Blade frame member and rod-shaped food material cutting device

Abstract

A blade frame member to be attached to a rod-shaped food material cutting device for cutting a rod-shaped food material comprises: a plurality of cutting blades arrayed along the crosswise direction and extending along the longitudinal direction intersecting the crosswise direction; a first support part that holds first end parts which are end parts, on one side in the longitudinal direction, of the plurality of cutting blades; a second support part that holds second end parts which are end parts, on the other side in the longitudinal direction, of the plurality of cutting blades; and a support-frame body that is formed in a frame shape capable of being disposed on the rod-shaped food material cutting device, and detachably connected to the first support part and the second support part. The first support part and the support-frame body are connected, in the crosswise direction, by an intermediate adjustment screw disposed at an intermediate portion, and by side adjustment screws disposed on both sides with the intermediate adjustment screw interposed therebetween. The first support part is provided so as to be displaceable with respect to the support-frame body along the longitudinal direction in accordance with changes in the fastening amounts of the intermediate adjustment screw and the side adjustment screws.

Description

Blade frame member and rod-shaped food cutting device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a blade frame member and a rod-shaped food cutting device. This application claims priority based on US Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 710,040 filed in the United States on October 22, 2024, and incorporates its content herein by reference.

[0002] As a method for safely and evenly cutting rod-shaped foods (such as seaweed-wrapped sushi), a method using a rod-shaped food cutting device that cuts the rod-shaped food by moving a loading part on which the rod-shaped food is loaded so as to pass through a blade frame member having a plurality of cutting blades is known.

[0003] For example, Patent Document No. 1 and Patent Document No. 2 disclose a cutting device that uses seaweed-wrapped sushi or the like as the object to be cut. This cutting device includes a cradle that supports and moves the sushi roll, a guide rod that guides the movement of the cradle, and a blade frame. The cradle reciprocates between a loading position where the sushi roll, which is a rod-shaped food, is loaded and an unloading position where the sushi roll is taken out. The uncut sushi roll loaded at the loading position is pressed against the cutting blade while moving along the cutting blade by the cradle, cut into a plurality of pieces, and conveyed to the unloading position.

[0004] The blade frame of this cutting device includes a plurality of adjusting members that hold the upper ends of the plurality of cutting blades respectively, and a plurality of adjusting screws that are respectively arranged above the plurality of adjusting members and move the adjusting members forward and backward in the vertical direction. The blade frame can adjust the tension of the cutting blade by operating the adjusting screw. The cutting blade is configured to suppress deformation caused by the reaction force generated on the cutting blade when cutting the rod-shaped food by being set to a desired tension by the adjusting screw.

[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-212789, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-181646

[0006] However, conventional blade frame components for rod-shaped food cutting devices had the problem of requiring the operation of multiple adjustment screws, the same number as the total number of cutting blades, in order to apply the desired tension to the cutting blades, which was time-consuming. Furthermore, in conventional blade frame components for rod-shaped food cutting devices, when the frame was made lighter, the frame would deflect due to the application of tension to the cutting blades, requiring the operation of tightening multiple adjustment screws by different amounts. Specifically, it was necessary to operate the cutting blades located on the central side of the frame, where the deflection of the frame was greater, to be pulled even further towards the frame than the cutting blades located on the side, where the deflection of the frame was less. Therefore, conventional blade frame components for rod-shaped food cutting devices had the problem of being difficult to operate when adjusting the tension of the cutting blades.

[0007] This disclosure has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a blade frame member and a rod-shaped food cutting device that allow for easy tension adjustment of the cutting blade and have excellent work efficiency.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the Disclosure provides the following means. The blade frame member of the Disclosure is a blade frame member attached to a rod-shaped food cutting device for cutting rod-shaped food, comprising: a plurality of cutting blades arranged along the left-right direction and extending along the longitudinal direction intersecting the left-right direction; a first support portion that holds a first end which is one end of the plurality of cutting blades in the longitudinal direction; a second support portion that holds a second end which is the other end of the plurality of cutting blades in the longitudinal direction; and a support frame body formed in the shape of a frame that is detachably connected to the first support portion and the second support portion and can be placed in the rod-shaped food cutting device, wherein the first support portion and the support frame body are connected in the left-right direction by a central adjustment screw located in the middle and side adjustment screws located on both sides of the central adjustment screw, and the first support portion is provided so as to be displaceable relative to the support frame body along the longitudinal direction by a change in the amount of fastening of the central adjustment screw and the side adjustment screws.

[0009] The rod-shaped food cutting device of the present disclosure is a rod-shaped food cutting device that cuts rod-shaped food using a blade frame member, comprising: the blade frame member; a housing portion having a connecting portion detachably connected to the blade frame member; a loading surface for loading the rod-shaped food; and a loading portion having gap-shaped slits formed on the loading surface through which the plurality of cutting blades can pass, wherein the loading portion is provided to be reciprocally movable between a loading space provided below the blade frame member and a serving space provided above the blade frame member within the housing portion.

[0010] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a blade frame member and a rod-shaped food cutting device that allow for easy tension adjustment of the cutting blade and have excellent work efficiency.

[0011] This is a perspective view showing a rod-shaped food cutting device with rod-shaped food loaded according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a rod-shaped food cutting device according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a perspective view showing a rod-shaped food cutting device providing rod-shaped food cut by a blade frame member according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a front view showing a blade frame member according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a side view showing a blade frame member according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a front view showing the internal structure of the support frame of the blade frame member according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a side view showing the internal structure of the support frame of the blade frame member according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a front view showing a state in which deflection deformation has occurred in the support frame of the blade frame member according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0012] The blade frame member 4 and the rod-shaped food cutting device M according to the embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. In the embodiments, the drawings are schematic diagrams for the purpose of clearly explaining the configuration, and each component and dimensional ratio may differ from the actual ones.

