JP7701474B2 - Shutter set for forming food envelops - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming an enveloped food product (e.g., shumai) in which an inner ingredient is wrapped in an outer skin material.

Patent Document 1 discloses a forming device for shumai (encased food), which includes an extrusion device that extrudes the filling material and a turntable arranged below the extrusion device, with the turntable having a pocket that receives the filling material. The shumai skin, which is the outer skin material, is placed on top of the pocket and inserted into the pocket by a pipe of the extrusion device to form a cup shape. The inner material is then extruded from the pipe and filled inside the cup-shaped outer skin material, forming an enclosed food with a head where the inner material is exposed. The formed enclosed food is then removed from the turntable.

This molding device can only mold the wrapped food into a cylindrical shape. In addition, since the peripheral portion of the shumai skin protrudes above the filling material, the peripheral portion is manually folded toward the filling material to make it adhere closely to the filling material (see Patent Document 1).

Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a forming device for encased foods such as shumai and baozi, which includes a number of skin collecting members that can be opened and closed to capture the shumai skin to which the filling has been supplied from the side to form an encased food with a top portion where the filling is exposed, and a number of shaping members that can be opened and closed to trim the top portion of the shumai skin of the encased food. This forming device is configured so that the opening and closing operations of the skin collecting members and the opening and closing operations of the shaping members are linked via a link mechanism.

Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a forming device for encased foods such as Chinese steamed buns, which includes a shutter device that brings the peripheral edge of a flat outer skin material on which an inner material is arranged into a protruding shape above the inner material and seals it to form an encased food, and an extension prevention device that prevents the outer skin material of the encased food, which is arranged below the shutter device, from extending outward. The shutter device includes a number of shutter pieces that can be opened and closed freely, and the extension prevention device includes a number of extension prevention shutter pieces that can be opened and closed freely.

The shutter device forms the head of the enclosed food by gathering and sealing the peripheral portion of the outer skin material so as to cover the inner material. The stretch prevention device sets the tip of the stretch prevention shutter piece to a predetermined width when the inner material is supplied to the outer skin material, and receives the food dough piece so that the outer skin material that forms the body of the enclosed food does not stretch outward (Patent Document 3).

Patent Document 4 discloses a molding device for molding an enveloped food such as an ama-bun, which includes a shutter device that seals the peripheral edge of a flat outer shell material in which an inner material is placed. The shutter device includes a plurality of shutter pieces that can be opened and closed. The side of each shutter piece has a front edge that closes first when the shutter device is closed, and a rear edge that closes later than the front edge.

In its closing operation, the shutter device gathers and seals (closes) the peripheral edges of the food dough pieces so that each rear edge of the shutter pieces covers the inner material. The forming device forms the head of the enclosed food without the food dough pieces protruding above the shutter pieces, thus enveloping and forming the inner material with the outer skin material.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 3-114996 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-021581 JP 2020-178687 A JP 2003-052299 A

The molding devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 mold enclosed food products of a single size, and when changing the size of the enclosed food product, each relevant component must be replaced, making the device lacking versatility.

The molding device described in Patent Document 2 has a complex structure because it must be equipped with multiple skin collecting members and multiple shaping members.

The molding device described in Patent Document 3 has a complex structure because it must be equipped with two devices, namely, a shutter device that forms the head of the enclosed food and an anti-stretch device that receives the body of the enclosed food.

The forming device described in Patent Document 4 is equipped with a shutter device that forms the head of the enclosed food, but the shutter device does not come into contact with the body of the enclosed food.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a shutter set that can reliably press the outer material against the inner material, a method for forming an enclosed food product, and a forming device therefor.

The present invention is a method for forming an enclosed food product, which includes a step of pressing the peripheral portion of an outer skin material on which an inner material is placed against the inner material with the inner surface of each shutter piece by closing a shutter set including a first shutter piece and a second shutter piece, and the second shutter piece presses the enclosed food product with an inner surface having a narrower vertical range compared to the first shutter piece.

Preferably, the first shutter piece presses against the body and shoulder of the enclosed food, and the second shutter piece presses against a part of the body of the enclosed food different from the part of the body pressed by the first shutter piece.

Preferably, the outer skin is polygonal having corners and/or legs, and the first shutter piece presses against the peripheral edge of the outer skin including the corners or legs.

Preferably, the first shutter pieces and the second shutter pieces are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction to press against the peripheral edge of the outer skin material.

Preferably, the method includes a step of raising the peripheral edge of the outer skin material around the inner material using a peripheral edge raising member before the pressing step.

Preferably, the method includes a step, prior to the pressing step, of passing a central portion of the outer skin material on which the inner material is placed through a hole in a mounting member, thereby causing a peripheral portion of the outer skin material to stand up above the mounting member.

