Device for cleaning food with ozone water, and method of cleaning food using cleaning device

• US 20040022908A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuhisa, Yoshida, Koichi, Kanaya, Takafumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,275,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/506
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/157 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/158 Apparatus for preserving using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 9/30 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3409 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/358 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3589 Apparatus for preserving using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A23N 12/02 for washing or blanching A23N12/06 takes precedence; blanching methods A23B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/90 in food processing or handling, e.g. food conservation

Abstract

A food washing apparatus of the invention includes an ozonized water generator (10), a cylindrical washing tank (1) in which the food materials are put and which can rotate to wash the food materials, a drainage part (4) formed at a part of the washing tank (1) and including openings to such a degree that water passes through and the food materials do not pass through, and wash water pipings (2, 9) which are inserted and disposed in the washing tank (1) in an axial direction and in which water spray holes (2a, 2a) for spraying wash water including at least ozonized water are formed, and while at least one part of the wash water sprayed from the wash water pipings (2, 9) is draind from the washing tank (1) every rotation of the washing tank (1), washing of the food materials is performed. Further, there is also a method in which a receiving tank (8) for wash water drained from the washing tank (1) is provided, and at least one part of the wash water in the receiving tank (8) is returned to an inlet side of the ozonized water generator (10) to perform cyclic use of the wash water.

Claims

1. A food washing apparatus for washing food materials such as food material stuffs to be eaten raw, grains, tubers, seeds, or nuts by using ozonized water, characterized by comprising:

an ozonized water generator (10);

a cylindrical washing tank (1) in which the food materials are put and which can rotate to wash the food materials;

a drainage part (4) formed at a part of the washing tank (1) and including a large number of openings to such a degree that water passes through and the food materials do not pass through; and

wash water pipings (2, 9) which are disposed in the washing tank (1) in an axial direction and in which water spray holes (2a, 9a) for spraying wash water including at least ozonized water generated by the ozonized water generator (10) into the washing tank (1) are formed,

whereby while at least part of the wash water sprayed from the wash water pipings (2, 9) is drained from the washing tank (1) every rotation of the washing tank (1), washing of the food materials is performed.

3. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an inlet (5) for the food materials is disposed at one end of the washing tank (1), a outlet (6) for the food materials is formed at the other end, and a spiral member (3) for conveying, with rotation of the washing tank (1), the food put in the washing tank from a side of the inlet (5) to the outlet (6) is disposed on an inner wall surface of the washing tank (1).

4. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that the spiral member (3) is a continuous spiral member.

5. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that the spiral member (3) is a discontinuous spiral member.

6. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drainage part (4) is formed to be continuous in a longitudinal direction of the washing tank (1), and the whole quantity of the sprayed ozonized water is drained every rotation of the washing tank (1).

7. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drainage part (4) is formed intermittently in a longitudinal direction of the washing tank (1), and part of the sprayed ozonized water is drained every rotation of the washing tank (1).

8. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the drainage part (4) is formed of a wire net or a porous metal plate.

9. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the washing tank (1) is obliquely disposed to have a falling gradient from a side of the inlet (5) to a side of the outlet (6).

10. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a sectional shape of the washing tank (1) is one selected from a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon.

11. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the wash water pipings (2, 9) are made rotatable, and by this, a water spray angle of the ozonized water from the water spray holes (2a, 9a) of the wash water pipings (2, 9) is made variable.

12. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the washing tank (1) is constructed so that normal and reverse rotations can be made.

13. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the wash water pipings are constituted by a first wash water piping (9) including a water spray hole (9a) in a front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1) and a second wash water piping (2) including a water spray hole (2a) in a rear half portion (D) of the washing tank (1), and one of ozonized water and clean water is enabled to flow through both the wash water pipings (2, 9) by a changeover operation of valves.

14. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the wash water pipings are constituted by a first wash water piping (9) including a water spray hole (9a) in a front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1) and a second wash water piping (2) including a water spray hole (2a) in a rear half portion (D) of the washing tank (1), the ozonized water is ozonized water generated at an anode side by an electrolysis method of water, and one of the ozonized water, alkaline water generated at a cathode side by the electrolysis method, and clean water is enabled to flow through both the wash water pipings (2, 9) by a changeover operation of valves.

15. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that in the front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1), the second wash water piping (2) and the first wash water piping (9) are formed of a double pipe (14).

16. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the receiving tank (8) of the wash water is constituted by a front receiving tank (8a) for wash water drained from the front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1) and a rear receiving tank (8b) for wash water drained from the rear half portion (D).

17. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 16, characterized in that wash water reuse pipings (72, 79, 75) for supplying at least one part of drain wash water in the rear half receiving tank (8b) to an inlet side of the first wash water piping (9).

18. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 16 or 17, characterized in that wash water return flow pipings (72, 79, 80, 77) for returning at least one part of the drain wash water in the rear receiving tank (8b) to the inlet side of the ozonized water generator (10) are provided.

19. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that wash water return flow pipings (71, 73, 77) for returning at least one part of the drain wash water in the front receiving tank (8a) to the inlet side of the ozonized water generator (10) are provided.

20. A food washing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that an ozonized water tank (12) for storing the ozonized water fed from the ozonized water generator (10) is disposed, at least the second wash water piping (2) is connected to both the ozonized water generator (10) and the ozonized water tank (12), and the ozonized water is enabled to be supplied to at least the second wash water piping (2) from one of or both of the ozonized water generator (10) and the ozonized water tank (12) by a changeover operation of valves.

24. A food washing apparatus as set-forth in any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the washing tank (1) is constituted by coupling unit cylinders (1a) in each of which a spiral member (3) is formed along an inner wall, to be separable in a longitudinal direction.

2. A food washing apparatus for washing food materials such as food material stuffs to be eaten raw, grains, tubers, seeds, or nuts by using ozonized water, characterized by comprising:

an ozonized water generator (10);

a cylindrical washing tank (1) in which the food materials are put and which can rotate to wash the food materials;

a drainage part (4) formed at a part of the washing tank (1) and including a large number of openings to such a degree that water passes through and the food materials do not pass through;

wash water pipings (2, 9) which are disposed in the washing tank (1) in an axial direction and in which water spray holes (2a, 9a) for spraying wash water including at least ozonized water generated by the ozonized water generator (10) into the washing tank (1) are formed;

a receiving tank (8) for drain wash water drained from the washing tank (1); and

wash water return flow pipings (73, 80, 77) for returning at least one part of the drain wash water in the receiving tank (8) to an inlet side of the ozonized water generator (10),

wherein while at least one part of the wash water sprayed from the wash water piping (2) is drained from the washing tank (1) every rotation of the washing tank (1), washing of the food materials is performed, and

at least one part of the wash water drained from the washing tank (1) is returned to a materials water inlet side of the ozonized water generator (10).

21. A food washing apparatus for washing food materials such as food material stuffs to be eaten raw, grains, tubers, seeds, or nuts by using ozonized water, characterized by comprising:

an ozonized water generator (10) for generating ozonized water at an anode side by electrolysis of water and for generating alkaline water at a cathode side;

an ozonized water tank (12) for storing the ozonized water generated at the anode side by the ozonized water generator (10);

an alkaline water tank (13) for storing the alkaline water generated at the cathode side by the ozonized water generator (10);

a rotatable cylindrical washing tank (1) in which a drainage part (4) including a large number of openings to such a degree that water passes through and the food materials do not pass through is formed in a longitudinal direction; and

a second wash water piping (2) which is disposed to pass through substantially a center part of the washing tank (1) in an axial direction and in which a large number of water spray holes (2a) are formed at a place corresponding to a rear half portion (D) of the washing tank (1);

a first wash water piping (9) which is an outside pipe of a double pipe (14) having the second wash water piping (2) as an inside pipe and formed at a place corresponding to a front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1), and includes a large number of water spray holes (9a) formed in an axial direction; and

a piping system capable of supplying the ozonized water, the alkaline water and clean water to each of the second wash water piping (2) and the first wash water piping (9) by a changeover operation of valves,

whereby while at least one part of wash water sprayed from the first and the second wash water pipings (9, 2) is drained from the washing tank (1) every rotation of the washing tank (1), washing of the food materials is performed.

22. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 21, characterized by comprising:

a front receiving tank (8a) for drain wash water from the front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1);

a rear receiving tank (8b) for drain wash water from the rear-half portion (D) of the washing tank (1); and

a piping system-for enabling the drain wash water in the rear receiving tank (8b) to be supplied to the first wash water piping (9),

whereby at least one part of wash water used in the rear half portion (D) can be used as wash water of the front half portion (U).

23. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 21 or 22, characterized by comprising a piping system for enabling drain wash water in the front receiving tank (8a) or drain wash water in the rear receiving tank (8b) to be returned to the inlet side of the ozonized water generator (10), whereby at least one part of wash water draind from the washing tank (1) is enabled to be used as materials water of the ozonized water generator (10).

25. A food washing method for washing food materials such as food material stuffs to be eaten raw, grains, tubers, seeds, or nuts by using ozonized water, characterized in that:

food materials are put in from an inlet (5) disposed at one end of a cylindrical washing tank (1), the food materials are drained from a outlet (6) formed at the other end of the washing tank by rotating the washing tank (1);

ozonized water is sprayed from a wash water piping disposed in an axial direction in the washing tank (1), and the sprayed ozonized water is drained by rotation of the washing tank (1) from a drainage part (4) formed in the washing tank (1) and including an opening to such a degree that water passes through and the food materials do not pass through,

whereby while at least one part of the ozonized water sprayed from the wash water piping is drained from the drainage part (4) of the washing tank (1) every rotation of the washing tank (1), the food materials are washed and conveyed.

26. A food washing method as set forth in claim 25, characterized in that at least one part of the drain ozonized water drained from the washing tank (1) is returned to a materials water inlet side of the ozonized water generator (10), and the drain ozonized water is cyclically used.

27. A food washing method as set forth in claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the wash water piping is constituted by a first wash water piping (9) having a water spray hole (9a) in a front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1) and a second wash water piping (2) having a water spray hole (2a) in a rear half portion (D) of the washing tank (1), the ozonized water is ozonized water generated at an anode side by an electrolysis method of water, and one of the ozonized water, alkaline water generated at a cathode side by the electrolysis method, and clean water is enabled to flow through each of the first and the second wash water pipings (9, 2) by a changeover operation of valves.

28. A food washing method as set forth in claim 27, characterizing by comprising the following processes:

A process;

“

Before-washing process of washing tank”

in which while the alkaline water generated at the cathode side by the electrolysis method or the clean water is sprayed from one of or both of the first and the second wash water pipings (9, 2), before-washing of the washing tank itself is performed;

B process;

“

food materials washing process”

in which the food materials are put in from the inlet (5) while the washing tank (1) is rotated, and water spray of the ozonized water is performed from at least the second wash water piping (2), so that while at least one part of the sprayed ozonized water is drained every rotation of the washing tank (1), the food materials are conveyed in the washing tank (1), and washing and sterilization are performed; and

C process;

“

After-washing process of washing tank”

in which after completion of the food materials washing process, while the alkaline water or the clean water is sprayed from one of or both of the first and the second wash water pipings (9, 2), after-washing of the washing tank itself is performed.

29. A food washing method as set forth in claim 28, characterized in that the A process comprises at least one of following A1 step to A3 step:

A1 step;

“

Alkaline water before-washing step of washing tank”

in which the alkaline water is supplied to both the first and the second wash water pipings (9, 2) to perform alkaline water washing of the washing tank (1);

A2 step;

“

water before-washing step of washing tank”

in which the clean water is supplied to both the first and the second wash water pipings (9, 2) to perform water washing of the washing tank (1); and

A3 step;

“

alkaline water and water before-washing step of washing tank”

in which the A2 step is performed after the A1 step is performed.

30. A food washing method as set forth in claim 28 or 29, characterized in that the B process comprises at least one of following B1 step to B3 step:

B1 step;

“

Pre-washing and washing step of food materials”

in which the clean water is sprayed from the first wash water piping (9) in the front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1), and the ozonized water is sprayed from the second wash water piping (2) in the rear half portion (D) of the washing tank (1);

B2 step;

“

food materials degreasing and washing step”

in which the alkaline water is sprayed from the first wash water piping (9) in the front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1), and the ozonized water is sprayed from the second wash water piping (2) in the rear half portion (D) of the washing tank (1); and

B3 step;

“

food materials ozonized water washing step”

in which the ozonized water is sprayed from the second wash water piping (2) to the rear half portion (D) of the washing tank (1), and the ozonized water is sprayed from the first wash water piping (9) to the front half portion (U) as well.

31. A food washing method as set forth in any one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that the C process comprises at least one of following C1 step to C3 step:

C1 step;

“

Alkaline water after-washing step of washing tank”

in which the alkaline water is supplied to both the first and the second wash water pipings (9, 2) to perform alkaline water washing of the washing tank (1);

C2 step;

“

Water after-washing step of washing tank”

in which the clean water is supplied to both the first and the second wash water pipings (9, 2) to perform water washing of the washing tank (1); and

C3 step;

“

Alkaline water and water after-washing step of washing tank”

in which the C2 step is performed after the C1 step is performed.

32. A food washing method as set forth in claim 30, characterized in that in the B3 step, the drain ozonized water sprayed from the second wash water piping (2) to the rear half portion (D) of the washing tank (1) and drained from the rear halt portion (D) of the washing tank (1) is supplied to the first wash water piping (9) and is sprayed from the first wash water piping (9) to the front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1), so that recycle of the ozonized water is performed.

33. A food washing method as set forth in any one of claims 27 to 32, characterized in that the ozonized water drained from the front half portion (U) of the washing tank (1) is returned to the materials water inlet side of the ozonized water generator (10).

34. A food washing method as set forth in any one of claims 27 to 32, characterized in that in at least one of the A process, the B process and the C process, at least one part of the wash water drained from the washing tank (1) is returned to the materials water inlet port of the ozonized water generator (10).

35. A food washing method as set forth in any one of claims 25 to 34, characterized in that in a state where the sprayed wash water is stayed in the washing tank (1), a swing operation by rotation direction changeover is performed at least one time in which a rotation direction of the washing tank (1) is reversed and is next normally rotated.

36. A food washing method as set forth in claim 35, characterized in that a rotation speed of the washing tank (1) at a time of the swing operation is made faster than a rotation speed at a time of non-swing.

37. A food washing method as set forth in any one of claims 25 to 36, characterized in that an inlet (5) for the food materials is disposed at one end of the washing tank (1), a outlet (6) for the food materials is formed at the other end, and a spiral member (3) for conveying, with rotation of the washing tank (1), the food materials put in the washing tank (1) from a side of the inlet (5) to the outlet (6) is disposed on an inner wall surface of the washing tank (1).