JP5812946B2 - Continuous heat treatment equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat treatment apparatus capable of continuously heat-treating an object to be treated. Specifically, in this type of continuous heat treatment apparatus, a continuous heat treatment capable of maintaining a heat treatment atmosphere in the heat treatment chamber. Relates to the device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to heat processing (cooking, sterilization, etc.) foods, foods, etc., those using water vapor as a heating medium are widely known. In particular, attention has recently been paid to heat processing using a heating medium such as superheated steam.
Superheated steam is generated with a steam temperature higher than the saturation temperature at a certain pressure by further heating the saturated steam. Even if the superheated steam is exposed to the outside air and the temperature is lowered, the superheated steam is not condensed if the superheated state is maintained, and has a larger amount of heat than the saturated steam at the same pressure. For example, in the heating of foodstuffs, initial condensation occurs at low temperature of the foodstuffs, and condensation heat transfer due to latent heat occurs as in the case of saturated steam, but as the product temperature rises, the condensation phenomenon disappears and moisture in the foodstuffs evaporates Begins. As a result, superheated steam is used as a heat treatment method that does not cause the inflow of condensed water into the food and has little change in taste and elution of components.

  In addition, when heat-treating foods and foods, in order to improve the productivity, it is common to continuously process them in a heat treatment chamber of a predetermined length and shape using an endless continuous conveyor or the like. is there. Thus, for example, Patent Document 1 is known as an apparatus that performs continuous processing using a heating medium such as superheated steam as described above.

Here, a brief description will be given of a continuous heat treatment apparatus that performs heat treatment using a heating medium such as superheated steam, including Patent Document 1, and an opening through which an object to be treated can pass is provided on each of an inlet side and an outlet side. A heat treatment chamber, an endless conveyor that continuously conveys the object to be processed over the opening on the inlet side and the opening on the outlet side, and a heating medium (superheated steam) is injected into the heat treatment chamber. And a heating medium generating / injecting device.
According to this kind of apparatus, it heat-processes by injecting a heating medium (superheated steam) to the process target object conveyed by the conveyor in heat processing chamber. In addition, the heat treatment chamber (superheated steam) is continuously maintained to be maintained in a predetermined heat treatment atmosphere (superheated steam atmosphere) by the heating medium (superheated steam).

However, when continuous processing is performed using a conveyor or the like, the heat treatment chamber is hollow so that the treatment objects can be sequentially conveyed in the heat treatment chamber, and the treatment objects are respectively provided on the inlet side and the outlet side. It is necessary to adopt a non-sealed space having an opening that can pass through.
Since the openings are opened on the inlet side and the outlet side in this way, the heating medium (superheated steam) in the heat treatment chamber may escape (leak) from the openings, and the outside air (air) may be discharged from the openings. May be mixed in, and a predetermined heat treatment atmosphere cannot be maintained.
Outflow of the heating medium from the heat treatment chamber and mixing of outside air (air) into the heat treatment chamber will cause a decrease in the water vapor concentration and a decrease in the rate of increase in the surface temperature of the food, and this will hinder the heating of the food. There is also a great influence on the bactericidal effect. That is, in the heat treatment apparatus, particularly in this type of continuous heat treatment apparatus, the outflow of the heating medium to the outside and the blocking of the outside air are important factors.

Patent Document 1 proposes a shielding mechanism for preventing the heating medium from flowing out of the room and blocking the outside air.
That is, in Patent Document 1, curtains are provided on the entrance side and the exit side, respectively, and the curtain is pushed open when the object to be processed enters and exits the heat treatment chamber. At other times, the openings are closed by curtains so that the heating medium flows out of the room and the outside air is blocked.

  Further, Patent Document 2 has the same configuration as Patent Document 1, and each buffer-like cushioning seal material is disposed on the inlet side and the outlet side that are open, and the object to be processed enters the heat treatment chamber. The buffer sealant is pushed open and passed through the opening only when leaving the heat treatment chamber, and at other times, the opening is closed by the buffer sealant to block the heating medium from flowing out and outside air. It is intended.

However, the shielding mechanism that pushes the object to be processed when it passes through the curtain and the buffer seal material disposed on the inlet side and the outlet side as described above causes the following inconvenience.
(1) Since the curtain and the buffer seal material are such that they can be easily pushed open by the processing object when the processing object passes, the curtain and the buffer sealing material are not at the time of passing due to the pressure of the heating medium sprayed into the heat processing chamber. However, the heating medium in the heat treatment chamber flows out to the outside.
(2) Furthermore, in the shielding mechanism in which the object to be processed is pushed open to the entrance side and the outlet side in this way, a curtain or the like is added to the object to be processed (processed object) that is heated and conveyed from the heat treatment chamber. Since the buffer seal material is in contact, there is a possibility that various bacteria may adhere to the processing object (processed object).

