WO2007001110A1

WO2007001110A1 - Method and apparatus for cutting sheet of composition for starch bowl in fixed quantity

Info

Publication number: WO2007001110A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/004362
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Hee Kim; Heon-Moo Kim; Kang-Soo Kim; Sung Hwan Yoon; Jun-Seung An; Yun-Mi Bang
Original assignee: Youl Chon Chemical Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-06-29
Filing date: 2005-12-16
Publication date: 2007-01-04
Also published as: KR100689583B1; KR20070001518A

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for cutting sheet of composition for starch bowl in fixed quantity wherein the fixed quantity cutting of extruded sheets is smooth and easy, and the overall density of the cut unit sheets is uniform, and moreover there is little or no weight difference between the unit sheets thereby decreasing the occurrence of inferior products in molding significantly.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING SHEET OF COMPOSITION FOR STARCH BOWL IN FIXED QUANTITY

Technical Field

[1] The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cutting a sheet of composition for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity. Particularly, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cutting a sheet of composition for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity, wherein the method and the apparatus can be served as an automatic and mass-production process for making a sheet of gelatinated composition for a starch bowl and cutting the sheet in a fixed quantity to have predetermined size and mass, and in particular a density of produced unit sheets is uniform and a mass difference between the unit sheets is reduced significantly. Background Art

[2] Composition for forming a starch bowl is subject to a foaming process when formed. Accordingly, even when an amount of the composition becomes different a little, a bowl in a mold is not formed properly so that it is treated as inferior products.

[3] Therefore, the gelatinated composition for starch bowl should be quantified and then supplied to the mold. If the mass difference between the quantified unit amounts is getting smaller, then the higher formability and quality of the starch bowl is obtained.

[4] In the art, the quantifying process has been manually conducted. That is, typically, an operator personally kneads a source material of composition for a starch bowl and divides it into unit amounts.

[5] According to the manual production, there was a little mass difference between the unit amounts but a foreign substance is likely mixed with the source material, and further air can be introduced into the source material, whcih lowers a density thereof. As a result, the number of inferior products becomes increased during the forming. Further, the labor cost make the cost of the final product increased.

[6] Therefore, an automatic and mass-production process capable of uniformly quantifying and providing the composition for the starch bowl into the forming process is necessary.

[7] Meanwhile, there has been used a method of extruding the composition for the starch bowl into a sheet and cutting it with a fishingline or thread having a predetermined length.

[8] However, according to such a method, a density of the cut part is not uniform when cutting so that an overall density of the unit sheet after the cutting does not become uniform. In addition, there are several poblems that such cutting means are easily broken and the broken cutting means are mixed into the source material. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, the invention is for solving the problems, and an object of the invention is to provide an automatic and mass-production method and apparatus for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity which are capable of quantifying a composition for a starch bowl and supplying the quantified composition into forming, wherein cutting an extruded sheet in a fixed quantity is easy and smooth, and an overall density of the cut unit sheets is uniform, and a mass difference between the unit sheets can be reduced significantly. Technical Solution

[10] In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a method for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity, comprising steps of: providing a source material of composition for a starch bowl (Sl); extruding the source material to produce a sheet (S2); introducing the sheet into a pressing roll and rolling the sheet to uniformalize a density of the sheet (S3); cutting the sheet of uniform density, which has passed the pressing roll, in a longitudinal direction, thereby providing an intermediate unit sheet (S4); and cutting the intermediate unit sheet in a transverse direction, thereby providing a final unit sheet (S5).

[11] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises a step of measuring a mass of the final unit sheet and delivering the final unit sheet to an arrangement device when the measured mass meets a set criterion (S6-1); and measuring a mass of the final unit sheet and returning the final unit sheet to the extruder when the measured mass does not meet a set criterion (S6-2).

[12] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S2, a Teflon coating is carried out so as to provide a slipping property to an outlet of the extruder.

[13] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S3, rollings are carried out 2-5 times.

