Patent Publication Number: US-2021186036-A1

Title: Cover device for noodle-making machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Japanese patent application serial number 2019-232407, filed on Dec. 24, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a cover device to cover an opening of a noodle-making machine. 
     A noodle-making machine for making noodles, such as udon noodles or soba noodles, has a cutting blade to shred a noodle band supplied from a continuous rolling mill. The shredded noodles are evenly cut into an appropriate length by a cutter provided in the noodle-making machine. The noodle-making machine has an opening in front of the cutter. The opening can be covered by a cover in order to prevent foreign matter from entering into the cutter through the opening. In this case, the cover is fixed by nuts and bolts at a position to cover the opening. However, the cutting blade needs to be changed depending on the kind of noodles being cut. Thus, there often is no cover to cover an opening in front of the cutting blade. Japanese Utility model Application publication No. 7-18585 discloses a device allowing for efficient exchange of cutting blades. 
     If a cover is provided in front of the cutting blade, so as to cover the opening, the cover needs to be opened and closed every time the cutting blade is exchanged. This can decrease the productivity of manufacturing noodles. To combat this problem, an improved cover device is needed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A cover device of a noodle-making machine may comprise a covering member, a hinge member, and a stopper. The covering member is configured to cover an opening where a cutting blade used for cutting a noodle band can be exchanged therethrough. The hinge member is configured to support the covering member so that the covering member may be moved between an open position, where the opening is exposed, and a closed position, where the opening is covered. When the covering member is positioned at the closed position, the stopper prevents the covering member from moving to the open position. The stopper is provided at a first surface of the covering member, the first surface being on a side opposite to a second surface of the covering member, the second surface being configured to face the opening. When the covering member is at the closed position, the stopper is configure to extend across a covering member side portion of the hinge member and a housing side portion of the hinge member. A hinge shaft of the hinge member is positioned between the covering member side portion and the housing side portion. The stopper is configured to move between a lock position and an unlock position along either the covering member side portion or the housing side portion. When the stopper is at the lock position, the stopper is configured to prevent the covering member from moving from the closed position to the open position. When the stopper is at the unlock position, the stopper allows the covering member to be moved from the closed position to the open position. The stopper is biased so that the stopper moves from the unlock position to the lock position without operation by a user when the covering member is at the closed position. The stopper is held between the covering member side portion and the housing side portion of the hinge member when the covering member is at the open position. 
     In a first aspect of the present disclosure, the hinge shaft of the hinge member may be disposed at edge portions of the covering member, so that the hinge shaft extend in a horizontal, vertical, or oblique direction. When the covering member is at the open position, at least the cutting blade can be replaced through the opening. Thus, the open position of the covering member can be appropriately determined. The hinge shaft may be placed between the covering member side portion and the housing side portion of the hinge member. The stopper may be provided on either the covering member side portion or the housing side portion. The stopper may move between the lock position and the unlock position by rotating around the hinge shaft. Alternatively, the stopper may move between the lock position and the unlock position by sliding along a slide wire. 
     According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, when opening the covering member, the stopper can be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by only a one-touch operation. When closing the covering member, the stopper can automatically move from the unlock position to the lock position due to the biasing force. Thus, the covering member can be automatically locked. Therefore, the opening operation of the covering member can be easy, as compared to removing bolts and nuts. As a result, even if the covering member is provided to cover an opening at a position in front of the replaceable cutting blades, the manufacturing productivity of noodles can be maintained. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a noodle production apparatus. The noodle production apparatus has a noodle-making machine where a covering device of an embodiment is applied. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged side view of the above-mentioned noodle making machine. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial enlarged front view of the above-mentioned noodle making machine. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged perspective view of the above-mentioned noodle making machine. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 5  and illustrates a cover in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a noodle production apparatus disposed on a floor. In  FIG. 1 , a front direction is defined as a direction in which noodles manufactured by the noodle production apparatus are conveyed out. The directions are shown by arrows as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The same is true of the other Figures. 
     The noodle production apparatus has a continuous rolling mill  1  and a noodle-making machine  2 . The continuous rolling mill  1  can be used to gradually reduce the thickness of a noodle band Ma, for instance by sequentially passing the noodle band Ma through rolling mills  11  to  15 . In this way, the thickness of the noodle band Ma can be adjusted to the desired thickness. A noodle band Ma may be supplied from the continuous rolling mill  1  to a first conveyor  1   a.  The noodle band Ma is then cut into noodles Mb by the noodle-making machine  2 . These noodles Mb may be evenly cut to an appropriate length. Then, the noodles Mb may be transferred by a second conveyor  6 . A powder spraying machine  3  may be provided at the second conveyor  6 . The powder spraying machine  3  may be used to spray powder on the noodles Mb, so as to prevent the noodles Mb from sticking to each other. Aligning rollers  4  may be provided at a downstream end of the second conveyor  6 . The noodles Mb may be gathered in a central portion of the second conveyor  6  by the width aligning roller  4 . The noodles Mb may then be bundled for shipment. A tower crane  5  may be provided adjacent the noodle-making machine  2 . The tower crane  5  may be used to lift and move cutting blades disposed in the noodle-making machine  2 , for instance when the cutting blades are being exchanged. 
     The continuous rolling mill  1  may have rolling mills  11  to  15  fixed on a stand  1   b.  A cord-like body  7   b  is disposed along a side surface of the stand  1   b.  A predetermined tension is applied to the cord-like body  7   b.  Specifically, the cord-like body  7   b  may be made of a metal wire. The cord-like body  7   b  may be disposed near an upper surface of the stand  1   b,  so as to extend in the horizontal direction. There may be a distance of about 10 cm to 20 cm between the cord-like body  7   b  and the side surface of the stand  1   b.  The rear end portion of the cord-like body  7   b  may extend in the vertical direction, via a pulley  7   d.  A lower end portion of the cord-like body  7   b  may be fixed to a ring-shaped connecting member  7   c.  The connecting member  7   c  may be disposed adjacent to a lower end portion of the stand  1   b.  A forward end portion of the cord-like body  7   b  may be fixed to the stand  1   b,  via a tension spring  7   e  and a limit switch  7   a.  The limit switch  7   a  may be configured to detect whether the tension applied to the cord-like body  7   b  is greater than a predetermined value. The tension spring  7   e  may be configured to apply a predetermined tension to the cord-like body  7   b.    
     The limit switch  7   a  may be electrically connected to a control circuit (not shown) of the continuous rolling mill  1 . The control circuit is configured to forcibly stop operation of the continuous rolling mill  1 , for instance when the limit switch  7   a  detects the tension of the cord-like body  7   b  is greater than a predetermined value. 
     When an operator approaches the stand  1   b  and touches the cord-like body  7   b,  the tension of the cord-like body  7   b  may increase. If the limit switch  7   a  detects such condition, the control circuit can stop the operation of the continuous rolling mill  1 . This can prevent an operator from accidentally touching the continuous rolling mill  1 . In this embodiment, as described above, the cord-like body  7   b  may be disposed near the upper surface of the stand  1   b,  so as to extend in the horizontal direction. Additionally, a portion of the cord-like body  7   b  may be disposed at the rear portion of the stand  1   b,  so as to extend in the vertical direction. In this way, the limit switch  7   a  may have a detection area that extends over substantially the entire area of the stand  1   b,  especially in the horizontal direction. Additionally, the detection area extends over substantially the entire area of the rear portion of the continuous rolling mill  1 , especially in the vertical direction. In this way, the detection area of the limit switch  7   a  can be appropriately set, depending on the disposing position of the cord-like body  7   b.    
       FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged view of the noodle-making machine  2 . The noodle-making machine  2  has cutting blades  25  and cutters  2   e  in a housing  2   d.  The cutting blades  25  may be placed in a central space of the housing  2   d.  The noodle band Ma may be supplied from the conveyor  1   a  of the continuous rolling mill  1  via rollers  2   a,    2   b  and a conveyor  2   c.  The noodle band Ma may be cut into noodles Mb by the cutting blades  25 . The cutters  2   e  may be disposed below the cutting blades  25  and may be configured to evenly cut the noodles Mb into an appropriate length. 
