SUPERHEATED STEAM STERILIZATION APPARATUS
20180242605 ยท 2018-08-30
Inventors
Cpc classification
A61L2202/15
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
Provided is a superheated steam sterilization apparatus capable of continuously sterilizing a large amount of grain and of capable of eliminating uneven application of superheated steam even when a large amount of grain is loaded thereinto. A superheated steam sterilization apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a horizontal cylindrical part including one end formed with a supply port for supplying an object to be sterilized and an opposite end formed with a discharge port for discharging a sterilized object; a rotating shaft part rotatably disposed in the horizontal cylindrical part, and including a helical screw configured to transfer the supplied object to be sterilized and an agitating member including a plurality of agitating blades configured to agitate the object to be sterilized; a plurality of superheated steam nozzles disposed above the horizontal cylindrical part; a superheated steam box disposed on the horizontal cylindrical part, divided into a plurality of sections along an axial direction, and configured to temporarily store superheated steam supplied from the superheated steam nozzles; and a steam outlet for applying superheated steam stored in the superheated steam box to the object to be sterilized which is transferred and agitated in the horizontal cylindrical part.
Claims
1. A superheated steam sterilization apparatus comprising: a horizontal cylindrical part including one end formed with a supply port for supplying an object to be sterilized and an opposite end formed with a discharge port for discharging a sterilized object; a rotating shaft part rotatably disposed in the horizontal cylindrical part, and including a helical screw configured to transfer the supplied object to be sterilized and an agitating member including a plurality of agitating blades configured to agitate the object to be sterilized; a plurality of superheated steam nozzles disposed above the horizontal cylindrical part; a superheated steam box disposed on the horizontal cylindrical part, divided into a plurality of sections along an axial direction, and configured to temporarily store superheated steam supplied from the superheated steam nozzles; and a steam outlet for applying the superheated steam stored in the superheated steam box to the object to be sterilized which is transferred and agitated in the horizontal cylindrical part.
2. The superheated steam sterilization apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an opening-closing shutter provided at the steam outlet, and configured to adjust an amount of the superheated steam to be applied by adjusting an opening area of the steam outlet.
3. The superheated steam sterilization apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a cooling part connected to the discharge port of the horizontal cylindrical part for discharging the sterilized object; wherein the cooling part includes a horizontally disposed screen tube, a helical screw and an agitating member which are disposed in the screen tube, and a suction fan configured to send cooling air into the screen tube.
4. A superheated steam sterilization apparatus comprising: a horizontal cylindrical part including one end formed with a supply port for supplying an object to be sterilized and an opposite end formed with a discharge port for discharging a sterilized object; a rotating shaft part rotatably disposed in the horizontal cylindrical part, and configured to transfer the supplied object to be sterilized while agitating the object to be sterilized; a superheated steam nozzle disposed above the horizontal cylindrical part; a superheated steam box disposed between the superheated steam nozzle and the horizontal cylindrical part, and configured to temporarily store superheated steam supplied from the superheated steam nozzle; and a steam outlet for applying the superheated steam stored in the superheated steam box to the object to be sterilized which is transferred and agitated in the horizontal cylindrical part.
5. A superheated steam sterilization apparatus comprising: a horizontal cylindrical part including one end formed with a supply port for supplying an object to be sterilized and an opposite end formed with a discharge port for discharging a sterilized object; a rotating shaft part rotatably disposed in the horizontal cylindrical part, including a helical screw configured to transfer the supplied object to be sterilized and an agitating member including a plurality of agitating blades configured to agitate the object to be sterilized; a plurality of superheated steam nozzles disposed above the horizontal cylindrical part; a superheated steam box disposed on the horizontal cylindrical part, divided into a plurality of sections along an axial direction, and configured to temporarily store superheated steam supplied from the superheated steam nozzles; and a steam outlet for applying the superheated steam stored in the superheated steam box to the object to be sterilized which is transferred and agitated in the horizontal cylindrical part; wherein the horizontal cylindrical part is formed to be splittable into a base portion arcuately covering most part of the rotating shaft part and a maintenance cover portion removable from the base portion and arcuately covering a part of the rotating shaft part.
