JP3753624B2 - Mixing device for sugar content adjustment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mixing device for adjusting the sugar content in which a stock solution and water are continuously mixed and diluted to a predetermined sugar content when producing tea or fruit juice beverages.
[0002]
[Prior art]
This kind of mixing device for adjusting sugar content is a stock solution tank, a water tank, a mixing means, two pumps for separately feeding the stock solution and water of both tanks to the mixing means, and a product sent from the mixing means. It comprises a sugar meter that continuously detects sugar content and a control means. The mixing means includes, for example, a line mixer that mixes undiluted solution and water fed from both pumps into the pipe line, and the line mixer. The degassing and liquid mixture stabilization tank connected to the outlet, and the control means reduces the difference based on the difference between the detected sugar content value detected by the sugar content meter and the set target sugar content value. In addition, the supply flow rate of each liquid is controlled.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the use of such a mixing device, since a stock solution such as a soft drink is often supplied at a low temperature of about 2 ° C., when the device enters a standby state, the temperature of the detection unit in the saccharimeter increases, and the display unit The displayed sugar content may be off. That is, the sugar meter that is often used at present is a refractometer that applies the principle of light refraction that the refractive index increases proportionally as the concentration of the solution increases. Has a detection unit that performs measurement using the refraction of light generated at the interface between the small prism plane exposed to the liquid to be measured, and the refractive index detected by this detection unit is converted into sugar content, It is displayed on the display unit. However, even if the temperature of the liquid does not change, when the temperature of the detection unit rises, the measurement value of the refractive index changes, and the accurate sugar content may not be detected.
[0004]
In view of the above, the present invention can accurately detect the sugar content without causing a change in the measured value even when the temperature of the detection unit rises due to the apparatus entering a standby state when the stock solution temperature is low. An object of the present invention is to provide a sugar content adjusting mixing device equipped with a sugar content meter.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a stock solution tank 1, a water tank 2, a mixing means 3, two pumps 4 and 5 for feeding the stock solution and water of both tanks 1 and 2 to the mixing means 3 separately, The difference is reduced based on the difference between the sugar content meter 8 that continuously detects the sugar content of the product delivered from the mixing means 3 and the detected sugar content value detected by the sugar content meter 8 and the set target sugar content value. In the sugar content adjusting mixing device comprising a control means 24 for controlling the supply flow rate of each liquid, a cooling means 11 for cooling the detecting portion 8a of the sugar content meter 8 is provided, and this cooling means 11 is a cooling water supply pipe. The detection unit 8a is cooled by the cooling water supplied from the cooling water supply port 36a connected to 11a, and the cooling water is discharged from the cooling water discharge port 36b connected to the cooling water discharge pipe 11b. It is characterized by becoming.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the sugar content adjusting mixing apparatus according to the first aspect, the on-off valve 13 is opened during operation of the pump 4 for feeding the raw liquid to the outlet 12 of the raw liquid tank 1 and is closed when the pump 4 is stopped. It is characterized by providing.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire sugar content adjusting mixing apparatus according to the present invention. In this figure, 1 is a stock solution tank, 2 is a water tank, and 3 is a mixing means. 4 is a rotary pump that feeds the stock solution in the stock solution tank 1 to the mixing means 3, and 5 is a rotary pump that feeds the water in the water tank 2 to the mixing means 3. The mixing means 3 includes a line mixer 6 that mixes the undiluted solution and water fed from both pumps 4 and 5 in the pipe line, and a degassing and mixture stabilizing tank 7 connected to the outlet of the line mixer 6. Consists of Reference numeral 8 denotes a saccharimeter, which is interposed in the middle of the product delivery pipe 9 connected to the outlet of the degassing and liquid mixture stabilization tank 7, and this product delivery pipe 9 is provided downstream of the saccharimeter 8. An electromagnetic flow rate detector 10 for detecting the product delivery flow rate is provided. Reference numeral 11 denotes a cooling means for cooling the detection unit of the sugar content meter 8.
