JP2002177865A - Powder scattering apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder scattering apparatus capable of evenly scattering a powder (e.g. salt) to an object (e.g. seaweed) to receive a scattered powder which is moved on a transportation path. SOLUTION: A powder scattering apparatus 1 comprises a storage unit 3 for storing a powder and a scattering unit 4 for storing a fixed amount of the powder supplied from the storage unit 3 and scattering the stored powder evenly to an object to receive the scattered powder. The storage unit 3 comprises a storage hopper for storing the powder and a powder supply adjustment means (a grooved roller) for adjusting the supply amount of the powder to the scattering unit 4. The scattering unit 4 comprises a scattering hopper for storing the powder, a sensor for detecting the change of the powder amount in the scattering hopper and controlling the operation of the powder supply adjustment means so as to keep the powder amount, and a scattering amount adjustment means (a roller for scattering) 17 installed under the scattering hopper for adjusting the scattering amount of the powder to the object to receive the scattered powder.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for uniformly dispersing a powder (for example, a powder seasoning such as salt) on the surface of an object to be dispersed (for example, plate-shaped laver) moving on a transport path. A powder dispersing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a salt shaker in which salt is dropped on food conveyed by a conveying device to uniformly impart salt to the food. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-107877 describes a salt shaker for producing fish fillets having a uniform desired salt concentration. This salt oscillating device is configured to rotate a salt in a salt supply hopper having a semi-cylindrical bottom provided with a number of slit holes, by rotating a screw that rotates along a peripheral edge of the bottom of the salt supply hopper. Through which it falls.

[0003]

When a powder seasoning such as salt is applied to the surface of laver, compared to a salt shaker for fish fillets as described in the above publication,
It is necessary to adjust the amount of powder seasoning to be applied with higher accuracy. In other words, the powder seasoning to be attached to the nori is relatively small and requires fine adjustment of the spices, and is uniformly distributed at a constant density (the amount of adhesion per unit area) so that the seasoning does not vary. It is necessary to adhere.

However, in the conventionally known method of dispersing powder by a one-stage hopper, the amount of powder discharged from the hopper (discharge) is changed by changing the amount (own weight) of powder in the hopper. Speed) also varies, and it is difficult to always maintain a uniform spray amount of powder. In addition, there is a problem that the powder in the hopper absorbs moisture and forms a bridge (a phenomenon in which the powder agglomerates in the hopper and causes clogging). There is a side lacking. Further, depending on the properties of the powder, there is a case where it is difficult to fall down, and a countermeasure such as installation of a dedicated drop assist means (a diaphragm or the like) may be required. As described above, the use of a single-stage hopper for attaching the powder seasoning such as salt to the surface of the laver is not appropriate because of the various problems described above.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides a powder sprinkler which can be used for applications such as applying a small amount of powder seasoning such as salt to the surface of laver and seasoning, and which can control the amount of sprinkled powder with high precision. No equipment will be provided.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a powder dispersing apparatus for storing a powder (for example, salt), the storage being disposed below the storage, And a dispersing unit for dispersing the powder (for example, salt) on a body to be dispersed (for example, plate-like laver) while accommodating a certain amount of the powder (for example, salt) supplied from the unit. A storage hopper for storing the powder (eg, salt) having an inlet and an outlet for the powder (eg, salt); and a storage hopper for storing the powder (eg, salt). And a powder supply adjusting means (for example, a grooved roller) for adjusting the supply of the powder (for example, salt) from the hopper for spraying to the spraying unit, and the spraying unit is supplied from the storage hopper. Has an inlet and an outlet for the powder (eg, salt) The powder (e.g., sodium chloride)
A hopper for storing the powder, and detecting an increase or decrease in the amount of the powder (eg, salt) stored in the hopper for spraying, and keeping the amount of the powder (eg, salt) constant. A sensor for controlling the operation of the powder supply adjusting means (for example, a grooved roller) and the object (for example, laver) of the powder (for example, salt) in the hopper for distribution. And a spray amount adjusting means (for example, a cylindrical roller having a large number of protrusions formed on the surface) for adjusting the spray amount.

With this configuration, the amount of powder (eg, salt) sprayed from the discharge port of the spraying hopper (the amount of powder sprayed per unit time) is always kept constant.
Powder (eg, salt) can be uniformly adhered to the surface of the object to be sprayed (eg, laver). In addition, the adjustment of the amount of powder (eg, salt) adhering to the surface of the object to be sprayed (eg, laver) is performed by adjusting the amount of spraying means (eg, a columnar surface having a large number of protrusions formed on the surface). This can be easily achieved by controlling the operation of the roller.

[0008] In the above-mentioned powder dispersing apparatus, for example, the discharge port of the dispersing hopper has an appropriate length (typically, slightly smaller than the width of a conveying path for conveying the seaweed to be sprayed). (A small length), and is formed as a strip-shaped (narrow-width, straight-line) opening, and the spraying amount adjusting means is located at a position close to the lower side so as not to contact the discharge port of the spraying hopper. The spraying hopper may be configured to include a columnar spreading roller having a large number of projections formed on the surface thereof and extending along the discharge port of the spraying hopper (claim 2). According to this structure, the powder (for example, salt) existing between the numerous protrusions formed on the surface of the spraying roller falls uniformly with the rotation of the spraying roller. , Uniformly adhere to the surface of the object to be sprayed (eg, laver).

Here, the spraying hopper includes, for example, a spraying hopper main body, and an adjusting plate portion that can adjust the position with respect to the spraying hopper main body and forms the discharge port of the spraying hopper. (Claim 3). With this configuration, the powder (for example, salt) in the hopper for spraying is removed only by moving the adjusting plate portion downward to a position where it is not in contact with the roller for spraying and fixing. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the fluid leaks unintentionally downward from the gap between the hopper and the spreading roller.

The powder dispersing device has an axis parallel to the axis of the dispersing roller, and is arranged so as to be in contact with the dispersing roller and rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the dispersing roller. A brush roller having a brush portion provided can be provided (claim 4). By providing the brush roller configured as described above, powder (for example,
Salt) can be more smoothly and uniformly dropped.

In the brush roller, the axis of the brush roller is located at substantially the same height as the axis of the spraying roller, and the end of the brush portion of the brush roller (rotation of the brush roller) It is preferable that the surface forming portion) is disposed at such a position as to reach the bottom portion between the multiple protrusions of the spraying roller (claim 5). If the brush roller is provided at such a position, the powder (for example, salt) is surely scraped downward in the vertical direction.

[0012] The powder spraying device can be configured such that the storage hopper has a sensor for detecting a decrease in the amount of the powder stored in the storage hopper (claim). Item 6). By disposing such a sensor, for example, the amount of powder in the storage hopper,
When the amount decreases to a predetermined amount or less, an operator can be notified that powder should be supplied into the storage hopper by lighting a warning light connected to the sensor or the like.

[0013] The storage hopper may include a heating means (for example, a rubber heater) for preventing the powder (for example, salt) stored in the storage hopper from absorbing moisture. ). By having the heating means for preventing the powder from absorbing moisture, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the powder (for example, salt) is clumped.

It is preferable that the storage hopper has a lid for closing an input port of the storage hopper. By having the lid, the temperature inside the storage hopper raised by the heating means (for example, a rubber heater) can be kept constant, and the inflow of moisture can be prevented. Solidification and agglomeration can be more effectively avoided.

In the above-mentioned powder dispersing apparatus, for example, the discharge port of the storage hopper has an appropriate length (typically, slightly smaller than the width of a transport path for transporting the seaweed to be sprayed). (A small length) is formed as a band-shaped (narrow-width linear) opening, and the powder supply adjusting means is located at a position close to the lower side so as not to contact the discharge port of the storage hopper. A grooved roller having a groove capable of accommodating the powder, extending along the discharge port of the storage hopper, and wherein the storage hopper is located on a side with respect to a rotation surface of the grooved roller. It can be configured to have an abutting plate portion that abuts from one side (claim 9). With this configuration, the rotation of the grooved roller allows the powder (eg, salt) in the storage hopper to fall downward by a fixed amount at a time, and further, the powder is guided by the contact plate portion. The body can be dropped uniformly in the vertical direction.

The powder dispersing device may include one or more tapping means (for example, a rubberized plastic head for impacting the powder in the storage hopper and / or the dispersing hopper). To give)
(Claim 10). Providing the tapping means in this manner effectively prevents agglomeration or bridging of powder (eg, salt) in the storage hopper or the spraying hopper (pulverization of the powder in the hopper and clogging). Can be prevented.

The powder spraying apparatus is suitably used, for example, as an apparatus for adhering a powder seasoning (eg, salt) to the surface of laver (claim 11).

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the powder spraying apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining an arrangement state of main components in the powder spraying apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a hopper and powder supply adjusting means, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a grooved roller (powder supply adjusting means), and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a sprinkling roller (spraying amount adjusting means), and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a projection formed on the surface of the sprinkling roller shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the protrusion shown in FIG. 7 is cut along the line AA. FIG. 9 is a state in which the powder in the hopper for spraying has reached the lower limit specified by the sensor. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the powder in the spraying hopper has reached an upper limit amount specified by the sensor. FIG. 11 is a front view showing an example of an operation terminal for controlling the rotation speed of a spray roller (spray amount adjusting means), FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a tapping means, and FIG. 13 is a powder of the present invention. It is a front view which shows an example of a body spraying apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the powder dispersing apparatus 1 of the present invention is installed so as to straddle a transport path formed by a roller conveyor 2. The object to be sprayed (for example, plate-shaped laver) moves on the roller conveyor 2 at a constant speed, and passes below the powder spraying apparatus 1. At this time, the powder (for example, seaweed) is sprayed with powder (for example, salt) from above by the powder spraying device 1 so that the powder (for example, salt) is uniformly attached to the upper surface. Then, the process proceeds to the next step. The powder spraying device 1 of the present invention
It is mainly intended to attach various powder seasonings such as salt, spices and chemical seasonings to the surface of plate-shaped laver, but for other uses (not limited to food industry, Etc.). Further, in the present specification, the term "powder" is not limited to powdery ones,
It is intended to include a wide range of granules having a relatively large particle size.

The powder spraying apparatus 1 is configured in a two-stage manner, and includes a storage unit 3 arranged at an upper stage and a spraying unit 4 arranged at a lower stage. More specifically, the powder spraying device 1
A storage unit 3 for storing the powder, and a powdered object that is supplied with the powder from the storage unit 3 and accommodates a certain amount of the powder and moves on a transport path (the roller conveyor 2) (for example,
And a spraying unit 4 for spraying powder (for example, salt) on the nori.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the storage section 3 comprises a storage hopper 5 and a grooved roller (powder supply adjusting means) 6. FIG. 2 omits the contact plate 12 and the lid 11 to show the appearance of the grooved roller 6. The storage hopper 5 includes a storage hopper main body 10 having an inlet 8 and an outlet 9 for the powder 7, and an inlet 8.
And a substantially upper half thereof are fixed to the outer wall surface of the storage hopper body 10 and a substantially lower half thereof is laterally opposed to the grooved roller (powder supply adjusting means) 6. A pair of abutting plate portions (leaf springs) 12 arranged to abut against each other
(See FIG. 3).

The storage hopper main body 10 is formed so that the cross section becomes gradually smaller from the upper side to the lower side. The discharge port 9 of the storage hopper body 10 is formed as a strip-shaped (a narrow, straight) opening having a length slightly smaller than the width of the conveying path for the object to be sprayed (seaweed). The width (length in the lateral direction) of the discharge port 9 depends on the type of the powder, but is preferably as narrow as possible. By making the width of the discharge port 9 narrow, it is possible to more reliably prevent the powder 7 from leaking due to vibration generated when the storage hopper 5 switches from the operating state to the stopped state. The inner surface of the storage hopper body 10 facilitates the powder 7 to slide down,
In order to prevent the powder 7 from adhering, it is preferable to use a material having a smooth surface such as polytetrafluoroethylene (trade name: Teflon (registered trademark)).

The lid 11 is, for example, rotatably fixed and attached to the edge of the storage hopper body 10.
The lid 11 keeps the temperature inside the storage hopper 5 raised by a rubber heater to be described later constant, and also prevents moisture from flowing into the storage hopper main body 10 and prevents foreign matter from being mixed. Used. The lid 11 is opened when the powder 7 is supplied to the inlet 8, and the lid 7 is opened.
Is stored in the storage hopper and is closed while being supplied to the spraying unit 4 below.

A sensor 29 is attached to the lid 11. The sensor 29 is configured to detect, for example, a distance from the sensor 29 to the powder in the storage hopper 5 and, when the distance is equal to or greater than a preset value, issue a warning by a warning sound and a warning light. . The sensor 29 is
Instead of detecting the distance, a method of contacting the powder may be used. In this case, the sensor 29 is mounted in the storage hopper 5 and is configured not to issue an alarm when in contact with the powder, but to issue an alarm when the powder decreases and stops contacting with the powder. You.

The pair of contact plate portions 12 are attached to both sides of the discharge port 9 along the discharge port 9 of the storage hopper body 10, and are bent near the center as shown in FIG. A pair of flexible metal plates (leaf springs) are arranged to face each other. Further, the pair of contact plate portions 12 act laterally (frontward) while applying an appropriate pressing force by the elastic restoring force of the contact plate portion 12 itself to the rotating surface (outer peripheral surface) of the grooved roller 6. And both rear sides).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the grooved roller 6 has a linear groove shape below the discharge port 9 of the storage hopper 5 at a position close to the discharge port 9 so as not to contact the discharge port 9. It is arranged along the outlet 9 so as to be parallel to the outlet 9. As shown in FIG. 4, the grooved roller 6 is formed such that strip-shaped grooves (having a semicircular cross section) extending in the axial direction of the cylindrical body are formed at regular intervals on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body. The groove portions 6a and the outer peripheral surface portions 6b are formed alternately. The distance from the axis of the grooved roller to the outer peripheral surface portion 6b is, for example, about 20 to 30 mm. The groove 6a is formed to have a curved surface with a radius of about 15 to 25 mm, for example.

The larger the groove 6a is, the larger the amount of powder that falls at one time due to the rotation of the grooved roller 6 is. It is preferable that the amount of the powder falling at one time is large, because the flow (downward moving speed) of the powder in the storage hopper 5 becomes large and the bridging hardly occurs.
The grooved roller 6 has shaft portions 6c (connected to a drive shaft (not shown)) at both ends, and is configured to rotate based on a signal from a sensor in a spraying hopper described later. The surface of the grooved roller 6 is preferably formed of a material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (trade name: Teflon) in order to prevent the powder 7 from adhering.

The discharge of the powder 7 from the storage hopper 5 will be described as follows. The powder 7 stored in an appropriate amount in the storage hopper 5 has a grooved portion located below the discharge port 9 of the storage hopper 5 with the rotation of the grooved roller 6 as shown in FIG. It enters the groove 6 a of the roller 6. The powder 7 that has entered the groove 6a rotates together with the groove 6a by the further rotation of the grooved roller 6, and is in a state of being sandwiched between the groove 6a and the contact plate 12. The powder 7 placed in this state cannot drop downward because the contact plate portion 12 is in contact with the corner of the outer peripheral surface portion 6b of the grooved roller 6. When the grooved roller 6 further rotates, the groove 6a containing the powder 7 comes to be positioned lower than the axis (center of rotation) of the grooved roller 6. As a result, the powder 7 is removed from protection by the contact plate portion 12, falls downward, and is supplied to the spraying portion 4.

Next, the spraying unit 4 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the spraying unit 4 has a spouting hopper 15 having an inlet 13 and an outlet 14 for the powder 7 supplied from the storage hopper 5, and is housed in the sparging hopper 15. A sensor 16 that detects an increase or decrease in the amount of the powder 7 and controls the operation of the grooved roller (powder supply adjusting means) 6 of the storage unit 3
(See FIG. 9), a spraying roller (spraying amount adjusting means) 17 for adjusting the discharge amount of the powder 7 in the spraying hopper 15 (spraying amount to the object to be spread moving on the transport path), A brush roller 18 disposed in contact with a spraying roller (spraying amount adjusting means) 17.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the spraying hopper 15 includes a spraying hopper body 19 and an adjusting plate 20 attached to a lower portion of the spraying hopper body 19. The hopper body 19 for spraying is the hopper body 1 for storage.
Like 0, the cross section is formed so as to become gradually smaller from top to bottom. Scattering hopper body 19
Is desirably formed at a steep angle of 50 degrees or more with respect to the horizontal plane in order to improve the flow of the powder contained therein. The spraying hopper main body 19 has, at its lower end, a strip-shaped (narrow-width linear) opening having a length slightly smaller than the width of the conveying path for the object to be sprayed (seaweed).
The inner surface of the hopper body 19 for spraying is preferably formed of a material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (trade name: Teflon) in order to prevent the powder 7 from adhering and hardening.

In order to prevent the powder 7 from leaking from the gap between the spraying hopper 15 and the spreading roller 17, the adjusting plate portion 20 is brought close to a position where the powder 7 does not come into contact with the spreading roller 17. Be placed. The adjustment plate section 20
The position can be adjusted by moving vertically along the outer wall surface of the spraying hopper body 19, and after being positioned, it is fixed to the spraying hopper body 19. The pair of adjusting plate portions 20 form the discharge openings 14 of the hopper 15 for spraying as strip-like (straight-width narrow) openings having a length slightly smaller than the width of the conveying path of the object to be sprayed (seaweed). I do. The spraying hopper 15 is placed such that the upper opening opening 13 is always open, and can always receive the powder 7 supplied from the storage hopper 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sprinkling roller 17 comprises a cylindrical roller body 21 and a shaft 22 (connected to a drive shaft (not shown)). Spreading roller 17
Are arranged along the discharge port so as to be parallel to the discharge port (a linear groove-shaped opening) formed by the adjustment plate portion 20. A large number of protrusions 21 a are formed on the peripheral surface of the roller body 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 21 a
It is formed in a substantially quadrangular pyramid shape with 1b interposed. The shape of the protrusion 21a can take various shapes such as a conical shape, a triangular pyramid shape, and a hemispherical shape. The tip portion of the projection 21a is usually formed with an appropriate roundness. Roller body 21
(Surface portions of the protrusion 21a and the bottom 21b)
In order to prevent the powder 7 from being adhered and hardened and not falling off, it is preferable that the powder 7 be formed of a material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (trade name: Teflon).

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. In FIG. 8, the height of the protrusion 21a is, for example, 0.
The width of the bottom between the protrusions 21a (the distance indicated by the symbol a in the figure) is, for example, 1.2 to 1.8 mm, and the pitch between the protrusions (b in the figure) is, for example, The angle indicated by the symbol α in the drawing is, for example, 70 to 100 degrees.
However, the optimal values of these dimensions or angles vary depending on conditions such as the type and particle size of the powder to be sprayed, the amount of spraying, and the degree of uniformity required for spraying. It is desirable to determine it appropriately according to the conditions.

The brush roller 18 has a rotatable shaft 18.
a and a brush portion 18b made of a number of fibrous flexible bodies fixed to the peripheral surface of the shaft portion 18a. Here, as the fibrous flexible body constituting the brush portion 18b, for example, a synthetic resin material such as polyamide resin (nylon) is used. The brush roller 18 is arranged so as to be in contact with the sprinkling roller 17 and rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the sprinkling roller 17.

The axis of the brush roller 18 (the center line of the shaft portion 18a) is located at the same height as the axis of the spraying roller 17. Further, the end of the brush portion 18b of the brush roller 18 is in contact with the bottom portion 21b between the projections 21a of the spreading roller 17 at the contact point with the spreading roller 17. The brush roller 18 is driven at a higher rotation speed than the sprinkling roller 17. Therefore, the spraying roller 17
Powder 7 existing between the projections 21a of the brush roller 1
8 ensures that it is scraped off and falls vertically.

Next, the dispersion of the powder 7 from the dispersion hopper 15 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 5, the powder stored in the hopper 15 for spraying is transferred to the protrusion 21 a of the roller for spraying located below the outlet 14 of the hopper 15 for spraying with the rotation of the roller 17 for spraying. Get in between. The adjustment plate 20 prevents the powder 7 from leaking downward. The powder 7 between the projections 21a rotates together with the distribution roller 17 while being sandwiched between the projections 21a by the further rotation of the distribution roller 17, and is cut off at the lower end of the adjustment plate portion 20, It moves outside the hopper 15 for spraying. Protrusions 2 that have been trimmed to a certain amount
The powder 7 between 1a gradually moves downward according to the further rotation of the sprinkling roller 17, and when the powder 7 reaches a height corresponding to the axis (rotation center) of the sprinkling roller 17, the brush 7 The brush portion 18b comes into contact with the brush portion 18b, and is swept at the end of the brush portion 18b and falls vertically.

In the present invention, the amount of the powder 7 accommodated in the spraying hopper 15 is adjusted to be constant. That is, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the increase or decrease in the amount of the powder 7 in the spraying hopper 15 is detected by coming into contact with the sensor 16 disposed in the spraying hopper 15. According to the detection result, the rotation of the grooved roller 6 is controlled, and an appropriate amount of powder 7 to be replenished is supplied from the storage hopper 5 into the spraying hopper 15.

The sensor 16 has a constant width (for example, in the height direction (vertical direction))
(About 8 mm). Here, the central portion having the fixed width matches the height of the upper surface of the powder 7 when it is assumed that a predetermined optimal amount of the powder 7 is stored. In other words, the optimum amount of the powder 7 to be stored in the hopper for spraying is predetermined as the reference amount, and the sensor 16 defines a certain allowable width for the reference amount. And, in this specification,
The fact that the amount of powder in the spraying hopper 15 is constant means an amount that falls within an allowable width defined by the sensor 16. In addition, the mounting position of the sensor 16 (spraying hopper 15
May be determined according to the type of the powder 7 or the like. For example, in the case of using powder that tends to solidify into a lump, the mounting position of the sensor 16 is lowered to reduce the amount of powder in the spraying hopper 15, and conversely, in the case of using powder that hardly hardens. In this case, the mounting position of the sensor 16 may be raised to increase the amount of powder in the hopper 15 for spraying.

The operation of the sensor 16 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 9, when the amount of powder decreases to the lower end of the sensor 16, the control unit 2 connected to the sensor 16
7 (see FIG. 13), a signal for rotating the grooved roller 6 is issued. As a result, the grooved roller 6 rotates and the powder 7 is transferred from the storage hopper 5 to the spraying hopper 15.
Is supplied. Thereafter, when the amount of the powder 7 in the spraying hopper 15 increases and reaches the upper end of the sensor 16 as shown in FIG.
From this, a signal for stopping the rotation of the grooved roller 6 is issued. Then, the rotation of the grooved roller 6 stops,
The powder 7 in the spraying hopper 15 continues to decrease until it reaches the lower end of the sensor 16. In this way, the powder 7 in the storage hopper 15 is always held at a fixed amount whose upper and lower limits are determined by the sensor 16. As described above, when the amount of the powder 7 in the spraying hopper 15 is constant, the variation in the discharge amount (the discharge amount per unit time) of the powder 7 from the spraying hopper 15 due to the increase and decrease of the own weight of the powder 7. Is eliminated, and uniform spraying can be realized. In addition, the hopper 15 for spraying
When the amount of the powder 7 in the inside is constant, bridging of the powder 7 in the spraying hopper 15 becomes difficult to occur,
Variations in the amount of application due to clogging of the powder can be prevented. Note that, as the sensor 16, an optical sensor that detects the distance to the powder may be used as in the case of the sensor 29, instead of the method of contacting the powder. In this case, a sensor is arranged above the powder in the spraying hopper 15 and the distance between the sensor and the powder is detected, and the supply and stop of the powder to the spraying hopper 15 are automatically performed.

