Easy and continuous food product defoaming/degassing
YOKOTA Defoaming, Degassing Pump DP, ASP types (PAT.)
Easy, low cost, and continuous defoaming/degassing!
This high-profile, new technology "defoaming/degassing pump"
has been featured in news articles, e.g.,
The following are examples of the articles about the defoaming/degassing
pump, defoaming/degassing equipment, featured in The Japan Food Journal
issued on Sep. 9, 2016, The Food & Beverage Journal issued on Nov.
27, 2008, and The Chugoku Shimbun newspaper issued on Apr. 12, 2005.
Inquiries: Overseas team Tel: +81 82-241-8672
Defoaming/Degassing Pump ASP type
Principle of Defoaming/Degassing Pump
Defoaming of thickener solution
We are holding an "Online Exhibition" where you can experience
the same kind of tour as a real exhibition on the web.
Many videos showing actual examples of operation for processing various
liquids and evaluation methods for defoaming and degassing results are
available.
(> "Online Exhibition" page)
Continuous defoaming/degassing can be done easily and at low cost even
for food and beverage processing!
YOKOTA defoaming/degassing technology is high-profile new technology that
has been featured in news articles.
For details of the news articles, please refer to the below.
Inquiries
:
Overseas team
Tel
:
+81 82-241-8672
Awarded Nissyoku Excellent Food Machinery/Material Award (Machinery Category)
Featured in The Japan Food Journal newspaper issued on Friday,
Sep. 9, 2016
Copyright for this article is with The Japan Food Journal
Contributing to productivity and quality improvement
Yokota Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Defoaming/Degassing Pump ASP Type
Promoting itself as a company finding solutions to water and liquid handling
problems, YOKOTA manufacturers and sells pumps and valves, and holds more
than 100 patents. The "YOKOTA Defoaming/Degassing Pump ASP type"
is a pump that was developed by applying the self-priming pump technology
accumulated over many years and it can transfer water only after separating
and discharging the air from the water.
In combination with an interlocked vacuum pump, it can instantly and continuously
discharge wasteful foam, bubbles and gas occurring when blending and agitating
liquid food products. By equipping self-priming and pressurization functions,
the conventional notions that food product defoaming/degassing requires
expensive and large equipment have been overturned. In addition to its
ability to manage everything from pumping to agitation, defoaming/degassing,
and pressure feed as a single unit, the compact 300 mm wide and 800 mm
long design enables its installation with almost no changes to an existing
processing line, making it all the more attractive. What's more, because
the pump has a minimal number of parts and a simple structure, maintenance
and disassembly, and cleaning are easy.
The intended use is for defoaming/degassing processing at each stage in
the manufacturing process such as the boiling, maceration, extraction,
oil pressing, agitation, fermentation, and preservation, and defoaming
processing and transfer prior to bottling of liquid food and dairy products,
and it targets various products from high-fluidity liquids to high-viscosity
liquids, and even to near-solid products such as miso paste. In addition,
because it mechanically defoams and degasses and there is no need for the
use of food additives such as defoaming agents, such indications on packaging
are also unnecessary, which not only contributes to improved productivity
and quality, but realizes improved safety and assurance, and reduced cost.
(Kenji Hamaoka)
Contribution to improved productivity
President Mario Miura
The "YOKOTA Defoaming/Degassing Pump ASP type" applies the company's
original self-priming pump technology and can continuously extract foam,
bubbles and gas in liquids. The pump has been highly credited for its ability
in assuring the uniform quality of food products and beverages and contributing
to improved productivity, and currently over half of the manufactured pumps
are being used by customers in the food product-related industries.
We are continuously addressing the needs of customers and striving to provide
even higher performing products.
Food Industry Technological Merit Award
(Material, Equipment and Systems Category)
Featured in The Food & Beverage Journal issued on Thursday,
Nov. 27, 2008
The Defoaming/Degassing Pump "ASP type" is equipment designed
to continuously remove foam, bubbles and air from liquid with the capability
of reducing the oxygen in liquid (water) to 1/8 instantaneously. Moreover,
with a volume of approximately 1/74, the pump provides space savings incomparable
to equipment of the past. This has been a big plus for food product manufacturers
looking to introduce this type of equipment, and Yokota has a strong sales
performance throughout the food industry to show for it.
From its start, Yokota has been the top manufacturer of the "Enhanced
Self-Priming Centrifugal Pump", a pump which conveys liquid mixed
with foam, bubbles and air. The Defoaming/Degassing Pump, developed utilizing
Yokota original technology, focused on the preservation of food freshness
by completely removing oxygen in the liquid (food product), and preventing
oxidation and decay.
The main technological feature of the pump is its instantaneous and continuous
separation of foam, bubbles and gas in liquids using centrifugal force.
The separated air and gas are then extracted via strong suction from a
vacuum pump. And a further advantage is obtained from the homogenization
and particle refinement of the liquid by simultaneously performing agitation
using the rotation of impeller blades. Moreover, equipped with both self-priming
and pressurization functions, which in the past required a number of different
components, the whole process can be performed using just one pump.
