JPH0677725B2 - Cleaning equipment for containers - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning device for containers such as a lunch box or the like including a container body and a lid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various washing machines for mechanically washing a large number of lunch boxes. In this type of washing machine, if a large amount of residual food remains in the container, the cleaning effect is reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to remove most of the residual food before cleaning with a cleaning machine, that is, so-called preliminary cleaning. Currently, as a method of preliminary washing, remove the lid of the lunch box that has been collected, turn the container body upside down and hit it against the corner of the collection box such as a poly bucket several times to give a shock and remove the large residual food. Generally, a hand washing method of soaking in a tank containing a cleaning solution and collecting the cleaning solution is performed. Further, recently, a mechanical cleaning method in which a net conveyor and a shower are combined has been proposed. In this method, the injection nozzle is arranged below the upper surface of the conveyor, and the openings of the container with the lid removed are arranged side by side toward the upper surface of the conveyor, and the cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the container passing above the cleaning nozzle to clean it. is there.

[0003]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The prior art has the following problems. <I> In the hand washing method, all the steps of removing the lid, inverting the container body, pickling, and collecting are performed manually, so not only is work efficiency low,
It requires a lot of work. <B> Also, in the case of the hand washing method, the container is severely damaged due to repeated impacts on the container. <C> In the mechanical method, a part of the washed-out residual food is apt to adhere to the surface of the conveyor, which makes sanitation uneasy. Further, it is also pointed out that since the residual food is removed only by the spraying force of the cleaning liquid, the residual food is easily left unwashed when a large amount of the residual food exists, and the effect of removing the residual food is low. Further, if only the cleaning effect is to be improved, it is possible to increase the number of times of cleaning by spraying the cleaning liquid, but there is a problem of wasting the cleaning liquid and increasing the size of the apparatus.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for cleaning containers having a high cleaning effect.

[0005]

That is, according to the present invention, a pair of parallel endless chains are connected to each other at regular intervals with pawls for transferring a container in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the chain. The lower surface of the conveyor to be configured and a cleaning floor provided in parallel with the lower surface of the conveyor form a transfer path for containers, and a nozzle for injecting a cleaning liquid toward the conveyor is provided in a part of the cleaning floor to provide a cleaning floor. Cleaning of containers, characterized in that a pressing member that abuts with the upper portion of the containers transferred by a claw body in a state lying on the cleaning floor and allows passage of the containers is swingably suspended above the container. It is a device.

[0006]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<B> General Description FIG. 2 shows a side view of the preliminary washing apparatus, and FIG. 3 shows a plan view thereof. The prewashing device removes the lid 11 of the container 10 and
It is an apparatus for continuously performing the step of arranging the parts together with the step, the step of pouring water into the container 10 and the lid 11 to invert it, and the step of washing toward the inside of the container 10 and the lid 11. Each part will be described in detail below.

<B> Carry-In Belt In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 20 denotes a carry-in belt, which is a known endless belt conveyor and is arranged in a direction orthogonal to a conveyor 40 which will be described later.

<C> Extrusion means One side of the conveyor 40 in front of the carry-in belt 20 is
A placement floor 30 is provided on which a plurality of groups of containers 10 are temporarily placed. Extrusion plates 3 that periodically advance and retreat to the side of the bed 30
1 is arranged. As means for advancing / retreating the pushing plate 31,
For example, in addition to the cylinder 32 that expands and contracts with air, various known reciprocating mechanisms can be adopted. The connection structure between the upper end of the extrusion plate 31 and the cylinder 32 maintains the verticality of the extrusion plate 31 when the cylinder 32 extends and allows the rotation of the extrusion plate 31 only when the cylinder 32 contracts. It is connected in a state that allows rotation. This is extruded plate 3
This is because the container 10 is not pushed down from the mounting floor 30 when the container 1 moves backward. The push-out time of the push-out plate 31 is set so that the lidded container 10 can be supplied to every other surface of the fixed bed 80 defined by the transfer claws 43 of the transfer conveyor 40 described later.

<D> Conveyor Conveyor The conveyer 40 has a plurality of sprockets 41a to 41c, some of which are connected to a drive source, and sprockets 41a to 41c.
A pair of endless chains 42, 42 rotatably wound between 1c, and a plurality of transfer claws 43 connected between the chains 42, 42 at regular intervals in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the chain. And a fixed floor 80 that prevents the container 10 and the lid 11 from falling from the mounting floor 30 to a position almost directly below the sprocket 41a. Transfer claw 4
As shown in FIG. 4, a steel strip 43 is attached to the arm 43a.
b is a rigid member having a function of transferring the container 10 and the lid 11 integrally attached thereto and a function as a receiving member when reversing the container 10 and the lid 11, and both ends of the arm 43a are connected to each chain 42. There is. A large number of notches 43c are opened on the plate surface of the strip plate 43b. The transfer claws 43 are arranged at intervals slightly wider than the entire lengths of the container 10 and the lid 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the fixed floor 80 is a floor integrally formed with a straight floor 81 and a sprocket 41a and a curved portion 82 that is bent at a substantially equal polar ratio.
It is constituted by a group of rollers arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction of 0 or the like, or a sludge body in which a large number of rods are arranged in the transfer direction of the container 10 or the like.

