JP7656910B2 - Food and drink heating equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a food and beverage heating device that heats fluid food and beverages using Joule heat.

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

On the other hand, the electric heating device described in Patent Document 2 is equipped with a heating unit consisting of a straight pipe member and a bent pipe member that connects the two straight pipe members. In this electric heating device, the curved pipe member is used as an electrode, and the heating unit can be arranged in a spiral shape.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-135941 Patent No. 4195502

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

The object of the present invention is to make it possible to assemble multiple heating devices of different sizes using the same heating tube unit.

The food and beverage heating device is a heating device for heating fluid food and beverages by Joule heat while transporting the food and beverages as the heated object through a flow path, and includes a heating tube unit that includes a plurality of flexible tubes, each of which is insulating, and a joint member that interconnects the flexible tubes and has a conductive portion that contacts the heated object, forming a flow path for guiding the heated object, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the conductive portion of the pair of joint members that are adjacent to each other in the transport direction of the heated object, and the heating tube unit can be positioned by bending the flexible tube.

The heating tube unit has multiple flexible tubes, so the flexible tubes can be curved and arranged. This allows the heating tube unit to be arranged in a spiral shape, for example, and by changing the degree of curvature, the diameter of the spiral shape can be changed using the same heating tube unit, allowing multiple heating devices of different sizes to be assembled using the same heating tube.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a food heating device; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the heating tube unit shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the flexible tube shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and coupling members attached to both ends of the flexible tube. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the joint member shown in FIG. 4 . 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing modified examples of the joint member. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views showing other modified examples of the joint member. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a heating tube unit using a flexible tube of the same length as that shown in FIG. 4 . FIG. 9 is a plan view of FIG. 8 .

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The heating device 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a first heating tube unit 11 and a second heating tube unit 12, and electrically heats the heated object S, which is a fluid food or drink such as soup or coffee, by Joule heat. Each heating tube unit 11, 12 is formed in a spiral shape with a circular flat surface.

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

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

The heating device 10 is equipped with two heating tube units 11, 12, and can heat the object S using one heating tube unit, and then heat the object S using the other heating tube unit. In this way, the heating tube units 11, 12 can be operated alternately, with one of the two heating tube units 11, 12 operating and the other at rest. For example, if this heating device 10 is installed in a restaurant to heat soup, a certain amount of soup can be heated using one heating tube unit 11, and then the soup can be heated using the other heating tube unit 12, thereby putting the heating tube unit 11 at rest.

The heating device 10 is provided with a cleaning tank 21 for cleaning the inside of the flow path of the heating tube unit that is inactive, and a heater 22 is provided in the cleaning tank 21 to heat the cleaning water W contained in the cleaning tank 21. A three-way valve 23 is provided in the supply tube 15, and a three-way valve 24 is provided in the supply tube 17. A cleaning pipe 25 connected to the bottom of the cleaning tank 21 is connected to the three-way valves 23 and 24, and the flow path switching operation of the three-way valve 23 switches between a heating state in which the heated object S in the tank 13 is supplied to the heating tube unit 11, and a cleaning state in which the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 21 is supplied to the heating tube unit 11. Similarly, the flow path switching operation of the three-way valve 24 switches between a heating state in which the heated object S in the tank 14 is supplied to the heating tube unit 12, and a cleaning state in which the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 21 is supplied to the heating tube unit 12. Alternatively, supply tubes 15 and 17 may be connected to a single tank, and the object to be heated in the single tank may be supplied to both heating tube units 11 and 12.

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

The three-way valves 23, 24 and on-off valves 26 to 28 described above are electromagnetically operated, and the flow paths are switched and the on-off operations are performed automatically by signals from the control unit, but they may also be manually operated.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the heating tube unit 11 shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the flexible tube shown in Figures 2 and 3 and the coupling members attached to both ends of the flexible tube.

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

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

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

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

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

Inside the large diameter hole formed in each joint section 41, 42, there is a seal member 44 that adheres closely to the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube 31, 32, and a claw holder 46 with a locking claw 45 that bites into the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube 31, 32. The locking claw 45 is inclined toward the center of the longitudinal direction of the joint body 43, and allows the flexible tube 31 to move when the end of the flexible tube 31 is inserted into the joint section 41, 42. On the other hand, when a force is applied to the flexible tube 31 in a direction to pull it out of the joint member 32, the locking claw 45 bites into the flexible tube 31, preventing the flexible tube 31 from coming off the joint member 32.

