Intelligent hot air circulation multi-layer tunnel furnace for food production

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of intelligent hot air circulation multilayer tunnel furnace for food production, comprising: tunnel furnace main body, which is provided with sealable furnace cavity inside, and tunnel furnace main body is provided with hot air circulation system and environmental monitoring system, hot air circulation system is used to form circulating hot air in furnace cavity, and environmental monitoring system is used to monitor the temperature state of different positions in tunnel furnace main body;Multi-layer conveying structure and intelligent control system are provided with weight sensing unit and position sensing unit on multi-layer conveying structure, and intelligent control system can allow monitoring data generated based on weight sensing unit, position sensing unit and environmental monitoring system, and real-time adjust the temperature data of different positions on multi-layer conveying structure.The technical scheme provided by the application can effectively improve the current tunnel furnace in actual use process, the problem of uneven temperature distribution in furnace and single drying product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tunnel oven technology, and in particular to an intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production. Background Technology

[0002] In the food processing industry, tunnel ovens, as an important type of heat processing equipment, have a long history of development. Early tunnel ovens were mainly used for baking bread, pastries, and other foods. Their principle was relatively simple: heating elements generated heat, raising the temperature inside the oven to heat the food. With the continuous development of the food industry, the application range of tunnel ovens has gradually expanded, and they are now widely used in the production and processing of various foods, including biscuits, meat products, and dried fruits.

[0003] Currently, traditional tunnel ovens typically employ a single-layer or simple multi-layer design, with rudimentary hot air circulation systems that rely heavily on natural convection or simple fan drives. This results in uneven temperature distribution within the oven, which negatively impacts food processing quality. For example, when baking bread, it may lead to uneven browning on the surface, with some areas over-burnt while others remain undercooked; when drying fruit, it may cause inconsistent moisture content, affecting the product's texture and shelf life. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to propose an intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel furnace for food production, aiming to at least solve the technical problem of uneven temperature distribution inside the furnace in related technologies.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes an intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production, comprising:

[0006] The tunnel furnace body has a sealable furnace cavity inside, and the tunnel furnace body is equipped with a hot air circulation system and an environmental monitoring system. The hot air circulation system is used to generate circulating hot air in the furnace cavity, and the environmental monitoring system is used to monitor the temperature status at different locations inside the tunnel furnace body.

[0007] A multi-layer conveying structure is located inside the furnace cavity and is used to convey food.

[0008] Temperature control device, used to regulate the temperature inside the furnace cavity; and

[0009] The intelligent control system is connected to the hot air circulation system, the multi-layer conveying structure, and the temperature regulation device to realize intelligent control of the operation of the tunnel furnace.

[0010] The multi-layer conveying structure is equipped with a weight sensing unit and a position sensing unit. The intelligent control system can adjust the temperature data at different positions on the multi-layer conveying structure in real time based on the monitoring data generated by the weight sensing unit, the position sensing unit, and the environmental monitoring system.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the hot air circulation system includes:

[0012] Hot air generator, circulating air duct, circulating fan and return air device;

[0013] The hot air generator is used to generate hot air, the circulating fan drives the hot air to circulate in the furnace cavity through the circulating air duct, and the return air device is used to recover the air in the furnace cavity back to the hot air generator or the circulating air duct.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the circulating air duct includes multiple air outlets, and the air outlets are evenly arranged on the side wall of the tunnel furnace body.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the multi-layer conveying structure includes:

[0016] Multiple conveyor chains, which are parallel to each other and spaced apart in the vertical direction;

[0017] Each conveyor chain has an independent drive unit, which is connected to the intelligent control system and can adjust the conveying speed of the conveyor chain according to production needs.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, an anti-slip structure is further included, which is located on the surface of the conveyor chain;

[0019] The anti-slip structure can be used to prevent food from sliding or shifting during transportation.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the intelligent control system includes a central processing unit and a communication module; and the environmental monitoring system includes multiple sensor modules.

