JP6870163B2 - Food processing equipment and food processing methods - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a continuous processing type food processing apparatus and a food processing method. For example, the present invention relates to a continuous freezing process type freezing device in which a transport belt on which an object to be frozen is placed is transported and frozen in a cooling liquid. Further, for example, the present invention relates to a continuous heat treatment type heat treatment apparatus in which a transport belt on which an object to be heated is placed is conveyed and heated in hot water or hot water.

In the prior art, there are various methods for freezing or heating foods such as meat and vegetables which are objects to be treated. For example, there is an air freezing (air blasting) method in which the air cooled by a cooler is circulated in the refrigerator so as to hit the object to be frozen. In addition, there is a liquid freezing (brine freezing) method in which a cage containing an object to be frozen is submerged and frozen in a cooling liquid tank filled with a cooling liquid. In both cases, batch type devices have been widely used.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a conventional batch type liquid refrigeration type refrigerating apparatus.
As the cooling liquid, a cage in which the objects to be frozen are stored in multiple stages in a cooling liquid tank filled with a cooling liquid consisting of a calcium chloride aqueous solution or an alcohol aqueous solution called a brine solution that does not freeze even at the cooling temperature. Submerge and freeze. The cooling liquid is cooled via a cooling coil provided at the bottom of the cooling liquid tank, and the temperature in the cooling liquid tank is made uniform by agitating and promoting the flow by a stirrer.
However, this batch-type liquid freezing type freezing device has a small processing capacity because it is not a continuous processing, and is not suitable for commercial freezing that freezes a large amount of non-frozen food. In order to increase the processing capacity in a batch system, it is necessary to make the cooling liquid tank excessively large and submerge a large amount of cages at once, which is practically difficult.
Therefore, in the prior art, although there are few cases, a continuous processing type freezing device has been developed in which the object to be frozen is conveyed one after another and continuously frozen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a freezing apparatus of a continuous freezing treatment method using a conveyor running in the liquid below the waterline of the cooling liquid, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-55526.
As shown in FIG. 10, in the continuous freezing treatment type freezing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-55526, the conveyor 66 runs in the liquid below the waterline of the cooling liquid 54 filled in the freezing tank 52. The object to be frozen 58 is placed on a conveyor 66 traveling from the food input location 68, charged into the freezing tank 52, immersed in the cooling liquid 54 for a certain period of time, and then taken out from the outlet 70. It is a mechanism that can be used. The conveyor 66 on the endless track is continuously operated. Further, since the individual objects to be frozen pass through the cooling liquid in the same orbit from the food input point 68 to the take-out port 70, the quality uniformity of the frozen product is also improved.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-55526

However, there is a problem to be improved in the continuous freezing treatment type freezing device using a conveyor that runs in the liquid below the waterline of the cooling liquid, which is disclosed in Patent Document 1 described in the prior art.
As shown in FIG. 10, this refrigerating apparatus uses a conveyor that runs in the liquid below the waterline of the cooling liquid, and the endless conveyor settles in the cooling liquid tank from the outside of the cooling liquid tank. After traveling a predetermined distance in the liquid, it draws a trajectory in which it is pulled out of the cooling liquid tank again.

Here, if the food to be processed contains a large amount of foodstuff having a relatively light specific gravity, the specific gravity may be lighter than that of the treated liquid, and the food is simply placed on an endless conveyor. If the food is immersed in the treatment liquid in this state, the food to be treated will float, or even if it does not float, the difference in specific gravity is small, so the placement posture will change while traveling in the treatment liquid. There was a risk that it would be stowed or moved.
In the continuous freezing treatment type freezing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the food to be treated is only placed on the conveyor, and if it is immersed in the cooling liquid tank, it may float up. It can be seen that the posture and position of the conveyor on the endless conveyor may change. If food floats or moves during processing, the processing state and processing time may vary, which may affect the quality.

In the conventional technology, when a food containing a large amount of such a relatively light food is to be processed, it is not only placed on the belt of an endless conveyor but also stored in a metal basket having a large weight. A method was adopted in which the metal was placed on an endless belt in this state.
In any case, it is necessary to take time and effort such as putting the food into the basket and discharging the processed food from the basket.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention reliably in a food processing liquid in a continuous freezing processing type freezing device using a conveyor that runs in the liquid below the waterline of the processing liquid such as a cooling liquid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a continuous freezing treatment type food processing apparatus and a food processing method capable of controlling the posture of the food and performing treatments such as cooling, freezing, and heating in a predetermined state for a predetermined time.

