JP2002011355A - Method for producing pre-washed and pre-dipped rice - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing pre-washed/pre-dipped rice, which can produce the pre-washed/pre-dipped rice provided with proper shape-keeping properties over the whole surface layer through improved drying treatment to preserve the shape for a long time, while utilizing various advantages obtained from rice washing treatment which gives high moisture content to polished rice by washing with hot water. SOLUTION: A rice washing treatment part B, by which the polished rice are washed, is constituted in such a way that the polished rice washing treatment is carried out so that the whole rice from the surface layer part to the center part of the rice come to be a high moisture ratio by infiltrating water into the center of the polished rice by use of hot water, a drying treatment part C drying the polished rice washed in the rice washing treatment part B comprises a dewatering device 29 for dewatering by forced movement of the polished rice of a high moisture content washed in the rice washing treatment part B and a drying device 30 for drying the dewatered polished rice.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing washed and soaked rice for producing cooked and soaked rice which can be immediately cooked by adding water without adding pretreatment such as washing and soaking. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing immersed rice that has been washed and configured to include a rice washing processing section that performs rice washing processing of polished rice and a drying processing section that performs drying processing of the polished rice that has been subjected to rice washing processing in the rice washing processing section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional example of the above-mentioned apparatus for producing washed and soaked rice, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-37008, polished rice having a low water content of about 14% which is generally distributed. In warm water of 60 to 80 degrees Celsius for several minutes (3 to
An apparatus for manufacturing washed and soaked rice for practicing a method of sealing and packaging by drying with a dryer after immersion in washed rice for 6 minutes is conceivable. That is, for example, a rice washing section for performing rice washing for several minutes (3 to 6 minutes) with warm water of 60 to 80 degrees Celsius is provided for the milled rice, and the milled rice that has been subjected to the rice washing in the rice washing section is dried. (Hereinafter, referred to as a first conventional example).

[0003] As another conventional example of an apparatus for producing washed and immersed rice, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2648258, a generally available low-moisture polished rice is used at a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius.
There is a configuration in which a rice washing processing section for performing rice washing processing for several minutes with high-temperature water is provided, and a drying processing section for removing adhering water by forced movement such as centrifugal dehydration as a drying processing section (hereinafter, referred to as a drying processing section). This is referred to as a second conventional example). By the way, the first
In both the conventional example and the second conventional example, the polished rice is hermetically packaged after the drying process is completed.

[0004] The method of producing washed and soaked rice in the first and second prior arts described above is basically a method of using generally distributed low-moisture polished rice as a raw material in hot water. By washing rice, even if you add water without adding pretreatment such as washing with rice and cook rice immediately (hereinafter referred to as rice-free rice cooking), the whole rice is cooked softly and deliciously without leaving thins in the center. It is intended to provide immersed rice that has already been washed, and by drying after washing the rice, the shape of the polished rice is prevented from collapsing, so that it has a shape-retaining property to enhance the storability. Things.

[0005] As another conventional example of an apparatus for manufacturing washed and soaked rice, an apparatus for manufacturing washed and soaked rice that implements a manufacturing method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2651976 is conceivable. That is, brown rice having a normal moisture content is preliminarily refined and then milled to obtain 15% to 19%.
% Of high-moisture polished rice not exceeding 15%, high-moisture polished rice of not less than 15% and not more than 19% obtained by pre-conditioning polished rice having normal moisture content, or 15% to 17% An apparatus for manufacturing a pre-washed soaked rice for performing a method of manufacturing a pre-washed soaked rice using any one of the milled rice obtained by subjecting a brown rice having a high water content that does not exceed a non-quality to a raw material, A rice washing section for performing rice washing by stirring and washing with low-temperature water (3 to 40 degrees Celsius); and a drying section for drying (removing water) by, for example, centrifugal dehydration and hot air drying after washing rice. The treatment is performed in a short time of 11 minutes or less from the time when the water comes into contact with the polished rice until the drying is completed, and the rising water content from the water content of the polished rice before being immersed in water is increased. It does not exceed 2%, and when drying is completed, it does not exceed 16% and does not exceed 19%. Range is a device for producing a Sundearai soaked rice was set to be the water content (hereinafter, referred to as a third conventional example).

