JP4984143B2 - Flyer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fryer, and more particularly, to a fryer for sequentially filing raw materials introduced from an inlet side and carrying out a fried product from an outlet side by a carry-out conveyor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fryer is known for frying food materials such as potatoes and fruits introduced from the inlet side and carrying out fried products from the outlet side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a fryer, the fried product is placed on a carry-out conveyor and carried out.

  Moreover, the apparatus which cools the frying product of high temperature (for example, about 110-145 degreeC) after being fried by spraying gas, such as air and nitrogen gas, is known (for example, refer patent document 2). In the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, the fried product is cooled in a basket.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-296417 (FIG. 1) JP-A-9-122018 (paragraphs 0017 to 0018)

  Recently, it has been found that after fried raw materials such as potatoes, root vegetables, vegetables and fruits, acrylamide is produced in the fried product if the fried product is maintained at a high temperature. There is a demand to suppress the production of acrylamide, and in order to inhibit the production of acrylamide, it is necessary to cool the fried product after frying as soon as possible.

  In order to cool a frying product, it is generally considered to blow gas to the frying product as described in Patent Document 2. However, in the fryer in which the fly product is carried out by the carry-out conveyor, it has not been carried out to cool the fly product on the carry-out conveyor by blowing gas. Specifically, since the fried product is carried out in a state of being overlapped on the carry-out conveyor, when the gas is blown onto the fried product, the gas is not sufficiently distributed to the fried product below. As a result, there is a difference between the moisture content of the upper frying product and the moisture content of the lower frying product, resulting in variations in final product quality. Thus, it has become common knowledge in the art to cool the fried product carried out by the carry-out conveyor.

  Then, the objective of this invention is providing the fryer which can suppress the production | generation of acrylamide in a frying product by cooling the frying product carried out by a carrying-out conveyor immediately after frying.

  In order to achieve the above object, a fryer according to the present invention is a fryer for filing raw materials introduced from an inlet side in order and carrying out a fly product from an outlet side by a carry-out conveyor. And an unloading conveyor for unloading the fly product from the oil tank. The unloading conveyor extends obliquely upward from the oil in the oil tank to the outlet end, and has a conveyor belt. An upper portion extending from the oil to the outlet end, a lower portion returning from the outlet end to below the upper portion and returning to the oil, and a plurality of holes through which gas can pass, and further, a conveyor belt A gas discharge part for releasing the gas for cooling the fried product placed on the upper part of the upper part of the conveyor belt from below the upper part of the conveyor belt through the hole and the fried product. It is characterized in that.

According to the flyer of the present invention configured as described above, the fried product fried in the oil tank is overlapped on the upper part of the conveyor belt of the carry-out conveyor and is directed from the oil in the oil tank to the outlet end. And is carried out diagonally upward. Since the conveyor belt is formed with a large number of holes through which gas can pass, the gas for cooling the fried product is released upward from the lower side of the upper portion of the conveyor belt by the gas discharge portion. Pass between the hole in the belt and the fly product. Therefore, gas spreads from the lower frying product to the upper frying product, and the frying product can be cooled as a whole immediately after frying. Thereby, the production | generation of acrylamide in a frying product can be suppressed.
In addition, the term “fly” used in the present specification means heating with oil.

  In this fryer, preferably, the carry-out conveyor further includes a gas regulating portion for regulating gas from moving in a direction other than the upward direction from the gas space located below the upper portion of the conveyor belt. The discharge unit has a gas supply device for supplying a gas for cooling the fried product to the gas space.

In the fryer configured as described above, since the carry-out conveyor has the gas restricting portion, the gas supplied from the gas supply device of the gas releasing portion to the gas space is restricted from moving in a direction other than the upward direction to the gas space. It is stored and then gas is released upward through the holes in the conveyor belt and the fried product. Therefore, most of the gas released from the gas supply device can be used for cooling the fried product, so that the fried product can be efficiently cooled immediately after frying.
Further, the gas is spread over the entire width of the conveyor belt, and the fried product which is spread and conveyed in the width direction on the conveyor belt can be cooled evenly immediately after frying.

In this fryer, preferably, the carry-out conveyor has a side frame, and the gas discharge unit supplies gas to the gas space through a gas supply hole provided in the side frame.
According to the fryer configured in this way, the side frame heated by the oil can be cooled by supplying the gas from the gas supply hole of the side frame. It can be prevented from being warmed by the heat stored in the side frame. Thereby, the production | generation of acrylamide can be suppressed.

  In this fryer, the gas supply holes are preferably provided so as to face the side frames on both sides.

  According to the flyer configured as described above, the gas supply holes are provided so as to face the side frames on both sides, so that the gas supplied from the gas discharge part through the gas supply holes is not supplied to both sides of the gas space. Are moved from each other and collide with each other. Since the gas supply holes are provided so as to face each other, it is ensured that the gases collide with each other to spread the gas into the gas space.

  In the fryer according to the invention, preferably the fried product is a potato chip.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an embodiment of a fryer according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a fryer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention fries a material introduced from an inlet side, for example, a potato chip material 2 in order, and a potato chip 4 which is a fried product from an outlet side. It is a continuous fryer which manufactures the potato chip | tip 4 continuously by carrying out. Specifically, the fryer 1 includes an oil tank 8 that contains oil 6 for frying the potato chip material 2, and a carry-in conveyor 14 that carries the material 2 into the oil tank 8 at the inlet side, that is, the upstream side 9 of the oil tank 8. A paddling conveyor 22 and a belt-type transport conveyor 24 for transporting the potato chip material 2 that has been carried into the oil tank 8 and then fried in the oil tank 8, and the fried potato chips 4 on the outlet side of the oil tank 8, That is, it includes an unloading conveyor 10 for unloading to the downstream side 11.

  The level of the oil level 16 of the oil 6 in the oil tank 8 is adjusted within a predetermined range by a control device (not shown). The temperature of the oil 6 is also adjusted by a control device (not shown) so as to be within a predetermined range according to the type and size of the potato chip material 2. Above the oil tank 8, a hood 18 that covers the entire oil tank 8 and a stack 20 for sucking water vapor, oil smoke, and the like generated during the frying are installed.

  The carry-in conveyor 14 is arranged so as to get over the upstream wall 8 a of the oil tank 8, and its outlet end 15 is from the oil level 16 of the oil 6 in the oil tank 8 in order to carry the potato chip material 2 into the oil tank 8. Is also placed at a high position.

  A plurality of paddling conveyors 22 are arranged in the vicinity of the oil surface 16 in the upstream side portion of the oil tank 8 in order to convey the potato chip material 2 put into the oil tank 8 from the carry-in conveyor 14 toward the outlet side. Yes. The paddling conveyor 22 scatters the potato chip material 2 which is fried while being floated on the oil surface 16 so that it does not overlap with the oil 6, and the material 2 which is gradually fried in the oil 6 The paddle 23 is rotatable so as to move toward the downstream side.

  The belt type conveyor 24 is installed on the downstream side of the paddling conveyor 22. The conveyor 24 has a conveyor belt 25 having a portion that proceeds from the upstream side to the downstream side at a level below the oil level 16. The potato chip material 2 conveyed by the paddling conveyor 22 is pushed down below the oil level 16 and immersed in the oil 6 by the conveyor belt 25 on the lower side of the conveyor 24, so that the potato chip material 2 is fried uniformly. To do.

  Next, the carry-out conveyor 10 will be described in detail. 2 is a front view showing the carry-out conveyor 10 and its surroundings, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the carry-out conveyor 10, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carry-out conveyor 10 as viewed from the side.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the carry-out conveyor 10 is disposed so as to get over the wall 8 b on the downstream side of the oil tank 8, and extends obliquely upward from the oil 6 toward the outlet end 13 toward the downstream side. . Specifically, the carry-out conveyor 10 includes plate-like left and right side frames 26 disposed on both sides in the width direction, and an upstream roller 27 and a downstream roller 29 that are rotatably supported between the left and right side frames 26. , A conveyor belt 28 wound around the upstream roller 27 and the downstream roller 29, a drive unit 30 for driving the downstream roller 29, and a span 26 a extending between the left and right side frames 26. The drive unit 30 is, for example, a motor that is coaxially attached to the downstream roller 29.

  The upstream roller 27 is disposed on the inner side (upstream side) of the wall 8 b of the oil tank 8 and below the oil surface 16. Further, the downstream roller 29 is disposed on the outer side (downstream side) of the wall 8 b of the oil tank 8 and above the oil surface 16. Accordingly, the carry-out conveyor 10 is arranged in an oblique state in which a part of the upstream side is immersed in the oil 6. Thus, the conveyor belt 28 includes an upper portion 32 extending from the oil 6 to the outlet end and a lower portion 34 passing from the outlet end under the upper portion 32 and back into the oil 6. The upper portion 32 of the conveyor belt 28 is driven by the driving unit 30 in the traveling direction of the arrow A from the upstream side toward the downstream side.

  The conveyor belt 28 has a large number of holes 28a penetrating the entire belt in the thickness direction of the belt, and is, for example, a mesh type (wire net-like) belt. By the conveyor belt 28 having such a structure, the oil of the potato chip 4 that has left the oil tank 8 and is conveyed on the conveyor belt 28 and the oil adhering to the conveyor belt 28 fall downward.

  The carry-out conveyor 10 further has a backing plate 36 below it, ie below the lower part 34 of the conveyor belt 28. The receiving plate 36 is for receiving oil that has fallen from the conveyor belt 28 and the residue of the potato chip material 2. The receiving plate 36 is disposed below the lower portion 34 and substantially parallel to the lower portion 34 so as to cover the lower portion 34 of the conveyor belt 28 from the vicinity of the upstream roller 27 to the vicinity of the downstream roller 29 of the carry-out conveyor 10. . That is, the upstream end of the receiving plate 36 is disposed below the oil level 16 and extends obliquely upward from the oil toward the downstream side. It is preferable that both end portions in the width direction of the receiving plate 36 are fixed to the side frame 26 so that there is no gap between the receiving plate 36 and the side frame 26. Oil that has fallen from the conveyor belt 28 is returned to the oil tank 8 through the receiving plate 36 by the receiving plate 36.

  The fryer 1 further has a gas discharge part 12 for discharging a gas for cooling the fried product 4 carried out by the carry-out conveyor 10. Specifically, the gas discharge unit 12 includes a blower 40 that is a gas supply device for supplying air for cooling the fried product 4, and a gas space 42 positioned below the upper portion 32 of the conveyor belt 28. Have. Air discharge ports (supply ports) of the blower 40 are connected to gas supply holes 31 formed in the left and right side frames 26 of the carry-out conveyor 10 via ducts 41. The blower 40 is provided on both sides in the width direction of the carry-out conveyor 10, that is, on both the left and right sides, and is installed on the floor or the like. The gas supply hole 31 provided in the side frame 26 is located between the upper part 32 and the lower part 34 of the conveyor belt 28 and is positioned above the oil level 16 but near the oil level 16. It is preferable. Moreover, it is preferable that the gas supply holes 31 provided in the left and right side frames 26 are arranged to face each other. It is preferable that the span 26a is not disposed between the two gas supply holes 31 facing each other so that the flow of air supplied from the gas supply holes 31 is not hindered.

  The side frame 26 covers the entire side surface of the conveyor belt 28, and prevents the potato chips 4 carried on the conveyor belt 28 from spilling on both sides in the width direction of the conveyor belt 28. 28 extends upward from the belt surface. The side frame 26 is generally formed of a metal such as steel or aluminum.

  Below the upper portion 32 of the conveyor belt 28 is formed a gas space 42 to which gas for cooling the fried product is supplied. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the gas space 42 is constituted by an upper portion 32 of the conveyor belt 28, left and right side frames 26, and a receiving plate 36. Each of the side frame 26 and the receiving plate 36 functions as a gas restricting portion that restricts the gas supplied to the gas space 42 from moving sideways and downward. The upper portion 32 of the conveyor belt 28 opens the gas space 42 upward by the hole 28a. As shown in FIG. 2, the oil level 16 and the downstream roller 29 function as a gas regulating unit that regulates the movement of the gas supplied to the gas space 42 to the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively. There may be a gap between the side frame 26 and the receiving plate 36 as described later.

  It is preferable that a transport conveyor 43 for transporting the potato chips 4 further downstream is disposed downstream of the outlet end 15 of the carry-out conveyor 10.

  Next, the operation of the fryer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a side view of the carry-out conveyor with the potato chips 4 placed thereon, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the carry-out conveyor of FIG. 5 as viewed from the side.

  The potato chip material 2 is put into the oil tank 8 by the carry-in conveyor 14. By heating the potato chip material 2 with oil 6, the frying of the potato chip material 2 is started. The potato chip material 2 is fried while being transported downstream by the paddling conveyor 22 and the transport conveyor 24.

  The potato chips 4 made by filing the material 2 for a predetermined time are placed on the conveyor belt 28 of the carry-out conveyor 10 and conveyed above the oil level 16 from the oil. The temperature of the oil is, for example, 145 to 170 ° C., and the temperature of the potato chip 4 that has just come out of the oil is, for example, 110 to 145 ° C.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the potato chips 4 emerging from the oil level 16 overlap each other on and over the upper portion 32 of the conveyor belt 28, forming 5 to 12 layers.
Further, the blower 40 is operated to supply gas for cooling the fried product 4 to the gas space 42 through the duct 41 and the gas supply hole 31.

  The gas from the blower 40 is supplied to the gas space 42 and directed upward through the holes 28 a of the conveyor belt 28. Specifically, in the gas space 42, the side frame 26 and the receiving plate 36 restrict the movement of the gas to the side and downward, respectively. Further, the movement of the gas to the upstream side and the downstream side is regulated by the oil surface 16 and the downstream roller 29, respectively. Accordingly, the gas supplied to the gas space 42 is once stored in the gas space and then directed upward. The restriction of the gas movement does not need to be complete, and it is sufficient that the gas supplied to the gas space 42 can be directed upward. For example, the restriction is provided between the receiving plate 36 and the downstream roller 29 or the side frame 26 and the receiving portion. Some gas may flow out from between the plates 36.

  Further, by supplying the gas from the gas supply hole 31 provided in the side frame 26, the side frame 26 that is at a high temperature by the heat from the high-temperature oil 6 is cooled. Further, by supplying the gas from the gas supply holes 31 facing each other, it is ensured that the gas flow is collided and the gas is spread in the gas space 42.

  The gas directed upward through the holes 28a of the conveyor belt 28 hits the potato chips 4 after being fried from below, and passes upward while passing between the overlapping potato chips 4. Thereby, the gas flows around the potato chips 4 from the lower side to the upper potato chips 4 to cool the potato chips 4. Moreover, it is preferable to raise the cooling effect by gas by raising the potato chip | tip 4 by such a gas flow from the downward | lower direction, and expanding the clearance gap between potato chips 4 (refer FIG. 6).

  Further, since the side frame 26 is cooled by the gas, it is possible to suppress the temperature of the potato chip 4 once cooled by the gas from rising again due to the heat of the side frame. The temperature of the potato chip 4 carried out from the carry-out conveyor is preferably 110 to 125 ° C.

  Thus, since the fried potato chip 4 can be cooled immediately after frying, the production of acrylamide in the potato chip 4 can be suppressed.

