Food freezing system

Abstract

To provide a food freezing system that can reduce the workload on workers. [Solution] A food freezing system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a freezing chamber having a front chamber communicating with the outside through a first opening and a main chamber connected to the front chamber downstream in the transport direction, a heat exchanger for cooling the air inside the freezing chamber, a front chamber transfer section provided in the front chamber for transferring workpieces between the inside and outside of the freezing chamber through the first opening, and a transport unit having a transport section extending in the transport direction within the main chamber for transferring workpieces to and from the front chamber transfer section and transporting workpieces in the transport direction within the main chamber. The front chamber transfer section and the transport section can each operate independently.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a food freezing system.

Background Art

[0002] In a system for storing goods in a frozen state, a configuration in which a forklift is used to carry goods in and out of a freezer is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the prior art, the forklift moves in and out of the freezer. Therefore, the operator who operates the forklift needs to be careful when operating to prevent the forklift from slipping on the floor of the freezer. Also, the operator who operates the forklift moves in and out of the freezer together with the forklift. Therefore, the temperature difference between inside and outside the freezer places a burden on the operator. Thus, in the prior art, there is still room for improvement in reducing the workload on the operator when carrying in and out goods.

[0005] The present invention provides a food freezing system capable of reducing the workload on the operator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following aspects. A food freezing system according to one aspect of the present invention is a food freezing system in which food is stacked vertically as a workpiece and the workpiece is loaded and unloaded, comprising: a freezing chamber having a front chamber that communicates with the outside through a first opening, and a main chamber connected downstream of the front chamber in the transport direction; a heat exchanger for cooling the air inside the freezing chamber; a front chamber transfer section provided in the front chamber for transferring the workpiece between the inside and outside of the freezing chamber through the first opening, and a transport unit having a transport section that extends in the transport direction within the main chamber for transferring the workpiece to and from the front chamber transfer section, and transporting the workpiece in the transport direction within the main chamber, wherein the front chamber transfer section and the transport section can each operate independently.

[0007] According to this embodiment, since a transport unit is provided across the anteroom and the main chamber, unlike conventional methods where a forklift is used to move within the freezer, the workload on the worker due to forklift slippage and temperature differences between the inside and outside of the freezer can be reduced. As a result, work efficiency can be improved while storing the workpiece at the desired temperature. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the front chamber transfer unit and the transport unit operate independently, when transferring workpieces between the front chamber transfer unit and the transport unit, the workpieces can be transferred with a desired position in the transport direction of the transport unit facing the front chamber transfer unit. This makes it easier to adjust the arrangement pitch of workpieces in the transport direction of the transport unit to a desired pitch compared to when the front chamber transfer unit and the transport unit operate synchronously. Also, for example, by increasing the transport speed of the front chamber transfer unit when loading workpieces from outside the freezer to the front chamber transfer unit compared to the transport speed of the front chamber transfer unit when transferring workpieces between the front chamber transfer unit and the transport unit, workpieces to be transferred from outside the freezer to the front chamber transfer unit can be quickly loaded. This makes it easier to control the temperature of the workpieces and the inside of the freezer. In this case, frost formation inside the freezer can be suppressed and the defrost interval inside the freezer can be extended, enabling long-term continuous operation and power saving.

[0008] In the food freezing system according to the above embodiment, it is preferable that an upstream shielding section is provided between the pre-chamber and the main chamber within the freezing chamber. According to this embodiment, since an upstream shielding section is provided between the main chamber and the anteroom, the exchange of air between the inside and outside of the freezer can be suppressed compared to the case where the main chamber is directly connected to the outside of the freezer. This makes it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere inside the freezer. In this case, frost formation inside the freezer can be suppressed and the defrosting interval inside the freezer can be extended, making long-term continuous operation and energy saving possible.

[0009] In the food freezing system according to the above embodiment, it is preferable that the first opening is an input opening for loading the workpiece into the freezing chamber, and that the freezing chamber is provided with a second opening separately from the first opening, which functions as an output opening for unloading the workpiece from inside the freezing chamber. According to this embodiment, loading and unloading of workpieces into and out of the freezer is performed through separate openings, making it easier to manage loading and unloading.

[0010] In the food freezing system according to the above embodiment, it is preferable that the freezer includes an entrance door for opening and closing the first opening and an exit door for opening and closing the second opening. According to this embodiment, the exchange of air between the inside and outside of the freezer can be suppressed, making it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere inside the freezer. In addition, the entry of moisture from the outside to the inside of the freezer can be suppressed, and frost formation on the transport section can be suppressed.

[0011] In the food freezing system according to the above embodiment, it is preferable that the freezer includes a rear chamber provided between the main chamber and the second opening via a downstream shielding portion. According to this embodiment, a rear chamber is provided between the main chamber and the second opening via a downstream shielding section, which reduces the exchange of air between the inside and outside of the freezer compared to the case where the main chamber directly communicates with the outside of the freezer. This makes it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere inside the freezer.

[0012] In the food freezing system according to the above embodiment, the transport unit preferably includes a rear chamber transfer section that transfers the workpiece between the rear chamber and the main chamber, and also transfers the workpiece inside and outside the freezer through the second opening, and the rear chamber transfer section and the transport section are each capable of operating independently. According to this embodiment, since the rear chamber transfer unit and the transport unit operate independently, when transferring workpieces between the rear chamber transfer unit and the transport unit, the workpieces can be transferred with a desired position in the transport direction of the transport unit facing the rear chamber transfer unit. This makes it easier to adjust the arrangement pitch of workpieces in the transport direction of the transport unit to a desired pitch compared to when the rear chamber transfer unit and the transport unit operate synchronously. Furthermore, for example, by increasing the transport speed of the rear chamber transfer unit when transporting workpieces from the rear chamber transfer unit to the outside of the freezer compared to the transport speed of the rear chamber transfer unit when transferring workpieces between the transport unit and the rear chamber transfer unit, workpieces can be quickly transported to the outside of the freezer. This makes it easier to control the temperature of the workpieces and the inside of the freezer. In this case, frost formation inside the freezer can be suppressed and the defrost interval inside the freezer can be extended, enabling long-term continuous operation and power saving.

[0013] In the food freezing system according to the above embodiment, it is preferable that the transport section is arranged in multiple rows in an intersecting direction that intersects the transport direction. According to this embodiment, since workpieces can be transported by each transport unit, for example, compared to the case where the transport units are in a single row, it is possible to increase the capacity of the freezer while suppressing an increase in size in the transport direction.

