Method for manufacturing liquid food products filled in paper containers and method for sealing paper containers

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing liquid food products filled in paper containers and a method for sealing paper containers, which can efficiently replace the air in the headspace of the paper container with an inert gas. [Solution] A method for manufacturing a liquid food product in a paper container, wherein the top portion 1 is composed of a first surface 11 and a second surface 12 divided along an opening 2, and a pressure seal portion 3 is provided at the end of the first surface and the end of the second surface, and the paper container 10 is filled with liquid food product, the method comprising the step of using a pressure sealing machine 20 having a plane A (21) that contacts the first surface when the pressure seal portion is sealed and a plane B (22) that contacts the second surface when the pressure seal portion is sealed, to discharge inert gas 30 from inert gas outlet holes 23 provided on plane A and plane B respectively, thereby replacing the gas present in the headspace of the paper container filled with liquid food product with inert gas, and then pressure sealing the pressure seal portion.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing liquid food products filled in paper containers and a method for sealing paper containers. [Background technology]

[0002] When sealing paper containers such as gable-top or flat-top types, a method is known in which the air present in the headspace of the container is replaced with an inert gas to prevent oxidation of the liquid contents (see, for example, Patent Documents 1-3).

[0003] Patent documents 1 to 3 disclose a method of replacing the air in the headspace with an inert gas by injecting an inert gas from a tubular nozzle. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-115818 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-128116 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-187135 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] There is a need for a method that efficiently replaces the air in the headspace of a paper container with an inert gas without requiring the injection of an inert gas from a tubular nozzle.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing liquid food products filled in paper containers and a method for sealing paper containers, which can efficiently replace the air in the headspace of the paper container with an inert gas without requiring the injection of an inert gas from a tubular nozzle as a necessary component. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides the following methods for manufacturing liquid food products filled in paper containers and for sealing paper containers.

[0008] [1] A method for manufacturing a liquid food in a paper container, wherein the paper container has a pressure-seal portion at the top for sealing an opening for filling with liquid food, the top portion is composed of a first surface and a second surface divided into two along the opening, and the pressure-seal portion is provided at the end of the first surface and the end of the second surface, and the paper container is filled with liquid food, A method for manufacturing liquid food in a paper container, comprising the step of replacing the gas present in the headspace of the paper container filled with the liquid food with the inert gas by using a crimping seal machine having a plane A that contacts the first surface when the crimping seal portion is crimped and a plane B that contacts the second surface when the crimping seal portion is crimped and sealed, by releasing inert gas from inert gas outlet holes provided on plane A and plane B, respectively, and then crimping and sealing the crimping seal portion. [2] The method for producing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to [1], wherein the total amount of inert gas discharged from the inert gas outlet is 30 to 500 L / min. [3] The method for manufacturing a paper container-filled liquid food according to [1] or [2], wherein there are 1 to 8 inert gas outlets provided on the plane A and / or 1 to 8 inert gas outlets provided on the plane B. [4] The total surface area of ​​the inert gas outlets provided on the plane A is 0.5 to 500 mm². 2 Therefore, and / or, the total surface area of ​​the inert gas outlet holes provided in the plane B is 0.5 to 500 mm². 2 A method for producing a liquid food product in a paper container according to any one of the above [1] to [3]. [5] A method for manufacturing a liquid food product in a paper container according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein a protruding stopper for discharging the liquid food product is provided on the first surface or the second surface, a recess is provided in the portion of the plane A or the plane B facing the stopper, and the inert gas outlet hole is not provided in the recess. [6] The method for manufacturing a liquid food product in a paper container according to [5], wherein the diameter of the inert gas outlet provided on the plane on the side with the recess is smaller than the diameter of the inert gas outlet provided on the plane on the side without the recess. [7] A method for manufacturing a paper container filled liquid food according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the inert gas is blown out from above the opening and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane A and / or in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane B. [8] The method for manufacturing a paper container filled liquid food according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the pressure sealing is performed by a plane C having a pressure sealing function that is continuous with the plane A and a plane D having a pressure sealing function that is continuous with the plane B. [9] A method for manufacturing a paper container filled liquid food according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the widths of plane A and plane B are 1 to 1.3 times the width of the top portion.

