Freezer

Abstract

To provide a freezer capable of completing freezing in a short period of time.SOLUTION: A freezer comprises a liquid tank 1 for storing low-temperature cooling liquid A, and a disc 2 that is horizontally arranged on the bottom within the liquid tank 1. The disc 2, which is connected to a motor 3, can be freely rotated around a first vertical axis L1. Multiple food and drink holders 4 for inserting and holding food and drink E are provided on the disk 2. The food and drink E is inserted into the food and drink holders 4. The food and drink E is frozen while the disk 2 is rotated around the first vertical axis L1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigeration device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a refrigeration device is known in which food is placed and frozen in a coolant (ethyl alcohol aqueous solution) at a low temperature (for example, around -30°C) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the refrigeration device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it takes time and effort as a whole because food and drink are supercooled for a sufficiently long time and then placed in the coolant.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration device capable of completing freezing in a short time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration device capable of efficiently freezing a plurality of foods and drinks.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The refrigeration device according to the present invention includes a liquid tank that stores a coolant at a low temperature, and a disk horizontally disposed at the bottom of the liquid tank. The disk is connected to a motor and is rotatable around a first vertical axis. The disk is provided with a plurality of food and drink holders for inserting and holding food and drink. The food and drink are inserted into the food and drink holders, and while rotating the disk around the first vertical axis, the food and drink are frozen. formed, a plurality of Each of the above food and drink holders rotates around a second vertical axis of the food and drink holder. and, non-strong configured to be rotatable in a controlled manner exists.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the refrigeration device of the present invention, refrigeration can be completed in a short time. In addition, a plurality of foods and drinks can be efficiently refrigerated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiments. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the present invention Reference example (Reference example 1) closely related thereto as follows. The refrigeration device of the present invention is for refrigerating foods and drinks E (for example, bottled liquid N), and includes a liquid tank 1 for containing a low-temperature coolant A, and a disk 2 horizontally arranged at the bottom in the liquid tank 1. The low-temperature coolant A is, for example, an ethyl alcohol aqueous solution (-35°C or higher and -25°C or lower, alcohol concentration 60%). The disk 2 is connected to a motor 3 and is rotatable around the first vertical axis L1. The rotating shaft 22 of the motor 3 and the rotating shaft 17 of the disk 2 are connected by a shaft coupling 21 (for example, an electromagnetic coupling).

[0010] Specifically, it includes a lower fixed table 9, an upper rotating table 10 (disc 2), and a plurality of spheres 11 that are rollably interposed between the fixed table 9 and the rotating table 10. Each of the fixed table 9 and the rotating table 10 has a circumferential concave groove 12 for rollably guiding the spheres 11. A plurality of spheres 11 are arranged in the upper and lower circumferential concave grooves 12.

[0011] On the disc 2, there are provided a plurality (eight in the example of FIG. 2) of food and drink holders 4 for inserting and holding food and drink E. That is, the plurality of food and drink holders 4 are fixed to the disc 2. The food and drink E is inserted into the food and drink holder 4, and the disc 2 is configured to rotate around the first vertical axis L1 while the food and drink E is frozen. The food and drink holder 4 preferably has a dish shape with a large number of holes.

[0012] When the food and drink E is a bottled liquid N, the food and drink holder 4 is provided with a cylindrical lateral fall prevention net body 5 for preventing the bottle B from falling.

[0013] In the placement table 6, a cooler for cooling the coolant A, a tank for storing the coolant A, and a pump for sending the coolant A into the liquid tank 1 are arranged (the cooler, the tank, and the pump are not shown). The coolant A is circulated between the liquid tank 1 and the cooler (via pipes not shown including the tank and the pump). The liquid tank 1 has a heat insulating material 7 for suppressing the heat transfer between the coolant A and the outside. The heat insulating material 7 is made of, for example, foamed urethane. The liquid tank 1 is provided with a lid body 8 that can be opened and closed to cover it.

