Rice ball making machine

Abstract

The present invention provides a rice ball manufacturing apparatus that can streamline the entire process from supplying cooked rice to shaping the rice balls. [Solution] The rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a transport means 22 that moves a plurality of molds C in a synchronous manner along a circulation path in the order of rice supply position P2, work position P3, and molding position P4; a supply mechanism 10 that is provided above the rice supply position P2 and is positioned at the rice supply position P2 and supplies rice to a receiver 51 of the molds C in an unfolded state; a molding mechanism 70 that is provided below the molding position P4 and is positioned at the molding position P4, which deforms the molds C, in a state where the supplied rice has been prepared at the work position P3, into a folded state to form the rice into the shape of a rice ball; and a control unit 130 that controls the transport means 22, the supply mechanism 10, and the molding mechanism 70.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice ball manufacturing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a rice ball manufacturing apparatus that puts rice in a predetermined amount into a former, adds ingredients to the rice, hardens the rice ball with the former, finishes the rice ball into a target shape, and conveys it by a conveyor such as a conveyor. Such a rice ball manufacturing apparatus is used, for example, in convenience stores and supermarkets.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a rice ball manufacturing apparatus that can select ingredients for a rice ball according to a customer's order and form a rice ball containing the ingredients, for example, in front of the customer. This rice ball manufacturing apparatus has a form in which rice and ingredients are stacked vertically on a rice receiving container.

[0004] This rice ball manufacturing apparatus has a rice supply mechanism having a rice hopper for storing rice. The rice supplied from the rice supply mechanism to the rice receiving container slides back and forth along a slide rail (moving path). Then, after receiving the rice from the rice supply mechanism in the lower layer of the rice receiving container, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus moves the rice receiving container forward along the slide rail. There, an operator manually places the ingredients on the rice. Thereafter, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus moves the rice receiving container backward along the slide rail and stacks the rice on the ingredients by the rice supply mechanism.

[0005] Then, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus moves the rice, the ingredients, and the rice receiving container in which the rice is stacked vertically forward again along the slide rail, and sandwiches the lump of rice, the ingredients, and the rice arranged on the rice receiving container between two forming dies that move horizontally, thereby forming the lump of rice, the ingredients, and the rice into a triangular shape of a rice ball, and taking it out from the removal part.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-166405 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] By the way, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 requires the rice receiving container to be moved back and forth along a slide rail in order to stack rice, ingredients, and rice on top of the rice receiving container. As a result, after the ingredients are placed on top of the rice placed in the lower layer of the rice receiving container, the rice receiving container returns to the rice supply mechanism and, while rice is being placed on top of the ingredients, the operator cannot do anything, resulting in poor efficiency in manufacturing rice balls.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a rice ball manufacturing apparatus that can streamline a series of operations from the supply of cooked rice to the shaping of rice balls. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To address the above problems, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: an annular circulation path on which a plurality of molds are arranged, each mold being deformable between a state in which two receivers are unfolded and a state in which the two receivers are folded facing each other, with a rice supply position, a work position, and a molding position set in that order; a conveying means for moving the plurality of molds synchronously along the circulation path in the order of the rice supply position, the work position, and the molding position; a supply mechanism provided above the rice supply position and positioned at the rice supply position for supplying rice to the receivers of the molds in the unfolded state; a molding mechanism provided below the molding position and positioned at the molding position, which deforms the molds in a state in which the supplied rice has been prepared at the work position into a folded state, thereby molding the rice into the shape of a rice ball; and a control unit for controlling the conveying means, the supply mechanism, and the molding mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the rice ball manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, a series of operations from supplying cooked rice to attaching seaweed can be automated. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the entire rice ball manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a top view of a rice ball manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a plan view showing an example of a mold being placed on a table. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the molding die. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the state of cooked rice being placed in a mold. [Figure 6] This is a diagram showing the mold in a folded state. [Figure 7] This diagram shows the state in which the rice ball is being transferred. [Figure 8] This diagram shows the state in which the rice ball is being transferred. [Figure 9] This diagram shows the state in which the rice ball is being transferred. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of the entire nori (seaweed) supply system. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the laminate and the gripping part. [Figure 12] This diagram shows the state in which rice balls are being unloaded from the unloading mechanism. [Figure 13] This is a block diagram of a rice ball manufacturing machine. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100, and FIG. 2 is a top view of the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a supply mechanism 10, a conveying device 20, a forming mechanism 70, a nori attaching mechanism 30, a nori supply mechanism 40, a discharging mechanism 50, and an operation display unit 60, which are configured in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the cooked rice.

[0014] The supply mechanism 10 is a mechanism for supplying cooked rice to the downstream side, and includes a lid portion 11, a storage portion 12, an input portion 13, and a discharge portion 14. Cooked rice is stored in the storage portion 12, and the storage portion 12 is covered by the lid portion 11. The cooked rice stored in the storage portion 12 is discharged from the discharge portion 14 to the conveying device 20. The input portion 13 is composed of a touch panel for setting the supply amount of cooked rice by the supply mechanism 10.

[0015] The operation display unit 60 is composed of, for example, a touch switch for inputting operations such as driving and stopping of the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100, a display panel for displaying instructions such as the type of ingredients, and the like.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a view showing a table 21 provided on the conveying device 20 and a forming mold C disposed thereon. The conveying device 20 includes a table 21, a conveying means 22 provided below the table 21, and a motor (not shown) for driving the conveying means 22.

[0017] On the conveying device 20, a standby position P1, a cooked rice supply position P2, a working position P3, and a forming position P4 are set in this order along a circulation path formed in a rectangular shape in plan view. The table 21 is formed in a rectangular shape in top view, and the forming mold C is disposed at positions corresponding to the standby position P1, the cooked rice supply position P2, the working position P3, and the forming position P4 on the table 21.

[0018] The circulation path is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above, following the outer shape of the table 21, and the molding dies C are arranged at 90-degree intervals at each corner of the rectangle on the table 21. The molding dies C are intermittently moved along the circulation path by the transport means 22 in the order of standby position P1, rice supply position P2, work position P3, and molding position P4. The transport means 22 moves the multiple molding dies C along the circulation path in a clockwise direction (direction of the arrow in the figure) around the rotation axis X in the order of standby position P1, rice supply position P2, work position P3, and molding position P4.

[0019] The mold C is a container for holding cooked rice and is formed in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above. With the longitudinal direction of the mold C aligned with the direction of movement, the mold C moves from the standby position P1 to the cooked rice supply position P2, and from the working position P3 to the molding position P4. With the short direction of the mold C aligned with the direction of movement, the mold C moves from the cooked rice supply position P2 to the working position P3, and from the molding position P4 to the standby position P1.

[0020] The molding mechanism 70 is located downstream of the molding position P4 in the conveying direction, and deforms the mold C, which is positioned at the molding position P4 and in which the supplied cooked rice has been prepared at the work position P3, into a folded state to form the cooked rice into the shape of a rice ball.

[0021] The waiting position P1 is located at the upstream end of the circulation path and is the place where the mold C is kept waiting until it is supplied to the rice supply position P2. That is, the waiting position P1 is located between the molding position P4 and the rice supply position P2 in the direction of transport by the transport means 22 in the circulation path. Above the waiting position P1, a salt-sprinkling mechanism (not shown in the figure) is positioned. Salt is then sprinkled onto the mold C, which is in an unfolded state and stopped at the waiting position P1, by the salt-sprinkling mechanism.

[0022] At standby position P1, salt is sprinkled (pre-applied) onto mold C, which is used to form the rice balls. However, if salt is not needed in the cooked rice, the sprinkling of salt onto mold C can be omitted at standby position P1. Furthermore, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100 may be configured without a salt-sprinkling mechanism.

[0023] The rice supply position P2 is located downstream of the standby position P1 in the circulation path. Above the rice supply position P2, a supply mechanism 10 is provided to supply rice downstream. The rice supply position P2 is where rice is supplied from the supply mechanism 10. Rice equivalent to one rice ball falls from the discharge section 14 and is supplied to the molding die C.

[0024] Work position P3 is located downstream of the rice supply position P2 in the circulation path, and is a position where the worker works alongside the supply. Specifically, the worker stands beside work position P3 and loosens the rice supplied to mold C that has been transported to work position P3, smooths the surface of the rice, and manually adds the ingredients for the rice balls on top of the smoothed rice to prepare the rice. Adding ingredients is optional, and if no ingredients are added, rice balls without ingredients can be produced. At work position P3, mold C is positioned with its sides open (the long side is aligned with the left side), making it easy for the worker to work with both hands and allowing for efficient work.

[0025] Here, the rice ball manufacturing device 100 has a detection unit 90 next to the work position P3. The detection unit 90 has a first detection unit 90R that detects the worker's right hand and a second detection unit 90L that detects the worker's left hand. The worker loosens the cooked rice or manually adds the ingredients next to the work position P3. Since these operations are manual, they take longer than the automatic operation of sprinkling salt on the mold C at the standby position P1, the automatic operation of the supply mechanism 10 supplying cooked rice to the mold C at the cooked rice supply position P2, and the automatic operation of the molding mechanism 70 forming the rice ball at the molding position P4. Therefore, the rice ball manufacturing device 100 needs to keep the mold C waiting at the work position P3 for a while. In other words, the mold C must remain at the work position P3 until the worker's manual work is completed, and only after this manual work is completed should the transport means 22 begin moving the mold C from the work position P3 to the next molding position P4.

[0026] Therefore, once the worker has finished their manual work and is free from their work, they perform a hand-waving action by placing their hand over the detection unit 90. When the first detection unit 90R detects the worker's right hand and the second detection unit 90L detects the worker's left hand simultaneously, the transport means 22 starts transporting the mold C from the work position P3 to the molding position P4. This prevents the mold C from being transported to the molding position P4 before the worker has finished their work at the work position P3.

[0027] The detection unit 90 (first detection unit 90R and second detection unit 90L) is a non-contact sensor that operates when it detects a hand gesture by the worker, but it may also be a contact-type switch that operates when the worker touches it. The detection unit 90 is not limited to those that operate when touched by hand, but may also be a foot switch that operates when stepped on by the worker's foot, or a switch that operates when pressed by the worker's elbow, etc. Since the worker repeatedly breaks up cooked rice and adds ingredients by hand at the work position P3, from a hygiene standpoint, it is desirable that the detection unit 90 be a non-contact sensor that operates without hand contact. Furthermore, the control unit 130 controls the transport means 22 to operate when the first detection unit 90R detects the right hand and the second detection unit 90L simultaneously detects the left hand, thereby preventing the transport means 22 from operating before one of the worker's hands leaves the work position P3. However, the detection unit 90 may be configured to have only one unit to detect either the left or right hand.

[0028] The molding position P4 is located downstream of the work position P3 in the circulation path and is the position where the rice ball is formed. Specifically, a molding mechanism 70 is provided at the molding position P4. At the molding position P4, the molding mechanism 70 folds the mold C, thereby forming the rice ball inside the mold C.

[0029] Thus, in the onigiri manufacturing apparatus 100, a standby position P1, a rice supply position P2, a work position P3, and a molding position P4 are set in this order at the four corners of the rectangular annular circulation path, and molding dies C are intermittently placed at each position. That is, the onigiri manufacturing apparatus 100 moves synchronously while maintaining intermittent movement so that the four molding dies C are placed at each corner on the table 21. Therefore, while each molding die C is being operated at the standby position P1, the rice supply position P2, and the molding position P4, the operator can work on the molding die C located at the work position P3, so that the operator's work time is never idle and waiting time can be greatly reduced.

[0030] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mold C. As shown in Figure 4, the mold C is composed of a pair of receivers 51, a connecting portion 52 that connects the receivers 51 together, a hinge 53, and a projection 54.

[0031] The receiver 51 has an outer peripheral portion 51a located on the outer circumference and an inner peripheral portion 51b located on the inner circumference, and the inner peripheral portion 51b is movable in the axial direction relative to the outer peripheral portion 51a. The axial direction here refers to, for example, the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the inner peripheral portion 51b expands, and in the receiver 51, the inner peripheral portion 51b functions as a recess, and the inner peripheral portion 51b is movable in a direction toward each other when the mold C is folded.

[0032] The inner circumference 51b contains the cooked rice discharged from the discharge section 14. The shape of the inner circumference 51b is not particularly limited, but the shape of the cooked rice (onigiri) after molding depends on the shape of the inner circumference 51b. For example, if you want to form a triangular onigiri, it is desirable that the inner circumference 51b be formed in a triangular shape when viewed from above.

[0033] The connecting section 52 is provided with a pair of hinges 53, and the pair of receivers 51 rise up using each hinge 53 as a pivot point, allowing the two receivers 51 to be opened and closed (folded) from an unfolded state to a closed state (folded state) with the two receivers 51 facing each other. The connecting section 52 is also provided with a projection 54 that protrudes upward. The projection 54 is a structure that maintains the molded rice ball 80 in an upright position. Details of the function of the projection 54 will be described later.

[0034] Figure 5 shows the state in which cooked rice is contained in the mold C with the two receivers 51 unfolded. As shown in Figure 5, cooked rice is contained in the receivers 51. Specifically, at the working position P3 (see Figure 3), the cooked rice is placed in a loosened state in the open mold C.

[0035] Figure 6 shows the mold C in a state where the two receptors 51 are folded facing each other by the molding mechanism 70. At molding position P4 (see Figure 3), the mold C is folded upright in order to form a rice ball with a three-dimensional shape. That is, the mold C is positioned so that the pair of receptors 51 in the unfolded state (see Figure 5) are raised in a V-shape and their vertical directions coincide (see Figure 6).

[0036] Here, the molding mechanism 70 deforms the mold C into a folded state by raising the two receiving containers 51 and facing each other, thereby pressing the inner circumference 51b in the axial direction (horizontal direction). The receiving container 51 is provided with a pressed portion 51c, and the pressing force applying member 25 presses the pressed portion 51c, thereby applying a pressing force to the mold C.

[0037] The pressing force applying member 25 has a support column 25a extending in the vertical direction and a roller 25b that moves vertically along the support column. When the roller 25b moves (slides) from the lower side to the upper side and comes into contact with the pressed portion 51c, the upright receiving container 51 in the folded molding die C is pressed horizontally from the side.

[0038] As shown in Figure 6, the molding mechanism 70 has a pair of opening arms 23 and a pair of closing arms 24. When forming the rice ball, the pair of closing arms 24 rise vertically (in the direction of the white arrows in the figure) from a horizontally oriented position, pushing the outer longitudinal side of the receiver 51 from below upward. As a result, the receiver 51 is pressed from both sides in the horizontal direction, folding into a V-shape and closing.

[0039] At this time, the roller 25b described above presses against the pressed portion 51c, causing the inner circumference 51b to be pressed in the axial direction, and pressing forces act on the rice ball inside the receiving container 51 from both sides, pressing the rice ball. Since the pressed portion 51c has a taper, the amount of axial displacement of the pressed portion 51c changes depending on the position where the roller 25b rises, and the load pressing on the rice ball can be changed, which has the same effect as changing the gripping force when holding a rice ball by hand.

[0040] When the folded receptor 51 closes and the rice ball is formed, the pair of closing arms 24 return to a horizontally bent position. However, if the sides of the rice ball adhere to the inner surface of the receptor 51, the receptor 51 may not return to its unfolded state due to its own weight. Therefore, an opening arm 23 is inserted between the pair of receptors 51, and each opening arm 23 opens in the direction of the black-shaded arrow in Figure 6 (see Figure 5), forcibly opening the pair of receptors 51 and separating them from the rice ball. When the receptors 51 open to the left and right, if the sides of the rice ball are attached to the inner surface of the receptors 51, the formed rice ball may stick to either the left or right receptor 51, move horizontally with the receptor 51, and tip over on its side.

[0041] However, in this embodiment, the receiver 51 has a vertically extending projection 54 (see Figure 4) formed on the connecting portion 52. The projection 54 has the function of preventing the rice ball 80 from tipping over, and by having the bottom of the formed rice ball 80 pierce the projection 54, the rice ball 80 is kept upright and prevents it from tipping over.

[0042] Figures 7 to 9 show the state in which the rice ball 80 is transferred. The rice ball 80 is transferred from the molding position P4 to the seaweed supply mechanism 40 by the seaweed attachment mechanism 30. The seaweed attachment mechanism 30 lifts the rice ball 80 that was molded at the molding position P4 and lands the rice ball 80 on the surface of the seaweed stacked in the storage container 41, thereby attaching seaweed to the bottom surface of the rice ball 80.

[0043] The seaweed application mechanism 30 includes a lifting mechanism 31 and a gripping part 32 provided at the tip of the lifting mechanism 31. The gripping part 32 has a pair of claws 32a, and the rice ball 80 is gripped by the pair of claws 32a. The lifting mechanism 31 can move the gripping part 32 in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0044] The gripping portion 32 is movable by the lifting mechanism 31 in the direction toward the upright rice ball 80 (direction of the white arrow in Figure 7) and away from it (direction of the white arrow in Figure 8) on the open mold C at the molding position P4.

[0045] The aforementioned projection 54 allows the rice ball 80 to be held upright, making it easier to grip the rice ball 80 with the gripping part 32.

[0046] The lifting mechanism 31 lowers the gripping part 32 at the working position P3 shown in Figure 6, bringing the gripping part 32 closer to the upright rice ball 80 on the mold C, and the gripping part 32 grips the rice ball 80. After the gripping part 32 grips the rice ball 80, the lifting mechanism 31 raises the gripping part 32, pulling the rice ball 80 up from the mold C. At this time, the rice ball 80 is pulled out from the projection 54 of the mold C.

[0047] As shown in Figure 9, the rice ball 80, which is gripped by the gripping part 32 and lifted upward by the lifting mechanism 31, is transported horizontally to above the seaweed supply mechanism 40, which is located between the seaweed application mechanism 30 and the discharge mechanism 50. The seaweed supply mechanism 40 holds a laminated body L in which many sheets of seaweed are stacked vertically.

[0048] The lifting mechanism 31 stops with the gripping part 32 positioned above the stacked body L, and then the lifting mechanism 31 lowers the gripping part 32 by a certain distance. As a result, the rice ball making device 100 lands the bottom surface of the rice ball 80, which is gripped by the gripping part 32, on top of the nori layered on top of the stacked body L.

[0049] As will be described later, the nori (seaweed) placed on the top surface of the laminate L is controlled so that it does not fall below the installation height of the height sensor 43. Therefore, the certain dimension by which the lifting mechanism 31 lowers the gripping part 32 is set to a dimension that brings the bottom surface of the rice ball 80 gripped by the gripping part 32 into contact with the nori on the top surface.

[0050] Because the surface of the rice ball 80 is adhesive, the top layer of seaweed that touches the bottom of the rice ball 80 adheres to its bottom surface. Subsequently, the lifting mechanism 31 raises the gripping part 32, causing the rice ball 80 to rise. At this time, the top layer of seaweed remains attached to the bottom surface of the rice ball 80 as it rises.

[0051] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the entire seaweed supply mechanism 40, and Figure 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the laminate and the gripping part 32. The seaweed supply mechanism 40 includes a storage container 41, a holding part 42, a height sensor 43, and a height adjustment member 44.

[0052] The storage container 41 is formed in a box shape without a top plate, and a pair of grooves 41a extending vertically are formed on opposing surfaces of the side plates. The storage container 41 is located below the lifting mechanism 31. The storage container 41 contains a laminated body L of seaweed, which has a layered structure. The laminated body L is composed of multiple sheets of seaweed as sheet-like members.

[0053] The laminate L is held in a pressed state by the holding portion 42 via the groove portion 41a. The laminate L is held in a pressed state by the holding portion 42 holding the laminate L from both sides in the longitudinal direction.

[0054] In this way, by applying pressure to the laminated nori L from the width direction, the bonds between the laminated nori sheets can be separated. Therefore, even if multiple layers of nori are bonded together in the laminated nori L, it becomes easier to peel off the nori sheets one by one, and only the top layer of nori can be attached to the rice ball 80.

[0055] In other words, when the rice ball 80 rises, even if the second layer of seaweed, which is overlapping the top layer, tries to stick to the rice ball 80 and rise together, the holding part 42 contacts the side edge of the rising seaweed, creating a resistive force that prevents the seaweed from rising. The second layer of seaweed, which has less adhesive force to the rice ball 80 than the first layer, is then peeled away from the top layer by this resistive force, preventing the two layers of seaweed from sticking to the rice ball 80 as it rises.

[0056] The height sensor 43 detects the height of the top (top surface) of the stacked body L housed in the storage container 41. The height sensor 43 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor, which shines light horizontally towards the side of the stacked body L (shown by dashed lines in Figures 10 and 11) and receives the reflected light reflected from the side to detect whether the stacked body L is housed in the storage container 41 up to the height of the height sensor 43. This means that the height of the seaweed placed on the top surface of the stacked body L is not lower than the height of the height sensor 43.

[0057] The height adjustment member 44 supports the laminated body L from below and is configured to move up and down by a motor (not shown). The height adjustment member 44 adjusts the height position of the laminated body L so that the distance d between the gripping part 32 and the top of the laminated body L remains constant. For example, as the amount of seaweed constituting the laminated body L decreases, the height adjustment member 44 pushes the laminated body L upward from below. In this way, because the distance d between the gripping part 32 and the top is kept constant by the height adjustment member 44, the top layer of seaweed can be reached by lowering the gripping part 32 by a certain amount.

[0058] As shown in Figure 12, each rice ball 80 with seaweed L1 attached, which has been moved to the discharge mechanism 50 side of the discharge position P6 by the lifting mechanism 31, is lowered onto the conveyor 50a and discharged as the conveyor 50a rotates.

[0059] Figure 13 is a block diagram of the rice ball making device 100. The rice ball making device 100 includes an operation unit 110, a sensor unit 120, a control unit 130, a drive unit 140, and a memory 150. The operation unit 110 shows all the various operation buttons and the like provided on the rice ball making device 100.

[0060] The sensor unit 120 collectively represents the various sensors provided by the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100. In addition to the height sensor 43, the sensor unit 120 includes, for example, a sensor for detecting whether or not the mold C is placed on the table 21, and a sensor for detecting whether or not cooked rice is being supplied to the mold C. The sensor unit 120 can also include optical sensors, weight sensors, and the like.

[0061] The control unit 130 includes a supply control unit 131, a rotation control unit 132, an opening / closing control unit 133, a transfer control unit 134, a height control unit 135, and an output control unit 136.

[0062] The supply control unit 131 controls the supply of cooked rice from the discharge unit 14 to the conveying device 20. Specifically, it controls the supply of cooked rice equivalent to one rice ball from the discharge unit 14 in synchronization with the timing when the molding die C moves to the cooked rice supply position P2.

[0063] The rotation control unit 132 controls the circulation path in the conveying device 20. Specifically, it controls the movement of the circulating path so that the molds C placed on the table 21 are sequentially replaced each time the detection unit 90 detects a worker's hand gesture.

[0064] The opening / closing control unit 133 controls the opening and closing of the mold C in the molding mechanism 70 so that the rice ball 80 is formed. Specifically, the opening / closing control unit 133 controls the timing when the mold C is opened by the opening arm 23 and the timing when the mold C is closed by the closing arm 24.

[0065] The transfer control unit 134 controls the transfer of the formed rice ball 80 from the forming mechanism 70 to the discharge mechanism 50 via the seaweed supply mechanism 40. Specifically, the transfer control unit 134 controls the lifting and lowering movements of the lifting mechanism 31, as well as its horizontal movement, and the gripping movements of the gripping unit 32. The transfer control unit 134 moves the gripping unit 32 up and down by a certain distance d relative to the top of the stacked body L.

[0066] Furthermore, if the distance d between the gripping portion 32 and the top of the stacked body L is not constant, that is, if the seaweed supply mechanism 40 is not provided with a height adjustment member 44 and the position of the top of the stacked body L in the storage container 41 gradually decreases, the transfer control unit 134 may move the gripping portion 32 up and down according to the position of the top of the stacked body L.

[0067] The height control unit 135 controls the height position of the height adjustment member 44 that supports the stacked body L, based on the detection signal from the sensor unit 120, so that the height of the top of the stacked body L remains constant within the storage container 41. Specifically, the height control unit 135 controls the vertical movement of the height adjustment member 44, based on the position of the top of the stacked body L detected by the height sensor 43, so that the distance d between the gripping unit 32 and the top remains constant at all times.

[0068] The discharge control unit 136 controls the discharge of the rice balls 80 by the conveyor 50a in the discharge mechanism 50.

[0069] The drive unit 140 collectively represents the various motors provided in the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100. The drive unit 140 includes, for example, a motor for driving the circulation path, a motor for opening the open arm 23, a motor for closing the close arm 24, a motor for raising and lowering the lifting mechanism 31, a motor for rotating the conveyor 50a, and the like.

[0070] Memory 150 stores information such as the amount of cooked rice and the types and quantities of ingredients to be fed into mold C.

[0071] As described above, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a transport means 22 that moves a plurality of molds C synchronously along a circulation path in the order of rice supply position P2, work position P3, and molding position P4; a supply mechanism 10 that is provided above the rice supply position P2 and is positioned at the rice supply position P2 and supplies rice to a receiver 51 of the molds C in an unfolded state; a molding mechanism 70 that is provided below the molding position P4 and is positioned at the molding position P4, which deforms the molds C, in a state where the supplied rice has been prepared at the work position P3, into a folded state to form the rice into the shape of a rice ball; and a control unit 130 that controls the transport means 22, the supply mechanism 10, and the molding mechanism 70.

[0072] This automates a series of operations from the rice supply position P2, where the cooked rice is supplied, to the seaweed supply mechanism 40, where the seaweed is supplied. In other words, since the series of operations from the supply of rice to the attachment of seaweed, excluding the addition of fillings, is automated, the series of operations from the supply of rice to the formation of the rice ball 80 can be made more efficient.

[0073] Here, the circulation path is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and the rice supply position P2, the work position P3, and the molding position P4 are set at positions corresponding to three of the four corners of the rectangle, respectively. In other words, since the molding dies C are arranged at 90-degree intervals on the inner circumference of the table 21, the dimensions of the table 21 can be reduced.

[0074] Furthermore, a waiting position P1 is set between the molding position P4 and the rice supply position P2 in the direction of transport by the transport means 22 in the circulation path, where salt is sprinkled onto the unfolded molding die C. The transport means 22 moves multiple molding dies C synchronously along the circulation path in the order of waiting position P1, rice supply position P2, work position P3, and molding position P4. In other words, salt can be sprinkled onto the molding die C in advance using the waiting position P1, ensuring that salt adheres to the rice.

[0075] Furthermore, the molding mechanism 70 deforms the mold C into a folded state by raising the two receivers 51 and facing each other, thereby pressing the inner circumference 51b in the axial direction. This allows the cooked rice to be solidified more firmly and makes it easier to separate the molded cooked rice from the mold C.

[0076] Furthermore, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100 has a seaweed attachment mechanism that lifts the rice ball formed at the forming position P4 and lands the rice ball on the surface of the seaweed stacked in the storage container (seaweed storage section) 41, thereby attaching seaweed to the bottom surface of the rice ball. This makes it possible to automate the seaweed attachment process, which is an essential element of the rice ball.

[0077] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are included in the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 10: Feeding mechanism 20: Conveying device 21: Table 25: Pressing force applying member 30: Seaweed attachment mechanism 40: Nori supply mechanism 50: Unloading mechanism 70: Molding mechanism 100: Rice ball making machine 130: Control Unit C: Molding mold P1: Standby position P2:Rice supply position P3: Working position P4: Molding position

Claims

1. A circular path is provided on which multiple molds, which are deformable between a state in which two receptors are unfolded and a state in which the two receptors are folded facing each other, are arranged, with a rice supply position, a work position, and a molding position set in that order. A conveying means for moving multiple molds along the circulation path in the order of rice supply position, work position, and molding position, A supply mechanism provided above the rice supply position and positioned at the rice supply position, which supplies rice to the receiving container of the molded die in an unfolded state, A molding mechanism is provided below the molding position and positioned at the molding position, which deforms the mold, in which the supplied cooked rice has been prepared at the work position, into a folded state to form the cooked rice into the shape of a rice ball. An onigiri manufacturing apparatus comprising a conveying means, a supply mechanism, and a control unit for controlling the molding mechanism.

2. The rice ball manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circulation path is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and the rice supply position, the work position, and the molding position are set at positions corresponding to three of the four corners of the rectangle, respectively.

3. Between the molding position and the rice supply position in the conveying direction by the conveying means of the circulation path, a waiting position is set where salt is sprinkled onto the mold in its unfolded state. The rice ball manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveying means moves a plurality of the molding dies synchronously along the circulation path in the order of the standby position, the rice supply position, the work position, and the molding position.

4. The mold has two receptors and a connecting portion positioned between the two receptors. The receptor has an outer peripheral portion located on the outer circumferential side and an inner peripheral portion located on the inner peripheral side, and the inner peripheral portion is movable in the axial direction relative to the outer peripheral portion. The rice ball manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the molding mechanism deforms the mold into a folded state by raising the two receivers and facing each other, thereby pressing the inner circumference in the axial direction.

5. An onigiri manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a seaweed attachment mechanism that lifts the onigiri formed at the molding position and lands the onigiri on the surface of the seaweed stacked in the seaweed storage section, thereby attaching seaweed to the bottom surface of the onigiri.

6. Next to the aforementioned work position, a detection unit is provided to detect when the worker has completed their work at that work position. The rice ball manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit starts transporting the mold from the work position to the molding position by the transport means, triggered by the detection unit detecting the completion of the worker's work.

7. The rice ball manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detection unit is a non-contact sensor that operates when it detects a hand gesture by the worker.

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