Cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of single-crystal rock sugar preparation and discloses a cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer. The rotating cage is immersed in the mother liquor in the mother liquor tank. The inner cavity of the rotating cage is divided into multiple chambers by partitions. Each chamber is equipped with a discharge auger, which can automatically discharge the material using a drive device and a power cylinder. The crystallizer is driven by a drive device to provide rotation speed, realizing intermittent heat exchange between the material inside the rotating cage and the external air. At the same time, sucrose molecules can be replenished to the surface of the single-crystal rock sugar in a timely manner, so that the temperature of the crystal grains wrapped in sugar liquor alternately decreases. The sugar liquor is kept at a supersaturation of 1.03 to 1.06. Driven by the supersaturation, the crystal grains continuously crystallize to form single-crystal rock sugar. The entire cooling and crystallization method does not require a vacuum or additional steam. The material only exchanges heat with the air, resulting in low energy consumption. It can achieve uniform crystal growth within the temperature range within 72 to 80 hours, reaching the desired particle size of the crystal product. The produced single-crystal rock sugar crystals are of high quality and uniform particle size.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of single-crystal rock sugar preparation, specifically a cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer. Background Technology

[0002] Single-crystal rock sugar is made by dissolving and purifying granulated sugar and then crystallizing it into single crystals. The preparation steps are as follows: Dissolve granulated sugar, add sodium dithionite (0.003% of the total weight of granulated sugar), filter, and then draw the solution into a crystallization tank. Add seed crystals, and start the rotary single-crystal rock sugar crystallization tank to allow it to oscillate from side to side for crystallization. Control the sugar vacuum, temperature, and molasses saturation to ensure the seed crystals crystallize within the tank. At this point, the sugar solution is supersaturated with a sugar content of 70-73 BX, a temperature of 65℃~75℃, and a vacuum of 80 kPa. Add 20% of rock sugar seed crystals with a particle size of 2-3 mm (selected after crushing rock sugar) as seeds. After crystallization, remove the molasses from the crystallization tank, and then remove the crystallized rock sugar from the tank. It is usually transported away by a trolley and then poured into a centrifuge to dry, then dried and packaged.

[0003] The aforementioned rotary single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer has a syrup inlet at the top and a mother liquor outlet at the bottom. The mother liquor outlet is connected to the bottom of a low-temperature concentration tank via a mother liquor circulation pump. A material storage tank is also connected to the bottom of the low-temperature concentration tank. The discharge port at the bottom of the low-temperature concentration tank is connected to the syrup inlet of the rotary single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer. The top of the low-temperature concentration tank is connected to a vacuum pump and a condenser. This crystallization process requires maintaining a vacuum level inside the tank, resulting in high energy consumption. Furthermore, due to structural limitations, material can only be discharged manually, leading to poor hygiene conditions at the production site. A single production line requires a large number of rotary crystallizers, resulting in a complex structure, high manufacturing costs, and cumbersome production operation and maintenance, making automation difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to solve the problems of high energy consumption, complex structure, high equipment manufacturing cost, and cumbersome production operation and maintenance associated with existing rotary single-crystal rock sugar crystallizers. Therefore, this invention provides a cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer with low energy consumption, simple structure, low manufacturing cost, and simple production operation, which is an atmospheric pressure crystallization device.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is:

[0006] A cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer is provided, comprising a mother liquor tank, a rotating cage, a main shaft, and a drive device. The rotating cage is mounted on the main shaft and rotatably installed inside the mother liquor tank. The drive device drives the main shaft to rotate the rotating cage. The outer wall of the rotating cage has several through holes with a diameter smaller than that of the rock sugar seed crystals. The rotating cage is divided into multiple chambers by multiple partitions. Each chamber has a seed crystal inlet, and each chamber has a rotatable discharge auger near the inner wall of the rotating cage. The discharge end of the discharge auger has a discharge port. The mother liquor tank has a discharge port with an opening and closing door at one end near the discharge port, which is gap-fitted with the discharge port. The mother liquor tank has a sliding rotating shaft at one end opposite the discharge port. One end of the rotating shaft is connected to a power device, and the other end is inserted into the discharge auger. The power device pushes the rotating shaft out of the discharge auger and simultaneously drives the rotating shaft to rotate the discharge auger.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electromagnetic clutch is provided between the output shaft and the main shaft of the drive device.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power device includes a power cylinder and a transmission pair. The power cylinder is rotatably connected to the end of the rotating shaft, and the transmission pair connects the rotating shaft and the output shaft of the drive device, thereby driving the rotating shaft to rotate using the drive device.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power cylinder is one of a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electric actuator, or an electro-hydraulic actuator.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmission pair is one of chain drive, synchronous belt drive, and belt drive, and includes a driving wheel on the output shaft of the drive device, a driven wheel on the rotating shaft, and a connecting member connecting the driving wheel and the driven wheel.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer wall of the end of the shaft and the discharge auger is provided with a plurality of protruding teeth, and the end of the discharge auger is provided with a plug hole that is inserted into the end of the shaft, and the plug hole is provided with a plurality of arc-shaped grooves.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are two protruding teeth and two arc-shaped grooves, and the arc length of the arc-shaped grooves is a multiple of the width of the protruding teeth.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the driven wheel is rotatably connected to the outer wall of the mother liquor tank by a bearing, the outer wall of the rotating shaft away from the insertion end is provided as a spline shaft structure, and the inner wall of the driven wheel is provided as a spline hole structure.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a rotating connector is screwed to the end of the shaft and the power cylinder. A bearing is interference-fitted in the inner cavity of the rotating connector. The inner ring of the bearing is interference-fitted with the push rod of the power cylinder. An end plate is provided at the open end of the inner cavity of the rotating connector.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mother liquor tank is a mother liquor tank with a cooling jacket, which has a mother liquor inlet at the top and a mother liquor outlet at the bottom, and the mother liquor level in the mother liquor tank is maintained at the center line position of the main shaft.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0017] I. This invention employs cage-type atmospheric pressure crystallization technology, making the cooling and crystallization process gentler. This is achieved by utilizing the temperature difference generated by the repeated entry and exit of rock sugar seed crystals in a saturated solution under atmospheric pressure, which cultivates crystals around the seed crystals, allowing them to grow slowly. This principle effectively solves the problems of complex processes and difficulty in controlling process parameters in previous swing-type crystallizers. The crystallizer structure and power drive of this invention are simpler and more reliable, and it eliminates many problems such as large workload for manual material discharge, poor hygiene conditions, and low production efficiency, significantly improving the phenomenon of clumping and sticking to the walls during the rock sugar crystallization process.

[0018] Second, the crystallizer rotating cage of the present invention has a single rotating structure. The rotating cage is arranged with liquid passage holes slightly smaller than the seed crystals, which serve as heat exchange channels and flow channels for sucrose solution. The partitions between the chambers are mutually isolated. This arrangement structure can control the number of times the seed crystals repeatedly enter and exit the solution. A simple geared motor can solve the problem of the crystals' entry and exit speed in the solution and the heat exchange time of the air. In addition, the rotating cage of the crystallizer is designed with a discharge auger, so that the crystals that have been crystallized can be automatically discharged after the discharge port is opened. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] in:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the elevation structure of the cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer provided by the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the rotating cage provided by the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3This is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the discharge auger and the power unit provided by the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a diagram of the insertion hole structure of the discharge auger provided by the present invention.

[0025] The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows:

[0026] 1—Mother liquor tank, 1.0—Cooling jacket, 1.1—Mother liquor inlet, 1.2—Mother liquor outlet, 1.3—Discharge port, 1.4—Opening and closing door, 2—Rotating cage, 2.0—Liquid passage hole, 2.1—Baffle plate, 2.2—Seed inlet, 2.3—Discharge port, 3—Main shaft, 4—Drive device, 5—Discharge auger, 5.0—Insertion hole, 5.1—Arc groove, 6—Rotating shaft, 6.1—Protruding tooth, 7—Electromagnetic clutch, 8—Power cylinder, 9—Transmission pair, 9.1—Driven wheel, 10—Rotating connector, 10.1—End plate, 11—Bearing. Detailed Implementation

[0027] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0028] 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 a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. 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.

[0029] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for 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 the invention. The terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0030] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only if they are feasible for those skilled in the art. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] This embodiment provides a cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer, as shown in the attached image. Figure 1 As shown, it includes a mother liquor tank 1, a rotating drum 2, a main shaft 3, and a drive device 4, wherein:

[0033] The mother liquor tank 1 is preferably a mother liquor tank with a cooling jacket 1.0. Using this type of mother liquor tank allows the medium within the jacket to maintain the mother liquor tank at a stable crystallization temperature. (See attached...) Figure 1 and attached Figure 2 As shown, the top of the mother liquor tank 1 is provided with a mother liquor inlet 1.1 for injecting mother liquor (i.e., sucrose solution) into the mother liquor tank, and the bottom of the tank is provided with a mother liquor outlet 1.2 for discharging mother liquor during material discharge.

[0034] The rotating cage 2 is mounted on the main shaft 3, and both ends of the main shaft 3 are rotatably and sealedly installed on the mother liquor tank 1. The main shaft 3 is driven to rotate by the drive device 4, and the rotating cage rotates simultaneously with the main shaft. In this embodiment, the drive device consists of a drive motor and a reducer.

[0035] Preferred options are listed below. Figure 2 As shown, the rotating cage 2 is divided into multiple chambers by multiple partitions 2.1. Each chamber is equipped with a seed inlet 2.2, through which the seed crystals enter each chamber. The outer wall of the rotating cage 2 is provided with several liquid passage holes 2.0 with a diameter smaller than that of the rock sugar seed crystals. The liquid passage holes serve as heat exchange channels and mother liquor flow channels.

[0036] Preferred options are listed below. Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the injection level of the mother liquor is such that the mother liquor level is maintained at the center line of the main shaft 3. With this design, during the rotation of the rotating drum, the chamber above the drum will detach from the mother liquor surface and directly exchange heat with the outside air. The speed at which the crystals enter and exit the mother liquor and the time of heat exchange with the air can be controlled simply by controlling the rotation speed of the drive device. Specifically, a level switch can be installed on the mother liquor tank to ensure that the mother liquor level is maintained within a certain range.

[0037] Furthermore, in order to solve the material discharge problem, as shown in the attached document... Figure 1As shown, in this embodiment, a discharge auger 5 is rotatably provided in each chamber near the inner wall of the rotating drum 2, and the discharge end of the discharge auger 5 is provided with a discharge port 2.3. Preferably, the end of the mother liquor tank 1 near the discharge port 2.3 is provided with a discharge port 1.3 with an opening and closing door 1.4 that is connected to the gap of the discharge port; the gap is slightly smaller than the size of the smallest rock sugar after crystallization to prevent rock sugar from falling into the mother liquor tank through the gap during discharge; the opening and closing door 1.4 is preferably an electrically controlled opening and closing door, as a prerequisite for automated control of discharge.

[0038] Furthermore, in order to solve the power problem of the discharge auger, as shown in the attached... Figure 1 As shown, a sliding rotating shaft 6 is provided at one end of the mother liquor tank 1 opposite the discharge port 1.3. This sliding rotating shaft can move left and right and rotate. One end of the rotating shaft 6 is connected to a power device, and the other end is inserted into the discharge auger 5. The power device pushes the rotating shaft 6 out of the discharge auger 5 and simultaneously drives the rotating shaft 6 to drive the discharge auger 5 to rotate. Specifically, in this embodiment, the power device includes a power cylinder that can control the left and right movement of the rotating shaft and a drive component that drives the rotating shaft to rotate.

[0039] Working principle: The rotating drum is immersed in the mother liquor. The rotating drum is driven by a drive device to achieve intermittent heat exchange between the material inside the drum and the external air. At the same time, sucrose molecules can be replenished to the surface of the single crystal rock sugar in a timely manner, so that the temperature of the crystal grains wrapped in the sugar liquor drops alternately. The sugar liquor is always kept at a supersaturation of 1.03 to 1.06. Under the impetus of supersaturation, the crystal grains continuously crystallize to form single crystal rock sugar.

[0040] In practice, the sieved seed crystals are transported to the seed inlet via a seed tank. Each seed inlet is opened sequentially, and the seed crystals are placed into the chambers of the rotating drum. The seed crystal amount is 20%–30% of the total crystal amount. The drive device is activated to ensure uniform rotation of the drum. After 72–90 hours, the seed crystals within the drum grow into the desired rock candy crystals. Once the crystals meet the requirements, the outlet is opened, the drive device is turned off, and the crystals from each chamber of the drum are discharged one by one using a power device, completing the entire crystallization process. The cooling crystallization method in this embodiment does not require a vacuum or additional steam; the material only exchanges heat with air, resulting in low energy consumption. It allows for uniform crystal growth within a specific temperature range within 72–80 hours, achieving the desired crystal particle size. The produced single-crystal rock candy crystals are of high quality and uniform particle size.

[0041] Example 2

[0042] Based on Example 1, as shown in the appendix Figure 1As shown, this embodiment implements the drive device as the driving component in the power unit. Therefore, this embodiment provides an electromagnetic clutch 7 between the output shaft of the drive device 4 and the main shaft 3, which allows the drum to remain stationary while the drive device is operating.

[0043] Preferably, the power unit in this embodiment includes a power cylinder 8 and a transmission pair 9. The power cylinder 8 is rotatably connected to the end of the rotating shaft 6. This rotatable connection prevents damage to the power cylinder when the rotating shaft rotates. Specifically, the power cylinder 8 in this embodiment is one of a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electric push rod, or an electro-hydraulic push rod. In this embodiment, a pneumatic cylinder can be selected. The transmission pair 9 connects the rotating shaft 6 and the output shaft of the drive device 4, and drives the rotating shaft to rotate using the drive device. Specifically, the transmission pair 9 in this embodiment is one of a chain drive, a synchronous belt drive, or a belt drive. It includes a driving wheel on the output shaft of the drive device, a driven wheel on the rotating shaft, and a connecting member connecting the driving wheel and the driven wheel 9.1. In this embodiment, a chain drive can be selected, in which case the driving wheel is a driving sprocket, the driven wheel is a driven sprocket, and the connecting member is a transmission chain. In this embodiment, the drive device drives the rotating shaft to rotate, and the power cylinder drives the rotating shaft to move, thereby controlling the rotation of the discharge auger to discharge material during material discharge.

[0044] In this embodiment, the preferred plug-in drive connection structure between the rotating shaft 6 and the discharge auger 5 is as shown in the attached figure. Figure 3 and attached Figure 4 As shown, the outer wall of the insertion end of the rotating shaft 6 and the discharge auger 5 is provided with multiple protruding teeth 6.1, and the end of the discharge auger 5 is provided with an insertion hole 5.0 for insertion into the insertion end of the rotating shaft 6. Multiple arc-shaped grooves 5.1 are provided within the insertion hole 5.0. Preferably, there are two protruding teeth 6.1 and two arc-shaped grooves 5.1, and the arc length of the arc-shaped groove 5.1 is a multiple of the width of the protruding teeth 6.1. This design effectively reduces the probability of tooth breakage during shaft insertion.

[0045] In this embodiment, the preferred rotational connection structure between the rotating shaft 6 and the power cylinder 8 is as shown in the attached figure. Figure 3 As shown, a rotating connector 10 is screwed to the end of the shaft 6 and the power cylinder 8. A bearing 11 is interference-fitted in the inner cavity of the rotating connector 10. The inner ring of the bearing 11 is interference-fitted with the push rod of the power cylinder 8. An end plate 10.1 is provided at the open end of the inner cavity of the rotating connector 10.

[0046] Example 3

[0047] Based on Example 2, as shown in the appendix Figure 3As shown, in this embodiment, the driven wheel 9.1 is rotatably connected to the outer wall of the mother liquor tank 1 via a bearing 11. The outer wall of the rotating shaft 6 away from the insertion end is a splined shaft structure, and the inner wall of the driven wheel 9.1 is a splined hole structure. This structure solves the problem of the driven wheel moving and becoming misaligned with the driving wheel when the rotating shaft moves left and right.

[0048] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention specification, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer, comprising a mother liquor tank, a rotating cage, a main shaft, and a drive device; characterized in that: The rotating cage is mounted on the main shaft and rotatably installed in the mother liquor tank. The driving device drives the main shaft to rotate the rotating cage. The outer wall of the rotating cage is provided with several liquid passage holes with a diameter smaller than that of the rock sugar seed crystals. The rotating cage is divided into multiple chambers by multiple partitions. Each chamber is equipped with a seed inlet, and each chamber is equipped with a discharge auger near the inner wall of the rotating cage. The discharge end of the discharge auger is equipped with a discharge port. The mother liquor tank is provided with a discharge port with an opening and closing door at one end near the discharge port, which is gap-fitted with the discharge port; The mother liquor tank is equipped with a sliding rotating shaft at one end facing the discharge port. One end of the rotating shaft is connected to a power device, and the other end is inserted into the discharge auger. The power device pushes the rotating shaft out and inserts it into the discharge auger, while driving the rotating shaft to drive the discharge auger to rotate. The level of the mother liquor in the mother liquor tank is maintained at the center line of the main shaft.

2. The cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer according to claim 1, characterized in that: An electromagnetic clutch is provided between the output shaft and the main shaft of the drive device.

3. The cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The power unit includes a power cylinder and a transmission pair. The power cylinder is rotatably connected to the end of the rotating shaft, and the transmission pair connects the rotating shaft and the output shaft of the drive device, thereby driving the rotating shaft to rotate using the drive device.

4. The cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The power cylinder is one of the following: pneumatic cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, electric actuator, or electro-hydraulic actuator.

5. The cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The transmission pair is one of chain drive, synchronous belt drive, and belt drive, and includes a driving wheel on the output shaft of the drive device, a driven wheel on the rotating shaft, and a connecting member connecting the driving wheel and the driven wheel.

6. The cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer wall of the end of the shaft and the discharge auger is provided with multiple protruding teeth, and the end of the discharge auger is provided with a plug hole that is inserted into the end of the shaft, and the plug hole is provided with multiple arc-shaped grooves.

7. The cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The toothed part has two protrusions, and the arc groove has two arc grooves. The arc length of the arc groove is a multiple of the width of the toothed part.

8. The cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The driven wheel is rotatably connected to the outer wall of the mother liquor tank via a bearing. The outer wall of the rotating shaft away from the insertion end is a splined shaft structure, and the inner wall of the driven wheel is a splined hole structure.

9. The cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The end of the shaft connected to the power cylinder is screwed with a rotating connector. A bearing is interference-fitted in the inner cavity of the rotating connector. The inner ring of the bearing is interference-fitted with the push rod of the power cylinder. An end plate is provided at the open end of the inner cavity of the rotating connector.

10. The cage-type single-crystal rock sugar crystallizer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mother liquor tank is a mother liquor tank with a cooling jacket, with a mother liquor inlet at the top and a mother liquor outlet at the bottom.

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