[14] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S3, the number of the pressing rolls is adjusted to correspond to a gelatinated degree of the composition constituting the sheet.

[15] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S3, the sheet is introduced in the pressing roll while both sides of the sheet are guided with side rolls so as to reduce a density deviation of the both sides of the sheet.

[16] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S3, side plates are provided to both sides of the pressing roll and the sheet is rolled between the side plates of the both sides, so as to reduce a density deviation of the both sides of the sheet when the sheet is introduced in the pressing roll.

[17] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S4, the sheet is cut in the longitudinal direction with a rotary cutting knife.

[18] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S4, the sheet is guided by guide conveyor belts, the number of which is the same as the number of the intermediate unit sheets to be cut in the longitudinal direction, before the sheet is cut in the longitudinal direction.

[19] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S4, the sheet is subject to a further rolling process with a pressing rod while it is guided by the guide conveyor belt.

[20] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S4, the rotary cutting knife is Teflon-coated so as to prevent the composition for a starch bowl having an adhesive propery from being attached to the rotary cutting knife.

[21] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S5, the intermediate unit sheet is cut in the transverse direction with a flat cutting knife.

[22] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S5, repeated is a process wherein the flat cutting knife descends vertically, moves at a same speed as a delivery speed of the intermediate unit sheet by a predetermined distance under state that it is inserted in the intermediate unit sheet, ascends vertically, moves backward and then again descends vertically.

[23] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S5, the flat cutting knife is Teflon-coated so as to prevent the composition for a starch bowl having an adhesive propery from being attached to the flat cutting knife.

[24] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S6-1, when the final unit sheet meets the set mass measurement criterion after the mass measurement, the final unit sheet is moved to the arrangement device with riding on the conveyor belt.

[25] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step S6-2, when the final unit sheet does not meet the set mass measurement criterion after the mass measurement, the final unit sheet is removed from the conveyor belt through an air injection, and the removed final unit sheet is passed to a guide case, moved to a return belt and then delivered to the extruder using the return belt.

[26] In order to achieve the above object, there is provided an apparatus for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl, comprising a device for providing a source material of the composition for the starch bowl; a device for extruding the source material provided from the device for providing a source material into a sheet; a rolling device having a pressing roll for uniformalizing a density of the sheet extruded from the extruding device; a longitudinal cutting device for cutting the sheet of uniform density rolled in the rolling device in a longitudinal direction, threreby providing an intermediate unit sheet; and a transverse cutting device for cutting the intermediate unit sheet in a transverse direction.

[27] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a device for measuring a mass of the final unit sheet; and a non-quantified final unit sheet return device for returning the non-quantified final unit sheet to the extruding device when the final unit sheet does not meet a set criterion.

[28] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the extruding device comprises an extruder for extruding the sheet and an outlet of the extruder is Teflon- coated.

[29] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the number of the pressing rolls of the rolling device is 2-5.

[30] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the number of the pressing rolls of the rolling device is adjusted to correspond to a gelatinated degree of the composition constituting the sheet.

[31] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rolling device is further provided with side rolls for introducing the sheet into the pressing roll while guiding both sides of the sheet, so as to reduce a density deviation of the both sides of the sheet.

[32] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rolling device is further provided with side plates to both sides of the pressing roll and the sheet is rolled between the side plates of the both sides, so as to reduce a density deviation of both sides of the sheet.

[33] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a longitudinal cutting knife of the longitudinal cutting device is a rotary cutting knife.

[34] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal cutting device is further provided with guide conveyor belts, which is for guiding the sheet before the longitudinal cutting and mounted to have the same number as the number of intermediate unit sheets to be cut.

[35] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal cutting device is further provided with a pressing rod for rolling the sheet while the sheet is guided by the guide conveyor belts.

[36] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotary cutting knife is

Teflon-coated so as to prevent the composition for the starch bowl having an adhesive property from being attached to the rotary cutting knife.

