JP4242789B2 - Belt cooler device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a belt cooler device and a method for using the belt cooler device, and more particularly, to a belt cooler device including a pair of cooling conveyance belts facing in the vertical direction and a method for using the belt cooler device.

  Conventionally, food materials such as curry, stew, hayashi, hashed beef, white roux, consommé or potage soup materials, which are provided with a pair of endless cooling conveyor belts facing vertically, contain oil and solidify by cooling A belt cooler device for cooling is known. An example of such a belt cooler device is disclosed in Patent Document 1, and FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the belt cooler device disclosed in Patent Document 1. Hereinafter, such a belt cooler apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

The belt cooler device 200 includes an endless upper cooling conveyance belt 206 having an outward path portion 202 and a return path portion 204, and an endless outer surface 210 having an outward path outer surface 210 facing the forward path outer surface 208 of the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 in the vertical direction. A lower cooling conveyance belt 212. The inner surface 214 of the forward path portion 202 of the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 is formed along an inclined portion 220 inclined downward from the inlet side pulley 216 along the advancing direction indicated by an arrow 218, and along the outlet side pulley 222 following the lower end portion 220a. And a reservoir 224 directed upward.
Further, the belt cooler device 200 cools two sprinkler troughs 226 that supply cooling water for cooling the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 to the inclined portion 220 of the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 and an inner surface 228 of the lower cooling conveyance belt 212. A cooling water spray nozzle 230 for supplying cooling water, two water collecting weirs 232 arranged along the inclined portion 220 of the upper cooling conveyance belt 206, and the entire circumference of both sides of the inner surface 214 of the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 Cooling water is provided from an inner surface partitioning rope 234 provided to prevent the cooling water supplied to the inner surface 214 of the forward path portion 202 of the upper cooling conveyor belt 206 from flowing out from both sides, and the suction port 236 facing the reservoir portion 224. And a siphon tube 238 for sucking out a suction pump 240. It has been continued.

  The belt cooler device 200 operates as follows. Cooling with the upper and lower cooling conveyor belts 206 and 212 cooled by supplying cooling water to the inner surfaces 214 and 228 of the upper and lower cooling conveyor belts 206 and 212 by the sprinkler trough 226 and the cooling water spray nozzle 230. The food material M to be conveyed is conveyed while being sandwiched between the outer path portion outer surface 208 of the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 and the outer path portion outer surface 210 of the lower cooling conveyance belt 212. The food material M is cooled and solidified while being conveyed. The cooling water supplied to the inclined portion 220 of the forward path portion 202 of the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 by the sprinkler trough 226 cools the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 while flowing downward along the inclined portion 220. Since the inner surface partition rope 234 is provided across both sides of the inner surface 214 of the upper cooling and conveying belt 206, the cooling water does not flow out in the width direction outside of the inner surface partition rope 234. Next, most of the cooling water is drained by the water collecting weir 232, and the remaining cooling water is accumulated in the reservoir portion 224 that follows the lower end portion 220 a of the inclined portion 220, and the accumulated cooling water is siphoned from the suction port 236. 238 sucked out. Accordingly, the cooling water is prevented from overflowing beyond the inner surface partition rope 234, and as a result, the cooling water supplied to the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 is prevented from dripping onto the lower cooling conveyance belt 212.

JP-A-60-196578

However, in the above-described conventional belt cooler device 200, particularly when the flow rate of the cooling water is increased in order to increase the cooling capacity, the cooling water may overflow beyond the inner surface partitioning rope 234 of the upper cooling conveyance belt 206. . This will be described below.
In the conventional belt cooler device 200 described above, the flow rate of the cooling water in the siphon tube 238 depends on the structure of the siphon tube 238, such as the suction port height, the outlet height, and the tube cross-sectional area. It is difficult to increase the cooling water flow rate itself. In addition, the cooling water flow rate itself in the siphon tube 238 is not so large that the peripheral weir 232 can be removed. Further, in order to drain the cooling water through the siphon tube 238, the cooling water level on the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 must be higher than the mouthpiece 236. Furthermore, even if the cooling water level is higher than the mouthpiece 236, the siphon tube 238 needs to be filled with cooling water. For this reason, the conventional belt cooler device 200 sucks the cooling water into the siphon pipe 238 by using the ejector effect caused by the operation of the suction pump 240 after the cooling water level becomes higher than the suction port 236. The tube 238 is filled with cooling water.
Because of this configuration, the cooling water level on the upper cooling conveyor belt 206 must always be somewhat higher than the level of the mouthpiece 236 in order for the siphon tube 238 to operate stably. This is because the margin between the cooling water level and the level of the inner surface partition rope 234 is relatively small in order to prevent the cooling water from overflowing beyond the inner surface partition rope 234 even if the cooling water level changes. , Thereby making the actual operation of the siphon tube 238 unstable. As a result, when the cooling water flow rate is increased, the drainage of the cooling water by the siphon tube 238 cannot catch up, and finally the cooling water overflows beyond the inner surface partition rope 234. The overflowing cooling water hangs down on the outer surface of the lower cooling conveyance belt 212, that is, the conveyance surface, and mixes with the food material M that is being cooled, thereby deteriorating quality and causing sanitary problems.
Therefore, a belt cooler device that can reliably drain the cooling water from the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 is desirable regardless of the cooling water flow rate and the cooling water level.

  In addition, after the cooling process by the belt cooler device is completed, in order to clean and / or sterilize the upper cooling transport belt 206, a cleaning liquid or sterilization steam is supplied to the return path portion 204 of the upper cooling transport belt 206. Even in such a case, the lower cooling conveyance belt 212 is contaminated when moisture from the cleaning liquid or the sterilization vapor that has become dirty due to cleaning or sterilization falls from the upper cooling conveyance belt 206 to the conveyance surface of the lower cooling conveyance belt 212. Therefore, it is desirable that moisture from the cleaning liquid or steam can be surely drained from the upper cooling conveyance belt 206.

  Furthermore, after completion of the cooling process by the belt cooler device, deposits such as water due to condensation may adhere to the outer surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt 206. When the belt cooler device 200 is restarted, if such deposits remain on the upper cooling conveyance belt 206, the deposits hang down or fall on the conveyance surface of the lower cooling conveyance belt 212 and contaminate the lower cooling conveyance belt 212. In addition, the food material M may be mixed. For this reason, it is desirable to remove the adhering matter so as to prevent the adhering matter from dripping or dropping on the lower cooling and conveying belt 212.

The object of the present invention is as follows.
(1) The liquid on the surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt can be reliably prevented from dripping or dropping on the lower cooling conveyance belt, and the hygiene of the conveyance surface of the lower cooling conveyance belt can be ensured. It is an object of the present invention to provide a belt cooler device for cooling possible food materials and a method for using the same.
(2) The cooling water supplied to the inner surface of the forward path portion of the upper cooling conveyance belt can be easily and reliably prevented from dripping onto the lower cooling conveyance belt, and the hygiene of the conveyance surface of the lower cooling conveyance belt is ensured. It is an object of the present invention to provide a belt cooler device that cools food materials that can be used.
(3) It is possible to easily and surely prevent moisture from the cleaning liquid or steam supplied to the outer surface of the return path portion of the upper cooling conveyance belt from dripping onto the lower cooling conveyance belt. An object of the present invention is to provide a belt cooler device that cools food materials that can ensure hygiene.
(4) It is possible to reliably prevent the adhering substance such as moisture adhering to the outer surface of the forward path portion of the upper cooling conveyance belt from dripping or dropping on the lower cooling conveyance belt. It is an object of the present invention to provide a belt cooler device for cooling a food material capable of ensuring hygiene and a method for using the belt cooler device.

In order to achieve the above object (1), a belt cooler device according to the present invention is a belt that cools a food material while conveying the food material consisting of one or more selected from sauces, soups and dashi from above and below. An endless upper cooling conveyor belt having an outward path portion and a backward path portion, an inclined portion that is inclined along the traveling direction, and a pool portion that is continuous with a lower end portion of the inclined portion, An endless lower cooling and conveying belt having an outer surface that faces the outer surface of the forward path portion of the cooling and conveying belt in the vertical direction and sandwiches food material therebetween, and the inclined portion and / or the pool portion. The liquid supply means for supplying liquid to the upper cooling transport belt and the entire circumference of both sides of the upper cooling conveyor belt are provided to prevent the liquid supplied to the inclined portion and / or the reservoir from flowing out from both sides. And partition means in order, and the mouthpiece facing the reservoir, a diaphragm pump means for sucking the liquid supplied to the inclined portion and / or the reservoir from the mouth, characterized in that it has a.
In the present invention configured as described above, the food material to be cooled is transported while being sandwiched between the forward path outer surface of the upper cooling transport belt and the forward path outer surface of the lower cooling transport belt, which are cooled in advance, Cooled while being transported. When liquid such as cooling water or cleaning liquid is supplied by liquid supply means to the forward path part of the upper cooling transport belt or the inclined part of the backward path part and / or the reservoir part continuous to the lower end part of this inclined part, the liquid is moved in the belt traveling direction. It flows downward along the inclined portion that inclines and accumulates in the reservoir. By the partitioning means provided over the entire circumference of both sides of the upper cooling and conveying belt, the liquid supplied to the inclined part and / or the reservoir is prevented from flowing out to the outside in the width direction from the partitioning means.

  Further, the liquid accumulated in the reservoir is sucked out by the diaphragm pump means from the suction port facing the reservoir. The diaphragm pump means is a pump means capable of simultaneously sucking out air and liquid, and improves the complexity of the structure of a conventional belt cooler device in which the present applicant employs a water collecting weir, a siphon pipe and a suction pump, In addition, the cooling water draining operation of the conventional belt cooler device is adopted in order to overcome the disadvantage that the cooling water flow rate and the cooling water level are unstable. By adopting the diaphragm pump means, the liquid accumulated in the reservoir can be sucked out with a simple structure regardless of the flow rate of the supplied liquid and the liquid level in the upper cooling conveyor belt, and as a result, the upper cooling conveyor belt. It is possible to easily and reliably prevent the liquid supplied to the lower cooling / conveying belt from sagging and to ensure the hygiene of the outer surface of the lower cooling / conveying belt, that is, the conveying surface.

  Food ingredients to be cooled include soups such as curry, stew, hayashi, hashed beef, white sauce and other soups, Japanese style soup, Western-style consomme, potage, and Chinese-style pork bone soup It is a food material comprising at least one selected from dashi, such as for Japanese-style boiled food, oden, Western-style pilaf, bouillon, Chinese fried rice, chicken stock. These food materials contain components such as binders such as oil, starch, saccharides, dextrin, etc., are supplied to the belt cooler device in a fluidized state, cooled by the belt cooler device, and flakes, granules, etc. It is a food material that solidifies into a paste. In general, these food ingredients are provided in the form of concentrates, i.e. sauce roux, soup soup stock, dashi flavor seasonings and the like. According to the belt cooler device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the liquid supplied to the upper cooling conveyance belt from dripping onto the lower cooling conveyance belt and to ensure the hygiene of the outer surface of the lower cooling conveyance belt, that is, the conveyance surface. Therefore, it becomes possible to provide the food material with high quality.

