JPH0783699B2 - Cooling and washing equipment for food - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a cooling and cleaning device for foods used for cooling and cleaning foods such as vegetables before processing.

(B) Conventional technology The food freshness preservation processing device of JP-A-59-6873 (A23L 3/36) and the food cooling and holding device of JP-A-61-197975 (F25D 11/00) are the main water tanks. And a water storage tank having a sub water tank,
A cooling pipe of a cooling device that cools the water in the sub water tank into cold water, and a circulation pump, and cools the sub water tank into the main water tank,
It is equipped with a circulation device that circulates with the sub-water tank, and a sterilizer that consists of an ozone generator, and before the food such as fruits and vegetables, meat, and fresh fish sent from the production area is cooled and stored, these foods are stored for several minutes to several minutes. It is used for cooling while soaking it in cold water for several tens of minutes to wash it to remove the dirt. Further, salt is mixed in the water storage tank to adjust the osmotic pressure of food. For example, 3.5% for fresh fish dipped in cold water at a temperature of 0 to 1 ° C, 0.9 to 1.0% for meat dipped in cold water at a temperature of 0 ° C, and dipped in cold water at a temperature of 5 ° C. 0 to 0.3% of salt is mixed into the fruits and vegetables to be used, and cold water is used as cold salt water.

(C) Problem to be Solved by the Invention In the above-described conventional food cooling device, fruits and vegetables (mainly vegetables) transported from the production area to the store are washed with water before being immersed in the water tank, and are immersed. In such a case, the roots are cut so that resuscitation can be sufficiently performed, and after that, they are immersed in cold water or cold salt water, but when vegetables at room temperature are immersed in cold water or cold salt water, they are rapidly cooled and low temperature shock occurs. Caused a problem that the quality was deteriorated.

In addition, especially when root cutting of vegetables is performed in the air, air enters the cut surface of the root and becomes a so-called air cap state, so when the vegetables are immersed in water, the capillary phenomenon of the vegetables is due to the air. It was hindered, and there was a problem that hydration could not be performed sufficiently.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a pre-cooling tank capable of pre-cooling and washing foods is provided outside the main and sub water tanks, and the water in the pre-cooling tank is cooled with cold water or cold salt water. In addition, the roots of vegetables can be cut in water.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, in the cooling and washing machine of the present invention, a main water tank, a sub water tank, a precooling tank, and water stored in the main and sub water tanks are used. A first circulation device that sequentially circulates salt water to a main water tank and a sub water tank, a cooling device that cools the water or salt water into cold water or cold salt water, and a heat exchange unit is arranged in at least one of the main and sub water tanks. The water is stored in the precooling tank, and the water is stored in the heat exchanging section and the precooling tank. The second circulating device circulates the water in the precooling tank with cold water or cold salt water.

In addition, a cutting board, at least a part of which is immersed in water, is provided in the pre-cooling tank so that the root cutting work of vegetables can be performed in water.

(E) Operation According to the above configuration, the water in the pre-cooling tank that is immersed in the cold water or the cold salt water in the water storage tank and passes through the heat exchange section of the second circulation device is cooled to be cold water. It will be several degrees higher than the water temperature in the water tank. Therefore, when cooling and washing food,
First, after cooling and cleaning in the pre-cooling tank, cooling and cleaning can be performed in two steps, which can be cooled and cleaned in the water storage tank.

Also, since the pre-cooling tank is provided with a cutting board, at least a part of which is immersed in cold water, root cutting work can be performed in water while cooling and washing vegetables, and as a result, vegetables can be directly cut from the cut surface of the root. Can be replenished with water.

(F) Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a side view of the cooling and washing device (1), and FIG. 2 shows a schematic vertical sectional view. (2) is a water storage tank defined by a heat-insulating box opened upward, and inside of which a main water tank (4) and a sub water tank (5) are partitioned and formed by a removable partition plate (3). There is. Since food is stored in the main water tank (4), a net shelf (6) is installed at the bottom. In the sub water tank (5), a screen (7) as a filter is installed horizontally below the upper end of the partition plate (3), and further below it is provided as a cooler included in the refrigeration cycle of the cooling device. A cooling pipe (8) made of cupro-nickel is placed away from the bottom of the water storage tank (2).
Further, a draining board (10) is installed above the sub water tank (5) at the opening of the water storage tank (2). Reference numeral (12) is a unit box for accommodating an electric compressor (13) and a condenser (14) which form a refrigeration cycle of a cooling device, and a sterilizer (15) including an ozone generator, and a sub water tank (5). Side water tank (2) side, the cooling pipe (8) extends into the sub water tank (5) therefrom, and the ozone injection pipe (16) extending from the sterilizer (15). ) Also extends into the sub water tank (5) and opens near the opening of the suction pipe (20) at the bottom. The ozone injection pipe (16) is made of rubber or vinyl, for example, and has a diameter of about 1 cm. Further, the upper surface of the box body (12) is a flat surface, and its height is substantially the same as that of the drainage table (10). As a result, the upper surface of the box body (12) can be used as a table. Further, since the water drainage table (10) is on the sub water tank (5), it becomes very easy to drain the food (17) after cooling, washing or thawing.

The water injected into the water tank (2) is mixed with salt to adjust the osmotic pressure when the food to be stored is meat or fresh fish, and the salt water is about 1% for meat and 3.5% for fresh fish. It
In the case of vegetables, fresh water may be used as it is, but it is preferable to use 0.3% salt water in order to promote resuscitation. The salt water (18) is installed in the box (12) and the pump (19) described later is used.
Is inhaled through the suction pipe (20) opened at the bottom of the sub water tank (5), and at this time, it is sterilized by ozone generated in the sterilizer (15) and blown out from the ozone injection pipe (16), The water is discharged into the main water tank (4) through the discharge pipe (21) opened at the bottom of the water tank (4), and the circulation of the arrow in FIG. 2 is performed. The water level in the main water tank (4) is assumed to exceed the height of the partition plate (3) in advance, and the salt water (18) overflowed by this is filtered by the screen (7) and dropped into the sub water tank (5). It is stored and recirculated by being sucked again through the suction pipe (20). At this time, the water level of the sub water tank (5) is set above the cooling pipe (8), whereby the salt water is cooled to become cold salt water, and for vegetables, for example, + 5 ° C.,
Meat is 0 ° C and fresh fish is -2 ° C. By cooling such food in the main water tank (4) with cold water, the cooling rate of the core temperature is increased. Also, when used for cleaning food, dust is filtered by the screen (7), so that clogging of the pump (19) and the like does not occur.

The salt water (18) contains odor of food and fine debris that has not been filtered by the screen (7) and must be replaced. Therefore, in the present application, the suction pipe (20) is connected to the pump (19) as shown in FIG. ) Is provided with a branch conduit (52) branching from the conduit (51), and a normally closed drain valve (53) is attached to the branch conduit (52). That is, when the cold salt water (18) is discarded, the partition plate (3) is removed and the main water tank (4) is removed.
If the drain valve (53) is opened with the sub-water tank (5) in communication with the sub-water tank (5), the salt water (18) in the water tank (2) flows down through the suction pipe (20) and the conduit (52) and the discharge valve ( 53) is discharged. At this time, since the discharge pipe (21) is positioned above the conduits (51) (52) and the like, the salt water (18) in the discharge pipe (21) also flows backward through the pump (19) and the conduit (51). Since it is then discharged from the discharge port (54), sewage in each pipe can be discharged well. The pump (19), the suction pipe (20), the discharge pipe (21) and the conduit (51) constitute a first circulation device (50) for circulating the cold salt water (18) in the water storage tank (2). .

Reference numeral (30) is a pre-cooling tank installed in parallel with the water storage tank (2), which is defined by a heat-insulating box opened upward, and inside of which a removable partition plate (31) separates the washing tank (32) and the filtration tank. A tank (33) is defined and formed. A cutting board (34) is provided in the pre-cleaning tank (32) for root cutting with the vegetables being immersed. The root cutting plate (34) is supported by a support tool (35) made of a wire or a wire mesh so as to be inclined in one direction. A screen (36) as a filter is horizontally installed below the upper end of the partition plate (31) in the filtration tank (33), and water (overflowing from the washing tank (32) to the filtration tank (33) ( 37) is filtered through the screen (36). In addition, a drainer plate (38) for draining the vegetables immersed in the washing tank (32) is installed above the filtration tank (33) to store water and extend over both the pre-cooling tanks (2) and (30). Has been done.
Ribs (38A) are provided on the four sides of the draining plate (38) other than the side on the side of the cleaning tank (32).

The pre-cooling tank (30) is used for sludge removal and hydration of vegetables transported from the production area to the food processing plant of the store, and the vegetables (water) are placed on the cutting board (34). Water is replenished by capillarity by immersing in water for several minutes, washing, and root cutting in the immersed state. Since the water (37) is chilled by the second circulation device described later, the vegetables immersed in the water (37) are pre-cooled.

