JP2003182782A - Method and apparatus for supplying constant quantity of food - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for supplying a constant quantity of food with which granular food such as tea leaves, powdered milk, or sugar and salt can be fed in a sealed state by a constant quantity. <P>SOLUTION: The method includes a process of receiving small pieces of food in a storage container 1 having a discharging hole 2 bored through a bottom face thereof; a process of passing the food received in the container 1 through the discharging hole 2 to fill in a constant quantity filling chamber 5 with upper and lower ends opened located below the container; a process of feeding the food filled in the chamber 5 through a feed hole 7 into a receive 8 located below the chamber; and a process of rotating the discharging hole 2, the filling chamber 5 with the upper and lower ends opened, and the feed hole 7 with respect to one another for causing them to communicate or be closed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for quantitatively supplying food. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for quantitatively supplying foodstuffs capable of supplying granular materials such as tea leaves, powdered coffee / powdered milk, and sugar in fixed amounts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, tea leaves are hermetically housed in a tea canister having a double lid structure of an inner lid and an outer lid because the aroma and flavor thereof are impaired by being exposed to the outside air.

Granules such as sugar and salt tend to harden due to moisture, and these are also stored in a container equipped with a lid.

By the way, when tea leaves are put into the teapot from the tea canister, the inner lid of the tea canister is opened each time, the tea leaves are once put into the outer lid in a proper amount in consideration of the type and number of tea leaves, and the inside of the outer lid is closed. The current situation is to prevent the tea leaves inside the tea canal from being exposed to the outside air and humidity by putting the tea leaves introduced into the teapot into the teapot as much as possible.

Further, for granular foods such as powdered milk, sugar and salt, in order to scoop up the granular foods in the container with a spoon or the like and put them into a coffee cup or a pot in a steamed state, sugar or salt in the container Granular foods such as are often exposed to moisture.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when serving tea for several people, considerable experience is required to measure the tea leaves according to the amount of tea, and a company with a large number of visitors always serves tea with a certain flavor. There is a problem that is difficult.

Also, each time the lid of the tea canister is opened, the tea leaves inside the tea canister are exposed to the outside air, and there is a problem that the flavor peculiar to the tea leaves is easily compromised day by day.

[0008] Granular foods such as sugar and salt have the property that they tend to harden due to moisture. When these granular foods harden due to moisture, they have to be crushed again into granules with a spoon or the like, which is very troublesome. There's a problem.

Further, since the quantity is measured by the number of times of scooping with a spoon, there is a problem that each person has an error in the quantity.

The present invention was devised in view of the above points, and provides a method and an apparatus for quantitatively feeding foodstuffs capable of quantitatively feeding tea leaves, milk powder, or granular foods such as sugar or salt in a sealed state. The purpose is to do.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for quantitatively feeding food according to the present invention is to store a small piece of food in a storage container having a discharge hole formed at the bottom thereof. And the step of filling the small-sized food product stored in the storage container through the discharge hole into the fixed-quantity filling chamber part of the lower upper and lower end openings thereof, and the small-sized food product filled in the fixed-quantity filling chamber part Through a supply hole into the receiving portion at the lower part thereof, and a step of connecting and closing the discharge hole, the upper and lower end opening-like fixed amount filling chamber portion and the supply hole by mutually rotating.

Here, the step of storing the small-sized food product in the storage container having a discharge hole formed in the bottom surface thereof means that the small-sized food product such as tea leaves, powdered coffee / powdered milk, and sugar is stored in the storage container. It is to be stored in a sealed state.

A discharge hole is formed through the peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the storage container. Since the hopper portion is provided in communication with the discharge hole, the small piece of food is reliably delivered to the discharge hole.

In the lower part of the storage container, there is provided a fixed quantity filling chamber portion communicating with the discharge hole. The fixed quantity filling chamber is a space that is open at the upper and lower ends, and the volume determines the supply amount of the small food product. Therefore, a fixed amount of small pieces of food is filled in the fixed amount filling chamber through the discharge hole.

Further, a communication-like receiving portion is provided in the lower portion of the fixed amount filling chamber portion through a supply hole. The receiving portion receives the small piece of food filled in the fixed amount filling chamber through the supply hole.

