JPH0838058A - Ice confectionery production unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ice confectionary production unit capable of preventing the mix in a hopper from freezing or the chilling water in a water chiller from freezing. CONSTITUTION:This ice confectionery production unit SM has a hopper 2 for mix storage, a chilling cylinder 8 to produce ice confectionery from a mix fed from the hopper 2, a hopper chiller 4 and hopper agitator 5 each equipped in the hopper 2, a cylinder chiller 11 set up on the chilling cylinder 8, a freezing apparatus R made up of a chilling line to chill the hopper 2 and chilling cylinder 8 by the respective chillers 4, 11 during ice confectionery production and a heating line to heat the hopper 2 and chilling cylinder 8 by the respective chillers 4, 11 during heat sterilization process, a hopper sensor 32 to detect the temperature of the hopper 2, and a control unit. The control unit actuates the hopper agitator 5 when the temperature of the hopper 2 falls to a specified level, in response to the output of the hopper sensor 32.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a frozen dessert producing apparatus for producing frozen desserts such as soft serve ice cream.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this kind of frozen dessert producing apparatus for producing frozen desserts such as soft ice cream has been disclosed in, for example, Jitsuko Sho 63-203.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 04-04, a hopper that stores a mix (frozen dessert mix) that is a raw material for soft ice cream, a cooling cylinder that manufactures soft ice cream from the mix supplied from the hopper, a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, Further, the refrigerating apparatus includes a cooling cylinder and a cooler provided in each of the hoppers.

The refrigerating cycle of this refrigerating apparatus is reversible by a four-way valve, and high-temperature high-pressure gas refrigerant (hereinafter referred to as hot gas) discharged from the compressor is radiated by a condenser when manufacturing frozen desserts during business. Liquefaction,
After decompressing with a decompression device, it is made to flow in each cooler to evaporate and cool the cooling cylinder and the hopper to a predetermined temperature, so that the cooling cylinder produces a soft serve ice cream. Further, when heat sterilization and cleaning of the mix, the cooling cylinder and the hopper after the end of business, the hot gas discharged from the compressor is directly introduced into each cooler to heat the cooling cylinder and the hopper.

Further, the hopper is equipped with an agitator called an impeller, and when the frozen dessert is manufactured or heat sterilization is performed, the impeller is rotated to agitate the mix in the hopper so that a cooling or heating action is achieved. I try to spread them evenly. Then, the heat-sterilized mix was kept in the hopper overnight and used again for the production of soft serve ice cream at the time of business on the next day.

[0005]

Here, in particular, when the frozen dessert making apparatus is installed in a cold region, the stirrer is stopped when the outside air temperature significantly decreases (-3 ° C. or less) at night such as in winter. During the process, the mix held in the hopper was frozen, and there was a problem that the supply to the cooling cylinder was hindered.

[0006] Condensers for liquefying the hot gas discharged from the compressor at the time of manufacturing frozen desserts include an air-cooled type in which the air is cooled by ventilating the outside air and a water-cooled type in which the cooling water is circulated. However, in the latter case, the circulation of the cooling water is also stopped at night, so if the outside air temperature drops significantly (0 ° C or less) as described above, the cooling water in the water cooling device freezes and the water cooling device bursts. There was also a problem that caused it.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problems, and provides a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus capable of preventing the freezing of the mix in the hopper or the freezing of the cooling water in the water cooling device. The purpose is to

[0008]

A frozen dessert producing apparatus according to the present invention is provided in a hopper for storing a mix, a cooling cylinder for producing a frozen dessert such as soft ice cream from the mix supplied from the hopper, and a hopper. Hopper cooler and hopper agitator provided, a cylinder cooler provided in the cooling cylinder, a cooling circuit for cooling the hopper and the cooling cylinder by each cooler at the time of manufacturing frozen dessert, and a hopper and a cooling cylinder by each cooler at the time of heat sterilization A reversible cycle type refrigerating device that constitutes a heating circuit that heats, a hopper sensor that detects the temperature of the hopper, and a control device that controls the refrigerating device based on the output of this hopper sensor are provided. The device operates the hopper agitator when the hopper has dropped to a predetermined temperature.

The frozen dessert producing apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention is provided in the hopper for storing the mix, the cooling cylinder for producing frozen dessert such as soft ice cream from the mix supplied from the hopper, and the hopper and the cooling cylinder, respectively. A reversible cycle type that comprises a hopper cooler and a cylinder cooler, a cooling circuit that cools the hopper and the cooling cylinder with each cooler during the production of frozen dessert, and a heating circuit that heats the hopper and the cooling cylinder with each cooler during heat sterilization The refrigerating device, a hopper sensor for detecting the temperature of the hopper, and a control device for controlling the refrigerating device based on the output of the hopper sensor, and this control device, when the hopper is lowered to a predetermined temperature. The refrigeration system is switched to the heating circuit to operate.

In the frozen dessert producing apparatus of the invention of claim 3, the hopper for storing the mix, the cooling cylinder for producing frozen dessert such as soft ice cream from the mix supplied from the hopper, and the hopper and the cooling cylinder are respectively provided. A reversible cycle type that comprises a hopper cooler and a cylinder cooler, a cooling circuit that cools the hopper and the cooling cylinder with each cooler during the production of frozen dessert, and a heating circuit that heats the hopper and the cooling cylinder with each cooler during heat sterilization A refrigeration apparatus, a water cooling apparatus that cools a condenser that constitutes the refrigeration apparatus, a hopper sensor that detects the temperature of a hopper, and a control apparatus that controls the refrigeration apparatus based on the output of the hopper sensor, This controller is a water cooling device when the temperature detected by the hopper sensor drops to a predetermined value. It is intended to circulate the water.

[0011]

According to the frozen dessert making apparatus of the present invention, the control device controls the hopper to agitate based on the output of the hopper sensor closest to the outside air temperature when the outside air temperature lowers the hopper to a predetermined temperature. Since the container is operated to stir the mix in the hopper, it is possible to prevent freezing of the mix held in the hopper, especially in cold regions, and realize smooth frozen dessert sales.

According to the frozen dessert making apparatus of the second aspect of the invention, based on the output of the hopper sensor closest to the outside air temperature, when the outside air temperature is lowered and the hopper is lowered to a predetermined temperature, the control device is operated. The refrigeration system is switched to the heating circuit to operate, and hot gas is passed through the hopper cooler to heat the mix in the hopper, so that the mix retained in the hopper is prevented from freezing, especially in cold regions, and smooth operation is prevented. Frozen dessert sales can be realized.

Further, according to the frozen dessert making apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, when the temperature detected by the hopper sensor decreases to a predetermined value due to the decrease in the outside temperature, based on the output of the hopper sensor closest to the outside temperature. Since water is circulated through the water cooling device that cools the condenser, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that causes the cooling water in the water cooling device to freeze and to cause a burst failure, especially in cold regions, and to realize a smooth frozen dessert sale. become able to.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a frozen dessert making apparatus SM according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the frozen dessert making apparatus SM, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device C of the frozen dessert making apparatus SM. The frozen dessert manufacturing device SM of the embodiment is a device for manufacturing and selling frozen desserts such as soft ice cream and shakes of vanilla and chocolate, and in FIG. A hopper 2 for storing a frozen dessert mix) is provided. The hopper 2 has an opening on the upper surface, and the opening is opened and closed by a detachable cover 3, and the cover 3 is removed when the mix is replenished. A hopper cooler 4 is wound around the hopper 2, and the mix in the hopper 2 is kept cool by the hopper cooler 4.

Further, a hopper stirrer 5 called an impeller is provided on the inner bottom of the hopper 2, and is driven to rotate by a stirring motor 6 provided below. Further, a mix level sensor 7 composed of a pair of conductive electrodes is attached at a position of a predetermined height on the side wall of the hopper 2, and the electrodes of the mix level sensor 7 are brought into conduction so that a predetermined amount in the hopper 2 (mix The hopper stirrer 5 is continuously rotated in a state of detecting a mix equal to or higher than the height at which the level sensor 7 is provided. It is rotated intermittently.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a cooling cylinder for rotating and stirring the mix, which is appropriately supplied from the hopper 2 by the mix supply device 9, by the beater 10 to produce a frozen dessert, and a cylinder cooler 11 is attached to the periphery thereof. The beater 10 includes a beater motor 12, a drive transmission belt, and a speed reducer 1.
3 and rotating shaft. The frozen desserts produced are
Extraction lever 15 arranged on the front freezer door 14
By operating the, the plunger 16 moves up and down,
The extraction path 17 is opened, and the beater 10 is driven to rotate to be taken out. Here, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, three take-out levers 15A, 15B, and 15C are provided for vanilla, chocolate, and a mixture thereof.

Next, in FIG. 1, R is a reversible refrigerator. Explaining the refrigerating apparatus R below, 18 is a compressor, and 19 is a refrigerant flowing from the compressor 18 in a flowing direction depending on whether a cooling circuit (solid arrow) is formed or a heating circuit (broken arrow) is formed. A four-way valve for switching in the opposite direction, 20 is a water-cooled condenser. In the case where the four-way valve 19 constitutes a cooling circuit, the condenser 2
The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 18 flows into 0 through the check valve 21 and is condensed and liquefied into a liquid refrigerant.

