Patent Publication Number: US-2020297022-A1

Title: Mixing apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a mixing apparatus, and more particularly to a mixing apparatus that mixes an additive with food. 
     Description of Related Arts 
     Fried noodles sold at supermarkets or the like as an example of food is manufactured by first boiling noodles and then coating the boiled noodles with an additive such as a sauce. 
     In this manufacturing process, the process of coating the boiled noodles with the additive is performed using a large cooking pot as illustrated in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-275401. Specifically, the boiled and cooled noodles are input together in a cooking pot, an additive is further added, and the noodles are coated with the additive. Thereafter, an operator manually inputs the noodles, each in a desired amount, into a receiving tray and performs weighing to check whether the noodles with desired weight have been input. 
     In a case where the operator manually inputs a food into the receiving tray as described above, the work takes effort and time because this is manually done by the operator. In addition, it is necessary to perform weighing after manually inputting the food in the receiving tray, leading to reduction of productivity. 
     The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a mixing apparatus capable of efficiently input food coated with an additive into a receiving tray, and having no need to perform weighing again after the food is input to the receiving tray. 
     SUMMARY 
     A mixing apparatus to achieve the above-described object is a mixing apparatus that mixes an additive with a food while the food is falling on a receiving tray. The mixing apparatus includes: a hopper that houses the falling food and that rotates to allow the food to fall; and a supply part that supplies the additive to the food in the hopper. At least two hoppers are provided in a falling direction of the food. 
     According to the mixing apparatus configured as described above, the additive is automatically supplied to the food in the hopper, and the food falls by the rotation of the hopper. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently input the food coated with the additive into the receiving tray. Furthermore, the food having a desired amount weighed in advance is coated with the additive, in the hopper, and the food falls into the receiving tray after being coated with the additive. This allows the desired amount of food to be disposed, as it is, in the receiving tray. For this reason, there is no need to perform weighing after the food is input into the receiving tray. As described above, it is possible to provide a mixing apparatus capable of efficiently input the food coated with the additive to the receiving tray, and having no need to perform weighing after the food is input to the receiving tray. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a noodle cooking apparatus according to the present embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating a mixing apparatus of the noodle cooking apparatus according to the present embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating a state where a hopper rotates and noodles fall viewed from the left side of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating a state where hopper groups in first and third lines of the mixing apparatus rotate and noodles have been input to hopper groups in second and fourth lines; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating a state where hopper groups in second and fourth lines of the mixing apparatus rotate and noodles have been input to hopper groups in first and third lines;  FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating a supply device; and 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating a mixing apparatus according to a first modification. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . Note that, in the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. There might be a case where the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation, and differ from actual ratios. The present embodiment will describe an exemplary case of noodles used for fried noodles, as an example of food. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a noodle cooking apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating a mixing apparatus  8  of the noodle cooking apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating a state where a hopper  30  rotates and noodles fall, viewed from the left side of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating a state where hopper groups  30 A and  30 C in first and third lines of the mixing apparatus  8  rotate and noodles have been input to hopper groups  30 B and  30 D in second and fourth lines.  FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating a state where hopper groups  30 B and  30 D in second and fourth lines of the mixing apparatus  8  rotate and noodles have been input to hopper groups  30 A and  30 C in first and third lines.  FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating a supply device  60 . First, a schematic configuration of the noodle cooking apparatus  1  will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the noodle cooking apparatus  1  includes: a mixer  2  that mixes water and flour; a rolling device  3  that rolls a mixture of water and flour to form a noodle strip; an aging device  4  that ages the noodle strip at a predetermined temperature and humidity; a cutting device  5  that cuts the noodle strip into a desired weight; a boiling device  6  that boils the noodles cut by the cutting device  5 ; a cooling tank  7  that tightens the boiled noodles with cold water; a mixing apparatus  8  that mixes a sauce (additive) with the noodles; a receiving tray  9  that receives the noodles mixed with the sauce; and a freezer  10  that freezes the noodles input to the receiving tray  9 . 
     In the present embodiment, a plurality of noodles cut by the cutting device  5  is gathered into a bundle (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a noodle bundle) and bundles are divided such that six sets are distributed in the left-right direction of  FIG. 1  (width direction orthogonal to the falling direction). The six sets of noodle bundles each cut into a desired amount by the cutting device  5  goes, in the divided states, through the boiling device  6 , the cooling tank  7 , and the mixing apparatus  8 , so as to be input to the receiving tray  9 . Hereinafter, a configuration of the mixing apparatus  8  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 6 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the mixing apparatus  8  includes: a box  20 , a hopper  30  provided inside the box  20 ; a shaft  40  that pivotally supports the hopper  30 ; an actuator  50  that rotates the shaft  40 ; a supply device  60  that supplies a sauce to the noodles in the hopper  30 , and a controller  70  that controls the driving of the actuator  50  and the supply device  60 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the box  20  internally includes the hopper  30  and sprayers  64   e,    64   f,    64   g,  and  64   h  of the supply device  60 . The actuator  50  is mounted on a left wall  20   a  of the box  20 . 
     The hopper  30  is open at the top in an initial state and houses noodles falling from above. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the hopper  30  is provided to be rotatable about an axis of a shaft  40  described below. Noodles N fall downward by the rotation of the hopper  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , six hoppers  30  are provided in the width direction (left-right direction in 
       FIG. 2 ), and provided in four lines in the falling direction (up-down direction in  FIG. 2 ). That is, in the present embodiment,  24  hoppers  30  are provided. Hereinafter, the six hoppers  30  provided in the first line from the top are denoted as the first hopper group  30 A, and the six hoppers  30  provided in the second line from the top are denoted as the second hopper group  30 B, the six hoppers  30  provided in the third line from the top are denoted as the third hopper group  30 C, and the six hoppers  30  provided in the fourth line from the top are denoted as the fourth hopper group  30 D. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the shaft  40  includes, in order from the top, a first shaft  41 , a second shaft  42 , a third shaft  43 , and a fourth shaft  44 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each of the first shaft  41  to the fourth shaft  44  is provided to extend in the width direction (left-right direction in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The first shaft  41  pivotally supports the first hopper group  30 A. The second shaft  42  pivotally supports the second hopper group  30 B. The third shaft  43  pivotally supports the third hopper group  30 C. The fourth shaft  44  pivotally supports the fourth hopper group  30 D. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the actuator  50  includes, in order from the top, a first actuator  51 , a second actuator  52 , a third actuator  53 , and a fourth actuator  54 . 
     The first actuator  51  is connected to the first shaft  41  and rotates the first shaft  41  about the axis. The second actuator  52  is connected to the second shaft  42  and rotates the second shaft  42  about the axis. The third actuator  53  is connected to the third shaft  43 , and rotates the third shaft  43  around the axis. The fourth actuator  54  is connected to the fourth shaft  44 , and rotates the fourth shaft  44  about the axis. 
     The angle at which the actuator  50  rotates the shaft  40  is not particularly limited, but the angle is to be in the range of 160° to 180°. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the direction in which the actuator  50  rotates the shaft  40  is clockwise as viewed from the left side of  FIG. 2 . It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the above and the direction in which the actuator  50  rotates the shaft  40  may be counterclockwise as viewed from the left side of  FIG. 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first actuator  51  and the third actuator  53  are controlled by the controller  70  so as to rotate the first shaft  41  and the third shaft  43  at the same timing. Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the second actuator  52  and the fourth actuator  54  are controlled by the controller  70  so as to rotate the second shaft  42  and the fourth shaft  44  at the same timing. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the supply device  60  includes a main tank  61 , a first tank  62 , a second tank  63 , a spray device  64 , a first switching valve  65 , a second switching valve  66 , a third switching valve  67 , a fourth switching valve  68 , and a pressurizing unit  69 . 
     The main tank  61  stores a sauce. The sauce in the main tank  61  is preferably stirred by a stirring bar  61 A. The main tank  61  is connected with a drain pipe  61 B. 
     Unnecessary sauce is discarded to the outside through the drain pipe  61 B. 