[0008]
The outlet 12 of the stock solution tank 1 is provided with an on-off valve 13 that opens during operation of the pump 4 for feeding the stock solution, closes when the pump 4 stops, and opens when the operation of the pump 4 starts. Further, an electromagnetic flow rate detector 15 for detecting the stock solution feed flow rate is provided on the front side of the pump 4 in the stock solution feed pipe 14 connected to the outlet 12 of the stock solution tank 1. Furthermore, liquid level sensors 16 and 17 are provided in the stock solution tank 1 and the water tank 2, respectively.
[0009]
In the line mixer 4, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-58216, right-handed and left-handed helical elements are alternately arranged in the pipe line in the pipe axis direction and the ends of adjacent elements are arranged. A large number of interiors are arranged so as to contact each other at an angle of 90 degrees. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the tank 5 for degassing and liquid mixture stabilization includes an inlet 18 that opens tangentially to the intermediate wall intermediate height, an outlet 19 that opens at the center bottom, and an inside of the tank 5 below the inlet 18. Is composed of a net 20 stretched so as to be divided into two vertically, a deaeration pipe 22 with an on-off valve 21 opening at the center upper end, a liquid level sensor 23, and the like.
[0010]
Reference numeral 24 denotes control means composed of a sequence computer or the like, which has been previously stored with the detected sugar content value XBx from the sugar content meter 8, the target sugar content value SBx and the stock sugar content value GBx of the product to be set. A control program is executed based on a sugar content-specific gravity table (not shown) and the like, and the rotation speed adjusting means (inverters and the like) 25 and 26 of the pumps 4 and 5 are controlled to control the supply flow rates of the stock solution and water. It is like that.
[0011]
The sugar content meter 8 will be described. The sugar content meter 8 is composed of a main body portion and a display portion. FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B) show only the main body portion 8a of the sugar content meter 8 and display it. The portion is not shown. In this figure, 32 is a liquid introduction part, and the product from the degassing and liquid mixture stabilization tank 7 is introduced from the inlet part 33 connected to the product delivery pipe 9 and the outlet part 34 connected to the pipe 9. Discharged from. Reference numeral 35 denotes a prism whose surface side shown in contact with the liquid detects its refractive index. The main body 8a of the sugar content meter 8 is composed of a process refractometer capable of detecting a sugar content value range of 0 to 20 ° Bx with a high accuracy of ± 0.05 °, and in particular, a range of 0 to 2 ° Bx is ± 0. It is suitable for detecting the sugar content of sugar-free beverages such as tea because of the higher accuracy of .01 °. Incidentally, the sugar content of oolong tea is about 0.24 ° Bx.
[0012]
2A and 2B, 36a is a cooling water supply port, 36b is a cooling water discharge port, and the cooling water (chilled water) supplied from the cooling water supply port 36a is from the periphery of the prism 35. After circulating through the required internal part of the main body 8a and cooling, it is discharged from the cooling water discharge port 36b. As shown schematically in FIG. 1, a cooling water supply pipe 11a and a cooling water discharge pipe 11b are connected to the cooling water supply port 36a and the cooling water discharge port 36b, respectively. Reference numeral 37 denotes a packing interposed between the liquid introduction part 32 and the prism head 38. The cooling means 11 includes the cooling water supply pipe 11a, the cooling water discharge pipe 11b, the cooling water supply port 36a, the cooling water discharge port 36b, and an internal circulation path (not shown).
[0013]
The control means 24 will be described in detail. The control means 24 reduces the difference based on the difference between the detected sugar content value XBx detected by the sugar content meter 8 and the set target sugar content value SBx. Although it has a function of automatically controlling the rotation speed adjusting means 25 and 26 of the pumps 4 and 5, specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the set raw solution sugar content value GBx and the target sugar content value SBx. , and the sugar content - and function 27 for obtaining a mixed ratio R of the two, based on the specific gravity G wr corresponding to the specific gravity Ywr the target Brix value SBx corresponding to concentrate Brix value GBx retrieved from the specific gravity table, product delivery which are set From the flow rate SQ and the mixing ratio R, the function 28 for calculating the stock solution feed flow rate SQ / R = GQ and the water feed flow rate SQ-GQ = WQ to the mixing means 3, Initial delivery of water A function 29 for controlling the rotational speed adjusting means 25 and 26 of the pumps 4 and 5 so as to obtain a supply flow rate, and a function 30 for increasing or decreasing the set stock solution sugar content value GBx are provided.
[0014]
The function 30 for increasing / decreasing the stock sugar content value GBx obtains the difference (or which is greater) between the detected sugar content value XBx detected by the sugar content meter 8 and the target sugar content value SBx, and the detected sugar content value XBx> target sugar content value SBx. In this case, for example, a value of XBx−SBx or a fixed value (for example, 1) + correction value is selected, and when detected sugar content value XBx <target sugar content value SBx, for example, a value of SBx−XBx or a constant value (for example, 1) The correction value calculation function 31 for selecting a-correction value is added, and correction is performed by adding the + correction value or the-correction value to the set stock sugar content value GBx.
[0015]
Further, the function 29 for controlling the rotation speed adjusting means 25 and 26 of the pumps 4 and 5 detects the supply flow rates of the stock solution and water from the pumps 4 and 5 to the mixing means 3 by the flow rate detectors 10 and 15. By controlling the discharge flow rate feedback of each pump 4, 5, the feed flow rate of the stock solution and water from each pump 4, 5 to the mixing means 3 is changed to the calculated feed solution feed flow rate GQ and water feed flow rate WQ. It is controlled to match. Here, electromagnetic flowmeters are used as the flow rate detectors 10 and 15, respectively. However, the water supply flow rate from the water tank 2 that uses pure water as water to be mixed with the stock solution is not directly detected, and is removed. The flow rate detector 10 detects the delivery flow rate SQ ′ of the product sent from the gas and liquid mixture stabilization tank 7, and the flow rate detector 15 detects the feed flow rate GQ ′ of the stock solution from the stock solution tank 1 to the mixing means 3. However, the water supply flow rate WQ ′ from the water tank 2 to the mixing means 3 is calculated as SQ′−GQ ′ = WQ ′.
[0016]
In the control means 24 configured as described above, the sugar concentration value GBx of the stock solution to be used, the target sugar content value SBx of the product, and the product delivery flow rate SQ are set for the control means 13, and the stock solution feed flow rate GQ and water feed are set. The flow rate WQ is calculated by the functions 27 and 28. For example, if the raw sugar content value GBx is 50 ° Bx, the target sugar content value SBx is 11 ° Bx, and the product delivery flow rate SQ is 200 liters / min,
GBx · Gwr / SBx · Swr = R
SQ / R = GQ
SQ-GQ = WQ
, The mixing ratio R = 5.387, the stock solution feed flow rate GQ is about 37 liters / min, and the water feed flow rate WQ is about 163 liters / min.
[0017]
The stock solution feed flow rate GQ and the water feed flow rate WQ obtained as described above are made to coincide with the actual stock solution feed flow rate GQ ′ and the water feed flow rate WQ ′ detected by the flow rate detectors 10 and 15. As described above, feedback control is performed by the function 29 for controlling the rotation speed adjusting means 25 and 26 of the pumps 4 and 5. As a result, the stock solution is fed to the line mixer 4 at a flow rate of about 37 liters / min by the stock solution feed rotary pump 4, and the water is fed to the line mixer 4 at a flow rate of about 163 liters / min by the water feed rotary pump 5. The stock solution and water are continuously mixed in the line mixer 6.
[0018]
The mixed solution sent out from the line mixer 6 is then fed into the degassing and mixed solution stabilizing tank 7, where it is degassed by rotating in the tank 7 and passing through the net 20, and mixed at the same time. Unevenness is eliminated and the product becomes a homogeneous product, which is fed from the product delivery pipe 9 to the next-stage filling machine. The gas separated in the upper part of the tank 7 is automatically discharged by controlling the opening / closing valve 21 in the degassing pipe 22 based on the detection result of the liquid level sensor 23.
[0019]
The sugar content of the product fed from the product delivery pipe 9 to the next filling machine is continuously measured by the sugar content meter 8, and the sugar content meter 8 includes a cooling means for cooling the detection unit 8a as described above. 11 is provided, and when the temperature of the stock solution is as low as 2 to 3 ° C., for example, even if the mixing unit 3 is in a standby state, the detection unit 8a is cooled by the cooling unit 11, and thus the temperature rises. Therefore, the measured value does not change and the sugar content displayed on the display unit does not deviate.
[0020]
In addition, since the calculation of the mixing ratio R in the control means 24 is performed at a sugar content of 20 ° C., the temperature of the stock solution is as low as about 2 to 3 ° C. Therefore, if the stock solution temperature at the start of mixing is low, In order to avoid this inconvenience, a temperature correction coefficient is created, the stock solution temperature is input, the stock solution sugar content is corrected, and thereby the stock solution sugar content error is minimized. .
[0021]
Next, the control by the stock solution sugar content adjustment function 30 is performed in combination. That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the difference (or which is larger) between the detected sugar content value XBx detected by the sugar content meter 8 and the target sugar content value SBx is obtained, and they match (setting an allowable error). If the difference is within the allowable error range, they can be treated as coincidence)), the increase / decrease adjustment of the set stock solution sugar content GBx is not performed, and the stock solution feed detected by the flow rate detectors 10 and 15 is performed. Based on the supply flow rate GQ ′ and the water supply flow rate WQ ′, the discharge flow rate feedback control of the pumps 4 and 5 is performed. When the detected sugar content value XBx is, for example, 12 ° Bx and is larger than the target sugar content value SBx (11 ° Bx), for example, a +1 correction value is added to the set stock solution sugar content value 50 ° Bx. When the detected sugar content value XBx is 10 ° Bx and smaller than the target sugar content value SBx, for example, a -1 correction value is added to the set stock solution sugar content value 50 ° Bx and 49 ° Bx. To correct.
[0022]
When the undiluted sugar content value GBx set in this way is corrected, the values of the undiluted solution feed flow rate GQ and the water feed flow rate WQ calculated based on the undiluted solution sugar content value GBx change. For example, when the stock solution sugar content value GBx is corrected from 50 ° Bx to 51 ° Bx as described above, the mixing ratio R described above is about 5.495, and the stock solution feed flow rate GQ is about 37 liters / min to about 36. The water supply flow rate WQ is changed from 163 liters / min to about 164 liters / min. When the stock solution sugar content value GBx is corrected from 50 ° Bx to 49 ° Bx, the mixing ratio R described above becomes about 5.232, and the stock solution feed flow rate GQ changes from 37 liter / min to about 38 liter / min. Instead, the water supply flow rate WQ is changed from 163 liter / min to about 162 liter / min. That is, when the detected sugar content value XBx> the target sugar content value SBx, the stock solution feed flow rate WQ is corrected to increase and the water feed flow rate WQ is corrected to decrease. When the detected sugar content value XBx <the target sugar content value SBx, the stock solution feed flow rate WQ is corrected to decrease and the water feed flow rate WQ is corrected to increase.
[0023]
When the undiluted sugar content GBx set as described above is corrected, the discharge flow rates of the pumps 4 and 5 are corrected accordingly. Therefore, the detected sugar content value XBx is more than the target sugar content value SBx as described above. Is larger, the discharge flow rate of the raw liquid feed rotary pump 4 is corrected to be decreased, and the discharge flow rate of the aqueous liquid feed rotary pump 5 is corrected to be increased. Further, when the detected sugar content value XBx is smaller than the target sugar content value SBx, the discharge flow rate of the raw liquid feed rotary pump 4 is corrected to increase, and the discharge flow rate of the water solution feed rotary pump 5 is corrected to decrease. Thereafter, the discharge flow rate feedback control of the pumps 1 and 2 is performed based on the corrected discharge flow rates of the pumps 4 and 5 and the actual stock solution feed flow rate WQ ′ and the water feed flow rate WQ ′. The supply flow rate of the stock solution and the supply flow rate of water are adjusted so that the detected sugar content value XBx of the product is equal to the target sugar content value SBx.
[0024]
Since the above-described increase / decrease adjustment operation of the set raw sugar content value GBx is continuously performed during the discharge flow rate feedback control of the pumps 4 and 5, the product sent from the mixing means 3 to the next-stage filling machine as a result. The detected sugar content value XBx detected by the sugar content meter 8 is equal to the preset target sugar content value SBx or within a set allowable error range.
[0025]
In the sugar content adjusting mixing apparatus described above, the outlet 12 of the stock solution tank 1 is provided with an on-off valve 13 that opens during operation of the pump 4 for feeding the stock solution and closes when the pump 4 stops. The stock solution in the stock solution tank 1 is not leaked to the stock solution feed pipe 14 side during the stop of the stock solution, so that the sugar content is not shaken (shaken), and the sugar content can be accurately detected. That is, since the stock solution has a higher specific gravity than water, if such an on-off valve 13 is not provided at the outlet 12 of the stock solution tank 1, the stock solution in the stock solution tank 1 is fed to the stock solution while the pump 4 is stopped. It leaks out to the supply pipe 14 side, the stock solution in the stock solution feed pipe 14 flows, and the sugar content detected by the sugar content meter 8 fluctuates.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the sugar content adjusting mixing device of the invention according to claim 1, when the saccharimeter is provided with a cooling means for cooling the detection unit, and the detection unit is always cooled, the stock solution temperature is low. In addition, even when the apparatus enters a standby state, the temperature of the detection unit does not rise, and therefore the sugar content can be accurately detected without causing a change in the measured value.
[0027]
According to the sugar content adjusting mixing device of the invention according to claim 2, since the open / close valve is provided at the outlet of the stock solution tank during operation of the pump for feeding the stock solution and closed when the pump stops, the pump is stopped. The stock solution in the stock solution tank does not leak into the stock solution supply pipe side, so that the sugar content does not shake (shake), and the sugar content can be accurately detected with a sugar content meter.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire sugar content adjusting mixing apparatus.
2A is a perspective view showing a main body portion of a saccharimeter, and FIG. 2B is a partially exploded perspective view showing the main body portion of the saccharimeter. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control means.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an increase / decrease adjustment procedure for a raw sugar content value.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stock solution tank 2 Water tank 3 Mixing means 4 Rotary pump for feeding stock solution 5 Rotary pump for feeding water 6 Line mixer 7 Tank for degassing and liquid mixture stabilization 8 Sugar meter 8a Sugar meter detector 10 Electromagnetic flow detection 11 Cooling means 13 On-off valve 15 Electromagnetic flow rate detector 24 Control means 25, 26 Pump rotation speed adjusting means

Claims (2)

A stock solution tank, a water tank, a mixing means, two pumps for separately feeding the stock solution and water of both tanks to the mixing means, and a saccharimeter for continuously detecting the sugar content of the product sent from the mixing means A sugar content adjusting mixing device comprising: a control means for controlling a feeding flow rate of each liquid so as to reduce the difference based on a difference between a detected sugar content value detected by the sugar content meter and a set target sugar content value. And a cooling means for cooling the detecting portion of the sugar content meter, the cooling means cooling the detecting portion with cooling water supplied from a cooling water supply port connected to a cooling water supply pipe, and cooling the cooling water. A sugar content adjusting mixing device characterized by being configured to discharge from a cooling water discharge port connected to a water discharge pipe .   The sugar content adjusting mixing device according to claim 1, wherein an opening / closing valve is provided at an outlet of the stock solution tank that opens during operation of a pump that feeds the stock solution and closes when the pump is stopped.

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