JP3448708B2 - Vegetable lower leaf removal device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention removes unnecessary lower leaves and dead lower leaves to perform final adjustment of the product form when shipping leaf vegetables grown by hydroponics, for example, trifoliate leaves. The present invention relates to a device, and provides a lower leaf removal device for vegetables that does not damage the freshness and appearance of the vegetables themselves and that produces a sufficient amount of food materials suitable for a housewife to handle without labor. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the lower leaf removal work of shipped vegetables, since the object is fresh vegetables, care should be taken not to damage the vegetables.
In addition, since each form is different, manual work is required, which is extremely labor-intensive work. The labor saving is very difficult, and in some cases, two drums with a rubber string stretched on the peripheral side surface are rotated, vegetables are inserted into the gap between the two drums, and the outer circumferences of the vegetables are beaten and scraped. But,
Then, there was a problem that the product was scratched and the effect was not thoroughly achieved even inside. On the other hand, as a prior art document, there is JP-A No. 11-75800 (the title of the invention is "a method for removing lower leaves of vegetables and its apparatus"). The technical content is to spray a mixture of pressure water and pressure air on vegetables with multiple nozzles to remove the lower leaves, which is a complex fluid of pressure water and pressure air, but it damages vegetables. I was afraid.

[0003]

As described above, in the apparatus for removing lower leaves of vegetables, the effects of efficiently removing the lower leaves and, as much as possible, the effects of not damaging the vegetables themselves, which are the products, are provided. Was required, and the trade-off was extremely difficult. And in the prior art, there were many problems that could not be solved yet. Further, recently, the progress of agriculture by hydroponics has been remarkable, and in this field, as in other industries, there is a strong need for mechanization and labor saving. In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lower leaf removing device for vegetables which is gentle to vegetables from a comprehensive point of view and which can effectively perform lower leaf removal.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, the invention according to claim 1 is an apparatus for adjusting the form of vegetables W before shipment by hydroponic cultivation, which is located at the upstream side position. A cutting portion 9 for dividing the root portion 2 of the vegetables W into two is provided in A, and the divided vegetables W are transferred onto a belt conveyor 6 running on the floor surface of the base 5 by rotary transfer. A tool 23 is provided, and a lower leaf excision portion 27 for sandwiching the lower leaf 4'of the vegetable W in the water tank 31 in the water tank 28 is provided at the intermediate position C, and the vegetable is provided at the downstream position B. A water draining portion 37 is provided for blowing water to W to drain water, and each portion is connected by a plurality of belt conveyors 6 and 38 which are driven by a motor M via a chain 35 and a pulley 7 so that the operation of each portion can be prevented. The time difference and the like are set by inputting them into a memory provided in the control device 8 in advance. Is obtained by the lower leaf remover 1 vegetables, characterized in that the.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the cutting portion 9 is provided with a rotating fine root cutter 10 attached to the base 5.
A hanging frame 12 for vegetables W is provided in the center on the front side of the cutting section 9, a frame 14 is installed in the left-right direction at the upper center of the cutting section 9, and slide rails 15, 15 are vertically arranged along the frame 14. 'Is provided and the upper slide rail 15
And a pair of rapeseed dividers 16a and 16a 'having a symmetrical shape that reciprocates from the center to the left and right and a pair of rapeseed dividers 16b and 16b that has a symmetrical shape that reciprocates from the lower slide rail 15' to the left and right. 'Is provided,
Each pair of the rape root dividers 16a, 16a ', 16b, 16b' travels up and down alternately on the slide rails 15, 15 'by the operation of the rodless cylinders 19, 19', and the respective rape root dividers 16a, 16a '. , 16b, 1
A gripping claw 1 for gripping the root portion 2 of the vegetable W is opened and closed by the operation of the air chucks 17, 17 ,.
The lower leaf removal device 1 for vegetables according to claim 1, characterized in that 8, 18 ,.

