อุปกรณ์ทำความสะอาดสำหรับลูกกลิ้งต่อขยาย

Abstract

DEPCT67 อุปกรณ์ทำความสะอาด(1)สำหรับการทำความสะอาดพื้นผิว(26A)ของลูกกลิ้งต่อขยาย (26)ของเครื่องยืดขยายแป้งโด(2)รวมถึงตัวอุปกรณ์ทำความสะอาด(11)ที่ยึดติดอยู่กับเครื่อง ยืดขยายแป้งโด,และชิ้นประกอบทำความสะอาดที่ยืดหยุ่นคล้ายแถบ(13)ที่ยึดติดอยู่กับตัวอุปกรณ์ ทำความสะอาดชิ้นประกอบทำความสะอาดจะรวมถึงส่วนปลาย(13A)และส่วนทำความสะอาด (13B)พร้อมพื้นผิวทำความสะอาด(13C)ส่วนปลายด้านหนึ่งหรือส่วนปลายทั้งสองด้านของ ชิ้นประกอบทำความสะอาดจะถูกยึดติดกับตัวอุปกรณ์ทำความสะอาด,และส่วนทำความสะอาด ห้อยลง,เพื่อให้พื้นผิวทำความสะอาดของชิ้นประกอบทำความสะอาดได้รับการกำหนดโครงแบบ ให้สัมผัสกับพื้นผิวของลูกกลิ้งต่อขยายของเครื่องยืดขยายแป้งโดที่ถูกทำให้เปลี่ยนรูปและโค้งงอ สอดคล้องกับพื้นผิวของลูกกลิ้งต่อขยาย;

Description

Cleaning device for spreading rollers

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for cleaning the surface of a spreading roller in a food dough spreading device, and more particularly to a cleaning device and method for cleaning the surface of such a spreading roller by removing any adhering matter thereto.

[0002] Various cleaning devices for the surfaces of spreading rollers in food dough spreading devices have been proposed. The device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a means for removing deposits adhering to the outer circumferential surface of a rolling roller for noodle sheets in a noodle-making machine and an imaging means for imaging the outer circumferential surface of the rolling roller. The device disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a dough spreading device that includes a roller rotatably attached to a shaft that moves along an elliptical orbit, and a conveyor that is positioned opposite the elliptical orbit and transports the dough.

[0003] JP 2009-050229 A JP 52-025083 A

[0004] In the device of Patent Document 1, the position of the rotation axis of the rolling roller on which the deposit removal means is used is fixed, and the rolling roller is concentric with the rotation axis. Therefore, there is a problem that such deposit removal means cannot remove deposits attached to the outer surface of a rolling roller that moves along a predetermined trajectory, a rolling roller that is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis, or a rolling roller that has an irregular radius from the center of the rotation axis, such as a rolling roller that is polygonal or elliptical rather than circular. Furthermore, the spreading device described in Patent Document 2 uses a cleaning means that presses a brush against the surface of the roller that moves (revolves) along an elliptical trajectory to clean the roller surface, but this has the problem of not being able to efficiently remove deposits from the roller surface, and the problem of the time-consuming process of attaching and detaching the brush and cleaning the brush itself.

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a cleaning device that can efficiently remove deposits from the surface of a spreading roller in a food dough spreading device, and preferably a cleaning device that allows for easy attachment and detachment of cleaning members and cleaning.

[0006] The present invention is a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of a spreading roller of a dough spreading device, characterized in that the cleaning device includes a cleaning device main body and a band-shaped cleaning member, one end or both ends of the cleaning member are detachably fixed to the cleaning device main body so that the cleaning part of the cleaning member hangs down, and the cleaning surface of the cleaning part is abutted against the surface of the spreading roller to clean the surface of the spreading roller.

[0007] The cleaning member is also characterized by being flexible and having irregularities on the cleaning surface.

[0008] The cleaning device is characterized by including a biasing member that biases the cleaning member from the rear side of the cleaning surface and presses the cleaning surface against the surface of the spreading roller.

[0009] The spreading roller is characterized in that it revolves around an elliptical orbit.

[0010] The spreading roller is configured to revolve around a circular orbit.

[0011] The spreading roller is characterized in that it reciprocates along a predetermined track.

[0012] The cleaning device further includes a spreading roller rotating device that rotates the spreading roller in at least a part of the range in which the spreading roller moves along the track while in contact with the cleaning member.

[0013] The spreading roller is an eccentric roller.

[0014] The spreading roller is a polygonal roller.

[0015] Also, a cleaning method for cleaning the surface of a spreading roller of a dough spreading device is characterized in that one end or both ends of a strip-shaped cleaning member are fixed to the cleaning device body, the cleaning part of the cleaning member is hung down, and the cleaning surface of the cleaning part is abutted against the surface of the spreading roller to clean the surface of the spreading roller.

[0016] The cleaning member may be flexible and the cleaning surface having the irregularities may be brought into contact with the surface of the spreading roller to clean the surface.

[0017] The cleaning member has a cleaning surface that is uneven and flexible, and is bent and deformed along the surface of the spreading roller to come into surface contact with the surface of the spreading roller, thereby cleaning the surface of the spreading roller.

[0018] The cleaning device is also characterized in that an urging member provided in the cleaning device urges the cleaning member from the back side of the cleaning surface to press the cleaning surface against the surface of the spreading roller.

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently remove deposits from the surface of the spreading roller in the food dough spreading device. Furthermore, if the cleaning member is a detachable member, the cleaning member can be easily attached, detached, and cleaned, thereby shortening the cleaning work time for the spreading device (machine) and the cleaning member and reducing the burden on the worker.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic front sectional view of a dough spreading device including a cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the dough spreading device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged front sectional view of a cleaning device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic front sectional view of a dough spreading device including a cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a dough spreading device including a cleaning device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the upstream side in the dough conveying direction. FIG. 6 is a schematic front sectional view of a dough spreading device including a cleaning device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic front sectional view of a dough spreading device including a cleaning device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic front sectional view of a dough spreading device including a modified cleaning device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic front sectional view of a dough spreading device including a modified cleaning device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] A cleaning device 1 and a dough spreading device 2 including the same according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Detailed description of known components will be omitted below. The cleaning device 1 is a device that cleans deposits W adhering to the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26 in the dough spreading device 2 that spreads food dough D. In this specification, the food dough D will be described as bread dough, and the deposits W will be described as dough crumbs or powder scattered on the surface of the dough.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dough spreading device 2 is a device that spreads food dough D transported from the upstream conveyor JC and transports it to the downstream conveyor KC, and includes a stand 2A, a conveying device 21 attached to the stand 2A, and a spreading device 22 arranged above the conveying device 21.

[0023] The conveying device 21 includes a first conveyor 23 having an endless conveyor belt 23A, a second conveyor 24 arranged adjacent to the first conveyor on the downstream side and having an endless conveyor belt 24A, and a third conveyor 25 arranged adjacent to the second conveyor on the downstream side and having an endless conveyor belt 25A. These three conveyors 23, 24, and 25 each have a facing surface facing the spreading device 22, and the angle between the facing surface of the first conveyor 23 and the facing surface of the second conveyor 24 is adjustable. The conveying device 21 is configured to convey the dough D in a conveying direction R shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] The extending device 22 includes a plurality of extending rollers 26 and an extending roller drive device 27 that moves the plurality of extending rollers 26 along an endless elliptical orbit in the direction of arrow S shown in Fig. 1. The extending roller drive device 27 includes a pair of frames 27A, a pair of drive sprockets 27B, a pair of driven sprockets 27C, a pair of chains 27D, a plurality of extending roller shafts 27E, a pair of guide rails 27F for the extending rollers 26, and a drive motor M1.

[0025] A pair of frames 27A are disposed above the platform 2A and on both the left and right sides of the conveying device 21. A drive sprocket 27B, a driven sprocket 27C, and a guide rail 27F are disposed inside each of the pair of frames 27A. A chain 27D is wound around the drive sprocket 27B and the driven sprocket 27C, forming an elliptical orbit for the extending roller 26. Both ends of the extending roller shaft 27E are fixed to the left and right chains 27D, respectively. A plurality of extending roller shafts 27E are fixed to the chain 27D at predetermined intervals. The pair of drive sprockets 27B and the pair of driven sprockets 27C are attached (fitted) to the drive shaft and the driven shaft, respectively, and are configured so that the pair of left and right chains 27D are rotated (moved) together by a drive motor M1 connected to the drive shaft.

