JP4087157B2 - Food cooling equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to an apparatus for freezing or cooling food, and more particularly, to an apparatus for cooling food while being transferred by a conveyor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  Foods can be cooled or frozen more efficiently by separating them into smaller pieces and separating them than cooling or freezing them in large blocks. In addition, foods that have been frozen in small pieces can be conveniently used because they can be easily separated into use amounts. In order to freeze food in this state, an apparatus has been developed in which a belt conveyor is provided in the freezer compartment. This refrigeration apparatus freezes food while transporting food on a belt conveyor that transports a stainless steel net belt horizontally. Food is supplied to the belt conveyor in a state of being separated at one end. The supplied food is transferred into the freezer compartment by a belt conveyor, frozen in the freezer compartment, and discharged. The frozen food is scraped off by a scraper and separated from the belt conveyor.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  The above apparatus has a drawback in that a part of the food is torn and adheres to the belt because the food frozen and adhered to the stainless steel belt is scraped off with a scraper. This worsens the product yield. Furthermore, the food remaining on the belt will deteriorate and deteriorate the sanitary environment. In particular, the endless belt conveyor belt is repeatedly circulated to cool the food while it is transported, so that the food to be cooled one after another is supplied on the spoiled food. For this reason, when a food rots, the bad effect which reduces the quality of a food remarkably generate | occur | produces. Furthermore, the conveyor belt of the slit net cannot easily remove the attached food.
[0004]
  Furthermore, an apparatus that cools or freezes food while it is transported by a stainless steel conveyor belt has a drawback of leaking from the stitches when a small crushed food such as minced meat is supplied. This also causes the leaked food to deteriorate the hygienic environment and reduce the food yield. If the stitches of the conveyor belt are made small in order to reduce the leakage of food, it becomes more difficult to remove foods clogged with fine stitches, and the sanitary environment is deteriorated. Moreover, even if the stitches of the conveyor belt are enlarged, it is difficult to completely remove the clogged food. Furthermore, when the stitches are made large, it becomes difficult to pull them out of the stitches and separate them when the food that has entered the large stitches due to gravity in the uncooled state is cooled. This is because the scraper tears and separates the food. To make matters worse, when food that has entered the stitches is frozen, it expands and binds very tightly to the stitches. For this reason, when scraping with a scraper, it cannot be separated from the stitches, but is torn and separated with a scraper. In this way, the food remaining in the stitches deteriorates the quality of the food to be cooled due to corrosion or the like.
[0005]
  Further, the conventional cooling device has a drawback that it is difficult to cool the food in a clean shape. This is because a part of the food may be broken or broken when it is torn with a scraper. Moreover, since it puts on the stainless steel conveyor belt and cools, the bottom face of the cooled food product also becomes a stitch pattern, and it becomes the cause which worsens the cooling shape of a foodstuff.
[0006]
  The present invention has been developed for the purpose of solving such drawbacks. An important object of the present invention is to provide a food cooling apparatus that can cool food in a very hygienic manner and can efficiently cool small foods.
  Another important object of the present invention is to provide a food cooling device that can cool food in a clean state without reducing yield.
  Furthermore, another important object of the present invention is to provide a food cooling apparatus capable of cooling a liquid or pasty food if necessary.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The food cooling device of the present invention supplies the food S onto the conveyor 2 disposed in the cooling chamber 1, and transfers the supplied food S by the conveyor 2 to cool it. The conveyor 2 includes a horizontal base 3, a plastic film 4 disposed so as to be movable on the horizontal base 3, and a drive mechanism 5 that moves the plastic film 4. The horizontal table 3 is provided with an uneven resin layer 32 on the surface in contact with the plastic film 4 and the upper surface is an uneven surface 24. The cooling device supplies the food S on the plastic film 4 and moves the plastic film 4 onto the uneven resin layer 32 to cool the supplied food S.
[0008]
  The uneven resin layer 32 can be a fluororesin layer or a silicon resin layer. The film thickness of the uneven resin layer 32 can be 0.1 to 2 mm.
[0009]
  The horizontal table 3 includes an upper plate 3A provided with an uneven resin layer 32 on the upper surface. Further, the horizontal table 3 is provided with an upper plate 3A which is a metal plate provided with an uneven resin layer 32.ing.The upper plate 3A is provided with an uneven resin layer 32 having unevenness 26 on the upper surface.ing.Further, the upper plate 3A is provided with unevenness 25, and an uneven resin layer 32 is provided on the upper plate 3A with unevenness 25.ing.Furthermore, the upper plate 3A is provided with unevenness 25, and an uneven resin layer 32 having unevenness 26 finer on the upper surface than the unevenness 25 of the upper plate 3A is provided on the upper plate 3A having the unevenness 25.Have
[0010]
  Furthermore, the cooling device of the present invention can be provided with a reversing mechanism 44 for turning the food S to be transferred upside down on the conveyor 2, and the reversing mechanism 44 can cool the food S while being turned upside down. This cooling device has an advantage that it can be cooled very efficiently and uniformly from both the upper and lower surfaces of the food S.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the examples shown below exemplify a food cooling apparatus for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the food cooling apparatus as described below.
