JP2004147587A - Ice cream maker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ice cream maker where a mix is charged directly to a chilling cylinder from a material bag without depending on gravity and transferring the mix to a hopper to make ice cream. <P>SOLUTION: The ice cream maker comprises the followings: a cold insulation storage 2 refrigerating a mix material bag 5 comprising a flexible bag body 21 where the mix is stored, and a flexible outer layer body 23 provided at the outside of the bag body so as to form a sealed space between the bag body and the layer body; a chilling cylinder 8; an air pump 27; a mix material tube 34 for making the inside of the mix material bag and the inside of the chilling cylinder communicate; a bag pressure pipe 7 for supplying the pressurized air generated using the air pump to the space between the outer layer body and the bag body respectively of the mix material bag; an air circuit 51 for supplying the pressurized air to the inside of the chilling cylinder; and an air filter 53 provided at the air circuit. The mix material tube and the air circuit are joined together followed by being led to the inside of the chilling cylinder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frozen dessert production apparatus for producing frozen desserts such as soft ice cream (soft ice cream).
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this kind of frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus includes a cooling device including a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, a cooling cylinder, and a cooler provided in a hopper (mix tank). With this cooling device, the liquefied refrigerant is supplied to the cooler during the manufacture of frozen dessert. After cooling, the cooling cylinder and hopper are cooled. A beater is mounted in the cooling cylinder, and the mix in the cooling cylinder is cooled by the cooler and agitated by the beater to produce a frozen dessert such as a soft ice cream or sherbet (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-271957
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this case, the mix is stored in a hopper, and the mix is poured from the hopper into a cooling cylinder by a mix supply device. This mix feeder was in the form of a pipe open at the upper end to the atmosphere and communicated with the inside of the hopper at the lower end inside the hopper, and the amount of mix supplied depended on the head difference in the mix feeder.
[0005]
That is, since the supply of the mix from the hopper to the cooling cylinder depends on gravity, there is a disadvantage that the supply amount is not stable. In addition, since the mix previously opened in the raw material bag is opened and injected into the hopper, there is a drawback that a hygienic problem occurs.
[0006]
Therefore, development of a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus capable of producing a frozen dessert by directly supplying a mix from a raw material bag to a cooling cylinder without depending on gravity and without transferring the mix to a hopper has been desired. The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional technical problem.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the present invention can be configured such that a flexible bag main body in which a mix is stored, and a closed space provided between the bag main body and the bag main body can be formed. A cool box that keeps a mix raw material bag composed of a flexible outer layer body, a cooling cylinder that manufactures frozen desserts by cooling the mix supplied from the mix raw material bag while stirring, and cools the cool box and the cool cylinder. A cooling device, an air compression device, a mix supply passage for communicating the inside of the bag body of the mixed material bag with the inside of the cooling cylinder, and the outer layer of the mixed material bag with the compressed air generated by the air compression device. A bag pressurizing passage for supplying between the bag main body and an air supply passage for supplying compressed air into the cooling cylinder is provided.After the mix supply passage and the air supply passage are joined, cooling is performed. Since it is connected to the Linda, the mix is kept cool in the cool box together with the mixed raw material bags, and compressed air is supplied between the outer layer body of the mixed raw material bags and the bag main body through the bag pressurizing passage by the air compression device. The mix is forcibly extruded from the inside of the bag body, and is directly supplied to the cooling cylinder via the mix supply passage, whereby the frozen dessert can be manufactured.
[0008]
This will eliminate the need for a gravity-dependent mix supply system and enable automatic supply of a stable mix, while also solving hygiene issues by supplying the mix directly from the mix material bag to the cooling cylinder. Will be able to Further, since compressed air is supplied into the cooling cylinder via the air supply passage, overrun of the frozen dessert can be obtained without any trouble. In particular, since the mix supply passage and the air supply passage are merged and then connected to the inside of the cooling cylinder, both the supply of the mix to the cooling cylinder and the supply of the air for overrun can be performed from one place. As a result, the structure of the cooling cylinder can be simplified.
[0009]
Further, in addition to the above, the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the invention according to claim 2 further includes a merging passage member detachably attached to the cooling cylinder, and the mix supply passage and the air supply passage are detachably connected to the merging passage member. As a result, the work of cleaning the mix supply passage and the merging passage member is facilitated.
[0010]
Furthermore, in addition to the above, the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention connects a check valve between the mix supply passage and the joining passage member, and between the air supply passage and the joining passage member, respectively. Since the forward direction of each check valve is on the merging passage member side, the mix flows from the mix supply passage to the air supply passage side, or the compressed air flows from the air supply passage to the mix supply passage side. Inconvenience can be avoided, and contamination caused by mixing of the air supply passage and inconvenience caused by backflow of air into the bag body of the mixed material bag can be avoided beforehand.
[0011]
In the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second or third aspect, the merging passage member is arranged in the cool box, so that the mix or compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder via the merging passage member is reduced. It is also possible to prevent the temperature from rising during the passage.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially longitudinal perspective view of a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram relating to a mix supply of the frozen dessert production device SM, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an electric circuit of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM.
[0013]
The frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM of the embodiment is an apparatus for manufacturing and selling frozen desserts such as soft ice cream and sherbet (shake) (in the embodiment, soft ice cream is manufactured). Is provided with a heat-insulating cool box 2 for storing and cooling a mixed raw material bag 5 containing a raw mix of soft cream (a mix serving as a frozen dessert raw material such as soft cream or sherbet). The interior 2A of the cool box 2 is open at the front, and the front opening is closed by a rotatable heat insulating door 3 so as to be openable and closable. Be released. Reference numeral 33 denotes a cool box open / close switch for detecting the opening / closing of the heat insulating door 3.
[0014]
On the other hand, a cooler cooler 4 and a fan (not shown) are provided on the ceiling portion of the cooler 2 inside the cooler 2A, and the cool air cooled by the cooler cooler 4 is circulated into the cooler 2A by the blower. The mixed raw material bag 5 in the cool box 2 and peripheral parts described later are kept cool at a predetermined temperature.
[0015]
The mixed raw material bag 5 is housed in a cover 31 having a predetermined strength such as nylon so as to be able to be delivered, and is housed in the cool box 2 in that state. The cover 31 is a bag whose upper surface is openable and closable by a fastener 32, and a lower surface is formed with a pipe connection portion (not shown) from which the outlet member 22 and the communication port member 24 of the mixed raw material bag 5 are discharged. ing. By storing the mixed raw material bag 5 in such a cover 31, even if the mix leaks from the mixed raw material bag 5, the inconvenience of fouling the interior 2A is avoided or suppressed. In addition, since the bulge of the mixed raw material bag 5 when compressed air is supplied is regulated by the cover 31 as described later, the occurrence of rupture of the mixed raw material bag 5 can be avoided.
[0016]
In the cool box 2, a holding table 6 for holding the mixed raw material bag 5 at a low angle on the front side is provided. In addition, a bag pressurizing pipe 7 (shown in FIG. 2) forming a bag pressurizing passage is drawn out from the inner wall of the cool box 2 into the inside 2A of the cooler. Further, a mix inlet 9 of a cooling cylinder 8, which will be described later, is provided on the bottom wall of the inside 2A of the cool box 2 so as to open.
[0017]
Here, the mixed raw material bag 5 is made of, for example, a flexible resin bag main body 21 on which aluminum is deposited, and a hard resin bag attached to one surface of the bag main body 21 and communicating the inside of the bag main body 21 with the outside. An outlet member 22 (which is sealed with a sealing material when not in use), a flexible outer layer body 23 made of the same material as the bag body 21 and having a periphery welded to the other surface of the bag body 21; A hard resin communication port member 24 attached to one surface of the bag body 21 so as to communicate with a non-adhesive portion between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 described below (FIG. 2).
[0018]
The outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 are in a non-adhered state except for the periphery of the outer layer body 23, whereby a closed space can be formed between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21. The communication port member 24 communicates between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 (closed space) and the outside. The mix (indicated by M in FIG. 2) is stored in the bag body 21, and compressed air (indicated by AI in FIG. 2) is supplied to the closed space between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21. It is possible.
[0019]
The mixed raw material bag 5 containing the mix as described above is stored in the storage 2A of the cool box 2 while being stored in the cover 31 as described above, and is inclinedly held by the holding table 6. At this time, the outlet member 22 and the communication port member 24 are placed so as to face down. By arranging in this manner, even when the mixed raw material bag 5 is swollen, a sufficient space can be maintained between the mixed raw material bag 5 and the ceiling of the inside 2A of the refrigerator, thereby ensuring the circulation of cool air. Further, connection with each pipe or tube is also facilitated. One end of the bag pressurizing pipe 7 is detachably connected to the communication port member 24 and communicates between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 (closed space). Further, one end of a mix raw material tube 34 constituting a mix supply passage is detachably connected to the outlet member 22. The mixed material tube 34 is constituted by a flexible tube.
[0020]
On the other hand, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes the above-mentioned cooling cylinder for producing a frozen dessert by rotating and stirring the mix flowing from the mix inlet 9 by a beater 10, and a cylinder cooler 11 is mounted around the cooling cylinder. The beater 10 is rotated via a beater motor 12, a drive transmission belt, a speed reducer 13, and a rotating shaft. The manufactured frozen dessert is operated by operating a take-out lever 15 disposed on a freezer door 14 that opens and closes the front opening of the cooling cylinder 8 so that the plunger 16 moves up and down, and an extraction path (not shown) is opened. At the same time, the beater 10 is taken out by being rotationally driven. The freezer door 14, the take-out lever 15, and the plunger 16 constitute a frozen dessert extraction unit.
[0021]
The freezer door 14 is made of transparent glass or transparent hard resin to form a see-through portion. The interior of the cooling cylinder 8 can be seen through the freezer door 14 from the front. A permanent magnet 36 is embedded in a surface of the freezer door 14 on the main body 1 side, and a reed switch 37 is attached to a front surface of the main body 1 at a position corresponding to the permanent magnet 36. When the freezer door 14 is attached to the main body 1 and closes the front opening of the cooling cylinder 8, the contact of the reed switch 37 is closed by the permanent magnet 36, the freezer door 14 is removed, and the front surface of the cooling cylinder 8 is removed. When the opening is opened, the contact of the reed switch 37 is opened.
[0022]
In addition, a proximity switch (proximity sensor) 38 is attached to the front surface of the main body 1 at a position corresponding to a position below the takeout lever 15 constituting the frozen dessert extraction unit. The proximity switch 38 detects that a container such as a cone or paper cup for serving frozen dessert has been addressed to the lower side of the take-out lever 15 using infrared rays or sound waves.
[0023]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a washing hose 39 is attached to the inside 2A of the cool box 2. The washing hose 39 is provided for discharging washing water into the cooling cylinder 8 when washing the inside of the cooling cylinder 8. The washing hose 39 descends through the main body 1 and is drawn to the side surface. 41. The cleaning water pipe 41 is connected to a water pipe (not shown). Further, an opening / closing plug 42 is provided in the middle of the cleaning water pipe 41 and disposed on the front surface of the main body 1. The opening / closing stopper 42 always closes the cleaning water pipe 41. When the cooling cylinder 8 is cleaned, it is turned to open the cleaning water pipe 41.
[0024]
A connector 43 is attached to the tip of the cleaning hose 39, and the connector 43 can be detachably connected to the mix inlet 9 of the cooling cylinder 8. In this case, the connector 43 always closes the opening at the tip of the cleaning hose 39 (therefore, no cleaning water flows out even if the opening / closing stopper 42 is opened in this state) and is opened when connected to the mix inlet 9. Has a mechanism. Thereby, the work of connecting to the mix inlet 9 becomes extremely easy.
[0025]
A compressor 18, a condenser 20, a four-way valve 19, and the like constituting the cooling device R are housed and installed in a lower portion of the main body 1. The four-way valve 19 is for allowing a high-temperature refrigerant to flow through the cylinder cooler 11 to perform thawing and sterilization.
[0026]
Next, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 27 denotes an air pump which constitutes an air compression device, and a discharge pipe 28 of the air pump 27 is connected to a distributor 46. The other end of the bag pressurizing pipe 7 is connected to the distributor 46. Further, the distributor 46 is connected to a sensor (pressure sensor) 47 in the air circuit constituting pressure detecting means and an exhaust pipe 49, and the exhaust pipe 49 is connected to an exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit constituting exhaust means. Air pump protection and air circuit exhaust) are connected.
[0027]
Furthermore, one end of an air circuit 51 as an air supply passage is connected to the distributor 46, whereby the bag pressurizing pipe 7, the air circuit 51, the air pump 27, and the sensor 47 in the air circuit are connected via the distributor 46. And the exhaust pipe 49 are mutually connected in a branched connection manner. The air circuit 51 is provided with an air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 as a flow path opening / closing means and an air filter 53. The air filter 53 captures and removes foreign matter and various bacteria in the compressed air flowing into the air circuit 51.
[0028]
The other end of the mixed material tube 34 and the other end of the air circuit 51 are detachably connected to two inlets of a Y-type mixer 57 as a merging passage member via check valves 54 and 56, respectively. In each of the check valves 54 and 56, the direction of the Y-type mixer 57 is set to the forward direction. The outlet of the Y-type mixer 57 is detachably connected to the mix inlet 9 of the cooling cylinder 8. In addition, the mixed raw material bag 5, the mixed raw material tube 34, the other end of the air circuit 51, one end of the bag pressurizing pipe 7, and the Y-type mixer 57 are located in the inside 2A of the cold storage 2 and are kept cool. Will be.
[0029]
Here, a specific connection structure of the bag pressurizing pipe 7, the mixed raw material tube 34, the air circuit 51, and the Y-type mixer 57 will be described with reference to FIG. The bag pressurizing pipe 7 is also formed of a flexible tube, and is detachably connected to the communication port member 24 of the mixed raw material bag 5 by a one-touch joint 61. One end of the mixed material tube 34 is detachably connected to the outlet member 22 of the mixed material bag 5 via an O-ring 64 by a mounting nut 62 and a connection pipe 63 having an arrowhead shape. Although the outlet member 22 is initially sealed with a sealing material as described above, the O-ring 64 seals the inside of the outlet member 22 by inserting the connection pipe 63, and at the same time or thereafter, the sealing material is applied at the tip. Will be broken.
[0030]
The other end of the mixed material tube 34 is detachably connected to one inlet of a Y-type mixer 57 by a mounting nut 66 and a connection pipe 67 (with a built-in check valve 54). Since the mixed material tube 34 is a flexible tube as described above, it can be easily sealed by pinching it with the pinch 68. However, it is assumed that the pinch 68 is open during normal use.
[0031]
On the other hand, the other end of the air circuit 51 is detachably connected to the other inlet of the Y-type mixer 57 by a connection pipe 69 (with a built-in check valve 56). The outlet of the Y-type mixer 57 is detachably connected to the mix inlet 9 of the cooling cylinder 8 via an O-ring 71. The detachable connection facilitates washing of the mixed material tube 34, the Y-type mixer 57, the check valves 54 and 56, and the like.
[0032]
Next, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 73 denotes a general-purpose microcomputer which constitutes a control means. The input of the microcomputer 73 is connected to the cooler open / close switch 33, the air circuit sensor 47, the proximity switch 38, and the reed switch 37. Have been. Further, to the input of the microcomputer 73, a pull-down switch (operation switch) 76 and a cooling switch 77 provided on the control panel 74 of the main body 1 are further connected.
[0033]
Further, the output of the microcomputer 73 includes, in addition to the above-mentioned frozen dessert production unit including the compressor 18 and the beater motor 12 of the cooling device R, the exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit, the air pump 27, and the air circuit opening / closing electromagnetic valve 52. Is connected. Further, a sold-out display lamp 78 provided on the operation panel 74 is connected to an output of the microcomputer 73.
[0034]
Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When a power plug (not shown) of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM is connected to a power source and turned on, the microcomputer 73 first determines whether or not the contact of the reed switch 37 is closed. If the freezer door 14 is attached and the front opening of the cooling cylinder 8 is closed, and the permanent magnet 36 closes the contact of the reed switch 37, the subsequent operation can be started. If it is not attached and the contact of the reed switch 37 is open, the start of the subsequent operation is prohibited and, for example, the sold-out display lamp 78 is blinked to display an alarm. This prevents the user from forgetting to attach the freezer door 14 or starting the operation in a state where the freezer door 14 is not properly attached, and prompts the user to attach the freezer door 14.
[0035]
Next, with reference to the timing charts of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the operations of supplying the mix, manufacturing the frozen dessert and extracting the frozen dessert will be described. In addition, the mixed raw material bag 5 is set in the refrigerator 2A in a state of being stored in the cover 31 as described above, and the bag pressurizing pipe 7, the mixed raw material tube 34, and the Y-type mixer 57 are also shown in FIG. Connect as shown. However, the air circuit 51 including the check valve 56 is detached from the Y-type mixer 57 at this time when pull-down is started.
[0036]
(1) Initial State In the initial state after the power is turned on in FIG. 1, the microcomputer 73 first opens the exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit for a predetermined period (5 seconds in the embodiment). Then, after the mixed material bag 5 is set in the refrigerator 2A of the cool box 2 as described above, the microcomputer 73 detects that the heat insulating door 3 is closed based on the detection operation of the cool box open / close switch 33. Drives the air pump 27. Thereafter, when the heat insulating door 3 of the cool box 2 is opened, the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump 27 based on the detection operation of the cool box opening / closing switch 33, and also performs the exhaust electromagnetic valve in the air circuit for a predetermined period (5 seconds). 48 is opened to exhaust air from the air circuit 51 and the bag pressurizing pipe 7.
[0037]
That is, the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump 27 when the heat insulating door 3 of the cool box 2 is opened, and allows the operation of the air pump 27 only when the heat insulating door 3 is closed. Thereby, the safety at the time of attachment / detachment of a pipe at the time of replacement of the mixed raw material bag 5 is improved. In particular, when the heat insulating door 3 is opened, the compressed air is exhausted from the air circuit 51 and the bag pressurizing pipe 7 by opening the air solenoid valve 48 in the air circuit. Can be reliably avoided.
[0038]
After the air pump 27 is operated in this initial state, the sensor 47 in the air circuit is connected to the bag pressurizing pipe 7 (communicated with the bag pressurizing pipe 7) by the distributor 46 even after 3 minutes. If the pressure rise in the air circuit 51 is not detected (including the closed space between the bag body 21 and the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5), the air pump 27 is stopped, and the sold-out indicator lamp 78 blinks. Alert.
[0039]
(2) Pull-down mode Next, when the user turns on the pull-down switch 76 (presses for less than 2 seconds), the microcomputer 73 enters the pull-down mode and starts pull-down. In this pull-down mode, the microcomputer 73 operates the air pump 27, and the bag pressurizing pipe 7 (the bag main body 21 and the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5 communicating with the bag pressurizing pipe 7) communicated with the distributor 46. Compressed air is supplied into the air circuit 51 (the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 is closed in the pull-down mode).
[0040]
When the air pressure detected by the sensor 47 in the air circuit rises to the set value, the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump 27 based on the output of the sensor 47 in the air circuit. Thereafter, the microcomputer 73 starts counting of a three-minute timer (a predetermined value not limited to three minutes) provided as its own function.
[0041]
A constant pressure is applied to the bag body 21 from the outside by sending compressed air from the bag pressurizing pipe 7 to the closed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5 and the bag body 21. As a result, the volume of the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 is increased, and the mix in the bag body 21 is pushed out from the outlet member 22 to the mix raw material tube 34. The mix pushed out to the mix raw material tube 34 flows into the cooling cylinder 8 from the mix inlet 9 through the check valve 54 and the Y-type mixer 57. At this time, since the air circuit 51 including the check valve 56 is disconnected, the air in the cooling cylinder 8 flows out from the other outlet of the Y-type mixer 57. Thereby, the mix also flows into the cooling cylinder 8 smoothly.
[0042]
When the mix flows out of the mix raw material bag 5, the volume of the closed space between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 is increased, so that the air pressure in the pipe from the bag pressurizing pipe 7 to the distributor 46 is also reduced. When the sensor 47 in the air circuit detects that the pressure has decreased to the predetermined lower limit, the microcomputer 73 operates the air pump 27 to restart the supply of the compressed air. By repeating this, the microcomputer 74 sets the air pressure detected by the sensor 47 in the air circuit (air pressure in the closed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5 and the bag body 21) between the set value and the lower limit value (set value). And a predetermined pressure in the range of the lower limit value).
[0043]
Thereafter, this is continued until the count of the three-minute timer ends, and the mix is fed into the cooling cylinder 8. Thereby, the mix is stored in the cooling cylinder 8. When the count of the three-minute timer ends, the microcomputer 73 stops the operation of the air pump 27, opens the air solenoid valve 48 in the air circuit for 5 seconds, and once discharges the compressed air. The user checks the liquid level of the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 via the transparent freezer door 14, and if the liquid level does not reach the predetermined liquid level, continues to push down the pull-down switch 76 (ON for 2 seconds or more).
