JP6971520B2 - Insulation standby device for raw rice and heat insulation standby method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a heat insulation standby device for raw rice and a heat insulation standby method for making washed raw rice stand by for a heat treatment step which is the next step.

An automatic rice cooking system (Patent Document 1) that heat-treats a large amount of raw rice in a batch manner to cook rice has been put into practical use as a food factory system. A heat treatment apparatus (Patent Document 2) that continuously heat-treats a large amount of raw rice for pregelatinization has also been put into practical use as a food factory system. Patent Document 3 shows a food heating device using steam, and adjusts the heating conditions of the food according to the waiting time of the food material before the heat treatment.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-146224 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-284513 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-11231

In the rice cooking or pregelatinization treatment, it is preferable that the water absorption treatment of the raw rice is performed each time by the amount of the heat treatment before the start of the heat treatment in the heat treatment apparatus. However, since the water absorption treatment of the raw rice takes time, if the water absorption treatment is performed each time, a waiting time is generated in the heat treatment apparatus during the water absorption treatment.

Therefore, a method has been proposed in which a large amount of raw rice is subjected to water absorption treatment in advance and kept in a container in a drained state, and the raw rice is transferred from the container to the heating device immediately before the heat treatment. However, in this case, it was found that the appearance, taste, and texture of the rice grains of the product vary depending on the length of the waiting time in the drained state.

Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 3, it has been proposed to adjust the heating conditions of food in the heat treatment apparatus according to the waiting time of the heat treatment. However, it has been found that the variation in the appearance, taste, and texture of rice products cannot be sufficiently eliminated by simply adjusting the heating temperature and heating time according to the standby time.

In the present invention, by allowing the washed raw rice to stand by at a predetermined temperature for heat treatment, heat insulation that can sufficiently eliminate variations in the appearance, taste, and texture of the product due to the difference in waiting time during heat treatment can be sufficiently eliminated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a standby device and a heat insulation standby method.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a heat-retaining standby device for raw rice in a state where it is absorbed and drained, and the raw rice is kept at a predetermined temperature to stand by for heat treatment. A first container capable of receiving the raw rice that has been washed and performing water absorption treatment, and a supply means capable of supplying immersion water adjusted to a predetermined temperature to allow the raw rice received in the first container to absorb water. and a second container which is provided surrounding at predetermined intervals outside the first container, the first container, a drainage means for draining漬水immersion, leaving the raw material rice, an internal The second container has an inlet for a temperature adjusting fluid and an outlet for the temperature adjusting fluid, and has a discharge means capable of discharging the raw material rice of the above. together configured such use fluid is discharged an outer periphery of the first container from the circulating electrolyte single discharge outlet, and supplying the temperature control fluid to the inlet opening, the temperature adjustment through the second container It is provided with a supply circulation means capable of circulating the fluid.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 7 is a method for keeping the raw rice warm for heat treatment in order to cook or pregelatinize the raw rice, and is a first container. And, using a second container provided at a predetermined interval on the outside of the first container, a step of receiving the washed raw rice in the first container and draining the rice, and the drained raw rice The step of supplying the immersion water to absorb water, the step of draining the raw rice that has finished absorbing the water, and the step of circulating and supplying the temperature adjusting fluid through the second container, the raw rice that has absorbed the water is the first. It is a method consisting of a step of allowing the rice to stand by while being adjusted to a predetermined temperature from the outside of the container.

According to the present invention, when the raw rice is continuously cooked or pregelatinized, the raw rice can be made to stand by for a heating device or a heat treatment while always maintaining a stable product temperature. Therefore, when the raw rice is continuously cooked or pregelatinized, the raw rice that maintains a constant temperature can be continuously supplied, and the appearance, taste, and texture of the finished product due to the difference in the temperature of the raw rice can be obtained. It is possible to provide a heat-retaining standby device and a heat-retaining standby method for raw rice that can sufficiently eliminate the variation in the above.

It is explanatory drawing of the structure of the raw material rice processing apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is a process diagram of the pregelatinization treatment of raw rice. It is explanatory drawing of the 1st container of the immersion tank. (A) is an overall perspective view, and (b) is a front view of a cross section of the drainage portion. It is explanatory drawing of the guide wall of the immersion tank. It is explanatory drawing of the 2nd container of the immersion tank. It is explanatory drawing of the flow of the temperature adjustment fluid in a dipping tank. It is explanatory drawing of the structure of a temperature control system. It is a flowchart of control of a temperature control system. It is explanatory drawing of the structure of the raw material rice processing apparatus of Example 3. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to the following examples. In the following examples, the immersion water is ordinary water whose temperature has been adjusted to the optimum temperature for water absorption treatment. The temperature adjusting fluid is a fluid used to maintain the product temperature of the raw material whose temperature has been adjusted to a predetermined temperature contained in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C, and is water, hot water, or oil. , Steam and other heat media are included.

(Rice processing equipment for raw materials)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the raw rice processing apparatus of Example 1. FIG. 1 shows a state in which immersion water is supplied to the raw material rice contained in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C to simultaneously perform water absorption treatment. As shown in FIG. 1, the raw material rice processing apparatus 100 of Example 1 is an apparatus for producing so-called pregelatinized rice obtained by pregelatinizing the raw material rice.

The rice washing device 50 mixes water at room temperature with the raw rice of the washing tank 51 and stirs it. The rice washing device 50 drains water after stirring, drains the raw rice, and then injects new water into the washing tank 51. The rice washing device 50 cleans the particles of the raw rice by stirring the raw rice and water in the washing tank 51, and removes foreign substances and excess starch particles adhering to the surface of the rice grains.

The submersible pump 52 is submerged in the washing tank 51. The submersible pump 52, which is an example of the housing body supply means, sucks up the raw rice that flows together with the water in the washing tank 51 in a flowing state together with the water, and among the pipes 53A, 53B, and 53C of the netted vinyl hose. Send to one. In the pipes 53A, 53B, and 53C, the raw rice is poured into the supply ports 25 of the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C, respectively, together with water.

The immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C hold the raw rice poured together with the water, separate the water by the drainage unit 16, drain the water from the drainage port 23, and collect it in the drainage tank 65. At this time, the valves 23a and 23b are open. The valve 23a uses a type in which a vinyl hose is pressed from the outside to open and close the water channel in order to avoid contact between the metal part and water. As a result, the water poured together with the raw material rice is drained into the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C to drain the raw material rice.

In the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C, the immersion water is drained from above through the supply port 25 from the immersion water supply device 60, which is an example of the supply means, in a state where a predetermined amount of the raw rice that has been washed is held inside and drained. Water absorption treatment is performed by being supplied. The immersion water supply device 60 sequentially sends out the immersion water which has been heated and adjusted to the optimum temperature for water absorption through the pipes 63A, 63B, 63C of the netted vinyl hose. The pipes 63A, 63B, and 63C inject the immersion water into the supply ports 25 of the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C, respectively.

At the time of water absorption treatment, the valve 23a for draining water from the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C is closed. Therefore, when the immersion water is injected into the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C to reach the full water level, the immersion water overflows into the immersion water recovery groove 14. When a predetermined time elapses after the start of the water absorption treatment, the immersion water supply device 60 reduces the supply amount of the immersion water to reduce the amount of the immersion water overflowing into the immersion water recovery groove 14.

The immersion water collected in the immersion water recovery groove 14 is returned to the immersion water supply device 60 through the drain port 14a. The immersion water supply device 60 adjusts the temperature of the recovered immersion water to the original temperature and sends it out to the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C again through the pipes 63A, 63B and 63C. In this way, the raw material rice is immersed in the temperature-controlled soaking water for a predetermined time, and the raw material rice is water-absorbed to a predetermined water absorption level.

When a predetermined time elapses after the start of immersion in the immersion water, the valves 23a and 23b are opened at the same time, and the immersion water of the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C is discharged from the drainage portion 16 through the drainage port 23 to the external drainage tank 65. It is drained to. After the water absorption treatment, the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C separate the immersion water into the outer drainage unit 16 by the drainage unit 16 while holding the raw rice that has been water-absorbed inside, and drain the water from the drainage port 23. As a result, the water-absorbed raw material rice in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C is drained to avoid excessive water absorption of the raw material rice. This is because if the amount of water absorption of the raw rice varies, the quality of the final product, pregelatinized rice, varies widely.

The upper supply ports 25 of the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C are covered with a polycarbonate resin in order to prevent foreign matter from entering from above and to suppress the evaporation of water from the raw rice in the standby step described later. 12 is done. The lid 12 is formed with a common opening for penetrating the washed raw rice pipes 53A, 53B, 53C and the soaking water pipes 63A, 63B, 63C.

In the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C, the raw rice that has been subjected to the water absorption treatment is held in a drained state. The outlets 21 provided at the lower ends of the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C are sealed by the shutter 24. The shutter 24 is automatically opened according to a command from the heat treatment device 70. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the shutter 24 is opened, the raw rice falls to the belt conveyor 71 shown in FIG. 1 through the take-out port 21, and the raw rice is conveyed by the belt conveyor 71 to the heat treatment apparatus. It is sent to 70.

The heat treatment apparatus 70 gradually blows steam, moist air, and dry air onto the raw rice conveyed in the apparatus by a belt conveyor (not shown) to heat the raw rice with a predetermined temperature curve to pregelatinize the raw rice. Proceed and dry.

(Manufacturing method of pregelatinized rice)
As shown in FIG. 1, the raw rice processing apparatus 100 waits for the raw rice for the heat treatment for pregelatinizing the raw rice, and keeps a predetermined interval between the first container 13 and the outside of the first container 13. A second container 20 provided vacantly is used. The raw rice processing apparatus 100 executes a water absorption step of supplying the drained raw rice with immersion water to absorb water, following the step of receiving the washed raw rice in the first container 13 and draining the water. Then, the raw rice processing apparatus 100 circulates and supplies the temperature adjusting fluid through the second container 20 following the step of draining the raw rice that has finished the water absorption treatment, and uses the absorbed raw rice as the first container. A standby step of waiting from the outside of 13 while keeping the temperature adjusted to a predetermined temperature is executed.

The control unit 120 comprehensively controls each unit of the raw rice processing apparatus 100 to sequentially execute the rice washing step, the water absorption step, the standby step, and the heat treatment step to process the raw rice into pregelatinized rice. The control unit 120 holds the program and data read from the ROM 120a in the RAM 120b, and the CPU 120c executes necessary operations and processes according to the program. The control unit 120 causes the three immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C to execute the water absorption step and the standby step. Since the treatments in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C are the same, the immersion tank 10A will be described below, and the duplicate description regarding the immersion tanks 10B and 10C will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of control of the raw rice processing apparatus. The control unit 120 starts up the raw rice processing device 100 and waits for a processing start command by the operator. As shown in FIG. 2, when the control unit 120 receives a processing start command (YES in S11), the control unit 120 carries out a predetermined amount of the raw material rice preset from the raw material rice storage 55 and carries out the raw material rice of the rice washing device 50. It is charged into the cleaning tank 51 (S12). The control unit 120 operates the rice washing device 50 to execute the rice washing process (S13).

When the rice washing process is completed (S13), the control unit 120 operates the submersible pump 52 to transfer the raw rice to the immersion tank 10A (S14). At this time, the control unit 120 opens the valves 23a and 23b to drain the raw rice (S15). The control unit 120 operates the immersion water supply device 60 to supply the immersion water to the immersion tank 10A and execute the water absorption treatment (S16). In the water absorption treatment, the raw rice is immersed in immersion water at a predetermined temperature and held for a predetermined time to bring the raw rice into a predetermined water absorption state.

The control unit 120 drains the raw rice by opening the valve 23s in a state where the raw rice treated with water absorption is housed in the immersion tank 10A and draining the immersion water (S17). The control unit 120 executes a standby process of waiting for the heat process of the raw rice by the heat treatment device 70 (S18). In the standby treatment, the raw rice that has been water-absorbed is held in the immersion tank 10A in a drained state, and the raw rice is sent to the heat treatment device 70 at a timing linked to the heat treatment of the heat treatment device 70.

When the control unit 120 is instructed to supply the raw rice from the immersion tank 10A to the heat treatment device 70, the control unit 120 transfers the raw rice waiting in the immersion tank 10A to the heat treatment device 70 and transfers the raw rice to the heat treatment device 70. The heat treatment is executed (S19). When all the raw rice that has been made to stand by in the immersion tank 10A is discharged, the sensor 26 that detects the fall of the raw rice is turned off (YES in S20). When the raw rice can be supplied from the next immersion tank 10B (YES in S21), the control unit 120 switches to the immersion tank 10B and continues to supply the raw rice to the heat treatment apparatus 70 (S22). In this way, the supply source for supplying the raw rice to the heat treatment device 70 is sequentially switched to the next immersion tank (S22), and the heat treatment in the heat treatment device 70 is continued.

If the raw rice cannot be supplied from the next immersion tank (YES in S21), the stop treatment is executed. In the stop treatment, the entire raw rice processing device 100 is stopped after waiting for the end of the final heat treatment of the raw rice in the heat treatment device 70.

In the first embodiment, in the heat treatment step, the heat treatment apparatus 70 can execute the heat treatment under constant heating conditions regardless of the length of the standby time of the raw material rice in the standby step in the immersion tank 10A. The heat treatment apparatus 70 evaporates the water content of the raw material rice while maintaining the pregelatinized state of the particles of the raw material rice, and then cools the raw material rice while maintaining the pregelatinized state. The heat treatment device 70 carries out the pregelatinized and dried pregelatinized rice to the outside.

(Problem of waiting time)
By the way, when the standby process is executed using the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C, the raw rice supplied from the first immersion tank 10A to the heat treatment apparatus 70 first, and finally from the last immersion tank 10C. The waiting time of the raw rice in the drained state differs from that of the raw rice supplied to the heat treatment apparatus 70 by 1 hour or more.

Then, when the pregelatinized rice in the heat treatment apparatus 70 is examined, the heat treatment apparatus is finally heat-treated from the immersion tank 10C as compared with the raw rice first supplied from the immersion tank 10A to the heat treatment apparatus 70. The raw rice supplied to 70 had insufficient pregelatinization. This caused variations in the appearance (transparency), taste, and texture of the product, pregelatinized rice.

Therefore, in Example 1, jackets 11A, 11B, and 11C are provided in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C, and the temperature adjusting fluid is circulated in the jacket 11 to keep the temperature of the raw rice in the standby process at a predetermined temperature. ing. As a result, the temperature change of the raw rice while waiting in the immersion tank 10A is avoided, and the temperature of the raw rice at the time of being supplied to the heat treatment apparatus 70 is kept substantially constant. In the first embodiment, the immersion tank 10A keeps the raw rice absorbed in the water absorption step at a predetermined temperature in a drained state as it is, and waits for the pregelatinization treatment by the heat treatment apparatus 70.

As a result, even if the same heating sequence was used in the heat treatment step regardless of the length of the standby time, the variation in the temperature rise curve of the raw rice was reduced. Further, by avoiding the diffusion of water vapor by the lid 12 described above, the evaporation of water from the raw material rice in the drained state during the standby time is suppressed. As a result, the raw rice is supplied to the heat treatment apparatus 70 at the same temperature and with the same water absorption level regardless of the length of the standby time in the immersion tank 10A. As a result, it has become possible to suppress variations in appearance (transparency), taste, and texture when pregelatinized rice is obtained by heat treatment.

(Immersion tank)
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the first container of the immersion tank. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the guide wall of the immersion tank. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the second container of the immersion tank. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the flow of the temperature adjusting fluid in the immersion tank. In FIG. 3, (a) is an overall perspective view, and (b) is a front view of a cross section of a drainage portion. As shown in FIG. 3A, the first container 13 can receive the raw rice that has been subjected to the rice washing treatment and perform the water absorption treatment. The drainage unit 16 which is an example of the drainage means can drain the immersion water used for the water absorption treatment with the raw rice left in the first container 13.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the outlet 21 which is an example of the discharging means can discharge the raw material rice inside. The first container 13 is made of a stainless steel plate, and a conical portion 13b having a cutting cone shape is welded to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 13a. The conical portion 13b has a smaller diameter toward the lower end, and forms a hopper from which the accommodation body is taken out from the lower end.

An annular immersion water recovery groove 14 is welded to the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 13a so as to surround the supply port 25. In the water absorption step, the immersion water recovery groove 14 supplies immersion water from the supply port 25 and collects the immersion water overflowing from the supply port 25. A recovery gutter 15b having a drainage port 14a is provided in one corner of the immersion water recovery groove 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the immersion water collected in the immersion water recovery groove 14 is returned to the immersion water supply device 60, filtered and temperature-adjusted, and then reused as the immersion water in the water absorption step.

A bottom plate 13c is welded to the lower end of the conical portion 13b. As shown in FIG. 3B, an outlet 21 is provided so as to penetrate the center of the bottom plate 15 and the shutter 24. The outlet 21 is hermetically sealed by a lid 24a of the shutter 24 so as to be openable and closable.

(Drainage section)
As shown in FIG. 3B, the drainage portion 16 is welded to the lower side surface of the conical portion 13b. An opening 13d is provided on the conical surface of the conical portion 13b, and a cylindrical wall 16a is welded so as to surround the opening 13d. A water space 16d is formed inside the cylindrical wall 16a. A wire mesh 22 is provided in the opening 13d to allow the soaking water to flow into the water space 16d and prevent the raw rice from leaking into the water space 16d. The wire mesh 22 may be replaced with a strainer having innumerable openings formed in a thin stainless steel plate in order to further facilitate the sliding of rice particles. The wire mesh 22 may be replaced with a fluororesin mesh in order to reduce friction with the rice particles that slide off.

(Jacket)
As shown in FIG. 5, the second container 20 is provided on the outside of the first container 13 so as to be surrounded by a predetermined interval. The second container 20 has an inlet 18 for the temperature adjusting fluid and an outlet 19 for the temperature adjusting fluid, and the temperature adjusting fluid received from the receiving inlet 18 circulates around the outer periphery of the first container 13. It is drained from the discharge port 19. The receiving port 18 is provided in the lower part of the second container 20 and supplies the temperature adjusting fluid to the space between the bottom plate 13c and the peripheral portion 17d shown in FIG. The discharge port 19 is provided in the upper part of the second container 20, and collects the temperature adjusting fluid from the space between the bottom plate 13c and the peripheral portion 17d shown in FIG.

The first container 13 and the second container 20 of the immersion tank 10A form a space in which the temperature adjusting fluid of the jacket 11A adjacent to the storage space of the raw rice flows. Both the first container 13 and the second container 20 have a conical shape with the apex side facing down. The jacket 11A spirally raises the temperature control fluid along the side surface of the conical shape. As shown in FIG. 4, a spiral guide wall 17 is welded along the outer surface of the first container 13 in order to guide the temperature adjusting fluid flowing through the jacket 11A.

The guide wall 17 forms a flow of the temperature adjusting fluid that spirally rises along the outer surface of the first container 13. The peripheral portions 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d are arranged at regular intervals in the height direction, and orbit the outer surface of the first container 13 at a constant height. One end of the upper portion of the connecting portion 17e is welded to the cut 17i of the peripheral portion 17a, and the other end of the lower portion is welded to the cut 17j of the peripheral portion 17b. One end of the upper portion of the connecting portion 17f is welded to the cut 17j of the peripheral portion 17b, and the other end of the lower portion is welded to the cut 17k of the peripheral portion 17c. One end of the upper portion of the connecting portion 17g is welded to the cut 17k of the peripheral portion 17c, and the other end of the lower portion is welded to the cut 17l of the peripheral portion 17d. One end of the upper portion of the connecting portion 17h is welded to the cut 17l of the peripheral portion 17d, and the other end of the lower portion is welded to the bottom plate 13c.

The second container 20 is wound so as to be in contact with the outside of the guide wall 17. The second container 20 is also made of a stainless steel plate, and a conical portion 20b having a cut cone shape is welded to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 20a. The upper end of the second container 20 is welded to the lower surface of the immersion water recovery groove 14, and the lower end of the second container 20 is welded to the bottom plate 13c. As a result, a space sealed by the second container 20, the first container 13, the immersion water recovery groove 14, and the bottom plate 13c is formed.

In FIG. 6, the flow path of the temperature adjusting fluid is shown by removing the second container 20 shown by the broken line. The temperature adjusting fluid flows in from the receiving port 18, orbits along the circumferential portions 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d and the bottom plate 13c as indicated by the arrows, and rises through the cuts 17i, 17j, 17k and 17l.

It is desirable that the flow path of the temperature adjusting fluid formed between the second container 20 and the first container 13 is ideally partitioned into a smooth spiral. However, since the difficulty of manufacturing becomes high, the space between the second container 20 and the first container 13 is connected by connecting the peripheral portions 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d and the connecting portions 17e, 17f, 17g, 17h. Is partitioned in a pseudo-spiral shape.

(Temperature control system)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the temperature control system. As described with reference to FIG. 1, in the immersion tank 10A, after the raw material rice is subjected to the water absorption treatment, the raw material rice is held in a drained state to wait for the next heat treatment. As described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the immersion tank 10A is capable of water absorption treatment by immersing the contained raw rice in the immersion water to absorb water, and holds the raw rice after the water absorption treatment is completed. The immersion water can be drained through the drainage unit 16 in this state.

As shown in FIG. 7, the raw rice processing device 100, which is an example of the heat retention standby device, holds the raw rice in a state of being absorbed and drained at a predetermined temperature in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C of the standby step. Wait for heat treatment. The temperature control devices 30A, 30B, 30C, the temperature control fluid supply unit 40, and the pump 45, which are examples of the supply circulation means, supply a predetermined temperature to the receiving port 18 for temperature control via the second container 20. Circulate the fluid. Jackets 11A, 11B, and 11C are formed in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C, respectively, and the temperature adjusting fluid is passed to the outside of each first container 13. The temperature adjusting fluid whose temperature has been adjusted by the temperature adjusting devices 30A, 30B, and 30C is received from the lower end side of the second container 20 and discharged from the upper end side. A plurality of first containers 13 and a plurality of second containers 20 are provided as a set, and a plurality of jackets 11A, 11B, and 11C are connected in series.

The circulation paths 38, 39 connect the jackets 11A, 11B, 11C in series, and circulate the temperature adjusting fluid whose temperature is adjusted to a predetermined temperature by the temperature adjusting devices 30A, 30B, 30C. The temperature adjusting devices 30A, 30B, and 30C are provided for the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C, respectively. The immersion tanks 10A, 10B, 10C and the jackets 11A, 11B, 11C are configured in the same manner and are temperature controlled in the same manner. Therefore, in the following, the immersion tank 10A will be described in detail, and duplicate explanations regarding the immersion tanks 10B and 10C will be omitted.

(Temperature control device)
The temperature control system 110 circulates the temperature control fluid whose temperature has been adjusted to a predetermined temperature in the jacket 11A. The thermistor 32, which is an example of the detecting means, detects the temperature of the temperature adjusting fluid flowing through the jacket 11A. The temperature adjusting device 30A, which is an example of the adjusting means, always adjusts the temperature adjusting fluid supplied to the second container 20 to a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature as the target temperature for temperature adjustment of the temperature adjusting fluid in the temperature adjusting device 30A is a temperature close to the predetermined temperature used for temperature control of rice that waits for heat treatment in the immersion tank 10A, but is the same temperature. Not exclusively. Further, the temperature is close to a predetermined temperature which is the temperature of the immersion water supplied to the immersion tank 10A in the water absorption treatment, but the temperature is not always the same.

The temperature control device 30A includes a thermistor 32 and a temperature control unit 33. The heat exchanger 35 supplies water vapor formed by the boiler 36 to the center of the spiral copper pipe to adjust the temperature of the temperature adjusting fluid flowing through the copper pipe. The solenoid valve 34 turns on / off the steam supplied to the heat exchanger 35 to adjust the amount of heat exchange between the steam and the temperature adjusting fluid. Since the temperature is adjusted using the latent heat of steam, the responsiveness of the temperature adjustment is high, and the change in the target temperature of the temperature control of the temperature control fluid in the water absorption process and the standby process, which will be described later, immediately changes to the temperature of the temperature adjustment fluid. It will be reflected.

The thermistor 32 detects the temperature of the copper pipe at the outlet of the heat exchanger 35. The temperature control unit 33 turns off the solenoid valve 34 when the detection temperature of the thermistor 32 becomes a predetermined temperature + 1 degree or more, and turns on the solenoid valve 34 when the detection temperature of the thermistor 32 becomes less than the predetermined temperature -1 degree.

The replenishment unit 40 of the temperature adjusting fluid temporarily stores the circulation in the temperature adjusting system 110 to alleviate the pressure change and the temperature change of the temperature adjusting fluid. The tank body 41 stagnates the flow of the temperature adjusting fluid recovered to the recovery port 42, precipitates foreign matter such as rust, and sends it from the supply port 43 to the pump 45. The pump 45 drives the temperature control fluid flowing through the temperature control system 110.

The level sensor 44 detects the liquid level of the temperature adjusting fluid in the tank body 41. Based on the output of the level sensor 44, the water supply unit 47 injects new water 46 into the tank body 41 when the liquid level of the temperature adjusting fluid in the tank body 41 falls below a predetermined height, and the liquid level is predetermined. When the height is reached, the water injection is stopped.

(Control of temperature control system)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of control of the temperature control system. As shown in FIG. 8, when the water absorption treatment is started in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C (YES in S31), the control unit 120 operates the pump 45 to start the circulation of the temperature adjusting fluid (S32). ). Then, the boiler 36 is operated (S33), the temperature control of the first target temperature by the temperature control unit 33 is started (S34), and the temperature adjustment of the temperature adjusting fluid is started. After that, when the standby process is started in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C (YES in S35), the control unit 120 changes the target temperature of the temperature control to the second target temperature lower than the first target temperature. The temperature control by the temperature control unit 33 is continued (S36).

When the standby process in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C is completed (YES in S37), the control unit 120 stops the temperature control by the temperature control unit 33 and stops the temperature adjustment of the temperature adjusting fluid (S38). Further, after stopping the boiler 36 (S39), the pump 45 is stopped to stop the circulation of the temperature adjusting fluid (S40).

By the way, in the water absorption treatment of the raw rice, the immersion water supply device 60 controls the temperature of the immersion water to be constant, so that the temperature of the raw rice is kept constant. There is no need to circulate the adjusting fluid. However, if the temperature of the temperature adjusting fluid is adjusted after the standby process starts, the temperature of the jacket 11A may not be adjusted in time. Even if it is in time, the temperature fluctuation may become large if it is in a transient state. Further, by circulating the temperature adjusting fluid in the jacket 11A, the variation in the temperature distribution of the raw rice in the immersion tank 10A and the temperature change with time in the water absorption step are almost eliminated, and the temperature control becomes extremely easy.

Further, in the first embodiment, the first target temperature during the water absorption treatment is set to be equal to the temperature of the immersion water supplied to the immersion tank 10A during the water absorption treatment. This is to suppress variations in the temperature of the raw rice in the immersion tank 10A.

Further, in the first embodiment, the second target temperature during the standby treatment is set to a temperature lower than the temperature of the immersion water supplied to the immersion tank 10A by the water absorption treatment. The second target temperature is the temperature at which the raw rice is made to stand by at a constant temperature in the immersion tank 10A in the standby step. As described above, by making the raw rice stand by at a constant temperature in the standby step, it is possible to make the temperature rise curves of the raw rice the same in the heat treatment of the heat treatment apparatus 70 regardless of the temperature fluctuation.

(Effect of Example 1)
In the raw rice processing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, the temperature control system 110 keeps the immersion tank 10A drained through the drainage unit 16 at a constant temperature even after the immersion water is drained. Therefore, the temperature difference of the raw rice due to the difference in the waiting time of the heat treatment in the state where the soaking water is drained and drained is eliminated.

In the raw rice processing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, the temperature adjusting device 30A supplies the temperature adjusting fluid adjusted to a predetermined temperature to the jacket 11A in which the immersion tank 10A is separated from the storage space of the raw rice. Therefore, by electrically controlling the temperature adjusting device 30 to control the temperature of the temperature adjusting fluid, it is possible to suppress the temperature fluctuation of the immersion tank 10A through the standby process.

In the raw material rice processing apparatus 100 of Example 1, since water, which is a liquid having a large amount of heat, is used as the temperature adjusting fluid circulated in the jacket 11A, the temperature fluctuation of the immersion tank 10A can be efficiently suppressed. In addition, by using water that does not contain chemical substances or oil as the temperature control fluid, even if the jacket 11A is damaged and the temperature control fluid leaks into the storage space of the raw rice, it will be affected by the chemical substances and oil. Avoids contamination of rice products. In addition, it is not necessary to provide electrodes, power supplies, and indoor wiring around the raw rice processing device 100 as in the case of directly heating the immersion tank 10A using an electric heater. No explosion-proof or waterproof measures are required.

In the raw material rice processing apparatus 100 of Example 1, the temperature adjusting fluid is circulated to the jacket 11A through a circulation path separated from the supply path of the immersion water used for the water absorption treatment. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature adjusting fluid circulating in the circulation path from being mixed with the immersion water for the water absorption treatment.

In the raw rice processing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, the temperature adjusting fluid flows into the jacket 11A from the receiving port 18 located on the take-out side of the raw rice, and is connected to the pipes 53A, 53B, 53C which are examples of the supply means. It is collected from the discharge port 19 located at. Therefore, even when the height of the immersion tank 10A is large, the variation in the inner wall temperature of the immersion tank 10A becomes small with the help of the updraft in the immersion tank 10A. As a result, variations in the temperature of the raw rice in the height direction of the conical portion 13b are suppressed, and the temperature of the raw rice taken out from the immersion tank 10A and supplied to the heat treatment apparatus 70 is likely to be kept constant. Since the temperature variation in the height direction of the immersion tank 10A is small, the average temperature of the raw material rice is the temperature of the temperature adjusting fluid regardless of whether the raw rice of the immersion tank 10A is full or the remaining amount is very small. It is kept almost the same.

In the rice processing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, the conical portion 13b of the immersion tank 10A is in contact with the container inside and the diameter becomes smaller toward the lower part. The jacket 11A is spirally formed on the outside of the conical portion 13b. Therefore, even when the diameter of the immersion tank 10A is large, the temperature adjusting fluid flows in the circumferential direction of the conical portion 13b, and the temperature variation of the raw rice along the circumferential direction of the conical portion 13b can be efficiently suppressed.

In the raw material rice processing device 100 of the first embodiment, the temperature control unit 33, which is an example of the temperature control means, controls the temperature control device 30A so as to maintain the temperature of the temperature control fluid flowing through the circulation paths 38 and 39. Therefore, even if the temperature fluctuation of the temperature adjusting fluid, the temperature fluctuation, and the flow rate fluctuation of the temperature adjusting fluid occur, the temperature fluctuation of the jacket 11A is suppressed, and the temperature change of the raw material rice in the standby process is suppressed. Can be done.

In the raw rice processing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, the heat exchanger 35 exchanges heat between the temperature adjusting fluid flowing through the circulation path 38 and the steam flowing outside the circulation path 38. Therefore, even with the small heat exchanger 35, it is possible to rapidly adjust the temperature of the temperature adjusting fluid by utilizing the latent heat of water vapor.

In the raw rice processing apparatus 100 of Example 1, the temperature adjusting devices 30A, 30B, and 30C are individually provided for the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C. Therefore, the temperature difference between the jackets 11A, 11B, and 11C becomes small, and the temperature variation of the raw rice among the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C becomes small.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 120 causes the water absorption process for performing the water absorption treatment and the standby process for performing the standby treatment to be simultaneously executed in the three immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C. rice field. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the control unit 120 starts the water absorption treatment of the raw rice by sequentially operating the three immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C with a predetermined time difference. ..

The control unit 120 supplies the raw rice washed in order from the rice washing device 50 to the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C with a time lag, and starts the water absorption process in order. The control unit 120 operates the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C in three shifts in order to complete each water absorption treatment with a time lag. The control unit 120 continuously supplies the raw rice whose water absorption treatment has been completed with a time lag to the heat treatment apparatus 70 in the order of the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C. In this way, the waiting time of the raw rice in each of the immersion tanks 10A, 10B and 10C can be shortened. Further, the heat treatment apparatus 70 waits for the supply of the raw rice by setting a time difference so that the water absorption treatment in the immersion tank 10A ends at the timing when the supply of the raw rice from the immersion tank 10C ends. It is possible to continue the heat treatment of the raw rice endlessly.

The control unit 120 puts the amount of raw rice contained in the immersion tank 10A into the rice washing device 50, operates the rice washing device 50, and executes the rice washing process. When the rice washing process is completed, the control unit 120 operates the submersible pump 52 to transfer the raw rice to the immersion tank 10A and execute the first draining. The control unit 120 supplies the immersion water to the immersion tank 10A and executes the water absorption treatment. When the water absorption treatment is completed, the control unit 120 drains the immersion water and executes the second draining. The control unit 120 keeps the raw rice at a constant temperature higher than the water temperature and makes the next heat treatment device 70 wait for the heat treatment. The control unit 120 sequentially executes such one cycle in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C with a time difference of about 30 minutes.

The control unit 120 transfers the raw rice that has been made to stand by in the immersion tank 10A to the heat treatment apparatus 70 to execute the heat treatment of the raw rice. After that, when the discharge of the raw rice from the immersion tank 10A is completed, the control unit 120 switches from the immersion tank 10A to the next immersion tank 10B to continue the heat treatment in the heat treatment apparatus 70. The control unit 120 newly starts the above-mentioned cycle in the immersion tank 10A while continuing the supply of the raw rice by the immersion tank 10B. After that, when the discharge of the raw rice from the immersion tank 10B is completed, the control unit 120 switches from the immersion tank 10B to the next immersion tank 10C to continue the supply of the raw material rice, while newly starting the cycle in the immersion tank 10B. Let me. In this way, the cycle is shifted in the immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C, and the procedure from the rice washing process to the standby process is repeated.

Also in the second embodiment, the temperature of the raw rice during the standby process is determined by supplying the temperature adjusting fluid from the temperature adjusting devices 30A, 30B, 30C to the jackets 11A, 11B, 11C shown in FIG. 7 and circulating them. Is maintained at a predetermined temperature higher than the air temperature. As a result, the temperature difference of the raw rice due to the difference in the waiting time of the heat treatment in the state where the soaking water is drained and drained is eliminated.

In the first embodiment, the embodiment of the raw rice processing apparatus for performing the pregelatinization treatment of the raw rice has been described. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, an embodiment of a raw rice processing apparatus that cooks batch-type rice as needed will be described. Example 3 has the same configuration and control as that of Example 1 except that the heat treatment for heat-treating the water-absorbed raw rice is rice cooking. 1. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7 are added, and duplicate description will be omitted.

(Rice processing equipment for raw materials)
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the raw rice processing apparatus of Example 3. As shown in FIG. 9, in the raw rice processing apparatus 100B of the first embodiment, the raw rice treated by being housed in one immersion tank 10A and subjected to water absorption treatment is kept on standby in the immersion tank 10A, and the heat treatment apparatus 70A, It can be supplied to 70B at any timing.

The heat treatment devices 70A and 70B are commercial rice cookers. The heat treatment devices 70A and 70B add an appropriate amount of water to an appropriate amount of raw rice supplied from the immersion tank 10A to cook rice in a batch manner. The immersion tank 10A can hold the raw rice in a water-absorbing state in an amount of 5 to 6 times the amount of rice cooked at one time in the heat treatment apparatus 70A, and make the heat treatment stand by. Here, it is assumed that the heat treatment devices 70A and 70B have the same rice cooking capacity, but the rice cooking capacities of the heat treatment devices 70A and 70B may be different, and the rice cooking amount of the heat treatment devices 70A and 70B is required each time. It may be different depending on the situation.

The control unit 120 holds the raw rice that has been washed in the immersion tank 10A, injects the immersion water to perform the water absorption treatment, and then makes the immersion water stand by in a state of being drained through the drainage unit 16.

The control unit 120 operates the belt conveyor 71 to move the heat treatment devices 70A and 70B to a position where the raw rice can be supplied from the immersion tank 10A. The control unit 120 supplies the raw rice to the heat treatment devices 70A and 70B by moving the heat treatment devices 70A and 70B directly under the immersion tank 10A and operating the shutter 24 according to the rice cooking schedule. As a result, the raw rice processing device 100B can automatically operate the heat processing devices 70A and 70B without waiting time to flexibly execute rice cooking.

The mechanism for maintaining the temperature of the immersion tank 10A at a predetermined temperature in the standby treatment for heat treatment by the heat treatment devices 70A and 70B is the same as that in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, a jacket 11A is formed in the immersion tank 10A, and as shown in FIG. 6, a spiral guide wall 17 for guiding the temperature adjusting fluid in the jacket 11A is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the temperature is adjusted by the temperature adjusting device 30A, and the temperature adjusting fluid driven by the pump 45 circulates in the jacket 11A, and the temperature of the immersion tank 10A is maintained at a predetermined temperature.

In the standby treatment of the heat treatment by the heat treatment devices 70A and 70B, the control of keeping the temperature of the immersion tank 10A at a predetermined temperature is the same as that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, when the water absorption treatment is started in the immersion tank 10A (YES in S31), the control unit 120 operates the pump 45 to start the circulation of the temperature adjusting fluid (S32). Then, the boiler 36 is operated (S33), the temperature control by the temperature control unit 33 is started (S34), and the temperature adjustment of the temperature adjusting fluid is started. When the standby process of the immersion tank 10A is completed (YES in S35), the control unit 120 stops the temperature control by the temperature control unit 33 and stops the temperature adjustment of the temperature adjusting fluid (S36). Further, after stopping the boiler 36 (S37), the pump 45 is stopped to stop the circulation of the temperature adjusting fluid (S38).

(Other examples)
The heat insulating standby device of the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration and control described in Examples 1 to 3. It is also possible to carry out another embodiment in which a part or all of the configurations and controls of the first to third embodiments are replaced with equivalent configurations. The heat retention standby device of the present invention can also be used for cereals or beans other than raw rice that need to be heat-treated after water absorption treatment, for example, wheat in the brewing process, soybeans in the brewing process, and various beans in boiled beans and sweet natto making. be.

In Example 1, as shown in FIG. 8, the temperature adjusting fluid was circulated through the jacket 11A even in the water absorption step to maintain the temperature of the immersion tank 10A at a predetermined temperature. This is because when the jacket 11A is filled with water at room temperature, the temperature of the soaking water in which the raw rice is immersed is deprived, and the temperature varies greatly depending on the position of the raw rice contained in the immersion tank 10A. However, during the water absorption treatment, the water in the jacket 11A may be replaced with air to improve the heat retention performance of the immersion tank 10A, thereby avoiding cooling of the immersion water through the jacket 11A. In that case, the temperature adjusting fluid may be circulated in the jacket 11A at the end of the water absorption treatment to start the standby treatment.

In Example 1, the temperature of the immersion tank 10A was maintained at a constant temperature by circulating a temperature adjusting fluid through the jacket 11A. However, the method of adjusting the temperature of the immersion tank 10A is not limited to the combination of the jacket 11A and the temperature adjusting fluid having a predetermined temperature. The temperature adjusting fluid circulated in the jacket 11A may be air whose temperature has been adjusted to a predetermined temperature, or oil whose temperature has been adjusted to a predetermined temperature. The heating method of the temperature adjusting fluid may be replaced with a jacket 11A or an electric heater arranged in a circulation path. Alternatively, instead of using the jacket 11A, a strip-shaped electric heater (seeds heater) may be directly wound around the immersion tank 10A.

In Example 1, raw rice was supplied from three immersion tanks 10A, 10B, and 10C to one heat treatment device 70. Further, in Example 3, raw rice was supplied from one immersion tank 10A to the two heat treatment devices 70A and 70B. However, the raw material rice that has been subjected to water absorption treatment may be supplied from a number of immersion tanks other than these to a number of heat treatment devices other than these.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it can be effectively used as a product that can reduce the variation in products by using it in the standby process of heat treatment of raw rice in the production of pregelatinized rice, rice cooking and the like.

10A, 10B, 10C Immersion tank 11A, 11B, 11C Jacket 12 Lid 13 First container 13a Cylindrical part 13b Conical part 13c Bottom plate 13d Opening 14 Immersion water recovery groove 14a Drainage port
16 Drainage section (drainage means)
16a Cylindrical wall 16b Elevation wall 16d Water space 17 Guide wall 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d Circumferential part 17e, 17f, 17g, 17h Communication part 18 Inlet 19 Outlet 20 Second container 21 Outlet (discharge means)
22 Wire mesh 23 Drainage port 24 Shutter 25 Supply port 30A, 30B, 30C Temperature control device (adjustment means)
31 Heat exchange tank 32 Thermistor (detection means)
33 Temperature control unit 34 Solenoid valve 35 Heat exchanger 38, 39 Circulation passage 40 Temperature adjustment fluid supply unit (supply circulation means)
41 Tank body 42 Return port 43 Supply port 44 Liquid level sensor 45 Pump (supply circulation means)
46 Replenishment port 47 Water replenishment unit 50 Rice washing device 51 Washing tank 52 Submersible pump (container supply means)
53A, 53B, 53C Piping 55 Storage 60 Immersion water supply device (supply means)
63A, 63B, 63C Piping 65 Drainage tank 70 Heat treatment device 71 Belt conveyor 100 Raw rice treatment device (heat insulation standby device)
110 Temperature control system 120 Control unit 120a ROM
120b RAM
120c CPU

Claims (7)

It is a heat insulation standby device for raw rice that has been absorbed and drained, and is kept at a predetermined temperature to stand by for heat treatment.
The first container that can accept the washed raw rice and perform water absorption treatment,
A supply means capable of supplying temperature control for absorbing water to the raw rice received in the first container, and
It has a second container provided on the outside of the first container at a predetermined interval and is provided.
The first container has a drainage means for draining漬水immersion, leaving the raw material rice, a discharge means for discharging the inside of the raw material rice, a,
The second container has a receiving port of the temperature adjusting fluid and the outlet of the temperature control fluid circulating electrolyte one the outer circumference the temperature adjusting fluid of the first container received from the receiving port together configured to be drained from the exhaust Mizuguchi,
A supply circulation means capable of supplying the temperature adjusting fluid to the receiving port and circulating the temperature adjusting fluid through the second container is provided.
A heat-retaining standby device for raw rice, which is characterized by this. The second container forms a jacket on the outside of the first container through which the temperature adjusting fluid passes.
The supply circulation means includes a detection means for detecting the temperature of the temperature adjusting fluid flowing through the jacket, an adjusting means for constantly adjusting the temperature adjusting fluid supplied to the second container to a predetermined temperature, and the adjusting means. It is composed of a circulation path in which the temperature adjusting fluid adjusted to a predetermined temperature is circulated through the second container.
The heat-retaining standby device for raw rice according to claim 1. The first container receives the raw rice from the upper end side of the first container and is taken out from the lower end side.
The jacket receives the temperature adjusting fluid adjusted to a predetermined temperature by the adjusting means from the lower end side of the second container and discharges it from the upper end side.
The heat-retaining standby device for raw rice according to claim 2. The first container and the second container both have a conical shape with the apex side facing down.
The jacket spirally raises the temperature control fluid along the side surface of the cone.
Rice warmth standby unit according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that. A plurality of the first container and the second container are provided as a set, respectively.
A plurality of the jackets are connected in series,
The heat insulating standby device according to claim 4. The adjusting means is provided for each jacket.
The heat insulating standby device for raw rice according to claim 5. In waiting for heat treatment to cook or pregelatinize the raw rice
Using a first container and a second container provided at a predetermined interval on the outside of the first container,
The process of receiving the washed raw rice in the first container and draining it,
The process of supplying soaking water to the drained raw rice to absorb water,
The process of draining the raw rice that has finished absorbing water,
The process comprises a step of circulating and supplying a temperature adjusting fluid through the second container and allowing the absorbed raw material rice to stand by while being temperature-adjusted to a predetermined temperature from the outside of the first container.
A method of waiting for heat insulation of raw rice, which is characterized by this.

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