Food washing apparatus

Details Food washing apparatus Food washing apparatus

1999-09-01

2002-02-26

Coe, Philip (Department: 1746)

Cleaning and liquid contact with solids

Apparatus

With means for collecting escaping material

C134S111000, C134S128000, C134S131000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06349730

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to an apparatus for washing foods and more particularly to an apparatus for washing foods to remove foreign matter such as insects, mud, pebbles, fish scales the like from said foods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various foods such as marine products including edible jellyfish, seaweed, shucked or shell-covered shellfish and the like, as well as farm products including vegetables and fruits tend to be contaminated with foreign matter such as insects, mud, pebbles, sand, straw pieces, hairs, fish scales, etc. after they are collected and before they are cooked.
For example, the edible jellyfish generally used for Chinese style dishes are commercially available preserved with salt. Such edible jellyfish as preserved with salt are washed in water to remove the salt and then heated for a short time before they are cooked. The jellyfish are cut into many strips and combined with other foods while being dressed. There is a high demand for edible jellyfish because of their unique flavor and low caloric content.
Edible jellyfish generally are treated with salt once collected to preserve them during transport. Before the jellyfish are processed and/or packed, they are washed or cleaned with salt water and then cut into pieces of predetermined size.
Marine products other than jellyfish, such as seaweed or shellfish, may be treated in a similar manner jellyfish.
Furthermore, farm products such as vegetables and fruits are packed in cases once they are collected for storage or transportation. Such farm products must be washed with water before cooking.
Any foreign matter such as insects, mud, pebbles, sand, straw pieces, hairs, fish scales, etc. must be removed before they are cooked or eaten. Two Japanese patents of the prior art (JP8-322532 and JP10-117947) disclose a means by which food contaminated in the above manner is washed in a cage that is immersed into a water tank. In another prior art patent (JP5-84058), contaminated foods are washed by immersion in a water tank by means of a conveyor. In a further prior art patent, foods such as soybeans are treated by an apparatus whereby the foods (soybeans) are conveyed by a conveying means through a water tank into which steam is jetted so as to generate bubbles.
However, the apparatuses of the prior art cannot effectively remove foreign matter such as insects, mud, pebbles, sand, straw pieces, hairs, fish scales, etc. from the foods because neither flowing water nor immersion combined with agitation can effectively remove such contaminants. Furthermore, subsequent food batches are not washed with fresh water because the same wash water remains within the water tank through which the food is conveyed. The water thus becomes more contaminated with foreign matter with each sequential batch of food that is washed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for washing foods to remove foreign matter such as insects, mud, pebbles, sand, straw pieces, hairs, fish scales, and the like which may be attached thereto or which the foods may have as parts thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for washing foods using a continuous fresh supply of water free from contaminants that may have been removed from prior batches of washed foods.
In accordance with an object of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for washing foods, the apparatus comprising a food conveyor means to convey the foods through a food wash area; and a water jet stream generator means to generate a sheet-like water jet stream and direct it to the food wash area so that the sheet-like water jet stream impinges against the foods whereby the foods are washed to remove foreign matter.
The water jet stream generator means preferably generates a plurality of sheet-like water jet stream layers that impinge against the foods at a predetermined angle relative to a conveying surface of the food conveying means and/or from various directions relative to a conveying direction of the food conveyor means.
The sheet-like water jet stream impinges the foods over the entire surface thereof while said foods are conveyed by the food conveyor means.
Planar foods such as edible jellyfish, shucked shellfish, and the like may be conveyed while being held between upper and lower conveying members such as net-like conveyor members through which water is allowed to flow, and at least one pair of opposing sheet-like water jet stream layers impinges against the opposite surface of the foods from opposite directions such that the opposing sheet-like water jet stream layers are jetted in a plane. The water jet stream layers may be directed to the surfaces of the foods at either a lateral or oblique predetermined angle relative to the horizontal faces of the conveying members so that said jet stream layers traverse the conveying members in a widthwise direction or in an oblique direction.
In case the foods to be washed are foods other than marine products, such as vegetables, fruits, or the like, such foods are also conveyed while being mounted on a conveying member such as a net-like conveyor member through which water is allowed to flow and a plurality of sheet-like water jet stream layers are impinged against the surfaces of the foods. The jet stream layers may be directed upwardly or downwardly toward the surfaces of the foods in a manner parallel and inclined relative to the horizontal faces of the conveying member or in a manner lateral thereto in a widthwise direction.
The sheet-like water jet stream of the present invention serves to efficiently removed foreign matter such as insects, mud, pebbles, sand, straw pieces, hairs, fish scales and the like from foods in a crumpled configuration by effectively scattering such contaminants from the foods.
The water jet stream generator means may comprise a water pump and at least one water jet stream generator which may have either a plurality of slit type nozzles or a single elongated slit type nozzle.
A water circulation means may be provided which serves to circulate water so that it supplies the water to the water jet stream generator means, receives the water from the food wash area and returns it to the water jet stream generator means.
The water circulation means may comprise a water supply tank to supply the water to the water jet stream generator means, a water receiver tank to receive the water from the food wash area and a water return passage including a pump and a filter to transfer the water within the water receiver tank to the water supply tank while filtering the recirculated water so as to purify it. The water supply tank may supplementally receive additional water from a fresh water supply source such as water service.
A water collector means may be provided to receive and collect the water once the water has been used to wash the foods, and to direct said used water into the water receiver tank. The water collector means may have an interruption member or members which are disposed between a conveying area of the food conveyor means and the return area thereof. The interruption member or members serve to purge the conveyor means of any foreign matter that may have been removed from foods and deposited onto said conveyor means. In this manner, succeeding foods can be conveyed on the food conveyor means free of contact with latent contaminants removed from prior foods and deposited onto the conveying means.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1452844 (1923-04-01), Ogburn
patent: 1617096 (1927-02-01), Bell et al.
patent: 4709713 (1987-12-01), Kuhl
patent: 5176073 (1993-01-01), Dressel
patent: 5979473 (1999-11-01), Tate et al.
patent: 5-084058 (1993-04-01), None
patent: 8-322532 (1996-12-01), None
patent: 10-117947 (1998-05-01), None

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