JP6966207B2 - Noodle-shaped food manufacturing equipment and noodle-shaped food manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus and a noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing method.

Conventionally, it has been known that a noodle-shaped food material is produced by producing an elongated food material before coagulation in a flow of a coagulating liquid and cutting the produced food material into a predetermined length (for example, a patent). Reference 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-263906

By the way, it is important that a large number of noodle-shaped ingredients obtained by cutting into a predetermined length have the same shape. That is, it is important to make the thickness and length uniform and to eliminate partial defects, bends and twists.

The present invention has been made in response to the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a noodle-shaped food material manufacturing apparatus and a noodle-shaped food material manufacturing method capable of manufacturing noodle-shaped foodstuffs having their respective shapes. ..

The invention according to claim 1 is provided in a first gutter forming a flow path through which the coagulating liquid flows and an intermediate portion in the first gutter in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid. A plurality of second gutters that divide the coagulating liquid flowing through the gutter and flow it inside, and a noodle-like ingredient before coagulation in the middle part of each of the second gutters in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid. It is a noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus having an injection part for injecting.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in the noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus according to the first aspect, the second gutter is formed in a semicircular arc shape, and each of the second gutters has a semicircular shape. The opening of the semicircle faces upward, the central part of the semicircle opposite to the opening is in contact with the bottom of the first gutter, and the longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the first gutter. It is a noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus arranged in a horizontal direction at the center of the first gutter in the horizontal direction.

The invention according to claim 3 is the noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the noodle-shaped foodstuff production apparatus is located in the first gutter and on the upstream side of each of the second gutters. It is a noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus in which a rectifying material is provided in contact with each of the second gutters.

The invention according to claim 4 is the noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the injection unit includes a plurality of nozzles, and each nozzle is provided. Each is a noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus configured to inject the noodle-shaped foodstuff before solidification from the tip of each of the nozzles into the inside of each of the second gutters.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the tip of the nozzle is formed in a truncated cone shape with a small lower surface diameter, and the noodle-shaped foodstuff before coagulation. but the is configured to be emitted from the small holes are drilled in the center of the lower surface of the truncated cone, the truncated cone central axis of the flow direction downstream side of the lower surface side the coagulating liquid of the truncated cone In a noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus, which is located in the above-mentioned truncated cone so that the upper surface side of the truncated cone is located on the upstream side in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid and is inclined more than the second trough in the horizontal direction. be.

The invention according to claim 6 is a first coagulation liquid flow forming step of forming a flow of the coagulation liquid in a first trough forming a flow path through which the coagulation liquid flows, and the first trough. wherein the plurality of second trough provided in the middle portion in the flow direction of the coagulation liquid, divided flow of the coagulation liquid, which is formed in the first coagulation liquid flow forming step Te, each other equal flow rate A second coagulation liquid flow forming step of forming a plurality of flows of the coagulation liquid flowing in the above, and a noodle-like food material before coagulation in the middle portion of each of the second coagulation liquids in the flow direction of the coagulation liquid. from the injection unit for emitting, in each flow of the coagulation liquid, which is formed in the second coagulation liquid flow forming process, noodle-like food preparation having an injection step of injecting a noodle-like food material before the coagulation The method.

According to the present invention, it is possible to produce noodle-shaped foodstuffs having the same shape.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the noodle-shaped foodstuff production apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line II in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the part III in FIG. It is an IV arrow view in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the V part in FIG. FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line VI in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the VIII part in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG.

The noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus (for example, tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus) 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for mass-producing elongated noodle-shaped foodstuff N3 having a predetermined length. The noodle-shaped foodstuff N3 has an elongated columnar shape and has the same outer diameter and length as each other, and is straight (for example, tofu noodles) that is not crimped.

Tofu noodles (tofu-shaped noodles) N3 is contained in a coagulating liquid in which a liquid material N1 before coagulation is flowing in a certain direction at a predetermined speed so as to be continuous in the length direction with a predetermined diameter. It is obtained by injecting (discharging) the noodles into a coagulant and cutting the coagulated product (elongated planar shape before cutting) N2 into a predetermined length.

Here, for convenience of explanation, a predetermined horizontal direction is defined as the front-rear direction, another horizontal predetermined direction is defined as the lateral direction, and the front-rear direction and the lateral direction are defined as the lateral direction. The vertical direction orthogonal to the vertical direction is the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a first gutter (outer gutter) 3, a coagulating liquid supply unit 5, a rectifying material 7, a second gutter (inner gutter) 9, and an injection unit 10. It is configured to include a gutter and a cutting portion 11.

