Food and drink heating equipment

Abstract

To assemble a plurality of heating devices of different sizes using the same heating tube unit.SOLUTION: A heating device 10 which is a fluid food heating device that heats a fluid food by Joule heat while conveying the food in a flow path as an object to be heated includes: a heating tube unit 11 provided with a flow path for guiding the object to be heated and including a plurality of flexible tubes 31 each having insulating properties, and joint members 32 having conductive portions that interconnect the flexible tubes 31 and contact the object to be heated; and a power supply unit 35 that supplies electric power to the conductive portions of the joint members 32 that are paired adjacent to each other in the conveying direction of the object to be heated, the heating device in which the heating tube units 11 and 12 can be arranged by bending the flexible tubes 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a food heating device that heats fluid food by Joule heat. [Background technology]

[0002] A heating device that uses Joule heat to heat fluid foods and beverages, such as liquid foods and beverages, paste-like foods, and liquid foods containing solids, has a configuration in which a tubular member equipped with multiple resin cylinders and ring-shaped electrodes arranged between the cylinders is used as one heating unit, as described in Patent Document 1, and the heating device is assembled by connecting multiple heating units with piping. Each heating unit in this heating device is arranged horizontally or at an angle, and the food and beverage to be heated is supplied from the downstream heating unit to the downstream heating unit by changing its position in a serpentine manner.

[0003] On the other hand, the electric heating device described in Patent Document 2 is equipped with a heating unit consisting of a straight pipe member and a bent pipe member connecting the two straight pipe members. In this electric heating device, the curved pipe members are used as electrodes, and the heating unit can be arranged in a spiral shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-135941 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4195502 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-mentioned conventional heating device, neither the tubular member nor the straight pipe member can be bent, and the heating device must be formed using tubular members of different lengths depending on the size of the heating device. For example, as described in Patent Document 2, even when the heating unit is arranged in a helical or spiral shape, the length of one side of the planar rectangle cannot be changed. For this reason, it is not possible to assemble heating devices of different sizes unless multiple lengths of straight pipe members corresponding to the length of one side are prepared.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to enable the assembly of a plurality of heating devices of different sizes using the same heating tube unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The food and beverage heating device is a food and beverage heating device that heats fluid food and beverage using Joule heat while transporting the food and beverage as a heated object through a flow path, and includes a heating tube unit that comprises a plurality of flexible tubes, each of which is insulating, and a joint member that connects the flexible tubes to each other and has a conductive part that contacts the heated object, forming a flow path for guiding the heated object, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the conductive parts of the joint members that are adjacent to each other in the transport direction of the heated object, and the heating tube unit can be positioned by bending the flexible tube. Effect of the Invention

[0008] Since the heating tube unit has a plurality of flexible tubes, the flexible tubes can be curved and arranged, which allows the heating tube unit to be arranged in a spiral shape, for example, and by changing the degree of curvature, the diameter of the spiral shape can be changed using the same heating tube unit, allowing a plurality of heating devices of different sizes to be assembled using the same heating tube. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a food heating device; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the heating tube unit shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view showing the flexible tube shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and joint members attached to both ends of the flexible tube. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the joint member shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 10(A) and 10(B) are cross-sectional views showing modified examples of the joint member. [Figure 7] 11(A) and 11(B) are cross-sectional views showing other modified examples of the joint member. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the heating tube unit using a flexible tube of the same length as that shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view of FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The heating device 10 shown in Fig. 1 includes a first heating tube unit 11 and a second heating tube unit 12, and heats an object S, such as a fluid food or drink like soup or coffee, by applying Joule heat. Each of the heating tube units 11 and 12 is formed in a spiral shape with a circular plane.

[0011] The first tank 13 and the second tank 14 each contain an object S to be heated, and the bottom of the tank 13 is connected to the supply end of the heating tube unit 11 by a supply tube 15. As a result, the object S to be heated contained in the tank 13 is supplied to the heating tube unit 11 by the supply tube 15. The object S to be heated heated by the heating tube unit 11 can be discharged to the outside by a discharge tube 16 provided at the discharge end of the heating tube unit 11.

