Wrapper folding device and food forming apparatus

Abstract

Provided are a wrapper folding device and a food forming apparatus. The food forming apparatus includes a controller, a wrapper folding device, a stuffing filling device and a wrapper sealing device. The wrapper sealing device comprises a platform, a first clamping unit and a second clamping unit. The platform comprises a first folding device and a second folding device. The semicircular wrapper is placed on the platform. The first clamping unit clamps the semicircular wrapper. The first and the second folding devices fold the semicircular wrapper successively to make it partially overlapped. The second clamping unit clamps the overlapped part of the fan-shaped wrapper after being folded twice. After the first and the second clamping units move in opposite directions respectively, so that the fan-shaped appears as a conical wrapper with a vertex at the bottom after moving the fan-shaped wrapper away from the platform.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a wrapper folding device and a food forming apparatus, and more particularly relates to a wrapper folding device and a food forming apparatus, which are employed for food processing machinery to solve the limitation issue of the manual production.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Samosa is a deep-fried snack food, which is triangular in shape and generally needs to be manually produced. The reason is that there is no dedicated food forming device on the market for this popular Indian delicacy. Samosa is generally a semicircular wrapper that is folded twice and overlapped, filled with stuffing, and then sealed to squeeze the wrapper into a triangular food with an enclosed room to cover the stuffing.

[0003] Therefore, compared with manual production where the throughput is limited by production factors, such as manpower and space, it is necessary to propose a dedicated food forming apparatus with fewer steps, simple structure and the ability to greatly improve production efficiency.SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] In order to solve the problem of the aforesaid prior art, the present invention provides a wrapper folding device and a food forming apparatus.

[0005] The food forming apparatus of the present invention comprises a controller, a wrapper folding device, a stuffing filling device and a wrapper sealing device. The wrapper sealing device comprises a platform, a first clamping unit and a second clamping unit. The platform comprises a first folding device and a second folding device. The semicircular wrapper is placed on the platform. The first clamping unit clamps the semicircular wrapper. The first folding device folds the semicircular wrapper toward a first direction. The second folding device folds the semicircular wrapper toward a second direction. The second clamping unit clamps an overlapped part of the semicircular wrapper after being folded twice. The semicircular wrapper is folded twice to appear as a fan-shaped wrapper.

[0006] In the embodiment of the present invention, an angle between the first direction and the second direction is at least greater than 90 degrees.

[0007] In the embodiment of the present invention, the first folding device and the second folding device further comprise a magnet or a spring mechanism respectively for resetting after folding.

[0008] In the embodiment of the present invention, the platform further comprises a non-folding area, wherein the non-folding area is disposed between the first folding device and the second folding device. The non-folding area is fan-shaped.

[0009] In the embodiment of the present invention, the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit move the fan-shaped wrapper away from the platform so that a center of the fan-shaped wrapper falls downward with gravity. The first clamping unit and the second clamping unit move in opposite directions respectively, so that the fan-shaped wrapper appears as a conical wrapper with a vertex at the bottom.

[0010] In the embodiment of the present invention, the stuffing filling device is employed to fill stuff. The wrapper sealing device comprises a conical base.

[0011] In the embodiment of the present invention, the conical base is placed with a conical wrapper. The stuff filling device fills the stuff into the conical wrapper. Afterwards, the wrapper sealing device squeezes the conical wrapper into a food with an enclosed room.

[0012] Compared with the prior arts, the food forming apparatus of the present invention possesses fewer steps, simple structure and the ability to greatly improve production efficiency.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view diagram of the food forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view diagram of the wrapper folding device according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view diagram showing the semicircular wrapper placed on the platform according to the wrapper folding device of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first folding device folds the semicircular wrapper toward the first direction according to the wrapper folding device of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the second folding device folds the semicircular wrapper toward the second direction and the semicircular wrapper appears as the fan-shaped wrapper according to the wrapper folding device of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit move the fan-shaped wrapper away from the platform according to the wrapper folding device of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first folding device and the second folding device according to one embodiment of the present invention before folding.

[0020] FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first folding device and the second folding device according to one embodiment of the present invention after folding.

[0021] FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit move in opposite directions respectively, so that the fan-shaped wrapper appears as the conical wrapper with the vertex at the bottom according to the wrapper folding device of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit places the conical wrapper in the conical base of the wrapper sealing device according to the wrapper folding device of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 11 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the conical wrapper is placed in the conical base according to the wrapper sealing device of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first pusher of the S-shape shaping assembly pushes the open end of the conical wrapper according to the wrapper sealing device of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 13 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the second pusher of the S-shape shaping assembly pushes the open end of the conical wrapper to appear as the S-shape according to the wrapper sealing device of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 14 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the pressing assembly presses the open end of the conical wrapper to squeeze the conical wrapper into the food with the enclosed room.

