JPS6141596Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Technical Field This invention is a tofu production method that allows a series of tofu production processes, from crushing and separating soybeans and other materials to coagulation and molding, to be performed sequentially and automatically using one component. Regarding equipment.

Background technology Generally, tofu production involves the first step of soaking soybeans in water.
a second step of crushing the soaked soybeans, a third step of boiling the crushed soybeans, a fourth step of separating the boiled soybeans into okara and soymilk, and a coagulation of the separated soybeans. This is accomplished by sequentially performing a fifth step of forming the molded material and a sixth step of molding it.

By the way, tofu manufacturing apparatuses in which only some of these steps are automated are known. However, a fully automated tofu production device that can consistently and automatically perform a series of processes from crushing and separating soybeans to coagulation and molding using a single component has not yet been known.

Disclosure of the invention The purpose of this invention is to enable a series of tofu manufacturing processes, from crushing and separating input soybeans to coagulation and molding, to be performed consistently and automatically using one component, and to be easily usable in general households. Our goal is to provide a fully automated tofu manufacturing device that is capable of producing tofu.

To achieve this purpose, this invention consists of a soy milk tank equipped with a soy milk separation tank that crushes soybeans and other materials and separates them into soy milk and okara, and a soy milk tank that stores the soy milk obtained in the soy milk tank through a soy milk flow path. a container having a container and supported so as to be movable along a predetermined path within the device; a heating means for heating the stored soymilk through the container when the soybean milk is boiled; During coagulation and molding, a stirring means is provided above the container fed along the route and applies a stirring action to the tofu inside, and the container is moved along the predetermined route from the position where the soymilk is stored. a moving means for transporting the stirring body to the position of the stirring body;
an injection means for injecting a required amount of coagulant into the boiled soymilk when the soybean milk is cooled to a predetermined temperature; and a process control means for controlling the operations of the respective parts in accordance with a predetermined order and temperature. It consists of By controlling the process control means to operate each part in a predetermined order and at a predetermined temperature, a series of tofu manufacturing processes from pulverizing and separating the input soybeans to coagulating and molding can be performed in one component. It is configured so that it can be done consistently and automatically.

According to this invention, a series of tofu manufacturing processes from crushing and separating input materials such as soybeans to coagulation and molding are carried out consistently, continuously, and automatically using a single component of a simple structure without the need for human intervention. Do it properly,
Complete automation of the tofu manufacturing process can be achieved. Therefore, it is possible to provide a novel fully automated tofu manufacturing apparatus that can easily and quickly manufacture tofu without any manual intervention or skill. In addition, tofu production can be performed automatically by simply adding ingredients such as soybeans, and there is almost no manual work involved, making it extremely easy to handle. Furthermore, since there are no parts that are touched by hands, unlike conventional methods where each process is performed separately, it is possible to completely avoid situations where bacteria or other contamination occurs during the manufacturing process, and eliminate unnecessary chemicals such as preservatives. Tofu that is hard to rot and has a long shelf life can be easily and reliably obtained without using it.

Therefore, according to this invention, handmade tofu that is resistant to spoilage can be obtained reliably, quickly, and easily, and it is excellent in terms of hygiene management as it prevents the contamination of germs, etc., so it is extremely suitable for easy use in general households. Yes, it has high practical value.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail.

Figures 1 and 2 show the overall configuration of the tofu manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, which has a crushing blade installed in a recess 11 formed on the upper surface of one side of a casing 10 and for crushing the soybeans put therein. In addition, there is a soy milk tank 20 rotatably equipped with a soy milk separation tank 21 for separating crushed soybeans into soy milk and okara, and a soy milk tank 20 located below the soy milk outlet of the soy milk tank 20 and moved from this position to the position of the stirring mechanism. A soymilk container 30 is supported, a heating section 40 is arranged at a predetermined position above the soymilk container 30, and the heating section 40 is arranged at a predetermined position above the soymilk container 30 to heat the soymilk stored in the container 30. A stirring mechanism 50 that applies a stirring action to the stored soymilk during subsequent coagulation and cooling, and a moving mechanism 60 that guides the soymilk container 30 from the soymilk receiving position to the position of the stirring mechanism 50 along a predetermined path. and a coagulant injection means 70 for injecting a predetermined amount of coagulant into the heated soymilk when the heated soymilk cools to a predetermined temperature and reaches the coagulation temperature.

soy milk container 30, heating section 40, stirring mechanism 50,
The moving mechanism 60 and the coagulant injection means 70 are respectively housed at predetermined positions inside the casing 10. A control circuit 80 consisting of a microcomputer is incorporated in a predetermined position of the casing 10, so that the operations of each part can be performed automatically and continuously in accordance with a predetermined sequence and temperature control.

The soybean milk tank 20 is connected to the recess 11 as shown in FIG.
The upper cover 220 is removably attached to the upper open end of the upper opening. A soy milk flow path 2 is provided on one side of the bottom of the soy milk tank 20.
01 is provided. One end thereof extends into the casing 10 through the cavity 202 below the bottom surface, and extends above the installation position of the soymilk container 30. An appropriate filter is attached to the discharge port formed at the tip of the flow path. A solenoid valve 23 is interposed in the middle of the flow path 201 to open and close the flow path. A driving motor 24 for rotating the soybean milk separating tank 21 and the crushing blade 27 is installed inside the casing 10 below the soymilk tank. This motor 2
4 is, for example, a commutator motor, and one end of its drive shaft extends into the cavity 202 through an opening formed approximately in the center of the recess 11. A rotating shaft 25 is supported through a substantially center of the bottom surface of the soybean milk tank 20 via a sealed bearing so as to be rotatable and coaxial with the drive shaft of the motor 24 . One end of the rotating shaft 25 extends into the cavity 202 and is connected to one end of the drive shaft of the motor 24 by a shaft coupling 26 . The upper end of the rotating shaft 25 protrudes into the soymilk tank 20 at a predetermined height, and the protruding end passes through the bottom of the soymilk separation tank 21 provided in the soymilk tank and extends into the interior thereof. A required number of crushing blades 27 are integrally attached. The crushing blade 27 is rotationally driven in the circumferential direction along the vicinity of the bottom surface of the soybean milk separation tank 21 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 25 driven by the motor 24 when crushing soybeans, and finely crushes the soybeans contained in the soybean milk separation tank.

The soybean milk separation tank 21 has the function of finely pulverizing the soybeans charged therein and separating the pulverized soybeans into soybean milk and okara by centrifugal separation. A large number of pores 210 are provided in the peripheral wall, and the whole is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. A hollow, generally disc-shaped float 28 made of resin such as plastic is integrally fixed to the bottom of the soybean milk separation tank 21. Soy milk separation tank 21 and float 28
is rotatably and vertically slidably supported by a rotating shaft 25 via a bearing. An inner lid 211 is removably fitted to the upper open end of the soybean milk separation tank 21. On the other hand, a support shaft 221 is provided protruding from the center of the inner surface of the upper lid 220 of the soybean milk tank 20 so as to be coaxial with the rotating shaft 25 and the central axis. The soybean milk separation tank 21 is supported on this support shaft 221 so as to be rotatable and movable up and down via a bearing provided on the inner lid 211 . Thus, the soymilk separating tank 21 and the float 28 are rotatably supported in the soymilk tank 20 by the rotating shaft 25 and the support shaft 221 so as to be movable up and down within a predetermined range.

A pair of clutch plates 223 are provided between the bottom of the soy milk tank 20 on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 25 and the bottom of the float 28,
A clutch mechanism 222 consisting of 224 is removably interposed. This clutch mechanism 222 is connected to the soy milk separating tank 21 and the float 28 by lowering the soy milk tank near the bottom, and the friction force moves the soy milk separating tank and the float to the rotating shaft 25.
are combined and rotated together with the crushing blade 27. Also, when the soymilk separation tank 21 floats upward from near the bottom of the soymilk tank due to the action of the float 28, both
1 and 28 from the rotation of the rotating shaft 25, and the crushing blade 2
Rotate only 7.

A pair of suction members are provided on the lower surface of the upper lid 220 and the upper surface of the inner lid 211 to suction and hold the soybean milk separation tank 21 in a floating position when it moves upward.
This suction member is composed of, for example, a magnet 225 attached to the upper cover 220 and an iron plate 226 attached to the inner cover 211.

A suitable filter member 230 is attached to the inner wall surface of the soybean milk separation tank 21.

As shown in FIG. 4, the soymilk container 30 consists of a rectangular frame-shaped outer cylinder 310 that opens upward and downward, and a soymilk storage container 320 that is removably fitted into the outer cylinder 310 and assembled together. . The container 320 is formed into a rectangular box shape with a predetermined depth, and a collar 3 installed on the upper edge of the outer cylinder 310 is attached to the periphery of the upper opening.
21 are provided. The inner surface of the container 320 is treated with, for example, Teflon so that the tofu can be easily cut out later. Further, the depth of this container 320 is set to a predetermined depth that is slightly deeper than the height of the manufactured tofu so that the tofu can be easily removed during subsequent mold cutting.

The heating unit 40 is attached to the open end of the lower surface of the outer cylinder 310. The heating section 40 includes a heating table 410 and a heating means embedded in the heating table 410, for example, a sheathed heater 420. The heating part 40 is the outer cylinder 3
10, and after the soymilk boiling process is completed as shown by the imaginary line in the figure, the outer cylinder 310, in other words, the container 3, is attached by a mechanism not shown in the figure.
It is configured to be spaced apart at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface of the container 20, so that the cooling effect after the completion of boiling can be performed even better.

A heat storage space 330 is formed between the outer cylinder 310 and the container 320, so that the heating unit 40 can efficiently heat the soybean milk during boiling, and the boiling process can be performed more quickly and efficiently. container 320
A temperature sensor 34 consisting of a thermistor etc. is installed on the outer wall of the
0 is attached. Note that this detector may be embedded in a stirring body 530, which will be described later.

The soybean milk container 30 is installed so as to be located below the outlet of the soybean milk flow path 201 on the side of the casing 10 when soybeans are crushed and separated, and is transferred to the position of the stirring mechanism 50 by driving the moving mechanism 60. Guide shafts 350, 350 are protruded from both sides of the outer cylinder 310, and guide grooves 62 provided in the guide plates 610, 610 constituting the moving mechanism 60 as described later.
0,620 is slidably inserted.

The stirring mechanism 50 is provided at a predetermined position near the end of the movement path of the soybean milk container 30 at the initial position of the soybean milk container 30, that is, above one side of the receiving position A that stores soymilk. As shown in FIG. 5, the stirring mechanism 50 includes an extension tube 510 in the shape of a rectangular tube that opens vertically, a central shaft 520 that is rotatably supported through the peripheral wall of the extension tube 510, and A rectangular plate-shaped stirring body 530 is integrally attached to the central shaft 520 so as to be able to swing within a predetermined range; a motor 540 that reciprocates the stirring body 530 in the swinging direction; one end is connected to the central shaft 520 and the other It consists of a crank link mechanism 550 whose end is connected to the motor 540 and transmits the rotational power of the motor 540 to the stirring body 530 through the central shaft 520. The crank link mechanism 550 converts the rotational motion of the motor 540 into a swinging motion of the agitator 530, and causes the agitator 530 to swing within a predetermined angle range in a reciprocating direction.

The upper open end of the extension tube 510 projects above the casing 10, and a lid 511 is closed on the projecting end. The stirring body 530 protrudes below the extension cylinder 510 by a predetermined length. A large number of through holes 531 are opened on the surface, so that the soymilk stirring action can be performed even better. Extension tube 51
0 is to prevent soy milk from leaking or overflowing to the outside when the liquid level in the container 320 rises and the soy milk inside overflows when the soy milk is boiled. A packing member 512 made of silicone rubber or the like or a packing member 512 similar thereto is provided. Then, when the soymilk container 30 is transferred to the position of the stirring mechanism 50, the upper end of the outer tube 310 is fitted into the extension tube 510 within a predetermined range. At this time, the entire circumference of the outer tube 310 is pressed and tightened by the packing member 512, and the outer tube 310 is held in close contact with the extension tube 510 without any gaps.

The moving mechanism 60 for transferring the soy milk container 30 is the sixth one.
It is configured as shown in the figure.

