JPH11153A - Machine for washing fruit such as japanese plum - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fruit-washing machine capable of surely washing off adherends adhered to the surfaces of fruits, whose surfaces are liable to be injured, such as Japanese plums, without injuring the skins of the fruits. SOLUTION: This machine for washing fruits such as Japanese plums is provided with a tank 1 for receiving a washing liquid such as water, a net-like loading member 2 capable of loading the fruits such as the Japanese plums thereon, and a driving member 3 capable of repeatedly lifting or lowering the loading member 3. The driving member 3 can hold the loading member 2 and can lower at least a part of the loading member 2 to dip the fruits on the loading member 2 in the washing liquid or lift the loading member 2 to lift the fruits dipped in the liquid from the liquid. The driving member 2 can repeat the lifting and lowering operations to wash the fruits. Thus, the fruits can surely be washed without injuring the surfaces of the fruits, because such a strong friction is not generated as in a case using a brush alone on the removal of adherends.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine for fruit such as plums.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, harvested plums (fruits) have been washed with water in a shower to wash the surface with mud, dust and wood chips. However, with such a washing method, it was not possible to sufficiently remove particularly easily adhered hair.

[0003] On the other hand, the skin of plum is easily damaged and easily torn, so that it cannot be simply washed by rubbing the surface with a brush or the like. For this reason, there has been a demand for a means capable of reliably removing attached hair and wood chips together with mud and dust without damaging the plum epidermis.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a plum or the like which is capable of reliably removing, from a fruit such as a plum or the like whose epidermis is liable to be damaged, such as hair which is difficult to remove without damaging the surface. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems A fruit washing device for plums and the like according to the first invention of the present application is a tank 1 for containing a washing liquid such as water.
And a placement section 2 on which fruits such as plums can be placed, and a drive section 3 capable of repeatedly moving the placement section 2 up and down. The placing section 2 has at least a fruit placing surface formed in a net shape. The driving unit 3 holds the mounting unit 2 and lowers at least a part of the mounting unit 2 so that the fruit on the mounting unit 2 is immersed in the liquid in the tank 1 to raise the mounting unit 2. This causes the fruit immersed in the liquid to be lifted out of the liquid, and the drive unit 2 repeats such a lifting operation to wash the fruit.

When the drive unit 3 repeatedly lifts and lowers the placing unit 2, the individual fruits placed on the placing unit 2 are surely immersed in the washing liquid stored in the water tank and lifted. Is repeated, so that the washing liquid can be evenly and vigorously poured over the entire surface of each fruit. Therefore, sufficient cleaning can be performed without relying solely on friction with a brush or the like. In particular, since the portion of the placing portion 2 on which the fruit is placed is formed in a net shape, the washing liquid does not create a large resistance due to passing through the mesh when moving up and down, and the placing portion 2 It is possible to repeat ascent and descent smoothly inside. In addition, since the washing liquid can be reliably passed through in this manner, the mounting portion 2 can sufficiently bathe the washing liquid toward the fruit from below when descending. On the other hand, by configuring the placing portion 2 as described above, when the above-mentioned fruit is lifted,
The washing liquid is reliably drained (drained).
As a result, the adhered substance on the surface of each fruit is reliably removed. When removing adhering substances, it does not cause strong friction unlike the case of using a brush, and therefore does not damage the fruit surface. Also, by putting the whole fruit into the washing liquid, hair and wood chips, as well as deposits such as mud and dust, can be reliably separated from the fruit due to the difference in buoyancy from the fruit. Yes, more complete removal is possible.

A fruit washing machine for plums and the like according to the second invention of the present application is the fruit washing machine for plums and the like according to the first invention of the present application, wherein the placing section 2 is provided with a net-like belt. It is a belt conveyor characterized by the following.

By adopting the above configuration, in addition to the action of the fruit cleaning device for plums and the like according to the first invention of the present application, after washing, the placing section 2 is operated by the belt to move the fruits on the placing section 2. Can be moved smoothly out of the tank.

The fruit washing device for plums and the like according to the third invention of the present application is the fruit washing device for plums and the like according to the second invention of the present application. With the one end as a fulcrum, the other end of the mounting section 2 can be turned up and down by the driving section 3.

By adopting the above configuration, in addition to the function of the fruit washing device for plums and the like according to the second invention of the present application, when the fruits are put into the tank, the rotation of the mounting portion 3 causes the other end. The fruit can be reliably and smoothly put into the tank 1 by inclining the fruit into the tank 1.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a fruit washing apparatus 10 according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of the apparatus. 3 (A) and 3 (B) are main part explanatory diagrams showing an operation state of the fruit cleaning device 100. FIG.

The fruit washer 100 is provided with a supporting frame 10
And a tank 1 for storing a cleaning liquid such as water, a belt conveyor 2, and a drive unit 3 capable of vertically moving one end of the belt conveyor 2 up and down repeatedly. Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described in order.

The support frame 10 includes an outer frame 11 for supporting the tank 1.
And a base 12 for supporting the belt conveyor 2 and the operation unit 4 above the tank 1, a roller conveyor 5, and a water supply unit 6. Under the outer frame 11, legs 11a... 11a are provided. The base 12 is fixed to the outer frame 11 via a support 12a. The support frame 10 supports the tank 1 as described above, and also arranges and holds the roller conveyor 5 behind the tank 1.

The tank 1 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in a plan view, and has a substantially fan shape centered on the rear end when viewed in a side view. By being formed in this way, the bottom 1d of the tank 1 has an inclined surface so as to gradually become shallower from the front end side F (FIG. 1) to the rear end side B (FIG. 1). Furthermore, tank 1
Is provided with a drain port 1b below the tip 1a. 1c
Indicates a cock for closing the plug of the drain port 1b.
In the tank 1, water S is stored as a cleaning liquid. An upper drain port 1e is provided at the tip 1a of the tank 1 at substantially the same height as the waterline W (FIG. 3) of the water S stored in the tank 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the belt conveyor 2 comprises
An annular belt 20, a front roller 21a, and a rear roller 21
b and the base frame 22.

The rollers 21a and 21b are parallel to each other and are axially fixed to the front and rear of the base frame 22 with an interval therebetween. The belt 20 is formed in a ring shape by a net-like member, and includes a front roller 21a and a rear roller 21a.
b. The rear roller 21b can drive and circulate the annular belt 20 by receiving power from a power unit such as an electric motor (not shown).
The base frame 22 is axially fixed to the rear side of the tank 1 at a position concentric with the center axis 21c of the rear roller 21b.

As described above, the front roller 21a and the rear roller 21b are fixed to the front and rear of the base frame 22. The base frame 22 includes a right frame 22a, a left frame 22b, and an edge cover 22c.
And The front roller 21a is disposed between the right frame 22a and the left frame 22b at the front of the base frame 22, and the rear roller 21b is connected to the right frame 22a and the left It is arranged between the frame 22b.

In addition, several horizontal bars are provided between the right frame 22a and the left frame 22b to reinforce (not shown). However, between the right frame 22a and the left frame 22b,
Apart from the horizontal bar, the rollers 21a and 21b, and the mesh belt 20, there is no obstacle in the vertical direction Y. Each of these members does not become a large obstacle in passing the liquid in the up-down direction Y, and has a sufficient space through which the cleaning liquid can pass up and down (the size of the individual meshes of the belt 20 of the mounting portion 2 is also small). It has dimensions that allow the liquid to pass through.)

The edge cover 22c includes a right frame 22a and a portion located above the left frame 22b, and both portions are connected in front of the base frame 22.
The above-mentioned two portions located at least above the right frame 22a and the left frame 22b of the edge cover 22c are both rollers 21a, 21b
The belt 20 projects upward from the upper surface of the belt 20 (the surface facing the upper side of the annular belt 20 and facing upward).

The belt conveyor 2 is, as shown in FIG.
It is arranged in the tank 1. More specifically, as described above, the rear end (at a position concentric with the center axis 21c of the rear roller 21b) is the tank 1
2, the base frame 22 of the belt conveyor 2 is held by the drive unit 3 on the front side X from the stop position, as shown in FIG.

The belt conveyor 2 has a tank 1 in plan view.
Have substantially the same dimensions and shape as the cross section of FIG. Even if there is a gap between the inner surface of the tank 1 and the side of the base frame 22 of the belt conveyor 2, it is substantially closed by the edge cover 22c. The front and rear lengths of the belt conveyor 2 also have substantially the same length as the radius of the above-described sector formed by the tank 1. Even when a gap is formed between the tip of the belt 20 of the belt conveyor 2 and the inner peripheral surface of the tip 1a of the tank 1, the gap is closed by the edge cover 22c.

The drive unit 3 includes a motor 30 (FIG. 1) and a disk 31 (FIG. 3) provided on a rotating shaft 30a of the motor 30.
(A) and (B)), a crank rod 32 having one end (upper end) fixed to the disk 31, and a holder 33 (FIG. 2) provided at the other end (lower end) of the crank rod 32. ing.
In FIG. 2, in order to avoid complication of the drawing,
A part of the crank rod 32 and other components located above the crank rod 32 are not shown.

The holding body 33 is a member that is fixed across the right frame 22a and the left frame 22b of the base frame 22 over the upper surface of the belt 20. On the upper surface of the holding body 33, a shaft holding portion 33a protruding upward is provided.
In a, a horizontal axis 33b is formed which protrudes in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the belt 20.

On the other hand, at the lower end of the crank rod 32, a tubular body 32a extending in the horizontal direction is provided. The horizontal shaft 33b fits loosely into the hollow portion (center) of the cylindrical body 32a.

As described above, the roller conveyor 5 disposed behind the belt conveyor 2 has a plurality of rollers 5a.
Is provided. Each roller 5a... 5a is a roll brush having soft bristles implanted on its surface.

The water supply section 6 includes a water supply hose 6a for guiding water to be used as a washing liquid, a branch 6b connected to the water supply hose 6a, and a front hose 61a branched from the branch 6b. And the rear hose 62a and the front hose 61
a, a front water supply pipe 61b connected to the rear hose 62a, a front water supply hose 61c connected to the front water supply pipe 61b, and a rear water supply pipe 62c connected to the rear water supply pipe 62b. And a front water discharge pipe 61d connected to the front water supply hose 61c and a rear water discharge pipe 62d connected to the rear water supply pipe 62c.

The water guided by the water supply hose 6a is supplied to the branch portion 6b.
At the front hose 61a and the rear hose 62a. However, the front water supply pipe 61b and the rear water supply pipe 62b to which the hoses 61a and 62a are connected are provided with valves (not shown) capable of shutting off the water supply. Reference numerals 60a and 60b denote cocks for opening and closing the valves. Accordingly, the operation of the cocks 60a, 60b causes the hoses 61a, 6
Adjustment such as supplying water to both or only one of 2a may be performed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front water discharge pipe 61d is
Being fixed to the upper surface of the holding body 33 of the drive unit 3, it is located above the belt 20 of the belt conveyor 2, and when viewed in a plan view, the whole is bent substantially in an L-shape. It extends in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction (transfer direction). A plurality of water discharge holes (not shown) are provided in the lower part on the tip side of the front water discharge pipe 61d, so that water can be discharged to the upper surface of the belt 20 below. In FIG. 2, a water supply hose 6 a of the water supply unit 6,
The branch part 6b, the front hose 61a, the rear hose 62a, the front water supply pipe 61b, the rear water supply pipe 62b, a part of the front water supply hose 61c, and a part of the rear water supply pipe 62c are used to avoid complication of the drawing. Omitted.

