Automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line

Abstract

The utility model discloses an automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line mainly relates to fruit and vegetable cleaning technical field. The top of cleaning tank is equipped with rectangular notch, one end of notch is incoming material end and the other end is material removal end, the first rotary drum that is extended along its width direction is equipped with above notch, both ends of first rotary drum are rotatablely connected with notch top side respectively, 4-8 rows of brush pole groups are equipped with along the axial direction of the lateral wall of first rotary drum, each brush pole group includes a plurality of brush poles that are equidistantly arranged along the axial direction of first rotary drum, the brush on brush pole is fixed with brush hair, the side of first rotary drum close to incoming material end is equipped with horizontal groove that is parallelly arranged with it, one end of horizontal groove close to first rotary drum is equipped with the toothed plate that is arranged obliquely, the toothed groove is equipped with toothed groove on toothed plate corresponding brush pole position, the groove wall of toothed groove is equipped with convex tooth. The utility model has the beneficial effects that can be fully immersed to fruit and vegetable, guarantee that fruit and vegetable and water repeatedly contact fully, and effectively remove the fiber-like dirt that sticks on the surface of fruit and vegetable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fruit and vegetable cleaning technology, specifically to an automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line. Background Technology

[0002] As fruit and vegetable pre-processing gradually develops into automated, large-scale production lines, the first step is washing the fruits and vegetables. The washing process efficiently removes dust, dirt, pesticide residues, and microbial contaminants from the surface of fruits and vegetables, ensuring their cleanliness and safety, meeting food hygiene standards, and protecting consumer health. Current washing processes can achieve large-scale, continuous operation.

[0003] Specifically, the cleaning process typically includes the following steps: First, fruits and vegetables are fully soaked through automated conveying equipment or manual operation, and then rinsed with enhanced spray. If the surface is difficult to clean or the cleanliness requirements are high, further scrubbing, bubble impact, ultrasonic cleaning, etc., can be performed to achieve a more thorough cleaning effect.

[0004] Therefore, the first step in cleaning fruits and vegetables is usually soaking. Although soaking is a common preliminary cleaning method, it has many limitations and is difficult to achieve thorough cleaning. Because fruits and vegetables are generally less dense than water, they mostly float on the surface during soaking, resulting in insufficient contact with the water and making it difficult to remove dirt from the upper parts of the peel. At the same time, fibrous impurities, such as soft, rotten branches and fine tendrils, are often attached to the surface of fruits and vegetables. These impurities are tough and easily entangled, making them difficult to remove effectively by soaking alone. Therefore, the soaking stage is often ineffective at removing dirt, relying mainly on subsequent steps, and it is highly dependent on and requires a large amount of water, making it a costly and ineffective part of fruit and vegetable cleaning. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic fruit and vegetable washing production line that can thoroughly soak and wash fruits and vegetables, ensuring that the fruits and vegetables are repeatedly and fully in contact with water, and effectively removing fibrous dirt adhering to the surface of the fruits and vegetables.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model employs the following technical solution:

[0007] An automatic fruit and vegetable washing production line includes a washing tank with a rectangular opening at the top. One end of the opening is the material inlet, and the other end is the material outlet. Above the opening is a first rotating cylinder extending along its width. Both ends of the first rotating cylinder are rotatably connected to the top side of the opening. 4-8 rows of brush rods are arranged along the axial direction on the side wall of the first rotating cylinder. Each brush rod group includes multiple brush rods equidistantly arranged along the axial direction of the first rotating cylinder. Brush bristles are fixed on the brush rods. A transverse groove is arranged parallel to the material inlet on the side of the first rotating cylinder. An inclined toothed plate is provided at the end of the transverse groove near the first rotating cylinder. The toothed plate has toothed grooves corresponding to the brush rod positions, and the groove walls have protruding teeth.

[0008] The spacing between adjacent brush bars is adapted to the size of the fruits and vegetables to be processed.