[0013] [Stick-shaped food cutting device] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a stick-shaped food cutting device M with stick-shaped food R loaded on it. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the stick-shaped food cutting device M. Figure 2 is a view of the stick-shaped food cutting device M of Figure 1 with the protective part 2 hidden. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the stick-shaped food cutting device M providing the stick-shaped food R cut by the blade frame member 4. Figure 3 is a view of the stick-shaped food cutting device M with the protective part 2 hidden, similar to Figure 2. Figures 1-3 showing the stick-shaped food cutting device M are labeled with an X-axis corresponding to the left-right direction X, a Y-axis corresponding to the front-back direction Y, and a Z-axis corresponding to the up-down direction Z.

[0014] The vertical direction Z is the direction in which the bottom plate 12, which corresponds to the contact surface of the rod-shaped food cutting device M, faces each other. Of the vertical directions Z, the side of the bottom plate 12 of the rod-shaped food cutting device M is referred to as downward Z2, and the opposite side is referred to as upward Z1.

[0015] The front-to-back direction Y is the direction in which the rod-shaped food cutting device M provides the rod-shaped food R, which is perpendicular to the up-and-down direction Z. Of the front-to-back direction Y, the side on which the rod-shaped food R is provided is called the front Y1, and the opposite side is called the rear Y2.

[0016] The left-right direction X is perpendicular to the up-down direction Z and the front-back direction Y. Of the left-right directions X, the right side as viewed from the front Y1 is called the right side X1, and the opposite side is called the left side X2.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1-3, the rod-shaped food cutting device M is a device that safely and evenly cuts stacked rod-shaped food R (for example, sushi rolls). The rod-shaped food cutting device M comprises a housing 1, a protective unit 2, a stacking unit 3, a blade frame member 4, and a control unit 5.

[0018] In this embodiment, the position of each element of the rod-shaped food cutting device M when rod-shaped food R is loaded is defined as the loading state P1. The position of each element of the rod-shaped food cutting device M when the cut rod-shaped food R is provided is defined as the providing state P2.

[0019] The housing 1 is one of the exterior parts of the rod-shaped food cutting device M, which is formed in a box shape with the front Y1 open. The front edge Y1 of the housing 1 is formed in a shape that follows the trajectory of the guide part 18, which will be described later, when viewed from the left-right direction X, that is, it is slightly inclined from the up-down direction Z. The housing 1 is made of a rigid material such as resin or metal. The housing 1 is constructed by connecting, for example, a top plate 11 located at the top Z1 and extending along the plane formed by the left-right direction X and the front-back direction Y, a bottom plate 12 located at the bottom Z2 and extending along the plane formed by the left-right direction X and the front-back direction Y, a right side wall 13 located at the right side X1 and extending along the plane formed by the front-back direction Y and the up-down direction Z, a left side wall 14 located at the left side X2 and extending along the plane formed by the front-back direction Y and the up-down direction Z, and a rear side wall (not shown) located at the rear Y2 and extending along the plane formed by the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z, via fasteners.

[0020] The right side X1 of the right wall 13 and the left side X2 of the left wall 14 have concave gripping portions 17 that open outwards from the housing 1. The rod-shaped food cutting device M is designed to be easily moved (portable) by an operator who inserts their fingers into the gripping portions 17 of the housing 1. The peripheral edges of the housing 1 are chamfered as appropriate to ensure safety during transport of the rod-shaped food cutting device M.

[0021] On the left side X2 of the right side wall 13 and the right side X1 of the left side wall 14, there is a rail-shaped guide portion 18 extending along the vertical direction Z, and a connecting portion 19 positioned in front of the guide portion 18 Y1 and formed to fit with the blade frame member 4. The guide portion 18 is the part that guides the reciprocating motion of the loading section 3. The lower end Z2 of the guide portion 18 is located in the loading space A1, which will be described later. The upper end Z1 of the guide portion 18 is located in the providing space A2, which will be described later. The guide portion 18 is provided so as to move from the lower Z2 to the upper Z1, it moves from the front Y1 to the rear Y2, and so on, with a slight incline with respect to the vertical direction Z. The connecting portion 19 is positioned so as not to interfere with the reciprocating motion of the loading section 3 along the guide portion 18. The connecting portion 19 is provided with a fitting portion (not shown) that fits with the fitting projection 418 of the support frame 41, which will be described later. Furthermore, the connecting portion 19 is provided to be rotatable along the circumferential direction with the left-right direction X as the axis of rotation. The connecting portion 19 rotates as the support frame 41 of the blade frame member 4 presses against it, and the fitting projection 418 enters the inside of the fitting portion, thereby fitting detachably with the blade frame member 4. The connecting portion 19 in the fitted state with the blade frame member 4 is protected by being covered with a fixing cover 21, which will be described later.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the protective section 2 is the other part of the exterior of the rod-shaped food cutting device M that can be opened and closed to close the front Y1 of the rod-shaped food cutting device M, that is, the front Y1 of the housing section 1. The front Y1 surface of the housing section 1 is formed in a shape that is slightly inclined from the vertical Z direction, that is, to follow the track of the guide section 18, which will be described later, when viewed from the left-right direction X. The protective section 2 includes a fixed cover 21 that does not involve opening and closing operations, and an openable / closable cover 22 that is provided to be opened and closed.

[0023] The fixed cover 21 is the part that closes the middle portion of the housing 1 in the vertical direction Z. The right end X1 of the fixed cover 21 is fixed to the middle portion of the right side wall 13 in the vertical direction Z by magnetic force, for example, a magnet. The left end X2 of the fixed cover 21 is fixed to the middle portion of the left side wall 14 in the vertical direction Z by magnetic force, for example, a magnet. The lower end Z2 of the fixed cover 21 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the upper end Z1 of the bottom plate 12. The upper end Z1 of the fixed cover 21 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the lower end Z2 of the top plate 11 and is positioned to be in substantially contact with the opening / closing cover 22 in the loaded state P1. The rear surface Y2 of the fixed cover 21 is formed in a shape that covers the front Y1 of the blade frame member 4. That is, the blade frame member 4 is positioned inside the housing 1 so as to be sandwiched between the connecting portion 19 and the fixed cover 21.