The rear water pipe 62c is supported by a support 62e above the roller conveyor 5, and extends in the direction of transport of the roller conveyor 5. After this, the water pipe 62c
The above-mentioned rear water discharge pipe 62 d connected to the roller conveyor 5 extends in a direction intersecting with the transport direction of the roller conveyor 5. In addition, rear discharge pipe 62d
Is provided with a plurality of water discharge holes (not shown) in its lower part, and can discharge water to the upper surface of the roller conveyor 5 below.

Next, the use state of the above-described cleaning apparatus 100 will be described. First, the belt 2 of the belt conveyor 2
On the upper surface, the ume K to be washed is placed. At this time,
Even if a large number of plums K ... K are placed on the upper surface of the belt 20, the plum K is not dropped off from the periphery of the belt 20 because it is blocked by the edge cover 22c. After the plums K are placed, the disk 31 is rotated by the operation of the electric motor 30 and the crankshaft 32 is lowered as shown in FIG. As a result, the belt conveyor 2 held by the holding body 33 rotates downward P about its rear end (accurately, a position concentric with the center axis 21c of the rear roller 21b).

The belt conveyor 2 follows each part of the inner peripheral surface of the tank 1 (the inner surface of the tank 1 and the inner peripheral surface of the front end portion 1a) by setting the size and shape described above and by disposing the edge cover 22c. While rotating downward P as described above. Due to the above rotation, the gradient of the upper surface of the belt 20 of the belt conveyor 2 increases, and the plums K roll from the upper surface of the belt 20 downward.

By the above operation of the crankshaft 32, the front of the belt conveyor 2 descends toward the bottom 1d of the tank 1, as shown in FIG. As a result, the plums K ... K are further rolled down, and the front of the belt conveyor 2 is lowered from the water faucet W of the water S stored in the tank 1, so that the water S
Proceeding inside, the plums K ... K are completely immersed in the water S.

Next, by further rotating the disk 31 by the electric motor 30, the crankshaft 32 (FIG. 3B), which has been lowered to the lowest position, starts to rise. Along with this, the belt conveyor 2 also rotates upward Q, and FIG.
The state shown in FIG. 3B returns to the state shown in FIG. By repeating the vertical movement of the belt conveyor 2, the plums K are repeatedly taken in and out of the water S.

When the belt conveyor 2 descends, plums K ... K
If the belt conveyor 2 is inclined and the belt conveyor 2 is operated at the same time as the belt conveyor 2 is inclined, the upper surface of the belt 20 may be driven forward. Thus, the lower P of the belt conveyor 2
The rotation speed of the belt 20 and the driving speed of the belt 20 are balanced with each other, so that the ume K can be smoothly and promptly charged into the water S.

During cleaning, even if there is any material that leaves the belt 20 in the tub 1 and floats in the water S, the belt conveyor 2 is rotated by the belt conveyor 2 in the upward direction Q in the same manner as when the belt 20 is lowered. Each part (Tank 1
Since it rotates upward Q while following the inner side surface and the inner peripheral surface of the distal end portion 1a), the plums K can be pulled up without being missed.

By repeatedly immersing the ume K ... K in the water S, the deposits on the surface of the ume K ... K are removed. Specifically, when mud is adhered to the ume K ... K, the mud is dropped from the surface of the ume K ... K by washing. Plum K ... The mud away from K precipitates at the bottom 1d of the tank 1. Also, hair and wood chips,
Deposits such as dust having a low specific gravity separate from the surface of the plum K and float near the waterline W.

The settled mud is discharged out of the tank 1 together with the water S by opening the drain port 1b by operating the cock 1c. At this time, since the bottom 1d of the tank 1 is inclined toward the drain port 1b, the mud gathers near the drain port 1b, and the mud can be discharged smoothly.

Further, water is supplied into the tank 1 by the water supply means 6 (front water discharge pipe 61) or separately from a hose or the like, and the water is supplied to the vicinity of the water line W from the above-mentioned upper water discharge port 1e located at the water line W. By causing the water S to overflow, it is possible to discharge the extraneous matter having a low specific gravity, such as hair, to the outside of the tank 1 together with the overflowed water. Such drain 1b and upper drain 1
The drainage by e may be performed every single cleaning, or may be performed as needed between cleanings.

As described above, after the belt conveyor 2 is repeatedly moved up and down to perform cleaning, the belt conveyor 2 is raised (in the state shown in FIG. 3A), and the upper surface of the belt 20 is slid backward. Plums K ... K are moved to the roller conveyor 5 side. At this time, by discharging water from the water discharge hole of the front water discharge pipe 61d, it is possible to bathe the plums K ... K on the belt 20. Plum K transferred to this roller conveyor 5
.. K are further transported by the rollers 5a... 5a. At this time, the surface of the rollers 5a. Any residual water is completely wiped out.

However, as described above, soft hair is used for the flocking of the rollers 5a... 5a.
Does not damage the surface. Usually, it is not possible to remove extraneous matter such as hair only by brushing with such soft hair, but in this apparatus, as described above, plums K ... K have already been washed. It is sufficient to finish the brushing with the flocking rollers 5a... 5a.

By discharging water to the plums K... K on the roller conveyor 5 through the rear water discharge pipe 62d,
The finish of the cleaning is more complete.

In the description of the above embodiment, at the start of cleaning, the plums K ... K are temporarily placed on the upper surface of the belt conveyor 2 in the state shown in FIG. The movement of the plums K ... in the liquid is performed by this, but before the cleaning is started, the front of the belt conveyor 2 is lowered in advance to the state shown in FIG. It is also possible to implement K as it is directly charged into the water without using the belt conveyor 2.

[0043]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably remove the attached matter on the surface of a fruit such as a plum which is easily damaged, without damaging the skin. In particular, it is possible to reliably remove deposits such as hair that have been difficult to remove in the past. In addition, it is possible to smoothly inject fruits into a liquid such as water for washing, and to surely drain contaminated liquid after washing.

By implementing the second invention of the present application, in addition to the effect of the first invention of the present application, the fruit after washing can be smoothly moved out of the tank. In particular, even when the moving means is provided as described above, drainage at the time of lifting the fruit does not become insufficient.

By implementing the third invention of the present application, in addition to the effect of the second invention of the present application, the fruit before washing can be reliably and smoothly poured into the tank.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 3A is an explanatory view showing a state before the front of the belt conveyor 2 is lowered, and FIG. 3B is a view showing a state in which the front of the belt conveyor 2 is lowered most. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 tank 2 mounting section 3 drive section

Claims (3)

[Claims] A tank (1) for containing a washing liquid such as water.
And a placing part (2) on which fruits such as plums can be placed, and a driving part capable of repeatedly moving the placing part (2) up and down
The placing part (2) has at least a fruit placing surface formed in a net shape, and the driving part (3) holds the placing part (2). Along with the receiver
At least part of (2) is lowered so that the receiver (2)
The upper fruit is immersed in the liquid in the tank (1), and the mounting part (2) is lifted to lift the fruit immersed in the liquid from the liquid.The driving part (2) A fruit washer such as a plum is characterized in that fruit is washed by repeating such a lifting operation. 2. The fruit washing device for plums or the like according to claim 1, wherein the placing section (2) is a belt conveyor having a mesh belt as a placing surface. 3. An end of the mounting part (2) is fixed to an edge of the tank (1) by an axis, and the other end of the mounting part (2) is vertically moved by a driving part (3) with this one end as a fulcrum. 3. The apparatus for washing fruit such as plums according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is rotatable.