Gate assembly for forming and stuffing food

Abstract

A gate assembly for pressing an outer skin material that rises around an inner material against the inner material to form a stuffed food product in which the outer skin material covers the inner material includes a plurality of gate pieces arranged in a circumferential direction. The plurality of gate pieces include a first gate piece and a second gate piece. The first gate piece includes a first portion that presses the main body of the stuffed food product and a second portion that presses the shoulder of the stuffed food product. The second gate piece includes a first portion that presses the main body of the stuffed food product without contacting the shoulder of the stuffed food product. The first portion of the first gate piece and the first portion of the second gate piece constitute an opening of the gate assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for forming stuffed food (such as siomai) and a device thereof. The stuffed food is formed by wrapping inner material with outer skin material. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a forming device for siomai (stuffed food), comprising an extrusion device for extruding an inner material and a turntable disposed below the extrusion device, the turntable having a groove for receiving the inner material. A siomai wrapper, serving as the outer skin, is placed on the groove and inserted into the groove via a tube of the extrusion device, forming a cup. The inner material is then extruded from the tube and filled into the inner side of the cup-shaped outer skin, forming the stuffed food with a head portion exposed by the inner material. The formed stuffed food is then removed from the turntable.

[0003] In this forming device, the stuffing food can only be formed into a cylindrical shape. In addition, because the peripheral portion of the siomai wrapper is more prominent upward than the inner material, the peripheral portion is bent towards the inner material by artificial means, so that it is sealed with the inner material (with reference to patent documentation 1).

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a device for forming stuffed foods such as shumai and baozi. The device comprises: a plurality of skin-collecting members that can be opened and closed to capture shumai wrappers, to which inner fillings are supplied, from the sides, thereby forming the stuffed foods with exposed inner fillings at the top; and a plurality of shaping members that can be opened and closed to trim the upper portion of the shumai wrappers. The device is configured so that the opening and closing of the skin-collecting members and the shaping members are linked via a linkage mechanism.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a device for forming stuffed foods such as Chinese steamed buns. The device comprises: a gate device that gathers the peripheral edge of a flat outer skin material, on which an inner material is placed, above the inner material and seals it in a protruding shape to form the stuffed food; and an anti-stretching device that prevents the outer skin material of the stuffed food, which is placed below the gate device, from stretching outward. The gate device comprises a plurality of freely openable and closable gate pieces, and the anti-stretching device comprises a plurality of freely openable and closable anti-stretching gate pieces.

[0006] The gate device gathers and seals the outer skin material around the inner material, forming the head of the stuffed food. In the anti-stretching device, when the inner material is fed into the outer skin material, the top end of the anti-stretching gate piece is set to a predetermined width, pressing against the food ingredient sheet to prevent the outer skin material, which forms the main body of the stuffed food, from stretching outward (Patent Document 3).

[0007] Patent Document 4 discloses a forming device for forming stuffed foods such as sandwich bread. The forming device includes a gate device that seals the periphery of a flat outer skin material on which an inner material is placed. The gate device includes a plurality of freely openable and closable gate pieces. The gate pieces have a front edge portion that closes first during the closing operation of the gate device, and a rear edge portion that closes later than the front edge portion.

[0008] During this closing action, the gate device gathers and seals (closes) the peripheral edges of the food material sheets with the rear edge of the gate piece so as to cover the inner material. The forming device forms the head of the stuffed food so that the food material sheets do not protrude above the gate piece, thereby enveloping the inner material with the outer skin material and forming it.

[0009] Prior art literature

[0010] Patent Literature

[0011] Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 3-114996

[0012] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-021581

[0013] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-178687

[0014] Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-052299 Summary of the Invention

[0015] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0016] The forming devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 form stuffed foods of a single size. When the size of the stuffed foods is changed, components related thereto must be replaced, and therefore, the forming devices lack versatility.

[0017] The forming device described in Patent Document 2 must include a plurality of skin collecting members and a plurality of shaping members, and therefore has a complicated structure.

[0018] The forming device described in Patent Document 3 must include two devices, namely, a gate device for forming the head of the stuffed food and an anti-stretching device for pressing against the main body of the stuffed food, and therefore has a complicated structure.

[0019] The forming device described in Patent Document 4 includes a gate device for forming the head of the stuffed food, but the gate device does not come into contact with the main body of the stuffed food.

[0020] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a gate assembly, a method for forming a stuffed food, and a forming device thereof, which can reliably press an outer skin material toward an inner material.

[0021] Solutions for solving problems

[0022] The present invention is a method for forming stuffed food, which includes the following steps: by closing a gate assembly including a first gate piece and a second gate piece, the peripheral edge of an outer skin material provided with an inner material is pressed toward the inner material using the inner side surface of each gate piece, and the second gate piece presses the stuffed food using the inner side surface having a smaller upper and lower range than that of the first gate piece.

[0023] Preferably, the first shutter piece presses the main body and shoulder of the stuffed food, and the second shutter piece presses the main body of the stuffed food at a location different from the main body pressed by the first shutter piece.

[0024] Preferably, the outer skin material is a polygon having corners and / or legs, and the first shutter piece presses a peripheral edge portion of the outer skin material including the corners or legs.

[0025] Preferably, the peripheral edge portion of the outer skin material is pressed by the first shutter pieces and the second shutter pieces that are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction.

[0026] Preferably, the method includes, before the pressing step, a step of raising the peripheral edge of the outer skin material around the inner material using a peripheral edge raising member.

[0027] Preferably, before the pressing step, the method includes a step of passing a central portion of the outer skin material on which the inner material is arranged through a hole of a placing member to thereby raise a peripheral portion of the outer skin material upwardly from the placing member.

[0028] Preferably, a central portion of the outer skin material is thicker than portions other than the central portion.

[0029] In addition, a forming device for stuffed food comprises: a gate assembly, which includes a first gate piece and a second gate piece; and a driving device, which causes the gate assembly to open and close, the first gate piece and the second gate piece have inner side surfaces that press the peripheral edge of the outer skin material on which the inner material is arranged toward the inner material, and the inner side surface of the second gate piece is formed to be lower than the inner side surface of the first gate piece.

[0030] Preferably, the inner surface of the first gate piece has a first inner surface inclined outward from the top of the first gate piece toward the bottom, and a second inner surface extending from the first inner surface to the bottom surface of the first gate piece, and the second gate piece has an inner surface formed in the same shape as the second inner surface of the first gate piece.

[0031] Preferably, the shutter assembly is arranged so that the first shutter piece corresponds to a corner portion and / or a leg portion of the outer skin material.

[0032] Preferably, the first gate pieces and the second gate pieces of the gate assembly are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction.

[0033] Preferably, the device further includes a peripheral edge raising member for raising the peripheral edge of the outer skin material around the inner material.

[0034] Preferably, the device includes a placement member having a hole at the center and on which the outer skin material on which the inner material is placed is placed.

[0035] Preferably, there is provided a means for molding the central portion of the outer skin material to be thicker than portions other than the central portion.

[0036] Effects of the Invention

[0037] According to the present invention, when a gate comprising multiple shutter flaps is closed, the inner side surfaces of each shutter flap can be used to press the peripheral edge of the outer skin material, on which the inner material is disposed, toward the inner material. Furthermore, this pressing action can fold the outer skin material, which deforms into a wavy shape when viewed from above. This allows for the formation of a stuffed food product in which the outer skin material and the inner material are tightly bonded. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Figure 1 It is a schematic front view of a stuffed food forming apparatus having a shutter device including a shutter assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic top view of a forming device.

[0040] Figure 3 It is expressed by expanding (opening) the opening formed by multiple gate pieces. Figure 1 A schematic top view of the main parts of the gate device of the forming device.

[0041] Figure 4 It indicates the state of shrinking (closing in a non-sealed manner) the opening formed by multiple gate pieces. Figure 1 A schematic top view of the main parts of the gate device of the forming device.

[0042] Figure 5A yes Figure 1 A schematic top view of the first gate piece in the gate assembly of the forming device.

[0043] Figure 5B yes Figure 5A A schematic front view of the first gate piece.

[0044] Figure 5C yes Figure 5A A schematic bottom view of the first gate piece.

[0045] Figure 5D yes Figure 5A A schematic side view of the first gate piece.

[0046] Figure 6 yes Figure 5A A bottom side perspective view of the first gate piece.

[0047] Figure 7A yes Figure 1 A schematic top view of the second gate piece in the gate assembly of the forming device.

[0048] Figure 7B Yes Figure 7A A schematic front view of the second gate piece.

[0049] Figure 7C yes Figure 7A A schematic bottom view of the second gate piece.

[0050] Figure 7D yes Figure 7A A schematic side view of the second gate piece.

[0051] Figure 8 yes Figure 7A A bottom side perspective view of the second gate piece.

[0052] Figure 9A It means by Figure 1 A schematic top view of a forming process of a stuffed food performed by a covering device of a forming device.

[0053] Figure 9B It indicates the first gate piece Figure 9A A schematic front view of the forming process.

[0054] Figure 9C It indicates the second gate piece Figure 9A A schematic front view of the forming process.

[0055] Figure 10A It means by Figure 1 A schematic top view of a forming process of a stuffed food performed by a covering device of a forming device.

[0056] Figure 10B It indicates the first gate piece Figure 10A A schematic front view of the forming process.

[0057] Figure 10C It indicates the second gate piece Figure 10AA schematic front view of the forming process.

[0058] Figure 11A This is a schematic plan view of a wrapper material used in a method for forming a stuffed food product using a shutter assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Figure 11B This is a schematic front view showing a molding process of a method for molding a stuffed food product using a shutter assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and showing a first shutter piece and a second shutter piece.

[0060] Figure 12 It is a schematic front view of a filling food forming apparatus using a shutter assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 A schematic top view of a forming device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] Reference Figure 1 to Figure 1 0, a first embodiment of the present invention is described, which includes a device 1 for forming a stuffed food product using a gate assembly. The device 1 is used to form a stuffed food product P in which an inner material F is enclosed by an outer skin material D. For example, the outer skin material D is a thin sheet of shumai (shumai wrapper), the inner material F is prepared meat (filling), and the stuffed food product P is shumai. The outer skin material D is square and includes a central portion DC and a peripheral portion DD excluding the central portion DC. The central portion DC is located near the center of the outer skin material D and constitutes the bottom surface PU of the stuffed food product P. The peripheral portion DD includes four corner portions DE that form the perimeter of the four corners.

[0063] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The forming device 1 includes an internal material supply device 2 and a coating device 3. The coating device 3 includes a base 21, a plurality of devices mounted on the base 21, namely a supply conveyor 23, a gate device 25, a support device 29, a delivery conveyor 31, and a control device 33 for controlling the above-mentioned devices.

[0064] The internal material supply device 2 includes a belt conveyor 6 that conveys the outer skin material D formed into a thin sheet; a discharge unit 7 that supplies the internal material F onto the upper surface of the outer skin material D; and a supply device 8 that delivers the internal material F to the discharge unit 7. The discharge unit 7 includes a nozzle 9 that can be raised and lowered, and the nozzle 9 has a discharge port 10 at its lower end. The discharge unit 7 is configured to intermittently discharge a desired amount of the internal material F from the discharge port 10.

[0065] The supply conveyor 23 is a belt conveyor for supplying the outer skin material D supplied with the inner material F to the gate device 25, and its top end portion 24 is configured to be able to move between an entry position (not shown) and a standby position (see FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 2 ) reciprocating motion between.

[0066] Moreover, refer to Figures 3 and 4 The gate device 25 includes a bottom plate 26 detachably mounted on the base 21 , a hole plate 27 (a mounting member, a mounting plate) detachably (replaceably) mounted on the bottom plate 26 , eight rotating shafts 15 , and a gate assembly 11 .

[0067] The perforated plate 27 is configured to hold the outer skin material D. A circular hole 28 is formed in the center of the perforated plate 27. The diameter of the hole 28 is selected based on the size of the stuffed food product P to be formed. Eight rotating shafts 15 are arranged at equal intervals on a virtual circle CC around the center C of the hole 28, surrounding the center C. The rotating shafts 15 are connected to a suitable drive device via a linkage mechanism such as gears.

[0068] The gate assembly 11 includes four first gate pieces 4 and four second gate pieces 5. The first gate pieces 4 and the second gate pieces 5 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction and are connected to the rotating shaft 15 by means of a connecting member 13. The first gate pieces 4 and the second gate pieces 5 are configured so that they can be synchronously swung by a driving device, thereby expanding and contracting (opening and closing) the opening 61 surrounded by the first gate pieces 4 and the second gate pieces 5. The first gate pieces 4 and the second gate pieces 5 are slightly separated from the common upper surface of the bottom plate 26 and the orifice plate 27 (at Figure 9B The first shutter piece 4 and the second shutter piece 5 are shown in the figure in contact with each other. Details of the first shutter piece 4 and the second shutter piece 5 will be described later.

[0069] The support device 29 is a belt conveyor disposed below the gate device 25, and is configured to support the central portion DC of the outer skin material D constituting the bottom surface PU of the stuffed food P and to convey the stuffed food P to the delivery conveyor 31. The support device 29 has a ring-shaped conveyor belt 29A that is wound around a plurality of rollers and is intermittently driven. The support device 29 is configured to be able to be raised and lowered, and therefore, for example, is connected to a drive device such as a servo motor in a manner linked to the servo motor. The rising end position, the falling end position, the lifting speed of the support device 29, and the driving timing and driving speed of the conveyor belt 29A can be adjusted (see Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).

[0070] The delivery conveyor 31 is a belt conveyor arranged adjacent to the downstream side of the support device 29 which has been lowered to the lower end position. The delivery conveyor 31 is configured to receive the stuffed food P from the support device 29 and deliver it to the downstream side (see Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).

[0071] Next, refer to Figures 5A to 8 , the first gate piece 4 and the second gate piece 5 are described in detail.

[0072] The first shutter piece 4 includes: a top surface 4T; a bottom surface 4U; an inner side surface 4F located between the top and bottom surfaces 4T and configured to contact the outer skin material D; an outer side surface 4G that, together with the inner side surface 4F, forms a top edge 4C; a side surface 4I adjacent to the inner side surface 4F and configured to be recessed relative to the inner side surface 4F; and other side surfaces 4S. The top edge 4C is preferably positioned so that, when viewed from above, it passes through the center C of the opening 61 of the shutter assembly 11 when the first shutter piece 4 is swung.

[0073] The lower surface 4U and the other side surfaces 4S are provided with a drive mounting portion 4H mounted on the connecting member 13. The drive mounting portion 4H is, for example, a recess or a hole, and is conventionally known, so a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0074] The inner side surface 4F includes an upper portion 41, a lower portion 45 located below the upper portion 41, and an intermediate portion 43 located between the upper portion 41 and the lower portion 45 (see FIG. Figure 5D ).

[0075] Mainly as Figure 5B and Figure 6 As shown, the upper portion 41 is primarily composed of an upper edge 4A, a lower edge 41D (common to the upper edge 43A of the middle portion 43), and a top edge 41C. The top edge 4A extends from a base end 41B to a top end 41E and is convex and arc-shaped when viewed from above. The upper portion 41 is a curved surface with a uniform contour in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the top edge 41C of the upper portion 41 is perpendicular to the upper surface 4T and forms a portion of the top edge 4C of the first shutter piece 4.

[0076] The middle portion 43 is mainly composed of an upper edge 43A (common to the lower edge 41D of the upper portion 41), a lower edge 43D, and a top edge 43C. The upper edge 43A extends from the base end 43B to the top end 43E and is convex and arc-shaped when viewed from above. The middle portion 43 extends obliquely downward from the upper edge 43A to the lower edge 43D toward the lower portion 45 in a retracted manner, that is, it is inclined toward the outside of the hole 28. The lower edge 43D extends from the base end 43F to the top end 45E and is convex and arc-shaped when viewed from above. When viewed from above, the length of the lower edge 43D is longer than the length of the upper edge 43A. The top edge 43C of the middle portion 43 is a curve that extends obliquely from the top end 43E (upper end) to the top end 45E (lower end) relative to the vertical direction, and constitutes a part of the top edge 4C of the first gate piece 4. Furthermore, in a plan view, the width of the lower edge 43D that is set back relative to the upper edge 43A becomes wider from the base end 43B toward the top end 43E. Figure 5B and Figure 5C As shown, when viewed from the front or from below, the middle portion 43 is projected as a substantially trapezoidal shape with the upper edge 43A serving as the upper base and the lower edge 43D serving as the lower base. In this embodiment, the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the middle portion 43 is a concave curve, but it may be a straight line, a curved line, or a combination thereof.

[0077] The lower portion 45 , together with a lower portion 55 of the second shutter piece 5 described later, constitutes the opening 61 of the shutter assembly 11 , and includes an upper vertical portion 451 and a lower inclined portion 453 .

[0078] The vertical portion 451 is mainly composed of an upper edge 45A (the top side of which is common to the lower edge 43D of the middle portion 43), a lower edge 453A, and a top edge 451C. The upper edge 45A extends from the base end 45B to the top end 45E and is convex and arc-shaped when viewed from above. A portion of the upper edge 45A is common to the lower edge 43D of the middle portion 43. The lower edge 453A extends from the base end 453B to the top end 453E. The vertical portion 451 is a curved surface that extends downward from the upper edge 45A to the lower edge 453A and has the same contour shape in the vertical direction. The top edge 451C of the vertical portion 451 extends from the top end 45E (upper end) to the top end 453E (lower end) in the vertical direction. The top edge 451C is a straight line and constitutes a portion of the top edge 4C of the first gate piece 4.

[0079] The lower inclined portion 453 is mainly composed of an upper edge (common to the lower edge 453A of the vertical portion 451), a lower edge 4D, and a top edge 453C. The lower edge 4D extends from the base end 453F to the top end 453G and is convex and arc-shaped when viewed from above. The lower inclined portion 453 is an inclined surface that extends obliquely downward from the vertical portion 451 to the lower surface 4U in a manner that is indented relative to the vertical portion 451. The lower inclined portion 453 and the lower surface 4U intersect at the lower edge 4D. In this embodiment, the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the lower inclined portion 453 is a convex curve, but it can be a straight line, a curved line, or a combination thereof. The top edge 453C of the lower inclined portion 453 is a curve that extends obliquely relative to the vertical direction from the top end 453E (the upper end, the lower end of the top edge 451C of the vertical portion 451) to the top end 453G (the lower end), and constitutes a part of the top edge 4C of the first gate piece 4. That is, the top edge 45C of the lower portion 45 is composed of the top edge 451C of the vertical portion 451 and the top edge 453C of the lower inclined portion 453. Figure 5A and Figure 5C As shown, in a plan view, the width of the lower edge 45D that is set back relative to the upper edge 45A becomes wider from the base end 45B toward the top end 45E.

[0080] The outer side surface 4G of the first shutter piece 4 only needs to be configured so as not to hinder the swinging of the second shutter piece 5 described later when opening and closing the shutter assembly 11. In the present embodiment, the outer side surface 4G is concave in a plan view.

[0081] Mainly as Figure 7B and Figure 8 As shown, the second shutter piece 5 has: an upper surface 5T; a lower surface 5U; an inner side surface 5F, which is located at a position separated from the upper surface 5T and adjacent to the lower surface 5U and is configured to contact the outer skin material D; an outer side surface 5G, which forms a top edge 5C together with the inner side surface 5F; a side surface 5I, which is adjacent to the inner side surface 5F and the outer side surface 5G and is configured to be indented relative to the inner side surface 5F and the outer side surface 5G; and other side surfaces 5S. Preferably, the position of the top edge 5C (the top edge of the lower side portion 55 described later) when viewed from above is set so that when the second shutter piece 5 is swung, the top edge 5C passes through the center C of the opening 61 of the shutter assembly 11.

[0082] The lower surface 5U and the other side surfaces 5S are provided with a drive attachment portion 5H attached to the connecting member 13. The drive attachment portion 5H is formed in the same shape as the drive attachment portion 4H of the first shutter piece 4.

[0083] The inner side surface 5F is mainly composed of a lower portion 55 corresponding to the lower portion 45 of the first shutter piece 4. Therefore, the upper edge 55A of the inner side surface 5F of the second shutter piece 5 is located lower than the upper edge 4A of the inner side surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4. In addition, the top edge 5C of the second shutter piece 5 is formed between the top end 55E of the upper edge 55A and the top end 553G of the lower edge 5D.

[0084] The lower portion 55, together with the lower portion 45 of the first shutter piece 4, forms the opening 61 of the shutter assembly 11 and includes an upper vertical portion 551 and a downwardly inclined portion 553. The vertical portion 551 and the downwardly inclined portion 553 are respectively formed in the same shape as the vertical portion 451 and the downwardly inclined portion 453 of the first shutter piece 4.

[0085] Specifically, the vertical portion 551 is primarily composed of an upper edge 55A, a lower edge 553A, and a top edge 551C. The upper edge 55A extends from the base end 55B to the top end 55E and is convex and arc-shaped when viewed from above. The lower edge 553A extends from the base end 553B to the top end 553E. The vertical portion 551 is a curved surface extending downward from the upper edge 55A to the lower edge 553A and having the same contour shape in the vertical direction. The top edge 551C of the vertical portion 551 extends vertically from the top end 55E (upper end) to the top end 553E (lower end). The top edge 551C is a straight line and constitutes a portion of the top edge 5C of the second gate piece 5.

[0086] The lower inclined portion 553 is mainly composed of an upper edge (the lower edge 553A of the vertical portion 551), a lower edge 5D and a top edge 553C. The lower edge 5D extends from the base end 553F to the top end 553G, and is convex and arc-shaped when viewed from above. The lower inclined portion 553 is an inclined surface that extends obliquely downward from the vertical portion 551 to the lower surface 5U in a manner that is indented relative to the vertical portion 551. The lower inclined portion 553 and the lower surface 5U intersect at the lower edge 5D. In this embodiment, the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the lower inclined portion 553 is a convex curve, but it can be a straight line or a bending line that is a combination of them. The top edge 553C of the lower inclined portion 553 is a curve that extends obliquely relative to the up and down directions from the top end 553E (upper end) to the top end 553G (lower end), and constitutes a part of the top edge 5C of the second gate piece 5. That is, the top edge 5C of the second shutter piece 5 (the top edge of the lower portion 55) is composed of the top edge 551C of the vertical portion 551 and the top edge 553C of the downwardly inclined portion 553. Figure 7A and Figure 7C As shown, in a plan view, the width of the lower edge 5D of the lower portion 55 that is recessed relative to the upper edge 55A becomes wider from the base end 55B toward the top end 55E.

[0087] The outer side surface 5G of the second shutter piece 5 only needs to be formed so as not to hinder the swinging of the first shutter piece 4 when opening and closing the shutter assembly 11. In the present embodiment, the outer side surface 5G is concave in a plan view.

[0088] When the gate assembly 11 is opened or closed, the top edge 45C of the lower portion 45 of the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4 is configured to contact and slide with the inner side surface 5F (lower portion 55) of the adjacent second gate piece 5, and the top edge 5C of the inner side surface 5F (lower portion 55) of the second gate piece 5 is configured to contact and slide with the lower portion 45 of the inner side surface 4F of the adjacent first gate piece 4. At this time, the lower portion 45 of the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4 and the inner side surface 5F (lower portion 55) of the second gate piece 5 swing toward or away from the center C of the hole 28 of the orifice plate 27, thereby narrowing or widening the opening 61 of the gate assembly 11.

[0089] Next, a description will be given of a process for forming the stuffed food product P by the forming device 1 including the shutter assembly 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] The square outer skin material D is placed on the conveying surface of the belt conveyor 6 of the internal material supply device 2. As described later, the outer skin material D is placed so that the four corners DE of the outer skin material D transferred to the orifice plate 27 are opposite to the inner side surfaces 4F of the four first shutter pieces 4.

[0091] Start driving the belt conveyor 6 at the set timing. Temporarily stop conveying the outer skin material D at a position where the center of the outer skin material D (intersection of the diagonal lines) coincides with the center of the nozzle 9's ejection port 10. Spray the required amount of inner material F from the nozzle 9's ejection port 10 onto the upper surface of the outer skin material D, and then cut the inner material F from the nozzle 9 so that the inner material F is placed on the outer skin material D (internal material placing process or internal material placement process). The outer skin material D with the inner material F is conveyed to the supply conveyor 23 of the coating device 3 by the belt conveyor 6 (refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 ) It is desirable that the diameter of the ejected internal material F is smaller than the diameter of the hole 28 of the orifice plate 27 when viewed from above.

[0092] The top end 24 of the supply conveyor 23 moves to cover the top of the gate assembly 11 and stops at the extended entry position. Then, the outer skin material D is conveyed to a position where its center coincides with the center of the opening 61 of the gate assembly 11, that is, the center C of the hole 28 of the orifice plate 27, and is temporarily stopped at this position.

[0093] The top end 24 is suddenly retracted to the standby position, and the outer skin material D placed on the top end 24 is dropped into the opening 61 of the gate assembly 11 and transferred onto the orifice plate (loading member, loading plate) 27 (transfer process). At this time, the four corners DE of the outer skin material D placed on the orifice plate 27 are respectively opposite to the inner side surfaces 4F of the four first gate pieces 4.

[0094] Reference Figures 9A to 9C , the outer skin material D carrying the inner material F is made to fall in the opening 61, and the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D is made to fall on the orifice plate 27. Thereafter, the central portion DC of the outer skin material D carrying the inner material F is made to pass through the hole 28 of the orifice plate 27 and is supported on the support device 29 that is on standby at a position at a required distance from the upper surface of the orifice plate 27. At this time, the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D, which is close to the central portion DC, is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hole 28, so that the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D is bent in a manner that stands upright from the orifice plate 27. In this way, the bottom surface PU of the stuffed food P is formed. In addition, the peripheral portion DD gathers toward the center due to its upward standing, and is deformed into a wavy shape when viewed from above (standing process).

[0095] The closing action of the shutter assembly 11 is started by the driving mechanism. That is, the first shutter piece 4 and the second shutter piece 5 are synchronously rotated toward the center C (the opening 61 is narrowed). Figures 10A to 10C When the shutter assembly 11 is temporarily stopped after closing to a desired position without sealing the opening 61, the inner side surfaces 4F of the four first shutter pieces 4 and the inner side surfaces 5F of the four second shutter pieces 5 come into contact with the peripheral edge DD of the raised outer skin material D (a temporary stopping step of the closing operation). At this time, the inner side surfaces 4F and 5F press and fold the wavy peripheral edge DD inward, and make it tightly fit with the inner material F, thereby forming the stuffed food P (a covering step).

[0096] To explain in more detail, the first and second gate pieces 4, 5 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. Thus, the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4 contacts the peripheral edge DD of the outer skin material D, including the corner DE, while the inner side surface 5F of the second gate piece 5 contacts the peripheral edge DD located between the peripheral edge DD contacted by the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4, i.e., the peripheral edge DD excluding the corner DE. The lower portion 45 of the first gate piece 4 and the lower portion (inner side surface) 5F of the second gate piece 5 contact the peripheral edge DD located below the shoulder portion PB, pressing the main body PA of the stuffed food P throughout its entire circumference. In other words, the main body PA of the stuffed food P pressed by the lower portion (inner side surface) 5F of the second gate piece 5 is located in a different portion of the main body PA of the stuffed food P than the main body PA of the stuffed food P pressed by the lower portion 45 of the first gate piece 4. In this manner, the gate assembly 11 presses and folds the wavy peripheral edge portion DD, so that the stuffed food P forms a wrinkled pattern.

[0097] Furthermore, the middle portion 43 of the first shutter piece 4 contacts the peripheral edge DD of the outer skin material D, including the corner DE, pressing the area around the shoulder PB of the stuffed food product P. Furthermore, the lower portion 55 of the second shutter piece 4 is configured so as not to contact the shoulder PB (internal material F) of the stuffed food product P and thus not press the shoulder PB. The bottom surface PU of the stuffed food product P is supported by the support device 29, while the main body PA and shoulder PB of the stuffed food product P are pressed by the shutter assembly 11. Thus, the stuffed food product P can be formed in which the outer skin material D and internal material F are tightly bonded (pressing process).

[0098] Preferably, the gate assembly 11 (the first gate piece 4 and the second gate piece 5) is configured so as not to come into contact with the inner material F of the stuffed food P. Specifically, the middle portion 43 of the first gate piece is formed into a roughly trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front and from above to accommodate the peripheral edge portion DD of the outer skin material D, including the corner DE. In addition, the inner side surface (lower side portion) 5F of the second gate piece 5 does not have a portion corresponding to the upper side portion 41 and the middle portion 43 of the first gate piece 4 and is lower than the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4. In other words, the upper and lower range of the inner side surface (lower side portion) 5F of the second gate piece 5 that presses the stuffed food is smaller than the upper and lower range of the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4. As a result, the head PC of the stuffed food P is not covered by the outer skin material D. Furthermore, at the shoulder portion PB of the stuffed food P above the inner side surface (lower portion) 5F of the second shutter piece 5, the inner material F is exposed from between the peripheral edge portions DD of the gathered outer skin material D (see Figure 10C ).

[0099] Next, the gate assembly 11 is rotated away from the center C, that is, in the opposite direction to the closing action, to release the stuffed food P, and the support device 29 carrying the stuffed food P is lowered to the lowering stop position. The stuffed food P is then transferred from the support device 29 to the delivery conveyor 31 and then delivered to a secondary forming device or a heat treatment device (delivery process).

[0100] Next, refer to Figures 11A to 13 , a second embodiment of the present invention is described, which includes a gate assembly and a forming device 101 for a stuffed food product P. The same components of the forming device 101 of the second embodiment as those of the forming device 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the forming device 1, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Figure 11A As shown, the outer skin material D2 includes a central portion DC and a peripheral portion DD excluding the central portion DC. The central portion DC is located near the center of the outer skin material D2 and forms the bottom surface PU of the stuffed food product P. The peripheral portion DD includes three leg portions DF extending radially from the central portion DC and arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The outer skin material D2 has a generally polygonal shape (approximately a triangle).

[0101] The molding device 101 includes an internal material supply device 102 and a covering device 3 .

[0102] The internal material supply device 102 includes a supply device 8 disposed on the upper surface of the base 21 of the coating device 3. The nozzle 9 is positioned so that its center coincides with the center C of the hole 28 of the orifice plate 27 (the opening 61 opened and closed by the gate assembly 11). Furthermore, the nozzle 9 is connected to a lifting device 65, such as an air cylinder, and is configured to be able to enter and be raised within the opening 61. The nozzle 9's lowering stop position is set above the upper surface of the orifice plate 27 (the mounting member, the mounting plate).

[0103] The gate assembly 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes three first gate pieces 4 and three second gate pieces 5 , and the first gate pieces 4 and the second gate pieces 5 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction.

[0104] Next, a description will be given of a process for forming a stuffed food product P2 by a forming device 101 including a shutter assembly 11 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0105] The outer covering material D2 is manually placed on the supply conveyor 23 of the wrapping device 3. The supply conveyor 23 is operated in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, causing the outer covering material D2 to fall into the opening 61 of the gate assembly 11 and be transferred onto the orifice plate (loading member, loading plate) 27 (transfer process). Furthermore, the outer covering material D2 transferred to the orifice plate 27 is placed so that the three legs DF of the outer covering material D2 face the inner side surfaces 4F of the three first gate pieces 4, respectively.

[0106] The lifting device 65 is operated to lower the nozzle 9 to the lowering stop position above the outer skin material D2 and stop. Next, the required amount of the inner material F is ejected from the ejection port 10 (inner material loading process or inner material configuration process). Figure 11B As shown, by ejecting the inner material F toward the center of the outer skin material D2, the central portion DC of the outer skin material D2 is pressed in such a manner that it passes through the hole 28 of the orifice plate 27, so that the central portion DC of the outer skin material D2 is supported on the supporting device 29. At this time, as in the first embodiment, the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D2 is raised upward from the orifice plate 27. In this way, the bottom surface PU of the stuffed food P is formed. In addition, the peripheral portion DD is deformed into a wavy shape when viewed from above (raising process). Thereafter, the nozzle 9 is raised to the rising stop position (refer to Figure 12 ).

[0107] The gate assembly 11 begins to close through the driving mechanism, shrinking the opening 61. The first gate piece 4 and the second gate piece 5 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, and the first gate piece 4 is arranged in a manner opposite to the foot DF of the outer skin material D2. As a result, the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4 contacts the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D including the foot DF, and the inner side surface 5F of the second gate piece 5 contacts the peripheral portion DD located between the peripheral portion DD contacted by the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4, that is, the peripheral portion DD excluding the foot DF. The lower side portion 45 of the first gate piece 4 and the lower side portion (inner side surface) 5F of the second gate piece 5 contact the peripheral portion DD located below the shoulder portion PB, pressing the main body PA of the stuffed food P2 throughout the entire circumference. That is, the main body PA of the stuffed food P pressed by the lower portion (inner surface) 5F of the second shutter piece 5 is a different portion of the main body PA of the stuffed food P than the main body PA of the stuffed food P pressed by the lower portion 45 of the first shutter piece 4. In this way, the shutter assembly 11 presses and folds the wavy peripheral edge DD inward.

[0108] Furthermore, the middle portion 43 of the first shutter piece 4 contacts the peripheral edge DD of the outer skin material D2, including the foot portion DF, pressing the area around the shoulder portion PB of the stuffed food product P2. The bottom surface PU of the stuffed food product P is supported by the support device 29, while the main body PA and shoulder portion PB of the stuffed food product P are pressed by the shutter assembly 11. Thus, the stuffed food product P2 is formed in which the outer skin material D2 and the inner material F are tightly bonded (wrapping process / pressing process).

[0109] The shutter assembly 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been roughly described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0110] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the shape of the outer skin material is a square with four corners DE or a roughly triangular shape with three feet DF, but it can be a regular polygon such as an equilateral triangle or a regular hexagon, or another roughly polygonal shape with multiple feet, or a roughly polygonal shape with corners and feet. In addition, the outer skin material may be a shape in which the distance from its center to the periphery is not constant, that is, it is not a circular shape (the portion with a relatively long distance from the center to the periphery corresponds to the feet). In this case, it is preferred that the gate assembly include a first gate piece and a second gate piece corresponding to the number of corners and / or feet. In other words, the first gate piece and the second gate piece arranged in the circumferential direction may not be arranged alternately.

[0111] Furthermore, the gate pieces are not limited to two, and a variety of gate pieces can be appropriately selected depending on the size (length) of the peripheral portion of the raised outer skin material in the stuffed food. In other words, the gate assembly may include, for example, one or more first gate pieces for pressing the shoulder and body of the stuffed food and / or one or more second gate pieces for pressing the body of the stuffed food.