[0012]
  Further, in this specification, in order to facilitate understanding of the scope of claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the embodiments are referred to as “claims” and “means for solving the problems”. It is added to the member shown by. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.
[0013]
  The cooling device is used for cooling and freezing freshly cooked rice and hot sugar beet, or for freezing minced meat and the like. The food cooling apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 includes a conveyor 2 in a cooling chamber 1. The conveyor 2 includes a horizontal base 3 that is fixed horizontally to the cooling chamber 1, a plastic film 4 that is placed so as to be movable on the horizontal base 3, and a drive mechanism 5 that moves the plastic film 4. Prepare.
[0014]
  The cooling chamber 1 is closed by a heat insulating wall 6 and a cold air device 7 is disposed inside. The cold air device 7 uniformly cools the inside of the cooling chamber 1 and quickly and efficiently uniformly cools the food S loaded on the plastic film 4 and carried into the cooling chamber 1. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 or as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the cold air device 7 forcibly blows cold air on the upper surface of the plastic film 4 and the lower surface of the horizontal table 3 to make the food S uniform. Cool immediately. In particular, in the cool air device 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the forcedly cooled cooling air creates a flow parallel to the direction in which the plastic film 4 is transferred. There is a feature that can be transferred.
[0015]
  The cold air device 7 includes an air cooling heat exchanger 8 and a fan 9 that forcibly blows air to the air cooling heat exchanger 8. The air cooling heat exchanger 8 has heat radiating fins such as aluminum fixed to a metal pipe through which a refrigerant passes. The fan 9 forcibly circulates air through the air cooling heat exchanger 8 to cool the air. The cooling device shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 is provided with a space 10 through which air can pass on both sides of the horizontal table 3 and the plastic film 4, and air is passed through the space 10 to move the food S on the plastic film 4 up and down. Cool from. Since this cooling device has the space 10, an operator can move here. For this reason, the food S can be managed conveniently inside.
[0016]
  The air cooling heat exchanger 8 is connected to the condenser 12 and the compressor 13 via the expansion valve 11, and the refrigerant circulating inside is used as the air cooling heat exchanger 8 → the compressor 13 → the condenser 12 → the expansion valve 11. → Circulate through the air cooling heat exchanger 8. The compressor 13 and the condenser 12 are disposed outside the cooling chamber 1. The expansion valve 11 is disposed in the vicinity of the air cooling heat exchanger 8, for example, inside the cooling chamber 1. The compressor 13 pressurizes the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the air cooling heat exchanger 8. The pressurized gaseous refrigerant is cooled by the condenser 12 and liquefied. The condenser 12 is a water-cooled or air-cooled heat exchanger. Similarly to the air cooling heat exchanger 8, the condenser 12 also has heat radiation fins fixed to the metal pipe, or a metal pipe into which cooling water flows. The expansion valve 11 controls the flow rate at which the pressurized, cooled, and liquefied refrigerant is adiabatically expanded and vaporized by the air cooling heat exchanger 8. This cooling mechanism pressurizes the gaseous refrigerant with the compressor 13 and liquefies it with the condenser 12, vaporizes the liquefied refrigerant with the air cooling heat exchanger 8, and cools the air in the cooling chamber 1 with the heat of vaporization. To do.
[0017]
  Further, the cooling device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a preliminary fan 30 that blows cooling air downward above the horizontal table 3. In the illustrated cooling device, a plurality of spare fans 30 are spaced apart from each other in the direction in which the plastic film 4 is transferred, and are arranged at equal intervals. These spare fans 30 blow cooling air to the upper surface of the plastic film 4 that is transferred on the upper surface of the horizontal table 3. As described above, the preliminary fan 30 that blows the cooling air directly to the food S has an advantage that the food S can be efficiently cooled from the surface.
[0018]
  As shown in the partially enlarged end view of FIG. 6, the horizontal table 3 is provided with an uneven resin layer 32 on the upper surface in contact with the plastic film 4, and the upper surface is an uneven surface 24. The concavo-convex resin layer 32 has the concavo-convex 26 on the upper surface. The concavo-convex resin layer 32 having the concavo-convex surface 26 reduces the frictional resistance between the plastic film 4 and the horizontal base 3 so that the plastic film 4 can be moved with a smaller tensile force. The uneven resin layer 32 is made of a synthetic resin such as a fluorine resin or a silicon resin. The uneven resin layer 32 can be coated on the upper surface of the horizontal table 3. In addition, the uneven resin layer 32 previously formed into a plate shape can be bonded and fixed to the upper surface of the horizontal table 3.
