US3909291A

US3909291A - Comestible cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3909291A
Application number: US423051A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Wing Leong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-12-10
Filing date: 1973-12-10
Publication date: 1975-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-30

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning comestibles such as bean sprouts. A rotatable basket having vanes is mounted in a tank. A separating partition in the tank defines a cleaning and refuse removal compartment on one side thereof and a refuse collecting and discharge compartment on the other side. An upright standpipe is located over a drain containing a garbage disposal. The inlet of the standpipe is located so that the basket is only partially filled with water.

Description

United States Patent [191 Leong 1 COMESTIBLE CLEANING APPARATUS [76] inventor: Joseph Wing Leong, 17061 Wausau Ave., South Holland, 111. 60473 [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 423,051

[ 51 Sept. so, 1975 3,646,882 3/1972 Keating 99/408 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9/1932 Germany 134/110 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John S. Wrona [57] ABSTRACT A cleaning apparatus for cleaning comestibles such as bean sprouts. A rotatable basket having vanes is mounted in a tank. A separating partition in the tank defines a cleaning and refuse removal compartment on one side thereof and a refuse collecting and discharge compartment on the other side. An upright [56] N i i i standpipe is located over a drain containing a garbage U TA ES A S disposal. The inlet of the standpipe is located so that 1,462,734 7/1923 Blakeslee 134/183 X the basket is only partially filled with waten l,689 868 10/1928 Fink 209/270 X 3.021864 3/1962 Ensign 134/115 G 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures if '4 I111" .llll H11 L COMESTIBLE CLEANING APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for the cleaning and separating the debris from a comestible and more particularly to an apparatus for cleaning bean sprouts and separating the debris and refuse therefrom.

Heretofore, it has been common practice to clean the bean sprouts manually. Not only is this time consuming but it has become increasingly expensive. For this reason efforts have been made to provide substantially mechanized means for cleaning the bean sprouts. However, these prior mechanized efforts have not been completely successful either because of the initial cost, the intricacy of the mechanism or the tendency to break the bean sprout prior to separating from the debris. This is particularly undesirable because the comestible sprout portion should be separated with its length intact.

Moreover means must be provided for maintaining the noncomestible refuse separate from the comestible bean sprout so the refuse may be discarded and the bean sprout recovered.

By the present invention there is provided an apparatus which overcomes the difficulties encountered heretofore and which is also economical to manufacture.

This is accomplished by an apparatus comprising generally a tank in which a screen tumbler is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. This tumbler includes a plurality of vanes which are operative to circulate the bean sprout and the debris or refuse attached through water contained in the tank. Means is provided to maintain the water at a level less than the full capacity of the screen tumbler so that the vanes are operative to collect the untreated or uncleaned bean sprout thereon. The uncleaned bean sprouts are then circulated through the water so that upon being lifted above and returned to the water level the undesirable debris and refuse is removed and separated from the sprouts. At the same time the sprouts floating on the water are also cleaned by the striking and agitating action of the vanes. The debris and refuse including dirt, and the roots and shells of the bean sprouts are discharged through the openings in the screen while the bean sprouts are retained within the screen tumbler.

The apparatus includes an overflow standpipe within a collecting and discharge compartment which is removably disposed over a drain having a garbage disposal installed therein. The inlet to the standpipe is located so that the desired water level is maintained within the tumbler. A screen partitioning wall separates the standpipe from the tumbler and defines a cleaning and refuse removal compartment on one side thereof and the collecting and discharge compartment on the other side. As the tumbler rotates, the undesirable debris and refuse are carried over the upper edge of the screen partition and settle or collect about the standpipe. Upon removal of the standpipe from the drain, the debris and refuse are directly discharged in the drain and through the garbage disposal. An opening is provided near the base of the cleaning and refuse removal compartment and communicates with the collecting and discharge compartment through an opening in the base of the screen partitioning wall. This opening in the screen partitioning wall is normally closed by a closure plate fixed to the overflow standpipe so that upon removal of the latter from the drain, the cleaning and discharge compartment of the tank may be flushed and refuse remaining directly discharged in the drain and through the garbage disposal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bean sprout cleaning apparatus incorporating the structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a back view taken generally along the lines 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an apparatus 10 for cleaning bean sprouts. The apparatus 10 comprises generally a frame 11, a tank 12, a tumbler or basket 13, a fluid supply system 14 for introducing fluid into the tank 12, and a fluid and trash discharge arrangement 15.

