JP2749482B2 - Slurry seed metering device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to relates to automatic metering device of a slurry seed carried out in Ito treatment with for example sugar factory.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The saccharification treatment performed in sugar production is performed as a batch operation for precipitating sugar crystals from molasses or molasses. Molasses (hereinafter referred to as "mother liquor") is heated under vacuum to concentrate while maintaining the supersaturation of the mother liquor in a metastable range. When the mother liquor reaches a predetermined concentration, seed the seed sugar into a crystal can. This is a series of operations in which a crystallization is performed (referred to as “woke up”) to grow crystals (crystal growth), and finally, sugar is removed from the crystal can under white space. Maintaining the supersaturation degree of the mother liquor in the metastable region during crystallization and crystallization is because natural crystals other than seed crystals are generated in the unstable region where the concentration rate is higher than the crystal growth rate, and stable growth of the original seed crystals is achieved. Because it inhibits

[0003] Such a sucrose treatment is one of the most basic and important ones that affect the quality of a product among various operations performed in a sugar factory. For this reason, in order to obtain a higher quality product more efficiently, various problems have been pointed out and improved in order to improve the operation thereof.

[0004] Here, the relationship between the introduction of seed sugar and the crystallization of crystals in the saccharification process will be briefly described by way of example. Sucrose molecules are generally surrounded by water molecules in the form of hydrates in an aqueous solution. Exist. As the sugar solution is concentrated, free water molecules that are not hydrated in the solution are reduced, and the sugar concentration is 80 °. [Bx] or more, the viscosity sharply increases. This is because the water molecules existing in the aqueous solution disappear.

[0005] As a result of concentration, some sucrose molecules cannot be completely hydrated, and a bare spot is formed on the sucrose molecule, at which point bonding proceeds. Such aggregates of sucrose molecules are kept in equilibrium as a colloidal suspension in the sucrose solution. However, in the case of a supersaturated solution, the equilibrium is broken and an aggregate called "Protokeim" is formed, and a true crystal (critical nucleus) is formed. Occurs.

[0006] The supersaturated solution contains a mixture of sucrose monomolecules and those having reached the critical nucleus, and those having reached the critical nucleus have the solubility (supersaturation degree) of this supersaturated solution.
It grows more and becomes visible without dissolving anymore.

[0007] In the saccharification process, the "wake-up" due to the introduction of seed sugar is performed immediately before the above-mentioned critical nucleus is generated, and the mother liquor immediately before crystallization by the introduction of seed sugar instantaneously undergoes the crystallization process. Transition.

[0008] As described above, in the decoction treatment, the seeding operation of seed sugar into a crystal can for "eye-raising" has a very important meaning. Theoretically, as a seeding method for establishing the seeding, it is considered that the ideal is a full seeding in which the same number of particles as the total number of under-white crystals at the end of decoction are seeded in a crystal can. ing. Because of this
It has been conventionally desired to realize seeding.

By the way, an operation (operation) expressed by the concept of seed sugar seeding having the above-mentioned important meaning
In itself, seed sugar (powder sugar) with a uniform particle size is accurately measured,
Although it is relatively simple to seed the crystal can at the most appropriate timing, industrially implementing the seeding operation equivalent to full seeding has the following problems. For this reason, it has been considered extremely difficult in the past, and in general, a suboptimal operation called shock seeding has been generally required.

In recent years, in various industrial fields, computerization and measurement technology have been used to realize the mechanization and automatic operation of equipment. For the above reasons, automation and mechanization that can achieve full seeding are considered to be almost impossible with the conventional technology, and industrially, they must rely on manual work based on the experience of skilled workers. Was the current situation.

