JPH08117621A - Rice washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a rice washing device constituted so as to enhance efficiencies of washing sterilization and deodorization in a rice washing process. CONSTITUTION: A rice washing device 33 is provided with an ozone water generator for producing ozone water and an agitator 35, for conveying rice while stirring it, arranged in the middle of a conveying line for conveying the rice and a nozzle part 36 for jetting the ozone water toward the agitator 35 provided on the upper part of the agitator 35. The agitator 35 is formed by inserting freely rotatably a screw conveyer 40 in a housing 39 having the crosssection formed in a U-shape. On a rear surface 36b of the nozzle part 36, many fine nozzle holes are pierced. The ozone water fed from an ozone water feed pipe path 23 is jetted from the nozzle holes and sprayed on the rice conveyed by the screw conveyer 40. The ozone water having high flow speed comes into collision with the surfaces of the rice, thus rice bran and various bacteria are more effectively removed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rice washing apparatus, and more particularly to a rice washing apparatus configured to improve washing, sterilization and deodorizing efficiency in a rice washing process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a rice production system for automatically producing a large amount of rice, a rice washing process of transporting a predetermined amount of rice to a rice washing device to wash the rice, dipping the washed rice in water and watering the rice. Immersion process in which it is included, weighing process to measure washed rice, rice cooking process in which a predetermined amount of rice is put into the pot of a rice cooker and cooked, and cooked rice is a container There is a arranging process for arranging on the rice and a cleaning process for cleaning the pot of the rice cooker after arranging.

In the rice washing step among the above steps, a rice washing apparatus having a stirrer for stirring rice conveyed by a conveyor and a water supply pipe for supplying water for washing rice to the stirrer is used. The rice was washed with the water discharged from the water supply pipe while stirring the rice with the stirrer. The purpose of this rice washing process is to remove the rice bran on the surface of the rice, remove the bacteria on the rice, and further wash away the pesticides attached to the rice.

Particularly, after water is added to the rice by the dipping process, the rice is swelled and the starch contained in the rice is exposed on the surface of the rice, so that it is impossible to wash the bacteria attached to the rice. . Therefore, bacteria can be removed more effectively in the rice washing process performed before the dipping process. However, in the rice washing device used in the rice washing process, tap water is only discharged from the water supply pipe line extending above the stirrer, so that various bacteria attached to the rice cannot be sufficiently removed. It was Moreover, there may be some bacteria left in the rice that cannot be sterilized by heating during the rice cooking process.

Therefore, conventionally, chemicals such as acetic acid and citric acid have been added after the rice cooking step in order to sterilize various bacteria attached to rice and improve the preservability of rice.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned conventional rice washing apparatus, the rice stirred by the stirrer is simply washed with tap water, and the bacteria attached to the rice are sufficiently removed. However, since it was necessary to sterilize the bacteria attached to the rice by adding chemicals, the taste of the rice may be deteriorated or the rice might smell.

[0007] Further, in the case of foreign rice, there are problems such as an increase in the number of bacteria and residual pesticides. However, the rice washing device has a problem that it is not possible to completely wash out miscellaneous bacteria and residual pesticides attached to rice, and the rice becomes odorous after the rice cooking process. Then, this invention aims at providing the rice washing apparatus which solved the said subject.

[0008]

The present invention provides a stirrer for stirring rice, an ozone water supply conduit for guiding ozone water to the stirrer, and ozone water connected to one end of the ozone water supply conduit. A generator, a plurality of injection holes provided at the other end of the ozone water supply line for injecting ozone water toward the stirrer,
It is characterized by consisting of.

[0009]

According to the present invention, by ejecting the ozone water generated by the ozone water generator from the plurality of injection holes toward the stirrer, it is possible to effectively remove the bacteria attached to the rice. At the same time, it becomes possible to remove the smell of rice.

[0010]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of a rice washing apparatus according to the present invention. In both figures, first, the configuration of the ozone water generator 1 of the rice washing apparatus 33 will be described, and then the nozzle portion 36 and the stirrer 35 to which ozone water is supplied from the ozone water generator 1 will be described.

The ozone water generator 1 is generally composed of an oxygen gas generator 2, an ozone gas generator 3, and an ozone water generator 4, and supplies ozone water to a nozzle portion 36 as described later. The oxygen gas generation unit 2 is, for example, a PSA (Pressur
e Swing Adsorption) separation method is used to separate and generate oxygen at a higher concentration than in the atmosphere. An oxygen supply means other than the PSA separation method may be used as the oxygen gas generation unit 2.

Now, the structure of the oxygen gas generating section 2 when the PSA separation method is used will be described. The oxygen gas generation unit 2 uses an air compressor 5 for compressing air in the atmosphere, an air dryer 6 for dehumidifying the compressed air supplied from the air compressor 5, and a compressed air supplied from the air dryer 6 as a raw material gas (air Is a pair of adsorption tanks 7 and 8 for separately generating oxygen molecules contained in the air as 78% of nitrogen, 18% of oxygen, and the rest being other components, and a pair of adsorption tanks 7 and 8. And an oxygen gas tank 9 for storing the stored oxygen gas.

