JP2008267750A - Treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a treatment apparatus capable of appropriately restraining the quality degradation of an object for treatment. <P>SOLUTION: The treating device 100 comprises a container 10 with the interior set to a predetermined temperature; a support means for supporting the object for treatment 21 within the container 10 so as to keep the insulation between the container 10 and the object for treatment 21; and an AC power applying means 11 for applying predetermined AC power to the object for treatment 21 through the support means. The support means comprises a metal plate 14 for placing the object for treatment 21, and a metal support bar 13a supported to the wall of the container 10 via an insulating member 20 and is electrically connected to the metal plate 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a processing apparatus that can apply AC power to an object to be processed.

  Techniques for suppressing quality degradation (for example, oxidation and water separation) of materials have been developed in various ways. For example, there is a technique for thawing frozen products (for example, frozen foods).

When thawing such a frozen product, it is convenient if it can be thawed in a short time without impairing the flavor and appearance of the frozen product. For this reason, as an example of such a thawing technique, a method has been proposed in which the temperature in the thawing chamber for storing the frozen product is increased by heated air (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 as conventional examples).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-214850 JP 7-253265 A

  However, the thawing technique described in the above-described conventional example is not based on a detailed freshness deterioration factor analysis at the time of thawing a frozen product, but is a halfway technique from the viewpoint of maintaining the freshness of the frozen product.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, and it aims at providing the processing apparatus which can suppress appropriately the quality degradation of a to-be-processed object.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the processing apparatus of the present invention is configured to maintain insulation between a container whose interior is set to a predetermined temperature and the container and the object to be processed. And supporting means for applying a predetermined AC power to the object to be processed through the supporting means, the supporting means being insulated from a metal plate on which the object to be processed is placed. A metal support bar supported on the wall of the container via a member and electrically connected to the metal plate.

  Thereby, when using this alternating current power for thawing | frozen frozen foodstuffs, the structure | tissue of frozen foodstuffs is activated and the freshness can be maintained appropriately.

  The AC power may be applied to the metal support bar.

  Thus, the metal support bar can function as an energizing rail that can apply AC power to a plurality of metal plates simultaneously. Thereby, the structure of a support means can be simplified, without using a dedicated electricity supply rail.

  The support means further includes a metal hook that supports the metal plate and also makes an electrical connection between the metal plate and the metal support bar, and the hook is at a position where the hook is engaged with the metal support bar. Based on this, the position of the metal plate may be set.

  As described above, since the electrical connection between the metal plate and the metal support bar can be made by a commercially available metal hook, even if the number of metal plates increases, the number of additional parts (here, the hook) Can be minimized.

  The insulating member may be an insulator.

  As a result, since the metal plate and the metal support bar were insulated using an insulator having excellent insulation properties, the inside of the container became an unfavorable environment for electrical insulation, for example, a high humidity environment containing a large amount of moisture. However, the insulation of these members can be maintained appropriately.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the processing apparatus which can suppress appropriately the quality degradation of a to-be-processed object is obtained.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram of the inside of a power application device (processing device) according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left and right directions, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of the interior of the power application device according to the present embodiment as viewed from above and below. FIG.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for convenience of the following description, the direction of gravity in the power application device 100 is “vertical direction”, the door 22 side of the power application device 100 is “front side”, and the door 22 faces the door 22. The side to perform is the “rear side”, and the “vertical direction” and the direction perpendicular to the “front / rear direction” are “left / right direction”.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the power application apparatus 100 is mainly a box-shaped (rectangular) processing container 10 capable of setting the internal temperature to the thawing temperature of the frozen object 21 (frozen object to be processed). An AC power generator 11 (AC power application means) disposed in the storage space 11a located above the processing container 10, and a cradle unit 101 disposed in the processing space 10a of the processing container 10. Prepare.

  That is, the processing container 10 has a processing space 10 a (inside the processing container 10) for thawing the frozen material 21. On the processing container 10, in addition to the above-described AC power generation device 11, the power application device 100. There is a storage space 11a for storing various known driving devices (not shown) for the purpose of driving the vehicle. And doors 22 and 23 are provided so that the thing built in each of processing space 10a and storage space 11a can be accessed.

  In the present specification, the frozen material 21 includes not only solid but also liquid or gas packed in an appropriate bag (not shown), and in the end, various foods that contain water and can be frozen. Means drinking water.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cradle unit 101 is supported on the wall of the processing vessel 10 through metal plates 14 and 15 on which the frozen material 21 is placed and a ceramic (ceramic) or resin insulator 20. Four bar-shaped metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d.

  As shown in FIG. 2, these metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d include two metal support bars arranged in the vicinity of the left and right ends of the rear side wall 10b of the processing vessel 10 so as to extend in the vertical direction. 13a, 13b, a single metal support bar 13c arranged to extend in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the front end of the left side wall 10c of the processing vessel 10, and a vertical direction in the vicinity of the front end of the right side wall 10d of the processing vessel 10 And one metal support bar 13d arranged to extend.

  Each of these metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d has a ladder-like form, so that a commercially available metal hook 18 is placed at an appropriate height position on the metal support bars 13a, 13b, and 13c. , 13d is hooked by electrical connection.

  In the present embodiment, one hook 18 is attached to each of the upper, middle and lower stages of the four metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d, and the frozen material 21 is placed on these hooks 18. The metal plate 14 is supported. Thereby, the electrical connection between the metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d and the metal plate 14 is appropriately made using the metal hook 18. That is, the hook 18 also has a function of electrical connection between them.

  Moreover, the height (position in the vertical direction) of the metal plate 14 can be freely set based on the hooking positions of the hooks 18 that support the metal plate 14 to the metal support bars 13b, 13c, and 13d. Such metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d have the advantage that they are less likely to get dirty and less scratched than conventional resin support bars.

  The AC power generator 11 has a built-in transformer (not shown), and one of the pair of secondary terminals of the transformer is electrically connected to the metal support bar 13a by the wiring 16a, and the secondary side of the transformer The other terminal (not shown) of the terminal is open. That is, the metal support bar 13 a also has a function as an energizing rail that can apply AC power (AC voltage) output from the AC power generator 11 to the three metal plates 14 simultaneously.

  Here, the metal support bar 13a and one of the secondary terminals are electrically connected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the other metal support bars 13b, 13c, 13d and one of the secondary terminals are connected. May be electrically connected. In this way, one of the pair of secondary terminals of the transformer is electrically connected to the metal plate 14.

  In addition, the metal plate 14 (the frozen material 21) and the other of the pair of secondary terminals of the transformer are insulated by air.

  Next, a structure for fixing the metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the vicinity of the left end of the rear side wall 10 b of the processing container 10, a part of four ceramic (ceramic) or resin-made insulators 20 are equally spaced along the vertical direction. Embedded. These insulators 20 are formed upright from the rear side wall 10b so as to extend into the processing space 10a, and the above-mentioned metal support bar 13b is fixed to the front end surface of the insulator 20.

  In addition, in the vicinity of the right end of the rear side wall 10b of the processing container 10, a part of four ceramic (ceramic) or resin-made insulators 20 are embedded at equal intervals in the vertical direction. These insulators 20 are formed upright from the rear side wall 10b so as to extend into the processing space 10a, and the above-mentioned metal support bar 13a is fixed to the distal end surface of the insulator 20.

  In addition, in the vicinity of the front end of the left side wall 10c of the processing container 10, a part of four insulators 20 made of ceramic (made of ceramics) or resin are embedded at equal intervals along the vertical direction. These insulators 20 are formed upright from the left side wall 10c so as to extend into the processing space 10a, and the above-mentioned metal support bar 13c is fixed to the distal end surface of the insulator 20.

  Further, in the vicinity of the front end of the right side wall 10d of the processing container 10, a part of four insulators 20 made of ceramic (made of ceramics) or resin are embedded at equal intervals along the vertical direction. These insulators 20 are configured to stand upright from the right side wall 10d so as to extend into the processing space 10a, and the above-described metal support bar 13d is fixed to the distal end surface of the insulator 20.

  By fixing the metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d using the insulator 20 having excellent insulation properties, the processing space 10a becomes an atmosphere containing a large amount of moisture, for example, in an unfavorable environment for electrical insulation. Even so, it is preferable that the insulation between the metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d and the processing container 10 (the rear side wall 10b and the left and right side walls 10c and 10d) is appropriately maintained.

  Next, the support structure of the metal plate 15 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the vicinity of the four corners of the lower wall 10e of the processing container 10, a part of four ceramics (made of ceramics) or resin are buried. These insulators 20 are configured to stand from the lower wall 10 e so as to extend into the processing space 10 a, and a metal plate 15 is supported on the distal end surface of the insulator 20.

  Here, the metal plate 15 is electrically connected to the metal support bar 13a by the wiring 16b. For this reason, like the metal plate 14, the above-described AC power is applied to the metal plate 15 and the frozen material 21 placed on the metal plate 15.

  In this way, in the power application apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the metal plate 15 is supported on the distal end surface of the insulator 20 that is erected from the lower wall 10e of the processing container 10, thereby reducing the dead space of the processing space 10a. Without this, the processing space 10a can be used effectively. Further, by supporting the metal plate 15 using the insulator 20 having excellent insulating properties, the metal plate 15 can be obtained even in an environment where the processing space 10a is in an atmosphere containing a large amount of moisture and is not preferable for electrical insulation. It is preferable that the insulation between the container and the processing container 10 (lower wall 10e) is appropriately maintained.

  Next, the operation of the power application device 100 configured as described above (the operation for maintaining the freshness of the frozen material 21) will be described.

  First, the door 22 of the processing container 10 is opened and closed, and the frozen material 21 is placed on the metal plates 14 and 15. In this case, the set temperature of the processing space 10a is, for example, a temperature of −5 ° C. or higher and + 10 ° C. or lower.

  Next, a primary voltage is applied between a pair of primary terminals of the transformer of the AC power generator 11. This primary voltage is here a sinusoidal AC voltage of commercial frequency. Then, a secondary voltage is induced between the secondary terminals of the transformer, and a load voltage obtained by subtracting a voltage drop caused by a safety resistance (not shown) or an ammeter (not shown) from the secondary voltage is the frozen material 21 (accurately). Is applied between the metal plates 14, 15) and the other of the pair of secondary terminals of the transformer. For this reason, the weak load current according to the load impedance (leakage resistance and capacity | capacitance) between the frozen material 21 and the other of a pair of secondary side terminal of a transformer flows into the frozen material 21. FIG. As a result, predetermined AC power is applied from the AC power generator 11 to the metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, the metal plates 14, 15 and the frozen object 21.

  Here, the load voltage described above is preferably 10 V or more and 5 kV or less, and more preferably 100 V or more and 5 kV or less. The load current described above is preferably 1 μA or more and 1000 mA or less, and more preferably 10 μA or more and 100 mA or less.

  Next, a mechanism for maintaining the freshness of the frozen material 21 by the power application apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

Factors of deterioration (decrease in freshness) of the frozen material 21 related to the thawing of the frozen material 21 are roughly classified as follows. Here, a frozen food material will be described as an example of the frozen material 21.
(1) Degradation due to water separation If the temperature of the food becomes too high as the frozen food is thawed, the cells cannot hold the water contained in the tissue. When this happens, the cell membrane is broken and water separation occurs (drip generation). This water separation contains a lot of nutrients, and as a result, the growth rate of the bacteria is promoted.
(2) Degradation due to oxidation The ingredients in the food are oxidized in combination with fat and oxygen in the air. Such oxidation advances the deterioration of the foodstuff.

  Therefore, the power application apparatus 100 of the present embodiment suppresses the above-described deterioration of the food material as follows.

  First, since the thawing is performed within a predetermined temperature range (for example, −5 ° C. or higher and + 10 ° C. or lower), cell tissue destruction is appropriately suppressed. Moreover, since the high voltage electrostatic induction energy application by the power application apparatus 100 activates the cells in the foodstuff, it suppresses the reduction of energy consumed in the foodstuff and acts in the direction in which water separation is further suppressed. On the other hand, even in the above-mentioned predetermined temperature range, it is considered that the frozen food is smoothly thawed due to the cell activation effect.

  Moreover, when high voltage electrostatic induction energy is applied to the food material to charge it, the ion balance becomes unstable, and it is considered that the connection between oxygen in the air and the food material is suppressed. In addition, although the detailed mechanism of the oxidation suppression of a foodstuff is not clear, if alternating current power is supplied to a foodstuff under the conditions of a predetermined voltage (10 V or more and 5 kV or less) and current (1 μA or more and 1000 mA or less), It has already been verified that oxidation of foods is suppressed.

  As described above, according to the power application apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the AC power is supplied to the object to be processed under the conditions of a predetermined voltage (10 V or more and 5 kV or less) and current (1 μA or more and 1000 mA or less). Can be supplied. Thereby, for example, when this AC power is used for thawing frozen food, the structure of the frozen food is activated and the freshness thereof can be maintained appropriately.

  Moreover, in the power application apparatus 100 of this embodiment, since the service board 15 and the metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d were insulated using the insulator 20 having excellent insulation, the inside of the processing container 10 was Even in an unfavorable environment for electrical insulation, for example, a high humidity environment containing a large amount of moisture, the insulation of these members can be maintained appropriately.

  Further, in the power application device 100 of the present embodiment, the electrical connection between the metal plate 14 and the metal support bars 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d can be made by a commercially available metal hook 18, whereby Even if the number of the metal plates 14 is increased, the number of additional parts (here, hooks 18) can be minimized.

  Moreover, in the power application apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the metal support bar 13a can function as an energizing rail that applies AC power to the plurality of metal plates 14 and 15 simultaneously. For this reason, the structure of the power application device 100 (the cradle unit 101) can be simplified without using a dedicated energizing rail.

  Further, in the power application apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the metal plate 15 is supported on the tip surface of the insulator 20 erected from the lower wall 10e of the processing container 10, thereby eliminating the dead space of the processing space 10a. The processing space 10a can be used effectively.

  Heretofore, the example of using the power application apparatus 100 as a defroster for the frozen material 21 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Contrary to thawing, the power application apparatus 100 can be used for a freezing machine that freezes food and drinking water in a predetermined temperature range (for example, −60 ° C. or more and 0 ° C. or less). For example, it can be used for a freshener that keeps the frozen material 21 frozen at −5 ° C. or higher and + 10 ° C. or lower).

  Furthermore, it is also possible to divert this power application device 100 as an oxidation suppression device that suppresses oxidation of various materials such as metal materials (for example, heat oxidation of metal materials) in addition to food and drinking water.

  According to the processing apparatus of this invention, the quality degradation of a to-be-processed object can be suppressed appropriately, for example, it can be used as a frozen thawing machine for business use or household that can maintain freshness appropriately at the time of thawing.

It is the figure which looked at the inside of the power application apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the left-right direction. It is the figure which looked at the inside of the electric power application apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the up-down direction.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Processing container 11 AC power generator 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d Metal support bar 14, 15 Metal plate 16a, 16b Wiring 18 Hook 20 insulator 21 Frozen thing (frozen to-be-processed object)
22, 23 Door 100 Power application device (processing device)
101 Stand unit

Claims (4)

A container whose interior is set to a predetermined temperature;
Support means for supporting the object to be processed in the container so as to maintain insulation between the container and the object to be processed;
AC power application means for applying predetermined AC power to the object to be processed through the support means,
The support means is configured to include a metal plate on which the object to be processed is placed, and a metal support bar supported on the wall of the container via an insulating member and electrically connected to the metal plate. Processing equipment.   The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the AC power is applied to the metal support bar. The support means further includes a metal hook that supports the metal plate and makes an electrical connection between the metal plate and the metal support bar,
The processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the position of the metal plate is set based on a position where the hook is hooked on the metal support bar.   The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insulating member is an insulator.

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