JP2000343070A - Garbage treating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to exactly measure the moisture content of a garbage treating material without contact with the garbage treating material. SOLUTION: This treating device has a moisture content detecting section 1 which optically detects the moisture content of the garbage treating material 11, a control section which computes the moisture content in accordance with the output of this moisture content detecting section 1 and agitating vanes 2, a surface heater 4 and an exhaust fan 5 for regulating the moisture content according to the output of the control section in a treating vessel 3 in which the garbage treating material 11 for decomposing and treating the garbage is put.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a garbage processing apparatus for putting garbage and garbage processing material into a processing tank and decomposing garbage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sludge containing organic matter and water has been decomposed (fermented) using microorganisms so as not to affect the environment. Are known. This garbage disposal device
The processing tank is filled with wood chips (sawdust) as a garbage disposal material in which microorganisms called holer agents inhabit. Then, after throwing the garbage into the treatment tank from the input port provided in the treatment tank, the garbage treatment material in which the microorganisms inhabit and the garbage are mixed by stirring with stirring means, and the air is brought into contact with the garbage treatment material. The garbage is decomposed by microorganisms inhabiting the garbage disposal material, and at the same time, water is evaporated.

However, in such a garbage processing apparatus, since the garbage is decomposed by microorganisms, if the water content of the garbage processing material is not within a range suitable for the microorganisms, the processing efficiency is reduced. There was a problem of doing.

[0004] Therefore, a garbage disposal apparatus that has a blowing mechanism, a heater, and a water supply device and has a means for adjusting the water content in order to keep the water content within a range suitable for the activity of microorganisms has been proposed. There was a problem of how to measure the water content of the garbage disposal agent.

On the other hand, a method of contacting a pair of electrodes with a garbage disposal material and measuring the electric resistance between the two electrodes to detect the water content (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-33572).
Also, a method has been proposed in which a heating resistor is brought into contact with a food waste treatment material, and the moisture content is detected by measuring the temperature rise of the contacted food waste treatment material (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-57458).

[0006]

However, in such a conventional method, it is necessary to bring the electrode or the heating resistor into contact with the garbage disposal material, and the electrode or the heating resistor is stirred with the garbage disposal material. Wear and deterioration may occur, which may lead to failure.

Further, in the former, if an electrolyte solution or substance is present between a pair of electrodes, the detection value may change significantly, and the water content may not be measured accurately.
In the latter case, if the heating resistor and the food waste treatment material do not adhere to each other, the temperature may not be able to be accurately changed.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and is intended to accurately measure the water content of a garbage disposal material without contacting the garbage disposal material. It is an object to provide a processing device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a treatment tank containing a garbage disposal material for decomposing garbage.
A moisture content detecting means for optically detecting the moisture content of the garbage disposal material, a computing means for calculating the moisture content based on the output of the moisture content detecting means, and adjusting the moisture content according to the output of the computing means And a moisture content adjusting means.

With such a configuration, the moisture content of the garbage disposal material is detected by the moisture content detecting means, and the moisture content adjusting means is controlled in accordance with the output.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the water content detecting means is disposed above the processing tank.

As a result, the garbage disposal material stirred in the treatment tank does not come into contact with the moisture content detecting means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, there is provided a stirring means for stirring the garbage processing material in the processing tank, and a control means for controlling the operation of the stirring means. Features.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the control means controls the driving of the stirring means prior to the detection of the water content by the water content detection means.

[0015] With such a configuration, variation in the water content due to the mixing state and positional relationship between the garbage and the garbage disposal material is eliminated, and the output of the water content detection means is stabilized.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the third or fourth aspect, the control means controls to drive the stirring means during the period of detecting the moisture content by the moisture content detecting means.

With this configuration, the moisture content is detected by the moisture content detecting means while changing the garbage disposal material for which the moisture content is to be detected.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the calculation means calculates the water content based on the output of the water content detection means at a plurality of times during the detection period.

With such a configuration, the water content is calculated based on the water content in a plurality of portions of the garbage disposal material.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the calculating means calculates an average value of the water content at a plurality of times during the detection period as a water content.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, there is provided storage means for storing a relationship between an actually measured value of the water content previously measured and an output of the water content detection means. The calculating means calculates the water content from the output of the water content detecting means based on the relationship stored in the storage means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the water content detecting means includes a first wavelength range in which absorption by water is strong and a second wavelength range in which absorption by water is weak. Light-emitting means for irradiating light to the garbage disposal material; light-receiving means including a first light-receiving element sensitive to at least the first wavelength band and a second light-receiving element sensitive to the second wavelength band; It is characterized by having.

With this configuration, the irradiation light emitted from the light emitting means to the object to be measured is transmitted or reflected by the object to be measured. The transmitted or reflected light is received by the light receiving means.

[0024] Claim 10 is based on Claim 9
The light emitting means emits light in a continuous wavelength range including the first and second wavelength ranges.

According to claim 11, in the ninth or tenth aspect, the first light receiving element has sensitivity in a wavelength range exceeding 1 μm, and the second light receiving element has sensitivity in a wavelength range below 1 μm. It is characterized by the following.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A garbage processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing a schematic configuration of a garbage processing apparatus, and FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a moisture content detection unit in the garbage processing apparatus, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a measurement principle, and FIG. It is.

The garbage processing apparatus according to the present embodiment
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a processing tank 3 having an upper opening is provided inside a case 6 having an upper opening of the garbage processing apparatus, and a stirring blade 2 is rotatably provided in the processing tank 3. It is decorated. The stirring blade 2 is rotated by a motor 7, and the rotation of the motor 7 is controlled by a control unit 8.

A planar heater 4 is mounted on the wall surface of the processing tank 3 and is controlled by a signal from a control unit 8.

A cover 15 is provided at the upper end opening of the case 6 so as to be openable and closable. An exhaust path 9 is provided in the case 6, and the exhaust path 9 is provided through an exhaust port 10 at the upper end of the processing tank 3.
It leads to the outside of case 6. An exhaust fan 5 is provided inside the exhaust path 9, and the exhaust fan 5 is controlled by a signal from the control unit 8. In the treatment tank 3, a garbage disposal material 11 such as a woody strip in which microorganisms have inhabited is placed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a water content detecting section 1 for detecting the water content of the garbage processing material in the processing tank 3 is provided at an upper portion in the processing tank 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the moisture content detecting section 1 includes a tungsten lamp 16 and a light receiving section 17. The light emitted from the tungsten lamp 16 is applied to the garbage processing material 11, and the reflected light is detected by the light receiving unit 17 via the bottom surface of the processing tank 3. The light receiving section 17 includes a silicon photodiode 17a and a pyroelectric element 17b. The output of the silicon photodiode 17a is amplified by the amplifier 18a and input to the control unit 8,
The output of the pyroelectric element 17b is amplified by the amplifier 18b and input to the control unit 8.

The controller 8 determines the water content by referring to a calibration curve stored in a memory (not shown) in advance. Note that this calibration curve is calculated based on measured values measured in advance for garbage processing materials having a known moisture content.

Next, the principle of operation of the moisture content detecting section 1 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG. However, in the following description, the principle will be described based on a change in water transmittance.

FIG. 4A shows the spectral distribution characteristics of the light emission amount of the tungsten lamp 16, and it can be seen from FIG. 4A that the light is distributed over the visible light region and the near infrared region.

FIG. 4B shows a spectral distribution characteristic P of the light receiving sensitivity in the silicon photodiode 17a and a spectral distribution characteristic Q of the light receiving sensitivity in the pyroelectric element 17b. 17A shows that the pyroelectric element 17b has a high sensitivity region in the wavelength region exceeding 1 μm while the pyroelectric element 17b has a high sensitivity region in the wavelength region of 1 μm or less.

FIG. 4C shows an object to be measured using a tungsten lamp 16 having the characteristics shown in FIG. 4A and a silicon photodiode 17a and a pyroelectric element 17b having the characteristics shown in FIG. 7 shows the spectral distribution characteristics P ′ and Q ′ of the light detection amount in each of the silicon photodiode 17a and the pyroelectric element 17b when the measurement is performed in a state where is not arranged. Silicon photodiode 17a and pyroelectric element 1
7b, the magnitude of the light detection amount is P ', Q'
Is approximately proportional to the area of each region enclosed by.

On the other hand, FIG. 4D shows the transmittance of light in the wavelength range from the visible light region to the near infrared region with respect to water. From the figure, water absorbs much light in the near infrared region. You can see that.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, the spectral distribution characteristic P of the light detection amount in each of the silicon photodiode 17a and the pyroelectric element 17b when the object to be measured is not disposed.
The characteristics shown in FIG. 4 (e) are obtained based on ', Q' and the water transmittance characteristics shown in FIG. 4 (d). Where Pn
Indicates that the light emitted from the tungsten lamp 11 has a moisture content n (n =
(0, 40, 80)% shows the spectral distribution characteristics of the amount of light detected by the silicon photodiode 17a when irradiated on the object to be measured, and Qn indicates the light emitted from the tungsten lamp 11 having a water content of n%. 9 shows a spectral distribution characteristic of a light detection amount in the pyroelectric element 17b when an object is irradiated.

