JP3355278B2 - Mixing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mixing apparatus for mixing an ingredient such as nuts or fruits (pulp) with a main ingredient such as ice cream.

[0002] For example, in the case of producing an ice cream food in which an ice cream container is filled with ice cream and further containing additives such as nuts or fruits, ice cream is first produced as a production process.
Next, after mixing the additive materials in a certain ratio in it,
This is filled into a container by a fixed amount. The present invention relates to a mixing apparatus for mixing an additive with ice cream, and other than ice cream, which further comprises a step of mixing a granular additive with a main material having fluidity. It can be used for the production of

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A known mixing apparatus of this type has a structure in which a screw, a vibrator and the like are added as a supply apparatus to a positive displacement rotary pump, and there is no problem if the size of the additive material is not so large. In recent years, as one of the variations in the product development of ice cream food products, the size of the additives has tended to increase (increase in size). It may not work well.

[0004] The following points are particularly problematic in the above conventional apparatus. When the size of the additive is increased, it becomes difficult to supply the additive in a constant amount, so that a quantitative variation occurs when the additive is mixed with the ice cream. Therefore, as a result, the amount of the additive added to each ice cream container varies. When the additive material becomes large, the additive material is easily broken in the mixing process. Therefore, as a result, for example, large nuts are put in ice cream in a state of being separated, and the commercial value is reduced. If the additive material becomes large, a large amount of air tends to be mixed into the ice cream during the mixing process. Therefore, as a result, air of an amount equal to or more than the specified value is mixed into the ice cream, which becomes a large cavity, and the commercial value is reduced.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention makes it possible to quantitatively mix relatively large additive ingredients with a main ingredient such as ice cream, and this additive ingredient can be used. An object of the present invention is to provide a mixing device having a structure that is not easily broken in a mixing process. In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide a mixing device having a structure in which a large amount of air is hardly mixed into a main material in a mixing process.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a mixing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is a mixing apparatus for mixing an additive such as nuts or fruits with a main material such as ice cream. A main flow path that feeds the main material under a predetermined pressure, a cylindrical sub flow path that joins the main flow path and feeds the additive material, and the addition tool that opens to the sub flow path A material supply port, a first piston reciprocally inserted into the sub flow path, and a second piston also inserted reciprocally into the sub flow path and capable of traversing the main flow path during reciprocation The addition tool material is supplied from the supply port to a gap space of a predetermined volume set between the two pistons, the two pistons move forward at the same speed, and the second piston The additive material in the interstitial space across a road Shifts to the main channel, wherein the pistons are backward, the pistons are differential in this backward scan
Once they are in contact with each other and
The main material is extruded from between the pistons .

[0007] The mixing apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention comprises:
In the mixing device according to claim 1, a hopper is connected to a supply port of the additive material, and the main flow path, the sub flow path, and the hopper are hermetically sealed in order to prevent mixing of air as much as possible. .

[0008] The mixing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention comprises:
The mixing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hopper has a three-layer structure, an opening / closing valve portion is provided between the upper layer and the middle layer and between the middle layer and the lower layer, and the middle layer and the lower layer are evacuated. did.

[0009]

In the mixing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure, the additive is supplied from the supply port of the additive to a gap space having a predetermined volume set between the first and second pistons. Because of this structure, the supply amount of the additive material per supply (the supply amount per reciprocation of the piston) is quantified according to the size of the volume of the gap space. Also, until the additive material supplied to the gap space is mixed with the main material,
Since the piston only moves linearly in the sub-flow path in accordance with the movement of the piston, it is not easily broken. Further, since the first and second pistons move forward at the same speed, the volume of the gap space does not decrease during the forward movement. Therefore, there is no possibility that the additive is crushed by the piston and is destroyed.

[0010] In addition, in the mixing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure, a hopper is connected to the supply port of the additive, and the main stream is provided to prevent air from being mixed as much as possible. Since the passage, the sub-flow passage and the hopper are hermetically sealed, a large amount of air does not enter the main material during the mixing process.

Still further, in the mixing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention having the above structure, the hopper has a three-layer structure, and an opening / closing valve portion is provided between the upper layer and the middle layer and between the middle layer and the lower layer. In addition, since the middle and lower layers are structured to be evacuated, the additive is supplied to the hopper from the outside,
Further, a large amount of air does not mix in the process of supplying the additive material from the hopper to the sub flow path.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS When the first and second pistons have completed the backward movement and both pistons are ready for the next forward movement, if the main material has entered the gap space between the two pistons, As a result, the volume of the gap space is substantially reduced, so that a fixed amount of the additive material cannot be accommodated in the gap space. The main material enters the gap space because the second piston traverses the main flow path at the time of backward movement, and at this time, the main material is pushed into the sub flow path by the second piston. On the other hand, in the mixing device according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the first and second pistons return, the two pistons are different from each other.
Move once and intervene between both pistons
The main material interposed between the two pistons is extruded from between the two pistons to the other main flow paths. Therefore, the timing at which the two pistons come into contact with each other at the time of the backward movement is before the second piston returns to the sub flow path.

In the mixing apparatus of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the main material continuously flows through the main flow passage, and a certain amount of the additive material is conveyed by the piston from the sub flow passage to the mixing device. I'm sullen. Therefore, the mixing and mixing of the additive material in the main material may be dense and sparse in accordance with the reciprocating timing of the piston. It is possible to prevent the variation in the amount of the additive material put in one container by adjusting the timing of filling with.

Further, by arranging a plurality of the mixing devices and shifting the mixing timing in each of the mixing devices, it is possible to alleviate the occurrence of the above-mentioned sparse / dense or to completely eliminate the occurrence.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mixing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a mixing apparatus for mixing an ice cream 1 as a main material and a nut 2 as an additive, and includes the following components. I have.

First, there is provided a pipe-shaped main flow path 3 for feeding the ice cream 1 produced in advance in the preceding process in a direction indicated by an arrow under a predetermined pressure.
In addition, a cylindrical sub-flow path 4 for feeding the nut 2 merges at a right angle, and a supply port 5 for the nut 2 is opened on the upper surface of the horizontally arranged sub-flow path 4. A first piston 6 linearly reciprocating via a rod 7 by the operation of a drive source (not shown) is incorporated in the sub flow path 4, and another drive source (not shown) is provided on the main flow path 3 side of the first piston 6. The second piston 8 linearly reciprocates via the rod 9 by the operation of
Is incorporated. The pistons 6 and 8 move forward toward the main flow path 3, that is, rightward in the figure, and move backward toward the leftward direction in the figure. As shown in FIG. 1 (A), the first piston 6 has a feed port 5 at its forward end 6a.
1 from a point located substantially below the return side end 5a of FIG.
As shown in (B), the forward end 6a reciprocates between the points where it faces the main flow path 3, and the second piston 8 moves as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1B, from the point where the backward movement end 8a is located substantially below the forward movement end 5b of the supply port 5, the piston 8 moves through the main flow path 3 as shown in FIG. It reciprocates between the points where it is traversed and is accommodated in the accommodation recess 10. In the initial movement posture of FIG. 1A, a predetermined communication is established between the first and second pistons 6 and 8 so that the nut 2 drops by gravity from the supply port 5 of the nut 2. A gap space 11 having a volume is set.

A closed hopper 12, which will be described in detail later, is connected to a supply port 5 for the nut 2 provided on the upper surface of the sub flow path 4. On the downstream side, a mixer 13 that is rotated by the operation of a drive source (not shown) is provided. Here, the closed state means that the space accommodating the nuts 2 is hermetically sealed to the outside by a valve or a lid.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 12
4, a three-layer structure consisting of a middle layer 15 and a lower layer 16, wherein the lower surfaces of the layers 14, 15, 16 are respectively inclined in a funnel shape, and each of the lower ends of the funnel is provided with an opening. When the nut 2 is opened and put in the nut 2 in the upper layer 14, the nut 2 drops by gravity from the upper layer 14 to the sub-flow path 4 via the middle layer 15, the lower layer 16 and the supply port 5. However, in practice, since the open / close valve portion 19 for switching the opening and closing of the openings 17 and 18 alternately is provided between the upper layer 14 and the middle layer 15 and between the middle layer 15 and the lower layer 16, the fall is interrupted on the way. It does not mean that it stops and reaches the sub flow path 4 without stopping. The opening / closing valve portion 19 includes a single valve stem 20 that moves up and down by an operation of a drive source (not shown), a first valve body 21 that opens and closes the upper opening 17 from below, and a lower opening 18. A second valve body 22 that opens and closes from above is attached, and when the upper opening 17 is open as shown in FIG. 2, the lower opening 18 is closed. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 3, when the upper opening 17 is closed, the lower opening 18 is open,
18 are alternately switched.

Further, piping ports 23 and 24 are provided on the peripheral walls of the middle layer 15 and the lower layer 16, respectively, for connecting the layers 15 and 16 to a not-shown evacuation device. On-off valve 2 for opening and closing
5 is attached.

Next, the operation of the mixing apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

In the initial movement posture shown in FIG. 1A, the nut 2 having a predetermined volume is provided in the gap space 11 having a predetermined volume between the first and second pistons 6, 8 in the hopper 12 and the hopper 12. When supplied from the supply port 5, both pistons 6 and 8 simultaneously start going forward at the same speed, and as shown in FIG. The nut 2 in the space 11 moves to the main channel 3. The nut 2 in the interstitial space 11 moves to the main flow path 3 at the same time that the second piston 8 starts traversing the main flow path 3.
This is because a part of the ice cream 1 flowing under the predetermined pressure flows into the interstitial space 11 and pushes out the nuts 2. The first piston 6 stops before the main flow path 3, and at this time, the supply port 5 is partially closed. The nut 2 that has moved to the main flow path 3 is stirred by the mixer 13 together with the ice cream 1, and is transferred to the next filling step.

Next, the second piston 8 which has completed the forward movement starts a backward movement prior to the first piston 6, and this second piston 8 hits the first piston 6 as shown in FIG. Touch Therefore, in the state shown in FIG.
The ice cream 1 interposed between the pistons 8 is pushed out from between the pistons 6 and 8 to the other main flow path 3.

Next, the first piston 6 is moved to the second piston 8
1D, when the second piston 8 stops at the initial movement position and the first piston 6 passes below the supply port 5, the gap space 11 is formed again. Here, the nuts 2 begin to fall, and the initial movement posture of FIG. 1A is reproduced.

The operation of the hopper 12 is as follows.

That is, in the state shown in FIG. 2, the lower opening 18 is closed, so that the lower layer 16 is evacuated and depressurized by the operation of an unillustrated evacuation device.
Therefore, while the nuts 2 accommodated in the lower layer 16 are supplied from the supply port 5 to the sub flow path 4, air is prevented from entering the sub flow path 4. On the other hand, the upper opening 17
Is open, and the middle layer 15 is substantially open to the atmosphere via the upper layer 14 which is not strictly airtight and the upper opening 17. Therefore, since evacuation of the middle layer 15 is almost meaningless in this state, the on-off valve 25 is closed and the evacuation circuit for the middle layer 15 is closed.

When the amount of the nuts 2 stored in the lower layer 16 has become small and it becomes necessary to replenish the nuts, as shown in FIG. The on-off valve 25 is opened. Then middle class 15
Is supplied to the lower layer 16 from the lower opening 18. The lower layer 16 is continuously evacuated, and the middle layer 15 is also newly evacuated by opening the on-off valve 25, so that air is prevented from entering the sub flow path 4.

Next, when the required amount of nuts 2 has been supplied to the lower layer 16, the on / off valve portion 19 is again switched and the on / off valve 25 is closed to return to the state of FIG.
The nuts 2 are supplied from the upper layer 14 to the middle layer 15 and the upper layer 1
4 is supplied with new nuts 2 as needed by hand.

The mixing device having the above configuration has the following effects.

An amount of nuts 2 corresponding to the volume is supplied to an interstitial space 11 having a predetermined volume set between the first and second pistons 6, 8, and the nut 2 is supplied to the ice cream 1. Nuts 2 because of the mixed structure
Can be quantified according to the size of the volume of the gap space 11 (the supply amount per reciprocation of the pistons 6, 8). Therefore, since the nuts 2 are supplied in a fixed amount, even when the nuts 2 are relatively large, it is possible to prevent a quantitative variation from occurring when the nuts 2 are mixed with the ice cream 1. Also, as described in the above embodiment, by adjusting the timing of one reciprocation of the pistons 6 and 8 and the timing of filling the ice cream 1 into one container, the amount of nuts 2 put in one container varies. Can be prevented from occurring.

Nuts 2 supplied to interstitial space 11
However, the nut 2 only moves linearly in the sub-flow path 4 according to the movement of the pistons 6 and 7 until it is mixed with the ice cream 1. 2 is hard to be destroyed. Further, since the first and second pistons 6, 7 move forward at the same speed, the volume of the gap space 11 does not decrease during the forward movement. Therefore, the nut 2 is not destroyed by being crushed by the pistons 6 and 7. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ice cream food product having a relatively high commercial value in which relatively large nuts 2 are contained as they are.

Since the sub-flow path 4 for feeding the nuts 2 is a structurally relatively simple combination of cylinder pistons, including a drive source for operating both pistons 6 and 8, there are few failures and cost reduction. It is also advantageous. Also, by replacing the pistons 6 and 8 with ones having different lengths or replacing the cylinder pistons with ones having different diameters, the volume of the gap space 11, that is, the supply amount per nut 2 (piston 6, 8 supply amount per round trip) can be easily changed.

When the sub-flow path 4 is formed by a combination of cylinder pistons to achieve the above-described effects, the second piston 8 crosses the main flow path 3, and as described in the above-described embodiment, the gap space 11 There is a possibility that the ice cream 1 may enter the nuts and impede the fixed amount supply of the nuts 2. However, when the first and second pistons 6 and 8 return, the two pistons 6 and 8 are differentially contacted once. For this reason, the ice cream 1 interposed between the pistons 6 and 8 is pushed out from between the pistons 6 and 8. Therefore, in addition to the above effects, a relatively large amount of nuts 2 can be continuously supplied.

Since the main flow path 3 is in the form of a pipe having a closed structure, the sub flow path 4 is also in the form of a cylinder having a closed structure, and the hopper 12 connected to the supply port 5 of the nut 2 is also in a closed state. Even if the nuts 2 are relatively large, a large amount of air does not enter the ice cream 1 during the mixing process. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ice cream food product having a small cavity due to aeration and having high commercial value in this sense.

The hopper 12 has a three-layer structure including an upper layer 14, a middle layer 15 and a lower layer 16.
5 and between the middle layer 15 and the lower layer 16 are provided with an on-off valve portion 19, and the middle layer 15 and the lower layer 16 are evacuated.
Is supplied, and a large amount of air is not mixed in the process of supplying the nuts 2 from the hopper 12 to the sub flow path 4. Therefore, even if the ice cream 1 is continuously manufactured while replenishing the nuts 2, the cavities due to aeration are small, and an ice cream food product having a high commercial value in this sense can be provided.

[0036]

The present invention has the following effects.

That is, first, the mixing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure has the following effects.

[0038] A structure in which an amount of the additive material corresponding to the volume is supplied to a gap space having a predetermined volume set between the first and second pistons, and the additive material is mixed with the main material. Therefore, it is possible to quantify the supply amount of the additive material per supply (the supply amount per reciprocation of the piston) according to the size of the volume of the gap space. Therefore, since the additive material is supplied in a fixed amount, even when the additive material is relatively large, it is possible to prevent a quantitative variation from occurring when the additive material is mixed with the main material. In addition, by matching the timing of one reciprocation of the piston with the timing of filling the main material in one container, it is possible to prevent the amount of the additive material put in one container from being varied.