     The first tank  62  and the second tank  63  are connected to the main tank  61 . Between the main tank  61  and the first tank  62 , a first pipe P 1  and a second pipe P 2  are arranged. Between the main tank  61  and the second tank  63 , the first pipe P 1  and a third pipe P 3  are arranged. The first pipe P 1  is branched into the second pipe P 2  and the third pipe P 3  at a branch part J 1 . 
     The first pipe P 1  includes a switching valve V 1  that switches on/off of the outflow of the sauce from the main tank  61 . In addition, a pump P that delivers a sauce from the main tank  61  to the first tank  62  or the second tank  63  is disposed in the first pipe P 1 . 
     The first switching valve  65  is disposed on the second pipe P 2 . The first switching valve  65  switches on/off of the supply of the sauce stored in the main tank  61  to the first tank  62 . 
     The second switching valve  66  is disposed on the third pipe P 3 . The second switching valve  66  switches on/off of the supply of the sauce stored in the main tank  61  to the second tank  63 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the spray device  64  includes a first spray device  64   a,  a second spray device  64   b,  a third spray device  64   c,  and a fourth spray device  64   d.  The spray device  64  preferably supplies the sauce to the noodles while the noodles are falling toward the hopper  30 . 
     The first spray device  64   a  sprays the sauce on the noodles housed in the first hopper group  30 A (refer to  FIG. 2 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the first spray device  64   a  includes six sprayers  64   e.    
     The second spray device  64   b  sprays the sauce on the noodles housed in the second hopper group  30 B (refer to  FIG. 2 ). The second spray device  64   b  includes six sprayers  64   f  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     The third spray device  64   c  sprays the sauce onto the noodles housed in the third hopper group  30 C (refer to  FIG. 2 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the third spray device  64   c  includes six sprayers  64   g.    
     The fourth spray device  64   d  sprays the sauce onto the noodles housed in the fourth hopper group  30 D (refer to  FIG. 2 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the fourth spray device  64   d  includes six sprayers  64   h.    
     The spray device  64  is connected to the first tank and the second tank  63  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Between the spray device  64  and the first tank  62 , a fourth pipe P 4  and a sixth pipe P 6  are arranged. Between the spray device  64  and the second tank  63 , a fifth pipe P 5  and the sixth pipe P 6  are arranged. The fourth pipe P 4  and the fifth pipe P 5  join the sixth pipe P 6  at a junction J 2 . 
     The sixth pipe P 6  branches into four so as to be connected to each of the first spray device  64   a,  the second spray device  64   b,  the third spray device  64   c,  and the fourth spray device  64   d.    
     The third switching valve  67  is disposed on the fourth pipe P 4 . The third switching valve  67  switches on/off of the supply of the sauce stored in the first tank  62  to the spray device  64 . 
     The fourth switching valve  68  is disposed on the fifth pipe P 5 . The fourth switching valve  68  switches on/off of the supply of the sauce stored in the second tank  63  to the spray device  64 . 
     The pressurizing unit  69  includes a first pressurizing unit  69 A that applies pressure to the first tank  62 , and a second pressurizing unit  69 B that applies pressure to the second tank  63 . 
     The first pressurizing unit  69 A increases the pressure inside the first tank  62  and transfers the sauce in the first tank  62  to the spray device  64 . The first pressurizing unit  69 A is a pump, for example. 
     The second pressurizing unit  69 B raises the pressure inside the second tank  63  and pumps the sauce in the second tank  63  to the spray device  64 . The second pressurizing unit  69 B is a pump, for example. 
     Hereinafter, a method for using the supply device  60  will be described. 
     First, the main tank  61 , the first tank  62 , and the second tank  63  are filled with a sauce. 
     Next, the pressure inside the first tank  62  is increased by the first pressurizing unit  69 A, and the sauce in the first tank  62  is pumped to the spray device  64 . At this time, the first switching valve  65 , the second switching valve  66 , and the fourth switching valve  68  are to be closed so as to prevent the movement of the sauce. In contrast, the third switching valve  67  is left open so that the sauce moves. 
     When the sauce in the first tank  62  is depleted, the pressure in the second tank  63  is increased by the second pressurizing unit  69 B, and the sauce in the second tank  63  is pumped to the spray device  64 . At this time, the second switching valve  66  and the third switching valve  67  are to be closed so as to prevent the movement of the sauce. In contrast, the fourth switching valve  68  is left open so that the sauce moves. 
