JP3549875B2 - Vegetable washing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vegetable cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to a vegetable cleaning apparatus for cleaning root crops such as turnips and Shogoin radish whose roots are enlarged to a spherical shape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
After harvesting crops such as vegetables cultivated in a field, a washing operation for washing mud adhering to the crops is performed before shipping. When washing root crops such as turnips and radishes by machine, after dropping the harvested leaves, the remaining edible parts (root, root base, leaf base, etc.) are arranged in a row on a belt conveyor. , High pressure water is sprayed from above and below while being transported.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional cleaning apparatus, since high-pressure water is jetted from above and below, cleaning the side of the root that is not directly contacted with high-pressure water and washing out mud that has entered the root base and leaf base are insufficient. Was. For this reason, after washing with an apparatus, it was necessary to wash again manually. In addition, the degree of damage to the edible portion caused by washing with the device was large, and the work accuracy was low.
[0004]
In recent years, since turnips, radishes, and the like have a tendency to be preferred by consumers with leaves, it has been necessary to wash the leaves without dropping them at the request of the consumers. However, in the conventional washing apparatus, high-pressure water is directly sprayed on the leaves, causing the leaves to hurt, thereby reducing the commercial value. Furthermore, in order to remove dead or damaged leaves by hand, a step of removing the leaves before or after washing with an apparatus is required, resulting in a decrease in work efficiency.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vegetable washing apparatus that can easily and surely wash the whole vegetables while suppressing damage to the whole vegetables.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 supports the root so that the root of a vegetable consisting of a spherically enlarged root and a leaf is on the top, and the leaf is hung in a suspended state. A transport unit for continuously transporting vegetables while rotating them, a base cleaning brush attached to the transport unit and rubbing the root of the root and the leaf, and a root cleaning unit for spraying cleaning water on the root. It is characterized by having.
[0007]
According to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the vegetables are conveyed while rotating, the washing water is sprayed on the entire root, and the mud on the entire root is dropped. Further, the mud entering the root base, the leaf base and the leaves is washed out by the cleaning water and the base cleaning brush rubbing the root and the base of the leaves. Then, the washing water sprayed on the root portion runs down the leaves when flowing down, so that dirt on the leaves is also removed at the same time. Also, with the rotation of the vegetables themselves, dead leaves attached to the outside of the leaf base are removed. Furthermore, the leaves do not hurt because the washing water is not sprayed directly on the leaves.
[0008]
Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vegetable washing apparatus according to the first aspect, the transporting means includes a pair of opposed transport belts and a drive unit that drives these transport belts. It is characterized.
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the invention, the vegetables are transported while being supported from both sides by the pair of transport belts facing each other. Further, the transport belt is driven by the power of the drive unit.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vegetable washing apparatus according to the second aspect, the pair of transport belts have different transport speeds.
[0011]
According to the third aspect of the invention, since the transport speeds of the pair of transport belts are different from each other, the vegetables are rotated by the pair of transport belts and transported in this state.
[0012]
Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the vegetable washing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the root portion is rubbed on at least one side of a transport path on which the vegetables are transported. A root cleaning brush is attached.
[0013]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the root is reliably washed by the brush rubbing the root.
[0014]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vegetable washing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a root base cleaning unit that sprays cleaning water to a base of the root. It is characterized.
[0015]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the washing water is also sprayed on the root of the root, the mud that has entered the root, the leaf base and the leaf is more reliably washed out. Then, since the sprayed washing water flows down along the leaves when flowing down, dirt on the leaves is reliably removed. In addition, dead water attached to the outside of the leaf base is removed by the washing water.
[0016]
Furthermore, the invention according to claim 6 is the vegetable washing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a cutter for cutting off the tip of the root portion is provided on the side where vegetables are supplied to the transporting means. It is characterized by having.
[0017]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the cutter for cutting off the tip of the root portion is provided, the work of cutting off unnecessary portions by hand can be omitted.
[0018]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vegetable washing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein a cover for preventing scattering of washing water is provided above the transporting means. It is characterized by the following.