[37] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a transverse cutting knife of the transverse cutting device is a flat cutting knife. [38] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the transverse cutting decvice, repeated is a process wherein the flat cutting knife descends vertically, moves at a same speed as a delivery speed of the intermediate unit sheet by a predetermined distance under state that it is inserted in the intermediate unit sheet, ascends vertically, moves backward and then again descends vertically.

[39] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flat cutting knife is

Teflon-coated so as to prevent the composition for a starch bowl having an adhesive propery from being attached to the flat cutting knife.

[40] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device for measuring a mass of the final unit sheet and the non-quantified final unit sheet return device comprises a device for measuring a mass of the final unit sheet; an air injection device for removing a non-quantified final unit sheet which does not meet the set criterion from the conveyor belt after the mass measurement; a guide case to which the the non- quantified final unit sheet removed by the air injection passes; and a return belt for returning the non-quantified final unit sheet having passed to the guide case to the extruder.

Advantageous Effects

[41] According to the invention, it is possible to achieve the automation and mass- production in quantifying the composition for the starch bowl and supplying it to forming. In addition, the extruded sheet can be easily and smoothly cut in a fixed quantity and the overall density of the cut unit sheet is uniform. Further, there is little or no mass difference between the unit sheets. As a result, it is possible to significantly reduce the inferior products in forming.

[42] Furthermore, by measuring the mass of the final unit sheet, when the measured mass does not meet the set mass criterion, the non-quantiifed final unit sheet is returned to the extruding device, so that the inferior products are further reduced and the cause of the cost rising can be removed. Brief Description of the Drawings

[43] FIG. 1 is a flow chart for showing a procedure of the method for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity according to an embodiment of the invention;

[44] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an apparatus for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity according to an embodiment of the invention;

[45] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a rolling device of FIG. 2;

[46] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a front side part of a longitudinal cutting device of FIG. 2;

[47] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a rear side part of a longitudinal cutting device of FIG. 2;

[48] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an operating principle of a flat cutting knife of a transverse cutting device. Mode for the Invention

[49] In the context of the specification and the claims, a longitudinal cutting is meant by cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl in a direction parallel to an advancing direction of the sheet when the sheet is advanced with riding on a conveyor belt. A transverse cutting is meant by cutting the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction of the sheet.

[50] In the context of the specification and the claims, an intermediate unit sheet is meant by a sheet obtained by extruding composition for a starch bowl from an extruder to make a sheet and cutting the sheet in a longitudinal direction. A final unit sheet is meant by a unit sheet having a rectangular shape after cutting the intermediate unit sheet in a transverse direction finally.

[51] In the context of the specification and the claims, a rolling is meant by rolling the composition sheet for the starch bowl with a pressing roll or pressing rod when the sheet is advanced with riding on the conveyor belt.

[52] According to the invention, adopted is an automatic and mass-production process wherein a gelatinated composition for a starch bowl is made to be a sheet and the sheet is rolled with a pressing roll, so that an overall density of the sheet, including both sides thereof, is made to be uniform, the sheet is cut in longitudinal and transverse directions, a mass of the cut final unit sheet is measured and then the sheet is passed to a next process only when the sheet meets a predetermined criterion. Accordingly, it is possbile to increase a work efficiency and a productivity and to significantly decrease a rate of inferior products because a density of the unit sheet is uniform and there is little or no mass difference between the unit sheets.

[53] Fig. 1 is a flow chart for showing a procedure of a method for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity according to an embodiment of the invention.

[54] As shown in Fig. 1, in advance, a source material of composition for a starch bowl is provided so as to form a starch bowl (Sl), and then extruded using an extruder, thereby forming a sheet (S2).

[55] In the process of providing the source material, source materials of starch, pulp and necessary additives are stored and mixed with water. Further, the mixture are kneaded so as to be mingled evenly, and then gelatinated. The mixing is carried out in a double jacket mixer and a temperature is adjusted to be 70- 100⁰C.

