JP3981600B2 - Cooling / refrigeration method and cooling / refrigeration equipment used therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to continuous cooling and freezing treatment such as food in a food manufacturing plant for livestock products, processed livestock products, marine products, processed fish products, cooked foods, and dairy products such as ice cream. The present invention relates to an improved cooling / freezing method for cooling and freezing products while being transported by a transport mechanism such as a net conveyor, and a cooling / freezing apparatus used therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional continuous freezing device is equipped with a transfer inlet / outlet before and after the cooling / freezing chamber in order to freeze the product to be cooled / frozen while being transported in the cooling / freezing chamber, and to be cooled / frozen processing carried in from the transfer inlet It is assumed that the product is frozen by a unit cooler provided in the cooling / freezing chamber and then unloaded from the transfer outlet.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional freezing apparatus, when a product to be cooled / frozen is transported in a cooling / freezing chamber while being transported by a net conveyor or the like, ventilation due to a temperature difference between the inside and the outside is made from the opening of the transport entrance. Intrusion air, which is heat, and external air that stays in the gaps between the cooled and frozen products to be aligned are brought in. Therefore, it not only becomes a heat load on the refrigerating capacity, but also causes frost formation in the unit cooler, which causes a decrease in the refrigerating capacity. In other words, cold air escapes from the transfer entrance of the cooling / freezing chamber to the outside, reducing the cooling efficiency. At the same time, high-temperature and high-humidity outside air enters the room from the transfer entrance of the net conveyor, and the humidity of the outside air freezes. It freezes in the room and adheres to the fin coil of the unit cooler, reducing the refrigeration capacity of the refrigeration apparatus and causing the temperature inside the freezing room to rise. In addition, the air passage that is the heat exchange medium due to frost formation is blocked, the air circulation rate in the unit cooler is reduced, the heat exchange rate with the product is also reduced, and quality control is performed due to defective freezing of the product. It had the problem of making it difficult.
[0004]
In the past, as measures to solve these problems, the intrusion air was suppressed by minimizing the opening as much as possible or installing a partition plate near the opening in the cooling / freezing chamber, but this is not a fundamental solution. Met.
[0005]
Accordingly, the present invention was created in view of the conventional circumstances as described above, and at the same time, the cooling / freezing efficiency is increased, and at the same time, an opening that is a conveyance inlet / outlet of the cooled / frozen processing product from the center of the cooling / freezing chamber. In addition to being able to maintain the dehumidifying and low-temperature state over the section, the dehumidifying and low-temperature environment in the cooling / freezing chamber can be maintained for a long time at a temperature of, for example, −60 ° C. It can prevent the generation of frost caused by hot and humid air entering the room from the entrance / exit, and also prevents the frost from adhering to the unit cooler due to the intrusion of moisture in the outside air as in the past. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling / refrigeration method that can be performed and a cooling / refrigeration apparatus used therefor.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described problem, in the cooling / freezing method according to the present invention, the food is placed in a continuous cooling / freezing chamber 1 having a transport mechanism 2 such as a spiral or linear net conveyor. The cooling air that has been cooled and refrigerated as described above is transported by the transport mechanism 2 and is supplied with dry cooling air to maintain the dry state of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 and the ingress of external air and the unit cooler 3 resulting therefrom. It is characterized by cooling and freezing while preventing frost formation.
In the first stage before the freezing operation by the refrigerator unit R, the dry cold air is supplied from the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 to replace the staying air, and in the second stage during the freezing operation when the refrigerator unit R is activated. The cooling / freezing chamber 1 can also be supplied from the vicinity of the transfer entrances 1A and 1B.
The cooling / freezing chamber 1 as the first stage in the cooling / freezing method in which the cooled / frozen product F is cooled and frozen by the refrigerator unit R while being transported by the transport mechanism 2 into the continuous cooling / freezing chamber 1. In addition to sending dry cold air for internal dehumidification to the center of the inside, it is possible to send dry cold air to the vicinity of the transfer entrances 1A and 1B in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 as a second stage during the freezing operation.
