Heat Treatment Equipment

Abstract

To avoid inflammation and burning when using a gas burner for heat-treating an object on an iron plate.SOLUTION: A heat treatment device 1 for heat-treating an object 2 with thermal energy of superheated steam includes: a hot plate 8 on which the object 2 to be heat-treated is placed; an injection member 9 for injecting superheated steam onto a back surface 8b of the hot plate 8; a housing body 10 for housing the injection member 9 and covering the back surface 8b of the hot plate 8; and a blower 11 for sucking the superheated steam from the housing body 10 (suction means). The heat treatment device heats the hot plate 8 by injecting the superheated steam onto the hot plate 8 from the injection member 9, and heat-treats the placed object 2. The device sucks the superheated steam injected from the injection member 9, from the housing body 10 and collects it.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat treatment device, and more particularly to a heat treatment device that heat-treats an article using the thermal energy of superheated steam. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, heat treatment devices that heat-cook food using superheated steam have been known as heat treatment devices for heat-treating items. When cooking large quantities of grilled food such as hamburger steaks or steaks, a device is known in which the food is placed on an iron plate and heated with superheated steam, and the iron plate is heated with superheated steam to brown the food (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-271883 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The device in Patent Document 1 above can heat a large amount of food in a short time by using superheated steam, and can also give the food a natural browning similar to that achieved by a human cooking on a griddle, resulting in an appetizing looking finish. However, since the cooking itself is done using superheated steam rather than a hot plate, the flavor and texture are slightly different compared to when cooked on a regular hot plate. Therefore, when trying to recreate the authentic cooking of large quantities of such baked foods, it was necessary to heat an iron plate over the direct flame of a gas burner and then heat the ingredients on the iron plate. However, with a gas burner, there was a risk of the oil from the food catching fire, and the oil and food residue would burn and stick to the burner, making it difficult to clean. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a heat treatment device for heat-treating an article using thermal energy of superheated steam, comprising: a box for heat treating an article therein; a heating plate on which an article to be heated is placed, and an injection member that injects superheated steam onto the rear surface of the heating plate; The heating plate is disposed directly below the heating plate in the housing. a housing that houses an injection member and covers the rear surface of the heating plate; and suction means that sucks superheated steam from the housing, The superheated steam is sprayed from the spray member onto the heating plate to heat the heating plate and heat-treat the placed article, and the superheated steam sprayed from the spray member is By the suction means It is characterized by being collected by suction from the container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to this configuration, by heating the heating plate with the thermal energy of the superheated steam, it is possible to provide a heat treatment device that is safe, easy to clean, and can be kept clean without the risk of ignition. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a heating state using heated steam. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state during cleaning of the heat treatment chamber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a heat treatment device that heat-treats an item 2 using the thermal energy of superheated steam. The item 2 to be heat-treated is assumed to be a food that is typically cooked on a hot plate, such as steak, hamburger steak, or gyoza dumplings. This heat treatment device 1 comprises a box 3 inside which an item 2 is heat-treated, a conveying means 4 which passes through the box 3 to convey the item 2, and a heating unit 5 which heat-treats the item 2 conveyed by the conveying means 4.

[0009] The interior of the box 3 is divided into four compartments 3A to 3D, and compartment walls 3E having openings through which the article 2 can pass are provided between the compartments 3A to 3D. The loading compartment 3A has an inlet 3Aa, and the unloading compartment 3D has an outlet 3Da, each equipped with exhaust pipes 3Ab and 3Db. Additionally, compartments 3B and 3C are each provided as heat treatment chambers, each equipped with two heating units 5.

[0010] The conveying means 4 includes an endless chain 7 wound around a plurality of sprockets 6, and is disposed so that its upper running area passes through each of the compartments 3A to 3D in the box body 3. As shown in Fig. 2, a number of heating plates 8 are installed on the left and right endless chains 7 and on which articles 2 are placed, and each endless chain 7 is supported from below by a pair of left and right support rails 7A in its upper running area. Each heating plate 8 is made of a thin, rectangular iron plate of the same size, and many heating plates 8 are arranged along the entire length of the endless chain 7 with small gaps between them. When the endless chain 7 is driven in a circular motion from the entrance 3Aa of the box body 3 to the exit 3Da by the operation of a drive motor (not shown), each heating plate 8 moves continuously along the conveying path within the box body 3, and the items 2 placed on the heating plates 8 are conveyed sequentially through each compartment 3A to 3D within the box body 3.

