Roll shaping apparatus for food dough piece

Abstract

A roll shaping apparatus (1) for a food dough piece (D) comprises a suction transport apparatus (2) and a roll-up apparatus (5). The suction transport apparatus has a transport member (22) on which the food dough piece is placed and transported, and a suction chamber (23) which is disposed inside the transport member. The transport member is provided with a plurality of perforations (221). The suction chamber has a suction connection port (242) connected to a suction apparatus (7). The suction chamber has a plurality of suction regions (26a-26d) arranged in the width direction (B). Each of the suction regions is provided with a suction port (27a) communicated with the suction connection port. The total opening area of a suction port (27d) of the suction region disposed far from the suction connection port is wider than the total opening area of the suction port (27a) of the suction region disposed near the suction connection port.

Description

Food dough piece rolling and forming device

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for rolling up flat food dough pieces to form rolled products, and more particularly to a rolling apparatus for rolling up food dough pieces while being sucked by a suction conveying device that conveys the food dough pieces.

[0002] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a belt conveyor (suction conveying device) that conveys food dough pieces while suctioning their undersides, and a winding device that is arranged above the belt conveyor and winds up the food dough pieces. The belt conveyor includes a rotatable endless conveyor belt (conveying member) and a box-shaped suction chamber arranged inside the belt conveyor. The conveyor belt includes a moving surface on which the food dough pieces are placed, and the moving surface has a plurality of perforations. By maintaining the internal space of the suction chamber at low pressure, suction force is generated in a predetermined area of ​​the moving surface via the perforations. The low-pressure area of ​​the belt conveyor described in Patent Document 1 is formed wider than the food dough pieces.

[0003] In the belt conveyor described in Patent Document 2, a plate with multiple suction ports is arranged at the top of the suction chamber. The overall appearance of these suction ports is arranged so that they match the shape of the food dough pieces to be conveyed. Furthermore, multiple types of plates are prepared according to the shape of the food dough pieces and are interchangeable with the chamber body.

[0004] Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose a roller conveyor (suction conveying device) that conveys food dough pieces while suctioning their undersides, and a winding device that is arranged above the roller conveyor and winds up the food dough pieces. The roller conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical roller (conveying member) and a cylindrical suction chamber arranged inside the cylindrical roller, with a portion of the circumferential surface of the suction chamber having a slot-shaped suction port. The cylindrical roller includes a moving surface on which the food dough pieces are placed, and the moving surface has a plurality of perforations. By maintaining the internal space of the suction chamber at low pressure, suction force is generated in a predetermined area of ​​the moving surface via the perforations. This low-pressure area is formed based on the length of the perforations of the roller conveyor's slots, which are formed along the width direction.

[0005] European Patent Application Publication No. 1321040 European Patent Application Publication No. 2366290 International Publication No. 01 / 041574 European Patent Application Publication No. 2236039 International Publication No. 2015 / 190268

[0006] In the devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, the suction force generated by the perforations in the moving surface is not uniform depending on the distance from the suction connection port of the suction chamber connected to the suction device. Therefore, the suction force applied to multiple food dough pieces along the width direction of the suction conveying device is unstable. For example, food dough pieces farther from the suction connection port may not be secured to the conveying member and may slide along the moving surface. In this case, the legs (conical portions at both ends) of the rolled product rolled up from the triangular food dough pieces may not be formed symmetrically, which may reduce the quality of the rolled product.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a new winding and forming device in which the food dough pieces in the winding and forming device do not deviate from their desired positions relative to the moving surface of the suction conveying device, thereby enabling stable formation of rolled products.

[0008] In order to achieve this object, a winding and shaping device for food dough pieces is provided, the winding and shaping device including a suction conveying device that conveys the food dough pieces in a conveying direction while sucking them, and a winding device that is arranged above the suction conveying device and rolls up the food dough pieces, the suction conveying device including a conveying member on which the food dough pieces are placed and conveyed, and a suction chamber that is arranged inside the conveying member, the conveying member having a plurality of perforations, the suction chamber having a suction connecting port that is connected to the suction device, and further, a plurality of suction areas are defined along the width direction of the suction conveying device on the surface facing the inner surface of the conveying member, each of the suction areas being constituted by one or a plurality of suction ports that communicate with the suction connecting port, and the total opening area of ​​the suction ports in each suction area is wider in the suction area that is arranged farther from the suction connecting port than in the suction area that is arranged closer to the suction connecting port.

[0009] In the above embodiment, preferably, the suction area is constituted by a plurality of the suction ports, the width dimension of the suction ports is formed to be the same within each of the suction areas, and the suction ports of the suction areas that are located farther away from the suction connection port are wider than the suction ports of the suction areas that are located closer to the suction connection port.

[0010] In the above embodiment, the suction area is preferably defined so that its overall appearance matches the shape of the food dough piece.

[0011] In the above embodiment, the suction area is preferably formed in a triangular shape as a whole.

[0012] In the above embodiment, the suction region is preferably defined by a suction member that is detachable from the main body of the suction chamber.

[0013] In the above embodiment, the suction member is preferably configured by a plate divided into a plurality of sections for each of the suction regions.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, it is preferable that the food dough machine further includes an upstream belt conveyor upstream of the suction conveying device for supplying the food dough pieces to the suction conveying device, a first dough pressing roller that is arranged above the upstream belt conveyor and is capable of rising and falling to press the food dough pieces between the upstream belt conveyor and the food dough pieces, and a second dough pressing roller that is arranged above the suction conveying device and is capable of rising and falling to press the food dough pieces between the suction conveying device and the food dough pieces.