     Furthermore, the pressurization of the first pressurizing unit  69 A is stopped to set the inside of the first tank  62  to the atmospheric pressure. Subsequently, the sauce is supplied from the main tank  61  into the first tank  62  by the pump P. At this time, the switching valve V 1  and the first switching valve  65  are left open. With this configuration, the sauce can be filled into the first tank  62  while the sauce is supplied from the second tank  63  to the spray device  64 . 
     Moreover, when the sauce in the second tank  63  is depleted, the pressure in the first tank  62  is increased by the first pressurizing unit  69 A, and the sauce in the first tank  62  is pumped to the spray device  64 . At this time, the first switching valve  65  and the fourth switching valve  68  are to be closed so as to prevent the movement of the sauce. In contrast, the third switching valve  67  is left open so that the sauce moves. 
     Furthermore, the pressurization of the second pressurizing unit  69 B is stopped to set the inside of the second tank  63  to the atmospheric pressure. Subsequently, the sauce is supplied from the main tank  61  into the second tank  63  by the pump P. At this time, the switching valve V 1  and the second switching valve  66  are left open. With this configuration, the sauce can be filled into the second tank  63  while the sauce is supplied from the first tank  62  to the spray device  64 . 
     According to the supply device  60  configured as described above, it is possible to supply the sauce to the spray device  64  without interruption, and thus, productivity will be improved. 
     The controller  70  controls driving of the actuator  50  and the supply device  60 . The controller  70  is a CPU, for example. The controller  70  applies air pressure to the sauce supplied to the spray device  64  at a desired timing so as to spray the sauce into the hopper  30 . 
     Next, a method for using the noodle cooking apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment will be described. 
     First, water and flour are mixed by the mixer  2 . Subsequently, the rolling device  3  rolls the mixture of water and flour to form a noodle strip. Subsequently, the aging device  4  ages the noodle strip. Subsequently, the noodle strip is cut by the cutting device  5  so as to have a desired weight. At this time, the noodle strips, in the form of noodle bundles, are divided into six sets in the left-right direction in  FIG. 1 . 
     Next, the six sets of noodle bundles are individually boiled by the boiling device  6 . The six sets of noodle bundles are individually cooled by the cooling tank  7  and tightened. The six sets of noodle bundles are individually coated with the sauce by the mixing apparatus  8 . Subsequently, the six sets of noodle bundles coated with the sauce fall individually on the receiving tray  9  and are frozen by the freezer  10 . 
     Next, movement of the noodles in the mixing apparatus  8  will be described in detail. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the noodles tightened with cold water in the cooling tank  7  fall from the cooling tank  7  and then fall into the first hopper group  30 A (state of  FIG. 5 ). At this time, the first spray device  64   a  sprays the sauce on the noodles while the noodles are falling toward the first hopper group  30 A. At this time, the sauce is sprayed on each of the six sets of noodle bundles. The noodles sprayed with the sauce are housed in the first hopper group  30 A. 
     Subsequently, as the first hopper group  30 A rotates around the axial direction of the first shaft  41  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the noodle bundle housed in the first hopper group  30 A is substantially inverted upside down, and then, falls into the second hopper group  30 B (state illustrated in  FIG. 4 ). At this time, the second spray device  64   b  sprays the sauce on the noodles while the noodles are falling toward the second hopper group  30 B. Since the sauce is sprayed on the noodles after the noodles are substantially inverted upside down in this manner, the sauce is sprayed on the side of the noodle bundle that is relatively not in touch with the sauce. Therefore, the noodles can be suitably coated with the sauce. The noodles sprayed with the sauce are housed in the second hopper group  30 B. 
     Subsequently, as the second hopper group  30 B rotates around the axial direction of the second shaft  42  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the noodle bundle housed in the second hopper group  30 B is substantially inverted upside down, and then, falls into the third hopper group  30 C (state illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). At this time, the third spray device  64   c  sprays the sauce on the noodles while the noodles are falling toward the third hopper group  30 C. The noodles sprayed with the sauce are housed in the third hopper group  30 C. 
