Dumpling product shaping device

Abstract

The present invention provides, inter alia, a dumpling product shaping device which has a roller section formed from two rollers rotating in opposite directions to each other while being in surface-to-surface contact in a cylindrical roll section and which shapes, by means of the rotation of the two rollers, a dumpling product with bulging pockets on both sides, wherein each of the two rollers has an indentation for containing the pockets of the dumpling product at one or more positions that face each other when the rollers rotate, one of the two rollers has a ventilation hole for delivering air into each indentation and is provided with an air nozzle that delivers air to an outlet of the shaped dumpling product from the roller section.

Description

Wrapping food molding equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to an encrusted food product forming apparatus for forming an encrusted food product with expanded sides.

[0002] In a conventional encrusting machine (encrusted food molding device) that forms an encrusted food such as dumplings by rotating two rollers that rotate in opposite directions while in face-to-face contact with each other in a cylindrical roll section, one side of the roller is flat, and a scraper is provided at the outlet for the formed encrusted food to remove the formed encrusted food (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By using this conventional encrusting machine, an encrusted food such as conventional dumplings can be obtained in which only one side of the belly is inflated.

[0003] On the other hand, when making dumplings with bulging sides, it is necessary to create depressions on both sides of the rollers of the molding device. In this case, however, a scraper cannot be used for peeling, making it difficult to peel the molded, filled food from the rollers.

[0004] Patent Document 2 also discloses an enveloping mechanism using rollers, but the food product to be enveloped in Patent Document 2 is stuffed pasta. In most cases, pasta is hard because the dough does not contain water but contains eggs, and can be peeled off only by air from the inside of the rollers, but in the case of gyoza, for example, the dough is hydrated (20 to 50% of the dough), so it is highly adhesive and difficult to peel off from the rollers.

[0005] JP-A-4-144671 Publication Special Publication No. 2020-508647

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide an enrobed food molding device etc. that can easily peel off enrobed foods such as dumplings with bulging sides after molding.

[0007] As a result of extensive research into the above-mentioned problems, the inventors have discovered that an enrobed food product can be easily peeled from the roller section by configuring an enrobed food product molding device having a roller section in which two rollers rotate in opposite directions while in face-to-face contact with each other in a cylindrical roll section, with each roller having recesses for storing the bulging belly portions of the enrobed food product at positions where they face each other when the rollers rotate, one of the rollers having air vents for delivering air to each recess, and an air nozzle for delivering air at the outlet of the enrobed food product from the roller section. Based on this finding, further research led to the completion of the present invention. That is, the present invention is as follows.

[0008] [1] An encrusted food molding device having a roller section consisting of two rollers that rotate in opposite directions while in face-to-face contact with each other on a cylindrical roll section, and molding an encrusted food product with a belly portion on both sides expanded by the rotation of the two rollers, wherein each of the two rollers has a depression for storing the belly portion of the encrusted food product at one or more positions that face each other when the rollers rotate, one of the two rollers has an air vent for delivering air to each depression, and an air nozzle is provided at the outlet of the molded encrusted food product from the roller section. [2] The device described in [1] above, wherein the air vent in each depression of one of the two rollers is configured to deliver air to each depression only when the depressions of the two rollers face each other when the two rollers rotate. [3] The device described in [1] or [2] above, wherein one or more of the two rollers are connected to a rotating portion of a rotary joint attached to the side of the roller. [4] The device according to [3] above, wherein the roller having a vent hole for sending air into each recess is connected to the rotating part of the rotary joint. [5] The device according to any of [1] to [4] above, wherein a line connecting the center points of two rollers is inclined at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees from the vertical, and the roller having the vent hole for sending air into each recess is on the lower side. [6] The device according to any of [1] to [5] above, wherein the filled food product has at least a filling and an outer skin covering the filling, and the outer skin contains 15% to 50% by weight of moisture. [7] The device according to any of [1] to [6] above, wherein the filled food product is a dumpling. [8] A method for producing an enrobed food product with expanded abdomens on both sides, using the device described in any one of [1] to [5] above, comprising the steps of blowing air into the molded enrobed food product with expanded abdomens on both sides from air vents that one of the two rollers has in each depression, and blowing air from air nozzles provided at the outlet of the molded enrobed food product from the roller section.[9] The method of manufacturing according to [8] above, wherein the rate of air discharged from the vent holes in each recess of one of the two rollers is 1 L / min to 2 L / min / g of the filled food, and the rate of air discharged from the air nozzle is 6 L / min to 12 L / min / g of the filled food.

