Food product dough conveying device

Abstract

To provide a food product dough conveying device capable of reducing work labor when charging dough while minimizing an installation area, preventing remaining materials from being generated, and carrying out cleaning work easily.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: Extruding means 12, 13 extrude food product dough charged into a conveying dough charging hopper 11 as a continuous piece of conveying object dough 4 that is continuous in the form of a rod or belt. A lower conveying surface 19 of a lower conveyor 14 conveys the conveying object dough 4 dropped onto the lower conveying surface 19 in a substantially horizontal direction toward a downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19. An inclined conveying surface 26 of an inclined conveyor 21 has a downstream end arranged at a height position above a molding dough charging hopper 3, and conveys, toward a downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26, the conveying object dough 4 that is conveyed to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19 and reaches the inclined conveying surface 26. Extruding conveying means 22 is arranged facing at least a lower region of the inclined conveying surface 26, and conveys the conveying object dough 4 diagonally upward while sandwiching and crushing the dough with the inclined conveying surface 26.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a food dough conveying device that conveys food dough from below to above, and more particularly to a food dough conveying device that can continuously supply food dough to a dough input hopper provided at the top of a dumpling making machine or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] In the dumpling-making machine described in Patent Document 1, dumpling dough is fed into a dough feeding hopper, which produces dumplings that are shaped and skewered in a predetermined number of portions. Because the dough feeding hopper is located at a high altitude (for example, about 1,700 mm above ground level) and the maximum weight of dough that can be fed into the dough feeding hopper at one time is set to about 10 kg, when the dumpling-making machine is operated at high speed, dumpling dough needs to be fed frequently into the high dough feeding hopper.

[0003] For example, if a dumpling-making machine is designed to produce 120 dumplings per minute, it needs to feed 5 kg of dough into a high dough feeding hopper once every two minutes, which means manual feeding is very labor-intensive.

[0004] To solve such problems, Patent Document 1 describes a food dough discharge device that does not require manual input of food dough (dough to be discharged) such as dumpling dough into a dough input hopper at a high place, and can reduce the labor required for inputting dough. This food dough discharge device includes a dough input hopper to be discharged, a horizontal conveying path, and an oblique conveying path. The horizontal conveying path conveys the dough to be discharged input into the dough input hopper in a horizontal direction by the rotation of a first screw. The oblique conveying path has an outlet at the top for discharging the dough to be discharged, and an inlet at the bottom for receiving the dough to be discharged conveyed by the horizontal conveying path, and the dough to be discharged discharged from the outlet of the horizontal conveying path is received from the inlet and conveyed obliquely upward to the outlet by the rotation of a second screw. The dough to be discharged input into the dough input hopper to be discharged is discharged from the outlet via the horizontal conveying path and the oblique conveying path to the dough input hopper of the food molding device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-140340 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the food dough delivery device of Patent Document 1, both the horizontal conveying path and the diagonal conveying path are configured as closed spaces through which the screw passes, and the food dough is conveyed by the rotation of the screw. Therefore, when the production is completed or the food dough is changed, the food dough is likely to remain in the conveying path, making it difficult to reduce food waste due to the leftovers. In addition, the conveying path is a closed space, the screw has a complex shape, and disassembly and assembly take time, making cleaning work complicated.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a food dough conveying device that can reduce the amount of work required when adding dough while keeping the installation area small, is less likely to produce waste material, and allows for easy cleaning. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a food dough conveying device that conveys food dough used in food molding to a height position above a forming dough input hopper of a food molding device in order to input the food dough to the forming dough input hopper, the food dough conveying device having a conveyed dough input hopper disposed at a height position below the forming dough input hopper and into which the food dough is input, an extrusion means that extrudes the food dough input into the conveyed dough input hopper as a continuous rod-shaped or band-shaped dough to be conveyed, and a belt upper surface that constitutes a lower conveying surface that moves approximately horizontally, the food dough to be conveyed extruded from the extrusion means and dropped onto the lower conveying surface, the dough to be transported is conveyed to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface while maintaining the continuous state, and an inclined conveyor having a belt upper surface that constitutes an inclined conveying surface that moves diagonally upward relative to the horizontal direction, the downstream end of which is located at a height position higher than the dough input hopper, and which transports the dough to be transported, which has been transported to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface and reached onto the inclined conveying surface, toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface while maintaining the continuous state; and a pressing conveying means located opposite at least the lower region of the inclined conveying surface, which conveys the dough to be transported diagonally upward while clamping it between the inclined conveying surface and the inclined conveying surface.

[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is a food dough conveying device of the first aspect, wherein the pressing and conveying means is composed of a pressing and conveying conveyor having a belt underside forming an inclined pressing surface that moves diagonally upward relative to the horizontal direction, and which sandwiches the dough to be conveyed between the inclined pressing surface and the inclined conveying surface, crushing it and conveying it diagonally upward.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention is a food dough conveying device of the second aspect, wherein the extrusion means has an extrusion roll and a nozzle, and the food dough fed into the conveying dough feeding hopper is extruded by the extrusion roll from an opening of the nozzle as the dough to be conveyed, and the distance between the inclined conveying surface and the inclined pressing surface is shorter than the opening width of the opening of the nozzle along the movement direction of the lower conveying surface.

[0011] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the food dough conveying device of the third aspect, wherein the distance between the inclined conveying surface and the inclined pressing surface gradually decreases obliquely upward toward the downstream side.

[0012] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the food dough conveying device of the second or third aspect, which includes an upper belt surface constituting an upper conveying surface that moves substantially horizontally, the downstream end of the upper conveying surface being located above the formed dough input hopper, and an upper conveyor that conveys the dough to be conveyed, which has been conveyed to the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface and has reached the upper conveying surface, toward the downstream end of the upper conveying surface while maintaining the continuous state. The dough to be conveyed falls from the downstream end of the upper conveying surface and is input into the formed dough input hopper.

[0013] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the food dough conveying device of the fifth aspect, wherein the conveying dough inlet hopper, the extrusion roll, the nozzle and the lower conveyor are mounted on a lower conveyor support cart, and the inclined conveyor, the pressing conveying conveyor and the upper conveyor are mounted on an inclined conveyor support cart.

[0014] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a food dough conveying device of the third aspect, comprising a control means for controlling the driving of the extrusion roll, the lower conveyor, the inclined conveyor, the pressing conveyor, and the upper conveyor to be stopped when the accumulated amount of the dough to be conveyed and conveyed to the shaped dough input hopper exceeds a first amount, and for controlling the driving of the extrusion roll, the lower conveyor, the inclined conveyor, the pressing conveyor, and the upper conveyor to be stopped when the accumulated amount of the dough to be conveyed and conveyed to the shaped dough input hopper falls below a second amount which is smaller than the first amount.

[0015] An eighth aspect of the present invention is a food dough conveying device that conveys first and second food doughs used in food molding to a height position above a forming dough input hopper of a food molding apparatus in order to input the first and second food doughs to first and second accumulation areas of the forming dough input hopper, respectively, the food dough conveying device comprising: a first conveyed dough input hopper arranged at a height position below the forming dough input hopper and into which the first food dough is input; a first extrusion means that extrudes the first food dough input into the first conveyed dough input hopper as a first dough to be conveyed in a continuous state in a rod or band shape; a second conveyed dough input hopper arranged at a height position below the forming dough input hopper and into which the second food dough is input; a second extrusion means that extrudes the second food dough input into the second conveyed dough input hopper as a second dough to be conveyed in a continuous state in a rod or band shape; and a lower conveying means that moves approximately horizontally. a lower conveyor having an upper belt surface constituting an inclined conveying surface which conveys the first and second dough pieces to be conveyed, which are extruded onto the lower conveying surface from the first and second extrusion means, respectively, in a substantially horizontal direction toward the downstream end of the lower conveying surface while maintaining the continuous state in a state where they are spaced apart in the belt width direction; an inclined conveyor having an upper belt surface constituting an inclined conveying surface which moves diagonally upward with respect to the horizontal direction, the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface being located at a height position higher than the molding dough input hopper, and which conveys the first and second dough pieces to be conveyed, which have been conveyed to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface and reached on the inclined conveying surface, toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface while maintaining the continuous state and the state where they are spaced apart in the belt width direction; and a pressing conveying means which is located opposite at least a lower region of the inclined conveying surface and conveys the first and second dough pieces to be conveyed diagonally upward while squashing them between the inclined conveying surface and the inclined conveying surface.

[0016] A ninth aspect of the present invention is the food dough conveying device of the eighth aspect, wherein the first extrusion means has a first extrusion roll and a first die, the first food dough fed into the first conveying dough feeding hopper is extruded by the first extrusion roll through an opening of the first die as the first dough to be conveyed, the second extrusion means has a second extrusion roll and a second die, the second food dough fed into the second conveying dough feeding hopper is extruded by the second extrusion roll through the opening of the second die as the second dough to be conveyed, and the opening width of the opening of the first die along the movement direction of the lower conveying surface is approximately equal to the opening width of the opening of the second die along the movement direction of the lower conveying surface.

[0017] A tenth aspect of the present invention is the food dough conveying device of the ninth aspect, wherein the lower conveyor is divided into a first lower conveyor on the downstream side and a second lower conveyor on the upstream side, the first conveying dough input hopper, the first extrusion roll, the first die and the first lower conveyor are provided on a first lower conveyor support cart, the second conveying dough input hopper, the second extrusion roll, the second die and the second lower conveyor are provided on a second lower conveyor support cart, the first dough to be conveyed is extruded from the first die onto the lower conveying surface of the first lower conveyor and conveyed by the first lower conveyor to the inclined conveyor, and the second dough to be conveyed is extruded from the second die 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. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the food dough conveying device of the present invention, the installation area can be kept small while reducing the labor required when feeding dough, less residue is produced, and cleaning can be easily performed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a usage form of the food dough conveying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a front view of the lower conveying device of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow A. [Diagram 3] 2 is a plan view of the lower conveying device of FIG. 1 as viewed from above. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 shows examples of the shape of the nozzle opening, where (a) shows a circular opening and (b) shows a rectangular opening. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the food dough conveying device of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a side view showing an example of a usage form of the food dough conveying device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9 is a front view of the second lower conveying device of FIG. 8 as viewed from the direction of arrow D. [Figure 10] 9 is a plan view of the second lower conveying device of FIG. 8 as viewed from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] (First embodiment) The food dough conveying device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the downstream side means the destination side of the dough to be conveyed, and the upstream side means the source side of the dough to be conveyed. The outline arrow in the drawing indicates the conveying direction of the dough 4 to be conveyed.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, a food dough conveying device 1 is described which conveys and charges dumpling dough (food dough) used to form dumplings into a dough-input hopper 3 of a dumpling making machine 2, which is an example of a food forming device. The dumpling dough is conveyed by the food dough conveying device 1 to a height position above the dough-input hopper 3. Note that the food forming device to which the food dough conveying device 1 is applied is not limited to the dumpling making machine 2, and may be a forming device for other foods.

[0022] A dough hopper 3 is provided at the top of the dumpling making machine 2, and dumpling dough is fed from the top opening of the dough hopper 3. The dumpling dough fed into the dough hopper 3 is extruded by an extrusion roll (not shown), and guided to a forming roll (not shown) and a rounding roll (not shown) where it is formed into dumplings, and the formed dumplings are skewered by a skewering mechanism (not shown) in a predetermined number (for example, three at a time). In this way, skewered dumplings are produced.

[0023] The upper opening of the dough feeding hopper 3 is located at a height of, for example, about 1700 mm, and the maximum weight of dumpling dough that can be fed into the dough feeding hopper 3 at one time is set to, for example, about 10 kg. The production speed of skewered dumplings by the dumpling making machine 2 is required to be, for example, about 120 dumplings per minute. In this case, about 5 kg of dumpling dough must be fed into the dough feeding hopper 3 at a rate of about once every two minutes, which requires excessive labor to be done manually. To reduce this labor, a food dough conveying device 1 is provided.

[0024] The food dough conveying device 1 is mainly composed of a lower conveying device 10 and an inclined conveying device 20.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lower conveying device 10 includes a dough input hopper 11, a pair of extrusion rolls 12 and a die 13 constituting an extrusion means, a lower conveyor 14, and a control unit 15. The dough input hopper 11, the extrusion roll 12, the die 13, the lower conveyor 14, and the control unit 15 are provided on a lower conveyor support cart 16. The lower conveyor support cart 16 is configured to be movable by wheels 17 attached to its lower part.

[0026] The conveyed dough input hopper 11 is disposed at a height lower than the molded dough input hopper 3, and the dumpling dough is input from the upper opening of the conveyed dough input hopper 11. The dumpling dough is input, for example, in the form of a block, into the conveyed dough input hopper 11. The upper opening of the conveyed dough input hopper 11 is disposed at a height of, for example, about 1,100 mm.

[0027] A pair of extrusion rolls 12 are disposed below the dough input hopper 11 to be conveyed, and a die 13 is disposed below the extrusion rolls 12. The dumpling dough input into the dough input hopper 11 to be conveyed is extruded by the extrusion rolls 12 from an opening 18 of the die 13 as the dough to be conveyed 4. The dough to be conveyed 4 is a continuous dumpling dough in a rod or band shape. The shape of the opening 18 of the die 13 determines the cross-sectional shape of the dough to be conveyed 4.

[0028] The lower conveyor 14 is disposed substantially horizontally below the die 13. The upper surface of the belt of the lower conveyor 14 constitutes a lower conveying surface 19 that moves substantially horizontally. The lower conveyor 14 conveys the fabric 4 to be conveyed, which has been pushed out from the die 13 and dropped onto the lower conveying surface 19, in a substantially horizontal direction toward the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19 while maintaining the fabric 4 in a continuous state.

[0029] The lower conveyor 14, the inclined conveyor 21, the pressing conveyor 22, and the upper conveyor 23, which will be described later, are all belt conveyors, and are rotated by electric motors (not shown). Each belt is made of a resin sheet material with an embossed outer surface. The control unit 15 controls the electric motor of the lower conveyor 14 and the electric motor that rotates the extrusion roll 12.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the inclined conveying device 20 includes an inclined conveyor 21, a pressing conveying conveyor 22 constituting a pressing conveying means, an upper conveyor 23, and a control unit 24. The inclined conveyor 21, the pressing conveying conveyor 22, the upper conveyor 23, and the control unit 24 are provided on an inclined conveyor support cart 25. The inclined conveyor support cart 25 is configured to be movable by wheels 17 attached to the lower part. The lower conveyor support cart 16 and the inclined conveyor support cart 25 are moved in the horizontal direction, so that the lower conveying device 10 and the inclined conveying device 20 are placed at desired positions. The control unit 24 controls the electric motor of the inclined conveyor 21, the electric motor of the pressing conveying conveyor 22, and the electric motor of the upper conveyor 23. The control unit 24 of the inclined conveying device 20 may be provided in the control unit 15 of the lower conveying device 10.

[0031] The inclined conveyor 21 is disposed downstream of the lower conveyor 14 and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The upper surface of the belt of the inclined conveyor 21 constitutes an inclined conveying surface 26 that moves obliquely upward with respect to the horizontal direction. The upstream end (lower end) of the inclined conveying surface 26 is disposed downstream and adjacent to the lower end of the lower conveying surface 19, and the downstream end (upper end) of the inclined conveying surface 26 is disposed at a height position higher than the dough input hopper 3. The dough 4 to be conveyed horizontally on the lower conveying surface 19 reaches the inclined conveying surface 26 after passing the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19. The inclined conveyor 21 conveys the dough 4 to be conveyed that has reached the inclined conveying surface 26 obliquely upward toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26 while maintaining the dough 4 in a continuous state.

[0032] The pressing conveyor 22 is disposed opposite to the lower region of the inclined conveying surface 26. The belt underside of the pressing conveyor 22 constitutes an inclined pressing surface 27 that moves obliquely upward with respect to the horizontal direction. The inclined pressing surface 27 conveys the fabric 4 to be conveyed obliquely upward while squashing it between the pressing conveyor 22 and the inclined conveying surface 26. The pressing conveyor 22 is detachably attached to the inclined conveyor support cart 25 as a single unit including an electric motor as a drive source.

[0033] In this embodiment, the pressing conveyor 22 is disposed facing only the lower region of the inclined conveying surface 26, but the pressing conveyor 22 may be disposed facing the region other than the lower region of the inclined conveying surface 26 (for example, the entire region including the lower region). In this case, one pressing conveyor 22 may be provided, or multiple pressing conveyor 22 may be provided. Also, instead of the pressing conveyor 22, other pressing conveying means (for example, multiple pressing rollers aligned in the conveying direction) may be provided.

[0034] When the inclination angle of the inclined conveying surface 26 with respect to the horizontal direction is small (close to the horizontal direction), it is possible to convey the fabric 4 to be conveyed diagonally upward by the inclined conveying surface 26 without providing a pressing conveyor 22, but a large installation space is required for the inclined conveyor 21 (inclined conveying device 20). On the other hand, the larger the inclination angle, the narrower the installation space for the inclined conveyor 21 can be, but a large inclination angle is likely to cause the fabric 4 to meander on the inclined conveying surface 26 or to become unable to be conveyed. The inclination angle at which the fabric 4 to be conveyed meanders or becomes unable to be conveyed varies depending on the type and environment of the fabric 4 to be conveyed, and is difficult to uniformly prescribe, but when the inclination angle is 30 degrees or more, the possibility of meandering or becoming unable to be conveyed increases.

[0035] In this embodiment, an inclined pressing surface 27 is provided which sandwiches and crushes the fabric 4 to be conveyed diagonally upward between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27, so that the position of the lower part of the fabric 4 to be conveyed on the inclined conveying surface 26 can be reliably stabilized, and the fabric 4 to be conveyed can be stably conveyed diagonally upward even when the inclination angle of the inclined conveying surface 26 is large (for example, 30 degrees or more). The inclination angle of the inclined conveying surface 26 is preferably 30 degrees or more, and the inclination angle in this embodiment is set to about 54 degrees. The inclined pressing surface 27 allows the fabric 4 to be stably conveyed diagonally upward while keeping the installation area small.

[0036] The distance between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 is shorter than the opening width D1 (see FIG. 4) of the opening 18 of the die 13 along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19. For example, when the opening 18 is circular as shown in FIG. 5(a), the opening width D1 of the die 13 along the conveying direction is the inner diameter of the opening 18, and when the opening 18 is rectangular as shown in FIG. 5(b), the opening width D1 of the die 13 along the conveying direction is the distance between the opposite sides of the opening 18 spaced apart in the conveying direction. The opening width D1 of the die 13 along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19 determines the height H of the fabric 4 to be conveyed on the lower conveying surface 19, so that the fabric 4 to be conveyed can be reliably crushed by making the distance between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 shorter than the opening width D1 of the die 13 along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19. The opening shape of the die 13 is not limited to a circular or rectangular shape, and may be another shape (for example, an elliptical shape).

[0037] As shown in Fig. 6, the distance between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 gradually decreases diagonally upward toward the downstream side. In other words, the distance D2 between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the downstream end of the inclined pressing surface 27 is shorter than the distance D3 between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the upstream end of the inclined pressing surface 27. This allows the fabric 4 to be gradually crushed as it is conveyed downstream. As described above, the distance between the inclined conveying surface 26 and any position on the inclined pressing surface 27, including the distance D2 and the distance D3, is shorter than the opening width D1 of the opening 18 of the die 13 along the movement direction of the lower conveying surface 19.

[0038] Furthermore, the positional relationship between the lower end of inclined conveying surface 26 and the lower end of inclined pressing surface 27 in the conveying direction of the target fabric 4 by inclined conveying surface 26 and inclined pressing surface 27 is set so that the lower end of inclined conveying surface 26 is located upstream in the conveying direction from the lower end of inclined pressing surface 27. Figure 6 shows an example in which the lower end of inclined conveying surface 26 is located a distance D4 upstream in the conveying direction from the lower end of inclined pressing surface 27. Because the lower end of inclined conveying surface 26 is located upstream in the conveying direction from the lower end of inclined pressing surface 27, the target fabric 4 conveyed by lower conveying surface 19 can be smoothly guided between inclined conveying surface 26 and inclined pressing surface 27.

[0039] The upper conveyor 23 is disposed substantially horizontally on the downstream side of the inclined conveyor 21. The upper surface of the belt of the upper conveyor 23 constitutes an upper conveying surface 28 that moves substantially horizontally. The upper conveying surface 28 is disposed at a height position above the shaping dough input hopper 3, the upstream end of the upper conveying surface 28 is disposed downstream of the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26, and the downstream end of the upper conveying surface 28 is disposed above the shaping dough input hopper 3. The dough 4 to be conveyed on the inclined conveying surface 26 reaches the upper conveying surface 28 after passing the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26. The upper conveyor 23 conveys the dough 4 to be conveyed on the upper conveying surface 28 in a substantially horizontal direction toward the downstream end of the upper conveying surface 28 while maintaining the continuous state. The dough 4 to be conveyed falls from the downstream end of the upper conveying surface 28 and is input into the shaping dough input hopper 3.

[0040] When the dumpling making machine (food forming device) 1 is started, dumpling dough (food dough) is fed into the conveyed dough input hopper 11 of the food dough conveying device 1. The dumpling dough fed into the conveyed dough input hopper 11 is extruded by a pair of extrusion rolls 12 from the opening 18 of the die 13 as a continuous rod-shaped or band-shaped dough to be conveyed 4, conveyed approximately horizontally by the lower conveyor 14, conveyed diagonally upward by the inclined conveyor 21 and the pressure conveyor 22, conveyed approximately horizontally by the upper conveyor 23, and fed into the formed dough input hopper 3 of the dumpling making machine 2 while maintaining the continuous state.

[0041] A sensor 5 for detecting the amount of dumpling dough in the dough input hopper 3 is provided near the dough input hopper 3 of the dumpling making machine 2, and the amount of dumpling dough in the dough input hopper 3 detected by sensor 5 is notified to the food dough conveying device 1. The food dough conveying device 1 controls the conveying operation of the dough 4 to be conveyed based on the amount of dumpling dough in the dough input hopper 3 notified by the dumpling making machine 2.

[0042] The conveying operation of the dough 4 to be conveyed is controlled by the respective control units 15, 24. For example, when the amount of dumpling dough in the dough-forming hopper 3 of the dumpling-making machine 2 exceeds a first amount, the drive of the push-out roll 12, lower conveyor 14, inclined conveyor 21, pressing conveyor 22, and upper conveyor 23 is temporarily stopped, and when the amount of dumpling dough accumulated in the dough-forming hopper 3 falls below a second amount that is smaller than the first amount, the drive of the push-out roll 12, lower conveyor 14, inclined conveyor 21, pressing conveyor 22, and upper conveyor 23 is resumed by the respective control units 15, 24.

[0043] If the capacity of the conveyed dough feeding hopper 11 of the food dough conveying device 1 is, for example, 40 kg, then even if the dumpling making machine 2 is operated continuously at high speed, it is only necessary to feed the dumpling dough into the conveyed dough feeding hopper 11 once every 10 minutes or so, and since the upper opening of the conveyed dough feeding hopper 11 is located at a height of approximately 1,100 mm, the labor involved in feeding the dumpling dough is greatly reduced.

[0044] Fig. 7 is a flow chart explaining the operation of the food dough conveying device 1 shown in Fig. 1. When the food dough conveying device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is started (step S1), it drives the push-out roll 12, the lower conveyor 14, the inclined conveyor 21, the pressing conveyor 22, and the upper conveyor 23 to start conveying the dough to be conveyed (dumpling dough) 4 put into the dough input hopper 11 (step S2).

[0045] When the food dough conveying device 1 is started, the control units 15, 24 calculate the amount of dough conveyed by the food dough conveying device 1 and accumulated in the shaped dough input hopper 3 based on a signal received from a sensor 5 arranged near the shaped dough input hopper 3.

[0046] The control units 15, 24 determine whether the amount of dough accumulated in the dough input hopper 3 exceeds the first amount (step S3). If the amount does not exceed the first amount (step S3: NO), the process returns to step S3 and the conveying operation of the dough 4 to be conveyed is continued.

[0047] In step S3, when it is determined that the amount of dough accumulated in the dough input hopper 3 exceeds the first amount (step S3: YES), the drive of the extrusion roll 12, lower conveyor 14, inclined conveyor 21, pressing conveyor 22, and upper conveyor 23 is stopped, and the conveying operation of the dough 4 to be conveyed is temporarily halted (step S4).

[0048] Next, it is determined whether the amount of dough stored in the dough input hopper 3 falls below a second amount that is smaller than the first amount (Step S5). If the amount is not below the second amount (Step S5: NO), the process returns to Step S5 and the temporary suspension of the transport operation of the dough 4 to be transported is continued.

[0049] In step S5, when it is determined that the amount of dough accumulated in the dough input hopper 3 falls below the second amount (step S5: YES), the operation of the extrusion roll 12, lower conveyor 14, inclined conveyor 21, pressing conveyor 22, and upper conveyor 23 is resumed, the conveying operation of the dough 4 to be conveyed is resumed (step S6), and the process returns to step S3.

[0050] In this way, in the dumpling making machine (food forming device) 1 of this embodiment, the conveying operation of the dough to be transported 4 is intermittently repeated depending on the amount of dough accumulated in the dough forming hopper 3 of the dumpling making machine 2, so that the amount of dough accumulated in the dough forming hopper 3 can be controlled so that it always remains within a constant range.

[0051] An operator can operate the dumpling making machine 2 at high speed by simply checking the amount of dough 4 to be transported in the dough feeding hopper 11 of the food dough transporting device 1 and refilling the dough 4 to be transported into the low dough feeding hopper 11.

[0052] In addition, the lower conveying surface 19 of the lower conveyor 14 and the upper conveying surface 28 of the upper conveyor 23 are each open in their entirety, and by removing the pressing conveyor 22, the entire inclined conveying surface 26 of the inclined conveyor 21 and the inclined pressing surface 27 of the pressing conveyor 22 are opened, and the pressing conveyor 22 is detachably attached to the inclined conveyor support cart 25 as a single unit including an electric motor as a driving source, etc., so that cleaning of the food dough conveying device 1 can be easily performed. In addition, since the food dough is conveyed by a belt conveyor, food dough is unlikely to remain in the conveying path, and food waste due to leftover material can be reduced.

[0053] Second embodiment Next, a food dough conveying device 5 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, a food dough conveying device 1 was described that feeds one type of dumpling dough into the formed dough input hopper 3 of a dumpling making machine 2 that produces skewered dumplings, each of which has three dumplings of the same type (same color and material) skewered on a skewer. In contrast, the food dough conveying device 5 of this embodiment feeds three types of dumpling dough into the formed dough input hopper 3 of a dumpling making machine that produces skewered dumplings, each of which has three different types (different colors and / or materials) skewered on a skewer.

[0054] The following description will be given taking as an example three-color dumplings in which three different colored dumplings are skewered on one skewer. In this embodiment, the inside of the molded dough input hopper 3 is divided into three accumulation areas (not shown) corresponding to the three colors, and the three different colored dumpling dough types are input into each of the three accumulation areas. The number of types of dumplings skewered on one skewer is not limited to three and can be any number as long as there is more than one, and the number of accumulation areas in the molded dough input hopper 3 and the number of types of dumpling dough input are determined according to the number of types of dumplings skewered on one skewer.

[0055] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the food dough conveying device 5 of this embodiment includes a second lower conveying device 10B in addition to the lower conveying device 10 (10A) and the inclined conveying device 20 of the first embodiment. 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 conveyed dough input hopper 11 (11A), the extrusion roll 12 (12A), the die 13 (13A), the lower conveyor 14 (14A), and the lower conveyor support cart 16 (16A) of the first embodiment are referred to as the first conveyed dough input hopper, the first extrusion roll, the first die, the first lower conveyor, and the first lower conveyor support cart. The first lower conveying device 10A and the second lower conveying device 10B have the same basic configuration, but differ in that the number of fabrics 4 to be conveyed 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.

[0056] The second lower conveying device 10B, like the first lower conveying device 10A, includes a conveyed dough input hopper (second conveyed dough input hopper 11B), two pairs of extrusion rolls (second extrusion roll 12B) and two die sets (second die sets 13B) constituting an extrusion means, a lower conveyor (second lower conveyor 14B), and a control unit 15, which are provided on a lower conveyor support carriage (second lower conveyor support carriage 16B). The second lower conveying device 10B is disposed upstream of the first lower conveying device 10A so that the center of the belt width direction of the lower conveying surface 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B is at the same height as the center of the belt width direction of the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A and is approximately aligned. The lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A on the downstream side and the lower conveying surface 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B on the upstream side are continuously aligned in the conveying direction to constitute the lower conveying surface of the food dough conveying device 5 of this embodiment. In other words, the lower conveyor in this embodiment is divided into a first lower conveyor 14A on the downstream side and a second lower conveyor 14B on the upstream side.

[0057] The second conveying dough input hopper 11B is divided into two dough input areas 29A, 29B arranged in a direction approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction, and a pair of second extrusion rolls 12B and one second die 13B are provided corresponding to each dough input area 29A, 29B.

[0058] The opening width of the first die 13A along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19 is approximately equal to the opening width of the second die 13B along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface 19. In addition, the distance between the inclined conveying surface 26 and the inclined pressing surface 27 is shorter than both of the opening width of the first die 13A and the opening width of the second die 13B.

[0059] A first color of dumpling dough is fed into the transport dough feeding hopper 11A of the first lower conveying device 10A, and a second color of dumpling dough and a third color of dumpling dough are respectively fed into the two dough feeding areas 29A, 29B in the transport dough feeding hopper 11B of the second lower conveying device 10B.

[0060] In the first lower conveying device 10A, the fabric to be conveyed of the first color 4A is pushed out through the opening 18 of the first die 13A and falls at approximately the center in the belt width direction of the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A. In the second lower conveying device 10B, the fabric to be conveyed of the second color 4B is pushed out through the opening 18 of one of the two second die 13B and falls on one side of approximately the center in the belt width direction of the lower conveying surface 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B. In addition, the fabric to be conveyed of the third color 4C is pushed out through the opening 18 of the other of the two second die 13B and falls on the other side of approximately the center in the belt width direction of the lower conveying surface 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B.

[0061] In this way, the first colored fabric to be transported 4A is pushed out from the first die 13A onto the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A, and is transported to the inclined conveyor 21 by the first lower conveyor 14A. The second colored fabric to be transported 4B and the third colored fabric to be transported 4C are pushed out from one and the other second die 13B onto the lower conveying surface 19 of the second lower conveyor 14B, respectively, and are transported 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 colored fabric to be transported 4A, the second colored fabric to be transported 4B, and the third colored fabric to be transported 4C are arranged at a distance from each other at the center, one side, and the other side in the belt width direction. In other words, the first lower conveyor 14A conveys the first color fabric 4A to be transported, the second color fabric 4B to be transported, and the third color fabric 4C to be transported in a substantially horizontal direction while maintaining them in a continuous state toward the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19, with the fabrics spaced apart in the belt width direction.

[0062] The inclined conveyor 21 of the inclined conveying device 20 conveys the first to third colored fabrics 4A to 4C to be conveyed, which have been conveyed to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A and have reached the inclined conveying surface 26, toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26 while maintaining the fabrics 4A to 4C arranged in a spaced-apart state in the belt width direction, as on the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A, and in a continuous state.

[0063] The upper conveyor 23 conveys the first to third colored dough pieces 4A-4C that have passed the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface 26 and reached the upper conveying surface 28 in a substantially horizontal direction toward the downstream end of the upper conveying surface 28 while maintaining the dough pieces continuous and spaced apart from one another in the belt width direction, as on the lower conveying surface 19 of the first lower conveyor 14A. The first to third colored dough pieces 4A-4C fall from the downstream end of the upper conveying surface 28 and are fed into three accumulation areas in the dough feeding hopper 3, respectively.

[0064] In this embodiment, when there is one type of dumpling dough to be transported to the dumpling making machine 2, the first lower transport device 10A is used, and when there are three types, the second lower transport device 10B is used in addition to the first lower transport device 10A. In this way, since the first lower transport device 10A is shared, it is possible to use the equipment efficiently. Also, since the second lower transport device 10B is provided on the second lower conveyor support cart 16B and is movable, it is easy to switch between using and not using the second lower transport device 10B.

[0065] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments which have been described as examples, and various modifications may be made depending on the design, etc., other than the above-described embodiments, as long as they do not deviate from the technical idea of ​​the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1,5: Food dough conveying device 2: Dumpling making machine (food forming device) 3: Hopper for molding dough 4: Fabric to be transported 5: Sensor 10: Lower conveyor 11: Dough feeding hopper 12: Extrusion roll (extrusion means) 13: Cap (extrusion means) 14: Lower conveyor 15,24: Control section 16: Lower conveyor support cart 17: Wheels 18:Aperture 19: Lower conveying surface 20: Inclined conveying device 21: Inclined conveyor 22: Pressing conveyor (pressing conveying means) 23: Upper conveyor 25: Inclined conveyor support cart 26: Inclined conveying surface 27: Inclined pressing surface 28: Upper conveying surface 29A, 29B: Dough input area

Claims

1. A food dough conveying device that conveys food dough to a height position above a dough input hopper of a food molding device in order to input the food dough to the dough input hopper, a conveying dough input hopper disposed at a height position lower than the forming dough input hopper and into which the food dough is input; an extrusion means for extruding the food dough fed into the feeding dough feeding hopper as a continuous rod-shaped or band-shaped dough to be fed; a lower conveyor having a belt upper surface constituting a lower conveying surface that moves substantially horizontally, and which conveys the fabric to be conveyed, which has been pushed out from the pushing means and dropped onto the lower conveying surface, in a substantially horizontal direction while maintaining the continuous state toward a downstream end of the lower conveying surface; an inclined conveyor having a belt upper surface constituting an inclined conveying surface that moves obliquely upward with respect to the horizontal direction, the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface being located at a height position higher than the dough input hopper, and conveying the dough to be conveyed, which has been conveyed to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface and has reached the inclined conveying surface, toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface while maintaining the continuous state; a pressing and conveying means disposed opposite at least a lower region of the inclined conveying surface and configured to sandwich and crush the fabric to be conveyed between the fabric and the inclined conveying surface while conveying the fabric obliquely upward. A food dough conveying device characterized by the above.

2. The pressing and conveying means is configured by a pressing and conveying conveyor having a belt underside forming an inclined pressing surface that moves obliquely upward with respect to the horizontal direction, and sandwiching the fabric to be conveyed between the inclined pressing surface and the inclined conveying surface, while crushing it and conveying it obliquely upward.

2. The food dough conveying device according to claim 1 .

3. The extrusion means includes an extrusion roll and a die. The food dough fed into the dough feeding hopper is extruded by the extrusion roll from the opening of the die as the dough to be conveyed; The distance between the inclined conveying surface and the inclined pressing surface is shorter than the opening width of the opening of the die along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface.

3. Food dough conveying device according to claim 2.

4. The distance between the inclined conveying surface and the inclined pressing surface gradually decreases obliquely upward toward the downstream side.

4. Food dough conveying device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. an upper conveyor having a belt upper surface constituting an upper conveying surface that moves substantially horizontally, the downstream end of the upper conveying surface being disposed above the dough input hopper, and the dough to be conveyed, which has been conveyed to the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface and has reached the upper conveying surface, being conveyed toward the downstream end of the upper conveying surface while maintaining the continuous state; The dough to be conveyed is dropped from the downstream end of the upper conveying surface and fed into the shaping dough feeding hopper.

4. Food dough conveying device according to claim 3.

6. The dough feeding hopper, the extrusion roll, the die and the lower conveyor are provided on a lower conveyor support cart, The inclined conveyor, the pressing conveyor, and the upper conveyor are provided on an inclined conveyor support cart.

6. Food dough conveying device according to claim 5.

7. The device is provided with a control means for controlling the operation of the push-out roll, the lower conveyor, the inclined conveyor, the press-transport conveyor, and the upper conveyor to be stopped when an accumulated amount of the dough to be transported transported to the shaping dough input hopper exceeds a first amount, and for controlling the operation of the push-out roll, the lower conveyor, the inclined conveyor, the press-transport conveyor, and the upper conveyor to be driven when an accumulated amount of the dough to be transported transported to the shaping dough input hopper falls below a second amount smaller than the first amount.

4. Food dough conveying device according to claim 3.

8. A food dough conveying device that conveys first and second food doughs used in food molding to a height position above a dough input hopper of a food molding device in order to input the first and second food doughs to first and second accumulation areas of the dough input hopper, respectively, a first dough feed hopper for feeding the first food dough, the first dough feed hopper being disposed at a height lower than the shaped dough feed hopper; a first extruding means for extruding the first food dough fed into the first dough feeding hopper as a first dough to be fed in a continuous state in a rod or band shape; A second dough feed hopper is disposed at a height lower than the shaped dough feed hopper and receives the second food dough; a second extrusion means for extruding the second food dough fed into the second dough feeding hopper as a continuous rod-shaped or band-shaped second dough to be fed; a lower conveyor having a belt upper surface constituting a lower conveying surface that moves substantially horizontally, and conveying the first and second fabrics to be conveyed, which are respectively extruded from the first and second extrusion means onto the lower conveying surface, in a state spaced apart from each other in the belt width direction toward a downstream end of the lower conveying surface in a substantially horizontal direction while maintaining the continuous state; an inclined conveyor having a belt upper surface constituting an inclined conveying surface that moves obliquely upward with respect to the horizontal direction, the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface being located at a height position higher than the dough input hopper, and conveying the first and second dough pieces that have been conveyed to the downstream end of the lower conveying surface and reached the inclined conveying surface toward the downstream end of the inclined conveying surface while maintaining the first and second dough pieces aligned and spaced apart in the belt width direction and the continuous state; a pressing and conveying means disposed opposite at least a lower region of the inclined conveying surface, for sandwiching and crushing the first and second fabrics between the inclined conveying surface and the pressing and conveying means obliquely upward. A food dough conveying device characterized by the above.

9. the first extrusion means has a first extrusion roll and a first die; The first food dough fed into the first dough feeding hopper is extruded by the first extrusion roll from an opening of the first die as the first dough to be conveyed; the second extrusion means has a second extrusion roll and a second die; The second food dough fed into the second dough feeding hopper is extruded by the second extrusion roll from the opening of the second die as the second dough to be conveyed; An opening width of the opening of the first die along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface is approximately equal to an opening width of the opening of the second die along the moving direction of the lower conveying surface.

9. Food dough conveying device according to claim 8.

10. The lower conveyor is divided into a first lower conveyor on the downstream side and a second lower conveyor on the upstream side, The first dough feeding hopper, the first extrusion roll, the first die and the first lower conveyor are provided on a first lower conveyor support cart; The second dough feeding hopper, the second extrusion roll, the second die and the second lower conveyor are provided on a second lower conveyor support cart; The first dough to be conveyed is extruded from the first die onto the lower conveying surface of the first lower conveyor and conveyed to the inclined conveyor by the first lower conveyor; The second dough to be conveyed is extruded from the second die onto the lower conveying surface of the second lower conveyor, and is conveyed from the second lower conveyor to the inclined conveyor via the first lower conveyor.

10. Food dough conveying device according to claim 9.

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