3D food printing pretreatment system and printing device

Abstract

The invention discloses a 3D food printing pretreatment system and a printing device.The 3D food printing pretreatment system comprises a machine body, a crushing device, an extruding device, a heating device and a collecting device.The crushing device is used for crushing unfrozen meat and uniformly mixing the meat, and the extruding device is used for extruding materials discharged by the crushing device; the heating device is used for heating materials extruded by the extrusion device, and the collecting device is used for collecting the materials heated by the heating device. Meat fibers are fully crushed and uniformly mixed with powder and water to form homogeneous slurry, so that the fluidity and extrusion stability of materials are improved, and plug blockage or fault caused by uneven particles in the 3D printing process is avoided. According to the method, extruded materials are heated, meat protein and added powder are promoted to be partially gelatinized in advance, the self-supporting performance of the materials is enhanced, the printed structure is not prone to collapse, and after the materials are heated, microbial loads can be effectively reduced, and the shelf life of the follow-up printed materials is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of food processing, and particularly relates to a 3D food printing pretreatment system and a printing device. Background Art

[0002] In the field of food processing, the meat 3D printing technology is a food processing method based on the principle of additive manufacturing. By stacking edible meat materials layer by layer, meat products with complex geometric shapes, customized nutrition or special texture can be manufactured. This technology has broad application prospects in the fields of artificial meat, personalized food, aerospace catering and medical nutrition.

[0003] In the meat 3D printing technology, the pretreatment of raw materials has an important impact on the printing quality, extrusion stability and the taste of the final product. Traditional meat 3D printing usually directly uses minced meat or meat paste as printing materials. However, due to the unevenness of the meat fiber structure and the risk of microbial contamination, it is easy to cause defects such as nozzle clogging, extrusion fracture or finished product collapse during the printing process, affecting the printing accuracy and product quality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the prior art, and provide a 3D food printing pretreatment system and a printing device, which can fully break the meat fibers, uniformly mix with powders and water to form a homogeneous slurry, improve the fluidity and extrusion stability of the material, and avoid nozzle clogging or faulting caused by uneven particles during the 3D printing process. The present invention steam-heats the extruded material to promote partial gelation of the meat protein and the added powders in advance, enhances the self-supportability of the material, makes the printed structure not easy to collapse, and after heating the material, it can effectively reduce the microbial load and extend the shelf life of the subsequent printing material. The present invention can ensure the food printing accuracy and product quality.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: A 3D food printing pretreatment system, characterized in that it includes a machine body, a crushing device, an extrusion device, a heating device and a collecting device. The crushing device is used to crush the thawed meat and mix it evenly. The extrusion device is used to extrude the material discharged from the crushing device. The heating device is used to heat the material extruded by the extrusion device. The collecting device is used to collect the material heated by the heating device.

[0006] Furthermore, the crushing device includes a driving mechanism I, a crushing chamber and a crushing member. The crushing chamber is provided with an inner cavity I, the crushing chamber is provided with a feed inlet I and a discharge outlet I, the feed inlet I and the discharge outlet I communicate with the inner cavity I, the crushing member is arranged in the inner cavity I, the driving mechanism I is connected to the crushing member, and the driving mechanism I drives the crushing member to crush and stir the thawed meat in the inner cavity I and mix it evenly. The uniformly mixed material is discharged from the discharge outlet I into the extrusion device.

[0007] Further, the crushing member includes a crushing shaft and crushing blades mounted on the crushing shaft. The first driving mechanism uses a first motor, and the first motor is provided with a first motor shaft, and the first motor shaft is connected to the crushing shaft.

[0008] Further, the machine body is provided with an opening, and a feeding member is installed at the opening. The feeding member is provided with a feeding port and a discharging port, the discharging port communicates with the first feeding port, and the feeding port is fixed at the opening.

[0009] Further, the machine body is provided with a first mounting seat. The first mounting seat is provided with a first fixing plate. The first fixing plate is provided with a first mounting surface, and the first mounting surface is fixed to the first mounting seat. The first motor is arranged at the first mounting surface. The first fixing plate is provided with a first through hole, and the first motor shaft passes through the first through hole. The first fixing plate is provided with a second mounting surface, and the second mounting surface is arranged in parallel with the first mounting surface. The crushing chamber is installed at the second mounting surface.

[0010] Further, the crushing chamber is provided with a mounting opening, and a crushing chamber cover is detachably connected to the mounting opening. The crushing chamber cover is fixed at the second mounting surface.

[0011] Further, the second mounting surface is provided with a bin pressing piece, and the bin pressing piece limits the crushing chamber and the crushing chamber cover.

[0012] Further, the first fixing plate is detachably connected with a first locking member, and the first locking member fixes the bin pressing piece at the second mounting surface.

[0013] Further, the first mounting seat includes a first profile and a second profile. The first profile and the second profile are fixed to the machine body. The length of the second profile is greater than the length of the first profile. The first fixing plate is fixed to the first profile and the second profile, so that the crushing device is inclined, and the installation height of the first feeding port is greater than the installation height of the first discharging port.

[0014] Further, the first mounting seat is provided with a second driving mechanism. The second driving mechanism is connected with a sliding block, and a blanking bin door is fixed to the sliding block. The second driving mechanism controls the sliding block to move reciprocally in a straight line, so that the blanking bin door opens or closes at the first discharging port.

[0015] Further, the crushing chamber is provided with a guide rail, and a guide groove is formed between the guide rail and the crushing chamber. The blanking bin door extends into the guide groove and moves reciprocally in a straight line along the axial direction of the crushing chamber.

[0016] Further, the extrusion device includes an extrusion housing, a second motor, an extrusion screw, and a die. The extrusion housing is fixed to the machine body. The extrusion housing is provided with a second inner cavity, an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet communicate with the second inner cavity. The material discharged from the crushing device enters the second inner cavity through the inlet. The extrusion screw is arranged in the second inner cavity and is provided with spiral blades. The second motor is provided with a second motor shaft, which is connected to the extrusion screw and controls the rotation of the extrusion screw. The spiral blades convey the material entering from the inlet to the outlet. The die is arranged in the outlet and is provided with an extrusion hole. The extrusion screw extrudes the material so that it is extruded from the extrusion hole.

[0017] Further, the machine body is equipped with a second mounting seat, and the second mounting seat is provided with a second fixing plate. The extrusion device is fixed on the second fixing plate.

[0018] Further, the second fixing plate is provided with a locking block, and the locking block limits the extrusion housing.

[0019] Further, the second fixing plate is detachably connected with a second locking member, and the second locking member fixes the locking block at the second fixing plate.

[0020] Further, the second fixing plate is fixed with an auxiliary strip, and the auxiliary strip positions the extrusion device at a set position on the second fixing plate.

[0021] Further, the heating device is connected with a heating pipe, and the heating pipe is installed on the extrusion device. The heating device is a steam generator, and the steam generator is communicated with the heating pipe through a pipeline. The steam generator conveys steam and water to the heating pipe through the pipeline, and the steam and water in the heating pipe heat the material extruded by the extrusion device.

[0022] Further, the collection device uses a washbasin. The washbasin is provided with a third inner cavity, and the top of the washbasin is provided with a collection port communicating with the third inner cavity.

[0023] Further, the machine body is provided with a take-out port and a water tank. The water tank is provided with a fourth inner cavity. The washbasin is supported on the water tank after passing through the take-out port and is arranged above the fourth inner cavity.

[0024] Further, a washbasin backing plate is arranged in the fourth inner cavity, and the washbasin is supported on the washbasin backing plate.

[0025] Further, the washbasin includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The outer frame is provided with a groove, and the inner frame is arranged in the groove. The third inner cavity is located in the inner frame. The inner frame is provided with water permeable holes, and the water permeable holes communicate with the third inner cavity.

[0026] The printing device is characterized in that the printing device performs 3D printing on the material pretreated by the 3D food printing pretreatment system.

[0027] Due to the adoption of the above technical solutions, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The thawed meat of the present invention is put into a crushing device, which crushes the meat at high speed. After crushing for a certain period of time, the meat can be crushed evenly. Then, the remaining powder and water are added, and the crushed meat is stirred in the crushing device. After stirring for a certain period of time, the materials are mixed evenly. The materials fall into an extrusion device by gravity and centrifugal force, and the extrusion device conveys the materials and extrudes them. A heating device heats the extruded materials, and continuous steam and a small amount of high-temperature water can be used to heat the materials. Then, the materials and high-temperature water fall into a collection device for collection. After the collection device is filled, the empty collection device is replaced with the filled one, and new collection devices are continuously replaced until no materials fall. The present invention combines the extrusion device and the heating device with the existing 3D printing technology to manufacture meat products with complex geometric shapes, customized nutrition or special textures.

[0028] The present invention pre-treats the thawed meat, and the technical effects before food 3D printing are as follows.

[0029] 1. Improvement of material homogenization and fluidity Crushing and mixing uniformity: Through the steps of high-speed crushing and uniform stirring, the meat fibers are fully crushed and evenly mixed with the powder and water to form a homogeneous slurry, improving the fluidity and extrusion stability of the materials and avoiding plugging or faulting caused by uneven particles during the 3D printing process. Elimination of caking: The crushing and stirring processes destroy the original fiber structure of the meat, reducing the problem of uneven extrusion caused by fiber agglomeration during printing.

[0030] 2. Optimization of material printability Viscosity control: By adjusting the ratio of the powder and water, the viscosity of the mixed materials is more suitable for extrusion 3D printing, which can not only maintain the shape stability after extrusion but also prevent the printer nozzle from being blocked due to excessive viscosity. Thermal gelation pre-treatment: Heating can promote partial gelation of meat proteins and the added powder in advance, enhancing the self-supporting property of the materials and making the printed structure less likely to collapse.

[0031] 3. Sterilization and extension of shelf life Heating the materials can effectively reduce the microbial load and extend the shelf life of the subsequent printed materials.

[0032] 4. Adaptability to continuous production The crushing and stirring operations, extrusion operation, heating operation and material collection operation of the present invention are all completed in one system, meeting the requirements of industrial continuous production. Moreover, the present invention replaces the collection device for collection to ensure seamless connection between the pre-treatment and the subsequent printing process and avoid production interruption.

