JP2001349791A - Core temperature sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a core temperature sensor 3 devised so as to be pierceable in a prescribed depth to provide temperature data under an optimum condition. SOLUTION: This core temperature sensor 3 comprises a heat insulating grip part 5, a heat conductive probe 6 connected to this grip part, and a thermosensitive element 7 thermally conductively provided in the vicinity of the tip within this probe. A scale 8, a mark such as label, craved seal or the like, or a stopper is provided on the outer surface of the probe 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a core temperature sensor for measuring a core temperature of a food or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facilities for mass cooking have increased, and once food poisoning has occurred, there are many victims due to the size of the food poisoning, which may be a serious social problem. For this reason,
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has established a mass cooking facility hygiene management manual, and has notified the prefectural governor, the mayor of the government ordinance city, and the mayor of the special ward.

[0003] Among them, the center temperature of food is defined, and conditions for preventing bacteria from growing are defined. As described above, it is very important to accurately measure and grasp the center temperature of food.

[0004] The temperature at the center of food or the like is generally called the core temperature. Examples of the thermometer for measuring the core temperature include a portable digital thermometer, a heating device, a quick freezer, and the like. There are a wide variety of thermometers used to control the temperature.

[0005] The core temperature sensor portion for sensing the temperature of these thermometers is connected to the thermometer main body through a bendable lead wire subjected to waterproofing.

[0006]

When the core temperature sensor is pierced into the food, there is an uncertain element due to the fact that the core temperature sensor does not reach the center of the food or penetrates the food due to the human piercing. Also, for each ingredient,
It is inevitable that the depth of the core temperature sensor varies. Therefore, it may be difficult to say that the core temperature has been accurately measured, and a problem may occur in the temperature data or in the control based on the temperature data.

[0007] The present invention relates to a core temperature sensor used for measuring the temperature of the core temperature so that food can be pierced at a predetermined depth so that temperature data can be obtained under certain conditions. The purpose is to:

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems Claim 1 of the present invention provides:
A core temperature sensor including a heat-insulating grip portion and a thermally conductive probe connected to the grip portion, and a temperature-sensitive element provided in a thermally conductive manner near the tip of the probe. Marks such as graduations, labels, and engravings, or stoppers are provided so that the piercing depth can be recognized and the temperature can be measured while keeping the measurement conditions constant.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a probe is provided with a position element, and when the probe is inserted into a predetermined depth,
The position element is actuated to emit a signal such as a sound or light so that an operator can be informed that the piercing depth is a predetermined piercing depth.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view of a portable thermometer showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a core temperature sensor showing a second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a core temperature showing a third embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a quick-freezer according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a temperature detecting device 1 comprising a control unit 2 having a display unit and a core temperature sensor 3 for sensing temperature. I have. The core temperature sensor 3 includes a gripping portion 5 formed of a heat insulating material and a probe 6 formed of a material having good thermal conductivity.

In the vicinity of the tip of the probe 6, a temperature-sensitive element 7 such as a semiconductor element whose resistance value changes according to temperature or a thermocouple to which a dissimilar metal is bonded is inserted in a thermally conductive manner. The probe 6 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a sharpened tip so that it can pierce the inside of various foods such as hard frozen food, semi-frozen chilled food, and bagged food. The material of the probe 6 is made of non-corrosive steel such as stainless steel which is hard to corrode, hardly causes chemical change, resistant to temperature change, easily penetrates foods and has no problem in strength, and has a smooth surface. It is finished.

On the outer surface of the probe 6, graduations 8 are cut in units of 1 mm, and are emphasized by thick lines every 1 cm.

In the temperature detecting device 1 having such a configuration, when the probe 6 of the core temperature sensor 3 is pierced into the food material, the scale 8 is notched on the outer surface of the probe. The temperature detected by the temperature sensing element 7 is displayed on the display unit of the control unit 2. The probe 6 of the core temperature sensor 3 can measure the temperature of the center of the food by inserting the probe 6 to a predetermined depth. Further, if the temperature data is examined by changing the piercing depth of the probe 6, the temperature distribution inside the food can be known. As a result, the depth of the food material to be monitored can be known, and the piercing depth can be designated, so that there is no variation in the measurement conditions depending on the measurer and the food material.