[10] The method of manufacturing according to [8] or [9] above, wherein the filled food has at least a filling and an outer skin covering the filling, and the outer skin contains 15% to 50% by weight of water.

[11] The method of manufacturing according to any of [8] to

[10] above, wherein the filled food is a dumpling.

[0009] According to the present invention, filled foods such as dumplings with expanded sides can be easily peeled off after molding.

[0010] FIG. 1 shows the "belly" of an "enrobed food product with bulging belly portions" using a dumpling as an example. The left-hand figure shows a side view of the enrobed food product with bulging belly portions, and the right-hand figure shows a front view of the enrobed food product with bulging belly portions. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram comparing the manner in which the enrobed food product / dumpling is removed using the enrobed food product molding apparatus of the present invention and a conventional dumpling product molding apparatus. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the manner in which the enrobed food product is peeled from the roller portion of the enrobed food product molding apparatus of the present invention over time. The left-hand figure shows the enrobed food product lifting from the depression in the roller, the middle figure shows the enrobed food product being peeled from the roller, and the right figure shows the enrobed food product after peeling. FIG. 4A is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an embodiment in which a roller is connected to a rotating portion of a rotary joint attached to the side of the roller. FIG. 4B is an example of a front view of an embodiment in which a roller is connected to a rotating portion of a rotary joint attached to the side of the roller. FIG. 4C is an example of a side view of an embodiment in which a roller is connected to a rotating portion of a rotary joint attached to the side of the roller. FIG. 4D is an example of a side view of an embodiment in which a roller is connected to a rotating portion of a rotary joint attached to both side surfaces of the roller. FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining an example of air flow when a roller has air vents in each recess and the air vents are connected to rotary joints. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an embodiment in which a roller does not have a rotary joint attached to the side. The diagram on the left is a diagram viewed from the front, and the diagram on the right is a diagram viewed from an oblique side. Figure 7 shows an example of an enrobed food molding device in which the line connecting the center points of two rollers is arranged vertically, and an example of an enrobed food molding device in which the line connecting the center points is arranged at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees from the vertical, with parts of the two rollers overlapping.

[0011] 1. Encrusted Food Molding Apparatus The present invention provides an encrusted food molding apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as the "apparatus of the present invention") that has a roller section consisting of two rollers that rotate in opposite directions while coming into face-to-face contact with each other on a cylindrical roll section, and that molds encrusted food products with bulging belly portions on both sides as the two rollers rotate, wherein each of the two rollers has a recess for storing the belly portion of the encrusted food product at one or more positions that face each other as the rollers rotate, and one of the two rollers has air vents for delivering air to each recess, and is provided with an air nozzle for delivering air to the outlet of the molded encrusted food product from the roller section.

[0012] As used herein, the term "filled food" refers to a food having at least a filling (commonly referred to as "paste") and a skin (dough) covering the filling. Filled foods with a hydrated skin that is highly adhesive and difficult to peel from the roller are preferred, from the viewpoint of enabling more effective use of the device of the present invention. Examples of such filled foods include those with a skin containing 15% to 50% by weight, preferably 15% to 45% by weight, more preferably 15% to 40% by weight, even more preferably 20% to 35% by weight, and even more preferably 20% to 30% by weight. Specific examples include gyoza (dumplings), shumai (steamed dumplings), xiaolongbao (small dumplings), wonton (wonton), spring rolls, and baozi (baozi). Among these, gyoza (dumplings) are more preferred, from the viewpoint of enabling more effective use of the device of the present invention.

[0013] In this specification, when referring to a "filled food product with bulging abdomens on both sides," the "abdomen" refers to the part shown in Figure 1 that is filled with filling and has a bulge, in the case of gyoza, for example, and also refers to a similar part for filled foods other than gyoza.

[0014] The apparatus of the present invention can be used for the continuous production of filled foods with expanded sides. The filled foods to be used with the apparatus of the present invention can be prepared by a method known per se, for example, in the form of a filling enclosed in a tubular outer shell.

[0015] The "depression" of each roller is not particularly limited as long as it is a depression that can store the molded filled food with expanded sides, and the shape of the depression can be adjusted appropriately by a method known per se depending on the desired shape of the filled food with expanded sides.

[0016] The device of the present invention and its effects will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram comparing the manner in which the filled food product / dumplings are removed when the filled food product forming apparatus of the present invention is used and when a conventional dumpling forming apparatus is used.

[0018] In a conventional dumpling-forming device (shown on the right in Figure 2), one of the two rollers is flat and has no recess, while the other roller has a recess for accommodating one side of the filling food. By using this device, dumplings with only one side of the belly expanded can be obtained. Furthermore, a scraper is provided at the exit of the formed dumplings from the roller section to remove them. By being provided on the side of the flat roller without a recess, the scraper fits against the flat surface of the formed dumplings, helping them to be removed from the roller section.

[0019] On the other hand, in the enrobed food molding device of the present invention (left side of Figure 2), the two rollers each have a recess for accommodating the belly portion of the enrobed food at the position facing each other when the rollers rotate, and the enrobed food is pushed out from the rollers with both sides expanded. This means that a scraper cannot be used for peeling, and a new peeling mechanism is required.

[0020] Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram showing over time how a molded, encased food product is peeled from the roller section of the encased food molding apparatus of the present invention. The left-hand diagram shows the molded, encased food product being lifted from the depression of the roller by air blown through an air hole in the depression of one of the two rollers. The middle diagram shows the lifted, molded, encased food product being peeled from the roller by air blown through an air nozzle installed at the outlet of the roller section. The right-hand diagram shows the molded, encased food product after it has been completely peeled from the roller section.

[0021] The apparatus of the present invention is configured so that the air sent from both the air vents and the air nozzles allows the formed, encased food products with expanded sides to be easily peeled off from the rollers. In other words, this encased food molding apparatus overcomes the problems of the past by allowing the encased food products with expanded sides to be easily peeled off after molding.

[0022] Here, it is preferable that the air vents in each recess of one of the two rollers are configured so that the recesses of the two rollers face each other when the two rollers rotate and air is sent into each recess only just before the molded, filled food product is peeled off from the roller portion.

[0023] In one embodiment of the device of the present invention, one or more of the two rollers are connected to a rotating part of a rotary joint attached to the side of the roller. Of the two rollers, it is particularly preferred that at least the roller having air holes in each recess is connected to a rotating part of a rotary joint attached to the side of the roller.

[0024] In this specification, the term "rotary joint" refers to a joint having a rotating part at the center and a fixed part around it, and having a structure in which, when attached to the side of a roller, the rotating part is connected to the roller so that the rotating part and the roller rotate together.

[0025] FIG. 4A shows a conceptual diagram of an example of an embodiment in which a roller is connected to a rotating portion of a rotary joint attached to the side of the roller, and FIGS. 4B and 4C show examples of a front view and a side view of the embodiment, respectively. FIG. 4D shows an example of a side view of an embodiment in which a roller is connected to a rotating portion of a rotary joint attached to both sides of the roller.

[0026] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the device of the present invention, the roller has vent holes for sending air to each recess, and the vent holes are connected to the rotating part of the rotary joint.

[0027] An example of the air flow at this time is shown in FIG.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, air passing through passage 1 in the rotary joint is sent to the depressions in the rollers through passage 1 in the rollers. Similarly, air passing through passage 2 in the rotary joint is sent to the depressions in the rollers through passage 2 in the rollers, and air passing through passage 3 in the rotary joint is sent to the depressions in the rollers through passage 3 in the rollers. Therefore, in this example, by controlling the air flow on the rotary joint side, it is possible to control the air to be sent to the depressions in each roller only immediately before the molded, enclosed food product is peeled off from the roller section during the rotation of the two rollers.

[0029] In another embodiment of the device of the present invention, the roller does not have a rotary joint attached to its side.

[0030] A conceptual diagram of an example of the roller configuration at this time is shown in FIG.

[0031] In this example, the roller has a fixed part at the center and a rotating part around it, and in this example, air is sent from the air holes in each depression of the roller to the depression only when the rotating part rotates and the air holes are positioned to match the outlets of the air passages in the fixed part.

[0032] Furthermore, in this example, there is an air passageway leading to the air vent at the sliding portion of the interface between the rotating part and the fixed part. On the other hand, in the embodiment in which the above-mentioned roller is connected to the rotating part of a rotary joint attached to the side of the roller, there is no air passageway leading to the air vents that the roller has in each recess at the sliding portion of the interface between the rotating part and the fixed part of the rotary joint. Therefore, the embodiment in which the roller is connected to the rotating part of a rotary joint attached to the side of the roller can be said to be a more preferable embodiment, in that it is expected to have less risk of foreign matter being introduced through the sliding portion of the interface between the rotating part and the fixed part.

[0033] In one embodiment of the device of the present invention, the line connecting the center points of the two rollers is inclined at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees from the vertical, and the roller on which the air nozzle is provided is on the lower side.

[0034] In this specification, the "center point of a roller" refers to the center point of the rotation axis of a roller.

[0035] Figure 7 is a diagram showing parts of an example of an encrusted food molding device in which the line connecting the center points of the two rollers is arranged vertically, and an example of an encrusted food molding device in which the line connecting the center points is arranged so as to be inclined at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees from the vertical. Figure 3 mentioned above is also a conceptual diagram of an encrusted food molding device in which the line connecting the center points of the two rollers is arranged so as to be inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the vertical.

[0036] By tilting the line connecting the center points of the two rollers at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees from the vertical, the molded, filled food can be more easily removed from the rollers.

[0037] 2. Method for Producing Encrusted Food The present invention also provides a method for producing an enclosed food product having bulging belly sections on both sides (hereinafter also referred to as the "production method of the present invention"), which comprises the steps of using the device of the present invention to blow air into an enclosed food product having bulging belly sections on both sides through air vents provided in each depression of one of the two rollers, and then blowing air through air nozzles provided at the outlet of the enclosed food product from the roller section.

[0038] The air is blown out from the air vents in each depression of one of the two rollers (hereinafter also referred to as "feed-out 1") and from the air nozzles provided at the outlet of the molded, filled food product from the roller section (hereinafter also referred to as "feed-out 2") in order to peel the molded, filled food product with bulging sides from the roller section, but these may be performed at any timing, such as simultaneously, performing feed-out 2 immediately after feed-out 1, or performing feed-out 2 only in the latter half of feed-out 1.

[0039] The speed and amount of air being delivered during delivery 1 and delivery 2 can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the type, weight, etc. of the molded, filled food product with expanded sides to be peeled off.

[0040] For example, the amount of air discharged during discharge 1 is preferably 1 L / min to 2 L / min per gram of the filled food, and the amount of air discharged during discharge 2 is preferably 6 L / min to 12 L / min per gram of the filled food. If the amount of air discharged during discharge 1 is 1 L / min or more per gram of the filled food, and if the amount of air discharged during discharge 2 is 6 L / min or more per gram of the filled food, the molded filled food is more easily peeled, which is preferred. If the amount of air discharged during discharge 1 is 2 L / min or less per gram of the filled food, and if the amount of air discharged during discharge 2 is 12 L / min or less per gram of the filled food, the molded filled food is less likely to be blown away, which is preferred.

[0041] In the production method of the present invention, steps other than the above steps can be carried out by any known method for producing filled foods, or in accordance with such a method.

[0042] The present invention provides an enrobed food molding device that can easily peel enrobed foods, such as dumplings, with expanded sides after molding, and is therefore useful in the food industry.

[0043] This application is based on patent application No. 2024-010723 filed in Japan (filing date: January 29, 2024), the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety herein.

[0044] 11 Roller 12 Rotary joint 13 Vent hole 14 Air nozzle 15 Recess 16 Rotating part 17 Fixed part

Claims

1. An enrobed food molding device having a roller section consisting of two rollers that rotate in opposite directions while in face-to-face contact with each other on a cylindrical roll section, and which molds enrobed food products with bulging belly sections on both sides as the two rollers rotate, wherein each of the two rollers has a recess for storing the belly section of the enrobed food product at one or more positions facing each other when the rollers rotate, one of the two rollers has air vents for sending air into each recess, and is provided with an air nozzle for sending air to the outlet of the molded enrobed food product from the roller section.

2. The device described in claim 1, wherein the air vents in each depression of one of the two rollers are configured to deliver air to each depression only when the depressions of the two rollers face each other as the two rollers rotate and just before the molded, filled food product is peeled off from the roller section.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the two rollers is connected to the rotating portion of a rotary joint attached to the side of said roller.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the roller has a vent hole for delivering air to each recess, the vent hole being connected to the rotating part of the rotary joint.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the line connecting the center points of the two rollers is inclined at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees from the vertical, and the roller having the ventilation holes for sending air into each depression is on the lower side.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filled food product has at least a filling and an outer skin covering the filling, and the outer skin contains 15 to 50% by weight of moisture.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filled food is a dumpling.

8. A method for producing an enclosed food product with expanded sides, using the device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the steps of: blowing air into the formed enclosed food product with expanded sides from air holes provided in each depression of one of the two rollers; and blowing air from air nozzles provided at the outlet of the formed enclosed food product from the roller section.

9. A manufacturing method as described in claim 8, wherein the rate of air discharged from the vent holes in each recess of one of the two rollers is 1 L / min / gram of the filled food to 2 L / min / gram of the filled food, and the rate of air discharged from the air nozzle is 6 L / min / gram of the filled food to 12 L / min / gram of the filled food.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the filled food product has at least a filling and an outer skin covering the filling, and the outer skin contains 15% to 50% by weight of water.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the stuffed food is dumplings.

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