Food manufacturing equipment and food manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a food manufacturing apparatus advantageous for properly filling a molding hole with food while suppressing pressure applied to the food, and a food manufacturing method.SOLUTION: A food manufacturing apparatus includes: a forming mold having a forming hole; a food supply part that sends out food to the forming hole via a filling opening of the forming hole; and a filling pressure adjusting part that has a push-in member capable of being arranged in a closing position to close a discharge opening of the forming hole and an opening position to open the discharge opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a food production apparatus and a food production method. [Background technology]

[0002] A molding mold may be used to shape a food product into a desired shape. For example, according to a molding device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a food material is pushed by a piston into a recess in a molding die, and the food material is shaped according to the mold surface that defines the recess. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-14203 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a food product is filled into a forming mould, the food product is inherently subjected to great pressure.

[0005] In addition, the food does not necessarily spread evenly in the holes (molding holes) of the forming mold, and may be subjected to localized high pressure or may not be able to be fed the required amount of food into the molding holes. In order to ensure that the food reaches every corner of the molding holes, the food may be fed toward the molding holes with a sufficiently large force, in which case the food is subjected to even greater pressure.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides an advantageous technology for appropriately filling food into molding holes while reducing the pressure applied to the food. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a food manufacturing apparatus including a forming mold having a forming hole, a food supply unit that delivers food to the forming hole through a filling opening of the forming hole, and a filling pressure adjustment unit having a pushing member that can be positioned in a closed position that blocks the discharge opening of the forming hole and an open position that opens the discharge opening.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for producing a food product, the method including: delivering a food product to a molding cavity of a forming mold through a filling opening of the molding cavity; positioning a pushing member in an open position to open the discharge opening of the molding cavity; and positioning the pushing member in a closed position to block the discharge opening with the pushing member. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The present disclosure is advantageous in that it allows food to be appropriately filled into the molded cavities while minimizing the pressure exerted on the food. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a fixed-amount portioning unit of a food manufacturing apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the food manufacturing apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the food manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the food manufacturing apparatus. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the food manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the food manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the food manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of the food manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a quantitative portioning unit according to a first modified example. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a food production apparatus according to a second modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a top view of the forming mold and the mold moving section according to the second modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a quantitative portioning unit according to a third modified example. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a food manufacturing apparatus according to a fourth modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Typical examples of food production apparatus and food production methods will be described below.

[0012] The food production apparatus described below includes a fixed-amount portioning unit that divides a fixed amount of food from a large amount of food using a forming mold, and a food ejection unit that ejects the divided fixed amount of food from the forming mold.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a fixed-quantity portioning unit 2 of a food production apparatus 1. As shown in FIG.

[0014] The fixed amount portioning unit 2 includes a forming mold 11, a food supply section 12, and a filling pressure adjusting section 13.

[0015] The forming mold 11 has a forming cavity 20. An upper end of the forming cavity 20 forms a discharge opening 22, and a lower end of the forming cavity 20 forms a filling opening 21.

[0016] The forming mold 11 of this example includes a first mold portion 11a and a second mold portion 11b.

[0017] The thickness (height size) of first molded section 11a is the same as the thickness of second molded section 11b. First molded section 11a faces second molded section 11b in the horizontal direction.

[0018] Molding cavity 20 is a space surrounded by first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b.

[0019] The opposing surfaces of first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b form a surface (partition surface) that defines molding hole 20. The vertical cross section (height cross section) of the partition surface of each of first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b describes a smooth curve, and the horizontal cross section (horizontal cross section) of the partition surface describes a semicircular arc.

[0020] The partition surface of first molded section 11a has a shape symmetrical to the partition surface of second molded section 11b.

[0021] The filling opening 21 and the discharging opening 22 are openings defined by the first mold section 11a and the second mold section 11b, respectively.

[0022] The filling opening 21 and the discharge opening 22 face each other in the height direction.

[0023] The diameter of the discharge opening 22 shown in FIG. 1 is the same as the diameter of the filling opening 21, but it may be larger or smaller than the diameter of the filling opening 21.

[0024] The cross-sectional diameter of molding hole 20 changes continuously in the height direction. The cross-sectional diameter of molding hole 20 is maximum in the center portion in the height direction of first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b, and is minimum at filling opening 21 and discharge opening 22. Thus, molding hole 20 shown in FIG. 1 has a cross-sectional diameter between filling opening 21 and discharge opening 22 that is larger than the diameter of filling opening 21 and larger than the diameter of discharge opening 22.

[0025] The molding mold 11 is located in a slide space extending horizontally inside the moving path partition 24, and is arranged to be able to slide in the slide space along the inner wall surface of the moving path partition 24, and is arranged at a molding position (see Figure 1) and an ejection position (see Figure 6 described below).

[0026] A first mold moving part 27a is attached to the first mold part 11a, and a second mold moving part 27b is attached to the second mold part 11b. The forming mold 11 is moved horizontally in the slide space by the first mold moving part 27a and the second mold moving part 27b. The first mold moving part 27a and the second mold moving part 27b shown in Fig. 1 have a shaft part extending horizontally, and move the first mold part 11a and the second mold part 11b in response to the horizontal expansion and contraction of the shaft part.

[0027] The first mold moving part 27a and the second mold moving part 27b can be driven independently of each other, and the first mold part 11a and the second mold part 11b can move in the slide space independently of each other. The first mold moving part 27a and the second mold moving part 27b may be linked to each other. In this case, the first mold part 11a and the second mold part 11b can move in the slide space linked to each other.

[0028] First mold moving part 27a and second mold moving part 27b may be driven under the control of a control device (not shown). In this case, the control device may control first mold moving part 27a and second mold moving part 27b according to the states of various devices included in food production apparatus 1.

[0029] In this manner, first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b are moved by first mold moving section 27a and second mold moving section 27b, and their relative positions are adjusted, allowing them to be arranged in various configurations.

[0030] First mold part 11a and second mold part 11b of this embodiment can be in a food molding configuration for molding food products and a food discharging configuration for discharging the molded food products.

[0031] When first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b are placed in the food molding form, molding cavity 20 has a shape corresponding to the desired shape of the molded food (see FIG. 1). In the example shown in FIG. 1, when molding mold 11 is placed in the food molding form, molding cavity 20 has a circular horizontal cross section.

[0032] On the other hand, by placing the first mold part 11a and the second mold part 11b in the food release configuration, the forming mold 11 (i.e., the first mold part 11a and the second mold part 11b) is not positioned directly below the food in the forming hole 20 (see Figure 7 described below).

[0033] During molding of the food product at the molding position, first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b assume a food product molding configuration.

[0034] While the food product is moved together with the forming mold 11 from the forming position to the discharging position, the first mold part 11a and the second mold part 11b assume the food product forming configuration, so that the shape of the food product after forming is maintained.

[0035] When the food is discharged at the discharge position, the first mold section 11a and the second mold section 11b are in the food discharge configuration.

[0036] First mold section 11a and second mold section 11b come into close contact with the inner wall surface located below transfer path partition section 24 under the effect of gravity.

[0037] Meanwhile, small gaps are formed between each of first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b and the inner wall surface located above moving path partition section 24. These gaps help forming mold 11 to slide smoothly along the inner wall surface of moving path partition section 24, and also function as air guide paths that allow air to escape from molding hole 20. These gaps are formed small enough that no or almost no food flows into these gaps when the food is filled into molding hole 20.

[0038] In addition, an air guide passage for allowing air to escape may be provided between each of first molded section 11a and second molded section 11b and the inner wall surface of movement path partition section 24, or first molded section 11a and second molded section 11b may be in close contact with the entire inner wall surface of movement path partition section 24.

[0039] The moving path dividing section 24 has a first opening 24 a communicating with the food discharge outlet 35 of the food guide pipe 34 and a second opening 24 b communicating with the guide path 31 of the slide support section 25 .

[0040] When the forming mold 11 is disposed at the forming position (see FIG. 1), the filling opening 21 faces the first opening 24a, and the discharge opening 22 faces the second opening 24b. Therefore, when the forming mold 11 is disposed at the forming position, the food discharge opening 35, the first opening 24a, the forming hole 20 (including the filling opening 21 and the discharge opening 22), the second opening 24b, and the guide path 31 communicate with each other.

[0041] The diameter of filling opening 21 is larger than the diameter of first opening 24a. When molding mold 11 is placed at the molding position, filling opening 21 is positioned so as to cover the entire first opening 24a.

[0042] The diameter of the discharge opening 22 is the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the second opening 24b. When the molding mold 11 is placed at the molding position, the discharge opening 22 is positioned so as to cover the entire second opening 24b.

[0043] In this manner, when the forming mold 11 is disposed at the forming position, the food discharge port 35, the first opening 24a, the forming hole 20 (including the filling opening 21 and the discharge opening 22), the second opening 24b and the guide path 31 are positioned on the same straight line extending in the height direction.

[0044] The food supply section 12 includes a food delivery section 33 and a food guide tube 34 .

[0045] The food delivery unit 33 delivers food to the food guide pipe 34. There is no limitation on the specific configuration of the food delivery unit 33. For example, the food delivery unit 33 may include a pump and a valve for delivering the food.

[0046] The food guide pipe 34 has a food discharge outlet 35, and is fixed in close contact with the moving path partition 24 so that the food discharge outlet 35 communicates with the first opening 24a.

[0047] 1 is the same as the diameter of the first opening 24a, but may be larger or smaller than the diameter of the first opening 24a. The maximum diameter of the molding hole 20 is larger than the diameters of the food outlet 35 and the first opening 24a.

[0048] When the forming mold 11 is positioned in the forming position, the food is sent from the food delivery section 33 to the food guide tube 34, and is guided by the food guide tube 34 and discharged from the food discharge outlet 35 through the first opening 24a and the filling opening 21 toward the forming hole 20.

[0049] In this way, food supply section 12 delivers food to molding hole 20 through filling opening 21. In the example shown in Fig. 1, first opening 24a essentially functions as a "food discharge outlet that discharges food toward molding hole 20 through filling opening 21." Note that, although food discharge outlet 35 shown in Fig. 1 is connected to filling opening 21 through first opening 24a, the tip of food guide pipe 34 may be located at first opening 24a, and food discharge outlet 35 may be directly connected to filling opening 21.

[0050] The filling pressure adjusting section 13 has a slide support section 25 that defines a guide path 31 , a pushing member 30 positioned in the guide path 31 , and a pushing drive section 32 that drives the pushing member 30 .

[0051] The pushing drive unit 32 moves the pushing member 30, which is slidably supported by the slide support unit 25, in the height direction to place it in a closed position or an open position. The pushing member 30 is supported by the slide support unit 25 and can move in the height direction while being prevented from shaking, such as vibration. The pushing member 30 placed in the closed position blocks the discharge opening 22, and the pushing member 30 placed in the open position opens the discharge opening 22.

[0052] 1 has a pushing drive shaft 32a attached to the pushing member 30. The pushing drive shaft 32a extends in the height direction (particularly downward) from the main body of the pushing drive part 32, and the amount of projection in the height direction (particularly downward) from the main body is variable. The pushing member 30 moves in the height direction according to the change in the projection amount of the pushing drive shaft 32a, is positioned at a height position according to the projection amount of the pushing drive shaft 32a, and can be positioned at a closed position and an open position.

[0053] The slide support section 25 shown in FIG. 1 is made of the same material as the moving path dividing section 24 and is provided integrally with the moving path dividing section 24.

[0054] The guide path 31 has the same diameter as the second opening 24b and is provided integrally with the second opening 24b, and the guide path 31 and the second opening 24b form a cylindrical space extending in the height direction. Therefore, the second opening 24b essentially functions as a part of the guide path 31 through which the pushing member 30 can pass. The lower end face (i.e., the pushing end face 30a) of the pushing member 30 positioned in the closed position is located in the second opening 24b and is located on the same horizontal plane as a part of the inner wall surface of the moving path partition section 24.

[0055] Next, an example of a food production method will be described.

[0056] The food manufacturing method of this example includes a step of dividing a fixed amount of food from a large amount of food using the forming mold 11 (fixed amount dividing method), and a step of releasing the divided fixed amount of food from the forming mold 11 (food releasing method).

[0057] 2 to 8 are partial cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of the food production apparatus 1.

[0058] The food F used in this example is composed of a paste-like food material having fluidity, but the food F is not limited to a paste-like food material. Specific examples of food will be described later.

[0059] First, a fixed amount of food F is divided using the forming mold 11 arranged at the forming position. That is, the food F is sent by the food delivery section 33 from the food guide pipe 34 through the food discharge outlet 35, the first opening 24a and the filling opening 21 to the forming hole 20 of the forming mold 11.

[0060] At this time, the food delivery section 33 (food supply section 12) delivers an amount of food F according to the size of the molding hole 20. That is, the food delivery section 33 delivers, toward the molding hole 20, an amount of food F equivalent to the volume of the molding hole 20 of the forming mold 11 positioned at the molding position (i.e., the forming mold 11 in the food molding form). Note that the food delivery section 33 may deliver, toward the molding hole 20, an amount of food F that is smaller than the size of the molding hole 20.

[0061] Meanwhile, while the food delivery section 33 is delivering an amount of food F according to the size of the molding hole 20, the pushing member 30 is moved by the pushing drive section 32 and placed in the open position.

[0062] In this example, when the food delivery section 33 starts to deliver the food F, the pushing member 30 is positioned in a closed position adjacent to the discharge opening 22 (see Figure 2), and after the food F adheres to the pushing end face 30a of the pushing member 30, it moves from the closed position toward the open position (see Figure 3).

[0063] However, during the period from when the food delivery section 33 starts to deliver the food F until the food F adheres to the push-in end face 30a, the push-in member 30 may be located in a position other than the closed position. For example, during the period from when the delivery of the food F starts to when the food F adheres to the push-in end face 30a, the push-in end face 30a may be located in the molding hole 20 or in the guide path 31.

[0064] After the food F adheres to the pushing end surface 30a, the pushing member 30 moves away from the discharge opening 22 in response to the delivery of the food F to the molding hole 20 by the food delivery section 33 (food supply section 12), and maintains the state in which the food F adheres to the pushing end surface 30a. As a result, the food F is supported by the pushing member 30 and prevented from collapsing, and can gradually rise in an upright position in the height direction across the molding hole 20 and the guide path 31.

[0065] By moving the pushing member 30 away from the discharge opening 22 in response to the feeding of the food F, it is possible to prevent an increase in pressure on the food F adhering to the pushing end face 30a. In this manner, until the pushing member 30 moves away from the discharge opening 22 and is positioned at the open position, the downward force that the food F adhering to the pushing end face 30a receives from the pushing member 30 is preferably close to zero (0).

[0066] The degree of adhesion of the food F to the pushing end surface 30a of the pushing member 30 may vary depending on the properties of the food F, such as the adhesiveness and fluidity. Therefore, the relationship between the amount of food F sent out by the food supply unit 12 to the molding hole 20 and the movement amount (i.e., the movement speed and movement position) of the pushing member 30 varies depending on the properties of the food F.

[0067] The pushing member 30 is placed in the open position by the time the food supply section 12 completes the delivery of the food F to the molding hole 20 (see FIG. 3).

[0068] When the food supply section 12 has completed delivering the food F to the molding hole 20, the food F is attached to the pushing member 30 and extends across the molding hole 20 and the guide path 31, but does not fill the entire molding hole 20.

[0069] After the food supply unit 12 has completed sending the food F to the molding hole 20, the pushing member 30 is moved from the open position to the closed position, and the food F is filled into the molding hole 20 (see Figs. 4 and 5). That is, the pushing member 30 moves from the open position (see Fig. 3) along the guide path 31 toward the molding hole 20 (see Fig. 4), pushing out the food F in the guide path 31 toward the molding hole 20, and is finally placed at the closed position (see Fig. 5).

[0070] In this manner, while the pushing member 30 moves from the open position to the closed position, the supply of food F from the food delivery section 33 to the molding hole 20 is stopped. As described above, at the point in time when the food delivery section 33 stops the supply of food F to the molding hole 20, the food delivery section 33 has completed the delivery of an amount of food F according to the size of the molding hole 20 (see FIG. 3).

[0071] Therefore, the amount of food F present between the molding hole 20 and the guide path 31 after the food delivery unit 33 stops supplying food F to the molding hole 20 corresponds to the size of the molding hole 20. Therefore, when the supply of food F from the food supply unit 12 to the molding hole 20 is stopped, the pushing member 30 moves from the open position to the closed position, so that the molding hole 20 is filled with food F without any gaps (see FIG. 5).

[0072] After the molding cavity 20 is filled with the food F in this manner, the forming mold 11 is moved from the molding position to the discharging position (see FIG. 6) by the first mold moving part 27a and the second mold moving part 27b. As a result, the food F in the molding cavity 20 is completely separated from the food F in the food guide pipe 34 and the first opening 24a, and a fixed amount of food F is divided.

[0073] While the forming mold 11 is moved from the forming position to the discharging position, the relative positions of the first mold section 11a and the second mold section 11b are maintained in the food forming configuration, and the size of the forming hole 20 is essentially unchanged.

[0074] Then, the portioned food F is released from the forming mold 11 at the release position.

[0075] In this example, when the molding mold 11 is positioned in the discharge position, the first ejection opening 43 formed in the moving path partition 24 faces the ejection opening 22, and the second ejection opening 44 formed in the moving path partition 24 faces the filling opening 21.

[0076] In this example, the first ejection opening 43 has the same diameter as the ejection opening 22 of the molding mold 11 arranged at the ejection position, but it may also have a larger diameter than the ejection opening 22, or it may have a smaller diameter than the ejection opening 22.

[0077] The second ejection opening 44 has a diameter larger than the filling opening 21 of the forming mold 11 in the food molding form immediately after being placed at the discharge position, and in particular has a diameter larger than the food F in the forming hole 20.

[0078] After the forming mold 11 is placed in the discharge position, the forming mold 11 is changed from the food molding configuration to the food discharging configuration by the first mold moving part 27a and the second mold moving part 27b. That is, the first mold part 11a and the second mold part 11b move symmetrically away from each other, and the diameter of the filling opening 21 is made larger than the diameter of the food F in the forming hole 20 (see FIG. 7).

[0079] Then, with the forming mold 11 in the food discharging form, the food F in the molding hole 20 is pushed downward by the food discharging unit 3. The food F passes through the filling opening 21 and the second ejection opening 44 and lands on the conveyor belt 50 provided below the moving path dividing section 24 (see FIG. 8).

[0080] The food discharge unit 3 shown in Figs. 6 to 8 includes a discharge device 40 provided directly above the first discharge opening 43, and the discharge device 40 has a discharge drive shaft 41a and a discharge part 41b.

[0081] The discharge drive shaft 41a extends in the height direction (particularly downward) from the main body of the discharge device 40, and the amount of projection in the height direction (particularly downward) from the main body is variable.

[0082] The striking portion 41b moves in the height direction in response to a change in the protruding amount of the discharge drive shaft 41a, and is positioned at a height position according to the protruding amount of the discharge drive shaft 41a. The diameter of the striking portion 41b is smaller than the diameter of the first striking opening 43 and the diameter of the discharge opening 22.

[0083] When the molding mold 11 is positioned at the ejection position, the ejection portion 41b, the first ejection opening 43, the molding hole 20 (including the ejection opening 22 and the filling opening 21), and the second ejection opening 44 are positioned on the same straight line extending in the height direction.

[0084] When the food F in the molding hole 20 is pushed downward, the protruding amount of the discharge drive shaft 41a is increased, and the pushing part 41b advances into the molding hole 20 through the first pushing opening 43 and the discharge opening 22. The pushing part 41b pushes the food F downward in a state in which the forming mold 11 (the first mold part 11a and the second mold part 11b) is not present directly below the food F in the molding hole 20. In this way, the food F in the molding hole 20 is pushed downward by the pushing part 41b and pushed out toward the conveyor belt 50.

[0085] When the food F is completely peeled off from the forming mold 11 as the forming mold 11 transitions from the food molding form to the food releasing form, the food F falls naturally toward the conveyor belt 50 due to gravity. In this case, the food F may move (fall) toward the conveyor belt 50 without being pushed by the release device 40 (pushing section 41b).

[0086] The food F on the conveyor belt 50 is then conveyed downstream by the conveyor belt 50.

[0087] Thereafter, the forming mold 11 is moved from the release position to the forming position, and returned from the food release configuration to the food forming configuration. The above-mentioned series of processes are then repeated, and the process of dividing the food F into a fixed amount and the process of releasing the food F from the forming mold 11 are performed continuously.

[0088] As described above, according to the food manufacturing apparatus 1 and food manufacturing method of this embodiment, an amount of food F equivalent to the molding hole 20 is first sent from the food supply section 12 to the molding hole 20 and the guide path 31, and then the food F is filled into the molding hole 20.

[0089] This allows the food F to be filled into the molding hole 20 while suppressing the pressure applied to the food F.

[0090] In particular, by moving the pushing member 30 away from the discharge opening 22 in response to the food supply section 12 sending the food F into the molding hole 20, the pressure applied by the pushing member 30 to the food F can be zero (0) or very small.

[0091] Furthermore, by moving the pushing member 30 away from the discharge opening 22 while maintaining the food F attached to the pushing member 30, the food F can be properly guided into the guide path 31 while preventing an increase in pressure on the food F while the food F is being discharged from the food supply section 12.

[0092] In this manner, by filling the molding hole 20 with the food F while suppressing the pressure applied to the food F, the pressure applied by the food F to the molding mold 11 during the filling process can be suppressed, and the food F can be prevented from excessively adhering (sticking) to the molding mold 11.

[0093] This makes it easier to peel the food F from the forming mold 11. This prevents the food F from losing its shape or shifting its release direction and release position due to the food F sticking to the forming mold 11, and allows the food F to be stably released from the forming mold 11. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the shape of the food F from not meeting product standards, multiple foods F after molding from being unable to be sent downstream in an appropriately aligned state, and the foods F from unintentionally sticking together.

[0094] In addition, since the food F can be filled into the molding hole 20 while reducing the pressure applied to the food F, unintended leakage of the food F from gaps between components during the filling process can be prevented, thereby reducing food waste.

[0095] If the partition surface of the forming mold 11 that defines the forming hole 20 has a complex shape or if the horizontal diameter of the forming hole 20 changes in the height direction, the pressure applied to the food F becomes uneven, which may make it difficult to stably fill the forming hole 20 with the food. Therefore, when food is produced using the forming mold 11 having the forming hole 20 shown in Figures 1 to 8, the above-mentioned effects can be adequately achieved.

[0096] Furthermore, if the diameter of the food discharge outlet (first opening 24a in this embodiment) does not match the diameter of the molding hole 20 (particularly if the diameter of the molding hole 20 is larger than the diameter of the food discharge outlet), the pressure applied to the food F will be uneven, making it difficult to stably fill the molding hole 20 with the food. Therefore, when food is produced using the food guide tube 34 and forming mold 11 shown in Figures 1 to 8, the above-mentioned effects can be adequately achieved.

[0097] Furthermore, since the higher the adhesiveness of the food F, the greater the degree to which the food F adheres to the forming mold 11 tends to be, the above-mentioned effect can be more effectively achieved when the food F is highly adhesive (for example, when the food F has a high water content or is soft).

[0098] [First Modification] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a quantitative portioning unit 2 according to a first modified example.

[0099] In this modification, the vertical cross section of the "partition surface that defines molding hole 20" of each of first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b describes a straight line (strictly speaking, two straight lines), and the horizontal cross section of the partition surface describes a semicircular arc. That is, the vertical cross section of the partition surface of each of first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b describes a straight line that is inclined with respect to both the horizontal direction and the height direction.

[0100] However, even in this modification, the partition surface of first molded section 11a has a shape symmetrical to that of second molded section 11b.

[0101] The other configurations of this modified example are almost the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

[0102] According to this modification, the food product F can be formed to have a vertical cross-sectional shape with an acute angle (a hexagonal vertical cross-sectional shape in the example shown in FIG. 9).

[0103] [Second modified example] Fig. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a food manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the second modified example. Fig. 11 is a top view of a forming mold 11 and a mold moving section 27 according to the second modified example.

[0104] In this modification, the forming mold 11 is made of a single member.

[0105] The forming mold 11 shown in FIG. 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole.

[0106] The molding hole 20 has a constant horizontal diameter in the height direction, and is configured as a cylindrical space (an elliptical cylindrical shape in the example shown in FIG. 11). Therefore, the filling opening 21 and the discharging opening 22 have the same diameter.

[0107] The pushing member 30 has the same diameter as the discharge opening 22 and covers the entire discharge opening 22 in the closed position.

[0108] The forming mold 11 is attached to a single mold moving part 27 (ie, a single shaft part).

[0109] The other configurations of this modified example are almost the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

[0110] According to this modified example, since the molding hole 20 has a constant horizontal diameter in the height direction, the food molding shape and food ejection shape of the molding mold 11 can be matched to each other, and both molding and ejection of the food F can be performed without changing the shape of the molding mold 11.

[0111] Moreover, the entire forming mold 11 can be moved by the single mold moving part 27.

[0112] In this way, according to this modification, the configuration and operation of the food production apparatus 1 can be simplified.

[0113] [Third Modification] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a quantitative portioning unit 2 according to a third modified example.

[0114] The pushing end surface 30a of the pushing member 30 has a curved surface, and the curved surface may face the molding hole 20 when the pushing member 30 is placed in the closed position.

[0115] 12 has a molding hole 20, which has a constant horizontal diameter in the height direction, and is configured as a cylindrical space as a whole, as in the second modified example described above, and the filling opening 21 and the discharge opening 22 have the same diameter. The pushing member 30 has the same diameter as the discharge opening 22.

[0116] 12 has a first mold part 11a and a second mold part 11b, similar to the above-described embodiment. A first mold moving part 27a and a second mold moving part 27b are attached to the first mold part 11a and the second mold part 11b, respectively, so that the forming mold 11 can be in a food releasing form and a food molding form.

[0117] The other configurations of this modified example are almost the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

[0118] In this modified example, when filling the molding hole 20 with food F with the forming mold 11 placed in the forming position shown in Fig. 12, the food delivery section 33 delivers food F having a volume smaller than the volume of the forming hole 20 to the forming hole 20. In other words, when the pushing member 30 is placed in the open position, the food delivery section 33 delivers food F located inside the movement path dividing section 24 and having a volume smaller than the volume of the forming hole 20 determined by the forming mold 11 to the forming hole 20.

[0119] When the pushing member 30 moves from the open position to the closed position to fill the molding hole 20 with the food F, the entire pushing end face 30a of the pushing member 30 is located within the molding hole 20, and the top of the food F does not protrude from the discharge opening 22 toward the guide path 31. With the pushing member 30 thus positioned at the closed position, the molding hole 20 defined by the pushing end face 30a and the forming mold 11 is filled with the food F without any gaps.

[0120] The food product F thus formed has a curved surface that corresponds to the curved shape of the pushing end surface 30a.

[0121] As described above, the pushing end surface 30a of the pushing member 30 can be configured not only as a flat surface but also as a curved surface. Therefore, the degree of freedom in forming the shape of the food product F can be improved depending on the shape of the pushing end surface 30a.

[0122] [Fourth Variation] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a food production apparatus 1 according to a fourth modified example.

[0123] The food manufacturing apparatus 1 according to this modification includes a lubricant applying section 55 that applies a lubricant to the surface of the forming mold 11 that defines the forming hole 20.

[0124] In the example shown in FIG. 13, the lubricant applicator 55 is provided integrally with the driving portion 41b.

[0125] Immediately after food F is released from molding hole 20 by ejection section 41b, lubricant is sprayed from lubricant application section 55 toward the partition surface between first mold section 11a and second mold section 11b.

[0126] The composition of the lubricant is not limited, and the lubricant applying unit 55 may spray a liquid such as water, oil, or seasoning as the lubricant.

[0127] The other configurations of this modified example are almost the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

[0128] According to this modification, the lubricant improves the releasability of the food F from the forming mold 11, and the formed food F can be released from the forming mold 11 stably over a long period of time.

[0129] 13 applies lubricant to the forming mold 11 in a food molding form. However, the lubricant applying unit 55 may apply lubricant to the forming mold 11 in a food releasing form, or may apply lubricant to the forming mold 11 in an intermediate form between the food releasing form and the food forming form.

[0130] 13, the installation position of the lubricant applying part 55 is not limited to the position shown in Fig. 13, and the lubricant applying part 55 can be installed at any position. For example, the lubricant applying part 55 may be provided integrally with other members such as the pushing member 30 and the movement path dividing part 24, or may be provided independently at any position where the lubricant can be applied to the surface of the forming mold 11 that defines the forming hole 20.

[0131] [Other variations] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications. Various modifications may be made to each element of the above-described embodiments and modifications. Furthermore, the configurations of the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined in whole or in part.

[0132] The pushing member 30 does not have to move away from the discharge opening 22 in response to the feeding of the food F from the food delivery section 33 to the molding hole 20, and does not have to maintain the state in which the food F is attached to the pushing end surface 30a while the food F is being fed to the molding hole 20. For example, the pushing member 30 may be disposed in the open position when the feeding of the food F from the food delivery section 33 to the molding hole 20 starts, and the pushing member 30 may wait in the open position while the food F is being fed to the molding hole 20. Even in such a case, it is preferable that the food F is attached to the pushing end surface 30a and supported by the pushing member 30 when the feeding of the food F from the food delivery section 33 to the molding hole 20 is completed.

[0133] The moving direction of the forming mold 11 is not limited to the horizontal direction, but may be the height direction or an inclined direction inclined with respect to both the height direction and the horizontal direction.

[0134] The slide support portion 25 (including the guide path 31) may not be provided, and the pushing member 30 may move without being guided by another member to be placed in the closed position and the open position.

[0135] There are no limitations on the specific configuration of the discharge device 40 and the method of discharging the food F. For example, the discharge device 40 may blow compressed air onto the food F in the molding hole 20 to discharge the formed food F from the forming mold 11. Also, the filling pressure adjustment unit 13 (particularly the pushing member 30) may be used as the discharge device 40 that ejects the food F from the forming mold 11.

[0136] In the case where the mold 11 has a high peeling performance for the food F, and the food F can be peeled off from the mold 11 only by the effect of gravity acting on the food F, the discharge device 40 does not need to be provided.

[0137] Paste-like ingredients that can be used as the food F include amorphous viscous ingredients having fluidity. The specific components of such a paste-like ingredient are not limited, and it may be composed of a single type of ingredient or may contain multiple types of ingredients. For example, the paste-like ingredient may include not only meat, seafood, vegetables, mushrooms, grains, fruits, seaweed, beans, chocolate, cookies, crackers, puffs, candies, gummies, and other solid ingredients, but also eggs, milk, water, oil, seasonings, spices, sugars, grain flour, starches, gelling agents, thickeners, and other liquid ingredients or powder ingredients.

[0138] Furthermore, the food F is not limited to a paste-like food material, but may be a granular material such as rice.

[0139] [Note] As is apparent from the above, the present disclosure includes the following aspects.

[0140] (Aspect 1) a forming mold having a forming hole; a food supply unit that delivers food to the molding hole through a filling opening of the molding hole; A filling pressure adjusting unit having a pushing member that can be positioned at a closing position that closes the discharge opening of the molding hole and an opening position that opens the discharge opening; A food manufacturing apparatus comprising:

[0141] (Aspect 2) The pushing member is disposed at the open position until the food supply unit completes feeding the food to the molding hole, The food manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pushing member is placed in the closed position after the food supply section has completed feeding the food into the molding hole, and the food is filled into the molding hole.

[0142] (Aspect 3) A food manufacturing apparatus according to aspect 1 or 2, wherein the pushing member moves away from the discharge opening in response to the food being fed into the molding hole by the food supply section.

[0143] (Aspect 4) the food supply unit has a food outlet that discharges the food toward the molding hole through the filling opening, 4. The food production apparatus according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the maximum diameter of the molding hole is larger than the diameter of the food discharge outlet.

[0144] (Aspect 5) The food manufacturing apparatus according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the molding hole has a cross-sectional diameter between the filling opening and the discharge opening that is larger than the diameter of the filling opening and larger than the diameter of the discharge opening.

[0145] (Aspect 6) The pushing member has a curved surface; Aspects 6. The food manufacturing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5, wherein the curved surface faces the molding hole when the pushing member is placed at the closed position.

[0146] (Aspect 7) The food production apparatus according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, further comprising a slide support part having a guide path and slidably supporting the pushing member positioned in the guide path.

[0147] (Aspect 8) The food manufacturing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, further comprising a lubricant applying section that applies a lubricant to a surface of the forming mold that defines the forming hole.

[0148] (Aspect 9) Delivering the food product to a forming cavity of a forming mold through a filling opening of the forming cavity; placing a pusher member in an open position to open the ejection opening of the molding hole; placing the pushing member in a closed position in which the discharge opening is blocked by the pushing member; A food production method comprising:

[0149] (Aspect 10) A food product manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein the food product is attached to the pushing member when the feeding of the food product into the molding hole is completed.

[0150] (Aspect 11) A method according to aspect 9 or 10, wherein the pushing member moves away from the discharge opening while maintaining the food adhering to the pushing member, and is placed in the open position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0151] 1 food manufacturing apparatus, 2 fixed amount portioning unit, 3 food discharge unit, 11 forming mold, 11a first mold section, 11b second mold section, 12 food supply section, 13 filling pressure adjustment section, 20 molding hole, 21 filling opening, 22 discharge opening, 24 moving path partition section, 24a first opening, 24b second opening, 25 slide support section, 27 mold moving section, 27a first mold moving section, 27b second mold moving section, 30 pushing member, 30a pushing end surface, 31 guide path, 32 pushing drive section, 32a pushing drive shaft, 33 food delivery section, 34 food guide tube, 35 food discharge port, 40 discharge device, 41a discharge drive shaft, 41b ejection section, 43 first ejection opening, 44 second ejection opening, 50 conveyor belt, 55 Lubricant application section, F food

Claims

1. a forming mold having a forming hole; a food supply unit that delivers food to the molding hole through a filling opening of the molding hole; A filling pressure adjusting unit having a pushing member that can be positioned at a closing position that closes the discharge opening of the molding hole and an opening position that opens the discharge opening; Equipped with The pushing member is disposed at the open position until the food supply unit completes feeding the food to the molding hole, The pushing member is placed in the closed position after the food supplying unit completes feeding the food to the molding hole, and the food is filled into the molding hole. Food manufacturing equipment.

2. The food manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pushing member moves away from the discharge opening in response to the food being fed into the molding cavity by the food supply section.

3. the food supply unit has a food outlet that discharges the food toward the molding hole through the filling opening, 3. The food production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maximum diameter of the molding hole is larger than the diameter of the food discharge port.

4. The food manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the molding hole has a cross-sectional diameter between the filling opening and the discharge opening that is larger than the diameter of the filling opening and larger than the diameter of the discharge opening.

5. The pushing member has a curved surface; The food manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the curved surface faces the molding hole when the pushing member is placed in the closed position.

6. The food production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a slide support section having a guideway and configured to slidably support the pushing member positioned in the guideway.

7. The food manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a lubricant applying section that applies a lubricant to a surface of the forming mold that defines the forming hole.

8. Delivering the food product to a forming cavity of a forming mold through a filling opening of the forming cavity; placing a pusher member in an open position to open a discharge opening of the molding hole; placing the pushing member in a closed position in which the discharge opening is blocked by the pushing member; Including, The pushing member is disposed in the open position until the feeding of the food into the molding hole is completed, After the pushing member has completed feeding the food into the molding cavity, the pushing member is placed in the closed position, and the food is filled into the molding cavity. Food production method.

9. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the food adheres to the pushing member when the feeding of the food into the molding hole is completed.

10. 10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the pushing member is moved away from the discharge opening while maintaining the food product attached to the pushing member, and is placed in the open position.

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