JP2566023Y2 - Cutting equipment for food etc. - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cutting device for food and the like.

[0002] For cutting food and the like, especially relatively high quality
In some cases, fresh confectionery and the like are cut in a round slice manner using a machine. The present invention relates to a cutting device for food and the like which is particularly effective in such a case.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art There has not always been a conventional apparatus for cutting food or the like in the manner of a round slice using a machine. In particular, target foods have relatively high dimensional accuracy.
In the case of a non-problematic one, or a dry one that is poor in tackiness, or one in which some deformation caused by cutting or some lack of a ridge or the like is allowed to some extent, a conventionally known very simple It is possible to cut these foods and the like using a mechanical device.

[0004] As an example of such a conventional apparatus, for example, for a confectionery placed on a carrier and transported intermittently,
Immediately after cutting the stopped confectionery on the transfer table by operating the cutter, the cutter is returned to the old position, and then the transfer table is fed by one pitch to move the next confection to a position immediately below the cutter. In this way, a cutting device is generally used in which one confectionery cut is performed for each reciprocating stroke including the cutter cutting stroke and the return stroke.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the present invention] However, the subject food or the like is required to have relatively high dimensional accuracy , is sticky, or the shape change due to cutting is strictly prohibited. In a case where it is severely forbidden that the peripheral portion of the cut surface is missing or damaged, the demand cannot be satisfied even by applying the conventional apparatus of the above-mentioned method.

[0006] For example, as an example of a food, a description will be given of a conventionally used "potato confectionery" as an example.
"Potato confectionery" is a kind of raw confectionery whose appearance resembles that of natural food "sweet potato". It is common that spices are sprinkled and processed.

[0007] The manufacturing procedure of this "potato confectionery" is as follows. A spindle-shaped confectionery body (corresponding to two confectionery pieces in a completed state) is produced by a predetermined material and a predetermined processing step, and this is placed at the center position. By cutting in a diagonal direction with a cutter, two << potato sweets >> are completed.

Now, if the cutting is performed using a conventional mechanical device, that is, a mechanical device in which the forward and backward strokes of the cutter are operated continuously, the cutter which has finished cutting the confectionery by the cutting process is used. Must return to the old position in the subsequent return stroke, passing through the gap between the pair of opposing cut surfaces just cut.

However, such an operation is extremely difficult to apply in the case of the above-mentioned "potato confectionery" and the like, and it can be said that completing all operations in a satisfactory state is almost impossible. . That is, a gap between the pair of cut surfaces formed by the cutting process of the cutter is not large enough to allow passage through the return process of the cutter, and a gap corresponding to the thickness of the cutter is formed at the moment of cutting. Even immediately after that, the cut surfaces opposing each other naturally come closer from both sides, the gap gradually shrinks, and the cut surfaces strongly adhere to each other due to the adhesiveness of the material.

[0010] If the cutter is forced to return in this state, the two sides that have come into close contact with each other will be forcibly peeled off. Alternatively, the peripheral portion of the cut surface may be dropped or damaged, and the cut surface that has been finely finished in the first cutting process will be ruined after the return process. This is particularly fatal when the object is raw confectionery, as in the above-mentioned "Potato confectionery", since the appearance of the confectionery is ruined.

[0011] Therefore, when handling such an object, conventionally, the use of a mechanical device has been abandoned, and a method of cutting using a kitchen knife has had to rely on a manual operation with low production efficiency. . Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
No. 60-255394. This is the cutting power
Both the forward and return steps of the cutter are both cutting steps
It is a method that is used continuously as one cycle of the cutter.
In this method, two cutting operations are realized. Disconnection
Can be used depending on the degree of demand for fruits.
There is, but it is not suitable for the solution of the problem that this idea aims at
Noh technology.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. When a food or the like is cut by a mechanical device, a return process of returning a cutter, which has finished cutting the food or the like by the cutting process, to an old position. Take some or all of the foodstuffs out of the way before the return stroke, so that the bisected food etc. does not remain in its position in the cut state during the course of In this way, the cutting operation can be completed by the so-called "one-time cutting", thereby maintaining the beauty of the cut edge and the skill of the cutting operation, and speeding up the cutting operation and improving the uniformity of the finished product. It is an object.

[0013] Further, the conveyor on which each part divided in the cutting process is placed is constituted as two sets of conveyors which are driven independently of each other, and the two sets of conveyors are separately driven to separate the divided food. By widening the gap between each part such as, to widen the path of the cutter,
It is another object of the present invention to eliminate the difficulty of the return stroke and to prevent the cut surface from being damaged or missing due to the return stroke.

[0014] Furthermore, by making the forward travel of the cutter for cutting food or the like a multi-stage process, the cutting process can be made continuous, thereby speeding up the cutting operation and increasing the work efficiency. The purpose is.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, in the food and other cutting apparatus according to the present invention, food and the like conveyed by a conveyor are cut by a cutter in the course of conveyance, and then cut downstream by the conveyor. The cutter comprises a cutting blade formed of a wire or a thin cutting blade, and a frame provided with the cutting blade attached to a front end thereof, and is surrounded by the cutting blade and the frame. The size of the space is configured so that the cut food or the like can pass through the space and be sent to the downstream side, and the rear part of the frame body has completed the cutting process and cutting that is advanced toward the food and the like. after being connected by means for causing the return stroke to retract against the cutter to the former position, the conveyor is a period of time to detect the position of the food being conveyed
In a state where traveling has been stopped,
The food is cut by the cutter cutting process in the direction
After the disconnection, etc.,
As a conveyor that has a traveling path that avoids the path of the cutter so that the food can be sent downstream and the cutter can move forward to reach a position below the mounting surface of food etc. formed by the upper surface of the conveyor and below it. When the cutter reaches the lower position, during the continuation of the state, the conveyor is started and part or all of the cut and bisected food or the like passes through the space provided by the cutter. Control means is provided for controlling the timing of the stroke of the cutter and the timing of travel of the conveyor in order to complete the operation of the cutter from the travel area to the outside of the area.

The above-mentioned conveyor may be constituted by a combination of two sets of conveyors whose driving is independently controlled, that is, upstream and downstream of the stroke area of the cutter.

[0017] Of the functions provided by the means for connecting to the cutter, at least the forward travel for cutting may be a multi-stage travel.

[0018]

The food or the like to be conveyed is temporarily stopped on the conveyor, and the confectionery or the like being stopped is cut by moving the cutter forward by means connected to the cutter. The cutting blade provided by the cutter is made of a wire or a thin cutting blade or the like, so that the contact area between the blade surface and the cut surface at the time of cutting is small. Therefore, the resistance when pushing the cutter is small, and as a result, the aesthetic appearance of the cut surface and the skill of the cutting operation are maintained.

Further, the conveyor has a traveling path that avoids the path of the cutter so that the cutter can advance and reach a position below the plane of placing the food or the like formed by the upper surface of the conveyor to a position below the plane. Therefore, it is possible to advance the cutter to a further lower position after the cutter cuts food or the like on the upper surface of the conveyor at the time of cutting, thereby ensuring a more beautiful cutting work of the cut end.

When the cutter reaches the end position of the cutting stroke, the conveyor is started while the cutter is stopped at that position, and a part or all of the confectionery or the like bisected on the conveyor is moved to the cutter stroke. Send out of area. When the height of the space surrounded by the cutter blade and the frame body is set to be equal to the height of the conveyor conveying surface when the cutter is at the above position, the width of the space is cut. Since the food and the like are large enough to pass through the space and be sent to the downstream side, it is easy and easy to send the cut food and the like out of the area while the cutter is at the stop position. Done.

The timing of the stroke of the cutter and the timing of the traveling of the conveyor for completing the above operation are as follows.
By performing the related control by the control means, the return process of the cutter is performed in a place where the cutter does not touch the confectionery, and the cut confectionery or the like is deformed by touching the cutter during the return process, or the vicinity of the cut surface. It is possible to prevent the cut surface, which has been finely finished in the first cutting step, from being ruined at the time of the return step, due to the loss or damage of the portion.

Further, the above-mentioned conveyor is constituted by a combination of two sets of conveyors whose driving is independently controlled on the upstream side and the downstream side of the stroke area of the cutter, so that bisected confectionery or the like can be obtained. By placing the upstream piece and the downstream piece on separate and independent conveyors and driving the two conveyors separately, the gap between the two halves can be freely widened.

Also, among the functions provided by the means for connecting to the cutter, at least the pre-process for cutting is performed in a multi-stage process, so that the intermittent movement of the conveyor on which the confectionery or the like is placed can be synchronized. It is possible to perform a cutting stroke in a continuous manner by controlling the multi-stage stroke for moving the cutter forward.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a confectionary "a" conveyed by a conveyor A is corrected on a conveyor by correction conveyors B and B. And placed on the upstream conveyor 1.
The running of the upstream conveyor 1 moves the confectionery a toward the downstream conveyor 2, and when the tip is detected by the sensor 3, the upstream conveyor 1 and the downstream conveyor 2 stop running at the same time, a stops at a predetermined position.

The confectionery cutter 4 includes a wire 5 as a cutting blade and a frame 6 on which the wire 5 is stretched. A rear portion of the frame 6 is connected to a cylinder 7. With this configuration, the cutter 4 can perform the forward and backward operation in the direction toward the stopped confectionery a by the operation of the cylinder 7, and the cutting process and the return process can be freely performed.

Now, when the confectionery a is stopped by the detection of the sensor 3, the cylinder 7 is operated and the cutter 4 moves forward in connection therewith, and cuts the confectionery a on the conveyor which is temporarily stopped. When the cutter 4 reaches the end position of the cutting stroke,
During the continuation of that state, the upstream conveyor 1 and the downstream conveyor 2 are started, and both pieces of the cut and bisected confectionery a are separated into the space 8 surrounded by the wire 5 of the cutter 4 and the frame 6. , And is sent to the downstream side of the stroke area of the cutter 4. The procedure is shown in FIG.
The controller 9 is provided as means for controlling the stroke timing of the cutter 4 and the traveling timing of the conveyors 1 and 2 in this manner.

In the above example, after the two pieces of the confectionery bisected in the cutting process are both taken off downstream of the stroke area of the cutter 4, the return process of the cutter 4 is performed in a place where there is no obstacle. It is an example that is performed, but as in this example,
In the case where the conveyor is composed of two conveyors, the upstream side and the downstream side, and the drive is independently controlled, the downstream conveyor 2 is started and one of the two confections is removed. It may be sent downstream and the upstream conveyor 1 starts in the opposite direction, thereby moving both pieces of the confection in a direction to pull them away from each other and then performing the return stroke of the cutter 4. Of course, in this case, after the return stroke of the cutter 4 is completed, the upstream conveyor 1 is started again in the positive direction, and another piece of the confectionery temporarily moved in the reverse direction is transferred to the downstream conveyor 2. Needless to say, they are sent out downstream by the cooperative operation.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the forward stroke function of the cylinder provided in the cutter is configured in a three-stage system. Cutter 10
In the first embodiment, three wires 12, 13, 14 are stretched with respect to a frame 11, thereby forming spaces 15, 16, 17. A cylinder 18 for performing a three-stage forward travel is connected to the rear of the frame 11.

The procedure of cutting the confectionery by the cutter 10 will be described.
While the leading confection is cut by the wire 12 and the cutter 10 is stopped after reaching the end position of the first cutting process, the cut confection is passed through the space 15 by the operation of the conveyor to be downstream. Send to the side. Then, when the second confection is fed and reaches the center position of the space 15, the conveyor is stopped, and the cylinder 18 is instructed to advance to the second stage, and the second confection is transferred to the second wire. 1
3, while the cutter 10 is stopped after reaching the end position of the second cutting stroke, the conveyor is operated to send the cut second confectionery through the space 16 and to the downstream side. . Subsequently, the third confectionery to be sent is cut by the wire 14 in the same manner as described above, and the cut confectionery is sent through the space 17 and sent to the downstream side.

The three cutting strokes described above are all positioned as extensions of the same direction, so that the operation required for the cylinders can be continuously performed extremely smoothly, and the efficiency of the operation can be increased. It is effective. Thereafter, the cylinder 18 is caused to perform a return stroke corresponding to the total length of the three forward steps over one stroke under one stroke, and returns to the initial state.

In the above embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the cutting process of the cutter is a three-stage forward process. However, the cutting process is not limited to the three-stage process, and any other multi-stage process may be used. Needless to say,

[0032]

[Effects of the Invention] The cutting device for food and the like according to the present invention is configured as described above, and has the following effects. (1) When the cutter for cutting cuts food etc. and reaches the end position of the cutting process, during the continuation of that state, starts the conveyor and cuts the above cut and bisected food etc. Or control means for controlling the timing of the stroke of the cutter and the timing of the traveling of the conveyor in order to complete the operation until the entire cutter is sent out of the stroke area to the outside of the area is provided. Therefore, in the return stroke path where the cutter that has finished cutting the food etc. in the cutting process returns to the old position, the bisected food etc. does not remain at that position in the cut state, Before the start of the return process, some or all of the food can be taken out of the route, and the cutting operation can be performed in a so-called “one-time cut”. It holds the finesse of good aesthetics and cutting operations of the incision, enhancing the speed of the finished products of uniformity of cutting operation is achieved.

Further, the cutter is constituted by a cutting blade made of a wire or a thin cutting blade, and a frame provided with the cutting blade attached to a front end of the frame. Since the size of the enclosed space is such that the cut food or the like can pass through the space and be sent to the downstream side, when the cutter is at the end position of the cutting stroke, the cut food or the like is moved to the above-described stroke area. It is easy, easy and efficient to send it out.

Further, the above-mentioned conveyor is provided with a traveling path avoiding the path of the cutter so that the cutter can advance and reach a position below the plane of placing the food or the like formed by the upper surface of the conveyor and below. As a result, it is possible to advance the cutter to a further lower position after the cutter cuts the food or the like on the conveyor top when cutting, thereby ensuring a more beautiful cutting work of the cut end. .

(2) Since the conveyor for feeding food and the like to the position of the cutter is constituted by a combination of two sets of conveyors whose driving is independently controlled, that is, the upstream side and the downstream side of the stroke range of the cutter, The pair of conveyors are separately driven to widen the gap between the respective portions of food or the like that have been cut by cutting, thereby widening the path of the cutter, eliminating the difficulty of the return stroke, and reducing the return stroke. It has become possible to prevent the cut surface from being damaged or missing due to the occurrence of such a problem.

(3) Among the forward and backward movement functions provided by the means connected to the cutter, at least the forward travel for cutting is a multi-step process, so that the cutting process can be made continuous, and the speed of the cutting operation can be increased. The efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an operation procedure in one embodiment of a cutting device for food and the like of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upstream conveyor 2 Downstream conveyor 3 Sensor 4.10 Cutter 5.12.13.14 Wire 6.11 Frame 7.18 Cylinder 8.15.16.17 Space 9 Control device B Straightening conveyor

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A device for cutting food and the like conveyed by a conveyor with a cutter in the middle of the conveyance and sending it to the downstream side by the conveyor, wherein the cutter comprises a cutting blade made of a wire or a thin cutting blade and the like. It has a frame body provided with a cutting blade at its front end, and the space surrounded by the cutting blade and the frame body is wide enough to allow cut food or the like to pass through the space and be sent to the downstream side. The rear portion of the frame body is connected by means for causing the cutter to perform a cutting process that advances toward food or the like and a return process that retreats to the old position after cutting is completed, The conveyor detects the position of food etc. during transportation and periodically
While traveling is stopped,
The cutting process of the cutter in the direction toward the conveyor surface
After the product is cut, the stop is released again and cut
As a conveyor that has a traveling path that avoids the path of the cutter so that the food can be sent to the downstream side and the cutter can move forward and reach the position below the mounting plane of the food formed by the upper surface of the conveyor to the position below it. When the cutter reaches the lower position, during the continuation of the state, the conveyor is started and part or all of the cut and bisected food or the like passes through the space provided by the cutter. Control means for controlling the timing of the stroke of the cutter and the timing of travel of the conveyor, in order to complete the operation of the cutter from the travel area to the outside of the area, is provided. Cutting equipment for food products. 2. The apparatus for cutting food or the like according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor is constituted by a combination of two sets of conveyors, each of which is independently driven at an upstream side and a downstream side of said stroke area of said cutter. . 3. The apparatus for cutting food or the like according to claim 1, wherein at least a forward travel step for cutting out of the functions provided by the means connected to the cutter is a multi-stage stroke.