Rod-shaped food conveying method and rod-shaped food conveying device

Abstract

To provide rod-like food conveyance method reduced in frequency of maintenance and allowing easy continuous conveyance of the rod-like food.SOLUTION: Provided are a rod-like food conveyance method and a rod-like food conveyance device 1 used therefor. In the conveyance method for changing the conveyance direction by curving rod-like food A, in the upstream side and the downstream side of a curved part 11 in a conveyance route 4 of the rod-kike food A, by using an inside conveyance belt 20 and an outside conveyance belt 30 capable of conveying the rod-like food A while sandwiching the same, and a rotatable relay rotation member 50 for conveying the rod-like food A that has been released from the grip by the inside conveyance belt 20 and the outside conveyance belt 30, the rod-like food A, which is released from the grip by the inside conveyance belt 20 and the outside conveyance belt 30, is once conveyed to the relay rotation member 50 at the curved part 11 and then is taken out of the relay rotation member 50 and is sandwiched and conveyed by the inside conveyance belt 20 and the outside conveyance 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for conveying stick-shaped food products and a conveying device used therefor. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, sausages are made by stuffing salted and aged minced meat into a casing such as a sheep intestine, then heating (steaming) and cooling it, and then cutting the connecting parts that connect the food in a chain. After this cutting process, the sausages are usually conveyed in different directions before being packed.

[0003] Known conventional conveying devices are those that change the direction of travel of an object to be conveyed by combining a plurality of belt conveyors or by combining a turntable and a belt conveyor (see Patent Documents 1 to 4).

[0004] For example, the conveying device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an upstream conveyor, a downstream conveyor, and a direction changing device disposed between the conveyors. The direction changing device includes a rotatable turntable and multiple transfer mechanisms installed on the upper surface of the turntable. Each transfer mechanism is configured to transfer the material by placing it on a transfer roller supported so as to be rotatable. The conveying device disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a longitudinal feed conveying belt that conveys a rod-shaped kneaded product in its longitudinal direction and transfers it onto a transverse feed conveying belt, and the conveying surface of the downstream end of the longitudinal feed conveying belt is disposed at a predetermined height above the conveying surface of the transverse feed conveying belt so that the rear end of the product leaves the longitudinal feed conveying belt before the front end of the product delivered from the longitudinal feed conveying belt touches the conveying surface of the transverse feed conveying belt.

[0005] The conveying device disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a direction-changing mechanism consisting of an endless main belt and an endless auxiliary belt, one of whose intermediate running portions is stretched across the bottom of the guide passage in the straight section between the receiving corner and the sending corner so as to travel parallel to the main belt at the same speed and in the same direction. The conveying device disclosed in Patent Document 4 is comprised of a conveyor for transporting articles and a direction-changing device for guiding and changing the flow of articles from the conveyor to a work table. The direction-changing device is equipped with a turntable, and the work table is provided with a wall that can be raised, and the wall can be raised. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-081743 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 04-089715 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 62-79724 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-006593 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the above-mentioned conventional technologies have the following problems. The above-mentioned conventional technologies require complex mechanisms and many moving parts, which increases the frequency of device breakdowns and the associated maintenance, such as part replacement. In the case of conventional technologies that allow the conveyed object to fall naturally, this can lead to partial loss of the conveyed object and reduced accuracy in changing direction. These problems are common not only to sausages but also to the conveyance of other stick-shaped foods.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a rod-shaped food conveying method and rod-shaped food conveying device that have a simple configuration, reduce maintenance frequency, and enable easy continuous conveyance of rod-shaped foods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] (1) In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of a stick-shaped food conveying method is a conveying method in which stick-shaped food is curved to change its conveying direction, The conveying path for the stick-shaped food is provided with an inner conveyor belt and an outer conveyor belt that can hold and convey the stick-shaped food, and a relay rotating member that can carry and rotate the stick-shaped food when the stick-shaped food is released from the clamping between the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt, at upstream and downstream of the curved portion of the conveying path for the stick-shaped food. In this method, the stick-shaped food is conveyed by being sandwiched between the inner conveying belt and the outer conveying belt, and then the stick-shaped food is conveyed into the relay rotating member at the curved portion, and then conveyed out of the relay rotating member and sandwiched between the inner conveying belt and the outer conveying belt. (2) In order to achieve the above object, a stick-shaped food conveying device according to one embodiment is a conveying device having a curved portion in a conveying path for stick-shaped food, an inner conveyor belt and an outer conveyor belt that are respectively disposed on the inside and outside of the conveyor path and are capable of conveying the stick-shaped food through the curved portion; a rotatable intermediate rotary member disposed at the curved portion; Equipped with the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt are arranged opposite each other at a first width that allows the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt to sandwich and transport the stick-shaped food items upstream and downstream of the curved portion, and at the curved portion, the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt are arranged opposite each other at a second width that does not sandwich the stick-shaped food items and is larger than the first width; the relay rotating member is a member arranged to face the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt in a direction different from the opposing direction of the inner conveyor belt, and includes a plate-like member having a gap through which the stick-shaped food can be inserted; The relay rotating member is a device that relays the stick-shaped food that has been transported toward the curved portion from the inner conveying belt and the outer conveying belt, rotates with the stick-shaped food placed in the gap, and transports it back out of the curved portion to the inner conveying belt and the outer conveying belt. (3) In another embodiment of the stick-shaped food conveying device, the relay rotating member may also serve as an outer conveying belt roller for tensioning the outer conveying belt. (4) In another embodiment, the rod-shaped food conveying device may preferably have irregularities on the peripheral end surface of the plate-shaped member, and the belt surface of the outer conveying belt may also have irregularities that mesh with the irregularities on the plate-shaped member. (5) In another embodiment of the stick-shaped food conveying device, the inner conveying belt may preferably have a belt surface opposite to the uneven belt surface of the outer conveying belt that has unevenness for holding the stick-shaped food. (6) In another embodiment, the stick-shaped food conveying device preferably includes an inner conveying belt roller that tensions the inner conveying belt at the curved portion, The inner conveyor belt roller may have a width smaller than the gap between the plate-like members, and may be disposed with a portion inserted inside the relay rotating member. (7) In the stick-shaped food conveying device according to another embodiment, the first width may preferably be adjustable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for transporting stick-shaped foods that have a simple configuration, can reduce the frequency of maintenance, and can easily transport stick-shaped foods continuously. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a partially see-through plan view of a stick-shaped food conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the stick-shaped food conveying device of FIG. 1, broken down into its main parts. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a right side view of the stick-shaped food conveying device of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the stick-shaped food conveying device of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a partially see-through perspective view of the stick-shaped food conveying device of FIG. 1, showing the inner conveying belt, the outer conveying belt, and the conveying direction changing mechanism including the relay rotating member. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a partially transparent plan view of the mechanism of FIG. 5 and a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of the plan view. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the inner and outer conveyor belts in the vicinity of the curved portion of the stick-shaped food conveying device of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partially transparent plan view showing a state in which the width of the conveying section of the stick-shaped food conveying device of FIG. 1 is changed. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partially transparent plan view showing an inner conveyor belt, an outer conveyor belt, and a conveying direction changing mechanism including a relay rotating member in a modified example of the stick-shaped food conveying device of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all of the elements and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention.

[0013] 1. Rod-shaped food conveying device

[0014] Fig. 1 shows a partially see-through plan view of a rod-shaped food transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the rod-shaped food transport device of Fig. 1 separated into its main parts. Fig. 3 shows a right side view of the rod-shaped food transport device of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a front view of the rod-shaped food transport device of Fig. 1.

[0015] The stick-shaped food conveying device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device having a curved portion 11 in the conveying path 4 for stick-shaped food A. Stick-shaped food A refers to food that is long in one direction. Examples of stick-shaped food A include sausage, cheese, salami, cucumber, chikuwa (fish cake), and kiritanpo (seaweed). The stick-shaped food conveying device 1 is suitable for use, for example, when cutting the joints of connected stick-shaped foods A, changing the conveying direction of multiple continuously supplied stick-shaped foods A, and transferring them to a skewering or packaging process. The curved portion 11 is an area where the conveying direction of the conveying path 4 is changed, and the angle at which the conveying direction is changed is not important, but is preferably 90°±45°, and more preferably 90°±10°.

[0016] The stick-shaped food conveying device 1 comprises an outer conveying section 2 that is substantially L-shaped in a plan view and an inner conveying section 3 that is substantially rectangular in a plan view. A conveying path 4 for conveying stick-shaped foods A is formed between the outer conveying section 2 and the inner conveying section 3. The stick-shaped food conveying device 1 comprises an inner conveying belt 20 and an outer conveying belt 30 that are respectively arranged on the inside and outside of the conveying path A and can convey stick-shaped foods A via a curved section 11, and a rotatable relay rotating member (described later with reference to FIG. 5) that is arranged in the curved section 11. The inner conveying belt 20 is preferably arranged in a substantially L-shaped and annular shape in the inner conveying section 3. The outer conveying belt 30 is preferably arranged in an annular shape in the outer conveying section 2. The outer conveying section 2 comprises a roller 31 arranged upstream in the conveying direction of the stick-shaped foods A, a roller 32 arranged in the curved section 11, and a roller 33 arranged downstream in the conveying direction. The outer conveying belt 30 is stretched around so as to contact the outside of roller 31, the outside of roller 32, the outside of roller 33, the inside of roller 33, an intermediate rotating member (described later), and the inside of roller 31. The conveying path 4 includes an upstream conveying path 10 located upstream of the curved portion 11, the curved portion 11, and a downstream conveying path 12 located downstream of the curved portion 11, all of which are connected together.

[0017] The inner conveying section 3 is provided with a drive source storage section 5 near the downstream conveying path 12 that stores a drive source (e.g., a motor) that drives the inner conveying belt 20, and a pusher driving section 6 that has a pusher plate 7 that pushes stick-shaped food A outward. As shown in FIG. 1 , stick-shaped food A enters from "IN", moves through the upstream conveying path 10, the curved section 11, and the downstream conveying path 12, and is then pushed out in the "OUT" direction by the pusher plate 7.

[0018] A cover member 8 is disposed on the upper surface of the inner conveying section 3. The cover member 8 is provided with a drive source (e.g., a motor) 9 for driving the relay rotating member to rotate. The cover member 8 is fixed to the outer conveying section 2. The inner conveying section 3 is configured to be movable relative to the cover member 8. This function will be described later with reference to FIG. 8.

[0019] The inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30 are arranged opposite each other at first widths W1 and W3, which allow them to sandwich and transport stick-shaped food A, upstream and downstream of the curved section 11. In this embodiment, W1 = W3. However, W1 and W3 do not necessarily have to be equal as long as they are wide enough to sandwich stick-shaped food A. On the other hand, in the curved section 11, stick-shaped food A is not sandwiched between the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30. In the curved section 11, the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30 are arranged opposite each other at a second width W2, which is larger than the first widths W1 and W3.

[0020] As a result, the stick-shaped food A is not pinched between the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30 at the curved portion 11, but is free to move. The first widths W1 and W3 are the same as or shorter than the width (which may also be called the diameter) of the stick-shaped food A. The second width W2 is larger than the first widths W1 and W3. The maximum value of the second width W2 (= W2max) is preferably shorter than the length of the stick-shaped food A. If W2max is made shorter than the length of the stick-shaped food A, the stick-shaped food A cannot rotate at the curved portion 11, and its conveying direction can be smoothly changed while both ends of its length are in contact with the outer conveyor belt 30.

[0021] Fig. 5 is a partially see-through perspective view of the conveying direction changing mechanism including the inner conveying belt, the outer conveying belt, and the relay rotating member in the stick-shaped food conveying device of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a partially see-through plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 5 and a cross-sectional view of the plan view taken along line XX.

[0022] The relay rotating member 50 includes plate-like members 51 and 52 that are arranged facing each other in a direction (e.g., a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction) different from the opposing direction (e.g., a horizontal direction) of the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30. The plate-like members 51 and 52 have a gap 55 into which stick-shaped food A can be inserted. The plate-like members 51 and 52 are preferably circular plates. The relay rotating member 50 can relay and carry stick-shaped food A that has been transported toward the curved section 11 from the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30. The relay rotating member 50 can rotate with the stick-shaped food A inserted in the gap 55 and transport it back from the curved section 11 to the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30. The inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30 move in a direction (the direction of arrow M in FIG. 6 ) that transports the stick-shaped food A from the entrance, where rollers 22 and 31 are located, to the exit, where rollers 23 and 33 are located. The relay rotating member 50 rotates in a direction conveying the rod-shaped food A from upstream to downstream as viewed from the relay rotating member 50 (the direction of arrow R in FIG. 6 , i.e., the clockwise direction). The rotation speed of the relay rotating member 50 is preferably the same as or close to the conveying speeds of the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30. The relay rotating member 50 preferably also serves as an outer conveyor belt roller that tensions the outer conveyor belt 30. The relay rotating member 50 is rotatable by rotation of a drive source 9 fixed to a rotation shaft 60 that passes through the centers of the plate-like members 51 and 52 in the C direction. Alternatively, a separate roller may be provided to tension and drive the outer conveyor belt 30 at the curved portion 11, so that the relay rotating member 50 does not come into contact with the outer conveyor belt 30. In this case, a drive source such as a motor may be connected to one of rollers 31, 32, or 33 to rotate the outer conveyor belt 30.

[0023] The inner conveyor belt 20 is tensioned around rollers 21, 22, inner conveyor belt roller 40, roller 23, and roller 24. Roller 21 can be rotated by the rotation of a drive source such as a motor (the drive source in drive source storage unit 5 described above) fixed to a rotation shaft that passes through the center of roller 21 in the direction B. The inner conveyor belt 20 receives rotational drive from roller 21 and is driven to revolve between rollers 21, 22, inner conveyor belt roller 40, roller 23, and roller 24. The drive source that rotationally drives roller 21 and the drive source 9 that rotationally drives relay rotating member 50 are set so that the conveying speeds of the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30 are the same or nearly the same.

[0024] The inner conveyor belt roller 40 preferably comprises two ring members 41 and 42. The ring members 41 and 42 have a space therein. The ring members 41 and 42 contact four rollers 45, 46, 47, and 48 on their inner sides in the thickness direction. More specifically, the rollers 45, 46, 47, and 48 have recesses in two rows along their length. The ring members 41 and 42 contact the rollers 45, 46, 47, and 48 by fitting into the recesses. The inner conveyor belt roller 40 preferably has a width smaller than the gap 55 between the plate-like members 51 and 52 and is disposed with a portion inserted inside the relay rotation member 50. This allows the area of ​​the curved portion 11 to be set appropriately small without excessively increasing the distance between the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30. In addition, the location of the stick-shaped food A is restricted by the space Y sandwiched between the inner conveyor belt 20 tensioned by the inner conveyor belt roller 40 and the outer conveyor belt 30 tensioned by the relay rotating member 50 (see the XX cross-sectional view in Figure 6).

[0025] The outer conveyor belt 30 is driven by the rotation of two plate-like members 51 and 52 having a gap 55. The inner conveyor belt 20 is tensioned by ring members 41 and 42 that are partially inserted into the gap 55. The width of the inner conveyor belt 20 is smaller than the width of the outer conveyor belt 30.

[0026] The stick-shaped food conveying device 1 is equipped with a sensor 70 at a point on the downstream conveying path 12 where it begins to grip stick-shaped food A. The sensor 70 is installed to detect the passing stick-shaped food A and to convey the stick-shaped food A to the outside by the pusher plate 7 downstream of the sensor 70. The timing of pushing out the pusher plate 7 is controlled based on the time it takes for the stick-shaped food A to travel the conveying distance between the sensor 70 and the pusher plate 7.

[0027] Figure 7 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the inner and outer conveyor belts near the curved portion of the stick-shaped food conveying device in Figure 1. D is a part of the inner and outer conveyor belts 20 and 30 that hold stick-shaped food A in the upstream conveying path 11. E is a part of the inner and outer conveyor belts 20 and 30 that hold stick-shaped food A in the downstream conveying path 12.

[0028] The outer conveyor belt 30 preferably has irregularities 30a on its belt surface (inner side) that holds the stick-shaped food A, and also has irregularities 30b on its outer side. The inner conveyor belt 20 preferably has irregularities 20a on its belt surface (inner side) that holds the stick-shaped food A, i.e., the belt surface opposite the belt surface with irregularities 30a of the outer conveyor belt 30. The irregularities 20a, 30a, 30b all have grooves that run in the width direction of the belt and are formed at regular intervals along the length of the belt. In this embodiment, the rollers 31, 32, 33 are gears with continuous irregularities in their circumferential direction. The irregularities 30b are formed to be able to mesh with the gears.

[0029] The plate-like members 51 and 52 that make up the relay rotating member 50 are gears with continuous irregularities on their circumferential end surfaces. The irregularities 30a are formed so as to be able to mesh with the irregularities formed on the circumferential end surfaces of the plate-like members 51 and 52. The roller 21 is a gear with continuous irregularities in its circumferential direction. The irregularities 20a are formed so as to be able to mesh with the gear. Both the irregularities 20a and 30a are in contact with the stick-shaped food A. Therefore, the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30 can securely hold and convey the stick-shaped food A. Note that the outer surface of the outer conveyor belt 30, i.e., the surface that does not contact the stick-shaped food A, does not necessarily need to have the irregularities 30b. Furthermore, if the outer surface of the stick-shaped food A is irregular, or if the adhesion between the inner conveyor belt 20 and the outer conveyor belt 30 and the stick-shaped food A is strong, one, two, or all three of the irregularities 20a, 30a, and 30b may not be present.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a partially transparent plan view showing a state in which the width of the conveying section of the stick-shaped food conveying device of FIG. 1 is changed.

[0031] In the upper plan view of FIG. 8, the first widths W1 and W3 of the conveying path 4 are set to 30 mm. Meanwhile, in the lower plan view of FIG. 8, the inner conveying unit 3 moves in the direction of arrow Q, changing the first widths W1 and W3 of the conveying path 4 to 19 mm. Moving the inner conveying unit 3 in the direction opposite to arrow Q increases the first widths W1 and W3 of the conveying path 4. In this embodiment, the second width W2 also changes in response to changes in W1 and W3. The cover member 8 (including the relay rotating member 50) is fixed to the outer conveying unit 2 and therefore does not move even when the inner conveying unit 3 moves. However, when changing the first widths W1 and W3 and the second width W2, the outer conveying unit 2 may be made movable while maintaining tension between the relay rotating member 50 and the outer conveying belt 30.

[0032] In this manner, in this embodiment, it is possible to adjust the size of the first widths W1, W3 of the conveying path 4. As a result, the clamping force of the inner conveying belt 20 and the outer conveying belt 30 on the stick-shaped food A can be appropriately adjusted according to the width (diameter) of the stick-shaped food A, thereby reducing the situation in which the stick-shaped food A falls off the conveying belts 20, 30 and becomes clogged due to difficulty in conveying the food.

[0033] FIG. 9 is a partially transparent plan view showing an inner conveyor belt, an outer conveyor belt, and a conveying direction changing mechanism including a relay rotating member in a modified example of the stick-shaped food conveying device of FIG.

[0034] Unlike the stick-shaped food conveying apparatus 1 described above, the stick-shaped food conveying apparatus 1a according to a modified example shown in Figure 9 does not have an inner conveyor belt roller 40 having ring members 41, 42. The inner conveyor belt 20 is tensioned by rollers 26, 27, 28, and 29 at and near the curved section 11. In this way, by tensioning the inner conveyor belt 20 using multiple smaller rollers 26, 27, 28, and 29 instead of using a single inner conveyor belt roller 40, an arc-shaped inner conveyor belt 20 can be formed inside the curved section 11.

[0035] 2. Rod-shaped food conveying method

[0036] The rod-shaped food conveying method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a conveying method in which rod-shaped food A is curved to change its conveying direction, and uses inner and outer conveying belts 20 and 30 capable of clamping and conveying rod-shaped food A upstream and downstream of a curved portion 11 in the conveying path 4 for the rod-shaped food A, and a relay rotating member 50 that can convey and rotate rod-shaped food A in a state in which it has been released from being clamped between the inner and outer conveying belts 20 and 30.The rod-shaped food A is then conveyed into the relay rotating member 50 at the curved portion 11, and then conveyed out of the relay rotating member 50 and clamped between the inner and outer conveying belts 20 and 30 for conveyance.

[0037] Another method for conveying stick-shaped foods according to an embodiment of the present invention can be realized by using any combination of the components of the stick-shaped food conveying apparatus 1, 1a described above. That is, this method uses any one of the stick-shaped food conveying apparatuses 1, 1a described above to curve stick-shaped foods A and change their conveying direction, and uses inner and outer conveyor belts 20, 30 capable of sandwiching and conveying stick-shaped foods A, and a rotatable relay member 50 capable of conveying stick-shaped foods A released from sandwiching between the inner and outer conveyor belts 20, 30, upstream and downstream of a curved portion 11 in the conveying path 4 for stick-shaped foods A, so that from a state in which stick-shaped foods A are sandwiched between the inner and outer conveyor belts 20, 30 and conveyed, the stick-shaped foods A are temporarily conveyed into the relay rotatable member 50 at the curved portion 11, and then conveyed out of the relay rotatable member 50 and sandwiched between the inner and outer conveyor belts 20, 30 for conveyance.

[0038] In another embodiment of the method for conveying stick-shaped foods, for example, a stick-shaped food conveying device 1, 1a may be used in which the relay rotating member 50 also serves as an outer conveyor belt roller for tensioning the outer conveyor belt 30. In another embodiment of the method for conveying stick-shaped foods, for example, a stick-shaped food conveying device 1, 1a may be used in which the peripheral end surfaces of the plate-shaped members 51, 52 are provided with irregularities, and the belt surface of the outer conveyor belt 30 is also provided with irregularities 30a so as to mesh with the irregularities of the plate-shaped members 51, 52. In another embodiment of the method for conveying stick-shaped foods, for example, a stick-shaped food conveying device 1, 1a may be used in which the inner conveyor belt 20 has irregularities 20a for holding stick-shaped foods A on the belt surface opposite the belt surface with irregularities 30a of the outer conveyor belt 30.

[0039] Another embodiment of the method for conveying stick-shaped foods may use a stick-shaped food conveying device 1 that includes an inner conveyor belt roller 40 that tensions the inner conveyor belt 20 at the curved portion 11, and the inner conveyor belt roller 40 has a width smaller than the gap 55 between the plate-like members 51, 52 and is arranged with a portion inserted inside the relay rotating member 50. Another embodiment of the method for conveying stick-shaped foods may use a stick-shaped food conveying device 1, 1a whose first widths W1, W3 are adjustable.

[0040] 3. Other embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

[0041] For example, only the first widths W1 and W3 of the conveying path 4 may be enlarged or reduced, while the second width W2 remains unchanged. The inner conveying belt roller 40 may be a single plate-like member instead of being composed of two ring members 41 and 42. The outer conveying section 2 is a member that is approximately L-shaped in plan view, but may be a member of other shapes, such as approximately triangular or approximately rectangular, in plan view. Instead of roller 21, the inner conveying belt roller 40 may be connected to a drive source and driven to rotate.

[0042] Furthermore, the curved portion 11 of the conveying path 4 is formed smoothly without any steps at the boundary between the upstream conveying path 11 and the downstream conveying path 12. However, some steps may be present as long as they do not impede the passage of the stick-shaped food A. [Industrial Applicability]

[0043] The present invention can be used to transport stick-shaped foods. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1,1a···Rod-shaped food conveying device, 4···Convex / concave portion, 11···Curved portion, 20···Inner conveying belt, 20a···Uneven portion, 30···Outer conveying belt, 30a···Uneven portion, 40···Roller for inner conveying belt, 50···Relay rotating member (also serves as roller for outer conveying belt), 51, 52···Plate-shaped member, 55···Gap, A···Rod-shaped food, W1,W3···First width, W2···Second width.

Claims

1. A conveying method for changing the conveying direction of stick-shaped food by curving the stick-shaped food, The conveying path for the stick-shaped food is provided with an inner conveyor belt and an outer conveyor belt that can hold and convey the stick-shaped food, and a relay rotating member that can carry and rotate the stick-shaped food when the stick-shaped food is released from the clamping between the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt, at the upstream and downstream of the curved portion of the conveying path for the stick-shaped food. A method for conveying rod-shaped food, characterized in that the rod-shaped food is conveyed by being sandwiched between the inner conveying belt and the outer conveying belt, and then the rod-shaped food is conveyed into the relay rotating member at the curved portion, and then conveyed out of the relay rotating member and sandwiched between the inner conveying belt and the outer conveying belt.

2. In a conveying device having a curved portion in a conveying path for stick-shaped food, an inner conveyor belt and an outer conveyor belt that are respectively disposed on the inside and outside of the conveyor path and are capable of conveying the stick-shaped food through the curved portion; a rotatable intermediate rotary member disposed at the curved portion; Equipped with the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt are disposed opposite each other at a first width that allows the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt to sandwich and transport the stick-shaped food item upstream and downstream of the curved portion, and at the curved portion, the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt are disposed opposite each other at a second width that is larger than the first width and does not sandwich the stick-shaped food item; the relay rotating member is a member arranged to face the inner conveyor belt and the outer conveyor belt in a direction different from the opposing direction of the inner conveyor belt, and includes a plate-like member having a gap through which the stick-shaped food can be inserted; The relay rotating member relays the rod-shaped food that has been transported toward the curved portion from the inner conveying belt and the outer conveying belt, rotates with the rod-shaped food in the gap, and transports it back out of the curved portion to the inner conveying belt and the outer conveying belt.

3. 3. The stick-shaped food conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate rotating member also serves as an outer conveying belt roller for tensioning the outer conveying belt.

4. The plate-like member has a peripheral end surface provided with irregularities, 4. The stick-type food conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the outer conveying belt also has a surface with irregularities that mesh with the irregularities on the plate-like member.

5. 5. The stick-shaped food conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the inner conveying belt has a belt surface facing the uneven belt surface of the outer conveying belt, the belt surface having unevenness for holding the stick-shaped food.

6. an inner conveyor belt roller for tensioning the inner conveyor belt at the curved portion; A rod-shaped food conveying device as described in any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the roller for the inner conveying belt has a width smaller than the gap between the plate-shaped members and is arranged with a portion inserted inside the relay rotating member.

7. 6. The stick-shaped food conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the first width is adjustable.

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