[0044]
When the pull-down switch 76 is continuously turned on, the microcomputer 73 operates the air pump 27 to start supplying compressed air again, and the air pressure (the mixed material bag 5) detected by the sensor 47 in the air circuit as described above. (Air pressure in the closed space between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21) is maintained at a set value. As a result, the mix is again supplied from the mix raw material bag 5 into the cooling cylinder 8. Then, when the user visually confirms that the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 has been stored to the predetermined liquid level and releases the pull-down switch 76 (OFF), the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump pump 27, By opening the exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit, the compressed air in the closed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5 and the bag body 21 is discharged. As a result, the supply of the mix is stopped, and the mix is stored in the cooling cylinder 8 to a predetermined liquid level.
[0045]
By providing such a pull-down mode in the microcomputer 73, the mix can be stored in the cooling cylinder 8 smoothly when the store is opened. In particular, since the pull-down switch 76 can be provided to start the pull-down manually, the usability is improved.
[0046]
In the above embodiment, the mix is stored in the cooling cylinder 8 up to a predetermined liquid level by continuously pressing the three-minute timer and the pull-down switch 76 while viewing the inside of the cooling cylinder 8 from the freezer door 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a liquid level sensor may be provided at a predetermined liquid level of the cooling cylinder 8 to perform automatic control. In that case, the microcomputer 73 enters the pull-down mode based on the operation of the pull-down switch 76, starts the pull-down, and based on the output of the liquid level sensor, when the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 reaches the predetermined liquid level, Similarly, the air pump 27 is stopped, and the exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit is opened to terminate the supply of the mix. According to such control, the operation of storing the mix up to the predetermined liquid level in the cooling cylinder 8 after the pull-down switch 76 is instructed to start pull-down can be automated.
[0047]
After the mix is stored to the predetermined liquid level in the cooling cylinder 8 in this manner, the heat insulating door 3 is opened, and the air circuit 51 is connected to the other inlet of the Y-type mixer 57 in the inside 2A of the cool storage 2 (reverse) The stop valve 54 is also attached). Then, the heat insulating door 3 is closed. When the heat insulating door 3 is opened, the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump 27 as described above and opens the air solenoid valve 48 in the air circuit to discharge the compressed air. Is closed, the air pump 27 is operated again, and the air pressure detected by the sensor 47 in the air circuit (the bag pressurizing pipe 7 including the closed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5 and the bag body 21 and the distributor 46) And the air pressure to the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 in the air circuit 51) is raised to a set value.
[0048]
When the air pressure detected by the air circuit sensor 47 rises to a set value, the microcomputer 73 opens the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 for a predetermined period (for example, 5 seconds) and compresses the air circuit 51 into the air circuit 51 reaching the Y-type mixer 57. Send in air. Due to the pressure of the compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 from the air circuit 51 via the Y-type mixer 57, the flow of the mix from the mix material tube 34 to the cooling cylinder 8 is prevented.
[0049]
At this time, an overrun of the frozen dessert (a state in which air is mixed in the dessert and the bulk increases) is obtained by the amount of the compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder 8, but the dessert is stored in the cooling cylinder 8 as described above. Since the liquid level of the mix to be mixed can be regulated to a predetermined liquid level by operating the pull-down switch 76 and the position of the liquid level sensor, the amount of air in the cooling cylinder 8 can also be regulated. Can be set to.
[0050]
Further, since the compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 at this time has passed through the air filter 53, foreign matters and various germs contained in the air are captured by the air filter 53. This makes it possible to avoid the inconvenience of foreign matter and various germs entering the cooling cylinder 8 together with the compressed air, and to reliably perform sanitary management.
[0051]
Further, since the check valve 54 is provided on the mix material tube 34, the compressed air entering the Y-type mixer 57 from the air circuit 51 passes through the mix material tube 34 into the bag body 21 of the mix material bag 5. The inflow inconvenience is prevented.
[0052]
Furthermore, as described above, after the mixed raw material tube 34 and the air circuit 51 are once merged by the Y-type mixer 57, the mixed raw material tube 34 and the air circuit 51 are connected to the cooling cylinder 8 from the mix inlet 9. Both the supply of the mix and the supply of the air for overrun can be performed from a single mix inlet 9, so that the structure of the cooling cylinder 8 can be simplified.
[0053]
Thus, the pull-down mode ends. In this state, the operation of the cooling switch 77 is waited. Note that the microcomputer 73 counts and holds the pull-down time required for storing the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 to a predetermined liquid level as described above from the time when the pull-down switch 77 is first operated. In this case, when the pull-down switch 77 is visually operated to store the mix to a predetermined liquid level as described above, the pull-down time counting is terminated when the pull-down switch 77 is finally released, and the liquid is stored as described above. When the level sensor stores the mix up to the predetermined level, the counting of the pull-down time ends when the level sensor detects the predetermined level of the mix.
[0054]
(3) Normal sales mode Next, moving to FIG. 6, when the cooling switch 77 is turned on (pushed) by the user, the microcomputer 73 confirms that the freezer door 14 is normally attached and closed as described above. As a condition, the compressor 18 of the cooling device R is operated to start the cooling operation. When the compressor 18 is operated, the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 20 is supplied to each of the coolers 4 and 11 via a decompression device (not shown), where the refrigerant evaporates to exert a cooling function. As a result, the mix of the mixed raw material bags 5 in the refrigerator 2A of the refrigerator 2 is kept cool. In addition, components such as the mixed raw material tube 68 and the other end of the air circuit 51 and the Y-type mixer 57 (portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) in the refrigerator 2A are also kept cool. As a result, the temperature of the mix and the compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 does not rise in the process of passing through them.
