KR102573444B1 - Washing and cooling apparatus for vegetables - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first water tank having a space for accommodating water and including a first water supply port, which is a passage through which water is introduced from the outside, and a first discharge port, which is a passage through which water is discharged to the outside; A first conveyor including a first transport belt submerged in at least a portion of the water contained in the first water tank and transporting an object placed on the upper portion in one direction, disposed below the first conveyor, and removing water flowing into the first water supply port. A first injection pipe including a first injection port for spraying upward, a space for receiving water is formed, a second water supply port as a passage through which water is introduced from the outside, and a second discharge port as a passage through which water is discharged to the outside. At least a part of the section is submerged in the water contained in the second tank and the second tank, and the second conveyor includes a second conveyor belt that takes over the object transferred through the first conveyor and transports it in one direction. Disposed below the second conveyor, It includes a second injection pipe including a second injection port for spraying water introduced into the second water inlet upward and a circulation pipe in which the refrigerant circulates, and supplies cooled water through the circulation pipe to the second water inlet, It includes a heat exchange tank into which water is introduced through the outlet.

Description

Washing device for rapid freezing processing of plants {WASHING AND COOLING APPARATUS FOR VEGETABLES}

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing plants, and more particularly, to a washing apparatus for washing and cooling blanched plants prior to quick freezing.

Vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish are widely used as food ingredients. Most of these ingredients have a limited shelf life.

Therefore, various attempts have been made to increase the period during which ingredients such as vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish are kept fresh. In addition, various techniques have been proposed for keeping food ingredients fresh without destroying their inherent nutrients and maintaining flavor.

In the case of plants, they maintain their freshness for a relatively long period of time after being harvested, but when moisture is lost, their unique flavor is lost and their freshness rapidly decreases.

In addition, soil or various foreign substances may be present on the surface of plants during the cultivation process. In order to use a plant as a food material, it must go through a washing process, and through the washing process, foreign substances such as soil existing on the surface of the plant are removed.

Processing and washing methods that can keep plants fresher are being implemented in various forms.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0075668 (hereinafter referred to as 'related technology 1') discloses a 'clean vegetable automatic processing device'. Related Art 1 relates to a device that automatically lowers the temperature of vegetables to a temperature that facilitates boiling, washing, and freezing of vegetables.

To this end, related technology 1 includes a boiling unit, a washing unit, a cooling unit, and a quick freezing unit, and vegetables to be processed sequentially pass through the boiling unit, the washing unit, the cooling unit, and the quick freezing unit.

However, related technology 1 had disadvantages in that vegetables, which are processing objects, were clumped together during the transfer process, a large amount of water was consumed for sufficient washing and cooling, and the equipment was huge and took up a large space.

Accordingly, a technique for solving these problems has been required.

One object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device capable of rapidly cleaning and cooling an object to be processed passed through a blanching process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing device in which an object to be processed is sequentially cooled while passing through an automatic facility without losing freshness before rapid freezing.

Another object of the present invention is to solve the problem of the prior art that required a huge facility to cleanly wash and cool plants.

The tasks of the present invention are not limited to the contents mentioned above, and other tasks or objects not mentioned above will be understood by the following description.

A washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first water tank having a space for accommodating water and including a first water supply port, which is a passage through which water is introduced from the outside, and a first discharge port, which is a passage through which water is discharged to the outside; A first conveyor including a first transport belt submerged in at least a portion of the water contained in the first water tank and transporting an object placed on the upper portion in one direction, disposed below the first conveyor, and removing water flowing into the first water supply port. A first injection pipe including a first injection port for spraying upward, a space for receiving water is formed, a second water supply port as a passage through which water is introduced from the outside, and a second discharge port as a passage through which water is discharged to the outside. At least a part of the section is submerged in the water contained in the second tank and the second tank, and the second conveyor includes a second conveyor belt that takes over the object transferred through the first conveyor and transports it in one direction. Disposed below the second conveyor, It includes a second injection pipe including a second injection port for spraying water introduced into the second water inlet upward and a circulation pipe in which the refrigerant circulates, and supplies cooled water through the circulation pipe to the second water inlet, It includes a heat exchange tank into which water is introduced through the outlet.

