open cans containing a liquid, continuously one after another; can support means for moving up and down one can at a time during the can conveying process; lid support means provided above the can support means and having an opening, a lid supporting lip provided on the inner wall of the opening and a gas port provided below the lip to eject steam or an inert gas into each can when the can is moved up and thus the surface of the liquid inclines, said gas port being made progressively broader according to the increasing depth of a head space of the can defined by the inclining surface of the liquid and introducing steam or the inert gas into the head space from above the can in a direction transverse to the direction in which the cans are conveyed; and seaming means for crimping a lid to each can.
This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in con-junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. l schematically illustrates a gas replacing apparatus according to this invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematical plan view of the gas replacing apparatus shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus, taken along line III-III in Fig. l;
11118~8 Fig. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of a part of the apparatus, showing the positional relationship between a can and a can lid supporting member; and Fig. 5 illustrates the relationship between the inclination of a liquid surface in the head space of a can and the diameters of gas nozzles.
Now referring to the accompanying drawings, an apparatus according to this invention will be described.
As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a long table C on which cans A slide. The table C has a slit C' which extends along substantially the center thereof.
Two chain conveyors 1 and 3 run through the slit C' and are thus aligned in a straight line. The chain conveyors 1 and 3 are driven by a pair of sprockets 1' and a pair of sprockets 3', respectively, in the direction indicated by arrows in Fig. 1. They have a plurality of claws la and a plurality of claws 3a, respectively, which are arranged at regular intervals and which protrude upwardly out of the slit C'.
The gas replacing apparatus further comprises another chain conveyor 2 which runs also through the slit C' of the table C. The chain conveyor 2 is driven by a pair of sprockets 2' in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. l. Like the chain conveyors l and 3, it has a plurality of claws 2a which are arranged at regular intervals and which protrude upwardly out of the slit C'.
11118~8 At the middle portion of the chain conveyor 2 there is provided a lifter 4 which is moved up and down by a proper drive means such as a cam mechanism. The lifter 4 is constituted by a cam rod and a round table 4a secured to the cam rod. As shown in Fig. 3, the table 4a has a U-shaped groove 4b which is deep enough not to disturb the running of the chain conveyor 2 even when the table 4a moves to the highest position.
usually the upper surface of the table 4a is substantial-ly flush with that of the long table C. But, once acan A is put on the table 4a, the lifter 4 moves up until the can A reaches a lid B and a seamer (not shown). As it is lifted by the lifter 4, the can A is released from a claw 2a which has been pushing the can A. Thus lS the can A suddently comes to a halt of its horizontal movement. As a result, the surface A' of the liquid in the can A inclines in such a manner as illustrated in Fig. 1. After the lid B is crimped to the can A by the seamer (not shown), the lifter moves down until the surface of the table 4a becomes flush with that of the long table C.
Provided above the lifter 4 is a lid supporting member 5 which has a rectangular opening. As shown in Fig. 4, the inner walls of the opening is provided with a lip 5' for supporting the lid B. The lid supporting member 5 has a plurality of gas nozzles 5a located in lateral inner wall of the opening and a little below the lip 5'. These nozzles 5a extend in a direction transverse to the direction in which the cans A are conveyed. They are made progressively thinner in the can conveying direction, just as the depth of a head space defined by the inclining surface A' of the liquid in the can A
gradually decreases in the can conveying direction. In other words, the nozzle which faces the deepest portion of the head space has the largest diameter. Thus, within a given time the nozzles 5a supply a proper amount of gas into the head space.
Preferably, a shield 7 may be provided below the lid supporting member 5, flush with the lateral inner wall opposite to the gas nozzles 5a as shown in fig. 4.
Then, the gas supplied through the nozzles 5a can be prevented from escaping from the can A. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 the gas nozzles 5a are formed in only one inner lateral wall of the opening. Instead, two groups of gas nozzles 5a may be formed, one group in one lateral inner wall and the other in the other lateral inner wall. In this case, the nozzles of one group are used as main nozzles to supply a specific amount of gas at a time, and those of the other group are used as auxiliary nozzles to supply a different amount of gas at a time, thus adjusting the gas supply in two ways.