[0033] 5. The homogeneous material of the present invention can reduce extrusion fluctuations, ensure the interlayer bonding strength of 3D printing, and improve printing accuracy. At the same time, the automated process reduces the risk of material contamination, and heating realizes sterilization and material modification, improving product quality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings: Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the 3D food printing pretreatment system of the present invention; Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the right cover in the present invention; Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram when the right cover of the present invention is removed; Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of the front door in the present invention; Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of the connection between the crushing bin, the crushing bin cover and the blanking bin door in the present invention; Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of the crushing bin in the present invention; Figure 7 It is a schematic structural diagram of the crushing bin cover in the present invention; Figure 8 It is a schematic structural diagram of the connection between the slider and the blanking bin door in the present invention; Figure 9 It is a schematic structural diagram of the connection between the feeding part and the crushing bin in the present invention; Figure 10 It is a schematic structural diagram of the feeding part in the present invention; Figure 11 It is a schematic structural diagram of the connection between the first driving mechanism and the crushing part in the present invention; Figure 12 It is a schematic structural diagram of the connection between the first locking part and the bin pressing piece in the present invention; Figure 13 It is a schematic structural diagram of the connection between the second driving mechanism, the slider and the blanking bin door in the present invention; Figure 14 It is a schematic structural diagram of the second driving mechanism in the present invention; Figure 15 It is a schematic structural diagram of the connection between the extrusion device and the heating tube in the present invention; Figure 16 It is a schematic structural diagram of the heating tube in the present invention; Figure 17 It is a schematic structural diagram of the connection between the heating device and the heating tube in the present invention; Figure 18 It is a schematic structural diagram of the extrusion housing in the present invention; Figure 19 It is a schematic structural diagram of the mold in the present invention; Figure 20 Structural schematic diagram of the second motor connecting the extrusion screw in the present invention; Figure 21 Structural schematic diagram of the second locking member and the locking block connection in the present invention; Figure 22 Structural schematic diagram of the auxiliary bar in the present invention; Figure 23 Structural schematic diagram of the water tank in the present invention; Figure 24 Structural schematic diagram of the connection between the water tank and the washbasin backing plate in the present invention; Figure 25 Structural schematic diagram of the washbasin in the present invention; Figure 26 For Figure 25 Top view; Figure 27 For Figure 26 A - A sectional view in; Figure 28 Internal structural schematic diagram of the 3D food printing pretreatment system of the present invention; Figure 29 Structural schematic diagram of the first fixing plate in the present invention; Figure 30 Structural schematic diagram of the printing device of the present invention.

[0035] In the figure, 1 - machine body; 11 - front door; 12 - right cover; 13 - left cover; 14 - rear cover; 15 - bottom plate; 16 - upper cover; 17 - take - out port; 18 - rear plate body; 19 - through - hole three; 110 - opening; 111 - discharge port; 112 - machine body profile; 2 - crushing device; 21 - crushing chamber; 22 - first feed port; 23 - crushing chamber cover; 24 - first discharge port; 25 - lower feed bin door; 26 - guide rail; 27 - installation port; 28 - first edge; 29 - second edge; 210 - second driving mechanism; 2101 - lead screw motor; 2102 - lead screw; 211 - mounting plate; 212 - slider; 213 - bin door push block; 214 - first motor; 215 - first motor shaft; 216 - crushing shaft; 217 - crushing blade; 218 - first coupling; 219 - bin pressing piece; 220 - first notch; 221 - pressing part; 222 - first locking member; 223 - feeding member; 224 - input port; 225 - discharge port; 3 - Extrusion device; 31 - Extrusion housing; 32 - Motor II; 33 - Extrusion screw; 34 - Feeding port II; 35 - Die; 36 - Extrusion hole; 37 - Discharge port II; 38 - Card slot; 39 - Bottom edge; 310 - Spiral blade; 311 - Motor shaft II; 312 - Extrusion head; 313 - Coupling II; 314 - Motor bracket; 315 - Extrusion sheet; 316 - Locking block; 317 - Notch II; 318 - Locking part; 319 - Locking piece II; 320 - Auxiliary bar; 4 - Heating device; 41 - Heating pipe; 42 - Cavity; 43 - Connection port; 44 - Discharge port III; 45 - Pipeline; 5 - Collection device; 51 - Inner frame; 52 - Inner cavity III; 53 - Water permeable hole; 54 - Handle part; 55 - Outer frame; 56 - Connection plate; 6 - Water tank; 61 - Inner cavity IV; 62 - Support part; 63 - Suction inlet; 64 - Washbasin backing plate; 71 - Profile I; 72 - Profile II; 73 - Profile III; 74 - Fixed plate I; 74a - Mounting surface I; 74b - Mounting surface II; 81 - Profile IV; 82 - Profile V; 83 - Fixed plate II; 9 - Exhaust fan; a - Printing device. Detailed implementation method

[0036] As Figures 1 to 29 shown, it is a 3D food printing pretreatment system of the present invention, which pre - treats thawed meat.