There are several reasons why the above-mentioned improvement is difficult. One of the reasons is that the seed sugar to be seeded is easily affected by the surrounding humidity, and the influence of the seed sugar disturbs the "eye-opening". It has the property of being easy. In order to have such properties, it is desirable to prepare and measure the seed sugar as close as possible to the seeding time in the seeding operation. Since the seed sugar obtained as sugar is not suitable for long-term storage, it is not appropriate to prepare it in advance, and for example, it is usual to produce a necessary amount for one day on that day. Also, since the timing of seeding the seed sugar cannot be detected with sufficient time, the small amount of seed sugar required for seeding must be quickly weighed in a state that is not easily affected by the surrounding humidity. Is not always easy.

[0012] Another reason is that a large amount of air enters into the crystal can at the time of seeding the seed sugar into the crystal can, which is a great obstacle to realizing full seeding. Has become.

[0013] Due to such problems, the mechanization of equipment using recently developed computer technology and measurement technology, etc.
Even for sugar processing equipment that is trying to operate automatically, it is possible to satisfy the requirements of the industrial level, and to obtain stable and accurate slurry seeds with high quality and high yield by obtaining and feeding slurry seeds. The fully automated equipment that has been made possible has not been realized, and as described above, seeding of seed sugar is still generally performed by a system based on shock seeding, relying on the experience of a skilled worker. This is because, in the computerized autonomous driving system adopted in the prior art, since the inadequacy of the system is recognized, the correction program for the generation of pseudocrystals, which is inevitable in the shock seeding method, is an important operation. It is symbolic in the case of being incorporated as one of the manuals.

[0014]

In view of the above-mentioned state of the art in decoction processing, the present inventors have made it possible to automate and automate the seeding of seed sugar in decoction processing. We worked diligently to achieve the desired full seeding.

In the course of the research, in order to mechanize and automate the operation of seeding the seed sugar, first, it is important to handle the seed sugar in a state where it is hardly affected by the surrounding moisture. For this purpose, the present inventors have focused on the necessity of making the seed sugar into a slurry with a non-aqueous liquid, and further weighing the slurry in a state where the seed sugar (“slurry seed”) is well dispersed.

[0016] When seeding seeds into a crystal can that has been decocted under reduced pressure, a large amount of air is sucked in together, causing shock seeding and generating pseudo crystals. Therefore, a method and an apparatus capable of seeding only the seed sugar substantially without air and giving the seed sugar in a dispersed state with respect to the whole mother liquor are important. Given this, the present invention was developed to provide this.

Furthermore, the seed sugar to be handled is easily dissolved in water, and the seed sugar itself is very fine particles of about several tens of microns, and is not easily removed when attached to the inner wall of a pipe, Because it has the property of easily causing clogging of piping,
In order to provide a fully automatic seeding operation device, a device having a configuration that is not affected by the properties of seed sugar that is not easy to handle is required. The device of the present invention was developed.

[0018]

The present inventor has completed the present invention described in each of the above-mentioned claims from the above viewpoints.

One of the features of the present invention is to disperse a slurry seed in which a suitable non-aqueous liquid and seed sugar are mixed at a predetermined ratio.
Slurry tank to be stored in a state and this slurry tank
From the bottom of the inverted conical shape of the
A certain amount of slurry seed required for one sugar treatment through
Of a substantially sealed type connected by piping so that
A measuring container and a predetermined amount of slurry are supplied to the measuring container.
Measuring means for detecting the amount of slurry so that
Normally closed opening and closing of the weighed slurry seed held in the vessel
Seed into a crystal can for sugar processing via a seed valve
Seed tube connected for weighing
Hot water distribution that introduces hot water for cleaning through a normally closed on-off valve
Water means, said slurry valve, seed valve and hot water distribution means
Opening / closing control that controls opening and closing of the open / close valve at appropriate times and times
Means for each of the sucrose treatments.
Then, supply a predetermined amount of slurry seed to the measuring container and weigh it.
To remove the seeds from the weighing container.
Hot water for washing is passed through the crystal can through the tube and the container and piping
And a cleaning operation for cleaning the inside.
-Automatic seed metering device .