[0011] The heating unit 5 comprises an injection member 9 that injects superheated steam onto a back surface 8b of the heating plate 8 opposite the surface 8a on which the article 2 is placed, a housing 10 that surrounds and houses the entire injection member 9 and covers the back surface 8b of the heating plate 8 from below, a blower 11 as suction means that sucks the superheated steam injected from the injection member 9 out of the housing 10, and a heater 12 as heating means that heats the superheated steam blown out from the blower 11. The heater 12 and injection member 9 are connected by a supply pipe 13, the housing 10 and the blower 11 by a suction pipe 14, and the blower 11 and heater 12 are connected by a connecting pipe 15; the supply pipe 13, the suction pipe 14, and the connecting pipe 15 form a circulation passage.

[0012] 2, injection member 9 has a box-shaped main body 9A and a lid 9B that forms the top surface, through which multiple injection holes 9C are drilled. An opening 9D is formed in the center of the bottom surface of main body 9A of injection member 9, and an internal pipe 16 that is connected to supply pipe 13 is connected to this opening 9D. The container 10 is formed in the shape of an open box at the top to house the injection member 9 and the inner tube 16, and an opening 10A is formed in the center of the bottom surface of the container 10. A duct 17 is formed on the bottom surface of the container 10, which communicates with the inside of the container 10 via the opening 10A, and the duct 17 is connected to the suction tube 14. The injection member 9 and the container 10 are arranged directly below the heating plate 8 moving along the transport path, with the container 10 being close enough to the moving heating plate 8 so as not to interfere with it, and the injection member 9 being arranged slightly lower than it.

[0013] 3, superheated steam heated by heater 12 and supplied from supply pipe 13 to inner pipe 16 is supplied from opening 9D of spray member 9 into main body 9A, filling it, and then sprayed to the outside from spray holes 9C in lid 9B. As a result, superheated steam is sprayed onto back surface 8b of heating plate 8 moving upward, heating heating plate 8 and heat-treating article 2 placed on placement surface 8a. In addition, back surface 8b of heating plate 8 moving upward around spray member 9 is covered by container 10, and suction force of blower 11 is generated within container 10 from suction pipe 14 via duct 17, so that superheated steam sprayed from spray member 9 collides with back surface 8b of heating plate 8 and flows downward, where it is sucked into duct 17 through opening 10A and collected. The rear surface 8b of the heating plate 8 and the upper end of the container 10 are close to each other with only a small gap, so that the superheated steam sprayed from the spray member 9 hardly leaks out of the container 10, and most of the sprayed superheated steam can be recovered. In addition, because the gap between the heating plates 8 arranged side by side is also small, the superheated steam does not leak out and unnecessarily act on the items 2, and the items 2 can be treated only by heating via the heating plates 8.

[0014] 1, one heating unit 5 is provided with two sets of injection members 9 and housing 10, and supply pipe 13 branches into first branch pipe 13A and second branch pipe 13B which are connected to each injection member 9. Also, suction pipe 14 is connected to first junction pipe 14A and second junction pipe 14B which are respectively connected to housing 10 and joined together to be connected to blower 11, and the junction is provided with filter 18 which removes oil from the superheated steam. In each heating unit 5, two sets of injection members 9 and containers 10 are arranged along the transport path of the items 2, and in each compartment 3B, 3C, four sets of injection members 9 and containers 10 are arranged along the transport path, so that the heat treatment device 1 has eight sets of injection members 9 and containers 10. In this embodiment, the heating temperature of the heater 12 for the heating unit 5 in the compartment 3B is set to 300° C., and the heating temperature for the compartment 3C is set to 200° C. Such a heating temperature setting can be changed depending on the type of article 2 to be heat-treated, and the heating temperature can also be made different for each heating unit 5 in the compartments 3B and 3C.

