Device, refined sake production device, food, and refined sake

Abstract

To enable an object to which vibration is applied to be sufficiently vibrated.SOLUTION: A device 1 for vibrating unrefined sake 11 includes: a tank 2 which houses the unrefined sake 11; a vibrator 7 for vibrating the unrefined sake 11; and a case 3 which is provided with the vibrator 7 in contact with an inner surface thereof. The case 3 is provided in the tank 2 in such a fashion as to be in contact with the unrefined sake 11. The tank 2 has a welded joint. The tank 2 is made of stainless steel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for vibrating an object, a sake producing device, food, and sake. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in the sake production process, vibrations are applied to the mash (moromi) during brewing. In this case, a vibrator is installed on the side of a tank that contains the mash, and the vibrator installed on the side of the tank is vibrated. As a result, the vibrations of the vibrator are transmitted to the tank, and the vibrations of the tank are applied to the mash inside the tank (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, if the tank is insulated or the strength of the tank's side is insufficient, it is not possible to apply vibrations to the mash inside the tank from the tank's side. For this reason, for example, an underwater speaker is installed inside the tank, and the underwater speaker installed inside the tank is vibrated. As a result, the vibrations of the underwater speaker are applied to the mash (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0003] Here, if the underwater speaker is placed in the mash, the underwater speaker itself and the wiring may come into direct contact with the mash and may corrode. For this reason, the invention described in Patent Document 2 has the following configuration. As shown in FIG. 5, the underwater speaker 106 is placed at the bottom of a stainless steel case 104. The inside of the case 104 is filled with water 105. The case 104, in which the underwater speaker 106 is placed at the bottom and the water 105 is filled, is placed in a tank 101 containing the mash 102. The underwater speaker 106 is connected to an external sound source via a wiring cord 107. When music is played from the external sound source to the underwater speaker 106, the underwater speaker 106 plays the music, and the musical vibrations are transmitted to the water 105 in the case 104. The vibrations of the water 105 then vibrate the mash 102 outside the case 104.

[0004] In the invention described in Patent Document 2, the underwater speaker 106 is installed in the case 104, thereby preventing the underwater speaker 106 from directly contacting the mash 102. Furthermore, the underwater speaker 106 is installed inside the case 104, thereby fitting the wiring cord 107 inside the case 104 as well, thereby preventing the wiring cord 107 from directly contacting the mash 102. In this way, by preventing the underwater speaker 106 and the wiring cord 107 from directly contacting the mash 102, corrosion of the underwater speaker 106 and the wiring cord 107 is prevented. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-184256 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-028573 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the invention described in Patent Document 2, the sound (vibration) from the underwater speaker is applied to the mash through the water, which causes a problem in that the mash cannot be given sufficient vibration.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to make it possible to apply sufficient vibration to an object to be vibrated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The device of the first invention is a device that vibrates an object which is either food, a food raw material, or an intermediate product between the raw materials and the transformation into food, and is characterized in that it comprises a container for holding the object, a vibration unit for vibrating the object, and a case in which the vibration unit is provided in contact with the inner surface, and the case is provided inside the container so as to be in contact with the object.

[0009] In the present invention, the case having the vibration part in contact with the inner surface is provided inside the container for accommodating the object so as to be in contact with the object, whereby, when the vibration part vibrates, the vibration of the vibration part is transmitted from the case to the object, so that the object can be sufficiently vibrated.

[0010] The device of the second invention is characterized in that, in the device of the first invention, it further comprises a cable connected to the vibration unit inside the case, and the cable is arranged so as not to come into contact with the object contained in the container.

[0011] In the present invention, the cable connected to the vibration unit inside the case is arranged so as not to come into contact with the object contained in the container, thereby making it possible to prevent corrosion of the cable due to contact with the object (e.g., liquid).

[0012] The device of the third invention is characterized in that, in the device of the first invention, the case has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the vibration part is provided in contact with the inner surface and largest surface of the case.

[0013] The device of the fourth invention is characterized in that, in the device of the third invention, the case is arranged inside the container so that the largest surface on whose inner surface the vibration part is arranged contacts the object over the largest area.

[0014] In the present invention, the case is provided inside the container so that the largest surface on the inner surface of which the vibration unit is provided comes into contact with the object over the largest area, thereby enabling the vibration of the vibration unit to be efficiently transmitted from the case to the object.

[0015] The device of the fifth invention is characterized in that, in the device of the third invention, the vibration direction of the vibration unit is approximately perpendicular to the inner surface and largest surface of the case, and the case is installed inside the container so that the vibration direction of the vibration unit is approximately perpendicular to the depth direction of the container.

[0016] The device of a sixth invention is characterized in that, in the device of the first invention, it further includes a control unit, wherein the control unit performs signal processing on a music signal and supplies the processed music signal to the vibration unit.

[0017] In the present invention, the control unit processes the music signal and supplies the processed music signal to the vibration unit. Therefore, the control unit can perform appropriate signal processing depending on the object to be vibrated, thereby vibrating the object.

[0018] The device of the seventh aspect of the present invention is the device of the first aspect of the present invention, characterized in that the vibration section is a vibrator.

[0019] The device of the eighth aspect of the invention is the device of the first aspect of the invention, wherein the case has a welded joint.

[0020] In the present invention, the joints of the case are welded, so that even if the object to be vibrated is a liquid, the liquid is prevented from entering the inside of the case.

[0021] The apparatus of the ninth aspect of the present invention is the apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, characterized in that the container is a tank equipped with a cooling device.

[0022] In the present invention, the container that holds the object is a tank with a cooling device. Therefore, in order to vibrate the object inside the container, a vibration unit is provided outside the container, and it is not possible to vibrate the object inside the container from outside the container, but since a case that houses the vibration unit is provided inside the container, it is possible to vibrate the object.

[0023] The device of the tenth aspect of the present invention is the device of the first aspect of the present invention, characterized in that the case is made of stainless steel.

[0024] In the present invention, the case is made of stainless steel, so that even if the object to be vibrated is a liquid, the case is prevented from corroding.

[0025] The food of the eleventh invention is characterized in that it is produced by the device of the first invention.

[0026] The sake brewing apparatus of the 12th invention is a sake brewing apparatus that performs at least the process of fermenting the target object, mash, to produce sake, and is characterized in that it is equipped with the apparatus of the first invention, and the vibration unit vibrates the mash in the process.

[0027] The sake of the thirteenth invention is characterized in that it is produced by the sake-producing apparatus of the twelfth invention. Effect of the Invention

[0028] According to the present invention, sufficient vibration can be applied to an object to be subjected to vibration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a sake production process. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a case and the like provided inside the tank. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the invention described in Patent Document 2.

[0030] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment, an example in which mash (moromi) as an object is vibrated in a process for producing sake will be described.

[0031] "Sake" is sake made by fermenting rice, rice malt, and water as main ingredients with yeast, and is defined as sake by the Japanese Liquor Tax Law. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the process for producing sake. The process shown in Figure 1 is an example of a process that has been carried out traditionally. For example, with "namazake," the "pasteurization" process described below is not carried out, and with "namazake," the "pasteurization" process is carried out once.

[0032] The "rice polishing" process is the process of polishing rice (sake rice). The "rice washing" process is the process of washing the polished rice and removing the bran. The "soaking" process is the process of soaking the rice in water after washing so that the rice absorbs the appropriate amount of water. The "rice steaming" process is the process of steaming the moistened rice. The rice is steamed in a large steamer called a "koshiki" or in a rice steamer. The "cooling" process is the process of cooling the steamed rice to the appropriate temperature for making koji, making yeast starter, or mash.

[0033] The "koji making" process is the process of making koji, the base for sake, and is also called "koji production." Specifically, koji mold is attached to rice and allowed to grow within the rice. "Shubo" is a large amount of yeast that promotes alcoholic fermentation. In the "shubo making" process, yeast, lactic acid bacteria, and steamed rice are added to a mixture of koji and water. Generally, it takes two weeks to one month for the shubo to be completed. The method of making the shubo by hand is called "kimoto brewing." In kimoto brewing, lactic acid is not added, and lactic acid bacteria from the air in the brewery are absorbed.

[0034] The "moromi / preparation" process involves putting the yeast starter into a tank, adding koji, steamed rice, and water, and allowing it to ferment. Fermentation takes about three weeks to a month, and the fermented state that becomes the base for sake is called "moromi." When adding the koji, steamed rice, and water to the yeast starter, they are not added all at once, but are divided into three batches and left to ferment slowly. This is called "three-stage brewing." The "moromi / preparation" process can also be divided into the preparation process, where the moromi is prepared, and the fermentation process, where the moromi is fermented.

[0035] The "pressing" process is the process in which, after the fermentation period has ended, the mash is pressed and separated into sake and sake lees. Freshly pressed sake still contains small solids such as crushed rice and yeast, so the "filtration" process is used to remove these. The subsequent heating process is the "pasteurization" process. After pasteurization, the sake is stored for maturation in the "storage" process. Sake that has been stored and aged for about six months to a year develops a mellow flavor. The "mixing and diluting" process is the process in which the aged unprocessed sake is blended (mixing and diluting). Before shipping, the blended sake is pasteurized once more to stabilize it in the "pasteurization" process. The sake is then bottled or packed in the "bottling" process, and is complete.

[0036] In the above-mentioned "Moromi / Preparation" process, the moromi is vibrated in the process of maturing the moromi. In the process of maturing the moromi (for example, for about one month), the moromi is constantly vibrated. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 1 is an apparatus for imparting vibrations to the target object, moromi 11. The apparatus 1 constitutes a part of a sake brewing apparatus that produces sake, and sake is produced by the sake brewing apparatus including the apparatus 1.

[0037] The device 1 includes a tank 2, a case 3, an amplifier 4, and the like. The tank 2 (container) contains mash 11, which is an object to be vibrated. The tank 2 is a tank used in the process of maturing the mash 11, and is, for example, a tank with a cooling device. The tank with a cooling device is a tank that is a combination of a refrigerant gas circulation type or a refrigerant liquid circulation type tank and a cooling device. The tank with a cooling device is sometimes called a Thermal Tank (registered trademark). Note that the tank 2 is not limited to a tank with a cooling device, and may be an enamel tank or a wooden tank without a cooling device.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the case 3 and the like provided in the tank 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the case 3. In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the inside of the case 3 is shown. The case 3 has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. The case 3 is made of stainless steel. Stainless steel is suitable as a material for the case 3 because it is not easily corroded. The material of the case 3 should be one that is not easily corroded, but it may be a material other than stainless steel. The upper surface of the case 3 is provided with a suspended part 6 used to suspend the case 3. There are two suspended parts 6, and the two suspended parts 6 are provided spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface. The suspended part 6 is approximately U-shaped. A cable 8 extends from a vibrator 7 inside the case 3, which will be described later, from the upper surface of the case 3. The cable 8 is connected to an amplifier 4 installed outside the tank 2. In FIG. 2, the cable 8 connecting the vibrator 7 inside the case 3 and the amplifier 4 installed outside the tank 2 is not shown.

[0039] The case 3 houses a vibrator 7 (vibration unit). The vibrator 7 is for vibrating the mash 11 in the tank 2. The vibrator 7 is provided in contact with the inner surface and largest surface of the case 3. The vibrator 7 vibrates based on a signal (e.g., a music signal), and vibrates the surface on which the vibrator 7 is placed (here, the inner surface of the case 3), thereby vibrating the case 3. As a result, the vibration of the case 3 is transmitted to the mash 11 in the tank 2, causing the mash 11 to vibrate.

[0040] The vibrator 7 is, for example, an electrodynamic vibrator having an internal magnet type magnetic circuit in an internal space defined by a housing. The vibrator 7 generates a driving force that changes in an alternating manner along the axial direction, thereby vibrating the installation surface on which the vibrator 7 is placed. The vibration direction of the vibrator 7 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the maximum surface of the case 3. In FIG. 3, two vibrators 7 are provided on each diagonal of the two maximum surfaces of the case 3, totaling four vibrators 7. However, the diagonals on which the vibrators 7 are provided on the opposing maximum surfaces are different on both opposing surfaces. That is, the vibrators 7 provided in contact with both opposing surfaces of the case 3 are provided at positions that do not face each other. The number of vibrators 7 provided is not limited to four. For example, two vibrators 7 may be provided on each diagonal of the two maximum surfaces, totaling eight vibrators 7. Of course, fewer than four vibrators 7 may be provided. The number of the vibrators 7 and the size of the vibrators 7 can be appropriately changed depending on the required power.

[0041] The case 3 is suspended from the upper part of the tank 2 by a chain 5. For example, the case 3 is suspended by the chain 5 from a fall prevention frame located at the upper part of the tank 2. The case 3 is suspended by inserting the chain 5 through the suspended part 6 of the case 3. The case 3 is provided so as to be in contact with the mash 11 inside the tank 2. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the case 3 is located above the liquid level of the mash 11. Therefore, the cable 8 extending from the upper surface of the case 3 is not in contact with the mash 11. The cable 8 is covered with a material (e.g., polyester) that complies with the positive list defined in the Food Sanitation Act of Japan. Therefore, the entire case 3 may be provided inside the mash 11, and the cable 8 may be in contact with the mash 11. The height of the case 3 is adjusted by the chain 5.

