JP2007105452A - System and method for multiple processing tub control - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system which can share a decompression means or a steam supply means in multiple processing tubs and its control method. <P>SOLUTION: The system comprises multiple processing tubs 2 (8, 9) which can be opened and closed, the steam supply means 3 which supplies steam to the inside of the processing tub 2, the decompression means 4 which decompresses the inside of the processing tub 2, a pressure recovering means 5 which recovers the pressure of the inside of the decompressed processing tub 2, and a control means 7 which controls each of these means 3-5. In one side or both sides of the steam supply means 3 and the decompression means 4, at least a part of them is thought to be common equipment which is used in common with the multiple processing tubs 2. The control means 7 controls each of the means 3-5 so that different processes can be performed for each of the processing tubs 2 and performs the treating of each of the processing tubs 2 with shifting when the process using the common equipment falls on in the two or more processing tubs 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control system and a control method for a plurality of treatment tanks. In particular, the present invention relates to a steamer (including a steamer), a steam cooler, a vacuum thawing machine, a steam sterilizer (including an autoclave) and the like equipped with common facilities commonly used for a plurality of treatment tanks.

Steaming coolers are known in which steam is supplied to the processing tank containing the ingredients so that the ingredients are steamed (cooked) and cooked, and after the cooking, the processing tank is depressurized for vacuum cooling. ing.
Japanese Patent No. 2781373

  However, the conventional steam cooler has only one processing tank. Depending on the amount of food processed, a plurality of steam coolers are operated in parallel, but there is no connection between the steam coolers in terms of structure and control. For this reason, for example, decompression means such as a vacuum pump for sucking and discharging the air in the processing tank to the outside is required by the number of processing tanks.

  However, the depressurizing means is stopped during the pressure cooking process in which steam is supplied into the sealed processing tank and the food in the processing tank is cooked at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. Therefore, in such a steam cooler, the operating rate of the decompression means is low. For this reason, it is not necessary to install decompression means in each of the plurality of treatment tanks, and such a configuration increases costs. On the other hand, if the performance of the decompression means remains the same on the premise of a single processing tank as before, the decompression capacity may be insufficient if the processes using the decompression means overlap in a plurality of treatment tanks. is there.

  In addition, this is not limited to the steam cooler, and the same applies to other devices such as a vacuum thawing machine. Furthermore, in place of or in addition to the decompression means, there may be a case where other structures such as a steam supply means for supplying steam into the treatment tank are desired to be shared by a plurality of treatment tanks. However, as in the case of the depressurization means described above, as a shared facility, it is easy to waste if it is prepared simply by multiplying the number of treatment tanks, but if it is less than that, there is a risk of insufficient capability. is there.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a system capable of sharing desired equipment such as decompression means and steam supply means at a low cost among a plurality of treatment tanks and a control method therefor.

  This invention was made in order to solve the said subject, and the invention of Claim 1 is provided with the some processing tank and the common equipment used in common with this some processing tank, The said common use The multi-treatment tank control system is characterized in that processing of each treatment tank is shifted and executed so as not to exceed the capacity of the shared equipment due to overlapping use of equipment.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the configuration is shared equipment that is commonly used for a plurality of treatment tanks. It does not exceed the capacity of the shared facilities due to the overlapping use of the. Therefore, even if it is a common facility less than the capability which added the maximum capability required by each processing tank, the capability required for each process is securable.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a pressure reducing means for sucking and discharging the gas in each processing tank to the outside and decompressing each processing tank, and introducing the outside air into each decompressed processing tank Different for each one or a plurality of the treatment tanks, the pressure-reduction means for restoring the pressure in each treatment tank, the steam supply means for supplying steam to the nozzles of the steam ejectors constituting the treatment tanks and / or the pressure-reducing means. Control means for controlling each means such that a process can be performed, and any one or more of the steam supply means, the pressure reducing means, and the pressure-reducing means are partially or entirely part of the shared equipment. The control means, when the process of using the shared equipment exceeds the capacity of the shared equipment due to the overlap, the processing of each processing tank is shifted and executed. Multiple treatment tank control system described in It is.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a steaming device that cooks the food in the treatment tank with steam by providing the steam supply means, the decompression means, and the decompression means, and further, after the cooking in the treatment tank It can be a steaming chiller that cools the food, a vacuum thawing machine that heats and thaws the food in the processing tank, or a steam sterilizer that heat-sterilizes the goods in the processing tank with steam. A plurality of treatment tanks are provided, and at least a part of one or more of the steam supply means, the decompression means, and the decompression means is configured to be shared by the plurality of treatment tanks. In addition, even if a plurality of treatment tanks are operated in parallel, if the process of using the shared equipment exceeds the capacity of the shared equipment due to the overlap, the process of each treatment tank is shifted and executed. Necessary ability can be secured.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the steam supply means supplies the steam from a boiler provided in common to the plurality of the processing tanks to the processing tanks via the steaming lines to the processing tanks. The decompression means is provided in common or individually in the plurality of treatment tanks, and exhausts air and / or steam in the treatment tanks via the decompression lines from the treatment tanks. Each of the steam supply operation valves provided in the middle of each steam supply line corresponding to each of the treatment tanks, and each of the treatment tanks corresponding to each of the treatment tanks. Opening / closing of each pressure-reducing operation valve provided in the middle of each pressure-reducing line for introducing outside air, and operation of the pressure-reducing means or each pressure-reducing operation valve provided in the middle of each pressure-reducing line so that the pressure can be reduced for each processing tank. Control the opening and closing of the process, and the shared by a plurality of the treatment tanks The process of any of the treatment tanks is continued or executed while waiting for the treatment of other treatment tanks when the capacity of the shared equipment exceeds the capacity of the shared equipment due to overlapping of the steps using the equipment. 2 is a multi-treatment tank control system according to 2.

  According to invention of Claim 3, the boiler which makes the principal part of a steam supply means can be shared by a some processing tank. Then, the control means opens and closes each steam supply operation valve and each return pressure operation valve provided corresponding to each treatment tank, and operates the decompression means or each decompression operation valve so that the pressure can be reduced for each treatment tank. It is only necessary to control opening and closing, and the configuration and control of the entire system can be simplified.

  The invention according to claim 4 includes a plurality of treatment tanks and a common facility used in common for the plurality of treatment tanks, and can perform different processes for each of the one or more treatment tanks. When the processes using the shared facilities overlap, a multi-treatment tank control system is characterized in that a process with a higher priority is preferentially executed based on a predetermined priority of a process type.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the cost can be reduced by sharing the shared equipment among the plurality of treatment tanks. In addition, a plurality of treatment tanks can be operated in parallel, and different processes can be executed for each treatment tank. Furthermore, when the process using a shared equipment overlaps with a some process tank, the capability required for each process can be ensured by giving priority to the process with a high priority.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the multiple processing tank control system according to claim 4, wherein the shared facility is a decompression unit.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the cost can be reduced by sharing the decompression means among the plurality of treatment tanks. Furthermore, when the process using a decompression means overlaps with a some process tank, the decompression capability required for each process can be ensured by giving priority to the process with a high priority.

  The invention described in claim 6 includes a plurality of processing tanks, steam supply means for supplying steam into the processing tanks, and a decompression means that is provided in common to the plurality of processing tanks and depressurizes the processing tanks. The decompression means for restoring the reduced pressure inside the treatment tank, and the steam supply means, the decompression means and the return pressure means are controlled so that different processes can be performed for each treatment tank, and the decompression means is A plurality of processes characterized by comprising control means for preferentially executing processing of a processing tank for performing a process with a high priority based on a priority of a predetermined process type when the processes to be used overlap. It is a tank control system.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, by providing the steam supply means, the decompression means, and the decompression means, the steamer for cooking the ingredients in the treatment tank with steam, and further, after the cooking in the treatment tank It can be a steaming chiller that cools the food, a vacuum thawing machine that heats and thaws the food in the processing tank, or a steam sterilizer that heat-sterilizes the goods in the processing tank with steam. And although a some processing tank is provided, a pressure reduction means can be shared by a some processing tank. In addition, a plurality of treatment tanks can be operated in parallel, and different processes can be executed for each treatment tank. Furthermore, when the process using a decompression means overlaps with a some processing tank, the decompression capability required for each process is securable by performing sequentially based on the priority of a process classification.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the steam supply means supplies the steam from a boiler provided in common to the plurality of processing tanks to the processing tanks via the steaming lines to the processing tanks. The pressure reducing means is provided in common to the plurality of processing tanks, and discharges air and / or steam in the processing tanks through the pressure reducing lines from the processing tanks. The control means includes a steaming operation valve provided in the middle of the steaming line corresponding to the processing tanks, and a midway of the pressure reducing lines corresponding to the processing tanks. Corresponding to each pressure reducing operation valve provided, each pressure reducing operation valve provided in the middle of each pressure return line for introducing outside air into each processing tank corresponding to each processing tank, and each processing tank Provided in the middle of each discharge line of steam and its condensed water from each treatment tank Opening and closing of the discharge valve, and a plurality treatment tank control system according to claim 6, characterized in that for controlling the operation of the pressure reducing means.

  According to the invention described in claim 7, in addition to the decompression means, the boiler which forms the main part of the steam supply means can be shared by the plurality of treatment tanks. The control means controls the opening and closing of each steam supply operation valve, each pressure reducing operation valve, each pressure reducing operation valve, and each discharge valve provided corresponding to each treatment tank, and the operation of the pressure reducing means. Well, the configuration and control of the entire system can be simplified.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a reduced-pressure steaming step in which steam is supplied into the treatment tank by the steam supply means under reduced pressure in the treatment tank by the decompression means, and the food in the treatment tank is cooked. The steaming machine or steaming cooler with the highest priority, the vacuum thawing machine with the highest priority of the air removal process from the inside of the treatment tank by the operation of the decompression means immediately after the start of operation, the steam supply means After the sterilization process in which steam is supplied into the processing tank and the article in the processing tank is heated, the decompression means is operated to depressurize the processing tank and dry the article to give the highest priority. The multi-treatment tank control system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control system is a steam sterilizer.

  According to invention of Claim 8, even if it has only one decompression means for a plurality of processing tanks, a steamer, steam cooler, vacuum defroster, or A steam sterilizer can be realized.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a method for controlling a plurality of treatment tanks using a shared facility, wherein the use of the shared facilities overlaps so that the capacity of the shared facility is not exceeded. It is a multiple processing tank control method characterized by shifting and performing processing.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the use of the shared equipment does not exceed the capacity of the shared equipment, the capacity required for each process can be ensured in each treatment tank. Thus, even if it is a common facility less than the capability which added the maximum capability required by each processing tank, the capability required for each process is securable.

  When the invention according to claim 10 is executed simultaneously in a plurality of the treatment tanks, one or a plurality of kinds of processes exceeding the capacity of the shared facility are determined in advance as priority processes, and the next process in each treatment tank is performed. When the next process belongs to the priority process and the process belonging to the priority process is being executed in another processing tank at the time of the process switching, the step of waiting until the completion of the process being executed is executed, and then the next process is executed. In addition, when a subsequent process of the other processing tank belongs to a priority process, the plurality of processes according to claim 9, further comprising the step of waiting for the processing of the other processing tank until the completion of the next process. It is a processing tank control method.

  According to the invention described in claim 10, since the processes belonging to the priority process are sequentially executed in each processing tank without being simultaneously executed in a plurality of processing tanks, the necessary capacity for each process is ensured. be able to.

  The invention according to claim 11 is a method for controlling a plurality of treatment tanks using a common decompression means, and when the use of the decompression means overlaps in a plurality of treatment tanks, The multi-treatment tank control method is characterized in that, based on the priority order, the treatment tank that performs a process with a high priority order is preferentially executed.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to operate a plurality of treatment tanks in parallel, and in this case, when the process using the decompression means overlaps in the plurality of treatment tanks, a process having a high priority is performed. By giving priority, it is possible to ensure the decompression capacity necessary for each step. In this way, the decompression means can be shared by a plurality of treatment tanks.

  Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 12, when the process is switched to the next process in each processing tank, the next process requires a pressure reducing means, and the process using the pressure reducing means is being executed in another processing tank. A step of waiting until the completion of the process being executed, and a process type of the next process and a process type of the subsequent process of the other process tank when the subsequent process of the other process tank requires a decompression means. In contrast, when the process type of the next process is lower in priority than the process type of the subsequent process of the other processing tank, the process waits until the subsequent process of the other processing tank is completed, If the process type has a higher priority than the process type of the subsequent process of the other treatment tank, the next process is executed while waiting for the process of the other process tank, and the process type of the next process is the When the process types and priorities of the subsequent processes in other treatment tanks are the same In is a multi-processing tanks control method according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises the step of performing the processing of the processing tank of the longer standby time.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, based on the priority of the process type, the processing tank that performs the process with the higher priority is executed while the processing of the processing tank that performs the process with the lower priority waits. By doing so, it is possible to execute each step sequentially and to secure the decompression capacity necessary for each step.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a system capable of sharing desired equipment such as a decompression unit and a steam supply unit at a low cost among a plurality of treatment tanks and a control method therefor.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The multi-treatment tank control system of the present embodiment includes a plurality of treatment tanks for storing objects to be processed made of food, food, or various articles, a common facility used in common for the plurality of treatment tanks, And control means for shifting and executing the processing of each processing tank so as not to exceed the capacity of the shared facilities due to overlapping use.

  That is, in this system, first, at least a part of the configuration is a shared facility used in common for a plurality of treatment tanks. Which configuration is used as a shared facility is set as appropriate regardless of the particular configuration. Typically, in each treatment tank, as will be described later, steam supply means for supplying steam into the treatment tank, decompression means for sucking and discharging the gas in the treatment tank to the outside, and decompressing the treatment tank, decompression Various means such as a return pressure means for introducing outside air into the treated tank and restoring the pressure in the treatment tank are provided, and some or all of one or more of these means are shared facilities.

  And the said control means controls the said each means, and performs a predetermined | prescribed process sequentially in each processing tank. In that case, although a different process is normally performed for each processing tank, if desired, it may be divided into two or more processing tanks, and a different process may be performed for each group. Below, although the example controlled for every process tank is demonstrated, the case where it controls for every group is also the same.

  During the operation of this system, the capacity required for the shared equipment in each treatment tank varies depending on the process, but the control means can be set as required so that the total capacity required for all treatment tanks simultaneously does not exceed the capacity of the shared equipment. The processing tank is shifted and executed. In other words, the processing is executed in parallel in a plurality of processing tanks as long as the capacity of the shared facility is not exceeded. For example, in the case of a combination of processes that do not exceed the capacity of the shared facility even if executed in parallel, the respective processes are executed in parallel in each treatment tank. On the other hand, when it is executed while using a shared facility in parallel in a plurality of processing tanks, when the capacity of the shared equipment is exceeded, the processing of each processing tank is shifted and executed sequentially. That is, the processing of one of the processing tanks is performed while waiting for the processing of another processing tank.

  By the way, regarding steaming, water supply, or decompression according to the type of shared equipment, the capacity required for the shared equipment is usually different depending on the process executed in each treatment tank. And the capacity | capacitance requested | required of a shared facility is a value which adds up the maximum capacity | capacitance required for each processing tank through all the processes tanks in principle. However, in this embodiment, even if the capacity is less than the total capacity, it is sufficient if the capacity is equal to or greater than the maximum capacity required in each processing tank. This is because the control means sequentially executes a predetermined process in each processing tank, but when the capacity of the shared equipment is exceeded by overlapping processes using the shared equipment in a plurality of processing tanks, This is because the processing is continued or executed, and the processing of other processing tanks is kept waiting during that time.

  Hereinafter, more specifically, the system of the present embodiment includes a processing tank that contains an object to be processed such as food (including food), steam supply means that supplies steam into the processing tank, and a processing tank A decompression unit that sucks and discharges air and steam to the outside and decompresses the inside of the treatment tank, and a decompression unit that introduces outside air into the treatment tank under reduced pressure and decompresses the inside of the treatment tank. Further, there may be a case where a discharge means for discharging the steam in the treatment tank and its condensed water to the outside is additionally provided. Each means is controlled by a control means.

  A processing tank is a hollow container which accommodates to-be-processed objects, such as a foodstuff. In the present embodiment, two, three, or more processing tanks are provided. Although the capacity | capacitance of each processing tank shall be the same, it can also be set as a mutually different capacity | capacitance. Each processing tank accommodates an object to be processed and is configured to be hermetically sealed. For example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped can body provided with a door that can be opened and closed on the front surface, or a bottomed cylindrical can body body provided with a lid that can be opened and closed on the upper surface.

  In each processing tank, an object to be processed such as food is accommodated. Under the present circumstances, the to-be-processed object may be put into various containers, bags, etc., such as a cooking pot. And a to-be-processed object is hold | maintained on the shelf board provided in the processing tank, or the shelf board of the wagon withdrawn / inserted in a processing tank. The shelf board is preferably configured in a mesh shape such as a wire mesh or punching metal, or a slat-like shape in which a plurality of bars are stretched horizontally. In this way, the object to be processed is held in a state of being floated from the bottom surface of the processing tank, and when the steam from the steam supply means is supplied into the processing tank, the steam spreads all around the object to be processed. . Moreover, even if condensed water accumulates in the bottom part in a processing tank, it is prevented that the condensed water contacts a to-be-processed object.

  The steam supply means is means for supplying steam from the boiler into the treatment tank. This steam is preferably a clean steam obtained by heating pure water or soft water in a secondary boiler (reboiler) using steam from the primary boiler as a heat source. Thereby, boiler water treatment chemicals, such as rust in piping and a rust preventive agent, are not sanitized and are hygienic. However, it is needless to say that only the primary boiler may be used to supply the steam into the treatment tank.

  Such steam supply means may be installed in each of the plurality of processing tanks, or may be installed so as to share at least a part of the plurality or all of the processing tanks. For example, only one secondary boiler is installed in common with a plurality of treatment tanks. In this case, the primary boiler can also be shared. That is, in the configuration using the primary boiler and the secondary boiler as the steam supply means, when the boiler is shared by a plurality of treatment tanks, the primary boiler and the secondary boiler can be shared.

  In any case, the steam from the steam supply means is supplied into each processing tank via a steam supply line as a steam introduction line. A steaming operation valve is provided in the middle of each steaming line to each treatment tank. When a boiler is shared by a plurality of treatment tanks, a steam supply line from the boiler is branched and connected to each treatment tank, and a steam supply operation valve is provided in each branch line. By opening or closing each steam supply operation valve corresponding to each processing tank, the presence or absence of steam supply to the corresponding processing tank can be switched.

  The decompression means is means for decompressing the inside of the processing tank by evacuating the air or steam in the processing tank. The decompression means includes a vacuum pump or a steam ejector or a water ejector instead of or in addition to the vacuum pump. Such a decompression means is not installed in each of a plurality of processing tanks, but can be installed so that at least a part is shared by a plurality or all of the processing tanks. For example, when a vacuum pump is used as the decompression means, only one vacuum pump is installed in common with a plurality of processing tanks.

  Each processing tank is connected to a decompression means via a decompression line as an air outlet conduit. When the decompression means is shared by a plurality of treatment tanks, the decompression lines from the treatment tanks are combined into one and connected to the decompression means. Particularly in this case, a decompression operation valve is provided in the middle of each decompression line corresponding to each treatment tank. By opening and closing the pressure reducing operation valve, whether or not evacuation from the corresponding processing tank is possible is switched. However, in the case where a pressure reducing means is provided for each processing tank, the presence or absence of the operation of the pressure reducing means corresponding to each processing tank may be controlled without providing a pressure reducing operation valve.

  By the way, when using a steam ejector as a decompression means, the steam supply to the nozzle can be performed using the steam supply means. In this case, the steam supply means is a means for supplying steam to the nozzles of the steam ejector constituting the decompression means in addition to supplying steam into each processing tank. Here, when the primary boiler and the secondary boiler are used as the steam supply means, the steam from the secondary boiler may be used for the nozzle of the steam ejector in the same manner as the steam into the treatment tank. Steam from the primary boiler is supplied. That is, in this case, the steam of the primary boiler is supplied to the secondary boiler and used to vaporize the soft water or pure water, and can also be supplied to the nozzle of the steam ejector.

  When a steam ejector is used as the decompression means, the decompression line is usually provided with a heat exchanger as a condenser on the downstream side of the steam ejector. Moreover, when using a vacuum pump as a pressure reduction means, it is desirable to provide a heat exchanger as a condenser upstream of the vacuum pump in the pressure reduction line. Here, the heat exchanger is a condenser that cools and condenses the steam in the decompression line, and cools the steam generated from the object to be processed by reducing the pressure in the treatment tank and the steam from the nozzle of the steam ejector. Condense. In order to perform this cooling and condensation action, cooling water is supplied to the heat exchanger, and the pressure reduction line is cooled. When a vacuum pump is arranged on the downstream side of the heat exchanger, it is possible to reduce the load on the subsequent vacuum pump and increase the decompression capacity by condensing the steam in the decompression line with the heat exchanger in advance. it can.

  The return pressure means is means for returning the pressure in the treatment tank decompressed by the pressure reduction means. Specifically, the outside air can be introduced into the decompressed treatment tank and the pressure inside the treatment tank can be restored to atmospheric pressure. It is desirable to introduce outside air into the treatment tank through a filter in consideration of hygiene. Such decompression means may be installed in each of the plurality of processing tanks, or may be installed so as to share at least a part of the plurality or all of the processing tanks. For example, the filter is installed in one place in common with a plurality of treatment tanks.

  In either case, the clean air that has passed through the filter is supplied into each treatment tank via a return pressure line as an outside air introduction conduit. A return pressure operation valve is provided in the middle of each return pressure line to each treatment tank. When the filter is shared by a plurality of treatment tanks, the return pressure line from the filter is branched and connected to each treatment tank, and a return pressure operation valve is provided in each branch line. By opening and closing each return pressure operation valve corresponding to each processing tank, the presence or absence of introduction of outside air into the corresponding processing tank can be switched.

  The discharge means is means for discharging the steam in the treatment tank and its condensed water to the outside. This discharging means includes a steaming line as a steam outlet line for discharging steam from the processing tank, and a trap line as a draining line for discharging condensed water and residual air from the bottom of the processing tank through a steam trap. It consists of. Here, by connecting the steaming line to the bottom of the treatment tank, the condensed water can be discharged in addition to the steam.

  A steaming operation valve is provided in the middle of each steaming line from each treatment tank. A trap valve is provided in the middle of each trap line from each processing tank. By opening / closing the steaming operation valve and / or trap valve corresponding to each processing tank, the presence or absence of the discharge of steam and / or condensed water from the corresponding processing tank can be switched. The exhaust steam line and trap line are common in that condensed water is discharged from the treatment tank to the outside, so the exhaust steam line or trap line is called the exhaust line, and the exhaust steam operation valve or trap valve is the exhaust valve. Can be called. In addition, as with other means, this discharging means can be installed so that at least a part is shared by a plurality (usually all) of the treatment tanks.

  The control means is means for controlling the steam supply means, the decompression means, the decompression means, the discharge means, and the like, and is usually provided at least partially in common with the plurality of treatment tanks. However, each processing tank may be controlled while monitoring the state of other processing tanks by providing a control means for each processing tank and networking them. In any case, each means is controlled by the control means, and predetermined operation steps are sequentially executed in each processing tank. At that time, the output from the pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the processing tank and / or the output from the temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the object to be processed in the processing tank, and the time for operating each means are adjusted. Can be controlled. Moreover, a control means controls each said means so that a different process can be performed for every 1 or several process tank.

  The control means includes input means such as a touch panel for inputting various set values, and includes the following modes. As a first aspect, an aspect in which one control means and an input means are provided in common to each treatment tank, and as a second aspect, a control means is one common to each treatment tank, and an input means is provided in each treatment tank. As an aspect provided every time, as a third aspect, a control means and an input means are provided for each processing tank.

  This system is a steaming machine that cooks food in the processing tank with steam, a steaming cooler that cools the food in the processing tank after the cooking, a vacuum thawing machine that heats and thaws the food in the processing tank, Or it can be set as the steam sterilizer etc. which heat-sterilize the articles | goods in a processing tank with steam. In addition, any one or more of the above means are partly or wholly shared by a plurality of processing tanks. Here, the description will be made on the assumption that the decompression means is shared, but other configurations such as the steam supply means can be shared instead of or in addition thereto.

  For example, in the case of a steam cooler, typically, a preheating step of heating the treatment tank by supplying steam with the steam supply means after depressurization by the depressurization means, and depressurization by the depressurization means to discharge the air in the treatment tank to the outside. The steam exhausting process for supplying steam by the steaming means, the steaming process for supplying steam by the steaming means until the inside of the processing tank reaches a desired pressure, and the steam supply by the steaming means to keep the inside of the processing tank at the set pressure. A steaming step of cooking the ingredients in the treatment tank by adjusting the presence or absence or amount, and a cooling step of cooling the ingredients after cooking are sequentially performed.

  Here, the steaming process may be performed in two or more stages. For example, after the first cooking step of opening and closing the steaming operation valve based on the output of the pressure sensor so as to maintain the first set pressure, the steaming based on the output of the pressure sensor so as to maintain the second set pressure. A second cooking step for opening and closing the operation valve is performed.

  By the way, steaming into the treatment tank to cook food by cooking is not limited to pressureless steaming (blow-through steaming) performed at atmospheric pressure, or pressure steaming that steams at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure, or desired There is vacuum steaming, in which the decompression means is sometimes operated and steaming is performed at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. In either case, the steaming operation valve is controlled to open and close so that the pressurization factor in the treatment tank due to steam supply and the decompression factor in the treatment tank due to condensation of the supplied steam are kept in balance. Steaming is performed while maintaining the pressure within the set range.

  Moreover, the said cooling process is a process of taking the rough heat of a foodstuff typically. The rough heat cooling process includes a blow-through rough heat cooling process in which the pressure reducing means is operated with the pressure reducing operation valve opened to blow and cool the food in the processing tank, and a pressure reducing means with the pressure reducing operation valve closed. There is a vacuum rough heat cooling step in which the foodstuff in the treatment tank is vacuum-cooled by operating. In general, either one of the cooling steps is performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the decompression means is commonly installed in the plurality of treatment tanks. In order to prevent shortage of the decompression capacity due to this, when processes using decompression means are overlapped in a plurality of treatment tanks, control is performed so that any one of the treatment tanks is sequentially processed. In that case, based on the priority order of the predetermined process type, control is performed so that processing in the processing tank that performs the process with the higher priority order is executed with priority.

  However, when the process using the decompression means is being executed in another processing tank, even if the process has a higher priority, the process is controlled after waiting until the completion of the process being executed. Thereby, the process using the decompression means is executed only in one of the treatment tanks, and is sequentially executed in descending order of priority. Moreover, when the process of the same priority overlaps in a some processing tank, it processes from the first thing (one with a long waiting time).

  Priorities are appropriately set according to the nature of each process, but in the case of a steaming cooler, the steaming process, the vacuum rough heat cooling process, the air exclusion process, the preheating process, and the blow-through are performed in the order of priority. It becomes a rough heat cooling process. In the steam supply process, since the pressure reducing means is not used, it may be removed from the priority order control or the priority order may be lowered most.

  As described above, according to the multiple treatment tank control system and the multiple treatment tank control method of the present embodiment, it is possible to operate a plurality of treatment tanks in parallel, and it is possible to execute different processes for each treatment tank. Moreover, when the process using a decompression means overlaps with a some processing tank, the decompression capability required for each process is securable by controlling sequentially based on the priority of a process classification. In this way, the pressure reducing means can be shared by a plurality of processing tanks while having a plurality of processing tanks.

  By the way, in the said embodiment, although the example controlled based on the priority order of a process type was demonstrated, a priority process was decided according to the presence or absence of use of a shared facility (in the said embodiment, pressure reduction means), and the required capability at the time of use. It may be determined in advance and controlled depending on whether or not it belongs to this priority process. Such processing corresponds to control based on the priority order after classifying each process into two from the viewpoint of whether or not the process belongs to the priority process. That is, the process belonging to the priority process corresponds to the control having the same priority and higher priority than the process not belonging to the priority process.

  More specifically, one or a plurality of types of processes that exceed the capacity of the shared facility when executed in a plurality of treatment tanks at the same time are determined in advance as priority processes. And when the next process belongs to the priority process at the time of the process switching to the next process in each processing tank, and the process belonging to the priority process is being executed in another processing tank, it waits until the completion of this executing process. Thereafter, the next step may be executed. At this time, if the subsequent process of the other processing tank belongs to the priority process, the process of the other processing tank may be waited until the next process is completed.

  By the way, in the said embodiment, although the steaming cooler which shared the pressure_reduction | reduced_pressure means was demonstrated, what is shared is not restricted to a pressure-reducing means, It is applicable besides a steaming cooler. For example, the present invention can be applied to a vacuum thawing machine in which a plurality of processing tanks share a steam supply means. In such a vacuum thawing machine, after the first air evacuation step for evacuating the air in the treatment tank by the decompression means, a thawing step for supplying steam into the treatment tank by the steam supply means, and into the treatment tank by the steam supply means A second air evacuation step is performed as appropriate, in which the air in the treatment tank is evacuated by the decompression means while supplying steam. In this case, the first air exclusion process and the second air exclusion process are set as priority processes, and when these air exclusion processes overlap in a plurality of treatment tanks, control is performed so that the processes are sequentially performed from either one.

  By the way, the first air removal process can be divided into a front stage and a rear stage. In the front stage, the pressure is reduced only by a vacuum pump to the set pressure, and in the rear stage, a steam ejector and a heat exchanger are made to function in addition to the vacuum pump. The inside is further depressurized. Then, considering that the steam from the steam supply means is supplied to the nozzle of the steam ejector, it is preferable that only the latter stage is set as the priority process.

  Furthermore, an initial steaming process in which steam is supplied into the treatment tank by the steaming means while continuing the operation of the decompression means after the first air exclusion process can also be set as a priority process. In addition, the thawing process may be divided into a rapid thawing process that maintains the inside of the treatment tank at a thawing pressure and a squeezing process that maintains a lower squeeze pressure, and the air exclusion process in any of these processes is a priority process. It can be. Furthermore, after the rapid thawing step, the squeeze decompression step when the decompression means is operated to shift to the squeeze step can be set as the priority step.

  However, even in such a vacuum thawing machine, priority may be given to each process, and the process of a process with higher priority may be prioritized and controlled as in the case of the steam cooler. On the contrary, in the steam cooler, one or more kinds of processes may be controlled as priority processes and controlled in the same manner as the vacuum defroster. Further, in the steam cooler, instead of or in addition to the decompression means, a steaming means or the like can be shared, and in the vacuum defroster, a decompression means or the like can be used instead of or in addition to the steaming means. It can also be shared.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1: is a schematic block diagram which shows Example 1 of the multiple processing tank control system of this invention, and has shown the example applied to the steaming cooler. As shown in this figure, the system of the present embodiment includes a plurality of processing tanks 2 that contain food 1 and can be sealed, steam supply means 3 that supplies steam into each processing tank 2, and each processing tank 2 Decompression means 4 that sucks and discharges the air and steam to the outside and decompresses the inside of the treatment tank 2, a decompression means 5 that introduces outside air into the treatment tank 2 under decompression and decompresses the inside of the treatment tank 2, A discharge means 6 for discharging the steam in the treatment tank 2 and its condensed water to the outside and a control means 7 for controlling these means 3 to 6 are provided.

  In this embodiment, two treatment tanks, a first treatment tank 8 and a second treatment tank 9 are provided. Each processing tank 2 (8, 9) is a box-shaped can having pressure resistance, and has a door (not shown) that can be opened and closed on the front. In each processing tank 2, mesh-like shelf boards 10, 10 are held in a plurality of stages, and food 1 placed in a cooking pan or the like is placed on each shelf board 10. However, a wagon (not shown) can be taken in and out of the treatment tank 2, and the food material 1 may be placed on the shelf of the wagon. By the way, each processing tank 2 is provided with a temperature sensor 11 for detecting the temperature of the food 1 and a pressure sensor (not shown) for detecting the pressure in the processing tank 2.