The first gutter 3 is formed in a groove shape, for example, and is inclined to form a flow path through which the coagulating liquid 13 flows from the upper part to the lower part. Here, the direction in which the coagulating liquid 13 flows in the first gutter 3 is defined as the water flow direction, and the direction orthogonal to the water flow direction is defined as the depth direction.

The coagulation liquid supply unit 5 supplies the coagulation liquid 13 to the upper part of the first gutter 3. The coagulation liquid 13 supplied by the coagulation liquid supply unit 5 flows diagonally downward in the first gutter 3 in the flowing water direction.

The rectifying material 7 is supplied by the coagulating liquid supply unit 5 to regulate the flow of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing in the first trough 3 (for example, the height of the liquid level of the coagulating liquid 13 in the lateral direction is made substantially constant). In order to do so), it is provided in the first trough 3 on the downstream side of the coagulating liquid supply unit 5 in the flow direction (flowing water direction) of the coagulating liquid 13.

The coagulating liquid 13 flowing over the rectifying material 7 in the first gutter 3 is oriented in this flow direction, becomes rectified (clear stream), and the flowing water direction becomes substantially constant.

That is, the flow velocity of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing through the first gutter 3 beyond the rectifying material 7 on the downstream side of the rectifying material 7 in the first gutter 3 (the flow velocity at a place some distance from the rectifying material 7). ) U is substantially constant except for the boundary layer in the vicinity of the inner wall surface of the first gutter 3 (the upper surface of the bottom plate 15 and the side surface of the side plate 17 described in detail later) and the vicinity of the rectifying material 7.

As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the coagulation liquid supply unit 5 includes a coagulation liquid discharge unit 19 and a coagulation liquid release material 21. The coagulant 13 is discharged from the coagulant discharge unit 19. A large number (not shown) of small holes are provided in at least a part of the coagulation liquid release material 21. The coagulating liquid releasing material 21 is provided in the first gutter 3 on the upstream side of the rectifying material 7 in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13. The coagulation liquid 13 is discharged from the coagulation liquid discharge unit 19 into the coagulation liquid discharge material 21, and the discharged coagulation liquid 13 is configured to come out into the first gutter 3 from the large number of small holes. There is.

The coagulation liquid release material 21 is formed in the shape of a truncated cone-shaped cup. That is, it is configured to include a side wall portion 23 having a truncated cone shape and a disc-shaped lid portion (bottom wall portion) 25 that closes one circular (circle with a small diameter) opening of the side wall portion 23. Has been done.

The side wall portion 23 is made of, for example, a net-like member (mesh material), whereby the entire side wall portion 23 is provided with the above-mentioned large number of small holes. The lid portion 25 is made of, for example, a member having no holes (a member filled with meat).

Then, in the coagulation liquid releasing material 21, the central axis extends in the vertical direction so that the lid portion 25 is located at the bottom and the opening on the side opposite to the lid portion 25 is located at the top, so that the first gutter 3 is located. It is installed in the center of the horizontal direction.

In the coagulation liquid discharge unit 19, the coagulation liquid 13 flows through the cylindrical pipeline (for example, hose) 27 and is discharged from the opening at the end of the hose 27. A part of the hose 27 extends into the coagulant release material 21. The central axis of the portion of the hose 27 in the coagulating liquid releasing material 21 and the central axis of the coagulating liquid releasing material 21 are substantially aligned with each other. The lower end of the hose 27 is above the lid portion 25 of the coagulant release material 21 and away from the lid portion 25.

Then, in the coagulating liquid discharging portion 19, the coagulating liquid 13 is discharged downward from the lower end of the hose 27 (toward the lid portion 25 of the coagulating liquid discharging material 21).

Most of the coagulating liquid 13 discharged from the coagulating liquid discharging portion 19 hits the lid portion 25 and bounces off, passes through the mesh voids (many small holes) of the side wall portion 23, and goes to the outside of the coagulating liquid discharging material 21. It comes out and flows through the first gutter 3.

As shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the first gutter 3 is a rectangular flat plate-shaped bottom plate 15 and a pair of rectangular flat plate-shaped bottom plates 15 standing upward from both ends in the lateral direction (width direction) of the bottom plate 15. It is configured to include a side plate 17. The rectifying material 7 is provided from one side plate 17 of the first gutter 3 to the other side plate 17, and the upper end of the rectifying material 7 is formed in a straight line and extends in the horizontal direction (horizontal direction). There is.

Further explaining, the bottom plate 15 is inclined because the first gutter 3 is inclined. For example, the upper surface (one surface in the thickness direction) of the bottom plate 15 is tilted by about 5 ° to 30 ° with respect to the horizontal plane. In other words, the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 15 is inclined by about 5 ° to 30 ° with respect to the front-rear direction, and the width direction (horizontal direction) of the bottom plate 15 is the horizontal direction. The thickness direction of each of the pair of side plates 17 coincides with the lateral direction.

The water flow direction of the coagulation liquid 13 substantially coincides with the inclination direction (longitudinal direction) of the bottom plate 15. In the first gutter 3, this cross section (cross section formed by a plane in which the coagulating liquid 13 is orthogonal to the water flow direction) has a "U" shape (more accurately, the "U" shape is rotated 90 ° clockwise. Form). The first gutter 3 has a rectangular groove shape with an open top.

Further, in order to prevent the coagulant 13 discharged from the coagulant discharge portion 19 from spilling from the upper end of the first gutter 3 to the upper end portion (upstream end portion in the water flow direction) of the first gutter 3. A spill prevention member 29 is provided. The spill prevention member 29 is formed in a shape obtained by removing one rectangular side wall from a rectangular box. The spill prevention member 29 closes the "U" -shaped opening at the upper end of the first gutter 3 inside the first gutter 3, and causes the pair of side plates 17 of the first gutter 3 to move upward. It is installed in a raised manner. The coagulation liquid release material 21 of the coagulation liquid supply unit 5 is installed inside the spill prevention member 29.

As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, a plurality of rectifying materials 7 are provided at intervals in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13. More specifically, the rectifying member 7 includes a first rectifying member 7A and a second rectifying member 7B.

The first rectifying member 7A has a cross section (a cross section formed by a plane orthogonal to the lateral direction) formed in an "L" shape, from one side plate 17 of the first gutter 3 to the other side plate 17. , The first gutter 3 extends over the entire lateral direction.

Further, the first rectifying member 7A is provided on the upstream side of the first gutter 3 (downstream portion of the spill prevention member 29). Since the cross section is formed in an "L" shape, the first rectifying member 7A includes a first portion 31 having a rectangular cross section and a second portion 33 having a rectangular cross section. ..

In the first rectifying member 7A, the first portion 31 is located on the upper side in the vertical direction and the coagulating liquid 13 is located on the upstream side in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13, and the second portion 33 is located on the lower side in the vertical direction. It is installed located on the downstream side in the flow direction of 13.

The upper surface 35 of the first portion 31 is inclined more than the bottom plate 15 of the first gutter 3, and the upstream end of the first portion 31 is in contact with, for example, the coagulant release material 21. .. The lower end of the second portion 33 is chamfered, and the chamfered portion 37 is in contact with the bottom plate 15 of the first gutter 3 (contact with or in a manner close to surface contact). There is). Further, the end surface 39 on the downstream side of the second portion 33 is orthogonal to the upper surface 35 of the first portion 31.

The second rectifying member 7B has a rectangular cross section (a cross section formed by a plane orthogonal to the lateral direction), and the first gutter 3 is formed from one side plate 17 to the other side plate 17. It extends over the entire lateral direction of the gutter 3. The second rectifying member 7B is installed on the downstream side away from the first rectifying member 7A in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13. Further, the second rectifying member 7B is in contact with the bottom plate 15 of the first gutter 3.

Then, the inside of the first gutter 3 formed on the upstream side of the first rectifying member 7A and the spill prevention member 29 is filled with the coagulating liquid 13 coming out of the coagulating liquid releasing material 21, and further. The coagulating liquid 13 overflows beyond the upper end of the first rectifying member 7A and flows in the first gutter 3 toward the second rectifying member 7B. The coagulating liquid 13 that has flowed overflows beyond the second rectifying member 7B and flows further downstream in the first gutter 3.

At the location PA (see FIG. 3) away from the second rectifying member 7B on the downstream side, the flow velocity U of the coagulating liquid 13 is substantially constant except for the boundary layer, as described above. Further, the height position (depth) of the liquid level of the coagulating liquid 13 in the lateral direction of the first gutter 3 is substantially constant.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the second gutter 9 is provided in the first gutter 3 on the downstream side of the rectifying material 7 in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13. The second gutter 9 is inclined at the same inclination angle as the first gutter 3. Further, a plurality of (for example, four) second gutters 9 are provided so that the coagulating liquid 13 flowing in the first gutter 3 is divided and flows inside each of the second gutters 9. It has become.

Each of the second gutters 9 is formed, for example, in the same shape, and is arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the width direction of the first gutter 3. The direction of the flow of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing through each of the second gutters 9 coincides with the direction of the flow of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing through the first gutter 3.

