Pre-cleaning treatment system

Abstract

To provide a pre-washing processing system that can efficiently remove leftover food adhering to tableware before a dishwasher washes the tableware.SOLUTION: A pre-washing processing system 1 separates tableware D placed on a tray T from the tray T before a dishwasher 9C washes the tableware. The pre-washing processing system 1 includes: a tray transport device 10 for transporting the tray T placing tableware D thereon; a liquid supply device 20 for supplying liquid L to the tableware D transported by the tray transport device 10; and a separation device 30 for separating the tableware D from the tray T that has passed through the liquid supply device 20 with the tray transport device 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pre-washing treatment system for separating tableware placed on a tray from the tray and prior to washing in a tableware washing machine. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of this type of technology, Patent Document 1 proposes a separation device that collects and transports trays with tableware left on them after eating, and drops and separates the tableware from the trays in employee cafeterias, campus cafeterias, etc. The tableware separated by this separation device is temporarily immersed in a dipping tank, and then the immersed tableware is lifted up from the dipping tank by a pick-up conveyor and transported to a dishwashing device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-157032 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, it is desirable to remove leftover food from the tableware separated from the separator through the pre-washing treatment system described in Patent Document 1 before washing it with the dishwashing device. However, for example, there is a tendency for leftover food to be present in the trays of tableware that have been used and collected from various facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, and the leftover food may strongly adhere to the tableware while the trays on which the tableware is placed are collected and transported from each facility to a central kitchen or the like by truck or the like. If the pre-washing treatment system is used in such a state, there is a risk that a large amount of leftover food will be generated in places other than the places where leftover food is originally collected, depending on the type and dryness of the leftover food. As a result, for example, a large amount of leftover food may accumulate even during the washing operation, and it is assumed that the maintenance of the device, such as draining some of the water from the pre-washing treatment system during the operation, will take time and effort, and the washing of the tableware cannot be continued efficiently.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a pre-washing treatment system that can efficiently remove food residue adhering to dishes before the dishes are washed in a dishwashing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In consideration of the above problems, the scooping conveyor of the present invention is a pre-cleaning treatment system in which tableware placed on a tray is separated from the tray and washed in a dishwashing device, and is characterized in that the tray transporting device comprises a tray transporting device that transports the tray on which the tableware is placed, a liquid supplying device that supplies liquid to the tableware transported by the tray transporting device, and a separation device that separates the tableware from the tray that has passed through the liquid supplying device by the tray transporting device.

[0007] According to the present invention, while the tray carrying the dishes is being transported by the tray transport device, the liquid supply device supplies liquid to the dishes. When the dishes contain leftover food, the liquid is also supplied to the leftover food in the dishes, making it easier to remove the leftover food from the dishes. As a result, even if there is a lot of leftover food in the dishes before they are separated from the tray, the leftover food in the dishes after separation can be more easily removed.

[0008] Here, the structure of the separation device is not particularly limited as long as it can separate the tableware from the tray on which the tableware is placed. However, in a more preferred embodiment, the separation device includes a tray inclination conveying section that conveys the tray in the inclined position by causing the tray conveyed by the tray conveying device to fall in an inclined position due to the weight of the tray, and a tableware guide that guides the tableware that slides off the tray in the inclined position.

[0009] According to this aspect, the tray conveying device transfers the tray carrying tableware to the tray in an inclined position by the tray inclined conveying section. At this time, the tray falls due to its own weight and assumes an inclined position, causing the tableware to slide off the tray. The tableware that has slid off the tray is guided by the tableware guide in an unstable position. The tableware is subjected to an impact due to the tableware sliding off and being guided in an unstable position, so that food residue in the tableware to which liquid has been supplied is easily removed from the tableware.

[0010] Furthermore, since the liquid is supplied to the dishes, not only does the weight of the dishes increase, but the center of gravity of the dishes also moves higher than before the liquid was supplied, so the dishes tend to slide down while rolling due to the dropping action of the tray. As a result, even if there is a lot of leftover food on the dishes before they are separated from the tray, the impact of the dishes sliding down and rolling after separation makes it easier to remove the leftover food from the dishes.

[0011] Here, the structure of the liquid supplying device is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of supplying liquid to the tableware, but in a more preferred embodiment, the liquid supplying device is equipped with a spray nozzle that supplies liquid to the tableware, and the spray nozzle is positioned so as to spray the liquid onto the tableware downstream in the conveying direction of the tray of the tray conveying device.

[0012] According to this embodiment, the liquid is sprayed from the spray nozzle toward the downstream of the conveying direction of the tableware, i.e., toward the same direction as the conveying direction of the tray, so that the spray pressure of the liquid can be reduced and more liquid can be supplied to the tableware with less splashing than when the liquid is sprayed toward the upstream. This makes it easier for the sprayed liquid to collect on the tableware by suppressing the splashing of the sprayed liquid from the tableware. Furthermore, some of the liquid is sprayed on the tray as well, making it easier for the tableware to slide on the tray, making it easier to separate the tableware from the tray in the subsequent process. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, food residue adhering to dishes can be efficiently removed before the dishes are washed in a dishwashing machine. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall plan view of a cleaning pre-treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic side view of a tray transport device, a liquid supply device, and a separation device, taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the liquid supplying device shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the separation device shown in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the rough cleaning device taken along line BB in FIG. 1 . [Figure 6] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the rough cleaning device taken along line CC in FIG. 1 . [Figure 7] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the immersion tank and the pick-up conveyor as viewed in the direction of the arrows along the line EE in FIG. 1. [Figure 8] FIG. 2(a) is a schematic perspective view of a waste food collecting basket, and FIG. 2(b) is a side view thereof. [Figure 9] 1A is a top view and a front view of two strainers installed, (b) is a schematic oblique view of one strainer and a schematic oblique view of two strainers stacked on top of each other, and (c) is a top view for explaining a maintenance method for the two strainers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, a cleaning pretreatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the washing pretreatment system 1 according to this embodiment is a washing pretreatment system for separating tableware D placed on a tray T from the tray T and before washing in a dishwashing device 9C. The washing pretreatment system 1 ultimately transports the tableware D transported by a pick-up conveyor 60 (described later) to the dishwashing device 9C via a connecting conveyor 9B.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the pre-cleaning treatment system 1 includes a tray transport device (tray clearing conveyor) 10, a liquid supply device 20, a separation device (tray separation and transport device) 30, a rough dish washing device 40, an immersion tank 50, and a pick-up conveyor 60.

[0018] 1. Regarding the tray conveying device 10 The tray conveying device 10 conveys trays T collected from, for example, hospitals, nursing homes, or elderly welfare facilities, and tableware D is placed on the trays T. As shown in Fig. 2, the tray conveying device 10 includes a first conveying section 10A and a second conveying section 10B connected thereto. A liquid supplying device 20, which will be described later, is disposed in the first conveying section 10A, and the downstream end of the second conveying section 10B is connected to a separating device 30, which will be described later.

[0019] Each of the first and second conveying sections 10A and 10B is provided with a driven sprocket 12 and a driving sprocket 13, and a conveying belt (chain belt) 11 is stretched between them. Furthermore, each of the first and second conveying sections 10A and 10B is provided with a conveyor cleaning pipe 17 for cleaning each of the conveying belts 11.

[0020] The drive sprocket 13 is connected to a motor 14 via a transmission belt, and by operating the control panel 18, the motor 14 can be driven to move each conveyor belt 11 while synchronizing the speeds of the conveyor belts 11 of the first and second conveying sections 10A and 10B.

[0021] In this embodiment, the control panel 18 can adjust the rotation speed of the motor 14 by an operation switch or an operation button, etc., and as a result, it becomes possible to adjust the moving speed of the conveyor belt 11, i.e., the conveying speed of the trays T. This makes it possible to adjust the conveying speed of the trays T according to the number of trays T to be conveyed.

[0022] Here, the conveying speed of the tray T is adjusted so that the time (wetting time) from when the liquid L is supplied to the tableware D by the liquid supplying device 20 described below until the tableware D reaches the separating device 30 (the tray inclined conveying section 31) is 2 seconds or more, more preferably 10 seconds or more, and even more preferably 20 seconds or more. By ensuring such a wetting time, food residue stuck to the tableware D can be efficiently removed.

[0023] 2. Liquid supply device 20 The liquid supplying device 20 is a device that supplies liquid L to tableware D transported by the tray transporting device 10, and is disposed downstream of the center of the first transporting section 10A in the transport direction P. Before placing the tray T on the first transporting section 10A, tray-shaped meal cards, trash, tableware lids, chopsticks, spoons, and forks are removed from the tray T, and the tray T on which the tableware D is placed is placed on the first transporting section 10A by an operator upstream of the liquid supplying device 20 in the transport direction P. The tray T placed on the first transporting section 10A is transported toward the liquid supplying device 20 and passes through the liquid supplying device 20.

[0024] The liquid supplying device 20 includes a spray nozzle 21 that supplies liquid to the tableware D, a housing 22 that houses the spray nozzle 21, and a pair of anti-scattering plates 23 arranged on both sides of the width direction of the first transporting section 10A. The spray nozzle 21 is a nozzle in which a pipe extending in the width direction of the tray transporting device 10 (a direction perpendicular to the transport direction P of the trays T) has slits or a plurality of circular through holes formed along the longitudinal direction of the pipe. This allows the liquid L to be sprayed in a shower-like manner across the width direction of the first transporting section 10A, making it possible to supply the liquid L to the tableware D and the trays T.

[0025] 2 and 3, the spray nozzle 21 is disposed above the first conveyor section 10A and is disposed so as to spray liquid L onto the trays T and tableware D downstream in the conveying direction P of the tray conveying device 10 (of the trays T). Specifically, the spray angle θ of the spray nozzle 21 is in the range of 30° to 60° with respect to the conveying surface 11a of the conveyor belt 11, and in this embodiment, the spray angle θ of the spray nozzle 21 is 45°.

[0026] The liquid L sprayed from the spray nozzle 21 is clean water (tap water), but may also be cleaning water (immersion water) supplied from a circulation pump 53 provided in the immersion tank 50 described later, or may be water to which detergent or the like has been added, or may be heated (for example, hot water). By using only tap pressure without pressurizing the liquid L with a pump or the like and further adjusting the spray pressure of the spray nozzle, splashing of the liquid together with leftover food can be suppressed, no unnecessary drainage is generated, and soiling of the surroundings of the liquid supplying device 20 can be avoided.

[0027] A pair of anti-scattering plates 23 are provided downstream of the injection nozzle 21, more specifically, downstream of the housing 22. By providing the anti-scattering plates 23, even if the injection nozzle 21 injects the liquid L downstream in the conveying direction P, it is possible to prevent the liquid L from scattering around from both sides of the first conveying section 10A. This makes it possible to prevent the surroundings of the first conveying section 10A from getting wet or soiled.

[0028] In this way, the liquid L is sprayed by the spray nozzle 21 toward the downstream of the conveying direction P of the tray T toward the tableware D placed on the tray T, so that the conveying direction P of the tray T and the spraying direction of the liquid L are the same, the momentum of the spray pressure of the liquid L is offset, and the spray pressure of the liquid L can be reduced compared to when the liquid L is sprayed upstream, thereby preventing the liquid L from splashing and allowing more liquid L to be supplied to the tableware D.

[0029] As a result, if the liquid L is sprayed onto the tableware D upstream in the conveying direction P, not only will the amount of liquid L sprayed onto the sides of the tableware D increase, but the tableware D may also shift or fall, but in this embodiment, the liquid L is sprayed downstream in the conveying direction, which softens the impact of the spray pressure on the tableware D and allows the liquid L to collect on the tray T or tableware D while suppressing splashing. If there is leftover food in the tableware D, the liquid L can be used to moisten the food in advance. This moistens the stuck food, making it easier for the food to fall off the tableware D.

[0030] In this way, the liquid L sprayed onto the dishes is prevented from bouncing off the dishes D and splashing, making it easier for the liquid L to accumulate on the dishes D. Furthermore, some of the liquid L is also sprayed onto the tray T, making it easier for the dishes D to slide off the tray T. As a result, it becomes easier to separate the dishes D from the tray T in the subsequent process. Note that spraying the liquid L downstream in the conveying direction P can also prevent water from splashing on a worker recovering the tray T upstream of the liquid supplying device 20.

[0031] In this embodiment, when the conveying speed of the tray T of the tray conveying device 10 described above is set to the maximum speed, the liquid supplying device 20 is positioned at a position where the conveying time to the separation device 30 is 2 seconds or more. In the inventors' experience, if the tableware D is separated from the tray T within 2 seconds after the liquid L is sprayed onto the tray T, the inside of the tableware D is not sufficiently moistened, and food residue is likely to remain on the tableware D. In other words, if the tableware D is conveyed for 2 seconds or more after the liquid L is sprayed, dirt on the top surface of the tray T and dirt inside the tableware D are sufficiently moistened during conveyance, and moisture circulates between the surface of the tableware D and the food residue, making it easier to separate the food residue from the tableware D.

[0032] From this point of view, the transport time from the liquid supply device 20 to the separation device 30 (i.e., the wetting time mentioned above) is preferably 10 seconds or more, and more preferably 20 seconds or more. In order to ensure such a wetting time, the transport speed of the tray T may be adjusted by the control panel 18.

[0033] 3. Separation device 30 As shown in Fig. 4, the separation device 30 separates tableware D from the tray T that has passed through the liquid supply device 20 by the tray conveying device 10. The separation device 30 is provided with an inclined tray conveying section 31 that conveys the inclined tray T by transferring the tray T conveyed by the tray conveying device 10 in an inclined position due to the falling action of the tray T under its own weight, and a tableware guide 39 that guides the tableware D that slides off the inclined tray T.

[0034] The inclined tray conveying section 31 includes a support table 32, an inclined conveying belt 33, a belt drive device 34, an inclined tray guide 35, a tray receiving member 36, a dish removal brush 37, and a tray pressing member 38. The support table 32, the inclined conveying belt 33, and the inclined tray guide 35 are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction P of the tray T, and are arranged in the order of higher positions. The support table 32, the inclined conveying belt 33, and the inclined tray guide 35 are arranged at the downstream end of the second conveying section 10B of the tray conveying device 10.

[0035] The support table 32 is formed with a support surface 32a that supports the tray T while sliding it so as to temporarily maintain the horizontal position of the tray T sent out from the second transport unit 10B. The support surface 32a is formed so as to support a part of the bottom surface of the tray T sent out from the second transport unit 10B along the transport direction P (one side of the bottom surface of the tray T).

[0036] The inclined conveyor belt 33 has a conveying surface 33a that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane in the width direction. The inclined conveyor belt 33 is connected to a belt driving device 34, and can convey the tray T in an inclined position in the conveying direction P while being placed on the conveying surface 33a by driving the belt driving device 34.

[0037] The inclined tray guide 35 has a receiving surface 35a that is inclined so as to be flush with the conveying surface 33a of the inclined conveying belt 33. The tray receiving member 36 is a member that receives the lower edge of the tray T that has rolled from the support base 32 due to its own weight, and extends along the conveying direction P. This allows the tray T that has fallen due to its own weight to be received by the tray receiving member 36 while being conveyed in an inclined position.

[0038] The dish-removal brush 37 has a brush portion 37a disposed facing the conveying direction P of the tray T. When a dish D is caught on the edge of the tray T conveyed by the inclined conveyor belt 33, the dish D comes into contact with the brush portion 37a during conveyance, and the dish D can be scraped off the tray T.

[0039] The tray pressing member 38 is a pressing bar that presses down the upper edge of the tray T toward the conveying surface 33a, and the tray T is conveyed while the upper edge of the tray T is pinched between the inclined conveying belt 33 and the tray pressing member 38. The tray pressing member 38 is supported by the support base 32 at the center in the conveying direction, and presses down the upper edge of the tray T with the biasing force of an elastic body (not shown) arranged upstream in the conveying direction P.

[0040] As a result, the tray T can be transported in a stable posture downstream of the tray pressing member 38 in the transport direction P until it falls onto the tray delivery rollers 91. The tray T that falls onto the tray delivery rollers 91 is transported in a horizontal posture and carried out to the tray sorting unit 9A shown in FIG. 1, where the trays T are stacked one after another.

[0041] The tableware guide 39 guides the tableware D that slides down from the inclined tray T. Here, the tableware guide 39 has a guide surface 39a that guides the tableware D to the rough tableware washing device 40. The guide surface 39a is inclined at an angle that is gentler than the conveying surface 33a and the receiving surface 35a.

[0042] When the tray T carrying the tableware D passes through the inclined tray conveying section 31 by this separating device 30, the tray T falls onto the inclined tray guide 35 and collides with the tray support member 36. The impact of the collision causes the tableware D to slide off the tray T. The impact on the tableware D and the rolling motion after the slide allows the leftover food inside the tableware D to fall off. The tableware D and the leftover food dropped from the tableware D are guided along the tableware guide 39 and headed toward the rough tableware washing device 40 (specifically, the horizontal conveying section 41A of the transport conveyor 41) (see FIG. 5).

[0043] Furthermore, because the leftovers in the dishes D are moistened with the liquid L supplied in advance by the liquid supplying device 20, the leftovers absorb the liquid L and become heavier, and water is trapped between the leftovers and the dishes D, making them more likely to peel off from the surfaces of the dishes D. When the tray T falls onto the belt driving device 34 in this state, the impact causes the leftovers to peel off from the dishes D, making it possible to collect the leftovers in advance. In particular, because the surface of the tray T is also wetted with the supplied liquid L, the dishes D slide and roll easily on the tilted tray T, making it easier for the leftovers to peel off from the dishes D.

[0044] 4. About the Rough Dish Washing Device 40 As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the rough tableware washing device 40 includes at least a transport conveyor 41, a washing water tank 44, washing nozzles 45A, 45B, a scraping device 47, and a leftover food container 48. As shown in Figure 6, a chain belt 43 is stretched between a pair of sprockets 42A, 42B on the transport conveyor 41, and a drive motor 42C is connected to the sprocket 42B via a transmission belt. The transport conveyor 41 includes a horizontal transport section 41A that transports the tableware D horizontally, and an inclined transport section 41B that transports the tableware D transported by the horizontal transport section 41A diagonally upward.

[0045] Washing nozzles 45A, 45B are arranged on the inclined transport section 41B to spray washing water onto the tableware D from above and below. The washing nozzles 45A, 45B extend in the width direction of the transport conveyor 41, and are formed with spray holes for spraying washing water in the width direction. The washing water sprayed by the washing nozzles 45A, 45B is collected in a washing water tank 44. A heater 44a, which is electric or steam type, for heating the washing water is arranged in the washing water tank 44. A circulation pump 46 is connected to the washing water tank 44, and the discharge port of the circulation pump 46 is connected to the washing nozzles 45A, 45B.

[0046] 5 and 6, in this embodiment, below the horizontal conveyor 41A, a scraping device 47 having a leftovers receiving section 47a that receives leftovers dropped from the chain belt 43 is disposed. In the scraping device 47, a belt 47c having a plurality of scraping blades 47b that scrape out the leftovers received by the leftovers receiving section 47a is disposed movably by the power of a motor or the like (not shown). As a result, the leftovers received by the leftovers receiving section 47a are scraped out by the scraping blades 47b, and the leftovers scraped out by the scraping blades 47b can be collected in the leftovers container 48.

[0047] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the dishes D that have fallen from the dish guide 39 of the separation device 30 drop onto the chain belt 43 from the dish input opening of the rough dish washing device 40. As the dishes D fall, the leftover food inside the dishes D has been moistened with liquid L beforehand, so the leftover food absorbs the liquid L and becomes heavy, and the liquid L is contained between the dishes D, making it easy to peel off from the surface of the dishes D. As the dishes D fall onto the transport conveyor 41 in this state, the impact causes the leftover food to peel off from the dishes D, making it possible to collect the leftover food in advance.

[0048] Furthermore, food residue washed off from tableware D by washing nozzles 45A, 45B is also guided to food residue receiver 47a together with some of the washing water. The washing water that reaches food residue receiver 47a flows down through the water passage holes of food residue receiver 47a into washing water tank 44 and is collected. Meanwhile, food residue that does not pass through the water passage holes and is captured by food residue receiver 47a is discharged to the outside by scraping blade 47b. Food residue that has accumulated in food residue container 48 is transported to a processing plant.

[0049] 5. About the immersion tank 50 and the pick-up conveyor 60 The tableware D that has passed through the rough tableware washing device 40 is placed in an immersion tank 50 shown in Figures 1 and 7. The immersion tank 50 includes a tank body 51 that contains immersion water in which the tableware is immersed, a plurality of nozzles 52 that spray washing water into the tank body 51, and a circulation pump 53.

[0050] A part of the pick-up conveyor 60 is immersed in the tank body 51, and a circulation pump 53 is disposed below the pick-up conveyor 60. The multiple nozzles 52, 52, ... are connected to the circulation pump 53 via piping, and each nozzle 52 is supplied with the soaking water in the tank body 51 sucked by the circulation pump 53, and sprays the soaking water into the soaking water in the soaking tank 50 so that a water current toward the pick-up conveyor 60 is formed. The soaked tableware D is swept away by the water current generated by the nozzles 52, 52, ... and flows toward the pick-up conveyor 60.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 1, the immersion tank 50 has a detachable blocking plate 54 which defines an area in which the pick-up conveyor 60 is immersed and blocks the tableware D heading toward the pick-up conveyor 60. In this embodiment, the blocking plate 54 has a plurality of through holes smaller than the size of the tableware. As a result, for example, when collecting leftover food from the leftover food collection basket 70 described below, the blocking plate 54 can be installed to temporarily block the tableware heading toward the pick-up conveyor 60 with the blocking plate 54, while allowing the soaking water to pass toward the pick-up conveyor 60.

[0052] The pick-up conveyor 60 is a device that picks up and transports the tableware D from the immersion tank 50 in which the tableware D is immersed, to the dishwashing device 9C via the connecting conveyor 9B. The pick-up conveyor 60 is equipped with a driven sprocket 61A arranged in the immersion tank 50 and a driving sprocket 61B arranged on the dishwashing device 9C side. The driving sprocket 61B is connected to a motor 65 via a transmission belt.

[0053] The pick-up conveyor 60 further includes a chain belt 63 that is wound around a pair of sprockets 61A, 61B and engages with the sprockets 61A, 61B. The chain belt 63 is wound around and engaged with the driven sprocket 61A at the starting end 6a, and is wound around and engaged with the driving sprocket 61B at the end 6b.

[0054] As a result, at the terminal end 6b of the pick-up conveyor 60, the chain belt 63 moves along an outward path 63A from the starting end 6a to the terminal end 6b, and below that, the chain belt 63 turns back at the terminal end 6b and moves along a return path 63B from the terminal end 6b to the starting end 6a.

[0055] When viewed from the side perpendicular to the conveying direction P of the tableware D, the chain belt 63 has a horizontal conveying section 67 that conveys the tableware D horizontally, and an inclined conveying section 68 that is continuous with the horizontal conveying section 67 and is inclined upward toward the dishwashing device 9C.

[0056] 1 and 7, the area of ​​the tank body 51 where a part of the pick-up conveyor 60 is submerged is formed with a storage recess 64 for accommodating the driven sprocket 61A of the pick-up conveyor 60 and the chain belt 63 of the return path 63B. Therefore, the bottom surface 64a of the storage recess 64 is one step lower than the bottom surface of the tank body 51 of the immersion tank 50. The bottom surface 64a of the storage recess 64 is gently inclined toward the conveying direction P of the tableware D, and leftover food and the like that is difficult to be washed away by the chain belt 63 described later moves to the leftover food collection gutter 58 and is drained from the drain outlet 59 when the soaking water is replaced.

[0057] Water-passing covers 56, 57 are attached to the sides and rear side in the conveying direction P of the pick-up conveyor 60 described later, covering the storage recess 64 so as to expose the outgoing path 63A of the chain belt 63. The water-passing covers 56, 57 are formed with water-passing holes, which are sized to allow leftover food to fall through but not tableware.

[0058] A number of waste food collection baskets 70 are disposed below the rear water-passing cover 56, specifically at the starting end 6a of the pick-up conveyor 60. As shown in Fig. 8, the waste food collection basket 70 is a basket having a handle 72 attached to a basket body 71 formed with a number of water-passing holes for capturing waste food and the like. Openings 73 and 74 are formed at the end and top of the basket body 71, respectively. The waste food collection basket 70 is disposed so that the opening 73 at the end faces upstream in the conveying direction P of the tableware D.

[0059] In this embodiment, the leftover food that falls off the tableware D in the immersion tank 50 is swept away by the water flow from the nozzles 52, 52, ... and falls toward the bottom surface 64a of the storage recess 64 through the water holes of the water-passing covers 56, 57. Here, since the bottom surface 64a of the storage recess 64 faces the return path 63B of the chain belt 63, a water flow is formed on the bottom surface 64a of the storage recess 64 toward the upstream side of the conveying direction P due to the movement of the chain belt 63. This water flow gathers up the leftover food that has settled on the bottom surface 64a of the storage recess 64 and has not moved to the leftover food collection grate 58 into the leftover food collection basket 70, and allows it to enter the leftover food collection basket 70 through the opening 73 of the leftover food collection basket 70 and be captured.