Therefore, Patent Document 3 has been proposed as a prior art that provides technical means for preventing the heating medium from flowing out of the room and blocking outside air without using such a mechanical shielding mechanism.
Patent document 3 pays attention to the characteristic that superheated steam is lighter than air, and employs a mechanism in which superheated steam tends to stay.
Specifically, the heat treatment chamber provided with openings (hereinafter also referred to as opening inlets and opening outlets) through which the object to be processed can be conveyed and passed on the inlet side and the outlet side, respectively, is used. A processing object conveyance space in the heat treatment chamber communicating between the opening inlet and the opening outlet is configured in a step shape. In other words, the opening inlet side and the opening outlet side are set to low positions, and the processing region (heating treatment atmosphere region) in which the heating medium is sprayed and heat-treated is set to a high position.
According to this, superheated steam that is lighter than air stays in the processing area higher than the opening inlet and the outlet outlet, and therefore flows out from the opening inlet and outlet outlet located lower than the processing area. That is, there is no risk of doing so. Therefore, according to this technical means, it is not necessary to separately provide a mechanical shielding mechanism such as a curtain or a buffer seal material at the opening inlet or the opening outlet.

  However, even such a prior art is in a state in which no external shielding is applied at the opening inlet or the outlet outlet, it is sufficient to prevent outside air from being mixed into the heat treatment chamber (processing area). However, the mixing of outside air into the heat treatment chamber causes a decrease in water vapor concentration and a decrease in the rate of increase in the surface temperature of the food, which not only hinders the heating of the food, but also has a great sterilizing effect. There is an impact.

  Therefore, the present inventor prevents the outflow of the heating medium to the outside of the heat treatment chamber and enters the heat treatment chamber in the continuous heat treatment means for continuously heat-treating the processing object such as food using steam. As a result of intensive studies to invent a new technical means that can prevent the outside air from being mixed, the continuous heat treatment apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 4 has been successfully developed.

  The continuous heat treatment apparatus previously developed by the inventor can sufficiently achieve the original problem, but recently, there is a demand for downsizing and cost reduction of the entire apparatus. The present invention has been developed to meet the demand for lower prices.

In the case of the continuous heat treatment apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 4 previously proposed by the present inventor, a reheating medium ejection mechanism is provided outside the heat treatment chamber separately from the heat treatment chamber.
That is, after the heating medium in the heat treatment chamber is forcibly sucked out to the outside of the heat treatment chamber and heated to a predetermined temperature or higher in a heating unit provided outside the heating chamber, a reheat medium that has undergone volume expansion is generated. It is the structure which injects a reheating medium via the reheating medium injection part with which each was provided in the entrance side and exit side of the chamber.
As described above, since the reheating medium ejection mechanism is provided outside the heat treatment chamber separately from the heat treatment chamber, the entire apparatus has to be somewhat large in size. In addition, a mechanism that reheats the heating medium in the heat treatment chamber to expand the volume and injects the heat medium again into the heat treatment chamber is employed separately. Was.

JP 2003-310438 A JP-A-2005-341834 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-087441 JP 2011-120487 A

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the object of the present invention is a continuous heat treatment apparatus capable of sequentially heat-treating a large number of treatment objects successively, and at least It is possible to maintain a heat treatment atmosphere in the heat treatment chamber while using a non-sealed heat treatment chamber provided with an opening through which the object to be processed that has been conveyed can pass through on the inlet side and the outlet side, respectively. It is possible to provide a continuous heat treatment apparatus that can respond to demands for compactness and low price.

In order to achieve such an object, the first invention includes a heat treatment chamber provided with an inlet opening on one end side and an outlet opening on the other end side,
Provided in the heat treatment chamber, a processing chamber heating mechanism for heating the heat treatment chamber to a predetermined temperature,
A transport mechanism for transporting the processing object from the inlet toward the outlet;
A heating medium generating mechanism provided with a heating medium spray nozzle for spraying the heating medium into the heat treatment chamber,
The heat treatment chamber divides the indoor space into a lower space and an upper space in a vertical direction by a partition portion, and a suction port that communicates the lower space and the upper space is formed in the partition portion. Cage
The lower space is a processing space in which the transport mechanism is arranged,
The upper space includes the processing chamber heating mechanism and a suction fan that sucks up the heating medium in the lower space, and the heating medium sucked up by the suction fan is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature by the processing chamber heating mechanism. A heating space that generates a reheating medium that is heated to a volume and expands ,
In the heating space, a staying area configured so that the heating medium sucked up from the lower space by the suction fan is efficiently in contact with the processing chamber heating mechanism is formed,
The staying area is
The suction fan disposed in a projecting manner directly above the suction port formed in the partition;
A processing chamber heating mechanism disposed at a side of the suction fan and spaced from the suction fan;
A region surrounded by a current plate arranged to guide the heating medium sucked up into the upper space from the suction port to the heating mechanism in the processing chamber,
The heating medium sucked by the suction fan is guided to the processing chamber heating mechanism by the baffle plate while staying in the staying area, is reheated in contact with the processing chamber heating mechanism, and is used as a reheating medium. After being generated, it is transferred to the lower space through a predetermined gap formed between the periphery of the partition portion and the side plate inner surface of the heat treatment chamber,
The heating medium injection nozzle, in the lower space of at least the heat treatment chamber, while being disposed on the inlet side and the outlet side, a continuous heat treatment, characterized in that it is opposed to each of the injection ports It is a device.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the heating medium spray nozzle disposed on the inlet side and the heating medium spray nozzle disposed on the outlet side are:
Located below the gap between the partition and the inner surface of the side plate above the inlet and the inner surface of the side plate above the outlet in the heat treatment chamber,
Between the inlet and the heating medium spray nozzle disposed on the inlet side, and between the outlet and the heating medium spray nozzle disposed on the outlet side, the space is fed into the lower space. A continuous heat treatment apparatus is characterized in that a rear region of a high-temperature atmosphere that shields outside air intrusion is formed by the reheated medium and the heating medium ejected from the heating medium ejection nozzle. is there.