Until the additive material supplied to the gap space is mixed with the main material, the additive material only moves linearly in the sub-flow path according to the movement of the piston. Even if the grain is very large, the additive material is not easily broken.
Also, because the first and second pistons move forward at the same speed,
During the forward movement, the volume of the gap space does not decrease. Therefore, there is no possibility that the additive is crushed by the piston and is destroyed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a product having a high commercial value in this sense, in which the relatively large additive material is contained as it is.

Since the auxiliary flow path for feeding the additive material is a structurally relatively simple combination of cylinder pistons,
Including the drive source for operating both pistons, the number of failures is small and the cost is advantageous. Also, by replacing the piston with one having a different length or replacing the cylinder piston with one having a different diameter, the volume of the gap space, that is, the supply amount per one time of the additive material (the supply per one reciprocation of the piston) Amount) can be easily changed.

If the sub-flow path is made up of a combination of cylinder pistons to achieve the above-described effects, the second piston crosses the main flow path, and the main material enters the interstitial space and hinders the constant supply of the additive material. there is a risk that it, once both pistons during the backward scan of the first and second piston and a differential, one another
The main material interposed between both pistons in contact with
Due to the structure of pushing out from between the tons, the main material interposed between the pistons is pushed out from between the pistons. Therefore, in addition to the above effects, it is possible to supply a relatively large amount of additive material.

In addition to the above, the mixing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure has the following effects.

A hopper is connected to the supply port of the additive material, and the main flow path, the sub flow path, and the hopper are hermetically closed so as to prevent air from being mixed as much as possible. Even in the mixing process, a large amount of air does not enter the main material. Therefore, a cavity having a small size due to aeration is small, and a product having high commercial value in this sense can be provided.

In addition, the mixing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure has the following effects.

Since the hopper has a three-layer structure, an opening / closing valve portion is provided between the upper layer and the middle layer and between the middle layer and the lower layer, and the middle layer and the lower layer are evacuated, the addition tool from the outside to the hopper In the process where the material is supplied and the additive material is further supplied from the hopper to the sub-flow path, a large amount of air is not mixed. Therefore, even if the product is continuously manufactured while replenishing the additives, the cavity due to the air mixing is small, and a product having high commercial value in this sense can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and operation of a mixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in each of (A), (B), (C) and (D).

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and operation of a hopper.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and operation of the hopper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ice cream 2 nut 3 main flow path 4 sub flow path 5 supply port 6 first piston 7, 9 rod 8 second piston 10 receiving recess 11 gap space 12 hopper 13 mixer 14 upper layer 15 middle layer 16 lower layer 17, 18 opening 19 opening and closing Valve section 20 Valve stem 21, 22 Valve element 23 Piping port 25 On-off valve

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference Jikken 42-3835 (JP, Y1) Jigoku 58-50870 (JP, Y1) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A23G 1 / 00-9/30 B01F 1/00-5/26 F04B 1/00-15/08 G01F 11/00-11/46 WPI (DIALOG)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mixing device for mixing an additive such as nuts or fruits with a main material such as ice cream, wherein the main flow path feeds the main material under a predetermined pressure, and merges with the main flow path. And a cylindrical auxiliary flow path for feeding the additive material, a supply port of the additive material opened to the auxiliary flow passage, and a first piston reciprocally inserted into the auxiliary flow passage. A second piston, which is also reciprocally inserted into the sub flow path and can traverse the main flow path during reciprocation, wherein the supply to a gap space having a predetermined volume set between the two pistons The additive material is supplied from a mouth, the two pistons move forward at the same speed, the second piston traverses the main flow path, and the additive material in the gap space moves to the main flow path, The pistons move back, and when the pistons move back, the pistons move There once differential, through between the two pistons abut each other
The mixing device for extruding the existing main material from between the two pistons . 2. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein a hopper is connected to the supply port of the additive material, and the main flow path, the sub flow path, and the hopper are hermetically closed so as to prevent entry of air as much as possible. A mixing device, characterized in that: 3. The mixing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hopper has a three-layer structure, an on-off valve portion is provided between the upper layer and the middle layer and between the middle layer and the lower layer, and the middle layer and the lower layer are evacuated. A mixing device, comprising: