JP2018162960A - Food machine having vacuum cooling function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain food cooling where the weight and temperature of food are adjusted desirably, in a food machine having a vacuum cooling function.SOLUTION: A food machine having a vacuum cooling function includes decompression means 3 and pressure recovery means 4, and is configured to sequentially execute a first cooling step of decompressing a treatment tank 2 to vacuum-cool food F, and a second cooling step of further cooling the food F in a state of suppressing moisture evaporation compared to the first cooling step. The food machine includes a weight sensor 5 configured to detect a weight of the food F, and a food temperature sensor 6 configured to detect a temperature of the food F. The first cooling step is continuously performed until the weight of the food F in the treatment tank 2 becomes a target weight, and the second cooling step is continuously performed until the temperature of the food F in the treatment tank 2 becomes a target temperature.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a food machine having a vacuum cooling function for cooling food by decompressing the inside of a processing tank.

  Conventionally, as disclosed in the following Patent Document 1, the gas in the processing tank is sucked and discharged to the outside and the inside of the processing tank is depressurized, thereby lowering the saturation temperature in the processing tank and evaporating moisture from the food. A food machine having a vacuum cooling function that promotes and cools food by its latent heat of vaporization is known. In this apparatus, vacuum cooling is performed until the temperature of the food reaches the target temperature.

  However, in vacuum cooling, water in the food is evaporated and the food is cooled by latent heat of vaporization, so that concentration (BRIX rise) occurs in the food. Moreover, since vacuuming is accompanied, excessive cooling may impair the nutritional value and deliciousness of food.

  Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 2 below, there is an attempt to adjust the concentration in the vacuum cooling process. Specifically, an apparatus has been proposed in which a change in the weight of a food is measured by a weighing device, the weight of evaporated water and the temperature of the food are controlled, and vacuum cooling is performed to the required moisture and temperature. In this device, it is possible to know the temperature of the food by calculating how much heat is deprived from the weight of the evaporated water, so it evaporates by measuring the weight change of the food with a weighing device It is said that not only the weight of moisture but also the temperature of food can be controlled.

JP 2008-249256 A JP-A-8-289773 (Claims, paragraph [0009], drawing)

  In the prior art, the temperature of the food is estimated based on a change in the weight of the food, and the control is substantially performed by monitoring only the weight. In other words, if the target weight is reached, it is assumed that the target temperature has been reached, and the vacuum cooling is terminated. Therefore, it is not guaranteed that the food has actually cooled to the target temperature. In order to cope with this, simply providing a product temperature sensor and cooling to the target temperature cannot be stopped by cooling to the target weight.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to realize food cooling in which the weight and temperature of food are adjusted as desired in a food machine having a vacuum cooling function.

  This invention was made | formed in order to solve the said subject, The invention of Claim 1 is the 1st cooling process which decompresses the inside of a processing tank, and vacuum-cools food, and this 1st cooling process. A second cooling step for further cooling the food while suppressing moisture evaporation, the first cooling step is performed until the food in the treatment tank reaches a target weight, and the second cooling step is a treatment This is a food machine having a vacuum cooling function, which is performed until the food in the tank reaches a target temperature.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the food is cooled to the target weight in the first cooling step, the food is further cooled to the target temperature in the second cooling step. By checking not only the weight but also the product temperature, the food can be reliably cooled to the target temperature. And since the 2nd cooling process is the cooling which suppressed moisture evaporation rather than the 1st cooling process, the further concentration of foodstuffs can be controlled.

