JP2002126702A - Organic matter treating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an organic matter treating device which is capable of preventing subzero freezing from occurring when an operator does not attend to the operation and also over- drying at normal temperature from occurring or ensures the reduction of running cost. SOLUTION: This organic matter treating device comprises a treatment tank which houses a carrier of organic matter-decomposing microbes and treats the organic matter such as loaded garbage by decomposition, a lid body which opens/closes a loading aperture to the treatment tank, a stirring means which stirs/mixes the loaded organic matter in the treatment tank, a heating means which heats the interior of the treatment tank upto a temperature suited for the microbial activity, a ventilation means for ventilating the interior of the treatment tank, a lid opening/closing detection means for detecting the opening/closing operation of the lid body, an open air temperature detection means, and a control means which sets the operation in an operator absence mode in which only the ventilation means is used when the interior of the treatment tank is at higher than a specified temperature without fear about freezing based on an open air temperature and sets the the operation in the antifreezing mode in which a means having an antifreezing action is jointly used when the interior of the treatment tank is not upto the specified temperature, in case no lid body opening/closing operation is performed for longer than a specified period.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an organic substance processing apparatus for decomposing organic substances such as garbage by a microbial decomposition processing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An organic matter processing apparatus of this type stores a carrier of microorganisms that decompose organic matter (such as wood chips such as sawdust) in a treatment tank, and removes organic matter such as food waste. Decomposition treatment is performed by microorganisms cultured on a carrier. In order to maintain the inside of the treatment tank in an environment suitable for activation of microorganisms that decompose organic substances, the microorganism carrier in the treatment tank and the organic matter such as garbage are periodically stirred and mixed using a stirring means, and the mixture is ventilated. It is necessary to maintain the temperature and water content suitable for microbial activation by heating the inside of the treatment tank using heating means while exhausting exhaust air from inside the treatment tank using means and taking in fresh air. .

[0003] On the other hand, if the user is away from the normal driving and travels, etc. and does not put in the garbage for a certain period (for example, three days), the processing of the garbage is almost completed, so that energy saving and the like are performed. For this reason, a shift is made to an absence operation in which only the ventilation means is operated at a low level so that the smell does not remain.

[0004]

As described above, conventionally, in order to save energy, uniform control is automatically performed unless garbage is supplied for a certain period of time. However, if the temperature below the freezing point at which the processed material freezes continues, the inside of the processing tank freezes and cannot be stirred when used again.

On the other hand, if the temperature is constantly raised, drying tends to proceed at room temperature, and running costs are high, which is uneconomical.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to prevent freezing at a temperature below freezing, to prevent overdrying at room temperature, and to reduce running costs during an absence operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an organic matter processing apparatus capable of reducing the amount of organic matter.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a treatment tank containing a carrier of microorganisms for decomposing organic substances and decomposing organic substances such as garbage to be introduced, A lid that opens and closes an inlet to the processing tank, a stirring unit that stirs and mixes the organic substance charged into the processing tank with the stored carrier, and heats the processing tank to a temperature suitable for the activity of microorganisms. Heating means, ventilation means for ventilating the inside of the processing tank, lid opening / closing detecting means for detecting the opening / closing operation of the lid, outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature, and opening / closing operation of the lid body are predetermined. If the period is not longer than the predetermined temperature at which there is no possibility of the inside of the processing tank being frozen based on the outside air temperature, the mode shifts to the absence mode using only the ventilation means, and if the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the anti-freezing function is provided. Freezing means Is characterized in that a control means shifts to prevention mode.

Further, the control means uses the heating means in the freeze prevention mode.

Further, the control means uses the stirring means in the freeze prevention mode.

[0010] Further, the control means uses the heating means and the stirring means in the freeze prevention mode.

[0011] Further, the invention is characterized in that a thermistor provided for controlling the heating means is used as the outside air temperature detecting means.

On the other hand, the invention is characterized in that the outside air temperature detecting means is provided near an intake port for sucking outside air.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are structural views showing a main part of an embodiment of the present invention. This organic matter processing apparatus accommodates a carrier of microorganisms (such as wood chips such as sawdust) to remove garbage. The processing tank 1 having an upper surface opening into which an organic substance such as is charged is housed in an outer case 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower part of the processing tank 1 is formed in a substantially U-shaped section in an arc shape corresponding to the rotation trajectory of the agitating blade described later, and the upper end thereof is formed in an outer side when viewed from the front-rear direction. Is folded back.

