Granular quantitative supply device and granular quantitative supply method

Abstract

To supply a constant amount of granules onto an object to be supplied which is continuously transferred.MEANS: An apparatus for quantitatively supplying granules includes: a granule distributing unit in which a plurality of openings through which granules pass is formed at a bottom; a granule storage unit for storing a predetermined amount of granules; a replenishment granule storage unit provided at a top of the granule storage unit to store the granules, and having a replenishment amount control unit at the bottom for controlling a replenishment amount of the granules to the granule storage unit; a granule storage unit vibrating unit for vibrating the granule storage unit; a granule storage amount detection unit for detecting an amount of the granules stored in the granule storage unit; and a control unit for controlling the replenishment amount control unit so as to replenish the granules to the granule storage unit, until the amount of the granules stored in the granule storage unit reaches a predetermined second storage amount of granules by the granule storage amount detection unit, when it is detected that the amount of the granules stored in the granule storage unit is below a predetermined first granule storage amount by the granule storage amount detection unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a granular material constant-quantity supplying device and a granular material constant-quantity supplying method for supplying a constant amount of granular material onto an object to be supplied. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there exists a sprinkling device for sprinkling sprinkling material from above onto food products such as rice balls that are continuously transported by a belt conveyor or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this device, the sprinkling material is stored in a hopper, crushed by a crushing blade, and released by centrifugal force while being kneaded in a scraping section, so that the sprinkling material is sprinkled onto the food products below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-25652 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned spraying device, the sprinkling material is crushed with the crushing blade and then loosened in the scraping section before being sprayed. Depending on the contents being sprayed, the contents may crumble into small pieces or oil may seep out, making it difficult to spray an even amount.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to supply a constant amount of granules onto a continuously transported object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a granular quantitative supplying device comprising: a granular storage section having a granular dispersion section at the bottom of which is formed a plurality of openings through which the granular material passes, and which stores a predetermined amount of granular material; a replenishment granular storage section provided at the top of the granular storage section for storing the granular material and having a replenishment amount control section at the bottom of which controls the amount of granular material replenished to the granular storage section; a granular storage section vibration section for vibrating the granular storage section; a granular material storage amount detection section for detecting the amount of granular material stored in the granular storage section; and a control section for, when the granular material storage amount detection section detects that the amount of granular material stored in the granular storage section has fallen below a predetermined first granular storage amount, controlling the replenishment amount control section so that the granular material storage amount detection section replenishes the granular material to the granular storage section until the amount of granular material stored in the granular storage section reaches a predetermined second granular storage amount.

[0007] In the granular material quantitative supplying device of the present invention, the granular material storage section has a built-in diffusion plate having a cone-shaped upper portion convex therein.

[0008] In addition, in the quantitative particle supply device of the present invention, when the object to which the particles are to be supplied is located below the particle storage section, the control unit causes the particle storage section vibration unit to vibrate the particle storage section for a certain period of time, thereby discharging the particles from the opening.

[0009] In the particle quantitative supplying device of the present invention, the particles are granules or at least partially contain granules.

[0010] In the granular material quantitative supplying device of the present invention, the granular material is sesame salt.

[0011] The method for quantitatively supplying granular material of the present invention includes a granular material storage section vibration step of vibrating a granular material storage section having a granular material dispersing section at the bottom with a plurality of openings through which the granular material passes, which stores a predetermined amount of granular material; a granular material storage amount detection step of detecting the amount of granular material stored in the granular material storage section; and, when the granular material storage amount detection step detects that the amount of granular material stored in the granular material storage section has fallen below a predetermined first granular material storage amount, a granular material refilling step of controlling a replenishment amount control unit of a replenishment granular material storage section provided above the granular material storage section and storing the granular material to be replenished to the granular material storage section, so as to replenish the granular material to the granular material storage section until the amount of granular material stored in the granular material storage section as determined by the granular material storage amount detection step becomes a predetermined second granular material storage amount.

[0012] In addition, in the method for quantitatively supplying granular material of the present invention, the granular material storage section vibration process includes, when the object to which the granular material is to be supplied is located below the granular material storage section, vibrating the granular material storage section for a certain period of time using the granular material storage section vibration section, and discharging the granular material from the opening.

[0013] In the method for quantitatively supplying particulate material of the present invention, the particulate material is granules or at least partially contains granules.

