JP2011041496A - Food washer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a food washer which can jet washing water containing air bubbles to uniformly disperse air bubbles due to aeration and water flows over the whole portion of the washing water tank to wholly and uniformly agitate a washing target food from the lower side and thereby effectively wash the food, when air bubble-containing washing water (gas-containing water) is jetted from the bottom portion of a washing water tank, and further is advantageous in the aspects of cost, maintenance and compactness. <P>SOLUTION: This food washer includes a washing water tank 2 for receiving washing water therein, a screen cylinder 22 for overflow, a bottom screen member 28, a filtration water tank 7, a circulation pump 8 and an air-containing water-jetting device 5. In the air-containing water-jetting device 5, a jet strainer 6 is attached to the tip of a pressurized water pipe 51 arranged between the circulation pump and the bottom chamber 29 of the washing water tank, and a bubble-generation device for aeration is disposed in the half-way of the pressurized water pipe. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a food washing apparatus used for washing away dust (insects, foreign matter dirt, etc.) adhering to food such as vegetables and seaweed.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a food cleaning apparatus has been proposed in which foods to be cleaned such as vegetables are cleaned in a cleaning water tank (see Patent Document 1).

This food washing apparatus was formed so that air and water were simultaneously jetted into a washing water tank by an injection nozzle, and washing was performed by giving a rotating water flow to the washing water.
However, in the conventional washing method that gives a rotating water flow, the water flow is simply swirled and flows, so that especially for those that have been shredded like cut vegetables or chopped vegetables, There is a problem in that a sufficient cleaning effect cannot be obtained by simply rotating in a spiral without being dispersed.

  Conventionally, a food washing apparatus has been proposed in which an air jet pipe is disposed at the bottom of the washing water tank so that air from the aeration blower is jetted upward in the washing chamber (see Patent Document 2). .

However, when air is jetted upward from the bottom of the washing water tank as in the prior art, a water supply device is additionally required for generating a water flow in the air jetting device.
Thus, since it is necessary to provide an air ejection apparatus and a water supply apparatus separately, there existed a problem that it became disadvantageous in terms of cost, and it became disadvantageous for maintenance, such as cleaning, and compactness of an apparatus.

Japanese Patent Publication 2001-137789 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-341925

  In the present invention, cleaning water containing bubbles (referred to as “air-containing water” in the present invention) is jetted from the bottom of the cleaning water tank. At this time, aeration and water flow due to the bubbles are uniformly dispersed throughout the cleaning water tank. By spraying so that the food to be cleaned can be swept evenly from the bottom and lifted up and down so that it can be broken up, the cost, maintenance, and compactness can be achieved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a food cleaning apparatus that is advantageous in the above.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a food washing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided.
A washing water tank (2) for containing washing water therein;
An overflow screen cylinder (22) attached to the upper end of the washing water tank (2);
A bottom screen member (28) removably attached to the bottom of the washing water tank (2) while holding the bottom chamber (29);
A filtered water tank (7) for allowing cleaning water containing dust overflowed from the overflow screen tube portion (22) and cleaning water containing dust introduced from the bottom chamber (29) to flow and filter;
A jet strainer at the tip of a pressure water pipe (51) piped between a circulation pump (8) for pumping filtered wash water from the filtrate water tank (7) and a bottom chamber (29) of the wash water tank (2). (6) was attached, and it was set as the structure provided with the aeration water-injection apparatus (5) in which the foam generation apparatus (4) for aeration was provided in the middle of the pressure water pipe (51).

Moreover, the food washing apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention is
The food washing apparatus according to claim 1,
A washing basket (9) detachably mounted in the washing water tank (2);
This washing basket (9) is provided with a bottom screen (92) at its bottom,
The washing basket (9) is formed to be mounted in the washing water tank (2) with the bottom screen member 28 of the washing water tank (2) removed.

Moreover, the food washing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention is
The aeration foam generating device (4) includes an upstream disk (42) attached with a water injection nozzle (45) and a downstream disk (43) attached with a throttle pipe (46) as an air intake port ( 44) is held and opposed to each other, and air is taken in from the air intake port (44) by the momentum of water jetted from the water jet nozzle (45) into the throttle pipe (46) to be aerated. Is formed.

