Dough-feeding device

Abstract

Provided is a dough-feeding device capable of reducing rippling during feeding a dough.　A dough transport mechanism (20) of a dough-feeding device (2) includes a left screw (23L) and a right screw (23R). The left screw (23L) and the right screw (23R) are arranged such that the outer circumferences thereof do not overlap when viewed in a transport direction (A). In an upstream section (21), a left blade (25L) and a right blade (25R) are in a phase arrangement of facing each other like a mirror image. In a downstream section (22), the left blade (25L) and the right blade (25R) are in a phase arrangement that is shifted from the phase arrangement of the upstream section (21) by 180 degrees.

Description

Dough supply device

[0001] The present invention relates to a dough supplying device used in an encrusting machine or the like.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART In an encrusting machine or the like, a dough supplying device provided with a conveying screw below a hopper is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-352960 International Publication No. 2021 / 241273 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-148163

[0004] Pulsation may occur when dough is supplied using a conveying screw and a vane pump as disclosed in Patent Document 1. Pulsation may also occur when dough is supplied using a conveying screw and a cycloid pump as disclosed in Patent Document 2. In order to reduce pulsation, it may be possible to use a screw pump instead of a vane pump or a cycloid pump (Patent Document 3).

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dough supplying device that can reduce pulsation during dough supply.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the dough supplying device according to the present invention has a hopper and a dough conveying mechanism disposed in a bottom casing of the hopper, the dough conveying mechanism including an upstream portion and a downstream portion, and conveys dough in a conveying direction from the upstream portion toward the downstream portion, the dough conveying mechanism including a left screw and a right screw when viewed in the conveying direction, the left screw and the right screw being disposed so that their outer circumferences do not overlap, the left screw including a left blade and rotating clockwise, the left blade extending spirally counterclockwise in the conveying direction, The right screw includes a right blade and rotates counterclockwise, the right blade extending spirally clockwise in the conveying direction, the left blade and the right blade are in a phase arrangement that faces each other like mirror images in the upstream section, the pitch of the left blade and the pitch of the right blade are the same, the pitch of one of the left blade and the right blade becomes smaller than the pitch of the other blade midway from the upstream section to the downstream section, and the left blade and the right blade are in a phase arrangement that is shifted by 180 degrees from the phase arrangement in the upstream section.

[0007] In the dough supply device configured as described above, the dough conveying mechanism is arranged so that the left and right screws do not overlap when viewed in the conveying direction. Furthermore, in the upstream section, the left and right blades are arranged in a mirror-image, opposing phase arrangement. This allows the left and right screws to form relatively wide openings in the upstream section that easily accept dough. As a result, dough easily enters the left and right screws. Furthermore, in the downstream section, the left and right blades are arranged in a phase arrangement that is shifted by 180 degrees from the phase arrangement in the upstream section. This allows the left and right blades to be arranged alternately in the conveying direction A in the space between the left and right screws. As a result, the dough is continuously extruded little by little alternately by the left and right blades, thereby reducing pulsation compared to when the dough is extruded simultaneously by the left and right blades.

[0008] In the dough supplying device, the pitch of the left blade in the downstream section is preferably smaller than the pitch of the left blade in the upstream section.

[0009] In the dough supply device configured in this way, by reducing the amount of dough sent downstream, the pressure of the dough in the downstream section is made greater than that in the upstream section, filling the spaces between the left screw and the right screw with dough, thereby further reducing pulsation in the dough supply.

[0010] The dough supplying device according to the present invention preferably further comprises a positive displacement pump arranged downstream of the dough conveying mechanism, which supplies the dough from the dough conveying mechanism to the pump. The pump may be a screw pump, a vane pump, or a cycloid pump.

[0011] In the dough supplying device, the pump is a screw pump, and preferably includes a pump casing connected to the bottom casing, and a left pump section and a right pump section arranged in the pump casing, the left pump section including a left interlocking screw formed integrally and coaxially with the left screw and extending spirally in continuation with the left blade, the right pump section including a right interlocking screw formed integrally and coaxially with the right screw and extending spirally in continuation with the right blade, and the left interlocking screw and the right interlocking screw are arranged so that their outer circumferences overlap when viewed in the conveying direction.

