JP2000270819A - Washer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washer which can be used for vegetables and fruits, can reduce the damages of the vegetables and the fruits, makes it possible to eat the vegetables and the fruits in raw states, and has an excellent sterilizing power. SOLUTION: This washer is obtained by disposing a water-storing portion 23 in the bottom portion of a closed type washing chamber 20, disposing rotary nozzles 25, 26 for spraying tap water on the ceiling surface of the washing chamber 20 and in the upper portion of the water-storing portion 23, disposing a freely dischargeable washing container between the rotary nozzles 25, 26, disposing photocatalyst members 29, 30 on the wall surface 20a of the washing chamber and in the water-storing portion 23, and disposing light sources 31 radiating UV light having a wavelength of <=380 nm in the washing chamber 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning and sterilizing cut vegetables and fruits for salads to be eaten raw.
Particularly, the present invention relates to a water-saving type cleaning and sterilizing apparatus having a high sterilizing effect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for sterilizing fresh food materials such as vegetables, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-19376, ozone water is stored in a washing tank to generate a swirling flow and produce vegetables. There has been known an apparatus for cleaning the same.

[0003] This conventional food cleaning apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of the food cleaning device. 1 is a washing tank, 2 is a washing liquid for washing food, the washing liquid 2 is usually tap water, and a washing liquid supply pipe 3 is provided on a side wall of the washing tank 1 and a washing liquid discharge pipe 4 is provided on a bottom of the washing tank 1. Have been.

The cleaning liquid supply pipe 3 and the cleaning liquid discharge pipe 4 are provided with solenoid valves 5 and 6 for controlling supply and discharge, respectively. Reference numeral 7 denotes an injector for injecting the cleaning liquid into the cleaning tank 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a liquid pump for conveying the cleaning liquid 2,
The jet body 7 is arranged on the side wall of the cleaning tank 1 so as to be located below the level of the cleaning liquid 2.

The jet 7 and the liquid pump 8, and the cleaning tank 1 and the liquid pump 8 are connected by cleaning liquid transfer pipes 9 and 10, respectively. The swirling flow generating means for generating a swirling flow in the cleaning liquid 2 includes an injector 7, a liquid pump 8, a cleaning liquid transport pipe 9,
10.

Further, reference numeral 11 denotes an ozone generator, which is configured to supply the generated ozone to the cleaning tank 1 by a gas pump 12 and a gas transport pipe 13 for transporting gas and ozone. Reference numeral 14 denotes an electromagnetic valve that opens and closes when ozone is supplied and stopped.

In the above arrangement, when a control section (not shown) issues a cleaning start signal after the food such as vegetables is put into the cleaning tank 1, the electromagnetic valve 5 on the cleaning liquid supply side is opened and the cleaning liquid 2 is opened. Is supplied to the washing tank 1, and when the required amount is reached, the electromagnetic valve 5 is closed and the supply is stopped.

Next, the liquid pump 8 and the ozone generator 11,
The gas pump 12 and the solenoid valve 14 operate simultaneously, and the ozone generated by the ozone generator 11 is injected by the gas pump 12 through the gas transport pipe 13 into the cleaning liquid 2 in the cleaning tank 1, and is injected into the cleaning tank 1. As a result, a swirling flow is generated, and food such as vegetables is washed with a washing liquid containing ozone.

When a predetermined cleaning time has elapsed, the electromagnetic valve 6 is opened and the cleaning liquid 2 is discharged.

[0010] Therefore, contaminants such as bacteria and pesticides attached to food such as vegetables can be removed, and the cells of the food can be rehydrated and freshness can be revived. .

[0011]

However, in the food cleaning apparatus having the above structure, since the cleaning liquid is ozone water, ozone gas is scattered from the water surface of the cleaning liquid into the air.
Therefore, there has been a problem that an unpleasant smell of ozone or unpleasant feeling is caused. Another problem is that the tissue of the fruits and vegetables is easily damaged and the shelf life after washing is poor.

Further, since the whole object to be cleaned must be completely immersed in the cleaning liquid, a large amount of water is required.

[0013] Further, since the whole food such as vegetables to be washed is constantly immersed in the washing solution, there is a problem that nutrients of foods such as vitamin C flow out into the washing solution more than necessary. Was.

According to the present invention, in washing such foods, in particular, in washing and sterilizing fruits and vegetables, a germicidal effect equivalent to or higher than the conventional one can be obtained with a safe and small amount of washing liquid.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine capable of minimizing outflow of nutrients such as nutrients.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided a washing machine having a washing chamber provided with a door plate which can be opened and closed on a front surface thereof, a water tank for storing a washing liquid at a bottom of the washing chamber, and
A washing nozzle provided on the top surface of the washing chamber and above the water tank, a washing space formed between the upper and lower washing nozzles, a washing container which can be taken in and out of the washing space, and a wall surface or a water tank of the washing chamber And a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 380 nm or less into the cleaning chamber, and the cleaning liquid in the water storage tank is circulated and injected by the upper and lower cleaning nozzles.

As a result, a high sterilizing effect can be obtained with a small amount of the washing liquid, and the outflow of nutrients such as vitamin C can be suppressed to a minimum.

The photocatalyst member is a stainless steel material in which a photocatalyst containing titanium oxide as a main component is fixed on the surface subjected to sandblasting, or a ceramic member in which titanium oxide is fixed on the unglazed surface.

As a result, the adhesion of titanium oxide is increased, and a photocatalytic film having a large specific surface area is formed, so that high photocatalytic activity is obtained, and the water tank and the cleaning liquid being sprayed are efficiently sterilized. In addition, the sterilizing effect of the cleaning liquid can be maintained, and a relatively inexpensive photocatalyst member can be provided.

Further, a cleaning liquid cooling tank having a heat exchanger capable of adjusting the cleaning liquid to an appropriate low temperature is provided upstream of the cleaning chamber.

As a result, the washed foods such as fruits and vegetables do not wither, so that it is possible to suppress the so-called crispness from impairing the texture and reducing the freshness even in summer.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention can be carried out by adopting the constitutions described in the claims. However, in order to make it easier to grasp the embodiments, the constitutions and the functions of the constitutions will be described below. .

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning chamber having a door plate which is openable and closable on a front surface, a water storage tank for storing a cleaning liquid at a bottom of the cleaning chamber, and a top surface and a water storage of the cleaning chamber. A washing nozzle provided above the tank, a washing space formed between the upper and lower washing nozzles, a washing container capable of being taken in and out of the washing space, and a photocatalyst member provided on a wall surface or a water tank of the washing chamber; A light source that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 380 nm or less is provided in the cleaning chamber, and the cleaning liquid in the water tank is circulated and ejected by the upper and lower cleaning nozzles. Therefore, the cleaning liquid is constantly sterilized during cleaning. Therefore, a decrease in the sterilizing power of the cleaning liquid can be prevented, so that sterilization can be performed with a small amount of the cleaning liquid.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning chamber provided with a door plate which can be opened and closed on the front surface, a water tank for storing a cleaning liquid at the bottom of the cleaning chamber, and a top surface and a water tank of the cleaning chamber. A washing nozzle provided above, a washing space provided between the upper and lower washing nozzles, a washing container capable of being taken in and out of the washing space, a photocatalyst member provided on a wall surface or a water tank of the washing chamber, A transparent light-transmitting portion that transmits light provided on the wall surface of the chamber and the bottom surface of the water storage tank, and a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 380 nm or less is provided on the wall surface of the cleaning chamber and the outside of the water storage tank; Since the cleaning liquid in the water storage tank is configured to be circulated and jetted by the upper and lower cleaning nozzles, the light source can be easily replaced when the irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet light is reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the shielding plate is provided between the washing container and the light source, it is possible to prevent the strong light from the light source from being directly irradiated on the fruits and vegetables. Therefore, a germicidal lamp that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 254 nm can be used as a light source, so that a very high bactericidal power can be obtained for the cleaning solution, and damage to food such as fruits and vegetables due to the germicidal line can be avoided. be able to.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the upper and lower cleaning nozzles are operated alternately.
Foods such as fruits and vegetables can be efficiently washed and sterilized.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the photocatalyst member is a stainless steel material having titanium oxide fixed on the surface subjected to sandblasting, a photocatalytic film having high adhesion and a large specific surface area is formed. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently sterilize food-borne germs such as fruits and vegetables washed out in the washing liquid and to efficiently decompose residual agricultural chemicals.

