JP2002159277A - Food seasoning treatment system and treatment line using the same, and food seasoning treatment method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system as a food seasoning treatment system, treatment method or the like, designed to minimize the contact parts of a product after seasoned so as to afford fewer cleaning parts, therefore be good in the operability in making a food replacement. SOLUTION: This system has a scheme that there are provided a plurality of seasoning treatment systems 3...3 downstream of a conveyor 2 for dividedly feeding a semi-finished product; wherein each of the systems 3...3 comprises a combinational weighing unit 10, an electrification unit 20 for electrifying a weighed semi-finished product discharged from the unit 10 with a polarity different from that on a powder seasoning, a seasoning unit 30 for attaching an electrified seasoning to the semi-finished product from the unit 20 by antistatic action, a recovering unit 40 for recovering under suction a powder seasoning not attached to the semi-finished product, and a packaging unit 50 for packaging a seasoned article (food); and at least one of the systems 3...3 can make a seasoning different from those by the other systems 3...3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seasoning processing system for commodities such as snacks, particularly potato chips, and belongs to the field of food production technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, products such as snacks are weighed to a predetermined weight by a weighing device and then packaged by a packaging device and manufactured in a shipping state. In the case of seasoned products such as potato chips, the above weighing method is used. In addition to the packaging operation, a seasoning operation for seasoning intermediate products such as fried sliced potatoes with salt and other seasonings is performed, and a system for continuously performing this seasoning operation on a production line is, for example, a specialty. Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-35132 and Japanese Patent No. 268
No. 9139 and the like.

[0003] In each of the systems disclosed in these publications, an intermediate product before seasoning and a seasoning are supplied to a stirrer called a tumbler, and the seasoning is attached to the intermediate product, whereby the seasoning is added. And in such a case, the supply amount of the seasoning is controlled to be a set ratio with respect to the supply amount of the intermediate product. And in any system, the product after seasoning is weighed to a predetermined weight by a combination weighing device or the like, and thereafter,
It will be supplied to the packaging device.

[0004]

However, in the system disclosed in the above publication, the intermediate product is seasoned to be a final product and then supplied to the weighing device. It is possible that this occurs.

In other words, since the product to which the seasoning is attached is supplied to the weighing device, the seasoning adheres to the product supply path to the weighing device and the parts of the weighing device that come into direct contact with the products. Become. Therefore, when processing different seasoned products using the same system, the system is stopped every time the product is changed to a different seasoned product in order to keep the taste constant, and the above-described supply path and each part of the weighing device are changed. You will have to clean it.

In order to reduce this trouble, it is conceivable to change the products in order from lightly seasoned ones to darkly seasoned ones. Even in such a case, when returning from a highly seasoned product to a thin product, a cleaning operation is still required.

Furthermore, seasonings used for this kind of products often contain salt, and therefore, rust is easily generated in the supply route to which the seasoning adheres and in various parts of the measuring device, which causes a problem in food hygiene. Or malfunction of the system, and cleaning must be done more frequently to prevent this.

[0008] In view of the above, the present invention provides a seasoning processing system and a processing method for a product of this type by minimizing the contact area of the product after the seasoning, thereby reducing the number of cleaning parts. It is an object to provide an excellent system.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized in that it is configured as follows.

[0010] First, the invention according to claim 1 relates to a seasoning processing system for a commodity which is an end product that is seasoned with an intermediate product, and a measuring device for measuring the intermediate product to a predetermined weight, and a measuring device for the measuring device. A seasoning device disposed below and for applying a charged powder seasoning to a measured intermediate product discharged from the measuring device by electrostatic action.

According to the present invention, the product is weighed to a predetermined weight by the weighing device, and then is seasoned by the seasoning device disposed below the weighing device. The seasoning does not adhere to the parts of the device that come into direct contact with the products, and cleaning of these parts when changing products is unnecessary.

In the present invention, in particular, a seasoning device for adhering the powder seasoning to the intermediate product by electrostatic action is disposed below the measuring device, so that the intermediate product is discharged from the measuring device and falls downward. It will be seasoned in time, and the product will be less damaged as compared with the case of stirring. In addition, since the seasoning adheres to the surface of the intermediate product that is not directly opposite to the direction in which the seasoning is supplied, uniform seasoning is possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the system of the first aspect, the seasoning device attaches the powder seasoning while the intermediate product discharged from the measuring device falls in the air. It is characterized by comprising.

According to the present invention, the powder seasoning adheres to the intermediate product which is not in contact with any of the components constituting the measuring device or the flavoring device, and thus is uniformly adhered to the entire surface thereof. Thus, the adhesion of the powder seasoning to each of the above members is reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the system of the first or second aspect, the intermediate product discharged from the weighing device is provided above the seasoning device with a polarity different from that of the powder seasoning. A charging device for charging is provided.

According to the present invention, since both the intermediate product and the powder seasoning are charged and have different polarities, the powder seasoning adheres more reliably to the intermediate product.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the seasoning device is disposed below a powder seasoning supply section for supplying the powder seasoning. And a powder seasoning recovery device for recovering the powder seasoning supplied to the seasoning device that has not adhered to the intermediate product.

According to the present invention, waste of the powder seasoning is prevented, and when the packaging device is disposed below the seasoning device, an extra seasoning is added to the product seasoned in the packaging device. The problem of feeding and wrapping is avoided.

Further, since the powder seasoning is provided below the powder seasoning supply unit for supplying the powder seasoning of the seasoning device, the powder seasoning falling by gravity or the like can be efficiently collected. In addition, if the powder seasoning recovery device is of a suction type, the pressure below the falling intermediate product can be made lower than that above, so that the falling speed of the intermediate product is prevented from lowering due to air resistance. be able to. Therefore, a further high-speed operation of the seasoning processing system becomes possible.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the weighing device is configured to perform a combination operation based on the weight of the intermediate product supplied to each of the plurality of weighing hoppers. Is a combination weighing device for weighing an intermediate product to a predetermined weight.

Usually, a combination weighing device is provided with a large number of devices for supplying products to a weighing hopper or the like, a weighing hopper, etc., so that the product is compared with a weighing device having only one weighing device such as a weighing hopper. Many members are in direct contact. According to the present invention, since the product before the seasoning is supplied to the combination weighing device, the powder seasoning does not adhere to each of the members of the weighing device, so that the weighing device having only one weighing means is provided. As compared with the apparatus, the cleaning work of each part of the weighing apparatus is significantly reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a packaging device for packaging the weighed and seasoned products is disposed below the seasoning device. It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, the product is supplied from the weighing device to the packaging device via the seasoning device while dropping, and the operations of weighing, seasoning, and packaging are continuously and efficiently performed. .

On the other hand, the invention according to claim 7 relates to a seasoning processing line for commodities, wherein a plurality of processing systems according to claim 1 are provided, and the same intermediate product is distributed to these processing systems. A dispensing / supplying device for supplying is provided, and at least one of the plurality of processing systems can be seasoned differently from other processing systems.

According to this invention, the intermediate product is seasoned after being weighed to a predetermined weight by the weighing device in the same manner as in the first aspect of the invention. The seasoning does not adhere to the parts that are in direct contact with the product, and the cleaning work on these parts is reduced.

In particular, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously process products having a plurality of seasoning variations and to stop other systems when changing products in some systems. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently process products having a plurality of seasoning variations.

Further, since the supply device for the intermediate product is shared by a plurality of systems, the line configuration is simplified as compared with the case where a supply device is provided for each system, and even if cleaning is necessary, cleaning is performed. The number of locations is reduced, and good maintainability is obtained.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 relates to a method of seasoning a product which is a seasoned intermediate product to become a final product, wherein a first step of weighing the intermediate product to a predetermined weight, The method is characterized by including a second step of dropping the intermediate product downward and a third step of applying a charged powder seasoning to the falling intermediate product by electrostatic action.

According to the present invention, the intermediate product is weighed to a predetermined weight by the weighing device, as in the first invention,
Since the seasoning is arranged below the weighing device, the seasoning does not adhere to the product supply path to the weighing device or to the part of the weighing device where the products are in direct contact. Cleaning of the part is unnecessary.

In addition, the above-mentioned seasoning device causes the powder seasoning to adhere to the intermediate product by electrostatic action, so that the product is less damaged and the seasoning is evenly adhered as compared with the case of seasoning by stirring. Will be.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following is a description of a product seasoning processing line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seasoning processing line 1 includes a transport device 2 for transporting and distributing intermediate products, and a plurality of seasoning processing systems 3.
And And each said seasoning processing system 3
.. 3 are combination weighing devices 10 and 10 and charging devices 20.
20, a seasoning device 30 ... 30, a powder seasoning recovery device 40 ... 40, and a packaging device 50 ... 50.

Next, one of the flavoring processing systems 3... 3 which is a feature of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

First, the combination weighing device 10 is
, A plurality of dispersion troughs 12... 12 arranged radially around the dispersion table 11, and a plurality of dispersion troughs 12. A pair of upper and lower pool hoppers 13... 13 and weighing hoppers 14.
A collecting chute 15 is provided below the weighing hoppers 14 and a timing hopper 16 is provided at the lower end of the collecting chute 15 immediately below the discharge port.

In this way, the intermediate product supplied on the distribution table 11 is distributed and supplied to the distribution troughs 12 and then supplied to the weighing hoppers 14 and 14 via the pool hoppers 13 and 13 and the weighing hoppers 14 and 14. The weight of the intermediate product is weighed by 14... 14 to perform the combination calculation. Then, as a result of the combination calculation, intermediate products are discharged from the weighing hoppers 14... Corresponding to the combination having a predetermined weight, collected by the collecting chute 15, discharged, and stored in the timing hopper 16. The timing hopper 16 opens and closes based on a signal from the lower packaging device 50. For example, the timing hopper 16 opens when a discharge request signal is received from the packaging device 50, and the intermediate product is discharged downward.

The charging device 20 is disposed so as to be opposed to the intermediate product with a falling path therebetween. One of the charging devices 20 is connected to the high voltage power supply 21 and the other is connected to the grounded pair of electrodes 22a and 22b. Have.

Thus, the falling intermediate product is charged to a predetermined polarity while passing through the electric field space formed between these electrodes 22a and 22b.

The flavoring device 30 takes in an intermediate chute 31 for taking in the intermediate product charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging device 20 and has an upper end opening toward the lower end opening of the intake chute 31. And a seasoning chute 32.

The seasoning chute 32 is provided with the seasoning powder 3 at equal intervals below the opening at the lower end of the intake chute 31 and around the fall path of the intermediate product.
2. A pair of electrostatic guns 33, 33 for injecting inward and charging the powder seasoning to a predetermined polarity are attached. A pipe 35 extending from a compressor 34 which is a supply source of compressed air is provided to these electrostatic guns 33, 33.
Are connected to branch pipes 35a and 35b, respectively, which branch relatively downstream of the pipe. Further, a screw-fall type seasoning quantitative supply mechanism 36 is connected to a branch pipe 35c that branches relatively upstream of the pipe 35. One end of the seasoning quantitative supply mechanism 36 is inserted into a seasoning tank 37 for storing a powder seasoning.

On the other hand, the powder seasoning collecting device 40 is provided with a discharge chute 41 into which the lower part of the seasoning chute 32 is fitted and which opens at the lower end facing the packaging device 50. A pair of suction ports 41a, 41a provided at a relatively upper portion and a cyclone collecting machine 42 for sucking and collecting excess powder seasoning are connected by a pipe 43. The cyclone collecting machine 42 is evacuated by a vacuum pump 42a. A switching valve 44 for turning on and off the collection of the powder seasoning is provided in the middle of the pipe 43 on the front side of the cyclone collecting machine 42.

Thus, the intermediate product charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging device 20 is dropped and supplied to the seasoning chute 32 via the intake chute 31.
On the other hand, a certain amount of the powder seasoning per predetermined time from the seasoning tank 37 is supplied to the branch pipe 35 by the seasoning quantitative supply mechanism 36.
c and is conveyed by compressed air in the pipe 35 as shown by an arrow a.
The fuel is injected from the pair of electrostatic guns 33, 33 into the seasoning chute 32 through a, 35 b. In this case, the powder seasoning is sprayed by the electrostatic guns 33, 33 and charged to a predetermined polarity, that is, a polarity opposite to the polarity of the intermediate product.

Therefore, the intermediate product charged to a predetermined polarity falls in the atmosphere of the powder seasoning which is charged to the polarity opposite to the polarity of the intermediate product and is dispersed and floated inside the seasoning chute 32. Therefore, the powder seasoning is securely and uniformly attached to the entire surface of the intermediate product by the electrostatic action.

On the other hand, the powder seasoning sprayed into the seasoning chute 32 and not attached to the intermediate product is collected by the cyclone collecting machine 42 through the discharge chute 41 as shown by an arrow a. In addition to preventing waste of the powder seasoning, the packaging device 50 disposed below the discharge chute 41 avoids a problem that an extra seasoning is supplied in addition to the seasoning product and is wrapped.

A plurality of the seasoning processing systems 3 described above, and a transport device 2 corresponding to each of the seasoning processing systems 3...
And a product seasoning processing line 1. This seasoning processing line 1 includes distribution supply ports 2a... 2a provided in the transport device 2 corresponding to the respective seasoning processing systems 3.
, The intermediate products are supplied to the combination weighing devices 10... 10 of the respective seasoning processing systems 3. The intermediate product is weighed to a predetermined weight by the combination weighing device 10 and discharged downward, and then charged by the charging devices 20 to 20 to a predetermined polarity while falling. The intermediate product subjected to the electrification treatment is further provided with a seasoning device 30 provided below.
Due to 30, the powder seasoning charged with the opposite polarity to that of the above-mentioned charging process is attached, and a seasoned product is obtained.
Then, the seasoned product is stored in a packaging device 5 provided below.
After being wrapped in a predetermined packaging material according to 0 ... 50, it is transferred to a quality inspection device such as a weight checker or a seal checker. In addition, the powder seasonings that have not adhered to the intermediate product in the seasoning devices 30... Are suctioned and collected by the powder seasoning collection devices 40.