The pipes connecting the air dryer 6 and the pair of adsorption tanks 7 and 8 and the pipes connecting the pair of adsorption tanks 7 and 8 and the gas tank 9 have valves V _{1 to} V _{8 formed of} solenoid valves. Is provided. The adsorption tanks 7 and 8 are filled with an adsorbent (not shown) made of zeolite. This zeolite adsorbs nitrogen molecules contained in the compressed air when the compressed air compressed by the air compressor 5 is supplied into the adsorption tanks 7 and 8 and the pressure inside the adsorption tanks 7 and 8 is increased. Then, the remaining oxygen molecules in the adsorption tanks 7 and 8 which are not adsorbed by the zeolite are taken out.

Therefore, by controlling the opening and closing of each of the valves V _{1 to} V ₈ , the adsorption tanks 7 and 8 are alternately subjected to a pressure increasing step (adsorption), a pressure reducing step (regeneration), an extraction step, a pressure equalizing step, and a reflux step. The high-concentration oxygen gas whose oxygen concentration is concentrated to about 90% by repeating the oxygen production cycle
Supply to. In the adsorption tanks 7 and 8, each valve is arranged so that a high-concentration oxygen gas is alternately taken out by shifting a series of oxygen generation cycles by 180 ° so that one of the adsorption tanks 7 and 8 is a depressurization step. V ₁ ~V ₈ is opened and closed controlled. Moreover, the opening and closing control of the valve V ₁ ~V ₈ per each step is performed as follows.

In the step of boosting the pressure, the valve V ₁ or V
Open only ₂ and keep the other valves closed. As a result, compressed air is supplied to the adsorption tank 7 or 8. In the pressure reducing step, only the valve V ₃ or V ₄ is opened and the other valves are kept closed. As a result, the nitrogen gas in the adsorption tank 7 or 8 is exhausted to the atmosphere. In the take-out step, only the valve V ₅ or V ₆ is opened and the other valves are kept closed. As a result, oxygen molecules other than nitrogen adsorbed by the zeolite in the adsorption tank 7 or 8 are taken out and supplied to the oxygen gas tank 9.

In the pressure equalizing step, the valves V ₇ and V ₈
Open only one valve and keep the other valves closed. As a result, the pressure in the adsorption tanks 7 _and 8 becomes uniform. The oxygen gas tank 9 of the oxygen gas generation unit 2 having the above-described configuration is connected to the ozone generator 3 via the extraction pipe line 10.
A take-out valve 11 which is an electromagnetic valve is arranged in the take-out conduit 10. Therefore, when the extraction valve 11 is opened, the oxygen gas in the oxygen gas tank 9 is supplied to the ozone gas generator 3.

The ozone gas generator 3 is configured to generate ozone (O ₃ ) by a silent discharge method, for example, and applies a voltage between the electrodes to generate silent discharge to generate ozone (O ₃ ). The high-concentration oxygen gas generated by the oxygen gas generator 2 is supplied to the ozone gas generator 3 from the oxygen gas tank 9, so that the ozone gas can be continuously generated.

The ozone water generator 4 includes an ejector 13 for mixing the ozone gas generated by the ozone gas generator 3 into the water flow, the ozone gas generator 3, and the ejector 13.
An ozone gas supply valve 15 disposed in an ozone gas supply pipeline 14 that communicates with the water supply valve 17 disposed in a water supply pipeline 16 that communicates between the ejector 13 and a water storage tank (not shown); Gas-liquid separator 1 for separating undissolved ozone gas contained in ozone water supplied from
8 and a densitometer 19 for measuring the concentration of ozone water generated by the gas-liquid separator 18.

Further, the internal flow path of the ejector 13 is tapered so that the water supplied from the water supply pipe 16 is accelerated in the ejector 13. Ozone gas supply line 14
The ozone gas supplied from the ozone generator 3 via
The water flow accelerated in the ejector 13 is sucked and mixed to form high-concentration ozone water. Therefore, the ozone gas supplied from the ozone generator 3 is sucked by the suction force of the water flow accelerated in the ejector 13, becomes dissolved ozone gas, and is mixed into the water flow. The ozone water mixed with the ozone gas in this manner is supplied to the gas-liquid separation device 18 via the ozone water supply pipe line 20.

The gas-liquid separation device 18 includes a first gas-liquid separation tank 21 to which the ozone water mixed by the ejector 13 is supplied via the ozone water supply pipe 20, and a first gas-liquid separation tank 21.
And a second gas-liquid separation tank 22 for separating undissolved ozone gas that could not be separated in step 2. The first gas-liquid separation tank 21 formed in a cylindrical shape is provided inside the gas-liquid separation device 18, and the second gas-liquid separation tank 22 is provided around the first gas-liquid separation tank 21. There is.