[0009] One end of the transverse trough is provided with a water inlet, and the other end of the transverse trough is provided with a downward-folding guide plate. A cleaning box is fixed on the outer wall of the cleaning tank, and a water filter plate is provided on the top side of the cleaning box. The water filter plate is located below the guide plate.

[0010] A water inlet pipe is connected to the water inlet, and the bottom end of the water inlet pipe is connected to the cleaning tank via a pump.

[0011] The first rotating drum has multiple strip-shaped holes running through it along its length.

[0012] Above the cleaning tank, there are also a number of second rotating cylinders extending in the same direction as the width of the cleaning tank. The number of second rotating cylinders are distributed along the length of the cleaning tank. The bottom of the second rotating cylinder is in contact with the water surface in the cleaning tank. The second rotating cylinder is electrically driven and rotatably installed.

[0013] Multiple levers are fixed circumferentially on the second rotating drum, and the levers extend in the same radial direction as the second rotating drum.

[0014] The second rotating drum has mesh holes.

[0015] Adjacent second drums are connected by belt drive, which makes all second drums rotate in the same direction and at the same speed.

[0016] Each of the second rotating drums has a hanging plate on both sides. The top side of the hanging plate is used to support the side walls on both sides of the trough opening. The top side of the hanging plate is folded outward to form a "door" shape and hooks with the top side of the trough wall of the cleaning tank. The two ends of the second rotating drum are rotatably installed with the hanging plate on the same side through bearing components.

[0017] The bottom of the cleaning tank is provided with a downwardly inclined bucket-shaped structure, and the bottom end of the bucket-shaped structure is provided with a drain outlet. A horizontally laid base plate is fixed to the bottom of the cleaning tank, and the base plate adopts a mesh plate structure.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0019] The tumbling action of the first roller presses and pushes fruits and vegetables downwards and backwards. While directionally pushing the vegetables, it also submerges them in water, causing them to tumble and sink during the downward motion, ensuring full contact with the water and achieving excellent soaking and cleaning results. Simultaneously, as the first roller rotates, the brush handles agitate the fruits and vegetables, using the bristles to peel away fibrous impurities entangled on their surface. This removes the fibrous dirt adhering to the surface of the fruits and vegetables, solving the problem of such dirt being difficult to clean. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall design of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a side view of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tank, the first rotating drum, and the second rotating drum of this utility model.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the first rotating drum of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the second rotating drum of this utility model.

[0025] The labels shown in the attached diagram:

[0026] 1. Base frame; 2. Cleaning tank; 3. Drain outlet; 4. Bucket-shaped structure; 5. Base plate; 6. Machine plate; 7. Horizontal section; 8. Material lifting section; 9. Water passage hole; 10. Material lifting plate; 11. Inclined surface; 12. Spray pipe; 13. Spray head; 14. Water receiving trough; 15. Material receiving trough; 16. First rotating drum; 17. Brush rod assembly; 18. Horizontal groove; 19. Toothed plate; 20. Toothed groove; 21. Water inlet; 22. Guide plate; 23. Cleaning box; 24. Filter plate; 25. Second rotating drum; 26. Pulley; 27. Transmission pulley; 28. Synchronous belt; 29. ​​Hanging plate; 30. Bolts. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will be further illustrated below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that after reading the teachings of this invention, those skilled in the art can make various alterations or modifications to the present invention, and these equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined in this application.

[0028] Example:

[0029] This example is an improved automated fruit and vegetable cleaning production line. Its process is similar to the traditional process, which also includes two steps: soaking and spraying. In addition, other cleaning steps can be added in series according to the needs of different fruits and vegetables.

[0030] The structure of this equipment is relatively complex, but the improvements are mainly concentrated in the soaking process. In order to provide a complete description of the process, we will introduce the entire equipment in detail below.

[0031] This equipment mainly includes a base frame 1, which is a metal support structure used to support the entire equipment and provide installation positions for other components.

[0032] A cleaning tank 2 is installed and fixed on the base frame 1. The top of the cleaning tank 2 is provided with a rectangular opening, which is a long rectangular strip used to provide a channel for soaking and cleaning.