[0006] The method of producing washed and soaked rice in the third prior art is, in short, using pre-conditioned high-moisture brown rice or polished rice or high-moisture brown rice as raw materials.
Even if rice is washed with low-temperature water and cooked without washing rice, the first conventional example and the second conventional example are intended to provide washed rice that is cooked deliciously without leaving a thin layer at the center and the whole is soft. In the same manner as in the conventional example, the rice is washed and then dried to give the polished rice a shape-retaining property to enhance the preservability.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first conventional example and the second
The conventional apparatus for manufacturing washed and immersed rice is characterized in that the rice is washed with high-temperature water at a temperature of 60 to 80 degrees Celsius. The whole of the milled rice from the surface layer to the center is made to have a high water content by rapidly moistening water to the center of the milled rice. As described above, since the whole of the milled rice up to the center has a high water content, fine cracks are formed from the surface layer to the center. Therefore, since fine cracks are formed from the surface layer to the center in this way, even in the case of washing rice without washing, when water is absorbed to the center through these fine cracks and cooked up. This has the advantage that a deliciously cooked state with no thins remaining in the center is obtained. Moreover, since such fine cracks are generated, there is also an advantage that when the rice washing process is performed, amino acids and the like containing a sulfur component present in a portion that has entered a little inside from the surface layer portion can be efficiently removed. Have. It should be noted that the amino acid containing the sulfur component causes an unpleasant odor when, for example, high-temperature closed rice cooking used as a commercial rice cooking method is performed, but such disadvantages can be avoided. Furthermore, the washing | cleaning process of rice using high temperature water also has the advantage of killing various bacteria contained in milled rice.

[0008] Further, the apparatus for producing washed and soaked rice of the first conventional example and the second conventional example uses, for example, polished rice having a low water content of about 14% as a raw material. However, it is possible to make the polished rice water so that the whole from the surface layer to the center has a high water content,
Low-moisture polished rice is less likely to cause deterioration in quality such as discoloration or deterioration at the stage of distribution and storage when it is obtained as a raw material, resulting in inconvenience such as lowering the quality of the pre-washed soaked rice produced. It is possible to produce washed and soaked rice in a state where it does not occur.

[0009] As described above, the apparatus for producing washed and immersed rice according to the first conventional example and the second conventional example performs a rice washing process for washing the polished rice with high-temperature water to make the polished rice high in water content. Therefore, it has various advantages as described above.

[0010] On the other hand, the above-mentioned apparatus for producing washed and immersed rice according to the third conventional example is designed to quickly and quickly wash polished rice in low-temperature water in a short period of time, so that the water content is temporarily reduced by the rice washing. It is only in the surface layer of the polished rice that it is high, and after washing the rice, it is dried quickly and quickly to remove the water remaining on the surface of the polished rice and remove the water to the center of the polished rice. No water is contained in the parts. Therefore, the water content temporarily increased by the rice washing treatment is limited only to the surface layer of the polished rice, and the washed immersed rice manufactured so that the moisture does not reach the center of the polished rice is the surface layer of the polished rice. No fine cracks were formed not only in the center but also in the center, and after the rice washing and drying were performed in this manner, there was no crack in the center as well as the surface layer. Washed soaked rice, when cooked without washing rice, cannot contain water up to the central part of the polished rice, and when cooked, the central part is hard and there is a possibility that the thin remains and the delicious cooked state may not be obtained There is a disadvantage. By the way, the refining to make brown rice or polished rice with normal moisture content to high moisture content is "to gradually increase the moisture content of rice over time", thereby cracking polished rice Does not occur.

[0011] In addition, in the third conventional apparatus for producing washed and soaked rice, when brown rice with high water content is used as a raw material, the brown rice is high in water content, so that the brown rice has a high water content in the distribution and storage stages. There is a possibility that the brown rice has already been discolored or deteriorated, and if such brown rice is used, the quality of the manufactured washed and dipped rice may be low. Also, even if the brown rice is of good quality at the time of its acquisition, if it needs to be stored for a long period of time from the time of its acquisition to its use in the production of washed and soaked rice, the brown rice will have a high water content. , The quality is liable to deteriorate, so special measures need to be taken to maintain the quality.
There is a disadvantage that extra labor and equipment are required.

[0012] In the third conventional apparatus for producing washed and soaked rice, when low-moisture brown rice or polished rice is preliminarily refined to have high water content, the refined rice is refined before the rice-washing treatment. Extra work is necessary, and since this refining is to gradually increase the water content of rice over time as described above, it takes time to process, There is a disadvantage that productivity is reduced, and a dedicated facility for that is required, which leads to an increase in facility cost.

As described above, the apparatus of the third prior art for producing washed and soaked rice has various disadvantages and is difficult to employ as an apparatus for producing washed and soaked rice. Therefore, it is conceivable to employ an apparatus as described in the first conventional example and the second conventional example as a manufacturing apparatus of the washed and soaked rice.

[0014] However, although the apparatus for producing washed and immersed rice of the first and second conventional examples has the various advantages as described above, the drying treatment performed after the rice washing treatment is not yet performed. There were disadvantages in the following aspects and there was room for improvement.

First, in the first conventional example, since the drying processing section is configured to rapidly dry the polished rice subjected to the rice washing processing using a heating means such as a dryer,
There were the following disadvantages. That is, the moisture present on the surface of the polished rice after the rice washing treatment is rarely adhered in a uniform state over the entire surface of the polished rice, but rather adhered in an uneven state. Although it is considered that there are many cases, when drying is performed by a heating means such as a dryer in such a state, there is a large possibility that drying unevenness occurs in the surface layer portion of the polished rice. For this reason, there is a possibility that the shape retention property of the surface layer portion of the polished rice cannot be provided with sufficient strength.

Next, in the second conventional example, the drying processing section only removes water from the polished rice after the rice washing processing by forced movement such as centrifugal dehydration, and the drying processing is performed after the drying processing. Since the milled rice is configured to be packaged, it is packaged in a state where the state of high moisture content is maintained as it is not only in the center part of the milled rice but also in the surface layer, the surface is soft and the shape is There is a disadvantage that when the package is transported or stored in a packaged state, it is likely to be crushed or crushed when the package is transported or stored.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a first rice obtained by washing rice with high temperature water to thereby make the milled rice high in water content. While taking advantage of the various advantages of the conventional example, a pre-washed immersion that can be preserved for a long period of time by imparting proper shape-retaining properties over the entire surface layer of polished rice by modifying the drying process An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for producing washed and soaked rice for producing rice.

[0018]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rice washing processing section for performing rice washing processing of polished rice, and a drying processing for drying polished rice that has been subjected to rice washing processing in the rice washing processing section. In the apparatus for manufacturing washed and soaked rice comprising a part, the rice washing processing part is made to wet with high temperature water up to the center of the polished rice so that the whole from the surface layer to the center has a high water content. A drying device configured to perform the rice washing process, wherein the drying process unit includes a dehydrating device that dewaters the high-moisture content polished rice that has been subjected to the rice washing process in the rice washing processing unit by forcible movement; And a drying device for drying the white rice.

In short, the apparatus for producing washed and soaked rice according to the present invention makes the polished rice highly water-containing by washing the polished rice with high-temperature water so that no thins remain at the center in the non-washed rice cooking. While the whole is soft and deliciously cooked, the drying process can be performed in a state where the entire surface layer portion is appropriately provided with shape retention, and a detailed description will be given below.

The dehydrated rice is subjected to a dehydration process by forcibly exercising the highly-hydrated polished rice, which has been subjected to the rinsing treatment in the rice-rinsing section, by the dehydrator. Is removed by a drying device, so that the surface of the polished rice is removed by effectively removing water present in an uneven state on or near the surface of the polished rice by dehydration and then drying. Is almost uniformly dry without drying unevenness. as a result,
For example, compared to a configuration in which drying unevenness is less likely to occur in the surface layer portion than in a configuration in which polished rice that has been subjected to rice washing processing is immediately dried by heating and drying, compared to a configuration in which moisture is removed by forced motion such as centrifugal dehydration. Further, the surface layer of the milled rice is hardened by drying with a drying device, and it is possible to store the milled rice for a long period of time while maintaining a state in which the shape is not easily collapsed and the shape retention is good.

Therefore, while taking advantage of the various advantages of the first conventional example obtained by washing the polished rice with high-temperature water to make the polished rice high in moisture content, the drying process must be devised. In addition, it is possible to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a washed and soaked rice for manufacturing a washed and soaked rice capable of being stored over a long period of time by providing a shape-retaining property over the entire surface portion of the milled rice. Reached.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the drying unit is configured to supply the high-temperature water to the milled rice that has been subjected to the rice washing process in a state in which the supply of the high-temperature water is stopped. It is configured to include a drainer that drains naturally.

As described above, after the rice washing process is performed, the water is drained, and after the draining, the dehydration process is performed by the forced motion. By performing dehydration by exercise, the load on the polished rice can be reduced by the forced exercise, and the possibility that the polished rice is damaged by the forced exercise can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the drain unit is provided with a shower device for dropping clean water onto the polished rice.

By pouring clean water on the polished rice after the rice washing treatment with a shower device, the bran remaining on the polished rice surface can be effectively removed, and the polished rice can be removed from the polished rice surface. Existing germs and the like can be washed away.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the drain unit is provided with a shower device for dropping the sterilizing liquid onto the polished rice.

[0027] A germicidal solution, for example, ozone water, vinegar, etc., is dropped onto the polished rice after the rice washing treatment by a shower device, thereby disinfecting and washing away various germs present on the surface of the polished rice. be able to.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the rice washing processing unit according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the rice washing processing unit is a water stirring type rice washing apparatus that stirs and cleans the milled rice by flowing high-temperature water. And the dehydrating device is configured to be of a centrifugal dehydration type for dehydrating water from polished rice by centrifugal force.

