Boiled egg shell cracking device

Abstract

To provide an apparatus for transferring boiled eggs, capable of smoothly transferring boiled eggs in large quantity upwards without damaging.SOLUTION: An apparatus for transferring boiled eggs is equipped with a boiled egg transfer route 50, extending circumferentially from the entry part 16 to the exit part 17, and plural covering bars 91 arranged between the outer drum 80 and the jetting equipment 95 to cover storage parts T, which are moving through the transfer route 50, from the outside of the outer drum 80 as a covering body, with the jetting equipment 95 water-jettable toward boiled eggs. The covering bars 91 are fixed at the left side panel 90L and the right side panel 90R, which are different prescribed members from the outer drum 80 and the inner drum 70, and are arranged closely to outermost outer-bars 82 among plural outer-bars 82 forming the partition parts 82A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a boiled egg cracking device capable of cracking boiled eggs.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in food processing factories that handle eggs, boiled egg shelling devices have been used that are capable of consistently performing the process from cracking the shells to peeling a large number of boiled eggs.

[0003] One example of this type of boiled egg shelling device includes an inner drum made of multiple inner rods spaced apart in the circumferential direction of an inner circle centered on a predetermined rotation axis, an outer drum with multiple partition sections made of multiple outer rods spaced apart in the radial direction of the outer circle centered on the predetermined rotation axis, arranged outside the inner drum at intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer circle, and a spray device arranged outside the outer drum and capable of spraying water toward the boiled eggs.The inner drum rotates in a first direction and the outer drum rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, so that the boiled eggs placed in a storage section formed by the inner rods and two adjacent partition sections in an inlet section located in the upper half of the outer drum are transported circumferentially in the second direction and are discharged from a discharge section located in the lower half of the outer drum.As a result, the boiled eggs are hit by the water sprayed from the spray device and collide with the inner rods and the outer rods, cracking the shells (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP-A-5-192110 (page 2, figures 1-3) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the boiled egg shelling device described in Patent Document 1, if the rotation speed of the inner drum is slow, there is insufficient collision between the boiled egg and the inner and outer rods, and the shell is not cracked properly.However, because the outer peripheral surface of the storage section is open, if the rotation speed of the inner drum is increased, there is a risk that the boiled egg will be thrown off with force when it comes into contact with the inner rod, and will fly out from the outer peripheral surface of the storage section.

[0006] The present invention has been made in response to these problems, and aims to provide a boiled egg shell cracking device that can crack the shells efficiently while preventing the boiled eggs from flying out of the container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the boiled egg shell cracking device of the present invention is The boiled eggs are boiled in a circular manner and are arranged in a circular manner around a predetermined rotation axis. ... In this boiled egg cracking device, the inner drum rotates in a first direction and the outer drum rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, so that a boiled egg put into a storage section formed by the inner rod and two circumferentially adjacent partition sections in an entrance section provided in the upper half of the outer drum is transported circumferentially in the second direction and is discharged from a discharge section provided in the lower half of the outer drum, during which the boiled egg collides with the inner rod and the outer rod while being hit by water sprayed from the spray device, thereby cracking the shell. A boiled egg transport path extending in a circumferential direction from the entrance portion to the discharge portion; a cover body that enables the spray device to spray water onto the boiled eggs and that is provided to cover the storage section that moves along the transfer path between the outer drum and the spray device from the outside of the outer drum; Equipped with The cover body is fixed to a predetermined member separate from the outer drum and the inner drum, and is positioned adjacent to the outermost outer bar material among the multiple outer bar materials that constitute the partition portion. According to this feature, by increasing the rotation speed of the inner drum so that the boiled eggs contained in the storage section collide strongly with the inner and outer rods as they are transported along the transport path, even if the boiled eggs in the storage section are more likely to fly out, they are prevented from flying out of the storage section by colliding with the cover body.In addition, not only does the number of collisions increase as they collide not only with the inner and outer rods but also with the cover body, but because the cover body is fixed to the moving storage section, the impact at the time of collision is increased, making the shell more likely to crack, so the boiled eggs can be prevented from flying out of the storage section and the shells can be cracked in an efficient manner.

[0008] The cover body is made of a cover bar arranged parallel to the outer bar, The cover bar is characterized in that a plurality of cover bars are provided at predetermined intervals along the transport path. According to this feature, by providing multiple cover bars at a predetermined interval, multiple uneven portions are provided, which increases the contact area with the boiled egg, making the shell more likely to crack. Also, the structure is simple and can be set up so as not to obstruct the spray of water from the spray device onto the boiled egg.

[0009] The predetermined interval is characterized in that it is shorter than the lateral length of the boiled egg. This feature effectively prevents the boiled egg from jumping out of the container.

[0010] The predetermined interval is longer than at least one of an inner spacing dimension between adjacent inner bars and an outer spacing dimension between adjacent outer bars. According to this feature, when a boiled egg hits two adjacent cover bars at the same time, cracks occur in two places that are farther apart than when it hits the inner or outer bar, so cracks can be made evenly around the circumference of the boiled egg, making it easier to peel.

[0011] The cover bar is characterized by being a columnar or cylindrical member. This feature allows the shell to crack when the boiled egg hits something, preventing the white from being crushed.

[0012] The device is characterized by having a specific partition section that divides the storage section so that multiple storage spaces are formed in the direction of the specified rotation axis, and each of the multiple storage spaces can accommodate at least one boiled egg. According to this feature, by distributing multiple boiled eggs among the storage spaces in the entry section, it is possible to prevent multiple boiled eggs stored in the storage section from concentrating in a specific location and interfering with other boiled eggs, preventing them from moving freely and preventing the shells from being cracked properly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a left side view showing a boiled egg processing device comprising a shell cracking device, a transfer device, and a shell peeling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1(a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the shell cracking device, and FIG. 1(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main part of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partially omitted front view showing the shell cracking device. [Figure 4] 2. (a) is an AA end view in FIG. 2, and (a) is a BB end view in FIG. [Figure 5] (a) is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the shell cracking device showing the state in which a boiled egg enters the entry section of the shell cracking device, and (b) is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the shell cracking device showing the state in which the egg is transported while being cracked within the storage section. [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the shell cracking device showing the state in which the shells are discharged from the discharge section after being cracked. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a boiled egg. [Figure 8] 1(a) to 1(d) are schematic vertical cross-sectional views of a shell cracking device showing how a boiled egg is cracked. [Figure 9] 1(a) to 1(c) are schematic vertical cross-sectional views of a shell cracking device showing how a boiled egg is cracked. [Figure 10] (a) is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a shell cracking device showing how a boiled egg collides with one cover bar, and (b) is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a shell cracking device showing how a boiled egg collides with two cover bars. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A mode for carrying out the boiled egg cracking device according to the present invention will be described below based on an embodiment. [Example]

[0015] A boiled egg shell cracking device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. In the following description, the right side of the paper in Figure 1 will be referred to as the front of the boiled egg processing device including the boiled egg shell cracking device, the left side of the paper will be referred to as the back of the boiled egg processing device, and the front side of the paper will be referred to as the left side of the boiled egg processing device, with the top and bottom of the paper being the up and down directions of the boiled egg processing device.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, boiled egg processing apparatus 10 has a boiled egg transfer device 1 (hereinafter referred to as transfer device 1) for transferring boiled eggs upward, a boiled egg shell cracking device 11 (hereinafter referred to as shell cracking device 11) for cracking the boiled eggs transferred upward by transfer device 1, and a boiled egg shell peeling device 12 (hereinafter referred to as shell peeling device 12) for peeling the boiled eggs cracked by shell cracking device 11, with transfer device 1 being connected to shell cracking device 11, which in turn is connected to shell peeling device 12. Shell cracking device 11 is positioned above shell peeling device 12. Note that the solid arrows in Figure 1 indicate the transfer path of the boiled eggs, and the dotted arrows indicate the flow path of water supplied during the shell cracking and shell peeling processes.

[0017] First, an overview of the process of peeling boiled eggs using boiled egg processing apparatus 10 will be explained with reference to Figure 1. Boiled eggs (with shells) are placed into input section 2 located at the lower front of transfer device 1. The boiled eggs may be placed into input section 2 manually by an operator, or may be placed by a transfer device (not shown). After being placed into input section 2, the boiled eggs are transported upward by transfer device 1 and then discharged from discharge section 15 located at the upper back surface and guided to entrance section 16 located at the upper front surface of shell cracking device 11. After entering entrance section 16 into shell cracking device 11, the boiled eggs are transported toward the rear side and subjected to the shell cracking process, then discharged from discharge section 17 located at the lower back surface and guided to entrance section 18 located at the upper front surface of shell cracking device 12. The boiled eggs that enter the shelling device 12 from the entrance 18 are transported toward the rear side while being shelled, and then discharged from the discharge 19 located at the bottom of the rear side, completing the shelling process. After the shelling process is complete and the boiled eggs (shellless boiled eggs) are discharged from the shelling device 12, they are transported to another location by the transfer device 12A connected to the shelling device 12, where they undergo a predetermined process (for example, drying).

[0018] 2 to 4, the shell cracking device 11 is mainly composed of an inner drum 70 that rotates at a predetermined speed (high speed) in the direction of arrow S1 around a rotation axis 73 facing left and right, an outer drum 80 that is disposed around the inner drum 70 and rotates at a slower speed than the inner drum 70 around the rotation axis 73 in the direction of arrow S2, which is the opposite direction to arrow S1, a left plate 90L and a right plate 90R that are erected on the left and right outside of the outer drum 80, multiple cover bars 91 that serve as a cover body that are suspended between the left plate 90L and the right plate 90R, and an injection device 95 that is suspended above the cover bars 91 between the left plate 90L and the right plate 90R. Note that some components (inner bar 72, outer bar 82, and cover bar 91, which will be described later) are not shown in FIG.

[0019] 2 to 4, the inner drum 70 is mainly composed of two inner discs 71 fixed non-rotatably at a predetermined distance on the left and right sides of a rotation shaft 73, and a plurality of metal inner rods 72 whose left and right ends are fixed to portions near the outer peripheries of the left and right inner discs 71. The inner rods 72 are parallel to the rotation shaft 73 and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of an inner circle centered on the rotation shaft 73. Some of the inner rods 72, for example, inner rods 72a, are arranged one between every two inner rods 72 and are located closer to the rotation shaft 73 in the radial direction than the other inner rods 72.

[0020] The left and right ends of the rotating shaft 73 are rotatably supported via bearings 74 on a left side plate 90L and a right side plate 90R that constitute the housing of the shell cracking device 11, and a sprocket 75 is fixed to the inside of the left side plate 90L. A motor 76 for rotating the inner drum 70 is fixed to the outer surface of the left side plate 90L, and a chain 78 is stretched between the sprocket 75 and a drive sprocket 77 that is fixed to the drive shaft of the motor 76. When the rotating shaft 73 is rotated by the motor 76, the inner drum 70 rotates around the rotating shaft 73 in the direction of arrow S1.

[0021] The outer drum 80 is mainly composed of a pair of outer disks 81 with a larger diameter than the inner disk 71 of the inner drum 70, which are rotatably arranged on the rotation shaft 73 outside the inner disk 71 of the inner drum 70 via bearings 86, and a plurality of metal outer rods 82 with left and right ends fixed to portions near the outer peripheries of the left and right outer disks 81. The outer rods 82 are parallel to the rotation shaft 73 and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the radial direction of an outer circle centered on the rotation shaft 73 (three in this embodiment), and a plurality of partitions 82A made up of these three outer rods 82 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer circle.

[0022] A sprocket 65 fixed to the right side of the outer circular plate 81 via a connecting shaft 69 is disposed inside the right side plate 90R of the rotary shaft 73 so as to be rotatable about the rotary shaft 73. A motor 66 for rotating the outer drum 80 is fixed to the outer surface of the right side plate 90R, and a chain 68 is stretched between the sprocket 65 and a drive sprocket 67 fixed to the drive shaft of the motor 66. The motor 66 rotates the sprocket 65 about the rotary shaft 73 in the opposite direction to the rotary shaft 73, thereby rotating the outer drum 80 in the direction of arrow S2 about the rotary shaft 73. In this embodiment, the inner drum 70 and the outer drum 80 are supported rotatably about the concentric (common) rotary shaft 73, but the inner drum 70 and the outer drum 80 may each be rotatably supported on separate rotary shafts.

[0023] The partitions 82A are arranged outside the inner rods 72 of the inner drum 70, and the outer peripheral region of the inner drum 70 is therefore divided in the circumferential direction by the multiple partitions 82A. Therefore, one of the multiple partitions 82A arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, another partition 82A adjacent to the one partition 82A, and the multiple inner rods 72 arranged in the circumferential direction form multiple box-shaped storage sections T with an open outer peripheral surface.

[0024] Furthermore, spacer members 85 made of synthetic resin and having a substantially rectangular shape are attached to the outer peripheral edges of the opposing surfaces of the left and right outer disks 81, outside the inner disk 71. A plurality of spacer members 85 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the outer disk 81 to correspond to each storage section T, so as to close the gaps formed between the outer disk 81 and the inner disk 71, preventing boiled eggs that have jumped out of the storage section T from getting into the gaps. Furthermore, the outer peripheral edges of the spacer members 85 are inclined toward the rotation axis 73, facing the inner disk 71, so that they can guide boiled eggs into the storage section T.

[0025] The outer drum 80 also has a partition disk 84 serving as a specific partition located approximately midway between the pair of outer disks 81, 81. The partition disk 84 has a through-hole formed in its center, through which the inner drum 70 can be inserted. The partition disk 84 also has through-holes formed therein, through which each outer rod 82 can be inserted, allowing the partition disk 84 to rotate in the direction S2 together with the outer disk 81 and the outer rod 82. The partition disk 84 divides the storage section T into two storage spaces, storage section T1 and storage section T2, so that multiple boiled eggs transferred from the transfer device 1 can be stored, for example, two eggs each, in storage section T1 and storage section T2. ​​This prevents the boiled eggs stored in each storage section T from concentrating in a predetermined area and interfering with other boiled eggs, preventing them from moving freely and preventing sufficient shell cracking.

[0026] 2, the boiled eggs transferred from the transfer device 1 are guided to the storage section T from the entrance section 16, which is located slightly above the rotation shaft 73 on the front side of the outer drum 80, and are then transferred circumferentially in the direction of arrow S2 before being discharged from the discharge section 17, which is located slightly below the rotation shaft 73 on the back side of the outer drum 80. In other words, in approximately the upper half of the outer periphery of the inner drum 70, there is formed a boiled egg transfer path 50 that is approximately arc-shaped in side view and that transfers the boiled eggs that entered from the entrance section 16 to the discharge section 17.

[0027] 2 to 4, a left side plate 90L and a right side plate 90R, which constitute part of the housing of the shell cracking device 11, are erected on the left and right outer sides of the outer drum 80. A duct 99 is attached below the outer drum 80 between the left side plate 90L and the right side plate 90R. The duct 99 has a discharge duct 99a through which boiled eggs discharged from the discharge section 17 after being cracked, and a drainage duct 99b formed below the entrance section 16.

[0028] The upper ends of the left side plate 90L and the right side plate 90R extend above the upper end of the outer drum 80, and on the outer periphery of the outer drum 80 between these left side plate 90L and right side plate 90R, a plurality of cover rods 91 are arranged in an arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the outer disc 81, i.e., along the transfer path 50, so as not to come into contact with the outer disc 81 of the outer drum 80 and to be close to the outermost outer rod 82 of the multiple outer rods 82 that make up each partition section 82A.

[0029] More specifically, the left and right ends of each cover bar 91 are fixed via bolts or the like to a left side plate 90L and a right side plate 90R, which are separate members from the inner drum 70 and the outer drum 80, and the cover bars 91 are oriented in the left-right direction so as to be parallel to the rotation shaft 73, the inner bar 72, and the outer bar 82, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the transfer direction of the transfer path 50. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the storage section T, which moves as the outer drum 80 rotates, is covered by the multiple cover bars 91 while it moves along the transfer path 50.

[0030] Additionally, above the cover bars 91, a plurality of sprayers 95 for spraying water toward the transfer path 50 are arranged in an arc shape along the transfer path 50. The sprayers 95 consist of a water supply pipe 95a oriented in the left-right direction parallel to the rotating shaft 73, inner bar 72, outer bar 82, and cover bar 91, and a plurality of spray holes 95b formed on the underside of the water supply pipe 95a. The sprayers 95 are capable of spraying water from the spray holes 95b so that the water spreads left-right toward the transfer path 50 diagonally downward and forward. The water sprayed from the spray holes 95b is supplied to the transfer path 50 through the gaps between the cover bars 91 so that its momentum is not weakened by hitting the cover bars 91, and hits the boiled eggs with force. This makes it easier for water to enter between the shell and the egg white through cracks that occur during transfer along the transfer path 50, as will be described later, facilitating shell removal by the shelling device 12.

[0031] Since the inner drum 70 and the outer drum 80 are formed such that the inner bars 72 and the outer bars 82 are spaced apart at regular intervals, water sprayed from the water spray holes 95b can pass downward. The water that has passed downward, as well as the eggshell fragments and thin skins of the boiled eggs that are generated when the water hits the boiling eggs vigorously, are guided to the inclined surface 99d of the duct 99 and discharged to the drain duct 99b.

[0032] Here, the dimensions of the boiled eggs will be described using FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the sizes are MS or M among the so-called SS, S, MS, M, L, and LL, and based on chicken eggs with a longitudinal (vertical) dimension L1 in the range of about 5.0 cm to 6.0 cm and a short-side (horizontal) dimension L2 in the range of about 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm, the arrangement relationship of the inner bars 72, the outer bars 82, and the cover bars 91 will be described. Note that when the purpose is to crack the shells of eggs with sizes other than M and L, or eggs other than chicken eggs, etc., with different sizes, the arrangement relationship of each member may be changed according to the size of the eggs. Also, the boiled eggs in this embodiment may be hard-boiled eggs or semi-boiled eggs.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2(b), the separation dimension N3 between adjacent cover bars 91, 91 is made shorter than the short-side dimension L2 of the egg (N3 < L2). Thereby, it is possible to prevent the boiled eggs from jumping out of the accommodation part T during the shell-cracking process. Also, the separation dimension N3 between the cover bars 91, 91 is made longer than the separation dimension N1 between the inner bars 72, 72 and the separation dimension N2 between the outer bars 82, 82 (L2 > N3 > N1, N2). Also, the radial separation dimension N4 between the outermost outer bar 82 among the plurality of outer bars 82 constituting each partition part 82A and the cover bar 91 is made shorter than the short-side dimension L2 of the egg (N4 < L2). Therefore, since the boiled eggs in the accommodation part T cannot pass between the cover bar 91 and the outer bar 82, it is possible to prevent them from entering the adjacent accommodation part T.

[0034] Next, the shell-cracking process of the boiled eggs by the shell-cracking device 11 will be described using FIGS. 5(a), (b), and FIG. 6.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5(a), when the inner drum 70, which rotates at high speed toward the entrance 16, and the outer drum 80, which rotates at low speed toward the discharge 17, are rotating in opposite directions with a difference in rotational speed, a plurality of boiled eggs (e.g., four eggs) discharged from the transfer device 1 enter the entrance 16 in a line extending left and right, and are stored in the storage section T formed by both drums. At this time, as the plurality of boiled eggs are guided in a line extending left and right, the partition disk 84, located in the center of the outer drum 80 in the left and right direction, allows the boiled eggs to be stored approximately evenly (e.g., two eggs each) in the storage sections T1 and T2.

[0036] In the following, an example of the behavior of boiled eggs stored in storage unit T will be described in detail, focusing on the behavior of boiled eggs E1 and E2 stored in storage unit T1. Boiled eggs E1 and E2 stored in storage unit T1 are guided onto partition 82A in a lying position near entrance 16, and then transferred along transfer path 50 as partition 82A moves in the direction of arrow S2.

[0037] 5(b), boiled eggs E1, E2 are guided toward the inner rods 72 of the inner drum 70, which is rotating at high speed in the direction of arrow S1, causing cracks in their shells as they collide with the inner rods 72 and 72a. In addition, recesses 72b are formed on the inner diameter side between the upper part of the inner rod 72a and the inner rods 72 adjacent to the inner rod 72a, forming multiple uneven portions in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the inner drum 70. The high-speed rotation of the inner drum 70 causes these uneven portions to move in sequence, making it easier for boiled eggs in the storage section T to be thrown outward when they come into contact with the inner rods 72, 72a. Therefore, while the boiled eggs stored in the storage section T are moving along the transfer path 50 toward the discharge section 17, they collide not only with the inner rod 72 but also with the outer rod 82 and the cover rod 91, causing cracks in the shells as they are transferred.

[0038] As shown in Figure 6, when the boiled eggs E1 and E2 are transported near the end of the transport path 50, the partition 82A tilts downward, so the boiled eggs slide down the partition 82A and are discharged from the discharge section 17.

[0039] Next, an example of the manner in which the boiled eggs E contained in the container T1 move along the ascending portion of the transfer path 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8(a) to 8(d).

[0040] As shown in Figure 8(a), in the ascending section of the transfer path 50, the partition 82A of the outer drum 80 changes from a tilted position to an upright position, and the boiled egg E is guided by its own weight toward and comes into contact with the inner rods 72, 72a of the inner drum 70. Because the inner drum 70 is rotating in the direction opposite to the transfer direction, when the boiled egg E comes into contact with the inner rods 72, 72a, the impact cracks the shell and causes the egg to be thrown outward in the opposite direction to the transfer direction, as shown in Figure 8(b).

[0041] Next, inside the storage section T, the boiled egg E is bounced outward in the opposite direction to the transport direction and collides with the partition section 82A of the outer drum 80, which is rotating and approaching in the opposite direction to the inner drum 70. The impact cracks the shell and, as shown in Figure 8(c), the boiled egg E is then bounced outward in the transport direction.

[0042] Next, inside the storage section T, the boiled egg E is bounced outward in the transport direction and hits the cover bar 91, which is located further outward than the outer drum 80, causing the shell to crack and, as shown in Figure 8(d), the boiled egg E that hits the cover bar 91 falls onto the inner bars 72, 72a due to its own weight.The boiled egg E is then bounced outward again by the inner bars 72, 72a, and while repeating the steps of Figures 8(a) to (d), it is pushed in the direction of arrow S2 by the partition 82A and transported while moving left and right in the storage section T.

[0043] Next, an example of the state in which the boiled eggs E contained in the container T1 move along the descending portion of the transfer path 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c).

[0044] As shown in Figure 9(a), in the descending section of the transfer path 50, the partition 82A on the discharge section 17 side of the storage section T prevents the boiled egg E from falling due to its own weight. However, as the partition 82A gradually tilts, the boiled egg E becomes more likely to separate from the inner rods 72, 72a of the inner drum 70 than in the ascending section. However, when the boiled egg E comes into contact with the inner rods 72, 72a, the impact cracks the shell and, as shown in Figure 9(b), the egg is thrown outward in the opposite direction to the transfer direction.

[0045] As shown in Figure 9(b), the boiled egg E is bounced outward in the opposite direction to the transport direction and collides with the partition 82A of the outer drum 80, which is rotating and approaching in the opposite direction to the inner drum 70. The impact cracks the shell, and the egg is then bounced outward in the transport direction, as shown in Figure 9(c). Next, in the storage section T, the boiled egg E bounces outward in the transport direction and collides with the cover bar 91, which is located on the outer periphery of the outer drum 80, further cracking the shell. The boiled egg E may then bounce off the cover bar 91 and collide with the inner bars 72, 72a, further cracking the shell.

[0046] In the descending section, the direction in which the boiled egg E is thrown in the opposite direction to the transport direction due to contact with the inner rods 72, 72a becomes closer to vertically upward, so the impact when the boiled egg E collides with the outer rod 82 of the partition section 82A is weakened. However, as the boiled egg E falls due to its own weight and is pushed downward and outward by the partition section 82A, the impact when it collides with the fixed cover rod 91 increases, and the boiled egg E is more likely to crack even in the descending section due to the impact with the cover rod 91.

[0047] In this way, the cover bar 91 is a separate member from the outer drum 80 and the inner drum 70, and is fixed to the left side plate 90L and right side plate 90R that rotatably support the outer drum 80 and the inner drum 70. For example, multiple cover bars 91 are attached to the outer drum 80 so as to cover the outer surface of each storage section T in the outer drum 80, and compared to a case in which multiple cover bars 91 are attached to the outer drum 80 so as to cover the outer surface of each storage section T in the outer drum 80 and move in the transport direction together with the storage section T, the impact when a boiled egg E that is bounced outward in the transport direction collides with the cover bar 91 is greater, making the shell more likely to crack.

[0048] In addition, the shell may crack if the outer bar 82 moves while part of the boiled egg is pinched between the fixed and immovable cover bar 91 and the outermost outer bar 82 of the partition section 82A that is approaching the cover bar 91.

[0049] 10(a), while the boiled egg E is being transported along the transport path 50, the spacing N3 between adjacent cover bars 91, 91 is longer than the spacing N1, N2 between the inner bar 72 and the outer bar 82, increasing the chance that the boiled egg E will collide with only one of the cover bars 91, compared to the inner bar 72 or the outer bar 82. In this case, the impact is concentrated at one point on the shell, making it more likely to crack.

[0050] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10(b), if a boiled egg E collides with two adjacent cover bars 91, 91 at almost the same time, cracks will appear in two places on the shell at once. However, the distance between the two cracks is longer than the distance between the cracks that appear in two places on the shell when the boiled egg collides with two inner bars 72, 72, or the distance between the cracks that appear in two places on the shell when the boiled egg collides with two outer bars 82, 82. Therefore, even if the number of collisions is small, cracks will appear evenly all over the periphery of the boiled egg E, making it easier to peel the shell during the shelling process using the shelling device 12.

[0051] Furthermore, since the cover bar 91 is positioned closer to the spray device 95 than the inner bar 72 or the outer bar 82, water from the spray device 95 is more likely to instantly enter when the boiled egg E collides with the cover bar 91 and cracks than when the boiled egg E collides with the inner bar 72 or the outer bar 82, making the shell peeling process more efficient.

[0052] As described above, the boiled egg shell cracking device 11 as an embodiment of the present invention comprises a boiled egg transport path 50 extending circumferentially from the entrance section 16 to the discharge section 17, and a cover bar 91 as a cover body that is arranged to cover the storage section T that moves along the transport path 50 between the outer drum 80 and the spray device 95 from the outside of the outer drum 80 while allowing water to be sprayed from the spray device 95 onto the boiled eggs.The cover bar 91 is fixed to the left side plate 90L and right side plate 90R, which are specified members separate from the outer drum 80 and the inner drum 70, and is positioned adjacent to the outermost outer bar 82 of the multiple outer bars 82 that make up the partition section 82A. According to this, by increasing the rotation speed of the inner drum 70 so that the boiled eggs stored in the storage section T collide strongly with the inner rod 72 and the outer rod 82 when they are transported along the transport path 50, even if the boiled eggs in the storage section T are more likely to fly out, they are prevented from flying out of the storage section T by colliding with the cover rod 91. Not only does the number of collisions increase by colliding not only with the inner rod 72 and the outer rod 82 but also with the cover rod 91, but because the cover rod 91 is fixed to the moving storage section T, the impact at the time of collision is increased, making the shell more likely to crack, so the boiled eggs can be prevented from flying out of the storage section T and the shells can be cracked in an appropriate manner.

[0053] Furthermore, the cover bars 91 are arranged parallel to the outer bars 82, and a plurality of the cover bars 91 are provided at a distance N3 along the transfer path 50, so that the plurality of cover bars 91 form a plurality of recesses 72b, which increases the contact area with the boiled egg and makes the shell more likely to crack. Furthermore, the structure is simple and can be set up so as not to impede the spray of water from the spray device 95 onto the boiled egg.

[0054] Furthermore, since the separation dimension N3 is shorter than the horizontal length dimension L2 of the boiled egg, the boiled egg can be suitably prevented from jumping out of the storage section T.

[0055] Furthermore, because spacing dimension N3 is longer than at least one of spacing dimension N1 between adjacent inner bars and spacing dimension N2 between adjacent outer bars, when a boiled egg collides with two adjacent cover bars simultaneously, cracks occur in two locations that are farther apart than when the boiled egg collides with inner bar 72 or outer bar 82, which allows the cracks to be made evenly around the periphery of the boiled egg, making it easier to peel. Also, as described above, because cracks can be made evenly around the periphery of the boiled egg, it is possible to crack the shell without damaging the white or yolk, not only when cracking hard-boiled eggs, but also when cracking soft-boiled eggs, which are more delicate than hard-boiled eggs.

[0056] Furthermore, since the cover bar 91 is a columnar or cylindrical member, when a boiled egg collides with it, it is possible to create cracks in the shell so that the egg white is not crushed.

[0057] In addition, a partition disk 84 is provided that divides the storage section T so that multiple storage spaces are formed in the direction of the predetermined rotation axis 73, and each of the multiple storage sections T1, T2 can store at least one boiled egg.Therefore, multiple (e.g., four) boiled eggs are stored in the storage sections T1, T2 at the entrance section 16 in a dispersed manner (e.g., two eggs are stored in each of the storage sections T1, T2), which prevents the multiple boiled eggs stored in the storage section T from concentrating in a predetermined area and being unable to move freely, which prevents the eggs from being properly cracked.

[0058] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0059] For example, in the above embodiment, a form in which multiple cover rods 91 are applied is exemplified as an example of a cover body of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it allows water to be sprayed from the spray device 95 onto the boiled eggs and is arranged to cover the storage section T moving along the transfer path 50 from the outside of the outer drum 80 between the outer drum 80 and the spray device 95, it does not have to be a rod like the cover rod 91, and for example, a mesh member made of metal or synthetic resin, or a plate-like member with slits or multiple through holes that allow water to pass through, may be arranged continuously to cover the outer surface of the storage section T in the part corresponding to the transfer path 50.

[0060] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the left and right ends of the cover bar 91 were fixed to the left side plate 90L and the right side plate 90R that rotatably support the rotating shaft 73, but as long as the inner drum 70 and the outer drum 80 are separate members, the cover bar 91 may be a separate member from the member that rotatably supports the rotating shaft 73 (for example, a member that constitutes the housing of the shell cracking device 11).

[0061] In the above embodiment, the cover bar 91 is formed of a cylindrical member, but it may be a cylindrical member, a square member, etc. In addition, the cover bar 91 is arranged parallel or approximately parallel to the rotation axis 73, but at least some of the multiple cover bars 91 may be arranged in a direction that obliquely intersects the rotation axis 73.

[0062] In addition, in the above embodiment, the multiple cover bars 91 were arranged on the circumference of a predetermined circle centered on the rotation axis 73, but some of the multiple cover bars 91 may be arranged on the circumference of a circle having a different radius from the cover bars arranged on the circumference of the predetermined circle.

[0063] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the inner rod 72, the outer rod 82, and the cover rod 91 are described as being mainly made of metal, but this is not limiting, and a buffer section made of an elastic material such as elastic rubber, silicone, or vinyl chloride may be provided on the outer surface of each metal rod so as to cover the outer periphery of at least one of the inner rod 72, the outer rod 82, and the cover rod 91. By covering with the elastic material, the impact at the time of collision can be attenuated and damage to the contents can be effectively prevented, so that, for example, the shell of a soft-boiled egg can be suitably cracked without crushing the white or yolk.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the specific partition section is a partition disk 84 made of a circular plate having a through hole in the center through which the inner drum 70 can be inserted and through holes through which each of the outer rods 82 can be inserted, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as the storage section T can be partitioned so that multiple storage spaces are formed in the direction of the rotation shaft 73, the partition disk 84 does not have to be made of a plate material, and may be made of, for example, a mesh member or rod material. Also, multiple specific partition sections may form three or more storage spaces in the direction of the rotation shaft 73. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 Transfer device 2 Input section 10 Egg processing equipment 11 Shell cracking device 16 Entry section 17 Discharge section 50 Transport route 70 inner drum 71 Inner disc 72,72a Inner bar material 72b Recess 80 outer drum 81 Outer disc 82 Outer bar 84 Partition disc (specific partition section) 90L Left side panel (specified part) 90R right side plate (designated member) 91 Cover bar material (cover body) 95 Injection device E. Boiled egg T storage section T1, T2 storage section (storage space)

Claims

1. The boiled eggs are boiled in a circular manner and are arranged in a circular manner around a predetermined rotation axis. ... In this boiled egg cracking device, the inner drum rotates in a first direction and the outer drum rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, so that a boiled egg put into a storage section formed by the inner rod and two circumferentially adjacent partition sections at an entrance section provided in the upper half of the outer drum is transported circumferentially in the second direction and is discharged from a discharge section provided in the lower half of the outer drum, and the boiled egg collides with the inner rod and the outer rod while being hit by water sprayed from the spray device, thereby cracking the shell. A boiled egg transfer path extending in a substantially arc-shaped manner in a side view from the entrance portion to the discharge portion in the rotation direction of the outer drum; a cover body that enables the spray device to spray water onto the boiled eggs and that is provided to cover the storage section that moves along the transfer path between the outer drum and the spray device from the outside of the outer drum; Equipped with The arc-shaped cover body along the transfer path is formed by a plurality of cover bars each extending parallel to the outer bar, provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction around the predetermined rotation axis, and fixed non-rotatably to a predetermined member separate from the outer drum and the inner drum, and the cover bar is disposed adjacent to the outermost outer bar among the plurality of outer bars constituting the partition section. A boiled egg cracking device characterized by the above.

2. The predetermined interval is shorter than the horizontal length of the boiled egg.

2. The boiled egg cracking device according to claim 1.

3. The predetermined interval is longer than at least one of the inner spacing dimension between adjacent inner bars and the outer spacing dimension between adjacent outer bars.

3. The boiled egg cracking device according to claim 2.

4. The cover bar is a columnar or cylindrical member.

4. The boiled egg cracking device according to claim 1, wherein the boiled egg cracking device is a device for cracking boiled eggs.

5. A specific partition section is provided to partition the storage section so that a plurality of storage spaces are formed in the direction of the predetermined rotation axis, and each of the plurality of storage spaces is capable of storing at least one boiled egg.

5. The boiled egg cracking device according to claim 1, wherein the boiled egg cracking device is a device for cracking boiled eggs.

Images