JP2003050088A - Centrifugal dehydrator for pallet or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a centrifugal dehydrator for holding and rotating a pair of corners on a diagonal line of a rectangular pallet or the like so as to obtain a good dehydrating state by removing a liquid content stored at a lower corner along a surface and a side of the pallet or the like by adding a simple constitution. SOLUTION: The centrifugal dehydrator comprises a gas injecting mechanism having a partition member 33 having a jet hole 32, an air chamber 34 or the like formed under the member 33 in a lower holding means 4 for holding at least lower corner of the holding means for holding a pair of corners of the pallet or the like. Thus, the liquid at the corner of the pallet or the like held by the holding means is removed by the gas injected from the gas injecting mechanism. A hot air may be injected from the injecting mechanism.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centrifuge for removing a liquid component such as a cleaning liquid adhering to a rectangular work (hereinafter referred to as a pallet) such as a pallet or a tray container similar to the pallet by the action of centrifugal force. Regarding dehydrator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when centrifugally dehydrating a pallet or the like made of resin or the like, it has been general to perform centrifugal dehydration in a horizontal state while being conveyed on a conveyor. However, a large number of ribs are provided inside the pallet to increase the strength, such as the portion facing the fork insertion hole of the pallet, and the cleaning liquid accumulated in the large number of recesses formed by these ribs is The reality is that it cannot be easily removed by centrifugal dehydration. Therefore, regarding centrifugal dehydration of a pallet, there is also disclosed that the pallet is rotated in an upright state (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-52973). In this case, the cleaning liquid remaining in the recess can be efficiently removed. However, in the case of this conventional technique, there is a technical problem that the center of rotation is easily deviated when holding the pallet, so that if the pallet is rotated as it is, there is a great risk of unbalance. Under such circumstances, the holder tends to be complicated and large in size in order to firmly hold the pallet. Moreover, there are many types of pallets, and it is difficult to use pallets of different sizes in the same device.

[0003]

In view of the situation of the prior art as described above, the present applicant is developing a centrifugal dehydrator that rotates while holding a pair of diagonal corners of a rectangular pallet or the like. However, in the case of the centrifugal dehydrator of this form, if a large amount of liquid such as a cleaning liquid adheres to the surface of a pallet or the like when centrifugal force is not applied at the time of setting after cleaning, etc. The present invention has been developed with a focus on this point because it easily accumulates in the lower corner portion that is held by the lower holding means along the side portion, and the lower corner portion is added by adding a simple configuration. The purpose is to remove the liquid accumulated in the part and improve so that a good dehydrated state can be obtained.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a holding means for holding a pair of diagonal corners of a rectangular pallet or the like, and a lower portion for holding at least a lower corner. The holding means is provided with a gas ejecting mechanism, and the gas ejected from the gas ejecting mechanism is used to remove the liquid content at the corners of the pallet or the like held by the holding means. According to the present invention, by adopting the above-mentioned simple technical means, it is possible to easily remove the liquid component particularly in the lower corner portion where the liquid component is likely to be concentrated and concentrated on the surface or the side of the pallet or the like. . Further, if hot air is jetted from the gas jetting mechanism, a drying action by hot air is also added, so that an even better dehydration state can be obtained.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention can be widely applied as dewatering means for rectangular works such as various pallets. For example, it is suitable as a dehydrating means after the washing step, but can also be applied as a dehydrating means in other steps.
Needless to say, the present invention can be applied not only to water but also to other liquids as long as they can be dehydrated by centrifugal force. As a holding mechanism for holding the diagonally upper and lower corners of a pallet or the like, the upper holding means may be moved up and down to hold or remove, or conversely, the lower holding means may be moved up and down. It may be configured as follows. Further, both holding means can be configured to be able to move up and down together. As the lifting mechanism, a ball screw system can handle a large load. It is also possible to use a drive cylinder.

The installation state of the rotary shaft to which the present invention is applicable is as follows.
The vertical state is common, but it is also effective in the inclined state. The present invention can also be effectively applied to the case where the rotation axis is tilted while rotating. The rotation speed of the pallet or the like may be appropriately adjusted depending on the case, because the water cutting condition varies depending on the formation state of the reinforcing ribs, the degree of scratches on the surface, and the like. It is also possible to increase and decrease the rotation speed stepwise according to the work content. Further, if the rotation direction of the pallet or the like is reversible and the rotation direction is reversed during the operation, the liquid component that has entered the recess formed by the reinforcing ribs can be effectively removed. . It should be noted that it is also possible to configure so that the raising and lowering of the holding means and the rotation of the pallet or the like are carried out by one motor.

With respect to the gas ejection mechanism provided in the lower holding means, it is possible to supply the gas to the vicinity of the corners of the pallet or the like held by the lower holding means, which is effective for removing the liquid at the corners. The holding means is not limited to the one arranged inside the holding means, but may be one attached to the outer surface. The strength of the gas jetting force from the gas jetting mechanism can be freely set according to the case. If the jetting force of the gas is set strongly, it is possible to blow off the liquid component attached to the corners of the pallet or the like. Regarding the method of jetting operation of the gas jetting mechanism, for example, the jetting of gas may be continued during the rotary operation of the pallet or the like, or the jetting may be performed only at the initial stage of the rotary operation of the pallet or the like. It may be jetted from the latter half of the rotary operation, or may be jetted intermittently for a predetermined time before and after the rotary operation of the pallet or the like is stopped. In short, it is possible to appropriately set so as to inject continuously or intermittently in consideration of the concrete form of the pallet or the like and the relationship with other processes.
It should be noted that if an opening or a gap that communicates with the inside is formed at the corner of a pallet or the like, the ejected gas may flow into the inside of the corner through the opening or the gap, which is extremely effective. is there. Further, if hot air is used as the gas jetted from the gas jetting mechanism, the drying action by the hot air is also added, so that a better dehydrated state can be obtained.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the same embodiment as seen from above. In this embodiment, the case where the centrifugal dehydrator according to the present invention is incorporated together with the pallet cleaning device is illustrated. As shown in the figure, a lower holding means 4 for holding the corners of the pallet 3 via a support member 2 is provided in the lower inner part of the machine body 1 composed of an outer wall for partitioning from the outside. The lower holding means 4 is fixed to the upper end of a rotary shaft 7 which is rotatably supported via bearings 5 and 6, and drives a motor 11 via a belt 10 stretched between pulleys 8 and 9. It is configured to rotate the pallet 3 by force. Also,
An elevating shaft 1 configured to be capable of ascending / descending is provided on an inner upper portion of the machine body 1.
An upper holding means 14 configured to be rotatable via a thrust bearing 13 is provided at the lower end of the pallet 2, and is configured to hold an upper corner portion of the pallet 3. A male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the elevating shaft 12, and a ball screw mechanism 17 rotatably arranged between the thrust bearings 15 and 16 meshes with the male screw. A pulley 18 is fixed to the ball screw mechanism 17, and is rotationally driven by a motor 21 via a pulley 19 and a belt 20,
The lifting shaft 12 is configured to move up and down.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, three sets of nozzles 22 to 22 are provided inside the machine body 1 so as to surround the pallet 3.
27 are provided. Each of these nozzles 22 to 27 is configured to be able to change the jetting direction, and is installed at an appropriate height with respect to the installation height, which has a good effect on jetting.
Among them, the nozzles 22 and 23 are first cleaning nozzles, and spray a first cleaning medium such as a cleaning liquid containing water or detergent. The nozzles 24 and 25 are second cleaning nozzles,
A second cleaning medium such as heated water or steam mixed with air is jetted. The nozzles 26 and 27 are drying nozzles and jet a drying medium such as hot air or normal temperature air. Then, when the pallet 3 is loaded and held between the lower holding means 4 and the upper holding means 14, the pallet 3 is rotated by the rotary drive shaft 7.
While rotating the nozzle at a low speed, first, the first cleaning nozzles 22, 2
A cleaning operation is carried out by spraying a cleaning liquid to which water or a detergent is added from 3, and the first cleaning medium. Thereafter, if necessary, a cleaning operation is performed with a second cleaning medium composed of heated water and steam mixed with air from the second cleaning nozzles 24, 25. In addition, if the degree of dirt is light,
Only the cleaning work of spraying water from the cleaning nozzles 22 and 23 or only the cleaning work of spraying heated water from the second cleaning nozzles 24 and 25 may be performed. If the degree of dirt is severe, water is first sprayed from the first cleaning nozzles 22 and 23 to make the dirt wet, and then the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the first cleaning nozzles 22 and 23,
Next, a working mode in which heated water is jetted from the second cleaning nozzles 24, 25 is also effective. In addition, various cleaning media can be combined.

When the above cleaning work is completed, the pallet 3
The water is removed by centrifugal dehydration to remove the liquid adhering to the. In this draining work, the electric motor 11
The rotary drive shaft 7 is rotated at high speed via. This allows
Since the lower holding means 4 rotates at a high speed, a centrifugal force acts on the liquid component adhering to the surface of the pallet 3 due to the cleaning work, and is scattered from the corner portions 3a, 3b and the side portions 3c, 3d. . The liquid component can be more effectively removed by switching the rotation direction of the rotary drive shaft 7 between forward and reverse at an appropriate timing. Also, in the draining work,
If a drying medium such as hot air or normal temperature air is jetted from the drying nozzles 26 and 27, the drying action is also added, which is more efficient. As shown in FIG. 2, shutters 28 and 29 for loading and unloading the pallet 3 are installed on one surface of the machine body 1 so as to be opened and closed.