[0012] The bottom of the tank 14 is connected to the supply end of the heating tube unit 12 by a supply tube 17, and the object S to be heated contained in the tank 14 is supplied to the heating tube unit 12 by the supply tube 17. The object S to be heated heated by the heating tube unit 12 can be discharged to the outside by a discharge tube 18 provided at the discharge end of the heating tube unit 12. The heating tube units 11 and 12 are disposed below the tanks 13 and 14, and the object S to be heated is supplied to the heating tube units 11 and 12 by its own weight and discharged from the heating tube units 11 and 12. However, if the object S to be heated cannot be supplied to the heating tube units 11 and 12 by its own weight, a pump is used.

[0013] The heating device 10 includes two heating tube units 11 and 12, and can heat the object S by one heating tube unit, and then heat the object S by the other heating tube unit. In this manner, the heating tube units 11 and 12 can be alternately operated so that one of the two heating tube units 11 and 12 is operated and the other is stopped. For example, when the heating device 10 is installed in a restaurant to heat soup, a predetermined amount of soup can be heated by one heating tube unit 11, and then the soup can be heated by the other heating tube unit 12, thereby stopping the heating tube unit 11.

[0014] The heating device 10 includes a cleaning tank 21 for cleaning the inside of the flow path of the heating tube unit that is not in operation, and a heater 22 is provided in the cleaning tank 21 for heating the cleaning water W stored in the cleaning tank 21. A three-way valve 23 is provided in the supply tube 15, and a three-way valve 24 is provided in the supply tube 17. A cleaning pipe 25 connected to the bottom of the cleaning tank 21 is connected to the three-way valves 23 and 24, and the three-way valve 23 is operated to switch between a heating state in which the object S to be heated in the tank 13 is supplied to the heating tube unit 11, and a cleaning state in which the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 21 is supplied to the heating tube unit 11 by switching the flow path. Similarly, the three-way valve 24 is operated to switch between a heating state in which the object S to be heated in the tank 14 is supplied to the heating tube unit 12, and a cleaning state in which the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 21 is supplied to the heating tube unit 12. Alternatively, the supply tubes 15 and 17 may be connected to a single tank, and the object to be heated in the single tank may be supplied to both heating tube units 11 and 12 .

[0015] The discharge tubes 16, 18 are provided with on-off valves 26, 27, respectively, and when the object to be heated S or cleaning water W is to be discharged from the discharge tubes 16, 18, the discharge tubes 16, 18 are opened by the on-off valves 26, 27. An on-off valve 28 is provided upstream of the cleaning pipe 25. A water supply pipe 29 is connected to the cleaning tank 21 in order to supply cleaning water W to the cleaning tank 21, and a pump 30 is provided in the water supply pipe 29 in order to supply cleaning liquid to the cleaning tank 21 from outside.

[0016] The above-mentioned three-way valves 23, 24 and on-off valves 26 to 28 are of the electromagnetically operated type, and switching of the flow paths and opening and closing operations are automatically performed by signals from the control unit, but they may also be of the manually operated type.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the heating tube unit 11 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the flexible tube shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 and joint members attached to both ends thereof.

[0018] The heating tube unit 11 includes eight flexible tubes 31 and nine joint members 32, and a flow path for transporting the object S to be heated is formed inside. The flexible tubes 31 are made of insulating fluororesin and are elastically deformable, i.e., flexible. Since the flexible tubes 31 are elastically deformable, when each flexible tube 31 is curved as shown in FIG. 2, the heating tube unit 11 can be arranged in a spiral shape as a whole. The supply tube 15 is connected to the joint member 32 provided at the supply end 33 of the heating tube unit 11, and the discharge tube 16 is connected to the joint member 32 provided at the discharge end 34. The number of flexible tubes 31 constituting the heating tube unit 11 is not limited to eight, and may be any number as long as it is plural.