And, in the washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first injection pipe is connected to the first water supply port, and is branched to both sides from the first main pipe formed long along the conveying direction of the first conveyor and the first main pipe. It includes the first branch pipe.

Alternatively, in the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the first main pipe and the first branch pipe includes a plurality of first injection ports for spraying water introduced into the first water supply port in the direction of the first conveyor.

In addition, in the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first spraying hole is a forward spraying hole for spraying water introduced into the first water supply port in a direction inclined upward toward the conveying direction of the first conveyor and the conveying direction of the first conveyor It includes a reverse nozzle for spraying water introduced into the first water supply port in an upwardly inclined direction toward the opposite side.

Alternatively, in the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first injection ports are densely arranged from the exit of the first conveyor to the inlet of the first conveyor.

Further, in the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of first branch pipes are formed along the first main pipe, and the interval is gradually widened from the inlet of the first conveyor to the outlet of the first conveyor. .

Alternatively, in the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchange tank has a larger water holding capacity than the second tank.

Further, in the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the water supplied to the first water tank through the first water inlet is room temperature water, and the water supplied to the second water tank through the second water inlet is higher than the water supplied to the first water tank. it is low temperature

According to the present invention, there is an effect of rapidly cooling and washing the object to be processed after blanching.

According to the present invention, there is an effect of sequentially cooling the object to be processed to an appropriate temperature so that there is no damage to fiber or loss of nutrients prior to quick freezing.

According to the present invention, washing and cooling can be performed through a relatively small facility, so there is an effect of reducing installation and maintenance costs.

According to the present invention, by using air bubbles generated in water for washing, it is possible to clean the object more cleanly.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

1 is a front view showing a plant processing system including a washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view showing a plant processing system including a washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a block diagram of a plant processing system including a washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view of a first washer in a washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an operating state diagram of a first washer in a washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 and 7 are perspective views illustrating a first spray pipe in the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a plan view of a second washer in a washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a schematic view showing a first injection pipe and a second injection pipe provided in a first washing machine and a second washing machine in a washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a schematic view showing a state in which gas or liquid is injected through a first injection pipe of a first washer in a washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a cross-sectional view showing a first spray hole formed in a first spray pipe in the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with suitable examples. Embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the detailed description.

The present invention is an apparatus for processing plants. It can be used mainly for processing plants to be used as food materials.

In the processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the object to be processed is expressed as a plant, food material, raw material, material, vegetable, object, and the like.

In general, plants are washed in running water and eaten fresh. However, in some cases, plants are stored or shipped. In this case, it is processed to maintain its freshness during storage or delivery.

Such processing usually begins with the selection of raw materials with marketability. Selected materials can be pre-washed with purified water or sterilized. Also, it is cut or trimmed to a predetermined size for processing.

1 is a front view showing a plant processing system including a washing device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plant processing system including a washing device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a block diagram of a plant processing system including a cleaning device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the material trimmed through preliminary washing is processed through a blanching device 10, a washing device 20, and a quick freezing device 30.

In the blanching device 10, the ingredients are blanched with water at 90 to 100 degrees Celsius. The blanching process has the effect of removing plant-specific odors and sterilizing. In addition, it removes residual pesticides and creates vivid colors and textures.

The material boiled in water at 90 to 100 degrees Celsius undergoes a washing process in the washing device 20.

In the washing process, the materials are also cooled along with washing. The washing process may be divided into first and second steps.

The ingredients blanched in the blanching device 10 pass through the first washer 22 and the second washer 24 . The first washing is performed in the first washer 22, and in the first washing process, the material is washed and cooled by putting the material in room temperature water. In the secondary washing process, washing and cooling are performed by putting the material in water at a temperature lower than room temperature.

In the second washer 24, secondary washing is performed. The second washer 24 again cleans and cools the materials washed and cooled with room temperature water in the first washer. In the second washing process, low-temperature water at a temperature lower than room temperature water is supplied, and the low-temperature water is maintained at a predetermined temperature using a heat exchanger 26 .

