Inner box washing apparatus, inner box washing method, and inner box washing and dewatering apparatus

Abstract

To provide an inner box washing apparatus and the like that can surely sterilize an inner box, prevent the deterioration of the room environment where the inner box washing apparatus is installed, and reduce the environmental load.SOLUTION: An inner box washing apparatus 5 includes: an inner box washing unit 11 that washes an inner box 3 being a washing target which stores a food product in a manner of being in direct contact therewith or stores a food product in a manner of being in direct contact on a sheet placed inside, using a detergent; and an inner box rinsing unit 1 that rinses the inner box 3 washed by the inner box washing unit 11 using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inner box cleaning device, an inner box cleaning method, and an inner box cleaning and dewatering device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional container washing devices (container washing devices) use a high-temperature (e.g., about 80°C) washing liquid and a high-temperature (e.g., about 80°C) rinsing liquid to wash containers (e.g., inner boxes) that contain foodstuffs, etc. The reason for using a high-temperature washing liquid and a high-temperature rinsing liquid is to ensure sterilization and to make it easier to dry the containers after washing. Here, Patent Document 1 is cited as a document related to the prior art. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-92903 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional container cleaning devices use high-temperature cleaning liquid and high-temperature rinsing liquid, which increases the temperature of the room in which the cleaning device is installed, deteriorating the room environment. In addition, conventional container cleaning devices use a lot of energy to raise the temperature of the cleaning liquid and rinsing liquid, which increases CO2 emissions and places a heavy burden on the environment.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an inner box cleaning device etc. that can reliably sterilize inner boxes, prevent deterioration of the environment of the room in which the inner box cleaning device is installed, and reduce the environmental burden. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An inner box cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention is an inner box cleaning device that has an inner box cleaning section that uses detergent to clean an inner box, which is the object to be cleaned and is contained inside so that food comes into direct contact with it, or which is contained inside so that food comes into direct contact with a sheet laid inside, and an inner box rinsing section that rinses the inner box cleaned in the inner box cleaning section using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid.

[0007] In addition, in the inner box cleaning device according to this aspect of the present invention, rinsing in the inner box rinsing section is performed using a solution of peracetic acid at room temperature.

[0008] In addition, in an inner box cleaning device according to an aspect of the present invention, the inner box rinsing section is configured to include a water storage section that stores water and a peracetic acid concentrate storage section that stores a concentrate of peracetic acid, and the water stored in the water storage section and the peracetic acid concentrate stored in the peracetic acid concentrate storage section are mixed and used so that the concentration of peracetic acid in the peracetic acid solution used to rinse the inner box becomes a predetermined concentration.

[0009] Furthermore, an inner box cleaning / dehydrating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is an inner box cleaning / dehydrating apparatus having the inner box cleaning apparatus, an inner box stacking device for stacking inner boxes cleaned by the inner box cleaning apparatus, and an inner box dehydrating device for dehydrating the multiple inner boxes stacked by the inner box stacking device.

[0010] Furthermore, an inner box cleaning method according to one aspect of the present invention is an inner box cleaning method comprising: an inner box cleaning step of using a detergent to clean an inner box, which is an object to be cleaned and is contained inside the inner box so that food comes into direct contact with the inner box, or a sheet is laid inside the inner box and food is contained inside the inner box so that food comes into direct contact with the sheet; and an inner box rinsing step of rinsing the inner box cleaned in the inner box cleaning step with an aqueous solution of peracetic acid. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inner box cleaning device etc. that can reliably sterilize the inner box, prevent the environment of the room in which the inner box cleaning device is installed from deteriorating, and reduce the environmental load. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an inner box cleaning and dewatering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a plan view of an inner box cleaning and dewatering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 3] 3A is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an inner box stacking device (stacker) that stacks inner boxes in an inner box cleaning device of an inner box cleaning and dewatering device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a view taken along the line IIIB in FIG. [Figure 4] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating the positioning of inner boxes before the inner boxes are stacked by the inner box stacking device. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating stacking of inner boxes by the inner box stacking device. [Figure 6A] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating dehydration of an inner box in the inner box cleaning and dehydration device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a view taken along the arrow VI in FIG. 6A. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram showing an inner box to be cleaned by an inner box cleaning and dewatering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] An inner box washing and dehydrating device (container washing and dehydrating device) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention washes and dehydrates an inner box (e.g., a container for storing food ingredients, particularly raw food ingredients) 3. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the inner box washing and dehydrating device 1 is configured to include an inner box washing device (container washing device) 5, an inner box stacking device (container stacking device) 7, and an inner box dehydrating device (container dehydrating device) 9.

[0014] Here, for ease of explanation, one specific horizontal direction is defined as the entrance / exit direction (front-to-back direction), another specific horizontal direction perpendicular to the entrance / exit direction is defined as the width direction, and the direction perpendicular to the entrance / exit direction and the width direction is defined as the up-down direction.

[0015] An inner box washing device (container washing device) 5 washes the inner boxes 3, and an inner box stacking device (container stacking device) 7 stacks (stacks) the inner boxes 3 washed by the inner box washing device 5. An inner box dehydrating device (container dehydrating device) 9 is configured to collectively dehydrate the multiple inner boxes 3 stacked by the inner box stacking device 7.

