JPH0569502B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial application field The present invention relates to food processing technology,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for thawing frozen foods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Food processing industries such as restaurants, particularly those involved in processing seafood, need to thaw frozen foods quickly. A typical thaw involves placing the frozen food to be thawed in an open sink with a standpipe connected to the drain, and thawing at 5 to 8 gallons per minute for a sufficient time to thaw the frozen food. (approximately 19 to 30 minutes) of cold tap water is supplied to the sink. Excess water flows into the top of the standpipe and exits through the drain. This method has many drawbacks. First, the water temperature cannot be uniformly distributed throughout the sink, resulting in uneven thawing, with a temperature difference of as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit (about 16.7 degrees Celsius) between the bottom and top of the sink. Also, depending on the amount of frozen food to be thawed, it takes about 3 to 30 minutes to completely thaw the food.
It may take up to 4 hours. If the water flow is on the order of 5-8 gallons/minute (approximately 19-30 gallons/minute), a tremendous amount of water is used. Furthermore, due to the long time the food is left soaking, the food becomes watery and some of its flavor is washed away.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Therefore, it is desired to improve the method and apparatus for thawing frozen foods, especially large amounts of frozen foods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a frozen food thawing method and apparatus that solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems of the conventional apparatus and methods described above.

That is, the present invention aims to provide a method and apparatus for thawing frozen food that is simple, inexpensive, and can be easily implemented in a food processing factory.

The present invention can quickly thaw a large amount of frozen food in a sufficiently short time compared to conventional methods and devices, and the thawed food can have sufficiently good quality. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for thawing frozen foods that do not require the use of a large amount of water, which is a feature of conventional methods and apparatuses for thawing frozen foods.

Means for Solving the Problems According to the invention, a frozen food thawing device comprises a water container provided with a gutter near the top, into which gutter drains water flowing into the gutter. A drain is provided. and a first means for filling the container with water to a first predetermined level;
A second means is provided for supplying a controlled amount of fresh water to the container for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined flow rate to raise the water level and overflow the gutter. Also,
Third means are provided which operate simultaneously with the second means, the third means for removing water from the container at a second predetermined flow rate and forcing the removed water back into the container. The water is sufficiently circulated within the container to substantially uniform the temperature of the water within the container, and the water is sufficiently agitated to separate small food particles from the frozen food soaked in the water within the container.

According to a feature of the present invention, the method for thawing frozen food includes immersing the frozen food in water in a container disposed at a predetermined level and provided with a gutter having a drain for discharging incoming water, for a predetermined period of time. A controlled amount of fresh water is supplied to the container for a period of time to allow a predetermined amount of water to overflow into the gutter, and at the same time as the new water is supplied.
Draining water from the container and forcing the drained water back into the container provides sufficient circulation of the water within the container to substantially uniform the temperature of the water within the container and to remove small food particles from frozen foods. Stir the water thoroughly to separate it.

Preferably, the method and device according to the invention as described above are automatically controlled, for example by a timer, so that once started, the entire thawing process is carried out independently, without the need for operator intervention. Place the frozen food in the container and set the desired thawing time, the container will automatically fill with water, supply fresh water at the preset flow rate, and circulate the water until the set time has elapsed. It is preferable to notify the operator by an alarm or the like.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment frozen food thawing apparatus 10 according to the present invention. As shown, the frozen food thawing apparatus 10 includes a generally rectangular open-topped container 12 that resembles a large sink. The container 12 has a front wall 14, side walls 16 and 18, and a rear wall 20. container 12
can be supported at a suitable height by legs 22 having adjustable feet 24 for leveling the container. The container 12 may also be made of stainless steel, for example, and have rounded edges at the top of the front and side walls. Also, from an aesthetic point of view,
As shown, a skirt 28, which may also be made of stainless steel, may be provided down from the container 12 along the front and rear walls. Furthermore, if desired, one side of the container may be provided with a removable or fixed work table (not shown).

A disconnectable drain opening 30 can be centrally located in the bottom 32 of the container 12, which opening connects to the drain line 3 via a conventional U-tube 34.
6. That drain line 36
can be connected to a drainage channel (not shown).
A shallow, elongated, open-topped gutter 40 extends the entire width of the container 12 between the side walls 16 and 18;
It is located in the container 12 on the rear wall 20, the upper edge of the gutter being located somewhat below and near the upper edge 26, as shown. The gutter is
It has a drain opening 42 in its central location which extends through the rear wall 20 of the container 12 and into a T-shaped branch tube 46 disposed between the container drain opening 30 and the tube 34. It is connected via a drain line 44.

The rear wall 20 includes an upper edge 26 of the container, as shown.
Preferably, it extends upward and may be generally rectangular and upright behind the container to form one wall of the housing 50. The housing can house various elements of the fluid and electrical systems of the device, which will be discussed in more detail below. The rear wall portion above the upper edge 26 of the container serves as a control panel for various operational controls of the device, such as an illuminated pushbutton on-off switch 52 and a timer 54, also discussed below. The rear wall is provided with a plurality of water inlets and water outlets. Inside the water inlet and water outlet there is a gutter 4 for filling the container 12 with water.
a main water inlet 60 located below the container, a pair of spaced secondary water inlets 62 located near the bottom 32 of the container for flushing fresh cold water into the container; a water outlet 64 provided in the center between the water inlets 62 to draw out the water;
The front wall of the container 1 for introducing a circulating water flow into the container
Angle upwards toward 4 (for example, 45
There are a pair of spaced-apart water inlets 66 arranged in parallel. Additionally, a water outlet 68 connected to a water level sensing mechanism (described below) may be provided in the rear wall to monitor the water level within the container.

As will be described later, the decompressing device 10 operates completely automatically. At the start of the thawing operation, the main water inlet 60
The cold water is filled to a predetermined level below the gutter 40 through the gutter. Thereafter, the main water flow is stopped and a secondary flow of fresh cold water is continuously supplied via inlet 62 at a controlled flow rate during the defrosting operation. Simultaneously with the secondary water flow, water is removed from the container via the water outlet 64 and returned to the container via the angled water inlet 66 to create a circulating water flow. The manner in which the above is achieved will be described below.

FIG. 2 illustrates the arrangement of the fluid and electrical components of the device contained within the housing 50, and FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the fluid and electrical circuits, respectively, of the device. Illustrated. As shown in FIG. 2, hot water and cold water are supplied to the housing 50
The water is introduced into the apparatus through a hot water inlet 70 and a cold water inlet 72 provided in one side wall (left side wall in FIG. 2), respectively. Holes 74 and 76 are provided to facilitate installation of the device when the hot and cold water lines are located at different locations.
The hot water line and the cold water line may be provided on opposite side walls of the device so that the hot and cold water lines can be rearranged. The hot water inlet 70 is connected via a line 78 and a plug 80 to a water spray device 82 for cleaning the container. Hot water is not used for defrosting, only for cleaning. Refrigeration inlet 72 is connected to vacuum breaker 85 via line 84 . The vacuum breaker is configured to prevent reverse suction of water. Such vacuum breakers are manufactured by Watts, Inc.
From “Anti-Siphon Vacuum Breaker”
siphon Vacuum Breaker) No.288A” can be used. Although the structure of the vacuum breaker is not shown, it operates as follows. When the water supply valve in front of that vacuum breaker is closed, or when that valve is open but negative pressure occurs in the water supply line, the disc-shaped float inside the vacuum breaker will fall and open the atmospheric vent. Meanwhile, the orifice is closed. This effectively prevents the creation of a vacuum in the discharge line from the vacuum breaker and prevents a reverse suction effect. On the other hand, when water is flowing through the vacuum breaker, the water lifts the disk-shaped float mentioned above and blocks the atmospheric vent to prevent water leakage. This vacuum breaker is optional to the device and can be omitted entirely without affecting the ability of the device to accomplish the objectives of the invention.

The line 85a is connected between the vacuum breaker 85 and a T-shaped branch pipe 85b, and the T-shaped branch pipe 85b branches the supplied cold water into a line 85c and a manual bypass system to be described later. The line 85c further supplies the supplied cold water to a T-shaped branch pipe 86, and the T-shaped branch pipe 86 supplies the supplied cold water to the first and second normally closed solenoid valves 90 and 92, respectively. do. The solenoid valve 90 is a water supply solenoid valve for filling the container with water, and its outlet is connected to the main water inlet 60 of the container via a T-shaped branch pipe 94 and a line 96. A second small-diameter line 98 extending from the T-shaped branch pipe 94 is connected to the cross pipe 102, and is capable of priming a circulating water pump 120 as described later. When the solenoid valve 90 is actuated, it causes the container to be filled with cold water.