[0019]
In the invention according to claim 7, since the cover for preventing scattering of the washing water is provided on the upper part of the transport means, the worker and the work place are not stained by the splash of the muddy water.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, details of the vegetable washing device of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vegetable washing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the vegetable washing device 1 is roughly composed of a main body 2 and a conveying means 3 arranged in parallel in the width direction of the upper part of the main body 2 and continuously conveying the vegetables K to be washed while rotating them. I have. As shown in FIG. 2, the conveying means 3 includes a base cleaning brush 46 attached to the conveying means 3 and rubbing the root base K2 and leaf base K3 of the vegetable K, an injection nozzle 26 for spraying cleaning water to the root K1, 45 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the transport means 3 includes a pair of transport belts 17 and 36 facing each other, and drive units 19 and 38 for driving these transport belts 17 and 36.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 2 includes four support members 4, four legs 6 connected to lower ends of the support members 4, and casters 5 attached to the other ends, a water storage tank 7, and a pair of water tanks 7. And a car frame 8. The water storage tank 7 is provided for storing waste liquid after washing the vegetables K. The water storage tank 7 has a shape in which the opening 7 a is rectangular and the bottom 7 b is recessed in a valley shape, and is installed below the support member 4. The basket placing frames 8, 8 are working spaces for placing the basket 9 in which the vegetables K to be washed are placed, and are installed symmetrically in the width direction of the side 3a into which the vegetables are introduced into the transporting means 3. The cage placing frame 8 is formed in a comb shape by a plurality of strip-shaped comb tooth portions 8a extending horizontally in the width direction of the main body 2 and a support portion 8b supported by a lower end of the support member 4. I have. The support portion 8b is bent downward at a right angle to the tooth portion 8a.
[0023]
A pair of transport means supporting frames 10 and 11 having substantially the same shape are connected to the upper end of the support member 4. The transport means supporting frames 10 and 11 are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the main body 2, and are fixed so as to protrude by a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the main body 2. The transport means 3 has a pair of right transport means 12 and a left transport means 13 having substantially the same shape. The right transport means 12 is provided on the right transport means supporting frame 10, and the left transport means is provided on the left transport means supporting frame 11. 13 are supported respectively. Opposite portions of the right transport means 12 and the left transport means 13 form a transport path 14 for transporting the vegetables K to be washed while rotating them.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 2, the right conveying means 12 includes a rotatable right front pulley 15, a rotatable right rear pulley 16 disposed on the vegetable discharge side 3 b with respect to the right front pulley 15, and a right front pulley 15. And a right conveying belt 17 wound around the right rear pulley 16. The right front pulley 15 and the right rear pulley 16 have substantially the same shape, and are supported oppositely on the vegetable input side 3a and the vegetable unloading side 3b of the right transport means supporting frame 10, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, a drive unit 19 is disposed above the right rear pulley 16 via a rotation shaft 18.
[0025]
The drive unit 19 includes a drive motor 20, an intermediate shaft 21 that transmits a driving force of the drive motor 20, and a pair of holding members 22 that are arranged on both sides of the intermediate shaft 21 and hold the drive motor 20. The rotating shaft 18 is connected below the intermediate shaft 21. The rotating shaft 18 is fixed to the center of the right rear pulley 16 by a screw 23.
[0026]
On the upper side of the right transporting means supporting frame 10, a right upper cleaning pipe 24 for spraying cleaning water to the root K1 of the vegetables K is supported by a plurality of locking members 25, 25,. A plurality of injection nozzles 26, 26,... Opening toward the transport path 14 are provided on the side of the upper right cleaning pipe 24 facing the left transport means 13. The angles of these spray nozzles 26, 26,... Are set so that the washing water is sprayed on the root K1 of the vegetables K conveyed on the conveying path 14.
[0027]
A pair of root cleaning brushes 27, 27 rubbing the root K1 of the vegetable K is carried out below the upper right cleaning pipe 24 through the brackets 28, 28 to carry out the vegetables from the center of the right carrier support frame 10. It is installed in two places on the side 3b. The root cleaning brushes 27, 27 have rectangular plate portions 27a, 27a, and hair portions 27b, which are formed by bundling soft and thin bristles such as animal hair or plant fiber and implanting them in the plate portions 27a, 27a. 27b. The root cleaning brushes 27, 27 are installed at a predetermined angle with respect to the transport path 14 so as to rub the root K1 of the vegetables K transported along the transport path 14.