[0112] Alternatively, the inner side surface (lower portion) 5F of the second gate piece 5 may not be the same shape as the lower portion 45 of the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4. Specifically, the inner side surface (lower portion) 5F of the second gate piece 5 is formed based on the height of the peripheral edge portion DD of the outer skin material D, D2 rising from the upper surface of the support member (orifice plate 27). For example, the upper end of the inner side surface (lower portion) 5F of the second gate piece may be lower than the upper end of the middle portion 43 of the first gate piece (i.e., higher than the upper end of the lower portion 45), and / or the lower end of the inner side surface (lower portion) 5F of the second gate piece may be higher than the lower end of the lower portion 45 of the first gate piece. In this case, the upper and lower range of the inner side surface of the second gate piece, which presses the stuffed food, is smaller than the upper and lower range of the inner side surface of the first gate piece 4.

[0113] Furthermore, the inner side surface 4F of the first gate piece 4, which presses the peripheral edge portion DD including the corner portion DE against the internal material F, only needs to have a middle portion 43. In other words, the inner side surface of the first gate piece may be configured as a whole to incline outward from the top toward the bottom of the first gate piece. In this case, the middle portion of the first gate piece includes a portion that presses the main body of the stuffed food and a portion that presses the shoulder. Furthermore, preferably, the inner side surface of the second gate piece is configured to correspond to a portion of the inner side surface of the first gate piece (the portion that presses the main body of the stuffed food).

[0114] Furthermore, in order to form stuffed foods P of various sizes, the size of the opening 61 may be adjusted by controlling the closing action of the gate assembly 11 .

[0115] Furthermore, in the forming apparatuses 1 and 101, a placement member 27 having a hole 28 is used as a peripheral portion raising member (peripheral portion raising means) for raising the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D around the inner material F. However, for example, the peripheral portion raising member (peripheral portion raising means) may be a plurality of rod-shaped or plate-shaped members penetrating the holes of a table on which the outer skin material D with the inner material F is placed, and may be raised and lowered from below the table, or compressed air may be ejected upward from the holes of the table.

[0116] In addition, an embodiment of forming siomai by using the outer skin material D as siomai skin is described, but it is also possible to form various stuffed foods. For example, it is also possible to form a stuffed food by using the outer skin material D as the raw material for Chinese steamed buns or pie raw materials and the internal material F as Chinese stuffing or fruit filling.

[0117] Alternatively, the central portion DC of the wrapper material D or D2 may be thicker than the surrounding portion (approximately the peripheral portion DD) excluding the central portion DC. By thickening the central portion DC, the thickness of the peripheral portion DD, which overlaps with the main body PA of the stuffed food product P or P2, is made similar to the thickness of the bottom surface, thereby improving the texture. Furthermore, this prevents the wrapper material on the bottom surface of the siomai from breaking when the siomai is steamed and peeled from the paper backing.

[0118] An example of an apparatus for forming the outer skin material D with a thicker center portion DC is a press mold device that presses and shapes a raw material mass. The press mold device comprises an upper mold and a horizontal mold surrounding the upper mold, with a recessed portion formed in the center of the lower surface of the upper mold. Another example is an apparatus that forms thicker portions of a strip of raw material at predetermined intervals and cuts the raw material into sheets. For example, this apparatus forms recessed portions on the circumferential surfaces of opposing calender rolls as the continuous strip of raw material is rolled.

[0119] Description of Reference Numerals

[0120] 4. 1st gate piece; 43. Middle part (Part 2); 43A. Upper edge; 43D. Lower edge; 45. Lower side part (Part 1); 5. 2nd gate piece; 5F. Lower side part (Part 1); 5I. Part (Part 2); 11. Gate assembly; 61. Opening; D, D2, Outer material; F, Inner material; P, P2, Stuffed food; PA, Main body; PB, Shoulder.

Claims

1. A gate assembly, which presses an outer skin material raised around the inner material toward the inner material in order to form a stuffed food in which an inner material is covered with an outer skin material, wherein: The gate assembly includes a plurality of gate plates arranged in a circumferential direction. The plurality of shutter pieces constitute an opening that can be expanded and contracted by swinging them, and the plurality of shutter pieces include a first shutter piece and a second shutter piece. The first shutter piece includes a first portion for pressing the main body of the stuffed food and a second portion for pressing the shoulder of the stuffed food. The second shutter piece has a first portion that presses the main body of the stuffed food without contacting the shoulder of the stuffed food. The opening is formed by the first portion of the first shutter piece and the first portion of the second shutter piece.

2. The gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The second portion of the first shutter piece has a surface that is inclined outward from the upper side toward the lower side, and is connected to the first portion of the first shutter piece.

3. The gate assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The inclined surface has an upper edge and a lower edge that is longer than the upper edge.

4. The gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The height of the first portion of the first shutter piece is the same as the height of the first portion of the second shutter piece.

5. The gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The second shutter piece further includes a second portion that is retracted relative to the first portion and located above the first portion.

6. The gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The first shutter pieces and the second shutter pieces are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction.

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