[0016] The inner box 3 is designed to accommodate a plurality of food raw materials and ingredients (not shown), food in the middle of processing (cooking), cooked food, peeled fruit, etc. In other words, the inner box 3 is designed to accommodate food raw materials, etc., with the edible parts of the food raw materials, etc. directly on the inner wall surface of the inner box 3. In some cases, the inner box 3 is designed to accommodate food raw materials, etc., with a stain-prevention sheet (not shown) laid on the inner bottom surface of the inner box 3, and the food raw materials, etc., directly on this sheet. For this reason, the inner box 3 requires more thorough washing and drying (sterilization and drying) than the outer box with which the edible parts of the food, etc. do not come into direct contact.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 7, the inner box 3 is formed in a rectangular box shape, for example, including one rectangular flat bottom plate portion 72 and four side plate portions 73 formed in a rectangular flat plate shape and standing from each of the four sides of the outer periphery of the bottom plate portion 72. The inner box 3 also has an internal space formed in a low quadrangular pyramid shape, for example. A rectangular opening 79 is formed at the upper end of the inner box 3. In a plan view, the rectangular bottom plate portion 72 is fitted inside the rectangular opening 79.

[0018] Furthermore, the inner box 3 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or titanium, or a synthetic resin, and often has no through holes in the bottom plate portion 72 and the side plate portion 73. That is, the bottom plate portion 72 and the side plate portion 73 are often formed in a rectangular flat plate shape without any through holes.

[0019] A rectangular annular flange 75 is provided on the outer periphery of a rectangular opening 79 of the inner box 3. The inner box 3 is often provided with a rectangular flat lid (not shown) that covers the opening 79 of the inner box 3, and may further be provided with a handle 77. The handle 77 is provided on each of the outer surfaces of a pair of opposing side plate portions 73 of the inner box 3. Furthermore, the handle 77 is designed to rotate with respect to the side plate portions 73.

[0020] The inner box cleaning and dehydrating apparatus 1 is configured to clean and dehydrate only the inner box 3 among the containers. That is, the inner box cleaning and dehydrating apparatus 1 is configured to be used exclusively for the inner box 3. The inner box cleaning and dehydrating apparatus 1 may also be used to clean and dehydrate containers other than the inner box 3.

[0021] In addition, in the inner box cleaning / dehydration device 1, in order to prevent cleaning liquid from accumulating inside the inner box 3 and to promote dehydration inside the inner box 3, the inner box 3 is cleaned and dehydrated with the opening 79 facing down and the bottom plate portion 72 facing up.

[0022] The inner box cleaning device 5 is configured to include an inner box cleaning section (container cleaning section) 11 and an inner box rinsing section (container rinsing section) 13. The inner box cleaning section 11 is configured to clean the inner box 3, which is the object to be cleaned, using a detergent (e.g., a chlorine-based alkaline detergent). That is, the inner box cleaning section 11 is configured to clean the inner box 3 using a cleaning liquid that is a detergent solution. The inner box rinsing section 13 is configured to rinse the inner box 3 cleaned by the inner box cleaning section 11 using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid (rinsing liquid). The peracetic acid solution used for rinsing is a peracetic acid solution that is directly applied to the inner box 3 for rinsing.

[0023] Examples of detergents include "Sanitas Capsule 1" (trade name) by Cleo Co., Ltd., or "Sanitas Capsule 1 Phosphorus-Free" (trade name) by Cleo Co., Ltd. "Sanitas Capsule 1" and "Sanitas Capsule 1 Phosphorus-Free" are used at concentrations of, for example, 0.08% to 0.15%.

[0024] Cleaning in the inner box cleaning section 11 is performed using a cleaning liquid (for example, tap water and detergent) at room temperature. Rinsing in the inner box rinsing section 13 is also performed using a peracetic acid solution at room temperature. Room temperature is, for example, a temperature in the range of 5°C to 80°C, preferably a temperature in the range of 5°C to 40°C, more preferably a temperature in the range of 10°C to 30°C, and even more preferably a temperature in the range of 15°C to 25°C. The temperature of the cleaning liquid used in the inner box cleaning section 11 is, for example, a temperature in the range of 60°C to 70°C.

[0025] The inner box rinsing section 13 is configured to include a water storage section (water tank) 15 that stores water (for example, tap water) and a peracetic acid concentrate storage section (peracetic acid concentrate tank) 17 that stores a concentrate of peracetic acid. In addition, in the inner box rinsing section 13, it is necessary to ensure that the concentration of peracetic acid in the peracetic acid solution (rinsing liquid) used to rinse the inner box 3 is a predetermined concentration. For this purpose, the water stored in the water storage section 15 and the peracetic acid concentrate stored in the peracetic acid concentrate storage section 17 are mixed and used. The above-mentioned predetermined concentration of peracetic acid is, for example, a concentration of 150 ppm to 500 ppm (0.015% to 0.050%).