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

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

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

Figures 6(A), 6(B), 7(A) and 7(B) each show a modified example of the coupling member 32.

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

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

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

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

The joint member 32 shown in FIG. 7(B) has a joint fitting 83 that is an integral part of a first joint portion 81 to which a flexible tube 31 is connected and a second joint portion 82 to which another flexible tube 31 is connected. The joint fitting 83 is made of a conductive material such as stainless steel or titanium, and constitutes the conductive part that comes into contact with the object to be heated.

A male thread 84 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of each joint portion 81, 82, and a fastening nut 85 is screwed onto each male thread 84. Each fastening nut 85 has a tapered surface 86 formed on the end surface of the joint portion 81, 82, and a tapered surface 87 is formed on the end surface of the joint portion 81, 82, and is fastened via the end of the flexible tube 31. The flexible tube 31 is fastened to the joint fitting 83, which is an integrated conductive fitting tube, by each fastening nut 85. The power supply cable 36 is connected to a flange 88 in the longitudinal center of the joint fitting 83, and the flange 88 constitutes a cable connection portion that connects the power supply cable 36 to the conductive portion.

As described above, the joint member 32 that connects the flexible tube 31 has a form in which the first joint part and the second joint part are integrated or separate. Furthermore, the form in which the flexible tube 31 is fastened includes a quick joint provided with an opening ring, a form in which a fastening nut is screwed to the joint part, and a form in which the joint part is fastened by a clamp member. Any of these forms can be used to connect the flexible tube 31.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a modified heating tube unit using a flexible tube 31 of the same length as that shown in Figure 4, and Figure 9 is a plan view of Figure 8.

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

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

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a heating device can be constructed by connecting multiple heating tube units in series.

10 Heating device 11, 12 Heating tube unit 13, 14 Tank 15, 17 Supply tube 16, 18 Discharge tube 21 Cleaning tank 23, 24 Three-way valve 25 Cleaning pipe 26-28 Opening and closing valve 31 Flexible tube 32 Joint member 33 Supply end 34 Discharge end 35 Power supply unit 36 Power supply cable 40 Flow path 41, 42 Joint portion 47 Release ring 49 Connection pipe 50 Power supply socket 51, 52 Joint portion 53 Flange 56 Clamp member 61, 62 Joint portion 63 Flange 65 Fastening nut 71, 72 Joint portion 74 Meshing portion 76 Fastening nut 81, 82 Joint portion 83 Joint fitting 85 Fastening nut 86, 87 Tapered surface 88 Flange

Claims (6)

A food and drink heating device that heats fluid food and drink by Joule heat while transporting the food and drink as a heated object through a flow path,
a heating tube unit including a plurality of flexible tubes each having insulating properties and elastically deformable , and a joint member having a conductive portion that connects the flexible tubes to each other and contacts an object to be heated, and forming a flow path for guiding the object to be heated;
A power supply unit that supplies power to the conductive portions of the pair of joint members that are adjacent to each other in a conveying direction of the heated object;
a cleaning tank for storing cleaning water for cleaning the inside of the flow path ;
The heating tube unit can be disposed by bending the flexible tube to an arbitrary degree of curvature ,
The food and drink heating device is switchable between a heating state in which an object to be heated is supplied to the heating tube unit, and a cleaning state in which cleaning water in the cleaning tank is supplied to the heating tube unit . The food and drink heating device according to claim 1,
The joint member of the food and beverage heating device has a first joint portion to which one of the flexible tubes is connected, a second joint portion to which another of the flexible tubes is connected, and a cable connection portion that connects a power supply cable connected to the power supply unit to the conductive part. The food and drink heating device according to claim 2,
The food and beverage heating device, wherein the joint member is a quick joint having an opening ring provided at the first joint portion and the second joint portion for removing the flexible tube. The food and drink heating device according to claim 2,
The first joint portion and the second joint portion each have a separate conductive fitting tubular portion into whose inner or outer peripheral surface the flexible tube is fitted, and a conductive clamp member that fastens the fitting tubular portions, and the clamp member serves as the cable connection portion. The food and drink heating device according to claim 2,
A heating device for food and beverage, wherein the first joint portion and the second joint portion each have an integral conductive fitting cylindrical portion into whose inner or outer peripheral surface the flexible tube is fitted, and the fitting cylindrical portion serves as the cable connection portion. The food and drink heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The heating tube unit is formed in a spiral shape in the food and drink heating device.

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