This liquid refrigerant passes through the check valve 22 and then passes through the dryer 2.
When it comes out of 3, it splits into two directions, one is cylinder cooling valve 2
4. The pressure is reduced via the cooling cylinder capillary tube 25, flows into the cylinder cooler 11 and evaporates there, and cools the cooling cylinder 8. The other is the hopper cooling valve 26,
It is decompressed through the hopper capillary tube 27 in the front stage, flows into the hopper cooler 4 and evaporates there, cools the hopper 2, and then flows out through the capillary tube 28 in the rear stage.

After the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are cooled, the refrigerant is merged in the accumulator 30 and then returned to the compressor 18 via the four-way valve 19 to perform a cooling operation (sales state) (flow indicated by solid arrow). ). A hopper sensor 32 for detecting the temperature of the hopper 2 is attached to the hopper 2, and a cylinder sensor 31 for detecting the temperature of the cooling cylinder 8 is attached to the cooling cylinder 8.

Next, the case where the four-way valve 19 constitutes a heat sterilization circuit will be described. In this case, the four-way valve 19 is operated to flow the refrigerant in the direction of the broken line arrow in the figure. That is, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 18, that is, hot gas, is split into two directions by the four-way valve 19 and the accumulator 30, one of which directly flows into the cylinder cooler 11 and the other of which is the check valve 33. Through which the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are heated at a specified sterilization temperature for a predetermined time (+ 72 ° C., 40 minutes).

The liquefied refrigerant that radiates heat here has a cylinder hot gas valve 34 and a hopper hot gas valve 35, respectively.
After merging via the condenser 20, gas-liquid separation is performed in the condenser 20, and the refrigerant gas passes through the reverse solenoid valve 36 and the reverse capillary tube 37 connected in parallel, and returns to the compressor 18 via the four-way valve 19 to perform the heat sterilization operation. Done. Incidentally, 3
A sterilization sensor 8 detects the heating temperature of the cooling cylinder 8.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a water cooling device for cooling the condenser 20, which is provided with a water saving valve 41, a pressure sensor 42 for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant in the condenser 20, and a water supply passage 43. Then, when the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant flows from the compressor 18 into the condenser 20 and the refrigerant pressure of the condenser 20 rises, the pressure sensor 42 detects it and opens the water-saving valve 41. When the water-saving valve 41 is opened, cooling water is circulated through the water supply passage 43 into the water cooling device 40 as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in the figure to cool the condenser 20.

Reference numeral 44 is an electrical equipment box, 45 is a front drain receiver, and 46 is a water tap, which is supplied with water when washing the mix. An operation panel 50 is provided above the freezer door 14 on the front of the main body 1, and a plurality of key switches such as a cooling operation switch and a sterilization switch are provided on the operation panel 50.

Next, in FIG. 3, the control unit C is composed of a general-purpose microcomputer 77, and the cylinder sensor 3 is input to the microcomputer 77.
1, a hopper sensor 32, a sterilization sensor 38, an extraction switch SW interlocking with the takeout lever 15, and an operation panel 5
The outputs of the key switches provided at 0 are connected. The output of the microcomputer 77 includes the motor 18M of the compressor 18, the beater motor 12,
Stirring motor 6, cylinder cooling valve 24, hopper cooling valve 2
6, a cylinder hot gas valve 34, a hopper hot gas valve 35, a four-way valve 19 and a reverse valve 36 are connected.

The operation of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus SM of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration will be described below with reference to the flow chart of the microcomputer 77 of FIG. The microcomputer 77 resets everything after the start of operation, and then in step S
At 1, it is determined whether or not the low temperature flag is set to "1". Since it has been reset here, the microcomputer 77 then proceeds to step S2, and determines whether the temperature detected by the hopper sensor 32 (the temperature of the hopper 2) is 0 ° C. or lower based on the output of the hopper sensor 32. If the temperature is higher than 0 ° C., the process proceeds to step S3, and the normal soft ice cream (frozen dessert) temperature control described below is executed.

In the temperature control of step S3, when the cooling operation switch is pressed at the time of business, the microcomputer 77 executes the cooling operation (sales state). In this case, the microcomputer 77 uses the four-way valve 19
And the reverse valve 36 is closed. Then, based on the output of the cylinder sensor 31, the lower limit temperature (set value), the upper limit temperature (set value + 1.
Cylinder cooling valve 24 ON (open) -OFF between 5 ° C)
(Closed), the compressor motor 18M is turned on and off to cool the cooling cylinder 8 to a set temperature (about -3 ° C to -8 ° C).

Further, the microcomputer 77 turns on (open) -off the hopper cooling valve 26 in the temperature range of + 10 ° C. to + 8 ° C. based on the output of the hopper sensor 32.
(Closed), the compressor motor 18M is turned on and off to cool the hopper 2. In addition, the microcomputer 7
Reference numeral 7 indicates that the stirring motor 6 is turned on and the hopper cooling valve 26 is turned on.
Driven in synchronization with (open), the hopper agitator 5 is rotated while the hopper 2 is being cooled (soft cream temperature control described later). However, in this cooling operation, the cooling of the cooling cylinder 8 is prioritized, and the hopper cooling valve 26 is turned on when the cylinder cooling valve 24 is off.

Next, when the sterilization switch is pressed at the end of business, the microcomputer 77 executes the heat sterilization operation. In this case, the microcomputer 77 switches the four-way valve 19 to configure the heat sterilization circuit and opens the reverse valve 36. Then, based on the output of the sterilization sensor 38, a predetermined lower limit that is predetermined so that the prescribed sterilization temperature is maintained for the mix,
Turns on the cylinder hot gas valve 34 between the upper set temperatures.
(Open) -OFF (Closed), turn on the compressor motor 18M
By performing N-OFF, heat sterilization of the cooling cylinder 8 is performed.

Further, the microcomputer 77 turns on (open) -OF the hopper hot gas valve 35 at the temperature set in the cooling cylinder 8 based on the output of the hopper sensor 32.
F (closed), the compressor motor 18M is turned on and off to heat the hopper 2 and heat sterilize the mix in the hopper 2. Further, the microcomputer 77 drives the stirring motor 6 during the heat sterilization operation, and the hopper stirrer 5
To rotate. Note that the microcomputer 77 shifts to cooling after heat sterilization, and the cooling cylinder 8 and the hopper 2 are kept in a low temperature state to some extent, that is, a cool temperature (+ 8 ° C. to + 10 ° C.) until the next day's sale, so that the compressor 18 is cooled. Cooling operation is performed to perform ON-OFF control and ON-OFF control of the cylinder cooling valve 24 and the hopper cooling valve 26.

Here, when the outside air temperature is abnormally lowered in winter such as in a cold region and the temperature of the hopper 2 closest to the outside air temperature becomes 0 ° C. or less, the microcomputer 77 operates based on the output of the hopper sensor 32. When the temperature drop is detected, the process proceeds from step S2 to step S4 in FIG. 4 to set the low temperature flag to "1". Next, in step S5, the stirring motor 6 is forcibly driven to stir the mix in the hopper 2 by the hopper stirrer 5, and
Proceeding to step S6, the four-way valve 19 is switched to the heat sterilization circuit, the hopper hot gas valve 35 is opened, and step S7 is performed.
The compressor 18 (compressor motor 18M) is operated (ON).

Then, the process returns to step S1, but since the low temperature flag is set to "1" here, step S1 is performed.
In step 8, it is determined based on the output of the hopper sensor 32 whether the temperature detected by the hopper sensor 32 (the temperature of the hopper 2) is + 8 ° C. or higher. Here, if it is assumed that the temperature has not yet reached + 8 ° C., the process proceeds to step S4 and is repeated thereafter.

When the outside air temperature becomes a low temperature such as -3 ° C.,
In the cooling / cooling operation in the temperature control (step S3) described above, the hopper cooling valve 26 is naturally not opened, and therefore the stirring motor 6 is also stopped. In such a situation, the mix retained in the hopper 2 will begin to freeze from its surface. However, in the present invention, as described above, the hopper 2 detected by the hopper sensor 32 due to the decrease in the outside air temperature.
When the temperature of 1 is lowered to 0 ° C. or lower, the stirrer 5 is forcibly rotated to stir the mix, and thus the freezing of the mix is eliminated in advance.

In addition to that, the microcomputer 77 opens the hopper hot gas valve 35 and operates the compressor 18 to flow hot gas to the hopper cooler 4, so that the hopper 2 is heated. Therefore, this also eliminates the freeze of the mix in the hopper 2.

Here, with the operation of the compressor 18,
Cylinder hot gas valve 34, hopper hot gas valve 35
Since the refrigerant that has merged via the refrigerant flows into the condenser 20, the refrigerant pressure inside the condenser 20 increases. As a result, the pressure sensor 42 opens the water-saving valve 41 as described above, so that the water supply passage 4
Cooling water will be circulated in the water cooling device 40 through 3.

When the outside air temperature becomes a low temperature such as 0 ° C., the period during which the compressor 18 is stopped becomes longer in the cooling and cooling operation in the above temperature control (step S3).
In such a situation, the water saving valve 41 is not opened either, so that the cooling water staying in the water cooling device 40 freezes and causes a pipe rupture. However, in the present invention, when the temperature of the hopper 2 detected by the hopper sensor 32 decreases to 0 ° C. or lower due to the decrease of the outside air temperature as described above, the compressor 18 is forcibly operated (ON) and the refrigerant pressure of the condenser 20 is reduced. Up and open the water saving valve 41 to circulate the cooling water,
The freezing of the cooling water in the water cooling device 40 is eliminated in advance.

In the embodiment, the pressure sensor 42 detects the start of operation of the compressor 18 to open the water-saving valve 41. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the microcomputer 77 directly controls the water-saving valve 41. It doesn't matter.

[0037]

As described above in detail, according to the invention of claim 1, based on the output of the hopper sensor closest to the outside temperature,
When the temperature of the hopper drops to a predetermined temperature due to a decrease in the outside air temperature, the controller operates the hopper stirrer to stir the mix in the hopper, so that the mix held in the hopper is frozen particularly in cold regions. It is possible to prevent this and realize smooth frozen dessert sales.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, based on the output of the hopper sensor closest to the outside air temperature, when the outside air temperature is lowered and the hopper is lowered to a predetermined temperature, the control device heats the refrigeration system. The circuit is switched to operate, and hot gas is passed through the hopper cooler to heat the mix in the hopper, so in particular in cold regions, the mix retained in the hopper is prevented from freezing and smooth frozen dessert sales are realized. You will be able to.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, based on the output of the hopper sensor closest to the outside air temperature, when the temperature detected by the hopper sensor is lowered to a predetermined value due to the decrease in the outside air temperature, the condenser. Since water is circulated through the water cooling device that cools the water, the cooling water in the water cooling device freezes, especially in cold regions, preventing the inconvenience of causing a burst failure,
It will be possible to realize smooth frozen dessert sales.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device of the frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a program of a microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 SM frozen dessert maker C controller 2 hopper 4 hopper cooler 5 hopper stirrer 6 stirring motor 8 cooling cylinder 11 cylinder cooler 18 compressor 19 four-way valve 20 condenser 40 water cooler C controller R refrigeration device SM frozen dessert maker

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hopper for storing a mix, a cooling cylinder for producing frozen desserts such as soft ice cream from the mix supplied from the hopper, a hopper cooler and a hopper stirrer provided in the hopper, and the cooling cylinder. And a cooling circuit for cooling the hopper and the cooling cylinder by the cooling device at the time of manufacturing a frozen dessert, and a heating circuit for heating the hopper and the cooling cylinder by the cooling device at the time of heat sterilization. A reversible cycle refrigeration system, a hopper sensor for detecting the temperature of the hopper, and a control device for controlling the refrigeration system based on the output of the hopper sensor, wherein the hopper has a predetermined temperature. Frozen dessert manufacturing apparatus, wherein the hopper stirrer is operated when the temperature drops to a low level. 2. A hopper for storing the mix, a cooling cylinder for producing frozen dessert such as soft ice cream from the mix supplied from the hopper, a hopper cooler and a cylinder cooler respectively provided for the hopper and the cooling cylinder. A reversible cycle type refrigerating device comprising a cooling circuit for cooling the hopper and the cooling cylinder by the respective coolers during the production of frozen dessert and a heating circuit for heating the hopper and the cooling cylinder by the respective coolers during heat sterilization, A hopper sensor that detects the temperature of the hopper and a control device that controls the refrigeration system based on the output of the hopper sensor are provided, and the control device is configured to cool the refrigeration system when the hopper temperature drops to a predetermined temperature. An apparatus for manufacturing frozen desserts, which is operated by switching the apparatus to a heating circuit. 3. A hopper for storing the mix, a cooling cylinder for producing frozen dessert such as soft serve ice cream from the mix supplied from the hopper, and a hopper cooler and a cylinder cooler provided in the hopper and the cooling cylinder, respectively. A reversible cycle type refrigerating device comprising a cooling circuit for cooling the hopper and the cooling cylinder by the respective coolers during the production of frozen dessert and a heating circuit for heating the hopper and the cooling cylinder by the respective coolers during heat sterilization, A water cooling device that cools the condenser that constitutes this refrigeration system, a hopper sensor that detects the temperature of the hopper, and a control device that controls the refrigeration system based on the output of this hopper sensor are provided. When the temperature detected by the hopper sensor drops to a predetermined value, the water cooling device Ice confection producing device, characterized in that circulating water.