[10] A method for manufacturing a paper container filled liquid food according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein the material of the plane A and the plane B is a synthetic resin.

[11] A method for sealing a paper container having a pressure-seal portion on top for sealing an opening for filling with liquid food, wherein the top portion is composed of a first surface and a second surface divided along the opening, and the pressure-seal portion is provided at the end of the first surface and the end of the second surface, A method for sealing a paper container, comprising using a crimping sealer having a plane A that contacts the first surface when the crimping seal portion is crimped and a plane B that contacts the second surface when the crimping seal portion is crimped, and discharging inert gas from inert gas outlet holes provided on plane A and plane B respectively, thereby replacing the gas present in the headspace of the paper container filled with liquid food with the inert gas, and then crimping seal the crimping seal portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing liquid food products filled in paper containers and a method for sealing paper containers, which can efficiently replace the air in the headspace of the paper container with an inert gas without requiring the injection of an inert gas from a tubular nozzle as a necessary component. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This diagram shows a schematic side view of the paper container (upper part) as seen from the paper container transport destination side when inert gas is released, and a schematic cross-sectional view of the crimping sealing machine (main part) at the location of the inert gas release hole, according to embodiments and examples of the present invention. [Figure 2] This diagram shows a schematic side view of the paper container (upper part) as seen from the paper container transport destination side after pressure sealing, and a schematic cross-sectional view of the pressure sealing machine (main part) at the position of the inert gas outlet hole, according to embodiments and examples of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the inert gas outlet hole and the top of the paper container at the top seal position (the position where the pressure seal portion is pressure-sealed) in embodiments and examples of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "the present embodiment") will be described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and within the scope of the object of the present invention, it can be implemented with appropriate modifications. In addition, the preferable modes, more preferable modes, etc. exemplified below can be used in appropriate combinations with each other regardless of expressions such as "for example", "preferable", and "more preferable". Further, unless otherwise specified, the description of the numerical range "X (lower limit value) to Y (upper limit value)" means "X or more and Y or less". In addition, the description of the numerical range is illustrative, and ranges appropriately combined with the upper and lower limits of each range and the numerical values of the examples can also be preferably used (for example, when described as A to B and C to D, combinations of A to D or C to B can be used). Furthermore, terms such as "containing" or "including" may be read as "consisting essentially of" or "consisting only of".

[0012] [Manufacturing method of paper container filled with liquid food] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "the present embodiment") will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a paper container (upper part) as viewed from the conveyance destination side of the paper container at the time of inert gas outflow in the embodiments and examples of the present invention, and a schematic cross-sectional view of a crimp sealing machine (main part) at the position where the inert gas outflow holes are arranged. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the paper container (upper part) as viewed from the conveyance destination side of the paper container after crimp sealing in the embodiments and examples of the present invention, and a schematic cross-sectional view of the crimp sealing machine (main part) at the position where the inert gas outflow holes are arranged.

[0013] (Paper container filled with liquid food) The paper container filled with liquid food in the present embodiment refers to a liquid food filled in a paper container 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper container 10 has a crimp sealing part 3 for sealing an opening 2 for filling liquid food on a top part 1, and the top part 1 is composed of a first surface 11 and a second surface 12 that are divided into two along the opening 2, and the crimp sealing part 3 is provided at the ends of the first surface 11 and the second surface 12. Specifically, examples include gable-top containers (also called gable roof type) in which both ends of the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the top section 1 are folded inward, and flat-top containers in which both ends of the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the top section 1 are folded outward. Furthermore, the paper container 10 is not limited to a container made solely of paper; it may also be one in which the front and back walls of the paper are coated with a polymer such as polyethylene, or in which aluminum foil or the like is laminated as part of the layer structure. A commonly used sealing member can be used for the crimped seal portion 3.

[0014] Liquid foods are not particularly limited as long as they are in liquid form, but liquid foods that are easily oxidized by air are preferred. Specifically, examples include edible oils and fats, dressings, milk, soy milk, soups such as corn soup, alcohol, seasonings such as soy sauce, and various beverages (carbonated drinks, fermented drinks, tea beverages such as barley tea, soft drinks (juices, sports drinks, energy drinks, iced tea, iced coffee, etc.)), but edible oils and fats are preferred.

[0015] The types of edible oils and fats are not particularly limited. Examples include soybean oil, rapeseed oil, high-oleic rapeseed oil, corn oil, sesame oil, sesame salad oil, perilla oil, flaxseed oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, high-oleic safflower oil, sunflower oil, high-oleic sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, grape seed oil, macadamia nut oil, hazelnut oil, pumpkin seed oil, walnut oil, camellia oil, tea seed oil, perilla oil, borage oil, olive oil, rice oil, rice bran oil, wheat germ oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, beef tallow, lard, chicken fat, milk fat, fish oil, seal oil, algae oil, these oils and fats that have been desaturated through selective breeding and mixtures thereof, transesterified oils and fats, hydrogenated oils and fats, fractionated oils and fats, etc.

[0016] Furthermore, edible oils and fats may contain antioxidants such as L-ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid derivatives, vitamin E, tocopherols, ascorbic acid fatty acid esters, lignans, coenzyme Q, phospholipids, oryzanol, plant sterols, diacylglycerol, catechins, and polyphenols, as well as tea extracts, and other additives such as polyglycerin fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, polysorbates, condensed ricinolein fatty acid esters, monoglycerin fatty acid esters, and emulsifiers such as soy lecithin, egg yolk lecithin, soy lysolecithin, egg yolk lysolecithin, enzyme-treated egg yolk, saponins, plant sterols, and milk fat globule coatings. It is preferable that the oil or fat contains one or more additives selected from antioxidants and emulsifiers.

[0017] (Manufacturing method) The method for manufacturing a paper container-filled liquid food according to this embodiment is a method for manufacturing a paper container-filled liquid food in which a liquid food is filled into the paper container 10, and includes the step of using a crimp sealing machine 20 having a plane A 21 that contacts the first surface 11 when the crimp sealing portion 3 is crimped and a plane B 22 that contacts the second surface 12 when the crimp sealing portion 3 is crimped and then crimping and sealing the crimp sealing portion 3 after replacing the gas present in the headspace of the paper container 10 filled with liquid food with inert gas 30 by releasing inert gas 30 from inert gas outlet holes 23 provided on plane A 21 and plane B 22, respectively.

[0018] It is preferable that there are 1 to 8 inert gas outlets in plane A 21 and / or 1 to 8 inert gas outlets in plane B 22. More preferably there are 2 to 7, even more preferably 2 to 6, and most preferably 3 to 6, respectively.

[0019] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the inert gas outlet hole and the top of the paper container at the top seal position (the position where the pressure seal portion is pressure-sealed) in embodiments and examples of the present invention.

[0020] In Figure 3, the circled numbers 1 and 3 in the top seal position indicate the positions of the inert gas outlet holes 23 provided on the plane B 22 of the pressure sealing machine 20 relative to the top of the paper container 10, while the circled numbers 2 and 4 indicate the positions of the inert gas outlet holes 23 provided on the plane A 21 of the pressure sealing machine 20. It is preferable to provide 1 to 4 inert gas outlet holes 30 at each of the circled numbers 1 to 4, more preferably 1 to 3, and even more preferably 2 to 3. When multiple holes are provided at each of the numbers 1 to 4, the spacing between each hole (shortest distance between outer circumferences) is preferably 0.1 to 20 mm parallel to the conveying direction, more preferably 0.5 to 15 mm, and even more preferably 1 to 10 mm. In this embodiment and example, the case in which the crimp seal portion 3 is arranged parallel to the transport direction has been described as an example. However, the crimp seal portion 3 may also be arranged perpendicular to the transport direction. In this case, the term "transport direction" in this specification shall be read as "perpendicular to the transport direction." For example, the above statement, "When multiple holes are provided at each of the positions numbered 1 to 4, the spacing between each hole shall be parallel to the transport direction..." shall be read as, "When multiple holes are provided at each of the positions numbered 1 to 4, the spacing between each hole shall be parallel to the perpendicular direction of the transport direction..." Similarly, the crimp seal portion 3 may also be arranged in a direction that is greater than 0° but less than 90° from the transport direction. In this case, the term "transport direction" in this specification shall be read as "a direction that is greater than 0° but less than 90° from the transport direction." The same applies when the crimp seal portion 3 is arranged in a direction that is greater than 0° but less than 90° from the transport direction.

[0021] It is preferable to start blowing inert gas 30 and lowering the sealing machine 20 immediately after the paper container 10 is conveyed directly below the sealing machine 20, and to stop blowing nitrogen gas when the sealing machine 20 has finished lowering. The distance from the inert gas outlet hole 23 to the opening 2 when the paper container 10 is conveyed directly below the sealing machine 20 is preferably set to 5 to 50 mm, more preferably to 7 to 40 mm, and even more preferably to 10 to 30 mm. The above distance is the distance from the center of the inert gas outlet hole 23 to the point where a line drawn vertically down intersects the opening plane (the same applies in the embodiment). In this specification, "opening plane" refers to a horizontal plane that includes the upper edge (upper side) of the sealing portion 3 on the first surface 11 side and the upper edge (upper side) of the sealing portion 3 on the second surface 12 side. Furthermore, the time from when the crimping seal machine 20 starts to descend until it has completely descended is preferably set to 0.5 to 10 seconds, more preferably to 1 to 6 seconds, and even more preferably to 1 to 3 seconds.

[0022] When a protruding stopper 4 for discharging liquid food is provided on the first surface 11 or the second surface 12, it is preferable that a recess is provided in the portion of the plane A 21 or plane B 22 facing the stopper 4, and that the recess does not contain an inert gas outlet hole 23. For example, as shown in Figure 1, when the stopper 4 is provided in the approximate center of the second surface 12, a recess is provided in the portion of the plane B 22 facing the stopper 4. The recess is sized to accommodate the stopper 4 and is provided so that the plane B 22 and the stopper 4 do not come into contact when the plane B 22 descends.

[0023] The inert gas outlet hole 23 does not have any protrusions relative to planes A and B. The shape of the inert gas outlet hole 23 is preferably a perfect circle in cross-section. It may also be elliptical, but it is preferable that it is an elliptical shape that is elongated in the downward direction of the crimp sealing machine 20. If the elliptical shape is elongated in the direction perpendicular to the downward direction (i.e., in the direction parallel to the conveying direction of the paper container 10), the edge of the crimp sealing part 3 is more likely to catch on the edge of the inert gas outlet hole 23 when the crimp sealing machine 20 is descending.

[0024] When the cross-section is circular, the diameter of the inert gas outlet hole 23 is preferably 0.1 to 10 mm, more preferably 1 to 9 mm, even more preferably 2 to 8 mm, and most preferably 4 to 6 mm.

[0025] The diameter of the inert gas outlet 23 provided on the plane side with the recess is preferably smaller than the diameter of the inert gas outlet 23 provided on the plane side without the recess, more preferably 0.1 to 2 mm smaller in diameter, even more preferably 0.3 to 1.5 mm smaller in diameter, and most preferably 0.5 to 1.2 mm smaller in diameter.

[0026] The total surface area of ​​the inert gas outlet holes 23 provided on plane A 21 is 0.5 to 500 mm². 2 The total surface area of ​​the inert gas outlet holes 23 provided in the plane B 22 is 0.5 to 500 mm². 2 Preferably, each is 1 to 450 mm 2 It is more preferable that it be 20-400mm 2 It is even more preferable that the range be 50-350 mm 2 This is most preferable. As mentioned above, if the diameter of the inert gas outlet 23 provided on the plane on the side where the recess is provided is reduced, the total surface area of ​​the inert gas outlet 23 provided on that plane will decrease accordingly. For example, 10 to 50 mm 2 It gets smaller.

[0027] The total outflow rate of inert gas 30 from the inert gas outlet 23 is preferably 30 to 500 L / min, more preferably 50 to 400 L / min, even more preferably 70 to 300 L / min, and most preferably 100 to 200 L / min.

[0028] Preferably, the inert gas 30 is blown out from above the opening 2 and in a direction substantially perpendicular to plane A and / or plane B. However, it is not limited to a direction substantially perpendicular (around 90°), and may be, for example, 1 to 40° above or 1 to 45° below the perpendicular to plane A or plane B, or 1 to 20° above or 1 to 30° below. Preferably, when the crimping sealing machine 20 starts to descend, the inert gas 30 is blown towards the opening 2 from diagonally above the opening 2 (preferably in a direction of approximately 20 to 70° with respect to the plane of the opening, more preferably in a direction of approximately 30 to 60°, and even more preferably in a direction of approximately 40 to 50°).

[0029] It is preferable that the blown-out inert gas 30 is blown directly into the opening 2. Alternatively, it is also preferable to combine the inert gas 30 from plane A and the inert gas 30 from plane B directly above the opening 2 and blow them downward into the opening 2. The inert gas 30 from the inert gas outlet holes 23 provided at the front (foremost part) and / or rear (rearmost part) of the paper container 10 in the transport direction does not have to be blown directly into the opening 2, but it is preferable that the inert gas 30 from all of the inert gas outlet holes 23 is blown directly into the opening 2. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of suppressing liquid splashing, it is preferable that the inert gas 30 is not blown directly onto the liquid surface of the liquid food inside the paper container 10.

[0030] As the inert gas 30, one or more inert gases selected from nitrogen gas, argon gas, helium gas, and carbon dioxide gas can be used. From the viewpoint of versatility and cost, nitrogen gas is preferred.

[0031] The widths of planes A and B (in the transport direction) are preferably 1 to 1.3 times the width of top section 1 (generally 30 to 200 mm) (generally 30 to 200 mm), more preferably 1.1 to 1.3 times, even more preferably 1.15 to 1.25 times, and most preferably 1.2 times.

[0032] The materials of planes A and B are preferably synthetic resins, and more preferably synthetic resins with a low coefficient of friction. The portion in contact with the first surface 11 or the second surface 12 is preferably made of at least a synthetic resin, and is preferably made of, for example, nylon, nylon 6, nylon 66, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polyoxymethylene (Delrin), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), etc., and more preferably nylon. To reduce the coefficient of friction of the planes, the surfaces may be coated with PTFE, graphite, diamond-like carbon, nickel-teflon, fluorinated polymer, silicon, etc.

[0033] The crimp seal is preferably performed by a plane C 24 having a crimp seal function and being continuous with plane A 21, and a plane D 25 having a crimp seal function and being continuous with plane B 22. Although they can be separate (separate structures), it is preferable that they be continuous (integrated structure).

[0034] Aside from the features described above, the pressure sealing machine 20 can have the same configuration as a conventional pressure sealing machine for manufacturing liquid food products in paper containers.

[0035] More specific manufacturing methods will be described in the examples, but the methods are not limited to these examples and can be modified as appropriate.

[0036] [Method for sealing paper containers] The sealing method for a paper container according to this embodiment is a sealing method for a paper container 10 having a pressure-seal portion 3 on the top portion 1 for sealing an opening 2 for filling liquid food, wherein the top portion 1 is composed of a first surface 11 and a second surface 12 divided along the opening 2, and the pressure-seal portion 3 is provided at the end of the first surface 11 and the end of the second surface 12. This is a method for sealing a paper container 10, in which an inert gas 30 is discharged from inert gas outlet holes 23 provided on planes A 21 and B 22, respectively, by a pressure sealing machine 20 having a plane A 21 that contacts the first surface 11 when the pressure sealing portion 3 is pressure-sealed, and an inert gas 30 is discharged from inert gas outlet holes 23 provided on planes A 21 and B 22, respectively, thereby replacing the gas present in the headspace of the paper container 10 filled with liquid food with inert gas 30, and then the pressure sealing portion 3 is pressure-sealed. The definitions of each term are as described above. A more specific sealing method will be described in the embodiment, but it is not limited to this embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.

[0037] [Effects of this embodiment] According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing liquid food products filled in paper containers and a method for sealing paper containers that can efficiently replace the air in the headspace of the paper container with an inert gas without making the injection of inert gas from a tubular nozzle a necessary component. In this embodiment, the injection of inert gas from a tubular nozzle can also be used in combination, in which case, for example, the inert gas can be injected from the tubular nozzle from the front and / or rear in the conveying direction.

[0038] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a method for manufacturing liquid food products filled in paper containers and a method for sealing paper containers can be provided, which results in a good gas displacement rate in the headspace and prevents splashing of the liquid food product, thus reducing the likelihood of poor sealing (i.e., fewer sealing errors).

[0039] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a method for manufacturing liquid food products filled in paper containers and a method for sealing paper containers can be provided that can be applied to both gable-top containers that fold inward and flat-top containers that fold outward. It is superior in that it can efficiently replace even gable-top containers, which are more difficult to replace efficiently.

[0040] The present invention will now be described with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. [Examples]

[0041] After filling a paper container 10 (capacity 450g) with rapeseed oil manufactured by Nisshin Oillio Group Ltd. using a filling machine, the paper container 10 was transported to the top heating position shown in Figure 3, where the pressure-sealed portion 3 was heated with a heating machine. Then, the paper container 10 was transported to the creasing position shown in Figure 3, where the ends of the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the top portion 1 were folded inward using a creasing machine. Subsequently, the paper container 10 was transported to the top seal position shown in Figure 3, directly below the crimp sealing machine 20. To replace the air in the headspace (130 ml) of the paper container 10 with nitrogen gas, the crimp sealing machine 20 was lowered towards the paper container 10, and nitrogen gas (inert gas 30) was blown towards the opening 2 at the top 1 through the inert gas outlet 23 of the crimp sealing machine 20. As the pressure sealing machine 20 descends, the flat surface A 21 of the pressure sealing machine 20 contacts the first surface 11 of the top 1 of the paper container 10, and the flat surface B 22 of the pressure sealing machine 20 contacts and presses against the second surface 12 of the top 1 of the paper container 10, causing the opening 2 to gradually close. When the pressure sealing machine 20 has finished descending, the opening 2 is completely closed, and the pressure sealing portion 3 on the first surface 11 side and the pressure sealing portion 3 on the second surface 12 side are inserted between the flat surfaces C 24 and D 25, and the pressure sealing function of the flat surfaces C 24 and D 25 pressure seals and seals the pressure sealing portion 3.

[0042] In Figure 3, the circled numbers 1 and 3 in the top seal position indicate the locations of the inert gas outlet holes 23 provided on the plane B 22 of the pressure sealing machine 20 relative to the top of the paper container, while the circled numbers 2 and 4 indicate the locations of the inert gas outlet holes 23 provided on the plane A 21 of the pressure sealing machine 20. A recess is formed approximately in the center between numbers 1 and 3 on plane B 22, so that the filling liquid outlet 4 provided on the second surface 12 of the top 1 is accommodated when the pressure sealing machine 20 descends, thereby allowing the pressure sealing machine 20 to descend smoothly. No inert gas outlet holes 23 were provided in the recess. Furthermore, a pressure sealing machine 20 was used in which the width of planes A 21 and B 22 (in the conveying direction) is 1.2 times the width of the top 1 (in the conveying direction).

[0043] Immediately after the paper container 10 was transported directly beneath the sealing machine 20, nitrogen gas was blown in and the sealing machine 20 began to descend. The nitrogen gas was stopped when the sealing machine 20 had reached its lowest point. The distance from the inert gas outlet 23 to the opening 2 at the time the paper container 10 was transported directly beneath the sealing machine 20 was set to approximately 25 mm. The time from the start of the sealing machine 20's descent until it reached its lowest point was set to 1 second. The inert gas outlet 23 is a perfectly circular hole formed entirely on a flat surface and has no protrusions relative to the plane. The nitrogen gas is discharged in directions approximately perpendicular to plane A and plane B. At the start of the sealing machine 20's descent, the inert gas from the direction approximately perpendicular to plane A and the inert gas from the direction approximately perpendicular to plane B merge directly above the opening 2 and are blown downward into the opening 2.

[0044] In each embodiment, surfaces A to D of the crimping sealer 20 are made of MC nylon, the nitrogen gas flow rate is as shown in Tables 1 to 3, and the number, position, and diameter of the inert gas outlet holes 23 are as described below.

[0045] For each sample, the oxygen concentration (volume %) in the headspace was measured immediately after sealing (within 10 minutes after sealing) using the following method. The measurement results are shown in Tables 1-3. Three samples were measured for each sample. The maximum and minimum values ​​among the three samples, as well as the average value of the three samples, are shown.

[0046] <Method for measuring headspace oxygen concentration> For the containers described above, immediately after sealing, a suction needle connected to a gas suction tube was inserted from the top of the lid. The headspace gas collected through this needle was then sent to the sensor of a residual oxygen meter "Packmaster (RO-103)" manufactured by Iijima Electronics Industry Co., Ltd., and measured. The amount of gas suctioned at one time was 3 ml, and this was repeated three times. The gas suctioned on the third attempt was used for measurement.

[0047] <Evaluation Criteria> When replacing with nitrogen gas, the presence or absence of liquid splashing was determined by checking that there was no oil wetting on the outer surface of the paper container or peripheral equipment (no oil wetting: ○, oil wetting present: ×). The results are shown in Tables 1 to 3. After crimp sealing, the presence or absence of crimp sealing defects was checked using a micro-check penetrant (no crimp sealing defects: ○, crimp sealing defects present: ×). Also, the appearance was observed to check for no deformation of the crimp seal part (no deformation: ○, deformation present: ×). The results are shown in Tables 1 to 3.

[0048] [Example 1] · Number and position of the inert gas outflow holes 23: One each at positions 1 to 4 in Fig. 3 · Diameter of the inert gas outflow holes 23: All 6 mm · Total surface area of the inert gas outflow holes 23: 113 mm 2

[0049]

Table 1

[0050] [Example 2] · Number and position of the inert gas outflow holes 23: Two each at positions 1 to 4 in Fig. 3 (two are arranged parallel to the transport direction) · Diameter of the inert gas outflow holes 23: 5 mm, provided that the hole farther from the recess at positions 1 and 3 is 4 mm · Spacing between the inert gas outflow holes at position 1 or 3 in Fig. 3: 1 mm · Spacing between the inert gas outflow holes at position 2 or 4 in Fig. 3: 10 mm · Total surface area of the inert gas outflow holes 23: 143 mm 2

[0051]

Table 2

[0052] [Example 3] · Number and position of the inert gas outflow holes 23: Two each at positions 1 and 3 in Fig. 3 (two are arranged parallel to the transport direction), and three each at positions 2 and 4 in Fig. 3 (three are arranged parallel to the transport direction) • Diameter of the inert gas outlet 23: 5 mm, however, the hole furthest from the recess at positions 1 and 3 is 4 mm. • Spacing of inert gas outlets at positions 1 or 3 in Figure 3: 1 mm • Spacing of inert gas outlets at positions 2 or 4 in Figure 3: 7 mm • Total surface area of ​​the inert gas outlet 23: 182 mm² 2

[0053] [Table 3] [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 10: Paper containers 1: Heavenly Division 2: Opening 3: Crimp seal section 4: Filling liquid outlet 11: The first surface in which the top part 1 is divided into two along the opening 2. 12: The second surface in which the top part 1 is divided into two along the opening 2. 20: Crimp sealing machine 21: Flat surface A that contacts the first surface 11 when the crimp seal portion 3 is crimped. 22: Flat surface B that contacts the second surface 12 when the crimp seal portion 3 is crimped. 23: Inert gas outlet 24: Plane C, which is continuous with plane A and has a pressure sealing function. 25: Plane D, which is continuous with plane B and has a pressure sealing function. 30: Inert gas

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a liquid food product in a paper container, wherein the paper container has a pressure-seal portion at the top for sealing an opening for filling with liquid food, the top portion is composed of a first surface and a second surface divided along the opening, and the pressure-seal portion is provided at the end of the first surface and the end of the second surface, and the paper container is filled with liquid food product, A method for manufacturing liquid food in a paper container, comprising the step of replacing the gas present in the headspace of the paper container filled with the liquid food with the inert gas by using a crimping seal machine having a plane A that contacts the first surface when the crimping seal portion is crimped and a plane B that contacts the second surface when the crimping seal portion is crimped and sealed, by releasing inert gas from inert gas outlet holes provided on plane A and plane B, respectively, and then crimping and sealing the crimping seal portion.

2. The method for producing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of inert gas discharged from the inert gas outlet is 30 to 500 L / min.

3. The method for manufacturing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to claim 1, wherein there are 1 to 8 inert gas outlet holes provided on the plane A, and / or 1 to 8 inert gas outlet holes provided on the plane B.

4. The total surface area of ​​the inert gas outlet holes provided on the plane A is 0.5 to 500 mm². 2 The total surface area of ​​the inert gas outlet holes provided in the plane B is 0.5 to 500 mm². 2 The method for producing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to claim 1.

5. A method for manufacturing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to claim 1, wherein a protruding stopper for discharging the liquid food product is provided on the first surface or the second surface, a recess is provided in the portion of the plane A or the plane B facing the stopper, and the inert gas outlet hole is not provided in the recess.

6. A method for manufacturing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to claim 5, wherein the diameter of the inert gas outlet hole provided on the plane on the side where the recess is provided is smaller than the diameter of the inert gas outlet hole provided on the plane on the side where the recess is not provided.

7. The method for manufacturing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to claim 1, wherein the inert gas is blown out from above the opening and in a direction substantially perpendicular to plane A and / or plane B.

8. The method for manufacturing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sealing is performed by a plane C having a pressure sealing function that is continuous with the plane A and a plane D having a pressure sealing function that is continuous with the plane B.

9. The method for manufacturing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to claim 1, wherein the widths of the plane A and the plane B are 1 to 1.3 times the width of the top portion.

10. The method for manufacturing a liquid food product filled in a paper container according to claim 1, wherein the material of the plane A and the plane B is a synthetic resin.

11. A method for sealing a paper container, wherein the top portion has a pressure-seal portion for sealing an opening for filling with liquid food, the top portion is composed of a first surface and a second surface divided along the opening, and the pressure-seal portion is provided at the end of the first surface and the end of the second surface, A method for sealing a paper container, comprising using a crimping sealer having a plane A that contacts the first surface when the crimping seal portion is crimped and a plane B that contacts the second surface when the crimping seal portion is crimped, and discharging inert gas from inert gas outlet holes provided on plane A and plane B respectively, thereby replacing the gas present in the headspace of the paper container filled with liquid food with the inert gas, and then crimping seal the crimping seal portion.

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