Gas burner and heating device using the same

Abstract

To provide a gas flow-rate adjustment device supplying an object device with feed gas received from outside in a manner capable of adjusting its flow-rate for each of sections.SOLUTION: A gas burner according to the present invention comprises a receiving chamber receiving supply gas from outside, and a flow-rate adjustment pipe supplying a target device with received supply gas in such a way that a flow rate can be adjusted for every section, the flow-rate adjusting pipe comprises an outer peripheral pipe comprising a plurality of gas supply ports disposed along the longitudinal direction, with one end thereof opened and the other end thereof closed, (n-1) partition plates dividing the internal space of the outer peripheral pipe into first to n-th sections (n is a natural number of 3 or greater) in the longitudinal direction, (n-1) built-in pipes each individually supplying each of the second to n-th sections with the supply gas from the receiving chamber through respective midway partition plates, a cap member comprising individual openings disposed on the boundary with the receiving chamber to supply one end and the first section of respective built-in pipes with the supply gas, and flow-rate adjusting means for the supply gas flowing through the respective openings of the cap member, with at least one of the partition plates being movable in the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas burner as a form of a gas flow regulating device and a heating device using the same, and particularly to a gas burner having a plurality of sections divided along the longitudinal direction and provided with a flow regulating pipe capable of regulating the flow rate for each section, and capable of supplying a required amount of supply gas (combustion gas) to a required place, and a heating device using the same.

Background Art

[0002] In the manufacturing process of food, heating devices such as ovens for baking food ingredients and steamers for steaming food ingredients are widely used. As an example, in an oven for baking food ingredients, as a heating device for a mass production line, a tunnel oven in which food ingredients arranged in a plurality of rows by belt conveyance or the like are passed through a tunnel-shaped heating area while being conveyed in a certain direction is widely used.

[0003] In such heating devices involving conveyance, a heating structure is often adopted in which a plurality of long rod-shaped gas burners are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the food ingredients by the conveyance device. In this case, if the thermal power of the gas burner is uniform in the longitudinal direction, the temperature in the vicinity of the center tends to be high in the tunnel and low at both ends close to the tunnel wall in the conveyance direction. Therefore, focusing on a row of food ingredients arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, the food ingredients located at the portions close to both ends are more likely to be underheated compared to the food ingredients in the vicinity of the center. Conversely, if the thermal power is adjusted to appropriately heat the food ingredients located at the portions close to both ends, excessive heat will be applied to the food ingredients in the vicinity of the center.

[0004] Therefore, in a heating device, particularly in a mass production heating device that heat-treats a large number of food ingredients at once, it is important to control the temperature distribution in the heating area within a certain range so that the heating state of the food ingredients does not vary from one food ingredient to another. The need to reduce such variations in the temperature within the heating area is not limited to ovens, but also applies to steamers. As a method for reducing the temperature variation within the heating area, there are methods such as partially heating strongly the areas within the heating area where the temperature rises slowly, or generating efficient convection to disperse the air in the high-temperature areas into the heating area even when the heating itself is performed uniformly.

[0005] As a technology for partially heating strongly within the heating area, Patent Document 1 discloses a continuous confectionery baking apparatus in which gas burners are arranged above and / or below a part of a moving track along which confectionery doughs are continuously moved, at a predetermined interval perpendicular to the advancing direction of the moving track, the gas burners form ejection portions of combustion gas etc. along the longitudinal direction of a burner body having a flow path for combustion gas etc., and opening and closing means are provided outside the burner body to control the area of the combustion gas ejection portion at at least a part of the ejection portions.

[0006] Also, Patent Document 2 discloses a combustion control method for a gas burner in which a plurality of flame ports are provided on the surface of a combustion tube, the inside of the combustion tube is partitioned to form a plurality of gas ventilation passages, the flame ports are divided into a plurality of flame port groups by these gas ventilation passages, and the combustion in the combustion tube is controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the combustion gas sent into each gas ventilation passage.

[0007] According to the continuous confectionery baking apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is expected to bake the confectionery dough uniformly without causing uneven baking by making the flames at both ends stronger than the central part. However, since the firepower adjustment at both ends is adjusted simultaneously with an integral ring material in the adjustment method, the adjustment pattern is fixed and it is not possible to adjust finely individually. Also, there is an issue that the reproducibility of the adjustment is poor because there is no description such as a scale for adjusting the firepower.

[0008] According to the combustion control method of the gas burner described in Patent Document 2, the heating power of the gas burner can be adjusted manually by a knob, and a scale is provided around the knob, so the reproducibility of the adjustment is easy to obtain. However, since the invention described in Patent Document 2 is not intended to improve the variation in the temperature distribution in the furnace, the adjustment of the gas burner is divided into two sections, the front side and the back side, and the case of three or more sections is not described.