[56] The extruding is carried out to make a sheet of the source material. Using the extruder, the gelatinated composition is formed into a sheet having uniform thickness and width.

[57] Then, the sheet is introduced to be rolled in a pressing roll so that a density of the sheet becomes uniform (S3).

[58] In the case that air is together introduced into the composition of the sheet, it is possible to reduce a rate of the inferior products since the air is discharged through the rolling. In addition, considering that the sheet will be cut in a fixed size, a thickness of the sheet is made to be uniform through carrying out the rolling process in advance, which make an overall density of the sheet uniform.

[59] The number of the rolling can be changed to correspond to the gelatinated degree of the composition. When the composition is gelatinated within a typical range (water content: 30-80 wt%), it is preferred to carry out the rolling process 2-5 times. When the rolling is carried out one time, an overall density of the sheet is not uniform. In addition, when the rolling is carried out six times or more, a process line of the apparatus is prolonged and thus an exposure time to the air is extended, so that the water content of the gelatinated composition is highly lowered. As a result, a formability is deteriorated in manufacturing the starch bowl. However, when the rolling is carried out 2-5 times, there occurs no mass deviation between the cut unit sheets. Accordingly, there is no problems in the mass production and forming. Furthermore, as can be seen from following examples, when the rolling is carried out 3 times or more, highly uniform density can be ensured.

[60] Next, the sheet of uniform density having passed to the pressing roll is cut in the longitudinal direction, thereby providing an intermediate unit sheet (S4).

[61] A rotary cutting knife is preferably used to carry out the longitudinal cutting. The reason is as follows: in the case that a flat cutting knife is used, a contact surface between the cutting knife and the gelatinated composition sheet is large or a contact time is long, which are disadvantageous after the cutting. In addition, in the case that the flat cutting knife is used to carry out the longitudinal cutting, the gelatinated composition is not smoothly removed from the cutting knife, so that the composition is partially attached to the cutting knife. Accordingly, the cutting process is not smoothly carried out or there is a large mass deviation between the cut sheets. In light of this, it is not proper to use the flat cutting knife to carry out the longitudinal cutting. Therefore, in the quantified cutting method of the invention, it is particularly advantageous to use the rotary cutting knife when carrying out the longitudinal cutting.

[62] Then, the intermediate unit sheet of uniform density, which is longitudinally cut, is cut in a transverse direction, thereby providing a final unit sheet (S5).

[63] The transverse cutting is carried out to cut the intermediate unit sheet to have a desired length, which is longitudinally cut with riding on the conveyor belt. At this time, when carrying out the transverse cutting, a flat cutting knife having a size of sheet width is used as a cutting knife. The reason is as follows: since the cutting direction is perpendicular to the process advancing direction, the knife itself should not be rotated or moved. If a rotary cutting knife is used to carry out the transverse cutting, the conveyor belt which moves the sheet should be stopped for the cutting and then get into work again, which is not efficient with regard to a non-stop process and a mass- production.

[64] Meanwhile, the flat cutting knife carries out the transverse cutting in a manner of repeating following operations: it descends vertically to cut the intermediate unit sheet and moves at a same speed as the speed of the conveyor belt by a predetermined distance for which the cutting is carried out under state that it is inserted in the intermediate unit sheet, ascends vertically, moves backward and then descends vertically. Herein, it is important to make the moving speed of the flat cutting knife and the speed of the conveyor belt same under state that the flat cutting knife is inserted in the intermediate unit sheet. In the case that a length for which the cutting is carried out is long, the speed of the flat cutting knife to be delivered is made to be fast, and in the case that the length is short, the speed of the flat cutting knife to be delivered is made to be slow.

[65] After that, measured is a mass of the final unit sheet of uniform density, which is cut in the longitudinal and transverse directions. When the measured mass meets a set criterion, the final unit sheet is delivered to the arrangement device (S6-1), and when the measured mass does not meet the set criterion, the final unit sheet is returned to the extruder (S6-2).

[66] When each of the final unit sheets is delivered along the process line, the mass thereof is measured by a mass measuring device such as mass measuring sensor. When the measured mass is below or above a fixed quantity previously set, the non- quantified final unit sheet is removed from the conveyor belt using a removal device such as air injector so that the non-quantified final unit sheet is not advanced to a next process. The non-quantified final unit sheet, which is removed from the conveyor belt, is returned. Herein, when the non-quantified final unit sheet is sent to the a guide case, it is delivered on a return belt through the guide case and then returned to the extruding device, which is in the first process, with riding on the return belt. Since the mass measuring device and the non-quantified final unit sheet return device are provided, it is possible to further reduce the rate of the inferior products in the final forming.

[67] Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing an apparatus for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity according to an embodiment of the invention.

[68] As shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus 100 for cutting a composition for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity comprises a device 100 for providing a source material of composition for the starch bowl and an extruding device 120 for extruding the source material supplied from the device 100 to form a sheet. The extruding device 120 is provided with an outlet 121 in its exit part. If the outlet 121 is poor in a slipping property, the gelatinated composition sheet is non-uniformly discharged. Accordingly, in order to provide a slipping property, a Teflon coating is carried out for the outlet 121.

[69] The extruded sheet is sent to a rolling device 140 having a pressing roll 141. The sheet having passed to the rolling device 140 is delivered to a longitudinal cutting device 150 having a plurality of rotary cutting knifes 151 mounted to a rotating axis 152, through a conveyor belt 130. The intermediate unit sheet having passed to the longitudinal cutting device 150 is delivered to a transverse cutting device 160 haivng a flat cutting knife 161 which is moved by a front and rear and vertical delivery device 162. The final unit sheet having passed to the transverse cutting device 160 is mass- measured in a mass measuring device 170 and then delivered to a non-quantified final unit sheet delivery device 180 having an air injection device 182, a guide case 181 and a delivery belt 183.

[70] Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing a rolling device of Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, side rolls 143 for guiding both sides of the sheet so as to reduce a density deviation of the both sides of the sheet are provided before the pressing roll 141 of the rolling device 140. The side rolls 143 guide the both sides of the sheet to reduce the density deviation of the both sides of the sheet.

[71] In addition, both sides of the pressing roll 141 are provided with side plates 142 so as to reduce the density deviation of the both sides of the sheet. Since the sheet is rolled between the side plates 142, the density deviation of the both sides of the sheet contacting the side plates 142 is reduced.

[72] The surface of the pressing roll 141 should not be formed with a pattern so as not to give a mass deviation. For example, an embossing roll gives a mass deviation.

[73] Meanwhile, the number of rolling (or number of pressing rolls) can be adjusted to correspond to a gelatinated degree of the composition as described above, and is preferably 2-5 times. For the adjustment, it is preferred to mount 2-5 pressing rolls.

[74] Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing a front side part of a longitudinal cutting device having a rotary cutting knife of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing a rear side part of the device.

[75] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the longitudinal cutting device 150 cuts the sheet in the longitudinal direction, i.e., sheet advancing direction, thereby obtaining a desired width. The longitudinal cutting device 150 is provided with plural rotary cutting knifes 151 to the rotating axis 152. Herein, the number and interval of the rotary cutting knifes 151 are adjusted to correspond to the number and width of the sheet to be cut.

[76] Further, the longitudinal cutting device 150 is provided with guide conveyor belts 154 before the longitudinal cutting so that there occurs no shaking of the sheet when the sheet is cut. The number of the guide conveyor belts 154 corresponds to the number of the intermediate unit sheets to be cut in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, required are the guide conveyor belts 154 as many as the sheets to be cut in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the width of the guide conveyor belts 154 is slightly narrower than that of the intermediate unit sheet to be cut in the longitudinal direction. That is, although the width of the guide conveyor belts 154 is made to approximately same as that of the intermediate unit sheet so as to prevent the shaking of the sheet as much as possible, if the two widths are same, there may occur friction between the guide conveyor belts 154. Accordingly, in order to prevent the friction from occurring, the width of the guide conveyor belts 154 is made to be slightly narrower than that of the intermediate unit sheet.

[77] A small pressing rod 153 is provided so as to further roll the sheet during the advancing of the guide conveyor belt 154.

[78] Meanwhile, the rotary cutting knife 151 is made of stainless steel (STS). In particular, the stainless steel is preferably Teflon-coated to give a releasing property from the composition.

[79] The rotary cutting knife is preferably rotated at a same speed as that of the conveyor belt moving the sheet. The reason is that when it is rotated at a speed faster or slower than that of the conveyor belt, the gelatinated composition constituting the sheet is attached to the cutting knife.

[80] Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing an operating principle of a flat cutting knife of a transverse cutting unit of Fig. 2.

[81] The intermediate unit sheet (S) which has been cut in the longitudinal direction with riding on the conveyor belt is cut into a desired front and rear length in the transverse cutting device. Herein, the flat cutting knife 161 vertically descends, is inserted in the intermediate unit sheet (S) and then moves in the process advancing direction at the speed same as that of the conveyor belt. Then, when the cutting knife 161 is moved as the desired length, the cutting knife 161 vertically ascends and moves in the opposing direction to the sheet advancing direction by a desired length, and repeats the vertical descending and ascending operations.

[82] When the cutting knife 161 is moved backward, if the cutting length is long, the moving speed of the knife is made to be fast and if the cutting length is short, the speed is made to be slow.

[83] The flat cutting knife 161 is also made of stainless steel (STS) as the rotary cutting knife 151. In addition, the Teflon coating is carried out to give a releasing property from the composition in the intermediate unit sheet (S).

[84] Hereinafter, a preferred example of the invention is described as well as an experiment in order to explain the invention more in detail. However, it sholud be noted that the invention is not limited to the following examples and various changes may be made thereto.

[85] [Experiment - test for measuring a mass deviation resulting from the rolling]

[86] In this experiment, measured were the mass deviations of the sheet when the pressing roll was used (example 1: 3 times rollings, example 2: 2 times rollings, example 3: one time rolling) and when it was not used (comparative example: no rolling) so as to observe the effect of the rolling in the automatic and mass-production process for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity.

[87] In the comparative example and examples, starting masses of all the sheets before the sheets were cut in the longitudinal and transverse directions were set to be the same.

[88] In the case of the comparative example, since the rolling was not carried out, the transverse cutting was carried out only so as to make the three transverse cut parts. However, in the case of the examples 1 and 2, since the sheet was thinner due to the rolling, the transverse cutting was carried out so as to make the four transverse cut parts.

[89] Meanwhile, in the case of the example 3, since the rolling was carried out one time, complete 4 transverse cutting could not be carried out and thus a size of the fourth transverse cut part was relatively small.

[90] Meanwhile, in the case of the longitudinal cutting, 7 longitudinal cut parts were made by the cutting using 8 rotary cutting knifes, and a mass deviation of the first longitudinal cut part was not measured so as to reduce an experiment error.

[91] Table 1 shows a mass deviation measurement result of the comparative example.

[92] Table 1

[93] Table 2 shows a mass deviation measurement result of the example 1. [94] Table 2

[95] Table 3 shows a mass deviation measurement result of the example 2. [96] Table 3

[97] Table 4 shows a mass deviation measurement result of the example 3.

[98] Table 4

[99] *: although it is named as "fourth transverse cut part", a size thereof was relatively small compared to the first to third transverse cut parts. That is, since it was cut in a fixed quantity, it became a sheet longer than the sheet of the comparative example (third transverse cut part) in rolling. However, an inferior sheet was thus produced in which mass was not filled enoughly.

[100] As can be seen from the tables 1 to 4, the mass deviation was reduced in the case that the rolling was carried out 2 times or more with the pressing roll. Particularly, the mass deviation was significantly reduced in the case that the rolling was carried out three times. However, the one time rolling did not reduce the mass deviation much.

[101] That is, in the case of the comparative example, there occurred the mass deviation between the transverse cut parts of ±2.86g (mean value/2). Meanwhile, there occurred the mass deviation between the longitudinal cut parts of ±1.33g(mean value/2).

[102] To the contrary, in the case of the example 1, there occurred the mass deviation between the transverse cut parts of +0.2Og (mean value/2) and the mass deviation between the longitudinal cut parts of +0.18g (mean value/2). In the case of the example 2, there occurred the mass deviation between the transverse cut parts of +0.82g (mean value/2) and the mass deviation between the longitudinal cut parts of +0.38g (mean value/2).

[103] However, in the case of the example 3, there occurred the mass deviation between the transverse cut parts of +1.22g (mean value/2) and the mass deviation between the longitudinal cut parts of + 1.15g (mean value/2). The mean values were evaluated for the first to the third transverse cut parts.

[104] In conclusion, when the rolling was carried out using the pressing roll, the mass deviation was reduced. The reduction degree of the mass deviation was high in the case that the rolling was carried out 2 times or more. In particular, when the rolling was carried out 3 times or more, the mass deviation was significantly reduced so that the uniformity of the density was greatly improved.

[105] As can be seen from the examples 1 to 3 and the comparative example, as compared to the case that the rolling was not carried out, when the rolling was carried out (in particular, 3 times or more), the mass deviation of the unit sheet was significantly reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a mass production and to reduce the inferior products due to the mass deviation significantly. Industrial Applicability

[106] The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cutting a sheet of composition for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity, wherein the method and the apparatus can be served as an automatic and mass-production process for making a sheet of gelatinated composition for a starch bowl and cutting the sheet in a fixed quantity to have predetermined size and mass, and in particular a density of produced unit sheets is uniform and a mass difference between the unit sheets is reduced significantly.

Claims

[1] A method for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl in a fixed quantity, comprising steps of: providing a source material of composition for a starch bowl (Sl); extruding the source material to produce a sheet (S2); introducing the sheet into a pressing roll and rolling the sheet to uniformalize a density of the sheet (S3); cutting the sheet of uniform density, which has passed the pressing roll, in a longitudinal direction, thereby providing an intermediate unit sheet (S4); and cutting the intermediate unit sheet in a transverse direction, thereby providing a final unit sheet (S5).

[2] The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises a step of measuring a mass of the final unit sheet and delivering the final unit sheet to an arrangement device when the measured mass meets a set criterion (S6-1).

[3] The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises a step of measuring a mass of the final unit sheet and returning the final unit sheet to the extruder when the measured mass does not meet a set criterion (S6-2).

[4] The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the step S2, a Teflon coating is carried out so as to provide a slipping property to an outlet of the extruder.

[5] The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the step S3, rollings are carried out 2-5 times.

[6] The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the step S3, the number of the pressing rolls is adjusted to correspond to a gelatinated degree of the composition constituting the sheet.

[7] The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the step S3, the sheet is introduced in the pressing roll while both sides of the sheet are guided with side rolls so as to reduce a density deviation of the both sides of the sheet.

[8] The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the step S3, side plates are provided to both sides of the pressing roll and the sheet is rolled between the side plates of the both sides, so as to reduce a density deviation of the both sides of the sheet when the sheet is introduced in the pressing roll.

[9] The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the step S4, the sheet is cut in the longitudinal direction with a rotary cutting knife.

[10] The method according to claim 9, wherein, in the step S4, the sheet is guided by guide conveyor belts, the number of which is the same as the number of the intermediate unit sheets to be cut in the longitudinal direction, before the sheet is cut in the longitudinal direction.

[11] The method according to claim 10, wherein, in the step S4, the sheet is subject to a further rolling process with a pressing rod while it is guided by the guide conveyor belt.

[12] The method according to claim 9, wherein, in the step S4, the rotary cutting knife is Teflon-coated.

[13] The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the step S5, the intermediate unit sheet is cut in the transverse direction with a flat cutting knife.

[14] The method according to claim 13, wherein, in the step S5, repeated is a process wherein the flat cutting knife descends vertically, moves at a same speed as a delivery speed of the intermediate unit sheet by a predetermined distance under state that it is inserted in the intermediate unit sheet, then ascends vertically, moves backward and then again descends vertically.

[15] The method according to claim 13, wherein, in the step S5, the flat cutting knife is Teflon-coated.

[16] The method according to claim 3, wherein, in the step S6, when the final unit sheet does not meet the set mass measurement criterion after the mass measurement, the final unit sheet is removed from the conveyor belt through an air injection, and the removed final unit sheet is passed to a guide case, delivered to a return belt and then again delivered to the extruder using the return belt.

[17] An apparatus for cutting a composition sheet for a starch bowl, comprising: a device for providing a source material of the composition for the starch bowl; a device for extruding the source material provided from the device for providing a source material into a sheet; a rolling device having a pressing roll for uniformalizing a density of the sheet extruded from the extruding device; a longitudinal cutting device for cutting the sheet of uniform density rolled in the rolling device in a longitudinal direction, threreby providing an intermediate unit sheet; a transverse cutting device for cutting the intermediate unit sheet in a transverse direction; and a device for measuring a mass of the final unit sheet.

[18] The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the device for measuring a mass of the final unit sheet measures a mass of the final unit sheet to determine whether the measured mass meets a set criterion.

[19] The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus further comprises a non-quantified final unit sheet return device for returning the non-quantified final unit sheet to the extruding device when the measured mass of the final unit sheet does not meet the set criterion.

[20] The apparatus according to one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the extruding device comprises an extruder for extruding the sheet and an outlet of the extruder is Teflon-coated.

[21] The apparatus according to one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the number of the pressing rolls of the rolling device is 2-5.

[22] The apparatus according to one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the number of the pressing rolls of the rolling device is adjusted to correspond to a gelatinated degree of the composition constituting the sheet.

[23] The apparatus according to one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the rolling device is further provided with side rolls for introducing the sheet into the pressing roll while guiding both sides of the sheet, so as to reduce a density deviation of the both sides of the sheet.

[24] The apparatus according to one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the rolling device is further provided with side plates to both sides of the pressing roll and the sheet is rolled between the side plates of the both sides, so as to reduce a density deviation of both sides of the sheet.

[25] The apparatus according to one of claims 17 to 19, wherein a longitudinal cutting knife of the longitudinal cutting device is a rotary cutting knife.

[26] The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the longitudinal cutting device is further provided with guide conveyor belts, which is for guiding the sheet before the longitudinal cutting and mounted to have the same number as the number of intermediate unit sheets to be cut.

[27] The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the longitudinal cutting device is further provided with a pressing rod for rolling the sheet while the sheet is guided by the guide conveyor belts.

[28] The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the rotary cutting knife is Teflon- coated.

[29] The apparatus according to one of claims 17 to 19, wherein a transverse cutting knife of the transverse cutting device is a flat cutting knife.

[30] The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein, in the transverse cutting decvice, repeated is a process wherein the flat cutting knife descends vertically, moves at a same speed as a delivery speed of the intermediate unit sheet by a predetermined distance under state that it is inserted in the intermediate unit sheet, ascends vertically, moves backward and then again descends vertically.

[31] The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the flat cutting knife is Teflon- coated.

[32] The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the non-quantified final unit sheet return device comprises: an air injection device for removing a non-quantified final unit sheet which does not meet the set criterion from the conveyor belt after the mass measurement; a guide case to which the non-quantified final unit sheet removed by the air injection passes; and a return belt for returning the non-quantified final unit sheet having passed to the guide case to the extruder.