WO2008111103A1

WO2008111103A1 - An automatic olive washing assembly or array

Info

Publication number: WO2008111103A1
Application number: PCT/IT2008/000148
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Rapanelli
Original assignee: Rapanelli Fioravante S.P.A.
Priority date: 2007-03-13
Filing date: 2008-03-06
Publication date: 2008-09-18
Also published as: ITRM20070125A1; EP2131685A1

Abstract

An assembly for automatically washing olives, to be used in olive processing plants, whose main feature is that of having a modular structure, and whose components (4, 5, 6, 8) are easy to clean and to maintain. The washing assembly includes a storage/collection and decantation tank (4), a helical screw pump (5), preferably a mixer (6) with a pipe coil, and a dewatering system (8) for dripping the already used water.

Description

An automatic olive washing assembly or array

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an improvement in the field of olive drupe processing for the purpose of obtaining an extremely high olive oil quality, by maintaining the olive integrity and preventing modification of chemical bonds for the substances contained in the olives. The automatic olive washing assembly according to the present invention, while preserving the olive integrity does not modify their organoleptic properties, and obviously, it will not reduce either the amount of oil extractable from the olives since the latter are still in their integral state when entering the breaker (crusher) of the olive processing plant. Therefore, the assembly, or array, for the automatic washing of olives in accordance with the present invention, is an extremely advantageous alternative (as will appear from the following description) to known olive washing techniques, as employed in presently available olive processing plants. Particularly, the invention will insure the greatest advantages in plants which perform a delicate/critical extraction of the oil based on the percolation technique as already disclosed in other (prior) patents of the same Applicant. Nonetheless, the present invention is clearly generally applicable also to other kinds of olive drupe processing plants, for instance to those in which the oil extraction is performed exclusively by means of horizontal centrifuges (decanters) and/or vertical centrifuges, or by means of other types of separators or oil extraction devices.

Background Art

In the background art relating to olive processing plants, the olive washing - performed prior to the conventional oil extraction steps - occurs inside a machine named "washing machine", the latter having the function of washing and preparing the olives for the following processing steps. In a traditional plant, this washing machine is located downstream of a defoliation (leaf-removing) device, if any, used to remove branches/leaders and leaves in order to separate the olives from these undesired components. The defoliation device could also be omitted, in case the batch of olives already consists of olives only, without any branches and leaves. In the latter case the olives may be directly introduced into the washing machine. A traditional washing machine is disadvantageous in that it is cumbersome, it has a technically complex inner structure, its maintenance is difficult to carry out, and moreover it is difficult to clean. Since the function of this machine is the processing and treatment of food products, its cleanliness is however of fundamental importance. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing assembly, or array, that replaces the traditional washing machine, allows an easier maintenance, has a modular structure so that each component can be more easily cleaned or repaired, or even replaced - if damaged -, and which further allows the best possible distribution of the components of the assembly (for instance inside different factory rooms) according to the needs/requirements (for instance the available spaces) of the olive processing factory.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is obtained by means of an olive washing assembly or array, comprising:

- one or more storage and decantation basins or tanks, apt to receive a washing liquid, particularly a water mass, together with the olives to be washed, in order to cause the settling/precipitation of soil material, pebbles, or other impurities, towards the bottom surface of the storage and decantation basins or tanks, thereby effecting a pre-washing of the olives;

- one or more washing lines associated with the storage and decantation basin(s) or tank(s), each having: a feed means located downstream of the basin(s), suited to push the olives forwards together with the washing liquid and to convey them downstream, by preserving completely the olives integrity, but promoting a separation/detachment of any other possible impurities from the surface of the olives during the advancement of the olives, together with the washing liquid, inside the same feed means;

- an olive dewatering/dripping system, suited to separate the olives from the washing liquid and from any residual impurities transported by the washing liquid, said dewatering/dripping system being provided downstream of said feed means and upstream of a respective crusher. Preferably, said feed means forms a helical screw pump.

Preferably, between the dewatering/dripping system and the feed means located upstream of the latter, there is provided a mixer which comprises a coil-shaped tube. This allows removal/detachment of any impurities that may still adhere on the surface of the drupes, by the eddies generated in this way in the washing water flow.

In practice, the invention effects a separation into several modules, which altogether perform the functions of a conventional washing machine, but which are easier to repair, to clean, and to handle. Further features are claimed in the subordinate claims. The invention also includes a complete olive processing plant, in which an olive washing assembly according to the present invention is installed.