In the invention according to claim 6, the photocatalyst member is a porcelain member in which a photocatalyst containing titanium oxide as a main component is fixed on the unbaked surface, so that a photocatalytic film having high adhesion and a large specific surface area is formed. It is formed and can be manufactured at low cost.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning nozzle has a photocatalytic material on its surface, it can be sterilized more efficiently, and the nozzle that adheres during cleaning is constantly cleaned. Can be disassembled.

Further, in the invention according to claim 8, since the cleaning liquid supply tank having a heat exchanger for adjusting the cleaning liquid to a low temperature is disposed upstream of the cleaning chamber, the washed fruits and vegetables are withered. It is possible to prevent the texture from being impaired and the freshness from being reduced even in the summer season.

Further, the invention according to claim 9 is a washing machine for sterilizing by using tap water containing residual chlorine as a cleaning liquid and effectively utilizing low-concentration residual chlorine without using a special disinfectant. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform post-water washing, and there is no need to adjust the washing liquid.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a fruit and vegetable washing machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance.

The fruit and vegetable washing machine 15 has a hermetically closed box 17 made of stainless steel and the like, which has a door plate 16 which can be opened and closed on the front surface, and has a washing liquid supply source (not shown) on the upstream side.

Here, the cleaning liquid supply source is described as a tap water source. That is, the fruit and vegetable washing machine 15 is a so-called water supply direct connection type, is connected to a water tap (not shown) by a conduit 18 such as a vinyl chloride pipe, and controls the stop of supply of tap water by opening and closing a solenoid valve 19.

The washing chamber 20 inside the closed box 17
Is composed of a storage unit 21, a water storage unit 23 at the bottom of the storage unit 21, which serves as a water storage tank for tap water 22 as a cleaning liquid, and a machine room 24 below the water storage unit 23.

Further, tap water 22 is placed on the top surface of the washing chamber 20.
A rotating nozzle (upper) 25 for initially injecting water and spraying during washing is provided, and a rotating nozzle (lower) 26 for absorbing and injecting a predetermined amount of tap water 22 above a water reservoir 23 at the bottom is provided. Is provided. The upper and lower jet rotary nozzles 25 and 26 have jet ports 2 for jetting a cleaning liquid at a fixed angle.
5a and 26a are respectively provided in plurality.

The rotary nozzle (lower) of the cleaning chamber 20
A net shelf 27 is attached to the upper part of the mesh tray 26, and a net-like washing basket 28 with a lid can be placed as a container made of stainless steel or the like which can be put in and taken out of the net shelf 27.

On the wall surface 20a of the washing chamber 20 and the bottom surface 23a of the water storage part 23, photocatalyst members 29 and 30 having a photocatalyst mainly composed of titanium dioxide fixed on the surface are disposed. A light source 31, which is a waterproof type running water germicidal lamp for mainly irradiating light having a wavelength of 254 nm, is detachably attached to both left and right sides of the washing basket 28.

In the machine room 24, there are provided a water pump 32 for sucking and pumping the tap water 22 stored in the upper and lower rotary nozzles 25 and 26, and a control circuit board 33 for controlling a series of washing operations. Is provided.

Further, before the rotary nozzle (upper) 25 and the rotary nozzle (lower) 26, a three-way electric valve 34,
The upper and lower rotary nozzles 25 and 26 are connected by a conduit 36 through the three-way electric valves 34 and 35.

The rotary nozzle (upper) 25 and the three-way electric valve 34 are connected by a conduit 37, and the rotary nozzle (lower) 26 and the three-way electric valve 35 are connected by a conduit 38.

Then, the two three-way electric valves 34, 35
Is controlled by a signal from the control circuit board 33, so that the tap water 22 that has absorbed water from the suction port 39 provided on the bottom surface 23a of the water storage section 23 flows to the conduit 36 side. Is configured such that the rotary nozzle (upper) 25 rotates by jetting water, and the rotary nozzle (lower) 26 similarly rotates when water is supplied to the conduit 38 side.

The shielding plate 4 is placed on the net shelf 27 between the washing basket 28 and the light source 31 so that strong ultraviolet rays from the light source 31 do not directly hit the fruits and vegetables 28a in the washing basket 28.
0 is provided.

Further, an operation button 41 and a washing mode selection button 42 for selecting the number of washings and the washing time are provided on the front surface of the closed box 17.

The details of the photocatalyst member 29 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The photocatalyst member 29 is obtained by subjecting the surface of an austenitic SUS304 stainless steel plate 43 to sandblasting, and obtaining the resulting uneven sandblasted surface 4.
4, a photocatalytic film 45 mainly composed of anatase type titanium oxide is fixed by drying and baking.

As shown in FIG. 4, after the silica film 46 is formed on the sandblasted surface 44, the photocatalytic film 45 may be further fixed thereon. The same applies to the photocatalyst member 30.

Further, only one of the photocatalyst members 29 and 30 may be provided.

The fruit and vegetable washing machine 15 configured as described above
1 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a vegetable or fruit such as a vegetable or fruit 28a.
Shows a state in which the fruits and vegetables 28a are stored in the fruits and vegetables washing machine 15. First, after storing the fruits and vegetables 28a in the washing basket 28, the door plate 16 on the front of the fruits and vegetables cleaning machine 15 shown in FIG. Then, the washing basket 28 is stored in the washing room 20.

When the door plate 16 is closed after storage, the operation becomes possible, and the operation button 4 provided on the front face of the closed box 17 is provided.
By pressing 1, the electromagnetic valve 19 is opened by an electric signal of the start of washing from the control circuit board 33, and tap water is supplied from the conduit 18 to the three-way valve 34 and the rotary nozzle (upper) 2
A fixed amount is supplied to the cleaning chamber 20 through 5.

That is, a predetermined amount of tap water 22 is stored in the water storage section 23 while falling in a shower shape onto the stored fruits and vegetables 28a.

When a predetermined amount is reached,
The solenoid valve 19 is controlled by a signal from the control circuit board 33.
Are closed, and the two three-way electric valves 34 and 35 are closed.
Are opened and closed to establish a channel state in which the tap water 22 flows toward the conduit 36.

Next, the water supply pump 32 is operated in conjunction with the above operation, and the tap water 22 in the water storage section 23 is pressure-fed from the suction port 39 to the rotary nozzle (upper) 25 as shown by the arrow A, and the jetting is performed. The rotating nozzle (upper) 25 rotates while the tap water 22 is vigorously jetted downward from the mouth 25a. Then, bacteria and mold attached to the surface of the fruits and vegetables 28a are washed away with the jet water of the tap water 22 to remove the bacteria.

The light source 31 is turned on almost at the same time as the injection operation, and ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 254 nm is irradiated. Then, the photocatalyst members 29, 3 disposed on the wall surface 20a of the cleaning chamber 20 and the bottom surface 23a of the water storage portion 23 are provided.
When 0 is excited, active oxygen radical species such as hydroxy radical and superoxide anion are generated as shown in the reaction formulas shown in (Chemical Formula 1) and (Chemical Formula 2).

[0056]

Embedded image

[0057]

Embedded image

The tap water 22 is constantly sterilized by the active oxygen radical species during washing.

Further, when the cleaning by the rotary nozzle (upper) 25 is completed for a predetermined time, the three-way electric valve 35 is opened and closed so as to guide the tap water 22 to the conduit 38,
The tap water 22 sucked as shown by the arrow B is sent to the rotary nozzle (lower) 26 by pressure. As a result, the rotating nozzle (lower) 26 rotates while vigorously blowing up the tap water 22 to wash and remove the fruits and vegetables 28a from below.

After the cleaning, the cleaning liquid is drained from a drain pipe (not shown). Normally, the washing is completed once for each of the upper and lower sides.

However, when the continuous cleaning mode is selected by the operation button 41 and the cleaning mode selection button 42 shown in FIG. 2, the solenoid valve 19 is again activated by the signal from the control circuit board 33 after the aforementioned drainage. Open the tap water 22
And a cleaning operation is started. And
The operation is controlled such that the fruits and vegetables 28a are washed a predetermined number of times under predetermined conditions by repeatedly storing and draining the tap water 22.

Since the photocatalyst 45 is excited by light in the ultraviolet region of 380 nm or less, the light source 31
A black light that emits light having a wavelength of 30 nm to 370 nm may be used. In addition, since ordinary fluorescent lamps contain a small amount of light in the ultraviolet region, they can be used although their functions such as germicidal efficacy are reduced. However, it is indispensable to use waterproof specifications.

Therefore, the fruit and vegetable washing machine 15 has the following effects.

As a result of a study by a washing experiment, it was found that the use of the fruit and vegetable washing machine 15 of the present invention provides the same high washing and disinfecting effect as when ozone water is used, and the damage of tissues of fruits and vegetables, especially cut vegetables and the like. Turned out to be less.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the cleaning and sterilizing effect.

The bar graph in FIG.
100 g of cut lettuce cut into about 5 cm squares are stored, and 3 liters of ozone water having an ozone concentration of 0.35 mg / l in water and tap water having a free residual chlorine concentration of 0.6 ppm are stored as washing liquid. The results obtained by examining the bactericidal effect when the washing was repeated twice for 5 minutes with and without the irradiation of ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 254 nm from the light source 32 are shown by the bactericidal rate for general bacteria and coliform bacteria. I have.

From the results shown in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the photocatalyst has a higher sterilizing effect than ozone water when ultraviolet irradiation is performed (A), and that ozone water is better than tap water when ultraviolet irradiation is not performed (B). It was also found that the bactericidal effect was high.

That is, when there is ultraviolet irradiation, it is considered that the photocatalyst 45 is excited to generate active oxygen radical species as described above. The sterilization effect is reduced by irradiation of ultraviolet light with ozone water because ozone is decomposed by ultraviolet light.

Therefore, when the photocatalyst 45 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the tap water 22 can be used as a cleaning liquid having the same sterilizing effect as ozone water. In addition, there was obtained an effect that the cut lettuce surface was less damaged and the browning after storage was clearly less than that in the case of washing with ozone water.

Of course, this sterilizing effect is due to the synergistic effect of the physical cleaning power of the jet water from the upper and lower rotary nozzles 25 and 26 and the photoactive action power of the photocatalyst 45.

The results were obtained by washing the cut lettuce with a commonly used high-concentration aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution (recommended to wash at 100 ppm for 10 minutes or 200 ppm for 5 minutes). It has the same bactericidal effect.

Further, although the lettuce washed with sodium hypochlorite and the like has a severe browning during storage, the browning of the cut lettuce according to the washing method of this embodiment is very slight.

[0073] Also, high concentration sodium hypochlorite which is generally used generally has persistence, and trihalomethane, which is said to be a carcinogen, may be produced by reaction with organic substances. After washing and sterilization, sufficient water washing is indispensable, and a large amount of purified water is used.

On the other hand, if the cleaning method of this embodiment is used, a relatively small amount of tap water can be used, and water can be saved, so that it is economical and a small amount of pesticide residue attached to fruits and vegetables can be obtained. Can be decomposed on the surface of the photocatalyst 45, which is extremely safe.

Further, since there is no unpleasant odor of ozone or strong chlorine odor of sodium hypochlorite, it is possible to provide an extremely safe working environment for workers.

Further, since the shielding plate 40 prevents the ultraviolet rays from directly irradiating the fruits and vegetables 28a, the fruits and vegetables 28a can be prevented from being damaged by the ultraviolet rays.

Further, since the upper and lower rotary nozzles 25 and 26 are alternately operated, the loss of the jetting power of the tap water 22 can be reduced to efficiently wash and sterilize fruits and vegetables.

Further, the cleaning liquid is tap water containing residual chlorine, and is economical because no special cleaning liquid is used. Residual chlorine is volatile, and tap water can be regarded as sterile water that is easily available in a sense.

The photocatalyst members 29 and 30 may be ceramic members in which a photocatalyst mainly composed of titanium oxide is baked and fixed on the surface of unglazed (not shown) instead of the stainless steel material. Because of the presence of the holes, the titanium oxide has good adhesion, a photocatalytic film having a large specific surface area is formed, and inexpensive photocatalytic members 29 and 30 can be obtained.