The materials that have passed through the blanching device 10 and the cleaning device 20 are sequentially cooled to a low temperature state from being blanched at a high temperature. The materials cooled to a predetermined temperature in the second washer 24 are transported to the quick freezing device 30 .

The quick freezing device 30 rapidly freezes the ingredients with dry cold air at -30 to -40 degrees Celsius.

Objects passing through the blanching device 10, the washing device 20, and the quick freezing device 30 can be moved between each process through the transfer conveyor L.

Materials that have undergone such a processing process are packaged after passing through each inspection process.

This individual quick-freezing process allows plants to be kept fresh without losing their flavor. It also makes storage and portioning easier.

A processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention relates to a cleaning device 20 that cleans and cools materials in the quick-freezing process described above.

The cleaning device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first washer 22 and a second washer 24 . The first washer 22 includes a first water tank 100, a first conveyor 300, and a first injection pipe 200. The second washer 24 includes a second water tank 400, a second conveyor 600, a second injection pipe 500, and a heat exchange water tank 700.

The first washer 22 washes and cools the object with room temperature water, and the second washer 24 washes and cools the object with low temperature water lower than room temperature.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the first washer 22 in the washing device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is the first washer 22 in the washing device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. is the operating state of

4 and 5, in the cleaning device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first washer 22 includes a first water tank 100, a first conveyor 300, and a first injection pipe. (200).

The first water tank 100 forms a space in which water is accommodated, and in the present invention is made of a rectangular container having a long side on one side. The first water tank 100 includes a first water inlet 110 and a first outlet 120 . The first water supply port 110 is a passage through which water flows into the first water tank 100, and the first outlet 120 is a passage through which water is discharged from the first water tank 100 to the outside.

A first injection pipe 200 is formed inside the first water tank 100 . The first injection pipe 200 is composed of a first main pipe 210 and a first branch pipe 220.

The first main pipe 210 is formed elongated along the longitudinal direction of the first water tank 100, and a plurality of first branch pipes 220 are formed branching on both sides of the first main pipe 210. The first main pipe 210 and the first branch pipe 220 may be formed in a fish bone shape.

The first injection pipe 200 is disposed directly above the bottom surface of the first water tank 100, and is adjacent to the bottom surface of the first water tank 100 but spaced apart from it at a predetermined interval.

A plurality of first injection ports 230 are formed in the first main pipe 210 and the first branch pipe 220 . The first injection port 230 injects air or liquid upward from the first main pipe 210 and the first branch pipe 220 .

That is, the gas or liquid introduced through the first main pipe 210 enters the first water tank 100 through the first injection ports 230 formed in the first main pipe 210 and the first branch pipe 220. is sprayed That is, the first injection ports 230 inject gas or liquid toward the first conveyor 300 disposed above the first injection pipe 200 . The air injected through the first nozzles 230 forms bubbles inside the first water tank 100, and the bubbles and the water stream enable the object to be quickly washed in the water contained in the first water tank 100. .

The first injection ports 230 may be densely arranged from the exit ex of the first conveyor 300 to the inlet en of the first conveyor 300 .

And, the first conveyor 300 is provided above the first injection pipe 200 . The first conveyor 300 includes a first conveying belt 310 and a first conveying shaft 320 .

The first transfer belt 310 is made of a chain-type belt made of a corrosion-resistant material. The first conveying belt 310 rotates in one direction by the rotation of the first conveying shaft 320 on the same principle as an endless track, and conveys an object placed thereon.

The first transfer belt 310 has one end disposed at the inlet (en) of the first water tank 100 and the other end disposed at the outlet (ex) of the first water tank 100. The first conveying belt 310 crosses the first water tank 100 in the longitudinal direction, and at least a part of it is submerged in the water accommodated in the first water tank 100 at the middle part.

That is, the object to be transported on the first transport belt 310 is submerged in the water contained in the first water tank 100 .

6 and 7 are perspective views showing the first spray pipe 200 in the cleaning device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first injection pipe 200 may be formed in a fishbone shape, and the first injection port 230 is provided on the upper part of each of the first main pipe 210 and the first branch pipe 220 are formed

8 is a plan view of the second washer 24 in the washing device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the second washer 24 includes a second water tank 400, a second injection pipe 500, a second conveyor 600, and a heat exchange water tank 700.