Preferably, the central portion of the skin material is thicker than the remaining portions.

Also, a molding device for encased food products is provided, which comprises a shutter set including a first shutter piece and a second shutter piece, and a drive device for opening and closing the shutter set, wherein the first shutter piece and the second shutter piece have inner surfaces that press the peripheral portion of the outer skin material in which the inner material is placed against the inner material, and the inner surface of the second shutter piece is formed lower than the inner surface of the first shutter piece.

Preferably, the inner surface of the first shutter piece has a first inner surface that slopes outwardly from the top to the bottom of the first shutter piece and a second inner surface that extends from the first inner surface to the bottom surface of the first shutter piece, and the second shutter piece has an inner surface that is formed in the same shape as the second inner surface of the first shutter piece.

Preferably, the shutter set is positioned so that the first shutter piece corresponds to a corner and/or a leg of the outer skin material.

Preferably, the shutter set has the first shutter pieces and the second shutter pieces arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

Preferably, it includes a peripheral portion raising member that raises the peripheral portion of the outer skin material around the inner material.

Preferably, the container includes a mounting member having a central hole on which the outer skin material is placed and on which the inner material is arranged.

Preferably, the device is adapted to mold the central portion of the skin material so that it is thicker than the remaining portions.

According to the present invention, when a shutter set including a plurality of shutter pieces is closed, the peripheral portion of the outer skin material on which the inner material is arranged can be pressed against the inner material by the inner surfaces of the shutter pieces. In addition, during this pressing, the outer skin material that is deformed into a wavy shape in a plan view can be folded. Therefore, an enclosed food product can be formed in which the outer skin material is in close contact with the inner material.

1 is a schematic front view of an apparatus for forming an enveloped food product having a shutter device including a shutter set according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the molding apparatus of FIG. 1; 2 is a schematic plan view showing a main portion of the shutter device of the molding apparatus of FIG. 1 in an enlarged (open) state in which an opening formed by surrounding the main portion with a plurality of shutter pieces is shown. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a main part of the shutter device of the molding apparatus of FIG. 1 in a state in which an opening formed by surrounding it with a plurality of shutter pieces is reduced (closed so as not to be closed). FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a first shutter piece in the shutter set of the molding device of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 5B is a schematic front view of the first shutter leaf of FIG. 5A; FIG. 5B is a schematic bottom view of the first shutter leaf of FIG. 5A. FIG. 5B is a schematic side view of the first shutter leaf of FIG. 5A. FIG. 5B is a bottom perspective view of the first shutter piece of FIG. 5A. 2 is a schematic plan view of a second shutter piece in the shutter set of the molding device of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 7B is a schematic front view showing the second shutter leaf of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7B is a schematic bottom view of the second shutter leaf of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7B is a schematic side view of the second shutter leaf of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7B is a bottom perspective view of the second shutter piece of FIG. 7A. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a process of forming an encased food product by a coating device of the forming apparatus of FIG. 1. [0023] FIG. 9B is a schematic front view showing the molding process of FIG. 9A for the first shutter piece; FIG. 9B is a schematic front view showing the molding process of FIG. 9A for the second shutter piece; FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a process of forming an encased food product by a coating device of the forming apparatus of FIG. 1. [0023] FIG. 10B is a schematic front view showing the molding process of FIG. 10A for the first shutter piece; FIG. 10B is a schematic front view showing the molding process of FIG. 10A for the second shutter piece; FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of an outer shell material used in a method for forming an enveloped food product using a shutter set according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a schematic front view showing a molding process of a method for molding an enclosed food product using a shutter set according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the first shutter piece and the second shutter piece are used; FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of an apparatus for forming an enveloped food product using a shutter set according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of the molding apparatus of FIG. 12.

1 to 10, an enclosed food forming apparatus 1 using a shutter set according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The forming apparatus 1 is for forming an enclosed food P in which an inner material F is covered with an outer skin material D. For example, the outer skin material D is a flaky shumai dough (shumai skin), the inner material F is cooked meat (paste), and the enclosed food P is shumai. The outer skin material D is square and includes a central portion DC which is near the center of the outer skin material D and forms the bottom surface PU of the enclosed food P, and a peripheral portion DD other than the central portion DC. The peripheral portion DD includes four corner portions DE which form the periphery of the four corners.

1 and 2, the molding device 1 includes an internal material supply device 2 and a coating device 3. The coating device 3 includes a base 21 and a number of devices attached to the base 21, namely, a supply conveyor 23, a shutter device 25, a support device 29, an unloading conveyor 31, and a control device 33 that controls each of these devices.

