JP2001045904A - Method for washing egg and device for washing egg - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time required for washing eggs, improve working efficiency and reduce a running cost by bringing a washing process for washing shell eggs and a sterilizing process for sterilizing them to be mutually indepen dent and washing the shell eggs. SOLUTION: In washing eggs by washing shell eggs A and subsequently sterilizing them, the shell eggs are washed by bringing a washing process 20 for washing the shell eggs and a sterilizing process 30 for sterilizing them to be independent. It is preferable to carry out the sterilization processing in the sterilizing process 30 in higher speed compared with the washing processing in the washing process 20, use an alkaline water which is an electrolysis- generated water as the washing water in the washing process 20 and an acidic water which is electrolysis-generated water as sterilizing water in the sterilizing process 30. Further, it is preferable to blush the shell eggs A by jetting the washing water to the shell eggs A in the washing process 20 and jetting the sterilizing water to the shell eggs A in the sterilizing process.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an egg washing method and an egg washing apparatus for washing and sterilizing shell eggs collected at a chicken egg production plant.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one method of an egg washing method for washing and disinfecting eggs with shells, as proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-16033, detergents, microbial disinfectants such as chlorine dioxide, etc. There is a method of cleaning and sterilizing using a cleaning liquid containing a chemical such as a coating agent. The egg washing method includes a step of immersing the eggs with shells in a washing solution in an immersion water tank, and a brushing step of brushing the eggs while soaking the eggs with the washing liquid on the immersed shell eggs. The shell eggs are washed and sterilized sequentially.

[0003]

By the way, the time required for the washing of eggs with shells should be as short as possible in consideration of the working efficiency, and the washing process should take sufficient time to remove contaminants adhering to the eggs. In contrast to the necessity of removal, in the sterilization step, it is only necessary to bring the fungicide into immediate contact with the outer periphery of the washed, clear shelled egg, and it does not take much time. Considering this point, in the egg washing method proposed in the above-mentioned publication, washing and sterilization of shell eggs are performed integrally, and the immersion step and the brushing step in the washing liquid are performed at the same constant speed. Since it is performed, a long time is required for the egg washing operation, and the efficiency of the egg washing operation is not good.

[0004] Further, in the egg washing method, since washing and sterilization are performed integrally in all steps, the contaminants washed and separated are transported to all the steps in a state where they are attached to the shelled egg transport means. Since the immersion step and the brushing step are composed of a common immersion water tank, if the eggs with shells are damaged in the brushing step, the raw eggs will diffuse into the immersion water tank. The wash water will be contaminated, which will contaminate the shell eggs early in the wash.

[0005] The washing liquid used in the egg washing method contains a base consisting of a detergent, a microbial disinfectant such as chlorine dioxide and its decomposition product, and a coating agent. There are problems such as the persistence of these agents on eggs with shells, running costs, treatment of washing wastewater, etc. In addition, since the microbial germicide is highly reactive, one washing solution retains the washing action and bactericidal action. Making it difficult is difficult. The present applicant has proposed an egg washing method and an egg washing apparatus for addressing this problem in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-186439, which is a prior application.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in an egg washing method and an egg washing apparatus for washing and sterilizing shell eggs.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an egg washing method and an egg washing apparatus. The egg washing method according to the present invention is an egg washing method for washing shell eggs, followed by sterilization. In addition, a washing step for washing shell eggs and a sterilization step for sterilization are made independent of each other.

[0008] In the egg washing method according to the present invention, the sterilization treatment in the sterilization step is performed at a higher speed than the washing treatment in the washing step. In the washing step, alkaline water, which is electrolytically generated water, is removed. Used as washing water, and in the sterilizing step, using acidic water that is electrolytically generated water as sterilizing water, brushing the eggs with the same shell while spraying the washing water on the eggs with the shell in the washing step, and In the sterilization step, it is possible to employ a method of spraying sterilized water onto the eggs with shells, or brushing the eggs with shells while injecting sterilized water onto the eggs with shells.

Further, an egg washing device according to the present invention is an egg washing device for carrying out the egg washing method according to the present invention, wherein the washing step comprises washing water jetting means, washing brush, and conveying means. In addition to the above, the sterilizing step includes a sterilizing water injection unit and a conveying unit, and the two conveying units are independent of each other.

[0010] In the egg washing apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization step includes a washing brush, the transporting means constituting the washing step is connected to the driving means via the first power transmission means, and The conveying means constituting the sterilization step is connected to the driving means via a second power transmission means for transmitting power at a higher speed than the first power transmission means, and the driving means comprises A drive motor for driving a transfer belt or a transfer chain as transfer means,
The first and second power transmission means are coaxially provided on an output shaft of the drive motor and are pulleys or sprockets for suspending the conveyance means, and the first power transmission means is provided with the first power transmission means. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the diameter is larger than that of the second power transmission means.

