The overlapping nozzle that allows the dough to flow in a circular direction and the method of dough flow.

Abstract

To provide a method and technique for merging different doughs along a circumferential direction. The overlapping nozzle (1) has: an outer nozzle (3), an inner nozzle (4), a cylindrical inner wall (22) extending downward from the inner nozzle, and a guide wall (24) extending downward from the inner nozzle in a manner that partially surrounds the inner wall in the circumferential direction on the outside of the inner wall. The inner wall and the guide wall form a transverse outlet opening (25b) facing in the circumferential direction, which is configured to expose a second dough supplied between the inner wall and the guide wall. The inner wall and the outer nozzle are configured to cover the second dough exposed at the transverse outlet opening with a first dough supplied between the inner wall and the outer nozzle, and to allow the second dough extruded from the transverse outlet opening towards the first dough in the circumferential direction to enter the inner side of the first dough along the inner wall.

Description

A folding nozzle and method for allowing dough to flow in a circular direction The present invention relates to a folding nozzle and a method for allowing different doughs to merge along the circumferential direction for use in a stuffing machine or the like. A stacking nozzle and method for dispensing two different colored doughs to form a food product with a color-coded pattern are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior Art Document] [Patent Document] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-033113 [Problems to be solved by the invention] In the food product formed by the overlapping nozzle and method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the boundaries between different doughs are clear. On the other hand, there is also a demand for products that make the boundaries blurred. Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a spout and method for allowing different doughs to merge along the circumferential direction. [Technical Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the overlapping nozzle of the present invention, which allows the first dough and the second dough to merge, comprises: an outer nozzle, an inner nozzle arranged on the inner side of the outer nozzle and having a hollow cylindrical portion, a cylindrical inner wall extending downward from the inner nozzle, a guide wall extending downward from the inner nozzle in a manner of partially surrounding the inner wall along the circumferential direction at the outer side of the inner wall, and an opening formed in the inner nozzle between the inner wall and the guide wall, the inner wall and the guide wall forming a transverse outlet opening facing the circumferential direction, the transverse outlet opening being configured so that the second dough supplied from the opening to between the inner wall and the guide wall is exposed, the inner wall and the outer nozzle being configured so that the second dough exposed at the transverse outlet opening is covered with the first dough supplied between the inner wall and the outer nozzle, and the second dough extruded from the transverse outlet opening toward the first dough along the circumferential direction merges with the first dough and enters the inner side of the first dough along the inner wall. According to the overlapping mouth constructed in this way, the second dough is extruded from the horizontal outlet opening toward the first dough along the circumferential direction, and the first dough and the second dough are allowed to merge, thereby allowing the second dough to enter the inner side of the first dough along the inner wall, forming a boundary area in which the thickness of the first dough becomes thicker along the circumferential direction as the thickness of the second dough becomes thinner along the circumferential direction. In the above-mentioned overlapping nozzle, it is preferred that the guide wall is formed integrally with the inner nozzle, and the outer surface of at least one circumferential end of the guide wall is separated from the outer nozzle in a manner forming a gap between it and the outer nozzle, and more preferably is inclined toward the inside in a manner forming a wedge-shaped gap. In the above-mentioned overlapping nozzle, it is preferred that a horizontal cross section of an inner surface of the outer nozzle decreases downward. In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the method of the present invention for merging the first dough and the second dough comprises preparing a cylindrical inner wall and a guide wall partially surrounding the outer side of the inner wall in the circumferential direction, supplying the second dough between the inner wall and the guide wall, supplying the first dough in a manner so as to cover the second dough exposed in the circumferential direction between the inner wall and the guide wall, extruding the second dough toward the first dough in the circumferential direction and merging the first dough and the second dough, thereby allowing the second dough to enter the inner side of the first dough along the inner wall, thereby forming a boundary area in which the thickness of the first dough becomes thicker in the circumferential direction as the thickness of the second dough becomes thinner in the circumferential direction. In the above method, it is preferred that a gap is formed between the outer mouth and the guide wall, and the first dough is supplied toward the gap, and it is more preferred that the gap has a wedge-shaped cross-section. An embodiment of the stacking nozzle of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In the following description, "circumferential direction" refers to the direction around the central axis C of the stacking nozzle 1, "outer side" refers to the side away from the central axis, and "inner side" refers to the side closer to the central axis. As shown in FIG1 , the encrusting machine 100 includes a spout 1 and an openable / closable cutting device 9. The cutting device 9 includes a plurality of openable / closable plates 9a. The cutting device 9 is prior art, and thus its description is omitted. The overlapping nozzle 1 comprises a cylindrical body 2, a cylindrical outer nozzle 3, a cylindrical inner nozzle 4, and a cylindrical core member 5. As will be described later, the outer nozzle 3, inner nozzle 4, and core member 5 form passages 10 and 11 for supplying two types of outer skin materials D1 and D2. The laminating nozzle 1 further comprises double inner tubes 7, 8 arranged inside the core member 5. As will be described later, the inner tubes 7, 8 constitute passages 12, 13 for supplying the two inner materials F1, F2. The main body 2 can be separated into an upper portion 2a and a lower portion 2b. A core member 5 is inserted into the upper portion 2a of the main body 2. The outer nozzle 3 is positioned below the core member 5 and is retained by the lower portion 2b of the main body 2. The inner nozzle 4 is positioned inside the outer nozzle 3 and below the core member 5, supported by the core member 5 via, for example, a screw. The outer nozzle 3 has an inner surface 3a, the horizontal cross-section of which tapers downward. The upper portion 2a of the main body 2 has a first inlet passage 10a, which is supplied with the first outer skin material D1, and a second inlet passage 11a, which is supplied with the second outer skin material D2. The core member 5 has an outer peripheral surface 5a and an inner peripheral surface 5b. The outer peripheral surface 5a has a groove 5c that communicates with the first inlet passage 10a and extends downward, and a through-hole 5d that communicates with the second inlet passage 11a and with the inner peripheral surface 5b. The groove 5c communicates with the interior space of the outer nozzle 3. Thus, the first inlet passage 10a, the groove 5c of the core member 5, and the space between the outer nozzle 3 and the inner nozzle 4 constitute the passage 10 for supplying the first outer skin material D1. Preferably, a bladed agitator 6 is provided in the passage 10 to promote the supply of the first outer skin material D1. The through hole 5d communicates with the inner space of the inner nozzle 4. Thus, the second inlet passage 11a, the through hole 5d, the space between the core member 5 and the inner tube 7, and the space between the inner nozzle 4 and the inner tube 7 constitute the passage 11 for supplying the second outer covering material D2. As shown in FIG. 2 , the inner nozzle 4 includes a hollow cylindrical portion 21 and a bottom wall 21 a . The overlapping nozzle 1 further comprises a cylindrical inner wall 22 extending downward from the inner nozzle 4, a guide wall 24 extending downward from the inner nozzle 4 to partially surround the inner wall 22 along its circumferential direction, and an opening 23 formed in the inner nozzle 4 between the inner wall 22 and the guide wall 24. In this embodiment, the opening 23 is formed in the bottom wall 21a and extends approximately 180 degrees circumferentially along the guide wall 24. In this embodiment, the inner wall 22 and the guide wall 24 are integrally formed with the inner nozzle 4. Preferably, the lower end of the inner wall 22 and the lower end of the guide wall 24 are the same height. The space inside the cylindrical portion 21 preferably communicates with the space inside the inner wall 22 through a central opening 22a in the bottom wall 21a. Furthermore, the passage 11 for supplying the second outer skin material D2 communicates with the space 26 between the inner wall 22 and the guide wall 24 through an opening 23. Furthermore, the inner wall 22 and the guide wall 24 form a downwardly directed lower outlet opening 25a and a circumferentially elongated transverse outlet opening 25b. Furthermore, the passage 10 communicates with the space 27 between the outer nozzle 3 and the inner wall 22. The vertical length of the guide wall 24 is preferably greater than the distance between the guide wall 24 and the inner wall 22. As shown in FIG1 , the guide wall 24 is spaced apart from the inner surface 3a of the outer nozzle 3 at its upper end, but is in contact with the inner surface 3a of the outer nozzle 3 at its lower end. Consequently, the first outer skin material D1 supplied to the area 27a outside the guide wall 24 (the space between the outer nozzle 3 and the guide wall 24) is removed from the area outside the guide wall 24 at the lower end of the guide wall 24. As shown in FIG3 , the outer surface 24b of the circumferential end 24a of the