JPH11243780A - Cut flower preserving apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cut flower preserving apparatus able to hold plural stages of water tanks for dipping cut flowers in appropriate environments. SOLUTION: This cut flower preserving apparatus 10 is provided with an upper-stage water tank 12, a middle-stage water tank 13, a lower-stage water tank 14, overflow pipes 30, 31, a circulation pump 50, a water pipe 54, a cooling device 60 having a plate-type heat exchanger 61 for cooling the water flowing through the water pipe 54, a water level sensor 85 for detecting the amount of the water in the lower stage water tank 14, a water-feeding means 90 for supplying water to the upper stage water tank 12 and the like. The water flowing into the overflow pipe 30 of the upper stage water tank 12 is allowed to flow into the middle stage water tank 13, the water flowing into the overflow pipe 31 of the middle stage water tank 13 is allowed to flow into the lower stage water tank 14. When the water level sensor 85 detects that the water level of the lower stage water tank 14 comes below the specific value, water is supplied to the upper stage water tank 12 by the water-feeding means 90.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cut flower storage device used for storing cut flowers in a store or a market that handles cut flowers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, cut flowers are immersed in a water tank to maintain the freshness of the cut flowers in a shop handling cut flowers. In addition, since it is empirically known that the life of a flower is shortened when the temperature of the water in the water tank is high, the water in the water tank is cooled from about 15 ° C. to about 16 ° C. by a cooling means such as a refrigerator. Has also been done. The conventional cooling means used for such cut water tanks has a pipe in which a refrigerant flows, disposed in the water tank, and the water in the water tank is directly cooled by the pipe.

[0003]

The amount of water absorbed by cut flowers greatly varies depending on the environment such as the season, temperature, and humidity. In addition, the water absorption varies depending on the amount of cut flowers in the aquarium, the type of cut flowers, and the like. For this reason, if water supply is neglected, the amount of water falls below the allowable limit within a few days, the cut flowers are weakened, and the commercial value is reduced.

[0004] When the amount of water in the water tank decreases, the water becomes too cold, which is unfavorable for cut flowers. In particular, when a pipe through which a refrigerant flows is disposed in a water tank, icing may occur near the inlet of the pipe, which is a problem. In order to maintain the freshness of cut flowers in this way, it is extremely important to maintain not only an appropriate amount of water and water temperature but also an appropriate environment such as constantly circulating and stirring cold water.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cut flower preservation device that can always maintain a water tank for pickling cut flowers in an appropriate environment.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cut flower preservation apparatus for storing cut water for pickling cut flowers, comprising: an upper water tank for storing cold water for pickling cut flowers; A lower water tank that is provided at a lower position and stores cold water for pickling cut flowers, and when the water in the upper water tank exceeds a predetermined water level, water that exceeds the water level flows into the lower water tank. An overflow pipe for discharging, a water supply pipe provided over the upper water tank and the lower water tank, and a circulation for sucking water in the lower water tank and discharging the water to the upper water tank via the water pipe. A pump, a cooler that cools water circulating between the water tanks, a water level sensor provided in the lower water tank to detect a water surface position in the lower water tank, and a water level lower than a predetermined water level. That Serial water sensor is provided with a water replenishing means for replenishing water to the water tank (e.g., the upper side water bath) upon detection.

In this cut flower storage device, when the circulation pump is operated, water in the lower water tank is sent to the upper water tank via a water pipe. When the water stored in the upper water tank exceeds a predetermined water level, a part of the water flows into the overflow pipe and is discharged to the lower water tank. Then, it is again sent to the upper water tank by the circulation pump, and is cooled by the cooler on the way. As the total amount of water circulating in each aquarium decreases, the water level in the lower aquarium first drops. When the water level in the lower water tank becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the water replenishing means operates based on the signal output from the water level sensor, and water is replenished to the upper water tank. The water supplied to the upper water tank mixes with the cold water discharged from the water supply pipe, and flows into the lower water tank via the overflow pipe, whereby the water level and the water temperature of each water tank are appropriately maintained.

[0007] The temperature of water for pickling cut flowers is 0 ° C or more and 15 ° C.
Desirably less than. When the temperature falls below 0 ° C, normal cut flowers darken and die. Above 15 ° C, the biological activity of cut flowers tends to become active and the temperature tends to rise further. become worse.

[0008] More preferably, water having a plurality of layers of a water circulation part and a refrigerant circulation part separated by a heat transfer plate and flowing into the water circulation part through the water pipe is provided. And a cooler provided with a plate heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow section and water flowing through the water pipe when the water tank temperature falls below a predetermined value. A bypass line having a flow path switching valve for switching the flow path so as to bypass the exchanger.

The tank temperature is detected by a temperature sensor,
When the water tank temperature falls below a predetermined value, the water flowing through the water supply pipe flows into the upper water tank through the bypass pipe (that is, bypasses the plate heat exchanger) by operating the flow path switching valve. This prevents the water from getting too cold,
It is even easier to keep the temperature suitable for storing cut flowers.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a cut flower storage device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The cut flower storage device 10 of this embodiment includes a case main body 11 also serving as a base frame, and an upper water tank 12, a middle water tank 13, and a lower water tank for storing cold water which are arranged in the case main body 11 in a stepwise manner with different heights. 14. Each aquarium 12,
13 and 14, a synthetic resin foam such as urethane foam, which functions as a heat insulating means, is provided between an outer plate 20 and an inner plate 21 made of a stainless steel plate or the like, as representatively shown in FIG. The heat insulating material 22 is provided so that cold water of about 6 ° C. for pickling cut flowers F (partially shown in FIG. 1) can be stored. The cut flowers F are stored in the water tanks 12, 13, and 14 in a bucket 23 or the like.
The bottom and side surfaces of the bucket 23 have holes, and the water tank 1
Cold water enters into the bucket 23 at the same water level as 2, 13, and 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper water tank 12 and the middle water tank 13 are communicated with each other by an overflow pipe 30 functioning as a communicating means, and water that exceeds an upper end opening 30a of the overflow pipe 30 is supplied to the overflow pipe 30. As it flows in, it is discharged to the middle water tank 13. The middle water tank 13 and the lower water tank 14 are also communicated with each other by the overflow pipe 31.
The water exceeding the upper end opening 31a of the overflow pipe 31
And is discharged to the lower water tank 14. A drain outlet 36 is provided at the bottom of each of the water tanks 12, 13, and 14 to open when draining the water in the water tank such as when changing water.

A circulation pump 50 is provided inside the lower water tank 14. The pump 50 is submerged in the water in the lower water tank 14, and the suction port of the pump 50 is opened in the water. A water pipe 51 is connected to a discharge port of the pump 50. The water pipe 51 includes a horizontal pipe section 52 that once extends above the water surface and extends in the horizontal direction inside the lower water tank 14, and a vertical pipe section 53 that extends downward from the horizontal pipe section 52 and penetrates the bottom of the water tank 14. , An outer pipe portion 54 extending from the vertical pipe portion 53 in the direction of the upper water tank 12, and a discharge port 55 opening above the water surface inside the upper water tank 12.

The discharge port 55 is opened at a position higher than the surface of the water in the upper water tank 12, and water (oxygen) can be sufficiently taken into the water by blowing water about tens of centimeters from the discharge port 55. In addition, water is prevented from flowing backward from the discharge port 55 even when the pump 50 is stopped. The discharge port 55 is provided with a flow control valve 56 for adjusting the discharge water amount.

The cut flower storage device 10 includes a cooler 60 for cooling water flowing in the water pipe 51.
The cooler 60 includes a plate heat exchanger 61 as shown in FIG.
, A condensing unit 62, an expansion valve 63, a temperature sensing cylinder 64, and the like. The condensing unit 62 includes a compressor, a condenser, a dryer and the like as in a general refrigeration cycle. Note that a capillary tube may be used instead of the expansion valve 63.

The plate heat exchanger 61 includes a plurality of layers of a water circulation section 70 and a refrigerant circulation section 71 alternately partitioned by a plurality of heat transfer plates corrugated by sheet metal press molding or the like. . The water circulation unit 70 communicates with the water pipe 51. The refrigerant flow section 71 is connected to a refrigerant flow pipe of the condensation unit 62. The water circulation part 70 and the refrigerant circulation part 71 are in thermal contact with each other via the heat transfer plate, and the water flowing through the water circulation part 70 and the refrigerant circulation part 7
1 is configured to exchange heat with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant. The number of layers of the water circulation unit 70 and the refrigerant circulation unit 71 is
It can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of the heat transfer plates, and the heat exchange capacity can be adjusted according to the number of the heat transfer plates.

