JP2654223B2 - Frozen dessert making machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a frozen confectionery machine having a function of heat sterilizing a mix in a cooling cylinder, and showing a heat sterilized state of the mix. It is.

(B) Conventional technology Generally, a frozen dessert producing machine having a function of heating and sterilizing a mix in a cooling cylinder is known from Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-20304. In this case, from the start of sterilization to the end, there are several steps, for example, a step of starting heat sterilization and raising the temperature of the mix to legal sterilization temperature,
After reaching the legal sterilization temperature, a step of maintaining this temperature for a certain period of time and a step of starting re-cooling are performed.

In addition, as a display of a frozen dessert manufacturing machine having a sterilizing function, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 43158/1989, a steri lamp is arranged on an operation panel arranged on the entire upper surface of the main body, and sterilizing is performed. There is one that is turned on.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the sterilization display of the prior art, the fact that sterilization is being performed is simply indicated by a single lamp. There was a problem that the user could not confirm at all whether or not it has arrived.

Therefore, it is conceivable to display each process with a plurality of lamps, but it has been difficult to visually grasp the temperature and the passage of time.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is capable of displaying, in a simple and easy-to-understand manner, the state in which the heat sterilization of a mix in a frozen dessert manufacturing machine is currently performed. A manufacturing machine is provided.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hopper for storing a mix, a refrigeration means for cooling the mix stored in the hopper, and a process for sterilizing the mix. In a frozen dessert production machine comprising a heat sterilizing means for heating the hopper and an operation panel, the operation panel has at least a sterilization start display lamp, a legal sterilization temperature reaching display lamp, and a heating end in a lateral direction. A cooling start display lamp and a cool display lamp are arranged in this order, and the legal sterilization temperature reaching display lamp and a heating end / cooling start display lamp are the sterilization start display lamp and the cool display lamp. A frozen dessert production machine characterized by being disposed above any of the lamps.

(E) Function The present invention is to arrange at least a sterilization start display lamp, a legal sterilization temperature reaching display lamp, a heating end / cooling start display lamp, and a cold storage display lamp in this order. The sterilization means displays that the heat sterilization of the mix in the hopper has started, then the legal sterilization temperature attainment display lamp indicates that the temperature has reached a predetermined temperature, and then the heating end / cooling start display lamp displays the legal heat sterilization. Is displayed, and cooling of the hopper is started by the freezing means. Then, when the temperature drops to a predetermined cooling temperature, the temperature is displayed by a cool indicator lamp. Therefore, the sterilization process can be visually grasped.

(F) Example An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a display device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the internal configuration of a frozen dessert making machine embodying the present invention, and FIG. Is a hopper for storing raw materials of frozen desserts (soft ice cream, shakes, and the like), a so-called mix. The hopper has a hopper cover 3 that is removed at the time of replenishing the mix, and a hopper cooling coil 4 wound around the hopper 2. The mix is kept cool. Further, the impeller 5 provided on the inner bottom is rotated by the impeller motor 6 and stirred so that the mix is not frozen. The impeller 5 is also driven to rotate when a predetermined amount or more of the mix is put in the hopper 2 and the hopper 2 is heated and sterilized by the refrigerant gas flowing in the hopper cooling coil 4 in the opposite direction to the cooling, that is, the hot gas. 7
Is a mix level sensor that detects whether or not the hopper 2 has a mix of a predetermined amount or more, and is composed of a pair of electrodes.
If the mix is insufficient and the amount is less than a predetermined amount, the interruption of the conduction state through the mix is detected, and control is performed so that the heat sterilization step described later is not performed. Numeral 8 is a cooling cylinder which cools the mix appropriately supplied from the hopper 2 by the mix feeder 9 and agitates with the internal beater 10 to produce a frozen dessert. An evaporator 11 is arranged around the cooling cylinder. The beater 10 is rotated via a beater motor 12, a drive transmission belt, a speed reducer 13, and a rotating shaft. The frozen desserts are produced by the freezer door.
When the take-out lever 15 arranged at 14 is operated, the plunger 16 moves up and down to open the extraction path 17 and take out.