Since the rice washing process is carried out by a water washing type rice washing device, for example, rice is immersed in high-temperature water in a rice washing tank and mechanically stirred and washed while rotating a stirring rod or a stirring blade at high speed. Compared with the configuration, the rice washing process is performed effectively while reducing the damage to the polished rice. In addition, since water is dewatered from the polished rice by centrifugal force, dewatering can be reliably performed with a simple structure by discharging water outward by centrifugal force.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the drying device is adapted to dry the polished rice placed in a state of being spread in a layered manner at the placement location. It is configured so that air is ventilated and dried.

Therefore, for example, as compared with a configuration in which the drying treatment is performed in a state where the layers are stored in a stacked state in the storage tank,
Drying can be performed efficiently by increasing the surface of the polished rice in contact with the dry air as much as possible.

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an apparatus for producing washed and immersed rice according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The apparatus for manufacturing washed and immersed rice stores a polished rice carried in by a transport vehicle or the like, and also receives a predetermined amount of the stored polished rice by a predetermined amount. Rice washing section B for washing white rice with high-temperature water, drying section C for drying milled rice that has been washed, and measuring and packaging section D for weighing and packing a predetermined amount of dried milled rice. And the like.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the apparatus for producing washed and soaked rice will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The receiving unit A includes a large storage tank 1 for storing the polished rice carried by the transport vehicle, a conveyor 2 for conveying the polished rice discharged from the bottom outlet of the storage tank 1 upward, and a conveyor 2. A flow regulating tank 4 with a shutter mechanism 3 for measuring and transporting the polished rice discharged from the upper outlet side by a set amount (for example, about 20 kg), and polished rice for two rice washing processing steps. It is provided with a two-port switching valve 5 and the like for selectively supplying. In other words, the milled rice stored in the storage tank 1 is operated to open the shutter mechanism 3 in a state where the set amount is stored in the flow rate adjustment tank 4, and the two-way switching valve 5 is used for the rice washing process of any system. for,
It is configured so that the polished rice flows down by a set amount through the downflow supply paths 6 and 7 and is sent out.

The rice washing section B is provided with two types of rice washing processing steps. In each of the two types of rice washing processing steps, a high-speed water is allowed to flow to stir and wash the milled rice. An apparatus 8 and a seasoning supply device 9 for supplying seasoning to polished rice are provided. Further, a boiler device 11 for supplying high-temperature water for rice washing to each of the rice washing devices 8 is provided. The boiler device 11 is configured to automatically adjust the amount of heating so that the temperature of the high-temperature water is maintained at a constant temperature of about 70 degrees Celsius.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rice washing device 8 is provided with a rice washing tank 12 having an open upper portion. The rice washing tank 12 is formed in a conical shape in which an upper side is cylindrical and a lower part is connected to the cylindrical shape, and a set amount of polished rice is conveyed and supplied into the rice washing tank 12 from above. It is configured to temporarily store polished rice. A jet nozzle is provided at the bottom of the rice washing tank 12 so that washing water, which is high-temperature water of 70 degrees Celsius supplied from the boiler device 11 through the hot water supply pipe 13, vigorously blows upward inside the tank. 14 are provided. The hot water supply pipe 13 is provided with a pump 15 for forcibly transporting the cleaning water, an electromagnetic valve 16 capable of intermittently connecting the internal passage of the hot water supply pipe 13, a pressure gauge 17 for displaying a delivery pressure, and the like. . In the inside of the rice washing tank 12, a tip opening 18 is provided in a state where a small gap is provided facing the jet nozzle 14.
a, and a water pipe 18 in the tank is provided so as to extend outwardly from the upper side of the rice washing tank 12. An upper side of the water pipe 18 in the tank is provided with an electromagnetically operated three-way switching valve 19. Through the rice-washing water pipe 20 having the other end opening at the upper central portion of the rice-washing tank 12 and the rice-feeding water pipe 21 extending at the other end toward the draining section 10 on the outer side of the rice washing tank 12. It has a branching configuration. In addition, on the outer peripheral portion of the upper opening of the rice washing tank 12, the overflowing washing water is collected and a drain pipe 22 is provided.
An annular washing water recovery unit 23 for discharging the washing water is formed in the inside of the rice washing tank 12, and the washed water and the like discharged from the rice washing water supply pipe 20 are discharged radially outward. A guide plate 24 for dispersing is provided.