  Invention of Claim 2 is the said processing tank in which a foodstuff is accommodated, the pressure reduction means which attracts | sucks and discharges the gas in this processing tank outside, and depressurizes the inside of the said processing tank, The said processing tank by which pressure reduction was carried out A pressure-reducing means for introducing outside air into the processing tank and returning the pressure in the processing tank; and a controller for controlling the pressure-reducing means and the pressure-reducing means to cool the food in the processing tank. In the first cooling step, the inside of the treatment tank is decompressed by the decompression means, and vacuum cooling is performed until the food in the treatment tank reaches a target weight. In the second cooling step, the decompression means is operated. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or both of an air supply amount by the decompression means and an exhaust amount by the decompression means is adjusted to cool until the food in the processing tank reaches a target temperature. A food machine having a vacuum cooling function described in 1.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, after the food is vacuum-cooled to the target weight in the first cooling step, the decompression capacity is lowered (by adjusting the air supply amount and / or the exhaust amount), and the second In the cooling process, the food is further cooled to the target temperature. By checking not only the weight but also the product temperature, the food can be reliably cooled to the target temperature. In addition, since the second cooling step lowers the decompression capacity than the first cooling step, it is possible to suppress further concentration of food.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 is the processing tank in which the food is stored, the decompression means for sucking and discharging the gas in the processing tank to the outside, and depressurizing the inside of the processing tank, and the decompressed A return pressure means for introducing outside air into the treatment tank and restoring the pressure in the treatment tank; a fan for circulating air in the treatment tank; and a cooler for cooling the circulating air by the fan using a refrigerator. Control means for controlling the decompression means, the decompression means, the refrigerator and the fan to cool the food in the treatment tank, and in the first cooling step, the treatment tank is provided with the decompression means. The inside of the processing tank is vacuum-cooled until the food in the processing tank reaches a target weight, and in the second cooling step, the fan is operated while operating the refrigerator, thereby the food in the processing tank Cool air cooling until the temperature reaches the target temperature A food machine with a vacuum cooling function according to claim 1,.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, after the food is vacuum-cooled to the target weight in the first cooling step, the food is further cooled to the target temperature by switching to cold air cooling in the second cooling step. By checking not only the weight but also the product temperature, the food can be reliably cooled to the target temperature. And since a 2nd cooling process cools food with cold air, the further concentration of food can be suppressed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the food cooling which adjusted the weight and temperature of the food as desired in the food machine which has a vacuum cooling function is realizable.

It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows Example 1 of the foodstuff machine which has the vacuum cooling function of this invention, and has shown the example applied to the vacuum cooling device. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows Example 2 of the foodstuff machine which has the vacuum cooling function of this invention, and has shown the example applied to the cold wind vacuum composite cooling device.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing Example 1 of a food machine having a vacuum cooling function of the present invention, and shows an example applied to a vacuum cooling device 1.

  The vacuum cooling device 1 of the present embodiment includes a processing tank 2 in which the food F as the object to be cooled is stored, and a decompression unit 3 that sucks and discharges the gas in the processing tank 2 to the outside and decompresses the processing tank 2. A return pressure means 4 for introducing outside air into the decompressed treatment tank 2 to restore the pressure in the treatment tank 2, a weight sensor 5 for detecting the weight of the food F in the treatment tank 2, Based on the product temperature sensor 6 for detecting the temperature (product temperature) of the food F, the pressure sensor 7 for detecting the pressure in the processing tank 2, and the detection signals of these sensors 5 to 7, the above-mentioned means 3 and 4 are controlled. Control means (not shown).

  The processing tank 2 is a hollow container that can withstand the decompression of the internal space, and is typically formed in a substantially rectangular box shape. The processing tank 2 of the present embodiment is provided with a door (not shown) for taking in and out the food F on the front surface (the front side perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1). However, doors may be provided on the front and the back, respectively, and one door may be a loading door for putting food F into the processing tank 2, and the other door may be a loading door for taking out the food F from the processing tank 2. . In any case, by closing the door, the opening of the processing tank 2 can be airtightly closed via the packing.

  Food F is accommodated in the processing tank 2. The food F is put in a food container 8 such as a weight and is stored in the processing tank 2. At this time, although details will be described later, the food F is typically placed on the weight sensor 5 and accommodated in the processing tank 2 so that the weight can be measured by the weight sensor 5.

