WO2004076290A2

WO2004076290A2 - Food temperature-retaining device

Info

Publication number: WO2004076290A2
Application number: PCT/JP2004/000877
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masahiko Omura
Original assignee: Masahiko Omura
Priority date: 2003-01-29
Filing date: 2004-01-29
Publication date: 2004-09-10
Also published as: WO2004076290A3

Abstract

A food temperature-retaining device (1) has rotating hollow cylinders (4-11) parallelly arranged and rotatably supported by a base (12), heat-conducting tubes inserted inside the cylinders (4-11), a heat-retaining device for circulating a heated or cooled heat medium in the heat-conducting tubes, and a drive device for rotating the cylinders (4-11). When food is placed on adjacent cylinders and the cylinders (4-11) are rotated, the food is also rotated. The peripheral surfaces of the cylinders are in contact with the surface of a hollow cylinder-like container, so that the cylinders heat or cool the food through the surface of the container. Further, entire food is uniformly heated or cooled because the cylinders (4-11) and the food rotate.

Description

Specification

Food warming equipment

Technical field

The present invention relates to, for example, a food warming apparatus installed in a retail store to keep food warm. Background art

Supermarkets and convenience stores have installed many display cases with freezing and refrigeration functions to maintain the freshness of food. Frozen foods and refrigerated foods are often lined up in separate stores and sold separately.

Many of these display cases are open at the top to make it easier for consumers to shop, and the interior temperature is maintained by constantly supplying a large amount of cool air from above to the display cases.

In addition, a frozen showcase with a shelf-shaped exhibit at the top of the display case is also used.

(See, for example, Patent Document 1.) o The heat pipe is installed on the back of the exhibition section, blows cool air cooled by the heat pipe from above the exhibition section, and from the upper end of the display case to the inside of the display case. Is blowing out.

In convenience stores, microwave ovens are often used to sell warm ingredients (food). The clerk puts the food desired by the customer in a microwave oven, heats it for a predetermined time, and then hands it to the customer. In addition, a sausage grill having a structure in which heated rollers can be rotated to apply heat to the outer periphery of cylindrical food such as frankfurters, and an oven is used as a device for warming the whole food. Sometimes. In recent years, in order to prevent electromagnetic waves from concentrating on a part in a microwave oven, a mechanism for rotating a saucer inside is generally used, so that the whole food can be evenly heated. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2.)

Patent Document 1 JP-A-10-132434 (pages 2-5, Fig. 2)

Patent Document 2 JP-A-2002-260842 (Pages 2-7, Fig. 4)

Disclosure of the invention

However, the frozen showcase described in Patent Literature 1 uses a heat pipe to cool the surrounding air, and cools the food through the cool air, so that there is much waste. Also, if the temperature of the air in the display case rises, the temperature of the food in the display case also rises, so even if the amount of food stored in the display case is small, it is necessary to cool the air inside. Therefore, regardless of the amount of food stored, there is much waste in consuming a large amount of energy to sufficiently lower the temperature inside the case.

In addition, in a microwave oven, food is heated not only outside but also inside the food, so that food can be heated in a short time, but the crisp texture as when only the outside is heated in an oven cannot be obtained. There is a problem. In addition, there is a problem in that the casing has a casing that covers the whole of the food material, so that the outer shape becomes large.

On the other hand, in sausage grills, the ingredients to be heated are limited to cylindrical ones that are long in the axial direction, and small ingredients such as sweet chestnuts, irregular ingredients such as onigiri, or irregular ingredients consisting of liquids such as tea and juices. Cannot be heated. Here, the irregular or irregular shaped food means a solid or liquid food that cannot be rotated even when placed on a roller.

In addition, the oven needs to heat the entire space surrounding the ingredients, so that no energy is consumed. There is a problem that there is much waste.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a food warming device that can efficiently keep warm even when the amount of food is small.

Means for solving the problem

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a food warming device of the present invention is a food warming device having a temperature control device for circulating a heat medium, wherein the heat medium is passed through the inside while being in contact with the outer surface of the food, and the food is rotated. It is characterized by having a cylindrical heat retaining body that keeps the temperature while keeping it warm.

The temperature control device has a compressor, a radiator pipe, and a heat transfer pipe. When cooling with a temperature control device, the heat medium is compressed by a compressor, becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure gas state, passes through a radiator tube, releases heat, and liquefies. The liquefied heat medium enters the heat insulator, is decompressed and vaporized, and cools the heat insulator by the latent heat of vaporization.

When heating with a temperature control device, the heat medium that has been compressed by the compressor to a high pressure and high temperature and vaporized passes through the heat conduction pipe and radiates heat to liquefy while heating the heat insulator. Thereafter, the heat medium that has been decompressed and cooled absorbs heat when passing through the heat-dissipating tube functioning as a heat-absorbing tube. The heat medium circulates in this way and heats the heat insulator by heat radiation when passing through the heat conduction pipe.

As the heat medium, for example, HCFC and isobutane, such as R 134 a, it is possible to use a natural refrigerant such as C0 _2.

