JP6498203B2 - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for removing seeds, mud, hair, and other foreign substances adhering to foodstuffs such as bean sprouts, alfalfa, sliced or shredded cabbage, and meat, etc. .

  Examples of the cleaning device for removing foreign matter as described above include the foreign matter removing device disclosed in Patent Document 1. This foreign matter removing apparatus accommodates a quantity of food measured by a washing tank in which a liquid for washing food to be washed is stored, and a weighing device prepared separately from a visual inspection or washing apparatus by an operator. A bucket in which a large number of through-holes are formed, a cleaning position in which the opening is stored in the cleaning tank with the opening facing upward, and a discharge position in which the opening is lifted obliquely downward by being lifted upward from the cleaning tank A bucket provided at a predetermined mounting position of the cleaning tank so as to be freely angularly displaceable around a substantially horizontal axis, and an angular displacement means of the bucket, and a cleaning provided in the upper part of the cleaning tank and housed in the cleaning tank A plurality of injection nozzles for injecting cleaning water that is liquid toward the bucket disposed at a position, and a discharge pipe that is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank and discharges air and bubbles in the cleaning tank. Constructed.

JP-A-9-275958

  In the prior art cleaning device, in a state where the bucket is disposed in the cleaning tank, the cleaning water is sprayed into the bucket from each spray nozzle and the cleaning water in the cleaning tank is caused to flow, thereby being accommodated in the bucket. The ingredients can be stirred with washing water. Therefore, the foodstuffs can collide with the bucket, the foodstuffs can collide with each other, and the foreign matter adhering to or mixed with the foodstuff can be reliably removed. In addition, by discharging air from the discharge pipe provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank and bubbling, the ingredients in the bucket immersed in the cleaning water in the cleaning tank are also stirred in the vertical direction to enhance the cleaning effect. ing.

  When the cleaning of the food in the bucket is finished, the bucket arranged at the cleaning position in the cleaning tank is lifted upward from the cleaning tank by the angular displacement means, and the opening of the bucket is set to the discharge position obliquely downward, The cleaned food in the bucket can be discharged from the bucket.

  The cleaning device can reliably remove foreign substances adhering to the food stored in the bucket, but the supply of the food before cleaning to the bucket is performed manually, so the burden on the operator is reduced. This greatly hinders improvement in the efficiency of the cleaning operation. In addition, the adjustment of the amount of food to be supplied to the bucket is made by weighing by a weighing device prepared separately from the visual inspection or cleaning device by the worker, and such weighing work is troublesome for the worker, and the supply There is a variation in the amount, which also causes a variation in the cleaning state of the food that is cleaned by so-called batch processing for each bucket, and there is a problem that a stable cleaning state cannot be obtained.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus that reliably removes foreign matters from an object to be cleaned, improves the efficiency of cleaning work, and provides a stable and highly reliable cleaning effect.

The present invention includes an object supply means for supplying an object to be cleaned,
A weighing device for measuring the weight of the object to be cleaned supplied from the object supply means;
A cleaning device that includes a cleaning tank in which a liquid for cleaning an object to be cleaned is stored and an object to be cleaned measured by a weighing device is immersed in the liquid and cleaned .
The weighing device is
The to-be-washed object of the weight supplied from the to-be-washed object supplying means is accommodated, the weighing position is placed on the weighing device with the opening facing upward, and the opening is inclined downward by being pulled upward. A measuring bucket provided at a predetermined mounting position so as to be angularly displaceable about a substantially horizontal axis over a discharge position for discharging the object to be cleaned into the cleaning tank.
Angular displacement means for weighing that angularly displaces the weighing bucket over a weighing position and a discharge position;
A weigh scale for measuring the weight of the weighing bucket disposed in the weighing position,
An object to be cleaned weighed by the weighing device is accommodated, a number of through holes are formed, a cleaning position where the opening is accommodated in the cleaning tank with the opening facing upward, and an opening is lifted upward from the cleaning tank. A cleaning bucket provided at a predetermined mounting position so as to be angularly displaceable about a substantially horizontal axis over a discharge position directed obliquely downward;
Cleaning angular displacement means for angularly shifting the cleaning bucket over a cleaning position and a discharge position;
An agitating injection nozzle that injects liquid toward the cleaning bucket provided in the cleaning tank and provided in the cleaning tank;
A cleaning nozzle provided in the cleaning bucket, for spraying liquid toward the cleaning bucket;
The cleaning apparatus further includes a discharge pipe that is provided at a bottom of the cleaning tank and discharges gas in the cleaning tank .

  According to the present invention, the weight of the object to be cleaned supplied by the object to be cleaned supplying unit is measured by the weighing unit, and the object to be cleaned having a predetermined weight is supplied to the cleaning tank and cleaned. This simplifies the weighing operation of the object to be cleaned by the operator's manual operation, can stably supply the object to be cleaned of a predetermined weight to the cleaning device, and the cleaning state due to the difference in the supply amount of the object to be cleaned. Variations can be prevented, foreign matters can be reliably removed from the object to be cleaned, the efficiency of the cleaning operation can be further improved, and a stable and highly reliable cleaning effect can be achieved.

Washload supplied from the cleaning object supply means are accommodated so as to be a predetermined weight to the weighing bucket in the metering position is placed on the weighing device towards the opening upwards. The weighing bucket in which the object to be cleaned having a predetermined weight is accommodated is angularly displaced by the angular displacement means for measurement from the measurement position to the discharge position with the opening directed obliquely downward. The object to be cleaned in the cleaning bucket can be discharged to the cleaning bucket in the cleaning tank. At this time, the cleaning bucket is in a cleaning position where the opening is stored in the cleaning tank with the opening facing upward, and the object to be cleaned from the weighing bucket can be stored as it is, and a stable cleaning operation is continuously performed. It can be carried out.