The magnitude of the light detection amount of each of the silicon photodiode 17a and the pyroelectric element 17b is Pn, Qn
Is approximately proportional to the area of the region surrounded by. From the figure, since the transmittance of water is substantially 1 in the visible light region, the light detection amount of the silicon photodiode 17a hardly changes even if the water content changes, but in the near infrared region, Since the degree of light absorption changes according to the change in the water content, it can be seen that the light detection amount of the pyroelectric element 17b changes according to the water content.

Although the above is the explanation of the principle based on the change in the water transmittance, the present invention is applicable not only to the transmission measurement of the object but also to the reflection measurement for receiving the reflected light from the object. .

This is based on the application of the diffuse reflection method in spectroscopic analysis. In addition to the light reflected on the surface, the reflected light from the object transmits through the particles of the object and is reflected on the surface of the next particle. This is because there is incoming light (diffuse reflected light), which contains the absorption characteristics of the object.

Specifically, the water content is calculated based on the following equation 1, as in a general two-wavelength infrared moisture meter.

[0044]

(Equation 1)

Thus, the silicon photodiode 1
The water content can be obtained from the output of the pyroelectric element 7a and the pyroelectric element 17b. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 in advance, the relationship between the logarithm of the ratio of the signal intensity of the silicon photodiode 17a and the signal intensity of the pyroelectric element 17b and the known moisture content for 36 garbage disposal materials having a known moisture content. Is plotted, the plotted points are approximated to a straight line to obtain a calibration curve, and the constants a0 and a1 of the above equation 1 may be determined.

The first control operation during driving of the garbage processing apparatus having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this control operation, during the operation of the garbage processing apparatus, the water content detecting section 1 irradiates the garbage processing material 11 with light from the silicon photodiode 17a and the pyroelectric element 17b at predetermined time intervals. The reflected light is received by the light receiving unit 17. Then, the reflected light amount detected by the light receiving unit is input to the control unit 8. (Step S01) The control unit 8 first calculates the water content of the garbage disposal material 11 from the amount of reflected light input from the light receiving unit 17 using the above-described method. (Step S02) When the water content is less than 25%, the control unit 8
Displays a water supply warning on a display unit (not shown) to urge the user to supply water to the treatment tank 3,
, The frequency of stirring by the stirring blades 2 is reduced, and control is performed to increase the water content. (Steps S03 and S04) When the water content exceeds 50%, the control unit 8 outputs a control signal for rotating the fan 5 to ventilate the inside of the processing tank 3 or to control the motor 7. By controlling the command, the frequency of stirring by the stirring blade 2 is increased, or the set temperature of the planar heater 4 is increased to control the water content to be reduced. (Steps S05 and S06) Thereby, the water content of the garbage processing material in the processing tank 3 becomes 25%.
% To 50%, and not only the garbage is efficiently decomposed, but also the odor accompanying the decomposition is suppressed.

Next, a second control operation during driving of the garbage processing apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this control operation, similarly to step S01 in the first control operation, the water content is detected at predetermined time intervals during the operation of the garbage processing apparatus. Before the detection of the water content, First, a control signal is output from the control unit 8 to the motor 7, and the stirring operation by the stirring blade 2 is started. (Step S11) At a point in time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the stirring operation, the water content detection unit 1 sets the silicon photodiode 1
The garbage disposal material 11 is irradiated with light from 7 a and the pyroelectric element 17 b, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit 17. Then, the amount of reflected light detected by the light receiving unit 17 is input to the control unit 8. (Step S12) First, the control unit 8 calculates the water content of the garbage disposal material 11 from the amount of reflected light input from the light receiving unit 17 using the above-described method. (Step S13) When the series of steps S12 and S13 is repeated 10 times at intervals of several seconds, a control signal is output from the control unit 8 to the motor 7 again, and the stirring operation by the stirring blade 2 ends. (Steps S14 to S16) Next, the control unit 8 calculates an average value of the obtained ten water content values, and outputs the average value as the water content. (Step S17) Hereinafter, a series of processing of steps S03 to S06 described in the first control operation is performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the moisture content of the garbage disposal material 11 is optically detected by the moisture content detection unit 1, so that the moisture content of the garbage disposal material 11 is not contacted. The rate can be measured. In particular, since the water content detection unit 1 is arranged at the upper part of the processing tank 3, it does not come into contact with the garbage processing material 11, does not deteriorate due to friction, and can perform highly reliable measurement. . In addition, since it is not affected by the influence of the electrolyte solution or the substance and the degree of contact with the garbage disposal material, accurate measurement can be performed.

In the second control operation, the driving of the stirring blades 2 is started prior to the detection of the water content by the water content detection unit 1, so that the mixing of the garbage and the garbage processing material 11 is performed. And the variation of the detection value due to the positional relationship is eliminated. As a result, the moisture content detection unit 1 can obtain a stable output, and can detect the moisture content with high reliability.

In the second control operation, while the water content is being detected by the water content detection section 1, the stirring is performed by the stirring blades 2, so that the garbage disposal material irradiated with the light of the tungsten lamp 16 is used. 11 changes. Then, by averaging the water contents of the different food waste treatment materials 11, the influence of the variation in the water content of the food waste treatment materials 11 themselves can be reduced. Thereby, the water content detection unit 1 can obtain a more stable output, and can detect the water content with high reliability.

In the present embodiment, the silicon photodiode 17 is used as the light receiving means of the moisture content detecting section 1.
a and the case where the pyroelectric element 17b is used has been described,
Without limitation thereto, those including a light receiving element having sensitivity in a wavelength region where water absorption is strong and a light receiving element having sensitivity in a wavelength region where water absorption is weak such as a silicon photodiode and a germanium photodiode as light receiving means. Should be fine. Preferably, a light-receiving element having sensitivity in a wavelength range of less than 1 μm and a light-receiving element having sensitivity in a wavelength range of more than 1 μm may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the water content of the garbage processing material 11 is controlled to be 25 to 50% has been described, but various values may be set according to the type of the garbage processing material. May be used.

Further, in the second control operation of the present embodiment, the case where the water content is calculated from the average value of the ten detection results has been described, but the eight detection results excluding the maximum value and the minimum value are described. May be used.

[0056]

According to the present invention, since the water content of the food waste is optically detected, the water content can be detected without contacting the food waste. For this reason, deterioration due to friction is eliminated, and highly reliable moisture content measurement can be performed. Furthermore, since it is not affected by the solution or substance of the electrolyte or the contact condition with the garbage disposal material, it is possible to accurately measure the water content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a garbage processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the garbage processing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a moisture content detection unit in the garbage processing apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation principle of the water content detection unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the output of a water content detection unit that measures a food waste treatment material having a known water content and the water content.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a first control operation during driving of the garbage processing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a second control operation during driving of the garbage processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Water content detection unit 2: Stirring blade 3: Processing tank 4: Planar heater 5: Exhaust fan 6: Case 7: Motor 8: Control unit 9: Exhaust path 10: Exhaust port 11: Garbage disposal material 16: Tungsten Lamp 17: Light receiving part 17a: Silicon photodiode 17b: Pyroelectric element

Claims (11)

[Claims] A water content detection means for optically detecting the water content of a food waste treatment material in a treatment tank containing a food waste treatment material for decomposing food waste, and an output of the water content detection means. A garbage disposal apparatus comprising: a calculating means for calculating a water content based on the calculation; and a water content adjusting means for adjusting a water content according to an output of the calculating means. 2. The garbage disposal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moisture content detecting means is disposed above the treatment tank. 3. The garbage according to claim 1, further comprising stirring means for stirring the garbage processing material in the processing tank, and control means for controlling the operation of the stirring means. Processing equipment. 4. The garbage disposal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means controls the stirring means to be driven prior to the detection of the water content by the water content detection means. 5. The garbage disposal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means controls the stirring means to be driven during the detection of the water content by the water content detection means. 6. The garbage disposal apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said calculating means calculates a water content based on an output of said water content detecting means at a plurality of times during said detection period. 7. The garbage disposal apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the calculating means calculates an average value of the water content at a plurality of times during the detection period as a water content. 8. A storage means for storing a relationship between an actually measured value of the water content previously measured and an output of the water content detection means, wherein the calculating means stores the relationship between the measured value and the output stored in the storage means. The garbage disposal apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a moisture content is calculated from an output of the moisture content detecting means based on the content. 9. A light emitting means for irradiating the garbage disposal material with light including a first wavelength range in which water absorption is strong and a second wavelength range in which water absorption is weak, wherein the water content detection means comprises: 9. A light receiving device comprising: a first light receiving element having sensitivity in a first wavelength range; and a light receiving means including a second light receiving element having sensitivity in the second wavelength range. A garbage disposal apparatus according to any one of the above. 10. The garbage disposal apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said light emitting means emits light in a continuous wavelength range including said first and second wavelength ranges. 11. The light receiving element according to claim 9, wherein the first light receiving element has sensitivity in a wavelength range exceeding 1 μm, and the second light receiving element has sensitivity in a wavelength range below 1 μm. Garbage processing equipment.