Device for automatic washing of food products

Abstract

Device (50) for automatic washing of food products comprising a main body (1) comprising: - a basin (2) configured to contain water; a perforated drum (3), removably housed in the basin (2), configured to be inserted and rotate in said basin (2); an electrical motor (41) connected to the perforated drum (3); an electronic control unit provided with at least one memory module and a computer program product; first valves (92) configured for the introduction of compressed air into the basin (2) and second valves (72) configured for the introduction and emptying of water from said basin (2). The basin (2) comprises first slits (21), each in communication with a corresponding first valve (92), and second slits, each in communication with a corresponding second valve (72).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] "Device for automatic washing of food products"

[0003] The present invention is relative to a device for automatic washing of food products .

[0004] Furthermore , the present invention is related to a process for automatic washing of food products .

[0005] In particular, the present invention falls within the technical field of home automation, having as a purpose a device designed for washing products such as , preferably but not exclusively, vegetables , fruit and greens .

[0006] The state of the art in this sector provides examples of devices for domestic use that allow to automatically wash vegetables , greens and fruit by means of ultrasonic technology . A generic device among these is characteri zed by an ultrasonic wave generator which is immersed in a container of water, containing the vegetables or fruit to be washed, to which a detergent may have been added . The ultrasonic waves , generating air microbubbles on the surface of the food in a time interval lasting a few minutes , allow to remove the impurities present on the surface of fruit and vegetables . Such devices currently on the market , as well as similar solutions applied in washing machines , are not widely accepted and widespread, and require also the user to immerse the hands in cold water .

[0007] Manual food washing, on the other hand, usually takes place in cold water to which saniti zers , such as vinegar and / or sodium bicarbonate , may be added . A complete food washing operation may require two or more rinses , depending on the food to be washed . Each rinse operation requires the consumption of a variable quantity of water , by means of pouring clean water into the container housing the food, and the following removal of the dirty water resulting from washing . Washing also requires immersing the hands in cold water to move , wash and remove the food products from the basket , containing the food products themselves , between one rinse and the next . Furthermore , the time required to perform the aforementioned operations is not short .

[0008] Several examples of devices designed for automatic washing of food products can be found in the patent literature .

[0009] A first technical paper is represented by the content of the European patent application EP1943932A2 which describes a household appliance for the saniti zation of food, comprising a container that defines an open saniti zing chamber, able to receive the food product to be treated and a washing liquid, washing means to remove particulate impurities from the food immersed in the liquid by vibration, sterili zation means to reduce the microbial counts present on the food after washing and means for discharging the exhausted washing liquid from the saniti zation chamber .

[0010] Also , the European patent application EP2005846A1 describes a technical solution similar to the previous one , i . e . , a method of washing and disinfecting fruit and vegetables that are placed inside a basket able to be inserted into a device designed for washing purposes . The aforementioned basket rotates around its central axis , as part of a washing process that uses a moderate amount of water .

[0011] However, the solutions known from the patent literature suf fer from the limitation of not ensuring both an ef fective washing and a rational use of water resources .

[0012] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device able to wash food products , in particular fruit and vegetables , automatically and ef fectively, thanks to the combination of repeated mechanical movements in a programmable manner and to an additional mechanical action exerted by compressed air, having therefore characteristics that overcome the limitations that still af fect the known technical solutions .

[0013] A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for automatic washing of food products that operates in an environmentally friendly manner, minimi zing the use of drinking water .

[0014] Finally, a further purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for automatic washing of food products which allows to reduce the washing time compared to manual methods , or with respect to automatic methods performed by means of methodologies di f ferent from the one described in the following .

[0015] According to the present invention, a device for automatic washing of food products is provided, as defined in claim 1 .

[0016] According to the present invention, a process for automatic washing of food products is also provided, as defined in claim 10 .

[0017] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is now described, purely by way of nonlimiting example , with reference to the attached drawings , in which :

[0018] - figures la, lb and 1c show, respectively, an exploded view, an elevation view and a perspective view, representative of a device for automatic washing of food products , according to the invention;

[0019] - figure 2 shows an elevation view of the device for automatic washing of food products , highlighting three distinct section planes of the device itsel f , according to the invention;

[0020] - figures 3a and 3b show, respectively, a first and a second cross-sectional view, according to a first and a second section plane , of the device for automatic washing o f food products , according to the invention;

[0021] - figure 4 shows a third cross-sectional view, according to a third section plane , of the device for automatic washing of food products , according to the invention;

[0022] - figure 5 shows a perspective view, with a detail highlighted, of a component of the device for automatic washing of food products , according to the invention .

[0023] With reference to these figures and, in particular, to figure 1 , a device for automatic washing of food products is shown, according to the invention .

[0024] In particular, the device 50 for automatic washing of food products comprises a main body 1 , in turn comprising and housing : a basin 2 configured to contain water, possibly supplemented with saniti zing agents ; a perforated drum 3 , removably housed in the aforementioned basin 2 , configured to engage and rotate coaxially inside the basin 2 itsel f , and to house the food products undergoing an automatic washing cycle ;

[0025] - an electrical motor 41 connected to the bas perforated drum 3 , configured to activate and stop the rotation of the aforementioned perforated drum 3 ;

[0026] - an electronic control unit connected to the electrical motor 41 , preferably implemented by means of a microcontroller or an x86 / x64 CPU, provided with at least one solid-state memory module and a computer program product , saved to such memory module and executed by the same electronic unit ;

[0027] - a plurality of first valves 92 configured for the introduction of compressed air into the basin 2 and a plurality of second valves 72 configured for the introduction and emptying of water from the basin 2 .

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the device 50 also comprises a lid 4 , to which the electrical motor 41 is anchored, hinged in correspondence with an external portion of the main body 1 and configured to be closed, during the automatic washing cycles , and opened to insert and remove the perforated drum 3 into and from the basin 2 . According to one aspect of the invention, the computer program product , i . e . , a speci fic software application, is configured to manage the device 50 and, in particular, to program an automatic washing cycle of food products , preferably fruit , vegetables and greens , based on a repetition of operations , according to a variable and predetermined number, by means of the aforementioned management software .

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the basin 2 which, like the perforated drum 3 has a preferably cylindrical shape and is coaxial with the latter, comprises in correspondence with an external , lateral surface , a plurality of first slits 21 .

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the basin 2 also comprises , in correspondence with a bottom surface , a plurality of second slits .

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, each first slit 21 is in communication with a corresponding first valve 92 , in order to introduce compressed air into the basin 2 and into the perforated drum 3 .

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, each second slit is arranged in communication with a corresponding second valve 72 , to introduce and empty water from the basin 2 and the perforated drum 3 . According to one aspect of the invention, the device 50 comprises :

[0033] - a second electrical pump 6 ;

[0034] - a water supply pipe 5 , connected to a first end of the second electrical pump 6 , able to connected to a water network or to a clean water tank;

[0035] - a plurality of pipes 7 , connected to a second end of the aforementioned second electrical pump 6 , for transporting water into the basin 2 ;

[0036] - a draining pipe 12 configured to drain water following the automatic washing cycle .

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the second valves 72 , which are unidirectional , can be opened by means of the pressure exerted by the second electrical pump 6 , and each of them is arranged and constrained to an end of a corresponding pipe 7 .

[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer program product is configured to manage variables of an automatic washing cycle comprising :

[0039] - type of food product to be washed;

[0040] - number of washing repetitions ;

[0041] - use of saniti zing agents .

[0042] According to another aspect of the invention, the device 50 is , i f necessary, equipped with a tank for emollient substances and / or saniti zing agents able to be introduced into the automatic washing cycle , and that can be mixed in the basin 2 with the water .

[0043] According to another aspect of the invention, the device 50 comprises a control panel 8 , positioned in correspondence with an external portion of the main body 1 , provided with a display, for example touchscreen, and a keypad, for setting parameters relating to an automatic washing cycle .

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, the device 50 comprises a cavity placed between the main body 1 and the basin 2 , closed by means of a rim 11 and housing the electronic control unit .

[0045] According to one aspect of the invention, the device 50 comprises a first electrical pump 10 and a plurality of ducts 9 , able to introduce compressed air, branching of f from the first electrical pump 10 , as best shown in figure la .

[0046] According to another aspect of the invention, each duct 9 comprises , constrained at one end, a corresponding first valve 92 , so that through the opening of the valves 92 themselves , with the pressure generated by the first electrical pump 10 , the compressed air is introduced into the basin 2 and into the perforated drum 3 through each first slit 21 . According to one aspect of the invention, the basin 2 comprises an assembly 23 for manually engaging the perforated drum 3 , by means of a corresponding means 30 of the aforementioned perforated drum 3 , to the same basin 2 . In detail , the means 30 is manually engaged to the corresponding assembly 23 of the basin 2 which constitutes , in use , the hub on which the rotation of the per9oforated drum 3 occurs .

[0047] According to one aspect of the invention, such an assembly 23 , having a shape preferably cylindrical or truncated pyramidal having a smoothed vertex, comprises slits included in the plurality of first slits 21 . Furthermore , as shown in figure la, on the first electrical pump 10 related to the compressed air a head 22 , on which first valves 92 are installed, is placed . This head 22 is arranged in such a way as to be covered by the assembly 23 , so that a further inj ection of compressed air, into the basin 2 and into the perforated drum 3 , is made possible through the head 22 whose first valves 92 are operated by the electrical pump 10 , and through the first slits 21 present in the assembly 23 which allows the engaging of the perforated drum 3 itsel f .

[0048] According to one aspect of the invention, the kinematic transmission of the rotation to the perforated drum 3 is performed by means of an upper element 43 , shown in figures la and 5, able to close the perforated drum 3 itsel f which, being in direct contact with the electrical motor 41 , transmits the motion through perimeter teeth 15 to corresponding teeth 16 placed on the external edge of the perforated drum 3 . Both the teeth 15 and the teeth 16 are shown in the detail view of figure 5 .

[0049] According to one aspect of the invention, as is clear from the preceding disclosing and from the figures , the entire group consisting of the head 22 and the first electrical pump 10 related to the compressed air, the assembly 23 and the means 30 able to engage the perforated drum 3 are coaxial in their entirety .

[0050] In use , once the food products have been placed inside the perforated drum 3 , and the same drum 3 is in the bas in 2 , the closing of the lid 4 ensures that the aforementioned kinematic mechanism for transmitting motion, from the electrical motor 41 to the upper element 43 , and from the latter to the perforated drum 3 , is active .

[0051] Subsequently, a user can type on the control panel 8 the automatic washing program most suitable for the food product to be washed .

[0052] Once the filling level of the basin 2 has been reached, according to the parameters managed by the electronic control unit , the operation of the second electrical pump 6 related to the water is stopped and, consequently, the introduction of water into the basin 2 and into the perforated drum 3 . The electrical motor 41 receives the start command from the electronic control unit and the transmission rotates the perforated drum 3 engaged on the basin 2 . At the same time , the first electrical pump 10 related to compressed air, the action of which on the water generates bubbles that explode creating shock waves on the food products , is started .

[0053] The double action due to the flow of water due to the rotation of the perforated drum 3 and the explosion of the air bubbles on the surface of the food products causes a mechanical action aimed at removing impurities , which can be strengthened through a preliminary washing in a saniti zing solution consisting of the water introduced into the basin 2 mixed with vinegar or other liquid substances having the same function . Such substances are introduced into the washing water through a system preferably with a Venturi tube 66 , visible in figure 3b which, as previously described, shows a cross-sectional view of the device 50 according to the second section plane ' B-B ' , while figure 3a shows a cross-sectional view according to the first section plane ' A-A' . The dosage of the saniti zing substances is calibrated by opening a dedicated valve located downstream of the container that stores the substances themselves , upon a command of the electronic control unit .

[0054] At the end of the first washing operation, the basin 2 is emptied due to a further suction electrical pump 13 , visible in figure 4 which shows a cross-sectional view of the device 50 according to the third section plane 'C-C' , upstream of which a filter 14 able to drain water is provided . The washing water is drained from the device 50 by means of the draining pipe 12 .

[0055] The subsequent cycles , in number and duration appropriately programmed by means of the computer program product , are repeated with the same methods previously described starting from the introduction of water into the basin 2 .

[0056] At the end of the complete automatic washing cycle , consisting of several simple cycles like the one described, a timed cycle of rapid dripping of the food products may occur, through the rotation of the food products in the basin 2 without water, exploiting a centri fugal action with the simultaneous introduction of compressed air through the first electrical pump 10 .

[0057] Advantageously according to the invention, the relative movement of the water with respect to the food products and the mechanical action due to the explosion of compressed air bubbles introduced into the washing basin 2 allow an ef fective automatic cleaning action of the food products placed in the perforated drum 3 .

[0058] According to one aspect of the invention, the electronic control unit is provided with at least one wireless data connection module for integrating the device 50 into home automation systems .

[0059] The present invention is also related to a process for automatic washing of food products using the device 50 previously described .

[0060] According to one aspect of the invention, such a process implements an automatic washing cycle of food products based on a repetition of washing operations according to a variable and predetermined number by means of a computer program product executed by an electronic control unit comprised in the aforementioned device 50 .

[0061] According to one aspect of the invention, each of these washing operations comprises , following a preliminary step of placing a perforated drum 3 , containing food products to be washed, in a basin 2 , a sequence of further operating steps .

[0062] According to one aspect of the invention, the aforementioned further steps comprise : filling the basin 2 with water, rotating the perforated drum 3 with simultaneous introduction of compressed air into the basin 2 for a predetermined time interval by means of the computer program product ;

[0063] - emptying the water from the basin 2 .

[0064] According to one aspect of the invention, in particular, during the rotation phase of the perforated drum 3 at least two simultaneous mechanical actions take place , comprising :

[0065] - a flow action of the water introduced onto the surface of the food products ;

[0066] - an explosion of compressed air bubbles , introduced into the basin 2 and into the perforated drum 3 in which the food products are housed .

[0067] According to one aspect of the invention, the process for automatic washing of food products comprises a final step of the automatic washing cycle comprising dripping and drying by a combined ef fect of the centri fugal action due to the rotation of the perforated drum 3 inside the basin 2 , emptied of water, and of the introduction of compressed air into the basin 2 itsel f .

[0068] Therefore , the device for automatic washing of food products according to the invention allows to implement an automatic washing action of food products , in particular fruit and vegetables , thanks to the concomitance of repeated mechanical movements , performed by water and compressed air .

[0069] Another advantage of the device for automatic washing of food products according to the invention is that such a device ensures an eco-sustainable cleaning, thanks to the standardi zation of the washing programs which guarantees a calibrated and dosed use of drinking water .

[0070] A further advantage of the device for automatic washing of food products according to the invention is that it is inexpensive .

[0071] A further advantage of the device for automatic washing of food products according to the invention is that the device itsel f can be integrated into home automation systems .

[0072] Furthermore , the device for automatic washing of food products according to the invention is easy to use .

[0073] Finally, the device for automatic washing of food products according to the invention is characteri zed by a reduced complexity for what concerns maintenance procedures .

[0074] It is finally clear that the device for automatic washing of food products and the related process , described and illustrated herein, may be subj ect to modi fications and variations without departing from the protective scope of the present invention, as defined in the attached claims .

Claims

CLAIMS1. Device (50) for automatic washing of food products comprising a main body (1) comprising:- a basin (2) configured to contain water;- a perforated drum (3) , removably housed in the basin (2) , configured to engage and rotate in said basin (2) ;- an electrical motor (41) connected to the perforated drum (3) , configured to activate the rotation of said perforated drum (3) ;- an electronic control unit connected to the electrical motor (41) , equipped with at least one memory module and a computer program product, saved to said at least one memory module, configured to manage the device (50) and to program an automatic washing cycle of food products based on a repetition of operations according to a variable and predetermined number;- a plurality of first valves (92) configured for the introduction of compressed air into the basin (2) and a plurality of second valves (72) configured for the introduction and emptying of water from said basin (2) ;characterized in that the basin (2) comprises in correspondence with an external surface a plurality of first slits (21) , each of said first slits (21) being in communication with a corresponding first valve (92) , and comprises in correspondence with a bottom surface a plurality of second slits, each of said second slits being in communication with a corresponding second valve (72) .

2. Device (50) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising a lid (4) hinged in correspondence with an external portion of the main body (1) , to said lid (4) being anchored the electrical motor (41) .

3. Device (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that said computer program product is configured to manage variables of an automatic washing cycle comprising:- type of food product to be washed;- number of washing repetitions;- use of sanitizing agents.

4. Device (50) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising : a second electrical pump (6) ;- a water supply pipe (5) , connected to a first end of said second electrical pump (6) , able to connected to a water network or to a clean water tank;- a plurality of pipes (7) configured for transporting water into the basin (2) connected to a second end of said second electrical pump (6) , in correspondence with an end of each of said pipes (7) being fixed a corresponding second valve ( 72 ) ; a draining pipe (12) configured to drain water following the automatic washing cycle.

5. Device (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that said device (50) is provided with a tank for emollient and / or sanitizing substances able to be introduced into the automatic washing cycle, mixed in the basin (2) with water.

6. Device (50) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising a control panel (8) , positioned in correspondence with an external portion of the main body (1) , provided with a display for setting parameters related to the automatic washing cycle.

7. Device (50) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising a cavity placed between the main body (1) and thebasin (2) , closed by means of a rim (11) and housing said electronic control unit.

8. Device (50) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising a first electrical pump (10) and a plurality of ducts (9) , able to introduce compressed air, branching off from said first electrical pump (10) , to an end of each duct (9) being fixed a corresponding first valve (92) .

9. Device (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that the basin (2) comprises an assembly (23) for engaging the perforated drum (3) , by means of a corresponding means (30) of said perforated drum (3) , to said basin (2) , said assembly (23) comprising slits comprised in the plurality of first slits (21) .

10. Process for automatic washing of food products by means of the device (50) according to one of the previous claims, said process implementing an automatic washing cycle of food products based on a repetition of operations according to a variable and predetermined number by means of a computer program product executed by an electronic control unit comprised in said device (50) , each of said operations comprising, following a step of introduction of the perforated drum (3) housing food products to be washed into the basin (2) , the steps of:filling the basin (2) with water,- rotation of the perforated drum (3) with simultaneous introduction of compressed air into the basin (2) for a predetermined time interval by means of the computer program product ;- draining of the water from the basin (2) ; characterized in that during the step of rotation of the perforated drum (3) at least two simultaneous mechanical actions occur, including:- a flow of the water introduced onto the surface of the food products;- an explosion of compressed air bubbles, introduced into the basin (2) in which said food products are housed.

11. Process for automatic washing of food products according to claim 10, characterized in comprising a step of ending the automatic washing cycle comprising dripping and drying by means of a combined effect of the centrifugal action caused by the rotation of the perforated drum (3) inside the basin (2) , emptied of water, and of the introduction of compressed air into said basin (2) .

Images