In the food washing apparatus of the present invention (Claim 1), the aerated water is jetted from the bottom of the washing water tank at the time of washing. At this time, since the spray strainer is attached to the tip of the pressure water pipe, it is the aerated water. The bubbles and the water flow can be sprayed so as to be uniformly dispersed throughout the washing water tank.
Accordingly, it is possible to perform effective cleaning such that the food to be cleaned is entirely evenly crushed from the bottom and floated up and down so as to be broken.

In addition, since it is equipped with an aerated water injection device with an aeration bubble generator in the middle of the pressure water pipe, unlike the conventional case, there is no need to separately provide an air blowing device and a water supply device. This is advantageous in terms of conversion.
Further, since the aeration blower constituting the air jetting device is not required, energy saving is achieved, and deterioration of the work environment due to noise can be eliminated.

In addition, dust that floats on the surface of the cleaning water along with the cleaning overflows with the cleaning water through the overflow screen cylinder, and dust that floats in the water passes through the bottom screen member together with the cleaning water in the bottom chamber. Then, it flows into the filtered water tank, where it is filtered to remove dust and the like.
As described above, by providing the overflow screen tube portion and the bottom screen member, it is possible to introduce the washing water containing dust and the like into the filtered water tank and reliably filter the food while preventing the outflow (escape) of the food.

Moreover, like the food washing apparatus of the present invention (Claim 2), by providing a washing basket that is detachably mounted in the washing water tank, the food to be washed such as vegetables is washed in a state of being accommodated in the washing basket. Therefore, it is possible to perform the work efficiently by facilitating handling of the food to be cleaned and the work of taking out the food to be cleaned, and the labor burden on the operator can be reduced.
In addition, since this washing basket is provided with a bottom screen at the bottom, when using this washing basket, the bottom screen member of the washing water tank is removed and used.

Further, in the food cleaning device of the present invention (Claim 3), the aeration foam generating device of the aerated water jetting device draws air from the air intake port by the momentum of water jetted from the water jet nozzle into the throttle tube. It is formed so as to be taken in and aerated.
Therefore, only a circulation pump is required as a driving device, the structure is simplified, and it is advantageous in terms of cost, maintenance, compactness, and safety.

Sectional drawing of the state which shows the food washing apparatus of this invention Example, and does not use a washing basket. The top view of the state which showed the food washing apparatus of this invention Example, and equipped with the washing | cleaning basket. The front view of the state which showed the food washing apparatus of this invention Example, and equipped with the washing | cleaning basket. The side view of the state which showed the food washing apparatus of this invention Example, and equipped with the washing | cleaning basket.

  In the food washing apparatus of this embodiment, a washing water tank 2 and a filtration water tank 7 are assembled on a machine frame 1.

  The washing water tank 2 is formed in a circular container having substantially the same diameter from the top opening to the bottom, and an outward flange surface 20 is formed around the top opening.

An overflow screen cylinder portion 22 is detachably attached to the upper surface opening edge portion 21 of the washing water tank 2.
The overflow screen cylinder portion 22 has an outer diameter that fits and fits with the upper end opening of the cleaning water tank 2 and is formed in a cylindrical shape that is higher than the upper end of the cleaning water tank 2 in the attached state.
The screen opening of the embodiment is formed in a comb-like screen in which a large number of thin bars are inclined at a predetermined interval.
Note that the screen opening is not limited to a comb-shaped screen, and may be formed in a through-hole screen or a mesh screen in which a large number of punching holes are formed.
In this case, the interval between the comb teeth, the diameter of the punching holes, the size of the mesh, and the like are appropriately determined according to the type of food to be cleaned.
The screen openings may be formed continuously over the entire circumference of the overflow screen cylinder 22 or may be formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at a plurality of locations (for example, 3 locations).

  An upper inflow hole 23 for collecting overflow water is formed in the flange surface 20 of the washing water tank 2, and the upper inflow hole 23 is connected to the upper end of the recovery pipe 25 by an upper inflow pipe 24. A discharge port 26 formed in the middle extends inside the filtered water tank 7 and opens.

A bottom chamber 29 defined by a bottom screen member 28 detachably mounted on a bottom receiving member 27 is formed at the bottom of the washing water tank 2, and the bottom chamber 29 is separated from the lower mud by a porous bottom plate 30. It is partitioned into a housing part 31 and an upper strainer housing part 32.
The screen opening of the bottom screen member 28 can be formed in a through-hole screen, a mesh screen or the like in which a number of punching holes are formed.
Further, the porous bottom plate 30 allows sand, pebbles and the like having a large specific gravity to pass therethrough and accumulates in the mud containing portion 31, and prevents the sand, pebbles and the like accumulated in the mud containing portion 31 from being rolled up by the water flow. To form a porous shape.