[0026] As the stock solution of peracetic acid, for example, a commercially available product with a peracetic acid concentration of 6% is used. The concentration of peracetic acid in the stock solution of peracetic acid may be lower or higher. That is, the concentration of peracetic acid in the stock solution of peracetic acid may be within the range of, for example, 0.1% to 40%. The concentration of peracetic acid in the solution of peracetic acid used in rinsing the inner box 3 in the inner box rinsing section 13 may be changed (adjusted) according to the rinsing mode. For example, the concentration of peracetic acid may be high in the inner box 3 and low in containers for items other than the inner box 3.

[0027] By the way, instead of peracetic acid, a peracetic acid preparation may be used. A peracetic acid preparation is a disinfectant similar to peracetic acid, consisting of peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, and water. A peracetic acid preparation is designed to carry out a parallel reaction of "CH3COOH (acetic acid) + H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) ⇔ CH3COOOH (peracetic acid) + H2O (water)". CH3COOOH (peracetic acid) becomes CH3COOH (acetic acid) and ·O (oxygen radical), and the strong oxidizing effect of the oxygen radical destroys the cell membrane of bacteria.

[0028] Peracetic acid preparations have a strong oxidizing effect and are effective at disinfecting many bacteria, including spore-forming bacteria. Peracetic acid preparations are less likely to be inactivated by organic matter, and their disinfecting effect lasts. In addition, peracetic acid preparations are eventually decomposed into acetic acid and water, so there is no residual harmful component.

[0029] The ingredients of peracetic acid preparations are 12% to 15% peracetic acid, 4% to 12% hydrogen peroxide, 30% to 50% glacial acetic acid, less than 1% HEDP (1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid), and 10% or less octanoic acid. Note that some products do not contain octanoic acid.

[0030] The components of the peracetic acid preparation may be 12% to 15% peracetic acid, 4% to less than 6% hydrogen peroxide, 30% to 50% glacial acetic acid, and less than 1% HEDP (1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid). In addition, the aqueous solution of the peracetic acid preparation is included in the category of aqueous solutions of peracetic acid.

[0031] The inner box washing and dewatering device 1 will now be described in more detail. The inner box washing device 5, the inner box stacking device 7, and the inner box dewatering device 9 are lined up in this order from the entrance side (rear side) to the exit side (front side). The inner boxes 3 are transported from the entrance side to the exit side by a conveyor (e.g., a belt conveyor) 18.

[0032] The inner box cleaning section 11 is configured to include a first cleaning section 19 and a second cleaning section 21. The second cleaning section 21 is disposed on the outlet side of the first cleaning section 19. The inner box rinsing section 13 is disposed on the outlet side of the second cleaning section 21. As a result, in the inner box cleaning device 5, the inner box 3 flows (moves) from the inlet side to the outlet side through the first cleaning section 19, the second cleaning section 21, and the inner box rinsing section 13 in this order.

[0033] The first cleaning section 19 is configured to include a first cleaning liquid storage section (first cleaning liquid tank) 23 that stores a first cleaning liquid (detergent solution), and a first cleaning liquid discharge section 25 that discharges the first cleaning liquid toward the inner box 3.

[0034] In the first cleaning liquid discharge section 25, the first cleaning liquid contained in the first cleaning liquid storage section 23 is supplied from a pump (not shown) to a pipe (first pipe) 27. Then, the first cleaning liquid is discharged from a nozzle provided in the pipe 27 toward the inner box 3. Note that part of the pipe 27 is not shown in Fig. 1. The pipe 27 is not shown in Fig. 2.

[0035] The second cleaning section 21 is configured to include a second cleaning liquid storage section (first cleaning liquid tank) 29 that stores a second cleaning liquid (detergent solution), and a second cleaning liquid discharge section 31 that discharges the second cleaning liquid toward the inner box 3.

[0036] In the second cleaning liquid discharge section 31, the second cleaning liquid contained in the second cleaning liquid storage section 29 is supplied from a pump (not shown) to a pipe (second pipe) 33. Then, the second cleaning liquid is discharged from a nozzle provided in the pipe 33 toward the inner box 3. Note that part of the pipe 33 is not shown in Fig. 1. The pipe 33 is not shown in Fig. 2.

[0037] The inner box cleaning section 11 is also provided with a detergent concentrate storage section (detergent concentrate storage tank) 35 that stores detergent concentrate, and the detergent concentrate stored in the detergent concentrate storage section 35 is supplied appropriately to the first cleaning liquid storage section 23 and the second cleaning liquid storage section 29. Note that the detergent concentration in the first cleaning liquid and the detergent concentration in the second cleaning liquid are approximately the same, but the detergent concentration in the first cleaning liquid and the detergent concentration in the second cleaning liquid may be different from each other. Also, the first cleaning liquid and the second cleaning liquid may be different from each other.

[0038] Most of the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 is circulated and reused to clean the inner box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19. Also, most of the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 is circulated and reused to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21. In this case, the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 and the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 are separated so as not to mix with each other. Also, a portion of the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 is discarded. A portion of the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 is also discarded.

[0039] In an embodiment in which most of the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 is circulated and reused to clean the inner box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19, new cleaning liquid is supplied to the first cleaning unit 19 to be used to clean the inner box 3. Here, if the temperature of the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 is higher than room temperature, a heat exchanger may be provided and the temperature of the newly supplied cleaning liquid may be increased by using the discarded cleaning liquid.