The inner material supply device 2 includes a belt conveyor 6 that transports the outer material D formed into a thin flake, a discharge section 7 that supplies the inner material F to the upper surface of the outer material D, and a supply device 8 that feeds the inner material F to the discharge section 7. The discharge section 7 has a nozzle 9 that can be raised and lowered, and the nozzle 9 has a discharge port 10 at its lower end. The discharge section 7 is configured to intermittently discharge the required amount of inner material F from the discharge port 10.

The supply conveyor 23 is a belt conveyor for supplying the outer skin material D to which the inner material F has been supplied to the shutter device 25, and its tip 24 is configured to be capable of reciprocating along the conveying direction R between an advance position (not shown) and a waiting position (see Figures 1 and 2).

Furthermore, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the shutter device 25 includes a base plate 26 removably attached to the base 21, a hole plate 27 (mounting member, mounting plate) removably (replaceably) attached to the base plate 26, eight pivot shafts 15, and a shutter set 11.

The hole plate 27 is configured so that the outer skin material D is placed thereon. The hole plate 27 has a circular hole 28 at its center. The diameter of the hole 28 is selected according to the size of the food product P to be encased. The eight rotating shafts 15 are equally spaced on an imaginary circumference CC around the center C of the hole 28 so as to surround the center C of the hole 28. The rotating shafts 15 are connected to an appropriate drive device via an interlocking mechanism such as a gear.

The shutter set 11 includes four first shutter pieces 4 and four second shutter pieces 5. The first shutter pieces 4 and the second shutter pieces 5 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction and are connected to the rotating shaft 15 via the connecting member 13. The first shutter pieces 4 and the second shutter pieces 5 are configured to enlarge and reduce (open and close) the opening 61 surrounded by the first shutter pieces 4 and the second shutter pieces 5 by synchronously swinging them by a driving device. The first shutter pieces 4 and the second shutter pieces 5 are arranged slightly away from the common upper surface of the base plate 26 and the hole plate 27 (shown in a state of contact in FIG. 9B, etc.). Details of the first shutter pieces 4 and the second shutter pieces 5 will be described later.

The support device 29 is a belt conveyor arranged below the shutter device 25, and is configured to support the center DC of the outer skin material D that constitutes the bottom surface PU of the wrapped food P and to transport the wrapped food P to the discharge conveyor 31. The support device 29 has an endless conveyor belt 29A that is looped around multiple rollers and driven intermittently. The support device 29 is configured to be able to rise and fall, and for this purpose is connected to a drive device such as a servo motor so that it is interlocked with the drive device. The upper end position, lower end position, and lifting speed of the support device 29, as well as the drive timing and drive speed of the conveyor belt 29A, are adjustable (see Figures 1 and 2).

The discharge conveyor 31 is a belt conveyor arranged adjacent to the downstream side of the support device 29 that has been lowered to its lower end position. The discharge conveyor 31 is configured to receive the wrapped food P from the support device 29 and then discharge it downstream (see Figures 1 and 2).

Next, the first shutter piece 4 and the second shutter piece 5 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 5A to 8.

The first shutter piece 4 has an upper surface 4T, a lower surface 4U, an inner surface 4F located between the upper surface 4T and the lower surface 4U and configured to contact the outer skin material D, an outer surface 4G that forms a leading edge 4C together with the inner surface 4F, a side surface 4I that is adjacent to the inner surface 4F and configured to recede from the inner surface 4F, and other side surfaces 4S. The position of the leading edge 4C in a plan view is preferably determined so that the leading edge 4C passes through the center C of the opening 61 of the shutter set 11 when the first shutter piece 4 is swung.

The lower surface 4U and the other side surfaces 4S are provided with a drive mounting portion 4H that is attached to the connecting member 13. The drive mounting portion 4H is, for example, a recess and a hole, and is conventionally known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The inner surface 4F has an upper portion 41, a lower portion 45 located below the upper portion 41, and an intermediate portion 43 located between the upper portion 41 and the lower portion 45 (see Figure 5D).

5B and 6, the upper portion 41 is mainly composed of an upper edge 4A, a lower edge 41D (shared with the upper edge 43A of the intermediate portion 43), and a tip edge 41C. The upper edge 4A extends from the base end 41B to the tip 41E, and is convex and arcuate in plan view. The upper portion 41 is a curved surface having the same contour shape in the vertical direction. In addition, the tip edge 41C of the upper portion 41 is perpendicular to the top surface 4T, and constitutes part of the tip edge 4C of the first shutter piece 4.

The intermediate portion 43 is mainly composed of an upper edge 43A (common with the lower edge 41D of the upper portion 41), a lower edge 43D, and a tip edge 43C. The upper edge 43A extends from the base end 43B to the tip 43E, and is convex and arc-shaped in a plan view. The intermediate portion 43 extends obliquely downward from the upper edge 43A to the lower edge 43D so as to recede toward the lower portion 45, that is, it is inclined toward the outside of the hole 28. The lower edge 43D extends from the base end 43F to the tip 45E, and is convex and arc-shaped in a plan view. In a plan view, the length of the lower edge 43D is longer than the length of the upper edge 43A. The tip edge 43C of the intermediate portion 43 is a curved line that extends at an incline in the vertical direction from the tip 43E (upper end) to the tip 45E (lower end), and constitutes a part of the tip edge 4C of the first shutter piece 4. In addition, in a plan view, the width by which the lower edge 43D is recessed from the upper edge 43A becomes wider from the base end 43B to the tip end 43E. As shown in Figures 5B and 5C, in a front view and a bottom view, the middle portion 43 is projected into a substantial trapezoid with the upper edge 43A as the upper base and the lower edge 43D as the lower base. In this embodiment, the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the middle portion 43 is a concave curve, but may be a straight line or a bent line, or a combination thereof.

The lower portion 45, together with the lower portion 55 of the second shutter piece 5 described later, forms the opening 61 of the shutter set 11 and includes an upper vertical portion 451 and a lower inclined portion 453.

The vertical portion 451 is mainly composed of an upper edge 45A (the tip side of which is common to the lower edge 43D of the intermediate portion 43), a lower edge 453A, and a tip edge 451C. The upper edge 45A extends from the base end 45B to the tip 45E, and is convex and arcuate in plan view. A portion of the upper edge 45A is common to the lower edge 43D of the intermediate portion 43. The lower edge 453A extends from the base end 453B to the tip 453E. The vertical portion 451 extends downward from the upper edge 45A to the lower edge 453A, and is a curved surface having the same contour shape in the vertical direction. The tip edge 451C of the vertical portion 451 extends in the vertical direction from the tip 45E (upper end) to the tip 453E (lower end). The tip edge 451C is a straight line and constitutes a part of the tip edge 4C of the first shutter piece 4.

The lower inclined portion 453 is mainly composed of an upper edge (shared with the lower edge 453A of the vertical portion 451), a lower edge 4D, and a tip edge 453C. The lower edge 4D extends from the base end 453F to the tip 453G, and is convex and arcuate in plan view. The lower inclined portion 453 is an inclined surface that extends obliquely downward from the vertical portion 451 to the lower surface 4U, receding from the vertical portion 451. The lower inclined portion 453 and the lower surface 4U intersect at the lower edge 4D. In this embodiment, the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the lower inclined portion 453 is a convex curve, but may be a straight line or a bent line, or a combination thereof. The tip edge 453C of the lower inclined portion 453 is a curved line that extends at an incline in the vertical direction from a tip 453E (upper end, the lower end of the tip edge 451C of the vertical portion 451) to a tip 453G (lower end), and constitutes a part of the tip edge 4C of the first shutter piece 4. In other words, the tip edge 45C of the lower portion 45 is constituted by the tip edge 451C of the vertical portion 451 and the tip edge 453C of the lower inclined portion 453. Also, as shown in Figures 5A and 5C, the width by which the lower edge 4D retracts from the upper edge 45A in a plan view becomes wider from the base end 45B toward the tip 45E.

The outer surface 4G of the first shutter piece 4 is configured so as not to impede the oscillation of the second shutter piece 5, which will be described later, when the shutter set 11 is opened or closed. In this embodiment, the outer surface 4G is concave in plan view.

7B and 8, the second shutter piece 5 has an upper surface 5T, a lower surface 5U, an inner surface 5F located away from the upper surface 5T and adjacent to the lower surface 5U and configured to contact the outer skin material D, an outer surface 5G forming a leading edge 5C together with the inner surface 5F, a side surface 5I adjacent to the inner surface 5F and the outer surface 5G and configured to recede from the inner surface 5F and the outer surface 5G, and other side surfaces 5S. The position of the leading edge 5C (the leading edge of the lower portion 55 described later) in a plan view is preferably determined so that the leading edge 5C passes through the center C of the opening 61 of the shutter set 11 when the second shutter piece 5 is swung.

The lower surface 5U and the other side surfaces 5S are provided with a drive mounting portion 5H that is attached to the connecting member 13. The drive mounting portion 5H is formed in the same shape as the drive mounting portion 4H of the first shutter piece 4.

The inner surface 5F is formed by a lower portion 55 corresponding to the lower portion 45 of the first shutter leaf 4. Therefore, the upper edge 55A of the inner surface 5F of the second shutter leaf 5 is located lower than the upper edge 4A of the inner surface 4F of the first shutter leaf 4. In addition, the leading edge 5C of the second shutter leaf 5 is formed between the leading edge 55E of the upper edge 55A and the leading edge 553G of the lower edge 5D.