     The conveyor  6  may be positioned under the cutters  2   e.  The conveyor  6  may be used to transfer the noodles Mb, after they have been evenly cut by the cutters  2   e.  In front of the cutting blades  25 , an opening of the housing  2   d  (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ) is provided. The opening may be openably covered by a first covering member  21 . Additionally, there is another opening of the housing in front of the cutters  2   e  (e.g., see  FIGS. 2 and 5 ). A second covering member  24  may be fixed to the housing  2   d  by bolts (not shown). 
       FIGS. 3 to 6  illustrate a cover device mainly composed of the first covering member  21 , in an enlarged view. The first covering member  21  may be comprised of stainless steel and may be configured to be openable in a vertical direction about a lower hinge member. The first covering member  21  may have a hinge member  22  provided at a lower edge portion of the first covering member  21 . The hinge member  22  may have a belt-shaped first hinge frame  22   a,  a belt-shaped second hinge frame  22   b,  and a pair of hinge bodies  22   c  connecting the first hinge frame  22   a  to the second hinge frame  22   b.  The first hinge frame  22   a  may be fixed to the lower edge portion of the first covering member  21 . The first hinge frame  22   a  corresponds to a covering member side portion of the present disclosure. The second hinge frame  22   b  may be disposed along a lower part of the first hinge frame  22   a  and may be fixed to the housing  2   d.  The second hinge frame  22   b  corresponds to a housing side portion of the present disclosure. Each hinge body  22   c  may have two attaching pieces  22   d  configured to relatively rotate around a hinge shaft  22   e.  The upper attaching piece  22   d  may be fixed to the first hinge frame  22   a.  The lower attaching piece  22   d  may be fixed to the second hinge frame  22   b.  In this configuration, the hinge bodies  22   c  may be free stop hinges (e.g., torque hinges). When an opening or closing operation of the first covering member  21  is not performed, the attaching pieces  22   d  may be held at a given orientation, primarily due to a frictional force. In this way, the first covering member  21  can be prevented from accidentally being opened due to gravity. 
     The first covering member  21  may have a window  21   b  comprised of a light-transmissive material. The window  21   b  may be embedded in the first covering member  21 . Thus, an operator can observe the cutting blades  25  through the window  21   b,  even if the first covering member  21  is closed. Further, the first covering member  21  may have a handle  21   a  on its right side surface. Thus, an operator can easily open or close the first covering member  21  by using the handle  21   a.    
     The first hinge frame  22   a  may have a stopper  23 . The stopper  23  may be an L-shaped angle member, formed, for instance, by bending a stainless plate. The stopper  23   a  may have a first part  23   a  and a second part  23   b.  The first part  23   a  may be affixed to the first hinge frame  22   a,  via a bushing  23   d,  by a screw  23   c.  The first part  23   a  may be configured to rotate along a front surface of the first hinge frame  22   a.  The second part  23   b  may be configured to project forward from the first part  23   a.    
     The first part  23   a  may have a longitudinal length sufficient enough to extend over and cover the first and second hinge frames  22   a,    22   b  in vertical direction. The longitudinal length of the second part  23   b  may be half of that of the first part  23   a.  The first part  23   a  and the second part  23   b  may have substantially the same widths, or slightly small widths, compared to the longitudinal lengths of the first and second hinge frames  22   a,    22   b.  Thus, when the first covering member  21  is closed, as is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the second part  23   b  of the stopper  23   a  may be positioned at a lower side of the stopper  23  (in a gravity direction). When the second part  23   b  is positioned at the lower side of the stopper  23   a,  the stopper  23  can prevent the first hinge frame  22   a  from being inclined forward. In this way, the stopper  23  can be placed in a locked position. 