Washing Kiyoshiyo bucket comprises a number of holes, in the state in which the cleaning bucket cleaning position, the liquid is injected from the stirring injection nozzle provided in the cleaning tank, the liquid in the cleaning tank By fluidizing, the object to be cleaned in the cleaning bucket can be agitated. Furthermore, by adjusting the flow rate and flow rate of the liquid ejected from the stirring nozzle according to the hardness, size and amount of the object to be cleaned and the adhesion state of foreign matter, the liquid in the cleaning tank is adjusted to the object to be cleaned. It is possible to stir with an optimum stirring force according to the foreign matter. Therefore, the object to be cleaned can collide with the cleaning bucket and various foreign matters adhering to the object to be cleaned can be reliably removed. A discharge pipe that discharges gas in the cleaning tank is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank. By discharging gas from the discharge pipe, the liquid in the cleaning tank is bubbled, and the stirring force is thereby increased. Even foreign substances that are more enhanced and firmly adhered to the object to be cleaned can be reliably removed.

When the cleaning of the object to be cleaned in the cleaning bucket is completed, the cleaning bucket is lifted upward from the cleaning tank by the cleaning angular displacement means and angularly displaced to a discharge position with the opening directed obliquely downward. The object to be cleaned in the cleaning bucket can be discharged and discharged to a predetermined discharge position such as a subsequent cleaning bucket or another container. In addition, even when the cleaning bucket is pulled upward, liquid to be cleaned can be ejected from the stirring spray nozzle into the cleaning bucket, and the object to be cleaned attached to the cleaning bucket can be washed away. Also, if so to discharge gas from the discharge pipe, the foreign matter with a liquid also staying in the no flow in the cleaning tank diffused fluidized, the cleaning tank together with liquid thus flows out like overflow It can be discharged from the washing tank.

  The present invention further includes control means for controlling operations of the article supply means and the angular displacement means for measuring, the control means based on a threshold value predetermined in the weighing scale. It is preferable to control driving of the object supply means and the angular displacement means for measurement.

  According to the present invention, the operations of the cleaning object supplying means and the measuring angular displacement means are controlled on the basis of a predetermined threshold value in the weighing scale, so that a predetermined weight of the cleaning object is accurately weighed and measured. Housed in a bucket.

In the present invention, the measuring angular displacement means includes a drive source and a pair of support arms connected to the drive source and rotating around the axis,
Brackets are fixed to both sides in the axial direction of the weighing bucket,
The pair of support arms support the weighing bucket through the bracket across the weighing position and the discharge position, and when the weighing bucket is in a weighing state by the weigh scale at the weighing position, the weighing bucket It is preferable to be configured so as to be in a non-contact state with respect to the weighing bucket while being separated from the weighing bucket.

  According to the invention, the weighing bucket is supported by the pair of support arms via the bracket, and the weighing scale is turned upward by turning the support arm around the axis in accordance with the operation of the drive source. Is angularly displaced over the weighing position placed on the top and the discharge position where the object to be cleaned is discharged to the cleaning bucket in the cleaning tank with the opening being directed upward and obliquely downward. When the measuring bucket is in the measuring position, the bracket is brought into a non-contact state, so that the support arm does not affect the measured value and the object to be cleaned is accurately measured.

Further, in the present invention, the bracket has a locking hole through which the support arm passes, and when the support arm rotates, the upper end of the support arm moves from the measuring position to the locking hole. Abutting against the wall facing from the downstream side in the rotation direction toward the discharge position, the measuring bucket is supported, and when the measuring bucket is in a measuring state at the measuring position, the support arm is a wall of the locking hole. it is preferably maintained in a non-contact state by separating the rotation direction on the upstream side from the part.

  According to the present invention, when the support arm rotates, the upper end portion of the support arm comes into contact with the wall portion facing from the downstream side in the rotation direction of the locking hole to support the measuring bucket. . Since the support arm is loosely passed through the locking hole, when the measuring bucket is in the measuring position, the support arm is moved to the locking hole by controlling the operation of the measuring angular displacement means. Thus, the disturbance due to the contact of each support arm with the weighing scale to the weighing bucket can be avoided, and the weight of the object to be cleaned can be accurately measured.

In the present invention, the wall portion of the locking hole has a pair of tapered guide wall portions whose width gradually decreases toward the downstream side in the rotation direction, and an arc shape formed between the guide wall portions. And the top wall of
It is preferable that a portion of the pair of support arms that is freely passed through the locking hole is formed in a curved surface shape that protrudes downstream in the rotation direction.

  According to the present invention, the wall portion of the locking hole is composed of a tapered guide wall portion that gradually narrows toward the upper side and an arcuate top wall portion at the upper end. When rotating and supporting the weighing bucket via the bracket, the upper end portion of the portion of each support arm that is loosely passed through the locking hole is guided by the guide wall portion, and the arcuate top wall at the upper end The weighing bucket is prevented from being displaced in the axial direction, and is stably supported at a predetermined position. Therefore, in a state where the weighing bracket is disposed at the weighing position, the weighing bucket is placed at the optimum mounting position of the weigh scale, and the weight can be accurately measured. In addition, since the portion of the pair of support arms that is allowed to pass through the locking holes is formed in a curved surface that is convex toward the downstream side in the rotation direction, the portion of the support arms that are allowed to pass freely is the locking hole. For example, by making point contact or line contact with the wall portion, it is possible to prevent displacement of the portion where each support arm passes with respect to the wall portion of the locking hole and to stably support the wall portion.

In the present invention, the cleaning bucket is preferably provided with a cleaning spray nozzle that sprays liquid from the opening of the cleaning bucket into the cleaning bucket.

According to the present invention, by which ejects a liquid from cleaning the injection nozzle provided in the cleaning bucket can be washed away washload adhering to the inner surface of the cleaning bucket from the inner surface. Therefore, even if the cleaning bucket is pulled up from the cleaning tank and positioned at the discharge position to discharge the object to be cleaned, the liquid can be sprayed from the cleaning spray nozzle toward the cleaning bucket. The object to be cleaned adhering to the bucket can be removed.

