An adjustable air outlet mechanism and a low-temperature air-drying device for pet food containing the mechanism.

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of pet food production technology, specifically to an adjustable air outlet mechanism and a low-temperature air-drying device for pet food containing such a mechanism. The device includes a tray assembly for supporting and allowing airflow through. The tray assembly comprises a tray component and a pusher component that can move vertically relative to it, guiding hot air generated by the heating unit to a dynamic exhaust pipe assembly located in the area of ​​the tray assembly. The exhaust outlet of this assembly can reciprocate, periodically lifting the material on the tray component. This invention achieves simultaneous static lifting and resetting of the material and dynamic sweeping of the exhaust outlet through bidirectional mechanical linkage driven by a control component assembly. This design allows the pet food to be fully exposed and dried at the bottom without breakage, forming a uniform three-dimensional dynamic airflow, fundamentally overcoming the problems of uneven drying, material damage, and unsanitary corners in traditional processes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of pet food production technology, specifically to an adjustable air outlet mechanism and a low-temperature air-drying device for pet food containing such mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] As consumers pay increasing attention to pet health and nutrition, pet food processing technology is developing towards higher standards. Low-temperature air drying technology, as an important processing method, can slowly remove moisture at lower temperatures (usually 40-60℃), preserving the natural nutrients, flavor substances, and active ingredients in the raw materials to the greatest extent, and avoiding nutrient loss and hardening caused by high-temperature processing. It has become one of the key technologies for producing high-end pet food (especially pet snacks and staple food).

[0003] However, in the actual production process of low-temperature air drying, achieving efficient and uniform drying remains a core technological challenge for the industry. To achieve uniform drying, existing technologies mainly follow two technical paths: Firstly, a static spreading and fixed-direction airflow method is used. The material is laid flat on a pallet or mesh belt, and hot air is supplied by vents in fixed positions. Although this method is simple in structure and causes little damage to the material's shape, it has significant drawbacks: the bottom surface of the material in contact with the pallet forms a ventilation dead zone because the airflow cannot directly penetrate it. The drying rate is much lower than that of the exposed upper surface, which easily leads to excessive moisture residue in this area. This not only prolongs the overall drying cycle but also poses a risk of microbial growth. At the same time, the fixed-direction airflow easily forms a stable flow field distribution in the drying chamber, resulting in temperature, wind speed, and humidity gradients in different spatial locations within the chamber. This causes uneven drying of materials on different pallets, and even different areas of the same pallet, affecting the consistency of product quality.

[0004] Secondly, to improve uniformity, some technologies have introduced dynamic processing mechanisms, such as using vibrating trays or rotating drums to continuously tumble and shift the material during the drying process. This method does indeed increase the contact opportunities between the various surfaces of the material and the airflow, improving drying uniformity to some extent. However, pet food suitable for low-temperature air drying typically has not undergone high-temperature gelatinization or extrusion, and its structure is often relatively brittle or dense. Continuous mechanical tumbling, collision, and friction can easily lead to material damage and the generation of debris, which not only affects the product's appearance and commercial value but may also clog air ducts and affect equipment operation. In addition, vibration or tumbling mechanisms are usually complex in structure, consume more energy and generate more noise, and are not conducive to thorough cleaning and maintenance of the equipment, posing a potential hazard in food processing where hygiene requirements are strict.

[0005] Therefore, existing technologies have not yet adequately resolved the following contradiction: how to effectively break the airflow isolation at the bottom contact surface of crisp, low-temperature air-dried grains while avoiding physical damage, and simultaneously achieve dynamic homogenization of airflow distribution within the drying chamber, thereby achieving a high-quality, high-efficiency, and stable low-temperature air-drying process. There is an urgent need in this field for a novel solution that can both ensure material integrity and achieve all-around uniform drying. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to overcome the above-mentioned technical problems, the purpose of this invention is to provide an adjustable air outlet mechanism and a low-temperature air drying device for pet food containing the mechanism, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: An adjustable air outlet mechanism includes a heating unit that provides low-temperature hot air and a drying chamber for containing pet food to be dried. It further includes: a tray assembly for supporting and allowing airflow through, the tray assembly including a tray member and a pusher member that can move vertically relative to it; a dynamic exhaust pipe assembly for guiding the hot air generated by the heating unit to the area where the tray assembly is located, the exhaust port of which is reciprocating; a lifting mechanism for periodically lifting the material on the tray member, the lifting mechanism including multiple sets of support rod assemblies fixed to the pusher member, the tray member having tray holes through which the support rod assemblies pass; and a control assembly; the control assembly mechanically connects to and synchronously drives the pusher member and the exhaust pipe assembly's exhaust port, so that the periodic lifting action of the material is coordinated with the reciprocating movement of the exhaust port.

