JPH0822201B2 - Tunnel oven temperature controller - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a temperature control device for a tunnel oven, and more particularly to baking dough or the like in an optimum state while the dough or the like is conveyed along a conveying path in the tunnel oven. Temperature control technology for

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a tunnel oven used in a bakery confectionery process or the like is ignited while a bread dough or the like is conveyed by using a conveyer such as a conveyor which penetrates the inside thereof. The bread dough or the like is baked using a gas type heating means such as a burner or an electric heating means such as a heating wire.

The conveying distance in this type of tunnel oven is relatively long, and if the temperature is always constant from the upstream side to the downstream side of the conveying path, good quality baking cannot be performed, Therefore, it is necessary to change the temperature condition, and thus the firing condition, along the transportation route.

Also, when different types of bread and confectionery are used, not only the temperature conditions need to be changed corresponding to the respective types, but also the time required for baking varies depending on the type, and therefore, depending on the conveying means. It is also necessary to change the transport speed.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional tunnel oven, when the temperature condition is changed, an operator manually operates the heating means as appropriate to change the output of the heating means or a plurality of heating means. The reality is that measures are being taken to change the number of operating heating means.

For this reason, the burden imposed on the operator is increased, the work efficiency is deteriorated, the temperature cannot be precisely adjusted by manual operation, and the temperature adjustment is erroneous due to the occurrence of an operation error, etc. It becomes impossible to perform optimum baking on bread dough and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a temperature control device capable of precisely and optimally and automatically adjusting temperature in a tunnel oven, thereby making a bread and confectionery process. It is a technical subject to improve the working efficiency in the above and to improve the baking of bread dough and the like.

[0008]

The temperature control device for a tunnel oven according to the present invention is characterized in that it is configured as follows in order to achieve the above technical problems.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the inside of the tunnel oven is divided into a plurality of zones along the transportation path thereof, and a plurality of heating means are provided for each zone to heat these zones. A temperature control device for a tunnel oven configured to perform temperature control for each of the zones based on the operating number of means, wherein a product index indicating a plurality of products and a heating means index indicating a plurality of heating means, respectively. And the optimum temperature in each zone for each product and the optimum transfer speed in the transfer route for each product .
A storage unit is provided, and temperature detection means is provided for each zone, and the optimum temperature and optimum transport speed of each zone corresponding to the product index selected by the input unit are read from the storage unit, and the transport path is also provided. And the heating means so that the actual temperature of each zone becomes the read optimum temperature based on the signal from the temperature detecting means. a control means for instructing the operation or stop of the heating means corresponding to the selected and the selected index of the index, the control means
Indicates that the temperature of each zone is
Higher than the upper limit temperature value obtained by adding the auxiliary value to the optimum temperature
Occasionally, command all the heating means in the zone to stop,
When within the band between the optimum temperature and the upper limit temperature value
Turn off the heating means for only a certain part of the zone.
Substitute value and subtract auxiliary value from the optimum temperature
When the temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature value,
Command the operation of the heating means, and the optimum temperature and the lower limit temperature value
When in the band, only a certain part of the zone
Configured to instruct to switch to operation of heating means
It has been done.

[0010]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means commands the operation of the heating means based on a signal from the operation detecting means for detecting whether or not each heating means is operating. Nevertheless, when it is determined that the heating means is stopped, the operation of the heating means in the stopped state closest to the heating means in the zone where the heating means is present is instructed. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control means generates an interruption interval of a predetermined value or more in the product supply based on a signal from the interval detection means for detecting the interval of the products supplied to the tunnel oven. When you decide that you are doing
The operation and stop of the heating means are instructed so that the temperature of each zone becomes a preset initial value.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, exhaust means is installed in each zone, and each zone is
It is divided into an upper section which is an upper space of the transfer path and a lower section which is a lower space, and heating means and temperature detecting means are respectively disposed in both of these sections, and the control means controls the both sections. The average value of the temperatures of both sections is calculated based on the signal from the temperature detecting means, and the exhaust means is controlled based on the average value.

[0014]

According to the invention described in claim 1, the operator selects the product index corresponding to the product to be actually fired from among the plurality of product indices in the input section, and the control means selects the product index. The optimum transport speed corresponding to the read speed is read from the storage unit, and the speed of the transport means such as a conveyor is controlled to be the optimum transport speed. Further, the control means reads out the optimum temperature for each zone, which is the optimum temperature corresponding to the product and is formed by dividing the inside of the tunnel oven along the transport path into a plurality, and allocates the optimum temperature to each zone. Based on the signal from the temperature detecting means provided, the actual temperature of each zone is controlled to be the optimum temperature read out. This control is provided for each zone. The heating means index corresponding to a specific heating means of the plurality of heating means is selected and the selected heating means is instructed to operate or stop. Specifically, for example, when it is desired to lower the temperature of one zone, while stopping one or more heating means of the plurality of heating means in operation in that zone, the temperature of one zone is decreased. When it is desired to raise the temperature, one or more heating means among the plurality of heating means in the stopped state are activated. Then, such control is executed for each zone.

The temperature control by the above control means is more concrete.
The manner, in performing temperature control of each zone, the temperature of each zone reality is higher than the upper limit temperature value obtained by adding an auxiliary value to the optimum temperature, i.e. the temperature of the reality than the optimum temperature value If too high, the temperature is quickly lowered by shutting down all heating means in that zone.
On the other hand, when the actual temperature is within the band between the upper limit temperature value and the optimum temperature, that is, when the actual temperature becomes close to the optimum temperature, it is necessary to operate only a predetermined part of the heating means. By doing so, the convergence speed to the optimum temperature is slowed down, and a situation in which the temperature is suddenly lowered below the optimum temperature is avoided. On the contrary, when the actual temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature value, all the heating means are activated to raise the temperature rapidly, while the temperature within the band between the lower limit temperature value and the optimum temperature is reached. In some cases, only a predetermined part of the heating means is operated to avoid a situation where the optimum temperature is suddenly exceeded.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 2 , the control means outputs the operation command based on the signal from the operation detecting means for detecting whether or not each heating means is operating. When it is determined that the heating means is in a stopped state, that is, when a failure or the like occurs in the heating means, the other heating means in the stopped state in the zone in which the heating means exists and the heating means is the most Activate the other heating means in close proximity. As a result, even if one heating unit is in a failure state or the like, it is possible to compensate for this and perform good temperature control.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the interval between the products supplied into the tunnel oven, that is, the transportation interval becomes a predetermined value or more, and the product does not exist in the tunnel oven, for example, Temperature correction is performed to set the temperature in each zone to the initial value, so that subsequent temperature control can be started quickly.

According to the invention described in claim 4 , for example, when a gas type such as an ignition burner is used as the heating means, exhaust according to the temperature is required. Each zone is further divided into an upper section and a lower section, and the exhaust amount is controlled according to the average value of the temperatures of both sections. As a result, the control of the exhaust amount for each zone is performed more precisely, so that the combustion state of the ignition burner or the like can always be maintained in a good condition.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a temperature control device for a tunnel oven according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the tunnel oven 1 and its temperature control device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The tunnel oven 1 has a conveyor means 3 that constitutes the transfer path X, and the conveyor means 3 is rotationally driven in the arrow Y direction by a drive device 4 such as a motor. Then, the bread dough or the like fed from the entrance 1a side of the tunnel oven 1 is transferred while being stored in a tray or the like on the upper surface of the transfer path X of the conveyor means 3, and baked during this transfer, Exit
It is carried out from the 1b side.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the tunnel oven 1, flexible partition membrane plates 5, 5 made of a rubber material or the like are used to form a first zone A, a second zone B, and a third zone C. The zones A, B, and C are divided into
The first, second and third upper sections A1, B1, C1
And the first, second and third lower sections A2, B2, C2. Each zone A, B, C is provided with a plurality (six in the illustrated example) of heating means 6 ... 6 and, more specifically, each section A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2. 6, three heating means 6 ... 6 are provided respectively, and the heating means 6 ... 6 in this embodiment are gas-type ignition burners.

Further, each zone A, B, C (upper section A
1, B1, C1) are equipped with exhaust means 7 ... 7 such as exhaust fans for exhausting the inside of each, and each section A1, B1 in each zone A, B, C. , C1, A2, B
There are provided temperature detecting means 8 ... 8 which are temperature sensors for detecting the temperature of each of C2 and C2. Further, near the entrance 1a of the tunnel oven 1, a cloth detecting means 9 including a photoelectric sensor for detecting the passage of cloth is installed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the temperature signals a ... a from the temperature detecting means 8 ... 8 and the dough signal b from the dough detecting means 9 are input to the control means 10. At the same time, the control means 10 outputs a drive control signal c for the drive device 4, an operation control signal d ... D for each heating means 8 ... 8 and an exhaust control signal f ...
f and are output. Further, from each heating means 6 ... 6 to the control means 10, operating state detection signals e ... e indicating the operating state of each heating means are input.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the control means 10
The input unit 11, the storage unit 12, and the display unit 13 are connected to each other, and various data are stored in the storage unit 12 by a key operation or a switch operation by the operator from the input unit 11, Required items are displayed on the display unit 13.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 4, the control means 10
Host computer 10a and microprocessor 10b
, Which are provided in the upper and lower sections A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2 of the zones A, B, C, respectively. And each heating means 6
… Actuator 14 that switches 6 to active and inactive…
While connected to 14, exhaust means (exhaust fan) 7
7 is also connected to the inverter 15 that controls the operation of 7. At least the conveyor speed and the product NO are displayed on the display unit 13 connected to them.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. First, prior to the actual operation of the device, various information is registered in the storage unit 12 based on the operation of the input unit 11, and the registration procedure is as shown below. That is, in step S1 shown in FIG. 5, a product no as a product index corresponding to the type of product such as bean jam, jam bread, roll bread, etc. is determined, one product no is set, and then transferred (control means 10). Transfer to microprocessor 10b).
Next, in step S2, the optimum temperature for each zone A, B, C of the tunnel oven 1 for the transferred product is set and then transferred. Further, in step S3, the ignition burners (heating means) 6 of the zones A, B, C for the above products
Set the ignition burner to be thinned out of 6 and transfer. In other words, when performing the temperature control described later, when all the ignition burners 8 ... 8 are not operated, which ignition burner is to be stopped is set and transferred. Then, in step S4, the idle operating temperature for the product, that is, the initial temperature value when the dough does not exist in the tunnel oven 1 is set and transferred. Also, in step S5,
The firing time for the above product (the conveyance speed of the conveyor means 3 is determined from the firing time) is set and transferred. Then, after the above procedure is performed, based on the operation of the input unit 11, from the control means 10 (microprocessor 10b),
The set values in the steps S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 are stored in the storage unit 12 and registered. As a result, various information corresponding to one product is registered. Such a procedure
All registration is completed by executing for multiple types of products, for example, 30 types of products (product no).

When the actual automatic operation of the apparatus is carried out, the operator selects the desired product no in the input section 11 and presses the operation start switch to obtain the firing time set in step S5. The conveyor means 3 is driven at the conveying speed, and the dough of the product is continuously transferred along the transfer path X. During the transfer, the dough is baked under the temperature control as described below. .

That is, the actual temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 8 ... 8 in each zone A, B, C (more specifically, in each section A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2) is shown in FIG. Characteristic curve F1
As described above, when the temperature is higher than the upper limit temperature value T + α obtained by adding the auxiliary value α to the optimum temperature T of each zone initially set in step S2, all the ignition burners 6 ... 6 in that zone are stopped. Then, the temperature is quickly decreased, and the actual temperature is increased by the upper limit temperature value T + α due to this temperature decrease.
When it enters the band between the optimum temperature T and the optimum temperature T, only the specific ignition burner set in step S3 is operated to switch to the thinning operation, and the actual temperature is gradually changed from the high temperature side to the optimum temperature T. Converge to.

On the other hand, when the actual temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature value T-α obtained by subtracting the auxiliary value α from the optimum temperature T as shown by the characteristic curve F2 in FIG. When all the heating means 6 ... 6 are operated to raise the temperature quickly, and when the actual temperature falls within the band between the lower limit temperature value T-α and the optimum temperature T due to this temperature rise, it is specified. The ignition temperature is switched to the thinning operation using only the ignition burner, and the actual temperature is gradually converged from the low temperature side to the optimum temperature T.

While the temperature control is being performed by the thinning operation as described above, the operation command signal d is issued from the control means 10 to the ignition burner 6, but is sent from the ignition burner 6. When the coming operation detection signal e indicates non-ignition, the operation command signal d is sent to the other ignition burner 6 in the stopped state (limited to the one in the zone) closest to the ignition burner 6. Deliver to compensate for ignition burner failure.

Further, the time interval from the detection of one dough to the detection of the subsequent dough is not less than a predetermined value based on the signal from the dough detecting means 9 installed on the entrance 1a side of the tunnel oven 1. If, that is, if the gap between the doughs becomes large and, for example, the dough does not exist at all in the tunnel oven 1, the temperature control is performed so that the idling temperature (initial value) set in step S4 is reached. I do.

Further, in the above temperature detection, it is also possible to detect the temperature of one zone as an average value of the temperatures of the two sections of the zone. In this embodiment, control of the exhaust amount is possible. Is performed based on the above average value. That is, based on the signals from the temperature detecting means 8, 8 of both the upper section and the lower section of one zone, calculate the average value of the actual temperature of both sections, based on this average value, The exhaust amount is adjusted by controlling the operation of the exhaust means (exhaust fan) 7 in one zone. Since there is a slight gap between the upper section and the lower section in one zone, the number of the exhaust means 7 may be one in each zone. By performing such control, control is performed so that the exhaust gas amount is optimal according to the combustion amount of the ignition burner 6, and energy saving and the like are achieved.

The setting values in steps S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 can be changed as needed, so that when the tunnel oven 1 or some other situation changes, In this case, change registration of predetermined data may be performed.

[0033]

Since the temperature control device for a tunnel oven according to the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operator simply selects the product index corresponding to the product to be actually fired from the plurality of product indices in the input section, and the control means causes the optimum transportation according to the product. The speed and the optimum temperature for each zone are read from the storage unit, and the actual temperature for each zone is read based on the signal from the temperature detecting means arranged in each zone. Therefore, the optimum control is performed for each zone according to the type of product, improving the work efficiency and reducing the load imposed on the operator as much as possible, and the bread dough, etc. Therefore, it will contribute greatly to the improvement of the firing of the product, and thus to the improvement of the quality of the product.

More specifically, when performing temperature control for each zone, if the actual temperature of each zone is higher than the upper limit temperature value obtained by adding an auxiliary value to the optimum temperature, heating of that zone is performed. A state in which only a predetermined part of the heating means is operated when the actual temperature is within the band between the upper limit temperature value and the optimum temperature while the temperature is rapidly raised by stopping all the means. By doing so, the convergence speed to the optimum temperature becomes slower, and the situation where it falls below the optimum temperature abruptly is avoided, and conversely, when the actual temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature value, , While operating all heating means to quickly raise the temperature,
If it is in the band between the lower temperature limit and the optimum temperature,
By operating only a predetermined part of the heating means, a situation in which the optimum temperature is suddenly exceeded can be avoided, and confusion of control and occurrence of hunting can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means issues the operation instruction based on the signal from the operation detecting means for detecting whether or not each heating means is in operation, and the heating means is stopped. If it is determined that the heating means is operating, the other heating means in a stopped state in the zone in which the heating means exists and the other heating means closest to the heating means are operated. Even if the heating means is defective, it can be compensated for and good temperature control can be performed, and the occurrence of control failure can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the distance between the products supplied into the tunnel oven exceeds a predetermined value, temperature correction is performed to make the temperature in each zone an initial value. Therefore, the subsequent temperature control can be started promptly, and no waste occurs in performing the temperature control.