Further, the rectifying member 7 is further provided with a third rectifying member 7C, and the third rectifying member 7C is installed on the most downstream side among the rectifying members constituting the rectifying member 7. ing.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second gutter 9 has a semicircular cross section (a cross section formed by a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction). That is, it is formed in a shape in which a circular tube having a predetermined length is divided in half along the longitudinal direction. In each of the second gutters 9, the semicircular opening faces upward, the central portion of the semicircle opposite to the opening is in contact with the bottom plate 15 of the first gutter 3, and the longitudinal direction is the first. The first gutter 3 is arranged side by side at the center of the gutter 3 in the lateral direction so as to coincide with the longitudinal direction of the gutter (flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13) (see FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 3, the third rectifying member 7C has a substantially rectangular cross section (a cross section formed by a plane orthogonal to the lateral direction), but has a large chamfered portion 41 at one corner. The cross section is formed in a pentagonal shape, and extends from one side plate 17 of the first gutter 3 to the other side plate 17 over the entire lateral direction of the first gutter 3 (see FIG. 4).

The third rectifying member 7C is installed on the upstream side of each of the second gutters 9, and is in contact with the upstream end of each of the second gutters 9, and the third rectifying member 7C is It is in contact with the bottom plate 15 of the first gutter 3.

The chamfered portion 41 of the third rectifying member 7C is located on the upper side in the vertical direction and on the upstream side in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13. The height of the third rectifying member 7C (the height of the first gutter 3 from the bottom plate 15 in the depth direction of the first gutter 3) is lower than the height of the second gutter 9.

The coagulating liquid 13 that has flowed over the second rectifying member 7B passes through the third rectifying member 7C and flows through each of the second gutters 9. The flow velocity and flow rate of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing in each of the second gutters 9 are substantially equal to each other.

As described above, the flow velocity U of the coagulating liquid 13 is almost constant except for the boundary layer even at the portion PB (see FIG. 1) in the second gutter 9 which is separated from the third rectifying member 7C on the downstream side. It has become. Further, the height position of the liquid level of the coagulating liquid 13 in the lateral direction of the second gutter 9 is substantially constant.

Where each of the second gutters 9 is provided (location PB), as shown in FIG. 7, the coagulant 13 is not only inside the second gutter 9 but also outside the second gutter 9. It is designed to flow in the gutter 3 of 1.

The coagulant 13 merges again downstream of the second gutter 9 and flows in the first gutter 3 in a substantially constant direction at a substantially constant speed U.

To further explain the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, the first gutter 3 and the like are integrally provided on the gantry 43. The coagulation liquid 13 that has flowed down from the first gutter 3 enters the coagulation liquid recovery container 45, and is discharged from the coagulation liquid discharge unit 19 by the pump 47 and the hose 27. That is, the coagulation liquid 13 circulates through the first gutter 3, the coagulation liquid recovery container 45, the hose 27, and the like.

Further, in the middle of the hose 27, a flow meter 49 for measuring the flow rate of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing in the hose 27 is provided. Then, according to the flow rate of the coagulating liquid 13 measured by the flow meter 49, the discharge amount of the pump 47 is controlled under the control of the control unit 55 including the CPU 51 and the memory 53, and the first step is performed. The flow velocity U of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing in the trough 3 and the second trough 9 is kept at a constant value.

At least the surface portion is coagulated by the coagulating liquid 13 from the material N1 injected into the coagulating liquid 13 from the injection part 10 to form a long noodle N2 before cutting, which is cut to a certain length by the cutting part 11 and generated. The noodle-shaped foodstuff N3 is put into the coagulation liquid recovery container 45 together with the coagulation liquid 13, and then enters the coagulation liquid container 57 in which the coagulation liquid 13 is stored separately from the coagulation liquid recovery container 45. Then, the noodle-shaped food material N3 is coagulated to the inside by the coagulating liquid 13.

The noodle-shaped food material N3 coagulated in the coagulation liquid container 57 is transferred to a cleaning portion (not shown) to wash away the coagulation component (coagulant) of the coagulation liquid 13 on the surface or the like.

In FIG. 1, the noodle-shaped foodstuff N3 in the coagulating liquid recovery container 45 and the coagulating liquid container 57 is drawn in a straight line, but the noodle-shaped foodstuff N3 has only the same rigidity as the buckwheat noodles immediately before eating. Since there is no such thing, it is not actually a straight line, but is bent arbitrarily. On the other hand, in the first gutter 3 and the second gutter 9, the long noodle N2 and the noodle-shaped food material N3 before cutting are substantially linear and flow together with the rectified coagulant 13.

Here, the material N1 and the coagulating liquid 13 will be described with an example.

As the material (main raw material) N1, a mixture of soymilk (for example, low-fat soymilk), a gelling agent (for example, Kimika algin, sodium alginate), and an emulsifier (for example, glycerin fatty acid ester) is adopted. The ratio of soymilk, gelling agent and emulsifier is determined to be appropriate.

As the coagulating liquid 13, a coagulant (for example, calcium chloride) dissolved in water at an appropriate ratio is adopted.

In the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, the material N1 is injected from the tank 59 shown in FIG. 1 into the coagulating liquid 13 flowing in the second gutter 9 through the injection unit 10 by the pump 61. There is.

Since the concentration of the coagulant in the coagulant 13 in the coagulation liquid recovery container 45 and the coagulation liquid container 57 becomes thin because it is used for coagulation of the material N1, it is placed in the coagulation liquid 13 in the coagulation liquid recovery container 45 and the coagulation liquid container 57. The coagulant is appropriately replenished.

Here, the injection unit 10 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the injection portion 10 is located inside each of the second gutters 9 and in the middle portion in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13 to be a noodle-shaped food material before coagulation (main of the noodle-shaped food material). Raw material) N1 is injected.

Further, the injection unit 10 is configured to include a plurality of nozzles 63, and each of the nozzles 63 receives the noodle-shaped food N1 before solidification from the tips thereof, and the inside of each of the second gutters 9. It is configured to be injected into (inside the coagulating liquid 13). It is desirable that the injection speed at this time coincides with the flow velocity U of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing inside each of the second gutters 9.

The surface of the material N1 ejected from the nozzle 63 is immediately solidified by the coagulating liquid 13 flowing in each of the second gutters 9 to become long noodles N2 before cutting. Further, the material N1 is ejected from the nozzle 63 into the coagulating liquid 13 having a flow velocity U (a place away from the boundary layer of the coagulating liquid 13), and the long noodle N2 before cutting flows together with the coagulating liquid 13 flowing at the flow velocity U. It has become.

The tip of the nozzle 63 is formed in a truncated cone shape with a small diameter on the lower surface , and the noodle-shaped food material (material) N1 before solidification is ejected from a small hole formed in the center of the lower surface of the truncated cone. It is configured as follows.

As shown in FIG. 5, the central axis C2 of the truncated cone is inclined more than the second gutter 9 in the horizontal direction. Further, the lower surface side (small diameter side) of the truncated cone is located on the downstream side in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13, and the upper surface side (large diameter side) of the truncated cone is located on the upstream side in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13. ..

The central axis of the small hole (small hole through which the material N1 passes) of the nozzle 63 coincides with the central axis of the truncated cone, and the small hole is formed in a tapered shape, and the inner diameter is the flow direction of the material N1. It is small on the downstream side (at the upper surface of the truncated cone) and large on the upstream side in the flow direction of the material N1.

Next, the cutting portion 11 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the cutting portion 11 includes a cutter 65 made of a hard synthetic resin or the like. Then, by the rotation of the cutter 65, a long linear noodle-shaped food material N2 that flows together with the coagulating liquid 13 in the second gutter 9 along the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13 in the second gutter 9 is determined. It is designed to cut to the length of.

That is, as described above, it is ejected from the injection unit 10, at least the surface is solidified by the coagulating liquid 13, the longitudinal direction coincides with the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13, and the flow velocity of the coagulating liquid 13 together with the coagulating liquid 13. The long noodle-shaped food material N2 flowing at almost the same speed as U is cut to a predetermined length by the rotation of the cutter 65.

The cutter 65 rotates (revolves around the axis) about the rotation center axis C1. The rotation center axis C1 is separated from each of the gutters 3 and 9, is located on the downstream side of the second gutter 9 and above the first gutter 3 in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13, and is located on the upper side of the first gutter 3 in a plan view. It extends in a horizontal direction (horizontal direction) orthogonal to the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13 inside.

Further, the cutting portion 11 includes a cutter support 67 that rotates about the rotation center axis C1, and the cutter 65 is supported by the cutter support 67 so that it can move in the direction in which centrifugal force acts due to this rotation. Has been done. Then, the cutter 65 is configured to cooperate with the first gutter 3 to cut the noodle-shaped food material N2.

The portion of the cutter 65 for cutting the noodle-shaped food material N2 is formed at the tip of the cutter 65, which is farther from the rotation center axis C1 than the cutter support 67.

