JP5959142B2 - In-line continuous measurement method and measuring apparatus for overrun of food and drink, and method for producing food and drink using the measurement method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for continuously measuring the air content (overrun) in-line in the production of foods and drinks containing bubbles such as ice cream and whipped cream, and the measurement method is used. It is related with the manufacturing method of the food / beverage products which are, and the food / beverage products manufactured by this.

  In foods and drinks containing air bubbles typified by ice cream and whipped cream, the air content (overrun) (may be expressed as “OR” in the present specification) is from the viewpoint of the quality and flavor of the foods and drinks. Has an important meaning. Therefore, in such a process for producing food and drink, attention is paid so that the overrun is always constant during the production.

  For example, in the case of ice creams, there are two processes for freezing in the manufacturing process: freezing and curing. Freezing is a process of obtaining a semi-frozen ice cream (soft cream) containing moderate air and ice crystals by an ice cream freezer. Here, in the case of ice creams, the amount of air contained in the mix (preparation liquid, preparation liquid) containing air bubbles is called overrun, and the ratio to the volume of the mix before embedding air bubbles The overrun is expressed as a percentage.

  For some time, the tester cup method has been used to measure overrun in ice creams and whipped cream. The tester cup method is a method in which ice cream is filled into a cup with a known volume, the weight is measured, the density is calculated, and the overrun value is calculated from this density.

  In this tester cup method, overrun is measured at a predetermined timing during the manufacturing process. However, this method cannot continuously monitor overruns. Moreover, in the tester cup method, since it is necessary to extract the mix once from the production process (line), it cannot be measured in the case of a pressure filling line or the like, and is not a hygienic preferable measurement method. In addition, measurement errors may occur due to mixing, cutting, and adhesion to the side of the cup.

  For example, the Milk General Dictionary (Kunio Yamauchi, Asakura Shoten, 2007, P.479) describes a method for measuring the capacity of ice creams based on Japanese Agricultural Standards. The overrun value can also be calculated from

  Even with this method, there is a problem that time and labor are required and the overrun value cannot be calculated continuously.

  Therefore, various methods have been proposed in the past for calculating the overrun value continuously in a method for producing a food or drink containing bubbles by incorporating bubbles in the mix.

  In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-083482, “Automatic overrun control method of ice cream freezer” (Patent Document 1), a mass flow meter is installed in front of the freezer (freezing cylinder) inlet, and raw milk (ice cream mix) ) And the flow rate of air (air), calculate the overrun value from the mixing ratio of those flow rates, measure the density by the tester cup method, calculate the overrun value from the density, A method of automatically controlling overrun to a set value while checking these measured values is described.

  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-029938, “Overrun Automatic Control Method in Ice Cream Production” (Patent Document 2), a flow meter is installed in front of the freezer inlet, and the flow rate of raw milk (ice cream mix) A method is described in which the overrun is automatically controlled to a set value while measuring the flow rate of air (air) and confirming the mixing ratio of these flow rates.

  JP-A-05-284914 “Continuous production apparatus for food having overrun” (Patent Document 3) is provided with a density meter, a thermometer, and a pressure gauge after the exit of a freezer (such as a gas-liquid mixer), It describes the method of measuring the flow rate, density, temperature, and pressure (only after the exit) of raw milk (ice cream mix) and automatically controlling the overrun to the set value while checking those measured values. .

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-254755 “Overrun Measurement Device for Bubble-containing Foods” (Patent Document 4) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-133934 “Overrun Measurement Device for Bubble-containing Foods” (Patent Document 5) Describes a method for measuring overruns.

  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-063346, “Overrun Automatic Measurement Method and Apparatus” (Patent Document 6), ice cream or whipped cream is sealed in a certain volume and compressed, and the amount of change in volume or pressure is measured. , A method of measuring overrun from the amount of change is described.

  Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 58-013347, “Endpoint Control Method for Whipped Cream” (Patent Document 7) describes a method for controlling overrun using a current value of a whipping device (motor).

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-092528, “Method and Apparatus for Controlling Air Supply in Overrun” (Patent Document 8) describes the flow rate, specific gravity (density), temperature, air of raw milk (ice cream mix) and ice cream. A method of measuring the flow rate of (air) and automatically controlling overrun to a set value while confirming the measured values is described.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-095408, “Whipping Control Method for Creams” (Patent Document 9) describes a method for controlling overrun using the power consumption of a whipping device.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-191296 “Method for controlling specific gravity of whipped food material” (Patent Document 10) describes a method for controlling overrun using the operating time of a whipping device.

  Thus, in the production of ice creams, it was previously possible to calculate the overrun value continuously from the supply amount (flow rate) of raw milk (ice cream mix, cream) and air (air) to the production machine. In addition, some freezers for producing ice creams provided on the market have incorporated such a mechanism.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-083482 JP 62-029938 A JP 05-284914 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-254755 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-133944 JP 63-063346 A JP 58-013347 A JP 61-092528 A JP 2001-095408 A JP 2002-191296 A

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for continuously and highly accurately measuring overrun in-line in the production of foods and drinks containing bubbles typified by ice cream and whipped cream, and food and drink for which the measurement method is used. It aims at proposing the manufacturing method of goods, and the food-drinks manufactured by this.

  The inventor of the present application uses a microwave concentration of a mixture (preparation liquid, preparation liquid) that includes air bubbles flowing in the piping when continuously measuring the overrun in-line in the production of food and drink containing bubbles. It was considered to measure with a total.

  The microwave densitometer has a simple structure, does not have a liquid reservoir, and is difficult to damage (damage) the product itself. In addition, when installing the microwave densitometer, since pressure loss in the piping hardly occurs, it is considered that it can be easily introduced into an existing manufacturing process (line).

  In the microwave densitometer, it has been said that the measurement value is not accurately recorded (calculated) if air bubbles are mixed. However, when the present inventor studied, the air bubbles to food (dairy products) It was confirmed for the first time that the measured value of the microwave densitometer changed linearly in proportion to the amount of solid matter mixed. The inventor of the present application has completed the present invention based on this finding.

The invention described in claim 1
For the ice cream or whipped cream that is a mix that includes the bubbles to be measured for overrun, the step of actually measuring by the tester cup method to obtain the overrun value,
The overrun value is actually measured by the tester cup method. The overrun target mix is flowed in a pipe and measured using a microwave densitometer. A process of obtaining
Using the microwave densitometer with the overrun value obtained by actual measurement by the tester cup method for the mix to be measured for the overrun, and in the state of flowing in the pipe A step of obtaining a correlation existing between the measured values obtained by measurement,
The flow rate of the mix in which the correlation is obtained is measured using the microwave densitometer while flowing in the pipe, and based on the obtained measurement value, a linear relationship in the obtained correlation is obtained. And a method of calculating an overrun value of the mix flowing in the pipe by using the inline continuous measurement method of ice cream or whipped cream overrun.

The invention according to claim 2
For the ice cream or whipped cream that is a mix that includes the bubbles to be measured for overrun, the step of actually measuring by the tester cup method to obtain the overrun value,
The overrun value is actually measured by the tester cup method. The overrun target mix is flowed in a pipe and measured using a microwave densitometer. A process of obtaining
Using the microwave densitometer with the overrun value obtained by actual measurement by the tester cup method for the mix to be measured for the overrun, and in the state of flowing in the pipe A step of obtaining a correlation existing between the measured values obtained by measurement,
The flow rate of the mix in which the correlation is obtained is measured using the microwave densitometer while flowing in the pipe, and based on the obtained measurement value, a linear relationship in the obtained correlation is obtained. And a step of calculating an overrun value of the mix flowing in the pipe by using the inline continuous measurement method for overrun of ice cream or whipped cream .
It is.