[0019]
  Although the present invention does not specify a synthetic resin for the uneven resin layer 32, a fluororesin is optimal for the uneven resin layer 32. This is because the frictional resistance with the plastic film 4 can be particularly reduced. When the plastic film 4 moving on the upper surface of the horizontal base 3 is interspersed with the horizontal base 3, the frictional resistance becomes extremely large. This is because water adheres the plastic film 4 to the horizontal table 3 over a wide area. In this state, the plastic film 4 cannot be moved with a light tensile force. Furthermore, when the water between the plastic film 4 and the horizontal base 3 freezes, the plastic film 4 cannot move.
[0020]
  The water between the plastic film 4 and the horizontal table 3 freezes when the operation of the cooling device is stopped. The cooling device is not frozen on the horizontal base 3 in a normal use state in which the plastic film 4 is moved. Further, water does not cause the plastic film 4 to adhere strongly to the horizontal table 3. This is because the plastic film 4 continuously moves even when the cooling chamber 1 is cooled to a negative temperature. The plastic film 4 freezes on the horizontal table 3 or strongly adheres and cannot move when the apparatus is stopped and then restarted. When the cooling device is stopped, the temperature of the cooling chamber 1 becomes a plus temperature. In this state, condensed water and frozen ice are dissolved to generate water. This water enters between the plastic film 4 and the horizontal base 3. The water that has entered here strongly adheres the plastic film 4 to the horizontal table 3 over a wide area due to surface tension or the like. In this state, it is impossible to start even if the plastic film 4 is pulled and moved. If the plastic film 4 is forcibly pulled, it will be damaged. Further, in this state, when the cooling chamber 1 is cooled to minus to start the apparatus, water between the plastic film 4 and the horizontal base 3 freezes, and this fixes the plastic film 4 to the horizontal base 3. In this state, the plastic film 4 cannot be moved at all, and is damaged when pulled forcibly.
[0021]
  This adverse effect can be prevented by moving the plastic film 4 while performing the cooling operation even when the cooling device is not used. However, if the plastic film 4 is not stopped when not in use, the plastic film 4 is wasted and the running cost increases. The cooling device of the present invention eliminates this problem by providing the uneven resin layer 32 on the upper surface of the horizontal base 3 and using the upper surface as the uneven surface 24. The uneven resin layer 32 having the unevenness 26 moves the water generated on the horizontal table 3 to the recesses. For this reason, water does not contact the lower surface of the plastic film 4, the plastic film 4 can be moved even at room temperature, and the water is not frozen and the plastic film 4 is not frozen on the horizontal table 3.
[0022]
  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 5 and the partially enlarged end view of FIG. 6, the horizontal table 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 has an uneven resin layer 32 on the upper surface of a metal plate whose upper surface is processed into an uneven shape. Laminated. The horizontal table 3 is formed by pressing a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate to provide unevenness 25, and an uneven resin layer 32 is provided on the surface of the metal plate. The horizontal base 3 shown in the figure is provided with a convex portion 25A partially on a metal plate, and this metal plate is coated with a concave-convex resin layer 32. The convex portion 25A is preferably circular or elliptical, and the upper surface of the convex portion 25A is planar. The horizontal table 3 can be easily and cleanly cleaned and used hygienically. The outer diameter of the circular convex portion or the long diameter of the elliptic convex portion is 5 mm to 50 mm. An uneven resin layer 32 having unevenness 26 smaller than the protrusion 25A of the metal plate is provided on the metal plate provided with the protrusion 25A. Since the horizontal table 3 collects water between the convex portions 25A, the water remaining on the horizontal table 3 does not attach the plastic film 4 to the horizontal table 3 strongly or freeze it. The horizontal base 3 having this structure can be provided with an uneven resin layer 32 having small unevenness 26 on the surface of a metal plate having large unevenness 25. In the horizontal table 3, the uneven surface 24 is formed by the large unevenness 25 of the metal plate and the small unevenness 26 of the uneven resin layer 32. However, in a horizontal table in which unevenness is provided on the metal plate, the uneven surface can be formed by coating the metal plate with a resin layer having a smooth surface.
[0023]
  Furthermore, the cooling device of the present invention may have the structure shown in FIGS. As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 9, the horizontal base 3 of the cooling device of FIG. 7 includes an upper plate 3A for moving the plastic film 4 on the upper surface, and a cooling chamber 27 provided below the upper plate 3A. With. The cooling chamber 27 is connected to a cooling fluid supplier 36 that supplies a cooling fluid. The horizontal table 3 cools the upper plate 3 </ b> A with the cooling fluid supplied from the cooling fluid supplier 36. The upper plate 3A cools the food S through the plastic film 4 placed thereon. Although not shown, the upper plate 3A is also provided with an uneven resin layer on the upper surface in contact with the plastic film 4. Further, the horizontal table 3 includes a box-shaped main body 3B having an upper opening, and an upper plate 3A for closing the upper opening of the main body 3B. The upper plate 3A is connected to the main body 3B so that the upper surface opening of the cooling chamber 27 provided in the main body 3B can be watertightly closed and removed. The upper plate 3A connected so as to be detachable from the main body 3B can be easily removed from the main body 3B for easy maintenance. This is because when the uneven resin layer on the surface is worn, the uneven resin layer can be provided by removing from the main body portion 3B.
[0024]
  The upper plate 3A is watertightly connected to the upper end opening of the main body 3B via a packing 33. The main body 3 </ b> B is provided with a flange 34 that protrudes outward along the upper end opening. A packing 33 is sandwiched between the flange 34 and the side wall 20 of the upper plate 3A to connect the main body 3B and the upper plate 3A in a watertight manner. The upper plate 3A and the main body 3B are connected so as to be detachable by screws (not shown) and nuts (not shown) that penetrate the side wall 20 and the flange 34 of the upper plate 3A. However, other than screws and nuts, the side wall 20 of the upper plate 3A and the flange 34 of the main body 3B can be sandwiched and connected.
[0025]
  As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 9, the main body 3 </ b> B is provided with a flow path that snakes while fixing the partition wall 35. The main body 3B efficiently cools the upper plate 3A by flowing the cooling fluid while meandering. The partition wall 35 has its upper end in contact with the upper plate 3A to cool the upper plate 3A.
[0026]
  In the horizontal table 3 of FIG. 8, a watering nozzle 47 is disposed below the cooling plate 3 </ b> A, and the cooling plate 3 </ b> A is cooled by the watering nozzle 47. The horizontal table 3 cools the cooling plate 3A by spraying a cooling fluid from the watering nozzle 47 on the lower surface of the cooling plate 3A. The watering nozzle 47 is connected to the cooling fluid supply unit 36 and sprays the cooling fluid supplied from the cooling fluid supply unit 36 to the cooling plate 3A. The watering nozzle 47 is disposed inside the cooling chamber 27 and collects the cooling fluid sprayed by the watering nozzle 47 in the cooling chamber 27.
[0027]
  The cooling fluid supplier 36 circulates the cooling fluid in the cooling chamber 27 of the horizontal table 3 or in the watering nozzle 47. The cooling fluid is a brine solution that does not freeze below 0 ° C. In the brine solution, alcohol or salt is dissolved in water to prevent freezing at 0 ° C. However, cold water can also be used as the cooling fluid. Since cold water freezes at 0 ° C., when using cold water as the cooling fluid, the set temperature of the cooling fluid is set higher than 0 ° C. The set temperature of the cooling fluid is set to an optimum temperature in consideration of the cooling temperature and the cooling time of the food, and is set to, for example, −30 to 5 ° C. The apparatus which cools the freshly cooked hot rice can cool to room temperature using 0-5 degreeC cold water for a cooling fluid.
[0028]
  The cooling fluid supply unit 36 cools the storage tank 37 that stores the cooling fluid, the circulation pump 38 that circulates the cooling fluid in the storage tank 37 to the cooling chamber 27 and the watering nozzle 47, and the cooling fluid in the storage tank 37. Heat exchanger 39. The heat exchanger 39 is connected to a condenser 41 and a compressor 42 via an expansion valve 40, and the refrigerant circulating inside is converted into a heat exchanger 39 → compressor 42 → condenser 41 → expansion valve 40 → heat exchanger. Circulate to 39. The refrigerant is pressurized by the compressor 42, liquefied by the condenser 41, and vaporized by the heat exchanger 39 to cool the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid cooled by the heat exchanger 39 is circulated to the cooling chamber 27 and the watering nozzle 47 by the circulation pump 38 to cool the upper plate 3A. The cooling fluid supply unit 36 is disposed outside the cooling chamber 1, and a cooling fluid circulation pipe 43 is connected to both ends of the horizontal base 3 disposed in the cooling chamber 1. Through this circulation pipe 43, the cooled cooling fluid is circulated to the cooling chamber 27 provided on the horizontal table 3.
[0029]
  Furthermore, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 11 and the partially enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 12, the horizontal table 3 of the cooling device shown in FIG. 10 is formed of a metal plate having irregularities 25 on the lower plate 3C of the metal plate. The upper plate 3A is fixed, and the uneven resin layer 32 is laminated on the upper surface of the upper plate 3A. The horizontal table 3 is also provided with an uneven resin layer 32 having fine unevenness 26 on the surface of an upper plate 3A which is a metal plate having unevenness 25. However, since the upper plate 3A is a metal plate having irregularities 25, a resin layer having a smooth surface can be coated thereon to provide an irregular resin layer.
[0030]
  The horizontal table 3 is provided with a cooling chamber 27 that allows a cooling fluid to pass between the upper plate 3A and the lower plate 25 by welding the recess 25B of the upper plate 3A to the lower plate 3C. The horizontal platform 3 is cooled by passing a cooling fluid through the cooling chamber 27. The horizontal table 3 is provided with a cooling chamber 27 in which the upper plate 3A and the lower plate 25 are locally welded and hermetically closed between the upper plate 3A and the lower plate 25. Pressurized gas is injected to produce the upper plate 3A as an uneven shape. The upper plate 3A and the lower plate 25 are welded by laser welding or seam welding.
[0031]
  In FIG. 11, a portion indicated by a black dot is a portion where the upper plate 3 </ b> A and the lower plate 25 are locally welded. Furthermore, the horizontal base 3 shown in FIG. 11 connects the upper plate 3 </ b> A and the lower plate 25 with a plurality of linear connecting portions 31, thereby forming the cooling chamber 27 as one continuous flow path. The linear connecting portion 31 is provided by welding the upper plate 3A and the lower plate 25 linearly from both side edges toward the center. The plurality of linear connecting portions 31 are alternately provided on both sides of the horizontal table 3 so that the cooling fluid passes through the cooling chamber 27 as one continuous flow path as indicated by arrows in the figure. I am letting.
[0032]
  The horizontal table 3 can supply a coolant as a cooling fluid to the cooling chamber 27, vaporize the refrigerant in the cooling chamber 27, and forcibly cool the horizontal table 3 with the heat of vaporization of the coolant. Similarly to the air-cooling heat exchanger 8, the horizontal table 3 having this structure provides a refrigerant circulation path with the cooling chamber 27, the compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve. The refrigerant is pressurized by a compressor, liquefied by a condenser, and vaporized by the cooling chamber 27 of the horizontal table 3 to cool the horizontal table 3.
[0033]
  It is also possible to supply a cooling liquid as a cooling fluid to the cooling chamber 27 and forcibly cool the horizontal table 3 with this cooling liquid. The horizontal table 3 that forcibly cools the cooling chamber 27 by flowing a cooling fluid can cool the food S more efficiently through the plastic film 4. A cooling liquid such as a brine liquid is cooled by a cooling device (not shown) provided separately. The cooled coolant is circulated through the cooling chamber 27 of the horizontal table 3. A brine solution or the like that is not cooled below 0 ° C. is used as the coolant. As described above, the cooling device that forcibly cools the horizontal table 3 can efficiently cool the food S transferred on the plastic film 4. Also in this cooling device, a cooling air device 7 is disposed in the cooling chamber 1 to cool the horizontal table 3 while cooling the air. However, the cooling device that supplies and cools the coolant to the cooling chamber 27 of the horizontal base 3 does not necessarily need to be provided with an air cooling heat exchanger in the cooling chamber 1. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, by fixing the cooling fins 14 to the lower surface of the horizontal table 3 and cooling the air with the cooling fins 14, the horizontal table 3 can be used as an air cooling heat exchanger. is there.
[0034]
  Further, the horizontal table 3 of FIGS. 13 and 14 has a plurality of metal rods 28 arranged in parallel on the same plane. As shown in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 14, the metal rod 28 has an uneven resin layer 32 laminated on the surface. The metal rod 28 can be provided with an uneven resin layer 32 having fine unevenness 26 on the surface, or a resin layer having a smooth surface on the surface to form the uneven resin layer 32. The horizontal table 3 has a gap 29 between the metal rods 28. The gap 29 in the horizontal table 3 passes and drops the water generated above. For this reason, water does not accumulate on the horizontal base 3, and water does not adhere the plastic film 4 strongly or freeze. The metal rod 28 can be a metal pipe. The horizontal table 3 is connected to the inside of the metal pipe in an airtight manner to form a cooling chamber 27, and is cooled by flowing a cooling fluid therein. As the cooling fluid, a refrigerant can be used. The refrigerant can be vaporized in the cooling chamber 27 and the horizontal table 3 can be forcibly cooled by the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant. Alternatively, the horizontal base 3 can be forcibly cooled by using a cooling fluid as a cooling liquid and connecting a metal pipe with the cooling liquid.
[0035]
  As shown in FIG. 15, the horizontal base 3 may be a perforated plate in which a large number of through holes are provided in a metal plate such as stainless steel, and an uneven resin layer 32 is laminated on the surface of the perforated plate. The horizontal table 3 is a gap 29 through which water passes. Therefore, the water accumulated on the horizontal table 3 falls through the horizontal table 3 from the through hole. Furthermore, the apparatus which blows cooling air up and down using the horizontal base 3 as a perforated plate can cool food efficiently with cooling air. This is because the cold air directly cools the plastic film 4 and cools the food S placed thereon.
[0036]
  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the horizontal table 3 can fix the cooling fins 14 of the metal plate on the lower surface. In particular, a horizontal platform provided with a cooling chamber inside and forcedly cooled by flowing a cooling fluid therein can cool the air in the cooling chamber efficiently with cooling fins, although not shown. Further, the horizontal table 3 without the cooling chamber is provided with the cooling fins 14 so that the horizontal table 3 can be efficiently cooled by the connection air.
[0037]
  1, 3, 7, 10, and 15, the winding shaft 15 of the plastic film 4 and the plastic film 4 are bent and transferred to separate the food S from the plastic film 4. The folding guide 16 is disposed outside the cooling chamber 1 and the cooled food S is separated from the plastic film 4 outside the cooling chamber 1. Further, in this cooling device, the supply shaft 17 for the plastic film 4 is also disposed outside the cooling chamber 1, and the food S is supplied to the plastic film 4 outside the cooling chamber 1. The cooling device that supplies the food S onto the plastic film 4 outside the cooling chamber 1 and further separates the cooled food S from the plastic film 4 outside the cooling chamber 1 is fixed horizontally inside the cooling chamber 1. The horizontal platform 3 is extended from the entrance to the exit of the plastic film 4. Further, a supply plate 18 and a discharge plate 19 are also fixed horizontally outside the cooling chamber 1 in the same plane as the horizontal table 3.
[0038]
  The cooling device of the present invention is mainly used for cooling loose foods such as minced meat, beans, and corn, but can also be used for cooling liquid foods such as soup and soup stock. As shown in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 2 and 4, this cooling device is provided with side walls 20 on both sides of the horizontal table 3, the horizontal table 3 is formed into a groove shape, and the plastic film 4 is formed into a groove shape thereon. Transport. The plastic film 4 can be transported so as not to leak to both sides by supplying a liquid. The liquid cooled by the plastic film 4 can be crushed and separated on the discharge side.
[0039]
  The plastic film 4 is a thin film having excellent low temperature characteristics such as a polyethylene film and polypropylene. For example, a plastic film 4 having a thickness of 10 to 100 μm, preferably 10 to 50 μm, more preferably 10 to 30 μm is used. Since the plastic film 4 is used once and discarded, a thin film is used as much as possible to reduce the running cost. In addition, the thin plastic film 4 has an advantage that the food S can be efficiently cooled through the horizontal table 3 that is forcibly cooled. However, if the thickness is too thin, the strength will decrease.
[0040]
  The roll of plastic film 4 is mounted on the supply shaft 17 and pulled out to the horizontal table 3. The plastic film 4 passing over the horizontal table 3 is transferred at a constant speed. The plastic film 4 is wound around the winding shaft 15 and passed over the horizontal table 3 at a constant speed. In this cooling mounting, the winding shaft 15 is driven by the servo motor 21. The servo motor 21 rotates the winding shaft 15 in the winding direction at a rotation speed at which the plastic film 4 can be transferred at a constant speed regardless of the winding diameter of the plastic film 4. This cooling device is connected to a take-up cylinder 22 that is mounted so as not to rotate on the take-up shaft 15 so that the leading edge of the plastic film 4 does not slip, and the take-up shaft 15 is driven by a servo motor 21. The servo motor 21 moves the plastic film 4 at a constant speed by reducing the rotation speed of the winding shaft 15 as the winding diameter of the plastic film 4 increases. When the plastic film 4 is wound on the winding cylinder 22 to a predetermined thickness, the winding cylinder 22 is replaced with a new one.
[0041]
  The folding guide 16 separates the cooled food S from the plastic film 4. The folding guide 16 of the cooling device in the figure is a roller 23. The roller 23 moves the plastic film 4 so as to be bent about 180 degrees, and separates the cooled food S from the surface of the plastic film 4. The cooled food S does not adhere to the plastic film 4 after being cooled so firmly. For this reason, the food S can be easily separated from the plastic film 4 by bending the plastic film 4. Since the folding guide 16 can be transferred so as to bend the plastic film 4, it can be made of a metal rod or a metal plate having a small frictional resistance without using a roller. These folding guides 16 make the sliding surface with the plastic film 4 smooth as a smooth surface and preferably constitute the sliding surface with a small frictional resistance such as a fluororesin.
[0042]
  Furthermore, the food S on the plastic film 4 can be separated by scraping with a scraper regardless of the folding guide 16. In addition, the food S can be separated from the plastic film 4 by both the scraper and the folding guide 16. This cooling device separates the food S by elastically pressing the scraper against the plastic film 4 transferred in contact with the folding guide 16.
[0043]
  The folding guide 16 which is the roller 23 can also be used as a driving roller for transferring the plastic film 4 at a constant speed. This cooling device rotates the drive roller at a constant speed to move the plastic film 4 at a constant speed. The take-up shaft 15 takes up the plastic film 4 transferred by the driving roller via the clutch. Furthermore, although not shown, in order to transport the plastic film at a constant speed, the plastic film can be sandwiched and transported by a capstan roller. In this cooling device, the capstan roller is rotated at a constant speed by a servo motor, and the plastic film is transferred at a constant speed. Also in this cooling device, the take-up shaft takes up the plastic film transferred at a constant speed via the clutch.
[0044]
  Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the cooling device of the present invention can be provided with a reversing mechanism 44 that vertically flips the food S that is transferred and cooled by the plastic film 4. The reversing mechanism 44 shown in FIG. 16 is constituted by a folding guide 45 provided in the transfer path of the plastic film 4. The folding guide 45 shown in the figure includes a first guide 45A and a second guide 45B. The first guide 45 </ b> A bends and transfers the plastic film 4 by about 180 degrees, and separates the transferred food S from the surface of the plastic film 4. The second guide 45B causes the plastic film 4 bent by the first guide 45A to be further bent by about 180 degrees and transferred. The folding guide 45 in the figure is a roller. The folding guide 45, which is a roller, has a feature that the plastic film 4 can be transferred while being bent smoothly. However, since the folding guide 16 conveys the plastic film 4 so as to be bent, the folding guide 16 can be made of a metal rod or a metal plate having a small frictional resistance without using a roller. These folding guides make the sliding surface with the plastic film smooth as a smooth surface, and preferably the sliding surface is made of a material having a low frictional resistance such as a fluororesin.
[0045]
  The first guide 45 </ b> A and the second guide 45 </ b> B are arranged with a height difference, and a step is provided on the plastic film 4 that passes through the folding guide 45. Further, this cooling device has a two-stage structure in which the horizontal table 3 is divided into an upper stage and a lower stage at an intermediate portion so that the plastic film 4 having a step can be smoothly transferred. The reversing mechanism 44 causes the food S separated by the first guide 45A to fall at the step portion, and causes the falling food S to be turned upside down and placed on the upper surface of the plastic film 4 that has passed through the second guide 45B. ing. The height difference between the first guide 45A and the second guide 45B is designed to be an optimum distance depending on the size and weight of the food S to be turned upside down. Furthermore, the first guide 45A and the second guide 45B can ideally invert various foods as a structure that can change the height difference and the curvature radius.
[0046]
  Further, the reversing mechanism 44 shown in FIG. 17 includes a reversing scraper 46 that scrapes and separates the food S on the plastic film 4 and moves the separated food S while inclining it so as to be turned upside down. The reversing scraper 46 includes a scraping portion 46A for scraping and separating the food S on the plastic film 4, a standing portion 46C for turning the food S upside down and returning it to the upper surface of the plastic film 4, and a scraping portion 46A. And an inclined portion 46B provided between the upright portion 46C. The reversing scraper 46 shown in the figure forms a scraping portion 46A, an inclined portion 46B, and an upright portion 46C in a shape in which one metal plate is bent and both end portions cross. The reversing scraper 46 can be produced at a low cost as the simplest structure. However, the reversing scraper can be any other shape that can separate and invert the food on the plastic film.
[0047]
  The reverse scraper 46 shown in the figure has a scraping portion 46 </ b> A arranged in a horizontal posture on the same plane as the plastic film 4. The scraping portion 46 </ b> A is inserted between the plastic film 4 and the food S to separate the food S from the plastic film 4. The separated food S is transferred while being inclined along the upper surface of the inclined portion 46B. Although not shown, the food S transferred through the inclined portion 46B moves through the inclined portion 46B while being pushed by the food transferred from the rear. The standing portion 46C is arranged in a posture that is nearly perpendicular to the horizontal table 3, and the food S that has passed through the inclined portion 46C is turned upside down and discharged onto the upper surface of the plastic film 4. The inclined portion 46 </ b> C is provided with a convex portion (not shown) protruding in the direction in which the food S is reversed, so that the food S can be reversed more smoothly. As described above, the reversing mechanism 44 constituted by the reversing scraper 46 has a feature that it can be disposed in the cooling chamber 1 so as to be removable.
[0048]
  Further, although not shown, the reversing mechanism may be a mechanism that lifts the food scraped by the reversing scraper and then reverses the food by turning it 180 degrees to turn the food upside down. This reversing mechanism has the feature that it can be reliably reversed regardless of the size and shape of the food. However, the inversion mechanism is not limited to the above example, and can be any other mechanism that can invert the food transferred by the plastic film.
[0049]
  The above reversing mechanism 44 is disposed, for example, in the middle of the horizontal table 3 or at a position close to the supply side, and reverses the food S that is transferred and cooled by the plastic film 4 upside down. Thus, since the cooling device provided with the reversing mechanism 44 can cool the food S while turning it upside down, it has the feature that the top and bottom surfaces of the food S can be cooled uniformly and can be cooled extremely efficiently. Further, by turning the food S upside down, there is also a feature that moisture can remain between the food S and the plastic film 4, and the lower surface of the food S after cooling can be effectively prevented from being overhumid. .
