High-frequency defrosting device

Abstract

To provide a high frequency defrosting device that improves the reliability and maintainability of the entire equipment and suppresses thawing unevenness of an object to be thawed.SOLUTION: A high frequency defrosting device according to the present invention includes an upper electrode 51 connected to a high frequency power supply 20 and arranged on the wall surface of a heating chamber 60, and a lower electrode 52 connected to the high frequency power supply 20 and arranged on the wall surface of the heating chamber 60 so as to face the upper electrode 51. Between the upper electrode 51 and the lower electrode 52, an intermediate electrode 53 is provided for transmitting and receiving the electric field generated between the upper electrode 51 and the lower electrode 52. The intermediate electrode 53 is detachable from the heating chamber 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-frequency thawing device for thawing foodstuffs and the like in a frozen state.

Background Art

[0002] Domestic microwave ovens consistently use microwaves (frequency 2.45 GHz) from thawing to heating foodstuffs in a frozen state. Since microwaves have a short wavelength, when the foodstuff is large, microwaves do not penetrate to the center of the foodstuff and it takes time to thaw. Also, since the dielectric loss factor of the water contained in the foodstuff after thawing is larger than that of the ice before thawing, thawing unevenness may occur where the part that has turned from ice to water is excessively heated first.

[0003] On the other hand, in the case of dielectric heating using high frequencies of 1 to 100 MHz, since the ratio of the dielectric loss factors of ice and water before and after thawing is small, it is said to be suitable for thawing with less unevenness, and high-frequency thawing devices are utilized in commercial thawing machines and the like.

[0004] A high-frequency thawing device generally applies a high-frequency high voltage between two electrodes and places an object to be thawed, such as a foodstuff, therebetween. However, when the air layer (air gap) between the object to be thawed and the electrode is large, energy is difficult to be transmitted to the object to be thawed because the dielectric constant of air is small, and the heating efficiency deteriorates. As a result, the thawing time becomes long in a general high-frequency thawing device.

[0005] To solve this problem, for example, the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have been proposed. In Patent Document 1, the upper electrode is changed according to the concavo-convex shape of the object to be thawed, and the upper electrode is made to be in close contact with the object to be thawed.

[0006] Also, in Patent Document 2, for the purpose of reducing thawing unevenness, the lower electrode located below the thawing part is divided into a plurality in a matrix shape, and is mechanically moved up and down, or locally controlled by a switch that switches electrically active electrodes.

Prior Art Documents

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-78151 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2020 / 027240 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is based on the premise that the electrodes are movable or deformable, requiring drive mechanisms such as drive motors, gears, and bearings, which increases the number of parts and may shorten the system life due to wear and deterioration of the mechanical parts. In addition, depending on how the end user handles it or the vibration environment, it may induce malfunctions such as misalignment, which reduces the overall reliability and maintainability of the device.

[0009] Furthermore, the technology described in Patent Document 2 has mechanical or electrical switches, which necessitates designing for safety against damage, burnout, insulation failure, contact welding, and poor contact in terms of operational durability associated with switch opening and closing. This presents challenges in terms of reducing the overall reliability and maintainability of the device. In addition, the device is prone to failures caused by drops, earthquakes, etc., which further reduces the overall reliability and maintainability of the device.

