JP4194341B2 - Frozen confectionery manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a frozen dessert such as soft cream (soft ice cream).
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this kind of frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a cooling device comprising a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, a cooling cylinder and a cooler equipped in a hopper (mix tank), and this cooling device supplies liquefied refrigerant to the cooler during the manufacture of frozen dessert. The cooling cylinder and hopper are cooled by flowing after reducing the pressure. A beater is attached in the cooling cylinder, and the mix in the cooling cylinder is stirred by the beater while being cooled by a cooler to produce a frozen dessert such as soft cream or sherbet (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-271957
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this case, the mix is stored in a hopper, and the mix is fed from the hopper into the cooling cylinder by a mix feeder. This mix feeder is in the form of a pipe that is open to the atmosphere at the upper end and communicates with the hopper at the lower end of the hopper, and the amount of mix supplied depends on the head difference in the mix feeder.
[0005]
That is, since the supply of the mix from the hopper to the cooling cylinder depends on gravity, there is a drawback that the supply amount is not stable. Moreover, since the mix was previously opened in the raw material bag and poured into the hopper, there was a drawback that a hygienic problem occurred.
[0006]
Therefore, it has been desired to develop a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus that can produce frozen dessert by supplying the mix directly from the raw material bag to the cooling cylinder without depending on gravity and without transferring to the hopper. The present invention has been made to solve the conventional technical problems.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the frozen confectionery manufacturing apparatus of the present invention has a flexible bag main body in which the mix is stored, and an outer space provided on the outer side of the bag main body so that a sealed space can be formed between the bag main body. Cooling box which cools mix raw material bag composed of flexible outer layer body, cooling cylinder which manufactures frozen dessert by cooling mix supplied from mixed raw material bag while stirring, cooling box and cooling cylinder A cooling device, an air compression device, a mix supply passage for communicating the inside of the bag body of the mixed material bag and the inside of the cooling cylinder, and an outer layer body of the mixed material bag containing compressed air generated by the air compression device Since it is equipped with a bag pressurization passage for supplying between the bag body and an air supply passage for supplying compressed air into the cooling cylinder, the mix is kept in a cool box together with the mix raw material bags. Compressed air is supplied between the outer layer of the mixed material bag and the bag body by the air compression device via the bag pressurization passage to forcibly push out the mix from within the bag body, and supplied directly to the cooling cylinder via the mix supply passage And it becomes possible to produce frozen desserts.
[0008]
This makes it possible to eliminate the gravity-dependent mix supply method and realize stable automatic supply of the mix, and to solve the hygiene problem by supplying the mix directly from the mix material bag to the cooling cylinder. Will be able to. Further, since compressed air is supplied into the cooling cylinder via the air supply passage, an overrun of frozen dessert can be obtained without any trouble.
[0009]
In addition, a washing hose is provided in the cold storage, and the connector at the tip of this washing hose is detachably connected to the mixing inlet of the cooling cylinder, so when washing the inside of the cooling cylinder after closing the store, etc. The washing hose is connected to the mix inlet of the cooling cylinder, and the washing water is discharged into the cooling cylinder so that the inside can be washed smoothly.
[0010]
In particular, the connector provided at the tip of the washing hose always closes the tip opening of the washing hose and opens when it is connected to the mix inlet. There is no risk of leakage if cleaning water is accidentally flowed through the cleaning hose before connection. Further, since the connector opens at the tip opening of the cleaning hose by being connected to the mix inlet, connection work is also facilitated.
[0011]
In addition to the above, the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided with an opening / closing plug for controlling the supply of the cleaning water to the cleaning hose. The cleaning can be performed accurately and without hindrance.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram relating to the mix supply of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM, and FIG. 3 is an exploded configuration diagram of components around the mixed material bag 5 of FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an electric circuit of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM.
[0013]
The frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM according to the embodiment is an apparatus for manufacturing and selling frozen confectionery such as soft cream and sherbet (shake) (in the embodiment, soft cream is manufactured). Is provided with a heat insulating cool box 2 for storing and cooling the mixed material bag 5 containing a soft cream material mix (mixed as a frozen confectionery material such as soft cream and sherbet). The interior 2A of the cool box 2 is opened to the front, and the front opening is closed by a heat-insulating door 3 that can be freely opened and closed. When the mix material bag 5 is replaced, the heat-insulating door 3 is opened. Opened. Reference numeral 33 denotes a cool box opening / closing switch for detecting opening / closing of the heat insulating door 3.
[0014]
On the other hand, a cooler cooler 4 and a blower (not shown) are disposed on the ceiling 2A of the cooler 2 and the cool air cooled by the cooler cooler 4 is circulated to the interior 2A by the blower. The mix raw material bag 5 in the cool box 2 and peripheral components described later are kept at a predetermined temperature.
[0015]
In addition, the mix raw material bag 5 is stored in a cover 31 having a predetermined strength such as nylon so as to be freely delivered, and is stored in the cool box 2 in this state. The cover 31 is a back whose upper surface is freely opened and closed by a fastener 32, and a pipe connection portion (not shown) from which an outlet member 22 and a communication port member 24 described later of the mixed material bag 5 are discharged is formed on the lower surface. ing. By storing the mix raw material bag 5 in such a cover 31, the inconvenience that the inside 2 </ b> A of the warehouse is soiled even if the mix leaks from the mix raw material bag 5 is avoided or suppressed. Moreover, since the swelling of the mix raw material bag 5 when compressed air is supplied as described later is restricted by the cover 31, the occurrence of the burst of the mix raw material bag 5 can be avoided.