guide wall 24 is preferably away from the outer nozzle 3 and more preferably inclined inward. This allows the first outer skin material D1 to enter the gap 28 (preferably having a wedge-shaped cross-section) between the guide wall 24 and the outer nozzle 3 at the lower end of the guide wall 24. The first inner tube 7 has a first inlet passage 12a for supplying the first inner material F1. The second inner tube 8 is disposed inside the first inner tube 7 and has a second inlet passage 13a for supplying the second inner material F2. The first inner tube 7 preferably fits between the central opening 22a of the bottom wall 21a and the inner wall 22, extending below the inner wall 22. Next, the operation of the folding nozzle of the present invention will be described. The first outer covering material D1 is supplied to the first inlet passage 10 a , and the second outer covering material D2 is supplied to the second inlet passage 11 a . The first outer skin material D1 is supplied through the passage 10 (through the groove 5c of the core member 5 and the space between the outer nozzle 3 and the inner nozzle 4) to the space 27 between the outer nozzle 3 and the inner wall 22 and the space 27a between the outer nozzle 3 and the guide wall 24. The supply of the first outer skin material D is preferably facilitated by rotating the stirrer 6. Furthermore, the second outer skin material D2 is supplied through the passage 11 (through the core member 5, between the inner nozzle 4, and the first inner tube 7) and the opening 23 to the space 26 between the inner wall 22 and the guide wall 24. This allows the second outer skin material D2 to be circumferentially exposed at the lateral outlet opening 25b between the inner wall 22 and the guide wall 24. Furthermore, the first outer skin material D1 covers the circumferentially exposed second outer skin material D2 at the lateral outlet opening 25b. Next, the second outer skin material D2 is extruded circumferentially from the lateral outlet opening 25b toward the first outer skin material D1 within the space 27, causing the first and second outer skin materials D1 and D2 to merge. At this point, because the first outer skin material D1 covers the circumferentially exposed second outer skin material D2 at the lateral outlet opening 25b, the circumferentially extruded second outer skin material D2 flows along the inner wall 22 and into the interior of the first outer skin material D1. While the first outer skin material D1 and the second outer skin material D2 move downward along the longitudinal transverse outlet opening 25b, the second outer skin material D2 further enters the inner side of the first outer skin material D1 along the circumferential direction. As a result, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a boundary area DR1 is formed in which the thickness of the first outer skin material D1 becomes thicker along the circumferential direction as the thickness of the second outer skin material D2 becomes thinner along the circumferential direction. That is, the boundary area DR1 between the first outer skin material D1 and the second outer skin material D2 expands along the circumferential direction. In the boundary area DR1, the boundary surface DB between the first outer skin material D1 and the second outer skin material D2 extends obliquely from the guide wall 24 toward the inner wall. When the first outer skin material D1 is a relatively transparent dough, the boundary between the first outer skin material D1 and the second outer skin material D2 can be blurred when observing the product P from the outside. As the first and second outer skin materials D1 and D2 are extruded downward from the upper end to the lower end of the guide wall 24, the horizontal cross-section of the inner surface 3a of the outer nozzle 3 decreases. Furthermore, the first outer skin material D1 enters the gap 28 (which has a wedge-shaped cross-section) between the end 24a of the guide wall 24 and the outer nozzle 3. At the lower end of the guide wall 24, the inner surface 3a of the outer nozzle 3 contacts the guide wall 24, separating the area containing the first outer skin material D1 from the area containing the second outer skin material D2 in the circumferential direction. At this point, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 , the combined thickness of the first outer skin material D1 and the second outer skin material D2 remains approximately constant in the circumferential direction, forming a tubular shape. As described above, a boundary region DR1 is formed where the thickness of the first outer skin material D1 increases circumferentially as the second outer skin material D2 becomes thinner. When the first outer skin material D1 is extruded below the lower end of the guide wall 24, the thinner first outer skin material D1 that has entered the gap 28 (with a wedge-shaped cross section) between the end 24a of the guide wall 24 and the outer nozzle 3 remains on the second outer skin material D2, forming a boundary region DR2. In the case of the wedge-shaped gap 28, the thickness of the second outer skin material D2 decreases toward the first outer skin material D1 in the boundary region DR2. In the boundary regions DR1 and DR2 , since the thickness of the first outer covering material D1 is thin or changing, when the first outer covering material D1 is a relatively transparent dough, the boundary between the first outer covering material D1 and the second outer covering material D2 may be blurred. If the first outer skin material D1 and the second outer skin material D2 are extruded further downward, the cross-section of the inner surface 3a of the outer nozzle 3 becomes smaller, so that the first outer skin material D1 and the second outer skin material D2 are compressed and adhered to each other. The first inner dough F1 and the second inner dough F2 are then discharged into the inner sides of the tubular outer dough D1 and D2. Finally, the first and second outer dough D1 and D2 are discharged into a tubular shape, and the double-layer inner dough F1 and F2 are discharged inside. The stick-shaped dough is then cut by a cutting device 9 to form a ball-shaped product P or a stick-shaped product. Although the embodiments of the splicing nozzle of the present invention have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In other words, various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and such modifications are also included in the scope of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the gap 28 is formed by tilting the outer surface 24b of the circumferential end 24a of the guide wall 24 inward. As a modified example, for example, a recessed portion may be provided on the inner surface 3a of the outer nozzle 3 to form a gap between the guide wall 24 and the outer nozzle 3. In the above embodiment, the gap 28 is formed at both circumferential ends 24a of the guide wall 24, but it may be formed at only one circumferential end 24a. Furthermore, the gap 28 may have a wedge-shaped cross section or a uniform width. In the above embodiment, the inner wall 22 is formed integrally with the inner nozzle 4, but it may be formed of the first inner tube 7. The guide wall 24 is formed integrally with the inner nozzle 4, but it may be formed of the outer nozzle 3, for example. In the above embodiment, the lateral outlet openings 25b are formed at both circumferential ends 24a of the guide wall 24. However, the lateral outlet opening 25b may be formed only at one circumferential end 24a. In this case, the space between the inner wall 22 and the other circumferential end 24a may be sealed by a partition wall or the like. The horizontal cross-sectional shape of the inner tube 7, inner wall 22, and inner surface 3a of the outer nozzle 3 is arbitrary, and may be, for example, circular or polygonal, such as a square. Furthermore, the horizontal cross-sectional profile of the guide wall 24 is arbitrary, and may be arc-shaped or polygonal with multiple sides. In the above embodiment, the inner materials F1 and F2 are supplied. However, the inner materials F1 and F2 may be omitted by, for example, removing the inner space of the inner wall 22 . In the above embodiment, the product P is described in which two types of outer covering materials D1 and D2 are merged in the circumferential direction. However, for example, three or more types of outer covering materials may be merged in the circumferential direction by dividing the passage 11 in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, the outer mouth 3 and the inner mouth 4 may be configured to be rotatable so that the boundaries between the different doughs form a spiral pattern. As shown in FIG7 , the stirrer 6 can be eliminated and, in its place, the outer nozzle 3 can be configured to rotate at any speed. This facilitates the circumferential movement of the first and second skin materials D1, making it easier for the second skin material D2 to enter the inner side of the first skin material D1 along the circumferential direction. As a result, even if the first and second skin materials D1 and D2 are made of relatively hard dough, such as mochi dough, which is difficult to form the boundary region DR1, the boundary region DR1 can be formed. 1: Overlapping nozzle 3: Outer nozzle 3a: Inner surface 4: Inner nozzle 21: Cylinder 22: Inner wall 23: Opening 24: Guide wall 24a: Circumferential end 24b: Outer surface 25b: Horizontal outlet opening 28: Gap D1: First outer skin material (first dough) D2: Second outer skin material (second dough) DR1: Boundary area [Figure 1] is a partial cross-sectional view of an encrusting machine including a folding nozzle according to the present invention. [Figure 2] is a perspective view of the bottom side of the inner nozzle. [Figure 3] is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Figure 1, showing a state without dough. [Figure 4] is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Figure 1, showing a state with dough. [Figure 5] is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a food product. [Figure 6] is a perspective view of the food product of Figure 5. [Figure 7] is a partial cross-sectional view of an encrusting machine including a modified example of a folding nozzle. 1: Overlapping mouth 2: Subject 2a: Upper part 2b: Lower part 3: Outer mouth 3a: Inner surface 4: Inner mouth 5: Central component 5a: Outer surface 5b: Inner circumference 5c: Groove 5d: Through hole 6. Blender 7,8: Inner tube 9: Cutting device 9a: Opening and closing piece 10,11,12,13:Pathway 10a, 12a: Entrance 1 11a, 13a: Second entrance passage 22: Inner wall 24: Guide wall 26,27,27a: Space 100: Stuffing Machine C: Central axis