[0010] The objective of this invention is to solve the above problems, improve the reliability and maintainability of the entire apparatus, and to enable the thawing of the object to be thawed. Mura The objective is to provide a high-frequency thawing device that suppresses [unclear / unclear]. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a high-frequency defrosting apparatus comprising a first electrode connected to a high-frequency power supply and positioned on the wall of a heating chamber, and a second electrode connected to the high-frequency power supply and positioned on the wall of the heating chamber opposite the first electrode, wherein the apparatus further comprises an intermediate electrode positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode for transmitting and receiving the electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, The first electrode and the second electrode are formed in a spiral shape, and the intermediate electrode comprises a spiral-shaped first intermediate electrode portion facing the first electrode and formed such that the direction of the spiral is the same as that of the second electrode, and a spiral-shaped second intermediate electrode portion facing the second electrode and formed such that the direction of the spiral is the same as that of the first electrode. The intermediate electrode is characterized by being detachably provided from the heating chamber. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, the reliability and maintainability of the entire apparatus are improved, and the thawing of the object to be thawed is also improved. Mura This allows us to provide a high-frequency thawing device that suppresses [unclear / unclear]. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the overall configuration of the high-frequency defrosting device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the configuration in Figure 1, excluding the housing 80, heating chamber 60, and holding plate 40. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the upper electrode 51. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the lower electrode 52. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the intermediate electrode 53. [Figure 6A] This is a diagram illustrating the operating principle of an equivalent circuit for a comparative example. [Figure 6B] This is an operating principle diagram showing the equivalent circuit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 6C] This is a diagram illustrating the operating principle, showing the apparent equivalent circuit due to the virtual lower electrode. [Figure 7A] This figure shows the volumetric energy density analysis results for a comparative example that does not use an intermediate electrode. [Figure 7B] This figure shows the volumetric energy density analysis results according to Example 1 of the present invention. [Figure 7C]It is a diagram showing the analysis result of the volume energy density according to Example 2 of the present invention. [Figure 8A] It is a diagram showing a state in which the intermediate electrode is omitted when the thawed object 10 according to Example 3 of the present invention is thick. [Figure 8B] It is a diagram showing a state in which one intermediate electrode 53 is used when the thawed object 10 according to Example 3 of the present invention is thin. [Figure 8C] It is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of intermediate electrodes 53 are used in the vertical direction when the thawed object 10 according to Example 3 of the present invention is thin. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing a state of thawing a plurality of foodstuffs according to Example 4 of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, for the same elements, the same reference numerals are basically given in all the drawings. Also, the description of parts having the same function will be omitted. Note that the configurations described below are merely examples, and the embodiments according to the present invention are not intended to be limited to the following specific modes.

Example

[0015] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the overall configuration of the high-frequency thawing device 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention.

[0016] An upper electrode 51 (first electrode) and a lower electrode 52 (second electrode) are arranged above and below the housing 80. A high-frequency power supply 20 is electrically connected to the upper electrode 51 and the lower electrode 52 via a matching circuit. The upper electrode 51 and the lower electrode 52 are both arranged on the upper and lower wall surfaces outside the heating chamber 60 made of an insulating material so that the metal is not exposed in order to prevent performance deterioration due to oxidation and spark generation due to contact with an unintended conductor. Also, the upper electrode 51 and the lower electrode 52 are configured in a positional relationship of so-called parallel plates that are arranged opposite to each other. Here, examples of the insulating material include resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

[0017] Multiple shelf sections 70, which have an uneven shape and are arranged vertically, are formed on the left and right walls of the heating chamber 60, and the retaining plate 40 is placed on these shelf sections 70 by being inserted into them. That is, the left and right ends of the retaining plate 40 are placed on the shelf sections 70.

[0018] The holding plate 40 is made of an insulating material, and an intermediate electrode 53 is connected to its lower part. Since the intermediate electrode 53 is not directly electrically connected to the high-frequency power supply 20, the holding plate 40 and the intermediate electrode 53 are detachable from the heating chamber 60. The holding plate 40 may be a simple plate, or it may be a container filled with gel or liquid. The gel or liquid is characterized by having a dielectric constant that is higher than the dielectric constant of the object to be thawed 10 when frozen, and lower than the dielectric constant when thawed. Examples include water, or inert refrigerants such as ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. This also makes it possible to prevent overheating of the object to be thawed 10 after thawing.

[0019] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the configuration in Figure 1, excluding the housing 80, heating chamber 60, and holding plate 40. Figure 3 is an external perspective view of the upper electrode 51. Figure 4 is an external perspective view of the lower electrode 52. Figure 5 is an external perspective view of the intermediate electrode 53.

[0020] The upper electrode 51 is constructed by connecting a plate-shaped upper plate electrode 51a and a spiral-shaped upper spiral electrode 51b. A power line 21 that supplies a high-frequency power supply 20 is connected to the upper plate electrode 51a of the upper electrode 51.

[0021] The lower electrode 52 is composed of a lower plate electrode 52a, which is formed in a plate shape, and a lower spiral electrode 52b, which is formed in a spiral shape, connected to each other. A power line 21 that supplies a high-frequency power supply 20 is connected to the lower plate electrode 52a of the lower electrode 52.

[0022] The intermediate electrode 53 is constructed by connecting an intermediate upper spiral electrode 53a, which is formed in a spiral shape, an intermediate plate electrode 53b, which is formed in a plate shape, and an intermediate lower spiral electrode 53c, which is also formed in a spiral shape.

[0023] With the structure described above, the holding plate 40 can be placed at any position in the heating chamber 60 that coincides with the position where the object to be thawed 10 is placed, even without mechanical or electrical moving parts. This makes it possible to easily improve the reliability and maintainability of the entire device and to provide a high-frequency thawing device with improved customizability to suit the object to be thawed, even if the type, shape, or number of objects to be thawed changes, simply by changing the shape or position of the intermediate electrode 53 connected to the holding plate 40, at a low cost.

[0024] Next, the operating principle will be explained using Figures 6A to 6C. Figure 6A is an operating principle diagram showing the equivalent circuit of a comparative example. In Figure 6A, the intermediate electrode 53 and vortex electrodes (upper vortex electrode 51b, lower vortex electrode 52b) of this embodiment are not used. In the structure of Figure 6A, an air gap is interposed between the upper electrode 51c and the object to be thawed 10. As a result, the energy supplied by the high-frequency power supply 20 does not efficiently reach the object to be thawed 10, and is partially absorbed by the air gap. This leads to problems such as longer thawing times or wasted electricity.

[0025] Furthermore, even if the intermediate electrode 53 is not used and a structure is adopted in which vortex electrodes (upper vortex electrode 51b, lower vortex electrode 52b) are connected to the upper and lower plate-shaped electrodes (upper plate-shaped electrode 51a, lower plate-shaped electrode 52a), if the air gap between the object to be thawed 10 and the upper electrode 51 is large, most of the electric field lines around the upper vortex electrode 51b will not reach the object to be thawed 10 but will escape towards the housing 80, thus reducing the thawing efficiency. This is because the space between the housing 80 and the upper electrode 51 is smaller than the space (i.e., capacitance) between the object to be thawed 10 and the upper electrode 51, causing electric field lines to flow more easily toward the side with lower capacitance.

[0026] Figure 6B is an operating principle diagram showing the equivalent circuit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 6C is an operating principle diagram showing the apparent equivalent circuit due to the virtual lower electrode.

[0027] In the configuration shown in Figure 6B, which includes the intermediate electrode 53 that is a characteristic of this embodiment, the electrical potential is the same within height h. Furthermore, the intermediate upper spiral electrode 53a (first intermediate electrode section) and the intermediate lower spiral electrode 53c (second intermediate electrode section), which are connected to the intermediate plate-shaped electrode 53b, function as antennas that transmit and receive the electric field generated between the upper electrode 51 and the lower electrode 52.

[0028] Here, the upper spiral electrode 51b and the intermediate upper spiral electrode 53a are configured so that the direction of their respective spirals is mirror-symmetric, and the lower spiral electrode 52b and the intermediate lower spiral electrode 53c are configured so that the direction of their respective spirals is mirror-symmetric. Furthermore, the upper spiral electrode 51b and the lower spiral electrode 52b are configured so that the direction of their respective spirals is mirror-symmetric. In other words, the upper spiral electrode 51b and the intermediate lower spiral electrode 53c are configured so that the direction of their respective spirals is the same, and the intermediate upper spiral electrode 53a and the lower spiral electrode 52b are configured so that the direction of their respective spirals is the same.

[0029] This structure ensures that the direction of the magnetic flux induced in each vortex electrode and created by the current all coincides, making it easier for the antenna to transmit and receive electric fields.

[0030] Therefore, as shown in Figure 6C, the apparent equivalent circuit has the same physical meaning as if the lower electrode 52 were closer to the object being thawed 10 at the position of the virtual lower electrode 52d by the total height h of the intermediate electrode 53, and functions as if the upper electrode 51 or the lower electrode 52 itself were moving, even without actually moving them. Thus, it is possible to minimize the air gap even without moving parts, and the thawing efficiency can be improved.

[0031] In this embodiment, the intermediate electrode 53 is connected to the holding plate 40, but the holding plate 40 may be eliminated, and the intermediate electrode 53 itself may be used as the holding plate, with the object to be thawed 10 placed directly on the intermediate electrode 53. In that case, the left and right ends of the intermediate plate-shaped electrode 53b of the intermediate electrode 53 are placed on the shelf 70 to hold the intermediate electrode 53 inside the heating chamber 60. Alternatively, the intermediate electrode 53 may be suspended and connected from the holding plate 40. [Examples]

[0032] Next, Example 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 7. Figure 7A shows the volume energy density analysis results for a comparative example that does not use an intermediate electrode. Figure 7B shows the volume energy density analysis results for Example 1 of the present invention. Figure 7C shows the volume energy density analysis results for Example 2 of the present invention. The right-hand figures in Figures 7 to 7C show the volume energy density analysis results in the B-B' cross-section obtained by crossing the thawed material 10 in the left-hand figure along the B-B' line.