[0016]
In this cool box 2, there is provided a holding table 6 for holding the mixed material bag 5 obliquely low on the front side. Further, a bag pressurizing pipe 7 (shown in FIG. 2) constituting a bag pressurizing passage is drawn out from the inner wall of the cool box 2 to the interior 2A. Furthermore, a mix inlet 9 of a cooling cylinder 8 (described later) is provided on the bottom wall 2A of the cool box 2 so as to open.
[0017]
Here, the mixed raw material bag 5 is made of, for example, a resin-made bag body 21 that is vapor-deposited with aluminum, and is attached to one surface of the bag body 21, and is made of a hard resin that communicates the inside of the bag body 21 with the outside. An outlet member 22 (sealed with a sealant when not in use), a flexible outer layer body 23 made of the same material as the bag body 21, and the periphery of which is welded to the other surface of the bag body 21; It is composed of a hard resin communication port member 24 attached to one surface of the bag body 21 so as to communicate with a non-adhesive portion described later between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 (FIG. 2).
[0018]
The outer layer body 23 and the bag main body 21 are in a non-adhesive state except for the periphery of the outer layer body 23, whereby a sealed space can be formed between the outer layer body 23 and the bag main body 21. The communication port member 24 communicates between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 (sealed space) and the outside. The mix (indicated by M in FIG. 2) is housed in the bag body 21 and compressed air (indicated by AI in FIG. 2) is supplied to the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21. It is possible.
[0019]
The mix material bag 5 storing the mix as described above is stored in the interior 2A of the cool box 2 while being stored in the cover 31 as described above, and is tilted and held on the holding table 6. At this time, the outlet member 22 and the communication port member 24 are placed so as to face down. By arrange | positioning in this way, even when the mix raw material bag 5 expand | swells, sufficient space | interval can be maintained between ceilings of 2A in the store | chamber interior, and cold air circulation can be ensured. In addition, connection with each pipe or tube is facilitated. One end of the bag pressurizing pipe 7 is detachably connected to the communication port member 24 and communicates between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 (sealed space). In addition, one end of a mix material tube 34 constituting the mix supply passage is detachably connected to the outlet member 22. This mix raw material tube 34 is comprised with the flexible tube.
[0020]
On the other hand, 8 in FIG. 1 is the above-described cooling cylinder in which the mix flowing in from the mix inlet 9 is rotated and stirred by the beater 10 to produce the frozen dessert, and a cylinder cooler 11 is attached around the cylinder. The beater 10 is rotated via a beater motor 12, a drive transmission belt, a speed reducer 13, and a rotating shaft. The manufactured frozen dessert moves the plunger 16 up and down by operating a take-out lever 15 disposed in a freezer door 14 that closes the front opening of the cooling cylinder 8 so that it can be opened and closed, and an extraction path (not shown) is opened. At the same time, the beater 10 is rotated and driven to be taken out. The freezer door 14, the takeout lever 15 and the plunger 16 constitute a frozen dessert extraction unit.
[0021]
The freezer door 14 is made of transparent glass or transparent hard resin and constitutes a see-through portion. Through this freezer door 14, the inside of the cooling cylinder 8 can be seen through from the front. A permanent magnet 36 is embedded in the surface of the freezer door 14 on the main body 1 side, and a reed switch 37 is attached to the front surface of the main body 1 at a position corresponding to the permanent magnet 36. When the freezer door 14 is attached to the main body 1 and the front opening of the cooling cylinder 8 is closed, the contact of the reed switch 37 is closed by the permanent magnet 36, the freezer door 14 is removed, and the front surface of the cooling cylinder 8 is removed. When the opening is opened, the contact of the reed switch 37 is opened.
[0022]
In addition, a proximity switch (proximity sensor) 38 is attached to the front surface of the main body 1 at a position corresponding to the lower side of the take-out lever 15 constituting the frozen dessert extraction unit. The proximity switch 38 detects that a container such as a cone or a paper cup serving as a frozen dessert is placed under the take-out lever 15 using infrared rays or sound waves.
[0023]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a cleaning hose 39 is attached to the inside 2 </ b> A of the cool box 2. The cleaning hose 39 is provided to discharge cleaning water into the cooling cylinder 8 when cleaning the cooling cylinder 8. The cleaning hose 39 passes through the main body 1 and descends and is drawn out to the side. 41. The cleaning water pipe 41 is connected to a water pipe (not shown), and an opening / closing stopper 42 is provided in the middle of the cleaning water pipe 41 so as to be disposed on the front surface of the main body 1. The opening / closing plug 42 always closes the cleaning water pipe 41, and when the cooling cylinder 8 is cleaned, this is turned to open the cleaning water pipe 41.
[0024]
A connector 43 is attached to the tip of the washing hose 39, and this connector 43 can be detachably connected to the mix inlet 9 of the cooling cylinder 8. In this case, the connector 43 always closes the front end opening of the washing hose 39 (therefore, no washing water is discharged even if the opening / closing stopper 42 is opened in this state), and is opened when connected to the mix inlet 9. It has a mechanism. Thereby, the connection work to the mix inlet 9 becomes very easy.
