JPH0391453A - Cleaning method for automatic soybean-curd production unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the title cleaning method intended to keep the tank clean at all times, so designed that a pressure forming process, a cutting-separation process and a packing process are housed in a tank with hot water at bacteria-killing temperature brought to an identical water surface level, and fresh hot water is fed close to the packing process and made to overflow toward the pressurization process side. CONSTITUTION:Soybean milk coagulated in a coagulating tank 1 during a coagulating process A is fed, by a carrying means 2, into a forming-carrying tank 5 in the pressure forming process B. The tank 5 is filled with hot water to prevent various bacteria from adherence to soybean-curd, a carrying conveyor 6, a pressure forming conveyor 7, etc., and the level of the hot water is maintained at a level WL higher than the top surface of soybean-curd to be carried in the coagulation tank 1. The soybean-curd transferred in the tank 5 is packed via a cutting-separation process C and a packing process D set up adjacently to each other in the tank 5, and carried on a conveyor 44. The hot water in the tank 5 is fed through a feed pipe 51 at the end of the tank 5, allowed to flow in the direction opposite to the carrying direction, and made to overflow via a pipe 52 while keeping the invariant water surface level WL. Therefore, since all of the processes are performed in hot water, cleanness of the whole system can be retained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a tofu manufacturing apparatus that automatically performs the entire line from coagulating soybean milk to cutting, separating, packing, and packing.

(Conventional technology) In recent years, due to hygiene issues and a shortage of workers, tofu production
The cutting, separation and packing processes are becoming mechanized and automated. For example, JP-A-50-122
There are those described in No. 82 and No. 48-41550.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

If the process from manufacturing to packaging is carried out continuously in this way, fine particles and pieces of tofu will be generated in each process, such as the coagulation process, pressure molding process, cutting process, transportation process, etc., and these will become impurities. , which makes the water in the tank cloudy.

Furthermore, if tofu is packaged in this murky water, the murky water will also be filled into the package, damaging the appearance. This will reduce the product value.

The purpose of the present invention is to keep the inside of the tank clean at all times by replenishing the hot water supplied into the tank in a direction opposite to the direction in which the tofu is transported, and to perform temporary packaging beautifully.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention has been made to achieve the above objects, and includes a coagulation process in which soymilk is continuously coagulated, and a cutting and separation process in which the coagulated tofu is cut into regular shapes and arranged and separated as required for packaging. In addition to arranging the packing process in a series, the pressure forming process, cutting separation process, and packing process are placed in a tank filled with hot water at a germ-killing temperature and kept at the same water level, and the packs in this tank are The gist is to inject fresh hot water into the pack in the filling process and allow it to overflow from the starting end of the tank to keep the tank clean at all times, and if necessary, the solidification process and cutting/separation process are also carried out. A pressure molding process is interposed between the two.

[For production]

The coagulation process, pressure forming process if necessary, cutting and separating process, and packing process are arranged at the same water level, and the tofu is all transported in hot water with a sterilization temperature, forming, cutting, separating, and packing. In a device designed to perform Remove components that cloud the isothermal temperature of fine tofu particles and pieces that occur during each process from coagulation to packaging. This ensures that the hot water that is filled into the pack during packaging is clean, increasing the product value and keeping the production line clean at all times.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing firm tofu, in which a coagulation process A for coagulating soymilk, a pressure molding process B, a cutting and separating process C1, and a packing process are arranged in series. The processed tofu is placed in hot water at the same water level at the same temperature for killing germs in all the steps, and the steps from the pressure molding step B to the packing step are performed in one molding and conveying tank.

Next, the line for manufacturing firm tofu will be explained.

A coagulant in a required proportion is mixed with soybean milk, and a predetermined amount of this is poured into a coagulation tank 1. The amounts of soymilk and coagulant that are put into this coagulation tank are predetermined, and this is the same as before, and the coagulants used are conventionally used magnesium chloride, calcium sulfide, glucon, etc. . The coagulation tank 1 has a trough shape, and this trough-shaped coagulation tank 1
A transfer means 2 is disposed above it in the longitudinal direction, and by driving this transfer means 2, soymilk mixed with a coagulant placed between the partition plates in the trough-shaped coagulation tank is continuously transferred. .

The transfer means 2 includes an endless chain 2 between sprocket wheels 21 and 22 disposed on both sides of both longitudinal ends of the tank.
3 are strung together in two parallel rows, and this parallel ceno 23,
A large number of transfer plates 24 are supported between the 23, and a large number of transfer plates 24 are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the cheno 23 < m moving direction. A transfer plate moves inside the trough-shaped coagulation tank, and a transfer plate on the return side of the cheno moves along the top of the coagulation tank, and the transfer plate inside the tank transfers the soymilk put into the tank. Do it like this.