[0026] Each of the plurality of spreading rollers 26 is rotatably supported (axially supported) on a spreading roller shaft 27E, and is configured to revolve (move) along the elliptical orbit of the chain 27D in the direction of arrow S shown in Fig. 1. The spreading roller 26 is configured to spread the fabric D between the spreading roller 26 and the opposing surface of the conveying device 21 when it moves in the lower straight portion of the elliptical orbit (spreading area SA), and is configured to clean the deposits W adhering to the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26 with the cleaning device 1 when it moves in the upper straight portion of the elliptical orbit (cleaning area CA).

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cleaning device 1 is disposed above the dough spreading device 2 and includes a cleaning device body 11, a cleaning member 13, a biasing member 15, and a spreading roller rotating device 17.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the cleaning device main body 11 includes a base 11A and a pair of side plates 11B, 11C. The base 11A is a plate-like member that extends (is installed across) between the pair of frames 27A of the spreading device 22 and is located at the upper end thereof, with a rectangular hole 11D (drilled) in its center. The side plates 11B, 11C are also plate-like members that are located on the upper surface of the base 11A outside the rectangular hole 11D and parallel to each other along the conveying direction R. In other words, the cleaning device 1 is arranged along (corresponding to) the upper linear portion of the elliptical orbit around which the spreading roller 26 revolves.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3 , the cleaning member 13 is a strip-shaped (sheet-shaped) member including one longitudinal end 13A and the remaining cleaning portion 13B. The material is preferably flexible and elastic urethane. However, the material of the cleaning member 13 is not limited to this and can be selected appropriately. The cleaning portion 13B has a cleaning surface 13C that abuts against the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26. The cleaning surface 13C preferably has an uneven shape. The uneven shape of the cleaning surface 13C is preferably a shape in which recesses (grooves) are formed (carved) in a lattice pattern, but is not limited thereto. For example, the recesses may be formed (carved) in parallel, or the protrusions may be in the shape of a truncated pyramid or truncated cone. The shape, depth, width, etc. of the recesses and the shape, height, etc. of the protrusions may be selected appropriately depending on the properties of the fabric to be spread, etc.

[0030] One end 13A of the cleaning member 13 is fixed to a plate 13D. The plate 13D is configured so that one end is inserted into a mounting hole 11F of the side plate 11B and the other end is inserted into a mounting groove 11G of the side plate 11C, and then fixed to the side plate 11C with a knob bolt 11E. By attaching and detaching the knob bolt 11E to the side plate 11C, the cleaning member 13 and the plate 13D can be easily and integrally and detachably attached to the side plates 11B and 11C. That is, one end 13A of the strip-shaped (sheet-shaped) cleaning member 13 is detachably fixed to the cleaning device main body 11 via the plate 13D, the cleaning portion 13B hangs down through the rectangular hole 11D in the base 11A, and the cleaning surface 13C is configured to abut against the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26, thereby cleaning the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the cleaning unit 13B contacts three successive spreading rollers 26.

[0031] The biasing member 15 is configured to bias the cleaning portion 13B of the cleaning member 13 from the opposite side of the cleaning surface 13C, thereby pressing the cleaning portion 13B against the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26. The biasing member 15 is strip-shaped (sheet-shaped) and includes one longitudinal end 15A and the remaining biasing portion 15B. The biasing member 15 is preferably made of flexible and elastic urethane. However, the material of the biasing member 15 is not limited to this and can be selected appropriately.