[0025]
A compressor 18, a condenser 20, a four-way valve 19, and the like constituting the cooling device R are housed and installed in the lower part of the main body 1. The four-way valve 19 is used for flowing a high-temperature refrigerant through the cylinder cooler 11 to perform thawing and sterilization.
[0026]
Next, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 27 denotes an air pump that constitutes an air compressor, and a discharge pipe 28 of the air pump 27 is connected to a distributor 46. The distributor 46 is connected to the other end of the bag pressurizing pipe 7. Further, an air circuit sensor (pressure sensor) 47 that constitutes a pressure detecting means and an exhaust pipe 49 are connected to the distributor 46, and the exhaust pipe 49 is connected to an exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 (in the air circuit that constitutes an exhaust means). Air pump protection and air circuit exhaust) are connected.
[0027]
Furthermore, one end of an air circuit 51 as an air supply passage is connected to the distributor 46, whereby the bag pressurizing pipe 7, the air circuit 51, the air pump 27, and the sensor 47 in the air circuit are connected via the distributor 46. And the exhaust pipe 49 communicate with each other in a branched connection. The air circuit 51 is provided with an air circuit opening / closing electromagnetic valve 52 and an air filter 53 as flow path opening / closing means. The air filter 53 captures and removes foreign matters and germs in the compressed air flowing into the air circuit 51.
[0028]
The other end of the mixed material tube 34 and the other end of the air circuit 51 are detachably connected to two inlets of a Y-type mixer 57 as a joining passage member via check valves 54 and 56, respectively. In the check valves 54 and 56, the direction of the Y-type mixer 57 is the forward direction. The outlet of the Y-type mixer 57 is detachably connected to the mix inlet 9 of the cooling cylinder 8. Further, the mixed raw material bag 5, the mixed raw material tube 34, the other end of the air circuit 51, one end of the bag pressurizing pipe 7, and the Y-type mixer 57 are located in the inside 2 </ b> A of the cool box 2 and are kept cold. It will be.
[0029]
Here, a specific connection structure of the bag pressurizing pipe 7, the mix raw material tube 34, the air circuit 51, and the Y-type mixer 57 will be described with reference to FIG. The bag pressurizing pipe 7 is also composed of a flexible tube, and is detachably connected to the communication port member 24 of the mixed material bag 5 by a one-touch joint 61. Further, one end of the mix raw material tube 34 is detachably connected to the outlet member 22 of the mix raw material bag 5 via an O-ring 64 by a connection pipe 63 having a hook shape with a mounting nut 62. Although the outlet member 22 is initially sealed with a sealing material as described above, the O-ring 64 seals the inside of the outlet member 22 by inserting the connecting pipe 63, and at the same time or thereafter, the sealing material is sealed at the tip. Will be broken.
[0030]
The other end of the mix raw material tube 34 is detachably connected to one inlet of the Y-type mixer 57 by a mounting nut 66 and a connection pipe 67 (including a check valve 54). Since the mixed material tube 34 is a flexible tube as described above, it can be easily sealed by being pinched by the pinch 68 and crushed. However, the pinch 68 is left open during normal use.
[0031]
On the other hand, the other end of the air circuit 51 is also detachably connected to the other inlet of the Y-type mixer 57 by a connection pipe 69 (incorporating a check valve 56). The outlet of the Y-type mixer 57 is detachably connected to the mix inlet 9 of the cooling cylinder 8 via an O-ring 71. By detachably connecting in this way, the mixing raw material tube 34, the Y-type mixer 57, the check valves 54 and 56, etc. can be easily cleaned.
[0032]
Next, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 73 denotes a general-purpose microcomputer constituting control means. The input of the microcomputer 73 is connected to the cool box open / close switch 33, the air circuit sensor 47, the proximity switch 38, and the reed switch 37. Has been. Further, a pull-down switch (operation switch) 76 and a cooling switch 77 provided on the control panel 74 of the main body 1 are further connected to the input of the microcomputer 73.
[0033]
Further, the output of the microcomputer 73 includes a frozen dessert manufacturing unit including the compressor 18 of the cooling device R and the beater motor 12 described above, the exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit, the air pump 27, and the air circuit opening / closing electromagnetic valve 52. Is connected. Furthermore, a sold-out display lamp 78 provided on the operation panel 74 is connected to the output of the microcomputer 73.
[0034]
Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When a power plug (not shown) of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM is connected to the power source and turned on, the microcomputer 73 first determines whether or not the contact of the reed switch 37 is closed. If the freezer door 14 is attached and the front opening of the cooling cylinder 8 is closed, and the permanent magnet 36 allows the reed switch 37 to be closed, the operation of the subsequent operation is allowed. If it is not attached and the contact of the reed switch 37 is open, the start of the subsequent operation is prohibited, for example, the sold-out display lamp 78 is blinked to display an alarm. As a result, forgetting to attach the freezer door 14 or preventing the operation from being started in a state where the freezer door 14 is not properly installed is prevented, and the user is prompted to install the freezer door 14.
[0035]
Next, with reference to the timing charts of FIGS. 5 and 6, the manufacture of frozen confectionery and the extraction operation of frozen confectionery will be described. In addition, the mix raw material bag 5 is set in the inside 2A of the cool box 2 while being stored in the cover 31 as described above, and the bag pressurizing pipe 7, the mix raw material tube 34, and the Y-type mixer 57 are also shown in FIG. Connect as you did. However, the air circuit 51 including the check valve 56 is removed from the Y-type mixer 57 at this point when pull-down starts.
[0036]
(1) Initial State In an initial state after turning on the power in FIG. 1, the microcomputer 73 first opens the air circuit exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 for a predetermined period (5 seconds in the embodiment). After that, after setting the mixed material bag 5 in the inside 2A of the cool box 2 as described above and detecting that the heat insulating door 3 is closed based on the detection operation of the cool box opening / closing switch 33, the microcomputer 73 Operates the air pump 27. Thereafter, when the heat insulating door 3 of the cool box 2 is opened, the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump 27 based on the detection operation of the cool box opening / closing switch 33 and exhausts the electromagnetic valve in the air circuit for a predetermined period (5 seconds). 48 is opened and exhausted from the air circuit 51 and the bag pressurizing pipe 7.
[0037]
In other words, the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump 27 when the heat insulating door 3 of the cool box 2 is opened, and allows the operation of the air pump 27 only when the heat insulating door 3 is closed. Thereby, the safety | security at the time of attachment or detachment of the pipe etc. in the case of replacement | exchange of the mix raw material bag 5 improves. In particular, when the heat insulating door 3 is opened, the exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit is opened and the compressed air is discharged from the air circuit 51 or the bag pressurizing pipe 7, so that the compressed air blows out when the pipe is attached or detached. Can be reliably avoided.
[0038]
In this initial state, after the air pump 27 is operated, the sensor 47 in the air circuit communicates with the bag pressurizing pipe 7 (communication with the bag pressurizing pipe 7) even after 3 minutes have passed. If the pressure rise in the air circuit 51 is not detected), the air pump 27 is stopped, and the sold out display lamp 78 is blinked. Alarm.
[0039]
(2) Pull-down mode Next, when the user turns on the pull-down switch 76 (presses for less than 2 seconds), the microcomputer 73 enters the pull-down mode and starts pull-down. In this pull-down mode, the microcomputer 73 operates the air pump 27, and the bag pressurizing pipe 7 communicated by the distributor 46 (the bag body 21 and the outer layer 23 of the mixed material bag 5 communicating with the bag pressurizing pipe 7). Compressed air is supplied into the air circuit 51 (in the pull-down mode, the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 is closed).
[0040]
When the air pressure detected by the air circuit sensor 47 rises to a set value, the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump 27 based on the output of the air circuit sensor 47. After that, the microcomputer 73 starts counting a 3-minute timer (a predetermined value not limited to 3 minutes) that is included in the microcomputer 73.
[0041]
Compressed air is sent from the bag pressurizing pipe 7 into the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed material bag 5 and the bag body 21, whereby a constant pressure is applied to the bag body 21 from the outside. As a result, the volume of the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 is expanded, so that the mix in the bag body 21 is pushed out from the outlet member 22 to the mix material tube 34. The mix pushed out to the mix material tube 34 flows into the cooling cylinder 8 from the mix inlet 9 through the check valve 54 and the Y-type mixer 57. At this time, since the air circuit 51 including the check valve 56 is removed, the air in the cooling cylinder 8 exits from the other outlet of the Y-type mixer 57. As a result, the mix also smoothly flows into the cooling cylinder 8.
[0042]
Since the mix flows out from the mix raw material bag 5, the volume of the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 is expanded, so that the air pressure in the pipe from the bag pressurizing pipe 7 to the distributor 46 is also reduced. When the air circuit sensor 47 detects that the pressure has dropped to a predetermined lower limit value, the microcomputer 73 operates the air pump 27 to resume the supply of compressed air. By repeating this, the microcomputer 74 sets the air pressure (air pressure in the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed material bag 5 and the bag body 21) detected by the air circuit sensor 47 between the set value and the lower limit value (set value). And a predetermined pressure in the range of the lower limit).
[0043]
Thereafter, this is continued until the count of the 3-minute timer is completed, and the mix is fed into the cooling cylinder 8. As a result, the mix is stored in the cooling cylinder 8. When the count of the 3-minute timer is completed, the microcomputer 73 stops the operation of the air pump 27, opens the exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit for 5 seconds, and discharges the compressed air once. The user checks the liquid level of the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 through the transparent freezer door 14, and when the liquid level does not reach the predetermined liquid level, the user continues to hold down the pull-down switch 76 (ON for 2 seconds or more).
[0044]
When the pull-down switch 76 is continuously turned on, the microcomputer 73 operates the air pump 27 to start supplying compressed air again. As described above, the air pressure detected by the sensor 47 in the air circuit (mixed material bag 5 The air pressure in the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 and the bag body 21 is maintained at a set value. As a result, the mix is again fed into the cooling cylinder 8 from the mix material bag 5. When the user visually confirms that the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 has been stored up to a predetermined liquid level and releases the pull-down switch 76 (OFF), the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump pump 27, The air solenoid exhaust valve 48 in the air circuit is opened to discharge the compressed air in the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed material bag 5 and the bag body 21. As a result, the feeding of the mix is stopped, and the mix is stored in the cooling cylinder 8 to a predetermined liquid level.
[0045]
By providing such a pull-down mode in the microcomputer 73, the mix can be smoothly stored in the cooling cylinder 8 when the store is opened. In particular, since the pull-down switch 76 is provided and the pull-down can be started manually, the usability is also improved.
[0046]
In the above embodiment, the mix is stored in the cooling cylinder 8 up to a predetermined liquid level by continuously pressing the 3-minute timer and the pull-down switch 76 while seeing through the cooling cylinder 8 from the freezer door 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a liquid level sensor may be provided at a predetermined liquid level height in the cooling cylinder 8 to automatically control. In this case, the microcomputer 73 enters the pull-down mode based on the operation of the pull-down switch 76, starts pull-down, and at the time when the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 reaches the predetermined liquid level based on the output of the liquid level sensor. Similarly, the air pump 27 is stopped, the exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit is opened, and the feeding of the mix is finished. According to such control, after a pull-down start command is issued by the pull-down switch 76, the operation of storing the mix up to a predetermined liquid level in the cooling cylinder 8 can be automated.
[0047]
After the mix is stored in the cooling cylinder 8 to a predetermined liquid level in this way, the heat insulating door 3 is opened, and the air circuit 51 is connected to the other inlet of the Y-type mixer 57 in the interior 2A of the cool box 2 (reverse) A stop valve 54 is also attached). And the heat insulation door 3 is closed. When the heat insulating door 3 is opened, the microcomputer 73 stops the air pump 27 and opens the exhaust electromagnetic valve 48 in the air circuit to discharge the compressed air as described above, but after the air circuit 51 is connected, the heat insulating door 3 is opened. Is closed, the air pump 27 is operated again to detect the air pressure detected by the air circuit sensor 47 (the bag pressurizing pipe 7 including the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed material bag 5 and the bag body 21 and the distributor 46). And the air pressure to the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 in the air circuit 51) is increased to a set value.
[0048]
When the air pressure detected by the air circuit sensor 47 rises to the set value, the microcomputer 73 opens the air circuit opening / closing electromagnetic valve 52 for a predetermined period (for example, 5 seconds) and compresses the air circuit 51 to the Y-type mixer 57. Bring in air. The pressure of the compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 from the air circuit 51 through the Y-type mixer 57 prevents the mix from flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 from the mix material tube 34.
[0049]
At this time, an overrun of the frozen dessert (a state in which air is mixed in the frozen dessert and the volume increases) is obtained depending on the amount of compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder 8. The liquid level of the mix to be performed can be defined at a predetermined liquid level by operating the pull-down switch 76 or the position of the liquid level sensor, so that the amount of air in the cooling cylinder 8 can also be defined. Will be able to be set.
[0050]
At this time, since the compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 has passed through the air filter 53, foreign matter and germs contained in the air are captured by the air filter 53. As a result, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that foreign matters and various germs are mixed with the compressed air in the cooling cylinder 8, and hygiene management can be reliably performed.
[0051]
Further, since the mixed material tube 34 is provided with a check valve 54, the compressed air that has entered the Y-type mixer 57 from the air circuit 51 passes through the mixed material tube 34 into the bag body 21 of the mixed material bag 5. Inflow inconvenience is prevented.
[0052]
Furthermore, since the mix raw material tube 34 and the air circuit 51 are once merged in the Y-type mixer 57 as described above, they are communicated with the cooling cylinder 8 from the mix inlet 9. Both the supply of the mix and the supply of overrun air can be performed from the single mix inlet 9, and the structure of the cooling cylinder 8 can be simplified.
[0053]
This is the end of the pull-down mode. In this state, the operation of the cooling switch 77 is awaited. The microcomputer 73 counts and holds the pull-down time required to store the mix in the cooling cylinder 8 from the time when the pull-down switch 77 is first operated to the predetermined liquid level as described above. In this case, when the mix is stored up to a predetermined liquid level by visually operating the pull-down switch 77 as described above, the count of the pull-down time is finished when the pull-down switch 77 is finally released, and the liquid as described above. When the mix is stored up to a predetermined liquid level by the position sensor, the pull-down time is counted when the liquid level sensor detects the predetermined liquid level of the mix.
[0054]
(3) Normal Sales Mode Next, moving to FIG. 6, when the cooling switch 77 is turned on (pressed) by the user, the microcomputer 73 confirms that the freezer door 14 is normally attached and closed as described above. As a condition, the compressor 18 of the cooling device R is operated to start the cooling operation. When the compressor 18 is operated, the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 20 is supplied to each of the coolers 4 and 11 through a decompression device (not shown), and evaporates there to exert a cooling action. Thereby, the mix of the mix raw material bag 5 in the inside 2A of the cool box 2 is kept cold. Further, since the components (such as the portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) such as the mixed raw material tube 68 and the other end of the air circuit 51 in the interior 2A and the Y-type mixer 57 are kept cold, they will be described later. In this way, the temperature of the mix and compressed air flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 does not rise in the process of passing through them.