[0024] The space enclosed by the lower part Z2 of the fixed cover 21, the upper part Z1 of the bottom plate 12, the left side X2 of the right side wall 13, and the right side X1 of the left side wall 14, which is open to the front Y1, is the loading space A1 where the loading section 3 is located in the loaded state P1. Also, the space enclosed by the upper part Z1 of the fixed cover 21, the lower part Z2 of the top plate 11, the left side X2 of the right side wall 13, and the right side X1 of the left side wall 14, which is open to the front Y1 in the provided state P2, is the provided space A2 where the loading section 3 is located in the provided state P2.

[0025] The opening / closing cover 22 is the part that can be opened and closed to close the front Y1 of the supply space A2. Both ends of the opening / closing cover 22 in the left-right direction X are formed in a substantially fan shape when viewed from the left-right direction X. Both ends of the opening / closing cover 22 in the left-right direction X are connected to the right wall 13 and the left wall 14 via a rotation axis (not shown), and are provided to be rotatable along the circumferential direction with the left-right direction X as the axis. In the loaded state P1, the opening / closing cover 22 closes the supply space A2 by the movement of the rotation axis. Specifically, the lower end Z2 of the opening / closing cover 22 in the loaded state P1 is positioned to substantially abut the upper end Z1 of the fixed cover 21. The upper end Z1 of the opening / closing cover 22 in the loaded state P1 is located below Z2 of the top plate 11. In the supply state P2, the opening / closing cover 22 opens the supply space A2 by the movement of the rotation axis. Specifically, in the supply state P2, substantially the entire area of ​​the opening / closing cover 22 is housed inside the housing 1.

[0026] The loading section 3 is the part on which the rod-shaped food ingredients R are loaded. The loading section 3 includes a loading bottom surface 31 located downward Z2 and extending in a direction opposite to the extension direction of the guide section 18, a loading upright surface 34 extending from the rear end Y2 of the loading bottom surface 31 along the extension direction of the guide section 18, a slit 32 formed in the loading bottom surface 31 and the loading upright surface 34 which is a gap through which the blade frame member 4 (multiple cutting blades 42) can pass, and locking blocks 33 located at the right end X1 and the left end X2 of the loading bottom surface 31 and provided to be slightly displaceable along the left-right direction X. In addition, a drive unit (not shown), such as a pulley operated by an electric motor, is provided at the rear Y2 of the loading section 3. The loading section 3 is provided to be able to perform reciprocating motion along the guide section 18 by the drive unit.

[0027] In this embodiment, the number of slits 32 in the loading section 3 is greater than the total number of cutting blades 42, which will be described later, and is provided so that it can be used in common even if the number of divisions of the rod-shaped food ingredient R is different (the total number of cutting blades 42 on the blade frame member 4 is different). Specifically, the loading section 3 in this embodiment is provided with a total of eleven slits 32 at positions that can be passed through by the cutting blades 42 of either the blade frame member 4 having five cutting blades (not shown) or the blade frame member 4 having seven cutting blades 42. Note that the positions of the cutting blades 42 at both ends in the left-right direction X are the same for the blade frame member having five cutting blades and the blade frame member 4 having seven cutting blades 42.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the loading section 3 in loading state P1 is stopped inside the loading space A1. Uncut rod-shaped food ingredients R are placed in the loading section 3 in loading state P1, for example, by an operator. At this time, the loading section 3 loads the rod-shaped food ingredients R with the lower part Z2 of the rod-shaped food ingredients R in contact with the loading bottom surface 31, the rear part Y2 of the rod-shaped food ingredients R in contact with the loading upright surface 34, and both ends of the rod-shaped food ingredients R in the left-right direction X in contact with the locking blocks 33. The loading bottom surface 31 is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane from the upper Z1 to the lower Z2 as it moves from the front Y1 to the rear Y2, so that the rod-shaped food ingredients R can be loaded without falling off. The loading section 3 in loading state P1 with the rod-shaped food ingredients R loaded transitions to the serving state P2 by control of the control unit 5 via operation of the operation unit 51, which will be described later. As the loading section 3 reaches the supplying state P2, the opening / closing cover 22 also moves to the supplying state P2.

[0029] When the loading section 3 transitions from the loading state P1 to the serving state P2, it passes through the blade frame member 4. At this time, the loading section 3 does not interfere with the blade frame member 4 because the cutting blade 42 of the blade frame member 4 passes inside the slit 32. Meanwhile, the rod-shaped food ingredients R loaded in the loading section 3 are pressed against the cutting blade 42 by the operation of the loading section 3 and cut.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the loading unit 3 in serving state P2 is stopped inside the serving space A2. The loading unit 3 in serving state P2 is loaded with the rod-shaped food ingredients R that have been cut by the aforementioned operation. The cut rod-shaped food ingredients R are then removed from the serving space M, for example, by an operator. When the removal of the rod-shaped food ingredients R is detected by a detection sensor (not shown) located inside the housing 1, the loading unit 3 in serving state P2 transitions to serving state P1 after the serving space A2 is closed by the opening / closing cover 22. The transition of the loading unit 3 in serving state P2 to serving state P1 may be performed by operating the operation unit 51, or by other detection means such as a weight sensor provided on the loading bottom surface 31.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1-3, the control unit 5 is the part that controls each operation of the rod-shaped food cutting device M, and is a computer that includes a processor such as a CPU that executes a program, storage in which the program is recorded, and memory in which the program can be read. The control unit 5 is located inside the housing unit 1. The control unit 5 is electrically connected to the drive unit of the loading unit 3 and the operation unit 51 provided in the housing unit 1.

[0032] The operation unit 51 is a physical button that can be operated by an operator and is provided to transmit predetermined operation commands to the control unit 5. The operation unit 51 is provided inside recesses formed in the lower part Z2 of the right side wall 13 and the left side wall 14. In this embodiment, when the operation unit 51 on the right side X1 and the operation unit 51 on the left side X2 are pressed simultaneously, an operation command related to the transition of the loading unit 3 from the loaded state P1 to the serving state P2 is transmitted. The operation unit 51 may also be provided to allow operation of setting parameters of the control unit 5, such as the waiting time from the detection of the unloading of the rod-shaped food ingredient R by the detection sensor until the loading unit 3 starts the operation to transition to the loaded state P1, or the movement speed of the loading unit 3.

[0033] The shape, material, and configuration of each element constituting the rod-shaped food cutting device M are not particularly limited, as long as the rod-shaped food R can be cut by pressing it against the blade frame member 4 with the operating loading unit 3.

[0034] The rod-shaped food cutting device M is illustrated with a configuration in which the connecting part 19 and the blade frame member 4 are fitted together, as the blade frame member 4 can be easily attached and detached. However, other configurations are also possible. For example, the blade frame member 4 may be fixed to the inner surface of the housing part 1 via fasteners or the like. Alternatively, the fixing cover 21 and the blade frame member 4 may be formed as a single unit.

[0035] Furthermore, while the rod-shaped food cutting device M is illustrated in a configuration where rod-shaped food R is loaded onto the loading section 3 by an operator, other configurations are also possible. For example, the loading section 3 may be configured to load rod-shaped food R transported from a transport device or the like.

[0036] Furthermore, the loading section 3 of the rod-shaped food cutting device M has a configuration that is shared even if the number of divisions of the rod-shaped food R is different, as it is advantageous for work efficiency, and has more slits 32 than the total number of cutting blades 42. However, different configurations are also possible. For example, the loading section 3 may have the same number of slits 32 as the total number of cutting blades 42. In that case, the loading section 3 may be provided so as appropriate that it can be interchanged with other loading sections 3 having slits 32 corresponding to different configurations of cutting blades 42.

[0037] Furthermore, while the rod-shaped food cutting device M and blade frame member 4 are illustrated with a configuration for cutting a rod-shaped food item R, such as a nori roll sushi, other configurations are also possible. For example, the rod-shaped food item R cut by the rod-shaped food cutting device M and blade frame member 4 may be other rod-shaped foods such as roll cakes, tortillas, sausages, and French bread.

[0038] [Blade Frame Member] As shown in Figures 1-3, the blade frame member 4 is a member positioned within the internal space of the housing 1, in the operating path of the reciprocating motion of the loading section 3. Figure 4 is a front view showing the blade frame member 4. Figures 4-8 showing the blade frame member 4 are labeled with an X-axis corresponding to the left-right direction X, a V-axis corresponding to the vertical direction V, and a D-axis corresponding to the cutting direction D.

[0039] The left-right direction X is the same direction as the X-axis shown in Figures 1-3, and is the direction in which the cutting blades 42 are arranged. The view from the left-right direction X is defined as a "side view".

[0040] The vertical direction V is perpendicular to the left-right direction X and is the direction of extension of the cutting blade 42. Of the vertical direction V, the side on which the first support portion 43 is positioned is called the upper side (one side) V1, and the opposite side is called the lower side (the other side) V2. The view from the vertical direction V is defined as a "plan view".

[0041] The cutting direction D is perpendicular to the left-right direction X and the vertical direction V, and is the direction in which the blade frame member 4 faces each other, i.e., the direction in which the rod-shaped food ingredient R is cut. Of the cutting directions D, the side in which the cutting edge 422 of the cutting blade 42 points is called the rear side D2, and the opposite side is called the front side D1. The view from the cutting direction D is defined as the "front view".

[0042] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the blade frame member 4 comprises a support frame 41 which is the connecting portion between the blade frame member 4 and the housing 1, a cutting blade 42 which is the blade portion for cutting the rod-shaped food ingredient R, a first support portion 43 and a second support portion 44 which are portions that support the cutting blade 42, and a plurality of adjustment screws (45a, 45b, 45c) which connect the support frame 41 and the first support portion 43 so that they can be displaced relative to each other.

[0043] The support frame 41 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape when viewed from the front, comprising an upper edge member (first edge) 413 positioned on the upper side V1 and extending along the left-right direction X, a lower edge member 414 positioned on the lower side V2 and extending along the left-right direction X, a right edge member 415 positioned on the right side X1 and extending along the vertical direction V, and a left edge member 416 positioned on the left side X2 and extending along the vertical direction V. Each edge member of the support frame 41 is formed in a concave shape that opens toward the cutting blade 42 side, i.e., toward the space enclosed by the support frame 41. Multiple through holes (not shown) are formed on the upper side V1 surface of the upper edge member 413, through which a central adjustment screw 45a, a right adjustment screw (side adjustment screw) 45b, and a left adjustment screw (side adjustment screw) 45c, which will be described later, can be inserted. A fitting projection 418 is formed in the central part of the right edge member 415 and the left edge member 416 in the vertical direction V, which engages with the connecting portion 19.

[0044] On the right side X1 and the left side X2 of the front edge surface 411, which is the surface of the front side D1 of the support frame body 41, handle-shaped handle members 417 are formed. The blade frame member 4 is provided so that it can be easily detached, attached, and transported by an operator who inserts their fingers into the handle members 417.