  The steam supply means 3 is means for supplying steam into each treatment tank 2. The steam supply means 3 of the present embodiment includes a primary boiler (not shown) and a secondary boiler (reboiler) 12, and heats the soft water in the secondary boiler 12 to vaporize it using the steam from the primary boiler as a heat source. The clean steam thus generated is supplied into each treatment tank 2. Although a primary boiler is comprised from a normal common boiler, there exists a possibility that boiler water treatment chemicals, such as rust in a piping and a rust preventive agent, may mix in the steam by such a primary boiler. However, the steam supplied into each treatment tank 2 can directly contact the food 1. Therefore, soft water is heated in the secondary boiler 12 to generate clean steam, and this clean steam is supplied into each treatment tank 2.

  The secondary boiler 12 is a heat exchanger made of stainless steel, and heats soft water to convert it into steam. In order to heat the soft water, the secondary boiler 12 is supplied with steam from the primary boiler via the secondary boiler steam supply valve 13. Thus, the steam supplied from the primary boiler heats the soft water supplied into the stainless steel pipe by the secondary boiler 12 to generate clean steam. The steam from the primary boiler is discharged through the first steam trap 14 and the first check valve 15 after being used in the secondary boiler 12.

  In order to supply soft water to the secondary boiler 12, the steam supply means 3 includes a water softener 16. The water softener (water softener) 16 of this embodiment converts the supplied water into soft water using an ion exchange resin. The soft water produced by the water softener 16 is stored in the water supply tank 17, and the soft water in the water supply tank 17 is supplied by the water supply pump 18 through the secondary boiler water supply valve 19 and the second check valve 20 to the secondary boiler 12. Supplied to.

  As described above, the soft water supplied to the secondary boiler 12 is heated by the steam from the primary boiler, converted into clean steam, and supplied from the nozzle 22 into each treatment tank 2 via the steam supply line 21. Is done. A steam supply operation valve 23 is provided in the middle of the steam supply line 21. The steam supply operation valve 23 of the present embodiment is configured by an electromagnetic valve, and switches presence / absence of steam supply into the processing tank 2.

  The steam supply means 3 may be provided for each of the treatment tanks 2 individually, but in the present embodiment, it is commonly provided for the plurality of treatment tanks 8 and 9. That is, the water softener 16, the water supply tank 17, and the secondary boiler 12 are made common to the plurality of treatment tanks 8 and 9 and unified. Specifically, one water softener 16, one water supply tank 17 for storing soft water from the water softener 16, and one secondary boiler 12 to which soft water from the water supply tank 17 is supplied by a water supply pump 18. Are commonly installed in the first treatment tank 8 and the second treatment tank 9. Then, the steam supply line 21 from the common secondary boiler 12 is branched and connected to the treatment tanks 8 and 9, and a steam supply operation valve 23 is provided in each of the branched steam supply lines 21. Therefore, by operating each steam supply operation valve 23, the presence or absence of steam supply to the corresponding processing tank 2 (8, 9) can be switched.

  The decompression means 4 is a means for decompressing the inside of each processing tank 2 by evacuating the air and steam in each processing tank 2 to the outside. This decompression means 4 is not installed in each processing tank 2 but is provided in common in the first processing tank 8 and the second processing tank 9. In the present embodiment, the decompression lines 24 connected to the treatment tanks 2 are combined into one, and then connected to the water ring vacuum pump 27 via the heat exchanger 25 and the third check valve 26. ing. Corresponding to each treatment tank 2, a decompression operation valve 28 is provided in each decompression line 24. The pressure reducing operation valve 28 of the present embodiment is constituted by a motor valve, and switches whether pressure reduction from the processing tank 2 is possible.

  Water is supplied to the water-sealed vacuum pump 27 via a sealed water supply valve 29 made of an electromagnetic valve, and the waste water from the vacuum pump 27 is discharged to a drain outlet. A sealed water supply valve 29 for supplying water to the vacuum pump 27 is opened in conjunction with the vacuum pump 27. On the other hand, cooling water is supplied to the heat exchanger 25 via a heat exchange water supply valve 30 and a fourth check valve 31 made of electromagnetic valves, and is discharged to a drain outlet. Thereby, the vapor | steam in the air attracted | sucked from the inside of the processing tank 2 is cooled and condensed by the heat exchanger 25. In this way, by condensing the vapor in the decompression line 24 in advance with the heat exchanger 25, the load on the vacuum pump 27 can be reduced and the decompression capability can be increased. By the way, each water supply line to the heat exchanger 25 and the vacuum pump 27 is provided with a constant flow valve (not shown), and even if the water supply pressure fluctuates, a desired constant flow rate can be supplied to each. Has been.

  The return pressure means 5 is a means for returning the pressure in the processing tank 2 decompressed by the decompression means 4 or the like. The return pressure means 5 of the present embodiment is provided so as to be able to communicate with the outside air through the sterilization filter 33 after the return pressure lines 32 and 32 connected to each processing tank 2 are combined into one. Corresponding to each treatment tank 2, each return pressure line 32 is provided with a fifth check valve 34 and a return pressure operation valve 35 in order from the treatment tank 2 side. The return pressure operation valve 35 of the present embodiment is constituted by an electromagnetic valve, and the processing tank 2 is opened to the atmospheric pressure by opening it.

  The discharge means 6 is a means for discharging the steam in the treatment tank 2 and its condensed water to the outside. The discharging means 6 of this embodiment is divided into an upper steaming means 36, a lower steaming means 37, and a draining means 38. The upper steaming means 36 is composed of an upper steaming line 39 connected to the center or upper part of the treatment tank 2. The upper exhaust steam line 39 is provided with an upper exhaust steam valve 40 and a sixth check valve 41 in order from the processing tank 2 side, and discharges the steam in the processing tank 2 to the outside. The upper steaming valve 40 of the present embodiment is composed of an electromagnetic valve, and switches whether steam is discharged from the processing tank 2.

  The lower steaming means 37 includes a lower steaming line 42 connected to the lower part of the processing tank 2. The lower exhaust steam line 42 is provided with a lower exhaust steam valve 43 and a seventh check valve 44 in order from the processing tank 2 side. Steam and residual air in the processing tank 2, Condensate accumulated at the bottom is discharged to the outside. The lower steaming valve 43 of the present embodiment is constituted by a motor valve, and switches whether steam and its condensed water are discharged from the processing tank 2 or not.

  Further, the drainage means 38 is constituted by a trap line 45 connected to the lower part of the processing tank 2. The trap line 45 is provided with a trap valve 46, a second steam trap 47, and an eighth check valve 48 in order from the processing tank 2 side, and discharges condensed water to the outside. The trap valve 46 of the present embodiment is constituted by a motor valve, and switches whether condensed water is discharged from the processing tank 2.

  The control means 7 includes a controller 49 that controls the steam supply means 3, the decompression means 4, the return pressure means 5, and the discharge means 6. The controller 49 is provided in common for the plurality of treatment tanks 2 (8, 9). That is, the respective means 3 to 6 of the plurality of treatment tanks 8 and 9 can be controlled by one controller 49. At this time, the presence / absence of the operation and the operation content can be individually controlled for each of the one or a plurality of treatment tanks 2.

  The control means 7 controls the means 3 to 6 based on the time grasped by the control means 7 and detection signals from the temperature sensor 11 and pressure sensor (not shown). Specifically, the steam supply operation valve 23, the pressure reduction operation valve 28, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the sealed water supply water valve 29, the water seal vacuum pump 27, the return pressure operation valve 35, the upper steaming valve 40, the lower steaming The valve 43, the trap valve 46, the temperature sensor 11, the pressure sensor (not shown) and the like are connected to the controller 49. And this controller 49 performs cooking of the foodstuff 1 in the processing tank 2, and subsequent cooling based on a predetermined program so that it may mention later.

  The controller 49 is connected to the secondary boiler steam supply valve 13 and the secondary boiler water supply valve 19, and performs pressure control and water level control of the secondary boiler 12. The pressure control of the secondary boiler 12 is performed using a secondary boiler pressure sensor (not shown) provided in the stainless steel pipe. That is, based on the pressure sensor (not shown) for the secondary boiler, the pressure of clean steam generated in the secondary boiler 12 is detected, and steam is supplied from the primary boiler (not shown) to the secondary boiler 12. The opening and closing of the secondary boiler steam supply valve 13 is operated. Moreover, the water level control of the secondary boiler 12 is performed by controlling the water level of the soft water in the stainless steel pipe of the secondary boiler 12 by opening and closing the secondary boiler feed valve 19 based on a water level sensor (not shown).

  Next, the steaming cooling process using the system of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the steaming cooling process executed in each processing tank 2 (8, 9) of the system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, in each treatment tank 2, a preheating step (ST1), an air exclusion step (ST2), a steaming step (ST3), a first cooking step (ST4), a second cooking step (ST5), a rough A thermal cooling process (ST6) is performed sequentially.

  The preheating step (ST1) is a step of heating the treatment tank 2 by supplying steam by the steam supply means 3 after the pressure reduction by the pressure reducing means 4. Specifically, first, the decompression means 4 is operated in a state in which the steam supply operation valve 23, the return pressure operation valve 35, the upper steaming valve 40, the lower steaming valve 43, and the trap valve 46 are closed. However, here, the heat exchanger 25 does not function, and only the vacuum pump 27 is operated to decompress the inside of the processing tank 2. That is, with the heat exchange water supply valve 30 closed, the pressure reducing operation valve 28 and the sealed water supply valve 29 are opened to operate the vacuum pump 27.

  In this way, after reducing the pressure in the processing tank 2 to a desired time or a desired pressure, the operation of the pressure reducing means 4 is stopped, and steam is supplied into the processing tank 2 by the steam supply means 3. That is, the pressure reducing operation valve 28, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the sealed water supply water valve 29, the return pressure operation valve 35, the upper steaming valve 40, and the lower steaming valve 43 are closed and the operation of the vacuum pump 27 is stopped. Then, the steam supply operation valve 23 is opened to supply steam into the processing tank 2. At this time, when the inside of the processing tank 2 exceeds the atmospheric pressure, the condensed water is discharged from the bottom of the processing tank 2 by opening the trap valve 46.

  The air exclusion step (ST2) is a step of discharging the air in the processing tank 2 to the outside by the decompression means 4. Specifically, first, the decompression means 4 is operated in a state in which the steam supply operation valve 23, the return pressure operation valve 35, the upper steaming valve 40, the lower steaming valve 43, and the trap valve 46 are closed. However, here, the heat exchanger 25 does not function, and only the vacuum pump 27 is operated to decompress the inside of the processing tank 2. That is, with the heat exchange water supply valve 30 closed, the pressure reducing operation valve 28 and the sealed water supply valve 29 are opened to operate the vacuum pump 27. In this way, the air in the processing tank 2 is evacuated to the outside by the decompression means 4, and the air in the processing tank 2 is excluded, so that the food 1 is cooked in the subsequent cooking step (ST4, ST5). Can be carried out effectively.

