A plastic bowl food sterilization and cooling device and method

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of plastic bowl food sterilization cooling device, it is related to sterilization equipment technical field, including: air inlet pipeline and exhaust pipeline are jointly communicated with the cavity of sterilization cabinet;Cooling pipeline includes built-in pipeline and external pipeline, built-in pipeline is set in the cavity of sterilization cabinet, external pipeline is communicated with built-in pipeline, and cooling water outlet is arranged on external pipeline;Steam pipeline includes steam inlet pipeline and steam exhaust pipeline, two pipelines are communicated with the cavity of sterilization cabinet respectively;Spraying pipeline is connected with external cooling water outlet, and extend to the inside top of the cavity of sterilization cabinet;Drain pipeline is set in the bottom of the cavity outside sterilization cabinet;Hot water pipeline is connected with sterilization cabinet.The application is set, and the spraying cooling water pipeline connection point is moved to before circulating pump, and spraying cooling water is injected into sterilization cabinet according to program using circulating pump suction force, completely solve the problem that spraying cooling water is injected into cabinet relying on water pipeline pressure, and the stability of entire system is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sterilization equipment technology, and more particularly to a cooling device for sterilizing plastic bowl food. Background Technology

[0002] After being filled and heat-sealed, the herbal jelly in plastic bowls undergoes a high-temperature sterilization process. The existing (spray mode) sterilization process is as follows: Product enters the sterilizer → Product is heated and pressurized (to 121℃, 0.2MPa) → Heat and pressure are maintained → Temperature is lowered → Product is removed from the sterilizer. Cooling is achieved by injecting cooling water into the sterilizer. Specifically, a small amount of cooling water is first injected to achieve initial cooling and absorb saturated steam inside the sterilizer. The pressure drop caused by the absorption of saturated steam is stabilized by external compressed air. After initial cooling, a large amount of cooling water is injected to a certain level, and then the external circulating water pump is activated to rapidly cool the product. Once the temperature inside the sterilizer reaches the set temperature, the cooling water is drained, and the product is removed from the sterilizer.

[0003] Currently, the initial cooling water is injected directly into the sterilizer via the tap water pipe. When the pressure in the tap water pipe falls below the pressure inside the sterilizer, the cooling water cannot be injected, thus failing to achieve initial cooling. During the rapid cooling phase, a large amount of cooling water is injected into the sterilizer, quickly absorbing the saturated steam inside and causing a sudden drop in pressure. External compressed air cannot be injected into the pot in time, resulting in the breakage of a large number of plastic bowls containing turtle jelly. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the deficiencies in the existing technology by proposing a sterilization and cooling device and method for food in plastic bowls.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A sterilization and cooling device for plastic bowl food includes a sterilization cabinet, an air inlet pipe, an exhaust pipe, a cooling pipe, a steam pipe, a spray pipe, a hot water pipe, and a drain pipe.

[0007] The air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe are both connected to the cavity of the sterilizer;

[0008] The cooling pipeline includes internal pipelines and external pipelines. The internal pipelines are located inside the cavity of the sterilizer, and the external pipelines are connected to the internal pipelines. Cooling water inlets are provided on the external pipelines.

[0009] The steam pipeline includes a steam inlet pipeline and a steam outlet pipeline, which are connected to the cavity of the sterilizer.

[0010] The spray pipes are connected to the external cold water inlet and extend to the top of the cavity of the sterilizer;

[0011] The drainage pipe is located at the bottom of the outside of the sterilizer's cavity;

[0012] The hot water pipes are connected to the sterilization cabinet.

[0013] Furthermore, the intake pipe has two sets of parallel branches, each with a fifth valve and a sixth valve, both of which are air supply valves; the exhaust pipe has four sets of parallel branches, each with a first valve, a second valve, a third valve, and a fourth valve, all of which are exhaust valves.

[0014] Furthermore, the cooling pipeline also includes an inlet water pipeline, which is connected to both the sterilizer and the external pipeline to supply cooling water to the sterilizer and the circulation pipeline; the internal pipeline includes two branches, each equipped with two sets of valves, and both branches are connected to the external pipeline, which is equipped with a circulation pump and an outlet water pipe.

[0015] Furthermore, an eighth, nineteenth, and ninth valve are installed on the spray pipeline. The nineteenth valve is located in the section where the spray pipeline overlaps with the external pipeline, and the ninth valve is located in the section of the spray pipeline near the sterilization cabinet.

[0016] Furthermore, one end of the hot water pipe is connected to the hot water storage tank, and the other end is connected to the sterilization cabinet. The hot water storage tank is also connected to a branch of the air inlet pipe.

[0017] A method for sterilizing food in plastic bowls, utilizing the aforementioned cooling device for sterilizing food in plastic bowls, includes the following steps:

[0018] S1: Place the food in the plastic bowl to be sterilized into the sterilization cabinet and close the sterilization cabinet;

[0019] S2: Inject hot water into the disinfection cabinet through the hot water pipe;

[0020] S3: Open the valves on the steam pipe and the air inlet pipe to pressurize the sterilizer and use the exhaust pipe to maintain the pressure and temperature inside the sterilizer within a predetermined range.

[0021] S4: Close the steam pipe and open the spray pipe to spray the plastic bowls of food in the sterilizer and use the spray water to absorb the saturated steam in the sterilizer.

[0022] S5: Close the spray pipes, open the cooling pipes, inject cooling water into the cabinet, and make the internal pipes and external pipes circulate.

[0023] S6: Keep the cooling pipes open and start the drain pipes to lower the liquid level in the sterilizer to the predetermined level.

[0024] S7: Close the drain pipe to allow cooling water to continuously flow into the sterilizer for secondary cooling.

[0025] S8: Drain the cooling water from the sterilization cabinet to complete sterilization, and remove the product from the cabinet.

[0026] Beneficial effects

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: by setting up the present invention, the connection point of the spray cooling water pipeline is moved to the front of the circulation pump, and the spray cooling water is injected into the sterilization cabinet by the suction of the circulation pump according to the program, which completely solves the problem of relying on the pressure of the incoming water pipeline to inject the spray cooling water into the cabinet, and the stability of the entire system is improved. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a food sterilization and cooling device for plastic bowls.

[0030] In the diagram: Valve 1-1; Valve 2-2; Valve 3-3; Valve 4-4; Valve 5-5; Valve 6-6; Valve 7-7; Valve 8-8; Valve 9-9; Valve 10-10; Valve 11-11; Valve 12-12; Valve 13-13; Valve 14-14; Valve 15-15; Valve 16-16; Valve 17-17; Valve 18-18; Valve 19-19; Valve 20-20; Valve 21-21; Valve 22-22; Valve 23-23; Valve 24-24. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0032] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0033] Reference Figure 1 A sterilization and cooling device for plastic bowl food includes a sterilization cabinet, an air inlet pipe, an exhaust pipe, a cooling pipe, a steam pipe, a spray pipe, a hot water pipe, and a drainage pipe.

[0034] The air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe are both connected to the cavity of the sterilizer;

[0035] The cooling pipeline includes internal pipelines and external pipelines. The internal pipelines are located inside the cavity of the sterilizer, and the external pipelines are connected to the internal pipelines. Cooling water inlets are provided on the external pipelines.

[0036] The steam pipeline includes a steam inlet pipeline and a steam outlet pipeline, which are connected to the cavity of the sterilizer.

[0037] The spray pipes are connected to the external cold water inlet and extend to the top of the cavity of the sterilizer;

[0038] The drainage pipe is located at the bottom of the outside of the sterilizer's cavity;

[0039] The hot water pipes are connected to the sterilization cabinet.

[0040] In other preferred embodiments, the intake pipe is provided with two sets of parallel branches, each branch being provided with a fifth valve and a sixth valve, both sets of valves being air supply valves; the exhaust pipe is provided with four sets of parallel branches, each branch being provided with a first valve, a second valve, a third valve and a fourth valve, all four sets of valves being exhaust valves.

[0041] In other preferred embodiments, the cooling pipeline also includes a water inlet pipeline, which is connected to both the sterilizer and the external pipeline to supply cooling water to the sterilizer and the circulation pipeline; the internal pipeline includes two branches, each equipped with two sets of valves, and both branches are connected to the external pipeline, which is equipped with a circulation pump and an outlet pipe.

