Method and device for cleaning shellfish aquaculture basket

Abstract

To provide a method and a device for cleaning a shellfish aquaculture basket without spraying high-pressure water for cleaning to scallops in such a state that the scallops are put in the basket.SOLUTION: A shellfish aquaculture basket is constructed such that a net is stretched over on the circumference, the interior is partitioned in multiple stages at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction by multiple partitioning nets, and multiple shellfish outlets respectively corresponding to the respective stages are linearly provided in the longitudinal direction through the net on the side surface. The method includes a transportation process in which the shellfish aquaculture basket is transported in such a state that the shellfish is put therein and a removal process in which a foreign matter attached to the shellfish aquaculture basket is removed. In the transportation process, the shellfish aquaculture basket which is contracted in the longitudinal direction is transported while sequentially extending each of the multiple stages from one end. In the removal process, cleaning water is sprayed from the lateral side of the extended shellfish aquaculture basket toward a portion where no shellfish are present in such a state that the shellfish are gathered at the bottom inside the shellfish aquaculture basket.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to cleaning shellfish farming cages, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for stretching, transporting and cleaning deflated round cages. [Background technology]

[0002] In scallop farming, various types of cages are used, such as round cages, zabuton cages, and pocket cages. Cages with different shapes, sizes, and mesh sizes are used depending on the growth stage of the scallops. Foreign matter such as seaweed and other organisms such as oysters and barnacles adhere to the cages. If foreign matter adheres to the cages, it will hinder water permeability, which may have a negative impact on the supply of oxygen and food to the scallops. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly remove foreign matter that has adhered to the cages, and for this purpose, the cages are washed on land or on a ship as necessary.

[0003] FIG. 1 shows a typical round cage 1. The round cage 1 is a generally cylindrical aquaculture cage typically consisting of a top surface 11 and a bottom surface 12 on which nets are stretched over a circular frame, a cylindrical side surface 13, and multiple partition nets 14 arranged inside. The partition nets 14 are nets stretched over a circular frame, and are arranged to divide the space inside the round cage 1 at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction. Scallop shells S are placed in each of the multiple spaces (generally called "stages") divided by the partition nets 14. Each stage 15 is provided with a shellfish outlet 16 for taking out the scallop shells S. The shellfish outlets 16 are arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the round cage 1, passing through the multiple stages 15. The round cage 1 further has a hanging rope 17 for suspending the entire cage. The round cage 1 typically has a length of 2 to 5 m, a diameter of 40 to 50 cm, and 7 to 20 stages.

[0004] Shellfish farming cages are washed efficiently by spraying seawater on the scallops still inside the cages on a ship after the cages have been pulled up, and it is desirable that this can be done even on a small ship. For example, the technology described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed as a device for washing cages on a ship. However, the technology in Patent Document 1 is a technology for washing the entire cage with the scallops still inside, and is not capable of washing the cage while avoiding the scallops. In this technology, nozzles are arranged to spray washing water vertically onto the scallops inside the cage, and the cage must be washed with a low water pressure that does not crack the scallops. In such conventional technology, the washing water seeps into the inside of the scallops through the gap between the two shells, and as a result, there is a risk that the scallops will die after washing.

[0005] A technique described in Patent Document 2 has also been proposed as a method for washing a round cage on a ship. In this technique, a worker stretches out a round cage that has been pulled up from the sea onto a ship, sprays high-pressure water onto the upper side of the round cage, rotates the round cage, and repeats the same spraying of high-pressure water to wash the entire round cage. However, as described above, the longest round cage has 20 stages and is as long as 5 m, and it is an extremely heavy workload for a worker to go back and forth over a 5-m length while manually maintaining the stretched state with a nozzle for spraying high-pressure water. Even if the movement of the nozzle is mechanized, the device that moves the nozzle over a distance of 5 m is large and impractical for use on a ship, and the burden of maintaining the stretched state still remains for the worker. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-136331 A [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6440180 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a method and apparatus for cleaning shellfish culture cages with the scallops still inside, without applying high-pressure water for cleaning to the scallops. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides a method for washing shellfish cultivation cages with shellfish still inside. The shellfish cultivation cages are generally cylindrical in shape, with a net stretched around the outside and the inside divided into a number of stages at regular intervals along the length by a number of partition nets, with a number of shellfish outlets corresponding to each stage being provided linearly along the length through the side nets. The method includes a transport step in which the shellfish cultivation cages are transported with shellfish inside, and a removal step in which foreign matter attached to the shellfish cultivation cages is removed. In the transport step, the shellfish cultivation cages are transported while contracting along the length, with each of the stages being stretched in turn from one end. In the removal step, the shellfish are gathered at the bottom inside the shellfish cultivation cage, and cleaning water is sprayed from the side of the stretched shellfish cultivation cage towards the part where there are no shellfish. In the transport step, it is preferable to transport the shellfish cultivation cages with the shellfish outlets at the top.

[0009] In one embodiment, in the transport step, the shellfish culture cages are preferably transported obliquely upward while being successively stretched. The washing water is preferably sprayed toward at least a portion including the shellfish outlet.

[0010] In one embodiment, the method preferably further includes a lifting step of lifting the shellfish cultivation cages from the sea onto a ship, and a dropping step of dropping the cleaned shellfish cultivation cages from the ship into the sea.

[0011] The present invention further provides an apparatus for washing shellfish culture cages with shellfish still inside them. The apparatus comprises a transport section for transporting the shellfish culture cages with shellfish inside, and a spray section for spraying washing water from the side of the stretched shellfish culture cage towards the part of the cage where no shellfish are present, with the shellfish gathered at the bottom inside the cage. It is preferable that the transport section transports the shellfish culture cages with the shellfish outlet at the top.

[0012] In one embodiment, the device preferably further comprises a guard for protecting the lower part of the shellfish culture cage in which the shellfish are gathered, so that the cleaning water is not sprayed directly onto the shellfish. The spray unit preferably sprays the cleaning water toward at least the part including the shellfish outlet.

[0013] In one embodiment, it is preferable that the device further comprises a cage loading platform on which shellfish cultivation cages that have been pulled up from the sea onto the ship are placed, and a cage discharge platform on which the shellfish cultivation cages are dropped from the ship into the sea after being cleaned. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, the contracted round cages can be moved while being successively stretched, and the round cages can be effectively washed while protecting the scallop shells from being directly hit by high-pressure washing water. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a round cage used in scallop farming. [Diagram 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus for cleaning round baskets according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device for cleaning round baskets shown in FIG. 2, without the case. [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a round cage is being washed using the apparatus of FIG. 2, as viewed from the inlet side of the washing section. FIG. [Diagram 5] 3 is a schematic perspective view of a round cage being washed using the apparatus of FIG. 2, seen from the outlet side of the washing section, showing the round cage changing direction after washing. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0017] (Overview of the embodiment of the present invention) In a method and device for washing a round basket 1 with scallop shells S inside, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the contracted round basket 1 with the scallop shells S inside is stretched while being transported, and the scallop shells S are collected at the bottom of the round basket 1, so that the round basket 1 can be safely washed without directly spraying high-pressure washing water on the scallop shells S inside. When the round basket 1 is laid on a basket carrying stand before being washed, it becomes contracted, and when it is placed on a conveyor from the basket carrying stand and transported, it gradually becomes stretched from one end.

[0018] It is preferable that the round cage 1 is oriented so that the shell outlet 16 is located at the top when it is washed. It is easy to rotate the round cage 1 in a contracted state so that the shell outlet 16 faces the top. The scallop shells S will gather at the bottom inside the round cage 1.

[0019] The round cage 1 is washed with washing water pressurized to the required pressure. The washing water is sprayed towards the cage 1 from both sides of the cage 1. The washing water is sprayed onto the parts of the cage 1 in its stretched state where no shells are present. Therefore, the washing water is not sprayed directly onto the scallop shells S inside, preventing damage to the scallop shells S and water from entering the inside. Also, since the washing water is not sprayed directly onto the scallop shells S, the washing device of the present invention can apply a higher pressure of washing water than conventional washing devices. To prevent the washing water from being sprayed directly onto the scallop shells S, it is preferable that the device be provided with a guard to protect the part of the cage 1 where the scallop shells S are gathered.

