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

• US 7,275,551 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuhisa, Yoshida, Koichi, Kanaya, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chaudhry; Saeed
• Application Number:
  US10/258,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20040022908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,364 Days
• Field of Search: 134/25.3, 134/65, 134/132, 134/133, 134/134, 134/140, 134/147, 134/148, 134/153, 134/157, 134/32, 134/33
• US Class Current: 134/25.3
• 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, comprising:

an ozonized water generator;

a washing tank in which the food materials are put and which can rotate to wash the food materials, the washing tank having a polygon shaped cross-section extending perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the washing tank;

a drainage part formed on only one side of the polygon shaped cross-section of the washing tank 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 which are disposed in the washing tank in an axial direction and in which water spray holes for spraying wash water including at least ozonized water generated by the ozonized water generator into the washing tank are formed,

wherein while at least part of the wash water sprayed from the wash water pipings is drained from the washing tank every rotation of the washing tank, washing of the food materials is performed.

2. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving tank for drain wash water drained from the washing tank; and

wash water return flow pipings for returning at least one part of the drain wash water in the receiving tank to an inlet side of the ozonized water generator,

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

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

4. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the spiral member is a continuous spiral member.

5. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the spiral member is a discontinuous spiral member.

6. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the washing tank is obliquely disposed to have a falling gradient from a side of the inlet to a side of the outlet.

7. A flood washing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the drainage part is formed to be continuous in a longitudinal direction of the washing tank, and the whole quantity of the sprayed ozonized water is drained every rotation of the washing tank.

8. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the drainage part is formed intermittently in a longitudinal direction of the washing tank, and part of the sprayed ozonized water is drained every rotation of the washing tank.

9. A food washing apparatus as set, forth in claim 2, wherein the drainage part is formed of a wire net or a porous metal plate.

10. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the polygon shaped cross-section of the washing tank is a hexagonal shaped cross-section.

11. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wash water pipings are made rotatable, and by this, a water spray angle of the ozonized water from the water spray holes of the wash water pipings is made variable.

12. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the washing tank is constructed so that normal and reverse rotations can be made.

13. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wash water pipings are constituted by a first wash water piping including a water spray hole in a front half portion of the washing tank and a second wash water piping including a water spray hole in a rear half portion of the washing tank, and one of ozonized water and clean water is enabled to flow through both the wash water pipings by a changeover operation of valves.

14. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein in the front half portion of the washing tank, the second wash water piping and the first wash water piping are formed of a double pipe.

15. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the receiving tank of the wash water is constituted by a front receiving tank for wash water drained from, the front half portion of the washing tank and a rear receiving tank for wash water drained from the rear half portion.

16. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein wash water reuse pipings for supplying at least one part of drain wash water in the rear half receiving tank to an inlet side of the first wash water piping.

17. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein wash water return flow pipings for returning at least one part of the drain wash water in the rear receiving tank to the inlet side of the ozonized water generator are provided.

18. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein wash water return flow pipings for returning at least one part of the drain wash water in the front receiving tank to the inlet side of the ozonized water generator are provided.

19. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein an ozonized water tank for storing the ozonized water fed from the ozonized water generator is disposed, at least the second wash water piping is connected to both the ozonized water generator and the ozonized water tank, and the ozonized water is enabled to be supplied to at least the second wash water piping from one of or both of the ozonized water generator and the ozonized water tank by a changeover operation of valves.

20. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wash water pipings are constituted by a first wash water piping including a water spray hole in a front half portion of the washing tank and a second wash water piping including a water spray hole in a rear half portion of the washing tank, 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 by a changeover operation of valves.

21. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein in the front half portion of the washing tank, the second wash water piping and the first wash water piping are formed of a double pipe.

22. A food washing apparatus as set-forth in claim 2, wherein the washing tank is constituted by coupling unit cylinders in each of which a spiral member is formed along an inner wall, to be separable in a longitudinal direction.

23. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein an inlet for the food materials is disposed at one end of the washing tank, a outlet for the food materials is formed at the other end, and a spiral member for conveying, with rotation of the washing tank, the food put in the washing tank from a side of the inlet to the outlet is disposed on an inner wall surface of the washing tank.

24. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein the spiral member is a continuous spiral member.

25. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein the spiral member is a discontinuous spiral member.

26. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein the washing tank is obliquely disposed to have a falling gradient from a side of the inlet to a side of the outlet.

27. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drainage part is formed to be continuous in a longitudinal direction of the washing tank, and the whole quantity of the sprayed ozonized water is drained every rotation of the washing tank.

28. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drainage part is formed intermittently in a longitudinal direction of the washing tank, and part of the sprayed ozonized water is drained every rotation of the washing tank.

29. A food washing apparatus as set, forth in claim 1, wherein the drainage part is formed of a wire net or a porous metal plate.

30. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the polygon shaped cross-section of the washing tank is a hexagonal shaped cross-section.

31. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the washing tank is constructed so that normal and reverse rotations can be made.

32. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wash water pipings are constituted by a first wash water piping including a water spray hole in a front half portion of the washing tank and a second wash water piping including a water spray hole in a rear half portion of the washing tank, and one of ozonized water and clean water is enabled to flow through both the wash water pipings by a changeover operation of valves.

33. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein in the front half portion of the washing tank, the second wash water piping and the first wash water piping are formed of a double pipe.

34. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein the receiving tank of the wash water is constituted by a front receiving tank for wash water drained from the front half portion of the washing tank and a rear receiving tank for wash water drained from the rear half portion.

35. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein wash water reuse pipings for supplying at least one part of drain wash water in the rear half receiving tank to an inlet side of the first wash water piping.

36. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein wash water return flow pipings for returning at least one part of the drain wash water in the rear receiving tank to the inlet side of the ozonized water generator are provided.

37. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein wash water return flow pipings for returning at least one part of the drain wash water in the front receiving tank to the inlet side of the ozonized water generator are provided.

38. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein an ozonized water tank for storing the ozonized water fed from the ozonized water generator is disposed, at least the second wash water piping is connected to both the ozonized water generator and the ozonized water tank, and the ozonized water is enabled to be supplied to at least the second wash water piping from one of or both of the ozonized water generator and the ozonized water tank by a changeover operation of valves.

39. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wash water pipings are constituted by a first wash water piping including a water spray hole in a front half portion of the washing tank and a second wash water piping including a water spray hole in a rear half portion of the washing tank, 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 by a changeover operation of valves.

40. A food washing apparatus as set-forth in claim 1, wherein the washing tank is constituted by coupling unit cylinders in each of which a spiral member is formed along an inner wall, to be separable in a longitudinal direction.

41. 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, comprising:

an ozonized water generator 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 for storing the ozonized water generated at the anode side by the ozonized water generator;

an alkaline water tank for storing the alkaline water generated at the cathode side by the ozonized water generator;

a rotatable cylindrical washing tank in which a drainage part 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 which is disposed to pass through substantially a center part of the washing tank in an axial direction and in which a large number of water spray holes are formed at a place corresponding to a rear half portion of the washing tank;

a first wash water piping which is an outside pipe of a double pipe having the second wash water piping as an inside pipe and formed at a place corresponding to a front half portion of the washing tank, and includes a large number of water spray holes formed in an axial direction, the outside pipe and the inside pipe being coaxial and coextensive for a portion thereof; and

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

wherein while at least one part of wash water sprayed from the first and the second wash water pipings is drained from the washing tank every rotation of the washing tank, washing of the food materials is performed.

42. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 41, comprising:

a front receiving tank for drain wash water from the front half portion of the washing tank;

a rear receiving tank for drain wash water from the rear-half portion of the washing tank; and

a piping system-for enabling the drain wash water in the rear receiving tank to be supplied to the first wash water piping,

wherein at least one part of wash water used in the rear half portion can be used as wash water of the front half portion.

