JP2007006817A - Apparatus for washing seedling raising tray - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing apparatus for safely and simply washing a seedling raising tray. <P>SOLUTION: The washing apparatus for seedling raising tray has a washing part and a disinfecting part for seedling raising tray. In the washing apparatus, the disinfecting part has a mechanism for scattering or spraying a strongly acidic electrolytic water into the seedling raising tray after washing. An alkali water produced from a cathode of an electrolytic water-producing apparatus may be used as a washing water. Since the strongly acidic electrolytic water has high safety to human while having excellent sterilizing power and has rapid removal time of effective chloride, the electrolytic water is nearly free from fear in which chlorine remains in the seedling raising tray. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method for a seedling tray for seeding and raising vegetables.

  Conventionally, methods for washing seedling trays and seedling boxes for growing rice seedlings and vegetable seedlings have been known, but the trays for seeding vegetables have many concave portions unlike trays for raising rice seedlings. Various improvements have been made because it is a thin plastic product with protrusions and easily deformed during cleaning, and because there are many irregularities, it is desired to improve work efficiency.

  For example, there is a method in which the tray is reliably transported in a normal form without being deformed, and the working efficiency is improved by preventing the tray from being lifted by the spray of cleaning water (Patent Document 1). In this publication, the trays to be transported are sandwiched from above and below with several presser bars and receiving bars arranged in the transport direction, and washing water is sprayed from the upper and lower sides of the tray to raise the trays. It is preventing. When cleaning with cleaning water, the center of the tray is positioned by a presser bar that is positioned at the center in the width direction and extends to the upper side of the conveyance, and then is moved by another presser bar that has been adjusted in advance in the width direction. Since the appropriate places on both sides are pressed and the tray is transported, the tray is reliably transported in a normal form without being deformed and cleaned by jetting the cleaning water.

  There is also a method of washing a seedling tray for making vegetable plug seedlings with a rotating brush (Patent Document 2). Such a seedling tray is a thin synthetic resin, and is deformed when a rotating brush is applied to the cleaning device structure. The cleaning apparatus structure for cleaning the seedling tray while preventing such deformation includes a cleaning apparatus A, a disinfection / drainage apparatus E, a polymerization apparatus C, a stacking apparatus D, and a transport apparatus F. The parts of the cleaning device A and the disinfection / drainage device E are covered with a transparent dome cover so that the jet cleaning water does not leak outside, and the internal cleaning state and the disinfection / drainage state can be monitored from the outside. An operation box is arranged at the seedling tray insertion position, and both the seedling tray made of flexible elastic synthetic resin and the seedling box made of a rigid box can be washed, and both By alternately inserting, superposition and stacking of a seedling tray and a seedling box are possible.

In addition, bacteria and viruses attached to the inside of the seedling tray are sterilized, carry-over to the next fiscal year is eliminated, and the seedling tray is drained after washing the seedling tray. There is also a technique that prevents the promotion of the above (Patent Document 3). In the seedling tray cleaning device structure that transports and cleans the seedling tray upside down, a seedling tray disinfection device is placed below the rear of the cleaning device, and the compressed air nozzle and air are used to drain the seedling tray after cleaning and disinfection. The curtain is juxtaposed. A high-pressure disinfectant is discharged from the disinfecting pump from the disinfecting apparatus, and the lower surface, that is, the front side of the seedling tray P and the seedling box B that are turned upside down is ejected.
JP-A-7-135856 JP-A-6-303848 JP-A-6-303849

  The seedling tray disinfection treatment is performed to sterilize bacteria and viruses adhering to the inside of the tray and eliminate carry-over to the next year. However, if a disinfectant is used as described in Patent Document 3, Workers may come into contact with disinfectants. On the other hand, such a disinfectant is difficult to reuse because the effectiveness of the disinfectant solution is reduced for use, and a container for once collecting the agricultural chemical is required. In addition, the collected disinfecting liquid after use cannot be discarded as it is, and a separate operation for disposal is required.

  In view of the above-mentioned present situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus that can clean a seedling tray safely and efficiently.

  As a result of examining the washing process of the seedling tray in detail, the present inventor obtained strongly acidic electrolyzed water obtained by electrolyzing water containing a small amount of electrolyte on the anode side of the apparatus mainly using hypochlorous acid as an active ingredient. In addition, it has a bactericidal effect on food poisoning bacteria such as infectious pathogen-resistant bacteria and pathogenic Escherichia coli, but because it is highly safe for humans, it is suitable for disinfection of seedling trays after washing, and strongly acidic electrolyzed water The safety of workers is superior to that of disinfectants, and the strong acid electrolyzed water loses its effect quickly, but when strong acid electrolyzed water is applied to the seedling tray by spraying or spraying, it is particularly excellent in the disinfecting effect of the seedling tray. The headline and the present invention were completed.

