Heat treatment apparatus

Abstract

This improves environmental control of the processing space and enhances heating efficiency, regardless of the height of the workpiece being processed. [Solution] The heating apparatus 10 comprises a conveyor 12 for transporting food ingredients F, a heating nozzle 30 for injecting steam onto the food ingredients F, a housing 16 that forms a processing space including the heating nozzle 30, and a partition plate 28 that divides the processing space into multiple processing sections. The partition plate 28 is movable up and down, and the height of the passage space between the lower end of the partition plate 28 and the conveyor 12 can be adjusted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat treatment apparatus that performs heat treatment while conveying an object to be processed.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a heat treatment apparatus configured to heat-treat food being conveyed in a housing using a heating medium such as heating air or superheated steam by a conveyor that circulates and travels (Patent Document 1). In this heat treatment apparatus, the inside of the housing is divided into a plurality of treatment sections by fixed partition plates, and the food on the conveyor is conveyed through openings provided in the partition plates.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, since the partition plate is fixed to the housing, it is difficult to handle foods of different heights. In particular, when the height of the food is low, the opening is too large, resulting in insufficient environmental control of the processing space, a decrease in heating efficiency, and wasted energy consumption due to heat exchange with the outside.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to improve environmental control of a processing space and improve heating efficiency without being affected by the height of an object to be processed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a heat treatment apparatus comprising a conveying means for conveying an object to be treated, a heating means having a heating nozzle for injecting steam onto the object to be treated, a housing forming a processing space including the heating means, and a partition plate for dividing the processing space into a plurality of processing sections, wherein the partition plate is movable up and down, and the height of the passage space between the lower end of the partition plate and the conveying means is adjustable.

[0007] The second invention of the present invention is a heating apparatus that, in the first invention, the heating nozzle is movable up and down relative to the housing, the partition plate comprises a fixed partition plate fixed to the housing and a movable partition plate fixed to the heating nozzle, the movable partition plate moves up and down in conjunction with the raising and lowering of the heating nozzle, the movable partition plate is provided adjacent to the fixed partition plate, and the movable partition plate moves relative to the fixed partition plate in accordance with the raising and lowering of the heating nozzle.

[0008] The third invention of the present invention, a heat treatment apparatus, is characterized in that, in the first invention, the partition plate is a movable partition plate that is mounted on the housing so as to be able to move up and down, and the height of the corresponding movable partition plate is individually adjusted according to the height of the heating nozzle installed in the processing section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, environmental control of the processing space can be improved and heating efficiency can be improved without being affected by the height of the workpiece. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic side view showing the arrangement of a heat treatment apparatus, which is one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic enlarged side view of the area surrounding the cleaning section. [Figure 3] This is a schematic side view showing the arrangement of two upper heating nozzles, each positioned at its maximum height, adjacent to the partition plate. [Figure 4] This is a schematic side view showing the arrangement of the upper heating nozzles, which are positioned adjacent to the partition plate, at their maximum upward position and at their maximum downward position. [Figure 5] This is a schematic side view showing the arrangement of two upper heating nozzles adjacent to the partition plate, each positioned at its maximum upward position, in a modified configuration. [Figure 6] This is a schematic side view showing the arrangement of an upper heating nozzle positioned at its maximum upward position and an upper heating nozzle positioned at its maximum downward position, adjacent to the partition plate, in a modified configuration. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing the arrangement of a heat treatment apparatus, which is one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The heating apparatus 10 of this embodiment is a device that cooks (heats) food ingredients F (objects to be processed: for example, dumpling-shaped food ingredients such as hamburgers and meatballs, or cuts of fish, etc.) that are being transported on a conveyor 12 (transportation means) by blowing superheated steam onto them. The conveyor 12 is a belt conveyor made of a material with excellent heat resistance and durability, and travels continuously in an endless track, with both ends being wrapped around a pair of driven sprockets 13A and a pair of driving sprockets 13B that rotate around a horizontal axis. In the conveyor 12, the forward span 12A, which is stretched over the driven sprockets 13A and the driving sprockets 13B, is arranged substantially horizontally, and the food ingredients F are placed on this span at predetermined intervals and transported continuously at a constant speed, for example, from the driven sprocket 13A side to the driving sprocket 13B side. The travel speed of the conveyor 12 is adjusted by a control means according to the type of food ingredients F and the required heating time.

[0013] The central part of the conveyor 12 is housed inside a rectangular prism-shaped housing 16 (processing space) mounted on a frame 15, and the upstream end (driven sprocket 13A side end) and downstream end (driven sprocket 13B side end) of the conveyor 12 are positioned outside the housing 16 through the upstream opening 17A and the downstream opening 17B of the housing 16.