Further, the first gutter 3 is provided with a mat material 69 having elasticity, and is configured to cut the noodle-shaped food material N2 when the cutter 65 rotates and comes into contact with the mat material 69. Has been done.

When cutting the noodle-shaped food material N2, the portion where the noodle-shaped food material N2 of the cutter 65 is cut and the portion in the vicinity thereof are immersed in the coagulating liquid 13 on the upstream side in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13, and the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13. It comes out of the coagulation liquid 13 on the downstream side.

The speed of the portion of the cutter 65 for cutting the noodle-shaped food material N2 (the speed with respect to the first gutter 3) is substantially the same as the flow velocity U of the coagulating liquid 13 and the flow speed of the noodle-shaped food material N2.

Further, in the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, as described above, a plurality of noodle-shaped foodstuffs N2 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the first gutter 3 and at the same speed U as the first gutter. It is designed to flow in 3 (a part on the downstream side of the second gutter 9).

The cutter 65 of the cutting portion 11 is configured to cut each noodle-shaped food material N2 at the same time.

The point that the speed of the portion of the cutter 65 for cutting the noodle-shaped food material N2 is matched (synchronized) with the flow velocity U of the coagulating liquid 13 will be described in detail.

Depending on the flow rate of the coagulating liquid 13 measured by the flow meter 49 and the cross section of the coagulating liquid 13 in the first trough 3 (cross section by a plane orthogonal to the flow direction), the coagulating liquid 13 in the first trough 3 The flow velocity U is calculated. The cutter 65 is rotated by an actuator such as a servomotor (not shown). Therefore, by controlling the rotation speed of the cutter 65 according to the flow velocity U (measured value by the flow meter 49) under the control of the control unit 55, the speed of the cutter 65 is substantially the same as the flow velocity U of the coagulating liquid 13. Can be made to.

Explaining the cut portion 11 in more detail, the cutter support 67 includes a shaft member 71 formed in an elongated columnar shape and a plurality of blade members (for example, six blade members) 73 formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. It is configured with.

Each wing member 73 radially protrudes from the cutter support 67. The cutter 65 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, and a pair of chamfered portions 75 are formed at the tip portion, so that a portion for cutting the long noodle N2 before cutting is sharp.

Further, the cutter 65 is attached to each of the blade members 73 so as to be movable with respect to the blade members 73 only in the direction in which centrifugal force acts due to the rotation of the cutter support 67 and the cutter 65 (vertical direction in FIG. 10). It is supported.

That is, the cutter 65 moves only in the vertical direction of FIG. 10 because the protruding portion 77 provided in the cutter 65 enters and engages with the oval hole 79 provided in the wing member 73. It has become like. What is indicated by reference numeral 81 in FIG. 10 is a weight integrally provided on the cutter 65. By providing the weight 81, the centrifugal force acting on the cutter 65 is increased.

In the state immediately before cutting the long noodle N2 before cutting by the rotation of the cutter 65, the cutter 65 is farthest from the central axis C1 as shown in FIG. 10 by centrifugal force.

When cutting the long noodles N2 before cutting, the tip (lower end in FIG. 10) extending linearly in the lateral direction of the cutter 65 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate 15 of the first gutter 3. The long noodle N2 before cutting is sandwiched between the cutter 65 and the mat material 69, and the long noodle N2 before cutting is cut.

When the tip of the cutter 65 comes into contact with the mat material 69, the cutter 65 moves slightly in the retracting direction (direction opposite to the centrifugal force; upward in FIG. 10), and the mat material 69 is slightly slightly moved. It is designed to elastically deform.

Next, the operation of the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described.

As described above, when the coagulating liquid 13 is flowing through the gutters 3 and 9, the injection unit 10 ejects the material N1 into the coagulating liquid 13 and rotates the cutter 65. As a result, the material N1 supplied by the injection unit 10 becomes the long noodle N2 before cutting, the long noodle N2 before cutting is cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 65, and a large number of noodle-shaped foodstuffs N3 are generated. Will be done.

According to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, since the rectifying material 7 for adjusting the flow of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing through the first trough 3 is provided, the coagulating liquid 13 in which the flow is adjusted is contained before coagulation. When the noodle-shaped food material (material) N1 is injected, the noodle-shaped food material is prevented from being twisted or bent, and the noodle-shaped food material N2 having a well-shaped shape can be produced.