The seamer (not shown) is pro~ided with a pair of seaming rollers 6 which are positioned right above the rectantular opening of the lid supporting member 5.
1~118~8 The rollers 6 crimp the edge portion of a lid B put on the rim of a can A.
Now it will be described how the above-described apparatus operates to replace the air in each can A
with steam or an inert gas.
For example, 1400g rectangular cans A which are open and containing edible oil are conveyed on the chain conveyor 1 in the direction indicated by arrows in Figs.
1 and 2 at a rate of 40 cans per minute. They have been guided by a spiral can guide (not shown) provided at one end of the chain conveyer 1 and have thus been put on the long table C at regular intervals. Pushed by the claws la of the chain conveyor 1, the cans A slide on the long table C one after another toward the chain conveyor 2.
lS Then, pushed by the claws 2a of the chain conveyor 2, they slides on the table C toward the lifter 4. Once put on the table 4a of the lifter 4, each can A is moved up. The drive means of the lifter 4, such as a cam mechanism (not shown), is driven by the same motor as are the chain conveyors 1, 2 and 3.
The table 4a is moved up and down in synchronism with the movement of the claws 2a of the chain conveyor
In canning process it is generally practiced to remove gas from cans filled with food or other things, so as to preserve the contents. This gas replacing is carried out also in canning liquid-like foods such as edible oil, juice, soy sauce and liquors. Cans containing such liquid-like foods generally have a deep head space which is subject to contain a residual air. Oxygen in the head space oxidizes the food and eventually deteriorates the taste and quality of the food.
Thug the air must be removed from the head space or must be replaced with a gas which does not affect the food, before the can is sealed.
Various methods have been employed to replace the air in the head space of a can with heated steam or an inert gas. They, however, fail to achieve a sufficient gas replacing and do not bring forth particular effects.
It is difficult to replace all the air with a proper gas, in particular, with big cans whose head space is 15mm to 20mm deep. The gas introduced into such a can escapes outside before the can is sealed. Further, the air in the lower part of the head space cannot be fully replaced with the gas. Still further, however 11118~8 properly the gas feed rate and gas pressure are adjusted, a considrably large loss is unavoidable and the air outside the can inevitably flows into the head space.
It is hardly expected of the known methods to achieve an 5 efficient gas replacing.
This invention aims to provide a method and apparatus for removing air from cans and more particular-ly for easily and unfailingly replacing the air in the head space of a can with steam or an inert gas. Steam or an inert gas is introducted into the can through a gap between a lid and the can the moment the can stops and the surface of a liquid in it inclines. Once the air has been replaced by the steam or the inert gas, the lid is sealed to the can. The gas replacing is therefore achieved effectively without a much loss of the steam or inert gas.
More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a method for replacing gases during canning process, in which steam or an inert gas is introduced into an open can containing a liquid in a slantwise direction from above the can when the can is lifted and the surface of the liquid keeps an inclined state due to an abrupt halt of its horizontal movement, so as to fill a head space of the can with a proper amount of steam or the inert gas, a lid is sealed to the can immediately after the head space has been filled with steam or the inert gas, and the lid is crimped to the can.
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for replacing gases during canning process, which comprises means for conveying open cans containing a liquid, continuously one after another; can support means for moving up and down one can at a time during the can conveying process; lid support means provided above the can support means and having an opening, a lid supporting lip provided on the inner wall of the opening and a gas port provided below the lip to eject steam or an inert gas into each can when the can is moved up and thus the surface of the liquid inclines, said gas port being made progressively broader according to the increasing depth of a head space of the can defined by the inclining surface of the liquid and introducing steam or the inert gas into the head space from above the can in a direction transverse to the direction in which the cans are conveyed; and seaming means for crimping a lid to each can.
This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in con-junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. l schematically illustrates a gas replacing apparatus according to this invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematical plan view of the gas replacing apparatus shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus, taken along line III-III in Fig. l;
11118~8 Fig. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of a part of the apparatus, showing the positional relationship between a can and a can lid supporting member; and Fig. 5 illustrates the relationship between the inclination of a liquid surface in the head space of a can and the diameters of gas nozzles.
