JP3108173B2 - Frozen dessert production equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing frozen desserts such as soft ice cream and the like, and more particularly to a reversible refrigerating apparatus for controlling the operation of a compressor when a heat sterilization cycle of the apparatus and mix is performed. The present invention relates to a frozen dessert production apparatus suitable for smooth operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus of this type is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-2
No. 0304, a refrigeration system comprising a compressor, a condenser, a throttle, and a cooler mounted on a cylinder and a mix tank is provided. The refrigerating cycle of the refrigeration system is reversible by a four-way valve. Coolant is used to cool the cylinders and mix tanks. On the other hand, when mixing, sterilizing and cleaning the equipment, high-temperature refrigerant gas (hot gas) from the compressor is guided to the cooler to release heat, and the cooler acts as a radiator. And heating of the mix tank. The mix is required to be heated at a specified temperature for a specified time. Specifically, it is necessary to perform the treatment at 68 ° C. or more for 30 minutes or more.

[0003] By the way, when the heating enters the final stage during the heat sterilization, the heat of the hot gas in the cooler becomes insufficient, and the operation returns to the compressor in the state of high temperature and high pressure gas, and the state where the suction pressure of the compressor is high continues to operate. Heavy load,
There is a risk of damaging the compressor. Therefore, in order to respond to this problem, a single capacity tube was conventionally provided with a capacity adjustment valve in front of the compressor to restrict the gas intake to the compressor, reduce the amount of refrigerant circulated, and adjust the suction pressure to the compressor to an appropriate level. The method of arranging was adopted.

However, when the primary pressure (compressor discharge side pressure) of the cycle fluctuates greatly, a stable secondary pressure (compressor suction side pressure) cannot be obtained with the capacity adjusting valve, and the capacity adjusting valve is expensive.

On the other hand, when the secondary pressure is adjusted with one capillary tube, the resistance of the capillary tube must be determined based on the primary maximum pressure due to the structure of the refrigerant circuit. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the amount of circulating refrigerant is reduced and the heating speed is reduced.

Therefore, as an improved method, a reverse valve is provided in parallel with a pressure reducing means such as a capillary tube in a heating cycle circuit section immediately before the refrigerant returns to the compressor, and a compressor for detecting a compressor motor current during a heating cycle. Providing a motor current detecting means,
The reverse valve is opened at an early stage of heating to form an apparently large-diameter pipe so as to reduce suction resistance as much as possible, increase the compressor suction gas amount, and perform heating effectively. During the latter stage of heating, the compressor suction pressure increases, so the compressor current detection means detects it, closes the reverse valve, and makes the pipe seemingly small in diameter, restricting the amount of gas sucked into the compressor to a small extent. , The compressor is operated in a reduced power situation,
The applicant has proposed a method in which the damage can be avoided (Japanese Patent Application No. 1-3282955).

[0007]

At the beginning of such heating, the reverse valve is opened to accelerate the temperature rise of the cooling cylinder, and during the middle and late stages, the reverse valve is closed to protect the compressor. Can be based on detection.

However, this control is performed smoothly in a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus in a normal temperature state (area) and has the expected effect. However, the supply of low water temperature to a refrigeration circuit under a low outside temperature condition such as in a cold region or the like. When the system is operated under a certain condition, there is a problem that the same effect as the normal temperature condition cannot always be obtained.

That is, under the conditions of low outside air temperature and low water temperature, the gas discharge temperature of the compressor may not be sufficiently increased in the latter stage of heating when the temperature of the mix is approaching the predetermined temperature. There is a problem that the temperature does not reach (for example, 72 ° C.) and the temperature is kept lower than the temperature and the heating time is prolonged.

[0010] During the transition, the reverse valve is kept open, and the high load state continues for the compressor, which is not preferable. This is because the open / close control of the reverse valve is performed based on the compressor motor current value, but in cold operation, the situation where the maximum current value closing the reverse valve does not occur does not occur. It is not appropriate to control the opening and closing of.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a control for determining whether the reverse valve is opened or closed based on not only the compressor motor current value but also the mix temperature information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a frozen dessert producing apparatus capable of performing an efficient heat sterilization operation without applying a high load to a compressor during a heating cycle.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a hopper for storing and keeping a mix, a cooling cylinder for cooling and stirring the mix appropriately supplied from the hopper, and cooling the hopper and the cooling cylinder for producing frozen dessert. A refrigerator motor for detecting a compressor motor current during a heating cycle, in a frozen confectionery manufacturing device including a cooling cycle circuit and a refrigerating device that can be configured by switching a flow direction of a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerating device can be configured by switching a flow direction of a refrigerant. Current detection means, a mix temperature detection sensor for detecting a mix temperature during a heating cycle, a reverse valve inserted in parallel with a pressure reducing means in a preceding circuit in which a refrigerant during a heating cycle returns to a compressor, and Open / close control of the reverse valve by the compressor motor current detection means Rutotomoni, temperature detected by the mix temperature detection sensor when transitioning at a lower mix temperature than the sterilization temperature of the provisions was above a predetermined set temperature
When the reverse valve is closed,
Actuated to open the reverse valve when
And a reverse valve opening / closing control means.

[0013]

When the cooling cylinder is heated and the internal mix is heated and sterilized, the compressor operates at a high load at the end of the heating. Then, the compressor current detecting means detects the increased compressor motor current, and when the current exceeds a predetermined value, the reverse valve is closed, the refrigerant circulation amount is reduced, and the high load operation of the compressor is stopped and protected.
The above control is an operation under normal temperature conditions.However, in an environment of low outside temperature and low water temperature such as in a cold region, the discharge gas temperature may not sufficiently rise at the end of the mix heating, and the temperature rise is prolonged. However, in this case, when the mix temperature measured by the mix temperature detection sensor reaches a predetermined set temperature, control for forcibly closing the reverse valve is executed by the reverse valve opening / closing control means. As a result, the gas having a higher discharge temperature is discharged again from the compressor, and the cooling cylinder and the mix are heated smoothly, reaching the specified mix sterilization temperature, and ensuring the heat sterilization.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1, internal components schematic diagram of a soft cream manufacture apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a refrigerant circuit diagram. In the same apparatus, two kinds of soft ice creams, for example, vanilla soft ice cream and chocolate soft ice cream are manufactured. Two sets of the device configuration shown in FIG. 1 are provided. And as a soft ice cream that can be extracted,
Vanilla soft serve, chocolate soft serve,
Then, three types of mixed soft ice creams obtained by mixing these are available for sale.

First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body, and 2 denotes a hopper for storing a raw material of frozen dessert (soft cream), a so-called mix. The hopper has a hopper cover 3 which is removed when replenishing the mix. The mix is kept cool by the wound hopper cooling coil 4.
Further, the impeller 5 provided on the inner bottom portion is driven to rotate even when a predetermined amount or more of the mix is put into the hopper 2 and the hopper cooling coil 4 is heated and sterilized by the refrigerant gas flowing in the opposite direction to the cooling, that is, the hot gas. You. Reference numeral 7 denotes a mix level sensor for detecting whether or not the hopper 2 contains a predetermined amount or more of mix. The mix level sensor 7 includes a pair of conductive electrodes. The hot gas flow is stopped and the impeller is not rotated so as not to perform the heat sterilization step described later.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a cooling cylinder for producing a frozen dessert by rotating and stirring a mix appropriately supplied from the hopper 2 by a mix supply device 9 with a beater 10, and an evaporator 11 is arranged around the cooling cylinder. Beater 10 is beater motor 1
2. It is rotated via a drive transmission belt, a speed reducer 13, and a rotating shaft. When the take-out lever 15 arranged on the freezer door 14 is operated, the produced frozen dessert moves up and down, the plunger 16 moves up and down, and the extraction path 17 is opened to be taken out. Here, in this apparatus, three takeout levers are provided as shown in FIG.

That is, the left extraction lever 15A is for vanilla, the right extraction lever 15B is for chocolate, and the central extraction lever 15C is for mixing vanilla and chocolate. For this purpose, another cooling cylinder 8B is provided as shown in FIG. 3, and the cooling cylinder 8A is used for manufacturing vanilla soft ice cream.
B is for chocolate soft ice cream production,
The extraction lever 15A and the cooling cylinder 8A communicate with each other through an extraction path 17A, and the extraction lever 15B and the cooling cylinder 8B communicate with each other through an extraction path 17B. On the other hand, the extraction path 17C, 1
It is possible to extract a mixed soft ice cream by establishing a communication relationship with both cooling cylinders 8A and 8B via 7C. At the time of taking out the frozen dessert, each beater 10 (the other is not shown) rotates and also performs the function of delivering the dessert.

Next, a refrigerating apparatus for cooling the hopper 2 and the cooling cylinder 8 will be described. 18 is a compressor, 19 is a refrigerant discharged from the compressor 18 during a refrigeration cycle (solid line state), and during a heating cycle (dotted line state).
A four-way valve 20 switches the flow direction in the opposite direction, and a water-cooled condenser 20 condenses and liquefies the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas flowing through the check valve 21 into a liquefied refrigerant. When the liquefied refrigerant comes out of the dryer 23 through the check valve 22, it is divided into two parts,
One of them flows into the evaporator 11 through the cooling cylinder valve 24 and the cooling cylinder capillary tube 25, where it evaporates and cools the cooling cylinder 8. 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, similarly evaporates and cools the hopper 2, and then exits through the latter capillary tube 28. Go.

After cooling the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2, the refrigerant gas joins the accumulator 30 and forms a refrigeration cycle returning to the compressor 18 via the four-way valve 19 so that the refrigerant flows in the solid line direction. Driving is performed. By the way, in this cooling operation, in order to obtain high-quality frozen dessert, the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are set to a predetermined set temperature range (cooling cylinder;
Hopper; 5 ° C to 10 ° C).
Therefore, a cylinder sensor 31 for detecting the temperature of the cooling cylinder 8 is provided, and the cooling cylinder valve 24 is turned on at a preset upper limit set temperature by the sensor 31.
(Open), turn on the compressor 18 to perform cooling,
The cooling hopper valve 26 is opened and closed and the compressor 18 is turned ON and OFF at the lower limit set temperature. However, the control is such that the cooling of the cooling cylinder 8 has priority, and the cooling hopper valve 26 is turned on under the condition that the cooling cylinder valve 24 is turned off.

After the sales have been performed under the cooling operation described above, when the store is closed, the mix is sterilized by the heating method. In this case, the refrigeration apparatus is switched from the refrigeration cycle to the operation of the heating cycle. That is, the four-way valve 19
To flow the refrigerant as indicated by the dotted arrow. Then, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas, that is, hot gas, from the compressor 18 is split into two parts via the four-way valve 19 and the accumulator 30, one of which is directly connected to the evaporator 11 and the other of which is the check valve 3.
3, flows into the hopper cooling coil 4 and generates a heat radiation action in each of them.
The cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are heated. The liquefied refrigerant after the heat release merges via the hot gas cylinder valve 34 and the hot gas hopper valve 35, respectively, and then the water-cooled condenser 2
At 0, the refrigerant gas is separated, and the refrigerant gas passes through a reverse solenoid valve 36 and a reverse capillary tube 37 provided in parallel,
A heating cycle is formed which returns to the compressor 18 via the four-way valve 19. Numeral 38 denotes a sterilization sensor for detecting the heating temperature of the cooling cylinder 8. The hot gas cylinder valve 34 and the compressor are set at upper and lower set temperatures in a predetermined range so as to maintain a specified sterilization temperature for the mix. 18 is turned on and off.