[0033] The bottom of the washing tank 2 is provided with a downwardly inclined bucket-shaped structure 4, and a drain outlet 3 is provided at the lowest end for collecting and discharging the used wastewater downwards. The bottom of the washing tank 2 is fixed with a horizontally laid base plate 5. The base plate 5 adopts a mesh structure to allow water to pass through downwards while trapping fruits and larger impurities, making it easy to clean.

[0034] To improve the cleaning effect, if necessary, an aeration pipe can be installed above the bottom plate 5 to create a large number of bubbles at the bottom of the water, thereby improving the cleaning effect.

[0035] A conveying mechanism is installed at one end of the cleaning tank 2. The conveying mechanism uses a belt conveyor as its main structure, including two machine plates 6 on both sides. A rotary conveyor belt is installed between the machine plates 6. The conveyor belt includes a continuous lifting section 8 and a horizontal section 7 based on the conveying direction. The lifting section 8 is inclined, and its bottom end is located near the bottom plate 5 of the cleaning tank 2. The horizontal section 7 extends horizontally from the top of the lifting section 8 away from the cleaning tank 2. The shape of the machine plates 6 is adapted to the shape of the conveyor belt. Structurally, at least three sets of pulleys are rotatably installed between the machine plates 6: a lower pulley, an upper pulley, and two support rollers. The lower pulley is rotatably installed at the bottom of the machine plate 6, and the upper pulley is rotatably installed at the upper end of the machine plate 6 away from the cleaning tank 2. The conveyor belt rotates around the upper and lower pulleys. The rollers are installed between the lower and upper pulleys and are adapted to the height of the upper pulley. The two rollers are arranged one above the other to support the conveyor belt at the turning point. The upper roller supports the lower layer of the conveyor belt, causing it to bend and change from inclined conveying to horizontal conveying. The lower roller supports the bottom surface of the lower layer of the conveyor belt, facilitating the rotation of the conveyor belt.

[0036] The machine plate 6 is equipped with a conveyor motor for driving the upper pulley, which provides power for the rotation of the entire conveyor belt.

[0037] The conveyor belt has water holes 9 on its surface. Equally spaced lifting plates 10 are provided on the conveyor belt, and the lifting plates 10 are fixed perpendicularly to the conveyor belt surface. The side of the lifting plate 10 closest to the conveyor belt is tightened onto the conveyor belt with screws, and as the conveyor belt rotates, it directionally pushes the fruits and vegetables upwards or backwards.

[0038] The end of the cleaning tank 2 near the conveying mechanism is an inclined surface 11 that slopes outward from bottom to top. This inclined surface 11 is located below the conveyor belt and is adapted to the lifting section 8 of the conveyor belt, so as to catch the flushing water falling during the lifting process.

[0039] Multiple spray pipes 12 are evenly spaced above the feeding section 8, and the spray pipes 12 are arranged along the width direction of the conveyor belt. Spray nozzles 13 are provided below the spray pipes 12 for spraying fine, high-pressure water downwards to further clean the surface of fruits and vegetables. The sprayed water falls downwards from the water passage 9 and is eventually collected by the washing tank 2.

[0040] Furthermore, a water receiving trough 14 can also be fixedly installed below the horizontal part 7. One end of the water receiving trough 14 is located above the groove of the inclined surface 11, and the water receiving trough 14 is an inclined trough with its bottom end close to the cleaning tank 2, which can collect the residual water into the cleaning tank 2.

[0041] The water receiving trough 14 has a material receiving trough 15 at the end furthest from the washing trough 2. The material receiving trough 15 is located below the material discharge end of the lifting section 8, which shortens the material receiving height and prevents fruits and vegetables from falling from a height and getting injured. The end of the material receiving trough 15 furthest from the water receiving trough 14 is inclined downwards to guide the fruits and vegetables into the next conveying or processing stage. The material receiving trough 15 can serve to support the fruits and vegetables both vertically and vertically, protecting them.