In this case, since the intermediate product is subjected to the seasoning process after the combination weighing, the seasoning does not adhere to the intermediate product supply path to the combination weighing device 10 or to each part of the combination weighing device 10. Therefore, the cleaning work of these parts is reduced.

In addition, since the seasoning processing line 1 has a plurality of seasoning processing systems 3.
Processing of commodities having a plurality of seasoning variations can be performed simultaneously and in parallel, and these commodities can be efficiently processed.

In the above embodiment, a pair of electrostatic guns 33, 33 are used.
3 ... 33 may be used. This makes it possible to more easily control the concentration of the powder seasoning floating inside the seasoning chute 32. Since the pair of electrostatic guns 33, 33 are provided around the fall path of the intermediate product, the powder seasoning sprayed by these electrostatic guns 33, 33 is used for the falling of the falling intermediate product. The powder seasoning adheres evenly to the surface, but when a larger number of electrostatic guns 33 are used, the powder seasoning adheres more evenly to the surface of the intermediate product, and the seasoning can be equalized.

In the above-described embodiment, the screw-drop type seasoning quantitative supply mechanism 36 is used for supplying the powder seasoning.
However, a fixed-quantity feeding mechanism such as an electromagnetic feeder type or an ultrasonic transfer type suitable for small-quantity constant-quantity transfer of powder may be used.

In the above embodiment, the timing hopper 16 and the intake chute 31 are used, but these can be omitted.

Also, different from the above embodiment, the seasoning device 30 is combined with the collecting chute 15 of the combination weighing device 10.
It may be provided inside. In this case, the collecting chute 15 and the timing hopper 16 need to be cleaned. However, as compared with a conventional system that requires cleaning of a large number of weighing hoppers and the like, the number of members to be cleaned is smaller, so that cleaning work is reduced. .

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the seasoning is obtained by attaching the powder seasoning to the falling intermediate product which is discharged from the weighing device, the portion where the seasoning comes into contact is reduced, and a seasoning processing system having excellent cleaning properties is realized. . Moreover, a seasoning processing line including a plurality of the processing systems can efficiently obtain products having a plurality of seasoning variations. And, by the electrostatic action, the powder seasoning is surely and evenly attached to the intermediate product, and the excess powder seasoning is collected, so that it is possible to provide products satisfying consumer needs. . INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is particularly suitable for the field of combination weighing of foods that can respond to diversifying tastes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a seasoning processing line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a seasoning processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seasoning processing line 2 Conveying apparatus (distribution supply apparatus) 3 Seasoning processing system 10 Combination weighing apparatus (weighing apparatus) 14 Weighing hopper 20 Charging device 30 Seasoning apparatus 34 Electrostatic gun (powder seasoning supply part) 40 Powder seasoning Collection device 50 Packaging device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A seasoning processing system for a commodity which is a seasoned intermediate product, which is a final product, comprising: a weighing device for weighing the intermediate product to a predetermined weight; and a weighing device disposed below the weighing device; A seasoning system for commodities, comprising: a seasoning device for electrostatically attaching a charged powder seasoning to a discharged measured intermediate product. 2. The product according to claim 1, wherein the seasoning device is configured to apply the powder seasoning while the intermediate product discharged from the weighing device falls in the air. Seasoning processing system. 3. A charging device is provided above the flavoring device, the charging device charging the intermediate product discharged from the measuring device with a polarity different from that of the powder seasoning.
Or the goods seasoning processing system according to claim 2. 4. A powder seasoning supply unit for supplying a powder seasoning of a seasoning device, the powder seasoning being supplied to the seasoning device and not being attached to an intermediate product. The seasoning processing system for a product according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a powder seasoning recovery device for recovery. 5. The weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the weighing device is a combination weighing device that weighs the intermediate product to a predetermined weight by a combination calculation based on the weight of the intermediate product supplied to each of the plurality of weighing hoppers. Item 4. A seasoning processing system for a product according to Item 4. 6. A seasoning process for a product according to claim 1, wherein a packaging device for packaging the weighed and seasoned product is disposed below the seasoning device. system. 7. A system for providing a plurality of seasoning processing systems for commodities according to claim 1, further comprising a distribution and supply device for distributing and supplying the same intermediate product to these processing systems. A seasoning processing line for commodities, wherein at least one of the processing systems can be seasoned differently from other processing systems. 8. A seasoning method for a commodity in which an intermediate product is seasoned to become a final product, comprising: a first step of weighing the intermediate product to a predetermined weight; and a second step of dropping the weighed intermediate product downward. And a third step of electrostatically applying the charged powder seasoning to the falling intermediate product.
And a seasoning processing method for commodities.