In the rice washing device 8, first, a set amount of polished rice is supplied into the rice washing tank 12, and then, washing water is supplied from the boiler device 11 via the pump 15, and the water is supplied from the jet nozzle 14. Wash water is often blown out. At this time, the three-way switching valve 19 is switched to a state in which the in-tank water pipe 18 and the rice water pipe 20 are communicated. Then, the washing water that is gushes from the jet nozzle 14 vigorously blows out from the in-tank water supply pipe 18 through the rice water supply pipe 20 together with the refined rice by the ejector action, and the rice washing tank 1
2 will be circulated and supplied. The washing wastewater overflowing with the supply of the washing water is discharged from the washing water recovery unit 23 to the outside through the drain pipe 22. Therefore, water agitation for stirring and washing the polished rice by washing the high-temperature water is performed. In this way, the rice is washed with the water being stirred by high-temperature water of 70 degrees Celsius, so that the rice is moistened up to the center of the polished rice, and the rice washing is performed so that the whole from the surface layer to the center has a high water content. Will be. After the rice washing process is performed, the three-way switching valve 19 is switched to a state in which the in-tank water pipe 18 and the US water pipe 21 are communicated. Then, jet nozzle 1
The washing water that is blown out vigorously from the tank 4
Then, the water is sent out toward the draining unit 10 through the US water supply pipe 21. At this time, the washing water ejected from the ejection nozzle 14 vigorously ejects the rice washing tank 12 by the ejector action.
The milled rice stored therein is also sent to the draining section 10 of the drying section C described later.

Next, the configuration of the drying section C will be described. The drying unit C includes a draining unit 10 for draining the polished rice washed by the rice washing device 8 and the rice washing unit B.
A centrifugal dewatering device 29 for dewatering moisture from the polished rice washed with a centrifugal force, and a drying device 30 for thermally drying the dewatered polished rice at a high ambient temperature.

[0038] As shown in FIG.
A sink 25 for receiving and draining the washing water is provided, and a net-like storage device 26 is mounted and supported on the sink 25. Then, by receiving and storing the polished rice conveyed from the rice washing device 8 together with the washing water in the net-like storage device 26, the hot water flows from the sink 25 and is discharged to drain the polished rice. In addition, the draining unit 10 is provided with a shower device 27 for discharging clean water to the polished rice after draining. By pouring clean water in this way, it becomes possible to remove bacteria by flowing high heat-resistant bacteria that cannot be sterilized even with high-temperature water, and it is also possible to remove bran and the like adhering to the surface of polished rice. it can.

As shown in FIG. 1, the net-like storage device 26 is mounted on a sink 25 so as to be liftable and movable by a lift device 28, and is lifted by the lift device 28 after the draining process and the shower process are completed. hand,
It is configured to be used as it is for centrifugal dehydration in the next drying process. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a net-like cloth cylinder 26b that easily drains water is housed inside a substantially cylindrical stainless steel net cage 26a, and the cloth cylinder 26b
Is tightened and fixed to the upper peripheral portion of the net basket 26a with a string, and the other end is squeezed with a string so that the cloth cylinder 26b functions as a bag-shaped storage container. Therefore, when the rice is lifted by the lift device 28, the rice can be transported in a state in which the milled rice is stored inside the cloth cylinder 26b functioning as a bag-shaped storage container.

As shown in FIG. 6, the centrifugal dewatering device 29 lifts and transports the net-like container 2 lifted by the lift device 28 after the processing in the draining unit 10 is completed.
6 is provided with a rotary cylinder 31 that is placed and stored as it is from above, and the circumference of the rotary cylinder 31 is covered with an outer cylinder 32. Rotating cylinder 3
1 is rotatably supported by a frame 33 around the vertical axis, and an electric motor 34 supported in a fixed position on the frame 33 and the rotary cylinder 31 are interlocked with each other via a transmission belt 35. And rotating cylinder 3
In a state where the net-like storage device 26 is stored in the inside 1, the rotating cylinder 31 rotates at high speed around the vertical axis by the driving force of the electric motor 34, so that water can be dewatered from the polished rice by centrifugal force. It has become. When the dewatering process is performed, the upper opening of the outer cylinder 32 is closed by the lid 36 and the lid 36 is fixed to prevent water and rice from scattering outside.

After the spin-drying process in the centrifugal spin-drying device 29 is completed, the net-like storage device 26 is again lifted by the lift device 28, moved to the transport start end of the drying device 30, and stored therein. The white rice is supplied to the transport start end of the drying device 30. That is, in a state where the net-like storage device 26 is located above the transport start end of the drying device 30, the other end side is manually squeezed so that the cloth cylinder 26b functions as a bag-like storage container. By removing the string, the polished rice stored in the string is dropped and discharged to the transport start end of the drying device 30.

Next, the configuration of the drying device 30 will be described. The drying device 30 is provided with a conveyor 37 for placing and transporting the polished rice dropped and discharged from the cloth cylinder 26b. The polished rice placed and transported on the conveyor 37 is heated by a heater. The air is passed through the location where the polished rice is present by the ventilation means, so that the ambient temperature of the polished rice is higher than the outside air temperature and heat drying is performed.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the transport conveyor 37 is supported by the frame 38 in a state having a transport path directed obliquely upward, and the transport conveyor 37 is provided at a position above the transport path by the transport conveyor 37. A plurality of far-infrared heaters 39 are arranged in parallel along the transport path in a fixed position as heaters, and six sirocco fans 40 as ventilation means are provided above the heaters. Between each far infrared heater 39 and each sirocco fan 40,
A perforated plate in which a large number of insertion holes 41 are dispersed and formed at appropriate intervals so that the air blown out by each sirocco fan 40 flows in a state where the wind pressure is leveled over a wide range on the conveyor 37. 42, and the perforated plate 4
On the upper side of 2, an air supply chamber 4 for temporary storage in order to equalize the wind pressure of the air blown out from each sirocco fan 40.
3 are formed.

The air blown out from each sirocco fan 40 and the air pressure is leveled by the perforated plate 42 is heated by the far-infrared heaters 39 to a high temperature, and is placed on the conveyor 37 in a state. The air is passed through the place where the polished rice is placed and transported. In this way, the air supplied to the location where the polished rice exists is supplied to the circulation ventilation passages 44 formed at the front and rear two locations in the transport direction on the right and left sides of the transport path,
Further, the air is sucked by each sirocco fan 40 through an intake chamber 45 connected to the circulation ventilation passage 44. Therefore, the air ventilated by each sirocco fan 40 passes through the air supply chamber 43, the heater arrangement space, the location of the polished rice, the circulation ventilation path 44 and the intake chamber 45, and the sirocco fan 4.
The air is circulated to return to zero. In the drying device 30, although not described in detail, the temperature of the air passed through the location where the polished rice is present is detected by a temperature sensor, and the detected value becomes the target temperature set by a setting dial (not shown). The heating operation of each of the far-infrared heaters 39 is controlled.

A cross-flow fan 46 is provided at the starting position of the heating operation at the transport start end to blow off water remaining on the surface of the polished rice before heating and drying. In addition, rod-shaped rake members 47 are dispersed and arranged at appropriate intervals above the passage of the polished rice, and these rake members 47 are evenly distributed so that the polished rice to be placed and conveyed is layered. As shown in FIG. 8, the surface of the polished rice is made substantially corrugated to increase the surface area on which warm air acts.

Next, the configuration of the weighing and packaging processing section D will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the weighing and packaging processing section D
Is an automatic weighing and packaging machine 48 for automatically weighing to a set weight and automatically packaging in a packaging bag, an automatic weighing machine 49 for automatically weighing to a set weight, and a drying device 30
The apparatus is provided with a supply device 50 for supplying the milled rice discharged from the apparatus to the automatic weighing and packaging machine 48, a shipping conveyor 52 for transporting the packed bagged rice to the shipping table 51, and the like. The supply device 50 receives the dried polished rice flowing down from the transport end portion of the drying device 30 via the chute 53 and diagonally moves the mesh member 54 that sorts and drops small-diameter materials such as crushed particles and pebbles. While placing in a posture,
The mesh member 54 is configured to reciprocate and vibrate along the inclined direction, and the milled rice discharged from the lower end of the mesh member 54 is received by the reciprocating swinging down plate 55 and is moved up and down by the elevating conveyor 56. And the conveyer 56 is configured to be guided downward toward the transport start end of the automatic weighing and packaging machine 48.
In order to automatically supply the milled rice to the automatic weighing machine 49 from above, the rice is moved up and down to a high position.
The supply state of the outlet on the upper side of the elevating conveyor 56 can be switched by a two-port switching valve 58 so as to selectively supply the milled rice to one of the automatic weighing and packaging machine 48 and the automatic weighing machine 49. Like that.

The automatic weighing and packaging machine 48 is configured to automatically package the polished rice in packaging bags at predetermined weights in a sealed state. An oxygen absorber supply device 59 for automatically supplying the oxygen absorber into the packaging bag during the packaging process is provided. Note that the automatic weighing machine 49 has only a function of automatically weighing to a set weight, and is used when a packaging operation is separately performed manually.
In the drawing, reference numeral 60 denotes a metal detector for detecting whether or not metal exists in the packaging bag, and 61 denotes a sealing device for sealing the packaging bag.