[0020] In the above, as a method for reducing the substantially negligible compared to set the seeding rate of the slurry seed and the suction of air in the conventional method, the actual
It is important to use a weighing container that is qualitatively sealed from the atmosphere
It is. Then, the slurry seed by providing in the case where the drawn slurry seeded with negative pressure from the metering container holding the slurry seed in the crystallizer, the said measuring container such as atmospheric open passage which is interposed a hole or restrictor having a predetermined diameter And a method in which air is supplied at a very small flow rate to permit the suction of the slurry, and the suction passage (pipe from the measuring vessel to the crystal can) is immediately shut off when the suction of the slurry seed is completed.

The position where the slurry seed is seeded in the crystal can is not particularly limited except that it can be quickly and uniformly dispersed in the mother liquor in a state immediately before crystallization in the crystal can. For example, it may be near the bottom of the crystal can or between calandria, which is a heating device in the crystal can, and the mother liquor level. In particular, in the apparatus for automatically feeding slurry seeds of the present invention , in order to minimize the risk of clogging of the seed sugar feeding pipe system, the liquid flows back into the pipe when the pressure inside the crystal can reaches atmospheric pressure during sugar fall. In order to minimize the effect of clogging, the position not too low from the liquid surface, typically the position of the crystal can wall surface between Calandria and the liquid surface, or horizontally from the wall surface to the inside of the crystal can It is preferable to feed from the extended position of the leading end of the introduction pipe, and further from the leading end into the downflow passage at the center of the calandria. It is particularly preferable to determine the charging position and the charging direction in consideration of the reflux state of the mother liquor in the crystal can.For example, when the slurry seed is charged from a position extending into the downflow passage at the center of the calandria, , The charging direction is preferably downward.

The number of seed sugars for substantial full seeding to be realized in the present invention is measured by ensuring that the seed sugars are substantially uniformly dispersed in the slurry.
The method can be carried out by either the gravimetric method or the volumetric method. In particular, a volumetric method for quantifying the volume of the slurry supplied to the cylindrical measuring container is preferable in view of the simplicity of the apparatus.

In the above description, the non-aqueous liquid is not limited as long as it does not contain water in which the seed sugar is easily dissolved. A solvent having a low boiling point that evaporates and disappears is preferred, and a typical example is an ethanol-based alcohol.

[0024] In this onset light devices, it is preferable to provide a means for adjusting the seeding rate at the time of seeding a slurry seed metering vessel crystallizer.

In order to automate the process of holding a predetermined amount of slurry seed in the measuring container in such an apparatus, a slurry tank for storing a slurry seed in which a suitable non-aqueous liquid (for example, the above-mentioned ethanol) and seed sugar are mixed is used.
The bottom of the tank has an inverted conical shape, and air is guided to the bottom inside this tank.
Air stirring means is provided for stirring the slurry seeds to give a uniform dispersion state . Thus a slurry seed can a uniform dispersion state in the slurry tank, to supply in a timely manner weighing container through the seed tube interposed slurry valve
Can be

A plurality of slurry tanks and slurry valves may be provided for seeding different seed sugars.

In this apparatus, the slurry tank comprises:
The bottom as a reverse conical, a structure of connecting the slurry valve is preferably used below the bottom, air agitation hand blowing air so as to be locally agitated tank bottom of this
Steps can be used. This air stirring means can selectively and strongly impart a stirring action to the tank bottom as compared with a mechanical rotary stirring blade means, and furthermore, there is no problem that the angle of repose rises due to the rotating water flow. There is an advantage that the capacity can be reduced. This air stirring means may be used separately to stir the whole liquid in the slurry tank, or for stirring the whole liquid, mechanical stirring means, for example, a rotary stirring type stirring device, magnetic stirring using a stirrer. An apparatus or the like may be used. These stirring means can be appropriately selected and used so as to satisfy that the slurry seed when supplied from the slurry tank to the measuring container is in a uniformly dispersed state.