The Food & Beverage Journal
Featured in The Chugoku Shimbun newspaper (Hiroshima area) issued on Tuesday,
Apr. 12, 2005
"Challenge"
A degassing pump that preserves the freshness of beverages
Yokota Manufacturing Co. (Naka-ku, Hiroshima City)
This special pump, which preserves the freshness of beverages, is attracting
the attention of major food manufacturers across the country. A mid-sized
pump manufacturer, Yokota Manufacturing Co., developed this "degassing/defoaming
pump" in 2002. A transformation of the conventional perception of
the liquid pumping function is brought about based on Yokota-developed
original technology. This new technology addresses new needs in the food
sector such as the removal of gas mixed in liquid to prevent oxidation
and decay.
Removing oxygen prevents decay
"Is this possible with such small equipment...?" The clients
had their eyes fixed on a pump approximately 1 meter wide. The demonstration
was held at a prospective food manufacturer looking into degassing/defoaming
pumps. A show of surprise appeared on the clients' faces when they saw
that the air in the beverage had decreased rapidly after the beverage was
pumped.
The food manufacturer's attention was drawn to this pump because it prevents
oxidation and decay by removing the oxygen in soft-drinks or milk, preserving
their freshness. The corporate director and manager of the Sales Division,
Masayuki Akiyama (63), who was a leader in the pump's development commented,
"The increasing concerns of consumers in food safety have been the
push for this". There are other advantages such as the maintenance
of firmness during cooking, or accurate measurement during bottling without
any foam and bubbles.
The Chugoku Shimbun
Reduction to approximately 1/8
Here's how it works. Liquid is transformed into a thin layer by the impeller
installed inside the cylindrical pump rotating at high speed. The addition
of vacuum pump suctioning draws the gas effectively due to the pressure
difference with the liquid, reducing the oxygen in the liquid (water) to
approximately 1/8.
Normally, in food processing plants, liquid is transferred to large tanks
where the gas is discharged under a vacuum to remove the gas from the liquid.
The disadvantages of this conventional equipment are that it is stationary,
expensive; costing some 10 million yen or more, has an irregular degassing
rate, and that it cannot be used for high viscosity liquids.
Perceptional change supported by original technology
The degassing/defoaming pump discharges gas effectively while moving the
liquid using the pump. It is characterized by the fact that it can process
high viscosity liquids, and it can be used for wide variety of food products.
Moreover, it can be relocated easily, and it is inexpensive, costing approximately
10 million yen. Business operations have improved over the past year and
the pump has been delivered to 6 food manufacturers. Yokota continues to
receive inquiries from companies, to date about 20, which is a better-than-expected
level of response.
The cornerstone of Yokota's development is based on 50 years of their originally
developed technology. Their technological forte is the self-priming pump
which can even pump gas-mixed water. A common pump cannot pump water if
gas is mixed in it, however, Yokota's self-priming type pump can pump water
together with gas because it separates the water and gas by the rotation
of an impeller in the pump. The first such pump was developed in 1952.
The technology used for pumping out ground water from coal mines was unexpectedly
transformed for use in the food sector.
The patented technologies on the pumps and valves exceed 100. This is an
exceptional amount of technology for a manufacturer with just over 100
employees (Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry). In recent years,
they have acquired top market share in pumps that recirculate seawater
at large aquariums by using strong, special stainless steel that is resistant
to corrosion, making a strong showing in this special sector. "Our
basic technologies have been applied to pump materials and structures"
said a confident Fumio Nishi, the manager of R&D.
Needs are the turning point
Customer demand is also the watershed to development. The degassing/defoaming
pump, developed in 2000, is equipment originally designed to pump water
into water storage tanks in condominium buildings and degas it to prevent
corrosion. However, there was very little customer response to this technology.
At that point in time, Yokota had not considered applying the technology
to the food sector. Then, an inquiry from a food manufacturer asked Yokota
if degassing technology could be applied to beverages. This was the turning
point. "A good product is not always produced only through technical
capability. There is a point when the technology connects with the market
needs." Something Yokota's corporate director Akiyama became keenly
aware of.
(Company information) Location: Minami-yoshijima, Naka-ku, Hiroshima. Established
in 1948. Improved the production of special pumps designed for drainage
at coal mines, desulfurization equipment at thermal power plants, and seawater
recirculation at aquariums. All products are manufactured at the head plant.
Sales in the business year ending March 31, 2004 were 1,680,000,000 yen.
Breakdown: 40% pumps, 30% valves, others steel products are handled. Employees:
120
(Picture on upper left) Yokota's R&D staff operating the testing machines
for the degassing/defoaming pump, and corporate director Akiyama (right).
(Picture on lower right) Degassing/defoaming pump for food products. The
vacuum pump is on the top, drawing gas from the beverage on the bottom.
Examples of Defoaming of actual liquid, can be found at here.
We are holding an "Online Exhibition" where you can experience
the same kind of tour as a real exhibition on the web.