The drying cooling air is set so that the pressure dew point inside the cooling / freezing chamber 1 is approximately the same as or slightly lower than the refrigerant side evaporation temperature inside the unit cooler 3 provided in the cooling / freezing chamber 1. In addition, the surface of the product to be cooled / frozen processed F can be frozen by spraying the cooling air immediately before or after the product to be cooled / frozen processed F is carried into the cooling / freezing chamber 1. Further, the dry cooling air can be sterilized.
In the cooling / freezing apparatus according to the present invention, the unit cooler 3 is installed in the continuous cooling / freezing chamber 1 so that the cooled / frozen product F such as food is cooled and frozen while being transported by the transport mechanism 2. In the cooling / freezing apparatus provided, from the inlet in the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 and the transfer ports 1A, 1B to maintain the dehumidified state from the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 to the transfer ports 1A, 1B. A dry air cooling unit P can be provided so as to send dry cold air into the cooling / freezing chamber 1.
The dry air cooling unit P includes an air cooling refrigerator 21 and an unheated drying unit 22 that dries compressed air in an unheated state, and the compressed air dried by the unheated drying unit 22 is used for air cooling. The high-temperature air is cooled by a double-pipe heat exchanger 23 connected to the refrigerator 21 and is introduced into the cooling / freezing chamber 1 from the inlet located in the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 and the conveyance inlets / outlets 1A and 1B. It is supposed to be supplied.
The dry air cooling unit P is provided with a central solenoid valve 24A that opens and closes the central inlet and an inlet / outlet solenoid valve 24B that opens and closes the inlets of the transport inlets 1A and 1B. Control means for delaying the valve operation and opening / closing the inlet / outlet side electromagnetic valve 24B may be provided.
In the vicinity of the transfer inlets 1A and 1B of the cooling / freezing chamber 1, surface freezing means 26 for spraying cooling air for freezing the surface of the article to be cooled / refrigerated F can be provided.
[0007]
In the cooling / freezing method according to the present invention configured as described above and the cooling / freezing apparatus used therefor, the first cooling air for internal dehumidification is sent to the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 before the freezing operation. In addition to the stage, the second stage in which dry cold air is sent to the vicinity of the transfer entrances 1A and 1B in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 during the freezing operation is a transfer entrance / exit 1A where high-temperature outside air easily enters from the center in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 , 1B side is supplied with dry cold air to prevent intrusion air from the opening and efficiently maintain the dehumidified state, and also maintain the dehumidified low temperature environment in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 for a long time. At the same time, the generation of frost caused by high temperature outside air entering the room through the conveyance entrances 1A and 1B of the conveyance mechanism 2 is prevented.
When the dry air cooling unit P sends dry cold air into the cooling / freezing chamber 1 from the inlets arranged in the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 and the transfer entrances 1A, 1B, the inside of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 The dehumidified state of the entire region from the center of the sheet to the transfer entrances 1A and 1B is always maintained.
Dry cooling air in which the dew point temperature under pressure inside the cooling / freezing chamber 1 is set to be approximately the same as or slightly lower than the refrigerant-side evaporation temperature inside the unit cooler 3 is efficient without causing the unit cooler 3 to condense. Continue freezing operation.
In addition, spraying of the cooling air by the surface freezing means 26 immediately before or just after the transfer to the cooling / freezing chamber 1 into the cooling / freezing chamber 1 freezes the surface of the cooling / freezing chamber F, for example, packaging Steam is not generated in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 from the to-be-cooled / refrigerated processed product F in which moisture is evaporated without treatment, and frost formation on the unit cooler 3 is prevented, and high-efficiency operation is maintained.