Next, a method for producing washed and soaked rice with the above-configured apparatus for producing soaked and soaked rice will be described. It is assumed that the polished rice has already been received in the receiving unit A and has been stored in the storage tank 1 in advance. The polished rice thus received has a water content of usually about 13 to 15%. In the present embodiment, the water content refers to a moisture content on a moisture basis indicated by a ratio (%) of the weight of water to the total weight. First, supply of high-temperature water (wash water) whose temperature is controlled to 70 degrees Celsius from the boiler device 11 to the rice washing tank 12 is started. Then, the set amount of polished rice (for example, 20 kg)
It is measured and supplied into the rice washing tank 12. The set amount of the polished rice is supplied into the rice washing tank 12 in about 40 seconds. Then, after the supply of the polished rice is started, a rice washing process is performed by agitating with a water stream for about 2 to 3 minutes. At this time, the washing wastewater including the bran and the like to be removed is discharged from the washing water recovery unit 23 to the outside through the drain pipe 22. After the rice washing process by the water stirring is completed, the rice is waited for about 1 minute and immersed in the washing water. Therefore, the rice washing process requires about 2 rice washings.
３3 minutes, immersion treatment about 1 minute, about 3-4
About a minute. At this time, the rice is washed by stirring the washing water, which is high-temperature water of 70 degrees Celsius, so that the grain temperature is about 7 degrees Celsius.
It becomes 0 degrees, and the water content of the polished rice at the time when the rice washing process is completed is about 24%. This moisture content corresponds to the high moisture content that reaches the center of the polished rice. Processing will be performed.

Next, the three-way switching valve 19 is switched so that the polished rice in the rice washing tank 12 is put together with the hot water into the net-like container 26 supported on the draining section 10 by the jetting power from the jetting nozzle 14. And send it out. This rice sending process is performed in about one minute. In the draining unit 10, the polished rice is meshed
The hot water flows downward and is guided down by the sink 25 and is discharged, so that the polished rice is drained. After the entire amount of the polished rice has been sent, an appropriate amount of clean water is supplied by the shower device 27, and a process of removing bran, high heat-resistant bacteria, and the like remaining on the surface of the polished rice is performed. It should be noted that the time after the end of the supply of the clean water in the draining unit 10 corresponds to the drying process.

In the drying step, after the supply of the clean water is completed, the net-like storage device 26 is lifted and moved by using the lift device 28 and placed inside the rotary cylinder 31 of the centrifugal dewatering device 29. The upper opening is closed by the lid 36, and the rotary cylinder 31 is driven to rotate at a high speed to execute the centrifugal dehydration process. The rotation speed of the rotation cylinder 31 is set to, for example, about 800 rpm to 1200 rpm. This centrifugal dehydration process will be performed for about 1 minute. When the centrifugal dehydration process is completed, the lift device 2
8, the net-like storage device 26 is lifted and moved to the transport start end of the drying device 30, and the cloth tube 26b is manually formed.
By removing the string that is squeezing the other end of the polished rice, the polished rice stored in the string is dropped and discharged to the transport start end of the drying device 30.

Then, in the drying apparatus 30, the conveyor belt 37 is driven at a low speed, and the hot-air drying process is performed while placing and transporting the polished rice little by little. At this time, the polished rice is placed and transported in a state where the polished rice is spread on the conveyor in a layered manner. The target temperature of the air passed through the location where the polished rice is present is set to, for example, 70 degrees Celsius, and the flow rate of the hot air by the sirocco fan 40 is set to a low speed of 1 m / sec or less. The processing time from the start of drying to the end of drying is set to about 12 minutes. The moisture content of the polished rice at the time when the drying process is completed is about 20%. In addition, before the milled rice dried by the drying device 30 and discharged from the transport end portion is supplied to the supply device 50 by a predetermined amount in a receiving container and temporarily stored in a receiving container, the milled rice is mechanically operated by a stirring device. Moisture transfer between the polished rice is carried out by agitation, and the above-mentioned moisture content (about 20%) is obtained for the entire polished rice having a variable moisture content.
May be provided.

After the drying process is completed, the milled rice is supplied to the automatic weighing and packaging machine 48 by the supply device 50, and then automatically weighed to a set weight, and is automatically wrapped in a packaging bag together with the oxygen scavenger. Conveyor 5 packed in a sealed state for shipping
At 2, it is transported to the shipping table 51. in this way,
Immediately after the drying treatment, it is sealed and packaged, so that the moisture content of the polished rice when shipped is about 20%. still,
The processing time in each of the above steps is merely an example, and is not limited to the processing time as described above. For example, if the drying apparatus has an efficient drying method, the drying processing may be performed in a shorter time than the rice washing processing time.