[0028] In the above, the metering container, and an elongated vertical cylindrical vessel, and shall supply piping seed slurry configuration which is open to extend to and downwardly from the top of the vessel to the bottom near the preferred Used. In this case, the scattering of the slurry seed supplied from the slurry tank in the measuring container is suppressed as much as possible, and the possibility of a measurement error is reduced. It is preferable that the opening of the supply pipe be provided straight or wide so that the liquid pool does not occur at the end of the supply. When the amount to be measured is constant, a method of filling the measuring container with slurry seeds may be employed.

The measuring container is made of a transparent material such as plastic in order to secure the supply of a predetermined amount of the slurry seed, and the liquid level is measured in a non-contact manner by a capacitance type, an optical type or the like. As a preferable example, it is preferable to employ a capacity measuring method provided to detect the above. By detecting the liquid level with the level sensor and immediately closing the slurry valve via the control means, the amount of slurry seed in the measuring container can be accurately measured by volume, and the non-contact prevents contamination of impurities. I can do it.

[0030] The apparatus of the present invention, Sea Di at the time of seed crystal can a metered slurry seed to open the seed valve
It is preferable to provide a means for adjusting the speed .

The means for adjusting the seeding speed when seeding the slurry seed in the measuring vessel into the crystal can is performed in such a manner that the seeding of the slurry seed is sucked by the negative pressure in the crystal can. Therefore, it can be configured by providing a flow path for replenishing air at a very small flow rate to the measuring container by interposing an air vent adjusting valve exemplified in the following embodiments. This flow path may also be used as an air release flow path in the measuring container when supplying the slurry seed from the slurry tank, or may be separate. Further, in order to adjust the seeding speed of the slurry seed, a throttle valve capable of adjusting the degree of throttling may be provided in the flow path, or a plurality of flow paths having different degrees of throttling may be provided in a switchable manner.

[0032] In the apparatus of the present invention, in order to prevent the slurry seed adheres to and accumulates in the vessel or piping, hot water timely supplies cleaning hot water path leading to the crystallizer through the seed tube from the weighing container water distribution means are provided.
Use of hot water distribution means for passing hot water for washing
On the wall of the measuring container and the piping from this to the crystal can.
Dissolve and wash away the slurry seeds
Pipes with deposits (slurry seeds) that easily solidify
The problem of clogging can be solved and the accuracy of weighing
The drop can be prevented.

The control information for determining the operation time of each valve or the like by the control means of the apparatus of the present invention includes, for example, the apparent viscosity of the liquid in the crystal can, the impeller in the crystal can by a DC motor. It can be obtained by rotating at a constant speed and detecting a change in load acting on the blades with a current, and a predetermined control procedure can be controlled by a computer set in advance based on the control information.

[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus configured to perform the saccharification treatment of the present embodiment. FIGS. 2 to 7 show work steps for metering and feeding of slurry seeds performed using this apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the open / closed state of each valve and the flow of liquid in each step.

The device of this embodiment has the following configuration.

That is, reference numeral 1 in the drawing denotes a vacuum crystal can (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "crystal can"), for example, having a content of 20 to 60.
consists m ³ approximately metal can body, the the bottom in the can is built heater 2, other, the mother liquor introduction tube for introducing the mother liquor, infusible Ki落糖opening of the can bottom to落糖after tightening ( Neither of them is shown in the drawings).

Reference numeral 4 denotes a slurry seed pipe 4 connected to the side wall 3 of the crystal can 1, which branches off in the middle. One branch pipe 41 is connected via a seed valve 5 to a measuring pot 6 as a measuring container. The other branch pipe 42 is connected to a hot water source via a washing valve 7 from a hot water pump (not shown). Further, a branch pipe 43 in which the slurry seed pipe 4 is linearly extended may be provided. When the slurry seed pipe 4 is clogged, a rod-shaped jig for eliminating clogging is inserted when the slurry seed pipe 4 is clogged. It can be used as a pipe to fit.

In the present embodiment, the seed valve 5 and the washing valve 7 are constituted by normally-closed solenoid valves which are opened and closed by a control device (not shown) composed of a computer.

