Apparatus for washing slices of a tuberous plant

Claim 1

Apparatus for washing slices of a tuberous plant, in particular potatoes, discharged by a slicer, said apparatus comprising a pre-washing unit with water inlet, the slicer being accommodated in said pre-washing unit, an elongated, rotatably supported washing tube connected to the pre-washing unit, a vibrating sieve having first, second and third vibrating sieve sections, following the washing tube for conveying the slices, and a receiving tank with an outlet, said vibrating sieve being mounted above the receiving tank, the first vibrating sieve section being adapted to separate shreds from the slices and consisting of a first and second part, and a water receiving bin, said first part having a portion joined to said washing tube, said second part being disposed at a lower level than said first part, said second part including a closed plate joining said first part, said water receiving bin being mounted under the first part, said water receiving bin being closed at its upper side by a fine sieve plate and having a plurality of discharge tubes regularly distributed along the width of the vibrating sieve, wherein said discharge tubes debouch on the second part of the first vibrating sieve section, the second vibrating sieve section comprising a re-washing unit connectable to a water supply, and the third vibrating sieve section being adapted to remove surface water from the slices.