JP2004248602A - Vegetable washing method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for washing vegetables that can efficiently wash leafy vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage, and lettuce, and that do not damage the leafy vegetables.
A leaf vegetable (12) cut and conveyed to approximately 1/4 to (1/3) in a pre-process (14) is sandwiched by a conveyor (20), descends into a water tank (18), and is submerged to form a bottom portion of the water tank (18). When they are parallel, cleaning water containing air bubbles is sprayed onto the cut surface of the leafy vegetables 12 being conveyed from the spraying device 40 installed at the bottom of the water tank 18, and foreign matter adhered to the inside of the leafy vegetables 12. And so on. After the completion of the washing, the transport conveyor 20 rises and comes out of the water tank 18, and the washed leafy vegetables 12 are transported to the next step 16.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vegetable washing method and apparatus, and more particularly to a vegetable washing method and apparatus suitable for automatic washing of leafy vegetables in which a large number of leaves are stacked in multiple layers, such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage, and lettuce.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a washing apparatus for automatically washing foods such as vegetables, a method of putting vegetables in a basket and washing them off with running water is generally used. However, with this method, it is difficult to completely remove foreign substances such as dead leaves on the surface, attached insects, and mud and pebbles attached to the stem roots. Although the cleaning effect is improved by repeating the above-described cleaning method, the cleaning device is increased in size and requires a large amount of cleaning water, so that equipment space, equipment costs, and running costs increase. Further, the foreign matter once removed may not be separated from the food and may reattach without contaminating the food, thereby contaminating the food again. Since the reattached foreign matter needs to be visually removed again by an operator after the food is washed. In addition, there is a problem that the working efficiency in the cleaning is deteriorated and the cost is increased.
[0003]
As a countermeasure, Patent Document 1 discloses a food cleaning device in which a foreign matter catching device in which a blade member formed of a filter is attached to a shaft in a water wheel shape, and transfers the food in a water tank while stirring the food. Also, light foreign substances such as hair are separated by bubbles coming out of the chamber at the bottom of the water tank, and heavy foreign substances are precipitated and separated in the sedimentation tank for cleaning. It is disclosed to prevent. Further, in Patent Document 2, as a method for improving the cleaning effect of food, a food cleaning apparatus provided with an injection mechanism for injecting water straight into food is disclosed.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-196835 [0005]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-184870 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even though the food washing device of Patent Document 1 can wash foreign substances attached to the surface of vegetables, many leaves are multi-layered like leafy vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage, and lettuce. In the case of stacked vegetables, there is a disadvantage that foreign substances such as insects and soil existing in the gap between the leaves cannot be effectively washed. For this reason, after the cleaning is completed, the cleaning operation must be manually performed again, which significantly increases the time and cost. Further, during the manual cleaning operation, there is a possibility that the vegetables are damaged, which leads to a decrease in the commercial value of the vegetables.
[0007]
Also, in the food washing device in Patent Document 2, high pressure water injection is required to cause water to enter the gap between leaves in leafy vegetables, and when the pressure is increased, the surface of the leafy leaves of the leafy vegetables is increased. Damage such as crushing or leaf crushing is likely to occur.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to efficiently wash leafy vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage, and lettuce, and to damage the leafy vegetables. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for washing vegetables without the need.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Claim 1 of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a vegetable washing apparatus for automatically washing vegetables in a water tank, provided in the water tank, the vegetables are placed and transported, and a cross section orthogonal to the transport direction And a plurality of V-shaped transfer conveyors having a water-flowing structure formed substantially in a V-shape, and a plurality of washing water provided below the V-shaped transfer conveyors along the transfer direction and directed toward the V-shaped transfer conveyors. And a jetting means for jetting and washing the vegetables being transported underwater and / or transported over the water in the water tank.
[0010]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vegetable washing method for washing vegetables using the vegetable washing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. It is cut to a size of about 1/4 to 1/3, and is washed from the jetting means toward the cut surface while the cut leafy vegetable is placed on a V-shaped transfer conveyor and transported with the cut surface facing downward. It is characterized by injecting water.
[0011]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, by configuring the vegetable washing apparatus as described above, it is effective even for leafy vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage and lettuce as shown in the vegetable washing method of the fifth aspect. Can be washed.