Further, the sterilization cool sensor 38 measures the heating temperature of the cooling cylinder 8, but since this measured temperature can be determined to be substantially close to the heating temperature of the mix,
This sterilization cool sensor 38 is also used as a mix temperature detection sensor. In the following, where necessary for the description, the description will be made in the case of a mix temperature detection sensor.
The present invention is characterized in that it is also possible to control the opening and closing of the reverse valve 36 by using the mix temperature information detected by the sterilization cool sensor 38.

In the heating control of the hopper 2, the hot gas hopper valve 35 and the compressor presser 18 are turned on and off at the same set temperature value set in the cooling cylinder 8 by also using the hopper sensor 32. ing. In addition, the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 shifts to cooling after heat sterilization, and has a certain low temperature state until the point of sale the next day, that is, the cooling temperature (+ 8 ° C. to + 8 ° C.).
(About 10 ° C)
N, OFF control and ON / OFF control of the cooling cylinder valve 24 and the cooling hopper valve 26 are performed.

The cooling cylinder 8 includes a subcooling sensor 4
0 (see FIG. 6) is also provided to detect an abnormally low temperature, and its function will be described later. Reference numeral 41 denotes a water-saving valve. In order to prevent an overload operation caused by the refrigerant gas returning in a high temperature state and flowing into the compressor 18 due to a decrease in a heating load (cooling cylinder, hopper) at the end of the heating cycle, A gas pressure sensor 42 for detecting the refrigerant gas pressure in the water-cooled compressor 20 is provided. When the gas pressure exceeds a predetermined gas pressure value, the water-saving valve 41 is opened by the gas pressure sensor 42, and water flows through the water supply passage 43 as indicated by a one-dot chain line arrow. The high-temperature refrigerant gas radiates heat to regulate the compressor suction pressure.

Similarly, in order to suppress the high-load operation of the compressor 18, a means for controlling the opening and closing of the reverse valve 38 by means of a compressor motor current detecting means or the aforementioned mixed temperature of the sterilizing and cooling sensor 38 as described later is provided. I'm taking it. 44 is an electrical box, and 45 is a front drain receptacle. Reference numeral 46 denotes a water tap, which is supplied during mixing washing.

FIG. 3 shows a refrigerant circuit diagram of the present apparatus provided with two cooling cylinders 8A and 8B. The same main constituent elements are used for type A (vanilla soft cream) and type B (chocolate soft cream) frozen desserts. A and B are added to the same numbers shown in FIG.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, an operation panel 50 is located above the freezer door 14 in front of the apparatus main body 1.
As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel 50 includes two sets of switches and indicators having the same function on the left and right with a sterilization switch 51 and a sterilization monitor display 52 as the center. That is, each set is an operation unit corresponding to a type A frozen dessert and a type B frozen dessert.

Here, each switch will be described. 53
When the cooling operation switch is pressed, the cooling temperature of the cooling cylinder and the hopper is controlled to be within a predetermined set temperature range to produce a frozen dessert. Reference numeral 54 denotes an energy-saving cooling operation switch, which is pressed when the customer's feet are far away, and controls the cooling at a set temperature slightly shifted up from the cooling temperature to achieve an economical operation. 55 is a defrost switch, which is pressed when softening and removing the mix for recovery of the mix from the cooling cylinder, or when regenerating hardened soft ice cream because it is not sold for a long time, and then flowing hot gas and cooling Raise the temperature of the cylinder to a certain level.

In this case, the temperature rises higher during recovery than in the case of softening regeneration. Reference numeral 56 denotes a washing switch which, when depressed, rotates the beater 10 for a predetermined period of time. When the mix is collected after defrosting, or after the mix is collected, the hopper and the cooling cylinder are filled with a water tap to fill the hopper and the cooling cylinder. Operated when washing with cold water. When the defrost switch 55 is depressed while the washing switch 56 is depressed at the time of collecting the mix, defrosting is started, the mix in the cooling cylinder is softened, and then the beater is rotated by pressing the washing switch 55 again. Is discharged.

On the other hand, when the defrost switch 55 is depressed while the cooling operation switch 53 is depressed during the softening and regenerating of the mix, the usage is automatically shifted from the softening of the mix to the recooling. Reference numeral 51 denotes a sterilization switch, which is pressed at the time of business repair on a day, and enters a heating sterilization process of the cooling cylinder and hopper by hot gas.

At the time of heat sterilization of the mix, + 68 ° C.
There is a rule that the heating temperature is 30 minutes or more, and in order to satisfy this, in the present embodiment, the temperature is 70 degrees or more and about 30 minutes. Sterilization monitor lamps L ₁ , L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ , L ₄ (hereinafter referred to as sterilization 0 to ₄ LE)
D), and the sterilization ₄ LED L4 is a sterilization completion lamp. A stop switch 57 stops all control operations (cooling, defrosting, washing, sterilization).

Reference numeral 58 denotes a mix replenishment lamp which is lit when the hopper 2 is in a shortage state in which the mix is not touching the mix level sensor 7 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). The same applies to each switch and each display lamp on the right.