The invention described in claim 3
A method for producing a food or drink containing bubbles by embedding bubbles in a mix,
Flow the ice cream or whipped cream that is the above-mentioned mix embracing bubbles in a pipe, and measure the mix that flows in the pipe using a microwave densitometer,
The overrun value obtained by actually measuring the mix flowing in the pipe by the tester cup method,
An overrun value obtained by actual measurement by the tester cup method is obtained with respect to the correlation between the measured value measured using the microwave densitometer after flowing the mix in the pipe. Using the linear relationship
Using the measured value for the mix flowing in the pipe measured by the microwave densitometer,
Calculate the overrun value of the mix flowing in the pipe,
Based on the calculated value of the overrun of the mix is a method for producing the ice cream or whipped cream you the value of overrun to a predetermined target value by adjusting the flow rate of air.

  According to the present invention, in the production of food and drink containing air bubbles such as ice cream and whipped cream, a method and apparatus for continuously and highly accurately measuring overrun in-line, and the measurement method are used. The manufacturing method of the food / beverage products which are present, and the food / beverage products manufactured by this can be provided.

  According to this invention, overrun can be continuously monitored in-line in the production of food and drink containing bubbles. As a result, the overrun can be monitored hygienically and continuously, and the loss of the mix can be reduced by waiting for the freezer to stabilize.

  According to this invention, during continuous operation of a freezer (ice cream making machine), a mondo mixer (whipped cream making machine), etc., the quality of the product (food or drink) is continuously monitored inline. Can be stabilized. And the loss (loss) of a product can be reduced at the time of the operation start (start-up) of these manufacturing machines.

The conceptual diagram explaining schematic structure of the measuring apparatus of this invention. The figure showing the relationship between the measured value measured with the microwave densitometer of each ice cream, and the overrun of the ice cream actually measured by the tester cup method when changing the supply amount of air. The figure showing the correlation (calibration curve) of overrun (actual value) and the measured value of a microwave densitometer.

  The present invention is used in a process of manufacturing a food or drink containing bubbles, for example, ice cream or whipped by incorporating bubbles into a mix (preparation solution, preparation solution).

  In the in-line continuous measurement device for overrun of food and drink proposed by the present invention, a microwave densitometer that measures the mix flowing in the pipe is attached to a pipe that contains air bubbles inside the pipe. It has been adopted. Referring to the measured value of the mix that includes air bubbles flowing through the pipe measured by the microwave densitometer, when producing food or drink containing bubbles, the overrun of the food or drink is continuously performed inline. Measure.

  In the present invention, first, the correlation (calibration curve) between the overrun (actual value) of the target food and drink and the measurement value by the microwave densitometer attached to the pipe as described above is obtained. .

  For example, overrun is actually measured by the conventionally well-known tester cup method about the food / beverage products containing the air bubble made into object. On the other hand, for foods and drinks that have actually measured overrun in this way, the measurement apparatus of the present invention is used, and the microwave concentration meter attached to the pipe as described above embraces bubbles flowing in the pipe. Measure the mix (preparation liquid, preparation liquid).

  Correlation between the overrun (actually measured value) of the target food and drink obtained in this way and the measured value by the microwave densitometer of the mix containing air bubbles flowing in the piping in the manufacturing process of the food and drink The relationship (calibration curve) is obtained in advance.

  According to the study conducted by the present inventor, it was recognized that the correlation (calibration curve) between the overrun (actually measured value) and the measured value of the microwave densitometer has a linear relationship.

