JP2004329030A - Apparatus for producing solid thick-wall food - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize properties, density and shape, and reshape a food material into a solid thick-wall state by scarcely applying force to the granular food material. <P>SOLUTION: An apparatus 10 for producing the solid thick-wall food is equipped with a hopper 12 for storing the mixed food material, a grooved drum 14 in a horizontal posture having a circumferential groove 38 to be a discharging passage for the food material from the hopper 12 and a belt conveyor 16 extending in the tangential direction at the lower end of the grooved drum 14. The food material in the hopper 12 is admitted from the grooved drum 14 and a terminal region of a guide 28 into the circumferential groove 38, reshaped during passage through the circumferential groove and transferred to ride on the belt conveyor 16 traveling at a regular speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for mixing a food material such as powder or granules (hereinafter referred to as “granules”) to produce a solid thick food having a predetermined shape. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a powdery food material containing protein such as a cookie material or a biscuit material, shaping the food material with little force, baking the shaped food material and The present invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus suitable for shaping a granular material into a solid thick food product without giving vibration or impact in a manufacturing process of stabilizing a shape by drying.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For baked confectionery such as cookies and biscuits, fats and oils, milk powder, sugars, fragrances, and the like are mixed with a material mainly composed of flour. The mixing ratio of the food material is selected to obtain a desired texture and flavor.
[0003]
The mixed food material is formed into a predetermined shape. Representative examples of the molding apparatus include, for example, an extension molding apparatus, an extrusion molding apparatus, and a press molding apparatus.
The extension-type forming apparatus includes a belt conveyor on which the kneaded food material is placed, and a roller for spreading the food material to a predetermined thickness. The extended food material is then cut into a predetermined shape by a cutter.
The extrusion molding apparatus includes a hopper for storing food materials, and a screw conveyor for extruding the food materials in the hopper. The screw conveyor presses the food material in the hopper. The food material is extruded from the nozzle of the hopper by the screw conveyor. The extruded food material is cut into a predetermined length by a cutter.
The push-type forming apparatus includes a hopper for storing food materials and a rotary drum adjacent to the hopper. The rotating drum conforms to the product shape and has a recess for receiving food material. A food material feeder, for example, a bladed drum, presses the food material in the hopper into the recess. The rotating drum includes a push rod that pushes out the pressing material in the recess from the center and separates the pressing material from the center. At a position where the recess is away from the hopper, the push rod separates the pressing material from the rotating drum (Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-318341
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when a conventional molding apparatus is used as a molding apparatus for a solid thick baked confectionery, there is a problem in obtaining a desired texture and flavor. Food materials in which fats and oils, milk powder, sugars, eggs, flavors, and the like are blended with a material mainly composed of flour cause the following problems when pressure is applied during molding.
[0006]
(1) The problem of irregular properties
A gluten film is formed on the surface and inside of the molding material by extension, extrusion, and pressing. Then, in the product after baking, the shortness characteristic (crimpiness) peculiar to cookies and shortbreads is lost, and the texture and flavor are different between the surface and the inside. For example, the surface may be hard and the inside may be baked as a rugged shape, and different places to be bitten may feel uncomfortable, such as different texture and texture.
[0007]
(2) The problem of uneven density
Due to the difference in applied pressure between the surface and the inside or between the center and the end of the molding material due to extension, extrusion and pressing, the density of the surface and the center becomes higher than that of the inside and the end. Then, for example, the texture of the surface and the central part becomes heavy, while the inside forms a nest, the edges become rough, and the texture of the inside and the edges becomes light. In addition, the mass (weight) per unit volume varies due to the difference in the density of the material after molding, which also hinders production management. Further, there arises a problem that a desired appearance color cannot be obtained and a problem that a scent is trapped inside.
With such a molded product, it is difficult to uniformly bake a solid-thick product even if the baking temperature and baking time are changed.
[0008]
(3) Problem of irregular shape
In a stretch-type molding device, when a material is stretched between a belt and a roller, the surface of the molded product is roughened or broken by rolling and tension.
Further, for example, when pressure is applied to an elastic molding material by extrusion or pressing, it is difficult to determine a thickness of a predetermined dimension by elastic restoration. That is, in the extrusion molding apparatus, immediately after the food material is discharged from the nozzle at a high pressure, the molded product is released from the pressure at a stretch, and the molded product has a cross-sectional shape that is expanded from the nozzle cross-sectional shape.
Further, in the press-type molding apparatus, the shape may not be obtained due to the strength of the pressing, and the shape may be lost. If the pressing force is strong, adhesive force acts on the grounding surface of the mold, and the shape may be broken without coming off according to the shape of the mold. If the pressure is weak, the material may not be tightly packed and may be irregular in shape.
Therefore, it is difficult to use a molding device for applying pressure to a product whose shape is important.
[0009]
(4) Problem of rough handling after molding
If the molding material has high moldability, its shape will not be lost even if some force, impact, or vibration is applied. However, it is preferable to handle a molding material having a low moldability as carefully as possible. For example, in a press-type molding apparatus, a molding material is extruded from a rotary drum by a push rod after being pressed, so that the molding material is deformed by a pushing force.
In particular, when molding is performed without applying pressure, it is expected that even a slight force, impact, or vibration will cause collapse. For this reason, it is required that the molding material after molding and before firing be handled very carefully.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is intended for a solid thick food product manufactured from a granular food material, and with little force applied to the food material, properties, density and shape. An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing apparatus for stably shaping a food material into a solid thick shape.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for producing a solid thick food product which can be sent to the next step without giving vibration or impact to the shaped food material.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the present invention provides, as a first invention,
Hopper for storing mixed food ingredients;
A grooved drum having a food material discharge end of the hopper closed and rotatably disposed about a horizontal rotation axis and having at least one circumferential groove serving as a food material discharge path from the hopper;
Driving means for the grooved drum;
A food material guide that covers a circumferential groove facing the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum from the lower end of the grooved drum to the hopper side;
A belt conveyor extending tangentially to an outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum on a side opposite to the hopper from a lower end of the grooved drum;
Driving means for the belt conveyor;
The above problem was solved by a manufacturing apparatus having the following.
[0012]
The hopper is charged with an appropriate amount of the granular food material. The amount of food material is set by the sensor. The food material discharge path of the hopper is closed by a horizontal grooved drum, and the food material in the hopper is discharged downstream only through the circumferential groove of the grooved drum. In order to prevent the food material from spilling out of the hopper and to regulate the pressure acting on the food material, sensors are provided below the upper end of the grooved drum and / or the upper end of the hopper.
The food material guide covers the circumferential groove from the lower end of the grooved drum facing the outer peripheral surface on the hopper side, and the food material entering the circumferential groove from the hopper is shaped according to the cross-sectional shape of the circumferential groove Then, it moves downstream along with the grooved drum that is rotationally driven. The food material guide may be the bottom plate of the hopper itself or may be a separate guide disposed in the hopper, and it is sufficient that the food material guide faces the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum. The food material enters the circumferential groove with little pressure applied from the hopper side, and is shaped while moving according to the cross-sectional shape of the circumferential groove.
According to the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, since the food material in the form of powder is shaped with little force, even if the product to be shaped is a solid thick food, the internal properties and density and the surface and edges are not affected. Products can be manufactured with uniform properties and densities. Further, according to the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, since the food material of the granular form is shaped with little force, there is no expansion due to the release of pressure after discharging from the manufacturing apparatus, and there is no change in the shape, so that Real thick food can be obtained.
[0013]
The belt conveyor extends from the lower end of the grooved drum where the food material guide terminates in the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum, and the food material after shaping is gently transferred from the circumferential groove onto the belt conveyor. Therefore, the shaped food material does not receive vibrations or impacts when dropped or pressed on a conveyor such as a belt conveyor, and is shaped even if it is a solid thick food that is shaped without applying pressure. Is sent to the subsequent process without breaking.