The second water tank 400 has the same structure as the first water tank 100. However, the shape of the first water tank 100 may be different.

The second water tank 400 has a space for receiving water therein, and is provided with a second water inlet 410 and a second outlet 420 . The second water inlet 410 and the second outlet 420 are connected to the heat exchange water tank 700, and the water accommodated in the heat exchange water tank 700 flows into the second water tank 400 through the second water inlet 410. is introduced In addition, the water accommodated in the second water tank 400 moves to the heat exchange tank 700 through the second outlet 420 .

The heat exchange tank 700 is provided with a circulation pipe 710 through which a refrigerant circulates therein. Inside the heat exchange tank 700, water circulating with the second tank 400 exchanges heat with the circulation pipe 710. Accordingly, water flowing back and forth between the second water tank 400 and the heat exchange water tank 700 is maintained at a constant temperature according to the temperature of the circulation pipe 710 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the water supplied from the heat exchange tank 700 to the second water tank 400 is low-temperature water having a temperature lower than room temperature.

Also, the water accommodating capacity of the heat exchange tank 700 may be greater than that of the second water tank 400 . This reduces the temperature change of the water supplied to the second water tank 400 . Refrigerant is introduced into the circulation pipe 710 from the refrigerant supply unit 720 . The refrigerant passing through the circulation pipe 710 is discharged to the refrigerant discharge unit 730 .

A second injection pipe 500 is formed inside the second water tank 400 . The second injection pipe 500 has the same configuration as the first injection pipe 200, and includes a second main pipe 510 and a second branch pipe 520. A second injection port 530 is formed in the second main pipe 510 and the second branch pipe 520 . The second injection hole 530 injects the gas or liquid flowing into the second main pipe 510 and the second branch pipe 520 toward the second conveyor 600, that is, the upper part. The gas or liquid sprayed through the second spray holes 530 forms bubbles or a series of water waves in the water contained in the second water tank 400 . Bubbles or water streams formed from the second spray hole 530 facilitate cleaning of objects passing through the second water tank 400 .

A second conveyor 600 is provided above the second injection pipe 500 . The second conveyor 600 includes a second conveying belt 610 and a second conveying shaft 620 .

The second transfer belt 610 is made of a chain-type belt made of a corrosion-resistant material. The second conveying belt 610 rotates in one direction by the rotation of the second conveying shaft 620 on the same principle as an endless track, and conveys an object placed thereon.

The second transfer belt 610 has one end disposed at the inlet (en) of the second water tank 400 and the other end disposed at the outlet (ex) of the second water tank 400. The second transfer belt 610 crosses the second water tank 400 in the longitudinal direction, and at least a part of the second conveyor belt 610 is submerged in the water accommodated in the second water tank 400 at the middle part.

That is, the object being transported on the second transport belt 610 is submerged in the water contained in the second water tank 400 .

9 shows a first injection pipe 200 and a second injection pipe 500 provided in the first washer 22 and the second washer 24 in the washing device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the first injection pipe 200 and the second injection pipe 500 may be formed in a fish bone shape. In addition, the first branch pipe 220 and the second branch pipe 520 branched from the first main pipe 210 and the second main pipe 510 are the first conveyor 300 and the second conveyor 600 The gap may be formed wider as it goes from the inlet (en) toward the outlet (ex). This increases the washing and cooling efficiency by strongly forming bubbles or water currents at the entrances of the first water tank 100 and the second water tank 400. It can be evenly spread on the conveying belt 310 and the second conveying belt 610.

10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which gas or liquid is injected through the first injection pipe 200 of the first washer 22 in the washing device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a cross-sectional view showing the first injection hole 230 formed in the first injection pipe 200 in the cleaning device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the first injection holes 230 formed in the first injection pipe 200 may be formed to inject gas or liquid in at least two different directions.

As an example, forward nozzles directed in the conveying direction of the first conveyor 300 and reverse nozzles directed in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the first conveyor 300 may be provided. The forward injection hole injects gas or liquid in an upwardly inclined direction toward the transport direction of the first conveyor (300).

The reverse injection hole injects gas or liquid in an upwardly inclined direction toward the direction opposite to the transport direction of the first conveyor 300 .

The gas or liquid injected through the forward nozzle and the reverse nozzle may interfere with each other at the top of the first injection pipe 200 to further promote the generation of bubbles or water currents.

The second injection pipe 500 may be provided identically to the first injection pipe 200 .

In the above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with drawings, but this is exemplary and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and drawings. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify the present invention within the scope of the technical spirit of the disclosed contents. In addition, even if the action or effect according to the configuration was not explicitly described while describing an embodiment of the present invention above, it is natural that even the effects predictable by the configuration should be recognized.

10: blanching device 20: washing device
22: first washer 24: second washer
26: heat exchanger 30: quick freezing device
100: first water tank 110: first water inlet
120: first outlet 200: first injection pipe
210: first main pipe 220: first branch pipe
230: first nozzle 300: first conveyor
310: first conveying belt 320: first conveying axis
400: second water tank 410: second water inlet
420: second outlet 500: second injection pipe
510: second main pipe 520: second branch pipe
530: second nozzle 600: second conveyor
610: second conveying belt 620: second conveying axis
700: heat exchange tank 710: circulation pipe
720: refrigerant supply unit 730: refrigerant discharge unit
L: transfer conveyor
en: entrance ex: exit

Claims (8)

a first water tank in which a space for receiving water is formed and includes a first water supply port through which water is introduced from the outside and a first discharge port through which water is discharged to the outside;
a first conveyor including a first transport belt submerged in at least a portion of the water contained in the first water tank and transporting an object placed thereon in one direction;
a first injection pipe disposed below the first conveyor and including a first injection port through which the water flowing into the first water supply port is sprayed upward;
a second water tank in which a space for receiving water is formed and includes a second water supply port through which water is introduced from the outside and a second outlet through which water is discharged to the outside;
a second conveyor including a second transport belt submerged in at least a portion of the water contained in the second water tank and transporting the objects transported through the first conveyor in one direction;
a second injection pipe disposed under the second conveyor and including a second injection port through which the water flowing into the second water supply port is sprayed upward; and
A heat exchange tank including a circulation pipe in which the refrigerant circulates, supplying water cooled through the circulation pipe to the second water supply port, and introducing water through the second outlet;
The first injection pipe,
A first main pipe connected to the first water supply port and formed long along the conveying direction of the first conveyor; and
Including; a first branch pipe branching to both sides from the first main pipe;
Each of the first main pipe and the first branch pipe,
A plurality of first nozzles for spraying the water introduced into the first water supply port in the direction of the first conveyor;
a forward spraying hole for spraying water introduced into the first water supply port in an upwardly inclined direction toward the conveying direction of the first conveyor; and
A reverse nozzle for spraying water introduced into the first water supply port in an upwardly inclined direction toward the opposite direction from the conveying direction of the first conveyor; includes,
The first branch pipes are arranged at intervals such that paths of water injected from the forward and reverse nozzles, respectively, can cross each other,
Each of the first injection ports,
Promoting the generation of bubbles and water waves at the top of the first injection pipe by simultaneously spraying the water introduced into the first water inlet toward at least two different directions,
Washing device for rapid freezing processing of plants.
delete delete delete According to claim 1,
The first nozzle,
Disposed densely from the exit of the first conveyor to the entrance of the first conveyor,
Washing device for quick freezing processing of plants. According to claim 1,
The first branch pipe is formed in plurality along the first main pipe, and the interval is gradually widened from the inlet of the first conveyor to the outlet of the first conveyor,
Washing device for quick freezing processing of plants. According to claim 1,
The heat exchange tank,
The water holding capacity is larger than that of the second tank,
Washing device for quick freezing processing of plants. According to claim 1,
The water supplied to the first water tank through the first water inlet is room temperature water, and the water supplied to the second water tank through the second water inlet has a temperature lower than that of the water supplied to the first water tank.
Washing device for quick freezing processing of plants.

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