[0037] The 3D food printing pretreatment system includes a machine body 1, a crushing device 2, an extrusion device 3, a heating device 4 and a collection device 5. The specific pretreatment operation is as follows: Put the thawed meat into the crushing device 2, and the crushing device 2 crushes the meat at high speed. After crushing for a certain time, the meat can be crushed evenly. Then put in the remaining powders and water, and stir the crushed meat in the crushing device 2. After stirring for a certain time, the materials are mixed evenly. The materials fall into the extrusion device 3 by gravity and the centrifugal force generated by the crushing device 2. The extrusion device 3 conveys the materials and extrudes them. The heating device 4 heats the extruded materials, and continuous steam and a small amount of high - temperature water can be used to heat the materials. Then the materials and high - temperature water fall into the collection device 5 and are collected. After the collection device 5 is full, replace the full collection device 5 with an empty one, and continuously replace the new collection device 5 until no materials fall. Then the present invention combines the extrusion device and the heating device with the existing 3D printing technology to manufacture meat products with complex geometric shapes, customized nutrition or special textures.

[0038] The body 1 is installed on the frame in a split manner. Among them, the body profiles 112 distributed horizontally and vertically are fixed to form the frame. The front door 11 is fixed to the front side of the entire frame, the rear cover 14 is fixed to the rear side of the entire frame, the right cover 12 is fixed to the right side of the entire frame, the left cover 13 is fixed to the left side of the entire frame, the upper cover 16 is fixed to the top of the entire frame, and the bottom plate 15 is fixed to the bottom of the entire frame, forming a body 1 with a hollow interior.

[0039] In the present invention, two parallel profiles one 71 and two parallel profiles two 72 are fixed to the body profile 112 located above. The length of the profile two 72 is greater than that of the profile one 71. The profile one 71 and the profile two 72 form a mounting seat one. In order to increase the structural stability of the mounting seat one, profiles three 73 are fixed between the profile one 71 and the profile two 72, between adjacent profiles one 71, and between adjacent profiles two 72. The fixing plate one 74 is fixed to the profile one 71 and the profile two 72 by bolts. At this time, the fixing plate one 74 is inclined and is used for the installation of the entire crushing device 2.

[0040] The crushing device 2 includes a motor one 214, a crushing shaft 216, and a crushing chamber 21. The crushing chamber 21 is in a cylindrical shape and has an inner cavity one inside. At the same time, the crushing chamber 21 is provided with a feed inlet one 22 and a discharge outlet one 24, and the feed inlet one 22 and the discharge outlet one 24 communicate with the inner cavity one. After thawed meat is added in the present invention, the remaining powder and water need to be put in subsequently. In order to prevent the powder and water from leaking out, the feed inlet one 22 is extended to the front door 11, and then an opening 110 is provided at the front door 11. At the same time, a feed member 223 with a cavity inside is installed at the opening 110. The input port 224 of the feed member 223 can be fixed to the opening 110 by screws. The discharge port 225 of the feed member 223 extends into the feed inlet one 22 and communicates with the feed inlet one 22. The thawed meat, powder, and water enter the cavity of the feed member 223 through the input port 224, and then enter the inner cavity one through the discharge port 225 and the feed inlet one 22.

[0041] The motor 1 of the present invention, i.e., 214, selects a 2kW servo motor with the model QW110BL008302000. It is fixed at the mounting surface 1 of the fixed plate 1, i.e., 74a, by bolts. The motor 1 is arranged inside the mounting seat 1, and the mounting seat 1 plays a protective role for the motor 1. The crushing chamber 21 is provided with a mounting opening 27 communicating with the inner cavity 1. The crushing chamber cover 23 is fixed in the mounting opening 27 by carbon steel screws, so that the crushing chamber cover 23 is detachably connected to the crushing chamber 21. After the crushing chamber cover 23 is removed, the inner cavity 1 of the crushing chamber 21 can be cleaned to ensure the internal cleanliness of the crushing chamber 21 and avoid the influence of impurities on the later printed products. The present invention sets a mounting groove on the mounting surface 2 of the fixed plate 1, i.e., 74b. A magnet is embedded in the mounting groove. The mounting surface 2, i.e., 74b, is parallel to the mounting surface 1, i.e., 74a. After the crushing chamber cover 23 and the crushing chamber 21 are fixed, the crushing chamber cover 23 is fixed at the fixed plate 1 by screws. At the same time, the carbon steel screws are adsorbed on the magnet in the mounting groove, and the crushing chamber 21 can be inclined and positioned at the set position of the fixed plate 1, improving the installation accuracy of the crushing device 2. The installation height of the feeding port 1, i.e., 22, is greater than the installation height of the discharging port 1, i.e., 24, so that the material slides from the feeding port 1, i.e., 22, to the discharging port 1, i.e., 24, under the action of gravity. The fixed plate 1 separates the crushing chamber 21 and the motor 1. After being independently separated, the motor does not need to be opened when disassembling the motor, saving maintenance time, enabling quick maintenance, and at the same time avoiding the influence of the water in the crushing chamber 21 on the motor and improving safety.