In order to achieve the above object, the food processing apparatus of the present invention includes a processing tank filled with a processing liquid for performing heat treatment, cooling treatment or freezing treatment of the food to be treated, and at least a part of the processing treatment. A main transport belt that travels in an infinite orbit while immersed in the processing liquid of the tank and a main drive mechanism that drives the main transport belt are provided, and the food is placed on the food mounting surface of the main transport belt. A main conveyor device that transports food from the food input location to the food discharge location in the state of being in the state, a sub-conveyance belt that travels in an infinite orbit with at least a part immersed in the processing liquid of the processing tank, and the sub At least a part of the transport belt is positioned so as to face the main transport belt of the main conveyor device, and the facing surface of the sub-convey belt is driven to travel at the same speed and in the same direction as the main transport belt. A sub-conveyor device including an sub-drive mechanism is provided, and the food to be processed is located between the main transport belt of the main conveyor device and the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor device, and at least one of the transport paths. It is a food processing processing apparatus characterized in that the unit travels in a state of being immersed in the processing liquid of the processing tank.

With the above configuration, it is possible to control the transport state of the food to be processed by using two conveyor devices, the main conveyor device and the sub-conveyor device, and it floats in the processing liquid or moves freely on the transport belt. It is possible to eliminate problems such as
For example, at least a part of the facing surface of the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor device is immersed in the processing tank, and the food to be processed is the processing liquid in the processing tank in at least a part of the transport path. It may be configured to run in a state of being immersed in the inside.

Further, the distance between the food placing surface of the main conveyor belt and the facing surface of the sub-conveyor belt is substantially equal to the size of the food to be processed, and the food to be processed is the main conveyor of the main conveyor device. If the food is sandwiched between the belt and the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor device, the food can be reliably immersed in the processing liquid without floating.

Further, the distance between the food placing surface of the main transport belt and the facing surface of the sub-convey belt is slightly larger than the size of the food to be processed, and the food to be processed is the main transport of the main conveyor device. By allowing the food to run in a floating or submerged state between the belt and the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor device, it is possible to ensure that the food runs in a state of being immersed in the processing liquid, and further, the food is mainly used. Since it is not sandwiched between the transport belt and the secondary transport belt, it can be gently transported without stressing soft foods.

In this case, since the food is only placed on the main transport belt and is not sandwiched by the sub-convey belt, if the specific gravity of the food is lighter than that of the treatment liquid, it works well at the place where it starts to be immersed in the treatment liquid. There is a risk that it will float and stay in the treatment liquid without being immersed in it. Therefore, there is a device to provide a frame surrounding the food so that the food does not stay on the draft surface of the treated liquid and settles.
The frame has a height approximately equal to the distance between the food loading surface of the main transport belt and the facing surface of the secondary transport belt, has an opening or a mesh surface at least a part of the side surface, and is immersed in the treatment liquid. In this state, the treatment liquid is introduced into the inside, and in the state where the treatment liquid is on the waterline, the treatment liquid is discharged from the inside. If this frame is used, the frame is sandwiched between the main transport belt of the main conveyor device and the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor device, and the food to be processed is transported in the frame. , Food can be settled in the processing liquid together with the frame.

The first frame is a pallet-shaped frame. The pallet-shaped frame is, for example, an independent box shape, the upper surface of which is open, the lower surface of which is a pan for receiving food, and the side peripheral surface of which is a mesh. At the food input location, the food may be input together with the pallet-shaped frame in which the food is arranged. In addition, when taking out at the food discharge point, the processed food can also be taken out by taking out the whole pallet-shaped frame.
Second, there is a tubular frame. There is a frame body that is an independent cylinder or a square cylinder, and the upper surface and the lower surface are open and the side peripheral surface is a mesh. At the food input location, a worker places a tubular frame on the main transport belt 131, and further arranges and places food in the main transport belt 131. When taking out at the food discharge point, the worker may collect the processed food and the frame respectively.
Third, there is a partition plate frame that is erected on the main transport belt without the frame being independent. If the side surface between the partition plates is open or if a mesh-shaped side plate is provided, the processing liquid 120 can enter from the side surface. Further, the partition plate itself may be provided with a mesh structure or a large number of openings. At the food input location, workers input food between the partition walls. At the food discharge point, the worker may take out the processed food.

Next, the height adjustment mechanism will be described.
As described above, since food is sandwiched and transported between the main conveyor belt of the main conveyor device and the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor device, the main conveyor belt and the sub-conveyor belt are arranged according to the size of the food to be charged. You need to change the relative distance. Therefore, it is preferable to have a configuration provided with a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting the relative distance between the two.

Next, the food input location and the food discharge location will be described.
Considering the work efficiency of the food processing device, the food input location to be processed by the main conveyor device is determined in relation to the food input location and food discharge location of the processing tank and the main conveyor device and the sub-conveyor device. The processing liquid is located outside the processing tank or inside the processing device in the air above the water line of the processing liquid, and the point where the facing surface of the sub-conveyor belt starts in the sub-conveyor device is outside the processing tank or inside the processing device. It is preferably located in the air above the waterline of.
With the above configuration, it becomes easy to put the food to be processed into the food processing apparatus and take out the processed food from the food processing apparatus, and the workability is improved.

As a further ingenuity, in the above configuration, as a drive method of the main drive mechanism for driving the main transport belt and the sub drive mechanism for driving the sub-convey belt, non-stop continuous movement is possible, and intermittent movement is possible. It is also possible to control. If the movement is intermittent, it becomes easier to reliably perform the food feeding work and the food taking-out work, and the work efficiency may be improved.

