JP4079909B2 - Consistency evaluation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a consistency evaluation apparatus for evaluating the consistency of food such as potato salad produced by stirring a natural food product and a liquid product.

  Conventionally, the quality of potato salad has been evaluated by stickiness and the like. The stickiness of the potato salad serves as an index indicating the firmness of the potato salad and has a correlation with the consistency of the mixture of the potato-based ingredients and the seasoning liquid. Potato salad is produced through an agitation process in which ingredients mainly composed of potato and seasoning liquid are put into a container such as a mixer and agitated using an agitating blade.

Conventionally, the consistency of a potato salad is measured when an operator pushes a simple load meter into the potato salad after stirring.
This simple load cell has a spring inside. For this reason, the measurement result of a simple load meter changes according to the distance (namely, distance which the internal spring shrunk) by which the simple load meter was pushed into the potato salad after stirring.
However, it is difficult for an operator to always push the simple load meter into the potato salad after stirring at a constant speed. When the simple load cell is pushed in quickly, the measurement result becomes a high value, and when it is pushed slowly, the value becomes low. Therefore, it has been difficult to accurately measure the consistency of potato salad.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a method and apparatus for detecting a change in physical properties of an object to be stirred based on a change in torque detected by a torque sensor provided on a rotating shaft of the stirring body.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the weight of the object to be stirred and the torque.
As shown in the figure, the torque has a linear relationship with the weight of the object to be stirred. Therefore, in order to accurately detect the torque change, it is necessary to measure the weight of the object to be stirred.

However, measuring the weight of an object to be stirred consisting mainly of potatoes put in a container such as a mixer and the seasoning liquid is, for example, burdening the operator and temporarily producing potato salad. In other words, the production efficiency is lowered, and the time until the potato salad is produced becomes longer, which is not preferable in terms of hygiene.
For this reason, it is conceivable to measure the weight of the raw potato in a raw state in advance. However, when the potato is subjected to a steaming process such as steaming, the moisture value increases and the weight changes. That is, the weight of the potato must be measured in a state where it is put in a container such as a mixer.

  Therefore, in the method and apparatus described in Patent Document 1, in order to accurately detect the consistency of the potato salad, it consists of ingredients mainly composed of potatoes put in a container such as a mixer and a seasoning liquid. The weight of the agitated material had to be measured.

JP-A-5-256755

  The subject of this invention is providing the consistency evaluation apparatus which can evaluate the consistency of a foodstuff, without measuring the weight of to-be-stirred thing.

The present invention solves the above problems by the following means. In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, although the code | symbol corresponding to the Example of this invention is attached | subjected and demonstrated, it is not limited to this.
The invention of claim 1 includes a container (11) into which crushed natural food products and liquids are charged, at least one stirring blade (14, 15) that rotates and revolves, and the stirring blade (14). a drive source for driving the 15) and (12), using said stirring blades (14, 15), and said liquid material and the food natural products when stirred in the vessel (11), the stirring on the basis of the maximum value and the minimum value of the power value of the driving source (12) calculates the vibration amplitude of the power values at the time, based on the vibration width of the power value, and the food natural products of the said liquid material And an evaluation unit (20) for evaluating the consistency of the mixture.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the consistency evaluation apparatus according to the first aspect, the evaluation unit (20) uses a table (24A) for associating the vibration width of the power value with the consistency. It is the consistency evaluation apparatus characterized by having.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the consistency evaluation apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the stirring blades (14, 15) are rotated and revolved by a single drive source (12). It is a consistency evaluation apparatus characterized by further providing a power transmission part (13).

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the consistency evaluation apparatus according to the third aspect, the power transmission unit (13) is configured to power the plurality of stirring blades (14, 15) from one drive source (12). It is a consistency evaluation apparatus characterized by transmitting.