[0060] Furthermore, if there is a large amount of food waste falling to the front side of the pick-up conveyor 60 (the side facing the dam plate 54), a food waste collection basket 70 with an opening on the top can also be installed under the water-permeable cover 57, allowing food waste to be collected even more effectively.

[0061] Strainers 80 (80A, 80B) are disposed in the immersion tank 50, and the strainers 80 are installed so as to cover the opening 53b of the pipe 53a connected to the suction port of the circulating pump 53. As shown in Fig. 9(a), the strainers 80 capture leftover food and the like from the immersion water sucked into the circulating pump 53.

[0062] In this embodiment, the strainer 80 has a box-shaped strainer body 81 with water passage holes for capturing leftovers and the like, and a handle 82 is formed on its upper part (top surface). An opening 83 is formed on the upper side of the strainer body 81. When the strainer 80 is arranged along the guide 85, the opening 83 is arranged so as to be on the opposite side to the opening 53b of the pipe 53a. The strainer 80 has a leftovers pocket (leftovers storage section) 84 for capturing leftovers, and the bottom surface forming the leftovers pocket 84 is inclined in one direction along the inclined conveying section 68 of the chain belt 63.

[0063] In this embodiment, the two strainers 80A, 80B are arranged along the suction direction S of the circulation pump 53. Since the two strainers 80A, 80B are configured to be installed in a plurality of stages in the suction direction, as shown in FIG. 9(c), before one strainer 80A (80B) is pulled up, another strainer 80B (80A) is newly installed, and then the one strainer 80A (80B) is pulled up. In this way, by replacing the strainers 80A, 80B in order (alternately in the case of two), the opening 53b of the pipe 53a can be always covered, so that leftover food can be collected even during the circulation operation of the soaking water. Therefore, a large amount of leftover food can be collected without making the strainer larger and without stopping the circulation operation.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tray transport device 10, the immersion tank 50, and the pick-up conveyor 60 are arranged in this order in a U-shape. The leftover food container 48 of the rough dish washing device 40 and the strainer 80 of the immersion tank 50 are arranged inside the U-shape. Therefore, when an arrangement worker who arranges the tableware D face-down after being picked up by the connecting conveyor 9B stands inside the U-shape, the leftover food container 48 of the rough dish washing device 40 and the strainer 80 of the immersion tank 50 are close to each other, so that the arrangement worker can replace the leftover food container 48 and the strainer 80 of the rough dish washing device 40 in a short time.

[0065] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims and the specification. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1: cleaning pre-treatment system, 10: tray transport device, 20: liquid supply device, 21: spray nozzle, 30: separation device, 31: tray inclined transport section, 39: tableware guide, D: tableware, T: tray

Claims

1. A pre-washing treatment system for separating tableware placed on a tray from the tray and prior to washing in a tableware washing device, comprising: The cleaning pretreatment system comprises: A tray conveying device that conveys the tray on which the tableware is placed; a liquid supplying device for supplying liquid to the tableware transported by the tray transporting device; a separation device for separating the tableware from the tray that has passed through the liquid supply device in the tray conveying device; Equipped with The liquid supply device includes: a spray nozzle for supplying liquid to the tableware, the spray nozzle being arranged so as to spray the liquid onto the tableware downstream in the conveying direction of the tray of the tray conveying device; a pair of anti-scattering plates arranged on both sides in a width direction of the tray conveying device downstream of the spray nozzle in the conveying direction to prevent the liquid from scattering, The cleaning pre-treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the tray transport device has a transport area in which the tray that has passed the pair of anti-scattering plates is transported to the separation device.

2. The tray conveying device has an inclined area for conveying the tray at an upward incline, The pre-washing system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid supplying device supplies liquid to the tableware transported in the inclined area.

3. The separation device includes a tray inclination conveying unit that transfers the tray conveyed by the tray conveying device in an inclined posture by a falling action of the tray due to its own weight, and conveys the tray in the inclined posture; 3. The cleaning pre-treatment system according to claim 1, further comprising a dish guide for guiding dishes that slide off the tray when the tray is in an inclined position.

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