[0011]

According to the method and apparatus for washing eggs according to the present invention, since the washing step and the sterilizing step are independent of each other, the sterilizing step of the contaminants removed from the shell eggs in the washing step is performed. And the washing step is set to a time sufficient to remove contaminants adhering to the shell eggs, and the sterilizing step is performed when sterilizing water comes into contact with the outer periphery of the shell eggs. By setting the time to be too short, the time for the egg washing process can be greatly reduced, and the work efficiency of the egg washing process can be improved.

Further, in the egg washing method and the egg washing apparatus according to the present invention, alkaline water which is electrolytically generated water is used as washing water used in the washing step, and electrolytically generated water is used as sterilizing water used in the sterilizing step. A certain acidic water can be adopted, which can solve the problem of persistence of eggs such as detergents and fungicides on shell eggs and the problem of treatment of washing wastewater, and reduce the running cost of egg washing. can do.

[0013] Further, in the egg washing method and the egg washing apparatus according to the present invention, in the washing step, a means for brushing the eggs with shells while spraying washing water on the eggs can be adopted. Contaminants adhering to the outer periphery of the eggs with shells can be reliably removed. Further, in the egg washing method and the egg washing device according to the present invention, in the sterilizing step, means for brushing the shelled egg while spraying the same with the sterilizing water can be adopted. The entire outer periphery of the shelled egg can be quickly contacted.

In the egg washing apparatus according to the present invention,
The conveying means constituting the washing step is connected to the driving means via the first power transmission means, and the conveying means constituting the sterilization step transmits power to the driving means at a higher speed than the first power transmission means. It can be configured to be connected via the second power transmission means. In this configuration, a transport belt or a transport chain is employed as the transport means, and a drive motor for driving the transport belt or the transport chain is employed as the drive means, and the first and second power transmission means are driven by the drive motor. As a pulley or sprocket provided coaxially on the output shaft and suspending the conveying means, the first power transmitting means can be set to have a larger diameter than the second power transmitting means.

[0015] With this configuration, one drive motor can be used as a common drive means for the transport means in the cleaning step and the sterilization step which are independent of each other, and the sterilization processing time in the sterilization step can be reduced. The time required for the cleaning process can be significantly reduced.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the whole of an egg washing apparatus for carrying out the egg washing method according to the present invention. The egg washing apparatus is basically a prior application of the present applicant. Wish 10
This is the same as the egg washing device proposed in the application No. 186439, and includes an immersion step 10, a primary shower brushing step 20, and a secondary shower brushing step 3.
The difference is that the steps from 0 are separated.

The egg washing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an immersion step 10, a primary shower brushing step 20, a secondary shower brushing step 30, a draining drying step 40, a hot air drying step 50, an ultraviolet irradiation step 60, and a transport. Device 7
0 is provided.

The immersion step 10 is for immersing the shell eggs A in the washing water, and includes an immersion tank 11 and a heater 12 disposed in the immersion tank 11. Egg A with a shell
The washing water inlet is formed on the discharge side of
An inlet for washing water is formed on the discharge side of the shelled egg A, and alkaline water, which is electrolyzed water generated by diaphragm electrolysis, is sequentially supplied and discharged.

The primary shower brushing step 20 is a step of washing the shelled eggs A immersed in the immersion tank 11, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of upper and lower cleaning brushes 21 and injection of cleaning water. A nozzle 22 and a number of holding bars 23 are provided. The two cleaning brushes 21 are for brushing while washing the immersed shelled eggs A.
The eggs A with shells which are vertically opposed to each other and are rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown) are immersed and located between the two cleaning brushes 21 for brushing. The injection nozzle 22 is disposed above the cleaning brush 21 and injects alkaline water, which is electrolyzed water, toward the shelled eggs A being brushed.

Each of the holding bars 23 has a stopper which is bent upward and protrudes at the tip thereof. The holding bar 23 is provided with a predetermined interval therebetween, and is provided with a transport path of the shelled eggs A in the primary shower brushing step 20. Has formed. In the transport path, the shelled eggs A are shower brushed and transported while dancing and rotating.

The secondary shower brushing step 30 is a step of sterilizing the shelled eggs A that have been washed with alkaline water in the primary shower brushing step 20. As shown in FIGS. A brush 31, a sterilizing water injection nozzle 32, and a number of holding bars 33 are provided. The two cleaning brushes 31 are for brushing the washed shelled eggs A while contacting the sterilized water with the sterilized water. Brush the shelled egg A located between 31. The injection nozzle 32 is disposed above the cleaning brush 31 and injects acidic water, which is electrolyzed water, toward the shelled eggs A being brushed.

