Food conveying equipment
The food conveying device addresses the challenge of separating sliced food items by employing a multi-unit system with rotational and inclined surfaces to achieve stable and efficient individual conveyance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ニュートラル
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-02
Smart Images
Figure 0007868892000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a food conveying device for conveying, for example, sliced bread or confectionery foods.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, there is a device for slicing and then conveying foods such as bread. Patent Document 1 relates to an example of such a device. The device of Patent Document 1 slices a long bar-shaped bread in one direction while conveying it into a plurality of cut pieces.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] There may be a case where it is desired to separate the sliced food into individual cut pieces. According to the device of Patent Document 1, the sliced food is conveyed as a group of cut pieces in which a plurality of cut pieces are united. At this time, there is a possibility that it is difficult to separate the group of cut pieces into one-by-one cut pieces because the group of cut pieces is conveyed while maintaining a state where the cut pieces are arranged without gaps.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a food conveying device capable of appropriately separating and conveying sliced food into individual cut pieces.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The present invention relates to a food conveying device for conveying food sliced along a plurality of cutting surfaces intersecting a first direction along the horizontal direction, comprising: a first conveying unit that conveys a group of cuttings, in which a plurality of cuttings formed by slicing the food are arranged without gaps in the first direction, to a first position separated from the position where the food was sliced; and a second conveying unit that has a first conveying surface on which the group of cuttings conveyed by the first conveying unit to the first position receives the group of cuttings conveyed by the first conveying unit to the first position, and conveys the group of cuttings in the first conveying direction to a second position separated from the first position, wherein the second conveying unit receives the group of cuttings that have fallen from the first conveying unit while rotating around an axis along the first direction at the first position onto the first conveying surface, and separates the cuttings one by one from the group of cuttings as they fall at the second position.
[0007] According to this, at the first position, the sliced food falls from the first conveying section to the first conveying surface of the second conveying section. The recoil the group of slices receives from the conveying surface upon landing makes it easier for each slice in the group to separate from each other. As a result, at the second position, the slices can be easily separated one by one from the group of slices. Therefore, the sliced food can be appropriately separated into individual slices and conveyed.
[0008] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the second conveying unit has two first conveying surfaces facing each other, and that the two first conveying surfaces support the food received from the first conveying unit between themselves and convey it to the second position such that the food is in a second position that is inclined around the axis compared to the first position on the first conveying unit. As a result, the two facing first conveying surfaces support the food received from the first conveying unit between themselves. Therefore, it is easier to stably catch the food falling from the first conveying unit at the first position, and to convey the caught food in a stable position.
[0009] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the second transport unit transports the group of cut pieces diagonally upward to the second position. This effectively prevents the cut pieces from tipping over to the downstream side in the transport direction.
[0010] Furthermore, in the present invention, the invention further comprises a third transport unit having a second transport surface that receives the cut pieces falling one by one from the second position of the second transport unit, and it is preferable that the third transport unit moves the second transport surface along a second transport direction that includes a component in the opposite direction to the first transport direction while receiving the cut pieces onto the second transport surface. This stabilizes the position of the cut pieces that have fallen onto the second transport surface. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a food conveying device according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the left. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the food conveying device as seen from the front. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the food conveying device shown in Figure 1, viewed from the left, with the third conveying section replaced by a modified version. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0012] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
[0013] A food slicing system 1000 equipped with a food conveying device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The food slicing system 1000 slices a loaf of bread P, conveys a group of slices 10 arranged in a row, and then separates each slice 10a from the group of slices 10 before conveying them. Although the food slicing system 1000 is described in relation to a loaf of bread P, it may also be a slicing system for foods other than bread, such as confectionery.
[0014] The food slicing system 1000 includes a food slicing device 2, a food conveying device 1, and a control device 3. As shown in Figure 1, the conveying direction A of the slice group 10 is forward, and the opposite side is backward, and the direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction shown in Figure 1 is the up-and-down direction. Also, as shown in Figure 2, the conveying direction C of the slice 10a is to the right, and the opposite side is to the left (the left-to-right direction is the horizontal direction in this invention). The left-to-right direction is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction.
[0015] The control device 3 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The control device 3 is constructed by software, consisting of program data recorded in the ROM and RAM, which causes the CPU and other hardware to function to execute various processes. The control device 3 drives and controls the food slicing device 2 and the food conveying device 1 by receiving signals indicating that the user has operated switches, etc., for adjusting the food slicing system 1000. Note that some or all of the functions of the control device 3 may be handled by an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).
[0016] The food slicing device 2 is a device that slices bread P when the bread P is positioned so that it is long in the left-right direction. The food slicing device 2 is mounted on the first conveying unit 100, which will be described later. The food slicing device 2 has a plurality of blades arranged in the left-right direction. The plurality of blades cut the bread P so that a plurality of parallel cut surfaces perpendicular to the left-right direction are formed (see Figure 2). In this configuration, the control device 3 drives and controls the food slicing device 2 to operate the blades as described above. The bread P becomes a group of slices 10 in which a plurality of slices 10a are arranged without gaps in the conveying direction A. The spacing between each blade in the left-right direction is adjusted as appropriate so that the slices 10a are of the desired thickness.
[0017] The food conveying device 1 comprises a first conveying section 100, a second conveying section 200, and a third conveying section 300. The first conveying section 100 includes a pair of pulleys 110 and 120, a conveying belt 130, and a conveying motor (not shown) that drives the pulley 110. The conveying belt 130 extends along the conveying direction A. A food slicing device 2 is mounted on the rear of the conveying belt 130. The conveying belt 330 is stretched across the pulleys 110 and 120. The first conveying section 100 may be composed of a roller conveying mechanism having multiple rollers, or it may be a chain conveying mechanism using a conveyor chain.
[0018] In the above configuration, the control device 3 drives and controls the first conveying unit 100, causing the pulley 110 to rotate and the conveying belt 130 to move accordingly. The pulley 120 rotates in accordance with the movement of the conveying belt 130. In this way, the first conveying unit 100 conveys the sliced pieces 10 in the conveying direction A to position T1 (the first position in this invention), which is the front end of the first conveying unit 100 and is located away from the position where the food was sliced by the food slicing device 2. During this time, the sliced pieces 10 assume an upright posture S1 (the first posture in this invention) on the conveying belt 130. Thereafter, as shown in Figure 1, at position T1, the sliced pieces 10 fall from the first conveying unit 100 to the second conveying unit 200 while rotating around an axis parallel to the left-right direction (the first direction in this invention) along the arrow α shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[0019] A second transport unit 200 is installed below the first transport unit 100. The second transport unit 200 has transport units 210 and 220. Transport units 210 and 220 face each other in the front-rear direction and are spaced apart in the front-rear direction. Transport units 210 and 220 are symmetrical with respect to plane X shown in Figure 1. Plane X is located in the front-rear center of transport units 210 and 220 and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction.
[0020] The conveying unit 210 includes a conveying member 211 having a pair of pulleys (not shown) and a conveying belt 214, a pedestal portion 212, and a conveying motor (not shown) for driving the pulleys. The conveying belt 214 extends along a conveying direction B that goes obliquely upward to the left from a position in front of and below the position T1. The conveying belt 214 is looped around the pair of pulleys. The conveying member 211 is arranged such that the conveying surface 214a of the conveying belt 214 is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. The conveying member 211 is placed on the pedestal portion 212.
[0021] The conveying unit 220 includes a conveying member 221 having a pair of pulleys (not shown) and a conveying belt 224, a pedestal portion 222, and a conveying motor (not shown) for driving the pulleys. The conveying belt 224 extends along a conveying direction B that goes obliquely upward to the left from a position in front of and below the position T1. The conveying belt 224 is looped around the pair of pulleys. The conveying member 221 is arranged such that the conveying surface 224a of the conveying belt 224 is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. The conveying member 221 is placed on the pedestal portion 222.