Therefore, in the case where the discharge hole and the fixed quantity filling chamber portion communicate with each other by connecting and closing the discharge hole, the upper and lower end opening fixed amount filling chamber portion and the supply hole by rotating each other, A fixed amount of small piece food is filled in the fixed amount filling chamber by closing the supply hole and fixed amount filling chamber, and the discharge hole and fixed amount filling chamber are closed, and the supply hole and fixed amount filling chamber are The food pieces in the fixed quantity filling chamber portion are dropped onto the receiving portion by setting the communication state of the. By repeating this process, it becomes possible to supply a fixed amount of small pieces of food.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the apparatus for quantitatively feeding food according to the present invention is provided with a storage container having a discharge hole penetrating the bottom surface thereof, and a discharge container communicating with the discharge hole below the storage container. A fixed amount filling chamber portion having upper and lower end openings and a receiving portion communicating with a lower portion of the fixed amount filling chamber portion through a supply hole, and the discharge hole and the upper and lower end opened fixed amount filling chamber The part and the supply hole are provided with means for communicating and closing by rotating each other.

Here, the storage container having a discharge hole penetrating its bottom surface is a storage container capable of hermetically storing small leaf foods such as tea leaves, powdered coffee / powdered milk, and sugar.

The discharge hole of this storage container is provided so as to penetrate through the periphery of the center of the bottom surface of the storage container, and a hopper portion is provided in communication with the discharge hole. The discharge hole is provided in the fixed quantity filling chamber portion provided below the discharge hole by this hopper portion. The mechanism is to reliably fill the small piece of food.

The fixed quantity filling chamber is a space which is open at the upper and lower ends, and the volume determines the supply amount of the small food product. Therefore, a fixed amount of small pieces of food is filled in the fixed amount filling chamber through the discharge hole.

Further, a communication receiving portion is provided in the lower portion of the fixed amount filling chamber portion through a supply hole. The receiving portion receives the small piece of food filled in the fixed amount filling chamber through the supply hole. Further, the receiving portion is a detachable mechanism such as a fitting type.

Therefore, the discharge hole, the fixed quantity filling chamber portion having the upper and lower end openings and the supply hole can be connected or closed by using a mechanism in which their center lines are rotated with respect to each other.

Therefore, when the discharge hole and the fixed quantity filling chamber section communicate with each other, the supply hole and the fixed quantity filling chamber section are closed so that a fixed quantity of small piece-shaped food is filled in the fixed quantity filling chamber section and discharged. By closing the hole and the fixed amount filling chamber part and bringing the supply hole and the fixed amount filling chamber part into communication with each other, the small piece of food in the fixed amount filling chamber part is dropped onto the receiving part. By repeating this process, it becomes possible to constantly supply a fixed amount of small pieces of food.

By making the storage container, the fixed amount filling chamber section and the receiving section transparent, the storage amount of the small piece of food in the storage container and the amount of the small piece of food to be dropped in the receiving section are obvious. Will be understood.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, for the understanding of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a method for quantitatively feeding food according to the present invention, in which a discharge hole 2 is formed on the bottom surface of a storage container 1. The discharge hole 2 is provided around the central axis 3 of the storage container 1. Further, the discharge hole 2 is provided with a hopper portion 4 in a communicating manner.

Further, a fixed quantity filling chamber portion 5 having upper and lower end openings is disposed below the discharge hole 2, and the fixed quantity filling chamber portion 5 is rotatably supported at a lower portion of the storage container 1. Part 6
The central axis 3 of the storage container 1, that is, the central axis 3 of the storage container 1 and the peripheral portion of the same axial center.

Next, a supply hole 7 is provided in the lower portion of the fixed amount filling chamber portion 5, and the supply hole 7 is provided with a central axis 3 of a receiving portion 8 provided in the lower portion of the rotation support portion 6, that is, a housing. Container 1
Also, the structure is provided so as to penetrate through the peripheral portion of the upper surface having the same axis as the central axis 3 of the rotation support portion 6.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the discharge hole 2, the fixed amount filling chamber 5 and the supply hole 7 are openings having substantially the same diameter, and are arranged in the same peripheral portion of the central shaft 3.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
By rotating and stacking on the discharge hole 2, the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 and the discharge hole 2 are brought into communication with each other, and the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 and the supply hole 7 are closed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the fixed quantity filling chamber section 5 and the supply hole 7 are brought into communication with each other by rotating the fixed quantity filling chamber section 5 in the opposite direction and overlapping the fixed quantity filling chamber section 5 with the supply hole 7. The part 5 and the discharge hole 2 are closed.

