Rice ball tongs and rice ball seaweed wrapping tool

Abstract

To place a rice ball on a tool for wrapping laver around the rice ball without touching the rice ball made by a rice ball-making device.SOLUTION: A rice ball G1 made by a rice ball making device is gripped with a pair of rice ball tongs 1, and placed on a placing part 21 of a right side plate 17 of a tool 14 for wrapping laver around the rice ball where a rectangular laver N is placed, with an opening of an upper part 4 directed downward. The pair of rice ball tongs 1 is separated from the right side plate 17, leaving the rice ball G1, In the tool 14 for wrapping laver around the rice ball, a left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are made to stand up, and then plate parts 28a, 28b of a laver-folding member 26 are inserted into both slits 23a, 23b. Thereby, a state of the rectangular laver N being folded toward the rice ball G1 side is made. Subsequently, the tool 14 for wrapping laver around the rice ball is removed from the rice ball G1, and the completed rice ball G1 wrapped with the rectangular laver N can be handed to a customer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to onigiri tongs for setting onigiri produced by an onigiri production device into a onigiri-wrapping device, or to onigiri tongs for shaping rice into an onigiri shape, and to an onigiri-wrapping device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various onigiri molds have been proposed. For example, the device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is composed of a rice ball forming frame and a handle, and is used as a rice ball forming frame by stuffing rice into the rice ball forming frame to give it the shape of a frame.

[0003] In addition, the method described in Patent Document 2 involves placing a mold with two openings on top of a rectangular piece of nori seaweed, filling the two openings with rice, and finally removing the mold and folding the nori seaweed in half to form a rice ball with the nori seaweed on the outside. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-287475 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2013-42710 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, the rice ball forming frame of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not have a function for gripping the completed rice ball.

[0006] Furthermore, according to the molding die of Patent Document 2, the rice ball must be folded in half at the end using seaweed, and there is a possibility that the rice ball may shift during the final process, resulting in failure.

[0007] The present invention provides tongs for rice balls that can hold (or grab) completed rice balls or that can also function as a rice ball mold in itself, and a rice ball seaweed wrapping tool. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides First, it is configured as rice ball tongs which have a concave, partially open rice mold with a closed bottom at the tip, an open top, and a side opening on the side, and has a first handle from one end of the partially open rice mold, a second handle pivoted on the other end of the first handle, and a side wall is formed at the tip of the second handle that closes the side opening, and by overlapping the second handle on to the first handle, the side opening can be closed with the side wall to form a rice mold.

[0009] The partially open rice mold can be, for example, a partially open rice ball mold (6'). The rice mold can be, for example, a rice ball mold (6). With this configuration, the rice ball produced by the rice ball production device can be sandwiched between the rice mold at the tip of the rice ball tongs and placed on, for example, the rice ball seaweed wrapping tool (14). The rice ball produced by the rice ball production device can be placed on the rice ball seaweed wrapping tool (14) without touching the rice ball, which is hygienic. Also, when filling the rice mold of the rice ball tongs with cooked rice to form the rice ball, the rice filled in the rice mold can be placed on, for example, the rice ball seaweed wrapping tool (14) without touching the rice ball, which is hygienic.

[0010] Secondly, the rice ball tongs according to the above-mentioned first aspect are configured such that a protruding portion for inserting ingredients is formed on a part of the partially open rice mold.

[0011] The above-mentioned part refers to, for example, the part of the inner curved apex (6a') in the partially open rice mold. With this configuration, the convex part can form a concave part (K) for putting ingredients in the rice ball produced by the rice ball production device, and finally, ingredients can be topped in the concave part (K) of the rice ball with the concave part (K) formed.

[0012] Thirdly, the side edge of the left side plate facing the center plate and the side edge of the right side plate facing the center plate are each pivotally supported on both side edges of the center plate, the upper surface of the right side plate is provided with a rice ball placement portion and two right corner portions of a square piece of seaweed, the upper surface of the left side plate is provided with a flared "V" shaped slit that extends from the side edge opposite the center plate toward the center plate and two left corner portions of the square piece of seaweed are provided, and a pair of "V" shaped plate portions are inserted into the "V" shaped slit. The onigiri nori rolling device is provided with a seaweed folding member, and with the central plate, right side plate, and left side plate open, the square seaweed is placed in the four corner portions, and with a rice ball placed on the placement portion on the square seaweed of the right side plate, the left side plate and right side plate are raised 90 degrees relative to the central plate, and the pair of plate portions of the seaweed folding member are inserted into the two slits, so that the square seaweed is folded onto both side portions on the rice ball side.

[0013] The two side surfaces on the rice ball side can be inclined portions (Ra, Rb) if the rice ball is triangular. With this configuration, a square piece of nori is placed in the four corners of the rice ball nori rolling tool, the rice ball is placed on the upper placement portion of the right side plate, and the left and right plates are raised 90 degrees from the center plate. With the square piece of nori attached to the left and right sides of the rice ball, the pair of plate portions of the nori folding member are inserted into the two slits, and the square piece of nori is folded onto the two side surfaces on the rice ball side. In this way, the rice ball nori rolling tool can wrap the square piece of nori around the rice ball without using hands, and the nori folding member can fold the corners of the square piece of nori towards the two side surfaces on one side of the rice ball without using hands, which is hygienic. Thereafter, the onigiri nori wrapping tool can be removed from the onigiri to form an onigiri wrapped in a square piece of nori, which the operator can then hand over to the customer.

[0014] Fourthly, the four corner portions are configured to protrude from the upper surfaces of the left side plate and the right side plate by the onigiri nori wrapping device described in the third aspect.

[0015] With this configuration, the square seaweed can be easily set inside the corner.

[0016] Fifthly, the onigiri nori wrapping tool according to the third or fourth aspect is configured such that the central plate has a recess for positioning the onigiri.

[0017] With this configuration, when the left and right panels are raised at 90 degrees to the central panel, the rice ball is positioned in the positioning recess in the central panel, making it easy to position the rice ball.

[0018] Sixthly, the onigiri-wrapping device is configured as any one of the third to fifth aspects, in which an indicator for positioning the onigiri is formed on the upper placement portion on the right side.

[0019] The display may be literally displayed on the right side panel, or may be configured as a shallow recess. In this manner, the position of the rice ball can be easily recognized, so that the operator can easily place the rice ball.

[0020] Seventh, the onigiri tongs described in any of items 3 to 6 above are configured to grasp an onigiri produced in an onigiri production apparatus with the rice mold of the onigiri tongs described in item 1 or 2 above, place the onigiri with the upper opening facing down on the upper storage section of the right side plate on which the square seaweed of the onigiri tongs is placed, and leave the onigiri on the storage section and move the onigiri tongs away from the right side plate.

[0021] With this configuration, the rice balls produced by the rice ball production device can be pinched with the rice ball tongs and placed on the rice ball seaweed rolling tool without using hands, and the square seaweed can be rolled by the rice ball seaweed rolling tool, which is hygienic.

[0022] Eighth, the onigiri tongs described in any of items 3 to 6 above are configured to fill the rice mold of the onigiri tongs described in item 1 or 2 above with cooked rice to form an onigiri, and then use the onigiri tongs to place the onigiri with the upper opening facing down on the upper placement section of the right side plate on which the square seaweed is placed of the onigiri tongs, and then leave the onigiri on the placement section and move the onigiri tongs away from the right side plate.

[0023] With this configuration, the rice ball formed by the rice mold of the rice ball tongs can be placed on the rice ball seaweed rolling tool using the rice ball tongs without using hands, and the square seaweed can be rolled by the rice ball seaweed rolling tool, which is hygienic. Effect of the Invention

[0024] As described above, the present invention allows rice balls produced by the rice ball making apparatus to be sandwiched between the rice molds at the ends of the rice ball tongs and placed, for example, on a rice ball seaweed rolling tool.The rice balls produced by the rice ball making apparatus can be placed on the rice ball seaweed rolling tool without touching them with one's hands, which is hygienic.

[0025] Also, when filling the rice mold of the rice ball tongs with cooked rice and forming it into a rice ball shape, the rice filled in the rice mold can be placed on, for example, the rice ball seaweed wrapping tool without touching the rice ball, which is hygienic.

[0026] In addition, the convex portions can be used to form recesses for ingredients in the rice balls produced by the rice ball production apparatus, and ultimately ingredients can be topped in the recesses of the rice balls with the recesses formed.

[0027] Also, when a square piece of nori is placed in the four corners of the onigiri nori rolling tool, the rice ball is placed on the placement section of the right side panel, and the left and right panels are raised 90 degrees relative to the center panel, so that the square piece of nori is attached to the left and right sides of the rice ball, and the pair of panels of the nori folding member are inserted into the two slits, the square piece of nori is folded onto both side surfaces of the rice ball. In this way, the onigiri nori rolling tool can wrap the square piece of nori around the rice ball without using hands, and the nori folding members can fold the corners of the square piece of nori onto both side surfaces of the rice ball without using hands, which is hygienic. After that, the onigiri nori rolling tool can be removed from the rice ball to form a rice ball wrapped in square nori, and the operator can then hand the rice ball to the customer.

[0028] Also, the square seaweed can be easily set inside the corner.

[0029] Furthermore, when the left and right panels are raised at 90 degrees to the center panel, the rice ball is positioned in the positioning recess in the center panel, making it easy to position the rice ball.

[0030] Furthermore, since the display unit allows the operator to easily recognize the position of the rice ball, the operator can place the rice ball easily.

[0031] In addition, the rice balls produced by the rice ball production device can be placed on the rice ball seaweed rolling tool using rice ball tongs without using hands, and the square seaweed can be rolled by the rice ball seaweed rolling tool, which is hygienic.

[0032] In addition, the rice balls formed by the rice mold of the rice ball tongs can be placed on the rice ball seaweed rolling tool using the rice ball tongs without using hands, and the square seaweed can be rolled by the rice ball seaweed rolling tool, which is hygienic. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 2A is a plan view of the rice ball tongs in an open state, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the rice ball tongs. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2A is a plan view of the rice ball tongs with protrusions in an open state, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the rice ball tongs with protrusions. [Diagram 3] 1A is a perspective view of the onigiri nori-maki device, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the onigiri nori-maki device. [Figure 4] 1A is a plan view of a seaweed folding member of an onigiri seaweed wrapping device, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the same seaweed folding member. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1A is a plan view of a square piece of nori placed on the onigiri seaweed rolling tool, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of a rice ball being placed on the onigiri seaweed rolling tool using onigiri tongs. [Figure 6] FIG. 1A is a plan view of the onigiri seaweed rolling tool with an onigiri placed on it, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the onigiri seaweed rolling tool when closed. [Figure 7] 1A is a side view of the rice ball nori wrapping device in a closed state with a nori folding member attached, and FIG. 1B is a conceptual diagram showing the positional relationship of the nori folding member to the rice ball. [Figure 8]1A is an oblique view of a rice ball with seaweed wrapped around it using a rice ball seaweed rolling tool, and FIG. 1B is an oblique view of a rice ball with seaweed wrapped around it using a rice ball tongs with a protrusion. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Hereinafter, the rice ball tongs and the rice ball seaweed wrapping tool according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0035] (About onigiri tongs 1) First, we will explain the rice ball tongs 1. In Fig. 1(a), the direction from the front to the back of the paper is called the "up-down direction" or "vertical direction", the front side is called the "upper", the back side is called the "lower", the left side of the paper is called the "left", and the right side of the paper is called the "right".

[0036] The tip 2 has a bottom surface 3 closed, an upper portion 4 open, and a concave partially open rice ball mold (partially open rice mold) 6' with a side opening 5 on the side, and a linear first handle 8 extending from one end 7 of the partially open rice ball mold (partially open rice mold) 6'. The vertical walls (vertical walls) of the partially open rice ball mold (partially open rice mold) 6' are referred to as wall surfaces 6b.

[0037] The partially open rice ball mold 6' is a so-called triangular "rice ball mold" in a plan view (see Figure 1(a)), with a curved vertex 6a on the left side as you face the drawing, and curved wall surfaces 6b, 6b with a large radius of curvature that form two sides of the triangle are formed around the curved vertex 6a, and one side of the side opening 5 facing the curved vertex 6a is open.

[0038] The other end of the first handle 8 has a straight second handle 10 rotatably supported on a pivot 9, and a tip 13 of the second handle 10 has an up-down (vertical) side wall 11 formed thereon which closes the side opening 5. By overlapping the second handle 10 on the first handle 8, the side opening 5 is closed by the side wall 11 to form the triangular rice ball mold (rice mold) 6 (see dashed line in Figure 1(a)).

[0039] That is, by overlapping the second handle 10 on the first handle 8, the second handle 10 has a U-shaped cross section (opening toward the first handle 8) and its vertical height is higher than that of the first handle 8. Therefore, when the second handle 10 is overlapped on the first handle 8, the U-shaped portion of the second handle 10 covers the top and bottom of the first handle 8, and in this state, the side wall 11 closes the side opening 5 (see the dotted line in Figure 1(a)).

[0040] In this closed state, the inside of the side wall 11 has curved walls 11a, 11a on both sides in the up-down (vertical) direction, and a curved wall surface 11b with a large radius of curvature is formed between the curved walls 11a, 11a, and together with the inner curved apex 6a' of the apex portion 6a, an overall triangular concave rice ball shape (rice shape) 6 is formed.

[0041] The concave rice ball mold (rice mold) 6 is not limited to the triangular rice ball mold shown in FIG. 1, but may be a concave cylindrical rice mold or a concave bale-shaped rice mold.

[0042] This onigiri tongs 1 is a tongs for making rice balls, which is made by a rice ball making device (for example, a triangular onigiri G1 (without seaweed N) as shown in FIG. 8(a)) by opening the first handle 8 and the second handle 10 of the tongs for making rice balls 1, inserting the onigiri G1 (without seaweed N) into the partially open onigiri mold 6' at the tip 2 in such a way that the top 30 of the onigiri G1 is positioned at the inner curved apex 6a', and then aligning the second handle 10 with the first handle 8. The side opening 5 is closed with the side wall 11 (see the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1(a)) to form an onigiri mold (rice mold) 6, and the onigiri G1 is then sandwiched between the onigiri tongs 1 and placed on the placement section 21 of the right side plate 17 of the onigiri seaweed rolling tool 14 described below with the opening of the top 4 facing down (see Fig. 5(b)), and then the second handle 10 is opened to separate the onigiri tongs 1 from the onigiri G1, allowing the onigiri G1 to be placed on the right side plate 17 (see Fig. 6(a)). In this way, the onigiri G1 produced by the onigiri production apparatus can be placed on the onigiri seaweed rolling tool 14 without touching the onigiri G1 with hands.

[0043] Alternatively, the first handle 8 and the second handle 10 are overlapped, and the partially open rice ball mold 6' and the side wall 11 form a rice ball mold (rice mold) 6, and cooked rice is packed into the rice ball mold (rice mold) 6 to form the rice into an onigiri shape, which is then placed on the placement section 21 of the right side plate 17 of the onigiri seaweed rolling tool 14 described below with the opening of the top 4 facing down, and then the second handle 10 is opened to place the onigiri G1 on the right side plate 17 (see Figs. 5(b) and 6(a)). In this way, the onigiri G1 can be placed on the onigiri seaweed rolling tool 14 without touching it with one's hands.

[0044] Next, another rice ball tongs 1' will be described (see Figs. 2(a) and 2(b)). In the rice ball tongs 1' shown in Fig. 2, the same parts as those in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0045] The difference from the rice ball tongs 1 in FIG. 1 is that a roughly triangular protrusion 12 that protrudes inward is formed at the inner apex 6a'. This protrusion 12 has a vertically linear apex 12a at its tip in a plan view, linear (vertical) side faces 12b, 12b formed up to the apex 12a, and the height to the horizontal upper surface 12c is T1 upward from the bottom surface 3 (see FIG. 2(b)), which is slightly lower than the height T2 of the wall surface 6b of the rice ball mold 6 (T1 <T2)。

[0046] This onigiri tongs 1' is made by opening the first handle 8 and the second handle 10 of the onigiri tongs 1' and inserting an onigiri (for example, a triangular onigiri G1 (without seaweed N) shown in FIG. 8(a)) made by an onigiri making device into the partially open onigiri mold 6' at the tip 2 so that the shape of the onigiri G1 matches the shape (so that the top 30 of the onigiri G1 is located at the inner curved apex 6a'), and then fitting the second handle 10 to the first handle 8 to close the side opening 5 with the side wall 11. Then, the protruding portion 12 is recessed, and an onigiri G2 (without seaweed N) with a recess K for inserting ingredients is formed (see FIG. 8(b)).

[0047] Then, the rice ball G2 is grasped (clamped) with the rice ball tongs 1' and placed on the placement section 21 of the right side plate 17 of the rice ball seaweed wrapping device 14 described below with the opening of the top 4 facing down, and then the second handle 10 is opened, so that the rice ball G2 can be placed on the right side plate 17 (see Figs. 5(b) and 6(c)). In this way, the rice ball G2 produced by the rice ball production device can be placed on the rice ball seaweed wrapping device 14 without touching the rice ball G2 with one's hands.

[0048] Alternatively, the first handle 8 and the second handle 10 are overlapped, and the partially open rice ball mold 6' and the side wall 11 form the rice ball mold 6, and cooked rice is packed into the rice ball mold 6 to mold the rice into the rice ball shape. At this time, the protruding portion 12 is depressed, and a rice ball G2 (without seaweed N) with a recess K is formed (see FIG. 8(b)). Then, the rice ball G2 is grasped (or pinched) by the rice ball tongs 1' and placed on the placement portion 21 of the right side plate 17 of the rice ball seaweed wrapping tool 14 described later with the opening of the upper portion 4 facing down, and then the second handle 10 is opened to separate the rice ball tongs 1' from the rice ball G2, and the rice ball G2 can be placed on the right side plate 17 (see FIG. 5(b) and FIG. 6(c)). In this way, the rice ball G2 can be placed on the rice ball nori wrapping tool 14 without touching the rice ball G2 with one's hands.

[0049] When the square seaweed N is finally wrapped around the rice ball G2, a recess K will be formed at the top of the rice ball G2 as shown in Figure 8(b), so that ingredients can ultimately be topped into the recess K.

[0050] (About onigiri nori roll filling 14) Next, the onigiri nori wrapping device 14 will be described with reference to Figures 3(a) and 3(b). In Figure 3(b), when the onigiri nori wrapping device 14 is open and facing the paper, the short side is called the "vertical direction" and the long side is called the "horizontal direction", and the left side facing the paper of Figure 3(b) is called the "left" and the right side is called the "right".

[0051] The onigiri nori wrapping device 14 comprises a thin, rectangular central plate 15, and side edges 16a, 16a (long side of the left side plate 16) of a thin, rectangular left side plate 16 on the central plate 15 side, and side edges 17a, 17a (long side of the right side plate 17) of a thin, rectangular right side plate 17 on the central plate 15 side are supported by pivots 18, 18 on both side edges of the long side of the central plate 15. The left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are the same size.

[0052] In addition, a rectangular rotation limiting plate 20 that is slightly larger than the central plate 15 is adhered to the bottom side of the central plate 15, and the vertical edges on both sides of the rotation limiting plate 20 are each extended outward from the rotation axis 18, so that the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are configured to rotate only in the direction of arrows A and B and not to rotate in the opposite direction to the direction of arrows A and B.

[0053] Furthermore, reference numeral 19 denotes a stand for placing the onigiri nori seaweed wrapping device 14 horizontally, and upright walls 19b, 19b are provided on a pair of short sides of a rectangular bottom plate 19a, and the onigiri nori wrapping device 14 is placed in an open, i.e., parallel, state on the upright walls 19b, 19b.

[0054] A shallow concave rice ball placement area 21 is formed in the center of the upper surface of the right side plate 17, and two right-angled (L-shaped) corners 22a, 22b are provided on the right side of the square seaweed N. These corners 22a, 22b are provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the right side plate 17 at a height T3 (see FIG. 3(a)). The rice ball placement area 21 is formed so that the curved apex 6a of the rice ball G1 is on the right side. The placement area 21 does not have to be concave, and may instead have an indicator 21' provided as a guide when placing the rice ball.

[0055] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the corner portions 22a, 22b are configured so that when the square nori seaweed N is placed on it, the curved apex 6a of the rice ball protrudes from the right edge portion of the square nori seaweed N (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 3(b)).

[0056] The upper surface of the left side plate 16 is provided with flared slits 23a, 23b (penetrating the left side plate 16) from the side edge (short side) opposite to the central plate 15 toward the central plate 15, and also with two right-angled (L-shaped) corners 22c, 22d on the left side of the square seaweed N. These corners 22c, 22d are provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the right side plate 16 at a height T3 (see FIG. 3(a)).

[0057] As shown in Fig. 3(b), the corners 22c and 22d are configured so that when a square piece of nori seaweed N is placed on the rice ball, the curved apex 6a of the rice ball protrudes from the left edge (shown by a two-dot chain line in Fig. 3(b)) of the square piece of nori seaweed N. In other words, the left ends of the slits 23a and 23b are located further left than the left edge of the square piece of nori seaweed N.

[0058] A recess 24 for positioning the rice ball G1 is formed in the central plate 15. This recess 24 is shallow with a vertically curved bottom surface 24a, and as shown in Fig. 6(b), when the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are at right angles to the central plate 15, the bottom side of the rice ball G1 is positioned in the recess 24 to stabilize the rice ball G1 or G2.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 7(b), the V-shaped slits 23a and 23b are provided parallel to the inclined portions Ra and Rb on both sides of the triangular rice ball G1 or G2. This is to fold the square seaweed N along the inclined portions Ra and Rb of the rice ball G1.

[0060] Furthermore, protrusions 25, 25 for positioning a seaweed wrapping member 26, which will be described later, are formed on the rear surface of the left side plate 16 so as to protrude downward (see Figs. 3(a) and 3(b)).

[0061] (About Norimaki Part 26) 4(a) and 4(b), the nori-maki member 26 has V-shaped plate parts 28a and 28b that can be inserted into the V-shaped slits 23a and 23b adhered to the upper surface of a rectangular thin plate-like substrate 27 in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 27, and one end and the other end of the plate parts 28a and 28b slightly protrude from both long sides of the substrate 27. The contact areas of the plate parts 28a and 28b with the substrate 27 are adhered to the substrate 27.

[0062] The plate portions 28a, 28b have a length slightly shorter than the overall length of the slits 23a, 23b, and form a V-shape at the same angle as the slits 23a, 23b. The height of the plate portions 28a, 28b (height T4 in FIG. 4(b)) is configured to be lower (shorter) than the distance T5 between the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 when the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are at a right angle to the center plate 15 (see FIG. 7(a)).

[0063] In addition, two circular openings 29, 29 are provided on both sides of the base plate 27, and these openings 29, 29 are configured so that the protrusions 25, 25 can be inserted into them, thereby allowing the seaweed rolling member 26 to be positioned on the back surface of the left side plate 16.

[0064] In this way, a seaweed folding member 26 is provided having a pair of "V"-shaped plate portions 28a, 28b which are inserted into the "V"-shaped slits 23a, 23b, and when the central plate 15, the right side plate 17 and the left side plate 16 are opened, the square seaweed N is placed in the four corner portions 22a to 22d, and rice balls G1 or G2 are placed on the placement portion 21 on the square seaweed N of the right side plate 17, the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are raised 90 degrees relative to the central plate 15, and the pair of plate portions 28a, 28b of the seaweed folding member 26 are inserted into both slits 23a, 23b, so that the square seaweed N is folded towards the rice ball G1.

[0065] The present invention is configured as described above, so a method for making onigiri using the onigiri tongs 1 or 1' and the onigiri seaweed wrapping tool 14 will be described below.

[0066] First, a case will be described in which triangular rice balls G1 are made by the rice ball making device using the rice ball tongs 1. The rice ball making device makes rice balls G1 with ingredients inside, and the rice balls G1 are made one by one at the unloading position of the rice ball making device.

[0067] In addition, the operator (e.g., a convenience store clerk) opens the onigiri nori rolling device 14 parallel to the surface and places it horizontally on, for example, the stand 19 (see Figure 3(a)), and places square nori N (rectangular nori) within the corners 22a to 22d (see the dashed line in Figure 5(a)).

[0068] The operator opens the rice ball tongs 1 and fits the rice ball G1 in the unloading position into the partially open rice ball mold 6' at the tip of the rice ball tongs 1, aligning the curved apex 6a of the partially open rice ball mold 6' with the top 30 of the rice ball G1 (see Figure 8 (a)) of the partially open rice ball mold 6', and then overlaps the second handle 10 with the first handle 8 side to close the side opening 5 with the side wall 11 at the tip to form the rice ball mold 6, and sandwiches the rice ball G1 between the rice ball tongs 1.

[0069] Then, the operator grasps the first handle 8 and the second handle 10 and places the onigiri tongs 1 on the onigiri placement section 21 of the right side panel 17 of the onigiri seaweed rolling device 14 (a square piece of seaweed N is placed on the placement section 21) so that the curved apex 6a of the onigiri mold 6 is on the right side, and so that the opening on the upper part 4 side is above the placement section 21 or display section 21' of the square piece of seaweed N, in accordance with the shape of the placement section 21 or display section 21' (see Figure 5(b)).

[0070] Thereafter, the operator opens the first handle 8 and the second handle 10, opens the partially open rice ball mold 6' and the side wall 11, and removes the rice ball tongs 1 from the rice ball G1 (i.e., separates the rice ball tongs 1 from the rice ball seaweed wrapping device 14 (right side plate 17)). As a result, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the rice ball G1 is placed on the placement portion 21 on the right side plate 17 on the square seaweed N. In this way, by using the rice ball tongs 1, the rice ball G1 can be placed in a predetermined position on the rice ball seaweed wrapping device 14 without touching the rice ball G1 produced by the rice ball production device.

[0071] Then, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are rotated in the directions of arrows A and B around the rotation axes 18, 18, with the central plate 15 at the center, and the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are raised to a position where they are perpendicular (90 degrees) to the central plate 15.

[0072] Then, the rice ball G1 on the right side plate 17 moves onto the recess 24 of the central plate 15, and the square seaweed N becomes U-shaped and sticks to the left and right sides of the rice ball G1 (see FIG. 6(b)).

[0073] Thereafter, the operator inserts the plate portions 28a, 28b of the nori wrapping member 26 into the slits 23a, 23b from the rear side of the left side plate 16 (see FIG. 7(a)). At this time, the protrusions 25, 25 on the rear side of the left side plate 16 are inserted into the openings 29, 29 of the base plate 27 of the nori wrapping member 26, so that the nori wrapping member 26 can be positioned.

[0074] The pair of plate portions 28a, 28b of the seaweed wrapping member 26 are inserted into the slits 23a, 23b, thereby allowing the inner rectangular seaweed N to be bent toward the inclined portions Ra, Rb on the rice ball G1 side (see Figures 7(a) and (b)).

[0075] Then, by tilting the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 of the onigiri nori rolling device 14 so that they are parallel to the central plate 15, onigiri G1 can be formed in a state in which the corner portions of the square nori N on the left side of the onigiri G1 are bent into the inclined portions Ra, Rb of the onigiri G1, as shown in Figure 8(a).

[0076] In this state, the operator may hand it over to the customer, or may fold the square seaweed N on the right side of the rice ball G1 towards the inclined portions Ra, Rb of the rice ball G1 and hand it over.

[0077] In any case, the rice ball G1 produced by the rice ball manufacturing device can be wrapped in square seaweed N with almost no touching by hands, and furthermore, the rice ball G1 is not touched at all by hands until the corner part (one side = left side) of the square seaweed N is bent over one of the inclined surfaces Ra, Rb of the rice ball G1, so that it is hygienic.

[0078] Next, a description will be given of a case where an onigiri G1 is made using the onigiri tongs 1. The onigiri tongs 1 is in a state where the first handle 8 and the second handle 10 are overlapped and the side opening 5 is closed with the side wall 11 to form the onigiri mold 6 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1(a)).

[0079] In this state, cooked rice is stuffed into the rice ball mold 6 of the rice ball tongs 1 to form a rice ball shape. As a result, the rice ball G1 (without seaweed N) of FIG. 8(a) is formed in the rice ball mold 6.

[0080] Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 5(b), the onigiri tongs 1 are placed on the placement section 21 on the square seaweed N on the right side plate 17 of the onigiri seaweed wrapping device 14, the onigiri tongs 1 are opened and removed (the onigiri tongs 1 are separated from the onigiri G1 (right side plate 17) leaving the onigiri G1), and the onigiri G1 is placed on the placement section 21 (see Fig. 6(a)). Thereafter, the process is the same as that of the onigiri manufacturing device described above.

[0081] Even in this case, except for the task of filling the rice ball mold 6 with cooked rice, the rice ball G1 can be wrapped with the square seaweed N without touching it much, and furthermore, the rice ball G1 is not touched at all until the corner portion (one side = left side) of the square seaweed N is bent over one of the inclined surfaces Ra, Rb of the rice ball G1, so that the rice ball G1 is hygienic.

[0082] Next, a case will be described in which the rice ball tongs 1' (see Figs. 2(a) and 2(b)) are used and a triangular rice ball G2 (see Fig. 8(b)) is produced by the rice ball production device.

[0083] The operator opens the onigiri tongs 1', fits the onigiri G1 in the unloading position (the onigiri G1 does not have the recess K at this point) into the partially open onigiri mold 6' at the tip of the onigiri tongs 1' with the top 30 of the onigiri G1 aligned with the curved apex 6a (the inner curved apex 6a') of the partially open onigiri mold 6', and then overlaps the second handle 10 with the first handle 8 to close the side opening 5 with the side wall 11 at the tip, forming the onigiri mold 6. At this time, the rice ball in the onigiri mold 6 has a recess K formed at the inner curved apex 6a' by the protrusion 12, and becomes onigiri G2 (without the square seaweed N) (see FIG. 8(b)).

[0084] Then, the operator grasps the first handle 8 and the second handle 10 and places them on the rice ball placing section 21 of the right side plate 17 of the rice ball nori rolling device 14 (a square piece of nori N is placed on the placing section 21) so that the curved apex 6a of the rice ball mold 6 is on the right side, and so that the opening on the upper part 4 side is above the placing section 21 of the square piece of nori N, in accordance with the shape of the placing section 21 (see Figure 5 (b)).

[0085] Thereafter, the operator opens the first handle 8 and the second handle 10, opens the partially open rice ball mold 6' and the side wall 11, and removes the rice ball tongs 1' from the rice ball G2. As a result, the rice ball G2 is placed on the right side plate 17 of the square seaweed N, as shown in FIG. 6(a).

[0086] At this time, the rice ball G2 has a slight thickness t on the side of the right side plate 17 (thickness t on the inner side of the rice ball G2 in FIG. 8(b)), and a recess K for the ingredients is formed. Thereafter, as in the above embodiment, the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are raised at 90 degrees to the central plate 15, and then the plate portions 28a, 28b of the seaweed wrapping member 26 are inserted into the slits 23a, 23b, so that the square seaweed N on the left side plate 16 side is finally folded at the inclined portions Ra, Rb, as shown in FIG. 8(b). Therefore, by folding the square seaweed N toward the rice ball G2 and then opening the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17, the rice ball G2 wrapped in the square seaweed N (see FIG. 8(b)) can be manufactured.

[0087] The operator can place ingredients of the customer's choice into the recess K of the rice ball G1 and hand it over to the customer.

[0088] In this way, the rice ball G2 produced by the rice ball manufacturing device can be wrapped in square seaweed N with almost no touching by hands, and furthermore, since the rice ball G2 is not touched at all until the corner portion (one side = left side) of the square seaweed N is bent over one of the inclined surfaces Ra, Rb of the rice ball G2, it is hygienic.

[0089] Next, a case where an onigiri G2 is made using the onigiri tongs 1' will be described. The onigiri tongs 1' are in a state where the first handle 8 and the second handle 10 are overlapped and the side opening 5 is closed with the side wall 11 to form the onigiri mold 6.

[0090] In this state, cooked rice is stuffed into the rice ball mold 6 of the rice ball tongs 1' to form a rice ball shape. As a result, a rice ball G2 (without seaweed N) having a recess K as shown in FIG. 8(b) is formed in the rice ball mold 6.

[0091] Then, the operator closes the first handle 8 and the second handle 10, grabs the first handle 8 and the second handle 10, and places the rice ball on the rice ball placement section 21 of the right side plate 17 of the rice ball seaweed rolling device 14 (a square piece of seaweed N is placed on the placement section 21) so that the curved apex 6a of the rice ball mold 6 is on the right side, and so that the opening on the upper part 4 side is above the placement section 21 of the square piece of seaweed N, in accordance with the shape of the placement section 21 (see Figure 5 (b)).

[0092] The operator opens the first handle 8 and the second handle 10, opens the partially open rice ball mold 6' and the side wall 11, and removes the rice ball tongs 1' from the rice ball G2 (i.e., moves them away from the right side plate 17). As a result, the rice ball G2 is placed on the right side plate 17 on the square seaweed N, as shown in FIG. 6(a).

[0093] The subsequent operations are the same as when the onigiri tongs 1' are used to make onigiri in the onigiri making device, so a description of the subsequent operations will be omitted. In this way, even when cooked rice is stuffed into the onigiri mold 6 of the onigiri tongs 1', the completed onigiri G2 can be wrapped in square seaweed N with almost no touching of hands, and further, the onigiri G2 is not touched at all until the corner portion (one side = left side) of the square seaweed N is bent over one of the inclined surfaces Ra, Rb of the onigiri G2, so that it is hygienic.

[0094] As described above, in the present invention, the rice ball G1 produced by the rice ball manufacturing apparatus can be clamped in the rice mold 6 at the tip of the rice ball tongs 1 or 1' and placed, for example, on the rice ball seaweed wrapping device 14. For example, the rice ball G1 or G2 can be placed on the rice ball seaweed wrapping device 14 without touching the rice ball G1 produced by the rice ball manufacturing apparatus, which is hygienic.

[0095] Also, even when the cooked rice is stuffed into the rice mold 6 of the rice ball tongs 1 or 1' to form it into an onigiri shape, the rice stuffed into the rice mold 6 (onigiri G1 or G2) can be placed on the onigiri seaweed rolling tool 14 without touching the onigiri G1 or G2, for example, which is hygienic.

[0096] In addition, a recess K for ingredients can be formed in the rice ball G1 produced by the rice ball production apparatus using the protrusion 12, and ingredients can be topped in the recess K of the rice ball G2 that finally has the recess K formed.

[0097] In addition, when a square piece of seaweed N is placed in the four corners 22a to 22d of the rice ball seaweed rolling device 14, and rice ball G1 or G2 is placed on the placement portion 21 of the right side plate 17, and the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are raised 90 degrees relative to the central plate 15, and the square piece of seaweed N is attached to the left and right sides of the rice ball G1 or G2, the pair of plate portions 28a, 28b of the seaweed folding member 26 are inserted into the two slits 23a, 23b, and the square piece of seaweed N is folded onto both side portions (inclined portions Ra, Rb) on the rice ball side. That is, the onigiri nori rolling tool 14 allows the square nori seaweed N to be wrapped around the onigiri without using hands, and the corners of the square nori seaweed N can be folded toward the inclined portions Ra, Rb (both side portions) of the onigiri without using hands by the seaweed folding member 26, which is hygienic. After that, the onigiri nori rolling tool 14 can be removed from the onigiri G1 or G2 to form the onigiri G1 or G2 wrapped in the square nori seaweed N, and the operator can then hand the onigiri G1 or G2 to the customer.

[0098] Moreover, the square seaweed N can be easily set within the corner portions 22a to 22d.

[0099] In addition, when the left side plate 16 and the right side plate 17 are raised at 90 degrees relative to the central plate 15, the rice ball G1 or G2 is positioned in the positioning recess 24 of the central plate 15, so that the positioning of the rice ball G1 or G2 can be easily performed.

[0100] Furthermore, since the display unit 21 allows the operator to easily recognize the position of the rice ball G1 or G2, the operator can easily place the rice ball G1 or G2.

[0101] In addition, the rice ball G1 produced by the rice ball production apparatus can be placed on the rice ball seaweed rolling tool 14 using the rice ball tongs 1 or 1' without using hands, and the square seaweed N can be rolled by the rice ball seaweed rolling tool 14, which is hygienic.

[0102] In addition, the rice ball G1 or G2 formed by the rice mold 6 of the rice ball tongs 1 or 1' can be placed on the rice ball seaweed rolling tool 14 using the rice ball tongs 1 or 1' without using hands, and the square seaweed N can be rolled by the rice ball seaweed rolling tool 14, which is hygienic.

[0103] In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 denotes a handle. [Industrial Applicability]

[0104] According to the onigiri tongs and onigiri seaweed rolling tool of the present invention, for example, onigiri made by an onigiri making device can be set in the onigiri seaweed rolling tool without using hands, which is hygienic, and furthermore, the onigiri seaweed rolling tool can be used to wrap square seaweed around the onigiri without using hands, which is hygienic. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1 Rice ball tongs 1' Rice ball tongs 2 Tip 3 Bottom 4. Top 5 Side opening 6 Rice mold (rice ball mold) 6' Partially open rice mold (partially open rice ball mold) 7 One end 8 First Pattern 9 Rotating shaft (support) 10 Second Pattern 11 Side wall 12 Convex part 13 Tip 14 Onigiri Seaweed Rolls 15 Center plate 16 Left side plate 17 Right side plate 18 Rotating shaft (support) 21 Placement section 21' Display section 22a~22d Corner section 23a, 23b Slit 24 Recess 26 Seaweed folding parts 28a,28b plate part G1, G2 Onigiri N square seaweed

Claims

1. A center plate; a right side plate having a first corner portion that is rotatably supported on one side edge of the center plate and has an upper surface on which a substantially triangular rice ball is placed, and a right side plate having a first corner portion that positions one pair of two corners of the four corners of the square seaweed; a left side plate that is pivotally supported on the other side edge of the central plate, has a slit formed therein that diverges from the side edge opposite the central plate in a plan view and penetrates the plate-like body in a V-shape toward the central plate, and has a second corner portion on its upper surface that positions the other pair of two of the four corners of the square seaweed; A seaweed folding member having a pair of V-shaped plate portions that can be inserted into the slit. Onigiri seaweed roll filling.

2. With the right and left panels open relative to the central panel so that the central panel, right and left panels are aligned in a straight line, the square nori is placed on the central panel by positioning the four corners of the square nori at the first corner portion or the second corner portion, and the rice ball is placed on top of the square nori on the rice ball placement portion; The left and right side plates are rotated 90 degrees with respect to the central plate in a direction in which the upper surface of the left side plate and the upper surface of the right side plate face each other, and the seaweed folding member is placed on the left side plate from the underside of the left side plate so that the pair of plate parts are inserted into the slits, whereby the rectangular seaweed is attached to both side surfaces of the approximately triangular shape of the rice ball, and the other pair of two corner parts of the rectangular seaweed are folded toward the inclined part of the rice ball. The rice ball and seaweed wrapping device according to claim 1.

3. The first corner portion is formed by protruding from the upper surface of the right side plate, The second corner portion is formed to protrude from the upper surface of the left side plate. The rice ball seaweed wrapping material according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The central plate is formed with a recess for positioning the rice ball. The rice ball seaweed wrapping material according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The rice ball placement portion is formed with an indication portion for positioning the rice ball. The rice ball seaweed wrapping material according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The center plate has a plate-like body disposed on the underside thereof so as to overlap the center plate, and the plate-like body has a rotation restriction portion formed longer than the center plate in a direction connecting the one side edge and the other side edge of the center plate. The rice ball seaweed wrapping material according to claim 1 or 2.

7. A seaweed placing process using an onigiri seaweed rolling tool having a central plate, a right side plate connected to one side edge of the central plate and having an onigiri placing section and a first corner section on its upper surface, and a left side plate connected to the other side edge of the central plate and having a V-shaped slit that widens from the side edge opposite the central plate towards the central plate in a plan view, penetrating the plate-like body and having a second corner section on its upper surface, said seaweed placing process comprising: aligning one pair of two corners of a square piece of seaweed with the first corner section and positioning the other pair of two corners with the second corner section, and placing the square piece of seaweed on the onigiri seaweed rolling tool; a rice ball placing step of placing a substantially triangular rice ball on the rice ball placing section after the seaweed placing step; a seaweed attaching step of rotating and standing the right side plate and the left side plate with respect to the central plate, and attaching the square seaweed placed on the right side plate and the left side plate to the substantially triangular side of the rice ball; and a laver folding step of placing a laver folding member having a pair of V-shaped plate portions that can be inserted into the slit on the left side plate, inserting the pair of plate portions into the slit, and folding the other pair of two corners of the rectangular laver toward the inclined portion of the rice ball. How to wrap rice balls in nori.

8. A rice ball fitting process using rice ball tongs having a substantially triangular prism shape with a closed bottom and a partially open rice mold with a side surface opposite one vertex and a top surface opposite the bottom surface open, the tip of a first handle attached to the side surface of the partially open rice mold, a second handle which rotates relative to the first handle being supported on the other end of the first handle, and a side wall formed at the tip of the second handle which closes the opening on the side surface, in which, with the second handle open relative to the first handle, the position of the first vertex and one of the vertices of the rice ball are aligned, and the rice ball is fitted into the partially open rice mold; a rice ball clamping step of rotating the second handle to overlap the first handle, thereby closing the opening on the side with the side wall to form a rice mold, and clamping the rice ball with the side wall of the partially open rice mold, In the rice ball placing step, the rice ball is sandwiched between the rice ball placing section and the top surface of the partially open rice mold, and the second handle is separated from the first handle to place the rice ball on the rice ball placing section. A method for wrapping rice balls in nori seaweed according to claim 7.

9. A rice ball tongs is formed in a roughly triangular prism shape with a closed bottom and a partially open rice mold with a side surface opposite one apex and a top surface opposite the bottom surface being open, the tip of a first handle is attached to the side surface of the partially open rice mold, a second handle which rotates relative to the first handle is journalled to the other end of the first handle, and the tip of the second handle has a side wall formed thereon which closes the opening on the side surface, the rice ball tongs is used to rotate the second handle and place it over the first handle, thereby closing the opening on the side surface with the side wall to form a rice ball, and the rice ball is then filled into the rice mold to form the rice ball. In the rice ball placing step, the rice ball placing section and the top surface of the partially open rice mold are opposed to each other, and the second handle is separated from the first handle, so that the rice ball is placed on the rice ball placing section. A method for wrapping rice balls in nori seaweed according to claim 7.

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