[0042] A roller brush mechanism is provided above the cleaning tank 2. The roller brush mechanism includes a circular first rotating cylinder 16 that spans across the cleaning tank 2 and is consistent with the width direction of the cleaning tank 2. Multiple strip-shaped holes are penetrating the first rotating cylinder 16 along its length direction. The strip-shaped holes are distributed around the first rotating cylinder 16 to facilitate the discharge of excess water and reduce the rotation weight.

[0043] The first rotating drum 16 has seven rows of brush rods 17 evenly spaced on its circumference. Each row of brush rods 17 includes multiple brush rods evenly spaced along the axial direction of the first rotating drum 16. The brush rods are equipped with outwardly extending bristles. When the first rotating drum 16 rotates, the brush rods agitate the fruits and vegetables, and the bristles remove fibrous impurities entangled on the surface of the fruits and vegetables. The spacing of the brush rods can be set to be adapted to the size of the fruits and vegetables being cleaned. It can be set to a spacing larger than that of a single fruit or vegetable, so that when in contact with the fruits and vegetables, they can more easily enter the spaces between the brush rods and be thoroughly brushed by the bristles.

[0044] The two ends of the first rotating drum 16 are rotatably mounted on both sides of the opening of the cleaning tank 2 via bearing seats. A first motor that is connected to the first rotating drum 16 is installed on one side of the cleaning tank 2.

[0045] Based on the material flow direction, the washing tank 2 is equipped with a conveying mechanism at one end as the material discharge end and the other end as the material inlet end.

[0046] The first rotating drum 16 rotates in the direction of inlet, allowing the brush rod to press the fruit and vegetables downwards. Due to buoyancy, the fruit and vegetables can fully contact the brush bristles as the brush rod presses down.

[0047] A transverse groove 18 is provided on the side of the first rotating drum 16 away from the conveying mechanism. The length direction of the transverse groove 18 is adapted to the width direction of the cleaning tank 2. The two ends of the transverse groove 18 are respectively fixed to the two sides of the opening of the cleaning tank 2. A toothed plate 19 is provided on the side of the transverse groove 18 near the first rotating drum 16, inclined towards the first rotating drum 16. A toothed groove 20 is provided on the toothed plate 19 corresponding to the position of the brush rod. The groove wall of the toothed groove 20 is provided with protruding teeth. When the brush rod passes through the toothed groove 20 with the first rotating drum 16, the brush rod passes through the toothed groove 20, and the fiber debris hooked on the bristles is scraped off by the protruding teeth and falls into the transverse groove 18. The transverse groove 18 can be cleaned manually or an automatic rinsing process can be added. For example, a water inlet 21 is provided at one end of the transverse groove 18, and a water supply pipe is connected to the water inlet 21. The water supply pipe can draw water from the cleaning tank 2. After rinsing one end of the transverse groove 18, the fiber debris can be rinsed to the other end. The transverse trough 18 is provided with a downward-folding guide plate 22 at the end away from the water inlet 21. A cleaning box 23 is fixed on the outer wall of the cleaning tank 2. A filter plate 24 is provided on the top side of the cleaning box 23. The filter plate 24 is located below the guide plate 22. Water carrying fibrous waste falls onto the filter plate 24, intercepting the fibrous waste on the filter plate 24. It can be manually cleaned at regular intervals. The filtered water enters the cleaning box 23 and can either return to the cleaning tank 2 or be treated separately.

[0048] Above the washing tank 2, there are also a number of second rotating drums 25. The second rotating drums 25 are located between the first rotating drum 16 and the material receiving side of the washing tank 2. They are used to press the fruits and vegetables that have just entered the washing tank 2 downwards into the water surface, so that the fruits and vegetables are fully soaked and in contact with the water, promote the tumbling of the fruits and vegetables, and improve the cleaning effect.

[0049] Multiple levers 26 are fixed circumferentially on the second rotating drum 25. The levers 26 extend radially in the same direction as the second rotating drum 25. The second rotating drum 25 has mesh holes to reduce material and weight and facilitate water leakage.

[0050] The second rotating drum 25 can be provided in multiple ways along the length of the washing tank 2, which can both push up the water flow that keeps the fruits and vegetables moving backward, and can also flip and press down the fruits and vegetables multiple times.