[Other Embodiments] Hereinafter, other embodiments will be listed.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the shower unit is provided in the draining unit to pour clean water onto the polished rice after draining has been described, but instead of the shower device having such a configuration, or In addition to such a shower device, a configuration may be provided in which a shower device for dropping the sterilizing liquid onto the polished rice is provided. Examples of the disinfecting liquid include ozone water and vinegar having a disinfecting action. Also, without providing such a dedicated drainer,
The polished rice after the rice washing process may be directly supplied to the dehydrator to shift to the dehydration process.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, a drying device constituted by a far-infrared heater having a bactericidal action has been exemplified. However, the drying device is not limited to such a structure, and may be an ordinary heating wire heater. . Further, the apparatus is not limited to such a hot-air ventilation type drying apparatus, and may be configured to dry polished rice by radiant heat by a heating means without ventilation, and without providing such a heating means, merely by ventilation with ventilation means. It is good also as composition which dries polished rice only by it. In short, any material having a function of drying the surface of the polished rice may be used.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, a dehydrating apparatus that performs centrifugal dehydration is exemplified. However, the dehydrating apparatus is not limited to centrifugal dehydration as long as it is dewatered by forced motion. For example, rocking, vibration, other forced movement, or
It is good also as composition which performs dehydration processing by forcible operation using exercise which combined them.

(4) In the above embodiment, the rice washing process is performed using high-temperature water at 70 degrees Celsius in the rice-washing processing section. For example, high-temperature water in the range of 50 to 80 degrees Celsius is used as high-temperature water. It may be carried out using water. By using such high-temperature water, it is possible to efficiently perform the above-mentioned water content so that the surface portion and the central portion of the polished rice have a high moisture content in a short time, but even when using high-temperature water of 50 degrees Celsius or less. In short, it suffices if the rice washing process is performed so that the entire water from the surface layer portion to the central portion has a high water content.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, a rice washing apparatus of a water stirring type is used as the rice washing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. A configuration in which white rice is mechanically stirred and washed while rotating a stirring bar or a stirring blade at a high speed may be employed.

(6) In the above embodiment, the water content of the polished rice at the time of completion of the rice washing treatment is about 24%, and the water content of the polished rice at the time of completion of the drying treatment is about 2%.
The value was set to 0%, but this value is merely an example. For example, the water content of the polished rice at the time of completion of the drying treatment was set to be in the range of about 17.5% to 25%. Is also good. In short, any material may be used as long as the surface portion and the central portion of the polished rice are made to have a high water content.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, the processing is performed while collectively transporting the polished rice by a set amount. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the rinsing and drying processing is performed while the polished rice is continuously transported. Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the weighing and packaging processing is automatically executed.

(8) In the above embodiment, the rice washing treatment is performed in a relatively short time of about 3 to 4 minutes including the immersion time, and the drying treatment after the rice washing treatment is much longer than the rice washing time ( Although the configuration is such that the drying is performed slowly over about 12 minutes), the configuration is not limited to such a configuration, and the configuration may be such that the drying is rapidly performed in a drying time shorter than the rice washing time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a process flow chart of an apparatus for manufacturing washed and soaked rice.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an apparatus for manufacturing washed and soaked rice.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a rice washing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rice washing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a net-like storage device;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a centrifugal dehydrator.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional side view of a drying device.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a drying device.

[Description of Signs] 8 Rice Washing Device 10 Drainer 27 Shower 29 Dehydrator 30 Dryer B Rice Washer C Dryer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Ozeki 64 Ishizu-Kitacho, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture Inside the Kubota Sakai Works (72) Inventor Yasuo Iwado 64 Ishizukita-machi, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture Kubota Corporation F-term (reference) in Sakai Works 4B023 LE02 LP03 LP05 LP14 LT53 LT56 4D043 BB02 BB08 BB11 BC32 DB08

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A pre-washed and immersed rice production apparatus comprising: a rice washing processing section for performing rice washing processing of polished rice; and a drying processing section for drying processing of the polished rice subjected to rice washing processing in the rice washing processing section. The rice washing processing unit is configured to perform the rice washing processing so that the entire area from the surface layer to the center has a high water content by being hydrated with high-temperature water up to the center of the polished rice, The drying processing unit includes a dehydrating device for dewatering by forcibly moving the high-moisture content polished rice washed in the rice washing processing unit, and a drying device for drying the dewatered polished rice. Equipment for manufacturing washed and soaked rice. 2. The drying section is provided with a drain section for draining the high-temperature water spontaneously in a state where the supply of high-temperature water to the polished rice on which the rice washing process has been performed is stopped. The apparatus for producing washed and soaked rice according to claim 1. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a shower device is provided at the draining section to drop clean water onto the polished rice. 4. A shower device for dropping a disinfecting solution onto said polished rice is provided at said draining section.
Or the apparatus for producing washed and immersed rice according to 3. 5. The rice washing treatment section is provided with a water stirring type rice washing device that stirs and rinses the milled rice by flowing high-temperature water, and the dewatering device dewaters water from the milled rice by centrifugal force. The apparatus for producing washed and immersed rice according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the apparatus is configured to be a centrifugally dewatering type. 6. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the drying device is configured to dry the polished rice placed in a state where the rice is spread in a layered manner at the placement location by passing dry air through the drying device. An apparatus for producing washed and immersed rice according to claim 1.