[0006] The invention according to claim 3 is the rape root dividing tool 1
Below the left and right ends of the frame 14 where 6a, 16a ', 16b, 16b' run and stop, there are two plates that are opened and closed by the operation of the air chuck 20, respectively.
Two sandwiching plates 24 for sandwiching and receiving the sandwiched vegetables are formed at the tip of a shaft 25 so as to face each other at an angle of 90 degrees, and the shafts 25 are rotated by 180 degrees by a rotary actuator 26, and the sandwiched vegetables W are used as a base. 5. A rotary transfer tool 23 for transferring and mounting on the belt conveyor 6 on the floor of No. 5 is provided.
Alternatively, the lower leaf removing device 1 for vegetables according to claim 2 is used.

In the invention according to claim 4, the lower lobe excision portion 2
7, a water tank 28 is provided, and two belt conveyors 6, 6 that vertically hold the leaf portion 4 of the vegetable W horizontally and convey it to the downstream side B are provided on one side of the water tank 28, and water. A plurality of nozzles 30, 30, ... for ejecting the water flow 31 are arranged, and the lower lobe 4 ', which is slanted by the water flow 31, is provided on the other side.
4. Two lower leaf removers 32 for sandwiching 4 '... between two plates which are opened and closed by the operation of the air cylinders 34, 34 are arranged in parallel. It is the lower leaf removal apparatus 1 for vegetables described in item 1.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the drainage portion 37 is provided.
Is provided with two close belt conveyors 38, 38 for hanging the vegetables W conveyed from the water tank 28 upside down and conveying them to an outlet 41.
5. A plurality of air nozzles 40, 40, ..., which blow air for draining the vegetables W, are arranged on both sides of 8, 38, respectively. This is the lower leaf removal device 1 for vegetables.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a lower leaf removing apparatus 1 for vegetables of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a bottom leaf removing device 1 for vegetables according to the invention of claim 1.
2 is a front view of the whole of the above, and two pairs of rape root splitting tools 16a, 16a ', 16b, 16 running above and below the frame 14 are located at the upstream side position A (right side in the drawing).
A cutting part 9 for dividing the root portion 2 of the vegetables W into two is provided by b ′, and the divided vegetables W are received to obtain a base 5
The transfer device 23 is provided in which two sandwiching plates 24, which are transferred onto the belt conveyor 6 traveling on the floor surface, are provided at the tip of a shaft 25 so as to face each other at an angle of 90 degrees.

Further, at the intermediate position C, there is provided a lower leaf excision portion 27 for sandwiching the lower leaf 4'of the vegetable W in the water tank 28 while sandwiching the lower leaf 4'in the water stream, and at the downstream side position B (in the drawing, facing left)
Is provided with a drainer 37 for draining the vegetables W by draining the water, and each of the parts is driven by a motor M to drive the chain 35,
.. are connected via a plurality of belt conveyors 38, 6, 6, ... Operating via the pulleys 7, 7, .. It is the lower leaf removal apparatus 1 of vegetables for adjusting the form of vegetables W grown by hydroponic cultivation before shipping, which is configured to be input. A fine root cutter 10 is attached to the base 5 of the cutting section 9, a motor M and a control device 8 are mounted on the upper part of the lower leaf excision section 27, and a blower 39 is mounted on the upper part of the draining section 37. The belt conveyors 38, 6, 6, ... Of the present invention use resin belts so as not to damage the vegetables W.

