Nori (seaweed) attachment device

Abstract

The present invention provides a nori (seaweed) attachment device that eliminates the need for workers to peel off the nori and attach it to the rice ball. [Solution] The seaweed application device 30 includes a lifting mechanism 31 that moves a gripping part 32 that grips the formed rice ball 80 in the vertical direction, a seaweed storage part 40 which is located below the lifting mechanism 31 and has an open top that houses a laminated body L in which seaweed to be attached to the rice ball 80 is stacked vertically, a gripping part 32 which can be moved vertically by the lifting mechanism 31 while gripping the rice ball 80, and a control unit which controls the movement of the lifting mechanism 31 so as to move the gripping part 32 upward when the gripping part 32 is lowered and the rice ball 80 lands on the upper surface of the laminated body L housed in the seaweed storage part 40 and the seaweed is attached to the bottom of the rice ball 80, and when the seaweed is attached to the rice ball 80.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a nori - attaching device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an invention of a sheet - like member extraction device that supplies sheet - like nori to be wrapped around rice balls one by one.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, since the sheet - like member extraction device described in Patent Document 1 is configured to take out sheet - like members such as nori from below the hopper, when operating to open the bottom plate on which the laminate of sheet - like members is placed, in order to prevent the laminate from falling during opening and to take out only the lowermost sheet member of the laminate, the structure is complicated. Moreover, in order to attach nori to rice balls, it is necessary to provide another attaching mechanism.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a nori - attaching device that can attach nori to rice balls one by one with a simpler structure compared to a device that takes out nori one by one from below a hopper in which nori is laminated.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To address the above problems, the nori-applying device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a lifting mechanism that moves a gripping part for gripping a formed rice ball in the vertical direction; a nori storage part that is located below the lifting mechanism and has an open top, which houses a stack of nori sheets arranged vertically to be attached to the rice ball; a gripping part that is movable vertically by the lifting mechanism while gripping the rice ball; and a control unit that lowers the gripping part to land the rice ball on the upper surface of the stack housed in the nori storage part, attaching the nori to the bottom of the rice ball, and then moves the gripping part upward while the nori is attached to the rice ball. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The seaweed attachment device according to the present invention eliminates the need for workers to peel off each sheet of seaweed and attach it to the rice ball. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the entire rice ball manufacturing apparatus to which a nori-applying device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This is a top view of a rice ball manufacturing apparatus to which a nori-applying device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [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 seaweed application device. [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 showing the functional configuration of a rice ball manufacturing machine. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100 to which the nori-applying device 30 according to the embodiment is applied, and Figure 2 is a top view of the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100 to which the nori-applying device 30 is applied. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rice ball manufacturing apparatus 100 is configured to include a supply mechanism 10, a conveying device 20, a molding mechanism 70, a nori-applying device 30, a discharge mechanism 50, and an operation display unit 60, arranged from the upstream to the downstream side in the direction of rice transport.

[0011] The supply mechanism 10 is a mechanism for supplying cooked rice to the downstream side and has a lid 11, a storage section 12, an input section 13, and a discharge section 14. Cooked rice is stored in the storage section 12, which is covered by the lid 11. The cooked rice stored in the storage section 12 is discharged to the conveying device 20 from the discharge section 14. The input section 13 consists of a touch panel for setting the amount of cooked rice supplied by the supply mechanism 10.

[0012] The operation display unit 60 consists of, for example, touch switches for inputting the operation of driving or stopping the rice ball manufacturing device 100, and a display panel for displaying instructions such as the type of ingredients.

[0013] Figure 3 shows a table 21 provided on the conveying device 20 and a mold C placed on it. The conveying device 20 is composed of a table 21, a conveying means 22 provided below the table 21, and a motor (not shown) that drives the conveying means 22.

[0014] In the conveying device 20, a standby position P1, a rice supply position P2, a working position P3, and a molding position P4 are set in this order along a circulation path formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view. The table 21 is formed in a rectangular shape in a top view, and the molding die C is arranged at positions corresponding to the standby position P1, the rice supply position P2, the working position P3, and the molding position P4 on the table 21.

[0015] The circulation path is formed in a rectangular shape in a top view along 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 die C is intermittently moved in the order of the standby position P1, the rice supply position P2, the working position P3, and the molding position P4 along the circulation path by the conveying means 22. The conveying means 22 moves a plurality of molding dies C along the circulation path in synchronization clockwise (in the direction of the arrow in the figure) around the rotation axis X in the order of the standby position P1, the rice supply position P2, the working position P3, and the molding position P4.

[0016] The molding die C is a container for containing rice and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a top view. The molding die C moves from the standby position P1 to the rice supply position P2 and from the working position P3 to the molding position P4 in a state where the longitudinal direction of the molding die C coincides with the moving direction. The molding die C moves from the rice supply position P2 to the working position P3 and from the molding position P4 to the standby position P1 in a state where the short-side direction of the molding die C coincides with the moving direction.

[0017] The molding mechanism 70 is provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction from the molding position P4, and deforms the molding die C in which the supplied rice is arranged at the working position P3 and is placed at the molding position P4 into a folded state to mold the rice into the shape of an onigiri.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] Work position P3 is located downstream of the rice supply position P2 in the circulation path and is where the worker performs their tasks. Specifically, at work position P3, the worker loosens the rice supplied to mold C, smooths the surface of the rice, and manually adds the ingredients for the rice balls on top of the smoothed 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-right direction), making it easy for the worker to work with both hands and allowing for efficient work.

[0022] Furthermore, at work position P3, for the safety of the worker, switches (not shown) are provided in an area outside the path through which the mold C passes, for example, to detect each of the worker's hands. By providing such switches, the mold C will only move from work position P3 to molding position P4 when the worker places both hands over the switches. This prevents the mold C from moving to molding position P4 before the work at work position P3 is completed, that is, while the worker's hands are in the path through which the mold C passes. The switches may be either contact-type or non-contact-type.

[0023] 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.

[0024] In this way, the waiting position P1, rice supply position P2, work position P3, and molding position P4 are set in this order at the four corners of the square by the circular circulation path, and the molding molds C are intermittently placed at each position. That is, the four molding molds C move synchronously while maintaining intermittent movement so that they are placed at each corner on the table 21, so that the waiting time for the workers can be greatly reduced.

[0025] 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 pair of hinges 53, and a projection 54.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] The connecting section 52 is provided with a pair of hinges 53, and the pair of receiving containers 51 rise up using each hinge 53 as a pivot point, allowing it to be opened and closed from an extended state. 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. The details of the function of the projection 54 will be described later.

[0029] Figure 5 shows the state in which cooked rice is contained in mold C. As shown in Figure 5, cooked rice is contained in the receiving container 51. Specifically, at the working position P3 (see Figure 3), the cooked rice is placed in a loosened state in the open mold C.

[0030] Figure 6 shows the mold C in a folded state by the molding mechanism 70. At the 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 unfolded receptors 51 (see Figure 5) are raised in a V-shape and their vertical directions coincide (see Figure 6).

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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 (bottom surface) 81 of the formed rice ball 80 pierce the projection 54, the rice ball 80 is kept upright and prevents it from tipping over.

[0037] Figures 7 to 12 show the configuration of the seaweed application device 30 and the state in which the rice ball 80 is transferred. The seaweed application device 30 comprises a gripping section 32, a lifting mechanism 31, a seaweed storage section 40, a height adjustment section 45, and a seaweed application control section 134.

[0038] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the gripping portion 32 has two claw portions 32a. Each of the two claw portions 32a is formed as a plate that rises vertically. The two claw portions 32a are arranged opposite each other with a predetermined distance between them. At the bottom of each claw portion 32a, a barb 32b is formed that is bent toward the opposing claw portion 32a.

[0039] The two claw portions 32a can transition between an open state, where the distance between the two claw portions 32a is widened, and a closed state, where the distance between the two claw portions 32a is narrower than in the open state, by the opening and closing mechanism 32c shown in Figure 9. The gripping portion 32 opens the claw portions 32a by the opening and closing mechanism 32c and positions the claw portions 32a on the sides of both sides of the rice ball 80 placed at the molding position P4. Subsequently, the gripping portion 32 closes the claw portions 32a to grip the rice ball 80 by sandwiching it between the two claw portions 32a. At this time, as shown in Figure 8, the tip of the barb 32b formed at the bottom of the claw portion 32a becomes narrower than the distance between the claw portions 32a in the closed state, so the barb 32b supports the lower part of the side surface of the rice ball 80.

[0040] The lifting mechanism 31 moves the gripping portion 32 vertically, and also moves the gripping portion 32 horizontally from above the molding position P4 to above the nori attachment position P5 where the nori storage portion 40 is located, and above the discharge position P6 from which the nori-covered rice ball 80 is discharged.

[0041] As shown in Figure 9, the nori (seaweed) storage section 40 is located at the nori attachment position P5, which is set to the side of the molding position P4. The nori attachment position P5 is the position set up for the process of attaching the nori L1 to the rice ball 80 formed at the molding position P4.

[0042] The seaweed storage section 40 comprises a storage container 41 and a pressing member (resistance-applying part) 42.

[0043] The storage container 41 contains a laminated body L, which is formed by stacking numerous rectangular sheets of nori seaweed L1 in the thickness direction, forming an overall rectangular parallelepiped shape, with the stacking direction oriented vertically. The top of the storage container 41 is open.

[0044] The container 41 is formed in a double-layered structure with an inner and outer layer. The container 41 has an outer frame portion 41a located on the outside and an inner frame portion 41b located inside the outer frame portion 41a. The outer frame portion 41a is fixed to the main body structure of the rice ball manufacturing device 100 and does not move.

[0045] Of the four sides of the rectangular space partitioned by the containment container 41, notches 41c extending in the vertical (height) direction are formed on the two sides on the shorter side, and notches 41d extending in the vertical (height) direction are also formed on the two sides on the longer side.

[0046] The inner frame portion 41b is housed in the storage container 41, overlapping the outer frame portion 41a, and is not affected by vertical movement by the height adjustment member 44 (see Figure 11), which will be described later. The laminated body L is housed inside the inner frame portion 41b.

[0047] The outer frame portion 41a has four elongated holes 41e that extend horizontally. The inner frame portion 41b is attached to the outer frame portion 41a in a loosely fitted state by nuts 41f inserted into the elongated holes 41e and washers 41g used together with the nuts 41f, so that the inner frame portion 41b can slide horizontally relative to the outer frame portion 41a. In other words, the inner frame portion 41b can be dimensionally adjusted on the long side (horizontal direction) of the storage container 41, so that even if the length of the seaweed L1 changes, the end of the seaweed L1 in the longitudinal direction can be supported. Therefore, the laminated body L can be prevented from bending.

[0048] The pressing members 42 are positioned in retracted positions on the outside of the two short sides of the storage container 41. The pressing members 42 are configured to move from the retracted position to a pressing position where they contact the side surface of the laminated body L, which is located inside the inner frame portion 41b, through the notch 41c. At the pressing position, the pressing members 42 contact the side surface of the laminated body L, and as the seaweed L1 constituting the laminated body L moves upward, they function as resistance-applying members that provide resistance to the moving seaweed L1 by contacting the side edge of the moving seaweed L1. In other words, the pressing members 42 apply downward resistance to the upward-moving seaweed L1 by pressing the side surface of the laminated body L.

[0049] The height adjustment unit 45 includes a height sensor 43 and a height adjustment member 44.

[0050] The height sensor 43 detects that the height of the top surface of the stacked body L housed in the storage container 41 is not lower than a preset height position. As shown in Figure 10, the height sensor 43 is located on the outside of the long side surface of the storage container 41. The height sensor 43 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor, and emits light (shown by dashed lines in Figures 10 and 11) horizontally toward the side surface of the stacked body L. As shown in Figure 11, the emitted light passes through a notch 41d formed on the side surface closer to the height sensor 43 of the two long side surfaces, and illuminates the side surface of the stacked body L located inside the inner frame 41b.

[0051] When the top surface of the laminate L is higher than the height position where the height sensor 43 is installed, the emitted light is reflected off the side of the laminate L, and the reflected light returns to the light sensor, allowing detection that the top surface of the laminate L is at a height higher than the height position where the height sensor 43 is installed.

[0052] On the other hand, when the top surface of the laminate L is lower than the height position where the height sensor 43 is installed, the emitted light passes over the top surface of the laminate L and then passes through the notch 41d formed on the side furthest from the height sensor 43 among the two long sides. Therefore, the height sensor 43 does not detect the reflected light from the side of the laminate L of the emitted light emitted from the height sensor 43, and can detect that the top surface of the laminate L is lower than the height position where the height sensor 43 is installed.

[0053] The height adjustment member 44 is composed of a shaft portion 44a and a support plate 44b attached to the upper end of the shaft portion 44a. The shaft portion 44a is configured to be vertically movable by a motor (not shown). When the shaft portion 44a moves upward, the support plate 44b and the laminated body L placed on it can be lifted upward. Therefore, when the height sensor 43 detects that the top surface of the laminated body L is at a lower height than the height position where the height sensor 43 is installed, the height adjustment member 44 moves the support plate 44b upward, thereby lifting the laminated body L placed on the support plate 44b upward and positioning the top surface of the laminated body L at a height higher than the height position where the height sensor 43 is installed.

[0054] The seaweed application control unit 134 controls the operation of the gripping unit 32, the lifting mechanism 31, the pressing member 42 of the seaweed storage unit 40, and the height adjustment unit 45, as described above.

[0055] The seaweed application device 30 described above operates as follows:

[0056] Under the control of the seaweed application control unit 134, the lifting mechanism 31 moves the gripping unit 32 above the molding position P4 (see Figure 7). Next, the seaweed application control unit 134 opens the claw portion 32a of the gripping unit 32, and the lifting mechanism 31 lowers the gripping unit 32. The transition of the gripping unit 32 to the open state may occur in parallel with the lowering by the lifting mechanism 31.

[0057] At the molding position P4, the rice ball, formed by the molding mechanism 70 and standing upright on the mold C, is positioned, and the claws 32a of the lowered gripping section 32 are positioned to the sides of both sides of the upright rice ball 80. Next, the seaweed application control unit 134 transitions the claws 32a to the closed state and grips the rice ball 80 with the gripping section 32. As mentioned above, the mold C maintains the rice ball 80 in an upright position by the projection 54, making it easier for the gripping section 32 to grip the rice ball 80.

[0058] After the gripping part 32 grips the rice ball, the nori-applying control unit 134 uses the lifting mechanism 31 to move the gripping part 32 holding the rice ball 80 upward (see Figure 8). At this time, the barb 32b of the claw part 32a supports the lower part of the side surface of the rice ball 80, thus preventing or suppressing the rice ball 80 from falling off the gripping part 32 due to its own weight.

[0059] The nori application control unit 134 uses the lifting mechanism 31 to move the gripping part 32, which has been lifted above the molding position P4, horizontally above the nori application position P5, which is adjacent to the molding position P4. A storage container 41 containing the laminated body L is located at the nori application position P5. Then, as shown in Figure 9, the nori application control unit 134 uses the lifting mechanism 31 to lower the gripping part 32 toward the upper surface of the laminated body L contained in the storage container 41 located at the nori application position P5.

[0060] The nori-attaching control unit 134 lowers the rice ball 80, which is held by the gripping unit 32, to a position where its bottom (bottom surface) 81 touches the top surface of the laminated body L housed in the storage container 41. As a result, the rice ball 80 held by the gripping unit 32 lands on the top surface of the laminated body L. Because the surface of the rice ball 80 has adhesive properties due to the cooked rice, the bottom 81 of the rice ball 80 lands on the top surface of the laminated body L, and the nori L1 placed on the top surface of the laminated body L adheres to the bottom 81.