The lower portion 55, together with the lower portion 45 of the first shutter piece 4, constitutes the opening 61 of the shutter set 11, and includes an upper vertical portion 551 and a lower inclined portion 553. The vertical portion 551 and the lower inclined portion 553 are formed in the same shape as the vertical portion 451 and the lower inclined portion 453 of the first shutter piece 4, respectively.

Specifically, the vertical portion 551 is mainly composed of an upper edge 55A, a lower edge 553A, and a tip edge 551C. The upper edge 55A extends from the base end 55B to the tip 55E, and is convex and arcuate in plan view. The lower edge 553A extends from the base end 553B to the tip 553E. The vertical portion 551 extends downward from the upper edge 55A to the lower edge 553A, and is a curved surface having the same contour shape in the vertical direction. The tip edge 551C of the vertical portion 551 extends in the vertical direction from the tip 55E (upper end) to the tip 553E (lower end). The tip edge 551C is a straight line and constitutes part of the tip edge 5C of the second shutter piece 5.

The lower inclined portion 553 is mainly composed of an upper edge (lower edge 553A of the vertical portion 551), a lower edge 5D, and a tip edge 553C. The lower edge 5D extends from the base end 553F to the tip 553G, and is convex and arcuate in plan view. The lower inclined portion 553 is an inclined surface that extends obliquely downward from the vertical portion 551 to the lower surface 5U so as to recede from the vertical portion 551. The lower inclined portion 553 and the lower surface 5U intersect at the lower edge 5D. In this embodiment, the longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the lower inclined portion 553 is a convex curve, but it may be a straight line or a bent line that is a combination of these. The tip edge 553C of the lower inclined portion 553 is a curve that extends at an incline in the vertical direction from the tip 553E (upper end) to the tip 553G (lower end), and constitutes a part of the tip edge 5C of the second shutter piece 5. That is, the leading edge 5C of the second shutter piece 5 (leading edge of the lower portion 55) is composed of the leading edge 551C of the vertical portion 551 and the leading edge 553C of the downward inclined portion 553. In addition, as shown in Figures 7A and 7C, the width by which the lower edge 5D of the lower portion 55 retracts from the upper edge 55A in a plan view becomes wider from the base end 55B toward the leading end 55E.

The outer surface 5G of the second shutter piece 5 may be formed so as not to impede the swinging of the first shutter piece 4 when the shutter set 11 is opened or closed. In this embodiment, the outer surface 5G is concave in plan view.

When the shutter set 11 is opened or closed, the leading edge 45C of the lower portion 45 of the inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4 is configured to slide against the inner surface 5F (lower portion 55) of the adjacent second shutter piece 5, and the leading edge 5C of the inner surface 5F (lower portion 55) of the second shutter piece 5 is configured to slide against the lower portion 45 of the inner surface 4F of the adjacent first shutter piece 4. At this time, the lower portion 45 of the inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4 and the inner surface 5F (lower portion 55) of the second shutter piece 5 swing so as to approach or move away from the center C of the hole 28 of the hole plate 27, thereby making it possible to reduce or enlarge the opening 61 of the shutter set 11.

Next, the molding process of the enclosed food P using the molding device 1 including the shutter set 11 of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The square outer skin material D is placed on the conveying surface of the belt conveyor 6 of the inner material supply device 2. The outer skin material D is placed so that the four corners DE of the outer skin material D transferred to the hole plate 27 as described below face the inner surfaces 4F of the four first shutter pieces 4.

The belt conveyor 6 starts to drive at a set timing. The conveyance of the outer skin material D is temporarily stopped at a position where the center (intersection of the diagonal lines) of the outer skin material D coincides with the center of the discharge port 10 of the nozzle 9. The required amount of the inner material F is discharged from the discharge port 10 of the nozzle 9 onto the upper surface of the outer skin material D, and then the inner material F is separated from the nozzle 9 to place the inner material F on the outer skin material D (inner material placing process, or inner material placement process). The outer skin material D with the inner material F placed thereon is transported by the belt conveyor 6 to the supply conveyor 23 of the coating device 3 (see Figures 1 and 2). In a plan view, it is desirable that the diameter of the discharged inner material F is smaller than the diameter of the hole 28 of the hole plate 27.

The tip 24 of the supply conveyor 23 moves to cover the upper part of the shutter set 11 and stops at the extended position. The outer skin material D is then transported to a position where its center coincides with the center of the opening 61 of the shutter set 11, i.e., the center C of the hole 28 of the hole plate 27, and is temporarily stopped there.

The tip 24 is quickly moved back to the standby position, and the outer skin material D placed on the tip 24 is dropped into the opening 61 of the shutter set 11 and transferred onto the hole plate (mounting member, mounting plate) 27 (transfer process). At this time, the four corners DE of the outer skin material D placed on the hole plate 27 face the inner surfaces 4F of the four first shutter pieces 4, respectively.

9A to 9C, the outer skin material D on which the inner material F is placed is dropped into the opening 61, and the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D lands on the hole plate 27. The central portion DC of the outer skin material D on which the inner material F is placed is passed through the hole 28 of the hole plate 43 and supported on the support device 29 waiting at a required distance from the upper surface of the hole plate 43. At this time, the portion of the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D close to the central portion DC is bent so as to stand up from the hole plate 43 by contacting the inner peripheral surface of the hole 28. In this way, the bottom surface PU of the wrapped food P is formed. The peripheral portion DD is gathered in the center by standing up and is deformed into a wavy shape in a plan view (standing up process).

The drive mechanism starts the closing operation of the shutter set 11. That is, the first shutter piece 4 and the second shutter piece 5 are rotated synchronously toward the center C (the opening 61 is narrowed). Referring to Figures 10A to 10C, when the shutter set 11 is closed to a required position where the opening 61 is not closed and temporarily stopped, the inner surfaces 4F of the four first shutter pieces 4 and the inner surfaces 5F of the four second shutter pieces 5 are in contact with the peripheral portion DD of the raised outer skin material D (temporary closing operation process). At this time, the corrugated peripheral portion DD is pressed inward by the inner surfaces 4F and 5F to be folded, and the peripheral portion DD is brought into close contact with the inner material F to form the wrapped food P (covering process).

To explain in more detail, the first shutter pieces 4 and the second shutter pieces 5 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. As a result, the inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4 contacts the peripheral portion DD of the outer cover material D including the corner portion DE, and the inner surface 5F of the second shutter piece 5 contacts the peripheral portion DD located between the peripheral portions DD with which the inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4 contacts, i.e., the peripheral portion DD not including the corner portion DE. The lower portion 45 of the first shutter piece 4 and the lower portion (inner surface) 5F of the second shutter piece 5 contact the peripheral portion DD located below the shoulder portion PB and press the body portion PA of the wrapped food P over the entire circumference. That is, the body part PA of the enclosed food P pressed by the lower part (inner surface) 5F of the second shutter piece 5 is a different part of the body part PA of the enclosed food P pressed by the lower part 45 of the first shutter piece 4. In this way, the shutter set 11 presses and folds the wavy peripheral part DD, so that the enclosed food P has a wrinkled pattern.

In addition, the middle portion 43 of the first shutter piece 4 contacts the peripheral portion DD including the corner portion DE of the outer skin material D and presses around the shoulder portion PB of the enclosed food P. The lower portion 55 of the second shutter piece 4 is configured not to contact the shoulder portion PB (inner material F) of the enclosed food P and does not press the shoulder portion PB. The bottom surface PU of the enclosed food P is supported by the support device 29, and the body portion PA and shoulder portion PB of the enclosed food P are pressed by the shutter set 11. Therefore, it is possible to form an enclosed food P in which the outer skin material D is in close contact with the inner material F (pressing process).

It is preferable that the shutter set 11 (the first shutter piece 4 and the second shutter piece 5) is configured so as not to come into contact with the inner material F of the wrapped food P. In detail, the middle part 43 of the first shutter piece is formed into a substantially trapezoidal shape in front view and plan view so as to accommodate the peripheral part DD of the outer cover material D including the corner part DE. In addition, the inner surface (lower part) 5F of the second shutter piece 5 does not have a part corresponding to the upper part 41 and the middle part 43 of the first shutter piece 4, and is lower than the inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4. In other words, the vertical range of the inner surface (lower part) 5F of the second shutter piece 5 that presses the wrapped food is narrower than the vertical range of the inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4. As a result, the head PC of the wrapped food P is not covered by the outer cover material D. Furthermore, at the shoulder portion PB of the wrapped food P above the inner surface (lower portion) 5F of the second shutter piece 5, the inner material F is exposed between the peripheral portions DD of the gathered outer material D (see FIG. 10C).

Next, the shutter set 11 is rotated away from the center C, i.e., in the opposite direction to the closing operation, to release the wrapped food P and to lower the support device 29 carrying the wrapped food P to the lowering stop position. The wrapped food P is then transferred from the support device 29 to the discharge conveyor 31 and further discharged toward a secondary forming device, heat treatment device, etc. (discharge process).

Next, referring to Figures 11A to 13, a forming apparatus 101 for encased food P including a shutter set according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The components of the forming apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment, which are similar to those of the forming apparatus 1 for encased food P according to the first embodiment, are given the same reference numerals as those of the forming apparatus 1, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. As shown in Figure 11A, the outer cover material D2 includes a central portion DC near the center and constituting the bottom surface PU of the encased food P, and a peripheral portion DD other than the central portion DC. The peripheral portion DD includes three leg portions DF extending radially from the central portion DC and arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the outer cover material D2 is approximately polygonal (approximately triangular).