  The decompression means 3 includes a vacuum generator 10 that sucks and discharges the gas in the processing tank 2 to the outside through the exhaust passage 9. Although the specific structure in particular is not ask | required, the vacuum generator 10 is typically provided with the heat exchanger for vapor | steam condensation, and the water seal-type vacuum pump arrange | positioned downstream. A steam ejector may be further provided upstream of the heat exchanger. By controlling the start and stop of the vacuum pump, the water supply to the vacuum pump, the water flow to the heat exchanger, the switching between room temperature water and cold water as the water flow, the presence or absence of steam supply to the steam ejector, etc. It is possible to control the presence / absence and ability of decompression by the vacuum generator 10.

  The return pressure unit 4 is a unit that introduces outside air into the decompressed processing tank 2 via the air supply path 11 to restore the pressure in the processing tank 2. In the present embodiment, the air supply path 11 includes a filter 12 and an air supply valve 13 in order toward the processing tank 2. When the air supply valve 13 is opened while the inside of the processing tank 2 is depressurized, air through the filter 12 is sent into the processing tank 2 due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the processing tank 2 and the inside of the processing tank 2 is decompressed. be able to. The air supply valve 13 is preferably composed of a valve whose opening degree can be adjusted.

  The treatment tank 2 is further provided with a weight sensor 5, a product temperature sensor 6, and a pressure sensor 7. Among these, the weight sensor 5 detects the weight of the food F accommodated in the processing tank 2. The weight sensor 5 is typically configured to include a load cell, and in the present embodiment, the weight sensor 5 is provided in a food placement unit disposed at the bottom of the processing tank 2. The weight sensor 5 detects the weight of the food F placed thereon. On the other hand, the product temperature sensor 6 detects the temperature of the food F, and the pressure sensor 7 detects the pressure in the processing tank 2.

  The control means is a controller (not shown) that controls the means 3 and 4 based on the detection signals of the sensors 5 to 7. Specifically, in addition to the vacuum generator 10 and the air supply valve 13, the weight sensor 5, the product temperature sensor 6, the pressure sensor 7, and the like are connected to a controller. And a controller aims at cooling of the food F in the processing tank 2 according to a predetermined procedure (program) as described below.

Hereinafter, an example of the operation method of the vacuum cooling device 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
Prior to the start of operation, the food tank F to be cooled is accommodated in the treatment tank 2. As described above, the food F is placed on the weight sensor 5, and the controller can receive the detection signal of the weight sensor 5 to grasp the weight of the food F. At that time, by registering the weight of the food container 8 in the controller in advance, the net food weight obtained by subtracting the weight of the food container 8 can be detected. Similarly, when the food F is accommodated in the treatment tank 2 via the carriage, the net food weight obtained by subtracting the weight of the carriage can be detected.

  And if the start button is pressed and the operation start is instructed with the door of the processing tank 2 being airtightly closed, the food F in the processing tank 2 is cooled. In a present Example, the 1st cooling process which pressure-reduces the inside of the processing tank 2, and vacuum-cools the food F, and the 2nd cooling process which further cools the food F, suppressing moisture evaporation rather than this 1st cooling process. The first cooling process is performed until the food F in the processing tank 2 reaches the target weight, and the second cooling process is performed until the food F in the processing tank 2 reaches the target temperature. This will be specifically described below.

  In the first cooling step, while the weight of the food F is monitored by the weight sensor 5, the inside of the processing tank 2 is depressurized until the food F reaches the target weight. Specifically, the inside of the processing tank 2 may be decompressed by operating the vacuum generator 10 with the air supply valve 13 closed. However, if desired, the exhaust capacity of the vacuum generator 10 may be changed in the middle, or the opening degree of the air supply valve 13 may be adjusted (adjusting the pressure reduction speed). In any case, the food F is cooled with moisture evaporation by reducing the pressure in the treatment tank 2. When the detected weight of the weight sensor 5 reaches the target weight, the first cooling process is terminated.

  Note that there is a certain relationship between the change in weight of the food F and the change in temperature during vacuum cooling due to the latent heat of vaporization of water. Therefore, when the temperature of the food F before the start of operation is detected by the product temperature sensor 6 and it is desired to lower it from the initial temperature to the set temperature in the first cooling step, the weight to be reduced is known from the temperature difference between the two temperatures. What is necessary is just to perform a 1st cooling process until it reaches the weight reduction.

