Steam-cooking / transfer device and steam-cooking method of noodle line group

Abstract

To provide a new configuration to transfer a noodle line group to a shifting conveyor in order to shift it to another process from a steam-cooking conveyor for transferring it in a steam chamber upon steam-cooking it.SOLUTION: A steam-cooking / transfer device comprises: a steam chamber in a tunnel shape provided with an inlet part and an outlet part at both ends thereof; one or a plurality of steam-cooking conveyor devices transferring a noodle line group in order to steam-cook it in the steam chamber; and a shifting conveyor device for shifting the steam-cooked noodle line group to another process, wherein shifting the noodle line group from the steam-cooking conveyor device to the shifting conveyor device is carried out just after discharging it from the inside of the steam chamber or the outlet part of the steam chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a noodle string steaming / conveying device and a steaming method, and more specifically to a noodle string steaming / conveying device and a steaming method suitable for steaming raw noodles. [Background technology]

[0002] In the production lines of steamed noodles and instant noodles factories, raw noodles are produced in large quantities at high speed. The manufacturing method for steamed noodles and instant noodles often involves the following steps: Generally, wheat flour, buckwheat flour, starch and other raw materials are added, kneaded with water (containing dissolved salt, alkaline water, thickening polysaccharides, etc.), and then the dough is made. After the dough is matured, it is rolled into a noodle sheet and compounded.

[0003] The combined noodle sheet is gradually thinned using multiple rolling machines (rolling process), and the rolled noodle sheet is cut out using cutting blade rolls and stacked on a conveyor (net conveyor) for transport. The noodle strands stacked on the conveyor are then steamed by passing through a tunnel-shaped steam chamber while being transported. After steaming, the noodle strands are called steamed noodles, and can be cut, packaged, and distributed to the market. After the steamed noodles have been flavored, cut, and packed into a mold, they are transferred to a drying process where they are dried with oil heat or hot air to complete the instant noodle block.

[0004] Here, in the process of steaming raw noodles, a tunnel-type steam chamber is often used to continuously process a large number of noodle strands. In this process, bundles of connected noodle strands that are connected for mass production are continuously transported and subjected to the steam treatment, and then, as necessary, subsequent treatments such as cutting and flavoring are carried out.

[0005] Meanwhile, in the above steaming and other steps, it is necessary to transport the noodle strings by conveyor, but if the path of the conveyor is too long, problems can easily arise with the strain on the conveyor chain, and there is also a need to stretch the wavy noodle strings, so the general style is to transfer the noodle strings between multiple conveyors and transport them continuously.

[0006] Conventionally, the conveyor transport method for steamers has been as shown in Figure 11, where the noodle strings are transported inside the steamer by a conveyor that transports them through the steam chamber and subjected to steaming treatment, and then temporarily transported to the outside and then transferred to another conveyer for moving on to another process.

[0007] On the other hand, with the conventional type shown in Figure 11, the noodles would dry out outside the steamer and stick to the net conveyor, which had to be removed manually. To address such problems, for example, the following prior art has been disclosed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-90617

[0009] The method of Patent Document 1 is an excellent method for removing a mass of steamed noodle strings adhering to the net surface of a net conveyor device and transferring the mass of noodle strings to the next conveyor. However, it is expected that there is room for consideration of configurations other than those described above. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Therefore, the inventors set out to develop a new configuration for transferring food from the steam conveyor that transports food within the steam chamber to a transfer conveyor for transferring food to another process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] As a result of intensive research by the present inventors, it was discovered that whereas in the past, the noodle strings were transferred to the transfer conveyor shortly after being discharged from the steam chamber, by adopting a configuration in which the transfer occurs immediately after being discharged from within the steam chamber or from the outlet of the steam chamber, it is possible to prevent the noodles from drying out and achieve a smooth transfer of the noodle strings. That is, the first invention of the present application is "A tunnel-type steam vault with an entrance and an exit at both ends, one or more steaming conveyor devices for transporting the noodle strings in order to steam the noodle strings in the steam chamber; and a transfer conveyor device for transferring the steamed noodle strings to another process, The transfer of the noodle strings from the steaming conveyor to the transfer conveyor is performed immediately after the noodle strings are discharged from the steam chamber or from the outlet of the steam chamber.

[0012] Next, in the present invention, when transporting the noodle strings within the steam chamber, it is also preferable to transport the noodle strings in multiple stages to the bottom of the steam chamber by making multiple trips longitudinally within the steam chamber, and then transfer the noodle strings to a transfer conveyor device. That is, the second invention of the present application is "The device for steaming and transporting masses of noodle strings as described in claim 1, wherein masses of noodle strings are brought into the steam chamber from an entrance portion, and the masses of noodle strings brought in are transported in multiple stages to the lower part of the steam chamber by a steaming conveyor device after making one or more round trips within the steam chamber, and then transferred to a transfer conveyor device."

[0013] Next, it is preferable that the number of stages is three. That is, the third invention of the present application is "The apparatus for steaming and conveying masses of noodle strings according to claim 2, wherein the multiple stages are three stages."

[0014] Next, it is also preferable to install a duct at the outlet of the steam chamber to collect excess steam. That is, the fourth invention of the present application is "The steaming and conveying device according to claim 1 or 2, which is provided with a steam recovery mechanism for recovering steam from within the steam chamber through an outlet portion of the steam chamber."

[0015] Next, the applicant of the present application intends to provide a method for steaming and conveying noodle strings that can be realized by the steaming and conveying device for noodle strings of claim 1. That is, the fifth invention of the present application is "A tunnel-type steam vault with an entrance and an exit at both ends, one or more steaming conveyor devices for transporting the noodle strings in order to steam the noodle strings in the steam chamber; and a transfer conveyor device for transferring the steamed noodle strings to another process, The method for steaming and transporting masses of noodle strings, in which the masses of noodle strings are transferred from the steaming conveyor device to the transfer conveyor device immediately after being discharged from the steam chamber or from the outlet part of the steam chamber. Effect of the Invention

[0016] By using the steaming and transporting device for noodle strings of the present invention, the noodle strings can be smoothly transferred from the steaming conveyor to the transfer conveyor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the device for steaming and transporting noodle strings of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of another embodiment of the apparatus for steaming and conveying noodle strings of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the inside of a steam chamber (dark colored part) in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the inside of a steam chamber (dark colored portion) according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5]FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view (including a group of noodle strings) for explaining an outlet portion and transfer in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view for explaining an outlet portion and a transition in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of another embodiment of the apparatus for steaming and conveying noodle strings of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of another embodiment of the apparatus for steaming and conveying noodle strings of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the outlet port of another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a group of noodle strings is steamed and conveyed in a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a conventional steaming and conveying device for noodle strings. [Explanation of symbols]

[0018] 1. Noodle string steaming and conveying device 3 Entrance (steam room) 5 Exit section (steam storehouse) 7 Steam Chamber 8 Steaming conveyor equipment 9. First steaming conveyor device 11 Second steaming conveyor device 12 Steam supply pipe 13 First steam supply unit 15 Second steam supply device 17 Transfer conveyor device 19 Exhaust duct 31 Seasoning tank 50 sprocket 501 Drive sprocket (for first steaming conveyor) 503 Drive sprocket (for second steaming conveyor) 505 Sprocket (for second steaming conveyor) MS Noodles DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The present invention will be described below with reference to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a steaming and conveying apparatus of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, a first embodiment of an apparatus 1 for steaming and conveying noodle strings of the present invention comprises a tunnel-shaped steam chamber 7 equipped with an inlet section 3 and an outlet section 5, and a conveyor device 8 (a first steaming conveyor device 9 and a second steaming conveyor device 11) that serves as a conveying mechanism for conveying the noodle strings within the steam chamber and is arranged so that the noodle strings are conveyed in multiple stages.

[0020] A first steam supplying device 13 and a second steam supplying device 15, such as steam pipes that inject steam for steaming the noodle strings, are provided in the steam chamber. Next, near the exit of the steam chamber, a transfer conveyor device 17 is installed to transfer from the steaming conveyor device 8 to the next process. Furthermore, a waste duct 19 is provided near the outlet of the steam chamber 7 to collect and exhaust excess steam.

[0021] In addition, in each figure (Fig. 1 to Fig. 11), various devices such as a power unit that imparts a rotational force to the sprocket for conveying, a steam generating device such as a boiler that sends steam to a steam supply device, and a sprocket support unit are omitted, and for these, publicly known configurations can be used as appropriate. Each of the above configurations will be described below.

[0022] ─Noodle string steaming and conveying device─ The noodle string steaming and conveying apparatus 1 in the present invention refers to an apparatus that steams connected noodle strings and conveys the steamed noodle strings to the next process, and is used in instant noodle production lines, etc. In the instant noodle production line, the noodle strips produced through multiple processes from raw materials such as wheat flour are cut out by cutting blade rolls and then stacked on a conveyor (net conveyor) for transport. The noodle strings stacked on the conveyor are steamed as they are transported through a tunnel-shaped steam chamber 7. These steamed noodles are then seasoned, cut, packed into molds, and transferred to a drying process where they are dried using oil heat or hot air to complete instant noodle blocks.

[0023] On the other hand, the steaming and other steps described above require the noodle strings to be transported by a conveyor, but if the path of the conveyor is too long, there is a problem that the conveyor chain is likely to be overloaded.In addition, since it is necessary to stretch the wavy noodle strings, the noodle strings are generally transferred between multiple conveyors for continuous transport. The steaming and transporting device for noodle strings in the present invention relates to a steam chamber 7, a steaming conveyor device 8 that transports within the steam chamber, and a transfer conveyor device 17 onto which noodle strings MS are transferred from the steaming conveyor device 8.

[0024] ─Steam storehouse─ The steam chamber 7 in the present invention is a device for steaming the noodle strands. For example, in the case of instant noodles, the noodle strands are usually gelatinized by steaming, then transferred to a drying process, and the dried noodle block is often stored and becomes a product. Note that the noodle strands after steaming may also be cut and become a product in the form of steamed noodles.

[0025] The material of the steam chamber 7 in the present invention is not particularly limited, but a material such as stainless steel that has rigidity and heat retention is preferable. Also, it is preferable to have a structure that can be as sealed as possible to minimize steam leakage, including the inlet 3 and outlet 5, so that the steam filling the interior does not leak to the outside as much as possible. With such a structure, the steam supplied from the steam supply device can be effectively filled inside the steam chamber, so that the noodle strings inside can be effectively exposed to the steam.

[0026] ─Steam supply device─ A steam supplying device 12 for supplying steam to the noodle strings MS is provided in the steam chamber. The steam supplying device 12 is not particularly limited, and various known steam pipes and the like can be used. The steam supplying device 12 is connected to a steam generating device such as a boiler through a conduit.

[0027] As for the type of steam to be supplied, in addition to normal steam at 100°C or less, it is also possible to use superheated steam at 100°C or more (preferably about 100°C to 130°C, more preferably about 103°C to 120°C). Of course, the steam supplying device 12 may be disposed in any desired position in the steam cabinet as required.

[0028] ─Steaming conveyor device─ The steaming conveyor device 8 in the present invention is a conveyor device used mainly for the purpose of transporting masses of noodle strings within a steam chamber and steaming the masses of noodle strings while transporting them. However, it goes without saying that the transport path of the steaming conveyor device may also partially include an area outside the steam chamber.

[0029] In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, a first steaming conveyor 9 and a second steaming conveyor 11 are installed as conveyor transport devices that transport the noodle strings inside the steam chamber to steam them. The transport mechanism (conveyor section) in the first embodiment of the present invention is installed in three stages (multiple stages) so that the brought-in noodle strings are transported from the upper stage to the lower stage inside the steam chamber while making multiple reciprocating movements in the approximately horizontal direction in the longitudinal (length) direction of the steam chamber.

[0030] Next, it is preferable to use a net conveyor as the conveyor belt from the viewpoint of steam permeability, etc. For example, a perforated conveyor belt such as a metal mesh is preferable. In addition, the conveyor belt is generally of a type that circulates endlessly by a plurality of sprockets and guides. In the first embodiment, the first steaming conveyor device 9, the second steaming conveyor device 11, and the transfer conveyor device 17 circulate endlessly by sprockets 50, guides, etc.

[0031] Specifically, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt of the first steaming conveyor 9 is supported by a plurality of sprockets in the inlet section and the steam chamber, rises obliquely upward within the inlet section, and then moves horizontally to the outlet side, is further wound around the next plurality of sprockets, turns around, moves to the inlet side, is further wound around the outer diameter side of a coaxial sprocket 501, turns around, and after the turning, moves to the steam chamber outlet side.

[0032] After moving to the outlet side, it is supported by multiple sprockets just before the outlet and transported downward, passing through holes in the underside of the steam chamber and moving outside the steam chamber. It is then wound around sprocket 50 and moves to the inlet side outside the steam chamber. It then travels through multiple sprockets to the inlet. In this way, it circulates endlessly. In addition, a rotational power unit of the sprocket is provided separately, and the rotational force of the power unit is configured to be transmitted to the drive sprocket 503 of the first steam cooking conveyor.

[0033] Next, the second steaming conveyor 11 is installed in the steam chamber, and is wound around a sprocket on the upper surface of the steam chamber to move vertically downward, is supported by a guide to move horizontally to the inlet side, is wound around the inner diameter side of the coaxial sprocket 501 to reverse, moves in the forward direction, is wound around the sprocket to rise, and then moves to the sprocket on the upper surface of the steam chamber again. In this way, it circulates endlessly.

[0034] In addition, guides are provided in areas where the conveyor changes direction without using sprockets. In addition, a sprocket rotation power unit is provided separately, and the rotation force of the power unit is transmitted to the coaxial drive sprocket 501 of the second steaming conveyor. This allows the conveyor belt of the second steaming conveyor 11 to circulate.

[0035] The sprockets are arranged horizontally in pairs, and are configured so that a chain connected to both ends of a belt-shaped net is wound around them. Furthermore, the sprocket 505 on the lower outlet side of the second steaming conveyor 11 is configured to be slidable in the horizontal direction, and the sprocket is supported by a weight tension.

[0036] In the first embodiment described above, a three-tier conveyor device out of the multiple tiers is shown, but the steam chamber 7 of the present invention can of course also be a single-tier (flat steaming) steam chamber 7 as shown in Figure 2. In addition, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a case is disclosed in which two steaming conveyor devices are installed to realize a transport structure using a three-stage conveyor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that one or three or more conveyor devices may be installed to realize a transport structure using a three-stage conveyor.

[0037] ─Transfer conveyor device─ In the present invention, a transfer conveyor device 17 is installed following the above-mentioned steaming conveyor device 8. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a transfer conveyor 17 is installed following the above-mentioned first steaming conveyor 9 and second steaming conveyor 11. The transfer conveyor 17 is used to transfer the steamed noodle strings MS to another process. Also, it goes without saying that a part of the transport path of the transfer conveyor 17 may be present inside the steam chamber.

[0038] In the transfer conveyor device 17, by setting the conveyor speed faster than that of the steaming conveyor device 8, it is possible to stretch the stacked noodle strings in a wave shape or the like, making it easier to carry out subsequent processing.

[0039] Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a flavoring tank 31 is provided on the transport path of the transfer conveyor 17, and is configured so that a flavoring liquid can be applied to the noodle strings MS after steaming. Although only a portion of the transfer conveyor 17 is shown in each of the drawings in FIG. 1, any type of conveyor device can be used as long as it is a conveyor device that can transfer groups of noodle strings from the steaming conveyor device.

[0040] ─The process of conveying noodle strings (Explanation of the shape of the strings conveyed by the conveyor)─ The steam chamber 7 of the steaming and conveying apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention is a multi-stage type steaming and conveying apparatus in which the noodle strings MS are brought in through its inlet 3 and conveyed from an upper stage to a lower stage after going back and forth multiple times. In this first embodiment, the noodle strings are introduced into the steam chamber from the inlet of the steam chamber 7 and are first conveyed on a conveyor towards the outlet.

[0041] The brought-in group of noodle strings is transported to the outlet side in the longitudinal direction of the steam chamber, and when the first steaming conveyor 9 turns around at the outlet side, the group of noodle strings is delivered to the subsequent second steaming conveyor 11. Next, the second steaming conveyor 11 transports the group of noodle strings MS to the entrance side in the longitudinal direction, and when the second steaming conveyor 11 turns around at the entrance side, the group of noodle strings is also turned around and delivered to the first steaming conveyor 9 again. Then, the noodle strings MS are transported again to the exit side by the first steaming conveyor 9a, and when they are transported near the exit, they are handed over to the transfer conveyor 17, and are discharged from the steam chamber to the outside by the transfer conveyor 17.

[0042] --The transfer of the noodle strings from the first steaming conveyor to the transfer conveyor is performed inside the steam chamber-- Next, the present invention is characterized in that the transfer of the noodle strings from the steaming conveyor device 8 to the transfer conveyor device 17 is performed inside the steam chamber. Here, in the case of steam vault 7 having a cross-sectional view as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the inside of the steam vault refers to the area that is inside steam vault 7 in the cross-sectional view as shown in FIG. 3 (the dark colored area in FIG. 3).

[0043] In addition, in the case of a type in which only an upper plate exists near the exit as shown in Figure 4, the area below the upper plate, i.e., the dark area in Figure 4, refers to the area that becomes the interior of the steam vault 7, and the end of the upper plate is the steam vault exit. In the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the food is transferred to a transfer conveyor 17 near the outlet of the steam chamber 7 below the first steaming conveyor 9.

[0044] In this way, by transferring the noodle strings MS from the steaming conveyor to the transfer conveyor 17 inside the steam chamber, the transfer can be achieved before the noodle strings MS stick to the conveyor net. Furthermore, as long as it is within the steam vault, the transfer is not limited to near the exit of the tunnel-type steam vault, and may be, for example, further inward of the steam vault than near the exit.

[0045] In the first embodiment of the present invention, a hole for the transfer conveyor 17 to pass through is provided on the lower surface of the steam vault 7. However, it is of course possible to use a type in which no hole is provided on the lower surface, for example as shown in FIG. 7.

[0046] Next, in the present invention, in addition to the mode in which the transfer takes place within the steam chamber, the transfer may take place immediately after the noodle strings MS are discharged from the outlet of the steam chamber. Here, "immediately after the noodle strings MS are discharged from the outlet of the steam chamber" refers to the state in which the noodle strings MS are immediately after being discharged from the tunnel-shaped steam chamber 7 while steam still remains, as shown in Fig. 8 below, for example.

[0047] In the present invention, "immediately after being discharged from the steam chamber outlet" means that the shortest distance from the steam chamber outlet to the transfer location as shown in Fig. 9 is preferably about 0 mm to 300 mm, and more preferably 0 mm to 100 mm.

[0048] ─About the movement of noodle strings─ The actual movement of the noodle strings in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The noodle strings MS that have been cut out and transported on the conveyor are steamed as follows, with reference to Fig. 10. In the present invention, the noodle strings that have been cut out and are not yet steamed are transported, and as shown in Fig. 9, a pre-transport conveyor to the steaming and transporting device is disposed just before the entrance of this steaming and transporting device, and the noodle strings that are not yet steamed are transported through this pre-transport conveyor.

[0049] The noodle strings transferred from the front-transport conveyor to the first steaming conveyor device 11 are transported obliquely upward toward the entrance of the tunnel-type steam chamber, and then transported from the entrance of the steam chamber 7 into the steam chamber. The noodle strings MS transported into the steam chamber are primarily steamed by steam from a first steam supplying device 13 provided below the mesh net conveyor belt while being transported in the forward direction on the first level at the top of the steam chamber 7. Furthermore, in the second and third levels, the noodle strings are primarily steamed by steam supplied from a second steam supplying device 15 on the lower side. Naturally, the noodle strings are also steamed by the steam that fills the steam chamber.

[0050] In this manner, the noodle strings MS are alternately transported toward the lower stage while reversing between the outlet direction and the inlet direction, and thus the steaming of the noodle strings MS progresses. More specifically, the noodle strings are transported as follows: The noodle strings are carried into the steam chamber 7 from the entrance by the first steaming conveyor 9, and are transported inside the steam chamber toward the exit. When the first steaming conveyor 9 turns around using a sprocket, the noodle strings also turn around and drop onto the second steaming conveyor 11, where they are delivered.

[0051] The noodle string group that has fallen onto the second steaming conveyor is transported in the direction of the entrance, then turns around on the inner diameter side of the coaxial sprocket 501, and falls again onto and is delivered onto the first steaming conveyor 9. As a result, the noodle string group MS that has fallen onto the first steaming conveyor is transported again in the direction of the exit. The noodle string group transported in the exit direction by the first steaming conveyor 9 is transported to the vicinity of the exit of the steam chamber, where the noodle string group MS is transferred to the transfer conveyor 17, and the transfer conveyor 17 discharges the noodle string group from the steam chamber to the outside. The transport speed of the transfer conveyor 17 is also set faster than that of the first steaming conveyor 9, and is adjusted so that the noodle string group is subjected to a pulling force when transferred.

[0052] In the first embodiment, a three-stage steam machine is shown, but by configuring the steam chamber in multiple stages in this manner, it becomes possible to utilize steam efficiently. The steamed noodle strings after being discharged are first flavored by passing through flavoring tank 31 while being transported to the second steaming conveyor device, and then, if necessary, are further transported by a separately installed conveyor and transferred to an optional process, such as pulling, cutting, frying, etc.

[0053] By using the steaming and conveying device for noodle strings of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the noodle strings from sticking to the net conveyor when transferring from the steaming conveyor to the transfer conveyor, and it is possible to smoothly transfer the noodle strings from the steaming conveyor to the transfer conveyor. In addition, since the transfer can be performed without manual intervention, it is also possible to promote automation in instant noodle production lines.

Claims

1. A tunnel-type steam storehouse with an entrance and an exit at both ends. one or more steaming conveyor devices that transport the noodle strings in order to steam the noodle strings in the steam chamber; a transfer conveyor device for transferring the steamed noodle strings to another process, The steaming and conveying device for blocks of noodle strings is configured so that the transfer of the blocks of noodle strings from the steaming conveyor to the transfer conveyor is performed immediately after the blocks of noodle strings are discharged from within the steam chamber or from an outlet portion of the steam chamber.

2. 2. The device for steaming and transporting groups of noodle strings according to claim 1, wherein groups of noodle strings are brought into the steam chamber from an inlet, and the brought-in groups of noodle strings are transported in multiple stages to a lower part of the steam chamber by a steaming conveyor device after making one or more round trips within the steam chamber, and then transferred to a transfer conveyor device.

3. The apparatus for steaming and conveying noodle strings according to claim 2, wherein the number of stages is three.

4. The steaming and conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a steam recovery mechanism for recovering steam from an outlet of the steam chamber.

5. A tunnel-type steam storehouse with an entrance and an exit at both ends. one or more steaming conveyor devices that transport the noodle strings in order to steam the noodle strings in the steam chamber; a transfer conveyor device for transferring the steamed noodle strings to another process, A method for steaming and transporting a mass of noodle strings, in which the mass of noodle strings is transferred from the steaming conveyor to the transfer conveyor immediately after being discharged from the steam chamber or from an outlet of the steam chamber.

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