[0014] In the food freezing system according to the above embodiment, it is preferable that the rear chamber transfer section is provided in multiple rows in the intersecting direction corresponding to the multiple rows of the transport section. According to this embodiment, since a rear-chamber transfer section is provided corresponding to each transport section, the loading and unloading of workpieces loaded in each transport section can be managed for each row. This makes it easier to manage the temperature and inventory of workpieces.

[0015] In the food freezing system according to the above aspect, it is preferable that the front chamber transfer section is provided in a plurality of rows in the crossing direction corresponding to the plurality of rows of the transfer sections. According to this aspect, since the front chamber transfer section is provided corresponding to each transfer section, for the work mounted on each transfer section, the management of loading and unloading can be performed for each row. Thereby, it becomes easier to perform temperature management and inventory management of the work.

[0016] In the food freezing system according to the above aspect, in the freezing chamber, it is preferable that a fan for flowing the air in the freezing chamber in the crossing direction is provided on one side of the transfer section in the crossing direction. According to this aspect, the work mounted on each row of transfer sections can be effectively cooled.

[0017] In the food freezing system according to the above aspect, it is preferable that the plurality of rows of the transfer sections are provided so that a gap is generated between the works in the crossing direction. According to this aspect, air can be circulated between the transfer sections, and the work mounted on each row of transfer sections can be effectively cooled.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to each of the above aspects, the work load on the operator can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a plan sectional view of the food freezing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a side sectional view of the food freezing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of the container according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a front view of the food freezing system according to the embodiment as viewed from the +X side. [Figure 5]This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the food freezing system, corresponding to Figure 2. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the loading process for the first row, and is a plan view cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 1. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the loading process for the second row, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 1. [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the loading process for the third row, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 1. [Figure 9] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the pre-room transfer process, and is a side cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 2. [Figure 10] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cycle feeding operation, and is a side cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 2. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cycle feeding operation, and is a side cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 2. [Figure 12] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the rear chamber transfer process, and is a side cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 2. [Figure 13] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the food freezing system, corresponding to Figure 2. [Figure 14] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of unloading the first row of food, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 1. [Figure 15] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of unloading the second row, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 1. [Figure 16] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of unloading the third row, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system corresponding to Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments and modifications described below, corresponding components may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions omitted. In the following description, expressions indicating relative or absolute arrangements such as "parallel," "orthogonal," "center," and "coaxial" will not only strictly represent such arrangements, but will also represent states in which the surfaces are relatively displaced by an angle or distance that allows for tolerances or the same function to be obtained. Furthermore, in this embodiment, "facing each other" is not limited to cases where the orthogonal directions (normal directions) of the two surfaces coincide with each other, but also includes cases where the orthogonal directions intersect.

[0021] [Food Freezing System 1] Figure 1 is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1. Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1. The food freezing system 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a system that automatically handles the loading and unloading of workpieces W and the storage of workpieces W at a predetermined temperature. The food freezing system 1 is installed in the food storage area 2 located between the food processing area and the shipping area within the factory.

[0022] <Container 3> Figure 3 is a perspective view of container 3. As shown in Figure 3, the workpiece W consists of containers 3 stacked vertically. Container 3 is, for example, a mesh-like transport box. Bagged food F is stored in multiple rows and multiple layers (for example, 2 rows and 4 layers) within each container 3. Food F is meat such as chicken. After being processed in the food processing area, food F is transported to the food storage area 2 (food freezing system 1). In this embodiment, "predetermined processing" includes processing steps for the food itself and packaging steps for wrapping the processed food in bags or pouches. Hereafter, packaged food F will simply be referred to as food F. However, packaging is not an essential component for food F stored in the food freezing system 1.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the food freezing system 1 comprises a storage unit 11, an upstream station 12, a downstream station 13, and a control unit 100. In this embodiment, a configuration in which one storage unit 11, one upstream station 12, and one downstream station 13 are provided is described, but the system is not limited to this configuration. Multiple storage units 11, upstream stations 12, and downstream stations 13 may be provided in parallel. In the following, the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 1 is defined as the up and down direction, and the two directions orthogonal to the up and down direction are defined as the X direction and the Y direction. In this case, the transport direction of the workpiece W is the X direction.

[0024] <Storage section 11> The storage section 11 is the part that stores the workpiece W in a frozen state at a predetermined temperature. When the workpiece W is stored in at least a part of the storage section 11 (storage state), the internal temperature of the storage section 11 is maintained at, for example, about -35°C. The storage section 11 is a so-called one-way freezer through which the workpiece W can pass in one direction, from the +X side to the -X side. The storage section 11 comprises a freezer 21, a transport mechanism 22, and a refrigeration device 23 (see Figure 2).

[0025] The freezer 21 comprises a freezer body 25, an entrance door 26, and an exit door 27. The freezer body 25 forms the storage space for the workpiece W. The freezer body 25 comprises a housing 31, an upstream shielding section 32, and a downstream shielding section 33.

[0026] The housing 31 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with the X direction as its longitudinal direction in a plan view. An inlet opening 31a is formed in the side wall on the +X side of the housing 31, which connects the inside and outside of the freezer body 25. An outlet opening 31b is formed in the side wall on the -X side of the housing 31, which connects the inside and outside of the freezer body 25. The workpiece W is loaded into the freezer body 25 through the inlet opening 31a and unloaded from the freezer body 25 through the outlet opening 31b.

[0027] The upstream shielding section 32 divides the housing 31 into a front chamber 41 and a main chamber 42. In this embodiment, the upstream shielding section 32 protrudes inward in the Y direction from the side walls on both sides in the Y direction of the housing 31. The gaps between each upstream shielding section 32 constitute an upstream communication opening 31c that constantly connects the front chamber 41 and the main chamber 42. That is, the opening area of ​​the upstream communication opening 31c (cross-sectional area perpendicular to the transport direction (X direction)) is smaller than the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the X direction of the front chamber 41 and the main chamber 42, respectively (cross-sectional area perpendicular to the transport direction).

[0028] The downstream shielding section 33 divides the housing 31 into a main chamber 42 and a rear chamber 43. In this embodiment, the downstream shielding section 33 protrudes inward in the Y direction from the side walls on both sides in the Y direction of the housing 31. The gaps between each downstream shielding section 33 constitute a downstream communication opening 31d that constantly connects the main chamber 42 and the rear chamber 43. That is, the opening area of ​​the downstream communication opening 31d (cross-sectional area perpendicular to the transport direction (X direction)) is smaller than the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the X direction of each of the main chamber 42 and the rear chamber 43 (cross-sectional area perpendicular to the transport direction). Note that each shielding section 32, 33 only needs to be able to obstruct at least a portion of the airflow between the front chamber 41 and the main chamber 42, and between the rear chamber 43 and the main chamber 42. In this case, the shielding portion 32, 33 of this embodiment may be configured to shield at least a part of the space between the front chamber 41 and the main chamber 42, and between the rear chamber 43 and the main chamber 42, and may be composed of doors or the like that open and close the corresponding communication openings 31c, 31d.

[0029] The length of the main chamber 42 in the X direction is longer than the lengths of the front chamber 41 and the rear chamber 43 in the X direction. In this embodiment, the main chamber 42 is set to a length that allows multiple (for example, 16) workpieces W to be placed in the X direction with a certain gap S between them. On the other hand, the front chamber 41 and the rear chamber 43 are set to a length that allows one workpiece W to be placed in the X direction. However, the lengths of the main chamber 42, the front chamber 41 and the rear chamber 43 in the X direction can be changed as appropriate.

[0030] Figure 4 is a front view of the food freezing system 1 as seen from the +X side. Figure 4 shows that the loading door 26 opens and closes the loading opening 31a. The loading door 26 is, for example, a double door. That is, the loading door 26 has a pair of sliding doors 26a and 26b. Each sliding door 26a is configured to slide toward or toward each other in the Y direction with respect to the center in the Y direction of the loading opening 31a. In this embodiment, the loading door 26 has separate drive sources for each sliding door 26a and 26b. That is, in the loading door 26, each sliding door 26a and 26b is configured to slide independently of each other by the driving force of the corresponding drive source. However, each sliding door 26a may slide synchronously with respect to each other by a single drive source.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the exit door 27 opens and closes the loading opening 31b. The exit door 27, like the loading door 26, is a double door equipped with a pair of sliding doors 27a and 27b. Each sliding door 27a and 27b is configured to slide toward or toward each other in the Y direction relative to the center in the Y direction of the loading opening 31b. In the exit door 27, each sliding door 27a and 27b is configured to slide independently of each other by the driving force of the corresponding drive source. However, each sliding door 27a and 27b may slide synchronously with respect to a single drive source. In addition, the opening and closing methods of the loading door 26 and the exit door 27 can be changed as appropriate.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the transport mechanism 22 stores and transports the workpieces W within the freezer 21. The transport mechanism 22 extends along the entire length in the X direction within the freezer body 25. The transport mechanism 22 comprises multiple rows (for example, three rows) of transport units 50. The transport units 50 are arranged in the Y direction, extending parallel to each other in the X direction. The total dimension in the Y direction of each transport unit 50 is smaller than the Y-direction dimensions of the respective loading openings 31a and unloading openings 31b. Therefore, the entirety of each transport unit 50 overlaps the loading openings 31a and unloading openings 31b in a front view.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, if we define the multiple rows of transport units 50 as the first, second, and third rows from the +Y side to the -Y side, the center in the Y direction of the second row of transport units 50 coincides with the center in the Y direction of the loading opening 31a. That is, of the sliding doors 26a, 26b, 27a, and 27b that make up the loading door 26 and the loading door 27, the sliding doors 26a and 27a located on the +Y side overlap with the entirety of the first row of transport units 50 and half of the second row of transport units 50 in a front view. Of the sliding doors 26a, 26b, 27a, and 27b that make up the loading door 26 and the loading door 27, the sliding doors 26b and 27b located on the -Y side overlap with the remaining half of the second row of transport units 50 and the entirety of the third row of transport units 50 in a front view. Note that each row of transport units 50 has the same configuration. In the following section, we will explain the details of the transport unit 50, using one transport unit 50 as an example.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the transport unit 50 includes a front chamber conveyor 51, a main chamber conveyor 52, and a rear chamber conveyor 53. Each conveyor 51 to 53 is, for example, a belt type and transports the workpiece W to the -X side (downstream side) by driving force from a drive source such as a motor. In this embodiment, one row of workpieces W can be transported by one row of conveyors. In this case, the workpieces W are mounted with a gap between them in the Y direction between adjacent transport units 50. The conveyors 51 to 53 may also be roller type or suspension type, etc. Furthermore, multiple rows of workpieces W may be transported in the Y direction by one row of conveyors 51 to 53.

[0035] The front chamber conveyor 51 is installed inside the front chamber 41. The front chamber conveyor 51 transfers workpieces W to the upstream station 12 through the loading opening 31a. The front chamber conveyor 51 is set to a length that allows at least one workpiece W to be loaded in the X direction. The front chamber conveyor 51 faces the upstream station 12 in the X direction through the loading opening 31a. The front chamber conveyor 51 can travel independently of the main chamber conveyor 52 and the rear chamber conveyor 53 by the driving force of the drive source.

[0036] The main chamber conveyor 52 is installed inside the main chamber 42. The main chamber conveyor 52 transfers workpieces W to the front chamber conveyor 51 through the upstream communication port 31c. The main chamber conveyor 52 faces the corresponding front chamber conveyor 51 in the X direction through the upstream communication port 31c.

[0037] The main chamber conveyor 52 extends along the entire length in the X direction within the main chamber 42. Multiple workpieces W can be mounted on the main chamber conveyor 52 at a predetermined arrangement pitch with gaps S in the X direction. Each workpiece W can move within the main chamber 42 from the +X side end to the -X side end as the main chamber conveyor 52 moves. In this embodiment, the main chamber conveyor 52 is composed of multiple (for example, four) conveyor blocks 54a to 54d arranged in the X direction. Adjacent conveyor blocks 54a to 54d in the X direction can transfer workpieces W from the conveyor block 54a to 54d located on the +X side (upstream side) to the conveyor block 54b to 54d located on the -X side (downstream side). In this embodiment, each conveyor block 54a to 54d can move independently of each other by the driving force of a drive source separately connected to each conveyor block 54a to 54d. In other words, the main chamber conveyor 52 can travel independently of the front chamber conveyor 51.

[0038] Each conveyor block 54a to 54d can accommodate four workpieces W with gaps S between them. Therefore, a single row of main chamber conveyor 52 can accommodate 16 workpieces W in the X direction. The gap S between adjacent workpieces W is preferably set to, for example, 150 mm or more and 300 mm or less. The main chamber conveyor 52 may also be composed of a single conveyor block extending over the entire length of the main chamber 42.

[0039] The rear chamber conveyor 53 is installed inside the rear chamber 43. The rear chamber conveyor 53 transfers workpieces W to the main chamber conveyor 52 through the downstream communication port 31d. The rear chamber conveyor 53 is set to a length that allows at least one workpiece W to be mounted in the X direction. The rear chamber conveyor 53 faces the corresponding main chamber conveyor 52 in the X direction through the downstream communication port 31d. The rear chamber conveyor 53 can travel independently of the front chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52 by the driving force of the drive source.