[0020] (Configuration of the round basket cleaning device) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a round cage washing device 2 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the device 2) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device 2 excluding the case 80. FIG. 2 is a view seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction of the round cage 1, and FIG. 3 is a view seen from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the round cage 1. The device 2 includes a conveying section 30 supported by a frame 20, a washing section 40, a guide section 50, a foreign matter discharge section 60, a drive section (not shown), and a case 80. The device 2 preferably further includes a basket loading platform 90 for placing at least a part of the round cage 1 before washing, and a basket discharge platform 95 for placing at least a part of the round cage 1 after washing. When the device 2 is used on a ship, the basket loading platform 90 can be shaped to be suitable for placing at least a part of the round cage 1 placed on the ship or the round cage 1 pulled up from the sea, and the basket discharge platform 95 can be shaped to be suitable for discharging the round cage 1 after washing in the washing section 40 onto the ship or into the sea.

[0021] The conveying section 30 has rollers 31 and 32 arranged in a horizontal direction so that their rotation axes are parallel to each other, and a conveyor 33 stretched between the rollers 31 and 32. One of the rollers, for example, the roller 32, rotates by power transmitted from a motor of the driving section via a transmission section, and the conveyor 33 moves between the rollers 31 and 32 as the roller 32 rotates. In addition, in the drawings, the driving section and the transmission section, which are well-known technologies, are not shown so as not to make the drawings complicated. For example, as the driving section and the transmission section, a motor is provided on the case 80, and the roller 32 can be rotated by a chain or a belt connected from the motor to one of the rollers 32 via the inside or outside of the case 80. The round basket 1 is placed in a stretched state on the moving conveyor 33 and conveyed to the cleaning section 40. It is preferable that the conveying speed can be appropriately changed according to the progress of cleaning.

[0022] The conveyor 33 may be, but is not limited to, a mesh-like shape so that the foreign objects removed from the round basket 1 fall together with the washing water into the foreign object discharge section 60 below (in Figs. 2 and 3, only a part of the conveyor 33 is shown as a mesh to avoid cluttering the drawings). The size of the mesh is not limited as long as it allows the foreign objects to pass through. It is more preferable to provide a plurality of protrusions, such as bars extending in the width direction of the conveyor 33, on the surface of the conveyor 33 along the length of the conveyor 33 so that the frame body or net of the round basket 1 can be hooked to enhance the effect of stretching the round basket 1. The material of the conveyor 33 is, but is not limited to, preferably one that is resistant to washing water and seawater, and for example, stainless steel, resin, etc. can be used appropriately. The width of the conveyor 33 may be wider than the width of the bottom of the round basket 1 when the scallop shells S are gathered.

[0023] It is preferable that a plurality of grooves 33a are provided on the surface of the conveyor 33. By providing the grooves 33a on the surface of the conveyor 33, when the round cage 1 is placed on the conveyor 33 from the basket placement stand 90, the grooves 33a capture the net of each tier 15 of the round cage 1, and the conveyor 33 pulls the round cage 1 while successively stretching each of the tiers 15 between the basket placement stand 90 and the conveyor 33.

[0024] The conveyor 33 is preferably disposed so as to slope obliquely upward from the basket loading platform 90 toward the basket unloading platform 95. By disposing the conveyor 33 in this manner, each stage 15 of the round cages 1 can be extended over a short horizontal distance, so that the device 2 can be designed compactly and can be used even on small boats.

[0025] A case 80 is provided so as to cover at least a part of the conveyor 33. At least a part of the conveyor 33 is located in a position corresponding to the cleaning section 40. By providing the case 80, it is possible to prevent the cleaning water from scattering around. If necessary, the case 80 may be provided so as to cover the entire conveyor 33. The case 80 has an entrance 81 through which the round basket 1 enters, and an exit 82 through which the round basket 1 is discharged after cleaning. The upper surface of the conveyor 33 moves from the entrance 81 toward the exit 82, and the round basket 1 placed on the conveyor 33 in a stretched state can be transported from the entrance 81 to the exit 82.