Claims

1. A merging nozzle (1) for merging a first dough (D1) and a second dough (D2), comprising: an outer nozzle (3); an inner nozzle (4) disposed inside the outer nozzle (3) and having a hollow cylindrical portion (21); a cylindrical inner wall (22) extending downward from the inner nozzle (4); a guide wall (24) extending downward from the inner nozzle (4) in such a way as to partially surround the inner wall (22) in the circumferential direction at the outer side of the inner wall (22); and an opening (23) formed in the inner nozzle (4) between the inner wall (22) and the guide wall (24), wherein the inner wall (22) and the guide wall (24) constitute a transverse outlet opening (25b) facing the circumferential direction. The aforementioned transverse outlet opening (25b) is configured to expose the aforementioned second dough (D2) supplied from the aforementioned opening (23) to the space between the aforementioned inner wall (22) and the aforementioned guide wall (24). The aforementioned inner wall (22) and the aforementioned outer nozzle (3) are configured to cover the aforementioned second dough (D2) supplied to the space between the aforementioned inner wall (22) and the aforementioned outer nozzle (3) before the aforementioned second dough (D2) is exposed at the aforementioned transverse outlet opening (25b), and to allow the aforementioned second dough (D2) to be extruded from the aforementioned transverse outlet opening (25b) towards the aforementioned first dough (D1) in the circumferential direction and to merge with the aforementioned first dough (D1) and enter the inner side of the aforementioned first dough (D1) along the aforementioned inner wall (22).

2. As in request item 1, the overlapping nozzle (1), wherein, The aforementioned guide wall (24) is integrally formed with the aforementioned inner nozzle (4), and the outer surface (24b) of at least one of the circumferential end (24a) of the aforementioned guide wall (24) is separated from the aforementioned outer nozzle (3) in such a way that a gap (28) is formed between it and the aforementioned outer nozzle (3).

3. As in request item 2, the overlapping nozzle (1), wherein, The outer surface (24b) of the circumferential end (24a) of the aforementioned guide wall (24) is inclined inward in such a way that a wedge-shaped gap (28) is formed between it and the aforementioned outer nozzle (3).

4. As in request item 1, the overlapping nozzle (1), wherein, The horizontal cross-section of the inner surface (3a) of the aforementioned outer nozzle (3) narrows downwards.

5. As in request item 1, the overlapping nozzle (1), wherein, The aforementioned outer nozzle (3) is configured to be rotatable.

6. A method for merging dough, comprising merging a first dough (D1) and a second dough (D2), comprising preparing a cylindrical inner wall (22) and a guide wall (24) partially surrounding the outer side of the inner wall (22) along the circumferential direction, supplying the second dough (D2) between the inner wall (22) and the guide wall (24), such that the first dough (D1) is exposed and covered by the second dough (D2) along the circumferential direction between the inner wall (22) and the guide wall (24). The second dough (D2) is extruded toward the first dough (D1) in the circumferential direction, causing the first dough (D1) and the second dough (D2) to merge. This allows the second dough (D2) to enter the inner side of the first dough (D1) along the inner wall (22), forming a boundary region (DR1) where the thickness of the second dough (D2) decreases in the circumferential direction while the thickness of the first dough (D1) increases in the circumferential direction.

7. The dough merging method as described in request item 6, wherein, A gap (28) is formed between the outer nozzle (3) and the aforementioned guide wall (24), and the aforementioned first dough (D1) is supplied to the aforementioned gap (28).

8. The dough merging method as described in request item 7, wherein, The aforementioned gap (28) has a wedge-shaped profile.

9. The dough merging method as described in request item 6, wherein, Rotate the outer nozzle (3).

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