2 to 4 show a cutting part 9 for dividing the root part 2 (stock) of the vegetable W of the invention according to claim 2 into two equal parts, and FIG. Is an example of the vegetables W to be treated, and is leaf vegetables such as trifoliate leaves and pupae. A sponge 3 at the time of cultivation is attached to the root portion 2 of the vegetables W grown by hydroponics. First, the root portion 2 of the vegetable W is manually pressed against the rotating fine root cutter 10 (see FIG. 1) attached to the base 5, and the fine root 11 attached to the root portion 2 is removed while leaving the sponge 3. In order to prevent danger, the fine root cutter 10 does not use a sharp blade, but in the present invention, only a plurality of rod-shaped spokes are formed inside the ring. Vegetables W from which the fine roots 11 have been removed
As shown in FIG. 2B, the vegetables W are turned upside down and hooked in the hanging slit 13 formed in the center of the upper surface of the hanging frame 12 with the sponge 3 portion facing up. The slit 13 is formed on the device 1 side, and the vegetables W are inserted from the device 1 side.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the cutting portion 9, and FIG. 3B is a right side view of the same. 4A is a perspective view showing the rape root splitting tool 16a that reciprocates on the left side above the frame 14, and FIG. 4B is the frame 1
4 is a perspective view showing a rape root splitting tool 16b that reciprocates on the lower left side of FIG. There are symmetrically-shaped rape root splitting tools 16a 'and 16b' that reciprocate on the right side above the frame 14 and the right side below the frame 14, and these are the rape root splitting tool 1 described above.
6a and 16b each function as a pair, but here, one group is shown.

The rape root dividing tools 16a, 16a ', 16
b and 16b 'are rodless cylinders 19 and
By the operation of 19 ′, reciprocating traveling between the center of the frame 14 and both left and right ends is repeated, and the rape root dividing tools 16 a, 16 a ′ above the frame 14 and the rape root dividing tools 16 b, 16 b ′ below the frame 14 are Run alternately. This is required from the frequency of work efficiency. The rape root dividers 16a, 16a ', 16b, 16b' are the frame 1
Although it runs along slide rails 15 and 15 'disposed above and below 4, a bearing case (not shown) containing a circulating ball bearing is used as a lubricating means, and rape root splitting tools 16a, 16a', 16b ,. 16b 'and the slide rails 15 and 15' are interposed.

On the other hand, the air cylinders 21a, 21a ', 2
Cylinder rods 22a, 2b by actuation of 1b, 21b '
2a ', 22b, 22b' move forward and backward, whereby the rape root splitting tools 16a, 16a ', 16b, 16b' are driven back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the frame 14. When the rape root dividers 16a, 16a ', 16b, 16b' come to the center, the rape root dividers 16a, 16a ', 16b, 16b' are moved forward to the position of the hanging frame 12.
Root 2 of vegetables W hung upside down in slit 13 of 2
Grip from left and right in approximately equal parts. Each rape root divider 16a,
16a ', 16b, 16b' are provided with two gripping claws 18 which are operated by the air chuck 17, respectively.
As a result, the vegetables W are gripped from the left and right substantially equally. When the rape root splitting tools 16a, 16a ', 16b, 16b' run separately in both directions, the vegetables W are split into two left and right.

Then, the rape root dividing tools 16a, 16a ', 1
When 6b, 16b 'come to the left and right ends of the frame 14, the rape root splitting tools 16a, 16a', 16b, 16b 'are retracted to the frame 14 side by the operation of the air cylinders 21a, 21a', 21b, 21b '. In this way, the rape root splitting tools 16a, 16a ', 16b, 16b' are moved forward and backward by the operation of the air cylinders 21a, 21a ', 21b, 21b', so that the reciprocating traveling above and below the frame 14 is alternately performed. , Lower rape root divider 16a, 16
This is also for the purpose of making it possible to replace a 'and 16b, 16b during traveling.

FIG. 4A shows a state in which the gripping claw 18 is opened with the cylinder rod 22a of the rape root divider 16a extended forward, and FIG. 4B shows the cylinder rod 22b of the rape root divider 16b on the frame side. Gripping claw 18 in the state retracted to
Indicates a closed state. The purpose of dividing the vegetables W into two equal parts in the cutting part 9 is not only to make the lower leaves 4 ′ that have entered the inside of the leaves 4 by the water flow 31 in the next lower lobe excision part 27 easy to slidably remove. The purpose is to improve the drainage in the draining section 37 and to remove the dust and the like to prepare clean foods, so that the housewife can easily handle it.