[0061] Next, the seaweed application control unit 134 moves the gripping unit 32 upward using the lifting mechanism 31. As described above, the seaweed L1, which is placed on the top surface of the laminated body L, adheres to the bottom (bottom surface) 81 of the rice ball 80 gripped by the gripping unit 32, and moves upward together with the rice ball 80.

[0062] At this time, it is desirable that only one sheet of nori L1 placed on the top surface of the laminated body L adheres to the bottom 81 of the rice ball 80. However, when the laminated body L is contained in the storage container 41, due to humidity in the atmosphere, entanglement of the nori L1 sheets, or penetration of the sticky substance from the rice ball due to pressure from above by the rice ball, the second sheet of nori L1 from the top surface may adhere to the first sheet of nori L1 placed on the top surface, resulting in two sheets of nori L1 overlapping and adhering to the bottom 81 of the rice ball 80.

[0063] However, in this embodiment, when the gripping portion 32 is moved upward by the lifting mechanism 31, the seaweed application control unit 134 moves the pressing member 42 to the pressing position, bringing the pressing member 42 into contact with the side surface of the laminate L. As a result, a downward resistance force acts on the seaweed L1 that is adhering to the rice ball 80 and rising, due to contact with the pressing member 42.

[0064] The resistance force that the pressing member 42 exerts on the nori seaweed L1 can be changed by adjusting the pressing force that the pressing member 42 applies to the side surface of the laminate L. However, in this embodiment, the nori applicator 30 is set so that the resistance force that the pressing member 42 exerts on the nori seaweed L1 is weaker than the adhesive force of the rice ball 80, but stronger than the binding force between the nori seaweed L1 sheets.

[0065] Therefore, as the gripping portion 32 moves upward and the rice ball 80 (see the dashed line in Figure 11) rises, the pressing member 42, positioned on the uppermost surface of the laminate L, cannot peel off the seaweed L1 that is directly attached to the rice ball 80. However, it can peel off the second layer of seaweed L1 that is attached to the rice ball 80 and rises together with the first layer of seaweed L1, and pull it back into the inner frame portion 41b.

[0066] Furthermore, the nori application control unit 134 lowers the gripping unit 32 by a certain length using the lifting mechanism 31. This lowering length is set to the dimension (distance) d at which the bottom 81 of the rice ball 80 contacts the nori L1 placed on the top surface of the laminate L, as shown in Figure 11.

[0067] Here, as the number of nori sheets L1 contained in the container 41 decreases, the height of the top surface of the laminate L decreases. Therefore, when the gripping part 32 is lowered by a certain length, the descent may end before the bottom 81 of the rice ball 80 comes into contact with the top surface of the laminate L, making it impossible to attach the nori sheets L1 to the rice ball 80.

[0068] However, in this embodiment, when the height sensor 43 detects that the top surface of the laminated body L is lower than the height position where the height sensor 43 is installed, the height adjustment member 44 moves the support plate 44b upward, thereby lifting the laminated body L placed on the support plate 44b upward and positioning the top surface of the laminated body L at a height higher than the height position where the height sensor 43 is installed.

[0069] As a result, even if the number of sheets of seaweed L1 contained in the storage container 41 decreases, the height adjustment member 44 of the seaweed attachment device 30 can lift the stacked body L upward, maintaining the height position of the top surface of the stacked body L at a distance d where the bottom 81 of the rice ball 80 is in contact with the seaweed L1 placed on the top surface of the stacked body L.

[0070] The seaweed application control unit 134 moves the gripping unit 32, which is holding the rice ball 80 with one sheet of seaweed L1 attached, above the seaweed application position P5, and then uses the lifting mechanism 31 to move the gripping unit 32 horizontally above the discharge position P6. The discharge position P6 is a position set adjacent to the seaweed application position P5, and is equipped with a discharge mechanism 50 for discharging the rice ball 80.

[0071] As described above, the nori-attaching device 30 of this embodiment moves the rice ball 80, which is positioned at the molding position P4, to the nori-attaching position P5, and at the nori-attaching position P5, the rice ball 80 is brought to rest on the surface of the nori layered in the storage container 41, thereby attaching only one sheet of nori L1 to the bottom (bottom surface) 81 of the rice ball 80.

[0072] 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.

[0073] Figure 13 is a block diagram schematically showing the functional configuration of the rice ball making apparatus 100, including the seaweed application device 30. The rice ball making apparatus 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 apparatus 100.

[0074] 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.

[0075] The control unit 130 includes a supply control unit 131, a rotation control unit 132, an opening / closing control unit 133, a seaweed application control unit 134, and a discharge control unit 135. The seaweed application control unit 134 also includes a transfer control unit 134a and a height control unit 134b.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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 operation switch is operated.

[0078] 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.

[0079] The transfer control unit 134a controls the transfer of the formed rice ball 80 from the forming mechanism 70 to the discharge mechanism 50 via the seaweed application device 30. Specifically, the transfer control unit 134a controls the horizontal movement of the lifting mechanism 31 and the gripping operation of the gripping unit 32.

[0080] The height control unit 134b 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 134b controls the vertical movement of the support plate 44b 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 of the stacked body L remains constant.

[0081] Furthermore, if the distance d between the gripping portion 32 and the top of the laminated body L is not constant, that is, if the seaweed application device 30 is not provided with a height adjustment member 44 and the position of the top of the laminated body L in the storage container 41 gradually decreases, the height control unit 134b may move the gripping portion 32 up and down according to the position of the top of the laminated body L.

[0082] The discharge control unit 135 controls the discharge of the rice balls 80 by the conveyor 50a in the discharge mechanism 50.

[0083] The drive unit 140 collectively refers to 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 moving the shaft portion 44a up and down, a motor for rotating the conveyor 50a, and the like.

[0084] Memory 150 stores information such as the amount of cooked rice and the types and quantities of ingredients to be fed into mold C.

[0085] As described above, the nori-applying device 30 according to this embodiment includes a lifting mechanism 31 that moves a gripping part 32 that grips the formed rice ball 80 in the vertical direction, a nori storage part 40 that is located below the lifting mechanism 31 and has an open top that houses a laminated body L in which nori to be attached to the rice ball 80 is stacked vertically, a gripping part 32 that can move vertically by the lifting mechanism 31 while gripping the rice ball 80, and a control unit that controls the movement of the lifting mechanism 31 so as to move the gripping part 32 upward when the gripping part 32 is lowered and the rice ball 80 lands on the upper surface of the laminated body L housed in the nori storage part 40 and nori is attached to the bottom of the rice ball 80, and when nori is attached to the rice ball 80.

[0086] This allows the nori seaweed to be attached to the formed rice ball 80 without any manual intervention. Therefore, it eliminates the need for workers to peel off each sheet of nori and attach it to the rice ball.

[0087] Here, the nori storage section 40 has a storage container 41 that houses the laminated body L, and further has a pressing member 42 that contacts the side surface of the laminated body L housed in the storage container 41 and applies resistance to the laminated body L. Therefore, the pressing member 42 can provide a resistance force stronger than the binding force between the nori sheets L1 that make up the laminated body L. Thus, the nori can be peeled off one sheet at a time with a simple configuration.

[0088] Furthermore, the container 41 consists of an outer frame 41a and an inner frame 41b positioned inside the outer frame 41a, in which the laminated body L is housed. These two parts are superimposed on each other, and the inner frame 41b can be adjusted horizontally while superimposed on the outer frame 41a. That is, since the inner frame 41b can be adjusted horizontally on the longer side (horizontal direction) of the container 41, it can support the ends of the nori seaweed L1 in the longitudinal direction even if the length of the nori L1 changes. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the laminated body L from bending.

[0089] Furthermore, the nori storage section 40 includes a height sensor 43 that detects the height of the top surface of the stacked body L stored in the storage container 41, and a height adjustment member 44 that lifts the stacked body L upward. When the height sensor 43 detects that the position of the top surface of the stacked body L is lower than a preset height, the height adjustment member 44 lifts the stacked body L so that the position of the top surface of the stacked body L is at the preset height. Therefore, even if the number of nori sheets L1 stored in the storage container 41 decreases, the nori attachment device 30 can maintain the height position of the top surface of the stacked body L at a distance d where the bottom 81 of the rice ball 80 is in contact with the nori sheet L1 placed on the top surface of the stacked body L by the height adjustment member 44.

[0090] 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.

[0091] The nori-applying device 30 of this embodiment is configured as part of an onigiri manufacturing device 100, which in addition to the nori-applying device 30, also includes a supply mechanism 10, a conveying device 20, a molding mechanism 70, a discharge mechanism 50, and an operation display unit 60.

[0092] However, the nori-applying device according to the present invention is not limited to being configured as part of the onigiri manufacturing device 100, as in the nori-applying device 30 in this embodiment. It may consist only of the nori-applying device 30, without the supply mechanism 10, conveying device 20, molding mechanism 70, discharge mechanism 50, and operation display unit 60. Alternatively, the nori-applying device may be incorporated as part of a device that includes other mechanisms.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, resistance to the nori L1 is provided by pressing the pressing member 42, which is placed in the containment container 41, against the side edge of the nori L1. However, instead of the pressing member 42, for example, a pattern extending horizontally and having an uneven cross-section in the height direction may be provided on the inner surface of the containment container 41. This would cause the rising nori L1 to slide against the uneven shape, generating a downward frictional force and providing resistance to the rising of the nori L1. In other words, an uneven pattern may be provided instead of the pressing member 42 as the resistance-providing part. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0094] 30: Seaweed attachment device 31: Lifting mechanism 32: Grip part 40: Seaweed storage section 42: Pressing member 43: Height sensor 44: Height adjustment component 80: Onigiri (rice ball) 134: Seaweed application control unit L: Laminate

Claims

1. A lifting mechanism that moves the gripping part that holds the molded rice ball up and down, A nori storage section, which is open at the top and located below the lifting mechanism, houses a stack of nori sheets arranged vertically to be attached to the rice ball, A nori-applying device comprising: a control unit that controls the movement of the lifting mechanism so as to move the gripping part upward while gripping the rice ball, lowering the gripping part which is movable vertically by the lifting mechanism, to land the rice ball on the upper surface of the laminate housed in the nori-receiving section, thereby attaching the nori to the bottom of the rice ball, and then moving the gripping part upward while the nori is attached to the rice ball.

2. The nori-attaching device according to claim 1, wherein the nori-holding section has a resistance-applying section that applies downward resistance to the nori attached to the rice ball as it moves upward.

3. The seaweed storage section comprises a storage container for storing the laminated body, The nori-applying device according to claim 2, wherein the resistance-applying unit applies downward resistance to the nori attached to the rice ball as it moves upward by pressing the side surface of the laminate housed in the containment container.

4. The nori-applying device according to claim 3, wherein the resistance-applying part is formed on the inner surface of the containment container and has an uneven cross-section, and the uneven shape comes into contact with the side surface of the laminate contained in the containment container, thereby applying downward resistance to the nori attached to the rice ball as it moves upward.

5. The aforementioned container comprises an outer frame and an inner frame positioned inside the outer frame, in which the laminate is contained, with the inner and outer frames overlapping. The nori-applying device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the inner frame portion is overlapped with the outer frame portion and its horizontal dimensions can be adjusted.

6. The seaweed storage section includes a height sensor for detecting the height of the top surface of the laminated material stored in the storage container, and a height adjustment member for lifting the laminated material upward. The nori-applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the height sensor detects that the position of the top surface of the laminate is lower than a preset height, the height adjustment member lifts the laminate so that the position of the top surface of the laminate is the preset height.

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