[0009] On the other hand, as a technique for generating convection, Patent Document 3 can be cited. Patent Document 3 discloses a tunnel-type oven for baking bread or confectionery, which includes a baking chamber equipped with a gas burner and a conveyor for transporting an object to be baked so as to pass through the baking chamber, and a convection heating device having an air ejection tube with small holes for ejecting the air outside the furnace taken in from an intake port provided outside the baking furnace into the baking chamber through a pressure blower, and a plurality of the convection heating devices are provided in the conveying direction of the object to be baked.

[0010] According to the invention described in Patent Document 3, it is expected that the air in the baking furnace is stirred by the air ejected into the baking furnace and the variation in the temperature in the baking furnace is reduced. However, although the air ejection tube is provided across the baking chamber so as to be substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the object to be baked on the conveyor, the ejection small holes are provided at a predetermined interval, and only uniform ejection is performed in the longitudinal direction of the air ejection tube. Therefore, there remains a problem that it is difficult to adjust the convection situation. Therefore, it is desired to provide a gas flow rate adjusting device that can easily adjust the flow rate of the supplied gas in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction in the heating device, particularly a gas burner, whether it is for supplying combustion gas as a gas burner or for supplying air for generating convection in the heating device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0011]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the problems in the above gas flow rate adjusting device and the heating device using the same, and an object of the present invention is to supply a supply gas received from the outside to a target device so that the flow rate can be adjusted for each section by a flow rate adjusting pipe. It is to provide a gas flow rate adjusting device, particularly a gas burner and a heating device using the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] The gas burner according to the present invention made to achieve the above object is a gas burner having a receiving chamber for receiving a supply gas from the outside and a flow rate adjusting pipe for supplying the received supply gas to a target device so that the flow rate can be adjusted for each section. The flow rate adjusting pipe has an outer peripheral pipe with one end open and the other end closed and provided with a plurality of gas supply ports along the longitudinal direction, (n - 1) partition plates for dividing the internal space of the outer peripheral pipe into the first section to the nth section (n is a natural number of 3 or more) in the longitudinal direction, and (n - 1) built-in pipes for individually supplying the supply gas through the intermediate partition plates to each of the second section to the nth section from the receiving chamber, and a cap member having individual openings for supplying the supply gas to one end of each built-in pipe and the first section at the boundary portion with the receiving chamber, and flow rate adjusting means for adjusting the opening area of the openings of the cap member to adjust the flow rate of the supply gas flowing through each opening, and ignition means. At least one of the (n - 1) partition plates is installed so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral pipe, and the flow rate of the supply gas flowing through the first section to the nth section is individually adjusted by the flow rate adjusting means, and the heating power can be adjusted for each section.

[0014] The heating device according to the present invention made to achieve the above object is characterized by including the gas burner described above.

Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the gas flow rate adjusting device of the present invention, since it has a receiving chamber for receiving supply gas from the outside and a flow rate adjusting pipe for supplying the received supply gas to the target device in a manner that the flow rate can be adjusted for each section, when used as a gas burner of a heating device, depending on the situation of the temperature distribution in the furnace of the heating device, it is easy to reduce the combustion gas supplied to the section corresponding to the portion where the temperature tends to be high, thereby reducing the variation in the temperature in the furnace. Also, when used as a gas flow rate adjusting device for providing compressed air to the heating device to generate convection, depending on the situation of the temperature distribution in the furnace of the heating device, it is easy to adjust the amount of compressed air supplied to the portion where the temperature tends to be high, thereby generating appropriate convection within the cross-section of the heating device and reducing the variation in the temperature in the furnace.

[0016] According to the gas flow rate adjusting device of the present invention, by installing the partition plate, the number of built-in pipes for supplying compressed air or combustion gas can be made one less than the number of sections, so it is possible to realize a more compact gas flow rate adjusting device. Also, according to the gas flow rate adjusting device of the present invention, since it is provided with flow rate adjusting means with graduations individually for each section of the flow rate adjusting pipe, it is easy to adjust the flow rate of the supply gas individually and with good reproducibility from the outside of the receiving chamber side that receives the supply gas.

[0017] Furthermore, according to the gas flow rate adjusting device of the present invention, since at least one of the partition plates is installed so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral pipe, depending on the environment of the line where the heating device is installed, the type of food to which the heating device is applied, and the arrangement method, it is possible to adjust the ratio of the sections of the flow rate adjusting pipe and more finely adjust the reduction of the temperature variation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Next, specific examples of embodiments for carrying out the gas flow rate adjusting device and the heating device using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a figure schematically showing the configuration of the gas flow rate adjusting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a receiving chamber 12 that receives a supply gas 50 from the outside, and a flow rate adjusting pipe 20 that supplies the received supply gas 50 to a target device so that the flow rate can be adjusted for each section (41, 42, 43).