In the above configuration, as the main transport belt, a bendable metal mesh net belt, an engineering plastic mesh net belt such as polycarbonate, a rubber belt, or the like can be adopted. As the auxiliary transport belt, a bendable metal mesh net belt, a rubber belt, or the like can be adopted. It is also possible to combine the two with different materials.
For example, if a bendable metal mesh net belt is used as the main transport belt and an engineering plastic mesh net belt or rubber belt is used as the secondary transport belt, the pressure pressed from above when sandwiching between the two is applied. It will be given elastically, and there will be an advantage that damage to food will be reduced.

If a cooling liquid or a freezing liquid is adopted as the processing liquid in the processing tank, it can be configured as a food cooling freezing processing apparatus capable of continuously executing a predetermined cooling treatment or a predetermined freezing treatment of food.
Further, if hot water or hot water is adopted as the processing liquid in the processing tank, it can be configured as a food heat processing apparatus capable of continuously executing a predetermined heat treatment of food.

The food processing method according to the present invention comprises a processing tank filled with a processing liquid for heat treatment, cooling treatment or freezing treatment of the food to be treated, and an infinite orbit while immersed in the processing tank. A main conveyor device that is equipped with a main transport belt that runs on the main transport belt and a main drive mechanism that drives the main transport belt, and that transports food from the food input location to the food discharge location while the food is placed on the food loading surface of the main transport belt. The sub-conveyor belt traveling on an infinite track and at least a part of the sub-conveyor belt are positioned so as to face each other on the main transport belt of the main conveyor device, and the facing surface of the sub-conveyor belt has the same speed and the same speed as the main transport belt. Using a sub-conveyor device equipped with a sub-drive mechanism that drives the food to travel in the direction, the food to be processed is positioned between the main transport belt of the main conveyor device and the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor device to run. It is a food processing processing method characterized by.

According to the food processing device according to the present invention, it is possible to control the transport state of the food to be processed by using two conveyor devices, a main conveyor device and a sub-conveyor device, and the food can float in the processing liquid or float. It is possible to eliminate the problem of moving the food on the conveyor belt without permission, and it is possible to accurately control the predetermined processing time of the food in a predetermined posture and state.

It is a figure which showed the structural example of the food processing processing apparatus 100 which concerns on Example 1 simply. It is a structural example of a metal mesh net belt or an engineering plastic mesh net belt configured to be bendable. It is a figure which showed the state of transportation of the food 200 when the distance L1 between the main transfer belt 131 and the auxiliary transfer belt 141 and the size L0 of the food 200 are substantially equal, which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the mode that the height is adjusted by the height adjustment mechanism (not shown) which adjusts the relative distance between the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of a sub-conveyor device 140. It is a figure which showed the structural example of the food processing processing apparatus 100a which concerns on Example 2 simply. It is a figure which briefly explains the example using the 1st frame body 170. It is a figure which shows the example which uses the 2nd frame body 170 simply. It is a figure which shows the example which uses the 3rd frame body 170 simply. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the apparatus which adopted the cold air flow system in the batch type refrigerating apparatus in the prior art. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the apparatus which adopted the refrigerant liquid immersion system in the continuous refrigerating apparatus in the prior art.

Hereinafter, examples of the food processing apparatus of the present invention will be described. The present invention is not limited to these examples.
The food processing device of the present invention uses a plurality of conveyor devices, a main conveyor device and a sub-conveyor device, to transport food by facing the transport systems. Hereinafter, in the first embodiment, the food is mainly used. A device for transporting food by sandwiching it between a transport belt and a sub-conveyor belt will be shown, and a second embodiment will show a device for additionally transporting a frame without sandwiching the food between the main transport belt and the sub-conveyor belt.

A configuration example of the food processing apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As an example, a freezing treatment using a brine liquid as a treatment liquid will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram briefly showing a configuration example of the food processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.
The food processing device 100 according to the first embodiment is a configuration example including a processing tank 110, a processing liquid 120, a main conveyor device 130, a sub-conveyor device 140, a food input point 150, and a food discharge point 160.
In addition, other components provided as the refrigerating treatment device, for example, a cooler provided in the processing treatment tank 110, a supply port and a drainage port of the processing liquid 120 in the processing treatment tank 110, a main conveyor device 130 and a sub-conveyor device. The description of the drive mechanism and the electric system equipment of 140 is omitted here.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, food is shown as 200 in other figures.

In the configuration example of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 is arranged so as to face the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130, and the main conveyor belt 131. And the sub-conveyor belt 141 are controlled to travel at the same speed and in the same direction in the range facing each other, and the object to be processed 200 is sub-conveyed by the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor device 140. It is sandwiched between belts 141 and runs.