In the belt cooler device according to the present invention, a flange made of an elastic material is preferably provided around the mouthpiece, and the flange has a groove extending between the mouthpiece and the peripheral edge of the flange.
In the belt cooler device of the present invention having such a configuration, since the flange provided around the mouthpiece is formed of an elastic material, even if the flange and the upper cooling transport belt that is running contact, The cooling conveyor belt is not damaged. For this reason, it can arrange | position so that a flange and a suction mouth may approach so that it may contact an upper cooling conveyance belt. Moreover, since the groove | channel extended between the peripheral edge and the suction mouth is provided in the flange, even if the flange and the upper side cooling conveyance belt are contacting, a liquid can be sucked out through a groove | channel. As a result, the liquid accumulated in the reservoir can be sucked out with almost no residue.

In order to achieve the above object (2), in the first aspect of the belt cooler apparatus according to the present invention, preferably, the inclined portion and the reservoir portion are provided on the inner surface of the forward path portion of the upper cooling conveyance belt, and the liquid supply means is The cooling water supply means supplies cooling water for cooling the upper cooling conveyance belt to the inclined portion, and the partition means is an inner surface partition means provided on the inner surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt.
In the belt cooler device of the present invention having such a configuration, when cooling water for cooling the upper cooling conveyance belt is supplied to the inclined portion of the inner surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt by the cooling water supply means, the cooling water is When flowing downward along the inclined portion, the upper cooling conveyor belt is cooled and then accumulated in the reservoir. Since the inner surface partitioning means is provided on the inner surface of the upper cooling and conveying belt, the cooling water is prevented from flowing out from both sides of the upper cooling and conveying belt. The cooling water collected in the reservoir is sucked out by a diaphragm pump means that can suck out air and liquid at the same time. For this reason, it is no longer necessary to provide a water collecting weir, siphon pipe and suction pump as in the prior art belt cooler device, and the belt cooler device of the present invention has a simple structure, a cooling water flow rate and a cooling water level. Regardless of the change, the cooling water can be reliably drained. This reliably prevents the cooling water from dripping onto the lower cooling conveyance belt, and as a result, deterioration of the quality of the food material due to mixing of the cooling water into the material is prevented and hygiene is ensured.

In the first aspect of the belt cooler device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the inclined portion is inclined downward in the traveling direction of the upper cooling conveyance belt.
In addition, preferably, it further includes outer surface partitioning means disposed on both sides of the outer surface of the upper cooling and conveying belt on the outer side in the width direction than the lower cooling and conveying belt. In the belt cooler device of the present invention having such a configuration, even when the cooling water of the upper cooling conveyance belt overflows beyond the inner surface partitioning means, the cooling water flows from the inner surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt to the outer surface. After wrapping around, it falls down through the outer surface partitioning means arranged on the outer side in the width direction than the lower cooling and conveying belt. For this reason, it can prevent more reliably that cooling water droops to a lower cooling conveyance belt.

In order to achieve the above object (3), in the second aspect of the belt cooler device according to the present invention, preferably, the inclined portion and the reservoir portion are provided on the outer surface of the return path portion of the upper cooling conveyance belt, and the liquid supply means is Cleaning liquid vapor supply means for supplying cleaning liquid and / or vapor for cleaning the outer surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt to the inclined portion and / or the reservoir, and the partition means is an outer surface provided on the outer surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt It is a partition means.
In the belt cooler of the present invention having such a configuration, the cleaning liquid for cleaning the outer surface of the upper cooling transport belt is supplied to the inclined portion and / or the reservoir of the outer surface of the return path of the upper cooling transport belt by the cleaning liquid vapor supply means. In this case, the cleaning liquid flows downward along the inclined portion, accumulates in the reservoir, and spreads in the width direction. Thereby, the outer surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt is washed over the entire width direction. Since the outer surface partitioning means is provided on the outer surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt, the cleaning liquid is prevented from flowing out from both sides of the upper cooling conveyance belt. The cleaning liquid stored in the reservoir is sucked out by a diaphragm pump means that can suck out air and liquid at the same time. For this reason, the cleaning liquid can be sucked out with a simple structure. Thereby, it is possible to easily and reliably prevent the cleaning liquid from dripping onto the lower cooling conveyance belt. When supplying steam to the outer surface of the upper cooling transport belt, it is the same as when supplying the cleaning liquid except that the steam is condensed into moisture by the upper cooling transport belt. For this reason, also when supplying vapor | steam, there can exist an effect similar to the effect in the case of supplying the washing | cleaning liquid mentioned above.

In the second aspect of the belt cooler apparatus according to the present invention, preferably, a part of the inclined portion is inclined upward along the traveling direction of the upper cooling conveyance belt, and the liquid supplied to the inclined portion or the reservoir is stored in the reservoir. Air blow means for pushing is further provided.
In the belt cooler device of the present invention having such a configuration, since a part of the inclined portion is inclined upward along the traveling direction of the upper cooling conveyance belt, the cleaning liquid which is to be conveyed upward by the upper cooling conveyance belt Moisture from steam and steam flows downward toward the reservoir due to gravity. Moreover, the water by a washing | cleaning liquid or a vapor | steam can be rapidly pushed to a reservoir part by an air blow means. Thereby, the water | moisture content by the supplied washing | cleaning liquid and vapor | steam can be sucked out rapidly and reliably. In particular, it is preferable to arrange the air blowing means in an inclined portion that is inclined upward along the traveling direction of the upper cooling conveyance belt.

