Apparatus for heating fruits and vegetables in jars

Abstract

The utility model consists of a working chamber containing a conveyor for moving cans. An air distributor connected to a pipe is mounted above the working chamber. The pipe portion with an external thread and nut is located outside the chamber and connected to a siphon mounted on a pipe for supplying heated air. A zigzag slit, half the diameter of the can neck, is made in the lower wall of the air distributor to supply heated air alternately through one and the other half of the can neck cross-section. Air is supplied at a speed of 3-5 m / s at a temperature of 130-150°C. The proposed apparatus enables heating fruits and vegetables in jars of varying heights, increasing the efficiency of sterilization equipment and the quality of finished products. 2 fig.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to the canning industry and is intended for preheating fruits and vegetables in jars before filling them with syrup (brine), sealing and sterilizing the canned products.

[0002] A known design for heating fruits and vegetables in jars with hot air consists of a working chamber containing a conveyor for moving the jars. An air distributor is mounted above the working chamber, and an air collector is attached to the bottom of the working chamber. The lower wall of the air distributor serves as the upper wall of the working chamber, and a zigzag slit with a width equal to the radius of the jar neck is made in this wall for alternately supplying hot air into the cavity of the jar through one and the other half of the cross-sectional area of ​​the jar neck. Air is supplied at a speed of 3-5 m / s at a temperature of 130-150°C / 1 / .

[0003] A disadvantage of this device is that it cannot heat fruit in jars of varying heights. To ensure effective operation, the heated air flow must be directed as close as possible, at a distance of 5-10 mm, to the jar neck. Otherwise, the directed heated air flow with optimal velocity pressure does not reach the jar containing the fruit, reducing efficiency and increasing the heating time.

[0004] The technical result of this invention is aimed at developing a design for an apparatus for heating fruits and vegetables in jars by supplying heated air to the jars, and at the same time, to ensure the possibility of heating fruits and vegetables in jars of different heights, and thereby increasing the efficiency of the apparatus, a siphon is connected to the air distributor pipe, which makes it possible to regulate the distance between the conveyor for moving the jars and the air distributor.

[0005] The stated technical result is achieved by the apparatus comprising a working chamber containing a conveyor for moving cans, above which an air distributor is mounted. A zigzag slit, half the diameter of the can neck, is formed in the lower wall of the air distributor to supply hot air alternately into the can cavity through one and the other half of the can neck cross-sectional area. The upper part of the air distributor is connected to a siphon attached to a heated air supply pipe via a pipe. The upper part, located outside the chamber, has an external thread and a nut mounted on it. Air is supplied at a speed of 3-5 m / s at a temperature of 130-150°C.

[0006] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show the front and side views of the proposed apparatus.

[0007] The apparatus consists of a frame 1, a working chamber 5 with windows for the entry and exit of cans 4. Inside the chamber 5 there passes a conveyor 3 for moving cans, stretched over a drive 2 and a tension 13 drum. Above the chamber 5, an air distributor 12 is installed, in the lower wall 11 of which a longitudinal zigzag slit is made with a width equal to the radius of the can neck. The upper part of the air distributor is located outside the chamber by means of a pipe 10, the part of which, with an external thread, is connected to a siphon 8, which is connected to a return pipe 9, for supplying heated air to the air distributor. A nut 7 with an internal thread and handles 6 is put on the section with an external thread of the pipe 10, the rotation of which regulates the distance between the air distributor and the conveyor. The lower part of the working chamber is connected to a centrifugal fan 14, attached to a heater 15.

[0008] The device operates as follows. Initially, depending on the height of the cans, by rotating the nut 7 using the handles 6 and compressing or releasing the siphon 8, the optimal distance between the bottom wall 11 of the air distributor 12 and the neck of the cans 4 is set within the range of 5-10 mm. Jars 4 with packaged fruit are fed by conveyor 3 through an inlet window in the wall into the working chamber 5. While passing through the chamber, the fruit in the cans is heated for 3-5 minutes by hot air at a temperature of 130-150°C and a speed of 3-5 m / s, supplied through a zigzag slit in the bottom wall 11 of the air distributor 12.A slot in the lower wall 11 of the air distributor is zigzag-shaped, with a width equal to half the diameter of the can neck, which allows heated air to be supplied through one half of the can neck into the can and exhaust air to be removed through the other half of the can neck. The exhaust air is then directed by a centrifugal fan 14, connected to the bottom of the working chamber 5, to a heater 15. The heated air is then directed back to the air distributor 12 through a return pipe 9 and a siphon 8 for reuse. Pipe 9 is connected to the air distributor 12 via a siphon 8, which allows the air distributor to be positioned in the working chamber, depending on the height of the cans containing the product. In this case, the fruit and the can, passing through the chamber, are heated to 55-60°C.This makes it possible to pour syrup (brine) into jars at a temperature 25-30°C higher than that specified in the technological instructions, thereby increasing the initial average volume temperature of the product before sterilization, which in turn reduces the duration of the sterilization regime, saves thermal energy and improves the quality of the finished product.

[0009] An essential distinguishing feature of the proposed apparatus is that, in order to ensure the possibility of using it for heating fruits and vegetables in jars of various heights, a siphon 8 is provided in the device between the return pipe 9 and the branch pipe 10 of the air distributor, which allows, using a nut 7 with handles 6, to adjust the height of the air distributor 12 relative to the conveyor 3.

[0010] This unit provides: the ability to heat fruits and vegetables in jars of various heights; a continuous technological cycle, thermal energy savings, increased productivity of sterilization equipment and improved quality of finished products, due to an increase in the initial average volumetric temperature of the product, which helps reduce the duration of thermal exposure to the canned product.

[0011] Literature

[0012] 1. Akhmedov M.E., Ismailov T.A. Device for heating fruits and vegetables in containers / Russian Federation Patent No. 2338438. Published November 20, 2008. Bulletin No. 32.

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