JPH1190242A - Grain washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure sterilizing effect at the washing of grain and to enhance taste after washing. SOLUTION: In a rice cooking system, milled rice is charged in a rice washing tank in a first rice washing process 11 and ozone water is also supplied to the rice washing tank to wash rice with ozone water. In a second rice washing process 12, ozone water is drained and alkaline water is supplied to wash rice with alkaline water. By washing rice with alkaline water after the washing of rice with ozone water as mentioned above, ozone water bonded to the surface of rice is neutralized to be washed. Therefore, oxide by ozone water can be neutralized and excessive org. matter contained in rice, for example, sugar or protein is increased in elution and can be effectively removed. Further, by washing grain with alkaline water, the lowering of taste of grain by the oxidative deterioration of grain can be prevented and palatable boiled rice can be cooked.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cereal washing apparatus configured to secure a sterilizing effect when washing cereals and to improve the taste after washing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a feeding center or the like that processes a large amount of grains such as rice and wheat, a large amount of grains is washed by a large-sized washing device to increase production efficiency. Among rice grains, a rice cooking system that cooks rice requires a large amount of washing water in order to wash the bran adhering to the rice surface in the rice washing process.

[0003] In addition, aseptic rice cooked rice that is sold as a commercial product is sold in a state in which polished rice is washed, cooked, and packed in a packaging pack. Thus, when selling rice, it is necessary to sterilize the cooked rice in order to store it for a long time at room temperature. On the other hand, in a rice production system that automatically produces cooked rice, a rice milling process that removes the hulls of brown rice with a rice mill, a rice washing process that transports the milled rice to a rice washing device, and a rice washing process, and immerses the washed rice in water Immersion process to put rice in water, weighing process to measure washed rice, rice cooking process to put rice weighed to a predetermined amount into rice cooker and heat by heating, rice cooking process There is a laying step of placing the cooked rice in a container, and a washing step of washing the rice cooker after the laying.

[0004] In the rice polishing step of the above steps, a rotor driven by a motor is provided in a rice milling chamber to which brown rice is supplied in order to remove the outer skin of the brown rice. Stir the brown rice in the room to remove the brown rice skin. Further, in the rice washing process, rice is washed with clean water while stirring the rice conveyed by the conveyor. The purpose of the rice washing step is to remove the rice bran on the surface of the rice, to remove various bacteria on the rice, and to wash away the pesticides attached to the rice.

However, in a rice washing apparatus generally used in the rice washing process, since tap water is only discharged from a water supply pipe extending above the stirrer, various bacteria and heat-resistant bacteria attached to rice are removed. It could not be removed sufficiently. Moreover, since heat-resistant bacteria that cannot be sterilized even by heating in the rice cooking process may remain in the cooked rice, after the rice cooking process, chemicals such as acetic acid or citric acid are added to sterilize various bacteria attached to the rice, and It was necessary to improve the shelf life of the rice.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, development of a washing apparatus using ozone water in which ozone gas having a high sterilizing effect is dissolved in washing water used in a rice washing process is being promoted.

[0007]

However, relatively less expensive rice such as long grain rice and medium grain rice are imported from foreign countries due to the lessons of the rice shortage and the diversification of the rice market. It is known that these long grain rice and medium grain rice have problems such as a large number of bacteria adhering to the rice, a pesticide being applied, and an extremely low water content. In order to remove bacteria adhering to rice, it is necessary to use, for example, ozone gas or to clean the production process.
Further, regarding the taste, it is necessary to lengthen the time for washing rice, adjust the amount of water added during cooking rice to a large extent, and take a sufficiently long immersion time in water after washing rice.

[0008] However, with respect to the improvement of taste, there is a problem that it is still difficult to cook delicious rice which is still in the taste of Japanese even if adjustment of water addition and immersion time are set for each of long grain rice and medium grain rice. is there. That is, this problem is caused by the inherent characteristics of long grain rice and medium grain rice. As described above, even if the amount of water during rice cooking is increased or the immersion time is increased, only the water near the rice surface increases. Therefore, moisture cannot penetrate sufficiently into the inside of rice in a short time. Therefore, the cooked rice is slightly different from the taste of short-grained rice usually eaten by Japanese people, and has a problem that the rice does not feel delicious because it has a so-called bulky taste.

[0009] The water content of rice varies somewhat between the time of harvesting the rice and the time after the harvest. For this reason, with respect to changes in the water content of rice,
By adjusting the amount of cooking water for cooking to an appropriate amount, the deliciousness of the cooked rice is ensured. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cereal cleaning apparatus that solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0010]

The present invention has the following features to solve the above-mentioned problems. The invention according to claim 1 is a cereal washing apparatus for washing cereals using ozone water, wherein after the ozone water washing step for washing cereals with the ozone water, an alkaline water washing step for washing cereals with alkaline water is performed. It is characterized by performing.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the cereals are washed with ozone water, and then the cereals are washed with alkaline water. Therefore, the oxides due to the ozone water can be neutralized, and the excess contained in the rice is removed. Elution of various organic substances, for example, sugars and proteins increases, and can be effectively removed. Further, by washing the grains with alkaline ionized water, a decrease in taste due to oxidative deterioration of the grains can be prevented, and the rice can be cooked into delicious rice.

The invention according to claim 2 is the grain cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an oxidation-reduction potential measuring device for measuring an oxidation-reduction potential in the alkaline water washing step, When the oxidation-reduction potential measured by the measuring device becomes substantially the same value as tap water, the supply of alkaline water is stopped.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the neutralization of the oxide by the ozone water can be detected by measuring the oxidation-reduction potential in the washing step with the alkaline ionized water. It can be confirmed that there is no deterioration in taste due to deterioration.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a rice cooking system to which a rice washing device as one embodiment of a grain cleaning device according to the present invention is applied. In this rice cooking system, a first rice washing step 11, a second rice washing step 12, an immersion step 13, and a rice cooking step 14 are provided on the line. In the first rice washing step 11, the milled rice is put into a rice washing tank, and at the same time, ozone water is supplied, and the rice is washed with ozone water.
In the second rice washing step 12, after the ozone water used for the rice washing in the first rice washing step 11 is drained, alkaline water (alkaline ionized water) is supplied, and the rice is washed with alkaline water.

After the washing of the rice with the ozone water, the washing of the rice with the alkaline water is performed, so that the ozone water attached to the surface of the rice is neutralized and washed. Therefore, the oxides due to the ozone water can be neutralized, and the extra organic substances contained in the rice, for example, sugars and proteins are increased, and can be effectively removed. Further, by washing the grains with alkaline ionized water, a decrease in taste due to oxidative deterioration of the grains can be prevented, and the rice can be cooked into delicious rice.

In the immersion step 13, the rice, which has been washed with ozone water and alkaline water, is put into a immersion vessel, and then alkaline water is supplied and immersed in a neutralized state.
Then, in the rice cooking step 14, the rice that has been subjected to the immersion step using alkaline water is cooked by a rice cooker. In addition, between each step, rice is put into a conveyor (not shown) or a container (not shown) moved by the conveyor, and is transported.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an ozone water generator, which has an oxygen gas generator 22, an ozone gas generator 23, and a gas-liquid separator 24. The oxygen gas generator 22 separates and generates oxygen at a higher concentration than in the atmosphere using, for example, a PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) separation method. The above PS
Oxygen supply means other than the A separation method may be used as the oxygen gas generator 22.

The ozone gas generator 23 is configured to generate ozone (O ₃ ) by, for example, a silent discharge method, and applies a voltage between the electrodes to generate a silent discharge, thereby generating ozone (O ₃ ).
₃ ) can occur. The gas-liquid separator 24 is
Ozone gas supplied from the ozone gas generator 23 is aerated in the ozone aeration tank 25. In the ozone aeration tank 25,
Raw water such as tap water sent from a pump 27 provided in the water intake conduit 26 is supplied.

On the other hand, in the ozone gas generator 23,
The oxygen gas from the oxygen gas generator 22 is ozonized by the ozone gas generator 23, and the ozone gas is supplied to the ozone aeration tank 25 and aerated. In the ozone aeration tank 25, water and ozone gas are mixed to generate ozone water. Then, the ozone water generated in the ozone aeration tank 25 is supplied to the second rice washing step 12. The excess ozone gas aerated in the ozone aeration tank 25 is decomposed into oxygen in an ozone gas decomposition tank 28 and exhausted to the atmosphere.

An ozone water supply line 29 for supplying ozone water to the second rice washing step 12 is connected to an ozone water discharge port 25 a provided at the bottom of the ozone aeration tank 25. 31
Is an electrolysis tank for electrolyzing water supplied from the water supply pipe line 32 to generate acidic water and alkaline water. In the electrolysis tank 31, by applying a voltage to the anode and the cathode, water in the tank is electrolyzed, and pH 3 to pH 6 is applied from the anode side.
Is discharged, and alkaline water of pH 8 to pH 10 is discharged from the cathode side. And the electrolysis tank 31
An acidic water supply pipe 33 is connected to an acidic water discharge port 31a that discharges acidic water, and an alkaline water supply pipe 34 is connected to an alkaline water discharge port 31b that discharges alkaline water.

The alkaline water supply line 34 is connected to a branch point 35.
Are branched into respective branch pipelines 34a to 34c. Since the ends of the branch pipes 34a to 34c are connected to the second rice washing step 12, the immersion step 13, and the rice cooking step 14, respectively, the alkaline water is supplied to each of the steps 12 to 14. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a configuration of a rice washing tank.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rice washing tank 41 used in the first rice washing step 11 and the second rice washing step 12 has a cylindrical second container 43 outside a cylindrical first container 42. This is a configuration provided in a specific manner. The upper end and the lower end of the first container 42 have inclined portions 42a and 42b narrowed inward, respectively.
An input port 44 is provided at an upper end of the inclined portion 42a, and a discharge port 45 is provided at a lower end of the inclined portion 42b.

The discharge port 45 has a first shutoff valve 46 having a mesh filter at the bottom of the cylindrical container 42,
A second shutoff valve 47 disposed below the shutoff valve 46. In addition, the first container 42 has a rice washing room 48 into which milled rice is charged. When acidic water or ozone water is discharged from the inlet 44 as described later, the rice washing chamber 48 is stirred while washing the rice.

An annular drainage channel 49 is provided between the first container 42 and the second container 43.
The drainage channel 49 is a channel for discharging the washing liquid overflowing from the inlet 44 of the rice washing room 48, and a drain pipe 50 communicates with the bottom of the drainage channel 49. An oxidation-reduction potential measuring instrument (ORP meter) 51 is attached to the drain conduit 50.

When the washing liquid overflowing from the rice washing chamber 48 is drained from the drain channel 49 to the drain line 50, the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 51 determines the concentration of the oxidant and the reductant in the waste liquid flowing through the drain line 50. The ratio is measured, and the measurement result is sent to the control unit 52.
Output to Above the rice washing tank 41, a joint 53 is provided at the joint 53 where the ozone water supply pipe 29 and the alkaline water supply pipe 33 are joined. The cleaning liquid discharge pipe 54 extending downward from the joint 53 is at a position where the ozone water supplied from the ozone water supply pipe 29 or the alkaline water supplied from the alkaline water supply pipe 33 is discharged to the rice washing chamber 48. Is provided. Further, a first solenoid valve 55 is provided in the ozone water supply pipe 29 near the joint 53. In addition, the alkaline water supply pipe 33 near the joint 53 is also provided with the second
An electromagnetic valve 56 is provided.

In the control device 52, the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 5
It is determined whether or not sterilization with ozone water has been completed based on the measurement result of the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 51 in the rice washing room 48 based on the detection signal from 1. Therefore, the control device 52
When detecting that the first rice washing step 11 is completed from the measurement result of the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 51 as described later, the first solenoid valve 55 is closed to stop the supply of the ozone water, and then the first The second shut-off valve 47 is opened with the shut-off valve 46 closed to drain ozone water.

Thereafter, the control device 52 controls the second shutoff valve 47
Then, the second electromagnetic valve 56 is opened to discharge the alkaline water into the rice washing chamber 48, thereby performing the second rice washing step 12. Then, it is determined from the detection signal from the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 51 whether or not the second rice washing step 12 using alkaline water has been completed. When ozone water remains in the rice washing room 48, it shows a higher oxidation-reduction potential than tap water. Since the alkaline water (oxidation-reduction potential −50 mV) neutralizes it, the measurement value of the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 51 approaches negative. When the measured value of the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 51 becomes substantially the same value as that of tap water (oxidation-reduction potential -100 mV), it is determined that the second rice washing step 12 has been completed, and the solenoid valve 5
6 is closed.

When the second rice washing step 12 is completed, the first and second shut-off valves 46 and 47 are opened, and the rice washed with alkaline water is discharged from the discharge port 45 and falls into a container or a conveyor for transportation. Is done. The rice washed with alkaline water in the second rice washing step 12 is conveyed to the immersion step 13. And an alkaline water supply line 3
4 and immersed in alkaline water or tap water supplied via the branch conduit 34b.

Here, the immersed rice is conveyed to the rice cooking process 14 and cooked using alkaline water or tap water supplied through the branch conduit 34c. Thus, by immersing or cooking in alkaline water, ozone can be neutralized and cooked into delicious and plump cooked rice. Here, the action of the ozone water performed in the first rice washing step 12 will be described.

In the first rice washing step 12, the ozone water is easily consumed by the organic matter. Therefore, if the amount of contact of the ozone with the rice is small, only the ozone is consumed and no sterilizing effect is recognized. Therefore, as the amount of contact increases, the bactericidal effect is recognized, but the components of rice are also oxidized and affect the taste. The amount of ozone contact can be represented by the product of ozone water concentration C (mg / L), which is a main factor, contact time T (min), and ozone water flow rate Q (L / min) per gram of rice.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the results of sterilization and taste of cooked rice obtained by washing rice with ozone water based on the contact amount of ozone. As shown in FIG. 3, when the amount of ozone with respect to 1 part by volume of rice is 4.0 × 10 ⁻⁶ part by volume or less, sterilization cannot be sufficiently performed. When the amount of ozone with respect to 1 part by volume of rice is 2.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ part by volume or more, it can be understood that the taste result is not delicious. Therefore, in order to satisfy both the bactericidal effect and the taste result, the amount of ozone with respect to 1 part by volume of rice is 4.0 × 10 ⁻⁶ part by volume or more and 2.0 × 10 ^−4.
It is desirable that the volume be equal to or less than the capacity part.

From these results, when ozone water is used in the rice washing step, a good evaluation can be obtained in both the bactericidal effect and the taste result. In addition, ozone water is intended to sterilize heat-resistant bacteria that form spores that could not be sterilized in a conventional rice cooking process. Therefore, by using ozone water after washing with acidic water, the sterilization effect can be further improved.

After sterilization with ozone water in this manner, rice is washed with alkaline water in the second rice washing step 12. This makes it possible to neutralize the oxides generated during the washing of the ozone water with the alkaline water with alkaline water and suppress the adverse effect on the taste. A soluble component such as albumin and a hardly soluble component such as prolamin and glutelin are present on the surface of rice, and the amount of elution varies depending on the pH of water.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the pH of the waste liquid and the amount of organic substances contained in the waste liquid. In FIG. 4, the amount of organic matter includes biochemical oxygen demand (hereinafter referred to as “BOD”), which is one of the indices, and total organic carbon (hereinafter “TOD”).
OC ") and a suspended substance (hereinafter referred to as" SS "). Then, it can be seen from the graph shown in FIG. 4 that as the pH becomes higher, that is, as the pH becomes higher, the amount of organic substances contained in the waste liquid increases.

It is considered that this is because, for example, the carboxyl group of the water protein becomes ionic and becomes soluble.
Bran and protein are one of the factors that affect the taste of rice, but it is known that a smaller amount is more delicious. FIG.
It is a graph which shows the relationship between H and the protein elution amount. From the graph shown in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the elution amount increases as the protein becomes more alkaline. Therefore, the rice bran and protein can be effectively removed by washing the rice with alkaline water, so that delicious rice can be obtained. In addition, the amount of water required for washing rice can be reduced, and the time for washing rice can be reduced. In addition, by solubilizing with the surface components of rice, the cell wall interstitium (hemicellulose) of rice is loosened and gaps are formed between tissues.

As a result, the water absorption increases. Therefore, by using the alkaline water for the immersion, the rice can be cooked into plump and delicious rice, and the immersion time can be reduced or the amount of water used for the immersion can be reduced. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the immersion time and the amount of protein eluted from rice. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the immersion time and the amount of reduced bran contained in rice.
In FIG. 6, graph I shows the change in the amount of protein eluted in alkaline water, and graph II shows the change in the amount of protein eluted in tap water. In FIG. 7, a graph III shows a change in the amount of reduced bran contained in rice in alkaline water, and a graph IV shows a change in the amount of reduced bran contained in rice in tap water.

According to the graphs I, II, III, and IV, the time required for the protein to elute from the rice is faster than the time required for the production of reduced bran in the rice. Therefore, for 15 minutes when the elution of the protein by the alkaline water is almost constant, the protein is removed by flowing the alkaline water. Thereafter, the flow of alkaline water is stopped. Then, the washed rice is immersed in alkaline water to increase the amount of reduced bran, so that delicious rice can be obtained. In the above experiment, the pH of the alkaline water used was set to be in the range of 8 to 10.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are flow charts of the rice washing process executed by the control device 52. In this rice washing treatment, the ozone water concentration C (mg / L) and the ozone water flow rate Q
(L / min) is set to be constant. The control device 52 executes step SP1 shown in FIG.
(Hereinafter, “step” is omitted) in the first solenoid valve 5
5 is opened to discharge the ozone water supplied via the ozone water supply pipe 29 into the rice washing room 48. Already rice washing room 4
8 is supplied with a predetermined amount of milled rice. Therefore, the rice in the rice washing room 48 is washed while being stirred by the water flow of the ozone water discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge pipe 54 provided above the inlet 44.

In the next SP2, the opening time t ₁ of the first solenoid valve 55 is read. Then, compared with SP3, and t ₁ preset ozone water treatment time T ₁ and time. SP3
In T1, when T ₁ > t ₁ , the rice washing process with ozone water has not been completed, so the process returns to SP2 and the aging process is continued. However, in SP3, when a T ₁ ≦ t ₁ proceeds to SP4 for rice washing treatment with ozone water has been completed.

In SP4, since the rice washing process with ozone water has been completed, the first solenoid valve 55 is closed to stop the supply of ozone water. Thus, the second rice washing step 12 is completed.
Subsequently, in SP5, the second shutoff valve 47 is opened to discharge the acidic water in the rice washing room 48 from the discharge port 45. At this time,
Although the first shut-off valve 46 provided above the second shut-off valve 47 is closed, a large number of small mesh holes smaller than rice grains are provided in the valve body. Therefore, the acidic water used for washing rice in the washing room 48 passes through the valve element of the first shut-off valve 46 and is drained. However, the rice washed in the rice washing room 48 cannot pass through the valve element of the first shut-off valve 46 and remains in the rice washing room 48.

In SP6, the opening time t of the second shut-off valve 47
Read ₂ Then, in SP7, comparing the ozone water emptying time T ₂ that has been set in advance and time t _2. In SP7, when it is T _2> t ₂ returns to the SP6 because not completed the discharge of ozone water, and continues with time processing. However, in SP7, processing proceeds to SP8 since discharge of ozone water when a T ₂ ≦ t ₂ is completed.

[0042] In SP8, since ozone water discharge time T ₂ has elapsed, to close the second shutoff valve 47. Then SP9
Then, the second electromagnetic valve 56 is opened to discharge the alkaline water supplied through the alkaline water supply pipe 34 and the branch pipe 34a into the rice washing chamber 48. In the next SP10, the measured value of the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 51 is read. That is,
The oxidation-reduction potential a of the waste liquid drained from the rice washing room 48 to the drain line 50 is read.

In the next SP11, it is checked whether the oxidation-reduction potential a read in SP10 is 100 mV or less. In SP11, when a> 100 mV, the waste liquid from the rice washing tank 48 has not yet been neutralized, so the flow returns to SP10. When a ≦ 100 mV, the oxidation-reduction potential a is almost the same value as tap water. Fig. 9
To SP12 shown in FIG.

In SP12, it is determined that the waste liquid overflowing from the rice washing room 48 has been neutralized, and the electromagnetic valve 56 is closed to stop the supply of the alkaline water. As described above, the ozone water in the rice washing room 48 is mixed with the alkaline water to neutralize the ozone water, so that it is possible to prevent a deterioration in taste due to oxidative deterioration of the cooked rice. In the next SP13, it reads the alkaline water immersion time t _3. Then, at SP14, and compares the t ₃ and alkaline water discharge time T ₃ set in advance time. If T ₃ > t ₃ in SP14, the immersion process in the second rice washing step is not completed, so the process returns to SP13 to continue the aging process. However, in SP14, when T ₃ ≦ t ₃ , the immersion treatment in the second rice washing step was completed, and thus SP15
Proceed to.

As described above, the alkaline water is supplied to the rice washing room 48 in an alkaline water immersion time t ₃ (= 15 minutes) to effectively elute the proteins. Thereafter, the supply of the alkaline water is stopped and the alkaline water is immersed. In this way, reduced bran contained in rice is produced. Thereby, delicious rice can be obtained. In SP15, the second shut-off valve 4
7 is opened to discharge the alkaline water in the rice washing room 48 to the outlet 45.
To be discharged from In SP16, the first shut-off valve 46 is opened. Thereby, the washed rice in the rice washing room 48 is discharged downward from the discharge port 45. In addition, below the outlet 45, a container or a conveyor for storing the washed rice is provided.

In the next step SP17, a predetermined time t ₄ required for discharging the rice in the rice washing room 48 is read. And S
The US discharging time T ₄ which is set in advance in P18 is compared with the time t _4. In SP18, to return to the SP17 because T _4> is not yet completed the US emissions when a t _4, to continue the aging process. However, in SP18, T ₄ ≦ t
When the number is ₄ , the rice discharge is completed, and the process proceeds to SP19.

At SP19, the first shut-off valve 46 is closed. Subsequently, in SP20, the second shut-off valve 47 is closed. Thereby, the second rice washing step 12 is completed. Next S
At P21, it is checked whether the rice washing step or the rice cooker system stop is set. In SP21, when the device stop is not set, the process returns to SP1. Then, the processes after SP1 are executed again.

If the apparatus is set to stop in SP21, the current rice washing process is terminated. In this way, after washing rice with ozone water and then washing with alkaline water, the elution of bran and protein as organic substances can be increased and removed effectively, so that the amount of water used in the rice washing process is reduced, The rice washing time can be reduced.
This makes it possible to cook delicious rice in the rice cooking process.

Also, by using alkaline water in the immersion step, the amount of water absorbed on the rice surface is increased, the amount of water in the immersion step can be saved, and the immersion time can be shortened. Can be suppressed and ozone decomposition can be suppressed, so that the sterilizing effect of ozone water can be further enhanced. Therefore, rice washing time with ozone water can be shortened, and the amount of ozone water used in the rice washing process can be saved. Therefore, the rice washed with the ozone water can be sufficiently sterilized and taste delicious when cooked.

In the rice washing control process, it was determined whether the rice washed with alkaline water was in a neutralized state based on the value measured by the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 51. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to use a detection means such as a turbidity meter which detects the removal based on the water quality of the waste liquid by using the removal as a standard for finishing the washing. Also, an oxidation-reduction potential measuring device 51
Is provided in the rice washing room 48, and the oxidation-reduction potential in the rice washing room 48 can be measured.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a stirrer for rotating the blades is attached inside the rice washing chamber 48. In the above embodiment, the washing step using ozone water only needs to be able to stir while the rice is immersed. Therefore, a washing water discharge port can be provided at the lower part or side part of the rice washing chamber 48.

Further, since the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the rice washing apparatus, instead of stirring in the rice washing chamber 48 as described above, for example, rice and alkaline water are introduced into the pipe and the rice is washed while passing through the pipe. It is good also as a rice washing apparatus constituted. Further, in the above embodiment, the same rice washing tank 41
Although the rice washing step 11 and the second rice washing step 12 are used in combination, a dedicated rice washing tank may be provided for each rice washing step.

Further, in the above embodiment, instead of the ozone aeration tank 25 used in the ozone water generating apparatus 21, an ozone gas such as an ejector, a mixing pump, a net or the like may be used as long as it dissolves ozone gas in water. Further, an oxygen gas cylinder can be used instead of the oxygen gas generator 22. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which ozone gas is dissolved in water, and for example, an electrolysis type ozone water generation device can be used.