  Moreover, in this invention, the said washing tank consists of several division tanks arranged in series, and the said bucket is provided in each division tank, The one end side of the arrangement direction of each division tank in the said washing tank Is close to the weighing device, and the other end side in the arrangement direction of the partition tanks in the cleaning tank is preferably disposed at a dispensing position where a container for storing the object to be cleaned is disposed.

  According to the present invention, the object to be cleaned weighed by the weighing device is accommodated in the washing bucket accommodated in the partition tank of the adjacent washing tank by the operation of the measuring angular displacement means, and the washing is performed. . Thereafter, the cleaning angular displacement means is operated to move to the subsequent cleaning bucket, and the same cleaning is performed in the partition tank. When this is repeated and the cleaning of the object to be cleaned contained in the cleaning bucket in the partition tank located on the other end side in the arrangement direction is completed, the cleaning angular displacement means of the cleaning bucket is activated, The object to be cleaned is discharged into a container arranged at the dispensing position.

Further, in the present invention, an object charging chute is installed between the object supply means and the weighing device,
The cleaning object charging chute is provided with a feeding position facing the weighing bucket arranged at the weighing position from above, and when the weighing bucket rotates between the weighing position and the discharge position, It is preferable to be configured so as to be angularly displaceable over an accommodation position that is retracted from the moving path and faces the object supply chute.

  According to the present invention, the movable object charging chute installed between the object supply means and the weighing device is provided in the weighing bucket when the weighing bucket is in the measuring position. Since it is located at the upper end of the opening, the object to be cleaned from the object supply means is smoothly put into the weighing bucket. In addition, when the weighing bucket is angularly displaced over the weighing position and the discharge position, the washing target charging chute is retreated to a retreat position outside the displacement locus of the weighing bucket. Displacement is made without hindrance.

  According to the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, the objects to be cleaned, such as sprout and alfalfa, and their seeds, sliced or shredded cabbage and other vegetables, as well as seeds, mud, hair attached to the objects to be cleaned such as meat Other foreign matters can be reliably removed and the efficiency of the cleaning operation can be further improved, and a stable and reliable cleaning effect can be obtained.

  Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and drawings.

It is a top view which simplifies and shows the whole structure of the washing | cleaning apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the washing | cleaning apparatus from the downward direction of FIG. It is a side view which shows the structure of the measuring device in a washing | cleaning apparatus. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view seen from a cutting plane line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a simplified cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of an object-charging chute in the cleaning device. It is sectional drawing which shows the angular displacement means for measurement in a washing | cleaning apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the bucket for washing | cleaning in a washing | cleaning apparatus. FIG. 8 is a front view of a part of the cleaning bucket as seen from the section line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the measured value of the weighing | measuring apparatus in a washing | cleaning apparatus, and the operation timings of a to-be-cleaned article supply means, a measurement angular displacement means, etc.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the overall configuration of a cleaning apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleaning apparatus 1 as viewed from below in FIG. The cleaning apparatus 1 of this embodiment basically includes an object supply means 2, a weighing device 3, a cleaning tank 4 including three partition tanks 5 to 7 arranged in series, and each partition tank. Three cleaning buckets 8 to 10 housed in 5 to 7 and the respective cleaning tanks 8 to 10 provided in the respective partition tanks 5 to 7 and housed in the respective partition tanks 5 to 7 , The agitation injection nozzles 11 to 13 for injecting the cleaning water that is liquid, and the discharge pipes 14 to 16 that are provided at the bottom of each of the partition tanks 5 to 7 and discharge and bubble the air that is gas.

Each of the partition tanks 5 to 7 divides the substantially rectangular parallelepiped washing tank 4 by the partition walls 17 and 18, and from the first partition tank 5 disposed in the vicinity of the weighing device 3 along the longitudinal direction thereof. The second and third partition tanks 6 and 7 are sequentially arranged in series. The cleaning tank 4 and the cleaning buckets 8 , 9 , and 10 are made of, for example, a stainless steel plate, which is a material having high corrosion resistance and high mechanical strength.

  The cleaning object supply means 2 includes a service hopper 19 that temporarily stores the cleaning object, and a conveyor 20 that conveys the cleaning object that falls by its own weight from the service hopper 19 toward the weighing device 3. The weighing device 3 includes a weigh scale 21 and a weighing bucket 22 that accommodates an object to be cleaned supplied from the object supply means 2. For example, the object to be cleaned is a vegetable seed called a sprout vegetable having a germinated portion such as sprout, alfalfa, silkworm, moroheiya or kale as an edible part.

  The weighing bucket 22 has a weighing position 23 (a solid line position in FIG. 2) placed on the weighing scale 21 with the opening facing upward, and is lifted upward to face the opening obliquely downward in the cleaning tank 4. Over a discharge position 24 for discharging the object to be cleaned to the cleaning bucket 8, a predetermined mounting position is provided so as to be angularly displaceable about a substantially horizontal axis. The weighing device 3 further includes a weighing angular displacement means 25 that angularly displaces the weighing bucket 22 between the weighing position 23 and the discharge position 24. A more detailed configuration of the weighing device 3 will be described later.

  In the illustrated cleaning apparatus 1, one end side 4 a in the arrangement direction of the partition tanks 5 to 7 of the cleaning tank 4 is close to the weighing device 3, and the other end 4 b is a container with a carriage for storing the object to be cleaned. It is arranged facing the payout position 27 where 26 is arranged. Above each opening in the cleaning buckets 8 to 10 accommodated in the partition tanks 5 to 7, second spray nozzles 28 to 30 that spray cleaning water into the cleaning buckets 8 to 10 are respectively cleaned. The buckets 8 to 10 are provided integrally. Room temperature tap water is supplied to these second injection nozzles 28 to 30.