[0014]
In addition, the grooved drum and the belt conveyor are driven synchronously to handle brittlely shaped food material carefully. The respective driving means are configured so as to be interlockable with each other, and the tangential speed of the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum and the traveling speed of the belt conveyor are set to be substantially constant. By doing so, the shaped food material discharged from the circumferential groove of the grooved drum has no relative speed with respect to the belt conveyor, and is transferred onto the belt conveyor without causing distortion or collapse. Thereafter, the shaped food material is sent to a post-cutting cutting step, a baking step, and / or a drying step.
[0015]
In the above invention, it is preferable that the hopper includes a supply path for guiding the food material in a horizontal direction, and a pushing means for feeding the food material toward the grooved drum in the supply path.
If the food material supply path of the hopper is in a horizontal position, the food material does not move as it is, and in this embodiment, a food material pushing means is provided in the hopper. The pushing means is capable of adjusting the moving amount of the food material in the supply path. When the surplus food material is pushed toward the grooved drum, the food material is supplied to the circumferential groove at a high pressure, and the supply amount is adjusted using a sensor.
[0016]
In the above invention, the food material guide is disposed in the hopper, the food supply guide includes a raised portion facing the lower surface on the hopper side from the lower end of the grooved drum, and the supply path converges in a wedge shape by the grooved drum and the raised portion. It is preferable that a material introduction region is formed.
With this configuration, the food material is intensively pushed into the wedge-shaped converging food material introduction region by the pushing means, and the food material easily enters the circumferential groove of the grooved drum.
[0017]
In the above invention, it is preferable that the pushing means is a screw conveyor, and a rotation axis of the screw conveyor is directed to the food material introduction region. With this configuration, the food material can easily enter the circumferential groove of the grooved drum.
[0018]
Further, it is preferable that the hopper is opened above the food material discharge end. The food material is pushed toward the grooved drum by the pushing means, and when there is no escape for the food material, the food material is pushed into the circumferential groove of the grooved drum. When the hopper is opened at the upper portion, even if the food material is fed by the pushing means, the food material that cannot fit in the circumferential groove rises to the upper portion. The pressure applied by the pushing means is released, and the pressure acting on the food material is suppressed.
[0019]
Further, it is preferable that the tip of the rotary shaft of the screw conveyor is separated from the grooved drum.
With this configuration, the food material temporarily stays between the screw conveyor and the grooved drum. In this storage area, the food material is pressed by an even force on the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum by the subsequent food material pushed by the screw conveyor, and the properties and density of the food material shaped by the respective circumferential grooves are reduced. It can be uniform.
[0020]
The present invention further provides a belt conveyor having a horizontal running surface;
Driving means for the belt conveyor;
A hopper for dividing a food material supply path on a running surface of the belt conveyor and supplying a mixed food material to an upstream side of the belt conveyor;
A supply path defined by the belt conveyor and the hopper is closed, and is disposed so as to be rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis in contact with a running surface of the belt conveyor, and serves as a food material discharge path from the supply path. A grooved drum with one circumferential groove; and
Driving means for the grooved drum;
The present invention provides a solid thick food production apparatus having the following.
[0021]
In this embodiment, the function of the food material guide is provided to the hopper itself by modifying the configuration of the hopper.
The hopper is charged with an appropriate amount of the granular food material. The hopper has, for example, a pair of left and right side plates so as to form a supply path on the running surface of the belt conveyor without having a bottom plate. The food material discharge path, which is the supply path, is closed by a grooved drum in a horizontal position, and the food material in the hopper is discharged to the downstream side only through the circumferential groove of the grooved drum.
The running surface of the belt conveyor covers the circumferential groove at the outer peripheral surface at the lower end of the grooved drum, and the food material entering the circumferential groove from the supply path of the hopper is shaped according to the cross-sectional shape of the circumferential groove. .
