WO2023131093A1

WO2023131093A1 - Unfreezing control method and heating apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2023131093A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/144318
Authority: WO
Inventors: 刘浩泉; 苗建林; 王睿龙; 苟茜
Original assignee: 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司; 海尔智家股份有限公司
Priority date: 2022-01-04
Filing date: 2022-12-30
Publication date: 2023-07-13
Also published as: CN116420769A

Abstract

An unfreezing control method and a heating apparatus. The heating apparatus comprises a shell, a heating system, an inflation system and a controller. The shell defines an unfreezing chamber for holding an object to be treated. The heating system is configured to provide heat for the unfreezing chamber, so as to heat said object. The inflation system is configured to fill an oxygen-enriched gas into the unfreezing chamber, so as to improve the oxygen concentration of the unfreezing chamber. The control method comprises: controlling a heating system to work, so as to heat an object to be treated in an unfreezing chamber; controlling an inflation system to fill an oxygen-enriched gas into the unfreezing chamber; and when the oxygen concentration of the unfreezing chamber is greater than or equal to a preset concentration threshold value, controlling the inflation system to stop working. In the present invention, an oxygen-enriched gas is filled into an unfreezing chamber during a heating process, such that not only can the unfreezing efficiency be improved by using a high pressure, but the conversion of myoglobin in a meat product into oxymyoglobin can also be promoted without deteriorating the nutritional ingredients of the meat product, thereby improving the sensory quality of unfrozen food material.

Description

Thawing control method and heating device

technical field

The invention relates to the field of food processing, in particular to a thawing control method and a heating device.

Background technique

The thawing technical solutions in the prior art mainly include air thawing, water thawing, and electromagnetic wave thawing. Among them, the air thawing time is longer, which is easy to breed bacteria and microorganisms, and more juice loss; the water thawing time is shorter, but it is also easy to breed bacteria and microorganisms, and will deteriorate the appearance of food materials; The water content of protein, fat, bones, etc. in different parts is different, which can easily cause local overheating or overcooling, which seriously affects the quality of food.

Contents of the invention

An object of the first aspect of the present invention is to overcome at least one technical defect in the prior art, and provide a thawing control method, so that the thawed food material has better sensory quality.

A further object of the first aspect of the present invention is to simplify user operation procedures.

An object of the second aspect of the present invention is to provide a heating device to which the above-mentioned thawing control method can be applied.

A further object of the second aspect of the present invention is to improve the temperature uniformity of the object to be treated.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method of thawing control is provided, comprising:

Control the work of the heating system to heat the objects to be treated in the thawing chamber;

controlling the inflation system to charge oxygen-enriched gas into the thawing chamber;

When the oxygen concentration in the thawing chamber is greater than or equal to a preset concentration threshold, the aeration system is controlled to stop working.

Optionally, when the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a preset first temperature threshold, the step of controlling the gas charging system to charge the oxygen-enriched gas into the thawing chamber is executed; wherein,

The temperature sensor is used to sense the temperature of the object to be processed.

Optionally, when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a preset second temperature threshold, a visual and/or auditory signal is sent to the user to prompt the user to take out the object to be processed, and the first a temperature threshold less than said second temperature threshold; wherein,

The first temperature threshold is -8 to -4°C; and/or

The second temperature threshold is -4 to 0°C.

Optionally, after performing the step of sending a visual and/or auditory signal to the user, when the preset removal time is reached, the heating system is controlled to stop working; and/or

When the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to the preset third temperature threshold, the visual and/or auditory signal is sent to the user again, and the heating system is controlled to stop working; wherein, the third The temperature threshold is greater than the second temperature threshold.

Optionally, when the rate of decline of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a preset first rate threshold, the step of controlling the operation of the heating system is performed; and/or

When the rising rate of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a preset second rate threshold, the heating system is controlled to stop working; wherein,

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a heating device is provided, comprising:

The casing defines a thawing chamber for placing the object to be processed;

a heating system configured to provide heat to the thawing chamber to heat the object to be treated;

an aeration system configured to inflate oxygen-enriched gas into the thawing chamber to increase the oxygen concentration in the thawing chamber; and

A controller configured to execute any one of the control methods described above.

Optionally, the heating device also includes:

The thawing tray is arranged in the thawing chamber and is used to carry the object to be treated; wherein the heating system includes:

The heating wire is arranged under the thawing tray, and realizes the heating of the object to be treated by heating the thawing tray.

Optionally, there is a gap between the heating wire and the thawing tray; or

The heating wire is arranged outside the thawing chamber.

Optionally, the heating device also includes:

The temperature sensor is arranged under the thawing tray and is used to sense the temperature of the object to be treated.

Optionally, the heating wire is arranged such that its projection on the horizontal plane surrounds the temperature sensor.

In the heating process, the present invention fills the thawing chamber with oxygen-enriched gas, which can not only improve the thawing efficiency by using high pressure, but also improve the quality of meat (especially pork, beef, and mutton) while maintaining the nutritional content of the meat. Myoglobin in red meat) is transformed into oxymyoglobin, which improves the sensory quality of the food after thawing.

Further, the present invention judges whether the object to be treated is put in and taken out according to the rising rate and falling rate of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and starts and shuts down the heating system respectively when it is determined that the object to be treated is put in and taken out, It not only does not require manual input by the user, which simplifies the user's operation process, but also does not need to add an additional detection device, which reduces the production cost.

Further, the present invention thaws the object to be treated through the thawing tray and the heating wire, and leaves a space between the heating wire and the thawing tray, and sets the temperature sensor to indirectly sense the temperature of the object to be treated by sensing the temperature of the thawing tray, and Surrounded by the horizontal projection of the heating wire, it not only improves the thawing efficiency of the object to be processed, improves the temperature uniformity of the object to be processed, but also reduces the interference of the heating wire to the temperature sensor, and can obtain more accurate temperature without setting multiple temperature sensors. The comprehensive temperature of the object to be treated.

Those skilled in the art will be more aware of the above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention according to the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

Hereinafter, some specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings designate the same or similar parts or parts. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the attached picture:

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heating device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the heating device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for controlling thawing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a schematic detailed flowchart of a thawing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heating device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the heating device 100 shown in Fig. 1 . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the heating device 100 may include a housing, a heating system, an air charging system, and a controller 140 .

The casing may define a thawing chamber 113 for placing the object to be processed.

In some embodiments, the casing may include a drawer 111 opening upward, and a cover plate 112 disposed at the opening of the drawer 111 . Wherein, the drawer 111 can slide along the front and rear directions.

In some other embodiments, the casing may include a barrel body that opens forward, and a door body disposed at the opening of the barrel body. Wherein, the door body is configured to slide back and forth, or rotate to open and close the opening of the cylinder body.

The gas charging system can be configured to fill the defrosting chamber 113 with oxygen-enriched gas, so as to increase the oxygen concentration in the defrosting chamber 113 . The oxygen concentration of the oxygen-enriched gas may be greater than or equal to 85%.

The inflation system may include a modified atmosphere module, an inflation tube 132, and an inflation pump. Wherein, the inflatable tube 132 can be set such that one end communicates with the air outlet of the controlled atmosphere module, and the other end communicates with the thawing chamber 113 . The modified atmosphere module can filter the oxygen in the surrounding environment of the heating device 100 and output the oxygen to the gas-filled tube 132 . The air pump can promote the air flow from the modified atmosphere module to the thawing chamber 113 .

The CA module can also be replaced by an oxygen tank.

The heating system may be configured to provide heat to the thawing chamber 113 to heat the object to be treated.

In some embodiments, the heating system may include a heating wire 120 to heat the object to be treated through heat radiation.

In some other embodiments, the heating system may include an electromagnetic wave generating module and a radiation antenna to generate electromagnetic waves to heat the object to be treated.

The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below by taking the case where the housing includes the drawer 111 and the heating system includes the heating wire 120 as an example.

In some embodiments, the heating device 100 may also include a thawing tray 150 . The thawing tray 150 is disposed in the thawing chamber 113 and is used for carrying objects to be processed. Specifically, the thawing tray 150 can be placed on the bottom wall of the drawer 111 to facilitate cleaning by the user.

The defrosting tray 150 may include a defrosting plate, an upper frame, and a lower frame. The upper frame and the lower frame may be ring-shaped structures, which are fastened to the peripheral edge of the thawing plate. Items to be treated can be placed on the thawing plate.

The thawing plate can be made of stainless steel or aluminum alloy to obtain better thermal conductivity.

The heating wire 120 can be arranged under the thawing tray 150, and realizes the heating of the object to be treated by heating the thawing tray 150, that is, the thawing tray 150 obtains the heat of the heating wire 120 and the cooling capacity of the object to be treated quickly and evenly (transfers the heat to the object to be processed).

In some further embodiments, the heating wire 120 may be spaced from the thawing tray 150 , so that different parts of the object to be treated can fully transfer heat and improve the temperature uniformity of the object to be treated.

The heating wire 120 can also be directly arranged outside the thawing chamber 113 to make the temperature of the object to be treated more uniform. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating wire 120 may be at least partially embedded in the bottom wall of the drawer 111 . The drawer 111 may be made of plastic.

In some embodiments, the heating device 100 may further include a temperature sensor 160 . The temperature sensor 160 may be disposed under the thawing tray 150 for sensing the temperature of the object to be processed. That is, the temperature sensor 160 indirectly senses the temperature of the object to be processed by sensing the temperature of the thawing tray 150, and can obtain a more accurate comprehensive temperature of the object to be processed (combining the heat transfer efficiency inside the object to be processed, the object to be processed and the The heat transfer efficiency between the thawing trays 150, the heat conduction efficiency of the thawing tray 150 itself, and the heating efficiency of the heating wire 120, etc.), are beneficial to the precise execution of the control method of the present invention.

The bottom wall of the drawer 111 may be provided with installation holes. The temperature sensor 160 may be at least partially disposed in the installation hole.

The heating wire 120 can be arranged so that the projection on the horizontal plane surrounds the temperature sensor 160 to reduce the interference of the heating wire 120 on the temperature sensor 160 . In the illustrated embodiment, the heating wire 120 may be arranged to extend helically along the circumferential direction of the temperature sensor 160 .

In other embodiments, the temperature sensor 160 can be fixed on the cover plate 112 to sense the temperature of the object to be processed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the controller 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3 , the controller 140 may include a processing unit 141 and a storage unit 142 . Wherein, the storage unit 142 stores a computer program 143 , and the computer program 143 is used to implement the control method of the embodiment of the present invention when executed by the processing unit 141 .

In particular, the processing unit 141 can be configured to control the inflation system to fill the thawing chamber 113 with oxygen-enriched gas during the process of controlling the heating wire 120 to work to heat the object to be treated in the thawing chamber 113, and When the oxygen concentration is greater than or equal to the preset concentration threshold, the control inflation system stops working. The concentration threshold may be 50%-65%, such as 50%, 55%, 60%, or 65%.

During the heating process, the heating device 100 of the present invention fills the thawing chamber 113 with oxygen-enriched gas, which can not only improve the thawing efficiency by using high pressure, but also promote the improvement of the nutrient content of the meat (especially meat) without deteriorating the nutritional content of the meat. Myoglobin in pork, beef, mutton and other red meat) is transformed into oxymyoglobin, which improves the sensory quality of the food after thawing.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 141 can be further configured to control the inflation system to fill the defrosting chamber 113 with oxygen-enriched gas when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to the preset first temperature threshold, so as to ensure The quality of the ingredients.

In some further embodiments, the processing unit 141 may be further configured to, after filling the defrosting chamber 113 with oxygen-enriched gas, when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to the preset second temperature threshold, send The user sends a visual and/or audible signal to prompt the user to remove the object to be disposed of. Wherein, the first temperature threshold may be smaller than the second temperature threshold.

Exemplarily, the first temperature threshold may be -8 to -4°C, such as -8°C, -5°C, or -4°C, so that the object to be treated has a good conversion degree of oxymyoglobin. The second temperature threshold may be -4 to 0°C, such as -4°C, -2°C, or 0°C, so as to facilitate the processing of the food after thawing.

In some further embodiments, the processing unit 141 can be further configured to control the heating system to stop working when the preset removal time is reached after sending a visual and/or auditory signal to the user. That is, if the user does not take out the object to be processed within the preset removal time since the prompt signal is sent, the heating system is controlled to stop working, so as to avoid the object to be processed from being excessively thawed.

In some further embodiments, the processing unit 141 can be further configured to send a visual and/or auditory signal to the user again when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to a preset third temperature threshold, and directly Control the heating system to stop working to avoid excessive thawing of the food to be treated. Wherein, the third temperature threshold is greater than the second temperature threshold.

The thawing device of the present invention can be installed in a refrigerator, so that after the thawing is completed, the temperature of the object to be treated can be maintained by using the cooling capacity of the refrigerator.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 141 may be configured to determine that the user puts the object to be processed into the thawing chamber 113 when the rate of decrease of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to a preset first rate threshold, and controls The heating system works and starts to heat the object to be treated, so as to simplify the user's operation process.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 141 may be configured to determine that the user takes out the object to be treated from the thawing chamber 113 when the rate of increase of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to a preset second rate threshold, and control The heating system stops working, and the heating of the object to be treated is stopped, so as to simplify the user's operation process.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a thawing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the thawing control method performed by the controller 140 of any of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention may include the following steps:

Step S402: Control the heating system to work to heat the object to be treated in the thawing chamber 113 .

Step S404: Control the charging system to charge the oxygen-enriched gas into the thawing chamber 113 .

Step S406: When the oxygen concentration in the thawing chamber 113 is greater than or equal to the preset concentration threshold, control the aeration system to stop working. Wherein, the concentration threshold may be 50%-65%, such as 50%, 55%, 60%, or 65%.

In the thawing control method of the present invention, oxygen-enriched gas is filled into the thawing chamber 113 during the heating process, which can not only improve the thawing efficiency by using high pressure, but also promote the improvement of the nutrient content of the meat (especially meat) without deteriorating the nutritional content of the meat. Myoglobin in pork, beef, mutton and other red meat) is transformed into oxymyoglobin, which improves the sensory quality of the food after thawing.

In some embodiments, when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to the preset first temperature threshold, step S404 is executed to ensure the quality of the ingredients.

In some embodiments, after step S404, the control method of the present invention may further include the following steps:

When the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to the preset second temperature threshold, a visual and/or auditory signal is sent to the user to prompt the user to take out the object to be processed. Wherein, the first temperature threshold is smaller than the second temperature threshold.

In some further embodiments, the control method of the present invention may also include the following steps:

After performing the step of sending a visual and/or audible signal to the user, when the preset removal time is reached, the heating system is controlled to stop working. That is, if the user does not take out the object to be processed within the preset removal time since the prompt signal is sent, the heating system is controlled to stop working, so as to avoid the object to be processed from being excessively thawed.

In other further embodiments, the control method of the present invention may also include the following steps:

When the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to the preset third temperature threshold, a visual and/or auditory signal is sent to the user again, and the heating system is controlled to stop working, so as to avoid excessive thawing of the object to be treated. Wherein, the third temperature threshold is greater than the second temperature threshold.

In some embodiments, when the rate of decrease of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to the preset first rate threshold, it is judged that the user puts the object to be treated into the thawing chamber 113, and step S402 is performed to simplify the process for the user. operation process.

In some embodiments, the control method of the present invention may also include the following steps:

When the rising rate of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to the preset second rate threshold, it is judged that the user takes out the object to be treated from the thawing chamber 113, and the heating system is controlled to stop working, so as to simplify the user's operation process.

Fig. 5 is a schematic detailed flowchart of a thawing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention (in the figure, "Y" means "yes"; "N" means "no"). Referring to Fig. 5, the thawing control method of the present invention may include the following detailed steps:

Step S502: Determine whether the rate of decrease of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to a preset first rate threshold. If yes, execute step S504; if no, repeat step S502.

Step S504: Control the heating wire 120 to work to heat the object to be treated.

Step S506: Determine whether the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold. If yes, execute step S508 and step S514; if not, repeat step S506.

Step S508: Control the operation of the air pump to fill the defrosting chamber 113 with oxygen-enriched gas.

Step S510: Determine whether the oxygen concentration in the thawing chamber 113 is greater than or equal to a preset concentration threshold. If yes, execute step S512; if no, repeat step S510.

Step S512: Control the air pump to stop working.

Step S514: Determine whether the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to the second temperature threshold. If yes, execute step S516; if no, repeat step S514. Wherein, the second temperature threshold is greater than the first temperature threshold.

Step S516: sending visual and/or auditory signals to the user to prompt the user to take out the object to be processed.

Step S518: Determine whether the rising rate of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to a preset second rate threshold. If yes, execute step S524; if no, execute step S520.

Step S520: Determine whether the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 160 is greater than or equal to a third temperature threshold. If yes, execute step S522; if no, return to step S518. Wherein, the third temperature threshold is greater than the second temperature threshold.

Step S522: sending visual and/or auditory signals to the user to prompt the user to take out the object to be processed. Execute step S524.

Step S524: Control the heating wire 120 to stop working, and end the heating of the object to be treated.

So far, those skilled in the art should appreciate that, although a number of exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the disclosed embodiments of the present invention can still be used. Many other variations or modifications consistent with the principles of the invention are directly identified or derived from the content. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be understood and deemed to cover all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

A method of thawing control, comprising:

Control the work of the heating system to heat the objects to be treated in the thawing chamber;

controlling the inflation system to charge oxygen-enriched gas into the thawing chamber;

When the oxygen concentration in the thawing chamber is greater than or equal to a preset concentration threshold, the aeration system is controlled to stop working.
The control method according to claim 1, wherein,

When the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to the preset first temperature threshold, the step of controlling the gas charging system to charge the oxygen-enriched gas into the thawing chamber is executed; wherein,

The temperature sensor is used to sense the temperature of the object to be processed.
The control method according to claim 2, wherein,

When the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a preset second temperature threshold, a visual and/or auditory signal is sent to the user to prompt the user to take out the object to be processed, and the first temperature threshold is less than the preset temperature threshold. The second temperature threshold; wherein,

The first temperature threshold is -8 to -4°C; and/or

The second temperature threshold is -4 to 0°C.
The control method according to claim 3, wherein,

After performing the step of sending visual and/or auditory signals to the user, when the preset removal time is reached, control the heating system to stop working; and/or

When the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to the preset third temperature threshold, the visual and/or auditory signal is sent to the user again, and the heating system is controlled to stop working; wherein, the third The temperature threshold is greater than the second temperature threshold.
The control method according to claim 1, wherein,

When the rate of decline of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a preset first rate threshold, the step of controlling the operation of the heating system is performed; and/or

When the rising rate of the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a preset second rate threshold, the heating system is controlled to stop working; wherein,

The temperature sensor is used to sense the temperature of the object to be processed.
A heating device comprising:

The casing defines a thawing chamber for placing the object to be processed;

a heating system configured to provide heat to the thawing chamber to heat the object to be treated;

an aeration system configured to inflate oxygen-enriched gas into the thawing chamber to increase the oxygen concentration in the thawing chamber; and

A controller configured to execute the control method described in claim 1.
The heating device according to claim 6, further comprising:

The thawing tray is arranged in the thawing chamber and is used to carry the object to be treated; wherein the heating system includes:

The heating wire is arranged under the thawing tray, and realizes the heating of the object to be treated by heating the thawing tray.
The heating device according to claim 7, wherein:

There is a gap between the heating wire and the thawing tray; or

The heating wire is arranged outside the thawing chamber.
The heating device according to claim 7, further comprising:

A temperature sensor, arranged below the thawing tray, is used to sense the temperature of the object to be treated; wherein

The controller is further configured to execute the control method described in any one of claims 2-5.
The heating device according to claim 9, wherein:

The heating wire is arranged such that its projection on a horizontal plane surrounds the temperature sensor.