[0008] Preferably, the control component assembly includes a rack plate one, a gear component, and a rack plate two; the rack plate one is linked to the air outlet of the exhaust pipe component assembly, the gear component is linked to the push component, and the rack plate two simultaneously meshes with the gear component and the rack plate one, and rotates forward and backward under external drive to drive the two to move.

[0009] Preferably, the rotation of the rack plate II can synchronously drive the pusher and the air outlet to perform opposite reciprocating motions in the vertical direction.

[0010] Preferably, the support rod assembly includes a small frame and a ring connected to one end thereto, and the other end of the small frame is connected to the pusher.

[0011] Preferably, the pusher has guide frames fixed to the inner wall of the equipment on both sides, and the pusher is slidably connected to the slide groove on the guide frame; the tray has guide platforms fixed to the inner wall of the equipment on both sides, and the tray is slidably in contact with the guide platforms.

[0012] Preferably, the exhaust pipe assembly includes a square pipe, a corrugated pipe, and an exhaust square pipe opening. One end of the square pipe is connected to a hot air source, and the other end is connected to the exhaust square pipe opening through the corrugated pipe. The exhaust square pipe opening is slidably connected to the inner wall of the equipment to achieve reciprocating movement in the vertical direction.

[0013] Preferably, both the tray and the pusher are provided with a ventilated structure, and the support rod assembly is a rod-shaped or frame-type ventilated structure.

[0014] Preferably, it also includes a cap assembly, which includes a cap housing, the inner wall of which is provided with a rigid plate leaf and a rubber block for pressing the tray member.

[0015] Preferably, the cover housing is provided with a viewing window, and the cover housing is connected to the main body of the equipment by hinges and buckles.

[0016] Preferably, the tray component group, the exhaust pipe component group and the control component group are provided in multiple groups and are stacked in the same drying chamber along the vertical direction.

[0017] Preferably, the control component group is a single power input, and the rotational motion is converted into two opposing linear motions between the pusher and the air outlet through the meshing transmission of the second rack plate, the gear component and the first rack plate.

[0018] A low-temperature air-drying device for pet food, comprising the aforementioned adjustable air outlet mechanism.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: In existing technologies, vibratory feeders or rollers are often used to continuously tumble pet food to ensure ventilation at the bottom. This can easily cause damage or breakage to crisp or complex low-temperature dried food. This solution creatively adopts a "static lift-reset" mechanism that works in concert with a pusher, a support rod assembly, and a tray assembly. By controlling the component group to drive the pusher to move vertically periodically, the support rod assembly passes through the tray hole, lifting the entire material smoothly so that its bottom is fully exposed to the airflow. Then it is smoothly reset. This process simulates gentle manual turning and completely breaks the closed contact between the bottom of the material and the support surface without causing violent collisions or friction. This ensures that the bottom and the top surface achieve the same drying efficiency and fundamentally solves the risk of dampness and mold on the contact surface. Traditional fixed-outlet air-drying equipment tends to have a steady-state airflow path, resulting in significant differences in drying rates at different locations and material heights within the chamber. This solution uses the same control component group to drive the lifting mechanism while simultaneously driving the exhaust square pipe in the opposite direction of vertical reciprocating motion. This causes the airflow direction, angle, and coverage area to change continuously and periodically. The hot airflow forms a dynamic sweeping effect within the tray layer. Combined with the permeable design of the tray and pusher components, the airflow achieves a three-dimensional composite flow that penetrates the material layer and flows around the material surface, significantly improving the uniformity of airflow distribution and eliminating the drying dead zones commonly found in conventional equipment. The tray can be easily pulled out along the guide platform for thorough cleaning and material loading and unloading. The entire lifting and sweeping motion mechanism operates smoothly, at low speed and with low noise, avoiding structural fatigue and noise problems caused by vibrating equipment. The cover assembly uses hard plate blades and rubber blocks to press and lock the tray in both directions, ensuring the stability of the entire load-bearing system during operation and preventing abnormal noise or wear caused by loosening. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the tray component assembly, the exhaust pipe component assembly, the control component assembly, and the cover component assembly of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the tray component assembly, the exhaust pipe component assembly, the control component assembly, and the cover component assembly of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the tray component assembly, the exhaust pipe component assembly, and the control component assembly of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the tray component assembly of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the pusher and support rod assembly of the present invention.

[0021] In the diagram: 11. Drying box base; 12. Upper box body; 13. Air duct fitting; 02. Tray assembly; 21. Tray fitting; 211. Tray hole; 22. Pushing component; 23. Support rod assembly; 231. Small frame; 232. Ring component; 24. Guide frame; 25. Guide platform; 03. Dynamic exhaust pipe assembly; 31. Square tube fitting; 32. Corrugated pipe fitting; 33. Exhaust square pipe opening; 04. Control component assembly; 41. Rack plate one; 42. Gear component; 43. Rack plate two; 05. Cover assembly; 51. Cover shell; 52. Viewing window component; 53. Hard plate blade; 54. Rubber block. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] One embodiment provided by the present invention: refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 An adjustable air outlet mechanism and a low-temperature air-drying device for pet food containing the mechanism, comprising an air-drying chamber base 11, an upper chamber 12, and an air duct 13, wherein the air duct 13 is installed inside the upper chamber 12, the air-drying chamber base 11 has a heating fan, and the air duct 13 is used to introduce the exhaust air of the heating fan into the upper chamber 12, wherein the device further includes: refer to Figures 2-4 , tray component group 02, exhaust pipe component group 03, control component group 04 and cover component group 05.

[0024] The tray component group 02, the exhaust pipe component group 03, the control component group 04, and the cover component group 05 are all provided in multiple sets, and the multiple sets of tray component group 02, exhaust pipe component group 03, control component group 04, and cover component group 05 are stacked in the upper box 12.

[0025] refer to Figures 2-6 The tray component assembly 02 includes a tray component 21 and a pusher component 22. Multiple sets of support rod assemblies 23 are fixedly connected to the pusher component 22. Each support rod assembly 23 includes a small frame 231. One end of the small frame 231 is fixedly connected to a ring component 232, and the other end is fixedly connected to the pusher component 22. Ventilation holes are evenly distributed on the pusher component 22. The tray component 21 has a tray hole 211 corresponding to the support rod assembly 23, through which a portion of the support rod assembly 23 can pass.

[0026] The pusher 22 is provided with guide frames 24 on both sides. The guide frames 24 are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the upper box 12. The guide frames 24 are slidably connected to the pusher 22 through the sliding groove. The pusher 22 can move vertically through the sliding groove of the guide frame 24. The tray 21 is provided with guide platforms 25 on both sides. The guide platforms 25 are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the upper box 12. The guide platforms 25 slidably contact the tray 21 through the groove.

[0027] The dynamic exhaust pipe assembly 03 includes a square pipe 31, one end of which is fixedly connected to a corrugated pipe 32. The end of the corrugated pipe 32 away from the square pipe 31 is fixedly connected to an exhaust square pipe port 33. The end of the square pipe 31 away from the corrugated pipe 32 is connected to the air duct 13. The hot air generated by the heating fan in the drying box base 11 is discharged into the dynamic exhaust pipe assembly 03 through the air duct 13, and then discharged into the tray 21 and the pusher 22 through the exhaust square pipe port 33 for drying the food to be dried on the tray 21 and the pusher 22. The exhaust square pipe port 33 is slidably connected to the upper box 12 through the guide rail frame, and the exhaust square pipe port 33 can move vertically.

[0028] The control component group 04 is provided in two groups, and the two groups of control component groups 04 are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the tray component group 02 and the exhaust pipe component group 03. The control component group 04 includes a rack plate 41, a gear component 42 and a rack plate 43. The rack plate 41 is fixedly connected to the exhaust square pipe port 33 through a bracket. The gear component 42 is fixedly connected to the pusher component 22. The rack plate 43 is rotatably connected to the upper housing 12, and one end of the rack plate 43 extends out of the upper housing 12. The extended part of the rack plate 43 is used to connect to the external drive device. The rack plate 43 meshes with the gear component 42 and the rack plate 41.

[0029] The external drive device will reciprocate the forward and reverse rotation of the rack plate 43. When the rack plate 43 rotates clockwise, it will drive the pusher 22 on one side to move upward along the guide frame 24, and at the same time drive the exhaust square pipe port 33 in the exhaust pipe component group 03 to move downward.

[0030] When the pusher 22 moves upward, the support rod assembly 23 passes through a portion of the tray hole 211, thereby lifting the pet food placed on the tray 21 by the support rod assembly 23, and the bottom of the pet food will detach from the tray 21. The tray 21, the pusher 22, and the support rod assembly 23 are all designed to be ventilated, ensuring that the hot air discharged from the exhaust pipe assembly 03 can cover the pet food.

[0031] The sealing component assembly 05 includes a cover housing 51, a viewing window 52 fixedly connected to the middle of the cover housing 51, an upper box 12 hinged to the cover housing 51, a rigid plate leaf 53 and a rubber block 54 fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cover housing 51, the rigid plate leaf 53 contacting the top surface of the tray 21, the rubber block 54 abutting against the tray 21, and the side of the cover housing 51 away from the hinge and the upper box 12 being connected by a snap fastener.

[0032] It should be noted that: the air-drying box base 11 and the heating fan installed inside it together constitute a heating unit that provides low-temperature hot air; the upper box 12 constitutes an air-drying cavity for holding pet food to be air-dried; the tray component group 02, which consists of tray component 21 and push component 22, serves as a bearing mechanism that supports and allows airflow to pass through; the exhaust square pipe port 33 of the dynamic exhaust pipe component group 03 serves as an air outlet that can reciprocate; the motion assembly consisting of push component 22 and the support rod assembly 23 fixed thereon serves as a lifting mechanism for periodically lifting materials; and the control component group 04 serves as a mechanical linkage mechanism, the specific driving objects of which are push component 22 and exhaust square pipe port 33.

[0033] A low-temperature air-drying device for pet food, comprising the aforementioned adjustable air outlet mechanism.

[0034] Working principle: Spread the pet food, which needs to be dried, onto the tray 21, ensuring the food is larger than the tray opening 211. Push the tray 21 into the upper housing 12 along the guide platform 25 and position it. Then close the lid assembly 05. The lid housing 51 is locked to the upper housing 12 by a snap-fit. At this point, the rigid plate leaf 53 contacts the top surface of the tray 21, and the rubber block 54 presses against the tray 21, achieving stable restraint during operation.

[0035] The heating fan inside the drying box 11 is turned on to generate low-temperature hot air. The hot air is distributed through the air duct 13 to each moving exhaust pipe assembly 03, and finally sent out through the exhaust square pipe port 33 to dry the pet food on the corresponding tray assembly 02.

[0036] Start the external drive device connected to rack plate two 43, causing it to slowly and periodically cycle forward and reverse. Through the meshing transmission between rack plate two 43 and gear component 42 and rack plate one 41, two sets of motion are achieved: 1. Vertical reciprocating motion of the pusher 22 The rack plate 43 drives the gear component 42 to rotate, causing the pusher component 22 to move vertically back and forth along the guide frame 24. When the pusher component 22 moves upward, the support rod assembly 23 fixed on it moves upward accordingly, and the small frame 231 passes through the tray hole 211, lifting the pet food on the tray component 21 so that its bottom is detached from the tray component 21; when it moves downward, the pet food falls back to the tray component 21. This process is performed periodically, ensuring that the bottom of the pet food receives sufficient airflow contact.