  In the second cooling step, while the temperature of the food F is monitored by the product temperature sensor 6, the food F is further cooled until the food F reaches a target temperature. Specifically, in a state where the decompression unit 3 is operated, the supply amount by the decompression unit 4 is adjusted, the exhaust amount by the decompression unit 3 is adjusted, or both the supply amount and the exhaust amount are adjusted. And it cools until the food F in the processing tank 2 becomes target temperature. For example, in a state where the vacuum generator 10 is operated, the opening degree of the air supply valve 13 is adjusted based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 7, and the processing tank 2 until the temperature detected by the product temperature sensor 6 reaches the target temperature. The pressure inside is the set pressure (typically, the saturated steam pressure corresponding to the set temperature in the first cooling step or a lower pressure, and the same pressure as the saturated steam pressure corresponding to the target temperature in the second cooling step) To maintain. However, instead of adjusting the opening degree of the supply valve 13, the vacuum generator 10 may be operated intermittently or the exhaust capacity of the vacuum generator 10 may be adjusted.

  When the food F in the processing tank 2 reaches the target temperature in the second cooling step, the vacuum generator 10 is stopped and the air supply valve 13 is opened to return the processing tank 2 to atmospheric pressure. And the food F can be taken out from the inside of the processing tank 2 by opening the door of the processing tank 2.

  In this embodiment, the food F is cooled until the target weight is reached in the first cooling step, and the food F is cooled until the food F reaches the target temperature in the subsequent second cooling step. If the food F has already reached the target weight and is equal to or lower than the target temperature at the time, the cooling may be terminated without executing the second cooling step.

  As described above, according to the vacuum cooling device 1 of the first embodiment, after the food F is vacuum-cooled to the target weight in the first cooling step, the food F is reduced in the second cooling step in which moisture evaporation is suppressed. Cool further to the target temperature. By checking not only the weight but also the product temperature, the food F can be reliably cooled to the target temperature. Moreover, in the second cooling step, further concentration of the food F can be suppressed and the desired BRIX (sugar content) can be finished. Furthermore, in the second cooling step, the nutritional value and deliciousness of the food F are not impaired by suppressing evacuation.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a second embodiment of the food machine having a vacuum cooling function according to the present invention, and shows an example applied to the cold air vacuum composite cooling device 14.

  The apparatus of the second embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following, the description will focus on the differences between the two, and description of the same points will be omitted. Further, portions corresponding to those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

  The cold-air vacuum combined cooling device 14 has a cold-air cooling function that cools food stored in the processing tank 2 with cold air, and a vacuum cooling function that vacuum-cools food by reducing the pressure inside the processing tank 2. Specifically, the cold-air vacuum combined cooling device 14 of the second embodiment includes a cooler 15 and a fan 16 in the processing tank 2 in addition to the configuration of the vacuum cooling device 1 of the first embodiment.

  The cooler 15 includes an evaporator of a vapor compression refrigerator 17. Specifically, the cooler 15 is connected to the condensing unit 20 via the refrigerant supply path 18 and the refrigerant return path 19, and the refrigerant can circulate between the condensing unit 20. A liquid electromagnetic valve 21 and an expansion valve 22 are provided in the refrigerant supply path 18.

  The fan 16 circulates air in the processing tank 2. By operating the fan 16 during operation of the refrigerator 17, cold air can be circulated in the treatment tank 2.

  In the present embodiment, the controller is connected to the weight sensor 5, the product temperature sensor 6, the pressure sensor 7 and the like in addition to the vacuum generator 10, the air supply valve 13, the refrigerator 17, and the fan 16. And a controller aims at cooling of the food F in the processing tank 2 according to a predetermined procedure (program) as described below.

Hereinafter, an example of the operation method of the cold air vacuum composite cooling device 14 of the present embodiment will be described.
Prior to the start of operation, the food tank F to be cooled is accommodated in the treatment tank 2. As in the first embodiment, the food F is placed on the weight sensor 5, and the controller can detect the weight of the food F by receiving the detection signal of the weight sensor 5.