6. The superheated steam sterilization apparatus of claim 5, wherein the base portion of the horizontal cylindrical part is formed in a shape of a circular arc as viewed in a cross section, the circular arc having a central angle exceeding 180 and extending from an uppermost point of a circle formed by an outline of the horizontal cylindrical part to a lowermost point of the circle and further extending upward from the lowermost point so that the base portion receives drain water generated from the superheated steam after sterilization.
7. The superheated steam sterilization apparatus of claim 5, wherein the maintenance cover portion of the horizontal cylindrical part includes a plurality of handles for holding the maintenance cover portion at time of maintenance.
8. A superheated steam sterilization apparatus comprising: a horizontal cylindrical part including one end formed with a supply port for supplying an object to be sterilized and an opposite end formed with a discharge port for discharging a sterilized object; a rotating shaft part rotatably disposed in the horizontal cylindrical part, and configured to transfer the supplied object to be sterilized while agitating the object to be sterilized; a superheated steam nozzle disposed above the horizontal cylindrical part; a superheated steam box disposed between the superheated steam nozzle and the horizontal cylindrical part, and configured to temporarily store superheated steam supplied from the superheated steam nozzle; and a steam outlet for applying the superheated steam stored in the superheated steam box to the object to be sterilized which is transferred and agitated in the horizontal cylindrical part; wherein the horizontal cylindrical part is formed to be splittable into a base portion partially covering the rotating shaft part and a maintenance cover portion removable from the base portion and partially covering the rotating shaft part.
9. The superheated steam sterilization apparatus of claim 8, wherein the base portion of the horizontal cylindrical part includes, as viewed in a cross section, a lowermost portion of the horizontal cylindrical part and a portion extending upward from the lowermost portion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0030]
[0031]
[0032]
[0033]
[0034]
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0035] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.
[0036] As shown in
[0037] The horizontal cylindrical part 3 includes a grain supply port 11 formed in an upper portion thereof at one end side in the axial direction. The cylindrical part 3 includes a grain discharge port 12 formed in a lower portion thereof at the other end side in the axial direction. A raw grain supply chute 13 is connected to the supply port 11, and a grain discharge chute 14 is connected to the discharge port 12. The discharge chute 14 communicates with a grain cooling part 20 in a subsequent step through a rotary valve or the like.
[0038] The rotating shaft part 6 is supported by a bearing 15a at one end side in the axial direction thereof. The other end side in the axial direction of the rotating shaft part 6 is supported by a bearing 15b. In addition, a drive pulley 16 that rotates the rotating shaft part 6 is installed at the other end side of the rotating shaft part 6. A rotational force of a drive motor 17 is transmitted to the drive pulley 16 through a motor pulley 18 and a belt 19.
[0039] The superheated steam sterilization apparatus 1 further includes a grain cooling part 20 in a stage following the superheated sterilization part 10. The grain cooling part 20 includes, as shown in
[0040] A drive pulley 33 that rotates the rotating shaft 23 is installed at one end side of the rotating shaft 23. A rotational force of a drive motor 34 is transmitted to the drive pulley 33 through a motor pulley 35 and a belt 36. In the grain cooling part 20, grains superheated-sterilized in the superheated sterilization part 10 are supplied into the screen tube 22 to cool down the heated grains. The grain cooling part 20 performs agitating with the agitating member 26 while taking the outside air into the screen tube 22 from an outside air inlet 38 by driving the suction fan 28. Consequently, heat accumulated between the grains is taken away therefrom, and thus cooling is performed. In addition, foreign substances, gravel, etc. caught between the grains drop through the meshes of the screen tube 22. Accordingly, it is also possible to separate foreign substances, gravel, etc. from the grains and to discharge the separated substances to the outside of the machine. A foreign substance collecting trough 37 is installed underneath the screen tube 22. The foreign substance collecting trough 37 collects foreign substances, gravel, etc. separated from the grains and discharges the collected substances to the outside of the machine.
[0041] Referring to
[0042] The sidewall 41a has an inspection opening 46 formed therein so that the operator can adjust the opening-closing shutter 43. In addition, the sidewall 41a is provided with an inspection lid 47 for closing the inspection opening 46 (see
[0043] Next, the maintenance structure of the horizontal cylindrical part 3 will be explained in detail with reference to
[0044] Referring to
[0045] In addition, the maintenance cover portion 3b is provided with handles 51a and 51b for removal. Therefore, when maintenance is performed, the operator can remove fixing nuts 52a to 52b while holding the handles 51a and 51b, thereby enabling the maintenance cover portion 3b to be removed easily. Accordingly, removal operability is also improved (see
[0046] The following is an explanation of the operation of the superheated steam sterilization apparatus configured as stated above. First, the inspection lid 47 shown in
[0047] Next, grains are supplied from the supply chute 13 (see
[0048] If superheated steam is applied to grains directly from the superheated steam nozzle 7, the grains are sterilized only locally (at points) because superheated steam is applied from the superheated steam nozzle 7 having a small nozzle diameter. In contrast to this, when superheated steam supplied from the superheated steam nozzle 7 is temporarily stored in the superheated steam box 8 and thereafter applied from the steam outlet 9 set to an appropriate degree of opening, the grains are sterilized over a wide surface area (the steam outlet 9 has an opening area larger than that of the superheated steam nozzle 7 having a small nozzle diameter). Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate uneven application of superheated steam.
[0049] In addition, the degree of opening of the steam outlet 9 of each of the superheated steam boxes 8a to 8d can be adjusted by the opening-closing shutter 43. Therefore, if the degree of opening of the steam outlet 9 is set to fully open, it is also possible to sterilize grains containing a large number of bacteria (e.g. grains that seem to have a large number of bacteria grown thereon, for example, brown rice having been stored for a long period of time in a state of being mixed with paddy and chaff; chaff cannot be said to be germ-free but contains some microorganisms and bacteria). On the other hand, if the degree of opening is set to half-open, it is also possible to sterilize grains containing a small number of bacteria (e.g. polished and sorted grains obtained by completely removing paddy and chaff from brown rice; and relatively clean grains from which chaff has been removed) in an energy-conserving manner with a reduced supply of superheated steam.
[0050] Next, grains having passed through the area where the superheated steam boxes 8a to 8d are disposed are continuously discharged from the discharge port 12 while being agitating by the agitating member 5. The grains discharged from the discharge port 12 are supplied to the supply port 29 of the grain cooling part 20 through the rotary valve 31 (
[0051] When maintenance of the horizontal cylindrical part 3 is performed, first, nuts 52a and 52b are unfastened and removed respectively from a bolt 53a provided to project from a flange portion 3a1 of the base portion 3a of the horizontal cylindrical part 3 and a bolt 53b provided to project from the sidewall 41a of the superheated steam box 8. Thus, the operator can remove the maintenance cover portion 3b by holding the handles 51a and 51b attached thereto (see
[0052] As has been stated above, according to this embodiment, the superheated steam sterilization apparatus 1 includes: the horizontal cylindrical part 3 including the one end formed with the supply port 11 for supplying an object to be sterilized and the other end formed with the discharge port 12 for discharging a sterilized object; the rotating shaft part 6 rotatably disposed in the horizontal cylindrical part 3, and including the helical screw 4 configured to transfer the supplied object to be sterilized and the agitating member 5 including the plurality of agitating blades and configured to agitate the object to be sterilized; the plurality of superheated steam nozzles 7 disposed above the horizontal cylindrical part 3; the superheated steam box 8 disposed on the horizontal cylindrical part 3, divided into the plurality of sections along the axial direction, and configured to temporarily store superheated steam supplied from the superheated steam nozzles 7; and the steam outlet 9 for applying the superheated steam stored in the superheated steam box 8 to the object to be sterilized which is transferred and agitated in the horizontal cylindrical part 3. Accordingly, superheated steam from the superheated steam nozzles 7 can be temporarily stored in the superheated steam box 8 and then applied to the object to be sterilized from the steam outlet 9 set to an appropriate degree of opening. Consequently, the object to be sterilized can be sterilized by superheated steam applied over a widened area (the steam outlet 9 has an opening area larger than that of the superheated steam nozzle 7 having a small nozzle diameter). Because superheated steam is applied not locally but to a wide area, it is possible to eliminate uneven application of superheated steam to the object to be sterilized.