[0040] Thus, in a single conveying unit 50, the front chamber conveyor 51, the main chamber conveyor 52 (each conveyor block 54a to 54d), and the rear chamber conveyor 53 can operate independently of each other. That is, the front chamber conveyor 51, the main chamber conveyor 52, and the rear chamber conveyor 53 can each be adjusted for their conveying speed (travel speed) and switched between a traveling state and a stopped state. Furthermore, each conveying unit 50 can also operate independently of the others.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the refrigeration device 23 is, for example, a CO2 refrigerator, which cools the inside of the freezer 21. The refrigeration device 23 cools the inside of the freezer 21 by exchanging heat between the air inside the freezer 21 and an evaporator 55 installed inside the freezer 21. The evaporator 55 is installed in the main chamber 42 via a frame 56. Specifically, the evaporator 55 is located above the main chamber conveyor 52, in a position that overlaps with one of the rows of the main chamber conveyor 52 in a plan view. In this case, the evaporator 55 is positioned on the opposite side of the main chamber conveyor 52 in the vertical direction, with the workpiece W in between.

[0042] Multiple evaporators 55 are installed at intervals in the X direction (for example, three units). Air can pass through each evaporator 55 from the -Y side to the +Y side. The layout and number of evaporators 55 can be changed as needed.

[0043] The refrigeration unit 23 is equipped with a fan 57 that circulates air within the freezer chamber 21. The fan 57 is installed in the main chamber 42 via a frame 56. Specifically, the evaporator 55 is located between the main chamber conveyor 52 and the evaporator 55 in the vertical direction, and is installed on the -Y side with respect to the third row of the main chamber conveyor 52. In this case, the fan 57 is installed at a height that overlaps with the workpiece W in a side view. The fan 57 flows air from the +Y side to the -Y side above the main chamber conveyor 52.

[0044] As shown in Figure 2, the fans 57 are arranged in pairs of two, upper and lower tiers, with multiple pairs spaced apart in the X direction. In the illustrated example, two pairs of fans 57 are provided for each conveyor block 54a to 54d. In this case, at least a portion of the fans 57 are arranged so as to overlap with the height range of the workpiece W in a side view. However, the layout and number of fans 57 can be changed as appropriate.

[0045] <Upstream Station 12> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upstream station 12 is the part that handles the transfer of workpieces W between the outside of the freezer 21 and the inside of the freezer 21 (antechamber 41). The upstream station 12 faces the loading opening 31a in the X direction. Workpieces W may be supplied to the upstream station 12 using a forklift or the like, or workpieces W may be supplied from the upstream side by a conveyor or the like.

[0046] The upstream station 12 is equipped with an upstream conveyor 61. The upstream conveyor 61 is arranged in multiple rows in the Y direction, corresponding to the front chamber conveyor 51. Each upstream conveyor 61 faces its corresponding front chamber conveyor 51 individually through the loading opening 31a. That is, each upstream conveyor 61 can be designated as the first row, second row, third row, etc., sequentially from the +Y side to the -Y side. Each upstream conveyor 61 can move independently of each other by the driving force of the drive source.

[0047] <Downstream Station 13> The downstream station 13 is the part where workpieces W are transferred between the inside (rear chamber 43) of the freezer 21 and the outside of the freezer 21. The downstream station 13 faces the unloading opening 31b in the X direction. Workpieces W may be removed from the downstream station 13 using a forklift or the like, or the workpieces W may be transported downstream separately by a conveyor or the like.

[0048] The downstream station 13 is equipped with a downstream conveyor 62. The downstream conveyor 62 is arranged in multiple rows in the Y direction, corresponding to the rear chamber conveyor 53. Each downstream conveyor 62 faces its corresponding rear chamber conveyor 53 individually through the discharge opening 31b. That is, each downstream conveyor 62 can be designated as the first row, second row, third row, etc., sequentially from the +Y side to the -Y side. Each downstream conveyor 62 can move independently of each other by the driving force of the drive source.

[0049] <Control Unit 100> The control unit 100 comprehensively controls the food freezing system 1. The control unit 100 is realized by a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a computer program (software) stored in a memory unit. In this embodiment, the control unit 100 controls the operation of each conveyor and conveyor block in the storage unit 11 and each station 12, 13, as well as the opening and closing of doors 26, 27, according to the transport status of the workpiece W.

[0050] The transport status of the workpiece W is determined based on the detection results from passage confirmation sensors and arrival confirmation sensors installed on each conveyor and each conveyor block. The passage confirmation sensor is a sensor used to determine the start of operation of the downstream conveyor or conveyor block when a workpiece W is transferred between adjacent conveyors (or conveyor blocks). When the passage confirmation sensor detects the passage of the workpiece W, the control unit 100 starts the operation of the downstream conveyor or conveyor block. The arrival confirmation sensor is a sensor used to determine when an adjacent conveyor (or conveyor block) has finished operating when a workpiece W is being transferred between adjacent conveyors (or conveyor blocks). When the arrival sensor detects the presence of a workpiece W, the control unit 100 terminates (stops) the operation of the adjacent conveyor (or conveyor block).

[0051] [How to operate Food Freezing System 1] Next, the operation method of the food freezing system 1 described above will be explained. The following explanation will describe the loading operation, main chamber transfer operation, cycle transfer operation, rear chamber transfer operation, and unloading operation in order.

[0052] <Loading and unloading work> During the loading operation, the workpieces W supplied to the upstream station 12 are loaded one by one into the freezer 21. In the loading operation, the workpieces are transported to multiple rows of transport units 50 in order until each row is full. The following describes the case where all transport units 50 in the freezer 21 are empty and the workpieces W are loaded sequentially starting from the first row of transport units 50.

[0053] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the loading process, and is a side cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 5, during the loading operation, workpieces W are supplied to the upstream station 12 at predetermined cycle-up times (for example, 169 seconds). During the loading operation, workpieces W are first supplied to the first row of the upstream conveyor 61 of the upstream station 12. The control unit 100 outputs an open operation signal to the loading entrance door 26 when workpieces W are present on the first row of the upstream conveyor 61 (standby state) and there are no workpieces W on the first row of the front chamber conveyor 51 (front chamber empty state).

[0054] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the loading process for the first row, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 1. Here, as shown in Figure 6, the loading door 26 operates to partially open the area of ​​the loading opening 31a that overlaps with the transport unit 50 to be transported when viewed from the front. Specifically, when transferring workpieces W from the first row upstream conveyor 61 to the first row front chamber conveyor 51, only the sliding door 26a on the +Y side of the pair of sliding doors 26a and 26b is opened (for example, fully opened). As a result, the inside and outside of the freezer 21 are connected only through the portion of the loading opening 31a located on the +Y side with respect to the center in the Y direction (first row open state). That is, the first row upstream conveyor 61 and the first row front chamber conveyor 51 face each other in the X direction through the open portion of the loading opening 31a.