[0040] Similarly, in an embodiment in which a portion of the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 is circulated and reused to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21, new cleaning liquid is supplied to the second cleaning unit 21 to be used to clean the inner box 3. Here, if the temperature of the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 is higher than room temperature, a heat exchanger may be provided and the temperature of the newly supplied cleaning liquid may be increased by using the discarded cleaning liquid.

[0041] It is also possible to discard all of the cleaning liquid that has been circulated for a predetermined time to clean the inner box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 and the second cleaning unit 21 and has been used repeatedly, and to supply new cleaning liquid to the first cleaning unit 19 and the second cleaning unit 21. It is also possible to discard all of the cleaning liquid that has been used once to clean the inner box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 and the second cleaning unit 21, and to supply new cleaning liquid to the first cleaning unit 19 and the second cleaning unit 21. In these cases, heat exchange may be performed between the discarded cleaning liquid and the new cleaning liquid to warm the new cleaning liquid.

[0042] Also, at least a portion (a part or all) of the cleaning liquid used to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 may be used in the first cleaning unit 19. In this case, all of the cleaning liquid used in the first cleaning unit 19 will have been used to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21. Alternatively, a portion of the cleaning liquid used in the first cleaning unit 19 will have been used to clean the inner box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21, and the remaining cleaning liquid used in the first cleaning unit 19 will be new cleaning liquid.

[0043] In FIG. 1, the first cleaning unit 19 discharges the cleaning liquid from the upper side of the inner box 3 toward the inner box 3. However, as described above, the inner box 3 is cleaned with the opening 79 of the inner box 3 facing down and the bottom plate portion 72 facing up. Therefore, in the first cleaning unit 19, instead of or in addition to discharging the cleaning liquid from the upper side of the inner box 3 toward the inner box 3, the cleaning liquid is discharged toward the inner box 3 from the lower side of the inner box 3 (toward the upper side). This makes it possible to accurately clean the inside of the inner box 3 while preventing the cleaning liquid from accumulating inside the inner box 3. Similarly, in the second cleaning unit 21, instead of or in addition to discharging the cleaning liquid from the upper side of the inner box 3 toward the inner box 3, the cleaning liquid is discharged toward the inner box 3 from the lower side of the inner box 3 toward the inner box 3.

[0044] The inner box rinsing section 13 is configured to include a water storage section 15, a peracetic acid concentrate storage section 17, and a rinsing liquid discharge section 37 that discharges the rinsing liquid. The inner box rinsing section 13 is configured to include a pump 41 that supplies the concentrate of peracetic acid contained in the peracetic acid concentrate storage section 17 to a pipe 39, and a pump 45 that supplies the water contained in the water storage section 15 to a pipe 43.

[0045] The undiluted peracetic acid solution flowing in the pipe 39 and the water flowing in the pipe 43 are supplied to the pipe 47 and mixed with each other to generate a rinsing liquid. The rinsing liquid is then discharged from a nozzle provided in the pipe 47 toward the inner box 3. Note that the pipes 39, 43, 47, etc. are not shown in FIG. 2.

[0046] In the inner box rinsing section 13, for example, the discharge rates of the pumps 41 and 45 can be appropriately changed to adjust the concentration of peracetic acid in the rinsing liquid.

[0047] All or a part of the rinsing liquid used once to rinse the inner box 3 in the inner box rinsing section 13 is discarded, and new rinsing liquid is supplied to the inner box rinsing section 13.

[0048] It is also possible to circulate all of the rinsing liquid used to rinse the inner box 3 in the inner box rinsing unit 13 and reuse it to rinse the inner box 3 in the inner box rinsing unit 13. In this embodiment, all of the rinsing liquid used for a predetermined time to rinse the inner box 3 in the inner box rinsing unit 13 is discarded, and new rinsing liquid is supplied to the inner box rinsing unit 13. In the above embodiment, a sensor for detecting the concentration of peracetic acid or the like in the rinsing liquid used in the inner box rinsing unit 13 may be provided, and the concentration of peracetic acid or the like may be automatically adjusted according to the detection result of this sensor.

[0049] 1, the inner box rinsing unit 13 discharges the rinsing liquid toward the inner box 3 from above the inner box 3. However, as described above, the inner box 3 is rinsed with the opening 79 of the inner box 3 facing down and the bottom plate portion 72 facing up. Therefore, instead of or in addition to discharging the rinsing liquid toward the inner box 3 from above the inner box 3, the inner box rinsing unit 13 is configured to discharge the rinsing liquid toward the inner box 3 from below the inner box 3. This makes it possible to accurately rinse the inside of the inner box 3 while preventing the rinsing liquid from accumulating inside the inner box 3.

[0050] The inner box stacking device 7 is configured to vertically stack (stack) the inner boxes 3 that have been cleaned by the inner box cleaning device 5, transported by the belt conveyor 18, and exit the inner box cleaning device 5 sheet by sheet (one at a time). To explain further, the inner box stacking device 7 is configured to include a first inner box placing table (first container placing table) 81, an inner box temporary placing section (container temporary placing section) 83, and an inner box positioning section (container positioning section; inner box stopping section) 85, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0051] The first inner box placing table 81 is formed, for example, in the shape of a rectangular flat plate, but may be formed in other shapes such as a disk shape. The inner box 3 is placed on the first inner box placing table 81. The inner box 3 placed on the first inner box placing table 81 has the bottom plate portion 72 facing up. The first inner box placing table 81 is freely movable and positioned in the vertical direction by an actuator such as a servo motor (not shown). Furthermore, the thickness direction of the first inner box placing table 81 is the vertical direction.

[0052] 3(a) 。 At position P1, which is the lower limit of first inner box placing table 81, the upper surface of first inner box placing table 81 is located slightly below the upper surface of belt conveyor 18. At position P2, which is the upper limit of first inner box placing table 81, first inner box placing table 81 is located above the upper surface of belt conveyor 18 and above inner box temporary placing section 83.

[0053] One inner box 3 is placed on the belt conveyor 18, and the first inner box placing table 81 is raised from a state in which the first inner box placing table 81 is located at the lower limit position P1 below this one inner box 3. As a result, the first inner box placing table 81 places the inner box 3 on it, instead of the belt conveyor 18.

[0054] A pair of inner box temporary placement sections 83 are provided. One inner box temporary placement section 83A of the pair of inner box temporary placement sections 83 is disposed on one side of the inner box stacking device 7 in the width direction. Moreover, one inner box temporary placement section 83A is disposed at a predetermined position (substantially the same position as the first inner box placement table 81) in the entrance / exit direction. Furthermore, one inner box temporary placement section 83A is positioned above the upper surface of the belt conveyor 18 in the vertical direction.

[0055] The other inner box temporary placement part 83B of the pair of inner box temporary placement parts 83 is arranged on the other side of the inner box stacking device 7 in the width direction. The other inner box temporary placement part 83B is also arranged at a predetermined position in the entrance / exit direction (the same position as the first inner box placement table 81). Furthermore, the other inner box temporary placement part 83B is positioned above the upper surface of the belt conveyor 18 in the up-down direction. Furthermore, the pair of inner box temporary placement parts 83 are symmetrical with respect to the central plane of the inner box stacking device 7. The central plane is a plane that includes the center of the inner box stacking device 7 and is perpendicular to the width direction.

[0056] The inner box temporary placement section 83 is configured to include a temporary placement moving body 89 that is movable in the width direction relative to a housing 87 (see FIG. 1) of the inner box stacking device 7, and a temporary installation rotating body 91 that is rotatable relative to the temporary placement moving body 89. As shown in FIG. 5, the temporary placement moving body 89 is movable in the width direction between an inner position P3 (see FIG. 5(a)) and an outer position P4 (see FIG. 5(d)). The inner position P3 is a position toward the center of the inner box stacking device 7, and the outer position P4 is a position opposite (outside) the center of the inner box stacking device 7.

[0057] The temporary installation rotating body 91 is provided at the inner end (the end toward the center in the width direction) of the temporary placement moving body 89, and protrudes further toward the center in the width direction from the inner end of the temporary placement moving body 89. The temporary installation rotating body 91 rotates within a predetermined angle range (between a closed position P5 and an open position P6) relative to the temporary placement moving body 89, with an axis C2 extending toward the entrance / exit direction at the inner end of the temporary placement moving body 89 as the rotation center.

[0058] At the closed position P5 (see FIG. 5(a)), the temporary installation rotating body 91 extends in the width direction and protrudes from the temporary placement moving body 89. At the open position P6 (see FIG. 5(b)), the temporary installation rotating body 91 extends obliquely in the width direction and the up-down direction and protrudes from the temporary placement moving body 89, with the part on the temporary placement moving body 89 side positioned on the lower side and the part on the tip side (the part on the side away from the temporary placement moving body 89) positioned on the upper side.

[0059] The temporary placement moving body 89 and temporary placement rotating body 91 of one inner box temporary placement section 83A and the temporary placement moving body 89 and temporary placement rotating body 91 of the other inner box temporary placement section 83B are separated by a predetermined distance in the width direction. The first inner box placement table 81 is located between the pair of inner box temporary placement sections 83 (temporary placement moving body 89, temporary placement rotating body 91) in the width direction, and moves in the vertical direction between the pair of inner box temporary placement sections 83 without coming into contact with the inner box temporary placement sections 83.

[0060] In the inner box stacking device 7, the first inner box placing table 81 and the first inner box 3 are configured to rise from the first state. In the first state, the temporary placement moving body 89 is located at the inner position P3, and the temporary placement rotating body 91 is located at the closed position P5. Also, in the first state, the first inner box placing table 81 has placed the first inner box 3 and is away from the temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary placement rotating body 91, and is located below the temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary placement rotating body 91 (see FIG. 5(a)). Note that the first inner box placing table 81 is not shown in FIG. 5.

[0061] In the inner box stacking device 7, the first inner box placing table 81 and the first inner box 3 rise from the first state, causing the first inner box 3 to come into contact with the temporary installation rotating body 91, and the temporary installation rotating body 91 is pushed by the inner box 3 and rotates to the open position P6 (see Figure 5 (b)).

[0062] Next, the first inner box placing table 81 and the first inner box 3 further rise, so that the first inner box 3 moves away from the temporary installation rotating body 91 and is positioned above the temporary installation rotating body 91, and gravity returns the temporary installation rotating body 91 to the closed position P5. Next, the first inner box placing table 81 and the first inner box 3 move down, so that the first inner box 3 comes into contact with the temporary installation rotating body 91 and the first inner box 3 moves away from the first inner box placing table 81 and is temporarily placed on the temporary installation rotating body 91 (see FIG. 5(c)).

[0063] Next, in the inner box stacking device 7, from the second state (not shown), the first inner box placing table 81 places the second inner box 3, and the first inner box placing table 81 and the second inner box 3 rise. In the second state, the temporary placement moving body 89 is located at the inner position P3, and the temporary placement rotating body 91 is located at the closed position P5. Also, in the second state, the first inner box 3 is temporarily placed on the temporary placement rotating body 91. Furthermore, in the second state, the first inner box placing table 81 places the second inner box 3 and is separated from the temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary placement rotating body 91 and is located below the temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary placement rotating body 91.

[0064] In the inner box stacking device 7, the first inner box loading table 81 and the second inner box 3 rise, causing the second inner box 3 to come into contact with the temporary installation rotating body 91, and the temporary installation rotating body 91 rotates to the open position P6 while still carrying the first inner box 3.

[0065] Next, the first inner box placement table 81 and the second inner box 3 are further raised, so that the second inner box 3 is positioned below the first inner box 3 and overlaps the first inner box 3. At this time, the second inner box 3 is positioned below the first inner box 3. In addition, the second inner box 3 moves away from the temporary installation rotating body 91 and is positioned above the temporary installation rotating body 91, and the temporary installation rotating body 91 returns to the closed position P5 due to gravity.

[0066] Next, the first inner box placing table 81 and the first and second inner boxes 3 are lowered. As a result, the second inner box 3 comes into contact with the temporary installation rotating body 91, and the second inner box 3 overlaps the first inner box 3 below the first inner box 3. Then, while still overlapping, the first and second inner boxes 3 are separated from the first inner box placing table 81 and temporarily placed on the temporary installation rotating body 91.

[0067] The inner box stacking device 7 is configured so that the third and subsequent inner boxes 3 are similarly stacked on top of the inner box 3 that has already been temporarily placed on the temporary installation rotating body 91. That is, the inner box stacking device 7 is configured so that three or more inner boxes 3 can be stacked.

[0068] Next, in the inner box stacking device 7, the first inner box loading table 81 rises from the third state, so that the stacked inner boxes 3 are placed on the first inner box loading table 81 and rise, moving away from the temporary installation rotating body 91.

[0069] In the third state, the multiple stacked inner boxes 3 are temporarily placed on the temporary installation rotating body 91. Also, in the third state, the first inner box placing table 81 on which no inner box 3 is placed is separated from the temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary installation rotating body 91 and is positioned below the temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary installation rotating body 91.

[0070] Next, in the inner box stacking device 7, with the temporary placement movable body 89 moving from the inner position P3 to the outer position P4 (see FIG. 5(d) etc.), the first inner box placement table 81 on which the multiple stacked inner boxes 3 are placed is lowered. By the lowering of this first inner box placement table 81, the multiple stacked inner boxes 3 are placed again on the belt conveyor 18 and transported.

[0071] 3, the inner box positioning parts 85 are for positioning the inner box 3 transported by the belt conveyor 18 at a predetermined position P1. The inner box positioning parts 85 are provided in pairs.

[0072] One inner box positioning part 85A of the pair of inner box positioning parts 85 is disposed on one side of the inner box stacking device 7 in the width direction. The other inner box positioning part 85A is disposed at a predetermined position in the entrance / exit direction (a position closer to the exit than first inner box placing table 81), and is disposed between belt conveyor 18 and inner box temporary placing part 83 in the vertical direction.

[0073] The other inner box positioning part 85B of the pair of inner box positioning parts 85 is arranged on the other side of the inner box stacking device 7 in the width direction. The other inner box positioning part 85B is also arranged at a predetermined position in the entrance / exit direction (a position closer to the exit than the first inner box placing table 81), and is arranged between the belt conveyor 18 and the inner box temporary placing part 83 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the pair of inner box positioning parts 85 are symmetrical with respect to the central plane of the inner box stacking device 7.

[0074] As shown in Fig. 4, the inner box positioning sections 85 (85A, 85B) are configured with abutment members 93 that abut against the inner box 3. The abutment members 93 are movable relative to the housing 87 of the inner box stacking device 7 by an actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder. The abutment members 93 are also movable in the width direction between an inner position P8 and an outer position P9. The inner position P8 is a position toward the center of the inner box stacking device 7 (see Fig. 4(a)), and the outer position P9 is a position opposite the center of the inner box stacking device 7 (see Fig. 4(b)).

[0075] In the inner box stacking device 7, when the abutting member 93 is at the inside position P8, the inner box 3 transported by the belt conveyor 18 abuts against the abutting member 93. Then, the inner box 3 is positioned in the entrance / exit direction and stops at a predetermined position P7. When the abutting member 93 is at the outside position P9, the inner box 3 does not abut against the abutting member 93 and is transported to the exit side by the belt conveyor 18.

[0076] Viewed from above, the state in which the inner box 3 is stopped at a predetermined position P7. The center position of the inner box 3 and the center position of the first inner box placing table 81 are approximately the same. Furthermore, if the inner box 3 is slightly misaligned in the width direction when the inner box 3 is stopped at the predetermined position P7 (see FIG. 3(a)), each of the pair of abutment members 93 may be moved toward the center of the inner box stacking device 7 in the state shown in FIG. 3(a) or FIG. 4(a). The device may be configured so that the position of the inner box 3 in the width direction can be corrected.

[0077] As shown in Fig. 3, the belt conveyor 18 is configured to include an entrance pulley 95, an exit pulley 97, and a pair of belts 99. The entrance pulley 95 is disposed on the entrance side. The exit pulley 97 is disposed on the exit side. The entrance pulley 95 and the exit pulley 97 are located at the same position in the width direction and the up-down direction. The entrance pulley 95 and the exit pulley 97 rotate around a central axis extending in the width direction.

[0078] One of the pair of belts 99 is wound around an inlet side pulley 95 and an outlet side pulley 97 on one side in the width direction. The other of the pair of belts 99 is wound around the inlet side pulley 95 and the outlet side pulley 97 on the other side in the width direction. The pair of belts 99 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the width direction. The first inner box placing table 81 is adapted to move up and down between the pair of belts 99 without interfering with the pair of belts 99.

[0079] The inner box 3 is placed on a pair of belts 99 extending in the entrance / exit direction between the entrance side pulley 95 and the exit side pulley 97, above the entrance side pulley 95 and the exit side pulley 97, and is transported.

[0080] 6A, the inner box dewatering device 9 is configured to include a second inner box placing table (second container placing table) 55 and an inner box rotator (container rotator) 57. The second inner box placing table 55 is capable of moving in the vertical direction and is adapted to rotate about a central axis C1.

[0081] Furthermore, multiple small diameter columnar protrusions 80 protrude upward from the upper surface of second inner box placing table 55. The multiple protrusions 80 are spaced apart from one another and provided, for example, on the outer periphery of second inner box placing table 55. Even when inner box 3 is placed on second inner box placing table 55, protrusions 80 are located outside inner box 3, preventing displacement of inner box 3. Note that inner box rotation section 57 is not shown in FIG. 6B.

[0082] Inner box rotation section 57 is configured to include a rotation main body section 59 and a movement restriction section (multiple rod-shaped guide protrusions) 61. Inner box rotation section 57 is disposed above second inner box loading table 55. Rotation main body section 59 and movement restriction section 61 are configured to rotate about central axis C1 by an actuator such as a motor.

[0083] When the multiple stacked inner boxes 3 are rotated, the multiple stacked inner boxes 3 are fitted inside the multiple rod-shaped guide protrusions 61. As a result, when the rotating main body 59 and the guide protrusions 61 rotate, the multiple inner boxes 3 also rotate at the same time. Also, the second inner box placing table 55 on which the multiple inner boxes 3 are placed rotates together.

[0084] To explain further, as shown in Fig. 6A(a), when the second inner box placing table 55 is raised from the state in which multiple stacked inner boxes 3 are placed on the second inner box placing table 55, the state shown in Fig. 6A(b) is reached. The multiple inner boxes 3 stacked in the state shown in Fig. 6A(b) are rotated to dehydrate the multiple inner boxes 3.

[0085] Thereafter, the rotation of the inner box 3 is stopped, the second inner box placing table 55 is lowered, and the multiple stacked and dewatered inner boxes 3 are placed again on the belt conveyor 18. The multiple stacked and dewatered inner boxes 3 are then transported by the belt conveyor 18 to the exit side and taken out of the inner box dewatering device 9.

[0086] Here, we will explain the operation of the inner box cleaning / dewatering device 1. The inner box dewatering / dewatering device 1 is designed to operate under the control of a control device (not shown) (for example, a control device configured to include a CPU and a memory).

[0087] In the initial state, no inner boxes 3 are present in the inner box cleaning / dewatering device 1. In the initial state, the inner boxes 3 are supplied to the inner box cleaning device 5 from the inlet end of the inner box cleaning device 5. This supply of inner boxes is performed automatically by an inner box supply device (not shown). Note that the supply of inner boxes may also be performed manually.

[0088] The inner boxes 3 supplied to the inner box cleaning device 5 move from the entrance side to the exit side within the inner box cleaning device 5, are cleaned by the inner box cleaning section 11, and are rinsed by the inner box rinsing section 13. The rinsed inner boxes 3 are discharged from the inner box cleaning device 5 at the exit side of the inner box cleaning device 5. The inner boxes 3 are supplied to the inner box cleaning device 5 multiple times at predetermined time intervals.