[0015] In the above embodiment, the suction conveying device is preferably a belt conveyor, and the conveying member is a conveyor belt.

[0016] In the above embodiment, the suction conveying device is preferably a roller conveyor, and the conveying member is a rotating cylindrical roller.

[0017] In the above embodiment, preferably, the system further includes an upstream belt conveyor arranged upstream of the suction conveying device for supplying the food dough pieces to the suction conveying device, and a downstream belt conveyor arranged downstream of the suction conveying device for receiving the food dough pieces from the suction conveying device and conveying them downstream, wherein the upstream belt conveyor is arranged so as to be able to advance and retreat along the conveying direction at the downstream end of the conveyor belt that conveys the food dough pieces, and the suction conveying device is capable of being stored below the conveyor belt that has advanced toward the downstream belt conveyor.

[0018] In the above embodiment, preferably, the system further includes an upstream belt conveyor arranged upstream of the suction conveying device for supplying the food dough pieces to the suction conveying device, and a downstream belt conveyor arranged downstream of the suction conveying device for receiving the food dough pieces from the suction conveying device and conveying them downstream, wherein the downstream belt conveyor is arranged so that the upstream end of the conveyor belt that receives the food dough pieces can move back and forth along the conveying direction, and the suction conveying device can be stored below the conveyor belt that has advanced toward the upstream belt conveyor.

[0019] According to the present invention, in the suction chamber of the suction conveying device, the total opening area of ​​the suction ports of each of the plurality of suction regions can be increased or decreased depending on the distance from the suction connecting port, thereby making it possible to make the suction force generated on the moving surface of the conveying member uniform and stable, so that the food dough pieces do not deviate from the desired position, and the rolled product can be stably formed.

[0020] 12 is a front view schematically showing a winding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing a winding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 14 is a side view schematically showing a suction transport device included in the winding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a suction chamber included in the winding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16 is a perspective view schematically showing a suction chamber included in the winding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 17 is a plan view schematically showing a suction chamber included in the winding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a front view schematically showing another example of use of the winding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a front view schematically showing a winding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a plan view schematically showing a suction transport device of the winding device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a plan view schematically showing a suction chamber included in the winding device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a front view schematically showing a modified suction chamber included in the winding device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a side view schematically showing a modified suction chamber of the suction chamber of FIG. 12; FIG. 19 is a front view schematically showing a modified winding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] 1 to 6, a winding device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The winding device 1 includes a suction conveying device 2 that conveys food dough pieces D in a conveying direction A while sucking them, an upstream belt conveyor 3, a downstream belt conveyor 4, a winding device 5, and a dough pressing device 6.

[0022] 2, an example will be described in which four rows of food dough pieces D are arranged at a predetermined interval P1 in a width direction B perpendicular to the conveying direction A, and are conveyed one after another along the conveying direction A. The food dough pieces D are flat and approximately triangular in shape, and their bases are aligned in the width direction B.

[0023] 3, the suction transport device 2 is a roller conveyor and includes an upper base 20, a lower base 21, two first actuators AC1 connecting the upper base 20 and the lower base 21 at both ends, and a roller conveyor unit 2a attached to the upper base 20. The roller conveyor unit 2a can be raised and lowered by the first actuator AC1.

[0024] The roller conveyor unit 2a includes an elongated cylindrical roller 22 and an elongated cylindrical suction chamber 23 disposed inside the cylindrical roller 22. The cylindrical roller 22 is connected to a drive motor M1 attached to the upper frame 20 and is rotatably supported by the upper frame 20. One end portion 241 of the cylindrical suction chamber 23 is fixed to the upper frame 20, and the other end portion 243 is supported inside the cylindrical roller 22 via a bearing.

[0025] The cylindrical roller 22 functions as a conveying member that conveys the food dough pieces D placed thereon in the conveying direction A. The cylindrical roller 22 has a plurality (a large number) of perforations (through holes) 221 (see FIG. 2 ) arranged at predetermined intervals on its circumferential surface (moving surface).

[0026] 3 to 6 , the cylindrical suction chamber 23 includes a chamber main body 24, a suction member 25, and two spacers 28. The chamber main body 24 has a mounting hole 244 in a portion (the upper portion in side view) of its cylindrical peripheral wall, to which the suction member 25 and spacer 28 are detachably attached. The suction chamber 23 (chamber main body 24) also has a suction connection port 242 connected to the suction device 7 on an end surface of one end portion 241 of the suction chamber 23, and an end portion (end surface) 243 opposite the suction connection port 242 is closed (formed with a bottom). The suction member 25 is attached to the center of the mounting hole 244 of the chamber main body 24 so as to cover the mounting hole 244, and spacers 28 are attached to both ends of the mounting hole 244 (suction member 25). The suction chamber 23, which is assembled integrally, has a cylindrical peripheral surface.