[0032] One end 15A of the urging member 15 is fixed to a plate 15D. The plate 15D is configured so that one end is inserted into a mounting hole 11F of the side plate 11B and the other end is inserted into a mounting groove 11G of the side plate 11C, and then fixed to the side plate 11C with a knob bolt 11E. By attaching and detaching the knob bolt 11E to the side plate 11C, the urging member 15 and the plate 15D can be easily and integrally attached to the side plates 11B and 11C in a detachable manner. The urging portion 15B has a urging surface 15C that abuts against the surface (back side) opposite the cleaning surface 13C and is configured to press the cleaning portion 13B against the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26. In other words, one end 15A of the strip-shaped (sheet-shaped) urging member 15 is removably fixed to the cleaning device main body 11 via a plate 15D, and the urging portion 15B hangs down through a rectangular hole 11D in the base 11A and urges the cleaning portion 13B from the opposite (back) side of the cleaning surface 13C, thereby pressing the cleaning surface 13C against the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26.

[0033] The method of attaching and detaching the cleaning member 13 and the urging member 15 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and for example, they may be fixed using a toggle clamp, and any configuration that allows the worker to easily attach and detach them can be appropriately selected.

[0034] The flexibility of the cleaning member 13 can be changed by selecting its material and thickness, thereby changing the amount by which the cleaning member 13 bends along the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26 and the strength of contact between the cleaning member 13 and the spreading roller 26. Furthermore, it is desirable that the plate 13D (i.e., one end 13A of the cleaning member 13) is fixed vertically to the cleaning device body 11. However, the strength of contact between the cleaning member 13 and the spreading roller 26 may be changed by changing the direction (angle) of the plate 13D and fixing it. While an example in which two urging members 15 are arranged in the conveying direction has been shown, this is not limiting, and the number of urging members 15 can be changed as appropriate.

[0035] The flexibility of the urging member 15 can be changed by selecting the material and thickness thereof, thereby changing the strength with which the cleaning surface 13C of the cleaning part 13B is pressed against the spreading roller 26. The cleaning member 13 may be urged by the weight of the urging part 15B itself.

[0036] The spreading roller rotation device 17 rotates (spins on its axis) the spreading roller 26 as it moves through a cleaning area CA where the cleaning member 13 comes into contact with the spreading roller 26 to clean its surface 26A, and includes a pair of friction plates 17A. The friction plates 17A are roughly rectangular parallelepiped-shaped, with inclined surfaces formed at both longitudinal ends. The pair of friction plates 17A are arranged parallel to the conveying direction R on the upper surfaces of the pair of guide rails 27F, in positions that contact both ends of the spreading roller 26. While the spreading roller 26 moves (revolves) in the direction of arrow S shown in FIG. 3 and moves through the area where the friction plates 17A are arranged, both ends of the spreading roller 26 come into contact with the friction plates 17A, thereby allowing the spreading roller 26 to rotate (spin on its axis) in the direction of arrow T shown in FIG. 3 relative to the spreading roller shaft 27E. In order to ensure that such rotation occurs, i.e., to make the frictional force between the spreading roller 26 and the friction plate 17A greater than the frictional force between the spreading roller 26 and the cleaning member 13, it is desirable that the friction plate 17A be made of a material such as rubber that has a relatively large coefficient of friction.

[0037] The extension roller rotation device 17 is not limited to the configuration of this embodiment, but may be configured such that a rack gear is placed in place of the rubber friction plate 17A, gears are provided at both ends of the extension roller 26, and the rack gear and gear are meshed together to rotate (spin) the extension roller 26 moving through the cleaning area CA.

[0038] Furthermore, it is desirable that the range in which the spreading roller 26 is rotated (spinned) by the spreading roller rotation device 17 is approximately the same as or longer than the cleaning area CA, but it is not limited to this and may be a part of the cleaning area CA.

[0039] Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. Continuous edible dough D is conveyed from a dough supplying device (not shown) arranged upstream to the dough spreading device 2. The edible dough D is spread between the spreading roller 26 and the opposing surface of the conveying device 21 in the lower linear portion (spreading area) SA of the elliptical orbit, and is conveyed to a downstream forming device (not shown). Then, as the spreading roller 26 rotates while moving in the upper linear portion (cleaning area) CA of the elliptical orbit, the cleaning device 1 cleans the deposits W adhering to the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26. At this time, the cleaning member 13 deforms so as to bend along the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26, and the cleaning surface 13C comes into surface contact with the portion of the spreading roller 26 located above the surface 26A.

[0040] The spreading roller 26 is moved in the direction of arrow S by the spreading roller drive device 27, and brought into contact with the upper surface of the friction plate 17A of the spreading roller rotation device 17, so that the spreading roller 26 rotates in the direction of arrow T shown in Figure 3. That is, the moving (revolving) and rotating (spinning) surface 26A slides in surface contact with the cleaning surface 13C, so that the cleaning surface 13C can clean the entire circumference of the surface 26A. Furthermore, the cleaning surface 13C of the cleaning member 13 is urged from its back side toward the spreading roller 26 by the urging member 15 and is pressed strongly against the surface 26A, thereby efficiently cleaning the deposits W from the entire circumference of the surface 26A. In addition, the friction plate 17A has inclined surfaces on the upstream and downstream sides of the movement direction of the extension roller 26 (the direction of arrow S), which helps to reduce the impact when the extension roller 26 moves from the guide rail 27F to the friction plate 17A and from the friction plate 17A to the guide rail 27F, thereby suppressing the generation of noise.

[0041] Conventional fixed, plate-shaped scrapers have difficulty cleaning the entire surface 26A of the moving spreading roller 26. Furthermore, in the case of brushes, the bristles only make point contact with the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26, making it impossible to clean areas that are not in contact, resulting in uneven cleaning. Furthermore, attaching and detaching the brush and cleaning the brush itself is time-consuming and places a heavy burden on the worker. However, with the configuration of the present invention, the cleaning surface 13C of the cleaning member 13 makes surface contact with the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26, which rotates while moving (circling) around an elliptical orbit. This eliminates cleaning unevenness and allows for efficient cleaning of the deposits W. Furthermore, the cleaning member 13 is easy to attach and detach, and cleaning the cleaning member 13 itself is also easy, reducing the burden on the worker.

[0042] Next, a cleaning device 3 and a dough spreading device 4 including the same according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 4. Components previously described are assigned the same reference numerals as those previously described, and redundant description will be omitted. The cleaning device 3 is a device that cleans off deposits W that have adhered to the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26 in the dough spreading device 4 that spreads the food dough D. While the dough spreading device 2 of the first embodiment is a device in which the spreading roller 26 revolves (moves) on an elliptical orbit, the dough spreading device 4 of this embodiment is a device in which the spreading roller 26 revolves (moves) on a circular orbit.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, the dough spreading device 4 includes a stand 4A, a conveying device 41 attached to the stand 4A, and a spreading device 42 disposed above the conveying device 41.

[0044] The transport device 41 includes a first conveyor 43, a large diameter roller 44 disposed adjacent to the first conveyor 43 on the downstream side thereof, and a second conveyor 45 disposed adjacent to the second conveyor 44 on the downstream side thereof.

[0045] The stretching device 42 includes a plurality of stretching rollers 26 and a stretching roller drive device 47 that rotates (moves) the plurality of stretching rollers 26 along an endless circular track in the direction of arrow S shown in Figure 4. The stretching roller drive device 47 includes a pair of frames 47A, a drive shaft 47B, a pair of roller bases 47C and 47D, a plurality of stretching roller shafts 27E, and a drive motor (not shown). The stretching rollers 26 and the stretching roller shafts 27E are fixed together. The pair of frames 47A are disposed above the stand 4A on both the left and right sides of the conveying device 41.

[0046] The pair of frames 47A rotatably support a drive shaft 47B on their opposing inner sides, and the drive shaft 47B is inserted (passed through) and fixed in a pair of roller bases 47C, 47D. The pair of roller bases 47C, 47D rotatably support eight spreading roller shafts 27E between them, equally spaced in the circumferential direction. Eight gears 47E are fixed (fitted externally) to the end of each spreading roller shaft 27E on the roller base 47D side, and mesh with a gear 47F concentric with and rotatably attached to the drive shaft 47B. A first drive motor drives the drive shaft 47B, and another second drive motor drives the gear 47F, so that the spreading roller 26 can rotate (travel) in the direction of arrow T while orbiting (moving) along a circular orbit in the direction of arrow S shown in FIG. 4.

[0047] Each of the multiple spreading rollers 26 is configured to spread the fabric between the spreading roller 26 and the opposing surface of the conveying device 41 when moving through the lower part of the circular orbit (spreading area SA), and is configured to clean any adhesions W adhering to the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26 with the cleaning device 3 when moving through the upper part of the circular orbit (cleaning area CA).

[0048] The cleaning device 3 is disposed above the dough spreading device 4 and includes a cleaning device body 11 , a cleaning member 13 , a biasing member 15 , and a spreading roller rotating device 37 .

[0049] The configurations of the cleaning device main body 11, cleaning member 13, and urging member 15 are the same as those of the cleaning device 1 of the first embodiment, so a description of these configurations will be omitted. In this embodiment, the spreading roller rotation device 37 is configured (shared) by the above-mentioned gears 47E and 47F and a second drive motor that drives gear 47F. By controlling the rotation speed of the first drive motor that causes the spreading roller 26 to revolve (revolve) along a circular orbit and the rotation speed of the second drive motor that causes the spreading roller 26 to rotate (spin), that is, by controlling the difference in rotation speed between the two drive motors, it is possible to adjust the rotation speed of the spreading roller 26.

[0050] The operation of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that, since the cleaning member 13 and the urging member 15 are flexible, they can deform in accordance with the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26 that moves around (circulates) in a circular orbit, and thus the cleaning surface 13C can clean the entire periphery of the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26.

[0051] Next, a cleaning device 5 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 5. Components previously described are assigned the same reference numerals as those previously described, and redundant description will be omitted. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dough spreading device 6 as seen from the upstream side in the conveyance direction. The cleaning device 5 is a device that cleans deposits W that have adhered to the surface 66A of the spreading roller 66 in the dough spreading device 6 that spreads the food dough D. While the dough spreading device 2 of the first embodiment was a device in which the spreading roller 26 revolved around an elliptical orbit, the dough spreading device 6 of this embodiment is a device in which the spreading roller 66 reciprocates (moves) along a linear orbit that extends in the width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 5 , the dough spreading device 6 has a frame 6A extending in the width direction above the conveying device 61. The dough spreading device 6 includes a slider 6B, a rack gear 6C, and a pinion gear 6D within the frame 6A. The slider 6B is reciprocated a predetermined distance by a drive transmission mechanism such as a drive motor and a chain (not shown). The rack gear 6C is fixed to the frame 6A. The pinion gear 6D is fixed (inserted) to an upper shaft 6E rotatably supported by the slider 6B and meshes with the rack gear 6C. An idler gear 6F is fixed (externally fitted) to the upper shaft 6E. A spreading roller 66 located below the slider 6B is fixed (inserted) to a lower shaft 6G rotatably supported by the slider 6B, and a gear 6H fixed (externally fitted) to the lower shaft 6G meshes with the idler gear 6F. Thus, when the slider 6B is reciprocated in the width direction by the drive motor, the spreading roller 66 is configured to reciprocate integrally with the slider 6B and alternately rotate left and right on its axis.

[0053] The cleaning device 5 is disposed in the dough spreading device 6 and includes a cleaning device body 11 , a cleaning member 53 , three urging members 55 , and a spreading roller rotating device 57 .

[0054] The base 11A of the cleaning device main body 11 is a plate-like member disposed on the underside of the frame 6A and has a rectangular hole 11D drilled in its center. The side plates 11B and 11C are also plate-like members that extend along the width direction on the upper surface of the base 11A and are disposed parallel to each other.

[0055] The cleaning member 53 is a strip-shaped (sheet-shaped) member similar to the cleaning member 13 of the first embodiment, but in this embodiment, both end portions 53A of the cleaning member 53 are fixed to plates 53D. The plates 53D have the same configuration as the plates 13D of the first embodiment and are easily detachably fixed to the pair of side plates 11B, 11C. That is, both end portions 53A of the strip-shaped cleaning member 53 are detachably fixed to the cleaning device main body 11 via the plates 53D, and the cleaning portion 53B between the both end portions 53A hangs down through a rectangular hole 11D in the base 11A. The cleaning surface 53C of the cleaning portion 53B is configured to abut against an upper portion of the surface 66A of the spreading roller 66, thereby cleaning the surface 66A of the spreading roller 66.

[0056] The three urging members 55 are arranged along the width direction inside the hanging cleaning member 53. The urging members 55 are similar to the urging members 15 of the first embodiment, but in this embodiment, both ends 55A of the urging members 55 are fixed to plates 55D, respectively, and are easily detachably fixed to the pair of side plates 11B, 11C in the same configuration as the cleaning member 53. Therefore, in this embodiment, the urging portion 55B of the urging member 55 is curved downward and hanging down, and the urging surface 55C of the urging portion 55B abuts against the surface (back side) opposite to the cleaning surface 53C, thereby pressing the cleaning portion 53B against the surface 66A of the spreading roller 66. That is, both ends 55A of the urging member 55 are detachably fixed to the cleaning device body 11 via plates 55D, and the urging portion 55B hangs down to urge the cleaning portion 53B from the back side, thereby pressing the cleaning surface 53C against the surface 66A of the spreading roller 66. In this embodiment, the spreading roller rotating device 57 is constituted by (and serves as) the above-mentioned rack gear 6C, pinion gear 6D, and a drive motor that drives them.

[0057] Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. Continuous edible dough D is transported from a dough supply device (not shown) located upstream to the dough spreading device 6. The edible dough D is spread between the spreading roller 66, which reciprocates in the width direction, and the opposing surface of the conveying device 61, and then transported to a forming device (not shown) located downstream. The cleaning device 5 then cleans any adhering matter W adhering to the surface 66A of the spreading roller 66, which rotates while reciprocating along a linear path. Because both ends 53A of the cleaning member 53 are fixed to the cleaning device body 11, the cleaning member 53 deforms to bend along the surface 66A of the spreading roller 66 without falling off, regardless of the direction in which the spreading roller 66 moves, and the cleaning surface 53C comes into surface contact with the surface 66A. The spreading roller 66 moves in the width direction (the direction of arrow S) while rotating in the direction of arrow T shown in FIG. 5. That is, the rotating and moving surface 66A slides in surface contact with the cleaning surface 53C, so that the cleaning surface 53C can clean the entire circumference of the surface 66A. Furthermore, the cleaning member 53 is urged from the back side thereof toward the spreading roller 66 by the urging member 55, and is pressed firmly against the surface 66A, so that the deposits can be efficiently cleaned off from the entire circumference of the surface 66A.

[0058] Next, a fourth embodiment of the cleaning device 7 and a dough spreading device 8 including the same will be described with reference to Figure 6. Components identical to those previously described are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. The cleaning device 7 is a device for cleaning adhering matter W adhering to the surface 86A of the spreading roller 86 in the dough spreading device 8, which spreads the food dough D.

[0059] As shown in Figure 6, the dough spreading device 8 is a device that spreads the food dough D flowing down from a hopper 8B and transports it downstream using a conveying device 81 arranged below, and includes a stand 8A, the conveying device 81, and a spreading device 82.

[0060] The stretching device 82 includes a pair of stretching rollers 86, which are eccentric rollers that are eccentric with respect to the rotation axis. The pair of stretching rollers 86 are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval with their eccentric directions differing by 180 degrees, and are configured to rotate in opposite directions in conjunction with each other by a drive motor (not shown). Therefore, when the stretching rollers 86 are rotated, the gap between the pair of stretching rollers 86 repeatedly widens and narrows.

[0061] The cleaning device 7 is disposed diagonally above the spreading roller 86 and includes a cleaning device main body 11, a cleaning member 53, and a biasing member 55. The cleaning device main body 11 includes a base 11A and a pair of side plates 11B, 11C. The base 11A holds the plate-shaped side plates 11B, 11C so that they are arranged parallel to each other. The configurations of the cleaning member 53 and the biasing member 55 are similar to those of the third embodiment, and therefore a description of these configurations will be omitted.

