Dynamic ultrasonic cleaning and disinfecting device and method
First Claim
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1. A device for simultaneously cleaning, disinfecting and washing fruit and vegetable items comprising:
- a cleaning tank, adapted to contain water in which at least one of cleaning, disinfecting and flotation agents are dissolved;
at least one ultrasonic transducer arranged to provide ultrasonic vibrations through the water contained in said cleaning tank at a predetermined vibration energy level, and with a predetermined frequency, intensity, duration, and direction; and
a basket adapted for placement within said cleaning tank so as to be rotatable by a motor, said basket having disposed therein a plurality of partitions each shaped as a vane such that during rotation of said basket, the water in said cleaning tank is stirred,the fruit and vegetable items placed in said basket being maintained therein in submerged fashion and being forced by said stirred water to move and rotate relative to said transducer and around themselves to ensure sufficient exposure of all sides of the fruit and vegetable items directly to a maximal level of vibration intensity regardless of the highly absorptive nature thereof when subjected to said ultrasonic vibrations traveling through the water as part of a cleaning process, to facilitate removal by washing from the surfaces thereof substantially all contaminants such as residual mud, dirt, microbiological flora, mold, worms, bacteria, germs, herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers,wherein said device further comprises a centrifugal water pump for additionally stirring said fruit and vegetable items by ejecting a portion of the water in said cleaning tank against the internal walls thereof, subjecting said items to a vortex-like movement and exposing all their surfaces to said vibration energy.
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Abstract
A device for the ultrasonic cleaning and disinfecting of fruit and vegetables, which facilitates removing practically all resudues of contaminants such as mud, biological dirt, microbiological flora like mold, worms, bacteria, germs, and chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, fertilizer remains etc., from rough or smooth surfaces of fruit and vegetables of all types. The device is equipped to stir the fruit and vegetable items within a cleaning tank filled with water, so as to expose all of their sides to a maximum level of vibration energy, achieving a predetermined cleaning probability.
60 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A device for simultaneously cleaning, disinfecting and washing fruit and vegetable items comprising:
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a cleaning tank, adapted to contain water in which at least one of cleaning, disinfecting and flotation agents are dissolved; at least one ultrasonic transducer arranged to provide ultrasonic vibrations through the water contained in said cleaning tank at a predetermined vibration energy level, and with a predetermined frequency, intensity, duration, and direction; and a basket adapted for placement within said cleaning tank so as to be rotatable by a motor, said basket having disposed therein a plurality of partitions each shaped as a vane such that during rotation of said basket, the water in said cleaning tank is stirred, the fruit and vegetable items placed in said basket being maintained therein in submerged fashion and being forced by said stirred water to move and rotate relative to said transducer and around themselves to ensure sufficient exposure of all sides of the fruit and vegetable items directly to a maximal level of vibration intensity regardless of the highly absorptive nature thereof when subjected to said ultrasonic vibrations traveling through the water as part of a cleaning process, to facilitate removal by washing from the surfaces thereof substantially all contaminants such as residual mud, dirt, microbiological flora, mold, worms, bacteria, germs, herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers, wherein said device further comprises a centrifugal water pump for additionally stirring said fruit and vegetable items by ejecting a portion of the water in said cleaning tank against the internal walls thereof, subjecting said items to a vortex-like movement and exposing all their surfaces to said vibration energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22)
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20. A method of simultaneously cleaning, disinfecting and washing fruit and vegetable items comprising the steps of:
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providing a cleaning tank, adapted to contain water in which at least one of cleaning, disinfecting, and flotation agents are dissolved; providing ultrasonic vibrations through the water contained in said cleaning tank at a predetermined vibration energy level, and with a predetermined frequency, intensity, duration, and direction; placing a rotatable basket within said cleaning tank, said basket having disposed therein a plurality of partitions each shaped as a vane such that during rotation of said basket, the water in said cleaning tank is stirred, the fruit and vegetable items placed in said basket being maintained therein in submerged fashion and being forced by said stirred water to move and rotate relative to said transducer and around themselves to ensure sufficient exposure of all sides of the fruit and vegetable items directly to a maximal level of vibration intensity regardless of the highly absorptive nature thereof when subjected to said ultrasonic vibrations traveling through the water as part of a cleaning process, to facilitate removal by washing from the surfaces thereof substantially all contaminants such as residual mud, dirt, microbiological flora, mold, worms, bacteria, germs, herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers, and additionally stirring said fruit and vegetable items by ejecting a portion of the water in said cleaning tank against the internal walls thereof, subjecting said items to a vortex-like movement and exposing all their surface to said vibration energy. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification