JPH0482701A - Method and apparatus for impregnating splittable-chopsticks material with hot water - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable rapid and easy permeation of water into a splittable- chopsticks material, by filling an evacuated vessel with cold or hot water by suction, and pressurizing the cold or hot water in the vessel by a water pump. CONSTITUTION:A splittable-chopsticks material 30 is placed in a pressure vessel 1, and the vessel 1 is hermetically sealed. A vacuum pump 11 is then operated to exhaust air from the vessel 1. When a vacuum of not lower than 700mmHg is established in the vessel 1, water supply and drain valves 16 and 17 are opened, whereby cold or hot water in a recovering vessel 15 is introduced into the pressure vessel 1. A water level gauge 4 provided at an upper part in the pressure vessel 1 operates when the vessel 1 is filled with cold or hot water. Next, the vessel 1 is opened to drain the cold or hot water therefrom, followed by closing an atmospheric open valve 14 and the first water supply and drain valve 16. A steam valve 26 is then opened to supply heated steam into the vessel 1. The splittable-chopsticks material 30 is boiled with the heated steam, and the heat of the steam is rapidly transmitted to the depth of the material 30, thereby heating the material 30 rapidly and uniformly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) This invention provides a method and method for impregnating disposable chopstick material with hot water prior to cutting in order to improve workability when manufacturing disposable chopsticks. It is related to the device.

(Conventional technology) When processing disposable chopsticks from disposable chopstick material, the material is impregnated with hot water prior to processing in order to improve the sharpness of the blade and prevent roughening of the wood surface on the cutting surface. Conventionally, methods for this purpose include immersing the disposable chopstick material in hot water or steaming the disposable chopstick material in heated steam.

On the other hand, JP-A No. 1-158911, JP-A No. 1-158911,
-160601 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1164315 disclose that disposable chopsticks are placed in an airtight container and soaked in water or hot water in order to improve productivity by penetrating hot water deep into the wood in a shorter time. and pressurizing with high pressure air,
Methods and apparatus have been proposed that include both the step of steaming with pressure steam.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the apparatus disclosed in the above publication, in which 1 is a pressure vessel, 21 is a water supply pipe, 41 is a drain pipe, 1
5 is a recovery container, 42 is a water level gauge, 43 is a high pressure air pipe, 2
5 is a steam pipe, and 14 is an atmosphere release valve. The disposable chopstick material 30 is housed in the pressure vessel 1 and sealed, water or hot water is supplied into the pressure vessel 1 from the water supply pipe 21 or the recovery container 15 via the water supply pump 44, the disposable chopstick material 30 is immersed, and then high-pressure air is supplied. The inside of the pressure vessel 1 is pressurized with the pressurized air supplied from the pipe 43, and after maintaining the pressurized state for a certain period of time, the water is drained into the drain pipe 41 or the recovery container 15. Next, high-pressure steam is sent from the steam pipe 25 to steam the disposable chopstick material 30 for a certain period of time, and after the steam is discharged from the atmosphere release valve 14, the disposable chopstick material 30 is taken out. There is also a method in which the steaming and soaking steps of the above method are reversed, that is, high-pressure steam is first supplied for steaming, and after the steam is discharged, water is supplied and the water is heated with high-pressure steam, while high-pressure air is supplied. A method has also been proposed in which the disposable chopstick material is removed by pressurizing and then draining and exhausting the water.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) According to the method and device proposed in the above publication, disposable chopsticks are immersed in water or hot water and pressurized with high-pressure air to inject water or heat into the wood fiber structure. Penetration of water is promoted, and it is possible to impregnate the disposable chopstick material with hot water in a shorter time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technical means that can more uniformly impregnate the inside of the side chopsticks with hot water in a shorter time.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In this invention, instead of the process of immersing disposable chopsticks in water or hot water and pressurizing them with high-pressure air, water or hot water is sucked into the container while creating a vacuum inside the container. We have adopted a process to

More preferably, a step is adopted in which water or hot water is drawn into the container while the inside of the container is evacuated to fill the container, and then the water or hot water in the container is pressurized using a water pump.

The device of the present invention includes a pressure vessel l that can house and seal disposable chopstick material 30, a water supply pipe 21 for supplying fresh water to the device,
A recovery container 15 for storing water or hot water supplied to the pressure vessel 1 for repeated use, a steam pipe 25 for supplying heated steam for steaming the disposable chopstick material 30, and the inside of the pressure vessel 1 is released to the atmosphere. It is equipped with an atmosphere release valve 14 for this purpose.

These are also provided in the conventional device shown in FIG.