Further, according to the Tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, the coagulant supply unit 5 passes the coagulant discharge unit 19 for discharging the coagulant 13 and the coagulant 13 discharged from the coagulant discharge unit 19 through a mesh to the first trough. Since it is configured to include the coagulating liquid releasing material 21 that is discharged into the coagulating liquid 13, even if a foreign matter is contained in the coagulating liquid 13, it can be captured by capturing the foreign matter and coagulated by passing it through a mesh. The momentum of the flow of the liquid 13 is diminished and the rectification (clearing) of the coagulating liquid 13 is promoted.

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, the first gutter 3 is configured to include a flat plate-shaped bottom plate 15 and a pair of flat plate-shaped side plates 17, and the rectifying material 7 is the first gutter 3. Since it is provided from one side plate 17 to the other side plate 17 and the upper end of the rectifying material 7 extends in the lateral direction, most of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing in the first gutter 3 exceeds the rectifying material 7. It is possible to generate a uniform flow of the coagulating liquid 13 over the entire width direction and depth direction of the first gutter 3 by flowing in a manner of overflowing from the rectifying material 7.

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, since a plurality of rectifying materials 7 are provided at intervals in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13, it is possible to further promote the rectification of the flow of the coagulating liquid 13.

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, the middle portion of the coagulating liquid 13 in the flow direction inside each of the plurality of second troughs 9 having the same shape and having a well-flowing flow, before coagulation. Since the noodle-shaped food material N1 is injected, the noodle-shaped food material N2 is prevented from being twisted or bent, and the noodle-shaped food material N2 having each shape can be efficiently produced.

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, in each of the plurality of second gutters 9, the semicircular opening faces upward, and the central portion of the semicircle opposite to the opening is the first gutter 3. In contact with the bottom plate 15 of the first gutter 3 so that the longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the first gutter 3 (flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13), and the first gutter 3 comes into contact with each other in the lateral direction at the central portion in the lateral direction. Since they are arranged side by side, when manufacturing the second gutter 9, it is only necessary to cut the cylindrical pipe, and the installation space of the second gutter 9 in the lateral direction can be reduced. ..

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, a third rectifying member 7C is provided in contact with each of the second gutters 9 on the upstream side of each of the second gutters 9, so that the second rectifying member 7C is provided. The rectification of the flow of the coagulating liquid 13 in the gutter 9 can be further promoted.

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, the injection unit 10 is configured to include a plurality of nozzles 63, and each of the nozzles 63 receives the noodle-shaped food N1 before solidification from the tip of each nozzle 63. Since it is configured to be ejected into each of the gutters 9, the turbulence of the flow of the coagulant 13 in each of the second gutters 9 is suppressed, and the noodle-shaped ingredients have their respective shapes. N2 can be manufactured.

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, the tip of the nozzle 63 is formed in a truncated cone shape with a small upper surface diameter, and the noodle-shaped food material N1 before solidification is opened in the center of the upper surface of the truncated cone. Since it is configured to be ejected from the small hole and the central axis of the truncated cone is inclined more than the second gutter 9, the flow of the coagulating liquid 13 flowing in the second gutter 9 is the nozzle 63. Disturbance is suppressed.

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, a long linear noodle-shaped food material that flows together with the coagulating liquid 13 along the flow direction of the coagulating liquid 13 in which the flow is arranged by the rotation of the cutter 65 of the cutting portion 11. Since N2 is cut to a predetermined length, many noodle-shaped foodstuffs N3 of a predetermined length have the same thickness and length, and there are no partial defects, bends or twists, and each shape is in order. Noodle-shaped foodstuff N3 can be produced.

Further, according to the Tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, the cutter 65 is supported by the cutter support 67 so as to be movable in the direction in which the centrifugal force acts, and the cutter 65 cooperates with the first gutter 3. Since the noodle-shaped food material N2 is configured to be cut, the noodle-shaped food material N2 can be reliably cut even if the intersection of the height dimensions between the plurality of cutters 65 is increased.

Further, according to the Tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, the cutter 65 is movable in the direction in which centrifugal force due to rotation acts, and the first gutter 3 is provided with the mat material 69 having elasticity, so that the cutter It is possible to substantially eliminate the impact force and noise when the noodle-shaped food material N2 is cut by the 65 rotating and coming into contact with the mat material 69.

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, when cutting the noodle-shaped food material N2, the speed of the portion of the cutter 65 for cutting the noodle-shaped food material N2 is the flow velocity U of the coagulating liquid 13 and the noodle-shaped food material N2. Since it matches the flow velocity, it is possible to prevent the flow of the coagulating liquid 13 from being disturbed or scattered due to the rotation of the cutter 65.

Further, according to the tofu noodle manufacturing apparatus 1, a plurality of noodle-shaped foodstuffs N1 flow through the gutter 9, and the cutter 65 is configured to cut each noodle-shaped foodstuff N2 at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently produce the noodle-shaped foodstuff N3 having the same shape.