[0089] The inner boxes 3 discharged from the inner box cleaning device 5 are stacked in the inner box stacking device 7, and the multiple inner boxes 3 stacked in the inner box stacking device 7 are dehydrated while still stacked in the inner box dehydrator 9. The multiple inner boxes 3 dehydrated in the inner box dehydrator 9 are discharged from the inner box dehydrator 9 at the outlet side of the inner box dehydrator 9 while still stacked. The inner box dehydrator 9 is designed to dehydrate the inner boxes 3 by using centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the inner boxes 3, without using hot air.

[0090] The inner box cleaning device 5 is configured to include an inner box cleaning unit 11 that cleans the inner box 3, which is the object to be cleaned, with a detergent (detergent solution; cleaning liquid), and an inner box rinsing unit 13 that rinses the inner box 3 cleaned in the inner box cleaning unit 11 with an aqueous solution of peracetic acid (rinsing liquid). This makes it possible to reliably sterilize the inner box 3 without using a high-temperature cleaning liquid or a high-temperature rinsing liquid.

[0091] In addition, in the inner box cleaning device 5, cleaning in the inner box cleaning section 11 is performed using a cleaning liquid at room temperature, and rinsing in the inner box rinsing section 13 is performed using a peracetic acid solution at room temperature. This makes it possible to prevent the temperature of the room in which the inner box cleaning device 5 is installed from increasing and deteriorating the environment of the room. In addition, since energy for heating the cleaning liquid and rinsing liquid to high temperatures is no longer necessary, CO2 emissions can be reduced, and the environmental load can be reduced.

[0092] In the inner box cleaning device 5, the inner box rinsing section 13 uses a mixture of the water contained in the water storage section 15 and the peracetic acid concentrate contained in the peracetic acid concentrate storage section 17 in order to adjust the concentration of peracetic acid to a predetermined concentration. This makes it possible to easily adjust the concentration of peracetic acid in the peracetic acid solution according to the cleaning mode, and to appropriately adjust the amount of peracetic acid used to perform accurate cleaning.

[0093] The inner box cleaning / dehydration device 1 is configured to include an inner box cleaning device 5 and an inner box stacking device 7. This ensures that the inner boxes 3 rinsed in the inner box rinsing section 13 can be dehydrated reliably, eliminating the need for a process of blowing hot air onto the inner boxes 3 to dry them. Eliminating the need for a process of blowing hot air onto the inner boxes 3 to dry them also makes it possible to prevent the room environment from deteriorating, thereby reducing the environmental load.

[0094] Here, the above description may be understood as an inner box cleaning method that includes an inner box cleaning step of cleaning the inner box, which is an object to be cleaned, with a detergent, and an inner box rinsing step of rinsing the inner box cleaned in the inner box cleaning step with an aqueous solution of peracetic acid.

[0095] Also, in the inner box cleaning / dewatering apparatus 1, the inner box stacking device 7 may be eliminated, and the inner box dewatering device 9 may dewater the inner boxes 3 one by one (sheet by sheet). Furthermore, if the time required for dewatering in the inner box dewatering device 9 is longer than the time required for cleaning in the inner box cleaning device 5, the inner boxes 3 may be dewatered by a plurality of inner box dewatering devices 9. In this case, the plurality of inner box dewatering devices 9 are arranged, for example, lined up in the width direction. Also, a distribution supply device (not shown) is provided in place of the inner box stacking device 7. This distribution supply device is configured to distribute and supply the inner boxes 3 emerging from the inner box cleaning device 5 to the plurality of inner box dewatering devices 9.

[0096] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1 Inner box cleaning and dehydration device 3 Inner box 5. Inner box cleaning device 7 Inner box stacking device 9 Inner box dehydration device 11 Inner box cleaning section 13 Inner box rinsing section 15 Water storage section 17 Peracetic acid stock solution storage section

Claims

1. an inner box cleaning unit that uses detergent to clean an inner box that is a cleaning target and that is either placed inside the inner box so that food comes into direct contact with the inner box or that is placed inside the inner box so that food comes into direct contact with a sheet laid inside the inner box; an inner box rinsing unit that rinses the inner box cleaned in the inner box cleaning unit using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid; An inner box cleaning device having the same.

2. 2. The inner box cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein rinsing in the inner box rinsing section is performed using a solution of peracetic acid at room temperature.

3. The inner box cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the inner box rinsing unit is configured to include a water storage unit for storing water and a peracetic acid concentrate storage unit for storing a concentrate of peracetic acid, and the water stored in the water storage unit and the peracetic acid concentrate stored in the peracetic acid concentrate storage unit are mixed and used so that the concentration of peracetic acid in the peracetic acid solution used to rinse the inner box becomes a predetermined concentration.

4. An inner box cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3; an inner box stacking device for stacking the inner boxes cleaned by the inner box cleaning device; an inner box dehydrating device that dehydrates the multiple inner boxes stacked by the inner box stacking device; An inner box cleaning and dehydration device.

5. An inner box cleaning process for cleaning an inner box, which is a cleaning target and in which food is contained inside so as to come into direct contact with the inner box, or in which food is contained inside so as to come into direct contact with a sheet laid inside the inner box, with a detergent; an inner box rinsing step of rinsing the inner box cleaned in the inner box cleaning step using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid; The inner box cleaning method includes the steps of:

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