FIG. 5 is a rotary transfer device 2 of the invention according to claim 3.
3 shows the rape root dividing device 16a, 16a ',
When 16b and 16b 'come to the left and right ends of the frame 14, the vegetables W which are grasped and conveyed by the respective gripping claws 18, 18, ... Are placed below the left and right ends of the frame 14. It retreats to the side of the frame 14 to a position where it can be exchanged with the transfer device 23. The transfer device 23 has 4
Two pinching plates 24, which are opened and closed by the operation of the air chuck 20, are provided at the tip of the shaft 25 inclined at 5 degrees so as to face each other in a substantially Y shape at an angle of 90 degrees. One sandwiching plate 24 located below both left and right ends closes the two wings that open the conveyed vegetables W and closes them.

Then, the shaft 25 is rotated 180 degrees by the operation of the rotary actuator 26, and the sandwich plate 2 is rotated.
4 is in a horizontal state, and the vegetables W sandwiched between the two blades are placed on the belt conveyor 6 running on the floor surface of the base 5 toward the downstream side. In lieu of this, the other empty sandwich plate 24, which was in the horizontal state, rotates 180 degrees and returns to the upright state. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the rotary transfer device 23 with the sandwiching plate 24 closed, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the rotating transporting device 23 with the sandwiching plate 24 open. Represents a closed position with the vegetables W sandwiched between them, and the sandwiching plates 24 in a horizontal state provided facing each other.
2 shows a place where the vegetables W sandwiched on the belt conveyor 6 traveling on the floor surface of the base 5 are dropped and transferred.

FIG. 6 shows the lower lobe excision portion 2 of the invention according to claim 4.
7A and 7B, FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view as seen from the right side of the lower lobe resection portion 27, and FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view. The vegetables W carried into the water tank 28 of the lower leaf excision portion 27 at the intermediate position C by the belt conveyors 6 and 6 are further in close contact with each other provided on one side of the lower leaf excision portion 27. The leaf portion 4 is horizontally held between the belt conveyors 6 and 6, and travels in the water 29 of the water tank 28. A plurality of nozzles 30, 30, ... For ejecting water 29 are arranged on the belt conveyors 6, 6 side, and the nozzles 30, 30 ,.
··· Spouts water 29 toward the root portion 2 of the vegetables W to form a water stream 31. As a result, the lower leaf 4'of the vegetable W,
4 ', ... are on the opposite side of the leaf 4.

On the side opposite to the belt conveyors 6 and 6 of the lower leaf excision portion 27, one lower leaf remover 3 is provided on the upstream side and one lower leaf remover 3 is provided on the downstream side.
2, 32 are provided. The lower leaf remover 32, 32
Is composed of two plates which are repeatedly opened and closed by the operation of the air cylinder 34, and sandwiches the lower leaves 4 ', 4', .. A rubber packing is attached to the inside of the tip of each of the two plates constituting the lower leaf remover 32. In addition, the water flow 31 ejected from the nozzle 30
Is not a strong one, and the lower leaves 4 ', without damaging the vegetables W,
Needless to say, it is enough to make 4 ', ... Lower lobe 4 ', which has been excised by the lower lobe picker 32,
.. are discharged to the outside through the drainage channel 33 together with the water 29. Reference numeral 35 indicates a chain, and 36 indicates a chain cover (see FIG. 1). Passing the vegetables W through the water tank 28 in the lower lobe excision portion 27 is intended to perform the cleaning work at the time of shipping together with the lower lobe excision step, and an extra step can be omitted. There is an advantage.