[0015] To lower the temperature of the circulated superheated steam, saturated steam is supplied to the heating unit 5 from saturated steam supply means 20. The saturated steam supply means 20 includes a boiler 21 as a supply source of saturated steam, and a steam supply pipe 22 for feeding the saturated steam generated in the boiler 21 to the connecting pipe 15 of the heating unit 5. The steam supply pipe 22 branches out corresponding to each heating unit 5, and each branch passage is provided with an on-off valve V1. Saturated steam, which has a lower temperature than superheated steam, is supplied from the boiler 21, and when adjustment is required to lower the temperature in the heating unit 5, the corresponding on-off valve V1 is opened to supply saturated steam to the communicating pipe 15.

[0016] Each of the compartments 3A to 3D is provided to cover the transport path of the article 2, and compartments 3B and 3C, which serve as heat treatment chambers, are provided with a sprinkler member 23 that sprinkles water inside the compartment. Further, compartment 3D on the carry-out side is provided with a spray member 24 that sprays water onto the back surface 8b of heating plate 8 that moves with article 2 placed on it below the transport path of the article 2. Water is supplied to the sprinkler members 23 and the spray members 24 from a water supply source 25 via a water supply pipe 26, which branches into a sprinkler pipe 26A equipped with an on-off valve V2 and a spray pipe 26B equipped with an on-off valve V3, and the sprinkler pipe 26A further branches through a heat exchanger 27 and is connected to each sprinkler member 23 provided in each compartment 3B, 3C, and the spray pipe 26B is connected to the spray member 24 below the transport path for the item 2 in the discharge compartment 3D. A branch pipe 22A branched from the steam supply pipe 22 and opened and closed by an on-off valve V4 is connected to the heat exchanger 27, so that water supplied from the water supply source 25 can be heated with saturated steam. A plurality of water spray members 23 are provided in each of the compartments 3B, 3C corresponding to the spray members 9 of the heating unit 5. Water spraying in the heat treatment chambers prevents the article 2 to be heat-treated from drying out too much and is also performed when the food article 2 is to be steam-fried. The blowing members 24 are provided to lower the temperature of the heating plate 8 coming out of the housing 3, and a plurality of blowing members 24 are provided in the direction in which the heating plate 8 moves.

[0017] The conveying means 4 is provided with a spray nozzle 28 for supplying cooking oil to the mounting surface 8a of the heating plate 8 before heating, and a rotating brush 29 for removing oil and dirt from the heating plate 8 after heating. The spray nozzle 28 is arranged to spray cooking oil onto the inclined mounting surface 8a at the position of the sprocket 6 where the mounting surface 8a of the heating plate 8 faces upward just before entering the box 3, thereby preventing the item 2 from burning on the heating plate 8. The rotating brush 29 is provided in the running area below the endless chain 7 where the mounting surface 8a of the heating plate 8 coming out of the box body 3 faces downward, and the upper and lower brushes sandwich and brush the mounting surface 8a and back surface 8b of the heating plate 8.

[0018] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the container 10 containing the injection member 9 in the heating unit 5 is removably supported by a support member 30 provided below the transport path for the item 2 within the box 3, and can be removed from the box 3 and washed outside. The support member 30 is composed of an L-shaped member 30A and a straight member 30B that connects to the tip of the long side 30Aa of the L-shaped member 30A, and is supported so as to hang from side frames 31 that are provided along the conveyance path on both side walls 3F and 3G on both sides of the box 3. Side frame 31A is provided on the side wall 3F on the right side in the conveyance direction of the articles 2, and side frame 31B is provided on the side wall 3G on the left side in the conveyance direction of the articles 2. The tip of the short side 30Ab of the L-shaped member 30A is bent in the opposite direction to the long side 30Aa so as to engage with a groove-shaped engaging portion 31Aa provided in one side frame 31A. Also, a straight member 30B is suspended and connected to the lower part of the other side frame 31B, and the tip of the long side 30Aa of the L-shaped member 30A is connected to the lower end of the straight member 30B so that the long side 30Aa is supported horizontally and the container 10 is placed on it. The connection between the straight member 30B and the side frame 31B and the long side 30Aa of the L-shaped member 30A can be detached using bolts, etc., and when the connection to the long side 30Aa is released, the long side 30Aa of the L-shaped member 30A can be tilted downward with the tip of the short side 30Ab that engages with the side frame 31A as a fulcrum.