[0055]
On the other hand, in the cooling cylinder 8, the mix is cooled to the freezing temperature by the cylinder cooler 11, and the microcomputer 73 rotates the beater 10 by the beater motor 12, whereby the semi-cured frozen dessert ( Soft serve) is manufactured. Thereafter, the sales standby state is established.
[0056]
In this state, when the user takes, for example, a cone (container) below the take-out lever 15 and approaches the proximity switch 38, the proximity switch 38 detects the cone and turns ON (sales detection). When the proximity switch 38 is turned on, the microcomputer 73 starts counting of a timer for sales detection 3 seconds (a predetermined period not limited to 3 seconds) provided by itself. Then, when the state is continued for 3 seconds and the count of the timer ends, that is, when the proximity switch 38 continuously detects the cone for 3 seconds, the microcomputer 73 rotates the beater 10. When the user operates the take-out lever 15, the plunger 16 is raised as described above, so that the ice cream (soft cream) is pushed out by the beater 10 into an extraction path (not shown), and is extracted into corn.
[0057]
As described above, since the rotation of the beater 10 is controlled by using the proximity switch 38, it is not necessary to provide a take-out switch using an arm that is interlocked with the vertical movement of the plunger 16, unlike the related art, and the number of parts can be reduced. Since the mechanism is simplified, a failure hardly occurs. In addition, since the beater 10 is rotated when the cone is continuously detected for a predetermined period (3 seconds), malfunctions caused when the hand is accidentally held near the proximity switch 8 are prevented. it can.
[0058]
When the take-out lever 15 is returned, the plunger 16 descends and the extraction path is closed. When the cone is released from the proximity switch 38, the microcomputer 73 stops the beater 10. Thereby, the extraction of the frozen dessert is stopped. Since the pressure is reduced by extracting the frozen dessert from the inside of the cooling cylinder 8, cooling is performed from the inside of the bag body 21 of the mixed raw material bag 5 through the mixed raw material tube 34, the check valve 54, the Y-type mixer 57 and the mix inlet 9. The mix flows into the cylinder 8 and is replenished.
[0059]
In this case, since the air circuit 51 is provided with the check valve 56, the inconvenience that the mix entering the Y-type mixer 57 from the mix raw material tube 34 flows into the air circuit 51 at this time is avoided. Therefore, there is no need to clean the inside of the air circuit 51 upstream of the check valve 56.
[0060]
On the other hand, the microcomputer 73 opens the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 a seconds (delay time) after b seconds (predetermined period) after the sales detection. When the air circuit 51 is opened by the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52, the pressure of the compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 from the air circuit 51 via the Y-type mixer 57 causes the mixing from the mixed material tube 34 to the cooling cylinder 8. Is stopped, and stops as described above. That is, by opening the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 with a delay from the start of the extraction of the frozen dessert from the cooling cylinder 8, the mix can be refilled into the cooling cylinder 8 from the mix raw material tube 34.
[0061]
Although the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 is continuously opened for b seconds in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 may be opened and closed intermittently a plurality of times after a seconds.
[0062]
Here, the replenishment amount of the mix at this time is determined by the delay time of the a-second, and the amount of the mix flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 during the delay time depends on the viscosity of the mix. In other words, for the same delay time, the replenishment amount decreases when the viscosity of the mix is high, and increases when the viscosity is low. On the other hand, when the viscosity of the mix is high, the time required for the above-described pull-down (pull-down time) is long, and when the viscosity is low, the time is short.
[0063]
Therefore, the microcomputer 73 extends the delay time of a seconds when the pull-down time is long and shortens the delay time when the pull-down time is short, based on the pull-down time counted and held as described above. As a result, the amount of the mix to be replenished into the cooling cylinder 8 with the extraction of the frozen dessert can be made substantially constant regardless of the viscosity of the mix. And the mixing shortage in the cooling cylinder 8 can be avoided.
[0064]
Here, the microcomputer 73 controls ON / OFF of the air pump 27 so as to maintain the pressure detected by the sensor 47 in the air circuit at the above-mentioned set value. With the extraction of the frozen dessert as described above, the mix flows out of the mix raw material bag 5 and the air also flows into the cooling cylinder 8 from the air circuit 51, whereby the pressure detected by the air circuit sensor 47 gradually increases. Although the pressure decreases, the pressure decreases to the lower limit in approximately five extractions, and the air pump 27 is operated.
[0065]
Therefore, in most cases except for the rare case where extraction is performed six or more times continuously, the air pump 27 is not operated while the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 is open for b seconds described above. Therefore, during this b seconds, the compressed air in the closed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5 and the bag body 21 enters the air circuit 51 via the bag pressurizing pipe 7 and the distributor 46, It flows into the cooling cylinder 8 via the circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52, the air filter 53 and the Y-type mixer 57.
[0066]
The compressed air in the closed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5 and the bag main body 21 is air cooled in the inside 2A of the cool box 2. That is, compressed air having a low temperature is supplied from the air circuit 51 into the cooling cylinder 8, so that the volume is not bulky, which is advantageous for overrun.