The frame 11 comprises generally four upright angle iron legs 16 which may be suitably braced. The tank 1 1 is made from stainless steel and is suitably permanently attached to the frame 11. The tank 11 includes side walls 17, end walls 18, a bottom wall 19, and a partition wall 19a. The bottom wall 19 is formed with a generally semi-circular wall section 21 and a generally flat base section 22. The partition wall 19a extends upwardly from the bottom wall 19 to the semi-circular wall section 21. Extending upwardly from the inner end of the semi-circular wall section 21 and the partition wall 19a is a dividing screen 23 having a mesh with openings of about one-fourth of an inch square. The screen 23 is also made from stainless steel and is permanently fixed to the upper end of the semi-circular wall 21 and the side walls 17 of the tank. The partition wall 19a and semi-circular wall 21 define a cleaning and refuse re moval compartment 25 substantially concentric with the tumbler 13. The lower portion of the semi-circular wall 21 is provided with a discharge opening 24 which provides communication with a discharge compartment 26 through a discharge opening 24a in partition wall 19a.

Rotatably mounted between the side walls in suitable journal bearings 26a by means of shafts 27 is the tumbler or basket 13. The basket 13 is made from the wire mesh also of stainless steel and with openings about one-fourth inch square. The wire basket 13 includes a door 27a through which the bean sprouts are inserted into the basket 13. The basket 13 is located substantially concentric with the semi-circular bottom wall section 21.

A plurality of angularly spaced vanes or fins 28 are fixed to and radially project into the basket 13. The vanes 28 act as agitators and also as carriers for circulating the bean sprouts through the water to clean the roots and shells from the bean sprouts.

A motor 29, through a gear reduction box 31, belt 32 and pulley 33 fixed to one of the shafts 27 rotates the basket 13. The basket 13 is rotated at the rate of about 60 revolutions per minute.

The discharge arrangement is located in the collecting and discharge compartment 26. A drain 34 is located on the base of the collecting and discharge chamber 26 and includes a garbage disposal 36 through which the refuse is discharged. The discharge arrangement includes a standpipe 37 having an inlet located at a height at which it is desired to maintain the water lever in the tank. Preferably the water is maintained so that approximately three-fourths of the volume of the basket 13 is occupied.

A rubber gasket 38 is fixed to the base of the standpipe 37 and is forced into sealingly relationship about the drain 34. To this end, the standpipe 37 is held in alignment with the drain 34 by means off pins or rods 39 which slide through

complimentary aligning brackets

41 and 42 fastened respectively to the standpipe 37 and the side wall 17. Suitable nuts 42a attached to the upper ends of rods 39 secure the rods in

brackets

41 and 42. An over-center linkage 43 including a bell crank 44 is pivotally connected to the side wall by means of a pivot pin 46. A rod 47 extends between a lug 48 fixed to the standpipe 37 and the arm 49 of the bell crank 44. In the position shown the bell crank 44 is in an over-center position so as to force the gasket 38 into tight sealing engagement about the drain. Upon rotation of the bell crank 44 out of the over-center position the standpipe and the gasket are lifted upwardly so that the water and refuse may be directly discarded through the drain 34.

Permanently fixed to the standpipe 37 is a closure plate 51 which in the drain sealing position of the standpipe 37 serves to seal the discharge opening 24a in the partition wall 190. However, when the standpipe 37 is lifted, the closure plate 51 is displaced away from the opening 24a so that the cleaning and refuse removal compartment may be flushed.

Water is introduced into the tank by the fluid water supply system 14 having an inlet pipe 52 connected to a suitable source of water. The pipe 52 is connected to a spray pipe 53 which extends lengthwise of the tank 13 along the upper edge thereof. The water inlet pipe 52 is connected into a solonoid operated valve timer 54 which may be by-passed so that the water may be directly discharged into the lower part of the tank 12 to clear refuse into the drain 34.

A cover 55 is hingedly connected along one side of the tank 14 to enclose the basket during operations. A safety catch may be provided to cut off the water supply and motor when the cover is open.

In operation, the tank is initially filled with water to about three-fourths the capacity of the basket 13. The basket door 27a is opened and the unclean bean sprouts are inserted. The basket door is then closed and the motor is started to revolve the basket 13 at the rate of about 60 revolutions per minute. Water is continuously added to the tank to maintain a level of about three-fourths the capacity of the basket 13. During the rotation the bean sprouts either collect in the vanes or are within striking distance thereof so that the agitation action of the vanes breaks off the shells and roots and other debris. The refuse including the shells and roots passes through the basket 13 into the cleaning and refuse removal chamber 25. The majority of the refuse is carried by the water over the top of the screen 23 into the collecting and discharge compartment 26 and settles or collects about standpipe 37. Some is carried into the inlet end of the discharge standpipe 37. However, a small residue of the refuse may remain in the cleaning and refuse removal compartment 25 of the tank adjacent the discharge opening 24. Most of the water carried over the top of the screen 23 returns to the cleaning and refuse removal compartment 25 by filtering through the screen 23. When the cleaning cycle is completed, the standpipe 37 is lifted a short distance by turning the bell crank 44 so that the water containing the refuse about the standpipe 37 is discharged directly into the drain and into the now actuated garbage disposal. The cleaning and refuse removal compartment of the tank may be cleaned by by-passing the solonoid timer to directly flush the tank through the

openings

24, 24a. Thereafter the cleaned sprouts may be removed from the basket. It has been found that 38 pounds of uncleaned bean sprouts yield about 33 pounds of cleaned sprouts in about 8 to 10 minutes with the apparatus of the present invention.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning and separating refuse from comestibles such as bean sprouts, said apparatus comprising a tank, a wire mesh basket rotatably mounted in said tank for rotation about a horizontal axis and adapted to be loaded with said comestible, a drain in said tank, partition means in said tank separating said drain and said basket, a standpipe extending from said drain and having an inlet located at a level so that said basket is only partially filled with water, said partitioning means extending to a height no greater than the level of said inlet of said standpipe.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said standpipe is mounted for movement between a position sealing said drain and a position wherein said drain is open so that the water including the refuse may be discharged directly through said drain.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said partitioning means includes a discharge opening and said standpipe includes a closure plate for sealing said discharge opening.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said closure plate is displaced from said discharge opening so that the water including the refuse may be discharged directly through said drain.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said upper end of said partition means is made from screen material.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said drain comprises a garbage disposal.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said tank and said basket are made from stainless steel.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said tank is provided with a cover.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said cover is provided with a safety catch.

Claims

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND SEPARATING REFUSE FROM COMESTIBLES SUCH AS BEEN SPROUTS SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A TANK A WIRE MESH BASKET ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID TANK FOR ROTATION ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS AND ADAPTED TO BE LOADDED WITH SAID COMESTIBLE, A DRAIN IN SAID TANK, PARTITION MEANS IN SAID TANK SEPARATING SAID DRAIN AND SAID BASKET A STANPIPE EXTENDING FROM SAID DRAIN HAVING AN INLET LOCATED AT A LEVEL SO THAT SAID BASKET IS ONLY PARTIALLY FILLED WITH WATER, SAID PARTI-