  The in-line continuous measurement method for overrun of food and drink proposed by the present invention has been completed based on this finding. A correlation between a measured value obtained by measuring with a microwave densitometer for a food or drink containing bubbles with known overrun and the known overrun value is obtained in advance. And based on the value obtained by measuring the mix (preparation liquid, preparation liquid) embracing bubbles flowing in the pipe with a microwave densitometer, and the correlation obtained in advance, The overrun value of the mix flowing in the pipe is continuously calculated. In other words, a mixture (preparation liquid, preparation liquid) that includes air bubbles flowing in the pipe is measured with a microwave densitometer, and a food or drink containing bubbles with known overrun is measured with a microwave densitometer. Based on the correlation between the measured value of the overrun and the measured value of the microwave densitometer, and the measured value of the microwave densitometer, the overrun of the mix flowing in the pipe Is calculated continuously.

  The in-line continuous measurement apparatus for overrun of food and drink according to the present invention that executes the method of the present invention is configured such that the mix that includes air bubbles is attached to a pipe that flows inside and the flow that flows in the pipe is mixed. A microwave densitometer to be measured, and an overrun calculation processing means for receiving an input of the measured value of the microwave densitometer and calculating an overrun value of the mix flowing in the pipe. Yes.

  The overrun calculation processing means is, for example, a computer, and a measurement value obtained by measuring with a microwave densitometer about a food or drink containing bubbles with known overrun, which is stored in the storage unit of the computer. Based on the correlation (calibration curve) between the measured value and the known overrun value and the measured value of the microwave densitometer, the overrun value of the mix flowing in the pipe is continuously calculated. Is done.

  By using the above-described measuring apparatus and / or measuring method of the present invention, overrun can be monitored hygienically and continuously in-line. Therefore, by adopting the method of the present invention in the production process of food and drink containing bubbles, the overrun can always be maintained at a predetermined value during the production of food and drink, and the product has stable quality and flavor. (Food and drink) can be manufactured.

  An example of the measuring apparatus / measurement method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 illustrates an example of producing ice cream as a food or drink containing bubbles.

  In the ice cream manufacturing process, the ice cream freezer pushes out semi-frozen ice cream (soft cream) containing moderate air and ice crystals by mixing air into the mix. At this time, a microwave densitometer is installed in the middle of the pipe connected to the ice cream freezer, and the semi-frozen ice cream (soft cream) flowing in the pipe (inside) is measured with the microwave densitometer. . The measurement value of the microwave densitometer continuously measured in this way is input to an overrun calculation means comprising a computer. A microwave densitometer manufactured by Toshiba Corporation was used.

  First, before carrying out the measurement method of the present invention, as a food or drink containing bubbles, ice cream is prepared in plural types, and an average value is obtained for 200 ml of a product (sample) by a conventionally known tester cup method. The overrun was measured by measuring.

  On the other hand, with the configuration of the measuring apparatus of the present invention shown in the drawing, for each ice cream actually measured for overrun using a microwave densitometer, the ice cream extruded from the ice cream freezer flows in the pipe. Measured in the state.

  The actual measured values of overrun and the measured values (indicated values) of the microwave densitometer were as shown in FIG.

  Next, based on this measurement result, the correlation (calibration curve) between the overrun (actual value) and the measurement value (indicated value) of the microwave densitometer was obtained, and the result was as shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, it was recognized that the correlation (calibration curve) between the overrun (measured value) and the measured value (indicated value) of the microwave densitometer has a linear relationship.

At this time, as the precision of the microwave densitometer, the coefficient of determination ^{R 2} was 0.94. This means that, for example, if the overrun is 30%, an error of an average of ± 2.4% is generated, and if the overrun is 100%, an error of an average of ± 8% is generated.

  As described above, the measured value of overrun by the tester cup method is an average value measured for 200 ml of the product (sample), while the microwave densitometer measures the instantaneous value. Therefore, it was considered that there was an error between the two due to differences in the measurement location.

  Thus, since the correlation (calibration curve) between the overrun (actually measured value) and the measured value (indicated value) of the microwave densitometer has a linear relationship, the overrun that can be grasped in this way is Information on the correlation (calibration curve) between the measured value (indicated value) of the microwave concentration meter of food and drink (ice cream) containing known bubbles and the overrun is stored in the storage unit of the overrun calculating means comprising a computer. Stored.