  And if the start button is pressed and the operation start is instructed with the door of the processing tank 2 being airtightly closed, the food F in the processing tank 2 is cooled. In the present embodiment, the first cooling process for vacuum cooling the food F by reducing the pressure in the processing tank 2 and the second cooling process for circulating the cold air in the processing tank 2 to cool the food F are sequentially performed. The first cooling process is performed until the food F in the processing tank 2 reaches the target weight, and the second cooling process is performed until the food F in the processing tank 2 reaches the target temperature. This will be specifically described below.

  In the first cooling step, the inside of the processing tank 2 is depressurized until the food F reaches the target weight while monitoring the weight of the food F by the weight sensor 5 as in the first embodiment. Specifically, the inside of the processing tank 2 may be decompressed by operating the vacuum generator 10 with the air supply valve 13 closed. However, if desired, the exhaust capacity of the vacuum generator 10 may be changed in the middle, or the opening degree of the air supply valve 13 may be adjusted (adjusting the pressure reduction speed). In any case, the food F is cooled with moisture evaporation by reducing the pressure in the treatment tank 2. When the detected weight of the weight sensor 5 reaches the target weight, the first cooling process is terminated.

  In the first cooling step, the refrigerator 17 and the fan 16 are stopped. Further, in the second embodiment, due to the cold air cooling performed in the subsequent second cooling process, at the end of the first cooling process, the vacuum generator 10 is stopped and the air supply valve 13 is opened, so that the processing tank 2 Return the pressure to atmospheric pressure.

  In the second cooling step, the refrigerator 17 and the fan 16 are operated, and the food F is further cooled until the food F reaches a target temperature while the temperature of the food F is monitored by the product temperature sensor 6. Specifically, the air supply valve 13 is closed while the vacuum generator 10 is stopped, while the liquid electromagnetic valve 21 is opened and the condensing unit 20 and the fan 16 are operated. Thereby, cold air can be circulated in the processing tank 2, and the food F can be cooled by the cold air. When the food F in the processing tank 2 reaches the target temperature, the liquid electromagnetic valve 21 is closed, the condensing unit 20 and the fan 16 are stopped, and the second cooling process is ended. Then, the food F can be taken out from the inside of the processing tank 2 by opening the door.

  In the second cooling step, the cooling may be started with the air supply valve 13 opened, and the air supply valve 13 may be closed when the temperature of the food F is lowered to a predetermined temperature. By opening the air supply valve 13 halfway through the second cooling step, it is possible to prevent the temperature in the processing tank 2 from decreasing (the air volume is reduced) and the processing tank 2 from being in a reduced pressure state, and efficiently. Cooling with cold air is possible.

  As described above, according to the cold-air vacuum composite cooling device 14 of the second embodiment, after the food F is vacuum-cooled to the target weight in the first cooling step, the cooling is switched to cold-air cooling, and in the second cooling step, The food F is further cooled to the target temperature. By checking not only the weight but also the product temperature, the food F can be reliably cooled to the target temperature. Moreover, in the second cooling step, further concentration of the food F can be suppressed and the desired BRIX (sugar content) can be finished. Furthermore, in the second cooling step, the nutritional value and deliciousness of the food F are not impaired by not performing vacuuming.

  The food machine having a vacuum cooling function of the present invention is not limited to the configuration (including control) of each of the above embodiments, and can be changed as appropriate. In particular, a first cooling step in which the inside of the processing tank 2 is depressurized and the food F is vacuum-cooled, and a second cooling step in which the food F is further cooled while suppressing water evaporation more than the first cooling step are sequentially executed. The first cooling step is performed until the food F in the processing tank 2 reaches the target weight, and the second cooling step is performed until the food F in the processing tank 2 reaches the target temperature. Can be changed as appropriate.