  Further, the present inventors have found that when the seedling tray is washed with alkaline water instead of conventional water, the seedling tray can be cleaned very efficiently.

  According to the present invention, since strongly acidic electrolyzed water excellent in decomposability at the disinfection part is used as a disinfectant, unlike the conventional case, disposal of the disinfectant after use becomes unnecessary. Moreover, since the strongly acidic electrolyzed water is excellent for human safety, the safety of workers is ensured.

  Since alkaline water having excellent detergency can be used in the washing section, deformation of the thin synthetic resin seedling tray can be more effectively prevented.

  By including an electrolyzer capable of producing alkaline water and strongly acidic electrolyzed water in the cleaning device, both the generated alkaline water and strongly acidic electrolyzed water can be used effectively. It becomes a washing device of the seedling tray which can be processed at once.

  The first aspect of the present invention is a seedling tray cleaning apparatus having a seedling tray cleaning section and a disinfection section, and the disinfection section has a mechanism for spraying or spraying strongly acidic electrolyzed water onto the seedling tray after cleaning. This is a seedling tray cleaning device. The disinfecting unit may further include an exhaust port for discharging chlorine gas generated from the acidic electrolyzed water. Moreover, the said washing | cleaning part may have a mechanism which sprinkles or sprays alkaline water or water on a seedling tray. Furthermore, it can also be set as the structure which contains the electrolyzed water production | generation apparatus which produces alkaline water and strong acidic electrolyzed water, the said alkaline water is used in a washing | cleaning part, and the said strong acidic electrolyzed water is used in a poisoning part. The first aspect of the invention is superior in disinfecting effect by using strong acid electrolyzed water as a disinfectant, and the strong acid electrolyzed water has a mild action on the human body, thus ensuring the safety of workers and contributing to environmental conservation. It is a washing device for a seedling tray that can be used. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

  In the present invention, strongly acidic electrolyzed water is used as a disinfectant in the disinfection part. Generally, strongly acidic electrolyzed water is electrolyzed water mainly composed of hypochlorous acid obtained on the anode side by electrolyzing water containing a small amount of electrolyte such as sodium hydroxide in a diaphragm type electrolysis tank.

In the diaphragm type electrolysis tank, water undergoes electrolysis at the anode to become oxygen and hydrogen ions (2H ₂ O → O ₂ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ ), and chlorine gas is generated (2Cl ⁻ → Cl ₂ + 2e ⁻ ). This reacts with water to produce hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid (Cl ₂ + H ₂ O → HCl + HClO). Hypochlorous acid contained in the strongly acidic electrolyzed water obtained permeates the bacterial cell membrane and disrupts the respiratory system enzymes essential to the cell to stop the anabolic action of the cell, or the protein of the bacterial cell tissue It is believed to act on tissues and amino acids to alter or decompose their chemical properties to sterilize or sterilize. Since it penetrates the cell membrane and exerts its effect, unlike other fungicides, it is difficult to produce resistant bacteria, while it is highly safe for humans.

  In the present invention, strongly acidic electrolyzed water is used as a disinfectant. This strongly acidic electrolyzed water is excellent in bactericidal properties, but hypochlorous acid is easily decomposed. For this reason, in the apparatus of this invention, it is preferable that it is comprised so that it can be used immediately after preparing the strong acidic electrolyzed water produced | generated by the electrolyzer, If it is such an aspect, an electrolyzer will be a washing | cleaning apparatus. The electrolysis apparatus may be included inside the cleaning apparatus. Moreover, since strongly acidic electrolyzed water is easy to decompose | disassemble, the disinfection effect is easy to reduce by the method of immersing a seedling tray in strongly acidic electrolyzed water. Therefore, in the present invention, strongly acidic electrolyzed water is sprayed or sprayed on the seedling tray. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently disinfect in a state where the disinfecting effect of the strongly acidic electrolyzed water prepared at the time of use is high. There is no particular limitation on the mechanism for spraying or spraying the strongly acidic electrolyzed water. For example, there is a nozzle for spraying or spraying the strongly acidic electrolyzed water so that the strongly acidic electrolyzed water can be sprayed or sprayed from the nozzle. A configuration in which a pump is provided can be exemplified.

