JP2019084495A - Washing apparatus of rice cooking pot and washing method for rice cooking pot - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing apparatus of a rice cooking pot and a washing method for the rice cooking pot in which a pot body and a lid can normally be conveyed and be washed effectively, and further an installation space can be reduced.SOLUTION: A washing apparatus of a rice cooking pot includes: first conveying means 41 for alternately arranging a lid 10 and a pot body 20 in a conveyance direction at predetermined intervals in a top view, conveying and washing them by washing water, and conveying the lid 10 with the back side as downward; second conveying means 42 for conveying the pot body 20 with an opening end as downward; a first guide member 51 for regulating movement of the lid 10 to an upward direction and/or a horizontal direction being perpendicular to the conveyance direction; and a washing nozzle being downward from the conveyed lid 10 and the pot body 20, and spraying the washing water by a predetermined pressure toward the upper part. A conveyance surface of pot body 20 is positioned beyond a height position of the upper end of the first guide member 51, and the lid 10 conveyed by the first conveying means 41 and the pot body 20 conveyed by the second conveying means 42 are conveyed at an upper and lower two-stage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing apparatus for a rice cooker and a method for washing a rice cooker.

  Conventionally, there is an automatic rice cooking system that automatically cooks rice. In such an automatic rice cooking system, a predetermined amount of rice and a predetermined amount of water are filled in a large number of rice cookers and rice is cooked. Put the cooked rice in a lunch box or fill in a can. Then, the rice cooker, which has cooked rice, is separated into a pot body and a lid, which is then washed, filled with a predetermined amount of rice and a predetermined amount of water again, and used repeatedly for rice cooking.

  In such an automatic rice cooking system, a rice cooker can be wash | cleaned using the washing apparatus which wash | cleans a rice cooker. In the rice cooker washing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the rice cooker main body carried into the rice cooker washing apparatus is carried by the carrier apparatus, lifted from the carrier by the rice cooker holding apparatus and inverted, and the rice cooker in the inverted state. Spray the cleaning water to the inside of the body to clean it.

  Thereafter, the rice cooker main body is placed again on the transfer device by the rice cooker holding device, and is carried out of the rice cooker cleaning device. Moreover, the conveyance apparatus which conveys a rice cooker main body conveys the lid | cover of a rice cooker, and injects and wash | cleans a wash water from the washing nozzle arrange | positioned under the rice cooker main body and lid which are conveyed.

  Moreover, in washing | cleaning of a container with a lid | cover similar to a rice cooker, a container can be wash | cleaned by the container washing | cleaning apparatus of patent document 2. FIG. In the container cleaning device described in Patent Document 2, a container main body in which a main body conveyance means for conveying a container main body and a lid conveyance means for conveying a lid are arranged in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction and the opening side is downward. While conveying the lid in a substantially vertically upright state by the lid conveying means.

  The container cleaning apparatus cleans the container main body by a cleaning nozzle rising from the lower side to the inside of the container main body. Further, the lid body is transported in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction as the posture in the vertical direction, and the cleaning water is sprayed from both sides in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction to clean.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-328627 Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2006-272298

  However, in the rice cooker washing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, whenever the rice cooker main body is carried in, the rice cooker main body is lifted from the conveying means and cleaned in a state of being inverted, and after washing, it is returned to the conveying means and placed again. There is a need to. Therefore, in order to wash the rice cooker main body, it takes time to return to the original transport posture until it is turned upside down, and there is a problem that the number of processes per unit time decreases.

  In addition, since the rice cooker and the lid are transported by the same transport device, the lid waits when the rice cooker main body is inverted in order to improve the cleaning performance of the rice cooker main body. There is a problem that the time is long and the number of processes per unit time is reduced. Moreover, in order to increase the number of treatments of the rice cooker main body and the lid to be cleaned per unit time, it is necessary to provide a plurality of rice cooker cleaners, in which case there is a problem that the installation space becomes large. .

  In addition, when washing water is sprayed under high pressure from the washing nozzle disposed below the rice cooker main body and the lid conveyed to enhance the cleaning property of the lid, the rice cooker main body and the lid are identical. Since the transport means transports, the guide for restricting the movement of the lid can not be attached, the lid jumps up, the lid can not be transported normally, and there is a possibility that the cleaning can not be performed. In addition, when the pressure of the washing water is set to a low pressure so that the lid does not jump up, there is a problem that the cleaning property of the lid is reduced.

  Further, in the container cleaning device described in Patent Document 2, since the main body conveyance means for conveying the container body and the lid conveyance means for conveying the lid are arranged in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, the container cleaning is performed. There has been a problem that the floor area for installing the device is increased.

  Further, while holding the lid in a substantially upright state by the conveyance means and conveying the front and back surfaces in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, the washing water is jetted from both sides in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction Since the lid is cleaned, if the cleaning water is sprayed at a high pressure to improve the cleaning performance of the lid, there is a risk that the transportation of the lid may become unstable.

  In addition, since the container body and the lid are respectively cleaned by separate cleaning nozzles and drainage nozzles, there is a problem that the configuration of the container cleaning device becomes complicated.

  The present invention is to provide a washing apparatus for a rice cooker and a method for washing a rice cooker, which can transport the kettle body and the lid normally and can effectively wash the installation space. To aim.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned object, the washing device of the rice cooker of the present invention arranges the lid of the rice cooker and the kettle body alternately at a predetermined interval along the transport direction in top view, transports the wash water A cleaning device for a rice cooker to be cleaned by the method, the first conveying means for conveying the lid whose back surface is downward, the second conveying means for conveying the kettle main body whose opening end is downward, and A first guide member for restricting the movement of the lid in the upward direction and / or the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the lid and the hook main body which are transported are predetermined upward A cleaning nozzle for injecting cleaning water by pressure, wherein the conveyance surface of the kettle body is positioned at or above the height position of the upper end of the first guide member, and the lid conveyed by the first conveyance means; Transporting the kettle body transported by the second transport means in two stages up and down And wherein the door.

  In the rice cooker cleaning apparatus according to the present invention, the lids of the rice cooker and the kettle body are alternately arranged at predetermined intervals along the transport direction in top view, and transported and washed with washing water. A cleaning apparatus, comprising: a first conveying means for conveying the lid whose back surface is downward, a second conveying means for conveying the hook main body whose opening end is downward, and an upper surface orthogonal to the conveying direction And a first guide member for restricting the movement of the lid in the direction and the horizontal direction, and the lid which is lower than the lid and the caul body transported and which sprays washing water at a predetermined pressure upward. A lid which has a nozzle, the conveyance surface of the hook body is positioned at the height position of the upper end of the first guide member or more, and is conveyed by the first conveyance means, and the second conveyance means The present invention is characterized in that the shuttle main body to be transported is transported in two upper and lower stages.

  Further, according to the cleaning method of the rice cooker of the present invention, the lid of the rice cooker and the kettle main body are arranged and transported alternately at predetermined intervals alternately in a row in top view, and the lid is sprayed by the sprayed washing water. A washing method for a rice cooker including a washing step of washing a body and the pot body, wherein in the washing step, the transport surface of the pot body is upward and / or horizontal to the transport direction of the lid. Above the height position of the upper end of the first guide member for restricting the movement of the lid in the direction, the hook body is at the upper stage, the lid is at the lower stage, and the hook body and the lid And are transported in two upper and lower stages.

  According to the apparatus and the method for cleaning a rice cooker of the present invention, the kettle body and the lid can be transported normally and effectively cleaned, and the installation space can be reduced.

The flowchart which shows the process implemented with a rice cooking system provided with the washing apparatus of the rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the kettle main body and lid which are wash | cleaned by the washing apparatus of the rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (A) is a top view of a kettle main body, (B) is a side view of a kettle main body (C) ) Is a bottom view of the kettle body, (D) is a top view of the lid, (E) is a side view of the lid, and (F) is a bottom view of the lid. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The schematic front view which shows the external appearance of the washing apparatus of the rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The schematic front view which shows the state which removed the housing of the washing | cleaning apparatus of the rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the inversion arm in the state which received the kettle main body, (A) is a front view of an inversion arm, (B) is an AA side sectional view (hatching omitted) in (A), (C) is an inversion arm Top view. First upper nozzle portion, second upper nozzle portion, third upper nozzle portion, fourth upper nozzle portion and first lower nozzle portion, second lower nozzle portion, third lower nozzle The front view which shows a part and a 4th lower side nozzle part. It is a figure which shows the structure of a 1st conveyor, (A) is a front view of a 1st conveyor, (B) is a top view of a 1st conveyor. It is a figure which shows the structure of a 2nd conveyor, (A) is a front view of a 2nd conveyor, (B) is a top view of a 2nd conveyor. The state which attached the 1st conveyor and 2nd conveyor in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 to the flame | frame is shown, (A) is a front view of a 1st conveyor and a 2nd conveyor, (B) is a 1st conveyor And a top view of the second conveyor. The 1st guide member, the 2nd guide member, the 3rd guide member, and the 4th guide member in Drawing 4 are shown, (A) is the 1st guide member, the 2nd guide member, and the 3rd guide member FIG. 6B is a front view of the first guide member, the second guide member, the third guide member, and the fourth guide member. The AA side sectional view (hatching omission) in Drawing 10 showing the relation between the 1st guide member, the 2nd guide member, the 3rd guide member, the 4th guide member, the hook body, and the lid. FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the first guide member in FIG. 11 (hatching omitted). 10 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 10 (hatching omitted) showing the relationship among the first guide member, the second guide member, the third guide member, the fourth guide member, the hook body and the lid. In order to show the movement of the pot body and the lid in the main washing step and the rinsing step of the washing method of the rice cooker, the state in which the pot body and the lid are sequentially transported in the transport direction over (A) to (D) The front schematic which shows. The front schematic which shows the state which passes the downward direction of the inversion arm in which a cover body is in an intermediate position in a carrying-in inversion part. The state which the kettle | body and lid in a main washing zone are wash | cleaned is shown, (A) is a side sectional view which shows the state of a 1st washing position, (B) is a side cross section which shows the state of a 2nd washing position. FIG. 8C is a side sectional view showing the state of the third cleaning position, and FIG. 10D is a side sectional view showing the state of the fourth cleaning position. FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged front view showing a state in which the first locking member is locked and transported to the hook body separated from the second locking member in the merging and unloading zone.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a rice cooker which alternately arranges a lid of a rice cooker and a kettle body alternately at a predetermined interval along a transport direction in top view, and transports and wash with washing water. A cleaning apparatus, comprising: a first conveying means for conveying the lid whose back surface is downward, a second conveying means for conveying the hook main body whose opening end is downward, and an upper surface orthogonal to the conveying direction The first guide member for restricting the movement of the lid in the direction and / or the horizontal direction, the lid transported lower than the lid and the caul body transported, and spraying washing water with a predetermined pressure upward A lid for conveying by the first conveying means, with the conveyance surface of the hook body positioned above the height position of the upper end of the first guide member, and the second conveyance The rice cooker characterized by carrying the kettle body to be transported by means in two stages up and down It is obtained by the cleaning device.

  According to the washing apparatus for the rice cooker, when the washing water is jetted upward at a predetermined pressure from the washing nozzle located below the lid and the kettle body to be transported to wash the lid, the conveyance direction The lid can be effectively cleaned by restricting the movement of the lid in the upward direction and / or the horizontal direction orthogonal to the above, and by conveying the lid normally.

  In addition, since the lid and the hook body are transported at predetermined intervals alternately in a row in top view, compared to the case where the lid and the hook body are transported in two or more rows in top view, Space in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction can be reduced.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is a rice cooker which alternately arranges the lid of the rice cooker and the kettle body at a predetermined interval along the transport direction in top view, and transports and wash with washing water. A cleaning apparatus, comprising: a first conveying means for conveying the lid whose back surface is downward, a second conveying means for conveying the hook main body whose opening end is downward, and an upper surface orthogonal to the conveying direction And a first guide member for restricting the movement of the lid in the direction and the horizontal direction, and the lid which is lower than the lid and the caul body transported and which sprays washing water at a predetermined pressure upward. A lid which has a nozzle, the conveyance surface of the hook body is positioned at the height position of the upper end of the first guide member or more, and is conveyed by the first conveyance means, and the second conveyance means A washing machine for a rice cooker characterized by conveying the kettle body to be conveyed in two stages up and down It is obtained by the.

  According to the washing apparatus for the rice cooker, when the washing water is jetted upward at a predetermined pressure from the washing nozzle located below the lid and the kettle body to be transported to wash the lid, the conveyance direction The lid can be effectively cleaned by restricting the movement of the lid in the upper direction and the horizontal direction orthogonal to the above, and by conveying the lid normally.

  In addition, since the lid and the hook body are transported at predetermined intervals alternately in a row in top view, compared to the case where the lid and the hook body are transported in two or more rows in top view, Space in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction can be reduced.

  In the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the kettle body is placed on the upper end of the first guide member, and the first conveying means is provided by the second conveying means. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing apparatus for a rice cooker, wherein the upper end of a guide member is slid to convey the kettle body.

  According to the washing apparatus for the rice cooker, the kettle body is placed on the upper end of the first guide member, and is slid by the second transport means for transport, and the intention of the lid is achieved by the first guide member. It is possible to regulate the movement in the direction not to This makes it possible to reduce the number of parts for conveying the lid and the kettle body properly and for effective cleaning, and to simplify the configuration of the rice cooker cleaning apparatus.

  In addition, when the washing water is jetted toward the pot body at a predetermined pressure from the washing nozzle, the first guide member is wetted with the washing water, and the sliding of the pot body is caused to slide on the first guide member It is possible to improve the property and slide the sheet smoothly by the second conveying means.

  In the invention described in claim 4 of the present invention, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the lid is conveyed when the lid or the hook body is positioned substantially above the cleaning nozzle. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing apparatus for a rice cooker characterized by decelerating a first conveying means to carry out or a second conveying means to convey the pot body.

  According to the washing apparatus for the rice cooker, the lid or the pot body is not limited as compared to the case where the transport speed of the first transport means for transporting the lid or the second transport means for transporting the pot body is not reduced. The time of contact of the cleaning water jetted by the pressure with the lid or pot body can be extended, and the cleaning property of the lid or pot body can be improved.

  In the invention according to claim 5 of the present invention, the lid of the rice cooker and the kettle body are arranged and transported alternately at predetermined intervals alternately in a line in top view, and the lid is sprayed by the sprayed washing water. A washing method for a rice cooker including a washing step of washing a body and the pot body, wherein in the washing step, the transport surface of the pot body is upward and / or horizontal to the transport direction of the lid. Above the height position of the upper end of the first guide member for restricting the movement of the lid in the direction, the hook body is at the upper stage, the lid is at the lower stage, and the hook body and the lid The method of cleaning a rice cooker according to the present invention is characterized by conveying and in two stages up and down.

  According to the washing method of the rice cooker, when the lid is washed with the washing water to be jetted, the movement of the lid in the upward direction and / or the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction is restricted, and the lid is normally operated. By conveying, the lid can be effectively cleaned.

  In addition, since the lid and the hook body are transported at predetermined intervals alternately in a row in top view, compared to the case where the lid and the hook body are transported in two or more rows in top view, Space in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction can be reduced.

  The invention according to claim 6 of the present invention, in the invention according to claim 5, separates the rice cooker having the lid body on the kettle body into the lid body and the kettle body prior to the washing step. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning method for a rice cooker, including: a separation step; and a reverse step of placing the kettle body separated in the separation step on the upper end of the first guide member while reversing.

  According to the cleaning method of the rice cooker, the pot body is in the upper stage while changing the posture in which the opening end of the pot body is directed downward from the posture in which the opening end of the pot body is upward. Can be placed on the upper end of the guide member. As a result, it is possible to efficiently carry out the reversal of the kettle body and the transfer to the first guide member, in which the inner surface of the kettle body can be cleaned.

  The invention according to claim 7 of the present invention is, in the invention according to claim 5 or 6, the carrying surface of the kettle main body for carrying the upper stage after the washing step, and the carrying surface of the lid for carrying the lower stage. The method for cleaning a rice cooker according to the present invention includes a joining step of conveying the pot body and the lid by the conveying means so as to align the substantially same height positions.

  According to the washing method of the rice cooker, after the washing step, the conveyance surface of the kettle body conveyed in the upper stage and the conveyance surface of the lid conveyed in the lower stage are aligned at the same height position Both can be transported by the same transport means.

  In the invention according to claim 8 of the present invention according to any one of claims 5 to 7, in the washing step, when the lid or pot body is washed with washing water, the lid or the pot body is According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing method for a rice cooker, characterized in that the conveyance speed of the pot body is reduced.

  According to the cleaning method of the rice cooker, the lid or pot body is washed with the cleaning water jetted at a predetermined pressure to the lid or pot body as compared with the case where the transfer speed for transporting the lid body or pot body is not reduced. The time for which it contacts can be extended, and the washability of the lid or the pot body can be improved.

(Embodiment)
(Overview of the rice cooking system)
The rice cooking system provided with the washing apparatus of the rice cooker which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated in detail below with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the rice cooking system, first, a predetermined amount of milled rice is washed with a rice washing machine, sent to an immersion tank, and a rice washing immersing step of immersing rice in water in the immersion tank is performed. Next, a predetermined amount of rice soaked in the immersion tank is introduced into the pot body 20 of the rice cooker, and a rice distribution and water injection step is performed to pour a predetermined amount of water necessary for cooking into the pot body 20.

  Next, after the lid body 10 is placed on the pot body 20 after the rice distribution and water injection step, the rice cooking step is performed to heat and cook the rice pot. Then, a steaming process is performed to steam the rice in the cooking pot by conveying the cooking pot after cooking with a lid for a predetermined time. Next, the lid body 10 of the rice cooker is removed, and the kettle body 20 is inverted by a reversing machine to perform a reversal extraction step of taking out the cooked rice from the kettle body 20. The rice taken out of the kettle main body 20 by the reversing and taking out process is put on a lunch box by a filling machine. Alternatively, it can be filled into cans.

  Next, a rice cooker washing process of washing the pot body 20 of the rice cooker after the rice is taken out in the reverse take-out process and the lid 10 thereof is performed. Among the pot body 20 and the lid 10 cleaned in the rice cooking pot cleaning process, the pot body 20 is returned to the rice distribution and water injection step, and the lid 10 is placed on the pot body 20 after the rice distribution and water injection step. With such a series of flows, the rice cooking system can, for example, fill 7 kg of rice and a predetermined amount of water in one pot and cook 20 to 80 pots per hour.

(Composition of rice cooker)
The rice cooker used for the rice cooking system can be separated into the pot body 20 and the lid 10. The pot body 20 and the lid 10 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rice cooker has a pot body 20 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped accommodation space 29 for accommodating rice and water, and a lid which is put on the kettle body 20 so as to seal the accommodation space 29. It consists of ten. In the description of the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction is also referred to as the width direction in the top view of the kettle body 20 or the lid 10, the short direction is also referred to as the depth direction, and the direction orthogonal to the width direction and the depth direction is the height direction Also called.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (A) to 2 (C), the kettle body 20 is open in one side in the height direction and opposed with a space in the width direction so as to have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Forming a side face 21 forming the side face in the width direction, a longitudinal side face 22 facing the side face in the depth direction of the accommodation space 29 facing the space in the depth direction, and a bottom of the accommodation space 29 A bottom portion 23 is provided.

  The upper end of the short side portion 21 and the longitudinal side portion 22 form an open end 24 of the accommodation space 29, and the kettle body 20 has an opening 25 opened upward. Both short side surface portions 21 are provided with handle portions 26 near their upper ends. The handle portion 26 is provided substantially at the center in the depth direction of the short side portion 21 and at a position slightly lower than the opening end 24 in the height direction. In the kettle main body 20 with the open end 24 directed upward, the surface to be the upper surface of the handle portion 26 is referred to as a handle portion upper surface 26 a. As will be described later, the opening end 24 or the handle upper surface 26 a is placed on the first guide member 51 with the opening end 24 directed downward, and is slid by the second conveying means 42.

  As shown in FIGS. 2D to 2F, the lid 10 has a substantially rectangular shape corresponding to the opening end 24 of the kettle body 20, and is fitted with a lid frame portion 11 fitted inside the opening end 24. And a cover plate 12 mounted on the open end 24. The cover plate portion 12 has both ends in the width direction as the short corner portions 13, both ends in the depth direction as the long corner portions 14, and has a substantially rectangular outer shape by the short corner portions 13 and the long corner portions 14.

  The lid plate portion 12 is formed such that a central portion protrudes upward in a side view, and includes a grip portion 15 which is elongated in the width direction at a substantially central position in a top view. The grip portion 15 includes a through hole 16 penetrating in the depth direction. The lid 10 can be gripped through the through hole 16 through a human finger, an engagement portion of a gripping device, or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 are formed of an alloy whose main material is aluminum, and for example, the lid 10 has a mass of 3.4 kg and the kettle body 20 has a weight of 9.0 kg, The lid 10 has a smaller mass than the kettle body 20. Therefore, the lid 10 is more likely to move in an unintended direction than the kettle body 20 due to the pressure of the washing water jetted when washing.

  In the present embodiment, the kettle body 20 with the open end 24 facing upward is referred to as the kettle body 20 in the normal posture, and the kettle body 20 with the open end 24 facing downward is referred to as the kettle body 20 in the reverse posture. There is.

(Lid removal device)
The lid removing device (not shown) separates the lid 10 from the pot body 20 covered with the lid 10 after the completion of the rice cooking process, and places the lid 10 on the loading means 101. The lid removing device will be described below.

  The lid removing device takes out the rice in the reversing and removing step, and receives the rice cooker in a state in which the lid body 10 is covered on the pot body 20 which is a normal posture in which the opening end 24 is directed upward. After the received rice cooker stops at the standby position, the lid removing device grips the gripping portion 15 of the lid 10 put on the kettle body 20 by the gripping lifting means (not shown) and lifts the lid 10 The lid 10 is separated by moving it upward than the opening 25 of the kettle body 20. Further, the separated lid 10 is lowered to the loading means 101 and placed, and the gripping is released. The lid 10 may be separated from the pot body 20 by human hands.

  The standby position (not shown) at which the rice cooker stops in the lid removing device is the introduction position of the loading means 101 such as the top chain conveyor of the washing device 100 for the rice cooker, and the kettle body from which the lid 10 is separated. 20 and the lid 10 placed on the loading means 101 are transferred by the loading means 101 to the loading / reversing zone Za of the washing apparatus 100 for the rice cooker (see FIG. 4).

(Washing machine for rice cooker)
The rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 arranges the kettle main body 20 and the lid 10 separated by the lid removing apparatus in the upper and lower two stages by the first guide member 51 and the second guide member 52, and alternates in top view The kettle body 20 and the lid 10 are transported at a predetermined interval along the transport direction, and washed with the washing water jetted from the washing nozzle N. The rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 13.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 includes a frame F constituting a skeleton of the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100, and a housing H attached to the frame F and covering the main part of the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100. A leg L supporting a frame F is provided. The housing H and the frame F of the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 are not corroded by the cleaning water, and are formed of plate materials or rod-like members processed by bending or welding, mainly using stainless steel excellent in hygiene.

  The housing H covers the upper side of the rice cooker cleaning device 100 so that washing water and clean water for washing the rice cooker do not scatter to the outside. Moreover, the housing H is provided with the removable door D, and the inside of the washing apparatus 100 of a rice cooker can be confirmed from the opening (not shown) which removed the door D for cleaning and an inspection. The leg L is in contact with the floor K and supports the frame F stably.

  The rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 includes a carry-in port I for carrying the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 by the carry-in means 101 on the upstream side of the housing H, and the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 at the downstream side of the housing H An outlet O is provided for unloading at 103. In addition, the main components of the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 are attached to the frame F. Further, a control panel C is provided on the housing H, and the control panel C mainly controls each device in the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 reverses the kettle main body 20 carried in from the carry-in opening I by the carrying-in means 101 in the vertical direction by the reversing means 30 and reverses the first guide member 51 described later. The pot body 20 is placed. Then, a carry-in reverse zone Za for conveying the lid 10 so as to be placed on the second guide member 52 described later by the carry-in means 101, and different first washing position Wa, second washing position Wb, and second wash position Wb. The cleaning position Wc of No. 3 and the main cleaning zone Zb for cleaning the lid body 20 at the fourth cleaning position Wd are provided.

  Furthermore, the washing apparatus 100 of the rice cooker has a rinse washing zone Zc for washing away washing water adhering to the kettle main body 20 and the lid 10 with fresh water downstream of the main washing zone Zb, and a kettle main body for which the rinsing is completed. The first guide member 51 for placing and sliding 20 is lowered and inclined in the transport direction to transport the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 to the unloading means 103 so as to transport at substantially the same height position. And a merging and unloading zone Zd for unloading by the unloading means 103 from the outlet O to the apparatus of the subsequent process.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 11, in the main washing zone Zb in the washing apparatus 100 for the rice cooker, the kettle main body 20 is placed on the first guide member 51 and the lower side than the first guide member 51 The lid 10 is placed on the second guide member 52 provided at the upper and lower stages, and the lids 10 are arranged in two upper and lower stages and transported by the first transport means 41 and the second transport means 42. The pot body 20 and the lid 10 are alternately transported at predetermined intervals, and are cleaned by the cleaning water sprayed by the cleaning nozzle N.

(Carry-in reverse zone)
The loading / reversing zone Za is a position (introduction position) where the second transport means 42 described later can transport from a position (insertion position) Pa where the shuttle body 20 loaded from the loading port I is inserted into the reversing means 30 ) Pb is lifted by the reversing means 30, carried in while being reversed in the vertical direction, and placed on the first guide member 51 described later. Furthermore, the lid 10 carried in from the carry-in opening I is transported to a position (transfer position) Pc which can be transported by the first transport means 41 described later. The loading and reversing zone Za will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the carry-in reverse zone Za, the carrying-in means 101 for carrying the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 into the washing machine 100 for the rice cooker, and the carried-out kettle body 20 are lifted and turned upside down. A reversing means 30 carried in and placed at the introduction position Pb of the first guide member 51, a first sensor 105 detecting that the hook body 20 has been received by the reversing means 30, and a reversing means 30 However, the hook body 20 is placed at the introduction position Pb at which the second conveyance means 42 of the first guide member 51 can convey, and the lid 10 is conveyed to the junction position Pc. Sensor 106 for detecting the movement, the first transfer means 41 for transferring the lid 10 in the transfer direction, and the second transfer means for transferring the shuttle body 20 inverted by the reversing means 30 in the transfer direction And 42.

  The carrying-in means 101 carries in the lid 10 from the carrying-in port I, and a driving sprocket 102 provided around a position (transfer position) Pc where transfer to the first transport means 41 is possible; The top chain is formed over a driven sprocket (not shown) provided on the upstream side of the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 in the conveying direction rather than the hook body 20 and the lid 10.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the reversing means 30 mechanically penetrates the reversing arm 31 having the receiving space 34 for receiving the kettle body 20 and the through holes 314 and 317 of the reversing arm 31. A reversing mechanism 32 supporting the combined rotating shaft 323, and a reversing drive source 35 for rotating the rotating shaft 323 by driving to rotate forward and reverse the reversing arm 31 about a central axis in the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft 323; Equipped with

  The reversing arm 31 includes side regulating portions 315 of a pair of P-shaped members 312 for regulating the position of the short side portion 21 (see FIG. 2B) of the received hook body 20, and a pair of U-shaped members Of the arms provided on the upper and lower sides of 311, an open end restricting portion 318 for restricting the position of the open end 24 of the hook body 20 and a bottom face restricting portion 319 for restricting the position of the bottom face portion 23 of the hook body 20 Ru.

  The side restricting portion 315, the opening end restricting portion 318 and the bottom restricting portion 319 are disposed substantially parallel to each other at an interval, with the tip end side as the receiving port 321 and the side facing the receiving port 321 as the end end 322. There is. Then, the reversing arm 31 receives the kettle body 20 from the receiving port 321 and forms a receiving space 34 for restricting the longitudinal side portion 22 (see FIG. 2B) of the kettle body 20 at the end 322.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first sensor 105 is disposed at a position where it can detect that the kettle body 20 has been received in the receiving space 34 of the reversing arm 31 in a front view of the rice cooker transfer apparatus 100. The second sensor 106 detects that the hook body 20 is placed at the introduction position Pb where the second transfer means 42 can transfer while reversing the hook body 20 received in the receiving space 34 by the reversing means 30. It is placed at the position where it can.

  The first sensor 105 and the second sensor 106 are both noncontact sensors such as photoelectric sensors, and the light emitting side and the light receiving side are in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the kettle body 20 and the lid 10. It is arranged. The first sensor 105 and the second sensor 106 detect the shuttle body 20 when the shuttle body 20 is positioned at each position, and transmit a signal to the control board C.

  The second sensor 106 detects that the lid 10 is positioned at the transfer position Pc where the second transport means 42 described later can transport the lid 10, and sends a signal to the control board C. Send

  In addition, although the non-contact type sensor was used for the 1st sensor 105 and the 2nd sensor 106, if it does not prevent conveyance of the kettle main body 20 and the lid 10, a contact type sensor, for example, a limit A switch or the like may be used.

  In addition, in order to make it easy to understand the structure of the washing apparatus of a rice cooker, the detail about the 1st conveyance means 41 and the 2nd conveyance means 42 shall be mentioned later.

  The reversing means 30 receives the shuttle body 20 in the receiving space 34 of the reversing arm 31 at the insertion position Pa, and then drives the reversing drive source 35 to rotate the reversing arm 31 forward by 180 degrees to obtain the first guide. The hook body 20 in the reverse posture is placed at the introduction position Pb of the member 51. The shuttle body 20 placed at the introduction position Pb is extracted from the reversing arm 31 by the second transfer means 42 and transferred.

  Further, the reversing means 30 drives the reversing drive source 35 and reverses the reversing arm 31 from which the pot body 20 is extracted at the introduction position Pb by 180 degrees to return it to the insertion position Pa again. Thus, the reversing means 30 moves between the insertion position Pa and the introduction position Pb by rotating the reversing arm 31 forward and reverse.

  Further, the carrying-in means 101 for transporting the lid 10 includes a pair of top chain conveyors for supporting and transporting the lid 10 from below, transports the lid 10 toward the downstream side in the transport direction, and will be described later Through the lower side of the reversing arm 31 (see FIG. 15), and transports to the transfer position Pc of the second guide member 52 provided on the downstream side of the reversing means 30.

(Main cleaning zone)
The main cleaning zone Zb is provided with a first cleaning position Wa, a second cleaning position Wb, a third cleaning position Wc, and a fourth cleaning position Wd, which are sequentially arranged in the transport direction. And wash. The main cleaning zone Zb will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

  The first cleaning position Wa of the main cleaning zone Zb is located under the kettle body 20 and the first upper nozzle portion 611 disposed on the upper side of the lid 10, and the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 being transported. And a first lower nozzle portion 711 disposed substantially opposite to the first upper nozzle portion 611 on the side.

  The first upper nozzle portion 611 is provided with five first upper cleaning water pipes 621 extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction at intervals in the conveyance direction. Each first upper cleaning water pipe 621 is formed with a plurality of cleaning nozzles N spaced downward in the pipe length direction facing downward. Each cleaning nozzle N is formed by drilling a hole below the first upper cleaning water pipe 621.

  The first lower nozzle portion 711 is provided with five first lower cleaning water pipes 721 extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction at intervals in the conveyance direction. Each first lower cleaning water pipe 721 is formed with a plurality of cleaning nozzles N spaced upward in the pipe length direction. Each cleaning nozzle N of the first lower nozzle portion 711 is configured by forming a hole on the upper side of the first lower cleaning water pipe 721, and mounting a nozzle tip (not shown) in the hole.

  The second cleaning position Wb of the main cleaning zone Zb is below the kettle body 20 and the second upper nozzle portion 612 disposed on the upper side of the lid 10, and the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 being transported. And a second lower nozzle portion 712 disposed substantially opposite to the second upper nozzle portion 612 on the side.

  The second upper nozzle portion 612 includes four second upper cleaning water pipes 622 extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction at intervals in the transport direction. Each second upper washing water pipe 622 is formed with a plurality of washing nozzles N spaced downward in the pipe length direction facing downward. Each cleaning nozzle N is formed by drilling a hole on the lower side of the second upper cleaning water pipe 622.

  The second lower nozzle portion 712 includes two second lower washing water pipes 722 extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction at intervals in the conveyance direction. Each second lower cleaning water pipe 722 is formed with a plurality of cleaning nozzles N spaced upward in the pipe length direction. Each cleaning nozzle N of the second lower nozzle portion 712 is configured by forming a hole on the upper side of the second lower cleaning water pipe 722, and attaching a nozzle tip to the hole.

  The third cleaning position Wc of the main cleaning zone Zb is located under the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 transported, and the third upper nozzle portion 613 disposed above the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 transported. And a third lower nozzle portion 713 disposed substantially opposite to the third upper nozzle portion 613 on the side.

  Similar to the first upper nozzle portion 611, the third upper nozzle portion 613 is provided with five third upper washing water pipes 623 extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction at intervals in the conveyance direction. . Each third upper washing water pipe 623 is formed with a plurality of washing nozzles N spaced downward in the pipe length direction facing downward. Each cleaning nozzle N is formed by drilling a hole on the lower side of the third upper cleaning water pipe 623.

  The third lower nozzle portion 713 has four third lower washing water pipes 723 extending in the transport direction at intervals in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and a circumference around a central axis in the pipe length direction And a swing mechanism (not shown) for swinging the third lower flush water pipes 723 at a predetermined angle in the direction.

  Each third lower washing water pipe 723 has a plurality of washing nozzles N spaced upward in the pipe length direction formed upward. The cleaning nozzle N of the third lower nozzle portion 713 is configured by forming a hole on the upper side of the third lower cleaning water pipe 723 and attaching a nozzle tip to the hole.

  The fourth cleaning position Wd of the main cleaning zone Zb is located under the kettle body 20 and the fourth upper nozzle portion 614 disposed on the upper side of the lid 10, and the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 being transported. And a fourth lower nozzle portion 714 disposed substantially opposite to the fourth upper nozzle portion 614 on the side.

  Similar to the second upper nozzle portion 612, the fourth upper nozzle portion 614 is provided with four fourth upper washing water pipes 624 extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction at intervals in the conveyance direction. . Each fourth upper washing water pipe 624 is formed with a plurality of washing nozzles N spaced downward in the pipe length direction facing downward. Each cleaning nozzle N is formed by drilling a hole below the fourth upper cleaning water pipe 624.

  Similar to the second lower nozzle portion 712, the fourth lower nozzle portion 714 is a pair of fourth lower washing water pipes extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction at an interval in the transport direction. 724 is provided. Each fourth lower washing water pipe 724 is formed with a plurality of washing nozzles N spaced upward in the pipe length direction. Each cleaning nozzle N of the fourth lower nozzle portion 714 is configured by forming a hole on the upper side of the fourth lower cleaning water pipe 724 and attaching a nozzle tip to the hole.

  Furthermore, the main cleaning zone Zb includes a first tank 81 and a second tank 82. The first tank 81 and the second tank 82 are respectively fresh water piping (not shown) for supplying clean water (tap water), steam piping (not shown) for supplying high temperature steam, the first tank 81 and The fresh water and the washing water stored in the second tank 82 are sucked and discharged to wash each of the first washing position Wa, the second washing position Wb, the third washing position Wc, and the fourth washing position Wd. It is connected to a first pump and a second pump (not shown) for injecting fresh water and wash water from the nozzle N.

  In the present embodiment, the cleaning water is mixed with a predetermined detergent, for example, an alkaline detergent for cleaning agents mainly composed of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or the like. The type, concentration, etc. of the detergent to be mixed in the washing water may be appropriately adjusted according to the degree of contamination of the rice cooker. Further, depending on the degree of contamination of the rice cooker, it is not necessary to mix the detergent into the washing water.

(Rinse cleaning zone)
As shown in FIG. 4, the rinsing and cleaning zone Zc is an upper side on the lower side of the kettle main body 20 and the upper side rinsing means 91 disposed on the upper side of the lid 10 and the kettle main body 20 and the lid 10 conveyed. It comprises a rinsing means 91 and a lower rinsing means 92 arranged opposite to it. The upper rinse means 91 and the lower rinse means 92 each include an upper fresh water pipe 911 and a lower fresh water pipe 921 extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

  The upper fresh water pipe 911 is configured by attaching a nozzle tip to a plurality of holes bored downward at intervals in the pipe length direction. The lower fresh water pipe 921 is configured by attaching a nozzle tip to a plurality of holes bored upward at intervals in the pipe length direction. The upper fresh water pipe 911 and the lower fresh water pipe 921 are connected to a water supply pipe (not shown) for supplying fresh water (tap water).

(Joining and unloading zone)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, in the merging and unloading zone Zd, the first guide member 51 for placing and sliding the pot body 20 which has been rinsed and cleaned in the rinsing and cleaning zone Zc is used as a second guide member 52. Lowering and tilting in the transport direction to a height position substantially the same as the above, and merging is performed so that the height positions at which the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 are transported are substantially the same. Then, the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 which are at substantially the same height position are transported to the unloading means 103 by the second transporting means 42 and the first transporting means 41, and the unloading means 103 It is configured to carry out to the device. The merging and unloading zone Zd will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 10.

  The merging and unloading zone Zd transports the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 out of the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 and transports the kettle body to a kettle body reversing device (not shown) or transfer means (not shown) as a post process. And a pair of merging guide portions 512 which are part of a pair of first guide members 51 described later and are inclined downward in the transport direction. The range of the combined discharge zone Zd overlaps with the fourth cleaning position Wd of the main cleaning zone Zb and the rinse cleaning zone Zc.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the unloading means 103 provided in the merging and unloading zone Zd includes a driven sprocket 104 provided on the downstream side of the merging and unloading zone Zd, and a driving sprocket provided on the downstream side in the transport direction Not shown) and is formed by passing the top chain. As will be described later, although the driven sprocket 104 is inserted by the drive side shaft member 48, it is not mechanically coupled with the drive side shaft member 48 so that power can be transmitted. Are configured to be rotatable.

  Further, although the details will be described later, the pair of merging guide portions 512 conveys the caul body 20 to be placed and slid downstream, and the height position for conveying the caul body 20 will be described later. The lid 10 placed on and slid on the second guide member 52 is configured to be brought close to a height position to be transported and to be substantially the same.

(First conveying means and second conveying means)
The rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 includes a first transfer means 41 and a second transfer means 42 for transferring the pot body 20 and the lid 10 from the loading / removing zone Za to the merging / unloading zone Zd.

  The first transport means 41 transports the lid 10, and the second transport means 42 transports the shuttle body 20. The first conveying means 41 and the second conveying means 42 cooperate with the first guide member 51, the second guide member 52, the third guide member 53, and the fourth guide member 54, which will be described later. The main body 20 is transported in the upper stage, and the lid 10 in the lower stage. Such first conveying means 41 and second conveying means 42 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the first conveyors 411 serving as the pair of first conveying means 41 for conveying the lid 10 each have a pair of drives provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the merging and unloading zone Zd. An endless first chain 414 is formed around the sprocket 412 and a pair of driven sprockets 413 provided on the upstream side in the transport direction of the carry-in / inversion zone Za.

  The first chain 414 is provided with a plurality of first locking members 415 for locking the lid 10 at predetermined intervals (pitch), for example, 571.5 mm, in the transport direction. . Of a pair of first conveyors 411 that are driven to rotate in a driving sprocket 412 and a driven sprocket 413, a first chain 414 and a first chain 414 attached to the forward path that drives in the transport direction are provided. The locking member 415 functions as the first transport means 41. In FIG. 7 (B), only the forward path side of the first locking member 415 is described.

  Further, a semicircular sliding member 416 with a circular portion directed downward is provided in the vicinity of the pair of driven sprockets 413, and the circular portions of the pair of sliding members 416 are brought into contact with the first chain 414. Thus, the tension of the first chain 414 is maintained. As a result, while preventing the first chain 414 from falling off, the lengths are aligned with the second chain 424 of the second conveyor 421 having a different conveyance path, which will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the second conveyors 421 serving as a pair of second conveying means 42 for conveying the shuttle body 20 each have a pair of drives provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the merging and unloading zone Zd. An endless second chain 424 is formed around the sprocket 422 and a pair of driven sprockets 423 provided on the upstream side of the carry-in / inversion zone Za.

  A plurality of second locking members 425 for locking the shuttle body 20 at a predetermined interval (pitch), for example, 571.5 mm, in the transport direction are attached to the second chain 424. Of the pair of second conveyors 421 that are driven to rotate in the conveying direction, the second sprocket 424 and the second chain 424 attached to the forward path are disposed. The locking member 425 functions as the second transport means 42. Note that, in FIG. 8B, only the outward path side of the second locking member 425 is described.

  As shown in FIGS. 7B and 8B, the pair of first conveyors 411 is disposed at an interval smaller than the dimension in the width direction of the lid 10, for example, at an interval of 200 mm. The second conveyor 421 is disposed at substantially the same distance as the handle portion 26 formed on both short side surfaces 21 of the kettle body 20, for example, at a distance of 630 mm. That is, the pair of first conveyors 411 is disposed more inside than the pair of second conveyors 421.

  As will be described later, the interval (pitch) between the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 transported in top view in order to temporarily stop and wash the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 intermittently transported at each cleaning position. , It is necessary to match with the interval of each cleaning position. Therefore, the second locking member 425 arranges the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421 so as to be positioned downstream of the first locking member 415 by a predetermined distance, for example, 440 mm. There is.

  Further, even if the first chain 414 of the first conveyor 411 and the second chain 424 of the second conveyor 421 have the same length, even if the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421 are driven to circulate, The positional relationship between the first locking member 415 and the second locking member 425 is maintained.

  A pair of drive sprockets 412 and 422 have the same number of teeth, and a drive side shaft member 48 connected via a power transmission means (not shown) from the conveyor drive source 43 is inserted (see FIG. 3) . Further, the pair of drive sprockets 412 and 422 supports the drive side shaft member 48 so as to be rotatable via a bearing (not shown) or the like provided on the frame F.

  The driven side shaft member 49 is inserted through the pair of driven sprockets 413 and 423, and the driven side shaft member 49 is rotatably supported via a bearing (not shown) provided on the frame F.

  Then, by driving the conveyor drive source 43 to rotate the drive side shaft member 48, the pair of drive sprockets 412 and 422 are rotated at the same speed, and the pair of first chains 414 and the pair of second chains The chain 424 is driven at the same speed.

  Sprockets (not shown) provided on the output shaft (not shown) of the conveyor drive source 43 (see FIG. 4) for transmitting power to the drive sprockets 412, 422 via power transmission means are arranged in the radial direction of the sprockets. A protruding detection unit (not shown) is provided, and a proximity sensor (not shown) for detecting the position of the detection unit at a predetermined location is provided to detect the detection unit.

  When the detection unit of the sprocket provided on the output shaft of the drive source 43 makes one rotation, the first conveying unit 41 and the second conveying unit 42 are configured to advance by one pitch. That is, each time the first transport unit 41 and the second transport unit 42 advance by one pitch, the detection unit rotates once and is detected. The control panel C temporarily stops the conveyor drive source 43 in response to a signal for detecting the detection unit of the proximity sensor.

  In the present embodiment, the conveyor drive source 43 is an electric motor, is electrically connected to an inverter (not shown), and can change the number of rotations and the like. The conveyor drive source 43 is controlled to start driving when the second sensor 106 provided in the carry-in reverse zone Za detects the hook body 20 or the lid 10.

  That is, after the kettle body 20 or the lid 10 is detected by the second sensor 106, a signal is sent from the second sensor 106 to the control board C. The control panel C receiving the signal drives the conveyor drive source 43 to drive the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421 to circulate. Then, when the sprocket of the conveyor drive source 43 makes one rotation and the detection unit is detected by the proximity sensor, a signal is sent from the proximity sensor to the control board C, and the conveyor drive source 43 is temporarily stopped.

  Then, after the subsequent shuttle body 20 or lid 10 is detected by the second sensor 106, the conveyor drive source 43 is driven by the control panel C, and the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421 are driven to circulate.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the drive sprockets 412 and 422 have the same diameter and the same number of teeth. On the other hand, the driven sprocket 423 of the second conveyor 421 has a diameter larger than that of the driven sprocket 413 of the first conveyor 411, and the second chain 424 rotates outside the first chain 414. Therefore, the tension of the first chain 414 is maintained by bringing the first chain 414 into contact with the sliding member 416 and circulatingly driving around the driven sprockets 413 and 423.

  Thereby, even if the first chain 414 and the second chain 424 having the same length make one rotation, the predetermined distance between the first locking member 415 and the second locking member 425 remains unchanged. The tension of the first chain 414 can be maintained.

  Furthermore, on the frame F, an upper conveyor rail (not shown) on which the first chain 414 and the second chain 424 on the outgoing side are placed, and the first chain 414 and the second chain 424 on the return side are mounted. A lower conveyor rail (not shown) is mounted. Each conveyor rail is constituted by an elongated member made of stainless steel, and the first chain 414 and the second chain 424 roll on the conveyor rail to maintain a predetermined conveyance path. .

  As shown in FIG. 9A, since the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421 are positioned lower than the side regulating portion 315 of the reversing arm 31 placed at the introduction position Pb, the reversing arm is There is no interference with the 31 side restricting portions 315. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9B, the width dimension inside the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the pair of first conveyors 411 and the pair of second conveyors 421 is the reverse at the introduction position Pb. The width dimension of the outer side in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the pair of U-shaped members 311 of the arm 31 is wider. Therefore, the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421 transport the lid 10 and the hook body 20 without interfering with the pair of U-shaped members 311 of the reversing arm 31 moved to the introduction position Pb. Can.

  Furthermore, since the driven side shaft member 49 is positioned lower than the U-shaped member 311 of the reversing arm 31 placed at the introduction position Pb, the driven side shaft member 49 and the U-shaped member 311 may interfere with each other. Absent.

(First guide member, second guide member, third guide member, fourth guide member)
The rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 includes a first guide member 51 for placing and sliding the kettle body 20, a second guide member 52 for placing and sliding the lid 10, and the kettle body 20. A third guide member 53 for restricting an unintended movement in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and a fourth guide member for restricting an unintended movement in the vertical direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the hook body 20 And 54.

  Each of the first guide member 51, the second guide member 52, the third guide member 53, and the fourth guide member 54 is a sliding material, for example, a material having high slidability such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and polyacetal. You are using The first guide member 51, the second guide member 52, the third guide member 53, and the fourth guide member 54 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the upper end of the first guide member 51 is positioned above the upper end of the second guide member 52, and the hook body 20 is placed on the upper end of the first guide member 51 to slide Move it. Then, the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 are conveyed by the first guide member 51 and the second guide member 52 in upper and lower two stages. In addition, the first guide member 51 restricts an unintended movement in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the lid 10.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the pair of first guide members 51 has a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction, for example, a distance of 550 mm, from the downstream side of the carry-in / inversion zone Za to the merging / unloading zone Zd. Is attached to the frame F so as to substantially follow the conveying direction to the downstream side of the frame.

  The pair of first guide members 51 includes a pair of L-shaped guide portions 511 having an L-shaped cross section continuing from the downstream side of the carry-in reverse zone Za to the third cleaning position Wc of the main cleaning zone Zb; It is comprised by two members of a pair of confluence | merging guide part 512 whose cross-sectional shape continuing from the washing | cleaning position Wd of 4 to the confluence | merging delivery zone Zd is a rectangular shape.

  The pair of merging guides 512 are arranged to be inclined downward in the transport direction, but the details will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the pair of second guide members 52 merge from the downstream side of the carry-in reverse zone Za at an interval narrower than the distance between the pair of first guide members 51 in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction. It is attached to the frame F so as to substantially follow the transport direction to the downstream side of the unloading zone Zd.

  The pair of second guide members 52 includes a pair of upstream guide portions 521 continuing from the downstream side of the carry-in reverse zone Za to the upstream side of the second cleaning position Wb of the main cleaning zone Zb; A pair of midstream guide portions 522 continuing from the upstream side of the second cleaning position Wb of the main cleaning zone Zb to the upstream side of the fourth cleaning position Wd so as to partially overlap with each other; A pair of downstream guide portions 523 which continue from the upstream side of the fourth position Wd of the main cleaning zone Zb to the downstream side of the merging and unloading zone Zd are formed so as to overlap.

  The upstream guide portion 521, the midstream guide portion 522, and the downstream guide portion 523 have their upstream end portions bent downward at a predetermined angle in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the pair of third guide members 53 is predetermined in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction more than the dimension in the width direction of both short side portions 21 of the kettle main body 20 transported. And is attached to the frame F so as to substantially follow the transport direction from the upstream side of the first cleaning position Wa of the main cleaning zone Zb to the downstream side of the merging and unloading zone Zd.

  The pair of third guide members 53 conveys the pair of horizontal guide portions 531 continuing from the upstream side of the first cleaning position Wa in the main cleaning zone Zb to the downstream side of the third cleaning position Wc, and the horizontal guide portions 531 A pair of inclined guide portions 532 which continue from the downstream side of the third cleaning position Wc to the downstream side of the merging and unloading zone Zd is formed so as to partially overlap in the direction.

  The horizontal guide portion 531 and the inclined guide portion 532 have their upstream end portions bent outward at a predetermined angle in the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the pair of fourth guide members 54 is predetermined upward from the bottom surface portion 23 of the kettle main body 20 mounted on the first guide member 51 in the vertical direction orthogonal to the transport direction. And is attached to the frame F so as to substantially follow the transport direction from the upstream side of the first cleaning position Wa of the main cleaning zone Zb to the downstream side of the merging and unloading zone Zd.

  The pair of fourth guide members 54 includes a pair of horizontal guide portions 541 continuing from the first cleaning position Wa in the main cleaning zone Zb to the downstream side of the third cleaning position Wc, and one horizontal guide portion 541 in the transport direction. A pair of inclined guide portions 542 continues from the downstream side of the third cleaning position Wc to the downstream side of the merging and unloading zone Zd so as to partially overlap.

  The horizontal guide portion 541 and the inclined guide portion 542 have their upstream end portions bent upward at a predetermined angle in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the main body 20 for transporting the main cleaning zone Zb is placed on the first guide member 51. Further, the open end 24 of the hook body 20 is placed on the upper end of the L-shaped guide portion 511 of the first guide member 51, and the open end 24 of the hook body 20 forms the conveyance surface 27 of the hook body 20. (See FIG. 11). In the merging guide portion 512, the handle upper surface 26a of the hook body 20 is placed at the upper end thereof, and the handle upper surface 26a of the hook body 20 forms the handle conveyance surface 27a of the hook body 20 (see FIG. 13) . The hook main body 20 placed on the upper end of the first guide member 51 is conveyed while being held on the upstream side of the handle portion 26 of the hook main body 20 by the second locking member 425 of the second conveyor 421 .

  The L-shaped guide portions 511 of the pair of first guide members 51 extend horizontally in the transport direction, and transport the shuttle body 20 while maintaining the height position of the transport surface 27 of the shuttle body 20. On the other hand, the merging guide portion 512 of the first guide member 51 is inclined downward in the transport direction, and the height position of the transport surface 27 of the hook body 20 and the height position of the transport surface 17 of the lid 10 as described later. The kettle body 20 is placed and slid so as to be substantially identical to each other, and is transported by the second transport means 42. Further, the first guide member 51 is provided so as to receive the both short corner portions 13 of the lid 10 inside the L-shape of the L-shaped guide portion 511.

  The lid 10 for conveying the main cleaning zone Zb is placed on the pair of second guide members 52. The lower end of the lid frame 11 of the lid 10 is placed at the upper end of the second guide member 52, and the lower end of the lid frame 11 of the lid 10 is the upstream guide 521, the midstream guide 522, and the downstream In any of the guide portions 523, the transport surface 17 of the lid 10 at substantially the same height position is formed. In the lid 10 placed on the upper end of the second guide member 52, the surface on the upstream side of the long corner portion 14 of the lid 10 is locked by the first locking member 415 of the first conveyor 411. It is transported.

  The pair of third guide members 53 is disposed at a distance from each other on both short side portions 21 of the kettle body 20. Thereby, the third guide member 53 regulates an unintended movement in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the shuttle body 20 which conveys the main cleaning zone Zb. The horizontal guide portion 531 of the third guide portion 53 extends horizontally in the transport direction substantially parallel to the L-shaped guide portion 511 of the first guide member 51, and the inclined guide portion 532 is a first guide member It descends and extends substantially in parallel with the merging guide portion 512 of FIG.

  The pair of fourth guide members 54 is arranged at a distance in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction and at a slight distance on the bottom surface portion 23 of the kettle body 20. As a result, the fourth guide member 54 regulates an unintended movement of the hook main body 20 for transporting the main cleaning zone Zb upward. The horizontal guide portion 541 of the fourth guide portion 54 extends horizontally in the transport direction substantially parallel to the L-shaped guide portion 511 of the first guide member 51, and the inclined guide portion 542 is a first guide member It descends and extends substantially in parallel with the merging guide portion 512 of FIG.

  The third guide member 53 and the fourth guide member 54 are configured by members that can easily slide. Therefore, even if the kettle body 20 transported by the second conveyor 421 makes an unintended movement in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction orthogonal to the transport direction by the washing water jetted from the washing nozzle N, By restricting the movement, the hook body 20 can be transported smoothly.

  As described above, the first guide member 51, the second guide member 52, the third guide member 53, and the fourth guide member 54 form a conveyance path for the hook body 20 and the lid 10, and By driving the conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421 to circulate, the kettle body 20 slides on the first guide member 51 and is transported, and the lid 10 slides on the second guide member 52. It is conveyed, and the pot body 20 and the lid 10 are conveyed in two upper and lower stages. At this time, the first guide member 51 receives the short corner portion 13 of the lid 10 inside the L shape of the L-shaped guide portion 511, and moves upward and horizontally perpendicular to the transport direction of the lid 10. Regulate the unintended movement of

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the L-shaped guide portion 511, a sliding member 513 consisting of a U-shaped portion and a linear portion is fitted in the support member 514, and a coupling member such as a screw (not shown) Combined by The support member 514 extends in the transport direction and is attached to the frame F. The upper end of the L-shaped guide portion 511 supports the open end 24 of the kettle body 20. As a result, when the shuttle body 20 is placed on the upper end of the L-shaped guide portion 511 and is slid for transport, the opening end 24 forms the transport surface 27.

  The L-shaped guide portion 511 is disposed opposite to the inside of the L-shape so as to receive the short corner portion 13 of the lid 10. Thus, the L-shaped guide portion 511 restricts the lid 10 from unintended movement in the upward and horizontal directions orthogonal to the transport direction.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the merging guide portion 512 is coupled to the support member 515 by a coupling member (not shown) such as a screw. The support member 515 extends so as to descend in the transport direction, and is attached to the frame F. Thus, the merging guide portion 512 coupled to the support member 515 extends so as to be inclined downward in the transport direction. The merging guide portion 512 is provided opposite to the lid 10 in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction at a slightly larger interval.

  The upper end of the merging guide portion 512 supports the handle portion upper surface 26 a to place and slide the hook body 20. Thereby, when the kettle body 20 slides and conveys the upper end of the merging guide portion 512, the handle portion upper surface 26a of the handle portion 26 supported by the upper end of the merging guide portion 512 is the handle portion conveyance surface 27a. Form.

  The merging guide portion 512 of the first guide member 51 is inclined downward, while the downstream guide portion 523 of the second guide member 52 extends horizontally, so the handle portion conveyance surface 27a of the hook main body 20 is a lid It is configured to approach the 10 conveyance surfaces 17.

  The shuttle body 20 transported by the second transport means 42 is transported while the handle portion transport surface 27a is lowered by the merging guide portion 512 which is inclined downward in the transport direction. Then, the open end 24 of the kettle body 20 is placed on the second guide member 52, and the handle upper surface 26a is separated from the upper end of the merging guide portion 512. After the handle portion upper surface 26a is separated from the upper end of the merging guide portion 512, the open end 24 of the kettle body 20 becomes the transport surface 27 again, and the transport surface 27 of the kettle body 20 substantially coincides with the transport surface 17 of the lid 10. Do.

  In addition, since the conveyance surface 27 is formed by the opening end 24 of the kettle body 20, the conveyance surface 27 of the kettle body 20 is at a height position higher than the upper end of the first guide member 51 supporting the opening end 24. That is, it will be located above the height position of the upper end. Also, since the handle portion conveyance surface 27a is similarly formed by the handle portion upper surface 26a of the pot body 20, the handle portion conveyance surface 27a of the pot body 20 is a first guide member 51 supporting the handle portion upper surface 26a. It will be located more than the height position of the upper end.

  Between the upper end of the first guide member 51 and the conveying surface 27 of the hook body 20 and the handle portion conveying surface 27a, a sliding member different from the first guide member 51 and a member rolling on the same are disposed. And the kettle body 20 may slide or roll. Also in this case, the transport surface 27 and the handle portion transport surface 27 a are positioned at the height position of the upper end of the first guide member 51 or more.

(Kttle body reversing device)
The hook body reversing device (not shown) reverses the hook body 20 in a reverse posture in which the opening end 24 carried out by the unloading means 103 is directed downward to the hook body 20 in the normal posture in which the opening end 24 faces upward. Do.

  Specifically, the shuttle body 20 transported by the unloading means 103 with the open end 24 facing downward is received by a reversing arm (not shown) provided at the end of the unloading means 103. Thereafter, the reversing arm of the kettle body reversing device is rotated forward so that the held kettle body 20 is installed on the downstream side of the rice cooker cleaning device 100 while being reversed so that the open end 24 faces upward. Place on transport means. The reversing arm reverses after the kettle body 20 is extracted by the transfer means, and returns to the state of receiving the kettle body 20 again. The pot body 20 may be reversed by human hands.

(Covering device)
The lid covering device (not shown) places the lid 10 carried out by the carrying out means 103 on the pot body 20 on which the rice pouring is completed. The pot body 20 covered with the lid 10 is transported to the rice cooking process. The lid 10 may be put on the pot body 20 by human hands.

(How to wash the rice cooker)
Then, the washing method of a rice cooker is demonstrated using FIGS. 14-17. Although the washing | cleaning method of a rice cooker using the washing | cleaning apparatus 100 of a rice cooker is demonstrated below, the washing | cleaning apparatus of a rice cooker may utilize the washing | cleaning apparatus of another rice cooker. In FIG. 14, in order to simplify the description, the first lid 110, the second lid 220, the second lid 210, and the third hook with the first hook body 120 at the top. A state in which the main body 320 and the third lid 310 are transported is shown. However, in practice, the other hook body and the lid are sequentially conveyed in front of the pot body 120, and the other pot body and the lid are sequentially conveyed behind the lid 310.

  Each process of the washing method of a rice cooker is a process contained in the rice cooker washing process shown in FIG. 1 and the process before and behind that, and is a part of process of a rice cooking system. And the washing method of the rice cooker which is a part of process of a rice cooking system carries in the pot body 20 separated by the lid removal process which separates a rice cooker into the kettle main body 20 and the lid 10, and the lid removal process. And reverse the vertical direction and carry in the separated lid 10, and carry the lid 10 with the back surface down by the first carrying means 41 and carry it back by the second carrying means 42. The pot body 20 is transported, and the main washing step of washing the lid 10 and the pot body 20 with washing water, and the washing water adhering to the pot body 20 and lid 10 in the main washing step are washed away with fresh water The carrying surface 27 formed by the opening end 24 of the kettle main body 20 in which the rinsing and washing steps have been completed and the carrying surface 17 formed by the lid frame portion 11 of the lid 10 are at substantially the same height position. Merged and carried out process of carrying out to the apparatus of the subsequent process by 103 The reversion step of re-reversing the kettle main body 20 so that the opening end 24 faces upward by the kettle main body reversing means, re-reversing again, the lid body covering means to the kettle main body 20 having finished the rice pouring process And a lid covering step of covering the body 10.

(Lid removal process)
In the lid removing step, the rice cooker that has completed the reverse take-out step of the automatic rice cooking system is transferred to a lid removing device (not shown), and the hook body 20 and the lid 10 are After separation, the pot body 20 from which the lid 10 is separated is carried into the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100, and then the lid 10 separated from the pot body 20 is carried into the rice pot cleaning apparatus 100.

  Specifically, first, the pot body 20 is reversed in the reverse extraction step of the rice cooking system, and after the rice in the storage space 29 is taken out, the posture of the pot body 20 in a normal posture in which the open end 24 of the pot body 20 faces upward. And return the rice cooker to the lid removing device with the lid 10 covered.

  Next, in the lid removing device, the reverse take-out step of the rice cooking system is finished, and the rice cooker is received in a state where the lid 10 is covered on the kettle body 20, and stopped at the standby position of the lid removing device. Next, the lid removing device grips the gripping portion 15 of the lid 10 from the rice cooker stopped at the standby position by the gripping lifting device, lifts the lid 10 to the raised position, and removes it from the kettle body 20 ( Separation step). The lid 10 may be separated from the pot body by human hands.

  The standby position at which the rice cooker of the lid removing device stops is a connecting portion (not shown) for transferring the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 from the transfer device to the loading means 101, and the lid 10 is removed. The pot body 20 is carried into the carry-in reverse zone Za of the rice cooker washing apparatus 100 by the carrying-in means 101.

  Next, the lid 10 separated from the rice cooker by the holding and elevating device is transferred to the carrying-in means 101 for carrying the lid 10 and the pot body 20 into the washing machine 100 for the rice cooker from the transport means. Place in the department and let it stand by. Then, the lid 10 is carried into the rice cooker washing apparatus 100 by the carrying-in means 101.

  Then, the next rice cooker is transferred to the lid removing device after the reverse take-out step of the rice cooking system. The pot body 20 and the lid 10 are sequentially carried into the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 in such a procedure, and by repeating this procedure, the plurality of pot bodies 20 and the plurality of lids 10 are successively carried in successively. Do.

(Carry-in reverse process)
In the loading and reversing step, the shuttle body 30 lifted from the loading port I is lifted by the reversing means 30 from the insertion position Pa where the pot body 20 is loaded into the reversing means 30, and the second transport means 42 transports it. It is carried in by placing it on the first guide member 51 to the introduction position Pb which is a possible position (inversion step). Then, after the reversing step is completed, the carrying-in means 101 carries in the lid 10 to be carried in to the transfer position Pc, which is a position where it is possible to transit the first transport means 41 (loading step).

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14A, in the carry-in / invert step, when the kettle body 220 is received in the receiving space 34 of the reversing arm 31 at the insertion position Pa, the first sensor 105 is the kettle body Detect 220 and send a signal to control board C. The control panel C, which has received the signal, operates the reversing mechanism 32 for 7 seconds, for example, to move the reversing arm 31 from the inserting position Pa, to the introducing position Pb via the intermediate position obtained by rotating the reversing arm 31 90 degrees forward. To roll.

  Then, the reversing arm 31 rotates forward to the introduction position Pb, and when the shuttle body 220 is carried to the introduction position Pb, the second sensor 106 detects the shuttle body 220 and sends a signal to the control board C. The control panel C receiving the signal drives the conveyor drive source 43 to drive the second conveyor 421 to circulate. Thus, the second locking member 425 is engaged with the hook body 220 and conveyed, and the hook body 220 is extracted from the reversing arm 31. At this time, the control panel C drives the conveyor drive source 43 to drive the second conveyor 421 for one pitch, for example, for 7 seconds, and then stops it.

  After the hook body 220 is extracted from the reversing arm 31, the second sensor 106 detects that the hook body 220 is not in the reversing arm 31 and sends a signal to the control board C. The control panel C having received the signal reverses the reversing arm 31 from the introduction position Pb to the intermediate position for a predetermined time, for example, 4 seconds. Then, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the reversing arm 31 reaches the intermediate position, the control panel C drives the loading means 101 to circulate and loads the lid 210 to the transfer position Pc. At this time, the lid 10 is transported by the loading means 101 and carried under the reversing arm 31 located at the intermediate position and carried in, whereby the lid 10 can be loaded without causing interference with the reversing arm 31 (see FIG. See Figure 15).

  Then, when the lid 210 reaches the transfer position Pc of the second guide 52, the second sensor 106 detects the lid 210 and sends a signal to the control board C. The control board C reverses the reversing arm 31 from the intermediate position to the insertion position Pa and drives the conveyor drive source 43 to drive the second conveyor 421 for one pitch, for example, 7 seconds for a predetermined period of time, Transport the 210.

  At this time, the first conveyor 411 is also synchronously driven at one pitch, and the shuttle body 220 carried in earlier is also transported. By synchronously driving the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421, the kettle body 220 and the lid 210, including the kettle body and the lid already carried into the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100. Can be transported synchronously.

  As described above, in the loading and inverting step, the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 are loaded in order and transported to the introduction position Pb of the first guide member 51 and the transfer position Pc of the second guide member 52. When the reversing arm 31 moves to an intermediate position between the introduction position Pb and the inserting position Pa in an empty state (see FIG. 15), the lid 10 is transferred by the loading means 101, and the lower side of the reversing arm 31 It is transported through the

(Main cleaning process)
In the rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 14, the main cleaning zone Zb is added to the first cleaning position Wa, the second cleaning position Wb, the third cleaning position Wc, and the fourth cleaning position Wd. , A loading standby position Ws upstream of the first cleaning position Wa, and an unloading standby position Wt downstream of the fourth cleaning position Wd, the first cleaning position Wa, the second cleaning position Wb, and the third cleaning position Wb The pot body 20 and the lid 10 are cleaned at the cleaning position Wc and the fourth cleaning position Wd (cleaning step).

  In the main washing step of the washing method of the rice cooker, the kettle main body 20 and the lid 10 are alternately arranged in a line in top view and transported by intermittent operation, and the first washing position Wa and the second washing position Wb , The third cleaning position Wc, the first lower nozzle portion 711, the second lower nozzle portion 712, the third lower nozzle portion 713, the fourth lower nozzle portion having the fourth cleaning position Wd When it is positioned approximately above 714, it decelerates and stops, and the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 are decelerated by the cleaning nozzle N at each cleaning position that sprays cleaning water continuously. While stopped, wash with wash water.

  The intervals between the first cleaning position Wa, the second cleaning position Wb, the third cleaning position Wc, and the fourth cleaning position Wd are attached to the first chain 414 and the second chain 424, respectively. A predetermined distance which is a pitch of the first locking member 415 and the second locking member 425, for example, a distance of 571.5 mm, is provided. Also, the second locking member 425 is located downstream of the first locking member 415 by a predetermined distance, for example, 440 millimeters.

  A predetermined interval which is a pitch of the first locking member 415 and the second locking member 425 and a predetermined spacing in which the second locking member 425 is positioned downstream of the first locking member 415 By the interval, as shown in FIG. 14D, the first cleaning position Wa, the second cleaning position Wb, the third cleaning position Wc, and the fourth cleaning position Wd are stopped. The kettle body 20 and the lid 10 can be alternately arranged and intermittently transported.

  Here, the first tank 81 and the second tank 82 shown in FIG. 14 store the flush water supplied from the fresh water pipe. The wash water stored in the first tank 81 and the second tank 82 is heated to a predetermined temperature, for example, about 50 ° C., by mixing the high temperature steam supplied from the steam piping. Do.

  The wash water stored in the first tank 81 and the second tank 82 and heated to a predetermined temperature is discharged by the first pump (not shown) and the second pump (not shown), and the first wash Upper nozzle portion 611, second upper nozzle portion 612, third upper nozzle portion 613, fourth upper nozzle portion 614, and first lower nozzle portion 711, second lower nozzle portion 712, third The lower nozzle portion 713 and the fourth lower nozzle portion 714 are jetted at a predetermined pressure, for example, 0.14 to 0.15 MPa.

  From the first upper nozzle portion 611 and the first lower nozzle portion 711 of the first cleaning position Wa, and the second upper nozzle portion 612 and the second lower nozzle portion 712 of the second cleaning position Wb The washing water jetted at a predetermined pressure is collected into the first tank 81, and the third upper nozzle portion 613 and the third lower nozzle portion 713 of the third washing position Wc, and the fourth washing position The washing water sprayed from the fourth upper nozzle portion 614 and the fourth lower nozzle portion 714 of Wd at a predetermined pressure is collected into the second tank 82.

  Then, the wash water collected and stored in the first tank 81 and the second tank 82 is mixed with the high temperature steam supplied from the steam piping and heated to a predetermined temperature, and the first pump and the second pump The pump is discharged by the pump, and it is jetted to the pot body 20 and the cover 10 which are circulated and intermittently transported to wash the pot body 20 and the cover 10.

  As described above, in the rice cooker washing apparatus 100, the wash water in which the rice cooker 20 and the lid 10 are washed is collected by the first tank 81 and the second tank 82, heated to a predetermined temperature, and then the washing nozzle Spray again from N to wash the rice cooker 20 and the lid 10. Circulate and reuse wash water.

  The conveyance of the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 in the cleaning process will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In the state of FIG. 14 (A), the first shuttle main body 120 carried in earlier in the carry-in / revert step is conveyed by the second conveyor 421 to the first cleaning position Wa, and the second shuttle body 421 is carried in later. The first lid 110 is conveyed by the first conveyor 411 to the loading standby position Ws.

  At this time, the second pot body 220, which is a subsequent rice cooker, is received by the reversing arm 31, and is then reversed in the vertical direction and placed at the introduction position Pb of the first guide member 51. The control panel C detects the second hook body 220 placed at the introduction position Pb of the first guide portion 51 by the second sensor 106, and drives the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421 by one pitch. , And convey the pot bodies 120 and 220 and the lid 110. Then, the subsequent lid 210 is transported by the loading means 101 to the transfer position Pc.

  The first pot body 120 is transported from the first cleaning position Wa to the second cleaning position Wb. Further, the following lid 110, the hook body 220, and the lid 210 are also transported synchronously. In that state, the second sensor 106 detects the subsequent kettle body 20 or lid 10 in the kettle body 120, the lid 110, the kettle body 220, and the lid 210, and the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor While starting to drive 421, for example, it stops for 30 seconds and stands by, and shifts to the state of FIG. 14 (B).

  During this time, the second lid 210 is transported to the transfer position Pc of the second guide member 52. The control panel C detects the second lid 210 at the transfer position Pc of the second guide member 52, and drives the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421, for example, one pitch over 7 seconds. , The pot body 120, 220 and the lid 110, 210 are conveyed, and it shifts to the state of FIG. 14 (C).

  In the state of FIG. 14C, the first pot body 120 is transported from the second cleaning position Wb to the third cleaning position Wc, and the first lid 110 is moved from the first cleaning position Wa to the first cleaning position Wa. The second pot body 220 is transported from the carry-in standby position Ws to the first cleaning position Wa, and the second lid 210 is a transfer position of the second guide member 52. The pot body 120, 220 and the lids 110, 210 are stopped for 30 seconds, for example, and stand by in this state. As will be described later, while temporarily stopping and waiting, the kettle bodies 120 and 220 and the lid 110 are cleaned at each cleaning position.

  At this time, the third pot body 320 of the subsequent rice cooker is received by the reversing arm 31 and then placed at the introduction position Pb of the first guide member 51. The control panel C detects the second hook main body 320 placed at the introduction position Pb of the first guide member 51 by the second sensor 106, and the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421 are, for example, seven. The pots 120, 220, and 320 and the lids 110 and 210 are transported by one pitch over a second, and the state shifts to the state shown in FIG. 14 (D).

  In the state of FIG. 14 (D), the first pot body 120 is transported from the third cleaning position Wc to the fourth cleaning position Wd, and the first lid 110 is moved from the second cleaning position Wb to the second cleaning position Wb. The second pot body 220 is transported from the first cleaning position Wa to the second cleaning position Wb, and the second lid 210 is transferred from the loading standby position Ws to the first cleaning position Wc. It is conveyed to the cleaning position Wa, and the third hook body 320 is conveyed from the introduction position Pb of the first guide member 51 to the loading standby position Ws. In that state, the kettle bodies 120, 220, 320 and the lids 110, 210 stop for 30 seconds, for example, and stand by. As will be described later, while temporarily stopping and waiting, the kettle bodies 120 and 220 and the lids 110 and 210 are cleaned at each cleaning position.

  During this time, the third lid 310 is transported to the transfer position Pc of the second guide member 52. The control panel C detects the third lid 310 at the transfer position Pc of the second guide member 52, and drives the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421, for example, for 7 seconds, and the hook body 120 , 220, 320 and the lids 110, 210, 310 to the next position.

  As described above, in the main cleaning step of the method for cleaning the rice cooker, the first transfer means 41 and the second transfer means 42 of the rice cooker cleaning device 100 intermittently and intermittently synchronize the pot body 20 and the lid 10. In order to convey, the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 are conveyed in an intermittent operation in one row. As a result, the pot body 20 and the lid 10 are stopped for a predetermined time at the first cleaning position Wa, the second cleaning position Wb, the third cleaning position Wc, and the fourth cleaning position Wd, continuously. The cleaning nozzle N in the first cleaning position Wa, the second cleaning position Wb, the third cleaning position Wc, and the fourth cleaning position Wd jets the cleaning water, and the cleaning nozzle N cleans with the cleaning water in a decelerated or stopped state. Ru.

  The first transfer means 41 and the second transfer means 42 intermittently transfer the lid 10 and the shuttle body 20 synchronously, but the first lower nozzle portion 711, the second lower nozzle portion 712. When the lid 10 and the hook body 20 are positioned substantially above the cleaning nozzles N of the third lower nozzle portion 713 and the fourth lower nozzle portion 714, before the conveyance is temporarily stopped, As a matter of course, the transfer speed of the lid 10 and the hook body 20 is reduced. Further, when the conveyance is started after the lid 10 and the hook body 20 are temporarily stopped, the conveyance speed of the lid 10 and the hook body 20 is naturally accelerated.

  In addition, although the 1st conveyance means 41 and the 2nd conveyance means 42 are carrying out intermittent conveyance of the lid 10 and the kettle main body 20 synchronously synchronously, the lid 10 and the kettle main body 20 can be wash | cleaned enough. In this case, the lid 10 and the hook body 20 may be conveyed by continuous conveyance and cleaned. Furthermore, continuous conveyance may be made to convey lid 10 and pot body 20 repeatedly by decelerating and accelerating.

  The first transfer means 41 and the second transfer means 42 do not have to be driven synchronously as long as the lid 10 and the pot body 20 can be sufficiently cleaned. In that case, the drive sprocket 412 for driving the first chain 414 of the first transfer means 41 to circulate and the drive sprocket 422 for driving the second chain 424 of the second transfer means 42 to rotate are different in drive side shaft The member is inserted. Then, the first transport means 41 and the second transport means 42 transport the lid 10 so that the hook body 20 does not contact.

  In that case, the lid 10 is disposed substantially above at least one of the first lower nozzle portion 711, the second lower nozzle portion 712, the third lower nozzle portion 713, and the fourth lower nozzle portion 714. Alternatively, when the pot body 20 is positioned, the lid 10 or the pot body 20 is temporarily stopped and cleaned. Thereby, the cleaning according to the degree of contamination of the lid 10 and the pot body 20 can be performed.

  In addition, the lid 10 and the hook body 20 may be transported at substantially the same speed, or may be transported and cleaned at different speeds, without temporarily stopping the lid 10 or the hook body 20. Furthermore, acceleration and deceleration may be performed with the transport speed of at least one of the lid 10 and the hook body 20 being variable. Thus, the transport speed can be set according to the degree of contamination of the lid 10 and the hook body 20 to perform cleaning.

  In the present embodiment, the pot body 20 and the lid 10 are intermittently transported with a stop time of 30 seconds and a drive time of 7 seconds. The cleaning at the first cleaning position Wa, the second cleaning position Wb, the third cleaning position Wc, and the fourth cleaning position Wd will be described in detail below using FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 16A, the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 placed at positions corresponding to the first upper nozzle portion 611 and the first lower nozzle portion 711 at the first cleaning position Wa The cleaning water is injected from the cleaning nozzle N. At this time, the washing water jetted from the washing nozzle N of the first lower nozzle portion 711 is jetted at a pressure of 0.14 MPa, for example.

  The washing water jetted from the washing nozzle N of the five first lower washing water pipes 721 is so strong that the lid 10 is lifted, but the lid 10 of the first guide member 51 is orthogonal to the transport direction Restricts movement in the unintended direction upward. Thereby, the lid 10 can be transported normally and can be cleaned effectively.

  As shown in FIG. 16 (B), the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 placed at positions corresponding to the second upper nozzle portion 612 and the second lower nozzle portion 712 at the second cleaning position Wb The cleaning water is injected from the cleaning nozzle N. At this time, the wash water sprayed from the wash nozzle N of the second lower nozzle portion 712 is sprayed at a pressure of 0.14 MPa, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 16C, the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 placed at positions corresponding to the third upper nozzle portion 613 and the third lower nozzle portion 713 in the third cleaning position Wc. The cleaning water is injected from the cleaning nozzle N. At this time, the wash water sprayed from the wash nozzle N of the third lower nozzle portion 713 is sprayed at a pressure of, for example, 0.15 MPa. In addition, in FIG. 16C, the cleaning nozzle N of the third lower nozzle portion 713 swings.

  The washing water jetted from the washing nozzle N of the four third lower washing water pipes 723 is strong enough to lift the lid 10, but the lid 10 of the first guide member 51 is orthogonal to the transport direction It is possible to regulate the movement in the unintended direction upward. Furthermore, since the cleaning nozzle N of the third lower cleaning water pipe 723 swings, the lid 10 easily moves in an unintended direction in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction, but the first guide member 51 is a lid It is possible to restrict movement of the body 10 in an unintended direction in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Thereby, the lid 10 can be transported normally and can be cleaned effectively.

  As shown in FIG. 16D, the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 placed at positions corresponding to the fourth upper nozzle portion 614 and the fourth lower nozzle portion 714 in the fourth cleaning position Wd The cleaning water is injected from the cleaning nozzle N. At this time, the washing water jetted from the washing nozzle N of the lower nozzle portion 714 is jetted at a pressure of 0.15 MPa, for example.

  In addition, when being transported from the first cleaning position Wa to the second cleaning position Wb, the second guide member 52 supporting the lid 10 from below moves from the upstream guide portion 521 to the midstream guide portion 522. Do. By moving from the upstream guide portion 521 to the midstream guide portion 522, the portion where the washing water is shielded by the second guide member 52 in the first washing position Wa and the second washing position Wb, that is, the kettle The cleaning dead angle of the main body 20 and the lid 10 changes, and the pot body 20 and the lid 10 can be effectively cleaned.

(Rinse washing process)
As shown in FIG. 14, in the rinsing and washing step, the washing water attached to the lid 10 and the pot body 20 in the main washing step is washed away with fresh water. Specifically, when being transported from the fourth cleaning position Wd to the unloading standby position Wt, the upper and lower rinsing units 91 and 92 spray the upper and lower rinsing units 92 while passing through the rinsing and cleaning zone Zc. Rinse the washing water adhering to the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 in the main washing step with fresh water.

(Joining and unloading process)
As shown in FIG. 14, the shuttle body 20 transported from the fourth cleaning position Wd to the unloading standby position Wt is on the lower side until the first guide member 51 is at substantially the same height position as the second guide member 52. By inclining to the direction, the conveyance surface 27 formed by the opening end 24 of the kettle body 20 and the conveyance surface 17 formed by the lid frame portion 11 of the lid 10 are merged at substantially the same height position.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the kettle body 20 has a first guide member whose opening end 24 is a first guide member from the downstream side of the carry-in / invert zone Za to the downstream side of the third cleaning position Wc of the main cleaning zone Zb. It is mounted on the upper end of the L-shaped guide portion 511 of 51 and slides, and the open end 24 forms the transport surface 27 of the kettle body 20 and is transported by the second transport means 42.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the L-shaped guide portion 511 is disconnected on the upstream side of the merging and unloading zone Zd, and the merging guide portion 512, which descends in the transport direction, is connected to the end face thereof. Is in the state of FIG. In the state of FIG. 13, the handle upper surface 26a of the hook main body 20 is placed and slides on the merging guide portion 512 which is inclined downward in the transport direction, and the handle upper surface 26a forms the handle transport surface 27a of the hook main body 20. Then, the shuttle body 20 is transported while the handle portion transport surface 27a is lowered by the second transport means 42.