  Furthermore, in one side of the width direction of the cleaning tank 4 (the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction in the plan view shown in FIG. 1, that is, the vertical direction in FIG. 1), the cleaning water overflows from the partition tanks 5-7. Are stored in a partitioned state.

  Each storage tank 31 is provided with a water collecting pipe 33, and the wash water flowing from the upper end of the water collecting pipe 33 is pressurized by the circulation pump 35 through the filter 34, and is supplied from the stirring injection nozzles 11 to 13. Be injected. The water collecting pipe 33 is installed in a vertical direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. Accordingly, the opening at the upper end is disposed above the bottom surface of each storage tank 31, and the vertical position of the opening at the upper end is appropriately adjusted by changing the length of the water collecting pipe 33, thereby cleaning each storage tank 31. The liquid level of water can be adjusted.

  The filter 34 removes foreign substances contained in the circulating cleaning water, and a strainer can be used instead. The operation motor 36 of each circulation pump 35 is driven and controlled by the control means 101 described later. In addition, check valves 44 to 46 are interposed in the middle of the pipes 38 to 40 from the circulation pumps 35 to the stirring injection nozzles 11 to 13. In FIG. 1, each operating motor 36 is connected by a signal line connected to the control means 101.

  A cleaning object charging chute 50 is tiltably disposed between the conveyor 20 of the cleaning object supply means 2 and the weighing bucket 22 of the weighing device 3. The cleaning object throwing chute 50 is provided so as to be tiltable about an axis of a horizontal support shaft 52 fixed to the upper portion of the column 51. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a simplified cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the cleaning object charging chute 50 in the cleaning apparatus 1. The front end of the cleaning object throwing chute 50 faces the weighing bucket 22 side, and the rear end of the piston rod 54 of the air cylinder 53 as a drive source is connected to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. Has been. That is, when the piston rod 54 is extended as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, the to-be-washed object charging chute 50 is inclined downward with the support shaft 52 as a fulcrum, and the measuring bucket at the measuring position 23. 22 is located at the upper end of the article supply means 2 side of the object 22 and is maintained at a position facing the measuring bucket 22. In this state, the object to be cleaned supplied from the conveyor 20 onto the object charging chute 50 is guided by the bottom plate 50a inclined downward toward the weighing bucket 22 and can be charged into the weighing bucket 22. Is done.

  When the measuring bucket 22 is angularly displaced to the discharge position 24 by the measuring angular displacement means 25, the piston rod 54 of the air cylinder 53 is contracted as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The throwing chute 50 is rotated counterclockwise about the support shaft 52 as a fulcrum, and is retracted to a retracted position (two-dot chain line position) outside the moving path of the weighing bucket 22.

  The air cylinder 53 is realized by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, and the lower end portion of the air cylinder 53 is connected to the support column 51 movably around an axis parallel to the axis of the support shaft 52 by a pin 53a. The operation of the air cylinder 53 is controlled by the control means 101 although the signal line is not shown.

The weighing device 3 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 6.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the weighing device 3 in the cleaning device 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view seen from the cutting plane line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the measuring angular displacement means 25 in the cleaning device 1.

  The weighing bucket 22 is formed in a box shape with an upper portion opened by a steel plate such as stainless steel, and is shaped so that the cross-sectional area is large from the bottom toward the opening, and the inclination angle of the wall portion on the cleaning tank 4 side is large. ing. The weighing bucket 22 is placed on the upper surface of the weighing scale 21 with four points of support by four support legs 55 attached to the bottom surface thereof. At least one support leg 55 can be adjusted in the direction of entering and exiting the main body, and the adjustment can be performed so that the four-point support can be performed stably.

  The weighing scale 21 is a known weighing scale having a weight of about 15 kg to 200 kg using a load cell, and is placed on the upper surface of the gantry 57 with four support points by four supporting legs 56 provided on the lower surface. A level meter 58 is attached to the weigh scale 21, and at least one support leg 56 is adjustable in the direction of entering and exiting from the main body, and the stable four-point support and the weight scale 21 are set horizontally. The adjustment can be made while watching the level meter 58. The weigh scale 21 is not limited to a load cell, and other types of weigh scales can be used.

  The measuring angular displacement means 25 constituting the measuring device 3 is substantially connected to an air cylinder 60 as a drive source installed in a housing 59 and a tip of a piston rod 61 of the air cylinder 60 via a crank arm 62. It includes a horizontal angular displacement shaft 63 and a pair of parallel support arms 64 and 65 that are integrally fixed to the angular displacement shaft 63. The air cylinder 60 is realized by, for example, a double-action pneumatic cylinder.

  The support arms 64 and 65 rotate about the axis of the angular displacement shaft 63 together with the angular displacement shaft 63 via the crank arm 62 by the expansion and contraction of the piston rod 61. The support arms 64 and 65 are formed in a U shape and are attached to the weighing bucket 22 via brackets 66, 67, 68, and 69 (see FIG. 1) fixed to both sides in the axial direction. The bucket 22 is supported.

  That is, one support arm 64 supports the weighing bucket 22 via brackets 66 and 67 fixed in parallel to one vertical side wall portion of the weighing bucket 22, and the other support arm 65 is The weighing bucket 22 is supported via brackets 68 and 69 that are fixed to the other vertical side wall of the weighing bucket 22 in parallel with a gap therebetween.

  Therefore, the measuring bucket 22 supported by the support arms 64, 65 via the brackets 66, 67, 68, 69 by the rotation of the support arms 64, 65 about the axis of the angular displacement shaft 63 is 23 and the discharge position 24 are angularly displaced around the axis of the angular displacement shaft 63.

  The support arms 64 and 65 support the weighing bucket 22 in this way, but are configured to be in a non-contact state with the brackets 66, 67, 68 and 69 when the weighing bucket 22 is at the weighing position 23. ing.