[0027] The suction member 25 is composed of four plates 25a to 25d arranged in order from the suction connection port 242 toward the opposite end portion (end face) 243. The plates 25a to 25d have (define) suction regions 26a to 26d, respectively (see FIG. 6). The suction regions 26a to 26d are composed of regions including suction ports (ten elongated holes) 27a to 27d, respectively.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 6 , in a plan view, the suction opening 27a of the suction region 26a is composed of ten elongated holes extending along the conveyance direction A, and the ten elongated holes are arranged parallel to and at equal intervals in the width direction B. The width dimension Wa of each of the ten elongated holes of the suction opening 27a is the same. The lengths of the elongated holes of the suction opening 27a are longest for the two elongated holes located at the center of the suction region 26a in the width direction B, and gradually decrease toward the two adjacent elongated holes. Here, the length of the elongated hole located at the center of the suction opening 27a is designated as L. The downstream ends of the ten elongated holes of the suction opening 27a are aligned in a straight line along the width direction B. The overall appearance of the suction region 26a formed by the ten elongated holes of the suction opening 27a, specifically the overall appearance of the suction region 26a when the curved surface of the suction member 25 is unfolded on a plane (the outline surrounded by the ends of the elongated holes), is triangular to match the shape of the food dough piece D.

[0029] The width dimension W of the elongated holes of suction ports 27b to 27d in the other suction regions 26b to 26d is different from the width dimension Wa of the elongated hole of suction port 27a in suction region 26a. Here, the width dimension of the elongated hole of suction port 27b is Wb, the width dimension of the elongated hole of suction port 27c is Wc, and the width dimension of the elongated hole of suction port 27d is Wd. The four width dimensions Wa to Wd are formed so as to gradually widen from suction connection port 242 of suction chamber 23 toward the opposite end portion (end face) 243.

[0030] The sum of the opening areas of suction ports 27a (ten elongated holes) in suction region 26a is defined as total opening area Sa, and similarly, the total opening areas of suction regions 26b to 26d are defined as Sb to Sd, respectively. The four total opening areas Sa to Sd are formed so as to gradually increase in size from suction connection port 242 of suction chamber 23 toward the opposite end portion (end face) 243. In other words, with regard to the total opening areas Sa to Sd of suction ports 27a to 27d in suction regions 26a to 26d, the total opening area Sd of suction region 26d located farther from suction connection port 242 is larger than the total opening area Sa of suction region 26a located closer to suction connection port 242.

[0031] The overall appearance of each of the suction areas 26b to 26d is the same as the overall appearance of the suction area 26a, and is triangular (defined as a triangle). The suction areas 26a to 26d are arranged at equal intervals P1 in the width direction B.

[0032] The roller conveyor unit 2a is assembled by inserting the suction chamber 23, which has been integrally assembled (configured) as described above, into the cylindrical roller 22. At this time, the suction regions 26a to 26d of the suction chamber 23 face the inner surface of the cylindrical roller (conveying member) 22. The roller conveyor unit 2a is attached to the upper stand 20. The suction device 7 is connected to the suction connection port 242. The roller conveyor unit 2a is configured so that when the suction device 7 is activated, air is sucked through the perforations 221 of the cylindrical roller 22, which are connected to the suction ports 27a to 27d, generating a suction force on the circumferential surface (moving surface) of the cylindrical roller 22.

[0033] This suction force creates (demarcates) four low-pressure areas (not shown) on the moving surface, corresponding to the four suction areas 26a to 26d. The low-pressure areas have a triangular overall appearance to match the shape and size of the food dough pieces D being conveyed. The low-pressure areas are also spaced at equal intervals P1 in the width direction B.

[0034] The upper and lower pedestals 20 and 21 are connected by a first actuator AC1 disposed at each end of the pedestal. The actuator AC1 is, for example, a direct-acting pneumatic cylinder. The upper pedestal 20 can be raised and lowered by operating the actuator AC1 to move the rod of the actuator AC1 up and down.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the upstream belt conveyor 3 includes a rotatable endless conveyor belt 31, a downstream end roller 32 disposed at the downstream end and wound around the inside of the conveyor belt 31, and a return roller 33 disposed below and upstream of the downstream end roller 32 and wound around the outside of the conveyor belt 31.

[0036] The upstream belt conveyor 3 is disposed upstream of the suction conveying device 2 so that the downstream end of the conveyor belt 31 is adjacent to the cylindrical roller (conveying member) 22 of the suction conveying device (roller conveyor) 2. The upstream belt conveyor 3 is configured to convey the food dough pieces D in the conveying direction A and supply them to the suction conveying device 2.

[0037] 1 and 8, the upstream belt conveyor 3 is configured so that the downstream end roller 32 and the return roller 33 simultaneously reciprocate in a direction toward the downstream belt conveyor 4. As a result, the downstream end 34 of the conveyor belt 31 is configured to be able to advance and retreat along the conveying direction A.

[0038] The downstream belt conveyor 4 includes a rotatable endless conveyor belt 41. The downstream belt conveyor 4 is disposed downstream of the suction conveying device 2 so that the upstream end of the conveyor belt 41 is adjacent to the cylindrical roller (conveying member) 22 of the suction conveying device (roller conveyor) 2. The downstream belt conveyor 4 is configured to receive the food dough pieces D conveyed from the suction conveying device 2 and convey them downstream. The positions of the upstream belt conveyor 3 and the downstream belt conveyor 4 relative to the cylindrical roller 22 are preferably adjacent to the suction conveying device 2 so that the perforations 221 of the roller 22, which generate suction force via the suction ports 27a to 27d of the suction chamber 23, are not covered by the conveyor belts 31 and 41.

[0039] 1 and 2, the winding device 5 is disposed above the upstream belt conveyor 3, the suction transport device 2, and the downstream belt conveyor 4. The winding device 5 includes frames 51 attached to both ends of a base (not shown) of the upstream conveyor 3 in the width direction B, span shafts 52 attached to the frames 51 at both ends, and four winding units 53.

[0040] The four winding units 53 are arranged at intervals P1 in the width direction B so as to correspond to the four rows of food dough pieces D to be conveyed. Each winding unit 53 includes a winding plate 54 and a winding sheet 55. The winding plate 54 is formed in a generally H-shape with holes in a plan view, and two upper arms 541 are attached to the span shaft 52 so as to be able to swing. The two lower legs (lower ends) 542 of the winding plate 54 are formed so as to be located in the portion (bridge portion) where the rollers 22 of the suction conveying device 2 and the upstream end of the conveyor belt 41 are adjacent to each other when the winding plate 54 hangs down to its lowest position.

[0041] The wrapping sheet 55 is a rectangular sheet having a notch 551, and is attached to the lower surface of the lower leg 542 of the winding plate 54 so as to extend in the conveying direction A along the conveyor belt 41. The winding sheet 55 is preferably flexible (soft) in the conveying direction A and the width direction B so as to conform to the shape of the food dough pieces D to be rolled. The winding sheet 55 is made of, for example, polyester. The winding sheet 55 has a notch 551 extending in the conveying direction A on its upstream side and in the center of the width direction B.

[0042] 1 and 2, the dough pressing device 6 includes a first span bracket 61 attached to the frame 51 at both ends of the winding device 5, four dough pressing units 62 attached to the first span bracket 61, a second span bracket 68, and a sensor 69. The four dough pressing units 62 are arranged at intervals P1 in the width direction B to correspond to the four rows of food dough pieces D. The dough pressing unit 62 includes a first dough pressing roller 63, a second dough pressing roller 64, a support bracket 65 that supports the first dough pressing roller 63 and the second dough pressing roller 64 so that they can freely rotate, and a second actuator AC2. The second actuator AC2 is, for example, a pneumatic cylinder.

[0043] The first dough pressing roller 63 is disposed above the conveyor belt 31. As shown in Fig. 2, the first dough pressing roller 63 is formed in a drum (hourglass) shape, with the central portion in the axial direction along the width direction B being narrower than the end portions. That is, the first dough pressing roller 63 has protrusions at both ends, and a bottom is formed in the valley between them via the inner slopes 63b.

[0044] The second dough pressing roller 64 is disposed above the cylindrical roller (conveying member) 22 of the suction conveying device 2. The second dough pressing roller 64 has a plurality of ridges 64a of the same shape extending along the circumferential direction, formed at equal intervals in the axial direction (width direction) B, with bottoms formed between them.

[0045] The second actuator AC2 is attached to the first span bracket 61. A support bracket 65 is attached to the rod AC21 of the second actuator AC2. The first and second fabric pressure rollers 63 and 64 can be raised and lowered by moving the rod AC21 up and down via the support bracket 65.

[0046] The sensors 69 are attached to second span brackets 68 attached to the frames 51 on both ends of the winding device 5. The sensors 69 are detection devices that detect one row of food dough pieces D, and are arranged upstream of the dough pressing unit 62 and above the conveyor belt 31. The second actuator AC2 can lower the first dough pressing roller 63 and the second dough pressing roller 64 from their upper standby positions based on a detection signal sent from the sensor 69 to a control device (not shown).

[0047] Next, the operation of the winding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in Figure 2, four rows of approximately triangular food dough pieces D, with their bases aligned in the width direction B, are conveyed in the conveying direction A by the upstream belt conveyor 3 and supplied to the roller conveyor unit 2a of the suction conveying device 2. When the bases of the food dough pieces D transfer from the conveyor belt 31 to the moving surface of the cylindrical roller (conveying member) 22, the lower surfaces of the food dough pieces D are attracted and fixed to the moving surface by suction force generated through the perforations 221 of the cylindrical roller 22. The food dough pieces D are then conveyed in the conveying direction A by rotation of the cylindrical roller 22.

[0048] Furthermore, the food dough piece D transported by the upstream belt conveyor 3 is detected by a sensor 69 of the dough pressing device 6. When the food dough piece D passes under the second dough pressing roller 64, the first dough pressing roller 63 and the second dough pressing roller 64 are lowered, and the food dough piece D being transported is pressed down from above between the first dough pressing roller 63 and the conveyor belt 31 and between the second dough pressing roller 64 and the cylindrical roller 22.

[0049] The left and right slopes 63b of the first dough pressing roller 63 act to position the dough near the apex of the triangle of the food dough piece D at the center of the width direction B of the food dough piece D. The second dough pressing roller 64 also acts with multiple protrusions 64a to prevent the food dough piece D from sliding in the width direction B.

[0050] When the food dough pieces D come into contact with the winding plate 54 via the winding sheet 55 of the winding unit 53, a core for winding is formed and winding begins. Each food dough piece D is subjected to uniform suction force in four low-pressure areas (not shown), so that the food dough pieces D do not slide on the moving surface and the core of the food dough pieces D can be reliably formed.

[0051] Furthermore, when the core of the food dough piece D is transferred onto the downstream conveyor belt 4, the core is drawn in between the downstream conveyor belt 41 and the winding sheet 55 of the winding unit 53 and begins to roll. At this time, it is preferable to stretch the food dough piece D between the core of the food dough piece D and the cylindrical roller 22. Once the food dough piece D has passed the second dough pressing roller 64, the first dough pressing roller 63 and the second dough pressing roller 64 are raised.