[0033] As shown in Figure 7C, in Example 2, the intermediate electrode 53 in Figure 1 is provided in such a way that the object to be thawed 10 is thawed only in localized areas, rather than as a whole, and is characterized by having an intermediate electrode 53 that is smaller in the planar direction (horizontal direction) than the upper electrode 51 or the lower electrode 52.

[0034] First, in the comparative example shown in Figure 7A, where there is no intermediate electrode 53, an air gap is present between the upper electrode 51 and the object to be thawed 10. As a result, the energy supplied by the high-frequency power supply 20 does not efficiently reach the object to be thawed 10 in the area indicated by the circle in the center of the left side of the figure, and is partially absorbed by the air gap. In addition, electric field concentration occurs in the area indicated by the circle on the edge of the object to be thawed 10 in the left side of Figure 7A. Therefore, in the comparative example, as shown in the right side of Figure 7A, the volumetric energy density at the corners (sharp corners) of the object to be thawed becomes locally high, preventing the object to be thawed 10 from being thawed uniformly, resulting in uneven thawing.

[0035] As shown in the first example (configuration in Figure 1) in Figure 7B, when an intermediate electrode 53 is provided between the upper electrode 51 and the lower electrode 52, the air gap between the upper electrode 51 and the object to be thawed 10 becomes smaller, the heating efficiency is improved by the antenna transmission and reception of the intermediate electrode 53, and the concentration of the electric field at the edges of the object to be thawed 10 can also be mitigated. For this reason, in the configuration of the first example (configuration in Figure 1), uneven thawing of the object to be thawed 10 can be suppressed, as shown in the right diagram of Figure 7B.

[0036] In the configuration shown in Figure 7B, thawing is promoted throughout the entire object to be thawed 10. However, depending on the user's preference, it may be desirable to thaw only a portion of the object to be thawed 10. In this case, the configuration shown in Figure 7C is preferable. In the configuration shown in Figure 7C, an intermediate electrode 53 is provided that is smaller in the planar direction (horizontal direction) than the upper electrode 51 or the lower electrode 52, so that only a portion of the object to be thawed 10 (the portion to be thawed 12) can be thawed. In other words, the intermediate electrode 53 is smaller than the planar direction (horizontal direction) of the object to be thawed 10. Only the portion to be thawed 12 sandwiched between the upper electrode 51 and the intermediate electrode 53 is thawed, while the portion to be frozen 13 not sandwiched between the upper electrode 51 and the intermediate electrode 53 remains frozen.

[0037] With this configuration, as explained in the principle diagram of Figure 6C, the air gap between the upper electrode 51 and the object to be thawed 10 is partially eliminated, improving local heating efficiency. As a result, partial thawing of the object to be thawed 10 becomes possible, as shown in the B-B' cross-sectional view in the left diagram of Figure 7C. In the configuration shown in Figure 7C relating to Example 2, the thawing process of the object to be thawed 10 can be performed simultaneously on the part to be thawed (part 12 to be thawed) and the part to be kept frozen (part 13 to be frozen).

[0038] In Figure 7C, the distance from the central end of the intermediate plate electrode 53b to the area to be frozen 13 is defined as x, the cross-sectional area of ​​the object to be thawed 10 in the plane of the paper is a, and the equivalent thermal conductivity of the object to be thawed 10 in the horizontal plane is defined as λ. When the temperature difference between the area to be frozen 13 and the area to be thawed 12 is ΔT, the energy supplied to the high-frequency power supply is P, and the thawing efficiency is η, then equations (1) and (2) hold. Equation (1) is the relationship between thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, and equation (2) is obtained by rearranging it and solving for the distance x.

[0039]

number

[0040]

number

[0041] Assuming an actual food ingredient (for example, beef) in the above equation, the cross-section a has a depth of 500 [cm] × height of 300 [cm] = 0.15 [m]. 2 Substituting the equivalent thermal conductivity λ = 1 [W / (mK)], the temperature difference between the freezing and thawing regions ΔT = 0 [℃] - (-30 [℃]) = 30 [K], the input energy P = 1 [kW] = 1000 [W], and the thawing efficiency η = 50 [%] = 0.5 [-], the distance x from the end of the conductive plate-like member 31 to the region where thawing is not desired is given by equation (3) as follows.