The heat retaining body can, for example, allow the heat medium to pass directly through the inside of the cylindrical body. Further, a pipe through which the heat medium passes can be inserted into the inside of the cylindrical body. In addition, the term "rotating food" includes not only a case where the food is rotated together with the heat insulator, but also a case where only the food is rotated while the heat insulator is fixed. In addition, food means food and drink, and it does not matter whether or not it is packaged. The heat insulator is heated and cooled by the heat medium, and directly contacts the outer surface of the food without air. In addition, since the food is rotated, the outer surface of the food comes into contact with the heat insulator in order to be heated and cooled, and the food is uniformly heated and cooled from the outside all around.

Here, keeping warm means keeping the temperature at a temperature suitable for the food.Cooling the rotating cylinder if the food is suitable for a temperature lower than the ambient temperature, or rotating the rotating cylinder if the food is suitable for a temperature higher than the ambient temperature. Is heated.

Note that cooling refers to lowering the temperature of the rotating cylinder from the ambient temperature, and includes both freezing and refrigeration. In addition, the food to be cooled includes not only a single food suitable for a low temperature but also, for example, a food in which a packaging container is filled with ice cream and a food in which a can is filled with juices. Heating refers to raising the temperature of the rotating cylinder above the ambient temperature. The food to be heated includes, in addition to a simple food suitable for high temperature, for example, a food in which sweet chestnut or the like is put in a packaging container or a food in which a can is filled with coffee.

When the heat insulation body is provided with a gap outside the heat conduction pipe through which the heat medium passes, and is provided with a rotating cylinder that is rotationally driven by a driving device, the heat conduction pipe is fixedly arranged without rotating. And the heat medium is less likely to leak.

The heat transfer pipe is cooled or heated by the heat medium, and cools or heats the rotating cylinder through the gap. A small gap is formed between the heat transfer pipe and the rotating cylinder, but the volume is small. Further, the inside and outside of the rotating cylinder are shut off by the rotating cylinder. Therefore, since a small amount of gas in the gap inside the rotating cylinder does not escape to the outside in the circumferential direction, the heat retention efficiency does not become very small.

For example, an electric motor or the like is preferably used as the driving device. In addition, a circular cylinder is often used as a cross-sectional shape, but a polygonal one is also included.

When a plurality of the heat insulators are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction and rotatably supported on a base, food can be obtained. Can be placed horizontally. The food placed horizontally is supported from below by two rod-shaped or cylindrical heat insulators and driven to rotate. The food is driven at two locations on the outer circumference, preventing slippage.

When the heat conduction pipe is bent into a U-shape and inserted into the rotating cylinder and disposed, the both ends of the heat conduction pipe are arranged on one side of the rotating cylinder, so that the heat conduction pipe can be rotated without being removed. The tube can be removed from the other end.

In addition, the heat medium passing through the interior of the heat transfer pipe has a force whose temperature gradually approaches room temperature as it moves downstream, and an upstream portion near the temperature of the heat medium and a downstream portion near the room temperature. Are arranged side by side inside the rotating cylinder, so that the temperature distribution of the rotating cylinder becomes uniform.

In addition, when one portion bent in a U-shape is formed, the heat medium makes one reciprocation. The present invention includes a case where the U-shaped part is provided at a plurality of locations and the heat medium is reciprocated a plurality of times.

The heat retaining body is formed in a disc shape with a through-hole formed on a surface of the heat retaining body, the through-hole through which air sent from a blowing means provided on the base is discharged, and the ventilation pipe is provided with a through hole. A heat conductor connected to a heat conduction plate formed with a through hole, a through hole through which the heat conduction pipe is inserted, and a side wall having a cutout on the outer periphery, inside the rotation cylinder, the rotation cylinder May have a configuration in which a through hole is formed on the surface.

With this configuration, the heat of the heat medium passing through the heat conduction pipe can be transmitted to the rotary cylinder via the heat conduction plate. In addition, since the heat conductor is formed by connecting the heat conductive plates, it is possible to easily adjust the length of the heat conductor.

In addition, air is sent from one or both ends of the ventilation pipe from a ventilation means provided on a base, passed therethrough, and discharged from a through hole formed on the surface, so that the heat transfer medium passing through the heat conduction pipe is discharged. The air heated or cooled by the body can be efficiently radiated into the heat retaining body. The radiated heated or cooled air passes through the notch formed in the side wall of the heat conducting plate, heats and cools the rotating cylinder, and passes through the through hole formed in the rotating cylinder. Since the food can be heated and cooled directly, efficient heat retention can be achieved.

The heat retaining body is formed in a disk shape, and has a through hole through which the heat conducting pipe passes, a side wall having a cutout on the outer periphery, and a ventilation part which is connected to the through hole in a cylindrical shape and has a ventilation hole on a side surface. A heat conductor formed by connecting a plurality of heat conductive plates formed inside the rotary cylinder is provided inside the rotating cylinder.By connecting the heat conductive plates, air is supplied from one or both ends to a ventilation path formed by the ventilation section. An air blowing means for feeding is provided on the base, and the rotary cylinder has a configuration in which a through hole is formed on a surface.

With this configuration, it is possible to transmit the heat of the heat medium passing through the heat conduction pipe to the rotary cylinder via the heat conduction plate. Further, since the heat conductor is formed by connecting the heat conductive plates, the length of the heat conductor can be easily adjusted.

In addition, the heat conductor is formed by connecting a heat conducting plate formed in a disc shape and having a cylindrical shape, connected to a through hole, and a ventilation portion having a ventilation hole on a side surface. The air sent by the blowing means can be discharged from the ventilation hole into the ventilation path to be used. The discharged air can efficiently dissipate the air heated or cooled by the heat medium passing through the heat conducting pipe through the heat conducting pipe into the heat insulator. The radiated heated or cooled air passes through the notch formed in the side wall of the heat conducting plate, heats and cools the rotating cylinder, and also passes through the through-hole formed in the rotating cylinder. The food can be heated and cooled directly after passing through, so that efficient heat retention can be achieved.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The food warming device of the present invention allows a heat medium to pass through the inside while abutting against the outer surface of the food. Since it has a cylindrical heat insulator that heats or cools the food while rotating it, the heat insulator can directly contact the outer surface of the food without air to heat or cool, and the amount of food is small. Even in this case, it is possible to keep the temperature by heating or cooling efficiently. In addition, since the outer surface of the food is heated or cooled by sequentially contacting the heat insulator, the entire circumference of the food can be uniformly heated, and the food can be prevented from freezing in contact with the heat insulator.

(2) If the heat retaining body is provided with a rotating cylinder that is arranged with a gap outside the heat conducting pipe through which the heat medium passes and is driven to rotate by the driving device, the heat conducting pipe is fixed without rotating the heat conducting pipe. The heat medium can hardly leak, and the reliability of the device is improved. In addition, since a small amount of gas in the gap does not escape to the outside in the circumferential direction, the heat retention efficiency does not decrease so much, and even when a small amount of food is cooled, it can be efficiently cooled.

(3) If a plurality of heat insulators are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction and rotatably supported on the base, the food can be placed horizontally, and the food placed horizontally can be in the form of two sticks or cylinders. Since the food is supported by the body from below and driven to rotate, the food is driven at two locations on the outer periphery to prevent slippage, and can rotate stably to keep the entire circumference of the food evenly warm.

(4) When the heat conduction pipe is bent into a U-shape and inserted into the rotating cylinder and placed, both ends of the heat conducting pipe are arranged on one side of the rotating cylinder, so remove the rotating cylinder from the other end The operation at the time of maintenance of the drive device can be simplified.

In addition, since the upstream portion of the heat transfer pipe whose temperature is close to the temperature of the heat medium passing therethrough and the downstream portion whose temperature is close to room temperature are arranged side by side, the temperature distribution of the rotating cylinder is evenly distributed. Thus, the whole can be efficiently heated and cooled.

(5) The heat insulator is formed in a disc-shaped ventilation pipe with a through hole formed on the surface, through which the air sent from the ventilation means provided on the base passes, and the ventilation pipe is inserted through the interior. A heat transfer device having a through hole through which a heat conducting pipe is inserted and a side wall having a notch on the outer periphery. A heat conductor connected to a conductive plate is provided inside the rotary cylinder, and the rotary cylinder has a through-hole formed in the surface. With this configuration, the heat of the heat medium passing through the heat conduction pipe can be transmitted to the rotary cylinder via the heat conduction plate, so that the food can be more efficiently kept warm. Since the heat conductor is formed by connecting the heat conductive plates, the length of the heat conductor can be easily adjusted.

In addition, the through-holes formed in the ventilation pipe allow the air to be discharged from the ventilation means provided on the base, so that the heat and cooling by the heat conduction pipe can be efficiently transmitted to the heat insulator. . The air discharged from the ventilation pipe and heated and cooled by the heat conduction pipe passes through the notch formed in the side wall of the heat conduction plate, heats and cools the rotating cylinder, and penetrates the rotating cylinder. The food can be efficiently heated and cooled through the holes.

(6) The heat retaining body is formed in a disk shape and has a through hole through which the heat conduction pipe passes, a side wall having a cutout on the outer periphery, and a ventilation portion which is connected to the through hole in a cylindrical shape and has a ventilation hole on a side surface. A heat conductor formed by connecting a plurality of heat conducting plates formed inside the rotating cylinder is provided inside the rotating cylinder, and by connecting the heat conducting plates, air is supplied from one or both ends to a ventilation path formed by the ventilation portion. The base is provided with a blowing means for blowing in, and the rotary cylinder has a through hole formed on the surface. With this configuration, the air that has passed through the ventilation passage, is discharged from the ventilation hole, and is heated and cooled by the heat conduction pipe passes through the cutout formed in the side wall of the heat conduction plate, and heats and cools the rotating cylinder. In addition, the food can be efficiently heated and cooled through the through holes formed in the rotary cylinder.

Further, by forming the ventilation path by connecting the ventilation sections, the configuration can be such that the ventilation pipe is omitted, so that the number of components constituting the heat retaining body can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food warming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the food heat insulation apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a cylindrical container is placed on a heat conducting pipe.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement structure of a heat conducting pipe of a food heat insulating apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a food warming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of the food warming apparatus.

7A and 7B are diagrams showing a configuration of a heat insulator according to the second embodiment, wherein FIG. 7A is a front view of the heat insulator, FIG. 7B is a front view of the rotating cylinder, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the pipe and the heat conducting pipe through, and (d) is a front view of the ventilation pipe.

8A and 8B show a heat conductive plate according to Embodiment 2, wherein FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the heat conductive plate, and FIG. 8B is a view showing a state in which the heat conductive plates are connected.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a heat insulator according to another embodiment, (a) is a front view of the heat insulator, (b) is a front view of a rotary cylinder, and (c) is a heat conductor. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a ventilation pipe and a heat conduction pipe through, and FIG. 4D is a front view of an air intake pipe.

10A and 10B show a heat conductive plate according to another embodiment. FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the heat conductive plate, and FIG. 10B is a view showing a state where the heat conductive plates are connected.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where a shielding plate is attached to the food warming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1)

Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food warming device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a food warming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention has a plurality of rotating cylinders 4 to 11 rotatably supported by a base 12. The rotary cylinders 4 to: L1 are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction and are rotatably driven by an electric motor 2 as a drive source. Further, a heat retaining section 3 is provided inside each of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11.

The main body 27 of the base 12 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In addition, on both sides of the main body 27, the rotary cylinder supporting portions 13, 14 are provided detachably. The upper surfaces of the rotary cylinder supporting portions 13 and 14 are provided so as to protrude above the upper surface of the main body 27. Further, rubber legs are provided at the lower portions of the rotary cylinder support portions 13 and 14, respectively.

A concave groove 15 is formed by the upper surface of the main body 27 and the inner surfaces of the rotary cylinder supporting portions 13 and 14 adjacent thereto. The eight rotating cylinders 4 to 11 are arranged in the concave groove 15. Both ends of each of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 are rotatably supported by rotary cylinder support portions 13 and 14 via bearings 16 and 17.

The rotary cylinders 4 to 11 are formed in a cylindrical shape, and the bearings 16 and 17 hold the outer circumferences of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11. The outer peripheral surfaces of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 are covered with a cover 39 made of polypropylene, which is a hydrophobic plastic. When the cover part 39 made of the hydrophobic plastic is formed, it is difficult for moisture to adhere to the surfaces of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 when cooled, and thus frost is less likely to adhere. Therefore, the cooling efficiency can be improved and the maintenance cycle can be lengthened to save labor.

Here, the plastic having hydrophobicity refers to a plastic having a hydrophobic non-polar group such as CH ₃ , H ₃ CH ₂ or a benzene ring, for example, polypropylene. The cover 39 can be formed by curing a resin applied on the surface of the rotating cylinder 4 to L1 by covering the rotating cylinder 4 to L1 with a cylinder formed in advance. It is possible.

In addition, a groove is formed on the surface of the rotating cylinders 4 to 11 or a rough surface is formed, so that Can also increase the adhesion. When the cover 39 covering the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 is a plastic cylinder, the surface thereof can be roughened or formed with a groove to prevent slippage. In the case where the cover portion 39 is a coating applied by spraying to the surfaces of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11, the surface of the coating can be roughened.

As shown in FIG. 2, a driving device 18 and a heat retaining device 19 are provided inside the base 12. The drive device 18 includes the electric motor 2, sprockets 44 and 45, and the endless chain 20. The electric motor 2 is provided on the left side in the base portion 12. The sprockets 44 and 45 are provided at the left end of the electric motor 2 and the rotating cylinders 4 to 11, respectively. The endless chain 20 meshes with each sprocket 44,45. An auxiliary sprocket and a guide member (not shown) are provided inside the base portion 12 so that the endless chain 20 does not come off from the sprockets 44 and 45. When the electric motor 2 is driven, power is transmitted to the endless chain 20 via the sprocket 44. This power is transmitted to each rotary cylinder via the sprocket 45, and each rotary cylinder 4 to 11 rotates at a constant speed in the same rotation direction.

The heat retaining device 19 has a compressor 21, a heat radiating pipe 22, and a heat conducting pipe 23. A radiator tube 22 is connected to a downstream end of the compressor 21. The heat radiating tube 22 is bent in a zigzag manner and disposed on the back surface of the base 12. A heat conducting pipe 23 is connected to a downstream end of the heat radiating pipe 22 via a dryer (not shown) and a capillary tube 24.

A fixed shaft 25 is inserted through the center of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11. Both ends of the fixed shaft 25 are detachably fixed to fixing portions provided on the inner walls of the rotary cylinder supporting portions 13 and 14 by fastening means such as screws. The fixed shaft 25 is not in contact with the rotary cylinders 4 to 11, and does not move together with the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 when they rotate.

The heat conducting pipe 23 is bent in a U-shape, and an upstream portion 28 arranged on the upstream side of the bent portion and a downstream portion 29 arranged on the downstream side are arranged in parallel. And arranged in parallel The upstream portion 28 and the downstream portion 29 are detachably fixed to a fixed shaft 25 disposed inside the rotary cylinders 4 to 11. The bent portion of the heat conduction pipe 23 is disposed near the left end of the rotary cylinders .4 to 11. Both ends of the heat conduction pipe 23 are arranged on the right side of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11. The heat-conducting pipe 23 may be any pipe that does not easily corrode, has high thermal conductivity, and is easy to process. For example, a copper pipe can be used.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a cylindrical container is placed on a heat conducting pipe. As shown in FIG. 3, the upstream portion 28 and the downstream portion 29 of the bent heat conducting pipe 23 are arranged facing each other around a fixed shaft 25.

Returning to FIG. 2, the downstream end of the heat transfer pipe 23 is connected to the compressor 21, and with this configuration, the heat retaining device 19 forms a circulation circuit.

The heat medium is compressed by the compressor 21 to become a high-temperature and high-pressure gas, and when passing through the radiator tube 22 radiates heat and is liquefied. Then, the pressure is reduced when passing through the dryer and the capillary tube 24, the gas is vaporized when passing through the heat conducting pipe 23, and heat is absorbed by the latent heat of vaporization at this time. The heat medium reciprocates in the axial direction inside the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 when passing through the inside of the heat conduction pipe 23. The heat medium liquefied by absorbing heat returns to the compressor 21 and is compressed. The heat medium circulates in this way and is cooled by heat absorption when passing through the heat conduction pipe 23.

In addition, the heat retaining device 19 includes a four-way valve (not shown) for reversing the heat cycle of the heat medium. This four-way valve switches the flow of the heat medium circulating from the compressor 21 to the heat conduction pipe 23 via the heat dissipation pipe 22 so that it flows from the compressor 21 to the heat dissipation pipe 22 via the heat conduction pipe 23. ing.

As a result, the warm medium compressed by the compressor 21 and having a high pressure is passed from the downstream portion 29 to the upstream portion 28 of the heat conducting pipe 23 to warm the heat conducting pipe 23, thereby cooling the heat medium. To liquefy. The heat is absorbed when passing through the heat dissipation pipe 22 from the heat transfer pipe 23. Heat and return to compressor 21. The heat medium circulates in this way and is heated by heat radiation when passing through the heat conduction pipe 23.

As a heating medium, an alternative CFC such as R134a is used. The heat medium, isobutane, can also be used natural refrigerant such C_〇 _2.

As shown in FIG. 3, heaters 34 and 35 for heating the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 are provided at positions shifted by 90 ° from the positions of the upstream part 28 and the downstream part 29 of the heat conduction pipe 23 about each fixed shaft 25 as a center. Each is provided. The heaters 34 and 35 are fixed to the fixed shaft 25 by fixing members 43, respectively. The heaters 34 and 35 can melt frost adhering around the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 around the heat conduction pipe 23, and can also heat food through the rotary cylinders 4 to 11. .

The heat retaining section 3 provided in each of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 is constituted by a heat conducting pipe 23 and heaters 34 and 35. Further, a heat retaining body 46 is constituted by the rotary cylinders 4 to 11, the heat conduction pipe 23 and the heaters 34 and 35. The heaters 34 and 35 can be omitted if the function of defrosting described below is not performed.

A power control device (not shown) for driving the driving device 18 and the heat retaining device 19 is provided inside the base portion 12, and power is supplied from a cord 30 with a plug connectable to an outlet.

The power supply control device has a power supply switch 31 that switches on and off the power supplied from the cord 30 with a plug. The power switch 31 is branched into two systems, and supplies power to the output switch 32 that supplies power to the compressor 21 of the four rotary cylinders 4 to 7 and power to the remaining four rotary cylinders 8 to 11 Output switch 33.

The output switches 32 and 33 have five-stage switching switches. The output switches 32 and 33 stop power supply at the center position, and when turned counterclockwise from the center position, switch the output to the compressor 21 in two stages and switch the cooling degree to two stages. Can be. Also the center By turning clockwise from the position, the output to the compressor 21 can be switched between two stages, and the four-way valve can be switched to switch the degree of heating between two stages.

The power switch 31 and the output switches 32 and 33 are provided on the front surface of the base 12, and the operator can perform switch operations from the near side. In addition, lamps 36 to 38 for operation confirmation are provided above the power switch 31 and the output switches 32 and 33, respectively. The electric motor 2 is configured to operate in conjunction with the power switch 31 or the output switches 32, 33.

Next, as to the use state of the food warming apparatus 1, a case in which ice cream as an example of food is kept warm will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the eight rotary cylinders 4 to 11 of the food warming apparatus 1 can support four foods each containing the ice room 40 in the cylindrical container 41 in the front-rear direction. In the left and right space of each cylindrical container 41, another cylindrical food can be placed.

As shown in FIG. 3, when cooling the ice cream 40, the ice cream 40 is placed with the peripheral surface of the cylindrical container 41 abutting on both rotating cylinders 6 and 7 adjacent to each other. Next, the power switch 31 is turned on, and the output switch 32 is further turned counterclockwise. With this operation, the rotary cylinders 4 to 7 start rotating, and the compressor 21 operates.

When the compressor 21 operates, the heat medium flows into the heat transfer pipe 23. At this time, the temperature of the heat medium gradually increases as the temperature at the upstream side of the heat conduction pipe 23 decreases and goes downstream. At the right ends of the rotary cylinders 4 to 7, the temperature of the upstream portion 28 of the heat conduction pipe 23 is the lowest, and the temperature of the downstream portion 29 is the highest. At the left ends of the rotary cylinders 4 to 7, the temperature of the upstream portion 28 of the heat transfer pipe 23 is the highest, and the temperature of the downstream portion 29 is the lowest. Since the temperature of each part of the rotating cylinders 4 to 7 in the axial direction is about the average value of the upstream part 28 and the downstream part 29 of the heat conduction pipe 23 inside, the temperature difference in the longitudinal direction of the rotating cylinders 4 to 7 is Become smaller. When the heat medium flows into the heat conduction pipe 23, the heat conduction pipe 23 is cooled, and the rotary cylinders 4 to 7 are further cooled. The surfaces of the rotating cylinders 6 and 7 cool the two contact portions of the cylindrical container 41, respectively. Further, since the rotating cylinders 6 and 7 are rotating, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical container 41 is uniformly cooled. Since the cylindrical container is directly cooled by the rotating cylinders 6 and 7, the ice cream 40 can be cooled efficiently.

When the food warming device 1 is used continuously, frost may adhere around the heat conduction pipe 23 and around the rotary cylinder 4 to L 1. In this case, the attached frost can be melted by switching the heater output switch (not shown) and supplying electric power to the heaters 34 and 35. At this time, since both ends of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 are open, the water generated inside the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 can flow out to the side.

When power is supplied to the heat retaining devices 19 of the rotary cylinders 4 to 11, it is also possible to provide a configuration in which power can be supplied alternately. With such a configuration, one cylindrical container 41 can be cooled by one rotating cylinder, and power consumption can be suppressed. Further, when defrosting, since one of the pair of rotating cylinders can be heated while the other rotating cylinder is cooled, the frost can be removed while cooling the food.

Also, turn on the power switch 31 and turn the output switch 32 clockwise. With this operation, the rotary cylinders 4 to 7 start rotating, and the compressor 21 operates. The rotating cylinders 4 to 11 and the cylindrical container 41 can be heated to keep food at a temperature of about 50 ° C. With such a configuration, when used in a store or the like, the trouble of replacing the heating device and the cooling device every season can be saved.

When performing maintenance on the food warming device 1, first, the fixed shaft 25 is removed from the fixed portion 26. Next, the left rotating cylinder support 13 is removed from the main body 27. Next, the rotating cylinders 4 to 11 are removed from the bearings 16 and 17. Then, when the rotating cylinders 4 to 11 are pulled out from the left side, the driving device 1 can be removed without removing the heat retaining device 19. Only 8 can be removed.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement structure of heat conduction pipes of a food heat insulating device according to another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, it is also possible to arrange a heat conducting pipe 42 formed in a straight line in the rotary cylinders 4 to 11. In this case, the structure of the heat transfer pipe 42 is simplified. The heat medium flows from one of the rotary cylinders 4: L 1 to the other.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, transparent plates are provided on both sides in the front and rear directions of the concave groove portion 15 so that cool air around the rotary cylinders 4 to 11 is removed. It is possible to keep it inside. Further, a transparent lid may be provided to cover both sides and the upper side of the concave groove 15 in the front-rear direction, thereby preventing the inflow of moisture. By adjusting the cooling temperature, it is possible to keep not only frozen food such as ice cream, but also refrigerated food such as juice.

(Embodiment 2)

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 and FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a food heat insulating device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of the food heat insulating device. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a configuration of a heat insulator according to Embodiment 2, wherein FIG. 7A is a front view of the heat insulator, FIG. 7B is a front view of a rotary cylinder, and FIG. It is a front view in which the ventilation pipe and the heat conduction pipe were inserted, and (d) is a front view of the ventilation pipe. 8A and 8B show a heat conductive plate according to Embodiment 2, wherein FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the heat conductive plate, and FIG. 8B is a view showing a state in which the heat conductive plates are connected. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where a shielding plate is attached to the food warming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The food heat retaining apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention discharges heated and cooled air from a rotating cylinder to heat and cool the food, thereby more efficiently keeping the food warm. 5 and FIG. 6, the same components as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. I do.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the food warming apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of rotating cylinders 54 to 61 rotatably supported by the base 12. The rotary cylinders 54 to 61 are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 have through holes 62 formed therein. The rotary cylinders 54 to 61 can be formed of, for example, stainless steel, which desirably has good heat conduction and high corrosion resistance. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (c), the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 are supplied with air from blowers 64 and 65, which are blowing means provided in the rotary cylinder supports 13 and 14 of the base 12. A ventilation pipe 66 that allows air to pass through is passed through the inside.

As shown in FIG. 7 (c) and FIG. 7 (d), the ventilation pipe 66 has a funnel-shaped air intake section 66a, 66b that connects the heat conductor 63 so as to collect air from the blowers 64, 65. It is detachably provided at both ends of the through pipe 66c through which it passes. As shown in FIG. 7 (d), the ventilation pipe 66c of the ventilation pipe 66 is formed with a through hole 66d for discharging the air sent from the blowers 64, 65 into the rotating cylinders 54 to 61. I have.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (a) and (c), the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 pass through without the heat conductor 63 coming into contact with the inside, and are provided at one end of the rotary cylinders 54 to 61. Only the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 are rotated by the drive motor 2 that drives the sprocket 45 through the endless chain 20 by the sprocket 45.

As shown in FIG. 7 (c) and FIG. 8 (a), the heat conductor 63 is formed by connecting a heat conductive plate 67. The heat conducting plate 67 is formed in a disk shape, and has a through hole 67a for passing through the through pipe 66c of the ventilation pipe 66 at one position at the center and a through hole 67b for passing through the heat conducting pipe 23 at the center. It is formed symmetrically in two places. The heat conductor 63 is formed by passing the ventilation pipe 66 and the heat conduction pipe 23 through the through holes 67a and 67b, respectively, and connecting the heat conduction plate 67. You.

Further, a cutout portion 67d is formed in a side wall 67c on the outer periphery of the heat conductive plate 67. After being heated and cooled by the pneumatic heat conduction pipe 23 discharged from the through hole 66d of the ventilation pipe 66 by the notch portion 67d, the heat is radiated to the gap between the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 and the heat conductor 63. The air radiated into the gap passes through the through holes 62 formed in the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 and is radiated around the rotary cylinders 54 to 61. Further, the heat conduction plate 67 is formed with an uneven portion 67e in order to increase the surface area so as to receive more air heated and cooled by the heat conduction pipe 23. The uneven portion 67e can be easily formed by pressing a pressing die when manufacturing the heat conductive plate 67. The heat conductive plate 67 is desirably made of a material that has a high thermal conductivity because it directly heats and cools food, and that is lightweight because it rotates with high corrosion resistance. For example, aluminum or the like can be used. Each of the rotating cylinders 54 to 61, the heat conductor 63, the heat conduction pipe 23 and the ventilation pipe 66 constitute a heat insulator 51.

The output switches 32 and 33 shown in FIG. 5 switch the output of the compressor 21 stepwise and switch the four-way valve similarly to the food warming apparatus of the first embodiment. By this switching, switching between heating and cooling is performed, and the output to the compressor 21 is switched in a stepwise manner, and the air can be blown by supplying electricity to the blowers 64 and 65.

In the rotating support portions 13 and 14 provided with the blowers 64 and 65, circulation ventilation holes 68 for sucking the heated or cooled air discharged from the rotating cylinders 54 to 61 or the diffused air are formed. Has been done. The air sucked through the circulation vent 68 can be sent again to the heat conductor 63 in the rotating cylinders 54 to 61 by the blowers 64 and 65, so that efficient heating and cooling can be performed.

As shown in FIG. 11, by providing shielding plates 81 on both sides in the front-rear direction of the concave groove portion 15 for efficient cooling, it is possible to keep cool air in the concave groove portion 15. Next, the use state of the food warming device 50 will be described by taking a food that is heated and kept warm as an example. As shown in FIG. 5, the eight rotating cylinders 54 to 61 of the food warming apparatus 1 can support four canned coffee 80, which is an example of food to be heated and kept warm, in the front-rear direction. In addition, other can coffee and other cylindrical food items requiring heating can be put on the space in the left-right direction of the can coffee 80 by the force S.

As shown in FIG. 5, when heating the canned coffee 80 to keep it warm, the peripheral surface of the canned coffee 80 is placed in contact with an adjacent rotating cylinder, for example, rotating cylinders 56 and 57. Next, the power switch 31 is turned on, and the output switch 32 is further turned clockwise. By this operation, the rotary cylinders 54 to 57 start rotating, the compressor 21 operates, and the four-way valve is switched so that the heat medium flows from the compressor 21 to the heat radiating pipe 22 via the heat conduction pipe 23, Blowers 64 and 65 start blowing. When the compressor 21 operates, the heated heat medium flows into the heat conduction pipe 23. Then, the blown air is sent from both ends of the ventilation pipe 66 by the blowers 64 and 65.

The air sent from both ends of the ventilation pipe 66 passes through the inside and is discharged from a through hole 66a formed on the surface.

The air discharged from the through-hole 66a is heated by the heat conduction pipe 23 heated by the heat medium, heats the heat conduction plate 67 forming the heat conductor 63, and is formed on the side wall 69 of the heat conduction plate 67. The heat is dissipated from the notch 67d into the gap between the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 and the heat conductor 63. The heat conductive plate 67 also heats the air in the gap between the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 and the heat conductor 63 by being directly heated from the heat conductive pipe 23 passing through the through hole 67b.

The rotary cylinders 54 to 61 are heated by the heated air that has passed through the notch 67d and the heat radiation from the heated heat conductor 63.

The heated rotary cylinders 54 to 61 directly heat the abutting can coffee 80, and the heated air in the gap between the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 and the heat conductor 63 diffuses from the through-hole 62 formed on the surface. Then, since the canned coffee is warmed, it can be kept at a temperature suitable for drinking.

Next, a heat conductor according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing a configuration of a heat insulator according to another embodiment, wherein FIG. 9A is a front view of the heat insulator, FIG. 9B is a front view of the rotary cylinder, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view in which a ventilation pipe and a heat conduction pipe are inserted through the air pipe, and (d) is a front view of an air intake pipe. 9A and 9B show a heat conductive plate according to another embodiment. FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the heat conductive plate, and FIG. 9B is a view showing a state where the heat conductive plates are connected.

As shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 are formed with through holes 62 as in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). As shown in FIG. 9 (c), the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 are penetrated without the heat conductor 75 contacting the inside.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the heat conductor 75 is formed by connecting a heat conductive plate 76. The heat conducting plate 76 is formed in a disc shape, and has a through hole 76a through which the heat conducting pipe 23 is inserted, a notch in the outer peripheral side wall (576b), and a vent hole 76d around a through hole 76c formed in the center. The heat conduction plate 76 has a concavo-convex portion 76f to increase the surface area so as to receive more air heated and cooled by the heat conduction pipe 23. The uneven portion 76f can be easily formed by pressing a pressing mold when manufacturing the heat conductive plate 76.

The heat conductive plate 76 is desirably made of a material having high thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance and light weight, and aluminum or the like can be used. The rotary cylinders 54 to 61, the heat conductor 75, and the heat conduction pipe 23 constitute a heat insulator.

As shown in FIG. 9 (b), FIG. 9 (c) and FIG. 10 (b), the heat conductor 75 forms a ventilation path 77 formed by the ventilation section 76e by connecting the heat conduction plate 76. Is done.

At both ends of the ventilation passage 77, air is collected by connecting a pipe 78b to a funnel-shaped intake portion 78a. By connecting the inlet pipe 78 and sending air from the blowers 66a and 66b as shown in FIG. 6, the air can be discharged from the ventilation holes 76d of the ventilation portions 76e of the respective heat conducting plates 76. The air discharged from the ventilation hole 76d is heated or cooled by the heat conduction pipe 23, passes through the cutout 76b, and is radiated to the gap between the heat conductor 75 and the rotary cylinders 54 to 61. The radiated air passes through the through holes 62 formed in the rotary cylinders 54 to 61 and is radiated around the rotary cylinders 54 to 61.

In this way, by replacing the ventilation path 77 formed by connecting the ventilation section 76e of the heat conduction plate 77 with the ventilation pipe 66 shown in FIG. 7, the number of components constituting the heat insulator can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Can be suppressed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a heater can be provided as in the food warming apparatus of the first embodiment. When a heater is provided, a through hole is formed in the heat conductive plate, and the heater is passed through the through hole. By providing the heater, the heater can be used as an auxiliary when the heating of the compressor 21 of the heat retaining device is insufficient. In addition, by providing a heater, the heater can also be used as a defroster for the rotating cylinder when the food warming device is used for cooling food.

Further, the air sent from the blower to the ventilation pipe 66 can be heated in advance by a heater or the like, so that the food can be more efficiently heated and kept warm.

Further, although the heat conduction plate 67 has a separate through hole for passing the ventilation pipe 66 and the heat conduction pipe 23, the heat conduction plate 67 may have a single through hole. Industrial applicability

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The food warming device according to the present invention can efficiently heat and cool food, and is useful, for example, as a device that is installed in a retail store to keep food warm.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A food heat insulating device having a temperature control device for circulating a heat medium, wherein the heat medium is passed through the inside, and a cylindrical heat insulator that heats or cools while rotating the food while making contact with the outer surface of the food. A food warming device having a body.

2. The heat insulator is provided with a gap outside a heat conducting pipe through which a heat medium passes, and has a rotating cylinder driven to rotate by a driving device. A food warming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The food heat insulation device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the heat insulation bodies are arranged in parallel in a horizontal direction, and are rotatably supported by a base.

4. The food heat insulation device according to claim 2, wherein the heat conduction pipe is bent in a U-shape and inserted and disposed in the rotary cylinder.

5. The heat insulation body has a ventilation pipe having a through hole formed on the surface through which air is discharged from the ventilation means provided on the base and a disc-shaped ventilation pipe. A heat conductor connected to a heat conducting plate formed with a through hole through which the heat conducting pipe passes, a through hole through which the heat conducting pipe penetrates, and a side wall having a notch on the outer periphery thereof, provided inside the rotating cylinder. The food insulation device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a through-hole is formed on a surface of the rotary cylinder.

6. The heat retaining body is formed in a disk shape, and has a through hole through which the heat conducting pipe passes, a side wall having a cutout on the outer periphery, and a cylindrical shape which is connected to the through hole and has a ventilation hole on a side surface. A heat conductor formed by connecting a heat conductive plate formed with a heat conductive plate inside the rotating cylinder; and connecting the heat conductive plate to a ventilation path formed by the ventilation portion, at one end or both ends. Equipped with a blowing means for sending air from the base, The food insulation device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a through hole is formed on a surface of the rotary cylinder.