Skewering food manufacturing apparatus and skewering food manufacturing system

Abstract

A food skewer manufacturing apparatus and a food skewer manufacturing system are provided. The food skewer manufacturing apparatus does not impair the processability of the final processing roller and the final processing guide, is difficult to break, and can be easily loaded and unloaded. The final processing roller (60) is composed of a roller body (80) made of light metal and a pair of roller end panels (81) made of hard heavy metal. The pair of roller end panels (81) are respectively overlapped and fixed to both ends of the roller body (80) and integrated with the roller body (80). The final processing guide (61) is composed of a guide body (82) made of light metal and a pair of guide end panels (83) made of hard heavy metal. The pair of guide end panels (83) are respectively overlapped and fixed to both ends of the guide body (82) and integrated with the guide body (82).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus and system for manufacturing skewered foods such as meatballs. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a manufacturing apparatus for stringing multiple spherical balls arranged in a string on skewers. This apparatus includes a final processing roller (shaping roller) and a final processing guide (roller seat). Four rows of first forming grooves (shaping groove sections) are formed on the outer periphery of the final processing roller. The inner surface of the final processing guide faces the final processing roller and runs along its outer periphery. Second forming grooves (shaping groove sections) paired with the first forming grooves of the final processing roller are formed on the inner surface of the final processing guide. A forming passage (shaping section) is formed by the paired first and second forming grooves. If a rod-shaped ball blank (stringing rod-shaped ball blank) on the skewers passes through the forming passage by the rotation of the final processing roller, the stringing rod-shaped ball blank is divided into four, and each of the divided blanks is shaped into a round ball.

[0003] A processing plate is provided on the side of the forming passage for pressing the ends of the threaded rod-shaped pellet blanks into the forming passage. Because the ends of the threaded rod-shaped pellet blanks are pressed into the forming passage by the processing plate, the end face of the pellet opposite the processing plate can be finally processed into a smooth curved surface shape without bumps or depressions.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 3-24895 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] Typically, after the skewering of meatballs is completed, the final processing roller and final processing guide are removed from the base side for cleaning. In some cases, the removed final processing roller and final processing guide are also boiled for sterilization. After cleaning, the final processing roller and final processing guide are installed back onto the base side. Considering the ease of loading and unloading during cleaning and the manufacturability during device manufacturing, it is preferable to make the final processing roller and final processing guide from a lightweight metal such as aluminum alloy.

[0009] In addition, in order to improve the final processing effect of the processing plate on the end face of the ball, it is preferable to shorten the distance between the end face of the final processing roller on which the processing plate is arranged and the end edge of the first forming groove (roller end width) and the distance between the end face of the final processing guide on which the processing plate is arranged and the end edge of the second forming groove (guide end width).

[0010] However, if the width of the roller end and the width of the guide end are shortened, the end face edges of the final processing roller and the end face edges of the final processing guide are easily damaged during loading and unloading of the final processing roller and the final processing guide, or during boiling and sterilization.

[0011] Therefore, the first objective of the present invention is to provide a food skewer manufacturing apparatus that does not impair the processability of the final processing roller and the final processing guide, is difficult to break, and can be easily loaded and unloaded.

[0012] In addition, a second objective of the present invention is to provide a food skewer manufacturing system that can minimize the installation area, reduce the labor required when feeding raw food into the food skewer manufacturing device, minimize the generation of leftover material, and facilitate easy cleaning.

[0013] Methods for solving problems

[0014] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of the present invention is a food skewer manufacturing apparatus, which forms skewered food from non-spherical food preforms skewered on skewers, wherein the skewered food is a food in which two or more predetermined numbers of spherical food preforms are arranged in a string on the skewers, and wherein the food skewer manufacturing apparatus includes a final processing roller, a final processing guide, a first limiting member, and a second limiting member.

[0015] The final processing roller has a first forming mold on its outer peripheral surface and is rotatably supported on a base about a rotation axis. The first forming mold has a predetermined number of annular first forming grooves arranged axially along the rotation axis. The final processing guide is fixed to the base, and a second forming mold is located on the opposing surface of the final processing guide, opposite the outer peripheral surface of the final processing roller. The second forming mold extends radially outward from the first forming mold and in an arc shape, forming a forming passage between the second forming mold and the first forming mold. The second forming mold has a predetermined number of second forming grooves arranged axially and opposing the first forming grooves radially outward. The forming passage extends arc-shaped from an inlet opening at one circumferential end of the second forming mold to an outlet opening at the other circumferential end of the second forming mold. If the non-spherical food preform enters the forming passage from the inlet opening and is conveyed to the outlet opening by the rotating final processing roller, the non-spherical food preform is formed into the skewered food by the first forming die and the second forming die. The first restricting member is disposed adjacent to one side of the axial direction of the final processing roller and the final processing guide, and is fixed to the base side. It has a skewer movement groove for the skewer to move and narrows the opening width on one side of the axial direction of the forming passage. The second restricting member is disposed adjacent to the other side of the axial direction of the final processing roller and the final processing guide, and is fixed to the base side, closing the other side of the axial direction of the forming passage.

[0016] The final processing roller comprises a roller body made of a light metal and a pair of plate-shaped roller end panels made of a heavy metal harder than the roller body. The pair of roller end panels are respectively overlapped and fixed to at least the region constituting the first forming mold on both axial end faces of the roller body and are integrally formed with the roller body. The final processing guide comprises a guide body made of a light metal and a pair of plate-shaped guide end panels made of a heavy metal harder than the guide body. The pair of guide end panels are respectively overlapped and fixed to at least the region constituting the second forming mold on both axial end faces of the guide body and are integrally formed with the guide body.

[0017] The second aspect of the present invention is: based on the food skewer manufacturing apparatus of the first aspect, the thickness of the roller end panel is smaller than the distance between two adjacent first forming grooves, and the thickness of the guide end panel is smaller than the distance between two adjacent second forming grooves.

[0018] A third aspect of the present invention is a skewered food manufacturing system comprising: a skewered food manufacturing apparatus of the first or second aspect; and a food preform conveying device, wherein, in order to feed a food preform for forming the skewered food into the preform feeding hopper of the skewered food forming apparatus, the food preform conveying device conveys the food preform to a height position above the preform feeding hopper.

[0019] The food preform conveying device comprises: a preform feeding hopper, which is positioned at a height lower than the forming preform feeding hopper, and into which the food preform is fed; an extrusion unit, which extrudes the food preform fed into the preform feeding hopper as a continuous conveying object preform in a rod-shaped or strip-shaped state; and a lower conveyor, which has an upper surface of a conveyor belt forming a generally horizontally moving lower conveying surface, and conveys the conveying object preform extruded from the extrusion unit and falling onto the lower conveying surface in a generally horizontal direction toward the downstream end of the lower conveying surface while maintaining the continuous state; and an inclined... An inclined conveyor having an upper surface of a conveyor belt forming an inclined conveying surface that moves obliquely upward relative to the horizontal direction, the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface being disposed at a height position above the hopper for feeding the green blank, the green blank to be conveyed to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface and to the inclined conveying surface being continuously conveyed toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface; and a pressing conveying unit disposed opposite to at least the lower region of the inclined conveying surface, the pressing conveying unit being clamped between the pressing conveying unit and the inclined conveying surface while flattening and conveying obliquely upward.

[0020] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a skewered food manufacturing system, comprising: a skewered food manufacturing apparatus according to a first or second aspect; and a food preform conveying device, wherein, in order to feed a first food preform and a second food preform for forming the skewered food into a first accumulation area and a second accumulation area of ​​a preform feeding hopper of the skewered food forming apparatus, respectively, the food preform conveying device conveys the food preform to a height position above the preform feeding hopper.

[0021] The food preform conveying device comprises: a first preform feeding hopper, which is positioned at a height lower than the forming preform feeding hopper, and into which the first food preform is fed; a first extrusion unit, which extrudes the first food preform fed into the first preform feeding hopper as a continuous first conveying object preform in a rod-shaped or strip-shaped state; a second preform feeding hopper, which is positioned at a height lower than the forming preform feeding hopper, and into which the second food preform is fed; a second extrusion unit, which extrudes the second food preform fed into the second preform feeding hopper as a continuous second conveying object preform in a rod-shaped or strip-shaped state; and a lower conveyor, which has an upper surface of a conveyor belt forming a generally horizontally movable lower conveying surface, and extrudes the first food preform from the first extrusion unit and the second extrusion unit onto the lower conveying surface. A first and second transportable green blanks are transported in a generally horizontal direction toward the downstream end of the lower transport surface in a state of being separately arranged in the width direction of the conveyor belt; an inclined conveyor having an upper surface of a conveyor belt forming an inclined transport surface that moves obliquely upward relative to the horizontal direction, the downstream end of the inclined transport surface being disposed at a height position above the hopper for feeding the formed green blanks, the first and second transportable green blanks being transported toward the downstream end of the lower transport surface and arriving at the inclined transport surface in a state of being separately arranged in the width direction of the conveyor belt and in a continuous state toward the downstream end of the inclined transport surface; and a pressing conveyor unit disposed opposite to at least the lower region of the inclined transport surface, the pressing conveyor unit clamping the first and second transportable green blanks between the pressing conveyor unit and the inclined transport surface while flattening and transporting them obliquely upward.

[0022] The fifth aspect of the present invention is: based on the skewered food manufacturing system of the third aspect, the pressing and conveying unit is composed of a pressing and conveying mechanism, the pressing and conveying mechanism having a lower surface of a conveyor belt that forms an inclined pressing surface that moves obliquely upward relative to the horizontal direction, wherein the green object to be conveyed is sandwiched between the inclined pressing surface and the inclined conveying surface, and is flattened and conveyed obliquely upward.

[0023] A sixth aspect of the invention is as follows: based on the skewered food manufacturing system of the fifth aspect, the extrusion unit has an extrusion roller and an outlet nozzle. The food preform fed into the conveying preform feeding hopper is extruded by the extrusion roller from the opening of the outlet nozzle as the conveying preform. The distance between the inclined conveying surface and the inclined pressing surface is shorter than the opening width of the outlet nozzle along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface.

[0024] The seventh aspect of the invention is: based on the skewered food manufacturing system of the fifth aspect, the distance between the inclined conveying surface and the inclined pressing surface gradually decreases toward the downstream side obliquely upward.

[0025] The eighth aspect of the invention is as follows: Based on the skewered food manufacturing system of the sixth aspect, the food preform conveying device includes an upper conveyor having an upper surface of a conveyor belt that forms a generally horizontally movable upper conveying surface. The downstream end of the upper conveying surface is disposed above the preform feeding hopper, and the preform to be conveyed toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface and arriving at the upper conveying surface is continuously conveyed toward the downstream end of the upper conveying surface. The preform to be conveyed is fed into the preform feeding hopper by falling from the downstream end of the upper conveying surface.

[0026] The ninth aspect of the present invention is as follows: based on the skewered food manufacturing system of the eighth aspect, the feeding hopper for conveying raw materials, the extrusion roller, the outlet nozzle, and the lower conveyor are mounted on a lower conveyor support trolley. The inclined conveyor, the pressing conveyor, and the upper conveyor are mounted on the inclined conveyor support trolley.

[0027] The tenth aspect of the present invention is as follows: based on the skewered food manufacturing system of the third aspect, the food preform conveying device includes a control unit, which controls as follows: if the accumulation of the preform to be conveyed to the preform feeding hopper exceeds a first amount, the driving of the extrusion roller, the lower conveyor, the inclined conveyor, the pressing conveyor, and the upper conveyor is stopped; if the accumulation of the preform to be conveyed to the preform feeding hopper is less than a second amount smaller than the first amount, the extrusion roller, the lower conveyor, the inclined conveyor, the pressing conveyor, and the upper conveyor are driven.

[0028] The eleventh aspect of the present invention is as follows: Based on the skewered food manufacturing system of the fourth aspect, the first extrusion unit has a first extrusion roller and a first outlet nozzle. The first food preform fed into the first conveying preform feeding hopper is extruded by the first extrusion roller from the opening of the first outlet nozzle as the first conveying preform. The second extrusion unit has a second extrusion roller and a second outlet nozzle. The second food preform fed into the second conveying preform feeding hopper is extruded by the second extrusion roller from the opening of the second outlet nozzle as the second conveying preform. The opening width of the first outlet nozzle along the movement direction of the lower conveying surface is approximately equal to the opening width of the second outlet nozzle along the movement direction of the lower conveying surface.

[0029] The twelfth aspect of the invention is as follows: Based on the skewered food manufacturing system of the eleventh aspect, the lower conveyor is configured by dividing it into a first lower conveyor on a downstream side and a second lower conveyor on an upstream side. The first conveying green preform feeding hopper, the first extrusion roller, the first outlet nozzle, and the first lower conveyor are mounted on a first lower conveyor support trolley. The second conveying green preform feeding hopper, the second extrusion roller, the second outlet nozzle, and the second lower conveyor are mounted on a second lower conveyor support trolley. The first conveyed green preform is extruded from the first outlet nozzle onto the lower conveying surface of the first lower conveyor and conveyed by the first lower conveyor to the inclined conveyor. The second conveyed green preform is extruded from the second outlet nozzle onto the lower conveying surface of the second lower conveyor and conveyed from the second lower conveyor to the inclined conveyor via the first lower conveyor.

[0030] Invention Effects

[0031] According to the present invention, the machinability of the final processing roller and the final processing guide is not impaired, they are difficult to break, and they can be easily loaded and unloaded. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a side view illustrating an example of how the skewered food manufacturing system of the first embodiment of the present invention is utilized.

[0033] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The front view of the meatball making machine.

[0034] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A side view of a meatball making machine.

[0035] Figure 4 It means Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the functional structure of a meatball making machine.

[0036] Figure 5 It is a three-dimensional image of a plate-shaped raw meatball.

[0037] Figure 6 It is a three-dimensional image of raw, rod-shaped meatballs being strung together.

[0038] Figure 7 It's a 3D image of skewered meatballs.

[0039] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 Side view of the final processing section.

[0040] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 Side view of the first limiting component.

[0041] Figure 10 yes Figure 8 Side view of the second limiting component.

[0042] Figure 11 yes Figure 8 EE sectional view.

[0043] Figure 12 yes Figure 8 FF sectional view.

[0044] Figure 13 Viewed from the direction of arrow A Figure 1 Front view of the lower conveyor.

[0045] Figure 14 Viewed from above Figure 1 A top view of the lower conveyor device.

[0046] Figure 15 yes Figure 1 An enlarged view of part B.

[0047] Figure 16 Examples of the opening shape of the nozzle are shown in (a) and (b) respectively.

[0048] Figure 17 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of part C.

[0049] Figure 18 This is an explanation Figure 1 A flowchart of the operation of a food raw material conveying device.

[0050] Figure 19 This is a side view showing an example of how the food raw material conveying device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is used.

[0051] Figure 20 Viewed from the direction of arrow D Figure 19 The front view of the second lower conveyor.

[0052] Figure 21 Viewed from above Figure 19 A top view of the second lower conveyor.