Now referring to the accompanying drawings, an apparatus according to this invention will be described.
As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a long table C on which cans A slide. The table C has a slit C' which extends along substantially the center thereof.
Two chain conveyors 1 and 3 run through the slit C' and are thus aligned in a straight line. The chain conveyors 1 and 3 are driven by a pair of sprockets 1' and a pair of sprockets 3', respectively, in the direction indicated by arrows in Fig. 1. They have a plurality of claws la and a plurality of claws 3a, respectively, which are arranged at regular intervals and which protrude upwardly out of the slit C'.
The gas replacing apparatus further comprises another chain conveyor 2 which runs also through the slit C' of the table C. The chain conveyor 2 is driven by a pair of sprockets 2' in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. l. Like the chain conveyors l and 3, it has a plurality of claws 2a which are arranged at regular intervals and which protrude upwardly out of the slit C'.
11118~8 At the middle portion of the chain conveyor 2 there is provided a lifter 4 which is moved up and down by a proper drive means such as a cam mechanism. The lifter 4 is constituted by a cam rod and a round table 4a secured to the cam rod. As shown in Fig. 3, the table 4a has a U-shaped groove 4b which is deep enough not to disturb the running of the chain conveyor 2 even when the table 4a moves to the highest position.
usually the upper surface of the table 4a is substantial-ly flush with that of the long table C. But, once acan A is put on the table 4a, the lifter 4 moves up until the can A reaches a lid B and a seamer (not shown). As it is lifted by the lifter 4, the can A is released from a claw 2a which has been pushing the can A. Thus lS the can A suddently comes to a halt of its horizontal movement. As a result, the surface A' of the liquid in the can A inclines in such a manner as illustrated in Fig. 1. After the lid B is crimped to the can A by the seamer (not shown), the lifter moves down until the surface of the table 4a becomes flush with that of the long table C.
Provided above the lifter 4 is a lid supporting member 5 which has a rectangular opening. As shown in Fig. 4, the inner walls of the opening is provided with a lip 5' for supporting the lid B. The lid supporting member 5 has a plurality of gas nozzles 5a located in lateral inner wall of the opening and a little below the lip 5'. These nozzles 5a extend in a direction transverse to the direction in which the cans A are conveyed. They are made progressively thinner in the can conveying direction, just as the depth of a head space defined by the inclining surface A' of the liquid in the can A
gradually decreases in the can conveying direction. In other words, the nozzle which faces the deepest portion of the head space has the largest diameter. Thus, within a given time the nozzles 5a supply a proper amount of gas into the head space.
Preferably, a shield 7 may be provided below the lid supporting member 5, flush with the lateral inner wall opposite to the gas nozzles 5a as shown in fig. 4.
Then, the gas supplied through the nozzles 5a can be prevented from escaping from the can A. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 the gas nozzles 5a are formed in only one inner lateral wall of the opening. Instead, two groups of gas nozzles 5a may be formed, one group in one lateral inner wall and the other in the other lateral inner wall. In this case, the nozzles of one group are used as main nozzles to supply a specific amount of gas at a time, and those of the other group are used as auxiliary nozzles to supply a different amount of gas at a time, thus adjusting the gas supply in two ways.
The seamer (not shown) is pro~ided with a pair of seaming rollers 6 which are positioned right above the rectantular opening of the lid supporting member 5.
1~118~8 The rollers 6 crimp the edge portion of a lid B put on the rim of a can A.
Now it will be described how the above-described apparatus operates to replace the air in each can A
with steam or an inert gas.
For example, 1400g rectangular cans A which are open and containing edible oil are conveyed on the chain conveyor 1 in the direction indicated by arrows in Figs.
1 and 2 at a rate of 40 cans per minute. They have been guided by a spiral can guide (not shown) provided at one end of the chain conveyer 1 and have thus been put on the long table C at regular intervals. Pushed by the claws la of the chain conveyor 1, the cans A slide on the long table C one after another toward the chain conveyor 2.
lS Then, pushed by the claws 2a of the chain conveyor 2, they slides on the table C toward the lifter 4. Once put on the table 4a of the lifter 4, each can A is moved up. The drive means of the lifter 4, such as a cam mechanism (not shown), is driven by the same motor as are the chain conveyors 1, 2 and 3.
The table 4a is moved up and down in synchronism with the movement of the claws 2a of the chain conveyor
2. More specifically, once a claw 2a has pushed a can A onto the table 4a, the lifter 4 starts moving up.
2~ When the can A is put on the central part of the table 4a, the table 4a is at such level that the can A is released from the claw 2a. The moment the can A is ~1~18~8 released from the claw 2a, the can A stops moving in horizontal direction. But the oil in the can ~ still moves in horizontal direction. As a result, the surface of oil inclines as shown in Fig. 5, making a gap of about 20mm between the highest portion A'l of the oil and the lowest portion A'2. By the time when the highest portion A'l begins to move down, the rim of the can A almost touches the lid supporting member 5.
Instantaneously the gas nozzles 5a instroduce nitrogen gas (N2) into the head space through the gap between the rim of the can A and a lid B supported on the lid supporting member 5. Without a delay, the lid B is then sealed to the can A. The lifter 4 further moves up to bring the lid B to the seaming roller 6. The rollers 6 crimp the edge portion of the lid B, thus completing the seaming process.
The nozzles 5a keep supplying nitrogen gas so 7 ong as an electromagnetic valve 5b disposed in a nitrogen gas passage remains open. Thus the valve 5b determines the amount of nitrogen gas introduced into the can A.
The valve 5b opens when a timer 2c is set upon receipt of a detection signal from a limit switch 2b which is provided near one end of the chain conveyor 2. It closes when the timer 2c is reset upon receipt of a detection signal from the limit switch 2b.
In case the diameters of the gas nozzles 5a are 3mm or more, it is desired that nitrogen gas should be 11118~8 supplied under pressure of about 2.5 kg/cm2. Otherwise, the nitrogen gas would make a turbulent flow and invite the air outside the can A into the head space, would cause the oil to spill out of the can A, or would be insufficient. Preferably, nitrogen gas should be supplied at the rate of 4 m3/hour or more. Further, it is desired that the gas nozzles 5a should be inclined at 20 to 60 to the horizontal plane, so that the air in the head space is replaced with nitrogen gas effectively.
Once the gas replacing process and the seaming process have been finished on the can A, the lifter 4 moves down so that the can A is pushed by another claw 2a onto the long table C. The can A is then pushed by a claw 3a of the chain conveyor 3 and further slides on the long table C in the direction indicated by arrows in Figs. 1 and 2.
As mentioned above, the surface A' of the oil in the can A inclines when the can A is lifted by the lifter 4 and suddently comes to a halt. While the surface A' remains inclined, a proper amount of nitrogen is introduced into the head space of the can A and a lid B is sealed to the can A. Thus, the air in the head space can be fully replaced by nitrogen gas, without a noticeable loss of nitrogen gas. In addition, since the gas nozzles 5a, which are provided below the lid supporting lip 5', can introduce nitrogen gas through 8~8 the gap between the lid B and the can A which is moving up, the gas replacing is more effectively carried out than in the known canning system in which gas is introduced into a can before the can is lifted.
Nitrogen gas was introduced into 1400g rectangular cans containing edible oil in such known canning system.
It was ascertained that only 20 to 30% of air in each can had been replaced by nitrogen gas. Using the above-mentioned apparatus of this invention, nitrogen gas was introduced into 1400g rectangular cans containing the same edible oil. Then, it was recorded that as much as 70 to 80% of air in each can had been replaced by nitrogen gas. All these cans containing the edible oil were left to stand at 60C for 30 days, and then the oil was sampled out of the cans. The oil taken out from the cans which had undergone the gas replacing process in the known canning system exhibited a peroxide value (POV) of 1.5. By contrast, the oil taken out from the cans which has undergone the gas replacing process achieved by the apparatus of this invention exhibited POV of 0.5.
This shows that the apparatus according to this invention can achieve an effective gas replacing and thus helps preserve the contents of cans for a long time.