[0055] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, with the first row open, the control unit 100 operates the first row upstream conveyor 61. This causes the workpiece W loaded on the first row upstream conveyor 61 to be transported downstream (to the -X side). This initiates the loading of the workpiece W into the freezer 21 through the loading opening 31a. When the passage confirmation sensor detects the passage of the workpiece W, the control unit 100 operates the first row front chamber conveyor 51. This transfers the workpiece W from the first row upstream conveyor 61 to the front chamber conveyor 51, and it is then transported to the -X side along the front chamber conveyor 51. When the arrival confirmation sensor detects that the workpiece W has been loaded onto the first row front chamber conveyor 51, the control unit 100 stops both the first row upstream conveyor 61 and the first row front chamber conveyor 51. Subsequently, the control unit 100 closes the sliding door 26a. As a result, the loading opening 31a is closed, and communication between the inside and outside of the freezer 21 through the loading opening 31a is blocked.

[0056] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the loading process for the second row, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 1. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, when transferring workpieces W between the second row upstream conveyor 61 and the second row front chamber conveyor 51, the loading door 26 is operated so that the area of ​​the loading opening 31a that overlaps with the second row upstream conveyor 61 and the second row front chamber conveyor 51 in a front view is partially opened. Specifically, both of the pair of sliding doors 26a and 26b are opened. In this case, the amount of sliding of the sliding doors 26a and 26b is set to about half the amount of sliding in the first row open state (for example, half-open operation). Then, the inside and outside of the freezer 21 are connected only through a predetermined range of the loading opening 31a that includes the center in the Y direction (second row open state). That is, the second row upstream conveyor 61 and the second row front chamber conveyor 51 face each other in the X direction through the open portion of the loading opening 31a.

[0057] When the second row is open, the workpiece W loaded on the upstream conveyor 61 of the second row is transferred to the front chamber conveyor 51 of the second row by the same operation as the first row. When the arrival confirmation sensor detects that the workpiece W has been loaded onto the front chamber conveyor 51 of the second row, the control unit 100 stops both the upstream conveyor 61 of the second row and the front chamber conveyor 51 of the second row. Subsequently, the control unit 100 closes both the sliding doors 26a and 26b. This closes the loading opening 31a, blocking communication between the inside and outside of the freezer 21 through the loading opening 31a.

[0058] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the loading operation for the third row, and is a plan view cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 1. As shown in Figures 5 and 8, when transferring workpieces W between the third row upstream conveyor 61 and the third row front chamber conveyor 51, the loading door 26 is operated so that the area of ​​the loading opening 31a that overlaps with the third row upstream conveyor 61 and the third row front chamber conveyor 51 in a front view is partially opened. Specifically, of the pair of sliding doors 26a and 26b, only the sliding door 26b on the -Y side is opened (fully opened). As a result, the inside and outside of the freezer 21 are connected only through the portion of the loading opening 31a located on the -Y side with respect to the center in the Y direction (third row open state). That is, the third row upstream conveyor 61 and the third row front chamber conveyor 51 face each other in the X direction through the open portion of the loading opening 31a.

[0059] With the third row open, the workpieces W loaded onto the upstream conveyor 61 of the third row are transferred to the front chamber conveyor 51 of the third row by the same operation as the first and second rows. When the arrival confirmation sensor detects that the workpieces W have been loaded onto the front chamber conveyor 51 of the third row, the control unit 100 stops the upstream conveyor 61 of the third row and the front chamber conveyor 51 of the third row. Subsequently, the control unit 100 closes the sliding door 26b. This closes the loading opening 31a, blocking communication between the inside and outside of the freezer 21 through the loading opening 31a.

[0060] Furthermore, it is preferable to set the transport speed V1 of the front chamber conveyor 51 (and the upstream conveyor 61) during the loading operation to be faster than the transport speed V2 of the front chamber conveyor 51 during the front chamber handover operation (V1 > V2). This allows the workpiece W to be quickly loaded into the freezer 21, thereby reducing the time the loading opening 31a is open.

[0061] <Anteroom handover procedure> Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the pre-cabinet transfer process, and is a side cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 9, the front chamber transfer operation is the process of transferring the workpiece W loaded on the front chamber conveyor 51 to the main chamber conveyor 52. In the following explanation, the front chamber transfer operation will be described using the first row of transport units 50 as an example. The front chamber transfer operation is performed at predetermined cycle-up times when workpiece W is loaded on the front chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52 is not completely full of workpiece W. In the illustrated example, workpiece W is loaded only on the conveyor block 54a located furthest upstream of the main chamber conveyor 52.

[0062] In the pre-chamber transfer operation, the pre-chamber conveyor 51 is first operated to begin transporting the workpiece W. After the transport of the workpiece W begins, the control unit 100 operates the conveyor block 54a when the passage confirmation sensor detects the passage of the workpiece W. In other words, in this embodiment, since the pre-chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52 operate independently, for example, the main chamber conveyor 52 will start operating after a predetermined time has elapsed since the pre-chamber conveyor 51 started operating. Therefore, the transfer point of the workpiece W from the pre-chamber conveyor 51 on the main chamber conveyor 52 can be set without depending on the amount of travel of the pre-chamber conveyor 51. That is, the transfer of the workpiece W can be performed with a desired position on the main chamber conveyor 52 in the transport direction facing the pre-chamber conveyor 51.

[0063] The workpiece W being transported on the front chamber conveyor 51 is transferred from the front chamber conveyor 51 to the conveyor block 54a through the upstream communication port 31c, and is then transported to the -X side on the conveyor block 54a. When the arrival confirmation sensor detects that the workpiece W has been placed on the conveyor block 54a, the control unit 100 stops the conveyor block 54a. As a result, the workpiece W enters the main chamber 42.

[0064] <Cycle feeding operation> Figures 10 and 11 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the cycle feeding operation, and are side cross-sectional views of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 10, the cycle feeding operation is the transport operation of workpieces W within the main chamber 42. When the main chamber conveyor 52 is not full of workpieces W, the cycle feeding operation is performed by moving the corresponding conveyor blocks 54a to 54d at predetermined intervals. In the following description, the cycle feeding operation will be described as the transport of workpieces W on only one conveyor block 54a (block-only operation) and the transport of workpieces W from conveyor block 54a to conveyor block 54b (block-linked operation).

[0065] The block-only operation shown in Figure 10 is the operation of the transport unit 50 when there is no transfer of workpieces W between adjacent conveyor blocks (conveyor block 54a and conveyor block 54b). In other words, if at least the downstream end of conveyor block 54a is not loaded with workpieces W, the block-only operation is performed. In block-only operation, only conveyor block 54a is moved by a predetermined pitch. As a result, the workpieces W loaded on conveyor block 54a are transported by the predetermined pitch. The amount traveled (pitch) of conveyor blocks 54a to 54b per cycle-up time can be set, for example, by dividing the length of conveyor blocks 54a to 54d by the amount of workpieces W loaded on each conveyor block 54a to 54d.

[0066] The block linkage operation shown in Figure 11 is the operation of the transport unit 50 when it is necessary to transfer workpieces W between adjacent conveyor blocks 54 (conveyor block 54a and conveyor block 54b). Specifically, the block linkage operation is performed when at least the downstream end of conveyor block 54a is loaded with workpieces W. In the block linkage operation, first conveyor block 54a is operated to start transporting workpieces W. After the transport of workpieces W has started, when the passage confirmation sensor detects the passage of workpieces W, the control unit 100 operates the conveyor block 54b located on the downstream side. As a result, workpieces W are transferred from conveyor block 54a to conveyor block 54b and transported to the -X side on conveyor block 54b. Then, when the arrival confirmation sensor detects that workpieces W have been loaded onto conveyor block 54b, the control unit 100 stops conveyor block 54b. As a result, workpieces W are transferred from conveyor block 54a to conveyor block 54b.

[0067] <Rear compartment handover procedure> Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the post-compartment handover process, and is a side cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 12, the rear chamber transfer operation is the operation equivalent to preparing the workpiece W for removal after the freezing time has elapsed, and involves transferring the workpiece W loaded on the main chamber conveyor 52 (conveyor block 54d) to the rear chamber conveyor 53. In the following explanation, the rear chamber transfer operation will be described using the case where the workpiece W is transported to the rear chamber 43 in the first row of transport unit 50 as an example. The rear chamber transfer operation is performed at predetermined cycle-up times when there is workpiece W at least at the downstream end of the main chamber conveyor 52 (conveyor block 54d). In the illustrated example, the main chamber conveyor 52 is fully loaded with workpiece W. Therefore, on the main chamber conveyor 52, the workpiece W is transported sequentially to the downstream conveyor blocks 54b to 54d by the block linkage operation described above.

[0068] In the rear chamber transfer operation, the conveyor block 54d of the main chamber conveyor 52 is operated to start transporting the workpiece W. After the transport of the workpiece W has started, when the passage confirmation sensor detects the passage of the workpiece W, the control unit 100 operates the rear chamber conveyor 53. As a result, the workpiece W is transferred from the conveyor block 54d to the rear chamber conveyor 53 through the downstream communication port 31d and transported to the -X side on the rear chamber conveyor 53. When the arrival confirmation sensor detects that the workpiece W has been loaded onto the rear chamber conveyor 53, the control unit 100 stops the conveyor block 54d. This completes the loading of the workpiece W onto the rear chamber conveyor 53.

[0069] <Removal work> Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the unloading process, and is a side cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 2. The unloading operation involves unloading the workpieces W from the rear chamber 43 one by one to the outside of the freezer 21. During the unloading operation, the multiple rows of transport units 50 are transported so that each row is emptied in sequence. Specifically, the control unit 100 outputs an open operation signal to the unloading door 27 when there are workpieces W on the rear chamber conveyor 53 (standby state) and there are no workpieces W on the downstream conveyor 62 (rear chamber empty state). The following describes the case in which workpieces W are sequentially loaded starting from the first row of transport units 50.

[0070] Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of unloading the first row, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 1. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the discharge door 27 operates to partially open the area of ​​the discharge opening 31b that overlaps with the transport unit 50 being transported in a front view. Specifically, when transferring workpieces W from the first row rear chamber conveyor 53 to the first row downstream conveyor 62, only the sliding door 27a on the +Y side of the pair of sliding doors 27a, 27b is opened (for example, fully opened). As a result, the inside and outside of the freezer 21 are connected only through the portion of the discharge opening 31b located on the +Y side with respect to the center in the Y direction (first row open state). That is, the first row rear chamber conveyor 53 and the first row downstream conveyor 62 face each other in the X direction through the open portion of the discharge opening 31b.

[0071] With the first row open, the control unit 100 operates the first row rear chamber conveyor 53. This causes the workpiece W loaded on the first row rear chamber conveyor 53 to be transported downstream (to the -X side). This initiates the transport of the workpiece W to the outside of the freezer 21 through the transport opening 31b. When the passage confirmation sensor detects the passage of the workpiece W, the control unit 100 operates the first row downstream conveyor 62. This transfers the workpiece W from the first row rear chamber conveyor 53 to the downstream conveyor 62, and it is then transported downstream (to the -X side) along the downstream conveyor 62. When the arrival confirmation sensor detects that the workpiece W has been loaded onto the first row downstream conveyor 62, the control unit 100 stops both the first row rear chamber conveyor 53 and the downstream conveyor 62. After that, the control unit 100 closes the sliding door 27a.

[0072] Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the second row unloading operation, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 1. As shown in Figures 13 and 15, when transferring workpieces W between the second rear chamber conveyor 53 and the second downstream conveyor 62, the outlet door 27 is operated so that the area of ​​the outlet opening 31b that overlaps with the second rear chamber conveyor 53 and the second downstream conveyor 62 in a front view is partially opened. Specifically, both of the pair of sliding doors 27a and 27b are opened (for example, half-open). Then, the inside and outside of the freezer 21 are connected only through a predetermined range of the outlet opening 31b that includes the center in the Y direction (second row open state). That is, the second rear chamber conveyor 53 and the downstream conveyor 62 face each other in the X direction through the open portion of the outlet opening 31b.

[0073] With the second row open, the workpieces W loaded onto the rear conveyor 53 of the second row are transferred to the downstream conveyor 62 of the second row by the same operation as the first row. Subsequently, the control unit 100 closes both the sliding doors 27a and 27b.

[0074] Figure 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of unloading the third row, and is a plan cross-sectional view of the food freezing system 1 corresponding to Figure 1. As shown in Figures 13 and 16, when transferring workpieces W between the third rear chamber conveyor 53 and the third downstream conveyor 62, the outlet door 27 is operated so that the area of ​​the outlet opening 31b that overlaps with the third rear chamber conveyor 53 and the third downstream conveyor 62 in a front view is partially opened. Specifically, of the pair of sliding doors 27a and 27b, only the sliding door 27b on the -Y side is opened (for example, fully opened). As a result, the inside and outside of the freezer 21 are connected only through the portion of the outlet opening 31b located on the -Y side with respect to the center in the Y direction (third row open state).

[0075] With the third row open, the workpiece W loaded onto the rear conveyor 53 of the third row is transferred to the downstream conveyor 62 of the second row by the same operation as the first row. After that, the control unit 100 closes both sliding doors 27b.

[0076] Furthermore, it is preferable to set the transport speed V3 of the rear chamber conveyor 53 (and the downstream conveyor 62) during the unloading operation to be faster than the transport speed V4 of the rear chamber conveyor 53 during the rear chamber transfer operation (V3 > V4). This allows the workpiece W to be quickly unloaded from the freezer 21, thereby reducing the time the unloading opening 31b is open.

[0077] Thus, this embodiment is a food freezing system 1 in which food products F stacked vertically are defined as work products W, and work products W are loaded and unloaded. The food freezing system 1 includes a freezer 21 having a front chamber 41 that communicates with the outside through an loading opening (first opening) 31a, and a main chamber 42 that is connected to the front chamber 41 downstream in the transport direction (X direction); an evaporator (heat exchanger) 55 that cools the air inside the freezer 21; a front chamber conveyor (front chamber transfer section) 51 provided inside the front chamber 41 and transferring work products W inside and outside the freezer 21 through the loading opening 31a; and a transport unit 50 having a main chamber conveyor (transport section) 52 that extends in the transport direction inside the main chamber 42, transfers work products W with the front chamber conveyor 51, and transports work products W in the transport direction inside the main chamber 42. The front chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52 can each operate independently. With this configuration, since the transport unit 50 is provided across the front chamber 41 and the main chamber 42, unlike conventional methods where a forklift is used to move the workpiece inside the freezer 21, the workload on the worker due to forklift slippage and temperature differences inside and outside the freezer 21 can be reduced. As a result, work efficiency can be improved while the workpiece W can be stored at the desired temperature. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the front chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52 operate independently, when transferring workpieces W between the front chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52, the workpieces W can be transferred with a desired position on the main chamber conveyor 52 facing the front chamber conveyor 51 in the transport direction. This makes it easier to adjust the arrangement pitch of workpieces W in the transport direction on the main chamber conveyor 52 to a desired pitch compared to when the front chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52 operate synchronously. Also, for example, by increasing the transport speed V1 of the front chamber conveyor 51 when loading workpieces W from outside the freezer 21 to the front chamber conveyor 51 compared to the transport speed V2 of the front chamber conveyor 51 when transferring workpieces W between the front chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52, workpieces W being transferred from outside the freezer 21 to the front chamber conveyor 51 can be quickly loaded. This makes it easier to control the temperature of the workpieces W and the inside of the freezer 21. In this case, frost formation inside the freezer 21 can be suppressed, and the defrosting interval inside the freezer 21 can be extended, making long-term continuous operation and power saving possible.

[0078] In this embodiment, the food freezing system 1 has an upstream shielding section 32 provided between the front chamber 41 and the main chamber 42 inside the freezer 21. With this configuration, the upstream shielding section 32 is provided between the main chamber 42 and the front chamber 41, which reduces the exchange of air between the inside and outside of the freezer 21 compared to when the main chamber 42 is directly connected to the outside of the freezer 21. This makes it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere inside the freezer 21. In this case, frost formation inside the freezer 21 is suppressed, and the defrost interval inside the freezer 21 can be extended, enabling long-term continuous operation and energy saving.

[0079] In the food freezing system 1 of this embodiment, the freezer 21 is provided with an unloading opening (second opening) 31b for unloading workpieces W from inside the freezer 21, separate from the loading opening 31a. With this configuration, loading and unloading of workpieces W into and out of the freezer 21 is performed through separate openings, making it easier to manage loading and unloading.

[0080] In the food freezing system 1 of this embodiment, the freezer 21 is equipped with an entrance door 26 that opens and closes the loading opening 31a and an exit door 27 that opens and closes the unloading opening 31b. This configuration makes it possible to suppress the exchange of air between the inside and outside of the freezer 21, making it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere inside the freezer 21. In addition, it is possible to suppress the entry of moisture from the outside to the inside of the freezer 21, thereby suppressing frost formation on the transport unit 50.

[0081] In the food freezing system 1 of this embodiment, the freezer 21 includes a rear chamber 43 provided between the main chamber 42 and the unloading opening 31b via a downstream shielding section 33. With this configuration, a rear chamber 43 is provided between the main chamber 42 and the unloading opening 31b via a downstream shielding section 33. This reduces the exchange of air between the inside and outside of the freezer 21 compared to when the main chamber 42 is directly connected to the outside of the freezer 21. This makes it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere inside the freezer 21.

[0082] In the food freezing system 1 of this embodiment, the transport unit 50 is equipped with a rear chamber conveyor (rear chamber transfer section) 53 that transfers workpieces W between the rear chamber 43 and the main chamber 42, and also transfers workpieces W inside and outside the freezer 21 through the discharge opening 31b, and the rear chamber conveyor 53 and the main chamber conveyor 52 can operate independently of each other. With this configuration, since the rear chamber conveyor 53 and the main chamber conveyor 52 operate independently, when transferring workpieces W between the rear chamber conveyor 53 and the main chamber conveyor 52, the workpieces W can be transferred with a desired position on the main chamber conveyor 52 facing the rear chamber conveyor 53 in the transport direction. This makes it easier to adjust the arrangement pitch of workpieces W in the transport direction on the main chamber conveyor 52 to a desired pitch compared to when the rear chamber conveyor 53 and the main chamber conveyor 52 operate synchronously. For example, by increasing the transport speed V3 of the rear chamber conveyor 53 when transporting workpieces W from the rear chamber conveyor 53 to the outside of the freezer 21, the workpieces W can be quickly transported to the outside of the freezer 21. This makes it easier to control the temperature of the workpieces W and the inside of the freezer 21.

[0083] In the food freezing system 1 of this embodiment, the main chamber conveyor 52 is arranged in multiple rows in an intersecting direction (Y direction) that intersects the conveying direction. With this configuration, each main chamber conveyor 52 can transport the workpieces W, so compared to, for example, a single row of main chamber conveyors 52, it is possible to increase the size in the transport direction while increasing the capacity of the freezer 21.

[0084] In the food freezing system 1 of this embodiment, the rear chamber conveyor 53 is arranged in multiple rows in the Y direction, corresponding to the multiple rows of main chamber conveyors 52. With this configuration, a rear conveyor 53 is provided corresponding to each main conveyor 52, so that the loading and unloading of workpieces W loaded on each main conveyor 52 can be managed for each row. This makes it easier to manage the temperature and inventory of workpieces W.

[0085] In the food freezing system 1 of this embodiment, the pre-chamber conveyor 51 is arranged in multiple rows in the Y direction, corresponding to multiple rows of main chamber conveyors 52. With this configuration, since a front-cabinet conveyor 51 is provided corresponding to each main-cabinet conveyor 52, the loading and unloading of workpieces W loaded on each main-cabinet conveyor 52 can be managed for each row. This makes it easier to manage the temperature and inventory of workpieces W.

[0086] In the food freezing system 1 of this embodiment, a blower fan (fan) 57 is provided on one side of the freezer chamber 21 in the Y direction relative to the main chamber conveyor 52, which circulates air inside the freezer chamber 21 in the Y direction. This configuration allows for effective cooling of the workpieces W mounted on the main chamber conveyor 52 in each row.

[0087] In the food freezing system 1 of this embodiment, the multiple rows of main chamber conveyors 52 are arranged such that gaps S are created between the workpieces W in the Y direction. This configuration allows air to circulate between each workpiece W, effectively cooling the workpieces W mounted on the main chamber conveyor 52 in each row.

[0088] (Other variations) While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited by the above description, but only by the appended claims. In the embodiments described above, poultry was used as an example of the food F stored in the food freezing system 1, but the invention is not limited to this configuration. Food F may be meat other than poultry, and the present invention can be applied to any other food F that requires freezing. In the embodiments described above, a configuration was described in which the freezer 21 comprises a front chamber 41, a main chamber 42, and a rear chamber 43, but the configuration is not limited to this. The freezer 21 may also be configured without a rear chamber 43.

[0089] In the embodiments described above, a box-shaped container 3 capable of holding food F was used as an example of a loading unit, but the configuration is not limited to this. As long as the food F can be stacked vertically and transported, the food F may be loaded onto a cart or the like. In the embodiment described above, a configuration in which there is one freezer 21 has been described, but the configuration is not limited to this. Multiple freezers 21 may be provided. When multiple freezers 21 are provided, each freezer 21 may be configured to have its temperature controlled collectively, or it may be configured to have its temperature controlled independently. In the above-described embodiment, the freezer 21 was described as a one-way system having an inlet opening 31a and an outlet opening 31b, but the configuration is not limited to this. The freezer 21 may also be configured so that both loading and unloading are performed through a single loading / unloading opening.

[0090] In the embodiment described above, a configuration in which multiple rows of transport units 50 operate independently was described, but the configuration is not limited to this. Each transport unit 50 may operate synchronously with one another. Furthermore, the transport unit 50 may consist of one row or multiple rows other than three. In the above-described embodiment, a configuration was explained in which the front chamber conveyor 51, the main chamber conveyor 52, and the rear chamber conveyor 53 each operate independently in the conveying unit 50, but the configuration is not limited to this. As long as the conveying unit 50 is configured in which at least the front chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52 operate independently, the rear chamber conveyor 53 may operate in synchronization with the main chamber conveyor 52.

[0091] In the embodiment described above, a configuration was described in which each workpiece W is arranged on the transport unit 22 (main chamber conveyor 52) with a gap S between them at a constant arrangement pitch, but the configuration is not limited to this. In the food freezing system 1 according to the present invention, since each conveyor can operate independently, the gap between each workpiece W can be changed as appropriate. In the embodiments described above, a configuration was described in which the components operate in coordination with each other during transfers between, for example, the front chamber conveyor 51 and the main chamber conveyor 52, and between the main chamber conveyor 52 and the rear chamber conveyor 53. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, if the workpiece W is not in the desired position on the main chamber conveyor 52, only the main chamber conveyor 52 may be operated so that the workpiece W is placed in the desired position.

[0092] Furthermore, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the components in the embodiments described above can be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the modifications described above can be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0093] 1: Food Freezing System 21: Freezer 26: Loading door 27: Loading door 31a: Loading opening (first opening) 31b: Export opening (second opening) 32:Upstream shielding part 33: Downstream shielding part 41: Vestibule 42: Main room 43: Back chamber 50: Conveyor Unit 51: Front chamber conveyor (front chamber transfer section) 52: Main chamber conveyor (transport section) 53: Rear chamber conveyor (rear chamber transfer section) 55: Evaporator (heat exchanger) F:Food S: Gap W: Work

Claims

1. A food freezing system in which food products are stacked vertically as a workpiece, and the workpiece is loaded and unloaded, A freezer having a front chamber that communicates with the outside through a first opening, and a main chamber that is connected to the front chamber on the downstream side in the transport direction, A heat exchanger for cooling the air inside the freezer, The system comprises a front chamber transfer section provided in the front chamber for transferring the workpiece between the inside and outside of the freezer through the first opening, and a transport unit having a transport section that extends in the transport direction within the main chamber, transfers the workpiece to and from the front chamber transfer section, and transports the workpiece in the transport direction within the main chamber. The aforementioned pre-chamber transfer unit and the aforementioned transport unit are a food freezing system in which each can operate independently.

2. The food freezing system according to claim 1, wherein an upstream shielding section is provided between the pre-chamber and the main chamber within the freezing chamber.

3. The first opening is an entry opening for loading the workpiece into the freezer, The food freezing system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the freezer is provided with a second opening, separate from the first opening, which functions as an outlet opening for unloading the workpiece from inside the freezer.

4. The aforementioned freezer is The loading door that opens and closes the first opening, The food freezing system according to claim 3, further comprising an outlet door for opening and closing the second opening.

5. The food freezing system according to claim 4, wherein the freezer comprises a rear chamber provided between the main chamber and the second opening via a downstream shielding portion.

6. The transport unit includes a rear chamber transfer section that transfers the workpiece between the rear chamber and the main chamber, and also transfers the workpiece inside and outside the freezer through the second opening. The food freezing system according to claim 5, wherein the rear chamber transfer unit and the transport unit are each capable of operating independently.

7. The food freezing system according to claim 6, wherein the conveying section is provided in multiple rows arranged in an intersecting direction that intersects the conveying direction.

8. The food freezing system according to claim 7, wherein the rear chamber transfer section is provided in multiple rows in the intersecting direction corresponding to the multiple rows of the transport section.

9. The food freezing system according to claim 7, wherein the pre-chamber transfer section is provided in multiple rows in the intersecting direction corresponding to the multiple rows of the transport section.

10. The food freezing system according to claim 7, wherein, within the freezing chamber, a fan is provided on one side in the direction intersecting the conveying section to circulate air within the freezing chamber in the direction intersecting.

11. The food freezing system according to claim 10, wherein the multiple rows of conveying units are arranged such that gaps are created between the workpieces in the intersecting direction.

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