[0019] The housing 10 is designed so that the duct 17 formed on its underside is placed on the long side 30Aa of the L-shaped member 30A, and engagement pins 32 protrude from both ends of the long side 30Aa. Meanwhile, a flat U-shaped piece 17A is provided at the bottom of the tip of the duct 17 toward the short side 30Ab of the L-shaped member 30A, and a flat L-shaped support 10B is suspended from the side of the housing 10 facing the straight member 30B. The long side of the L-shaped support 10B is fixed to the housing 10, and the short side 10Ba faces the tip of the long side 30Aa, and a fitting hole is formed in the short side 10Ba. The U-shaped piece 17A engages with the engagement pin 32A closer to the short side 30Ab, and the fitting hole in the short side portion 10Ba of the L-shaped support 10B engages with the engagement pin 32B closer to the straight member 30B. By sliding the container 10 on the long side 30Aa toward the short side 30Ab, the U-shaped piece 17A engages with the engagement pin 32A and the fitting hole in the short side portion 10Ba fits into the engagement pin 32B, thereby aligning the container 10 on the long side 30Aa.

[0020] The supply pipe 13 and the recovery pipe 14 are pulled into the box body 3 by passing through the side wall 3F, which has a side frame 31A on one side, and are connected to the internal pipe 16 and the extension pipe 17B of the duct 17 inside the box body 3. The tip of the inner tube 16 that protrudes outside the container 10 is a Ferrule joint and is detachably connected to the supply tube 13 by a clamp band 16A, and the tip of the extension tube 17B provided on the duct 17 is also a Ferrule joint and is detachably connected to the suction tube 14 by a clamp band 17C. A side wall opening 3Fa is formed in the side wall 3F provided with the side frame 31A on one side of the case 3, and is used to detach the internal tube 16 and the extension tube 17B from the supply tube 13 and the suction tube 14. This opening 3Fa is normally closed with a cover 3Fb. In addition, a side wall 3G provided with the side frame 31B on the other side has a side wall opening 3Ga which is used to pull out the container 10 containing the injection member 9 to the outside of the case 3. This opening 3Ga is normally closed with a cover 3Gb.

[0021] With this configuration, a worker performing cleaning work can remove the clamp bands 16A and 17C from the inner tube 16 and extension tube 17B inside the case 3 through the side wall opening 3Fa, respectively, to detach them from the supply tube 13 and suction tube 14, and then release the connection between the straight member 30B and the long side 30Aa of the L-shaped member 30A through the side wall opening 3Ga, tilting the L-shaped member 30A downward with the tip of the short side 30Ab as a fulcrum, as shown in Fig. 4. This causes the container 10 containing the injection member 9 to also tilt, so the worker further removes the straight member 30B from the side frame 31B, slightly lifts the container 10, and pulls the fitting hole in the short side portion 10Ba of the L-shaped support 10B up from the engagement pin 32B, and then pulls the container 10 out of the side wall opening 3Ga. In this way, the injection member 9 and the container 10 can be removed from the housing 3 and washed, and after washing, the injection member 9 and the container 10 can be set back into the housing 3 by performing the reverse operation.

[0022] In the heat treatment device 1 configured as above, the heat treatment is performed on the article 2 as follows. First, in each heating unit 5, the blower 11 is activated and the on-off valve V1 is opened to supply saturated steam to the connecting pipe 15 and activate the heater 12. As a result, the saturated steam is heated by the heater 12 to become superheated steam. This superheated steam is supplied to the spray member 9 and sprayed, and is also collected from the container 10 by the suction action of the blower 11 and sent again through the connecting pipe 15 to the heater 12 for circulation, continuing until a predetermined temperature is reached for each heating unit 5. When the superheated steam reaches a predetermined flow rate, the on-off valve V1 is closed to stop the supply of saturated steam. In this state, circulation by the blower 11 and heating by the heater 12 continue. During this time, the conveying means 4 is operated to move the heating plate 8 within the housing 3, and superheated steam sprayed from each spray member 9 is sprayed onto the back surface 8b of the heating plate 8 to heat it. When the temperature of the heating plate 8 within the housing 3 reaches a predetermined temperature, the introduction of the items 2 can begin. In addition, the heating plate 8 is heated in each compartment 3B, 3C, and in the compartment 3D on the outlet side, the on-off valve V3 is opened to spray cooling water from the spray member 24 onto the back surface 8b of the heating plate 8, thereby lowering the temperature of the heating plate 8, and in front of the compartment 3A on the inlet side, oil is sprayed from the spray nozzle 24 before the heating plate 8 enters the box body 3. In addition, when the item 2 is to be steamed, the on-off valves V2 and V4 are opened as necessary, and the water supplied from the water supply source 25 is heated by the heat exchanger 27, and the water is sprayed from the spray member 23 into the compartments 3B and 3C, which are the heating treatment chambers.