[0053] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0054] 1.5 Food raw material conveying device; 2. Meatball making machine (skewered food making device);

[0055] 3. Feeding green billet into hopper; 4. Conveying green billet; 6. Sensor; 10. Lower conveyor device

[0056] 11. Conveying green billets into the hopper; 12. Extrusion rollers (extrusion unit)

[0057] 13. Extrusion nozzle (extrusion unit); 14. Lower conveyor; 15, 24. Control unit

[0058] 16. Lower conveyor support trolley; 17. Wheels; 18. Opening; 19. Lower conveyor surface

[0059] 20 Inclined conveyor device; 21 Inclined conveyor; 22 Press conveyor (press conveyor unit)

[0060] 23 Upper conveyor; 25 Inclined conveyor support trolley; 26 Inclined conveyor surface

[0061] 27 Inclined pressing surface; 28 Upper conveying surface; 29A, 29B Green billet feeding areas

[0062] 31. Skewered meatballs (skewered food); 32. Skewers; 33. Meatballs (spherical food).

[0063] 34. Threaded rod-shaped meatball blanks (non-spherical food blanks); 40. Base; 41. Upper control section

[0064] 42. Mechanism for skewering meatballs; 43. Raw material feeding device; 44. Forming section; 45. Finishing section

[0065] 46 Threading device; 47 Cutting mechanism; 48 Green roll; 49 Forming roll

[0066] 50. Skewer inlet; 51. Skewer alignment roller; 52. Skewer ejection device; 60. Finishing roller.

[0067] 61 Final machining guide; 62 First limiting component; 63 Second limiting component; 64 Rotating shaft

[0068] 65 First forming die; 66 First forming groove; 67 Forming passage; 68 Second forming die

[0069] 69 Second forming groove; 70 Inlet opening; 71 Outlet opening; 72 Upper limiting plate

[0070] 73 Lower limiting plate; 74 Connecting plate; 75 Slipper moving groove; 76 First conical groove

[0071] 77 Second conical groove; 78 First allowable bulge space; 79 Second allowable bulge space

[0072] 80 Roller body; 81 Roller end panel; 82 Guide body; 83 Guide end panel Detailed Implementation

[0073] (First Implementation)

[0074] The skewered food manufacturing system of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1As shown, the skewered food manufacturing system generally consists of a meatball making machine 2, which is an example of a skewered food manufacturing device, and a food raw material conveying device 1. The food raw material conveying device 1 conveys meatball raw materials (food raw materials) for forming meatballs and feeds them into the forming raw material feeding hopper 3 of the meatball making machine 2. Meatballs are soft, spherical foods made from grains such as rice or wheat.

[0075] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the meatball making machine 2 consists of a base 40, an upper control unit 41, and a meatball threading and making mechanism unit 42.

[0076] The meatball skewer manufacturing mechanism 42 consists of a raw material feeding device 43, a forming part 44, a final processing part 45, a skewering device 46, and a cutting mechanism 47.

[0077] The raw material feeding device 43 includes a forming raw material feeding hopper 3 and a pair of raw material rollers 48, 48. The raw material for meatballs is fed from the food raw material conveying device 1 (see reference). Figure 1 The pellets are conveyed and fed into the forming green blank feeding hopper 3. A pair of green blank rollers 48, 48 shape the pellets in the forming green blank feeding hopper 3 into sheet (plate) shapes and supply them to the forming section 44.

[0078] like Figures 2-4 As shown, the forming section 44 includes a forming roller 49. In addition, the skewering device 46 includes a skewer inlet 50, a skewer alignment roller 51, and a skewer ejection device 52.

[0079] The sheet-shaped pellet blanks supplied from the blank supply device 43 to the forming section 44 come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the forming roller 49 and are conveyed to the cutting mechanism 47 below by the rotation of the forming roller 49. One or more rollers (not shown) are arranged radially outside the forming roller 49, and the sheet-shaped pellet blanks are conveyed between the rollers and the outer peripheral surface of the forming roller 49.

[0080] Multiple skewers 32 are inserted into the skewer inlet 50 of the skewer insertion device 46. The skewers 32 inserted into the skewer inlet 50 are successively received in the skewer slots (not shown) of the skewer alignment roller 51, and are transported by the rotation of the skewer alignment roller 51 to a position (skewering position) opposite the end face of the sheet-shaped pellet blank that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the forming roller 49 and is being fed downwards. The skewers 32 transported to the skewering position are sequentially inserted into the pellet blank by the skewer ejection device 52. The skewer insertion device 46 is configured to gradually increase the insertion depth of the skewers 32 according to the downward movement of the pellet blank achieved by the forming roller 51. The skewer insertion device 46 inserts the skewers 32 into the sheet-shaped pellet blank at a predetermined interval. The forming unit 44 skewers the sheet-shaped pellet blank (skewering the sheet-shaped pellet blank) 35 (see reference) with the skewers 32 inserted at the predetermined interval. Figure 5 ) is sent to the cutting mechanism 47.

[0081] The cutting mechanism 47 cuts the skewered plate-shaped meatball blanks 35 conveyed from the forming section 44 at the intervals specified above, forming non-spherical food blanks skewered on sticks 32, i.e., skewered rod-shaped meatball blanks (skewered rod-shaped food blanks) 34 (see reference). Figure 6 The skewered rod-shaped ball blank 34 is a rod-shaped (in the illustrated example, a rectangular rod (strip-shaped) ball blank threaded with a skewer 32. The skewered rod-shaped ball blank 34 is fed to the inlet opening 70 of the forming passage 67 of the final processing section 45 (see reference). Figure 8 Furthermore, because the raw balls are soft and their properties (softness, etc.) can change depending on the raw materials or conditions (temperature or humidity, etc.), the shape of the skewered rod-shaped raw balls 34 is sometimes closer to a round or elliptical rod shape than a rectangular rod. Alternatively, non-spherical raw balls of other shapes (e.g., a predetermined number of non-spherical raw balls skewered on a stick) can be supplied to the final processing section 45 instead of the skewered rod-shaped raw balls.

[0082] like Figures 8-12 As shown, the final processing unit 45 includes a final processing roller 60, a final processing guide 61, a first limiting member 62, and a second limiting member 63. The final processing unit 45 forms skewered meatballs (skewered food) 31 from skewered rod-shaped meatball blanks 34 and sends them to a conveyor (not shown). Skewered meatballs 31 are a type of snack food in which two or more meatballs 33, in a predetermined number (four in the example shown), are arranged in a string on skewers 32 (see reference). Figure 7 One end (root side) of the skewer 32 inserted into the skewer 31 protrudes from the skewer 33 at the root side as a handle, while the other end (head side) remains inside the skewer 33 at the head side.

[0083] The final processing roller 60 has a first forming die 65 over its entire outer peripheral surface and is rotatably supported on the base 40 about a rotation axis 64. A predetermined number (four rows in the illustrated example) of annular first forming grooves 66 arranged axially along the rotation axis 64 are provided on the first forming die 65. Each first forming groove 66 has a concave, arc-shaped inner surface.

[0084] A final processing guide 61 is fixed to the base 40 side, and a second forming die 68 is provided on the opposing surface of the final processing guide 61, which faces the outer periphery of the final processing roller 60. The second forming die 68 extends radially outward from the first forming die 65 and in an arc shape, forming a forming passage 67 between itself and the first forming die 65. A predetermined number (four rows in the illustrated example) of second forming grooves 69 are provided on the second forming die 68. The second forming grooves 69 are arranged axially along the rotation axis 64 and face the first forming grooves 66 from the radial outward of the final processing roller 60. The second forming grooves 69 have an arc-shaped concave inner surface.