According to a third invention, in the first invention or the second invention, the suction port is provided in a substantially central region of the partition portion, and a suction fan is provided directly above the suction port.
The processing chamber heating mechanism is a left and right coiled heating unit formed in a long shape in the conveying direction of the object to be processed, and the suction fan is spaced from the left and right in the conveying direction of the object to be processed. It is arranged so as to sandwich it,
In plan view, the current plate is provided with a crossing portion in which two plate members having a height that forms a predetermined second gap with the top plate of the heat treatment chamber intersect each other at an acute angle. Formed in a letter shape,
The crossing portions are opposed to each other in the conveyance direction of the processing object, and a pair is arranged with the suction fan interposed therebetween,
Each of the coiled heating parts has a two-part configuration, and each one end side is located close to the suction fan, and each other end side is located in contact with each plate member of the rectifying plate facing each other. Thus , a continuous heat treatment apparatus is characterized in that a substantially triangular retention area is formed in plan view by the suction fan, the rectifying plate, and the coil-shaped heating unit. .

According to a fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, the heat treatment chamber is heated to about 115 ° C. at normal pressure and by a treatment chamber heating mechanism,
The heating medium generation mechanism includes a heating unit, a pipe line that is in communication with a water supply source and is heated by the heating unit, and a heating medium that is provided at the tip end part of the pipe line and that faces the tip in the heat treatment chamber The heating medium spray nozzle is controlled to have an internal pressure of 0.19 MPa or more and an internal temperature of 120 ° C. or more,
Producing a gas-liquid mixture consisting of water vapor and hot water in the pipeline by boiling water supplied at 0.7 g / sec or more into the pipeline at a predetermined temperature and pressure,
By ejecting the gas-liquid mixture into the heat treatment chamber through the heat medium injection nozzle, the heat treatment chamber is filled with a heat treatment atmosphere filled with superheated steam and high-temperature fine water droplets. Adjusting
The reheating medium is superheated steam that is generated by reheating the heating medium in the lower space of the heat treatment chamber adjusted to the heat treatment atmosphere in the upper space of the heat treatment chamber and volume-expanding. It is that it was set as the continuous-type heat processing apparatus characterized by these.

  According to the present invention, while using a non-sealed heat treatment chamber provided with an opening through which the object to be treated that has been conveyed can pass at least on the inlet side and the outlet side, heating in the heat treatment chamber can be performed. It was possible to provide a continuous heat treatment apparatus that can maintain the treatment atmosphere and can meet the demand for compactness and low cost.

It is a schematic front view which shows one Example of the continuous heat processing apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows one Example of the continuous heat processing apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic front view which partially shows one Example of the continuous-type heat processing apparatus of this invention longitudinally. It is a general | schematic cross-sectional top view which shows partially one Example of the continuous-type heat processing apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the internal structure of the heat processing chamber in one Example of the continuous heat processing apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the generation | occurrence | production mechanism in one Embodiment of the heating medium used for the continuous heat processing apparatus of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat processing chamber 2 Inlet 3 Outlet 7 Processing chamber heating mechanism 12 Conveyance mechanism 13 Heating medium production | generation mechanism 17 Heating medium injection nozzle 22 Suction fan 27 Lower space 28 Upper space 29 Partition part 30 Suction port 31 Gap 32 Current plate F Heat processing Atmosphere H Hot water M Steam T Process target SK Reheating medium KM Superheated steam KH High-temperature fine water droplets

  Hereinafter, an embodiment relating to the continuous heat treatment apparatus of the present invention will be described. Note that this embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and is not construed as being limited thereto, and the design can be changed within the scope of the present invention.

  1 to 6 show an example of a continuous heat treatment apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a heat treatment apparatus) according to the present invention. The heat treatment apparatus is provided in the heat treatment chamber 1 and the heat treatment chamber 1, A processing chamber heating mechanism 7 that heats the inside of the heat processing chamber 1 to a predetermined temperature, a transport mechanism 12 that continuously transports the processing object T from the inlet 2 to the outlet 3 in the heat processing chamber 1, and heat processing It is comprised with the heating medium production | generation mechanism 13 which injects a heating medium in the chamber 1 (refer FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 6).