Each holding bar 33 has a stopper that bends upward and protrudes at the tip thereof, and is disposed with a predetermined interval between them. The holding bar 33 is used to transport the eggs A with shells in the secondary shower brushing step 30. Is formed. In the transport path, the shelled eggs A are shower brushed and transported while dancing and rotating.

The draining / drying step 40 is for draining and drying the shelled eggs A sterilized in the secondary shower brushing step 30, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a pair of upper and lower draining brushes 41, Wind heater 42, blower 4
3 and a number of holding bars 44. The double draining brush 41 is for drying while brushing the sterilized shelled eggs A, and is vertically opposed to each other and is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown) to be sterilized and between the two draining brushes 41. Brush the shelled egg A located. The hot air heater 42 and the blower 43 are arranged below the draining brush 41, and blow hot air toward the shelled eggs A being brushed to drain and dry. Each holding bar 44 is similar to the holding bars 23 and 33 in each shower brushing process 20 and 30.

The hot air drying step 50 includes a draining drying step 40.
Egg A with shell dried with hot air in
A blower 51 is provided for blowing hot air toward the shell egg A. The ultraviolet irradiation step 60 irradiates the shell eggs A dried with the hot air in the hot air drying step 50 with ultraviolet rays, and includes an ultraviolet lamp for irradiating the shell eggs A with ultraviolet rays.

The transport device 70 includes the respective steps 10, 20, 3
It constitutes the transport means at 0, 40, 50, 60,
Guides endless transport chains 71a, 71b, pushing members 72 attached to the transport chains 71a, 71b at predetermined intervals, a chain guide 73 for guiding the transport chains 71a, 71b, and a shelled egg A. A guide plate 74 is provided. In the transfer device 70, the transfer chain 71a constitutes a transfer unit that circulates the immersion step 10 and the primary shower brushing step 20, and
The transport chain 71b is subjected to the secondary shower brushing process 3
0, constituting a conveying means for circulating the draining drying step 40, the hot air drying step 50, and the ultraviolet irradiation step 60,
Immersion step 10 and primary shower brushing step 2
0, secondary shower brushing step 30, draining drying step 40, warm air drying step 50, and ultraviolet irradiation step 6
And 0 are independent of each other.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a transfer device 70, and transfer chains 71a and 71b constituting each transfer means.
Are driven by the same drive motor 75. That is, the drive motor 75 has its output shaft 75
a large sprocket 75b and small sprocket 75c
And the large diameter sprocket 75b is attached to the transfer chain 71a.
, And the transport chain 71b is suspended on the small-diameter sprocket 75c. The transport chain 71a drives the drive motor 75 to circulate the immersion step 10 and the primary shower brushing step 20, and the transport chain 71b drives the drive motor 75 to drive the secondary shower brushing step 30, the draining and drying step 40. ,
The hot air drying step 50 and the ultraviolet irradiation step 60 are circulated. The transport chain 71b is different from the transport chain 71a by the large sprocket 75b and the small sprocket 75.
The speed is high corresponding to the diameter ratio of c.

The primary shower brushing step 2
A drain groove 80 is provided below the 0 and secondary shower brushing steps 30 so that cleaning water after cleaning processing and sterilizing water after sterilization processing fall and are drained.

In the egg washing apparatus thus configured,
By driving the drive motor 75 of the transfer mechanism 70 to rotate the respective transfer chains 71a and 71b, the egg A with the shell immersed in the immersion tank 11 is pressed by the pushing member 72 into the first shower brushing step 20, Next, it is conveyed to the shower brushing process 30, the draining drying process 40, the hot air drying process 50, and the ultraviolet irradiation process 60. In the meantime, in the primary shower brushing step 20, it is brushed and washed while receiving the injection of the alkaline water as the washing water, and in the secondary shower brushing step 30, it is brushed and sterilized while receiving the injection of the acidic water as the sterilizing water. In the draining / drying step 40, brushing is performed while receiving warm air to drain the water. In the hot-air drying step 50, hot-air drying is performed. It is carried out.

As described above, according to the egg washing apparatus, the egg A with the shell is moved by the transport mechanism 70 from the dipping step 10 to the primary shower brushing step 20, the secondary shower brushing step 30, the draining drying step 40, the hot air drying. Step 50,
By transporting to the ultraviolet irradiation step 60, the shelled egg A can be efficiently subjected to washing, sterilization, and drying.