[0042] The crushing shaft 216 of the present invention is arranged in the inner cavity 1. The motor shaft 1 of the motor 1, i.e., 215, passes through the through hole 1 of the fixed plate 1, i.e., 74, and also passes through the crushing chamber cover 23. The motor shaft 1 is connected to the crushing shaft 216 through a coupling 1, i.e., 218, efficiently transmitting the rotational power and torque of the motor 1 to the crushing shaft 216. The motor shaft 1 drives the crushing shaft 216 to rotate. Multiple crushing blades 217 are arranged on the outer side of the crushing shaft 216. The present invention sets four crushing blades 217, and the included angle between two adjacent crushing blades 217 after projection is 90°. The crushing blades 217 crush the thawed meat put in. The crushing time is 2 minutes, and the crushing rotation speed is controlled at 2000 rpm / min. Then, the powder and water added later are stirred to make the material evenly mixed. According to different meats, the weights of the added powder and water are also different.

[0043] (1) After crushing beef, the weight ratios of beef, water, and powder are: the weight of beef is 30% of the total weight, the weight of water is 30% of the total weight, and the weight of powder is 40% of the total weight.

[0044] (2) After crushing chicken breast, the weight ratios of chicken breast, water, and powder are: the weight of chicken breast is 50% of the total weight, the weight of water is 20% of the total weight, and the weight of powder is 30% of the total weight.

[0045] (3) After the shrimp meat is broken, the weight ratios of the shrimp meat, water, and powder are as follows: the weight of the shrimp meat is 48% of the total weight, the weight of the water is 21% of the total weight, and the weight of the powder is 31% of the total weight.

[0046] Through the breaking and stirring steps, the meat fibers are fully broken and evenly mixed with the powder and water to form a homogeneous slurry, improving the fluidity and extrusion stability of the material and avoiding plugging or faulting caused by uneven particles during the 3D printing process. Moreover, by adjusting the ratio of the powder and water, the viscosity of the mixed material is more suitable for 3D printing, which can not only maintain the shape stability after extrusion but also prevent the printer nozzle from being blocked due to excessive viscosity.

[0047] Considering the weight of the crushing device 2 and the weight of the added materials to prevent the crushing device 2 from detaching from the fixing plate one 74, the present invention fixes the bin pressing piece 219 at the installation surface two 74b. The bin pressing piece 219 is provided with a notch one 220, so that the bin pressing piece 219 forms a pressing part 221. The edge one 28 of the crushing bin 21 and the edge two 29 of the crushing bin cover 23 are embedded in the notch one 220, and the pressing part 221 presses the edge one 28 and the edge two 29, so that the bin pressing piece 219 limits the crushing bin 21 and the crushing bin cover 23, improving the stress capacity of the crushing device 2 and meeting the requirements of the feeding amounts of meat, powder, and water. The present invention uses a locking part one 222 to fix the bin pressing piece 219 at the installation surface two 74b. For the convenience of moving the bin pressing piece 219, the locking part one 222 of the present invention uses a handwheel. The handwheel includes a threaded column, a pressing block, and a handle. The pressing block is fixedly connected to the threaded column and the handle. The bin pressing piece 219 is provided with an oblong hole. The threaded column passes through the oblong hole and is threadedly connected to the threaded hole of the installation surface two 74b, and the pressing block presses on the bin pressing piece 219. When the handwheel is rotated, the pressing block does not press the bin pressing piece 219, and the bin pressing piece 219 can be moved, so that the bin pressing piece 219 does not limit the crushing bin 21 and the crushing bin cover 23.

[0048] In order to make the materials in the crushing device 2 be evenly mixed before falling into the extrusion device 3, a blanking bin door 25 is arranged in the first discharge port 24 of the present invention, and the blanking bin door 25 matches the first discharge port 24. The movement of the blanking bin door 25 is controlled by a second driving mechanism 210. The second driving mechanism 210 adopts a bin door motor module composed of a lead screw motor 2101 and a lead screw 2102, and the model of the bin door motor module is FSK30Tr8*12*100mm. The third profile 73 is fixedly installed on the mounting plate 211 through bolts, and the lead screw motor 2101 is fixed on the mounting plate 211. The lead screw 2102 is connected with a slider 212, and the slider 212 is fixedly installed with a bin door push block 213 through screws. An ear plate is arranged at the bottom of the blanking bin door 25, and the ear plate is fixed on the bin door push block 213. The lead screw motor 2101 drives the lead screw 2102 to rotate forward or backward, so that the slider 212 moves reciprocally in a straight line on the lead screw 2102. When the slider 212 moves forward, the blanking bin door 25 closes in the first discharge port 24, so that the materials in the crushing device 2 are evenly mixed; when the slider 212 moves backward, the blanking bin door 25 opens in the first discharge port 24. After the materials are evenly mixed, they fall into the extrusion device 3 through the rotational centrifugal force of the crushing blade 217 and the self-gravity of the materials. The rotational centrifugal force of the crushing blade 217 cooperates with the gravity of the materials to promote the orderly discharge of the materials, reduce the energy consumption of active conveying, and optimize the energy utilization while ensuring the mixing quality. Then, the lead screw motor 2101 is used to adjust the blanking bin door 25 to realize progressive blanking and improve the production continuity. In order to improve the stability of the directional movement of the blanking bin door 25, two symmetrically arranged guide rails 26 are fixed on the outside of the crushing bin 21. The guide rails 26 and the crushing bin 21 form a guide groove, and the blanking bin door 25 extends into the guide groove and moves reciprocally in a straight line along the axial direction of the crushing bin 21.