FIG. 7 is a drainer 37 of the invention according to claim 5.
7 (a) is a schematic rear view of the draining section 37, and FIG. 7 (b) is a schematic plan view of the same. From lower lobe excision section 27 to draining section 37 Belt conveyor 6, 6 ...
The vegetables W conveyed by are placed on the two narrow belt conveyors 38, 38. The two belt conveyors 38, 38 initially run horizontally, become vertical as they go downstream, and are in close contact with each other, and the root portion 2 of the vegetables W is sandwiched between the belt conveyors 38, 38 and hung upside down. To transport. On both sides of the belt conveyors 38, 38, there are arranged a plurality of air nozzles 40, 40, ... For ejecting air blown from a blower 39 (see FIG. 1) in order to drain water adhering to the vegetables W. , Water 29 attached to vegetables W is blown off. Of course, these air nozzles 4
The air blown from 0, 40, ... Does not use warm air because the target is fresh vegetables.

The draining step in the draining section 37 is extremely important because it refrains from the step of packing immediately after,
Therefore, draining must be effective. Vegetables W
When it reaches the carry-out port 41, which is the terminal of the belt conveyors 38, 38, it leaves the belt conveyors 38, 38 and falls naturally. Needless to say, a worker may be stationed there to receive the vegetables W by hand, or a means for additionally installing a belt conveyor to convey the vegetables W to the packing process.

[0023]

The apparatus for removing lower leaves of vegetables according to the present invention has an effect that the lower leaves can be effectively removed without labor by arranging the entire apparatus as described above. In addition, the lower leaf removing apparatus for vegetables of the present invention has the above-described cutting portion configuration so that the size of the root portion of the vegetables can be reduced without damaging the main body of the vegetables. By dividing into two so as to be easily removed, it is possible to easily remove even the lower leaves that have entered inside, and it is also an effect that it becomes a foodstuff of a size that is convenient for housewives.

Further, the apparatus for removing lower leaves of vegetables according to the present invention is
Without lowering the product value without damaging the vegetables themselves by spraying a relatively soft stream of water on the vegetables in the aquarium and pinching the lower leaves only with the lower leaf remover, Since it also serves as cleaning, it has the effect of providing clean products. Further, the vegetable drainer of the present invention is effective by blowing air with a plurality of nozzles arranged on both sides while the vegetables containing water conveyed from the water tank are hung upside down and run. This has an effect that the water can be drained and the next packaging process and the like can be continued as it is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an entire lower leaf removing device for vegetables according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows an example of vegetables to be processed in the present invention, and FIG. 2B shows a state in which vegetables are hung upside down on a hanging frame.

FIG. 3 (a) is a front view of a cutting portion of the lower leaf removing device for vegetables of the present invention, and FIG. 3 (b) is a right side view thereof.

4 (a) is a perspective view of a rape root splitting tool that travels on the upper left side of the frame of the cutting portion in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 (b) is a perspective view of a rape root splitting tool that also runs on the lower left side of the frame. .

5A is a perspective view of the rotary transfer device in a closed state, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the rotary transfer device in an open state.

FIG. 6 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the lower lobe removal unit of the vegetable of the present invention seen from the right side of the lower lobe excision portion, and FIG. 6 (b) is a schematic plan view.

FIG. 7 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the drainer of the vegetable lower leaf removing device according to the present invention from the back side, and FIG. 7 (b) is a schematic plan view.

[Explanation of symbols]

A upstream position B downstream position C intermediate position M motor W vegetables 1 lower leaf removing device for vegetables 2 root portion 3 sponge 4 leaf portion 4'lower leaf 5 base 6 belt conveyor 7 pulley 8 control device 9 cutting portion 10 Fine root cutter 11 Fine root 12 Suspended frame 13 Slit 14 Frames 15 and 15 'Slide rails 16a, 16a', 16b and 16b 'Rapeseed divider 17 Air chuck 18 Grasping claws 19 and 19' Rodless cylinder 20 Air chucks 21a and 21a ' , 21b, 21b 'Air cylinders 22a, 22a', 22b, 22b 'Cylinder rods 23 times Transfer device 24 Clamp plate 25 Shaft 26 Rotary actuator 27 Lower leaf excision part 28 Water tank 29 Water 30 Nozzle 31 Water flow 32 Lower leaf remover 32a rubber packing 33 drainage channel 34 air cylinder 35 chain 36 chain cover 37 Drainer 38 Belt Conveyor 39 Blower 40 Air Nozzle 41 Carry Out Port