43. A food washing apparatus as set forth in claim 41, comprising a piping system for enabling drain wash water in the front receiving tank or drain wash water in the rear receiving tank to be returned to the inlet side of the ozonized water generator, wherein at least one part of wash water drained from the washing tank is enabled to be used as materials water of the ozonized water generator.

44. A food washing apparatus as set-forth in claim 41, wherein the washing tank is constituted by coupling unit cylinders in each of which a spiral member is formed along an inner wall, to be separable in a longitudinal direction.

45. 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, comprising:

placing food materials in from an inlet disposed at one end of a washing tank having a polygon shaped cross-section extending perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the washing tank, the food materials are drained from an outlet formed at the other end of the washing tank by rotating the washing tank;

spraying ozonized water from a wash water piping disposed in an axial direction in the washing tank, and draining the ozonized water by rotation of the washing tank from a drainage part formed on only one side of the polygon shaped cross-section of the washing tank and including an opening to such a degree that water passes through and the food materials do not pass through,

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

46. A food washing method as set forth in claim 45, wherein at least one part of the ozonized water drained from the washing tank is returned to a materials water inlet side of an ozonized water generator configured to supply the ozonized water to the wash water piping, and the ozonized water is cyclically used.

47. A food washing method as set forth in claim 45, wherein the wash water piping is constituted by a first wash water piping having a water spray hole in a front half portion of the washing tank and a second wash water piping having a water spray hole in a rear half portion of the washing tank, 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 by a changeover operation of valves.

48. A food washing method as set forth in claim 47, 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, 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 while the washing tank is rotated, and water spray of the ozonized water is performed from at least the second wash water piping, so that while at least one part of the sprayed ozonized water is drained every rotation of the washing tank, the food materials are conveyed in the washing tank, 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, after-washing of the washing tank itself is performed.

49. A food washing method as set forth in claim 48, wherein 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 to perform alkaline water washing of the washing tank;

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 to perform water washing of the washing tank; 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.

50. A food washing method as set forth in claim 48, wherein 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 in the front half portion of the washing tank, and the ozonized water is sprayed from the second wash water piping in the rear half portion of the washing tank;

B2 step;

“

food materials degreasing and washing step”

in which the alkaline water is sprayed from the first wash water piping in the front half portion of the washing tank, and the ozonized water is sprayed from the second wash water piping in the rear half portion of the washing tank; and

B3 step;

“

food materials ozonized water washing step”

in which the ozonized water is sprayed from the second wash water piping to the rear half portion of the washing tank, and the ozonized water is sprayed from the first wash water piping to the front half portion as well.

51. A food washing method as set forth in claim 50, wherein in the B3 step, the drain ozonized water sprayed from the second wash water piping to the rear half portion of the washing tank and drained from the rear half portion of the washing tank is supplied to the first wash water piping and is sprayed from the first wash water piping to the front half portion of the washing tank, so that recycle of the ozonized water is performed.

52. A food washing method as set forth in claim 48, wherein 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 to perform alkaline water washing of the washing tank;

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 to perform water washing of the washing tank; 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.

53. A food washing method as set forth in claim 47, wherein the ozonized water drained from the front half portion of the washing tank is returned to the materials water inlet side of the ozonized water generator.

54. A food washing method as set forth in claim 47, wherein 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 is returned to the materials water inlet part of the ozonized water generator.

55. A food washing method as set forth, in claim 45, wherein in a state where the sprayed wash water is stayed in the washing tank, a swing operation by rotation direction changeover is performed at least one time in which a rotation direction of the washing tank is reversed and is next normally rotated.

56. A food washing method as set forth in claim 55, wherein a rotation speed of the washing tank at a time of the swing operation is made faster than a rotation speed at a time of non-swing.

57. A food washing method as set forth in claim 45, wherein an inlet for the food materials is disposed at one end of the washing tank, a outlet for the food materials is formed at the other end, and a spiral member for conveying, with rotation of the washing tank, the food materials put-in the washing tank from a side of the inlet to the outlet is disposed on an inner wall surface of the washing tank.