Therefore, the ozone water overflowing in the first gas-liquid separation tank 21 flows into the second gas-liquid separation tank 22 and is connected to the bottom of the second gas-liquid separation tank 22. It is fed to the downstream side via 23. Thus, the ozone water flows upward from the bottom of the first gas-liquid separation tank 21, and further, while flowing to the bottom of the second gas-liquid separation tank 22, excess undissolved ozone gas is separated.

In addition, the ozone water supply conduit 23 measures a flow rate of the ozone water supplied to the rice washing device 33 and a pump 24 for pumping the ozone water to the downstream side, a flow rate adjusting valve 25 having an electromagnetic actuator. Flow meter 26 and rice washing device 33
Sensor 34 for measuring the pressure of ozone water supplied to the
And are arranged. Further, the undissolved ozone gas separated by the gas-liquid separation device 18 accumulates in the upper space of the gas-liquid separation device 18 and is supplied to the ozone decomposer 28 via the ozone gas recovery pipe 27. The ozone decomposer 28 is provided therein with activated carbon or a catalyst for decomposing ozone gas into oxygen gas, and detoxifies the undissolved ozone gas supplied via the ozone gas recovery pipe 27 into the atmosphere. To do.

The control circuit 29 uses the ozone gas generator 3 described above.
Data table of the relationship between the voltage value applied to the rice and the concentration of ozone water, and the flow rate or supply pressure of the ozone water depending on the detection signal from the flow meter 26 or the pressure sensor 34 depending on the transport speed of the rice washing device 33. Alternatively, it has a memory (ROM) 30 in which a program for controlling the rotation of the pump 24 or the valve opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 25 so as to have a pressure is stored.
When the detection signals from the densitometer 19 and the flow meter 26 are input to the memory 30, the concentration for adjusting the voltage value applied to the ozone gas generator 3 so that the ozone water concentration becomes the concentration target value. Stores the adjustment program.

Reference numeral 31 is a concentration setting device for setting the concentration of ozone water, which is capable of inputting numerical values like a ten-key pad. That is, when the concentration setter 31 is operated, the ozone water concentration target value is registered in the memory 30 via the control circuit 29. A voltage regulator 32 adjusts the voltage value applied to the ozone gas generator 3 according to a command from the control circuit 29, and supplies the commanded voltage to the ozone gas generator 3.

Here, the rice washing device 33 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rice washing device 33
Is located in the middle of the line that conveys rice,
The ozone water generator 1 having the above configuration, a stirrer 35 that conveys rice while stirring, and a nozzle portion 36 that is provided above the stirrer 35 and that sprays ozone water toward the stirrer 35.
Consists of.

On the upstream side of the agitator 35, rice is agitated by the agitator 35.
Is provided with an upstream conveyor 37 for supplying
A downstream side conveyor 38 that conveys the washed rice that has passed through the stirrer 35 to the dipping process is provided on the downstream side. In order to make the rice transport smooth, the upstream side conveyor 37 has an inclined guide 35a protruding to the inlet of the agitator 35.
It is arranged so that it may be located above. Further, the downstream side conveyor 38 is arranged so as to be located below the inclined guide 35 b protruding to the outlet of the stirrer 35.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the stirrer 35 is used.
A screw conveyor 40 is rotatably inserted in a housing 39 having a U-shaped cross section. Therefore, the nozzle portion 36 is connected to the upper opening 3 of the housing 39.
It extends horizontally so as to be parallel above 9a and faces the screw conveyor 40. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the screw conveyor 40 has a rotating shaft 40.
A blade 40b is spirally provided on a. Further, the screw conveyor 40 includes a pulley 41 provided at the downstream end of the rotary shaft 40a, a flat belt 42, and a drive pulley 4.
When the rotational driving force of the motor 44 is transmitted via 3, the motor 44 is rotationally driven in one direction.

Therefore, when the screw conveyor 40 is rotationally driven by the motor 44, the rice fed between the spiral blades 40b is conveyed to the downstream side by the rotating blades 40b and agitated. By increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the motor 44, the rice transport speed is adjusted and the rice washing process time is set to an arbitrary time. The motor 44 as a drive mechanism that rotationally drives the screw conveyor 40 is disposed at a position laterally separated from the screw conveyor 40, and is installed so as not to hinder the movement of rice conveyed in the housing 39. There is. Moreover, since the rotational driving force of the motor 44 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 40a of the screw conveyor 40 via the flat belt 42, metal abrasion powder or lubricating oil adheres to rice like gears, and It is hygienic because it doesn't bite rice.

A net 44 is provided on the arcuate bottom surface side of the housing 39 to facilitate drainage. The net 45 is formed so that the mesh (number per 1 inch) is smaller than the grain of rice, which prevents the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 from dropping and enhances drainage. . Therefore, the ozone water sprayed from the nozzle portion 36 to the rice conveyed in the housing 39 cleans the surface of the rice located at the upper portion which is agitated by the rotation of the screw conveyor 40, and then, between the spiral blades 40b. The rice located below is washed and drained from the mesh of the net 45. Therefore, the time during which the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 is in contact with the ozone water is relatively short, and the smell of the ozone water does not attach to the rice.

