JPS5928389B2 - Immersion freezing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a freezing device characterized in that a cage containing food is automatically raised and lowered into a brine tank by a hydraulic device, and is a simple and effective automatic immersion freezing device. The purpose is to provide

Conventionally, as one of the food freezing methods, the immersion freezing method, in which food is directly immersed in a refrigerant or cold brine (antifreeze), was considered, but since salt brine was used as the brine, the temperature was -18° It is impossible to hope for a cooling temperature below C, and brine may seep into the food, reducing its apparent freshness. Adding and removing food from immersion requires effort, and in addition, replacing contaminated brine costs money and effort. The development of this type of immersion freezing equipment was delayed because of the drawbacks such as the need for immersion freezing equipment.

However, in recent years, there has been a strong demand for energy-saving measures, and the concept of brine permeation has been reconsidered. Cooling temperatures have been lowered by using not only salt brine but also other brines, and as a result, the freezing time has also been reduced compared to conventional semi-brine. ,
It is possible to shorten the time compared to the air blast method, and the power required for the refrigerator is also much smaller. Furthermore, advances in packaging materials and packaging technology have made it possible to avoid brine seepage even for foods that do not like brine seepage at all. Due to these reasons, the immersion freezing method has been reviewed and reevaluated, and it has come to be considered particularly suitable for freezing on board ships.

However, the only equipment available for this type of equipment is an inefficient one, in which food is manually put into a cold brine tank and the frozen food floating in the brine is manually taken out. However, in the case of continuous freezing, the apparatus is complicated and large, making it difficult to put it into practical use.

The present invention is a simple and effective automatic immersion freezing device designed to eliminate these drawbacks. A food storage cage is installed between the upper and lower flat lids, and the cage is raised and lowered at both ends of the frame attached to the upper flat lid. The piston rod end of a hydraulic cylinder is fixed, and the food storage cage is placed in the brine tank so as to be movable up and down.

5, to explain in detail the attached drawings showing an example of the implementation of the present invention, 1 is an upper flat lid, 2 is an upper flat lid, and 3 is a front open shape provided integrally with the upper and lower flat lids between the upper and lower flat lids. This is a food storage cage made entirely of mesh or steel bars.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a frame attached to the upper flat lid 1, and both ends of the frame 4 are configured to protrude into both sides of the upper flat lid 1.

Reference numeral 5 designates a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the food storage cage 3, and ends of a piston rod 6 of the hydraulic cylinder 5 are fixed to both ends of the frame 4.

7 is a brine tank with a heat-insulating layer, and the food storage case, -, r≠ line tank is designed so that it can be raised and lowered freely.
.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a guide rail provided inside the brine tank, which guides the side end of the lower flat lid 2 when the cage is raised and lowered.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a fitting stepped portion of the upper flat lid 1 provided on the upper edge of the brine tank 7, and a series of backings 10 are attached to the lower surface of the four circumferences of the upper flat lid 1 that abuts the stepped portion 9.

A series of backings 10 are attached to the four circumferential upper surfaces of the upper flat lid 2 that come into contact with the lower surface of the stepped portion 9.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a vertically movable all-mesh partition shelf provided inside the food storage cage 3.

12 is a brine inlet provided below the brine tank 7.

13 is a brine outlet, and 14 is a brine overflow port provided on the upper blade of the brine tank.

In this embodiment, the cage 3 is installed integrally with the upper and lower flat lids 1 and 2, but a separate cage containing food stored between the upper and lower flat lids may be made to be freely accessible and removable as necessary. It's something you should get.

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, (1) Mere immersion of the food has a large buoyant force, which creates a floating surface at the top that does not soak in the brine, resulting in uneven freezing. , the food is forcibly immersed in the brine by hydraulic pressure, so it can be frozen uniformly, (2) food to be frozen can be taken in and out only by moving in the horizontal force direction, making it easy to work, and (3) food storage cages are The partition shelf can be moved, so it can be adapted to the shape of the food. (4) The top and bottom surfaces of the food storage cage are flat lids, so the cage can be lowered (when frozen) or raised. When loading and unloading food, the flat lid comes into close contact with the upper edge of the brine tank via the backing, which prevents the brine from splashing out or flowing out due to the movement of the ship in the case of inboard equipment. ) The brine tank, hydraulic system, and food storage cage can be made into a unit, so it can be easily installed as an alternative device in the space of the existing semi-airplast freezing device. (6) In continuous immersion freezing using a conveyor, etc.
The cargo handling power becomes heat in the brine and becomes a load on the refrigerator.
Although there is heat loss at the conveyor entrance/exit opening, the cargo handling power (hydraulic power) in this device does not become a load on the refrigerator.
In addition, since the brine tank is sealed with a lid during freezing, there is little heat loss, and the advantages of the immersion freezing method are not lost, so it is an extremely simple and effective automatic immersion freezing device that has a large energy saving effect. It has great utility value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The attached drawings show an example of the implementation of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a partially sectional front view when the cage is raised, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partially sectional front view when the cage is lowered. 1... upper flat lid, 2... upper flat lid, 3...
...Food storage cage, 4...Frame, 5
... Hydraulic cylinder, 6 ... Piston rod, 7 ... Brine tank, 8 ...
・Guide rail, 9...Mating stepped portion, 10...
... Backing, 11... Partition shelf, 12...
...Brine inlet, 13...Brine outlet, 14...Brine overflow.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A food storage cage is installed between the upper and lower flat lids, the piston rod ends of a hydraulic cylinder that raises and lowers the cage are fixed to both ends of a frame attached to the upper flat lid, and the food storage cage is arranged in the brine tank so that it can be raised and lowered. An immersion freezing device characterized by: