Wavy-Cross-Section Noodle Cutting for Reduced Strand Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In producing wide noodle strands for instant noodles, adhesion between strands is a significant issue that affects product quality and workability, particularly for noodles wider than udon, such as fettuccine, due to insufficient gelatinization and poor unraveling during steaming and eating.
Innovation Solution
A cutting apparatus with specifically shaped cutting rollers having annular grooves and blades is used to create noodle strands with a wavy cross-section by adjusting the distance between grooves and blades and the noodle belt thickness to a predetermined range, reducing adhesion between strands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If wide noodle strands are produced by conventional cutting methods, then the noodle width can be achieved, but adhesion between strands increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting rollers are divided into multiple blades arranged in series, where each blade cuts the noodle belt into separate strands. This segmentation approach allows precise control over strand separation and prevents adhesion while maintaining the desired wide noodle shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting rollers feature non-uniform blade spacing and varying blade geometries designed to create specific local characteristics in the noodle strands. The blades are positioned at different distances from the roller surface to produce optimal separation patterns that prevent adhesion while maintaining strand integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the distance between grooves and blades is reduced to increase cutting precision, then manufacturing precision improves, but the complexity of the cutting apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting apparatus merges multiple cutting functions into a single integrated roller assembly. The grooves and blades are combined in a specific geometric pattern on the roller surface, allowing precise cutting control without requiring multiple separate components or complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves and blades are pre-configured on the cutting rollers during manufacturing with precise dimensional relationships. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustments during operation, simplifying the apparatus while maintaining high cutting precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for producing noodle strands with which it is possible to reduce or prevent adhesion of wide noodle strands to each other. The method for producing noodle strands with a wavy cross-section comprises the preparation of a noodle strip and the cutting of the noodle strip into noodle strands using a cutting blade device. The cutting blade device has a pair of cutting blade rolls. The cutting blade rolls each have multiple circular grooves and multiple blades disposed alternately along the longitudinal direction of the cutting blade rolls, and are disposed so that the circular grooves of one cutting blade roll engage with the blades of the other cutting blade roll. The circular grooves of the cutting blade rolls each have two first groove sections near blades that are adjacent along the longitudinal direction of the cutting blade rolls and a second groove section between the two first groove sections that is deeper than the two first groove section. When the shortest distance between a first groove section of one cutting blade roll and the blade of the other cutting blade roll that faces said first groove section is D1, the thickness of the noodle strip is 2.0-2.7 times D1.