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Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device for adjusting the form of vegetables (W) before shipment by hydroponics, wherein the root (2) of the vegetables (W) is divided into two at the upstream position (A). A cutting section (9) is provided, and a rotary transfer tool (23) for transferring the divided vegetables (W) onto a belt conveyor (6) traveling on the floor surface of the base (5) is provided, At the intermediate position (C), a lower lobe excision part (27) for sandwiching the lower leaf (4 ′) of the vegetables (W) in the water flow in the water tank (28) is disposed, and the downstream side position ( B) is a draining part (37) for blowing vegetables (W) to drain water.
And each part is connected by a plurality of belt conveyors (6, 38) which are operated via a chain (35) and a pulley (7) by driving a motor (M) . The lower leaf removal apparatus (1) for vegetables, characterized in that the setting is made by previously inputting it to a memory provided in the control apparatus (8). 2. The cutting part (9) is provided with a rotating fine root cutter (10) attached to the base (5), and the cutting part (9).
A hanging frame (12) for vegetables (W) is provided in the center of the front side of the frame, and the frame (1
4) is installed, slide rails (15, 15 ') are arranged vertically along the frame (14), and the upper slide rail (15) has a symmetrical shape in which it reciprocates from the center to the left and right. A pair of rape root dividers (16a, 16
a ') and a pair of rapeseed dividers (16b, 16b') having a symmetrical shape in which the lower slide rail (15 ') is divided into right and left portions to reciprocate, and the rapeseed dividers (16a, 16a) are provided. ′, 16b, 16b ′) each of which travels on the slide rails (15, 15 ′) alternately up and down by the operation of the rodless cylinder (19, 19 ′), and the respective rape root splitting devices (16a, 16a ′, 16b,
16b ') is formed with gripping claws (18, 18, ...) Which are opened and closed by the operation of the air chucks (17, 17, ...) And which grip the root portion (2) of the vegetables (W). The lower leaf removal apparatus (1) for vegetables according to claim 1, characterized in that. 3. The rape root divider (16a, 16a ', 16)
b, 16b ') run and stop below the left and right ends of the frame (14), respectively.
0) The two plates that open and close by the action of 0) sandwich the sandwich plate (24) for sandwiching vegetables (W) at the tip of the shaft (25).
The shafts (25) are formed to face each other with an angle of 0 degree, the rotary actuator (26) rotates them by 180 degrees each, and the sandwiched vegetables (W) are belts on the floor of the base (5). The lower leaf removal apparatus (1) for vegetables according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a rotary transfer tool (23) for transferring the conveyor onto the conveyor (6). 4. The water tank (2) is provided in the lower lobe resection part (27).
8) is provided, and on one side of the water tank (28), two belt conveyors (6, 6) closely gripping the leaves (4) of the vegetables (W) horizontally and conveying them downstream are provided. , A plurality of nozzles (30, 30, ...) That spout water to create a water flow (31)
・) Is provided, and on the other side, lower lobes (4 ′, 4 ′ ··) slid by the water flow (31) are attached to the air cylinders (34, 3).
4. The vegetable according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein two lower leaf removers (32) sandwiched by two plates which are opened and closed by the operation of 4) are arranged in parallel. Lower leaf removal device (1). 5. The water tank (2) is provided in the draining section (37).
8) provided with two intimate belt conveyors (38, 38) for hanging the vegetables (W) conveyed from the above in an inverted manner and conveying them to the carry-out port (41), and the belt conveyor (3)
8. A plurality of air nozzles (40, 40, ...) For blowing air for draining vegetables (W) are arranged on both sides of (8, 38). The lower leaf removal apparatus (1) according to item 1.