[0052] As the food dough piece D is rolled up while the dough near the apex of the food dough piece D continues to be sucked by the cylindrical roller 22, the diameter of the food dough piece D gradually increases. The food dough piece D is then transferred to the conveyor belt 41 and rolled up to the end under the rolling sheet 55, thereby forming a rolled product DD. After passing through the rolling sheet 55, the rolled product DD is transported in the transport direction A by the conveyor belt 41.

[0053] Next, a modified example of a cylindrical suction chamber will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Here, an example will be described in which six rows of food dough pieces D are aligned at intervals P2 in the width direction B and transported in the transport direction A. The cylindrical suction chamber 123 includes a chamber main body 24 and a suction member 125. The suction chamber 123 is integrally assembled by attaching the suction member 125 to the chamber main body 24 so as to cover the mounting hole 244, and has a cylindrical peripheral surface.

[0054] The suction member 125 is composed of six plates 125a to 125f arranged in order from the suction connection port 242 toward the opposite end portion (end face) 243. The six plates 125a to 125f have (define) suction regions 126a to 126f, respectively. The suction regions 126a to 126f are each composed of an area including one suction port 127a to 127f.

[0055] In a plan view, the suction opening 127a of the suction region 126a is a T-shaped hole, i.e., formed by a horizontal opening in the width direction B and a vertical opening continuing in the conveying direction A at the center of the horizontal opening. The vertical opening of the suction opening 127a has a width Wa and a length L in the conveying direction A. The overall appearance of the suction region 126a formed by the suction opening 127a, i.e., the overall appearance when developed in a plane, is triangular so as to match the shape of the food dough piece D.

[0056] The width dimension W of the vertical holes of suction ports 127b to 127f in the other suction regions 126b to 126f is different from the width dimension Wa of the vertical hole of suction port 127a in suction region 126a. Here, suction ports 127b to 127f have vertical hole widths Wb to Wf, respectively. The width dimensions Wa to Wf are formed to gradually increase from suction connection port 242 of suction chamber 123 toward end portion (end face) 243. Furthermore, the horizontal hole dimensions in width direction B and the length in conveying direction A are all formed to be the same for suction ports 127a to 127f.

[0057] The sum of the opening areas of suction ports 127a in suction region 126a is defined as total opening area Sa, and similarly, the total opening areas of suction ports 127b to 127f in suction regions 126b to 126f are defined as Sb to Sf, respectively. The six total opening areas Sa to Sf are formed so as to gradually increase in size from suction connection port 242 of suction chamber 123 toward the opposite end portion (end face) 243. In other words, with regard to the total opening areas Sa to Sf of suction ports 127a to 127f in suction regions 126a to 126f, the total opening area Sf of suction region 126f located farther from suction connection port 242 is larger than the total opening area Sa of suction region 126a located closer to suction connection port 242.

[0058] The overall appearance of each of the suction zones 126b-126f is triangular, similar to the overall appearance of the suction zone 126a. The suction zones 126a-126f are arranged at equal intervals P2 in the width direction B. The roller conveyor unit 2a is configured so that, when the suction device 7 is activated using the suction chamber 123, air is sucked through the perforations 221 in the cylindrical roller 22, which are connected to the suction ports 127a-127f, generating a suction force on the circumferential surface (moving surface) of the cylindrical roller 22. Six low-pressure zones (not shown) are then generated (partitioned) on the moving surface at equal intervals in the width direction B. In addition, six winding units and six dough pressing units are provided in a modified example to accommodate the size of the food dough pieces D being conveyed.

[0059] The operation when the modified suction chamber 123 is used is similar to the operation when the suction chamber 23 of the winding device 1 according to the present invention is used.

[0060] Next, another example (modification) of the winding forming device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The winding forming device 1 may be used as a forming device for forming other products without using the suction conveying device 2. In the past, changing the configuration of the forming device, such as by removing the suction conveying device from the forming device, took a lot of time and was inefficient.

[0061] In this embodiment, as described above, the roller conveyor unit 2a of the suction conveying device 2, which includes the cylindrical roller (conveying member) 22, can rise and fall together with the upper stand 20. In addition, the downstream end 34 (downstream end roller 32) of the conveyor belt 31 of the upstream belt conveyor 3 can advance and retreat along the conveying direction A. Therefore, in the suction conveying device 2 in the state shown in FIG. 1 , after the first actuator AC1 is actuated to lower the roller conveyor unit 2a, the downstream end 34 of the conveyor belt 31 is advanced in the conveying direction A so that the downstream end of the conveyor belt 31 is adjacent to the upstream end of the conveyor belt 41 of the downstream belt conveyor 4.

[0062] This allows the roller conveyor unit 2a (suction transport device 2) to be stored below the conveyor belt 31 that has advanced toward the downstream belt conveyor 4. This deformation mechanism allows the winding device 1 to be efficiently transformed into a form of a forming device other than winding.

[0063] Next, a winding apparatus 201 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 11. Components of the winding apparatus 201 that have the same functions as those of the winding apparatus 1 are given the same reference numerals as those of the winding apparatus 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The winding apparatus 201 is configured such that the roller conveyor of the suction transport device 2 of the winding apparatus 1 is replaced with a belt conveyor.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 9, the winding device 201 includes a suction conveying device 8 , an upstream belt conveyor 3 , a downstream belt conveyor 4 , a winding device 5 , and a dough pressing device 6 .

[0065] The suction conveying device 8 includes a stand 80 and a belt conveyor unit 8a attached to the stand 80. The belt conveyor unit 8a includes an endless conveyor belt 82 and a box-shaped suction chamber 83. The conveyor belt 82 is configured to rotate by being wrapped around a drive roller (not shown) that is connected to a drive motor (not shown) and other rollers (not shown). The conveyor belt 82 functions as a conveying member that conveys the food dough pieces D placed thereon in a conveying direction A. The conveyor belt 82 has a plurality (a large number) of perforations 821 arranged at predetermined intervals on its surface (moving surface) (see FIG. 10 ).

[0066] As shown in FIG. 11 , the box-shaped suction chamber 83 is elongated in the width direction B and is disposed inside the conveyor belt 82, with the conveyor belt 82 running on the flat upper surface of the box-shaped suction chamber 83. The box-shaped suction chamber 83 includes a chamber main body 84 and a suction member 85. The chamber main body 84 has a mounting hole 844 on the upper surface of the approximately rectangular parallelepiped, to which the suction member 85 is attached. Also, as shown in FIG. 11 , the chamber main body 84 has a suction connection port 842 (inside the connecting pipe) connected to the suction device 7 at one end (end face) 841, and the other end (end face) 843 opposite (facing) the one end (end face) is closed. The suction member 85 is attached to cover the mounting hole 844 of the chamber main body 84, and the suction chamber 83, which is assembled integrally, is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped box shape.

[0067] The suction member 85 is composed of four flat plates 85a to 85d arranged in order from the suction connection port 842 toward the opposite end (end face) 843. Plate 85a has (defines) suction region 86a. Suction region 86a is composed of an area including suction ports 87a (eight long holes). Similarly, the other plates 85b to 85d each have (defines) suction regions 86b to 86d, and suction regions 86b to 86d are each composed of an area including suction ports (eight long holes) 87b to 87d.

[0068] In plan view, the suction port 87a is composed of eight long holes extending along the conveying direction A, and the eight long holes have the same shape and are arranged parallel to and at equal intervals in the width direction B. The width dimension of the eight long holes of the suction port 87a is Wa, and the length is L. The overall appearance of the suction area 86a formed by the eight long holes of the suction port 87a is rectangular, and it is preferable that the length of the overall appearance in the width direction B is the same as or slightly shorter than the length of the base of the triangular food dough piece D.

[0069] The width dimension W of the elongated holes of the other suction ports 87b to 87d is different from the width dimension Wa of the elongated hole of suction port 87a. Here, the width dimension of the elongated hole of suction port 87b is designated Wb, the width dimension of the elongated hole of suction port 87c is designated Wc, and the width dimension of the elongated hole of suction port 87d is designated Wd. The four width dimensions Wa to Wd are formed so as to gradually widen from suction connection port 842 of suction chamber 83 toward the opposite end (end face) 843.

[0070] The sum of the opening areas of suction ports 87a (eight elongated holes) in suction region 86a is defined as total opening area Sa, and similarly, the total opening areas of suction regions 86b to 86d are defined as Sb to Sd, respectively. The four total opening areas Sa to Sd are formed so as to gradually increase in size from suction connection port 842 of suction chamber 83 toward its opposite end (end face) 843. In other words, with regard to the total opening areas Sa to Sd of suction ports 87a to 87d in suction regions 86a to 86d, the total opening area Sd of suction region 86d located farther from suction connection port 842 is larger than the total opening area Sa of suction region 86a located closer to suction connection port 842.

[0071] The overall appearance of each of the suction areas 86b to 86d is the same as the overall appearance of the suction area 86a, and is rectangular (defined as a rectangle). The suction areas 86a to 86d are arranged at equal intervals P1 in the width direction B.

[0072] The belt conveyor unit 8a is configured so that when the suction device 7 connected to the suction connection port 842 is activated, air is sucked in through the perforations 821 in the conveyor belt 82 that are connected to the suction ports 87a to 87d, generating a suction force on the upper surface (moving surface) of the conveyor belt 82.

[0073] This suction force creates (or defines) four low-pressure regions 89a-89d on the moving surface, corresponding to the four suction regions 86a-86d (see FIG. 10). The overall appearance of each of the low-pressure regions 89a-89d is rectangular, approximately the same shape and size as the overall appearance of the suction regions 86a-86d. The low-pressure regions 89a-89d are also spaced apart at equal intervals P1 in the width direction B.

[0074] The operation and effects of the winding device 201 according to the second embodiment of the present invention are generally similar to those of the above-described winding device 1. The winding device 1 is effective when the length of the food dough pieces D in the conveying direction A is relatively short compared to the winding device 201. Furthermore, the structure of the winding device 201 can be simpler than that of the winding device 1.

[0075] Next, a modified example of the box-shaped suction chamber 83 of the winding device 201 will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Here, an example will be described in which six rows of food dough pieces D are aligned at intervals P2 in the width direction B and transported in the transport direction A. The box-shaped suction chamber 83 includes a chamber body 84 and a suction member 85.

[0076] The chamber body 84 has, at the center of its bottom surface, a suction connection port 842 (connection pipe 845) connected to the suction device 7. In side view, left and right ends (end faces) 841, 843 of the chamber body 84 are closed.

[0077] The suction member 85 is composed of two sets of three flat plates 85e-85g, which are arranged in order from the suction connection port 842 toward both ends (end faces) 841, 843. The plates 85e-85g each have (partition) suction regions 86e-86g. In a plan view, the suction region 86e is composed of an area including suction ports 87e (eight slots), which extend along the conveying direction A and are arranged parallel to and evenly spaced in the width direction B. Of the eight slots of the suction port 87e, the length of the two slots located in the center of the width direction B is longer than the slots located to the left and right. The width dimension of the slots of the suction port 87e is We, and the length of the two central slots is L. The width dimension We of all eight slots of the suction port 87e is the same.

[0078] The width dimension W of the elongated holes of suction ports 87f-87g of the other suction regions 86f-86g is different from the width dimension We of the elongated hole of suction port 87e of suction region 86e. Here, the width dimension of the elongated hole of suction port 87f is designated Wf, and the width dimension of the elongated hole of suction port 87g is designated Wg. The three width dimensions We-Wg are formed so as to gradually widen from suction connection port 842 of suction chamber 83 toward both end portions (end faces) 841, 843.

[0079] The overall appearance of the suction area 86e formed by the eight long holes of the suction port 87 is triangular, and it is preferable that the length in the width direction B is the same as or slightly shorter than the length of the base of the triangular food dough piece D.

[0080] The sum of the opening areas of suction ports 87e (eight elongated holes) in suction region 86e is defined as total opening area Se, and similarly, the total opening areas of suction regions 86f to 86g are defined as Sf to Sg, respectively. The three total opening areas Se to Sg are formed so as to gradually widen from suction connection port 842 of suction chamber 83 toward both ends (end faces) 841 and 843. In other words, with regard to the total opening areas Se to Sf of suction ports 87e to 87g in suction regions 86e to 86g, the total opening area of ​​the suction regions located farther from suction connection port 842 is wider than the total opening area of ​​the suction regions located closer to suction connection port 842.

[0081] In this modification, a belt conveyor unit 8a is assembled in which a box-shaped suction chamber 83 is disposed inside the conveyor belt 82. When the suction device 7 connected to the suction connection port 842 is activated, a suction force is generated on the upper surface (moving surface) of the conveyor belt 82. The suction force acting on each row of food dough pieces D is uniform and stable, i.e., it does not decrease significantly from the center toward both ends 841, 843 in the width direction B. This prevents the food dough pieces D from shifting from the desired position, allowing the rolled product DD to be stably formed.

[0082] The winding and forming device for winding up food dough pieces D to form food products according to an embodiment of the present invention has been generally described above, but it goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, and that these are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[0083] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the shape of the food dough piece D is triangular, but a rectangular food dough piece may also be rolled up to form a rod-shaped rolled product. In this case, the suction area of ​​the suction chamber preferably has the same shape as the rectangular food dough piece. Furthermore, it is preferable that the low-pressure area generated on the moving surface of the conveying member has the shape of the rectangular food dough piece, and the size of the low-pressure area is the same as or slightly smaller than the size of the food dough piece. Furthermore, the suction area of ​​the suction chamber may be changed to accommodate other shapes of food dough pieces.

[0084] In the above embodiments, the suction member 25, 125, 85 detachable from the chamber body 24, 84 is divided into multiple plates 25a-25d, 125a-125f, 85a-85d, each of which has (partitions) a suction area, but the suction member may be formed by a single plate, and each plate may have (partitions) multiple suction areas. Also, the chamber body 24, 84 may not have the mounting holes 244, 844, and a suction port may be formed integrally with the cylindrical suction chamber 23 or the box-shaped suction chamber 83.

[0085] Furthermore, instead of configuring the downstream end of the upstream conveyor belt 31 to be movable forward and backward, the upstream end of the conveyor belt 41 of the downstream belt conveyor 4 may be configured to be movable forward and backward toward the upstream side along the conveying direction A. In this way, the roller conveyor unit 2a including the cylindrical roller (conveying member) 22 may be lowered, and the suction conveying device 2 may be stored below the conveyor belt 41 that has advanced toward the upstream belt conveyor 3.

[0086] 14 shows a modified example of the dough pressing unit 62 of the dough pressing device 6. Instead of the support bracket 65 supporting the first and second dough pressing rollers 63, 64, the dough pressing unit 62 may include support brackets 66, 67 that separately support the first and second dough pressing rollers 63, 64, and may include a second actuator AC2 that raises and lowers the first dough pressing roller 63, as well as a third actuator AC3 that raises and lowers the second dough pressing roller 64. The third actuator AC3 is, for example, a pneumatic cylinder. This modified example of the dough pressing unit 62 is also applicable to the winding device 201 according to the second embodiment.

[0087] The first dough pressing roller 63 and the second dough pressing roller 64 are raised and lowered separately at different timings, so that the food dough pieces D can be pressed for a relatively long time so that the food dough pieces D do not deviate from the desired positions, and the rolled product DD can be formed more stably.