According to the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, since the food material in the form of powder is shaped with little force, even if the product to be shaped is a solid thick food, the internal properties and density and the surface and edges are not affected. Products can be manufactured with uniform properties and densities. Further, according to the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, since the food material of the granular form is shaped with little force, there is no expansion due to the release of pressure after discharging from the manufacturing apparatus, and there is no change in the shape, so that Real thick food can be obtained.
[0022]
The belt conveyor extends tangentially to the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the grooved drum, and the shaped food material is conveyed by the belt conveyor as it is. After shaping, the food material does not fall or be pressed by a conveyor such as a belt conveyor and is not subject to vibration or impact, and it loses its shape even if it is a solid thick food that is shaped without applying pressure. It is sent to the post-process without.
[0023]
The grooved drum and the belt conveyor are driven synchronously. The respective driving means are configured so as to be interlockable with each other, and the tangential speed of the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum and the traveling speed of the belt conveyor are set to be substantially constant. In this way, during shaping, the food material has no relative speed with respect to the belt conveyor, and is conveyed without causing distortion or collapse. Thereafter, the shaped food material is sent to a post-cutting cutting step, a baking step, and / or a drying step.
[0024]
Further, in the above invention, it is preferable to include a feeding means for feeding the food material disposed in the supply path, wherein the feeding means is a screw conveyor, and a rotating shaft of the screw conveyor has the belt conveyor and the grooved drum. The supply path is directed to the food material introduction region where the supply path converges in a wedge shape.
The food material supply path of the hopper is formed on a belt conveyor, and the food material moves by the belt conveyor. However, it is preferable that the amount of movement of the food material in the supply path can be adjusted by pushing means. When the surplus food material is pushed toward the grooved drum, the food material is supplied to the circumferential groove at a high pressure, and the supply amount is adjusted using a sensor.
Further, the food material is intensively pushed by the pushing means to the food material introduction region which converges in a wedge shape, so that the food material easily enters the circumferential groove of the grooved drum.
[0025]
Also in the second embodiment, it is preferable that the hopper is opened at an upper portion of the food material discharge end. The food material is pushed toward the grooved drum by the pushing means, and when there is no escape for the food material, the food material is pushed into the circumferential groove of the grooved drum. When the hopper is opened at the upper portion, even if the food material is fed by the pushing means, the food material that cannot fit in the circumferential groove rises to the upper portion. The pressure applied by the pushing means is released, and the pressure acting on the food material is suppressed.
[0026]
Further, also in the second embodiment, it is preferable that the tip of the rotary shaft of the screw conveyor is separated from the grooved drum.
With this configuration, the food material temporarily stays between the screw conveyor and the grooved drum. In this storage area, the food material is pressed by an even force on the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum by the subsequent food material pushed by the screw conveyor, and the properties and density of the food material shaped by the respective circumferential grooves are reduced. It can be uniform.
[0027]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing a solid thick food according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a solid thick food manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a solid thick food manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. .
[0028]
The present invention provides the following attributes:
(1) Being shaped from a granular material,
(2) that it must be shaped without applying force as much as possible;
(3) It has a thickness or width as a whole, such as a circular cross section or a rectangular cross section, and must not be subjected to vibration or impact until the shape is stabilized by a firing step or a drying step after the shaping step;
It is an apparatus suitable for producing foods having the above-mentioned attributes for foods having the above-mentioned attributes.
Such foods are, for example, a material mainly composed of wheat flour, fats and oils, milk powder, saccharides, chicken eggs, spices and the like are blended, and after being shaped into a predetermined shape, a baking step and / or a drying step are performed. After that, it becomes the final product.
[0029]
1 is a perspective view of a main part of a manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the manufacturing apparatus of FIG. The manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a hopper 12, a grooved drum 14, a belt conveyor 16, and a cutter 18.
[0030]
The hopper 12 stores the premixed powdery food material and supplies the food material to the grooved drum 14 on the downstream side. The hopper 12 includes a bottom plate 20 and a pair of side plates 22, 22 rising from both sides of the bottom plate 20. An area defined by the bottom plate 20 and the side plates 22, 22 is a supply path 24 for pushing the food material in a horizontal direction toward the grooved drum 14.