A lower inflow hole 33 is formed across the mud storage portion 31 and the strainer storage portion 32, and the lower inflow hole 33 is connected to the lower end of the recovery tube 25 by a lower inflow tube 34.
In the figure, reference numeral 35 denotes a drain drain valve for a washing water tank.

  The filtration water tank 7 is supplied with washing water containing dust overflowing from the overflow screen cylinder 22 and washing water containing dust introduced from the bottom chamber 29 from the outlet 26 of the recovery pipe 25 for filtration. And is formed in a rectangular container.

Inside the filtered water tank 7, a submersible pump is installed as a circulation pump 8, and the washing water in the filtered water tank 7 is pumped to the aerated water injection device 5 by the circulation pump 8. As this submersible pump, a low pressure pump can be used.
The filtered water tank 7 is always supplied with water during the cleaning operation, and the dirty cleaning water is discharged from the overflow hole 72 to the outside of the apparatus.
In the figure, reference numeral 70 denotes a drain drain valve for a filtered water tank.

A filtration mesh bag 71 is detachably attached to the discharge port 26 of the recovery pipe 25.
The mesh bag 71 for filtration is formed of a mesh made of cotton, hemp, or synthetic resin material, and is detachably attached by covering and tying the mouth portion over the discharge port 26.

  The aerated water injection device 5 includes a circulation pump 8 for pumping the wash water of the filtered water tank 7, a pressure water pipe 51 piped between the circulation pump 8 and the strainer accommodating portion 32 of the wash water tank 2, The spray strainer 6 attached to the tip of the pressure water pipe 51 and the aeration bubble generating device 4 provided in the middle of the pressure water pipe 51 are configured.

The distal end of the pressure water pipe 51 is piped so as to be located in the center of the cleaning water tank 2 and open upward in plan view.
The spray strainer 6 attached to the tip of the pressure water pipe 51 is formed in a tapered cylindrical shape having a slightly smaller diameter toward the upper end, the upper end surface is closed, and a number of vertically elongated holes 60 are formed on the outer peripheral surface. Air bubbles and water flow are uniformly dispersed over the entire washing water tank 2 by ejecting the aerated water through the numerous elongated holes 60.
In addition, when the aerated water is directly jetted from the tip of the pressure water pipe 51 without attaching the jet strainer 6, since the water flow is concentrated and the momentum becomes strong, there is a risk of damaging the object to be cleaned. Was unsuitable.

  The aeration foam generating device 4 connects the upstream disk 42 and the downstream disk 43 so as to face each other through several collars 41 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. , 43 is opened to the outer periphery to hold the air intake port 44, the water injection nozzle 45 is attached to the upstream disk 42, and the throttle tube 46 formed by a reducer is attached to the downstream disk 43. It has become. In this case, the water level W in the washing water tank 2 is installed so as to coincide with the throttle part (small diameter part) of the throttle pipe 46.

Then, the cleaning water pumped by the circulation pump 8 is jetted from the water jet nozzle 45 into the throttle pipe 46, so that the air is taken in from the air intake port 44 by the attracting action of the washing water. It is formed so that bubbles are included in water.
The momentum from the water jet nozzle 45 and the degree of restriction of the throttle pipe 46 are set as appropriate. In particular, if the throttle pipe 46 is excessively throttled, the washing water flows backward and overflows from the air intake port 44. However, when the aperture is small and close to straight, the bubbles become large, which is not suitable for cleaning aeration.

  The food washing apparatus of the present invention can be washed using a washing basket 9 that is detachably mounted in the washing water tank 2.

The washing basket 9 is formed in a circular basket having an outer diameter so as to be accommodated in the washing water tank 2, a handle 91 is attached to the upper edge 90, a bottom screen 92 is provided on the bottom, and the bottom receiving member The upper edge 90 is formed so as to coincide with the upper surface opening edge 21 which is the overflow edge of the washing water tank 2 in a mounted state placed on the upper surface 27.
The body wall of the cleaning basket 9 may be formed in a plate shape, or a punching plate or a mesh plate.
Further, the screen opening of the bottom screen 92 can be formed in a through-hole screen, a mesh screen or the like in which a large number of punching holes are formed.