  Hypochlorous acid exhibits a disinfecting effect due to its oxidizing power, and as the disinfecting operation proceeds, strongly acidic electrolyzed water may decompose in the disinfecting part to generate chlorine gas. Therefore, in the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that an exhaust port for recovering chlorine or discharging it out of the system is disposed in the disinfection unit. An exhaust fan is attached to the exhaust port, and the recovered exhaust gas may be introduced into, for example, alkaline water to absorb chlorine.

The washing unit of the present invention preferably has a mechanism for spraying or spraying alkaline water or water on the seedling tray. Examples of the alkaline water include hydroxides of Group 1 elements such as sodium and potassium, such as NaOH and KOH. Or hydroxides of Group 2 elements such as magnesium and calcium, for example, aqueous solutions of Mg (OH) ₂ , Ca (OH) _{2 and the} like can be used. In particular, it is preferable to use sodium hydroxide in terms of excellent protein degradation performance. As such alkaline water, alkaline water generated on the cathode side by electrolyzing water containing a small amount of sodium hydroxide in a diaphragm type electrolysis tank may be used. On the cathode side in the diaphragm type electrolysis tank, water is converted into hydrogen and hydroxide ions by electrolysis, and sodium hydroxide is generated by the hydroxide ions and sodium ions. In the present invention, the alkaline water thus obtained can also be suitably used. In addition, as alkaline water, it is 0.01-0.2 mass% in conversion to a sodium element, More preferably, it is 0.02-0.1 mass% alkaline water.

  The mechanism for sprinkling or spraying alkaline water or water is not particularly limited. For example, there is a nozzle for sprinkling or spraying such cleaning water, so that the cleaning water can be sprinkled or sprayed from the nozzle. A configuration in which a pump is provided can be exemplified.

  The cleaning unit is not limited to cleaning with cleaning water, and may have a mechanism for physically removing dirt with a rotating brush. As a mode of using such a rotating brush, any conventionally known method may be applied.

  Next, an example of a preferred embodiment of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The cleaning device 100 of the present invention includes a cleaning unit and a disinfecting unit, but may include a dehydrating / draining unit between the cleaning unit and the disinfecting unit and between the disinfecting unit and the discharging unit. In the center of the cleaning device 100 in the longitudinal direction, a conveyor roller 14 around which a belt 12 driven by a conveyor drive motor 10 is wound is disposed symmetrically to place and transfer the seedling tray T. The conveyor roller A rotating brush 18 driven by the rotating brush drive motor 16 is disposed at a position above and below the conveying placement surface formed by the upper surface of 14. The rotation of the rotating brush 18 is responsible for transferring the seedling tray as well as removing the dirt on the seedling tray T. Further, above and below the belt 12, there are provided cleaning water supply nozzles 20 for supplying cleaning water at high pressure by a power sprayer (not shown) that is driven by a cleaning drive motor (not shown) and injects high-pressure water. The washing water is sprayed on the nursery tray T at high pressure. In FIG. 1, a configuration is described in which alkaline water generated on the cathode side of the strongly acidic electrolyzed water generating device 80 is supplied as cleaning water. However, tap water may be supplied, and the first cleaning water supply nozzle may be used first. Alkaline water may be supplied at 20a, and tap water may be supplied at the second washing water supply nozzle 20b.

  In the washing apparatus for the seedling tray T of the present invention, the seedling tray T is slid on the conveyor so that the seedling tray T is not deformed by the washing water or moved from the conveyor when washing in the washing section. Such a presser may be suspended. In particular, the seedling tray T moves in a state where it is placed on a conveyor, but a rotating brush 18 is disposed at a position above and below the conveying placement surface formed by the upper surface of the conveyor roller 14. Is driven by a rotary brush motor, and the flexible seedling tray T is washed while being sandwiched between the upper and lower rotary brushes, and thus may escape or deform. For this reason, for example, a plurality of guides are provided in parallel with the belt flow direction at a position sandwiched between the upper and lower rotating brushes to prevent lifting and escape, or the rotation speed is controlled to prevent deformation, The washing water may be supplied in such a direction as to prevent the raising tray from being lifted.