The sterilized dry cooling air prevents the invasion of fungi in the external air and facilitates hygiene management in the cooling / freezing chamber 1.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 shown in the drawing denotes, for example, a spiral-type product to be cooled and frozen processed such as food in a processed food manufacturing plant such as a dairy product. It is a continuous cooling / freezing chamber equipped with a refrigerator unit R for cooling and freezing while being conveyed by a conveying mechanism 2 such as a linear belt conveyor. Before and after the cooling / freezing chamber 1 in the transport direction, a transport inlet 1A for carrying in the cooled / refrigerated processed product F transported by the transport mechanism 2 and a transport outlet 1B for transporting out after the processing are opened. For example, doors hanging in a bowl shape are disposed at the transfer entrances 1A and 1B so as to be opened by being pushed away by the moving product to be cooled / refrigerated F (see FIG. 1).
[0009]
In the cooling / freezing chamber 1, a refrigerator unit R for supplying cooling air for freezing the article to be cooled / refrigerated F is installed. The refrigerator unit R exchanges heat with the air in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 via the unit cooler 3 and the L-shaped duct 5 in the cooling / freezing chamber 1, and is to be cooled / refrigerated conveyed by the transport mechanism 2. The processed product F is cooled. The refrigerator unit R is composed of a two-stage compressor R1, a condenser R2, and a supercooler R3.
[0010]
Further, the cooling / freezing chamber 1 includes a dry air cooling unit P for sending dry cold air into the cooling / freezing chamber 1 from the respective inlets arranged at the center of the room and the transfer entrances 1A, 1B. That is, as a first stage before the start of the freezing operation, dry cold air for internal dehumidification is sent from the central inlet to the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 at about 1.5 times the volume inside the cooling / freezing chamber 1, In addition to lowering the internal dehumidification temperature in the first stage, as a second stage during the freezing operation, dry cold air is sent from the inlets of the transfer inlets 1A, 1B to the vicinity of the transfer inlets 1A, 1B in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 The dehumidifying and low-temperature environment is always maintained from the center in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 to the transfer entrances 1A and 1B where high temperature outside air can easily enter.
[0011]
The dry air cooling unit P is a double-tube heat exchanger 23 in which compressed air dried by an unheated dry air unit 22 for drying compressed air in an unheated state is connected to an air cooling refrigerator 21. Then, the cooling / freezing chamber 1 is fed into the cooling / freezing chamber 1 through the inlets arranged in the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 and the transfer entrances 1A and 1B. Further, the dry air cooling unit P is provided with a central electromagnetic valve 24A for opening / closing the central inlet and an inlet / outlet electromagnetic valve 24B for opening / closing the inlets of the conveyance inlets / outlets 1A and 1B. Control means for delaying the valve opening operation by a predetermined time and opening the inlet / outlet side electromagnetic valve 24B is provided. The dry cooling air is supplied from the central inlet port 25A arranged in the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 to the central side in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 and from the inlet / outlet side inlet port arranged in the conveyance inlet / outlet of the cooling / freezing chamber 1. 25B is supplied to the inlet / outlet side in the cooling / freezing chamber 1.
[0012]
Also, the dry cooling air supplied into the cooling / freezing chamber 1 has a dew point under pressure in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 that is higher than the refrigerant-side evaporation temperature inside the unit cooler 3 provided in the cooling / freezing chamber 1. The temperature is set to a temperature lower than that, that is, approximately the same as the refrigerant side evaporation temperature or slightly lower.
[0013]
As a specific configuration of the dry air cooling unit P, as shown in FIG. 2, the non-heated dry air unit 22 stores air compressed by an oil-free screw compressor 22A in an air tank 22B, and a mist filter. After passing through 22C, it is sent to the heatless dryer 22D where the compressed air is dried in an unheated state. The dry air is sent through the line filter 22E and the sterilization filter 22F and then into the tube of the coil tube-like double tube heat exchanger 23. Further, a control pressure switch 22G, a flow rate adjusting motor valve 22N, and a flow rate control flow switch 22I are provided in the middle of the piping. The sterilization filter 22 </ b> F may be disposed on a supply line immediately before supplying cool air into the cooling / freezing chamber 1.