<E> Container transfer path At the end side of the conveyor 40, the curved portion 8 of the fixed floor 80 is provided.
A curved guide 44 having a pole ratio greater than 2 is provided on the exterior, and the conveyor 40 is extended in the extension direction of the curved guide 44.
A first duct floor 45, a cleaning floor 46, and a second duct floor 47 are continuously formed on the lower surface side of the. Curved guide 44
The upper part of the is pivotally supported so that it swings when a force acts outward from the inside. The curved guide 44 is configured to be swingable in order to prevent rotation of the conveyor 40 when foreign matter (chopsticks, spoons, etc.) is mixed between the curved guide 44 and the conveyor 40, and for maintenance and inspection. . In the figure, reference numeral 48 is a kitchen tray, 49 is a sliding floor for sliding the container 10 and lid 11 from the second duct floor 47 to the carry-out conveyor 51, and 13 is a cover for covering the curved guide 44.

<F> Lid removing section As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the upper surface side of the conveyor 40,
A swinging swinging arm 60 and a fixed tilting plate 61 are arranged in parallel with the transfer claw 43. Both ends of the swing arm 60 are swingably supported on both sides of the conveyor 60, and a plurality of suction cups 62 are attached to the horizontal portion of the swing arm 60. Each suction cup 62 is connected to the vacuum pump 63 to constantly generate a negative pressure, and the negative pressure is temporarily cut off when the swing of the swing arm 60 reaches the uppermost position. The swinging range of the swinging arm 60 depends on each suction cup 62.
Is set in a range from a position where the lid 11 abuts on the transport conveyor 45 to a position where the attracted lid 11 becomes substantially parallel to the inclined plate 61. The swinging motion of the swinging arm 60 can be easily imparted by employing a known cam mechanism, link mechanism, or the like.

<G> Cleaning liquid supply means As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a swing arm 60 and a bending guide 44 are provided.
Downward nozzles 70 are arranged above the transfer conveyor 40 between and along the transverse direction of the conveyor. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning floor 46 is provided with a plurality of upward nozzles 71 penetrating the floor surface. Both these nozzles 7
As Nos. 0 and 71, it is possible to employ one in which holes are formed in the peripheral surface of the pipe or one in which a plurality of single nozzles are arranged. Each nozzle 70, 7
As the cleaning liquid to be sprayed from 1, for example, a liquid mixed with warm water or a detergent, or a combination thereof can be used depending on the purpose of cleaning.

<H> Holding means for containers and the like As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a plurality of sets of holding tools 90 are provided above the cleaning floor 46. The retainer 90 is composed of a plurality of rods, chains or the like, and the weight of the rods causes the container 10 to move.
It is a member that restrains the lid 11 from being lifted up, and is inclined toward the transfer direction of the container 10 and the lid 11, and its base end is rotatably supported.

[0015]

Next, the operation of the preliminary washing device will be described.

<a> Transfer of container with lid As shown in FIG. 2, the carry-in conveyor 20 transfers the container 10 with a lid toward the placing floor 30, and the container 10 with a lid is placed on the placing floor 30.
Temporarily place on top.

<B> Container Extrusion When a predetermined container 10 is stocked on the loading floor 30, the pushing plate 31 moves forward to push the containers 10 on the loading floor 30 all at once to the conveyor 40, and then to the original position. Retreat to. The container 10 is extruded on every other surface of the fixed bed 80 partitioned by the transfer claw 43, and the container 10 with a lid is supported on the upper surface of the fixed bed 80 and is transferred while being pushed by the transfer claw 43 at the rear part. . Even when the push-out plate 31 retracts, the container 10 with a lid is continuously supplied and temporarily placed on the placing floor 30,
When the push-out plate 31 comes into contact with the temporarily placed container 10, the push-out plate 31 itself rotates and retracts to the original position while avoiding the dropout of the container 10.