     Subsequently, as the third hopper group  30 C rotates around the axial direction of the third shaft  43  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the noodle bundle housed in the third hopper group  30 C is substantially inverted upside down, and then, falls into the fourth hopper group  30 D (state illustrated in  FIG. 4 ). At this time, the fourth spray device  64   d  sprays the sauce on the noodles while the noodles are falling toward the fourth hopper group  30 D. The noodles sprayed with the sauce are housed in the fourth hopper group  30 D. 
     As described above, according to the mixing apparatus  8  of the present embodiment, the noodles cut to have a desired weight by the cutting device  5  are coated with the sauce in the hopper  30 . After the noodles are coated with the sauce, the noodles fall into the receiving tray  9 , and thus, a desired amount of noodles is input, as it is, to the receiving tray  9 . In comparison, for example, with a manufacturing method in which the noodles are collectively input to a cooking pot, an additive is added, the noodles are coated with the additive, and thereafter the noodles are manually input to the receiving tray so that the desired amount is obtained, there would be a need to perform weighing in order to confirm whether the noodles with the desired weight are input, deteriorating the productivity. In comparison, with the mixing apparatus  8  according to the present embodiment, the preliminarily weighed desired amount of noodles are coated with the sauce in the hopper  30 , and after being coated with the sauce, the noodles fall into the receiving tray  9 . Accordingly, this makes it possible to dispose the desired amount of noodles on the receiving tray  9  as it is. For this reason, there is no need to perform weighing after the noodles have been input to the receiving tray  9 , leading to improvement of productivity. 
     As described above, the mixing apparatus  8  according to the present embodiment is a mixing apparatus  8  that mixes the sauce with the noodles while the noodles are falling onto the receiving tray  9 . The mixing apparatus  8  includes: the hopper  30  that houses the falling noodles and that allows noodles to fall while rotating; and the supply device  60  that supplies the sauce to the noodles in the hopper  30 . The hoppers  30  are provided in four lines along the noodle falling direction. According to the mixing apparatus  8  configured in this manner, the sauce is automatically supplied to the noodles in the hopper  30 , and then, the noodles fall by the rotation of the hopper  30 . Therefore, it is possible to efficiently input the noodles coated with the sauce into the receiving tray  9 . Furthermore, the preliminarily weighed desired amount of noodles are coated with the sauce in the hopper  30 , and after being coated with the sauce, the noodles fall into the receiving tray  9 , making it possible to arrange the desired amount of noodles on the receiving tray  9  as it is. For this reason, there is no need to perform weighing after the noodles are input into the receiving tray  9 . As described above, it is possible to provide a mixing apparatus  8  capable of efficiently input the noodles coated with the sauce to the receiving tray  9 , and having no need to perform weighing after the noodles are input to the receiving tray  9 . 
     Moreover, six hoppers  30  are provided in the width direction (left-right direction in  FIG. 2 ) orthogonal to the falling direction. The six hoppers  30  disposed in the width direction are rotatable on the shaft  40  extending in the width direction. According to the mixing apparatus  8  configured in this manner, it is possible to simultaneously coat six sets of noodle bundles with the sauce, leading to improvement of productivity. Furthermore, it is possible to allow the noodles to fall downward with a simple configuration as compared to a rack-and-pinion type configuration of a first modification described below. Furthermore, the maintenance of the apparatus can be simplified as compared with the rack and pinion type configuration. 
     Moreover, the supply device  60  supplies the sauce to the noodles while the noodles are falling toward the hopper  30 . With the mixing apparatus  8  configured in this manner, it is possible to increase the area of the noodles, in which the sauce is sprayed. This makes it possible to more suitably coat the noodles with the sauce. 
