JP2002524717A - Method for continuous cooling of articles and corresponding cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for continuously cooling articles in a chamber (10), comprising an inlet (40) and an outlet (42) of the chamber. The article (5) is circulated along the path connecting the. The method causes the article to be circulated substantially vertically in at least a portion (22, 23) of the passage. The injection of the cryogenic fluid and the stirring of the chamber atmosphere are each time-controlled independently using a ventilation unit to control the cooling of the article (5) in the chamber (10).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for continuously cooling articles circulated in a chamber along a passage connecting an inlet and an outlet of the chamber.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 The invention is particularly applicable to food crust freezing.

[0003] Crust freezing of articles is performed for the purpose of simplifying later preparation, at least one
This is the operation of freezing only the surface of one article.

[0004] This technique is used in particular to facilitate ham blocks and pork loin slices, but is also applicable, for example, to cheese or fish to other foods that must be cut. is there.

[0005] Heretofore known continuous crust refrigeration systems are cooling tunnels provided with means for cooling the article or transferring negative thermal energy, wherein the article is a continuous tunnel carrying the article. It travels continuously and horizontally past this using a suitable conveyor.

[0006] The transfer means for transferring the negative heat energy includes means for introducing a cryogenic fluid into a corresponding tunnel and means for stirring the atmosphere in the tunnel.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

This type of crust refrigeration system has the first disadvantage of taking up a large amount of floor space. Furthermore, in normal operation, goods enter and exit the tunnel at a certain frequency. For example, in the event of a trouble, in a slice unit located downstream of the tunnel, the conveyor of the cooling tunnel will be stationary, and thus the goods will be prolonged,
Placed in tunnel.

[0008] Thus, the article is cooled for an excessive amount of time, and thus is excessively frozen, especially to the core. This type of excessive cooling can cause damage to the blades of the slicing unit and uneven slicing of the article assembly during restarting of the cooling tunnel and the slicing unit.

To remedy this drawback, the strength of stirring the atmosphere in the cooling tunnel and the injection of the cryogenic fluid into the tunnel at the time of the trouble are reduced at the same time. Such a simultaneous reduction reduces the transfer of negative thermal energy towards the article, but makes reasonable control of the crust freezing of the article in an acceptable manner impossible.

It is an object of the present invention to solve these problems by providing an improved method for continuous cooling of articles, the method comprising providing a cooling device occupying a relatively small floor area. This can be used to allow for crust freezing of articles, and to allow for relatively better control of crust freezing of articles if the freezing time of the articles in the cooling chamber is extended, eg, in the event of trouble.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a method for continuous cooling, in particular crust refrigeration, of an article in a chamber, the article being connected to an inlet and an outlet of said chamber. Is continuously circulated along the path. The method is characterized in that the article is circulated substantially vertically in at least a portion of these passages.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

According to a unique aspect of the embodiments, the method may have one or more of the following features individually or in connection with all technically possible combinations.

The articles are circulated almost vertically, individually or in all technically possible combinations, in at least two parts of these passages.

The article is circulated approximately vertically in at least two parts of these passages, and the article is circulated upwards on one side and downwards on the other. Cryogenic fluid, in particular CO _2, for cooling the article, is introduced into said chamber. The chamber atmosphere is agitated.

The injection of the cryogenic fluid and the stirring of the chamber atmosphere are each independently time-controlled to control the cooling of the articles in the chamber.

If the article is placed in the chamber for an extended period of time, the intensity of stirring the chamber atmosphere is reduced prior to the injection of the cryogenic fluid into the chamber.

After stopping the injection of the cryogenic fluid and the stirring of the atmosphere of the chamber, the injection of the cryogenic fluid into the chamber is started again, and thereafter, the stirring of the atmosphere of the chamber is restarted.

The subject of the present invention is also an apparatus for cooling, in particular for crust refrigeration, for carrying out the method described and described above, comprising means for cooling articles, inlets and exhausts of the chamber. Moving means for moving the article along the path between the mouth and the mouth, wherein at least a portion of the moving path is substantially vertical.