[0027] FIG. 15 depicts a perspective view diagram of the S-shape shaping assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 16 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the pusher of the S-shape shaping assembly pushes the open end of the conical wrapper according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 17 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the rotating pusher of the S-shape shaping assembly pushes the open end of the conical wrapper to appear as the S-shape according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 18 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the pressing assembly presses the open end of the conical wrapper to squeeze the conical wrapper into the food with the enclosed room according to another embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The following descriptions of the embodiments refer to the appended figures to illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention may be implemented. The directional terms of up, down, front, rear, left, right, interior, exterior, side, etcetera mentioned in the present invention are merely directions of referring to appended figures. Therefore, the aforesaid directional terms are employed for explaining and understanding the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0032] Please refer to FIG. 1, which depicts a perspective view diagram of the food forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The food forming apparatus 10 comprises a controller 20, a wrapper folding device 100, a stuffing filling device 30 and a wrapper sealing device 200. As shown in the figure, the food forming apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of conical bases 210 which can rotate around the center of the food forming apparatus 10 on a rotating platform. When the wrapper folding process is accomplished, the conical base 210 placed with the conical wrapper 140 can be rotated under the stuff filling device 30 for filling the stuff, and then rotated under the wrapper sealing device 200 for implementing the subsequent wrapper sealing process.

[0033] Please refer to FIG. 2, which depicts a perspective view diagram of the wrapper folding device 100 according to the present invention. The wrapper folding device 100 is coupled to the controller 20. The controller 20 is employed to control respective producing operations of the wrapper folding device 100. The wrapper sealing device 100 comprises a platform 110, a first clamping unit 120, a second clamping unit 130 and a rotating mechanism 118. The platform 110 comprises a first folding device 111, a second folding device 112 and a non-folding area 113. The non-folding area 113 is disposed between the first folding device 111 and the second folding device 112.

[0034] Please refer to FIG. 3 to FIG. 10, which depict the respective producing operations of the wrapper folding device 100 according to the present invention. FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view diagram showing the semicircular wrapper 101 placed on the platform 110 according to the wrapper folding device 100 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the first clamping unit 120 and the second clamping unit 130 may both comprise a clamping plate and two clamping rods as an illustration. As shown in FIG. 3, after the semicircular wrapper 101 is placed, the clamping plate and the two clamping rods of the first clamping unit 120 have already clamped the semicircular arc top of the semicircular wrapper 101. The clamping plate and the two clamping rods of the second clamping unit 130 are in an open state. FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first folding device 111 folds the semicircular wrapper 101 toward the first direction (direction of the arrow) according to the wrapper folding device 100 of the present invention. The first folding device 111 folds the semicircular wrapper 101 toward the first direction (direction of the arrow). After folding, the two clamping rods of the second clamping unit 130 support the folded and overlapped part of the semicircular wrapper 101.

[0035] Next, FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the second folding device 112 folds the semicircular wrapper 101 toward the second direction (direction of the arrow) and the semicircular wrapper 101 appears as the fan-shaped wrapper 114 according to the wrapper folding device 100 of the present invention. Then, the second clamping unit 130 moves down and clamps the overlapped part of the semicircular wrapper 101 after being folded twice (the fan-shaped wrapper 114). Meanwhile, since the semicircular wrapper 101 after being folded twice must have an overlapped part of the wrapper, an angle between the first direction and the second direction is at least greater than 90 degrees. In one embodiment of the first folding device 111 and the second folding device 112 according to the present invention, the first folding device 111 and the second folding device 112 may further comprise a spring mechanism 115 respectively for resetting after folding, which is disposed at the folding pivot as shown in figure. Thus, after the folding operation of the first folding device 111 or the folding operation of the second folding device 112, the platform 110 will reset to a flat state. FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first folding device 111 and the second folding device 112 according to one embodiment of the present invention before folding. FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first folding device 111 and the second folding device 112 according to one embodiment of the present invention after folding. In another embodiment of the first folding device 111 and the second folding device 112 according to the present invention, the first folding device 111 and the second folding device 112 may further comprise a magnet 116 and an iron sheet 117 respectively for resetting after folding. Thus, after the folding operation of the first folding device 111 or the folding operation of the second folding device 112, the platform 110 will reset to a flat state.

[0036] FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first clamping unit 120 and the second clamping unit 130 move the fan-shaped wrapper 114 away from the platform 110 according to the wrapper folding device 100 of the present invention. Beside the aforesaid rotating mechanism 118, the wrapper folding device 100 of the present invention further comprises a lifting device, such as a cylinder or a rotating shaft (as shown by the double arrows), which is employed to lift an arm frame on which the first clamping unit 120, the second clamping unit 130 and the rotating mechanism 118 are disposed. Thus, as the controller 20 controls the lifting device to lift and the rotating mechanism 118 to rotate at the same time, the fan-shaped wrapper 114 clamped by the first clamping unit 120 and the second clamping unit 130 can be lifted and moved away from the platform 110. At this time, the center of the fan-shaped wrapper 114 falls downward with gravity and the vertex thereof is at the bottom.

[0037] Next as shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first clamping unit 120 and the second clamping unit 130 move in opposite directions (as shown by the double arrows, the open end of the fan-shaped wrapper 114 is expanded outward) respectively, so that the fan-shaped wrapper 114 appears as the conical wrapper 140 with the vertex at the bottom according to the wrapper folding device 100 of the present invention. FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first clamping unit 120 and the second clamping unit 130 places the conical wrapper 140 in the conical base 210 of the wrapper sealing device 200 according to the wrapper folding device 100 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the lifting device descends (as shown by the arrow) and places the conical wrapper 140 in the conical base 210 of the wrapper sealing device 200. Please refer to FIG. 1, again. The food forming apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of conical bases 210 which can rotate around the center of the food forming apparatus 10 on the rotating platform. When the aforesaid wrapper folding process is accomplished, the conical base 210 placed with the conical wrapper 140 can be rotated under the stuff filling device 30, and then rotated under the wrapper sealing device 200 for implementing the subsequent wrapper sealing process.

[0038] Please refer to FIG. 11 to FIG. 14, which depict the respective producing operations of the wrapper sealing device 200 according to the present invention. As shown in figures, the first pusher 221 and the second pusher 222 are rod-shaped pushers. FIG. 11 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the conical wrapper 140 is placed in the conical base 210 according to the wrapper sealing device 200 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, after the conical base 210 placed with the conical wrapper 140 is rotated under the stuff filling device 30 for filling stuff, the conical base 210 is rotated again under the wrapper sealing device 200. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the lifting mechanism 223 descends (as shown by the arrow), and the S-shape shaping assembly 220 pushes the other end (i.e. the upward open end of the wrapper) of the conical wrapper 140 successively, such that a part of the open end of the conical wrapper 140 appears as the S-shape. As shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the first pusher 221 of the S-shape shaping assembly 220 pushes the open end of the conical wrapper 140 according to the wrapper sealing device 200 of the present invention. At this process, after the lifting mechanism 223 descends, the first pusher 221 is located outside the conical wrapper 140. Then, the first pusher 221 moves laterally (as shown by the double arrows), and pushes a first position of the open end from outside of the conical wrapper 140 to inside of the conical wrapper 140. As shown in the figure, the open end of the conical wrapper 140 appears as an inwardly concave state.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 13 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the second pusher 222 of the S-shape shaping assembly 220 pushes the open end of the conical wrapper 140 to appear as the S-shape according to the wrapper sealing device 200 of the present invention. At this process, the second pusher 222 is located inside the conical wrapper 140. Then, the second pusher 222 moves laterally (as shown by the double arrows), and pushes a second position of the open end which is not at an original conical surface of the conical wrapper 140 from the inside of the conical wrapper 140 to the outside of the conical wrapper 140, so that the part of the open end appears as the S-shape. Then, the lifting mechanism 223 ascends (as shown by the arrow) and moves away from the conical wrapper 140 in the conical base 210. As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, FIG. 14 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the pressing assembly 240 presses the open end of the conical wrapper 140 to squeeze the conical wrapper 140 into the food 250 (samosa) with the enclosed room. As shown in figures, the pressing assembly 240 comprises two extrusion blocks with matching shapes. The two extrusion blocks of the pressing assembly 240 move closer to each other and then separate (as shown by the double arrows), thereby pressing the open end of the conical wrapper 140, thus accomplishing the production of the food 250 (samosa) with the enclosed room.

[0040] Please refer to FIG. 15 to FIG. 18, which depict another embodiment of the S-shape shaping assembly 220 according to the present invention. The conical wrapper 140 is not shown in these figures. Please refer to FIG. 11 to FIG. 14 for the position of the conical wrapper 140 placed in the conical base 210 and the shape changes of the open end. FIG. 15 depicts a perspective view diagram of the S-shape shaping assembly 220 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The S-shape shaping assembly 220 comprises a pusher 231, a rotating pusher 232 and a stopper 233. As shown in figures, the pusher 231 and the rotating pusher 232 are block pushers. The stopper 233 can be a sheet-shaped stopping object. The stopper 233 is disposed inside the conical wrapper 140, to stop and position the pusher 231 and the rotating pusher 232 when the pusher 231 and the rotating pusher 232 push to the inside of the conical wrapper 140. FIG. 16 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the pusher 231 of the S-shape shaping assembly 220 pushes the open end of the conical wrapper 140 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the pusher 231 pushes a first position of the open end from outside of the conical wrapper 140 to inside of the conical wrapper 140 (as shown by the arrow).

