JP3183870B2 - Growth tray cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a growing tray cleaning apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in hydroponics of bean sprouts, a large number of small diameters (about 2 mm) for planting beards (roots) of bean sprouts.
Sprouts breeding box provided with a hole is used. Such a bean sprouts box is repeatedly used, but before and after use, it has been washed from the viewpoint of hygiene.

[0003] In this case, a washing method has conventionally been adopted in which bean sprouts growing boxes are arranged in a horizontal line, and high-pressure hot water is sequentially sprayed with a hand-held spray gun connected to a high-pressure hot water washing machine.

[0004]

In recent years, international standards for hygiene have been regarded as important in the field of agriculture. In addition to the low efficiency due to the need for manual labor, it is difficult to clean evenly down to the smallest detail, and there are problems such as uneven cleaning and easy contact with humans. . Such a problem is not limited to the sprouts growing box, but also occurs, for example, in the growing box of radish.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a growing tray cleaning apparatus which can efficiently perform uniform cleaning even in details without requiring any manual operation.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a growing tray cleaning apparatus of the present invention mounts a growing tray vertically and receives the lower edge of the growing tray to convey the growing tray. Belt and a high-pressure water jet for cleaning the surface of the growing tray placed on the traveling belt
A first cleaning nozzle for use, an entrance feed belt disposed upstream of the traveling belt and provided with a retaining piece for retaining the growth tray from the rear side of the growth tray; High-pressure water disposed downstream of the first cleaning nozzle for cleaning the rear surface of the growing tray placed thereon;
A second cleaning nozzle for jetting, an outlet feed belt provided downstream of the traveling belt and provided with a locking piece for locking the growing tray from the surface side of the growing tray; A blower disposed downstream of the delivery belt to dry the growing tray after completion.

[0007] The first washing nozzle may be a casing.
A rotor that rotates when high-pressure water passes inside
A rotating conical nozzle that has a spray pattern in a ring shape is also preferable. Furthermore, it is also preferable that the second cleaning nozzle is a fan-shaped nozzle that sprays high-pressure water in a fan-shaped manner .

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a basic structure of a growing tray cleaning apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a running belt which rolls in the direction of arrow A, and 2 denotes a growing tray (FIGS. 7, 8, 9). reference)
Thus, for example, a substrate 22 having a number of small holes 21 for inserting roots 32 of bean sprouts 31 and bars 23 ...
During cleaning, the traveling belt 1 is placed vertically on the carry-in side 12 of the traveling belt 1.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a first washing nozzle for injecting high-pressure hot water toward the front surface 24 of the growing tray 2, and reference numeral 4 denotes an input side feed belt.
A hooking piece 42 for hooking the growing tray 2 is protruded from the side of the running belt 1 and is arranged on one upstream side of the running belt 1 so as to face the first washing nozzle 3 and is the same as the running belt 1. Rolls in the same direction at the feed rate.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a second washing nozzle for injecting high-pressure cold water toward the rear surface 25 of the growth tray 2, and reference numeral 6 denotes a delivery-side feed belt.
A hooking piece 62 for hooking the growing tray 2 is protruded from the side of the running belt 24, and is disposed on the other downstream side of the running belt 1 so as to face the second washing nozzle 5, and is the same as the running belt 1. Rolls in the same direction at the feed rate.

Numerals 7 and 7 denote the growing tray 2 after washing.
Are disposed on both sides of the carry-out side 13 of the traveling belt 1. In FIG. 1, H is a head pulley (drive pulley), and T is a tail pulley.

According to such a growing tray cleaning apparatus,
After harvesting the bean sprouts 31, in order to use the growing tray 2 again for reuse, it is efficient and continuous,
A large number of growing trays 2 can be hygienically and automatically cleaned.

After the bean sprouts 31 are cut off and harvested, the roots 32 of the bean sprouts 31 are attached to the small holes 21 of the growing tray 2.
In the vertical position toward the first cleaning nozzle 3, is placed on the traveling belt 1 on the loading side 12, and is transported downstream (in the direction of arrow A).

At this time, the first surface of the growing tray 2 is
Since the high-pressure hot water is sprayed from the washing nozzle 3, the growth tray 2 is pressed against the entrance side feed belt 4 disposed behind by the resistance, and the growth tray 2 is prevented from falling down. In the state where the hook piece 42 is hooked on the crosspiece 23, and the lower edge thereof is supported by the belt body 11,
It is conveyed downstream, and in the process, its surface 24 is thoroughly washed with high-pressure hot water, so that the roots 32 of the sprouts 31 and foreign substances adhering to the growing tray 2 are washed away.

After the cleaning of the front surface 24 of the growing tray 2 with high-pressure hot water is completed, high-pressure cold water from the second washing nozzle 5 is jetted toward the rear surface 25 of the growing tray 2.
The breeding tray 2 is pressed against the delivery belt 6 to prevent the breeding tray 2 from falling down, and the hanging piece 62 is hung on the crosspiece 23, and is conveyed toward the downstream side. The back 25 is washed with high-pressure cold water,
Any other foreign matter that has adhered to the surface is washed away.

After the cleaning of the front and back surfaces of the growth tray 2 is completed, the blowers 7, 7 provided on both sides of the traveling belt 1 on the carry-out side 13 spray the front and back surfaces of the growth tray 2 on both sides. The air is dried, and the entire process of the cleaning operation is completed. Since each of the steps is performed automatically without any human intervention, it is extremely sanitary, and a plurality of growing trays 2... Can be washed well.

Next, the growing tray cleaning apparatus of the present invention will be described more specifically.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the apparatus, FIG. 3 is a side view thereof, FIG. 4 is a front view thereof, FIG.
FIG. 6 is a side view thereof. In these drawings, members corresponding to the respective members shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The traveling belt 1 is provided on a pedestal 15 with legs formed by combining a mold steel, a steel plate or the like, and as shown in FIG. 3, a head pulley H supported on an end of the pedestal 15.
Is a motor provided at the lower part of the
The endless belt body 11 is rotated by an arrow A
Roll in the direction.

The first cleaning nozzle 3, as shown in FIG.
Five of the pedestals 15 are vertically stacked on one side of the gantry 15 so as to correspond to the height of the breeding tray 2 in the vertically placed state. On the side, five are stacked vertically.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a pair of upper and lower feed belts 4 are provided on one side of the upstream side of the traveling belt 1. On the other side on the downstream side, a pair of upper and lower parts is provided. Each of the head pulleys H, H, as shown in FIGS. Through,
It is designed to be driven to rotate.

2 to 4, 27 is a switch board, 28 is a fuse, 29 is a blower, 30 is a blower duct, 7, 7 is a blower guide (blower), and 33, 33 are , An entrance guide for guiding the growing tray 2 placed in a vertical state at the time of loading so as not to fall down, 34 is an entrance table, 35 is a roller conveyor, 36 is a washing water receiving container with a built-in filtering device, 37 is A drainage tank for discharging the filtered water from the washing water receiving container 36, 38, 38 are an outlet guide, and 39 is an outlet table. In FIGS. 5 and 6, reference numeral 9 denotes a casing, and reference numeral 10 denotes a front door.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show the structure of a growing tray 2 to be washed. The growing tray 2 is made of polypropylene and has a square outer frame 26 inside.
A substrate 22 having a large number of small holes 21 is stretched, and the substrate 22
A plurality of crossbars 23 are provided in a grid pattern at predetermined intervals (about 81 mm), and roots 32 of bean sprouts 31 are planted in the small holes 21 to grow by hydroponic cultivation. And sprouts
After harvesting 31 ..., it is washed and used again.

At the time of the washing, as described above, first, when the front surface 24 is washed, the engaging piece 42 of the entrance side feed belt 4 is engaged from the back side with respect to the bar 23, and then, At the time of washing, the hanging piece 62 of the output side feed belt 6 is hooked from the front side to the bar 23, and the weight of the growing tray 2 is received by the running belt 1 from beginning to end. Medium and growing trays 2 are transported reliably.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the entrance side feed belt 4 (or the exit side feed belt 6). The belt main body 11 has a core wire made of aramid fiber embedded in thermoplastic polyurethane, and has a back surface. Irregularities are formed, and hook pieces (profiles) 42... Are formed on the front side serving as the transport surface. For example, the width b of the profile 42 is 25 mm and the height h is 10
1212 mm, and the pitch p is about 60 mm.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of a rotary conical nozzle used for the first cleaning nozzle 3, wherein 43 is a casing, 44 is a bearing, 45 and 46 are O-rings, 47 is a rotor, and 48 is a driving plug. When the warm water passes, the rotor 47 rotates, and a ring-shaped spray pattern 49 as shown in FIG. 12 is formed, which has a high cleaning effect. FIG.
3 shows a spray pattern 50 of a fan-shaped nozzle used for the second cleaning nozzle 5. With this fan-shaped nozzle, high-pressure cold water can be widely sprayed (in the height direction).

The main specifications of the apparatus constructed as described above are as follows: the injection pressure of the first cleaning nozzle 3 is about 85 kgf / cm ² ,
Water volume: 7.3 L / min, injection pressure of the second washing nozzle 5: about 60 kgf /
cm ² , water volume: 7.8 L / min, air volume: 10 m ³ / min, feed rate: about 4
6mm / sec, required water volume: about 80L / min, body dimensions: 1700 × 900
(2000) × 1590mm, body weight: about 220kg (only this machine).

The contents of the above specifications may be appropriately changed according to the conditions of use and the like. In the present invention, the types and configurations of the first cleaning nozzle 3 and the second cleaning nozzle 5 are those of the embodiment. Instead of being limited to the above, it may be appropriately changed and selected in consideration of the use conditions and the like. Furthermore, the entrance side feed belt 4 and the exit side feed belt 6 may be provided in three stages,
If it is wide, it may be single.

[0030]

According to the first, second and third aspects of the present invention, the front and back sides 2 of the growing tray 2 which is conveyed vertically
The first and second cleaning nozzles 3 and 5 can efficiently and continuously clean and dry the first and second cleaning nozzles efficiently without requiring any manual operation. The hygiene standards can be significantly improved as compared with the case of (1). Further, by continuously carrying the plurality of growing trays 2 on the traveling belt 1, continuous washing is possible.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the use of the rotary conical nozzle as the first cleaning nozzle 3 enables a particularly high cleaning effect to be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the growing tray cleaning device.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a main part.

FIG. 5 is a plan view.

FIG. 6 is a side view.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a growing tray.

FIG. 8 is a side view and a sectional view.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged sectional view.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an entrance side feed belt (or an exit side feed belt).

FIG. 11 is an exploded configuration diagram of a rotary conical nozzle.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a spray pattern of a rotating conical nozzle.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a spray pattern of a fan-shaped nozzle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Running belt 2 Growth tray 3 1st washing nozzle 4 Inlet side feed belt 5 2nd washing nozzle 6 Outlet side feed belt 7 Blower 24 Front surface 25 Back surface 42 Hook piece 62 Hook piece

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A traveling belt 1 for placing a growing tray 2 in a vertical position and receiving the lower edge thereof and transporting the growing tray 2, and the growing tray placed on the traveling belt 1. The traveling belt includes a first cleaning nozzle 3 for high-pressure water jet for cleaning the front surface 24 of the second growth tray 2 and a hook 42 for hanging the growth tray 2 from the rear surface 25 side of the growth tray 2. 1 and a rear surface 25 of the growing tray 2 placed on the running belt 1.
A second washing nozzle 5 for high-pressure water injection disposed downstream of the first washing nozzle 3 to wash the cultivation tray 2 from the surface 24 of the breeding tray 2 An outlet feed belt 6 provided with a hook piece 62 and disposed downstream of the traveling belt 1, and a downstream side of the outlet feed belt 6 for drying the growing tray 2 after washing is completed. And a blower disposed in the tray. 2. The first cleaning nozzle 3 is provided with a casing 43.
Rotor 47 rotates when high-pressure water passes inside
2. The growing tray cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning tray is a rotating conical nozzle that forms a spray pattern 49 in a ring shape . 3. The high pressure water is fan-shaped by the second cleaning nozzle 5.
The growing tray cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning tray is a fan-shaped nozzle that sprays widely .