[0019] The heating tube unit 12 has the same structure as the heating tube unit 11, and includes eight flexible tubes 31 and nine joint members 32, and has a flow path formed therein for transporting the object to be heated S. The supply tube 17 is connected to the joint member 32 provided at the supply end 33 of the heating tube unit 12, and the discharge tube 18 is connected to the joint member 32 provided at the discharge end 34. The supply tubes 15, 17 and the discharge tubes 16, 18 are also made of fluororesin, like the flexible tube 31. However, if straight tubes can be used as the supply tubes 15, 17 and the discharge tubes 16, 18, they can be used without being flexible tubes.

[0020] The joint member 32 has a conductive portion that contacts the object S flowing in the flow path, and functions as an electrode. A power supply unit 35 that supplies power to the conductive portions of the joint members 32 that are adjacent to each other in the flow direction of the object S, i.e., the conveying direction, is connected by a power supply cable 36. The power supply unit 35 is a commercial power supply or a high-frequency power supply, and power is supplied from the power supply unit 35 to the conductive portions such that the conductive portions of the two joint members 32 that are adjacent to each other in the flow direction of the object S are opposite in polarity to each other. As a result, the object S that is supplied into the flow path of the heating tube units 11, 12 generates Joule heat due to the power supplied from the power supply unit 35, and is heated.

[0021] When the joint member 32 provided at the supply end 33 of the heating tube unit 11 and the joint member 32 provided at the discharge end 34 are used as earth electrodes, an earth cable is connected to these two joint members without connecting the power supply cable 36.

[0022] Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the joint member 32 shown in Fig. 4, and as shown in Fig. 5, it has a resin joint body 43 provided at both ends with a first joint part 41 to which an end of one flexible tube 31 is connected and a second joint part 42 to which an end of another flexible tube 31 is connected. The inside of the longitudinal center part of the joint body 43 and the inside of each flexible tube 31 form a flow path 40 that guides the object S to be heated.

[0023] The large diameter holes formed in the respective joint parts 41, 42 each have a seal member 44 that comes into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the flexible tubes 31, 32, and a claw holder 46 provided with a lock claw 45 that bites into the outer circumferential surface of the flexible tubes 31, 32. The lock claw 45 is inclined toward the center in the longitudinal direction of the joint body 43, and allows the flexible tube 31 to move when the end of the flexible tube 31 is inserted into the joint part 41, 42. On the other hand, when a force is applied to the flexible tube 31 in a direction to pull it out of the joint member 32, the lock claw 45 bites into the flexible tube 31, preventing the flexible tube 31 from coming off the joint member 32.

[0024] In order to remove the flexible tube 31 from the coupling member 32, a release ring 47 is attached to the joint parts 41, 42 by a guide ring 48 so as to be freely movable in the axial direction, and the inner end of the release ring 47 contacts the radially inner part of the lock claw 45. An operating part 47a is provided at the outer end of the release ring 47, and when the operating part 47a is pressed in, the lock claw 45 comes off the flexible tube 31, allowing the flexible tube 31 to be removed from the coupling member 32. In this way, the coupling member 32 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is a quick coupling, and the coupling member 32 is freely attachable to and detachable from the flexible tube 31.

[0025] A metallic connection pipe 49 is provided at the longitudinal center of the joint member 32 in a direction perpendicular to the joint body 43, and the connection pipe 49 constitutes a conductive part that comes into contact with the object to be heated. A metallic power supply socket 50 to which the power supply cable 36 is connected is screwed into a male threaded part 49a provided on the connection pipe 49, and the connection pipe 49 as a conductive part is connected to the power supply unit 35 by the power supply cable 36.

[0026] The joint member 32 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is a known T-shaped quick joint, and by attaching a power supply socket 50 to a metal connecting tube 49, the connecting tube 49 can be used as a conductive part, and the joint member 32 can be given the function of an electrode.

[0027] 6(A), 6(B), 7(A) and 7(B) each show a modified example of the joint member 32. In FIG.