According to the invention described in claim 4 , in controlling the exhaust gas amount of each zone in which the temperature is controlled, each zone is further divided into an upper section and a lower section, and the average of the temperatures of both sections is averaged. Since the exhaust volume is controlled according to the value, the combustion state etc. of each zone will be controlled more precisely, and the combustion state etc. can always be maintained well, and waste of fuel etc. will not occur and energy saving It will be a great help in planning.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an entire control system of a temperature control device for a tunnel oven according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of the temperature control device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of the temperature control device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a simplified control system of the temperature control device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering various kinds of information in a storage unit of the temperature control device.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing control characteristics by the temperature control device.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing control characteristics by the temperature control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tunnel Oven 2 Temperature Control Device 3 Conveying Means 6 Heating Means 7 Evacuation Means 8 Temperature Detecting Means 9 Interval Detecting Means (Dough Detecting Means) 10 Control Means 11 Input 12 Memory A Zone A1 Section A2 Section B Zone B1 Section B2 Section C zone C1 section C2 section T optimum temperature α auxiliary value X transport route

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. The inside of a tunnel oven is divided into a plurality of zones along its conveying path, and a plurality of heating means are provided for each zone, and each of the heating means is operated based on the number of operating heating means. A temperature controller for a tunnel oven configured to perform temperature control for each zone, wherein a product index indicating each of a plurality of products, a heating means index indicating a plurality of heating means, and a zone of each zone for each product. A storage unit that stores the optimum temperature and the optimum transfer speed in the transfer route for each product is provided, and temperature detection means is provided for each zone, and the temperature detection means is provided for each zone , and each zone corresponding to the product index selected in the input unit is displayed. The optimum temperature and the optimum transfer speed are read from the storage unit, and the transfer speed in the transfer path is controlled to be the read optimum transfer speed, and Based on a signal from the temperature detecting means, a command is issued to select the heating means index and activate or stop the heating means corresponding to the selected index so that the actual temperature of each zone becomes the read optimum temperature. a control means for, this control means, the temperature of each zone, read out from the storage unit
Maximum temperature obtained by adding an auxiliary value to the optimum temperature of the zone concerned
When it is higher than the value, all heating means in the zone are stopped.
Within the band between the optimum temperature and the upper limit temperature value.
Heating means for only a certain part of the zone when
Command to switch to the operation of the
When the temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature value after subtracting the auxiliary value,
Command all the heating means of the
When it is in the band with the temperature limit value,
Instruct to switch to the operation of only some heating means
A temperature control device for a tunnel oven, which is configured as described above . 2. The control means comprises heating means, respectively.
The signal from the operation detection means that detects whether or not it is operating
On the basis of the above, heating is performed even though the operation of the heating means is instructed.
When it is determined that the means is stopped, the heating means
Closest stop to the heating means in the existing zone
The temperature control device for a tunnel oven according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control device is configured to instruct the operation of the heating means in the state . Wherein said control means is subjected to a tunnel oven
Signal from interval detecting means for detecting the interval of products to be fed
Based on
When it is determined that the
2. The operation of the heating means is instructed so as to reach the set initial value.
Or the temperature control device of the tunnel oven according to 2. 4. An exhaust means is provided in each of the zones.
The zones are located above the transport route.
Is the upper section and lower space is the lower section
And the heating hands in each of these two sections.
And a temperature detecting means are provided, and the control means is
Based on the signals from the temperature detection means in both sections
Calculate the average temperature of both sections, and
The temperature control device for a tunnel oven according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the exhaust device is controlled based on an average value .