[0051] Adjacent second drums 25 are connected by belt drive. Specifically, a drive pulley 27 is provided at one or both ends of the second drum 25, and a synchronous belt 28 is provided between the drive pulleys 27 on the same side of adjacent second drums 25. The adjacent synchronous belts 28 are staggered, that is, they are respectively located at both ends of the second drum 25. One of the second drums 25 is driven by a second motor.

[0052] For ease of adjustment and flexible use, hanging plates 29 are provided on both sides of each of the second rotating drums 25. The top side of the hanging plate 29 is used to support the side walls on both sides of the tank opening. The top side of the hanging plate 29 is folded outward to form a "door" shape, which can be directly hung on the top side of the tank wall of the cleaning tank 2 like a hook. The two ends of the second rotating drum 25 are rotatably installed on the hanging plate 29 on the same side through bearing components. The second motor is also fixed to the hanging plate 29 through the motor frame. The hanging plates 29 form a modular unit of all the second rotating drums 25 that can be independently disassembled and used, which can be flexibly installed and used. When needed, the hanging plates 29 on both sides can be directly hung on the top side of the tank wall of the cleaning tank 2.

[0053] For reliable fixation, bolts 30 can be provided on the top side of the hanging plate 29 to reinforce the fixation to the top side of the tank wall of the cleaning tank 2.

Claims

1. An automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line, characterized by, The device includes a cleaning tank with a rectangular opening at the top. One end of the opening is the material inlet, and the other end is the material outlet. Above the opening is a first rotating cylinder extending along its width. Both ends of the first rotating cylinder are rotatably connected to the top side of the opening. The side wall of the first rotating cylinder has 4-8 rows of brush rods arranged along its axial direction. Each brush rod group includes multiple brush rods equidistantly arranged along the axial direction of the first rotating cylinder. Brush bristles are fixed on the brush rods. A transverse groove is arranged parallel to the material inlet on the side of the first rotating cylinder. An inclined toothed plate is provided at the end of the transverse groove near the first rotating cylinder. The toothed plate has toothed grooves corresponding to the brush rod positions, and the groove walls have protruding teeth.

2. The automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spacing between adjacent brush bars is adapted to the size of the fruits and vegetables to be processed.

3. The automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the horizontal trough is provided with a water inlet, and the other end of the horizontal trough is provided with a downward-folding guide plate. A cleaning box is fixed on the outer wall of the cleaning tank, and a water filter plate is provided on the top side of the cleaning box. The water filter plate is located below the guide plate.

4. The automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first rotating drum has multiple strip-shaped holes running through it along its length.

5. The automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line according to claim 1, wherein Above the cleaning tank, there are also a number of second rotating cylinders extending in the same direction as the width of the cleaning tank. The number of second rotating cylinders are distributed along the length of the cleaning tank. The bottom of the second rotating cylinder is in contact with the water surface in the cleaning tank. The second rotating cylinder is electrically driven and rotatably installed.

6. The automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line according to claim 5, characterized in that, Multiple levers are fixed circumferentially on the second rotating drum, and the levers extend in the same radial direction as the second rotating drum.

7. The automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second rotating drum has mesh holes.

8. The automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line according to claim 5, wherein Adjacent second drums are connected by belt drive, which makes all second drums rotate in the same direction and at the same speed.

9. The automatic fruit and vegetable washing production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the second rotating drums has a hanging plate on both sides. The top side of the hanging plate is used to support the side walls on both sides of the trough opening. The top side of the hanging plate is folded outward to form a "door" shape and hooks with the top side of the trough wall of the cleaning tank. The two ends of the second rotating drum are rotatably installed with the hanging plate on the same side through bearing components.

10. The automatic fruit and vegetable cleaning production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the cleaning tank is provided with a downwardly inclined bucket-shaped structure, and the bottom end of the bucket-shaped structure is provided with a drain outlet. A horizontally laid base plate is fixed to the bottom of the cleaning tank, and the base plate adopts a mesh plate structure.

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