阅读说明：本技术 定量分割单元、定量分割方法和食品制造方法 (Quantitative dividing unit, quantitative dividing method and food manufacturing method ) 是由 间宫稔 伊藤龙一 平山卓 于 2019-07-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种定量分割单元(5)、定量分割方法和食品制造方法,能够防止食材的损伤并高精度地对糊状食材进行定量分割。使第一柱塞(15)和第二柱塞(16)从第一驱动状态向第二驱动状态转换,并利用在内部空间(12)中的第一柱塞与第二柱塞之间的区域产生的负压,经由第一端口(13)向第一柱塞与第二柱塞之间导入糊状食材(100)。使第一柱塞和第二柱塞从第二驱动状态向以第一柱塞与第二柱塞之间的糊状食材的至少一部分面向第二端口(14)的方式配置的第三驱动状态转换。并且,使第一柱塞和第二柱塞从第三驱动状态向第四驱动状态转换,并经由第二端口将糊状食材向外部送出。(The invention provides a quantitative dividing unit (5), a quantitative dividing method and a food manufacturing method, which can prevent damage of food materials and quantitatively divide pasty food materials with high precision. The first plunger (15) and the second plunger (16) are switched from the first drive state to the second drive state, and the pasty food material (100) is introduced between the first plunger and the second plunger via the first port (13) by means of a negative pressure generated in a region between the first plunger and the second plunger in the internal space (12). The first plunger and the second plunger are caused to transition from the second drive state to a third drive state arranged such that at least a portion of the pasty foodstuff between the first plunger and the second plunger faces the second port (14). Then, the first plunger and the second plunger are switched from the third drive state to the fourth drive state, and the pasty food material is discharged to the outside through the second port.)

1. A quantitative cutting unit having a quantitative cutting device for delivering a predetermined amount of pasty food material, the quantitative cutting unit being characterized in that,

the quantitative segmentation device includes:

a peripheral wall portion that is a hollow peripheral wall portion and that has an internal space extending in a first direction, a first port that communicates the outside with the internal space, and a second port that communicates the outside with the internal space and is provided at a position different from the first port with respect to the first direction;

a first plunger and a second plunger that are disposed in the internal space so as to face each other in the first direction, and that are provided so as to be movable in the first direction; and

a driving unit which moves the first plunger and the second plunger in the first direction,

as far as the above-mentioned drive unit is concerned,

moving at least either one of the first plunger and the second plunger, from a first drive state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged such that a space or a contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is present at a position facing the first port, switching the first plunger and the second plunger to a second drive state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are separated from each other, and introducing the pasty foodstuff between the first plunger and the second plunger through the first port by a negative pressure generated in a region between the first plunger and the second plunger in the internal space,

moving the first plunger and the second plunger, maintaining a state in which the first plunger is separated from the second plunger from the second driving state, and switching the first plunger and the second plunger to a third driving state in which at least a part of the pasty food material between the first plunger and the second plunger is disposed so as to face the second port,

and a second drive state switching unit configured to switch a fourth drive state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged so that a space or a contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is present at a position facing the second port from the third drive state, and to send the pasty material between the first plunger and the second plunger to the outside through the second port.

2. The quantitative splitting unit of claim 1,

further comprises a storage part connected with the first port and storing the pasty food material,

when the first plunger and the second plunger are switched from the first drive state to the second drive state, the pasty food material stored in the storage section is introduced between the first plunger and the second plunger through the first port under the influence of the negative pressure without being pressurized toward the first port.

3. The quantitative splitting unit of claim 1 or 2,

when the first plunger and the second plunger are switched from the second drive state to the third drive state, the end portion of the first plunger on the side of the second plunger passes through at least a part of the region of the internal space facing the first port to cut the pasty food,

in the third driving state, the first port is entirely covered with the first plunger.

4. The quantitative splitting unit of claim 3,

at least a part of an outer peripheral portion of an end portion of the first plunger on the second plunger side has a cutter portion projecting toward the second plunger,

the end part of the second plunger on the first plunger side is provided with a concave opposite cutting part matched with the shape of the cutter part,

the cutter portion and the cut portion are aligned in the first drive state and the fourth drive state, respectively.

5. The quantitative partition unit of any one of claims 1 to 4,

the pasty food material comprises an amorphous viscous food material having fluidity and a linear food material mixed in the viscous food material,

the drive means causes one of the first plunger and the second plunger to move more than the other when the first plunger and the second plunger are switched from the first drive state to the second drive state.

6. The quantitative splitting unit of claim 5,

the drive unit causes one of the first plunger and the second plunger to move substantially without moving only the other when the first plunger and the second plunger are switched from the first drive state to the second drive state.

7. The quantitative partition unit of any one of claims 1 to 6,

the drive unit includes:

a first plunger driving unit that moves the first plunger in the first direction; and

and a second plunger driving unit which moves the second plunger in the first direction.

8. The quantitative splitting unit of claim 7,

the first plunger driving part is connected with the first plunger,

the second plunger driving part is connected with the second plunger,

the drive unit further includes:

a first coupling driving unit coupled to the first plunger driving unit and configured to integrally move the first plunger and the first plunger driving unit in the first direction; and

a second coupling driving part coupled to the second plunger driving part and moving the second plunger and the second plunger driving part integrally in the first direction,

the first linkage driving part and the second linkage driving part are both constituted by a single common linkage driving part,

the common coupling driving unit integrally moves the first plunger, the first plunger driving unit, the second plunger, and the second plunger driving unit in the first direction.

9. The quantitative partition unit of any one of claims 1 to 8,

a plurality of the quantitative dividing devices are arranged,

the second port of a first quantitative divider among the plurality of quantitative dividers is connected to the first port of a second quantitative divider.

10. A method for quantitatively dividing a pasty food material by a predetermined amount using a quantitative dividing device comprising a hollow peripheral wall and a first plunger and a second plunger provided in an inner space of the peripheral wall so as to be movable in a first direction,

the quantitative segmentation method is characterized by comprising:

disposing the first plunger and the second plunger in a first driving state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged such that a space or a contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is present at a position facing a first port formed in the peripheral wall portion;

a step of switching the first plunger and the second plunger from the first drive state to a second drive state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are separated from each other, and introducing the pasty food material between the first plunger and the second plunger through the first port by using a negative pressure generated in a region between the first plunger and the second plunger in the internal space;

a step of changing the first plunger and the second plunger from the second drive state to a third drive state in which the first plunger is kept away from the second plunger and the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged so that at least a part of the pasty foodstuff between the first plunger and the second plunger faces a second port formed in the peripheral wall portion; and

and a step of switching the first plunger and the second plunger from the third driving state to a fourth driving state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are disposed so that a space or a contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is located at a position facing the second port, and the pasty food between the first plunger and the second plunger is discharged to the outside through the second port.

11. A method for producing a food, characterized in that,

the pasty food material divided by the quantitative division method according to claim 10 is used.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a quantitative cutting unit that cuts and feeds a quantitative pasty food material, a quantitative cutting method, and a food manufacturing method.

Background

In an automatic production system of food products containing pasty foodstuffs (such as spring rolls, dumplings, etc.), a large amount of pasty foodstuff stored in a hopper or the like is divided by a predetermined amount and the divided pasty foodstuff is fed out to a subsequent device.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a food molding machine that feeds out a predetermined amount of food material using a gear pump and a piston. Further, patent document 2 discloses a quantitative divider capable of press-feeding a filling material into a cylinder from a filling port and aligning a longitudinal direction of an elongated material with a press-feeding direction.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1, Japanese patent laid-open No. 57-22673

Patent document 2 Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2000-4765

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The conventional apparatus described above, which quantitatively divides the pasty food material and feeds it to the subsequent stage, has room for improvement in the following respects.