In order to achieve the above object (4), the belt cooler device of the present invention cools the food material while conveying the food material composed of one or more selected from sauces, soups and dashi from above and below. An endless upper cooling conveyance belt having an outward path portion and a return path portion, and an outer surface of the forward path portion of the upper cooling conveyance belt so as to vertically face and sandwich food material therebetween An endless lower cooling conveyor belt having an outer surface that is an outward path, an inlet-side scraper that contacts the outer surface of the inlet-side end of the upper cooling conveyor belt, and an outlet-side end of the upper cooling conveyor belt during the cooling process And an exit-side scraper that separates from the outer surface of the exit-side end during a process other than the cooling process.
In the belt cooler device according to the present invention configured as described above, the food material to be cooled is sandwiched between the outer surface of the forward path portion of the upper cooling transport belt and the outer surface of the forward path portion of the lower cooling transport belt which are cooled in advance. It is conveyed while being cooled. During the cooling process, the outlet side scraper is brought into contact with the outlet side end of the upper cooling conveyance belt to scrape off the cooled food material adhering to the outer surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt, and the inlet side end of the upper cooling conveyance belt The adhering material adhering to the outer surface of the upper cooling and conveying belt is scraped off by bringing the inlet-side scraper into contact with the outer side.
During the steps other than the cooling step, the outlet-side scraper separates from the outer surface of the outlet-side end, and the adhering matter adhering to the forward path portion of the upper cooling transport belt passes through the outlet-side scraper and is transported to the return path portion. It is scraped off by the entrance side scraper together with the adhered deposits. The adhering matter is, for example, moisture adhering to the upper cooling conveyance belt due to condensation. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the adhering matter adhering to the outer surface of the forward path portion of the upper cooling conveyance belt from dripping or dropping on the lower cooling conveyance belt, and to ensure hygiene.
The food material to be cooled is the food material described in the belt cooler device according to the present invention for achieving the object (1).

In order to achieve the above object (4), the method of using the belt cooler device according to the present invention is such that, during the cooling step, the inlet side scraper is brought into contact with the outer surface of the inlet side end portion, thereby Removing the adhering substances adhering to the outer surface, removing the cooled food material adhering to the outer surface of the upper cooling conveyor belt by bringing the outlet scraper into contact with the outer surface of the outlet side end, and the cooling process And the step of separating the outlet-side scraper from the outer surface of the outlet-side end and removing the adhering matter adhering to the outer surface of the upper cooling and conveying belt by the inlet-side scraper.
According to the method of using the belt cooler device according to the present invention configured as described above, the belt cooler device is used in the same manner as described above for the operation of the belt cooler device. For this reason, the effect similar to the effect demonstrated in the said belt cooler apparatus can be show | played.

  With the belt cooler device of the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent moisture or the like on the surface of the upper cooling conveyance belt from dripping or dropping on the lower cooling conveyance belt. Hygiene is ensured and high quality food materials can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a belt cooler device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the belt cooler device of the present invention will be described by being divided into a belt conveyor device unit, a cooling device unit, and a cleaning sterilization device unit.

[Belt conveyor unit]
First, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the belt conveyor apparatus part of the belt cooler apparatus by this invention is demonstrated. 1 and 2 are a schematic front view and a side sectional view, respectively, of a belt cooler device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the belt cooler device 1 has a frame 2 disposed in an air-conditioned room (not shown) and extending in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1). A lower belt conveyor 4 and an upper belt conveyor 6 that are opposed to each other in the vertical direction are provided. Hereinafter, the left side of FIG. 1 is referred to as an inlet side, and the right side of FIG. 1 is referred to as an outlet side.
The lower belt conveyor 4 is longitudinally arranged so as to be wound by a lower inlet pulley 8 disposed on the inlet side and a lower outlet pulley 10 disposed on the outlet side and positioned below the lower inlet pulley 8. The endless lower belt 12 is stretched on the belt. The lower belt 12 is formed of stainless steel or the like, and has an outward path portion 14 that travels on the upper side and a return path portion 16 that travels on the lower side. The lower inlet pulley 8 has an adjusting mechanism 18 that adjusts the tension of the lower belt 12, and the lower outlet pulley 10 is connected to a driving device 20 constituted by a motor, a speed reducer, and the like. The side belt 12 travels in the direction of the arrow 22.
The travel path of the lower belt 12 is determined by a lower inlet pulley 8, a lower outlet pulley 10, and an opposed pulley 24 provided adjacent to the outlet side of the lower inlet pulley 8. The forward path portion 14 extends substantially horizontally from the lower inlet pulley 8 to the opposing pulley 24 and is inclined downward from the opposing pulley 24 to the lower outlet pulley 10.

The upper belt conveyor 6 can be wound in a longitudinal direction by an upper inlet pulley 28 disposed at an inlet end and an upper outlet pulley 30 disposed at an outlet end and positioned below the upper inlet pulley 28. And an endless upper belt 32. The upper belt 32 is formed of stainless steel or the like, and includes an outward path portion 34 that travels on the lower side and a return path portion 36 that travels on the upper side. The upper outlet pulley 30 has an adjusting mechanism 38 that adjusts the tension of the upper belt 32 and is connected to the driving device 20, whereby the upper belt 32 travels in the direction of the arrow 42. The travel path of the upper belt 32 is determined by the upper inlet pulley 28, the upper outlet pulley 30, and a low position roller 44 provided adjacent to the inlet side of the upper outlet pulley 30. A plurality of low position rollers 44 are provided at intervals in the width direction.
With such a configuration, the forward path portion 34 of the upper belt 32 is inclined downward from the upper inlet pulley 28 to the upper outlet pulley 30 to form the forward path inclined portion 46, and then, from the lower end portion 46 a to the upper outlet pulley 30. The forward path reservoir 48 that is directed upward is formed. Further, the return path portion 36 of the upper belt 32 is inclined downward from the upper outlet pulley 30 to the low position roller 44 to constitute a return path inclined portion 50, and then is inclined upward toward the upper inlet pulley 28 to be inclined in the return path. Part 52 is configured. Further, a return reservoir portion 54 is formed by the lower end portions 50 a and 52 a of the return slope portions 50 and 52.

  The lower inlet pulley 8 is disposed on the inlet side of the upper inlet pulley 28, and a space 56 is formed between the lower inlet pulley 8 and the upper inlet pulley 28. A supply nozzle 58 for supplying the food material M to be cooled in a strip shape is provided in the space 56. The forward path portion 14 of the lower belt 12 and the forward path portion 34 of the upper belt 32 are arranged close to each other so that the food material M can be sandwiched between the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32. In the portion between the upper inlet pulley 28 and the upper outlet pulley 30, the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 are shown spaced apart through the food material M in FIG. When not supplied, the upper belt 32 usually rests on the lower belt 12. When cooling the relatively hard food material M or the like, the belt cooler device 1 is arranged so as to leave a gap between the upper belt 32 and the lower belt 12 even when the food material M is not supplied. It may be configured. Further, the upper inlet pulley 28 is configured to be movable relative to the lower belt 12 in the vertical direction. This relative movement may be manual or automatic using an air cylinder or the like. . Note that the upper outlet pulley 30 may be configured to be movable relative to the lower belt 12 in the vertical direction alone or together with the upper inlet pulley 28 by the same mechanism as the upper inlet pulley 28. The lower outlet pulley 10 is disposed on the outlet side of the upper outlet pulley 30.

  Each of the lower outlet pulley 10, the upper outlet pulley 30 and the upper inlet pulley 28 can be brought into contact with the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12 or the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32 at a portion wound around these pulleys. A lower outlet scraper 66, an upper outlet scraper 68, and an upper inlet scraper 70 that can be separated therefrom are provided. The scraper 66, 68, 70 may be brought into contact with or separated from the belt outer surface 62 or 64 by a manual method or an automatic method using an air cylinder or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the belt width of the upper belt 32 is wider than the belt width of the lower belt 12. On both sides 72a and 74a of the inner surface 72 of the lower belt 12 and the inner surface 74 of the upper belt 32, the lower inner partition belt 76 and the upper inner partition belt 78 are liquid over the entire circumference of the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32, respectively. It is firmly fixed. The positions in the width direction of the lower inner surface partition belt 76 and the upper inner surface partition belt 78 may be the same as shown in FIG. 2 or may be different (not shown). Furthermore, an upper outer surface partition belt 80 disposed on the outer side in the width direction from the lower belt 12 is fixed to both side portions 64 a of the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32 in a liquid-tight manner over the entire circumference of the upper belt 32. These partition belts 76, 78 and 80 are preferably made of rubber.
Further, both end portions 10a of the lower outlet pulley 10 are disposed close to the inner surface 82 of the lower inner partition belt 76 so as to prevent the lower belt 12 from being displaced while traveling. Similarly, both end portions of the lower inlet pulley 8 and both end portions of the upper inlet pulley 28 (not shown) are also provided on the lower inner partition belt so as to prevent the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 from being displaced during travel. 76 and the inner inner surfaces 82 and 84 of the upper inner surface partition belt 78 are disposed. The upper outlet pulley 30 includes four disk members 86 spaced from each other, and a shaft 88 that concentrically connects these disk members 86. A concave portion 90 is provided in the peripheral edge 86a of the disk member 86 on the outer side in the width direction, and the upper inner surface partition belt 78 is engaged with the concave portion 90 so as to prevent the upper belt 32 from being displaced while traveling.

Next, the operation of the belt conveyor unit will be described.
The lower outlet pulley 10 and the upper outlet pulley 30 are driven to cause the lower belt 12 to travel in the direction of arrow 22 and the upper belt 32 to travel in the direction of arrow 42. The speeds of the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 are preferably the same. Furthermore, the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 are cooled by a cooling device section described later while the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 are running. Next, the food material M to be cooled, which has not yet completely solidified, is supplied from the supply nozzle 58 to the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12 in a band shape. Thereby, the lower surface of the food material M starts to be cooled. The lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 are separated by the entrance of the food material M, and the food material M is between the outer surface 62 of the forward path portion 14 of the lower belt 12 and the outer surface 64 of the forward path portion 34 of the upper belt 32. It is conveyed while being pinched. Thereby, the food material M becomes thinner and is cooled from both the upper and lower surfaces and solidifies. Next, the solidified food material M exits between the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32, is discharged from the lower belt conveyor 4 to the transfer conveyor C, and is transferred to the next process. Since the food material M is thinned by the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 and cooled from both the upper and lower surfaces, the oil content of the food material M does not elute and a uniform solid can be obtained.

Next, the operation of the scraper will be described.
During the cooling process by the belt cooler device 1, the lower outlet scraper 66 and the upper outlet scraper 68 are in contact with the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12 and the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32, respectively. When the solidified food material M comes out between the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32, the food material M adhering to the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32 is scraped off by the upper outlet scraper 68 and is applied to the lower belt 12. Fall. Further, when the solidified food material M is discharged from the lower belt conveyor 4, the food material M adhering to the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12 is scraped off by the lower outlet scraper 66 and is transferred to the subsequent conveyor C. Fall. The upper inlet scraper 70 also abuts on the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32 and scrapes off deposits adhering to the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32, for example, moisture due to condensation. As a result, the upper belt 32 and the lower belt 12 receive the food material M without any deposits.

After the cooling process is completed or when the supply of the food material to be cooled is interrupted even during the cooling process, the upper outlet scraper 68 is separated from the upper belt 32 while the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 are running. At the same time, the upper inlet scraper 70 is kept in contact with the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32. The adhering matter adhering in the forward path portion of the upper belt 32, particularly in the vicinity of the upper outlet pulley 30, passes through the upper outlet scraper 68, is conveyed to the return path portion 36, and is scraped off by the upper inlet scraper 70. Thereby, the deposit on the upper belt 32 can be prevented from dripping or dropping on the lower belt 12, and as a result, the lower belt 12 can be prevented from being contaminated by the deposit. That is, when the upper outlet scraper 68 is not separable, the upper outlet scraper 68 always scrapes off the adhering matter on the upper belt 32 and drops it on the lower belt 12, and the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12. May remain contaminated with deposits indefinitely.
The deposit is, for example, moisture due to condensation or food material M. The belt cooler device 1 is installed in an air-conditioning chamber (not shown), and is normally air-conditioned so that no dew condensation occurs on the outer surface 64 of the forward path portion 34 and the return path portion 36 of the upper belt 32. However, such condensation may occur due to, for example, opening / closing of the door of the air-conditioning room or malfunction of the air conditioning equipment, and even if such condensation occurs, moisture due to condensation attached to the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32 may be present. It is possible to prevent the lower belt 12 from drooping.

(Cooling unit)
Next, a cooling device unit for cooling the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing piping for a treatment liquid such as cooling water, cleaning liquid, and steam, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are a partial cross-sectional view and a bottom view of a cooling water suction nozzle described later, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of cooling water spray nozzles 100 for injecting cooling water upward toward the inner surface 72 of the forward path portion 14 of the lower belt 12, and the lower side of the lower belt 12, A cooling water pan 102 is provided for receiving cooling water dripping from the inner surface 72 of the forward path portion 14 of the belt 12. The cooling water spray nozzle 100 is disposed so that the cooling water is sprayed between the lower inner partition belt 76 (see FIG. 2) of the lower belt 12 and from the opposing roller 24 to the lower outlet pulley 10. Connected to supply 104. The cooling water pan 102 is connected to a cooling water circulation device 108 via a pump 106, and this cooling water circulation device 108 is connected to a cooling water supply source 104.
Inside the upper belt 32, a cooling water supply nozzle 110 disposed in the forward sloping portion 46 adjacent to the upper inlet pulley 28 for supplying cooling water to the inner surface 74 of the forward passage portion 34 of the upper belt 32, and this A cooling water tank 112 that is disposed below the cooling water nozzle 110 and stores the cooling water supplied from the cooling water nozzle 110 is provided. The cooling water supply nozzle 110 is connected to the cooling water supply source 104, and the cooling water tank 112 extends between the upper inner surface partition belt 78 (see FIG. 2), and the cooling water overflowed from the cooling water tank 112 travels to the upper belt 32. It arrange | positions so that it may supply in layers over the whole inner surface 74 of the part 34. FIG. Further, a cooling water suction nozzle 116 for sucking the cooling water of the inner surface 74 of the upper belt 32 is provided in the forward path reservoir 48. The cooling water suction nozzle 116 is connected to a drain pipe 120 directed to the cooling water pan 102 via a diaphragm pump 118.

  As shown in FIG. 2, two cooling water suction nozzles 116 are arranged between the disk members 86 of the upper outlet pulley 30. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the cooling water suction nozzle 116 is disposed near the suction port 122 facing the inner surface 74 of the upper belt 32 and the inner surface 74 of the upper belt 32 provided around the suction port 122. The flange 124 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flange 124 has a groove 130 extending between the peripheral edge 128 of the flange 124 and the suction port 122 on the flange surface 126 facing the inner surface 74 of the upper belt 32. . The number, size, and arrangement of the grooves 130 and the number of cooling water suction nozzles are arbitrarily designed. The flange 124 is preferably made of an elastic material. For example, the flange 124 is preferably made of Teflon (registered trademark).

Next, the operation of the cooling unit will be described.
Cooling water is jetted from the cooling water spray nozzle 100 toward the inner surface 72 of the forward path portion 14 of the lower belt 12. Thereby, the lower belt 12 travels while being cooled. Movement in the width direction of the injected cooling water is limited by the lower inner surface partition belt 76 (see FIG. 2). The cooling water dropped downward from the inner surface 72 of the lower belt 12 is received by the cooling water pan 102.
Further, the cooling water is supplied from the cooling water supply nozzle 110 to the inner surface 74 of the forward path portion 34 of the upper belt 32. The cooling water once accumulates in the cooling water tank 112 and spreads in the width direction over the entire inside of the upper inner surface partition belt 78 (see FIG. 2), overflows from the cooling water tank 112, and moves along the forward sloping portion 46 to the upper outlet pulley 30. Flows downward toward the side. Since the upper inner surface partition belt 78 (see FIG. 2) is provided, movement in the width direction of the cooling water is limited. The cooling water once accumulates in the forward passage reservoir 48, and then is sucked out from the cooling water suction nozzle 116 by the diaphragm pump 118 and drained from the drain pipe 120 to the cooling water pan 102.
By changing the temperature and flow rate of the cooling water supplied to the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32, the cooling efficiency of the belt cooler device 1 can be adjusted. Further, the cooling water supplied to the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 and collected in the cooling water pan 102 is sent to the cooling water circulation device 108 by the pump 106, and is subjected to regeneration processing such as temperature adjustment and filtering. After that, it is returned to the cooling water supply source 104 and reused.