  When the handle portion conveyance surface 27a is lowered and conveyed, the opening end 24 of the shuttle body 20 is placed on the second guide member 52 and slides. Then, the upper surface 26a of the handle portion is separated from the upper end of the merging guide portion 512 which is inclined downward in the transport direction, and the opening end 24 of the kettle body 20 becomes the transport surface 27 again, and the transport surface 27 of the kettle body 20 is a lid It substantially coincides with the 10 conveyance surfaces 17 at the height position.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 10, in the merging and unloading process, the first guide member 51 on which the caul body 20 on which the rinsing and washing process is completed is placed and slid down is inclined downward in the transport direction. It conveys to unloading means 103 so that the height position which conveys the pot body 20 may be substantially the same (merging step), and unloads it to the apparatus of the subsequent process by unloading means 103 (extraction step).

  As shown in FIG. 17, in the joining and unloading process, the handle portion 26 of the hook main body 20 is pressed and conveyed by the second locking member 425 of the second conveyor 421. Then, at the end of the second conveyor 421, the second locking member 425 moves from the forward path to the return path along the rotation of the drive sprocket 422. As a result, the handle portion 26 of the hook main body, which has been pressed by the second locking member 425, is released toward the unloading means 103 by the second locking member 425.

  After being released, the kettle body 20 leaves a portion on the rear side of the handle portion 26 on the second conveyor 421, but as shown in FIG. 17, the rear longitudinal side 22 of the kettle body 20 is The shuttle main body 20 is reliably placed on the unloading means 103 by pushing and conveying the first locking member 415 of the first conveyor 411. The lid 10 is placed on the unloading means 103 with the rear longitudinal corner 14 pushed by the first locking member 415 of the first conveyor 411. The shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 sequentially mounted on the unloading means 103 are sequentially transported by the unloading means 103.

(Re-inversion process)
In the re-reversing step, the hook main body reversing means re-reverses the state in which the open end 24 is directed downward, that is, the hook main body 20 in the reverse posture is in the normal state. . Specifically, the shuttle body 20 transported by the unloading means 103 with the open end 24 facing downward is received by a reversing arm (not shown) provided at the end of the unloading means 103. Thereafter, by the forward rotation of the reversing arm, the kettle main body 20 held by the reversing arm is transferred to the downstream side of the rice cooker cleaning device 100 while being reversed again so that the open end 24 faces upward. It is placed on the means and transported to the rice distribution and water injection process.

(Covering process)
In the lid covering step, the lid 10 is rereversed to the normal posture in the reinversion step and placed on the transfer means, and the lid body 10 covers the lid 10 by the lid covering means on the pot body 20 after the rice dispensing process. Specifically, the lid 10 transported by the unloading means 103 stands by at the standby position of the unloading means 103. Thereafter, the lid 10 is lifted by the holding and elevating means, and is put on the pot body 20 which has finished the water distribution process. The transfer means transfers the pot body 20 with the lid 10 covered thereon to the cooking process.

  Such a rice cooker cleaning apparatus 100 and a rice cooker cleaning method can transport the kettle body and the lid normally and can effectively clean them, and can reduce the installation space.

  The first transfer means 41 and the second transfer means 42 are the first chain 414 and the second chain 424 on the feed side of the first conveyor 411 and the second conveyor 421, and the first chain 414. And the first locking member 415 and the second locking member 425 attached to the second chain 424, but other configurations are possible as long as the shuttle body 20 and the lid 10 can be transported. Good.

  In addition, although the 1st guide member 51 and the 2nd guide member 52 are arrange | positioned facing substantially horizontally, the 1st guide member 51 and the 2nd guide member 52 incline and oppose. It may be arranged. In that case, the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 can be inclined and transported, and drainage after the rinsing process of the kettle body 20 and the lid 10 can be improved.

  The pot body 20 and the lid 10 may not be supported by the first guide member 51 and the second guide member 52 as long as they are held and transported. For example, the hook main body 20 or the lid 10 may be nipped and transported from the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

  The first guide member 51 restricts the movement of the lid 10 in the upward and horizontal directions orthogonal to the transport direction, but restricts at least one of the upward and horizontal directions orthogonal to the transport direction. do it.

  Although the first guide member 51 restricts the movement of the lid 10 and the caul body 20 is mounted, another guide member for restricting the movement of the lid 10 is provided, and a first guide is provided. The member 51 may only be placed on the hook body 20.

  The lid 10 and the hook body 20 are conveyed in a single row with the width direction aligned in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, but at least one of the lid 10 and the hook body 20 has the width direction You may align and convey to the advancing direction.

  In addition, although the 1st conveyance means 41 and the 2nd conveyance means 42 carry out intermittent conveyance of the kettle main body 20 and the lid 10 as the stop time of 30 seconds and drive time of 7 seconds, the time of intermittent conveyance is Various changes can be made, and not limited to intermittent operation, acceleration and deceleration may be repeated.

  In addition, although the thing of the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped was used for the rice cooker which conveys and wash | cleans with the washing apparatus 100 of a rice cooker, you may use a thing of a substantially cylindrical shape.

However, the configuration shown in each of the above embodiments is a specific example of the constituent elements, and each configuration, shape, or attachment mode is limited to those shown as the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Instead, various modifications or changes are possible.

  The present invention is not limited to a rice cooker that separately cleans the pot body and the lid, and can be applied to a cleaning device that separates and cleans the container and the lid.

C Control panel D Door F Frame H Housing I Loading port K Floor L Leg N Cleaning nozzle O Loading port Pa Insertion position Pb Introduction position Pc Transfer position Wa First cleaning position Wb Second cleaning position Wc Third Cleaning position Wd Fourth cleaning position Ws Loading standby position Wt Loading standby position Za Loading reverse zone Zb Main cleaning zone Zc Rinsing cleaning zone Zd Merge outlet zone 10 lid 11 lid frame 12 lid plate 13 short side corner 14 long Corner 15 Grasping part 16 Through hole 17 Conveying surface 20 Hook main body 21 Short side part 22 Longitudinal side part 23 Bottom side part 24 Opening end 25 Opening 26 Handle 26a Handle upper surface 27 Conveying surface 27a Handle conveying surface 29 Housing space 30 Reversing means 31 Reversing arm 32 Reversing mechanism 34 Receiving space 35 Reversing drive source 41 First transport means 42 Second transport means Reference Signs List 3 conveyor drive source 48 drive side shaft member 49 driven side shaft member 51 first guide member 52 second guide member 53 third guide member 54 fourth guide member 81 first tank 82 second tank 91 upper side Rinsing means 92 Lower side rinsing means 100 Rice cooker cleaning apparatus 101 Loading means 102 Drive sprocket 103 Carrying out means 104 Driven sprocket 105 First sensor 106 Second sensor 110 First lid 120 First kettle body 210 Second Lid 220 second hook body 310 third lid 311 U-shaped member 312 P-shaped member 314 through hole 315 side regulating portion 317 through hole 318 opening end regulating portion 319 bottom regulating portion 320 third pot body 321 inlet 322 end terminus 323 rotation shaft 411 first conveyor 412 drive sprocket 413 driven sprocket 414 first Chain 415 first locking member 416 sliding member 421 second conveyor 422 driving sprocket 423 driven sprocket 424 second chain 425 second locking member 511 L-shaped guide portion 512 merging guide portion 513 sliding member 514 Support member 515 Support member 521 Upstream guide portion 522 Midstream guide portion 523 Downstream guide portion 531 Horizontal guide portion 532 Tilted guide portion 541 Horizontal guide portion 542 Tilted guide portion 611 First upper nozzle portion 612 Second upper nozzle portion 613 Third Upper nozzle portion 614 Fourth upper nozzle portion 621 First upper washing water piping 622 Second upper washing water piping 623 Third upper washing water piping 624 Fourth upper washing water piping 711 First lower nozzle Part 712 Second lower nozzle part 713 Third lower nozzle part 714 Fourth lower nozzle part 721 first lower flush water piping 722 second lower flush water piping 723 third lower flush water piping 724 fourth lower flush water piping 911 upper fresh water piping 921 lower fresh water piping

Claims (8)

A washing apparatus for a rice cooker, which alternately arranges a lid of a rice cooker and a kettle body at a predetermined interval along a transport direction in top view, and transports and cleans with washing water,
First conveying means for conveying the lid with the back surface facing downward;
Second conveying means for conveying the hook main body whose opening end is downward;
A first guide member that restricts movement of the lid in an upward direction and / or a horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction;
And a washing nozzle which is disposed below the lid body and the pot body and which sprays washing water at a predetermined pressure upward.
A lid body for conveying by the first conveying means with the conveying surface of the hook body positioned at or above the height position of the upper end of the first guide member, and a hook body for conveying by the second conveying means A washing machine for a rice cooker characterized by conveying in two stages up and down.
A washing apparatus for a rice cooker, which alternately arranges a lid of a rice cooker and a kettle body at a predetermined interval along a transport direction in top view, and transports and cleans with washing water,
First conveying means for conveying the lid with the back surface facing downward;
Second conveying means for conveying the hook main body whose opening end is downward;
A first guide member that restricts movement of the lid in an upward direction and a horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction;
And a washing nozzle which is disposed below the lid body and the pot body and which sprays washing water at a predetermined pressure upward.
A lid body for conveying by the first conveying means with the conveying surface of the hook body positioned at or above the height position of the upper end of the first guide member, and a hook body for conveying by the second conveying means A washing machine for a rice cooker characterized by conveying in two stages up and down.
The kettle body is placed on the upper end of the first guide member, and the upper end of the first guide member is slid by the second transport means to transport the shuttle body. Washing machine for rice cooker as described in.
When the lid or the hook body is positioned substantially above the cleaning nozzle, the first transport means for transporting the lid or the second transport means for transporting the hook body is decelerated. The washing apparatus of the rice cooker as described in any one of 1-3.
A cleaning step of arranging and transporting the lid of the rice cooker and the kettle body at predetermined intervals alternately in a row in top view, and washing the lid and the kettle body with the jetted washing water The washing method of the rice cooker including
In the cleaning step, the height position of the upper end of the first guide member that restricts the movement of the lid in the upward direction and / or the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the lid in the conveyance surface of the kettle body A method for washing a rice cooker, characterized in that the pot body is positioned above, the pot body is in the upper stage, and the lid is in the lower stage, and the pot body and the lid are transported by upper and lower two stages by transport means.
Before the cleaning step,
A separation step of separating a rice cooker having a lid body covered with a lid body into the lid body and the pot body;
The method for washing a rice cooker according to claim 5, further comprising: a reversing step of placing the kettle body separated in the separation step on the upper end of the first guide member while reversing.
After the cleaning step
A merging step of transporting the shuttle body and the lid by the transport means such that the transport surface of the kettle body transporting the upper stage and the transport surface of the lid transporting the lower stage are aligned at substantially the same height position The washing method of the rice cooker according to claim 5 or 6 characterized by things.
The rice cooking method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein, in the washing step, when the lid or the pot body is washed with the washing water, the conveyance speed of the lid or the pot body is reduced. How to clean the kettle.

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