  Then, the seedling tray T after washing is transferred to the dewatering / draining section, and the washing water is removed. A partition 22 may be provided between the cleaning section and the dewatering / draining section so that the jet cleaning water does not leak outside. In the dehydration / drainage section, drainage is performed with high-pressure air from a high-pressure air blower (not shown). The high pressure nozzle 30 for draining water from the blower may be divided into a high pressure air nozzle 30a from above and a high pressure air nozzle 30b from below as shown in FIG. An air nozzle, a high-pressure air nozzle from below, or a high-pressure air flow pipe having a larger diameter may be arranged in parallel. Although different from FIG. 1, when the high-pressure air nozzles 30a, 30b and the high-pressure air flow pipe are juxtaposed in the front-rear direction, a double draining structure is obtained, which is excellent in dehydration rate.

  The seedling tray T after dehydration and draining is transferred to the disinfection unit. In the disinfection unit, similarly to the cleaning unit, the rotary brush 18 driven by the rotary brush drive motor 16 is disposed at a position above and below the transport placement surface formed by the upper surface of the conveyor roller 14. Above and below the belt 12, there are strongly acidic electrolyzed water supply nozzles 50 for supplying strongly acidic electrolyzed water, and the strongly acidic electrolyzed water produced on the anode side of the strongly acidic electrolyzed water generating device 80 is supplied via a drive motor (not shown). Can spray or spray the seedling tray at high pressure.

The effective chlorine amount of the strongly acidic electrolyzed water is 5 to 100 ppm, more preferably 10 to 90 ppm, and particularly preferably 20 to 80 ppm. If it is less than 5 ppm, the sterilizing power may be reduced. Strongly acidic electrolyzed water exhibits a strong bactericidal action due to the action of hypochlorous acid HClO contained therein, but its form changes depending on the pH, and the effective chlorine concentration is maintained higher as it becomes more acidic. In the present invention, the pH of the strongly acidic electrolyzed water is preferably 2.0 to 3.0, more preferably 2.1 to 2.9, and particularly preferably 2.3 to 2.7. If the pH exceeds 3.0, the effective chlorine may change to Cl ₂ and the sterilizing power may decrease, which is not preferable. On the other hand, when the pH is less than 2.0, most of the effective chlorine concentration becomes dissolved chlorine molecules, and the sterilizing power may also decrease. Further, the lower the redox potential of the strongly acidic electrolyzed water, the stronger the oxidizing power is, and it is preferably 1.0 V or higher, more preferably 1.1 V or higher.

  Strongly acidic electrolyzed water has a high effective chlorine concentration immediately after generation, but the effective chlorine is reduced to chlorine molecules over time. This means that effective chlorine does not remain in the seedling tray after disinfection and that it is excellent in safety, but it also means a decrease in sterilizing power. In the present invention, the strongly acidic electrolyzed water is sprayed or sprayed on the seedling tray after washing. In the method of immersing a seedling tray in strongly acidic electrolyzed water, the effective chlorine concentration contained in the strongly acidic electrolyzed water may decrease and the sterilizing power may decrease, but in the method of spraying or spraying, strong acid electrolysis immediately after generation is performed. Water can be used, and the sterilizing power is hardly reduced.

The amount of strongly acidic electrolyzed water used in the present invention is 0.01 to 10 ml / cm ² , more preferably 0.03 to 7 ml / cm ² , and particularly preferably 0.07 to ³ ml / cm ² per unit area of the seedling tray. Sprinkle or spray to ² If it is less than 0.01 ml / cm ² , the sterilizing power is reduced. On the other hand, if it exceeds 10 ml / cm ² , the sterilizing power is not improved any more, which is useless.

  In the strongly acidic electrolyzed water, toxic chlorine is generated from hypochlorous acid, which is effective chlorine, in the course of washing. An exhaust fan 62 is attached to the exhaust port 60 on the ceiling of the disinfection unit to discharge this chlorine out of the system. Thus, the safety of workers is ensured by providing a mechanism for removing generated chlorine. A shielding plate 64 is attached to the front surface of the exhaust fan 62 so that strong acidic electrolyzed water does not leak directly from the exhaust fan 62 to the outside. Note that there are dehydration and draining sections on both sides of the disinfection section, and all are in a pressurized environment because high pressure air is supplied to drain the seedling tray. Therefore, there is little possibility that the atmosphere of the disinfection part will shift to the dewatering / draining part. In addition, at the lower part of the disinfecting section, used cleaning water and disinfectant waste liquid ports are provided. Thus, since it is not necessary to use the conventional agrochemical as a disinfectant, the collection and disposal process of the agrochemical after use becomes unnecessary.