The supply path 24 defined by the bottom plate 20 and the side plates 22, 22 has a U-shaped cross section that opens upward. The food material moves in the supply path 24 in the horizontal direction toward the grooved drum 14. For example, when movement to the downstream side is prevented, the food material can freely rise upward and escape.
[0031]
The hopper 12 includes a plurality of parallel screw conveyors 26 as means for pushing the food material into the supply path 24 toward the grooved drum 14. The screw conveyor 26 is formed by screwing a screw on a rotating shaft. The screw conveyor 26 has a function of pushing at least one food material, but is preferably arranged in a plurality of rows in order to push the food material evenly in the width direction in the supply path 24. When the powdered food material is put into the hopper 12, the screw conveyor 26 pushes the food material toward the grooved drum 14.
[0032]
A sensor 27 that detects the supply state of the food material in the supply path 24 and controls the start and stop of the screw conveyor 26 is provided downstream of the supply path 24. The sensor 27 is, for example, a light shielding sensor including a light emitting device provided on one side plate 22 and a light receiving device provided on the other side plate 22. When the food material becomes supercharged in the supply passage 24 and overflows from the supply passage 24 beyond the grooved drum 14, the sensor 27 adjusts the supply amount of the food material by the screw conveyor 26. For example, according to the signal of the sensor 27, the screw conveyor 26 may be used to reduce the amount of the food material to be put into the hopper 12, to stop the supply of the food material to be put into the hopper 12, or to stop pushing the food material. Is stopped, or the screw conveyor 26 is driven at a low speed in order to reduce the amount of pushing the food material. Thereafter, when the light receiver detects light, the supply amount and the pushing amount are returned to the steady state. By the operation of the sensor 27, a state where a certain amount of food material is stored in the supply path 24 is established.
[0033]
The hopper 12 includes a guide 28 for guiding the food material in the supply path 24 to the circumferential groove 38 of the grooved drum 14. The guide 28 is disposed between the side plates 22. The guide 20 may be integral with or separate from the bottom plate 20. The guide 28 has a raised portion 30 projecting from the bottom plate 20 toward the grooved drum 14.
The raised portion 30 is formed by an upstream inclined surface 32 and a downstream inclined surface 34. In the present embodiment, the upstream inclined surface 32 is flat, but may be a concave or convex arc surface. The downstream inclined surface 34 is a concave circular arc surface that fits the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum 14.
[0034]
The grooved drum 14 shapes the granular food material put into the hopper 12 into a predetermined shape. The grooved drum 14 is disposed on the downstream side of the hopper 12 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis in a horizontal posture. The grooved drum 14 closes the food material discharge end defined by the downstream ends of the side plates 22 and 22 of the hopper 12 and the upper end of the raised portion 30 of the guide 28. For this reason, the grooved drum 14 is sandwiched between the side plates 22 and 22 with as little gap as possible. With this configuration, the food material in the hopper 12 is discharged to the downstream side only through the circumferential groove 38 of the grooved drum 14.
The grooved drum 14 has at least one circumferential groove 38 on the cylindrical outer peripheral surface 36. In order to shape a plurality of food materials at a time, the circumferential grooves 38 are preferably provided in a plurality of rows. Further, in order to equalize the force acting on the food material entering each of the circumferential grooves 38, it is preferable that the plurality of circumferential grooves 38 are equally spaced from each other.
The horizontal rotating shaft 40 of the grooved drum 14 is connected to a motor 42 as a driving means and a speed reducer 44. The grooved drum 14 is rotationally driven at a predetermined rotational speed by the driving means.
[0035]
As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the ridge 30 of the guide 28 rises from the bottom plate 20 toward the grooved drum 14 upstream of the hopper 12. The top of the raised portion 30 is located below the center of the grooved drum 14, and the supply path 24 ends as a food material introduction region converging in a wedge shape by the upstream inclined surface 32 and the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum 14. To face. The food material is intensively pushed by the screw conveyor 26 to the wedge-shaped converging food material introduction region, and enters the circumferential groove 38. Since the food material is a granular material, it is pushed by the screw conveyor 26 and discharged from the food material introduction region at the end of the supply path 24 to the downstream side through the circumferential groove 38. When a predetermined amount or more of the food material is pushed, the food material rises upward on the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum 14, and the force of the screw conveyor 26 for pushing the food material into the circumferential groove 38 is released. Further, when the food material rises, the sensor 27 detects a supercharged state of the food material.
Further, the raised portion 30 of the guide 28 covers the circumferential groove 38 on the downstream side of the hopper 12 from the lower end of the grooved drum 14 to face the lower surface of the grooved drum 14 on the hopper side. The food material enters the circumferential groove 38 from the food material introduction region of the supply path 24 and moves along the downstream inclined surface of the guide 28 in the circumferential groove 38 of the grooved drum 14 that is driven to rotate. At this time, it is shaped according to the cross-sectional shape of the circumferential groove 38.
[0036]
Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, the rotation axis of the screw conveyor 26 is directed downward to the food material introduction region where the rotation axis converges in a wedge shape below the center axis of the grooved drum 14 by a. The food material in the hopper 12 is mainly pushed to the food material introduction area by the screw conveyor 26. By directing the pushing direction of the screw conveyor 26 toward the food material introduction region, the food material easily enters the circumferential groove 38.
The tip of the rotary shaft of the screw conveyor 26 is separated from the food material introduction region formed by the grooved drum 14 and the guide 28 to the upstream side. Specifically, the rotation axis of the screw conveyor 26 ends near the starting point of the guide 28. Thus, the food material pushed by the screw conveyor 26 in the hopper 12 is temporarily stored or retained between the tip of the rotation shaft of the screw conveyor 26 and the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum 14. In this storage area, the food material is pressed with equal force against the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum 14 by the subsequent food material pushed by the screw conveyor 26, and the properties of the food material shaped by the respective circumferential grooves 38.・ The density can be kept constant.
[0037]
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the grooved drum 14. The circumferential groove 38 is (a) a constant width type 38a having a rectangular cross section, (b) a gradually increasing width type 38b having a trapezoidal cross section, (c) a constant width type 38c of a belt fitting type of separating means described later, and (d) a bottom circle. There is an arc type 38d and the like. In any case, the width does not gradually decrease toward the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum 14 so that the shaped food material easily comes out of the circumferential groove 38.
As described later, in the types (a) and (c) in which the belt is wound around the circumferential groove 38, the shaped food material can be separated from the circumferential groove 38 by the belt. In particular, in the type (c), the top shape of the solid thick food can be formed into a rounded shape.
[0038]
The belt conveyor 16 includes a pair of pulleys 46 and 48 and a belt 50 wider than the grooved drum 14 wound around each of the pulleys 46 and 48. The upstream pulley 46 is disposed below the hopper 12, and the downstream pulley 48 is disposed away from the grooved drum 14 on the downstream side. The belt 50 extends tangentially upstream and downstream from the lower end of the grooved drum 14, and carries out the food material shaped by the grooved drum 14 and the guide 28 to a subsequent process. When the food material is discharged from the circumferential groove 38 of the grooved drum 14, the food material is extruded tangentially and is transferred onto the belt 50 from the upstream inclined surface of the guide 28.