[0012] In the dough supply device configured in this way, the left pump section is integrally formed coaxially with the left screw, and the right pump section is integrally formed coaxially with the right screw, allowing for a compact structure. Also, the left interlocking screw extends spirally in continuation with the left blade, and the right interlocking screw extends spirally in continuation with the right blade, allowing the dough to smoothly enter the screw pump, preventing stagnation of the dough and reducing dough pulsation.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a front view of an encrusting machine including a dough supplying device according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the dough supplying device; Fig. 4 is a plan cross-sectional view of the dough supplying device; Fig. 5 is a plan cross-sectional view of a modified dough supplying device; Fig. 6 is a plan cross-sectional view of a modified dough supplying device.

[0014] An embodiment of a dough supplying device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0015] 1 to 3, a dough supply device 2 is incorporated into an encrusting machine 1 that encases an inner material with an outer material. The encrusting machine 1 has a pair of dough supply devices 2 for dough (inner material and outer material) D, a superimposing nozzle 4 connected to the pair of dough supply devices 2 and combining the inner material and outer material to form a cylindrical double structure, a shutter-type cutting device 5 that encases and cuts the inner material and outer material discharged downward from the superimposing nozzle 4, and a discharge conveyor 6 that conveys the encased and cut products.

[0016] The dough D is, for example, a food material that is slowly deformable and fluid. The filling material is, for example, a filling material such as bean paste, cream, or Chinese bun. The outer material is, for example, a dough for a steamed bun, bread dough, Chinese bun, or the like.

[0017] The dough supply device 2 has a hopper 10 into which the dough D is fed, a dough conveying mechanism 20 arranged in the bottom casing 11 of the hopper 10, and a positive displacement pump 30 arranged downstream of the dough conveying mechanism 20.

[0018] The fabric conveying mechanism 20 includes an upstream section 21 and a downstream section 22 , and is configured to convey the fabric D in a conveying direction A from the upstream section 21 toward the downstream section 22 and supply it to the pump 30 .

[0019] The fabric conveying mechanism 20 includes a left screw 23L and a right screw 23R that are arranged parallel to each other when viewed in the conveying direction A. The outer diameter of the left screw 23L and the outer diameter of the right screw 23R are the same. The left screw 23L and the right screw 23R are arranged so that their outer circumferences do not overlap when viewed in the conveying direction A. In other words, the distance between the rotation axis of the left screw 23L and the rotation axis of the right screw 23R is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the left screw 23L or the right screw 23R.

[0020] The left screw 23L includes a shaft 24L and a left blade 25L fixed to the shaft 24L, and is configured to rotate clockwise R1. The left blade 25L extends spirally counterclockwise R2 toward the conveying direction A. The right screw 23R includes a shaft 24R and a right blade 25R fixed to the shaft 24R, and is configured to rotate counterclockwise R2. The right blade 25R extends spirally clockwise R1 toward the conveying direction A. In other words, the left screw 23L and the right screw 23R are configured to rotate in opposite directions to each other so as to pull the dough D between the left screw 23L and the right screw 23R. Furthermore, the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R are configured to convey the dough D in the conveying direction A.

[0021] In the upstream section 21, the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R are arranged in a mirror-image, opposing phase arrangement. For example, when the outer periphery of the left blade 25L is close to the right screw 23R, the outer periphery of the right blade 25R is also close to the left screw 23L. Furthermore, when the outer periphery of the left blade 25L is far from the right screw 23R, the outer periphery of the right blade 25R is also far from the left screw 23L. Therefore, the pitch P1 of the left blade 25L (the distance between the blade portions in the conveying direction A) is the same as the pitch P1 of the right blade 25R. This forms a relatively wide opening 26 in the upstream section 21 for the left screw 23L and the right screw 23R, which allows easy acceptance of the dough D.

[0022] Furthermore, it is preferable that the pitch P3 of the left blades 25L in the downstream section 22 be smaller than the pitch P1 of the left blades 25L in the upstream section 21.

[0023] From the upstream section 21 to the downstream section 22, the pitch P2' of the right blade 25R is smaller than the pitch P2 of the left blade 25L. In the downstream section 22, the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R are arranged in a phase arrangement that is shifted by 180 degrees from the phase arrangement in the upstream section 21. For example, when the outer periphery of the left blade 25L is close to the right screw 23R, the outer periphery of the right blade 25R is far from the left screw 23L. Also, when the outer periphery of the left blade 25L is far from the right screw 23R, the outer periphery of the right blade 25R is close to the left screw 23L. In other words, in the space between the left screw 23L and the right screw 23R, the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R are arranged alternately in the conveying direction A.

