Liquid-cooled quick freezing device and freezing completion detection method

Abstract

To provide a liquid-cooled quick freezing device capable of reliably notifying a user of a freezing completion time without damaging food.SOLUTION: A liquid-cooled quick freezing device in which food A is immersed in cooling antifreeze liquid 2 in a liquid tank 1 and the food A is frozen, comprises a weighing scale 3 that measures the weight of the food in the immersed state. The weight of the food measured by the weighing scale 3 gradually decreases due to increase in volume caused by freezing of the food A, and has a freezing completion detection function that detects completion of freezing when change in decrease becomes zero.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid-cooling type quick freezing device and a method for detecting the completion of freezing. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, liquid-cooling quick-freezing devices are known in which food is immersed in a cooled antifreeze liquid in a liquid tank to freeze the food (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-172255 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the liquid-cooled quick freezing device described in Patent Document 1 determines when the food has been completely frozen based on the knowledge and experience of the user. The time required for the food to be frozen to the core depends on various conditions such as the shape of the food and the substances contained in the food, so the user cannot accurately detect when freezing is complete. Therefore, the length of the freezing process time depends on the user's ability, and there are problems such as the food deteriorating if the food is removed from the freezing device when it is not completely frozen, or electricity being wasted by continuing to cool the food for an excessively long period of time. Another problem is that the food may be damaged because a thermometer is inserted into the food to measure the temperature.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a liquid-cooled quick freezing device and a method for detecting the completion of freezing that can tell when the food has been frozen. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a liquid-cooled quick freezing device and a method for detecting the completion of freezing that can tell when the food has been frozen without damaging the food. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The liquid-cooled quick-freezing apparatus of the present invention is a liquid-cooled quick-freezing apparatus in which food is immersed in a cooling antifreeze liquid in a liquid tank and frozen, and is equipped with a weighing scale which measures the weight of the food in an immersed state, and has a freezing completion detection function which detects that freezing is complete when the food weight measured by the weighing scale gradually decreases due to the increase in volume that accompanies freezing and when this decrease reaches zero.

[0007] In addition, in a liquid-cooled quick-freezing device which freezes food by immersing it in a cooling antifreeze liquid in a liquid tank, the food is immersed in the cooling antifreeze liquid while placed in a container, and a weighing scale is provided which measures the total weight of the immersed food and container, and the total weight of the food and container measured by the weighing scale gradually decreases due to the increase in volume associated with the freezing of the food, and when this decrease reaches zero, the device has a freezing completion detection function which detects that freezing is complete. The weighing scale is a load cell or a weight sensor.

[0008] Also, A liquid-cooling quick-freezing device for immersing food in a cooling antifreeze liquid in a liquid tank and freezing the food is configured so that the food is immersed in the cooling antifreeze liquid while being contained in a container, and is provided with a weighing scale for measuring the total weight of the immersed food and the container, The above weighing scale , disposed above the liquid tank Hanging weighing scale The weighing scale has a function of measuring the total weight of the immersed food and the weighing scale by hanging the weighing scale, and the total weight of the food and the weighing scale measured by the weighing scale gradually decreases due to the increase in volume associated with the freezing of the food, and when this decrease reaches zero, it detects that freezing is complete.

[0009] In addition, the freezing completion detection method of the present invention involves immersing food in a cooling antifreeze liquid, measuring the weight of the food while immersed using a weighing scale, and detecting that freezing is complete by a computer when the measured weight of the food gradually decreases due to the increase in volume that accompanies freezing, and this decrease reaches zero. In another method, food is placed in a container and immersed in a cooling antifreeze liquid, and the total weight of the immersed food and container is measured using a weighing scale.The total weight measured gradually decreases due to the increase in volume associated with the freezing of the food, and when this decrease reaches zero, the computer detects that freezing is complete. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The liquid-cooled quick freezing device and freezing completion detection method of the present invention make it possible to know when the necessary and sufficient freezing has been completed without damaging the food. It also allows for cooling to be performed for a necessary and sufficient time. In other words, it is possible to prevent quality deterioration caused by a freezing process time that is too short and energy loss caused by a long freezing process, and to optimize the freezing process. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a main portion showing a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which food is placed in the container. [Diagram 3] 1 is a graph showing weight change of the tare and total weight of food. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a food to explain buoyancy, where (A) is a cross-sectional view of the food at the start of freezing, and (B) is a cross-sectional view of the food when freezing is complete. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a main part showing a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The present invention will be described in detail below based on the illustrated embodiments. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In a liquid-cooling quick-freezing device in which food A is immersed in cooling antifreeze liquid 2 in a liquid tank 1 to freeze food A, food A is immersed in cooling antifreeze liquid 2 (brine liquid) while being contained in a container 4. The cooling antifreeze liquid 2 is, for example, ethyl alcohol. When freezing food A, the temperature of the cooling antifreeze liquid 2 is set to, for example, -50°C or higher and -20°C or lower. In the present invention, "food" includes a resin bag 9 in the case of vacuum-packed food. In the present invention, "container" includes a shelf, a basket, a net bag, and a plate.

