Boiled-egg-cutting device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a boiled-egg-cutting device that is capable of making a cut in such a manner that dice are formed. [Solution] A boiled-egg-cutting device that three-dimensionally cuts a boiled egg 3 in three directions along a x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis, the boiled-egg-cutting device comprising: a first cutting device 1 for cutting the boiled egg in any one direction among the three directions along the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis; and a second cutting device 2 for cutting the boiled egg in the directions along the remaining two axes. The second cutting device 2 is provided with first wires 20-24 and second wires 25-29, which intersect each other, in the directions of the two axes, and each of the wires cuts the boiled egg 3 in the directions along the remaining two axes due to a pusher 2a being pushed against the wires.

Description

Hard-boiled egg cutting device

[0001] The present invention relates to a hard-boiled egg cutting device.

[0002] As shown in FIG. 10, Patent Document 1 below shows a hard-boiled egg cutting device in which a hard-boiled egg is placed in an egg receiving portion 40 provided with a plurality of grooves 41, and as shown in FIG. 11, a blade composed of wires 42 provided in parallel in a plurality of lines is pushed downward and pressed against the hard-boiled egg 3 to cut the hard-boiled egg 3 into a plurality of circular slices.

[0003] JP-A-2001-300894

[0004] On the other hand, for hard-boiled eggs served in salads, etc., in addition to the request to cut them as finely as possible, for example, depending on the food market, there is also a request to be able to provide them to customers while maintaining a shape as much like a die (dice) as possible after cutting. However, the above conventional device could not meet this requirement.

[0005] That is, even if using the above conventional hard-boiled egg cutting device to try to change the orientation of these cut pieces (for example, cutting in the three-dimensional x-axis direction) and making a cut further perpendicular to the cut surface (for example, in the three-dimensional y-axis direction or z-axis direction), the fragments of the hard-boiled egg may shift at the part of the first cut. In that case, the hard-boiled egg has to be returned to its original shape and the orientation changed again, and it has to be done manually, resulting in a problem of poor work efficiency. Also, a hard-boiled egg is not originally circular or elliptical, and even if it can be cut in the above x-axis and y-axis directions by the above cutting device, due to the shape of the egg receiving portion 40, cutting in the remaining z-axis direction cannot be done. Therefore, it is completely impossible to further make cuts like a die.

[0006] The present invention was devised in view of the above current situation of the prior art, and aims to provide a hard-boiled egg cutting device that can make cuts like a die.

[0007] The boiled egg cutting device according to the present invention is a boiled egg cutting device that cuts a boiled egg three-dimensionally in three directions: the x, y, and z axes, and comprises a first cutting device that cuts in one of the three directions of the x, y, and z axes, and a second cutting device that cuts the boiled egg in the directions of the remaining two axes, the second cutting device being characterized by having a first wire and a second wire intersecting in the direction of the two axes, and by pressing a pusher against these wires, each wire cuts the boiled egg in the directions of the remaining two axes.

[0008] First, the development history of the boiled egg cutting device according to the present invention will be explained below.

[0009] When attempting to make dice-shaped cuts using the conventional configuration described above, the boiled egg may shift at the first cut when attempting the second cut, as mentioned above. In this case, the boiled egg must be manually returned to its original shape and then rotated again, making the second cut practically impossible.

[0010] Furthermore, in order to make dice-shaped cuts, it is necessary to cut the boiled egg three-dimensionally in three directions: the x, y, and z axes. It is impossible to perform such cuts using the conventional techniques described above. Therefore, a configuration that can cut three-dimensionally in three directions: the x, y, and z axes was investigated.

[0011] Therefore, the inventor considered whether it would be necessary to separate a hard-boiled egg into three-dimensional slices in the x, y, and z axes by using independent cutting devices for each axis. Each cutting device was tested using the devices described in Patent No. 5466214 or Patent No. 7437636 obtained by the present applicant. With these cutting devices, which are independently provided in the x, y, and z axes, when the hard-boiled egg was cut for the first time (for example, in the x-axis direction) and moved on to the second cutting device (for example, in the y-axis direction), it was possible to cut it again, as the egg still retained some of its original shape. However, it was found that when it came time for the third cut (for example, in the z-axis direction), the hard-boiled egg no longer retained its original shape, and a third cut was not possible.

[0012] Since then, the inventor has considered and experimented with every possible configuration of a cutting device that can make dice-shaped cuts in a hard-boiled egg.

[0013] As a result, I came to the realization that by using two cutting devices—a first cutting device that cuts in one of the three directions of the x, y, and z axes, and a second cutting device that cuts the hard-boiled egg in the directions of the remaining two axes—it might be possible to cut a hard-boiled egg three-dimensionally in the three directions of the x, y, and z axes.

[0014] This configuration includes a first cutting device that cuts in one of the three directions of the x, y, and z axes, and a second cutting device that cuts the boiled egg in the directions of the remaining two axes. The second cutting device has a first wire and a second wire intersecting in the direction of its two axes, and a boiled egg that retains its original shape (a boiled egg that retains the state in which it was cut by the first cutting device) is pressed against these wires with a pusher, so that each wire cuts the boiled egg in the directions of the remaining two axes.

[0015] With this device configuration, it became possible to cut hard-boiled eggs into cube-shaped pieces.

[0016] However, through repeated experiments with this second cutting device, it was discovered that there were cases where it was not possible to cut a boiled egg into cube-shaped pieces.

[0017] While exploring the conditions under which it is impossible to cut a hard-boiled egg into cubes, the underlying cause was discovered.

[0018] Specifically, when a hard-boiled egg that had been cut by the first cutting device was pressed by the second cutting device against the first and second wires (both wires stretched in a grid pattern) that were strung across each other, it became clear that the hard-boiled egg (which had already been cut once by the first cutting device) came into contact with both the vertically strung first wire and the horizontally strung second wire (making contact on a surface), thus dispersing the stress and increasing the resistance, making it impossible to cut. Furthermore, if a force exceeding a certain level was applied, the egg would be crushed before it could be cut.

[0019] When there was a suitable gap between the first and second wires, as shown in Example 1 described later, pressing the boiled egg with the pusher did not create much resistance, and it was possible to smoothly cut the boiled egg in a dice-like pattern, thus avoiding the problems described above.

[0020] In other words, if there is an appropriate gap between the first wire and the second wire, as shown in Example 1 described later, the boiled egg pushed in by the pusher can be kept from contacting the second wire by the amount of that gap while it is in contact with the first wire (there is no stress distribution due to surface contact between the first and second wires), so there is almost no resistance between the boiled egg and the first wire, and the cutting proceeds smoothly. When it then comes into contact with the second wire, there is again almost no resistance between the second wire and the boiled egg, and the cutting proceeds smoothly here as well. As a result, it becomes possible to make dice-shaped cuts (like the dots on a die) in the boiled egg.

[0021] The appropriate value for this gap is revealed in Example 1, which will be described later.

[0022] The boiled egg cutting device of the present invention has the excellent effect of making it possible to cut boiled eggs into cube-shaped (dice-like) cuts.

[0023] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the general configuration of the boiled egg cutting device of Example 1. This is an explanatory diagram showing the tensioned state of the wires 10-17 provided in the first cutting device 1 of Example 1. This is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the boiled egg 3 has been cut by the wires 10-17. This is an explanatory diagram showing the tensioned state of the wires 20-24 and wires 25-29 provided in the second cutting device 2 of Example 1. This is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the boiled egg 3 has been cut by the wires 20-24 and 25-29. This is a perspective view showing the entire boiled egg cutting device of Example 1. This is a perspective view showing the boiled egg cutting device of Figure 6 separated vertically from the first cutting device 1 and the second cutting device 2. This is an explanatory diagram showing the cutting state when a boiled egg shown in pseudo-3D is cut by the boiled egg cutting device of Example 1. This is a graph showing the ratio of the resistance value to the force applied by the pusher 2a when a gap is made between the wires 20-24 and wires 25-29 in the second cutting device 2 shown in Example 1. This is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional hard-boiled egg cutting device. This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the process of cutting a hard-boiled egg in the above-described hard-boiled egg cutting device.

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrations.

[0025] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the general configuration of the boiled egg cutting device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the tensioned state of the wires 10-17 stretched in the first cutting device 1 of the boiled egg cutting device; Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the cut state of the boiled egg 3 cut by the wires 10-17; Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are explanatory diagrams showing the tensioned state of the wires 20-24 and wires 25-29 provided in the second cutting device 2 in Embodiment 1; Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the boiled egg 3 has been cut by the wires 20-24 and 25-29; Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the entire boiled egg cutting device of Embodiment 1; Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the boiled egg cutting device of Embodiment 1 separated vertically from the first cutting device 1 and the second cutting device 2; and Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the cut state when the boiled egg cutting device of Embodiment 1 is used to cut a boiled egg shown in pseudo-3D.