In the above-described embodiment, nitrogen gas is introduced into cans instantaneously after the surface A' of the oil inclines for the first time. Instead, the gas may be supplied right after the surface of the oil ~118~8 inclines for the second time or the third time. Anyway, according to this invention, air in the can is replaced by a proper gas and a lid is sealed to the can while the surface A' remains inclined.
The shape, diameter, number and inclination of the gas nozzles may be determined properly in accordance with the physical porperties of the contents of the cans.
The above-described embodiment is so designed to replace air in rectangular cans with nitrogen gas. Instead, the apparatus of this invention can be used to achieve a satisfactory gas replacing with cans having a circular or elliptical cross section.
As mentioned above, according to this invention, the moment a can containing liquid stops during canning process and the surface of the liquid inclines, a proper amount of an inert gas is introduced into the head space of the can from above the can in a slantwise direction. Immediately after the gas has been introduced, a lid is sealed to the can, thereby preventing the gas from escaping from the can. In this wa~v this invention can easily achieve an eff~ctive gas replacing with top open cans having a large head space, which has been regarded to be difficult to accomplish. It therefore can help preserve canned goods far long~r than does the known gas replacing method. Further, the apparatus according to this invention can be installed without a drastic changP of the existing canning system.
1~118~8 Moreover, the apparatus can operate without lowering the productivity of the canning system. In these respects this invention is considered practically very valuable.
2~ When the can A is put on the central part of the table 4a, the table 4a is at such level that the can A is released from the claw 2a. The moment the can A is ~1~18~8 released from the claw 2a, the can A stops moving in horizontal direction. But the oil in the can ~ still moves in horizontal direction. As a result, the surface of oil inclines as shown in Fig. 5, making a gap of about 20mm between the highest portion A'l of the oil and the lowest portion A'2. By the time when the highest portion A'l begins to move down, the rim of the can A almost touches the lid supporting member 5.
Instantaneously the gas nozzles 5a instroduce nitrogen gas (N2) into the head space through the gap between the rim of the can A and a lid B supported on the lid supporting member 5. Without a delay, the lid B is then sealed to the can A. The lifter 4 further moves up to bring the lid B to the seaming roller 6. The rollers 6 crimp the edge portion of the lid B, thus completing the seaming process.
The nozzles 5a keep supplying nitrogen gas so 7 ong as an electromagnetic valve 5b disposed in a nitrogen gas passage remains open. Thus the valve 5b determines the amount of nitrogen gas introduced into the can A.
The valve 5b opens when a timer 2c is set upon receipt of a detection signal from a limit switch 2b which is provided near one end of the chain conveyor 2. It closes when the timer 2c is reset upon receipt of a detection signal from the limit switch 2b.
In case the diameters of the gas nozzles 5a are 3mm or more, it is desired that nitrogen gas should be 11118~8 supplied under pressure of about 2.5 kg/cm2. Otherwise, the nitrogen gas would make a turbulent flow and invite the air outside the can A into the head space, would cause the oil to spill out of the can A, or would be insufficient. Preferably, nitrogen gas should be supplied at the rate of 4 m3/hour or more. Further, it is desired that the gas nozzles 5a should be inclined at 20 to 60 to the horizontal plane, so that the air in the head space is replaced with nitrogen gas effectively.
Once the gas replacing process and the seaming process have been finished on the can A, the lifter 4 moves down so that the can A is pushed by another claw 2a onto the long table C. The can A is then pushed by a claw 3a of the chain conveyor 3 and further slides on the long table C in the direction indicated by arrows in Figs. 1 and 2.
As mentioned above, the surface A' of the oil in the can A inclines when the can A is lifted by the lifter 4 and suddently comes to a halt. While the surface A' remains inclined, a proper amount of nitrogen is introduced into the head space of the can A and a lid B is sealed to the can A. Thus, the air in the head space can be fully replaced by nitrogen gas, without a noticeable loss of nitrogen gas. In addition, since the gas nozzles 5a, which are provided below the lid supporting lip 5', can introduce nitrogen gas through 8~8 the gap between the lid B and the can A which is moving up, the gas replacing is more effectively carried out than in the known canning system in which gas is introduced into a can before the can is lifted.
Nitrogen gas was introduced into 1400g rectangular cans containing edible oil in such known canning system.