By the way, according to the egg washing method and the egg washing apparatus, the dipping step 10 and the primary shower brushing step 20, the secondary shower brushing step 30, the draining and drying step 40, the hot air drying step 50, and the ultraviolet irradiation Since the step 60 and the step 60 are independent of each other, the contaminants removed from the shelled eggs A in the primary shower brushing step 20 are separated from the subsequent steps by a secondary shower brushing step 30, a draining drying step 40, and a heating step. Wind drying process 5
0, and is not carried into the ultraviolet irradiation step 60. In addition, the immersion step 10 and the primary shower brushing step 20 are set to a time sufficient to remove contaminants attached to the shell egg A, and the subsequent steps are sterilized.
By setting the drying time to a short time only for drying, the time for the egg washing process can be greatly reduced, and the efficiency of the egg washing process can be improved.

In the egg washing method and the egg washing apparatus, alkaline water as electrolytic water is used as washing water used in the immersion step 10 and the primary shower brushing step 20, and the secondary shower brushing step 30 is used.
Since acidic water that is electrolytically generated water is employed as the sterilizing water used in the method, it is possible to solve the problem of persistence of the washing agent and the sterilizing agent or the like to the shelled eggs A and the problem of the treatment of the washing wastewater, The running cost of the egg washing process can be reduced.

In the egg washing method and the egg washing apparatus, in the primary shower brushing step 20,
Since the means for brushing the egg A with the shell while spraying the washing water on the egg A is adopted, the contaminants attached to the outer periphery of the egg A with the shell can be reliably removed, and the secondary shower brushing is performed. In step 30, the shelled egg A
Since the means for brushing the egg A while spraying sterilized water is employed, it is possible to quickly contact the entire outer periphery of the shell A with the sterilized water.

In addition, the egg washing apparatus employs a means for driving both transport chains 71b and 71c constituting the transport means with the same drive motor 75 and at different speeds. There is an advantage that steps with different processing speeds can be configured by the motor 75.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an entire egg washing apparatus according to an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a primary shower brushing step constituting the egg washing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a secondary shower brushing step constituting the egg washing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a draining and drying step constituting the egg washing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view (a) and a schematic side view (b) schematically showing a state in which both transport chains constituting a transport device constituting the egg washing device are connected to a drive motor.
It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: immersion step, 11: immersion tank, 12: heater, 20 ...
Primary shower brushing process, 21 ... cleaning brush,
Reference numeral 22: injection nozzle, 23: holding bar, 30: secondary shower brushing step, 31: cleaning brush, 32: injection nozzle, 33: holding bar, 40: draining / drying step, 41:
Drainer brush, 42: warm air heater, 43: blower, 4
4 ... holding bar, 50 ... warm air drying process, 51 ... blower,
60 ... ultraviolet irradiation step, 61 ... ultraviolet lamp, 70 ... conveying mechanism, 71a, 71b ... conveying chain, 72 ... pushing member,
73: chain guide, 74: guide plate, 75: drive motor, 75a: output shaft, 75b, 75c: sprocket, A: egg with shell.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An egg washing method for washing a shelled egg and then sterilizing the egg, wherein a washing step for washing the shelled egg and a sterilizing step for sterilizing the egg are independent of each other. An egg washing method characterized by the following. 2. The egg washing method according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing treatment in said sterilizing step is performed at a higher speed than the washing processing in said washing step. 3. The method for washing eggs according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said washing step uses alkaline water which is electrolytically produced water as washing water, and said sterilizing step uses acidic water which is electrolytically produced water. An egg washing method characterized by being used as sterilizing water. 4. The method for washing eggs according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said washing step includes brushing said eggs with said shell while spraying washing water onto said eggs, and said step of sterilizing said water with said sterilizing step. An egg washing method characterized by injecting eggs into shell eggs. 5. The egg washing method according to claim 4, wherein in the sterilizing step, the eggs with the same shell are brushed while spraying sterilized water onto the eggs with the shell. 6. An egg washing apparatus for carrying out the egg washing method according to claim 1, wherein the washing step comprises washing water jetting means, washing brush, and conveying means. The sterilization step includes a sterilizing water injection unit and a conveying unit, and the two conveying units are independent of each other. 7. The egg washing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sterilizing step includes a washing brush. 8. The egg washing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transporting means constituting the washing step comprises a first driving means.
And the conveying means constituting the sterilization step is connected to the driving means via a second power transmitting means for transmitting power at a higher speed than the first power transmitting means. An egg washing device characterized by being performed. 9. The egg washing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said drive means is a drive motor for driving a transport belt or a transport chain as each of said transport means, and said first motor is a drive motor.
And the second power transmission means is a pool or a sprocket provided coaxially on the output shaft of the drive motor to suspend the transport means, and the first power transmission means is the second power transmission means. An egg washing device characterized by having a larger diameter than that of the egg washing device.