[0026] The case 80 houses a cleaning section 40 that sprays cleaning water onto the round cage 1. The cleaning section 40 preferably has a spray section consisting of two cleaning units 41, 42. The cleaning unit 41 is arranged on one inner wall 83 of the case 80, and the cleaning unit 42 is arranged on the other inner wall 84 of the case 80. High-pressure cleaning water is supplied to the cleaning units 41, 42 via a hose (not shown). In this way, by arranging the cleaning units 41, 42 on the left and right of the transport direction of the round cage 1, it is possible to simultaneously wash both sides of the round cage 1.

[0027] The cleaning unit 41 has three nozzles 41a, 41b, and 41c that spray cleaning water toward the cleaning unit 42 arranged opposite to it, and the cleaning unit 42 similarly has three nozzles 42a, 42b, and 42c that spray cleaning water toward the cleaning unit 41. The number of nozzles in the cleaning units 41 and 42 is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more. The three nozzles are provided at the ends of three pipes extending outward from the rotating part, respectively, and can spray cleaning water supplied from the outside through the rotating part and the pipes in this order. The cleaning units 41 and 42 rotate in a plane parallel to the inner walls 83 and 84 around the rotating part by the reaction of the spray of cleaning water from the three nozzles 41a, 41b, and 41c and the nozzles 42a, 42b, and 42c, respectively. In another embodiment, the cleaning units 41 and 42 can be configured to rotate by a motor instead of by the reaction of the spray of cleaning water.

[0028] The pressure of the cleaning water sprayed from the nozzles 41a, 41b, 41c, 42a, 42b, 42c can be set appropriately as necessary. For example, the pressure of the cleaning water may be 3 MPa or less if the foreign matter in the round cage 1 is only mud or seaweed, and is preferably 4 MPa or more if the foreign matter is a sea squirt or the like. Since the cleaning water is sprayed onto the part of the round cage 1 where no scallop shells S are present, it can be used at a higher pressure than in conventional cleaning devices.

[0029] The cleaning units 41, 42 spray cleaning water from the side of the round cage 1 moving on the conveyor 33 toward the side surface 13. The lowest point positions of the three rotating nozzles 41a, 41b, 41c are preferably set at a height where the sprayed cleaning water hits the scallop shells S gathered at the bottom inside the round cage 1. The lowest point positions of the three rotating nozzles 42a, 42b, 42c are similar. This makes it possible to remove foreign matter from the round cage 1 while preventing damage to the scallop shells S and the infiltration of cleaning water through gaps in the shells. The highest point positions of the three rotating nozzles 41a, 41b, 41c are preferably at the top of the round cage 1, but may be even higher. The same is true for the three nozzles 42a, 42b, 42c.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the washing units 41, 42 are rotary washing units in which three nozzles rotate, but are not limited thereto. For example, each of the washing units 41, 42 can be a swing washing unit in which a nozzle is provided at one end of one or more pipes and the other end is rotatably supported at any appropriate position of the device 2. In this washing unit, washing water from the outside is supplied to the nozzle through the other end supported by the device 2 and the pipe. In this washing unit, the nozzle at one end of the pipe moves in an arc around the other end supported by the axis as the center of rotation to spray washing water. The position of the lowest point of the nozzle moving in an arc is set at a height such that the sprayed washing water does not hit the scallop shells S gathered at the bottom inside the round basket 1 in an upright state.

[0031] A foreign object discharge section 60 for discharging foreign objects removed from the round cage 1 by the jet of cleaning water is provided below the conveying section 30. The foreign object discharge section 60 has a collection section 61 for receiving foreign objects and a discharge port 62 through which the fallen foreign objects are discharged together with the cleaning water.

[0032] The device 2 includes a guide section 50 above the conveyor 33. The guide section 50 has main guides 51 and 52 that support the round cage 1 from the sides as it is transported in a stretched state, and can guard the lower part of the round cage 1 so that it is not hit by cleaning water. The guide section 50 preferably further includes auxiliary guides 53 and 54 that suppress the swinging of the round cage 1 as cleaning water is sprayed.

[0033] The main guides 51, 52 are fixed at any position inside the case 80 of the device 2 or at any position on the frame 20. The main guides 51, 52 have the function of supporting the round cage 1 moving on the conveyor 33 from the sides, and therefore preferably have a length corresponding to the length of the transport section 30.

[0034] The main guides 51, 52 each have a support end 51a, 52a that supports the round cage 1, and a guard plate 51b, 52b that is continuous with the lower part of the support end 51a, 52a. The support ends 51a, 52a can support the round cage 1 from the side of the cage 1. The support ends 51a, 52a are preferably made of a metal round bar with a smooth surface so as not to damage the cage 1 even when they come into contact with it, and not to impede the transportation of the cage 1.

[0035] The distance between the support ends 51a and 52a is preferably set to a distance that supports the cage 1 so that the cage 1 does not move significantly left and right when cleaning water is sprayed onto the cage 1. The heightwise positions of the support ends 51a, 52a are set so that as much of the cage 1 as possible appears above the support ends 51a, 52a (i.e., so that the cleaning range is as large as possible), and for example, although not limited thereto, it is preferable that the support ends 51a, 52a are below the central axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the cage 1. Preferably, the portion of the cage 1 that appears above the support ends 51a, 52a can be about 60% to 70%.

[0036] The guard plates 51b, 52b are configured to cover at least the lower portion of the round basket 1 where the scallop shells S are gathered, and to position the support ends 51a, 52a at an appropriate location above the conveyor 33. The guard plates 51b, 52b are arranged to extend diagonally downward from the support ends 51a, 52a, respectively. By configuring the guard plates 51b, 52b in this way, it is possible to protect the area where the scallop shells S are gathered at the bottom of the round basket 1 moving on the conveyor 33 from being directly hit by the sprayed cleaning water.

[0037] Auxiliary guides 53, 54 are preferably provided above the main guides 51, 52. When the round cage 1 passes through the washing section 40, the water pressure of the sprayed washing water causes the round cage 1 to swing left and right (so-called cage dancing), which may damage the round cage 1. In order to suppress this swinging, the auxiliary guides 53, 54 are preferably provided. The auxiliary guides 53, 54 are provided for the purpose of suppressing the swinging of the round cage 1 caused by the water pressure of the washing water, so they need only be located at a position corresponding to at least the washing section 40.

[0038] The auxiliary guides 53 and 54 are preferably arranged to be located above the support ends 51a and 52a of the main guides 51 and 52, and are preferably made of smooth, thin round bars so that they do not damage the cage 1 when they come into contact with it, and so that the cleaning water sprayed onto the cage 1 is not blocked. The distance between the auxiliary guides 53 and 54 is not limited as long as it is possible to suppress the swinging of the cage 1 to which the cleaning water is sprayed. For example, when the auxiliary guides 53 and 54 are arranged above the height of the central axis of the cage 1, the distance can be the same as the distance between the support ends 51a and 52a. Alternatively, when the auxiliary guides 53 and 54 are arranged at the height of the central axis of the cage 1, the distance between the auxiliary guides 53 and 54 can be approximately the same as the diameter of the cage 1 or slightly wider than that. In order to allow the cage 1 to enter the cleaning section 40 smoothly, it is preferable that the distance between the auxiliary guides 53 and 54 expands outward toward the upstream side on the upstream side of the cleaning section 40.

[0039] It is preferable that a basket loading stand 90 is provided adjacent to the upstream side of the conveying section 30. The shape and material of the basket loading stand 90 are not particularly limited as long as it has a length and width sufficient to load the round basket 1 in a contracted state.

[0040] A basket discharge platform 95 is preferably provided adjacent to the transport section 30 downstream of the transport section 30. The basket discharge platform 95 preferably has a wall 96 at a position facing the exit 82 of the case 80. The device 2 is preferably configured so that it can be used on a small boat. When the device 2 is used on a small boat, the round baskets 1 pulled up from the sea are placed on the basket loading platform 90 and washed one by one, and the round baskets 1 moved to the basket discharge platform 95 after washing are preferably dropped into the sea continuously as they are. Since the device 2 is arranged on the boat with the length direction of the transport section 30 aligned with the front-rear direction of the small boat, the round baskets 1 after washing are discharged from the exit 82 of the case 80 to the basket discharge platform 95 toward the rear of the small boat. Therefore, by providing the wall 96 at a position facing the exit 82, the round baskets 1 discharged toward the rear of the small boat can be hit against the wall 96, changed in direction toward the side of the boat, and dropped into the sea as they are. It is preferable that the basket discharge platform 95 is inclined downward toward the side of the ship in order to facilitate the dropping of the round cages 1 into the sea. At least the surface of the basket discharge platform 95 is preferably made of a material on which the round cages 1 are easy to slide.

[0041] (Basket washing method) Next, a method for washing the round cage 1 using the device 2 will be described. Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the round cage 1 is being washed. Note that in this drawing, the cage discharge platform 95 is not shown.

[0042] First, the cage 1 that has been pulled up from the sea and placed on the ship is placed on the cage stand 90, or the cage 1 that has been pulled up from the sea can be placed directly on the cage stand 90 (pulling up process). The cage 1 can be as long as 5 m long when extended, but when contracted, it is only about 1 m long even with shellfish inside, so the cage stand 90 only needs to be large enough to carry the entire cage 1 in the contracted state. The cage stand 90 may be designed to carry only a part of the cage 1 in the contracted state, depending on the need (e.g., depending on the size of the ship). If the device 2 is configured to place a part of the cage 1 on the cage stand 90, the worker can place the remaining part on the cage stand 90 as appropriate depending on the progress of the cleaning. The cage 1 is placed on the cage stand 90 so that the scallop shells S inside are gathered at the bottom. It is preferable that the cage 1 is placed on the cage stand 90 with the shellfish outlet 16 located at the top so that the shellfish do not fall out of the cage 1 during cleaning.

[0043] Next, a worker places one end of the round cage 1 on the conveyor 33. The round cage 1 with one end placed thereon starts to be transported by the conveyor 33 in the direction of the entrance 81 of the case 80. Because the round cage 1 on the basket carrying platform 90 is heavy with shells inside, the next multiple layers 15 (part 18 in FIG. 4) remain contracted on the basket carrying platform 90 until the multiple layers 15 in the portion being transported by the conveyor 33 are pulled by the conveyor 33 and fully extended.

[0044] The contracted round cage 1 on the cage loading platform 90 is pulled by the portion of the round cage 1 being transported by the conveyor 33, and is sequentially stretched as it is placed on the conveyor 33. That is, the round cage 1 is transported by the conveyor 33 while each of the multiple stages 15 is sequentially stretched from one end. If necessary, an operator can urge the round cage 1 to move onto the conveyor 33, allowing the round cage 1 to be transported more smoothly.

[0045] The round cage 1, which is transported in a stretched state by the conveyor 33, enters the inside of the case 80 from the entrance 81. Inside the case 80, pressurized cleaning water is sprayed toward the round cage 1 from the rotating cleaning units 41, 42 arranged on both sides of the transported round cage 1. The main guides 51, 52 have guard plates 51b, 52b, which are configured to cover the lower part of the round cage 1 where the scallop shells S are gathered, so that the cleaning water sprayed from the cleaning units 41, 42 does not directly hit the scallop shells S inside the round cage 1. Therefore, in the device 2, cleaning water at a higher pressure can be sprayed toward the round cage 1 compared to the conventional technology.

[0046] In the washing section 40, pressurized washing water is directly sprayed onto the portion of the round cage 1 that is not covered by the guard plates 51b, 52b to remove foreign matter attached to the round cage 1 (removal process). The portion of the round cage 1 that is not covered by the guard plates 51b, 52b is a portion where no scallop shells S are present. Preferably, the shell outlet 16 is located at the top of the round cage 1, so that foreign matter attached to block the shell outlet 16 can be reliably removed, and the scallop shells S do not come out of the shell outlet 16 during washing. By appropriately setting the conveying speed of the conveyor 33 and the rotation speed of the washing units 41, 42, pressurized washing water can be sprayed over the entire portion of the round cage 1 that is not covered by the guard plates 51b, 52b. If the area of ​​the round cage 1 that is washed is about 60% to 70% of the whole, the tide passage can be improved.

[0047] If only the main guides 51, 52 are arranged to support the round cage 1 at some position on its lower part, the round cage 1 may swing significantly from side to side (so-called cage dancing) due to the water pressure of the sprayed cleaning water during cleaning in the cleaning section 40. The auxiliary guides 53, 54 are arranged on the left and right sides of the round cage 1 being transported above the support ends 51a, 52a of the main guides 51, 52 within the cleaning section 40 to support the round cage 1 from the sides, thereby suppressing such swinging.

[0048] The foreign objects removed from the round cage 1 by the spray of cleaning water fall into the collection section 61 of the foreign object discharge section 60 provided below the conveying section 30. The fallen foreign objects are discharged from the discharge port 62 together with the flowing cleaning water. The washed round cages 1 from which the foreign objects have been removed are sequentially discharged from the outlet 82 of the case 80.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the state in which the round cage 1 after cleaning changes direction. In this figure, the cage loading platform 90 is not shown. The round cage 1 after cleaning is discharged from the exit 82 onto the cage discharge platform 95. When the device 2 is mounted on a small boat, it is preferable to continuously drop the multiple round cages 1 after cleaning into the sea as they are. The round cage 1 discharged from the exit 82 is changed in direction by a wall 96 arranged opposite the exit 82 at the cage discharge platform 95, and can be dropped into the sea (dropping process). When the surface of the cage discharge platform 95 is configured to be slippery, if a part of the washed round cage 1 is dropped into the sea, the remaining part can be naturally dropped by the weight of the part. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1. Cage 11 Top side 12 Bottom 13 Side 14 Dividing net 15 steps 16 Shell Exit 17 Suspension rope 2. Round basket washing device 20 Frames 30 Conveyor 31, 32 Laura 33 Conveyor 33a groove 40 Cleaning section 41, 42 Cleaning unit 41a, 41b, 41c nozzles 42a, 42b, 42c nozzles 50 Guide section 51, 52 Main Guide 51a, 52a Support end 51b, 52b Guard plate 53, 54 Auxiliary Guide 60 Foreign matter discharge section 61 Collection Department 62 Outlet 80 cases 81 Entrance 82 Exit 83, 84 Inner wall 90 Basket Stand 95 Basket discharge stand 96 Wall S Scallop

Claims

1. A method for washing a roughly cylindrical shellfish farming cage with shellfish still inside, the cage having a net stretched around the outside and a plurality of partition nets dividing the inside into a plurality of stages at regular intervals in the length direction, with a plurality of shellfish outlets corresponding to each stage being provided linearly in the length direction through the side net, comprising: A conveying process of conveying the shellfish farming cages, which have been shrunk in the longitudinal direction with shellfish inside, from one end of the cage while sequentially stretching each of the multiple tiers; a removal process for removing foreign matter attached to the shellfish culture cage by spraying cleaning water from the side of the extended shellfish culture cage toward the part where no shellfish are present while the shellfish are gathered at the bottom inside the shellfish culture cage; The method includes:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transporting step includes transporting the shellfish farming cages in an orientation with the shellfish outlet at the top.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the conveying step includes conveying the shellfish culture cages obliquely upward while successively stretching them.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the washing water is sprayed towards at least a portion of the shellfish farming cage that includes the shellfish outlet.

5. A process of lifting the shellfish farming cages from the sea onto the ship; A process of dropping the washed shellfish culture cages from the ship into the sea; The method of claim 1 further comprising:

6. A device for washing shellfish with shells still in it, which is a roughly cylindrical shellfish farming cage with a net stretched around the outside and a partition net dividing the inside into a number of stages at regular intervals in the length direction, with a number of shellfish outlets corresponding to each stage being provided linearly in the length direction through the side net, A conveying section conveys the shellfish farming cages, which have been contracted in the length direction while containing shellfish, from one end of the cage while sequentially stretching each of the multiple tiers; an injection unit that injects cleaning water from the side of the extended shellfish culture cage toward the part where no shellfish are present while the shellfish are gathered at the bottom inside the shellfish culture cage; An apparatus comprising:

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transport section transports the shellfish culture cages in a position in which the shellfish outlet is located at the top.

8. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a guard for protecting the lower part of the shellfish culture cage in which the shellfish are gathered so that the washing water is not sprayed directly onto the shellfish.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the jetting section jets cleaning water toward at least a portion of the shellfish culture cage that includes a shellfish outlet.

10. A cage stand on which the shellfish culture cages that have been pulled up from the sea onto the ship are placed, A cage discharge platform that drops the washed shellfish culture cages from the ship into the sea, The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

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