JP2001082853A - Quickly cooling storehouse and quickly cooling method for food - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a quickly cooling storehouse for assuredly and quickly cooling all food stored therein with a relatively simple structure and operation. SOLUTION: A quickly cooling storehouse 1 controls the operation of a cooling device 27 by a controller 9 on the basis of the outputs of core temperature sensors for detecting the core temperature of food B to quickly cool the food B. A plurality of core temperature sensors 17, 18 and 19 are provided and a switching means is provided for selectively connecting the outputs of the core temperature sensors 17, 18 and 19 to the controller 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rapid cooling cabinet for rapidly cooling food by controlling the operation of a cooling device by a controller based on the output of a core temperature sensor for detecting the core temperature of the food. And a method for rapidly cooling food using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a quick-cooling storage of this type is used, for example, to cool cooked food to a predetermined temperature within a predetermined time, and generally the temperature in the storage drops to a predetermined temperature. One that operates a cooling device as described above is used. However, if the food is cooled based on the temperature in the refrigerator, it is not known whether the temperature of the food itself is actually cooled to the predetermined temperature up to the center thereof.

Therefore, in recent years, in order to cool the temperature of the food itself to a predetermined temperature, a core temperature sensor for detecting a core temperature of a preselected food is prepared, and this core temperature sensor is inserted into the center of the food. A rapid cooling cabinet has been developed in which the control device controls the operation of the cooling device based on the output of the core temperature sensor.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional rapid cooling cabinet, the operation of the cooling device is controlled based on the output of one core temperature sensor, so that the selected food is relatively easily cooled. If the food is placed in a position (inside the refrigerator) that is not easily cooled, the temperature of the food that has been placed in the position (inside the refrigerator) does not reach the predetermined temperature. There was a problem of being judged.

That is, since the degree of cooling at each position in the cooling box is different, it is extremely difficult to monitor the whole food with one core temperature sensor. Therefore, it is conceivable that a plurality of core temperature sensors are provided, the output of each core temperature sensor is input to the control device, and the temperature of the food detected by all the sensors is reduced to a predetermined temperature using a complicated algorithm. It becomes complicated and costs rise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problem, and it is possible to surely and quickly cool all foods stored in a refrigerator with a relatively simple configuration and operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a rapid cooling chamber and a rapid cooling method.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rapid cooling box, wherein a control device controls the operation of a cooling device based on an output of a core temperature sensor for detecting a core temperature of food.
It cools food quickly, and is characterized in that a plurality of core temperature sensors are provided, and switching means for selectively connecting the output of each core temperature sensor to a control device is provided.

[0008] The rapid cooling box according to the invention of claim 2 is characterized in that a means for resetting the control device is provided in addition to the above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rapid cooling method comprising: preparing a plurality of core temperature sensors for detecting core temperature of food; connecting each core temperature sensor to a control device; While monitoring the core temperature of the food detected by the sensor, adopting the slowest temperature drop and connecting it to the control device, and controlling the operation of the cooling device by the control device, the food is cooled rapidly. It is characterized by doing.

[0010] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation of the cooling device is controlled by the control device based on the output of the core temperature sensor for detecting the core temperature of the food, so that the food is rapidly cooled. In the above, since a plurality of core temperature sensors are provided and a switching means for selectively connecting the output of each core temperature sensor to the control device is provided, one core selected by the switching means among the plurality of core temperature sensors is provided. The operation of the cooling device can be controlled based on the output of the temperature sensor.

According to this, for example, each core temperature sensor is alternatively connected to the control device by the switching means, and
While monitoring the core temperature of food detected by each core temperature sensor,
By adopting the slowest temperature drop and connecting it to the control device and controlling the operation of the cooling device by the control device, it is possible to rapidly cool the temperature of all foods without fail.

In particular, as a result, since the control device controls the cooling device based on the output of one core temperature sensor, the control device for the core temperature sensor and the switching means can be used without modifying the existing control device of the rapid cooling box. This can be dealt with only by adding, and is extremely rich in versatility and extremely advantageous in terms of cost.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, according to claim 1
In addition to the invention, a means for resetting the control device is provided, so that after switching the core temperature sensor, by resetting the control device, the data of the previously detected temperature is definitely cleared, and a new core temperature sensor is provided. It becomes possible to control by taking in the detected temperature data.

Accordingly, more accurate temperature control can be performed, and even if an error occurs when the switching means is switched, the control device can be easily reset. Operability is remarkably improved.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a rapid cooling cabinet to which the present invention is applied. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a rapid cooling storage as an embodiment, and a main body 5 is constituted by a heat insulating box 2 opened on the front surface, and a storage room 3 is formed in the heat insulating box 2. The front opening of the storage room 3 is closed by a door 4 so as to be openable and closable.
And a refrigerator 7 driven by a motor.