[0023] After these preparation steps are completed, multiple items 2 are placed across the conveying width on each heating plate 8 just before the entrance 3Aa, either manually or by a handling mechanism such as a robot. The placed items 2 are carried into the housing 3 by the movement of the heating plate 8, and are heat-treated as they pass through the compartments 3B and 3C by the heating plate 8 being heated with superheated steam sprayed from the spray member 9. In each heating unit 5, the heating temperature of the heating plate 8 can be adjusted as desired by temperature control using the heater 12 and the supply of saturated steam by the saturated steam supply means 20. In this embodiment, the temperature is set to 300°C in compartment 3B and 200°C in compartment 3C, allowing cooking to be switched from high to low heat. When the heating plate 8 reaches the compartment 3D, the heating ends, and the heating plate 8 is cooled by cooling water sprayed from the spraying member 24.The heating plate 8 then moves to the outside through the exit 3Da, and the heat-treated item 2 is transported out of the box 3. The article 2 carried out to the outside is removed from the heating plate 8 by hand or by a handling mechanism such as a robot. The heating plate 8 then moves through the lower travel area, where dirt is removed by the rotating brush 29, oil is sprayed again from the spray nozzle 28, and a new article 2 is placed on it in the upper travel area.

[0024] The moving speed of the heating plate 8 by the conveying means 4, i.e., the conveying speed of the item 2, can be set arbitrarily depending on the processing content of the item 2 (the cooking content if the item 2 is food), and is set relatively slow if heating is to be done over a long period of time, and relatively fast if heating is to be done quickly. Furthermore, it is not necessary to transport the articles 2 continuously; the heating plate 8 may be moved intermittently with stops in between, and it is also possible to batch process multiple articles 2 at a time without moving the heating plate 8 from the heat treatment chamber during the heat treatment. The item 2 to be subjected to the heat treatment is not limited to processed foods such as hamburgers, steaks, and gyoza, but may also be food ingredients such as seafood and vegetables, or food in containers, and may further include not only food but also parts and components made of metal or resin, workpieces, wood, stone, and other products. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 1...heat treatment device 2...item 3...Box 3A~3D...Compartment 4...Transport means 5...Heating unit 8...heating plate 8a...mounting surface 8b... rear surface 9... injection member 10... Container 11... Blower (suction means) 12...Heater (heating means)

Claims

1. A heat treatment device that heat-treats an article using thermal energy of superheated steam, The heating apparatus comprises a box for heating an article therein, a heating plate on which the article to be heated is placed, an injection member for injecting superheated steam onto the rear surface of the heating plate, a container disposed directly below the heating plate in the box, containing the injection member and covering the rear surface of the heating plate, and suction means for sucking the superheated steam from the container, A heat treatment device characterized in that superheated steam is sprayed from the spray member onto a heating plate to heat the heating plate and heat-treat an item placed on it, and the superheated steam sprayed from the spray member is sucked out of the container by the suction means and recovered.

2. 2. The heat treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying means for continuously moving the heating plate along a conveying path to convey an article placed on the heating plate, and the injection member and the container are disposed below the conveying path along which the heating plate moves.

3. 3. The heat treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising a circulation passage for supplying the superheated steam sucked from the container to the injection member, and the suction means is provided in the circulation passage, so that the superheated steam is recovered from the container and injected from the injection member.

4. 3. The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a treatment chamber provided to cover the transfer path of said transfer means, and a water spray member for spraying water into said treatment chamber.

5. A heat treatment device as described in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the injection member has a box-shaped body with a number of injection holes drilled in the lid portion which forms the top surface, and the container is formed in a box shape with an open top.

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