The outer case 2 has the lower case 3 on which the processing tank 1 is placed and covers the vicinity of the upper surface opening, and the inner lower edge is placed in close contact with the opening upper edge of the processing tank 1, and the outer surface is lower. The upper case 4 is fitted to the upper edge of the case 3.

The upper surface of the upper case 4 is opened corresponding to the upper surface opening 5 of the processing tank 1, and an input port 6 for inputting microorganism carriers, garbage and the like is formed. A lid 7 configured to be freely opened and closed by a hinge or the like is provided. The opening / closing operation of the lid 7 is detected by a lid switch 8 (shown in FIG. 4).

In the processing tank 1, a stirring shaft 10 having a plurality of stirring blades 9 erected between front and rear walls is provided rotatably forward and backward. The stirring shaft 10 is supported at both ends by bearings 11 and 11 formed on the front and rear walls of the processing tank 1, and has a shaft end 12 on the rear wall side including a gear and a pulley provided on the back side. Via a driving mechanism 13, it is connected to a stirring motor 14 (shown in FIG. 4) that drives forward and reverse rotation,
The rotation of the stirring motor 14 is transmitted at a reduced speed, so that the stirring motor 14 is driven to rotate forward and backward.

A control board 20 on which a control section 15 (shown in FIG. 4) comprising a microcomputer is mounted is mounted above the deceleration drive mechanism 13. The control section mounted on the control board 20 is mounted on the control board 20. 15 controls each part of the apparatus. Above the control board 20, an operation display unit 21 for switching the operation mode of the apparatus, turning on / off deodorization, and displaying a state is provided.

A planar heater 30 is attached to the front side and left and right side surfaces of the processing tank 1 except for the rear side. The thermistor 31 (see FIG. (Shown), the inside of the processing tank 1 is controlled to be maintained within a temperature range (approximately 40 ° C. to 60 ° C.) suitable for activating microorganisms. In the present embodiment,
Cost reduction is achieved by using the thermistor 31 as the outside air temperature detecting means in the present invention.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS.
On the inner rear wall of the upper case 4 located above the rear wall, a case filter 50 having an exhaust hole 51 for mounting an exhaust filter is detachably attached.

A ventilation fan 52 is mounted downstream of the case filter 50. On the downstream side of the ventilation fan 52, an exhaust passage (not shown) provided with a heating catalyst type deodorizing device using a heater and a catalyst, and an exhaust passage 53 for directly discharging exhaust gas to the outside are switched. A motor-driven switching valve 54 is provided.

The exhaust passage 53 for direct exhaust is configured to communicate via a switching valve 54 to an exhaust port 55 that opens downward on the back side of the ventilation fan 52, that is, on the back side of the exterior case 2. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2, an intake port 71 for taking in outside air is formed on the bottom side of the lower case 3, and the outside air taken in from the intake port 71 is supplied to the exterior case 2 and the processing tank 1 Is taken into the processing tank 1 through the suction hole 72 formed in the upper part of the processing tank 1.

Further, from the bottom of the processing tank 1 to the lower part of the front wall, a discharge port 80 for the processed material (compost) stored therein is formed to be openable and closable by a drawer-type shutter 81. A take-out guide 82 that is inclined forward is attached to the lower side of the discharge port 80. By pulling out the shutter 81, it is possible to take out the composted material to the front side of the lower case 3 through the guide 82. I can do it. The take-out opening 83 is normally closed by a take-out cover 84 so that it cannot be seen.

In the above configuration, at the start of use of the present apparatus, a certain amount of the microorganism carrier is put into the treatment tank 1 in advance. And when processing garbage, the lid 7
Is opened, garbage is thrown into the treatment tank 1 from the inlet 6 and the lid 7 is closed. When the lid 7 is closed, the lid switch 8
Is detected, and the control unit 15 mounted on the control board 20 starts energization control to the stirring motor 14, the sheet heater 30, the ventilation fan 52, and the like based on the output.

By controlling the power supply to the stirring motor 14, the stirring shaft 10 on which the stirring blade 9 is erected intermittently (for example, 30 minutes).
The carrier and the organic substance are agitated and mixed by rotating in the normal and reverse directions for one minute each for two minutes, and the temperature in the processing tank 1 is maintained in an optimal range for activating microorganisms by controlling the energization of the planar heater 30. Then, the organic matter is decomposed into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms cultured on the carrier, and composted.

By controlling the energization of the ventilation fan 52, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the humid air in the processing tank 1 is directly discharged to the outside through an exhaust port 55 through an exhaust passage 53 for exhaust. The inside of the tank 1 is prevented from being brought into a high humidity state, and the air in the processing tank 1 is discharged to the outside, so that fresh air is introduced into the exterior case 2 from the air inlet 71 formed at the bottom of the lower case 3. External air is taken in, and oxygen necessary for activating microorganisms is supplied into the processing tank 1 from an intake hole 72 formed in the upper part of the processing tank 1.

On the other hand, when the odor of the exhaust gas discharged by the direct exhaust from the processing tank 1 is worrisome,
Turn on the deodorization button provided in When the deodorizing button is turned on, the control unit 15 stops supplying power to the ventilation fan 52 and switches the switching valve 54 so as to directly close the exhaust passage 53 for exhaust and open the exhaust passage for deodorized exhaust. The exhaust gas from the tank 1 flows to the exhaust passage having the deodorizing device. This can prevent the odor from being discharged to the outside.

Next, an absence operation according to the present invention will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. 4 and a flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the block diagram of FIG. 4 is a control block diagram relating to the absence operation, and the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed by the microcomputer constituting the control unit 15 of FIG.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, during the above-described normal operation (process 101), it is checked whether or not the lid 7 has been opened or closed for three days (72 hours) based on the output of the lid switch 8. (Decision 102).

If the lid 7 is opened and closed, it means that garbage has been introduced, so that the above-described normal operation is continued (NO in the judgment 102 → the loop of the processing 101).

On the other hand, if the lid 7 is not opened and closed for three days, there will be no garbage input for three days, and the absence operation will be performed (determination 102: YES). Sheet heater 3 for controlling the sheet heater 30 of FIG.
It is checked whether or not the detected temperature of the thermistor 31 incorporated at 0 is 5 ° C. or higher (decision 103).

At the time of transition from the normal operation to the absence operation, since the sheet heater 30 is still in the heating state and the temperature detected by the thermistor 31 is 5 ° C. or higher and there is no possibility of freezing, the operation is shifted to the normal absence mode (determination). YES at 103 → Process 10
4). In this absence mode, the control of energizing the planar heater 30 and the stirring motor 14 is turned off, and the ventilation fan 52 is turned off.
Only make the operation weak so that the smell does not stay behind. And
In the next judgment 105, it is checked whether or not the lid is opened and closed. If the lid is opened and closed, the operation returns to the normal operation (YES in the judgment 105).
Processing 101) If not, the absence mode is continued (decision 1)
05, NO → Judgment 103).

If such an absence mode operation continues, the planar heater 30 is turned off, so that the planar heater 30 is turned off.
Touches the outside air taken in by the ventilation fan 52 and becomes almost the same temperature as the outside air temperature, so that the thermistor 31 can detect the outside air temperature.

If the outside air temperature detected by the thermistor 31 is 5 ° C. or more, the absence mode only by the weak operation of the ventilation fan 52 described above can be continued to prevent excessive drying at normal temperature. The running cost can be reduced.

On the other hand, if the outside air temperature detected by the thermistor 31 is less than 5 ° C. in winter or the like, there is a risk of freezing, and the system shifts to the freeze prevention mode newly provided for the absence operation (NO in decision 103 → Process 106). In this freeze prevention mode, the ventilation fan 52 is kept in a weak operation while
At 0, the power supply control to the stirring motor 14 is turned ON to prevent the processed material in the processing tank 1 from freezing. In this freeze prevention mode, the sheet heater 30 and the stirring motor 14
The heat of the sheet heater 30 is efficiently transmitted to the entire inside of the processing tank 1 by the above operation, so that the minimum necessary operation for preventing freezing may be performed. For example, the temperature detected by the thermistor 31 of the sheet heater 30 is 10 ° C. At this time, it is turned off, and the stirring motor 14 is also stirred for 2 minutes every 2 hours. As a result, an increase in running cost can be minimized.

By controlling as described above, it is possible to prevent freezing below freezing, to prevent overdrying at room temperature, and to reduce running costs during an absence operation.

In the above embodiment, the cost is reduced by using the thermistor 31 incorporated for control in the sheet heater 30 as the outside air temperature detecting means. However, the outside air temperature detecting means such as a thermistor is used. The outer case 2
If it is provided in the vicinity of the suction port 71 that sucks in outside air, the influence of the planar heater 30 is reduced and the outside air temperature can be directly detected, so that it is more effective in detecting the outside air temperature. However, even if it is attached to the operation display unit 21 or the substrate 20 of the control unit 15, there is no problem if it is used in correlation with the outside air temperature.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, a processing tank for storing a carrier of microorganisms that decompose organic substances and for decomposing organic substances such as garbage and the like, and opening and closing the inlet to the processing tank are opened and closed. A lid, a stirring means for stirring and mixing the organic substance put in the processing tank and the stored carrier, a heating means for heating the inside of the processing tank to a temperature suitable for the activity of microorganisms, and ventilating the inside of the processing tank Ventilation means, lid opening / closing detecting means for detecting the opening / closing operation of the lid, outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature, and a processing tank based on the outside air temperature when the opening / closing operation of the lid is not performed for a predetermined period or more. When the temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature at which there is no risk of freezing, the mode shifts to the absence mode using only the ventilation means, and when the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the mode shifts to an anti-freeze mode using means having an anti-freezing function. By having , During away operation, it is possible to prevent freezing during freezing temperatures it is possible to dry the prevention and running cost too reduced at normal temperature.

Although a certain effect can be obtained by using the heating means and the stirring means alone in the anti-freezing mode, the use of the heating means and the stirring means allows the heat generated by the heating means to be distributed efficiently throughout the processing tank. Since the information is transmitted well, the minimum required operation for preventing freezing is sufficient, and the increase in running cost can be minimized.

Further, by using a thermistor provided for controlling the heating means as the outside air temperature detecting means, the cost can be reduced.

On the other hand, by providing the outside air temperature detecting means in the vicinity of the intake port for sucking outside air, the influence of the heating means is reduced and the outside air temperature can be directly detected. More effective.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a central portion of an organic material processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from a right side.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same viewed from the front side.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same seen from the upper surface side.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram relating to an absence operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Processing tank 2 Outer case 3 Lower case 4 Upper case 6 Input port 7 Lid 8 Lid switch 9 Stirrer blade 10 Stirrer shaft 11 Bearing unit 13 Reduction drive mechanism 14 Stirrer motor 15 Control unit 20 Control board 21 Operation display unit 30 Surface Heater 31 thermistor 51 exhaust port 52 ventilation fan 53 exhaust path 55 exhaust port 71 intake port 72 intake port 80 exhaust port 81 shutter 82 removal guide 83 removal port 84 removal cover

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Tamaogi 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Takami 2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka 5-5-5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyasu Ishihara 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 4D004 AA03 AC01 BA04 CA15 CA19 CA22 CA48 CB04 CB28 CB32 CC08 DA01 DA02 DA06 DA13 DA20 4G037 CA11 EA03 EA04 4G078 AA22 AB20 BA01 DA03 DB02 EA03

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A treatment tank which contains a carrier of microorganisms that decompose organic matter and decomposes organic matter such as garbage to be charged, a lid that opens and closes an inlet to the treatment tank, and an inside of the treatment tank. A stirrer for stirring and mixing the organic substance charged into the container and the stored carrier; a heating unit for heating the inside of the treatment tank to a temperature suitable for the activity of microorganisms; a ventilator for ventilating the inside of the treatment tank; A lid opening / closing detecting means for detecting an opening / closing operation of the body, an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting an outside air temperature, and when the opening / closing operation of the lid body is not performed for a predetermined period or more, the inside of the processing tank may be frozen based on the outside air temperature. And control means for shifting to an absence mode using only the ventilation means when the temperature is not higher than a predetermined temperature, and shifting to an antifreeze mode using means having an antifreeze function when the temperature is less than the predetermined temperature. Features Organic matter processing apparatus. 2. The organic substance processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit uses the heating unit in the antifreezing mode. 3. The organic matter processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means uses said stirring means in said freeze prevention mode. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means uses said heating means and stirring means in said freeze prevention mode. 5. The organic substance processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a thermistor provided for controlling the heating unit is used as the outside air temperature detecting unit. 6. The organic matter processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outside air temperature detecting means is provided near an intake port for sucking outside air.