Next, a refrigerating device that cools the hopper 2 and the cooling cylinder 8 will be described. Reference numeral 18 denotes a compressor, 19 denotes a four-way valve for switching the flow direction of the refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 18 between a cooling cycle (indicated by a solid arrow) and a heating cycle (indicated by a dotted arrow), and 20 denotes a water-cooled condenser. Then, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas flowing through the check valve 21 is condensed to be a liquefied refrigerant. When the liquefied refrigerant exits the dryer 23 through the check valve 22, the liquefied refrigerant separates into two parts. One of the refrigerant flows into the evaporator 11 through the cooling cylinder valve 24 and the cooling cylinder capillary tube 25, where it evaporates and evaporates. To cool. The other flows into the hopper cooling coil 4 through the cooling hopper valve 26 and the hopper capillary tube 27 in the preceding stage, and similarly evaporates and cools the hopper 2, and then exits through the latter capillary tube 28. go. Then, the refrigerant gas after cooling the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 joins the accumulator 30,
A refrigeration cycle that returns to the compressor 18 via the four-way valve 19 is formed, and a cooling operation in which the refrigerant flows in the solid line direction is performed.

Here, the means for cooling the hopper 2 and the cooling cylinder 8, that is, the refrigerating means, is a circuit constituting the above-described refrigerating cycle, and includes a compressor 1 which is a part of the refrigerating apparatus.
8, a four-way valve 19, a water-cooled condenser 20, an evaporator 11, and a hopper cooling coil 4.

On the other hand, the means for heating the hopper 2 and the cooling cylinder 8, that is, the heat sterilizing means, is a circuit constituting a heating cycle, and includes a compressor 18, a four-way valve 19, an evaporator 11, and a hopper cooling part which are part of a refrigerating apparatus. This is a circuit composed of the coil 4.

By the way, in this cooling operation, the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are each set to a predetermined temperature range (cooling cylinder; −3 ° C. to −8 ° C., hopper;
(~ 10 ° C). Therefore, a cylinder sensor 31 for detecting the temperature of the cooling cylinder 8 is provided.
With this sensor 31, the cooling cylinder valve 24 is turned on (open) at a preset upper limit temperature, the compressor 18 is turned on to perform cooling, and the cooling cylinder valve 24 is closed at the lower limit temperature (OF
F), the cooling operation control for turning off the compressor 18 is performed. Similarly, the hopper 2 is provided with a hopper sensor 32 for detecting the temperature of the hopper 2, and opens and closes the cooling hopper valve 26 and turns on and off the compressor 18 at preset upper and lower set temperatures, respectively. Turn OFF. However, the control is such that the cooling of the cooling cylinder 8 is given priority, and the cooling hopper valve 26 is turned on under the condition that the cooling cylinder valve 24 is turned off.

After the sale has been made under the cooling operation described above, when the store is closed, the mix is sterilized by the heating method. In this case, the refrigeration system is switched from the refrigeration cycle to the operation of the heating cycle. That is, the four-way valve 19 is operated to flow the refrigerant as indicated by the dotted arrow. Then, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor 18, that is, the hot gas is a four-way valve 19,
After passing through the accumulator 30, it splits into two hands, one of which is an evaporator
11 directly, the other flows into the hopper cooling coil 4 via the check valve 33, and generates heat radiation action in each,
The cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are heated at the legal sterilization temperature (68 ° C.) for a predetermined time. The liquefied refrigerant after the heat release merges via the hot gas cylinder valve 34 and the hot gas hopper valve 35, respectively, is separated into gas and liquid by the water-cooled condenser 20, becomes the refrigerant gas, passes through the reverse solenoid valve 36 and the reverse capillary tube 37, A heating cycle is formed which returns to the compressor 18 via the four-way valve 19. Numeral 38 denotes a sterilization cooler sensor for detecting the heating temperature of the cooling cylinder 8, and a hot gas cylinder valve 34 at a predetermined upper and lower limit of a predetermined range so that the legal sterilization temperature is maintained for the mix. And ON / OFF control of the compressor 18. The hopper sensor 32 is also used to control the heating of the hopper 2, and the hot gas hopper valve is set at the same set temperature set in the cooling cylinder 8.
ON / OFF control of the compressor 35 and the compressor 18 is performed. Further, the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 described above shifts to cooling after heat sterilization and turns on the compressor 18 so as to maintain a certain low temperature state, that is, a cooling temperature (about + 8 ° C. to + 10 ° C.) until the point of sale the next day. , OFF control and ON / OFF control of the cooling cylinder valve 24 and the cooling hopper valve 26.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a water-saving valve.In the final stage of the heating cycle, the heating load is reduced, so that the refrigerant gas returns in a high temperature state and prevents overload operation due to flowing into the compressor 18. The refrigerant gas pressure is
When the pressure exceeds a predetermined value, a water-saving valve 41 is opened by a gas pressure detector (diaphragm) 42, water flows through a water supply passage 43 as indicated by an alternate long and short dash line, and the high-temperature refrigerant gas radiates heat and the compressor 18
Adjust the suction pressure. 44 is the electrical box and 45 is the front drain tray. A water tap 46 is supplied at the time of washing the mix.