The water pipe 51 includes a plate heat exchanger 61.
And a bypass flow path 77 including a flow path switching valve 76 connected so as to be able to bypass the flow path. The flow path switching valve 76 composed of a three-way valve or the like has, for example, an actuator 81 driven by an output signal of a temperature sensor 80 that detects the temperature of water in the upper water tank 12, and has a water tank temperature (specifically, a water temperature). ) Is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the flow of the water pipe 51 is switched to the bypass pipe 75 side so that the water flowing through the water pipe 51 is
5 (bypassing the heat exchanger 61) and discharged to the upper water tank 12.

The lower water tank 14 is provided with a water level sensor 85 for detecting the level of water in the water tank 14. The upper water tank 12 is provided with a water supply port 91 and a solenoid on-off valve 92 constituting the water replenishing means 90. The water supply port 91 is connected to a water source 94 such as a water supply via a water supply pipe 93.

When the water level in the lower water tank 14 is detected to be equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the water replenishment means 90 receives the electric signal output from the water level sensor 85 to open and close the on-off valve 9.
By opening the valve 2, water is supplied to the upper water tank 12, and the on-off valve 92 is closed when the water level sensor 85 detects that the water level of the lower water tank 14 has reached a predetermined value. ing.

Next, the operation of the cut flower storage device 10 having the above configuration will be described. When the circulation pump 50 is operated, the water in the lower water tank 14 is supplied to the upper water tank 12 via the water pipe 51, the water circulation part 70 of the plate heat exchanger 61, and the like. The water stored in the upper water tank 12 is overflow pipe 3
When the height of the water exceeds the height of the upper end opening 30a, a part of the water flows into the overflow pipe 30 and is discharged to the middle water tank 13.

When the water stored in the middle water tank 13 exceeds the height of the upper end opening 31a of the overflow pipe 31, a part of the water flows into the overflow pipe 31 and is discharged to the lower water tank 14. The water in the lower water tank 14 is again discharged to the water pipe 51 by the circulation pump 50, and returned to the upper water tank 12 via the water circulation part 70 of the plate heat exchanger 61.

The refrigerant flow section 71 of the plate heat exchanger 61
Since the refrigerant of the condensing unit 62 is circulating through the water, the water passing through the water circulation unit 70 is cooled and sent to the upper water tank 12 in a state where the water temperature is lowered. Thus, each of the water tanks 12, 13, 1
Cold water constantly circulates through the four spaces, and the cold water is sufficiently stirred.

When the temperature of the water is detected by the temperature sensor 80 and the temperature of the water falls below a predetermined value, the direction of the flow path of the flow path switching valve 76 is switched, and the water flowing through the water supply pipe 51 is supplied to the bypass pipe 75.
To the upper tank 12. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the water from being excessively cooled, the accuracy of adjusting the temperature of the water tank is high, and it is easier to maintain the temperature at a temperature suitable for storing cut flowers.

The water circulating in each of the water tanks 12, 13, 14 is
It gradually decreases in accordance with the amount of the cut flowers F, the outside temperature or the humidity. When the amount of water decreases, each of the tanks 12, 13, 1
4, the water level of the lower tank 14 will be lowered first. The lowering of the water level in the lower water tank 14 is detected by a water level sensor 85, and when the water level falls below a predetermined value, the open / close valve 92 of the water replenishing means 90 is opened, so that water is supplied to the upper water tank 12.

A part of the water in the upper water tank 12 is discharged to the middle water tank 13 via the overflow pipe 30, and further flows into the lower water tank 14 via the overflow pipe 31. When the water level in the lower tank 14 reaches a predetermined value, the water level sensor 8
The opening / closing valve 92 is closed by an electric signal output from 5 and the supply of water is stopped, and at the same time, the circulation pump 50 is in an operating state. By supplying an appropriate amount of cold water to the lower water tank 14, the water levels of the water tanks 12, 13, and 14 are appropriately maintained, and the idle operation of the pump 50 is eliminated.

