JP2007319108A - Device for automatically producing food-gel molded body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for automatically producing a food-gel molded body, which can be set in a kitchen of a restaurant or the like and is designed so as to optionally stop production of the food-gel molded body. <P>SOLUTION: The device for automatically producing a food-gel molded body is provided with the following: a cooling tank 40 where a plurality of molds 42 are set at the lower part of a dissolution tank 10 in which agar solution is trapped, and the agar solution charged in the molds 42 is cooled to form an agar-gel molded body; a supply nozzle pipe 32 set to a place in a direction of the supply port of the molds 42 from the dissolution tank 10; and an automatic valve 34 set at the middle way of the supply nozzle pipe. The device for automatically producing a food-gel molded body is provided with a slider cylinder device 38 making the dissolution tank 10 and the supply nozzle pipe 32 move along the supply ports of the molds 42, and a control part controlling the slider cylinder device 38 and the automatic valve 34 so that the agar solution in the dissolution tank 10 is filled in the molds 42 when the dissolution tank 10 and the supply nozzle pipe 32 move and the tip end of the supply nozzle pipe 32 is disposed at the supply port of the prescribed mold 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic manufacturing apparatus for food gel moldings, and more particularly to an automatic manufacturing apparatus for food gel moldings such as agar gel moldings used for honey beans and Tokoro Tenten.

Agar gel, which is a typical food gel, has been used for foods such as honey bean and Tokoro Tenten. In recent years, it has been used for various foods as health consciousness has increased, and its consumption has increased. ing. With the increase in consumption of such agar gel, an automatic production apparatus for an agar gel molded body is required.
As an automatic manufacturing apparatus for an agar gel molded body, the following Patent Document 1 proposes an apparatus shown in FIG. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, an agar solution obtained by heating and melting agar in a charging pot 100 is cooled by a plate cooler 102, and then on an endless steel belt 104 stretched around a pair of rollers 104a and 104b. Pour the agar solution. Forms 108 are attached to both sides of the steel belt 104, and the agar solution spreads in the mold composed of the steel belt 104 and the form 108. The agar solution spread in the mold moves with the steel belt 104 and passes over the cooling device 110. While passing through the cooling device 110, the agar solution hardens and becomes an agar gel. The agar gel moves onto the cutting table 112 and is cut into a desired shape and size by the cutter 114.

Further, Patent Document 1 below proposes an automatic manufacturing apparatus for an agar gel molded body shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of molds 202, 202,... Are formed on a rotary table 200 that rotates in the direction of arrow A, and each of the molds 202, 202,. It passes through the cooling area 204 during one revolution with the table 200. For this reason, after filling the mold 202 on the rotary table 200 with the agar solution cooled by the plate cooler 102 shown in FIG. 3, the agar filled in the mold 202 while the mold 202 passes through the cooling region 204. The solution is cooled and solidified to form an agar gel compact.
Next, when the mold 202 passes through the cooling region 204, the agar gel compact is taken out from the mold 202 onto the cutting table 112 shown in FIG. 3 and cut into a desired shape and size by the cutter 114.
Japanese Patent No. 2758084

According to the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an agar gel molded body cut into a desired shape and size can be automatically manufactured.
3 and FIG. 4 is a large-sized automatic agar gel compact manufacturing apparatus that is large in size and has a single shape / size agar gel compact (hereinafter simply referred to as agar gel) in large quantities. Suitable for manufacturing.
However, agar gels of a single shape and size produced in large quantities are stored for a long time before being processed into foods such as honey beans and tokoro tenten and consumed by consumers. During this storage, the agar gel has its taste and texture decreased due to the phenomenon of water separation and the like, so foods such as honey beans and toroten made from agar gel stored for a long time cannot be eaten deliciously.
The most delicious way to eat agar gel is to eat fresh agar gel immediately after it is obtained. However, in restaurants, etc. It takes too much time to deliver the goods to the customer.
For this reason, if an automatic agar gel molded body manufacturing apparatus can be installed in a kitchen of a restaurant or the like, foods using fresh agar gel can be provided to customers in a short time according to orders.

However, the automatic manufacturing apparatus for an agar gel molded body shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is large and cannot be installed in a narrow place like a kitchen such as a restaurant.
In the automatic agar gel molded body manufacturing apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the production of the agar gel molded body is stopped, the plate cooler 102, the pipes leading from the charging pot 100 to the plate cooler 102, etc. before the stop, etc. It is very troublesome. This is because if the agar solution is stopped in a state where these are filled with the agar solution, the agar solution in the plate cooler 102 or the pipe is gelled and blocked, and cannot be easily restarted.
For this reason, in restaurants where there is no order for food using agar gel depending on the season and time, even if the automatic production apparatus for agar gel compacts shown in FIGS. It cannot be used because manufacturing cannot be stopped arbitrarily.
Then, the subject of this invention is providing the automatic manufacturing apparatus of the food gel molded object which can be installed in kitchens, such as a restaurant, and can stop the manufacture of a food gel molded object arbitrarily.

As a result of repeated studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors have provided a plurality of cooled molds below a dissolution tank in which an agar solution is stored, and a supply nozzle extended downward from the dissolution tank By supplying the agar solution in the dissolution tank to a predetermined mold via piping, it was found that the agar solution can be supplied into the mold using gravity, and the automatic manufacturing apparatus for the agar gel compact can be miniaturized, The present invention has been reached.
That is, in the present invention, a plurality of molds are provided below a dissolution tank in which a predetermined amount of a sol solution for food is stored, and the mold is filled from the dissolution tank via a mold supply port. A cooling means for cooling the sol solution to form a food gel molded body having a predetermined shape, and a supply nozzle pipe extending from the dissolution tank toward the supply port of the mold so that the sol solution cannot be pooled inside And a food gel molded body manufacturing apparatus comprising an automatic valve that is provided in the middle of the supply nozzle pipe and opens and closes the supply nozzle pipe, the dissolution tank and the supply nozzle along the supply port of the mold When a moving means for moving the pipe is provided, the moving means moves between the dissolution tank storing the sol solution and the supply nozzle pipe, and the tip of the supply nozzle pipe is positioned above the supply port of a predetermined mold. The above An automatic food gel molded body comprising a control unit for controlling the moving means and the automatic valve so as to open the valve and fill the sol solution in the dissolution tank into the mold. In production equipment.

In the present invention, the melting tank is provided with a stirrer, and the raw material powder supply means and hot water are supplied from the raw material powder supply means and hot water supply means to a predetermined amount of raw material powder and hot water to the melting tank. By providing the control means for controlling the supply means, it is possible to prepare an amount of the sol solution to be supplied to the mold vacated in the dissolution tank, and to prevent the excess sol solution from remaining in the dissolution tank.
Further, a plurality of molds are of the same capacity, and are supplied from the raw material powder supply means and the hot water supply means so that the entire amount of the solution stored in the dissolution tank is filled in the predetermined mold. By providing a control means for controlling the amount of raw material powder and the amount of hot water, it is possible to reliably prevent an excess sol solution from remaining in the dissolution tank.

In the apparatus for automatically producing a food gel molded body according to the present invention, a plurality of molds are provided below a dissolution tank in which a predetermined amount of sol solution is stored, and from the dissolution tank through a mold supply port, A cooling means for cooling the filled sol solution to form a gel molded body having a predetermined shape, and a supply nozzle pipe extending from the dissolution tank toward the supply port of the mold so that the sol solution does not accumulate inside. It comprises.
Therefore, the sol solution in the dissolution tank can be filled in the mold using gravity, and a pump for feeding the sol solution can be omitted, so that the automatic manufacturing apparatus for food gel compacts can be downsized. .
Moreover, since the supply nozzle pipe is extended from the dissolution tank toward the supply port of the mold so that the sol solution does not accumulate inside, the automatic valve provided in the middle of the supply nozzle pipe is closed. The sol solution in the supply nozzle pipe is discharged, and the sol solution can be prevented from remaining in the supply nozzle pipe.
Therefore, all of the plurality of molds are filled with the food gel molded body, the production of the food gel molded body is not required, and the supply nozzle pipe is in the sol solution gel state even when the preparation of the sol solution is stopped. It is possible to prevent a situation where the blockage occurs due to the conversion. For this reason, when one of the molds filled with the food gel compact is empty, the sol solution prepared in the dissolution tank can be immediately filled into the empty mold.
Thus, in the automatic manufacturing apparatus of the food gel molded body of the present invention, the downsizing can be achieved and the production of the food gel molded body can be arbitrarily stopped, so that it can be installed in a kitchen such as a restaurant. However, when there is an order for a custom product using a food gel molded body such as an agar gel molded body used for a balance, a fresh food gel molded body can be used.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic agar gel molded body manufacturing apparatus as an example of an automatic food gel molded body manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. In the automatic manufacturing apparatus for an agar gel molded body shown in FIG. 1, an agar powder supply device as raw material powder supply means for supplying a predetermined amount of agar powder, which is a raw material of the agar gel molded body, to a dissolution tank 10 provided with a stirrer 12. 14 and a hot water supply device 16 as hot water supply means for supplying a predetermined amount of hot water.
In the agar powder supply device 14, a gear motor 14b is provided at one end of the screw 14c near the bottom of the box 14a filled with agar powder. The gear motor 14 b is driven to rotate the screw 14 c and supply the agar powder in the box body 14 a to the dissolution tank 10. The supply amount of agar powder is adjusted by the drive time of the gear motor 14b.
Further, the hot water supply device 16 is provided with a heater 20 and a float switch 22, and water passing through the automatic valve 24 is supplied to the purifier 26 in the hot water storage tank 18 in which a certain amount of hot water of 80 to 95 ° C. is stored. Supplied through. Hot water in the hot water storage tank 18 is supplied to the melting tank 10 via a supply pipe 30 provided with an automatic valve 28 in the middle.

A supply nozzle pipe 32 extends downward from the bottom of the dissolution tank 10, and an automatic valve 34 is provided in the middle of the supply nozzle pipe 32. The supply nozzle pipe 32 extends substantially linearly from the bottom of the dissolution tank 10 so that an agar solution cannot be accumulated in the middle.
The dissolution tank 10 is fixed to a main body portion of a cylinder device 36 provided vertically to a slider cylinder device 38 provided in the horizontal direction. For this reason, the cylinder device 36 is moved in the left-right direction by the slider cylinder device 38, and at that time, the dissolution tank 10 and the supply nozzle pipe 32 are also moved in the left-right direction.
Further, a flange-like member 33 provided on the tip end side of the rod is provided on the lower end side of the cylinder device 36 so as to be movable up and down.
The home position of the cylinder device 36 (dissolution tank 10 and supply nozzle pipe 32) is set to one end side of the slider cylinder device 38.

A cooling tank 40 in which a plurality of molds 42, 42... Are arranged in a row is provided in the distal direction of the supply nozzle pipe 32. In the cooling tank 40, the refrigerant cooled by the cooler 45 is circulated and used to cool the molds 42, 42,.
Each of the molds 42, 42,... Is a cylindrical part having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and an opening as a supply port for supplying the agar solution is formed at the tip of the mold 42 exposed from the cooling bath 40. The opening at the rear end of the mold 42 is closed by a shutter 44.
Below the cooling tank 40, a shutter 44 is opened, and a mortar-like shooter 48 that receives an agar gel 46 having a predetermined shape pushed out of the mold 42 by gravity or the bowl-shaped member 33 of the cylinder device 36 is provided. . The cross-sectional shape of the shooter 48 may be round or square.
The shooter 48 is provided with injection nozzles 50, 50... For injecting water toward the inner wall surface of the shooter 48 in order to wet the inner wall surface of the shooter 48 and improve the sliding of the agar gel 46 having a predetermined shape. Yes. Water is supplied to the injection nozzles 50, 50.

  The agar gel 46 having a predetermined shape received by the shooter 48 is supplied to the cutting device 52 from the outlet at the center of the shooter 48. In the cutting device 52, the agar gel 46 can be cut into a dice shape by pressing the agar gel 46 against the dice cutter 56 by the cylinder device 54. Further, the agar gel 46 can be pressed into the spatula by pressing the agar gel 46 against the spatula cutter 60 by the cylinder device 58.

In the automatic agar gel molding apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the agar powder supply device 14, the automatic valve 28 for supplying hot water to the melting tank 10, the stirrer 12, the automatic valve 34 provided in the middle of the supply nozzle pipe 32 and the slider. The cylinder device 38 is controlled by a control unit as shown in FIG.
That is, first, the automatic valve 28 is opened by a signal from the control unit, hot water is injected into the melting tank 10 located at the home position, and after the melting tank 10 is warmed, the automatic valve 34 is opened to open the hot water in the melting tank 10. Is discharged from the supply nozzle pipe 32 and the supply nozzle pipe 32 is also warmed. Hot water discharged from the supply nozzle pipe 32 is discharged outside the system via the pipe 31.
Next, the automatic valve 34 is opened for a predetermined time by a signal from the control unit to supply a predetermined amount of hot water to the melting tank 10 and drive the agitator 12 in the melting tank 10 while driving the gear motor 14b of the agar powder supply device 14. Is driven for a predetermined time, and a predetermined amount of agar powder in the box 14a is supplied to the dissolution tank 10 by the screw 14c.
The agar powder and hot water are stirred in the dissolution tank 10 for a predetermined time to sufficiently dissolve the agar powder in hot water, and then the stirrer 12 is stopped by a signal from the control unit.

Thereafter, the cylinder device provided in the slider cylinder device 38 is driven by a signal from the control unit, and the cylinder device 36 is moved so that the tip of the supply nozzle pipe 32 reaches the supply port of the mold 42 filled with the agar solution. Moving.
When the tip of the supply nozzle pipe 32 reaches the supply port of the mold 42 filled with the agar solution, the driving of the cylinder device in the slider cylinder device 38 is stopped, and the automatic valve 34 is opened by a signal from the control unit to dissolve. The agar solution in the tank 10 is filled into the mold 42.
In this control unit, the tip position of the supply nozzle pipe 32 positioned at the home position and the distances of the molds 42, 42,... From the home position are stored. For this reason, the control unit can determine from the signal transmitted from the cylinder device in the slider cylinder device 38 that the tip of the supply nozzle pipe 32 has reached the supply port of the mold 42 filled with the agar solution.

At the time of such filling, the automatic valve 34 is opened for a predetermined time so that the entire amount of the agar solution in the dissolution tank 10 is filled in the mold 42, thereby leaving the agar solution in the dissolution tank 10 and the supply nozzle pipe 32. The mold 42 can be filled without any problems.
In this way, by filling the mold 42 without leaving the agar solution in the dissolution tank 10 and the supply nozzle pipe 32, all of the molds 42, 42,... Even if the preparation of the agar solution at 10 is suspended, it is possible to prevent the agar solution from remaining in the dissolution tank 10 and the supply nozzle pipe 32 and gelling, and the supply nozzle pipe 32 and the like from being blocked.
Therefore, in the automatic manufacturing apparatus for an agar gel molded body shown in FIG. 1, even if the preparation of the agar solution is stopped as necessary, the preparation of the agar solution can be immediately performed when the preparation of the agar solution is necessary.
In the automatic agar gel compact manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, since the agar solution is first filled and removed from the mold 42, the agar solution is sequentially filled from the mold 42 from which the agar gel was previously removed. .

In the automatic manufacturing apparatus for agar gel compacts shown in FIG. 1, the agar solution prepared in the dissolution tank 10 provided above the apparatus is filled into a mold 42 provided below the dissolution tank 10 for gelation. For this reason, it is not necessary to use an agar solution pump or the like, and the apparatus can be miniaturized.
Further, the supply nozzle pipe 32 extends substantially linearly from the bottom of the dissolution tank 10 so that the agar solution cannot be accumulated in the middle. For this reason, even if the preparation of the agar solution is unnecessary and it is stopped, it is possible to prevent the agar solution remaining in the supply nozzle pipe 32 from gelling and block the supply nozzle pipe 32. As a result, preparation of the agar solution is necessary. Then, an agar solution can be prepared immediately.
Therefore, the automatic manufacturing apparatus for an agar gel molded body shown in FIG. 1 can be downsized so that it can be placed in a corner of a kitchen such as a restaurant, and when there is no order for food using the agar gel molded body, Even if the state is maintained, when there is an order for a dish using the agar gel, it can be immediately put into a driving state, and a fresh agar gel can be provided for cooking.
As described above, in the description of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the automatic manufacturing apparatus for an agar gel molded body has been described, but it can also be used for an automatic manufacturing apparatus for other food gel molded bodies such as gelatin.

It is explanatory drawing explaining the automatic manufacturing apparatus of the agar gel molded object as an example of the automatic manufacturing apparatus of the food gel molded object which concerns on this invention. The agar powder supply device 14 shown in FIG. 1, the automatic valve 28 for supplying hot water to the melting tank 10, the stirrer 12, the automatic valve 34 provided in the middle of the supply nozzle pipe 32, and the control unit for controlling the slider cylinder device 38 will be described. It is explanatory drawing for doing. It is explanatory drawing explaining an example of the automatic manufacturing apparatus of the conventional agar gel molded object. It is explanatory drawing explaining the other example of the automatic manufacturing apparatus of the conventional agar gel molded object.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Dissolution tank 12 Stirrer 14 Agar powder supply device 16 Hot water supply device 28, 34 Automatic valve 32 Supply nozzle piping 36 Cylinder device 38 Slider cylinder device 40 Cooling tank 42 Type 44 Shutter 46 Agar gel 48 Shooter 50 Injection nozzle 52 Cutting device

Claims (3)

A plurality of molds are provided below a dissolution tank in which a predetermined amount of food sol solution is stored, and the sol solution filled in the mold is cooled from the dissolution tank via a mold supply port. Cooling means to form a food gel molded body of a predetermined shape;
A supply nozzle pipe extending from the dissolution tank toward the supply port of the mold so that the sol solution does not accumulate therein;
A food gel molded body manufacturing apparatus comprising an automatic valve that is provided in the middle of the supply nozzle pipe and opens and closes the supply nozzle pipe,
A moving means for moving the dissolution tank and the supply nozzle pipe along the supply port of the mold is provided,
When the sol solution is stored by the moving means between the dissolution tank and the supply nozzle pipe, and when the tip of the supply nozzle pipe is positioned above the supply port of a predetermined mold, the automatic valve is opened to open the inside of the dissolution tank. An apparatus for automatically manufacturing a food gel molded article, wherein a control unit for controlling the moving means and the automatic valve is provided so as to fill the mold with the sol solution.   The melting tank is provided with a stirrer, and the raw material powder supply means and the hot water supply means so that a predetermined amount of the raw material powder and hot water are supplied from the raw material powder supply means and the hot water supply means to the dissolution tank. The automatic manufacturing apparatus of the food-gel molded object of Claim 1 in which the control means which controls is provided.   The plurality of molds have the same capacity, and are supplied from the raw material powder supply means and the hot water supply means so that the entire amount of the sol solution stored in the dissolution tank is filled in the predetermined mold. The automatic manufacturing apparatus for a food gel molded article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a control means for controlling the amount of raw material powder and the amount of hot water is provided.

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