[0019] According to a unique state of the embodiments, the device may have one or more of the following features individually or in all technically possible combinations.

The passage of the article has at least two substantially horizontal parts, one of which corresponds to an upward displacement of the article and the other corresponds to a downward displacement of the article. Corresponding. The moving means has at least one continuous conveyor arranged substantially horizontally, supporting the swinging tray and carrying the articles. Cooling means article has a means for introducing cryogenic fluid, in particular CO ₂ into the chamber. The means for cooling the article has means for stirring the atmosphere in the chamber. The apparatus has means for controlling the means for cooling the article in order to independently time-control the means for injecting the cryogenic fluid and the means for stirring the atmosphere in the chamber.

The means for controlling the means for cooling the article is designed such that if the article is placed in the chamber for an extended period of time, the intensity of agitating the chamber atmosphere is reduced before injecting the cryogenic fluid. .

The means for controlling the means for cooling the article comprises, after stopping these means, restarting the means for injecting the cryogenic fluid into the chamber, followed by a means for stirring the atmosphere in the chamber. Designed to restart. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1 to 3 schematically show a plant 1 for producing sliced ham,
This plant 1 mainly comprises a continuous conveyor 4 for carrying a crust refrigeration unit 2, a slicing unit 3, a block of ham 5 to the crust refrigeration unit 2, and a crust refrigeration unit 2 from the crust refrigeration unit 2. 3 and a continuous conveyor 6.

The crust refrigeration apparatus 2 comprises a chamber 10, which is assembled on the floor 11 of the working place of the plant 1 in a substantially parallelepipedal manner, means 12 for moving the block 5 of ham in this chamber 10, and cooling. Or means 13 for transferring negative thermal energy towards the block 5.

As can be seen in the cutaway views of FIGS. 2 and 3, the moving means 12 has two endless chains 15, each of which is vertically positioned between a drive gear 16 and a drive gear 17. It is stretched. One of the chains 15 is positioned parallel and close to the vertical side wall 18 of the chamber 10 and the other of the chains 15 is
It is located parallel and close to a vertical side wall 19 facing the wall 18. Thus, the two chains 15 are parallel and separated from each other.

The two drive gears 16 are supported by a common drive shaft 20 mechanically connected to the output of a motor 21 for driving rotation.

Each chain 15 has a first vertical portion 22 disposed on the side of the conveyor 4 and a second vertical portion disposed on the side of the conveyor 6 between the corresponding gears 16 and 17. 23 invariably. Each has a horizontal platen 26 and two vertical uprights 2 at the end of the platen.
7 is provided between the chains 15.

Thus, for each swing tray 25, one upright 27 pivotally supports one chain 15, and the other upright 27 pivotally supports the other chain 15. The swinging trays 25 are evenly spaced apart from each other along the chain 15, all platens 26 are oriented horizontally with each other, and all uprights 27 are oriented horizontally with each other and above the platen 26. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, means 13 for transferring negative thermal energy
Has means 30 for injecting CO ₂ into the chamber 10 and means 31 for stirring the atmosphere in the chamber 10. The means 30 for injecting CO ₂ into the chamber 10 comprises a source of liquid CO ₂ 32 stored at 20 bar and an electronically mounted distribution valve 33.
Connects the source 32 to four tubes 34, each passing through the wall 18 of the chamber 10 and becoming the latter. The agitating means 31 has four fans 36 supported by the wall 18 and a rotor 37 arranged inside the chamber 10.

In FIG. 1, a single tube 34 and a single fan 36 are shown and, more specifically, are horizontally offset with respect to each other. An extractor 38 is connected to the upper wall 39 of the chamber 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a generally rectangular loading opening 40 is formed at a low level in the vertical sidewall 41 of the chamber 10. This vertical wall 41 which is connected to the walls 18 and 19 is arranged close to the part 22 of the chain 15.

A substantially rectangular extraction opening 42 is formed in the vertical wall 43 opposite the wall 41 of the chamber 10 at a level slightly higher than the loading opening 40. This vertical wall 43 is close to the part 23 of the chain 15.