  The consistency evaluation apparatus of the present invention (1) measures the vibration width of the power value of the drive source that drives the stirring blades when stirring the crushed food natural product and the liquid product in the container, Since the consistency between the crushed food natural product and the liquid product is evaluated based on the vibration width of the power value, the weight of the crushed food natural product and the liquid product in the container should be measured. The consistency of food can be evaluated.

(2) Since the evaluation unit has a table for associating the vibration width of the power value with the consistency, the consistency of the food can be evaluated based on the vibration width of the power value. By updating the table based on the above, it is possible to improve the reliability of the evaluation of the consistency of the food.

(3) Since the power transmission unit for rotating and revolving the stirring blades is further provided by one driving source, the evaluation unit measures the vibration width of the power value of the driving source regardless of the shape of the stirring blades. can do.

(4) Since the power transmission unit transmits power from a single drive source to a plurality of stirring blades, the evaluation unit can measure the vibration width of the power value of the driving source regardless of the number of stirring blades. .

  The object of the present invention is to evaluate the consistency of food without measuring the weight of the object to be stirred, using at least one stirring blade that rotates and revolves, crushed natural food products and liquid This is realized by measuring the vibration width of the power value of the drive source that drives the stirring blades when stirring the object in the container.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings and the like.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a consistency evaluation apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The consistency evaluation apparatus 100 is an apparatus for evaluating the consistency of a food produced through a stirring process (for example, a food containing a crushed natural food product and a liquid product as an object to be stirred). The mixer 10 and the evaluation device 20 are provided. Here, the consistency has a correlation with an important index for evaluating the quality of food such as stickiness that is an index indicating the hardness of the food. For this reason, the quality evaluation and quality control of foodstuffs can be performed by evaluating this consistency.
Examples of crushed natural food products include potatoes (potatoes, sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc.), their backs, burdock, koshian, mapo tofu, dumplings, okara, ground meat, hamburger and the like. Moreover, as a liquid substance, there are various seasoning liquids containing moisture, oil, and the like.

  The mixer 10 is a device for stirring the crushed natural food product and liquid product, and includes a container 11, a motor 12, a power transmission unit 13, stirring blades 14 and 15, and the like. . The container 11 is charged with an agitated object 30 composed of a crushed natural food product and a liquid product.

  The stirring blades 14 and 15 rotate and revolve to stir the object 30 to be stirred. In addition, as long as the shape of the stirring blades 14 and 15 can stir the to-be-stirred object 30, appropriate types, such as a hook, a hook type hook, a beater, a screw beater, are applicable. Further, the stirring blades 14 and 15 may be rotated in the same direction or in the reverse direction. Furthermore, although the two stirring blades 14 and 15 are provided in the mixer 10, it is not restricted to this, You may make it provide appropriate numbers, such as one.

  The motor 12 is driven by electric power of an AC power source (not shown) whose frequency is optimally controlled by the inverter 16.

  The power transmission unit 13 is provided between the motor 12 and the stirring blades 14 and 15, and is composed of, for example, a combination of a plurality of gears, and can transmit the power of the motor 12 to the stirring blades 14 and 15. The agitating blades 14 and 15 can be rotated and revolved by the motor 12.

  The evaluation apparatus 20 includes a power meter 21, a sequencer 22, a display unit 23, a storage unit 24, and the like. The wattmeter 21 detects the power supplied from the AC power supply (not shown) to the motor 12 before the inverter 16.

The sequencer 22 performs so-called peak sampling, etc., calculates the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12 detected by the wattmeter 21, and based on the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12, the sequencer 22 The consistency is evaluated (details will be described later).
The sequencer 22 can calculate the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12 by the power transmission unit 13 described above, regardless of the shape and number of the stirring blades 14 and 15.

The display unit 23 displays various data such as the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12 calculated by the sequencer 22 and the consistency of the object to be stirred 30. The display unit 23 is preferably a touch panel in consideration of the operability of an operator or the like for input settings to be described later. Further, the display unit 23 may display the display position, color, and the like for each type of data.
The storage unit 24 stores an evaluation table 24A (see FIG. 6) described later, and further stores various data calculated by the sequencer 22.