Hereinafter, each component will be described.
The processing tank 110 is a highly heat-insulating container filled with the processing liquid 120. For example, there is a structure in which the inner surface is made of stainless steel and a heat insulating material is inserted inside. Any structure having high heat insulating properties can be appropriately adopted.
The processing liquid 120 to be used for various processing treatments is stored in the processing treatment tank 110. In this example, brine is stored for freezing. The temperature can be set freely. For example, it can be set to -20 degrees. It is cooled via a cooling coil provided at the bottom of the processing tank 110.
In the case of heat treatment, hot water or hot water is stored. It is heated via a heater provided at the bottom of the processing tank 110 or the like.
Although the bottom surface and the side surface in the traveling direction of the processing tank 110 are closed, openings of the food input portion 150 and the food discharge portion 160 are provided at the end of the processing tank 110 in the traveling direction as described later. There is. The upper surface of the processing tank 110 may have a structure that is sealed in order to improve heat insulation, but in order to deal with a defect that occurs inside, the upper surface sealing body has a lid structure that can be opened and closed. , A structure that can access the inside as appropriate is preferable.

Next, the processing liquid 120 will be described.
The treatment liquid 120 is a refrigerant or heat medium for performing a cooling treatment, a freezing treatment, and a heat treatment, and may be a commercially available one.
In this configuration example, since it is a freezing device, the processing liquid 120 may be a liquid having a freezing temperature lower than the temperature at which the object to be frozen is cooled, but a liquid having stability, safety, and the like is preferable. For example, a cooling liquid consisting of an aqueous solution of calcium chloride, an aqueous solution of alcohol, or the like called a brine solution may be used.
The height of the waterline of the processing liquid 120 is the height at which the main conveyor device 130, which will be described later, is immersed.

Next, the main conveyor device 130 will be described.
The main conveyor device 130 is a device including a main conveyor belt 131 that travels on an endless track and a main drive mechanism (not shown) that drives the main conveyor belt 131, and is a main conveyor belt for food to be processed. It is transported from the food input point 150 to the food discharge point 160 in a state of being placed on the food loading surface of 131.
A part of the main conveyor device 130 travels in a state of being immersed in the processing liquid 120 of the processing tank 110.

The outbound route of the main conveyor device 130 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the starting end portion of the main conveyor device 130 is located at the food input portion 150 and is outside the processing tank 110. After that, it travels toward the processing tank 110, gradually descends at a predetermined inclination, is immersed in the processing liquid 120, and is processed in a state of being completely immersed in the processing liquid 120. It runs under the waterline of the liquid 120. Next, as it approaches the end of the main conveyor device 130, it gradually rises at a predetermined inclination, escapes from the processing liquid 120, travels on the waterline, and reaches the food discharge point 160.
As shown in FIG. 1, the return path of the main conveyor device 130 is a return path in the reverse flow of the outward path of the main conveyor device 130.

The main transport belt 131 may be any as long as it can withstand temperature changes in the processing process and has appropriate strength and flexibility. For example, a flexible metal mesh net belt, engineering plastics such as polycarbonate, etc. There are mesh mesh belts or rubber belts.
FIG. 2 is a structural example of a bendable metal mesh belt or an engineering plastic mesh belt such as polycarbonate.
In FIG. 2, a part of the main transport belt 131 is enlarged and shown to explain the features of the structure, and is simply illustrated.
In the configuration example of the metal or polycarbonate mesh net belt shown in FIG. 2, a mesh plate 132 that does not bend itself is connected to continuous cotton, and the connecting portion of each mesh plate 132 is rotatable. It has become. For example, it has a hinge structure.
In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2, since the rows of the mesh plates 132 arranged along the traveling direction are alternately displaced in the width direction, the number of bending points is increased, and the mesh plates 132 are devised so that they can be bent with a smaller curvature.

As an example of the metal mesh net belt, there may be a structural example such as a so-called chainmail, but in order to use it for the main transport belt 131, it is necessary to devise so that the deflection becomes small. ..
Alcohol or salt water having a low freezing point may be used as the treatment liquid 120, and in the case of a mesh mesh belt made of polycarbonate, there is an advantage that it is more resistant to corrosion and lighter than metal. When using a metal product, it is preferable to use a metal product having high corrosion resistance such as stainless steel.
As the main transport belt 131, a rubber belt or a belt made of non-woven fabric can also be adopted. These may be any as long as they are resistant to the temperature in the set range and can be used as a transport belt in terms of flexibility and strength. If the transported object is food, it is necessary to meet the food hygiene requirements.

Next, the sub-conveyor device will be described.
The sub-conveyor device 140 is a device including a sub-conveyor belt 141 traveling on an endless track and an sub-drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the sub-conveyor belt 141, and at least a part of the sub-conveyor belt 141 is mainly used. It is positioned so as to face the main transport belt 131 of the conveyor device 130. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the sub-conveying belt 141 runs so as to face the range of the main transport belt 131 immersed in the processing liquid 120.
That is, a part of the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 also runs in a state of being immersed in the processing liquid 120 of the processing tank 110.
At the location where the two travel facing each other, the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 is driven and controlled by the sub-drive mechanism so as to travel at the same speed and in the same direction as the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130. There is.
In this way, the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 run facing each other, and the food to be processed is positioned and conveyed between them. There is.
The material of the sub-conveying belt 141 may be the same as the material described in the main transport belt 131.