[0085] Forming passage 67 extends from one circumferential end of the second forming die 68 (in... Figure 8 The entrance opening 70 (on the right side) extends in an arc shape to the other circumferential end of the second forming mold 68 (in the middle). Figure 8 The outlet opening 71 (left side) is located at the inlet opening 70. The threaded rod-shaped pellet green blank 34, entering the forming passage 67 from the inlet opening 70, contacts the outer peripheral surface of the finishing roller 60 and is fed to the outlet opening 71 while rolling on the opposing surface of the finishing guide 61 via the rotating finishing roller 60. As the threaded rod-shaped pellet green blank 34 rolls from the inlet opening 70 to the outlet opening 71, it is divided into a predetermined number while rolling within the first forming groove 66 and the second forming groove 69, and each divided green blank is formed into a spherical shape. Thus, the threaded rod-shaped pellet green blank 34 is formed into threaded pellets 31, and the formed threaded pellets 31 are fed onto the conveyor from the outlet opening 71.

[0086] The first limiting member 62 includes an arc-shaped upper limiting plate 72, a lower limiting plate 73 radially separated from the outer side of the upper limiting plate 72, and a connecting plate 74 that connects and fixes the upper limiting plate 72 and the lower limiting plate 73. The first limiting member 62 is disposed adjacent to one side of the axial direction of the final processing roller 60 and the final processing guide 61 (the root side of the threaded ball 31), and the first limiting member 62 is fixed to the base 40 side (in the illustrated example, the final processing guide 61) in contact with the end face of the final processing guide 61 (the outer surface of the guide end panel portion 83 described later).

[0087] The groove-shaped space between the upper limiting plate 72 and the lower limiting plate 73 functions as a skewer moving groove 75 for the root-side end of the skewer 32 protruding from the root side of the ball 33 to move. The connecting plate 74 has a shape (cap-shaped cross-section in the illustrated example) that does not interfere with the movement of the skewer 32 within the skewer moving groove 75. The groove width of the skewer moving groove 75 is set to be narrower than the opening width of the forming passage 67, and the first limiting member 62 narrows the opening width on one side of the forming passage 67 in the axial direction.

[0088] The second limiting member 63 is a plate-shaped member that is disposed adjacent to the other side of the axial direction of the final processing roller 60 and the final processing guide 61 (the head side of the threaded ball 31) and is fixed to the base 40 side (the final processing guide 61 in the illustrated example) in a state of contact with the end face of the final processing guide 61 (the outer surface of the guide end panel portion 83 described later) and closes the other side of the axial direction of the forming passage 67.

[0089] A first conical groove 76 and a second conical groove 77 are formed on the inner surface of the first limiting member 62 (the surface opposite to the forming passage 67) and the inner surface of the second limiting member 63 (the surface opposite to the forming passage 67), respectively. The first conical groove 76 and the second conical groove 77 extend from the inlet opening 70 to a midpoint between the inlet opening 70 and the outlet opening 71. The first conical groove 76 is formed on the radially outer edge of the upper limiting plate 72 and the radially inner edge of the lower limiting plate 73, located on both sides of the skewer moving groove 75. The first conical groove 76 and the second conical groove 77 are conical grooves whose width and depth gradually decrease towards the outlet opening 71. The first conical groove 76 divides a first allowable bulge space 78 that communicates with one axial side of the forming passage 67, and the second conical groove 77 divides a second allowable bulge space 79 that communicates with the other axial side of the forming passage 67.

[0090] The first limiting member 62 and the second limiting member 63 can push back the ends of the threaded rod-shaped pellet blank 34, which is to bulge out of the forming passage 67 axially to one side and the other side (root side and head side), back into the forming passage 67. Furthermore, because a first conical groove 76 dividing a first allowable bulging space 78 is formed on the first limiting member 62, and a second conical groove 77 dividing a second allowable bulging space 79 is formed on the second limiting member 63, even when the ends of the threaded rod-shaped pellet blank 34 bulge axially from the forming passage 67 during supply to the inlet opening 70, the first allowable bulging space 78 and the second allowable bulging space 79 allow the bulging portion to enter. Therefore, the situation where the ends of the threaded rod-shaped pellet blank 34 get stuck on the first limiting member 62 or the second limiting member 63, and the threaded rod-shaped pellet blank 34 remains near the inlet opening 70, preventing the formation of the threaded pellet 31, will not occur. Furthermore, because the first conical groove 76 and the second conical groove 77 are conical grooves whose width and depth gradually decrease towards the outlet opening 71, the bulging portions of the threaded rod-shaped pellet blanks 34 entering the first permissible bulging space 78 and the second permissible bulging space 79 can be gradually pressed into the forming passage 67. As a result, the end faces of the pellets 33 at both ends (root end and head end) can be finally processed into smooth curved surfaces without any bumps or depressions.

[0091] like Figure 11 and Figure 12As shown, the final processing roller 60 consists of a roller body 80 and a pair of roller end faceplates 81. The roller body 80 is formed of a light metal (e.g., aluminum alloy), and the pair of roller end faceplates 81 are formed of a heavy metal (e.g., stainless steel) that is harder than the roller body 80. The pair of roller end faceplates 81 are thin plates, for example, with a thickness of about 1 to 2 mm, and are respectively overlapped and fixed to at least the area constituting the first forming mold 65 (including the area of ​​the outer peripheral surface of the roller body 80) on both axial end faces of the roller body 80, and are integral with the roller body 80. In the illustrated example, the roller end faceplates 81 are respectively overlapped and fixed to the entire area of ​​both end faces of the roller body 80.

[0092] The final processing guide 61 consists of a guide body 82 and a pair of guide end face plates 83. The guide body 82 is formed of a light metal (e.g., aluminum alloy), and the pair of guide end face plates 83 are formed of a heavy metal (e.g., stainless steel) that is harder than the guide body 82. The pair of guide end face plates 83 are thin plates, for example, with a thickness of about 1-2 mm, and are respectively overlapped and fixed to at least the area constituting the second forming mold 68 (including the opposing surface of the final processing guide 61) on both axial end faces of the guide body 82, and are integral with the guide body 82. In the illustrated example, the guide end face plates 83 are respectively overlapped and fixed to the entire area of ​​both end faces of the guide body 82.

[0093] The thickness L1 of the roller end panel 81 is set to be less than the distance L2 between two adjacent first forming grooves 66, and the thickness L3 of the guide end panel 82 is set to be less than the distance L4 between two adjacent second forming grooves 69. In this embodiment, the thickness L1 is set to be equal to the thickness L3, and the distance L2 is set to be equal to the distance L4.

[0094] In this way, since the roller body 80 made of light metal constitutes almost the entire area of ​​the final processing roller 60, and the guide body 82 made of light metal constitutes almost the entire area of ​​the final processing guide 61, it is easy to load and unload during cleaning. In addition, the processability during device manufacturing is also good.

[0095] A roller end panel portion 81, made of a heavy metal harder than the roller body 80, is fixedly and overlappingly in at least the regions constituting the first forming mold 65 on both axial end faces of the roller body 80. Similarly, a guide end panel portion 83, made of a heavy metal harder than the guide body 82, is fixedly and overlappingly in at least the regions constituting the second forming mold 68 on both axial end faces of the guide body 82. In other words, the end face edges of the final processing roller 60 and the end face edges of the final processing guide 61 are made of a hard heavy metal. Therefore, even when the distance between the end faces of the finishing roller 60 on both axial sides and the end edge of the first forming groove 66 (roller end width) and the distance between the end faces of the finishing guide 61 on both axial sides and the end edge of the second forming groove 69 (guide end width) are set to be short in order to improve the final processing effect of the first limiting member 62 and the second limiting member 63 on the end face of the pellet 33, the end face edges of the finishing roller 60 and the finishing guide 61 are unlikely to be damaged during loading and unloading of the finishing roller 60 and the finishing guide 61.

[0096] In addition, the upper control unit 41 is equipped with an operation display device that includes various operation buttons and a display unit for controlling the meatball making machine 2. Inside the upper control unit 41, there is a control device for controlling the green blank feeding device 43, the forming roller 49, the skewer alignment roller 51, the skewer ejection device 52, the cutting mechanism 47, etc.

[0097] Next, the food raw material conveying device 1 will be described. In the following description, the downstream side refers to the destination side of the conveyed raw material, and the upstream side refers to the source side of the conveyed raw material. In addition, the white hollow arrow in the figure indicates the conveying direction of the conveyed raw material 4. The food raw material conveying device 1 is generally composed of a lower conveying device 10 and an inclined conveying device 20.

[0098] like Figure 1 As shown, the upper opening of the forming raw material feeding hopper 3 is positioned at a height of approximately 1700 mm, and the maximum weight of the raw meatballs that can be fed into the forming raw material feeding hopper 3 at one time is set to approximately 10 kg. Furthermore, the production speed of the skewered meatballs 31 of the meatball making machine 2 is required to be, for example, approximately 120 meatballs per minute. In this case, approximately 5 kg of raw meatballs must be fed into the forming raw material feeding hopper 3 at a rate of approximately once every two minutes, requiring excessive labor for manual feeding. To reduce this labor, a food raw material conveying device 1 is provided.

[0099] like Figure 1 , Figure 13 and Figure 14As shown, the lower conveying device 10 includes a green billet feeding hopper 11, a pair of extrusion rollers 12 constituting an extrusion unit and an outlet nozzle 13, a lower conveyor 14, and a control unit 15. The green billet feeding hopper 11, extrusion rollers 12, outlet nozzle 13, lower conveyor 14, and control unit 15 are mounted on a lower conveyor support trolley 16. The lower conveyor support trolley 16 is configured to be movable via wheels 17 mounted on its lower part.

[0100] The green blank feeding hopper 11 is positioned at a height lower than the forming green blank feeding hopper 3, and the pellet green blank is fed into the hopper 11 through its upper opening. The pellet green blank is fed into the green blank feeding hopper 11 in a block shape, for example. The upper opening of the green blank feeding hopper 11 is positioned at a height of, for example, approximately 1100 mm.

[0101] A pair of extrusion rollers 12 are positioned below the feed hopper 11, and an outlet nozzle 13 is positioned below the extrusion rollers 12. The pellets fed into the feed hopper 11 are extruded by the extrusion rollers 12 through the opening 18 of the outlet nozzle 13 as the conveyed pellets 4. The conveyed pellets 4 refer to pellets in a continuous state, either rod-shaped or strip-shaped. The shape of the opening 18 of the outlet nozzle 13 defines the cross-sectional shape of the conveyed pellets 4.

[0102] The lower conveyor 14 is positioned approximately horizontally below the outlet nozzle 13. The upper surface of the conveyor belt of the lower conveyor 14 forms a lower conveying surface 19 that moves approximately horizontally. The lower conveyor 14 maintains the continuous state of the green billet 4 that is extruded from the outlet nozzle 13 and falls onto the lower conveying surface 19, conveying it towards the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19 in a generally horizontal direction.

[0103] The lower conveyor 14, the inclined conveyor 21 (described later), the pressing conveyor 22, and the upper conveyor 23 are all belt conveyors, driven by electric motors (not shown). Each conveyor belt is formed from a resin sheet with an embossed outer surface. The control unit 15 controls the electric motor of the lower conveyor 14 and the electric motor that drives the extrusion roller 12 to rotate.

[0104] like Figure 1As shown, the inclined conveyor 20 includes an inclined conveyor 21, a pressing conveyor 22 constituting a pressing conveyor unit, an upper conveyor 23, and a control unit 24. The inclined conveyor 21, pressing conveyor 22, upper conveyor 23, and control unit 24 are mounted on an inclined conveyor support carriage 25. The inclined conveyor support carriage 25 is configured to move via wheels 17 mounted on its lower part. By moving the lower conveyor support carriage 16 and the inclined conveyor support carriage 25 horizontally, the lower conveyor 10 and the inclined conveyor 20 are positioned at a desired location. The control unit 24 controls the electric motors of the inclined conveyor 21, the pressing conveyor 22, and the upper conveyor 23. Alternatively, the control unit 24 of the inclined conveyor 20 can be located within the control unit 15 of the lower conveyor 10.

[0105] An inclined conveyor 21 is positioned downstream of the lower conveyor 14 and is inclined relative to the horizontal direction. The upper surface of the conveyor belt of the inclined conveyor 21 forms an inclined conveying surface 26 that moves obliquely upward relative to the horizontal direction. The upstream end (lower end) of the inclined conveying surface 26 is positioned near the lower side of the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19, and the downstream end (upper end) of the inclined conveying surface 26 is positioned at a height above the forming green blank feeding hopper 3. The green blank 4, which is horizontally conveyed on the lower conveying surface 19, reaches the inclined conveying surface 26 if it crosses the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19. The inclined conveyor 21 maintains the continuous state of the green blank 4 that has reached the inclined conveying surface 26 and conveys it obliquely upward toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26.

[0106] The pressing conveyor 22 is arranged opposite to the lower region of the inclined conveyor surface 26. The lower surface of the conveyor belt of the pressing conveyor 22 forms an inclined pressing surface 27 that moves obliquely upward relative to the horizontal direction. The inclined pressing surface 27 clamps the green blank 4 between itself and the inclined conveyor surface 26, flattening it while conveying it obliquely upward. The pressing conveyor 22 is detachably mounted on the inclined conveyor support trolley 25 as a unit including an electric motor and the like, which constitute the drive source.

[0107] In this embodiment, the pressing conveyor 22 is configured opposite only to the lower region of the inclined conveying surface 26. However, the pressing conveyor 22 can also be configured opposite to the region other than the lower region of the inclined conveying surface 26 (e.g., the entire region including the lower region). In this case, one pressing conveyor 22 or multiple pressing conveyors 22 can be provided. Alternatively, other pressing conveying units (e.g., multiple pressing rollers arranged along the conveying direction) can be provided instead of the pressing conveyor 22.

[0108] When the inclination angle of the inclined conveyor surface 26 relative to the horizontal direction is small (close to the horizontal direction), the green billet 4 can be conveyed obliquely upwards via the inclined conveyor surface 26 without the need for a pressing conveyor 22. However, since it is an inclined conveyor 21 (inclined conveying device 20), a wider configuration space is required. On the other hand, the larger the inclination angle, the narrower the configuration space required for the inclined conveyor 21 becomes. However, when the inclination angle is large, the green billet 4 is prone to bending or failing to be conveyed on the inclined conveyor surface 26. The inclination angle that causes the green billet 4 to bend or fail to be conveyed varies depending on the type of green billet 4 or the environment, and it is difficult to specify a uniform angle. However, when the inclination angle is 30 degrees or more, the possibility of bending or failure to be conveyed increases.

[0109] In this embodiment, because an inclined pressing surface 27 is provided, which clamps the green billet 4 between itself and the inclined conveying surface 26 while flattening it and conveying it obliquely upward, the lower position of the green billet 4 on the inclined conveying surface 26 can be reliably stabilized. Even when the inclination angle of the inclined conveying surface 26 is large (e.g., 30 degrees or more), the green billet 4 can be stably conveyed obliquely upward. The inclination angle of the inclined conveying surface 26 is preferably 30 degrees or more, and in this embodiment, the inclination angle is set to approximately 54 degrees. Because of the inclined pressing surface 27, the green billet 4 can be stably conveyed obliquely upward while keeping the installation area small.

[0110] The distance between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 is greater than the opening width D1 of the opening 18 of the outlet nozzle 13 along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19 (refer to...). Figure 15 (Short. For example, in...) Figure 16 In the case where the opening 18 shown in (a) is circular, the opening width D1 of the outlet nozzle 13 along the conveying direction is the inner diameter (diameter) of the opening 18. Figure 16 When the opening 18 shown in (b) is rectangular, the opening width D1 of the outlet nozzle 13 along the conveying direction is the distance between opposite sides of the opening 18 separated in the conveying direction. Since the opening width D1 of the outlet nozzle 13 along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19 defines the height H of the conveyed green billet 4 on the lower conveying surface 19, the conveyed green billet 4 can be reliably flattened by making the distance between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 shorter than the opening width D1 of the outlet nozzle 13 along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19. Furthermore, the opening shape of the outlet nozzle 13 is not limited to a circular or rectangular shape, and can also be other shapes (e.g., oval shape).

[0111] like Figure 17As shown, the distance between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 gradually decreases towards the downstream side at an upward angle. In other words, the distance D2 at the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 is shorter than the distance D3 at the upstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27. As a result, the green billet 4 being conveyed can be gradually flattened according to the downstream conveying. Furthermore, as described above, the distance at any position of the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27, including distances D2 and D3, is shorter than the opening width D1 of the opening 18 of the outlet nozzle 13 along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19.

[0112] Furthermore, in the conveying direction of the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 to the conveying object green blank 4, the positional relationship between the lower end of the inclined conveying surface 26 and the lower end of the inclined pressing surface 27 is set such that the lower end of the inclined conveying surface 26 is located on the upstream side of the conveying direction than the lower end of the inclined pressing surface 27. Figure 17 This example shows that the lower end of the inclined conveying surface 26 is located a distance D4 upstream in the conveying direction from the lower end of the inclined pressing surface 27. Because the lower end of the inclined conveying surface 26 is located upstream in the conveying direction from the lower end of the inclined pressing surface 27, the green billet 4 conveyed by the lower conveying surface 19 can be smoothly guided between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27.

[0113] The upper conveyor 23 is positioned approximately horizontally downstream of the inclined conveyor 21. The upper surface of the conveyor belt of the upper conveyor 23 forms an upper conveying surface 28 that moves approximately horizontally. The upper conveying surface 28 is positioned at a height above the forming green blank feeding hopper 3, with its upstream end positioned near the lower side of the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26, and its downstream end positioned above the forming green blank feeding hopper 3. The green blank 4 being conveyed at an incline on the inclined conveying surface 26 reaches the upper conveying surface 28 if it crosses the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26. The upper conveyor 23 maintains the continuous conveying of the green blank 4 that has reached the upper conveying surface 28 towards the downstream end of the upper conveying surface 28 in a approximately horizontal direction. The green blank 4 is fed into the forming green blank feeding hopper 3 by falling from the downstream end of the upper conveying surface 28.

[0114] When the meatball making machine (skewered food manufacturing device) 2 is started, meatball blanks (food blanks) are fed into the conveying blank feeding hopper 11 of the food blank conveying device 1. The meatball blanks fed into the conveying blank feeding hopper 11 are extruded from the opening 18 of the outlet nozzle 13 by a pair of extrusion rollers 12 as a continuous conveying object blank 4 in a rod-shaped or strip-shaped state. They are conveyed by the lower conveyor 14 in a generally horizontal direction, by the inclined conveyor 21 and the pressing conveyor 22 obliquely upward, by the upper conveyor 23 in a generally horizontal direction, and are continuously fed into the forming blank feeding hopper 3 of the meatball making machine 2.

[0115] A sensor 6 is installed near the forming raw material feeding hopper 3 of the meatball making machine 2 to detect the amount of meatball raw material in the forming raw material feeding hopper 3. The amount of meatball raw material in the forming raw material feeding hopper 3 detected by the sensor 6 is notified to the food raw material conveying device 1. The food raw material conveying device 1 controls the conveying action of the conveying object raw material 4 based on the amount of meatball raw material in the forming raw material feeding hopper 3 notified from the meatball making machine 2.

[0116] The conveying action of the green blank 4 is controlled by each control unit 15 and 24. For example, each control unit 15 and 24 controls the process as follows: if the amount of green blank shaped from the pellet making machine 2 fed into the hopper 3 exceeds a first amount, the drive of the extrusion roller 12, the lower conveyor 14, the inclined conveyor 21, the pressing conveyor 22, and the upper conveyor 23 is paused; if the accumulation of green blank shaped from the green blank fed into the hopper 3 is less than a second amount smaller than the first amount, the drive of the extrusion roller 12, the lower conveyor 14, the inclined conveyor 21, the pressing conveyor 22, and the upper conveyor 23 is resumed.

[0117] If we assume that the capacity of the raw material feeding hopper 11 of the food raw material conveying device 1 is, for example, 40kg, then even if the meatball making machine 2 is driven at high speed, it is only necessary to feed the raw material feeding hopper 11 with meatball raw materials at a ratio of about once every ten minutes. Since the upper opening of the raw material feeding hopper 11 is configured at a height of about 1100mm, the labor involved in feeding the meatball raw materials is greatly reduced.

[0118] Figure 18 This is an explanation Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating the operation of the food raw material conveying device 1 shown. If... Figure 1 When the food raw material conveying device 1 shown is started (step S1), the extrusion roller 12, the lower conveyor 14, the inclined conveyor 21, the pressing conveyor 22 and the upper conveyor 23 are driven to start the conveying action of the raw material (meatball raw material) 4 that is put into the raw material feeding hopper 11 (step S2).

[0119] If the food preform conveying device 1 is activated, the control units 15 and 24 obtain the amount of preforms conveyed by the food preform conveying device 1 and accumulated in the preform feeding hopper 3 based on the signal notified by the sensor 6 located near the preform feeding hopper 3.

[0120] Control units 15 and 24 determine whether the amount of green billet accumulated in the green billet feeding hopper 3 exceeds the first amount (step S3). If it does not exceed the first amount (step S3: no), return to step S3 and continue the conveying operation of the green billet 4.

[0121] In step S3, if it is determined that the amount of green blank accumulated in the green blank feeding hopper 3 exceeds the first amount (step S3: yes), then the driving of the extrusion roller 12, the lower conveyor 14, the inclined conveyor 21, the pressing conveyor 22 and the upper conveyor 23 is stopped, and the conveying action of the green blank 4 is suspended (step S4).

[0122] Next, it is determined whether the amount of green billet accumulated in the green billet feeding hopper 3 is lower than the second amount, which is smaller than the first amount (step S5). If it is not lower than the second amount (step S5: no), return to step S5 and continue to pause the conveying action of the green billet 4.

[0123] In step S5, if it is determined that the amount of green blank accumulated in the green blank feeding hopper 3 is lower than the second amount (step S5: yes), then the driving of the extrusion roller 12, the lower conveyor 14, the inclined conveyor 21, the pressing conveyor 22 and the upper conveyor 23 are restored, the conveying action of the green blank 4 is restored (step S6), and the process returns to step S3.

[0124] Thus, in the food raw material conveying device 1 of this embodiment, since the conveying action of the raw material 4 is repeatedly and intermittently performed according to the amount of raw material in the shaped raw material feeding hopper 3 accumulated in the meatball making machine 2, the amount of raw material in the shaped raw material feeding hopper 3 can always be controlled within a certain range.

[0125] The operator can make the meatball making machine 2 run at high speed by simply observing the amount of raw material 4 being transported in the raw material feeding hopper 11 of the food raw material conveying device 1 and replenishing the raw material 4 to the lower raw material feeding hopper 11.

[0126] Furthermore, the entire area of ​​the lower conveying surface 19 of the lower conveyor 14 and the upper conveying surface 28 of the upper conveyor 23 is open. The entire area of ​​the inclined conveying surface 26 of the inclined conveyor 21 and the inclined pressing surface 27 of the pressing conveyor 22 are opened by removing the pressing conveyor 22. The pressing conveyor 22 is detachably mounted on the inclined conveyor support trolley 25 as a unit including an electric motor that constitutes the drive source. Therefore, cleaning operations of the food raw material conveying device 1 can be easily performed. In addition, because the food raw material is conveyed by a belt conveyor, it is difficult for food raw material to remain in the conveying path, which can reduce food loss caused by leftover material.

[0127] (Second Implementation)

[0128] Next, the food raw material conveying device 5 of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the first embodiment, a food raw material conveying device 1 was described for feeding one type of raw meatball into the forming raw material feeding hopper 3 of a meatball manufacturing machine 2, which manufactures skewered meatballs by threading four meatballs of the same type (same color and material) onto skewers. In contrast, the meatball manufacturing machine of this embodiment is a device for manufacturing skewered meatballs by threading one of each of three different types of meatballs (at least one of which is different in color and material) onto skewers, and the food raw material conveying device 5 feeds the three types of raw meatballs into the forming raw material feeding hopper 3 of the meatball manufacturing machine.

[0129] The following explanation uses a three-color meatball as an example, where three different colored meatballs are skewered on a single stick. In this embodiment, the formed green preform is fed into hopper 3 and divided into three storage areas corresponding to the three colors (illustrations omitted). Each of the three storage areas is popped with a different colored meatball preform. Furthermore, the number of different types of meatballs skewered on a single stick is not limited to three; it is arbitrary. The number of storage areas in hopper 3, and thus the number of different types of meatball preforms, is determined based on the number of different types of meatballs skewered on a single stick.

[0130] like Figures 19-21As shown, the food preform conveying device 5 of this embodiment, in addition to the lower conveying device 10 (10A) and the inclined conveying device 20 of the first embodiment, also includes a second lower conveying device 10B. To distinguish between the lower conveying device 10A of the first embodiment and the second lower conveying device 10B, the lower conveying device 10A of the first embodiment is referred to as the first lower conveying device, and the conveying preform feeding hopper 11 (11A), extrusion roller 12 (12A), outlet nozzle 13 (13A), lower conveyor 14 (14A), and lower conveyor support trolley 16 (16A) of the first embodiment are referred to as the first conveying preform feeding hopper, the first extrusion roller, the first outlet nozzle, the first lower conveyor, and the first lower conveyor support trolley. The basic structure of the first lower conveying device 10A and the second lower conveying device 10B is the same, but they differ in that the number of preforms 4 that are extruded and conveyed is one (one type) in the first lower conveying device 10A and two (two types) in the second lower conveying device 10B.

[0131] Similar to the first lower conveyor 10A, the second lower conveyor 10B includes a green preform feeding hopper (second green preform feeding hopper 11B), two pairs of extrusion rollers (second extrusion rollers 12B) constituting an extrusion unit, two outlet nozzles (second outlet nozzles 13B), a lower conveyor (second lower conveyor 14B), and a control unit 15, which are mounted on a lower conveyor support trolley (second lower conveyor support trolley 16B). The second lower conveyor 10B is positioned upstream of the first lower conveyor 10A such that the center of the lower conveying surface 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B in the conveyor belt width direction is approximately aligned with the center of the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A in the conveyor belt width direction at the same height. The lower conveying surfaces 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A on the downstream side and the lower conveying surfaces 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B on the upstream side are continuously arranged in the conveying direction, constituting the lower conveying surface of the food preform conveying device 5 of this embodiment. In other words, the lower conveyor in this embodiment is configured by dividing it into a first lower conveyor 14A on the downstream side and a second lower conveyor 14B on the upstream side.

[0132] The second conveying green feed hopper 11B is divided into two green feed areas 29A and 29B arranged in a direction approximately orthogonal to the conveying direction. A pair of second extrusion rollers 12B and a second outlet nozzle 13B are respectively provided in each green feed area 29A and 29B.

[0133] The opening width of the first outlet 13A along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19 is approximately equal to the opening width of the second outlet 13B along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19. Furthermore, the distance between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 is shorter than either the opening width of the first outlet 13A or the opening width of the second outlet 13B.

[0134] The first lower conveyor 10A feeds green blanks into its feed hopper 11A, which is filled with green blanks of the first color. The second lower conveyor 10B feeds green blanks into its feed hopper 11B into its two green blank feeding areas 29A and 29B, which are filled with green blanks of the second and third colors, respectively.

[0135] In the first lower conveyor 10A, the green blank 4A of the first color is extruded from the opening 18 of the first outlet 13A and falls approximately to the center of the conveyor belt width direction of the lower conveyor surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A. In the second lower conveyor 10B, the green blank 4B of the second color is extruded from the opening 18 of the outlet of one of the two second outlets 13B and falls to a position on the lower conveyor surface 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B that is closer to the center of the conveyor belt width direction. Furthermore, the green blank 4C of the third color is extruded from the opening 18 of the outlet of the other of the two second outlets 13B and falls to a position on the lower conveyor surface 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B that is closer to the center of the conveyor belt width direction.

[0136] Thus, the first-color conveying green blank 4A is extruded from the first outlet 13A onto the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A, and then conveyed by the first lower conveyor 14A to the inclined conveyor 21. The second-color conveying green blank 4B and the third-color conveying green blank 4C are extruded from the second outlet 13B of one side and the other side onto the lower conveying surface 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B, and then conveyed from the second lower conveyor 14B to the inclined conveyor 21 via the first lower conveyor 14A. On the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A, the first-color conveying green blank 4A, the second-color conveying green blank 4B, and the third-color conveying green blank 4C are arranged separately on the center, one side, and the other side of the conveyor belt width direction. That is, the first lower conveyor 14A continuously conveys the first-color conveying green blank 4A, the second-color conveying green blank 4B, and the third-color conveying green blank 4C toward the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19 in a generally horizontal direction, with the green blanks arranged separately in the width direction of the conveyor belt.

[0137] The inclined conveyor 21 of the inclined conveyor device 20 will transport the first to third color green blanks 4A to 4C to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A and to the inclined conveying surface 26. The green blanks are transported to the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26 in the same way as those on the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A, in a separate arrangement in the width direction of the conveyor belt.

[0138] The upper conveyor 23 carries the first to third color green billets 4A to 4C across the downstream end of the inclined conveyor surface 26 to the upper conveyor surface 28. These green billets maintain a separated and continuous arrangement in the conveyor belt width direction, similar to those on the lower conveyor surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A, and are conveyed towards the downstream end of the upper conveyor surface 28 in a generally horizontal direction. The first to third color green billets 4A to 4C are respectively fed into the three accumulation areas within the forming green billet feeding hopper 3 by falling from the downstream end of the upper conveyor surface 28.

[0139] In this embodiment, when there is only one type of raw meatball being fed to the meatball making machine 2, the first lower conveyor 10A is used. In the three types, in addition to the first lower conveyor 10A, the second lower conveyor 10B is also used. Thus, since the first lower conveyor 10A is shared, efficient use of the equipment can be achieved. Furthermore, because the second lower conveyor 10B is mounted on the second lower conveyor support trolley 16B and is movable, switching between using and not using the second lower conveyor 10B is easy.

[0140] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as examples. Even outside of the above embodiments, various modifications can be made according to the design, etc., as long as they do not depart from the technical concept of the present invention.

Claims

1. A food skewer manufacturing system, characterized in that, have: A food skewer manufacturing apparatus shapes skewered food from non-spherical food blanks skewered on sticks. The skewered food consists of two or more predetermined numbers of spherical food items arranged in a string on the sticks. The apparatus includes a final processing roller, a final processing guide, a first limiting component, and a second limiting component. The final processing roller has a first forming mold on its outer circumferential surface and is rotatably supported on a base about a rotation axis. The first forming mold has a predetermined number of annular first forming grooves arranged axially along the rotation axis. The final processing guide is fixed to the base and has a second limiting component on its opposing surface to the outer circumferential surface of the final processing roller. A second forming die extends radially outward from the first forming die towards the final processing roller in an arc shape, forming a forming passage between the second forming die and the first forming die. The second forming die has a predetermined number of second forming grooves arranged axially and opposing the first forming groove from the radially outward side. The forming passage extends arc-shaped from an inlet opening at one circumferential end of the second forming die to an outlet opening at the other circumferential end of the second forming die. If the non-spherical food preform enters the forming passage from the inlet opening and is conveyed to the outlet opening by the rotating final processing roller, the non-spherical food preform is formed by the first forming die and the... The second forming die forms the skewered food. The first limiting member is disposed adjacent to one side of the final processing roller and the final processing guide along the axial direction, and the first limiting member is fixed to the base side. It has a skewer moving groove for the skewer to move and narrows the opening width on one side of the forming passage along the axial direction. The second limiting member is disposed adjacent to the other side of the final processing roller and the final processing guide along the axial direction, and the second limiting member is fixed to the base side, closing the other side of the forming passage along the axial direction. The final processing roller consists of a roller body made of a light metal and a pair of plate-shaped roller end panels made of a heavy metal harder than the roller body. The pair of roller end panels are respectively overlapped and fixed to at least the region constituting the first forming mold on both axial end faces of the roller body and are integrated with the roller body. The final processing guide is composed of a guide body made of light metal and a pair of plate-shaped guide end panel portions made of heavy metal harder than the guide body. The pair of guide end panel portions are respectively overlapped and fixed to at least the region constituting the second forming mold on both axial end faces of the guide body and are integrated with the guide body. The first limiting member is fixed to the final processing guide in contact with the outer surface of the guide end panel portion that overlaps with the end face on one side of the guide body along the axial direction.The second limiting member is fixed to the final-processed guide in contact with the outer surface of the guide end panel portion, which overlaps with the end face on the other side of the axial direction of the guide body; and, A food preform conveying device, in order to feed the food preforms used for skewering food into the preform feeding hopper of the skewering food forming device, the food preform conveying device conveys the food preforms to a height position above the preform feeding hopper. The food raw material conveying device includes: A conveying hopper for feeding raw preforms is positioned at a height lower than the forming hopper for feeding raw preforms, into which the raw food preforms are fed. An extrusion unit that extrudes the food preform fed into the conveying preform hopper as a continuous conveying object preform in a rod-shaped or strip-shaped state. The lower conveyor has an upper surface of a conveyor belt that forms a generally horizontally moving lower conveyor surface, which continuously conveys the green object extruded from the extrusion unit and falling onto the lower conveyor surface in a generally horizontal direction toward the downstream end of the lower conveyor surface. An inclined conveyor having an upper surface of a conveyor belt forming an inclined conveying surface that moves obliquely upward relative to the horizontal direction, the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface being positioned at a height above the hopper for feeding the green blank, the green blank to be conveyed to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface and arriving at the inclined conveying surface being continuously conveyed toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface; and The pressing and conveying unit is disposed opposite to at least the lower region of the inclined conveying surface, and the green blank to be conveyed is sandwiched between the pressing and conveying unit and the inclined conveying surface, and is flattened and conveyed obliquely upward.

2. A food skewer manufacturing system, characterized in that, have: A food skewer manufacturing apparatus shapes skewered food from non-spherical food blanks skewered on sticks. The skewered food consists of two or more predetermined numbers of spherical food items arranged in a string on the sticks. The apparatus includes a final processing roller, a final processing guide, a first limiting component, and a second limiting component. The final processing roller has a first forming mold on its outer circumferential surface and is rotatably supported on a base about a rotation axis. The first forming mold has a predetermined number of annular first forming grooves arranged axially along the rotation axis. The final processing guide is fixed to the base and has a second limiting component on its opposing surface to the outer circumferential surface of the final processing roller. A second forming die extends radially outward from the first forming die towards the final processing roller in an arc shape, forming a forming passage between the second forming die and the first forming die. The second forming die has a predetermined number of second forming grooves arranged axially and opposing the first forming groove from the radially outward side. The forming passage extends arc-shaped from an inlet opening at one circumferential end of the second forming die to an outlet opening at the other circumferential end of the second forming die. If the non-spherical food preform enters the forming passage from the inlet opening and is conveyed to the outlet opening by the rotating final processing roller, the non-spherical food preform is formed by the first forming die and the... The second forming die forms the skewered food. The first limiting member is disposed adjacent to one side of the final processing roller and the final processing guide along the axial direction, and the first limiting member is fixed to the base side. It has a skewer moving groove for the skewer to move and narrows the opening width on one side of the forming passage along the axial direction. The second limiting member is disposed adjacent to the other side of the final processing roller and the final processing guide along the axial direction, and the second limiting member is fixed to the base side, closing the other side of the forming passage along the axial direction. The final processing roller consists of a roller body made of a light metal and a pair of plate-shaped roller end panels made of a heavy metal harder than the roller body. The pair of roller end panels are respectively overlapped and fixed to at least the region constituting the first forming mold on both axial end faces of the roller body and are integrated with the roller body. The final processing guide is composed of a guide body made of light metal and a pair of plate-shaped guide end panel portions made of heavy metal harder than the guide body. The pair of guide end panel portions are respectively overlapped and fixed to at least the region constituting the second forming mold on both axial end faces of the guide body and are integrated with the guide body. The first limiting member is fixed to the final processing guide in contact with the outer surface of the guide end panel portion that overlaps with the end face on one side of the guide body along the axial direction.The second limiting member is fixed to the final-processed guide in contact with the outer surface of the guide end panel portion, which overlaps with the end face on the other side of the axial direction of the guide body; and, In order to feed the first and second food blanks used for forming the skewered food into the first and second storage areas of the forming blank feeding hopper of the skewered food forming device, the food blank conveying device conveys the food blanks to a height position above the forming blank feeding hopper. The food raw material conveying device includes: The first conveying raw material feeding hopper is positioned at a height lower than the forming raw material feeding hopper, and the first food raw material is fed into it. The first extrusion unit extrudes the first food preform fed into the first conveying preform feeding hopper as a first conveying object preform in a continuous state in the form of a rod or strip. The second conveying raw material feeding hopper is positioned at a height lower than the forming raw material feeding hopper, and the second food raw material is fed into it; The second extrusion unit extrudes the second food preform fed into the second conveying preform feed hopper as a continuous second conveying object preform in a rod-shaped or strip-shaped state. The lower conveyor has an upper surface of a conveyor belt that forms a generally horizontally moving lower conveying surface, and conveys the first and second transportable green blanks extruded from the first extrusion unit and the second extrusion unit onto the lower conveying surface in a state in which they are arranged separately in the width direction of the conveyor belt toward the downstream end of the lower conveying surface in a generally horizontal direction in a continuous state. An inclined conveyor having an upper surface of a conveyor belt forming an inclined conveying surface that moves obliquely upward relative to the horizontal direction, the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface being positioned at a height above the hopper for feeding green blanks, conveying the first and second green blanks to be conveyed to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface and arriving at the inclined conveying surface in a state of separation and continuous arrangement in the width direction of the conveyor belt; and The pressing and conveying unit is disposed opposite to at least the lower region of the inclined conveying surface, and the first and second transported green blanks are sandwiched between the pressing and conveying unit and the inclined conveying surface, flattening them while conveying them obliquely upward.

3. The food skewer manufacturing system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The thickness of the plate at the roller end is smaller than the distance between two adjacent first forming grooves. The thickness of the end panel of the guide member is smaller than the distance between two adjacent second forming grooves.

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