A dried fruit production apparatus and method of use thereof
By designing the drying chamber and transition chamber in the dried fruit production equipment, and using control devices and vacuum pumps to quickly change the vacuum level, the problems of high energy consumption and nutrient loss in existing technologies have been solved, achieving high-efficiency dried fruit production.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- 杭州尚农食品有限公司
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-01
AI Technical Summary
Existing freeze-drying equipment consumes a lot of energy when processing fruits, and freeze-dried fruits lose nutrients and have a reduced taste. This is mainly because the increased vacuum level and longer processing time cause some of the solid water to melt.
A dried fruit production device was designed, comprising a drying chamber and two transition chambers. The drying chamber and the transition chambers are isolated and connected by a control device. The vacuum level of the chambers is changed rapidly by a vacuum pump. The support frame moves between the transition chamber and the drying chamber to reduce energy loss and maintain a stable vacuum level.
It improves the energy efficiency of dried fruit production, reduces energy consumption, preserves the nutritional components and taste of dried fruit, and enhances processing efficiency.
Smart Images

Figure CN119033131B_ABST
Abstract
Description
A dried fruit production equipment and its usage method Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of dried fruit production technology, specifically to a dried fruit production equipment and its usage method. Background Technology
[0002] Freeze-dried fruit preserves are fruit products processed using freeze-drying technology. The process involves washing, peeling, and pitting fresh fruit, then quickly freezing it in a low-temperature environment. The frozen fruit is then placed in a vacuum environment, where low pressure and low temperature are used to sublimate the solid water in the fruit into gaseous water, thus preserving the fruit's nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive substances, to the greatest extent possible, while also retaining the fruit's original taste and color.
[0003] When processing fruit, the pre-treated fruit is first placed into a freeze-drying machine (vacuum freeze dryer), then the freeze-drying machine is closed, and the air inside the machine is gradually extracted to reduce the pressure of the external environment of the low-temperature fruit. During the production process, the low-temperature fruit pulp needs to be placed into the machine first, then the vacuum degree inside the machine is increased, then the vacuum degree is decreased, and then the fruit pulp is removed. To complete one fruit processing cycle, the vacuum degree needs to be increased and then decreased. When processing large quantities of fruit in a factory, the internal cavity of the machine containing the fruit needs to be large, and the process of extracting and adding air consumes a lot of energy. Moreover, when extracting air to increase the vacuum degree, the power of the vacuum pump affects the speed at which the vacuum degree inside the machine can be increased. During the time it takes for the vacuum degree to increase, some of the solid water in the fruit pulp absorbs heat from the air inside the machine and melts. This causes the nutrients in the freeze-dried fruit to flow out with the liquid water when processing fruit in a large vacuum freeze dryer, which also reduces the taste of the freeze-dried fruit.
[0004] Therefore, a new technical solution is needed to address the above problems. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide a dried fruit production equipment and its usage method.
[0006] The above-mentioned technical objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solution: a dried fruit production equipment and its method of use, comprising a shell with a receiving cavity, the receiving cavity including a horizontally arranged drying cavity and two transition cavities, wherein the volume of the drying cavity is larger than the volume of the transition cavities, the two transition cavities are respectively located on both sides of the drying cavity and are interconnected, the receiving cavity is provided with a support frame for storing fruit pulp, a driving device for moving the support frame between the drying cavity and the transition cavities, and a control device for opening and closing the connection between the drying cavity and the transition cavities and isolating the air pressure between the drying cavity and the transition cavities, the shell is also provided with a vacuum device that communicates with the drying cavity and the transition cavities and controls the extraction of gas from the drying cavity and the transition cavities, and so on. The support frame includes a load-bearing block, several storage frames vertically distributed above the load-bearing block, and several lifting components located between and connecting adjacent storage frames. The load-bearing block is fixedly connected to the lower end of the lowest storage frame. The inner wall of the receiving cavity is provided with several track grooves that pass through the inner wall of one transition cavity, through the drying cavity, and extend into another transition cavity. The side wall of the storage frame is fixedly connected to a horizontal sliding plate that is slidably connected to the inner wall of the track groove. The height of the track groove gradually increases from the transition cavity to the drying cavity. When the support frame is driven to move horizontally by the driving device, the support frame moves up and down. The lifting components limit the maximum distance between two adjacent storage frames and drive the upper storage frame to move horizontally through the load-bearing block and the connecting block.
[0007] By adopting the above technical solution, the drying chamber and the transition chamber are separated by a control device. Before processing, the gas in the drying chamber is first extracted and the vacuum level inside the drying chamber is increased. Then, the support frame is placed in the transition chamber on the left, the sealing door on the left is closed, and the solenoid valve on the left is opened to extract the gas in the left drying chamber and increase its vacuum level. Utilizing the structural design where the volume of the transition chamber is smaller than that of the drying chamber, the vacuum level in the left transition chamber can be increased quickly. Then, the control device is activated to move the sealing plate on the left into the vertical groove, connecting the drying chamber and the left transition chamber. Then, the drive device is activated to move the support frame from the left transition chamber to the drying chamber. Finally, the control device moves the sealing plate on the left into the receiving chamber. Isolate the drying chamber from the transition chamber, then close the left solenoid valve and open the pressure relief hole in the left transition chamber. After using the vacuum environment in the drying chamber to sublimate the solid water in the fruit on the support rack into gas and complete the drying process, open the right solenoid valve. When the vacuum level in the right transition chamber is the same as that in the drying chamber, start the control device and move the right sealing plate from the receiving chamber to the vertical groove. Then start the drive device to move the support rack in the drying chamber to the right transition chamber. Then, through the control device, move the right sealing plate from the vertical groove to the receiving chamber to complete the isolation between the right transition chamber and the drying chamber. Then open the pressure relief hole in the right transition chamber and remove the support rack from the right transition chamber to complete the drying of the fruit pulp.
[0008] The invention is further configured such that: the driving device includes a plurality of driving threaded rods; the sidewalls of the drying chamber and the transition chamber are provided with a plurality of receiving grooves; the driving threaded rods are rotatably connected to the inner walls of the receiving grooves; the load-bearing block is located at the bottom wall of the receiving chamber and is slidably connected to the receiving chamber; the sidewall of the load-bearing block near the receiving groove is provided with an arc-shaped internal thread of one-third arc degree that meshes with the driving threaded rods; the plurality of driving threaded rods are fixedly connected on their axes by a connecting shaft; the connecting shaft passes through the inner wall between two adjacent receiving grooves; one end of the connecting shaft passes through to the external environment and is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the driving motor disposed on the outer surface of the outer shell; the other end of the load-bearing block away from the arc-shaped internal thread is provided with a horizontal sliding groove; and the inner walls of the drying chamber and the transition chamber are fixedly connected with a plurality of spaced sliders that are slidably connected to the inner walls of the horizontal sliding grooves.
[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, the drive motor starts and drives the connecting shaft to rotate, the connecting shaft drives the drive threaded rod to rotate, the drive threaded rod engages with the arc-shaped internal thread on the load-bearing block and drives the load-bearing block to move back and forth along the transition cavity-drying cavity-transition cavity, thereby completing the movement of the support frame. At the same time, by utilizing the setting that the outer diameter of the drive threaded rod is larger than the diameter of the connecting shaft, and the connecting shaft passes through the inner wall between two adjacent storage slots, air pressure leakage between the drying cavity and the transition cavity in the transmission structure is prevented. The connection shaft and the inner wall of the storage slot are sealed between the drying cavity and the transition cavity by a mechanical seal, and the mechanical seal adopts the structure of Chinese Patent Application No. CN201410229818.0.
[0010] The invention is further configured such that: the control device includes a storage shell fixedly connected to the side wall of the outer shell; a vertical groove communicating with the receiving cavity is provided inside the storage shell; a control motor is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vertical groove; a drive gear is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the control motor; a support plate is also fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vertical groove; a transmission gear meshing with the drive gear is rotatably connected to the support plate; an internal threaded hole is provided through the axis of the transmission gear; a sealing plate is slidably connected to the inner wall of the vertical groove; a transverse guide block is fixedly connected to the sealing plate; a transverse groove extending along the line connecting the drying cavity and the transition cavity is provided on the transverse guide block; a transverse moving block is slidably connected inside the transverse groove; and a control threaded rod meshing with the internal threaded hole is rotatably connected to the transverse moving block.
[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, the control motor is started and drives the drive gear to rotate. The drive gear meshes with the transmission gear and drives the transmission gear to rotate. The transmission gear meshes with the control threaded rod and drives the control threaded rod to move along a straight line perpendicular to the line connecting the drying chamber and the transition chamber. The control threaded rod drives the transverse guide block to move, and the transverse guide block drives the sealing plate to move. Utilizing the abutment groove opened between the drying chamber and the transition chamber, and the stop block on the abutment groove, when the sealing plate moves into the receiving chamber, the abutment block on the sealing plate abuts against the stop block and pushes the sealing plate against the inner wall of the abutment groove, thereby completing the sealing between the drying chamber and the transition chamber. The sealing effect between the drying chamber and the transition chamber is further enhanced by the structure of the sealing ring on the sealing plate abutting against the inner wall of the abutment groove. When the sealing plate moves along the line connecting the drying chamber and the transition chamber, the power transmission of the sealing plate is completed by the sliding connection structure of the transverse moving block and the transverse groove.
[0012] The present invention is further configured such that: the vacuum device includes a vacuum pump, a main pipe is connected to the air extraction port of the vacuum pump, and a plurality of secondary pipes are connected to the other end of the main pipe, which are respectively connected to the drying chamber and the transition chamber, and a solenoid valve is connected to the secondary pipe.
[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, a vacuum pump is used to extract gas from the main pipeline, the main pipeline extracts gas from the secondary pipeline, the secondary pipeline extracts gas from the drying chamber or transition chamber, and then the solenoid valve is opened or closed to extract gas from different transition chambers and drying chambers, thereby controlling the vacuum level in the drying chamber and transition chamber.
[0014] The present invention is further configured such that: a threaded rod sleeve is fixedly connected to the storage shell, and the inner cavity of the threaded rod sleeve is connected to the vertical groove and is opposite to the position of the control threaded rod.
[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, when the threaded rod is controlled away from the receiving cavity, the threaded rod enters the threaded rod sleeve. The threaded rod sleeve adapts to the shape of the threaded rod to minimize the volume of the vertical groove and the inner cavity of the threaded rod sleeve. This further reduces the volume of gas extracted from the transition cavity when sealing the drying cavity and the transition cavity, thereby reducing energy loss. The sealing plate is located between the two sliders.
[0016] The invention is further configured such that the distance between two adjacent sliders is less than the length of a single load-bearing block.
[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, and using the fact that the distance between two adjacent sliders is less than the length of a single load-bearing block, when the load-bearing frame moves from the left transition cavity to the drying cavity or from the drying cavity to the right transition cavity, the structure of sliding connection between the slider and the horizontal groove allows the horizontal groove on the load-bearing block to connect with the next slider.
[0018] The invention is further configured as follows: The method is as follows: First, start two control motors and move two sealing plates into the receiving cavity, using the sealing plates to separate the drying cavity and the transition cavity; Second, close the solenoid valve on the secondary pipe connected to the transition cavity, then start the vacuum pump and extract air from the drying cavity; Third, while extracting air from the drying cavity, select a support frame with or without holes on the track groove; Fourth, place the fruit on the selected support frame and into the left transition cavity, then close the left sealing door to seal the left transition cavity; Fifth, open the left solenoid valve and extract air from the left transition cavity; Sixth, start the left control motor and reverse... Step 7: Move the sealing plate from the receiving cavity to the vertical groove; Step 8: Start the drive motor and move the support frame to the right into the drying cavity, then start the control motor on the left and move the sealing plate into the receiving cavity, opening the vent in the left drying cavity; Step 9: Open the solenoid valve on the right and extract the gas in the right transition cavity, then start the control motor on the right and move the sealing plate on the right into the vertical groove; Step 10: Start the drive motor and move the support frame to the right transition cavity, then start the control motor on the right and move the sealing plate on the right back into the receiving cavity to separate the right transition cavity and the drying cavity, then open the vent in the right transition cavity; Step 11: Remove the support frame from the transition cavity.
[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, the process of the carrier first entering the narrow transition cavity and then entering the drying cavity maintains a stable vacuum in the drying cavity during processing. The transition cavity, as a chamber for reducing and increasing air pressure, is used to quickly transition the carrier from a certain pressure environment to a low pressure environment, thereby increasing the drying effect.
[0020] In summary, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0021] The drying chamber and transition chamber are sealed using a control device, and the vacuum level of the drying chamber and transition chamber is controlled using a vacuum device. During normal use, the vacuum level of the drying chamber is kept stable. The transition chamber changes between normal vacuum level and working vacuum level. When the transition chamber is at the normal vacuum level, the support rack containing the fruit pulp is placed in the left transition chamber, or the support rack in the right transition chamber is removed. The small-volume drying chamber is used as an intermediate chamber for the fruit pulp to move back and forth from high vacuum level to low vacuum level, reducing the energy loss of the vacuum pump and further increasing the drying effect. Attached Figure Description
[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;
[0023] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention;
[0024] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the outer shell in this invention;
[0025] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the storage shell in this invention;
[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drive threaded rod and the connecting shaft in this invention;
[0027] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the load-bearing block in this invention;
[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure when the support frame has the minimum height in this invention;
[0029] Figure 8 is a structural schematic diagram of the support frame at its maximum height in this invention;
[0030] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the connecting block in this invention.
[0031] In the picture:
[0032] 11. Outer shell; 12. Storage shell; 13. Vacuum pump; 14. Main pipe; 15. Secondary pipe; 16. Solenoid valve; 17. Drying chamber; 18. Transition chamber; 19. Load-bearing block; 20. Storage frame; 21. Connecting block; 22. Slider; 23. Vertical slide groove; 24. First limiting block; 25. Limiting groove; 26. Vertical sliding rod; 27. Second limiting block; 28. Horizontal sliding plate; 29. Track groove; 30. Drive threaded rod; 31. 32. Storage slot; 33. Connecting shaft; 34. Abutment slot; 35. Sealing plate; 36. Vertical slot; 37. Horizontal guide block; 38. Horizontal moving block; 39. Control threaded rod; 40. Horizontal slot; 41. Transmission gear; 42. Drive gear; 43. Support plate; 44. Control motor; 45. Threaded rod sleeve; 46. Drive motor; 47. Sealing door; 48. Sealing ring; 49. Arc-shaped internal thread; 50. Horizontal slide groove; 51. Internal threaded hole. Detailed Implementation
[0033] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Embodiments
[0034] As shown in Figures 1 to 9, this dried fruit production equipment and its usage method include an outer shell 11 with a receiving cavity. The receiving cavity includes a horizontally arranged drying cavity 17 and two transition cavities 18, with the volume of the drying cavity 17 being larger than the volume of the transition cavities 18. The two transition cavities 18 are located on both sides of the drying cavity 17 and are interconnected. The receiving cavity is equipped with a support frame for storing fruit pulp, a drive device for moving the support frame between the drying cavity 17 and the transition cavities 18, and a control device for opening and closing the connection between the drying cavity 17 and the transition cavities 18 and isolating the air pressure between them. The outer shell 11 also includes... A vacuum device is provided that communicates with the drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18 and controls the extraction of gas from the drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18; the support frame includes a load-bearing block 19, several storage frames 20 located above the load-bearing block 19 and vertically distributed, and several lifting components located between adjacent storage frames 20 and connecting them. The load-bearing block 19 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the lowest storage frame 20. The inner wall of the receiving cavity is provided with several track grooves 29 that pass through the inner wall of one transition chamber 18, pass through the drying chamber 17, and extend into the other transition chamber 18. The side wall of the storage frame 20 is fixedly connected with a horizontal track groove 29 that is slidably connected to the inner wall of the track groove 29. The sliding plate 28 and the track groove 29 gradually increase in height from the transition cavity 18 to the drying cavity 17. When the support frame is driven to move horizontally by the drive device, the support frame moves up and down. The lifting component limits the maximum distance between two adjacent storage frames 20 and drives the storage frame 20 at the upper position to move horizontally through the load-bearing block 19 and the connecting block 21. The drive device includes several drive threaded rods 30. Several storage slots 31 are opened on the side walls of the drying cavity 17 and the transition cavity 18, and the drive threaded rods 30 are rotatably connected to the inner wall of the storage slots 31. The load-bearing block 19 is located at the bottom wall of the receiving cavity and is slidably connected to the receiving cavity. The load-bearing block 19 is close to the bottom wall of the receiving cavity. The side wall near the storage slot 31 has an arc-shaped internal thread 48 with a third arc degree that meshes with the drive threaded rod 30. Several drive threaded rods 30 are fixedly connected on the axis by a connecting shaft 32. The connecting shaft 32 passes through the inner wall between two adjacent storage slots 31. One end of the connecting shaft 32 passes through to the external environment and is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 45 located on the outer surface of the housing 11. The other end of the load-bearing block 19 away from the arc-shaped internal thread 48 has a horizontal sliding groove 49. Several sliders 22 are fixedly connected to the inner walls of the drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18 at intervals and slidingly connected to the inner wall of the horizontal sliding groove 49.
[0035] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the control device includes a storage shell 12 fixedly connected to the side wall of the outer shell 11. A vertical groove 35 communicating with the receiving cavity is opened in the storage shell 12. A control motor 43 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vertical groove 35. A drive gear 41 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the control motor 43. A support plate 42 is also fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vertical groove 35. A transmission gear 40 meshing with the drive gear 41 is rotatably connected to the support plate 42. An internal threaded hole 50 is provided through the axis of the transmission gear 40. A sealing plate 34 is slidably connected to the inner wall of the vertical groove 35. A transverse guide block 36 is fixedly connected to the sealing plate 34. A transverse groove 39 extending along the line connecting the drying cavity 17 and the transition cavity 18 is provided on the transverse guide block 36. A transverse moving block 37 is slidably connected in the transverse groove 39. A control threaded rod 38 meshing with the internal threaded hole 50 is rotatably connected to the transverse moving block 37.
[0036] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the vacuum device includes a vacuum pump 13. A main pipe 14 is connected to the air extraction port of the vacuum pump 13. Several secondary pipes 15 are connected to the other end of the main pipe 14, which are respectively connected to the drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18. A solenoid valve 16 is connected to the secondary pipes 15.
[0037] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a threaded rod sleeve 44 is fixedly connected to the housing 12, and the inner cavity of the threaded rod sleeve 44 is connected to the vertical groove 35 and is opposite to the position of the control threaded rod 38. The distance between two adjacent sliders 22 is less than the length of a single load-bearing block 19.
[0038] As shown in Figures 1 to 9, the specific method is as follows: First, start the two control motors 43 and drive the two sealing plates 34 to move into the receiving cavity, and use the sealing plates 34 to separate the drying cavity 17 and the transition cavity 18; Second, close the solenoid valve 16 on the secondary pipe 15 connected to the transition cavity 18, and then start the vacuum pump 13 to extract the air from the drying cavity 17; Third, while extracting the air from the drying cavity 17, select a carrier frame with holes or without holes on the track groove 29; Fourth, place the fruit on the selected carrier frame and place it into the transition cavity 18 on the left, and then close the sealing door 46 on the left to seal the transition cavity 18 on the left; Fifth, open the solenoid valve 16 on the left and extract the air from the transition cavity 18 on the left; Sixth, start the control motor 43 on the left and drive the sealing plate 34 in the reverse direction. Step 7: Move the sealing plate 34 from the receiving cavity to the vertical groove 35; Step 8: Start the drive motor 45 and move the support frame to the right into the drying cavity 17, then start the control motor 43 on the left and move the sealing plate 34 into the receiving cavity, opening the vent hole in the left drying cavity 17; Step 9: Open the solenoid valve 16 on the right and extract the gas in the right transition cavity 18, then start the control motor 43 on the right and move the sealing plate 34 on the right into the vertical groove 35; Step 10: Start the drive motor 45 and move the support frame to the right transition cavity 18, then start the control motor 43 on the right and move the sealing plate 34 on the right into the receiving cavity to separate the right transition cavity 18 and the drying cavity 17, then open the vent hole in the right transition cavity 18; Step 11: Remove the support frame from the transition cavity 18.
[0039] First, open the solenoid valve 16 connected to the drying chamber 17, then close the solenoid valve 16 connected to the transition chamber 18. Next, start the two control motors 43. The control motors 43 drive the drive gear 41 to rotate, which in turn drives the transmission gear 40 to rotate. The internal threaded hole 50 on the transmission gear 40 meshes with the control threaded rod 38, causing the control threaded rod 38 to move into the receiving chamber. The control threaded rod 38 then moves the sealing plate 34 from the vertical groove 35 into the receiving chamber via the transverse moving block 37 and the transverse guide block 36. The drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18 are then separated by the sealing plate 34 abutting against the abutment groove 33. When the sealing plate 34 moves into the receiving chamber, it uses the stop block on the abutment groove 33 to abut against the stop block. The sealing plate 34 is then pushed against the inner wall of the abutment groove 33, thereby completing the sealing between the drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18. The sealing ring 47 on the sealing plate 34 further enhances the sealing effect between the drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18 by abutting against the inner wall of the abutment groove 33. When the sealing plate 34 moves perpendicular to the movement trajectory of the control threaded rod 38, the structure of the control threaded rod 38 rotatably connected to the transverse moving block 37, and the structure of the transverse moving block 37 slidingly connected to the transverse guide block 36, ensures that the movement of the sealing plate 34 along the line connecting the drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18 does not affect the position of the control threaded rod 38 in that direction. Simultaneously, the control threaded rod 38 can still drive the sealing plate 34 along the movement trajectory of the control threaded rod 38. Move the machine, then start the vacuum pump 13 and extract the air from the drying chamber 17 to reduce the vacuum level. While the vacuum pump 13 is extracting the air from the drying chamber 17, select a support frame of appropriate size and height according to production needs (e.g., whether there are holes in the storage frame 20, the length of the storage frame 20 along the line connecting the drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18, and the curvature of the storage frame 20). Then place the pre-treated low-temperature fruit pulp on the storage frame 20. At this time, the support frame is at its lowest height, that is, the lowest positions of several connecting blocks 21 are on the same plane. Then open the sealing door 46 on the left and put the support frame containing the fruit pulp into the transition chamber 18 on the left, and close the sealing door 46 on the left. At this time, the vacuum level in the drying chamber 17 is close to the working vacuum level, and then slowly... Slowly open the left solenoid valve 16 and use the vacuum pump 13 to extract air from the left transition chamber 18, gradually transitioning the fruit pulp from an atmospheric pressure environment to a working vacuum environment. Then, start the left control motor 43 and rotate it in the opposite direction, thereby moving the sealing plate 34 from the receiving chamber to the vertical groove 35, opening the communication channel between the left transition chamber 18 and the drying chamber 17. Then, start the drive motor 45, which drives the connecting shaft 32 to rotate. The connecting shaft 32 drives the drive threaded rod 30 to rotate. The drive threaded rod 30 engages with the arc-shaped internal thread 48 on the load-bearing block 19 and moves the load-bearing block 19 along the line connecting the 17 transition chambers 18 of the drying chamber. The sliding connection between the slider 22 on the side wall of the receiving chamber and the inner wall of the horizontal sliding groove 49 on the load-bearing block 19 is utilized.The load-bearing block 19 can only move along the trajectory of the slider 22 into the transition cavity 18 or the drying cavity 17, while restricting the rotation and vertical movement of the load-bearing block 19. This ensures that the arc-shaped internal thread 48 is always engaged with the drive threaded rod 30, and the connecting shaft 32 connecting the drive threaded rod 30 is located in the receiving groove 31. Furthermore, the mechanical seal technology described in application number CN201410229818.0 ensures that the drying cavity 17 and the transition cavity 18 are not connected through the channel through which the connecting shaft 32 passes, while also ensuring the rotation of the connecting shaft 32. When the load-bearing block 19 moves, it is fixedly connected to the storage frame 20 at the bottom position and moves the storage frame 20 synchronously. Simultaneously, the upper end of the storage frame 20 is connected to the rightmost... The lower end of the connecting block 21 at the side position is fixedly connected, while adjacent connecting blocks 21 are slidably connected in the vertical direction, but their movement in the horizontal direction is restricted. When the storage frame 20 at the lower position moves the storage frame 20 at the upper position through several connecting blocks 21, the horizontal sliding plate 28 on the side wall of the storage frame 20 is slidably connected to the trajectory groove 29 on the inner wall of the receiving cavity. Utilizing the trajectory of the trajectory groove 29, when the storage frame 20 moves into the transition cavity 18, the distance between adjacent storage frames 20 is minimized. When the storage frame 20 moves into the drying cavity 17, the storage frame 20 moves upward due to the abutment of the inner wall of the trajectory groove 29, and the distance between adjacent storage frames 20 is maximized. Furthermore, the distance between any two adjacent storage frames 20 is equal, ensuring that the distance within the drying cavity 17 is minimized. The fruit pulp is separated, facilitating the removal of sublimated vaporous water from the storage frames 20, thus enhancing the drying effect. The arc-shaped bottom of the storage frames 20 further improves the removal of vaporous water. The space occupied by several storage frames 20 within the drying chamber 17 is larger than that occupied by several storage frames 20 within the transition chamber 18. After the support frame is transferred from the left transition chamber 18 to the drying chamber 17, the left control motor 43 is activated again to move the sealing plate 34 from the vertical groove 35 into the receiving chamber, and the left solenoid valve 16 is closed, once again separating the left transition chamber 18 from the drying chamber 17. The left transition chamber 18 is then connected to the external environment, facilitating the next placement of the support frame and fruit pulp into the equipment. When the pulp drying is complete, keep the right-side sealing door 46 closed, and simultaneously open the right-side solenoid valve 16 to extract the gas from the right-side transition chamber 18. Then, start the right-side control motor 43 to move the right-side sealing plate 34 into the vertical groove 35 to prevent vibration caused by excessive pressure difference between the drying chamber 17 and the right-side transition chamber 18, thus increasing equipment stability. Then, start the drive motor 45 to move the load-bearing block 19 further into the right-side transition chamber 18. After the load-bearing block 19 and the storage frame 20 have moved into the right-side transition chamber 18, start the right-side control motor 43 again and rotate it in the opposite direction. The control motor 43 moves the sealing plate 34 from the vertical groove 35 into the receiving chamber, cutting off the connection between the right-side transition chamber 18 and the drying chamber 17.Then close the solenoid valve 16 on the right, open the sealing door 46 on the right, and remove the support frame and the fruit pulp on the support frame from the right transition cavity 18 to complete the removal of the dried fruit pulp;
[0040] The lower end of the vertical slide bar 26 is fixedly connected to a protrusion, and the upper end of the inner wall of the vertical slide groove 23 is fixedly connected to a first limiting block 24 that abuts against another protrusion. The upper opening of the vertical slide groove 23 is provided with an upward through limiting groove 25. The upper opening of the connecting block 21 abuts against the inner wall of the limiting groove 25 on the other connecting block 21. When the two adjacent connecting blocks 21 move to the farthest vertical position, the first limiting block 24 abuts against the protrusion. When the lowermost ends of the two adjacent connecting blocks 21 move to the same horizontal plane position, the second limiting block 27 abuts against the inner wall of the limiting groove 25 to prevent the vertical slide bar 26 from separating from the vertical slide groove 23, thereby ensuring the connection of the two adjacent connecting blocks 21.
[0041] By using the smaller volume of the transition chamber 18 than that of the drying chamber 17, the time required for the fruit pulp to change from an ambient pressure environment to a vacuum environment is reduced. At the same time, it also ensures that the fruit pulp is spaced far apart in the vacuum environment (preventing some gaseous water from remaining between the fruit pulp and affecting the sublimation rate of ice crystals). This prevents some ice crystals in the fruit pulp from melting and taking away nutrients from the fruit pulp during the time the vacuum level is reduced. Especially when processing large batches of fruit pulp, the volume for accommodating the fruit pulp will be further increased.
[0042] When the control threaded rod 38 moves the sealing plate 34 into the vertical groove 35, the portion of the control threaded rod 38 that is away from the receiving cavity enters the threaded rod sleeve 44. By utilizing the volume design of the inner cavity of the threaded rod sleeve 44 to adapt to the shape of the control threaded rod 38, the volume of the inner cavity of the threaded rod sleeve 44 is minimized, thereby reducing the sum of the volumes of the transition cavity 18, the vertical groove 35, and the inner cavity of the threaded rod sleeve 44, and thus reducing the energy loss used to change the vacuum level in the transition cavity 18.
[0043] Meanwhile, during use, a single carrier can be inserted into the equipment and then removed before the next carrier is inserted and removed. Alternatively, two sets of carriers can exist in the equipment simultaneously. After the first carrier is dried in the drying chamber 17, the other carrier is placed in the transition chamber 18 on the left. Then, the sealing door 46 on the left is closed, and the two solenoid valves 16 on both sides are opened simultaneously. The two control motors 43 are started, and the two sealing plates 34 are moved from the receiving chamber to the vertical groove 35. At this time, the two transition chambers 18 and the drying chamber 17 are connected. Then, the drive motor 45 is started, and the fruit pulp to be processed on the left and the carrier are moved into the drying chamber 17. At the same time, the processed fruit pulp and carrier in the drying chamber 17 are moved to the transition chamber 18 on the right. Then, the two solenoid valves 16 on both sides and the channel connecting the drying chamber 17 and the transition chamber 18 are closed. The sealing doors on both sides are opened, and the fruit pulp and carrier are put in and removed again.
[0044] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A dried fruit production device, comprising a shell (11) with a receiving cavity, characterized in that: The receiving cavity includes a horizontally arranged drying cavity (17) and two transition cavities (18), with the volume of the drying cavity (17) being larger than the volume of the transition cavities (18). The two transition cavities (18) are located on both sides of the drying cavity (17) and are interconnected. The receiving cavity is equipped with a support frame for storing fruit pulp, a drive device for moving the support frame between the drying cavity (17) and the transition cavities (18), and a control device for opening and closing the connection between the drying cavity (17) and the transition cavities (18) and isolating the air pressure between the drying cavity (17) and the transition cavities (18). The outer shell (11) is also equipped with a device that communicates with the drying cavity (17) and the transition cavities (18) and controls the extraction of the drying cavity (17) and the transition cavities (18). Vacuum device for the gas in the transition chamber (18); the support frame includes a load-bearing block (19), several storage frames (20) located above the load-bearing block (19) and vertically distributed, and several lifting components located between adjacent storage frames (20) and connecting them. The load-bearing block (19) is fixedly connected to the lower end of the lowest storage frame (20). The inner wall of the receiving cavity is provided with several track grooves (29) that pass through the inner wall of one transition chamber (18), through the drying chamber (17), and extend to the inner wall of another transition chamber (18). The side wall of the storage frame (20) is fixedly connected with a horizontal sliding plate (28) that slides in connection with the inner wall of the track groove (29). The track groove (29) extends from the transition chamber (18) to the drying chamber (17). The drying chamber (17) gradually increases in height. When the support frame is driven to move horizontally by the drive device, the support frame moves up and down. The lifting assembly limits the maximum distance between two adjacent storage boxes (20) and drives the storage box (20) at the upper position to move horizontally through the load-bearing block (19) and the connecting block (21). The drive device includes several drive threaded rods (30). Several storage slots (31) are opened on the side walls of the drying chamber (17) and the transition chamber (18). The drive threaded rods (30) are rotatably connected to the inner wall of the storage slots (31). The load-bearing block (19) is located at the bottom wall of the receiving chamber and is slidably connected to the receiving chamber. The load-bearing block (19) is opened on the side wall near the storage slots (31). The device has an arc-shaped internal thread (48) with a third arc and meshing with the drive thread rod (30), and several of the drive thread rods (30) are fixedly connected on the axis by a connecting shaft (32), and the connecting shaft (32) passes through the inner wall between two adjacent storage slots (31). One end of the connecting shaft (32) passes through to the external environment and is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the drive motor (45) set on the outer surface of the outer shell (11). The other end of the load-bearing block (19) away from the arc-shaped internal thread (48) is provided with a horizontal sliding groove (49). Several sliders (22) are fixedly connected to the inner walls of the drying chamber (17) and the transition chamber (18) at intervals and slidingly connected to the inner wall of the horizontal sliding groove (49).
2. The dried fruit production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control device includes a storage shell (12) fixedly connected to the side wall of the outer shell (11). A vertical groove (35) communicating with the receiving cavity is provided inside the storage shell (12). A control motor (43) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vertical groove (35). A drive gear (41) is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the control motor (43). A support plate (42) is also fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vertical groove (35). A transmission gear (40) meshing with the drive gear (41) is rotatably connected to the support plate (42). A threaded hole (50) is provided through the axis of the gear (40). A sealing plate (34) is slidably connected to the inner wall of the vertical groove (35). A transverse guide block (36) is fixedly connected to the sealing plate (34). A transverse groove (39) extending along the line connecting the drying chamber (17) and the transition chamber (18) is provided on the transverse guide block (36). A transverse moving block (37) is slidably connected in the transverse groove (39). A control threaded rod (38) that meshes with the threaded hole (50) is rotatably connected to the transverse moving block (37).
3. The dried fruit production equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The vacuum device includes a vacuum pump (13), and a main pipe (14) is connected to the air extraction port of the vacuum pump (13). A number of secondary pipes (15) are connected to the other end of the main pipe (14) and are respectively connected to the drying chamber (17) and the transition chamber (18). A solenoid valve (16) is connected to the secondary pipe (15).
4. The dried fruit production equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: A threaded rod sleeve (44) is fixedly connected to the housing (12), and the inner cavity of the threaded rod sleeve (44) is connected to the vertical groove (35) and is opposite to the position of the control threaded rod (38).
5. The dried fruit production equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The distance between two adjacent sliders (22) is less than the length of a single load block (19).
6. The method of using the dried fruit production equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The method is as follows: First, start two control motors (43) and drive two sealing plates (34) to move into the receiving cavity, and use the sealing plates (34) to separate the drying cavity (17) and the transition cavity (18); Second, close the solenoid valve (16) on the secondary pipe (15) connected to the transition cavity (18), and then start the vacuum pump (13) to extract the air in the drying cavity (17); Third, while extracting the air in the drying cavity (17), select a carrier with holes or without holes on the track groove (29); Fourth, place the fruit on the selected carrier and place it into the transition cavity (18) on the left, and then close the sealing door (46) on the left to seal the transition cavity (18) on the left; Fifth, open the solenoid valve (16) on the left and extract the air in the transition cavity (18) on the left; Sixth, start the control motor (43) on the left and drive the sealing plate (34) in the opposite direction. Step 7: Move from the receiving cavity to the vertical groove (35); Step 8: Start the drive motor (45) and move the support frame to the right to the drying cavity (17), then start the control motor (43) on the left and move the sealing plate (34) into the receiving cavity, and open the vent hole in the drying cavity (17) on the left; Step 9: Open the solenoid valve (16) on the right and extract the gas in the transition cavity (18) on the right, then start the control motor (43) on the right and move the sealing plate (34) on the right to the vertical groove (35); Step 10: Start the drive motor (45) and move the support frame to the transition cavity (18) on the right, then start the control motor (43) on the right and move the sealing plate (34) on the right to the receiving cavity to separate the transition cavity (18) and the drying cavity (17), and then open the vent hole in the transition cavity (18); Step 11: Take out the support frame in the transition cavity (18).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
High vacuum multi-axis paddle dryer
CN103968657A
Sichuan pepper drying box
CN215736797U