[0062] Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment will be described. Food dough D is supplied from a hopper 8B to the spreading device 82, spread between a pair of spreading rollers 86, and transported by the conveying device 81 to a downstream forming device (not shown). Because the spreading roller 86 is eccentric with respect to its rotational axis, the radius of the surface 86A of the spreading roller 86, which is in contact with the food dough D, from the rotational axis is constantly changing. The cleaning portion 53B of the cleaning member 53 deforms in accordance with the fluctuations in the surface 86A of the spreading roller 86, thereby maintaining surface contact between the cleaning surface 53C and the surface 86A and cleaning off any deposits W adhering to the surface 86A of the spreading roller 86. Furthermore, the cleaning member 53 is urged from its back side toward the spreading roller 86 by the urging member 55, so that it is pressed firmly against the surface 86A of the spreading roller 86, thereby cleaning the entire periphery of the surface 86A of the spreading roller 86 and efficiently removing any deposits.

[0063] 7, a spreading roller 96 having a polygonal surface and arranged concentrically with the rotation axis may be used instead of the spreading roller 86. Even in this case, the cleaning portion 53B of the cleaning member 53 deforms in accordance with the fluctuations of the surface 96A of the spreading roller 96, thereby maintaining surface contact between the cleaning surface 53C and the surface 96A and cleaning off deposits W adhering to the surface 96A of the spreading roller 96. Alternatively, even if the spreading roller is an elliptical roller or a roller with a wavy surface, by appropriately selecting the material of the cleaning member, it is possible to maintain surface contact between the cleaning surface and the surface of the spreading roller and clean off deposits from the surface of the spreading roller.

[0064] Although a molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has been generally described, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible in accordance with the claims, and it goes without saying that such modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, the orbit of the spreading roller is an elliptical or circular orbit, but the orbit of the spreading roller may be, for example, a triangular or elliptical orbit. Even in this case, the cleaning member can come into surface contact with the surface of the spreading roller and clean the surface of the spreading roller.

[0066] 8, a modification of the cleaning device according to the second embodiment may employ a configuration in which both end portions 53A of the cleaning member 53 are detachably fixed to the cleaning device body 11. With such a configuration, it is possible to clean deposits on the surface 26A of the spreading roller 26 regardless of the direction of rotation (movement) and / or the direction of rotation (rotation) of the spreading roller 26.

[0067] 1, 3, 5, 7: Cleaning device 2, 4, 6, 8: Fabric spreading device 11: Cleaning device main body 13, 53: Cleaning member 13A, 53A: End portion 13B, 53B: Cleaning section 13C, 53C: Cleaning surface 15, 55: Biasing member 17, 37, 57: Spreading roller rotation device 26, 66, 86, 96: Spreading roller 26A, 66A, 86A, 96A: Surface D: Food dough

Claims

DEPCT671. Cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the extension rollers of a dough stretcher, comprising: the cleaning device attached to the dough stretcher; and a flexible, strip-like cleaning assembly attached to the cleaning device; where the cleaning assembly includes both ends and a cleaning surface; where one or both ends of the cleaning assembly are attached to the cleaning device, and the cleaning surface hangs down, so that the cleaning surface of the cleaning surface is contoured to make contact with the surface of the extension rollers of the dough stretcher, which is deformed and bent to conform to the surface of the extension rollers.

2. Cleaning device according to claim 1, comprising additionally: a guiding assembly for guiding the cleaning assembly from the opposite side of the cleaning surface to press the cleaning surface against the surface of the extension rollers.

3. Cleaning device according to claim 1, where the cleaning assembly is detachably attached to the cleaning device.4.Cleaning equipment under claim 1, where the cleaning surfaces have a concave-convex characteristic; 5. Cleaning equipment under claim 1, where the extension rollers of the dough stretcher are configured to rotate along a rotational path, or alternate back and forth along a predetermined path, and the cleaning surfaces come into contact with the surfaces of the extension rollers in the cleaning area as part of the rotational or predetermined path; 6. Cleaning equipment under claim 5, which is additionally incorporated with an extension roller rotating device for the rotation of the extension rollers on their own axis in the cleaning area; 7. Cleaning equipment under claim 1, where the extension rollers of the dough stretcher are eccentric or square rollers.