Brief Description of Drawings The present invention will now be described by way of example only, without any intention of limiting the same, by referring to the two annexed figures, in which:

FIGURE 1 schematically shows a part of an olive processing plant, wherein the section encircled by the rectangle with dashed lines is a possible embodiment of the olive washing assembly according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged-scale drawing, including the part enclosed by the rectangle with dashed lines in Fig. 1, which forms the object of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Some non-limitative Embodiments of The Invention Fig. 1 schematically shows part of an olive processing plant. The olives are introduced through the input 1 and into the so-called defoliation device 2, used to remove branches and leaves, and thereafter, as indicated by reference number 3, they are loaded in a storage and decantation basin 4 for the olives, constituting the first component of the washing assembly or array in accordance to the present invention (note that if the olives are already separated from the branches and leaves, they are directly loaded into this basin 4). Inside the storage and decantation/settling basin 4 the olives are immersed in water, so that possible foreign bodies (e.g. stones, soil material, etc.) precipitate/settle to the bottom of the basin, in order to be successively ejected (eliminated). A second component of the washing array/assembly according to the present invention consists of a feed means 5, having the function of taking the olives out of the storage and decantation basin 4 and of transporting them - through a corresponding duct 7-7' - towards a vibrating flat support 8, in order to drain the water, after passing the olives first through a mixer 6. The feed means 5 has the fundamental feature of letting the olives pass through its "advancement mechanism" without impairing at all their integrity and consequently their quality.

A possible embodiment of the feed means 5 is a (helical) screw pump, which is already known in the art, but is not used to wash the olives.

More specifically, such a screw pump that preserves the olive integrity may have the following features, that are only illustrative and non-limitative:

Description of the features of a "helical screw pump" GENERALITIES

Helical screw pumps are of mixed flux with a rotor (either a single or a double rotor ).

Detailed list of applications to the food product field (oenological field, food products for animals/pets/human beings), chemical field and ichthyic field; - devices for the maceration control in wine-making processes;

- olive pumping systems; pickled olives ("Belloliva"), pressed/crushed products (TPG), potatoes, fishes, etc.

APPLICATIONS: Fluids and/or slurries with suspended solids These kinds of pumps are suited for various uses in relation to various types of dense products (up to 150OcP) and/or having suspended solids (up to 60% of solid content and 40% water) and may have considerable dimensions (up to 100 mm in diameter).

Examples: fish, potatoes, slurries. Also suited for the chemical industry, petrochemistry, and paper industry.

These pumps are also suited in UPB and TPG pumping units, for imparting delicate movements.

Particularly, they are suited for managing great process loads and considerable volumes (up to l'OOO'OOO 1/h), in case of delicate solid bodies of relevant dimensions.

The mixer 6 is actually a device that includes inside it a coil-shaped tube (the coil is not shown in Fig. 2) which is traversed by the olives and the water under the pushing action exerted by the feed means 5. This forced motion occurring inside the coil of the mixer 6 gives rise to a turbulent motion that further promotes the washing action on the olives, by removing/detaching particles and impurities that may still adhere on the olive surface after the preliminary "stationary" washing inside the storage and decantation/settling basin 4. For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that there is a continuous flow (stream) of washing water in the direction indicated by the arrows that coincides with the path of the olives. In the illustrated embodiment, there also exists a return flow/stream of "dirty" water, directed towards the storage and decantation basin 4, and passing for instance through the duct 11 ; the latter may also be provided with a filter 9 for polluted/used water and with a recirculation pump 10. The filter 9 is optional and may also be omitted, provided a minimum level of cleanliness of the washing water is insured, for instance by effecting a regular replacement of the same or by adopting monitoring systems of its cleanliness. Moreover, alternatively, it is also possible to use a washing system employing running water, and in that case clean water would be directly introduced into the storage and decantation basin 4 and continuously discharged in the drainage system, by first passing through a duct - not for recirculation purposes - connectable to the bottom of a basin 12 of the dewatering/dripping system 8 to be described later.

This further drainage component or unit 8, used for straining the olives, which is part of the olive washing assembly/array according to the present invention, includes a vibrating flat support 13 used for straining/draining purposes, mounted on a discharge water ("dirty water") recovering basin 12, whose bottom part is connected to a water discharge tube connected in turn with the drainage system (sewer system), or alternatively, communicating with the above described recirculation duct 11. The drainage plane, or vibrating flat support 13, has the task of receiving the olives passed through the helical screw pump 5 and, at the same time, of allowing the olives to "get rid" of the washing water which is then returned (11) to the storage basin - or alternatively - discharged through the discharge duct. It should be noted that in place of the vibrating plane 13 it is also possible to utilise a suitable straining/dripping tube, which -besides straining the olives - has the function of guiding/passing them to the breaker (crusher). The latter, denoted by numeral 14 in Fig. 1, may be realised in different forms which are already known to a skilled person; for instance, it may form a crusher with hammers (knives) hinged/articulated to a rotor, or a crusher of another type, suited to slowly crush the olives without giving rise to high temperatures that may influence the oil quality to be extracted later on. The crusher does not make part of the olive washing assembly according to the present invention and for this reason it is not worthwhile to describe its constructional details. It is well-known that it is used to produce the olive slurry from which the oil is extracted. It is useful to notice that the word "mixer" (reference number 6) indicates the fact that the latter generates a turbulent motion, suited to facilitate the washing operation of the olives, since the olives are conveyed together with the water through the coil-shaped duct. Therefore, the mixer is not really a genuine mechanical mixer, or agitator, that may possibly damage (by its blades or the like) the olive integrity. The term "mixer" should therefore be construed in this manner in the present context. Besides, its function is not properly the mixing of different components, but to cause a detachment of small particles of the soil, or the like, that may still adhere to the surface of the olives.

The new washing assembly, according to the present invention, has several advantages with respect to the classical, washing machine system, the most relevant of which are: - the functional modularity: this means that it is possible to use a single, adequately sized basin or tank, to serve more than one screw pump, mixer, etc. (that is, several washing lines), or alternatively, it is conceivable to utilise more than one basin/tank, to serve a single screw pump, a single mixer, etc. (that is, a single washing line); - the geometrical modularity: this means that, since the individual components of the washing assembly are not "rigidly connected to each other in a single unit", it is not required to locate/install the single components near to each other; instead, by employing this inventive configuration it is possible to optimise the use of available rooms/spaces by installing the respective components in the most convenient places (for instance in the neighbourhood of a source of water, where this water is needed, etc.), and by connecting the components through appropriate ducts of adequate cross-section. Therefore, the assembly according to the present invention is virtually adaptable to any kind of industrial environment; - routine and non-routine maintenance is facilitated: actually, the flexibility of the assembly allows more flexible operations/interventions since it will be possible to intervene in a more direct and target-oriented manner, due to the fact that the accessibility to individual components is extremely easy. Easier cleaning operations are possible, unlike the case of a complex machinery such as the conventional washing machine, in which certain points are hardly accessible; thus, the hygienic conditions are improved due to less difficult cleaning operations and this is particularly important during the processing/treatment of food products; -constructional simplicity.

Claims

1. An olive washing assembly or array, characterised in that it comprises:

- one or more storage and decantation basins or tanks (4), apt to receive a washing liquid, particularly a water mass, together with the olives to be washed, in order to cause the settling/precipitation of soil material, pebbles, or other impurities, towards a bottom surface of the storage and decantation basin(s) or tank(s) (4), thereby effecting a pre- washing of the olives;

- one or more washing lines associated with the storage and decantation basin(s) or tank(s) (4), each having: a feed means (5) located downstream of the basin(s) (4), suited to push the olives forwards together with the washing liquid and to convey them downstream, by preserving completely the olives integrity, but promoting a separation/detachment of any other possible impurities from the surface of the olives during the advancement of the olives, together with the washing liquid, inside the same feed means (5); - an olive dewatering/dripping system, suited to separate the olives from the washing liquid and from any residual impurities transported by the washing liquid, said dewatering/dripping system being provided downstream of said feed means (5) and upstream of a respective crusher (14).

2. An olive washing assembly or array, according to claim 1, characterised in that said feed means (5) is a helical screw pump (5).

3. An olive washing assembly or array, according to claims 1 or 2, characterised by further comprising a mixer (6) interposed between said feed means (5) and said washing liquid dripping system, for completing the washing operation on the olives, prior to the separation of the olives from the washing liquid and from the impurities contained in this liquid, occurring inside the dripping system; said mixer (6) including a tube, a duct, or the like, defining a winding path, such as a coil-shaped tube, suited to generate turbulent motions in the washing liquid under the pushing action exerted by the feed means (5), without impairing the olives' integrity.

4. An olive washing assembly or array, according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that a washing line or path may also include a recirculation path (11) of the washing liquid towards a respective storage and decantation basin or tank (4).

5. An olive washing assembly or array, according to claim 4, characterised in that a recirculation pump (10) is mounted along said recirculation path (11).

6. An olive washing assembly or array, according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that along said recirculation path (11) is inserted a filter (9) to retain the impurities contained in the washing liquid, before the latter is again delivered to a respective storage and decantation basin or tank (4).

7. An olive washing assembly or array, according to anyone of claims 1-3, wherein running water is used as washing liquid in the washing line(s) or path(s) (5, 6, 8), this washing water being directly discharged into the drainage system or sewer, by the respective dewatering/dripping system (8).

8. An olive washing assembly or array, according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the olive dewatering/dripping system (8) is formed by a vibrating plane (13) and by a respective washing liquid recovering basin or tank (12).

9. An olive washing assembly or array, according to anyone of the preceding claims, with the exception of claim 8, wherein the olive dewatering/dripping system includes a dripping tube that serves to drip the washing water and at the same time guides the olives towards said crusher (14).

10. An olive processing plant, including an olive washing assembly or array according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 9.

11. An olive processing plant according to claim 10, comprising one or more defoliation devices or devices for removing both leaves and branches.

12. An olive processing plant according to claim 10 or 11, wherein individual components of the olive washing assembly are spaced apart from one another and may be distributed inside different rooms of a factory in which the plant is installed.

13. An olive processing plant according to anyone of claims 10 to 12, comprising at least a slow crusher for crushing the already defoliated and washed olives.

14. An olive processing plant according to anyone of claims 10 to 13, comprising at least one oil percolation device which uses movable blades/lamellae for the extraction of oil.