<C> Removal of Lid The container 10 with a lid pushed out by the push-out plate 31 is placed on the upper surface of the fixed bed 80 until it comes into contact with the transfer claw 43 of the conveyor 40 and starts the transfer. The lid 11 remains stationary, and the lid 11 is removed from the container 10 during this period as described below.
That is, when the container 10 with a lid approaches the swing arm 60, the swing arm 60 that has been waiting starts to descend.
The suction cup 62 encounters the lid 11 of the container 10 and crimps it while generating a negative pressure. When the swinging of the swinging arm 60 reaches the lowest position, the swinging arm 60 switches to rising. As the swing arm 60 rises, the suction cup 62 rises to lift only the lid 11, and the opening of the lifted lid 11 gradually turns upward. When the swing of the swing arm 60 reaches the uppermost position, the negative pressure of the suction cup 62 is momentarily cut off. Then, the lid 11 falls off the suction cup 62, slides down along the inclined plate 61, and is placed on the upper surface of the transport conveyor 40 on the rear side of the preceding container 10. By repeating the above operation, the container 10 and the lid 11 are alternately placed on the upper surface of the conveyor 40, and the transfer claws 43 are pushed backward to continue the transfer.

<D> Water Injection When the upwardly directed container 10 and lid 11 group pass directly below the downward nozzle 70 that continuously injects the cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid is poured into the container 10 and the lid 11.

<E> Reversing When the container 10 and the lid 11 reach the end of the conveyor 40, the container 10 and the lid 11 filled with the cleaning liquid are supported by the curved guide 44 so that the opening faces downward. Flip to. For example, when the container 10 is inverted, the conveyor 4
Sliding on the peripheral surface of the curved portion 82 of 0, colliding with the transfer claw 43 in the front, and the scraps easily peeled off by the injection of the cleaning liquid are subjected to this impact and drop toward the scraps tank 48 all at once. . Lid 11
The same is true for. The drop distance of the container 10 and the lid 11 is set to a short distance that does not damage the container 10 and the lid 11.

<F> Washing The container 10 and the lid 11 continue to be transferred while being pressed downward by the transfer claw 43 of the transfer conveyor 40. When the container 10 and the lid 11 enter the cleaning floor 46, the container 10 and the lid 11
The pressing tool 90 contacts the upper surface of the. Container 10 and lid 11
Continues to be transferred while being pressed against the cleaning floor 46 by receiving the weight of the presser 90, and the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the upward nozzle 71 when passing through the upward nozzle 71. The cleaning liquid is used on the entire inner surface of the container 10 and the lid 11 and the cleaning floor 46.
A turbulent flow (vortex) is generated in the sealed space surrounded by, and collides not only with the direction perpendicular to the direction of the cleaning liquid injection but also with any direction, and all the residual food is washed off. In particular, the internal pressure of the container 10 and the lid 11 that has risen due to the injection of the cleaning liquid reaches the second duct floor 47 and is reduced at once, so that the cleaning liquid and the residual food are discharged to the residual food tank 48 via the second duct floor 47 at once. Therefore, a higher cleaning effect can be expected. Further, the container 10 and the lid 11 pass through the carry-out conveyor 51 and are washed by the washing machine 50.
Is supplied to.

[0022]

Since the present invention is as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

<A> Up to now, the containers were placed on a net-made conveyor in a state of being laid face down, and the cleaning liquid was sprayed from the lower surface side of the conveyor toward the inside of the container for cleaning. For this reason, there is a problem of unsanitary condition due to unwashed parts left on the surface intersecting the direction of spraying of the washing liquid, or leftovers on the conveyor.
In the present invention, since the containers are transferred to the cleaning floor surface in the fixed state while they are laid down, the cleaning liquid becomes a turbulent flow in the container,
It can clean all surfaces inside the container. Moreover, in the present invention, since the cleaning liquid is sprayed through the fixed floor surface, it is hygienic because it does not adhere to the container transfer conveyor as in the conventional case.

<B> Even if the containers have different thicknesses, it is possible to reliably prevent the containers from floating by swinging the pressing member.

<C> By combining the conveyer and the pressing tool, it is possible to prevent the containers from being lifted while transferring the containers.

<D> It can be applied not only to pre-washing of containers but also to various washings, and is highly versatile.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in which a part of a cleaning unit is omitted.

[Fig. 2] Vertical sectional view of the pre-washing device

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A lower surface of a conveyor constituted by connecting a pair of parallel endless chains with claw bodies for transferring containers at regular intervals in a direction orthogonal to a rotation direction of the chain, and a lower surface of the conveyor. A transfer path for containers is formed by the lower surface and a cleaning floor provided in parallel, and a nozzle that injects the cleaning liquid toward the conveyor is installed in a part of the cleaning floor, and it lies above the cleaning floor and lies on the cleaning floor. The container cleaning device is characterized in that a pressing tool that abuts on the upper part of the container transferred by the claw body and allows the container to pass is swingably suspended.