Generally, when the pasty food material includes a solid food material (e.g., bamboo shoot, pork, etc.), it is sometimes desirable to quantitatively divide the pasty food material so as to maintain the shape of the solid food material, thereby avoiding impairment of the eating quality (e.g., bite, tongue, throat, etc.) of the solid food material. However, in the apparatus for delivering the food material using the gear pump such as the food molding machine of patent document 1, the solid food material is finely cut and crushed due to the structural characteristics of the gear pump, and the eating quality is greatly impaired. In addition, even when the pasty food material does not contain a solid food material, the pasty food material is excessively stirred and kneaded by the gear pump, and the flavor and the like other than the texture of eating are impaired.

On the other hand, the quantitative divider of patent document 2 does not use a gear pump, and therefore there is no problem such as damage to the food material by the gear pump. However, the quantitative divider disclosed in patent document 2 needs to include a pressure-feed pump for pressure-feeding the filling material into the cylinder. Therefore, the number of parts is large and the apparatus structure is complicated, and for example, it takes much time to assemble and prepare the apparatus at the start of production, and it also takes much time to disassemble and clean the apparatus at the end of production. In particular, in a production system such as a production system of spring rolls or dumplings, which performs a post-process such as wrapping a dough-like food material with a wrapper after quantitatively dividing the dough-like food material, the quantitative dividing process becomes a bottleneck and the productivity of the entire system is lowered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a quantitative dividing unit, a quantitative dividing method, and a food manufacturing method, which can prevent damage to a food material and quantitatively divide a pasty food material with high accuracy. Another object of the present invention is to provide a quantitative dividing unit, a quantitative dividing method, and a food manufacturing method, which can improve the productivity of food by using a quantitative dividing apparatus having a simple structure.

Means for solving the problems

One aspect of the present invention relates to a quantitative dividing unit including a quantitative dividing device that delivers a pasty food material in a predetermined amount, the quantitative dividing device including: a peripheral wall portion that is a hollow-shaped peripheral wall portion and that has an internal space extending in a first direction, a first port that communicates the outside with the internal space, and a second port that communicates the outside with the internal space and is provided at a position different from the first port with respect to the first direction; a first plunger and a second plunger that are disposed in the internal space so as to face each other in a first direction, and that are provided so as to be movable in the first direction; and a drive unit that moves the first plunger and the second plunger in a first direction, wherein the drive unit moves at least either one of the first plunger and the second plunger, switches the first plunger and the second plunger to a second drive state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged such that a space or a contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is present at a position facing the first port, introduces the pasty food material between the first plunger and the second plunger through the first port by using a negative pressure generated in a region between the first plunger and the second plunger in the internal space, moves the first plunger and the second plunger, maintains a state in which the first plunger is separated from the second plunger from the second drive state, and causes the first plunger and the second plunger to move to a third drive state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged such that at least a part of the pasty food material between the first plunger and the second plunger faces the second port And a moving state switching step of moving at least one of the first plunger and the second plunger to bring the first plunger and the second plunger closer to each other, and switching the first plunger and the second plunger from the third driving state to a fourth driving state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged so that a space or a contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is present at a position facing the second port, thereby discharging the pasty material between the first plunger and the second plunger to the outside through the second port.

The quantitative-dividing unit may further include a storage portion connected to the first port and storing the pasty food material, and when the first plunger and the second plunger are switched from the first drive state to the second drive state, the pasty food material stored in the storage portion may be introduced between the first plunger and the second plunger through the first port without being pressurized toward the first port but affected by a negative pressure.

When the first plunger and the second plunger are switched from the second drive state to the third drive state, the end portion of the first plunger on the second plunger side may cut the pasty foodstuff through at least a part of the region of the internal space facing the first port, and the first port may be entirely covered with the first plunger in the third drive state.

The first plunger may have a cutter portion protruding toward the second plunger at least in a part of an outer peripheral portion of an end portion on the second plunger side, the second plunger may have a concave cut portion matching a shape of the cutter portion at an end portion on the first plunger side, and the cutter portion may be engaged with the cut portion in each of the first drive state and the fourth drive state.

The pasty food material may include an amorphous viscous food material having fluidity and a linear food material mixed in the viscous food material, and the drive unit may cause one of the first plunger and the second plunger to move more than the other when the first plunger and the second plunger are switched from the first drive state to the second drive state.

When the first plunger and the second plunger are switched from the first drive state to the second drive state, the drive unit may move only one of the first plunger and the second plunger without substantially moving the other plunger.

The drive unit may include: a first plunger driving section that moves the first plunger in a first direction; and a second plunger driving section that moves the second plunger in the first direction.

The first plunger driving unit may be coupled to the first plunger, and the second plunger driving unit may be coupled to the second plunger, and the driving unit may further include: a first coupling driving part coupled to the first plunger driving part and moving the first plunger and the first plunger driving part integrally in a first direction; and a second linkage driving unit that is linked to the second plunger driving unit and moves the second plunger and the second plunger driving unit integrally in the first direction, wherein the first linkage driving unit and the second linkage driving unit are both constituted by a single common linkage driving unit that moves the first plunger, the first plunger driving unit, the second plunger, and the second plunger driving unit integrally in the first direction.

A plurality of quantitative dividing devices may be provided, and the second port of the first quantitative dividing device of the plurality of quantitative dividing devices may be connected to the first port of the second quantitative dividing device.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a quantitative dividing method for dispensing a pasty food material in a predetermined amount using a quantitative dividing device including a hollow peripheral wall portion and a first plunger and a second plunger provided in an internal space of the peripheral wall portion so as to be movable in a first direction, the quantitative dividing method including: a step of disposing the first plunger and the second plunger in a first driving state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged such that a space or a contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is present at a position facing the first port formed in the peripheral wall portion; a step of switching the first plunger and the second plunger from a first drive state to a second drive state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are separated from each other, and introducing the pasty food material between the first plunger and the second plunger through the first port by using a negative pressure generated in a region between the first plunger and the second plunger in the internal space; a step of changing the first plunger and the second plunger from the second driving state to a third driving state in which the first plunger is kept away from the second plunger and at least a part of the pasty food between the first plunger and the second plunger faces a second port formed in the peripheral wall; and a step of switching the first plunger and the second plunger from the third driving state to a fourth driving state in which the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged so that the space or the contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is present at a position facing the second port, and the pasty food material between the first plunger and the second plunger is discharged to the outside through the second port.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a food manufacturing method using the pasty food material divided by the above-described quantitative division method.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to quantitatively divide a pasty food material with high accuracy while preventing damage to the food material. And the productivity of food can be improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a basic configuration of a quantitative dividing device provided in a quantitative dividing unit.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the drive unit.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing another example of the structure of the drive unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the quantitative segmentation method.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the quantitative dividing device for explaining the first driving state.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the quantitative dividing device for explaining the second driving state.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the quantitative dividing device for explaining the third driving state.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the quantitative dividing device for explaining the fourth driving state.

Fig. 9A is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 9B is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 9C is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 9D is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 9E is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 9F is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 9G is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 9H is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 9I is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 9J is a diagram illustrating a schematic shape of a cross section of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 10A is a diagram showing an example of the state of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 10B is a diagram showing an example of the state of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 10C is a diagram showing an example of the state of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 10D is a diagram showing an example of the state of the first plunger and the second plunger.