[0042] The case 3 is composed of, for example, an upper case and a lower case. In the case 3, the joint between the upper case and the lower case is welded around the entire periphery. Therefore, the molten metal 11 does not get into the inside of the case 3, and the case 3 is completely waterproof.

[0043] As described above, the case 3 is provided inside the tank 2 so as to come into contact with the mash 11. Specifically, the case 3 is provided inside the tank 2 so that the vibration direction of the vibrator 7 is perpendicular to the depth direction of the tank 2. The case 3 is thus arranged, and is provided inside the mash 11 at a depth such that the top surface of the case 3 is exposed above the liquid surface of the mash 11, so that the largest surface on the inner surface of which the vibrator 7 is provided comes into contact with the mash 11 over the largest area.

[0044] The cable 8 extends from the top surface of the case 3, i.e., from a surface perpendicular to the maximum surface of the case 3 in the depth direction of the tank 2. The suspended part 6 is provided on the same surface as the surface from which the cable 8 extends. The case 3 is provided inside the tank 2 so that the surface from which the cable 8 extends is exposed above the liquid surface of the mash 11.

[0045] As described above, the cable 8 is connected to the vibrator 7. A signal and power are supplied to the vibrator 7 via the cable 8. The cable 8 connected to the vibrator 7 is connected to the amplifier 4. A signal from a signal source such as a PC is output to the amplifier 4. The amplifier 4 amplifies the signal and supplies the amplified signal to the vibrator 7. The vibrator 7 vibrates in accordance with the supplied signal. In this embodiment, a music signal is used as the signal. Therefore, a music signal from a sound source such as a PC is output to the amplifier 4. The amplifier 4 amplifies the music signal and supplies the amplified music signal to the vibrator 7. The vibrator 7 vibrates in accordance with the supplied music signal.

[0046] The PC (control unit) performs signal processing on a signal such as a music signal, and supplies the processed music signal to the amplifier unit 4. If the signal is a music signal, the PC performs signal processing such as DRC (Dynamic Range Control) and equalization on the music signal in order to provide an appropriate vibration to the mash 11. The PC, for example, analyzes the music signal, and performs signal processing on the music signal based on the analysis result. For example, the same music signal (monaural signal) may be supplied to all four vibrators 7, or different music signals (stereo signals) may be supplied to each pair of vibrators 7. That is, the vibrators 7 may be driven in mono or stereo.

[0047] A piezoelectric element may be provided inside the case 3. This makes it possible to perform high-frequency vibration by the piezoelectric element, and also makes it possible to obtain the sound of the fermentation of the mash 11 outside the case 3.

[0048] As described above, in this embodiment, the case 3 with the vibrator 7 (vibration unit) in contact with the inner surface is provided inside the tank 2 (container) that contains the mash 11 (target object) so as to be in contact with the mash 11. As a result, when the vibrator 7 vibrates, the vibration of the vibrator 7 is transmitted from the case 3 to the mash 11, so that the mash 11 can be sufficiently vibrated.

[0049] In this embodiment, the cable 8 connected to the vibrator 7 inside the case 3 is arranged so as not to come into contact with the mash 11 contained in the tank 2. This makes it possible to prevent the cable 8 from coming into contact with the mash 11 and causing corrosion or the like of the cable 8.

[0050] In this embodiment, the case 3 is provided inside the tank 2 so that the largest surface on the inner surface of which the vibrator 7 is provided is in contact with the mash 11 over the largest area. Therefore, the vibration of the vibrator 7 can be efficiently transmitted from the case 3 to the mash 11.

[0051] In the present invention, the PC (control unit) performs signal processing on the music signal and supplies the processed music signal to the vibrator 7. Therefore, appropriate signal processing is performed according to the mash 11 to be vibrated, so that the mash 11 can be vibrated.

[0052] In the present invention, the joints of the case 3 are welded. This prevents the molten metal 11 from entering the inside of the case 3.

[0053] In the present invention, the tank 2 that contains the mash 11 is a tank equipped with a cooling device. Therefore, in order to vibrate the mash 11 inside the tank 2, a vibrator 7 is provided outside the tank 2, and it is not possible to vibrate the mash 11 inside the tank 2 from outside the tank 2. However, since a case 3 that contains the vibrator 7 is provided inside the tank 2, it is possible to vibrate the mash 11.

[0054] In the present invention, the case 3 is made of stainless steel, which prevents the mash 11 from corroding the case 3.

[0055] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the forms to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and as exemplified below, appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0056] In the above embodiment, "moromi" is exemplified as an object to be vibrated by the device 1. The object to be vibrated by the system 1 may be any of food, raw materials of food, and intermediate products from raw materials to food. "Moromi" is an intermediate product from the raw material "rice (sake rice)" to the food "sake". Therefore, for example, in the case of sake, the raw material rice may be vibrated, or the food sake may be vibrated. In the case of soy sauce, the food soy sauce, the raw material soybeans of soy sauce, and the intermediate product from soybeans to soy sauce may be vibrated. In the case of wine, the food wine and the raw material grapes of wine may be vibrated. Of course, soy sauce and wine are only examples, and the invention can be applied to various foods (whiskey, shochu, bread, etc.), raw materials (wheat, etc.), and intermediate products (wort juice, koji, sponge, etc.). Food includes beverages (including alcoholic beverages).

[0057] Here, the beer production process includes, for example, "malting," "brewing," "fermentation," "storage," and "bottling." "Malting" is the process of producing malt, in which beer barley is processed into malt that is easily dissolved and decomposed. First, dust and other debris are thoroughly removed from the beer barley. Next, the beer barley is soaked in water in a steeping tank, and the beer barley is germinated appropriately in a germination chamber. After that, the beer barley is dried with hot air in a drying chamber, and becomes malt. At this point, the beer barley (malt) acquires the ingredients necessary for beer, a unique color, and a fragrant aroma.

[0058] In the "brewing" process, finely crushed malt and secondary ingredients such as rice are first mixed with warm water. When these are kept at an appropriate temperature for an appropriate time, the enzymes in the malt convert the starch into sugar, creating a saccharified liquid. This is filtered, and hops are added and boiled. Hops give beer its characteristic bitterness and aroma, and also play an important role in coagulating and separating the proteins in the wort, diluting the liquid. The hot wort produced in this way is then moved to the "fermentation" process.

[0059] In the "fermentation" process, the hot wort is cooled to about 5°C, yeast is added, and the wort is placed in a fermentation tank. Over the course of 7 to 8 days, the yeast breaks down most of the sugar in the wort into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The beer that is produced in this way is called young beer, and does not yet have the full flavor and aroma of beer.

[0060] In the "storage" process, the green beer is transferred to a storage tank and stored at a low temperature of around 0°C for several dozen days. During this time, the beer slowly matures, developing a well-balanced taste and aroma. Once the beer has finished maturing, it is filtered, resulting in a clear, amber-colored beer. This process takes 2-3 months.

[0061] In the "bottling" process, the beer is packaged into bottles, cans, or kegs.

[0062] In the production of beer, for example, the wort is shaken during the "fermentation" step. [Industrial Applicability]

[0063] The present invention can be suitably used in devices for vibrating objects, sake manufacturing devices, foods, and sake. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 device 2 Tank (container) 3 Cases 4 Amplifier 5 Chain 6 Suspended part 7. Vibrator (vibration part) 8 Cable 11 Moromi (Object)

Claims

1. A device for vibrating an object which is any of food, raw materials for food, and intermediate products between raw materials and food, A container for containing an object; A vibration unit for vibrating the object; a case having the vibration portion provided in contact with an inner surface thereof, The apparatus, characterized in that the case is arranged so as to contact the object inside the container.

2. A cable connected to the vibration unit inside the case is further provided.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is positioned so as not to come into contact with the object contained in the container.

3. The case has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration portion is provided in contact with the inner surface and the largest surface of the case.

4. 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the case is provided inside the container so that the largest surface on the inner surface of which the vibration portion is provided comes into contact with the object over the largest area.

5. the vibration direction of the vibration part is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the largest surface of the case, 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the case is provided inside the container such that a vibration direction of the vibration section is approximately perpendicular to a depth direction of the container.

6. A control unit is further provided. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit performs signal processing on a music signal and supplies the processed music signal to the vibration unit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration unit is a vibrator.

8. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the case has welded joints.

9. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container is a tank equipped with a cooling device.

10. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the case is made of stainless steel.

11. A food product produced by the device according to claim 1.

12. A sake brewing apparatus that performs at least a step of fermenting the target mash to produce sake, The apparatus according to claim 1, The sake producing apparatus is characterized in that the vibration unit vibrates the mash in the process.

13. Sake produced by the sake producing apparatus according to claim 12.

Images