[0024] In this embodiment, the pump 30 is a screw pump 31. The screw pump 31 includes a pump casing 40 connected to the bottom casing 11, and a left pump section 41L and a right pump section 41R arranged in the pump casing 40.

[0025] The left pump section 41L is integrally formed coaxially with the left screw 23L. The left pump section 41L includes a shaft 42L continuous with the shaft 24L and a left intermeshing screw 43L extending spirally and continuous with the left impeller 25L. The diameter of the shaft 42L increases in the conveying direction A between the shaft 24L and the left intermeshing screw 43L.

[0026] The right pump section 41R is integrally formed coaxially with the right screw 23R. The right pump section 41R includes a shaft 42R continuous with the shaft 24R and a right intermeshing screw 43R extending spirally and continuous with the right impeller 25R. The diameter of the shaft 42R increases in the conveying direction A between the shaft 24R and the right intermeshing screw 43R.

[0027] The phase arrangement of the meshing left interlocking screw 43L and right interlocking screw 43R is the same as the phase arrangement of the left blade 25L and right blade 25R in the downstream section 22. The outer diameter of the left interlocking screw 43L is the same as the outer diameter of the right interlocking screw 43R. When viewed in the conveying direction A, the left interlocking screw 43L and the right interlocking screw 43R are arranged so that their outer circumferences overlap. That is, the distance between the rotation axis of the left screw 23L and the rotation axis of the right screw 23R is smaller than the outer diameter of the left interlocking screw 43L or the right interlocking screw 43R. Furthermore, the width of the left interlocking screw 43L and the right interlocking screw 43R in the conveying direction A is larger than the thickness of the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R in the conveying direction A. Furthermore, it is preferable that the pitch of the left interlocking screw 43L and the right interlocking screw 43R does not change from upstream to downstream.

[0028] The discharge port 44 of the pump casing 41 of the screw pump 31 is preferably provided at the top so that the dough is discharged upward. Also, it is preferable to provide a spiral groove 45 at the downstream end of the shafts 42L, 42R. This forms a thin air passage between the shafts 42L, 42R and their bearings, allowing air to be discharged without discharging the dough D.

[0029] Next, the operation of the dough supplying device according to the present invention will be described.

[0030] The dough D is put into the hopper 10 and is transported by the dough transport mechanism 20 .

[0031] In the upstream section 21 of the dough conveying mechanism 20, the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R are arranged in a mirror-image opposing phase arrangement. This allows the left screw 23L and the right screw 23R to form a relatively wide opening 26 in the upstream section 21 that allows easy dough reception. Therefore, the dough in the hopper 10 enters the left screw 23L and the right screw 23R without forming a bridge over them.

[0032] Furthermore, the pitch P2 of the left blade 25L in the downstream section 22 is smaller than the pitch P1 of the left blade 25L in the upstream section 21, and accordingly the pitch P2' of the right blade 25R in the downstream section 22 is smaller than the pitch P1 of the right blade 25R in the upstream section 21. This reduces the feed rate of the dough D in the downstream section 22, making the pressure of the dough D in the downstream section 22 greater than that in the upstream section 21. As a result, the dough fills the spaces between the left screw 23L and the right screw 23R, reducing pulsation in the dough supply and enabling the air between the dough to be pushed upstream in the conveyance direction A.

[0033] In the downstream section 22, the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R are arranged in a phase arrangement that is shifted by 180 degrees from the phase arrangement in the upstream section 21. As a result, in the space between the left screw 23L and the right screw 23R, the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R are arranged alternately in the conveying direction A. As a result, the dough is continuously extruded little by little alternately by the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R, so that pulsation can be reduced compared to when the dough is extruded simultaneously by the left blade 25L and the right blade 25R in the upstream section 21.

[0034] Next, the dough D is discharged by the screw pump 31 .

[0035] The left pump section 41L is integrally formed coaxially with the left screw 23L, and the right pump section 41R is integrally formed coaxially with the right screw 23R, allowing for a compact structure. Furthermore, the left interlocking screw 43L extends spirally in continuation with the left blade 25L, and the right interlocking screw 43R extends spirally in continuation with the right blade 25R. This allows the dough D to smoothly enter the screw pump 31, preventing the dough D from stagnating and reducing dough pulsation. Furthermore, since the dough D can be transported smoothly, the load on the dough D can be reduced.

[0036] Although the embodiment of the dough supplying device according to the present invention has been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. In other words, various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, and these modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the positive displacement pump 30 is disposed downstream of the fabric conveying mechanism 20. However, the pump 30 may be omitted, and the fabric supplying device may be configured to supply fabric only by the fabric conveying mechanism 20.

[0038] Furthermore, the pump 30 is not limited to a screw pump 31, but may be a vane pump 32 (see FIG. 4) or a cycloid pump 33 (see FIG. 5). When the screw pump 31, vane pump 32, and cycloid pump 33 are driven separately from the fabric conveying mechanism 20, it is preferable to provide a space 46 downstream of the fabric conveying mechanism 20 to guide the fabric to each pump.

[0039] 2 Dough supply device 10 Hopper 11 Bottom casing 20 Dough conveying mechanism 21 Upstream section 22 Downstream section 23L Left screw 23R Right screw 25L Left blade 25R Right blade P1, P2, P2', P3 Pitch 30 Positive displacement pump 31 Screw pump 32 Vane pump 33 Cycloid pump 40 Pump casing 41L Left pump section 41R Right pump section 43L Left intermeshing screw 43R Right intermeshing screw A Conveying direction R1 Clockwise R2 Counterclockwise

Claims

1. A dough supplying device (2), comprising: a hopper (10); and a dough conveying mechanism (20) arranged in a bottom casing (11) of the hopper (10), wherein the dough conveying mechanism (20) includes an upstream section (21) and a downstream section (22), and conveys dough (D) in a conveying direction (A) from the upstream section (21) to the downstream section (22), and when viewed in the conveying direction (A), the dough conveying mechanism (20) includes a left screw (23L) and a right screw (23R), and the left screw (23L) and the right screw (23R) are arranged so that their outer circumferences do not overlap, and the left screw (23L) includes a left blade (25L) and rotates clockwise, and the left blade (25L) extends spirally counterclockwise in the conveying direction (A), the right screw (23R) includes a right blade (25R) and rotates counterclockwise, the right blade (25R) extending spirally clockwise in the conveying direction (A); in the upstream section (21), the left blade (25L) and the right blade (25R) are arranged in a mirror-image opposing phase arrangement, and the pitch (P1) of the left blade (25L) and the pitch (P1) of the right blade (25R) are the same; midway from the upstream section (21) to the downstream section (22), the pitch (P2') of one blade (25R) of the left blade (25L) and the right blade (25R) becomes smaller than the pitch (P2) of the other blade (25L); In the downstream section (22), the left blade (25L) and the right blade (25R) are arranged in a phase arrangement shifted by 180 degrees from the phase arrangement in the upstream section (21).

2. A dough supplying device (2) as described in claim 1, wherein the pitch (P2) of the other blade (25L) in the downstream section (22) is smaller than the pitch (P1) of the other blade (25L) in the upstream section (21).

3. The fabric supply device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a positive displacement pump (30) arranged downstream of the fabric conveying mechanism (20), for supplying the fabric (D) from the fabric conveying mechanism (20) to the pump (30).

4. The dough supplying device (2) according to claim 3, wherein the pump (30) is a screw pump (31).

5. The dough supplying device (2) according to claim 4, wherein the screw pump (31) includes a pump casing (40) connected to the bottom casing (11), and a left pump section (41L) and a right pump section (41R) arranged in the pump casing (40), the left pump section (41L) being formed integrally and coaxially with the left screw (23L) and including a left interlocking screw (43L) extending spirally in continuation with the left blade (25L), the right pump section (41R) being formed integrally and coaxially with the right screw (23R) and including a right interlocking screw (43R) extending spirally in continuation with the right blade (25R), and the left interlocking screw (43L) and the right interlocking screw (43R) being arranged so that their outer peripheries overlap when viewed in the conveying direction (A).

6. The dough supplying device (2) according to claim 3, wherein the pump (30) is a vane pump (32).

7. The dough supplying device (2) according to claim 3, wherein the pump (30) is a cycloid pump (33).

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