Cooked rice processing equipment and rice ball manufacturing equipment

Abstract

To improve a division forming rate of rice while securing precision of a measured weight in measurement of volume.SOLUTION: A rice processing device comprises: a roller pair 13 that delivers downward rice in a hopper 10; a frame body part 14 that is configured by a stationary restriction plate 14a and movable restriction plates 14b that form with the stationary restriction plate 14a a frame body with openings at the top and bottom, are disposed facing each other and capable of being mutually approached and separated, and to which the rice delivered by the roller pair 13 is delivered; a cutter 15 that divides the rice delivered out downward from the frame body part 14; and an opening / closing plate 16 that is disposed spaced from the cutter 15 and arranged in an openable / closable manner, and takes a closed position when the rice is divided and holds the rice sent out downward from the frame body part 14 and takes an open position when the rice has been divided and drops the divided rice. The movable restriction plates 14b get close to each other when the rice is delivered and get separated from each other when the rice is delivered to the opening / closing plate 16, is divided by the cutter 15, and is dropped down.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooked rice processing device and a rice ball manufacturing device, and in particular to a technology that is effective for improving the speed at which cooked rice is divided. [Background technology]

[0002] In a device for mass-producing rice balls or a device for serving cooked rice in a large amount of containers such as boxed lunches, cooked rice in a hopper (cooked rice storage section) is divided into predetermined amounts.

[0003] A known technique for dividing a predetermined amount of cooked rice is to pass the cooked rice between a pair of rollers to form a sheet, which is then divided into a predetermined length. This method has good weight accuracy and a high production speed, but has the problem that the cooked rice is compressed and damaged as it passes between the rollers, impairing the texture.

[0004] Volumetric measurement is known as a technology for dividing and producing a predetermined amount of cooked rice without using rollers. Volumetric measurement measures the volume of cooked rice determined by the horizontal cross-sectional area of ​​the frame body through which the cooked rice passes and the thickness (height) of the divided cooked rice. This reduces damage to the cooked rice because the cooked rice is not compressed as it is when using rollers.

[0005] Regarding a cooked rice measuring device that uses volumetric measurement, for example, the technology described in Patent Document 1 (JP 2018-151236 A) is known. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-151236 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, when dividing and producing cooked rice by volumetric weighing, because the cooked rice is in contact with the frame due to its viscosity, it takes time for the cooked rice to fall from the frame under its own weight, resulting in a slow production speed (generally about 2200 pieces / h).On the other hand, if an attempt is made to increase the production speed, the cooked rice is divided by volumetric weighing while the rice density inside the frame remains low, resulting in a decrease in the accuracy of the measurement.

[0008] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned technical background, and aims to provide a cooked rice processing device and a rice ball manufacturing device that can improve the speed at which cooked rice is divided and produced while maintaining the accuracy of the measurement in volumetric measurement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, the cooked rice processing device of the present invention described in claim 1 is composed of a pair of rollers arranged opposite each other and rotating to send the cooked rice in the cooked rice storage section downward, a pair of fixed regulating plates arranged opposite each other, and a pair of movable regulating plates arranged opposite each other to form a frame body that is open at the top and bottom and can move toward and away from each other, a frame body section into which the cooked rice sent by the pair of rollers is introduced, and a dividing means that is arranged below the frame body section and opens and closes laterally to divide the cooked rice sent downward from the frame body section into predetermined amounts, A constriction forming protrusion is provided on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of movable regulating plates and forms a constriction in the cooked rice to be divided; The movable regulating plate is arranged below the dividing means at a distance from the dividing means and is capable of opening and closing laterally, and when the divided rice is divided by the dividing means, it is in a closed position to support the rice sent out downward from the frame body portion, and once the divided rice has been divided by the dividing means, it is in an open position to drop the divided rice, and the movable regulating plates are in a first position close to each other when the rice is introduced, and in a second position separated from each other when the rice is sent to the opening and closing plate and divided by the dividing means to drop.

[0010] The cooked rice processing device of the present invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the dividing means is a pair of dividing blades having a comb-teeth shape that can mesh with each other.

[0011] The cooked rice processing device of the present invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 2, at least one of the pair of dividing blades rotates downward by a predetermined angle with the outside as a fulcrum in a mutually interlocked closed position when dividing the cooked rice.

[0012] The cooked rice processing apparatus of the present invention as set forth in claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention as set forth in claim 1, the opening and closing plate is movable in the up and down direction.

[0014] Claim 5 The cooked rice processing device of the present invention described in claim 1 is characterized in that it has a measuring unit that measures the weight of the cooked rice that has fallen from the opening and closing plate, and an adjustment unit that adds cooked rice equal to the difference between the weight measured by the measuring unit and a set weight value to the cooked rice measured by the measuring unit.

[0015] In order to solve the above problems, Claim 6 The rice ball manufacturing apparatus of the present invention described in Claims 1 to 5 and a rice ball forming device that includes a folding means for folding the cooked rice blocks divided and produced by the cooked rice processing device, and compresses the cooked rice folded by the folding means to form rice balls. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] In the present invention, cooked rice is sent into the frame portion for volumetric measurement by the rotation of a pair of rollers, so the cooked rice density inside the frame portion does not decrease as it does when cooked rice is sent into the frame portion due to its own weight, and the weighing accuracy is stabilized.

[0017] Furthermore, the pair of movable restricting plates, which are in a first position close to each other when the cooked rice is fed into the frame, move to a second position apart when the cooked rice is divided by the dividing means, so that the cooked rice released from contact with the frame due to viscosity immediately falls from the frame under its own weight and is supported by the opening and closing plates, thereby improving the speed at which the cooked rice is divided and produced.

[0018] This makes it possible to improve the speed at which cooked rice is divided and produced while maintaining the accuracy of the volumetric measurement. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cooked rice portioning and generating unit and a rice ball forming unit according to an embodiment of the present invention from the front. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic plan view of a cooked rice portioning and generating unit and a rice ball forming unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing cooked rice shaped by a shape adjusting section that constitutes a rice ball shaping section according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of a shape adjusting section constituting a rice ball forming section according to one embodiment of the present invention from the front. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a plan view of a main part of a shape adjusting section that constitutes a rice ball forming section according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a front view showing a folding section that constitutes a rice ball forming section according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a plan view showing a folding section that constitutes a rice ball forming section according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first sending unit that constitutes a cooked rice portion generation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10(a) to 10(c) are explanatory views successively showing the operation of measuring and dividing cooked rice by a first sending unit constituting a cooked rice portion generation unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 9(a) to 9(c) are explanatory views successively showing the operation of measuring and dividing cooked rice by a first sending unit constituting the cooked rice portion generation unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, continuing from FIG. 9(c). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings for explaining the embodiment, the same components are generally designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description thereof will be omitted.

[0021] The rice ball manufacturing apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 is composed of a cooked rice dividing and generating unit (cooked rice processing device) M1 that divides cooked rice into, for example, sheet-like shapes, and a rice ball forming unit (cooked rice forming device) M2 that receives the cooked rice generated by the cooked rice dividing and generating unit M1, transports it, and forms it into rice balls.

[0022] The cooked rice portioning and generating unit M1 has a first weighing conveyor (measuring unit) 3, a transport conveyor 4, and a second weighing conveyor 5 arranged from upstream to downstream in the transport direction on a base 2a that is movable by casters 1a. Also, above the first weighing conveyor 3 and the transport conveyor 4, a first sending unit 6a and a second sending unit (adjusting unit) 6b ​​that form cooked rice (dough) into a sheet and send it out are arranged.

[0023] A lifter 9 is provided on the rear side of the base 2a (on the right side in FIG. 1) to raise and lower the cooked rice container 8 along a pair of vertical rails 7 extending in the vertical direction. The lifter 9 lifts the cooked rice container 8 up to the position of a hopper (cooked rice storage section) 10 installed above, and an inverting section provided at the top end of the lifter 9 turns it upside down toward the hopper 10, so that the cooked rice in the cooked rice container 8 is poured into the hopper 10.

[0024] The hopper 10 is provided with a loosening roller (not shown) for loosening the cooked rice that is put in, and further provided with a conveying roller (not shown) for transporting the cooked rice loosened by the loosening roller toward the first sending section 6a, and a conveying roller (not shown) for transporting the cooked rice loosened by the loosening roller toward the second sending section 6b.

[0025] An operation unit 11 is provided adjacent to the hopper 10, whereby the operator can set the desired operation of the device and the set operation details are displayed.

[0026] The first sending section 6a is provided with a guide plate 12 that guides the cooked rice in the hopper 10 downward, and a pair of rollers, i.e., roller pair 13, that are arranged opposite each other and that rotate to send the cooked rice guided by the guide plate 12 downward. Therefore, the cooked rice in the hopper 10 is guided by the guide plate 12 to the roller pair 13, and is sent downward by the rotation of the roller pair 13. The roller pairs 13 may be arranged in multiple stages, one above the other.

[0027] Below the roller pair 13, there is provided a frame portion 14 into which the cooked rice sent by the roller pair 13 is introduced, and below this frame portion 14 there is provided a cutter (dividing means) 15 that divides the cooked rice sent downward from the frame portion 14 into predetermined amounts. Furthermore, below the cutter 15 there is provided an opening / closing plate 16 that cooperates with the frame portion 14 and cutter 15 to divide the cooked rice into sheets of a predetermined thickness and drop them onto the first weighing conveyor 3. Details of the frame portion 14, cutter 15, and opening / closing plate 16 will be described later.

[0028] A first pair of rollers 17, one on each side, is arranged in the second sending-out section 6b. In addition, a second pair of rollers 18, one on each side, making a total of two stages, is arranged below the first pair of rollers 17. Furthermore, a loosening roller 19 is arranged directly below the second pair of rollers 18. Therefore, the cooked rice sent downward by the first pair of rollers 17 and the second pair of rollers 18 falls while being loosened by the loosening roller 19.

[0029] A shutter 20 that opens and closes the falling path is disposed on the path along which the cooked rice falls. Therefore, the cooked rice sent out when the shutter 20 opens is placed on top of the cooked rice that has been transported from the first weighing conveyor 3 to the transport conveyor 4.

[0030] Here, cooked rice of a target weight is produced in the first sending unit 6a and weighed by the first weighing conveyor 3. Furthermore, cooked rice of a weight corresponding to the difference (deficit weight) between the target weight and the weight measured by the first weighing conveyor 3 is produced in the second sending unit 6b, and is placed on the cooked rice produced in the first sending unit 6a on the transfer conveyor 4, and then weighed by the second weighing conveyor 5. Therefore, if the weight of the cooked rice produced in the first sending unit 6a is the target weight, cooked rice will not be supplied from the second sending unit 6b.

[0031] The cooked rice portion generation unit M1 of this embodiment has the capacity to produce approximately 3000 pieces of divided cooked rice per hour.

[0032] Downstream in the conveying direction of the cooked rice dividing and generating unit M1 is located the rice ball forming unit M2 for forming the cooked rice into a predetermined shape (for example, into a triangular rice ball shape). The cooked rice is then transported from the transport conveyor 4 to the second weighing conveyor 5, where it is taken from the cooked rice dividing and generating unit M1 into the rice ball forming unit M2. The weight measured by the second weighing conveyor 5 is used to detect the weight of the ingredients placed on the cooked rice in a subsequent process.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rice ball forming unit M2 is equipped with a shape adjustment unit 21 that forms ingredient holes (holes for placing ingredients) and constricted portions (portions where the rice density is reduced to prevent the folded rice from sticking together) in the sheet-like rice that has been weighed to the desired weight in the rice dividing and generating unit M1, an ingredient placement conveyor 22 on which predetermined ingredients such as pickled plum, salmon, cod roe, etc. are placed, a checker 23 that checks the presence or absence of ingredients and the overall weight (weight of the rice with the ingredients placed on it) of the rice that has passed through the ingredient placement conveyor 22, a transport conveyor 24 that transports the rice with the ingredients placed on it, a folding unit (folding means) 25 that folds the rice transported by the transport conveyor 24, a forming table 26 with triangular forming holes 26a in a plan view that compresses the rice folded in the folding unit 25 to form rice balls, and a removal mold 27 that removes the formed rice balls.

[0034] The weight of the ingredients is then calculated by subtracting the weight measured by the second weighing conveyor 5 from the total weight of the cooked rice measured by the checker 23, and if the calculated weight of the ingredients is within a predetermined range (i.e., if the ingredients are in a specified amount), the cooked rice is transported to the folding process, and if it is outside the predetermined range (i.e., if the ingredients are insufficient or excessive compared to the specified amount), the operation of the rice ball manufacturing device is stopped.

[0035] The rice ball forming section M2 is provided with an injection mold 26b that injects the cooked rice folded in the folding section 25 into the forming hole 26a of the forming table 26, and compression molds 26c and 29 that compress the cooked rice injected into the forming hole 26a in the vertical direction to form the rice ball.

[0036] The molding table 26 is a rotating body that rotates intermittently in the horizontal direction by a motor (not shown), and a plurality of molding holes 26a (eight in this embodiment) are formed at regular intervals around the circumferential direction of the molding table 26. The injection mold 26b, compression molds 26c and 29, and removal mold 27 are arranged in this order along the rotation direction of the molding table 26.

[0037] The shape adjustment unit 21 is integrated with the cooked rice dividing and generating unit M1 described above, the ingredient placement conveyor 22 is installed on a stand 28, and the transport conveyor 24, folding unit 25, forming table 26, injection mold 26b, compression molds 26c, 29 and removal mold 27 are installed on a base 2b that can be moved by casters 1b.

[0038] 3(a), the constricted portion R1 formed in the cooked rice R by the shape adjusting unit 21 is a constriction with two recesses at the front side in the conveyance direction of the cooked rice. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shape adjusting unit 21 that forms such a constricted portion R1 comprises a transport conveyor 21a that transports the sheet-like cooked rice R, a constricted portion forming unit 21b that sandwiches the cooked rice R on the transport conveyor 21a from both sides in the conveyance direction to form the constricted portion R1, and an ingredient hole forming unit 21c that forms ingredient holes R2 for placing ingredients in the cooked rice R on the transport conveyor 21a.

[0039] As shown in these drawings, the constriction forming section 21b is composed of a first forming plate 21b-1 formed with a protrusion 21b-1a that restricts the front side of the sheet-like cooked rice R in the conveyance direction and recesses a predetermined position, and a second forming plate 21b-2 that restricts the rear side of the sheet-like cooked rice R in the conveyance direction. The first forming plate 21b-1 and the second forming plate 21b-2 are each attached to a rotating shaft 21d that faces horizontally and is parallel to each other, so that they can rotate. They rotate and move back and forth between a non-contact position where they do not come into contact with the cooked rice R, and a recess forming position where they form a recess in the cooked rice R so that the cooked rice R is sandwiched from both sides between the first forming plate 21b-1 and the second forming plate 21b-2.

[0040] As described above, the ingredient hole forming portion 21c presses the cooked rice R from above to form ingredient holes R2, and is composed of a shaft 21c-1 and a pressing portion 21c-2 formed at the tip of the shaft 21c-1 and having a larger diameter than the shaft 21c-1.

[0041] Then, when the sheet-like cooked rice R reaches directly below ingredient hole forming section 21c, the conveying operation of transport conveyor 21a is stopped. Next, first forming plate 21b-1 pivots from the non-contact position to the depression forming position, and then second forming plate 21b-2 pivots from the non-contact position to the depression forming position, forming constricted sections R1 in two places in the cooked rice R. Then, with first forming plate 21b-1 and second forming plate 21b-2 in the depression forming position, ingredient hole forming section 21c descends and presses cooked rice R from above, forming ingredient holes R2.

[0042] Once the constricted portion R1 and ingredient hole R2 are formed in the cooked rice R in this manner, the first forming plate 21b-1 and the second forming plate 21b-2 rotate to a non-contact position, the ingredient hole forming portion 21c rises, and the conveying operation of the conveying conveyor 21a resumes.

[0043] In this embodiment, the constricted portion R1 is formed in two places, but it is sufficient to form the constricted portion R1 in at least one place. Also, as shown in Figure 3(b), the constricted portion R1 may be formed on the front side and the rear side in the conveying direction of the cooked rice.

[0044] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the folding section 25 includes a center plate 25-1 located in the center and two side plates 25-2 connected to either side of the center plate 25-1 via hinges 25b, allowing them to pivot freely relative to the center plate 25-1. The center plate 25-1 corresponds to the two constrictions R1 described above in the cooked rice. The two side plates 25-2 also correspond to the outer portions of the two constrictions R1. This structure allows the two side plates 25-2 to rise using the center plate 25-1 as a fulcrum and pivot above the center plate 25-1 so that their free ends approach each other.

[0045] Therefore, when the sheet-like cooked rice R with the constricted portion R1 formed thereon is placed on the plates 25-1, 25-2 of the folding section 25, both sides of the cooked rice R rise up with the position of the hinge 25b, i.e., the position of the constricted portion R1, as the folding position, and then the cooked rice R is folded at the position of the constricted portion R1 so as to fall toward the center.

[0046] The folded cooked rice is then fed by the aforementioned feeding mold 26b into forming hole 26a, which is triangular in plan view and formed in forming table 26, and compressed vertically by compression molds 26c and 29 to form the shape of forming hole 26a, i.e., into a rice ball, and then removed from forming hole 26a by removal mold 27. Thereafter, the rice ball is sent from rice ball forming unit M2 to a rice ball packaging unit (not shown) where it is packaged and becomes a final product.

[0047] Here, the structure of the first sending section 6a constituting the cooked rice dividing and generating section M1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0048] As mentioned above, the first delivery section 6a is provided with a guide plate 12 that guides the cooked rice in the hopper 10 downward, a pair of rollers 13 that rotate to send the cooked rice guided by the guide plate 12 downward, a frame body section 14 into which the cooked rice sent by the pair of rollers 13 is introduced, a cutter 15 that divides the cooked rice sent downward from the frame body section 14 into predetermined amounts, and an opening / closing plate 16 that drops the cooked rice divided into sheets of a predetermined thickness onto the first weighing conveyor 3.

[0049] The guide plates 12 are arranged so that the intervals between them gradually narrow downward, and have the function of smoothly guiding the cooked rice in the hopper 10 to the roller pair 13.

[0050] The roller pairs 13 are arranged opposite each other at the lower end of the guide plate 12, and function to send cooked rice into the frame body part 14 by their rotational action. As shown in the figure, the roller pair 13 has pointed tips, a curved radial cross section, and a plurality of grooves 13a extending in the axial direction, formed in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the cooked rice is captured in the grooves 13a of the rotating roller pair 13, but is sent into the frame body part 14 without being excessively compressed due to the groove shape described above.

[0051] In this way, in this embodiment, the cooked rice is forcibly sent into the frame portion 14 by the rotation of the roller pair 13. Therefore, the roller pair 13 makes it possible to adjust the feed of the cooked rice to the frame portion 14, which not only eliminates the need to send the cooked rice into the frame portion 14 by its own weight, but also makes it possible to control the density of the cooked rice inside the frame portion 14 by the amount of rotation of the roller pair 13, stabilizing the weight accuracy. Furthermore, by rotating the roller pair 13 a predetermined amount in accordance with the timing at which the divided cooked rice is dropped, the divided cooked rice is pushed out by the remaining cooked rice that has not been divided, making it possible to drop the divided cooked rice more smoothly.

[0052] If a sensor for detecting the height of cooked rice is used without using roller pair 13, and cooked rice is piled up to the height of the sensor and sent into frame portion 14 by its own weight, if the detection position of the cooked rice (the installation position of the sensor) is high, the cooked rice will end up being piled too high, and when the device stops, the cooked rice will gradually drop by its own weight, increasing the density and making the cooked rice hard. On the other hand, if the detection position of the cooked rice is low, the cooked rice will not become hard, but on the contrary, the density will decrease, the weight accuracy will decrease, the divided sheets of cooked rice will become sparse, and the rice balls will not be formed properly.

[0053] The frame body 14 is made up of a pair of fixed regulating plates 14a (the fixed regulating plate 14a located on the front side of the roller pair 13 is not shown) arranged opposite each other on both sides in the axial direction of the roller pair 13 (in FIG. 8, the front and rear sides of the roller pair 13), and a pair of movable regulating plates 14b which form a frame body that is open at the top and bottom and are arranged opposite each other so that they can move toward and away from each other. This frame body 14 has the function of measuring the volume of cooked rice, and the cooked rice is measured to a volume determined by the horizontal cross-sectional area of ​​the frame body 14 through which the cooked rice passes and the thickness (height) of the cooked rice divided by the cutter 15.

[0054] In this embodiment, the fixed regulating plate 14a also covers the front and rear sides of the guide plate 12 and the roller pair 13, and also serves the function of preventing cooked rice from leaking out (leaking to the front and rear in FIG. 8) from the guide plate 12 and the roller pair 13. The approaching and receding movement of the movable regulating plate 14b will be described later.

[0055] On the inner surface of one of the movable regulating plates 14b (the left movable regulating plate 14b in the case shown in Figure 8), constriction-forming protrusions 14b-1 are formed which form constrictions in the cooked rice to be divided. These constriction-forming protrusions 14b-1 are formed in two places side by side, protrude while sloping downward, which is the direction in which the cooked rice is sent out, and have a flat shape at the protruding end. These constriction-forming protrusions 14b-1 form two depressions in the cooked rice sent downward. When the cooked rice is divided by the cutter 15, these become the constrictions formed in the cooked rice produced in sheet form.

[0056] The constrictions formed in the cooked rice have a preliminary function when constriction R1 (FIG. 3(a)) is formed in the cooked rice by constriction-forming portion 21b of shape adjustment portion 21 described above. In other words, if constriction R1 is formed in the cooked rice by constriction-forming portion 21b without previously forming a constriction in the cooked rice, a large amount of cooked rice will be compressed by constriction-forming portion 21b, resulting in a locally high rice density and a loss of the texture (fluffy texture) of the finished rice ball. In contrast, if constrictions are formed by constriction-forming projection 14b-1 at the stage of producing sheet-shaped cooked rice, as in this embodiment, the amount of cooked rice compressed when constriction R1 is formed in the cooked rice by constriction-forming portion 21b is relatively small. Therefore, the cooked rice density does not increase locally, and the finished rice ball has a good fluffy texture.

[0057] When forming constricted portions R1 on the front and rear sides of the cooked rice in the conveying direction (FIG. 3(b)), it is preferable to form the constriction-forming protrusions 14b-1 on the inner surfaces of both movable regulating plates 14b. Also, it is possible to prepare a movable regulating plate having a different shape from that of this embodiment and which can be replaced with the movable regulating plate 14b of this embodiment. In this way, it is possible to produce divided cooked rice with different shapes.

[0058] The cutter 15 divides the cooked rice sent downward from the frame body part 14 into a predetermined amount by opening and closing in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the cutter 15 is composed of a pair of dividing blades 15a, 15b with comb-like shapes that can interlock with each other. With the cooked rice from the frame body part 14 supported by the opening and closing plate 16, the pair of dividing blades 15a, 15b move from an open position to a closed position where they interlock with each other, and while remaining in the closed position, one of the dividing blades 15a swings downward (rotates by a predetermined angle) with its outer side as a fulcrum. As a result, the cooked rice below the pair of dividing blades 15a, 15b is divided into sheets of a predetermined thickness.

[0059] In this embodiment, only one of the dividing blades 15a swings, but both dividing blades 15a, 15b may swing together, or neither dividing blade 15a, 15b may swing. However, if at least one of the pair of dividing blades 15a, 15b is swung, cooked rice can be divided quickly.

[0060] The cutter 15 does not have to be a pair of intermeshing comb-shaped divided blades 15a, 15b as in the present embodiment, but may be, for example, a plate-like body that opens and closes laterally. However, if a pair of intermeshing comb-shaped divided blades 15a, 15b is used, it is possible to minimize damage to the cooked rice when the cutter 15 moves from the open position to the closed position to divide the cooked rice.

[0061] The open / close plate 16, which drops the divided cooked rice onto the first weighing conveyor 3, is arranged at a distance from the cutter 15 and is provided so as to be able to open and close laterally. The distance between the cutter 15 that divides the cooked rice and the open / close plate 16 that supports the cooked rice when it is divided corresponds to the thickness of the cooked rice to be divided.

[0062] The open / close plate 16 is in the closed position when the cooked rice is divided by the cutter 15, and supports the cooked rice sent downward from the frame body part 14. Then, once the cooked rice has been divided by the cutter 15 as described above, the open / close plate 16 moves to the open position, and the divided cooked rice is dropped onto the first weighing conveyor 3.

[0063] In this embodiment, the open-close plate 16 is movable in the vertical direction, allowing the distance between it and the cutter 15 to be adjusted. As mentioned above, the distance between the cutter 15 and the open-close plate 16 corresponds to the thickness of the cooked rice to be divided, and so by adjusting the distance by moving the open-close plate 16 up and down, it is possible to divide the cooked rice into pieces of a desired thickness. However, the open-close plate 16 does not have to be able to move up and down.

[0064] A sensor S for detecting the presence or absence of cooked rice is installed at the position of the aforementioned guide plate 12. When cooked rice is detected by the sensor S installed at the position of the guide plate 12, it means that cooked rice is filled from the cutter 15 to the guide plate 12, and this makes it possible to detect that the cooked rice is in a state where it can be divided into predetermined amounts. Therefore, when the cooked rice decreases as it is divided and the sensor S can no longer detect the cooked rice, the cooked rice is dropped from the hopper 10 by a drop-feed roller (not shown) installed inside the hopper 10.

[0065] Next, the operation of dividing cooked rice by the first sending unit 6a of the cooked rice dividing and generating unit M1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to Figs.

[0066] 9(a), at the stage where cooked rice R is introduced and operation is started, the pair of movable regulating plates 14b are in a position close to each other (first position), the cutter 15 is in a closed position, the opening / closing plate 16 is in a closed position, and the pair of rollers 13 rotates to send cooked rice R into the frame body part 14. At the same time, the drop feed roller provided in the hopper 10 is driven to drop and feed cooked rice R from inside the hopper 10.

[0067] 9(b), when the sensor S detects cooked rice R (i.e., when cooked rice R is filled from the cutter 15 to the guide plate 12), the dropping and supply of cooked rice R from the hopper 10 is stopped. Also, the roller pair 13 continues to rotate.

[0068] Next, as shown in FIG. 9(c), the cutter 15 moves to the open position, and at almost the same time, the pair of movable regulating plates 14b move to a position (second position) where they are spaced apart from each other. The pair of rollers 13 also continues to rotate. As a result, the cooked rice R, whose bottom surface was supported by the cutter 15, falls and is supported by the opening and closing plate 16. As the cooked rice R falls, the pair of movable regulating plates 14b move from a first position where they are close to each other to a second position where they are spaced apart from each other, forcibly separating the cooked rice R that has been adhering to the movable regulating plates 14b, and forming a gap between the cooked rice R and the movable regulating plates 14b. As a result, the cooked rice R is released from contact with the frame body 14 due to viscosity, and when the cutter 15 moves to the second position, it immediately falls under its own weight from the frame body 14 and is supported by the opening and closing plate 16.

[0069] In this embodiment, the roller pair 13 rotates over the three stages shown in Figures 9(a), 9(b), and 9(c) to send cooked rice R into the frame portion 14, thereby stabilizing the weighing accuracy in volumetric measurement without reducing the cooked rice density inside the frame portion 14. However, if the cooked rice density inside the frame portion 14 reaches a predetermined value at any point between Figures 9(a) and 9(c), the rotation of the roller pair 13 may be stopped at that point.

[0070] Next, as shown in Figure 10(a), the cutter 15 moves to the closed position (the position where the pair of comb-shaped split blades 15a, 15b are interlocked), and at almost the same time, the opening / closing plate 16 moves to the open position, and the opening / closing plate 16 no longer supports the cooked rice R from below.

[0071] Next, as shown in FIG. 10(b), one dividing blade 15a of the cutter 15 in the closed position swings downward with its outer side as a fulcrum. As a result, the cooked rice R below the pair of dividing blades 15a, 15b is divided and falls into a sheet-like shape with a predetermined thickness (i.e., the volume measured is determined by the horizontal cross-sectional area of ​​the frame body portion 14 and the thickness of the cooked rice R divided by the cutter 15), and the sheet falls onto the first weighing conveyor 3. Even if the dividing blade 15a does not swing, the cooked rice below the cutter 15 in the closed position falls under its own weight, but it takes time for the cooked rice to fall under its own weight. On the other hand, in this embodiment in which the dividing blade 15a swings, the swinging action enables the cooked rice R to be divided quickly.

[0072] Finally, as shown in Figure 10(c), the swung dividing blade 15a returns to its original position, the opening / closing plate 16 moves to the closed position, and the pair of movable regulating plates 14b move to the first position where they are close to each other. The cooked rice R on the first weighing conveyor 3 is then transported and handed over to the transport conveyor 4 (Figure 1). After this, the process returns to Figure 9(a), and the subsequent steps are sequentially repeated.

[0073] In this way, according to the cooked rice portion generation unit M1 of this embodiment, cooked rice is sent into the frame body portion 14 for volumetric measurement by the rotation of the roller pair 13, so the cooked rice density inside the frame body portion 14 does not decrease as in the case where cooked rice is sent into the frame body portion 14 by its own weight, and the weighing accuracy is stabilized.

[0074] Furthermore, the pair of movable restricting plates 14b, which are in a first position close to each other when cooked rice is fed into the frame body 14, move to a second position separated from each other when the cooked rice is divided by the cutter 15, so that the cooked rice, released from contact with the frame body 14 due to viscosity, immediately falls from the frame body 14 by its own weight and is supported by the opening and closing plate 16. This improves the speed at which the cooked rice is divided and produced.

[0075] This makes it possible to improve the speed at which cooked rice is divided and produced while maintaining the accuracy of the volumetric measurement.

[0076] The invention made by the inventor has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, but the embodiments disclosed in this specification are illustrative in all respects and are not limited to the disclosed technology. In other words, the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted restrictively based on the description of the above embodiments, but should be interpreted solely in accordance with the claims, and includes technologies equivalent to the technologies described in the claims and all modifications that do not deviate from the gist of the claims.

[0077] For example, the cooked rice portion generation unit M1 in this embodiment is a cooked rice portion generation unit M1 that generates cooked rice of a weight corresponding to the difference (deficit weight) between the target weight and the cooked rice weight divided and generated by the first sending unit 6a by using the second sending unit 6b to replenish the rice, but it may also be a type of cooked rice portion generation unit M1 that, once cooked rice of the target weight has been generated, sends the cooked rice to the rice ball forming process without replenishing the cooked rice of the deficiency weight. [Industrial Applicability]

[0078] In the above explanation, the rice ball forming unit of the rice ball manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is shown as an integrated unit that includes a shape adjustment unit that forms holes for ingredients and constrictions in sheet-like cooked rice, an ingredient placement conveyor on which ingredients are placed, and a forming table that folds and compresses the cooked rice with ingredients placed on it to form rice balls, but each of these may also be separate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 3. First weighing conveyor (measurement section) 4. Transport conveyor 5 Second weighing conveyor 6a First sending unit 6b Second sending unit (adjustment unit) 10 Hopper (cooked rice storage area) 12 Guide plate 13 Laura Vs. 13a Groove 14 Frame body part 14a Fixed regulation plate 14b Movable regulating plate 14b-1 Neck forming protrusion 15 Cutter (dividing means) 15a,15b split blade 16 Opening and closing plate 17 First Roller Pair 18 Second Roller Pair 19 Laura 20 Shutter 21 Shape adjustment section 21a Transport conveyor 21b Neck forming part 21b-1 First formation plate 21b-1a Protrusion 21b-2 Second formation plate 21c Tool hole forming part 21c-1 shaft 21c-2 Pressing part 21d Rotation axis 22 Ingredient placement conveyor 23 Checker 24 Transport conveyor 25 Folding section (folding means) 25-1 Center plate 25-2 Side plate 25b hinge 26 Molding Table 26a Molding hole 26b Insertion type 26c compression type 27 Removal type 29 Compression type M1 Cooked rice division generation unit (cooked rice processing device) M2 Onigiri forming section (onigiri forming device) R Rice R1 Neck R2 tool hole S sensor

Claims

1. A pair of rollers arranged opposite each other and rotating to send the cooked rice in the cooked rice storage section downward; A frame portion into which the cooked rice sent by the roller pair is introduced, which is composed of a pair of fixed regulating plates arranged opposite to each other, and a pair of movable regulating plates arranged opposite to each other so as to be able to approach and separate from each other, forming a frame body with openings at the top and bottom together with the fixed regulating plates; A dividing means is provided below the frame body portion and opens and closes laterally to divide the cooked rice sent downward from the frame body portion into a predetermined amount; A constriction forming protrusion is provided on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of movable regulating plates and forms a constriction in the cooked rice to be divided; An opening and closing plate is disposed below the dividing means with a gap therebetween and is provided so as to be openable and closable in the horizontal direction, and when the divided rice is divided by the dividing means, the opening and closing plate is in a closed position to support the rice sent downward from the frame body portion, and once the divided rice has been divided by the dividing means, the opening and closing plate is in an open position to drop the divided rice, The movable regulating plates are in a first position where they are close to each other when cooked rice is introduced, and in a second position where they are spaced apart from each other when the cooked rice is sent to the opening and closing plate and divided by the dividing means and dropped. A cooked rice processing device characterized by:

2. The dividing means is a pair of dividing blades having a comb-like shape that can interlock with each other.

2. The cooked rice processing device according to claim 1.

3. At least one of the pair of dividing blades rotates downward by a predetermined angle with the outer side as a fulcrum in a closed position where the blades are engaged with each other when dividing cooked rice.

3. The cooked rice processing device according to claim 2.

4. The opening and closing plate is movable in the vertical direction.

2. The cooked rice processing device according to claim 1.

5. A measuring unit that measures the weight of the cooked rice that has fallen from the opening and closing plate; An adjustment unit that adds cooked rice equal to the difference between the weight measured by the measuring unit and a set weight value to the cooked rice measured by the measuring unit, 2. The cooked rice processing device according to claim 1.

6. A cooked rice processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a rice ball forming device that includes a folding means for folding the cooked rice blocks divided and produced by the cooked rice processing device, and compresses the cooked rice folded by the folding means to form rice balls; A rice ball manufacturing device comprising:

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