[0020] The gas flow rate adjusting device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in a target device (hereinafter typically referred to as a heating device) that performs heat treatment such as an oven or a steamer used in the food manufacturing process, and adjusts the supply gas 50 supplied into the heating device for each section by the flow rate adjusting pipe 20, thereby generating convection to reduce the temperature variation in the target space in the heating device, or using it as a gas burner to heat and suppress the variation in the baking of the product in the target space in the heating device.

[0021] Since the gas flow rate regulating device 10 has a long, linear outer shape in one direction, it is particularly suitable for use in a heating device equipped with a conveying device that heat-treats foodstuffs and the like while conveying them. In such a device, the temperature in the central portion tends to rise more easily in the conveying direction, while the temperature in the end portions tends not to rise easily due to the influence of the wall surface of the heating device and the like. Therefore, reducing the temperature variation in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction often becomes an issue.

[0022] As described above, the gas flow rate regulating device 10 can also be used as a convection generator that generates convection in the heating device, or can be used as a gas burner in combination with an ignition means. The ignition means does not need to be special, and an ignition means similar to a conventional gas burner can be applied. When used as a convection generator, the supply gas 50 is, for example, compressed air, and the compressed air is selectively supplied to the space portion in the heating device where the temperature is most likely to be the highest to generate convection and to make the temperature in the heating device uniform. Also, when used as a gas burner, the supply gas 50 is a mixture containing combustion gas, and for example, a mixture containing more combustion gas is supplied near the side wall of the heating device where the temperature in the heating device is least likely to rise, to increase the heat generation density and to make the temperature in the heating device uniform.

[0023] In addition, the supply gas 50 may be hot air heated to a high temperature, heated air containing water vapor, superheated steam, etc. In this case, the gas flow rate regulating device 10 can also be used as a device that provides heating and convection simultaneously. In the above, the target device was assumed to be a heating device, but the target device may also be a cooling device, and in that case, the supply gas 50 is cold air.

[0024] The flow rate adjustment pipe 20 includes an outer peripheral pipe 21 with one end open and the other end closed, and having a plurality of gas supply ports 22 along the longitudinal direction, two partition plates 23 (23-1, 23-2) that divide the internal space of the outer peripheral pipe 21 into a first section 41, a second section 42, and a third section 43 in the longitudinal direction, and two built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) that supply the supply gas 50 individually through the intermediate partition plates 23 (23-1, 23-2) to the second section 42 and the third section 43 respectively from the receiving chamber 12.

[0025] The partition plates 23 (23-1, 23-2) have a disc-shaped partition portion with an outer shape substantially equal to the inner diameter of the outer peripheral pipe 21, and are provided with through holes substantially equal to the outer diameter of the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) at the portions where the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) penetrate. Thereby, the supply gas 50 is blocked from passing between the inner wall of the outer peripheral pipe 21 around the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2).

[0026] Among the two built-in pipes 24-1 and 24-2, the built-in pipe 24-1 is a pipe that supplies the supply gas 50 to the second section 42, with a part of the closed tip side extending to the third section 43, and having a blowing outlet 25 for the supply gas 50 on the side surface in the second section 42. The built-in pipe 24-2 is a pipe that supplies the supply gas 50 to the third section 43 with the closed tip side extending to the end of the third section 43, and having a blowing outlet 25 for the supply gas 50 on the side surface in the third section 43.

[0027] The flow rate adjustment pipe 20 further includes a cap member 27 at the boundary with the receiving chamber 12, having individual openings 28 for supplying the supply gas 50 to one end of each built-in pipe 24 (24-1, 24-2) and the first section 41, and a flow rate adjustment means 29 for adjusting the opening area of the openings 28 of the cap member 27 to adjust the flow rate of the supply gas 50 flowing through each opening 28.

[0028] The opening 28 of the cap member 27 is provided with a C-shaped curved through-hole in a circular recess. The openings 28 for the second section 42 and the third section 43 are respectively installed at positions aligned with the open ends of the built-in pipes 24-1 and 24-2, and the opening 28 for the first section 41 is provided at a position offset from the open ends of the built-in pipes 24-1 and 24-2.

[0029] The flow rate adjusting means 29 is formed in a disk shape with a C-shaped curved through-hole, and includes a shaft 32 having a disk at its tip for adjusting the opening area of the opening 28 of the cap member 27, a knob 30 for rotating the shaft 32, and a scale 31 for checking the rotation position of the knob 30. By rotating the knob 30, the disk at the tip of the shaft 32 rotates, and the overlapping condition between the through-hole of the disk and the through-hole of the opening 28 of the cap member 27 changes, so that the area of the opening serving as the supply path for the supply gas 50 from the receiving chamber 12 is adjusted. Since the knobs 30 for all sections are arranged in one place, the flow rate of the supply gas 50 for each section can be easily adjusted. In addition, since each knob 30 is provided with a scale 31, the adjustment can be performed accurately.

[0030] The supply gas 50 received in the receiving chamber 12 passes through the opening 28 of the cap member 27 whose opening area is adjusted according to the adjustment status of the flow rate adjusting means 29, that is, the position of each knob 30, and is supplied into the built-in pipes 24-1 and 24-2 or around the built-in pipe 24 (24-1, 24-2) in the outer peripheral pipe 21.

[0031] The supply gas 50 supplied to the built-in pipe 24-1 is blown out from the blowout port 25 provided in the second section 42 into the second section 42 of the outer peripheral pipe 21, and further supplied from the gas supply port 22 corresponding to the second section 42 of the outer peripheral pipe 21 to the heating device (supply gas 50-2). In the embodiment, the blowout port 25 of the built-in pipe 24-1 and the gas supply port 22 of the outer peripheral pipe 21 are installed so as to face in opposite directions, and the pressure of the supply gas 50 is equalized so that the pressure in the second section 42 of the outer peripheral pipe 21 does not vary, and then the supply gas 50-2 is supplied from the gas supply port 22.

[0032] Similarly, the supply gas 50 supplied to the built-in pipe 24-2 is blown out from the air outlet 25 provided in the third section 43 into the third section 43 of the outer peripheral pipe 21, and is further supplied from the gas supply port 22 corresponding to the third section 43 of the outer peripheral pipe 21 to the heating device (supply gas 50-3). For the built-in pipe 24-2 as well, the air outlet 25 is installed so as to face the direction opposite to the gas supply port 22 of the outer peripheral pipe 21.

[0033] The supply gas 50 supplied from the opening 28 of the cap member 27 to the periphery of the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) in the outer peripheral pipe 21 travels as it is in the direction of the closed end of the outer peripheral pipe 21 around the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) and is supplied from the gas supply port 22 corresponding to the first section 41 of the outer peripheral pipe 21 to the heating device (supply gas 50-1). By adopting such a structure that the supply gas 50 supplied to the periphery of the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) is supplied to the first section 41, the number of built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) can be made one less than the number of sections, and the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 can be made compact.

[0034] The supply gas 50 is in one piece when received in the receiving chamber 12, but when it is split into each section (41, 42, 43) through the respective openings 28 of the cap member 27, the amount of the supply gas 50 supplied to each section (41, 42, 43) is determined according to the opening area adjusted by each flow rate adjusting means 29.

[0035] The embodiment in which the flow rate adjusting pipe 20 includes two partition plates 23 (23-1, 23-2) and two built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) has been described above, but the combination of the number of partition plates 23 and the built-in pipes 24 is not limited to this. For example, three partition plates 23 may be provided to divide the outer peripheral pipe 21 into four sections, and three built-in pipes 24 for supplying the supply gas 50 to the second to fourth sections respectively may be provided, or the number of partition plates 23 may be increased to provide even more sections.

[0036] Thus, the gas flow rate regulating device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes, in various embodiments, an outer peripheral pipe 21 having one end open and the other end closed and provided with a plurality of gas supply ports 22 along the longitudinal direction, (n - 1) partition plates 23 that divide the internal space of the outer peripheral pipe 21 into first to nth sections (n is a natural number of 3 or more) in the longitudinal direction, and (n - 1) built-in pipes 24 that individually supply the supply gas 50 through the intermediate partition plates 23 to each of the second to nth sections from the receiving chamber 12. On the other hand, there is one cap member 27, but there are n flow rate regulating means 29 according to the number of sections.

[0037] As described above, the gas flow rate regulating device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention divides the internal space of the outer peripheral pipe 21 into a plurality of sections in the longitudinal direction by the partition plates 23, and the positions of the partition plates 23 are installed so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction. Two embodiments will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the gas flow rate regulating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the partition plate of the gas flow rate regulating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the gas flow rate regulating device 10 is shown in the form of an exploded view with the built-in pipe 24 taken out of the outer peripheral pipe 21. Regarding the basic configuration, it is the same as that described in FIG. 1.

[0039] In the gas flow rate regulating device 10 according to the first embodiment, the position of the partition plate 23 is formed so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction. Although not specified in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, the portion of the partition plate 23 through which the built-in pipe 24 passes is formed in a sleeve shape with a certain length along the built-in pipe 24, and the disk-shaped partition portion is movable in the longitudinal direction of the built-in pipe 24 while maintaining a shape orthogonal to the outer peripheral pipe 21 and the built-in pipe 24. Also, in order to prevent the partition plate 23 from moving due to the pressure difference of the supply gas 50 on both sides of the partition plate 23 during use, for example, a threaded hole having an internal thread facing the built-in pipe 24 is provided in the portion formed in a sleeve shape, and a set screw is screwed into this to fix the partition plate 23 to the built-in pipe 24.

[0040] In FIG. 3, the partition plate 23-1 that divides the first section 41 and the second section 42 is shown to move a distance x forward and backward along the built-in pipe 24, and the partition plate 23-2 that divides the second section 42 and the third section 43 is shown to move a distance y forward and backward along the built-in pipe 24. However, the distances x and y are for convenience and may be the same or different. Also, the front and rear distances may be different, for example, x1 in the front and x2 in the rear. Further, in the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 installed at a location where the temperature distribution is stable due to the structure of the heating device, some of the plurality of partition plates 23 may not be movable.

[0041] When the movable partition plate 23 is provided, if the partition plate 23 is moved and straddles the outlet 25 of the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2), for example, the supply gas 50 to be supplied to the second section 42 may be supplied to the third section 43. Therefore, the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 of this embodiment does not provide the outlet 25 of the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) within the assumed movable range. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, the partition plate 23-1 does not provide the outlet 25 of the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) within the range of a distance x before and after the designed set position. As a result, even if the partition plate 23-1 is moved, the supply gas 50 to be supplied to the first section 41 will not be supplied to the second section 42, and conversely, the supply gas 50 to be supplied to the second section 42 will not be supplied to the first section 41. The same applies to the partition plate 23-2, and the outlet 25 is not provided within the range of a distance y before and after which is the assumed movable range.

[0042] By making the partition plate 23 movable, the degree of freedom in the section dividing position can be given. For example, even when the temperature variation cannot be sufficiently reduced due to the structure of the heating device to which the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 is attached or the environmental influence of the installation location, it becomes possible to adjust more finely by moving the partition plate 23. As a result, effects such as increasing the arrangement of the foodstuffs flowing through the conveying device and improving the process margin of the heat treatment of the foodstuffs are expected.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the gas flow rate regulating device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the partition plate of the gas flow rate regulating device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The gas flow rate regulating device 10 according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is also the same as that described with reference to FIG. 1 in terms of the basic configuration. Also, similar to the gas flow rate regulating device 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the partition plate 23 is configured to be movable, but it is different from the first embodiment in that the partition plate 23 is combined with a sleeve 26 having a specific configuration.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the partition plate 23-1 is provided with a sleeve 26-1 extending along the built-in pipe 24-1 toward the first section 41 side, and the partition plate 23-2 is provided with a sleeve 26-2 extending along the built-in pipe 24-1 toward the third section 43 side and a sleeve 26-3 extending along the built-in pipe 24-2 toward the second section 42 side.

[0045] In FIG. 5, the assumed movement range of the partition plate 23-1 is set as a distance x before and after the designed set position respectively, and the assumed movement range of the partition plate 23-2 is set as a distance y before and after the designed set position respectively. However, these distances x and y are for convenience, and the distance x and the distance y may be the same or different. Also, the front and rear distances may be different, for example, x1 in the front and x2 in the rear. Also, among the plurality of partition plates 23, there may be a partition plate 23 that is not movable.

[0046] The sleeves 26 (26-1, 26-2, 26-3) of the gas flow rate regulating device 10 shown in FIG. 5 not only guide the movement of the partition plate 23, but also have a role of controlling the opening and closing of the outlet 25 of the built-in pipes 24 (24-1, 24-2) within the assumed movement range. Therefore, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the outlet 25 may also be provided within the assumed movement range.

[0047] The case of moving the partition plate 23-1 will be described. First, when the partition plate 23-1 is moved by a distance x toward the first section 41, the first section 41 becomes shorter by the distance x, and the second section 42 becomes longer by the distance x. The air outlet 25 of the built-in pipe 24-1 provided within this range of the distance x is exposed by the movement of the sleeve 26-1 and comes to function as the air outlet 25. That is, as the second section 42 becomes longer, the number of air outlets 25 increases, and the supply density of the supply gas 50 to the second section 42 hardly changes compared to before the movement of the partition plate 23-1.

[0048] Conversely, when the partition plate 23-1 is moved by a distance x from its original position toward the second section 42, the second section 42 becomes shorter by the distance x. At this time, the air outlet 25 of the built-in pipe 24-1 provided within the range of the distance x from the original position toward the second section 42 is blocked by the sleeve 26-1 due to the movement of the sleeve 26-1. That is, as the second section 42 becomes shorter, the number of air outlets 25 decreases, and the supply density of the supply gas 50 to the second section 42 hardly changes compared to before the movement of the partition plate 23-1.

[0049] When moving the partition plate 23-2, the two sleeves (26-2, 26-3) perform opposite functions. First, when the partition plate 23-2 is moved by a distance y toward the second section 42, the second section 42 becomes shorter by the distance y, and the third section 43 becomes longer by the distance y. The air outlet 25 of the built-in pipe 24-1 provided within this range of the distance y is blocked by the sleeve 26-2 due to the movement of the sleeve 26-2. On the other hand, the air outlet 25 of the built-in pipe 24-2 is exposed by the movement of the sleeve 26-3 and comes to function as the air outlet 25. As a result, as the second section 42 becomes shorter, the number of air outlets 25 decreases, and as the third section 43 becomes longer, the number of air outlets 25 increases, and the supply density of the supply gas 50 in each section hardly changes compared to before the movement of the partition plate 23-2.