[0014]
In addition, surface freezing means 26 is provided for injecting cooling air into the cooling / freezing chamber 1 immediately before the cooled / frozen product F is carried in or immediately after it is carried to freeze the surface of the cooled / frozen product F. In the illustrated example, the surface freezing means 26 is provided by branching from the cold air supply line so as to be disposed immediately before the transfer inlet 1A in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 and is transported on the transfer mechanism 2. For example, cold air is injected from the injection nozzle to the cooling / freezing processed product F. The surface freezing means 26 can also be disposed inside the cooling / freezing chamber 1 in the vicinity of the transfer inlet 1A.
[0015]
Next, an example of the use and operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator unit R is arranged above the transport mechanism 2 in the cooling / freezing chamber 1. From the L-shaped duct 5 that is connected to the unit cooler 3 by a refrigerant circuit, performs air circulation with a fan, passes through the surface of the refrigerant pipe that is a coil, and is directed onto the transport mechanism 2 The to-be-cooled / frozen product F blown out and transported by the transport mechanism 2 is cooled and frozen. The to-be-cooled / frozen product F carried into the cooling / freezing chamber 1 is frozen in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 by the surface being frozen by the dry cooling air sprayed by the surface freezing means 26 immediately before the transfer inlet 1A. Then, the moisture contained in the to-be-cooled / frozen product F itself is prevented from being evaporated in the chamber.
[0016]
Further, the dry air generated by the non-heating drying unit 22 of the dry air cooling unit P is sterilized through the line filter 22E and the sterilization filter 22F, and then sent into the tube of the coiled tube double-tube heat exchanger 23. It is done. By passing through the inside of the double-pipe heat exchanger 23, the dry air is cooled and becomes dry cold air from the central inlet port 25A to the central side in the cooling / freezer compartment 1 by the central electromagnetic valve 24A. Dry cold air is sent from the transfer inlet / outlet side inlet 25B to the vicinity of the transfer inlet / outlet side in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 by the inlet / outlet solenoid valve 24B.
[0017]
In this way, in addition to the first stage in which the dry cold air for internal dehumidification is sent to the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1, the second stage in which the dry cold air is further sent in the vicinity of the transfer entrances 1A and 1B in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 The transport entrances 1A and 1B are dehumidified from the center in the cooling / freezing chamber 1, and the dehumidifying low-temperature environment in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 can be maintained.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the cooling / refrigeration efficiency is increased, and at the same time, from the center in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 to the conveyance inlets / outlets 1A and 1B of the article F to be cooled / refrigerated by the conveyance mechanism 2. A dehumidifying low temperature state can be maintained, and the formation of a dehumidifying low temperature environment in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 prevents hot and humid outside air from entering the cooling / freezing chamber 1 from the transfer entrances 1A and 1B of the transfer mechanism 2. Thus, frost formation on the unit cooler 3 can be prevented, and various problems such as a temperature increase and a product quality decrease caused by a decrease in the refrigerating capacity can be solved.
[0019]
That is, when the cooling / freezing method according to the present invention cools / freezes the cooled / frozen product F while being transported in the continuous cooling / freezing chamber 1, the cooled / frozen product F is transported. This is because the dry cooling air is sent to the vicinity of the transfer entrances 1A and 1B of the transfer mechanism 2, and the intrusion of high-temperature and high-humidity air from the outside can be easily prevented. The interior can be maintained at an extremely low temperature of, for example, −60 ° C. or lower, and the product quality can be improved and the product freezing time can be shortened. As a result, the production time can be shortened. is there.
[0020]
The dry cooling air is supplied from the center in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 in the first stage before the start of the freezing operation and is replaced with the staying air, and in the second stage during the freezing operation, the conveyance inlet / outlet 1A in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 is used. , 1B is also supplied from the vicinity, even if high-temperature outside air enters the cooling / freezing chamber 1 from the transport inlets / outlets 1A, 1B of the transport mechanism 2, the dry cooling air itself is manufactured outside and is supplied to the cooling / freezing chamber. 1, only the amount of air supplied from the outside through the openings of the transfer entrances 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B is discharged, so that the unit cooler 3 forms frost, and the inside of the cooling / freezing chamber 1. The generation of frost in can be prevented in advance.
[0021]
Further, since the surface freezing means 26 for injecting cooling air for freezing the surface of the article to be cooled / freezing processed F is provided in the vicinity of the transfer inlets 1A, 1B of the cooling / freezing chamber 1, from the article to be cooled / freezing processed F Even when steam or the like is generated, the surface is frozen during cooling / freezing treatment, so that a water freezing film is formed, and moisture from the cooled / frozen processed product F is suppressed. Thus, frost adhesion (frost formation) to the unit cooler 3 can also be prevented.
[0022]
In the cooling / freezing method in which the product to be cooled / frozen in the continuous cooling / freezing chamber 1 is cooled / frozen by the refrigerator unit R while being transported by the transport mechanism 2, cooling is performed as the first stage before the start of the freezing operation. In addition to sending dry cold air for internal dehumidification to the center of the freezing chamber 1, cooling is also sent as a second stage during the freezing operation, and dry cold air is sent to the vicinity of the transfer entrances 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B in the freezing chamber 1. Therefore, the dehumidified state can be advanced efficiently and in a short time from the center in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 to the opened transfer entrances 1A and 1B where high temperature outside air can easily enter. In addition, the dehumidifying and low-temperature environment in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 can be maintained at all times, and the intrusion of high-temperature outside air into the room from the conveyance inlet / outlet 1A, 1B of the conveyance mechanism 2 is suppressed. Can be prevented.
[0023]
Further, in the cooling / freezing apparatus according to the present invention, drying is performed such that dry cold air is fed into the cooling / freezing chamber 1 from the inlets arranged in the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 and the transfer entrances 1A, 1B. Since the air cooling unit P is provided, high cooling / refrigeration efficiency can be obtained, and at the same time, the dehumidifying / low temperature state from the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1 to the conveyance inlet / outlet 1A, 1B of the product F to be cooled / refrigerated by the conveyance mechanism 2 Can be easily maintained.
[0024]
Since the dry air cooling unit P includes the air cooling refrigerator 21, the non-heated dry air unit 22, and the double-pipe heat exchanger 23, a large amount of the cooled / refrigerated processed product F is transported. Even in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 having a large indoor space to be transported at 2, the dry cold air can be efficiently supplied.
[0025]
In the dry air cooling unit P, the opening / closing operation of the central electromagnetic valve 24A for opening / closing the central inlet is switched by the operation signal from the refrigerator unit R, and the inlet / outlet electromagnetic for opening / closing the inlets of the conveyance inlets / outlets 1A and 1B. Since the control means for opening the valve 24B is provided, the central side electromagnetic valve 24A is opened in the first stage to send dry cold air for internal dehumidification into the center of the cooling / freezing chamber 1. A central dehumidification and low-temperature environment is formed, and in the second stage, the inlet / outlet side electromagnetic valve 24B is opened so that dry cold air is sent to the transfer inlets / outlets 1A and 1B in the cooling / freezing chamber 1, thereby cooling / freezing. The dehumidification and low-temperature environment from the center in the chamber 1 to the conveyance entrances 1A and 1B can be easily advanced, and the once formed dehumidification and low-temperature environment can always be maintained.
[0026]
In addition, the dry cooling air is set to a temperature slightly lower or lower than the pressure-side dew point in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 at substantially the same temperature as the refrigerant-side evaporation temperature in the unit cooler 3 provided in the cooling / freezing chamber 1. As a result, the unit cooler 3 itself does not condense, the refrigeration operation can be continued very efficiently, and the defrost cycle can be extended significantly.
[0027]
Further, the surface of the object to be cooled / frozen processed F is frozen by spraying the cooling air by the surface freezing means 26 immediately before or after carrying the object to be cooled / frozen in the cooling / freezing chamber 1. Even if there is no treatment, generation of steam from the cooled / freezing chamber 1 from the to-be-cooled / frozen product F itself can be prevented, and frost formation on the unit cooler 3 can be prevented to maintain high-efficiency operation.
[0028]
Furthermore, since the dry cooling air is sterilized, the infiltration of fungi in the external air to the dry cooling air after formation can be prevented, and hygiene management in the cooling / freezing chamber 1 can be performed very easily. It is suitable for use in freezing treatment and the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a cooling / refrigeration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of the same.
[Explanation of symbols]
F: Cooled / refrigerated product P: Dry air cooling unit R ... Refrigerator unit R1 ... Two-stage compression refrigerator R2 ... Condenser R3 ... Supercooler 1 ... Cooling / freezing chamber 1A ... Transport inlet 1B ... Transport outlet 2 ... Conveying mechanism 3 ... Unit cooler 5 ... L-shaped duct 21 ... Air cooling refrigerator 22 ... Non-heated dry air unit 22A ... Oil-free screw compressor 22B ... Air tank 22C ... Mist filter 22D ... Heatless dryer 22E ... Line Filter 22F ... Disinfection filter 22G ... Pressure switch 22H ... Motor valve 22I ... Flow switch 23 ... Double pipe heat exchanger 24A ... Central solenoid valve 24B ... Entrance / exit side solenoid valve 25A ... Center side introduction port 25B ... Entrance / exit side introduction port 26 ... Surface freezing means

Claims (8)

  In the cooling / freezing method in which the cooled / frozen product is cooled / frozen using the dry cooling air while the product to be cooled / frozen in the continuous cooling / freezing chamber is transported by the transport mechanism, the dry cooling air is the first before the start of the freezing operation. A cooling / freezing method characterized in that in the stage, the air is supplied from the center of the cooling / freezing chamber and is replaced with the staying air, and in the second stage during the freezing operation, the cooling / freezing chamber is also supplied from the vicinity of the conveyance inlet / outlet.   In the cooling / freezing method in which the product to be cooled / frozen in the continuous cooling / freezing chamber is cooled / frozen by the refrigerator unit while being transported by the transport mechanism, the first step before the start of the freezing operation is A cooling / freezing method characterized in that, in addition to sending dry cooling air for internal dehumidification to the center, dry cold air is sent to the vicinity of the conveyance entrance in the cooling / freezing chamber as a second stage during the freezing operation.   3. The dry cooling air is set to a temperature at which the dew point under pressure in the cooling / freezing chamber is approximately the same as or slightly lower than the refrigerant side evaporation temperature inside the unit cooler provided in the cooling / freezing chamber. The cooling / freezing method as described.   The cooling / freezing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the surface of the object to be cooled / frozen is frozen by spraying cooling air immediately before or after the object to be cooled / frozen is carried into the cooling / freezing chamber. .   The cooling / freezing method according to claim 1, wherein the dry cooling air is sterilized.   In a cooling / freezing device equipped with a unit cooler in the continuous cooling / freezing chamber to cool / freeze the product to be cooled / frozen while being transported by the transport mechanism, the dehumidified state is maintained from the center of the cooling / freezing chamber to the transport inlet / outlet. A dry air cooling unit is provided so that dry cold air is fed into the cooling / freezing chamber from the inlets arranged in the center of the cooling / freezing chamber and the conveyance inlet / outlet to be maintained. A central solenoid valve that opens and closes and an inlet / outlet solenoid valve that opens and closes the inlet / outlet of the conveyance entrance / exit are provided with control means for delaying the opening operation of the central solenoid valve and opening / closing the solenoid valve Cooling and refrigeration equipment characterized by that.   The dry air cooling unit includes an air cooling refrigerator, an unheated drying unit for drying compressed air in an unheated state, and an air cooling refrigerator for cooling the compressed air dried by the non-heated drying unit. The cooling / freezing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a double-pipe heat exchanger that is fed into the cooling / freezing chamber from an inlet arranged at the center of the cooling / freezing chamber and the conveyance inlet / outlet.   8. The cooling / freezing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein surface freezing means for spraying cooling air for freezing the surface of the product to be cooled / frozen is provided in the vicinity of the transfer inlet of the cooling / freezing chamber.

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