The temperature of the soymilk charged into the coagulation tank 1 is such that it does not coagulate instantaneously immediately before being introduced into the coagulation tank, that is, at the time when the coagulant is mixed, in other words, the temperature at which coagulation is slow, for example, 65°C.
The temperature is adjusted to ~78°C.

While the soybean milk is being transferred through the coagulation tank, it is heated to a temperature suitable for uniform coagulation in a relatively short period of time, for example, 80° C. to 85° C., thereby coagulating the soymilk. For this reason, the coagulation tank 1 is equipped with a heating means 3, which is heated at a controlled temperature so that the entire soybean milk in the coagulation tank can be heated almost uniformly and at a temperature suitable for coagulation. be.

The soymilk, which is heated at a controlled temperature and transferred by a transfer plate through a trough-shaped coagulation tank, coagulates during the transfer process, and when it is completely coagulated, it is sent from the coagulation tank to an adjacent forming transfer tank. .

Adjacent to the terminal end of the coagulation tank 1 in the coagulation process A is a molding and conveying tank 5 for pressure-molding the tofu while transporting it in a sterile state. This molding conveyor tank 5 has a sterilization temperature of 6 to prevent bacteria from adhering to and propagating on the tofu, transfer conveyor, pressure conveyor, etc.
It is filled with hot water over 5°C. This liquid level WL is determined to be equal to or slightly higher than the top surface of the tofu transferred in the coagulation tank 1.

In addition, the solidified tofu is transferred into this forming transfer tank 5,
Further, a transfer conveyor 6 and a molding conveyor 7 for pressure molding are installed vertically facing each other.

The transfer conveyor 6 and the forming conveyor 7 may be made of any material that can transfer the coagulated tofu without damaging it.
The configuration is not limited.For example, a steel belt with many perforations, a resin belt made of synthetic resin fibers into a woven fabric or a net shape, a net belt, a cloth belt, etc. are used.The tension can be adjusted as necessary. Cheno is also used to withstand the situation.

At both ends of this transfer conveyor 6 are wheels or drums 61.6 for tensioning this conveyor 6 to the required tension and shape.
1, and one of them is driven by a drive device. The return path of the transfer conveyor 6 is below the hot water level and is completely immersed in the hot water, and if necessary, a part of the forward path, preferably the first half of the forward path, is located below the hot water surface W.
The tofu is supported at a slightly higher position, that is, above the hot water level.A crushing device for crushing the coagulated tofu is disposed on the transfer conveyor at a position above the hot water level. The conveyor section on the outbound side, which is below the hot water level, following the conveyor on the outbound side, which is located above the hot water level, is used as the pressurized dehydration process in hot water.

In the pressurized dewatering process of the transfer conveyor 6 in hot water, a pressure molding conveyor 7 is arranged in parallel above the transfer conveyor 6, and this pressure molding conveyor 7 is also made of the same material as the transfer conveyor 6. It can be adjusted up and down, and the pressure dehydration of tofu can be adjusted by adjusting the distance between the two conveyors 6° and 7°.

At least the forward side of the forming conveyor 7 is located slightly below the hot water level WL, and the sterilizing action of this conveyor is performed by submerging the molding conveyor 7 in the hot water.

The continuous plate-shaped tofu that has been recombined and pressure-molded in the pressure molding step B is cut into rod shapes of predetermined dimensions by a first cutting device 8.Then, this rod-shaped tofu is cut and separated into regular shapes in a cutting and separation step. Sent to C.

In this cutting and separation process C, a plurality of cutting blades 9 are arranged at regular intervals so as to have the size of tofu-collation, and each of the cutting blades is adjacent to each other so that the regular-shaped pieces after cutting can be spaced apart so that they can be packaged. When the bar-shaped tofu cut by the cutter of the first cutting device 8, which is provided at the tip of the guide plate 10 for alignment and separation, comes into contact with the cutting blade 9 adjacent to this laterally, and is pressed by the push plate 11. Cut into regular pieces. Furthermore, this pressing plate 1
1 is moved along the guide groove formed between the guide plates 10, 10, each shaped piece can be spaced apart from each other by the required distance.

The thus-cut and separated pieces are inserted into packs P in hot water in a packing process adjacent to cutting and separating process C, and this packing process is carried out using a guide The bottom plate 41 of the guide mechanism 4 is arranged so that each regular-shaped piece of tofu that is conveyed at a distance in the groove is transferred smoothly, and the guide plates 42, 42, etc. are placed on the bottom plate 41 at the end of the guide groove. The guide plates 42 are arranged at the same intervals as the bottom plate 41, but the guide plates 42 are arranged so as to protrude forward from the edge of the bottom plate 41 by at least one minute of tofu. The tofu is put into the pack by moving it along between the guide plates 42 by a pushing plate 43 which moves up and down and reciprocates.

Below the guide mechanism 4, to be more precise, the guide plate 42.
A packing conveyor 44 is disposed below the terminal edge of the bottom plate 42 in a direction intersecting the guide plate 42, and the tofu pushed out by the pushing plate 43 is placed in hot water below the edge of the bottom plate. falls and is thrown into the pack P at the bottom.

The pack filling conveyor 44 has both ends led out of the tank and positioned above the hot water level. One end supplies empty packs, the other end takes out tofu hole packs, and the center of the conveyor is placed in a position above the hot water level. In order to more reliably insert the tofu into the pack by the pushing plate 43, which is formed so as to be submerged therein, a pushing plate 25 is provided which moves up and down above the pack at the packing position.

Figure 2 shows a production line for fine-grained so-called silken tofu.

This silken tofu production line omits the pressure forming process B from the firm tofu production line, and the cutting and separation process C is placed in the forming conveyance tank 5.
, a packing process is provided, in which the tofu that has gone through the coagulation process A is directly cut into regular shapes, and the separated pieces are packed. Therefore, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In any of the above-mentioned cotton or silk strained tofu manufacturing apparatuses, fresh hot water (65°C to 85°C) having a sterilization temperature is injected into the forming conveyance tank 5 from the packing side at the terminal end, and the starting end is solidified. It overflows from the part adjacent to tank 1. The amount of hot water injected from the special type end side through the pouring pipe 51 is the sum of the amount of hot water consumed by packing and the amount overflowing from the starting end of the tank through the overflow pipe 52, and the water level in the forming transfer tank 5. The water level is adjusted to be constant, and the water level is determined by pressure forming, cutting, separating, and packing the tofu in the hot water bath in the forming and conveying tank. By continuously injecting this fresh hot water, fine tofu particles (pieces) generated during the coagulation process, pressure molding process, cutting separation process, packing process, etc. are discharged out of the molding and conveying tank as an overflow. Always keep the hot water in the tank clean.

The fine particles generated in each of the above steps will make the water cloudy.
If the product is packaged with tofu as it is, the product value will be the fixed price, but by making the hot water flow in the opposite direction to the direction in which the tofu travels, at least the hot water in the molding and conveying tank during the packing process can be prevented from becoming cloudy. It is possible to maintain a clean state without any problems.

Note that this injection of fresh hot water generates a water flow in the forming conveyance tank 5, but this flow is extremely gentle, and the tofu being conveyed through the hot water does not lose its conveying posture due to the flow of hot water. This is how you are saved.

Incidentally, the hot water injected into the forming and conveying tank can be directly injected into the pack in which tofu is packed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The success or failure of tofu in hot water that has a sterilizing temperature In the cutting and packing equipment, the direction in which the tofu travels and the flow of the hot water are opposite to each other, and fresh hot water is injected to replenish and overflow. For forming and cutting tofu in the equipment,
Classification Packing The cloudy components and impurities such as fine particles and pieces of tofu generated during each process are naturally removed, and the tofu is inserted into the pack in a clean state, and the inside of the pack is filled with tofu and fresh hot water. This method has advantages such as making the product beautiful, and because all steps are performed in hot water at sterilization temperature, products with a long shelf life can be automatically manufactured.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the tofu molding apparatus of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the packed portion. A is the solidification process, B is the pressure molding process fL, C is the cutting and separation process, D is the packing process, P is the pack 1 is solidified R2 is the transfer means, 24 is the transfer plate, 3 is the heating hand a, 5 is the molding conveyance Tank, 6
is a transfer conveyor, 7 is a forming conveyor, 8 is the first cutting device L
9 is a cutting blade, IO is a guide plate, 11 is a push plate, 4
is a guide mechanism, 41 is a bottom plate, 42 is a guide plate, 43 is a push plate, 44 is a conveyor, 45 is a push plate, 51 is a pouring pipe,
52 is an overflow pipe.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A coagulation process in which soy milk is continuously coagulated, a pressure molding process in which the coagulated tofu is pressure molded, and after this molding, it is cut into regular shapes and then aligned and separated as required for packaging. The separation process and packing process are arranged in series, and the pressure forming process, cutting separation process, and packing process are placed in a tank filled with hot water at a germ-killing temperature and kept at the same water level. An automatic tofu tank characterized in that fresh hot water is injected into the pack or near the pack in the packing process, and overflows from the starting end of the pressure forming process to keep the inside of the tank clean at all times. How to clean manufacturing equipment. (2) A coagulation process in which soy milk is continuously coagulated, a cutting and separation process in which the coagulated tofu is cut into regular shapes and arranged and separated as required for packaging, and a packaging process are arranged in a series. The pressure molding process, cutting separation process, and packing process are carried out in a tank filled with hot water at a germ-killing temperature and kept at the same water level, and fresh water is stored inside the pack or near the packaging during the packing process in this tank. 1. A method for cleaning an automatic tofu manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that the inside of the tank is kept clean at all times by injecting hot water and causing it to overflow from the starting end of the tank.