PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent deformation of a rice ball formed by folding a cooked rice mass.SOLUTION: This apparatus includes: a sheet forming part 35 for forming a recessed part recessed in two opposite positions in a sheet-like cooked rice mass R a folding unit 17 for bending the cooked rice mass R at the recessed part and folding the same and a forming table 18 for compressing the folded cooked rice mass R to be formed into a rice ball. The sheet forming part 35 includes: a transport conveyer 35a for transporting the cooked rice mass R a recessed part forming part 35b for holding the cooked rice mass R from both sides thereof to form the recessed part and a transport control part 35c for controlling the transport conveyer 35a to stop when the recessed part is formed in the cooked rice mass R and to perform the transport operation except the above forming operation.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】米飯塊を折り畳んで成形したおにぎりの変形を防止する。【解決手段】シート状の米飯塊Rに対して対向する2位置が凹んだくびれ部を形成するシート成形部35と、米飯塊Rをくびれ部で屈曲させて折り畳む折り畳みユニット17と、折り畳まれた米飯塊Rを圧縮しておにぎりを成形する成形テーブル18とを備える。シート成形部35は、米飯塊Rを搬送する搬送コンベア35aと、米飯塊Rを両側から挟んでくびれ部を形成するくびれ部形成部35bと、米飯塊Rにくびれ部を形成しているときは停止し、それ以外は搬送動作が実行するよう搬送コンベア35aを制御する搬送制御部35cとを有する。【選択図】図4