[0045] On the upper side V1 of the rear edge surface 412, which is the surface of the rear side D2 of the support frame body 41, a rear edge reinforcement plate 412a for reinforcing the strength of the upper edge member 413 is arranged. On the lower side V2 of the rear edge surface 412, a rear edge reinforcement plate 412b for reinforcing the strength of the lower edge member 414 is arranged.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a front view showing the internal structure of the support frame body 41. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the internal structure of the support frame body 41. As shown in FIGS. 4 - 7, the cutting blade 42 is arranged in a space surrounded by the support frame body 41. The cutting blade 42 is formed in a thin plate shape extending along the vertical direction V. The cutting blade 42 has a blade tip 422 capable of cutting the rod-shaped food material R over the entire area of the end of the front side D1, and a blade peak 421 over the entire area of the end of the rear side D2. A plurality (seven in this embodiment) of cutting blades 42 are arranged along the left-right direction X. A hole-shaped first insertion hole H1 penetrating in the left-right direction X is formed at the first end portion 423, which is the end portion on the upper side V1 of the cutting blade 42. A hole-shaped second insertion hole H2 penetrating in the left-right direction X is formed at the second end portion 424, which is the end portion on the lower side V2 of the cutting blade 42.

[0047] The first support portion 43 is a single member that holds the first end portions 423 of the plurality of cutting blades 42. The first support portion 43 includes an upward extension piece 431, an upward extension piece reinforcement member 435, and a vertically extending piece 432, a first holding extension piece (first holding portion) 433 formed in the same number as the total number of the cutting blades 42, and an adjustment plate (adjustment member) 434 arranged at a position facing the right adjustment screw 45b and the left adjustment screw 45c.

[0048] The upward extension piece 431 is a plate-like portion facing the vertical direction V. The upward extension piece 431 is formed smaller than the upper edge member 413 in the left-right direction X and the cutting direction D. The end portion on the right side X1 of the upward extension piece 431 is located on the right side X1 with respect to the end portion on the right side X1 of the plurality of cutting blades 42 arranged. The end portion on the left side X2 of the upward extension piece 431 is located on the left side X2 with respect to the end portion on the left side X2 of the plurality of cutting blades 42 arranged. On the lower surface V2 of the upward extension piece 431, a plate-like upward extension piece reinforcing member 435 having substantially the same shape as the upward extension piece 431 in plan view and having a predetermined thickness is connected.

[0049] A plurality of female screw holes (not shown) through which the middle adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c can be inserted and screwed are formed in the upward extension piece 431 and the upward extension piece reinforcing member 435. The upward extension piece 431 and the upward extension piece reinforcing member 435 are disposed inside the concave shape of the upper edge member 413 and are connected to the upper edge member 413 by fastening the middle adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c. At positions on the upper surface V1 of the upward extension piece 431 that face the right adjustment screw 45b and the left adjustment screw 45c, an adjustment plate 434 having a predetermined thickness along the vertical direction V and through which the right adjustment screw 45b and the left adjustment screw 45c can be inserted is disposed. The upward extension piece 431 and the upward extension piece reinforcing member 435 are provided so as to be relatively displaceable along the vertical direction V with respect to the upper edge member 413 by changing the fastening amount of the middle adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c.

[0050] The vertically extending piece 432 is a portion that extends from the end portion on the rear side D2 of the upward extension piece 431 toward the lower side V2. The size of the vertically extending piece 432 in the left-right direction X is substantially the same as that of the vertically extending piece 432. As shown in FIG. 4, at the end portion on the lower side V2 of the vertically extending piece 432, a convex portion integrally formed with the first holding extension piece 433 and a concave portion located inside the upper edge member 413 are formed. The convex portions of the first holding extension piece 433 are formed in the same number as the total number of the cutting blades 42 so as to face the plurality of cutting blades 42 arranged.

[0051] As shown in Figures 4-7, the first retaining extension piece 433 is a hook-shaped portion that folds back from the lower end V2 of the protrusion of the longitudinal extension piece 432 toward the lower V2 and forward Y1. The first retaining extension piece 433 is formed, for example, by bending a plate-like member having approximately the same thickness as the upper extension piece 431 and the longitudinal extension piece 432. The first retaining extension piece 433 is provided so as to be elastically deformable toward the longitudinal direction V. The first retaining extension piece 433 has a groove-shaped first fitting groove 436 that extends along the longitudinal direction V in a front view. The upper V1 of the cutting blade 42 is inserted into and fitted into the first fitting groove 436. A first fixing device S1, such as a parallel pin, is positioned on the upper V1 of the first fitting groove 436 and inserted into the first insertion hole H1 of the fitted cutting blade 42. The lower end V2 of the first fixing device S1 is supported by the hook-shaped folded portion of the first retaining extension 433.

[0052] The second support portion 44 is a single member that holds the second ends 424 of the multiple cutting blades 42. The first support portion 43 comprises a forward extension 441, a backward extension 442, and a second holding extension 443.

[0053] The front extension 441 and the rear extension 442 are plate-shaped portions facing the cutting direction D. The front extension 441 and the rear extension 442 are formed smaller than the lower edge member 414 in the left-right direction X and the cutting direction D. The front extension 441 is positioned on the front side D1 of the second support portion 44. The rear extension 442 is positioned on the rear side D2 of the second support portion 44. The front extension 441 and the rear extension 442 are formed to be substantially the same shape when viewed from the front. The front extension 441 and the rear extension 442 are formed integrally via the second retaining extension 443. The front extension 441 and the rear extension 442 are positioned inside the concave part of the lower edge member 414 and are connected to the lower edge member 414 by a connector (not shown).

[0054] The second retaining extension piece 443 is formed in a convex shape toward the upper side V1 when viewed from the side. The second retaining extension piece 443 is formed, for example, by bending a plate-like member having approximately the same thickness as the front extension piece 441 and the rear extension piece 442. The front end D1 of the second retaining extension piece 443 is formed integrally with the upper end V1 of the front extension piece 441. The rear end D2 of the second retaining extension piece 443 is formed integrally with the upper end V1 of the rear extension piece 442. The second retaining extension piece 443 has a groove-shaped second fitting groove 446 that extends along the vertical direction V when viewed from the front. The lower V2 of the cutting blade 42 is inserted into and fitted into the second fitting groove 446. Inside the second fitting groove 446 is a second fixing device S2, such as a parallel pin, which is inserted into the second insertion hole H2 of the fitted cutting blade 42. The upper end V1 of the second fixing device S2 is supported by the inner surface of the second retaining piece 443. The second retaining piece 443 has a plurality of cleaning openings 444 that penetrate in the cutting direction D when viewed from the front.

[0055] The central adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c are fasteners such as bolts. The central adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c are arranged to be inserted from the upper side V1 to the lower side V2 of the upper edge member 413. The central adjustment screw 45a is inserted through an insertion hole in the upper edge member 413 formed in the central (intermediate) part of the arranged multiple cutting blades 42, and is screwed into the female screw hole of the upper extension piece 431 and the upper extension piece reinforcing member 435. The right adjustment screw 45b is inserted through an insertion hole in the upper edge member 413 and the adjustment plate 434 formed in the right end (right side X1) of the arranged multiple cutting blades 42, and is screwed into the female screw hole of the upper extension piece 431 and the upper extension piece reinforcing member 435. The left adjustment screw 45c is inserted through the insertion holes of the upper edge member 413 and the adjustment plate 434, which are formed at the left end (left side X2) of the multiple arranged cutting blades 42, and is screwed into the female screw holes of the upper extension piece 431 and the upper extension piece reinforcing member 435.

[0056] The central adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c change the amount of fastening between the upper extension piece 431 and the upper extension piece reinforcing member 435, causing the first support portion 43 to be displaced relative to the upper edge member 413 along the vertical direction V. The cutting blade 42 held by the first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 is subjected to tension along the vertical direction V as the first support portion 43 is displaced upward V1. At this time, the first retaining extension piece 433 elastically deforms downward V2 when subjected to tension exceeding a predetermined level. That is, the cutting blade 42 is not subjected to excessive tension due to the elastic deformation of the first retaining extension piece 433. When the desired tension is applied to the cutting blade 42, deflection deformation caused by the reaction force when cutting the rod-shaped food ingredient R is suitably suppressed, and the rod-shaped food ingredient R can be cut with high precision.

[0057] In this embodiment, the state in which the upward extension piece 431 and the upper edge member 413 are separated is defined as the relaxed state P3, and the state in which the upward extension piece 431 and the upper edge member 413 are separated is defined as the tense state P4.

[0058] Figure 8 is a front view showing the blade frame member 4 in a tensioned state P4. As shown in Figure 8, in the central part of the upper edge member 413 in the tensioned state P4, a deflection deformation toward the lower side V2 occurs due to the reaction force of the tension acting on the cutting blade 42. Therefore, when the tightening amounts of the central adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c (the amount of the first support part 43 pulled in toward the upper side V1) are the same, the tension acting on the cutting blade 42 supported by the central part of the upper edge member 413 is lower compared to the tension acting on the other cutting blades 42.

[0059] On the other hand, in this embodiment, since no adjustment plate 434 is placed on the upper edge member 413 facing the central adjustment screw 45a, the amount of fastening of the central adjustment screw 45a in the tensioned state P4 (the amount of pull-in of the first support portion 43 towards the upper side V1) is equal to the magnitude of the vertical V of the adjustment plate 434, which is greater than the amount of fastening of the right adjustment screw 45b and the left adjustment screw 45c. That is, if the magnitude of the vertical V of the adjustment plate 434 is the same as the magnitude of the deflection deformation toward the lower side V2 of the central part of the upper edge member 413, then approximately the same tension acts on all the cutting blades 42 in the tensioned state P4. Therefore, the magnitude of the vertical V of the adjustment plate 434 is set to be approximately the same as the magnitude of the deflection deformation toward the lower side V2 of the central part of the upper edge member 413. With this configuration, the blade frame member 4 can apply the desired tension to all the cutting blades 42 by a simple operation of fully tightening the central adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c, that is, by bringing the upper edge member 413 into contact with the first support portion 43.

[0060] The shape, material, and configuration of each element constituting the blade frame member 4 are not particularly limited, as long as the support frame 41 can hold the multiple cutting blades 42 arranged on it in a state where uniform and desired tension is applied.

[0061] The blade frame member 4 is exemplified as having seven cutting blades 42 to divide a rod-shaped food ingredient R into eight equal parts, but the number of divisions of the rod-shaped food ingredient R is not limited, and different configurations are possible. For example, the blade frame member 4 may be configured to be applicable to various rod-shaped food ingredients R by replacing the first support part 43 and the second support part 44 with other configurations of the first support part 43 and the second support part 44 (for example, a configuration that can hold five cutting blades 42).

[0062] Furthermore, the first support portion 43 is shown in an example configuration in which multiple first retaining extensions 433 are formed on one upward extension 431 and a longitudinal extension 432, in order to facilitate attachment and detachment and to align the orientation of the cutting edges 422 of multiple cutting blades 42, but other configurations are also possible. For example, the first support portion 43 may be configured to include three members: a first member connected to the central adjustment screw 45a, a second member connected to the right adjustment screw 45b, and a third member connected to the left adjustment screw 45c.

[0063] Furthermore, although the cutting blade 42 is shown with a cutting edge 422 only on the front side D1 to improve safety, it may have a different configuration. For example, the cutting blade 42 may have cutting edges 422 formed on both the front side D1 and the rear side D2. In that case, when one cutting edge 422 is worn out, the cutting blade 42 can be reversed and installed so that the other cutting edge 422, which is not worn out, faces the rear side D2, thereby extending the usable period of the cutting blade 42.