Further, below the housing 39, a collecting container 46 for collecting the water dropped from the net 45 of the housing 39 is arranged. Therefore, the ozone water from which rice has been washed by the stirrer 35 falls into the collection container 46 through the minute mesh of the net 45 and is drained to the drain pipe 47 connected to the bottom of the collection container 46. The box-shaped nozzle portion 36 is
Flow path 36a communicating with the tip of the ozone water supply conduit 23
And extends so as to face the upper part of the stirrer 35. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower surface 36b of the nozzle section 36, fine nozzle holes communicating (jetting hole) 36c ₁ ~36c _n are bored many the flow path 36a.

The diameters of the nozzle holes 36c _{1 to} 36c _n are predetermined depending on the conditions such as the pressure of the ozone water supplied to the nozzle portion 36 and the distance to the stirrer 35. Therefore, from the ozone water supply conduit 23 to the flow path 3 of the nozzle 36.
Ozone water supplied to 6a is because it is pressurized by the pump 24, a large number of nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n
Is injected downward from. Moreover, the nozzle hole 36c
Since the injection port is throttled by _{1 ~36c n,} ozone water injected from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n is accelerated.

That is, the ozone water sprayed from the nozzle holes 36c _{1 to} 36c _n is vigorously fed by the screw conveyor 40.
The sprayed rice is sprayed on the surface of the rice, and the ozone water with a high flow velocity collides against the surface of the rice. Furthermore, since the screw conveyor 40 rotates to convey rice, the rice has a housing 39.
Many times so that the ozone water injected from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n is sprayed while passing through the inner. As a result, it is possible to effectively remove various bacteria and chemicals (including pesticides) attached to rice, and also to remove the odor attached to rice.

FIG. 7 shows the experimental results showing the relationship between the time for washing rice and the number of remaining bacteria. In FIG. 7, the experimental results of the conventional case where tap water is flowed from the pipe are shown by black dots, the experimental results of when tap water is injected from the nozzle portion 36 are shown by white circles, and ozone water is shown by the nozzle portion 36. The experimental results for the case of jetting from are shown by white triangles. As is clear from the results of this experiment, it can be seen that the sterilization effect is large when ozone water is jetted from the nozzle portion 36. Moreover, rice can be sterilized ozone water more quickly who injects the US from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n as in the present invention than in the case of washing with tap water.

Further, it can be seen that the cleaning and sterilizing effect is further improved by increasing the flow velocity of the ozone water jetted from the nozzle holes 36c _{1 to} 36c _n . The horizontal line shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7 is the lower limit of the number of bacteria that can be measured in the experiment, but the actual bacteria when spraying ozone water with bactericidal action on rice and washing it The number is likely to drop below this lower limit.

Now, the ozone water concentration adjusting process executed by the control circuit 29 will be described. In FIG. 8, the control circuit 29
Performs the following processing based on the density adjustment program. First, in step S1 (hereinafter “step” is omitted), the ozone water concentration A input by the concentration setting device 31 is set. The target value of the ozone water concentration A has an allowable range of about ± a.

Next, in S2, it is confirmed whether or not the ozone water concentration A input by the concentration setter 31 has been set. When it is not confirmed in S2 that the setting of the ozone water concentration A is confirmed, the process returns to S1 and the ozone water concentration A input by the concentration setting device 31 is set again. In the next S3, the voltage supplied to the ozone gas generator 3 is calculated from the data table stored in the memory 30, and the voltage value is output to the voltage regulator 32. Therefore, the voltage adjuster 32 adjusts the supply voltage to the voltage value instructed by the control circuit 29.

As a result, the ozone gas generator 3 generates ozone gas by the voltage applied from the voltage regulator 32. Furthermore, the ozone gas supplied from the ozone generator 3 is sucked by the suction force of the water flow accelerated in the ejector 13, becomes dissolved ozone gas, and is mixed into the water flow. Then, the ozone water mixed with the ozone gas is supplied to the gas-liquid separation device 18 to separate unnecessary undissolved ozone gas, and only dissolved ozone gas is dissolved.

The concentration of the ozone water from which the undissolved ozone gas has been separated by the gas-liquid separation device 18 is constantly measured by the densitometer 19, and the supply amount from the gas-liquid separation device 18 is measured by the flow meter 26. ing. If it is the second or subsequent processing in S1, the density has already been set, so the above S
The processes of 2 and S3 are omitted.

At the next step S4, the density detection value C detected by the densitometer 19 is read and set and registered in the memory 30. Then, the process proceeds to S5, and it is checked whether or not | C−A | <a. That is, in S5, it is checked whether the difference between the current ozone water concentration measured by the densitometer 19 and the target value A set by the concentration setter 31 is within the allowable range ± a.

