JP7297586B2 - feathers and food manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to technology for manufacturing food.

Patent Document 1 (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-30690) describes a blade that is used in a rice cake manufacturing apparatus and has a plate-like portion and a shaft portion integrally formed. This flat plate portion is provided so as to have a predetermined inclination that is substantially perpendicular to the rotational direction of the blade (Patent Document 1, paragraph 0019, FIG. 3).

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-30690

According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, for example, mochi (food) can be produced by kneading glutinous rice powder and water, which are foodstuffs, by rotating a blade. However, when the food material solidifies, it becomes difficult to apply the blades to the inside of the food material, for example.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that allows blades to act even on solidified foodstuffs. In addition, below, the state in the middle of being solidified may also be described as a “solidified state”.

A blade according to one solution is a blade that is rotatably provided on a container, and includes a rotating shaft portion and a blade portion that spreads from the rotating shaft portion along the axial direction to the outside in the radial direction of rotation. . The blade portion has a blade surface on the positive side in the rotational direction. The blade surface is inclined so that the lower side precedes the upper side with respect to the positive side in the rotational direction. The upper side of the blade surface is curved in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation.

According to one solution, the blades can also act on solidified foodstuffs.

It is an explanatory view of the inside of the food manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention in a side view. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the inside of the food manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear; 1 is a front view of a vane according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. Figure 4 is a rear view of the vane shown in Figure 3; Figure 4 is a top view of the vane shown in Figure 3; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the blade shown in Figure 3; 4 is a right side view of the blade shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a left side view of the blade shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 1 is a top view of a container according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

First, blades and food manufacturing apparatuses according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. FIG. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of the interior of the food manufacturing apparatus 10 viewed from the side and rear, respectively. 3 to 8 are a front view, a rear view, a top view (plan view), a bottom view, a right side view and a left side view, respectively, of the blade 11 for manufacturing food. FIG. 9 is a top view of a container 12 for food production. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the control system of the device 10. As shown in FIG. According to the apparatus 10, the rotating blades 11 act on the foodstuff put in the container 12, so that the desired foodstuffs can be produced.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 10 includes a blade 11 and a container 12 (pot) for manufacturing food. The vanes 11 are rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the container 12 . The blade 11 includes a rotating shaft portion 13 and a blade portion 14 . In this embodiment, the vertical direction parallel to the central axis A of the rotating shaft portion 13 is referred to as the "axial direction", the bottom side of the container 12 provided with the blades 11 is the "lower side", and the opening side of the container 12 is the "upper side". Become. Further, the direction orthogonal to the central axis A of the rotating shaft portion 13 is called the "radial direction of rotation", and the side away from the central axis A is called the "outside" (indicated by arrow B in FIG. 3 etc.). is called "inside". Also, the direction of rotation about the central axis A is called the "rotation direction", the clockwise side is called the "positive side" (indicated by arrow C in FIG. 5, etc.), and the counterclockwise side is called the "reverse side".

The blade portion 14 spreads from the rotating shaft portion 13 along the axial direction toward the outer side in the radial direction of rotation. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the blade portion 14 has a length L2 in the radial direction of rotation (indicated as the length of the longest portion from the central axis A of rotation to the outside) rather than the length L1 in the axial direction. ) are formed to be elongated. The blade portion 14 has a blade surface 15 on the positive side in the rotational direction (FIG. 5). The blade surface 15 is inclined with respect to the positive side in the rotational direction so that the lower side 17 precedes the upper side 16 (FIG. 7). Further, the upper side 16 of the blade surface 15 is curved in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation (arrow Ca in FIG. 5). In other words, the blade surface 15 of the blade 11 rotating to the positive side leads the lower side 17 to the upper side 16 (the upper side 16 follows the lower side 17), and the outer side 16o follows the upper side 16.

As a result, the blade 11 rotating in the forward direction lifts the solidified food material in the container 12 from the lower side 17 to the upper side 16 while crushing (sanding) the food material, and stretches the food material to the outside 16o. can act. Further, the blade 11 can repeatedly act on the food by rotating. Further, since the blade surface 15 is inclined, the blade 11 can act to turn over (invert) the food when the food leaves the upper side 16 thereof. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the blade 11 has an arcuate depression at the upper end portion 20 of the blade portion 14 (the upper side 16 of the blade surface 15 is arcuately depressed). For this reason, the blade 11 can be operated so that the solidified food material can easily climb over the recessed bottom of the upper end portion 20 of the blade 11 rotating in the forward direction.

Further, the blade portion 14 is formed such that the length in the radial direction of rotation increases from the lower side to the upper side. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, in the lengths L2 and L3 of the upper and lower sides from the central axis A of rotation, the length L3 of the lower side is shorter than the length L2 of the upper side. The outer end portion 21 of the blade portion 14 is formed such that the length in the radial direction of rotation increases as it goes upward from the edge. For this reason, the blade 11 has a structure in which the lower side of the outer end portion 21 of the blade portion 14 is cut (hereinafter referred to as undercut), and the outer end portion 21 of the blade portion 14, the bottom surface 22 and the inner wall surface 23 of the container 12 are cut. A space is formed between (Figs. 1 and 2). In this way, the blades 11 act to let the food escape from the cut portion, so that the food is not forcibly pressed against the bottom surface 22 or the inner wall surface 23 of the container 12, and sticking of the food can be prevented. can. Although the lengths L2 and L3 are shown as lengths from the central axis A, the lengths from the rotating shaft portion 13 have the same long and short relationship.

Here, in this embodiment, the container 12 is formed in a bowl shape having an elliptical opening 24 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the opening 24 is elliptical (major axis a, minor axis b), the bottom surface 22 is circular (radius c), and is formed so as to narrow from the opening 24 to the bottom surface 22. (a>b>c). The bottom surface 22 of the container 12 is formed in a circular shape so as to include a region formed by rotating the blades 11 . With such a container 12 , it is possible to give the solidified foodstuffs an expanding and contracting motion between the rotating blades 11 . In addition, it is possible to efficiently mix multiple ingredients (for example, mochi and mugwort).

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper end portion 25 of the rotating shaft portion 13 is formed so as to be continuous with the upper end portion 20 of the blade portion 14 and recessed on the blade portion 14 side. In this embodiment, since the upper end portion 20 of the blade portion 14 is arcuate, the upper end portion 25 of the rotating shaft portion 13 is also formed in an arc shape so as to be continuous with the upper end portion 20 . An upper end portion 20 of the blade portion 14 and an upper end portion 25 of the rotating shaft portion 13 are integrally formed in an arc shape. As a result, as the blades 11 rotate, the solidified food in the container 12 moves toward the blades 14 instead of toward the rotary shaft 13, and the blades 14 can act on the food. can.

Further, the blade 11 has a protrusion 26 that protrudes outward in the rotation radial direction from the rotation shaft 13 . The protrusion 26 is provided on the upper side of the rotating shaft portion 13 (FIG. 4). Further, the blade portion 14 is provided below the rotary shaft portion 13 (FIG. 3). The projecting portion 26 and the blade portion 14 are provided at symmetrical positions on the rotating shaft portion 13 (FIG. 5). As a result, the food pushed up from the lower side by the blades 14 is hooked by the projections 26 on the upper side of the rotation shaft 13, thereby causing the blades 11 to act to extend the food while disturbing the balance of the food. can.

Moreover, the protrusion 26 has a protrusion surface 27 on the positive side in the rotation direction (FIG. 5). The protruding surface 27 is inclined so that the lower side 31 precedes the upper side 30 and is bent to the positive side in the rotational direction (arrow Cb in FIG. 5). As a result, the protrusions 26 can act on the food pushed up by the blades 14 so as to lift the food from the lower side 31 to the upper side 30 of the protrusion surface 27 and bite into the food.

Moreover, the protrusion 26 is formed so that the length in the radial direction of rotation increases from the upper side to the lower side, and the lower side is sharp. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, in the upper and lower lengths L4 and L5 from the central axis A of rotation, the upper length L4 is shorter than the lower length L5. An outer end portion 32 of the projection portion 26 is formed so that the length in the radial direction of rotation increases toward the lower side. In this manner, the sharp protrusions 26 allow the blades 11 to act to cut the inside of the solidified food material. Although the lengths L4 and L5 are shown as lengths from the central axis A, the lengths from the rotating shaft portion 13 have the same long and short relationship.

Further, the rotating shaft portion 13 has a flange portion 33 on its lower side. The flange portion 33 protrudes outward along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft portion 13 . A flange portion 33 that is the lower end portion of the rotating shaft portion 13 has a cavity 35 in a lower end surface 34 . As the blade 11 rotates, the solidified food material in the container 14 tries to enter between the lower surface 34 of the rotating shaft portion 13 and the bottom surface 22 of the container 12, but the flange portion 33 can act to stop it. can. Further, even if food enters, the space between the bottom surface 22 of the container 12 and the cavity 35 is sufficiently secured, so that the impeller 11 can be prevented from becoming difficult to rotate.

The device 10 also includes a motor 36 and a heater 37 in addition to the blades 11 and the container 12, as shown in FIG. A motor 36 is used as a drive source for rotating the blades 11 . Also, the heater 37 is used as a heat source for applying heat to the food via the container 12 (pot). These are attached to a housing 40 provided with the device 10 . The housing 40 includes a base 41 and a support portion 42 (container receiver). Inside the housing 40 , a motor 36 is provided on the base 41 on the front side, and a heater 37 is provided on the base 41 on the back side via a support portion 42 . The support portion 42 (female portion) is cup-shaped, and configured such that a cylindrical surrounding portion 43 (a male portion for the support portion 42 as a female portion) extending from the outer bottom portion of the container 12 is screwed. .

Here, in order to rotate the blade 11, the device 10 includes, in addition to the motor 36, a large pulley 44, a small pulley 45, a belt 46, rotating shafts 47, 50, couplings 51, 52, Bearings 53 and 54 are provided. A small pulley 45 is attached to the lower end of the drive shaft 55 of the motor 36 and linked to the large pulley 44 via a belt 46 (endless belt). This large pulley 44 is attached to the lower end of the rotating shaft 50 .

The rotary shaft 50 penetrates through the support portion 42 at the center of its bottom. A lower coupling 52 that engages with an upper coupling 51 is attached to the upper end of the rotary shaft 50 , and a large pulley 44 is attached to the lower end of the rotary shaft 50 . is installed. A bearing 54 is provided between the rotary shaft 50 and a cylindrical portion 56 (sleeve) formed at the bottom of the support portion 42 . A lower coupling 52 rotates via a rotating shaft 50 with respect to a support portion 42 fixed to a base 41 of the housing 40 .

The rotating shaft 47 penetrates the container 12 at the center of its bottom. The upper end of the rotating shaft 47 is attached with the vane 11 inside the container 12 , and the lower end of the rotating shaft 47 is attached with the upper coupling 51 . A bearing 53 is provided between the rotating shaft 47 and a cylindrical portion 57 (sleeve) formed at the bottom of the container 12 . Via 47 the vane 11 rotates. The upper end of the rotating shaft 47 has a D-shaped cross section and is inserted into and fixed to the shaft hole 48 of the rotating shaft portion 13 of the blade 11 .

With such a configuration, when the drive shaft 55 of the motor 36 rotates, through the small pulley 45, the belt 46, the large pulley 44, the rotating shaft 50, the lower coupling 52, the upper coupling 51 and the rotating shaft 47, Blade 11 rotates.

To heat the container 12 , the apparatus 10 also includes a heater 37 located on the outside bottom of the container 12 . For the heater 37, for example, a ring-shaped casting heater (a sheathed heater inserted into a casting) through which the rotary shaft 47 and the like penetrate can be used. The container 12 has an enclosing portion 43 (cylindrical portion) which is provided on the outer bottom portion of the container 12 and surrounds the heater 37 . The enclosing part 43 is preferably integrally molded (for example, aluminum die-cast) with the container 12 . The surrounding portion 43 makes it possible to facilitate the transfer of heat from the heater 37 to the container 12 and to make it difficult to conduct heat to components outside the surrounding portion 43 . The opening side of the enclosing portion 43 is covered with a cup-shaped support portion 42 . Therefore, the heater 37 is accommodated in the space (chamber) formed by the support portion 42 and the surrounding portion 43, and heat is less likely to be conducted to components outside the space.

Apparatus 10 includes a heat shield 58 surrounding container 12 . The heat shield part 58 has a shape following the container 12 so as to form a space with the outer surface of the container 12 . The bottom portion of the heat shield portion 58 penetrates through the enclosing portion 43 of the container 12 and is fixed to the support portion 42 outside the enclosing portion 43 . By providing the heat shielding portion 58 around the container 12 heated by the heater 37 , it is possible to make it difficult for heat to be conducted to components outside the heat shielding portion 58 . In addition, by forming the heat shielding part 58 into a shape that follows the container 12 (the heat shielding part 58 is also bowl-shaped following the bowl-shaped container 12), an extra space is provided in the housing 40 for heat shielding. Since the device 10 can be miniaturized.

Apparatus 10 also includes a temperature sensor 59 for measuring the temperature of container 12 . A temperature sensor 59 is provided between the container 12 and the heat shield 58 . That is, a temperature sensor 59 is provided to measure the temperature of the space between the outer surface of the container 12 and the inner surface of the heat shield portion 58 . Since the heat of the container 12 is retained by the heat shielding portion 58 without being diffused, the temperature of the container 12 can be accurately measured by the temperature sensor 59 .

Further, the container 12 includes a cylindrical portion 57 (sleeve) provided on the outer bottom portion of the container 12 and surrounded by the surrounding portion 43 . The cylindrical portion 57 is preferably integrally molded with the container 12 . If the heater 37 is ring-shaped, the cylindrical portion 57 can be provided so as to pass through the inside of the ring. According to this, a part of the container 12 (enclosing portion 43) can be provided outside the ring-shaped heater 37, and a part of the container 12 (cylindrical portion 57) can be provided inside the heater 37. And the heat from the heater 37 surrounded by the cylindrical portion 57 can be more easily transferred to the container 12 .

Also, the heater 37 is provided in contact with the outer bottom of the container 12 . In this embodiment, the heater 37 is urged to contact the outer bottom portion of the container 12 by an elastic body 60 (for example, silicone packing or spring) provided in the device 10 . The ring-shaped heater 37 has a plurality of (for example, three) legs 61 equidistantly arranged in the circumferential direction on the back surface opposite to the ring surface on the container 12 side. The leg portion 61 is retained on the support portion 42 by a stopper 62 provided in the device 10 . The surrounding portion 43 of the container 12 is screwed into the support portion 42 and the elastic body 60 is crushed, so that the elastic body 60 urges the heater 37 toward the outer bottom of the container 12 .

In addition, the device 10 is provided with an openable and closable lid portion 63 on the upper portion of the back side. The lid portion 63 is positioned above the container 12 inside the housing 40, and is detachably attached so that it can be opened and closed by a hinge provided on the back side of the housing 40, for example. When the lid portion 63 is open, the inside of the container 12 inside the housing 40 can be observed.

The device 10 also has an operation unit 64 on the upper part of the front side. The operation unit 64 receives input instructions from the operator and displays device operations. The device 10 has a control board 65 below the operation section 64 . The control board 65 is electrically connected to the motor 36 , the heater 37 and the operating section 64 , and can receive instructions from the operating section 64 to control the motor 36 and the heater 37 .

Here, the control system of the device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The control board 65 has a microcomputer board 66 and a power board 67 . The microcomputer board 66 incorporates a memory 70 in which an execution program for the manufacturing process (preparation course) is stored. The microcomputer board 66 is electrically connected to the operating section 64 and the power board 67 respectively. The power board 67 has a buzzer 71 for notifying the operator. This power board 67 is electrically connected to the motor 36, the heater 37 and the temperature sensor 59, respectively. As a result, the microcomputer board 66 reads out a program from the memory 30 in accordance with the preparation course selected by the operation unit 64, and the power board 67 operates the motor 36 and the heater 37 according to this program while observing the temperature with the temperature sensor 59. to control.

Next, as an example of the operating method of the device 10, a <re-polishing course> for returning commercially available cut rice cake (or hardened rice cake) to a freshly pounded soft state will be described. In the re-punching course, the user opens the lid portion 63, puts the cut rice cakes and an amount of water corresponding to the number (mass) of the cut rice cakes into the container 12, closes the lid portion 63, and operates the operation portion 64 to press "re-punch". After selecting "Paste", press the start key. This initiates the operation of device 10 .

The heater 37 heats the container 12 and the temperature sensor 59 measures the temperature of the container 12 . Further, the blade 11 is rotated by the motor 36 and acts on the cut rice cake as food. The temperature of the container 12 and the number of revolutions of the blade 11 (motor 36) are adjusted so as to provide conditions suitable for re-polishing. The kirimochi placed in the container 12 is softened by being agitated by the blades 11 together with the water heated through the container 12 . At this time, it is preferable that the blade 11 is rotated at a low speed (the motor 36 is driven at a low speed) so as not to splash water. Then, the cut rice cake gradually becomes a solidified mass of rice cake.

The blades 11 can be rotated at high speed (the motor 36 is driven at high speed) to act on the solidified rice cakes. As a result, as described above, the blades 11 can also act on the solidified mass of rice cake, and the rice cake can be pounded. After that, the heater 37 and the motor 36 are stopped, and the manufacturing process is finished. At the end of the operation, the buzzer 71 can be used to inform the user of the fact.

In addition to water, ingredients to be mixed with mochi can also be placed in the container 12 and stirred together (for example, if the other ingredients are liquid materials, mixing becomes easier). When other ingredients are mixed in, it takes time to form a solid lump of mochi. Therefore, for example, by selecting the mixing course (arranging course) with the operation unit 64, the time can be adjusted.

Next, the finish of the rice cake manufactured using the device 10 will be described. As Example 1, a device 10 equipped with a blade 11 was used, and two pieces of kirimochi (100 g in total) and water (25 g) were placed in a container 12 to produce a lump of rice cake. As Comparative Example 1 in comparison with Example 1, a device with blades without protrusions 26 (the rest of the configuration is the same as device 10) was used, and similar ingredients were placed in container 12 to produce a lump of rice cake. The finish of the mochi was compared in terms of the evaluation items of "growth", "stiffness", "stickiness", "color", "taste", "texture", "smell" and "residual kneading". As a result, in the comparative example using the blades without the protrusions 26, the rice cake did not cling well to the blades during high-speed driving, and the rice cake was not stiff, whereas in the example using the blades 11. In 1, it was possible to produce rice cakes with "koshi".

In addition, as Example 2, using the device 10 using the blade 11, glutinous rice (280 g) and water (180 g) were put into the container 12 to produce a lump of rice cake. As a comparative example 2 in contrast to the example 2, a device provided with non-undercut blades (the space between the bottom surface 22 and the inner wall surface 23 of the container 12 is narrowed) (the rest of the configuration is the same as the device 10). was put into the container 12 to produce a lump of rice cake. The finish of the mochi was compared by the evaluation items of "growth", "stiffness", "stickiness", "color", "taste", "texture", "smell" and "remaining rice". As a result, in Comparative Example 2 using blades that were not undercut, a large amount of glutinous rice adhered to the inner wall surface 23 of the container 14 during low-speed driving, and even if it was driven at high speed, "rice residue" remained. While it was a certain rice cake, in Example 2 using the feather 11, it was possible to produce a rice cake without "remaining rice". Also in other evaluation items, the rice cake of Example 2 was superior to the rice cake of Comparative Example 2.

Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention. In the above embodiments, the case of producing rice cakes as food has been described. As for other foods, for example, it is possible to make dough for bread, udon noodles, etc., or to cook non-glutinous rice.

11 blades 13 rotating shaft 14 blades 15 blade surfaces

Claims (9)

A wing rotatably provided on the container,
a rotating shaft;
a blade portion that spreads outward in the radial direction of rotation along the axial direction from the rotating shaft portion,
The blade portion has a blade surface on the positive side in the rotation direction,
the blade surface is inclined so that the lower side precedes the upper side with respect to the positive side in the rotational direction;
The upper side of the blade surface is bent in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation ,
The upper end portion of the rotating shaft portion is formed so as to be continuous with the upper end portion of the blade portion so that the blade portion side is recessed.
A feather characterized by: A wing rotatably provided on the container,
a rotating shaft;
a blade portion that spreads outward in the radial direction of rotation along the axial direction from the rotating shaft portion;
a protrusion projecting outward in the rotation radial direction from the rotating shaft,
The blade portion has a blade surface on the positive side in the rotation direction,
the blade surface is inclined so that the lower side precedes the upper side with respect to the positive side in the rotational direction;
The upper side of the blade surface is bent in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation ,
The protrusion and the blade are provided above and below symmetrical positions on the rotating shaft,
The protrusion has a protrusion surface on the positive side in the rotation direction,
The projecting surface is inclined so that the lower side precedes the upper side and is bent to the positive side in the rotational direction.
A feather characterized by: A wing rotatably provided on the container,
a rotating shaft;
a blade portion that spreads outward in the radial direction of rotation along the axial direction from the rotating shaft portion;
a protrusion projecting outward in the rotation radial direction from the rotating shaft,
The blade portion has a blade surface on the positive side in the rotation direction,
the blade surface is inclined so that the lower side precedes the upper side with respect to the positive side in the rotational direction;
The upper side of the blade surface is bent in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation ,
The protrusion and the blade are provided above and below symmetrical positions on the rotating shaft,
The protruding portion is formed so that the length in the radial direction of rotation increases from the upper side to the lower side.
A feather characterized by: In the blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A blade, wherein an upper end portion of the blade portion is recessed in an arc shape. In the blade according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A blade, wherein the blade portion is formed such that its length in the radial direction of rotation increases from the lower side toward the upper side. A blade according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ;
a container in which the blades are rotatably provided at the bottom;
a heater provided at the bottom of the outside of the container,
The food manufacturing apparatus, wherein the container has an enclosing portion provided on the outer bottom of the container and surrounding the heater. In the food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6 ,
The food manufacturing apparatus, wherein the container has a circular bottom surface, an elliptical opening, and is formed so as to narrow from the opening to the bottom surface. In the food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 ,
The container includes a shaft portion provided at the bottom outside the container and surrounded by the surrounding portion,
The food manufacturing apparatus, wherein the heater is a ring-shaped heater, and the shaft portion is provided so as to pass through the inner side of the ring. In the food manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8 ,
A food manufacturing apparatus, comprising an elastic body for urging the heater so as to contact the heater to the outside bottom of the container.

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