JP2003180306A - Method and apparatus for drying laver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for drying laver, respectively capable of contributing to production of laver having good quality and appearance by adjusting the blasting condition of drying air according to the humidity of laver in a drying chamber. <P>SOLUTION: The method for drying laver comprises detecting the humidity of laver on a laver drainboard 9a using a humidity sensor 50 arranged at a transfer rout, and controlling the blasting condition of drying air W so that the detected humidity satisfies the predetermined value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laver drying method and a laver drying apparatus, and more particularly to a laver drying method and a laver drying apparatus suitable for drying laver in a fully automatic laver producing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, plate laver has been mechanically mass-produced by a fully automatic laver producing apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 6, in a fully automatic laver producing apparatus for fully automatically producing this laver, as shown in FIG. 6, laver machine 1, dehydrator 2, laver dryer 3, laver A stripping machine 4 and a seaweed cage cleaning machine 5 are circulated and connected. Then, the plate laver is manufactured by this fully automatic laver manufacturing apparatus as follows. That is, in this apparatus, a large number of seaweed cages 9a shown in FIG. 7 are circulated and transported by the transport mechanism while being held on the seaweed cage holders 9, and first, seaweed is made on the seaweed cages 9a. Next, it is dehydrated and then dried for a predetermined time, and then the dried plate laver is stripped from the laver cage 9a to obtain a product. Then, the seaweed cage 9a is washed and provided for the next papermaking.

Further, the fully automatic laver producing apparatus is divided into a machine base body A and a laver drying apparatus B.

On the other hand, in the machine base main body A, the seaweed cage holder 9 is conveyed between the seaweed making machine 1, the dehydrator 2, the seaweed stripping machine 4 and the seaweed cage washing machine 5 through a plurality of pairs of claws. A seaweed holder holder transporting mechanism 6 for a machine stand having a nail chain shape that is held substantially parallel is configured to hold the seaweed holder holder 9 horizontally and intermittently convey the circulation in the vertical plane.

In the other seaweed drying device B, either the upward or downward drying air W is fed into the drying chamber 7, and the seaweed cage holder 9 is held between a plurality of blades. From the front to the rear of the drying chamber 7 in a state where the nori cage 9 with the dried and dehydrated laver 9a attached to it by the blade-chain-shaped laver holder transporting mechanism 8 for the drying chamber is set in the vertical direction. The nori seaweed is dried while intermittently patrol the inside of the drying chamber 7 by transporting the same toward 180 °, reversing the transport direction by 180 degrees about the horizontal axis, and further transporting toward the front of the drying chamber 7.

[0007]

By the way, generally, the drying of seaweed affects the production of seaweed.

Therefore, in the drying of the seaweed made on the seaweed 9a, the humidity control of the seaweed is very important.

However, conventionally, the feeding condition of the dry air W to be fed to the seaweed on the seaweed 9a, for example, the temperature, the wind force, or the direction of the dry air, depends on the humidity of the seaweed on the seaweed 9a. It was not done flexibly.

For this reason, there has been a problem that the water content is not sufficiently controlled and the seaweed is not always produced well.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and by adjusting the feeding conditions of the dry air according to the humidity of the seaweed in the drying chamber, it is possible to manufacture seaweed of good quality and good quality. An object of the present invention is to provide a seaweed drying method and a seaweed drying apparatus that can contribute.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the feature of the method for drying seaweed according to claim 1 of the present invention is that the seaweed produced on paper is supported on a seaweed holder,
In the laver drying method of feeding the drying air into the drying chamber to dry the laver while sequentially circulating and transporting the laver by the transport mechanism of the laver holder, a humidity sensor arranged in the laver transport path is used. The point is that the humidity of the seaweed on the seaweed cage is detected, and the feed condition of the dry air is controlled so that the humidity satisfies a predetermined value.

By adopting such a method, the humidity sensor can detect the humidity of the seaweed in the drying chamber, and the seaweed is fed to the seaweed in accordance with the detected humidity of the seaweed. Since it is possible to adjust the feeding conditions of the dry air, it is possible to perform the optimum drying of the seaweed for producing good quality seaweed.