The molding device 101 is equipped with an inner material supply device 102 and a covering device 5.

The internal material supply device 102 is equipped with a supply device 8 arranged on the upper surface of the base 21 of the coating device 5. The nozzle 9 is arranged so that its center coincides with the center C of the hole 28 of the hole plate 27 (the opening 61 of the shutter set 11 that opens and closes). The nozzle 9 is also connected to a lifting device 65 such as an air cylinder, and is configured to be lifted and lowered so as to be able to enter the opening 61. The lowering stop position of the nozzle 9 is set above the upper surface of the hole plate 27 (mounting member, mounting plate).

The shutter set 11, which is the second embodiment of the present invention, includes three first shutter pieces 4 and three second shutter pieces 5, and the first shutter pieces 4 and the second shutter pieces 5 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

Next, the molding process of the enclosed food P2 using a molding device 101 including a shutter set 11, which is the second embodiment of the present invention, will be described.

The outer skin material D2 is manually placed on the supply conveyor 23 of the coating device 3. The supply conveyor 23 is operated in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, and the outer skin material D2 is dropped into the opening 61 of the shutter set 11 and transferred onto the hole plate (mounting member, mounting plate) 27 (transfer process). The outer skin material D2 is placed so that the three legs DF of the outer skin material D2 transferred to the hole plate 27 face the inner surfaces 4F of the three first shutter pieces 4, respectively.

The lifting device 65 is operated to lower the nozzle 9 to a lowering stop position above the outer skin material D2 and stop it. Next, the required amount of inner material F is discharged from the discharge port 10 (inner material placement process or inner material placement process). As shown in FIG. 11B, the inner material F is discharged to the center of the outer skin material D2, so that the central part DC of the outer skin material D2 is pushed through the hole 28 of the hole plate 27, and the central part DC of the outer skin material D2 is supported on the support device 29. At this time, the peripheral part DD of the outer skin material D2 is raised upward from the hole plate 43 as in the first embodiment. In this way, the bottom surface PU of the wrapped food P is formed. In addition, the peripheral part DD is deformed into a wave shape in a plan view (raising process). After that, the nozzle 9 is raised to the raised stop position (see FIG. 12).

The shutter set 11 begins to close by the drive mechanism, reducing the opening 61. The first shutter pieces 4 and the second shutter pieces 5 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, and the first shutter pieces 4 are arranged to face the legs DF of the outer skin material D2. As a result, the inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4 contacts the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D including the legs DF, and the inner surface 5F of the second shutter piece 5 contacts the peripheral portion DD located between the peripheral portions DD that the inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4 contacts, that is, the peripheral portion DD that does not include the legs DF. The lower portion 45 of the first shutter piece 4 and the lower portion (inner surface) 5F of the second shutter piece 5 contact the peripheral portion DD located below the shoulder portion PB and press the body portion PA of the wrapped food P2 over the entire circumference. That is, the lower portion (inner surface) 5F of the second shutter piece 5 presses against a body portion PA of the enclosed food P at a different location from the body portion PA of the enclosed food P pressed against by the lower portion 45 of the first shutter piece 4. In this manner, the shutter set 11 presses the corrugated peripheral portion DD inward to fold it.

In addition, the middle portion 43 of the first shutter piece 4 contacts the peripheral portion DD including the leg portion DF of the outer skin material D2 and presses against the periphery of the shoulder portion PB of the enclosed food P2. The bottom surface PU of the enclosed food P is supported by the support device 29, and the body portion PA and shoulder portion PB of the enclosed food P are pressed by the shutter set 11. Thus, an enclosed food P2 can be formed in which the outer skin material D2 is in close contact with the inner material F (covering process/pressing process).

The shutter set 11, which is an embodiment of the present invention, has been generally described above, but the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications may be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, in the above embodiment, the shape of the outer skin material is a square with four corners DE or a substantially triangular shape with three legs DF, but it may be a regular polygon such as an equilateral triangle or a regular hexagon, or may be another substantially polygonal shape with multiple legs, or may be a substantially polygonal shape with corners and legs. The outer skin material may also be a shape in which the distance from the center to the periphery is not constant, that is, a shape that is not circular (the parts where the distance from the center to the periphery is relatively long correspond to the legs). In this case, it is preferable that the shutter set includes first shutter pieces and second shutter pieces according to the number of corners and/or legs. In other words, the first shutter pieces and second shutter pieces arranged in the circumferential direction do not have to be arranged alternately.

In addition, multiple types of shutter pieces can be appropriately selected, not limited to two types, depending on the size (length) of the peripheral portion of the upright outer skin material of the enclosed food. In other words, the shutter set may include, for example, one or more types of first shutter pieces that press against the shoulder and body of the enclosed food, and/or one or more types of second shutter pieces that press against the body of the enclosed food.