[0013] The device is equipped with a weighing scale 3 that measures the total weight W of the immersed food A and the container 4. The weighing scale 3 is a load cell 5 or a weight sensor 8. The load cell 5 (weight sensor 8) is disposed on the upper edge 7 of the liquid vat 1. The device is configured so that the total weight W of the food A and the container 4 can be measured by placing a portion of the container 4 on the load cell 5 (weight sensor 8).

[0014] FIG. 3 shows the results of measurements over time taken by weighing scale 3 (see FIG. 1). The total weight W of food A and container 4 measured by weighing scale 3 gradually decreases due to the increase in volume of food A as it freezes. 0 From the (effective) freezing completion time t A During this time, the total weight W is equal to the initial weight W 0 from the completely frozen weight W min This is due to the following reasons:

[0015] Generally, food A contains moisture, and as food A freezes, the moisture freezes and the volume increases (expands by about 1.1 times). Figure 4(A) shows a cross-sectional view of food A at the start of freezing, and Figure 4(B) shows a cross-sectional view of food A when freezing is complete. Buoyant force F increases or decreases in proportion to the change in volume displaced by the object (food A), so when the volume of food A increases, buoyant force F increases and the total weight W measured by weighing meter 3 decreases by the amount of the increase in buoyant force F. In other words, buoyant force F at the start of freezing is 1 Therefore, the buoyancy F at the time of freezing completion 2 is larger, and the total weight W of food A and tare 4 measured by weighing scale 3 is larger at the end of freezing than at the start of freezing. 2 -F 1 It will be smaller.

[0016] It has a freezing completion detection function that detects the completion of freezing when the decrease or change in the total weight W of food A and container 4 measured by weighing scale 3 becomes zero (0). In other words, it has a freezing completion detection function that detects the completion of freezing (food A is completely frozen) when the decrease or change in the total weight W of food A and container 4 measured by weighing scale 3 becomes zero. For example, a computer (not shown) obtains a log of the measured values ​​of the total weight W of food A and container 4, using the total weight W of food A and container 4 immediately after food A is placed on container 4 as a standard, and detects the first time when the change per unit time Δt becomes zero after the change in total weight W is first measured (the freezing completion time t shown in FIG. 3). Z ) is regarded as the completion of freezing. The freezing completion notification function notifies the user of the completion of freezing. The notification means of the freezing completion notification function is, for example, a panel display, a lamp lighting, a buzzer sound, etc.

[0017] 5 shows the second embodiment. Weighing scale 3 is a hanging type weighing scale 6, which is disposed above liquid vat 1. A weighing container 4 is suspended from weighing scale 3 so that the total weight W of food A and weighing container 4 is measured. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0018] Next, a third embodiment will be described. This embodiment is equipped with a weighing scale 3 that measures the weight of the food in a immersed state. The weight of only the food A (food weight) is measured directly, without using a weighing container 4. The food weight measured by the weighing scale 3 gradually decreases due to an increase in volume as the food A freezes, and when this decrease reaches zero, the food weight is detected as freezing being complete. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0019] Next, an example of the method of detecting the completion of freezing according to the present invention will be described. Food A (see Figs. 1 and 2) is placed in a container 4 and immersed in a cooling antifreeze liquid 2, and the total weight W of the immersed food A and container 4 is measured by a weighing scale 3. The measured total weight W gradually decreases due to the increase in volume associated with the freezing of food A, and when this decrease reaches zero, the computer detects that freezing is complete.

[0020] Another example of the method for detecting the completion of freezing according to the present invention will now be described. Food A alone is immersed in cooling antifreeze liquid 2 (without using a weighing container 4), and the weight of the immersed food is measured by weighing scale 3. The measured food weight gradually decreases due to the increase in volume as food A freezes, and when this decrease reaches zero, the computer detects that freezing is complete.

[0021] The present invention is subject to design modifications, and for example, the load cell 5 or weight sensor 8 may be installed on the inner bottom of the liquid vat 1, and the food weight may be measured by placing only the food A on the load cell 5 or weight sensor 8. Alternatively, the load cell 5 or weight sensor 8 may be installed on the inner bottom of the liquid vat 1, and the food A contained in a container 4 may be placed on the load cell 5 or weight sensor 8, and the total weight W of the food A and container 4 may be measured.

[0022] As described above, the present invention is a liquid-cooling quick-freezing device in which food A is immersed in cooling antifreeze liquid 2 in a liquid tank 1 and frozen, and is provided with a weighing scale 3 for measuring the weight of the immersed food, and the food weight measured by the weighing scale 3 gradually decreases due to an increase in volume accompanying the freezing of food A, and has a freezing completion detection function for detecting the completion of freezing when the decrease becomes zero, so that the time when freezing is completed can be known. In particular, the time when freezing is completed can be reliably known without damaging food A. And, cooling can be performed for a necessary and sufficient time. In other words, quality deterioration due to too short a freezing process time and energy loss due to long-term freezing process can be prevented, and the freezing process can be optimized.

[0023] In addition, in a liquid-cooling quick-freezing device in which food A is immersed in cooling antifreeze liquid 2 in liquid vat 1 to freeze food A, the food A is immersed in cooling antifreeze liquid 2 while contained in a container 4, and a weighing scale 3 is provided for measuring the total weight W of the immersed food A and container 4, and the total weight W of the food A and container 4 measured by weighing scale 3 gradually decreases due to the increase in volume associated with the freezing of food A, and when this decrease reaches zero, it has a freezing completion detection function which detects the completion of freezing, making it possible to know when freezing is complete. Also, the container 4 makes it easy to put food A in and take it out of the liquid vat 1. Furthermore, since the weighing scale 3 is a load cell 5 or a weight sensor 8, measurements can be easily made.

[0024] Also, In a liquid-cooling quick-freezing device in which food A is immersed in a cooling antifreeze liquid 2 in a liquid tank 1 to freeze the food A, the food A is immersed in the cooling antifreeze liquid 2 while being contained in a container 4, and a weighing scale 3 is provided for measuring the total weight W of the immersed food A and the container 4, The above weight scale 3 , disposed above the liquid tank 1 Hanging weighing scale 6 By hanging the weighing container 4 from the weighing scale 6, the total weight W of the immersed food A and the weighing container 4 is measured, and the total weight W of the food A and the weighing container 4 measured by the weighing scale 6 gradually decreases due to the increase in volume associated with the freezing of food A, and when this decrease reaches zero, it detects that freezing is complete, so that measurements can be made easily, quickly and accurately using the hanging weighing scale.

[0025] In addition, food A is immersed in cooled antifreeze liquid 2, and the weight of the food in the immersed state is measured by weighing scale 3. The measured food weight gradually decreases due to the increase in volume associated with the freezing of food A, and when this decrease reaches zero, the computer detects that freezing is complete, so that the time when freezing is complete can be known.

[0026] In addition, food A is placed in a container 4 and immersed in cooling antifreeze liquid 2, and the total weight W of the immersed food A and container 4 is measured using a weighing scale 3. The measured total weight W gradually decreases due to the increase in volume associated with the freezing of food A, and when this decrease reaches zero, the computer detects that freezing is complete, thereby making it possible to know when freezing is complete. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1 liquid tank 2 Cooling antifreeze 3 Weight scale 4 Tare 5 Load Cell 6. Hanging weighing scale 8. Weight Sensor A Food W Total weight

Claims

1. In a liquid-cooling quick-freezing apparatus, food (A) is immersed in a cooling antifreeze liquid (2) in a liquid tank (1) to freeze the food (A), A weighing scale (3) for measuring the weight of the food in the immersed state is provided. The weight of the food measured by the weighing scale (3) gradually decreases due to the increase in volume accompanying the freezing of the food (A), and when this decrease reaches zero, the liquid-cooled quick-freezing device has a freezing completion detection function which detects that freezing is complete.

2. In a liquid-cooling quick-freezing apparatus, food (A) is immersed in a cooling antifreeze liquid (2) in a liquid tank (1) to freeze the food (A), The food (A) is immersed in a cooling antifreeze liquid (2) while being contained in a container (4), a weighing scale (3) for measuring a total weight (W) of the immersed food (A) and a container (4); The total weight (W) of the food (A) and the container (4) measured by the weighing scale (3) gradually decreases due to the increase in volume accompanying the freezing of the food (A), and when this decrease reaches zero, this liquid-cooled quick-freezing apparatus has a freezing completion detection function which detects that freezing is complete.

3. 3. The liquid-cooled quick-freezing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weight scale (3) is a load cell (5) or a weight sensor (8).

4. 3. A liquid-cooled quick-freezing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weighing scale (3) is a hanging weighing scale (6).

5. This method for detecting completion of freezing comprises immersing a food (A) in a cooling antifreeze liquid (2), measuring the weight of the immersed food with a weighing scale (3), and detecting the completion of freezing by a computer when the measured weight of the food (A) gradually decreases due to an increase in volume accompanying the freezing of the food (A) and the decrease reaches zero.

6. This method for detecting completion of freezing comprises the steps of: immersing food (A) in a container (4) in a cooling antifreeze liquid (2); measuring the total weight (W) of the immersed food (A) and the container (4) with a weighing scale (3); and detecting the completion of freezing by a computer when the measured total weight (W) gradually decreases due to an increase in volume accompanying the freezing of the food (A).

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