The heat treatment chamber 1 is formed in a non-sealed rectangular shape having a predetermined length with an inlet 2 opened on one end side and an outlet 3 opened on the other end side, and is disposed on a predetermined base 4. (See FIGS. 1 to 5). In the figure, 5 is an inspection door. The overall length and overall shape of the heat treatment chamber 1 can be changed within the scope of the present invention.
Note that the heat treatment chamber 1 is formed by selecting a material capable of keeping heat in order to control the indoor space to be heated to a predetermined temperature or higher as described later.

  In the heat treatment chamber 1, the interior space is divided into a lower space 27 and an upper space 28 in the vertical direction by a partition portion 29, but the spaces 27, 28 communicate with each other by gaps 31, 31, 31, 31 described later. (See FIGS. 3 and 5).

The partition portion 29 is a flat plate in which a suction port 30 that communicates the lower space 27 and the upper space 28 is formed at a substantially center, and is supported by being suspended from the top plate 1 a of the heat treatment chamber 1, for example.
The outer dimensions of the partition portion 29 are the surroundings 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d of the partition portion 29 and the four side plates 1b, 1c, 1d of the heating chamber when suspended from the top plate 1a of the heat treatment chamber 1. , 1e is designed to have such a size that predetermined gaps 31, 31, 31, 31 are formed between the inner surfaces (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In addition, the diameter and opening shape of the suction port 30 can be changed in design.

The gap 31 is formed with such a size that a reheating medium generated in the upper space 28 described later can be transferred to the lower space 27.
In the present embodiment, the gap 31 has a rectangular shape in plan view, and the gap 31 is configured such that adjacent gaps 31, 31 communicate with each other. The reheating medium generated in the upper space 28 is the lower space 27. The size of the gap is not particularly limited, and the design can be arbitrarily changed.
For example, the gap 31 is formed so that the partition portion 29 is in contact with the inner surfaces of the four side plates 1b, 1c, 1d, and 1e of the heat treatment chamber 1, and the lower space 27 and the upper space 28 are provided at the respective edge portions. It is also possible to provide a hole or notch communicating with each other, and to form the gap by these holes or notches, and are within the scope of the present invention.

  The upper space 28 includes a processing chamber heating mechanism 7, a suction fan 22 that sucks up the heating medium in the lower space 27, and a current plate 32, and the heating medium sucked up from the lower space 27 by the suction fan 22. Is a heating space that generates a reheating medium that has been volume-expanded by being heated to a predetermined temperature or higher by the processing chamber heating mechanism 7.

In the present embodiment, the suction fan 22 is suspended and held from the top plate 1 a of the upper space 28 of the heat treatment chamber 1 so as to be opposed to the suction port 30 of the partition portion 29 and to be positioned immediately above the suction port 30. (See FIGS. 1 to 5).
In the figure, reference numeral 22 a denotes an impeller of the suction fan 22, and 22 b denotes a drive source (motor) disposed outside the heat treatment chamber 1. The design of the suction fan 22 can be changed as appropriate within the scope of the present invention, and the suction capacity and the number of the suction fans 22 can be accommodated according to the specifications.

The processing chamber heating mechanism 7 is, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, an indoor heating heater formed in a long shape in the transport direction of the processing target T (the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIGS. 3 and 4). The coiled heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 is arranged in the vicinity of the suction fan 22.
Specifically, the top plate of the upper space 28 in the heat treatment chamber 1 is separated from the coiled heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 in parallel with the transport mechanism 12 and wider than the conveyor width of the transport mechanism 12. A pair (a total of four) is provided for each la.
In the present embodiment, the coil-shaped heating unit (heating chamber in the processing chamber) 7 is arranged so as to be accommodated on the partition part 29 in a plan view, and a gap 31 is formed from the periphery (side surfaces) 29b and 29d of the partition part 29. , 31 does not protrude.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the coil-shaped heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 projects both end portions 7 a and 7 b from the outer surface of the top plate 1 a of the heating processing chamber 1. Both ends 7a and 7b communicate with a predetermined heat source (not shown). That is, the coiled heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 of the present embodiment is disposed in a suspended manner from the inner surface of the top plate 1 a of the heat processing chamber 1 in the upper space 28.
In this embodiment, the coil-shaped heating section (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 controls the entire heating processing chamber 1 at normal pressure and about 115 ° C. (preferably 105 ° C. to 120 ° C.). Yes.
In the present embodiment, the processing chamber heating mechanism 7 will be described with a heating portion formed in a coil shape. However, the shape, structure, number of arrangements, etc. of the processing chamber heating mechanism can be changed as appropriate. The present invention is not limited to this example.

The suction fan 22 sucks up the heat treatment atmosphere (heating medium) in the lower space 27 from the suction port 30 to the upper space 28 and reheats it by the coiled heating unit (treatment chamber heating mechanism) 7 to expand the volume. To produce a reheating medium.
That is, in the present embodiment, the above-described coiled heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 reheats the heating medium sucked up from the lower space 27 to the upper space 28 through the suction fan 22 to expand the volume. It also functions as a heating mechanism for generating the reheated medium.