One pulley 48 of the belt conveyor 16 is connected to a motor 52 as a driving means and a speed reducer 54. The belt conveyor 16 is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed by the driving means. The driving means of the belt conveyor 16 is preferably synchronized with the driving means of the grooved drum 14. By making the tangential speed of the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum 14 substantially the same as the running speed of the belt conveyor 16, a force in the compression direction or the tension direction does not act on the shaped food material, and the food material is completely solidified. Not able to protect food ingredients.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, a separating means 56 is provided to separate the shaped food material from the grooved drum 14. 2 and 3, the separating means 56 is a belt 60 wound around a circumferential groove 38 of the grooved drum 14 and a horizontal roller 58 separated from the drum downstream. The belt 60 extends from the lower end of the grooved drum 14 in parallel with the running surface of the belt conveyor 16. The shaped food material gradually escapes from the circumferential groove 38 by the belt 60, and is nipped and conveyed between the belt 50 of the belt conveyor 16 and the belt 60 of the separating means 56. Thereafter, the belt 60 wound around the horizontal roller 58 having a smaller diameter than the grooved drum 14 bends with a large curvature at the downstream end and separates from the upper surface of the shaped food material.
The shaped food material can be peeled off from the circumferential groove 38 using a scraper or air. In some cases, no separating means is used.
[0040]
The manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a cutter 18 on a belt conveyor 16. The cutter 18 cuts the shaped food material into a predetermined length, and reciprocates up and down on the belt conveyor 16. The reciprocation of the cutter 18 is performed in synchronization with the grooved drum 14 and the belt conveyor 16. Thereafter, the shaped food material is sent to a baking step and / or a drying step.
[0041]
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the apparatus for producing solid thick food according to the present invention. The manufacturing apparatus 110 of the present embodiment does not include a material guide. The supply path 124 of the hopper 112 includes a belt conveyor 116 and a pair of side plates (not shown). The supply path 124 ends at the food material discharge end. The food material discharge end is closed by a grooved drum 114.
The belt 150 of the belt conveyor 116 extends tangentially from the lower end of the grooved drum 114 upstream and downstream. The food material pushed into the hopper 112 by the screw conveyor enters the circumferential groove 138 of the grooved drum 114 from the wedge-shaped converging food material introduction region defined by the grooved drum 114 and the belt conveyor 116. It is shaped according to the shape of the groove 138 and moves downstream on the belt 150 of the belt conveyor 116.
To prevent the belt 150 from being displaced or bent downward due to the food material pushed into the hopper 112, the belt conveyor 116 includes a support plate 151 that contacts the back surface of the belt 150 below the grooved drum 114 so that the belt 150 is not displaced or bent. I have. The surface of the belt 150 may be provided with a ridge that partially enters the circumferential groove 138 of the grooved drum 114.
[0042]
In the present embodiment, a scraper 156 is provided as separating means for separating the shaped food material from the grooved drum 114. The scraper 156 horizontally enters each circumferential groove 138 from the upstream side of the grooved drum 114, and a thin tongue-shaped tip portion tangentially shapes the food material after shaping from the circumferential groove 138 at the lower end of the grooved drum 114. Let go away.
The grooved drum 114 and the belt conveyor 116 are synchronously driven, and the shaped food material separated from the circumferential groove 138 is carried downstream on the belt 150 of the belt conveyor 116. Then, it is cut to a predetermined length by a cutter (not shown) and sent to a subsequent baking step and / or drying step.
[0043]
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the hopper. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. The supply path 224 of the hopper 212 is constituted by a pair of grooves having a substantially semicircular cross section. A screw conveyor 226 is provided in each supply path 224. In the screw conveyor 226, the impeller rotates with a slight gap from the inner wall of the supply path.
[0044]
The food material placed on the upstream side of the hopper 212 is mainly pushed in the supply path 224. When the food material is pushed through the supply path 224, it gradually breaks into small chunks when pressed against the preceding food material. At the same time, air is exhausted from the food material. The upper part of the supply path 224 is open, and when a large pressure is generated, the food material escapes upward. Further, the air contained in the food material escapes from the open demand path. The finely packed food material then reaches a wedge-shaped converging food material introduction area in front of the grooved drum.