[0028]
Further, a pair of receiving rollers 29, 29 for regulating the position of the right conveying belt 17 are provided on the right conveying means supporting frame 10 via brackets 30, 30. The receiving rollers 29, 29 are installed so as to be in contact with the inner circumference 17 c of the right conveying belt 17. One of the receiving rollers 29, 29 is provided between the root cleaning brushes 27, 27 described above. The other receiving roller 29 is provided at a point symmetrical with the one receiving roller 29 with the center of the right conveying means supporting frame 10 as the center of symmetry.
[0029]
Next, on the lower side of the right transporting means supporting frame 10, a lower right washing pipe 31 for spraying washing water on the root base K2 of the vegetable K is supported by a plurality of locking tools 32, 32,. ing. On the side of the lower right cleaning pipe 31 facing the left conveying means 13, a number of injection nozzles 33, 33,... The angles of these spray nozzles 33, 33,... Are set so that the washing water is sprayed on the root K2 of the vegetables K transported on the transport path 14.
[0030]
On the other hand, the left transport means 13 includes a rotatable left front pulley 34, a rotatable left rear pulley 35 disposed on the unloading side with respect to the left front pulley 34, a left front pulley 34, and a left rear pulley 35. And a left conveyor belt 36 wound therearound. The left front pulley 34 and the left rear pulley 35 have substantially the same shape, and are supported oppositely on the vegetable input side 3a and the vegetable discharge side 3b of the left transfer means supporting frame 11, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, a drive section 38 is disposed above the left rear pulley 35 via a rotation shaft 37.
[0031]
The drive unit 38 has substantially the same structure as the drive unit 19 of the right-side transport unit 12. The drive unit 38 includes a drive motor 39, an intermediate shaft 40 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 39, and a pair of holding members 41 that are arranged on both sides of the intermediate shaft 40 and hold the drive motor 39. The rotating shaft 37 is connected below the intermediate shaft 40. The rotation shaft 37 is fixed to the center of the left rear pulley 35 by a screw 42.
[0032]
On the upper side of the frame 11 for supporting the left side transport means, the same structure as the right side transport means 12 is provided, and a left upper cleaning pipe 43 for spraying cleaning water on the root K1 of the vegetable K is provided with a plurality of locking members 44,44. ,... A plurality of spray nozzles 45, 45,... Opening toward the transport path 14 are provided on the side of the left upper cleaning pipe 43 facing the right transport means 12. The angles of these spray nozzles 45, 45,... Are set so that the washing water is sprayed on the vegetable K root K1 conveyed on the conveyance path 14.
[0033]
In addition, a pair of elongated flat base cleaning brushes 46, 46 rubbing the root base K2 and the leaf base K3 of the vegetables K are provided below the left conveying means supporting frame 11 via brackets 47, 47. It is supported by the left transport means support frame 11. The root-base cleaning brushes 46, 46 are composed of long plate portions 46a, 46a, and bristle portions 46b, 46b formed by bundling bristles of a soft material such as a string and implanting them in the plate portions 46a, 46a. . The root cleaning brushes 46, 46 are installed at a predetermined angle to the transport path 14 so as to rub the root K2 and the leaf base K3 of the vegetables K transported on the transport path 14. The root cleaning brushes 46, 46 are provided at positions facing the above-mentioned receiving rollers 29, 29.
[0034]
The right transport belt 17 and the left transport belt 36 described above have the same shape. The transport belts 17 and 36 are annular endless V-belts 17a and 36a formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and a belt that is adhered to the outer circumference of the V-belts 17a and 36a and transports the vegetables K. 17b and 36b. The belts 17b, 36b are formed of a material softer than the V-belts 17a, 36a in order to convey the vegetable K while rotating the root base K2 and the leaf base K3 and to reduce the influence on the vegetable K.
