Food Conveyor Equipment

Abstract

To provide a vertically moving chain conveyor type transport device capable of mechanically changing the processing time of food materials without changing the overall length and running speed of an endless chain. [Solution] The food conveying device 1 includes a transition device 2 including a plurality of sprockets 10 and an endless chain 30 that is looped around the plurality of sprockets 10 and travels along a group of a plurality of drive sprockets 10M that are arranged horizontally among the plurality of sprockets 10. The transition device 2 includes a freewheel 20 that is provided between two adjacent drive sprockets 10M and is capable of vertically reciprocating a predetermined distance. The conveying device 1 also includes a rotary motor 4, a drive transmission device 5, and a drive shaft 6. The drive transmission device 5 includes a worm gear 51, a drive gear 52, and a gear switching device 53, and operates the gear switching device 53 to transmit and disconnect power between the drive shaft 6 and the drive sprocket 10M.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a food conveying device for a food machine, and more particularly to a food conveying device including an endless chain and a plurality of sprockets. [Background technology]

[0002] Food conveying devices are used in food machinery such as noodle boilers, rice cookers, steaming and cooling devices, and heat sterilizers. Rice cookers cook rice filled in many containers, and steaming and cooling devices cool the rice in the containers after steaming it at 80°C. A typical food conveying device continuously conveys food divided into portions for one meal and is composed of an endless chain and multiple sprockets. Sometimes a food conveying device is composed of an endless belt and multiple rollers.

[0003] The endless chain runs horizontally through the processing zones where food is cooked, boiled, steamed, cooled or heated. Alternatively, the endless chain runs up and down through the processing zones. The total length and running speed of the endless chain are constant. The length and running speed of the endless chain are determined by the processing time in the processing zone suitable for a particular type of food. Thus, food conveying equipment is often capable of transporting only one type of food.

[0004] For example, since udon and soba require different boiling times in a boiling tank, the noodle boiling device determines the boiling time according to the type of noodle.Furthermore, since the cooking times for rice varieties such as white rice, brown rice, red rice, multigrain rice, rice porridge, and sticky rice are different, the rice cooking device determines the cooking time according to the type of rice.

[0005] The food conveying device can adjust the processing time by changing the rotation speed of the rotary motor to change the running speed of the endless chain. However, in many cases, multiple types of food machinery are installed in a factory to work together to produce one product.

[0006] Therefore, when the travel speed of the food conveyor of one food machine is changed, the production speed of the other linked food machines must also be changed. As a result, the production volume per unit time differs depending on the type of food, so it is not desirable to change the travel speed of the endless chain depending on the type of food.

[0007] Patent Document 1 discloses a food conveying device that uses a horizontally moving chain conveyor system in which an endless chain runs almost horizontally in a noodle boiling device. By horizontally moving each of the two sprockets in the food conveying device, the length of the food conveying path in the processing zone can be changed without changing the overall length of the endless chain. In this way, the boiling time can be adjusted, so the food conveying device can handle multiple types of noodles.

[0008] Patent Document 2 discloses a food conveying device that uses a vertically moving chain conveyor system in which an endless chain travels up and down in a rice cooking device. In such a food conveying device, it is difficult to change the length of the food conveying path in the processing zone by moving the sprocket horizontally. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4784919 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 7374240 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] In a vertical-moving chain conveyor type food transport device, it is desirable to be able to mechanically adjust the food processing time to suit the type of food without changing the overall length and running speed of the endless chain of the transfer device, as is the case with a horizontal-moving chain conveyor type food transport device.

[0011] In view of the above problems, the main object of the present invention is to provide a food conveying device that can mechanically adjust the food processing time without changing the overall length of the endless chain that runs up and down. Some advantages that can be obtained by the food conveying device of the present invention will be described in detail in the explanation of specific embodiments. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the food conveying device (1) of the food machine of the present invention is a food conveying device that conveys food through a processing zone (ZN) where the food is processed, and includes a series of drive sprockets (10M) arranged horizontally, free wheels (20A) that are provided between adjacent drive sprockets in the series of drive sprockets and can reciprocate up and down a predetermined distance, an endless chain (30) that is looped around the series of drive sprockets (10M) and the free wheels (20A) and runs up and down in the processing zone (ZN), and a rotary motor that runs the endless chain (30). the drive sprocket (10M) is connected to one of the adjacent drive sprockets (10M) through which the drive shaft (6) passes without contact; a clutch (53F) axially movably coupled to the drive shaft (6) and configured to engage and disengage with the worm gear (51); and a clutch drive device (53C) configured to horizontally reciprocate the clutch (53F) to transmit or interrupt the rotation of the drive shaft (6) to the one of the drive sprockets.

[0013] The food conveying device of the food machine of the present invention further comprises a number of trays for food, which are detachably attached to the endless chain. The processing zone is a heating chamber to which pressurized steam is supplied. The food conveying device further comprises a stopper for defining a predetermined distance. The freewheel has a rotating shaft, and further comprises a pair of parallel guide rails that sandwich the rotating shaft and have a stopper at the upper end. The clutch driving device includes a cylinder device for reciprocating the clutch along the drive shaft. The food conveying device further comprises a bearing attached to the clutch and a bearing case that accommodates the bearing, and the cylinder device has a housing and a piston rod that can reciprocate horizontally within the housing, and the piston rod is connected to the bearing case. When the clutch driving device brings the clutch into contact with the worm gear, the rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the worm gear via the clutch, and when the clutch driving device separates the clutch from the worm gear, the worm gear is separated from the drive shaft. The food conveying device further comprises a key fixed to the drive shaft and extending parallel to the drive shaft, and the clutch is configured to engage with the key and slide on the key. The food conveying apparatus further includes a drive gear connected to one of the drive sprockets and meshing with the worm gear.The food conveying apparatus further includes a control device that controls the clutch drive device and also controls the rotary motor.

[0014] The food conveying device is a food conveying device that conveys food through a processing zone where the food is processed, and includes a series of drive sprockets aligned horizontally, a series of upper stage freewheels aligned horizontally lower than the series of drive sprockets and each of which is provided between adjacent drive sprockets and can reciprocate up and down a predetermined distance, a series of driven sprockets aligned horizontally lower than the series of upper stage freewheels, a series of lower stage freewheels aligned horizontally higher than the series of driven sprockets and each of which is provided between adjacent driven sprockets, and the series of drive sprockets and the series of upper stage The system comprises an endless chain that is entrained around a series of driven sprockets and a series of lower freewheels and runs up and down in the processing zone, and that is entrained around a series of driven sprockets and a series of lower freewheels and runs up and down outside the processing zone, a rotary motor that drives the endless chain, a drive shaft that is arranged horizontally and rotated by the rotary motor, a plurality of drive transmission devices that transmit or cut off the rotation of the drive shaft to each of the series of drive sprockets, and a control device that independently controls the rotary motor and the plurality of drive transmission devices, and the series of upper freewheels are each connected to the series of lower freewheels.

[0015] Each of the drive transmission devices includes a worm gear connected to one of the adjacent drive sprockets through which the drive shaft passes without contact, a clutch axially movably coupled to the drive shaft and configured to engage and disengage with the worm gear, and a clutch drive device configured to horizontally reciprocate the clutch to transmit or cut off the rotation of the drive shaft to the one drive sprocket. The clutch drive device includes a cylinder device that reciprocates the clutch along the drive shaft. The food conveying device further includes a bearing attached to the clutch and a bearing case that houses the bearing, and the cylinder device has a housing and a piston rod that can reciprocate horizontally within the housing, and the piston rod is connected to the bearing case. When the clutch drive device brings the clutch into contact with the worm gear, the rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the worm gear via the clutch, and when the clutch drive device separates the clutch from the worm gear, the worm gear is disconnected from the drive shaft.

[0016] The food conveying apparatus further includes a key fixed to the drive shaft and extending parallel to the drive shaft, the clutch being configured to engage with the key and slide over the key.

[0017] The food conveying apparatus further comprises a number of trays for the food removably attached to the endless chain. The processing zone is a heating chamber to which pressurized steam is supplied. The food conveying apparatus further comprises a stopper that defines the predetermined distance. The freewheel has a rotation shaft and further comprises a pair of parallel guide rails that sandwich the rotation shaft and have stoppers at their upper ends.

[0018] The food conveying apparatus further includes a drive gear connected to one of the drive sprockets and meshing with the worm gear. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the conveyor of the food machine of the present invention, when one of the group of multiple drive sprockets is disconnected from the drive shaft and stopped so that it cannot rotate, the other multiple drive sprockets are rotated a predetermined number of times, and the freewheel between the stopped drive sprocket and the adjacent drive sprocket is pulled up from the lowest position or pulled down from the highest position. As the freewheel moves a predetermined distance in a straight line in the vertical direction, the effective length of the endless chain changes corresponding to the predetermined distance moved in a straight line within the range of the maximum stroke equivalent to the maximum displacement of the freewheel.

[0020] Therefore, by selectively stopping the rotation of one of the multiple drive sprockets and displacing the free wheel closest to the drive sprocket while it is not rotating, the effective length of the endless chain in the processing zone can be changed as desired. Therefore, the processing time of the food material can be mechanically changed according to the type of food material without changing the overall length and running speed of the endless chain of the transfer device. As a result, the processing time of the food material can be mechanically adjusted with a relatively robust structure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the food conveying device of the present invention in a transfer type rice cooking device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the food conveying apparatus shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a drive gear and a worm gear. [Diagram 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a side surface of the drive transmission device in the food conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view including a partial cross section of a worm gear and a clutch. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a food conveying device of the present invention applied to a steam steaming cooling device. [Figure 8]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a food conveying device of the present invention that is applied to a continuous steam sterilizer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] One embodiment of the food conveying device of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The food conveying device shown in Figures 1 and 2 is applied to a rice cooking device. In the rice cooking device, a plurality of trays 3 are sequentially introduced into a heating chamber 1A by a food conveying device 1. Each container is placed on the tray 3, and a predetermined amount of rice and water, portioned for one meal, is contained in each container. While the tray 3 is being conveyed through the heating chamber 1A, the rice contained in the multiple containers is cooked.

[0023] The food conveyed by the food conveying device 1 is rice. The rice may be, for example, polished rice, brown rice, red rice, multigrain rice, rice porridge, porridge, or sticky rice. The rice cooker can also put rice together with soup and ingredients into a container to cook rice seasoned with other ingredients. Cooking rice in a rice cooker corresponds to "processing" in a food machine. The cooking time corresponds to the "processing time", and the "processing zone" ZN in Figures 1 and 2 indicates the rice cooking zone. The processing zone ZN is the heating chamber 1A to which pressurized steam is supplied.

[0024] The rice cooking device automatically places a container containing a predetermined amount of rice and water, portioned for one meal, on the tray 3 at a predetermined position. The food conveying device 1 moves the endless chain 30 at a predetermined speed to introduce the tray 3 into the heating chamber 1A. The rice in the container is cooked while the tray 3 is conveyed through the processing zone ZN for the desired cooking time.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, food conveying device 1 includes a plurality of sprockets 10, an endless chain 30, a plurality of trays 3, a plurality of freewheels 20, a rotary motor 4, and a drive transmission device 5. The endless chain 30 is looped around the plurality of sprockets 10 and configured to travel along a food conveying path through a processing zone where food is cooked. The plurality of sprockets 10 include a plurality of drive sprockets 10M, a plurality of driven sprockets 10T, and a plurality of guide sprockets 10G. The numerous trays 3 are detachably attached to the endless chain 30.

[0026] The drive sprockets 10M are arranged horizontally at the top of the rice cooker and are provided on the outgoing food transport path in the heating chamber 1A. As shown in Fig. 2, 14 drive sprockets 10M are drawn from left to right, starting with the first drive sprocket 10M1 to the fourteenth drive sprocket 10M14. All drive sprockets 10M are driven by the power of a single rotary motor 4 and are provided in the processing zone ZN.

[0027] The drive shaft 6 is disposed in parallel with the output shaft of the rotary motor 4, and the output shaft of the rotary motor 4 is connected to the drive shaft 6 by a timing belt or a timing chain. When the power of the rotary motor 4 is transmitted to the drive shaft 6, the drive shaft 6 rotates around its axis. When the drive shaft 6 is connected to the drive sprocket 10M, the endless chain 30 runs due to the rotating drive sprocket 10M, and the tray 3 is transported.

[0028] The driven sprockets 10T are aligned horizontally at a lower position than the series of driving sprockets 10M, and are provided outside the heating chamber 1A on the return path of the food conveying path. The guide sprockets 10G are provided on the forward and return paths of the endless chain 30, and are sprockets that specifically change the running direction of the endless chain 30. Some of the guide sprockets 10G are also driven sprockets. Although multiple guide sprockets 10G are depicted in Figures 1 and 2, only one reference symbol 10G is given to the guide sprocket.

[0029] Each freewheel 20 is provided between horizontally adjacent driving sprockets 10M on the food conveying path. The freewheels 20 can reciprocate vertically for a predetermined distance. The freewheels 20 include a plurality of upper stage freewheels 20A and a plurality of lower stage freewheels 20B. The upper stage freewheels 20A are horizontally aligned in the processing zone ZN shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2(A), and 13 upper stage freewheels 20A are depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The series of upper stage freewheels 20A are positioned lower than the series of driving sprockets 10M and higher than the series of driven sprockets 10T.

[0030] The upper stage freewheels 20A and the same number of lower stage freewheels 20B are arranged horizontally outside the processing zone ZN. The lower stage freewheels 20B are connected to the respective upper stage freewheels 20A, and the series of upper stage freewheels 20A and the series of lower stage freewheels 20B are configured so that they can reciprocate up and down a predetermined distance together. The series of lower stage freewheels 20B are positioned lower than the series of upper stage freewheels 20A and higher than the series of driven sprockets 10T. Each lower stage freewheel 20B is provided between adjacent driven sprockets 10T.

[0031] The freewheel 20 does not have teeth that mesh with the endless chain 30. Therefore, the endless chain 30 is not constrained by the freewheel 20 in its running direction, and runs at a predetermined running speed regardless of the rotation of the freewheel 20. The endless chain 30 is hung on the outer periphery of the freewheel 20 and constrained by the freewheel 20 in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the endless chain 30, so that it does not deviate from the food conveying path.

[0032] A drive sprocket series 10M and an upper freewheel series 20A are provided on the outbound side of the food transport path within the processing zone ZN. A driven sprocket series 10T and a lower freewheel series 20B are provided on the inbound side of the food transport path outside the heating chamber 1A.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 3, the upper stage freewheel 20A and the lower stage freewheel 20B are connected to the ankle guide 7 by their respective fasteners 20L. In this way, the upper stage freewheel 20A and the lower stage freewheel 20B are connected and move vertically as a unit. A pair of parallel guide rails 8 extending vertically guide the upper stage freewheel 20A and the lower stage freewheel 20B so that their respective rotation axes move linearly vertically while preventing them from moving horizontally.

[0034] The fastener 20L essentially forms the rotation axis of each of the upper and lower freewheels 20A and 20B. The fastener 20L is sandwiched between a pair of parallel guide rails 8 and is restricted from moving horizontally. Two stoppers 8E are provided to limit the range of vertical movement of the rotation axis. The upper stopper 8E connects the upper ends of each of the guide rails 8, and the lower stopper 8E connects the lower ends of each of the guide rails 8. The maximum stroke L of the freewheel 20 is shown in FIG. 2(A), and these stoppers 8E define the maximum stroke L.

[0035] Therefore, when one driving sprocket 10M is disconnected from the rotary motor 4 and stops, while another driving sprocket 10M is being rotated by the rotary motor 4, the upper freewheel 20A between the stopped driving sprocket 10M and the adjacent driving sprocket 10M is pulled up to its upper limit or pulled down to its lower limit. The lower freewheel 20B connected to the upper freewheel 20A by the ankle guide 7 also moves up and down in the same manner.

[0036] When the upper and lower freewheels 20A and 20B are prevented from moving by the stopper 8E, in normal running conditions where all driving sprockets 10M maintain the tension of the endless chain 30 in balance due to the power of the rotating motor 4 and there is no fluctuation, the upper and lower freewheels 20A and 20B cannot move beyond the upper or lower limit in the height direction of the rice cooker, and remain in the limit position determined by the stopper 8E.

[0037] A plurality of drive transmission devices 5 are provided, and each of the drive transmission devices 5 includes a worm gear 51, a drive gear 52, and a gear switching device 53. As shown in Fig. 4, the drive shaft 6 is provided horizontally and passes through the plurality of worm gears 51 without contacting each other.

[0038] The rotation axis of the drive gear 52 is connected to the rotation axis of the drive sprocket 10M. The drive gear 52 meshes with the worm gear 51. The drive gear 52 transmits rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft 6 to the drive sprocket 10M. The drive gear 52 rotates about an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the drive sprocket 10M. In particular, the drive gear 52 in this embodiment is directly connected to the rotation axis of the drive sprocket 10M and is provided coaxially with the drive sprocket 10M.

[0039] 5, the gear-changing device 53 includes a cylinder device 53C, a bearing 53E, a bearing case 53B, and a clutch 53F. The bearing 53E is attached to the clutch 53F, and the bearing case 53B houses the bearing 53E. The bearing 53E, the bearing case 53B, and the clutch 53F are configured to be able to move horizontally together.

[0040] A key 62 parallel to the drive shaft 6 connects the clutch 53F to the drive shaft 6. The key 62 is fixed to the drive shaft 6 and engages with the clutch 53F. The key 62 has a sufficient length to allow the clutch 53F to slide horizontally over the key 62 and engage with and disengage from the worm gear 51. The rotation of the drive shaft 6 is transmitted to the inner ring of the bearing 53E and the clutch 53F via the key 62. The bearing case 53B does not rotate.

[0041] The worm gear 51 is coaxially mounted on the drive shaft 6. When the clutch 53F is in contact with the worm gear 51, the rotation of the clutch 53F is transmitted to the worm gear 51. A plurality of drive transmission devices 5 are provided corresponding to the respective plurality of drive sprockets 10M.

[0042] The drive transmission device 5 operates the gear switching device 53 to transmit and cut off power between the drive shaft 6 and the drive sprocket 10M. In the food conveying device 1 of the embodiment, the clutch drive device that moves the clutch 53F horizontally to contact or separate from the worm gear 51 is the cylinder device 53C.

[0043] The cylinder device 53C has a housing and a piston rod 53D that can reciprocate horizontally within the housing. The piston rod 53D is connected to the bearing case 53B by an appropriate arm. The cylinder device 53C linearly reciprocates the clutch 53F together with the bearing 53E and the bearing case 53B by a predetermined distance in the axial direction of the drive shaft 6. The multiple cylinder devices 53C are controlled by a control device (not shown) and operate independently.

[0044] 6, a pawl 51F extending horizontally toward the clutch 53F is formed on one end of the worm gear 51. When the pawl 51F comes into contact with the clutch 53F, the rotation of the drive shaft 6 is transmitted to the worm gear 51 via the key 62 and the clutch 53F. Furthermore, the worm gear 51 transmits the rotation of the drive shaft 6 to the drive sprocket 10M via the drive gear 52, causing the endless chain 30 to run.

[0045] When it is desired to change the effective length of the endless chain 30, the cylinder device 53C horizontally moves the clutch 53F together with the bearing 53E and the bearing case 53B by a predetermined distance, thus releasing the contact between the clutch 53F and the worm gear 51, and interrupting the rotation of the drive shaft 6.

[0046] The control device independently controls the multiple drive transmission devices 5 and also controls the rotary motor 4. The control device operates the drive transmission devices 5 to disconnect the drive sprocket 10M from the drive shaft 6, thereby stopping the drive sprocket 10M. Alternatively, the control device operates the drive transmission devices 5 to connect the drive sprocket 10M to the drive shaft 6, thereby rotating the drive sprocket 10M.

[0047] The control device controls the rotary motor 4 to rotate one driving sprocket 10M a predetermined number of rotations while the other driving sprocket 10M is stopped, thereby moving the upper freewheel 20A between the stopped driving sprocket 10M and the adjacent driving sprocket 10M linearly in the vertical direction by a predetermined distance. The control device controls the rotary motor 4 and the drive transmission device 5 to stop the multiple driving sprockets 10M one by one in turn and move the multiple upper freewheels 20A one by one in turn in a linear manner up and down by a predetermined distance until the running distance of the endless chain 30 in the processing zone ZN reaches a desired length.

[0048] Below is described a process for changing the running distance of the endless chain 30 in the processing zone ZN without changing the overall length and running speed of the endless chain 30 of the food conveying apparatus 1. In the following description, the running distance of the endless chain 30 in the processing zone ZN is referred to as the effective length.

[0049] Fig. 2(A) shows the longest effective length, and Fig. 2(B) shows the shortest effective length. When the effective length in Fig. 2(A) is shortened to the effective length in Fig. 2(B), the control device stops the rotary motor 4. When the rotary motor 4 is stopped with the power input, the power of the rotary motor 4 is still transmitted to the multiple driving sprockets 10M. Therefore, the force of the rotary motor 4 to stop the rotation of the drive shaft 6 is applied to each driving sprocket 10M, and the endless chain 30 stops traveling in a state where the driving sprockets 10M do not rotate freely.

[0050] When the endless chain 30 stops traveling, the control device operates the gear switching device 53 by driving the cylinder device 53C in the drive transmission device 5, which includes the drive gear 52 connected to the rotating shaft of the first drive sprocket 10M1. As a result, the clutch 53F moves horizontally a predetermined distance, and the worm gear 51 is disconnected from the drive shaft 6. Furthermore, the drive sprocket 10M connected to the drive gear 52 meshing with the worm gear 51 is disconnected from the drive shaft 6.

[0051] After disconnecting the worm gear 51 from the drive shaft 6, the control device drives the rotary motor 4 again to rotate the drive shaft 6. The rotary motor 4 is controlled so that all other drive sprockets 10M except for the stopped No. 1 drive sprocket 10M1, i.e., the No. 2 drive sprocket 10M2 to the No. 14 drive sprocket 10M14, rotate at a predetermined rotation speed. As a result, the No. 1 upper stage freewheel 20A1, which is located between the stopped No. 1 drive sprocket 10M1 and the adjacent No. 2 drive sprocket 10M2, moves linearly in the vertical direction by a predetermined distance equivalent to the maximum stroke L.

[0052] 2(A), if the diameter of the drive sprocket 10M is d, the radius of the upper stage freewheel 20A is r, and the distance from the drive sprocket 10M to the upper stage freewheel 20A is α, then the effective length is the sum of 26×α, 7×dπ, and 13×rπ. The distance traveled by the upper stage freewheel 20A as the drive sprocket 10M rotates once is dπ, so the number of rotations n of the drive sprocket 10M required for the upper stage freewheel 20A to move linearly in the vertical direction at the maximum stroke L is L / dπ. The number of drive sprockets 10M in the series, the diameter d of the drive sprocket 10M, the radius r of the upper stage freewheel 20A, and the maximum stroke L can be any number within the range permitted by the design.

[0053] In the food conveying device 1 of the embodiment, the minimum unit for adjusting the displacement of the freewheel 20 to change the effective length can be the rotation speed n of the drive sprocket 10M or the rotation speed xn of the worm gear 51. The rotation speed xn of the worm gear 51 can be converted from the rotation speed n of the drive sprocket. The effective length is changed by controlling the rotation speed n or the rotation speed xn.

[0054] The shortening of the effective length will be described with reference to Fig. 2(A). With the first driving sprocket 10M1 disconnected from the rotary motor 4, one or more worm gears 51 that are not disconnected from the drive shaft 6 are rotated xn, whereby the first upper stage freewheel 20A1 rises by the maximum stroke L. As a result, the effective length is shortened by 2L.

[0055] Thereafter, from the second driving sprocket 10M2 to the fourteenth driving sprocket 10M14, each driving sprocket 10M is disconnected from the drive shaft 6, and the other worm gears 51 to which power is active are rotated a predetermined number of revolutions xn. The second upper stage freewheel 20A2 to the thirteenth upper stage freewheel 20A13 rise by the maximum stroke L. In this way, each time the worm gears 51 that are not disconnected from the drive shaft 6 are rotated xn revolutions, the effective length can be shortened in stages by 2L.

[0056] When the travel distance of the endless chain 30 in the processing zone ZN is shortened to the desired effective length, the control device stops the rotary motor 4. The control device drives the cylinder devices 53C corresponding to all the driving sprockets 10M that are disconnected from the drive shaft 6 to horizontally move the respective clutches 53F. As a result, the clutches 53F come into contact with the worm gears 51, and the worm gears 51 are connected to the drive shaft 6 via the clutches 53F and the keys 62.

[0057] With reference to Fig. 2(B), shortening of the effective length will be described. When the effective length of the food conveying device 1 shown in Fig. 2(B) is lengthened to the effective length in Fig. 2(A), the fourteenth driving sprocket 10M14 to the first driving sprocket 10M1 are sequentially disconnected from the output shaft of the rotary motor 4 or the drive shaft 6. The upper freewheels 20A are lowered up to the maximum stroke L. At this time, the position of the claws 51F is the same as when shortening the effective length.

[0058] Therefore, in the food conveying device 1 of the embodiment, the control device operates the rotary motor and the drive transmission device to change the travel distance to a desired value within the range from the maximum effective length shown in Fig. 2(A) to the minimum effective length shown in Fig. 2(B). In a food conveying device in which an endless chain travels up and down, the cooking time of food can be mechanically changed according to the type of food without changing the overall length and travel speed of the endless chain, as in a food conveying device in which the endless chain travels horizontally.

[0059] The food conveying device 1 shown in Fig. 7 is applied to a steam steaming cooling device, and is basically the same as the food conveying device 1 shown in Fig. 1. In the food conveying device 1 in Fig. 7, a series of driven sprockets 10T is not provided on the return path of the endless chain 30. Also, a series of lower stage free wheels 20B is not provided, and only a series of free wheels 20C is provided. In Fig. 7, the processing zone ZN is a steaming zone, and the food conveying device 1 can mechanically change the steaming time of food according to the type of food.

[0060] The food conveying apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 8 is applied to a continuous steam sterilizer, and is basically the same as the food conveying apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1. The food conveying apparatus 1 in Fig. 8 does not have a series of driven sprockets 10T and a series of lower stage free wheels 20B, but only a series of free wheels 20C. In Fig. 8, the processing zone ZN is a sterilization zone, and the food conveying apparatus 1 can mechanically change the sterilization time of food according to the type of food.

[0061] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The embodiment may be modified, the components may be replaced, or the food conveying device of the present invention may be combined with various known food machine devices without departing from the technical concept of the present invention. For example, in the food conveying device of the embodiment, a timing belt or timing chain is provided between the output shaft of the rotary motor and the drive shaft, but the drive shaft may be directly connected to the output shaft of the rotary motor and provided coaxially. In the food conveying device of the embodiment, the driving source for operating the clutch 53F is a cylinder device, but a linear motor may be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 Food conveying equipment 2. Transition Device 3 Tray 4 Rotation Motor 5. Drive transmission device 6 Drive shaft 7 Ankle guide 8 Guide rail 10 Sprockets 10M Drive Sprocket 10T driven sprocket 10G guide sprocket 20 Freewheel 20A Upper Freewheel 20B Lower Freewheel 30 Endless Chain 51 Worm Gear 51F Claw 52 Drive gear 53 Gear shifting device 53B Bearing case 53C Cylinder device (clutch drive device)

Claims

1. 1. A food conveying apparatus for conveying food through a processing zone in which the food is processed, comprising: A series of horizontally aligned drive sprockets; a free wheel disposed between adjacent driving sprockets among the series of driving sprockets and capable of reciprocating up and down a predetermined distance; an endless chain that is entrained around the series of drive sprockets and the freewheels and runs up and down in the treatment zone; A rotary motor for driving the endless chain; a drive shaft that is horizontally disposed and rotated by the rotary motor; a worm gear through which the drive shaft passes without contact and which is connected to one of the adjacent drive sprockets; a clutch coupled to the drive shaft so as to be axially movable in engagement with and disengagement from the worm gear; a clutch drive mechanism configured to horizontally reciprocate the clutch to transmit or interrupt rotation of the drive shaft to the one of the drive sprockets.

2. 2. The food conveying apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a number of trays for said food items removably attached to said endless chain.

3. 2. The food conveying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment zone is a heating chamber supplied with pressurized steam.

4. The food conveying apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a stopper that defines the predetermined distance.

5. The food conveying apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the freewheel has a rotation shaft, and further comprises a pair of parallel guide rails that sandwich the rotation shaft and have the stopper at their upper ends.

6. The food conveying apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clutch drive mechanism includes a cylinder device that reciprocates the clutch along the drive shaft.

7. The food conveying device of claim 6, further comprising a bearing attached to the clutch and a bearing case that houses the bearing, the cylinder device having a housing and a piston rod that can reciprocate horizontally within the housing, the piston rod being connected to the bearing case.

8. 2. The food conveying device of claim 1, wherein when the clutch drive device brings the clutch into contact with the worm gear, rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the worm gear through the clutch, and when the clutch drive device moves the clutch away from the worm gear, the worm gear is disengaged from the drive shaft.

9. 2. The food conveying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a key secured to and extending parallel to the drive shaft, the clutch being configured to engage with and slide over the key.

10. The food conveying apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a drive gear connected to said one of the drive sprockets and meshing with said worm gear.

11. The food conveying apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller that controls the clutch drive and controls the rotary motor.

12. 1. A food conveying apparatus for conveying food through a processing zone in which the food is processed, comprising: A series of horizontally aligned drive sprockets; A series of upper stage freewheels are arranged horizontally lower than the series of driving sprockets, and each of the upper stage freewheels is provided between adjacent driving sprockets and can reciprocate up and down by a predetermined distance; a series of driven sprockets aligned horizontally lower than the series of upper stage freewheels; a series of lower stage freewheels arranged horizontally higher than said series of driven sprockets and each of which is provided between adjacent ones of said series of driven sprockets; an endless chain that is looped around the series of drive sprockets and the series of upper stage freewheels to run up and down within the processing zone, and that is looped around the series of driven sprockets and the series of lower stage freewheels to run up and down outside the processing zone; A rotary motor for driving the endless chain; a drive shaft that is horizontally disposed and rotated by the rotary motor; a plurality of drive transmission devices for transmitting or interrupting the rotation of the drive shaft to each of the series of drive sprockets; a control device that independently controls the rotary motor and the plurality of drive transmission devices; The upper freewheels of the series are coupled to respective lower freewheels of the series.

13. The food conveying device of claim 12, wherein each of the multiple drive transmission devices includes a worm gear through which the drive shaft passes without contact and connected to one of the adjacent drive sprockets, a clutch axially movably coupled to the drive shaft and configured to engage and disengage with the worm gear, and a clutch drive device configured to horizontally reciprocate the clutch to transmit or interrupt rotation of the drive shaft to the one of the drive sprockets.

14. 14. The food conveying apparatus of claim 13, wherein the clutch actuation mechanism includes a cylinder mechanism that reciprocates the clutch along the drive shaft.

15. The food conveying apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a bearing attached to the clutch and a bearing case that accommodates the bearing, the cylinder device having a housing and a piston rod that can reciprocate horizontally within the housing, the piston rod being connected to the bearing case.

16. 16. The food conveying device of claim 15, wherein when the clutch drive device brings the clutch into contact with the worm gear, rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted through the clutch to the worm gear, and when the clutch drive device moves the clutch away from the worm gear, the worm gear is disengaged from the drive shaft.

17. 16. The food conveying apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a key secured to and extending parallel to the drive shaft, the clutch being configured to engage and slide over the key.

18. 13. The food conveying apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a number of trays for the food items removably attached to the endless chain.

19. 13. The food conveying apparatus of claim 12, wherein the treatment zone is a heating chamber supplied with pressurized steam.

20. The food conveying apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a stopper defining the predetermined distance.

21. The food conveying apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the upper and lower free wheels each have a rotation shaft, and further comprises a pair of parallel guide rails that sandwich the rotation shaft and have the stoppers at their upper and lower ends.

22. 14. The food conveying apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a drive gear connected to said one drive sprocket and meshing with said worm gear.

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