PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat sterilization device which performs heat sterilization of food by making the inside of a sterilization tank have high temperature and high pressure with steam and thereafter cooling the food, wherein the container is prevented from being broken or deformed due to difference between outside pressure and inside pressure of the container when cooled.SOLUTION: The heat sterilization device performs: a sterilization process for housing packaged food in a sterilization tank 1 and heat-sterilizing the food by introducing steam into the sterilization tank 1 and a cooling process of cooling the inside of the sterilization tank after the sterilization process. Introduction of pressurized air into the sterilization tank makes a pressure value inside the sterilization tank higher than that of saturated steam having a heat sterilization temperature by a preset range of the value when finishing the sterilization process. The cooling process includes inching cooling where cooling water is sprayed into the sterilization tank for a short time at first, and spraying is stopped immediately, again pressurized air is introduced into the sterilization tank to raise the pressure value in the sterilization tank, and thereafter warm water circulation where cooling water is continuously sprayed into the sterilization tank.COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT【課題】 殺菌槽内を蒸気で高温高圧とすることで食品の加熱殺菌を行い、その後に冷却を行う加熱殺菌装置において、冷却時に容器の内外で圧力差が発生して容器に破損や変形が発生することを防止する。【解決手段】 容器入りの食品を殺菌槽1内に収容し、殺菌槽1内に蒸気を導入することで食品を加熱殺菌する殺菌工程を行い、殺菌工程後に殺菌槽内を冷却する冷却工程を行うようにしている加熱殺菌装置において、殺菌工程が終了すると殺菌槽内へ加圧エアを導入することで殺菌槽内を加熱殺菌温度の飽和蒸気圧力値よりも所定幅分高くしておき、冷却工程では、まず冷却水を殺菌槽内へ短時間噴射してすぐに停止し、再び殺菌槽内へ加圧エアを導入することで殺菌槽内を高めるインチング冷却を行い、その後に冷却水を殺菌槽内へ連続的に噴射する温水循環を行う。【選択図】図1