  The support relationship between the support arms 64 and 65 and the brackets 66, 67, 68, and 69 will be described by taking the support arm 64 and the bracket 66 as an example. Since other support relationships are configured in the same manner, description of other support relationships is omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket 66 includes a locking hole 70 through which the support arm 64 passes. When the support arm 64 rotates, the upper end portion 73 a of the support arm 64 is connected to the locking hole 70. When the measuring bucket 22 is in contact with the upper hole wall 71 and the measuring bucket 22 is in the measuring position 23, the support arm 64 is in a stationary state in which the supporting arm 64 is not in contact with the hole wall of the locking hole 70 (see FIG. 4 (state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4).

  Therefore, when the weighing bucket 22 is at the weighing position 23, it is completely released from the other components, and the weighing scale 21 only measures the weight of the weighing bucket 22 and the object to be cleaned put into it. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, notches 641 and 642 with upper edge ends notched are formed at portions of the support arm 64 that support the brackets 66 and 67, and cylinders are formed at the bottoms of the notches 641 and 642. The bodies 73 and 74 are fixed so as to lie down along the longitudinal direction of the support arm 64.

  The upper hole wall 71 facing the locking hole 70 from the downstream side in the rotation direction of the support arms 64, 65 from the measuring position 23 to the discharge position 24 is gradually tapered toward the upper side as shown in FIG. The upper end portion 73a of the portion of the support arm 64 that passes through the locking hole 70 is substantially the same as the arc-shaped top wall portion 71b. A curved upper peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 73 having the same curvature is used.

  Therefore, when the support arm 64 is displaced upward in order to support the bracket 66 from a state in which the support arm 64 is not in contact with the hole wall of the locking hole 70, the cylindrical body 73 is guided to the guide wall portion 71 a, and the cylindrical body 73 is illustrated in FIG. As shown by a two-dot chain line 4, the abutment is made so as to fit in the arcuate top wall portion 71 b.

Thus, the relative positions of the support arm 64 and the bracket 66 is positioned in the desired position, when returned to the weighing position location 2 3 weighing bucket 22 from the discharge position 24, for metering a predetermined position of the weight meter 21 Bucket 22 is correctly placed. As a result, the object to be cleaned is accurately measured.

  Each of the cleaning buckets 8 to 10 accommodates an object to be cleaned that is weighed by the weighing device 3, has a large number of through holes, and faces the openings upward in the partition tanks 5 to 7. It is provided at a predetermined mounting position so as to be angularly displaceable about a substantially horizontal axis, ranging from the cleaning position to be stored and the discharge position where the opening is lifted upward from the cleaning tank partition tanks 5 to 7 and the opening is inclined obliquely downward. Yes.

  The cleaning buckets 8 to 10 are angularly displaced across the cleaning position and the discharge position by the cleaning angular displacement means 75 to 77. Since the cleaning angular displacement means 75 to 77 are configured in substantially the same manner as the measuring angular displacement means 25, the description thereof will be omitted, but the angular displacement shafts 78 to 77 constituting the cleaning angular displacement means 75 to 77 are omitted. 80 is fixed to the upper end of each of the cleaning buckets 8 to 10 on the payout position 27 side, and is pivotally supported by a bearing member as appropriate so as to be rotatable about its axis so as to cross the cleaning tank 4.

  Since the configurations of the cleaning buckets 8 to 10 are the same, the cleaning bucket 9 housed in the second partition tank 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 as an example. Description of the cleaning buckets 8 and 10 will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning bucket 9 is lifted upward from the partition tank 6 by the cleaning angular displacement means 76 so that the opening is stored in the partition tank 6 with the opening facing upward. It is provided at a predetermined mounting position so as to be freely angularly displaceable about the axis of the angular displacement shaft 79 that is substantially horizontal across the discharge position 82 that is inclined downward.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cleaning bucket 9 is formed in a box shape with an upper portion made of a steel plate such as stainless steel, has a large cross-sectional area from the bottom toward the opening, and has a front side wall portion 91 on the payout position 27 side. It is shape | molded so that the inclination-angle of may become large. A large number of through holes 94 are formed in almost the entire surface of the bottom wall portion 90, the front side wall portion 91, and the rear side wall portion 92 and the upper portions of the vertical wall portions 93 on both sides in the width direction. Here, in the front side and the rear side, the payout position 27 side is the front side and the weighing device 3 side is the rear side along the arrangement direction. The width direction is a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

  A plurality (eight in the drawing) of nozzle holes 95 facing the stirring injection nozzle 12 are formed at appropriate intervals along the width direction at the lower portion of the front side wall portion 91. In the drawing, eight stirring nozzles 12 are also provided at appropriate intervals along the width direction of the cleaning bucket 9 (see FIG. 1). Opposite.

  A lattice is assembled to the opening of the nozzle hole 95, and the liquid ejected from the stirring spray nozzle 12 is introduced into the cleaning bucket 9 from between the lattices. The liquid sprayed from the stirring spray nozzle 12 causes convection of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning bucket 9 and stirs the object to be cleaned in the cleaning bucket 9 together with the cleaning water.

  One discharge pipe 15 that discharges air is installed upward in the lower part of the center of the bottom wall 90, and together with the other discharge pipes 14 and 16, an air pressure source (compressor) 83 realized by, for example, a blower. Are connected by piping (see FIG. 1). A plurality of nozzle holes are formed in the discharge pipe 15 at intervals in the axial direction. Air is discharged from each nozzle hole in the cleaning water, and the discharged air passes through the through holes 94 and is a cleaning bucket. 9, the object to be cleaned in the cleaning bucket 9 is more strongly stirred together with the cleaning water by the bubbling action. Flow control valves 84 to 86 are disposed in the middle of the branch pipes connected to the discharge pipes 14 to 16 (see FIG. 1), and the opening and closing operations of the flow control valves 84 to 86 are controlled by the control means 101. .

A universal joint 97 is connected to the bearing member 96 that supports one end side of the angular displacement shaft 79, and the branch pipe 42 for the cleaning injection nozzle 29 is connected to the flexible pipe 98 via the universal joint 97. The flexible pipe 98 is connected to a nozzle head 99 to which a plurality (eight in FIG. 1) of cleaning nozzles 29 are connected at predetermined intervals. The nozzle head 99 is supported by support brackets 100 fixed to the vertical wall portions 93 on both sides of the cleaning bucket 9 and is installed above the cleaning bucket 9 so as to straddle the cleaning bucket 9 in the width direction. Yes.

From cleaning the injection nozzle 29, the washing water is sprayed toward the washing bucket 9 in the cleaning position 81. Cleaning the injection nozzle 29, for angular displacement with cleaning buckets 9 is provided in the cleaning bucket 9, even when the cleaning bucket 9 is in the discharge position 82, if the injection of wash water from the cleaning jet nozzles 29 The object to be cleaned that has been pulled up above the cleaning tank 4 and discharged to the cleaning bucket 9 after being discharged can be washed away into the cleaning tank 4.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a control means 101 as a control means is installed in the vicinity of the cleaning apparatus 1 as appropriate. The control means 101 and the control target device are connected by a control line indicated by a one-dot chain line. The operations of supplying, weighing, cleaning and discharging the object to be cleaned in the cleaning apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.

  First, the object to be cleaned in the service hopper 19 is transported by the operation of the conveyor 20 and is put into the weighing bucket 22. At this time, the cleaning object charging chute 50 is at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5, and the cleaning object from the conveyor 20 is sequentially input to the weighing bucket 22. During the charging of the object to be cleaned, the weighing bucket 21 measures the weight of the weighing bucket 22 and the object to be cleaned.

  As shown in FIG. 9, two types of threshold values (for example, 18 kg and 20 kg) are set in the weighing scale 21 in advance, and the conveyor 20 is driven at high speed during a period T1 until the measured value reaches the threshold value 18 kg. Is done. When the measured value reaches the threshold value 18 kg, the conveyor 20 is switched to a low speed, and is driven at this low speed during the period T2 until the threshold value 20 kg is reached. When the measured value reaches the threshold value of 20 kg, the conveyor 20 is stopped and the supply of the object to be cleaned is stopped.

  In the period T3 after the supply of the object to be cleaned is stopped, the object input chute 50 is retracted to the retracted position (two-dot chain line position) shown in FIG. 5, and the measuring angular displacement means 25 starts operating. The weighing bucket 22 is angularly displaced from the weighing position 23 to the discharge position 24. At the discharge position 24, the weighing bucket 22 is located above the washing bucket 8 accommodated in the first partition tank 5, and the opening is directed obliquely downward. The object is discharged into the cleaning bucket 8 and stored.

  The weighing bucket 22 in which the discharge of the object to be cleaned is completed returns from the discharge position 24 to the measurement position 23 by the operation of the angular displacement means 25 for measurement. In the subsequent periods T4 and T5, as in the periods T1 and T2, the operation of the conveyor 20 causes the object to be cleaned to be put into the weighing bucket 22 and the weight is measured.

  In the first partition tank 5, a cleaning bucket 8 that stores an object to be cleaned discharged from the weighing bucket 22 is stored, and the circulation pump 35 is operated in this stored state. As a result, the cleaning water is jetted from the stirring jet nozzle 11 into the cleaning bucket 8, and the cleaning target is stirred together with the cleaning water by the cleaning water jetted from below in the cleaning bucket 8, A bubbling action due to the discharge of air from the discharge pipe 14 is added to this, and the stirring is performed strongly, so that the foreign matters attached to the object to be cleaned are separated.

Further, the separated deposits are washed away by the flow of the washing water in the washing bucket 8 and pass through the through holes (similar to the through holes 94 formed in the washing bucket 9 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). Then, it flows out from the cleaning bucket 8 into the first partition tank 5. A part of the separated foreign matter that has flowed into the first partition tank 5 flows into the storage tank 31 together with the overflow water, and after the foreign matter has been removed by the filter 34, the stirring injection nozzles 11 to 11 again pass through the pipes 38 to 40. 13 is injected.

After the cleaning is performed for a predetermined time, the cleaning angular displacement means 75 of the cleaning bucket 8 is operated, and the cleaning bucket 8 is discharged from the cleaning position (equivalent to the discharging position 82 of the cleaning bucket 9 in FIG. 2). Angular displacement. As a result, the object to be cleaned accommodated in the cleaning bucket 8 is discharged to the cleaning bucket 9 at the cleaning position 81 stored in the second partition tank 6.

Thus, when the cleaning bucket 8 is in the discharge position pulled up from the cleaning tank 4, the spray of the cleaning water from the stirring spray nozzle 11 and the discharge of air from the discharge pipe 14 can be continued. For example, the flow of the cleaning water is promoted to overflow, and the filter 34 can remove foreign matters. Further, when the cleaning bucket 8 is in the discharge position, from cleaning the injection nozzle 28 to perform the injection of cleaning water, the cleaning object is washed off adhering to the inner wall of the cleaning bucket 8, the cleaning bucket 9 Can be returned to.

  After the discharge of the object to be cleaned from the cleaning bucket 8 is completed, the cleaning bucket 8 is returned to the original cleaning position by the operation of the cleaning angular displacement means 75 and is cleaned from the weighing bucket 22. Wait to contain things. The cleaning bucket 9 that stores the first cleaned object discharged from the cleaning bucket 8 is in the cleaning position 81 stored in the second partition tank 6, and in this storage state, the control means 101 is Each circulation pump 35 is stopped and the injection of the washing water from the stirring nozzle 12 is stopped.

  As a result, the cleaning water is jetted from the stirring jet nozzle 12 into the cleaning bucket 9, and the object to be cleaned is stirred together with the cleaning water in the cleaning bucket 9, and bubbling is performed by discharging air from the discharge pipe 15. The action is added, the stirring is made strong, and the foreign matter adhering to the object to be cleaned is separated.

The separated foreign matter is washed away by the flow of the washing water in the washing bucket 9 and flows out from the washing bucket 9 into the second partition tank 6 through the through hole 94. Part of the separated foreign matter that has flowed into the second partition tank 6 flows into the storage tank 31 together with the overflow water.

  After the second cleaning is performed for a predetermined time, the cleaning angular displacement means 76 of the cleaning bucket 9 is operated, and the cleaning bucket 9 is angularly displaced from the cleaning position 81 to the discharge position 82. As a result, the object to be cleaned accommodated in the cleaning bucket 9 is discharged to the cleaning bucket 10 at the cleaning position stored in the third partition tank 7.

  After the discharge of the second object to be cleaned from the cleaning bucket 9 is completed, the cleaning bucket 9 returns to the original cleaning position 81 by the operation of the cleaning angular displacement means 76, and the cleaning bucket 8 To wait for the first-cleaned object to be discharged discharged from the container.

  The cleaning bucket 10 containing the second object to be cleaned discharged from the cleaning bucket 9 is in the cleaning position stored in the third partition tank 7, and the agitation jet nozzle is placed in the cleaning bucket 10. The cleaning water is jetted from 13 and the object to be cleaned is stirred together with the cleaning water in the cleaning bucket 10, and the bubbling action by the discharge of air from the discharge pipe 16 is added to the object to be cleaned. The foreign matter adhering to is separated.

The separated foreign matter is washed away by the flow of the washing water in the washing bucket 10 and flows out from the washing bucket 10 into the third partition tank 7 through the through hole (same as above). Part of the separated foreign matter that has flowed into the third partition tank 7 flows into the storage tank 31 together with the overflow water.

  After the third cleaning is performed for a predetermined time, the cleaning angular displacement means 77 of the cleaning bucket 10 is operated, and the cleaning bucket 10 is angularly displaced from the cleaning position to the discharge position (same as above). As a result, the third object to be cleaned, which is stored in the cleaning bucket 10, is discharged and stored in the cart-equipped container 26 disposed at the payout position 27.

A discharge chute 102 is installed at the end of the cleaning tank 4, whereby the cleaned object to be cleaned is discharged smoothly. When a predetermined weight of the washed object is stored in the container 26 with a carriage, the container 26 is replaced with an empty container 26 with a carriage.
After the discharge of the object to be cleaned from the cleaning bucket 10 is completed, the cleaning bucket 10 returns to the original cleaning position by the operation of the cleaning angular displacement means 77 and is discharged from the cleaning bucket 9 for the second time. Wait to accommodate cleaned items.

  By the above-described three-stage cleaning operation, the deposits that could not be separated by the previous step cleaning are also separated and removed in the subsequent cleaning step, and the deposits adhering to the object to be cleaned are completely removed. Therefore, when the object to be cleaned is a food, it can be used for food as it is. Washing water containing separated foreign substances overflowing from the partition tanks 5 to 7 is stored in the storage tank 31.

  In each partition tank 5-7, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted so that a wash water may be always maintained at the overflow level, the pipe line and liquid supply port for replenishing liquids are provided. The overflow level in each partition tank 5-7 is set by the notch (illustration omitted) provided in the upper edge part of each partition wall between the storage tanks 31. FIG. A through hole formed in the upper portion of the vertical wall portion (equivalent to the vertical wall portion 93 shown in FIG. 7) of the cleaning buckets 8 to 10 (equivalent to the through hole 94 formed in the both side vertical wall portions 93 shown in FIG. 7). The formation group is set so that when the cleaning buckets 8 to 10 are at the cleaning position, the level is substantially the same as the notch formation position.

  Accordingly, when the cleaning buckets 8 to 10 are in the cleaning position, the formation group of these through holes is positioned near the liquid surface of each partition tank 5 to 7, and the foreign matter separated from the object to be cleaned is It flows out from the buckets 8 to 10 together with the washing water, and quickly flows out from the notches into the storage tank 31. The operation control of each operating unit in the cleaning operation is executed based on a sequence predetermined by the control means 101. Such a control means 101 is realized by a sequence control device, but in another embodiment of the present invention, it may be realized by a computer that reads and executes a program in which an algorithm corresponding to the predetermined sequence is constructed. Good.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, room temperature tap water is used as the cleaning liquid, but the cleaning effect is promoted by using a chemical solution that does not affect the human body or cold water having a temperature lower than normal temperature. When the object to be cleaned is a food material, it may be possible to prevent a decrease in freshness thereof. Moreover, although the example which wash | cleans in 3 steps was shown in embodiment, the thing comprised by the washing | cleaning step of 1 time, 2 times, or 4 times or more is not excluded.

  Furthermore, the shapes of the support arms 64 and 65, the brackets 66 to 69, and the locking holes 70 that support the weighing bucket 22 are not limited to the illustrated example. Moreover, although the example which comprised the drive source 60 of the angular displacement means 25 and 75-77 and the drive source for tilting to-be-cleaned object throwing chute 50 by the air cylinder 53 was shown, it is not restricted to this, Other electric mechanisms, such as an electric mechanism, are shown. A mechanism may be employed.

  In still another embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the cleaning device 1 of the above-described embodiment, the bottom of the first partition tank 5 and the cleaning bucket 8 and the second partition tank 6 A plurality of steam injection heaters, also called silencer heaters, are provided as heat sources between the bottom and the cleaning bucket 9, and steam from the steam generator is supplied to each steam injection heater via a pipe, You may comprise so that the washing water in the 2nd division tanks 5 and 6 may be heated.

  The steam injection heater is condensed by heat exchange with a plurality of heat exchange fins before the water vapor discharged from the steam injection heater touches the cleaning water, resulting in vibration and noise due to the water vapor discharge. The surrounding cleaning water is heated to warm water.

  By adopting such a configuration, the cleaning water in the first partition tank 5 is heated to about 40 ° C., and the object to be cleaned is preheated by immersing the hot water in the warm water for a period of 20 to 80 sec. The cleaning water in the partition tank 6 is heated to about 80 ° C. to about 85 ° C., and the object to be cleaned is immersed in the warm water for 10 to 60 seconds for heat sterilization. By immersing in the cleaning water, the object to be cleaned can be cooled to remove rough heat. Accordingly, the object to be cleaned such as seeds can be simultaneously cleaned and sterilized without damaging the cells of the object to be cleaned by heat.

  In the above-described embodiment, as an example, a cleaning apparatus that cleans seeds of sprout vegetables such as sprout, alfalfa, silkworm, moroheiya, or kale as an object to be cleaned has been described. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, The object may be cereals such as corn, soybeans, red beans, peas and beans, kale, cabbage, lettuce, chisha, salad vegetables, Chinese cabbage, komatsuna, spinach, spring chrysanthemum, mizuna, parsley, celery, radish leaves, It may be a so-called cut vegetable obtained by cutting leaf vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, moroheiya, persimmon and watercress, and further selected from root vegetables, fruit vegetables, wild vegetables, fruits, moss and algae One or more kinds of food materials may be used as an object to be cleaned.

  The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects, and the scope of the present invention is shown in the claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning apparatus 2 To-be-washed object supply means 3 Measuring apparatus 4 Washing tank 5-7 Compartment tank 8-10 Washing bucket 11-13 Stirring injection nozzle 14-16 Discharge pipe 21 Weigh scale 22 Weighing bucket 23 Weighing position 24 Discharge Position 25 Angular displacement means for measurement 26 Container 27 Dispensing position 28-30 Second injection nozzle 50 Washed object throwing chute 60 Drive source 64, 65 Support arm 66-69 Bracket 70 Locking hole 71 Upper hole wall 71a Guide wall Part 71b Top wall part 73a Upper end part 75-77 Angular displacement means for cleaning 94 Through hole 101 Control means

Claims (7)

An object supply means for supplying an object to be cleaned;
A weighing device for measuring the weight of the object to be cleaned supplied from the object supply means;
A cleaning device that includes a cleaning tank in which a liquid for cleaning an object to be cleaned is stored and an object to be cleaned measured by a weighing device is immersed in the liquid and cleaned .
The weighing device is
The to-be-washed object of the weight supplied from the to-be-washed object supplying means is accommodated, the weighing position is placed on the weighing device with the opening facing upward, and the opening is inclined downward by being pulled upward. A measuring bucket provided at a predetermined mounting position so as to be angularly displaceable about a substantially horizontal axis over a discharge position for discharging the object to be cleaned into the cleaning tank.
Angular displacement means for weighing that angularly displaces the weighing bucket over a weighing position and a discharge position;
A weigh scale for measuring the weight of the weighing bucket disposed in the weighing position,
An object to be cleaned weighed by the weighing device is accommodated, a number of through holes are formed, a cleaning position where the opening is accommodated in the cleaning tank with the opening facing upward, and an opening is lifted upward from the cleaning tank. A cleaning bucket provided at a predetermined mounting position so as to be angularly displaceable about a substantially horizontal axis over a discharge position directed obliquely downward;
Cleaning angular displacement means for angularly shifting the cleaning bucket over a cleaning position and a discharge position;
An agitating injection nozzle that injects liquid toward the cleaning bucket provided in the cleaning tank and provided in the cleaning tank;
A cleaning nozzle provided in the cleaning bucket, for spraying liquid toward the cleaning bucket;
A cleaning apparatus , further comprising: a discharge pipe provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank and discharging gas in the cleaning tank . The apparatus further includes control means for controlling the operations of the article to be cleaned and the angular displacement means for weighing, the control means based on a predetermined threshold in the weighing scale. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the driving of the angular displacement means is controlled. The measuring angular displacement means includes a drive source and a pair of support arms connected to the drive source and rotating around the axis,
Brackets are fixed to both sides in the axial direction of the weighing bucket,
The pair of support arms support the weighing bucket through the bracket across the weighing position and the discharge position, and when the weighing bucket is in a weighing state by the weigh scale at the weighing position, the weighing bucket The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is configured to be in a non-contact state with respect to the weighing bucket by being separated from the measuring bucket. The bracket has a locking hole through which the support arm passes. When the support arm rotates, the upper end of the support arm rotates from the measuring position to the discharge position in the locking hole. When the measuring bucket is in a measuring state at the measuring position, the supporting arm is moved from the wall of the locking hole in the rotating direction. cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that it is maintained in separated on the downstream side in a non-contact state. A wall portion of the locking hole is formed from a pair of tapered guide wall portions whose width gradually decreases toward the downstream side in the rotation direction, and an arcuate top wall portion formed between the guide wall portions. Consisting of
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a portion of the pair of support arms that is allowed to pass through the locking hole is formed in a curved surface shape that protrudes downstream in the rotation direction. The cleaning tank is composed of a plurality of partition tanks arranged in series, and each partition tank is provided with the cleaning bucket, and one end side of each partition tank in the cleaning tank is arranged on the weighing device. adjacent the other end in the arrangement direction of the partition tank in the washing tank, according to claim 1 to 5 in which the container for accommodating the object to be cleaned after cleaning, characterized in that it is arranged in a dispensing position where it is located The cleaning apparatus according to any one of the above. A to-be-washed object throwing chute is installed between the to-be-washed object supply means and the weighing device,
The cleaning object charging chute is provided with a feeding position facing the weighing bucket arranged at the weighing position from above, and when the weighing bucket rotates between the weighing position and the discharge position, The cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is configured to be angularly displaceable over a storage position that is retracted from a moving path and faces the cleaning object charging chute.

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