JPH1190360A - Fruit vegetable washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fruit vegetable washing device constituted in such a manner that root vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and potatoes, can be cleanly washed without damaging these vegetables. SOLUTION: This device has an underwater transporting body 3 in a washing tank 1. This underwater transporting body 3 circulates in the transporting direction of fruit vegetables 2. Respective washing rollers 4 rotate reversely from the circulating direction thereof. The underwater transporting body 3 is made adjustable in its angle of inclination and circulating speed and the washing rollers 4 are made adjustable in their rotating speeds, respectively. Washing brushes 5 are disposed above the underwater transporting body 3. A fore stage washing tank 6 is disposed before the washing tank 1 and a post stage washing tank 7 is disposed behind the same. The fore stage washing tank 6 has a fruit vegetable feeder 9 for feeding the fruit vegetables 2 of a container 8 into the fore stage washing tank 6 and a fore stage underwater transporting body 10 for taking over the fed fruit vegetables 2 to the underwater transporting body 3 in the washing tank 1 of the ensuing stage. The post stage washing tank 7 has a washing conveyor 11 for taking over and transporting the fruit vegetables 2 transported by the underwater transporting body 3 of the washing tank 1 and washing the fruit vegetables, and a post stage underwater transporting body 12 for transporting the fruit vegetables 2 washed by this washing conveyor 11 and has a drying furnace for drying the washed fruit vegetables 2 in front of the post stage underwater transporting body 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fruit and vegetable washing apparatus suitable for washing root vegetables such as sweet potato and potato.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In some cases, root vegetables such as sweet potatoes are sold with mud attached, but are generally washed with water to remove mud before shipment. Conventionally, as a water washing device for such root vegetables, a jet shower type washing device using water pressure,
There was an automatic washer using a rotating brush. In the shower type, high-pressure water jets are sprayed on fruit fruits to blow off soil and debris on the surface of the fruit fruits. The rotating brush type is provided with a large number of cleaning brushes A as shown in FIG. 6 which can be rotated near the surface of the water in a drum or a water tank, and these cleaning brushes A move the sweet potato C in the rotation direction of the brush A (arrow a). Direction) for cleaning.

[0003]

Each of the above-described fruit and vegetable washing apparatuses has the following problems. 1. The shower type had problems that it was difficult to completely remove dirt only with water pressure, or that if the water pressure was increased to make it easier to remove dirt, the skin of sweet potato peeled off. In addition, the amount of water required is considerably large, which is uneconomical.

[0004] 2. In the rotating brush type, since the sweet potato C on the rotating brush A is not forcibly rotated in the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 6, an unwashed portion may be formed on the surface of the sweet potato C. In this case, the sweet potato C which has not been washed after washing must be washed by hand or washed again by using a machine. Further, if the washing is repeatedly performed by the machine, there is a possibility that the sweet potato C may be damaged.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus which can clean fruit and vegetables on soil without damaging them.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is an underwater for transporting fruit and vegetables 2 such as sweet potatoes into a washing tank 1 in the water or near the water surface. A transport body 3 is provided. The underwater transport body 3 is formed by forming a large number of cleaning rollers 4 having brushes and projections on the outer peripheral surface in an endless belt shape. The cleaning roller 4 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction in which the cleaning roller 4 rotates.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the underwater carrier 3 discharges the fruits and vegetables 2 conveyed in the water in the washing tank 1 to the outside of the washing tank 1. The underwater transport body 3 is capable of adjusting the inclination angle and the revolving speed, and the washing roller 4 is capable of adjusting the rotation speed, as much as possible.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention can wash fruit and vegetables 2 transported by the underwater transport body 3 above the underwater transport body 3. A brush 5 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises a pre-stage cleaning tank 6 in front of a cleaning tank 1 provided with an underwater transporter 3, and a post-stage cleaning tank in subsequent stage. The front washing tank 6 is provided with a fruit-feeding device 9 for putting the fruits and vegetables 2 in the container 8 into the front washing tank 6, and the fruit vegetables 2 put into the pre-wash tank 6 are transported underwater and washed in the next stage. A cleaning conveyor 1 is provided with a pre-stage underwater transporter 10 to be transferred to the underwater transporter 3 in the tank 1, and a rear-stage cleaning tank 7 that carries over the fruit and vegetables 2 transported by the underwater transporter 3 in the cleaning tank 1 and cleans the fruits and vegetables.
1 and a rear-stage underwater transport body 12 for transporting the fruit and vegetables 2 washed by the cleaning conveyor,
A drying furnace 13 for drying the washed fruit and vegetables 2 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fruit and vegetable cleaning device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. It is characterized in that it is dropped on the water surface above the underwater carrier 10 in the pre-stage washing tank 6.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus according to the present invention.
A washing tank (first washing tank) 6, a second washing tank (wash tank) 1, and a third washing tank (second washing tank) 7 are arranged in a line. The drying furnace 13 shown in FIG.

Each of the cleaning tanks 6, 1, and 7 is made of a rust-resistant metal such as stainless steel, and each of them is elongated in the arrangement direction thereof. The internal volumes of the cleaning tanks 6, 1, and 7 are 3.5, 2.5, and 4.5, respectively. The bottom of each of the cleaning tanks 6, 1, and 7 is inclined downward in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1, and mud and debris accumulated in the respective cleaning tanks 6, 1, and 7 slide down the bottom of the water tank naturally. To automatically gather at the deepest part of the aquarium. Further, the first cleaning tank 6 and the second cleaning tank 1 are provided with a belt conveyor 21 having a dust collecting plate 20 having an outwardly expanding upper part as shown in FIG. Mud and debris that settles in the washing tank are collected on the belt conveyor 21 by the dust collecting plate 20, conveyed in the direction of the arrow c by the belt conveyor 21, and are forcibly collected in the deepest part in the water tank. It is like that.
A submersible pump 22 is provided at the deepest part of each of the first to third cleaning tanks 6, 1, and 7, and collects mud and debris collected at the bottom of the cleaning tanks 6, 1, 7 together with dirty water. It is designed so that it can be discharged outside the aquarium. Clean water is supplied to each of the cleaning tanks 6, 1, and 7 by a water supply pipe (not shown). The supply of this water and the water pumped by an overflow pipe and a submersible pump 22 (not shown) are provided. The water level in each of the cleaning tanks 6, 1, and 7 is kept substantially constant by the balance with the amount of water.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an underwater transporter 10 for transporting fruit and vegetables 2 submerged in water is provided inside the first washing tank 6. This underwater carrier 10 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (b), a number of pipes 43 are connected to each other to form an endless belt, and as shown in FIG. 1, the transport surface has a gentle upward slope in the direction of arrow b. The fruit vegetables 2 submerged in the water in the washing tank 6 can be gradually lifted out of the water while being transported in the direction of the arrow b while being placed on the conveying surface, and can be sent out to the subsequent second washing tank 1. As shown in FIG. 5B, both sides of the underwater transport body 10 in the width direction and the front side in the transport direction are surrounded by a hopper 23 whose upper side is widened outward. Hopper 23
To forcibly collect them on the underwater carrier 10.

Above the first washing tank 6, there is provided a fruit feeder 9 for rotating the container 8 to drop and put the fruit and vegetables 2 contained therein into the washing tank 6. The container 8 for accommodating the fruits and vegetables 2 shown in FIGS.
Is set at the fixed position A, a rotating body (not shown) holds the container 8 and slowly rotates the container 8 around the shaft 40 in the direction of arrow e in FIG.
During this time, the container 8 is returned to the original position A again while the fruits and vegetables 2 in the container 8 are gradually added to the water in the washing tank 6. The fruit feeder 9 has a substantially C-shaped guide 39, which guides both side surfaces of the container 8 rotated by the rotating body so as to prevent the container 8 from swaying. An underwater transport body 10 is installed directly below the fruit and vegetable feeder 9. The rotation direction of the fruit and vegetable feeder 9 is parallel to the transport direction (the direction of the arrow b) of the underwater transport body 10 immediately below, and the fruit and vegetables 2 dropped from the container 8 are transported by the underwater transport body 10.
Are transported evenly without being shifted in the width direction of the carrier 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the fruit feeder 9 is provided with an upward belt in which a container 8 containing the fruit feeder 3 is arranged at an upward inclination from the ground surface to a position above the first washing tank 6 having the fruit feeder 9. The conveyor 24 and the container 8 conveyed to the first washing tank 6 by the belt conveyor 24 are sent out to the fruit dropping position A, and the empty container 8 at the fruit dropping position A is further pushed out. A pusher 35 to be set at the fixed position B, and a pusher 3 to push the container 8 at the fixed position B in the direction of the arrow b and replace it on the power roller 41 which is constantly driven to rotate.
6 and a downwardly inclined discharge path 25 for discharging the empty container 8 transported in the direction of arrow f by the power roller 41 from a position above the first cleaning tank 6 and lowering the container on the ground surface. The power roller 41 is a roller conveyor in which the individual rollers are driven to rotate in the transport direction. The roller (container 8) placed on the transport surface is forcibly transported by the rotation of the individual rollers. I have. The discharge path 25 is a roller conveyor in which each roller is free to rotate,
In this case, the object placed on the container (the container 8) naturally slides down on the transport surface falling forward.

Above the underwater transporter 10 which appears above the water surface of the first washing tank 6, the water in the washing tank 6 is pumped up and sprayed on the fruits 2, and a washing shower 50 for washing the fruits 2.
(FIG. 1) is provided. Such a shower 50 can also be provided in the second cleaning tank 1 and the third cleaning tank 7.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an underwater transport body 3 having a plurality of rollers 4 is provided inside the second cleaning tank 1 so as to transport the fruits and vegetables 2 while cleaning them. As shown in FIG. 3, the underwater transport body 3 has a transport surface composed of a large number of rollers 4 slightly inclined upward in the direction of arrow b, and is transported by the underwater transport body 10 in the first cleaning tank 6. As a result, the fruits and vegetables 2 put in the second washing tank 1 can be gradually lifted up from the washing tank 1 while being conveyed in the same direction in the horizontal direction, and sent out to the third washing tank 7 therebelow. The underwater transport body 3 has a large number of cleaning rollers 4 provided with brushes on the outer peripheral surface or provided with protrusions as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3A, both ends of each cleaning roller 4 are connected to the drive chain 26 and rotate (circulate) in the direction of arrow b. The axis of each cleaning roller 4 is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown). And the individual cleaning rollers 4 are rotated in the same direction. In the underwater transport body 3, the transport speed of the fruits and vegetables 2 is slowed down by the rotation of the cleaning roller 4 in the opposite direction to the rotation direction and the upward inclination of the underwater transport body 3, so that the cleaning time is lengthened. The fruits and vegetables 2 are washed by the brushes and projections of the washing roller 4. In addition, this underwater carrier 3
As shown in FIG. 2, the fruits and vegetables 2 conveyed are transported while rotating in the lateral direction with respect to the transport direction, and the outer periphery of each fruit and vegetables 2 is washed evenly.

A triple-type rotary brush 5 is provided above the underwater transport body 3 so as to face the underwater transport body 3, and the fruit vegetables 2 transported while being washed on the underwater transport body 3 are placed above the underwater transport body 3. It can be washed by holding it down. In addition,
There is an interval between the underwater transport body 3 and the rotary brush 5 such that only one fruit and vegetable 2 can pass through, and two or more fruit and vegetable 2 are overlapped so as not to pass. The rotating brush 5
Can be made to be opposite to the rotation direction of the washing roller 4 or the same direction.
It must be transported slowly in the direction. Although the underwater transport body 3 can adjust the inclination angle and the rotation speed thereof, and the washing roller 4 can adjust the rotation speed, in consideration of the above, the fruit vegetables 2 are washed while being slowly transported in the direction of arrow b. You have to make sure.

Inside the third washing tank 7, there are provided a washing conveyor 11 for transporting the fruits and vegetables 2 while washing them, and an underwater transport body 12 for lifting the fruits and vegetables 2 in the washing tank 7. The cleaning conveyor 11 includes four large-diameter cleaning rollers 27 on the upper side and many small-diameter transport rollers 28 on the lower side. The lower transport rollers 28 are each driven to rotate in the transport direction of the fruit and vegetable 2 by a drive mechanism (not shown), and the fruits and vegetables fed into the third washing tank 7 by the underwater transport body 3 in the second washing tank 1. 2 can be taken over and transported. A brush, a projection, or the like may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller 28 so that the fruit vegetables 2 transported on the transport roller 28 may be washed simultaneously with the transport. The upper cleaning roller 27 is driven to rotate by a drive mechanism (not shown), and the hairs implanted on the outer periphery of the cleaning roller 27 are rotated by the rotation of the roller 27 and conveyed on the lower conveying roller 28. The fruit and vegetable 2 to be washed can be washed from above. The rotation direction of the upper cleaning roller 27 is the same as the direction in which the fruit and vegetable 2 is transported, but can be rotated in a direction opposite to the direction in which the fruit and vegetable 2 is transported as long as the transport of the fruit and vegetable 2 in the direction of the arrow b is not prevented. is there. The washing conveyor 11 is provided near the water surface in the washing tank 7, and the fruits and vegetables 2 are conveyed in the direction of the arrow b while being sandwiched by the upper and lower rollers 27 and 28 while moving directly below the water surface. The transport roller 28 below the cleaning conveyor 11 can be replaced with the underwater transport body 3 in FIG.

The underwater transport body 12 is provided below the cleaning conveyor 11 to carry over the fruit and vegetables 2 discharged from the tip of the cleaning roller 11 and gradually ascend from the cleaning conveyor 11 from the middle. The fruits and vegetables 2 to be transported are gradually pulled out of the water and can be discharged out of the third washing tank 7. Immediately above the upwardly inclined portion of the underwater transport body 12, a baffle plate 29 for preventing two or more fruits and vegetables 2 to be transported from being transported in an overlapping manner is provided. , Second and higher fruit vegetables 2
Is to hit the baffle plate 29 and fall.
An air ejector 37 is provided below the cleaning conveyor 11,
The foam from the air blower 37 hits the fruits and vegetables 2 conveyed through the washing conveyor 11. The foam reduces the movement of the fruit and vegetables 2 conveyed through the washing conveyor 11 and enhances the washing effect of the fruit and vegetables 2.

At the end of the third washing tank 7, there is provided a transfer carrier 30 for transferring the fruit vegetables 2 from the underwater carrier 12. A box-shaped case 38 surrounds the transfer carrier 30.
And air is sent from a blower (not shown) into the case 38 through the duct 31. This air is blown onto the fruit and vegetables 2 transported by the take-over transporting body 30 to blow off water adhering to the surface of the fruit and vegetables 2 for draining.

As shown in FIG. 4, a drying furnace 13 is disposed at the end of the transfer member 30 in the transfer direction. The drying furnace 13 includes a long conveyor 32 for conveying the fruit and vegetables 2,
A long drying chamber 33 is provided to surround the conveyor 32. Conveyor 3 inside drying room 33
2, a plurality of heaters 35 are provided along the transport direction, and the inside of the drying chamber 33 has a temperature suitable for drying the fruit and vegetables 2,
It is kept in humidity. The fruits and vegetables 2 are gradually dried by passing through the drying oven 13 over a long period of time.
When exiting 3, it is almost completely dry.
A carrier 36 is provided at the end of the outlet of the drying furnace 13, and a jet heater 34 is provided below the carrier 36, and hot air therefrom (hot air that does not hurt the fruit and vegetables 2).
As a result, the fruits and vegetables 2 sent out by the conveyor 32 of the drying furnace 13 and replaced on the carrier 36 are further dried.

The above embodiment is one example of the present invention, and may have the following configuration. 1. If the fruits and vegetables 2 are not very dirty, the three-stage washing tank
It may be less. In this case, the cleaning tank can be a combination of the first cleaning tank 6 and the second cleaning tank 1 or another combination. Further, the first washing tank 6 and the second washing tank 1 may be the same washing tank, and the fruit and vegetable feeding device 9, the underwater carrier 10, and the underwater carrier 3 may be provided in this washing tank. Conversely, if the stain is severe, the number of washing tanks may be increased to four or five. In this case, the second cleaning tank 1 between the first cleaning tank 6 and the third cleaning tank 7 can have two or more stages. 2. The washing shower 26, the underwater transport body 10, 3, 1
2. The method of attaching the washing conveyor 11, the washing brush 5 to the washing tank, the number of attachments, and the order of attachment are not limited to those shown in FIGS. For example, the underwater carriers 10, 3,
The total length and the inclination angle of 12 can be freely set. 3. The underwater carrier 10 of the first cleaning tank 6 and the third cleaning tank 7
The underwater carrier 3 shown in FIG. 3 can also be used for the underwater carrier 12. 4. The cleaning roller 4 of the underwater transport body 3 may rotate in the same direction as the circumferential direction of the roller 4. In this case, it is preferable to increase the upward inclination angle of the underwater transport body 3 or to reduce the rotation speed of the underwater transport body 3 so that the fruit does not advance too fast. In addition, the rotation of the cleaning roller 4 may periodically reverse the direction of rotation. At the same time, the rotation speed of the cleaning roller 4 may be changed.

[0023]

The following effects can be obtained by using the fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus of the present invention. 1. According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the jet water stream having a high water pressure is not used, even the fruit vegetables 2 having a complicated shape and being easily painful can be cleaned cleanly and safely. 2. A large amount of fruits and vegetables 2 can be washed at one time because they are transported in water. 3. Since the fruits and vegetables 2 are conveyed on the washing roller 4 while rotating, the whole circumference of the fruits and vegetables 2 can be washed, and there is no washing residue. 4. Since the fruits and vegetables 2 are conveyed in the water and the load thereof is reduced, the contact force with the cleaning roller 4 is moderately reduced, and the fruits and vegetables 2 are not damaged by the washing. 5. Since the rotation of the cleaning roller 4 is opposite to the transport direction of the underwater transport body 3, the transport time of the fruit and vegetables 2 by the underwater transport body 3 can be lengthened, and effective cleaning can be performed with the short underwater transport body 3.

6. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the upward inclination of the underwater transport body 3 increases the transport time of the fruit and vegetable 2, and the short underwater transport body 3 can effectively perform cleaning. 7. The upward inclination of the underwater transport body 3 increases the contact force between the fruits and vegetables 2 and the cleaning roller 4, and the fruits and vegetables 2 can be more effectively washed. 8. Since the underwater transporter 3 lifts the washed fruit and vegetables 2 from the washing tank as it is, no additional transporter is required.

9. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the fruits and vegetables 2 are washed by being sandwiched between the lower underwater transport body 3 and the upper cleaning brush 5, so that the fruits and vegetables 2 can be more reliably washed.

10. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the fruits and vegetables 2 are washed stepwise in a plurality of washing tanks, an appropriate amount of water can be exchanged for each washing tank according to the degree of contamination.
Even if a plurality of washing tanks are provided, the water consumption of the entire apparatus can be reduced compared to the conventional single tank, and it is economical. 11. The washed fruits and vegetables 2 are dried and sent out, so that they can be packed in a box and shipped.

12. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the fruits and vegetables 2 packed in the container 8 can be evenly spread and placed on the underwater transport body 10, and the subsequent transport and cleaning are ready.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing an embodiment of the fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are detailed views of an underwater transporter used in the fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a drying oven in the fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

5A is a perspective view of a belt conveyor provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank, and FIG. 5B is a partial perspective view of an underwater transporter provided in the first cleaning tank.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing an example of a conventional brush-type cleaning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning tank 2 Fruit vegetables 3 Underwater carrier 4 Cleaning roller 5 Cleaning brush 6 Pre-stage cleaning tank 7 Rear stage cleaning tank 8 Container 9 Fruit and vegetable feeder 10 Underwater transport body 11 Cleaning conveyor 12 Underwater transport body 13 Drying furnace

Claims (5)

[Claims] An underwater transporter (3) for transporting fruits and vegetables (2) such as sweet potatoes in the washing tank (1) in the water or near the surface of the water is provided in the washing tank (1). A large number of cleaning rollers (4) provided with brushes, projections and the like on the outer peripheral surface are formed in an endless belt shape, and the underwater transporter (3) is circulated in the transport direction of the fruit and vegetable (2) to perform each cleaning. A fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus characterized in that the roller (4) is capable of rotating in the direction opposite to the direction of its rotation. 2. The underwater transporter (3) is upwardly inclined in the transport direction so that the fruits and vegetables (2) transported in water in the cleaning tank (1) can be discharged out of the cleaning tank (1). The underwater transporter (3) adjusts its inclination angle and orbital speed with the cleaning roller (4)
2. The fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed can be adjusted respectively. 3. A cleaning brush (5), which is capable of cleaning fruit and vegetables (2) conveyed by the underwater carrier (3) above the underwater carrier (3). Or Claim 2
A vegetable washing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. A pre-cleaning tank (6) is provided in a preceding stage of a cleaning tank (1) provided with an underwater carrier (3), and a post-cleaning tank (7) is provided in a post-stage. 8) A fruit feeder (9) for putting the fruit and vegetables (2) in the pre-wash tank (6), and a fruit and vegetable (2) put in the pre-wash tank (6)
Underwater transporter (3) in the next washing tank (1)
The washing tank (7) is provided with a front-stage underwater transporter (10) for transferring the fruit and vegetables (2) transported by the underwater transporter (3) in the cleaning tank (1) and is also washed. A washing conveyor (11) and a rear-stage underwater transporter (12) for transporting the fruit and vegetables (2) washed by the cleaning conveyor are provided. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drying oven for drying. 5. A fruit and vegetable input device (9) rotates a container (8) containing the fruit and vegetable (4) to transport the fruit and vegetable (2) in the container (8) underwater in the pre-stage washing tank (6). Body (10)
The fruit and vegetable cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the fruit and vegetable washing device is dropped on a water surface above the table.