A feature of the method for drying seaweed according to claim 2 is that in the method according to claim 1, the humidity sensor includes a plurality of seaweed holders that are adjacent to each other before and after the direction of transport of the seaweed in a direction parallel to the seaweed. The flat planes are arranged in the vicinity of the position where they spread out from the parallel state where they confront each other.

By adopting such a method, the humidity sensor can be arranged at a position where the humidity of the seaweed can be easily detected, so that the seaweed can be dried more appropriately.

The feature of the seaweed drying apparatus according to claim 3 is that while the seaweed produced on the seaweed cage supported by the seaweed cage holder is sequentially circulated and transported in the drying chamber by the transport mechanism of the seaweed cage holder. In a laver drying device that feeds dry air into the drying chamber to dry the laver, a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the laver on the laver cage is arranged in the laver transport path. The point is that a control unit is provided to control the feed condition of the dry air so as to satisfy a predetermined value.

By adopting such a configuration, the humidity of the seaweed in the drying chamber can be detected by the humidity sensor, and the seaweed is fed according to the detected humidity of the seaweed. Since it is possible to adjust the feeding conditions of the dry air, it is possible to perform the optimum drying of the seaweed for producing good quality seaweed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the laver drying device according to the third aspect, the humidity sensor is such that a plurality of laver cage holders that are adjacent to each other before and after the laver transport path are parallel to the laver cage. It is located in the vicinity of the position where the flat planes face each other and spread out from the parallel state.

By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to more properly dry the seaweed by means of the humidity sensor arranged at a position where the humidity of the seaweed can be easily detected.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. It should be noted that the same or corresponding configurations as those of the above-described conventional one will be described with the same reference numerals in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the outline of a seaweed drying apparatus B according to the present invention.

In the drying chamber 7 of the seaweed drying apparatus B, two drying chamber laver cage holder transporting mechanisms 8A and 8B serving as a transporting mechanism for the laver cage holder 9 are arranged in parallel in a vertically spaced manner. Therefore, the seaweed holder holder transfer mechanisms 8A and 8B for the drying chambers can circulate and transfer the seaweed holder holder 9 within the vertical plane.

On the other hand, between the machine table laver holder transporting mechanism 6 for machine table in the machine table main body A and the laver cage holder carrying mechanism 8B for drying chamber located in the lower part of the drying chamber 7 for known delivery. The transport mechanism 10 is interposed.

Further, in the inner part of the drying chamber 7, the seaweed holder is also provided between the drying chamber laver holder transport mechanism 8A and the drying chamber laver holder transport mechanism 8B located in the upper part. A transfer transport mechanism 1 as a transport mechanism for 9
1 is installed.

The delivery transport mechanism 11 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 4, the delivery transport mechanism 11 is located at the inner side of the above-mentioned two upper and lower drying room laver cage holder transport mechanisms 8A and 8B. An endless claw chain 3 that moves counterclockwise in a vertical plane and moves intermittently
It is formed by 4. The claw chain 34 includes a plurality of sprockets 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,
It is wound around 41, 41a. A plurality of pairs of claws 42, 42 are formed on the claw chain 34 in the same manner as the laver cage holder transport mechanism 6 for the machine stand. The sprocket 35 is arranged by a pair of claws 42, 42 so as to receive the seaweed holder 9 that has been conveyed to the rear part of the drying chamber 7 through the lower conveying path of the drying chamber seaweed holder conveying mechanism 8B. There is. Further, the sprocket 39 is provided with a pair of claws 42, 42 so that the drying chamber laver holder holder transport mechanism 8 is provided.
Put the seaweed holder 9 received from the lower transport path of B into the drying chamber 7.
It is delivered to the upper conveyance path of the drying chamber laver holder holder transport mechanism 8A in the upper stage, and by the other pair of claws 42, 42 on the downstream side of the laver holder holder 9 in the transport direction, the drying chamber laver holder holder. It is arranged so as to receive another nori seaweed holder 9 that has made one round by the transport mechanism 8A. Further, the sprocket 41 uses the other pair of claws 42, 42 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the seaweed holder holder 9 to dry the seaweed holder holder 9 received from the dry room laver cage holder transfer mechanism 8A in the lower stage. It is arranged so as to be delivered to the upper conveyance path of the room laver cage holder conveyance mechanism 8B. Also, the sprocket 35
And 37 and between the sprockets 39 and 41, switchback guides 43, 44 and 45, which are formed in the same manner as known ones for guiding the seaweed holder 9 to switch back, are provided. Has been done.

Then, the laver cage holder transport mechanism 6 for the machine stand
The seaweed holder holder 9 transferred from the transfer mechanism 10 to the drying room seaweed holder holder transfer mechanism 8B is transferred from left to right in FIG. 1 below the drying room seaweed holder transfer mechanism 8B and transferred. The transfer mechanism 11 is used to transfer the dried seaweed holder holder transfer mechanism 8A. The seaweed holder holder 9 transferred to the drying room seaweed holder holder transport mechanism 8A is transferred from right to left above the drying room seaweed holder holder transfer mechanism 8A, and then the drying room seaweed holder holder transfer mechanism 8A. Is transported from the left to the right, and is again delivered by the delivery transport mechanism 11 to the upward direction of the drying chamber laver cage holder transport mechanism 8B.

As shown in FIG. 4, the seaweed holder 9 transported by the delivery transport mechanism 11 is
The plane parallel to the seaweed cage 9a is the transfer mechanism 11 for delivery.
It is designed to be held so as to be substantially parallel to the conveyance direction by.

The seaweed holder holder 9 transferred to the drying room seaweed holder transfer mechanism 8B is transferred from right to left above the drying room seaweed holder transfer mechanism 8B, and is transferred to the machine table by the transfer transfer mechanism 10. The dried seaweed is transferred to the nori seaweed holder transfer mechanism 6 and the dried seaweed is peeled off by the seaweed peeling machine 4 not shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at the lower part of one side wall 12 of the drying chamber 7, there is formed a window hole 13 which opens substantially in the entire lateral direction of the side wall 12. A combustion cylinder housing portion 14 is formed on the outer side of 13. The combustion cylinder housing portion 14 has at least an outer wall 15 and an end wall 16. Inside the combustion cylinder housing portion 14, hot air generated from fuel burned by a burner (not shown) is circulated. 17 are provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the window hole 13. In addition, in the upper part of the combustion cylinder housing portion 14, in order to divide into a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) spans in the longitudinal direction of the combustion cylinder 17, a plurality of (4 in the present embodiment are spaced apart from each other. Fan)
8 are arranged so as to face the combustion cylinder 17, respectively.

Each fan 18 is rotatably driven by a drive unit such as a motor.

2, each fan 18 allows the outside air from above in the drying chamber 7 in FIG. 2 to pass along the outer periphery of the combustion cylinder 17 to form the drying air W as the drying air W through the window hole 13. Upward blower mechanism 1 introduced from the bottom to
9 is composed. Further, a deflection plate 20 is arranged to deflect the drying air W introduced into the drying chamber 7 from the upward blowing mechanism 19 upward in the drying chamber 7.

In this embodiment, the drying chamber laver cage holder transport mechanism 8B transports the dried chamber laver cage holder transport mechanism 8B to the position near the rear end of the lower transport path of the drying chamber laver cage transport mechanism 8B. A humidity sensor 50 for detecting the humidity of the seaweed is provided. The humidity sensor 50 may be, for example, a non-contact type sensor that irradiates the seaweed on the seaweed cage 9a with an electromagnetic wave and detects the humidity based on the reflectance or transmittance of the electromagnetic wave. In this case, for example, humidity detection may be performed by utilizing light reflection using a mirror. In addition, the humidity sensor 50
Is, for example, a moisture sensitive film whose electric resistance changes abruptly when water adheres is disposed between a pair of electrodes, and the seaweed is based on the current value between both electrodes when the moisture sensitive film is in contact with the seaweed. It may be a contact type sensor that calculates the humidity of the.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, in the vicinity of the rear end of the lower path of the drying chamber laver cage holder transfer mechanism 8B in which the humidity sensor 50 is disposed, they are adjacent to each other before and after the transfer direction. The two seaweed holders 9 that are positioned are in a state in which the planes that are parallel to the seaweed 9a face each other and are parallel to each other, and the two planes are expanded into a fan shape so that both planes have a predetermined angle.

Therefore, when detecting the humidity of the seaweed on one seaweed holder 9, the other seaweed holders 9 adjacent to the seaweed holder 9 in the front and rear in the transport direction are the humidity sensors 50.
It is possible to avoid acting as an obstruction wall of the seaweed, and it is easy to irradiate the seaweed on the seaweed cage 9a with electromagnetic waves and to contact the moisture sensitive film.

Therefore, the humidity sensor 50 can properly detect the humidity.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the humidity sensor 50 is provided with a control section 51.
Adjusts the feed condition of the dry air W fed to the seaweed based on the humidity of the seaweed detected by the humidity sensor 50.

That is, the drive unit 52 of the fan 18 and the drive unit 53 of the burner of the combustion cylinder 17 are connected to the control unit 51. The control unit 51 has a storage unit such as a built-in memory. The ideal seaweed humidity preset in 54 is compared with the seaweed humidity actually detected by the humidity sensor 50. This humidity comparison may be performed using, for example, a current comparison circuit. Then, the control unit 51 controls the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the fan 18 and the combustion cylinder 17 so that the actually detected humidity is close to an ideal humidity or at least close to an extent where there is no practical problem. It is designed to automatically control the temperature, etc. This automatic control, for example,
The ideal humidity may be used as a target value and feedback control may be performed with the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 50 as a control amount. When performing the feedback control, the operation amount may be the rotation speed of the fan 18, the combustion temperature of the burner of the combustion cylinder 17, or the like.

Therefore, the temperature, the wind speed, the direction, etc. of the dry air W fed to the seaweed through the fan 18 and the combustion cylinder 17 can be controlled to an optimum state according to the humidity of the seaweed. It is like this.

The position where the humidity sensor 50 is arranged is as follows.
It is not necessary to limit to the one shown in FIG. 1, and the seaweed holder holders 9 that are adjacent to each other in the transport direction of the seaweed are spread from a parallel state in which planes parallel to the seaweed 9a face each other. It may be disposed anywhere as long as it is in the vicinity of the position where the state is established. For example, it may be arranged at a position near the front end or the position near the rear end of the upper or lower transport path of the drying chamber laver holder transport mechanism 8A on the upper side.

Further, the humidity sensor 50 may be arranged in the vicinity of the delivery transport mechanism 11. As described above, since the seaweed cage holders 9 transported by the delivery transport mechanism 11 are held substantially parallel to the transport direction, the seaweed cage holders 9 adjacent to each other are in the most expanded state. . Therefore, in such a case, it is estimated that the humidity of the seaweed on the seaweed holder 9 can be detected more easily.

On the other hand, even if the seaweed holders 9 are parallel to each other, if the humidity can be properly detected based on the structure of the humidity sensor 50,
The humidity sensor 50 may be arranged at such a position.

Further, the number of the humidity sensors 50 provided is not limited to one, but a plurality of humidity sensors 50 may be provided if necessary. In this case, for example, the plurality of fans 18
There may be a one-to-one correspondence between each of the humidity sensors 50 and the plurality of humidity sensors 50, and the drive conditions of each fan 18 corresponding to each humidity sensor 50 may be individually controlled. In addition, the long combustion cylinder 17 is divided into a plurality of heat generation regions along the longitudinal direction, and a one-to-one correspondence relationship is provided between the plurality of humidity sensors 50 and each heat generation region. The conditions of the combustion heat may be individually controlled for each heat generation region corresponding to. In such a case, the seaweed can be dried more appropriately according to the position of the humidity sensor 50.

Next, an embodiment of the seaweed drying method according to the present invention to which the seaweed drying device B is applied will be described.

In this embodiment, first, hot air is blown to the combustion tube 17 of the seaweed drying apparatus B, each fan 18 is rotated in a predetermined direction, and the blowing mechanism 19 is operated to dry the drying air W in the drying chamber. Ventilate into 7.

In this state, in the machine base body A, the seaweed cage 9a mounted on the seaweed cage holder 9 which is circulated and conveyed by the machine table laver cage holder conveying mechanism 6.
The seaweed was made by the seaweed making machine 1 and then the dehydrator 2
Then, it is transferred to the lower side of the drying chamber laver cage holder transfer mechanism 8B in the drying chamber 7 through the transfer transfer mechanism 10.

Thereafter, the seaweed together with the seaweed holder holder 9 is intermittently circulated and conveyed through the upper and lower two-stage drying room seaweed holder holder transfer mechanisms 8B and 8A.

In the process of circulating and transporting the seaweed holder 9, the humidity sensor 50 disposed near the rear end of the lower transport path of the drying room seaweed holder transport mechanism 8B is
The humidity of the seaweed in the seaweed holder 9 at this position is detected, and the detection result is output to the controller 51.
At this time, since the humidity sensor 50 is arranged at a position where the seaweed holders 9 adjacent to each other in the front and rear of the transport direction spread from a parallel state in which planes parallel to the seaweed 9a face each other, The humidity sensor 50 can properly detect the humidity of the seaweed.

When the control unit 51 receives the detection result of the humidity sensor 50, the control unit 51 compares the detection result with the ideal humidity of the seaweed preset in the storage unit 54, and also the actual seaweed. The fan 18 and the combustion cylinder 17 necessary for the humidity of the seaweed to match the ideal humidity of the seaweed.
Calculate the operation amount of. Then, a command for adjusting the rotation speed of the fan 18 and the temperature of the combustion cylinder 17 based on the calculated operation amount is output to the drive units 52 and 53.

As a result, the dry air W of the optimum condition according to the humidity is fed to the seaweed through the drive of the fan 18 and the combustion cylinder 17.

After that, from the seaweed holder holder transfer mechanism 8B for the drying room below through the transfer transfer mechanism 10 to the machine table seaweed holder holder transfer mechanism 6, the seaweed holder holder 9 is evenly and uniformly dried. The dried high-quality seaweed is peeled off by the seaweed peeling machine 5 and bundled into a predetermined number of sheets to obtain a product.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the dry air W can be fed to the seaweed under the optimum conditions according to the humidity of the seaweed detected by the humidity sensor 50. It can be used for manufacturing. Moreover, since the humidity sensor 50 can be arranged at the position where the seaweed holder 9 is opened, the humidity sensor 50 can easily and properly detect the humidity of the seaweed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned respective embodiments, and various modifications can be made if necessary.

[0053]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The seaweed drying method and the seaweed drying apparatus of the present invention are configured and operate as described above, and therefore, the optimum drying air can be sent according to the degree of drying of the seaweed, which is favorable. It is possible to produce good quality seaweed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a fully-automatic laver producing apparatus using the laver drying apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a seaweed drying apparatus of the present invention.

3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a configuration around a transfer transport mechanism in the seaweed drying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a seaweed drying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a conventional seaweed drying device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a seaweed holder.

[Explanation of symbols] 7 drying room 8A, 8B Nori seaweed holder transport mechanism for drying room 9 Nori cage holder 9a Nori 19 Upward blower 21 Downward blower B Nori drying equipment W dry wind 50 humidity sensor 51 control unit 52 Fan drive unit 53 Combustion cylinder drive 54 storage

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Dry air is fed into the drying chamber while the nori seaweed made on the laver cage supported by the laver cage holder is sequentially circulated in the drying chamber by the transport mechanism of the laver cage holder. In the nori drying method for drying the nori, the humidity sensor disposed in the nori transport path detects the humidity of the nori on the nori cage, and the humidity of the dry air is adjusted so that this humidity satisfies a predetermined value. A method for drying seaweed characterized by controlling feeding conditions. 2. The humidity sensor is provided at a position where a plurality of seaweed holders adjacent to each other in the transport direction of the seaweed transport path are spread from a parallel state in which planes parallel to the seaweed cage are opposed to each other. The seaweed drying method according to claim 1, wherein the method is provided in the vicinity. 3. Dry air is fed into the drying chamber while the nori produced on the laver cage supported by the laver cage holder is sequentially circulated in the drying chamber by the transport mechanism of the laver cage holder. In the seaweed drying device for drying the seaweed, a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the seaweed on the seaweed cage is arranged in the transport path of the seaweed, and the humidity of the dry air is adjusted so that the humidity sensor satisfies a predetermined value. A laver drying device, which is provided with a control unit for controlling feeding conditions. 4. The humidity sensor is provided at a position where a plurality of seaweed holders adjacent to each other in the transportation direction of the seaweed transport path are spread from a parallel state in which planes parallel to the seaweed cage are opposed to each other. The laver drying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the laver drying apparatus is disposed in the vicinity.