Next, the removal of the liquid component accumulated at the lower corner, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a portion of the lower holding means 4, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view thereof. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, four support rods 31 are horizontally installed at intervals in the box-shaped space 30 of the lower holding means 4, and the support rods 31 lower the pallet 3 below. It is configured to support the corners of the. The number of the support rods 31 installed can be changed, and it may be two or more as long as they can support the corners. Further, in order to reduce the contact portion between the support rod 31 and the pallet 3, circumferential grooves are formed at appropriate intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the support rod 31, and the circumferential grooves are formed. Air may be allowed to pass through a gap between the pallet 3 and the pallet 3. Further, the support rod 31
It is also possible to provide an air passage in the interior of the air passage, and provide an air ejection hole communicating with the air passage so that the air can be ejected toward a portion where the liquid component is likely to remain only with the air going upward from below. Below the support rod 31, a partition member 33 having a large number of fumaroles 32 is provided to the air chamber 3
4 is formed and is connected to an air supply pipe 37 connected to an air supply source 36 via a rotary joint 35. If hot air is used as the supply air, the liquid content can be removed more efficiently.

When air is supplied to the air chamber 34 through the air supply pipe 37, however, the air is ejected from a large number of fumes 32 formed in the partition member 33. The ejected air passes between the support rods 31, and vigorously flows out to the outside along the lower corners of the pallet 3 fitted in the box-shaped space 30 of the lower holding means 4. Due to this air flow, the liquid accumulated in the lower corners of the pallet 3 flows out from the box-shaped space 30 of the lower holding means 4 to the outside, and also flows down along the surface of the pallet 3 and the sides 3c and 3d. The liquid component flowing back flows upward and is scattered around due to the jetting force of the air and the centrifugal force of the pallet 3 when the pallet 3 is rotating. Therefore, by adopting a simple technical means of injecting air, the liquid accumulated in the lower corner portion, which is a weak point of centrifugal dehydration by rotating a pallet or the like around a pair of diagonal corner portions, can be easily used. Can be removed. In addition, as described above, if an opening or a gap portion that communicates with the inside is formed in the corner portion of the pallet or the like, the ejected gas may flow into the inside of the corner portion through the opening or the gap portion. Therefore, it is extremely effective in removing liquid components.

[0013]

According to the present invention, particularly by the simple technical means of providing a gas ejection mechanism in at least the lower holding means for holding a pair of diagonally opposite corners of a rectangular pallet or the like, the pallet or the like especially has a liquid content. It is possible to remove the liquid component in the lower corner portion, which tends to concentrate intensively along the surface of the above, so that a good dehydrated state can be easily obtained. Further, if hot air is jetted from the gas jetting mechanism, a drying action by hot air is also added, so that it is possible to obtain a better dehydrated state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the same embodiment as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a portion of a lower holding means.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of the lower holding means.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Machine body, 2 ... Supporting member, 3 ... Pallet, 4 ... Lower holding means, 5, 6 ... Bearing, 7 ... Rotating shaft, 8, 9 ... Pulley,
10 ... Belt, 11 ... Motor, 12 ... Elevating shaft, 13 ... Thrust bearing, 14 ... Upper holding means, 15, 16 ... Thrust bearing, 17 ... Ball screw mechanism, 18, 19 ... Pulley, 20 ... Belt, 21 ... Motor, 22, 23 ... First cleaning nozzle, 24, 25 ... Second cleaning nozzle, 26, 2
7 ... Drying nozzle, 28, 29 ... Shutter, 30 ... Box-shaped space part, 31 ... Support rod, 32 ... Fume hole, 33 ... Partition member, 34 ... Air chamber, 35 ... Rotary joint, 36 ... Air supply source, 37 ... Air supply pipe

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A centrifugal dehydrator for a pallet or the like that dehydrates the pallet or the like by holding and rotating a pair of diagonally opposite corners of the rectangular pallet or the like, and holding the pair of corners. Of the holding means, at least the lower holding means for holding the lower corner portion is provided with a gas ejection mechanism, and the gas ejected from the gas ejection mechanism removes the liquid component at the corner portion of the pallet or the like held by the holding means. A centrifugal dehydrator for pallets and the like, which is configured to 2. The centrifugal dehydrator for a pallet or the like according to claim 1, wherein hot air is jetted from the gas jetting mechanism.