If │C-A│ <a in S5, it is determined that the current density detection value C is substantially equal to the target value A, and the process returns to S4. However, in S5, | C−A | ≧
If a, proceed to S6 and check if | CA-> + a. Then, if C-A> + a in S6, the process proceeds to S7, and the voltage regulator 32 is instructed to decrease the set voltage B by one step. As a result, the voltage adjuster 32 adjusts the voltage value to decrease by one step and supplies the commanded one step lower voltage to the ozone gas generator 3.

When the voltage applied to the ozone gas generator 3 is adjusted, the concentration of ozone water from which the undissolved ozone gas has been separated by the gas-liquid separator 18 takes a predetermined time (for example, 5 to 6 minutes) to stabilize. Therefore, in S9, it is checked whether a predetermined time has elapsed. Then, when a predetermined time has elapsed after adjusting the voltage applied to the ozone gas generator 3, the concentration of ozone water in the gas-liquid separation device 18 becomes stable.

At the next step S10, it is confirmed whether or not the density setting is changed. If there is a density setting change, S
Returning to step 2, the ozone water concentration A input by the concentration setter 31 is set. However, if the concentration setting is not changed in S10, the process proceeds to S11 to check whether the operation is stopped. When the operation stop button (not shown) is not turned on in S11, the process returns to S4 and the concentration detection value C detected by the densitometer 19 is read after adjusting the voltage applied to the ozone gas generator 3. Then, the processes of S4 to S11 are repeated. However, in S11, the operation stop button (not shown)
When is turned on, the series of processes is ended and the ozone water generator 1 is stopped.

If C-A> + a is not satisfied in S6, the process proceeds to S8, and the voltage regulator 32 is instructed to increase the set voltage B by one step. As a result, the voltage regulator 3
2 is commanded by adjusting the voltage value by one step
A stepwise higher voltage is supplied to the ozone gas generator 3. After that, the processes of S9 to S11 are executed. In this way, the concentration detection value C detected by the densitometer 19 and the concentration setting device 3
By monitoring the difference with the ozone water concentration A set by 1, the applied voltage of the ozone gas generator 3 is automatically adjusted so that the ozone water discharged from the gas-liquid separation device 18 has the concentration A of the target value. Fine tune. Therefore, the ozone water generator 1 can stably supply the ozone water having the concentration set by the concentration setting device 31 to the nozzle portion 36 provided above the stirrer 35.

Next, the process for controlling the supply flow rate or supply pressure of the ozone water supplied to the nozzle portion 36 will be described. In rice washing device 33 comprising the above configuration, the flow rate of ozone water to be injected from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n as described above, since the cleaning effect and sterilizing effect is varied, is injected from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n It is necessary to adjust the flow rate of ozone water to an optimum value.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the pump 24 is controlled so that the supply flow rate or supply pressure of ozone water becomes a flow rate or pressure according to the conveying speed of the agitator 35 by the detection signal from the flow meter 26 or the pressure sensor 34. Rotation or flow control valve 2
The valve opening of No. 5 is controlled. Here, the ozone water flow velocity control process executed by the control circuit 29 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The control circuit 29 executes the processing of FIG.
Repeated every msec.

In FIG. 9, the control circuit 29 reads the rotational speed of the motor 44 that rotationally drives the screw conveyor 40 of the stirrer 35 in S21, and calculates the rice conveying speed by the screw conveyor 40. Subsequently, the process proceeds to S22, and the target flow rate Qa corresponding to the transport speed of the screw conveyor 40 is selected from the transport speed-target flow rate data table stored in advance in the memory 30.

Next, it is supplied to the nozzle portion 36 of the rice washing device 33.
From the flow meter 26
Read (S23). Then, in S24, the target flow
The quantity Qa is compared with the ozone water supply flow rate Qb. This S24
When Qa> Qb, the ozone water supply flow rate Q
There are few b and the nozzle hole 36c of the nozzle part 36₁~ 36c _n
Since the flow velocity of ozone water injected from is low, proceed to S25.
Drive the valve opening of the flow rate adjusting valve 25 in the one-step valve opening direction.
Let

As a result, the valve opening of the flow rate adjusting valve 25 is increased by one step, and the flow rate of ozone water supplied to the nozzle portion 36 of the rice washing device 33 is increased. Therefore, the housing 39 from the nozzle hole 36c ₁ ~36c _n of the nozzle 36
The flow velocity of the ozone water injected into the inside is increased, and the cleaning effect and the sterilization effect are enhanced. However, in the above S24, when Qa> Qb is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S26 and Qa <Q
Check if b. Then, in S26,
Qa <When a Qb, since the flow rate of ozone water to be injected from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n ozone water supply flow rate Qb many nozzle portion 36 is strong, the process proceeds to S27, the flow rate control valve 25 opening Is driven in the one-step valve closing direction.