  For example, in the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to the vacuum cooling device 1, and in the second embodiment, the present invention is applied to the cold air vacuum composite cooling device 14, but if it has a vacuum cooling function, The present invention can be similarly applied to devices other than these. As a specific example, the present invention can also be applied to a steaming cooling device and a saturated steam cooking device. In the case of these apparatuses, the apparatus of each of the above embodiments may be further provided with steam supply means for supplying steam into the treatment tank 2. Thus, after the food F in the processing tank 2 is heated using the steam supply means, the food F in the processing tank 2 may be cooled as described in the above embodiments.

  Moreover, in each said Example, although the weight sensor 5 detected the weight of the foodstuff F in the processing tank 2, you may detect the weight of the processing tank 2 itself depending on the case. That is, the weight of the processing tank 2 may be detected by the weight sensor 5, and the weight of the food F may be grasped based on the weight difference when the food F is stored in the processing tank 2.

  In each of the above embodiments, a rough heat removal step may be appropriately performed before the first cooling step. In particular, in the case of Example 2, the food F can be subjected to rough heat removal by cold air or air blowing. When the rough heat removal process is performed with cold air, the liquid electromagnetic valve 21 is opened so that the refrigerant flows through the cooler 15 in the processing tank 2, the condensing unit 20 is operated, and the fan 16 is operated. What is necessary is just to circulate cold wind in the processing tank 2. FIG. On the other hand, when the rough heat removal process is performed by blowing air, at least the vacuum pump is operated in the decompression means 3 with the liquid electromagnetic valve 21 closed, the condensing unit 20 stopped, and the air supply valve 13 opened. Thereby, it can ventilate in the processing tank 2, and can cool a to-be-processed object with the wind. At this time, if the fan 16 is provided as in the second embodiment, the fan 16 may be further operated.

1 Vacuum cooling device (food machinery)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Processing tank 3 Pressure-reducing means 4 Pressure-reducing means 5 Weight sensor 6 Product temperature sensor 7 Pressure sensor 8 Food container 9 Exhaust path 10 Vacuum generator 11 Supply path 12 Filter 13 Supply valve 14 Cold-air vacuum compound cooling apparatus (food machine)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Cooler 16 Fan 17 Refrigerator 18 Refrigerant supply path 19 Refrigerant return path 20 Condensing unit 21 Liquid solenoid valve 22 Expansion valve

Claims (3)

A first cooling step for reducing the pressure inside the treatment tank and vacuum-cooling the food, and a second cooling step for further cooling the food while suppressing moisture evaporation than the first cooling step are sequentially executed.
The first cooling step is performed until the food in the treatment tank reaches the target weight,
The food cooling machine having a vacuum cooling function, wherein the second cooling step is performed until the food in the processing tank reaches a target temperature. The treatment tank in which food is stored;
Depressurizing means for sucking and discharging the gas in the processing tank to the outside and reducing the pressure in the processing tank;
A return pressure means for introducing outside air into the reduced processing tank and returning the pressure in the processing tank;
Control means for cooling the food in the processing tank by controlling the decompression means and the decompression means,
In the first cooling step, the inside of the treatment tank is depressurized by the decompression means, and vacuum-cooled until the food in the treatment tank reaches a target weight,
In the second cooling step, the food in the processing tank is adjusted by adjusting one or both of the amount of air supplied by the return pressure means and the amount of exhaust by the pressure reducing means while the pressure reducing means is operated. The food machine having a vacuum cooling function according to claim 1, wherein cooling is performed until the temperature reaches a target temperature. The treatment tank in which food is stored;
Depressurizing means for sucking and discharging the gas in the processing tank to the outside and reducing the pressure in the processing tank;
A return pressure means for introducing outside air into the reduced processing tank and returning the pressure in the processing tank;
A fan for circulating air in the treatment tank;
A cooler for cooling the circulating air by the fan using a refrigerator;
Control means for cooling the food in the processing tank by controlling the decompression means, the decompression means, the refrigerator and the fan,
In the first cooling step, the inside of the treatment tank is depressurized by the decompression means, and vacuum-cooled until the food in the treatment tank reaches a target weight,
2. The vacuum cooling according to claim 1, wherein in the second cooling step, the air is cooled until the food in the processing tank reaches a target temperature by operating the fan while operating the refrigerator. Functional food machine.

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