[0041] FIG. 17 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the rotating pusher 232 of the S-shape shaping assembly 220 pushes the open end of the conical wrapper 140 to appear as the S-shape according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 17, after the pusher 231 pushes against the stopper 233, it moves backward (as shown by the arrow). Then, the rotating pusher 232 pushes an original conical surface of the open end adjacent to the first position of the conical wrapper 140 from the outside of the conical wrapper 140 to the inside of the conical wrapper 140 in a rotating manner, so that the part of the open end of the conical wrapper 140 appears as the S-shape. Next as shown in FIG. 18, FIG. 18 depicts a perspective view diagram showing that the pressing assembly 240 presses the open end of the conical wrapper 140 to squeeze the conical wrapper 140 into the food 250 (samosa) with the enclosed room according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 18, after the rotating pusher 232 pushes against the stopper 233, it rotates away from the conical wrapper 140 (as shown by the arrow). Then, as the aforesaid embodiment shown in FIG. 11 to FIG. 14, the pressing assembly 240 comprises two extrusion blocks with matching shapes. The two extrusion blocks of the pressing assembly 240 move closer to each other and then separate (as shown by the double arrows), thereby pressing the open end of the conical wrapper 140, thus accomplishing the production of the food 250 (samosa) with the enclosed room.

[0042] Compared with the prior arts, the food forming apparatus of the present invention possesses fewer steps, simple structure and the ability to greatly improve production efficiency.

[0043] Above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and it should be noted that to any persons who are skilled in the art, improvement and modification which is easily derived should be covered by the protected scope of the application. Thus, the protected scope of the application should go by the subject claims, including the improvement and the modification.

Claims

1. A wrapper folding device, coupled to a controller, which is employed to control operations of the wrapper folding device, comprising:a platform, comprising a first folding device, a second folding device, and a non-folding area, and being employed for placing a semicircular wrapper. wherein the non-folding area is disposed between the first folding device and the second folding device, and the non-folding area is fan-shaped;a first clamping unit, employed to clamp the semicircular wrapper;the first folding device folding the semicircular wrapper toward a first direction;the second folding device folding the semicircular wrapper toward a second direction; andthe second clamping unit, clamping an overlapped part of the semicircular wrapper after being folded twice;wherein the semicircular wrapper is folded twice to appear as a fan-shaped wrapper.

2. The wrapper folding device according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than 90 degrees.

3. The wrapper folding device according to claim 1, wherein the first folding device and the second folding device further comprise a magnet respectively for resetting after folding.

4. The wrapper folding device according to claim 1, wherein the first folding device and the second folding device further comprise a spring mechanism respectively for resetting after folding.5-6. (canceled)7. The wrapper folding device according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit move the fan-shaped wrapper away from the platform so that a center of the fan-shaped wrapper falls downward with gravity; the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit move in opposite directions respectively, so that the fan-shaped wrapper appears as a conical wrapper with a vertex at the bottom.

8. A food forming apparatus, comprising:a controller, employed to control operations of the food forming apparatus;a wrapper folding device, coupled to the controller, comprising:a platform, comprising a first folding device and a second folding device, and being employed for placing a semicircular wrapper;a first clamping unit, employed to clamp the semicircular wrapper;the first folding device folding the semicircular wrapper toward a first direction;the second folding device folding the semicircular wrapper toward a second direction; andthe second clamping unit, clamping an overlapped part of the semicircular wrapper after being folded twice;wherein the semicircular wrapper is folded twice to appear as a fan-shaped wrapper;a stuffing filling device, employed to fill stuff; anda wrapper sealing device, comprising a conical base.

9. The food forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than 90 degrees.

10. The food forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first folding device and the second folding device further comprise a magnet respectively for resetting after folding.

11. The food forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first folding device and the second folding device further comprise a spring mechanism respectively for resetting after folding.

12. The food forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the platform further comprises a non-folding area, wherein the non-folding area is disposed between the first folding device and the second folding device.

13. The food forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit move the fan-shaped wrapper away from the platform so that a center of the fan-shaped wrapper falls downward with gravity; the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit move in opposite directions respectively, so that the fan-shaped wrapper appears as a conical wrapper with a vertex at the bottom.

14. The food forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the conical base is placed with a conical wrapper.

15. The food forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the stuff filling device fills the stuff into the conical wrapper.

16. The food forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the wrapper sealing device squeezes the conical wrapper into a food with an enclosed room.

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