This moving mechanism includes a pair of guide plates 610 and 6 installed on both sides of the soymilk receiving position A of the soymilk container 30 along the moving direction of the container 30.
10, a guide groove 620 provided in each of the guide plates 610, 610 so as to follow the movement path of the container 30, and a rotating shaft mounted above the guide plates 610, 610 so as to be orthogonal thereto. It includes a shaft 630 and a pair of rotation arms 640, 640 integrally fixed to both ends of the rotation shaft 630. Guide shafts 350, 350 protruding from the outer cylinder 310 of the container 30 are slidably inserted into the guide grooves 620, 620. The tip of the rotating arm 640 is the seventh
As shown in the figure, it is bifurcated into a bifurcated shape, and the distal end portion 641 is fitted with a slight loose fit on the outer periphery of the guide shaft 350 so that it can relatively slide along the longitudinal direction. The container 30 has guide shafts 350, 350
It is supported between the guide plates 610, 610 via the guide plates 610, 610, and is biased in the moving direction by the tip portions of the rotating arms 640, 640 as the rotating arms 640, 640 rotate. Rotation axis 63
A fan-shaped gear 650 is integrally attached to one end of 0 with the central axis being coaxial. On the other hand, the rotation axis 630
A driving motor 660 is disposed above the motor 660, and a worm 670 provided on its output shaft meshes with a worm wheel 680 pivotally mounted below the worm 670. Worm wheel 680 meshes with sector gear 650. The motor 660 can be driven to rotate in forward and reverse directions, and its rotational power is reduced in speed by worm gear mechanisms 670 and 680 and transmitted to the sector gear 650. Then, when the fan-shaped gear 650 rotates in a predetermined direction, the rotation arms 640, 640 rotate in the same direction, and the storage body 30
is moved forward or backward in a predetermined direction along the guide grooves 620, 620.

One end of the guide plates 610, 610 is extended to a position below the stirring mechanism 50. Guide groove 520, 6
20 first moves downward on both sides to the soy milk receiving position A, and then from this position on a line passing through the center line B of the upper stirring mechanism 50 whose upper part is curved in a concave and approximately arc shape (not a complete arc shape). It extends to position P, and has a shape that extends vertically upward by a predetermined length. That is, the soymilk container 30 moves from the soymilk receiving position A, which is the initial setting position, to the stirring mechanism 5
Its shape and route are set so that it can move to the 0 position easily and stably and along the shortest route. When the container 30 reaches the position P, the container 30 faces the tofu outlet 12 opened in the side of the casing 10. This outlet 12 is closed and opened by a door 13.

As shown in FIG. 5, the coagulant injection means 70 includes a dropper-shaped injection member 710 that can accommodate a predetermined amount of coagulant, and one end connected to the injection member 710 and the other end connected to the peripheral wall of the extension tube 510. The pipe-shaped member 720 extends inward through the pipe, and the distal end of the pipe-shaped member 720 is positioned directly above the container 320 of the inserted container 30. When the soymilk contained in the container 320 is cooled to a predetermined solidification temperature after the boiling process is completed, a mechanism not shown or the rotating arm 640 of the moving mechanism 60,
The injection member 710 is pressed using the operation of 640, etc., and the coagulant solution inside (this is made by dissolving a predetermined amount of coagulant in water etc. in advance) is poured into the member 720.
The soybean milk is poured into the container 320 through the soybean milk.

As shown in FIG. 6 above, one guide plate 610
A first position detector 810 is provided at the starting end position of the guide groove 620 in the moving direction (on the near side in the illustrated example), and a second position detector 820 is further provided at a position corresponding to the position P. The third position is at the end position in the direction of movement.
position detectors 830 are provided, respectively. These position detectors are composed of, for example, micro SWs, and signals from each detector are sent to the control circuit 80, and the operation of the moving mechanism 60 is controlled based on the signals.

Next, the sequence of manufacturing tofu using the soymilk manufacturing apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above will be explained.

First, when a predetermined amount of soybeans soaked in water for a predetermined time and water are put into the soybean milk separation tank 21, the water content C is removed.
As shown in FIG. 3, the soybean milk tank 20 flows through the filter member 230 and the pores 210, and is filled with the soybean milk tank 20 at a predetermined liquid level. Then, the float 28 receives buoyancy due to this rise in the liquid level, and floats upward from the bottom of the soy milk tank 20 at a predetermined height together with the soy milk separation tank 21, as shown by the imaginary line. Due to this floating, the clutch plates 223 and 224 of the clutch mechanism 222 are separated and their connection is released, and the soy milk separation tank 21 and the float 28 are separated from the rotating shaft 25 and are switched to a state where they are free from rotation. Soy milk separation tank 21
When the magnet 225 of the adsorption means rises, the magnet 225 of the adsorption means
and iron plate 226 adsorb and hold the soy milk separation tank. In addition, at that time, the locking protrusion 2 provided on the upper lid 220
27 and a locking piece 212 protruding from the top surface of the inner lid 211
The rotation of the soybean milk separating tank 21 is stopped so that the soybean milk separating tank 21 does not twist around as the crushing blade 27 rotates. Next, when the motor 24 is driven to rotate the rotating shaft 25, the crushing blade 27 rotates at high speed in the direction indicated by the arrow 100 in FIG. 3, thereby finely crushing the swollen soybeans contained in the separation tank. After that, when the soybean grinding is completed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed,
When the motor 24 stops, the rotating shaft 25 and the crushing blade 2
7 stops rotating. Next, the solenoid valve 23 is opened and the water C in the soybean milk tank 20 is discharged to the outside through the flow path 201. Due to this discharge, the soy milk separation tank 21
together with the float 28, descends and returns to the vicinity of the bottom of the soybean milk tank 20, as shown in FIG. As a result, the clutch mechanism 222 is reconnected, and the soybean milk separating tank 21
is connected to a rotating shaft 25 together with a float 28, and by rotation of this rotating shaft 25, it can be rotated integrally with the crushing blade 27. Thereafter, the motor 24 is driven again, and the rotation of the rotating shaft 25 causes the soybean milk separation tank 21 to
is rotated integrally with the crushing blade 27 in the direction indicated by the above-mentioned arrow 100 in FIG. Then soy milk separation tank 2
The crushed soybeans in 1 are separated into okara and soy milk by the centrifugal action, and the okara remains attached to the filter member 230, and the separated soy milk passes through the filter member 230 and the pores 210 to the soy milk tank 20. The soy milk flows out from the bottom of the soy milk container 320, passes through the flow passage 201, passes through the open electromagnetic valve 23, and is taken out from the discharge port, and is stored in a predetermined amount in the container 320 of the soy milk container 30 installed at the receiving position A. do.

When a predetermined amount of soymilk is taken out and stored in the container 320, the soybean crushing and separation process is completed, and then the motor 660 of the moving mechanism 60 is driven in a predetermined direction. Then, the fan-shaped gear 650 rotates along with the rotation shaft 630 via the worm gear mechanisms 670 and 680.
It is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow 110 shown in the figure. This rotation causes the rotation arms 640, 640 to move around the rotation shaft 6.
30 as the center as shown by an arrow 111.
When the rotating arms 640, 640 rotate, the soybean milk container 30 is biased thereby and moves along the guide grooves 620, 620 together with the heating section 40 toward the position of the stirring mechanism 50 in the direction of the arrow 111. The movement is performed as follows. First, the container 30 is placed at a receiving position A below the discharge port of the soybean milk flow path 201.
Then it suddenly descends downwards. This prevents the container 30 from colliding with the flow path 201 or other members as the container 30 moves. Next, when the container 30 reaches the position P along the guide groove, it moves vertically upward, and at its terminal position, the outer cylinder 310
The upper end of the stirring mechanism 50 is inserted into the extension tube 510 (see FIG. 8).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the rotating arm 640,
640 and guide shafts 350, 3 provided on the outer cylinder 310
The shafts 350, 350 are fitted with a predetermined clearance and are relatively slidable, and are set in such a state that the shafts 350, 350 can freely move within a predetermined range with respect to the arms 640, 640. Therefore, even though the rotating arms 640, 640 move circularly around the rotating shaft 630, in other words, the container 30
Even though the guide grooves 620, 620, which are the movement paths of It can be moved to the position of the stirring mechanism 50 through the shortest route.

When the outer cylinder 310 is inserted into the extension cylinder 510, the entire circumference of the outer cylinder 310 is pressed by the packing member 510, and the pressing action holds the outer cylinder 310 at the inserted position without falling off. At that time, the worm gear mechanism 670, 6
Since the outer cylinder 310 acts as a stopper means in the direction in which the outer cylinder 310 comes out, the outer cylinder 310 can be held more securely. At the same time, the stirrer 530 is inserted into the soybean milk contained in the container 320 until it reaches near the bottom of the container.

Thus, when the container 30 is held at the position of the stirring mechanism 50, the position detector 830 detects this and sends a signal to the control circuit 80. This signal turns on a heating switch (not shown) and turns on the sheathed heater 4.
20 is activated, the motor 540 of the stirring mechanism 50 is driven, and the stirring body 530 starts swinging in the reciprocating direction at a predetermined stroke, and the soymilk contained in the container 320 is boiled. Thereafter, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed and the temperature of the soymilk reaches about 100° C. and is boiled, the temperature detector 340 detects this and sends a signal to the control circuit 80. The control circuit 80 turns off the heating switch in response to a signal from the detector 340 and de-energizes the sheathed heater 420. In this case, since the heat storage space 330 is formed in the area surrounded by the outer cylinder 310 and the heating unit 40 around the container 320, the heating efficiency by the sheathed heater 420 is improved and the soymilk can be boiled more quickly. This reduces the time required for the boiling process. On the other hand, in the process of boiling soy milk, when the soy milk boils, the container 320
The bottom of the container 320 may be burnt, or the soy milk may be
Trying to boil over. However, according to this embodiment, the stirring body 530 is inserted to the vicinity of the bottom of the container 320, and its rocking motion provides an even and uniform stirring action to the soymilk in the container at all times during the heating process by the heater. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the phenomenon of burning of the bottom surface and bumping of soy milk. Further, even if the soymilk boils to some extent, the extension cylinder 510 is fitted above the container 320, so that it will be prevented from spilling out and returned to the inside of the container. Furthermore,
The action of the packing member 512 reliably prevents spilled soymilk from leaking to the outside. In this example, when the soymilk is about to overflow from the container after it has boiled, the heater 420 is de-energized and heating is stopped, so that the soymilk can be more reliably prevented from overflowing. . In addition, it is possible to reliably eliminate the scorching phenomenon with an extremely simple structure compared to conventional methods that use steam boiling or other means to prevent scorching.

When the boiling process is thus completed, the soymilk is cooled. At that time, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 8, the heating unit 40 is spaced downward from the outer cylinder 310 at a predetermined interval and detached from the bottom surface of the container 320, so that the soymilk in the container is affected by residual heat. To prevent. At the same time, the moving mechanism 60 is driven as shown by the imaginary line in the figure, and the rotating arms 640, 640 are rotated to slightly move the outer cylinder 310 together with the container 320 by a predetermined distance downward in the figure. Due to this movement, a predetermined gap is formed between the outer cylinder 310 and the extension cylinder 510, so that the soymilk can be cooled well. Note that the separation operation of the heating unit 40 from the container 310 and the formation of a gap by driving the moving mechanism 60 are performed under the control of the control circuit 80. Meanwhile, during this cooling process, the stirring operation of the soybean milk by the stirring body 530 continues. Therefore, both the stirring action and the cooling action caused by the formation of the gap further improve the cooling efficiency, allowing the cooling process to be carried out quickly and reducing the time required. In addition, as the temperature decreases due to this cooling and the stirring action by the stirring member 530, the bubbles generated in the soymilk during the boiling process gradually disappear, and the soymilk reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, 90°C.
When the liquid is cooled to about ℃, the bubbles almost completely disappear and the liquid surface becomes clear. Therefore, according to this example, the foam generated in the boiling process can be removed extremely easily by only the stirring action of the stirring body 530 and the cooling effect of this stirring, without using a separate chemical such as an antifoaming agent as in the conventional case. It can be removed and made to disappear.

Thereafter, the soymilk is continued to be stirred by the stirring member 530, and after a predetermined period of time, the soymilk is further cooled and reaches the coagulation temperature (70°C to 80°C). This solidification temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 340, and the control circuit 8
A signal is sent to 0. Then, the inputting means 70
is activated, and the injection member 710 is pressed and compressed by a mechanism not shown, and a predetermined amount of the coagulant solution stored in the inside is injected into the soybean milk in the container 320 through the member 720. During this time, the stirring body 530
The stirring operation continues. and,
This stirring action stirs and mixes the coagulant into the soymilk. At this time, since the stirring body 530 is provided with the through holes 531, the mixing and stirring operation of the coagulant can be performed even better and more efficiently.

The number of times the coagulant is stirred by the stirring body 530 is set in advance to a required number of times. That is, after the coagulant is added, the agitator 530 moves, for example, 5 to 6 times in the reciprocating direction.
After the stirring operation has been performed several times, the operation of the stirring body stops. This operation control is performed by the control circuit 80, and is controlled by a microcomputer based on time, such as automatically stopping the stirring body 530 when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the coagulant was added.

The stirring body 530 is set to stop suddenly at a position perpendicular to the container 320 by, for example, a weight 521 provided on a crank link mechanism. In other words, it needs to be stopped in a vertical position. This is because it is necessary to quickly stop the soymilk solution flowing within the container 320 and allow it to coagulate. Also, for this reason, in this device, container 3
20 is formed into a slightly deep rectangular box shape, and is arranged so that the flow of the soybean milk solution can quickly come to a complete stop when the agitator stops.

When the stirring body 530 stops and the soymilk solution in the container becomes completely still, the moving mechanism 60 is then driven, and the downward rotation of the rotating arms 640 moves the soymilk container 30 into the guide groove 620, 62
0 to position P. This lowering causes the agitator 530 to move into the container 530.
It is slowly and quietly extracted from the coagulating soy milk inside. When the container 30 is lowered to the position P, the position detector 820 detects this, and the drive of the moving mechanism 60 is stopped based on the detection signal. Thereby, the container 30 is stopped and held at the position P. Thereafter, when the soybean milk in the container 320 is left in a stationary state for a predetermined period of time, for example, about 30 minutes, the soybean milk in the container 320 is completely solidified. When soy milk is completely coagulated,
This will be notified by a buzzer or the like not shown.

Thus, the coagulation and molding process of the soymilk contained in the container is completed.

After that, open the door 13 on the side of the casing and take out the container 320 from the outer cylinder of the container 30 located at position P. Next, cut out the tofu in the container in cold water, and rinse it in cold water for about 30 minutes. If you continue to soak the tofu while doing so, the production of tofu will be completed. In this case, if the tofu is molded and drained in ice water, the work can be performed more efficiently and the time required for this can be shortened.

In this way, two pieces of tofu are produced. That is, in this example, the amount of soymilk obtained in the soybean crushing/separation process and the amount of coagulant added thereto are set in advance to predetermined amounts sufficient to produce two blocks of tofu. . In addition, the container 32
The size of the container 0 is made to be large enough to accommodate soy milk equivalent to two blocks of tofu.

In addition, in the examples, if a coagulant is not added to the soybean milk after the boiling process is completed, soybean milk for drinking can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the tofu production apparatus of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the - line, and Figure 3 is the present invention equipped with a soy milk separation tank for crushing and separating input soybeans. A cross-sectional view of the soy milk tank in the device,
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the soymilk container used in the present device, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a stirring mechanism that imparts a stirring action to the soymilk contained in the container of the soymilk container, and FIG. A perspective view showing an example of a moving mechanism for moving a soymilk container containing soymilk to the position of the stirring mechanism, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of the moving mechanism, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing boiling of soymilk using the device of the present invention. ,coagulation,
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of main parts for explaining the operation during molding. 27...Crushing blade, 21...Soy milk separation tank, 20...
... Soy milk tank, 201 ... Soy milk flow path (outlet), 3
0... Soy milk container, 310... Outer cylinder, 320...
Container, 40... Heating section (heating means), 420...
Sheathed heater, 50... Stirring mechanism (means), 62
0,620... Guide groove (movement path), 60...
Moving mechanism (means), 70... (coagulant) injection means, 80... control circuit (means), 340... temperature detector, 810-830... position detector.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It has a soy milk tank equipped with a soy milk separation tank that crushes materials such as soybeans and separates them into soy milk and okara, and a soy milk container that stores the soy milk obtained in the soy milk tank through a soy milk flow path. a container movably supported along the route; a heating means for heating the stored soymilk through the container during boiling of the soymilk; a stirring means that is located above the container fed along and imparts a stirring action to the soymilk therein; and a moving means that transports the container from the soymilk storage position to the stirring body position along the route. and an injection means for injecting a required amount of coagulant into the boiled soymilk when the soybean milk is cooled to a predetermined coagulation temperature, and a process for controlling the operation of each part in a predetermined order and temperature. A tofu manufacturing apparatus comprising a control means.