Further, a photocatalyst member may be fixed to the surfaces of the rotary nozzles 25 and 26. In this case, the tap water 22 which is a cleaning liquid can be more efficiently sterilized and adhered during cleaning. Dirt on the nozzle surface can also be constantly decomposed.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a fruit and vegetable washing machine 47 according to the second embodiment.
By installing 8 and 49 outside the washing room 20, the installation locations are the left and right outside the wall surface 20a of the washing room 20 and the left and right outside the bottom surface 23a of the water storage unit 23.

Specifically, the wall surface 20a of the cleaning chamber 20
Light-transmitting window 5 made of quartz glass or the like that transmits ultraviolet light relatively well
0 is provided, and a light source 48 is attached to the outside thereof. The light source 48 is covered with a stainless steel cover 51 and can be easily removed.

Further, a light source 49 is separately provided in the machine room 24 on the back side of the bottom surface of the water storage section 22. A part of the bottom surface of the water storage section 22 is made of a transparent material that transmits ultraviolet light such as quartz glass, and is used as a light projecting window 52. The light emitting window 52 is provided with the light source 4.
9 may be provided only in the vicinity, or the entire bottom surface may be provided.

The photocatalyst member 53 of the storage section 21
The photocatalyst member 54 of the water storage unit 23 is installed in the vicinity slightly away from the light emitting window 50, and the water storage unit bottom surface 23a
It is installed in the vicinity slightly away from the light emission window.

The photocatalyst members 53 and 54 are disposed with the fixed surfaces of the photocatalyst 45 facing the light sources 48 and 49, respectively.

The washing operation of the fruit and vegetable washing machine 47 is completely the same as that of the first embodiment, and the explanation is omitted.

Therefore, since the light sources 48 and 49 reach the end of their service life and are replaced with the above-described structure, replacement can be simplified. Further, the light sources 48 and 49 do not need to be waterproof, and the structure can be simplified.

The light sources 48 and 49 may be ordinary fluorescent tubes. Even a fluorescent tube emits ultraviolet rays, though weakly, so that the distance between the light sources 48 and 49 and the photocatalyst members 53 and 54 is made as short as possible. Can be activated.

The same effect can be obtained as to the effect by the photocatalytic activity such as the bactericidal effect.

(Embodiment 3) Next, Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a fruit and vegetable washing machine 55 according to the third embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that a means for cooling tap water 22 as a washing liquid is provided upstream of the washing chamber 20. It is.

A cleaning liquid (tap water) cooling tank 56 is provided below the closed type box 17 which is a cleaning unit, and a conduit 57 is provided.
The closed type box 17 which is a cleaning unit portion and the cleaning liquid cooling tank 56 are connected. The conduit 57 is provided with an electromagnetic valve 58 for opening and closing the flow path.

The washing liquid cooling tank 56 has a water storage tank 59 and a heat exchanger 61 around the water storage tank 59 for cooling tap water 60 as a washing liquid. A compressor 62 for supplying a refrigerant to a vessel 61 and a liquid feed pump 63 for feeding tap water 60 from the water storage tank 59 to the washing chamber 20 are provided.

The washing operation of the fruit and vegetable washing machine 55 will be described only for parts different from those in the first embodiment, and the description of other washing operations will be completely the same, and detailed description will be omitted.

First, before washing the fruits and vegetables 28a, a necessary amount of tap water is stored in the water storage tank 59 in advance, and the tap water 60 is cooled by the cooling heat exchanger 61.

Next, the solenoid valve 58 is opened by a signal from the control circuit board 33, and the cooled tap water 60
Is supplied to the cleaning chamber 20 by the liquid sending pump 62.

The subsequent operation is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment, and the fruits and vegetables 28a are washed by the jet water from the upper and lower rotary nozzles 25 and 26 as described above.

Therefore, even in the summer season when the water temperature is high, the texture of the washed fruits and vegetables 28a is not spoiled or the freshness is not reduced. In particular, refreshing texture and coolness can be obtained in cut lettuce and the like, and an ideal washing machine for vegetables for salad use can be provided.

Incidentally, as a simple method, the tap water 60 may be cooled by putting ice in the water storage tank 59.

The vegetable and vegetable washing machine 55 can be applied to uses other than the vegetable and vegetable washing machine, such as use as cooling water or washing water for cold udon and zaru soba noodles.

The common effects of the first to third embodiments include a harmful substance such as trihalomethane which is a carcinogen contained in a small amount in tap water generated by a reaction between residual chlorine and an organic substance, and a surface of the fruit and vegetable 28a. It also has the effect of decomposing small amounts of pesticides, which are believed to be attached to the soil, to render them harmless.

Further, compared to the conventional example, it is economical because no ozone water is produced, and the ozone production time and the ozone decomposition time are not required, so that the cleaning time can be shortened as a whole, and the effect of browning and the like can be reduced. Reduces damage to fruits and vegetables.

Further, since there is no unpleasant odor of ozone or strong chlorine odor of sodium hypochlorite, it is possible to provide an extremely safe working environment for workers.

Incidentally, at least one of the upper and lower rotary nozzles 25, 26 may be of a fixed type.

Incidentally, the water storage tank in the embodiment may be arranged separately from the washing room.

[0107]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a washing chamber having a door plate which can be opened and closed on the front surface, a water tank for storing a washing liquid at the bottom of the washing chamber, and the washing chamber. A washing nozzle provided on the top surface and above the water tank, a washing space which is located between the upper and lower washing nozzles as a washing space, and a washing container which can be taken in and out of the washing space; And a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 380 nm or less is provided in the cleaning chamber, and the cleaning liquid in the reservoir is circulated and ejected by the upper and lower cleaning nozzles. Therefore, the cleaning liquid is constantly sterilized during cleaning. In this state, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the sterilizing power of the cleaning liquid, so that it can be sterilized with a smaller amount of the cleaning liquid and adhere to a trace amount of trihalomethane in tap water or the surface of vegetables. It may be harmless by decomposing the harmful organic substances agricultural chemical are.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing chamber having a door plate which can be opened and closed at the front, a water tank for storing a washing liquid at the bottom of the washing chamber, and a water tank at a top of the washing chamber and above the water tank. A washing nozzle provided, a washing space intermediate the upper and lower washing nozzles as a washing space, a washing container which can be taken in and out of the washing space, a photocatalyst member provided on a wall surface of the washing room or a water storage tank, and a wall surface of the washing room. And a transparent light-transmitting portion that transmits light on the bottom surface of the water storage tank, and a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 380 nm or less is provided on a wall surface of the cleaning chamber and outside the water storage tank. Since the cleaning liquid is configured to be circulated and ejected by the upper and lower cleaning nozzles, it is possible to decompose trace amounts of harmful chemical substances such as sterilization and pesticides with less cleaning liquid, and to simplify the light source when the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet light is reduced. It can be replaced. Also,
The light source does not need to be waterproof, and the structure can be simplified.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the shielding plate is provided between the washing container and the light source, it is possible to prevent the strong light from the light source from being directly irradiated on the fruits and vegetables. Therefore, a germicidal lamp that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 254 nm can be used as a light source, and a very high bactericidal power can be obtained for the cleaning solution, and it is possible to avoid damage to food such as fruits and vegetables due to the germicidal line. it can.

According to the fourth aspect, since the upper and lower washing nozzles are alternately operated, the loss of the jetting power of the washing liquid is reduced to efficiently wash and sterilize food such as fruits and vegetables. be able to.

According to the fifth aspect, the photocatalyst member is
Since it is a stainless steel material in which a photocatalyst containing titanium oxide as a main component is fixed on the surface subjected to sand blasting, a photocatalytic film having excellent adhesion and a large specific surface area is formed, and a high photocatalytic activity is obtained, so it was washed away in the cleaning solution. It can effectively sterilize food-borne germs such as fruits and vegetables and efficiently decompose pesticide residues.

Further, according to claim 6, the photocatalyst member comprises:
Since it is a porcelain member in which a photocatalyst containing titanium oxide as a main component is fixed on the surface of unbaked, a photocatalytic film having excellent adhesion and a large specific surface area is formed, so that high photocatalytic activity can be obtained, and it can be manufactured at low cost. .

