JPH01104127A - Apparatus for separating noodles such as vermicelli - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To automate and omit a noodle division operation and to homogenize products by providing a pair of division chopsticks, a horizontal driving means, a vertical driving means and an opening/closing driving means. CONSTITUTION: This device is provided with a pair of the division chopsticks 87 inserted and withdrawn in a direction parallel to both upper and lower hooking chopsticks between noodle lines wound between the upper hooking chopstick and the lower hooking chopstick 4 parallelly arranged up and down, the horizontal driving means 86 for moving the division chopsticks 87 back and forth over a standby position off the noodle lines and an operation position between the noodle lines, the vertical driving means 83 for elevating or lowering the division chopsticks 87 inserted between the noodle lines and the opening/ closing driving means 88 for opening and closing both division chopsticks 87 inserted between the noodle lines in the direction of widening the interval of the noodle lines. Then, the noodle division operation is performed while extending the noodle lines without using manual aid at all. Also, by mechanizing the noodle division operation, operation irregularities are eliminated and the products are homogenized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a partial device for somen noodles, etc., used in the stretching process of somen noodles.

[Prior art and its problems]

In recent years, the mechanization of noodle production such as somen has been progressing. For example, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-38788, the noodle string stretching process uses a hanger chain conveyor whose spacing gradually increases toward the lower side in the conveying direction. A hanger chain conveyor is provided with a lower chain conveyor, and the upper chopsticks are transferred at a predetermined speed by the hanger chain conveyor, and the lower chopsticks are transferred at a predetermined speed in synchronization with the upper chopsticks by the lower chain conveyor. Such noodle string stretching devices have been put into practical use. In this noodle string stretching device, the noodle strings are wrapped around the upper chopsticks and lower chopsticks that are being conveyed by both chain conveyors, and are wound in a vertical twill shape and moved to the lower side in the conveyance direction of both chain conveyors. It will be extended as time goes on.

By the way, in this noodle string stretching process, two branches are inserted between the noodle strings so that the noodle strings wrapped in a twill shape across the upper chopsticks and the lower chopsticks do not touch or stick to each other. However, it is necessary to raise and lower these chopsticks and open and close them laterally to separate the noodle strings. This partial work requires a great deal of skill as it is necessary to separate the noodle strings to the extent that they are not cut.

However, relying on humans to perform partial work on the noodle strings in this way leaves a great deal of dissatisfaction in efforts to save labor and manpower, and the quality of the product may become uneven due to uneven work in the partial work. .

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it aims to save labor and manpower by automating the partial work of making noodle strings, and to make the product even more homogeneous. The purpose is to provide a partial device.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the partial device for making somen noodles, etc. according to the present invention has a structure in which both the upper and lower parts are hung between the noodle strings wrapped between the upper and lower chopsticks arranged vertically in parallel. A pair of chopsticks that are inserted and removed in a direction parallel to the chopsticks, a transverse driving means that moves both chopsticks forward and backward between a standby position outside the noodle strings and a working position between the noodle strings, and a pair of chopsticks that are inserted between the noodle strings. It is characterized in that it is provided with an elevating drive means for raising or lowering the chopsticks, and an opening/closing drive means for opening and closing both chopsticks inserted between the noodle strings in a direction that widens the distance between the noodle strings.

[Effect]

In the above configuration, the noodle strings are usually wound in a shape over the upper chopsticks and the lower chopsticks. A pair of chopsticks is inserted between the noodle strings wound around the upper chopsticks and the lower chopsticks by a traverse drive device, and both chopsticks inserted between the noodle strings are raised and lowered by a lifting drive device. At the same time, the opening/closing drive device opens and closes the noodles in a direction that widens the distance between the noodle strings, and each time the chopsticks reach an appropriate height, the distance between the noodle strings increases. .

As described above, according to the present invention, partial work on the noodle strings is carried out during the elongation of the noodle strings without using a stamp, thereby saving labor and manpower.

Furthermore, by mechanizing partial work in this way, unevenness in partial work can be eliminated and the quality of the product can be made uniform.