Furthermore, in the apparatus of the present invention, a vacuum pump 11 for sucking air inside the pressure vessel 1 to make the inside of the pressure vessel 1 a vacuum;
It is equipped with an upper water level gauge 4 for detecting that the pressure vessel 1 is filled with water or hot water, and more preferably a bypass passage 19 is provided in the passage 18 connecting the pressure vessel 1 and the recovery vessel 15. A water pump 20 is provided in this bypass flow path. This water pump is provided not for supplying water or hot water to the pressure vessel 1, but for pressurizing the water or hot water within the pressure vessel 1. Water or hot water is supplied and discharged into the pressure vessel 1 through a single water supply and drainage pipe 18 , and this water supply and drainage pipe opens at the lower end of the pressure vessel 1 .

Further, according to the method of the present invention, the disposable chopstick material 30 is placed in the pressure vessel 1.
The vacuum pump 11 is operated to create a vacuum inside the pressure vessel, and water or hot water is sucked into the pressure vessel 1 from the recovery vessel 15 using this vacuum pressure. After the upper water level gauge 4 detects that the pressure vessel 1 is full of water, the vacuum pump 11 is stopped.

In the case where a water pump 20 is provided, the water pump 20 is then operated, and the water or hot water in the recovery container 15 is further pushed by the water pump 20, thereby pressurizing the water or hot water in the pressure vessel 1.

After leaving this state for a certain period of time, the atmosphere release valve 14
is opened to introduce the atmosphere into the pressure vessel 1, and the water or hot water in the pressure vessel 1 is discharged to the recovery vessel 15 by its own weight or by the drainage pump 27. When discharging by its own weight, the recovery container 15 is provided at a position lower than the pressure container 1. Thereafter, heated steam is supplied into the pressure vessel 1 from the steam pipe 25, and the disposable chopstick material 30 is boiled until the temperature of the disposable chopstick material 30 rises to about 90 to 100 degrees Celsius.Then, the pressure vessel 1 is opened and the disposable chopstick material 30 is boiled.
Take out.

(Function) In this invention, before the disposable chopstick material 30 is immersed in water or hot water, the pressure vessel 1 containing the disposable chopstick material is evacuated to remove air from the wood fibers of the disposable chopstick material 30, and the condensation water is removed. Since water or hot water is supplied, the water or hot water is sucked from inside the wood and quickly penetrates deep into the wood. After evacuating the inside of the container and causing water or hot water to be sucked into the wood, the water or hot water in the pressure container 1 is further pressurized by the water pump 20, and the disposable chopstick material 30 is used for both suction and pushing. Disposable chopsticks material 3 because water or hot water penetrates inside.
Moisture can be more quickly and uniformly impregnated into the 0. Further, in this invention, by creating a vacuum inside the pressure vessel 1, water or hot water is sucked from the recovery vessel 15 using the vacuum pressure, and further, by opening the atmosphere release valve 14, the pressure vessel 1 is Since the water or hot water inside is collected into the collection container 15 by its own weight or by the drainage pump 27, the structure of the device can also be simplified.

(Example) FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a pressure vessel for storing disposable chopsticks material 30, 2 is a door of the pressure vessel, 3 is a steam blowing pipe arranged inside the pressure vessel, 4 is an upper water level gauge provided at the upper end of the pressure vessel, 5 is a lower water level gauge provided at the lower end of the pressure vessel, and 6 and 7 are pressure switches on the pressure side and the pressure reduction side. 11 is a vacuum pump, 12 is a vacuum pipe, and 13 is an exhaust valve, and the vacuum pipe 12 opens at the top end of the pressure vessel 1. 14 is an atmosphere release valve for opening the inside of the pressure vessel 1 to the atmosphere.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a recovery container for water or hot water in the pressure vessel 1, and the capacity of this recovery vessel is larger than the capacity of the pressure vessel 1. The recovery container 15 is connected to the pressure vessel 1 by a water supply and drainage pipe 18 in which a first water supply and drainage valve 16 and a second water supply and drainage valve 17 are connected in series, and the water supply and drainage pipe 18 opens at the lower end of the pressure vessel 1.

In the device of the illustrated embodiment, a pump pipe 19 is provided in parallel with the second water supply and drainage valve 17, and a water pump 20 is connected to this pump pipe.
is connected. 21 is due to evaporation or disposable chopstick material 3
22 is a water supply valve, 23 is a heater disposed in the recovery container 15, and 24 is a drain valve. 25 is a steam pipe connected to a steam generation source (not shown), 26 is a steam valve, and the steam pipe 25 is connected to the steam blow-off pipe 3 in the pressure vessel 1.

The recovery container 15 is provided at a position lower than the pressure container 1. If this is not possible, a drainage pump 27 is installed in parallel with the water supply and drainage pipe 18, as shown in FIG.

Next, the hot water impregnation method of the present invention, which is carried out using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the door of the pressure vessel 1 is opened, the disposable chopsticks material 30 is stored in the pressure vessel 1, and the pressure vessel 1 is sealed. Next, the exhaust valve 13 is opened and the vacuum pump 11 is operated to exhaust the air inside the pressure vessel 1.

When the degree of vacuum inside the pressure vessel 1 reaches 700 mHg or more,
Open the water supply and drainage valves 16 and 17 (this opens the collection container 1
Water or hot water in the pressure vessel 5 flows into the pressure vessel 1 under vacuum pressure, and when the pressure vessel 1 is filled with water or hot water, the upper water level gauge 4 is activated. Based on the full water detection signal from the water level gauge, the exhaust valve 13 and the second water supply/drainage valve 17 are closed, and the vacuum pump 11 is also stopped.

Next, the water pump 20 is driven, and the pressure inside the pressure vessel is 7 to 15.
The water or hot water in the pressure vessel 1 is pressurized to a pressure of about 100 kg/cm" and held in this state for a certain period of time. After the set time has elapsed, the water pump 20 is stopped and the second water supply and drainage valve is closed. 17 and the atmosphere release valve 14. As a result, the water or hot water in the pressure vessel 1 can be drained by its own weight or by the drain pump 27.
All of the water or hot water in the pressure vessel 1 returns to the recovery vessel 15. After water or hot water is discharged from the pressure vessel 1, the atmosphere release valve 14 and the first water supply/drainage valve 16 are closed, and the steam valve 26 is opened to supply heated steam into the pressure vessel 1. The disposable chopstick material 30 is steamed by this heated steam, and the heat of the heated steam is quickly transmitted to the deep part by the moisture that has penetrated into the fibers of the disposable chopstick material 30, so that the disposable chopstick material 30 is heated quickly and uniformly. Then, after the disposable chopstick material has been heated to a temperature of 90 degrees to 100 degrees C, the steam valve 26 is closed, the atmosphere release valve 14 is opened, and the door 2 of the pressure vessel 1 is opened and the steamed disposable chopstick material is heated. Take out 30.

The disposable chopstick material 30 impregnated with hot water as described above is placed in a heating chamber to maintain the temperature so that the temperature of the wood does not drop, and is taken out from the heating chamber at the time of processing. This results in
It improves the sharpness of the blade during cutting and prevents roughening of the wood surface on the cutting surface. The heating chamber has a structure that maintains the internal temperature by passing steam through a chamber made of sheet material, stainless steel plate, or aluminum plate, for example.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the method and device of the present invention explained above, moisture permeates into the interior of the disposable chopstick material by the suction action caused by removing air in the fibers of the wood. Since the air remaining in the fibers does not impede the penetration of moisture, the penetration of moisture into the disposable chopstick material occurs more quickly and uniformly. If the above-mentioned suction action and the pushing action by pressurizing the water or hot water in which the disposable chopstick material is immersed are utilized, it becomes possible to permeate moisture into the disposable chopstick material extremely quickly and uniformly. Further, in the apparatus of the present invention, water or hot water in the pressure vessel can be supplied and drained by using the suction effect of a vacuum and free fall by opening to the atmosphere, or by using a drainage pump, and the structure of the apparatus can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of another embodiment, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the method of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a conventional apparatus. In the figure, 1: Pressure vessel 11: Vacuum pump 21: Water supply piping 30: Disposable chopstick material 4: Upper water level gauge 15 2 Collection container 25: Steam piping 1 IEI

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A sealable pressure vessel (1), a water supply pipe (21) for supplying fresh water to the equipment, and a recovery vessel (21) for storing water or hot water supplied to the pressure vessel (1). 15
), a steam pipe (25) for supplying heated steam, and an atmosphere release valve (14) for releasing the inside of the pressure vessel (1) to the atmosphere. )
Vacuum pump (11) to create a vacuum inside and pressure vessel (1)
An apparatus for impregnating disposable chopsticks with hot water, characterized in that it is equipped with an upper water level gauge (4) that detects whether the interior is filled with water or hot water. (2) In the apparatus according to claim 1, a pump pipe (19) is provided in parallel with the water supply and drainage pipe (18) connecting the pressure vessel (1) and the recovery vessel (15), and the pump pipe is connected to the pressure vessel (1). ) Water pump (2) that pressurizes water or hot water in
0). The apparatus for impregnating disposable chopsticks with hot water according to claim 1. (3) Store the disposable chopsticks material (30) in the pressure vessel (1), make the pressure vessel (1) a vacuum, and fill the pressure vessel (1) with water or hot water.
1), pressurize the water or hot water in the pressure vessel (1) with the water pump (20), and leave it in the pressurized state for a certain period of time,
The pressure vessel (1) is opened to the atmosphere, the water or hot water in the pressure vessel (1) is discharged, heated steam is supplied into the pressure vessel (1) to steam the disposable chopstick material (30), and then the pressure Container (1)
It is characterized by opening and taking out the disposable chopstick material (30),
Method of impregnating disposable chopsticks with hot water.