Container cleaning device, container cleaning method, and container cleaning / dehydration device

Abstract

To provide a container cleaning device that enables sterilization of the container to be reliably performed, can prevent an environment of a room where the container cleaning device is installed from being deteriorated, and can reduce an environmental load.SOLUTION: Provided is a container cleaning device 5 including: a container cleaning part 11 that cleans an outer box 3 to be cleaned by using a detergent; and a container rinse part 13 that rinses the outer box 3 that has been cleaned in the container cleaning part 11 by using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container washing device, a container washing method, and a container washing and dehydrating device. [Background technology]

[0002] In conventional container washing devices (container washing devices), a high-temperature (e.g., about 60°C) washing liquid and a high-temperature (e.g., about 60°C) rinsing liquid are used to wash containers 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 a container cleaning device etc. that can reliably sterilize containers, prevent deterioration of the environment of the room in which the container cleaning device is installed, and reduce the environmental burden. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A container cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is a container cleaning apparatus having a container cleaning section that uses a detergent to clean the container to be cleaned, and a container rinsing section that uses an aqueous solution of peracetic acid to rinse the container cleaned in the container cleaning section.

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

[0008] In addition, in a container cleaning device according to an aspect of the present invention, the container rinsing section is configured to include a water storage section for storing water and a peracetic acid concentrate storage section for storing 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 container becomes a predetermined concentration.

[0009] In addition, the container cleaning apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is a container cleaning apparatus in which the container is an outer box in which packaged food is housed.

[0010] In addition, a container cleaning and dehydrating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a container cleaning and dehydrating apparatus having the container cleaning device, a container stacking device for stacking containers cleaned by the container cleaning device, and a container dehydrating device for dehydrating multiple containers stacked by the container stacking device.

[0011] A container washing method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a container washing step of washing a container to be washed using a detergent, and a container rinsing step of rinsing the container washed in the container washing step using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid, wherein the container is an outer box into which packaged food is contained. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container cleaning device etc. that can reliably sterilize containers, prevent deterioration of the environment of the room in which the container cleaning device is installed, and reduce the environmental burden. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a container cleaning and dewatering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a plan view of a container cleaning and dewatering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of a container stacking device (stacker) that stacks containers in a container washing device of a container washing and dewatering device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a view seen from the arrow IIIB in FIG. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the positioning of containers before they are stacked by the container stacking device. [Diagram 5] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating stacking of containers in a container stacking device. [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating dehydration of a container in a container cleaning and dehydration device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram showing an outer box (container) to be cleaned by a container cleaning and dewatering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] A container washing and dehydrating device (outer box washing and dehydrating device) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention washes and dehydrates outer boxes (e.g., containers in which packaged food is housed) 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the container washing and dehydrating device 1 is configured with a container washing device (outer box washing device) 5, a container stacking device (outer box stacking device) 7, and a container dehydrating device (outer box dehydrating device) 9.

[0015] Here, for ease of explanation, one specific horizontal direction is defined as the entrance / exit direction (entrance / exit direction; front / rear 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.

[0016] The container cleaning device 5 cleans the outer boxes 3, the container stacking device 7 stacks (stacks) the outer boxes 3 cleaned by the container cleaning device 5, and the container dehydrating device 9 dehydrates the multiple outer boxes 3 stacked by the container stacking device 7 all at once.

[0017] The outer box 3 (see FIG. 7) is designed to accommodate a plurality of packaged foods (not shown) (for example, bread individually wrapped in a packaging material such as a bag, fruits with skin, vegetables with skin) etc. In other words, the foods etc. are accommodated inside the outer box 3 so that the edible parts of the foods etc. are not in direct contact with the inner wall surface of the outer box 3.

[0018] The outer box 3 is formed in a rectangular box shape, for example, including one bottom plate portion 63 formed in a rectangular flat plate shape and four side plate portions 65 formed in a rectangular flat plate shape and standing from each of the four sides of the outer periphery of the bottom plate portion 63. The internal space of the outer box 3 is formed in a low quadrangular pyramid shape. A rectangular opening 71 is formed at the upper end of the outer box 3. In a plan view, the rectangular bottom plate portion 63 is fitted inside the rectangular opening 71.

[0019] Furthermore, the bottom plate 63 and side plate 65 of the outer box 3 often have a large number of through holes 69. That is, many parts of the bottom plate 63 and side plate 65 of the outer box 3 are mesh-like. Furthermore, a rectangular annular flange 67 is provided on the outer periphery of the rectangular opening 71 of the outer box 3. The outer box 3 is integrally molded from, for example, a synthetic resin. Furthermore, the company name or the like is often printed on the outer surface of the side plate 65 of the outer box 3. This is because the outer box 3 may be seen by the general public when food is delivered to a convenience store or the like.

[0020] In the container cleaning and dehydrating apparatus 1, the outer box 3 is cleaned and dehydrated with the opening 71 facing up and the bottom plate portion 63 facing down, but the outer box 3 may be cleaned and dehydrated with the opening 71 facing down and the bottom plate portion 63 facing up.

[0021] The container cleaning device 5 is configured to include a container cleaning section (outer box cleaning section) 11 and a container rinsing section (outer box rinsing section) 13. The container cleaning section 11 is configured to clean the outer box 3, which is the object to be cleaned, using a detergent (e.g., a chlorine-based alkaline detergent). That is, the container cleaning section 11 is configured to clean the outer box 3 using a cleaning liquid, which is a detergent solution. The container rinsing section 13 is configured to rinse the outer box 3 cleaned by the container 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 outer box 3 for rinsing.

[0022] 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%.

[0023] Cleaning in the container cleaning unit 11 is performed using a cleaning liquid (for example, tap water and detergent) at room temperature. Rinsing in the container rinsing unit 13 is also performed using a solution of peracetic acid at room temperature. Room temperature is, for example, a temperature in the range of 5°C to 70°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 further preferably a temperature in the range of 15°C to 25°C. The temperature of the cleaning liquid used in the container cleaning unit 11 is, for example, a temperature in the range of 40°C to 50°C.

[0024] The container rinsing unit 13 is configured to include a water storage unit (water tank) 15 that stores water (for example, tap water) and a peracetic acid concentrate storage unit (peracetic acid concentrate tank) 17 that stores a concentrate of peracetic acid. The container rinsing unit 13 is configured to adjust the concentration of peracetic acid in the peracetic acid solution (rinse liquid) used to rinse the outer box 3 to a predetermined concentration. For this purpose, the water stored in the water storage unit 15 and the peracetic acid concentrate stored in the peracetic acid concentrate storage unit 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%).

[0025] 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 outer box 3 in the container rinsing section 13 may be changed (adjusted) according to the rinsing mode. For example, the concentration of peracetic acid may be high in the outer box 3 for raw ingredients and low in the outer box 3 for items other than ingredients.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] The container washing and dehydrating device 1 will now be described in more detail. The container washing device 5, container stacking device 7, and container dehydrating device 9 are lined up in this order from the entrance side (rear side) to the exit side (front side). The outer boxes 3 are transported from the entrance side to the exit side by a transport device (e.g., a belt conveyor) 18.

[0031] The container cleaning unit 11 is configured to include a first cleaning unit 19 and a second cleaning unit 21. The second cleaning unit 21 is disposed on the outlet side of the first cleaning unit 19. The container rinsing unit 13 is disposed on the outlet side of the second cleaning unit 21. As a result, in the container cleaning device 5, the outer box 3 flows (moves) from the inlet side to the outlet side by passing through the first cleaning unit 19, the second cleaning unit 21, and the container rinsing unit 13 in this order.

[0032] The first cleaning section 19 is configured to include a first cleaning agent storage section (first cleaning liquid storage section; first cleaning agent tank) 23 that stores a first cleaning agent (first cleaning liquid; detergent solution), and a first cleaning agent discharge section (first cleaning liquid discharge section) 25 that discharges the first cleaning agent toward the outer box 3.

[0033] In the first cleaning agent discharging section 25, the first cleaning agent contained in the first cleaning agent storage section 23 is supplied from a pump (not shown) to a pipe (first pipe) 27. The first cleaning agent is then discharged from a nozzle provided in the pipe 27 toward the outer box 3. Note that part of the pipe 27 is not shown in Fig. 1. The pipe 27 is not shown in Fig. 2.

[0034] The second cleaning section 21 is configured to include a second cleaning agent storage section (second cleaning liquid storage section; first cleaning agent tank) 29 that stores a second cleaning agent (second cleaning liquid; detergent solution), and a second cleaning agent discharge section (second cleaning agent discharge section) 31 that discharges the second cleaning agent toward the outer box 3.

[0035] In the second cleaning agent discharge section 31, the second cleaning agent contained in the second cleaning agent storage section 29 is supplied to a pipe (second pipe) 33 from a pump (not shown). The second cleaning agent is then discharged from a nozzle provided in the pipe 33 toward the outer box 3. Note that part of the pipe 33 is not shown in Fig. 1. The pipe 33 is not shown in Fig. 2.

[0036] The container cleaning section 11 is also provided with a detergent concentrate storage section (detergent concentrate storage tank) 35 that stores the detergent concentrate, and the detergent concentrate stored in the detergent concentrate storage section 35 is supplied appropriately to the first detergent storage section 23 and the second detergent storage section 29. Note that the detergent concentration in the first detergent and the detergent concentration in the second detergent are approximately the same, but the detergent concentration in the first detergent and the detergent concentration in the second detergent may be different from each other. Also, the first detergent and the second detergent may be different from each other.

[0037] Most of the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 is circulated and reused to clean the outer box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19. Also, most of the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 is circulated and reused to clean the outer box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21. In this case, the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 and the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 are separated so as not to mix with each other. Also, the remainder of the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer box 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 is disposed of. The remainder of the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer box 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 is also disposed of.

[0038] In an embodiment in which most of the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer case 3 in the first cleaning unit 19 is circulated and reused to clean the outer case 3 in the first cleaning unit 19, new cleaning liquid is supplied to the first cleaning unit 19 to be used to clean the outer case 3. Here, when the temperature of the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer case 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 a portion of the discarded cleaning liquid.

[0039] Similarly, in an embodiment in which most of the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer case 3 in the second cleaning unit 21 is circulated and reused to clean the outer case 3 in the second cleaning unit 21, new cleaning liquid is supplied to be used to clean the outer case 3 in the second cleaning unit 21. Here, when the temperature of the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer case 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 a portion of the discarded cleaning liquid.

[0040] It is also possible to discard all or a part of the cleaning liquid that has been circulated for a predetermined time to clean the outer casing 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 outer casing 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.

[0041] Also, at least a portion (a part or all) of the cleaning liquid used to clean the outer case 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 be the same as that used to clean the outer case 3 in the second cleaning unit 21. Alternatively, a portion of the cleaning liquid used in the first cleaning unit 19 will be the same as that used to clean the outer case 3 in the second cleaning unit 21, and the remaining cleaning liquid used in the first cleaning unit 19 will be new cleaning liquid.

[0042] The container rinsing unit 13 is configured to include a water storage unit 15, a peracetic acid concentrate storage unit 17, and a rinsing liquid discharge unit 37 that discharges the rinsing liquid. The container rinsing unit 13 is configured to include a pump 41 that supplies the peracetic acid concentrate contained in the peracetic acid concentrate storage unit 17 to a pipe 39, and a pump 45 that supplies the water contained in the water storage unit 15 to a pipe 43.

[0043] 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 outer box 3. Note that the pipes 39, 43, 47, etc. are not shown in FIG. 2.

[0044] In container rinsing unit 13, for example, the discharge rates of pumps 41 and 45 can be appropriately changed to adjust the concentration of peracetic acid in the rinsing liquid.

[0045] At least a portion (part or all) of the rinsing liquid used to rinse the outer box 3 in the container rinsing section 13 is circulated and reused to rinse the outer box 3 in the container rinsing section 13. An embodiment in which a portion of the rinsing liquid used to rinse the outer box 3 in the container rinsing section 13 is circulated and reused to rinse the outer box 3 in the container rinsing section 13 will be described. In this embodiment, the remainder of the rinsing liquid used to rinse the outer box 3 in the container rinsing section 13 is discarded, and new rinsing liquid to replace the discarded amount is newly supplied to the container rinsing section 13.

[0046] An embodiment will be described in which all of the rinsing liquid used to rinse the outer box 3 in the container rinsing section 13 is circulated and reused to rinse the outer box 3 in the container rinsing section 13. In this embodiment, all or part of the rinsing liquid used in the container rinsing section 13 to rinse the outer box 3 for a predetermined period of time is discarded, and new rinsing liquid is supplied to the container rinsing section 13. Furthermore, all or part of the rinsing liquid used once to rinse the outer box 3 in the container rinsing section 13 may be discarded, and new rinsing liquid may be supplied to the container rinsing section 13.

[0047] In addition, a sensor may be provided to detect the concentration of peracetic acid or the like in the rinsing liquid used in the container rinsing section 13, and the concentration of peracetic acid or the like may be automatically adjusted according to the detection result of this sensor.

[0048] The container stacking device 7 is configured to vertically stack (stack) outer boxes 3 that have been washed by the container washing device 5, transported by a conveyor (e.g., a belt conveyor) 18, and come out of the container washing device 5 one by one. To explain further, the container stacking device 7 is configured to include a first container placing table (first outer box placing table) 81, a temporary container placing section (temporary outer box placing section) 83, and a container positioning section (outer box positioning section; container stopping section) 85, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0049] The first container 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 outer box 3 is placed on the first container placing table 81. The outer box 3 placed on the first container placing table 81 has the bottom plate portion 63 facing downward. The first container placing table 81 is freely moved and positioned in the vertical direction by an actuator such as a servo motor (not shown). Furthermore, the thickness direction of the first container placing table 81 is the vertical direction.

[0050] 3(a), the first container placing table 81 moves up and down between positions P1 and P2. At position P1, which is the lower limit of the first container placing table 81, the upper surface of the first container placing table 81 is located slightly below the upper surface of the belt conveyor 18. At position P2, which is the upper limit of the first container placing table 81, the first container placing table 81 is located above the upper surface of the belt conveyor 18 and above the temporary container placing section 83.

[0051] One outer box 3 is placed on the belt conveyor 18, and the first container placing table 81 is raised from a state in which the first container placing table 81 is located at the lower limit position P1 below the one outer box 3. As a result, the first container placing table 81 places the outer box 3 on it instead of the belt conveyor 18.

[0052] A pair of temporary container placement sections 83 are provided. One temporary container placement section 83A of the pair of temporary container placement sections 83 is disposed on one side of the container stacking device 7 in the width direction. Moreover, one temporary container placement section 83A is disposed at a predetermined position (approximately the same position as the first container placement table 81) in the entrance / exit direction. Furthermore, one temporary container placement section 83A is positioned above the upper surface of the belt conveyor 18 in the vertical direction.

[0053] The other of the pair of temporary container placement sections 83, 83B, is disposed on the other side of the container stacking device 7 in the width direction. The other temporary container placement section 83B is also disposed at a predetermined position (the same position as the first container placement table 81) in the entrance / exit direction. Furthermore, the other temporary container placement section 83B is positioned above the upper surface of the belt conveyor 18 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the pair of temporary container placement sections 83 are symmetrical with respect to the central plane of the container stacking device 7. The central plane is a plane that includes the center of the container stacking device 7 and is perpendicular to the width direction.

[0054] The temporary container 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 container 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 container stacking device 7, and the outer position P4 is a position opposite (outside) the center of the container stacking device 7.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] The temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary placement rotating body 91 of one container temporary placement section 83A are separated by a predetermined distance in the width direction from the temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary placement rotating body 91 of the other container temporary placement section 83B. The first container placement table 81 is located between the pair of container 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 container temporary placement sections 83 without coming into contact with the container temporary placement sections 83.

[0058] In the container stacking device 7, the first container placing table 81 and the first outer box 3 are raised 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 container placing table 81 places the first outer 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 container placing table 81 is not shown in FIG. 5.

[0059] In the container stacking device 7, the first container loading table 81 and the first outer box 3 rise from the first state, causing the first outer box 3 to abut against the temporary installation rotating body 91, and the temporary installation rotating body 91 is pushed by the outer box 3 and rotates to the open position P6 (see Figure 5 (b)).

[0060] Next, the first container placing table 81 and the first outer box 3 further rise, so that the first outer 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. Next, the first container placing table 81 and the first outer box 3 move down, so that the first outer box 3 comes into contact with the temporary installation rotating body 91 and the first outer box 3 moves away from the first container placing table 81 and is temporarily placed on the temporary installation rotating body 91 (see FIG. 5(c)).

[0061] Next, in the container stacking device 7, from the second state (not shown), the first container placing table 81 places the second outer box 3, and the first container placing table 81 and the second outer 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 outer box 3 is temporarily placed on the temporary placement rotating body 91. Furthermore, in the second state, the first container placing table 81 places the second outer 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.

[0062] In the container stacking device 7, the first container loading table 81 and the second outer box 3 rise, causing the second outer box 3 to abut against the temporary installation rotating body 91, and the temporary installation rotating body 91 rotates to the open position P6 while still holding the first outer box 3.

[0063] Next, the first container placement table 81 and the second outer box 3 are further raised, so that the second outer box 3 is positioned below the first outer box 3 and overlaps the first outer box 3. At this time, the second outer box 3 is positioned below the first outer box 3. In addition, the second outer 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.

[0064] Next, the first container placing table 81 and the first and second outer boxes 3 are lowered. As a result, the second outer box 3 comes into contact with the temporary installation rotating body 91, and the second outer box 3 is stacked on the underside of the first outer box 3. Then, while still stacked, the first and second outer boxes 3 are separated from the first container placing table 81 and temporarily placed on the temporary installation rotating body 91.

[0065] The container stacking device 7 is configured so that the third and subsequent outer boxes 3 are similarly stacked on the outer box 3 that has already been temporarily placed on the temporary installation rotating body 91. In other words, the container stacking device 7 is configured so that three or more outer boxes 3 can be stacked.

[0066] Next, in the container stacking device 7, the first container loading table 81 rises from the third state, so that the stacked outer boxes 3 are placed on the first container loading table 81 and rise, moving away from the temporary installation rotating body 91.

[0067] In the third state, the multiple stacked outer boxes 3 are temporarily placed on the temporary installation rotating body 91. Also, in the third state, the first container placing table 81 on which no outer box 3 is placed is separated from the temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary installation rotating body 91 and is located below the temporary placement moving body 89 and the temporary installation rotating body 91.

[0068] Next, in the container stacking device 7, in a state where the temporary placement moving body 89 has moved from the inner position P3 to the outer position P4 (see FIG. 5(d) etc.), the first container placement table 81 on which the multiple stacked outer boxes 3 are placed is lowered. By this lowering of the first container placement table 81, the multiple stacked outer boxes 3 are placed again on the belt conveyor 18 and transported.

[0069] 3, the container positioning units 85 are for positioning the outer box 3 transported by the belt conveyor 18 at a predetermined position P1. The container positioning units 85 are provided in pairs.

[0070] One container positioning unit 85A of the pair of container positioning units 85 is disposed on one side of the container stacking device 7 in the width direction. The other container positioning unit 85A is disposed at a predetermined position (a position closer to the exit than the first container loading table 81) in the entrance / exit direction, and is disposed between the belt conveyor 18 and the temporary container loading unit 83 in the up-down direction.

[0071] The other container positioning unit 85B of the pair of container positioning units 85 is disposed on the other side of the container stacking device 7 in the width direction. The other container positioning unit 85B is disposed at a predetermined position in the entrance / exit direction (a position closer to the exit than the first container loading table 81), and is disposed between the belt conveyor 18 and the temporary container loading unit 83 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the pair of container positioning units 85 are symmetrical with respect to the center plane of the container stacking device 7.

[0072] As shown in Fig. 4, the container positioning section 85 (85A, 85B) is configured with an abutment member 93 that abuts against the outer box 3. The abutment member 93 is movable relative to the housing 87 of the container stacking device 7 by an actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder. The abutment member 93 is 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 container stacking device 7 (see Fig. 4(a)), and the outer position P9 is a position opposite the center of the container stacking device 7 (see Fig. 4(b)).

[0073] In the container stacking device 7, when the abutting member 93 is at the inside position P8, the outer box 3 transported by the belt conveyor 18 abuts against the abutting member 93. Then, the outer 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 outer box 3 does not abut against the abutting member 93 and is transported to the exit side by the belt conveyor 18.

[0074] In a plan view, the outer box 3 is stopped at a predetermined position P7. The center position of the outer box 3 and the center position of the first container mounting table 81 are approximately the same. If the outer box 3 is slightly misaligned in the width direction when the outer 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 container stacking device 7 in the state shown in FIG. 3(a) or FIG. 4(a). The position of the outer box 3 in the width direction may be adjusted.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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 container mounting table 81 is adapted to move up and down between the pair of belts 99 without interfering with the pair of belts 99.

[0077] The outer 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.

[0078] 6, the container dehydration device 9 is configured to include a second container placing table (second outer box placing table) 55 and a container rotation unit (outer box rotation unit) 57. The second container placing table 55 is capable of moving in the vertical direction and is also capable of rotating about a central axis C1.

[0079] The container rotating section 57 is configured to include a rotating main body section 59 and a movement restricting section (multiple rod-shaped guide protrusions) 61. The container rotating section 57 is disposed above the second container loading table 55. The rotating main body section 59 and the movement restricting section 61 are configured to rotate about a central axis C1 by an actuator such as a motor.

[0080] When the multiple stacked outer boxes 3 are rotated, the multiple stacked outer 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 outer boxes 3 also rotate at the same time. Also, the second container placement table 55 on which the multiple outer boxes 3 are placed rotates together.

[0081] To explain further, as shown in Fig. 6(a), when the second container placing table 55 is raised from the state in which the multiple stacked outer boxes 3 are placed on the second container placing table 55, the state shown in Fig. 6(b) is reached. The multiple stacked outer boxes 3 in the state shown in Fig. 6(b) are rotated to dehydrate the multiple outer boxes 3.

[0082] Thereafter, the rotation of the outer box 3 is stopped, the second container placing table 55 is lowered, and the multiple stacked and dehydrated outer boxes 3 are placed again on the belt conveyor 18. The multiple stacked and dehydrated outer boxes 3 are then transported by the belt conveyor 18 to the exit side and taken out of the container dehydration device 9.

[0083] Here, we will explain the operation of the container washing / dehydrating device 1. The container dehydrating / dehydrating device 1 is adapted to operate under the control of a control device (not shown) (for example, a control device configured to include a CPU and a memory).

[0084] In the initial state, no outer boxes 3 are present in the container cleaning and dehydrating apparatus 1. In the initial state, the outer boxes 3 are supplied to the container cleaning apparatus 5 from the inlet end of the container cleaning apparatus 5. This supply of the outer boxes 3 is performed automatically by a container supply device (outer box supply device) not shown. Note that the supply of the outer boxes 3 may also be performed manually.

[0085] The outer case 3 supplied to the container cleaning device 5 moves from the inlet side to the outlet side within the container cleaning device 5, is cleaned by the container cleaning unit 11, and is rinsed by the container rinsing unit 13. The rinsed outer case 3 is discharged from the container cleaning device 5 at the outlet side of the container cleaning device 5. The outer case 3 is supplied to the container cleaning device 5 multiple times at predetermined time intervals.

[0086] The outer boxes 3 discharged from the container cleaning device 5 are stacked in the container stacking device 7, and the multiple outer boxes 3 stacked in the container stacking device 7 are dehydrated while still stacked in the container dehydrator 9. The multiple outer boxes 3 dehydrated in the container dehydrator 9 are discharged from the container dehydrator 9 at the outlet side of the container dehydrator 9 while still stacked. The container dehydrator 9 is designed to dehydrate the outer boxes 3 by using centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the outer boxes 3, without using hot air.

[0087] The container cleaning device 5 is configured to include a container cleaning unit 11 that cleans the outer box 3 to be cleaned using a detergent (detergent solution; cleaning liquid), and a container rinsing unit 13 that rinses the outer box 3 cleaned in the container cleaning unit 11 using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid (rinsing liquid). This makes it possible to reliably sterilize the outer box 3 without using a high-temperature cleaning liquid or a high-temperature rinsing liquid.

[0088] In addition, in the container cleaning device 5, cleaning in the container cleaning section 11 is performed using a cleaning liquid at room temperature, and rinsing in the container 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 container cleaning device 5 is installed from rising and deteriorating the environment of the room. In addition, since energy is not required to heat the cleaning liquid and rinsing liquid to a high temperature, CO2 emissions can be reduced, and the environmental load can be reduced.

[0089] In addition, in the container cleaning device 5, the container rinsing unit 13 uses a mixture of the water contained in the water storage unit 15 and the peracetic acid concentrate contained in the peracetic acid concentrate storage unit 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.

[0090] The container cleaning and dehydrating device 1 is configured to include a container cleaning device 5 and a container stacking device 7. This ensures that the outer boxes 3 rinsed in the container rinsing section 13 can be dehydrated reliably, eliminating the need for a step of blowing hot air onto the outer boxes 3 to dry them. Eliminating the need for a step of blowing hot air onto the outer boxes 3 to dry them also makes it possible to prevent the room environment from deteriorating, thereby reducing the environmental load.

[0091] Incidentally, in the configuration shown in Figure 1 etc., the container stacking device 7 and the container dewatering device 9 are arranged separately from each other, but the container stacking device 7 and the container dewatering device 9 may also be arranged together in the same place in the entrance / exit direction or width direction.

[0092] 3, a rotatable second container placing table 55 may be provided instead of the first container placing table 81, and a container rotation section 57 may be disposed above the temporary container placing section 83. Then, multiple outer boxes 3 7 placed on top of each other on the container placing table 55 (81) may be rotated while still placed on the container placing table 55 (81) to dehydrate the outer boxes 3.

[0093] Here, the above description may be understood as a container cleaning method (outer box cleaning method). The container cleaning method includes a container cleaning step (outer box cleaning step) for cleaning a container (outer box) to be cleaned using a detergent, and a container rinsing step (outer box rinsing step) for rinsing the container cleaned in the container cleaning step using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid.

[0094] 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]

[0095] 1 Container cleaning and dehydration equipment 3 containers 5. Container cleaning equipment 7 Container stacking device 9 Container dehydration device 11 Container Cleaning Section 13 Container rinsing section 15 Water storage section 17 Peracetic acid stock solution storage section

Claims

1. a container washing unit that washes a container to be washed using a detergent; A container rinsing unit that rinses the container washed in the container washing unit using an aqueous solution of peracetic acid; A container cleaning device having the following features:

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

3. The container 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 in order to make the concentration of peracetic acid in the peracetic acid solution used to rinse the container a predetermined concentration. The container cleaning device described in claim 1.

4. 4. The container washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container is an outer box in which packaged food is housed.

5. The container cleaning device according to claim 4 , a container stacking device for stacking the containers washed by the container washing device; a container dewatering device for dewatering the plurality of containers stacked by the container stacking device; A container cleaning and dehydration device having the above structure.

6. a container washing step of washing a container to be washed using a detergent; a container rinsing step of rinsing the container washed in the container washing step with an aqueous solution of peracetic acid; wherein the container is an outer box into which packaged food is contained.

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