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning nozzle has a photocatalytic material on the surface, the cleaning liquid can be sterilized more efficiently, and dirt on the nozzle surface adhered during cleaning can be decomposed. You can also.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the washing liquid cooling tank having the heat exchanger capable of adjusting the washing liquid to an appropriate low temperature is disposed upstream of the washing chamber, the washed fruits and vegetables can be refreshed. Thus, the texture is not impaired and the freshness is not reduced even in the summer season, and it can be used as washing water or cooling water for noodles of chilled udon or zaru soba noodles.

According to the ninth aspect, since the washing liquid is tap water containing residual chlorine, fruits and vegetables can be washed very economically, and the unpleasant ozone odor and hypochlorous acid as in the past can be obtained. Since the intense chlorine odor of soda does not occur, a very safe working environment for workers can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a fruit and vegetable washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fruit and vegetable washing machine.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a photocatalyst member of the fruit and vegetable washing machine.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of another photocatalyst member of the fruit and vegetable washing machine.

FIG. 5 is a bar graph showing an example of a bactericidal effect in the fruit and vegetable washing machine.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fruit and vegetable washing machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a fruit and vegetable washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional food cleaning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 15, 47, 55 Fruit and vegetable washing machine 16 Door plate 17 Sealed box 20 Washing room 20a Washing room wall surface 22, 60 Tap water (washing liquid) 23 Water storage unit (water tank) 25 Rotating nozzle (upper) 26 Rotating nozzle (lower) 28 Washing basket (washing container) 28a Fruits and vegetables 29,30 Photocatalyst member 31,48,49 Light source 40 Shielding plate 44 Sandblasted surface 45 Photocatalyst 50,52 Light emitting unit 56 Cleaning liquid cooling tank 61 Cooling heat exchanger

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 3B201 AA46 AB03 AB45 BB03 BB24 BB33 BB43 BB82 BB90 BB92 BC01 CB01 CC21 CD21 4B021 LA41 LP10 LT03 LW02 MK14 4G069 AA03 AA08 BA04A BA04B BA13A BA17 BA48A CD10 DA06

Claims (9)

[Claims] A washing chamber provided with a door plate which can be opened and closed on a front surface thereof; a water tank for storing a washing liquid at a bottom of the washing chamber; a washing nozzle provided on a top surface of the washing chamber and above the water tank;
A washing space formed between the upper and lower washing nozzles, a washing container which can be taken in and out of the washing space, a photocatalyst member provided on a wall surface or a water tank of the washing chamber, and a wavelength of 380 nm or less in the washing chamber. A washing machine comprising a light source that emits ultraviolet rays, wherein the washing liquid in the water tank is circulated and ejected by the upper and lower washing nozzles. 2. A washing chamber having a door plate which can be opened and closed on the front surface, a water tank for storing a washing liquid at a bottom of the washing chamber, a washing nozzle provided on a top surface of the washing chamber and above the water tank,
A washing space formed in the middle of the upper and lower washing nozzles, a washing container capable of being taken in and out of the washing space, a photocatalyst member provided on a wall surface or a water tank of the washing room, and a wall surface of the washing room and a water tank. A transparent light-transmitting unit that transmits light is provided on the bottom surface, and a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 380 nm or less is provided on a wall surface of the cleaning chamber and outside the water storage tank. A cleaning machine characterized in that the cleaning nozzle is configured to be circulated by a cleaning nozzle. 3. The cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein a shielding plate is provided between the light sources of the cleaning container. 4. The cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower cleaning nozzles are operated alternately. 5. The cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst member is a stainless steel material having a photocatalyst containing titanium oxide as a main component fixed on a surface subjected to sandblasting. 6. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst member is a ceramic member in which a photocatalyst containing titanium oxide as a main component is fixed on the surface of unglazed. 7. The cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning nozzle has a photocatalytic material on a surface. 8. The cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning liquid cooling tank having a heat exchanger for adjusting the temperature of the cleaning liquid to a low temperature is disposed upstream of the cleaning chamber. 9. The cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein tap water containing residual chlorine is used as the cleaning liquid.