[0028] The joint member 32 shown in FIG. 6(A) has a first joint portion 51 to which a flexible tube 31 is connected and a second joint portion 52 to which another flexible tube 31 is connected, each of which is made of a conductive material such as stainless steel or titanium, and constitutes a conductive portion that comes into contact with the object to be heated. Each flexible tube 31 is fitted to the outer circumferential surface of one end of joint portions 51 and 52, which are separate conductive fitting cylindrical portions. Abutment flanges 53 are provided at the other ends of the joint portions 51 and 52, and seal members 55 are attached to recesses 54 formed on the abutment surfaces of both flanges 53. A clamp member 56 made of a conductive material is attached to the outside of the flange 53, and both joint portions 51 and 52 are fastened by the clamp member 56. The clamp member 56 has two clamp pieces of approximately semicircular shape, and the joint portions 51 and 52 are fastened by fastening the other ends of the two clamp pieces whose one ends are connected by a hinge. The power supply cable 36 is connected to the clamp member 56 , and the clamp member 56 constitutes a cable connection portion that connects the power supply cable 36 to the conductive portion, that is, the joint portions 51 and 52 .

[0029] The joint member 32 shown in FIG. 6(B) has a first joint part 61 to which a flexible tube 31 is connected and a second joint part 62 to which another flexible tube 31 is connected, each of which is made of a conductive material such as stainless steel or titanium, and constitutes a conductive part that comes into contact with the heated object. Each flexible tube 31 is fitted to the inner circumferential surface of one end of joint parts 61, 62, which are separate conductive fitting cylindrical parts. A flange 63 is provided at the butting end of one joint part 61, and a fastening nut 65 is provided with an annular part 64 that butts against the outer end face of this flange 63, and a female thread 67 that is screwed into a male thread 66 of the joint part 62 is formed in the fastening nut 65. Both joint parts 61, 62 are fastened by the fastening nut 65. A power supply cable 36 is connected to the fastening nut 65, and the fastening nut 65 constitutes a cable connection part that connects the power supply cable 36 to the conductive part. In addition, a sealing member (not shown) is attached between the abutting surfaces of both joint portions 61, 62 or between the flange 63 and the fastening nut 65.

[0030] The coupling member 32 shown in FIG. 7(A) has a first joint portion 71 to which a flexible tube 31 is connected, and a second joint portion 72 to which another flexible tube 31 is connected, each of which is formed from a conductive material such as stainless steel or titanium, and constitutes a conductive portion that comes into contact with the object to be heated.

[0031] The outer circumferential surface of each of the joints 71 and 72 is provided with a plurality of meshing portions 74 that are inclined toward the flange 73 to increase in diameter, and each of the flexible tubes 31 is meshed with and fitted to the meshing portions 74 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the joints 71 and 72, which are separate conductive fitting tubular portions. Male threads 75 are formed between the butting surfaces of each of the joints 71 and 72 and the flange 73, and fastening nuts 76 are screwed to both male threads 75. Both of the joints 71 and 72 are fastened by the fastening nuts 76. The power supply cable 36 is connected to the fastening nuts 76, and the fastening nuts 76 constitute a cable connection portion that connects the power supply cable 36 to the conductive portion. A seal member 77 is attached between the butting surfaces of both of the joints 71 and 72.

[0032] 7(B) has a joint fitting 83 which is an integral part of a first joint part 81 to which a flexible tube 31 is connected and a second joint part 82 to which another flexible tube 31 is connected. The joint fitting 83 is made of a conductive material such as stainless steel or titanium, and constitutes a conductive part which comes into contact with the object to be heated.

[0033] A male thread 84 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of each of the joint parts 81, 82, and a fastening nut 85 is screwed onto each male thread 84. Each fastening nut 85 has a tapered surface 87 formed on the end surface of the joint parts 81, 82, and is fastened via the end of the flexible tube 31. The flexible tube 31 is fastened to a joint fitting 83, which is an integrated conductive fitting cylinder, by each fastening nut 85. The power supply cable 36 is connected to a flange 88 in the longitudinal center of the joint fitting 83, and the flange 88 constitutes a cable connection part that connects the power supply cable 36 to the conductive part.

