JPH08290149A - Garbage treating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To execute the decomposition treatment of garbage by supplying heated steam to a treating vessel and activating microorganisms and to reuse this steam by condensing the steam. CONSTITUTION: The water of a tank 3b is fed via a solenoid valve 4e to a boiler 4, where the water is heated by a heater 4a. The outdoor air sucked by an air pump 5 is blasted via a vent pipe 5c into the boiler 4, by which the steam is sent to the treating vessel 7 to activate the microorganisms. The steam in the tank is heated by the outdoor air to water drops, which stick to the inside surface of an upper cap. The water drops are returned via a drain 7d and an upper case section 3f to the tank 3b. An alarm requesting the water feed is emitted when a water level sensor 4f fails to detect the water of the boiler 4. The opening and closing of the solenoid valve 5d of the vent pipe 5c and the energization of the heater 4a are then controlled according to the result of the moisture detection of a moisture sensor 7c.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a garbage disposal device for decomposing kitchen garbage (garbage) generated in a kitchen by the activity of microorganisms.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a device for treating kitchen waste that is generated daily in kitchens such as general households and restaurants, there is one that utilizes decomposition by the action of microorganisms. This type of kitchen waste treatment equipment is provided with a kitchen waste inlet for supplying kitchen waste to the upper part of the processing tank that stores processing media such as sawdust and wood chips suitable for microbial inhabitation.
A stirring means is provided inside the treatment tank, and the kitchen waste that is input through the kitchen input port is stirred by the agitation means and mixed with the processing medium and allowed to stand, and the kitchen waste is generated by the activity of the microorganisms that live in the processing medium. It is configured to be decomposed.

In this type of garbage treatment equipment, it is important to keep the inside of the treatment medium in an environment suitable for the activity of microorganisms. Microbial activity requires the right amount of air, the right amount of water and the right temperature. Therefore, conventionally, an air pump for supplying outside air into the processing tank is provided, and the air in the tank is taken into the processing medium by stirring the inside of the processing tank by the stirring means. Also, when microorganisms decompose garbage, water is produced. The temperature in the treatment tank is adjusted by the heat generated by the activity of microorganisms, but it may be insufficient during cold season use, and the temperature at the start of use should be low if it has not been used for a long period of time. This causes a decrease in processing capacity. Therefore, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-221765, a heater is arranged outside the processing tank to heat the processing medium by the heat generated by the heater.

[0004]

When the processing medium is heated by the heat generated by the heater as described above, the inside of the processing tank becomes dry due to the heating, water in the processing medium is removed, and the habitat of microorganisms deteriorates. However, there was a risk that the processing capacity would rather decrease during the period when the heater was generating heat. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by supplying steam obtained by heating to a treatment tank, the humidity and temperature inside the tank are appropriately maintained to activate the activity of microorganisms. A first object is to provide a processing device, and a second object is to provide a kitchen waste processing device for condensing and reusing steam supplied to a processing tank.

[0005]

The kitchen waste processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention mixes the kitchen waste thrown into the inside of the processing tank with the processing medium stored in the processing tank, and lives in the processing medium. In a garbage treatment device that decomposes by the activity of microorganisms, a water tank, a steam generator that heats water supplied from the water tank to generate steam, an intake pump that inhales outside air, and an intake air by the intake pump. And a steam supply path for supplying the steam into the treatment tank by the outside air.

The kitchen garbage processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized by including a path for returning water droplets adhering to the inner surface of the processing tank to the water tank.

In the kitchen waste processing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, an air supply valve for opening and closing the steam supply path, a detecting means for detecting the internal humidity of the processing tank, and the steam according to the detection result of the detecting means. A control means for controlling the operation of the generator and the opening / closing of the air supply valve is provided.

The kitchen garbage processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized by including an outside air supply path for directly supplying the outside air sucked by the intake pump into the processing tank.

[0009]

In the first aspect of the invention, the steam generator heats the water supplied from the water tanks arranged in parallel in the treatment tank to generate steam. Then, the steam is supplied into the processing tank through the steam supply path using the outside air sucked by the intake pump. Therefore, the heated steam is supplied to the processing tank. In the second invention, since water droplets attached to the inner surface of the treatment tank are returned to the water tank, when the treatment tank is closed by the upper lid, the amount of water reduction in the water tank is small.

