Patent ID: 12193466

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that like components in the drawings are designated by like reference numerals as far as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted to avoid making the subject matter of the present invention unclear.

In the description of the elements of the present invention, the terms “first”, “second”, “A”, “B”, “(a)”, and “(b)” may be used. However, since the terms are used only to distinguish an element from another, the essence, sequence, and order of the elements are not limited by them. When it is described that an element is “coupled to”, “engaged with”, or “connected to” another element, it should be understood that the element may be directly coupled or connected to the other element but still another element may be “coupled to”, “engaged with”, or “connected to” the other element between them.

FIG.1is a perspective view of a food processing system1according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG.2is a plan view of the food processing system1according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state in which an inner structure of the food processing system1is exposed.FIG.3is a side view of the food processing system1according to an embodiment of the present invention in the state in which the inner structure of the food processing system1is exposed.FIG.4is a side view of a steaming unit20of the food processing system1according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state in which an inner structure of the steaming unit20is exposed.FIG.5is a front view of the steaming unit20according to an embodiment of the present invention in the state in which the inner structure of the steaming unit20is exposed.FIGS.6and7are views illustrating a portion of the inner structure of the steaming unit20according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a food processing system1according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a transport unit10, a steaming unit20, a freezing unit50, and a defrosting unit60. The food processing system1may include a cooling unit30and a pre-freezing unit40, and the transport unit10, the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, and the freezing unit50may constitute a food freezing apparatus. The cooling unit30and the pre-freezing unit40may constitute a cooler. The steaming unit20, the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, and the freezing unit50may be sequentially disposed in a direction from the front to the rear.

Transport Unit10

The transport unit10is a component provided to continuously transport foods F. The transport unit10may include multiple levels. The levels11,12and13of the transport unit10may be disposed apart from each other vertically. As in an embodiment of the present invention, the transport unit10may include a first transport level11, a second transport level12, and a third transport level13in order in a downward direction, but the number of the levels is not limited thereto.

A food supply equipment may be disposed in front of the transport unit10. The food supply equipment may be disposed parallel to each of the levels11,12and13of the transport unit10. Alternatively, the food supply equipment may be disposed in a left and right direction of each of the levels11,12and13and transfer the foods F to the transport unit10in the left and right direction, or the food supply equipment may be a rotary supply equipment having a rotating structure, but not transfer the foods F to the transport unit10through a path formed by a straight line. The type of the food supply equipment is not limited thereto.

Each of the levels11,12and13of the transport unit10may include a conveyor121provided to transport the foods F. The conveyor121may extend in a front and rear direction and be provided so that a plurality of foods F may be arranged in the front and rear direction and the left and right direction. The conveyor121may include a plurality of rollers and a belt wound on an outer circumference of each of the plurality of rollers and allow the belt to rotate by rotation of the rollers so that the foods F disposed on a top surface of the belt may be transported in a predetermined direction. In an embodiment of the present invention, as the rollers rotate in an axial direction that is the left and right direction perpendicularly crossing the front and rear direction, the belt may transfer the foods F in a rear direction. In the present disclosure, front and rear, left and right, and upward and downward directions are relative directions used for convenience of explanation and may change according to arrangement of the food processing system1.

In order to drive the conveyor121, the transport unit10may further include a driving module including a motor, which generates a rotational driving force and transmits the rotational driving force to the rollers, and so on. A single conveyor121may be disposed over the entirety of the food processing system1in the front and rear direction. Alternatively, the conveyor121may be divided for a predetermined section, and a plurality of consecutive conveyor units may constitute the conveyor121. When the conveyor121includes the plurality of conveyor units, different driving modules may be disposed in the conveyor units and drive the conveyor units, respectively.

Each of the levels11,12and13of the transport unit10may further include a transport cover141that covers the conveyor121at upper side of the conveyor121passing through the inside of the steaming unit20. As the transport cover141covers the conveyor121, a steaming separation space in which the conveyor121is disposed between a lower side of the transport cover141and a steam pipe may be defined in each of the levels11,12and13, and the respective steaming separation spaces of the levels11,12and13may be separated from each other. The first transport level11may define a first steaming separation space without including the transport cover141because another transport level to be disposed on the conveyor is absent. The transport cover141of the second transport level12may separate the conveyor121of the second transport level12from the first transport level11and define a second steaming separation space. In the drawings, the second transport level12and the transport cover141disposed thereon are illustrated. The transport cover of the third transport level13may separate the conveyor of the third transport level13from the second transport level12and define a third steaming separation space. The characteristics resulting from the separating of the respective steaming separation spaces from each other will be described later.

The transport cover141may have a shape that is upwardly inclined toward the inside based on the left and right direction. Thus, the transport cover141may have a shape in which a distance from the transport cover141to the conveyor121gradually increases toward a center. As the transport cover141has such a shape, water may be guided to drop to the outside in the left and right direction even when the water is formed at a bottom surface of the transport cover141due to steam. Accordingly, the water may be prevented from dropping to the foods F disposed at the center in the left and right direction.

Each of the levels11,12and13of the transport unit10may further include a baffle plate142protruding from the bottom surface of the transport cover141toward the conveyor121. The baffle plate142may extend in the left and right direction and be provided in plurality to be disposed apart from each other in the front and rear direction. Similarly to the transport cover141when viewed in the front and rear direction, the baffle plate142may have a shape that is upwardly inclined toward the inside based on the left and right direction, and have a predetermined thickness in the upward and downward direction. The baffle plate142may further separate each of the steaming separation spaces, which are separated from each other in the upward and downward direction, in the front and rear direction.

The baffle plate142may accommodate a thermal insulation material therein. The thermal insulation material may be glass wool, but the type thereof is not limited thereto. As the baffle plate142accommodates the thermal insulation material, the steaming separation spaces may be effectively thermally insulated from each other.

Steaming Unit20

The steaming unit20is a part provided to perform steam processing for cooking the foods F using steam. The steaming unit20may perform the steam processing on the foods F transported by the transport unit10. The steaming unit20may include a steaming chamber21for defining a steaming space therein, and may include a steam providing means disposed in the steaming chamber21. The steam providing means may be provided in plurality.

The steaming chamber21may have a shape of a box that is opened in the front and rear direction. The transport unit10may pass through openings of the steaming chamber21in the front and rear direction. Thus, the foods F, which are transferred by the transport unit10in the rear direction, may be steamed while passing through the steaming space. For the effective steaming, steaming gates capable of temporarily closing the openings in the front and rear direction to seal or open the steaming space may be disposed in the openings in the front and rear direction.

The steam providing means may be disposed at a position corresponding to each of the levels11,12and13of the transport unit10having the multiple levels and forcibly supply the steam to each of the steaming separation spaces. Thus, the steam providing means may include a steam generation means, which heats the water to generate the steam, and a steam discharging means23which discharges the steam generated from the steam generation means to each of the steaming separation spaces. The steam generation means may be a water heater, and the steam discharging means23may be provided in a pipe type.

Among the plurality of steam providing means, the steam providing means disposed at the positions corresponding to different levels, respectively, may operate independently of each other. Thus, the temperature and discharge amount of the steam, which is discharged into the steaming separation space corresponding to each of the transport levels11,12and13, may be different according to situations. For such individual control, a steaming temperature sensor that obtains the temperature may be disposed in each of the steaming separation spaces. The steam providing means corresponding to the steaming temperature sensor may be controlled according to the temperature obtained by the steaming temperature sensor.

The steam discharging means23may be disposed below the conveyor121included in each of the transport levels11,12and13and discharge the steam upwardly to steam the foods F seated and transferred on the top surface of the conveyor121. The steam discharging means23may include left-right pipes231and front-rear pipes232, which receive the steam from the steam generation means and allow the steam to flow therein. The left-right pipes231may extend in the left and right direction, and the front-rear pipes232may extend in the front and rear direction.

The plurality of front-rear pipes232may be disposed at both ends and a center of the conveyor121in the left and right direction, and the plurality of left-right pipes231may be disposed at predetermined intervals between the front-rear pipes232in the front and rear direction. Steam discharge holes or nozzles may be upwardly defined at predetermined intervals in the left-right pipes231and the front-rear pipes232in the left and right direction and the front and rear direction, respectively. Due to such arrangement of the front-rear pipes232and the left-right pipes231, the foods F in the steaming separation space may be uniformly steamed by the injected steam. The temperature in the steaming unit20may be 95° C. to 99° C., and the foods F discharged from the steaming unit20may have a temperature of 75° C. to 85° C., preferably 80° C.

The left-right pipes231may be communicated with a central front-rear pipe2321of the front-rear pipes232, which is disposed at the center. Thus, the central front-rear pipe2321may provide each of the left-right pipes231with the steam. The front-rear pipe232may include the central front-rear pipe2321and an outer front-rear pipe2322disposed at each of left and right sides of the central front-rear pipe2321. The outer front-rear pipe2322may be disposed at a center of the conveyor121in the upward and downward direction and at each of both sides of the conveyor121in the left and right direction. The central front-rear pipe2321may be disposed at a lower side of the conveyor121in the upward and downward direction and at a center of the conveyor121in the left and right direction. That is, the central front-rear pipe2321may be disposed downward from the outer front-rear pipe2322.

FIG.8is a view illustrating a shape of a nozzle that is disposed in a steaming unit20according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A steaming cleaning means for cleaning a steaming space may be disposed in the steaming unit20. The steaming cleaning means may include a steaming cleaning tubing, which allows air, steam, cleaning water, cleaning agents, and the like, to flow, and a steaming nozzle22for discharging a material flowing in the steaming cleaning tubing into the steaming space. The steaming nozzle22may have a plurality of steaming nozzle holes220opened in various direction as illustrated inFIG.8so that the material may be injected in various direction such as upward, lateral, and downward directions, not simply injected in a downward direction, and the material may be injected while drawing a conical line. The steaming nozzle22may be rotatably coupled to the steaming cleaning tubing and inject the material while rotating without a blind spot in the steaming space.

FIG.9is a view illustrating steaming door parts2111and2121of a steaming unit20according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A steaming chamber21may have a dual structure. That is, the steaming chamber21may have a shape in which an outer steaming chamber211surrounds an inner steaming chamber212defining a steaming space. Openings may be further defined in the steaming chamber21in the left and right direction. Each of the steaming door parts2111and2121may be provided to open and close the openings in the left and right direction.

The steaming door parts2111and2121may include an inner steaming door2121, which opens and closes the opening of the inner steaming chamber212, and an outer steaming door2111disposed outside the inner steaming door2121in the left and right direction so as to open and close the opening of the outer steaming chamber211. That is, the steaming door parts2111and2121may have a dual door structure to prevent an accident that may occur by leakage of the steam filled in the steaming space. For the appropriate processing, a user may open the outer steaming door2111and then open the inner steaming door2121to approach the steaming space.

Cooling Unit30, Pre-Freezing Unit40and Freezing Unit50

FIG.10is a perspective view illustrating the cooling unit30and the pre-freezing unit40of the food processing system1according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The cooling unit30is a component provided to perform cooling on the foods F transported from the steaming unit20by the transport unit10. The cooling means a method of cooling the foods F by exposing the foods F to outside air or allowing the outside air to flow around the foods F, without using a separate refrigerant or the like.

The cooling unit30may include a cooling chamber31for defining a cooling space therein, and the cooling chamber31may have an opening opened through which the outside air enters and exits the cooling space. The cooling unit30may include an outside air providing means33disposed in the cooling chamber31to forcibly supply the outside air to the cooling space. The cooling unit30may be disposed behind the steaming unit20.

The cooling chamber31may have a shape of a box that is opened in the front and rear direction. The transport unit10may pass through openings of the cooling chamber31in the front and rear direction. Thus, the foods F transferred by the transport unit10in the rear direction may be cooled while passing through the cooling space.

The pre-freezing unit40is a component provided to pre-freeze the foods F cooled and transported by the transport unit10. The pre-freezing means a method of cooling the foods F by allowing air cooled using a refrigerant to flow around the foods F. The pre-freezing unit40may be disposed behind the cooling unit30.

The pre-freezing unit40may include a pre-freezing chamber41for defining a pre-freezing space therein. The pre-freezing chamber41may have a shape of a box that is opened in the front and rear direction. The transport unit10may pass through openings of the pre-freezing chamber41in the front and rear direction. Thus, the foods F transferred by the transport unit10in the rear direction may be pre-frozen while passing through the pre-freezing space.

The pre-freezing unit40may include a pre-freezing air providing means disposed in the pre-freezing chamber41to forcibly supply the air cooled with the refrigerant to the pre-freezing space. The pre-freezing unit40may include a pre-freezing air generation means43capable of cooling the air through heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air and providing the pre-freezing air providing means with the cooled air. The pre-freezing air generation means43may be disposed above the pre-freezing chamber41. The pre-freezing air generation means43may be a brine cooler using an indirect cooling method, using a refrigerant including salt water or the like.

The temperature in the pre-freezing unit40may be 3° C. to 7° C., preferably 5° C., and the foods F discharged from the pre-freezing unit40may have a temperature of 35° C. to 45° C., preferably 40° C.

FIG.11is a perspective view illustrating the freezing unit50of the food processing system1according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The freezing unit50is a component provided to freeze the foods F pre-frozen and transported by the transport unit10. The freezing unit50may be disposed behind the pre-freezing unit40. The freezing unit50may include a freezing chamber51for defining a freezing space therein. The freezing chamber51may have a shape of a box that is opened in the front and rear direction. The transport unit10may pass through openings of the freezing chamber51in the front and rear direction. Thus, the foods F transferred by the transport unit10in the rear direction may be frozen while passing through the freezing space.

The freezing unit50may include a freezing module that provides cool air that is cooled air. That freezing module may include a freezing air providing means and a freezing air generation means53. The freezing air providing means may be disposed in the freezing chamber51to forcibly supply the air cooled with the refrigerant to the freezing space. The freezing air generation means53may cool the air through heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air and provide the freezing air providing means with the cooled air. The freezing air generation means53may be disposed behind the freezing chamber51. The freezing air generation means53may be a freezing device using a refrigerant such as R-404 or R-507.

The temperature in the freezing unit50may be −37° C. to −40° C., and the foods F discharged from the freezing unit50may have a temperature of −5° C. to −10° C., preferably −7° C. The foods F transported by the transport unit10may be gradually cooled while passing through the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, and the freezing unit50in this order, thereby minimizing a sharp temperature change of the foods F and finally discharging the foods F in a frozen state. As the cooling is gradually performed, the load of the freezing unit50may be reduced.

At least one of the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, or the freezing unit50may include a plurality of air providing means, each of which is disposed at a position corresponding to each of the levels11,12and13of the transport unit10and forcibly supplies the air. Such an air providing means may be the outside air providing means33in the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing air providing means in the pre-freezing unit40, or the freezing air providing means in the freezing unit50. The air providing means may absorb and process outside air to provide each of the chambers31,41and51with the air, but may reprocess the air used in the chamber31,41or51to provide the air back for the chamber31,41or51.

Among the plurality of air providing means, the air providing means disposed at the positions corresponding to different levels, respectively, may operate independently of each other. Thus, the foods F seated on the transport levels11,12and13may be processed at different temperatures, respectively. For such individual control, a temperature sensor that obtains the temperature may be disposed at a position adjacent to each of the transport levels11,12and13. The air providing means corresponding to the temperature sensor may be controlled according to the temperature obtained by the temperature sensor.

At least one of the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, or the freezing unit50may include a damper for air volume control, which is provided to adjust a flow rate of the air provided for the plurality of air providing means. The damper for air volume control may have a pipe-shaped appearance and be disposed in the middle of a flow path through which the air flows. The damper may include a damper member, which is disposed inside the damper and of which a position is adjustable, and adjust the position of such a damper member, thereby adjusting the air volume provided through the damper for air volume control.

Air curtains provided to spray air onto the foods F may be provided at an inlet and an outlet, respectively, of each of the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, and the freezing unit50. As the air curtains are disposed, foreign matters present on the foods F transported by the transport unit10may be removed, and foreign matters other than the foods F may be blocked from being introduced into the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, and the freezing unit50.

The pre-freezing unit40and the cooling unit30cool the foods F but does not freeze the foods F and thus, may constitute a cooler. That is, the cooler is a part that is disposed between the freezing unit50and the steaming unit20and provided to cool the foods F, which are steamed and transported by the transport unit101, before the foods F are transferred to the freezing unit50.

Each of the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, and the freezing unit50may have left and right side surfaces, each of which also has an opening defined therein and in which a cooling door311, a pre-freezing door411, or a freezing door511, which is a door for opening and closing the opening, is disposed. Cleaning means for cleaning the chambers31,41and51by injection of a material such as air, steam, cleaning water and cleaning agents, may be disposed also in the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, and the freezing unit50, respectively.

The cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40, and the freezing unit50may have different lengths in the front and rear direction. The lengths of the cooling unit30, the pre-freezing unit40and the freezing unit50in the front and rear direction may be longer in the reverse order mentioned.

Defrosting Unit60

The defrosting unit60is a component that is connected to the freezing unit50so as to remove frost formed in the freezing unit50. The defrosting unit60may be provided to inject the air into the freezing unit5and remove the frost. The defrosting unit60may inject the air into the freezing module, not into the freezing chamber51, and remove the frost occurring in the freezing module.

The defrosting unit60may include a plurality of defrosting nozzles61, an air tank62, and an air drying module63. The defrosting nozzles61may be connected to the freezing module and provided to inject air into the freezing air generation means53of the freezing module. The defrosting nozzles61may be connected to the air tank62through pipes, and the air tank62may deliver the dried air stored therein to the defrosting nozzles61through the pipes. A valve may be disposed in each of the pipes and adjust an amount of the air delivered to each of the defrosting nozzles61. The air drying module63may be connected to the air tank62, and intake and dry the air inflowing from the outside so that the air is stored in the air tank62. The air drying module63may be a dehumidifier that performs dehumidification in such a manner that air is cooled to condense steam, or performs dehumidification using an absorbent such as silica gel. However, the type of the air drying module63is not limited thereto.

The defrosting nozzle61may be disposed to face a portion of the freezing air generation means53, which is prone to the frost. As illustrated, the defrosting nozzles61may be disposed in a grid shape to face the frozen air generation means53at a side surface of the frozen air generation means53and inject high-pressure air to physically remove the frost.

Heretofore, even though all components configuring the embodiments of the present disclosure are described to be combined as one unit or to operate as a combination thereof, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. That is, within the scope of the present disclosure, all components may be selectively combined to one or more thereof to operate as a combination. The term such as “comprising,” “configure”, or “having”, specifies the presence of components, unless there is a clearly different meaning in the present disclosure, but do not preclude the presence thereof and should be construed to further include other components. Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and various changes and modifications can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments set forth herein are to describe the technical spirit of the present invention and not to limit. The scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments. Moreover, the protective scope of the present invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims and all technical concepts coming within the equivalency range of the present application should be interpreted to be in the scope of the right of the present application.