The amount of the powder 7 sprayed from the spray hopper 15 can be adjusted to a desired amount according to the kind of the powder by adjusting the rotation speed of the spray roller 17. it can. As an adjusting means, an operation terminal (speed control unit) 23 as shown in FIG. 11 is used. The operation terminal 23 has, for example, a display unit 23a for digitally displaying the amount of application and an operation unit (setting button) 23b for adjusting the amount of application. Even when the speed of the object to be spread moving on the transport path (speed of the production line) is changed, the amount of application to the object to be applied (the amount of application per unit area) is the same by operating the operation terminal 23. The amount of powder sprayed (the amount discharged per unit time) can be adjusted so that

In order to prevent the powder 7 from bridging in the storage hopper 5 and the spraying hopper 15 (a phenomenon in which the powder is aggregated and clogged), as shown in FIG. It is desirable to install. As the striking means 24, for example, a striking device configured to be able to give an impact by a linear reciprocating motion of a rubber-made plastic head at a constant frequency is used. The tapping means 24 may be installed for only one of the storage hopper 5 and the spraying hopper 15, but is preferably installed on both the storage hopper 5 and the spraying hopper 15. The frequency and the tapping force of the tapping unit 24 can be appropriately adjusted according to the type of powder and the like.

A plate-like rubber heater (heating means) 25 is attached and attached to the entire outer wall surface of the storage hopper 5. The rubber heater 25 is a heater whose temperature can be adjusted within the range of 0 to 100 ° C., and raises the temperature in the storage hopper 5 to, for example, about 40 to 50 ° C. to keep the powder 7 warm and prevent moisture absorption. I do. By keeping the powder 7 warm, the powder 7 is less likely to clump due to moisture absorption, so that bridging in the storage hopper 5 does not occur.

FIG. 13 shows a state where the powder spraying apparatus 1 of the present invention is viewed from the front. The lower roller 26 whose rotation speed is controlled by the operation terminal 23 rotates the sprinkling roller 17 coaxial with the lower motor 26, and the powder 7 in the sprinkling hopper 15 is sprinkled downward. When the amount of the powder 7 in the spraying hopper 15 decreases to the lower limit amount defined by the sensor 16, the control device 27 connected to the sensor 16 sends a signal to the upper motor 28 to rotate the upper motor 28. . When the upper motor 28 rotates, the grooved roller 6 coaxially connected to the upper motor 28 also rotates, and the storage hopper 5
The powder 7 inside is supplied to the hopper 15 for spraying.

[0044]

According to the powder spraying apparatus of the present invention, a powder (eg, salt) can be uniformly sprayed with extremely high accuracy on a body to be sprayed (eg, laver) moving on a transport path. Can be. Further, in the powder spraying device of the present invention,
Agglomeration of the powder in the apparatus hardly occurs, and there is no possibility that trouble occurs during operation. Furthermore, the powder spraying device of the present invention can freely adjust the amount of powder sprayed, and therefore has high versatility.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a powder dispersing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining an arrangement state of main components in the powder spraying apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a storage hopper and a powder supply adjusting unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a grooved roller (powder supply adjusting means).

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where powder is sprayed from a spraying hopper.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a spray roller (spray amount adjusting means).

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing a projection formed on the surface of the spray roller shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the protrusion illustrated in FIG. 7 is cut along line AA.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the powder in the spraying hopper has reached a lower limit amount specified by a sensor.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the powder in the spraying hopper reaches an upper limit amount specified by a sensor.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing an example of an operation terminal for controlling a rotation speed of a spray roller (spray amount adjusting means).

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a powder dispersing device of the present invention provided with a tapping means.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of the powder dispersing device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 powder dispersing device 2 roller conveyor (conveying means) 3 storage unit 4 dispersing unit 5 storage hopper 6 roller with groove 6 a groove 6 b outer peripheral surface 6 c shaft 7 powder 8, 13 input port 9, 14 discharge port 10 storage Hopper body 11 Lid 12 Contact plate 15 Spreading hopper 16 Sensor 17 Spraying roller (spraying amount adjusting means) 18 Brush roller 18a Shaft 18b Brush 19 Spraying hopper body 20 Adjusting plate 21 Roller body 21a Projection 21b Bottom 22 Shaft 23 Operation Terminal 23a Display 23b Operation 24 Tapping Means 25 Rubber Heater 26 Lower Motor 27 Controller 28 Upper Motor 29 Sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65G 65/48 B65G 65/48 H (72) Inventor Katsushi Kato 8-chome Kabe, Asakita-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima No. 13-9 Taito Kogyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3F075 AA08 BA01 BB03 CA02 CA06 CA09 CB02 CB05 CB11 CB12 CD03 DA23 4B019 LC02 LE01 LK01 LP17 LP19 4F040 AA19 AB15 AC01 BA13 CB06 CB22 CB27 DA02 DA05 BA12 A08 BA08 A08 CA01

Claims (11)

[Claims] A storage unit for storing the powder, a predetermined amount of the powder supplied from the storage unit, which is provided below the storage unit, and the powder is dispersed. A powder dispersing device comprising: a dispersing unit for dispersing the powder on a body, wherein the storing unit has a storing hopper for storing the powder having an inlet and an outlet for the powder; and Powder supply adjusting means for adjusting the supply of the powder from the hopper to the spraying unit, the spraying unit, the inlet and outlet of the powder supplied from the storage hopper A dusting hopper for containing the powder, and detecting the increase or decrease in the amount of the powder contained in the dusting hopper so as to keep the amount of the powder constant. A sensor for controlling the operation of the body supply adjusting means; Comprising a spraying amount adjusting means for adjusting the spraying amount of the above object propagules powder, the powder spraying device. 2. The discharge port of the spray hopper is formed as a band-shaped opening having an appropriate length, and the spray amount adjusting means does not contact the discharge port of the spray hopper. The powder according to claim 1, comprising a column-shaped spraying roller extending along the discharge port of the spraying hopper at a position adjacent to the spraying hopper from below and having a large number of projections formed on a surface thereof. Spraying device. 3. The spraying hopper main body and a position adjustable with respect to the spraying hopper main body.
The powder spraying apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an adjusting plate portion forming the discharge port of the spraying hopper. 4. A brush portion having an axis parallel to the axis of the spraying roller and arranged to abut on the spraying roller and rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the spraying roller. The powder dispersing device according to claim 2, further comprising a brush roller having: 5. The brush roller, wherein the axis of the brush roller is located at substantially the same height as the axis of the spraying roller, and the end of the brush portion of the brush roller is
The powder dispersing device according to claim 4, wherein the dispersing roller is disposed at a position reaching a bottom portion between the plurality of protrusions of the dispersing roller. 6. The powder according to claim 1, wherein the storage hopper has a sensor for detecting a decrease in the amount of the powder stored in the storage hopper. Spraying device. 7. The powder dispersion according to claim 1, wherein the storage hopper has a heating means for preventing the powder stored in the storage hopper from absorbing moisture. apparatus. 8. The storage hopper has a lid for closing the input port of the storage hopper.
The powder spraying apparatus according to any one of the above. 9. The discharge port of the storage hopper is formed as a band-shaped opening having an appropriate length, and the powder supply adjusting means does not contact the discharge port of the storage hopper. A grooved roller having a groove capable of accommodating the powder, extending along the discharge port of the storage hopper at a position close to the lower part of the storage hopper, and the storage hopper is provided with the grooved roller. The powder dispersing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a contact plate portion that comes into contact with a rotation surface of the roller from a side. 10. The powder according to claim 1, comprising one or more tapping means for vibrating the powder in the storage hopper and / or the spraying hopper. Spraying device. 11. The powder spraying apparatus according to claim 1, which is an apparatus for attaching a powder seasoning to the surface of laver.