The present invention can be applied, for example, to a noodle string stretching process in which the noodle strings are stretched while being conveyed; in this case, the partial operation of the noodle strings is performed by interrupting the conveyance of the noodle strings and moving the upper and lower chopsticks respectively. It is also possible to do this while stopping at a fixed position, but in order to shorten the work time, for example, the lower-hanging chopsticks being conveyed are temporarily moved faster than the lower-hanging chain conveyor, and then the chopsticks are stopped at a predetermined position. Stop at the partial operation start position for a certain period of time,
It is advantageous to insert the branch between the noodle strings while the lower chopsticks are positioned in this partial operation starting position. After this, it is possible to temporarily interrupt the conveyance of the noodle strings and carry out partial work during this interruption, but in order to further shorten the work time, it is possible to temporarily suspend the transportation of the noodle strings, but in order to further shorten the work time, it is possible to carry out both substations while the substations are ascending or descending the noodle strings. It is advantageous to move in the conveying direction at the same speed as the conveying speed of the chain conveyor and to perform partial operations without interrupting the conveyance of the noodle strings.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a somen stretching device equipped with a partial device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of its detection device and positioning means for lower hangings, etc., and FIG. 3 is a side view of a somen stretching device including a partial device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a front view of the main part of the partial device, Fig. 5 (1) is a front view of the chopsticks, and Fig. 5 (2) is a front view of the chopsticks. FIG.

This somen stretching device includes a frame 1, a hanger chain conveyor 3 that transfers upper chopsticks 2 at a predetermined speed, and a lower chain conveyor 3 that transfers lower chopsticks 4 at a predetermined speed in synchronization with the hanger chain conveyor 3. It includes a conveyor 5, two detection devices 6, two pairs of positioning means 7, such as a lower hook, and two partial devices 8. .

The frame 1 includes a base 11 for installation and a base 11.
Vertical frames 12 at the four corners erected above, and front and rear horizontal frames 1 that connect the vertical frames 12 arranged in the front and back (left and right in Fig. 1).
3, and the left and right horizontal frames 1 that connect the vertical frames 12 arranged on the left and right.
4.

The hanger chain conveyor 3 includes a pair of left and right conveyor chains 31, four pairs of left and right sprockets 32a to 32d for stretching these in an inverted trapezoidal shape, and one pair of sprockets 32a to 32d for adjusting the tension of the conveyor chain 31. It includes a take amplifier device 33 that adjusts the position of the sprocket 32d and a drive means (not shown).

Although not shown, the conveyor chain 31 has engagement pieces that protrude in the outer circumferential direction at appropriate intervals, and
The upper chain 31 is placed on top of the conveyor chain 31 as it travels through the chain guide 34, which is provided in an inclined manner across the middle height part of the front vertical frame 12 and the upper part of the rear vertical frame 12. The ends of the chopsticks 2 are engaged with this engagement piece, and the top-hanging chopsticks 2 are conveyed within the frame 1 so as to be gradually raised from the front to the back.

The lower pull chain conveyor 5 includes a pair of left and right conveyor chains 51, five pairs of left and right sprockets 52a to 52e for stretching these in a rectangular shape, and one pair of sprockets for adjusting the tension of the conveyor chain 51. A take-up device 5 that adjusts the position of the sprocket 52e of the
3 and a driving means (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor chain 51 has retaining pieces 51a that protrude in the outer circumferential direction at appropriate intervals.
The chain guide 5 is installed horizontally across the lower part of the chain guide 5.
4, the end of the lower chopsticks 4 suspended from the upper chopsticks 2 via the noodle strings 9 is rested on the lower side of the conveyor chain 51, and the ends of the lower chopsticks 4 are suspended from the upper chopsticks 2 via the noodle strings 9, and the end portions of the lower chopsticks 4 are held on the lower side of the conveyor chain 51, and the ends of the lower chopsticks 4 are suspended and supported by the upper chopsticks 2 via the noodle strings 9. They are engaged and transported horizontally within the frame 1 from front to back.

The detection device 6 is equipped with a detection needle line 61 as shown in FIG. When the sensor reaches a predetermined detection position indicated by a solid line, it is turned on (or off).

