Apparatus and method for cutting noodle

A method for cutting gelatinized noodle strands used in manufacturing of instant noodles, the method comprising:

• providing at least one bundle of the noodle strands that are longitudinally cut and gelatinized by heating,
• providing a noodle strand cutting apparatus comprising:
• a conveyer that conveys the at least one bundle of the noodle strands, the conveyer includes a flat surface that extends lengthwise in a horizontal direction, and the at least one bundle of the noodle strands being conveyed on the conveyer in a substantially horizontal direction, and
• a rotary cutter arranged above the conveyer, the rotary cutter being configured to cut the at least one bundle of the gelatinized noodle strands to a predetermined length from 1 to 10 cm, and a length of the flat surface of the conveyer is greater than a diameter of the rotary cutter, wherein
• the rotary cutter comprises:
• a plurality of blades that extend side by side along a peripheral surface of the rotary cutter and in radial directions around a rotational axis of the rotary cutter, the plurality of blades being spaced from each other in a circumferential direction by predetermined intervals, the plurality of blades being configured to directly contact the at least one bundle of the gelatinized noodle strands and the flat surface of the conveyer during cutting by the rotary cutter, and a number of blades is between six and thirty blades, inclusive, and
• a curved control surface that extends between a pair of the blades adjacent to each other, wherein:
• (i) a distance from the curved control surface to a tip of each of the plurality of blades, respectively, is shorter than a distance between each of the plurality of blades, and (ii) a clearance exists between the curved control surface and the at least one bundle of the gelatinized noodle strands when the at least one bundle of the gelatinized noodle strands are cut,
• pressing at least one of the plurality of blades of the rotary cutter against the at least one bundle of the gelatinized noodle strands, and
• cutting the at least one bundle of the gelatinized noodle strands by the rotary cutter.