[0022] The conveying surface 214a of the conveying belt 214 and the conveying surface 224a of the conveying belt 224 (the conveying surfaces 214a and 224a are the first conveying surfaces referred to in the present invention) face each other. The conveying surfaces 214a and 224a receive the group of slice pieces 10 conveyed by the first conveying unit 100 to the position T1. The conveying surfaces 214a and 214b support the group of slice pieces 10 between each other such that the group of slice pieces 10 assumes a posture S2 (the second posture referred to in the present invention). The posture S2 is a posture inclined 45 degrees around an axis along the left-right direction compared to the posture S1. Note that the second conveying unit 200 may be constituted by a roller conveying mechanism having a plurality of rollers or may be a chain conveying mechanism using a conveyor chain.
[0023] In the above configuration, by driving and controlling the second conveying unit 200, the control device 3 causes the pulleys on the left side of the conveying units 210 and 220 to rotate. Accordingly, the conveying belts 214 and 224 travel at the same speed as each other. The pulleys on the right side of the conveying units 210 and 220 rotate following the travel of the conveying belts 214 and 224. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the second conveying unit 200 conveys the slice piece group 10 in the posture S2 while the conveying surfaces 214a and 224a support the slice piece group 10 between each other in the conveying direction B to the position T2 (the second position in the present invention), which is the left end of the conveying belts 214 and 224. Thereafter, the slice piece group 10 drops from the second conveying unit 200 to the third conveying unit 300 along the arrow β shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at the position T2. At this time, the control device 3 controls the conveying speed of the second conveying unit 200 so that the slice pieces 10a are dropped one by one from the slice piece group 10 to the third conveying unit 300.
[0024] Below the second conveying unit 200, a third conveying unit 300 is installed. The third conveying unit 300 includes a pair of pulleys 310, 320, a conveying belt 330, and a conveying motor (not shown) that drives the pulley 310. The conveying belt 330 extends along the conveying direction C (the second conveying direction in the present invention) from a position below the position T2 and to the left of the position T2. The conveying belt 330 is looped around the pulleys 310, 320. Note that the third conveying unit 300 may be constituted by a roller conveying mechanism having a plurality of rollers, or may be a chain conveying mechanism using a conveyor chain.
[0025] In this configuration, by driving and controlling the third conveying unit 300, the control device 3 causes the pulley 310 to rotate. Accordingly, the conveying belt 330 travels. The pulley 320 rotates following the travel of the conveying belt 330. As a result, the conveying surface 330a (the second conveying surface in the present invention) of the conveying belt 330 moves in the conveying direction C.
[0026] The transport surface 330a moves along the transport direction C, receiving the slices 10a dropped one by one from position T2 by the second transport unit 200 as it transports the slice group 10 to position T2. At this time, the slice 10a comes into contact with the transport surface 330a from its lower end 10x. Once the lower end 10x of the slice 10a comes into contact with the transport surface 330a, it moves along the transport direction C as the transport surface 330a moves. As a result, the entire slice 10a lands on the transport surface 330a while rotating counterclockwise around the lower end 10x as shown in Figure 2.
[0027] It is preferable that the transport speed of the third transport section 300, that is, the travel speed of the transport belt 330, is sufficiently faster than the transport speed of the second transport section 200, that is, the travel speed of the transport belts 214 and 224. This ensures that after one slice 10a lands on the transport surface 330a, it is quickly carried away by the transport belt 330 before the next slice 10a lands on the transport surface 330a. In addition, the lower end portion 10x of the slice 10a that is in contact with the transport surface 330a moves at high speed in the transport direction C as the transport surface 330a moves. This makes it easier to align the landing posture of the slices 10a on the transport surface 330a.
[0028] The food slicing system 1000 operates as follows, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, under the drive control of the control device 3. The food slicing device 2 cuts the loaf of bread P being transported by the first transport unit 100 of the food transport device 1. The loaf of bread P becomes a group of slices 10 in which multiple slices 10a are arranged without gaps in the transport direction A.
[0029] Next, the first conveying section 100 of the food conveying device 1 conveys the sliced bread P cut by the food slicing device 2 to position T1 in the conveying direction A. After that, the sliced pieces 10 fall from the first conveying section 100 to the second conveying section 200 while rotating, along the arrow α in Figures 1 and 2, at position T1.
[0030] Next, the second conveying unit 200 conveys the slice group 10 in the conveying direction B to position T2 while supporting it on the conveying surfaces 214a and 224a in posture S2. At position T2, the slices 10a separate one by one from the slice group 10 and fall from the second conveying unit 200 to the third conveying unit 300. The slices 10a land on the conveying surface 330a of the third conveying unit 300 while rotating around their lower end 10x which is in contact with the conveying surface 330a.
[0031] Next, the third conveying unit 300 conveys the slices 10a, which are placed one by one on the conveying surface 330a, in the conveying direction C.
[0032] As described above, with the food conveying device 1 of the food slicing system 1000, the group of sliced pieces 10 conveyed by the first conveying unit 100 to position T1 falls between the opposing conveying surfaces 214a and 224a of the second conveying unit 200. Due to the recoil the group of sliced pieces 10 receives from the conveying surface upon landing, each sliced piece 10a within the group of sliced pieces 10 becomes easier to separate from each other. Therefore, at position T2, each sliced piece 10a is easily separated from the group of sliced pieces 10. Thus, the loaf of bread P can be appropriately separated into individual sliced pieces 10a and conveyed.
[0033] Furthermore, the opposing conveying surfaces 214a and 214b support the group of slices 10 received from the first conveying unit 100 between themselves. This makes it easier to stably receive the group of slices 10 falling from the first conveying unit 100 at position T1, and to easily convey the received group of slices 10 in a stable position S2.
[0034] Furthermore, the second transport unit 200 transports the group of slices 10 in orientation S2 diagonally upward to position T2, thereby effectively preventing the group of slices 10 from tipping over downstream in the transport direction B. The thinner the slice 10a, the higher the risk of tipping over. Therefore, it is easier to counteract the tipping risk of relatively thin slices.
[0035] Furthermore, the third conveying unit 300 receives the group of slices 10 onto the conveying surface 330a and moves the conveying surface 330a along the conveying direction C. This allows the slices 10a to land on the conveying surface 330a while being rotated appropriately. As a result, the position of the slices 10a that have fallen onto the conveying surface 330a is stabilized.
[0036] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is indicated not only by the above-described embodiments but also by the claims, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of equivalence to the claims. Modifications of the above-described embodiments will be explained below.
[0037] In the above-described embodiment, the conveying member 211 is positioned such that its conveying surface 214a is inclined at a 45-degree angle with respect to the horizontal plane. Similarly, the conveying member 221 is positioned symmetrically with respect to plane X to the conveying member 211, such that its conveying surface 224a is inclined at a 45-degree angle with respect to the horizontal plane. However, the angles of the conveying members may be adjusted as appropriate depending on the shape of the food being conveyed.
[0038] In the embodiment described above, the second conveying unit 200 has two conveying surfaces 214a and 224a that face each other. However, the second conveying unit 200 may have one or more conveying surfaces.
[0039] Alternatively, instead of the third conveying section 300 in the above-described embodiment, a fourth conveying section 400, as shown in Figure 3, may be installed. The fourth conveying section 400 is located below the second conveying section 200. The fourth conveying section 400 includes a pair of pulleys 410 and 420, a conveying belt 430, and a conveying motor (not shown) that drives the pulley 410. The conveying belt 430 extends along the conveying direction D in Figure 3. The conveying direction D is the same direction as the conveying direction A. The conveying belt 430 is stretched over the pulleys 410 and 420. The fourth conveying section 400 may be composed of a roller conveying mechanism having a plurality of rollers, or it may be a chain conveying mechanism using a conveyor chain.
[0040] In the above configuration, the control device 3 drives and controls the fourth conveying unit 400, causing the pulley 410 to rotate, and the conveying belt 430 to move accordingly. The pulley 420 rotates in accordance with the movement of the conveying belt 430. As a result, the conveying surface 430a of the conveying belt 430 moves in the conveying direction D.
[0041] The transport surface 430a moves along the transport direction D, receiving the slices 10a dropped one by one from position T2 by the second transport unit 200 after the slice group 10 has been transported to position T2. Therefore, similar to the embodiment described above, the slice 10a lands on the transport surface 430a after its lower end 10x comes into contact with the transport surface 430a, while rotating around its lower end 10x.
[0042] It is preferable that the transport speed of the fourth transport section 400, that is, the travel speed of the transport belt 430, is sufficiently faster than the transport speed of the second transport section 200, that is, the travel speed of the transport belts 214 and 224. This ensures that after one slice 10a lands on the transport surface 430a, the transport belt 430 quickly carries it away from the landing point before the next slice 10a lands on the transport surface 430a. In addition, the lower end portion 10x of the slice 10a that is in contact with the transport surface 430a moves at high speed in the transport direction D as the transport surface 430a moves. This makes it easier to ensure that the landing posture of the slices 10a on the transport surface 430a is aligned. [Explanation of symbols]
[0043] 1. Food conveying equipment 10 slices 10a slices 100 First Conveyor Unit 200 Second Conveyor Unit 214a, 214b Conveyor surface 300 Third Conveyor Unit 330a Conveying surface A, B, C, D Conveying direction S1, S2 posture T1, T2 position P White bread (food)
Claims
1. A food conveying device for conveying food sliced along multiple cutting surfaces intersecting a first direction along the horizontal direction, A first conveying unit that conveys a group of cut pieces, each formed by slicing the food and arranged without gaps in the first direction, to a first position separated from the position where the food was sliced, The first transport unit has a first transport surface for receiving the group of cut pieces that have been transported to the first position, and a second transport unit transports the group of cut pieces in the first transport direction to a second position separated from the first position. The second transport unit, At the first position, the group of cut pieces that have fallen from the first conveying unit while rotating around an axis along the first direction are received onto the first conveying surface, and at the second position, the cut pieces are dropped while being separated one by one from the group of cut pieces. The second transport unit has two first transport surfaces facing each other, The two first transport surfaces are A food conveying device characterized by conveying the food received from the first conveying unit to the second position while supporting each other, such that the food is in a second position that is inclined around the axis compared to the first position on the first conveying unit.
2. The food conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second conveying unit conveys the group of cut pieces diagonally upward to the second position.
3. A food conveying device for conveying food sliced along a plurality of cutting surfaces intersecting a first direction along the horizontal direction, A first conveying unit that conveys a group of cut pieces, each formed by slicing the food and arranged without gaps in the first direction, to a first position separated from the position where the food was sliced, The first transport unit has a first transport surface for receiving the group of cut pieces that have been transported to the first position, and a second transport unit transports the group of cut pieces in the first transport direction to a second position separated from the first position, It comprises a third transport section having a second transport surface, The second transport unit, At the first position, the group of cut pieces that have fallen from the first conveying unit while rotating around an axis along the first direction are received onto the first conveying surface, and at the second position, the cut pieces are dropped while being separated one by one from the group of cut pieces. The third transport unit, A food conveying device characterized by moving the second conveying surface along a second conveying direction that includes a component in the opposite direction to the first conveying direction, while receiving the cut pieces that fall one by one from the second position of the second conveying section onto the second conveying surface.