FIG. 10 shows a first modification of the present invention. In FIG. 10, the same parts as those in the above embodiment include:
The same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted. In FIG. 10, flow control valves 61 to 63 are disposed in branch pipes 34 a to 34 c branched from the alkaline water supply pipe 34. The flow control valves 61 to 63 are provided in the second rice washing step 1 respectively.
2. The valve opening is appropriately adjusted according to the amount of rice in the immersion step 13 and the rice cooking step 14. For this reason, in the second rice washing step 12, the immersion step 13, and the rice cooking step 14, the supplied alkaline flow rate is adjusted to a necessary appropriate amount, thereby preventing waste of alkaline.

The flow rate adjusting valves 61 to 63 may be manually operated valves or valves configured to automatically adjust the flow rate by a control signal from the control device 52. FIG. 11 is a view showing a second modification of the present invention. In FIG. 11, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 11, an alkaline water supply pipe 34 is provided with an alkaline water tank 64 for storing the alkaline water generated by the electrolysis tank 31. The alkaline water stored in the alkaline water tank 64 is supplied to the second rice washing step 12, the immersion step 13, and the rice cooking step 14 at a flow rate corresponding to the respective opening degrees of the flow rate adjustment valves 61 to 63.

The alkaline water tank 64 is constantly replenished with the alkaline water generated in the electrolysis tank 31. Therefore, even when the amount of the electrolysis tank 31 is small, the alkaline water is stored in the alkaline water tank 64 when the alkaline water is not used, so that the supply of the alkaline water does not become insufficient. In each of the above embodiments, the case where rice is washed is described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to washing grains (eg, wheat and the like) other than rice.

[0057]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
After washing the grains with ozone water, the grains are washed with alkaline water, so that the oxides due to ozone water can be neutralized, and the effect of increasing the elution of extra organic substances, such as sugar and protein, contained in rice is increased. Can be removed. Further, by washing the grains with alkaline ionized water, a decrease in taste due to oxidative deterioration of the grains can be prevented, and the rice can be cooked into delicious rice.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by measuring the oxidation-reduction potential in the washing step with alkaline ionized water, it is possible to detect that the oxides are neutralized by the ozone water. It can be confirmed that there is no deterioration in taste due to deterioration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a rice cooking system to which a rice washing device as one embodiment of a grain cleaning device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a rice washing tank.

FIG. 3 is a diagram comparing the results of sterilization and taste when rice domestically washed with ozone water is cooked and when rice is cooked only with tap water.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the pH of the waste liquid and the amount of organic substances contained in the waste liquid.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between pH and the amount of protein eluted.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the immersion time and the amount of protein eluted from rice.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the immersion time and the amount of reduced bran contained in rice.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a rice washing process executed by the control device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of rice washing processing executed by the control device following the processing of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a first modification of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a second modification of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 First Rice Washing Step 12 Second Rice Washing Step 13 Soaking Step 14 Rice Cooking Step 21 Ozone Water Generator 22 Oxygen Gas Generator 23 Ozone Gas Generator 24 Gas-Liquid Separator 25 Ozone Aeration Tank 28 Ozone Gas Decomposition Tank 29 Ozone Water Supply Line 31 Electrolysis tank 34 Alkaline water supply line 41 Rice washing tank 42 First container 43 Second container 44 Input port 45 Discharge port 46 First shutoff valve 47 Second shutoff valve 48 Rice washing room 49 Drainage channel 50 Drain line 51 Redox potential Measuring device 52 Control device 61-63 Flow control valve 64 Tank for alkaline water

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Terushi Iwata 1-6-3 Fujimi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Tokiko Corporation (72) Inventor Toshikatsu Mori 7-1-1, Omika-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Hikaru Kimoto 7-1-1, Omika-cho, Hitachi, Ibaraki

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A grain washing apparatus for washing grains using ozone water, wherein an ozone water washing step of washing grains with ozone water is followed by an alkaline water washing step of washing grains with alkaline water. And grain cleaning equipment. 2. The grain cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an oxidation-reduction potential measuring device for measuring an oxidation-reduction potential in the alkaline water washing step, wherein the oxidation-reduction potential measured by the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device. A supply of alkaline water is stopped when the value of water is substantially equal to that of tap water.