     Moreover, the supply device  60  includes the main tank  61  in which the sauce is stored; the first tank  62  connected to the main tank  61 ; the second tank  63  connected to the main tank  61 ; the spray device  64  to which the sauce is supplied from the first tank  62  or the second tank  63  and that sprays the sauce onto the noodles; the first switching valve  65  that switches on/off of the supply of the sauce stored in the main tank  61  to the first tank  62 ; the second switching valve that switches on/off of the supply of the sauce stored in the main tank  61  to the second tank  63 ; the third switching valve  67  that switches on/off of the supply of the sauce stored in the first tank  62  to the spray device  64 ; the fourth switching valve  68  that switches on/off of the supply of the sauce stored in the second tank  63  to the spray device  64 ; and the pressurizing unit  69  that applies pressure to the first tank  62  or the second tank  63  and that pumps the sauce from the first tank  62  or the second tank  63  to the spray device  64 . According to the mixing apparatus  8  configured in this manner, for example, when the sauce of the first tank  62  is depleted, it is possible, by switching to the second tank  63 , to pump the sauce from the second tank  63  to the spray device  64 . Conversely, when the sauce of the second tank  63  is depleted, it is possible, by switching to the first tank  62 , to pump the sauce from the first tank  62  to the spray device  64 . Accordingly, since the sauce can be supplied to the spray device  64  without interruption, productivity is improved. 
     First Modification 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 7 , a configuration of a mixing apparatus  108  according to a first modification will be described.  FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating the mixing apparatus  108  according to the first modification. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the mixing apparatus  108  according to the first modification includes: the box  20 ; the hopper  30 ; a pinion  80  that pivotally supports the hopper  30 ; a rack  140  that rotates the pinion  80 ; an actuator  50  that moves the rack  140  in the left-right direction of  FIG. 7 ; the supply device  60 ; and the controller  70 . Since the configuration of the box  20 , the hopper  30 , the supply device  60 , and the controller  70  is the same as in the above-described embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the mixing apparatus  108  according to the first modification, the pinion  80  is rotated by moving the rack  140  in the left-right direction in  FIG. 7  by the actuator  150 . The hopper  30  rotates clockwise in  FIG. 7  together with the clockwise rotation of the pinion  80 , thereby allowing the noodles in the hopper  30  to fall downward. 
     According to the mixing apparatus  108  configured in this manner, it is possible to allow the noodles to fall downward while coating the noodles with the sauce. Furthermore, with the mixing apparatus  108  according to the first modification, it is possible to simultaneously coat six sets of noodle bundles with the sauce, leading to improvement of productivity. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and alterations can be made within the scope of the claims. 
     For example, in the above-described embodiment, six hoppers  30  are provided in the width direction and four lines are provided in the falling direction. However, the number of hoppers  30  provided in the width direction is not limited, and it is sufficient as long as at least two lines are provided in the falling direction. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the supply device  60  supplies the sauce to the noodles while the noodles are falling toward the hopper  30 . However, it is allowable to spray the sauce to the noodles after the noodles land on the hopper  30 . 
     Moreover, the above embodiment has described a process of supplying a liquid sauce to the noodles to manufacture the fried noodles. However, the powdered sauce may be supplied to the noodles to manufacture the fried noodles. Furthermore, the object to be manufactured is not limited to fried noodles. The technology can also be applied to spaghetti, “Udon (thick noodles)”, cold wheat noodles such as “Hiyamugi” and “Somen”, or the like. 
     Moreover, the above embodiment has described an exemplary case of noodles used for fried noodles, as an example of food. However, the food is not particularly limited as long as the additive is mixed in the food. For example, the food may be seaweed, cut vegetables, “Tokoroten (seaweed jelly)”, rice, “Natto” or the like. 
     The above embodiment has described an exemplary case of using sauce, as an example of the additive. However, the additive is not particularly limited as long as it is mixed with food. For example, the additive may include: vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, palm oil; animal/vegetable oils such as fish oil, egg yolk oil, or refined oils from these; various seasonings such as soy sauce, sugar, salt, vinegar, citrus juice, ketchup; milk such as cow milk, skim milk powder, whole milk powder, whey protein; eggs such as egg yolk, egg white, whole eggs; spices, fragrances, pigments, those containing or a mixture of these, and the like. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  Noodle cooking apparatus 
           8 ,  108  Mixing apparatus 
           9  Receiving tray 
           30  Hopper 
           40  Shaft 
           60  Supply device 
           61  Main tank 
           62  First tank 
           63  Second tank 
           64  Spray device 
           65  First switching valve 
           66  Second switching valve 
           67  Third switching valve 
           68  Fourth switching valve 
           69  Pressurizing unit