[0067]
Further, by using the air pump 27 and the sensor 47 in the air circuit to seal the air pressure in the closed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5 and the bag main body 21 as described above, the sealed space between them is reduced. Since the volume accommodated in the bag body 21 is expanded and pushed out to the mix material tube 34, the automatic supply of the mix from the bag body 21 to the cooling cylinder 8 can be realized. This eliminates the conventional method of supplying a mix that depends on gravity using a mix supply pipe, thereby realizing a stable automatic supply of a mix, and at the same time, mixing the mix directly from a mix material bag 5 into a cooling cylinder 8. Supply can also solve hygiene problems.
[0068]
Further, using the air pump 27 and the sensor 47 in the air circuit, the air pressure in the closed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed raw material bag 5 and the bag body 21 is set to a predetermined pressure between the set value and the lower limit value. By keeping the air pressure, the mix is pushed out of the bag body 21 into the mix raw material tube 34 and supplied to the cooling cylinder 8, and the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 is opened to allow the compressed air from the air circuit 51 to flow. Since the replenishment of the mix from the mix raw material tube 34 is thereby stopped, it is not necessary to provide an electromagnetic valve or the like for controlling the supply of the mix on the mix raw material tube 34 side. This makes the cleaning operation extremely easy.
[0069]
(4) When the selling operation as described above is performed and the mix in the bag main body 21 of the mixed raw material bag 5 runs out, there is no mix to be replenished even if the ice confection is extracted after the sale is detected. The change in the pressure detected by the in-circuit sensor 47 does not occur or is extremely small. In this embodiment, when the pressure change after the sale is detected, the microcomputer 73 determines that the product is sold out, and continuously lights the sold-out display lamp 78 (ON). The operation of the air pump 27 also stops.
[0070]
(5) Bag Replacement When the user confirms that the mix is sold out by turning on the sold-out display lamp 78 and opens the heat insulating door 3 for replacement, the microcomputer 73 operates the air circuit exhaust solenoid valve 48 for 5 seconds as described above. Open to discharge compressed air. Thereafter, the bag pressurizing pipe 7 and the mixed material tube 34 are removed, and the empty mixed material bag 5 is taken out. At this time, the mixed raw material tube 34, the mounting nuts 66 and 62, the connection pipe 63, and the O-ring 64 are washed. Then, after the new mixed material bag 5 is set in the interior 2A and connected to the bag pressurizing pipe 7 and the mixed material tube 34, and the heat insulating door 3 is closed, the microcomputer 73 restarts the air pump 27. Is operated to raise the air pressure detected by the sensor 47 in the air circuit to a set value, and to put the apparatus in a sales standby state.
[0071]
Here, if there is excess mix in the mixed raw material bag 5 when the store is closed, the mix is kept in the refrigerator 2A of the refrigerator 2 and used for business on the next day. In that case, first, the raw mix tube 34, which is a flexible tube, is sandwiched by a pinch 68 and sealed. This prevents the mix from flowing out of the bag body 21. After that, the mounting nut 66 of the mixing raw material tube 34 is removed, and the mixing raw material tube 34 is removed from the Y-type mixer 57. The bag pressurizing pipe 7 is also removed from the communication port member 24.
[0072]
Next, as shown in FIG. 7, a sterilization container 79 in which an alcohol solution or the like is stored is prepared, and the distal end of the mixed material tube 34 is removably connected to the opening of the sterilization container 79 with the mounting nut 66. 2A in the refrigerator. As a result, the mixed raw material bags 5 can be stored in a sanitary state in the refrigerator 2A of the cool box 2.
[0073]
Instead of using the sterilizing container 79, a method of sealing the mixed material tube 34 with the pinch 68, removing the mounting nut 66, disinfecting the tip of the tube 34 with alcohol, and storing the tube 34 in the inside 2A may be used.
[0074]
When the store is closed, it is necessary to clean the cooling cylinder 8 and each part of the mix supply path. In that case, the power plug is first removed to stop the operation. Next, as described above, the mixed material tube 34, which is a flexible tube, is pinched and sealed. Then, after removing the mounting nut 66 of the mix raw material tube 34 connected to the mix raw material bag 5 from the connection pipe 67 of the Y-type mixer 57, the Y-type mixer 57 is also removed from the mix inlet 9. Then, the connection pipes 67, 69, the check valves 54, 56, and the O-ring 71 are removed from the Y-type mixer 57 and disassembled, and the Y-type mixer 57, the connection pipes 67, 69, the check valves 54, 56, O The ring 71 is cleaned.
[0075]
On the other hand, when cleaning the inside of the cooling cylinder 8, the connector 43 at the tip of the cleaning hose 39 provided in the interior 2 </ b> A is connected to the mix inlet 9. Then, when the opening / closing stopper 42 is opened, cleaning water is supplied from the cleaning hose 39 into the cooling cylinder 8. The beater 10 is rotated in a state where the supplied washing water is accumulated, and the frozen dessert remaining in the cooling cylinder 8 is washed with the washing water, and the plunger 16 is opened to remove the washing water from the cooling cylinder 8 to the outside. To be discharged.
[0076]
In this case, since the connector 43 at the tip of the cleaning hose 39 always closes the opening at the tip of the hose, even if the opening / closing stopper 42 is accidentally operated without being connected to the mix inlet 9, The cleaning water does not leak into the interior 2A. When the cleaning of the inside of the cooling cylinder 8 is completed, the connector 43 is disconnected from the mix inlet 9, and the cleaned Y-type mixer 57 and the like are connected to prepare for business on the next day.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, a flexible bag main body in which a mix is stored, and a sealed space provided outside the bag main body and formed between the bag main body and the bag main body A cool box that keeps a mix raw material bag composed of an outer layer body having flexibility enabled, a cooling cylinder that manufactures frozen dessert by cooling a mix supplied from the mix raw material bag while stirring, and a cool box And a cooling device for cooling the cooling cylinder, an air compression device, a mix supply passage for communicating the inside of the bag body of the mixed material bag with the inside of the cooling cylinder, and the compressed air generated by the air compression device as a mixed material. A bag pressurizing passage for supplying between the outer layer body of the bag and the bag body, and an air supply passage for supplying compressed air into the cooling cylinder are provided, and the mix supply passage and the air supply passage are combined. After that, the mixture is kept cool in the cool box with the mixed raw material bags because it is connected to the cooling cylinder, and compressed between the outer layer of the mixed raw material bags and the bag main body through the bag pressurizing passage by the air compression device. The air is supplied to forcibly extrude the mix from the inside of the bag body, and is supplied directly to the cooling cylinder via the mix supply passage, whereby the frozen dessert can be manufactured.
[0078]
This will eliminate the need for a gravity-dependent mix supply system and enable automatic supply of a stable mix, while also solving hygiene issues by supplying the mix directly from the mix material bag to the cooling cylinder. Will be able to Further, since compressed air is supplied into the cooling cylinder via the air supply passage, overrun of the frozen dessert can be obtained without any trouble. In particular, since the mix supply passage and the air supply passage are merged and then connected to the inside of the cooling cylinder, both the supply of the mix to the cooling cylinder and the supply of the air for overrun can be performed from one place. As a result, the structure of the cooling cylinder can be simplified.
[0079]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, a merging passage member detachably attached to the cooling cylinder is provided, and the mix supply passage and the air supply passage are detachably connected to the merging passage member. As a result, the work of cleaning the mix supply passage and the merging passage member is facilitated.
[0080]
Furthermore, according to the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, check valves are respectively connected between the mix supply passage and the junction passage member and between the air supply passage and the junction passage member. At the same time, since the forward direction of each check valve is on the merging passage member side, the mix flows into the air supply passage side from the mix supply passage, or compressed air flows from the air supply passage to the mix supply passage side. The inflow can be avoided, and the contamination of the air supply passage by the mix and the inconvenience caused by the backflow of air into the bag body of the mixed material bag can be avoided beforehand.
[0081]
According to the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the fourth aspect, in addition to the second or third aspect, the merging passage member is disposed in the cool box, so that the mix or the compression flowing into the cooling cylinder via the merging passage member is provided. It is also possible to prevent the temperature from rising during the passage of air.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially longitudinal perspective view of a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram relating to mix supply of the frozen dessert production apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded configuration diagram of parts around the mixed raw material bag of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining operations from supply of a mix to production of a frozen dessert and extraction of a frozen dessert of the frozen dessert production apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining operations from supply of a mix to production of a frozen dessert and extraction of a frozen dessert in the frozen dessert production apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the mixed raw material bags are kept cool after the store is closed.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Cooler 3 Insulated door 4 Cooler cooler 5 Mix material bag 7 Bag pressurized pipe (bag pressurized passage)
8 Cooling cylinder 9 Mix inlet 10 Beater 11 Cylinder cooler 14 Freezer door (transparent part)
21 bag main body 22 outlet member 23 outer layer body 24 communication port member 27 air pump (air compression device)
31 Cover 33 Cooler open / close switch 34 Mix material tube (mix supply passage)
37 Freezer door switch 38 Proximity switch 39 Cleaning hose 42 Opening / closing plug 43 Connector 47 Sensor in air circuit (pressure detecting means)
48 Exhaust solenoid valve in air circuit (exhaust means)
51 Air circuit (air supply passage)
52 Air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve (channel opening / closing means)
53 Air filters 54, 56 Check valve 57 Y-type mixer (merging passage member)
68 pinch 73 microcomputer (control means)
76 Pulldown switch (operation switch)
79 Sterilization container SM Frozen dessert production equipment R Cooling equipment

Claims (4)

A mix comprising: a flexible bag main body in which a mix is stored; and a flexible outer layer body provided outside the bag main body and capable of forming a closed space with the bag main body. A cool box that keeps the material bags cool,
A cooling cylinder that produces a frozen dessert by cooling while stirring the mix supplied from the mix raw material bag,
A cooling device for cooling the cool box and the cooling cylinder,
An air compressor,
A mix supply passage for communicating between the inside of the bag body of the mixed material bag and the inside of the cooling cylinder,
A bag pressurizing passage for supplying compressed air generated by the air compression device between the outer layer body of the mixed material bag and the bag body,
An air supply passage for supplying the compressed air into the cooling cylinder,
The frozen confectionery manufacturing apparatus, wherein the mix supply passage and the air supply passage are merged and then connected to the inside of the cooling cylinder. Providing a merging passage member detachably attached to the cooling cylinder,
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mix supply passage and the air supply passage are detachably connected to the merging passage member. A check valve is connected between the mix supply passage and the merging passage member, and between the air supply passage and the merging passage member, and the forward direction of each check valve is the merging passage member side. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: The frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the merging passage member is arranged in the cool box.

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