The plate-type heat exchanger 61 is configured such that the number of heat transfer plates separating the plurality of layers of the water circulation section 70 and the refrigerant circulation section 71 is changed, so that the number of layers of the water circulation section 70 and the refrigerant circulation section 71 is increased. Therefore, the heat exchange capacity can be set according to the scale (heat load) of the water tank. For this reason, even in the case of a large-capacity water tank, sufficient cooling capacity can be secured as necessary, and even in an environment where the temperature of the outside air and the water source is high, such as in summer, when the equipment in the large-scale water tank is carried in Make trial run possible.

When water is circulated between the water tanks 12, 13 and 14 via the overflow pipes 30 and 31 as in the above-described embodiment, when the amount of water decreases, the water level in the lower water tank 14 decreases first. . Here, if the lower tank 14 is configured to replenish water, the water temperature of the lower tank 14 may rise above an allowable limit when the temperature of the water source 94 is high as in summer, and as a result, the lower tank This may cause the temperature of No. 14 to become too high or promote deterioration of water quality.

However, in the above embodiment, the lower tank 14
When the water level decreases, water is supplied to the upper water tank 12 side, so that the replenishment water is immediately mixed in the upper water tank 12 with the just-cooled cold water flowing out from the discharge port 55. For this reason, even when the temperature of the water source is high as in summer, the temperature of the water in the water tank 14 can be prevented from becoming too high, and the water temperature is agitated in a relatively short time to an appropriate water temperature.
Water temperature calms down. Therefore, more preferable temperature management for cut flowers can be realized.

Instead of using the plate heat exchanger 61 as described in the above embodiment, the pipe through which the refrigerant flows is positioned in a meandering manner inside the upper
The inside of the pipe may be directly cooled by the pipe. Further, the number of stages of the water tank is not limited to three as in the above-described embodiment, and it is sufficient that the water tank includes a plurality of stages having different heights (at least an upper water tank and a lower water tank).

[0029]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to constantly circulate cold water while maintaining the water in each of the tanks in which cut flowers are immersed at a water temperature and a water amount suitable for storing cut flowers, and at the same time an appropriate temperature. Water can be stirred, and an appropriate environment suitable for storing cut flowers can be maintained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the employment of the bypass pipe having the flow path switching valve and the cooler having the plate type heat exchanger does not cause icing in the water tank, thereby preventing the water tank from being iced. The cooling capacity according to the scale can be exhibited. For this reason, the appropriate environment of cut flowers can be maintained more reliably, and maintenance of the equipment attached to the water tank such as cleaning, inspection and replacement of the heat exchanger is also easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cut flower storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cut flower storage device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cut flower storage device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cut flower storage device.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an aquarium used in the cut flower storage device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a water tank, a cooler, and the like of the cut flower storage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Upper water tank 13 ... Middle water tank 14 ... Lower water tank 30, 31 ... Overflow pipe 50 ... Circulation pump 51 ... Water supply pipe 60 ... Cooler 61 ... Plate heat exchanger 77 ... Bypass flow path 80 ... Temperature sensor 85 ... Water level sensor 90 ... water supply means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An upper water tank for storing cold water for pickling cut flowers, a lower water tank provided at a position lower than the upper water tank and for storing cold water for pickling cut flowers, and wherein water in the upper water tank is predetermined. An overflow pipe for inflowing water exceeding the water level when the water level exceeds the water level and discharging the water into the lower water tank; a water pipe provided over the upper water tank and the lower water tank; and A circulation pump that sucks water and discharges the water to the upper water tank through the water pipe; a cooler that cools water circulating between the water tanks; and a lower water tank that is provided in the lower water tank. A water level sensor for detecting a water surface position in the side water tank; and a water replenishing means for replenishing the water tank with water when the water level sensor detects that the lower water tank has dropped below a predetermined water level. Features Cut flowers storage device to. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of layers of a water circulation section and a refrigerant circulation section partitioned by a heat transfer plate, wherein water flowing into the water circulation section through the water pipe and refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circulation section are formed. A cooler provided with a plate heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the heat exchanger and a flow path such that water flowing through the water supply pipe bypasses the plate heat exchanger when the temperature of the water tank becomes a predetermined value or less. 2. A cut flower preserving device according to claim 1, further comprising a bypass pipe having a flow path switching valve for switching.