The volume of the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 can be calculated by multiplying the opening area by the height. Since the filling capacity varies depending on the type of the small piece of food, for example, 1
It is provided with a fixed quantity filling chamber section 5 having a volume corresponding to a leaf-shaped food or a small piece of food such as powdered milk, which is used as an amount for batch use.

In the method for quantitatively supplying food according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the small piece of food A stored in the storage container 1 is guided to the discharge hole 2 by the hopper 4.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The fixed quantity filling chamber 5 and the discharge hole 2 are brought into communication with each other by rotating and overlapping the discharging hole 2, and the small-sized food A is filled in the fixed quantity filling chamber 5.

Then, as shown in FIG.
By rotating the container in the opposite direction to overlap with the supply hole 7, the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 and the supply hole 7 are brought into communication with each other, and the small-sized food product in the receiving portion 8 is quantitatively filled in the fixed quantity filling chamber 5. A will be dropped.

By supplying a fixed amount of the small-sized food A into the receiving portion 8 in this way, the small-sized food A in the storage container 1 is not exposed to the outside air, and the freshness of the small-sized food A can be improved. Can be held.

FIG. 8 shows an example of an apparatus for quantitatively feeding food according to the present invention, in which the storage container 1 is formed of a synthetic resin material such as transparent plastic into a cylindrical shape.
An inner lid 10 and an upper lid 11 are attached to the upper end opening 9.

Next, a discharge hole 2 is formed through the periphery of the central shaft 3 on the bottom surface of the storage container 1, and the hopper portion 4 is provided in this discharge hole 2.
Are provided in communication with each other. Therefore, the small-sized food product stored in the storage container 1 is discharged by the hopper 4 into the discharge hole 2
Be sure to be introduced in.

Further, at the lower part of the discharge hole 2, a fixed quantity filling chamber part 5 having upper and lower end openings is arranged, and the constant quantity filling chamber part 5 is provided in the lower part of the storage container 1 and has a cylindrical shape. It is configured to be formed on the central axis 3 of the rotation support portion 6, that is, on the periphery of the same axis as the central axis 3 of the storage container 1.

Next, a cylindrical receiving portion 8 is also provided below the rotation supporting portion 6, and is the same as the central axis 3 of the receiving portion 8, that is, the central axis 3 of the container 1 and the rotational supporting portion 6. The configuration is such that the supply hole 7 is provided in the peripheral portion of the upper surface of the shaft center. Further, the lower portion of the receiving portion 8 is fitted with a detachable receiving tray 12 such as a fitting type. As a result, the fixed amount of small piece-shaped food dropped in the receiving portion 8 can be taken out by removing the receiving tray 12.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the discharge hole 2, the fixed amount filling chamber 5 and the supply hole 7 are openings having substantially the same diameter and are arranged in the same peripheral portion of the central shaft 3.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the storage container 1, the rotation supporting portion 6 and the receiving portion 8 are connected by the central shaft 3 so that only the rotation supporting portion 6 is rotatable.
As a result, the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 is rotated and overlapped with the discharge hole 2, whereby the constant quantity filling chamber 5 and the discharge hole 2 are brought into communication with each other, and the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 and the supply hole 7 are closed. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 is rotated in the opposite direction and overlapped with the supply hole 7 so that the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 and the supply hole 7 are communicated with each other, and the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 is connected. The part 5 and the discharge hole 2 are closed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the rotation support portion 6 is rotated forward and backward to open the fixed amount filling chamber portion 5 and the discharge hole 2 and the fixed amount filling chamber portion 5 and the supply hole. Stopping mechanism 1 for stopping so that 7 and 7 are accurately overlapped to form a communication state.
3 is provided.