Fig. 10E is a view showing a modification of the seal structure.

Fig. 10F is a view showing another modification of the seal structure (an example in which no seal member is provided).

Fig. 11A is a view showing a modification of the first plunger and the second plunger shown in fig. 9J, and shows a second driving state.

Fig. 11B is a diagram showing a modification of the first plunger and the second plunger shown in fig. 9J, and shows a state in the middle of transition from the second drive state to the third drive state.

Fig. 12A is a diagram showing the first plunger and the second plunger shown in fig. 9G, and shows a state in the middle of transition from the second drive state to the third drive state.

Fig. 12B is a diagram showing a modification of the first plunger and the second plunger shown in fig. 9G, and shows a state in the middle of transition from the second drive state to the third drive state.

Fig. 12C is a diagram showing another modification of the first plunger and the second plunger shown in fig. 9G, and shows a state in the middle of transition from the second drive state to the third drive state.

Fig. 13A is a view showing an example of the state of the first plunger and the second plunger shown in fig. 12B.

Fig. 13B is a diagram showing an example of the state of the first plunger and the second plunger shown in fig. 12B.

Fig. 13C is a view showing an example of the state of the first plunger and the second plunger shown in fig. 12B.

Fig. 13D is a view showing an example of the state of the first plunger and the second plunger shown in fig. 12B.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an example of the quantitative partition device.

Fig. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the quantitative division unit.

Fig. 16 is an external view showing an example of a schematic configuration of the quantitative segmentation unit.

Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of a food manufacturing system.

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions and proportions of elements shown in the figures are not necessarily to scale, nor are they necessarily to scale, relative to each other for ease of illustration and understanding. However, if the person skilled in the art has ordinary knowledge, the structure and the operation and effects of the elements shown in the drawings can be clearly understood in consideration of the description of the present specification and the claims.

[ Overall Structure of quantitative dividing device 10 ]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a basic configuration of a quantitative separation device 10 provided in a quantitative separation unit 5. The quantitative divider 10 for delivering a predetermined amount of the pasty food 100 includes a peripheral wall 11, a first plunger 15, and a second plunger 16.

The peripheral wall portion 11 is hollow and has: an internal space 12 extending in the first direction D1, a first port 13 communicating the outside with the internal space 12, and a second port 14 communicating the outside with the internal space 12 and provided at a position different from the first port 13 with respect to the first direction D1. The first port 13 functions as an inlet port for introducing the pasty food 100 into the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11, and the second port 14 functions as an outlet port for discharging the divided quantitative pasty food 100 from the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11. The orientation of the first port 13 and the second port 14 is not limited, and the first port 13 and the second port 14 may extend in the same direction or in different directions. For example, the first port 13 and the second port 14 may extend in the horizontal direction or in the direction parallel to the vertical direction (i.e., in the vertical direction). The opening directions of the first port 13 and the second port 14 with respect to the internal space 12 are also not limited. Further, by disposing the first port 13 above the internal space 12, the pasty food 100 can be introduced into the internal space 12 from the first port 13 by gravity. Further, by disposing the second port 14 below the internal space 12, the batter 100 can be discharged from the internal space 12 to the second port 14 by gravity.

In the present description and claims, the term "space" refers to the entire three-dimensional region, in which objects may or may not be present. For example, the internal space 12 is a region formed inside the peripheral wall portion 11, and the region is referred to as the internal space 12 regardless of whether the first plunger 15, the second plunger 16, and the pasty food material 100 are arranged or not arranged.

A storage portion 31 formed of a hopper or the like is connected to the first port 13, and a large amount of the pasty food 100 stored in the storage portion 31 can be introduced into the internal space 12 through the first port 13. The illustrated stock section 31 includes a delivery device 31a (e.g., a spiral screw), and the pasty foodstuff 100 in the stock section 31 is mixed by the delivery device 31a and delivered to the first port 13. A discharge pipe (see reference numeral 39 in fig. 16) is connected to the second port 14, and the pasty food material 100 discharged from the inner space 12 through the second port 14 can be conveyed to the rear stage through the discharge pipe.

The pasty food material 100 includes an amorphous viscous food material having fluidity, and the specific components thereof are not limited, and may be composed of a single kind of food material or may include a plurality of kinds of food materials. For example, the pasty food material 100 may be not only meat, fish and shellfish, vegetables, mushrooms, cereals, fruits, seaweeds, beans, chocolate, pastries, crackers, puffs (puffs), hard candy, soft candy (gummies), and other solid food materials, but also eggs, milk, moisture, oils, seasonings, spices, sugars, grain flour, starches, gelling agents, tackifiers, and other liquid and powdered food materials. The pasty food material 100 of the present embodiment includes: a viscous food material 101 prepared by mixing a plurality of food materials, and a linear food material 102 mixed into the viscous food material 101. The linear food material 102 may be a soft food material that is elongated and can be bent without damage, or a hard food material that can be bent substantially without damage. As a typical example, the linear food material 102 may be a food material (for example, bamboo shoot, meat, or the like) having rigidity and elasticity peculiar to a food having a unique eating texture.

The first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are disposed in the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11 so as to face each other in the first direction D1, and are provided in close contact with the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 so as to be movable in the first direction D1 (i.e., the left-right direction in fig. 1). In this way, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 have a piston structure provided so as to be capable of reciprocating in the internal space 12. The first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 shown in fig. 1 can move in the first direction D1 while maintaining a state of contact with the inner wall surface 11a without a gap. Therefore, the pasty material 100 introduced between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 does not substantially leak from between the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the first plunger 15, and between the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the second plunger 16.

Further, a seal member (see reference numeral "36" in fig. 10A to 10D described later) may be provided on the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11. By providing such a sealing member, the pasty food 100 can be more effectively prevented from leaking between the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the first plunger 15, and between the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the second plunger 16. In the case of using such a seal member, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 may not be in close contact with the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11, and a certain gap may exist between each of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 and the inner wall surface 11 a.

The first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 may be moved in the first direction D1 by the drive unit. The specific structure of the driving unit is not limited, and such a driving unit may be implemented in various ways.

[ drive unit ]

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the drive unit 20.

The drive unit 20 shown in fig. 2 includes a first plunger drive section 21 and a second plunger drive section 22, and the first plunger drive section 21 and the second plunger drive section 22 are each connected to the control section 30. The first plunger driving section 21 is connected to the first plunger 15, and the second plunger driving section 22 is connected to the second plunger 16. The first plunger driving section 21 and the second plunger driving section 22 each move the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 in the first direction D1 under the control of the control section 30, thereby disposing the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 at desired positions in the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11.

In the quantitative divider 10 having the functional configuration shown in fig. 2, the control unit 30 controls the first plunger driving unit 21 when moving the first plunger 15, controls the second plunger driving unit 22 when moving the second plunger 16, and simultaneously controls the first plunger driving unit 21 and the second plunger driving unit 22 when simultaneously moving the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the driving unit 20.

As shown in fig. 3, the first and second plunger driving parts 21 and 22 may be connected with the first and second plungers 15 and 16, respectively, and with the first and second coupling driving parts 23 and 24. That is, the driving unit 20 may include: a first plunger driving section 21 coupled to the first plunger 15, a first coupling driving section 23 coupled to the first plunger driving section 21, a second plunger driving section 22 coupled to the second plunger 16, and a second coupling driving section 24 coupled to the second plunger driving section 22. At this time, the first linkage driving unit 23 can move the first plunger 15 and the first plunger driving unit 21 integrally in the first direction D1 under the control of the control unit 30. Similarly, the second coupling driving unit 24 can integrally move the second plunger 16 and the second plunger driving unit 22 in the first direction D1 under the control of the control unit 30.

In addition, both the first coupling driving unit 23 and the second coupling driving unit 24 may be configured by a single common coupling driving unit 25 (see fig. 14 described later). At this time, the common coupling drive unit 25 can integrally move the first plunger 15, the first plunger drive unit 21, the second plunger 16, and the second plunger drive unit 22 in the first direction D1 under the control of the control unit 30.

As described above, the driving unit 20 can be provided in various ways, and the specific device constituting the driving unit 20 is not limited. As a typical example, a servo motor and an air cylinder may be used in the drive unit 20, and the first plunger drive section 21, the second plunger drive section 22, the first coupling drive section 23, the second coupling drive section 24, and the common coupling drive section 25 may be each configured by a servo motor or an air cylinder. The first plunger driving unit 21 and the second plunger driving unit 22 may be constituted by a plurality of cylinders connected in series.

The quantitative divider 10 further includes sensors 38 for detecting the position of the first plunger 15 and the position of the second plunger 16. The detection results of the sensors 38, which directly or indirectly indicate the position of the first plunger 15 and the position of the second plunger 16, are transmitted to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 controls the drive unit 20 based on the detection results of the sensors 38. For example, an optical sensor (not shown) including a light emitting element and a light receiving element may be used as the sensors 38 to directly detect the position of the first plunger 15 and the position of the second plunger 16. In addition, when the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are formed of servo motors, the position of the first plunger 15 and the position of the second plunger 16 may be indirectly detected based on the driving state of the servo motors and/or control signals from the control unit 30 to the servo motors.

[ quantitative segmentation method ]

Next, an example of a quantitative dividing method for dispensing the pasty food material 100 in a predetermined amount by using the above-described quantitative dividing device 10 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the quantitative segmentation method. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the quantitative divider 10 for explaining the first driving state. Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the quantitative divider 10 for explaining the second driving state. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the quantitative divider 10 for explaining the third driving state. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the quantitative divider 10 for explaining the fourth driving state.

The driving unit 20 sequentially puts the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 in the first driving state, the second driving state, the third driving state, and the fourth driving state under the control of the control section 30, thereby performing the quantitative division and the discharge to the rear stage of the pasty food material 100.

The drive unit 20 first arranges the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 close to each other in the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11 in such a manner that a space or a contact surface 40 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 exists at a position facing the first port 13 (a first drive state; refer to "S1" in fig. 4). In the example shown in fig. 5, the first plunger 15 placed in the first drive state is in contact with the second plunger 16 to form the contact surface 40, but the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the first drive state may not be in contact with each other to form a space therebetween. At this time, the distance between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the first driving state with respect to the first direction D1 may be, for example, on the order of several mm to several cm.

In the example shown in fig. 5, the contact surface 40 is disposed at a position corresponding to the opening edge of the first port 13 (the left opening edge in fig. 5), and the first port 13 is closed while being covered with only the second plunger 16. However, the positions of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the first drive state are not limited. During the time when the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are placed in the first drive state, the first port 13 may be covered by both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16, or may be covered by only the first plunger 15. In this way, the first port 13 may be partially or entirely covered by the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the first drive state.

Further, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the first driving state may be stopped and may also be moved in the first direction D1. For example, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 may also be placed in such a first driving state as described above during movement of the first plunger 15 and/or the second plunger 16 from a state in which the space or the contact surface 40 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 does not face the first port 13.

Then, the drive unit 20 moves at least either one of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16, thereby causing the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 to shift from the first drive state to a second drive state in which the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are away from each other ("S2" in fig. 4; refer to fig. 6). Thus, a vacuum space is formed in a short time in the region between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 of the internal space 12, and the pasty foodstuff 100 is introduced between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 through the first port 13 by the negative pressure generated in the region. The vacuum as used herein is broadly interpreted to mean a space state in which the pressure is lower than the outside of the peripheral wall portion 11, and particularly, when the quantitative divider 10 is placed under the atmospheric pressure, the space state is lower than the atmospheric pressure.

In the present embodiment, when the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are shifted from the first drive state to the second drive state, the pasty foodstuff 100 stored in the storage portion 31 is not pressurized toward the first port 13. That is, the pasty foodstuff 100 stored in the storage portion 31 is introduced between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 via the first port 13 under the influence of the negative pressure in the region between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16. Therefore, according to the quantitative divider 10 and the quantitative dividing method of the present embodiment, a pressure-feed pump necessary for the quantitative divider of patent document 2 is not required.

Further, the drive unit 20 may be configured to make one of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 move by a larger amount than the other when the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are switched from the first drive state to the second drive state under the control of the control unit 30. At this time, a relatively larger amount of the pasty food material 100 can be sucked on the plunger side where the moving amount of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 is larger. Thereby, the postures (i.e., the orientation directions) of the linear food materials 102 contained in the pasty food material 100 can be made uniform in the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11. That is, as a whole, the pasty food 100 can be sucked relatively more strongly on the plunger side having a larger moving amount, and therefore, the longitudinal direction of the linear food 102 in the internal space of the peripheral wall portion 11 is easily aligned with the first direction D1. By thus aligning the postures (orientation directions) of the linear food materials 102, the texture of the linear food materials 102 can be improved.

In the example of fig. 6, only the second plunger 16 moves from the first drive state shown in fig. 5, and the first plunger 15 does not move from the first drive state. In this way, when the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are switched from the first drive state to the second drive state, the drive unit 20 can move only one of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 (the first plunger 15 in fig. 5 and 6) without substantially moving the other plunger (the second plunger 16 in fig. 5 and 6) while the other plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are moved. At this time, the pasty food material 100 can be strongly sucked on the other plunger side (the second plunger 16 side in fig. 5 and 6), and the posture (orientation direction) of the linear food material 102 can be precisely aligned with the first direction D1.

Then, the drive unit 20 moves the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16, maintains a state in which the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are separated from each other from the second drive state, and shifts the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 to a third drive state in which at least a part of the pasty food material 100 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 faces the second port 14 ("S3" in fig. 4; refer to fig. 7).

In the example illustrated in fig. 7, in a state where the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16 on the first plunger 15 side is arranged at a position corresponding to the opening edge of the second port 14 (i.e., the right opening edge in fig. 7) and the second port 14 is not covered by either of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are placed in the third driving state. However, in a state where the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are placed in the third driving state, the second port 14 may be partially covered by the first plunger 15 and/or the second plunger 16. In addition, the second plunger 16 side end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 may be arranged at a position corresponding to the opening edge of the second port 14 (i.e., the left side opening edge in fig. 7). Further, the distance between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the third driving state shown in fig. 7 with respect to the first direction D1 is substantially the same as the distance between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the second driving state shown in fig. 6 with respect to the first direction D1.

Then, the drive unit 20 moves at least one of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16, thereby causing the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 to approach each other. That is, the drive unit 20 switches the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 from the third drive state described above to a fourth drive state in which the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are arranged such that the space or the contact surface 40 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 exists at a position facing the second port 14 ("S4" in fig. 4; refer to fig. 8). Thereby, the pasty food 100 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 can be discharged to the outside through the second port 14.

In the example shown in fig. 8, from the third driving state shown in fig. 7, the state in which the second plunger 16 is stopped is maintained, and the first plunger 15 moves in a direction approaching the second plunger 16 (the right direction in fig. 8), the pasty food material 100 in the inner space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11 is pushed out toward the second port 14 by the first plunger 15, and finally the first plunger 15 comes into contact with the second plunger 16. Thereby, the contact surface 40 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 can be arranged at a position corresponding to the opening edge of the second port 14 (i.e., the right opening edge in fig. 7), and substantially all of the pasty food 100 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 can be pushed out toward the second port 14. Further, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the fourth driving state may not contact each other to form a space therebetween. At this time, the distance between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the fourth driving state with respect to the first direction D1 may be, for example, on the order of several mm to several cm.

The inventors actually manufactured the quantitative separating device 10 shown in fig. 1 and executed the above-described steps (i.e., steps S1 to S4) according to fig. 5 to 8. When these steps are performed, all of the linear food materials 102 included in the pasty food material 100 move toward the second port 14 as shown in fig. 8, and are not crushed by the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 which are placed in the fourth driving state and are in a state of being in contact with each other. Further, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the fourth driving state may not contact each other to form a space therebetween.

By operating the quantitative divider 10 in accordance with the above-described steps S1 to S4, the pasty food 100 stored in the storage section 31 can be divided into a fixed amount, and the divided pasty food 100 can be conveyed to the subsequent stage via the second port 14. When the above-described quantitative division of the pasty food material 100 is repeated (yes in "S5" in fig. 4), the drive unit 20 returns the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 to the above-described first drive state (see fig. 5) under the control of the control unit 30, and executes the above-described steps S1 to S4 again. On the other hand, if the quantitative division of the pasty food material 100 is not repeated (no in "S5" in fig. 4), the implementation of the quantitative division method is ended.

[ Structure of plunger ]

In the present embodiment, when the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 shift from the second drive state (refer to fig. 6) to the third drive state (refer to fig. 7), the end portion 15a on the second plunger 16 side in the first plunger 15 passes through at least a part of the region facing the first port 13 in the internal space 12. At this time, the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 cuts the pasty foodstuff 100 at the boundary between the inner space 12 and the first port 13. In the third driving state (see fig. 7), the entire first port 13 is covered with the first plunger 15.

In addition, when the first and second plungers 15 and 16 are shifted from the third drive state (refer to fig. 7) to the fourth drive state (refer to fig. 8), the second plunger 16 side end portion 15a in the first plunger 15 and/or the first plunger 15 side end portion 16a in the second plunger 16 passes through at least a part of the region facing the second port 14 in the internal space 12.

In this way, at least the first plunger 15 of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 has a function of cutting the pasty food material 100. Therefore, it is preferable that at least the first plunger 15 (especially, the end 15a on the side of the second plunger 16) of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 has a shape suitable for cutting off the pasty food material 100.

Fig. 9A to 9J are diagrams illustrating schematic shapes of cross sections of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16.

The outer peripheral portions of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 and the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16 are rounded as shown in fig. 9A. However, in order to cut the pasty food 100 appropriately, it is preferable that the outer peripheral portions of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 and the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16 are at sharp right angles without circular arcs, as shown in fig. 9B, for example.

In particular, the first plunger 15 preferably has a cutter portion 32 protruding toward the second plunger 16 at least in a part of the outer peripheral portion of the end portion 15a on the second plunger 16 side. In this case, the second plunger 16 preferably has a concave chamfered portion 33 matching the shape of the cutter portion 32 at the end 16a on the first plunger 15 side. Thus, in the first drive state (see fig. 5) and the fourth drive state (see fig. 8), the cutter portion 32 and the cut portion 33 are aligned, and the first plunger 15 (i.e., the cutter portion 32) can be fitted to the second plunger 16 (i.e., the cut portion 33). The state in which the cutter portion 32 and the opposed portion 33 are aligned is not limited to the state in which the cutter portion 32 and the opposed portion 33 are in contact, and includes a state in which the cutter portion 32 is not in contact with the opposed portion 33, and at least a part of the convex portion formed by the cutter portion 32 is arranged in the concave portion formed by the opposed portion 33. The cutter portion 32 and the cut-out portion 33 having such shapes that match each other may be set in various forms.

For example, as shown in fig. 9C to 9E, the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 may have a conical cutout portion, and the cutter portion 32 may be formed over the entire outer peripheral portion of the end portion 15 a. The cutting blade portion 32 shown in fig. 9C to 9E tapers toward the second plunger 16 and the leading end of the cutting blade portion 32 is sharpened. The inclination angle of the cutter portion 32 is not limited, and the cutter portion 32 may have a relatively sharp inclination angle as shown in fig. 9D, or may have a relatively gentle inclination angle as shown in fig. 9E. In addition, the inclination angle of the cutter portion 32 may be continuously or discontinuously varied. In addition, the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16 shown in fig. 9C to 9E on the first plunger 15 side has a conical shape, and the cut-out portion 33 and the cutter portion 32 can be brought into close contact with each other without a gap.

The shapes of the cutout portion of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 and the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16 are not limited to the conical shape, and may be various shapes. For example, as shown in fig. 9F, the outer peripheral portion of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 may be formed with a cutter portion 32 whose tip is tapered, and the central portion of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 may be formed with a flat surface. As shown in fig. 9G, the outer peripheral portion of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 may be formed with a cutting portion 32 whose tip is tapered, and the surface of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 may be formed as a whole as a part of a spherical or ellipsoidal surface. As shown in fig. 9H, a cutter portion 32 may be formed as a thin projection having a substantially constant thickness on the outer peripheral portion of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15. Further, a cut portion 33 that can be brought into close contact with the cutter portion 32 of the corresponding first plunger 15 without a gap is formed at the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16 shown in fig. 9F to 9H.

The cutter portion 32 may be provided not over the entire outer peripheral portion of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 but only in a part of the outer peripheral portion (see fig. 9I). In the case where the cutter portion 32 is provided only at a part of the outer peripheral portion of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 in this way, the position of the cutter portion 32 is determined in such a manner that the cutter portion 32 can pass through the area facing the first port 13 and/or the second port 14 when the first plunger 15 moves in the inner space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11.

In addition, although fig. 9C to 9I described above illustrate the case where the first plunger 15 has the cutter portion 32, the second plunger 16 may have the cutter portion 32. For example, the cutter portion 32 similar to the cutter portion 32 shown in fig. 9C to 9I may be formed in the second plunger 16. In this case, it is preferable that the first plunger 15 be formed with a cut-away portion 33 that matches the cutting blade portion 32 formed in the second plunger 16.

In addition, both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 may have the cutter portion 32. In this case, the first plunger 15 may be formed with a cut-away portion 33 that matches the cutter portion 32 of the second plunger 16, and the second plunger 16 may be formed with a cut-away portion 33 that matches the cutter portion 32 of the first plunger 15. For example, as shown in fig. 9J, a cutter portion 32 and a cut-out portion 33 may be formed in each of the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 and the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16, the cutter portion 32 of the first plunger 15 may be aligned with the cut-out portion 33 of the second plunger 16, and the cutter portion 32 of the second plunger 16 may be aligned with the cut-out portion 33 of the first plunger 15. In the case where the cutter portion 32 and the cut-out portion 33 are formed in both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 as described above, the shapes of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 may be the same. At this time, a single kind of plunger can be used as the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16.

As described above, the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 and the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16 may have various shapes, and the shapes of the end portions 15a, 16a of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 (i.e., the positions and shapes of the cutter portion 32 and the cut-away portion 33) may be appropriately determined in accordance with the states of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 required for the above-described quantitative division method (the first drive state to the fourth drive state). In particular, the shape, size, and arrangement of the cutter portion 32 are preferably determined according to the shape, size, and arrangement of the first port 13 and the second port 14. For example, the cutter portion 32 for cutting the pasty food material 100 at a position corresponding to the boundary between the first port 13 and the internal space 12 is disposed so as to pass through the region facing the first port 13 when switching from the second drive state to the third drive state. In addition, the cutter portion 32 for cutting the pasty food material 100 at a position corresponding to the boundary between the second port 14 and the internal space 12 is disposed so as to pass through the region facing the second port 14 when switching from the third driving state to the fourth driving state.

As an example, a state example of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 when the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 and the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16 have the cutter portion 32 and the cut-away portion 33, respectively, as shown in fig. 9J will be described below.

Fig. 10A to 10D are diagrams showing an example of the states of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16. The basic configuration of the quantitative separating device 10 shown in fig. 10A to 10D is the same as that of the quantitative separating device 10 shown in fig. 1, but a plurality of sealing members 36, which are so-called O-rings, are provided on the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11. Specifically, the plurality of seal members 36 are provided such that the first port 13 and the second port 14 are present between the seal members 36 in the first direction D1, and the seal members 36 are arranged at three positions in total in the example shown in fig. 10A to 10D. In addition, in the case where a tight seal is not required between the first port 13 and the second port 14, the seal member 36 may not be provided between the first port 13 and the second port 14 (see fig. 10E). As described above, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are respectively closely attached to the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 so as to be movable along the first direction D1, and the sealing member 36 (see fig. 10F) need not be provided as long as the pasty food material 100 does not substantially leak out from between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 and the peripheral wall portion 11.

First, in the first driving state, as shown in fig. 10A, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are arranged such that the contact surface 40 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 exists at a position facing the first port 13. In the example shown in fig. 10A, the entire area of the first port 13 is covered with the first plunger 15 placed in the first driving state.

Also, in the second driving state, as shown in fig. 10B, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are disposed away from each other. In the example of fig. 10B, both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 move in opposite directions to each other. But it is also possible that only the first plunger 15 is moved. Thereby, the inner space 12 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 can be filled with the pasty food 100 (not shown).

In the third driving state, as shown in fig. 10C, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are kept away from each other, and at least a part of the pasty foodstuff 100 (not shown) between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 faces the second port 14. In the example of fig. 10C, the entire area of the second port 14 faces the pasty foodstuff 100 filled between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16.

Also, in the fourth driving state, as shown in fig. 10D, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 approach each other, and are arranged such that the contact surface 40 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 exists at a position facing the second port 14. In the example shown in fig. 10D, both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are moved, and the entire area of the second port 14 is covered with the second plunger 16 placed in the fourth drive state. However, only one of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 (for example, only the second plunger 16 in the example shown in fig. 10D) may be moved. In addition, the entire area of the second port 14 may be covered by the first plunger 15 placed in the fourth drive state, or may be covered by both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the fourth drive state. Thereby, the pasty foodstuff 100 can be pushed out from the inner space 12 to the second port 14.

Further, when the cutter portion 32 is formed at the first plunger 15 and/or the second plunger 16, the leading end of the cutter portion 32 may be located inward with respect to the outermost circumferential position of the corresponding first plunger 15 or second plunger 16 with respect to the direction at right angles to the first direction D1. That is, in a state where the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are disposed in the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11, the tip of the cutter portion 32 formed at the end portion 15a of the first plunger 15 and/or the end portion 16a of the second plunger 16 may be disposed at a position not in contact with the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the seal member 36. At this time, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 can be smoothly moved in the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11 while avoiding the cutter portion 32 from scraping against the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the seal member 36.

Fig. 11A and 11B are views showing a modification of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 shown in fig. 9J, in which fig. 11A shows the second drive state, and fig. 11B shows a state in the middle of transition from the second drive state to the third drive state. The first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 shown in fig. 11A and 11B each have a cutter portion 32 and a cut-away portion 33, and the cutter portion 32 (particularly, the leading end portion) is arranged at a position not in contact with the inner wall surface 11A of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the seal member 36.

Fig. 12A is a diagram showing the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 shown in fig. 9G, and shows a state in the middle of transition from the second drive state to the third drive state. Fig. 12B is a diagram showing a modification of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 shown in fig. 9G, and shows a state in the middle of transition from the second drive state to the third drive state. Fig. 12C is a diagram showing another modification of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 shown in fig. 9G, and shows a state in the middle of transition from the second drive state to the third drive state. The cutter portion 32 shown in fig. 12A is disposed at a position in contact with the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the sealing member 36, whereas the cutter portion 32 shown in fig. 12B and 12C is disposed at a position out of contact with the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the sealing member 36. The configuration of the cutter portion 32 disposed at a position not in contact with the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11 and the seal member 36 is not particularly limited, and for example, as shown in fig. 12B, the outer peripheral surface of the cutter portion 32 (i.e., the outer peripheral surface facing the inner wall surface 11a of the peripheral wall portion 11) may extend parallel to the first direction D1, or as shown in fig. 12C, the outer peripheral surface of the cutter portion 32 may be formed to have an inclined surface so as not to be parallel to the first direction D1.

Fig. 13A to 13D are views showing an example of the states of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 shown in fig. 12B. In the constant-volume dividing device 10 shown in fig. 12B, first, in the first drive state, as shown in fig. 13A, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are arranged such that the contact surface 40 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 is present at a position facing the first port 13. In the example illustrated in fig. 13A, the entire area of the first port 13 is covered by both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the first drive state.

In the second driving state, as shown in fig. 13B, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are disposed at positions distant from each other. In the example of fig. 13B, both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 move in opposite directions to each other. Thereby, the inner space 12 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 can be filled with the pasty food 100 (not shown).

In the third driving state, as shown in fig. 13C, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are kept away from each other, and at least a part of the pasty foodstuff 100 (not shown) between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 faces the second port 14. In the example of fig. 13C, the entire area of the second port 14 faces the pasty foodstuff 100 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16.

Also, in the fourth driving state, as shown in fig. 13D, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 approach each other, and are arranged such that the contact surface 40 between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 exists at a position facing the second port 14. In the example shown in fig. 13D, both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are moved, and the entire area of the second port 14 is covered with both the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 placed in the fourth drive state. Thereby, the pasty foodstuff 100 can be pushed out from the inner space 12 to the second port 14.

[ specific example of quantitative dividing device ]

Next, a specific example of the quantitative divider 10 will be described. The quantitative separation device 10 described below is merely an example, and the quantitative separation device 10 described above may be configured by combining arbitrary components.

Fig. 14 is a plan view showing an example of the quantitative partition device 10. The quantitative divider 10 shown in fig. 14 has the structure shown in fig. 3 (particularly, the structure including the common coupling drive unit 25). Note that the same or similar elements as those described above with reference to fig. 1 and the like are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The quantitative divider 10 shown in fig. 14 includes a peripheral wall 11, a first plunger 15, and a second plunger 16. The peripheral wall portion 11 has an inner space 12, a first port 13, and a second port 14. The first port 13 extends in the up-down direction, and the second port 14 extends in the horizontal direction. A first plunger driving unit 21 (particularly, a first cylinder rod 21b) formed of an air cylinder is connected to the first plunger 15. A second plunger driving section 22 (particularly, a second cylinder rod 22b) formed of a cylinder is connected to the second plunger 16. The first plunger driving section 21 and the second plunger driving section 22 are each provided with a discharge amount adjustment meter, not shown. The discharge amount adjustment meter can adjust the basic positions of the corresponding first and second cylinder rods 21b and 22b and change the maximum protrusion amounts of the corresponding first and second cylinder rods 21b and 22 b.

The first coupling drive unit 23 coupled to the first plunger drive unit 21 and the second coupling drive unit 24 coupled to the second plunger drive unit 22 are constituted by a common coupling drive unit 25. The illustrated common coupling drive unit 25 is formed of an air cylinder, and includes a common cylinder pipe 25a and a common cylinder rod 25 b. The common cylinder pipe 25a functions as a first coupling drive pipe 23a of the first coupling drive unit 23 and a second coupling drive pipe 24a of the second coupling drive unit 24. The common cylinder rod 25b protrudes from the common cylinder pipe 25a in the horizontal direction, and the amount of protrusion from the common cylinder pipe 25a is variable. The illustrated common cylinder rod 25b is constituted by a first link driving rod 23b and a second link driving rod 24b protruding from the common cylinder pipe 25a in opposite directions to each other. The first link driving lever 23b and the second link driving lever 24b are integrally provided. When one of the first link driving lever 23b and the second link driving lever 24b protrudes from the common cylinder pipe 25a, the other is drawn into the common cylinder pipe 25 a.

The first link driving lever 23b is fixed to the first cylinder pipe 21a via a first link portion 23c, and the second link driving lever 24b is fixed to the second cylinder pipe 22a via a second link portion 24 c. Therefore, the distance between the first coupling portion 23c and the second coupling portion 24c in the first direction D1 is kept constant regardless of the driving state of the common coupling driving portion 25. In addition, the distance between the first cylinder pipe 21a and the second cylinder pipe 22a with respect to the first direction D1 is kept constant regardless of the driving state of the common coupling driving portion 25.

In the constant-volume dividing device 10 having the above-described configuration, when the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are caused to shift from the first drive state to the second drive state, the first plunger drive section 21 and/or the second plunger drive section 22 causes the first plunger 15 and/or the second plunger 16 to move under the control of the control section 30. Specifically, the amount of projection of the first cylinder rod 21b from the first cylinder pipe 21a and/or the amount of projection of the second cylinder rod 22b from the second cylinder pipe 22a are adjusted.

Further, the common link driving section 25 maintains the state during the transition of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 from the first driving state to the second driving state without changing the respective projection amounts of the first link driving rod 23b and the second link driving rod 24b projecting from the common cylinder pipe 25 a.

On the other hand, when the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are switched from the second drive state to the third drive state, the common coupling drive unit 25 integrally moves the first plunger drive unit 21, the first plunger 15, the second plunger drive unit 22, and the second plunger 16 under the control of the control unit 30. In the example shown in fig. 14, since the second port 14 is provided on the right side of the first port 13, the first link drive rod 23b can be pulled in with respect to the common cylinder pipe 25a, and the amount of protrusion of the second link drive rod 24b can be increased. Further, the first plunger driving section 21 and the second plunger driving section 22 maintain the state during the transition of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 from the second driving state to the third driving state without changing the amount of protrusion of the first cylinder rod 21b and the amount of protrusion of the second cylinder rod 22 b. Thereby, the interval between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 in the second driving state can be maintained, and the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 can be placed in the third driving state.

When the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are caused to shift from the third drive state to the fourth drive state, the first plunger drive section 21 and/or the second plunger drive section 22 causes the first plunger 15 and/or the second plunger 16 to move under the control of the control section 30.

Specifically, the amount of projection of the first cylinder rod 21b from the first cylinder pipe 21a and/or the amount of projection of the second cylinder rod 22b from the second cylinder pipe 22a are adjusted. Further, the common link driving section 25 maintains the state during the transition of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 from the third driving state to the fourth driving state without changing the amount of protrusion of the first link driving lever 23b and the second link driving lever 24b from the common cylinder pipe 25 a.

When the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are shifted from the fourth drive state to the first drive state, the common coupling drive unit 25 integrally moves the first plunger drive unit 21, the first plunger 15, the second plunger drive unit 22, and the second plunger 16 under the control of the control unit 30. In the example shown in fig. 14, the first port 13 is provided on the left side of the second port 14, and therefore the amount of projection of the first link drive rod 23b with respect to the common cylinder pipe 25a can be increased and the second link drive rod 24b can be pulled in. Further, the first plunger driving section 21 and the second plunger driving section 22 maintain the state without changing the amount of protrusion of the first cylinder rod 21b and the amount of protrusion of the second cylinder rod 22b during the transition of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 from the fourth driving state to the first driving state. Thereby, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 can be placed in the first drive state while maintaining the interval or the contact between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 in the fourth drive state. Therefore, when the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 are in close contact with each other in the fourth driving state, the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 can be made in close contact with each other even in the first driving state.

As described above, according to the configuration shown in fig. 14, the driving unit 20 can be configured by only the air cylinder without using an expensive device such as a servo motor. Further, control for driving the driving unit 20 can be realized by a relatively simple method, and the control unit 30 can be configured by a relatively simple device.

[ specific example of quantitative dividing Unit ]

The quantitative-dividing unit 5 for feeding the pasty food material 100 to the subsequent stage in a predetermined amount may include one or more of the above-described quantitative-dividing devices 10.

Fig. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the quantitative segmentation unit 5. When a plurality of constant-volume dividing devices (i.e., the first constant-volume dividing device 10-1, the second constant-volume dividing device 10-2,. cndot., and the n-th constant-volume dividing device 10-n (where n is an integer of 2 or more)) are provided, each of the plurality of constant-volume dividing devices may be connected to the control unit 30. In this case, the plurality of quantitative dividing devices can be driven in association with each other under the control of the control unit 30.

Fig. 16 is an external view showing an example of a schematic configuration of the quantitative segmentation unit 5. The second port 14 of a first quantitative splitting device 10-1 of the plurality of quantitative splitting devices may be connected to the first port 13 of the second quantitative splitting device 10-2. For example, as shown in fig. 16, the second port 14 of the first constant volume dividing device 10-1 and the first port 13 of the second constant volume dividing device 10-2 may be connected via the relay pipe 43, and the batter 100 discharged from the second port 14 of the first constant volume dividing device 10-1 may be guided to the first port 13 of the second constant volume dividing device 10-2 via the relay pipe 43. At this time, the discharge operation of the pasty food 100 from the second port 14 of the first quantitative divider 10-1 and the introduction operation of the pasty food 100 into the internal space 12 from the first port 13 of the second quantitative divider 10-2 are performed in conjunction with each other (for example, simultaneously), so that the pasty food 100 can be smoothly conveyed from the first quantitative divider 10-1 to the second quantitative divider 10-2. As described above, the plurality of quantitative dividers are driven in conjunction with each other under the control of the controller 30, and the pasty food material 100 can be conveyed over a relatively long distance.

[ application example ]

The above-described quantitative dividing unit 5, quantitative dividing device 10, and quantitative dividing method can be applied to various food manufacturing apparatuses, food manufacturing systems, and food manufacturing methods.

For example, the filling material (i.e., the batter material 100) used for food products such as spring roll, hamburger patty, fried beef and potato patty, meat paste processed food (e.g., fish patty), tofu processed food (e.g., fried tofu), japanese snack (e.g., today's chukan), waffle (e.g., jacket dog (registered trademark)), various masa (batter), shao-mai, and dumpling can be quantitatively divided as appropriate by the quantitative dividing means 5, the quantitative dividing device 10, and the quantitative dividing method described above. The pasty food material 100 divided by the above-described quantitative dividing unit 5, quantitative dividing device 10, and quantitative dividing method can be used in various food manufacturing apparatuses, food manufacturing systems, and food manufacturing methods.

Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of the food manufacturing system 1. The food manufacturing system 1 shown in fig. 17 includes a skin supply device 61, a material supply device 62, and a filling material packing device 63 in addition to the quantitative partition unit 5 described above.

The skin providing device 61 is a device that prepares a skin for wrapping in the filling material (the pasty material 100), and the prepared skin is conveyed from the skin providing device 61 to the filling material wrapping device 63 by a conveying means such as a conveyor. The specific structure or function of the skin providing means 61 is not limited. For example, the skin supplying device 61 may perform the skin manufacturing and shaping (cutting, etc.), may shape only the skin prepared in advance, or may feed only the skin shaped in advance in a desired state to the filling material stuffing device 63. The hide feeding device 61 may perform other processes, such as various pretreatments of hides.

The food material supply device 62 is a device for preparing the skin-wrapped pasty food material 100, and the prepared pasty food material 100 is conveyed from the food material supply device 62 to the quantitative dividing unit 5 (particularly, the storage section 31) by a conveying means such as a conveyor. The specific structure or function of the food material providing device 62 is not limited. For example, the material supply device 62 may cut and mix filling materials, may mix only filling materials that have been cut in advance, or may send only filling materials that have been mixed in advance as the pasty material 100 to the quantitative divider 5 in a desired state. The material supplying device 62 may perform other processes, for example, various pretreatments of the filling material (the pasty material 100).

The quantitative-dividing unit 5 divides the pasty food material 100 sent from the food material supply device 62 according to the quantitative-dividing method described above. The pasty material 100 quantitatively divided by the quantitative dividing unit 5 is conveyed as a quantitative material from the quantitative dividing unit 5 to the filling material stuffing device 63 by a conveying means such as a conveyor.

The filling material stuffing device 63 performs a process of stuffing the pasty material 100 fed from the quantitative divider 5 with the skin fed from the skin feeder 61 to produce a product (food). The product produced by the filling material stuffing device 63 is sent to the subsequent stage by a conveying apparatus such as a conveyor, and is subjected to various treatments as required at the subsequent stage.

The food manufacturing system 1 shown in fig. 17 is merely an example, and any device may be combined with the quantitative dividing unit 5 and the quantitative dividing device 10 in the food manufacturing system 1. In the food material manufacturing method, arbitrary processing can be combined with the above-described quantitative division method. For example, in the food manufacturing system 1 and the food manufacturing method for manufacturing a food product that does not require a skin, the skin supply device 61 (i.e., the supply of the skin) and the filling material wrapping device 63 (i.e., the processing for wrapping the filling material with the skin) are not required. In addition, the food material supply device 62 is not required when the pasty food material 100 is directly supplied to the quantitative divider 5 (for example, the storage section 31) by manual operation. Further, the food manufacturing system 1 may include, as necessary: an apparatus for shaping the pasty food material 100, and an apparatus for heating, cooling and/or freezing the pasty food material 100. In this way, one or more arbitrary devices can be provided at the front stage and/or the rear stage of the quantitative partition unit 5.

As described above, the quantitative division device 10, the quantitative division unit 5, the food manufacturing system 1, the quantitative division method, and the food manufacturing method described above can perform the quantitative division of the pasty food material 100 with high accuracy. In particular, since the quantitative divider 10 does not use a gear pump, the pasty food can be divided quantitatively while preventing damage to the food. In addition, in the case where the first plunger 15 includes the cutter portion 32, the pasty food 100 from the first port 13 can be properly cut by the sharp cutter portion 32 without being excessively pressed, so that the eating quality can be prevented from being unnecessarily impaired and the pasty food 100 can be quantitatively divided.

Further, since the paste food 100 can be introduced into the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11 by generating a negative pressure in the region between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16, the divider 10 may not include a pressure-feed pump. Therefore, the apparatus configuration can be simplified, the workload at the start and end of production can be reduced, and the time required for operation preparation such as assembly of the apparatus, disassembly of the apparatus, and cleaning of the apparatus can be shortened.

This improves the work efficiency and improves the productivity of the entire system. In addition, the apparatus and method of the present embodiment having excellent convenience cleaning performance can not only provide excellent effects in terms of hygiene but also improve durability and reliability of the apparatus. Further, the quantitative partition unit 5 and the quantitative partition device 10 can be designed to be space-saving, and the quantitative partition unit 5 and the quantitative partition device 10 can be installed in a limited space.

Further, the quantitative-dividing unit 5 and the quantitative-dividing device 10 according to each of the above embodiments do not include a pressure-feed pump for introducing the pasty foodstuff 100 into the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11, but the quantitative-dividing unit 5 and the quantitative-dividing device 10 according to each of the embodiments of the present invention may include such a pressure-feed pump. For example, in the quantitative divider 10 according to each of the above embodiments, a pressure-feed pump may be provided to pressurize the pasty foodstuff 100 in the first port 13 toward the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11. At this time, the negative pressure generated in the region between the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16 and the pressurizing force of the pressure-feed pump can be combined, and the pasty food 100 can be introduced into the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11 more reliably and quickly.

Further, the following can be smoothly and quickly performed in accordance with the operation of the first plunger 15 and the second plunger 16: a series of processes such as introduction of the pasty food 100 into the internal space 12 of the peripheral wall portion 11, division of the pasty food 100 into a fixed amount, and discharge of the pasty food 100 from the internal space 12.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications. For example, various modifications may be applied to the respective elements of the above-described embodiment and modified examples. In addition, embodiments including other components and/or methods than the above-described components and/or methods are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, embodiments including some of the above-described constituent elements and/or methods are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, embodiments including a part of the constituent elements and/or methods included in one embodiment of the present invention and a part of the constituent elements and/or methods included in another embodiment of the present invention are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the constituent elements and/or methods included in the above-described embodiment and the modified examples, and other embodiments of the present invention other than the above-described embodiments may be combined with each other, and such a combination is also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and specific effects corresponding to the specific configurations of the respective embodiments can be exhibited. As described above, various additions, modifications, and partial deletions can be made to the respective elements described in the claims, the specification, the abstract, and the drawings without departing from the technical spirit and gist of the present invention.

Description of the symbols

1-a food manufacturing system; 5-a quantitative segmentation unit; 10-quantitative dividing means; 10-1 — a first quantitative splitting means; 10-2-a second quantitative splitting device; 10-n-nth quantitative dividing means; 11-peripheral wall portion; 11a — inner wall surface; 12 — an interior space; 13 — a first port; 14 — a second port; 15 — a first plunger; 15 a-end; 16-a second plunger; 16 a-end; 20-a drive unit; 21-a first plunger drive; 21 a-a first cylinder tube; 21b — a first cylinder rod; 22-second plunger drive; 22 a-a second cylinder tube; 22b — a second cylinder rod; 23-a first linkage drive; 23 a-first connecting drive tube; 23b — a first link drive rod; 23c — a first connecting portion; 24-a second linkage driving part; 24 a-a second linking drive tube; 24b — a second link drive rod; 24c — a second coupling portion; 25-common connection driving part; 25 a-common cylinder pipe; 25b — common cylinder rod; 30-a control section; 31-a reservoir; 31 a-a delivery device; 32-a cutter portion; 33-bisection part; 36-a sealing member; 38-sensors class; 39-a discharge pipe; 40-contact surface; 43-relay tube; 61-a skin delivery device; 62-a food material providing device; 63-stuffing material wrapping device; 100-pasty food material; 101-a viscous food material; 102-linear food material; d1 — first direction.