  In addition, an appropriate recording medium 25 (CD-R, FD, etc.) is connected to the outside of the evaluation apparatus 20, and various data stored in the storage unit 24 in this recording medium 25 are stored for a certain period (for example, half a year). ) It may be recorded.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the consistency evaluation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a peak sampling process by the sequencer 22.
First, a power supply (not shown) is turned on (S101).
When the power is turned on, electric power is supplied to the motor 12, and the power of the motor 12 is transmitted to the stirring blades 14 and 15 via the power transmission unit 13. For this reason, the stirring blades 14 and 15 rotate (S102).

When the stirring blades 14 and 15 rotate, the sequencer 22 calls the peak sampling subroutine of step S103 and executes each process shown in FIG. Note that peak sampling refers to processing for reliably sampling the MAX value and MIN value for each period.
First, the sequencer 22 performs interrupt sampling in order to sample the power value (power data) of the motor 12 detected by the wattmeter 21 (S1031).
By interrupt sampling in step S1031, the sequencer 22 takes in the power data detected by the power meter 21 (S1032).

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing power data detected by the wattmeter 21.
The power data detected by the wattmeter 21 vibrates at a predetermined cycle as shown in the figure.
Here, in order to sample the MAX value and the MIN value for each cycle, it is necessary to appropriately set the measurement range of the power data. Specifically, by appropriately setting the measurement range of power data, the MAX value and MIN value for one cycle are surely captured, and the MAX value or MIN value of the previous and subsequent cycles are not captured. Can do.

For this reason, the measurement range C1 is, for example, a position A1 advanced by 0.25 cycles from the MIN value of the previous cycle as a measurement start position, and a position B1 advanced by 1.3 cycles from the MIN value of the previous cycle as a measurement end position. . As a result, the measurement range C1 becomes 1.05 cycles, and the MAX value and MIN value for one cycle included in the measurement range C1 are surely captured, and the MAX value or MIN value of the preceding and following cycles are not captured. Can be.
The measurement range C2 has a position A2 advanced by 0.25 cycle from the MIN value of the period included in the measurement range C1 as a measurement start position, and similarly a position B2 advanced by 1.3 cycles from the MIN value is a measurement end position. did. Thereby, the measurement range C2 becomes 1.05 period, and the MAX value and the MIN value for one period included in the measurement range C2 can be surely taken in.
In the measurement ranges C1 and C2, the measurement end position is set to a position advanced by 1.3 cycles from the MIN value of the previous cycle. However, the measurement end position is not limited to this, and is advanced from 1 cycle and more than 1.5 cycles. If the position is not advanced, it may be appropriately input from the touch panel or the like.

Again, referring back to FIG.
The sequencer 22 determines whether or not the captured power data is a MAX value (S1033). If the power data is a MAX value, the MAX value is updated as a provisional MAX value (S1034), and the process proceeds to step S1035.
If the power data is not the MAX value, it is determined whether this value is the MIN value (S1035). If the power data is a MIN value, the MIN value is updated as a provisional MIN value (S1036), and the process proceeds to step S1037.

If the power data is not the MIN value, it is determined whether one cycle is completed (S1037). Here, the sequencer 22 determines that one cycle has been completed when the power data for 1.05 cycles (see FIG. 4) is acquired as the measurement range.
If it is determined in step S1037 that one cycle has not ended, the process returns to step S1031, and interrupt sampling is performed.

If the sequencer 22 determines that one cycle has ended, it marks the provisional MAX value and provisional MIN value updated in steps S1034 and S1036 as the MAX value and MIN value of one cycle, respectively (S1038).
Next, the sequencer 22 determines whether or not the measurement for a predetermined period has been completed (S1039). If the measurement has not been completed, the interrupt sampling of step S1031 is performed again.
On the other hand, the sequencer 22 returns when it is determined that the measurement for the predetermined period has been completed.

Returning to FIG.
The sequencer 22 calculates the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12 based on the MAX value and the MIN value of the power value for each period obtained by the peak sampling subroutine of step S103 (S104).
An example of the method for calculating the vibration width of the electric power value of the motor 12 is shown below.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing various data related to the power value of the motor 12. In FIG. 5A, the horizontal axis is the mixing time stirred by the mixer 10, and the vertical axis is the power value of the motor 12. In FIG. 5B, the horizontal axis is the weight of the object to be stirred 30, and the vertical axis is the power value of the motor 12.
The sequencer 22 calculated the power value of the motor 12 for about 180 seconds immediately after starting. Although the sampling frequency is 50 Hz here, it may be changed as appropriate.
In addition, in the mixer 10, considering that the material to be stirred 30 jumps in the container 11, the speed is increased a little when the material to be stirred 30 becomes stable after that. And stirred.

The sequencer 22 calculates the average of the MAX values and the average of the MIN values for a certain time (for example, 30 seconds) after a certain time has elapsed since the start of the motor 12. The sequencer 22 calculates the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12 for a certain time by calculating the difference between the average of the MAX values and the average of the MIN values.
Further, the sequencer 22 calculates the vibration width of the electric power value of the motor 12 for each weight (about 103 to 123 kg) of the stirring object 30 put into the container 11.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the vibration width of the electric power value of the motor 12 has a very small inclination with respect to the change in the weight of the object to be stirred 30 (here, the inclination is 0.7809). Was found.

Therefore, the vibration width of the electric power value of the motor 12 is not easily affected regardless of the weight of the object to be stirred 30. Therefore, by setting the vibration width of the electric power value of the motor 12 as a new parameter indicating the consistency of the object 30 to be stirred, the quality of the food can be evaluated without measuring the weight of the object 30 to be stirred. can do.
Note that the sequencer 22 calculates the average of the MAX value and the average of the MIN value over a certain period of time in order to calculate the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12, but this measurement time zone is at one location. However, the measurement may be performed in two or more time zones.

On the other hand, the sequencer 22 may calculate an average of power values for a certain time. However, the average power value of the motor 12 calculated by the sequencer 22 has an inclination (here, the inclination is 4.2476) with respect to a change in the weight of the object to be stirred 30, as shown in FIG. It is considerably larger than the inclination of the vibration width of the power value.
Therefore, the average power value of the motor 12 is more susceptible to the weight of the object to be stirred 30 than the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12. For this reason, in order to evaluate the consistency of the to-be-stirred object 30, it is preferable to use the vibration width of the electric power value of the motor 12 as a parameter.

Next, the sequencer 22 reads the evaluation table 24A stored in the storage unit 24 (S105), and evaluates the consistency of the food (S106).
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the evaluation table 24A.
The evaluation table 24A is stored in the storage unit 24 and associates the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12 with the consistency. Since the consistency has a correlation with each index indicating the quality of the food, the quality of the food can be evaluated more finely by subdividing the consistency.
In the evaluation table 24A, for example, potato salads A, B, and C are listed as foods produced through the stirring process. Furthermore, in the evaluation table 24A, the vibration width of the electric power value of the motor 12 in the stirring process of the potato salads A, B, and C is 200 to 300 W, 300 to 400 W, and 400 to 500 W, respectively, and the consistency is A. , B and C.
Here, when the consistency is related to stickiness, which is an index indicating the hardness of food, the potato salad A is soft, the potato salad B is good, and the potato salad C is evaluated to be hard. it can.
Therefore, food quality evaluation and quality control can be performed by associating the consistency of food with each index.

  Next, the sequencer 22 stores the evaluation result of the consistency of the food in step S106 in the storage unit 24 (S107), and displays the evaluation result on the display unit 23 (S108).