The above-mentioned items may be grasped as an invention of the method.

That is, the coagulation liquid supply step of supplying the coagulation liquid to the upper part of the first trough forming the flow path through which the coagulation liquid flows from the upper part to the lower part, and the coagulation liquid supply location in the coagulation liquid supply step are described above. Using a rectifying material provided on the downstream side in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid, a rectifying step for adjusting the flow of the coagulating liquid supplied in the coagulating liquid supply step and flowing through the first trough, and a rectifying step prepared in the rectifying step. It may be grasped as a method for producing a noodle-like food material having an injection step of injecting a noodle-like food material (main raw material of the noodle-like food material) before coagulation into the coagulating liquid.

Further, a first coagulation liquid flow forming step of forming a flow of the coagulating liquid flowing from the upper part to the lower part in the first trough, and a coagulating liquid flow formed in the first coagulating liquid flow forming step. A plurality of coagulations that flow from the upper part to the lower part at the same flow velocity in the plurality of second pits provided in the middle portion in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid in the first pit. In each flow of the coagulation liquid formed in the second coagulation liquid flow forming step for forming the liquid flow and the second coagulation liquid flow formation step, the noodle-like food material before coagulation (noodle-like food material) It may be grasped as a method for producing a noodle-shaped food material having an injection step of injecting the main raw material).

Further, a long noodle-shaped food material that flows together with the coagulant in the trough along the flow direction of the coagulant is located above the flow of the coagulant away from the trough and is located in the horizontal direction and is the coagulant in a plan view. A method for producing noodle-shaped foodstuffs having a cutting step of cutting to a predetermined length by rotating a cutter that rotates (revolves around the axis) around a rotation center axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the above. You may grasp as.

1 Noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing equipment 3 1st gutter 5 Coagulant supply part 7 rectifying material 9 2nd gutter 10 Injection part 11 Cutting part 13 Coagulant 15 Bottom plate 17 Side plate 19 Coagulant discharge part 21 Coagulant discharge material 63 Nozzle 65 Cutter 67 Cutter support 69 Matte material C1 Rotation center axis N1 Noodle-like food before solidification N2 Long straight noodle-like food

Claims (6)

The first gutter that forms the flow path for the coagulant and
A plurality of second gutters provided in the middle of the first gutter in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid, and the coagulating liquid flowing through the first gutter is divided and flowed into the inside.
Inside each of the second gutters, in the middle part in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid, an injection part for injecting the noodle-like food before coagulation, and an injection part.
A noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus characterized by having. In the noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,
The second gutter is formed in a semicircular arc shape in cross section, and each of the second gutters has a semicircular opening facing upward and the center of the semicircle opposite to the opening. That the portion is in contact with the bottom of the first gutter and is arranged laterally at the center of the first gutter in the lateral direction so that the longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the first gutter. A characteristic noodle-shaped food production device. In the noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
A noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that a rectifying material is provided in contact with each of the second gutters in the first gutter and on the upstream side of each of the second gutters. In the noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The injection unit is configured to include a plurality of nozzles, and each of the nozzles ejects the noodle-shaped food material before solidification from the tip of each nozzle into the inside of each of the second gutters. A noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing device characterized by being configured in. In the noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4.
The tip of the nozzle is formed in a truncated cone shape with a small lower surface diameter so that the noodle-shaped foodstuff before solidification is ejected from a small hole formed in the center of the lower surface of the truncated cone. The central axis of the truncated cone is such that the lower surface side of the truncated cone is located on the downstream side in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid and the upper surface side of the truncated cone is located on the upstream side in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid. The noodle-shaped foodstuff manufacturing apparatus is characterized in that it is tilted more than the second cone in the horizontal direction. The first coagulation liquid flow forming step of forming the flow of the coagulation liquid in the first gutter forming the flow path through which the coagulation liquid flows, and
The flow of the coagulating liquid formed in the first coagulating liquid flow forming step by a plurality of second troughs provided in the first trough and in the middle portion in the flow direction of the coagulating liquid. A second coagulation liquid flow forming step of forming a plurality of coagulation liquid flows in which each flows at the same flow velocity.
The said, which is formed in the second coagulation liquid flow forming step from the injection part which ejects the noodle-like food material before coagulation at the middle part in the flow direction of the coagulation liquid inside each of the second coagulation liquids. An injection step of injecting the noodle-like food material before coagulation into each flow of the coagulating liquid, and
A method for producing noodle-like foodstuffs, which is characterized by having.

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