Food molding apparatus and control method for food molding apparatus

Abstract

To provide a food product molding device which can discriminate the kind of an installed rolling unit with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A food product molding device 1 includes a discharge port for discharging rice molded into a plate shape, a slide tray 52 which is moved forward and backward in a front-rear direction below the discharge port, a rolling unit 6 that is detachably connected onto the slide tray and on which the molded rice is mounted, a first detected body and a second detected body which are formed in the rolling unit and are separated from each other in the front-rear direction, a sensor for detecting the first detected body and the second detected body, and a unit detection part for discriminating the kind of the rolling unit on the basis of the detection result of the sensor, wherein the unit detection part discriminates the kind of the rolling unit according to a distance between the first detected body and the second detected body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a food shaping device and a control method for a food shaping device.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a food shaping device that forms a shaped product obtained by shaping cooked rice into a plate shape, i.e., a so-called sliced rice plate, into a columnar shape by winding it.

[0003] So far, for example, there is known a food shaping device provided with a shaping unit that winds and shapes a plate-shaped food material into a columnar shape, and a winding drive motor stops the winding operation when the load applied to the motor reaches a predetermined load in a state where the food material is wound (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] A so-called nori roll, which is formed by winding a sliced rice plate into a columnar shape, has demands for various diameters such as thick rolls and thin rolls. Therefore, it is desirable that the winding unit for winding the sliced rice plate be replaceable. In a device that performs different winding operations and sliced rice plate shaping operations according to the type of the winding unit, a configuration that can identify the type of the winding unit is necessary. Further, by appropriately displaying on a display unit or the like which winding unit is installed, the risk that the user installs a wrong type of winding unit can be reduced. Therefore, there is a need for a food shaping device that can easily determine the type of the installed winding unit with a simple configuration.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a food molding apparatus that can easily identify the type of winding unit installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The food molding apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an outlet for discharging sheet-shaped cooked rice; a slide tray that moves back and forth in the front-rear direction below the outlet; a winding unit detachably connected to the slide tray on which the molded cooked rice is placed; a first detectable object and a second detectable object formed on the winding unit, spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction; a sensor for detecting the first detectable object and the second detectable object; and a unit detection unit for determining the type of winding unit based on the detection results of the sensor, wherein the unit detection unit determines the type of winding unit according to the distance between the first detectable object and the second detectable object.

[0008] A control method for a food molding apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an outlet for discharging plate-shaped cooked rice; a slide tray that moves back and forth in the front-rear direction below the outlet; a winding unit detachably connected to the slide tray on which the molded cooked rice is placed; a first detectable object and a second detectable object formed on the winding unit, spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction; and a sensor for detecting the first detectable object and the second detectable object, the control method for a food molding apparatus comprising: a determination step for determining the type of winding unit based on the detection result of the sensor, wherein the determination step determines the type of winding unit according to the distance between the first detectable object and the second detectable object. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the type of winding unit installed can be determined with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is an external perspective view showing a food molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a key part showing the internal structure of the food molding apparatus described above. [Figure 3] This is an external perspective view showing the crimping section of the food molding apparatus described above. [Figure 4] This is an exploded perspective view of the crimping section of the food molding apparatus described above. [Figure 5] The above is a partial cross-sectional view of the food molding apparatus, showing the lifter at the origin and the winding unit in the unfolded state. [Figure 6] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the food molding apparatus shown above, illustrating the state in which the lifter is raised and the winding unit is folded. [Figure 7] The above is a partial cross-sectional view of the food molding apparatus, showing the lifter at the origin and the winding unit in the unfolded state. [Figure 8] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the food molding apparatus shown above, illustrating the state in which the lifter is raised and the winding unit is folded. [Figure 9] This is an external perspective view showing the upper side of the winding unit of the food molding apparatus described above. [Figure 10] This is an external perspective view showing the underside of the winding unit of the food molding apparatus described above. [Figure 11] This is an external perspective view showing the top side of a modified version of the winding unit described above. [Figure 12] This is an external perspective view showing the lower side of a modified version of the winding unit described above. [Figure 13] This is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the food molding apparatus described above. [Figure 14] This is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the food molding apparatus described above. [Figure 15] This is an external perspective view showing the winding and tightening operation by the food molding apparatus described above, and shows (a) the winding unit in an unfolded state, (b) the winding unit in a partially folded state, and (c) the winding unit in a completely folded state. [Figure 16]A schematic partial longitudinal sectional view showing the operation state in the discrimination process of the winding unit, (a) the state where the slide tray holding the winding unit is at the origin, (b) the state where the slide tray is retracted, (c) the state where the slide tray advances and the target pin is detected by the unit sensor, (d) the state where the slide tray has advanced more than in Fig. 16(c), (e) the state where the slide tray has advanced more than in Fig. 16(d). [Figure 17] A schematic diagram showing the magnetic field state of the magnetic bodies arranged on the connecting pin and the target pin. [Figure 18] An external perspective view showing the winding part of the food molding device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the food molding device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the mounting surface of the food molding device 1 is also referred to as the xy plane, and the direction vertically upward in the xy plane is also referred to as the +z direction. Further, the surface facing the +z direction is also referred to as the upper surface, and the surface facing the -z direction is also referred to as the lower surface. Furthermore, the surface facing the -y direction is also referred to as the front surface, and the surface facing the +y direction is also referred to as the back surface.

[0012] ● Food molding device 1 Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a food molding device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing its internal structure. In the cross-sectional view, the detailed structure is appropriately omitted.

[0013] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the food molding device 1 includes a hopper 2, a rolling part 3, a cutting part 4, a winding part 5, a winding unit 6, and an operation part 14. As will be described later, the winding unit 6 is detachably attached to the winding part 5. This food molding device 1 forms cooked rice into seaweed rolls by these mechanisms.

[0014] ● Hopper 2 Hopper 2 stores the input cooked rice and supplies it to the rolling section 3. As shown in Figure 2, hopper 2 is open towards the top of the main body of the device and includes a storage section 21 for storing cooked rice and a stirring section 22 for agitating and pushing the cooked rice in the storage section 21 downstream. A storage container 23 for supplying cooked rice to hopper 2 is detachably provided on the top of the food molding device 1. A detachable lid 23a is provided on the upper end of the storage container 23.

[0015] The storage section 21 is formed in a funnel shape, with its volume decreasing from top to bottom of the main body of the device. Furthermore, the downstream side of the storage section 21 is open towards the rolling section 3, which will be described later. The stirring unit 22 has two stirring arms 221 and 222 that are rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown). Multiple stirring rods are attached to each stirring arm 221 and 222 at predetermined intervals. In Figure 2, the stirring arms 221 and 222 rotate counterclockwise.

[0016] ●Rolled section 3 The rolling section 3 rolls the cooked rice supplied from the hopper 2 and forms it into a plate-shaped sushi sheet. As shown in Figure 2, this rolling section 3 is located below the hopper 2, i.e., on the downstream side. The rolling section 3 has a plurality of rolling rollers 30 that roll the cooked rice supplied from the hopper 2. The rolling rollers 30 include, for example, an upper rolling roller pair 31 and a lower rolling roller pair 32. The upper rolling roller pair 31 and the lower rolling roller pair 32 are arranged parallel to each other. The lower rolling roller pair 32 is positioned downstream (on the sending side) of the upper rolling roller pair 31 and further rolls the cooked rice that has been rolled by the upper rolling roller pair 31.

[0017] The upper rolling roller pair 31 has a first upper rolling roller 31a and a second upper rolling roller 31b, which are positioned front to back (left to right in Figure 2) with the cooked rice in between, and they are positioned facing each other at a predetermined distance apart.

[0018] The lower rolling roller pair 32 has a first lower rolling roller 32a and a second lower rolling roller 32b, which are positioned front to back (left to right in Figure 2) with the cooked rice in between, and they are positioned facing each other at a predetermined distance apart.

[0019] The first upper rolling roller 31a, the second upper rolling roller 31b, the first lower rolling roller 32a, and the second lower rolling roller 32b are made of molded synthetic resin. The surface of each rolling roller 30 has a gear-like shape with numerous ribs arranged at predetermined intervals parallel to each other along the axial direction. Regardless of this embodiment, the shapes of the ribs formed on each rolling roller 30 may differ from each other.

[0020] Furthermore, the food molding apparatus 1 may be provided with a roller distance adjustment unit to vary the distance between the upper rolling rollers 31. The roller distance adjustment unit can be configured, for example, with a swing arm rotatably mounted inside the apparatus body and a crank arm with one end connected to the swing arm and the other end connected to a drive motor. When the drive motor rotates in one direction, the swing arm rotates in that direction, widening the distance between the upper rolling rollers 31. When the drive motor rotates in the opposite direction, the swing arm rotates in the opposite direction, narrowing the distance between the upper rolling rollers 31. The mechanism for adjusting the distance between the upper rolling rollers 31 is not limited to the above configuration, and any configuration can be adopted.

[0021] ● Cutting section 4 The cutting section 4 cuts the slag sheet fed out from the rolling section 3 to a predetermined length. As shown in Figure 2, this cutting section 4 is located below the lower rolling roller pair 32, that is, below the discharge port of the rolling section 3. The cutting section 4 comprises a guide plate 41 and a cutter 42. The guide plate 41 is provided adjacent to the exit of the lower rolling roller pair 32. The cutter 42 is driven by a cutter drive motor 43 (see Figure 13) and moves back and forth toward the guide plate 41.

[0022] As a result, the slag sheet fed from the lower rolling roller pair 32 moves along the guide plate 41 and is carried to the cutting position by the cutter 42. After the slag sheet has been fed out to a predetermined length, the cutter 42 moves downward toward the guide plate 41. As a result, the cutter 42 is pressed against the slag sheet, and the slag sheet is cut to a predetermined length.

[0023] ●Tightening section 5 The crimping section 5, together with the winding unit 6 (described later), crimps the rice plates cut by the cutting section 4 to form a columnar shape. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the crimping section 5 has a base plate 51 horizontally positioned at the lower front of the housing, a slide tray 52 that moves horizontally back and forth along the upper surface of the base plate 51, and a lifter 53. The winding unit 6 is detachably attached to the upper surface of the slide tray 52.

[0024] In the center of the base plate 51, relief holes 51a and 51b are formed, spaced apart in the front-rear direction, to allow the lifter 53, which will be described later, to rise. The relief holes 51a and 51b have the same shape as the upper end surfaces of the clamping portions 531 and 532 of the lifter 53, and their opening area is kept to the minimum size necessary for the lifter 53 to protrude upward. In addition, in the center of the slide tray 52, where it overlaps with the relief holes 51a and 51b, a slit-shaped relief hole 52a with length in the front-rear direction is formed.

[0025] The slide tray 52 is located below the cutter 42. The slide tray 52 is installed horizontally so as to penetrate the inside of the food molding apparatus 1 from the rear side to the front side. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the upper surface of the slide tray 52 is provided with a pair of connecting parts 521 and 522 for connecting winding units 6. The pair of connecting parts 521 and 522 are substantially rectangular parallelepipeds and are spaced apart in the width direction of the slide tray 52. ​​Connecting holes 521a and 522a corresponding to the connecting pins 652 and 662 of the winding unit 6 are formed on the upper surface of the pair of connecting parts 521 and 522, respectively. The connecting pins 652 and 662 of the winding unit 6, which will be described later, are fitted into the connecting holes 521a and 522a, thereby mounting the winding unit 6 onto the slide tray 52. ​​The connecting pins 652 and 662 of the winding unit 6 are detachably attached to the connecting holes 521a and 522a of the connecting parts 521 and 522. This allows the winding unit 6 to be replaced as needed.

[0026] The slide tray 52 moves back and forth (y-direction) in response to the rotational drive of the tray drive motor 54 (see Figure 13). This back and forth movement is performed in conjunction with the rolling roller 30 or cutter 42. As a result, the slag cut at the cutting section 4 is fed onto the winding unit 6 attached to the slide tray 52. ​​The means of moving the slide tray 52 may be, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism, or an appropriate configuration such as a linear drive system can be adopted. The sliding range of the slide tray 52 is from a forward position where the front end of the slide tray 52 is approximately aligned with the front end of the food molding apparatus 1, to a retracted position where the rice sheets cut by the cutting section 4 can be received by the winding unit 6. In the forward position of the slide tray 52, as described later, the winding unit 6 winds and tightens the rice sheets by the up and down movement of the lifter 53.

[0027] ● Lifter 53 As shown in Figure 2, the lifter 53 is positioned below the base plate 51. The lifter 53 is U-shaped and consists of a first clamping section 531 at the rear, a second clamping section 532 at the front, and a connecting section 533 that connects the lower ends of the first clamping section 531 and the second clamping section 532 in the front-rear direction.

[0028] The first clamping portion 531 and the second clamping portion 532 are both rod-shaped portions with an upward length, and are positioned opposite each other. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the upper ends of these clamping portions 531 and 532 move linearly in the vertical direction through relief holes 51a and 52a formed in the base plate 51 and the slide tray 52, respectively. When the lifter 53 is at its lower limit position (bottom dead center), the upper end surfaces of the first clamping portion 531 and the second clamping portion 532 are flush with the upper surface of the base plate 51. On the other hand, when the lifter 53 is at its upper limit position (top dead center), as described later, the first clamping portion 531 and the second clamping portion 532 fold the winding unit 6 into a cylindrical shape and clamp it.

[0029] As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the vertical movement of the lifter 53 is controlled by a drive arm 552 and a drive pin 553 that receive rotational drive from a lifter drive motor 55 (see Figure 13). In Figure 5, the drive arm 552 connected to the lifter drive motor 55 rotates in the yz plane, for example counterclockwise, around the connection point 551 with the lifter drive motor 55. A drive pin 553 is attached to the tip of the drive arm 552. The drive pin 553 has length in the +x direction and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the drive arm 552. A cam groove 53a is formed in the connecting portion 533 of the lifter 53, having a length in the direction of advancement and retraction of the winding unit 6. The rotational motion of the lifter drive motor 55 is converted into a linear vertical reciprocating motion of the lifter 53 by a cam follower formed by the drive pin 553 fitting into the cam groove 53a.

[0030] As described later, in its forward motion, the lifter 53 folds the winding unit 6 into a cylindrical shape using a pair of clamping parts 531 and 532, and clamps it to tighten the rice plate. Specifically, the upper surfaces of the first clamping part 531 and the second clamping part 532, which constitute the upper end surface of the lifter 53, contact the receiving parts 67 and 68 of the winding unit 6 during the tightening operation of the rice plate. When the lifter 53 rises, the receiving parts 67 and 68 are passively lifted upward. As a result, the winding unit 6 is folded, and the rice plate placed on the winding unit 6 is tightened. Furthermore, during the reversal operation, the lifter 53 unfolds the folded winding unit 6. This allows the rolled and shaped sushi roll to be removed from the winding unit 6.

[0031] The lifter 53 is composed of a first clamping section 531, a second clamping section 532, and a connecting section 533, all integrated into one unit. As a result, when the lifter drive motor 55 rotates, the first clamping section 531 and the second clamping section 532 move up and down at the same timing and with the same stroke.

[0032] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the food molding apparatus 1 is equipped with a lifter sensor 84 that detects the position of a vertically moving lifter 53. Furthermore, a first dog 5311 and a second dog 5312 are provided vertically spaced apart on the side surface of the first clamping portion 531 of the lifter 53. The lifter sensor 84 is, for example, a proximity sensor. The dogs 5311 and 5312 are, for example, of the set screw type and are screwed into counterbores formed at predetermined positions on the side surface of the lifter 53.

[0033] Regarding the positional relationship between the lifter sensor 84 and the dogs 5311 and 5312, as shown in Figure 5, the lifter sensor 84 is positioned to detect the upper first dog 5311 when the lifter 53 is at its lower limit position. Also, as shown in Figure 6, when the lifter 53 is at its upper limit position, the lifter sensor 84 is in a position where it cannot detect the lower second dog 5312, as the second dog 5312 is located above the lifter sensor 84. As described later, the lifter sensor 84 detects the dogs 5311 and 5312, thereby allowing the position and state of the vertically moving lifter 53 to be determined.

[0034] ● Winding unit 6 As shown in Figure 9, the winding unit 6 is a unit for winding and tightening the rice plate, and moves back and forth in accordance with the forward and backward movement of the slide tray 52. This winding unit 6 has a total of four plates: a fixed plate 60, a first rotating plate 61 and a second rotating plate 62 rotatably connected to both sides of the fixed plate 60, and a third rotating plate 63 rotatably connected to the second rotating plate 62.

[0035] Each of the four plates 60, 61, 62, and 63 is formed by depositing a polypropylene resin layer on the upper surface of a base material, for example, a metal plate. Positioning protrusions 632 and 633 are provided on the front edge of the third rotating plate 63. These positioning protrusions 632 and 633 are formed to rise from the upper surface of the rotating plate 63 and regulate the front position of the nori placed on the rolling unit 6. In this embodiment, two positioning protrusions 632 and 633 are provided, but the number is not limited to this and may be formed in any appropriate number.

[0036] Each of the base material plates 60, 61, 62, and 63, which are made of metal plates, has bent portions 601, 611, 621, and 631 that rise up on the upper side at each of its longitudinal ends. These folded portions 601, 611, 621, and 631 are connected to the fixed plate 60 independently so as to be rotatable inward by connecting shafts 641, 642, and 643, which are inserted through the overlapping portions. As a result, each of the plates 60-63 is folded so that its upper surface faces inward.

[0037] As shown in Figure 10, a pair of support plates 65 and 66 are fixed to the lower surface of the fixed plate 60. Each support plate 65 and 66 has a length in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fixed plate 60, that is, in the front-to-back direction of the food molding apparatus 1. Its length spans the three plates 60, 61, and 62, excluding the third rotating plate 63. Stoppers 651 and 661 (see Figure 9) are fixed to the upper end of the rear (+y) side of each support plate 65 and 66, respectively, to restrict the rear position of the seaweed placed on the winding unit 6. Each stopper 651 and 661 protrudes above the upper surface of the first rotating plate 61 through through holes 61a and 61b provided in the first rotating plate 61, respectively.

[0038] Connecting pins 652 and 662, each with a conical tip, are fixed to the lower surface of each support plate 65 and 66 at the intersection with the fixing plate 60. As shown in Figure 4, the connecting pins 652 and 662 with conical tips are fitted into the connecting holes 521a and 522a of the connecting parts 521 and 522 provided on the slide tray 52, respectively. This allows the winding unit 6 to be detachably attached to the slide tray 52.

[0039] In this embodiment, the connecting pins 652 and 662 are shown to protrude from the lower side of the winding unit 6. However, the direction in which the connecting pins 652 and 662 protrude is arbitrary as long as the winding unit 6 is connected to the slide tray 52. ​​For example, the connecting pins 652 and 662 may be provided on the side of the winding unit 6. In this case, for example, appropriate connecting holes may be provided in the ribs on both sides in the width direction of the slide tray 52, and the connecting pins 652 and 662 protruding laterally from the winding unit 6 may be fitted into these connecting holes. Furthermore, although the winding unit 6 is shown to have a convex portion and the slide tray 52 has a concave portion, the embodiment is not limited to this. The winding unit 6 may have a concave portion and the slide tray 52 may have a convex portion, or any appropriate configuration in which the winding unit 6 and the slide tray 52 are connected can be applied.

[0040] Furthermore, a rod-shaped target pin 653 is fixed to the lower surface of the support plate 65 in the direction of advancement and retraction of the winding unit 6, in front of the connecting pin 652. The direction of protrusion of the target pin 653 is not limited to the lower surface, but is arbitrary, similar to the connecting pin 652. It is preferable that the protrusion directions of the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 are the same. With this configuration, the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 can be detected by a single unit sensor 83, thus saving on the number of sensors to be installed. In addition, a configuration in which the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 are detected by the same unit sensor 83 is preferable because it eliminates variations in sensor sensitivity between the sensor that detects the connecting pin 652 and the sensor that detects the target pin 653.

[0041] In this embodiment, the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 generate a magnetic field that can be detected by the unit sensor 83. The magnetic field can be generated by placing magnets inside the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653, or by making the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 themselves magnets. By detecting the magnetic field emitted by the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653, the unit sensor 83 can determine the position of the slide tray 52 on the base plate 51 and identify the type of winding unit 6, as described later. Identifying the type of winding unit 6 is possible by changing the distance between the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 for each different type of winding unit 6, and measuring the distance between the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 using the magnetic field emitted by the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653.

[0042] As shown in Figure 10, a receiving portion 67 for receiving the lifter 53 is fixed to the lower surface of the first rotating plate 61 at its longitudinal center. This receiving portion 67 has a pair of upright pieces 671 and 672 that rise parallel to each other from the lower surface of the first rotating plate 61, and a contact portion 673 provided on the inside of the pair of upright pieces 671 and 672.

[0043] The contact portion 673 is shaped by bending a rectangular plate into a U-shape. This contact portion 673 has a pair of side pieces 6731 and 6732 that rise parallel to each other from the lower surface of the first rotating plate 61, and a contact piece 6733 that connects the lower ends of the pair of side pieces 6731 and 6732. The outer surface of the contact piece 6733 becomes the surface that the clamping portion 531 of the lifter 53 contacts when the winding unit 6 is folded by the winding tightening operation. The contact piece 6733 is also positioned at a predetermined distance from the lower surface of the first rotating plate 61, depending on the height of the pair of side pieces 6731. This adjusts the width of the portion of the winding unit 6 that is clamped by the lifter 53 to the distance between the clamping portions 531 and 532 of the lifter 53.

[0044] A receiving portion 68 for the lifter 53, which protrudes from below, is fixed to the lower surface of the third rotating plate 63 at its longitudinal center. This receiving portion 68 has a pair of opposing support pieces 681 and 682, and a roller 683 supported between the pair of support pieces 681 and 682. When the lifter 53 rises during the winding operation, the upper end surface of the clamping portion 532 comes into contact with the roller 683 from below.

[0045] In the winding and tightening operation described later, when the lifter 53 rises and lifts the receiving parts 67 and 68, the first rotating plate 61, the second rotating plate 62, and the third rotating plate 63 are folded so that their upper surfaces face inward. As a result, the winding unit 6 is folded into a rectangular columnar shape, and the rice plate inside is wound and tightened to conform to the shape of the folded winding unit 6. As a result, the rice plate is formed into a nori roll.

[0046] Figures 11 and 12 show a winding unit 7 that has a different structure from winding unit 6. Rolling unit 7 is designed to make thicker sushi rolls (futomaki) than rolling unit 6. Conversely, rolling unit 6 is designed to make thinner sushi rolls (hosomaki) than rolling unit 7. Similar to the winding unit 6 described above, this winding unit 7 has a total of four plates: a fixed plate 70, a first rotating plate 71 and a second rotating plate 72 rotatably connected to both sides of the fixed plate 70, and a third rotating plate 73 rotatably connected to the second rotating plate 72.

[0047] In the rolling unit 7, the widths of at least the fixed plate 70, the second rotating plate 72, and the third rotating plate 73 are wider than the widths of the fixed plate 60, the second rotating plate 62, and the third rotating plate 63 of the rolling unit 6. As a result, using the rolling unit 7 makes it possible to make thicker sushi rolls compared to using the rolling unit 6.

[0048] Positioning protrusions 732 and 733 are formed on the front edge of the third rotating plate 73 to regulate the front position of the nori placed on the rolling unit 7. These positioning protrusions 732 and 733 are formed to rise from the upper surface of the rotating plate 73.

[0049] Each base material, consisting of metal plates 70-73, has bent portions 701, 711, 721, and 731 that rise up on the upper side at both ends in the longitudinal direction. These folded portions 701, 711, 721, and 731 are independently rotatably connected to the fixed plate 70 by connecting shafts 741, 742, and 743, which are inserted through the overlapping portions. As a result, each of the plates 70-73 is folded so that its upper surface faces inward.

[0050] As shown in Figure 12, a pair of support plates 75 and 76 are fixed to the lower surface of the fixed plate 70. Each support plate 75 and 76 has a length in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fixed plate 70, that is, in the front-to-back direction of the food molding apparatus 1. Its length spans the three plates 70, 71, and 72, excluding the third rotating plate 73. Stoppers 751 and 761 are fixed to the rear ends of each support plate 75 and 76, respectively. The stoppers 751 and 761 each wrap around from the rear end of the first rotating plate 71 and protrude above the upper surface of the first rotating plate 71, regulating the rear position of the nori placed on the rolling unit 7. The distance between the stoppers 751 and 761 and the positioning projections 732 and 733 becomes the length of the nori placed on the rolling unit 7. This length is longer than the distance between the stoppers 651 and 661 and the positioning projections 632 and 633 in the rolling unit 6. As a result, the rolling unit 7 can make thicker nori rolls compared to the rolling unit 6.

[0051] On the underside of each support plate 75, 76, connecting pins 752, 762 with conical tips are fixed at the intersection with the fixing plate 70. Similar to the winding unit 6, the conical connecting pins 752, 762 are fitted into connecting holes 521a, 522a of connecting parts 521, 522 provided on the slide tray 52, respectively. This allows the winding unit 7 to be detachably attached to the slide tray 52. Furthermore, a rod-shaped target pin 753 is fixed to the lower surface of the support plate 75 in the direction of advancement and retraction of the winding unit 7, in front of the connecting pin 752.

[0052] In this embodiment, the connecting pin 752 and the target pin 753 generate a magnetic field detectable by the unit sensor 83, similar to the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653 of the winding unit 6 described above. By detecting the magnetic field emitted by the connecting pin 752 and the target pin 753, the unit sensor 83 can determine the position of the slide tray 52 on the base plate 51 and identify the type of winding unit 7. In this embodiment, the connecting pin 752 and the target pin 753 are positioned such that the distance between them is greater than the distance between the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 of the winding unit 6. By setting the distance between the connecting pin 752 and the target pin 753 to be different from that of the winding unit 6, the distance between the connecting pin 752 and the target pin 753 can be measured by the magnetic field emitted by the connecting pin 752 and the target pin 753, thereby distinguishing between the winding unit 6 and the winding unit 7.

[0053] As shown in Figure 12, a receiving portion 77 for receiving the lifter 53 is fixed to the lower surface of the first rotating plate 71 at its longitudinal center. This receiving portion 77 has a pair of upright pieces 771 and 772 that rise parallel to each other from the lower surface of the first rotating plate 71, and a contact portion 773 provided between the pair of upright pieces 771 and 772.

[0054] The contact portion 773 is shaped by bending a rectangular plate into a U-shape. This contact portion 773 has a pair of side pieces 7731 and 7732 that rise parallel to each other from the lower surface of the first rotating plate 71, and a contact piece 7733 that connects the lower ends of the pair of side pieces 7731 and 7732. The outer surface of the contact piece 7733 becomes the surface that the clamping portion 531 of the lifter 53 contacts when the winding unit 7 is folded by the winding tightening operation. The contact piece 7733 is also positioned at a distance of a predetermined length from the inside of the first rotating plate 61, according to the height of the pair of side pieces 6731. As a result, the width of the portion of the winding unit 7 that is clamped by the lifter 53 is adjusted to the distance between the clamping portions 531 and 532 of the lifter 53. Furthermore, the winding unit 7 is designed to make thicker sushi rolls than the winding unit 6, and the height of the pair of side pieces 7731 and 7732 is lower than the pair of side pieces 6731 and 6732 of the winding unit 6. As a result, the contact piece 7733 is positioned closer to the lower surface of the first rotating plate 61 compared to the contact piece 6733 of the winding unit 6.

[0055] A receiving portion 78 is fixed to the lower surface of the third rotating plate 73 at its longitudinal center to receive the lifter 53 that protrudes from below. This receiving portion 78 has a pair of opposing support pieces 781 and 782, and a roller 783 supported between the pair of support pieces 781 and 782. During the winding operation, when the lifter 53 rises, the upper end surface of the clamping portion 532 comes into contact with the roller 783 from below.

[0056] In the winding and tightening operation described later, as with the winding unit 6, when the lifter 53 rises and lifts the receiving parts 77 and 78, the first rotating plate 71, the second rotating plate 72, and the third rotating plate 73 are folded so that their upper surfaces face inward. As a result, a thicker sushi roll is formed than when using the winding unit 6.

[0057] In this embodiment, the structure and operation will be explained using the case where the winding unit 6 is used as an example, but the winding unit 7 can be used in the same manner as the winding unit 6. By arbitrarily selecting and using the winding unit 6 and winding unit 7, it is possible to make sushi rolls of different thicknesses. Furthermore, since it is possible to make sushi rolls of different thicknesses by swapping winding units 6 and 7, there is no need to register settings according to the size of the sushi roll or to have the food molding device 1 perform different operations according to the size of the sushi roll. Although this explanation describes two types of rolling units, it is also possible to prepare three or more different rolling units and make sushi rolls of varying thicknesses.

[0058] ●Operation unit 14 The operating unit 14 is an operator for operating the food molding apparatus 1 and has an operating panel 141 and a switch 142. In this embodiment, the control panel 141 is located on the front left side of the food molding apparatus 1 and includes various setting buttons and a display for setting the amount of cooked rice and the number of rice balls to be molded, as well as a power switch and an emergency stop switch. In this embodiment, the control panel 141 is provided with a liquid crystal screen, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it may be configured with, for example, a 7-segment display or appropriate lamps. Furthermore, the control panel 141 may be configured with a touch panel display. Switch 142 is used to command the start and stop of an operation. For example, pressing this switch 142 can command the start of the operation to shape the cooked rice into a sushi roll.

[0059] ●Functional Blocks Figure 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the food molding apparatus 1. The food molding apparatus 1 mainly consists of a CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, operation unit 14, sensor unit 8, roller drive motor group 33, cutter drive motor 43, tray drive motor 54, and lifter drive motor 55.

[0060] The CPU 11 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of the food molding apparatus 1. It reads and executes a program from the ROM 12, thereby realizing the operation of the food molding apparatus 1 according to that program. The ROM 12 is a read-only memory in which the above program is stored. The RAM 13 is a write-and-read memory in real time, which stores temporary data and the like.

[0061] The sensor unit 8 includes a rice sensor 81, a lid sensor 82, a unit sensor 83, and a lifter sensor 84. Notwithstanding this embodiment, the sensor unit 8 may also be provided with a color identification sensor or the like to identify the color of the cooked rice in the storage unit 21, thereby enabling the identification of the type of cooked rice.

[0062] The rice sensor 81 detects the rice being supplied to the rolling section 3 near the lower open end of the storage section 21. The lid sensor 82 is a sensor provided on the storage container 23 or the lid 23a, and detects whether the storage container 23 is closed by the lid 23a.

[0063] The unit sensor 83 detects the connecting pins 652 and target pins 653 of the winding unit 6 attached to the slide tray 52. ​​This allows the position and distance between the connecting pins 652 and target pins 653 to be determined. Connecting pins 652 and 752 are examples of first detected objects. Target pins 653 and 753 are examples of second detected objects.

[0064] This unit sensor 83 is, for example, a magnetic sensor that detects the magnetic field generated by the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653. The unit sensor 83 is a sensor that turns on when the magnetic field strength is above a predetermined level and turns off when it is below the predetermined level. The unit sensor 83 does not need to be able to detect the direction (S / N) or strength of the magnetic field. By configuring the device without referring to the direction or strength of the magnetic field, the production cost of the food molding apparatus 1 can be reduced.

[0065] The unit sensor 83 is located on the underside of the base plate 51, at a position corresponding to the origin of the connecting pin 652 of the winding unit 6 attached to the slide tray 52. ​​With the unit sensor 83 positioned on the underside of the base plate 51 and detecting the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653 on the base plate 51 without contact, no structure protrudes from the upper side of the base plate 51, resulting in good cleaning and hygiene of the base plate 51. In the food molding apparatus 1, oil, ingredients, and cooked rice tend to adhere to the area around the base plate 51. However, with the present configuration, the unit sensor 83 does not get dirty, thus preventing malfunctions and false detections.

[0066] The origin position of the connecting pin 652 is the position of the connecting pin 652 at the start of the winding operation (standby state). With this configuration, the presence of the slide tray 52 at the origin can be confirmed by detecting the connecting pin 652, eliminating the need for a sensor to confirm the position of the slide tray 52 and thus reducing costs. Furthermore, reducing the number of sensors reduces the possibility of failure and improves reliability.

[0067] Furthermore, as shown in another embodiment in Figure 18, the unit sensor 183 may be a proximity sensor disposed on the upper side of the base plate 51. This unit sensor 183 detects when a part of the winding unit 6, for example, the bent portion 701, is in close proximity. The length of the bent portion 701 varies depending on the type of winding unit 6, 7, and the type of winding unit 6, 7 can be determined by detecting the length of time the proximity sensor is in the ON state. With this configuration, the shape of the winding units 6, 7 can be simplified, and costs can be reduced. The proximity sensor may also be a magnetic detection type sensor.

[0068] The lifter sensor 84 detects the dogs 5311 and 5312 of the lifter 53 as it moves up and down. This allows the vertical position of the lifter 53 to be determined. This lifter sensor 84 is an inductive proximity sensor that detects the presence of dogs 5311 and 5312, for example, made of metal.

[0069] The roller drive motor group 33 is a drive mechanism for rotating the rolling rollers 30. The roller drive motor group 33 includes, for example, an upper drive motor 331 that drives the upper rolling roller pair 31 and a lower drive motor 332 that drives the lower rolling roller pair 32. The roller drive motor group 33 controls the start and stop of the rotation of the rolling rollers 30, as well as the rotation speed. The roller drive motor group 33 may also control the rotation direction of the rolling rollers 30. The upper drive motor 331 may independently control the first upper rolling roller 31a and the second upper rolling roller 31b. The lower drive motor 332 may independently control the first lower rolling roller 32a and the second lower rolling roller 32b. The motors constituting the roller drive motor group 33 are, for example, stepping motors.

[0070] The cutter drive motor 43 is a drive mechanism that moves the cutter 42 forward and backward in accordance with its rotational motion. The cutter 42 repeatedly moves forward and backward in the direction of the guide plate 41 in accordance with the rotation of the cutter drive motor 43, cutting the slag plate on the guide plate 41.

[0071] The tray drive motor 54 is a drive mechanism that moves the slide tray 52 forward and backward in response to rotational drive. By adjusting the position of the slide tray 52 and moving it forward and backward, the tray drive motor 54 can place the rice plate in the appropriate position on the winding unit 6. In addition, during the winding tightening operation, the tray drive motor 54 moves the slide tray 52 to the forward position, which is the position where the winding tightening operation is performed.

[0072] The lifter drive motor 55 is a drive mechanism that raises and lowers the lifter 53 in response to rotational drive. The clamping parts 531 and 532 of the lifter 53 rise above the base plate 51 or descend to the lower surface of the base plate 51 in response to the rotation of the lifter drive motor 55.

[0073] ●Functional parts As shown in Figure 14, the food molding apparatus 1 consists of a CPU 11 and other computing devices, and memory devices such as ROM 12 and RAM 13, which form functional blocks such as an input / output control unit 101, a roller control unit 102, a cutter control unit 103, a tray control unit 104, a lifter control unit 105, a lid detection unit 106, a rice detection unit 107, a unit detection unit 108, and a lifter detection unit 109. Some or all of the functional blocks may be implemented in a higher-level device connected by wired or wireless means. The higher-level device may be, for example, a server or a cloud computer.

[0074] The input / output control unit 101 is a functional unit that acquires commands received via the operation unit 14. The input / output control unit 101 accepts commands to start or stop various operations and processes. In addition, the input / output control unit 101 also accepts settings for the thickness or density of the plate-shaped cooked rice to be formed. Furthermore, the input / output control unit 101 outputs appropriate information to the liquid crystal screen of the operation panel 141. For example, the operating mode set for the food molding apparatus 1 is displayed on the liquid crystal screen. The liquid crystal screen may also display appropriate error messages.

[0075] The roller control unit 102 is a functional unit that controls the rotation of the rolling rollers 30. The roller control unit 102 controls the roller drive motor group 33 to rotate the upper rolling roller pair 31 and the lower rolling roller pair 32 independently of each other. Furthermore, the density of the charcoal sheet can be changed by controlling the rotational speed of the rolling rollers 30 via the roller control unit 102. The rotational speed can be changed, for example, by changing the rotational speed of the upper rolling rollers 31a and 31b according to the load torque applied to the lower drive motors 332 of the lower rolling rollers 32a and 32b. The load torque can be obtained, for example, by counting the number of pulses corresponding to the load output from the motor driver to which the roller drive motor group 33 is connected.

[0076] The cutter control unit 103 is a functional unit that controls the cutter drive motor 43 to move the cutter 42 forward and backward. The cutter control unit 103 rotates the cutter drive motor 43 in the forward or reverse direction. The cutter 42 is configured to repeatedly move forward and backward in response to the forward or reverse rotation of the cutter drive motor 43.

[0077] Whether the cutter 42 moves forward or backward in response to the forward and reverse rotation of the cutter drive motor 43 depends on the rotation angle of the cutter drive motor 43 at that time. For example, if the cutter drive motor 43 is moving forward due to forward rotation and the motor is reversed, the cutter 42 will move backward. Also, if the cutter drive motor 43 is moving backward due to forward rotation and the motor is reversed, the cutter 42 will move forward. In this embodiment, the forward movement of the cutter 42 corresponds to the downward movement of the cutter 42, and the backward movement of the cutter 42 corresponds to the upward movement of the cutter 42. The rice plate discharged from the discharge port is located below the cutter 42, and when the cutter 42 moves forward and then downward, the cutter 42 is pressed against the rice plate.

[0078] The tray control unit 104 is a functional unit that moves the slide tray 52 forward and backward by controlling the tray drive motor 54. The slide tray 52 operates in conjunction with the rolling rollers 30 or the cutter 42.

[0079] The lifter control unit 105 is a functional unit that controls the lifter drive motor 55 to move the lifter 53 up and down. When the lifter 53 rises, the winding unit 6 folds into a cylindrical shape and the rice sheet is rolled up tightly. When the lifter 53 lowers, the folded winding unit 6 unfolds, and the rolled sushi roll can be removed.

[0080] The lid detection unit 106 is a functional unit that detects whether the lid 23a of the storage container 23 is closed via the lid sensor 82. The input / output control unit 101 may accept a command to start molding by the food molding apparatus 1 when the lid sensor 82 detects that the lid 23a is closed. Alternatively, the input / output control unit 101 may prohibit or disable the input of the molding start command if the lid 23a is not closed. In this case, the input / output control unit 101 may display a message on the liquid crystal screen prompting the user to close the lid 23a. With this configuration, molding can be started with the lid 23a reliably closed.

[0081] The rice detection unit 107 is a functional unit that detects, using the rice sensor 81, that rice is being supplied to the storage unit 21. The input / output control unit 101 accepts a command to start molding by the food molding device 1 when rice is being supplied to the storage unit 21, and may prohibit or disable the input of the start command when rice is not being supplied.

[0082] The unit detection unit 108 detects the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653 of the winding unit 6 using the unit sensor 83. By moving the slide tray 52 forward and backward using the tray control unit 104 and detecting the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653, the position and distance between the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653 can be determined.

[0083] Furthermore, the unit detection unit 108 determines whether the slide tray 52 is positioned at the origin by detecting the connecting pin 652. With this configuration, which detects the connecting pin 652 that connects the slide tray 52 and the winding unit 6, the position of the slide tray 52 and whether or not the winding unit 6 is installed can be confirmed by a single unit sensor 83.

[0084] The unit detection unit 108 can determine the position and type of the winding unit 6 based on the further identified information. The determination operation can be performed, for example, when the winding unit 6 is installed, when it recovers from an error, or at the time of initial setup, or at any arbitrary timing and frequency.

[0085] The lifter detection unit 109 detects the first dog 5311 and the second dog 4312 using the lifter sensor 84. By detecting the first dog 5311 and the second dog 5312 while moving the lifter 53 up and down, the position and state of the lifter 53 can be determined.

[0086] ● Overview of the rice shaping process This document describes the procedure for using the food molding apparatus 1, along with an overview of the rice sushi sheet molding process. First, the winding unit 6 is attached to the slide tray 52 and the power switch is turned on. The food molding device 1 identifies the type and position of the winding unit 6 through the detection operation of the slide tray 52, which will be described later, and adjusts accordingly.

[0087] The user places cooked rice into hopper 2. They also place seaweed on plates 60, 61, 62, and 63 of the unfolded winding unit 6. The user then presses switch 142 to request the food molding device 1 to begin the molding operation. In response, the cooked rice in hopper 2 is stirred by stirring arms 221 and 222 and sent to the rolling unit 3. The rolling unit 3 rolls the cooked rice, and the cutting unit 4 cuts the rolled rice to a predetermined length, at which point the sushi rice sheet is sent onto winding unit 6. As the sushi rice sheet is sent onto winding unit 6, the tray control unit 104 slides the slide tray 52 in accordance with the speed at which the sushi rice sheet is sent. This places the sushi rice sheet on the seaweed set on winding unit 6, and the user adds toppings to the sushi rice sheet as desired. When the user presses switch 142 again, the food molding device 1 moves on to the winding and tightening operation of the sushi rice sheet.

[0088] Figure 15(a) shows the initial state of the winding operation. The upper surfaces of the four plates 60, 61, 62, and 63 that make up the winding unit 7 are on the same plane, and the winding unit 6 is in a flat, unfolded state. At this time, the lifter 53 is in its lowest position, and the receiving portions 67 and 68 of the winding unit 6 are separated from the upper end surfaces of the clamping portions 531 and 532 of the lifter 53, respectively.

[0089] Figure 15(b) shows the drive arm 552 shown in Figure 15(a) rotated by approximately 90 degrees from its initial state. In this state, the receiving portions 67 and 68 are pushed up by the upper end surfaces of the clamping portions 531 and 532. In the transition from the state shown in Figure 15(a) to the state shown in Figure 15(b), the third rotating plate 63 rotates counterclockwise around the connecting shaft 643 (see Figures 9 and 10), and further lifts the front side of the second rotating plate 62 via the connecting shaft 643. As a result, the second rotating plate 62 rotates counterclockwise around the connecting shaft 642. Meanwhile, the first rotating plate 61 rotates clockwise around the connecting shaft 641.

[0090] Figure 15(c) shows the drive arm 552 having rotated further from the state shown in Figure 15(b), having rotated half a turn from the initial state. The second rotating plate 62 and the third rotating plate 63 rotate further counterclockwise, while the first rotating plate 61 rotates further clockwise. As a result, the first rotating plate 61 and the second rotating plate 62 are positioned almost perpendicular to the fixed plate 60. The third rotating plate 63 is positioned to cover the upper part of the U-shaped space in cross-section that is surrounded on three sides by the fixed plate 60, the first rotating plate 61, and the second rotating plate 62. In this way, the four plates 60, 61, 62, and 63 are folded, forming a rectangular space inside.

[0091] As a result, the rice plate is formed into a rectangular columnar shape with a square cross-section, matching the shape formed by the four plates 60, 61, 62, and 63. In this state, the pair of clamping parts 531 and 532 that constitute the lifter 53 are subjected to a reaction force from the rice plate that spreads from the inside out. In this regard, for example, if the pair of clamping parts 531 and 532 are driven by independent drive motors, the reaction force of the rice plate is applied to the drive motors as a rotational load. If the rotational load increases continuously, the drive motor may lose synchronization. In contrast, in this embodiment, the pair of clamping parts 531 and 532 are integrally formed by the connecting part 533, so that the stress on the rice plate is applied to the lifter 53 and not to the lifter drive motor 55. As a result, the winding unit 6 is mechanically locked, no load is placed on the lifter drive motor 55, and the driving force can be fully utilized. The same operation is performed without setting according to the type and size of the winding unit 6 (7), and since the load on the lifter drive motor 55 does not change, damage to the equipment can also be prevented.

[0092] When the drive arm 552 starts rotating more than 180 degrees from the initial state shown in Figure 15(c), the lifter 53 returns to the initial state shown in Figure 15(a) via the state shown in Figure 15(b). As a result, the four plates 60, 61, 62, and 63 that make up the winding unit 6 return to their unfolded state, and the sushi roll can be removed.

[0093] ● Identification of the type and position of winding units 6 and 7 The unit detection unit 108 determines the type of winding unit 6, 7 according to, for example, the distance between the connecting pins 652, 752 and the target pins 653, 753. More specifically, the unit detection unit 108 may determine the type of winding unit 6, 7 according to the time difference between the time when the connecting pins 652, 752 are detected and the time when the target pins 653, 753 are detected. In this case, at least the operating speed of the slide tray 52 during the winding unit detection process is constant or known.

[0094] Figure 16 is a schematic partial longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the operation of the winding units 6 and 7 in the discrimination process. In Figure 16(a), the slide tray 52 is at the origin and the connecting pin 652 is located above the unit sensor 83. At this time, the unit sensor 83 detects the connecting pin 652 and is in the ON state.

[0095] Next, as shown in Figure 16(b), the slide tray 52 moves backward for a predetermined time, the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653 move out of the detection range of the unit sensor 83, and the unit sensor 83 turns off. After that, the slide tray 52 moves forward.

[0096] As shown in Figure 16(c), the unit sensor 83 turns ON again when the connecting pin 652 reaches the detection range of the unit sensor 83.

[0097] As shown in Figure 16(d), when the connecting pin 652 passes above the unit sensor 83, the unit sensor 83 is positioned between the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 and turns off.

[0098] As the slide tray 52 moves further forward, the target pin 653 passes above the unit sensor 83. During this time, the unit sensor 83 is turned on. As shown in Figure 16(e), as the slide tray 52 moves further forward, the target pin 653 moves in front of the unit sensor 83, and the unit sensor 83 is turned off. Subsequently, the slide tray 52 moves backward and stops at the origin. Through this series of movements, the positional relationship between the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653 can be detected via the movement time of the slide tray 52, as the slide tray 52 moves back and forth above the unit sensor 83.

[0099] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram showing the magnetic field of the magnetic material placed on the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653. Magnetic fields 652H and 653H spread out approximately radially around the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653. The strength of these magnetic fields 652H and 653H changes depending on the temperature, humidity, and surrounding electromagnetic field conditions. Furthermore, the strength of the magnetic field also differs due to variations in mass-produced products. Changes in the magnetic force of the magnetic material can also occur over time. In addition, there are variations in sensor sensitivity during mass production, and the detection range changes due to individual differences in sensor sensitivity. As a result, the range in which the unit sensor 83 detects the connecting pin 652 or the target pin 653 will differ depending on the strength of the magnetic fields 652H and 653H and the strength of the sensor sensitivity.

[0100] As a result, when the magnetic fields 652H and 653H are strong, or when the sensor sensitivity is high, the unit sensor 83 detects the pins over a wide area. That is, in the series of discrimination operations described in Figure 16, the detection time t652 for detecting the connecting pin 652 and the detection time t653 for detecting the target pin 653 by the unit sensor 83 become longer. Also, when the magnetic fields 652H and 653H are weak, or when the sensor sensitivity is low, the range detected by the unit sensor 83 becomes narrower, and the detection time t652 for detecting the connecting pin 652 and the detection time t653 for detecting the target pin 653 in the series of discrimination operations become shorter. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish between the winding units 6 and 7 by referring to the ON state time or the OFF state time.

[0101] Therefore, the unit sensor 83 detects the time period in which the connecting pin 652 is detected (also called the "first time period") and the time period in which the target pin 653 is detected (also called the "second time period"), and the unit detection unit 108 may determine the type of winding unit 6, 7 according to the travel time T from the midpoint of the first time period to the midpoint of the second time period. More specifically, for example, as shown in equation (1), the unit detection unit 108 may calculate the travel time T by adding half of the detection times t652 and t653 of the two ON states detected while the slide tray 52 is moving forward, and the non-detection time t100 of the OFF state between the two ON states. T=t652 / 2+t653 / 2+t100 ···(1)

[0102] The magnetic fields 652H and 653H spread symmetrically around the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653. Therefore, by using half the value of the ON state detection time t652 and t653, it is possible to estimate the time when the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653 are positioned on the unit sensor 83. With this configuration, the travel time between the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653 can be calculated regardless of the magnitude of the magnetic fields 652H and 653H. Consequently, the types of winding units 6 and 7 can be determined regardless of variations in the magnitude of the magnetic fields 652H and 653H and sensor sensitivity due to environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, or individual differences.

[0103] Furthermore, in the process of moving the slide tray 52 to the origin, the slide tray 52 can be moved to the center of the magnetic field 652H by retracting it by half the ON state detection time t652. In other words, the connecting pins 652 of the slide tray 52 can be positioned directly above the unit sensor 83. Note that the retraction time of the slide tray 52 may be a value obtained by correcting half the detection time t652 to account for hysteresis.

[0104] ● Error detection by the unit detection unit 108 The unit detection unit 108 checks whether the unit sensor 83 has detected the connecting pin 652 at a predetermined time when the food molding apparatus 1 is stopped. The predetermined time is, for example, at startup, when settings are changed, when recovering from an error, at the start of operation of the slide tray 52 in discrimination or food molding, or at the time when the attachment or detachment of the winding unit 6 is detected. The unit sensor 83 detects the connecting pin 652 when the slide tray 52 is at the origin and the winding unit 6 is installed.

[0105] The unit detection unit 108 notifies an error if the unit sensor 83 is in the off state at the start of the slide tray 52's movement. This is because if the unit sensor 83 is in the off state, it is presumed that the winding unit 6 is not installed or the slide tray 52 is not at the origin. As a form of notification, for example, a message prompting the user to install the winding unit 6 or move the slide tray 52 to the origin may be displayed on the operation panel 141. Alternatively, the form of notification may be an appropriate form such as sound or flashing. The slide tray 52 may be moved manually or automatically.

[0106] The unit detection unit 108 allows the tray control unit 104 to operate if the unit sensor 83 is ON at the start of the slide tray 52's movement forward and backward. The unit detection unit 108 also refers to the detection result of the unit sensor 83 during the forward and backward movement of the slide tray 52 for discrimination purposes, and notifies an error if the unit sensor does not turn ON within a predetermined time from the start of the slide tray 52's movement forward and backward. When the slide tray 52 starts moving forward and backward from the origin, it should detect the target pin 653 within a predetermined time. On the other hand, if the unit sensor does not turn ON within a predetermined time from the start of movement forward and backward, it is highly probable that the unit sensor 83 detected the target pin 653 at the start of movement forward and backward and was not at the origin. Therefore, with this configuration, the detection process of the winding unit 6 can be reliably started from the origin.

[0107] ● Recovery operation from an error in slide tray 52 The food molding apparatus 1 stops operating when an appropriate error is detected via the sensor unit 8 or the like. After recovering from the error and returning to normal operation, it is necessary to move the slide tray 52 to the origin. In this configuration, the unit detection unit 108 may be able to estimate the position of the slide tray 52 by referring to the state of the unit sensor 83.

[0108] The unit detection unit 108 may estimate the position of the slide tray 52 by counting the number of times the unit sensor 83 switches between the on and off states. The unit detection unit 108 may also change the counting method of this variable depending on the direction of the slide tray 52's movement. Specifically, when the slide tray 52 moves backward, the unit detection unit 108 counts up the number of times the unit sensor 83 switches from the off state to the on state, i.e., the rising state. When the slide tray 52 moves forward, the unit detection unit 108 counts down the number of times the unit sensor 83 switches from the on state to the off state, i.e., the falling state.

[0109] With this configuration, the unit detection unit 108 can estimate the positional relationship between the unit sensor 83 and the connecting pin 652 and target pin 653 by referring to a variable. The variable is, for example, 1 if the unit sensor 83 is located between the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653, and 2 if the unit sensor 83 is located in front of the target pin 653. The unit detection unit 108 may also report an error if the variable is any other numerical value.

[0110] When the food molding machine 1 stops due to an error, if the variable is 2, that is, if the target pin 653 is located behind the unit sensor 83, the tray control unit 104 moves the slide tray 52 forward. When the slide tray 52 moves forward until the unit sensor 83 is positioned between the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653, the unit sensor 83 turns off, and the variable becomes 1. The tray control unit 104 then continues to move the slide tray 52 forward and stops it when the unit sensor 83 turns on. As a result of this operation, the slide tray 52 stops at the origin, where the unit sensor 83 is detecting the connecting pin 652.

[0111] When the food molding apparatus 1 stops due to an error, if the variable is 1, that is, if the unit sensor 83 is present between the connecting pin 652 and the target pin 653, and the unit sensor 83 is in the off state, the tray control unit 104 advances the slide tray 52. ​​The tray control unit 104 stops when the unit sensor 83 turns on.

[0112] If the variable is 1 and the unit sensor 83 is ON, it can be inferred that the unit sensor 83 has detected the connecting pin 652. Therefore, the tray control unit 104 does not operate the slide tray 52. ​​However, even in this case, the position determination operation may be performed using the procedure described above, and the slide tray 52 may be moved to the origin. This is unnecessary if the slide tray 52 has not moved at all, but for example, if the slide tray 52 has moved slightly while the unit sensor 83 remains ON, the movement operation to the origin may be performed.

[0113] According to the present invention, the type of winding unit installed can be determined with a simple configuration. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0114] 1 Food forming equipment 2 Hopper 3 Rolling section 4 Cut section 5. Seam 53 Lifter 531 First clamping section 532 Second clamping section 5311 Dog No. 1 5312 Dog No. 2 6-winding unit 652 Connecting pin (first detected object) 653 Target pin (second detected object) 7-winding unit

Claims

1. An outlet for discharging cooked rice that has been formed into a flat shape, A sliding tray that moves back and forth in the front-to-back direction below the aforementioned discharge port, A winding unit is detachably connected to the slide tray and on which the molded cooked rice is placed, The winding unit comprises a first object to be detected and a second object to be detected that are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction, A sensor for detecting the first detected object and the second detected object, A unit detection unit that determines the type of winding unit based on the detection result of the sensor, Equipped with, The unit detection unit determines the type of winding unit according to the distance between the first object to be detected and the second object to be detected. Food forming equipment.

2. The first detected object and the second detected object move within the detection range of the sensor in accordance with the advancement and retraction of the slide tray. The unit detection unit determines the type of winding unit according to the time elapsed from the time the sensor detects the first object to be detected to the time the sensor detects the second object to be detected. The food molding apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The first detected object and the second detected object move within the detection range of the sensor in accordance with the advancement and retraction of the slide tray. The sensor detects a first time period in which the first detected object is detected, and a second time period in which the second detected object is detected. The unit detection unit determines the type of winding unit according to the time from the center of the first time period to the center of the second time period. The food molding apparatus according to claim 1.

4. At least one of the first detected object and the second detected object is a connecting pin that protrudes from the lower surface side of the winding unit and is connected to the connecting hole of the slide tray. A food molding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The system includes a tray control unit that moves the slide tray forward and backward, The tray control unit moves the slide tray forward and backward when the unit detection unit identifies the winding unit. The unit detection unit permits the operation of the tray control unit if the sensor detects the first object to be detected or the second object to be detected at the start of the advancement and retraction of the slide tray related to the determination, and notifies an error if the sensor does not detect the first object to be detected or the second object to be detected. The food molding apparatus according to claim 1.

6. The unit detection unit notifies an error if the sensor does not detect the second object to be detected within a predetermined time from the start of the movement of the slide tray. The food molding apparatus according to claim 5.

7. An outlet for discharging cooked rice that has been formed into a flat shape, A sliding tray that moves back and forth in the front-to-back direction below the aforementioned discharge port, A winding unit is detachably connected to the slide tray and on which the molded cooked rice is placed, The winding unit comprises a first object to be detected and a second object to be detected that are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction, A sensor for detecting the first detected object and the second detected object, A control method for a food molding apparatus equipped with, The method includes a determination step of determining the type of winding unit based on the detection result of the sensor, In the discrimination step, the type of winding unit is determined according to the distance between the first object to be detected and the second object to be detected. A method for controlling a food molding machine.

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