Transportation methods for items requiring refrigeration

Abstract

This invention provides a method for transporting refrigerated goods that can ensure a longer quality preservation period compared to conventional technologies. [Solution] The method for transporting items requiring refrigeration involves placing the items requiring refrigeration 1 together with a frozen body 3, which is a liquid absorbent impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution, into a transport container 5 and transporting it.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for transporting items to be kept cold, such as aquatic products, which require cold storage.

Background Art

[0002] As a method for transporting items to be kept cold, a conventional method of transporting an item to be kept cold by accommodating it together with ice in a container has been known. Patent Document 1 describes a container used for such a transportation method. The container described in Patent Document 1 accommodates an item to be kept cold (the item to be refrigerated), ice, and a water-absorbing body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Among items to be kept cold, particularly for aquatic products such as fresh fish, a transportation method that can ensure a longer quality retention period is required.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a transportation method for items to be kept cold that can ensure a longer quality retention period of the items to be kept cold compared to the conventional technology.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The inventors have found that by using an alkaline aqueous hypochlorite solution, the quality degradation of the item to be kept cold during transportation can be suppressed compared to the conventional transportation method, and a longer quality retention period of the item to be kept cold can be ensured. The present invention has been made based on such findings.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a novel method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration is provided. The provided method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration involves transporting the goods together with a frozen body, which is a liquid absorbent impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution, in a transport container.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, another novel method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration is provided. The provided method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration involves transporting the goods in a transport container together with a liquid absorbent impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution and a refrigerant.

[0009] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, yet another novel method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration is provided. The provided method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration involves transporting the goods in a transport container together with a cooled liquid absorbent, which is a liquid absorbent impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for transporting goods that require refrigeration, which can ensure a longer quality preservation period compared to the conventional technology. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for transporting goods that require refrigeration according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for transporting goods that require refrigeration according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] [First Embodiment] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram (cross-sectional view) illustrating a method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration according to the first embodiment involves transporting goods requiring refrigeration while maintaining refrigeration. In the method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration according to the first embodiment, the goods requiring refrigeration 1 are transported together with a frozen body 3 in a transport container 5.

[0014] Refrigerated items 1 are mainly seafood such as fresh fish. However, they are not limited to these. Refrigerated items 1 can be anything that requires refrigeration (including items that are preferable to be kept refrigerated), and can be a variety of items (especially non-frozen foods). For example, refrigerated items 1 may be fresh meat or fresh produce. Here, Figure 1 shows three refrigerated items 1, but the number of refrigerated items 1 to be transported in the transport container 5 can be arbitrarily selected. That is, refrigerated items 1 may be placed individually in the transport container 5, or multiple items may be placed in the transport container 5.

[0015] The frozen body 3 is formed by freezing a liquid absorbent impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution. The alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution contains sodium hypochlorite and purified water, and has a pH of 9.0 to 12.0, preferably 9.5 to 11.5, i.e., it is a weakly alkaline liquid. The alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution used in this embodiment is a food additive: disinfectant. The effective chlorine concentration of the alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution impregnated into the liquid absorbent is not particularly limited, but is for example 50 to 200 ppm, preferably 100 to 200 ppm. If necessary, it is also possible to use an effective chlorine concentration exceeding 200 ppm (e.g., 1000 ppm).

[0016] Alkaline hypochlorous acid solutions exhibit a very low rate of decrease in effective chlorine concentration compared to hypochlorous acid water and diluted sodium hypochlorite solutions, and their pH value hardly changes over time, allowing for long-term storage. Therefore, they are sometimes referred to as "stable alkaline hypochlorous acid solutions." Furthermore, alkaline hypochlorous acid solutions contain hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and / or hypochlorite ions (OCl) as their active ingredients. -It possesses high disinfecting and deodorizing capabilities, while having almost no chlorine odor or irritating smell, and has been confirmed to be safe even if it gets into the eyes, mouth, nose, or comes into contact with the skin.

[0017] Furthermore, when the inventors conducted experiments using fresh fish (sardines), they confirmed that the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution did not adversely affect the fresh fish and could suppress the deterioration of the fish meat and internal organs. This suggests that when the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution (or its active ingredient) is applied to fresh fish, the activity of microorganisms present on the surface of the fish is suppressed or inhibited, and the activity of enzymes contained within the fish (i.e., autodigestion) is suppressed or inhibited. In other words, the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution has the effect of suppressing or inhibiting the activity of microorganisms, as well as suppressing or inhibiting the activity of enzymes (and more precisely, inhibiting autodigestion).

[0018] Furthermore, another experiment conducted by the inventors confirmed that an alkaline hypochlorous acid solution can reduce microorganisms and other substances present in the surrounding space by allowing gaseous hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to diffuse into the environment through natural evaporation, and that its properties remain largely unchanged even after freezing and thawing.

[0019] The liquid absorbent constituting the frozen body 3 only needs to be capable of absorbing and retaining an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution, and its material and structure are not particularly limited. Preferably, the liquid absorbent contains a superabsorbent polymer capable of absorbing and retaining an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution and is formed in a sheet shape. Therefore, the frozen body 3 is also formed in a sheet shape. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the liquid absorbent includes a permeable and breathable bag and a large number of superabsorbent polymer particles contained within the bag, and is formed as a sheet shape (also called a thin pad shape) overall. The frozen body 3 is formed by absorbing and retaining an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution in the large number of superabsorbent polymer particles of such a liquid absorbent, and then freezing the liquid absorbent.

[0020] The frozen body 3 may be accommodated in the transport container 5 together with the cold storage object 1, and its accommodation / arrangement form is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the frozen body 3 includes a first frozen body 31 and a second frozen body 32 having the same configuration. The first frozen body 31 is disposed above the cold storage object 1, and the second frozen body 32 is disposed below the cold storage object 1.

[0021] The transport container 5 may be any container that can accommodate the cold storage object 1 and the frozen body 3 (the first frozen body 31 and the second frozen body 32), and its material, shape, etc. are not particularly limited. However, the transport container 5 preferably has a certain degree of airtightness and heat insulation. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the transport container 5 is made of a foamed resin such as styrofoam. Also, in this embodiment, the transport container 5 includes a box-shaped container body 51 with an open upper surface and a lid body 52 removably attached to the upper part of the container body 51 to close the opening of the container body 51.

[0022] Hereinafter, the operation of the method for transporting a cold storage object according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0023] As described above, the method for transporting a cold storage object according to the first embodiment accommodates and transports the cold storage object 1 in the transport container 5 together with the frozen body 3. The frozen body 3 includes a first frozen body 31 and a second frozen body 32, which are formed by freezing a liquid absorber impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution. Also, the transport container 5 includes a container body 51 with an open upper surface and a lid body 52. Specifically, in the method for transporting a cold storage object according to the first embodiment, first, the second frozen body 32 is disposed inside the container body 51 (for example, at the inner bottom), then the cold storage object 1 (for example, fresh fish) is disposed above the second frozen body 32, and then the first frozen body 31 is disposed above the cold storage object 1. Then, by attaching the lid body 52 to the upper part of the container body 51, the opening on the upper surface of the container body 51 is closed. The cold storage object 1 is transported in such a state.

[0024] During transport, the refrigerated item 1 is kept cool by the frozen bodies 3 (first frozen body 31, second frozen body 32). Also during transport, the frozen alkaline hypochlorous acid solution in the first frozen body 31 and the second frozen body 32 gradually thaws. The alkaline hypochlorous acid solution that thaws in the first frozen body 31 seeps out from the liquid absorbent material that makes up the first frozen body 31 and is supplied to the top surface of the refrigerated item 1. If the refrigerated item 1 is fresh fish or the like, some of the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution supplied to the top surface of the refrigerated item 1 may be further supplied to the inside of the refrigerated item 1. The alkaline hypochlorous acid solution that thaws in the second frozen body 32 seeps out from the liquid absorbent material that makes up the second frozen body 32 and is supplied to the bottom surface of the refrigerated item 1. Furthermore, as the frozen alkaline hypochlorous acid solution thaws, gaseous hypochlorous acid (HOCl) diffuses into the transport container 5.

[0025] Therefore, in addition to maintaining the freshness of the refrigerated goods 1 during transport through refrigeration, the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution's ability to suppress or inhibit microbial activity reduces or inhibits the increase of microorganisms present in the transport container 5 and on the surface of the refrigerated goods 1, and / or inhibits or suppresses the activity of these microorganisms, thereby suppressing the deterioration of the quality of the refrigerated goods 1 caused by these microorganisms. Furthermore, especially when the refrigerated goods 1 are seafood such as fresh fish that are prone to autodigestion, the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution's ability to suppress or inhibit enzyme activity suppresses or inhibits the activity of enzymes present in the refrigerated goods 1, thereby suppressing the deterioration of the quality of the refrigerated goods 1 due to autodigestion.

[0026] Therefore, according to the method for transporting the refrigerated goods 1 as embodied in the first embodiment, it is possible to ensure a longer quality preservation period for the refrigerated goods 1 compared to conventional transport methods.

[0027] Furthermore, as mentioned above, since alkaline hypochlorous acid solution has high deodorizing ability, it can reduce the odor characteristic of the refrigerated goods 1 inside the transport container 5, and it can also suppress the transfer of such odors to the transport container 5.

[0028] In Figure 1, the first frozen body 31 and the second frozen body 32 are in contact with the item to be kept cold 1, but the first frozen body 31 and the second frozen body 32 do not necessarily have to be in contact with the item to be kept cold 1. For example, the first frozen body 31 may be attached to the inner surface of the lid 52. That is, "the first frozen body 31 is placed on top of the item to be kept cold 1" includes both the first frozen body 31 being placed on top of the item to be kept cold 1 (in contact with the upper surface of the item to be kept cold 1) and the first frozen body 31 being placed above the item to be kept cold 1 (away from the upper surface of the item to be kept cold 1). Similarly, "the second frozen body 32 is placed below the item to be kept cold 1" includes both the second frozen body 32 being placed directly below the item to be kept cold 1 (in contact with the lower surface of the item to be kept cold 1) and the second frozen body 32 being placed below the item to be kept cold 1 (away from the lower surface of the item to be kept cold 1).

[0029] Furthermore, although not shown in the illustration, a permeable and breathable sheet material may be placed between the second frozen body 32 and the item to be kept cold 1 and / or between the item to be kept cold 1 and the first frozen body 31, if necessary, and an absorbent sheet may be placed between the second frozen body 32 and the inner bottom surface of the container body 51.

[0030] Furthermore, if necessary, a cooling material may be placed in the gaps within the transport container 5, particularly the gap between the first frozen body 31 and the second frozen body 32. The cooling material may be ice (blocks of ice used for food preservation) or commercially available, relatively small, cold storage materials.

[0031] Furthermore, in the above description, the frozen body 3 includes a first frozen body 31 and a second frozen body 32, with the first frozen body 31 placed on top of the item to be kept cold 1 and the second frozen body 32 placed below the item to be kept cold 1. However, it is not limited to this. Only the first frozen body 31 or the second frozen body 32 may be placed. Alternatively, a cooling material may be placed on top of the item to be kept cold 1 instead of the first frozen body 31, or a cooling material may be placed below the item to be kept cold 1 instead of the second frozen body 32. The cooling material may be multiple ice cubes (ice blocks for food preservation) or commercially available cold storage materials, but preferably it may be formed by freezing a liquid absorbent impregnated with ordinary water, and the liquid absorbent may have a similar structure to the liquid absorbent that constitutes the frozen body 3. Also, the first frozen body 31 and / or the second frozen body 32 may be composed of multiple frozen bodies.

[0032] [Second Embodiment] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram (cross-sectional view) illustrating a method for transporting refrigerated goods according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Elements similar to those in the first embodiment (Figure 1) are given the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. The method for transporting refrigerated goods according to the second embodiment, like the method for transporting refrigerated goods according to the first embodiment, involves transporting refrigerated goods while maintaining their temperature. In the method for transporting refrigerated goods according to the second embodiment, the refrigerated goods 1 are transported in a transport container 5 together with a liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution and a cooling material 9.

[0033] The liquid absorbent 7 may have a similar configuration to the liquid absorbent constituting the frozen body 3 in the first embodiment. That is, the liquid absorbent 7 contains a superabsorbent polymer capable of absorbing and retaining an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution and is formed in a sheet shape. More specifically, the liquid absorbent 7 may contain a permeable and breathable bag and a large number of superabsorbent polymer particles contained within the bag, and be formed as a sheet (also called a thin pad). Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution, that is, the liquid absorbent 7 in which a large number of superabsorbent polymer particles have absorbed and retained the alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution, is attached to the inner surface of the lid 52 of the transport container 5.

[0034] The cooling material 9 is, for example, multiple blocks of ice (ice blocks for food preservation). However, it is not limited to this. The cooling material 9 may be a commercially available cold storage material, or it may be formed by freezing a liquid absorbent impregnated with ordinary water, and the liquid absorbent may have the same structure as the liquid absorbent 7. In other words, the cooling material 9 may be formed by impregnating the liquid absorbent 7 with water instead of an alkaline hypochlorous acid solution and then freezing it.

[0035] The operation of the method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration according to the second embodiment will be explained below.

[0036] As described above, the method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration according to the second embodiment involves transporting the goods requiring refrigeration 1 in a transport container 5 together with a liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution and a cooling material 9. Specifically, first the cooling material 9 is placed inside the container body 51 (inner bottom), and then the goods requiring refrigeration 1 (for example, fresh fish) is placed on top of the cooling material 9. After the liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution is attached to the inner surface of the lid 52, the lid 52 is attached to the top of the container body 51, closing the opening on the top surface of the container body 51. The goods requiring refrigeration 1 are transported in this state.

[0037] During transport, the item requiring refrigeration 1 is kept cool by the cooling material 9. Also, during transport, the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution impregnated in the liquid absorbent 7 seeps out and is supplied to the item requiring refrigeration 1, and / or gaseous hypochlorous acid (HOCl) diffuses from the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution impregnated in the liquid absorbent 7 into the transport container 5.

[0038] Therefore, in addition to maintaining the freshness of the refrigerated item 1 during transport through refrigeration, the number of microorganisms present in the transport container 5 and on the surface of the refrigerated item 1 is reduced or their increase is suppressed, and / or the activity of these microorganisms is suppressed or inhibited, thereby suppressing the deterioration of the quality of the refrigerated item 1 caused by these microorganisms. Furthermore, the activity of enzymes contained in the refrigerated item 1 is suppressed or inhibited, thereby suppressing the deterioration of the quality of the refrigerated item 1 due to autolysis.

[0039] Therefore, the method for transporting the refrigerated goods 1 according to the second embodiment can ensure a longer quality preservation period for the refrigerated goods 1 compared to conventional transport methods. In addition, the characteristic odor of the refrigerated goods 1 inside the transport container 5 can be reduced, and the transfer of such odors to the transport container 5 can also be suppressed.

[0040] In the above description, the liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid solution is attached to the inner surface of the lid 52 of the transport container 5. However, it is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid solution is contained in the transport container 5, and the containment / arrangement configuration can be arbitrary. Furthermore, multiple liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid solution may be contained in the transport container 5. For example, one or more liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid solution may be attached to the inner surface of the container body 51 of the transport container 5, or they may be placed adjacent to the item to be kept refrigerated 1.

[0041] Furthermore, the liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution may be a cooled liquid absorbent, i.e., a non-frozen cooled liquid absorbent. In this case, the cooling material 9 may be omitted depending on the item to be kept cool 1. That is, the item to be kept cool 1 may be transported in a transport container 5 together with the cooled liquid absorbent obtained by cooling the liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution. Note that, similar to the liquid absorbent 7 impregnated with the alkaline hypochlorous acid solution, the configuration of the cooling liquid absorbent being contained / arranged may be arbitrary.

[0042] Although embodiments of the present invention and some modifications thereof have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and further modifications and changes are possible based on the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1...Items requiring refrigeration, 3...Frozen object, 5...Transport container, 7...Liquid absorbent, 9...Cooling material, 31...First frozen object, 32...Second frozen object, 51...Container body, 52...Lid

Claims

1. A method for transporting goods that require refrigeration, in which the goods are transported in a transport container together with a frozen body made by freezing a liquid absorbent impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid solution.

2. A method for transporting goods that require refrigeration, comprising transporting the goods in a transport container together with a liquid absorbent impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid solution and a cooling material.

3. A method for transporting goods that require refrigeration, comprising transporting the goods in a transport container together with a cooling liquid absorbent, which is a liquid absorbent impregnated with an alkaline hypochlorous acid solution.

4. The method for transporting items requiring refrigeration according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid absorbent comprises a bag having liquid permeability and breathability, and a number of superabsorbent polymer particles contained in the bag that absorb and retain the alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution, and is formed as a sheet overall.

5. The method for transporting items requiring refrigeration according to claim 1, wherein the frozen body is placed on top of the items requiring refrigeration, and a cooling material is placed below the items requiring refrigeration.

6. The frozen body includes a first frozen body and a second frozen body. The method for transporting a refrigerated object according to claim 1, wherein the first frozen body is placed on top of the refrigerated object, and the second frozen body is placed below the refrigerated object.

7. The method for transporting goods requiring refrigeration according to claim 2, wherein the transport container comprises a box-shaped container body with an open top and a lid that closes the opening of the container body, and the liquid absorbent impregnated with the alkaline hypochlorous acid aqueous solution is attached to the inner surface of the lid or the inner surface of the container body.

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