The gripping portion 5 of the core temperature sensor 3 is formed of a heat insulating material so that the body temperature is not transmitted to the probe even if the gripping portion is gripped by hand and the probe 6 is inserted into food. I have.

Next, FIG. 2 which is a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The core temperature sensor 3 comprises a grip portion 5 and a probe 6. A male screw 9 is formed on the outer surface of the probe 6, and a disk-shaped stopper 10 is screwed into the male screw with a female screw 11 integrated with the stopper. Female screw 11
It is pressed and fixed with a lock nut 12. The material of the stopper 10, the female screw 11, and the lock nut 12 is stainless steel.

With such a configuration, the stopper 10 is connected to the lock nut 12 at an arbitrary position from the tip of the probe 6.
It is possible to fix with. When the stopper 10 is fixed at a position corresponding to the center of the food material in advance and the tip of the probe 6 is inserted into the food material, the stopper is stopped when the stopper 10 hits the food material, so that it cannot be stabbed further. . Therefore, the core temperature of the food can be always measured at a constant depth.

Next, a description will be given of FIG. 3 which is a third embodiment.

A temperature sensing element 7 is buried in the tip of the probe 6 in a thermally conductive manner, and a position element 20 for sensing capacitance is electrically insulated and buried in the middle of the entire length. If there is a conductive substance around the position element 20, it is detected that the substance has been stabbed to a predetermined depth by utilizing the decrease in capacitance, and a signal is output from the lead wire 4. Has been. At the same time, the temperature of the temperature sensing element 7 is also output.

When the probe 6 is inserted into the food, the probe 6 is electrically conductive because most of the food contains moisture, the capacitance changes at the position element 20, and the output changes. Is detected.

An embodiment of the core temperature sensor having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

Numeral 13 denotes a quick-freezer, in which a food 15 such as roast beef cooked in a hot state at about 80 ° C. is placed on a tray 14, and the food 15 is rapidly frozen in the inside 16. It is.

Before quick freezing, the probe 6 of the core temperature sensor 3 is inserted into the food material 15 and the position element 2 of the probe is
When the change of the capacitance of 0 is detected, the control unit 19 emits a sound to notify the operator that the probe 6 has been sufficiently inserted.

After the insertion operation of the probe 6 is completed, the door 17 is closed and the operation of the quick freezer 13 is started.
The cool air blows out from the discharge port 18 and circulates at high speed in the refrigerator 16 to rapidly cool the food material 15.

The core temperature of the rapidly cooled food material 15 is calculated by the control unit 19 based on the temperature data obtained from the probe 6, and the value is displayed on the liquid crystal. When the core temperature reaches -25.degree. The operation of the freezer 13 is changed from the freezing operation to the cycle operation.

As described above, since the probe 6 can accurately detect the core temperature of the food material 15, the quick freezer 13
Can prevent the lack of freezing, and can easily spread bacteria4
It is possible to quickly survive the temperature range of 0 ° C. to 20 ° C. and freeze to -25 ° C. all at once, so that the hygiene of the food material 15 is maintained.

Furthermore, since the ice crystals do not become large due to rapid freezing, the ice crystals do not destroy cells, the food material 15 is less deteriorated, and a sanitary food material free from bacteria can be supplied. I have to.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a mark such as a graduation, a label, an engraving, or a stopper is provided on the outer surface of the probe, so that the insertion depth can be recognized. The temperature can be measured while keeping the measurement conditions constant.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the probe is provided with a position element, and when the probe is pierced to a predetermined depth, the position element is activated to emit a signal such as sound or light,
The operator can be notified that the piercing depth is the predetermined piercing depth.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a temperature detecting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a core temperature sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a core temperature sensor according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a quick freezer to which the third embodiment of FIG. 3 is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 core temperature sensor 5 gripper 6 probe 7 temperature-sensitive element 8 scale 10 stopper 15 food material 20 position element

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A core temperature sensor comprising: a heat-insulating grip portion; and a probe having good thermal conductivity connected to the grip portion, wherein a temperature-sensitive element is provided in the vicinity of the tip of the probe in a thermally conductive manner. A core temperature sensor comprising a mark such as a scale, a label, a stamp, or a stopper provided on an outer surface of a probe. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a position element is provided on the probe, and when the probe is stabbed to a predetermined depth, the position element is actuated to emit a signal such as sound or light. Core temperature sensor.