The measuring pot 6 has an inner diameter of 80 in this example.
It is composed of an elongated transparent cylindrical container made of glass or plastic having a height of about 150 mm and a height of about 150 mm, and a capacitance type level sensor 9 is installed so that the liquid level can be detected from the outside at a predetermined height. I have. A plurality of level sensors may be provided for each product type as needed. In addition, this measuring pot 6
The supply pipe 1 of the slurry seed from the slurry valve 13
0 is suspended from the ceiling to the vicinity of the bottom and is opened downward. The slurry seed supplied by such a configuration is gently supplied to the pot without scattering in the pot. Reference numeral 11 denotes an air vent pipe for introducing air into the measuring pot 6 via an air vent valve 12.
This is to prevent the negative pressure from being generated in the pot at the time of feeding the slurry seed into the crystal seed 1 to be described later in the step of feeding the slurry seed into the crystal can 1. The slurry seed introduction speed can be adjusted by adjusting the degree of opening of the air vent valve 12.

The slurry valve 13 is provided at the bottom of the inverted conical shape of the slurry tank 14. The valve is opened in a timely manner in accordance with a command from the control device to supply the slurry seed in the slurry tank through the supply pipe 10 through the measuring pot. 6

The slurry tank 14 is filled with a slurry A in which, for example, ethanol and seed sugar are mixed at a predetermined mixing ratio, and is gently stirred by a rotary blade type stirrer 15 to minimize the precipitation of seed sugar. While keeping it down,
When the slurry valve 13 is opened, air is blown into the seed sugar settled at the bottom of the tank from the air blowing pipe 16 before the slurry valve 13 is opened so that the slurry seeds in the tank can be dispersed and mixed. Reference numeral 17 denotes an air valve for controlling the air blowing. It is preferable to use dry air from which moisture is removed as much as possible.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a hot water distribution pipe branched and connected to the supply pipe 10 between the slurry valve 13 and the measuring pot 6, and is provided via a flow control valve 19 and a hot water valve 20 which is a normally closed type on-off valve. It is provided so that hot water for washing of a pot or the like can be distributed to the pot 6 of an appropriate clock amount. 21 is a main valve for shutting off the distribution of hot water.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a preliminary manual slurry seeding mechanism, together with a shut-off valve 23 in the seed tube 4.
This is used when a failure or the like of the automatic weighing device occurs. Since this preliminary mechanism is not directly related to the present invention, it is not shown in the description of FIG.

Next, the operation of the automatic slurry seed metering and charging apparatus having the above-described configuration will be sequentially described in the order of steps.

: (Rest step: see FIG. 2) A slurry seed in which the mixing ratio of ethanol and seed sugar is adjusted in advance in accordance with the variety to be manufactured is put into a slurry tank 14 and continuously stirred by a stirrer 15.

Further, the hot water valve 20 is opened to supply hot water to the position of the level sensor 9 of the measuring pot 6, and the seed valve 5 is opened at regular time intervals to draw hot water into the crystal can 1. Perform washing.

: (Measurement pot cleaning step: see FIG. 3) In response to a command from a control device (not shown), the seed valve 5 is opened, and warm water and air in the measurement pot 6 are sucked into the crystal can 1, and the measurement pot 6 and the seed The inside of the tube 4 is washed and dried. At this time, since the inside of the crystal can 1 is evacuated, the washing water is sucked into the crystal can. This drying is an important step for removing the influence of the water content of the slurry seed. If water remains, the slurry seed will be dissolved when the slurry seed is supplied to the measuring pot 6 or the like. Done.

At this time, in the can 1, a series of operations of evacuation, introduction of the mother liquor and heating are performed.

: (Slurry seed measurement step: see FIG. 4) At a predetermined timing under the optimum conditions just before crystallization,
In response to an operation command from the control device, the air valve 17 is opened and air is blown to the bottom (outlet) of the slurry tank 14 to stir, and the precipitated seed sugar is blown up to remove a clog.

After the air is stirred, the slurry valve 13 is opened, the slurry seed A in the slurry tank 14 is supplied to the set position of the type-specific level sensor 9, and the slurry valve 13 is closed. As a result, the volume of the slurry seed is accurately measured.

In the can 1, concentration of the mother liquor by heating is progressing.

: (Slurry seed feeding step: see FIG. 5) The seed valve 5 is opened by an operation command from a control device that detects the seed timing based on detection information from a viscosity detection device (not shown), and the measuring pot 6 is used in the preceding process. The weighed slurry seed is sucked into the crystal can 1. Since the inside of the crystal can 1 is under vacuum, the slurry seed is automatically sucked when the seed valve 5 is opened.

At this time, the feeding speed of the slurry seed is adjusted by adjusting the opening of the air vent valve 12. At this time, the amount of air sucked into the crystal can 1 together with the slurry seed is very small, and full seeding can be realized.

: (Water hot water measuring step: see FIG. 6) After a certain time has passed after the slurry seed is introduced, the hot water valve 20 is opened, hot water is poured to the position of the level sensor 9, and the measuring pot 6 is washed with hot water. After the hot water has been applied, the seed valve 5 is opened at the stage where the inside of the measuring pot 6 has been washed, and the hot water is sucked into the crystal can 1.

The washing of the seed tube 4 and the like by the infusion of the warm water and the suction of the warm water into the crystal can 1 is repeatedly performed at appropriate intervals until the sugar drops.

: (Line washing step: see FIG. 7) In accordance with an operation command from the control device, the washing valve is opened for a certain period of time, and the sugar clogged in the seed tube is dissolved and washed with pressure and hot water. The reason why the washing is performed with the pressurized hot water is that at this point, the crystal can is at atmospheric pressure after sugar-dropping.

After the washing is completed, the process returns to the rest step.

[0059]

According to the present invention, when the seed species sugars in brewing sugar treatment was well dispersed in a slurry tank
The slurry is supplied to the measuring container at each time of the saccharification process.
The weighing of cormorants slurry seed, mechanization, precision and automation
Ku It is the first time can be realized to do, moreover, the suction of a large amount of air was difficult to avoid when you follow coming seed, since it is possible to eliminate the problem that OkoshiAkira by by air shock this, the ideal full-seeding There is an extremely excellent effect that it is possible to realize seeding that is extremely close to the above. In addition, the measuring container and the piping from it to the crystal can
Dissolve the slurry seeds on the wall of the
Since it can flow, it is easy to solidify
Can solve the problem of pipe blockage due to
Prevents a decrease in weighing accuracy due to the accumulation of deposits in the vessel
Can be stopped.

In addition, since seeds of seed sugar can be mechanized and automated in the saccharification process, industrially extremely advantageous effects such as reduction of the number of workers and improvement of the working environment can be obtained.

[0061] In addition, it is possible to eliminate the influence of moisture for seed sugar
In addition, the weighing container is closed and virtually no air is blown.
Because it can be reduced as much as can be seen, the generation of pseudocrystals can be prevented
Te, there is an effect that high-quality products can be stably produced.

The bottom of the slurry tank is inverted conical.
When adopting a configuration that adopts a shape and stir by air stirring means
Is the state of dispersion of the slurry seeds in the slurry tank.
Assured security is ensured and the device configuration can be downsized.
The effect is obtained, and the slurry reaches the bottom of the measuring container.
Adopts a configuration in which the supply pipe from the tank is extended and opened
In this case, the supplied slurry seed may scatter.
The effect that weighing can be performed with high accuracy is obtained.
As a result, seeding can be always performed at a stable timing using an automated or mechanized device, which not only improves the quality, but also eliminates pseudocrystals caused by variations in the conventional seeding timing. Therefore, there is an effect that no extra steps are required and a huge energy loss is not caused.

In addition, the automation of slurry seeds
The operator, which was conventionally required for this work, is no longer needed, and the operator is also required to wait for the work. There is a great degree of freedom in the design of equipment, for which it has been difficult to select the installation location of a room or a standby room, and the effect is extremely large.