The above-mentioned lower chopstick positioning means 7 is the above-mentioned chain guide 54.
The positioning lever 71 is disposed on the lower side, and includes a positioning lever 71 and an air cylinder 72 that swings and drives the positioning lever 71. The positioning lever 71 is formed in the shape of a bell crank, one arm 71a of which is connected to an output clevis 73 of a driving means 72, and the other arm 71b that supports the end of the lower chopsticks 4 located at the detection position. It is formed into a hook shape so that it can be engaged from the upper side in the conveyance direction.

The lower chopstick positioning means 7 is started by a control device (not shown) when the detection device 6 detects that the lower chopsticks 4 have reached a predetermined detection position, and the positioning lever 71
The other arm 71b pulls down the chain conveyor 5.
The lower chain conveyor 5 is swung from a standby position (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2) where it is retracted below the conveyance surface of the lower chain conveyor 5 to a positioning position (indicated by a phantom line in FIG. 2) where it protrudes above the conveyance surface of the lower chain conveyor 5. configured. During this swinging, the other arm 71b of the positioning lever 71 engages the end of the lower chopstick 4 and starts the partial operation on the lower side in the conveyance direction faster than the engaging piece 51a of the lower chain conveyor 5. It is designed to be moved to a position (indicated by a phantom line in FIG. 2).

The partial device 8 includes a support frame 81 and both chain conveyors 3.
．． 5, an elevator frame 82 that moves up and down between both chain conveyors 3.5, an elevator drive means 83 consisting of a rodless cylinder that drives the elevator frame 82 up and down, and an elevator drive means 8.
3, the kudzu guide shaft 8 guides the elevation of the elevating frame 82.
4, a lateral movement frame 85 supported by the elevating frame 82 so as to be able to move laterally in the axial direction of both the upper and lower chopsticks 2, 4, and a traverse drive means consisting of a rodless cylinder that reciprocates the lateral movement frame 85. 86, a pair of chopsticks 87 supported on the horizontal movement frame 85 so as to be openable and closable in the transport direction of both chain conveyors 3.5, and parallel to the upper and lower hanging chopsticks 2, 4; The opening/closing drive means 88 is synchronously driven.

The support frame 81 includes an upper frame 81a fixed to the front and rear horizontal frames 13 at the upper end of the frame 1, a pair of front and rear inclined frames 81b extending obliquely forward and downward from both front and rear ends of the upper frame 81a to near the lower end of the frame 1; 81G, a lower frame 81d connected to the lower ends of both inclined frames 81b and 81C, and a horizontal arm frame 81e extending in a cantilevered manner from the intermediate height of the rear inclined frame 81c to the left side and outside. Consists of.

The guide shaft 84 and the elevating drive means 83 are connected to the inclined frame 8
1b and 81c, and their lower ends meet the lower frame 8.
1d, and the upper end is fixed to the side arm frame 81e, respectively.

The elevating frame 82 includes a slider 82a that is slidably fitted onto the guide shaft 84, and a casing 83a of the elevating and lowering drive means 83.
A saddle 82b fixed to an output portion (not shown) of the saddle 82b, a connecting plate 82c connecting the slider 82a and the saddle 82b,
A traverse drive means support frame 82d is fixed to the saddle 82b.

The traverse drive means 86 has a middle portion of its casing 86a supported by a traverse drive means support frame 82d of the elevating frame 82,
A lateral movement frame 85 is fixed to the output portion (not shown).

The lateral moving frame 85 is slidably mounted on a casing 86a of the traversing drive means 86, and the chopsticks 87 are guided by the casing 86a to move the chopsticks 87 into the noodle strings 9 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of both chain conveyors 3.5. The chopsticks 87 are configured to move between a standby position located on the outside and a working position where the chopsticks 87 are inserted between the noodle strings.

The opening/closing drive means 88 includes a pair of swing levers 88a and 88b whose lower ends are swingably supported by the horizontal movement frame 85.
and a pair of gears 88c, 8 which interlock both swing levers 88a, 88b so as to swing in opposite directions at the same speed.
8d, an air cylinder 88e mounted between one of the two swing levers s8a and ssb, and the lateral movement frame.
Equipped with.

As shown in FIG. 5, the chopsticks 87 have a shaft portion 87a supported in a cantilevered manner by the free ends of both swing levers 88a and 88b, and a shaft portion 87a rotatably fitted onto the outside of the shaft portion 87a. and a rotating sheath 87b made of synthetic resin.

