Shutter pieces and shutter sets for forming food dough

Abstract

A shutter piece (3, 103, 203, 303, 403) comprises an upper part (13) and a lower part (15) of an opening-side surface (7, 107, 207, 307, 407). The upper part (13) is configured such that, when a plurality of shutter pieces (3, 103, 203, 303, 403) are swung so as to close upper edges (13a), intermediate edges (14a), and an opening (5), the tips (14e) of the intermediate edges (14a) are closed after the tips (13e) of the upper edges (13a) are closed. The lower part (15) includes, in a planar view, a protruding edge (15a, 115a, 415a) which is positioned between an upper edge (13a) and an intermediate edge (14a). The shutter pieces (3, 103, 203, 303, 403) are configured such that when the tips (13e) of the upper edges (13a) are closed, a canopied space (S, SS1, SS4) that receives a peripheral edge part (DE) of a covering material (D) is formed. The shutter pieces (3, 103, 203, 303, 403) are configured such that, until the tips (14e) of the intermediate edges (14a) are closed, an upper space (S1, SS11, SS41) is reduced while the covering material (D) in the canopied space (S, SS1, SS4) is held by the lower parts (17).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shutter set used to wrap an inner material with a flat food dough and a shutter piece constituting the shutter set.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 is directed to a method and an apparatus for wrapping and molding food, and discloses that by closing a shutter set constituted by combining a plurality of shutter pieces, the peripheral edge of an outer skin material is sealed to wrap the inner material. The side surface of each shutter piece has a leading edge portion that closes first when the shutter set closes, a trailing edge portion that closes later than the leading edge portion, and an inclined surface portion between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion.

[0003] In this molding method, with the leading edge portions or the inclined surface portions of adjacent shutter pieces closed, the peripheral edge of the outer skin material is sealed by the trailing edge portion, so that the outer skin material can wrap the inner material without protruding from the shutter set (Patent Document 1).

[0004] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a shutter piece, a shutter set, a shutter device, and a molding device used for molding a coated food. The shutter piece has a first side surface that seals the peripheral edge of the outer skin material above the inner material, and a second side surface that is located below the first side surface and contacts the outer skin material in front of the first side surface to gather the outer skin material toward the upper center of the inner material.

[0005] In the shutter piece configured as described above, the second side surface contacts the outer skin material in front of the first side surface that seals the outer skin material. The second side surface is located below the first side surface and intensively gathers and stretches the outer skin material close to the inner material, so that the gathering effect can be improved. Next, the outer skin material gathered above the inner material is sealed by the first side surface.

[0006] In this shutter set, when the leading edge of the first side surface of each shutter piece is at the center of the opening of the shutter set, the closing operation is stopped to close the opening. At this time, a recessed space is formed at the center of the lower surface of the shutter set (Patent Document 2).

[0007] Also, at the bottom of the shutter piece described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the angle at which the side surface and the bottom surface of the shutter piece forming the opening intersect is substantially a right angle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] In the shutter set described in Patent Document 1, the outer skin material does not protrude from the upper surface of the shutter set during the closing operation. However, since the trailing edge portion is perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces of the shutter piece, the outer skin material easily moves downward, and there is a case where the sealing of the outer skin material becomes insufficient.

[0010] In the shutter set described in Patent Document 2, when the opening of the shutter set is closed, the outer skin material may protrude from the upper surface of the shutter set. To avoid this, if the closing operation is stopped before the opening of the shutter set is closed, an excessive amount of the outer skin material may remain protruding at the top of the coated food, which may deteriorate the appearance of the coated food. Furthermore, the sealing of the outer skin material may become insufficient.

[0011] Also, when the opening of the shutter set is closed, it is possible to store the outer skin material in the recessed space on the lower surface of the shutter set. However, due to the physical properties of the outer skin material, the sealing of the outer skin material may become insufficient.

[0012] In addition, when the shutter set gathers the outer skin material toward the center, the bottom of the shutter piece may damage the surface of the outer skin material.

[0013] The present invention is for solving the above problems, and a first object thereof is to provide a shutter piece, a shutter set, a shutter device, and a molding device that can surely seal the outer skin material when forming a coated food.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a shutter piece, a shutter set, a shutter device, and a molding device that can prevent the surface of the outer skin material from being damaged when forming a coated food.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0015] The present invention relates to a shutter piece of a shutter set used in a shutter device that wraps an inner material supplied to the center of a disc-shaped outer skin material around the peripheral edge of the outer skin material to form a coated food. The shutter piece has a first side surface that seals the peripheral edge of the outer skin material above the inner material, and a second side surface that is located below the first side surface and contacts the outer skin material in front of the first side surface to gather the outer skin material toward the upper center of the inner material. The first side surface has a convex upper edge extending from the base end to the tip in plan view, and a convex lower edge that is located below the upper edge and extends from the base end to the tip at a position recessed from the first side surface. The second side surface has a convex protruding edge extending from the base end to the tip between the upper edge and the lower edge in plan view, and has a horizontal portion.

[0016] For example, the shutter piece further has an intermediate side surface between the first side surface and the second side surface, and the intermediate side surface has the same contour shape as the lower edge of the first side surface in the vertical direction.

[0017] For example, the protruding edge is formed as the peripheral edge of the horizontal portion.

[0018] For example, the protruding edge is formed as the periphery of an upwardly inclined portion that extends obliquely downward from the horizontal portion so as to protrude from the horizontal portion.

[0019] For example, the second side surface has a vertical surface having the same contour shape as the protruding edge in the vertical direction.

[0020] For example, in a plan view, the width between the lower edge of the first side surface and the protruding edge becomes narrower from the base end to the tip end of the second side surface.

[0021] For example, the second side surface further has a downwardly inclined portion that is recessed from the protruding edge and extends obliquely downward from the protruding edge.

[0022] For example, the shutter piece further has a front end surface that is located below the first side surface and on the base end side of the tip edge of the first side surface and intersects the tip end side of the second side surface.

[0023] For example, the shutter piece further has a horizontal lower surface that extends from the upper end of the front end surface to the tip end side of the shutter piece.

[0024] For example, when the shutter unit performs a closing operation, at least the first side surface, the second side surface, and the front end surface form a part of the open space.

[0025] For example, when the shutter unit is in a fully closed state, the second side surface, the front end surface, and the horizontal lower surface form a part of the open space.

[0026] For example, a shutter set characterized by being configured by combining a plurality of the shutter pieces.

[0027] For example, a shutter device characterized by including the shutter set.

[0028] For example, a molding device including the shutter device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0029] With the shutter piece, shutter set, shutter device, and molding device according to the present invention, the outer skin material can be reliably sealed. Also, with the shutter piece, shutter set, shutter device, and molding device according to the present invention, when sealing the outer skin material, it is possible to prevent the surface of the outer skin material from becoming rough.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 11, the shutter piece and the shutter set according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0032] The shutter device 23 shown in FIG. 1 is a part of the molding device 1 to be described later, and includes a base plate 23a, a hole plate 23b, a shutter set 2 configured by arranging eight shutter pieces 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in the circumferential direction, and a drive mechanism 1a for driving the shutter piece 3. The shutter set 2 is configured to move between a fully closed state (for example, refer to FIG. 10C) and an open state (for example, refer to FIG. 10A) that constitutes the opening 5 by the eight shutter pieces 3 swinging synchronously. The drive mechanism 1a is, for example, a link mechanism connected to a drive motor (not shown) installed inside the molding device 1, and since it is conventionally known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shutter piece 3 has an upper surface 3a, a lower surface 3b, and side surfaces 7, 9, 11 located between the upper surface 3a and the lower surface 3b. The side surfaces 7, 9, 11 include an opening side surface 7 that constitutes the opening 5, a contact side surface 9 that constitutes the leading edge 13c, 14c together with the opening side surface 7, and other side surfaces 11.

[0034] A drive attachment portion 3d attached to the drive mechanism 1a is provided on the lower surface 3b and other side surfaces 11. The drive attachment portion 3d is, for example, a recess and a hole, and since it is conventionally known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0035] The opening side surface 7 has an upper portion 13, a lower portion 15 located below the upper portion 13, and an intermediate portion 14 located between the upper portion 13 and the lower portion 15.

[0036] The upper portion 13 is mainly composed of an upper edge 13a, an intermediate edge 14a, and a leading edge 13c, and extends obliquely downward so as to be drawn from the upper edge 13a toward the intermediate edge 14a (intermediate portion 14) from the upper edge 13a. The upper edge 13a is convex and arc-shaped in plan view, and extends from the base end 13b to the tip end 13e (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The intermediate edge 14a is convex and arc-shaped in plan view, and extends from the base end 14b to the tip end 14e. The leading edge 13c extends from the tip end (upper end) 13e of the upper edge 13a to the tip end 14e (lower end) of the intermediate edge 14a, and is inclined in the vertical direction. The position of the leading edge 13c is preferably determined so as to pass through the center 5a of the opening 5 of the shutter set 2 when the shutter piece 3 swings (see FIGS. 10B and 10C).

[0037] The tip-side portion of the intermediate portion 14 is mainly composed of an intermediate edge 14a, a lower intermediate edge 14d (lower end), and a leading edge 14c, and is one surface connecting the intermediate edge 14a (lower edge of the upper portion 13) and the lower intermediate edge 14d (upper end of the lower portion 15), and has the same contour shape in the vertical direction. The lower intermediate edge 14d is convex and arc-shaped in plan view, and extends from the base end to the tip end 14g. The leading edge 14c extends linearly in the vertical direction from the tip end 14e (upper end, i.e., the lower end of the leading edge 13c) of the intermediate edge 14a to the tip end 14g (lower end) of the lower intermediate edge 14d. The position of the leading edge 14c is preferably determined so as to pass through the center 5a of the opening 5 of the shutter set 2 when the shutter piece 3 swings (see FIG. 10C). Also, the width between the upper edge 13a and the intermediate edge 14a in plan view becomes wider from the base end 14b toward the tip end 14e (leading edge 14c) (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0038] As shown in Fig. 3, the tip-side portion of the lower portion 15 is arranged so as to be recessed from the upper edge 13a and to protrude from the intermediate edge 14a and the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14) in plan view, and has a convex and arcuate protruding edge 15a. The protruding edge 15a extends from the base end 15b to the tip end 15e. The tip end 15e and the base end 15b are in positions recessed toward the side of the contact surface 9 from the upper edge 13a and protruding toward the side of the opening 5 from the intermediate edge 14a (lower intermediate edge 14d) in plan view.

[0039] Specifically, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tip-side portion of the lower portion 15 includes three surfaces, namely, a horizontal portion 60, an upper inclined portion 62, and a lower inclined portion 64. The horizontal portion 60 is an upward-facing surface arranged along the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14) and extends horizontally so as to protrude from the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14). The width by which the horizontal portion 60 protrudes horizontally from the intermediate portion 14 becomes narrower from the base end 15b toward the tip end 15e. The upper inclined portion 62 extends obliquely downward so as to protrude from the horizontal portion 60. The lower inclined portion 64 extends obliquely downward to the lower edge 15d (lower surface 3b) so as to be recessed from the upper inclined portion 62. The convex protruding edge 15a is the peripheral edge of the lower portion 15 and is formed by the boundary line between the upper inclined portion 62 and the lower inclined portion 64. Also, in plan view, the width between the protruding edge 15a and the intermediate edge 14a becomes narrower from the base end 15b toward the tip end 15e (see Figs. 2 and 3).

[0040] The upwardly inclined portion 62 is preferably an inclined surface extending obliquely upward from the protruding edge 15a. The longitudinal sectional profile of this inclined surface may be a straight line, a convex or concave curve, or a combination thereof. In the present embodiment, the sectional profile of the inclined surface of the upwardly inclined portion 62 is a straight line. Further, the downwardly inclined portion 64 is preferably an inclined surface extending obliquely downward from the protruding edge 15a. The longitudinal sectional profile of this inclined surface may be a straight line, a convex curve, or a combination thereof. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal sectional profile of the inclined surface of the downwardly inclined portion 64 is a convex curve. The lower edge 15d where the downwardly inclined portion 64 (lower portion 15) intersects the lower surface 3b extends in a convex and arc shape in plan view (see FIG. 3).

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5, the lower portion 15 further has a leading edge 62c on the leading end side of the upwardly inclined portion 62 and a leading edge 64c on the leading end side of the downwardly inclined portion 64. The tip 15e of the above-described convex protruding edge 15a is the intersection of the leading edge 62c of the upwardly inclined portion 62 and the leading edge 64c of the downwardly inclined portion 64.

[0042] Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the leading edge 62c of the upwardly inclined portion 62 and the leading edge 64c of the downwardly inclined portion 64 are not at the positions of the leading edge 13c of the uppermost portion 13 and the leading edge 14c of the intermediate portion 14 in plan view, that is, they are offset toward the base end 15b of the protruding edge 15a so as not to pass through the center 5a of the opening 5.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 5, the contact side surface 9 has an upper portion 17, an intermediate portion 18, and a lower portion 19. Further, the lower portion 19 includes a horizontal portion 70, an upwardly inclined portion 72, and a downwardly inclined portion 74.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the upper portion 17 is mainly composed of an upper edge 17a, an intermediate edge 18a, and a leading edge 13c common to the upper portion 13 of the opening side surface 7. The intermediate portion 18 is mainly composed of an intermediate edge 18a, a lower intermediate edge 18d, and a leading edge 14c common to the intermediate portion 14 of the opening side surface 7 (see FIG. 7). The horizontal portion 70 of the lower portion 19 is a downward-facing surface that extends horizontally so as to be drawn from the lower intermediate edge 18d. The upwardly inclined portion 72 extends obliquely downward so as to be drawn from the horizontal portion 70 and has a leading edge 72c on the tip side. The downwardly inclined portion 74 extends obliquely downward from the upwardly inclined portion 72 to the lower edge 19d (lower surface 3b) so as to protrude therefrom and has a leading edge 74c on the tip side. The drawn-in edge 19a between the upwardly inclined portion 72 and the downwardly inclined portion 74 extends from the base end 19b to the tip 19e, and the tip 19e is the intersection of the leading edge 72c of the upwardly inclined portion 72 and the leading edge 74c of the downwardly inclined portion 74 (see FIGS. 3 and 9).

[0045] The leading edge 13c, the leading edge 14c, and the leading edges 72c and 74c are each preferably formed so as to always contact the upwardly inclined portion 62 and the downwardly inclined portion 64 of the upper portion 13, the intermediate portion 14, and the lower portion 15 of the opening side surface 7 of the adjacent shutter piece 3 when the shutter piece 3 swings, thereby substantially creating no gap.

[0046] Furthermore, when the tip portion of the lower intermediate edge 14d of the intermediate portion 14 of the opening side surface 7 is located on the horizontal portion 60 of the lower portion 15 of the opening side surface 7 of the adjacent shutter piece 3, it is preferably formed such that the tip portion of the lower intermediate edge 14d always contacts the horizontal portion 60 and there is substantially no gap (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0047] In the following description, when the tip 13e (upper end) and the tip 14e (lower end) of the leading edge 13c of the upper portion 13 of the opening side surface 7 are at the center 5a of the opening 5, they are respectively referred to as the "starting to close state" and the "fully closed state" of the shutter set. In the present embodiment, in the fully closed state, the leading edge 14c of the intermediate portion 14 of the opening side surface 7 is also at the center 5a of the opening 5.

[0048] When the upper portion 17, the middle portion 18, and the lower portion 19 of the contact side surface 9 are each formed in a concave shape so as to contact the upper portion 13, the middle portion 14, and the lower portion 15 of the opening side surface 7 of the adjacent shutter piece when the shutter set 2 is in the fully closed state, it is preferable.

[0049] Specifically, the upper edge 13a and the middle edge 14a of the upper portion 13 of the opening side surface 7 can respectively contact the upper edge 17a and the middle edge 18a of the upper portion 17 of the contact side surface 9 of the adjacent shutter piece 3 (see FIG. 10C). The middle edge 14a and the lower middle edge 14d of the middle portion 14 of the opening side surface 7 can respectively contact the middle edge 18a and the lower middle edge 18d of the middle portion 18 of the contact side surface 9 of the adjacent shutter piece 3. The protruding edge 15a and the lower edge 15d of the lower portion 15 of the opening side surface 7 can respectively contact the retracted edge 19a and the lower edge 19d of the lower portion 19 of the contact side surface 9 of the adjacent shutter piece 3 (see FIG. 8). That is, the upper edge 17a, the middle edge 18a, the lower middle edge 18d, the retracted edge 19a, and the lower edge 19d of the contact side surface 9 are each formed in a concave arc shape in plan view.

[0050] Also, the leading edge 72c of the upper inclined portion 72 and the leading edge 74c of the lower inclined portion 74 are not at the positions of the leading edge 13c of the upper portion 17 and the leading edge 14c of the middle portion 18 in plan view, that is, they are offset to the side of the base end 19b of the retracted edge 19a so as not to pass through the center 5a of the opening 5.

[0051] The shutter piece 3 has a front end surface 80 offset toward the proximal end 14b side from the front end edge 14c below the front end edge 14c. The front end surface 80 is a combination of an upper front end surface 82 and a lower front end surface 84 (see FIG. 7). The upper front end surface 82 is a substantially rectangular surface having as opposite sides the front end edge 62c of the upper inclined portion 62 of the opening side surface 7 and the front end edge 72c of the upper inclined portion 72 of the contact side surface 9. Further, the lower front end surface 84 is a substantially rectangular surface having as opposite sides the front end edge 64c of the lower inclined portion 64 of the opening side surface 7 and the front end edge 74c of the lower inclined portion 74 of the contact side surface 9. The front end surface 80 is formed to intersect the lower portions 15 and 19 at the front end sides of the lower portions 15 and 19. Furthermore, the shutter piece 3 has a downward horizontal plane extending from the upper end of the front end surface 80 toward the front end side of the shutter piece 3. When the shutter piece 3 is viewed from below, a planar intermediate lower surface 3f including this horizontal plane and the horizontal portion 70 of the lower portion 19 is formed on the front end side of the shutter piece 3 (see FIGS. 5 and 7).

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10B, when the tip 13e of the upper edge 13a of the opening side surface 7 of the shutter piece 3 is positioned at the center 5a of the opening 5, the opening 5 of the shutter set 2 is closed by the tip 13e (starting to close state). At this time, the tip portions of the front end edges 13c and 14c, the front end edges 72c and 74c, and the lower intermediate edge 14d of the shutter piece 3 are in contact with the upper portion 13, the intermediate portion 14, and the lower portion 15 of the opening side surface 7 of the adjacent shutter piece 3, respectively. For this reason, on the opening side surface 7 of each shutter piece 3, there is formed an uneven empty space S surrounded by the inclined upper portion 13, the vertically extending intermediate portion 14, the lower portion 15 protruding toward the side of the opening 5, the front end surface 80 offset from the front end to the proximal end side of the shutter piece 3, the lower portion 19 continuous with the front end surface 80, and the intermediate lower surface 3f. The empty space S is composed of, in order from above, a substantially octagonal pyramid-shaped first space S1 surrounded by eight upper portions 13, a substantially octagonal column-shaped second space S2 surrounded by eight intermediate portions 14, and the remaining third space S3 (see FIG. 19).

[0053] While moving the shutter set 2 from the starting-to-close state to the fully-closed state shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10C, the effective sky space S is overall reduced. Specifically, the height and diameter of the first space S1 are reduced, and the diameter of the second space S2 is reduced.

[0054] As a result, when the shutter set 2 reaches the fully-closed state, the first space S1 and the second space S2 disappear, and the effective sky space S is composed only of the reduced third space S3 (see FIG. 21). Specifically, the ceiling of the third space S3 is formed by the intermediate lower surfaces 3f on the tip side of the eight shutter pieces 3, and the remaining part of the third space S3 is surrounded by eight tip surfaces 80 offset from the foremost edges 13c, 14c toward the base end side and the lower part 19 continuous with the tip surfaces 80.

[0055] Next, with reference to FIGS. 12 and 16, an outline of an exemplary molding apparatus using a shutter apparatus including a shutter set will be described.

[0056] The molding apparatus 1 is used to mold a coated food P in which an inner material F is wrapped with an outer skin material D. In the molding apparatus 1, the parts related to the present invention will be mainly described, and the description of other conventionally known parts will be omitted.

[0057] The molding apparatus 1 includes a supply conveyor device 21 that supplies a disk-shaped outer skin material D on which the inner material F is placed, a shutter device 23 located below the supply conveyor device 21, a pressing device 25 located above the supply conveyor device 21, and a support device 27 located below the shutter device 23. These devices are controlled by a control device (not shown).

[0058] The supply conveyor device 21 has a tip portion 21a that can be expanded and contracted between a protruding position and a standby position.

[0059] The shutter device 23 includes a base plate 23a, a hole plate (mounting member) 23b that supports the outer skin material D supplied from the supply conveyor device 21, and a shutter set 2 that swings while sliding on the hole plate 23b. The hole plate 23b has a circular central opening 23c. The diameter and thickness (height) of the central opening 23c are appropriately selected according to the coated food P to be formed.

[0060] The pressing device 25 includes a pressing member 25a and a lifting device 25b that raises and lowers the pressing member 25a. The pressing member 25a has a cup shape with a downward opening 25c, and has an annular peripheral wall 25d and a ceiling portion 25e disposed above the peripheral wall 25d. In the present embodiment, the lifting device 25b includes a piston rod 25f that moves up and down, and the piston rod 25f has a through hole 25g for feeding compressed air downward. The ceiling portion 25e has a through hole 25h that communicates with the through hole 25g of the piston rod 25f.

[0061] The support device 27 is composed of a belt conveyor and is configured to be movable up and down.

[0062] Next, with reference to FIGS. 12 to 22, the operation of the molding device 1 will be described.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 12, the disc-shaped outer skin material D on which the inner material F is placed is conveyed by the supply conveyor device 21 to a position where the center of the outer skin material D coincides with the center 5a of the opening 5 of the shutter set 2, that is, the center of the opening 23c of the hole plate 23b. The tip 21a of the supply conveyor device 21 is in the advanced position.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 13, the tip 21a of the supply conveyor device 21 is retracted from the advanced position to the standby position, and the outer skin material D and the inner material F are placed on the hole plate 23b.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 14, the shutter device 23 is operated to move the shutter set 2 toward the closed state. At the opening side surface 7 of the shutter piece 3, the protruding edge 15a of the lower portion 15 is brought into contact with the peripheral edge DE of the outer skin material D, and then the upper inclined portion 62 and the horizontal portion 60 are inserted into the lower surface of the peripheral edge DE. Further, after the intermediate portion 14 is brought into contact with the periphery of the outer skin material D, the closing operation of the shutter set 2 is temporarily stopped. Thereby, a required amount of the peripheral edge DE necessary for sealing remains evenly on the hole plate 23b. Also, the vicinity of the center of the outer skin material D pressed from the periphery by the shutter set 2 is immersed into the opening 23c of the hole plate 23b by the self-weights of the outer skin material D and the inner material F.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 15, the pressing member 25a of the pressing device 25 is lowered and stopped at an appropriate lowered position according to the thickness and hardness of the outer skin material D. The peripheral edge DE of the outer skin material D is pressed toward the hole plate 23b by the annular peripheral wall 25d of the pressing member 25a, and the internal space formed between the outer skin material D and the pressing member 25a is sealed.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 16, by supplying compressed air from the through hole 25h into the internal space, the outer skin material D is expanded downward inside the opening 23c to form a bowl shape. The bottom of the downward-expanded outer skin material D is supported by the support device 27, thereby preventing the outer skin material D from being deformed more than necessary and stabilizing the shape of the outer skin material D. The position of the support device 27 at this time determines the position of the head of the inner material F with respect to the upper surface of the hole plate 23b. It is desirable that the position of the head of the inner material F is the same as or lower than that of the hole plate 23b.

[0068] As shown in Fig. 17, the pressing member 25a is raised. As shown in Fig. 18, the shutter set 2 is moved again toward the closed state. The lower portion 15 of the shutter piece 3 intensively gathers and stretches the outer skin material D close to the inner material F upward toward the center of the inner material F. Since the horizontal portion 60 is configured to protrude from the intermediate portion 14 toward the opening 5 side, the holding force of the outer skin material D can be increased, and the gathering effect can be further improved. Further, since the downwardly inclined portion 64 of the lower portion 15 is configured to incline in a flaring shape toward the contact side surface 9, roughness (scratches) on the surface of the outer skin material D can be prevented. In the present embodiment, since the longitudinal sectional contour of the inclined surface of the downwardly inclined portion 64 is formed as a convex curved surface, the effect of preventing surface roughness can be further improved.

[0069] The closing operation of the shutter set 2 is advanced, and the inner material F is sealed above by the outer skin material D surrounded by the eight lower portions 15. As shown in Fig. 19, the closing operation of the shutter set 2 is further advanced, and by positioning the tip 13e at the center 5a, the opening 5 of the shutter set 2 is closed to form the air-containing space S. As a result, the outer skin material D can be prevented from leaking onto the upper surface 3a of the shutter piece 3, that is, onto the upper surface of the shutter set 2.

[0070] As shown in Fig. 20, as the closing operation of the shutter set 2 progresses, the volume of the air-containing space S is reduced. Further, since the diameter of the third space S3 of the air-containing space S is narrower than the diameter of the second space S2 above the third space S3, the third space S3 serves as a throttle valve for the outer skin material D extruded from the inside of the air-containing space S. As a result, the outer skin material D remaining inside the air-containing space S is extruded from the third space S3 that gradually shrinks while being strongly pressed by the shutter set 2, so that the peripheral portion DE of the outer skin material D is firmly sealed.

[0071] In addition, the width by which the lower portion 15 protrudes horizontally with respect to the intermediate portion 14 decreases from the base end 15b toward the tip end 15e. Therefore, as the available space S gradually shrinks, the protruding width of the lower portion 15 becomes narrower, and the opening can be maintained without closing the third space S3.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 21, the shutter set 2 is moved to the fully closed state, the closing operation of the shutter unit 2 is stopped, and the sealing of the outer skin material D by the shutter unit 2 is terminated. At this time, as described above, only the reduced third space S3 exists in the available space S. As a modification, if the outer skin material D can be sealed, it is not necessary to move the shutter set 2 to the fully closed state. At this time, an available space S including the first spaces S1, S2, and S3 is formed, the outer skin material D is stored in the available space S, and the amount of the outer skin material D collected at the upper center of the coated food P increases. When the outer skin material D at the upper center of the coated food P is pulled toward the surroundings by elasticity, the stored outer skin material D can be stretched, and it is possible to prevent the top of the coated food P from being recessed (see FIG. 20).

[0073] As shown in FIG. 22, the shutter set 2 is moved toward the open state, the outer skin material D on the head of the coated food P is opened, and the support device 27 on which the coated food P is placed is lowered.

[0074] Next, with reference to FIGS. 23 to 26, the shutter piece and the shutter set according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0075] The shutter piece 103 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a configuration similar to that of the shutter piece 3 of the first embodiment, and mainly has a configuration different from the lower portions 15 and 19 and the tip surface 80 of the shutter piece 3. Note that the same reference numerals as those of the shutter piece 3 according to the first embodiment are given to the configuration of the shutter piece 103 according to the second embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0076] The opening side surface 107 of the shutter piece 103 has an upper portion 13, an intermediate portion 14, and a lower portion 115.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 24, the distal end side portion of the lower side portion 115 is arranged so as to be recessed from the upper edge 13a and to protrude from the intermediate edge 14a and the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14) in plan view, and has a convex and arcuate protruding edge 115a. The protruding edge 115a extends from the base end 115b to the tip end 115e. The protruding edge 115a is located between the upper edge 13a and the intermediate edge 14a (lower intermediate edge 14d) in plan view. The tip end 115e and the base end 115b are in positions recessed toward the side of the contact surface 9 from the upper edge 13a and protruding toward the side of the opening 5 from the intermediate edge 14a (lower intermediate edge 14d) in plan view.

[0078] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the distal end side portion of the lower side portion 115 includes three surfaces, namely, a horizontal portion 160, a vertical portion 162, and a downwardly inclined portion 164. The horizontal portion 160 is an upward-facing surface arranged along the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14) and extends so as to protrude horizontally from the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14). The width by which the lower side portion 115 protrudes horizontally with respect to the intermediate portion 14 becomes narrower from the base end 115b toward the tip end 115e. The vertical portion 162 extends downward from the horizontal portion 160 so as to be orthogonal thereto. The downwardly inclined portion 164 extends from the vertical portion 162 obliquely downward to the lower edge 15d (lower surface 3b). The convex protruding edge 115a is the peripheral edge of the lower side portion 115 and is formed by the boundary line between the horizontal portion 160 and the vertical portion 162. Also, in plan view, the width between the protruding edge 115a and the intermediate edge 14a becomes narrower from the base end 115b toward the tip end 115e (see FIGS. 23 and 24).

[0079] The vertical portion 162 is preferably a curved surface that extends downward from the protruding edge 115a to the lower protruding edge 115d and has the same contour shape in the vertical direction. The lower protruding edge 115d extends from the base end 115f to the tip end 115g. Further, the downward inclined portion 164 is preferably an inclined surface that extends obliquely downward from the lower protruding edge 115d of the vertical portion 162, and the longitudinal sectional contour of this inclined surface may be a straight line, a convex curve, or a combination thereof. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal sectional contour of the inclined surface of the downward inclined portion 64 is a convex curve. The lower edge 15d where the downward inclined portion 164 intersects the lower surface 3b extends in a convex and arc shape in plan view (see FIG. 24).

[0080] As shown in FIG. 26, the lower portion 115 further has a tip edge 162c on the tip side of the vertical portion 162 and a tip edge 164c on the tip side of the downward inclined portion 164. The tip 115g of the above-described lower protruding edge 115d is the intersection of the tip edge 162c of the vertical portion 162 and the tip edge 164c of the downward inclined portion 164.

[0081] Also, as shown in FIG. 24, the tip edge 162c of the vertical portion 162 and the tip edge 164c of the downward inclined portion 164 are not at the positions of the foremost tip edge 13c of the upper portion 13 and the foremost tip edge 14c of the intermediate portion 14 in plan view, that is, they are offset toward the base end 115f of the protruding edge 115a so as not to pass through the center 5a of the opening 5.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 26, the contact side surface 109 of the shutter piece 103 has an upper portion 17, an intermediate portion 18, and a lower portion 119. Further, the lower portion 119 includes a horizontal portion 170, a vertical portion 172, and a downward inclined portion 174.

[0083] As shown in FIGS. 23 to 26, the horizontal portion 170 of the lower portion 115 is a downward-facing surface that extends horizontally from the lower intermediate edge 18d. The vertical portion 172 extends downward from the horizontal portion 170 so as to be orthogonal thereto and has a tip edge 172c on the tip side. The downwardly inclined portion 174 extends from the vertical portion 172 obliquely downward to the lower edge 19d (lower surface 3b) so as to project obliquely downward and has a tip edge 174c on the tip side. The retracted edge 119a between the horizontal portion 170 and the vertical portion 172 extends from the base end 119b to the tip 119e, and the tip 119e is the intersection of the tip edge 170c of the horizontal portion 170 and the tip edge 172c of the vertical portion 172. The lower retracted edge 119d between the vertical portion 172 and the downwardly inclined portion 174 extends from the base end 119f to the tip 119g, and the tip 119g is the intersection of the tip edge 172c of the vertical portion 172 and the tip edge 174c of the downwardly inclined portion 174.

[0084] The leading edges 13c, 14c, and the tip edges 172c, 174c are each preferably formed so as to always contact the upper portion 13, the intermediate portion 14, and the vertical portion 162 and the downwardly inclined portion 164 of the lower portion 115 of the opening side surface 107 of the adjacent shutter piece 103 when the shutter piece 103 swings, and substantially no gap is formed. That is, the upper edge 17a, the intermediate edge 18a, the lower intermediate edge 118d, the retracted edge 119a, the lower retracted edge 119d, and the lower edge 19d of the contact side surface 109 are each formed in a concave arc shape in plan view.

[0085] Furthermore, when the tip portion of the lower intermediate edge 14d of the intermediate portion 14 of the opening side surface 107 is located above the horizontal portion 160 of the lower portion 115 of the opening side surface 107 of the adjacent shutter piece 103, it is preferable that the tip portion of the lower intermediate edge 14d is always in contact with the horizontal portion 160 so that substantially no gap is formed (see FIGS. 25 and 26).

[0086] The upper portion 17, the intermediate portion 18, and the lower portion 119 of the contact side surface 109 are each preferably formed in a concave shape so as to contact the upper portion 13, the intermediate portion 14, and the lower portion 115 of the opening side surface 107 of the adjacent shutter piece when the shutter set 102 is in the fully closed state.

[0087] Specifically, the upper edge 13a and the intermediate edge 14a of the upper portion 13 of the opening side surface 107 can respectively abut against the upper edge 17a and the intermediate edge 18a of the upper portion 17 of the abutting side surface 109 of the adjacent shutter piece 103. The intermediate edge 14a and the lower intermediate edge 14d of the intermediate portion 14 of the opening side surface 107 can respectively abut against the intermediate edge 18a and the lower intermediate edge 18d of the abutting side surface 109 of the adjacent shutter piece 103. The protruding edge 115a, the lower protruding edge 115d, and the lower edge 15d of the lower inclined portion 164 of the vertical portion 162 of the lower portion 115 of the opening side surface 107 can respectively abut against the retracted edge 119a, the lower retracted edge 119d, and the lower edge 19d of the lower inclined portion 164 of the vertical portion 172 of the abutting side surface 109 of the adjacent shutter piece 103. That is, the upper edge 17a, the intermediate edge 18a, the lower intermediate edge 18d, the retracted edge 119a, the lower retracted edge 119d, and the lower edge 19d of the abutting side surface 109 are each formed in a concave arc shape in plan view.

[0088] Further, the tip edge 172c of the vertical portion 172 and the tip edge 174c of the lower inclined portion 174 are not at the positions of the foremost edge 13c of the upper portion 17 and the foremost edge 14c of the intermediate portion 18 in plan view, that is, they are offset toward the base end 119b side of the retracted edge 119a so as not to pass through the center 5a of the opening 5.

[0089] The shutter piece 103 has a front end face 180 offset toward the proximal end 14b side from the front end edge 14c below the front most edge 14c. The front end face 180 is a combination of an upper front end face 182 and a lower front end face 184 (see FIG. 26). The upper front end face 182 is a substantially quadrangular face with the front end edges 162c of the vertical portion 162 of the opening side face 107 and the front end edges 172c of the vertical portion 172 of the contact side face 109 as opposite sides. Also, the lower front end face 184 is a substantially quadrangular face with the front end edges 164c of the downwardly inclined portion 164 of the opening side face 107 and the front end edges 174c of the downwardly inclined portion 174 of the contact side face 109 as opposite sides. The front end face 180 is formed to intersect the lower portions 115 and 119 at the front end sides of the lower portions 115 and 119. Further, the shutter piece 103 has a downward horizontal plane extending from the upper end of the front end face 180 toward the front end side of the shutter piece 103. When the shutter piece 103 is viewed from below, a planar intermediate lower surface 103f including this horizontal plane and the horizontal portion 170 of the lower portion 119 is formed on the front end side of the shutter piece 103 (see FIG. 26).

[0090] When the tip 13e of the upper edge 13a of the opening side face 107 of the shutter piece 103 is positioned at the center 5a of the opening 5, the opening 5 of the shutter set 102 is in a state of being closed by the tip 13e (starting to close state) (see FIG. 34). At this time, the front most edges 13c, 14c, the front end edges 172c, 174c, and the tip portions of the lower intermediate edge 14d of the shutter piece 103 are in contact with the upper portions 13, the intermediate portions 14, and the lower portions 115 of the opening side face 107 of the adjacent shutter piece 103, respectively. For this reason, on the opening side face 107 of each shutter piece 103, there is formed a hollow space SS1 having irregularities surrounded by the inclined upper portion 13, the vertically extending intermediate portion 14, the lower portion 115 protruding toward the side of the opening 5, the front end face 180 offset from the front end side to the proximal end side of the shutter piece 103, the lower portion 119 continuous with the front end face 180, and the intermediate lower surface 103f. The hollow space SS1 is composed of, in order from above, a substantially octagonal pyramid-shaped first space SS11 surrounded by eight upper portions 13, a substantially octagonal column-shaped second space SS12 surrounded by eight intermediate portions 14, and the remaining third space SS13.

[0091] While moving the shutter set 102 from the starting-to-close state to the fully-closed state (see Fig. 36), the occupied sky space SS1 is overall reduced. Specifically, the height and diameter of the first space SS11 are reduced, and the diameter of the second space SS12 is reduced.

[0092] As a result, when the shutter set 102 reaches the fully-closed state, the first space SS11 and the second space SS12 disappear, and the occupied sky space SS1 is composed only of the reduced third space SS13. Specifically, the ceiling of the third space SS13 is formed by the intermediate lower surface 103f on the tip side of the eight shutter pieces 103, and the remaining part of the third space SS13 is surrounded by eight tip surfaces 180 offset from the foremost edges 13c, 14c toward the base end side and the lower part 119 continuous with the tip surface 180.

[0093] Next, with reference to Figs. 27 to 37, the operation of the molding device 101 will be described. Note that a detailed description of the operation of the molding device 101 according to the second embodiment, which is the same as the molding device 1 according to the first embodiment, will be omitted.

[0094] As shown in Fig. 27, the disc-shaped outer skin material D on which the inner material F is placed is conveyed by the supply conveyor device 21 so as to be positioned at the center 5a of the opening 5.

[0095] As shown in Fig. 28, the tip portion 21a of the supply conveyor device 21 is retracted from the advanced position to the standby position, and the outer skin material D and the inner material F are placed on the hole plate 23b.

[0096] As shown in Fig. 29, the shutter device 23 is operated to move the shutter set 102 toward the closed state. The vertical portion 162 of the lower part 115 of the shutter piece 103 is brought into contact with the peripheral edge portion DE of the outer skin material D, and then the horizontal portion 160 is made to enter the lower surface of the peripheral edge portion DE. Further, after the intermediate portion 14 is brought into contact with the periphery of the outer skin material D, the closing operation of the shutter set 102 is temporarily stopped.

[0097] As shown in Fig. 30, lower the pressing member 25a of the pressing device 25 to press the peripheral edge DE of the outer skin material D toward the hole plate 23b, and seal the internal space formed between the outer skin material D and the pressing member 25a.

[0098] As shown in Fig. 31, by supplying compressed air into the internal space, expand the outer skin material D downward inside the opening 23c to make it bowl-shaped. Support the bottom of the downward-expanded outer skin material D with the support device 27.

[0099] As shown in Fig. 32, raise the pressing member 25a. As shown in Fig. 33, move the shutter set 102 toward the closed state again. While holding the outer skin material D close to the inner member F by the protruding lower portion 115 of the shutter piece 103, intensively gather and stretch it toward the upper center of the inner member F. Since the horizontal portion 160 is configured to protrude more than the horizontal portion 60 of the first embodiment, the effect of holding the outer skin material can be further enhanced. Also, since the curvature of the downward-inclined portion 164 of the lower portion 115 is a convex curved surface larger than the curvature of the downward-inclined portion 64 of the first embodiment, the effect of preventing surface roughness can be further improved.

[0100] Advance the closing operation of the shutter set 102, and block the inner member F above it with the outer skin material D surrounded by the eight lower portions 115. As shown in Fig. 34, by further advancing the closing operation of the shutter set 102, close the opening 5 of the shutter set 102 to form an air-containing space SS1.

[0101] As shown in Fig. 35, as the closing operation of the shutter set 102 progresses, reduce the volume of the air-containing space SS1. In this embodiment, the lower portion 115 does not have an upward-inclined portion, and the upper surface is formed only by the horizontal portion 160. As a result, compared with the first embodiment, the effect of the lower portion 115 holding the outer skin material D is high, and the outer skin material D remaining inside the air-containing space SS1 is pushed out while receiving stronger pressure from the shutter set 102. As a result, the peripheral edge DE of the outer skin material D is more firmly sealed.

[0102] Further, as the available space SS1 gradually shrinks, the protruding width of the lower portion 115 becomes narrower, and the opening can be maintained without closing the third space SS13.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 36, the shutter set 2 is moved to the fully closed state, the closing operation of the shutter unit 2 is stopped, and the sealing of the outer skin material D by the shutter unit 2 is completed. At this time, as described above, only the reduced third space SS13 exists in the available space SS1.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 37, the shutter set 102 is moved toward the open state, the outer skin material D of the head of the coated food P is opened, and the support device 27 on which the coated food P is placed is lowered.

[0105] Next, with reference to FIGS. 40 to 43, the shutter piece and the shutter set of the third embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

[0106] The shutter piece 403 of the third embodiment according to the present invention has a configuration similar to that of the shutter piece 3 of the first embodiment, and mainly has a configuration different from the upper portions 13 and 17, the lower portions 15 and 19, and the front end surface 80 of the shutter piece 3. Note that the same reference numerals as those of the shutter piece 3 according to the first embodiment are given to the configuration of the shutter piece 403 according to the third embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0107] As shown in FIGS. 40 to 43, the shutter piece 403 has an upper surface 3a, a lower surface 3b, and side surfaces 407, 409, and 11 located between the upper surface 3a and the lower surface 3b. The side surfaces 407, 409, and 11 include an opening side surface 407 that forms the opening 5, a contact side surface 409 that forms the leading edge 13c and 14c together with the opening side surface 407, and other side surfaces 11.

[0108] The opening side surface 407 of the shutter piece 403 has an upper portion 13, an intermediate portion 14, and a lower portion 415.

[0109] The upper portion 13 includes an upwardly inclined portion 413a and a downwardly inclined portion 413b. The upwardly inclined portion 413a of the upper portion 13 is mainly composed of an upper edge 13a, an inclined edge 413d, and a leading edge 413ca, and extends obliquely downward from the upper edge 13a so as to be drawn in from the upper edge 13a toward the inclined edge 413d. The downwardly inclined portion 413b is mainly composed of an inclined edge 413d, an intermediate edge 14a, and a leading edge 413cb, and extends obliquely downward from the inclined edge 413d so as to be drawn in from the inclined edge 413d toward the intermediate edge 14a. It is preferable that the upwardly inclined portion 413a has a steeper downward inclination than the downwardly inclined portion 413b. The position of the leading edge 13c (413ca, 413cb) of the upper portion 13 is preferably determined so as to pass through the center 5a of the opening 5 of the shutter set 402 when the shutter piece 403 swings.

[0110] The tip-side portion of the lower portion 415 is arranged so as to be recessed more than the upper edge 13a and to protrude more than the intermediate edge 14a and the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14) in a plan view, and has a convex and arcuate protruding edge 415a. The protruding edge 415a extends from a base end 415b to a tip 415e (see FIG. 41). The protruding edge 415a is located between the upper edge 13a and the intermediate edge 14a (lower intermediate edge 14d) in a plan view. The tip 415e and the base end 415b are in positions recessed toward the contact side surface 409 side more than the upper edge 13a and protruding toward the opening 5 side (the opening side surface 407 side) more than the intermediate edge 14a (lower intermediate edge 14d) in a plan view.

[0111] Specifically, the tip side portion of the lower side portion 415 includes three surfaces, namely, an upwardly inclined portion 460, a vertical portion 462, and a downwardly inclined portion 464. The upwardly inclined portion 460 is an upward-facing surface arranged along the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14), and extends obliquely downward so as to protrude from the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14). The width by which the upwardly inclined portion 460 protrudes with respect to the intermediate portion 14 becomes wider from the base end 415b toward the tip end 415e in plan view (see FIGS. 42 and 43). The vertical portion 462 extends downward from the upwardly inclined portion 460. The downwardly inclined portion 464 extends to the lower edge 15d (lower surface 3b) so as to be drawn obliquely downward from the vertical portion 462. The convex protruding edge 415a is the peripheral edge of the lower side portion 415 and is formed by the boundary line between the upwardly inclined portion 460 and the vertical portion 462. Also, in plan view, the width between the protruding edge 415a and the intermediate edge 14a becomes wider from the base end 415b toward the tip end 415e (see FIGS. 40, 42, and 43).

[0112] The upwardly inclined portion 460 extends obliquely downward from the lower intermediate edge 14d (intermediate portion 14) to the protruding edge 415a so as to protrude. The vertical portion 462 is preferably a curved surface that extends downward from the protruding edge 415a to the lower protruding edge 415d and has the same contour shape in the vertical direction. The lower protruding edge 415d extends from the base end 415f to the tip end 415g. Also, the downwardly inclined portion 464 is preferably an inclined surface that extends obliquely downward from the lower protruding edge 415d of the vertical portion 462, and the longitudinal sectional contour of this inclined surface may be a straight line, a convex curve, or a combination thereof. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal sectional contour of the inclined surface of the downwardly inclined portion 464 is a convex curve. The lower edge 15d where the downwardly inclined portion 464 intersects the lower surface 3b extends in a convex and arc shape in plan view (see FIG. 42).

[0113] As shown in FIG. 41, the lower portion 415 further has a leading edge 460c on the leading edge side of the upwardly inclined portion 460, a leading edge 462c on the leading edge side of the vertical portion 462, and a leading edge 464c on the leading edge side of the downwardly inclined portion 464. The tip 415e of the above-described protruding edge 415a is the intersection of the leading edge 460c of the upwardly inclined portion 460 and the leading edge 462c of the vertical portion 462. The tip 415g of the lower protruding edge 415d is the intersection of the leading edge 462c of the vertical portion 462 and the leading edge 464c of the downwardly inclined portion 464.

[0114] Also, the leading edge 460c of the upwardly inclined portion 460, the leading edge 462c of the vertical portion 462, and the leading edge 464c of the downwardly inclined portion 464 are not at the positions of the leading edge 13c of the uppermost portion 13 and the leading edge 14c of the intermediate portion 14 in a plan view, that is, they are offset to the side of the base end 415b of the protruding edge 415a so as not to pass through the center 5a of the opening 5. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 41, the upwardly inclined portion 460, the vertical portion 462, and the downwardly inclined portion 464 are formed at an angle of, for example, 45 degrees with respect to the leading edge 14c of the intermediate portion 14 (the direction in a plan view at the tip 14e of the intermediate edge 14a).

[0115] As shown in FIGS. 40 to 43, the contact side surface 409 of the shutter piece 403 has an upper portion 17, an intermediate portion 18, and a lower portion 419. Further, the upper portion 17 includes an upwardly inclined portion 417a and a downwardly inclined portion 417b, and the lower portion 419 includes an upwardly inclined portion 470, a vertical portion 472, and a downwardly inclined portion 474.

[0116] As shown in FIGS. 40 to 43, the upwardly inclined portion 417a of the upper portion 17 is mainly composed of an upper edge 17a, an inclined edge 417d, and a leading edge 413ca, and extends so as to protrude obliquely downward from the upper edge 17a toward the inclined edge 417d. The downwardly inclined portion 417b is mainly composed of an inclined edge 417d, an intermediate edge 18a, and a leading edge 413cb, and extends so as to protrude obliquely downward from the inclined edge 417d toward the intermediate edge 18a. It is preferable that the upwardly inclined portion 417a has a steeper downward inclination than the downwardly inclined portion 417b.

[0117] The upwardly inclined portion 470 of the lower portion 415 extends obliquely downward so as to be drawn from the lower intermediate edge 18d, and has a leading edge 470c on the leading end side. The vertical portion 472 extends downward from the upwardly inclined portion 470 and has a leading edge 472c on the leading end side. The downwardly inclined portion 474 extends to the lower edge 19d (lower surface 3b) so as to project obliquely downward from the vertical portion 472, and has a leading edge 474c on the leading end side. The drawn-in edge 419a between the upwardly inclined portion 470 and the vertical portion 472 extends from the base end to the tip 419e, and the tip 419e is the intersection of the leading edge 470c of the upwardly inclined portion 470 and the leading edge 472c of the vertical portion 472. The downwardly drawn-in edge 419d between the vertical portion 472 and the downwardly inclined portion 474 extends from the base end to the tip 419g, and the tip 419g is the intersection of the leading edge 472c of the vertical portion 472 and the leading edge 474c of the downwardly inclined portion 474.

[0118] The leading edges 13c (413ca, 413cb), 14c, and 470c, 472c, 474c of the leading edge are each formed so as to always contact the upper portion 13, the middle portion 14, and the upwardly inclined portion 460, the vertical portion 462, and the downwardly inclined portion 464 of the opening side surface 407 of the adjacent shutter piece 403 when the shutter piece 403 swings, and substantially no gap is generated.

[0119] The upper portion 17, the middle portion 18, and the lower portion 419 of the contact side surface 109 are each preferably formed in a concave shape so as to contact the upper portion 13, the middle portion 14, and the lower portion 415 of the opening side surface 407 of the adjacent shutter piece when the shutter set 404 is in the fully closed state.

[0120] Specifically, the upper edge 13a, the inclined edge 413d, and the intermediate edge 14a of the upper portion 13 of the opening side surface 407 can respectively abut against the upper edge 17a, the inclined edge 417d, and the intermediate edge 18a of the upper portion 17 of the abutting side surface 409 of the adjacent shutter piece 403. The intermediate edge 14a and the lower intermediate edge 14d of the intermediate portion 18 of the opening side surface 407 can respectively abut against the intermediate edge 18a and the lower intermediate edge 18d of the abutting side surface 409 of the adjacent shutter piece 403. The protruding edge 415a, the lower protruding edge 415d, and the lower edge 15d of the lower portion 415 of the opening side surface 407 can respectively abut against the retracted edge 419a, the lower retracted edge 419d, and the lower edge 19d of the lower portion 419 of the abutting side surface 409 of the adjacent shutter piece 403. That is, the upper edge 17a, the inclined edge 417d, the intermediate edge 18a, the lower intermediate edge 18d, the retracted edge 419a, the lower retracted edge 419d, and the lower edge 19d of the abutting side surface 409 are each formed in a concave arc shape in plan view.

[0121] Also, the leading edge 470c of the upper inclined portion 470, the leading edge 472c of the vertical portion 472, and the leading edge 474c of the lower inclined portion 474 are not located at the positions of the leading edge 13c of the uppermost portion 17 and the leading edge 14c of the intermediate portion 18 in plan view, that is, they are offset toward the base end 419b of the retracted edge 419a so as not to pass through the center 5a of the opening 5.

[0122] The shutter piece 403 has a front end surface 480 that is offset toward the base end 14b side from the leading edge 14c below the leading edge 14c. The front end surface 480 is formed so as to intersect the lower portions 415 and 419 at the front end sides of the lower portion 415 and the lower portion 419.

[0123] When the tip 13e of the upper edge 13a of the opening side surface 407 of the shutter piece 403 is positioned at the center 5a of the opening 5, the opening 5 of the shutter set 402 is closed by the tip 13e (starting to close state). At this time, the foremost edges 13c (413ca, 413cb), 14c, and the tip edges 470c, 472c, 474c of the shutter piece 403 are in contact with the upper part 13, the middle part 14, and the lower part 415 of the opening side surface 407 of the adjacent shutter piece 403, respectively. For this reason, on the opening side surface 407 of each shutter piece 403, an uneven sky space SS4 surrounded by the inclined upper part 13, the vertically extending middle part 14, the lower part 415 protruding toward the side of the opening 5, and the front end surface 480 offset from the tip to the base end side of the shutter piece 403 is formed. The sky space SS4 is composed of, in order from above, a substantially octagonal pyramid-shaped and frustum of an octagonal pyramid-shaped first space SS41 surrounded by eight upper parts 13, a substantially octagonal column-shaped second space SS42 surrounded by eight middle parts 14, and the remaining third space SS43.

[0124] While moving the shutter set 402 from the starting to close state to the fully closed state, the sky space SS4 is reduced as a whole. Specifically, the height and diameter of the first space SS41 are reduced, and the diameter of the second space SS42 is reduced.

[0125] As a result, when the shutter set 402 reaches the fully closed state, the first space SS41 and the second space SS42 disappear, and the sky space SS4 is composed only of the reduced third space SS43.

[0126] Next, with reference to FIGS. 44 to 48, the operation of the molding device 401 will be described. Note that a detailed description of the operation of the molding device 104 according to the third embodiment, which is the same as the molding device 1 according to the first embodiment, will be omitted. Specifically, FIGS. 12 to 17 of the first embodiment are substantially common to the third embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0127] As shown in FIG. 44, the shutter set 402 is moved toward the fully closed state. The protruding lower portion 415 of the shutter piece 403 intensively gathers and stretches toward the upper center of the inner member F while holding the outer skin material D close to the inner member F. Since the width by which the upwardly inclined portion 460 protrudes with respect to the intermediate portion 14 becomes wider from the base end 415b toward the tip end 415e in plan view, the holding force of the outer skin material D can be increased as the shutter set 402 approaches the fully closed state. Further, the outer skin material D can be held until immediately before the shutter set 402 reaches the fully closed state. As a result, the amount of gathering of the outer skin material D can be stabilized, and production can be stabilized. Also, since the downwardly inclined portion 464 of the lower portion 415 is formed of a convex curved surface, the effect of preventing surface roughness can be further improved.

[0128] The closing operation of the shutter set 402 is advanced, and the inner member F is sealed above by the outer skin material D surrounded by the eight lower portions 15. As shown in FIG. 45, by further advancing the closing operation of the shutter set 102, the opening 5 of the shutter set 102 is closed to form an air space SS4.

[0129] As shown in FIG. 46, as the closing operation of the shutter set 102 progresses, the volume of the air space SS4 is reduced. As a result, the peripheral edge DE of the outer skin material D is more firmly sealed.

[0130] Also, since the tip ends of the upwardly inclined portion 460, the vertical portion 462, and the downwardly inclined portion 464 are formed at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the foremost edge 14c of the intermediate portion 14, the opening can be maintained without closing the third space SS43 while the air space SS4 is gradually reduced.

[0131] As shown in FIG. 47, the shutter set 402 is moved to the fully closed state, the closing operation of the shutter unit 402 is stopped, and the sealing of the outer skin material D by the shutter unit 402 is terminated. At this time, only the reduced third space SS43 exists in the air space SS4.

[0132] As shown in Fig. 48, the shutter set 402 is moved toward the open state to open the outer skin material D of the head of the coated food P, and the support device 27 on which the coated food P is placed is lowered.

[0133] The description of the shutter piece and the shutter set according to the embodiment of the present invention is generally as described above. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0134] For example, in the above embodiment, it has been described that the shutter pieces 3, 103, 403 are provided with the intermediate portions 14, 18. However, like the shutter piece 203 of the first modification of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 38, it may not be provided with an intermediate portion.

[0135] The shutter piece 203 has an opening side surface 207 and a contact side surface 209. The opening side surface 207 has an upper portion 13 and a lower portion 15 below it. The longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the upper portion 13 is concave. In a plan view, the protruding edge 15a of the lower portion 15 is located between the upper edge 13a, the intermediate edge 14a, and the lower edge 13d. Further, the contact side surface 209 has an upper portion 17 and a lower portion 19 corresponding to the opening side surface 207.

[0136] Even in this modification, it is possible to form an air space in the shutter unit, and the coated food P can be formed without leaking the outer skin material D to be sealed onto the upper surface of the shutter unit. Further, by forming the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the upper portion 13 in a concave shape, the amount of the outer skin material stored in the air space can be increased, and a third space serving as a throttle valve can be formed in the air space, so that the peripheral edge portion DE of the outer skin material D can be surely sealed.

[0137] Also, like the shutter piece 303 of the second modification of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 39, a vertical portion may be added between the upwardly inclined portion and the downwardly inclined portion of the lower portion.

[0138] The lower portion 315 of the opening side surface 307 of the shutter piece 303 has a horizontal portion 60, an upwardly inclined portion 62, a vertical portion 63, and a downwardly inclined portion 64. The vertical portion 63 extends downward from the protruding edge 15a which is the lower end of the upwardly inclined portion 62, and is a curved surface having the same contour shape in the vertical direction. Also, the downwardly inclined portion 64 extends obliquely downward from the vertical portion 63 so as to be drawn in from the vertical portion 63.

[0139] The abutting side surface 309 of the shutter piece 303 has a lower portion 319 corresponding to the lower portion 315 of the opening side surface 307. Also, the tip surface 380 intersects the lower portions 315 and 319 on the tip side of the lower portions 315 and 319. Thus, by increasing the height of the lower portion and lengthening the pipe path of the third space S3, a high pressure can be applied to the outer skin material D pushed out from the effective space S, and the peripheral edge DE of the outer skin material D can be surely sealed.

[0140] Also, a vertical portion having the same contour shape as the upper surface 3a of the shutter piece 3 may be added so as to extend upward from the upper portions 13 and 15. Even in this case, the effective space S can be formed.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0141] 1, 101, 401 Molding device 2, 102, 402 Shutter set 3, 103, 403 Shutter piece 3c Tip edge 3f Intermediate lower surface (horizontal lower surface) 4c Tip edge 5 Opening 5a Center 7, 107, 207, 307, 407 Opening side surface 9, 109, 209, 309, 409 Abutting side surface 13 Upper portion (first side surface) 13a Upper edge (peripheral edge) 13b Base end 13e Tip 13d Lower edge 14 Intermediate portion (intermediate side surface) 14a Intermediate edge (lower edge of upper portion) Lower portions (second side surfaces) of 15, 115, 315, and 415 Protruding edges (peripheral edges) of 15a, 115a, and 415a Base ends of 15b, 115b, and 415b Tips of 15e, 115e, and 415e Shutter device 23 Horizontal portions of 60 and 160 Upwardly inclined portion 62 Vertical portion 63 Downwardly inclined portions of 64 and 164 Tip surfaces of 80, 180, and 380 Vertical portion 162 Outer skin material (food dough) D Peripheral portion DE Inner material F Coated food P Air spaces S, SS1, and SS4 First spaces S1, SS11, and SS41 Second spaces S2, SS14, and SS42 Third spaces S3, SS13, and SS43

Claims

【Claim 1】 A shutter piece (3, 103, 203, 303, 403) of a shutter device (23) used to wrap an inner material (F) supplied to the center of a disc-shaped outer skin material (D) with the outer skin material (D) and seal the peripheral edge (DE) of the outer skin material (D) above the inner skin material (F), The shutter device (23) has an opening (5) formed by a plurality of shutter pieces (3, 103, 203, 303, 403), and the opening (5) can be opened and closed by swinging the plurality of shutter pieces (3, 103, 203, 303, 403), The shutter piece (3, 103, 203, 303, 403) has an opening side surface (7, 107, 207, 307, 407) facing the opening (5), and the opening side surface (7, 107, 207, 307, 407) includes an upper portion (13) and a lower portion (15) disposed below the upper portion (13), The upper portion (13) includes an upper edge (13a) and an intermediate edge (14a) located below the upper edge (13a). When the plurality of shutter pieces (3, 103, 203, 303, 403) are swung to close the opening (5), the tip (13e) of the upper edge (13a) closes first and then the tip (14e) of the intermediate edge (14a) closes. The intermediate edge (14a) is arranged to be retracted from the upper edge (13a), The lower portion (15) includes a protruding edge (15a, 115a, 415a) located between the upper edge (13a) and the intermediate edge (14a) in a plan view, The shutter piece (3, 103, 203, 303, 403) is configured to form a sky space (S, SS1, SS4) for receiving the peripheral edge (DE) of the outer skin material (D) when the tip (13e) of the upper edge (13a) is closed. The sky space (S, SS1, SS4) includes an upper space (S1, SS11, SS41) formed by the upper portion (13) and a lower space (S3, SS13, SS43) formed by the lower portion (15) and having a smaller diameter than the upper space (S1, SS11, SS41), The shutter pieces (3, 103, 203, 303, 403) are configured to reduce the upper space (S1, SS11, SS41) while holding the outer skin material (D) in the skyward space (S, SS1, SS4) by the lower portion (17) until the tip (14e) of the intermediate edge (14a) closes. **Claim 2** The width between the protruding edge (415a) of the lower portion (15) and the intermediate edge (14a) of the upper portion (13) in a plan view becomes wider toward the tip (14e) of the intermediate edge (14a). The shutter piece (403) according to claim 1. **Claim 3** The width between the protruding edge (15a, 115a) of the lower portion (15) and the intermediate edge (14a) of the upper portion (13) in a plan view becomes narrower toward the tip (14e) of the intermediate edge (14a). The shutter pieces (3, 103, 203, 303) according to claim 1. **Claim 4** The lower portion (15) has a horizontal portion (60, 160) which is an upward-facing surface for holding the outer skin material (D). The shutter pieces (3, 103, 203, 303) according to claim 1. **Claim 5** The opening side surface (7, 107, 307, 407) includes an intermediate portion (14) having the same contour shape in the vertical direction between the upper portion (15) and the lower portion (17). The shutter pieces (3, 103, 303, 403) according to any one of claims 1 to 4. **Claim 6** A shutter set combined with the shutter pieces according to claim 1.

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