[0014] The rotation speed of the disc 2 is set to be 6 rpm or more and 60 rpm or less. When the rotation speed is less than 6 rpm, the heat transfer efficiency between the food and drink E and the coolant A only increases slightly, and almost no shortening effect of the freezing time can be obtained. When the rotation speed exceeds 60 rpm, there is a risk of the food and drink falling over.

[0015] Next, in FIGS. 1 and 2, Reference example 1 An example of a method for freezing food and drink E by a refrigeration device will be described. The food and drink E is placed (vertically in the case of bottled liquid N) in the low-temperature coolant A to freeze the food and drink E. Specifically, the food and drink E is inserted into the food and drink holder 4, and the disk 2 is continuously rotated around the first vertical axis L1, so that the food and drink E is rotated around the first vertical axis L1, and heat is taken away from the food and drink E while freezing it. When a relative flow occurs between the food and drink E and the coolant A, the heat transfer efficiency is increased, and the time required for freezing the food and drink E is shortened. Note that the disk 2 may be rotated around the first vertical axis L1 while alternately repeating forward rotation and reverse rotation.

[0016] Reference example 1 Another example of a method for freezing food and drink E by a refrigeration device will be described. The food and drink E is inserted into the food and drink holder 4, and the disk 2 is intermittently rotated around the first vertical axis L1, so that the food and drink E is rotated around the first vertical axis L1, and heat is taken away from the food and drink E while freezing it. For example, forward rotation, stop, forward rotation, stop are repeated. Or, forward rotation, stop, reverse rotation, stop may be repeated.

[0017] Figure 3 shows The present invention the implementation one form. Each of the plurality of food and drink holders 4 is configured to be rotatable around the second vertical axis L2 of the food and drink holder 4. Specifically, the food and drink holder 4 is configured to be rotatable non-forcibly (a free rotation structure) around the second vertical axis L2. Specifically, the small fixed table 13 is fixed on the disk 2. It includes a lower small fixed table 13, an upper small rotating table 14, and a plurality of spheres 15 that are rollably interposed between the small fixed table 13 and the small rotating table 14. Each of the small fixed table 13 and the small rotating table 14 has a small circumferential concave groove 16 for guiding the sphere 15 to roll freely. A plurality of spheres 15 are arranged in the upper and lower small circumferential concave grooves 16. The other configurations are Reference example 1 the same as

[0018] Next, in Figure 3, The present invention A method for freezing food and drink E by a refrigeration device will be described. The food and drink E is placed (vertically in the case of bottled liquid N) in a low-temperature coolant A to freeze the food and drink E. Specifically, the food and drink E is inserted into a food and drink holder 4, and the disk 2 is continuously rotated around a first vertical axis L1, thereby rotating the food and drink E around the first vertical axis L1 and freezing it while taking heat away from the food and drink E. The food and drink holder 4 rotates non-forcibly (rotates freely) around a second vertical axis L2. Note that the disk 2 may be rotated intermittently around the first vertical axis L1.

[0019] FIGS. 4 and 5 are Another reference example (Reference example 2) closely related to the present invention shown. The food and drink holder 4 is configured to be forcibly rotated (rotated on its own axis) around a second vertical axis L2 by a planetary gear mechanism. Specifically, a sun gear 18 connected to a motor 3 (via a rotating shaft 17), a planetary gear 19 meshing with the sun gear 18, and an internal gear 20 meshing with the planetary gear 19 cause the food and drink holder 4 to perform rotation on its own axis and revolution forcibly. Other configurations are Reference example 1 the same as

[0020] Next, in FIGS. 4 and 5, Reference example 2 a method for freezing food and drink E by a refrigeration device will be described. The food and drink E is placed (vertically in the case of bottled liquid N) in a low-temperature coolant A to freeze the food and drink E. Specifically, the food and drink E is inserted into a food and drink holder 4, and the disk 2 is continuously rotated around a first vertical axis L1, thereby rotating (revolving) the food and drink E around the first vertical axis L1 and freezing it while taking heat away from the food and drink E. The food and drink holder 4 rotates forcibly (rotates on its own axis) around a second vertical axis L2. Note that the disk 2 may be rotated intermittently around the first vertical axis L1.

[0021] Note that the food and drink E may be any food and drink including (vacuum-packed) meat, fish, etc. For example, the bottled liquid N may be seasonings such as Japanese sake, wine, shochu, liqueur, soft drink, non-alcoholic beverage, mirin, soy sauce, etc. Also, the shape and structure of the food and drink holder 4 are (not limited to a dish shape with a large number of holes, but) adapted to the shape and properties of the food and drink E.

[0022] The present invention can be modified in design. For example, the number of food and drink holders 4 can be increased or decreased as desired. Also, the cylindrical anti - tipping net body 5 can be omitted.

[0023] As described above, the present invention includes a liquid tank 1 for storing a low - temperature coolant A, and a disk 2 horizontally disposed at the bottom inside the liquid tank 1. The disk 2 is connected to a motor 3 and is rotatable around a first vertical axis L1. A plurality of food and drink holders 4 for inserting and holding food and drink E are provided on the disk 2. By inserting the food and drink E into the food and drink holders 4 and rotating the disk 2 around the first vertical axis L1, the food and drink E is frozen. Therefore, the heat transfer efficiency between the food and drink E and the coolant A is improved, and freezing can be completed in a short time. Also, a plurality of food and drink E can be efficiently frozen.

[0024] Also, since each of the plurality of food and drink holders 4 is configured to be rotatable around a second vertical axis L2 of the food and drink holder 4, freezing can be completed in an even shorter time. In particular, the food and drink E can be frozen uniformly. Also, since the food and drink holder 4 is configured to be rotatable around the second vertical axis L2 in a non - forced manner, a simple structure can be achieved. Also, since the food and drink holder 4 is configured to be forcibly rotated around the second vertical axis L2 by a planetary gear mechanism, a predetermined rotation can be surely imparted to the food and drink holder 4. Also, since the food and drink E is a bottled liquid N and the food and drink holder 4 is provided with a cylindrical anti - tipping net body 5 for preventing the bottle B from tipping over, the bottled liquid N can be surely frozen while preventing the bottle B from tipping over.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0025] 1 Liquid tank 2 Disk 3 Motor 4 Food and drink holder 5 (Cylindrical) anti - tipping net body A Coolant B Bottle E Food and drink L1 First vertical axis L2 Second vertical axis N Bottled liquid

Claims

**Claim 1** A liquid tank (1) for containing a low-temperature coolant (A), and a disk (2) horizontally arranged at the bottom inside the liquid tank (1). The above disk (2) is connected to the motor (3) and is rotatable about the first vertical axis (L 1 ), and is rotatable about the On the above-mentioned disk (2), a plurality of food and drink holders (4) for inserting and holding food and drink (E) are provided. The food and drink (E) is inserted into the food and drink holder (4), and while rotating the disk (2) around the above-mentioned first vertical axis (L 1 ), the food and drink (E) is configured to be frozen. A freezing device characterized by this is provided. **Claim 2** Each of the plurality of the food and drink holders (4) is configured to be rotatable around the second vertical axis (L 2 ) of the food and drink holder (4). The refrigeration device according to claim 1 **Claim 3** The refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the food and drink holding body (4) is configured to be rotatable non-forcibly around the second vertical axis (L 2 ). **Claim 4** The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the food and drink holding body (4) is configured to be forcibly rotated around the second vertical axis (L 2 ) by a planetary gear mechanism. **Claim 5** The refrigeration device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the food or drink (E) is a bottled liquid (N), and the food or drink holder (4) is provided with a cylindrical lateral fall prevention net body (5) for preventing the bottle (B) from falling over.

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