[0050] Conversely, when the partition plate 23-2 is moved by a distance y toward the third section 43 side, the second section 42 becomes longer by the distance y, and the third section 43 becomes shorter by the distance y. The air outlet 25 of the built-in pipe 24-1 provided within this range of the distance y will be exposed as the sleeve 26-2 moves. On the other hand, the air outlet 25 of the built-in pipe 24-2 will be blocked by the sleeve 26-3 as the sleeve 26-3 moves. As a result, the number of air outlets 25 increases by the amount that the second section 42 has become longer, and the number of air outlets 25 decreases by the amount that the third section 43 has become shorter. The supply density of the supply gas 50 in each section is almost unchanged compared to before the movement of the partition plate 23-2.

[0051] The air outlet 25 of the built-in pipe 24 (24-1, 24-2) provided within the assumed movement range of the partition plate 23 (23-1, 23-2) is preferably provided at a position that matches the pitch of the air outlets 25 provided outside the assumed movement range. Further, the sleeve 26 (26-1, 26-2, 26-3) is made to have a sufficient length such that no new air outlets 25 outside the assumed movement range are exposed as it moves within the assumed movement range.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the gas flow rate adjustment state by the gas flow rate adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6(a) shows the case where the supply gas is adjusted to be supplied uniformly, FIG. 6(b) shows the case where the supply of the supply gas is suppressed only at the center, FIG. 6(c) shows the case where the supply of the supply gas differs for each section, and FIG. 6(d) is a diagram illustrating the gas flow rate adjustment state when the partition plate is moved to change the section.

[0053] FIG. 6(a) shows a state where the flow rate adjustment means 29 is adjusted so that the supply gas 50-1 supplied from the first section 41, the supply gas 50-2 supplied from the second section 42, and the supply gas 50-3 supplied from the third section 43 become uniform.

[0054] Fig. 6(b) shows a state in which, from the state of Fig. 6(a), the flow rate adjusting means 29 is adjusted to reduce the opening area of the opening 28 for supplying the supply gas 50 to the second section 42, thereby reducing only the supply gas 50-2 supplied from the second section 42. In the case of a heating device that includes a conveying device and performs heat treatment while conveying foodstuffs, since it is difficult for the temperature on both sides to rise in the conveying direction of the conveying device, when the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 is used as a gas burner, it is effective to supply the air-fuel mixture containing the combustion gas in a distribution as shown in Fig. 6(b). When the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 is used as a convection generator, in many cases, a distribution that strengthens only the supply gas 50-2 supplied from the second section 42, which is the reverse of the state of Fig. 6(b), is preferable.

[0055] Fig. 6(c) shows a state in which, from the state of Fig. 6(b), the supply of the supply gas 50 to the first section 41 is throttled and the supply gas 50-1 supplied from the first section 41, the supply gas 50-2 supplied from the second section 42, and the supply gas 50-3 supplied from the third section 43 are all adjusted to be different.

[0056] Fig. 6(d) shows a state in which, from the state of Fig. 6(b), the partition plate 23-1 is moved by a distance x toward the first section 41 side and the partition plate 23-2 is moved by a distance y toward the second section 42 side. As shown in Figs. 6(a) to (d), the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention can create various supply situations of the supply gas 50.

[0057] Fig. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a heating device including the gas flow rate adjusting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The heating device 6 equipped with the gas flow rate regulating device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 is a tunnel oven 70 equipped with a conveying device 3. The conveying device 3 includes a carrier 76 that circulates in the oven 70 so as to be folded back by folding parts 75 provided on the entrance side and the exit side of the tunnel oven 70 respectively, and the carrier 76 conveys foodstuffs such as fabrics from the entrance to the exit of the tunnel oven 70. The carrier 76 may be of a caterpillar shape driven by a chain circulating a plurality of baking plates, or may be of an endless steel belt shape. The conveying speed of the conveying device 3 can be adjusted by an operation panel 73.

[0058] Above the carrier 76 that conveys foodstuffs, an upper baking part 7 is provided, and below the carrier 76 that conveys foodstuffs, and above the carrier 76 that is folded back by the folding part 75 and returns to the entrance side after the foodstuffs are conveyed, a lower baking part 8 is provided. Both the upper baking part 7 and the lower baking part 8 are configured to include the gas flow rate regulating device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the gas flow rate regulating devices 10 of the upper baking part 7 and the lower baking part 8 include a form as a gas burner 35 equipped with ignition means.

[0059] A plurality of gas flow rate regulating devices 10 are provided in each of the upper baking part 7 and the lower baking part 8, and all are installed such that the longitudinal direction faces in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveying device 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the plurality of gas flow rate regulating devices 10 are divided into three zones A, B, and C from the entrance side to the exit side of the tunnel oven 70, and are configured such that temperature adjustment is performed for each zone. A viewing window 74 is provided in each zone so that the heating state of the foodstuffs can be confirmed. Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 7, each zone is configured to include at least the gas flow rate regulating device 10.

[0060] Since the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 can adjust the flow rate of the supply gas 50 for each section partitioned by the partition plate 23 along the longitudinal direction, when used as the gas burner 35, depending on the temperature variation situation in the tunnel, for example, the supply amount of the mixture containing the combustion gas in the sections where the temperature at both ends is less likely to rise toward the conveyance direction is increased compared to the central part, and it is used to suppress the variation in the baking degree of the food ingredients. When used as a convection generator, for example, it is used to increase the flow rate of the supply air in the area where the temperature in the central part is likely to rise toward the conveyance direction to efficiently reduce the temperature variation. Further, since the partition plate 23 of the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 can be moved along the longitudinal direction, in any application, the position of the partition plate 23 can be adjusted to suppress the temperature variation in the tunnel oven 70, and it is possible to further reduce the variation in the baking degree of the food ingredients and stabilize the quality, etc.

[0061] In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the tunnel oven 70 is shown to be temperature-controlled by being divided into three zones, but the number of temperature-control zones may be more or less than this depending on the heating conditions of the food ingredients processed in the tunnel oven 70. Also, the arrangement of the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 is not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG. 7. Further, all of the gas flow rate adjusting devices 10 to be installed may be used as the gas burner 35, or all may be used as the convection generator, or they may be installed so that the gas burner 35 and the convection generator are mixed. Also, the tunnel oven 70 may be provided with holes and caps for installation so that the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 can be added as needed.

[0062] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a food manufacturing apparatus incorporating a heating apparatus provided with a gas flow rate adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The food manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a conveying device 3, a dough filling machine 2, a heating device 6, and a take-out device 9. The conveying device 3 circulates a plurality of baking plates 4 continuously or intermittently so as to be folded back at two folding parts at the most upstream and the most downstream. The baking plate 4 is a rectangular metal plate long in the depth direction of FIG. 8, on which food ingredients are placed on the baking surface 5 and conveyed from upstream to downstream. The dough filling machine 2 is provided on the upstream side of the conveying device 3 and fills a predetermined amount of the dough 60 put into the hopper onto the baking surface 5 of the baking plate 4. In a mass production machine, usually a plurality of discharge nozzles are provided, and the dough filling machine 2 in FIG. 8 also fills a plurality of doughs 60 along the longitudinal direction of the baking plate 4.

[0063] The filled dough 60 is conveyed to the heating device 6 together with the baking plate 4. The heating device 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a tunnel oven in this embodiment, and includes a lower baking part 8 that heats the dough 60 from below the baking plate 4, an upper baking part 7 that directly heats the upper surface of the dough 60, and a cover that covers the entire upper baking part 7 in a tunnel shape. In FIG. 8, the tunnel oven is shown schematically, but the tunnel oven 70 having the configuration shown in FIG. 7 may be incorporated into the food manufacturing apparatus 1. Both the upper baking part 7 and the lower baking part 8 are configured to include a gas flow rate adjusting device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the gas flow rate adjusting devices 10 of the upper baking part 7 and the lower baking part 8 include a form as a gas burner 35 having an ignition means.

[0064] In order to bake a plurality of filled doughs 60 along the longitudinal direction of the baking plate 4 that is long in the depth direction of FIG. 8, that is, in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveying device 3, the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 is installed so that its longitudinal direction faces in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveying device 3.

[0065] In the range where the lower firing section 8 is provided, the firing plate 4 is heated from below by the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 used as the gas burner 35. However, the temperature of both ends of the firing plate 4 is less likely to rise compared to the central portion in the conveying direction. Therefore, in the gas burner 35 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, as shown in FIG. 6(b), in the second section 42 corresponding to the central portion among the three sections (41, 42, 43), the supply of the air-fuel mixture containing combustion gas is suppressed compared to the sections (41, 43) at both ends, and the temperature variation in the longitudinal direction of the firing plate 4 is suppressed.

[0066] Such variations in the firing of the product in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the firing plate 4 also change depending on the shape and arrangement of the product to be heated. In the present invention, since the combustion balance and gas flow rate adjustment of each burner zone can be reproduced with a knob, it is possible to change the adjustment every time the product is switched, to cope with the heating of various products, and it is easy to maintain the quality. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, since the position of the partition plate 23 can be adjusted, the position of the partition plate 23 can be adjusted according to the situation to realize a heating environment with less variation.