It was ascertained that only 20 to 30% of air in each can had been replaced by nitrogen gas. Using the above-mentioned apparatus of this invention, nitrogen gas was introduced into 1400g rectangular cans containing the same edible oil. Then, it was recorded that as much as 70 to 80% of air in each can had been replaced by nitrogen gas. All these cans containing the edible oil were left to stand at 60C for 30 days, and then the oil was sampled out of the cans. The oil taken out from the cans which had undergone the gas replacing process in the known canning system exhibited a peroxide value (POV) of 1.5. By contrast, the oil taken out from the cans which has undergone the gas replacing process achieved by the apparatus of this invention exhibited POV of 0.5.
This shows that the apparatus according to this invention can achieve an effective gas replacing and thus helps preserve the contents of cans for a long time.
In the above-described embodiment, nitrogen gas is introduced into cans instantaneously after the surface A' of the oil inclines for the first time. Instead, the gas may be supplied right after the surface of the oil ~118~8 inclines for the second time or the third time. Anyway, according to this invention, air in the can is replaced by a proper gas and a lid is sealed to the can while the surface A' remains inclined.
The shape, diameter, number and inclination of the gas nozzles may be determined properly in accordance with the physical porperties of the contents of the cans.
The above-described embodiment is so designed to replace air in rectangular cans with nitrogen gas. Instead, the apparatus of this invention can be used to achieve a satisfactory gas replacing with cans having a circular or elliptical cross section.
As mentioned above, according to this invention, the moment a can containing liquid stops during canning process and the surface of the liquid inclines, a proper amount of an inert gas is introduced into the head space of the can from above the can in a slantwise direction. Immediately after the gas has been introduced, a lid is sealed to the can, thereby preventing the gas from escaping from the can. In this wa~v this invention can easily achieve an eff~ctive gas replacing with top open cans having a large head space, which has been regarded to be difficult to accomplish. It therefore can help preserve canned goods far long~r than does the known gas replacing method. Further, the apparatus according to this invention can be installed without a drastic changP of the existing canning system.
1~118~8 Moreover, the apparatus can operate without lowering the productivity of the canning system. In these respects this invention is considered practically very valuable.
Claims (5)
1. A method for replacing gases during canning process, comprising steps of continuously conveying open cans containing a liquid one after another in a horizontal direction, lifting a can in the middle of its horizontal movement up to a seamer, applying a lid to the opening of the can, carring out a seaming operation, and lowering the seamed can to be transfered to the next treatment;
wherein the improvement comprises, instroducing steam or an inert gas into an open can containing a liquid in a slantwise direction from above the can when the can is lifted and while the surface of the liquid keeps an inclined state due to an abrupt halt of its horizontal movement, so as to fill a head space of the can with a proper amount of steam or the inert gas;
sealing a lid to the can immediately after the head space has been filled with steam or the inert gas; and crimping the lid to the can.
wherein the improvement comprises, instroducing steam or an inert gas into an open can containing a liquid in a slantwise direction from above the can when the can is lifted and while the surface of the liquid keeps an inclined state due to an abrupt halt of its horizontal movement, so as to fill a head space of the can with a proper amount of steam or the inert gas;
sealing a lid to the can immediately after the head space has been filled with steam or the inert gas; and crimping the lid to the can.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said gas introducing step is carried out when the surface of the liquid in the can inclines for the first time.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said slantwise direction is substantially at right angle to the direction in which the can is conveyed during the canning process.
4. An apparatus for replacing gases during canning process, comprising:
means for conveying open cans containing a liquid, continuously one after another;
can support means for moving up and down one can at a time during the can conveying process, thereby temporarily releasing the can from the engagement thereof with the conve-ying means, causing an abrupt stopping of the horizontal move-ment of the can;
lid support means provided above the can support means and having an opening, a lid supporting lip provided on the inner wall of the opening and a gas supply port provided below the lip to eject steam or an inert gas into each can when the can is moved up and thus the surface of the liquid inclines, said gas supply port being a slit made progressively broader according to the increasing depth of a head space defined by the inclining surface of the liquid and introducing steam or the inert gas into the head spaced from above the can in a direction transverse to the direction in which the cans are conveyed; and seaming means for crimping a lid to each can.
means for conveying open cans containing a liquid, continuously one after another;
can support means for moving up and down one can at a time during the can conveying process, thereby temporarily releasing the can from the engagement thereof with the conve-ying means, causing an abrupt stopping of the horizontal move-ment of the can;
lid support means provided above the can support means and having an opening, a lid supporting lip provided on the inner wall of the opening and a gas supply port provided below the lip to eject steam or an inert gas into each can when the can is moved up and thus the surface of the liquid inclines, said gas supply port being a slit made progressively broader according to the increasing depth of a head space defined by the inclining surface of the liquid and introducing steam or the inert gas into the head spaced from above the can in a direction transverse to the direction in which the cans are conveyed; and seaming means for crimping a lid to each can.
5. The apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said gas supply port is constituted by a plurality of gas nozzles made progressively thicker.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP8577778A JPS5514137A (en) | 1978-07-14 | 1978-07-14 | Sealing method for gas substitution in can production and apparatus thereof |
| JP85777/78 | 1978-07-14 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1111808A true CA1111808A (en) | 1981-11-03 |
Family
ID=13868303
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA331,590A Expired CA1111808A (en) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-07-11 | Method for replacing gases in cans and apparatus therefor |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5514137A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1111808A (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5965792A (en) * | 1982-10-07 | 1984-04-14 | 株式会社東芝 | Fuel assembly |
| US4929322A (en) * | 1985-09-30 | 1990-05-29 | Union Carbide Corporation | Apparatus and process for arc vapor depositing a coating in an evacuated chamber |
| US4839245A (en) * | 1985-09-30 | 1989-06-13 | Union Carbide Corporation | Zirconium nitride coated article and method for making same |
| JPS62168826A (en) * | 1986-01-16 | 1987-07-25 | 東洋製罐株式会社 | Heated nitrogen gas filled can and manufacture thereof |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5931411B2 (en) * | 1978-05-09 | 1984-08-02 | 東洋製罐株式会社 | Steam pack method and steam seamer for can containers |
-
1978
- 1978-07-14 JP JP8577778A patent/JPS5514137A/en active Granted
-
1979
- 1979-07-11 CA CA331,590A patent/CA1111808A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS5729331B2 (en) | 1982-06-22 |
| JPS5514137A (en) | 1980-01-31 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US6192947B1 (en) | Rotary filling machine with injection of inert gas for filling containers with liquids | |
| US4109446A (en) | Apparatus for filling and crowning bottles | |
| US4506600A (en) | Canning apparatus | |
| NL8600718A (en) | BOTTLE CLOSING MACHINE. | |
| US5791385A (en) | Arrangement and method for filling containers with a liquid with a tendency to foam | |
| CA1111808A (en) | Method for replacing gases in cans and apparatus therefor | |
| US4388795A (en) | Method and apparatus for filling containers | |
| US4274532A (en) | Can handling system | |
| DE19502452A1 (en) | Method and device for treating vessels | |
| US4180105A (en) | Article inflating system | |
| US2322221A (en) | Soldering machine | |
| DE69514842T2 (en) | Beverage packaging | |
| US5715874A (en) | Beverage packaging method and apparatus | |
| NO912624L (en) | DEVICE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE CREAM PRODUCTS | |
| EP0566173B1 (en) | Method and plant for deaerating, gas-charging and closing metal cans containing food products | |
| EP0063235B1 (en) | Method of packaging food products within an inert gas atmosphere in plastics cups with flexible covers | |
| US2262685A (en) | Apparatus for gassing containers prior to filling thereof | |
| US2154266A (en) | Method of and apparatus for vacuum sealing containers | |
| US5197259A (en) | Conveyor system and machine for applying tamper-evident bands to containers | |
| EP1497181B1 (en) | Method and device for inert gas rinsing of containers | |
| JPH07330139A (en) | Can barrel aligner | |
| US5701806A (en) | Installation for the preparation of bread dough portions | |
| US2357802A (en) | Apparatus for packing products | |
| JP2895263B2 (en) | Can lid feeder | |
| US4307761A (en) | Article inflating system including an endless belt assembly |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |