Rice individual packaging manufacturing equipment

Abstract

To provide a cooked rice package manufacturing apparatus that solves problems such as variation of product quality and worsening of the measuring accuracy of a weighing apparatus.SOLUTION: In a cooked rice package manufacturing apparatus, a pre-processing part 2 which includes a process of steaming-boiling a product material M having rice as a main ingredient; a modifier adding part 3 which adds a modifier L for modifying the product material M; a post-processing part 4 which conveys the product material M sent from the modifier adding part 3; and a weighing and filling part 5 which weighs the product material M to an amount corresponding to the package and filling the material into a product container P are arranged. The pre-processing part 2 and the post-processing part 4 have conveyors 22, 41 which continuously convey the product material M, and the modifier adding part 3 has a processing container 31 which receives the product material M sent from the pre-processing part 2; a modifier feeding part 32 which feeds the modifier L into the processing container 31; and a state changing part 33 which changes a posture into a posture of receiving the product material M in the processing container 31 and a posture of moving the product material M to the post-processing part 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for manufacturing individually packaged cooked rice products that steam rice-based product materials and then perform individual packaging into product containers.

Background Art

[0002] In the conventional manufacturing process of processed cooked rice, raw rice, which is an example of a rice-based product material, is washed and soaked, then steamed in a horizontal rice steamer, seasoning liquid and ingredients are added, and it is filled into packaging containers using a metering filling machine to make a product (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, when the individual packaging is a sealed packaging, gas filling such as nitrogen may be performed, and a sterilization process may also be performed after sealing.

[0003] Problems in the above manufacturing process include variations in the moisture content of processed cooked rice due to the method of impregnating the seasoning liquid (an example of a modifier for modifying the product material), and variations in product quality and deterioration of the metering accuracy of the metering machine due to the steamed rice that has absorbed the seasoning liquid swelling by impregnating the liquid over time.

[0004] Specifically described below. As a method of impregnating the seasoning liquid, when the addition of the seasoning liquid is performed by spraying, spraying is often performed from above while stirring the steamed rice during conveyance. However, a gap is provided so that the stirring blades for stirring do not contact the conveyance surface of the conveyance device (such as a conveyor), and thus the seasoning liquid that has not been absorbed by the steamed rice accumulates in that gap. Therefore, the steamed rice at the lower part of the rice steamer in contact with the accumulated seasoning liquid absorbs the extra liquid, resulting in a higher moisture content at the lower part of the steamed rice and a greater degree of swelling of the rice. As a result, it is inevitable that variations in product quality will occur when processed cooked rice with different degrees of processing between the upper and lower parts of the steamed rice is filled into containers.

[0005] On the other hand, regarding weighing, steamed rice absorbs seasoning liquid and swells over time as the impregnation of the seasoning liquid progresses, causing its bulk density to decrease. Therefore, when weighing using a mass weighing machine, the weight that enters the mass fluctuates over time. In addition, as the steamed rice swells, cracks appear on the surface of the rice, causing the starch to leak out and the processed rice to become sticky. This stickiness causes the rice grains to stick together and adhere to the machine, for example, reducing the fluidity of the feeder in the weighing machine, which can lead to delays in weighing, under-weighing due to rice adhering to the weighing cup during discharge after weighing, or over-weighing when the previously adhered rice falls off during the next weighing and is included in the measurement, thus reducing weighing accuracy. Furthermore, if the amount of rice added to account for these risks exceeds the weighing standard, the yield will decrease. Moreover, if production is carried out for a long time, processed rice will adhere to and accumulate on the machine, reducing production efficiency as the frequency of machine parts replacement and cleaning increases. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 00 / 08986 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a rice-packaging manufacturing apparatus that improves upon the problems of product quality variations and poor weighing accuracy of weighing machines. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention relates to a rice-based individual packaging manufacturing apparatus that steams a rice-based product material and then individually packages it into product containers, wherein the apparatus comprises: a pre-processing section that includes a step of steaming the product material in the order of the product material's movement; a modifier addition section that adds a modifier to the product material sent from the pre-processing section to modify the product material; a post-processing section that transports the product material sent from the modifier addition section; and a weighing and filling section that weighs the product material to an amount corresponding to the individual packaging and fills the product containers, wherein the pre-processing section and the post-processing section have a transport device for continuously transporting the product material, and the modifier addition section comprises: a processing container that receives the product material sent from the pre-processing section; a modifier supply section that supplies the modifier into the processing container; and a state changing section that can change the state of the processing container to receive the product material and to transfer the product material to the post-processing section.

