JPH088828B2 - Noodle dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a noodle dispenser.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Noodles made by a noodle making machine are sequentially suspended by so-called Shimada hangers on each receiving arm 2 of a conveyor line 1 as shown in FIG. The noodles are removed from the receiving arm 2 after being subjected to a drying or aging process as required, and formed into a ball shape, that is, a noodle ball, or folded in half and stored in a container such as a tray. Conventionally, in order to remove the noodles from the receiving arm 2, put a finger in the gap between the suspended noodles,
I try to remove it by hooking the noodles with my fingers.

[0003]

As described above, until now, the production of noodles has been automated, but after that, it is manual to automatically store the cut noodles in a container such as a tray. However, there was a problem that the work efficiency was very poor. This can be said in general for foods having no fixed shape, but it is considered that noodles such as buckwheat noodles are characterized by being thin and long and are difficult to handle.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a noodle dispenser capable of completely automating the packaging of cut noodles. .

[0005]

The present invention has the following constitution in order to achieve the above object. That is, a plurality of parallel disposed, a conveyor having a receiving arm for receiving a large number of noodles cut into a predetermined length and supplied to a Shimada hanger in the central portion of the noodle, and from the receiving arm of the conveyor. A transfer device having a transfer hand for receiving the noodles on the Shimada rack, a shooter for loading the noodles into a folded state by the transfer device, a transport conveyor for transporting the tray, and a loader for loading the noodles into the tray. In order to do so, it is provided with a reciprocating device that reciprocates the shooter between a position where the noodles are loaded by the transfer device and a position above the tray on the tray transfer conveyor. There is. Furthermore, a plurality of the shooters are arranged at a predetermined interval, and the reciprocating device is arranged so that the noodles carried in the plurality of shooters are brought close to the tray and stored in an aligned state.
It is preferable that the plurality of shooters be configured to include a moving mechanism that moves in a direction in which the plurality of shooters move closer to each other in conjunction with moving the shooter above the tray.

[0006]

The noodles supported by the receiving arm of the conveyor are received by the transfer hand of the transfer device and carried into the shooter by the transfer device. The reciprocating device moves the shooter to a position above the tray of the tray transfer conveyor, and the noodles are automatically carried into the tray from the shooter. The plurality of shooters are moved closer to each other by the moving mechanism, and in this state, the noodles are stored in a state where the noodles are approached and aligned from the inside of the shooter.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the entire device. Overall reference numeral 10 is a noodle making device, 12 is a conveyer conveyor, and 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a transfer device, and 16 denotes an alignment section. The noodle making device 10 is a known device, and cuts a large number of noodles into a predetermined length and supplies the noodles to the transport conveyor 12. The transport conveyor 12 is formed as an endless conveyor that rotates in a horizontal plane, and the transport unit has a plurality of parallel-arranged receiving arms 20 extending in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. Each receiving arm 20 is cantilevered at predetermined intervals by an endless chain 21 that rotates in a vertical plane. Although not shown, both ends may be supported by a pair of endless chains. Endless chain 21
Is hung on the sprockets 22 and 22 and rotated by a drive motor (not shown).

The noodles cut into a predetermined length by the noodle making device 10 are dropped over the two receiving arms 20 of the conveyor 12 so that the noodles can be supported by the two receiving arms 20. It has become. As shown in FIG. 2, the noodles 23 dropped on the receiving arm 20 are received at the central portion of the receiving arm 2.
0, and both sides hang down to the side of the receiving arm 20. As a result, the noodles 23 are received without slipping off from the receiving arm 20. The space between the receiving arms 20 is 2 noodles.
It is set to an interval that can prevent the slipping of 3. In order to increase the frictional force between the noodles 23, a friction material may be attached to the surface of the receiving arm 23, or the surface may be slightly roughened.

In this embodiment, the noodles 2 are received from the receiving arm 20.
The transfer device 14 can automatically take out No. 3 from the transfer device 14. The transfer device 14 has moving blocks 26, 26 that are guided by guide rails 25, 25 and can reciprocate in the transport direction of the transport conveyor 12. Reference numeral 27 denotes a forward / reverse motor for driving the screw rod 28, which is rotated by the forward / reverse motor 27, and is screwed into the moving block 26, whereby the moving blocks 26, 26 are driven. Both moving blocks 2
Reference numerals 6 and 26 are connected by a connecting rod (not shown) and are driven simultaneously.

On both moving blocks 26, 26, supporting arms 29, 29 extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveyor 12 are provided.
Is fixed, and the rodless cylinder 30 is fixed to the support arms 29, 29. Reference numeral 31 is a moving body driven by the rodless cylinder 30, and an arm 32 extending in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the moving body 31 is fixed to the moving body 31, and the rod is vertically attached to the arm 32. The driven air cylinder 33 is fixed. Four air cylinders 33 are provided for each arm 32, 32, and each air cylinder 33 is provided for each two receiving arms 20 of the conveyor 12. Two transfer hands 34 are fixed to the lower ends of the rods of the air cylinders 33 at a predetermined interval. The two transfer hands 34 are provided so as to be able to move back and forth between the corresponding two receiving arms 20.