[0035]
Water supply hoses 49, 49, 49 each having one end connected to a cleaning water branch 48 are connected to the start ends 24 a, 31 a, 43 a of the upper right cleaning pipe 24, the lower right cleaning pipe 31, and the upper left cleaning pipe 43. Have been. The end portions 24b, 31b, 43b of the respective cleaning pipes 24, 31, 43 are closed. The washing water branching section 48 is installed at the upper right portion of the support member 4, and high-pressure washing water is supplied from a power injector (not shown). Then, the cleaning water is divided into the water supply hoses 49, 49, 49, and supplies the water to the cleaning pipes 24, 31, 43.
[0036]
In addition, a bracket 50 is provided on the vegetable loading side 3a of the right and left conveying means supporting frames 10 and 11, and a cutter 51 for cutting off the tip of the root K1 is provided at a substantially central portion thereof.
[0037]
Further, a cover of a semi-cylindrical column (not shown) is attached to the upper part of the transport means 3 on the right transport means support frame 10 and the left transport means support frame 11.
[0038]
Next, an operation and an action of washing vegetables by the vegetable washing apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.
[0039]
First, with the root K1 of the vegetable on the vegetable input side 3a of the transport means 3 and the leaf K4 hanging down, the right transport belt 17 and the left transport belt 36 are pressed while pressing the tip of the root K1 against the cutter 51. The root K1 of the vegetable K is placed on the belts 17b and 36b. At this time, the tip of the root K1 is cut off by the cutter 51.
[0040]
Here, the rotational driving force of the driving motors 20 and 39 is transmitted to the rotating shafts 18 and 37 via the intermediate shafts 21 and 40. Then, the rotating shafts 18 and 37 rotate the right rear pulley 16 and the left rear pulley 35. Next, by the rotation of the right rear pulley 16 and the left rear pulley 35, the right transport belt 17 circulates between the right front pulley 15 and the right rear pulley 16, and the left transport belt 36 moves to the left front pulley 34 and the left rear pulley. Orbit around 35. The right front pulley 15 rotates following the rotation of the right conveyor belt 17, and the left front pulley 34 rotates following the rotation of the left conveyor belt 36.
[0041]
At this time, the transport speeds of the transport belts 17 and 36 are set to be different from each other. Thus, the vegetables K placed on the belts 17b and 36b are conveyed toward the vegetable discharge side 3b while being rotated by frictional resistance with the belts 17b and 36b.
[0042]
While the vegetables K are transported along the transport path 14, the injection nozzles 26, 26,... Disposed on the upper right cleaning pipe 24 and the multiple injection nozzles 45 disposed on the upper left cleaning pipe 43. , 45, ..., washing water is sprayed toward the root K1 of the vegetable K. Further, washing water is sprayed from a plurality of spray nozzles 33, 33,... Provided on the lower right washing pipe 31 toward the root base K2 of the vegetable K.
[0043]
Further, while the vegetables K are transported along the transport path 14, the bristle portions 46b, 46b of the root base cleaning brushes 46, 46 enter between the root K1 and the belts 17b, 36b. Since the vegetable K is rotated, the entire root base K2 and leaf base K3 are rubbed and transported by the hairs 46b, 46b. Further, the whole root portion K1 of the vegetable K is rubbed when being transported along the transport path 14 by the bristle portions 27b, 27b of the pair of root cleaning brushes 27, 27. Therefore, the mud entering the root K1, the root K2, the leaf K3, and the leaf K4 can be sufficiently washed out by the washing water, the base cleaning brushes 46, 46, and the root cleaning brushes 27, 27. At this time, since a pair of receiving rollers 29, 29 for regulating the position of the right conveying belt 17 are provided so as to be in contact with the inner circumference 17c of the right conveying belt 17, the bristle portions 27b, 27b, of the two types of brushes are provided. Even if 46b and 46b continue to rub vegetables K, the transport belts 17 and 36 do not come off from the respective pulleys 15, 16, 34 and 35.