[0009] With this configuration, the modifier can be added to the product material in a batch process using the modifier addition unit, thus allowing the modifier to be added in a shorter time than before.

[0010] Furthermore, in the present invention, the conveying device in the preceding process section can have a conveying speed that changes in response to the supply of the product material to the modifier addition section.

[0011] With this configuration, the product material after steaming can be supplied to the modifier addition section in accordance with the timing of the batch processing.

[0012] Furthermore, in the present invention, the modifier addition unit may have a stirring unit that stirs the product material that has entered the processing container together with the modifier.

[0013] With this configuration, the stirring section allows for efficient addition of the modifier in the modifier addition section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] This invention allows for the addition of a modifier in a shorter time than conventional methods by using a modifier addition unit. Therefore, it is possible to provide a rice-packaged individual product manufacturing apparatus that improves upon problems such as variations in product quality and poor weighing accuracy of the weighing machine. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This diagram schematically shows the configuration of a rice-packaging manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] An example of a modifier addition section in the aforementioned rice-packaged product manufacturing apparatus is shown, where (A) is a plan view and (B) is a front view (movement states are indicated by dashed lines and arrows). [Figure 3] This table shows the results of laboratory tests regarding the changes in the physical properties of processed rice after impregnation with seasoning liquid. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] The present invention will be described below with reference to one embodiment and the drawings. The rice-packaged individual product manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is a device that steams product material M, mainly rice (specifically non-glutinous rice), while moving it from the upstream side to the downstream side to make it into cooked rice, and then individually packages it into product containers. In this embodiment, the individual packaging is for one serving, but the packaging unit can be set in various ways. This rice-packaged individual product manufacturing apparatus 1 can be used to manufacture processed cooked rice such as chilled cooked rice, retort cooked rice, sterile cooked rice, frozen cooked rice, and dried cooked rice. In addition to rice, grains such as wheat, millet, and beans can be added to the product material M. The term "main component" refers to a state in which rice accounts for more than 50%, preferably more than 70%, by weight ratio at the raw material stage (before steaming). Furthermore, various types of rice can be used, such as white rice, brown rice, and germinated rice, and glutinous rice, black rice, red rice, etc. can also be mixed in. This rice-packaged product manufacturing apparatus 1 is configured with the following sections arranged in the order of the product material M's movement: a pre-processing section 2, a modifier addition section 3, a post-processing section 4, and a weighing and filling section 5. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram and therefore details are omitted (indicated by arrows), but each of the above sections is connected in such a way that the product material M can be transferred from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0017] The preceding process section 2 is equipped with, for example, a horizontal rice steamer 21, similar to conventional methods, and performs a process of steaming the product material M. The horizontal rice steamer 21 has, for example, a conveyor 211, a water-adding section 212, and stirring blades 213, and can heat and steam the product material M as it moves from left to right in the diagram. Note that various devices other than the horizontal rice steamer 21 can be used to steam the product material M. Although not shown in the diagram, the product material M is placed in the left side of the horizontal rice steamer 21 in a state where it has been washed (rice washed), soaked, and drained.

[0018] The pre-processing unit 2 has a conveying device 22 that continuously (not in batches) conveys the product material M. The conveying device 22 conveys the steamed product material M coming out of the horizontal rice steamer 21 to the modifier addition unit 3. Various devices can be used as the conveying device 22; for example, various types of conveyors that convey by circular motion can be used. In addition, a variable-speed conveyor is used for the conveying device 22 in this embodiment, and the conveying speed changes according to the supply of product material M to the modifier addition unit 3, which will be described later. When the steamed product material M is put into the processing container of the modifier addition unit 3 (at the time of putting in), the conveying speed is increased, and from the time the product material M is processed in the modifier addition unit 3 until the product material M is transferred to the post-processing unit 4 (at the time of processing), the conveying speed is decreased. When the conveying speed is decreased, it may be operated continuously at a low speed or intermittently. By reducing the transport speed, the product material M can be temporarily held in the upstream processing unit 2, allowing for a longer time to transfer the product material M to the modifier addition unit 3, thus allowing more time for processing in the modifier addition unit 3. Therefore, the steamed product material M can be supplied to the modifier addition unit 3 in accordance with the batch processing timing described later.

[0019] Note that the variable-speed conveyor is not essential, and various conveying devices 22 can be used as long as they can adjust the conveying status of the product material M according to the operation of the modifier adding section 3. Also, for example, a shutter that can be opened and closed may be provided on the outlet side of the conveying device 22 to temporarily dam up the product material M with the shutter. Since the product material M is only steamed at the pre-processing section 2, even if trouble occurs in a subsequent process and the product material M cannot be fed, various processes can be performed on the product material M remaining in the pre-processing section 2. Therefore, waste such as food material disposal is less likely to occur compared to the case where seasoning liquid addition is performed as in the prior art.

[0020] In the modifier adding section 3, a modifier L for modifying the product material M is added to the steamed product material M sent from the pre-processing section 2. The modifier L is typically, for example, a seasoning liquid for seasoning the product material M. However, in addition, it may be a liquid that exhibits functions related to the modification of the product material M, such as coloring the product material M, enhancing the gloss of the surface, adjusting the texture (softness and stickiness), delaying deterioration after processing to extend the shelf life, etc. Also, the modifier L is not limited to a liquid and may be a solid such as powder or granules, or even a gas such as vapor. When the modifier L is a liquid, it mainly contains moisture but can also contain oil. The modifier L can penetrate into the product material M or can be limited to only the surface depending on the type.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the modifier addition unit 3 includes a processing container 31 that receives product material M sent from the pre-processing unit 2, a modifier supply unit 32 that supplies modifier L into the processing container 31, and a state changing unit 33 that can change between a state in which the processing container 31 receives product material M (shown by a solid line in Figure 2(B)) and a state in which the product material M is transferred to the post-processing unit 4 (shown by a dashed line in Figure 2(B)). The modifier addition unit 3 of this embodiment further includes a stirring unit 34 that stirs the product material M that has entered the processing container 31 together with the modifier L. Each unit is supported by a frame 35. In addition, although not shown, there may be an ingredient supply unit that supplies ingredients Ma (such as ingredients for mixed rice) into the processing container 31. However, the ingredient supply unit may be provided in the pre-processing unit 2 instead of the modifier addition unit 3.

[0022] The processing container 31 is a container with its sides and bottom closed and its top open. The processing container 31 is formed so that its longitudinal direction is vertical, as shown in Figure 2(A). The processing container 31 is configured to have a constant internal volume at least from the time it receives the product material M until it is transferred to the subsequent processing unit 4. The processing container 31 is pivotally supported along its longitudinal direction, and can be tilted so that its top faces diagonally downward, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2(B). The modifier supply unit 32 is a perforated pipe or nozzle provided along the longitudinal direction of the processing container 31, from which the modifier L can be injected into the interior of the processing container 31. The state change unit 33 has a drive source 331 and changes its posture to the posture for receiving the product material M and the posture for transferring the product material M to the subsequent processing unit 4 by applying driving force to the processing container 31, which is pivotally supported as described above. The stirring unit 34 is located in the space inside the processing container 31 and has multiple rotating blades 341. These blades 341 are rotated by a drive source (separate from the drive source 331) not shown, and the rotation of these blades 341 stirs the product material M that has entered the processing container 31.

[0023] With this modifier addition unit 3, batch processing can be performed for adding the modifier (such as a seasoning liquid) L to the product material M. By performing batch processing, small-lot product materials M can be made the target of the addition process. Therefore, compared with the conventional continuous processing (continuously adding during conveyance), the addition of the modifier L, specifically, making the modifier L spread evenly over the product material M after steaming can be done in a short time, and the product material M after addition can be quickly sent to the subsequent process. For this reason, it is possible to less likely cause the problems of product quality, weighing accuracy, and production efficiency in the conventional method. Further, with the stirring unit 34, the addition of the modifier L in the modifier addition unit 3 can be performed efficiently. Also, the product material M with the modifier L uniformly added can be obtained in a short time. <>

[0024] Incidentally, according to the findings of the present inventor during the development of this embodiment, within 5 minutes after the addition of the modifier (seasoning liquid) L, since the fluctuation of the bulk specific gravity was small, the filling weight in the weighing and filling unit 5 was also stable. Fig. 3 shows the results of measuring the change of the bulk specific gravity over time. In this measurement, soaking polished rice in 50-degree warm water for a certain period of time was regarded as equivalent to the addition of the seasoning liquid. Until 4 minutes after soaking, the fluctuation of the bulk specific gravity hardly changed. After 4 minutes from the start of soaking, the bulk specific gravity tended to decrease. From this result, 5 minutes after the addition of the seasoning liquid was determined as the boundary time with little fluctuation of the bulk specific gravity, and it was judged that the fluctuation of the bulk specific gravity was small within 5 minutes (preferably within 4 minutes) after the addition. In this embodiment, since weighing in the weighing and filling unit 5 can be performed within 5 minutes after the addition of the modifier L, it is advantageous in terms of the weighing accuracy. Further, the batch processing using the modifier addition unit 3 can be adjusted to an arbitrary cycle time suitable for the type of product by setting the input amount of the product material M into the processing container 31, the supply timing of the modifier supply unit 32 and the ingredient supply unit, and the operation timing of the state change unit 33.

[0025] The post-processing unit 4 transports the product material M sent from the modifier addition unit 3. The post-processing unit 4 has a transport device 41 that transports the product material M continuously (not in batches). Various devices can be used as the transport device 41; for example, various types of conveyors that transport by circular motion can be used. A constant-speed conveyor may be used for the transport device 41 of the post-processing unit 4. A rotating stirring blade 42 is provided above the transport surface of the transport device (conveyor) 41 of the post-processing unit 4, allowing the product material M to be transported while being stirred. This post-processing unit 4 can reduce and stabilize the variation in the moisture content contained in the product material M.

[0026] The weighing and filling unit 5 weighs the product material M to the amount corresponding to individual packaging and fills the product container P. The weighing and filling unit 5 can be of various configurations that have been used conventionally, such as those with a mass weighing machine. The product container P can be of various types, such as bags or tray-shaped containers.

[0027] As described above, with the rice individual packaging manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the addition of the modifier L to the product material M by the modifier addition unit 3 can be performed in batch processing, so that the addition of the modifier L can be done in a shorter time than in the conventional method. Therefore, problems such as variations in product quality and poor weighing accuracy of the weighing machine can be improved.

[0028] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0029] For example, in the embodiment described above, the state changing unit 33 in the modifier addition unit 3 was configured to tilt the processing container 31 in order to transfer the product material M to the subsequent processing unit 4. However, it is not limited to this, and the bottom of the processing container 31 may be configured to be openable and closable, so that the state changing unit 33 can open the bottom without tilting the processing container 31, thereby allowing the product material M to be removed from the processing container 31. In addition, by using it in combination with the stirring unit 34, or as a substitute for the stirring unit 34, the state changing unit 33 can be used to shake or vibrate the processing container 31, thereby enabling efficient and even addition of the modifier L to the product material M inside the processing container 31. However, this method is desirable when the product material M can be immersed in the liquid modifier L in order to ensure homogeneous addition. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Rice individual packaging manufacturing equipment 2 Front-end processing section 21 Horizontal rice steaming machine 22. Conveying device (front-end processing section) 3. Modifier Addition Section 31 Processing container 32 Modifier Supply Unit 33 State Change Section 34 Stirring section 35 mounting bases 4 Post-processing department 41. Conveying equipment (post-processing section) 42 Agitation blades 5 Weighing and filling section M Product material L Modifier Ma ingredients P product container

Claims

1. A rice-based individual packaging manufacturing apparatus that steams rice as the main product material and then individually packages it into product containers, In the order of the movement direction of the aforementioned product material, A pre-processing section including a step of steaming the aforementioned product material, A modifying agent adding unit adds a modifying agent to the product material sent from the preceding processing unit, A post-processing unit that transports the product material sent from the modifier addition unit, A weighing and filling unit that weighs the product material to an amount corresponding to the individual packaging and fills it into the product container, It was placed, The preceding processing unit and the preceding processing unit each have a conveying device for continuously conveying the product material. The aforementioned modifier additive section is, A processing container having a volume inside for receiving and holding the product material sent from the preceding processing unit, A modifying agent supply unit that supplies the modifying agent into the processing container, The processing container has a state changing unit that can change between a state for receiving the product material and a state for transferring the product material to the subsequent processing unit, The addition of the modifier to the product material is carried out in batch processing using the processing container, The processing container is positioned in a specific location within the apparatus. The top is open and configured to be tilted downwards when transferring the product material to the subsequent processing section, or The bottom is designed to be openable and closable, and is configured to be opened when transferring the product material to the subsequent processing section. Rice individual packaging manufacturing equipment.

2. The conveying device in the preceding process section changes its conveying speed in accordance with the supply of the product material to the modifier addition section, as described in claim 1.

3. The rice individual packaging manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the modifier addition unit has a stirring unit that stirs the product material that has entered the processing container together with the modifier.

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