[0088] 1, 201 Winding device 2, 8 Suction conveying device (roller conveyor, belt conveyor) 22, 82 Conveying member (cylindrical roller, conveyor belt) 221, 821 Perforation 23, 83 Suction chamber (cylindrical, box-shaped) 24, 84 Chamber body 242, 842 Suction connecting port 25, 85 Suction member 25a to 25d, 85a to 85d, 85e to 85g, 125a to 125f Plate 26a to 26d, 86a to 86d, 86e to 86g, 126a to 126f Suction area 27a to 27d, 87a to 87d, 87e to 87g, 127a to 127f Suction port 3 Upstream belt conveyor 31 Conveyor belt 4 Downstream belt conveyor 41 Conveyor belt 5 Winding device 63 First dough pressing roller 64 Second dough pressing roller 7 Suction device A Conveying direction B Width direction D Food dough piece

Claims

1. A device (1, 201) for winding and forming food dough pieces (D), a suction conveying device (2, 8) that conveys the food dough pieces (D) in a conveying direction (A) while sucking them; a winding device (5) arranged above the suction conveying device (2, 8) for winding the food dough piece (D); The suction conveying device (2, 8) includes a conveying member (22, 82) on which the food dough pieces (D) are placed and conveyed, and a suction chamber (23, 83) arranged inside the conveying member (22, 82), The conveying member (22, 82) has a plurality of perforations (221, 821), The suction chamber (23, 83) has a suction connection port (242, 842) that is connected to a suction device (7), a surface of the suction chamber (23, 83) facing the inner surface of the conveying member (22, 82) has a plurality of suction areas (26a to 26d, 86a to 86d, 86e to 86g, 126a to 126f) arranged along a width direction (B) perpendicular to the conveying direction (A) and corresponding to a plurality of rows of food dough pieces, and each of the suction areas (26a to 26d, 86a to 86d, 86e to 86g, 126a to 126f) includes one or a plurality of suction ports (27a to 27d, 87a to 87d, 87e to 87g, 127a to 127f) communicating with the suction connecting port (242, 842); Furthermore, an upstream belt conveyor (3) is arranged upstream of the suction conveying device (2, 8) for supplying the food dough pieces (D) to the suction conveying device; a first dough pressing roller (63) that is arranged above the upstream belt conveyor (3) and that is movable up and down to press the food dough pieces (D) between the upstream belt conveyor (3) and the first dough pressing roller (63); a second dough pressing roller (64) that is arranged above the suction conveying device (2, 8) and that can be raised and lowered to press the food dough piece (D) between the suction conveying device (2, 8) and the second dough pressing roller (64).

2. each of the suction regions (26a to 26d, 86a to 86d, 86e to 86g, 126a to 126f) includes a plurality of rows of the elongated suction ports (27a to 27d, 87a to 87d, 87e to 87g) extending in a conveyance direction (A); The width dimensions of the suction ports (27a to 27d, 87a to 87d, 87e to 87g) in the suction regions (26a to 26d, 86a to 86d, 86e to 86g, 126a to 126f) are the same, A winding device (1, 201) as described in claim 1, wherein the width of the plurality of suction ports (27d, 87d, 87g) of the suction area (26d, 86d, 86g) located farther from the suction connection port (242, 842) is wider than the width of the plurality of suction ports (27a, 87a, 87a) of the suction area (26a, 86a, 86e) located near the suction connection port (242, 842).

3. 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the overall appearance of the suction areas (26a-26d, 86a-86d, 86e-86g, 126a-126f) corresponds to the shape of the food dough pieces (D).

4. 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the suction areas (26a to 26d, 86e to 86g, 126a to 126f) have an overall appearance of a triangle.

5. 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the suction chamber (23, 83) includes a chamber body (24, 84) and a suction member (25, 85) detachable from the chamber body (24, 84), and the suction member (25, 85) includes the suction regions (26a to 26d, 86a to 86d, 86e to 86g, 126a to 126f).

6. The winding device according to claim 5, wherein the suction member (25, 85) is composed of a plurality of plates (25a to 25d, 85a to 85d, 85e to 85g, 125a to 125f) divided into the respective suction regions (26a to 26d, 86a to 86d, 86e to 86g, 126a to 126f).

7. 2. The winding device of claim 1, wherein the total opening area of ​​the suction ports (27d, 87d, 87g, 127f) of the suction regions (26d, 86d, 86g, 126f) located farther from the suction connection port (242, 842) is greater than the total opening area of ​​the suction ports (27a, 87a, 87a, 127a) of the suction regions (26a, 86a, 86e, 126a) located closer to the suction connection port (242, 842).

8. 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the transport member (8) is a conveyor belt (82).

9. 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the transport member (2) is a rotating cylindrical roller (22).

10. Further, the conveyor includes a downstream belt conveyor (4) that is disposed downstream of the suction conveying device (2, 8) and receives the food dough pieces (D) from the suction conveying device (2, 8) and conveys them downstream, a downstream end of the conveyor belt (31) of the upstream belt conveyor (3) or an upstream end of the conveyor belt (41) of the downstream belt conveyor (4) is configured to be movable forward and backward in a conveying direction (A); 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying member (22, 82) is capable of descending, and the conveyor belt (31) of the upstream belt conveyor (3) or the conveyor belt (41) of the downstream belt conveyor (4) is capable of advancing above the lowered conveying member (2, 8).

11. 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the first dough pressing roller (63) and the second dough pressing roller (64) are independently movable up and down.

12. The winding device (5) is arranged downstream of the second dough pressing roller (64) and includes a winding unit (53) for winding up the food dough piece (D).

13. 13. The winding device (1, 201) according to claim 12, wherein the winding unit (53) comprises a flexible winding sheet (55).