The outbound route of the sub-conveyor device 140 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the starting end of the sub-conveyor device 140 is in the processing tank 110 in this configuration example and protrudes above the waterline. After that, it travels toward the processing tank 110 while facing the main transport belt 131, gradually descends at substantially the same inclination as the main transport belt, and is immersed in the processing liquid 120. It travels under the waterline of the processing liquid 120 in a state of being completely immersed in the processing liquid 120 while facing the transport belt 131. Next, as it approaches the end of the sub-conveyor device 140, it gradually rises at substantially the same inclination as the main conveyor belt 131, escapes from the processing liquid 120, and travels on the waterline. In this example, the end is also located inside the processing tank 110.
In this configuration example, the return path of the sub-conveyor device 140 travels in parallel at a relatively high position and returns to the start end.

The food input location 150 is located near the start end of the main conveyor device 130, and an opening is provided on the wall surface of the processing tank 110, and the food to be processed is placed inside the processing tank 110. This is the input part that is being transported. The food to be processed may be loaded on the main transport belt 131 by an automatic loading machine (not shown) or manually placed on the main transport belt 131 by a worker.
The food discharge point 160 is located near the end of the main conveyor device 130, and an opening is provided on the wall surface of the processing tank 110, so that the food to be processed is placed inside the processing tank 110. It is a discharge part that is transported from. The processed food may be discharged by an automatic discharger (not shown) or manually by a worker.

Next, in the above configuration, the transportation of the food product to be processed will be described.
As described above, in the configuration example of this embodiment, the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 is arranged so as to face the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130, and the main conveyor belt 131 and the sub-conveyor are sub-conveyed. The belts 141 are controlled to travel at the same speed and in the same direction in the range where both of the belts 141 face each other, and the object to be processed 200 is the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140. It runs with it sandwiched between them.

Here, the relationship between the distance between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141 and the size of the food will be described.
Although there may be several patterns, in the pattern of the first embodiment, the distance between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141 and the size of the food are substantially equal, and the food 200 is transported to the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 131. This is an example of sandwiching between belts 141.
Example 2 shows a device for additionally transporting the frame body 170 without sandwiching the food 200 between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141.

FIG. 3 is a diagram briefly showing a state of transporting the food 200 when the distance between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141 and the size of the food 200 are substantially equal according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 3, the distance L1 between the food placing surface of the main conveyor belt 131 and the facing surface of the sub-conveyor belt 141 is substantially equal to the size L0 of the food to be processed, and the object to be processed This is a pattern in which the food product 200 travels in a state of being sandwiched between the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140.
Since the distance between the food placing surface of the main transport belt 131 and the facing surface of the sub-convey belt 141 is substantially equal to the size of the food, the food 200 is the main transport belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor device 140. Since the food is sandwiched between the secondary transport belts 141 and transported, the posture of the food 200 during transport is stable, and the food is transported from the position mounted on the main transport belt 131 to the food discharge location without moving.
In particular, the specific gravity of the food 200 is lighter than the specific gravity of the treated liquid 120, and even when the food 200 is easily floated or swam as it is, the food 200 is sandwiched between the main transport belt 131 and the sub-convey belt 141, so that the food 200 can be used. It is transported without moving from the position placed on the main transport belt 131, and sinks without floating even at the moment when it enters below the waterline of the processing liquid 120.

Here, since the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141 are materials such as a metal mesh net belt, an engineering plastic mesh net belt, a rubber belt, and a non-woven belt, in the case of the soft food 200, the shape may be lost. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately adjust the distance L1 between the food placing surface of the main transport belt 131 and the facing surface of the sub transport belt 141.
FIG. 4 shows a state in which a height adjusting mechanism (not shown) for adjusting the relative distance between the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 is provided and the height is adjusted. It is a figure which shows.
In the example of FIG. 4, the entire sub-conveyor device 140 moves up and down as it is, and the height of the sub-conveyor device 140 is variably adjusted by the height adjusting mechanism.
In the example of FIG. 4A, the height of the sub-conveyor device 140 is adjusted to be high by the height adjusting mechanism, and the relative of the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140. This is an example in which the distance L1 is greatly adjusted. The height is suitable for a relatively large food 200.
In the example of FIG. 4B, the height of the sub-conveyor device 140 is adjusted low by the height adjusting mechanism, and the relative of the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 is used. This is an example in which the distance L1 is adjusted to be small. The height is suitable for relatively small food 200.
By providing the height adjusting mechanism in this way, even if the type and size of the food to be frozen are changed depending on the lot of the freezing, it is possible to easily deal with it.

Next, a drive system of a main drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the main transport belt 131 and an auxiliary drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the sub-convey belt 141 will be described.
Regarding the drive of the main conveyor belt 131 and the sub-conveyor belt 141, the object to be processed 200 is sandwiched in a position where both the main conveyor belt 131 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 face each other and travel while facing each other. As described above, since the conveyors are transported in the state, they need to be driven and controlled by the drive mechanism so as to travel at the same speed and in the same direction as the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130.

Here, as a drive method that satisfies the conditions of traveling at the same speed and in the same direction, there are a method in which both move continuously at the same constant speed without stopping, and an intermittent movement in which both move at the same constant speed and stop in synchronization. There can be a method to do.
The method in which both move continuously at the same constant speed without stopping has an advantage that the device configuration can be inexpensive because the control is easy. Since the food placing work at the food input point 150 and the food taking-out work at the food discharge point 160 are assembly line work, the number of processing processes per hour may fluctuate depending on the pace of the worker.
The method of intermittent movement in which both move at the same constant velocity and stop in synchronization is somewhat complicated to control, but it takes time for food loading work at the food input point 150 and food removal work at the food discharge point 160. There is an advantage that the pace of workers can be controlled accurately, and the number of processing processes per hour can be easily made constant.

The second embodiment is an example in which a frame body is additionally transported without sandwiching the food between the main transport belt and the sub transport belt.
A configuration example of the food processing apparatus 100 according to the present invention according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Also in Example 2, as an example, a freezing treatment using a brine liquid as a treatment liquid will be described.
FIG. 5 is a diagram simply showing a configuration example of the food processing apparatus 100a according to the second embodiment.
The food processing device 100a according to the second embodiment includes a processing tank 110, a processing liquid 120, a main conveyor device 130, a sub-conveyor device 140, a food input point 150, a food discharge point 160, and a frame 170. It is an example.
In addition, also in FIG. 5, other components provided as the refrigerating treatment apparatus are the cooler provided in the processing tank 110 and the supply port and the drainage port of the processing liquid 120 in the processing tank 110, as in FIG. , The drive mechanism of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor device 140, the electrical system equipment, and the like are omitted here.

Hereinafter, each component will be described.
The processing tank 110, the processing liquid 120, the food input location 150, and the food discharge location 160 may be basically the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted here.
The main conveyor device 130 is the same as that of the first embodiment in that it is a device provided with a main conveyor belt 131 traveling on an endless track and a main drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the main conveyor belt 131. Further, the sub-conveyor device 140 is also the same as that of the first embodiment in that it is a device provided with a main conveyor belt 131 traveling on an endless track and a main drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the main conveyor belt 131. , The configuration and function of each device may be the same.
However, in the configuration example of the second embodiment, the distance L1 between the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 is larger than the food size L0 in the range where both of the main conveyor belt 131 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 face each other. The food 200 is set to be large so that the food 200 is not directly sandwiched by the main conveyor belt 131 and the secondary conveyor belt 141. Since the food 200 is not sandwiched, there is an advantage that the food 200 is not pressed or stressed and does not lose its shape.

If the opposite distance L1 between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141 is larger than the size L0 of the food, a space for the food 200 to play wastefully is created, so the height L1 is such that the food 200 is not directly pressed. It is enough if is secured.
However, as it is, since the food 200 is merely placed on the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and is not fixed, the food 200 floats up at a position where the main conveyor belt 131 starts to dive under the waterline of the processing liquid 120. There is a possibility of chilling and swimming. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the frame body 170 is used.

The frame body 170 is a frame body having a height substantially equal to the distance between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141, and having an opening or a mesh surface on at least a part of the side surface. When this frame body 170 is used, the processing liquid 120 is introduced into the inside of the food 200 in a state of being immersed in the processing liquid 120 while being surrounded by the frame body 170 to protect the food 200, and is on the waterline of the processing liquid 120. In the state, the processing liquid 120 is discharged from the inside.
Using this frame body 170, the frame body 170 is sandwiched between the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140, and the food 200 to be processed is inside the frame body 170. If the food is transported in the form of being stored in the frame 170, the food 200 can be settled in the processing liquid in a state of being confined in the frame 170 without pressure from the transport belt.

As the frame body having the above characteristics, various shapes can be adopted.
First, there is a pallet-shaped frame. The pallet-shaped frame is, for example, an independent box shape, the upper surface of which is open, the lower surface of which is a pan for receiving food, and the side peripheral surface of which is a mesh. At the food input location, the food may be input together with the pallet-shaped frame in which the food is arranged. In addition, when taking out at the food discharge point, the processed food can also be taken out by taking out the whole pallet-shaped frame.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for briefly explaining the first frame body 170.
The first frame body 170 is an example of a pallet-shaped frame body, and the upper surface is an open box shape, but the side peripheral surface thereof is an example of a mesh structure made of metal or engineering plastic. Its height L2 is substantially equal to the distance L1 between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141. Both L1 and L2 are slightly larger than the size L0 of the food 200.
As shown in FIG. 6B, there is a bottom surface on the bottom surface, and the frame 170 as a whole becomes a pallet for receiving food by placing it on the main transport belt 131, and the food 200 is put into the pallet and arranged. Just do it. As shown in FIG. 6C, the sub-conveying belt 141 comes into contact with the upper surface before and after reaching the range where both the main transport belt 131 and the sub-conveying belt 141 face each other, and the frame body 170 is firmly attached. Is sandwiched. Since the food 200 inside is not directly pressed, excessive stress or the like is not applied. As a result, a small space is formed by the sub-conveying belt 141 and the frame body 170, and the food 200 is conveyed in a state of being confined in the small space. While the main transport belt 131 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 run under the waterline of the treatment liquid 120, the treatment liquid 120 penetrates into the inside from the mesh-like wall surface made of metal or engineering plastic on the side peripheral surface, so that the treatment liquid 120 is sufficiently treated. It is immersed in the liquid 120 and processed.

That is, in the first embodiment, the food 200 is directly sandwiched between the main conveyor belt 131 of the main conveyor device 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140, but in the second embodiment, the food 200 is directly sandwiched between the main conveyor device. What is sandwiched between the main transport belt 131 of 130 and the sub-conveyor belt 141 of the sub-conveyor device 140 is a frame 170, and the food 200 is housed in the frame 170. Since there may be some space in the frame 170, the food 200 runs in a slightly floating or sinking state, but it is useless by providing the frame 170 of an appropriate size for the food 200. It is possible to prevent the body from swimming or being biased.

Next, the frame body 170 having another shape will be described.
The second frame body 170 is a tubular frame body. It is an independent cylinder or square cylinder, for example, the upper surface and the lower surface are open, and the side peripheral surface is a mesh made of metal or engineering plastic.
FIG. 7 is a diagram briefly showing an example in which the second frame body 170 is used.
As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the second frame body 170 is an example in which the second frame body 170 has a square tubular shape and its side peripheral surface has a mesh structure made of metal or engineering plastic. Its height L2 is substantially equal to the distance L1 between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141. Both L1 and L2 are slightly larger than the size L0 of the food 200.
At the food input location 150, the worker places the tubular second frame 170 on the main transport belt 131, and further arranges the foods in the main transport belt 131.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7C, the food 200 may be placed on the main transport belt 131 to form a frame surrounding the food 200, and the food 200 may be placed inside the frame and arranged.
As shown in FIG. 7 (c), the lower surface is supported by the main transport belt 131 before and after being transported from the food input location 150 and reaching the range where both the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141 face each other. The secondary transport belt 141 comes into contact with the upper surface, and the second frame 170 is firmly sandwiched. Since the food 200 inside is not directly pressed, excessive stress or the like is not applied. As a result, a small space is formed by the main transport belt 131, the sub transport belt 141, and the frame body 170, and the food 200 is conveyed in a state of being confined in the small space. While the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141 run under the waterline of the treatment liquid 120, the treatment liquid 120 penetrates into the inside from the mesh-like wall surface on the side peripheral surface of the second frame 170, so that the treatment liquid 120 is sufficiently treated. It is immersed in the liquid 120 and processed.
When taking out at the food discharge point, the worker may collect the processed food 200 and the frame 170, respectively.

Further, the third frame body 170 will be described.
The third frame body 170 is a partition plate-like frame body erected on the main transport belt without the frame body being independent.
FIG. 8 is a diagram simply showing an example in which the third frame body 170 is used. As shown in FIG. 8A, the third frame body 170 is provided as a partition plate erected on the main transport belt 131, and the side surfaces between the partition plates are open or made of metal or engineering plastic. The structure is such that the processing liquid 120 can enter from the side surface by providing a mesh-shaped side plate made of plastic. The height L2 of the partition plate is substantially equal to the distance L1 between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141. Both L1 and L2 are slightly larger than the size L0 of the food 200.
At the food input location 150, the worker places the food side by side between the third frame 170s erected on the main transport belt 131.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8B, the partition plate erected on the main transport belt 131 becomes a frame body 170 surrounding the front and rear of the food 200, and the food 200 may be put in between them and arranged. As shown in FIG. 8C, the sub-conveying belt 141 is placed on the upper surface of the partition plate before and after the food is conveyed from the food input location 150 and reaches the range where both the main conveying belt 131 and the sub-conveying belt 141 face each other. The third frame body 170 comes into contact with each other to secure a space partitioned between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141. Since the food 200 inside is not directly pressed, excessive stress or the like is not applied. As a result, a small space is formed by the main transport belt 131, the sub transport belt 141, and the frame body 170, and the food 200 is conveyed in the small space. While the main transport belt 131 and the sub-convey belt 141 run under the waterline of the treatment liquid 120, the treatment liquid 120 is inside through the open openings on the side surfaces of the partition plates, which are the third frame 170, or the mesh-like side plates. It is sufficiently immersed in the treatment liquid 120 and processed.
When taking out at the food discharge point 160, the worker may collect the processed food 200.

By using such a frame 170, a small space is formed around the food, and even if the food 200 floats or swims during transportation at a weight lighter or equivalent to the specific gravity of the processing liquid 120, the small space is formed. Since it is contained inside, it is processed by the processing liquid 120, and the food 200 is not sandwiched between the main transport belt 131 and the sub transport belt 141, so that stress is not applied and the shape is not lost. In addition, the food is reliably transported to the food discharge port at a predetermined transport speed.

In Examples 1 and 2 described above, the treatment liquid 120 was used as a cooling brine liquid, but for example, if the treatment liquid is hot water at a predetermined temperature, heat treatment can be performed.
The food processing apparatus 100 of the present invention described above can be applied to various processing apparatuss.

Although preferred embodiments of the configuration example of the food processing apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. Let's go.

The food processing apparatus of the present invention can be widely applied to food processing apparatus regardless of the type of processing.

100 Food processing equipment 110 Processing tank 120 Processing liquid 130 Main transport belt 140 Sub transport belt 150 Food input location 160 Food discharge location 170 Frame

Claims (10)

It is a food freezing processing device that can continuously execute freezing processing of food.
A processing tank filled with a freezing liquid that freezes the food to be processed, and
A main conveyor belt that travels on an endless track with at least a part immersed in the freezing liquid of the processing tank and a main drive mechanism that drives the main conveyor belt are provided, and the food product is transferred to the main conveyor belt. Main conveyor device that transports food from the food input point to the food discharge point while it is placed on the food loading surface of
A sub-conveyor belt that travels on an endless track with at least a part immersed in the refrigerating liquid of the processing tank, and at least a part of the sub-conveyor belt on the main conveyor belt of the main conveyor device. A sub-conveyor device including an auxiliary drive mechanism that is positioned so as to face the main conveyor belt and drives the opposite surface of the auxiliary conveyor belt to travel at the same speed and in the same direction as the main conveyor belt.
The food to be processed is located between the main conveyor belt of the main conveyor device and the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor device, and at least a part of the transport path is contained in the freezing liquid of the processing tank. In the configuration of running in the immersed state,
The main transport belt is configured by connecting mesh plates that do not bend by themselves with continuous cotton in the traveling direction, and connecting portions of the mesh plates in the traveling direction are rotatably connected to each other. Food freezing processing in which rows of the mesh plates arranged along the traveling direction are adjacent to each other in the width direction of the main transport belt are alternately displaced in the traveling direction. Processing equipment. The food freezing processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mesh plate of the main transport belt is made of metal or engineering plastic. The sub-conveyor belt is configured such that a mesh plate that does not bend by itself is connected to continuous cotton in the traveling direction, and the connecting portions of the mesh plates in the traveling direction are rotatably connected to each other. The rows of the mesh plates arranged along the traveling direction are adjacent to each other in the width direction of the main transport belt, and the mesh plates are alternately displaced in the traveling direction.
Claim 1 is characterized in that the food to be treated is transported in a state of being immersed in the freezing liquid of the processing tank in a state where the food to be treated is sandwiched between the mesh plates that do not bend by itself. Alternatively, the food freezing processing apparatus according to 2. The food freezing processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mesh plate of the sub-conveying belt is made of metal or engineering plastic. The charging point of the food to be processed of the main conveyor device is located outside the processing tank or in the air above the waterline of the freezing liquid in the processing device, and the sub-conveyor device performs the sub-conveyance. According to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the portion where the facing surface of the belt starts is located outside the processing tank or in the air above the water line of the freezing liquid in the processing apparatus. The food freezing processing equipment described. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting the relative distance between the main conveyor belt of the main conveyor device and the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor device. Food freezing processing equipment. The distance between the food placing surface of the main transport belt and the facing surface of the sub-convey belt is substantially equal to the size of the food to be treated, and the food to be treated is the main. The food freezing processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the food freezing processing apparatus travels in a state of being sandwiched between the main transport belt of the conveyor device and the sub-conveying belt of the sub-conveyor device. The distance between the food placing surface of the main conveyor belt and the facing surface of the sub-conveyor belt is larger than the size of the food to be processed, and the food to be processed is the main conveyor. The food freezing processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the food freezing processing apparatus travels in a floating state or a sunken state between the main transport belt of the apparatus and the sub-conveyor belt of the sub-conveyor apparatus. .. It has a height substantially equal to the distance between the food placing surface of the main transport belt and the facing surface of the sub-convey belt, has an opening or a mesh surface at least a part of the side surface, and is contained in the freezing liquid. The freezing liquid is introduced into the inside in the immersed state, and the freezing liquid can be discharged from the inside in the state of being on the waterline of the freezing liquid. A frame body is provided between the sub-conveying belts of the apparatus, in which the food is stored in the frame and the frame is sandwiched and transported, and the food is conveyed by the main transport belt, the sub-convey belt, and the sub-convey belt. The food freezing processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the food freezing liquid is surrounded by a frame and transported in the frozen liquid. According to claim 1, the drive system of the main drive mechanism for driving the main transport belt and the sub-drive mechanism for driving the sub-convey belt is controlled to be continuous continuous movement or intermittent movement without stopping. 9. The food freezing processing apparatus according to any one of 9.

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