[0042] In other preferred embodiments, an eighth valve, a nineteenth valve, and a ninth valve are provided on the spray pipeline. The nineteenth valve is located in the section where the spray pipeline overlaps with the external pipeline, and the ninth valve is located in the section of the spray pipeline near the sterilization cabinet.

[0043] In other preferred embodiments, one end of the hot water pipeline is connected to the hot water storage tank, and the other end is connected to the sterilization cabinet. The hot water storage tank is also connected to a branch of the air inlet pipeline.

[0044] Working principle and usage process of this invention:

[0045] A method for sterilizing food in plastic bowls, utilizing the aforementioned cooling device for sterilizing food in plastic bowls, includes the following steps:

[0046] S1: Place the food in the plastic bowl to be sterilized into the sterilizer and close the sterilizer.

[0047] S2: Inject hot water into the disinfection cabinet through the hot water pipe;

[0048] S3: Open the valves on the steam pipe and the air inlet pipe to pressurize the sterilizer and use the exhaust pipe to maintain the pressure and temperature inside the sterilizer within a predetermined range.

[0049] S4: Close the steam pipe and open the spray pipe to spray the plastic bowls of food in the sterilizer and use the spray water to absorb the saturated steam in the sterilizer.

[0050] S5: Close the spray pipes, open the cooling pipes, inject cooling water into the cabinet, and make the internal pipes and external pipes circulate.

[0051] S6: Keep the cooling pipes open and start the drain pipes to lower the liquid level in the sterilizer to the predetermined level.

[0052] S7: Close the drain pipe to allow cooling water to continuously flow into the sterilizer for secondary cooling.

[0053] S8: Drain the cooling water from the sterilization cabinet to complete sterilization, and remove the product from the cabinet.

[0054] The specific steps are as follows:

[0055] Step 1: Place the product in the cabinet and lock the cabinet door.

[0056] Step 2: Open valve 10 to pressurize the hot water storage tank through the air inlet pipe, allowing hot water to enter the sterilization cabinet. Fill the hot water to 300mm. When the hot water storage tank is injecting hot water into the sterilization cabinet, open valve 7 to supplement the hot water storage tank with compressed air and stabilize the pressure inside the tank.

[0057] Step 3: Open valve 17 to introduce steam into the cabinet to heat the product, and at the same time inject compressed air to pressurize the cabinet to 121℃ / 0.2MPa.

[0058] Step 4: Maintain temperature and pressure (121℃ / 0.2MPa) for 40 minutes. Temperature and pressure are maintained by valve 17 (steam proportional valve) and valve 11. Pressure is balanced by valves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 working together.

[0059] Step 5: Open valve 8, then open valves 19 and 9. A small amount of cooling water is pumped to the top of the sterilizer via circulating pump 25, and enters the cabinet through valves 19 and 9 to form a top spray. This initially cools the products inside the cabinet while gradually absorbing the saturated steam. The pressure drop inside the cabinet caused by absorbing the saturated steam can be stabilized by supplementing compressed air through valves 5 and 6.

[0060] Step Six: When the temperature inside the sterilizer drops to 110℃ and the pressure inside the sterilizer drops to 0.16Mpa, close valve 8 (eighth valve), and open valves 21 (twentieth valve), 20 (twentieth valve), 19 (nineteenth valve), 12 (twelfth valve), 13 (thirteenth valve), 14 (fourteenth valve), and 15 (fifteenth valve). Inject a large amount of cooling water into the sterilizer until the liquid level reaches 850mm. Simultaneously, start the circulation pump to create circulating water through the external piping of the sterilizer to rapidly cool the product. Use valve 18 (eighteenth valve) to drain the hot water from the circulation piping.

[0061] Step 7: When the temperature inside the cabinet drops to 80℃, open valve 22 to start the drain pump and drain the water above the 300mm level inside the cabinet to the external collection tank. When the liquid level drops to 300mm, close valve 22 and the drain pump. Open valves 21, 20, 19, 12, 13, 14, and 15 to start the circulation pump, adding cooling water while circulating. When the liquid level reaches 850mm, close valve 21. The circulation pump continues to run, using circulating cooling water to cool the product. During this process, valve 16 on the disinfection cabinet remains open.

[0062] Step 7: When the temperature inside the cabinet drops below 38℃ and there is no positive pressure inside the cabinet, the circulation pump stops working. Open valve 22 (22) and the drain pump to drain the water above 300mm level inside the cabinet to the external collection tank. When the liquid level drops to 300mm, open valve 22 (22) and the drain pump, and open valves 23 (23) and 24 (24) to drain the cooling water inside the cabinet.

[0063] Step 8: Complete sterilization and remove the product from the display case.

[0064] The spray cooling water inlet is located at the front end of the circulating pump. As long as valve 8 is open normally, the spray cooling water can be drawn into the boiler by the suction generated by the circulating pump, regardless of whether the water pressure is greater than the pressure inside the boiler. The spray cooling water is sprayed downwards from the top of the cabinet onto the product, gradually absorbing the saturated steam inside the cabinet, achieving a steady decrease in temperature and pressure inside the cabinet while ensuring the product remains intact.

[0065] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A food sterilization and cooling device for plastic bowls, characterized in that, The system includes a sterilizer, an air inlet pipe, an exhaust pipe, a cooling pipe, a steam pipe, a spray pipe, a hot water pipe, and a drain pipe. The air inlet and exhaust pipes are connected to the cavity of the sterilizer. The cooling pipe includes an internal pipe and an external pipe; the internal pipe is located inside the cavity of the sterilizer, and the external pipe is connected to the internal pipe, with a cooling water inlet on the external pipe. The steam pipe includes a steam inlet pipe and a steam outlet pipe, both connected to the cavity of the sterilizer. The spray pipe is connected to an external cold water inlet and extends to the top of the cavity of the sterilizer. The drain pipe is located at the bottom of the cavity of the sterilizer. The hot water pipe is connected to the sterilizer. The built-in pipeline includes two branches, each of which is equipped with two sets of valves. Both branches are connected to the external pipeline, which is equipped with a circulation pump and an outlet pipe. The spray pipeline is equipped with an eighth valve, a nineteenth valve, and a ninth valve. The nineteenth valve is located in the section where the spray pipeline overlaps with the external pipeline. The ninth valve is located in the section of the spray pipeline near the sterilization cabinet. The eighth valve is located at the front end of the circulation pump. The suction force generated by the circulation pump is used to guide the spray cooling water into the sterilization cabinet.

2. The plastic bowl food sterilization and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intake pipe has two sets of parallel branches, each with a fifth valve and a sixth valve, both of which are air supply valves; the exhaust pipe has four sets of parallel branches, each with a first valve, a second valve, a third valve, and a fourth valve, all of which are exhaust valves.

3. The plastic bowl food sterilization and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling pipeline also includes a water inlet pipeline, which is connected to both the sterilizer and the external pipeline to supply cooling water to the sterilizer and the circulation pipeline.

4. The plastic bowl food sterilization and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the hot water pipeline is connected to the hot water storage tank, and the other end is connected to the sterilization cabinet. The hot water storage tank is also connected to a branch of the air inlet pipeline.

5. A method for sterilizing food in plastic bowls, characterized in that, A plastic bowl food sterilization and cooling device according to any one of claims 1-4, comprising the following steps: S1: Place the food in the plastic bowls to be sterilized into the sterilizer and seal the sterilizer; S2: Inject hot water into the sterilizer through the hot water pipe; S3: Open the valves on the steam pipeline and the air inlet pipeline to increase the pressure inside the sterilizer, and use the exhaust pipeline to maintain the pressure and temperature inside the sterilizer within the predetermined range. S4: Close the steam pipe and open the spray pipe to spray the plastic bowl food in the sterilizer and use the spray water to absorb the saturated steam in the sterilizer. S5: Close the spray pipes, open the cooling pipes, inject cooling water into the cabinet, and make the internal pipes and external pipes circulate. S6: Keep the cooling pipes open and start the drain pipes to lower the liquid level in the sterilizer to the predetermined level. S7: Close the drain pipe to allow cooling water to continuously flow into the sterilizer for secondary cooling. S8: Drain the cooling water from the sterilization cabinet to complete sterilization, and remove the product from the cabinet.

Images