[0026] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, this embodiment includes a first cutting device 1 that cuts in the x-axis direction and a second cutting device 2 that cuts in the y-axis and z-axis directions, among the three directions of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis.

[0027] Of these, the first cutting device 1 uses the device described in the aforementioned Patent No. 7437636. In this device, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, wires 10 to 17, referred to as slicing blades, are stretched across the longitudinal direction of the boiled egg 3. The boiled egg 3 is placed against these wires 10 to 17, and as shown in Figure 1, the pusher 1a of the first cutting device 1 is pushed down from above, causing a cut in the x-axis direction of the three axes to be made in the boiled egg 3. There are eight of these wires 10 to 17 in the longitudinal direction of the boiled egg, and the boiled egg is cut into nine pieces in the x-axis direction, as shown in Figure 8.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1, 6, and 7, a second cutting device 2 is integrally installed directly below where the boiled egg is cut in the x-axis direction. This second cutting device 2 is equipped with first wires 20-24 and second wires 25-29, respectively, for the remaining y-axis and z-axis directions. A pusher 2a is also provided to push the boiled egg against these wires 20-24 and 25-29. Furthermore, the second cutting device 2 is equipped with a sensor (not shown) that detects when the boiled egg 3 cut by the first cutting device 1 falls, and a control device (not shown) that causes the pusher 2a to be pushed out based on the detection signal from the sensor. Based on the detection signal from the sensor, the control device pushes the pusher 2a, thereby causing the wires 20-24 and 25-29 to cut the boiled egg 3 in the y-axis and z-axis directions, respectively, as shown in Figures 5 and 8.

[0029] Basically, with the configuration of this embodiment as described above, it is possible to cut the boiled egg 3 into cube-shaped (dice-like) pieces.

[0030] However, as described above, while using the above embodiment configuration, it was found that in some cases, the second cutting device 2 could not cut the boiled egg 3 into cubes (like dice) using only this configuration.

[0031] Therefore, when we explored the conditions under which it is not possible to cut boiled egg 3 into cubes, we found that there are several possible causes, as described below.

[0032] In other words, when the boiled egg 3, which had been cut by the first cutting device 1, was pressed by the second cutting device 2 with the pusher 2a toward the first wires 20-24 and the second wires 25-29 that were stretched in a cross shape, it was found that the first wires 20-24 and the second wires 25-29, which were stretched in a cross shape, came into surface contact with the pushed-out boiled egg 3, creating significant resistance to the extrusion of the pusher 2a. Furthermore, if the pusher 2a was pushed any further, the boiled egg 3 itself would eventually be crushed.

[0033] On the other hand, the above embodiment configuration is supposed to allow for cutting the boiled egg 3 in a dice-like pattern with minimal resistance when the pusher 2a is used to press the boiled egg. This is only possible when there is a suitable gap between the first wires 20-26 and the second wires 25-29, as described later.

[0034] In other words, if there is an appropriate gap between the first wires 20-26 and the second wires 27-29, as shown in the following experiment, the boiled egg 3 pushed in by the pusher 2a can be kept in a state where it is in contact with the first wires 20-26 with almost no contact with the second wires 27-29 due to the gap. As a result, there is almost no resistance between the boiled egg 3 and the first wires 20-26, and the cutting proceeds smoothly. Even when it comes into contact with the subsequent second wires 27-29, there is almost no resistance between these second wires 27-29 and the boiled egg 3, and the cutting proceeds smoothly here as well. As a result, it becomes possible to make dice-shaped cuts (like the dots on a die) in the boiled egg 3.

[0035] Based on the development history of the present invention described above, the inventors conducted the following experiment to determine the appropriate value for the gap between the first wires 20-24 and the second wires 25-29.

[0036] First, the experimental apparatus used a configuration in which wires 20-24 and 25-29 were stretched crosswise in the two axes used in the second cutting device 2. In this second cutting device 2, the distance between the crosswise stretched wires 20-24 and 25-29 could be increased from 0 mm (both wires touching) up to 5 mm.

[0037] When both wires are 0 mm, the first wires 20-24 and the second wires 25-29 are stretched across a single plate with holes, and this arrangement, where both wires are simply stretched in a grid (mesh) pattern, is used as the cutting blade for the second cutting device 2.

[0038] Because the wires are simply stretched in a grid (mesh) pattern, when the pusher 2a presses, the boiled egg (a boiled egg that has already been cut once by the first cutting device 1) 3 comes into contact with both the vertically stretched wires 20-24 and the horizontally stretched wires 25-29 (both wires come into contact as a surface), causing the stress to be dispersed and increasing the resistance, making it impossible to cut. Also, if a force exceeding a certain level is applied, the egg is crushed before it can be cut.

[0039] Taking the resistance value of the wire at this time as 100, the ratio of resistance values ​​was calculated when the gap between the first wires 20-24 and the second wires 25-29 was 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, and 5 mm (5 mm was set as the limit because the average thickness from the egg white to the yolk of a boiled egg is 6 mm), and the graph shown in Figure 9 was obtained.

[0040] When the gap between the wires is 0.5 mm, this is the only case where the ratio is 122.5%. This is because, of the first wires 20-24 and second wires 25-29 stretched in a cross shape, the first wires 20-24 actually bend slightly as they hit the boiled egg 3, and furthermore, the boiled egg 3 continuously hits the second wires 25-29 which are located in front of the pusher 2a in the direction of pushing, and just as when the gap between the wires is 0 mm, the boiled egg 3 pushed out by the pusher 2a ultimately comes into surface contact with the first wires 20-24 and second wires 27-29 which are stretched in a cross shape. As a result, the stress is distributed and the resistance increases, making it impossible to cut. If a large force is applied by the pusher 2a, the boiled egg 3 will not be able to withstand the pushing force and will be crushed before it can be cut. However, the first wires 20-24 bend and hit the surface of the boiled egg 3, and immediately after that they hit the second wires 25-29. This increases the resistance due to the bending of the first wires 20-24, resulting in a significantly higher resistance value of 22.5% compared to when the gap between the wires is 0 mm (when both wires are tightly touching).

[0041] From there, as the gap between the wires was widened to 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, and 5 mm, the resistance value decreased sequentially, and at a 5 mm gap, it was 67.2% of the resistance value at a 0 mm gap. The reason for limiting the measurement to 5 mm here was that, as mentioned above, the average thickness from the egg white to the yolk of boiled egg 3 is 6 mm, and this was used as the upper limit.

[0042] In the embodiment described above, there is a first cutting device 1 that cuts in the x-axis direction, and a second cutting device 2 that cuts the boiled egg 3 in the y-axis and z-axis directions. The second cutting device 2 has first wires 20-24 and second wires 25-29 intersecting in the y-axis and z-axis directions, and the boiled egg 3, which maintains its original shape, is pressed against these wires by a pusher 2a. As a result, each wire cuts the boiled egg 3 in the y-axis and z-axis directions as shown in Figure 8, making it possible to cut the boiled egg 3 into cubes.

[0043] Also, by setting the gaps between the first wires 20 to 24 and the second wires 25 to 29 in the second cutting device 2 to the appropriate values described above, the stress against the force applied by the pusher 2a is not dispersed, the resistance is reduced, and the cutting can be easily performed.

[0044] Incidentally, the boiled egg cutting device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the second cutting device, the crossing angle between the first wire and the second wire provided to cross each other does not necessarily have to be 90 degrees, and a state where the shape between these wires becomes a rhombus may be acceptable.

[0045] The boiled egg cutting device of the present invention can be cut into a grid pattern like a boiled egg as long as it is similar to the elasticity of a boiled egg, and can also be used for applications other than the food field.

[0046] 1 First cutting device 1a Pusher 2 Second cutting device 2a Pusher 3 Boiled egg 10 - 17 Wires 20 - 24 First wires 25 - 29 Second wires 40 Egg receiving part 41 Groove 42 Wire

Claims

1. A boiled egg cutting device for cutting a boiled egg three-dimensionally in three directions along the x, y, and z axes, comprising a first cutting device that cuts in one of the three directions along the x, y, and z axes, and a second cutting device that cuts the boiled egg in the directions of the remaining two axes, wherein the second cutting device is provided with a first wire and a second wire intersecting in the direction of the two axes, and a pusher is pressed against these wires so that each wire cuts the boiled egg in the directions of the remaining two axes.

2. The boiled egg cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first wire and the second wire, which are provided intersecting in the two axial directions in the second cutting device, are installed with a gap of 1 mm to 5 mm between them.

Images