  In this way, after removing air from the processing tank 2, steam is supplied into the processing tank 2 by the steam supply means 3. That is, the pressure reducing operation valve 28, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the sealed water supply water valve 29, the return pressure operation valve 35, the upper steaming valve 40, and the lower steaming valve 43 are closed and the operation of the vacuum pump 27 is stopped. Then, the steam supply operation valve 23 is opened to supply steam into the processing tank 2. At this time, when the inside of the processing tank 2 exceeds the atmospheric pressure, the condensed water is discharged from the bottom of the processing tank 2 by opening the trap valve 46.

  The steaming step (ST3) is a step of supplying steam into the processing tank 2 by the steaming means 3 until the inside of the processing tank 2 reaches a desired target pressure. Specifically, the pressure reducing operation valve 28, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the sealed water supply water valve 29, the return pressure operation valve 35, the upper steaming valve 40 and the lower steaming valve 43 are closed and the operation of the vacuum pump 27 is stopped. In this state, the steam supply operation valve 23 is opened to supply steam into the treatment tank 2. At this time, when the inside of the processing tank 2 exceeds the atmospheric pressure, the condensed water is discharged from the bottom of the processing tank 2 by opening the trap valve 46.

  In both the first cooking step (ST4) and the second cooking step (ST5), the presence or absence of steam supply to the processing tank 2 by the steam supply means 3 is adjusted so that the inside of the processing tank 2 is maintained at a set pressure. In this process, the food 1 in the treatment tank 2 is cooked. Since the first cooking step (ST4) and the second cooking step (ST5) differ only in the set pressure, both steps can be collectively referred to as a cooking step. Conversely, in this embodiment, the cooking process is divided into a first cooking process (ST4) and a second cooking process (ST5). The first cooking step (ST4) is a step of opening and closing the steam supply operation valve 23 based on the output of the pressure sensor so as to maintain the first set pressure. The second steaming step (ST5) is a step of opening / closing the steaming operation valve 23 based on the output of the pressure sensor so as to maintain the second set pressure.

  By the way, steaming into the treatment tank 2 and cooking the ingredients by heating includes pressureless steaming (blow-through steaming) performed at atmospheric pressure, pressure steaming performed at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure, and when desired. It can be divided into reduced-pressure steaming that operates at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure by operating the pressure-reducing means.

  In the case of non-pressure steaming, the depressurization operation valve 28, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the sealed water supply valve 29, and the return pressure operation valve 35 are closed and the operation of the vacuum pump 27 is stopped, and the steam supply operation valve 23 The steam exhaust valve 40, the lower steam exhaust valve 43 and the trap valve 46 are opened to supply steam into the treatment tank 2.

  In the case of pressure steaming, the pressure reducing operation valve 28, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the sealed water supply water valve 29, the return pressure operation valve 35, the upper steaming valve 40 and the lower steaming valve 43 are closed and the vacuum pump 27 is operated. In the stopped state, the steam supply operation valve 23 and the trap valve 46 are opened to supply steam into the processing tank 2. Therefore, in the case of pressurized steaming, condensed water is automatically discharged from the trap line 45 to the outside.

  In the case of vacuum steaming, the steam supply operation valve 23 is opened and steam is supplied into the processing tank 2 with the decompression operation valve 35, the upper exhaust valve 40, the lower exhaust valve 43, and the trap valve 46 closed. To do. At this time, when the inside of the treatment tank 2 exceeds the set upper limit pressure, the decompression means 4 is operated to decompress the inside of the treatment tank 2 to the set lower limit pressure. That is, when the pressure reducing operation valve 28, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, and the sealed water supply water valve 29 are opened, the vacuum pump 27 is operated to depressurize the inside of the processing tank 2 to the set lower limit pressure. The valves 28 to 30 are closed and the operation of the vacuum pump 27 is stopped.

  In any case, steaming operation is basically performed so that the pressure factor in the treatment tank 2 due to the supply of steam is balanced with the pressure reduction factor in the treatment tank 2 due to the condensation of the supplied steam. Steaming is performed by controlling the opening and closing of the valve 23 to maintain the pressure in the processing tank 2 within a set range. However, in the case of reduced-pressure steaming, if the set upper limit pressure is exceeded, the decompression means 4 may be operated as described above.

  And at the time of completion | finish of a pressurization steaming process, while closing the steam supply operation valve 23 and opening the lower exhaust_gas | exhaustion valve 43, draining and exhausting are made until the inside of the processing tank 2 becomes atmospheric pressure. On the other hand, at the end of the reduced pressure steaming process, the decompression means 4 and the discharge means 6 are not operated, and the steam supply operation valve 23 is closed and the return pressure operation valve 35 is opened to restore the pressure in the treatment tank 2 to atmospheric pressure. .

  However, when both the first cooking step (ST4) and the second cooking step (ST5) are pressure cooking, and the second set pressure is higher than the first set pressure, the first cooking step (ST4) ) The drainage and exhaust steam treatment at the end is omitted. When both the first cooking step (ST4) and the second cooking step (ST5) are reduced-pressure cooking, and the second set pressure has a higher degree of vacuum than the first set pressure, the first cook The return pressure process at the end of the step (ST4) is omitted.

  In any case, in the steaming step (ST4, ST5), the food 1 accommodated in the processing tank 2 can be cooked by supplying steam into the processing tank 2. At this time, as described above, the steam supplied into the processing tank 2 is clean steam generated from soft water in the secondary boiler 12. Therefore, safe and reliable cooking can be realized. Moreover, uniform heating dishes are made in a short time by spreading clean steam around the entire periphery of the food material 1. By the way, in a steaming process, the temperature in the processing tank 2 can be adjusted by adjusting the pressure in the processing tank 2 by steam supply. In the present embodiment, cooking is possible by setting the temperature freely within the range of 60 ° C to 120 ° C. At this time, as described above, in this embodiment, the operation of changing the pressure (temperature) stepwise is performed in the first cooking step (ST4) and the second cooking step (ST5).

  A rough heat cooling process (ST6) is a process of taking the rough heat of the foodstuff 1 cooked by the cooking process (ST4, ST5). This rough heat cooling step (ST6) includes a blow-through rough heat cooling step and a vacuum rough heat cooling step, and usually one of the cooling steps is executed.

  The blow-through rough heat cooling step is a step of blowing and cooling the food 1 in the processing tank 2 by operating the pressure-reducing means 4 with the return pressure operation valve 35 opened. Specifically, with the steam supply operation valve 23, the upper exhaust valve 40, the lower exhaust valve 43, and the trap valve 46 closed, the pressure reducing operation valve 28, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the sealed water supply valve 29, While opening the pressure control valve 35, the vacuum pump 27 is operated.

  The vacuum rough heat cooling step is a step of evacuating the food 1 in the processing tank 2 by operating the pressure-reducing means 4 in a state in which the return pressure operation valve 35 is closed. Specifically, with the steam supply operation valve 23, the upper steaming valve 40, the lower steaming valve 43, the trap valve 46 and the return pressure control valve 35 closed, the pressure reducing operation valve 28, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the seal While opening the water supply valve 29, the vacuum pump 27 is operated.

  In each processing tank 2, each process of FIG. 2 described above is performed sequentially, but in the system of the present embodiment, for the two processing tanks of the first processing tank 8 and the second processing tank 9, The decompression means 4 such as the vacuum pump 27 is shared. In order to prevent shortage of decompression capacity when the decompression means 4 is shared by the plurality of treatment tanks 8 and 9, the system of this embodiment employs a multiple treatment tank control method as described below.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the multi-treatment tank control method of the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, although the processing flow in the 1st processing tank 8 is shown, the processing flow in the 2nd processing tank 9 is the same as this. The multiple treatment tank control method of the present embodiment is a control method for sequentially treating each of the treatment tanks 2 when a plurality of treatment tanks 2 (8, 9) use the process using the decompression unit 4 overlap. . In that case, based on the priority order of the predetermined process type, control is performed so as to preferentially execute the processing of the processing tank 2 that performs the process with the higher priority order. However, in this embodiment, in order to simplify the control, when a process using the decompression unit 4 is being performed in another processing tank 2 when switching to a next process of a certain processing tank 2, the next process is temporarily performed. However, even if the process has a higher priority, the process is controlled after waiting until the process being executed is completed.

  Priorities are appropriately set according to the nature of each process, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in order of higher priority order, steaming process, vacuum crude heat cooling process, air exclusion process, It becomes a preheating process and a blow-through rough heat cooling process.

  The multiple treatment tank control method of the present embodiment will be described in more detail based on FIG. Now, for example, consider the case where the operation of the first treatment tank 8 is started (ST11) and each step in FIG. In this case, the controller 49 determines whether the next step (including the first step) requires the decompression unit 4 (ST12). If the decompression unit 4 is not used in the next step, the controller 49 immediately follows. A process is executed (ST13). On the other hand, when the decompression means 4 is necessary in the next process, first, based on whether or not the process requiring the decompression means 4 is being performed in another processing tank (here, the second treatment tank 9) (ST14), When the decompression means 4 is being used in the second treatment tank 9, the process waits until the process being executed in the second treatment tank 9 is completed (ST15).

  When the process which requires the decompression means 4 is not being executed in the second treatment tank 9 (ST14), the process type of the next process of the first process tank 8 is compared with the process type of the next process of the second process tank 9. Then, based on the priority of each process type (ST16), processes with higher priority are executed (ST17 to ST19).

  That is, when the process type of the next process of the first treatment tank 8 is higher in priority than the process type of the next process of the second process tank 9, the next process of the first process tank 8 is executed, The 2nd processing tank 9 is made to stand by (ST17). On the other hand, when the priority of the process type of the next process of the first treatment tank 8 is lower than the process type of the next process of the second process tank 9, the next process of the second process tank 9 is executed, The 1st processing tank 8 is made to stand by (ST18). Moreover, when the process classification of each next process of the 1st process tank 8 and the 2nd process tank 9 is the same, and a priority is the same, a priority process is given priority (ST19). That is, here, the next process of the first treatment tank 8 with the longer waiting time is executed, and the second treatment tank 9 is made to wait.

  Here, when the next process of the second treatment tank 9 is executed and the first treatment tank 8 is made to stand by, the process returns to step ST14 (ST20). Conversely, when the second processing tank 9 is put on standby and the next process of the first processing tank 8 is executed, or when the next process of the first processing tank 8 is executed in the above-described step ST13, Wait until the current process is completed (ST21). And when the process of the process in execution is completed, as long as there exists a next process, each said process (ST12-ST21) is performed repeatedly (ST22). In this way, the process using the decompression means 4 is executed only in one of the treatment tanks 2 and is sequentially executed in descending order of priority. Thereby, even if one decompression means 4 is shared by a plurality of processing tanks 2 without increasing the performance of the decompression means 4, it is prevented that the decompression capacity is insufficient.