While the moving bodies 26, 26 move in synchronization with the conveyor 12, the transfer hand 34 is lowered by the air cylinder 33 and the moving body 31 is moved forward by the rodless cylinder 30 in FIG. As a result, the eight rows of noodles 23 supported on each of the two receiving arms 20 can be transferred to the transfer hands 34 while being moved to the transfer hands 34 at the same time. As the rod of the air cylinder 33 is advanced while being advanced, the noodles 23 are received on the transfer hand 34 and can be pulled up above the receiving arm 20. As described above, since the two transfer hands 34 also receive the central portion of the noodles 23 supported on the receiving arm 20, the noodles 23 do not slip off the transfer hands 34 either.

Next, the structure of the alignment section 16 will be described. First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 36 is a sorting shooter unit, and 38 is a transport conveyor for transporting trays. Reference numeral 39 is a tray supply unit for sequentially supplying one tray onto the transport conveyor 38. As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting shooter unit 36 is
Eight shooters 40 each having a U-shaped cross section are provided in front of each transfer hand 34. Each shooter 40 is movably provided by being guided by a Z-shaped guide groove 42 provided in a guide plate (FIG. 4) 41. That is, the shooter 40
3 is mounted on a guide arm 43 extending in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of FIG. 3 so as to be slidable in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the paper through a slide guide 44, and provided at the lower end of a support body 45 screwed to the lower surface of the shooter 40. A roller 46 is mounted so as to be located in the guide groove 42. Four shooters 40 are mounted on the guide arm 43 (the other four shooters 40 are mounted on another guide arm 43 (FIG. 1)), and each guide arm 43 is a rod. It is fixed to a moving body 49 that is reciprocally moved in the left-right direction in FIG.

Therefore, when the moving body 49 is moved in the left-right direction in FIG.
While being guided by No. 3, it follows the guide groove 42 and moves. At that time, the pair of shooters 40 adjacent to each other are formed with the guide grooves 42 so as to approach each other when the shooters 40 are moved toward the tray transport conveyor 38. FIG.
3, reference numeral 50 denotes a pin attached to the rod end of the air cylinder 51. When the shooter 40 is moving to the right in FIG. 3 (direction of the conveyor 12), the through hole provided in the guide plate 41 is inserted. Then, the notch 52 provided at the tip end side of the shooter 40 is further inserted so that the shooter 40 can project above the inner bottom surface of the shooter 40. Reference numeral 53 is a column of the guide plate 41. The rodless cylinder 48, the moving body 49, the guide arm 43 and the like constitute a reciprocating device of the shooter 40. The guide arm 43, the guide groove 42, etc. allow the shooter 40 to
A moving mechanism for moving the two in a direction of approaching each other.

Subsequently, a mechanism for carrying the noodles into the tray (arrangement section 1
6) will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6
FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a state in which the shooter 40 has moved to above the tray transport conveyor 38. 55 is a conveyor 3
8 is a tray that is transported. Reference numeral 56 denotes a stopper cylinder, which stops the tray 55 on the transport conveyor 38 so that the tray 55 is positioned directly below each pair of shooters 40. Reference numeral 57 is a restriction cylinder provided with one group corresponding to the pair of shooters 40, and two pins 59 are fixed to the rod through a connecting rod 58. The 2
The pin 59 of the book can enter the notch 52 of the pair of shooters 40 corresponding thereto from above. Reference numeral 60 is a guide provided on both sides of the conveyor 38 to guide the tray 55. The pair of shooters 4 is provided between the guides 60.
A cover plate 61 that covers both sides of 0 is provided.

Next, the operation will be described. Noodle making machine 1
As described above, the noodles 23 cut at 0 are received on the receiving arm 20 and further on the transfer hand 34. The noodles 23 received by the transfer hand 34 with both ends hanging down laterally are carried onto the corresponding shooters 40 as the moving body 31 advances. In the shooter 40, each noodle 23 has a form (center-folded form) bent at the central portion. Here, the air cylinder 51 is driven so that the pin 50 passes through the notch 52 and the noodle 2
It projects inside the bent portion of 3. In this case, two transfer hands 34 are provided at predetermined intervals as described above, and the pin 50 enters between the transfer hands. Here, the transfer hand 34 retracts to the initial position as the moving body 31 retracts. Even if the transfer hand 34 retracts, the pin 50 has entered the inside of the bent portion of the noodle 23, so that the noodle 23 is not dragged by the transfer hand 34 and retracted, so that the noodle 23 can be securely held in the shooter 40. Left behind.

Next, the pin 50 is lowered and the rodless cylinder 48 moves the moving body 49 forward, whereby the shooters 40 move forward to just above the conveyor 38 with the noodles 23 placed thereon, as described above. At that time, the pair of adjacent shooters 40 are guided by the guide groove 42 and move forward, and are brought into a state of approaching each other at the forward movement position. In this way, the pair of shooters 40 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the initial state because the corresponding transfer hands 34 are arranged.
In order to match the intervals of the noodles, and when the noodles for two meals are stored in each tray 55, the noodles for two meals (for two shooters) are to be brought close to each other when they are stored in each tray 55. Position the noodles 23 so that they fit within the width.
This is because the trays 55 are housed in the tray 55 in a closely aligned state.

Next, the air cylinder 57 is driven and the pin 5
9 is lowered, and the pin 59 enters the inside of the bent portion of the noodle 23 in each shooter 40, and is inserted through the notch 52 to project downward. Here, the rodless cylinder 48 is driven and each shooter 40 retracts to the standby position. At that time, since the pin 59 is located inside the bent portion of the noodle 23, the noodle 23 does not retract with the shooter 40,
The trays 55 are accommodated in the respective trays 55 in a two-row state in which they are bent by the cover plate 61 and bent in the central portion. Next, the pin 59 is raised, the stopper cylinder 56 is retracted, and the tray 55 containing the noodles 23 is moved to the transport conveyor 38.
It is transported to a predetermined position on the top, sealed by a sealing machine (not shown), and packaged. Next, eight packaging trays 55 are carried into a predetermined position of the conveyor 38 as described above, and one cycle is completed.

In the above embodiment, the conveyor 12 is continuously operated at a predetermined speed, and the transfer device 14 receives the noodles 23 while the transfer hand 34 moves in synchronization with the conveyor 12. In this way, the noodles 23 for 8 meals are arranged and accommodated in the tray 55 at a time for every 2 meals. While the eight servings of noodles 23 are being conveyed and loaded, the next eight servings of noodles 23
Are being transported on the transport conveyor 12, during which the transfer hand 34 returns to the standby position to prepare for the next transport and loading. The transport conveyor 12 may be operated intermittently for every eight meals. It goes without saying that the noodles 23 conveyed and carried in at one time are not limited to eight servings. Further, although the conveyor 23 is configured to receive the noodles 23 by the two receiving arms 20, the noodles 23 may be received by a plurality of three or more. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the transfer hand 34 is configured as one with two, but it may be configured with a plurality of three or more, and depending on the case, one wide hand can be used.

In the above embodiment, the noodles 23 are placed in the tray 55.
It was arranged to store 2 rows in a row, but 1 row or 3 rows
You may make it accommodate in multiple rows more than a row. In order to store the shooters 40 in one row, the shooters 40 may simply be linearly reciprocated. Further, for example, to store them in three rows, as shown in FIG. 7, the central shooter may be guided linearly and the shooters on both sides may be guided to move in a Z shape. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the noodles 23 are regulated by the pins 59 and the shooters 40 are pulled out to leave the noodles 23 in the tray 55. May be slid down and accommodated. Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of receiving arms receive noodles at the central portion thereof as described above. However, as in the conventional receiving arm of FIG. It is also possible to receive the noodles and receive the noodles from the receiving arm with a narrow transfer hand.

Although the present invention has been variously described with reference to the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Of course.

[0021]

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION According to the noodle dispenser of the present invention, noodles made by the noodle making machine can be automatically stored in the tray, and the noodles can be packed efficiently. In addition, noodles of multiple meals can be automatically arranged and stored in the tray, which is very effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a noodle conveying line and a tray carry-in line.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which noodles are received by a receiving arm.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a noodle transfer device and an alignment device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a noodle transfer device and an alignment device.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a noodle alignment device and a tray transfer line.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a noodle alignment device and a tray transfer line.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the guide groove.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a conventional noodle receiving device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Transport Conveyor 14 Transfer Device 16 Alignment Unit 20 Receiving Arm 21 Chain 23 Noodle 26 Moving Body 30 Rodless Cylinder 31 Moving Body 33 Air Cylinder 34 Transfer Hand 38 Transporting Conveyor 40 Shooter 41 Guide Plate 42 Guide Groove 48 Endless Cylinder 49 Move Body 50 pin 52 Notch 55 Tray 59 pin

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A conveyor comprising a plurality of parallel arranged noodles and a receiving arm for receiving a large number of noodles cut into a predetermined length and supplied to a Shimadake at the central portion of the noodles; A transfer device having a transfer hand that receives the noodles from the receiving arm onto the Shimada rack, a shooter into which the noodles are carried in a state of being folded in a middle by the transfer device, a transfer conveyor that transfers the tray, and a transfer conveyor from the shooter into the tray. A reciprocating device that reciprocates the shooter between the position where the noodles are carried in by the transfer device and the position above the tray on the tray transport conveyor to carry in the noodles. A noodle distribution device. 2. A plurality of the shooters are arranged at a predetermined interval, and the reciprocating device is arranged to bring the noodles carried into the plurality of shooters closer to the tray and store the noodles in an aligned state. The noodle dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a moving mechanism that moves the plurality of shooters in a direction in which the plurality of shooters move closer to each other in conjunction with moving the shooter above the tray.