[0055]
On the other hand, in the cooling cylinder 8, the mix is cooled to the freezing temperature by the cylinder cooler 11, and the microcomputer 73 rotates the beater 10 by the beater motor 12, so that the semi-cured frozen dessert ( Soft ice cream) is produced. After that, it becomes a sales standby state.
[0056]
In this state, for example, when the user takes out a cone (container), for example, below the take-out lever 15 and brings it close to the proximity switch 38, the proximity switch 38 detects the cone and turns on (sales detection). When the proximity switch 38 is turned on, the microcomputer 73 starts counting the timer for sales detection 3 seconds (a predetermined period not limited to 3 seconds) that the microcomputer 73 has as its function. When the timer continues counting for 3 seconds, that is, when the proximity switch 38 continuously detects the cone for 3 seconds, the microcomputer 73 rotates the beater 10. When the user operates the take-out lever 15, the plunger 16 is raised as described above, so that the frozen dessert (soft cream) is pushed out by the beater 10 into an extraction path (not shown) and extracted into a cone.
[0057]
As described above, since the rotation of the beater 10 is controlled using the proximity switch 38, there is no need to provide a take-off switch using an arm that interlocks with the vertical movement of the plunger 16 as in the prior art, and the number of parts can be reduced. Since the mechanism is simplified, failure is less likely to occur. In addition, since the beater 10 is rotated when a cone is detected continuously for a predetermined period (3 seconds), a malfunction that occurs when a hand is accidentally held near the proximity switch 8 is prevented. it can.
[0058]
If the extraction lever 15 is returned, the plunger 16 descends and the extraction path is blocked. If the cone is separated from the proximity switch 38, the microcomputer 73 stops the beater 10. Thereby, extraction of frozen dessert stops. Since the pressure is reduced by extracting the frozen dessert from the cooling cylinder 8, it is cooled from the bag main body 21 of the mix raw material bag 5 through the mix raw material tube 34, the check valve 54 and the Y-type mixer 57 from the mix inlet 9. The mix flows into the cylinder 8 and is replenished.
[0059]
In this case, since the air circuit 51 is provided with the check valve 56, the inconvenience of the mix entering the Y-type mixer 57 from the mix raw material tube 34 into the air circuit 51 at this time is avoided. Therefore, it is not necessary to clean the air circuit 51 upstream of the check valve 56.
[0060]
On the other hand, the microcomputer 73 opens the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 for b seconds (predetermined period) after a second (delay time) from the sales detection. When the air circuit 51 is opened by the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52, the mix from the mix material tube 34 to the cooling cylinder 8 is performed by the pressure of the compressed air flowing from the air circuit 51 through the Y-type mixer 57 into the cooling cylinder 8. Inflow is blocked and stopped as before. That is, the mix can be supplemented from the mix material tube 34 into the cooling cylinder 8 by opening the air circuit opening / closing electromagnetic valve 52 with a delay from the start of extraction of the frozen dessert from the cooling cylinder 8.
[0061]
In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the air circuit opening / closing electromagnetic valve 52 is continuously opened for b seconds, but the air circuit opening / closing electromagnetic valve 52 may be opened / closed intermittently a plurality of times after a second.
[0062]
Here, the replenishment amount of the mix at this time is determined by the delay time of a seconds, and the amount of the mix flowing into the cooling cylinder 8 during this delay time varies depending on the viscosity of the mix. That is, when the viscosity of the mix is high at the same delay time, the replenishment amount decreases, and when the viscosity is low, the replenishment amount increases. On the other hand, when the viscosity of the mix is high, the time required for the pull-down described above (pull-down time) becomes long, and when the viscosity is low, the time becomes short.
[0063]
Therefore, based on the pull-down time counted and held as described above, the microcomputer 73 extends the delay time of a seconds when the pull-down time is long, and shortens it when the pull-down time is short. As a result, the amount of the mix replenished into the cooling cylinder 8 with the extraction of the frozen dessert can be made substantially constant regardless of the viscosity of the mix. And a lack of mixing in the cooling cylinder 8 can be avoided.
[0064]
Here, the microcomputer 73 performs ON / OFF control of the air pump 27 so as to maintain the pressure detected by the air circuit sensor 47 at the set value described above. With the extraction of the frozen dessert as described above, the mix flows out from the mix raw material bag 5, and the pressure detected by the air circuit sensor 47 gradually increases as air flows into the cooling cylinder 8 from the air circuit 51. Although the pressure decreases, the pressure drops to the lower limit after approximately five extractions, and the air pump 27 is operated.
[0065]
Therefore, in most cases except for an extremely rare situation where extraction is performed six times or more continuously, the air pump 27 is not operated while the air circuit opening / closing electromagnetic valve 52 is opened for b seconds as described above. Therefore, during this b seconds, the compressed air in the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed material bag 5 and the bag body 21 enters the air circuit 51 via the bag pressurizing pipe 7 and the distributor 46, and the air It flows into the cooling cylinder 8 through the circuit opening / closing electromagnetic valve 52, the air filter 53 and the Y-type mixer 57.
[0066]
The compressed air in the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mix raw material bag 5 and the bag main body 21 is air cooled in the interior 2 </ b> A of the cool box 2. That is, since the compressed air having a low temperature is supplied from the air circuit 51 into the cooling cylinder 8, the volume is not bulky, which is advantageous for overrun.