[0014] In the housing 16, the lower part 16B, located below the forward span 12A, is configured as a water tank 18 where cleaning water W is stored. The conveyor 12, which is stretched beneath the driven sprocket 13A and the driving sprocket 13B, is guided into the housing 16 through the downstream opening 17B, after which the return span 12B of the conveyor 12 is immersed in the cleaning water W in the water tank 18. The conveyor 12 is then lifted out of the water tank 18 just before the upstream opening 17A of the housing 16 and guided to the outside of the housing 16 through the upstream opening 17A.

[0015] The lower side of the upstream end of the conveyor 12 (in front of the driven sprocket 13A) is configured as a cleaning section A, where numerous cleaning nozzles (cleaning means) 20 are arranged to spray cleaning liquid L at high pressure onto the conveyor 12 as it is unfurled from the housing 16. The conveyor 12 unfurled from the housing 16 is transported in a zigzag trajectory up and down by multiple engaging rollers 22 in the cleaning section A, and cleaning liquid L is sprayed onto the conveyor 12 from above and below by the cleaning nozzles 20.

[0016] Below the cleaning section A, a tank (cleaning means) 24 for storing the cleaning liquid L is arranged. The cleaning liquid L stored in the tank 24 is supplied at high pressure to a circulating cleaning nozzle 20A (see FIG. 2) that forms part of the cleaning nozzle 20 through a circulating cleaning liquid supply pipe (cleaning means, circulating means) 26 connected to the lower side surface of the tank 24 by a pump (cleaning means, circulating means) 50. The cleaning liquid L sprayed from each cleaning nozzle 20 toward the conveyor 12 in the cleaning section A falls into the tank 24 by its own weight, and the cleaning liquid L in the tank 24 is circulated and used for cleaning the conveyor 12. Note that the nozzles of the cleaning nozzle 20 other than the circulating cleaning nozzle 20A are finishing cleaning nozzles 20B (see FIG. 2), and high-pressure cleaning liquid L is supplied from a cleaning liquid supply source (not shown).

[0017] The upper part 16A of the housing that constitutes the upper side of the water storage tank 18 is configured as a superheated steam oven that heat-treats the food F conveyed in the housing 16 (processing space) by the conveyor 12 with superheated steam. The space above the forward span 12A in the upper part 16A of the housing is divided into a plurality of compartments (processing compartments) along the conveying direction by a plurality of partition plates 27, 28.

[0018] The partition plate 27 is a plate member fixed to the upper part 16A of the housing, and defines the inlet-side and outlet-side compartments adjacent to the upstream opening 17A and the downstream opening 17B. Heat treatment is not performed in the same compartment, and a vent 31 for intake and exhaust is provided on the top surface of the upper part 16A of the housing. On the other hand, the partition plate 28 includes movable partition plates 28B, 58 as described later, and partitions the processing compartment where the superheat treatment is performed.

[0019] In each processing compartment excluding the inlet-side and outlet-side compartments, a plurality or a single upper heating nozzle 30 for spraying superheated steam onto the food F from above the forward span 12A and a lower heating nozzle 32 for spraying superheated steam onto the food F from below relative thereto are provided. Superheated steam is supplied to the upper heating nozzle 30 and the lower heating nozzle 32 from a superheated steam supply device 34 (heating means).

[0020] The superheated steam from the superheated steam supply device 34 is supplied to the upper heating nozzles 30 and the lower heating nozzles 32 through the first superheated steam supply pipe 36A and the branch pipes 36B that branch from the first superheated steam supply pipe 36A to the respective upper heating nozzles 30 and lower heating nozzles 32. The supply of superheated steam to the first superheated steam supply pipe 36A is controlled by an electromagnetic on-off valve 38 provided in the upstream portion of the first superheated steam supply pipe 36A, and the supply to each branch pipe 36B is controlled by an electromagnetic on-off valve 40 provided in each of the branch pipes 36B.

[0021] Note that as will be described later, each of the upper heating nozzles 30 is movable up and down, and the distance from the food F on the forward path span 12A can be adjusted.

[0022] Also, a second superheated steam supply pipe 42 is connected to the superheated steam supply device 34 together with the first superheated steam supply pipe 36A. The second superheated steam supply pipe 42 supplies superheated steam to the tank 24 (cleaning means, cleaning liquid heating means). That is, superheated steam is supplied from the superheated steam supply device 34 to the cleaning liquid L in the tank 24, and the cleaning liquid L in the tank 24 is heated by the superheated steam. An electromagnetic on-off valve 44 is arranged in the upstream portion of the second superheated steam supply pipe 42, and a regulating valve 46 is arranged in the downstream portion. The amount of superheated steam supplied to the tank 24 is adjusted by the regulating valve 46.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged side view of the periphery of the cleaning section A. As shown in FIG. 2, a temperature sensor 48 for measuring the temperature of the stored cleaning liquid L is provided in the tank 24, and the amount of superheated steam supplied to the tank 24 is controlled by the regulating valve 46 according to the liquid temperature detected by the temperature sensor 48. Thereby, the temperature of the cleaning liquid L in the tank 24 is maintained within a predetermined range, for example, from 40°C to 60°C.