A plurality of shelves 8 are installed in the storage room 3, and a plurality of foods B in which cooked dishes are packed in bags, for example, are stored and mounted on the shelves 8. An operation panel 11 of the control device 9 is attached to a front surface of the door 4. Further, a plurality of core temperature sensors 17, 18, and 19 (described using three core temperature sensors in this embodiment) connected to the control device 9 are wired in the storage room 3.

On the other hand, a machine room 12 is formed in the lower part of the heat insulating box 2, and in the machine room 12, together with the cooler 6, a compressor 1 constituting a refrigeration cycle of a cooling device 27.
3, a condenser 14, a condenser fan 16, and the like. The operation of the cooling device 27 including the compressor 13, the condenser 14, the condenser fan 16, and the like is controlled by the control device 9.

When the compressor 13 is operated by the output of the control unit 9, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 13 radiates heat in the condenser 14 and condenses, and is decompressed by a decompression device (not shown). After that, it is supplied to the cooler 6. Cooler 6
In this, the refrigerant evaporates and exerts a cooling effect,
Thereafter, the low-temperature gas refrigerant returns to the compressor 13 again. When the in-compartment fan 7 is operated, the cool air cooled by the cooler 6 is circulated into the storage room 3, thereby cooling the inside of the storage room 3. In addition, when the condenser fan 16 is operated, the outside air flows through the condenser 14 and the compressor 13, so that the air is cooled.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a temperature control circuit 20 of the rapid cooling storage 1. In this temperature control circuit 20,
For example, auxiliary relays (coils) 22, 23, 24 via a changeover switch 21 as a switching means capable of switching to three circuits.
Are connected in parallel to a power supply. A contact 26 of the auxiliary relay 25 is connected in series to the control device 9 and controls power supply to the control device 9.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an instantaneous reset type (normally closed) reset switch. The reset switch 28 is connected in series with an auxiliary relay (coil) 25 to a power supply. Here, the changeover switch 21 is arranged on the operation panel 11 and is operable.

The control device 9 has a display section 9A, which is also arranged on the operation panel 11.
In addition, the auxiliary relays 22, 2
A parallel circuit of 3, 24 contacts 29, 30, 31 is connected to the contact 29, and the core temperature sensor 17 is connected to the contact 30.
Is connected to the core temperature sensor 18, and the contact point 31 is connected to the core temperature sensor 19.

Here, the changeover switch 21 is connected to the auxiliary relay 2
When switched to 2, the contact 29 is turned on (closed), the contacts 30 and 31 are turned off (open), and only the output of the core temperature sensor 17 is input to the control device 9. In that case, the control device 9 determines the upper limit temperature (for example, + 4 ° C.) above and below the set temperature (for example, + 3 ° C.) based on the output of the core temperature sensor 17.
C.) and a lower limit temperature (for example, + 2 ° C.) to control the operation and stop of the compressor 13 and display the temperature data on the display unit 9A.

The changeover switch 21 is connected to the auxiliary relay 23.
, The contact 30 is turned on (closed), the contacts 29 and 31 are turned off (open), and only the output of the core temperature sensor 18 is input to the control device 9. In that case, the control device 9
Performs control to start and stop the compressor 13 between an upper limit temperature and a lower limit temperature provided above and below the set temperature based on the output of the core temperature sensor 18 and displays the temperature data on the display unit 9A.
To be displayed.

Further, the changeover switch 21 is connected to the auxiliary relay 24.
, The contact 31 is turned on (closed), the contacts 29 and 30 are turned off (open), and only the output of the core temperature sensor 19 is input to the control device 9. In that case, the control device 9
Based on the output of the core temperature sensor 19, performs control to start and stop the compressor 13 between an upper limit temperature and a lower limit temperature provided above and below a set temperature, and displays temperature data on the display unit 9A.
To be displayed.

On the other hand, when the reset switch 28 is operated (pushed), the energization of the auxiliary relay 25 is temporarily cut off, and the contact 26 is temporarily turned off (open). Will be.

Thus, if the control device 9 is reset by operating the reset switch 28 after switching the changeover switch 28, the temperature data previously taken into the control device 9 is cleared and the newly connected core temperature is reset. Sensor 17, 1
The temperature data detected by 8 or 19 can be taken. Further, even when an error occurs when the changeover switch 28 is switched, if the reset is performed by the reset switch 28, the temperature control of the rapid cooling cabinet 1 can be continuously performed without any trouble.