  After the preparation was completed in this way, ice cream was produced using the measuring apparatus and measuring method of the present invention.

  In other words, while the ice cream pushed out from the ice cream freezer is flowing in the pipe, it is measured by the microwave densitometer, and the measured value of this continuously measured microwave densitometer is input to the overrun calculating means. did.

  The overrun calculation means uses information on the measurement value continuously input from the microwave densitometer and the correlation (calibration curve) between the measurement value (indicated value) of the microwave densitometer and the overrun. The overrun is calculated continuously. For example, the overrun is continuously calculated from a calibration curve stored as data illustrated in FIG. 3 and a measurement value continuously input from a microwave densitometer.

  Thus, according to the measuring apparatus and measuring method of the present invention, overrun can be continuously monitored in-line.

  In the ice cream manufacturing process, based on the overrun continuously monitored in this way, if necessary, the air flow rate of the ice cream freezer can be adjusted manually or the ice cream freezer It is adjusted with a mass flow controller built in, and adjusted so that overrun (OR) becomes constant at a predetermined target value through the manufacture of ice cream.

  As described above, since overrun can be monitored inline hygienically and continuously, by adopting the method of the present invention in the production process of food and drink containing bubbles, always during the production of food and drink The overrun can be maintained at a predetermined value, and a product with stable quality and flavor can be produced.

  The preferred embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and is understood from the technical scope of the claims. It can be changed into various forms within the range.

Claims (3)

For the ice cream or whipped cream that is a mix that includes the bubbles to be measured for overrun, the step of actually measuring by the tester cup method to obtain the overrun value,
The overrun value is actually measured by the tester cup method. The overrun target mix is flowed in a pipe and measured using a microwave densitometer. A process of obtaining
Using the microwave densitometer with the overrun value obtained by actual measurement by the tester cup method for the mix to be measured for the overrun, and in the state of flowing in the pipe A step of obtaining a correlation existing between the measured values obtained by measurement,
The flow rate of the mix in which the correlation is obtained is measured using the microwave densitometer while flowing in the pipe, and based on the obtained measurement value, a linear relationship in the obtained correlation is obtained. And a step of calculating an overrun value of the mix flowing in the pipe by using the inline continuous measurement method for overrun of ice cream or whipped cream . A microwave densitometer that measures the mix flowing in the pipe, and an overrun calculation processing means, which is attached to a pipe through which the ice cream or whipped cream, which is a mix containing air bubbles, is attached. ,
The overrun calculation processing means
For the mix that is the target of calculating the overrun value flowing in the piping, the overrun value obtained by actually measuring by the tester cup method,
An overrun value obtained by actual measurement by the tester cup method is obtained with respect to the correlation between the measured value measured using the microwave densitometer after flowing the mix in the pipe. Using the linear relationship
Using the measurement value measured by the microwave densitometer when the mix in which the correlation is obtained flows in the pipe,
An in-line continuous measuring apparatus for ice cream or whipped cream overrun, which is a means for calculating an overrun value of the mix. A method for producing a food or drink containing bubbles by embedding bubbles in a mix,
Flow the ice cream or whipped cream that is the above-mentioned mix embracing bubbles in a pipe, and measure the mix that flows in the pipe using a microwave densitometer,
The overrun value obtained by actually measuring the mix flowing in the pipe by the tester cup method,
An overrun value obtained by actual measurement by the tester cup method is obtained with respect to the correlation between the measured value measured using the microwave densitometer after flowing the mix in the pipe. Using the linear relationship
Using the measured value for the mix flowing in the pipe measured by the microwave densitometer,
Calculate the overrun value of the mix flowing in the pipe,
Method for producing the ice cream or whipped cream you the value of overrun to a predetermined target value by adjusting the flow rate of the air based on the calculated value of the overrun of the mix.

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