  Therefore, according to the consistency evaluation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the vibration width of the electric power value of the motor 12 is set as a new parameter representing the consistency of food, so Even if the weight of the agitated material 30 is not measured, the consistency of the food can be evaluated.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible, and these are also within the equivalent scope of the present invention.
(1) In step S107 described above, the evaluation result of the consistency of the food is stored in the storage unit 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the voltage of the AC power source (not shown) used in the consistency evaluation device 100 Alternatively, the frequency may be stored in the storage unit 24. Thereby, the reliability of the evaluation table 24A can be improved.
(2) In step S104 described above, the sequencer 22 calculates the vibration width of the power value of the motor 12, but is not limited thereto, and may calculate the average of the cycles of the power value of the motor 12.
(3) In step S108 described above, the evaluation result of the consistency of the food is displayed on the display unit 23. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the power value of the motor 12 with respect to the mixing time (see FIG. 5A), The average power value of the motor 12 with respect to the weight of the object 30 to be stirred, the vibration width of the power value (see FIG. 5B), and the average of the cycle of the power value of the motor 12 described above are displayed for a certain time. Also good. Thereby, an operator etc. can judge the quality of food visually.
(4) The above-described evaluation table 24A is stored in the storage unit 24 in advance, but is not limited thereto, and the evaluation table 24A may be appropriately updated based on various data accumulated in the recording medium 25.
As an example, a case will be described in which the evaluation table 24 </ b> A is updated based on various data accumulated in the recording medium 25 so as to associate consistency with stickiness.
When the sequencer 22 evaluates the consistency of the food based on the updated evaluation table 24A, the consistency of the food produced last week is the same as the consistency of the food produced today. In the case of (or numerical value), it can be determined that the food of the last week and the food of today are the same hardness.
In addition, by accurately evaluating the hardness of the food, it is possible to increase the filling accuracy (for example, when selling dumpling sauce, etc. in a bag, If the hardness changes, the amount to be packed will change, so it is necessary to set a larger amount for safety, and extra raw materials are required).
Therefore, by appropriately updating the evaluation table 24A, it is possible to increase the filling accuracy of the food and sell the produced food in an appropriate amount.
(5) Each process of the evaluation apparatus 20 may be performed using a personal computer including the above-described sequencer 22, display unit 23, storage unit 24, and recording medium 25.

It is a figure which shows the consistency evaluation apparatus 100 by the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the consistency evaluation apparatus 100 by a present Example. 6 is a flowchart showing a peak sampling process by the sequencer 22; It is a conceptual diagram which shows the electric power data detected with the wattmeter. It is a figure which shows the various data regarding the electric power value of the motor. It is a figure which shows 24 A of evaluation tables. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the weight of a to-be-stirred object, and a torque.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mixer 11 Container 12 Motor 13 Power transmission part 14,15 Stirring blade 16 Inverter 20 Evaluation apparatus 21 Wattmeter 22 Sequencer 23 Display part 24 Storage part 24A Evaluation table 25 Recording medium 30 Stirring object 100 Consistency evaluation apparatus

Claims (4)

A container into which crushed natural food products and liquid products are charged;
At least one stirring blade that rotates and revolves;
A drive source for driving the stirring blade;
When the food product natural product and the liquid product are stirred in the container using the stirring blade, the vibration of the power value is based on the maximum value and the minimum value of the power value of the drive source at the time of stirring. the width was calculated, and the evaluation unit based on the vibration amplitude of the power values, to evaluate the consistency of the mixture of the liquid material and the food natural products,
Consistency evaluation apparatus equipped with. In the consistency evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
The evaluation unit has a table for associating the vibration width of the power value with the consistency,
The consistency evaluation apparatus characterized by this. In the consistency evaluation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A power transmission unit for rotating and revolving the agitating blades by one drive source;
The consistency evaluation apparatus characterized by this. In the consistency evaluation apparatus according to claim 3,
The power transmission unit transmits power from the one driving source to the plurality of stirring blades;
The consistency evaluation apparatus characterized by this.

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