[0037] 2. Vertical reciprocating motion of exhaust square pipe opening 33 The second rack plate 43 simultaneously drives the first rack plate 41, causing the exhaust square pipe port 33 to perform a vertical reciprocating motion along the guide rail frame in the opposite direction to the direction of the pusher 22, thereby changing the air outlet direction and coverage area.

[0038] The two types of motion work together to create a combined drying effect: Bottom exposure effect: The pet food is periodically raised and lowered, breaking its continuous contact with the tray 21 and ensuring that the bottom is evenly exposed to air.

[0039] Airflow sweeping effect: The exhaust square pipe opening 33 moves up and down, allowing hot air to dynamically sweep across different height areas of the pet food, avoiding localized airflow dead zones formed by fixed air outlets.

[0040] Material self-regulating effect: Pet food undergoes slight displacement and posture adjustment during lifting and falling, further promoting overall drying uniformity.

[0041] This invention achieves reverse linkage between the pusher 22 and the exhaust square pipe 33 by controlling the single drive of component group 04. During the low-temperature air drying process, it simultaneously completes the periodic lifting and turning of materials and the dynamic adjustment of the air outlet direction, which significantly improves the uniformity and efficiency of pet food drying and overcomes the problems of poor drying of contact surfaces and uneven airflow distribution that are common in static air drying.

[0042] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An adjustable air outlet mechanism, comprising a heating unit providing low-temperature hot air and a drying chamber for containing pet food to be dried, characterized in that, Also includes: An assembly of tray components for carrying and allowing airflow through, the assembly of tray components including tray members and pushers that can move vertically relative to them; The exhaust pipe assembly is used to guide the hot air generated by the heating unit to the area where the tray assembly is located, and its air outlet can reciprocate. A lifting mechanism for periodically lifting materials on the tray, the lifting mechanism including multiple sets of support rod assemblies fixed to the pusher, the tray having tray holes through which the support rod assemblies pass; And a control component assembly; the control component assembly is mechanically connected to and synchronously drives the air outlet of the pusher and the exhaust pipe assembly, so that the periodic lifting action of the material and the reciprocating movement of the air outlet are coordinated.

2. The adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control component assembly includes a rack plate one, a gear component, and a rack plate two; the rack plate one is linked to the air outlet of the exhaust pipe component assembly, the gear component is linked to the push component, and the rack plate two simultaneously meshes with the gear component and the rack plate one, and rotates forward and backward under external drive to drive the two to move.

3. The adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rotation of the second rack plate can synchronously drive the pusher and the air outlet to perform opposite reciprocating motions in the vertical direction.

4. The adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support rod assembly includes a small frame and a ring connected to one end thereto, and the other end of the small frame is connected to the pusher.

5. The adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pusher has guide frames fixed to the inner wall of the equipment on both sides, and the pusher is slidably connected to the slide groove on the guide frame; the tray has guide platforms fixed to the inner wall of the equipment on both sides, and the tray is slidably in contact with the guide platforms.

6. The adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The exhaust pipe assembly includes a square pipe, a corrugated pipe, and an exhaust square pipe opening. One end of the square pipe is connected to a hot air source, and the other end is connected to the exhaust square pipe opening through the corrugated pipe. The exhaust square pipe opening is slidably connected to the inner wall of the equipment to achieve reciprocating movement in the vertical direction.

7. An adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the tray and the pusher are provided with a ventilated structure, and the support rod assembly is a rod-shaped or frame-type ventilated structure.

8. The adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a cap assembly, which includes a cap housing, the inner wall of which is provided with a rigid plate leaf and a rubber block for pressing the tray component.

9. An adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cover housing is provided with a viewing window, and the cover housing is connected to the main body of the equipment by hinges and buckles.

10. An adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tray component group, the exhaust pipe component group, and the control component group are provided in multiple sets and are stacked vertically in the same drying chamber.

11. An adjustable air outlet mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control component group has a single power input. Through the meshing transmission of the rack plate two, the gear component and the rack plate one, the rotational motion is converted into two opposing linear motions of the pusher and the air outlet.

12. A low-temperature air-drying device for pet food, characterized in that, Includes the adjustable air outlet mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

Images