The rectifying plate 32 is disposed so as to guide the heating medium sucked up from the suction port 30 into the upper space 28 in the direction of the coiled heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7.
In the present embodiment, the two plate members 33, 33, 33, 33 are formed in a substantially V shape in plan view formed by intersecting at an acute angle, with the suction fan 22 being the center, and the intersecting portions 34, 34 being One each is arranged on the left and right in a plan view in a state directed to the suction fan 22, and is fixedly mounted on the partition portion 29 (see FIG. 4).
The rectifying plate 32 of the present embodiment is disposed so that the upper end edges 33a and 33a of the two plate members 33 and 33 are located between the top plate 1a of the upper space 28 with a predetermined second gap 35. Yes.

Since one end side of each coil-shaped heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 is located in the vicinity of the suction port 30 and each other end side is in contact with the back of the plate member 33 of the rectifying plate 32 slightly closer to the rear. The suction port 30 (suction fan), the rectifying plate 32, and the coil-shaped heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 form residence areas S1, S1, S1, and S1 that are enclosed in a substantially triangular shape in plan view. Is done.
Accordingly, the heating medium sucked up from the suction port 30 to the upper space 28 by the suction fan 22 is sent to the staying area S1... And stirred by the suction fan 22 in the coiled heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7. Flow in the direction. That is, since the heating medium sucked up by the suction fan 22 and stirred is blocked by the rectifying plate 32, the heating medium inevitably flows in the direction of the coiled heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7. It is reheated by the shape heating section (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7. Then, since the heating medium is sequentially sent to the upper space 28 (retention area S1) by the suction fan 22, the reheating medium reheated by the coiled heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 passes through the gap 31. It moves to the side space 27 (extruded).
The rectifying plate 32 only needs to be arranged so that the heating medium sucked from the lower space 27 by the suction fan 22 is in efficient contact with the coiled heating unit (heating mechanism in the processing chamber) 7. There is no limited interpretation.

  The lower space 27 is a processing space in which a part of the transport mechanism 12 is arranged (passed), and the lower space 27 includes a heating medium generating mechanism 13 disposed outside the heat processing chamber 1. A heating medium spray nozzle 17 is provided.

The transport mechanism 12 sequentially transports the processing target T from the inlet 2 toward the outlet 3 and is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the transport mechanism 12 is an endless metal conveyor chain. Then, it is rotationally driven from the inlet 2 side to the outlet 3 side by a predetermined driving mechanism (see FIGS. 1 to 5).
Any material that can withstand a predetermined temperature in the heat treatment chamber 1 is not particularly limited to the shape and material of this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the heating medium generating mechanism 13 employs a mechanism having the following configuration.
The heating medium generation mechanism 13 is provided outside the heat treatment chamber 1, and is formed of a heating chamber (heating unit) 14 formed in a cylindrical shape having a predetermined length, and a metal that is partially incorporated in the heating chamber 14. And a heating medium injection nozzle disposed on the tip side of the heating pipe 15 and mounted in the heat treatment chamber 1 (in the lower space 27) via the nozzle header 16 17.

The heating pipe line 15 is formed with a predetermined inner diameter and length, and heats water supplied to the inside through a predetermined pump (for example, an electromagnetic metering pump) to a predetermined temperature by the heating chamber 14. It is possible.
The amount of water supplied into the heating pipe line 15 is 0.7 gr / sec or more, preferably 0.7 gr / sec to 25 gr / sec. The configuration of the heating chamber 14 and the diameter and length of the heating pipe line 15 are not particularly limited and can be appropriately designed within the scope of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, on the inlet 2 side and the outlet 3 side in the heat treatment chamber 1 through the heating pipes 15 and 15, respectively, in the vertical direction (direction indicated by the arrow A in the drawing) of the transport mechanism 12. In addition, nozzle headers 16 and 16 are disposed so as to cross the transport mechanism 12, and four heating medium spray nozzles 17... 17 provided on the nozzle headers 16, 16. 17a are opposed to each other. Similarly, on the inlet 2 side and the outlet 3 side in the heat treatment chamber 1 through other heating pipes 15, 15, in the vertical direction (direction indicated by arrow A in the drawing) of the transport mechanism 12. In addition, nozzle headers 16 and 16 are disposed so as to cross the transport mechanism 12, and four heating medium spray nozzles 17... 17 provided on the nozzle headers 16, 16. 17a are opposed to each other (see FIGS. 3 to 5).
Further, in this embodiment, the nozzle headers 16, 16... Are arranged such that the heating medium spray nozzles 17, 17... Face from the outer surface of the ceiling wall 1 a of the heat treatment chamber 1 into the lower space 27 of the heat treatment chamber 1. Is arranged.
Of course, the nozzle headers 16 and 16 are also connected to heating pipes 15 and 15 connected to the heating chamber 14.
Nozzle headers 16, 16 (heating medium spray nozzles 17, 17...) Suspended and supported from the top plate 1 a of the heat treatment chamber 1 are placed one by one on the front side and the back side in plan view across the partition portion 29. A total of two are provided. Nozzle headers 16 and 16 (heating medium injection nozzles 17, 17...) Are disposed so as to be positioned in the gaps 31 and 31.

  That is, in this embodiment, two heating chambers 14 and 14 are prepared, and three heating pipelines 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15 are connected to the respective heating chambers 14, 14, and the respective heating chambers 14, 14 are connected. Nozzle headers 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16 are connected to the pipes 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, respectively, so that six heating medium injection routes are provided in total. It becomes.

  The heating medium spray nozzle 17 in the present embodiment has a nozzle inner diameter of 0.1 mm to 10 mm (preferably 0.5 mm to 5 mm), a nozzle internal pressure of 0.19 MPa or more (preferably 0.19 MPa to 0.41 MPa), Nozzle temperature: controlled to 120 ° C. or higher (preferably 120 ° C. to 145 ° C.).

  The design of the nozzle inner diameter, the nozzle internal pressure, the nozzle internal temperature, and the like can be changed within the scope of the present invention.

  Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, both the inlet 2 side and the outlet 3 side of the heat treatment chamber 1 are located in the vicinity of the inlet 2 together with the heating medium overflowing from the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 to the outside. And outdoor suction portions 26 and 26 for sucking outside air in the vicinity of the outlet 3.

The outdoor suction portion 26 is disposed on the side plate 1 d on the inlet 2 side where the inlet 2 of the heat treatment chamber 1 is provided and the side plate 1 b on the outlet 3 side where the outlet 3 is provided.
In this embodiment, since the outdoor suction portions 26 and 26 on the inlet 2 side and the outlet 3 side have the same configuration, the outdoor suction portion 26 on the inlet 2 side will be described below. The description of the suction part 26 is omitted.

The outdoor suction portion 26 is attached to the side plate 1d on the inlet 2 side, and opens to the processing object placement surface 12a of the transport mechanism 12 toward the inlet 2, and the first suction space 26a. A second suction space 26c communicating with the first suction space 26a and opening smaller than the first suction space 26a, a suction fan 26f provided in communication with the second suction space 26c, and the suction The discharge pipe portion 26g communicates with the outlet side of the fan 26f.
With this configuration, the heating medium overflowing from the inlet 2 side is forcibly sucked into the first suction space 26a by the suction fan 26f of the outdoor suction portion 26. At this time, outside air near the inlet 2 is also sucked into the first suction space 26a together. Then, the sucked heating medium and outside air are sent to the discharge pipe portion 26g via the second suction space 26c, and discharged from the front end opening of the discharge pipe portion 26g to the outside air side.

  The operation of the heat treatment apparatus of the present invention will be described below.

First, water is supplied at 0.7 gr / sec from the water supply source into the heating pipe line 15 via a metering pump, and the supplied water is supplied to the heating chamber 14 at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure (120 ° C. or higher, By boiling at 0.19 MPa or more, a gas-liquid mixture composed of water vapor M and hot water H is generated in the heating line 15.
Then, the gas-liquid mixture (in the heat treatment chamber 1 which is controlled to be heated to about 115 ° C. as described above through the heating medium injection nozzle 17 which is controlled to have a nozzle internal pressure of 0.19 MPa or more and a nozzle internal temperature of 120 ° C. or more. By ejecting water vapor M and hot water H), the heat treatment chamber 1 is adjusted to a heat treatment atmosphere F filled with a heating medium in which superheated water vapor KM and high-temperature fine water droplets KH are mixed (FIG. 6). reference.).
That is, when the amount of water supplied from the water supply source into the heating pipe 15 via the metering pump exceeds the flow rate of the superheated steam KM injected from the heating medium injection nozzle 17, the excess of the supply water amount is overheated. It is sprayed from the heating medium spray nozzle 17 together with the superheated steam KM not as steam but as high-temperature fine water droplets KH (see FIG. 6).

  The gas-liquid mixture (water vapor M and hot water H) is jetted continuously during the heat treatment of the processing target T. The term “continuous” is a concept that includes a mode of intermittent injection at a slight interval.

In this embodiment, the heating medium F existing in the lower space 27 of the heat treatment chamber 1 (a heating medium in which superheated steam KM and high-temperature fine water droplets KH are mixed) is forced from the suction port 30 through the suction fan 22. Since a mechanism for sucking the upper space 28 and generating a reheating medium is employed, the heat treatment atmosphere (heating medium) F from the lower space 27 sucked in each coil-shaped heating section (processing chamber) The heating mechanism) is heated to a predetermined temperature, is generated as a reheating medium SK, and is led from the gaps 31 to the lower space 27.
For example, the reheating medium SK reheats the heating medium F in the lower space 27 adjusted to the heat treatment atmosphere F by the coiled heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 in the upper space 28. Superheated steam produced and volume expanded.
The temperature of the reheating medium (superheated steam) SK is set, for example, about 10 ° C. higher than the temperature in the lower space 27. Depending on the supply amount of the heating medium and the like, it is necessary to adjust the increase in the specific volume (volume expansion) by appropriately raising the heating temperature of the reheating medium (superheated steam) SK.

And in the heat processing chamber 1 adjusted to the said predetermined heat processing atmosphere F, the predetermined process target T is conveyed sequentially and heat-processed continuously.
That is, the processing object T transferred to the heat treatment chamber 1 by the transfer mechanism 12 is transferred in the heat treatment chamber 1 having a predetermined heat treatment atmosphere F over a predetermined time, so that the heating target T is heated. Heat treatment is performed by a heat treatment atmosphere (heating medium) F filled in the treatment chamber 1. According to the present embodiment, condensation heat transfer is generated on the surface of the processing target T by the high-temperature fine water droplets KH.
Further, the surrounding area is filled with superheated steam KM, and fine water droplets that have lost their latent heat due to condensation heat transfer evaporate into the superheated steam KM. As a result, like the superheated steam, there is no influence of the condensed water on the processing target T, and further, the heating characteristic is obtained in which the internal moisture is hardly reduced by evaporation.

In this embodiment, a part of the heat treatment atmosphere F in the heat treatment chamber 1 is sucked up by the suction fan 22 from the suction port 30 to the upper space 28, and the heating medium sucked into the upper space 28 is The coil-shaped heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7 in the upper space 28 is heated to a predetermined temperature or higher by the coil-like heating unit (processing chamber heating mechanism) 7.
Then, the volume-expanded reheating medium (superheated steam) SK flows into the lower space 27 through the gaps 31.
In particular, the reheating medium (superheated steam) SK generated by being reheated by being sent into the upper space 28 by the suction fan 22 is sequentially pushed out by the suction fan 22 and the heating medium from the heating medium injection nozzles 17. It is forcibly sent from the gaps 31 to the lower space 27 by the negative pressure generated during injection.

Therefore, the inlet 2 side and the outlet 3 side of the heat treatment chamber 1 are constituted by the reheating medium reheated in the upper space 28 (heating space) and expanded in volume and the heating medium ejected from the heating medium ejection nozzles 17. Will be shielded from the outside air.
That is, each of the ejection openings 17a of the heating medium ejection nozzles 17 disposed on the inlet 2 side and the heating medium ejection nozzles 17 disposed on the outlet 3 side. 17a... Are provided so as to face each other, so that the respective injection ports 17a of the heating medium injection nozzles 17. The high-temperature heating medium ejected from 17a... Is amplified to the center of the heat treatment chamber 1 (lower space 27) to increase the density.
The lower space 27 of the heat treatment chamber 1 is made up of the heat treatment chamber 1, for example, the heat treatment chamber, by a heating medium ejected at a high temperature and a high temperature reheating medium reheated and fed into the lower space 27. 1, the rear regions S2, S2 of the heating medium spray nozzles 17 ..., 17 ... have a high temperature atmosphere, and since the expansion coefficient of the volume is different from that of the low temperature outside air, a shielding effect for preventing intrusion of the outside air occurs.
Therefore, this type of continuous heat treatment apparatus capable of sequentially heat-treating a large number of treatment objects successively, and the treatment objects conveyed respectively pass through at least the inlet 2 side and the outlet 3 side. The heat treatment atmosphere in the heat treatment chamber 1 can be maintained while using the non-sealed heat treatment chamber 1 having openings (inlet 2 and outlet 3) that can be used.
That is, in the heat treatment chamber 1, the heating medium in the heat treatment chamber 1 is reheated to generate a reheating medium, and the reheating medium is circulated in the heat treatment chamber 1. Therefore, it can sufficiently meet the needs of users and can meet the needs of lower prices.

  Note that the heat treatment atmosphere (heating medium) F itself that fills the lower space 27 of the heat treatment chamber 1 is a heating medium in which the superheated steam KM and the high-temperature fine water droplets KH are mixed, and thus the heat treatment atmosphere F Even if the superheated steam (reheating medium) SK flows into the lower space 27, there is no problem. Further, the high-temperature fine water droplets KH flying in the superheated steam KM have a characteristic that the particle diameter is further refined with the passage of distance and finally evaporated to become superheated steam. It is possible to easily generate high-temperature superheated steam SK by sucking out the portion and reheating it. In addition, the cost-effectiveness for this can be relatively low.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the outdoor suction portions 26, 26 are provided outside the inlet and the outlet of the heat treatment chamber 1, the outside air near the inlet 2 and the outside air near the outlet 3 are also combined. Together, they are sucked into the outdoor suction portions 26, 26 and discharged to the outside air side.
Therefore, the outside air near the entrance 2 and the exit 3 is forcedly sucked and discharged by the outdoor suction portions 26 and 26 without entering the heat treatment chamber 1, and further into the heat treatment chamber 1. Therefore, a predetermined heat treatment atmosphere F can always be maintained in the heat treatment chamber 1.

Although not shown, a drain pipe that collects condensed water generated in the heat treatment chamber 1 is disposed outside the bottom plate 1f of the lower space 27 of the heat treatment chamber 1 in the conveying direction of the object to be treated. doing. In addition, the hole shape of the drain outlet which is not shown in figure is arbitrary, and may be penetrated in the elongate shape over the conveyance direction of a process target object, and the number of the holes is not limited to single or plural. Furthermore, in order to make it easy to collect condensed water, the inner surface of the bottom surface may be formed in a downward slope toward the drain port.

Claims (4)

A heat treatment chamber provided with an inlet opening on one end side and an outlet opening on the other end side;
Provided in the heat treatment chamber, a processing chamber heating mechanism for heating the heat treatment chamber to a predetermined temperature,
A transport mechanism for transporting the processing object from the inlet toward the outlet;
A heating medium generating mechanism provided with a heating medium spray nozzle for spraying the heating medium into the heat treatment chamber,
The heat treatment chamber divides the indoor space into a lower space and an upper space in a vertical direction by a partition portion, and a suction port that communicates the lower space and the upper space is formed in the partition portion. Cage
The lower space is a processing space in which the transport mechanism is arranged,
The upper space includes the processing chamber heating mechanism and a suction fan that sucks up the heating medium in the lower space, and the heating medium sucked up by the suction fan is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature by the processing chamber heating mechanism. A heating space that generates a reheating medium that is heated to a volume and expands ,
In the heating space, a staying area configured so that the heating medium sucked up from the lower space by the suction fan is efficiently in contact with the processing chamber heating mechanism is formed,
The staying area is
The suction fan disposed in a projecting manner directly above the suction port formed in the partition;
A processing chamber heating mechanism disposed at a side of the suction fan and spaced from the suction fan;
A region surrounded by a current plate arranged to guide the heating medium sucked up into the upper space from the suction port to the heating mechanism in the processing chamber,
The heating medium sucked by the suction fan is guided to the processing chamber heating mechanism by the baffle plate while staying in the staying area, is reheated in contact with the processing chamber heating mechanism, and is used as a reheating medium. After being generated, it is transferred to the lower space through a predetermined gap formed between the periphery of the partition portion and the side plate inner surface of the heat treatment chamber,
The heating medium injection nozzle, in the lower space of at least the heat treatment chamber, while being disposed on the inlet side and the outlet side, a continuous heat treatment, characterized in that it is opposed to each of the injection ports apparatus. The heating medium spray nozzle disposed on the entrance side and the heating medium spray nozzle disposed on the exit side are:
Located below the gap between the partition and the inner surface of the side plate above the inlet and the inner surface of the side plate above the outlet in the heat treatment chamber,
Between the inlet and the heating medium spray nozzle disposed on the inlet side, and between the outlet and the heating medium spray nozzle disposed on the outlet side, the space is fed into the lower space. 2. The continuous heating according to claim 1, wherein a rear side region of a high-temperature atmosphere that shields outside air intrusion is formed by the reheated medium and the heating medium ejected from the heating medium ejection nozzle. Processing equipment. The suction port is provided in a substantially central region of the partition portion, and a suction fan is provided directly above the suction port,
The processing chamber heating mechanism is a left and right coiled heating unit formed in a long shape in the conveying direction of the object to be processed, and the suction fan is spaced from the left and right in the conveying direction of the object to be processed. It is arranged so as to sandwich it,
In plan view, the current plate is provided with a crossing portion in which two plate members having a height that forms a predetermined second gap with the top plate of the heat treatment chamber intersect each other at an acute angle. Formed in a letter shape,
The crossing portions are opposed to each other in the conveyance direction of the processing object, and a pair is arranged with the suction fan interposed therebetween,
Each of the coiled heating parts has a two-part configuration, and each one end side is located close to the suction fan, and each other end side is located in contact with each plate member of the rectifying plate facing each other. 3. The continuous type according to claim 1, wherein the suction fan, the rectifying plate, and the coiled heating portion form a substantially triangular residence area in plan view. Heat treatment device. The heat treatment chamber is heated to about 115 ° C. at normal pressure and by a treatment chamber heating mechanism,
The heating medium generation mechanism includes a heating unit, a pipe line that is in communication with a water supply source and is heated by the heating unit, and a heating medium that is provided at the tip end part of the pipe line and that faces the tip in the heat treatment chamber The heating medium spray nozzle is controlled to have an internal pressure of 0.19 MPa or more and an internal temperature of 120 ° C. or more,
Producing a gas-liquid mixture consisting of water vapor and hot water in the pipeline by boiling water supplied at 0.7 g / sec or more into the pipeline at a predetermined temperature and pressure,
By ejecting the gas-liquid mixture into the heat treatment chamber through the heat medium injection nozzle, the heat treatment chamber is filled with a heat treatment atmosphere filled with superheated steam and high-temperature fine water droplets. Adjusting
The reheating medium is superheated steam that is generated by reheating the heating medium in the lower space of the heat treatment chamber adjusted to the heat treatment atmosphere in the upper space of the heat treatment chamber and volume-expanding. The continuous heat treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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