The conveyor 4 is located along the wall 41 such that its upper surface is at substantially the same level as the lower loading edge 44 of the opening 40. An introduction platen 45 supported by the wall 41 extends horizontally on the lower edge 44 substantially into the platen 26 of the swinging tray 25 supported by the vertical portion 22 toward the interior of the chamber.

The conveyor 6 is located along the wall 43 such that its upper surface is at substantially the same level as the lower edge 46 of the outlet opening 42. An introduction platen 47 extends horizontally into the chamber 10 along the edge 46 to approximately the level of the platen 26 of the swinging tray 25 supported by the vertical portion 23 of the chain 15.

The plant 1 has a device 50 for loading the ham block 5 into the swing tray 25 and a device (51) for removing the ham block 5 from the swing tray 2.
And The loading device 50 has a push arm 52, which at one end supports an extruder 53. Also, the arm 52 has an extruder 53 located on the side of the conveyor 4, and the end of the arm 54 supporting the flap 55 is located outside the chamber 10 in a reduced position (FIGS. 1 and 3). Arm 52 extends through the loading opening 40 of the conveyor 4 and the chamber 10 and the extruder 53 moves the conveyor 4 in the transport direction of the conveyor 4 between an extended position, which is substantially at the same level as the inner edge of the introduction plate 45. And can be moved.

The unloading device 51 has a towing arm 54, which has a flap 5 at one end.
5 is supported. The arm 54 is in a retraced position (FIG. 1) where one end of the arm 54 supporting the flap 55 is located outside the chamber 10 (FIG. 1), and the same end is provided by the vertical portions 22 and 23 of the chain 15, respectively. It can be moved between the supported swing trays 25 and between an extended position (FIG. 3) located in the chamber 10.

Further, the plant 1 comprises an electronic control unit 57 having a suitable programmed microprocessor, a sensor 58 for detecting the presence of the block 5 on the conveyor 4 facing the opening 40, and a take-out opening. And a sensor 59 for detecting the presence of the block 5 on the conveyor 6 opposite to 42.

The motor 21, the motor-operated distribution valve 33, the fan 36, the loading device 50, the unloading device 51, and the sensors 58 and 59 are electrically connected to an electronic control unit 57 as shown by a chain line in FIGS. ing. In normal operation, the conveyor 4 transports the blocks 5 of ham, which are evenly spaced apart from one another, to the charging opening 40 of the crust refrigeration system 2, as indicated by the arrow 60 in FIG. The blocks 5 are arranged in the direction of the arrow 60, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the conveyor 4. When the sensor 58 detects the presence of the block 5 in front of the loading opening 40,
The electronic control unit 57 controls the operation of the loading means 50 so as to load the block 5 detected by this means into the swing tray 25 in synchronization with the operation of the motor 21. As the arm 52 moves from the contracted position to the extended position, the extruder 53 of the loading means 50 moves the detected block 5 to the swing tray 25 as shown by an arrow 61 in FIG. The platen 26 is extruded by the synchronization described above. The platen 26 is located at the same level as the introduction plate 45.

The block 5 loaded in the swing tray 25 in the chamber 10 is displaced along an inverted U-shaped path. The first vertical part of the passage corresponds to the vertical part 22 of the chain 15. Block 5 moves above said portion of the passage, as indicated by arrow 62 in FIG. The second vertical part of the passage corresponds to the vertical part 23 of the chain 15. Block 5 moves below that portion of the passage, as indicated by arrow 63 in FIG.

At the same time, CO ₂ gas from the source 32 is introduced into the chamber 10 where it partially evaporates and partially solidifies under the influence of the expansion, thus forming a source of negative thermal energy. . Thereafter, the fan 36 stirs the atmosphere in the chamber 10. This agitation improves the convective movement between the atmosphere in the chamber 10 and the block 5 carried by the oscillating tray 25, and thus the cooling of the block 5. Cooling the block 5 of the entire passage between the loading opening or inlet 40 and the outlet opening or exhaust 42 cools the block 5 by crust. The extruder 38 simultaneously exhausts a part of the atmosphere in the chamber 10.