[0064] Furthermore, while the central adjustment screw 45a, right adjustment screw 45b, and left adjustment screw 45c are exemplified as being detachably fastened to the upper edge member 413 and the first support portion 43, other configurations are also possible. For example, the central adjustment screw 45a, right adjustment screw 45b, and left adjustment screw 45c may be male screws integrated (e.g., welded) with the upper edge member 413 or the first support portion 43, and the fastening amount may be adjusted using nuts.

[0065] As described above, the blade frame member 4 according to this embodiment is a blade frame member 4 that is attached to a rod-shaped food cutting device M for cutting rod-shaped food R, and comprises: a plurality of cutting blades 42 arranged along the left-right direction X and extending along the vertical direction V intersecting the left-right direction X; a first support portion 43 that holds the first end portion 423 which is the upper end V1 of the plurality of cutting blades 42 in the vertical direction V; a second support portion 44 that holds the second end portion 424 which is the lower end V2 of the plurality of cutting blades 42 in the vertical direction V; and a support frame body 41 which is detachably connected to the first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 and is formed in the shape of a frame that can be placed in the rod-shaped food cutting device M. The first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 are connected in the left-right direction X by a middle adjustment screw 45a located in the middle, and right adjustment screws 45b and left adjustment screws 45c located on both sides of the middle adjustment screw 45a. The first support portion 43 is provided so as to be able to be displaced relative to the support frame 41 along the vertical direction V by changing the amount of fastening of the central adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c.

[0066] The rod-shaped food cutting device M according to this embodiment is a rod-shaped food cutting device M that cuts rod-shaped food R using a blade frame member 4, and comprises a blade frame member 4, a housing 1 having a connecting part 19 that is detachably connected to the blade frame member 4, and a loading section 3 having a loading bottom surface 31 and a loading upright surface 34 for loading rod-shaped food R, and gap-shaped slits 32 formed on the loading bottom surface 31 and the loading upright surface through which a plurality of cutting blades 42 can pass. The loading section 3 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between a loading space A1 provided below Z2 of the blade frame member 4 and a supply space A2 provided above Z1 of the blade frame member 4 inside the housing 1.

[0067] The blade frame member 4 can be adjusted in the left-right direction X by a simple operation of the central adjustment screw 45a located in the middle, and the right adjustment screws 45b and left adjustment screws 45c located on either side of the central adjustment screw 45a, to apply a desired tension to the multiple cutting blades 42, taking into account the deflection deformation of the support frame 41. Therefore, the blade frame member 4 offers excellent operability and work efficiency.

[0068] Furthermore, in the blade frame member 4, the first retaining extension 433 is formed in a hook shape, so that it holds the first end 423 of the cutting blade 42 and is designed to elastically deform toward the cutting blade 42 when subjected to tension exceeding the desired tension. As a result, the cutting blade 42 is not subjected to tension exceeding the desired tension, and fracture and deformation caused by excessive tension are suppressed. Therefore, the blade frame member 4 is excellent in terms of operability and safety.

[0069] Furthermore, in the blade frame member 4, the first support portion 43 is equipped with an adjustment plate 434 positioned opposite the right adjustment screw 45b and the left adjustment screw 45c. As a result, the blade frame member 4 in the relaxed state P3 can be transitioned to a tensioned state P4, which applies a desired tension to the multiple cutting blades 42, taking into account deflection deformation, by a simpler operation of fully tightening all the adjustment screws (45a, 45b, 45c). Therefore, the blade frame member 4 offers even greater operability and work efficiency.

[0070] Furthermore, the blade frame member 4 has fewer central adjustment screws 45a, right adjustment screws 45b, and left adjustment screws 45c than the number of cutting blades 42. As a result, the blade frame member 4 has fewer adjustment screws to operate, thus reducing the number of work steps required to adjust the tension of the cutting blades 42. Therefore, the blade frame member 4 offers even greater operability and work efficiency.

[0071] Furthermore, in the blade frame member 4, the central adjustment screw 45a is positioned in the center of the multiple cutting blades 42 arranged in the left-right direction X. The right adjustment screw 45b is positioned at the right end X1 of the multiple cutting blades 42 arranged in the left-right direction X. The left adjustment screw 45c is positioned at the left end X2 of the multiple cutting blades 42 arranged in the left-right direction X. As a result, the blade frame member 4 can reliably apply the desired tension to the multiple cutting blades 42 by operating the three adjustment screws positioned to effectively generate the pulling force. Therefore, the blade frame member 4 is even more operable and efficient.

[0072] Furthermore, in the blade frame member 4, the upper V1 of the first support portion 43 is positioned inside the upper edge member 413, which is formed in a concave shape and opens toward the lower V2. Similarly, the lower V2 of the second support portion 44 is positioned inside the lower edge member 414, which is formed in a concave shape and opens toward the upper V1. As a result, the connection portions of the first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 with the support frame body 41 are protected by the support frame body 41, and the occurrence of strength deterioration (corrosion, etc.) caused by clogging with fragments of rod-shaped food ingredients R is suppressed. Therefore, the blade frame member 4 has excellent maintainability.

[0073] Furthermore, in the blade frame member 4, the first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 are formed in a shape in which at least a portion is open toward the cutting blade 42 side, the right side X1, and the left side X2, respectively. As a result, cleaning water can flow suitably through the inside of the blade frame member 4 without disassembly, thus reducing the amount of work required for cleaning (washing with water, etc.). Therefore, the blade frame member 4 is even more maintainable and efficient.

[0074] The rod-shaped food cutting device M is a device that cuts rod-shaped food R using a blade frame member 4 having the above-described effects. Therefore, the rod-shaped food cutting device M, like the blade frame member 4, is excellent in terms of operability, work efficiency, safety, and maintainability.

[0075] Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design modifications and the like are also included within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Furthermore, the components shown in the above embodiments and examples can be combined as appropriate.

[0076] In this embodiment, the first retaining piece 433 is exemplified as being formed in a hook shape that is elastically deformable along the longitudinal direction V for improved safety and operability, but it may have a different configuration. For example, the first retaining piece 433 may be provided so as to be elastically deformable by being partially made of an elastic material such as rubber, or it may have a configuration that does not involve elastic deformation.

[0077] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the blade frame member 4 is configured such that the adjustment plate 434 of the first support portion 43, which is positioned opposite the right adjustment screw 45b and the left adjustment screw 45c, and the upper edge member 413 come into contact with each other, thereby applying a desired tension to the multiple cutting blades 42, in order to improve operability and work efficiency. However, a different configuration is also possible. For example, the adjustment plate 434 may not be provided in the first support portion 43. Even in that case, the blade frame member 4 can apply a desired tension to the multiple cutting blades 42 with fewer work steps by adjusting the tightening amount of each adjustment screw.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the central adjustment screw 45a, the right adjustment screw 45b, and the left adjustment screw 45c are each provided one at a time to shorten the number of work steps required for tension adjustment of the cutting blade 42, but different configurations are also possible. For example, multiple right adjustment screws 45b and left adjustment screws 45c may each be provided. Even in that case, the blade frame member 4 offers superior workability and operability compared to conventional blade frame members, and shortens the number of work steps required for tension adjustment.

[0079] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the members forming each side of the support frame 41 are formed in a concave shape that opens toward the cutting blade 42 side in order to improve maintainability, and a configuration in which the first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 are arranged inside is illustrated, but a different configuration is also possible. The first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 may also be arranged outside the support frame 41.

[0080] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 are shown as being formed in a shape that is open to the cutting blade 42 side, the right side X1, and the left side X2, respectively, so that they can be suitably cleaned (cleaning water can flow suitably) while connected to the support frame 41, but other configurations are also possible. For example, the first support portion 43 and the second support portion 44 may be configured to be closed to either the cutting blade 42 side, the right side X1, or the left side X2, and to be equipped with a protective cover or the like to protect the end of the cutting blade 42.

[0081] 1 Housing section 2 Protective section 3 Loading section 4 Blade frame member 12 Bottom plate 13 Right side wall 14 Left side wall 17 Gripping section 18 Guide section 19 Connecting section 31 Loading bottom surface (loading surface) 32 Slit 34 Loading upright surface (loading surface) 41 Support frame 42 Cutting blade 43 First support section 44 Second support section 45a Center adjustment screw 45b Right adjustment screw (side adjustment screw) 45c Left adjustment screw (side adjustment screw) 413 Upper edge member (first edge section) 423 First end section 424 Second end section 433 First retaining piece (first retaining section) 434 Adjustment plate (adjustment member) A1 Loading space A2 Serving space M Rod-shaped food cutting device P3 Relaxed state P4 Tensioned state R Bar-shaped food product V Vertical direction V1 Upper side (one side) V2 Lower side (other side) X Lateral direction Z1 Upper Z2 Lower

Claims

1. A blade frame member to be attached to a rod-shaped food cutting device for cutting rod-shaped food ingredients, comprising: a plurality of cutting blades arranged along the left-right direction and extending along the vertical direction intersecting the left-right direction; a first support portion that holds the first end of one of the plurality of cutting blades in the vertical direction; a second support portion that holds the second end of the plurality of cutting blades in the other direction in the vertical direction; and a support frame body formed in the shape of a frame that can be placed in the rod-shaped food cutting device, wherein the first support portion and the support frame body are connected in the left-right direction by a central adjustment screw located in the middle and side adjustment screws located on both sides of the central adjustment screw, and the first support portion is provided so as to be displaceable relative to the support frame body in the vertical direction by changes in the tightening amount of the central adjustment screw and the side adjustment screws.

2. The blade frame member according to claim 1, wherein the first support portion is formed in a hook shape facing the cutting blade side and comprises a first retaining portion connected to the first end, and the first retaining portion is provided so as to be elastically deformable along the longitudinal direction.

3. The blade frame member according to claim 1, wherein the first support portion comprises an adjustment member positioned opposite to the side adjustment screw, the support frame body has a first edge portion which is a portion connected to the first support portion, and is provided so as to be switchable by the relative displacement between a relaxed state in which the first support portion and the first edge portion are separated, and a taut state in which the first support portion and the first edge portion are in contact.

4. The blade frame member according to claim 1, wherein the total number of the intermediate adjustment screws and the side adjustment screws is less than the total number of the plurality of cutting blades.

5. The blade frame member according to claim 4, wherein the central adjustment screw is provided in the center of the plurality of cutting blades arranged in the left-right direction, and the side adjustment screws are provided one on each side of the plurality of cutting blades arranged in the left-right direction.

6. The blade frame member according to claim 1, wherein the support frame is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, the members forming each side of the support frame are formed in a concave shape that opens toward the cutting blade side, and the support frame side of the first support portion and the second support portion are arranged inside the support frame.

7. The blade frame member according to claim 6, wherein the first support portion and the second support portion are formed in such a shape that at least a portion of them is open toward the cutting blade side and toward the left and right direction.

8. A rod-shaped food cutting device for cutting rod-shaped food using a blade frame member according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: a blade frame member; a housing portion having a connecting portion inside which it is detachably connected to the blade frame member; and a loading portion having a loading surface for loading the rod-shaped food and gap-shaped slits formed on the loading surface through which the plurality of cutting blades can pass, wherein the loading portion is provided to be reciprocally movable between a loading space provided below the blade frame member and a serving space provided above the blade frame member within the housing portion.

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