Abstract: To produce a capacitor with a target static capacitance, an apparatus for producing a laminated ceramic capacitor is adapted to measure the thickness of a green sheet and the area of an internal electrode by an in-line system and with high accuracy, and to laminate a calculated number of the green sheets based on the measured values. The apparatus includes a sheet-supplying unit, a sheet-thickness measuring unit, a laminating unit, and a discharging unit.

Abstract: To produce a capacitor with a target static capacitance, an apparatus for producing a laminated ceramic capacitor is adapted to measure the thickness of a green sheet and the area of an internal electrode by an in-line system and with high accuracy, and to laminate a calculated number of the green sheets based on the measured values. The apparatus includes a sheet-supplying unit, a sheet-thickness measuring unit, a laminating unit, and a discharging unit.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing and packing a solid food comprises the steps of charging a solid food in a retainer, whose upper portion is opened, in a layer having an approximately uniform thickness, sterilizing the retainer through heating, cooling it with cooling air and/or cooling water, transferring the solid food contained in the retainer to a sterilized packaging container and then aseptically sealing the container. The method permits efficient and rapid heating and cooling of a solid food because of the direct contact between steam or cooling air and/or cooling water and the food without causing a problem such that the packaging container becomes dirty during the sterilization through heating and does not give out any remaining bad smell. Therefore, excess softening and/or destruction of the solid foods as well as any deterioration thereof due to decomposition and alteration of the nutritive substances and flavoring substances present therein can thus be limited to the lowest possible level.

Abstract: Food sterilizing apparatus of the present invention includes an air curtain forming means for producing a steam air curtain which prevents ambient air flow into a pressure regulating chamber and a heating and sterilizing chamber. Further, a pressurized fluid tank is fluid connected via a pipe to a pressurized fluid source and the pressure regulating chamber, so that the inner pressure of the pressure regulating chamber can be rapidly increased.

Abstract: In the apparatus and method of the present invention, the inner pressure of the cooling chamber is maintained at a level higher than the inner pressure of the heating and sterilizing chamber connected to the cooling chamber via a sealing gate by 0.05-0.3 Kg/cm.sup.2, more preferably, 0.1-0.2 Kg/cm.sup.2. Accordingly, when the sealing gate is opened to advance the food from the heating and sterilizing chamber to the cooling chamber, any pressure drop will not occur at the heating and sterilizing chamber side of the sealing gate, so that the re-boiling phenomenon is avoidable.

Abstract: In the apparatus and method of the present invention, the solid food to be sterilized is exposed to the steam so that the steam flow directly hits the food. In the another aspect of the invention, the heating and sterilizing chamber for heating and sterilizing the food comprises drain means for draining the unnecessary fluid therefrom. As a result of that, the temperature of the food can be raised uniformly, so that the sterilization of the food without degrading the quality of the food is attainable.

Abstract: A food sterilizing apparatus has a simple configuration and can completely and efficiently sterilize food. The food sterilizing apparatus is designed to sterilize food contained in rigid food containers and comprises a food supplying section, a linear cylindrical heater, a linear cylindrical cooler and a discharge section, each having inlet and outlet ports arranged respectively at the upstream and downstream ends thereof, any two adjacent ones of said component sections being connected in parallel or rectangularly with each other at the respective outlet and inlet ports thereof with a sealing gate interposed therebetween, said component sections being further provided with respective pushers disposed at the upstream end thereof for moving rigid food containers downstream, each of said pushers having a stroke at least equal to the width of a rigid container.