As shown in FIG. 3, an operation panel 50 is arranged at a position above the freezer door 14 on the front surface of the apparatus main body 1. The operation panel 50 is, as shown in detail in FIG. A sterilization switch 51 and two sets of switches and indicators having the same function are arranged on the left and right with a sterilization monitor display (eg, LED) 52 of the present invention for displaying a sterilization process as a center. This is because two cooling cylinders 8 are provided although not shown.

Here, each switch and display will be described in detail. Reference numeral 51 denotes the sterilization switch, which is depressed at the end of a business day, and enters a sterilization step of the cooling cylinder 8, the hopper 2 and the mix therein. In heat sterilization of the mix, there is a regulation that the temperature is legally sterilized at + 68 ° C. for 30 minutes or more, and in order to satisfy this, in this example, the temperature is set at approximately + 70 ° C. for about 40 minutes. The sterilization monitor display 52 that displays a plurality of displays L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5
It is constituted by. Of these, L1 is a recent start indicator lamp that indicates that sterilization has started, L2 is a legal sterilization temperature reaching indicator lamp that indicates that the mix has reached the legal sterilization temperature, and L3 is that the mix is maintained at the legal sterilization temperature. L4 is a heating end / cooling start display lamp that indicates that the heat sterilization has been completed for a certain time and the cooling movement has started, and L5 is a mixture that has a predetermined cooling temperature (for example, This is a cool indicator lamp that indicates that the temperature has dropped to 10 ° C). In addition, the color of each indicator lamp is that the cool indicator lamp L5 is green and the other lamps L1 to L4
Uses red.

Thus, each of the display lamps L1 to L5 is arranged so as to image temperature in the vertical axis direction and elapsed time in the horizontal axis direction. That is, L1 is arranged at the lowest position, L2 to L4 are respectively at the same height, arranged at a position higher than L1, L5 is higher than L1,
By arranging it at a position lower than L2 to L4, the temperature can be imaged. Also, L1, L2,
By arranging L3, L4 and L5 at intervals, the elapsed time can be imaged. The display lamps L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5 are linearly connected by a number of small holes 60, and the sterilization monitor display 52 is formed in a line graph as a whole.

Next, when a cooling operation switch 53 is depressed, a cooling operation is started, and the cooling of the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 is controlled to a predetermined set temperature range to produce frozen dessert. 54
Is an energy-saving cooling operation switch, which is depressed in a time zone far away from the customer's feet, whereby the cooling temperature is controlled at a set temperature slightly increased to perform an economical operation. 55 is a defrost switch, which is pressed when the mix is softened and taken out for the purpose of collecting the mix from the cooling cylinder 8 or when regenerating the softened dessert softened because it is not sold for a long time. The cooling cylinder 8 is heated to a certain temperature. In this case, the temperature rises higher during recovery than in the case of softening regeneration. Reference numeral 56 denotes a washing switch. When the switch is depressed, the beater 10 rotates for a predetermined time. When the mix is collected after defrosting or after the mix is collected, the hopper 2 is rotated by the water tap 46.
It is operated when washing with the water filled in the cooling cylinder 8. 57 is a stop switch for stopping all control operations (cooling, defrosting, washing, sterilization). Reference numeral 58 denotes a mix replenishment lamp which is turned on when the mix is not in contact with the mix level sensor 7 in the hopper 2 to notify the user of the replenishment of the mix. Reference numeral 59 denotes an abnormality alarm lamp which blinks or lights when various abnormal situations occur in addition to the above-mentioned out of mix (in this case, blinking to indicate sterilization preparation failure).

Next, a sterilizing / cooling operation and a display operation based on the above configuration will be described. First, when the sterilization switch 51 is pressed, it starts under conditions where the mix does not run out,
The four-way valve 19 switches from the cooling cycle to the heating cycle, and hot gas is supplied to the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 to start heat sterilization. And the cooling cylinder 8
The compressor 18, the hot gas cylinder valve 34, and the hot gas are operated by the sterilization, cooling sensor 38 and the hopper sensor 32 so that the hopper 2 and the hopper 2 satisfy the total heating time of about 40 minutes in the heating temperature range of + 70 ° C. to + 72 ° C. The hopper valve 35 is ON / OFF controlled.