[0014] In the method for quantitatively supplying granular material of the present invention, the granular material is sesame salt. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, a constant amount of granular material can be supplied onto an object to be supplied that is being continuously transported. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a granular quantitative supplying device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a granular quantitative supplying device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] 1 is a flowchart showing a method for supplying a fixed amount of sesame salt to a target object according to an embodiment. [Figure 4]4 is a flowchart showing a method for maintaining a constant amount of sesame salt stored in a granular storage section according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, a granular material quantitative supplying device and a granular material quantitative supplying method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a granular material quantitative supplying device will be described as an example of a device for sprinkling a fixed amount of sesame salt on the top surface of a molded rice ball.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a granular material quantitative supplying device according to an embodiment. The granular material quantitative supplying device 2 has a cylindrical shape and is provided with a granular material storage section 10 for storing a predetermined amount of sesame salt, which is a granular material. Here, sesame salt is a mixture of sesame and granular salt mixed in a certain ratio. The granular material storage section 10 has a granular material dispersing section 12 having a plurality of openings formed at the bottom through which the sesame salt passes. Here, the openings have a diameter through which each grain of sesame and granular salt passes, and more specifically, have a diameter larger than the smallest diameter among the diameters of each grain of sesame and each grain of granulated granular salt measured from a plurality of directions. The granular material storage section 10 also incorporates a cone-shaped diffusion plate 14 with a convex upper portion. The diffusion plate 14 can be cone-shaped, but may also be pyramidal or have curved sides in accordance with the shape of the granular material storage section 10 and the shape of the granular material dispersing section 12.

[0019] In addition, a granular storage section vibration section 16 that vibrates the granular storage section 10 in the vertical direction is provided in a position close to the granular storage section 10, and a level sensor 18 that is a granular storage amount detection section that detects the height of the sesame salt, which is the amount of sesame salt stored in the granular storage section 10, is also provided.

[0020] A replenishment granular storage section 20 is provided at the top of the granular storage section 10, which has a cylindrical shape and a narrowed diameter at the bottom, and which stores the sesame salt to be replenished to the granular storage section 10. A valve body 22, which is a replenishment amount control section, is provided at the bottom of the replenishment granular storage section 20, which controls the amount of sesame salt to be replenished to the granular storage section 10 passing through.

[0021] 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a granular quantitative supplying device according to an embodiment. The granular quantitative supplying device 2 is equipped with a control unit 30 that controls the entire device. Connected to the control unit 30 are a granular storage vibration unit 16, a level sensor 18, a valve body drive unit 22a that opens and closes the valve body 22, and a position sensor 32 that detects that a rice ball (not shown), which is an object to which sesame salt is to be supplied, is positioned below the granular storage unit 10.

[0022] 3 is a flow chart showing a method for supplying a fixed amount of sesame salt to the top surface of a rice ball according to an embodiment. The control unit 30 acquires position information of the rice ball, which is the object to which the sesame salt is to be supplied, being transported by a conveyor, turntable, or the like, from the position sensor 32 (step S10). If the acquired position information is the lower part of the granular material storage unit 10, i.e., the position where vibration of the granular material storage unit 10 starts (step S11), the control unit 30 controls the granular material storage unit vibration unit 16 to vibrate the granular material storage unit 10 in the vertical direction for a fixed period of time, thereby discharging the sesame salt from the opening of the granular material scattering unit 12 (step S12).

[0023] As described below, sesame salt is always stored in granular storage section 10 at a height of 1.0 to 0.5 mm, so when granular storage section vibration section 16 is controlled to vibrate granular storage section 10 in the vertical direction for a certain period of time, a constant amount of sesame salt can always be scattered on the top surface of the rice ball.

[0024] 4 is a flow chart showing a method for maintaining the amount of sesame salt stored in the granule storage unit at a constant amount according to the embodiment. The control unit 30 detects the height of sesame salt, which is the amount of sesame salt stored in the granule storage unit 10, by the level sensor 18 (step S20). When the detected height of sesame salt falls below a predetermined first height (first granule storage amount), for example, 0.5 mm (step S21), the control unit 30 controls the valve body drive unit 22a to open the valve body 22 to allow an appropriate amount of sesame salt to pass through (step S22). As a result, the sesame salt passes through the opened valve body 22 and is replenished to the granule storage unit 10. In this case, the sesame salt that passes through the valve body 22 falls onto the diffusion plate 14, so it is diffused in the granule storage unit 10 and stored in the granule storage unit 10 with the upper surface being approximately horizontal.

[0025] The control unit 30 detects the height of the sesame salt, which is the amount of sesame salt stored in the granular storage unit 10, using the level sensor 18 (step S23), and if the detected height of the sesame salt exceeds a predetermined second height (second granular storage amount), for example 1.0 mm (step S24), it controls the valve body drive unit 22a to close the valve body 22 (step S25).

[0026] According to the granular material quantitative supply device of this embodiment, sesame and salt are always stored in granular material storage section 10 at a height of 1.0 to 0.5 mm. Therefore, even when granular material storage section vibration section 16 is controlled to vibrate granular material storage section 10 in the vertical direction for a certain period of time, the sesame and salt are not unevenly distributed and a constant amount of sesame and salt can always be scattered on the top surface of the rice ball.

[0027] In the above embodiment, the granular material quantitative supplying device 2 has been described as a device for sprinkling a fixed amount of sesame salt on the top surface of a molded rice ball, but the granular material is not limited to sesame salt, and may be any material that is granular or at least partially contains granules. For example, crushed perilla, furikake, white sesame seeds, granular spices such as pepper, crushed seaweed such as green laver, powdered cheese, granular or minced tsukudani, etc. may be mentioned.

[0028] The object to which the granules are to be supplied is not limited to molded rice balls, but may be any food to which a certain amount of granules are to be shaken, such as sushi in a container (inari sushi, chirashi sushi), side dishes in a container, bento lunches, noodles in a container, and sushi with toppings.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the valve body 22 is used as the refill amount control section, but a screw feeder, a vibrating feeder, or a slide gate may be used instead. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 2...Granular material quantitative supply device, 10...Granular material storage section, 12...Granular material scattering section, 14...Diffusion plate, 16...Granular material storage section vibration section, 18...Level sensor, 20...Replenishment granular material storage section, 22...Valve body, 22a...Valve body drive section, 30...Control section, 32...Position sensor

Claims

1. a granular storage section having a granular dispersion section at the bottom with a plurality of openings through which the granular material passes, and a cone-shaped diffusion plate with a convex upper portion built in above the granular dispersion section, for storing a predetermined amount of granular material; a refill particle storage section provided at an upper portion of the particle storage section and storing the particles, the refill amount control section being provided at a bottom portion of the particle storage section and controlling the amount of the particles refilled into the particle storage section; A particle storage section vibration section that vibrates the particle storage section for a certain period of time; a particle storage amount detection unit that detects the amount of the particles stored in the particle storage unit; a control unit that controls the replenishment amount control unit to replenish the particles to the particle storage unit until the amount of the particles stored in the particle storage unit by the particle storage amount detection unit becomes a predetermined second particle storage amount when the particle storage amount detection unit detects that the amount of the particles stored in the particle storage unit falls below a predetermined first particle storage amount; A granular quantitative supply device comprising:

2. The control unit of the device for quantitatively supplying granular material as described in claim 1 is configured to vibrate the granular material storage section using the granular material storage section vibration unit when the object to which the granular material is to be supplied is located below the granular material storage section, thereby discharging the granular material from the opening.

3. 3. The device for quantitatively supplying granular material according to claim 1, wherein the granular material is granular material or at least partially contains granular material.

4. 4. The device for quantitatively supplying granular material according to claim 1, wherein the granular material is sesame salt.

5. a particle storage section vibration step of vibrating the particle storage section for a fixed period of time, the particle storage section having a particle distribution section at the bottom with a plurality of openings through which the particles pass and a cone-shaped diffusion plate with a convex upper portion built in above the particle distribution section, the particle storage section storing a predetermined amount of particles; a particle storage amount detection step of detecting an amount of particles stored in the particle storage section; a particle replenishing step of controlling a replenishing amount control unit of a replenishing particle storage unit that is provided above the particle storage unit and stores the particles to be replenished to the particle storage unit, when the particle storage amount detection step detects that the amount of the particles stored in the particle storage unit has fallen below a predetermined first particle storage amount, to replenish the particles to the particle storage unit until the amount of the particles stored in the particle storage unit by the particle storage amount detection step becomes a predetermined second particle storage amount; A method for quantitatively supplying granular material comprising the steps of:

6. The method for quantitatively supplying granular material as described in claim 5, wherein the granular material storage section vibration process comprises, when the object to which the granular material is to be supplied is located below the granular material storage section, vibrating the granular material storage section using a granular material storage section vibration section, thereby discharging the granular material from the opening.

7. 7. The method for quantitatively supplying granular material according to claim 5, wherein the granular material is granular or at least partially contains granular material.

8. The method for quantitatively supplying granular material according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the granular material is sesame salt.

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