The stop mechanism 13 is provided with a protrusion 14 on the rotation support portion 6, and the protrusion 14 is fitted in a groove portion 15 formed in an arc shape between the discharge hole 2 and the supply hole 7 to support rotation. By rotating the portion 6, the protrusion 14 slides in the groove 15 and comes into contact with both ends of the groove 15 to stop at a fixed position.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism for rotating the fixed quantity filling chamber section 5 to communicate with the discharge hole 2 or the supply hole 7 has been described in detail. However, in addition to this, the fixed quantity filling chamber section 5 is fixed. ,
A mechanism in which the discharge hole 2 or the supply hole 7 is rotated to establish a communication state is also conceivable. Further, the stop mechanism 13 may be various mechanisms other than the embodiment of the present invention.

In the apparatus for quantitatively feeding food according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, an inner lid 10 and an upper lid 11 are attached to the upper end opening portion 9 so that small pieces of food such as tea leaves, milk powder, sugar or salt can be obtained. It is possible to maintain the flavor of tea leaves without exposing them to the outside air.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, in the fixed quantity supply of the small piece of food A, the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 is rotated and overlapped with the discharge hole 2, so that the constant quantity filling chamber 5 and the discharge hole 2 communicate with each other. As a result, the small-sized food A is filled in the fixed amount filling chamber 5.

Then, as shown in FIG.
By rotating the container in the opposite direction to overlap with the supply hole 7, the fixed quantity filling chamber 5 and the supply hole 7 are brought into communication with each other, and the small-sized food product in the receiving portion 8 is quantitatively filled in the fixed quantity filling chamber 5. A will be dropped. Further, the small piece of food A dropped in the receiving portion 8 can be taken out by removing the receiving tray 12.

By thus supplying a fixed amount of the small-sized food A into the receiving portion 8, the small-sized food A in the storage container 1 is not exposed to the outside air, and the freshness of the small-sized food A can be prevented. Can be held.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the case of tea leaves, it becomes possible to supply a small amount of small pieces of food such as tea leaves, milk powder, sugar or salt without exposing to the outside air. The flavor can be maintained and sugar and salt can prevent solidification due to moisture.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for quantitatively supplying food according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a positional relationship between a discharge hole, a fixed amount filling chamber section and a supply hole shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication state between a discharge hole and a fixed quantity filling chamber section by a fixed quantity supply method for food according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication state between a fixed quantity filling chamber section and a supply hole according to a fixed quantity supply method of a food product to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a usage state according to a method for quantitatively supplying food according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a filled state of food by the method for quantitatively supplying food according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a food supply state according to a food constant supply method to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is an overall explanatory view showing an example of a fixed quantity food supply device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a stop mechanism of a fixed quantity filling chamber section in a fixed quantity supply device for food according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 storage container 2 Discharge hole 3 central axis 4 hopper 5 Fixed amount filling room 6 Rotation support 7 supply holes 8 Receiver

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A step of storing a piece of food in a storage container having a discharge hole penetrating the bottom surface thereof, and a step of discharging the piece of food stored in the storage container,
The step of filling the fixed quantity filling chamber part having an opening at the upper and lower ends of the lower part thereof, the step of feeding the small piece of food filled in the constant quantity filling chamber part through the supply hole into the receiving part of the lower part, the discharge hole and A method for quantitatively feeding food, comprising a step of communicating and closing the quantitative filling chamber portion having an opening at the upper and lower ends and the feeding hole by rotating them mutually. 2. The method for quantitatively feeding food according to claim 1, wherein a hopper portion communicating with the discharge hole is provided in the storage container. 3. A storage container having a discharge hole penetrating the bottom surface thereof, upper and lower open-ended quantitative filling chamber portions provided at the lower portion of the storage container so as to communicate with the discharge hole, and the quantitative filling chamber portion. Is provided with a receiving portion that is in communication with each other through a supply hole, and the discharge hole, the upper and lower end openings of the fixed quantity filling chamber portion, and the supply hole are provided with means for communicating and closing by rotating each other. A quantitative food supply device characterized by the above. 4. The food constant quantity supply device according to claim 3, wherein a hopper portion communicating with the discharge hole is provided in the storage container.