The support frame 81 of the partial device 8 is provided with a stopper 89 that limits the lower limit of the lifting frame 82.
The connecting plate 82c is provided with a stop 82e which is received by the stopper 89 thereof. In addition, the support frame 81
There is a limit switch 91 for detecting the upper limit of rise that detects that the lift frame 82 has risen to the upper limit of rise, and a limit switch 91 for detecting the chopstick removal position that detects that the lift frame 82 is located at a predetermined position lower than the upper limit of rise. A switch 92 is provided. Further, the lateral movement frame 85 of the partial device 8 is provided with a stopper 90 that limits the maximum opening degree of the swing levers 88a and 88b, and one of the swing levers 88a is stopped by this stopper 90. Stop 88f is fixed.

In the above configuration, the noodle strings 9 wound around the upper and lower hanging chopsticks 2 and 4 in the shape of a line can be obtained by attaching the upper and lower hanging chopsticks 2.4 to the hanger chain conveyor 3 and the bottom chain conveyor 5. , These chopsticks with both upper and lower ends? , 4 are conveyed from the front to the rear of both chain conveyors 3 and 5.

Since the conveyance surfaces of both chain conveyors 3 and 5 gradually become larger as they proceed toward the lower side in the conveyance direction, the noodle strings 9 are conveyed from the front to the rear of both chain conveyors 3 and 5. Stretched. When the lower chopsticks 4 reach a predetermined detection position while the upper and lower hanging chopsticks 2.4 and the noodle strings 9 are being conveyed from the front to the rear of both chain conveyors 3 and 5, the detection means 6 is detected and activated, and the lower chopstick positioning means 7 is started. The lower chopstick positioning means 7 moves the lower chopsticks 4 from the detection position farther than the lower chain conveyor 5 to a partial operation start position where the lower chopsticks 4 are stopped by the engagement piece 51a on the lower side in the conveyance direction. Then, the holding piece 51a on the upper side in the transport direction, which has engaged the lower chopstick 4 up to the detection position, waits until it catches up.

Then, while the lower chopsticks 4 are waiting for the engagement piece 51a on the upper side in the transport direction to arrive at this partial operation start position, the partial device
The traverse driving means 86 is started, and both chopsticks 87 are inserted between the noodle strings 9. Then, the engagement piece 51 on the upper side in the conveyance direction
When a catches up with the lower chopsticks 4, the elevating drive means 83 and the opening/closing drive means 88 are started, and the elevating frame 82 rises while moving backward at the same speed as the upper and lower chopsticks 2, 4 and the noodle strings 9. During this time, both chopsticks 87 are periodically opened and closed back and forth by the opening/closing driving means 86. Therefore, the double chopsticks 87 open and close the noodle strings 9 back and forth while ascending between the noodle strings 9 wound between the upper and lower chopsticks 2 and 4 to separate the noodle strings 9 into portions. In this partial work, there is a risk that the chopsticks 87 will stick to the noodle strings 9 and the noodle strings 9 will be pulled upwards and broken, but the chopsticks 87 of this embodiment have a rotary sheath attached to the shaft portion 87a as described above. 87b are rotatably fitted, so even if the noodle strings 9 stick to the surface of the rotating sheath 87b, when the chopsticks 87 rise, the rotating sheath 87b
Since the noodles roll along the noodle strings 9, no force is generated to pull the noodle strings 9 upward, and there is no fear that the noodle strings 9 will be pulled upward and break.

When the limit switch 91 detects that the elevating frame 82 has reached a predetermined upper limit, the elevating frame 82 begins to descend, and the limit switch 92 detects that the elevating frame 82 has descended to a predetermined height. and lifting frame 8
2 is temporarily stopped for a predetermined period of time. During this stop period, after both chopsticks 87 are pulled out from between the noodle strings by the traverse drive means 86, the elevating frame 82 is lowered to its original position.