[0044]
Next, the washing water sprayed on the root K1 and the root K2 flows down along the leaf K4 while cleaning the root K1, the root K2, and the leaf K3, and accumulates in the water tank 7. At this time, the leaves K4 are cleaned. At this time, since the washing water is not sprayed directly on the leaf portion K4, dirt can be removed without damaging the leaf portion K4.
[0045]
The water scattered around when passing through the transport path 14 is rebounded by a cover (not shown) and flows down into the water storage tank 7. Therefore, the worker and the work place are not contaminated by muddy water.
[0046]
Further, since the vegetables K are conveyed while being rotated, the withered leaves attached to the outside of the leaf base K3 can be removed by the rotation of the vegetables K. For this reason, the burden on the worker can be reduced. Further, since the washing water is also sprayed on the root K2, the mud that has entered the root K2, the leaf K3, and the leaf K4 can be more reliably washed out.
[0047]
In addition, since the cutter 51 is provided to cut off the tip of the root K1, the work of cutting off unnecessary portions by hand can be omitted.
[0048]
In addition, a tank for storing water is placed at a drop point of the washed vegetables so that the vegetables conveyed in the vegetable washing apparatus 1 are stored. In this case, the impact caused by the fall can be suppressed by the water, and the mud can be more reliably dropped.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the vegetables are conveyed while being rotated, so that the washing water is sprayed on the entire root, and the mud on the entire root can be removed. Further, the mud that has entered the root base, the leaf base and the leaves can be washed out with the washing water and the base cleaning brush that rubs the base of the leaves and the base of the leaves. And when the washing water sprayed on the root part falls down along a leaf part when flowing down, it can also remove the dirt of a leaf part. In addition, with the rotation of the vegetables themselves, dead leaves attached to the outside of the leaf base can be removed. Furthermore, since the washing water is not sprayed directly on the leaves, the leaves do not hurt.
[0050]
According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, vegetables are supported and transported from the left and right by the pair of transport belts facing each other. Further, the transport belt is driven by the power of the drive unit.
[0051]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the invention, the transport speeds of the transport belts are different from each other, so that the vegetables can be transported while being rotated by the transport belt. .
[0052]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to third aspects of the present invention, since the brush for rubbing the root is attached, the root can be reliably washed.
[0053]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, since the washing water is also sprayed on the base of the root, the root base, the leaf base and Mud that has entered the leaves can be washed away. Then, since the sprayed washing water flows down along the leaves when flowing down, dirt on the leaves can be reliably removed. In addition, withered water can remove dead leaves outside the leaf base.
[0054]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, since a cutter for cutting off the tip of the root is provided, an unnecessary part is cut off manually. Can be omitted.
[0055]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, since a cover for preventing the scattering of the washing water is provided on the upper part of the conveying means, the work is performed by splashing muddy water. Workers and workplaces are not contaminated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a vegetable cleaning device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a transport unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 2, showing a use state of the vegetable cleaning device.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Conveying means 17 Conveying belt 26 Injection nozzle (root cleaning means)
36 Conveyor belt 45 Injection nozzle (root cleaning means)
46 Base Cleaning Brush K Vegetable

Claims (7)

Conveying means for supporting the root portion so that the root portion of the vegetable consisting of the spherically enlarged root portion and the leaf portion is at the top, and continuously transporting the vegetable while rotating the vegetable with the leaf portion hanging down, A vegetable cleaning device, comprising: a base cleaning brush attached to the transport means for rubbing the root of the root and the leaf; and a root cleaning means for spraying cleaning water on the root. 2. The vegetable cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transporting means includes a pair of transport belts facing each other, and a drive unit that drives these transport belts. 3. The vegetable cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pair of transport belts have different transport speeds. The vegetable cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a root cleaning brush rubbing the root is attached to at least one side of a transport path through which the vegetables are transported. Vegetable cleaning equipment. The vegetable washing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a root base washing unit that sprays washing water on a base of the root. The vegetable cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a cutter for cutting off a tip of the root portion on a side where the vegetables are supplied to the transporting means. The vegetable washing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a cover for preventing scattering of washing water is provided on an upper portion of the transporting means.

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