JP3883748B2 - Frozen confectionery manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frozen confection manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a frozen confection such as soft ice cream.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As this type of apparatus, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-20304, a cooling device comprising a compressor, a condenser, a throttle, and a cooling device equipped with a cooling cylinder and a hopper (mix tank) is provided. The refrigeration cycle is reversible with a four-way valve, and when producing frozen desserts, liquefied refrigerant is allowed to flow through the cooler to cool the cooling cylinder and hopper. There is one that guides and dissipates heat and heats the cooling cylinder and hopper by causing the cooler to act as a radiator.
[0003]
A beater driven by a beater motor is mounted in the cooling cylinder, and the mix in the cooling cylinder is stirred by the beater while being cooled by the cooler to produce a frozen dessert such as soft cream.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this case, the cooling cylinder is provided with a cylinder sensor for detecting the temperature of the mix, and the cooling of the cooling cylinder is stopped when the temperature of the mix detected by the cylinder sensor reaches a predetermined temperature drop rate (the cylinder cooling valve). However, when the outside air temperature is high in the environment where the frozen dessert manufacturing equipment is installed, the cooling is poor and the temperature inside the cooling cylinder is reached despite the fact that the temperature has reached the specified temperature drop rate. There has been a problem that the hardness of the mix cannot be increased to a level that is satisfactory as a product.
[0005]
The present invention was made to solve the conventional technical problems, and provides a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus capable of accurately detecting and alarming abnormalities such as poor cooling of the mix in the cooling cylinder. Is.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the present invention includes a hopper for storing and keeping the mix, a cooling cylinder for cooling the mix appropriately supplied from the hopper, a cooling device for cooling the hopper and the cooling cylinder, and stirring the mix in the cooling cylinder. A beater motor, a beater motor that drives the beater, a cylinder sensor that detects the temperature of the mix in the cooling cylinder, a current sensor that detects an energization current of the beater motor, an alarm means, and a control means. Based on the output of the cylinder sensor and current sensor, when stopping cooling of the cooling cylinder based on the predetermined temperature drop speed of the mix in the cooling cylinder, the energizing current of the beater motor is not increased to the predetermined set value. The alarm means is operated.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means stops the cooling of the cooling cylinder when there is a predetermined temperature drop within a predetermined time of the mix in the cooling cylinder based on the output of the cylinder sensor. In addition, setting means for setting a plurality of temperature differences in the temperature drop of the mix is provided, and if the energizing current of the beater motor does not rise to the set value in a setting with a large temperature difference, the temperature drop is set as a setting with a smaller temperature difference. The judgment and the current value judgment are executed again, and when the energizing current of the beater motor is not increased to the set value at the setting with the smallest temperature difference, the alarm means is operated to stop the cooling of the cooling cylinder. .
[0008]
According to the present invention, a hopper that stores and keeps the mix, a cooling cylinder that cools the mix appropriately supplied from the hopper, a cooling device that cools the hopper and the cooling cylinder, and a beater that stirs the mix in the cooling cylinder. A beater motor that drives the beater, a cylinder sensor that detects the temperature of the mix in the cooling cylinder, a current sensor that detects an energization current of the beater motor, an alarm means and a control means, and the control means includes a cylinder sensor Based on the output of the current sensor and the output of the current sensor, when the cooling cylinder cooling is stopped based on the predetermined temperature drop rate of the mix in the cooling cylinder, if the energizing current of the beater motor has not increased to the predetermined set value, an alarm means So that the cooling cylinder cooling should be stopped for a predetermined time of the mix Despite there is a predetermined temperature drop in, that the hardness of the mix in the cooling cylinder does not rise detected by current supplied Bitamota, it is possible to issue a warning.
[0009]
Accordingly, it is possible to accurately notify the user that the hardness of the mix in the cooling cylinder does not increase due to poor cooling that occurs when the outside air temperature is high. Also, abnormalities such as abnormal freezing of the mix in the cooling cylinder and slippage with the inner wall of the cooling cylinder, or an insufficient mix in the cooling cylinder can be detected.
[0010]
In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, attention is paid to the fact that the temperature drop of the mix at a predetermined time decreases as the mix is cooled to approach the freezing point temperature unique to the mix and approaches the freezing point temperature. Since the cooling of the cooling cylinder is stopped when the temperature drop of the inner mix decreases to a predetermined temperature, the hardness control of the frozen dessert according to the type of the mix can be realized.
[0011]
A setting means for setting a plurality of temperature differences of the temperature drop of the mix is provided, and if the energizing current of the beater motor is not increased to the set value in the setting with a large temperature difference, the temperature drop is set as a setting with a smaller temperature difference. And the current value are determined again, and when the current flowing through the beater motor does not rise to the set value in the setting with the smallest temperature difference, the alarm means is activated to stop the cooling of the cooling cylinder. This makes it possible to more accurately detect abnormalities such as poor cooling of the mix and prevent unnecessary alarms from occurring.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of a soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus SM as an embodiment of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus SM, and FIG. 3 is the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus 2 shows a block diagram of the SM control device C. FIG. The soft cream manufacturing apparatus SM of the embodiment is a tabletop apparatus that manufactures and sells one type of soft cream, for example, vanilla soft cream or chocolate soft cream.
[0013]
In each figure, 1 is a main body, 2 is a raw material for frozen confectionery (soft cream), a hopper for storing a so-called mix, and has a hopper cover 3 that is removed when the mix is replenished, and a hopper cooling coil wound around the hopper 2 (Hopper cooler) 4 keeps the mix cold. The hopper stirrer 5 provided in the inner bottom portion is also a stirrer when a predetermined amount or more of the mix is put in the hopper 2 and is sterilized by heating with the refrigerant gas flowing in the hopper cooling coil 4 opposite to the cooling time, that is, hot gas. The motor 6 is rotationally driven.
[0014]
7 is a mix detection device that detects whether or not the hopper 2 has a predetermined amount or more of the mix. The mix detection device 7 includes a pair of conductive electrodes. The hot gas circulation is stopped and the hopper stirrer 5 is not rotated so as not to perform the heat sterilization process described later.
[0015]
Reference numeral 8 denotes a cooling cylinder for producing a frozen dessert by rotating and stirring the mix appropriately supplied from the hopper 2 by the mix feeder 9 using the beater 10, and a cylinder cooler 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 manufactured frozen confectionery (soft cream) is taken out by operating the take-out lever 15 disposed on the freezer door 14 so that the plunger 16 moves up and down to open an extraction path (not shown).
[0016]
Next, a cooling device for cooling the hopper 2 and the cooling cylinder 8 will be described. 18 is a compressor, 19 is a four-way valve for switching the direction of flow of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 18 during the cooling cycle (solid line state in FIG. 2) and during the heating cycle (dotted line state in FIG. 2), and 20 is a condensing fan. 17 is a condenser cooled by air, and condenses and liquefies the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas flowing in through the check valve 21 to obtain a liquefied refrigerant.
[0017]
The liquefied refrigerant is divided into two parts through a dryer 23 and a check valve 22, and one of them flows into the cylinder cooler 11 through a cylinder cooling valve 24 and a cooling cylinder capillary tube 25, where it evaporates and evaporates the cooling cylinder 8. Cooling. Then, the other flows into the hopper cooling coil 4 through the hopper cooling 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 capillary tube 28 in the subsequent stage. Go.
[0018]
The refrigerant gas after cooling the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 joins in the accumulator 30 and then forms a cooling cycle that returns to the compressor 18 through the four-way valve 19 and the accumulator 39, and the refrigerant flows in the direction of the solid line. A cooling operation is performed.
[0019]
By the way, in this cooling operation, it is necessary to keep the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 cooled to a predetermined temperature in order to obtain a high-quality frozen dessert. Therefore, a cylinder sensor 31 (FIG. 3) for detecting the temperature of the cooling cylinder 8 is provided. The cylinder sensor 31 turns on (opens) the cylinder cooling valve 24 and turns on the compressor 18 by equilibrium temperature control as described in detail later. When the cylinder cooling valve 24 is OFF (closed), the hopper cooling valve 26 is opened / closed and the compressor 18 is turned ON / OFF. That is, the cooling of the cooling cylinder 8 is prioritized and the hopper cooling valve 26 is turned on under the condition that the cylinder cooling valve 24 is turned off.
[0020]
After the sale is made under the above-described cooling operation, the mix is sterilized by the heating method when the store is closed. In this case, the cooling device is switched from the cooling cycle to the heating cycle operation. That is, the four-way valve 19 is operated to cause the refrigerant to flow as indicated by a dotted arrow. Then, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor 18, that is, the hot gas, is divided into two hands through the four-way valve 19 and the accumulator 30, one directly to the cylinder cooler 11 and the other to the hopper via the check valve 33. It flows into the coil 4 and generates a heat dissipation action in each of them, and the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are heated for a predetermined time at a specified sterilization temperature.