[0042]

number

[0043] Even with other ingredients, even if they are generally dense, low in fat, and have high thermal conductivity, their thermal conductivity is lower than that of ice, with λ = 0.1 to 1.5 [W / (mK)]. Also, if the internal size is equivalent to that of a microwave oven, the cross-sectional area is approximately 0.15 [m²] as mentioned above. 2 ] is the maximum value.

[0044] In other words, by increasing the output to improve thawing efficiency and performing rapid thawing, it is only necessary to move the intermediate plate-shaped electrode 53b about 1 mm to 20 mm away from the area to be frozen, making partial thawing possible without increasing the size of the heating chamber 60. However, if the output is low or the thawing efficiency is poor, the distance may be several times greater (for example, 100 mm), so caution is necessary.

[0045] The value of being able to partially thaw food lies in the reduced risk of overheating the frozen portion. This allows for the partial thawing of large quantities of food, such as 10-20 kg steaks or 1 liter (1000 mL) or more of fresh cream, which are typically purchased in large sizes and then portioned out for sale. The remaining portion can then be refrozen.

[0046] Therefore, for restaurants that handle frozen ingredients, purchasing ingredients in large quantities from producers allows them to acquire ingredients at a lower cost. Furthermore, freezing reduces the frequency of ordering, transportation, and delivery, thus alleviating labor shortages. In addition, it becomes possible to supply ingredients to unexpected group customers, preventing lost sales opportunities. Moreover, for ingredients that become unsaleable within about two days after thawing, unnecessary thawing can be avoided, thus reducing food waste. [Examples]

[0047] Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8A shows the state in which the intermediate electrode is omitted when the object to be thawed 10 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is thick. Figure 8B shows the state in which one intermediate electrode 53 is used when the object to be thawed 10 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is thin. Figure 8C shows the state in which multiple intermediate electrodes 53 are used vertically when the object to be thawed 10 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is thin. Although not shown in Figure 8, since the shelf section 70 shown in Figure 1 is provided on the inner wall of the heating chamber 60, the height of the object to be thawed 10 can be adjusted by changing or removing the installation positions of the detachable holding plate 40 and the intermediate electrode 53.

[0048] In Figures 8A to 8C, the heating chamber 60 is the same size in all cases, and the upper electrode 51 and lower electrode 52, which are located outside the heating chamber 60, are not mechanically moved. In this embodiment, a detachable intermediate electrode 53 is provided, and the installation position of the intermediate electrode 53 can be changed or the intermediate electrode 53 can be removed. Therefore, regardless of the thickness (height) of the object to be thawed 10, it is possible to provide a high-frequency thawing device that improves the reliability and maintainability of the entire device and enhances customizability to match the thickness (height) of the object to be thawed 10, at a low cost.

[0049] As shown in Figure 8B, the intermediate plate-shaped electrode 53b of the intermediate electrode 53 may be configured using multiple flat plates connected vertically.

[0050] In the configuration shown in Figure 8B, multiple intermediate plate-shaped electrodes 53b are provided. An intermediate upper spiral electrode 53a (first intermediate electrode section) is positioned above one intermediate plate-shaped electrode 53b, and an intermediate lower spiral electrode 53c (second intermediate electrode section) is positioned below the other intermediate plate-shaped electrode 53b. One intermediate plate-shaped electrode 53b and the other intermediate plate-shaped electrode 53b are electrically connected by a conductive member. By making the conductive member a flexible wire or spring shape, it is possible to change its shape to follow variations in the height of the object to be thawed 10. The upper and lower intermediate plate-shaped electrodes 53b are each placed at arbitrary positions on the shelf section 70, and their heights are adjusted.

[0051] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 8C, if the object to be thawed 10 is an integer multiple of the height of the intermediate electrode 53, it is possible to stack multiple intermediate electrodes 53 of the same shape in the vertical direction. In this way, it is possible to use intermediate electrodes 53 of the same shape whether there is one object to be thawed or two objects stacked vertically, thereby minimizing the number of parts. [Examples]

[0052] Next, Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a diagram showing the state of thawing multiple food ingredients according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0053] Bento boxes sometimes contain multiple ingredients (items to be thawed 10) in a single container and are frozen for storage. These frozen bento boxes are then thawed and eaten. Because multiple ingredients (items to be thawed 10) are stored in the bento box container, ingredients intended for thawing 12 and ingredients intended for freezing 13 are mixed together.

[0054] Therefore, in this embodiment, multiple intermediate electrodes 53 are arranged horizontally to match the positions of the areas 12 to be thawed on the food (item to be thawed 10). For example, as shown in Figure 9, inside the bento container placed in the heating chamber 60, the areas 12 to be thawed, the areas 13 to be frozen, and the food (item to be thawed 10) in the areas 12 to be thawed are arranged in a line from left to right in the horizontal direction. Below each of the two areas 12 to be thawed on the bento container, an intermediate electrode 53 is positioned. By arranging the intermediate electrodes 53 in this way to match the positions of the areas 12 to be thawed, thawing is accelerated only in the areas where the intermediate electrodes 53 are provided. Subsequently, when the entire container is heated in a microwave oven, it becomes possible to heat only the main dish without heating side dishes. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 10...object to be thawed, 12...desired thawing area, 13...desired freezing area, 20...high frequency power supply, 21...power line, 40...holding plate, 51...upper electrode, 51a...upper plate electrode, 51b...upper spiral electrode, 51c...upper electrode, 52...lower electrode, 52a...lower plate electrode , 52b...lower spiral electrode, 52c...lower electrode, 52d...virtual lower electrode, 53...middle electrode, 53a...middle upper spiral electrode, 53b...middle plate electrode, 53c...middle lower spiral electrode, 60...heating chamber, 70...shelf, 80...casing, 100...high frequency thawing device

Claims

1. A high-frequency defrosting apparatus comprising a first electrode connected to a high-frequency power supply and positioned on the wall of a heating chamber, and a second electrode connected to the high-frequency power supply and positioned on the wall of the heating chamber so as to face the first electrode, The device includes an intermediate electrode positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, which transmits and receives the electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, The first electrode and the second electrode are formed in a spiral shape. The intermediate electrode comprises a spiral-shaped first intermediate electrode portion facing the first electrode and formed such that the direction of the vortex is the same as that of the second electrode, and a spiral-shaped second intermediate electrode portion facing the second electrode and formed such that the direction of the vortex is the same as that of the first electrode. A high-frequency thawing apparatus characterized in that the intermediate electrode is detachably provided from the heating chamber.

2. In the high-frequency defrosting apparatus according to claim 1, A high-frequency defrosting apparatus characterized in that a plate-shaped intermediate plate electrode is provided between the first intermediate electrode section and the second intermediate electrode section.

3. In the high-frequency defrosting apparatus according to claim 2, A high-frequency defrosting apparatus characterized in that the left and right walls of the heating chamber are provided with a plurality of shelves having an uneven shape and arranged vertically, and the ends of the intermediate plate-shaped electrodes are placed on the shelves.

4. In the high-frequency defrosting apparatus according to claim 1, The heating chamber is equipped with a holding plate on which the object to be thawed is placed, The left and right walls of the heating chamber are provided with a plurality of shelves having an uneven shape and arranged vertically. A high-frequency defrosting apparatus characterized by placing the end of the holding plate on the shelf and connecting the intermediate electrode below the holding plate.

5. In the high-frequency defrosting apparatus according to claim 4, A high-frequency thawing apparatus characterized in that the inside of the holding plate is provided with a material whose dielectric constant is higher than that of the object to be thawed when frozen and lower than that of the object when thawed.

6. In the high-frequency defrosting apparatus according to claim 4, The high-frequency defrosting apparatus is characterized in that the intermediate electrode has a smaller horizontal size than the first electrode or the second electrode.

7. In the high-frequency defrosting apparatus according to claim 6, A high-frequency defrosting apparatus characterized by having multiple intermediate electrodes and arranging the multiple intermediate electrodes in a horizontal direction.

8. In the high-frequency defrosting apparatus according to claim 7, A high-frequency thawing apparatus characterized in that the plurality of intermediate electrodes are arranged to match the position of the part of the object to be thawed.

9. In the high-frequency defrosting apparatus according to claim 2, A high-frequency defrosting device characterized by providing a plurality of intermediate plate-shaped electrodes, arranging the first intermediate electrode portion above one intermediate plate-shaped electrode, arranging the second intermediate electrode portion below the other intermediate plate-shaped electrode, and electrically connecting the one intermediate plate-shaped electrode to the other intermediate plate-shaped electrode.

10. In the high-frequency defrosting apparatus according to claim 2, A high-frequency defrosting apparatus characterized by having a plurality of intermediate electrodes, and arranging the plurality of intermediate electrodes in a vertical direction.

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