[0067]
Moreover, by sealing the air pressure in the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed material bag 5 and the bag body 21 using the air pump 27 and the sensor 47 in the air circuit in this way, the sealed space between them is sealed. Since the volume is increased and the mix stored in the bag main body 21 is pushed out to the mix raw material tube 34, automatic supply of the mix from the bag main body 21 to the cooling cylinder 8 can be realized. This eliminates the gravity-dependent mix supply system that uses the mix supply pipe as in the prior art, and enables stable automatic supply of the mix. The mix is directly cooled from the mix material bag 5 to the cooling cylinder 8. By supplying to, hygiene problems can be solved.
[0068]
Further, the air pressure in the sealed space between the outer layer body 23 of the mixed material bag 5 and the bag body 21 is set to a predetermined pressure between the set value and the lower limit value by using the air pump 27 and the air circuit sensor 47 in this way. The mix is pushed out from the bag body 21 to the mix material tube 34 by the air pressure and supplied to the cooling cylinder 8 and the air circuit opening / closing solenoid valve 52 is opened to allow the compressed air from the air circuit 51 to flow in. Accordingly, the replenishment of the mix from the mix raw material tube 34 is stopped, so that it is not necessary to provide an electromagnetic valve or the like for controlling the supply of the mix on the mix raw material tube 34 side. This makes the cleaning operation extremely easy.
[0069]
(4) When sold out When the above-described sales operation is performed and the mix in the bag body 21 of the mix raw material bag 5 is lost, there is no mix to be replenished even if the frozen dessert is extracted after the sale is detected. The change in pressure detected by the in-circuit sensor 47 does not occur or becomes extremely small. In the embodiment, when there is no change in pressure after the sales are detected, the microcomputer 73 determines that the selling is out and turns on the sold-out display lamp 78 continuously (ON). Further, the operation of the air pump 27 is also stopped.
[0070]
(5) Bag replacement When the user confirms that the mix is sold out by turning on the sold-out display lamp 78 and opens the heat insulating door 3 for replacement, the microcomputer 73 sets the air circuit exhaust solenoid valve 48 for 5 seconds as described above. Open to discharge compressed air. Thereafter, the bag pressurizing pipe 7 and the mix raw material tube 34 are removed, and the empty mixed raw material bag 5 is taken out. At that time, the mix raw material tube 34, the mounting nuts 66 and 62, the connection pipe 63 and the O-ring 64 are cleaned. And after setting the new mix raw material bag 5 in the interior 2A and connecting the bag pressurizing pipe 7 and the mix raw material tube 34, when the heat insulating door 3 is closed, the microcomputer 73 again turns the air pump 27 into the air pump 27. And the air pressure detected by the air circuit sensor 47 is increased to a set value to enter a sales standby state.
[0071]
Here, when the mix remains in the mix raw material bag 5 at the time of closing the store, it is kept cold in the cooler 2A as it is and used for the next business day. In that case, first, the mix raw material tube 34 which is a flexible tube is pinched by the pinch 68 and sealed. This prevents the mix from flowing out of the bag body 21. Thereafter, the mounting nut 66 of the mix material tube 34 is removed, and the mix material tube 34 is removed from the Y-type mixer 57. The bag pressurizing pipe 7 is also removed from the communication port member 24.
[0072]
Next, as shown in FIG. 7, a sterilization container 79 in which alcohol liquid or the like is stored is prepared, and the cold storage chamber 2 is detachably connected to the mouth of the sterilization container 79 with the mounting nut 66 at the end of the sterilization container 79. Keep it cool in 2A. Thereby, the mix raw material bag 5 can be stored in the inside 2A of the cool box 2 in a hygienic state.
[0073]
Even if the sterilization container 79 is not used, the mixing raw material tube 34 may be sealed with the pinch 68, the mounting nut 66 may be removed, and the tip of the tube 34 may be sterilized with alcohol and stored in the storage 2A.
[0074]
Further, it is necessary to clean the cooling cylinder 8 and each component of the mix supply path when the store is closed. In that case, the power plug is first removed to stop the operation. Next, as described above, the mix raw material tube 34 which is a flexible tube is pinched and sealed. And after removing the attachment nut 66 of the mix raw material tube 34 connected to the mix raw material bag 5 from the connection pipe 67 of the Y type mixer 57, the Y type mixer 57 is also removed from the mix inlet 9. Then, the connection pipes 67 and 69, the check valves 54 and 56, and the O-ring 71 are removed from the Y-type mixer 57 and disassembled, and the Y-type mixer 57, the connection pipes 67 and 69, the check valves 54, 56, and O are disassembled. Wash the ring 71.
[0075]
On the other hand, when cleaning the cooling cylinder 8, the connector 43 at the tip of the cleaning hose 39 disposed in the interior 2 </ b> A is connected to the mix inlet 9. When the opening / closing plug 42 is opened, cleaning water is supplied from the cleaning hose 39 into the cooling cylinder 8. The beater 10 is rotated in a state where the supplied cleaning water is accumulated, and the frozen dessert adhering and remaining in the cooling cylinder 8 is washed with the cleaning water, and the plunger 16 is opened to remove the cleaning water from the cooling cylinder 8 to the outside. Is discharged.
[0076]
In this case, the connector 43 at the tip of the cleaning hose 39 is always closed at the tip opening of the hose, so even if the open / close plug 42 is accidentally operated without being connected to the mix inlet 9, The washing water does not leak into the inside 2A. When the cleaning in the cooling cylinder 8 is completed, the connector 43 is removed from the mix inlet 9, and the cleaned Y-type mixer 57 is connected to prepare for the next business day.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, a flexible bag main body in which a mix is stored, and a sealed space is formed between the bag main body and the bag main body. A cool box that cools the mixed raw material bag composed of the outer layer body having flexibility, a cooling cylinder that manufactures frozen dessert by cooling the mix supplied from the mixed raw material bag while stirring, and a cold box And a cooling device for cooling the cooling cylinder, an air compression device, a mix supply passage for communicating the bag body of the mixed material bag and the inside of the cooling cylinder, and the compressed air generated by the air compression device Since it has a bag pressurization passage for supplying between the outer layer body of the bag and the bag body, and an air supply passage for supplying compressed air into the cooling cylinder, the mix raw material bags are all in the cool box. The mix is kept cold, compressed air is supplied between the outer layer body of the mixed material bag and the bag body through the bag pressurizing passage by an air compressor, and the mix is forcibly pushed out from the bag body, and the mix supply passage is passed through. It can be directly supplied to the cooling cylinder to produce the frozen dessert.
[0078]
This makes it possible to eliminate the gravity-dependent mix supply method and realize stable automatic supply of the mix, and to solve the hygiene problem by supplying the mix directly from the mix material bag to the cooling cylinder. Will be able to. Further, since compressed air is supplied into the cooling cylinder via the air supply passage, an overrun of frozen dessert can be obtained without any trouble.
[0079]
In addition, a washing hose is provided in the cold storage, and the connector at the tip of this washing hose is detachably connected to the mixing inlet of the cooling cylinder, so when washing the inside of the cooling cylinder after closing the store, etc. The washing hose is connected to the mixing inlet of the cooling cylinder, and the washing water is discharged into the cooling cylinder so that the inside can be washed smoothly.
[0080]
In particular, the connector provided at the tip of the washing hose always closes the tip opening of the washing hose and opens when it is connected to the mix inlet. Even if cleaning water is accidentally flowed into the cleaning hose before connection, there is no risk of leakage. Further, since the connector opens at the tip opening of the cleaning hose by being connected to the mix inlet, connection work is also facilitated.
[0081]
In addition to the above, the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided with an opening / closing plug for controlling the supply of the cleaning water to the cleaning hose. The cleaning can be performed accurately and without hindrance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially longitudinal perspective view of a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram relating to mix supply of the frozen confectionery manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1;
3 is an exploded configuration diagram of parts around a mixed material bag in FIG. 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the frozen confectionery manufacturing apparatus of FIG.
5 is a timing chart for explaining operations of frozen confectionery production and frozen confectionary extraction operation from the supply of the mix in the frozen confectionery production apparatus of FIG. 1;
6 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of frozen confectionery production and frozen confectionary extraction from the mix supply of the frozen confectionery manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the mixed material bag is kept cold after the store is closed.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Cold storage 3 Thermal insulation door 4 Cold storage cooler 5 Mixed material bag 7 Bag pressurization pipe (bag pressurization passage)
8 Cooling cylinder 9 Mix inlet 10 Beater 11 Cylinder cooler 14 Freezer door (see-through part)
21 Bag Body 22 Outlet Member 23 Outer Layer 24 Communication Port Member 27 Air Pump (Air Compressor)
31 Cover 33 Cold storage open / close switch 34 Mix material tube (mix supply passage)
37 Freezer door switch 38 Proximity switch 39 Washing hose 42 Opening and closing plug 43 Connector 47 Air circuit sensor (pressure detection means)
48 Exhaust solenoid valve in air circuit (exhaust means)
51 Air circuit (air supply passage)
52 Air circuit open / close solenoid valve (channel open / close means)
53 Air filter 54, 56 Check valve 57 Y-type mixer (merging passage member)
68 Pinch 73 Microcomputer (control means)
76 Pull-down switch (operation switch)
79 Sterilization container SM Frozen dessert manufacturing equipment R Cooling equipment

Claims (2)

A mix comprising a flexible bag main body in which the mix is stored, and a flexible outer layer body provided outside the bag main body and capable of forming a sealed space with the bag main body. A cold storage for keeping the material bags cold,
A cooling cylinder for producing a frozen dessert by cooling while stirring the mix supplied from the mix raw material bag;
A cooling device for cooling the cold storage and the cooling cylinder;
An air compressor,
A mix supply passage for communicating the inside of the bag body of the mix raw material bag and the inside of the cooling cylinder;
A bag pressurizing passage for supplying compressed air generated by the air compressor between the outer layer body of the mixed material bag and the bag body;
An air supply passage for supplying the compressed air into the cooling cylinder;
A cleaning hose provided in the cold storage ;
A connector provided at the tip of the washing hose and detachably connected to the mix inlet of the cooling cylinder;
The frozen confectionery manufacturing apparatus , wherein the connector always closes the opening of the tip of the washing hose and is opened when connected to the mix inlet .   2. The frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an opening / closing stopper for controlling supply of cleaning water to the cleaning hose.

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