[0021]
The liquefied refrigerant after heat dissipation merges via the cylinder hot gas valve 34 and the hopper hot gas valve 35, respectively, and is separated into gas and liquid by the capacitor 20 via the check valve 40. The refrigerant gas is a reverse solenoid valve 36 provided in parallel. Then, a heating cycle is formed that passes through the reverse capillary tube 37, passes through the four-way valve 19 and the accumulator 39, and returns to the compressor 18. 38 is a sterilization / cooling sensor for detecting the heating temperature of the cooling cylinder 8, and the cylinder hot gas valve 34 is set at upper and lower set temperature values in a predetermined range so that a prescribed sterilization temperature is maintained for the mix. And the compressor 18 is turned on and off.
[0022]
Further, the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 measures the heating temperature of the cooling cylinder 8. Since it can be determined that the measured temperature is substantially close to the heating temperature of the mix, the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 is used as the mix temperature detection sensor. Can also be used as It is also possible to perform opening / closing control of the reverse solenoid valve 36 using the mix temperature information detected by the sterilization / cooling sensor 38.
[0023]
In addition, the hopper 2 is heated by a hopper sensor 32 that detects the temperature of the hopper 2, and the hopper hot gas valve 35 and the compressor 18 are turned on and off at the same set temperature value set in the cooling cylinder 8. It is like that. Further, the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 shifts to cooling after heat sterilization, and the compressor 18 is turned on / off so as to maintain a certain low temperature state until the next day's sales point, that is, at a cool temperature (about + 8 ° C. to + 10 ° C.). Control and ON / OFF control of the cylinder cooling valve 24 and the hopper cooling valve 26 are performed.
[0024]
In this case, a bypass circuit 42 is connected in parallel to the capacitor 20, and a check valve 41 is connected to the bypass circuit 42. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the bypass circuit 42 is vertically installed on the side surface of the capacitor 20 across the inlet / outlet piping, and the check valve 41 is forward in the forward direction (FIG. 4 shows the capacitor 20). Side view).
[0025]
In this figure, 20A is a pipe connected to the reverse solenoid valve 36 or the like (compressor 18 side), and 20B is a pipe connected to the check valve 40 or the like (cylinder cooler 11 side). The flow passage area in the check valve 41 is set to be narrower than the piping of the capacitor 20.
[0026]
Here, during the heating cycle, the refrigerant liquefied by the cylinder cooler 11 and the hopper cooling coil 4 flows into the capacitor 20 as described above. The pipe 20 </ b> A on the compressor 18 side is disposed above the condenser 20 in order to cause the condenser 20 to act as a gas-liquid separator and prevent the refrigerant 18 from being sucked into the compressor 18.
[0027]
However, in particular, since the capacitor 20 is an air cooling system, a large amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the capacitor 20 flows out of the pipe 20A together with the gas in the second half of the heating cycle. The bypass circuit 42 is installed for this purpose and serves to bypass the condenser 20 during the heating cycle and return the gas to the compressor 18 via the check valve 41 to prevent so-called liquid back.
[0028]
On the other hand, if only the gas is returned by the bypass circuit 42, the discharge temperature of the compressor 18 is abnormally increased and an overload state occurs, so that the flow passage area in the check valve 41 is reduced as described above. It is set to be narrower than the piping, and consideration is given to bringing back a small amount of liquid refrigerant (mist) in the capacitor 20 due to the pressure difference.
[0029]
As described above, the reverse solenoid valve 36 is controlled to open and close at the mix detection temperature of the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 in order to suppress the high load operation of the compressor 18. Further, 44 is an electrical box, and 45 is a front drain receptacle (shown in an exploded view). Furthermore, 55 is a water tap, which is used to supply water to the hopper 2 and the cooling cylinder 8 during the mix cleaning. Furthermore, reference numeral 43 denotes a bypass valve, which also serves to prevent overload of the compressor 18.
[0030]
In FIG. 3, the control device C is configured on a substrate housed in the electrical box 44 and is designed around a general-purpose microcomputer 46. The microcomputer 46 includes the cylinder sensor 31 and the hopper sensor 32. The output of the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 is input, and the output of the microcomputer 46 includes the compressor motor 18M of the compressor 18, the beater motor 12, the stirrer motor 6, the cylinder cooling valve 24, the cylinder hot gas valve 34, and the hopper cooling valve. 26, a hopper hot gas valve 35, a four-way valve 19, a reverse solenoid valve 36, a bypass valve 43, and a condensing fan 17 are connected.
[0031]
In this figure, 47 is a current sensor (CT) for detecting the energizing current of the compressor motor 18M, 48 is a current sensor (CT) for detecting the energizing current of the beater motor 12, and any output is input to the microcomputer 46. ing. An extraction switch 51 is opened and closed by operating the take-out lever 15, and its contact output is input to the microcomputer 46.
[0032]
49 is a cooling setting volume for adjusting the cooling setting of the frozen dessert in three stages of “1” (weak), “2” (medium), and “3” (strong), and 53 is a threshold value of the beater motor current ( This is a threshold setting volume for arbitrarily setting (setting value) in the range of 2.3 A to 3.3 A, for example, and any output is input to the microcomputer 46. Reference numeral 52 denotes a key input circuit including various switches for instructing the microcomputer 46 to perform various operations. The cooling setting volume 49 and the key input circuit 52 are disposed on an operation panel (not shown) of the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus SM. The threshold setting volume 53 is attached to the substrate of the control device C.
[0033]
Furthermore, an LED display 54 for performing various display operations such as an alarm is connected to the output of the microcomputer 46.
[0034]
With the above configuration, the operation of the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus SM will be described with reference to FIGS. When the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus SM of the embodiment is started, as shown in the timing charts of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, cooling operation (cooling process, defrost process), sterilization / cooling operation (sterilization temperature increasing process, sterilization process) Each operation of a holding process, a cold insulation pull-down process, and a cold insulation holding process) is performed. FIG. 9 shows details of the cooling process of FIG. In addition, the setting of the cooling setting volume 49 is set to “1” for the cooling setting of the frozen dessert.
[0035]
First, the cooling operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the cooling operation switch provided in the key input circuit 52 is operated, after resetting everything, the microcomputer 46 sets the cooling flag in step S1 of FIG. 5 or resets it to “0”. Judge whether it has been.
[0036]
If it is assumed that the cooling flag is reset at the start of operation (pull-down), whether or not the current mix temperature in the cooling cylinder 8 is equal to or higher than the cooling end temperature +0.5 degrees based on the output of the cylinder sensor 31 in step S2. Judge. If the temperature of the mix is high, the process proceeds to step S3, the measurement timer (which the microcomputer 46 has as its function) is cleared, the current mix temperature is set to the temperature before t seconds in step S4, and step S5. In step S6, the cooling flag is set and the cooling operation is executed.
[0037]
In this cooling operation, the microcomputer 46 executes the equilibrium temperature control described below. That is, the microcomputer 46 operates the compressor 18 (compressor motor 18M), and the four-way valve 19 is set to the cooling cycle (non-energized). Then, the cylinder cooling valve 24 is turned on (opened), the hopper cooling valve 26 is turned off (closed), and the cylinder hot gas valve 34 and the hopper hot gas valve are turned off. Further, the beater 10 is rotated by the beater motor 12.
[0038]
Thereby, the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 is cooled by the cylinder cooler 11 and stirred by the beater 10 as described above. Here, as described above, even if the cooling setting of the cooling setting volume 49 is set to “1”, the microcomputer 46 is forcibly set to “3” during the pull-down. In the cooling setting “3”, t seconds is 40 seconds, T ° C. (described later) is 0.1 ° C., and in the cooling setting “2”, t seconds is 20 seconds, T ° C. is 0.1 ° C., and cooling setting “1”. In this case, t seconds is 20 seconds and T ° C. is 0.2 ° C.
[0039]
Next, the microcomputer 46 proceeds from step S1 to step S7, determines whether or not the measurement timer is measuring, and if not measuring, starts measurement in step S8. Next, in step S9, it is determined whether the count of the measurement timer has elapsed t seconds. If not, the process returns. When t seconds (in this case, 40 seconds) have elapsed from the start of counting by the measurement timer, the microcomputer 46 determines that the difference between the current mix temperature and the temperature before t seconds is T ° C (step S10) based on the output of the cylinder sensor 31. In this case, it is determined whether or not the temperature is 0.1 ° C. or less. If not, the process returns to step S3 to clear the measurement timer and execute steps S4 to S6.
[0040]
Thereafter, this is repeated to cool the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 while stirring. Here, the temperature of the mix decreases with the progress of cooling, and the temperature drop gradually slows as it approaches the freezing point unique to the mix. When the temperature drop during 40 seconds (t seconds) (difference between the current mix temperature and the temperature before t seconds) becomes 0.1 ° C. (T ° C.) or less, the process proceeds from step S10 to step S11.
[0041]
In step S <b> 11, the microcomputer 46 determines whether the energization current of the beater motor 12 is equal to or greater than the threshold based on the output of the current sensor 48. The mix cooled while being stirred in the cooling cylinder 8 has a predetermined hardness when it becomes a frozen confection for sale. And since the load of the beater 10 which is stirring frozen confectionery (soft cream) with this hardness increases, the energization current of the beater motor 12 increases.
[0042]
This threshold value is appropriately set according to the type of mix. That is, the threshold value may be set low for a mix that is a relatively soft product, and the threshold value may be set high for a mix that is a relatively hard product. If it is assumed that the energizing current of the beater motor 12 has exceeded the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S15.
[0043]
In step S15, the current mix temperature is set to the cooling end temperature (OFF point temperature), the cooling flag is reset in step S16, and cooling is stopped in step S17.
[0044]
That is, in this cooling stop, the microcomputer 46 turns off the cylinder cooling valve 24 and turns on the hopper cooling valve 26 instead. Thereby, the cooling of the cooling cylinder 8 is stopped, and the hopper 2 is now cooled by turning on the hopper cooling valve 26. Since the pull-down is completed, the microcomputer 46 returns the cooling setting to “1” set by the volume 49.
[0045]
Then, the microcomputer 46 returns to step S1, but since the cooling flag is reset here, the microcomputer 46 now proceeds to step S2, and based on the output of the cylinder sensor 31, the current mix temperature is set to the cooling end temperature (OFF). It is determined whether or not the temperature has risen to (point temperature) + 0.5 ° C or higher. If not, the process proceeds to step S16, and thereafter this is repeated. The microcomputer 46 turns off the hopper cooling valve 26 and stops the compressor 18 in this case when the temperature of the hopper 2 is also cooled below a predetermined temperature based on the output of the hopper sensor 32. . In the embodiment, the hopper cooling valve 26 is turned on at 10 ° C. and turned off at 8 ° C.
[0046]
When the temperature of the mix (frozen dessert) rises to the cooling end temperature (OFF point temperature) + 0.5 ° C. or higher, the microcomputer 46 proceeds from step S2 to step S3, and thereafter starts cooling the cooling cylinder 8 in the same manner. It is.
[0047]
Here, if a cooling failure occurs due to a high outside air temperature where the soft cream manufacturing apparatus SM is installed, the hardness of the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 can be sold as a product even if the temperature detected by the cylinder sensor 31 is low. It will not rise to the extent. In such a situation, since the load applied to the beater 10 does not increase so much, the increase in the energization current of the beater motor 12 also slows (or does not increase) and does not exceed the threshold value.
[0048]
When the microcomputer 46 proceeds from step S10 to step S11, if the energizing current of the beater motor 12 does not exceed the threshold value in step S11, the microcomputer 46 proceeds to step S12 and determines whether or not the current cooling setting is “3”. to decide. At this time, since the cooling setting is “1”, the microcomputer 46 proceeds to step S13 and shifts the cooling setting by one step (that is, shifts to “2” in this case) (* 7 → * 8 in FIG. 9). .
[0049]
And it returns to step S3 from step S13, and while clearing a measurement timer, said step S4-step S6 are performed. Thereafter, this is repeated to cool the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 while further stirring. Then, when the temperature drop (the difference between the current mix temperature and the temperature before t seconds) for 20 seconds (t seconds) set by the cooling setting “2” is 0.1 ° C. (T ° C.) or less, The process proceeds from step S10 to step S11.
[0050]
In step S11, similarly, the microcomputer 46 determines whether the energization current of the beater motor 12 is equal to or greater than the threshold value based on the output of the current sensor 48. If the energizing current of the beater motor 12 still does not exceed the threshold value, the microcomputer 46 proceeds to step S12 and determines whether or not the current cooling setting is “3”. At this time, since the cooling setting is “2”, the microcomputer 46 proceeds to step S13 and shifts the cooling setting by one step (that is, shifts to “3” in this case) (* 8 → * 9 in FIG. 9). .
[0051]
And it returns to step S3 from step S13, and while clearing a measurement timer, said step S4-step S6 are performed. Thereafter, this is repeated to cool the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 while further stirring. Then, when the temperature drop (the difference between the current mix temperature and the temperature before t seconds) for 40 seconds (t seconds) set by the cooling setting “3” is 0.1 ° C. (T ° C.) or less, The process proceeds from step S10 to step S11.
[0052]
In step S11, similarly, the microcomputer 46 determines whether the energization current of the beater motor 12 is equal to or greater than the threshold value based on the output of the current sensor 48. If the energization current of the beater motor 12 still does not exceed the threshold value, the microcomputer 46 proceeds to step S12 and determines whether or not the current cooling setting is “3”. At this time, since the cooling setting has been shifted to “3”, the microcomputer 46 proceeds to step S18 and blinks the check LED of the LED display 54. In step S17, the cooling of the cooling cylinder 8 is stopped as described above.
[0053]
As described above, the hardness of the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 is not increased in spite of the temperature drop of the mix that should stop the cooling of the cooling cylinder 8, and is detected by the energizing current of the beater motor 12. Since an alarm is issued by the LED, it is possible to accurately notify the user that the hardness of the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 does not increase due to poor cooling that occurs when the outside air temperature is high. Also, abnormalities such as abnormal freezing of the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 and slippage between the inner wall of the cooling cylinder 8 and an insufficient mix in the cooling cylinder 8 can be detected.
[0054]
In particular, when the energizing current of the beater motor 12 is not increased to the set value in the cooling setting with a large temperature difference (“1”), the cooling setting with a smaller temperature difference (“1” → “2” → “3”). ), The temperature drop determination and the current value determination are executed again, and when the energizing current of the beater motor 12 does not rise to the set value in the cooling setting “3” with the smallest temperature difference, the inspection LED blinks and the cooling cylinder Since the cooling of No. 8 is stopped, it is possible to more accurately detect an abnormality such as a cooling failure of the mix, and it is possible to prevent an unnecessary alarm from occurring.
[0055]
If the normal state is restored by restarting the cooling thereafter, that is, if the energizing current of the beater motor 12 rises to the threshold value, the microcomputer 46 turns off the inspection LED (see FIG. 9).
[0056]
Next, the defrost process in FIG. 7 will be described. When the defrost switch of the key input circuit 52 is operated during the cooling operation, the microcomputer 46 performs ON / OFF control of the cylinder hot gas valve 34, warms the cooling cylinder 8 with hot gas, and mixes the mixture at a predetermined temperature. The temperature is raised to (5 ° C.). Thereafter, the microcomputer 46 continues the cooling operation, and again performs the cooling process of the mix.
[0057]
Next, the sterilization / cooling operation (the sterilization temperature rising process, the sterilization holding process, the cold holding pull-down process, and the cold holding process) of FIG. 8 will be described. When the sterilization switch of the key input circuit 52 is operated, the microcomputer 46 starts the sterilization / cooling operation under the condition that the mix does not run out.
[0058]
The microcomputer 46 switches from the cooling cycle to the heating cycle by the four-way valve 19. Thereby, hot gas is supplied to the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 and heated (sterilization temperature raising step). When this sterilization temperature raising step is completed, the microcomputer 46 now controls the compressor 18, the cylinder hot gas valve 34, and the hopper hot gas valve 35 to be turned on and off based on the outputs of the sterilization / cooling sensor 38 and the hopper sensor 32. Then, both the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 execute the sterilization holding process so as to satisfy the total heating time of about 40 minutes in the heating temperature range of + 69 ° C. to + 72 ° C.
[0059]
This sterilization temperature rising and sterilization holding process is indicated by the sterilization LED of the LED display 54. When the sterilization holding process is completed, the microcomputer 46 proceeds to a cold insulation pull-down process. This cold transfer is also displayed on the LED display 54.
[0060]
In the cold holding pull-down process that follows the sterilization holding process, the temperature of the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 is cooled to a temperature range of + 8 ° C. to + 10 ° C. under a condition that the temperature becomes a predetermined temperature or less within a predetermined time. Then, the process proceeds to a cold insulation process. In the cold insulation process, based on the outputs of the sterilization / cold insulation sensor 38 and the hopper sensor 32, the microcomputer 46 compresses the compressor motor 18M, the cylinder cooling valve 24, and the hopper cooling valve 26. ON / OFF control.
[0061]
Next, the control operation of the compressor 18 (compressor motor 18M), the cylinder cooling valve 24, and the hopper cooling valve 26 executed by the microcomputer 46 in the cold insulation pull-down process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The microcomputer 46 determines whether or not the current cooling ON flag is set (“1”) in step S21 of FIG.
[0062]
If the compressor 18 is temporarily stopped at the end of the sterilization holding process and the cooling ON flag is also reset (“0”), the microcomputer 46 starts the compressor motor 18M and proceeds from step S21 to step S22 to proceed to the compressor motor. Based on the output of the 18M current sensor 47, it is determined whether or not the energization current I of the compressor motor 18M is equal to or lower than a lower limit value Iss such as 2.0A. If it has not risen now, the process proceeds to step S23, and the cooling ON flag is set.
[0063]
Next, the microcomputer 46 determines whether or not the cylinder flag is set in step S25. Note that the cylinder flag is set when the cold pull-down starts. Accordingly, the microcomputer 46 proceeds to step S26 to turn on the cylinder cooling valve 24 (the hopper cooling valve 26 is OFF and the other valves 34 and 35 are also OFF). That is, the cold insulation pull-down starts with the cooling of the cooling cylinder 8 first.
[0064]
Next, based on the output of the sterilization / cooling sensor 38, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the cooling cylinder 8 has dropped by 10 ° C. from the time when the previous cylinder flag was set (in this case, when the cold pulldown was started). The process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, since the cooling ON flag is set this time, the microcomputer 46 proceeds to step S31, and this time, it is determined whether or not the energizing current I of the compressor motor 18M is increased to an upper limit value Ish such as 5A or more. To do. If the microcomputer 46 has not risen at this time, the microcomputer 46 returns from step S31 to step S25 and repeats this.
[0065]
Here, since the cooling pull-down starts cooling the cooling cylinder 8 from a high temperature of about 70 ° C. as described above, an excessive load is applied to the compressor 18. Therefore, the energization current I of the compressor motor 18M rapidly increases from the start of the cold insulation pull-down, and eventually reaches the upper limit value Ish. When the energizing current I of the compressor motor 18M rises to the upper limit value Ish, the microcomputer 46 proceeds from step S31 to step S32 and resets the cooling ON flag. In step S34, the cylinder cooling valve 24 and the hopper cooling valve 26 are turned OFF (the other valves 34 and 35 are closed).
[0066]
As a result, the refrigerant circuit of FIG. 2 becomes a closed circuit, and the load on the compressor 18 becomes light at a stroke. Then, the process proceeds from step S21 to step S22 as described above, and it is determined again whether the energization current I of the compressor motor 18M has decreased below the lower limit value Iss.
[0067]
As described above, when the valves 24 and 26 are closed, the energization current of the compressor motor 18M is also rapidly reduced. When the energization current I drops below the lower limit value Iss, the microcomputer 46 proceeds from step S22 to step S23, sets the cooling ON flag again, proceeds to step S25, and repeats the same control thereafter.
[0068]
When the temperature of the cooling cylinder 8 is lowered by 10 ° C. from the previous setting of the cylinder flag while controlling the valves 24 and 26, the microcomputer 46 proceeds from step S26 to step S27 and resets the cylinder flag. Then, when the same control operation as described above is repeated to come to step S25, the process proceeds from step S25 to step S28, and the hopper cooling valve 26 is turned ON (the cylinder cooling valve 24 is turned OFF).
[0069]
That is, this time, the cooling of the hopper 2 is started instead of the cooling cylinder 8. Then, based on the output of the hopper sensor 32 in step S29, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the hopper 2 has decreased by 10 ° C. since the previous cylinder flag was reset. Repeat the control operation.
[0070]
When the temperature of the hopper 2 drops by 10 ° C. since the cylinder flag is reset, the microcomputer 46 proceeds from step S29 to step S30 and sets the cylinder flag. Thereby, cooling of the cooling cylinder 8 is started again (under the condition that the energization current of the compressor motor 18M is not more than the upper limit value), and the cooling of the hopper 2 is stopped.
[0071]
As described above, since cooling (pull-down) of the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 is alternately performed at 10 ° C. at the time of cold insulation pull-down in which an excessive load is applied to the compressor 18, the overload of the compressor 18 is similarly prevented. Will be able to.
[0072]
In the embodiment, the equilibrium temperature control as shown in FIG. 9 is executed during the cooling operation, but the abnormality detection by the energization current of the beater motor 12 is also effective in the normal control for cooling the mix to the set temperature.
[0073]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the hopper that stores and cools the mix, the cooling cylinder that cools the mix appropriately supplied from the hopper, the cooling device that cools the hopper and the cooling cylinder, and the mix in the cooling cylinder A beater for stirring the beater, a beater motor for driving the beater, a cylinder sensor for detecting the temperature of the mix in the cooling cylinder, a current sensor for detecting the energization current of the beater motor, an alarm means and a control means, and this control means. When the cooling current of the cooling cylinder is stopped based on the predetermined temperature drop speed of the mix in the cooling cylinder based on the outputs of the cylinder sensor and the current sensor, and the conduction current of the beater motor is not increased to the predetermined set value. Activates the alarm means so that the cooling of the cooling cylinder should be stopped. Despite there is a predetermined temperature drop in a predetermined time period, that the hardness of the mix in the cooling cylinder does not rise detected by current supplied Bitamota, it is possible to issue a warning.
[0074]
Accordingly, it is possible to accurately notify the user that the hardness of the mix in the cooling cylinder does not increase due to poor cooling that occurs when the outside air temperature is high. Also, abnormalities such as abnormal freezing of the mix in the cooling cylinder and slippage with the inner wall of the cooling cylinder, or an insufficient mix in the cooling cylinder can be detected.
[0075]
In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, attention is paid to the fact that the temperature drop of the mix at a predetermined time decreases as the mix is cooled to approach the freezing point temperature unique to the mix and approaches the freezing point temperature. Since the cooling of the cooling cylinder is stopped when the temperature drop of the inner mix decreases to a predetermined temperature, the hardness control of the frozen dessert according to the type of the mix can be realized.
[0076]
A setting means for setting a plurality of temperature differences of the temperature drop of the mix is provided, and if the energizing current of the beater motor is not increased to the set value in the setting with a large temperature difference, the temperature drop is set as a setting with a smaller temperature difference. And the current value are determined again, and when the current flowing through the beater motor does not rise to the set value in the setting with the smallest temperature difference, the alarm means is activated to stop the cooling of the cooling cylinder. This makes it possible to more accurately detect abnormalities such as poor cooling of the mix and prevent unnecessary alarms from occurring.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a soft cream manufacturing apparatus as an embodiment of a frozen confection manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device of the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1;
4 is a side view of a capacitor of the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a microcomputer program of the control device of FIG. 3;
6 is a flowchart showing a microcomputer program of the control device of FIG.
7 is a timing chart for explaining a cooling operation of the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG.
8 is a timing chart for explaining a sterilization / cooling operation of the soft ice cream manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a timing chart illustrating details of a cooling process in the cooling operation of FIG. 7;
[Explanation of symbols]
SM soft ice cream manufacturing equipment (frozen dessert manufacturing equipment)
2 Hopper
8 Cooling cylinder
10 Beata
12 Beater motor
18 Compressor
18M compressor motor
19 Four-way valve
20 capacitors
24 Cylinder cooling valve
26 Hopper cooling valve
31 Cylinder sensor
32 Hopper sensor
34 Cylinder hot gas valve
35 Hopper hot gas valve
46 Microcomputer
47, 48 Current sensor
49 Cooling setting volume (setting means)
53 Threshold setting volume
54 LED display (alarm means)

Claims (2)

A hopper for storing and keeping the mix, a cooling cylinder for cooling the mix appropriately supplied from the hopper, a cooling device for cooling the hopper and the cooling cylinder, a beater for stirring the mix in the cooling cylinder, and this beater A beater motor for driving, a cylinder sensor for detecting the temperature of the mix in the cooling cylinder, a current sensor for detecting an energization current of the beater motor, an alarm means and a control means,
When the cooling means stops cooling the cooling cylinder based on the predetermined temperature drop speed of the mix in the cooling cylinder based on the outputs of the cylinder sensor and the current sensor, the current flowing through the beater motor has a predetermined current. The frozen confectionery manufacturing apparatus, wherein the alarm means is operated when the set value is not increased. Based on the output of the cylinder sensor, the control means stops the cooling of the cooling cylinder when there is a predetermined temperature drop within a predetermined time of the mix in the cooling cylinder, and reduces the temperature difference of the temperature drop of the mix. If there is a setting means for setting multiple settings and the energizing current of the beater motor does not rise to the set value in a setting with a large temperature difference, the temperature drop determination and current value determination are executed again as a setting with a smaller temperature difference. 2. The frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the energizing current of the beater motor is not increased to a set value at a setting with the smallest temperature difference, the alarm means is operated to stop the cooling of the cooling cylinder.

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