The water (37) has a suction pipe (39) opened at the bottom of the filtration tank (33), a conduit (42) equipped with a pump (41), and a cleaning tank (3).
It is circulated as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 by the second circulation device (40) consisting of the discharge pipe (43) opened at the bottom of 2). Branch pipe (46) with drain valve (45) at one end of front pipe (42)
Is provided. (47) is a heat exchange part formed in a part of the conduit (43), and is a main water tank (4) of the water tank (2).
Is installed in. The water (37) in the precooling tank (30) circulated in the second circulation device (40) accompanying this arrangement is the heat exchange section (45).
In, the water is cooled by the cold salt water in the water tank (2) to become cold water.
For example, the outside temperature is 15 to 20 ° C, and the temperature of cold salt water (18) is 1 to 3
The temperature of the cold water (37) at 8 ° C is maintained at 8-12 ° C. The heat exchange part (47) is made of corrosion-resistant cupronickel or the like because it is immersed in the cold salt water (18).

Further, (48) is an overflow pipe provided in the precooling tank (30), and when the cold water shower (49) provided in the precooling tank (30) is used as an option, the water level of the precooling tank (30) is 48) will be decided. The water used for the cold water shower (49) is supplied from a separately installed cold water machine (60). This cold water shower (4
The temperature of the water discharged from 9) is preferably several degrees higher than the temperature of the cold salt water (18).

According to such a configuration, the water in the pre-cooling tank (30) passing through the heat exchange section (47) of the second circulation device (40) immersed in the cold water or cold salt water of the water storage tank (2) is cooled to cool water. Therefore, the water temperature of the pre-cooling tank (30) is several degrees higher than the water temperature of the water storage tank (2). Therefore, when cooling and washing foods, first, cooling and washing can be performed in the pre-cooling tank (30) and then in the water storage tank (2) in two steps. As a result, the foods can be cooled in stages. Therefore, low temperature shock of food can be prevented.

Further, by installing a draining plate (38) extending over the water storage tank (2) and the pre-cooling tank (30), it is possible to drain the food that has been cooled and washed in the pre-cooling tank (30), and this draining board. By returning the water dropped in (30) to the pre-cooling tank (30), when the inside of the water storage tank (2) is cold salt water (18), it is possible to prevent the salt concentration from decreasing, and the drain plate (38) When the food is transferred from the draining plate (38) to the water storage tank (2) so as to act as a lid that closes the gap between the water storage tank (2) and the precooling tank (30), both food waste and water are precooled. (2) It does not fall into the gap between (30).

At least a part of the pre-cooling tank (30) is cold water (37).
Because of the cutting board (34) that can be dipped in, the root cutting work can be performed in water while cooling and washing the vegetables. As a result, the air cap near the cut surface can be eliminated and the vegetables can be directly cut from the cut surface. Can be replenished with water.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention described above, the effects listed below occur.

The water temperature of the precooling tank is several degrees higher than the water temperature of the water tank because the water of the precooling tank that passes through the heat exchange section of the second circulation device immersed in the cold water or cold salt water of the water tank is cooled and becomes cold water. . Therefore, when the food is cooled and washed, it can be cooled and washed in the pre-cooling tank first and then in the water storage tank in two steps. As a result, the food can be cooled step by step. In addition to being able to prevent the above, cold water or cold salt water in the water storage tank can be used as a heat source for the pre-cooling tank, so that the operating cost is significantly lower than when a cooling device is used.

Since the pre-cooling tank is provided with a cutting board, at least a part of which is immersed in cold water, root cutting work can be performed in water while cooling and washing vegetables. Can be replenished and vegetables can be revived well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings all show embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a side view,
FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view. (2) ... Water tank, (4) ... Main water tank, (5) ... Sub water tank,
(30) ... precooling tank, (34) ... cutting board, (40) ... second circulation device, (47) ... heat exchange section, (50) ... first circulation device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A main water tank, a sub water tank, a precooling tank, the main water tank,
A first circulation device that sequentially circulates water or salt water stored in the sub water tanks to the main water tank and the sub water tank, a cooling device that cools the water or salt water to form cold water or cold salt water, and a heat exchange unit A cooling and washing device for food, which is disposed in at least one of the sub-water tanks and comprises a second circulation device for circulating water stored in the pre-cooling tank with the heat exchange section and the pre-cooling tank. 2. A cooling and washing apparatus for food according to claim 1, wherein a cutting board, at least a part of which is immersed in water, is arranged in the pre-cooling tank.