In this way, the chopsticks 87 are automatically inserted between the noodle strings 9 at a predetermined partial operation start position in the middle of the noodle string stretching process, and are opened and closed back and forth while rising between the noodle strings 9. As a result, the partial work of the noodle strings 9 is automatically performed, so that it is possible to omit the human labor required for the partial cutting of the noodle strings 9 in the conventional noodle string stretching process, and to mechanize the partial work. As a result, the noodle strings 9 can be uniformly divided into portions, so that the noodle strings 9 can be uniformly elongated.

This noodle string stretching and lengthening device is provided with two sets of a detection device 6, a lower pipe positioning means 7, and a partial device 8, and partial work is performed at two locations, the first half and the second half of both conveyor chains 3 and 5. However, it is possible to provide only one set of these so that the partial work is performed only once, or to provide a larger number of sets so that the partial work is performed more times.

Further, in the above noodle string stretching device, the lower hanging pipe positioning means 7
Although one pair is provided on the left and right for one partial operation start position, the lower hanging pipe positioning means 7 may be provided only on either the left or right side for one partial operation start position.

Furthermore, this noodle string stretching device is configured so that the chopsticks 87 are inserted on the side of the lower hanging tube 4 and the portions are moved upwards, but the chopsticks 87 are inserted with the upper finger or the like on the 2 side and lowered. It is also possible to configure the system so that the parts can be performed simultaneously. That is, the detection device 6 detects that the upper finger, etc. 2 has come to a predetermined position, and the upper finger, etc. 2 is positioned at a predetermined position by the upper finger, etc. positioning means configured similarly to the lower hanging tube positioning means 7. Then, the chopsticks 87 are inserted between the noodle strings 9 near the upper fingers 2 by the traverse drive means 86, and the chopsticks 87 inserted between the noodle strings 9 are lowered by the lift drive means 83 while the opening/closing drive means It can be configured to open and close at 88. In this case, the inclined frames 81C and 81d may be inclined so that their lower sides are biased toward the direction in which the noodle strings 9 are conveyed. ' In the above embodiment, a pair of swing levers s8a and ssb are used as the opening/closing drive means 88, but the opening/closing drive means 8
For example, as shown in FIG.
, 88b, and a pair of gears 8 that interlock the rotating levers 88a, 88b so that they rotate at a uniform speed in opposite directions.
8c, 88d, and a motor 88g that rotationally drives either one of the gears 88c, 88d.

In such an opening/closing drive means 88, both rotating levers 88a, 88. b are rotated at a constant speed in opposite directions, and this rotating lever 88
The front and back spacing of both chopsticks 87 is opened and closed by rotation of a and 88b.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, after operating the traverse drive device and inserting both chopsticks between the noodle strings wrapped around both the upper and lower fingers, the lifting drive device and the opening/closing drive device are activated. The device is configured to automatically separate the noodle strings by opening and closing the chopsticks while raising or lowering them, and then to operate the traverse drive device to remove the chopsticks from between the noodle strings. , it is possible to save labor or manpower by omitting manual labor for partial operations that were conventionally required during the noodle string stretching process. In addition, by automating partial work, partial work can be done unevenly (evenly), and products can be made homogeneous.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a somen stretching device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of its detection device and positioning means for lower hangings, etc., FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of main parts of a partial device, and FIG. Figure 4 is a front view of the main parts of the partial device, Figure 5 (1) is a front view of the chopsticks, Figure 5 (2) is a sectional view of the chopsticks, and Figure 6 is a modification of the opening/closing drive device. FIG. In the figure, 2... Upper finger, etc., 4... Lower hanging, etc., 8... Partial device, 81... Frame, 82... Lifting frame, 83... Lifting drive means, 85... - Lateral movement frame, 86... Traverse drive means, 87... Branch office, 88... Opening/closing drive means. Figure 5 (1) Figure 5 (2) Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A pair of chopsticks that are inserted and removed in a direction parallel to the upper and lower chopsticks between the noodle strings wrapped between the upper and lower chopsticks that are arranged vertically parallel to each other; a traverse drive means for moving the chopsticks back and forth between a standby position outside the noodle strings and a working position between the noodle strings;
A lifting drive means for raising or lowering the chopsticks inserted between the noodle strings, and an opening/closing drive means for opening and closing the chopsticks inserted between the noodle strings in a direction that increases the distance between the noodle strings. A device for separating noodles such as somen noodles, which is characterized by the following.