Therefore, in the food washing apparatus of this embodiment, when washing is performed using the washing basket 9, the food is accommodated in the washing basket 9 and submerged in the washing water tank 2 and placed on the bottom receiving member 27.
Then, the circulating pump 8 is operated, the bubbles are aerated by the aeration bubble generator 4 provided in the middle while the washing water in the filtered water tank 7 is pumped by the pressure water pipe 51, and the aerated water is washed into the washing water tank 2. Since the spray strainer 6 is attached to the tip of the pressure water pipe 51 at this time, the bubbles and the water flow can be sprayed so as to be uniformly distributed over the entire washing water tank 2.

In addition, the dust that floats on the surface of the cleaning water along with the cleaning, and the dust that floats in the water flow into the filtered water tank 7 together with the cleaning water. Inflow and dust etc. are removed.
Then, the filtered washing water in the filtered water tank 7 is pumped to the pressure water pipe 51 by the circulation pump 8 and injected into the washing water tank 2 through the aerated water injection device 5, and the food is washed by repeating this. I can go.

In this case, when the operation switch of the circulation pump 8 is turned on during the cleaning operation, a timer (not shown) that sets the cleaning time is activated at the same time. When the time set by this timer is reached, the operation switch of the circulation pump 8 is turned off, It is controlled so that the cleaning is completed.
In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes a control box.

  When the cleaning is completed in this way, the cleaning basket 9 is lifted from the cleaning water tank 2, and the internal cleaned food is taken out in a predetermined manner to complete one cleaning cycle.

  In the present invention, the cleaning basket 9 may not be provided. In this case, the bottom screen member 28 is attached to the bottom of the cleaning water tank 2, and the food to be cleaned is directly put into the cleaning water tank 2 and taken out. The rest can be cleaned by the same operation as the operation using the cleaning basket 9.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Machine frame 15 Control box 2 Washing water tank 20 Flange surface 21 Upper surface opening edge 22 Overflow screen cylinder part 23 Upper inflow hole 24 Upper inflow pipe 25 Recovery pipe 26 Outlet 27 Bottom receiving member 28 Bottom screen member 29 Bottom chamber 30 Porous Bottom plate 31 Mud accommodating portion 32 Strainer accommodating portion 33 Lower inflow hole 34 Lower inflow tube 35 Drain drain valve 4 Aeration foam generating device 41 Collar 42 Upstream disk 43 Downstream disk 44 Air intake port 45 Water injection nozzle 46 Restriction Pipe 5 Aerated water injection device 51 Pressure water pipe 6 Injection strainer 60 Vertically long hole 7 Filtration water tank 70 Drain drain valve 71 Filtration mesh bag 72 Overflow hole 8 Circulation pump 9 Washing basket 90 Top edge 91 Handle 92 Bottom screen W Water level

Claims (3)

A washing water tank (2) for containing washing water therein;
An overflow screen cylinder (22) attached to the upper end of the washing water tank (2);
A bottom screen member (28) removably attached to the bottom of the washing water tank (2) while holding the bottom chamber (29);
A filtered water tank (7) for allowing cleaning water containing dust overflowed from the overflow screen tube portion (22) and cleaning water containing dust introduced from the bottom chamber (29) to flow and filter;
A jet strainer at the tip of a pressure water pipe (51) piped between a circulation pump (8) for pumping filtered wash water from the filtrate water tank (7) and a bottom chamber (29) of the wash water tank (2). (6) is attached, and is equipped with the aeration water injection apparatus (5) provided with the foam generation apparatus (4) for aeration in the middle of the pressure water pipe (51), The food washing | cleaning characterized by the above-mentioned apparatus. The food washing apparatus according to claim 1,
A washing basket (9) detachably mounted in the washing water tank (2);
This washing basket (9) is provided with a bottom screen (92) at its bottom,
A food washing apparatus configured to mount the washing basket (9) in the washing water tank (2) with the bottom screen member 28 of the washing water tank (2) removed. The food washing apparatus according to claim 1,
The aeration foam generating device (4) includes an upstream disk (42) attached with a water injection nozzle (45) and a downstream disk (43) attached with a throttle pipe (46) as an air intake port ( 44) is held and opposed to each other, and air is taken in from the air intake port (44) by the momentum of water jetted from the water jet nozzle (45) into the throttle pipe (46) to be aerated. Formed food cleaning equipment.

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