With the above configuration, for example, when the food B in which the cooked food is packaged in the storage room 3 is rapidly cooled (the temperature of the food initially having a temperature of about + 80 ° C. is lowered to + 3 ° C.) First, three foods B are arbitrarily selected and the core temperature sensors 17, 18 and 19 are reached up to their respective centers.
Insert. Next, the operation panel 11 of the control device 9 is operated to start the cooling operation.

After the start of the cooling operation, the operation panel 1 is periodically operated.
1 switch 21 to switch the core temperature sensors 17, 18, and 19 connected to the control device 9,
A displays the temperature (core temperature) detected by each of the core temperature sensors 17, 18, and 19. Then, the core temperature sensor 17, 18, or 1 having the highest temperature at the time when a predetermined period has elapsed.
9 is selected, that is, the food B whose cooling is the slowest is determined, and the changeover switch 21 is set to the core temperature sensor 17, 18 or 1
Fix to 9.

As a result, the temperature data detected by the core temperature sensor 17, 18 or 19, which detects the core temperature of the food B whose temperature is the slowest, is input to the control device 9,
The control device 9 controls the operation of the cooling device 27 based on the temperature data of the core temperature sensor 17, 18 or 19.

That is, the control device 9 controls the food B detected by the core temperature sensor 17, 18 or 10 determined as described above.
Based on the core temperature of the compressor, the compressor 13 is continuously operated while it is high. By such a cooling operation, the core temperature of the food B decreases, and when the temperature reaches the lower limit temperature, the compressor 13 is stopped,
When the temperature rises from there and reaches the upper limit temperature, control to restart the compressor 13 is executed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the core temperature of the three foods B is detected by the three core temperature sensors 17, 18 and 19, and the one with the slowest temperature drop is adopted.
7, the whole food B can be rapidly cooled more reliably than in the related art in which the operation of the cooling device 27 is controlled based on the output of one core temperature sensor.

Also in this case, since only one core temperature sensor is input to the control device 9, only a modification to add a core temperature sensor and a changeover switch to the rapid cooling box is performed.
The existing control device can be used, and it is versatile.

[0033]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation of the cooling device is controlled by the control device based on the output of the core temperature sensor for detecting the core temperature of the food, and the food is produced. In the rapid cooling chamber that cools rapidly, a plurality of core temperature sensors are provided, and switching means for selectively connecting the output of each core temperature sensor to the control device is provided. The operation of the cooling device can be controlled based on the output of one core temperature sensor selected by the means.

Thus, each core temperature sensor can be alternatively connected to the control device by the switching means.
While monitoring the core temperature of food detected by each core temperature sensor,
By adopting the slowest temperature drop and connecting it to the control device and controlling the operation of the cooling device by the control device, it is possible to rapidly cool the temperature of all foods without fail.

In particular, as a result, since the control device controls the cooling device based on the output of one core temperature sensor, the control device of the core temperature sensor and the switching means can be used without modifying the control device of the existing rapid cooling box. This can be dealt with only by adding, and is extremely rich in versatility and extremely advantageous in terms of cost.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, according to claim 1
In addition to the invention, a means for resetting the control device is provided, so that after switching the core temperature sensor, by resetting the control device, the data of the previously detected temperature is definitely cleared, and a new core temperature sensor is provided. It becomes possible to control by taking in the detected temperature data.

Accordingly, more accurate temperature control can be performed, and even if an error occurs when the switching means is switched, the control device can be easily reset. Operability is remarkably improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a rapid cooling storage to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of a temperature control circuit of the rapid cooling storage of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rapid cooling room 3 Storage room 9 Control device 11 Operation panel 17, 18, 19 Core temperature sensor 20 Temperature control circuit 21 Changeover switch 22, 23, 24, 25 Auxiliary relay 26, 29, 30, 31 Contact 27 Cooling device 28 Reset switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A quick-cooling cabinet for rapidly cooling the food by controlling operation of a cooling device by a control device based on an output of a core temperature sensor for detecting a core temperature of the food, wherein the core temperature sensor And a switching means for selectively connecting the output of each core temperature sensor to the control device. 2. The rapid cooling cabinet according to claim 1, further comprising means for resetting the control device. 3. A plurality of core temperature sensors for detecting a core temperature of food are prepared, and each core temperature sensor is selectively connected to a control device to detect a core temperature of the food detected by each core temperature sensor. While monitoring and adopting the one with the slowest temperature drop, it is connected to the control device, and by controlling the operation of the cooling device by the control device, the food is rapidly cooled. Rapid cooling method.