[0049] In the present invention, two parallel fourth profiles 81 and two parallel fifth profiles 82 are fixed at the lower body profile 112. The length of the fifth profile 82 is greater than that of the fourth profile 81, and the fourth profile 81 and the fifth profile 82 form a second mounting seat. The second fixing plate 83 is fixedly installed on the fourth profile 81 and the fifth profile 82 through bolts. At this time, the second fixing plate 83 is inclined. The second fixing plate 83 is used for the installation of the entire extrusion device 3, and the installation position of the extrusion device 3 is designed according to the installation position of the crushing device 2.

[0050] The extrusion device 3 includes an extrusion housing 31, a second motor 32, an extrusion screw 33, and a die 35. The extrusion housing 31 is provided with a housing bottom, and the housing bottom is fixed on the second fixing plate 83. The extrusion housing 31 is provided with a second inner cavity. The extrusion housing 31 is provided with a second feed inlet 34 and a second discharge outlet 37, and the second feed inlet 34 and the second discharge outlet 37 communicate with the second inner cavity. The second feed inlet 34 extends towards the first discharge outlet 24. At the same time, the diameter of the second feed inlet 34 gradually increases from bottom to top, so that the opening of the second feed inlet 34 is larger than the opening of the first discharge outlet 24, and the uniformly mixed material can fall into the second feed inlet 34 from the first discharge outlet 24 and then enter the second inner cavity.

[0051] In the present invention, a motor bracket 314 is fixed on the second fixing plate 83 by bolts, and the second motor 32 is fixed on the motor bracket 314 by bolts. The model of the second motor 32 is 57HD7214-21B [2.3 Nm]. The second motor shaft 311 of the second motor 32 passes through the through hole two of the motor bracket 314 and is connected to the extrusion screw 33 through a second coupling 313 to transmit the power of the second motor 32 to the extrusion screw 33, ensuring that the rotation speed of the extrusion screw 33 is synchronized with the motor, which directly affects the extrusion molding accuracy. The extrusion screw 33 is provided with a spiral blade 310. The extrusion screw 33 is arranged in the second inner cavity. The second motor 32 drives the extrusion screw 33 to rotate, and the spiral-shaped spiral blade 310 conveys the material entering from the second feed inlet 34 to the second discharge outlet 37, enabling continuous conveyance of the material. The extrusion housing 31 is provided with a clamping groove 38. The clamping groove 38 communicates with the second discharge outlet 37. The die 35 is embedded in the clamping groove 38 and is arranged in the second discharge outlet 37. The die 35 is provided with a plurality of extrusion holes 36, and the aperture of the extrusion holes 36 is designed to be 2-4 mm. The die 35 is detachable on the extrusion housing 31, which is convenient for cleaning the die 35 and avoiding blockage of the extrusion holes 36 by the material. The extrusion screw 33 is provided with an extrusion head 312, and the extrusion head 312 is provided with an extrusion piece 315. When the extrusion screw 33 rotates, the extrusion piece 315 extrudes the material, so that the material is extruded from the extrusion holes 36.

[0052] In order to heat the material extruded from the extrusion hole 36, a heating device 4 is installed in the machine body 1 in the present invention, and the heating device 4 is a steam generator. A heating pipe 41 is provided at the end of the extrusion housing 31. The heating pipe 41 is provided with a cavity 42 and a discharge port III 44, and the cavity 42 is communicated with the discharge port III 44. The end of the extrusion housing 31 extends into the cavity 42 of the heating pipe 41, and at this time the extrusion hole 36 is located in the cavity 42. The heating pipe 41 is provided with a connection port 43, and the connection port 43 is communicated with the cavity 42. The steam generator is communicated with the connection port 43 through a pipeline 45. The steam generator is heated for 15 to 20 s, and the steam generator conveys steam and high-temperature water into the cavity 42 through the pipeline 45 and the connection port 43. The steam and high-temperature water heat the material extruded from the extrusion hole 36, and the heated material and high-temperature water fall into the collection device 5 through the discharge port III 44. The steam heating part promotes partial gelation of meat proteins and added powders in advance, enhances the self-supportability of the material, and makes the printed structure less likely to collapse. Moreover, the steam and high-temperature water heat the material (the heating temperature is usually 75°C to 90°C), which can effectively reduce the microbial load and extend the shelf life of the subsequent printed material.

[0053] The present invention needs to improve the stability of the extrusion device 3 to adapt to the operations of material extrusion and heating. Two auxiliary strips 320 are fixed to the fixing plate II 83 by screws. The bottom of the housing is provided with a bottom edge 39. The two auxiliary strips 320 limit the bottom edge 39, so that the extrusion device 3 is positioned at the set position of the fixing plate II 83, and then the bottom of the housing and the fixing plate II 83 are fixed. The fixing plate II 83 is provided with a locking block 316. The locking block 316 is provided with a notch II 317, so that the locking block 316 forms a locking part 318. The extrusion housing 31 is provided with a bottom edge 39, and the bottom edge 39 is embedded in the notch II 317, so that the locking part 318 presses the bottom edge 39, and the locking block 316 limits the extrusion housing 31, increasing the stability of the entire extrusion device 3 and meeting the operation requirements of material extrusion and heating. The present invention uses a locking member II 319 to fix the locking block 316 to the fixing plate II 83, and the locking member II 319 also uses a handwheel.

