Semi-solid food extrusion device

Abstract

A semi-solid food extrusion device allows users to fill containers with semi-solid food without having to wait for the container to be positioned below the extrusion outlet. The semi-solid food extrusion device that extrudes semi-solid food from the extrusion outlet (3a) includes a container holder (5) disposed below the extrusion outlet (3a) and capable of holding a variety of containers (C) with different diameters for filling with semi-solid food that has been extruded from the extrusion outlet (3a). The container holder (5) includes a cone holder portion (51) as a first holder portion that can receive and hold a hollow conical container (C1); and a cup holder portion (52) as a second holder portion that is provided around a portion on the upper end side of the cone holder portion (51) and can receive and hold a cup-shaped container (C2) having a diameter larger than that of the hollow conical container (C1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a semi-solid food extrusion device that extrudes and provides semi-solid foods such as soft ice cream pre-accommodated in a dedicated container. Background Art

[0002] In stores such as convenience stores, there is provided a semi-solid food extrusion device for extruding and providing semi-solid foods such as soft ice cream from a dedicated container.

[0003] As an example of such a semi-solid food extrusion device, there is known a semi-solid food extrusion device described in Patent Document 1. The semi-solid food extrusion device has: an extrusion table having a recess capable of placing a dedicated container pre-accommodating soft ice cream; and a piston device capable of pressing the dedicated container placed in the recess. A through-hole is provided in the bottom of the opening container, and an extrusion port opening to the outside is provided in the bottom of the recess of the extrusion table. When the dedicated container placed in the recess of the extrusion table is pressed by the piston device, the soft ice cream in the dedicated container will be extruded to the outside through the through-hole in the bottom of the dedicated container and the extrusion port of the extrusion table. Moreover, the soft ice cream extruded from the extrusion port is filled (put) into, for example, a hollow conical container (an edible so-called ice cream cone) with an upper surface opening grasped by the hand of a store clerk and provided to customers or the like together with the hollow conical container.

[0004] In addition, in stores such as convenience stores, the following service is generally provided: not only can a hollow conical container (ice cream cone) be selected as the upper surface opening container used when providing semi-solid foods such as soft ice cream to customers or the like, but also a paper cup-shaped container (cup) having a diameter larger than that of the hollow conical container can be selected according to the preferences of customers or the like.

[0005] Prior Art Documents

[0006] Patent Documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-52311. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] However, when filling the soft ice cream extruded from the extrusion port into a container, the user (for example, a store clerk) of the semi-solid food extrusion device described in Patent Document 1 has to wait at a position below the extrusion port while grasping the container by hand, which is time-consuming. In addition, since the container includes not only a hollow conical container but also a cup-shaped container, improvements can be pursued.

[0010] Therefore, in view of the above actual situation, the object of the present invention is to provide a semi-solid food extrusion device, so that no matter which one of, for example, a hollow conical container and a cup-shaped container is selected, the user can fill the semi-solid food into the container without waiting with the container placed below the extrusion port.

[0011] Technical solution for solving the technical problem

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semi-solid food extrusion device for extruding semi-solid food from an extrusion port. The semi-solid food extrusion device includes a container holder configured below the extrusion port and capable of holding a plurality of containers with different diameters for filling the semi-solid food extruded from the extrusion port. The container holder has: a cylindrical first holder portion capable of receiving and holding a container including a cylindrical first main body portion having a first diameter; and a second holder portion provided around a part on the upper end side of the first holder portion and capable of receiving and holding a container including a cylindrical second main body portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter.

[0013] Advantages of the invention

[0014] In the semi-solid food extrusion device according to the above aspect of the present invention, a plurality of containers with different diameters for filling the semi-solid food extruded from the extrusion port can be received and held by the container holder configured below the extrusion port. Further, when the container is, for example, a hollow conical container including a cylindrical first main body portion having a first diameter, the container can be received and held by the cylindrical first holder portion of the container holder, and when the container is, for example, a cup-shaped container including a cylindrical second main body portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the container can be received and held by the second holder portion provided around a part on the upper end side of the first holder portion of the container holder. Thus, for example, no matter which one of a hollow conical container (ice cream cone) and a cup-shaped container (cup) is selected, either container can be held below the extrusion port by the container holder. As a result, the user does not need to hold the container by hand and wait.

[0015] In this way, a semi-solid food extrusion device can be provided, so that no matter which one of, for example, a hollow conical container and a cup-shaped container is selected, the user can fill the semi-solid food into the container without waiting with the container at the position below the extrusion port. Description of the drawings

[0016] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of the semi-solid food extrusion device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 It is the front view of the semi-solid food extrusion device.

[0018] Figure 3 It is the right side view of the semi-solid food extrusion device.

[0019] Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining an example of a special container for storing the semi-solid food.

[0020] Figure 5 It is a diagram for explaining an example of a container for providing the semi-solid food.

[0021] Figure 6 It is a diagram for explaining another example of a container for providing the semi-solid food.

[0022] Figure 7 It is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of the control system of the semi-solid food extrusion device.

[0023] Figure 8 It is a perspective view of the container holder of the semi-solid food extrusion device.

[0024] Figure 9 It is the front view of the container holder.

[0025] Figure 10 It is the right side view of the container holder.

[0026] Figure 11 It is the top view of the container holder.

[0027] Figure 12 It is a partial perspective view showing the holding state of the container.

[0028] Figure 13 It is a conceptual diagram showing the holding state of the container.

[0029] Figure 14 It is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the semi-solid food extrusion device. Detailed Embodiments

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Figures 1 to 3 It is a diagram for explaining the structure of the semi-solid food extrusion device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 It is a perspective view. Figure 2 It is the front view. Figure 3 It is the right side view. Additionally, although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, hereinafter, the semi-solid food is described as soft ice cream.

[0032] Figures 1 to 3 The semi-solid food extrusion device 100 shown is, for example, an ice cream dispenser installed in a store such as a convenience store, etc., for providing soft ice cream that has been pre-divided into small portions according to a specified volume and stored, according to the needs of customers, etc.

[0033] Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining an example of a dedicated container P for storing soft ice cream. Figure 5 and Figure 6 It is a diagram for explaining a container C with an open upper surface for providing soft ice cream.

[0034] Here, the soft ice cream is pre-divided into small portions according to a specified volume and stored (filled) in a dedicated container P made of a flexible resin material. Before providing the soft ice cream, the dedicated container P filled with soft ice cream is stored in a refrigerator, etc. As shown in Figure 4 (a) of [], the dedicated container P is composed of a cup-shaped (i.e., a bottomed cylindrical shape) main body portion P1 with an open upper surface and a lid portion P2 that seals the open upper surface of the main body portion P1. In addition, as shown in Figure 4 (b) of [], for example, a star-shaped through hole P3 is opened at the bottom of the main body portion P1. The through hole P3 is blocked by a sealing strip P4 when storing the storage container P. Before providing the soft ice cream, the dedicated container P is taken out from a refrigerator, etc., and the sealing strip P4 is torn off from the main body portion P1 (refer to Figure 4 (b) of []), and the dedicated container P in this state is loaded into the semi-solid food extrusion device 100.

[0035] Next, when providing the soft ice cream, the dedicated container P is pressed by an extrusion device 4 (described later) of the semi-solid food extrusion device 100. As a result, the soft ice cream in the dedicated container P is extruded from the through hole P3 and filled (poured) into the container C with an open upper surface for providing, and is provided to customers, etc. together with the container C for providing. Here, as the container C for providing, the case of preparing two containers C with different diameters in a store, etc., will be described below.

[0036] In the present embodiment, customers, etc., can choose either a hollow conical container C1 and a cup-shaped container C2 with a diameter larger than that of the hollow conical container C1 according to their own preferences as the container C. For example, the hollow conical container C1 is an edible container, and the cup-shaped container C2 is a non-edible container.

[0037] The hollow conical container C1 is made of an edible material, and it is an edible container formed in a hollow conical shape with an open upper surface, and is also called an "ice cream cone or ice cream cone-shaped container" (refer to Figure 5 (a) of [] and Figure 5(b)). The hollow conical container C1 has, for example: a hollow conical ice cream cone lower body portion C1a; and a hollow frustum-shaped (cone-shaped) ice cream cone upper body portion C1b, and the ice cream cone upper body portion C1b is connected to the upper end of the ice cream cone lower body portion C1a. The diameter of the ice cream cone upper body portion C1b expands at a cone angle greater than the cone angle of the ice cream cone lower body portion C1a. The ice cream cone upper body portion C1b is formed in a tubular shape and has a first diameter (maximum outer diameter) at the open end of the upper surface. That is, the hollow conical container C1 is a container having the tubular ice cream cone upper body portion C1b with the first diameter. In addition, in the present embodiment, the ice cream cone upper body portion C1b corresponds to the "first main body portion" of the present invention.

[0038] The cup-shaped container C2 is made of inedible materials such as paper, and is an inedible container formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper surface, and is also called a "cup" (see Figure 6 of (a) and Figure 6 (b)). The cup-shaped container C2 has, for example, a frustum-shaped cup body portion C2a whose diameter slightly expands toward the upper end side, and a cup bottom C2b that closes the lower end side of the cup body portion C2a. The cup body portion C2a of the cup-shaped container C2 is formed in a tubular shape and has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. That is, the cup-shaped container C2 is a container including the cup body portion C2a having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. Therefore, the cup-shaped container C2 has a main body portion (cup body portion C2a) with a diameter larger than the diameter of the main body portion of the hollow conical container C1. In addition, in the present embodiment, the cup body portion C2a corresponds to the "second main body portion" of the present invention.

[0039] In addition, the cup body portion C2a of the cup-shaped container C2 is formed at a height lower than the overall height of the hollow conical container C1. The lower surface of the cup bottom C2b is located at a prescribed bottom lift height h above the lower end surface of the cup body portion C2a.

[0040] Return to Figures 1 to 3 , the semi-solid food extrusion device 100 has a base portion 1 and a housing portion 2. The base portion 1 constitutes the bottom of the device formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape. The housing portion 2 constitutes a frame as an outer cover of the device, and is composed of a main housing portion 21 and a front surface housing portion 22. The main housing portion 21 is disposed above the rear of the base portion 1 and is composed of a box body in a substantially vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape. The front surface housing portion 22 is provided to protrude forward at the upper end side portion of the front surface of the main housing portion 21.

[0041] In addition to the base portion 1 and the housing portion 2, the semi-solid food extrusion device 100 further has an extrusion table portion 3, an extrusion device 4, a container holder 5, a lifting table 6, and a control portion 7. Figure 7It is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of the control system of the semi-solid food extrusion device 100.

[0042] The extrusion table part 3 is Figure 3 as shown, a workbench for freely loading and unloading the special container P, and is installed at the lower part of the front surface housing part 22 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, for example. The extrusion table part 3 has a recessed part 31 that can accommodate the special container P, and the special container P is loaded (placed) in the recessed part 31. At the center of the bottom 31a of the recessed part 31, an extrusion port 3a, which is, for example, circular and larger than the through hole P3 at the bottom of the special container P, is opened. The opening position of the extrusion port 3a coincides with the opening position of the through hole P3 of the special container P loaded in the recessed part 31. The lower surface of the extrusion table part 3 is exposed to the outside, and the part corresponding to the recessed part 31 in this lower surface protrudes downward. In addition, the extrusion port 3a penetrates the bottom 31a of the recessed part 31 and opens downward.

[0043] When loading the special container P, the user tears off the sealing strip P4 from the main body part P1 of the special container P to expose the through hole P3, and pulls out the extrusion table part 3 to the front. Then, after the user inserts the special container P into the recessed part 31 with the through hole P3 facing downward, the user presses the extrusion table part 3 backward to close it. In the above state, the extrusion port 3a directly opens to the outside, and the through hole P3 of the special container P in the recessed part 31 opens to the outside via the extrusion port 3a.

[0044] The extrusion device 4 is arranged in the front surface housing part 22, and is a device for pressing the special container P to extrude the soft ice cream in the special container P to the outside of the special container P. The extrusion device 4 has, for example: a pressing rod 41 (refer to Figure 3 ), the pressing rod 41 presses the lid part P2 of the special container P in the recessed part 31 from above downward; and a pressing motor M1 (refer to Figure 3 and Figure 7 ), the pressing motor M1 is used to drive the pressing rod 41 in the up-down direction. By driving the pressing rod 41 downward by using the pressing motor M1, the soft ice cream in the special container P is extruded from the through hole P3 of the special container P, and the soft ice cream extruded from this through hole P3 is extruded downward through the extrusion port 3a. In this way, the semi-solid food extrusion device 100 (extrusion device 4) extrudes the soft ice cream as a semi-solid food from the extrusion port 3a to the outside. Then, the soft ice cream extruded from the extrusion port 3a is filled into the container C.

[0045] The container holder 5 is a holder (in other words, a holding table or a container support table) that is disposed below the extrusion port 3a and can hold the container C, and is configured to selectively hold the hollow conical container C1 and the cup-shaped container C2 having different diameters. The container holder 5 is mounted on the lifting table 6. In addition, the structure of the container holder 5 will be described in detail later.

[0046] The lifting table 6 is a member that is driven to move up and down (lift) between the front end side portion of the base portion 1 and the front surface housing portion 22. The front end side portion of the lifting table 6 projects further forward than the front surface of the main body housing portion 21 below the extrusion table portion 3 (extrusion port 3a). The rear end side portion of the lifting table 6 is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction within the main body housing portion 21.

[0047] The container holder 5 is mounted on the front end side portion of the lifting table 6. Specifically, the container holder 5 is rotatably supported at a portion of the lifting table 6 corresponding directly below the extrusion port 3a. That is, the container holder 5 is rotatably mounted on the lifting table 6 through the opening center point of the extrusion port 3a and around an imaginary center line X extending in the vertical direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the lifting table 6.

[0048] Here, a lifting mechanism (not shown) and a lifting motor M2 (see Figure 7 ) are provided within the main body housing portion 21. The lifting mechanism is used to move the lifting table 6 in the vertical direction, and the lifting motor M2 is constituted by, for example, a variable-speed stepping motor for driving the lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism is driven by the lifting motor M2 so that the lifting table 6 and the container holder 5 move together in the vertical direction between the base portion 1 and the lower surface of the bottom portion 31a of the concave portion 31 of the extrusion table portion 3.

[0049] Specifically, the lifting table 6 is configured to be movable between a lower end position as a lower moving end (the height position shown in (a) of Figure 14 described later) and an upper end position as an upper moving end (the height position shown in (b) of Figure 14 described later). For example, the lower end position is set such that a gap is provided between the lower surface of the lifting table 6 and the upper surface of the base portion 1 at this position. Next, the upper end position is set such that a gap slightly longer (larger) than the protruding length L (see Figure 13 described later) by which the container C protrudes from the upper end of the container holder 5 is provided between the upper end of the container holder 5 and the lower surface of the bottom portion 31a of the extrusion table portion 3 (see Figure 13 and Figure 14 (b)). In addition, in the present embodiment, the upper end position is set at the same position regardless of the type of the container C. The lower end position is also the same.

[0050] For example, a limit switch (not shown) is provided at a height position in the main body housing portion 21 corresponding to the lower end position of the lifting table 6. The limit switch detects the lifting table 6 by contacting a part on the rear end side of the lifting table 6. When the lifting table 6 descends, the detection signal from the limit switch is input to the control unit 7 to stop the lifting motor M2. As a result, the lifting table 6 stops at the lower end position. In addition, an encoder (not shown) is provided in the main body housing portion 21 for detecting the total rotation speed from the lower end position of the lifting motor M2. When the lifting table 6 ascends, when the signal from the encoder is input to the control unit 7 such that the total rotation speed from the lower end position reaches the total rotation speed corresponding to the upper end position, the lifting motor M2 stops. As a result, the lifting table 6 stops at the upper end position. Alternatively, it may be configured such that a limit switch is provided at a height position corresponding to the upper end position, and the lifting table 6 is stopped at the upper end position based on the detection signal from the limit switch.

[0051] In addition, in the present embodiment, an intermediate position (the height position shown in (c) of Figure 14 described later) is set between the lower end position and the upper end position of the lifting table 6 as a switching portion for the descending speed of the lifting table 6. Even when the lifting table 6 descends, the signal from the encoder is input to the control unit 7. In addition, it is configured such that when the total rotation speed from the upper end position reaches the total rotation speed of the intermediate position when the lifting table 6 descends, the lifting motor M2 temporarily stops and then operates again at a speed higher than the rotation speed when descending from the upper end position.

[0052] A rotating mechanism (not shown) and a rotating motor M3 (see Figure 7 ) are provided in the lifting table 6 and the main body housing portion 21. The rotating mechanism is composed of a plurality of gears and the like for rotating the container holder 5 around the imaginary center line X. The rotating motor M3 is composed of, for example, a variable-speed stepping motor for driving the rotating mechanism. The rotating mechanism is driven by the rotating motor M3 to rotate the container holder 5 on the lifting table 6 around the imaginary center line X directly below the extrusion port 3a. In addition, the rotating motor M3 is configured to stop synchronously with the lifting motor M2 at the intermediate position and then operate again at a speed higher than the rotation speed when descending from the upper end position.

[0053] The control unit 7 is composed of, for example, a CPU, I / O, ROM, RAM, etc., which uniformly controls the operation of the device, and mainly performs drive control of the extrusion motor M1, the lifting motor M2, and the rotation motor M3. In addition, the control unit 7 is configured to synchronously control the lifting operation of the lifting table 6 and the rotation operation of the container holder 5.

[0054] In addition, operation switches such as an operation start switch 8 are provided on the front surface of the front surface housing portion 22. When a user or the like presses the operation start switch 8, a signal indicating an operation start command is input to the control unit 7. When the said signal from the operation start switch 8 is input to the control unit 7, the control unit 7 starts the drive control of each of the motors M1 to M3.

[0055] Next, the structure of the container holder 5 will be described in detail. Figures 8 to 11 It is a diagram for explaining the container holder 5. Figure 8 It is a front view of the container holder 5, Figure 9 It is a top view, Figure 10 It is a right side view, Figure 11 It is a top view. In addition, the left side view of the container holder 5 is shown as being the same as Figure 10 the right side view shown. In addition, in Figure 9 it, the internal structure is indicated by a dashed line.

[0056] As Figures 8 to 11 shown, the container holder 5 has: a cone holder portion 51 that can receive and hold the hollow conical container C1; a cup holder portion 52 that can receive and hold a cup-shaped container C2 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the hollow conical container C1; and a holder mounting portion 53 that is used to mount the container holder 5 on the lifting table 6. The container holder 5 is made of, for example, a resin material, and the cone holder portion 51, the cup holder portion 52, and the holder mounting portion 53 are integrally formed by injection molding or the like. In addition, in the present embodiment, the cone holder portion 51 corresponds to the "first holder portion" of the present invention, and the cup holder portion 52 corresponds to the "second holder portion" of the present invention.

[0057] Regarding the long side direction of the container cage 5, the ice cream cone cage portion 51 constitutes the middle part of the container cage 5, the cup cage portion 52 constitutes the upper end side portion of the container cage 5, and the cage mounting portion 53 constitutes the lower end side portion of the container cage 5. Further, when viewed from below the container cage 5 in a plan view, the ice cream cone cage portion 51, the cup cage portion 52, and the cage mounting portion 53 are arranged in a substantially concentric circle shape in the order of the cage mounting portion 53, the ice cream cone cage portion 51, and the cup cage portion 52 from the radially inner side. Further, for example, by screwing and connecting the cage mounting portion 53 with a bushing 6a (refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 ) which forms a part of the rotation mechanism, the container cage 5 is mounted on the lifting table 6 in a manner capable of rotating around the imaginary center line X.

[0058] The ice cream cone cage portion 51 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is located inside the cup cage portion 52 when viewed from above in a plan view. A disc-shaped ice cream cone cage bottom 511 is connected to the lower end of the ice cream cone cage portion 51, and a circular hole 511a is opened at the center of the ice cream cone cage bottom 511.

[0059] The outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the ice cream cone cage 51 have a fine slope for the mold. The inner diameter of the ice cream cone cage portion 51 (specifically, the inner diameter of the upper side opening of the ice cream cone cage portion 51) is set, for example, to an inner diameter that matches the outer diameter of the main body portion (the lower ice cream cone main body portion C1a) at the height position corresponding to the center of gravity position of the corresponding hollow conical container C1. The ice cream cone cage portion 51 has a total length (height) shorter than the overall length (height) of the lower ice cream cone main body portion C1a of the hollow conical container C1.

[0060] The cup cage portion 52 is provided around the upper end side portion of the ice cream cone cage portion 51 and is located outside the ice cream cone cage portion 51 when viewed from above in a plan view.

[0061] In the present embodiment, the cup cage portion 52 has a cup cage main body portion 521 and a cup cage bottom 522. The cup cage main body portion 521 is a portion located radially outside the ice cream cone cage portion 51. The cup cage bottom 522 is a portion connecting the lower end of the cup cage main body portion 521 and the outer peripheral surface of the ice cream cone cage portion 51. Additionally, in the present embodiment, the cup cage main body portion 521 corresponds to the "cage main body portion" of the present invention, and the cup cage bottom 522 corresponds to the "cage bottom" of the present invention.

[0062] The cage mounting portion 53 is formed in a cylindrical shape protruding downward from the lower surface of the ice-cream cone cage bottom portion 511. The outer diameter of the cage mounting portion 53 is smaller than the outer diameter of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51, and the inner diameter of the cage mounting portion 53 substantially matches the aperture diameter of the hole 511a opened in the ice-cream cone cage bottom portion 511.

[0063] A threaded portion 531 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a portion on the lower end side of the cage mounting portion 53, and the threaded portion 531 is screwed with a threaded portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bushing 6a. Specifically, a portion on the lower end side of the bushing 6a protrudes downward from the lower surface of the lifting table 6. In addition, the cage mounting portion 53 penetrates the lifting table 6, and its threaded portion 531 is screwed with the threaded portion on the inner peripheral surface of the bushing 6a. Further, in a state where the cage mounting portion 53 is screwed with the bushing 6a, the ice-cream cone cage portion 51 and the cup cage portion 52 are located above (more protruding) than the upper surface of the lifting table 6.

[0064] Here, in the present embodiment, the ice-cream cone cage portion 51 has a protruding portion 512 that protrudes more upward than the cup cage bottom portion 522 of the cup cage portion 52. The upper end of the protruding portion 512 is located below the upper end of the cup cage main body portion 521 of the cup cage portion 52. Therefore, the upper end of the cup cage main body portion 521 protrudes more upward than the upper end of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51 and constitutes the upper end of the container cage 5. Further, in the present embodiment, the protruding length of the protruding portion 512 is set to be longer than the bottom lifting height h of the cup bottom C2b of the cup-shaped container C2 (refer to Figure 6 of (b)).

[0065] In the present embodiment, the container cage 5 has a slit portion 54 that is cut from a specified position in the vertical direction (substantially the middle position in the vertical direction in the figure) in the ice-cream cone cage portion 51 to the cup cage portion 52. The slit portion 54 opens upward at the upper end of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51 and the upper end of the cup cage portion 52.

[0066] In the present embodiment, the slit portion 54 is formed at two positions in the circumferential direction of the container cage 5, and one slit portion 54 is opposite to the other slit portion 54. That is, the container cage 5 has two mutually opposite slit portions 54.

[0067] In the present embodiment, the lifting table 6 on which the container holder 5 is installed is located at the lower end position in the waiting state and the initial state. Further, when the lifting table 6 is at the lower end position, the angular position of the container holder 5 at the lower end position around the imaginary center line X is set such that the center positions of the slit widths of the two slit portions 54 of the container holder 5 are located on a line orthogonal to the front surface of the main body housing portion 21. Therefore, when observing from directly above (front view) the front surface of the main body housing portion 21, the two slit portions 54 of the container holder 5 located at the lower end position can be seen overlapping each other to form one (refer to Figure 2 , Figure 9 and the following Figure 13 ).

[0068] Specifically, each slit portion 54 is composed of a first slit portion 54a and a second slit portion 54b. The first slit portion 54a is a portion that is cut from the upper end of the ice cream cone holder portion 51 to the specified position (substantially the middle position) in the up-down direction in the ice cream cone holder portion 51 and has a specified width, and it opens upward at the upper end of the ice cream cone holder portion 51. The second slit portion 54b is a portion that is cut through the cup holder main body portion 521 and the cup holder bottom portion 522 of the holder portion 52 at an angular position corresponding to the first slit portion 54a, and it opens upward at the upper end of the cup holder main body portion 521.

[0069] For example, the first slit portion 54a is opened in a manner having a substantially U-shaped opening edge. Further, the portion of the second slit portion 54b corresponding to the cup holder bottom portion 522 is cut out to have the same slit width as the first slit portion 54a and communicates with the middle portion of the first slit portion 54a. In addition, the portion of the second slit portion 54b corresponding to the cup holder main body portion 521 is cut in a manner such that the slit width becomes larger toward the upper side, and it communicates with the second slit portion 54b on the cup holder bottom portion 522 side at its lower end side.

[0070] Therefore, the cup holder portion 52 of the container holder 5 is divided into two parts along the horizontal direction at the portions of the two mutually opposing slit portions 54. That is to say, in the present embodiment, the cup holder portion 52 is composed of two mutually opposing cup holder pieces 52A.

[0071] Specifically, the portion of the cup holder main body portion 521 in the cup holder piece 52A remains as an arc-shaped arc main body portion 521A when observed from above in a top view, and it is located radially outside the ice cream cone holder portion 51. In addition, the portion of the cup holder bottom portion 522 in the cup holder piece 52A remains as a C-shaped C-bottom 522a when observed from above in a top view, and it connects the lower end of the arc main body portion 521a and the outer peripheral surface of the ice cream cone holder portion 51.

[0072] In the present embodiment, the protruding portion 512 of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51 (in other words, the upper end side portion of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51) is located between the arc main body portions 521a of one cup cage piece 52A and the arc main body portions 521a of the other cup cage piece 52A. Therefore, a pair of mutually opposed cup cage pieces 52A are arranged to surround the protruding portion 512 from the radially outer side of the protruding portion 512 of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51.

[0073] The arc main body portion 521a of each cup cage piece 52A has a slight slope for the mold. The center of the arc of the arc main body portion 521a is located on the cylindrical center line of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51. The radius of curvature of the arc of the inner peripheral surface of the arc main body portion 521a (strictly speaking, the radius of curvature of the upper end arc in the inner peripheral surface of the arc main body portion 521a) is set, for example, to a radius that matches half of the outer diameter of the cup main body portion C2a at a specified height position near the approximate center in the height direction of the cup main body portion C2a of the cup-shaped container C2. In addition, the arc main body portion 521a has a total length (height) that is shorter than the overall length (height) of the cup-shaped container C2 (specifically, the cup main body portion C2a), for example.

[0074] In the present embodiment, the container cage 5 has a plurality of (six in the figure) guide portions 55 that guide the lower end side portion of the outer peripheral surface of the hollow conical container C1 (refer to Figure 11 ). The plurality of guide portions 55 are formed at intervals along the circumferential direction in the inner peripheral surface of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51. Specifically, the plurality of guide portions 55 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction at the lower end side portion of the inner peripheral surface of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51, and respectively project from the inner peripheral surface of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51 toward the center of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51. In addition, each guide portion 55 is formed in a plate shape, and its lower end is connected to the upper surface of the ice-cream cone cage bottom 511. Further, on the edge portion of each guide portion 55 on the side opposite to the inner peripheral surface of the ice-cream cone cage portion 51, there is a contact surface 55a that can contact the lower end side portion of the outer peripheral surface of the hollow conical container C1 (specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the lower ice-cream cone side main body portion C1a). The contact surface 55a is formed to be inclined at an inclination angle corresponding to the taper angle of the lower ice-cream cone side main body portion C1a. In addition, in Figure 9 , in order to make the figure clearer, a part of the guide portions 55 is omitted.

[0075] Next, regarding the holding of the container C by the container cage 5, the cases of the hollow conical container C1 and the cup-shaped container C2 will be described separately. Figure 12 And Figure 13 are diagrams for explaining the holding state of the container C.Figure 12 is a partial perspective view including the container holder 5, Figure 13 is a front view of the container holder 5 showing the state in which the container C is held. In addition, the container C is inserted (placed) by a user or the like onto the container holder 5 on the lifting table 6 located at the lower end position. In Figure 12 , the lifting table 6 is located at the lower end position. In addition, in Figure 13 shows the capacity holder 5 and the container C when the lifting table 6 is located at the upper end position.

[0076] As Figure 12 (a) of Figure 13 and (a) of Figure 12 As Figure 12 (b) of Figure 13 As shown in (a) of Figure 12 and (a) of Figure 13 Figure 12 When the hollow conical container C1 is used as the container C, the container holder 5 holds the hollow conical container C1 by the ice cream cone holder 51. Specifically, a part of the lower side of the hollow conical container C1 (most of the ice cream cone lower side main body C1a in the figure) is inserted by a user or the like through the upper side opening of the ice cream cone holder part 51 and into the ice cream cone holder part 51. Then, the hollow conical container C1 is inserted into the ice cream cone holder part 51 until the outer peripheral surface of its main body part (ice cream cone lower side main body C1a) contacts the opening edge part (corner part) of the upper side opening of the ice cream cone holder part 51. At this time, the lower end side part of the hollow conical container C1 penetrates the hole 511a opened in the ice cream cone holder bottom 511, and the contact surface 55a of each guide part 55 abuts against or approaches the outer peripheral surface of the main body part of the ice cream cone lower side main body C1a of the hollow conical container C1. Thus, the hollow conical container C1 is supported by the opening edge part (corner part) of the upper side opening of the ice cream cone holder part 51 in a state where most of its lower side is received in the ice cream cone holder part 51. As a result, the main body part of the hollow conical container C1 is held by the ice cream cone holder part 51. In addition, in this state, the ice cream cone lower side main body C1a of the hollow conical container C1 is guided by a plurality of guide parts 55 to be stable.

[0077] As Figure 12 (b) of Figure 13As shown in (b), when the cup-shaped container C2 is used as the container C, the container holder 5 holds the cup-shaped container C2 by the cup holder portion 52. Specifically, a part of the lower side of the cup-shaped container C2 is inserted by a user or the like into the cup holder portion 52, that is, into the region inside a pair of cup holder pieces 52A. Then, the cup-shaped container C2 is inserted into the cup holder portion 52 until the outer peripheral surface of its cup body portion C2a contacts the corner portion on the inner peripheral surface side at the upper end portion of the cup holder main body portion 521 (arc-shaped main body portion 521a). At this time, the upper end (upper end surface) of the protruding portion 512 of the cone holder portion 51 abuts against or approaches the lower surface of the cup bottom C2b of the cup-shaped container C2. As a result, the cup-shaped container C2 is supported by the corner portion on the inner peripheral surface side at the upper end portion of the cup holder main body portion 521 in a state where its lower side portion is received in the cup holder portion 52, and thus, the cup-shaped container C2 is held by the cup holding portion 52. Further, in this state, since the upper end (upper end surface) of the protruding portion 512 of the cone holder portion 51 abuts against or approaches the lower surface of the cup bottom C2b, the cup-shaped container C2 is held more stably. When the upper end of the protruding portion 512 abuts against the lower surface of the cup bottom C2b, the position (portion) of the cup-shaped container C2 held by the container holder 5, that is, the held portion, is the cup body portion C2a and the cup bottom C2b. Further, in the present embodiment, a gap is provided between the lower end portion (so-called bottom support portion) of the cup body portion C2a and the upper surface of the cup holder bottom 522 in a state of being held in the container holder 5. However, it is also possible that the lower end portion of the cup body portion C2a contacts the upper surface of the cup holder bottom 522 in a state of being held in the container holder 5. In this case, the lower end portion of the cup body portion C2a is also the position (portion) of the cup-shaped container C2 held by the container holder 5. Further, the position (portion) of the cup-shaped container C2 held by the container holder 5 may be at least one of the cup body portion C2a, the cup bottom C2b, and the lower end portion of the cup body portion C2a (in other words, the cup bottom peripheral portion).

[0078] Here, as described above, in the present embodiment, regardless of the type of the container C, the upper end position of the lift table 6 is set at the same position. Further, in the present embodiment, the ice cream cone holder portion 51 and the cup holder portion 52 are formed such that the protruding length L of the container C from the upper end of the container holder 5 is about the same in the case of the hollow conical container C1 and the case of the cup-shaped container C2. Therefore, when the container holder 5 is at the upper end position, the height position of the upper end of the hollow conical container C1 from the upper surface of the base portion 1 is about the same as the height position of the upper end of the cup-shaped container C2 from the upper surface of the base portion 1. Thus, even in either the case of the hollow conical container C1 or the case of the cup-shaped container C2, soft ice cream can be filled into the container C at an equivalent height position. Additionally, in the present embodiment, as Figure 13 shown, the protruding length L of the cup-shaped container C2 is slightly longer than the protruding length L of the hollow conical container C1, but it is not limited thereto, and it may be slightly shorter or may be the same as the protruding length L of the hollow conical container C1. Further, the upper end position of the lift table 6 may be fixedly set according to the type of each container C, or may be changed according to the type of each container C.

[0079] Next, an outline operation of the semi-solid food extrusion device 100 in the present embodiment will be described. Figure 14 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the semi-solid food extrusion device 100. Additionally, in Figure 14 the case where the hollow conical container C1 is selected as the container C will be described, but even when the cup-shaped container C2 is selected, the semi-solid food extrusion device 100 performs the same operation.

[0080] As Figure 14 shown in (a) of, in the waiting state, the lift table 6 is at the lower end position. At the lower end position, one of the two slit portions 54 opens forward. In the above state, by the user inserting the hollow conical container C1 into the container holder 5, the container holder 5 holds the inserted hollow conical container C1 in the manner shown in (a) of Figure 12 and (a) of Figure 13 . At the time of the above insertion, the user may insert the hollow conical container C1 vertically downward into the ice cream cone holder portion 51 from a position directly above the container holder 5, or may move it vertically downward after passing a part of the lower end side of the hollow conical container C1 (the lower ice cream cone main body portion C1a) through the front slit portion 54 to insert it into the ice cream cone holder portion 51.

[0081] Next, when the operation start switch 8 is pressed, the lifting motor M2 and the rotating motor M3 operate synchronously. Next, the lifting table 6 starts to rise at a specified rising speed, and the container holder 5 starts to rotate at a specified rotational speed. The lifting table 6 rises from the lower end position (refer to Figure 14 's (a)) to the upper end position (refer to Figure 14 's (b)), and at the upper end position, the lifting motor M2 and the rotating motor M3 stop. At this upper end position, the lifting table 6 stops for a specified time (e.g., several seconds). Next, for example, when the lifting table 6 reaches the upper end position, the pressing motor M1 operates, and the pressing operation of the dedicated container P implemented by the pressing device 4 (refer to Figure 3 , not shown in Figure 14 ) starts. For example, during the stop process of the lifting table 6 at the upper end position, soft ice cream starts to be extruded from the extrusion port 3a, and the filling of soft ice cream into the hollow conical container C1 starts.

[0082] Next, when the time elapsed since the lifting table 6 at the upper end position starts to stop reaches the specified time, the lifting motor M2 and the rotating motor M3 operate synchronously in the opposite direction to the rising direction. At this time, the lifting table 6 starts to descend at a specified first descending speed set to a relatively low speed, and the container holder 5 starts to rotate at a specified first rotational speed set to a relatively low speed. During the above-mentioned low-speed descending and rotating operations, the pressing motor M1 also continues to operate. As a result, the soft ice cream is placed in the hollow conical container C1 in a vortex shape (refer to Figure 14 's (c)).

[0083] When the lifting table 6 reaches the middle position (refer to Figure 14 's (c)) from the upper end position, the pressing motor M1 stops, and the lifting motor M2 and the rotating motor M3 temporarily stop. Next, immediately after that, the lifting motor M2 and the rotating motor M3 operate synchronously at high speed, the lifting table 6 starts to descend at a specified second descending speed higher than the first descending speed, and the container holder 5 starts to rotate at a specified second rotational speed higher than the first rotational speed. By descending and rotating at high speed as described above, the angle of the front end of the soft ice cream placed in the hollow conical container C1 in a vortex shape is formed beautifully. Next, when the lifting table 6 reaches the lower end position, the lifting motor M2 and the rotating motor M3 stop.

[0084] Next, the user grasps the hollow conical container C1 from the container holder 5 onto the lifting table 6 at the lower end position, and provides soft ice cream together with the hollow conical container C1 to a customer or the like. At this time, the user raises the hollow conical container C1 to a position where, for example, the lower end of the lower side main body portion C1a of the ice cream cone is located above the lower end of the U-shaped opening edge of the first slit portion 54a in the slit portion 54. Subsequently, the user pulls the hollow conical container C1 forward (towards the user's side) to pass through the front slit portion 54. Thus, the user can easily remove the hollow conical container C1 from the container holder 5 without lifting the entire hollow conical container C1 above the upper end of the container holder 5.

[0085] According to the present embodiment, the container holder 5 disposed below the extrusion port 3a can accommodate and hold the container C (C1, C2) having an upper surface opening. Further, when the container C is, for example, the hollow conical container C1, the hollow conical container C1 can be accommodated and held by the ice cream cone holder portion 51 formed in a cylindrical shape in the container holder 5. When the container C is, for example, a cup-shaped container C2 having a diameter larger than that of the hollow conical container C1, the cup-shaped container C2 can be accommodated and held by the cup holder portion 52 provided around a portion on the upper end side of the ice cream cone holder portion 51 of the container holder 5. Thus, for example, regardless of whether a customer or the like selects either the hollow conical container C1 or the cup-shaped container C2, the container holder 5 can hold all of the containers (C1, C2) below the extrusion port 3a. As a result, it is not necessary for the user (such as a store clerk) to grasp the containers (C1, C2) by hand and wait.

[0086] In this way, for example, a semi-solid food extrusion device 100 can be provided such that, regardless of whether the hollow conical container C1 or the cup-shaped container C2 is selected, the user can fill the semi-solid food (soft ice cream) into the container C (C1, C2) without having the container C (C1, C2) wait at the position below the extrusion port 3a.

[0087] In the present embodiment, the cup holder portion 52 has: a cup holder main body portion 521 located radially outside the ice cream cone holder portion 51; and a cup holder bottom portion 522 connecting between the lower end of the cup holder main body portion 521 and the outer peripheral surface of the ice cream cone holder portion 51. Thus, the holding structure of the cup container C2 is formed by a simple structure around a portion on the upper end side of the ice cream cone holder portion 51.

[0088] In the present embodiment, the cone holder portion 51 has a protruding portion 512, and the protruding portion 512 protrudes more upward than the cup holder bottom 522 of the cup holder portion 52. Thus, for example, the upper end of the protruding portion 512 can be brought into contact with or close to the lower surface of the cup bottom C2b, and therefore, the cup-shaped container C2 can be held more stably.

[0089] In the present embodiment, the container holder 5 has a slit portion 54. Thus, in particular, the hollow conical container C1 can be easily removed from the container holder 5.

[0090] In the present embodiment, the container holder 5 has a plurality of guide portions 55 that guide the lower end side portion of the outer peripheral surface of the hollow conical container C1. Thus, the holding of the hollow conical container C1 is more stable.

[0091] In addition, in the present embodiment, the cone holder portion 51 has a protruding portion 512 and is formed to penetrate the cup holder bottom 522 of the cup holder portion 52. However, it is not limited thereto, and the protruding portion 512 may not be provided. In the above case, the upper end of the cone holder portion 51 is connected to the lower surface of the cup holder bottom 522.

[0092] In the present embodiment, two slit portions 54 are provided, but it is not limited thereto, and one or three or more slit portions may be provided. In addition, the slit portion 54 may not be provided. In the above case, although not shown, the cone holder portion 51 is formed as a cylindrical shape without a cut. In addition, the cup holder main body portion 521 of the cup holder portion 52 is formed as a single cylindrical shape, and the cup holder bottom 522 is formed as an annular plate. In addition, in the above case, the container holder 5 has a double-layered cylindrical portion formed by the cone holder portion 51 and the cup holder main body portion 521 of the cup holder portion 52. In addition, the container holder 5 may not have the guide portions 55. In addition, the cone holder portion 51 and the cup holder main body portion 521 of the cup holder portion 52 are not limited to a cylindrical shape and may be formed as a polygonal cylindrical shape.

[0093] In addition, the hollow conical container C1 is an edible container, but is not limited thereto. For example, it can also be an inedible container made of a plastic material or the like. In addition, the cup-shaped container C2 can also be an edible container. In addition, the cone holder portion 51 is not limited to the hollow conical container C1, and can also accommodate and hold a hollow frustoconical container. That is to say, the container C is not limited to two types. As long as it can accommodate and hold the cone holder 51 or the cup holder portion 52, it can also be three or more types. For example, the cone holder portion 51 is not limited to the hollow conical container C1 or a hollow conical container. For example, it can accommodate and hold a cup-shaped container having a diameter equivalent to the first diameter. Therefore, the cone holder portion 51 can hold a small-sized cup-shaped container, and the cup holder portion 52 can hold a large-sized cup-shaped container. Similarly, the cup holder portion 52 is not limited to the cup-shaped container C2. For example, it can receive and hold a hollow frustoconical container having a diameter equivalent to the second diameter. That is to say, the container holder 5 can also selectively hold containers of the same shape but different sizes. In addition, in this specification, "conical" includes not only a shape in which the front end of the cone tapers, but also a shape in which the front end of the cone is rounded or a shape in which the front end of the cone is formed flat. In addition, "frustoconical" includes a shape in which the bottom is spherical or a shape in which the bottom is polygonal.

[0094] The semi-solid food is soft ice cream, but is not limited thereto. As long as it is a food with fluidity, it is acceptable.

[0095] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention and their modified examples have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modified examples, and various deformations and changes can be made based on the technical concept of the present invention.

[0096] (Reference Signs)

[0097] 3a Extrusion port; 5 Container holder; 51 Cone holder portion (first holder portion); 512 Protrusion; 52 Cup holder portion (second holder portion); 521 Cup holder main body portion (holder main body portion); 522 Cup holder bottom (holder bottom); 54 Slit portion; 55 Guide portion; 100 Semi-solid food extrusion device; C Container; C1 Hollow conical container (container including the first main body portion); C2 Cup-shaped container (container including the second main body portion).

Claims

1. A semi-solid food extrusion device that extrudes semi-solid food from an extrusion outlet. It is characterized in that it includes a container holder that is arranged below the extrusion outlet and can hold a variety of containers with different diameters for filling with semi-solid food extruded from the extrusion outlet. The container holder has: a cylindrical first holder part that can receive and hold a container including a cylindrical first main body part with a first diameter; and a second holder part that is arranged around a part on the upper end side of the first holder part and can receive and hold a container including a cylindrical second main body part with a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The second holder part has a holder main body part that is located outside the first holder part; and a holder bottom that connects between the lower end of the holder main body part and the outer peripheral surface of the first holder part. The container holder has a slit part that is cut upward at the upper end of the first holder part and the upper end of the second holder part, and the slit part is cut from a specified position in the vertical direction in the first holder part through the second holder part. The lower end of the slit part that cuts the first holder part is located below the holder bottom.

2. The semi-solid food extrusion device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first holder part has a protruding part that protrudes more upward than the holder bottom of the second holder part.

3. The semi-solid food extrusion device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container holder has a plurality of guiding parts that are formed at intervals along the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the first holder and guide the lower end side part of the outer peripheral surface of the container including the first main body part.

4. The semi-solid food extrusion device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first holder part is formed in a cylindrical shape and can receive and hold a hollow conical container, and the second holder part can receive and hold a cup-shaped container.

5. The semi-solid food extrusion device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first holder part is formed in a cylindrical shape and can receive and hold a hollow conical container, and the second holder part can receive and hold a cup-shaped container.

6. The semi-solid food extrusion device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the semi-solid food is soft ice cream.

7. The semi-solid food extrusion device according to claim 3, characterized in that the semi-solid food is soft ice cream.

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