[0034] As described above, the joint member 32 that connects the flexible tubes 31 has a form in which the first joint portion and the second joint portion are integrated or separate. Furthermore, the form for fastening the flexible tubes 31 includes a quick joint provided with a release ring, a form in which a fastening nut is screwed to the joint portion, a form in which the joint portion is fastened by a clamp member, and the like. Any of the forms can be used to connect the flexible tubes 31.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the heating tube unit using a flexible tube 31 having the same length as that shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of FIG.

[0036] The heated tube units 11 and 12 constitute the heating device 10 shown in Fig. 1, and are one turn longer than the heated tube units 11 and 12 shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. In other words, the heated tube unit 11 is formed by 13 flexible tubes 31 and 14 joint members 32, and the radius of the heated tube units 11 and 12 forming a spiral shape is larger than that of the heated tube units 11 and 12 shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

[0037] In this way, since the heating tube units 11 and 12 have the flexible tube 31, they can be curved as shown in Fig. 1. This allows the same heating tube unit to be arranged according to the shape and use of the heating device 10 by bending the flexible tube 31 to any degree of curvature, and allows a plurality of heating devices of different sizes to be assembled using the same heating tube unit. Depending on the heating device 10, the flexible tube 32 can also be used straight without bending it.

[0038] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, a heating device can be configured by connecting a plurality of heating tube units in series. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10 Heating device 11, 12 Heating tube unit 13, 14 Tank 15, 17 Supply tube 16, 18 Discharge tube 21 Cleaning Tank 23, 24 Three-way valve 25 Cleaning pipe 26~28 On-off valve 31 Flexible tube 32 Joint members 33 Supply end 34 Discharge end 35 Power supply unit 36 Power Cable 40 Flow Path 41, 42 Joint section 47 Release Ring 49 Connecting pipe 50 Power Socket 51, 52 Joint part 53 Flange 56 Clamping member 61, 62 Joint part 63 Flange 65 Fastening nut 71, 72 Joint 74 Engagement Part 76 Fastening nut 81, 82 Joint section 83 Joint fittings 85 Fastening nut 86, 87 Tapered surface 88 Flange

Claims

1. A food and drink heating device that heats fluid food and drink by Joule heat while transporting the food and drink as a heated object through a flow path, a heating tube unit including a plurality of flexible tubes each having insulating properties and elastically deformable, and a joint member having a conductive portion that connects the flexible tubes to each other and contacts an object to be heated, and forming a flow path for guiding the object to be heated; A power supply unit that supplies power to the conductive portions of the pair of joint members that are adjacent to each other in a conveying direction of the heated object; a cleaning tank for storing cleaning water for cleaning the inside of the flow path; The heating tube unit can be disposed by bending the flexible tube to an arbitrary degree of curvature, The food and drink heating device is switchable between a heating state in which an object to be heated is supplied to the heating tube unit, and a cleaning state in which cleaning water in the cleaning tank is supplied to the heating tube unit.

2. The food and drink heating device according to claim 1, The joint member of the food and beverage heating device has a first joint portion to which one of the flexible tubes is connected, a second joint portion to which another of the flexible tubes is connected, and a cable connection portion that connects a power supply cable connected to the power supply unit to the conductive part.

3. The food and drink heating device according to claim 2, The food and beverage heating device, wherein the joint member is a quick joint having an opening ring provided at the first joint portion and the second joint portion for removing the flexible tube.

4. The food and drink heating device according to claim 2, The first joint portion and the second joint portion each have a separate conductive fitting tubular portion into whose inner or outer peripheral surface the flexible tube is fitted, and a conductive clamp member that fastens the fitting tubular portions, and the clamp member serves as the cable connection portion.

5. The food and drink heating device according to claim 2, A heating device for food and beverage, wherein the first joint portion and the second joint portion each have an integral conductive fitting cylindrical portion into whose inner or outer peripheral surface the flexible tube is fitted, and the fitting cylindrical portion serves as the cable connection portion.

6. The food and drink heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The heating tube unit is formed in a spiral shape in the food and drink heating device.

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