  By the way, in a present Example, the cooling after cooking is made into the rough heat cooling process (ST6) which takes rough heat to about 50 degreeC, for example, and it cools to final target temperature with a vacuum cooler, a blast chiller, etc. after that. It is configured. However, if desired, the steam cooler itself of the present embodiment may be configured to be cooled to the final target temperature. Moreover, although the system of a present Example was set as the steaming cooler which performs a cooling process (ST6) after a steaming process (ST4, ST5), it can also be set as the steaming machine which abbreviate | omitted the cooling process (ST6).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the multiple processing tank control system of FIG. 1 is applied to a vacuum thawing machine. Since the second embodiment is basically the same as the multiple processing tank control system and the control method of the first embodiment, the following description will focus on the differences between the two.

  When using the multiple treatment tank control system of FIG. 1 as a vacuum thawing machine, as shown in FIG. 4, in each treatment tank 2 (8, 9), after the first air exclusion step (ST25), The thawing step (ST26) and the second air exclusion step (ST27) are repeatedly executed as appropriate.

  Each air exclusion step (ST25, ST27) is a step of discharging the air in the processing tank 2 to the outside by the decompression means 4. Specifically, with the steam supply operation valve 23 and the return pressure operation valve 35 closed, the heat exchange water supply valve 30 and the sealed water supply valve 29 are opened to operate the vacuum pump 27. On the other hand, the thawing step (ST26) is a step of thawing the frozen food 1 in the processing tank 2 by supplying steam into the processing tank 2 with the operation of the decompression means 4 stopped. Specifically, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the sealed water supply valve 29, and the return pressure operation valve 35 are closed, and the steam supply operation valve 23 is opened while the vacuum pump 27 is stopped, and steam is supplied into the treatment tank 2. Supply.

  In a 1st air exclusion process (ST25), the inside of the processing tank 2 is pressure-reduced to desired 1st setting pressure. In the subsequent thawing step (ST26), the operation of the decompression means 4 is stopped, and steam is supplied into the processing tank 2 by the steam supply means 3 up to a desired upper limit pressure of the second set pressure. If the steam supply valve 23 is closed after supplying the steam to the upper limit pressure, the steam in the processing tank 2 is condensed by the material to be thawed (frozen food) 1, so that the inside of the processing tank 2 can be used without using the decompression means 4. The pressure of gradually decreases. For this reason, in order to maintain the second set pressure, the steaming operation valve 23 is a proportional control valve, and steams so as to be a constant pressure. In this way, in the thawing step (ST26), the second set pressure is maintained for a desired time. And the 2nd air exclusion process (ST27) which decompresses to a 1st preset pressure again, and the thawing | decompression process (ST26) in the 2nd preset pressure after that are performed repeatedly, and the thawing | defrosting of the frozen food 1 in the processing tank 2 is carried out. Figured. However, such a processing flow is an example, and is changed as appropriate.

  When performing the vacuum thawing process in the plurality of treatment tanks 2 (8, 9) in FIG. 1, the priority order in the multiple treatment tank control method is the first air exclusion process and the second air exclusion process in descending order of priority. . Therefore, based on this priority, the multiple treatment tank control method in FIG. 3 is executed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the multi-treatment tank control system of FIG. 1 is applied to a steam sterilizer. Since the third embodiment is also basically the same as the multi-treatment tank control system and the control method of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the following description will focus on the differences between them.

  When the multi-treatment tank control system of FIG. 1 is used as a steam sterilizer, as shown in FIG. 5, in each treatment tank, an air exclusion process (ST31), a steaming process (ST32), and a sterilization process (ST33) The drying step (ST34) is sequentially performed. The air exclusion step (ST31) corresponds to the first air exclusion step in FIG. 4, the steaming step (ST32) corresponds to the steaming step in FIG. 2, and the sterilization step (ST33) is the pressurization in FIG. It corresponds to the steaming process, and the drying process (ST34) corresponds to the vacuum rough heat cooling process in FIG.

  In this way, after the air is exhausted from the processing tank 2 by the air exhausting step (ST31), the steam is supplied into the processing tank 2 up to a desired set pressure (ST32), and the inside of the processing tank 2 is set to the set pressure. After the object 1 is sterilized by holding for a time (ST33), the object 1 is cooled and dried (ST34).

  When steam sterilization is performed in a plurality of treatment tanks in FIG. 1, the priority order in the multiple treatment tank control method is a drying process and an air exclusion process in descending order of priority. Therefore, based on this priority, the multiple treatment tank control method in FIG. 3 is executed.

  FIG. 6: is a schematic block diagram which shows Example 4 of the multiple processing tank control system of this invention, and has shown the example applied to the vacuum thawing machine. Since the fourth embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the following description will focus on the differences between the two, and the corresponding parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals. I will explain.

  In the system of the fourth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a plurality of processing tanks 2 (8, 9), steam supply means 3 for supplying steam into the processing tanks 2, and the pressure in each processing tank 2 are reduced. Pressure reducing means 4, pressure reducing means 5 for returning the pressure in each processing tank 2 under reduced pressure, and control means 7 for controlling these means 3 to 5. However, in the first embodiment, the discharge means 6 (upper steaming means 36, lower steaming means 37, drainage means 38) for discharging the steam in the treatment tank 2 and its condensed water to the outside is provided. In Example 1, such a discharge means 6 is not provided.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the system of the fourth embodiment also includes a plurality of treatment tanks 2. Typically, two processing tanks, a first processing tank 8 and a second processing tank 9, are provided as in the illustrated example. However, the number of the processing tanks 2 may be three or more, and even in that case, the configuration and control described below can be similarly applied.

  Each processing tank 2 is configured by providing a door 51 to the processing tank main body 50 so that it can be opened and closed, as in the first embodiment. And the foodstuff (a foodstuff is included) 1 is mounted on the shelf board 10 provided in the processing tank 2, and is accommodated. In the present Example 4, the frozen food 1 is accommodated in order to defrost it. Further, the processing tank 2 is provided with a pressure sensor 52 for detecting the pressure in the processing tank 2.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the steam supply means 3 of the fourth embodiment also includes a primary boiler (not shown) and a secondary boiler (reboiler) 12, and uses the steam from the primary boiler as a heat source and the secondary boiler 12. The soft water is vaporized by heating at, and the clean steam thus generated is supplied into each treatment tank 2. Similarly to the first embodiment, the steam from the primary boiler is supplied to the secondary boiler 12 via the primary steam line 53. In the middle of the primary steam line 53, the secondary boiler steam supply valve 13 is provided to be openable and closable. Then, the steam supplied to the secondary boiler 12 through the primary steam line 53 is used in the secondary boiler 12 and then discharged through the first steam trap 14 and the first check valve 15.

  On the other hand, the soft water from the water supply tank 17 in which the soft water from the water softener 16 is stored is supplied to the secondary boiler 12 via the water supply pump 18, the secondary boiler water supply valve 19, and the second check valve 20. The soft water supplied to the secondary boiler 12 is heated by steam from the primary boiler and vaporized, and can be supplied into each treatment tank 2. In that case, the clean steam from the secondary boiler 12 is supplied into each processing tank 2 via the steam supply line 21 branched on the way. A steam supply operation valve 23 is provided in the middle of each steam supply line 21 to each treatment tank 2, and steam supply to each treatment tank 2 is performed by opening and closing the steam supply operation valve 23. The presence or absence of is switched. Thus, also in the present Example 4, the steam supply means 3 is provided in common to each processing tank 2.

  In the first embodiment, the first treatment tank 8 and the second treatment tank 9 share the decompression means 4, but in the present embodiment 4, the decompression means 4 are individually installed in each treatment tank 2. . The decompression means 4 will be described. The decompression line 24 from each treatment tank 2 has a steam ejector 54, a heat exchanger 25, a third check valve 26, and a water ring vacuum pump in order from the treatment tank 2 side. 27 is provided. That is, in the fourth embodiment, a steam ejector 54 is provided in place of the pressure reducing operation valve 28 in the first embodiment.

  The steam ejector 54 has a suction port on the proximal end side connected to the processing tank 2 and a discharge port on the distal end side connected to a pipe to the heat exchanger 25. And the gas in the processing tank 2 is suction-discharged by ejecting a vapor | steam from a nozzle (not shown) toward a front end side from a base end side. In the fourth embodiment, steam from the primary boiler is supplied to the nozzle of the steam ejector 54. Specifically, the primary steam line 53 branches upstream of the secondary boiler steam supply valve 13 and is connected to the nozzles of the steam ejectors 54 via the ejector steam supply valve 55.

  By the way, in the present Example 4, the primary steam pressure switch 56 is provided in the primary steam line 53 which supplies the steam to the secondary boiler 12 and each said nozzle immediately before the branch part to each of them. The original steam pressure switch 56 activates an alarm or the like when the pressure in the primary steam line 53 is lower than the set pressure, so that the steam supply capacity when the steam supply equipment is shared by the plurality of treatment tanks 2 is used. It deals with shortages.

  As in the first embodiment, each heat exchanger 25 is supplied with cooling water via a heat exchange water supply valve 30 and discharged to a drain outlet. By supplying the cooling water to the heat exchanger 25, the steam in the decompression line 24 can be cooled and condensed. Further, water is supplied to each vacuum pump 27 through a sealed water supply valve 29, the waste water from the vacuum pump 27 is separated into gas and liquid by a separator 57, and the gas phase is exhausted through an exhaust line 58. The liquid phase component is discharged to a drain port (not shown) through a drain line 59.

  By the way, in the present Example 4, the water supply pressure sensor 61 is provided in the water supply line 60 to each heat exchanger 25 and each vacuum pump 27 just before the branch part to each. When the pressure in the water supply line 60 is lower than the set pressure, the water supply pressure sensor 61 activates an alarm or the like to cope with a shortage of water supply capacity when the water supply equipment for each decompression means 4 is shared. Is.

  In the fourth embodiment, the decompression means 5 is individually provided in each processing tank 2. Specifically, a return pressure line 32 is connected to each treatment tank 2 so that it can communicate with the outside air via the sterilization filter 33. A return pressure operation valve 35 is provided in the middle of each return pressure line 32 so as to be openable and closable. However, also in the decompression means 5 of the fourth embodiment, the first treatment tank 8 and the second treatment tank 9 may share the sterilization filter 33 as in the first embodiment.

  The control means 7 of the fourth embodiment includes a controller 49 that controls the steam supply means 3, the decompression means 4, and the decompression means 5. The controller 49 is provided in common for the plurality of treatment tanks 2 as in the first embodiment. That is, the respective means 3 to 5 of the plurality of treatment tanks 2 can be controlled by one controller 49. At this time, as in the first embodiment, the presence or absence of the operation and the operation content can be individually controlled for each processing tank 2.

