Food waste treatment device

Abstract

To provide a garbage disposer which improves crushing performance with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A garbage disposer includes a crushing chamber, a fixed blade which is arranged and protrudes from an inner wall surface of the crushing chamber, and a rotary blade which has a recess by which the rotary blade passes the fixed blade arranged and protruding from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber. The rotary blade may include an outer circumferential surface formed toward an outer diameter direction with a rotation axis as a reference, and the recess which is arranged and recesses toward the rotation axis of the rotary blade from the outer circumferential surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a food waste treatment device.

Background Art

[0002] There is an increasing demand for a disposal system that finely crushes food waste such as cooking scraps from the kitchen, decomposes it in a dedicated treatment tank, and discharges the purified water into the sewage.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a food waste treatment device in which a fixed blade and a rotating blade formed with comb teeth are laminated.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a food waste treatment device in which a fixed blade facing the rotating blade in the radial direction is erected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, the food waste treatment device described in Patent Document 1 not only increases the manufacturing cost for forming the comb teeth, but also is difficult to clean. Furthermore, rubbing noise is generated due to rubbing between the comb teeth. In the food waste treatment device described in Patent Document 2, since fibrous materials such as edamame are difficult to be shredded, problems such as being wound around the blade and difficult to flow from the discharge groove are likely to occur.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a food waste treatment device that improves crushing performance with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] This application discloses a food waste treatment device including a crushing chamber, a first blade provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber, and a second blade provided with a recess for passing through the first blade provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber. Here, the first blade may be a fixed blade. However, the first blade may be provided movably. For example, the first blade may be provided rotatably about the central axis of the crushing chamber in the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber, in a direction different from that of the second blade, or at a different speed in the same direction as the first blade. In that case, it is preferable to provide the first blade and the second blade so that the area through which the first rotating blade moves does not interfere with the area through which the second blade rotates. Here, the second blade may be a rotating blade. However, the fixed blade may be fixed to the crushing chamber such that a part thereof is fixed to the crushing chamber and the other part is movable (for example, having so-called "play" or rattling). Note that the blade may be any member that can be crushed, and the first blade may simply be referred to as the first member, the first blade, or the first tooth, etc., and the second blade may be referred to as the second member, the second blade, or the second tooth, etc. This application discloses a food waste treatment device including a crushing chamber, a first member provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber, and a second blade provided with a recess for passing through the first member provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber.

[0009] The recess includes a concave portion. Note that this application discloses a food waste treatment device including a crushing chamber, a first member provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber, and a second member provided with a recess for passing through the first blade provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber.

[0010] The recess can be configured to have a surface facing the upper surface of the tip of the fixed blade, a surface facing the lower surface of the tip of the fixed blade, and a surface facing the inner peripheral surface of the tip of the fixed blade.

[0011] The recess can be configured to have at least one of the surface facing the upper surface of the tip of the fixed blade or the surface facing the lower surface of the tip of the fixed blade, and the surface facing the inner peripheral surface of the tip of the fixed blade.

[0012] The present invention is suitably applicable to a food waste processing apparatus of a blade mill type having a rotating blade. However, it may also be applied to other types of food waste processing apparatuses such as a hammer mill type having a rotating hammer (an example of a "rotating blade").

[0013] Crushing includes making an object fine, such as cutting it into small pieces. The inner wall surface of the crushing chamber may be formed substantially symmetric about the central axis. The crushing chamber has, for example, a cylindrical inner wall surface and a circular bottom surface.

[0014] The rotating blade includes a member rotatably provided with respect to the crushing chamber. The fixed blade includes a member fixedly provided with respect to the crushing chamber. The fixed blade may be composed of a plate-like member having a thickness in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0015] The rotating blade has, for example, a rotation axis on the central axis of the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber formed substantially symmetric about the central axis.

[0016] In a top view seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating blade, the region through which the recess passes due to the rotation of the rotating blade and the region where the fixed blade is provided may have an overlapping portion.

[0017] The rotating blade may have an outer peripheral surface formed facing the outer diameter direction with respect to the rotation axis, and the recess provided to be recessed from the outer peripheral surface toward the rotation axis of the rotating blade.

[0018] The fixed blade may have a first portion having an inner peripheral surface extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rotary blade with a space in the outer diameter direction, and a second portion connected to the first portion and provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber toward the rotation axis of the rotary blade, the second portion including a tip through which the recess of the rotating rotary blade passes.

[0019] The first portion may extend upward. The second portion may extend in the horizontal direction. In addition to the fixed blade, the garbage processor may further include a second fixed blade. For example, it may further include a second fixed blade having an inner peripheral surface extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis so as to face the outer peripheral surface and the recess of the rotating rotary blade with a space in the outer diameter direction.

[0020] In a top view seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotary blade, the area through which the recess passes due to the rotation of the rotary blade and the area where the second fixed blade is provided may not overlap.

[0021] The minimum distance between the area through which the rotary blade passes by rotation and the fixed blade may be smaller than the minimum distance between the area through which the rotary blade passes by rotation and the second fixed blade.

[0022] The distance between the area through which the rotary blade passes by rotation and the fixed blade may be configured to be minimum at the distance between the area through which the recess passes and the fixed blade.

[0023] The distance between the area through which the rotary blade passes by rotation and the second fixed blade may be configured to be minimum at the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the rotary blade and the inner peripheral surface of the second fixed blade.

[0024] The rotating blade may have a ceiling surface that, when rotated, faces upward with a space above the upper surface of the second fixed blade. The rotating blade may have a ceiling surface that, when rotated, faces upward with a space above the upper surface of the first portion of the fixed blade.

[0025] The food waste processing apparatus may include a plurality of the fixed blades provided at intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating blade. The food waste processing apparatus may include a plurality of the second fixed blades provided at intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating blade.

[0026] The apparatus may further include a bridge portion extending in the outer diameter direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating blade, and a connecting portion connecting the bridge portion, the fixed blade, and the second fixed blade.

[0027] The bridge portion, the connecting portion, the fixed blade, and the second fixed blade may be integrated and fixed to the crushing chamber, or may be separated and fixed to the crushing chamber respectively. When integrated, the bridge portion, the connecting portion, the fixed blade, and the second fixed blade may be composed of a single part, or may be composed of a plurality of parts. For example, the bridge portion, the connecting portion, the fixed blade, and the second fixed blade may be composed of a metal member integrated by die forming or the like.

[0028] The minimum distance between the area through which the rotating blade passes by rotation and the upper surface of the bridge portion may be smaller than the minimum distance between the area through which the rotating blade passes by rotation and the fixed blade and the minimum distance between the area through which the rotating blade passes by rotation and the second fixed blade. The apparatus may further include a second rotating blade provided below the bridge portion.

[0029] This application further discloses the following food waste processing apparatus.

[0030] This food waste treatment device includes a crushing chamber having an inner wall surface including at least a part of a cylindrical surface, a rotating blade having a rotation axis on the central axis of the cylindrical surface, an outer peripheral surface facing the inner wall surface, and a concave portion formed by being recessed from the outer peripheral surface toward the central axis, a first portion having an inner peripheral surface extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the rotating blade in the outer diameter direction with a gap therebetween when the rotating blade is rotating, a fixed blade connected to the first portion and provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber toward the rotation axis of the rotating blade, the fixed blade including a tip portion through which the recess of the rotating blade passes when the rotating blade is rotating, a second fixed blade having an inner peripheral surface extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis so as to face the outer peripheral surface and the recess of the rotating blade in the outer diameter direction with a gap therebetween, and a connecting portion provided below the rotating blade and connecting the fixed blade and the second fixed blade. The minimum distance between the region through which the rotating blade passes by rotation and the fixed blade is configured to be smaller than the minimum distance between the region through which the rotating blade passes by rotation and the second fixed blade.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited only to those embodiments.

[0033] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a food waste processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment cut along a plane passing through the rotation axis AX and a partially enlarged view of a first recess 16A. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cross-section of the food waste processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment cut along a plane passing through the rotation axis AX. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a crushing chamber 12 of the food waste processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an assembly view showing a rotating blade 14 (rotating teeth), a fixed blade 24 (fixed teeth), and a second rotating blade 26 (second rotating teeth) of the food waste processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment separated in the vertical direction.

[0034] The food waste processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a crushing chamber 12 provided with an opening 12OP for loading food waste, a fixed blade 24 having a bent tooth 24A protruding from an inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12, a first rotating blade 16 having a first recess 16A (an example of a "depression") for passing through the bent tooth 24A, and a second rotating blade 18 having a second recess 18A (an example of a "depression") for passing through the bent tooth 24A, and a rotating blade 14.

[0035] Furthermore, the food waste processing apparatus 10 includes a watering structure 20 provided above the rotating blade 14 for watering water supplied from above the crushing chamber 12, a support portion 22 for supporting the watering structure 20, a second rotating blade 26 provided below the fixed blade 24, a lid portion 30 for closing at least a part of the opening 12OP of the crushing chamber 12, and a motor 40 disposed below the crushing chamber 12 for rotating the rotating blade 14.

[0036] The following components will be described in detail. In some cases, the direction in which the opening 12OP of the crushing chamber 12 exists with respect to the rotating blade 14 is referred to as the upper direction Z1, and the opposite direction is referred to as the lower direction Z2. In the present embodiment, since the rotation axis AX including the rotation axis of the rotating blade 14 is substantially parallel to the upper direction Z1 and the lower direction Z2, in some cases, without distinguishing between the upper direction Z1 or the lower direction Z2, it may be referred to as the direction of the rotation axis AX. Further, the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis AX and intersecting the rotation axis AX is referred to as the radial direction R (FIG. 1). Among them, the direction approaching the rotation axis AX may be referred to as the inner diameter direction, and the direction separating from the rotation axis AX may be referred to as the outer diameter direction. Further, the direction of rotation about the rotation axis AX as the rotation axis may be referred to as the circumferential direction or the rotation direction.

[0037] The crushing chamber 12 provides a region for crushing food waste. The crushing chamber 12 according to the present embodiment is defined by the inner wall surface 12W of the housing (which may be called a "basket"), the upper surface of the second rotating blade 26 provided at the bottom of the crushing chamber 12, and the lower surface of the lid portion 30 that closes the opening 12OP at the upper part of the crushing chamber 12. In the food waste processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the housing is configured to be detachable from the housing of the main body portion.

[0038] The inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12 is formed in a cylindrical surface shape with the rotation axis AX as the central axis. The bending teeth 24A are provided so as to protrude from the inner wall surface 12W toward the rotation axis of the rotating blade 14. The crushing chamber 12 according to the present embodiment preferably has a height equal to or greater than the distance between the central axis and the inner wall surface 12W (in the present embodiment, the radius of the cylindrical surface approximating the inner wall surface 12W), and more preferably has a height equal to or greater than 1.5 times the distance between the central axis and the inner wall surface 12W. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to input a large amount of food waste into the crushing chamber 12.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, at the bottom of the crushing chamber 12, there are provided a second rotating blade 26 for crushing food waste and a bridge 28 (FIG. 3) which is laminated on the second rotating blade 26 with a slight interval and performs crushing between the second rotating blade 26. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of slits 26S are formed in the second rotating blade 26 provided at the bottom of the crushing chamber 12. Through these slits 26S, the crushing chamber 12 communicates with a drainage chamber 32 provided below Z2 of the second rotating blade 26. The food waste that has passed through the second rotating blade 26 is transported to the drain pipe via the drainage chamber 32 by the water supplied to the crushing chamber 12, so that it is possible to discharge the food waste and the like crushed in the crushing chamber 12.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, at the upper part of the crushing chamber 12, a circular opening 12OP for introducing food waste into the crushing chamber 12 is provided. As will be described later, a part of the opening 12OP is closed by a lid portion 30 during crushing.

[0041] The rotating blade 14 rotates in the crushing chamber 12 to crush food waste between the fixed blade 24 and the like. As described above, the rotating blade 14 in the present embodiment has a rotation axis that is substantially parallel to the upper Z1 and the lower Z2 and coincides with the central axis of the crushing chamber 12. The rotating blade 14 may be called a rotating tooth in some cases.

[0042] The rotating blade 14 according to the present embodiment includes a first rotating blade 16 that extends in the radial direction R (outer diameter direction) from the rotation axis toward the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12, a second rotating blade 18 that extends in the radial direction R from the rotation axis toward the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12 at a position 180 degrees circumferentially separated from the first rotating blade 16, a rotation axis of the motor 40, and a shaft portion that connects the first rotating blade 16 and the second rotating blade 18.

[0043] In addition, in the present embodiment, the first rotating blade 16, the second rotating blade 18, and the shaft portion are integrally provided, for example, by injection molding of metal. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first rotating blade 16, the second rotating blade 18, and the shaft portion may be composed of a plurality of parts connected to each other and integrally provided. Further, the first rotating blade 16 and the second rotating blade 18 may be formed separately without being integrated, and may be further provided so as to be independently rotatable. In addition, the rotating blade 14 may have only a single first rotating blade 16, or may include one or more other rotating members having a configuration different from or the same as that of the first rotating blade 16.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first rotating blade 16 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape having the radial direction R as the long side and the direction of the rotation axis AX as the short side. Therefore, the first rotating blade 16 has a lower end portion corresponding to the lower long side Z2, an upper end portion corresponding to the upper long side Z1, an outer peripheral portion connecting the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the first rotating blade 16 and corresponding to the outer short side, and an inner peripheral portion corresponding to the short side on the rotation axis side and connected to the shaft portion. For this reason, as surfaces, the first rotating blade 16 has a blade bottom surface 16B (FIG. 1) formed to face downward Z2 as the surface of the lower end portion, a blade upper surface formed to face upward Z1 as the surface of the upper end portion, a blade outer peripheral surface 16S (FIG. 1) formed to face the outer diameter direction as the surface of the outer peripheral portion, a first end surface 16E (FIG. 1) corresponding to one end surface facing the rotation direction, and a second end surface corresponding to the other end surface facing the rotation direction.

[0045] The blade bottom surface 16B, which is the surface of the lower end portion, is configured to be able to crush food residues with the bridge 28 by facing the upper surface of the bridge 28 located at Z2 below during rotation in the direction of the rotation axis AX.

[0046] The blade outer peripheral surface 16S, which is the surface of the outer peripheral portion, is configured to be able to crush food residues with the bending tooth 24A by facing the inner peripheral surface 24A1S of the first portion 24A1 of the bending tooth 24A located in the outer diameter direction during rotation in the radial direction R.

[0047] Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface 16S of the blade is configured to be able to crush food residues between it and the straight teeth 24B (an example of the "second fixed blade") described later, which are located in the outer diameter direction during rotation, by facing the inner peripheral surface 24BS (Fig. 2) of the straight teeth in the radial direction R.

[0048] As described above, the inner peripheral portion is integrally connected to the shaft portion, for example, by integral molding.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 1 and the like, a first recess 16A that is recessed in the inner diameter direction from the outer peripheral surface 16S of the blade toward the rotation axis is formed in the middle portion in the direction of the rotation axis AX on the outer peripheral surface 16S of the blade.

[0050] The first recess 16A crushes food residues between it and the curved teeth 24A. The first recess 16A has a recess upper surface 16AU formed facing downward Z2, a recess lower surface 16AL provided below the recess upper surface 16AU and facing upward Z1 and opposed to the recess upper surface 16AU in the direction of the rotation axis AX, and a connecting surface 16AC that connects the recess upper surface 16AU and the recess lower surface 16AL and is formed facing the outer diameter direction. The first recess 16A extends in the rotation direction and connects to the first end surface 16E and the second end surface respectively.

[0051] Food residues that rest on and rotate with the first end surface 16E are crushed when the first end surface 16E passes through the curved teeth 24A. Here, the first recess 16A communicates with the first end surface 16E. For this reason, like applying a central concentrated load to a simply supported beam, with respect to food residues supported at least at two locations, namely, the portion of the first end surface 16E above Z1 of the first recess 16A and the portion of the first end surface 16E below Z2 of the first recess 16A, sandwiching the first recess 16A and extending vertically, it is possible to apply a force equivalent to the central concentrated load from the curved teeth 24A, so it is possible to improve the crushing performance of the food residues.

[0052] Similarly, when the rotating blade 14 rotates in the opposite direction, it is possible to crush food residues that rest on and rotate with the second end surface.

[0053] Furthermore, at least a part of the food waste is crushed to a size that can pass through the gap between the first recess 16A and the bending teeth 24A. The upper surface 16AU of the recess is configured to be able to crush food waste by facing the upper surface 24AU (FIG. 1) of the bending teeth 24A, which is located below Z2 during rotation, in the direction of the rotation axis AX. Similarly, the lower surface 16AL of the recess is configured to be able to crush food waste by facing the lower surface 24AL (FIG. 1) of the bending teeth 24A, which is located above Z1 during rotation, in the direction of the rotation axis AX. Furthermore, the connecting surface 16AC (FIG. 1) is configured to be able to crush food waste between itself and the bending teeth 24A by facing the inner peripheral surface 24AI of the bending teeth 24A, which is located in the outer diameter direction during rotation, in the radial direction R1.

[0054] Similarly, the second rotating blade 18 has a blade bottom surface, a blade upper surface, a blade outer peripheral surface, a first end surface, and a second end surface, and further has a second recess 18A including an upper surface of the recess, a lower surface of the recess, and a connecting surface. Since the second rotating blade 18 is provided symmetrically with respect to the first rotating blade 16 by 180 degrees with the rotation axis AX as a reference, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0055] The rotating blade 14 is provided in the lower half region 12L (the region on the side of the drainage chamber 32) of the region in the crushing chamber 12. Therefore, the region through which the rotating blade 14 passes when it rotates is also within the lower half region 12L of the region in the crushing chamber 12. Since the food waste introduced into the crushing chamber 12 accumulates downward Z2 in the crushing chamber 12 according to gravity, the rotating blade 14 can preferably crush the food waste.

[0056] The water spraying structure 20 changes the traveling direction of the water supplied from above Z1 of the crushing chamber 12 and scatters the water. The water spraying structure 20 is provided in the region above Z1 of the region in the crushing chamber 12 compared to the rotating blade 14, and particularly in the upper half region 12U (the region from the lid portion 30 side to the water supply portion side) in the present embodiment.

[0057] In particular, the watering structure 20 according to the present embodiment is configured to be rotatable together with the rotary blade 14 by being connected to the motor 40. Therefore, by causing the water supplied from above Z1 to collide with the watering structure 20 and applying centrifugal force, it is possible to vigorously scatter the water toward the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a perspective view and a side view of the watering structure 20 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the watering structure 20 according to the present embodiment includes a bottom surface 20B (an example of a "surface") provided facing upward Z1, a plurality of blades 20W (an example of a "wall portion") erected upward Z1 from the bottom surface 20B, and a rib 20R erected at the outer edge of the bottom surface 20B upward Z1 from the bottom surface 20B so as to have a height smaller than the height of the blade 20W.

[0059] The bottom surface 20B receives the water supplied from above Z1. Here, since the bottom surface 20B according to the present embodiment has a flat circular surface substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis AX of the rotary blade 14 and having a center on the rotation axis AX, it is possible to suitably receive the water supplied from above Z1.

[0060] The blades 20W push the water on the bottom surface 20B toward the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12 by rotating. Here, since the blades 20W according to the present embodiment include six blades 20W provided symmetrically with respect to a 60-degree rotation about the rotation axis AX, it is possible to suppress the water on the bottom surface 20B from falling from the watering structure 20 without being pushed by the blades 20W as compared with the case where the number of the blades 20W is small. Since the blades 20W are formed radially when viewed from a direction parallel to the rotation axis AX, they are excellent in cleanability and manufacturability as compared with a curved configuration. Further, since the inner ends of the blades 20W are spaced apart from the rotation axis AX, it is possible to cause the supplied water to be received by the bottom surface 20B. Since the outer ends of the blades 20W reach the outer edge of the bottom surface 20B, it is possible to push the water on the bottom surface 20B for a long time.

[0061] The rib 20R guides the upward Z1 movement of the water that travels in the outer diameter direction on the bottom surface 20B. The water that travels in the outer diameter direction on the bottom surface 20B is guided to move upward Z1 by colliding with the rib 20R. When the water spraying structure 20 is provided close to the lid portion 30, at least a part of the water that has moved upward Z1 travels along the lower surface 30L of the lid portion 30 and advances toward the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12, and advances downward Z2 along the inner wall surface 12W from the upper end of the inner wall surface 12W and is discharged. For this reason, it is possible to promote cleaning the lower surface 30L of the lid portion 30 and moving the food residue and the like remaining outside the hole (in this embodiment, the slit 26S of the second rotating blade 26) that scatters on the inner wall surface 12W and communicates with the drainage chamber 32 toward the hole.

[0062] Even when not colliding with the lower surface 30L of the lid portion 30, by applying a force toward the upper Z1 by the rib 20R, it becomes easier for the water to reach the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12, and similarly, it is possible to promote the discharge of food waste. However, instead of forming the rib 20R over the entire circumference of the outer edge of the bottom surface 20B, a plurality of ribs 20R spaced apart in the circumferential direction may be erected. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to cause a part of the water to collide with the inner wall surface 12W vigorously without being blocked by the rib 20R.

[0063] The rib 20R is preferably provided lower than the blade 20W. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to make the water pushed out by the blade 20W easily go toward the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12 over the rib 20R.

[0064] The support portion 22 supports the water spraying structure 20. The support portion 22 according to the present embodiment is provided so as to extend on the rotation axis AX from the lower half region 12L to the upper half region 12U.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the rotating blade 14, the water spraying structure 20, and the support portion 22 are integrated by bolts or the like. For this reason, by the motor 40, these rotating blade 14, water spraying structure 20, and support portion 22 are configured to be rotatable integrally.

[0066] The stationary blade 24 crushes the food waste between it and the rotating blade 14. Here, the stationary blade 24 according to the present embodiment has two types of stationary blades 24, namely, bent teeth 24A and straight teeth 24B.

[0067] The bent teeth 24A have a first portion 24A1 that extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis so as to face the blade outer peripheral surface 16S corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating blade 14 with a gap in the outer diameter direction, and a second portion 24A2 that is connected to the first portion 24A1 and protrudes from the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12 toward the rotation axis.

[0068] The first portion 24A1 extends substantially upward in the Z1 direction, and the second portion 24A2 extends substantially in the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the bent teeth 24A are formed by bending a flat plate-like member.

[0069] As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1, the first portion 24A1 has an inner peripheral surface 24A1S that extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis direction so as to be spaced apart from and face the blade outer peripheral surface 16S (and the blade outer peripheral surface 18S) of the rotating blade 14 and the second recess 18A in the radial direction R.

[0070] The second portion 24A2 extends in the inner diameter direction and has a bent tooth upper surface 24AU formed facing upward in the Z1 direction and a bent tooth lower surface 24AL formed facing downward in the Z2 direction, and a bent tooth inner peripheral surface 24AI that connects the bent tooth upper surface 24AU and the bent tooth lower surface 24AL and is formed facing the inner diameter direction.

[0071] The tip of the second portion 24A2 is provided so that the first recess 16A and the second recess 18A of the rotating blade 14 can pass through. Therefore, in a top view seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis AX, the region through which the first recess 16A of the rotating blade 14 passes (the region within the annulus centered on the rotation axis AX, with the connection portion between the first recess 16A and the blade outer peripheral surface 16S as the outer diameter and the connection surface 16AC as the inner diameter) and the region where the bent teeth 24A are provided overlap at the tip of the bent teeth 24A that enter the first recess 16A.

[0072] Since the tip of the food waste processing device 10 enters the first concave portion 16A and the second concave portion 18A, it is possible to crush the food waste in the regions of the first concave portion 16A and the second concave portion 18A, and also possible to crush the food waste between the inner peripheral surface 24A1S of the first portion 24A1, the blade outer peripheral surface 16S of the first rotating blade 16, and the blade outer peripheral surface 18S of the second rotating blade 18. Further, in the first concave portion 16A and the second concave portion 18A, there is a surface where the rotating blade 14 and the bent tooth 24A face each other in the direction of the rotation axis AX, and in the first portion 24A1, there is a surface where the rotating blade 14 and the bent tooth 24A face each other in the radial direction R. Therefore, it is possible to apply stress to the food waste from a plurality of directions.

[0073] The straight tooth 24B has a straight tooth inner peripheral surface 24BS (FIGS. 2 and 3) extending in the direction of the rotation axis AX so as to face the blade outer peripheral surface 16S, the blade outer peripheral surface 18S, the first concave portion 16A, and the second concave portion 18A with an interval in the outer diameter direction. Therefore, in a top view seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis AX, the region through which the first concave portion 16A of the rotating blade 14 passes (a region within a circle centered on the rotation axis AX, with the connection portion between the first concave portion 16A and the blade outer peripheral surface 16S as the outer diameter and the connection surface 16AC of the first concave portion 16A as the inner diameter) and the region where the straight tooth 24B is provided are spaced apart from each other without overlapping.

[0074] Therefore, it is also possible to crush the food waste between the straight tooth inner peripheral surface 24BS and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating blade 14.

[0075] A plurality of such bent teeth 24A and straight teeth 24B are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. For example, the food waste processing device 10 according to the present embodiment includes three bent teeth 24A formed symmetrically about the rotation axis AX by 120 degrees, and three straight teeth 24B also formed symmetrically about the rotation axis AX by 120 degrees. As a result, the bent teeth 24A and the straight teeth 24B are alternately provided in the circumferential direction.

[0076] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the food waste processor 10 includes a bridge 28 that extends substantially in the outer diameter direction, and a connecting portion 29 that connects the bridge 28 to the bent teeth 24A and the straight teeth 24B that are fixed blades 24.

[0077] The bridge 28 crushes food waste between the upper surface of the bridge 28 and the lower surface of the rotary blade 14. In the present embodiment, three bridges 28 are provided so as to be rotationally symmetric by 120 degrees with respect to the rotation axis AX. Since each bridge 28 extends from the shaft portion substantially in the outer diameter direction and is connected to the connecting portion 29, it is possible to preferably crush the food waste located below the rotary blade 14 in the Z2 direction across the radial direction R.

[0078] The connecting portion 29 is provided in an annular shape so as to connect the bridge 28, the bent teeth 24A, and the straight teeth 24B.

[0079] In the present embodiment, the bridge 28, the connecting portion 29, the bent teeth 24A, and the straight teeth 24B are integrally provided, for example, by injection molding metal. Therefore, the component having these bridge 28, connecting portion 29, bent teeth 24A, and straight teeth 24B may be called a fixed tooth. In the present embodiment, the fixed tooth is fixed to the crushing chamber 12 by fitting the connecting portion 29 to a part of the inner wall of the crushing chamber 12 and fixing it to the housing or the like having the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12 with bolts or the like.

[0080] A second rotary blade 26 is disposed below the bridge 28 in the Z2 direction. The second rotary blade 26 crushes food waste between the upper surface of the second rotary blade 26 and the lower surface of the bridge 28. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of slits 26S having a narrow width are formed in the second rotary blade 26. Therefore, only the food waste crushed to a size that can pass through the slit 26S passes through the slit 26S and is transported to the drainage chamber 32 below in the Z2 direction.

[0081] In the configuration as described above, the inventors of the present application focused on the point that by making the minimum distance between the region through which the rotating blade 14 passes due to rotation and the bending tooth 24A smaller than the distance between the region through which the rotating blade 14 passes due to rotation and the straight tooth 24B, it is possible to improve the shredding performance (crushing performance) for soft fibrous food waste such as edamame pods and the thin skins of onions, which was difficult to shred in a food waste treatment device composed only of straight teeth.

[0082] Specifically, between at least any one of the concave upper surface 16AU, the concave lower surface 16AL, or the connecting surface 16AC of the first concave portion 16A (and the second concave portion 18A) and the bending tooth 24A, the distance between the region through which the rotating blade 14 passes due to rotation and the bending tooth 24A has a minimum distance and is smaller than the minimum distance between the blade outer peripheral surface 16S and the straight tooth inner peripheral surface 24BS. The bending tooth 24A, the straight tooth 24B, and the rotating blade 14 are provided.

[0083] With such a configuration, for example, it becomes possible to (relatively) pass the tip of the bending tooth 24A that is separated from the first concave portion 16A by a small distance through the food waste that rotates on the first end surface 16E so as to cover the first concave portion 16A. Therefore, it is possible to improve the crushing ability compared with the prior art. As described above, when the food waste rides on the first end surface 16E so as to cover the first concave portion 16A, it is possible to crush the food waste by applying a force corresponding to a central concentrated load from the bending tooth 24A to the central portion of the food waste supported by the first end surface 16E vertically. Here, the bending tooth 24A is formed in a plate shape, and since a load is applied on the end surface of the bending tooth 24A having a small area, it is also possible to increase the pressure acting on the food waste from the bending tooth 24A.

[0084] In addition, as described above, in the food waste treatment device 10, while the first rotating blade 16 and the like of the rotating blade 14 and the straight tooth 24B face each other in the radial direction R1, the first rotating blade 16 and the like of the rotating blade 14 and the concave upper surface 16AU and the like face each other in the direction of the rotation axis AX. Therefore, shredding in a plurality of directions becomes possible. Also in this regard, it is possible to improve the crushing ability compared with the prior art.

[0085] Incidentally, the minimum distance between the passing area of the rotary blade 14 and the upper surface of the bridge 28 corresponds to the distance in the direction of the rotation axis AX between the bottom surface of the blade 16B (or the bottom surface of the blade of the second rotary blade 18) and the upper surface of the bridge 28. It is preferable to stack the rotary blade 14 on the bridge 28 so that this distance is smaller than either the minimum distance between the passing area of the rotary blade 14 and the helical teeth 24A or the minimum distance between the straight teeth 24B.

[0086] In addition, it is preferable to stack the bridge 28 on the second rotary blade 26 so that the distance in the direction of the rotation axis AX between the lower surface of the bridge 28 and the upper surface of the second rotary blade 26 is smaller than the distance in the direction of the rotation axis AX between the second rotary blade 26 and the upper surface of the bridge 28 with respect to the bottom surface of the blade 16B (or the bottom surface of the blade of the second rotary blade 18).

[0087] With such a configuration, the rotary blade 14 can be used as a rotary blade for coarse crushing and the second rotary blade 26 can be used as a rotary blade for fine crushing, and it becomes possible to crush the waste so that it gradually becomes smaller as it moves downward to Z2.

[0088] The motor 40 rotates the rotary blade 14. In the present embodiment, the motor 40 further rotates the water spraying structure 20 and the support portion 22 that supports the same. The motor 40 is provided below Z2 of the drainage chamber 32 and includes, for example, a speed reducer for increasing torque and a control portion for controlling rotation. The rotary blade 14 and the second rotary blade 26 are rotated by connecting the output shaft of the speed reducer disposed on the rotation axis AX to the rotary blade 14 and the second rotary blade 26. The motor 40 according to the present embodiment is configured to periodically repeat rotation in the forward and reverse directions by the control portion 42.

[0089] The lid portion 30 suppresses the scattered upward Z1 of food waste by closing at least a part of the opening 12OP of the crushing chamber 12. After the user inputs food waste from the opening 12OP of the crushing chamber 12, the user closes a part of the opening 12OP with the lid portion 30 and rotates it to drive the food waste processor 10. The food waste processor 10 is provided with a switch that is pressed when the lid portion 30 rotates, and the control unit of the motor 40 is configured to drive the motor 40 and drive the food waste processor 10 when this switch is turned on.

[0090] The lid portion 30 according to the present embodiment has an upper surface 30U, a lower surface 30L, and a through hole 30H that functions as a flow path communicating the upper surface 30U and the lower surface 30L.

[0091] Subsequently, the usage method of the food waste processor 10 will be described. First, the user inputs food waste from the opening 12OP of the crushing chamber 12. The input food waste accumulates on the fixed blade 24 or the second rotating blade 26 of the crushing chamber 12.

[0092] Next, while flowing water from the faucet, the user closes a part of the opening 12OP of the crushing chamber 12 with the lid portion 30 and turns on the switch of the food waste processor 10 by rotating the lid portion 30. The control unit detects that the switch of the food waste processor 10 has been turned on, and starts driving the food waste processor 10 by rotating the rotating blade 14. For example, the motor 40 periodically repeats rotating the rotating blade 14 in the forward direction for several seconds at 500 to 800 RPM and then rotating it in the reverse direction for several seconds. Also, the timer starts measuring the crushing time.

[0093] The upper surface 30U of the lid portion 30 has a concave surface that is recessed downward in the Z2 direction. For this reason, the lid portion 30 is configured to be able to temporarily store the water supplied from a faucet or the like on the concave surface. Further, the lid portion 30 is provided with a flow path so as to supply water to the crushing chamber 12 while maintaining a state in which water is stored on the concave surface when the water supply amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (threshold value). With such a configuration, it becomes possible to drive the food waste treatment apparatus 10 in a state where water is stored on the upper surface 30U of the lid portion 30, so that it becomes possible to enhance the sound insulation performance of the food waste treatment apparatus 10.

[0094] The water spraying structure 20 is provided below the opening of the lower surface 30L of the hole 30H, which is the water supply position. For this reason, the water lands on the bottom surface 20B of the water spraying structure 20. Since water is continuously supplied to the bottom surface 20B of the water spraying structure 20, the water travels in the outer diameter direction on the bottom surface 20B. Here, since the water spraying structure 20 is rotated by the motor 40, the water is given a force in the rotation direction by the blades 20W. The water that has traveled to the outer edge of the bottom surface 20B is guided by the blades 20W in the outer diameter direction and by the ribs 20R in the upward Z1 direction, and scatters from the water spraying structure 20.

[0095] A part of the water contacts the lower surface 30L of the lid portion 30 and reaches the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12 along the lower surface 30L of the lid portion 30. For this reason, it becomes possible to wash the lower surface 30L of the lid portion 30 and the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12. Another part of the water scatters vigorously and directly reaches the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12. For this reason, it becomes possible to promote the discharge of food waste residues or the like adhering to the inner wall surface 12W.

[0096] On the one hand, the rotating blade 14 crushes food waste by sandwiching the food waste between the bent teeth 24A and the straight teeth 24B of the fixed blade 24. As described above, since the rotating blade 14 and the fixed blade 24 have opposing surfaces in both the axial direction AX and the radial direction R of rotation, it is possible to suitably crush food waste that extends generally horizontally (for example, fish or chicken bones) or food waste that extends generally vertically. Further, as described above, when the inner surfaces of the first recess 16A and the second recess 18A of the rotating blade 14 pass through the bent teeth 24A, the possibility of crushing fibrous materials that were difficult to crush is also improved.

[0097] Furthermore, food waste is crushed between the lower surface of the rotating blade 14 and the upper surface of the bridge 28, and also between the lower surface of the bridge 28 and the upper surface of the second rotating blade 26.

[0098] The crushed food waste passes through the slit 26S of the second rotating blade 26 and is transported to the drainage chamber 32 below in the Z2 direction, and is discharged from the drain pipe communicating with the drainage chamber 32 to the treatment tank.

[0099] As described above, according to the food waste treatment apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a food waste treatment apparatus that improves crushing performance with a simple configuration.

[0100] [Second Embodiment] Hereinafter, the food waste treatment apparatus 110 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the food waste treatment apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment cut along a plane passing through the rotation axis AX, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the crushing chamber 12 of the food waste treatment apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment.

[0101] Regarding configurations that those skilled in the art can understand have the same or similar functions as those of the first embodiment, the description will be omitted or simplified using the same or similar reference numerals, and the description will focus on the different parts.

[0102] The food waste processor 110 differs from the food waste processor 10 in that a configuration corresponding to the third rotating blade 150 is provided by extending the support portion 22 radially downward Z2 below the water spraying structure 20. Further, the food waste processor 110 differs from the food waste processor 10 in that a configuration corresponding to the second fixed blade 160 protruding from the inner wall surface 12W is provided at a height facing the third rotating blade 150. Since the other configurations are the same as or similar to those of the food waste processor 10, detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0103] The third rotating blade 150 crushes large food waste (for example, the root part of a daikon radish) with the second fixed blade 160 by rotating. As shown in FIG. 6, the third rotating blade 150 is located in a region above Z1 the rotating blade 14 and below Z2 the water spraying structure 20 within the crushing chamber 12, and particularly in the upper half region 12U (the region from the lid portion 30 side to the water supply portion side) in the present embodiment. Since the third rotating blade 150 is integrally formed with the support portion 22, it is configured to be rotatable together with the support portion 22 and the water spraying structure 20 connected thereto.

[0104] The third rotating blade 150 has a third rotating blade 150A extending in the radial direction R (outer diameter direction) from the rotating shaft toward the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12, and a fourth rotating blade 150B extending in the radial direction R from the rotating shaft toward the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12 at a position 180 degrees circumferentially spaced from the third rotating blade 150A.

[0105] The third rotating blade 150A according to the present embodiment is smaller than half the radius of the inner wall surface 12W. Also, in the circumferential direction, it is provided above Z1 the first rotating blade 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, it has an upper surface facing upward Z1 and a lower surface facing downward Z2, and is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the direction of the rotation axis AX.

[0106] Since the fourth rotating blade 150B is provided symmetrically with respect to the third rotating blade 150A by 180 degrees with the rotation axis AX as a reference, the description thereof is omitted.

[0107] The second fixed blade 160 crushes food waste between it and the third rotating blade 150. The second fixed blade 160 has a protruding portion 160P that protrudes from the inner wall surface 12W across the lower half region 12L to the upper half region 12U. The second fixed blade 160 is fixed to the crushing chamber 12 by fixing it to a housing or the like having the inner wall surface 12W of the crushing chamber 12 with bolts or the like.

[0108] The protruding amount of the protruding portion 160P of the second fixed blade 160 from the inner wall surface 12W can be set as appropriate. For example, in a top view seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis AX, the protruding portion 160P of the second fixed blade 160 may protrude from the inner wall surface 12W so as to have a region overlapping with the region through which the rotating blade 14 passes due to rotation.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 6, the fixed blade 124 according to the present embodiment extends upward Z1 from the connecting portion 29 together with the curved teeth 24A and the straight teeth 24B, and has second curved teeth 124A that extend in the inner diameter direction approaching the rotation axis AX at a position above Z1 the first rotating blade 16 or the second rotating blade 18 of the rotating blade 14. Therefore, it is possible to crush food waste between the second curved teeth 124A and the rotating blade 14.

[0110] By providing a plurality of fixing members at different heights in the direction of the rotation axis AX in this way, it becomes possible to efficiently crush food waste at various heights. Also, the gap (minimum distance) between the lower surface of the second curved teeth 124A and the upper surface of the rotating blade 14 may be configured to be larger than the gap (minimum distance) between the inner peripheral surface of the straight teeth 24B and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating blade 14. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to crush relatively large food waste with the second curved teeth 124A and relatively small food waste with the straight teeth 24B. In the present embodiment, the second curved teeth 124A support the protruding portion 160P from below Z2.

[0111] As shown in the figure, the rotating blade 14 has a roof portion 14T that passes above the bending teeth 24A and above the straight teeth 24B. Therefore, it is possible to crush food waste even between the upper surface of the bending teeth 24A and the lower surface of the roof portion 14T, or between the upper surface of the straight teeth 24B and the lower surface of the roof portion 14T.

[0112] Even with the food waste processing device 110 having the configuration as described above, it is possible to provide a food waste processing device that improves crushing performance with a simple configuration.

[0113] In addition, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from its gist. For example, within the scope of the ordinary creative ability of those skilled in the art, some components in one embodiment can be replaced with components in other embodiments or known components. For example, the watering structure according to the present embodiment can be applied not only to a food waste processing device of a blade mill method but also to other types of food waste processing devices such as a hammer mill method having a rotating hammer (an example of a "rotating blade").

[0114] The rotating blade may be configured to be rotatable only in a single direction. Since the fixed blade may be provided so as to be crushable with the rotating blade, the shape of the fixed blade may be formed in a block shape or a rod shape. For example, the tip of the bending tooth may be provided so as to become thinner as it advances toward the tip like a protrusion. Furthermore, it includes a state in which a part is movably attached to the housing with "play" or rattling to such an extent that it does not hinder crushing.

[0115] The bending teeth or the straight teeth may be provided directly on the inner wall surface independently without using components such as connecting parts. The bending teeth do not necessarily have to have a configuration corresponding to the first part. The bending teeth or the straight teeth may be provided by integral molding or the like with at least a part of the inner wall surface.

[0116] Each surface may be formed from a flat surface or a curved surface. For example, the concave portion may have a curved surface that depresses from the outer peripheral surface. The upper surface or the lower surface of the concave portion may include a curved surface or an uneven surface. For example, the upper surface or the lower surface of the concave portion may include a surface whose distance from the surface of the bending teeth varies as it progresses in the rotational direction.

[0117] The fixed blade or the rotating blade may be provided from metal, but may also be provided from other hard materials. Instead of the first concave portion, a depression may be provided so as to connect to the surface facing above the first rotating blade. Instead of the first concave portion, a depression may be provided so as to connect to the surface facing below the first rotating blade (blade bottom surface).

Explanation of Signs

[0118] 10 Food waste treatment device 12 Crushing chamber 12L Lower half region 12OP Opening 12U Upper half region 12W Inner wall surface 14 Rotating blade 16 First rotating blade 16A First concave portion 18 Second rotating blade 18A Second concave portion 20 Water spraying structure 20B Bottom surface 20W Blade 20R Rib 22 Support portion 24 Fixed blade 24A Bending teeth 24A1 First part 24A2 Second part 24B Straight teeth 26 Second rotating blade (rotating teeth) 26S Slit 28 Bridge 29 Connection portion 30 Cover portion 30H Hole 30L Lower surface 30U Upper surface 32 Drainage chamber 40 Motors Axis of rotation AX T Drain pipe Above Z1 Below Z2 Radial direction R

Claims

1. A crushing chamber, a first blade provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber, a second blade provided with a recess for passing through the first blade provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber, comprising: the first blade is a fixed blade provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber, the second blade is a rotating blade, the rotating blade is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape with the radial direction as the long side and the rotation axis direction as the short side, the upper end portion and the lower end portion corresponding to the long side, connecting the upper end portion and the lower end portion, an outer peripheral portion corresponding to the outer short side, and an inner peripheral portion corresponding to the short side on the rotating shaft side and connected to the shaft portion, a food waste treatment device.

2. In a top view seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating blade, the food waste treatment device according to claim 1, wherein a region through which the recess passes due to the rotation of the rotating blade and a region where the fixed blade is provided have an overlapping portion.

3. The rotating blade has an outer peripheral surface formed facing the outer diameter direction with respect to the rotation axis, and the recess provided to be recessed from the outer peripheral surface toward the rotation axis of the rotating blade. The food waste treatment device according to claim 2.

4. The fixed blade has a first portion having an inner peripheral surface extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rotating blade with a gap in the outer diameter direction, and a second portion connected to the first portion and provided to protrude from the inner wall surface of the crushing chamber toward the rotation axis of the rotating blade and including a tip portion through which the recess of the rotating rotating blade passes. The food waste treatment device according to claim 3.

5. The food waste treatment device according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a second fixed blade having an inner peripheral surface extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis so as to face the outer peripheral surface and the recess of the rotating rotating blade with a gap in the outer diameter direction.

6. In a top view seen from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating blade, a region through which the recess passes due to the rotation of the rotating blade and a region where the second fixed blade is provided do not overlap. The food waste treatment device according to claim 5.

7. The minimum distance between the area through which the rotary blade passes by rotation and the fixed blade is smaller than the minimum distance between the area through which the rotary blade passes by rotation and the second fixed blade. The food waste treatment device according to claim 5 or 6.

8. A plurality of the fixed blades provided at intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary blade; The food waste treatment device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising a plurality of the second fixed blades provided at intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary blade.

9. A bridge portion extending in the outer diameter direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary blade; The food waste treatment device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, further comprising a connecting portion connecting the bridge portion, the fixed blade, and the second fixed blade.

10. The minimum distance between the area through which the rotary blade passes by rotation and the upper surface of the bridge portion is smaller than the minimum distance between the area through which the rotary blade passes by rotation and the fixed blade and the minimum distance between the area through which the rotary blade passes by rotation and the second fixed blade. The food waste treatment device according to claim 9.

11. The food waste treatment device according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising a second rotary blade provided below the bridge portion.

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