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
  The food cooling device according to the present invention has an advantage that food can be cooled very hygienically and small food can be efficiently cooled. That is, the cooling device of the present invention has a conveyor arranged in the cooling chamber, a horizontal table, a plastic film arranged so as to be able to move on the horizontal table, and a drive for moving the plastic film. In addition to the structure, a concave and convex resin layer is provided on the surface of the horizontal table that contacts the plastic film, and the top surface is a concave and convex surface. The plastic film is moved onto the concave and convex resin layer to cool the supplied food. Because. As described above, the cooling device for transferring food using a plastic film has various adverse effects caused by the food remaining firmly attached to the belt, like a conventional device for transferring food using a stainless steel belt or a belt having stitches. Can be eliminated. For this reason, the cooling device of the present invention can provide a safe and high-quality food without extremely sanitizing the food and degrading the quality of the food. In particular, the cooling device of the present invention has an advantage that the plastic film can be moved very smoothly because the uneven resin layer is provided on the surface of the horizontal table that contacts the plastic film. Thus, the cooling device that can smoothly move the plastic film can cool the food in a clean state without reducing the yield.
[0051]
  Furthermore, the cooling device of the present invention can effectively prevent the plastic film from strongly adhering to the horizontal base or freezing when restarting after stopping. This is because an uneven resin layer is provided on the surface of the horizontal table that comes into contact with the plastic film so that the upper surface is an uneven surface. Since the horizontal base moves the water accumulated on the concave portion of the uneven surface, it is possible to reliably prevent the water on the horizontal base from coming into contact with the plastic film and strongly adhering or freezing it. For this reason, the cooling device of the present invention can smoothly move the plastic film when stopped and restarted. This also realizes the feature that the running cost can be reduced by using a thin plastic film. This is because the tensile strength required for the plastic film can be lowered because the plastic film can be started with a light tensile force.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a food cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of the food cooling device shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a food cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the food cooling device shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a horizontal base of the food cooling device shown in FIG.
6 is a partially enlarged end view of the horizontal platform shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a food cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a food cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is an exploded perspective view of a horizontal base of the food cooling device shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a food cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a plan view of a horizontal base of the food cooling device shown in FIG.
12 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the horizontal base shown in FIG.
FIG. 13 is a plan view showing another example of a horizontal table.
14 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the horizontal base shown in FIG.
FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of a food cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a side view showing an example of a reversing mechanism disposed on a horizontal base.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing another example of a reversing mechanism arranged on a horizontal base.
[Explanation of symbols]
    1 ... Cooling room
    2 ... Conveyor
    3 ... Horizontal stand 3A ... Upper plate 3B ... Main unit
                              3C ... Lower plate
    4 ... Plastic film
    5 ... Drive mechanism
    6 ... Insulated wall
    7. Cold air device
    8 ... Heat exchanger for air cooling
    9 ... Fan
  10 ... space
  11 ... Expansion valve
  12 ... Condenser
  13 ... Compressor
  14 ... Cooling fin
  15 ... Winding shaft
  16 ... Return guide
  17 ... Supply shaft
  18 ... Supply plate
  19 ... discharge plate
  20 ... sidewall
  21 ... Servo motor
  22 ... Winding cylinder
  23. Roller
  24 ... Uneven surface
  25 ... Concavity and convexity 25A ... Convex part 25B ... Concave part
  26 ... irregularities
  27 ... Cooling chamber
  28 ... Metal rod
  29 ... Gap
  30 ... Spare fan
  31 ... Linear connecting part
  32. Uneven resin layer
  33 ... Packing
  34 ... 鍔
  35 ... Bulkhead
  36 ... Cooling fluid supply machine
  37 ... Storage tank
  38 ... circulation pump
  39 ... Heat exchanger
  40 ... Expansion valve
  41 ... Condenser
  42 ... Compressor
  43 ... circulation pipe
  44 ... Inversion mechanism
  45 ... Folding guide 45A ... First guide 45B ... Second guide
  46 ... Reversing scraper
  47 ... Watering nozzle
    S ... Food

Claims (5)

A cooling device that supplies food (S) on a conveyor (2) disposed in a cooling chamber (1), transfers the supplied food (S) by the conveyor (2), and cools the food (S),
The conveyor (2) has a horizontal base (3), a plastic film (4) arranged so as to be movable on the horizontal base (3), and a drive mechanism for moving the plastic film (4) ( 5)
The horizontal base (3) is provided with an uneven resin layer (32) on the surface that contacts the plastic film (4), and the upper surface is an uneven surface (24),
Further, the horizontal base (3) has an upper plate (3A) which is a metal plate provided with an uneven resin layer (32) , and an unevenness (25) is provided on the upper plate (3A) to provide an unevenness (25). On the upper plate (3A) with an uneven resin layer (32) having an uneven surface (26) finer than the uneven surface (25 ) of the upper plate (3A) ,
Food (S) is supplied onto the plastic film (4) and the plastic film (4) is moved onto the uneven resin layer (32) to cool the supplied food (S). Cooling system.   The food cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the uneven resin layer (32) is a fluororesin layer.   The food cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the uneven resin layer (32) is a silicon resin layer.   The food cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the film thickness of the uneven resin layer (32) is 0.1 to 2 mm.   The conveyor (2) is provided with an inversion mechanism (44) that vertically inverts the food (S) to be transferred, and the inversion mechanism (44) cools the food (S) while being inverted upside down. Food cooling device.

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