[0012]
That is, first, the leafy vegetables are cut into a size of about 1/4 to 1/3 in the vertical direction to form leafy vegetables having a V-shaped cross section. Then, washing water is sprayed toward the cut surface by the spraying means while the cut leafy vegetables are placed on a V-shaped conveyor and transported with the cut surface of the leaf vegetables facing downward. At this time, since the cross section of the V-shaped conveyor is V-shaped, the leafy vegetables cut so as to have a V-shaped cross section are always in a state where the cut surface faces the ejection means. Since it can be transported, the cleaning effect can be enhanced. In this case, it is more preferable to provide an upper conveyor that presses the upper portion of the leafy vegetables placed on the V-shaped conveyor, above the V-shaped conveyor. This can prevent displacement of the leafy vegetables during transportation and washing, so that foreign substances such as insects and soil existing in gaps between the leaves of the leafy vegetables can be effectively washed. In this case, by cutting the leafy vegetables into a size in the range of approximately 1/4 to 1/3, the washing water flows in from one of the gaps between the leaves and flows out from the other side, thereby improving the washing effect. The leaf vegetables can be washed effectively even if the spray pressure of the washing water sprayed from the spraying means is set to a low pressure range of 0.3 to 0.5 MPa while being able to remarkably improve. . Therefore, the leafy vegetables are not damaged by the water jet cleaning.
[0013]
Further, in the vegetable washing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of injection means are arranged in a staggered manner with the center of the V-shape of the V-shaped transport conveyor interposed therebetween. Since the inflow side and the outflow side of the washing water for the leafy vegetables are alternately changed, the cleaning effect of the leafy vegetables can be further enhanced.
[0014]
Further, in the vegetable washing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to provide a bubble mixing means for causing bubbles to be contained in the washing water injected from the injection means. By including bubbles in the cleaning water, the water acts to widen the gap between the leaves, making it easier to penetrate deeply, and the cleaning effect can be further enhanced.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a method and an apparatus for washing vegetables according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a vegetable washing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front. The following describes an example of a leaf vegetable 12 in which a large number of leaves such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage, and lettuce are stacked as a vegetable to be washed by the vegetable washing apparatus 10.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, the vegetable cleaning device 10 mainly includes a water tank 18, a conveyor 20 for transporting the leafy vegetables 12, a plurality of spraying devices 40 for spraying cleaning water to the leafy vegetables 12, and spraying from the spraying device 40. And an air bubble mixing device 33 for mixing air bubbles into cleaning water to be cleaned.
[0018]
The transport conveyor 20 carries the leafy vegetables 12 and transports the same, and a V-shaped transport conveyor 22 (see FIG. 3) formed in a substantially V-shape with a cross-sectional angle orthogonal to the transport direction of less than 180 °. An upper part which is disposed above the V-shaped conveyor 22 and presses the upper part of the leafy vegetables 12 placed on the V-shaped conveyor 22 to prevent the leafy vegetables 12 from being displaced during transportation or washing. And a conveyor 24. The V-shaped transfer conveyor 22 and the upper transfer conveyor 24 are formed by endless belts circulating in a black arrow direction by a number of transfer rollers 28, and are formed in a ladder shape so that water can pass through.
[0019]
The plurality of injection devices 40 are connected to the washing water tank 30 via respective water supply hoses 32A and water supply pipes 32, and a water supply pump 36 is provided in the water supply pipes 32. Thus, when the water supply pump 36 is operated, the washing water stored in the washing water tank 30 is jetted from the jetting device 40 toward the V-shaped conveyor 22. The discharge pressure of the water supply pump 36 is set so that the injection pressure of the washing water from the injection device 40 becomes 0.3 to 0.5 MPa. Further, the washing water tank 30 is connected to the water tank 18 via a discharge pipe 34, and the discharge pipe 34 is provided with a return pump 37 and a washing water filter 38 for removing foreign substances and the like coming out of the water tank 18. As a result, the water in the water tank 18 is circulated and used as cleaning water injected from the injection device 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (top view of the vegetable washing device), the plurality of injection devices 40 are arranged in a staggered manner with the center of the V-shape of the V-shaped transport conveyor 22 interposed therebetween. As shown in the figure, the V-shaped conveyor 22 is arranged so that the ejection direction is orthogonal to the pair of conveyor surfaces 22A, 22A.
[0020]
The air bubble mixing device 33 is composed of an air pipe 33A connected in the middle of the water supply pipe 32 and a blower 33B connected to the air pipe 33A. By operating the blower 33B, air is introduced into the cleaning water flowing through the water supply pipe 32. Is supplied. Thereby, bubbles are contained in the cleaning water injected from the injection device 40.
[0021]
Next, the vegetable cleaning method of the present invention in the vegetable cleaning apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the leafy vegetables 12 cut to a size of about 1/4 to 1/3 in the pre-process 14 are placed on the V-shaped conveyor 22 with the cut surface down, and It is sandwiched between the character-shaped transport conveyor 22 and the upper transport conveyor 24 and transported in the water tank 18 in the white arrow direction. That is, the leafy vegetables 12 are horizontally conveyed when they are conveyed downward so as to be submerged in the water tank 18, and finally conveyed upward and carried out of the water tank 18. Then, the cleaning water is injected from the injection device 40 during the horizontal transfer. In addition, it is not limited to spraying the washing water at the time of horizontal conveyance, and the spraying device 40 is arranged so that the washing water can be sprayed during the so-called water conveyance in which the leafy vegetables 12 are conveyed downward or upward. You can also.
[0023]
In the water spray cleaning of the leafy vegetables 12 by the spraying device 40, as shown in a schematic diagram showing the flow of the washing water in FIG. Since the washing water is injected, a water channel 40A into which the washing water enters is formed between the leaves 12A of the leafy vegetables 12. Further, since the cleaning water contains bubbles, the bubbles act to widen the water channel 40A. Therefore, even if the injection pressure of the washing water is as low as 0.3 to 0.5 MPa, the washing water is made to enter the space between the leaves 12A and 12A of the leafy vegetables 12 and flows in the washing water. Can be drained from the opposite side. Thereby, foreign substances such as insects and soil existing between the leaves 12A of the leafy vegetables 12 can be effectively washed. In addition, since the washing water can be sprayed at a low pressure of 0.3 to 0.5 MPa, the leafy vegetables 12 are not damaged.
[0024]
Incidentally, FIG. 4B shows that the leafy vegetables 12 are cut in half and placed on a normal flat conveyor 21 with the cut surface facing downward, and the injection pressure is set to 0.3 to 0. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a flow of the washing water when the washing is performed with the washing water of 5 MPa. The washing water has entered only halfway inside the leafy vegetables 12. This is because when the leafy vegetables 12 are cut in half, the leaves 12A are greatly curved, so that the washing water hardly enters the insides of the leafy vegetables 12, and the washing water is not taken unless it takes time. It is considered that it does not flow out. As a result, foreign substances such as insects and soil adhering to the gap between the leaves 12A cannot be efficiently washed and removed. Therefore, in order to cut the leaf vegetables 12 in half and to make the washing water flow out from the side opposite to the inflow side, washing water with a large ejection pressure is necessary, and the leaf vegetables 12 are damaged. There is a fear.
[0025]
Further, the injection devices 40 are arranged in a staggered manner with the V-shaped center of the V-shaped conveyor 22 interposed therebetween, so that the inflow side and the outflow side of the washing water with respect to both cross-sections of the leafy vegetables 12. Since they are changed alternately, it is possible to more effectively clean and remove foreign substances and the like.
[0026]
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the cutting rate of Chinese cabbage, which is one of the leafy vegetables 12, and the cleaning effect. As a test method for examining the cleaning effect, a certain amount of foreign matter was adhered to Chinese cabbage and washed with cleaning water having a jet pressure of 0.3 to 0.5 MPa, and the case where the foreign matter was completely removed was taken as 100%. As a result, as can be seen from the graph of FIG. 5, when the cutting ratio of Chinese cabbage exceeds 1/3 and becomes large, the cleaning effect is drastically reduced. Therefore, in consideration of the cleaning operation efficiency, the range of 1/4 to 1/3, which is the range of the hatched portion in the graph of FIG. In addition, if the cutting ratio is smaller than 1/4, the Chinese cabbage is likely to be scattered, and the efficiency of carrying and cleaning operations may be deteriorated.
[0027]
FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the injection pressure of washing water and the crushing and crushing rates of Chinese cabbage. In order to spread the washing water to the inside of the Chinese cabbage, a method of changing the water supply pump 36 provided in the water supply pipe 32 to a high pressure and making the washing water to be injected a high pressure can be considered. There is a risk of damaging the Chinese cabbage. Then, the correlation between the water pressure of the washing water and the crushing rate of the cut surface and leaves of the Chinese cabbage cut into 1/3 was investigated. In FIG. 6, a dotted line indicates a limit line at which the leaf crushing and crushing rate, which are the limits of the commercial value, are 10%. As a result, as can be seen from the graph of FIG. 6, when the washing water pressure exceeds 0.6 MPa, the crushing and crushing rates of the leaves exceed the limit line, and the commercial value of the washed Chinese cabbage is significantly reduced. Although not particularly shown, if the washing water pressure is less than 0.6 MPa, even if the Chinese cabbage is cut into one-third, the washing water does not easily enter between the leaves and the washing efficiency is deteriorated, which is not preferable. Therefore, the jet pressure of the washing water is in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 MPa, which is a water pressure condition at which washing can be performed efficiently without damaging the Chinese cabbage.
[0028]
FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of bubbles contained in the cleaning water and the cleaning effect, and a remarkable cleaning effect was observed when the amount of bubbles contained was 0.5 wt% or more. Therefore, by including bubbles of 0.5 wt% or more in the washing water, the gap between the leaves of the Chinese cabbage is widened so that the inflow side and the outflow side of the washing water channel are more easily formed, and the washing effect is further improved. It is a condition to raise.
[0029]
As described above, the present invention can be summarized as a cleaning method which can remove foreign substances such as insects and soil adhered to the inside of the leafy vegetables 12 without impairing the commercial value. The water pressure of the water is set to 0.3 to 0.5 MPa, which is the existing pumping capacity, and bubbles are included in the washing water, and the cut size of the leaf vegetable 12 is less than 180 °. The most preferable method is about 1/4 to 1/3.
[0030]
In addition, the number, shape, arrangement, and the like of the apparatuses in the vegetable cleaning apparatus 10 of the present invention are not particularly limited. Any type can be used as long as it can effectively clean the inside of the leafy vegetables 12 without damage.
[0031]
Further, the V-shaped transfer conveyor 22 and the upper transfer conveyor 24 are not limited to the ladder structure, but may be any water-passing structure having an opening so that the washing water jetted from the jetting means hits the leafy vegetables 12. It may have a structure or a net structure.
[0032]
Further, the injection device 40 is connected by a water supply pipe 32 and a water supply hose 32A, and is disposed in a staggered manner at the bottom of the water tank 18, but is not particularly limited. The water supply pipe 32 may be branched and provided so as to be parallel to the conveyor 20, and an injection device may be installed on the water supply pipe 32. Further, the injection device 40 may be installed so as to inject from one side without branching the water supply pipe 32.
[0033]
And it is also preferable to incline the injection direction of the injection device 40 in the transport direction of the leafy vegetables 12. For example, in the case of transporting with the core of the leaf vegetable 12 being the front side of the transport, the injection means is inclined in the transport direction, and the transport is performed with the core of the leaf vegetable 12 being the rear side of the transport. In this case, it is preferable that the ejection unit is inclined in the direction opposite to the transport direction.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the vegetable washing method and apparatus of the present invention, leaf vegetables cut into approximately 1/4 to 1/3 are processed by a V-shaped transfer conveyor formed into a substantially V-shape. By spraying the washing water containing bubbles of 0.3 to 0.5 MPa while transporting and washing, the inside of the leaf vegetables can be surely washed without damaging the leaf vegetables. Thereby, the cleaning operation can be made more efficient, and the operation time and operation cost can be significantly reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a vegetable washing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of the vegetable washing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the vegetable washing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of washing water in water jet washing of leafy vegetables. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the cutting ratio of Chinese cabbage and the washing effect. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the injection pressure of washing water and the crushing and crushing rates of Chinese cabbage. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of bubbles contained in the cleaning water and the cleaning effect.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... vegetable washing apparatus, 12 ... leafy vegetables, 12A ... leaf, 14 ... previous process, 16 ... next process, 18 ... water tank, 20 ... transport conveyor, 21 ... flat conveyor, 22 ... V-shaped transport conveyor, 22A ... Conveyer surface, 24 ... Top conveyor, 28 ... Conveyor roller, 30 ... Washing water tank, 32 ... Water supply pipe, 32A ... Water supply hose, 33 ... Bubble mixing device, 33A ... Air pipe, 33B ... Blower, 34 ... Discharge pipe , 36 ... water supply pump, 37 ... return pump, 38 ... wash water filter, 40 ... injection device, 40A ... water channel

Claims (6)

In a vegetable washing device that automatically cleans vegetables in a water tank,
A V-shaped transfer conveyor having a water-passing structure, provided in the water tank, for mounting and transporting the vegetables and having a cross section orthogonal to the transport direction formed in a substantially V shape;
A plurality of vegetables are provided below the V-shaped transfer conveyor along the transfer direction, and the cleaning water is sprayed toward the V-shaped transfer conveyor, whereby the vegetables are being transferred underwater and / or transferred over water in the water tank. Jetting means for water jet cleaning
A vegetable washing device comprising: An upper transfer conveyor is provided above the V-shaped transfer conveyor, which presses an upper portion of the vegetables placed on the V-shaped transfer conveyor to prevent a displacement of the vegetables during transfer or washing. The vegetable washing device according to claim 1, wherein The vegetable washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of injection units are arranged in a staggered manner with a V-shaped center of the V-shaped transport conveyor interposed therebetween. The vegetable washing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an air bubble mixing unit that includes air bubbles in the washing water injected from the injection unit. A vegetable washing method for washing vegetables using the vegetable washing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Cut the leafy vegetables in the vertical direction to a size of about 1/4 to 1/3,
A method for washing vegetables, wherein washing water is sprayed from an injection means toward the cut surface while the cut leafy vegetables are placed on a V-shaped conveyor and conveyed with the cut side of the cut vegetables facing downward. 6. The vegetable cleaning method according to claim 5, wherein the injection pressure of the washing water injected from the injection unit is set in a range of 0.3 to 0.5 MPa.

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