  Actually, the potato chip material was fried, and after that, the case where the potato chip 4 was not cooled by the blower 40 and the case where the potato chip 4 was cooled by the blower 40 were compared. Potato chips after lapse of a predetermined time after fried were pulverized and the amount of acrylamide produced was measured using gas chromatography. As a result, the amount of acrylamide produced when cooling by the blower 40 was reduced by about 20% to 50% with respect to the amount of acrylamide produced when cooling by the blower 40 was not performed.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
Since the gas from the blower 40 is supplied above and near the oil level 16 of the carry-out conveyor 10, the cooling of the potato chip 4 is started immediately after the potato chip 4 comes out of the oil 6. Can do. Therefore, the temperature of the potato chip 4 can be prevented from being maintained at a high temperature, and the production of acrylamide can be effectively suppressed.
Further, a blower 40 is provided in the carry-out conveyor 10, and air blown by the blower 40 passes from the gas supply hole 31 of the side frame 26 through the hole 28 a of the upper part 32 of the mesh-like conveyor belt 28, and the potato chip 4 It is released upwards through. Therefore, the potato chips 4 can be cooled one by one with the air blown by the blower 40. Thereby, it is possible to cool the potato chip 4 as a whole, thereby preventing variations in the quality of the potato chip 4.

  In addition, since the air blown by the blower 40 moves upward from below, the potato chip 4 can be cooled sequentially from below while helping the heat of the potato chip 4 to move upward. In addition, the potato chip 4 can be prevented from being warmed by heat from below, and the potato chip 4 can be efficiently cooled.

  In addition, since the receiving plate 36 and the side frame 26 are provided on the carry-out conveyor 10, a gas space 42 that is substantially surrounded by the receiving plate 36 and the side frame 26 and that opens upward is formed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the air blown by the blower 40 from being released sideways or downward. Therefore, the air blown by the blower 40 can be used for cooling the potato chip 4 without waste, and the potato chip 4 can be efficiently cooled.

  Moreover, since the blower 40 is arrange | positioned at the side of the carrying-out conveyor 10, and it blows toward the inner side of the side frame 26 from the side, rather than sending air upwards from the downward direction by the blower 40, for example, the conveyor belt 28 Air can be sent evenly in the width direction. Therefore, the potato chip 4 placed on the conveyor belt 28 can be cooled over the entire width direction. Further, since the blower 40 blows air from the side, the side frame 26 disposed on the side of the carry-out conveyor 10 can also be cooled. Therefore, it is possible to suppress heat from moving from the side frame 26 to the potato chip 4, and to prevent the heat of the side frame 26 from warming the potato chip 4.

  Since the gas supply holes 31 are provided opposite to each other in the width direction of the side frame 26, the air blown from the blower 40 collides with the conveyor belt 28 at the substantially center in the width direction, and the gas in the conveyor belt 28. Air can be blown evenly throughout the space 42.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Needless to say, these are also included within the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in this embodiment, although the gas space is provided below the upper part of the conveyor belt, the fly product is cooled by supplying gas from below the upper part of the conveyor belt of the carry-out conveyor. If possible, there may be no gas space. For example, a nozzle for supplying gas may be provided between the upper part and the lower part of the conveyor belt, and the gas may be discharged upward from the nozzle.

  Moreover, you may comprise so that a wider range can be cooled by attaching the guide member which expands an exit area to a gas supply hole. Further, a duct may be attached inside the gas supply hole to adjust the direction of air.

  Further, the gas space 42 does not need to be completely closed at the portion other than the upper portion as in the embodiment. If the gas can be directed above the gas space 42, the gas flows out in a direction other than the upper portion. May be. Further, if the gas is supplied over the entire width direction of the conveyor belt 28 in a part of the traveling direction of the carry-out conveyor 10 and is directed upward, it is not necessary to supply the gas evenly over the entire gas space. Accordingly, the gas space 42 may be configured to substantially enclose a portion of the space inside the conveyor belt 28 of the carry-out conveyor 10, that is, between the upper portion 32 and the lower portion 34 of the conveyor belt 28. Good.

  The conveyor belt is not limited to a mesh belt, and may be one in which a large number of holes are formed on the surface of the conveyor belt, or a plurality of slits formed in the surface of the conveyor belt. In short, as long as the gas passage is formed from the lower side to the upper side of the conveyor belt, the specific shape, arrangement, and the like can be arbitrarily set.

  In the above embodiment, air is supplied to the inside of the conveyor belt. However, the air is not limited to air, and any other gas such as nitrogen gas may be supplied.

Although the blower 40 supplies air to the gas space 42 via the gas supply holes 31 of the side frame 26, the blower 40 may supply gas to the gas space 42 via the receiving plate 36.
The gas supply device is not limited to the one configured by the blower 40, and may be, for example, a configuration including a fan, a tank that stores gas, and a valve that supplies gas to the inside of the frame.
Moreover, the gas discharge | release part 12 may be equipped with the suction device which attracts | sucks the air discharge | released upwards through between fly products in addition to the blower which blows to fly products like the above-mentioned embodiment. In the gas discharge part 12 having such a configuration, air is sucked by the suction device, so that the upward flow of air can be promoted and the fly product can be cooled more efficiently.

  Further, instead of the receiving plate 36, the wall 8b of the oil tank 8 may be extended obliquely upward. In this case, in order to constitute the gas space, the oil tank wall 8b is arranged at a predetermined interval below and on the side of the carry-out conveyor so that the gas can move downward or sideward from the gas space 42. It is preferable to regulate.

  The material used for the fried product is preferably any food that can produce acrylamide. In the above embodiment, potato chips have been described as an example, but for example, pumpkin, sweet potato, potato, other potatoes, carrots, Root vegetables such as lotus root, radish and burdock, eggplant, tomato, bean sprouts, carrots, vegetables such as asparagus, fruits such as apples, macaroni and the like can be used.

1 is a front view schematically showing an embodiment of a flyer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the carrying-out conveyor of a fryer by the one Embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. It is a top view of the carry-out conveyor of a fryer by one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which looked at the carrying-out conveyor from the side. It is a side view of the carrying-out conveyor in the state in which the potato chip was mounted. It is sectional drawing which looked at the carrying-out conveyor of FIG. 5 from the side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flyer 2 Potato chip raw material 4 Potato chip 6 Oil 8 Oil tank 10 Carry-out conveyor 12 Gas discharge part 26 Side frame 28 Conveyor belt 31 Gas supply hole 32 Upper part 34 Lower part 36 Base plate 40 Blower 42 Gas space

Claims (5)

It is a fryer for frying the materials thrown in from the inlet side in order and carrying out the fly product from the outlet side by the carry-out conveyor,
An oil tank for containing the oil for frying the material;
An unloading conveyor for unloading the frying product from the oil tank;
The carry-out conveyor extends obliquely upward from the oil in the oil tank to an outlet end, and has a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt includes an upper portion extending from the oil to the outlet end, and the upper end from the outlet end. A lower portion that returns to the oil through the lower portion of the portion, and a number of holes through which gas can pass;
Further, a gas for cooling the frying product placed on the upper part of the conveyor belt is discharged from the lower side of the upper part of the conveyor belt upward through the hole and the frying product. A fryer having a gas discharge part. The carry-out conveyor further includes a gas restricting portion for restricting gas from moving in a direction other than the upward direction from a gas space located below the upper portion of the conveyor belt,
The fryer according to claim 1, wherein the gas discharge unit includes a gas supply device for supplying a gas for cooling the fried product to the gas space.   The fryer according to claim 2, wherein the carry-out conveyor has a side frame, and the gas discharge unit supplies gas to the gas space through a gas supply hole provided in the side frame.   The fryer according to claim 3, wherein the gas supply holes are provided on the side frames on both sides so as to face each other.   The fryer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fried product is a potato chip.

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