     In order to open the first covering member  21 , as is shown in  FIG. 6 , the stopper  23  can be rotated to an unlocked position, in which the first part  23   a  extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first hinge frame  22   a,  as shown by an imaginary line in  FIG. 3 . When the first covering member  21  is opened, the stopper  23  may be placed between the first hinge frame  22   a  and second hinge frame  22   b,  which are now in a position approaching each other. As a result of the first covering member  21  being in the opened position, the stopper  23  may be prevented from fully rotating back to the closed position, thereby causing the stopper  23  to be held at the unlock position. Thus, once the stopper has been moved to the unlock position, the stopper  23  can be held at the unlock position while the first covering member  21  is in the opened position. 
     The housing  2   d  may have a covering member detection switch  27 . When the first covering member  21  is in the closed position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the covering member detection switch  27  may be covered by the first hinge frame  22   a.  When the first covering member  21  is in the opened position, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the covering member detection switch  27  may be exposed. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the covering member detection switch  27  may be comprised of a limit switch  27   b  embedded in a mounting hole  27   a  formed in the housing  2   d.  The first hinge frame  22   a  may have a bolt  27   c,  fixed by a nut  27   d,  at a portion where it may face the limit switch  27   b.  Thus, when the first covering member  21  is in the closed position, the limit switch  27   b  of the covering member detection switch  27  may be actuated by the bolt  27   c.  When the first covering member  21  is in the opened position, the limit switch  27   b  is not actuated by the bolt  27   c.  In this way, the covering member detection switch  27  can detect whether the first covering member  21  is in the opened position or in a position other than the closed position. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 , a second covering member  24  may be provided below the first covering member  21 . The second covering member  24  is configured to cover an opening of the housing  2   d,  for instance an opening in the housing  2   d  that faces the cutters  2   e.  The second covering member  24  may be fixed to the housing  2   d  by one or more bolts (not shown). Generally, it is unnecessary to replace the cutters  2   e  very often, especially as compared to the cutting blades  25 . Thus, it is unnecessary to open and close the second covering member  24  often. Accordingly, even if the second covering member  24  is fixed to the housing  2   d  by bolts, such a configuration does not significantly affect the noodle production productivity. In some embodiments, the second covering member  24  can be structured to be opened and closed, like the first covering member  21 , if needed. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the cutting blades  25  may be detachably fixed to a blade holder  25   h,  in such a way that it may be easily replaced. The blade holder  25   h  may have a flame shape. The blade holder  25   h  may be supported by a hinge pin  25   k,  so that the blade holder  25   h  can rotate in the horizontal direction in the housing  2   d.  The hinge pin  25   k  may be positioned at the left side in the opening of the housing  2   d.  The cutting blade  25  includes first and second blades  25   e,    25   f,  a connection gear  25   g,  and a reduction gear  25   d.  These components may be integrally assembled. The cutting blade  25  may be detachable from the blade holder  25   h.  Thus, when the cutting blade  25  is to be replaced, the first covering member  21  may be opened. The blade holder  25   h  may then be rotated in the horizontal direction around the hinge pin  25   k.  In this way, the cutting blade  25  can be more easily replaced through the opening. For instance, the cutting blade  25  can be held in a state where the cutting blade  25  and the blade holder  25   h  are locate outside of the housing  2   d.  The blade holder  25   h  may have an index plunger  26 . The index plunger  26  may be located on the right side of the blade holder  25   h,  away from the hinge pin  25   k.  The index plunger  26  is configured to secure the blade holder  25   h  to the housing  2   d.  In this way, the blade holder  25   h  can be set at a fixed position within the housing  2   d,  so as to allow for shredding of the noodle band Ma. When the blade holder  25   h  and the cutting blade  25  are set at the fixed position, the reduction gear  25   d  may engage with a driven gear  25   c.  As a result, the cutting blades  25  can be rotary-driven, via a driving shaft  25   b,  driven by a driven gear  25   a.    
     When the first covering member  21  is moved from the closed position to the open position, the first part  23   a  of the stopper  23  may be rotated to a position shown by the imaginary line in  FIG. 3 . Accordingly, the stopper  23  may be positioned at the unlock position. That is, the first part  23   a  may be rotated so that the longitudinal direction of the first part  23   a  extends at least in the horizontal direction, and possibly at least partly in the upward direction. The second part  23   b  of the stopper  23  is easy to grasp because the second part  23   b  projects forward from the first part  23   a.  Thus, the rotational operation of the stopper  23  is easy. 