In the third invention, the air supply valve opens and closes the water vapor supply path, the detection means detects the internal humidity of the processing tank, and the control means operates and supplies the steam generator according to the detection result of the detection means. Controls opening and closing of the air valve. Therefore, the inside of the processing tank is maintained at the humidity and temperature suitable for the activity of microorganisms. In the fourth aspect of the invention, since the outside air taken in by the intake pump is sent directly into the processing tank through the outside air supply path, when the processing tank is closed with the upper lid, the outside air is sent into the processing tank.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a garbage processing device according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a casing having an open upper portion and a raised bottom portion to form an inverted concave shape, which is fixedly mounted on a support box 2. A container body 3 for accommodating the treatment tank 7 and storing water is fitted and supported by a flange 1a at an upper end portion of the casing 1, and the boiler 4 has a bottom wall 1b of the casing 1.
It is supported by. Further, a support plate 2a for suspending a motor 6 having an output shaft in the vertical direction is laterally fixed to the upper part of the support box 2 and an air pump 5 is provided at the bottom of the support box 2.

The container body 3 is integrally molded in such a manner that two cylindrical recesses are provided side by side. One of the recesses is a processing bath accommodating portion 3a for accommodating the processing bath 7, and its bottom is It is open except for its surroundings. The other concave portion is a tank 3b for storing water, which is provided with a detachable upper lid 3c, and a water level sensor 3d is attached to the inner surface of the side wall of the tank 3b, and the level of the stored water reaches the position of the water level sensor 3d. If not,
Send a significant water storage signal. A drain port 3e is provided at the bottom of the tank 3b.

The bowl-shaped treatment tank 7 is a container which is accommodated in the treatment tank accommodating portion 3a, has a detachable upper lid 7a, and accommodates a processing medium 7b such as sawdust, wood chips, etc. suitable for microbial inhabitation and kitchen waste. , Stainless steel and other corrosion resistant materials.
A humidity sensor 7c is attached to the upper part of the inner surface of the processing tank 7, and emits a humidity signal according to the humidity inside the processing tank 7.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the processing tank 7 and the boiler 4. In the figure, the bottom portion of the processing tank 7 has an opening at the center thereof, and the periphery of the opening 7a projects annularly downward to form a convex portion 7b. Then, the stirring shaft 6a, which is connected to the output shaft of the motor 6 through the opening 7a, projects upward, and the stirring blade 6b, which is a single blade, is fitted to the upper portion of the stirring shaft 6a.
The kitchen waste and the processing medium 7b in the processing tank 7 are stirred according to the rotation of the stirring shaft 6a. This stirring blade 6b is a stirring shaft
The fitting portion 6c, which fits into the 6a, has a hollow conical shape at the lower portion with the stirring shaft 6a as the central axis.

There is a gap between the inner surface of the annular convex portion 7b at the bottom of the processing tank 7 and the hollow conical lower portion of the fitting portion 6c of the stirring blade 6b. The boiler 4 is constructed by laying a heater 4a on the outer surface of the bottom of a bottomed cylindrical water tank. Then, the water surface of the boiler 4 which is filled with a predetermined amount of water coincides with the horizontal surface of the bottom wall 1b of the casing 1, and the center line of the boiler 4 coincides with the center lines of the treatment tank accommodating portion 3a and the motor 6 so that the boiler 4 is arranged in the casing 1. It is fixed to the bottom wall. Therefore boiler 4
Is located below the bottom of the tank 3b.

The upper portion 4g of the side wall of the boiler 4 is formed with a concave portion with respect to the center, and the peripheral portion of the upper lid 4b of the boiler 4 is fixed to the concave portion so that the peripheral portion is engaged, and the central portion of the upper lid 4b is open. are doing. The convex portion 7b of the processing tank 7 is provided at the opening of the upper lid 4b.
The processing tank 7 is placed on the upper lid 4b so that This placement is in the form of a click stop, and when fitted, the processing tank 7 faces a predetermined direction.