As a result, along with the rationalization of the work due to the first realization of the automation in the saccharification process,
In terms of capital investment and operation in a sugar mill, the profit obtained by the present invention is extremely large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an automatic slurry seed metering and feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an operation of a rest step of processing performed using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the operation of a measuring pot cleaning step of the processing performed using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of a slurry seed measuring step of the processing performed using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of a slurry seed introduction step of the processing performed using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation of a hot water measuring step of the processing performed using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the operation of a line cleaning step of processing performed using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Crystal can, 4 ... Seed tube, 5 ... Seed valve, 6 ... Measuring pot, 7 ... Washing valve, 9 ... Level sensor, 10 ... Supply pipe, 12 ... air vent valve, 13 ... slurry valve, 14 ... slurry tank, 15 ... stirrer, 16 ... air blowing pipe,
17 ... air valve, 20 ... hot water valve.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Susumu Morishita 1-13-3-203 Takasu, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba Prefecture (72) Inventor Haruhiko Matsumoto 6231-3, Goi, Ichihara-shi, Chiba Prefecture Diapal Palace No. 207 Inventor Ichihara Shinohara 2-199 Kofudai, Ichihara-shi, Chiba (56) Reference JP-A-58-175500 (JP, A) 1959 Published by ELSRVIER PUBLISHING COMPANY, edited by PIETER HONIG, "PRINCIPLES OF SUGARTHE HECHNOLOGY" 276-303 1984 SUGAR INDUSUT RY TECHNOLOGISTS, INC. MICROPROCESSOR CONTROL SUGAR CRIS TALLIZATION USING REFACTIVE INDEZ A ND TOTAL DENSITY M EASUREMENTS, by JOUKO VIRTAN N, pp. 1-15.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A slurry tank for storing a slurry seed in which a suitable non-aqueous liquid and seed sugar are mixed, in a dispersed state ,
Slurry from the slurry tank bottom of this is a normally closed type on-off valve
Substantially densely through the over valve a predetermined amount of the slurry seed required for one Ito process coupled with the pipe so as to be subjected fed
A closed measuring container and a predetermined amount of slurry in the measuring container.
A measuring means for detecting the amount of slurry to be supplied, and a normally- measured slurry seed held in the measuring container is normally closed.
A seed tube connected for seeding to a crystal can for sugar processing via a seed valve as a mold on-off valve;
Introduce warm water for cleaning into the container via a normally closed on-off valve
Hot water distribution means, the slurry valve , the seed valve and the hot water distribution means;
Suitable timing the opening and closing valve of the water means, valve opening for opening control for the time
And a closing control means, for each one of Ito process, Tokoro the metering vessel from the slurry tank
Supply and weigh a fixed amount of slurry seed and suck it into the crystal can.
Operation, and from the measuring container through the seed tube to the crystal can
For cleaning the inside of containers and pipes by passing warm water for cleaning through
And an automatic slurry seed metering device. 2. The method of claim 1, in order to adjust the seeding rate at the time of seeding a slurry seed metering vessel crystallizer open seed valve, the weighing container of air in the fine small flow supply An automatic slurry seed metering and dispensing device, characterized in that an air passage for causing the slurry seed is provided. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, provided with a bottom of the slurry tank inverted cone, the bottom of the said tank
Air for stirring the slurry seeds by introducing stirring air into the
An automatic slurry seed metering and dispensing device comprising a stirring means . 4. In any of claims 1 to 3,
The slurry tank, together with the air stirring means,
An automatic slurry seed metering / dispensing device , comprising mechanical stirring means for stirring the entire rally . 5. The one of claims 1 to 4,
Weighing container is an elongated vertical cylindrical vessel, piping for supplying the slurry seed from the slurry tank to the metering container,
An automatic slurry seed metering and charging device, wherein the metering container extends from the top to the vicinity of the bottom and opens downward.