JPH09314101A - Apparatus for processing garbage - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for processing garbage wherein the water content of a carrier in a processing tank is accurately measured to precisely control the water content to easily control the environment to allow microorganisms to act easily, so that garbage can be decomposed efficiently. SOLUTION: In this apparatus for processing garbage, a carrier 2 is filled in a processing tank 1 and charged garbage is stirred and mixed together with the carrier 2 to be decomposed. A humidity measuring chamber 3 open to the inside of the processing tank 1 is situated at or below the level of the carrier 2 where it is held. A humidity sensor 4 is arranged in the humidity measuring chamber 3 and on the side of the processing tank 1, the humidity measuring chamber 3 is provided with a membrane 5 through which water vapor permeates.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a food waste processing apparatus for decomposing food waste such as rubbish generated in general households with microorganisms.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an apparatus for treating food waste which decomposes and disposes of food waste by the action of microorganisms has attracted attention and has been often used. Such a garbage processing device
A culture substrate suitable for the propagation and growth of microorganisms such as wood chips is put in the treatment tank 1 as the carrier 2, and the garbage is put into the treatment tank 1 for decomposition treatment. According to such an apparatus for treating food waste, the food waste is almost completely decomposed into carbon dioxide and water and does not remain, so that the labor for disposing of the food waste can be saved and the food waste can be easily treated.

[0003] In most cases, such a garbage treatment device is equipped with a stirring device in the treatment tank 1, and the water content of the carrier 2 is kept constant so as to be suitable for the growth of microorganisms. It is equipped with a moisture detecting device, a temperature control device, and the like.

As such a conventional moisture detecting device,
As shown in FIG. 4, there is an example in which a heater 11 and a thermistor 12 which are substantially in contact with the carrier 2 are provided on the inner wall surface of the processing tank 1, and the water content is measured from the temperature rise value of the heater.

Further, as another moisture detecting device, as shown in FIG. 6, an exhaust fan is provided in the processing tank 1 to form a ventilation flow path on the carrier 2, and an outlet B and an inlet A in this ventilation flow path are provided. There is also an example in which the water vapor pressure is measured with and the water content is measured from the difference Pb-Pa in the water vapor pressure between the outlet B and the inlet A.

[0006]

However, in the measurement of the water content of FIG. 4 in the above-mentioned conventional example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the region of the water content of about 60% or more, the temperature rise of the heater 11 causes the change of the water content. Although it is more noticeable and has higher sensitivity than the above, the sensitivity is low at 30 to 40% which is the range of the water content suitable for this type of food waste treatment device, and the measurement accuracy may be insufficient. Is.

Also in the water content measurement of FIG. 6, since the difference Pb-Pa in water vapor pressure is small at the ventilation flow rate in the normal operation, the detection sensitivity is low and the measurement accuracy may be insufficient. .

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to accurately measure the water content of a carrier in a treatment tank to control the water content with high precision and The purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for treating food waste, which can be easily controlled in an environment in which the food waste can be easily operated, and therefore decomposes food waste efficiently.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is to fill a carrier 2 in a processing tank 1 and stir and mix the introduced garbage with the carrier 2 to decompose it. In the garbage processing device, a humidity measuring chamber 3 opened inside the processing tank 1 is provided at a position below the height at which the carrier 2 is held, and a humidity sensor 4 is arranged in the humidity measuring chamber 3 and The humidity measuring chamber 3 is characterized in that it is provided with a diaphragm 5 on the side of the processing tank 1 that allows water vapor to pass therethrough.

In such a food waste processing apparatus, the diaphragm 5 blocks the carrier 2 and the food waste to be introduced into the humidity measuring chamber 3 so that it cannot enter the humidity measurement chamber 3. Further, water vapor can move between the space formed in the gap of the carrier 2 and the inside of the humidity measuring chamber 3 through the diaphragm 5.

For this reason, the space formed in the gap between the carriers 2 and the space inside the humidity measuring chamber 3 have substantially the same humidity. The air in these spaces is difficult to move because it is obstructed by the carrier 2 even when the inside of the treatment tank 1 is ventilated. It is in equilibrium with the water vapor in the space. Therefore,
The amount of free water held by the carrier 2 can be measured as the water content by measuring the humidity in the humidity measuring chamber 3.

The measurement of the water content of the carrier 2 by the humidity sensor 4 in this case has high sensitivity in the water content range of 30 to 40% to be controlled.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the humidity measuring chamber 3 is provided outside the inner wall surface of the processing tank 1, and the diaphragm 5 is provided at a position substantially coincident with the inner wall surface of the processing tank 1. It is configured by being provided.

In such a garbage processing device, the processing tank 1
Even when the inner wall surface of the diaphragm 5 has a small step, the carrier 2
Also, the contents such as garbage are accurately stirred in the vicinity of the diaphragm 5.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
This will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view schematically showing a food waste processing device in this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a graph diagram schematically showing the relationship between the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 4 and the water content of the carrier 2 in the same garbage treatment device. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a food waste processing device shown as a comparative example.

As shown in FIG. 1, this food waste treating apparatus is one in which a carrier 2 is filled in a processing tank 1 and the introduced food waste is stirred and mixed with the carrier 2 to decompose the garbage. As the carrier 2, a wood chip subjected to a special treatment is most suitable, but it is not particularly limited. It is preferable to use a material that has a suitable amount of voids and that appropriately holds moisture and air and that can provide an environment in which microorganisms that decompose food waste can be actively activated.

Further, this food waste processing device is provided with a stirring blade 6 and is formed so that the carrier 2 and the introduced food waste are well mixed. Further, in the figure, 7 is an intake port, and 8 is an exhaust fan, and is formed so that air is taken in through the intake port 7, exhausted by the exhaust fan 8 and ventilated. In this way, the air is often supplied to the inside of the carrier 2 and the input garbage by performing ventilation with stirring. In addition,
It is also equipped with a device for controlling the temperature in the treatment tank 1 and for monitoring the water content, and the air supply, temperature and water content are adjusted to suit the growth of microorganisms.
The decomposition of food waste by microorganisms can be carried out efficiently and reliably.

As described above, in this type of food waste processing apparatus, maintaining an environment in which microorganisms can actively act is an essential requirement for surely decomposing food waste. Among these requirements, it is important to control the water content, and controlling the water content to be about 30 to 40% is a condition for efficiently decomposing food waste.

Therefore, in order to perform such moisture management accurately, in the food waste processing apparatus of this embodiment, the carrier 2 is used.
A humidity measuring chamber 3 that opens inside the processing tank 1 is provided in the processing tank 1 at a position below the height at which the humidity measuring chamber 3 is held, and a humidity sensor 4 is arranged in the humidity measuring chamber 3. A diaphragm 5 that allows water vapor to pass through is provided on the side of the processing tank 1 of FIG. In this figure, the humidity measuring chamber 3 is provided especially in the middle of the side wall of the processing tank 1.

The diaphragm 5 is not particularly limited as long as it can prevent the passage of water and solids of the liquid but allows the permeation of water vapor, and an organic film having moisture permeability is preferably used.

Further, such a humidity sensor 4 is a general one used for detecting relative humidity, and as shown in FIG. 2, even in the range of water content of 30 to 40%, the relative humidity with respect to the water content. The curve of is a steep slope and is suitable for measuring such a range of water content.

In this food waste processing apparatus configured as described above, the diaphragm 5 prevents the carrier 2 and the food waste to be put into the humidity measuring chamber 3 from entering. Further, water vapor can move between the space formed in the gap of the carrier 2 and the inside of the humidity measuring chamber 3 through the diaphragm 5. Therefore, the space formed in the gap between the carriers 2 and the humidity measuring chamber 3 have substantially the same humidity. And carrier 2
The free water held by and the water vapor in the space in the processing tank 1 are in an equilibrium state because the air in this space is obstructed by the carrier 2 and is hard to move. Therefore, the free water held by the carrier 2 can be accurately measured by measuring the humidity in the humidity measuring chamber 3.

Based on the results of such humidity measurement, the water content of the carrier 2 in the treatment tank 1 is set to 30 to 40% at which microorganisms are easily activated and food waste is efficiently decomposed.
It is possible to efficiently decompose food waste by controlling it within the range.

Further, since the humidity measuring chamber 3 is provided adjacent to the carrier, the amount of free water held by the carrier 2 is controlled by the amount of free water held in the treatment tank 1 while ventilating in the space above the carrier 2. As can be measured accurately. That is, since the water content can be continuously measured without stopping ventilation, it is possible to more accurately and quickly control the water content of the contents in the processing tank 1 while ventilating and evaporating the water content. Of.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the humidity measuring chamber 3 is provided so as to project outward from the inner wall of the processing tank 1, and
A diaphragm 5 is provided at a position substantially matching the inner wall surface of the processing tank 1. For this reason, even if the inner wall surface of the treatment tank 1 has a small step even at the portion of the diaphragm 5, it does not become an obstacle.
Further, the contents such as food waste are accurately stirred, the contents in the processing tank 1 are in a uniform state, and the food waste is decomposed uniformly and efficiently.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the humidity measuring chamber 3 is omitted and the humidity sensor 4 is provided on the wall surface of the tank which is higher than the height at which the carrier 2 is filled, ventilation is stopped and the carrier 2 is removed. The efficiency becomes poor in that it is necessary to wait for the free water to be held and the water vapor in the space above the carrier 2 in the treatment tank 1 to equilibrate before measuring the water content.

[0028]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the humidity sensor measures the humidity of the space in the processing tank, and the amount of free water held by the carrier can be accurately measured as the water content. In addition, such measurement of the water content has high sensitivity and can be accurately measured even in the water content range of 30 to 40% to be controlled.

Therefore, it is easy to control the water content of the carrier in the treatment tank with high accuracy to control the environment in which microorganisms are likely to act, and therefore the garbage can be decomposed efficiently.

Since the humidity measuring chamber is provided adjacent to the carrier, the amount of free water held by the carrier can be accurately measured as the water content while ventilating in the space above the carrier in the treatment tank. You can That is, since the water content can be continuously measured without stopping the ventilation, the water content of the carrier in the treatment tank can be controlled more accurately while the air is being ventilated to evaporate the water content.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the inner wall surface of the processing tank has a small step even in the part of the diaphragm and the part of the diaphragm does not interfere, the contents such as the carrier and the garbage are properly stirred. To be done. Therefore, the contents in the processing tank are in a uniform state, and the food waste is efficiently decomposed without unevenness.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing a food waste processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph diagram schematically showing the relationship between the relative humidity detected by a humidity sensor and the water content of the carrier in the above-mentioned food waste disposal system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a food waste processing device shown as a comparative example.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional food waste processing device.

FIG. 5 is a graph diagram schematically showing the relationship between the temperature rise of the heater and the moisture content of the carrier in the humidity detecting device of the conventional garbage processing device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional food waste processing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 treatment tank 2 carrier 3 humidity measuring chamber 4 humidity sensor 5 diaphragm 6 stirring blade 7 intake port 8 exhaust fan 11 heater 12 thermistor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hideaki Yamada 1048 Odomo Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Inside Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a food waste treatment device in which a treatment tank is filled with a carrier and the introduced food waste is stirred and mixed with the carrier to decompose the food waste, the treatment is carried out at a position below the height at which the carrier is held. An apparatus for treating food waste, characterized in that a humidity measuring chamber is provided inside the tank, a humidity sensor is arranged in the humidity measuring chamber, and a water vapor permeable diaphragm is provided on the processing tank side of the humidity measuring chamber. . 2. The garbage according to claim 1, wherein the humidity measuring chamber is provided so as to project outward from the inner wall surface of the treatment tank, and a diaphragm is provided at a position substantially corresponding to the inner wall surface of the treatment tank. Processing equipment.