[0045]
By configuring the hopper as described above, the amount of food material staying in the supply path can be reduced. Further, the food material is pushed in the groove whose upper side is opened, so that the food material becomes dense while being crushed, and the air contained in the food material is squeezed out. Since the food material is opened upward, the food material is pushed to the food material introduction region with an appropriate force without excessive pressure.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention can shape and shape food materials with little force in order to make the properties, density and shape of solid thick food uniform or uniform throughout. Later, the food material can be transported without giving any vibration or impact.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the manufacturing apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a front view of a grooved drum and a front view of an embodiment of a circumferential groove.
FIG. 5 is a side view of a main part of a manufacturing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing another embodiment of the hopper.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Manufacturing equipment
12 Hopper
14 Grooved drum
16 Belt conveyor
18 cutter
20 bottom plate
22 Side plate
24 Supply path
26 Screw conveyor
27 Sensor
28 Guide
30 ridge
32 Upstream slope
34 Downstream slope
36 Cylindrical outer surface
38 circumferential groove
40 horizontal rotation axis
42 motor (drive means)
44 Reduction gear (drive means)
46,48 pulley
50 belt
52 motor (drive means)
54 speed reducer (drive means)
56 means of separation

Claims (13)

Hopper for storing mixed food ingredients;
A grooved drum having a food material discharge end of the hopper closed and rotatably disposed about a horizontal rotation axis and having at least one circumferential groove serving as a food material discharge path from the hopper;
Driving means for the grooved drum;
A food material guide that covers a circumferential groove facing the outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum from the lower end of the grooved drum to the hopper side;
A belt conveyor extending tangentially to an outer peripheral surface of the grooved drum on a side opposite to the hopper from a lower end of the grooved drum;
Driving means for the belt conveyor;
An apparatus for producing solid thick food, comprising: The hopper is provided with a supply path for guiding the food material in a horizontal direction, and pushing means for feeding the food material toward the grooved drum in the supply path, wherein the pushing means comprises a food material in the supply path. The solid thick food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of movement of the food is adjustable. The food material guide is disposed in the hopper, and includes a raised portion that covers the groove from the lower end of the grooved drum facing the lower surface on the hopper side, and the supply path converges in a wedge shape by the grooved drum and the raised portion. The solid thick food production apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a food material introduction region is formed. The solid thick food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pushing means is a screw conveyor, and a rotation axis of the screw conveyor is directed to the food material introduction region. The solid thick food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hopper is open at an upper portion of the food material discharge end. The solid thick food manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a tip of a rotary shaft of the screw conveyor is separated from the grooved drum. Belt conveyor with horizontal running surface;
Driving means for the belt conveyor;
A hopper for dividing a food material supply path on a running surface of the belt conveyor and supplying a mixed food material to an upstream side of the belt conveyor;
A supply path defined by the belt conveyor and the hopper is closed, and is disposed so as to be rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis in contact with a running surface of the belt conveyor, and serves as a food material discharge path from the supply path. A grooved drum with one circumferential groove; and
Driving means for the grooved drum;
An apparatus for producing solid thick food, comprising: The solid thick food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a food material pushing means disposed in the supply path, wherein the pushing means is capable of adjusting a moving amount of the food material in the supply path. . 9. The screw feeding device according to claim 8, wherein the pushing means is a screw conveyor, and a rotation axis of the screw conveyor is directed to the food material introduction region where the supply path converges in a wedge shape by the belt conveyor and the grooved drum. Solid thick food manufacturing equipment. The solid thick food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the hopper is opened at an upper portion of the food material discharge end. The production of a solid thick food product according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a tip end of a rotating shaft of the screw conveyor is separated from the grooved drum, and a storage region for food material is formed on an upstream side of the grooved drum. apparatus. The downstream side of the grooved drum, further comprising means for separating the shaped food material from the groove of the grooved drum along the running surface of the belt conveyor. Solid thick food production equipment. The separating means is a belt wound around a groove of the grooved drum and a horizontal roller separated downstream of the grooved drum, and the belt is moved from a lower end of the grooved drum to a running surface of the belt conveyor. The solid thick food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the food material after shaping extends in parallel with the belt conveyor, and the shaped food material is nipped and conveyed between the belt conveyor and the belt.

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