[0024] The cleaning solution L, heated to a predetermined temperature in the tank 24, is supplied to the circulating cleaning solution supply pipe 26 through the filter 24A, pressurized by a pump 50 installed in the circulating cleaning solution supply pipe 26, and then supplied to the circulating cleaning nozzle 20A. Meanwhile, high-pressure cleaning solution L is separately supplied to the finishing cleaning nozzle 20B from the cleaning solution supply pipe 52. In cleaning section A, the circulating cleaning nozzle 20A is located on the upstream side of the track of the return conveyor 12B, and the finishing cleaning nozzle 20B is located on the downstream side.

[0025] A discharge channel 24B for discharging the cleaning liquid L from the tank 24 is provided at a predetermined height on the side of the tank 24. That is, when the height of the cleaning liquid L in the tank 24 exceeds the predetermined height, it overflows and is discharged into the discharge channel 24B, thus maintaining a constant amount of cleaning liquid L in the tank 24.

[0026] Next, the configuration of the upper heating nozzle 30 and the configuration of the partition plate 28 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figures 3 and 4 are schematic side views showing the arrangement of two upper heating nozzles 30, each positioned adjacent to the partition plate 28, in two processing compartments separated by the partition plate 28. Figure 3 shows the state in which the two adjacent upper heating nozzles 30 are raised to their maximum upward position, and Figure 4 shows the state in which the left upper heating nozzle 30 is at its maximum upward position and the right upper heating nozzle 30 is lowered to its maximum downward position.

[0027] The upper heating nozzle 30 comprises a nozzle device body 30A having a thin, rectangular box shape facing the conveying surface (forward span 12A) of the conveyor 12, a pipe 30B that penetrates the top surface of the upper part 16A of the housing and is fixed vertically, and a bore section 30C that extends upward from the nozzle device body 30A and hermetically houses its lower end so that it can move up and down relative to the pipe 30B. A steam supply port 54 is provided at the upper end of the pipe 30B, and a branch pipe 36B is connected to the steam supply port 54. That is, superheated steam supplied from the branch pipe 36B is guided through the pipe 30B to the nozzle device body 30A and injected downward from a number of nozzle holes provided on the lower surface of the nozzle device body 30A.

[0028] The nozzle device body 30A can be individually raised and lowered within the housing 16 by a lifting mechanism 56. When the nozzle device body 30A is raised or lowered, the vertical movement of the nozzle device body 30A relative to the piping 30B is absorbed by the bore portion 30C into which the piping 30B is fitted.

[0029] The lifting mechanism 56 consists of, for example, wires 56A attached to each of the four corners of the nozzle device body 30A, pulleys 56B around which each wire 56A is routed and attached to the ceiling of the upper part 16A of the housing, and a power source (not shown) that winds up / outs each wire 56A. That is, by winding up the wires 56A, the nozzle device body 30A is raised while maintaining a horizontal position, and by unwinding the wires 56A, the nozzle device body 30A is lowered while maintaining a horizontal position. Note that the lifting mechanism 56 is not limited to this embodiment, and any configuration that can raise and lower the nozzle device body 30A is acceptable.

[0030] Furthermore, the partition plate 28 of this embodiment comprises a fixed partition plate 28A extending downward from the top surface of the upper part 16A of the housing, and a movable partition plate 28B attached to the upper heating nozzle 30 adjacent to the fixed partition plate 28A. In the upper heating nozzle 30, the movable partition plate 28B is attached along the side edge of the nozzle device body 30A on the fixed partition plate 28A side via a support member 29, and this movable partition plate 28B extends downward along the fixed partition plate 28A.

[0031] The lower end of the movable partition plate 28B extends, for example, to the height of the lower surface of the nozzle device body 30A, and the lower end of the fixed partition plate 28A extends, for example, to the height of the lower surface of the nozzle device body 30A when it is in its maximum raised position. That is, as shown in Figure 3, when both upper heating nozzles 30 adjacent to the fixed partition plate 28A are in their maximum raised position, the height of the lower end of the movable partition plate 28B coincides with the height of the lower end of the fixed partition plate 28A, the processing area in front of and behind the partition plate 28 is partitioned by the fixed partition plate 28A, and the space below that is connected as an opening (passage space).

[0032] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, when the left upper heating nozzle 30 is in its maximum raised position and the right upper heating nozzle 30 is lowered to its maximum lowered position, the processing compartments in front of and behind the partition plate 28 are partitioned by the fixed partition plate 28A and the movable partition plate 28B, which is lowered in conjunction with the lowered right upper heating nozzle 30. The space below the movable partition plate 28B of the upper heating nozzle 30 in its maximum lowered position is connected as an opening (passage space). In this way, by adjusting the height of one or both of the upper heating nozzles 30, one or both of the movable partition plates 28B can be moved relative to the fixed partition plate 28A, and the height of the partition plate 28 (height of the passage space) can be adjusted between the raised position and the lowered position. This allows the height of the opening to be adjusted to match the height of the food ingredients F passing between the two processing compartments, and also suppresses heat transfer between the two compartments.

[0033] Furthermore, Figures 5 and 6 are side views corresponding to Figures 3 and 4, showing a modified configuration of the partition plate 28 of this embodiment.

[0034] In the above embodiment, the partition plate 28 was composed of a fixed partition plate 28A fixed to the upper part 16A of the housing and a movable partition plate 28B provided on the upper heating nozzle 30 and linked to the raising and lowering of the upper heating nozzle 30. However, in the modified example, the partition plate 28 is composed only of a movable partition plate 58 that can be raised and lowered and provided on the upper part 16A of the housing. The other components are the same as in the embodiment and are referred to using the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0035] In the modified version, a movable partition plate 58 is provided in the position where a fixed partition plate 28A is provided in the embodiment, and the movable partition plate 58 is individually raised and lowered by a lifting mechanism 58A such as a linear actuator installed on the top surface of the upper part 16A of the housing. The movable partition plate 58 can be raised and lowered between the maximum raised position and the maximum lowered position by the lifting mechanism 58A, similar to the embodiment, and its height is adjusted to a height that allows the food item F to pass through, for example, according to the height (thickness) of the food item F being conveyed. In the modified version, the height of the movable partition plate 58 can be adjusted between the height of the food item F and the height of the lower surface of the nozzle device body 30A of the upper heating nozzle 30 that is lowered from among the upper heating nozzles 30 adjacent to the movable partition plate 58.

[0036] As described above, according to this embodiment and its modifications, since the partition plate is movable up and down, the height of the opening (passage space) between processing sections can be adjusted, improving environmental control of the processing space and improving heating efficiency in each processing section. This results in improved processing quality and reduced processing time.

[0037] In this embodiment, superheated steam was used as the heated steam, but saturated steam may also be used. Furthermore, the water storage tank 18 may be configured in two stages, upper and lower. Specifically, a steam pan may be provided separately above the water storage tank in which the washing water W is stored, to collect the superheated steam that has been injected from the heating nozzles 30 and 32 and condensed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 10 Heat treatment apparatus 12. Conveyor (transporting means) 16 cabinets 20. Cleaning nozzle (cleaning means) 24 Tank (cleaning means) 26 Circulating cleaning fluid supply pipe (cleaning means, circulation means) 28 Partition plates 28A Fixed partition plate 28B, 58 Movable partition plates 30 Upper heating nozzle (heating means) 32 Lower heating nozzle (heating means) 34. Superheated steam supply device (heating means) 42 Second superheated steam supply pipe (cleaning means, cleaning liquid heating means) 50 Pumps (washing means, circulation means) 56, 58A Lifting mechanism A Washing Area F Foodstuff (processed material) L Cleaning Solution W Cleaning Water

Claims

1. A conveying means for transporting the object to be processed, The object to be processed is provided with a heating means having a heating nozzle for injecting steam, A housing that forms a processing space including the heating means, In a heating apparatus comprising a partition plate that divides the processing space into a plurality of processing sections, The aforementioned partition plate is movable up and down. The height of the passage space between the lower end of the partition plate and the conveying means can be adjusted. A heat treatment apparatus characterized by the following:

2. The heating nozzle is movable up and down relative to the housing. The aforementioned partition plate is A fixed partition plate fixed to the aforementioned housing, The heating nozzle is equipped with a movable partition plate fixed to it, The movable partition plate moves up and down in conjunction with the raising and lowering of the heating nozzle. The movable partition plate is provided adjacent to the fixed partition plate. As the heating nozzle moves up and down, the movable partition plate moves relative to the fixed partition plate. The heat treatment apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partition plate comprises a movable partition plate that is mounted on the housing so as to be able to move up and down, and the height of the corresponding movable partition plate is individually adjusted according to the height of the heating nozzle installed in the processing section.

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