Solenoid valve 92 functions as a control valve to supply a regulated fresh secondary water flow to the vessel. Its outlet is connected to an in-line flow control valve 104 and further connected via a tee 106 and lines 108 and 110 to a second water inlet 62 of the vessel. The flow control valve 104 is adjusted to supply a preselected new secondary water flow to the vessel.

The solenoid valves 90 and 92 are controlled (in the manner shown in FIG. 4) by a float switch 114 connected to the container water outlet 68 by line 115. The float switch 114 has, for example, a cylindrical housing containing one or more lightweight hollow balls, such as ping pong balls. When the water level in that container rises to a predetermined level, water flows into the float switch via line 115, so that the ball moves the lever and
The lever actuates electrical switch 116 to transfer power from water supply solenoid valve 90 to regulated water flow solenoid valve 92. The predetermined level at which such an operation occurs is
Naturally, this is related to the mounting position of the float switch relative to the container. In addition to controlling the solenoid valve as described above, the float switch turns on the pump 120 to generate a circulating water flow within the container.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pump 120
has an inlet 122 connected to the central water outlet 64 of the vessel, and the outlet 124 is connected to the vessel's angled water inlet 102 via cross tube 102 and lines 126 and 128. . The pump draws water from the vessel's water outlet 64 and circulates it back into the vessel primarily through an angled inlet 66. A part of the water is supplied to the priming line 98,
It is circulated to the vessel via T-branch 64, line 96, and main water inlet 60. However, the inner diameter of priming line 98 is smaller than the inner diameter of lines 126 and 128, so that, for example,
cm), most of the circulating water enters the vessel through the angled inlet 66.

The frozen food thawing device may further include a manual bypass valve 134 connected via line 136 to the T-branch 85b of the device. The outlet of the bypass valve is connected to the pump outlet line 126 via a T-branch 138. This manual bypass valve allows the thawing device to be manually filled and operated. The various water lines shown in FIG. 2 may be standard copper tubing or flexible tubing.

In operation, the frozen food product to be defrosted is placed in a wire or perforated stainless steel basket 140 such as that shown in FIG. 1 to allow free passage of water. The basket has lips 142 and 14 that span the upper edge 26 of the container and the top of the gutter, respectively.
4 is supported within the container 12. The basket may also be sized to accommodate multiple baskets within the container. Then,
Timer 54 is set to a preselected defrost time and start switch 52 is actuated to begin the defrost cycle. Initially, the container is empty. Upon actuation of the start switch, the container is filled with water to a level below the gutter level. Thereafter, the main water flow is stopped and a new secondary water flow and circulating water flow are run and this condition is maintained for the time set in the timer. The above operations are automatically executed as follows.

Referring to FIG. 4, timer 54 includes a relay having a movable contact C that switches between a normally open contact NO and a normally closed contact NC. By the operation of the timer switch, switch 52
The movable contact C, which is connected to the AC power supply via the switch, switches to a normally open contact NO. This allows power to be supplied to the water supply solenoid valve 90 via the float switch 116, allowing the container to be filled with cold water. When the water level in the vessel rises to a predetermined level just below the top of the trough 40, the float switch is actuated and its movable contact C switches to the normally open contact NO. As a result, the power is
The water is no longer supplied to the water supply solenoid valve 90 and is supplied to the regulating water flow solenoid valve 92 and the motor of the pump 120. Thereby, the water supply solenoid valve is closed and the regulated water flow solenoid valve is opened to supply a regulated secondary water flow of new cold water to the container via the water inlet 62 at a predetermined water amount set by the flow regulation valve 104. Begin to.
At the same time, the pump is started, drawing water from the container via the water outlet 64 and circulating the extracted water back into the container via the angled water inlet 66.

As mentioned above, the water inlet 66 is preferably angled at a 45 degree angle with respect to the front wall 14 of the container. As a result, good mixing of the circulating water and the water in the container can be achieved, and the temperature distribution of the water can be made almost uniform. At the same time, the flow rate of the pump is
It is chosen to provide sufficient agitation of the water to separate small food particles and debris from the frozen food and allow them to float to the surface of the water. The regulated secondary water flow from the water inlet 66 into the container causes the water level in the container to slowly rise and overflow into the gutter. As the water overflows into the gutter, the overflowing water carries away small food particles floating on the surface of the water, as well as oil and debris from the food, which can be used to clean water smoke. Water overflowing into the gutter is drained via a drain 42 and a drain line 44.

During the time set in the timer 54, a regulated flow rate of fresh water is supplied, while at the same time the water in the container is also circulated. When the set time ends, the movable contact C of the timer switch switches to the normally closed contact NC. As a result, power is no longer supplied to the pump motor and solenoid valve, and an audible alarm 150 indicates the end of power operation.
(Figures 2 and 4) Supplied.

As further shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, AC power is supplied to the device via terminal 156 and circuit breaker 158 (see FIG. 2) and is connected to switch 52.
In this case, movable contact C of the timer is a normally open contact.
A pilot lamp 160 may be incorporated that is wired to be illuminated when connected to NO.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can thaw a large amount of frozen food in a sufficiently shorter time and amount of water than the time and amount of water required for conventional thawing methods, and can obtain thawed food of excellent quality. In a preferred embodiment, the container 112 of the frozen food thawing device comprises a large stainless steel sink, for example, 30 inches (76.2 cm) wide by 24 inches (61.0 cm) deep by 18 inches (45.7 cm) high. Fresh water is supplied to the container via the flow control valve 104 at a flow rate on the order of 1/4 to 3 gallons per minute (0.95 to 11.4 per minute). In that 1/2 gallon/
minutes (1.88/min) is preferred. Circulation pump 12
0 has a capacity on the order of 12-16 gallons/minute (45.4-60.6/minute). Among them, a capacity of 14.5 gallons/minute (54.9/minute) is preferred. The above flow rate and capacity realize good stirring in the container, and
It is sufficient to ensure uniform temperature distribution and also to separate small food particles from the food being thawed.

Adjusted flow rate [1/2 gallon/min (1.88/min)
Continuously supplying fresh water to the container at 10 minutes) has various effects. First, it creates a smooth continuous flow of water into the gutter, providing a continuous cleaning action that removes small food particles, food oils, and other debris from the water in the container. be able to. Second, the temperature of the food being thawed is preferably maintained below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) to prevent bacterial growth. In a typical public water supply, the cold water temperature is around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). Therefore, by using a pump to circulate the water within the container while continuously supplying fresh water to the container, the entire container can be heated to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is possible to maintain a nearly uniform water temperature of approximately 15.5 degrees Celsius (15.5 degrees Celsius), allowing for uniform thawing of frozen foods while preventing the growth of bacteria.

Effects of the Invention The frozen food thawing apparatus according to the present invention having the dimensions and flow rates described above is capable of completely thawing approximately 130 pounds (59 Kg) of frozen food in approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. On the other hand, the conventional method of continuously supplying water at a flow rate of 5 to 8 gallons per minute (18.9 to 30.3 gallons per minute) to a sink equipped with a standpipe drain takes about 3 to 4 gallons per minute to thaw the same amount of frozen food. It takes time and consumes a lot of water. Furthermore, the present invention
Because the frozen food is not soaked in water for a long time, the quality of the thawed food is better and the food is less prone to becoming watery or losing flavor.

It would be advantageous to fully automate the frozen food thawing apparatus according to the present invention, since it can be operated without the need for an operator to be present, and an accurate thawing time can be set simply by using a timer. Therefore, more efficient decompression can be achieved. If necessary, an additional solenoid valve may be provided in the drain line from the container's main drain opening 30 to open the solenoid valve to drain water from the container at the end of the thaw cycle, thereby terminating the thaw operation. The frozen food thawing device may be configured to automatically drain water from the container at certain times. In addition, frozen food thawing equipment
A conventional hot/cold water pot may also be provided, as shown in phantom in FIG. In that case, manual bypass valve 134 may be omitted if desired.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, it is understood that various changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. It will be obvious to business owners.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a frozen food thawing device according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows the first
FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view from the rear of a portion of the frozen food thawing device shown in the figure. FIG. 3 is a fluid circuit diagram of the frozen food thawing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. Fourth
The figure is an electric circuit diagram of the frozen food thawing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Main reference number], 10... Frozen food thawing device,
12... Container, 22... Leg, 28... Skirt, 30... Drain opening, 40... Gutter, 50...
... Housing, 54 ... Timer, 52 ... Push button type on-off switch, 85 ... Vacuum breaker, 90, 92 ... Solenoid valve, 120 ... Circulation pump, 114 ... Float switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A container provided with a gutter near the top, the gutter provided with a drain for discharging water flowing into the gutter, and a container containing water up to a first predetermined level. first means for filling said container with water to said predetermined level and being operative to supply said container with a controlled amount of fresh water at a predetermined flow rate and for a predetermined period of time to fill said container with water; a second means for raising a water level to overflow into said gutter; and a second means operating simultaneously with said second means for said predetermined period of time to drain water from said container at a second predetermined flow rate; the water is forced back into the container, the water is sufficiently circulated within the container to substantially uniform the temperature of the water in the container, and the frozen food soaked in the water in the container is and a third means for sufficiently agitating the water to separate small food particles. 2. The frozen food thawing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising electric control means for automatically controlling the first, second and third means. 3. The frozen food thawing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electric control means includes a timer for setting the predetermined time. 4. The first means includes an electric control valve provided between a water inlet to the container and a water supply source, and the electric control means monitors the water level in the container and adjusts the water level. 3. The frozen food thawing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for controlling the electric control valve when the temperature rises to the predetermined level. 5. The frozen food thawing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the water level monitoring means is a float switch. 6 The second means is provided between a plurality of water inlets provided near the bottom of the container and a water supply source and supplies water to the water inlets at the predetermined flow rate. 3. The frozen food thawing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an electric control valve for thawing a frozen food. 7. The electric control valve has an electric control cutoff valve and a flow rate adjustment valve, and the flow rate adjustment valve is configured to form a smooth flow of water to the gutter by the predetermined flow rate, and to reduce the amount of water in the container. 7. The frozen food thawing device according to claim 6, wherein the device is adjusted to perform a cleaning action to remove the food particles from the frozen food thawing device. 8. The predetermined flow rate is within a range of 1/4 to 3 gallons per minute (0.95 to 11.4 per minute), and the water temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). A frozen food thawing device according to claim 7. 9 The third means is a pump having an inlet connected to a water outlet of the container, and the outlet of the pump is connected to a plurality of water inlets of the container that are provided near the bottom of the container and are spaced apart from each other. connected to an inlet, the spaced apart water inlets of the container being adapted to direct circulating water from the pump upwardly toward the surface of the water in the container. A frozen food thawing device according to claim 2. 10 The pump has a rate of 12 to 16 gallons per minute (45.4 to
The frozen food thawing device according to claim 9, characterized in that the device has a capacity of about 60.6/min). 11. The frozen food thawing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm means for indicating the expiration of the predetermined time. 12 further comprising a basket contained within the container and supported by the top of the container and the gutter, the basket being configured to freely transmit water; A frozen food thawing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: 13. Claims further comprising bypass means for manually filling said container with water and creating a continuous flow of water into said container to raise the water level and create flow to said gutter. 1st
Frozen food thawing device as described in section. 14. The frozen food thawing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum breaker means for preventing water from being sucked in the opposite direction. 15. Soaking the frozen food in water in a container located at a predetermined level and equipped with a gutter with a drain for discharging incoming water, and supplying a controlled amount of fresh water to said container for a predetermined period of time. to overflow water into said gutter, and simultaneously with the supply of fresh water,
Draining water from the container and forcing the drained water back into the container to sufficiently circulate and agitate the water in the container to substantially uniform the temperature of the water in the container and freezing it. A method for thawing frozen food, characterized in that small food particles are separated from the food and flowed into the gutter. 16 The water supply shall be from 1/4 to 3 gallons per minute (0.95 to 11.4
16. The method for thawing frozen food according to claim 15, wherein the frozen food is supplied at a flow rate within a range of 1/min). 17. The draining is performed by draining water from the container at a first position and pouring water back into the container from a second spaced apart position near the bottom of the container. A method for thawing frozen food according to claim 15. 18. Claim 17, characterized in that the water inlet is adapted to return water to the container such that the water flow is directed upward towards the water surface.
How to thaw frozen foods as described in section. 19. Claim 1, characterized in that the water supply and drainage is performed so that an amount of water of about 12 to 16 gallons/minute (45.4 to 60.6 minutes) is returned to the container.
The frozen food thawing method described in Section 7. 20 Automatically filling the container with water, detecting the water level in the container to detect an increase in the water level to the predetermined level, and in response to the sensing, stopping the operation of filling the container with water. 16. The frozen food thawing method according to claim 15, wherein the water removal and supply are performed for the predetermined time.