[0053] In addition, the horizontal cylindrical part 3 is formed to be splittable into the base portion 3a arcuately covering most part of the rotating shaft part 6 and the maintenance cover portion 3b removable from the base portion 3a and arcuately covering a part of the rotating shaft part 6. Accordingly, when the interior of the horizontal cylindrical part 3 is cleaned, or when the helical screw 4 and the agitating member 5 are repaired, the interior of the horizontal cylindrical part 3 can be opened simply by removing the maintenance cover portion 3b, which is exclusively used for maintenance, from the base portion 3a, and thus the rotating shaft part 6 is exposed. Consequently, very excellent maintainability is obtained.
[0054] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the described embodiments of the present invention are for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may, as a matter of course, be modified and improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In addition, the structural elements described in the claims and the specification can be arbitrarily combined or omitted within a range in which the above-mentioned problems are at least partially solved, or within a range in which at least a part of the above-mentioned advantages is achieved. For example, the number of superheated steam nozzles 7 may be one. In this case, the arrangement may be such that one intermediate chamber is provided between the superheated steam nozzle 7 and the superheated steam boxes 8a to 8d, and that superheated steam introduced into the intermediate chamber from the superheated steam nozzle 7 is further introduced into the superheated steam boxes 8a to 8d through a plurality of holes formed in the intermediate chamber. Further, the superheated steam box 8 may be a single chamber having a plurality of steam outlets 9a to 9d.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0055] The present invention is applicable to the field of superheated steam sterilization apparatus capable of continuously sterilizing a large amount of grain. For example, the present invention is also applicable as a sterilization apparatus (disinfection apparatus) for sterilizing paddy rice seeds (seed rice) against contagious diseases (rice blast, fool seedling disease, etc.) in addition to a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing brown rice obtained by hulling paddy before distribution.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0056] 1 . . . superheated steam sterilization apparatus [0057] 2 . . . machine frame [0058] 3 . . . horizontal cylindrical part [0059] 3a . . . base portion [0060] 3b . . . maintenance cover portion [0061] 3a1 . . . flange portion [0062] 4 . . . helical screw [0063] 5 . . . agitating member [0064] 6 . . . rotating shaft part [0065] 7a to 7d . . . superheated steam nozzles [0066] 8a to 8d . . . superheated steam boxes [0067] 9a to 9d . . . steam outlets [0068] 10 . . . superheated sterilization part [0069] 11 . . . supply port [0070] 12 . . . discharge port [0071] 13 . . . supply chute [0072] 14 . . . discharge chute [0073] 15a, 15b . . . bearings [0074] 16 . . . drive pulley [0075] 17 . . . drive motor [0076] 18 . . . motor pulley [0077] 19 . . . belt [0078] 20 . . . grain cooling part [0079] 21 . . . frame [0080] 22 . . . screen tube [0081] 23 . . . rotating shaft [0082] 24a to 24d . . . arm members [0083] 25a to 25d . . . elongate agitating blades [0084] 26 . . . agitating member [0085] 27 . . . helical screw [0086] 28 . . . suction fan [0087] 29 . . . supply port [0088] 30 . . . discharge port [0089] 31 . . . rotary valve [0090] 32 . . . discharge chute [0091] 33 . . . drive pulley [0092] 34 . . . drive motor [0093] 35 . . . motor pulley [0094] 36 . . . belt [0095] 37 . . . foreign substance collecting trough [0096] 38 . . . outside air inlet [0097] 39 . . . top wall [0098] 40a, 40b . . . partition walls [0099] 41a, 41b . . . side walls [0100] 42 . . . bottom wall [0101] 43 . . . opening-closing shutter [0102] 44 . . . adjustment knob [0103] 46 . . . inspection opening [0104] 47 . . . inspection lid [0105] 48a, 48b . . . bolts [0106] 49a, 49b . . . holes [0107] 50a, 50b . . . nuts [0108] 51a, 51b . . . handles [0109] 52a, 52b . . . fixing nuts [0110] 53a, 53b . . . bolts [0111] D . . . drain water