[0067] In addition, the heating device 6 includes a gas flow rate adjusting device 10 as a convection generator in addition to the gas burner 35 in order to make the temperature distribution in the cover covering in a tunnel shape uniform. The gas flow rate adjusting device 10 supplies the compressed air supplied from the outside into the cover to promote the convection in the cover. In this case, the flow rate of the compressed air supplied by the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 is adjusted so as to be stronger at the central portion where the temperature tends to be high.

[0068] In FIG. 8, a plurality of gas burners 35 arranged at regular intervals are shown as the lower firing section 8 and the upper firing section 7, and a plurality of gas flow rate adjusting devices 10 as convection generators are provided above the gas burners 35 in the upper firing section 7. However, the combination and arrangement of the gas burner 35 and the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 as a convection generator can be variously deformed. For example, the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 as a convection generator may be arranged among the arrangements of the gas burners 35 in either the lower firing section 8 or the upper firing section 7. Further, if the desired temperature variation can be achieved by arranging and using the gas burners 35 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 as a convection generator may not be installed. Furthermore, even if the heating device 6 includes a prior art gas burner 35 that cannot be adjusted for each section instead of the gas burner 35 according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the desired temperature variation can be achieved by installing the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 as a convection generator, it is not necessary to include a gas burner 35 whose supply amount can be adjusted for each section.

[0069] The gas flow rate adjusting device 10 is not limited to being in the form of the gas burner 35 for use in the heat treatment of food materials. It may also be used to adjust and supply heated air, heated air containing steam, etc. heated to a high temperature supplied from the outside for each section.

[0070] The dough 60 baked by the heating device 6 is directly conveyed and transferred to the take-out device 9 at the most downstream and taken out. The take-out device 9 stretches a conveyor belt over rollers provided on the upstream and downstream sides, receives the dough 60 when the baking plate 4 folds back at the most downstream of the conveyor device 3, and conveys the dough 60 to the next processing device, stocker, etc. by the conveyor belt.

[0071] As described above, FIG. 8 shows the food manufacturing device 1 having the configuration of the filling and baking device for the dough 60. However, the configuration of the food manufacturing device 1 including the gas flow rate adjusting device 10 or the gas burner 35 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a filling device for filling the baked dough 60 with fillings such as jam, or a forming device for processing the baked dough 60 by folding it may be combined. Conversely, it may also be configured as only the heating device 6 including the gas flow rate adjusting device 10.

[0072] The gas flow rate regulating device 10 of the embodiment of the present invention can supply the supply gas 50 to the target device while adjusting the flow rate for each section, and can also adjust the position for separating the sections as needed, so that it is possible to more finely and efficiently suppress the variation in the temperature inside the target device.

[0073] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical scope of the present invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0074] 1 Food manufacturing device 2 Dough filling machine 3 Conveying device 4 Baking plate 5 Baking surface 6 Target device (heating device) 7 Upper baking section 8 Lower baking section 9 Take-out device 10 Gas flow rate regulating device 11 Gas supply pipe 12 Receiving chamber 20 Flow rate regulating pipe 21 Outer peripheral pipe 22 Gas supply port 23 Partition plate 24, 24-1, 24-2 Built-in pipes 25 Outlet 26, 26-1, 26-2, 26-3 Sleeves 27 Cap material 28 Opening 29 Flow rate regulating means 30 Knob 31 Scale 32 Shaft 33 Disk 35 Gas burner 41 First section 42 Second section 43 Third section 50, 50-1, 50-2, 50-3 Supply Gas 60 Fabric 70 Tunnel Oven 71 Turbo Blower 72 Exhaust Fan 73 Control Panel 74 Inspection Window 75 Folding Section 76 Carrier

Claims

1. A gas burner having a receiving chamber for receiving a supply gas from the outside and a flow control pipe for supplying the received supply gas to a target device such that the flow rate can be adjusted for each section, wherein the flow control pipe has an outer peripheral pipe with one end open and the other end closed, and having a plurality of gas supply ports along the longitudinal direction, (n - 1) partition plates that divide the internal space of the outer peripheral pipe into first to nth sections (n is a natural number of 3 or more) in the longitudinal direction, (n - 1) built-in pipes that supply the supply gas individually through the intermediate partition plates to each of the second to nth sections from the receiving chamber, a cap member at the boundary with the receiving chamber and having individual openings for supplying the supply gas to one end of each built-in pipe and the first section, flow control means for adjusting the opening area of the openings of the cap member to adjust the flow rate of the supply gas flowing through each opening, and ignition means, wherein at least one of the (n - 1) partition plates is installed movably along the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral pipe, and the flow rate of the supply gas flowing through the first to nth sections is individually adjusted by the flow control means so that the heating power can be adjusted for each section.

2. A heating device comprising the gas burner according to Claim 1.

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