[0054] The collection device 5 uses a washbasin. The washbasin is provided with an inner cavity three 52. The top of the washbasin is provided with a collection port, and the collection port is communicated with the inner cavity three 52. The materials discharged from the discharge port three 44 and the high-temperature water are collected in the inner cavity three 52 through the collection port. The washbasin of the present invention is designed as an outer frame 55 and an inner frame 51. The inner frame 51 is embedded into the groove of the outer frame 55 from top to bottom. The inner frame 51 is stamped to form the inner cavity three 52. At the same time, a plurality of water permeable holes 53 can be provided at the bottom and side of the inner frame 51. The aperture of the water permeable holes is 30 mm, and the water permeable holes 53 are communicated with the inner cavity three 52. The outer frame 55 is not provided with water permeable holes 53. A handle part 54 is provided on the outer side of the inner frame 51, and the outer frame 55 is provided with a connecting plate 56. The connecting plate 56 is provided with an embedded groove, and the handle part 54 is embedded into the embedded groove. When the materials and the high-temperature water are collected and filled, the whole washbasin is taken out, and a force is applied to the handle part 54 to separate the inner frame 51 upward from the outer frame 55. The water in the materials is discharged from the water permeable holes 53. The water permeable holes 53 at the bottom are used for direct drainage, and the water permeable holes 53 at the side can prevent blockage. The design of this washbasin realizes the efficient combination of material dehydration and 3D printing raw material pretreatment through a split structure (outer frame + inner frame) and a drainage mechanism.

[0055] During the collection process of the materials and the high-temperature water, it is inevitable that water drops will fall from the washbasin. At this time, a water tank 6 is fixed on the body profile 112 by screws. The water tank 6 can be formed by stamping to form an inner cavity four 61. The washbasin is arranged above the inner cavity four 61, and the dripping water can fall into the inner cavity four 61 for collection. In order to facilitate taking out the washbasin, an extraction port 17 is provided at the front door 11. At the same time, the front door 11 is provided with an inclined rear plate body 18 to increase the space. The rear plate body 18 is provided with a through hole three 19, and the mold 35 passes through the through hole three 19.

[0056] The materials and the high-temperature water fall into the washbasin, which has a certain impact. Moreover, the present invention replaces the collection device 5 for material collection, and at least three washbasins need to be set in actual operation. In view of the above situation, a washbasin cushion plate 64 is arranged in the inner cavity four 61. The washbasin cushion plate 64 is U-shaped, and a plurality of washbasins can be placed on the washbasin cushion plate 64 at the same time. When one washbasin is full, an empty washbasin can be quickly replaced without interrupting the process, ensuring the material collection efficiency. The water tank 6 is formed by bending to form a support part 62. The connecting plate 56 is supported on the support part 62. The handle part 54 and the connecting plate 56 extend out from the extraction port 17, which is convenient for taking out the washbasin. The operator can pull out the washbasin without putting his hand into the equipment, avoiding scalding caused by the operator contacting the high-temperature water.

[0057] In actual operation of the present invention, when high-temperature water falls into the washbasin, steam will be generated, and the steam will affect the normal operation of the crushing device 2 and the extrusion device 3. To address the above problem, an exhaust fan 9 is fixed at the water tank 6 in the present invention. Meanwhile, the water tank 6 is provided with a suction port 63, and the right cover 12 is provided with a discharge port 111. The exhaust fan 9 is correspondingly arranged between the suction port 63 and the discharge port 111. The rotation of the fan blades in the exhaust fan 9 generates a negative pressure, causing the steam generated in the washbasin to be inhaled through the suction port 63, then pass through the exhaust fan 9, and then be discharged to the outside of the machine body 1 through the discharge port 111, reducing the influence of the steam on the operation of the crushing device 2 and the extrusion device 3.

[0058] As Figure 30 shown, the printing device of the present invention is a 3D printer using the prior art, and the present invention does not specifically elaborate on its structure. The 3D food printing pretreatment system pre-treats the thawed meat, and the printing device performs 3D printing on the pre-treated material to obtain the required printed food.

[0059] The present invention can improve the fluidity and extrusion stability of the material, avoid plugging of the nozzle caused by uneven particles during 3D printing, and moreover, through heating, it can promote partial gelation of meat proteins and added powders in advance, enhancing the self-supporting property of the material. The technical effects are shown in Table 1.

[0060] Table 1 Index Traditional method The present invention Plugging rate 20～30% ＜5% Self-supporting property (height retention rate after standing for 10 minutes) ＜50% ＞90%

Claims

1. A 3D food printing preprocessing system, characterized in that, Comprising: A body; A crushing device for crushing thawed meat and mixing it evenly; An extrusion device for extruding the material discharged from the crushing device; A heating device for heating the material extruded by the extrusion device; A collection device for collecting the material heated by the heating device.

2. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 1, wherein: The crushing device includes a first driving mechanism, a crushing chamber, and a crushing member. The crushing chamber is provided with an inner cavity one, and the crushing chamber is provided with a first feed inlet and a first discharge outlet. The first feed inlet and the first discharge outlet communicate with the inner cavity one. The crushing member is arranged in the inner cavity one, and the first driving mechanism is connected to the crushing member. The first driving mechanism drives the crushing member to crush and stir the thawed meat in the inner cavity one and mix it evenly. The evenly mixed material is discharged from the first discharge outlet into the extrusion device.

3. The 3D food printing pretreatment system according to claim 2, wherein: The crushing member includes a crushing shaft and crushing blades installed on the crushing shaft. The first driving mechanism uses a first motor. The first motor is provided with a first motor shaft, and the first motor shaft is connected to the crushing shaft.

4. The 3D food printing pretreatment system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The body is provided with an opening, and a feeding member is installed at the opening. The feeding member is provided with a feeding port and a discharge port, and the discharge port communicates with the first feed inlet. The feeding port is fixed at the opening.

5. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The body is installed with a first mounting seat. The first mounting seat is provided with a first fixing plate. The first fixing plate is provided with a first mounting surface, and the first mounting surface is fixed to the first mounting seat. The first motor is arranged at the first mounting surface. The first fixing plate is provided with a first through hole, and the first motor shaft passes through the first through hole. The first fixing plate is provided with a second mounting surface, and the second mounting surface is arranged parallel to the first mounting surface. The crushing chamber is installed at the second mounting surface.

6. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The crushing chamber is provided with a mounting opening, and a crushing chamber cover is detachably connected to the mounting opening. The crushing chamber cover is fixed at the second mounting surface.

7. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second mounting surface is provided with a bin pressing piece for limiting the crushing chamber and the crushing chamber cover.

8. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first fixing plate is detachably connected with a first locking piece for fixing the bin pressing piece at the second mounting surface.

9. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 5, wherein: The first mounting seat includes a first profile and a second profile. The first profile and the second profile are fixed to the body. The length of the second profile is greater than the length of the first profile. The first fixing plate is fixed at the first profile and the second profile, so that the crushing device is inclined, and the installation height of the first feed inlet is greater than the installation height of the first discharge outlet.

10. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 5, wherein: The first mounting seat is provided with a second driving mechanism. The second driving mechanism is connected with a slider, and the slider is fixed with a blanking bin door. The second driving mechanism controls the slider to move reciprocally in a straight line, so that the blanking bin door opens or closes at the first discharge outlet.

11. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 10, characterized in that: The crushing chamber is provided with a guide rail. The guide rail and the crushing chamber form a guide groove. The blanking bin door extends into the guide groove and moves reciprocally in a straight line along the axial direction of the crushing chamber.

12. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 1, wherein: The extrusion device includes an extrusion housing, a second motor, an extrusion screw, and a die. The extrusion housing is fixed to the machine body. The extrusion housing is provided with a second inner cavity, an inlet two and an outlet two. The inlet two and the outlet two communicate with the second inner cavity. The material discharged from the crushing device enters the second inner cavity through the inlet two. The extrusion screw is arranged in the second inner cavity. The extrusion screw is provided with a spiral blade. The second motor is provided with a second motor shaft. The second motor shaft is connected to the extrusion screw and controls the rotation of the extrusion screw. The spiral blade conveys the material entering from the inlet two to the outlet two. The die is arranged in the outlet two. The die is provided with an extrusion hole. The extrusion screw extrudes the material so that it is extruded from the extrusion hole.

13. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 12, wherein: The machine body is equipped with a second mounting seat. The second mounting seat is provided with a second fixing plate. The extrusion device is fixed on the second fixing plate.

14. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 13, wherein: The second fixing plate is provided with a locking block. The locking block limits the extrusion housing.

15. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 14, characterized in that: The second fixing plate is detachably connected with a second locking piece. The second locking piece fixes the locking block at the second fixing plate.

16. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 14, wherein: The second fixing plate is fixed with an auxiliary strip. The auxiliary strip positions the extrusion device at the set position on the second fixing plate.

17. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating device is connected with a heating pipe. The heating pipe is installed on the extrusion device. The heating device is a steam generator. The steam generator is communicated with the heating pipe through a pipeline. The steam generator conveys steam and water to the heating pipe through the pipeline. The steam and water in the heating pipe heat the material extruded by the extrusion device.

18. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The collection device uses a washbasin. The washbasin is provided with a third inner cavity. The top of the washbasin is provided with a collection port communicating with the third inner cavity.

19. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 18, wherein: The machine body is provided with a take-out port and a water tank. The water tank is provided with a fourth inner cavity. The washbasin is supported on the water tank after passing through the take-out port and is arranged above the fourth inner cavity.

20. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 19, wherein: A washbasin cushion plate is arranged in the fourth inner cavity. The washbasin is supported on the washbasin cushion plate.

21. The 3D food printing preprocessing system according to claim 18, wherein: The washbasin includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The outer frame is provided with a groove. The inner frame is arranged in the groove. The third inner cavity is located in the inner frame. The inner frame is provided with water permeable holes. The water permeable holes communicate with the third inner cavity.

22. Printing device, characterized in that: The printing device performs 3D printing on the material pretreated by the 3D food printing pretreatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

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