As a result, the valve opening of the flow rate adjusting valve 25 is reduced by one step, and the flow rate of ozone water supplied to the nozzle portion 36 of the rice washing device 33 is reduced. Therefore, the housing 39 from the nozzle hole 36c ₁ ~36c _n of the nozzle 36
The flow velocity of the ozone water injected into the inside is reduced. Also, S2
In Q6, when Qa <Qb is not satisfied, Qa = Qb, so there is no need to change the valve opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 25.
In that case, the valve opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 25 is maintained as it is, and a series of valve opening degree control processing of the flow rate adjusting valve 25 is ended.

As described above, since the valve opening of the flow rate adjusting valve 25 is constantly controlled so that the target flow rate Qa corresponding to the conveying speed of the screw conveyor 40 is supplied to the nozzle portion 36, the rotation of the screw conveyor 40. Nozzle holes 36c of the nozzle portion 36 are provided for the rice conveyed while being stirred by
₁ ～36C ozone water injected from the _n is sprayed in an optimal flow rate. Therefore, there is no fear of damaging rice ozone water injected from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n is too strong, or obtained sufficient cleaning effect by ozone water is too weak injected from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n The inconvenience of not being present can be eliminated.

Therefore, in the stirrer 35 of the rice washing device 33,
Ozone water accelerated to the optimum flow velocity collides with the surface of rice,
The rice bran and other bacteria are removed by the impact at that time, and chemicals such as pesticides attached to the rice while being conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 can be effectively removed, and the odor attached to the rice is removed. be able to. Next, the ozone water pressure control process executed by the control circuit 29 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to 0. The control circuit 29 repeatedly executes the processing of FIG. 10 every 0.05 msec, for example.

In FIG. 10, the control circuit 29 controls the motor 44 for rotating the screw conveyor 40 in S31.
The number of rotations of the rice is read and the speed of rice transportation by the screw conveyor 40 is calculated. Subsequently, the process proceeds to S32, and the target flow rate Qa corresponding to the transport speed of the screw conveyor 40 is selected from the transport speed-target flow rate data table stored in advance in the memory 30.

Next, the current ozone water supply pressure Pb supplied to the nozzle portion 36 of the rice washing device 33 is detected by the pressure sensor 34.
Read from (S33). Then, in S34, the target pressure Pa and the ozone water supply pressure Pb are compared. This S
In 34, the nozzle holes 36c ₁ of the ozone water supply pressure Pb is less nozzle unit 36 when a Pa> Pb ~ 36
Since the flow rate of ozone water to be injected from the c _n is weak, S35
Then, the rotation speed of the motor (not shown) for driving the pump 24 is increased by one step.

As a result, the discharge amount from the pump 24 is increased by one step, and the supply pressure of ozone water supplied to the nozzle portion 36 of the rice washing device 33 is increased. Therefore, the housing 39 from the nozzle hole 36c ₁ ~36c _n of the nozzle 36
The flow velocity of the ozone water injected into the inside is increased, and the cleaning effect and the sterilization effect are enhanced. However, if Pa> Pb is not satisfied in S34, the process proceeds to S36, where Pa <P
Check if b. Then, in S36,
Pa <When a Pb, since the flow rate of ozone water to the ozone water supply pressure Pb is jetted from many nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n of the nozzle portion 36 is strong, the process proceeds to S37, the motor (Fig driving the pump 24 The rotation speed of (not shown) is lowered by one step.

As a result, the discharge amount from the pump 24 is reduced by one step, and the supply pressure of ozone water supplied to the nozzle portion 36 of the rice washing device 33 is reduced. Therefore, the housing 39 from the nozzle hole 36c ₁ ~36c _n of the nozzle 36
The flow velocity of the ozone water injected into the inside is reduced. Also, S3
When Pa <Pb is not satisfied in 6, it is not necessary to change the rotational speed of the motor (not shown) that drives the pump 24, since Pa = Pb. In that case, the rotation speed of the pump 24 is maintained as it is, and a series of pump motor control processing is ended.

As described above, the rotation speed of the motor (not shown) for driving the pump 24 is constantly controlled so that the target pressure Pa corresponding to the conveying speed of the screw conveyor 40 is supplied to the nozzle portion 36. , Screw conveyor 4
The rice is conveyed while being agitated by rotation of 0, the ozone water injected from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n of the nozzle portion 36 is sprayed at an optimal flow rate. Therefore, when the flow rate control in the same manner as described above the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c
no worry which ozone water is too strong jet damage the rice from _n, or even inconvenience ozone water injected from the nozzle holes 36c ₁ ~36c _n can not be obtained sufficient cleaning effect too weak can be eliminated.

Therefore, in the rice washing device 33, the ozone water accelerated to the optimum flow velocity collides with the surface of the rice, the rice bran and other germs are removed by the impact, and the rice is conveyed by the screw conveyor 40. Chemicals such as pesticides attached to rice can be effectively removed, and the odor attached to rice can be removed. The nozzle portion 36 is shown in FIG.
The modification 1 of is shown.

In FIG. 11, a large number of nozzle holes 36d to 36f are formed on the lower surface 36a of the nozzle portion 36 so that the hole diameter gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side. That is, in the case of the nozzle portion 36 shown in FIG. 11, the first to fourth rows on the upstream side are the first nozzle holes 36d bored with the minute hole diameter d ₁ and the fifth to eighth rows. Up to hole diameter d ₁
Second nozzle hole 36e bored in larger diameter hole diameter d ₂
And is a third nozzle hole 36f of the ninth column to the column 13 is bored in a large diameter hole diameter d ₃ than the diameter d _2.

Since a large number of nozzle holes 36d to 36f are bored so that the hole diameter gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side, the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 is initially the first rice. After being washed with the ozone water jetted vigorously from the nozzle hole 36d, washed with the ozone water jetted from the second nozzle hole 36e having a larger diameter than the first nozzle hole 36d, and then the second nozzle hole 36e
It is cleaned with ozone water sprayed from the third nozzle hole 36f having a larger diameter.

Therefore, the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 is collided with ozone water having a high flow velocity while passing through the first nozzle hole 36d, and the rice bran and other germs are removed by the impact at that time. Furthermore, the flow velocity of the first nozzle hole 36d is slower than that of the first nozzle hole 36d while passing through the second nozzle hole 36e, but the flow rate of the ozone water is increased.
Rinse bacteria and pesticides that could not be removed by. And
Although the flow velocity is slow while passing through the third nozzle hole 36f,
The ozone water having the increased flow rate from the nozzle hole 36e cleans away the bacteria and pesticides that could not be removed by the second nozzle hole 36e, and also removes the odor attached to the rice.

The pattern of the nozzle holes 36d to 36f formed in the lower surface 36b of the nozzle portion 36 is not limited to the pattern shown in FIG. 11, but nozzle holes having different hole diameters may be formed in four or more steps. May be. 12 and 13
Another modification 2 is shown in FIG. In the second modification, the housing 3 of the agitator 35 is branched from the ozone water supply line 23.
9 and a plurality of pipes 48 _{1 to} 48 _n extending so as to cross over the screw conveyor 40 form a nozzle portion 49.

The plurality of pipes 48 _{1 to} 48 _n are curved so as to form a circular arc concentric with the outer circumference of the screw conveyor 40 when viewed in the axial direction, and the ozone water is directed toward the rotary shaft 40 a of the screw conveyor 40. A nozzle hole 48a having a minute hole diameter is formed below the plurality of pipes 48 _{1 to} 48 _n so that the nozzles can be injected. Therefore, the ozone water pumped by the pump 24 is branched from the ozone water supply pipeline 23 to the pipes 48 _{1 to} 48 _n , and the ozone water is supplied to the pipes 4 _{1 to} 48 _n.
8 ₁ to 48 _n a plurality of nozzle holes 48a bored in the bottom of the
Is ejected toward the center of rotation of the screw conveyor 40. That is, the ozone water is sprayed on the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 to clean the surface of the rice and remove rice bran, germs, chemicals and the like.

The nozzle portion 49 can be made lighter than the nozzle portion 36 shown in FIG. 6 and can be easily manufactured, and the same effect as the nozzle portion 36 shown in FIG. 6 can be obtained. Is obtained. Further, in the second modification shown in FIG. 12, the plurality of pipes 48 _{1 to} 48 _n are attached to the ozone water supply pipe line 23 so that the mounting angles thereof are the same as the twist angle of the blade 40 b of the screw conveyor 40. it may be inclined to 48 ₁ to 48 _n.

FIG. 14 shows another modification 3 of the nozzle portion 36. In the drawing, inside the nozzle portion 36, a partition 3 is formed which defines a flow path 36a into a first chamber 36g located upstream in the rice transport direction and a second chamber 36h located downstream in the rice transport direction.
6i is provided. Then, on the side surface of the nozzle portion 36, a tap water supply conduit 36j communicating with the first chamber 36g is provided.
Is connected to the ozone water supply pipeline 23 that communicates with the second chamber 36h.

Therefore, the tap water supplied to the first chamber 36g through the tap water supply pipe 36j is the first chamber 36g.
From the nozzle hole 36c communicating with the screw conveyor 40
Is sprayed toward the rice that is transported by. Further, the ozone water supplied to the second chamber 36h via the ozone water supply pipe 23 is jetted toward the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 from the nozzle hole 36c communicating with the second chamber 36h. .

Therefore, the surface of the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 is soiled by the tap water sprayed from the nozzle hole 36c communicating with the first chamber 36g from the entrance of the rice washing device 33 to the central portion. And rice bran are washed. Further, the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 is a mixture of bacteria and bacteria attached to the rice due to the ozone water sprayed from the nozzle holes 36c communicating with the second chamber 36h from the central portion of the rice washing device 33 to the outlet. Chemicals are washed away.

Incidentally, the first chamber 36g and the second chamber 36
The nozzle hole 36c communicating with h may be configured such that the hole diameter is gradually reduced as in the first modification shown in FIG. 11 described above. In that case, the diameter of the nozzle hole 36c on the upstream side is increased, and the diameter of the nozzle hole 36c is gradually reduced as it moves to the downstream side. That is, a large amount of tap water is discharged from the nozzle hole 36c having a relatively large hole diameter to the screw conveyor 40, and ozone water is jetted to the screw conveyor 40 with the flow velocity accelerated from the nozzle hole 36c having a relatively small hole diameter.

In another modification 4 shown in FIG. 15, the first nozzle portion 50 and the second nozzle portion 51 are arranged above the screw conveyor 40. First nozzle section 50 and second
The nozzle portion 51 of each has flow paths 50a and 51a communicating with the ozone water supply pipe line 23 inside, and lower surfaces 50b and 51
A plurality of nozzle holes 50c and 51c having a small hole diameter are formed in b, and communicate with the flow paths 50a and 51a.

The first nozzle portion 50 and the second nozzle portion 51 are respectively inclined so as to face the center of rotation of the screw conveyor 40. Therefore, the screw conveyor 4
The rice conveyed while being stirred by the rotation of 0 is ozone water sprayed from the nozzle hole 50c of the first nozzle unit 50 and ozone water sprayed from the nozzle hole 51c of the second nozzle unit 51, that is, The ozone water sprayed from a direction different from that of the first nozzle unit 50 is sprayed and washed.

Therefore, since the ozone water is sprayed from two directions to the rice conveyed while being stirred by the rotation of the screw conveyor 40, the entire surface of the rice is uniformly washed. Therefore, in the rice washing device 33, the ozone water accelerated to the optimum flow velocity collides with the surface of the rice from two directions, and the rice bran, germs and pesticide can be more effectively removed by the impact at that time. The odor attached to can be removed.

In the above embodiment, the ozone water is sprayed from the outside of the screw conveyor 40 to the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ozone water supply stream is supplied to the inside of the shaft 40a of the screw conveyor 40. A passage is provided, and a plurality of nozzle holes communicating with this passage are formed on the outer periphery of the shaft 40a. As a result, the rice conveyed by the screw conveyor 40 is washed with the ozone water sprayed from the nozzle hole formed in the shaft 40a. Therefore, the rice stirred by the rotation of the screw conveyor 40 is washed while being further stirred by the ozone water sprayed from the nozzle hole of the shaft 40a arranged inside.

A cylindrical cover is provided on the outer circumference of the screw conveyor 40 so that the ozone water sprayed from the shaft 40a does not scatter rice around. or,
A drain pipe for draining the washed ozone water is connected to the bottom of the cover. Further, in the above embodiment,
Although the flow rate of the ozone water jetted from the nozzle hole of the nozzle portion is adjusted by controlling the valve opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 25 or the rotation speed of the pump 24, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of, the injection nozzle capable of changing the opening of the injection nozzle is connected, and the size of the injection nozzle of the injection nozzle is adjusted to adjust the flow velocity of the ozone water injected to the rice.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the ozone water generated by the ozone water generator is injected from the plurality of injection holes toward the stirrer, the ozone water accelerated to the optimum flow rate can be obtained. It is possible to effectively remove bacteria such as bacteria, rice bran, and pesticides attached to rice due to the impact on the surface of rice, and also to remove the odor of rice. Furthermore, since ozone water having a bactericidal action is sprayed on the rice, a sufficient bactericidal effect can be obtained even if the washing process time is shortened.
A deodorizing effect can be obtained, and the productivity of the production system for producing rice can be further enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a rice washing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a stirrer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a screw conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the stirrer as seen from the axial direction.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a stirrer.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the nozzle portion.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the time for washing rice and the number of remaining bacteria.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of ozone water concentration adjustment processing executed by a control circuit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an ozone water flow rate adjustment process executed by a control circuit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an ozone water pressure adjustment process executed by a control circuit.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the modified example 1 of the nozzle portion.

FIG. 12 is a side view of another modified example 2 of the nozzle portion as viewed in the axial direction.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of another modified example 2 of the nozzle portion.

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of another modified example 3 of the nozzle portion.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a rice washing device for explaining yet another modified example 4 of the nozzle portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Ozone Water Generator 2 Oxygen Gas Generator 3 Ozone Gas Generator 4 Ozone Water Generator 9 Oxygen Gas Tank 13 Ejector 18 Gas Separation Device 19 Concentration Meter 26 Flowmeter 28 Ozone Decomposer 29 Control Circuit 30 Memory 31 Voltage Regulator 33 Washing Rice 34 pressure sensor 35 stirrer 36,49 nozzle portion 36c ₁ ~36c _n, 36d~36f, 48a nozzle hole 39 housing 40 screw conveyor 42 the flat belt 44 motor 45 net 46 collection container

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A stirrer for stirring rice, an ozone water supply conduit for guiding ozone water to the stirrer, an ozone water generator connected to one end of the ozone water supply conduit, and the ozone water supply A rice washing device comprising: a plurality of injection holes provided at the other end of the pipe line for injecting ozone water toward the agitator.