The contents notified by the abnormality alarm lamp 59 include water outage, beater motor overload relay (OL)
R) There are operation, supercooling, softening alarm, sterilization preparation failure, cold insulation failure, power failure, sterilization failure, sensor failure, etc. These are disposed inside the apparatus main body 1 when the front lower plate 1a is removed. The codes are displayed on a seven-segment display 61 provided on the separate operation panel 60 shown in FIG. 5 corresponding to each device. The code display content is sent and displayed by the changeover switch 62. 63 is a reset button for the beater motor 12, and 64 is a shake / soft switch. Reference numerals 75 and 76 correspond to shake and software, and are temperature adjustment volumes.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system control device mounted on the soft ice cream production apparatus of the present embodiment. The system control apparatus is disposed on the left and right as viewed from the front of the soft ice cream production apparatus. There are two cooling cylinders, one for each of the cooling cylinders 8A and 8B, but only one of the right system control devices is shown in the figure, and the others are not shown. This one control device is configured on a control board 70A, and the other control device is also configured on another control board 70B.

The system controller will be described in detail. The cylinder sensor 31, the hopper sensor 32, the supercooling sensor 4
0, a signal from a sterilization / cooling sensor 38, and a signal from a current sensor 71 for detecting a compressor motor current and a current sensor 72 for detecting a beater motor current are input to an A / D converter 74 via an amplification circuit 73. In addition, in the case of soft ice cream production, the A / D converter 74 has an output signal from a soft adjustment volume 75 for setting and adjusting the cooling temperature of the cooling cylinder so as to be suitable for the soft ice cream production and an ice cream shake production. Also, an output signal from a shake adjustment volume 76 for setting and adjusting a cooling temperature suitable for it is also input and A / D converted.

Here, the supercooling sensor 40 will be described. If the mixture is not supplied near the end of the business but sold only with the mix in the freezing cylinder, the mix in the cooling cylinder is gradually reduced. The cooling load (mix) decreases, and a supercooling condition occurs. Then, since the temperature of the evaporator drops to a predetermined temperature, the supercooling sensor 40 performs a detection operation and controls so as to start defrosting.

If the mix is not added after defrosting, it is supercooled again, and has a safety protection function of stopping all operations if the number of times of supercooling is two. The current sensor 71 relating to the compressor follows the suction pressure of the compressor. That is, at the end of the heating cycle, heat exchange in the cooling cylinder is reduced, returning as high temperature and high pressure gas, and the compressor is overloaded. Upon detecting this increase in the current value, the reverse valve 36 is closed,
Adjust the flow rate of the circulating refrigerant to reduce the load.

Further, the reverse valve 36 is connected to the sterilization cool sensor 3
8 is a predetermined temperature value (60 ° C.)
Is released when is detected. This control is the gist of the present invention. The current sensor 72 related to the beater motor
Detects the beater motor current that changes in the hardness state of the mix due to cooling, and if it becomes too hard to cool, only stops cooling and continues stirring, and operates to stop stirring when the frozen dessert reaches the set temperature. And the function of reducing the load when the beater motor is restarted. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 77 executes a process according to the converted digital signal from the AD converter 74.

On the other hand, the CPU 77 receives, via a buffer 78, a mix out signal, a water cutoff signal, a compressor overload signal, a beater motor overload signal, a Class A frozen dessert extraction signal, and a Class B frozen dessert extraction signal, respectively, as a mix level sensor (electrode). 7, an out-of-mix detection circuit 79, a water cutoff switch 80, a compressor overload relay (OLR) switch 81, a beater motor overload relay (OLR) switch 82, an extraction SW ₁ 83, and an extraction SW ₂ 84. Further, a power supply frequency signal is input to the buffer 78 via the power supply frequency detection circuit 85 and a key input from each operation switch of the operation panel 50 is input to the CPU 77.

Accordingly, the CPU 77 executes a process according to the digital signal from the A / D converter 74 and the signal from the buffer 78, and outputs a device drive stop command, a display signal, and the like. That is, regarding the device start / stop command, the buffer 8
6 outputs a control command from the CPU 77 via the relay RY.
_{1, RY 2, RY 3,} RY 4, RY 5, RY 6, RY 7, R
Activate Y ₈ and RY ₉ and operate their operating contacts RY ₁ , RY ₂ , RY
₃ , RY ₄ , RY ₅ , RY ₆ , RY ₇ , RY ₈ , RY ₉ , as shown in FIG. 7, the compressor motor CM18M, the beater motor BM12, the mix stirring motor KM6, the cooling cylinder valve F. S24, cooling hopper valve F.S. H26,
Hot gas cylinder valve H. S34, hot gas hopper valve F. H35, the four-way valve QV19, and the reverse valve RV36 are drive-controlled.

The status of sterilization, out of mix, abnormal alarm of the apparatus, etc. are illuminated or flashed on the display LED 87, and the contents of the abnormality are indicated on the 7-segment display 6.
1 is displayed. Further, information processed and executed by the CPU 77 is mutually communicated with the other substrate 70B, that is, the system controller of the type B frozen dessert via the transmission line 88.

As described above, the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment has the apparatus configuration and the control circuit configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, and the actual state of operation thereof will be described in detail below. (I) Cooling operation or energy-saving cooling operation (I) -1 Normal cooling operation By pressing the cooling operation switch 53, the normal refrigeration cycle, that is, the cooling cylinder 8 is detected by the cylinder sensor 3
1, lower limit temperature (set value), upper limit temperature (set value + 1.
The compressor 18, the cooling cylinder valve 24, the cooling hopper valve 26, and the beater motor 12 are turned on so that the hopper 2 is cooled in the temperature range of + 8 ° C. to + 10 ° C. by the hopper sensor 32. OFF
Control. In this way, soft ice cream is produced in the cooling cylinder 8 and extracted each time it is sold.

() -2 Correction operation of cooling control when cooling is insufficient In this cooling operation (sales state), the lower limit set point temperature is too low and cooling is continued, and even if a predetermined limit time (30 minutes) elapses, the lower limit is reached. If the temperature is not cooled to the set value, the set temperature is slightly shifted up, the cooling temperature is set as the new set temperature and the cooling operation is controlled. (0
° C) to prevent soft ice cream from deteriorating due to overcooling.
To reduce the load and operation rate of the vehicle and protect it.

(I) -3 Energy-Saving Cooling Operation When the user operates the energy-saving operation switch 54 during nighttime business hours or other distant hours, the set temperature is shifted up from the normal refrigeration cycle. Cooling operation control based on the set temperature value is performed (energy saving cooling operation).

() -4 Cooling operation at the beginning of sales After heat sterilization at the end of business on the previous day,
Until a certain number (40) of soft cream is sold, the set temperature is shifted down (set value -0.2 ° C.) and cooling control is performed. As a result, the mix that has been kept at a cool temperature after heat sterilization is cooled to a temperature lower than that of a fresh mix, and a good soft ice cream without settling can be taken out from the beginning of sales.

(II) Sterilization / Cooling Operation (II) -1 Sterilization Operation When the sterilization switch 52 is pressed, the operation is started under the condition that the mix does not run out. Is supplied to the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 to be sterilized by heating. Both the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are sterilized, and the compressor 18 and the hot gas cylinder valve 3 are operated by the operation of the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 and the hopper sensor 32 so as to satisfy the total heating time of about 40 minutes in the heating temperature range of + 70 ° C. to + 72 ° C.
4. ON / OFF control of the hot gas hopper valve 35 is performed.

The process of heat sterilization is indicated by sterilization 0 to 4 LEDs, 0 LED blinks at the start, and 1 LED blinks when the temperature of the cooling cylinder 8 reaches + 72 ° C.
The 0 LED switches from blinking to lighting. While the heating time of + 70 ° C or more lasts for 13 minutes, the blinking of 1 LED is continued.
After the elapse of one minute, one LED is switched on and the second LED starts blinking. 3LEDs and 4LEDs blink every 13 minutes, and about 40 minutes when 4LEDs blink (actually 13 minutes ×
(3 = 39 minutes), the sterilization operation is completed, and the operation shifts to the cool keeping operation. That is, the blinking of the four LEDs indicates that the cooling operation has started.

(II) -2 Cold preservation operation In the cold preservation operation following the sterilization operation, a predetermined time (90
Minutes), under the condition that the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature (+13 degrees),
The cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are kept cool in a temperature range of + 8 ° C. to + 10 ° C. so that the sterilizing / cooling sensor 38 and the hopper sensor 32 are connected to the compressor motor 18M,
Turn on cooling cylinder valve 24 and cooling hopper valve 26, OF
Perform F control.

(III) Cleaning Operation When the store is closed, the cleaning switch 56 is pressed to operate.
The beater motor 12 is turned on for a predetermined time, and the takeout lever is opened to collect (discharge) the mix. After the collection, water is supplied to the hopper 2 and the cooling cylinder 8 with a water tap 46, and the beater 10 performs stirring and washing.

(IV) Defrosting (mix softening) operation (IV) -1 Defrosting at the time of recovering the mix In order to facilitate the recovery of the mix during the washing operation, the cooling cylinder 8 is heated to a predetermined temperature (+ 5 ° C.) with hot gas. Warm,
Soften the mix. It operates by pressing the defrost switch 55, and the heating control is performed by the sterilization / cooling sensor 3
8 is performed by ON / OFF control of the hot gas cylinder valve.

(IV) -2 Defrosting During Cooling (Energy Saving) Operation During the cooling operation, the defrost switch 55 is pressed to operate, and the cooling cylinder 8 is heated by hot gas to bring the mix to a predetermined temperature (+ 0 ° C.). The temperature is raised, and then the cooling operation is continued, and the mix is cooled again to the set temperature. Similarly, in the heating control, the sterilizing / cooling sensor 38 controls ON and OFF of the hot gas cylinder valve 34.

In addition to the above operation, there is a required protective operation. (V) Protection operation of the four-way valve Four-way valve 19 relating to switching of the cooling cycle ← → the heating cycle
Immediately after the switching, the cooling cylinder valve 24, the cooling hopper valve 26, and the H.R. G cylinder valve 34,
H. The G hopper valve 35 is opened.

(V) Overcurrent protection of the beater motor When an overload condition is caused by the frozen dessert hardened by excessive cooling, the load condition is determined by the current sensor 72 detecting the current value of the beater motor. When the current value exceeds the set value of 4.8 A, only the cooling is stopped (compressor motor (18M) is OFF) and the stirring operation is continued . When the stirring resistance of the frozen dessert in the cooling cylinder 8 decreases and becomes less than the set value of 4.2 A, re-cooling (the compressor motor (18M) is turned on, and the cylinder sensor 31 reaches the set temperature or the set time from the start of cooling. Is continued until the time elapses, thereby avoiding the disadvantage that the beater motor falls into an overload condition.

(V) Protection of compressor operation during heat sterilization (control of reverse valve) The present invention is characterized by operation control in this case.
As the heating load decreases in the latter stage of heating, the amount of gas suctioned into the compressor is adjusted (reduced) by the reverse valve 36 to reduce the operating load of the compressor. Therefore, the compressor motor current is detected by the current sensor 71, the reverse valve 36 is turned off at a predetermined value of 5.3A or more, and the reverse valve 36 is turned on at a predetermined value of 3.5A or less.

The reverse valve 36 is also controlled to be opened and closed by the mix temperature detected by the mix temperature detection sensor, so that the temperature rising operation in a cold region can be achieved as in a normal temperature region. Will be described later.

The above operations (I) to (VII) are described in FIG.
The overall processing operation is performed in accordance with the main flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9. 10 and 11 show a flowchart of the sterilization operation, FIGS. 12 and 13 show a flowchart of the cool-keeping operation, and FIG. 14 shows a time chart of the equipment related to both operations.

The flowchart of the cooling / energy-saving operation, the flowchart of the cleaning operation, the flowchart of the defrost operation for softening regeneration, and the flowcharts relating to the protection during operation of the four-way valve and the overcurrent protection of the beater motor are directly described. The details are omitted because they are not related to the present invention.

First, the operation will be described with reference to the main flowcharts shown in FIGS. It is determined whether or not the stop switch 57 has been pressed (101). If YES, all operation flags are set and all operations are stopped (102). If NO, it is determined whether the operation switch 53 or the energy saving switch 54 has been pressed (103). If YES, the sterilization operation flag is viewed (104), and the sterilization operation flag is reset to N.
If O, the operation / energy saving operation flag is set, and the other operation flags are reset (105).

If the sterilization operation flag is set and the sterilization operation is being performed, the operation / energy saving operation flag is not set.
If the judgment (103) is NO, the sterilization switch 5
It is determined whether or not 1 has been pressed (106). If YES, it is determined whether or not the mix has run out (107). If NO, the mix has not run out, the sterilization operation flag is set, and the other operation flags are reset. (108).

If YES, the sterilization preparation failure display is output (109), and the sterilization operation flag is not set. The display of the sterilization preparation failure is blinked on the abnormality alarm display lamp 59 and a code can be displayed on the 7-segment display 61. If the determination (106) is NO, it is determined whether the cleaning switch 56 has been pressed (11).
0), if YES, look at the sterilization operation flag (111),
If the sterilization operation flag is reset to NO, the cleaning operation flag is set, and the other operation flags are reset (11).
2).

If the sterilization operation flag is set and the sterilization operation is being performed, the cleaning operation flag is not set. Judgment (110)
If NO, it is determined whether the defrost switch 55 has been pressed (113), and if YES, the sterilization operation flag is checked (114). If the sterilization operation flag is NO, the cooling / energy saving operation flag or cleaning is performed. Looking at the operation flag (115), any one of the flags is set to Y
In the case of ES, the defrost operation flag is set (11
6).

Thus, each operation flag is set by operating each switch. Each operation is executed by the set flag. That is, the cooling / energy saving operation flag is checked (117), and when the flag is set, the cooling / energy saving operation is performed (118), and when the flag is reset, the cooling / energy saving operation is stopped. Looking at the sterilization operation flag (119),
When the flag is set, a sterilization operation is performed (120),
When reset, the sterilization operation stops.

Next, looking at the cleaning operation flag (123),
When the flag is set, the cleaning operation is performed (124), and when the flag is reset, the cleaning operation stops. The defrost operation flag is viewed (125). When the flag is set, the defrost operation is performed (126). When the flag is reset, the defrost operation stops. After execution of each operation, the protection operation of the four-way valve (127) and the overcurrent protection operation of the beater motor (12)
8), and execute the control operation (129) of the reverse valve.

The processing procedure of the sterilization operation is performed according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the operation timing of the related equipment at that time is as shown in FIG. During sterilization operation, execute beater motor 0N and four-way valve ON 3
Under 01, it is determined by the sterilization start timer whether or not two hours have elapsed since the start of sterilization. Here, this 2
Time means the mix may be altered by heating
There is a limit of 2 hours,
Is set. Usually, the limit is about 2 hours
Time. Against the limit time of 2 hours determined in this way
Then, after 2 hours has passed since the mix was heated,
In this case, a sterilization failure alarm is output (303), and after the elapse of two hours, the sterilization operation flag is reset, the cool operation flag is set (304), and the operation shifts to the cool operation. If NO in decision (302), H. It is determined whether the G cylinder valve 34 is ON (305) or not (306) and (307). The G cylinder valve 34 is turned off (308), and at 70 ° C. or lower, the valve is turned on.

And, H. When the G cylinder valve 34 is ON, the compressor motor 18M also turns ON. Next, H.
It is determined whether or not the G hopper valve 35 is ON (310). Turn off the G hopper valve (313), 7
When the temperature is 0 ° C. or lower, the valve is turned ON (314). And
H. When the G hopper valve 35 is ON, the compressor motor 18M also turns ON.

Using a sterilization step counter, the sterilization process is divided into five divisions of 0 to 4, and the progress of each is represented by a numeral. Therefore, at the start of heating, H.P. G cylinder valve 34 and H. The G hopper valve 35 is turned on to start heating. Initially, the sterilization step counter is not 4,
The determination (315) is NO, and the step counter 1
Has not been reached, the judgment (316) is NO, and the judgment (317) (318) results in H.264. G cylinder valve 34, H. G
As long as the hopper valve 35 is not turned off, that is, the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 and the hopper sensor 32
Until the temperature reaches 2 ° C., it is determined that the sterilization step counter is 0 (319), the sterilization 0 LED is flashed, and the sterilization 1-4 LEDs are turned off (320).

In other words, when the temperature reaches 72 ° C., the sterilization step counter counts up (321) and the sterilization step counter becomes 1. If the judgment (316) becomes YES, the sterilization / cooling sensor and the hopper sensor
It is determined whether it is 0 ° C. or more (322) (323),
When the temperature is mainly 70 ° C. or more, it is determined whether or not the duration has exceeded 13 minutes (324). If not, a sterilization timer is added (325), and the sterilization step counter is still 1. It is determined (326) that the sterilization is 0LE
D lighting, sterilization 1LED blinking, sterilization 2-4LED off 32
Continue to step 7.

Here, the sterilization timer (13-minute integration timer) has a sterilization / cooling sensor and a hopper sensor of 70 minutes.
When the temperature is higher than 70 ° C., the timer is integrated. When the temperature is lower than 70 ° C., the timer integration is stopped. If 13 minutes have elapsed in the judgment 324, the sterilization step counter is increased to 2 (32
8) Clear the sterilization timer (329). If it is determined that the sterilization step counter is 2 (330), sterilization 0, 1 LED lighting, sterilization 2 LED blinking, sterilization 3, 4 LED off (331).

Thereafter, judgment (332) and processing (3
33) By (334), step up every 13 minutes, and shift to blinking of sterilization 3LED and sterilization 4LED.
Therefore, when the sterilization step counter reaches 4, the sterilization process ends, which means that sterilization 0 to 3 LED: lighting, sterilization 4
It is displayed by LED blinking. When the self-sterilization process ends in the judgment (315), a process of setting a self-sterilization end flag and transferring the self-sterilization to another substrate 70B by communication is performed.

On the other hand, the heat sterilization process of the other cooling cylinder 8B and the hopper 2B is also performed. When the other sterilization process is completed, the sterilization completion flag is set from the other substrate 70B and sent by communication. . Therefore, it is determined whether or not the sterilization end flag from the other substrate has been sent (336). When the sterilization process of the own substrate and the sterilization process of the other substrate are completed and sent, the sterilization operation flag is set. A process (304) of setting the cool-keeping operation flag is performed. In this way, the sterilization operation is completed, and the operation becomes a cold preservation operation.

Here, processing (335), judgment (336),
The flow of the process (304) has the following advantages. That is, in the case of the two cooling cylinders 8A and 8B, the central take-out lever 15C has extraction paths 17C and 17C (see FIG. 3) communicating with the roughly released cylinders 8A and 8B. Therefore, when the operation and stop of the sterilization process of each of the cooling cylinders 8A and 8B are controlled independently, if one is under heat sterilization and the other is under cooling operation, the plunger 15 in the center cools the cooled mix on the cooling side. As a result, there is a possibility that a portion that does not reach the sterilization temperature on the heating side may be generated, resulting in poor sterilization. By communicating the sterilization process status of each other, it is confirmed that both sterilization processes have been completed, and the sterilization operation flag is reset for the first time, that is, both sterilization operations are stopped. hand,
Complete sterilization is possible.

The processing procedure of the cool keeping operation is performed according to the flowcharts of FIGS. It is determined whether the temperature is 13 ° C. or higher by the sterilization / cooling sensor or the hopper sensor (401) (402). If the temperature is 13 ° C. or higher, the security monitoring timer is activated. Is determined (403), and when the time elapses, a cold insulation failure display is output (404). After the sterilization process is completed, switching to the refrigeration cycle is performed and cooling (pull-down) is performed. If there is no abnormality in the cooling operation, it is considered that the temperature reaches 13 ° C. in about 90 minutes, and the presence or absence of cooling failure is determined. Therefore, within 90 minutes, the sterilization / cooling sensor and the hopper sensor reach 13 ℃.
When it becomes lower, the security monitoring timer is cleared (4
05).

Next, it is determined whether or not the cooling cylinder valve is ON (406).
When the temperature of the cold insulation sensor is 10 ° C. or higher, the cooling cylinder valve and the beater motor are turned on (409) (410). When the temperature is lower than 8 ° C., the cooling cylinder valve and the beater motor are turned off (411) and (412). When the cooling cylinder valve is ON, the compressor motor also turns ON. That is, ON / OFF control of the cooling cylinder valve is performed. Subsequently, it is determined whether the cooling hopper valve is ON (413), and the hopper sensor is set to 1 by the determinations (414) and (415).
When the temperature is 0 ° C. or higher, the cooling hopper valve is turned on (41
6).

When the temperature is lower than 8 ° C., it is turned off (41).
7). When the cooling hopper valve is ON, the compressor motor also turns ON. That is, the cooling hopper valve is turned on.
/ OFF control. Next, in judgment (418), it is determined whether or not the self-substrate cooling end flag is set, and judgment (419) (4)
In step 20), when the cooling cylinder valve is turned off and the self-sterilization end flag is set, the self-substrate cooling flag is set.

When the self-substrate cool-off end flag is set, processing (421) of transferring to the other substrate by communication is performed. Then, in the judgment (422), it is checked whether or not the cool-keeping end flag is sent from the other board 70B by communication, and if sent from the other board 70B, the post-sterilization flag is set (423). Turn on LEDs 0-4 (42
4). Accordingly, the flow starting from the judgment 418 is the same as the communication method relating to the sterilization termination determination described above, and is an operation flow relating to the cold insulation termination determination and the mutual communication.

The control operation of the reverse valve 36 according to the present invention is performed according to the float of FIG. Then, the mix temperature detecting sensor detects the temperature of the mix, and in a case where the mix does not reach the specified sterilization temperature (for example, 72 ° C.) and changes at a lower temperature, the reverse valve 36 is turned off.
The detected temperature of the mix to be F, that is, the predetermined operating temperature is 60 ° C. First, a description will be given of the control operation under normal conditions (normal temperature area) where the outside air temperature is not low and the water temperature is not low.

It is confirmed in the judgment 901 that the heating cycle is performed. If confirmed (Y in decision 901), there is initially no compressor motor overcurrent flag, so decision 902 is N and the mix temperature is below 60 ° C., decision 9
03 is also N. Accordingly, the flow shifts to the determination of the presence / absence of the compressor motor overcurrent flag in the determination 904, and when the compressor motor current is 5.3A or more in the determinations (905) and (906), the overcurrent flag is set (processing 90).
7), the reverse valve 36 is turned off (process 908).

Although the compressor was adversely affected by the input of high-temperature gas to the compressor at the end of the heat sterilization process, the amount of refrigerant circulated is reduced stepwise by closing the reverse valve to protect the compressor. it can. On the other hand, the control operation when the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus is operated under conditions of low outside air temperature and low water temperature such as in a cold region is as follows.

At decision 901 it is confirmed that the cycle is a heating cycle. The situation where the overcurrent of the compressor motor where the heating is performed does not exceed 5.3 A continues, and the heating temperature of the mix is below the specified temperature. Therefore,
In the judgment 903, the heating temperature of the mix is continuously monitored by the mix temperature detection sensor, and when the temperature of the mix becomes 60 ° C. or more (Y in the judgment 903), the compressor motor overcurrent flag is set (processing 907). Then, the reverse valve 36 is turned off (process 909). When the reverse valve 36 is turned off, the temperature of the gas discharged from the compressor 18 increases, and the cooling cylinder 8 is heated so that the temperature reaches the specified mix sterilization temperature.

The compressor overcurrent flag is set (Y in decision 902). Thereafter, as long as the mix temperature does not fall below 58 degrees in decision 911, the reverse valve 36 is kept OFF and the heat sterilization is continued. When the temperature of the mix is detected to be 58 ° C. or lower (Y in decision 911), the reverse valve 3 based on the compressor motor current is used.
Move to the opening / closing control of No. 6. That is, judgment 904, judgment 9
05, the judgment 906, when the compressor motor current is 5.3A or more and the reverse valve 36 is closed and is 3.5A or less, the same control as the operation under normal temperature, in which the reverse valve 36 is opened, is performed.

Thus, even at low outside air temperature and low water temperature, heat sterilization of the apparatus and the mix can be smoothly performed without prolonging the heating time. In addition, after the mix temperature reaches a predetermined temperature that is set somewhat lower than the specified sterilization temperature, a gas with a moderately high discharge temperature is circulated and supplied, and heating with little temperature fluctuation is performed, so that the load on the compressor is reduced. Frequent fluctuations can be prevented, and the compressor can be protected.

[0081]

As described above, according to the present invention, a compressor motor current detecting means for detecting a compressor motor current that fluctuates in accordance with a suction gas pressure to the compressor during a heating cycle, and a parallel arrangement provided in a pre-stage circuit of the compressor. A pressure reducing means and a reverse valve are provided, and the reverse valve is controlled to open and close by the compressor motor current detecting means.In the initial stage of heating, the reverse valve is opened to allow more refrigerant gas to flow and to perform effective heating. On the other hand, during the latter half of the heating, it can be closed properly to reduce the amount of refrigerant gas and reduce the operation load of the compressor.

As a result, high temperature gas returns to the compressor at the end of heat sterilization, which is a phenomenon of normal use (below normal temperature), and a high-load operation can be prevented, thereby preventing the compressor from being damaged. In addition, when using in cold climates, sufficient discharge gas temperature is not obtained and the temperature rise is delayed, and the discharge temperature drops later in the later stage of heating. At
Detects that the mix temperature has exceeded the specified temperature
If this happens, close the reverse valve and let the compressor
So that a large amount of refrigerant does not return and does not burden
As well as increasing the temperature of the discharged gas for effective mixing
Perform heating and open the reverse valve if the temperature is below the set temperature.
Reverse valve control means for heating the cooling cylinder
Can be solved by additionally providing. This allows
It is possible to provide a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus that can end heating in a short heating process that is the same as that at the time of normal outside air temperature, and that can perform accurate heating control without impairing the flavor of the mix and without damaging the compressor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the internal configuration of a soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a heat medium piping path configuration at the time of cooling and heat sterilization according to the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus of the present invention configured with two cooling cylinders and a hopper.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a display operation panel arranged in front of a soft ice cream manufacturing device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another display operation panel disposed inside the front panel behind the manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a control circuit configuration diagram showing one system unit of a control unit of the soft ice cream manufacturing device of FIG. 1;

7 is an operation circuit diagram of each drive component to be drive-controlled by the control unit shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart at the preceding stage of the main flowchart showing the overall processing operation by the control unit;

FIG. 9 is a follow chart in a latter part of a main flowchart showing an entire processing operation by the control unit;

FIG. 10 is a first-stage flowchart showing a processing operation relating to a sterilization operation;

FIG. 11 is a subsequent flowchart showing a processing operation related to the sterilization operation;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a first stage showing a processing operation related to a cold preservation operation;

FIG. 13 is a subsequent flowchart showing a processing operation related to the cold keeping operation;

FIG. 14 is a time chart related to a sterilization / cooling operation;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing operation relating to a control operation of the reverse valve, which is the gist of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Hopper 8 Cooling cylinder 18 Compressor 34 Hot gas (HG) cylinder valve 35 Hot gas (HG) hot gas valve 36 Reverse valve 38 Sterilization / cooling sensor (mix temperature detection sensor)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A23G 9/00-9/30 F25B 29/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hopper that stores and cools the mix, a cooling cylinder that cools and agitates the mix appropriately supplied from the hopper, a cooling cycle circuit that cools the hopper and the cooling cylinder for producing frozen desserts, and a heating cycle for sterilization. A heating cycle circuit for heating, in a frozen confectionery manufacturing device including a refrigerating device that can be configured by switching a flow direction of a refrigerant, a compressor motor current detection unit that detects a compressor motor current during a heating cycle,
A mix temperature detection sensor for detecting a mix temperature during a heating cycle, a reverse valve interposed in parallel with a pressure reducing means in a preceding circuit in which refrigerant during the heating cycle returns to the compressor, and the reverse valve during the heating cycle. Controlling the opening and closing by the motor current detecting means, and when the temperature detected by the mix temperature detection sensor is higher than a predetermined set temperature when changing at a mix temperature lower than a prescribed sterilization temperature , the reverse valve is turned on.
Close the river when the temperature is below the set temperature.
And a reverse valve opening / closing control means operable to open the cooling valve.