     When the stopper  23  is set at the unlocked position, the first covering member  21  can be opened using the handle  21   a.  At this time, the stopper  23  can be pinched between the first hinge frame  22   a  and second the hinge frame  22   b.  For instance, a corner formed between the first and second parts  23   a,    23   b  of the stopper  23  can contact the second hinge frame  22   b,  so as to prevent undesirable rotation of the stopper  23  about the bushing  23   d.  As a result, the stopper  23  can be held at the unlocked position. Thus, there is no need for the user to hold the stopper  23  while opening the first covering member  21 . Rotation of the first covering member  21  beyond a certain amount may be limited by a bracket  6   a  of the conveyor  6 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     When the first covering member  21  has been opened, the covering member detection switch  27  can detect the opening state of the first covering member  21 . The covering member detection switch  27  may then send signal(s) to a control circuit (not shown), so as to stop operation of the cutting blade  25  and the cutters  2   e.  In this way, the cutting blade  25  and the cutters  2   e  can be prevented from wasteful operation and safety may be improved. 
     After completion of the exchange of the cutting blades  25 , the first covering member  21  may be moved from the open position to the closed position. When performing this movement, the first covering member  21  can be closed solely by using the handle  21   a.  Since the stopper  23  is held at the unlock position while the first covering member  21  is being closed, the user does not need to touch the stopper  23 . Thus, the operation of the stopper  23  is unnecessary while closing the first covering member  21 . 
     When the first covering member  21  is in the closed position, front surfaces of the first hinge frame  22   a  and the second hinge frame  22   b  may be positioned on the same plane. Thus, the stopper  23  can be released from being pinched between the first hinge frame  22   a  and the second hinge frame  22   b.  As a result, the first part  23   a  of the stopper  23  can rotate due to gravity. As a result, the first part  23   a  of the stopper  23  can be positioned so as to extend vertically, as shown by a solid line in  FIG. 3 . In this way, the stopper  23  can be automatically returned to the locked position, which allows the first covering member  21  to be locked in the closed position. That is, the stopper  23  can be rotated from the unlock position to the lock position due to gravity. Thus, the stopper  23  can be rotated without any other extra energy. Additionally, the stopper  22  can be simply configured. 
     When the first covering member  21  is closed, the covering member detection switch  27  can detect the closed state of the first covering member  21  and can send signal(s) to the control circuit (not shown), so as to activate the cutting blade  25  and the cutters  2   e.    
     Once an operator rotates the stopper  23  from the locked position to the unlocked position at the beginning of the opening operation of the first covering member  21 , the operator can simply open or close the first covering member  21 . Thus, a fall in productivity of manufacturing noodles due to the replacement of the cutting blade  25  can be inhibited. Additionally, when the first covering member  21  is returned to the closed position, the stopper  23  can automatically return to the locked position. In this way, the first covering member  21  can be safely held at the closed position. 
     OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
     While the present disclosure has been described herein with reference to specific embodiments, various kinds of changes, additions, or deletion may be possible, for example, but not limited to, related to their appearances or structures. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the hinge bodies  22   c  may be free stop hinges. However, the hinge bodies  22   c  may be other types of hinges configured to have a smaller rotational friction applied thereto. 
     In the embodiment described above, the first hinge frame  22   a  and the second hinge frame  22   b  are provided. However, either the first hinge frame  22   a  or the second hinge frame  22   b  may be not provided. Instead, the hinge bodies  22   c  and the stopper  23  may be directly fixed to the first covering member  21  and/or the housing  2   d.  If the first hinge frame  22   a  is not provided, the covering member detection switch  27  can be directly operated by the first covering member  21 . 
     In the embodiment described above, the stopper  23  is biased by gravity. However, the stopper  23  may be biased by a spring force, a magnetic force, or a fluid pressure, etc. toward the lock position, when the covering member  21  is at the closed position.