  The seedling tray T after disinfection is transferred to the dehydration / drainage section, and the strongly acidic electrolyzed water is removed. A partition 27 is provided between the disinfecting unit and the dewatering / draining unit so that the jet cleaning water and atmosphere of the disinfecting unit do not leak outside. In this dewatering / draining section, similarly to the dewatering / draining section adjacent to the cleaning section, draining high pressure nozzles 30 from a high pressure air blower (not shown) are provided above and below the conveyor, as shown in FIG. The high-pressure air nozzle 30a from above and the high-pressure air nozzle 30b from below may be separately arranged, and a plurality of high-pressure air nozzles from above, high-pressure air nozzles from below, or a diameter larger than that. Thick high-pressure air flow pipes and the like may be arranged in parallel, and when the high-pressure air nozzles 30a, 30b and the high-pressure air flow pipes are juxtaposed in the front-rear direction, a double draining structure is obtained and the dehydration rate is excellent. preferable. In the present invention, dehydration and draining are performed in the disinfection process, but the strong acidic electrolyzed water has a fast disappearance rate of effective chlorine in proportion to the strength of the bactericidal effect. Therefore, it is possible to prevent chlorine from remaining in the seedling tray only by blowing high-pressure air in the dehydration / draining process. A partition 40 is provided between the dehydrating / draining part and the disinfecting part so that the disinfecting liquid in the disinfecting part does not move to the dehydrating / draining part.

  In addition, as an electrolyzed water production | generation apparatus used by this invention, the diaphragm electrolysis tank which partitioned off the cathode and the anode with the ion-exchange membrane can be illustrated, for example, tap water is introduce | transduced into a water softener and 0.1 to When a 0.05 mass% sodium chloride aqueous solution is introduced into the electrolyzed water generator and electrolyzed at a DC low voltage of 10 to 20 V for 5 to 20 minutes, the strongly acidic electrolyzed water generated on the anode side is obtained. Alkaline water can be generated on the cathode side. The obtained strongly acidic electrolyzed water may be stored in a tank in advance and immediately supplied to the disinfection unit with a pump.

  The second aspect of the present invention is a method for cleaning a seedling tray, wherein the seedling tray is sprayed or sprayed with water or alkaline water, and then strongly acidic electrolyzed water is sprayed or sprayed on the seedling tray obtained in the cleaning step. This is a method for cleaning a seedling tray, including a step of disinfecting. The method can be carried out without being limited to the use of the above apparatus. The strongly acidic electrolyzed water and alkaline water described above can be used in the same manner.

  The present invention has a mechanism for spraying or spraying strong acidic electrolyzed water as a disinfectant on a seedling tray, thereby allowing the seedling tray to be washed and disinfected safely and efficiently, especially for growing vegetable plug seedlings. Useful in the field.

It is the top view schematic diagram and side schematic diagram of the washing apparatus for seedling trays of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Conveyor drive motor,
12 belts,
14 conveyor rollers,
16 Rotating brush drive motor,
18 rotating brush,
20 Washing water supply nozzle 20,
20a First washing water supply nozzle,
20b Second washing water supply nozzle,
22 partitions,
27 partition,
30 High pressure nozzle for draining,
30a High pressure air nozzle from above,
30b High pressure air nozzle from below,
40 partitions,
50 Strong acidic electrolyzed water supply nozzle,
60 exhaust vent,
62 Exhaust fan,
64 shielding plate,
80 strongly acidic electrolyzed water generator,
100 seedling tray cleaning device,
T Nursery tray.

Claims (5)

  A seedling tray cleaning apparatus having a seedling tray cleaning section and a disinfection section, wherein the disinfection section has a mechanism for spraying or spraying strongly acidic electrolyzed water onto the seedling tray after cleaning. Tray cleaning device.   2. The seedling tray cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disinfection unit further includes an exhaust port for discharging chlorine gas generated from the acidic electrolyzed water.   The said washing | cleaning part has a mechanism which sprinkles or sprays alkaline water or water to a seedling tray, The washing | cleaning apparatus of the seedling tray of Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.   Further, the present invention includes an electrolyzed water generating device that produces alkaline water and strong acidic electrolyzed water, wherein the alkaline water is used in a washing section, and the strong acidic electrolyzed water is used in a poisoning section. An apparatus for cleaning a seedling tray according to claim 3.   A method for cleaning a seedling tray, comprising a step of spraying or spraying water or alkaline water on the seedling tray, and a step of disinfecting the seedling tray obtained in the cleaning step by spraying or spraying strong acidic electrolyzed water , How to clean the seedling tray.

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