  Since the upper inner surface partition belt 78 (see FIG. 2) is provided, the supplied cooling water is prevented from flowing outward in the width direction from the upper inner surface partition belt 78. Further, since the diaphragm pump 118 can suck out both air and liquid at the same time, the cooling water accumulated in the forward reservoir 48 can be simplified regardless of the flow rate of the supplied cooling water and the cooling water level in the upper belt 32. The structure can be sucked out reliably. As a result, it is possible to easily and reliably prevent the cooling water supplied to the upper belt 32 from dripping onto the lower belt 12 and to prevent the quality of the food material M from being deteriorated due to the mixing of the cooling water into the food material M. can do. Further, since the flange 124 provided in the suction port 122 of the cooling water suction nozzle 116 is formed of an elastic material and has the groove 130, the flange 124 is arranged so that the flange 124 and the upper belt 32 are in contact with each other. However, the upper belt 32 is not damaged, and the cooling water can be sucked from the suction port 122 through the groove 130. For this reason, even if the cooling water collected in the forward path reservoir 48 is at a low water level, the cooling water can be sucked out without substantially remaining.

[Cleaning and sterilization equipment]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a cleaning and sterilizing apparatus unit for cleaning and / or sterilizing the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, below the lower outlet pulley 10, cleaning liquid for cleaning the lower belt 12 and steam for sterilizing the lower belt 12 are respectively directed upward toward the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12. A cleaning liquid spray nozzle 140 and a steam nozzle 142 for injecting the air to the outer surface 62 and an air blow nozzle 144 for injecting air so that moisture due to the cleaning liquid and the vapor attached to the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12 are not conveyed to the inlet side are provided. Yes. These nozzles 140, 142, 144 are arranged so that cleaning liquid, vapor, and air are supplied over the entire width direction of the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12. Further, below these nozzles 140, 142, and 144, a processing liquid pan 146 is provided for receiving moisture from the cleaning liquid and steam supplied to the lower belt 12.
In addition, a cleaning liquid spray for spraying downward the cleaning liquid for cleaning the upper belt 32 and the steam for sterilizing the upper belt 32 toward the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32 is applied to the inward slope portion 50 of the upper belt 32. The nozzle 148 and the steam nozzle 150 are provided, and an air blow for injecting air for preventing the cleaning liquid and the moisture due to the steam adhering to the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32 from being conveyed to the downstream side, that is, the inlet side, is provided in the backward sloping portion 52. A nozzle 152 is provided. These nozzles 148, 150, and 152 are arranged so that cleaning liquid, steam, and air are supplied between the upper outer surface partition belt 80 of the upper belt 32.

In addition, a processing liquid suction nozzle 156 for sucking water from the processing liquid and steam on the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32 is provided between the low position roller 44 (see FIG. 1) and the upper belt 32. It is provided close to the outer surface 64. The treatment liquid suction nozzle 156 has the same structure as the cooling water suction nozzle 116 described above. For this reason, the description of the treatment liquid suction nozzle 156 is omitted. The processing liquid suction nozzle 156 is connected to a drain pipe 162 directed to a processing liquid pan 160 for recovering moisture from the cleaning liquid and steam supplied to the upper belt 32 via a diaphragm pump 158.
The cleaning liquid spray nozzles 140 and 148 are connected to the cleaning liquid supply source 164, the vapor nozzles 142 and 150 are connected to the vapor supply source 166, and the air blow nozzles 144 and 152 are connected to the air supply source 168. The processing liquid pans 146 and 160 are connected to the processing liquid circulation device 172 via the pump 170, and the processing liquid circulation device 172 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply source 164 and the vapor supply source 166.

Next, the operation of the cleaning sterilization apparatus will be described. The cleaning liquid and the sterilization steam are not supplied at the same time. Generally, first, the cleaning liquid is supplied to clean the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32, and then the sterilization steam is supplied to The side belt 12 and the upper belt 32 are sterilized. Since the supply of the cleaning liquid and the supply of the sterilizing steam are similar and only the nozzles supplied are different, only the supply of the cleaning liquid will be described below, and the description of the supply of the sterilizing steam will be omitted.
After the cooling process of the food material M to be cooled, the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 140 and the air is sprayed from the air blow nozzle 144 with the lower belt 12 running in the direction of the arrow 22. The outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12 is cleaned by the sprayed cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid sprayed onto the lower belt 12 falls from the lower belt 12 or adheres to the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12. The adhering cleaning liquid is pushed back to the outlet side by the air jetted from the air blow nozzle 144 and falls together with other cleaning liquid adhering to the outer surface 62 of the lower belt 12. The dropped cleaning liquid is received by the processing liquid pan 146.

Further, with the upper belt 32 running in the direction of the arrow 42, the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 148 and the air is sprayed from the air blow nozzle 152. The cleaning liquid flows downward along the inward sloping portion 50, accumulates in the inward collecting portion 54, and spreads in the width direction. Thereby, the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32 is washed over the entire width direction. Since the upper outer surface partition belt 80 is provided on the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32, the cleaning liquid is prevented from flowing out from the both side portions 64 a of the upper belt 32. Although the cleaning liquid tends to be transported upward toward the inlet side by the upper belt 32, the inclined portion 52 is inclined upward along the traveling direction of the upper belt 32. Returned to
Further, the air jetted from the air blow nozzle 152 can quickly push the cleaning liquid in the inclined portion 52 to the return path reservoir portion 54. Here, the cleaning liquid collected in the return path reservoir 54 is sucked out from the processing liquid suction nozzle 156 by the diaphragm pump 158 and drained from the drain pipe 162 to the processing liquid pan 160. The cleaning liquid supplied to the lower belt 12 and the upper belt 32 and collected in the processing liquid pans 146 and 160 is sent to the processing liquid circulation device 172 by the pump 170, where regeneration processing such as temperature adjustment and filter processing is performed. After that, it is returned to the cleaning liquid supply source 164 or the supply source 166 and reused.

In order to suck out the cleaning liquid, as in the case of sucking out the cleaning liquid described above, the diaphragm pump 158 that can suck out air and liquid at the same time is employed, so that the cleaning liquid can be sucked out with a simple structure and the cleaning liquid can be surely discharged. It is possible to easily and reliably prevent the drooping on the lower cooling conveyance belt. The action of the treatment liquid suction nozzle 156 is also achieved in the same manner as the cooling water suction nozzle 116 described above.
Further, when the steam is supplied to the outer surface 64 of the upper belt 32, it is the same as the case where the cleaning liquid is supplied except that the steam is condensed into moisture by the upper belt 32. The same effect as that obtained when supplying the cleaning liquid can be obtained.

As mentioned above, although embodiment by the belt cooler apparatus of this invention was described, the following modifications are also possible.
In the above-described embodiment, the forward path portion 34 of the upper belt 32 is inclined downward from the upper inlet pulley 28 toward the upper outlet pulley 30, but is inclined upward from the upper inlet pulley 28 toward the upper outlet pulley 30. It may be tilted downward, then tilted upward, or tilted upward once and tilted downward.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 148 and the vapor nozzle 150 are disposed on the backward slope portion 50, but they may be disposed on the backward slope portion 52. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the air blow nozzle 152 is disposed on the return path inclined portion 52, but it may be disposed on the return path inclined portion 50.
In the above-described embodiment, the flanges of the cooling water suction nozzle 116 and the processing liquid suction nozzle 156, the upper outer surface partition belt 80, and the air blow nozzle 152 may be omitted.

It is a schematic front view of the belt cooler apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in line II-II of the belt cooler apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic piping diagram of the belt cooler device by the embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of a cooling water suction nozzle. It is a bottom view of a cooling water suction nozzle. It is a schematic front view of the conventional belt cooler apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Belt cooler device 12 Lower belt 14 Lower belt forward path 16 Lower belt return path 32 Upper belt 34 Upper belt forward path 36 Upper belt return path 46 Forward path slope 48 Forward path reservoir 50 Return slope 52 Return slope portion 54 Return way reservoir 62 Lower belt outer surface 64 Upper belt outer surface 68 Upper outlet scraper 70 Upper inlet scraper 72 Lower belt inner surface 74 Upper belt inner surface 78 Upper inner partition belt 80 Upper outer partition belt 110 Cooling water Supply nozzle 116 Cooling water suction nozzle 118 Diaphragm pump 122 Suction port 124 Flange 128 Perimeter 148 Cleaning liquid spray nozzle 150 Steam nozzle 152 Air blow nozzle 156 Treatment liquid suction nozzle 158 Diaphragm pump

Claims (6)

A belt cooler device for cooling a food material while conveying the food material consisting of one or more selected from sauces, soups and dashi from above and below,
An endless upper cooling conveyance belt having an outward path part and a return path part, and having an inclined part inclined along the traveling direction on the inner surface of the forward path part and a pool part continuous to a lower end part of the inclined part;
An endless lower cooling conveyor belt having an outer surface facing the outer surface of the forward path portion of the upper cooling conveyor belt in the vertical direction and sandwiching food material therebetween;
Cooling water supply means for supplying cooling water for cooling the upper cooling conveyance belt to the inclined portion ;
Inner surface partitioning means provided on the inner surface of the upper cooling and conveying belt and over the entire circumference of both sides of the upper cooling and conveying belt , and for preventing the cooling water supplied to the inclined portion from flowing out from the both sides. ,
A mouthpiece facing the reservoir,
A diaphragm pump means for sucking out the cooling water accumulated in the reservoir from the suction port;
The belt cooler device is characterized in that a water collecting weir for draining cooling water is not provided in the inclined portion, and the cooling water supplied to the inclined portion is supplied in layers over the entire inner surface of the inclined portion .   The belt cooler device according to claim 1, wherein a flange made of an elastic material is provided around the mouthpiece, and the flange has a groove extending between the mouthpiece and a peripheral edge of the flange. The inclined portion is inclined downwardly toward the traveling direction of the upper cooling conveyor belt, belt cooler apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The belt cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising outer surface partitioning means disposed on both sides of the outer surface of the upper cooling / conveying belt on the outer side in the width direction than the lower cooling / conveying belt. apparatus. A belt cooler device for cooling a food material while conveying the food material consisting of one or more selected from sauces, soups and dashi from above and below,
An endless upper cooling conveyance belt having an outward path part and a return path part, and having an inclined part inclined along the traveling direction on the outer surface of the return path part and a pool part continuous to a lower end part of the inclined part;
An endless lower cooling conveyor belt having an outer surface facing the outer surface of the forward path portion of the upper cooling conveyor belt in the vertical direction and sandwiching food material therebetween;
Cleaning liquid vapor supplying means for supplying a cleaning liquid and / or steam for cleaning the outer surface of the upper cooling and conveying belt to the inclined portion and / or the pool portion;
Water provided by the cleaning liquid or vapor provided on the outer surface of the upper cooling and conveying belt and over the entire circumference of both sides of the upper cooling and conveying belt flows out from the both sides. An outer surface partitioning means for preventing
A mouthpiece facing the reservoir,
A belt cooler device comprising: a diaphragm pump means for sucking out moisture from the cleaning liquid or steam supplied to the inclined portion and / or the reservoir portion from the suction port . A part of the inclined part is inclined upward along the advancing direction of the upper cooling conveyance belt, and an air blowing means is further provided for pushing the liquid supplied to the inclined part or the reservoir part to the reservoir part. Item 6. The belt cooler device according to Item 5 .

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