On the side wall of the boiler 4, a water supply port 4c is opened on the side close to the tank 3b, and this is the drainage port 3e of the tank 3b.
The water pipe 4d communicates with the water pipe 4d, and a solenoid valve 4e (see FIG. 1) that can be opened and closed is provided in the middle of the water pipe 4d. Also,
When the water level sensor 4f is attached to the side wall of the boiler 4 on the side opposite to the water supply port 4c and close to the bottom wall, and when the level of the supplied water does not reach the position of the water level sensor 4f, a significant water supply signal is transmitted. .

The water in the tank 3b is transferred to the boiler 4 via the solenoid valve 4e.
When water is supplied to the heater 4a and the heater 4a is energized, the boiler 4 generates steam. The air pump 5 is driven by a built-in motor (not shown) and appropriately increases the pressure of the outside air sucked from the intake pipe 5a (see FIG. 1). The inside of the air pump 5 and the processing tank 7 are connected by a ventilation pipe 5b, and the inside of the air pump 5 and the boiler 4 are connected by a ventilation pipe 5c. Both ventilation pipes 5b and 5c penetrate the support wall 2a and are vertically fixed to the bottom wall of the boiler 4. The upper part of the ventilation pipe 5b penetrates the upper lid 4b of the boiler 4 and the bottom part of the processing tank 4, and the upper end surface thereof is located between the bottom part of the processing tank 4 and the lower part 6d of the stirring blade 6b, and is made of a corrosion-resistant mesh. It is covered. The ventilation pipe 5c has its upper end portion above the horizontal plane of the bottom wall 1b of the casing 1, and the upper lid 4b of the boiler 4 is provided.
The solenoid valve 5d which can be opened and closed is provided in the middle of the valve.

When the air pump 5 is driven and the humidity inside the processing tank 7 falls below a predetermined humidity, the heater of the boiler 4
4a is energized to generate steam in the boiler 4, the solenoid valve 5d of the ventilation pipe 5c is opened, the outside air is blown into the boiler 4, and the steam generated in the boiler 4 is discharged from the opening 7a at the bottom of the treatment tank 7 and Inner surface of the convex portion 7b of the processing tank 7 and a stirring blade facing it
It is supplied to the inside of the processing bath 7 through a gap between the lower portion of the fitting portion 6c of 6b. An exhaust port (not shown) for exhausting the air in the tank is provided at the upper part of the processing tank 7. The central portion of the bottom wall of the boiler 4 rises above the horizontal plane of the bottom wall 1b of the casing 1 to form a pivotal support portion 4g, which pivotally supports the stirring shaft 6a.

The lower part of the stirring shaft 6a projects downward from the bottom wall of the boiler 4 and is connected to the output shaft of the motor 6 via a joint portion 6e. When the motor 6 rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the stirring blade 6b via the joint portion 6e and the stirring shaft 6a, and the kitchen waste and the processing medium 7b are stirred. The kitchen waste and the processing medium 7b introduced into the processing tank 7 by this stirring may adhere to the inner surface of the processing tank 7 to form a solidified layer. As a result, the amount of the processing medium 7b that is agitated is reduced, the processing capacity is reduced, and an offensive odor or insect is generated.

When this solidified layer is formed, the stirring blade
6b rotation is locked. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures such as increasing the output of the lock detection mechanism or the motor 6. The kitchen waste treatment apparatus according to the present invention does not reduce the treatment capacity by applying the fluororesin treatment to the inner surface of the treatment tank 7 and preventing the solidified layer from adhering to the inner surface of the treatment tank 7, thereby preventing the generation of foul odors or insects. It is possible to reduce the size and weight of the motor 6 without requiring a lock detection mechanism, to support the stirring shaft 6a on one side, to reduce the size and weight of the stirring blade 6b, and to simplify the joint portion 6e. , Running costs are reduced.

FIG. 3 shows the processing tank 7 and its upper lid 7 in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of each of a, a tank 3b, and an upper lid 3c thereof (a circle part shown by an arrow 11). In the figure, the tank
A mounting portion 3i having an L-shaped cross section is provided on the upper end of 3b so that the upper lid 3c of the tank 3b can be mounted. The upper end of the processing tank accommodating part 3a is located higher than the placing part 3i of the tank 3b, and the part where both upper ends of the processing tank accommodating part 3a and the tank 3b are close to each other is gently inclined upper case part 3f. The ribs 3g (only one side is shown) protruding upward are provided on both sides of the path on the upper case portion 3f from the upper end portion of the processing tank accommodating portion 3a to the mounting portion 3i of the tank 3b, and water droplets are provided. It forms a flowing waterway. Further, the upper lid 3c of the tank 3b is provided with a plurality of cutout portions 3h at a portion where its peripheral edge portion contacts the placing portion 3i. When the processing tank 7 is closed by the upper lid 7a, the upper lid 7a
Is inclined from the center toward the edge with a slope from top to bottom, and the edge is bent downward. Therefore, the water vapor supplied to the inside of the processing tank 7 is cooled by the outside air via the upper lid 7a, becomes a water droplet, adheres to the inner surface of the upper lid 7a, and flows to the peripheral portion.

The upper edge portion of the processing tank 7 is a processing tank accommodating portion 3a.
Is located higher than the upper part of the processing tank 7 and bends downward from the inside of the processing tank 7 to the outside and then bends upward to form an annular drain 7d having a concave cross section, and further extends outward to mount the upper lid 7a. The placing portion 7f to be placed is formed. The inner surface of the peripheral edge portion bent downward of the upper lid 7a and the inner surface of the drain 7d on the outer peripheral side are substantially the same surface. Also, the drain 7d is the upper case 3f
A drainage hole 7e is provided in the upper part of the. Therefore, the water droplets dripping from the peripheral portion of the upper lid 7a are collected and collected in the drain 7d, dripping from the drain hole 7e, passing through the water channel composed of the upper case portion 3f and the rib 3g, and then passing through the notch 3h of the upper lid 3c to the tank. Enter 3b. In this way, the water droplets attached to the inner surface of the upper lid 7a flow back to the tank 3b.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an operation control system of the garbage processing apparatus shown in FIG. In the figure, 10 is an operation control unit for controlling the operation of the garbage processing device, and a water supply signal transmitted from the water level sensor 4f, a water storage signal transmitted from the water level sensor 3d and a treatment tank 7 transmitted from the humidity sensor 7c to the input side thereof. Given the humidity signal of.

A solenoid valve 4e for opening and closing the water pipe 4d and a ventilation pipe 5c
The solenoid valve 5d for opening and closing is connected to the output side of the operation control unit 10 via a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the opening and closing, and for issuing the heater 4a of the boiler 4, the motor 6 and the air pump 5, and a water replenishment alarm. The lamp 8 and the buzzer 9 are connected to the output side of the operation control unit 10 and their operations are controlled.
When the kitchen waste is thrown into the processing tank 7 and the power switch is closed, the operation control unit 10 drives the motor 6 for a predetermined time to stir the kitchen waste and the processing medium 7b. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the stirring is stopped and left for a predetermined period. After that, stirring and leaving are repeated, and the garbage is decomposed by the activity of the microorganism.

Further, the air pump 5 is constantly driven to drive the processing tank 7
The outside air is supplied to the inside of the chamber to supply oxygen to the processing medium 7b. Therefore, outside air is supplied into the processing tank 7 regardless of whether steam is supplied to the processing tank 7. Also, when the water level of the boiler 4 and the tank 3b is constantly monitored based on the water supply signal and the water storage signal given from the input side and both signals become significant when the water is cut off,
The buzzer 9 sounds and the lamp 8 blinks to warn that water should be replenished. Then, when water is stored in the tank 3b, a timer (not shown) that sets the water supply time for opening the solenoid valve 4e to supply water to the boiler 4 and a water level flag (not shown) that stores the presence or absence of water supply to the boiler 4 are provided to the operation control unit. 10 built-in. Further, in order to keep the internal humidity of the processing tank 7 within a predetermined range during a predetermined standing period, the first range is defined.
The target humidity h ₁ and the second target humidity h ₂ are set in the operation control unit 10 in advance. The set h ₁ is the set h
_Less than ₂

Next, the operation of the operation control unit 10 for detecting the water level and the operation for keeping the internal humidity of the processing tank 7 within a predetermined range will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the operation control unit 10 to detect the water level. First, the water supply signal from the water level sensor 4f of the boiler 4 is fetched (S1), and it is determined whether or not this is significant (S2). If the answer is NO, water is supplied to the boiler 4, so the water level flag is set to 1. (S3), the process proceeds to step S1, and in the case of YES, the stored signal of the water level sensor 3d of the tank 3b is fetched (S4), and it is determined whether or not this is significant (S4).
5) In the case of NO, the solenoid valve is used during the water supply time set in the tank.
4e is opened, water is supplied to the boiler 4 (S6), and the process proceeds to step S1. If YES, water cannot be supplied to the boiler 4, so the water level flag is set to 0 (S7), and the lamp 8 blinks (S8), Buzzer 9
Sound (S9) to warn that tank 3b should be refilled with water.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the operation control unit 10 keeps the internal humidity of the processing tank 7 within a predetermined range. First, it is judged whether the water level flag is 1 (S1), and YE
In the case of S, the humidity signal corresponding to the humidity h detected by the humidity sensor 7c of the processing tank 7 is fetched (S2), and it is determined whether the humidity h is smaller than the first target humidity h ₁ (S3), If YES, the heater 4a is energized to generate steam (S4), the ventilation valve 5d is opened to send steam into the processing tank (S5), the process proceeds to step S1, and if NO at step S3, the humidity h Is less than the second target humidity h ₂ (S6), and if YES, proceed to step S1 without doing anything, and if NO, stop energizing the heater 4a to generate steam. The operation is stopped (S7), the ventilation valve 5d is closed to stop the sending of water vapor into the processing tank (S8), and the process proceeds to step S1. If NO in step S1, the procedure ends. In this way, the humidity in the tank of the processing tank 7 is kept within a predetermined range by the heated steam, and as a result, the temperature in the tank is kept at a temperature suitable for the activity of microorganisms.

[0029]

As described in detail above, in the first aspect of the present invention, since the steam generated by heating the water supplied from the water tank is sent into the processing tank by the intake pump, the internal humidity of the processing tank is lowered. It has the excellent effect of raising the internal temperature without any. In the second aspect of the invention, since the water droplets attached to the inner surface of the treatment tank are returned to the water tank, the water can be circulated and reused in the apparatus, and the excellent effect of reducing the number of times of water supply can be obtained.

In the third aspect of the invention, the amount of water vapor sent into the treatment tank is controlled according to the internal humidity of the treatment tank, and therefore, the excellent effect of accurately maintaining the humidity and temperature suitable for the activity of the microorganisms is exhibited. The fourth aspect of the invention has an excellent effect of being able to supply the outside air into the processing tank when humidification in the processing tank is unnecessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a garbage processing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the processing tank shown in FIG. 1 and a boiler.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a treatment tank, a tank, and an adjacent portion of an upper lid thereof shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an operation control system of the garbage processing device shown in FIG.

5 is a flowchart of a procedure for the operation control unit shown in FIG. 4 to detect a water level.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the operation control unit shown in FIG. 4 maintains the humidity in the processing tank within a predetermined range.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3b Tank 3c Top lid 3d, 4f Water level sensor 4 Boiler 4b Top lid 4e, 5d Solenoid valve 5 Air pump 5b, 5c Vent pipe 6 Motor 6b Stirring blade 7 Treatment tank 7a Top lid 7b Treatment medium 7c Humidity sensor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A kitchen waste treatment apparatus for mixing kitchen waste placed in a processing tank with a processing medium contained in the processing tank, and decomposing the mixture by the activity of microorganisms living in the processing medium. A steam generator that heats the water supplied from the water tank to generate steam, an intake pump that inhales the outside air, and a steam that supplies the water vapor into the treatment tank by the outside air inhaled by the intake pump. A garbage disposal device, comprising: an air supply path. 2. The kitchen waste treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a path for returning water droplets adhering to the inner surface of the treatment tank to the water tank. 3. An air supply valve that opens and closes the steam supply path, a detection unit that detects the internal humidity of the processing tank, and an operation of the steam generator and the air supply according to the detection result of the detection unit. The garbage disposal according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a control unit that controls opening and closing of the valve. 4. An outside air supply path for directly supplying the outside air sucked by the intake pump into the processing tank.
The garbage processing device according to 2 or 3.