The take-out opening 42 facing the block 5 supported by the swing tray 25
And the sensor 59 also detects that the block 5 in front of the opening 42 of the conveyor 6
Is not detected, the control unit 57 controls the operation of the take-out means 51 in synchronization with the operation of the motor 21, and thus the means 51 takes out the block 5 on the conveyor 6. For this reason, in a state where the flap 55 is folded so as to be aligned with the arm 54 at the reduced position, the arm 54 and the flap 55 pass through the taken-out block 5 until the arm 54 reaches the extended position. Reach inside the chamber 10. After this, the flap 55 is folded and the arms 54
Is returned to the reduced position and the block 5 is pulled. The block initially slides on the introduction plate 47 at the same level as the platen 26 carrying the block 5 due to the synchronization described above. Finally, when the arm 54 reaches the retracted position, the block 5 is provided on the conveyor 6. This removal operation is indicated by arrow 64 in FIG.

Next, the conveyor 6 transports the uniformly separated blocks 5 to the slice unit 3 as shown by an arrow 66 in FIG. Thereafter, the blocks 5 are arranged in the direction of the arrow 66, that is, in the vertical direction of the conveyor 6.

The area of the floor occupied by the crust refrigeration apparatus 2 is small because the articles are moved vertically. Further, the device 2 allows for high rate crust refrigeration of articles using sensors 58 and 59 specific to the device 2 to control the operation of the device 2. Further, the incorporation of the device 2 into a manufacturing plant is easy.
In this way, no links are needed for the devices arranged upstream and downstream to control the crust refrigeration system 2.

FIG. 4 shows a plant 1 when a trouble occurs, for example, in the slice unit 3.
3 shows the change in the operation time. The solid curve schematically shows the rotational speed ω of the fan 36, the dashed curve schematically shows the concentration C of CO _{2 in} the atmosphere of the chamber 10, and the dotted curve shows the concentration C of the chamber 10. The temperature T of the inside atmosphere is schematically shown. In normal operation, the quantities of ω, C, T are determined to serve the function of the operating parameters of the plant 1, in particular of the conveyors 4, 6 of the crust refrigeration system 2, the dimensions of the block 5, and the slicing parameters. It has a substantially constant predetermined value. When a trouble occurs in the slice unit 3 that causes the conveyor 6 to stop at the time t1, the block 5 normally positioned on the conveyor 6 faces the removal opening 42 while the block 5 is removed from the chamber 10. ing.

Thereafter, the electronic control unit 57 causes the rotation speed ω of the fan 36 to decrease stably. Thereafter, the concentration C and the temperature T are maintained substantially constant for a predetermined period.

When the stop of the conveyor 6 is extended to the time t2, the control unit 57
Command complete stop of O ₂ injection. Thereafter, the number ω, the concentration C, and the temperature T gradually decrease until t3 when T is substantially equal to the temperature of the outside air outside the chamber, and C and ω are almost 0. This is after passing the time of t2, by stopping the CO ₂ injected between the extractor 38 and the fan 36 Togamada running, into the chamber 10, a partial vacuum unit is formed That's why. This partial vacuum is applied to the chamber 10
Causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the atmosphere. This is because the atmosphere in the chamber 10 was completely replaced with air at the outside air temperature before the time point t2.

At time t 4, the slice unit 3 resumes normal operation, and at time t 6, the conveyor 6 restarts and the block 5 positioned in front of the take-out opening 42 is removed. Thereafter, the control unit 57 instructs the restart of the injection of CO ₂ and the restart of the fan 36 at time t5.

The restart and the injection restart are relatively fast. Thus, t6 which is relatively close to t4
At this point, the amounts of ω, C, and T return to their respective predetermined work values. When a trouble occurs in the plant 1 due to independent time control of the CO ₂ injection and the rotation speed of the ventilation means 31, the selected control mode sets the chamber 10.
It should be noted that the crust refrigeration of the block 5 present therein is relatively preferably adjustable. Thus, even when a trouble occurs, it is possible to achieve sufficient standardization of the crust refrigeration of the block 5. Further, it is not necessary to remove the article from the crust refrigeration apparatus 2 when a trouble occurs.

According to an alternative embodiment, CO ₂ injection may be gradually reduced and restarted, rather than suddenly. This is because the decreasing and increasing rotational speed ω and the CO ₂ injection rate generally depend on the desired crust refrigeration parameters, the type of article to be crust frozen and the characteristics of the plant 1 used. It is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a sliced ham production plant having a crust refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the crust refrigeration apparatus, partly cut away along the line II-III in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the crust refrigeration apparatus, partly cut away along the arrow II-III line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a state in which the means for transferring negative heat energy of the crust refrigeration system is controlled when the slice unit of the plant of FIG. 1 is stopped.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) F25D 23/04 F25D 23/04 E (72) Inventor Pushhan, Olivier France, F-44000 Ruze, Ryu Du El de Monty 31 (72) Inventor Peco, Alain F-44240 Chasse-sur-Erdle, Cheman des Vignes 21F F-term (reference) 3F022 AA02 BB02 FF35 KK14 KK15 LL31 MM01 3L044 AA03 AA04 BA05 CA04 DB03 FA01 FA03 FA06 HA07 JA04 KA01 KA04

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A method for continuously cooling, in particular crust freezing, an article (5) in a chamber (10), wherein the article comprises an inlet (40) in the chamber.
) And an outlet (42), the article being circulated substantially vertically in at least a portion (22, 23) of the passage in a continuous circulation manner. Features, methods. 2. The article (5) comprises at least two portions (22, 2) of the passage.
At 3), it is circulated almost vertically, and the article is placed in one of these parts (22
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the circulation is carried out in an upward direction (62) and in a downward direction (63) at the other of the parts (23). 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a cryogenic fluid, in particular CO _2, is introduced into the chamber for cooling the article (5). 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein an atmosphere is agitated in the chamber. 5. Injection of the cryogenic fluid and agitation of the chamber atmosphere to control cooling of the article (5) in the chamber (10) each independently:
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the method is time-controlled. 6. When the article (5) is placed in the chamber (10) for an extended period of time, the intensity of stirring the atmosphere in the chamber is such that the cryogenic fluid is injected into the chamber (10). 6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that before reducing t2), it is lowered (t1). 7. After stopping the injection of the cryogen and the stirring of the atmosphere in the chamber (10), the injection of the cryogen into the chamber is restarted (t4), followed by the chamber 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the stirring of the atmosphere is restarted (t5). 8. An article cooling means (13) and an inlet (40) for said chamber.
A chamber (10) provided with a moving means (12) for moving articles along a path between the air outlet (42) and a cooling means for performing the method of claim 1. In particular, in an apparatus for crust refrigeration, at least a part of the moving passage (
22) and 23) are substantially vertical. 9. The passage through which the article passes has at least two substantially vertical portions (22, 23), at least one of which (22) being subjected to an upward displacement (62) of the article. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the other (23) of these parts corresponds to a downward displacement (63) of the article. 10. The moving means (12) is characterized by having at least one continuous conveyor (15) arranged substantially vertically and supporting a swinging tray (25) carrying the articles. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9. 11. The article cooling means (13) comprises means (30) for injecting a cryogenic fluid, in particular CO _2, into the chamber (10). 10. The device according to any one of 10 above. 12. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the means for cooling the article comprises means for agitating the atmosphere in the chamber. 13. The article (5), wherein the means (30) for injecting the cryogenic fluid and the means (31) for stirring the atmosphere of the chamber are independently time-controlled means. Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it comprises means (57) for controlling the cooling means (13). 14. Means (57) for controlling cooling means (13) for said article (5).
) Is designed such that if the article (5) is placed in the chamber for an extended period of time, the intensity of stirring the chamber atmosphere is reduced (t1) before reducing the injection of the cryogenic fluid. The device of claim 13, characterized in that: 15. Means (57) for controlling cooling means (13) for said article (5).
) Means that after stopping these means (13), restarting the means (30) for injecting the cryogenic fluid into the chamber, followed by means for stirring the atmosphere in the chamber (
31) characterized in that it is designed to control the restart of 31).
3 or 14 devices.