By the way, the heat sterilization step is indicated by each of the display lamps L1 to L5. When the heat sterilization is started by pressing the sterilization switch 51, the sterilization start display lamp L1 blinks.
When the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 reach + 72 ° C,
The legal sterilization temperature reaching display lamp L2 blinks, and the sterilization start display lamp L1 switches from blinking to lighting. And + 70 ° C
When the cumulative heating time reaches 13 minutes, the legal sterilization temperature maintenance lamp L3 blinks and the legal sterilization temperature reaching indicator lamp L2
Switches from blinking to lighting, and the sterilization start display lamp L1 continues to light. This legal sterilization temperature maintenance lamp L3, like the legal sterilization temperature reaching display lamp L2, the cumulative heating time of + 70 ° C or more flashes for 13 minutes, and after 13 minutes, the heating end / cooling start display lamp L4 flashes, The legal sterilization temperature maintenance lamp L3 switches from blinking to lighting, and the sterilization start display lamp L1 and the sterilization temperature reaching display lamp L2 continue to be lit.
The heating end / cooling start display lamp L4 is similar to the sterilization temperature reaching display lamp L2 and the legal sterilization temperature maintenance lamp L3.
Cumulative heating time of 70 ° C or more blinks for 13 minutes, and after 13 minutes, the cool indicator lamp L5 blinks, the heating end / cooling start indicator lamp L4 switches from blinking to lit, and the sterilization start indicator lamp L1, sterilization start indicator L1 The temperature reaching display lamp L2 and the legal sterilization temperature maintaining lamp L3 continue to be turned on. This cool indicator lamp
The end of sterilization can be confirmed by switching from the blinking of L5 and the blinking of the heating end / cooling start indicator lamp L4 to lighting. Then, about 40 minutes (actually 13 minutes × 3 = 39 minutes) from when the sterilization temperature reaching display lamp L2 blinks until the heating end / cooling start display lamp L4 is turned on is the heating time based on the legal sterilization temperature. When sterilization at this legal sterilization temperature is completed,
When the cooling operation is started and the hopper sensor 32 detects + 10 ° C., the cooling display lamp L5 switches from blinking to lighting, and all the display lamps L1 to L5 are lit.
Thus, the user confirms that all the heat sterilization steps have been completed.

(G) Effects of the Invention The operation panel of the frozen dessert production machine of the present invention has a sterilization start indication lamp, a legal sterilization temperature reaching indication lamp, a heating end /
In addition to having a cooling start indicator lamp and a cool indicator lamp, the legal sterilization temperature reaching indicator lamp and heating end
The cooling start display lamp is arranged above any of the sterilization start display lamp and the cold storage table lamp, and the lighting state of each lamp is changed according to the heat sterilization state. The temperature state of the mix, i.e., whether the current mix is in a sterilization start state, a legal sterilization temperature attainment state, a heating end / cooling start state, or a cold state, the temperature in the vertical axis direction, the horizontal axis direction The user can visualize the temperature status of the mix, such as whether the heating temperature has risen, is currently maintained at the legal sterilization temperature, or has completed the heat sterilization. In addition, since the confirmation can be made in an easy-to-understand manner, the user can engage in the sterilization operation with ease.

In addition, the occurrence of a trouble during the sterilization process can be quickly known, and the trouble can be dealt with promptly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a display, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the internal structure of a frozen dessert making machine, and FIG. FIG. 1 ... device main body, 2 ... hopper, 8 ... cooling cylinder, 50 ... operation panel, L1 to L5 ... multiple display units.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-63-123344 (JP, A) JP-A-62-142595 (JP, A) JP-A-64-43158 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hopper for storing a mix, refrigeration means for cooling the mix stored in the hopper,
In a frozen dessert production machine comprising a heat sterilizing means formed at the time of sterilizing the mix and heating the hopper, and an operation panel, the operation panel has at least a sterilization start display lamp and a legal sterilization temperature attainment display in a lateral direction. A lamp, a heating end / cooling start indicator lamp, and a cold storage indicator lamp are arranged in this order, and the legal sterilization temperature reaching indicator lamp and a heating end / cooling start indicator lamp are the sterilization start indicator lamp and the A frozen dessert maker, which is disposed above any of the cold-hold indicator lamps.