  The control means 7 controls the means 3 to 5 based on the time grasped by the control means 7 and the detection signal from the pressure sensor 52. Specifically, the steam supply operation valve 23, the ejector supply valve 55, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, the sealed water supply valve 29, the water seal vacuum pump 27, the return pressure operation valve 35, the secondary boiler supply valve 13, In addition to the secondary boiler feed valve 19, the treatment tank pressure sensor 52, the original steam pressure switch 56, the feed water pressure sensor 61, and the like are connected to the controller 49. Then, the controller 49 attempts to thaw the frozen food 1 in the processing tank 2 based on a predetermined program, as will be described later.

  Next, a vacuum thawing process using the system of the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a time chart showing an example of the vacuum thawing process executed in each processing tank 2 (8, 9) of the system of the fourth embodiment. In addition to the pressure change in the processing tank 2, the vacuum pump 27 The operation states of the ejector steam supply valve 55, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, and the steam supply operation valve 23 are shown. As shown in this figure, in each processing tank 2 in which the frozen food 1 is accommodated, from the state of the standby process, after the initial decompression process and the initial steaming process, the rapid thawing process and the air for the set rapid thawing time. Alternating combinations with exclusion steps are made. Thereafter, after the squeeze decompression step, the squeezing step and the air exhausting step are alternately combined for the set shime time. Finally, the pressure is returned to atmospheric pressure in the return pressure process, and then returned to the standby process. Hereinafter, each step will be specifically described.

  In the standby process, the operation of both the steam supply means 3 and the decompression means 4 is stopped. That is, the steam supply operation valve 23, the ejector steam supply valve 55, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, and the sealed water supply valve 29 are all closed, and the vacuum pump 27 is in a stopped state. On the other hand, the return pressure operation valve 35 is open. In this standby step, the door 51 of the processing tank 2 can be opened and closed, and the food 1 can be taken in and out of the processing tank 2.

  In the initial decompression step, the inside of the processing tank 2 is decompressed to a predetermined initial steaming pressure by the decompression means 4 with the steam supply operation valve 23 and the return pressure operation valve 35 being closed, This is a process of eliminating. The initial decompression step in the illustrated example is divided into a front stage and a rear stage. In the first stage of the initial depressurization step, only the vacuum pump 27 in the depressurization means 4 is operated until the predetermined ejector steam supply pressure is reached, so that the air from the processing tank 2 is removed. That is, while opening the sealing water supply valve 29, the vacuum pump 27 is operated and the air in the processing tank 2 is evacuated.

  In the subsequent stage of the initial pressure reduction process, the steam ejector 54 and the heat exchanger 25 are operated in addition to the vacuum pump 27 to further reduce the pressure up to the initial steam supply pressure. That is, by opening the ejector steam supply valve 55 and ejecting steam from the nozzle of the steam ejector 54, the steam ejector 54 is operated and the heat exchange water supply valve 30 is opened to supply cooling water to the heat exchanger 25. As a result, the vapor in the decompression line 24 is condensed and liquefied. Thus, when the inside of the processing tank 2 is depressurized to a predetermined initial steaming pressure in the initial decompression process, the process proceeds to the initial steaming process of the next process.

  The initial steaming step is a step of increasing the pressure in the processing tank 2 to a predetermined thawing pressure by supplying steam into the processing tank 2. That is, the steam supply operation valve 23 is opened, and steam is supplied into the processing tank 2 until the inside of the processing tank 2 reaches the thawing pressure. At this time, in Example 4, the operation of the decompression unit 4 is continued in the stage after the initial decompression step, so that the air is continuously removed from the processing tank 2.

  After the initial steaming process, the rapid thawing process is performed for the set rapid thawing time. In that case, an air exclusion process is performed only for a predetermined time with a predetermined period. In the rapid thawing step, steam is supplied into the treatment tank 2 by the steam supply means 3 with the operation of the decompression means 4 stopped. Further, in the air exclusion process, the decompression means 4 is operated in a state where the steam supply into the treatment tank 2 by the steam supply means 3 is continued. In the fourth embodiment, the steam ejector 54, the heat exchanger 25, and the vacuum pump 27 are actuated to eliminate air from the processing tank 2.

  When the quick thawing time set in this way elapses, the process proceeds to the squeeze decompression step. In this squeeze decompression step, the decompression means 4 is operated in a state where the steam supply to the treatment tank 2 is stopped, and the inside of the treatment tank 2 is decompressed to a predetermined squeeze pressure. That is, with the steam supply operation valve 23 closed, the ejector steam supply valve 55, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, and the sealed water supply valve 29 are opened, and the steam ejector 54, the heat exchanger 25, and the vacuum pump 27 are operated. Then, the inside of the treatment tank 2 is depressurized to the shim pressure.

  After the squeeze decompression step, the squeeze step is performed for the set shave time. In that case, an air exclusion process is performed only for a predetermined time with a predetermined period. The squeeze process and the air evacuation process performed during the process are equivalent to the rapid thawing process and the air evacuation process performed during the process, except that the pressure in the treatment tank 2 is different. By the squeezing process, the surface temperature of the food 1 can be lowered as compared with the rapid thawing process, and the temperature difference between the center temperature of the food 1 after thawing and the surface temperature can be reduced. This makes it possible to perform thawing while suppressing temperature unevenness while shortening the thawing time.

  When the squeezing time set in this way elapses, the process proceeds to the decompression process. In this return pressure step, the inside of the processing tank 2 is returned to atmospheric pressure by the return pressure means 5 with the operations of the steam supply means 3 and the pressure reduction means 4 stopped. Specifically, the steam supply operation valve 23 is closed to stop the supply of steam into the treatment tank 2, and the ejector supply valve 55, the heat exchange water supply valve 30, and the sealed water supply valve 29 are closed to supply the steam ejector. 54, with the operation of the heat exchanger 25 and the vacuum pump 27 stopped, the return pressure operation valve 35 is opened to return the pressure in the processing tank 2 to atmospheric pressure. Then, after completion of the return pressure, the process proceeds to the standby process described first.

  By the way, the initial decompression step of the fourth embodiment corresponds to the first air removal step of the second embodiment. Further, the rapid thawing process and the squeezing process of the fourth embodiment correspond to the thawing process in the second embodiment. That is, in Example 4, it can be said that the thawing process is performed in two stages. Furthermore, each air exclusion process in the rapid thawing process and the squeezing process of the fourth embodiment corresponds to the second air exclusion process in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a multi-treatment tank control method using the multi-treatment tank control system according to the fourth embodiment. Although FIG. 8 shows the processing flow in the first processing tank 8, the processing flow in the second processing tank 9 is the same as this. The multiple treatment tank control method of the fourth embodiment is used in a plurality of treatment tanks 2 (8, 9) in common with each facility for supplying steam and supplying water, exceeding its ability to supply steam and supplying water. This is a vacuum thawing method in which processing of each processing tank 2 is shifted and executed as desired so as not to overlap.

  Specifically, when executed in a plurality of treatment tanks 2 at the same time, a process exceeding the capability of steaming or water supply is determined in advance as a priority process, and the processes belonging to the priority process are executed only in any one of the treatment tanks 2. Make it possible. In the meantime, in the other processing tank 2, a process other than the priority process is executed, or a standby process waiting for completion of the priority process being executed in the one processing tank 2 is set.

  In this Example 4, since the equipment is shared by the plurality of treatment tanks 2 for steaming and water supply, the latter stage of the initial decompression process, the initial steaming process, and the air exhausting process (both during the rapid thawing process and the shiming process) ), The squeeze decompression step is the priority step. Therefore, when a process belonging to this priority process is to be overlapped in a plurality of processing tanks 2, the process of any one of the processing tanks 2 is executed or continued, and the processes of the other processing tanks 2 are kept waiting. .

  By the way, in order to maintain the thawing pressure (or squeeze pressure) without stopping the operation when the pressure in the treatment tank cannot be controlled due to a failure, etc., the forced air removal step is separate from the above steps. Is prepared. This forced air exclusion process is the same process as each air exclusion process during the quick thawing process and the shim process, and belongs to the priority process. The timing for performing this forced air removal step is performed when the steam is not supplied into the processing tank 2 for a predetermined time and when the inside of the processing tank 2 rises by a predetermined amount or more during the thawing step.

  The multiple processing tank control method of the fourth embodiment will be described in more detail based on FIG. Consider a case where, for example, the operation of the first treatment tank 8 is started (ST41) and the respective steps in FIG. 7 are sequentially performed. In this case, based on whether or not the next process (including the first process) is a priority process (ST42), the controller 49 immediately executes the next process if the next process is not a priority process (ST45). On the other hand, when the next process is a priority process, first, based on whether the priority process is being executed in another processing tank (here, the second processing tank 9) (ST43), the priority process is performed in the second processing tank 9. If not, the next step is executed (ST45). On the other hand, when the priority process is being executed in the second treatment tank 9, after waiting for completion of the process in execution in the second treatment tank 9 (ST44), the next process is executed (ST45). And when the process of the process in execution is completed (ST46), as long as there exists a next process, each said process (ST42-ST46) is performed repeatedly (ST47). In this way, the process belonging to the priority process is executed only in one of the treatment tanks 2. Thereby, these facilities can be shared by the plurality of treatment tanks 2 (7, 8) while minimizing the capacity of the steam supply facility and the water supply facility.

  By the way, in the standby step (ST44), the vacuum pump 27 and the steam ejector 54 stop operating, and the water supply to the heat exchanger 25 is also stopped. And the vacuum state in the processing tank 2 is maintained until the standby state is cancelled | released. Therefore, there is a possibility that the inside of the processing tank 2 is somewhat decompressed during the transition to the next process due to the end of the standby process. Therefore, the decompression is performed again as appropriate at the end of each standby process. Specifically, when waiting at the time of shifting to the latter stage of the initial pressure reduction process, the pressure is reduced again to the ejector steaming pressure, and then the process proceeds to the latter stage of the initial pressure reduction process. Moreover, when it waits at the time of transfer to an initial steaming process, after reducing pressure again to the initial steaming pressure, it progresses to the initial steaming process. On the other hand, in other cases, after the standby process, the process may proceed as it is.

  The thawing control of the fourth embodiment includes the following thawing control when the object to be processed 1 is a vacuum-packed food. That is, first, the pressure resistance (vacuum degree in the pack) of the workpiece 1 is confirmed in advance by experiments or the like. Then, the inside of the treatment tank 2 is depressurized to a vacuum level in the pack (so as not to be below), and then steamed. This steaming is executed by a program that determines the opening degree of the steaming operation valve 23 according to the processing amount of the workpiece 1 and the degree of vacuum in the pack. By such control, the vacuum-packed workpiece 1 can be thawed without causing damage to the pack.

  As described above, the multiple treatment tank control system and the multiple treatment tank control method of the present invention are not limited to the configuration of each of the embodiments described above, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, in FIG. 1, only two treatment tanks, a first treatment tank 8 and a second treatment tank 9, are installed, but three or more treatment tanks 2 may be provided, and in that case, the decompression means 4 is also provided. When the use is overlapped, it may be controlled to execute sequentially from the processing of the processing tank 2 having a high priority. In the first embodiment, the heat exchanger 25 and the vacuum pump 27 are used as the decompression unit 4, but a steam ejector or a water ejector may be used instead of or in addition to these. Furthermore, the flowchart and priority of the steaming cooling process in FIG. 2 are examples. For example, in the first embodiment, the cooking process has two stages of the first cooking process (ST4) and the second cooking process (ST5), but the pressure or temperature is adjusted to one stage or three or more stages. May be.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the steam supply operation valve 23 and the pressure reducing operation valve 28 are individually installed for each processing tank, but these valves are commonly provided for each of the plurality of processing tanks 2 and grouped. It may be possible to perform such control. Further, in Examples 1 to 3, an example of application to a steaming cooler or steamer, a vacuum thawing machine, and a steam sterilizer has been described. The present invention can also be applied to various other devices that require the above.

  Furthermore, in the said Example 4, although the example which shares the steam supply means 3 with the some process tank 2 was demonstrated, it replaced with this, or in addition to this, other structures, such as the pressure reduction means 4, are used for several process. The tank 2 may be shared. Moreover, in the said Example 4, although it comprises so that the primary boiler and the secondary boiler 12 may be shared by the some process tank 2, the secondary boiler 12 is provided for every process tank 2, and a primary boiler is provided. Can be configured to share only.

  Furthermore, in the said Example 4, although comprised so that the two process tanks 2 may be controlled, it can be comprised so that three or more process tanks 2 may be controlled as mentioned above. Specifically, when an even number (for example, four) of processing tanks 2 are controlled, two processing tanks 2 are grouped into two processing tanks 2 and each group is configured to perform control according to the fourth embodiment. Can do. Moreover, when controlling odd (for example, five) processing tanks, it is divided into a group of even (for example, two) processing tanks 2 and a group of odd (for example, three) processing tanks 2. Thus, the control according to the fourth embodiment can be performed for each group.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, control based on the priority process may be performed similarly to the fourth embodiment. Conversely, in the configuration of FIG. 6 of the fourth embodiment, the same as that of the first embodiment. Control based on the priority order may be performed. Furthermore, the control based on the priority process of the fourth embodiment is applicable not only to the vacuum thawing machine but also to a steaming cooler or the like.

  Moreover, in the said Example 4, each process of the thawing | decompression operation is subdivided, The progress condition in each processing tank 2 of each subdivided process is collectively taken in into the common controller 49, and each means 3-5 is taken in. Operation control was applied. However, the controller 49 may be provided individually for each processing tank 2, and even in that case, the controllers 49 of the processing tanks 2 are connected to each other and the status of the other processing tanks 2 is monitored. The same control is possible. Moreover, in the fourth embodiment, only the two treatment tanks 2 are provided, but the control can be similarly performed with three or more treatment tanks 2. Even in that case, it can be controlled by appropriately creating a standby process depending on how many processing tanks 2 are included in the priority process using a lot of steam and water.

  Furthermore, in FIG. 7, after the squeezing process for a predetermined squeezing time, an end process may be performed in which the inside of the processing tank 2 is further kept in a reduced pressure state and the thawing food 1 is kept at low temperature. In this termination step, the decompression means 4 may be operated in a state where the steam supply to the treatment tank 2 by the steam supply means 3 is stopped. Specifically, the steam ejector 54, the heat exchanger 25, and the vacuum pump 27 are appropriately operated to maintain the inside of the processing tank 2 at a desired pressure. And at the time of taking out the foodstuff 1, what is necessary is just to decompress the inside of the processing tank 2 to atmospheric pressure in a decompression process.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows Example 1 of the multiple processing tank control system of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the steaming cooling process performed in each processing tank of the multiple processing tank control system of FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a multiple processing tank control method according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing flow at the time of applying the multiple processing tank control system of FIG. 1 to a vacuum defroster. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing flow at the time of applying the multiple processing tank control system of FIG. 1 to a steam sterilizer. It is a schematic block diagram which shows Example 4 of the multiple processing tank control system of this invention, and has shown the example applied to the vacuum thawing machine. It is a time chart which shows an example of the vacuum thawing process performed in each processing tank of the multiple processing tank control system of Example 4. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a multiple processing tank control method according to a fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Object to be processed (food ingredients, etc.)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Treatment tank 3 Steaming means 4 Pressure reducing means 5 Pressure-reducing means 6 Discharge means 7 Control means 8 First treatment tank 9 Second treatment tank 12 Secondary boiler (reboiler)
21 Steam supply line 23 Steam supply operation valve 24 Pressure reduction line 27 Vacuum pump 28 Pressure reduction operation valve 32 Pressure recovery line 35 Pressure recovery operation valve 39 Upper steaming line (discharge line)
40 Upper steaming valve (discharge valve)
42 Lower steam line (discharge line)
43 Lower steam valve (discharge valve)
45 Trap line (discharge line)
46 Trap valve (discharge valve)
54 Steam ejector

Claims (12)

A plurality of treatment tanks and a common facility used in common for the plurality of treatment tanks,
The multiple processing tank control system, wherein the processing of each processing tank is shifted and executed so as not to exceed the capacity of the shared equipment due to overlapping use of the shared equipment. Depressurizing means for sucking and discharging the gas in each processing tank to the outside and reducing the pressure in each processing tank; and a re-pressure for returning the pressure in each processing tank by introducing outside air into each of the decompressed processing tanks Means, steam supplying means for supplying steam to the nozzles of the steam ejector constituting the processing tank and / or the decompression means, and each means capable of executing different processes for each of the one or more processing tanks. Control means for controlling,
Among the steaming means, the pressure reducing means, and the pressure-reducing means, any one or more of the means are part or all of the shared equipment,
2. The multiple processing according to claim 1, wherein when the process using the shared equipment overlaps and the capacity of the shared equipment is exceeded, the control unit shifts and executes the processing of each processing tank. Tank control system. The steaming means can supply steam from a boiler provided in common to the plurality of processing tanks to the processing tanks via steaming lines to the processing tanks,
The decompression means is a means that is provided in common or individually in the plurality of treatment tanks, and that discharges air and / or steam in the treatment tanks through the decompression lines from the treatment tanks,
The control means includes each steaming operation valve provided in the middle of each steaming line corresponding to each processing tank, and each for introducing outside air into each processing tank corresponding to each processing tank. Controls the opening / closing of each decompression operation valve provided in the middle of the decompression line and the operation of the decompression means or the opening / closing of each decompression operation valve provided in the middle of each decompression line so that the pressure can be reduced for each processing tank. In addition, when the capacity of the shared equipment is exceeded by overlapping the steps of using the shared equipment in a plurality of the processing tanks, the processing of any of the processing tanks is continued or executed, while the processing of other processing tanks is performed. The multi-treatment tank control system according to claim 2, wherein A plurality of treatment tanks and a common facility used in common for the plurality of treatment tanks,
When one or a plurality of the treatment tanks can execute different processes and the processes using the shared equipment are overlapped, priority is given to a process having a higher priority based on a predetermined priority of the process type. And a multi-treatment tank control system. The multi-treatment tank control system according to claim 4, wherein the shared facility is a decompression unit. A plurality of treatment tanks;
Steaming means for supplying steam into the treatment tank;
A pressure reducing means that is provided in common to the plurality of processing tanks and depressurizes the inside of the processing tank;
Pressure return means for returning the pressure in the reduced processing tank;
When the process using the depressurization unit overlaps with the steam supply unit, the depressurization unit, and the decompression unit so that different processes can be performed for each treatment tank, priority is given to a predetermined process type. A multi-treatment tank control system comprising: control means for preferentially executing the treatment of the treatment tank performing a process having a high priority based on the order. The steaming means is means for supplying steam from a boiler provided in common to the plurality of processing tanks to the processing tanks through steaming lines to the processing tanks,
The decompression means is a means that is provided in common to the plurality of treatment tanks, and discharges air and / or steam in each treatment tank via each decompression line from each treatment tank,
The control means includes each steam supply operation valve provided in the middle of each steam supply line corresponding to each treatment tank, and each pressure reducing operation provided in the middle of each pressure reduction line corresponding to each process tank. A valve, each return pressure operation valve provided in the middle of each return pressure line for introducing outside air into each processing tank corresponding to each processing tank, and each processing tank corresponding to each processing tank The multi-treatment tank control system according to claim 6, wherein opening and closing of each discharge valve provided in the middle of each discharge line of steam and condensed water from the inside and operation of the decompression means are controlled. A steaming machine having the highest priority in a vacuum cooking step in which steam is supplied into the processing tank by the steaming means and the ingredients in the processing tank are cooked under reduced pressure in the processing tank by the decompression means. Or steaming cooler,
A vacuum thawing machine having the highest priority of the air removal step from the inside of the treatment tank by the operation of the pressure reducing means immediately after the start of operation,
After a sterilization step in which steam is supplied into the treatment tank by the steaming means and the article in the treatment tank is heated, the decompression means is operated to decompress the inside of the treatment tank and dry the article. Steam sterilizer with the highest priority,
The multi-treatment tank control system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the multi-treatment tank control system is any one of the following. A method for controlling a plurality of treatment tanks using a shared facility,
The multi-treatment tank control method, wherein the treatment tanks are shifted and executed so as not to exceed the capacity of the common equipment due to overlapping use of the common equipment. When simultaneously executed in a plurality of the treatment tanks, one or more kinds of processes exceeding the capacity of the shared equipment are predetermined as priority processes,
When switching to the next process in each treatment tank, if the next process belongs to the priority process and the process belonging to the priority process is being executed in another treatment tank, a step of waiting until the completion of the process being executed,
Thereafter, executing the next process and, when a subsequent process of the other processing tank belongs to a priority process, waiting for the processing of the other processing tank until the completion of the next process. The multi-treatment tank control method according to claim 9. A method for controlling a plurality of treatment tanks using a common decompression means,
When the use of the pressure reducing means overlaps in a plurality of processing tanks, the processing tanks that perform processes with higher priority are preferentially executed based on the priority order of the predetermined process types. A multi-treatment tank control method. At the time of switching to the next process in each treatment tank, if the next process requires a decompression means and a process using the decompression means is being performed in another treatment tank, a step of waiting until the completion of the ongoing process ,
When the subsequent process of the other processing tank requires a decompression means, the process type of the next process is compared with the process type of the subsequent process of the other processing tank, and the process type of the next process is When the priority order is lower than the process type of the subsequent process of the other processing tank, the process waits until the subsequent process of the other process tank is completed, and the process type of the next process is the subsequent process of the other process tank. When the priority order is higher than the process type, the next process is executed while waiting for the process of the other process tank, and the process type of the next process has priority over the process type of the subsequent process of the other process tank. The multi-treatment tank control method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of executing the treatment of the treatment tank having a longer standby time when the order is the same.

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