In addition, the inner surface (lower portion) 5F of the second shutter piece 5 does not have to have the same shape as the lower portion 45 of the inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4. In detail, the inner surface (lower portion) 5F of the second shutter piece 5 is formed according to the height of the peripheral portion DD of the outer cover material D, D2 rising from the upper surface of the mounting member (hole plate 27). For example, the upper end of the inner surface (lower portion) 5F of the second shutter piece may be lower than the upper end of the middle portion 43 of the first shutter piece (i.e., higher than the upper end of the lower portion 45), and/or the lower end of the inner surface (lower portion) 5F of the second shutter piece may be higher than the lower end of the lower portion 45 of the first shutter piece. In this case, the vertical range of the inner surface of the second shutter piece that presses the wrapped food is narrower than the vertical range of the inner surface of the first shutter piece 4.

The inner surface 4F of the first shutter piece 4, which presses the peripheral portion DD including the corner portion DE against the inner material F, may have at least an intermediate portion 43. In other words, the entire inner surface of the first shutter piece may be configured to incline outward from the top to the bottom of the first shutter piece. In this case, the intermediate portion of the first shutter piece includes a portion that presses the body of the enclosed food and a portion that presses the shoulder. The inner surface of the second shutter piece may be configured to correspond to a portion of the inner surface of the first shutter piece (the portion that presses the body of the enclosed food).

In addition, in order to form enveloped foods P of various sizes, the size of the opening 61 may be adjusted by controlling the closing operation of the shutter set 11.

In addition, in the molding devices 1 and 101, a mounting member 27 having holes 28 is used as a peripheral portion raising member (peripheral portion raising device) that raises the peripheral portion DD of the outer skin material D around the inner material F. However, for example, the peripheral portion raising member (peripheral portion raising device) may be a plurality of rod-shaped or plate-shaped members that pass through holes in the table and are raised and lowered from below the table on which the outer skin material D on which the inner material F is placed is placed, or compressed air may be sprayed upward from holes in the table.

Although an embodiment has been described in which the outer skin material D is shumai skin and shumai are formed, various types of enclosed foods may be formed. For example, an enclosed food may be formed in which the outer skin material D is Chinese bun dough or pie dough and the inner material F is Chinese filling or fruit paste.

In addition, the central portion DC of the outer covering material D, D2 may be made thicker than the surrounding portion other than the central portion DC (generally the peripheral portion DD). By making the central portion DC thicker, the thickness of the dough of the peripheral portion DD overlapping the body portion PA of the enclosed food P, P2 can be made closer to the thickness of the dough of the bottom surface, improving the texture. Also, when the shumai are steamed and peeled off from the paper liner, the outer covering material on the bottom surface of the shumai can be prevented from tearing.

An example of a device for forming an outer skin material D with a thick central portion DC is a stamping device that presses and forms a dough ball, the stamping device having an upper mold and a horizontal mold surrounding the upper mold, with a recess in the center of the lower surface of the upper mold. Another example is a device that forms thicker portions of dough at specified intervals in a strip of dough and cuts out dough pieces, for example, this device forms recesses in the peripheral surface of the rolling rollers when rolling a continuous strip of dough with opposing rolling rollers.

4 First shutter piece 43 Middle portion (second portion)
43A Upper edge 43D Lower edge 45 Lower portion (first portion)
5 Second shutter piece 5F Lower portion (first portion)
5I Part (Second Part)
11 shutter set 61 opening D, D2 outer shell material F inner shell P, P2 food PA body PB shoulder

Claims (6)

A shutter set for pressing an outer skin material standing around an inner material against the inner material to form an enveloped food product in which the inner material is enveloped by the outer skin material,
The shutter includes a plurality of shutter pieces arranged in a circumferential direction,
The plurality of shutter pieces constitute an opening that can be enlarged and reduced by swinging the shutter pieces, and include a first shutter piece and a second shutter piece;
The first shutter piece includes a first portion that presses against a body portion of the food product and a second portion that presses against a shoulder portion of the food product,
the second shutter piece has a first portion that presses against a body portion of the food product so as not to come into contact with a shoulder portion of the food product;
A shutter set, wherein the opening is formed by a first portion of the first shutter piece and a first portion of the second shutter piece. The shutter set of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the first shutter piece has a surface that slopes outwardly from top to bottom and is connected to the first portion of the first shutter piece. The shutter set of claim 2, wherein the inclined surface has an upper edge and a lower edge that is longer than the upper edge. The shutter set of claim 1, wherein the height of the first portion of the first shutter piece is the same as the height of the first portion of the second shutter piece. The shutter set of claim 1, wherein the second shutter piece further has a second portion recessed from the first portion and positioned above the first portion. The shutter set of claim 1, wherein the first shutter pieces and the second shutter pieces are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

Images