[0021] The sensor module is used to monitor the temperature, wind speed, and food position parameters inside the tunnel oven in real time, and transmits the monitoring data to the central processing unit; and

[0022] The central processing unit allows control of the hot air circulation system, multi-layer conveying structure, and temperature regulation device according to preset programs and monitoring data; the communication module is used to enable communication between the intelligent control system and external devices to achieve remote monitoring and operation of the tunnel furnace.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor module includes:

[0024] Temperature sensor, wind speed sensor, position sensor;

[0025] The temperature sensors are distributed at different locations within the oven cavity to accurately measure the temperature distribution within the oven cavity; the wind speed sensor is installed in the circulating air duct to monitor the wind speed of the hot air; and the position sensor is installed on the multi-layer conveying structure to monitor the position and conveying status of the food.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature regulating device includes:

[0027] A heating element and a cooling element; the heating element is used to heat the furnace cavity when the temperature is below a set value, and the cooling element is used to cool the furnace cavity when the temperature is above a set value.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the heating element is electrically heated and / or gas-fired heated; and the cooling element is air-cooled and / or water-cooled.

[0029] In summary, this invention discloses an intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production. Through its multi-layer conveying structure, food can be processed simultaneously on different levels, while the hot air circulation system ensures uniform distribution of hot air within the oven cavity. This allows food on each layer to receive the same level of heat transfer, avoiding the temperature difference problem between upper and lower layers commonly found in traditional tunnel ovens. Furthermore, the temperature sensors in the intelligent control system can monitor the temperature at different locations within the oven cavity in real time and accurately.

[0030] The central processing unit precisely adjusts the operating status of the heating and cooling elements based on this data, stabilizing the oven temperature within the set range with minimal temperature fluctuations. Simultaneously, the hot air circulation system adjusts the flow rate and temperature of the hot air according to the processing requirements of different foods. Appropriate hot air flow rate allows a uniform, dry outer shell to quickly form on the food surface, locking in internal moisture and resulting in good taste and appearance during baking or drying. Therefore, it effectively improves the problems of uneven temperature distribution and limited product variety in current tunnel ovens. Attached Figure Description

[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art 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 the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0032] Figure 1A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel furnace for food production provided by the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 A cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel furnace for food production provided by the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the multi-layer conveying structure of an embodiment of the intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production provided by the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the module structure of the intelligent control system of an embodiment of the intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production provided by the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the working process of the intelligent control system of an embodiment of the intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production provided by the present invention.

[0037] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0038] 100. Tunnel furnace body; 101. Furnace cavity; 102. Input end; 103. Output end; 104. Furnace door; 110. First heating zone; 120. Second heating zone; 130. Third heating zone;

[0039] 200. Multi-layer conveyor structure; 210. Anti-slip structure; 201. Anti-slip protrusions; 220. Pallet; 221. Groove;

[0040] 300. Hot air circulation system; 310. Hot air generator; 320. Circulating air duct; 321. Air outlet; 330. Circulating fan;

[0041] 400. Intelligent control system; 410. Central processing unit; 420. Communication module.

[0042] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0043] 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 the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve descriptions such as "first" and "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features.

[0045] Please see Figures 1 to 5 This invention proposes an intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production, aiming to at least solve the technical problems of uneven temperature distribution inside the oven and the single type of dried product in related technologies.

[0046] Specifically, the intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production provided by the present invention includes at least a tunnel oven body 100, a multi-layer conveying structure 200, a temperature regulating device, and an intelligent control system 400. The intelligent control system is controllably connected to the multi-layer conveying structure 200 and the temperature regulating device to adjust the operating speed of the multi-layer conveying structure 200 and the temperature data within the tunnel oven body 100.

[0047] Furthermore, the tunnel furnace body 100 has a sealable furnace cavity 101, and a hot air circulation system 300 and an environmental monitoring system are installed on the tunnel furnace body 100. The hot air circulation system 300 is used to generate circulating hot air within the furnace cavity 101, and the environmental monitoring system is used to monitor the temperature status at different locations within the tunnel furnace body 100. An input end 102 and an output end 103 are respectively provided at both ends of the tunnel furnace body 100, and liftable furnace doors 104 are respectively provided at the input end 102 and the output end 103. By providing liftable furnace doors 104, the furnace cavity 101 within the tunnel furnace body 100 can be kept in a closed state.

[0048] The multi-layer conveying structure 200 is located inside the furnace cavity 101 and is used for conveying food.

[0049] Specifically, the multi-layer conveyor structure 200 has two layers, and each layer includes multiple conveyor chains that are parallel to each other and spaced apart in the vertical direction. Each conveyor chain has an independent drive unit, which is connected to the intelligent control system 400 and can adjust the conveying speed according to production needs. For example, the drive unit can be a servo motor, which has good controllability and can precisely regulate the operating speed of the conveyor chain.

[0050] It should be noted that an anti-slip structure 210 may be provided on the conveyor chain, and the anti-slip structure 210 is located on the surface of the conveyor chain. By providing the anti-slip structure 210, it is possible to effectively prevent food from slipping or shifting during the conveying process. For example, in some embodiments, it is permissible to provide multiple anti-slip protrusions 201 on the surface of the conveyor chain, and a tray 220 may be provided on the conveyor chain. The bottom surface of the tray 220 has a groove 221. Therefore, by engaging the groove 221 at the bottom of the tray 220 with the anti-slip protrusions 201, and by placing food on the tray 220, the hygiene performance and anti-slip properties of this device during use are improved.

[0051] The multi-layer conveying structure 200 is equipped with a weight sensing unit and a position sensing unit. The intelligent control system 400 can adjust the temperature data at different positions on the multi-layer conveying structure 200 in real time based on the monitoring data generated by the weight sensing unit, the position sensing unit, and the environmental monitoring system.

[0052] For example, a pressure sensing module and a position sensing module can be installed on the top of the anti-slip protrusion 201, and these modules are communicatively connected to the intelligent control system 400. Therefore, the intelligent control system 400 can obtain the weight data of the food on the corresponding tray 220 and the position of the tray 220 within the tunnel oven through the pressure sensing module. By combining the environmental data within the tunnel oven, the food weight data, and the position of the tray 220 within the tunnel oven, the temperature of the corresponding area can be adjusted.

[0053] Furthermore, the hot air circulation system 300 includes a hot air generator 310, a circulating air duct 320, a circulating fan 330, and a return air device. The hot air generator 310 generates hot air, the circulating fan 330 drives the hot air to circulate within the furnace chamber 101 through the circulating air duct 320, and the return air device recovers the air from the furnace chamber 101 back to the hot air generator 310 or the circulating air duct 320.

[0054] For a tunnel oven, its circulating air duct 320 includes multiple air outlets 321, which are evenly arranged on the side wall of the tunnel oven body 100. Therefore, the temperature uniformity inside the tunnel oven can be effectively adjusted through the multiple air outlets 321 to improve the actual drying effect of food.

[0055] In some embodiments, the intelligent control system 400 includes a central processing unit 410 and a communication module 420, and the environmental monitoring system includes multiple sensor modules. The sensor modules are used to monitor the temperature, wind speed, and food position parameters inside the tunnel oven in real time, and transmit the monitoring data to the central processing unit 410. The central processing unit 410 can control the hot air circulation system 300, the multi-layer conveyor structure 200, and the temperature regulation device according to preset programs and monitoring data. The communication module 420 is used to enable communication between the intelligent control system 400 and external devices to achieve remote monitoring and operation of the tunnel oven.

[0056] Specifically, the sensor module includes a temperature sensor, a wind speed sensor, and a position sensor. The temperature sensors are distributed at different locations within the oven cavity 101 to accurately measure the temperature distribution within the oven cavity 101; the wind speed sensors are installed within the circulating air duct 320 to monitor the wind speed of the hot air; and the position sensors are installed on the multi-layer conveyor structure 200 to monitor the position and conveying status of the food.

[0057] In some embodiments, a temperature regulating device is also provided, which includes a heating element and a cooling element. The heating element is used to heat the furnace cavity 101 when the temperature is lower than a set value, and the cooling element is used to cool the furnace cavity 101 when the temperature is higher than the set value. Temperature regulation can be achieved quickly through the temperature regulating device.

[0058] For example, in some embodiments, the heating element is electrically heated and / or gas-fired heated; and the cooling element is air-cooled and / or water-cooled. However, this is not the only option, and the specific requirements may be determined based on actual needs.

[0059] It is important to note that tunnel ovens can have multiple heating zones inside. Each heating zone is independently temperature-controlled via a temperature regulating device. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the temperature range within different heating zones in real time according to the processing requirements of different foods.

[0060] For example, in some embodiments, the heating area may include a first heating zone 110, a second heating zone 120, and a third heating zone 130.

[0061] During the actual heating process of food, the intelligent control system 400 allows for real-time adjustment of the temperature state of the tunnel oven according to different food requirements, so that the temperature inside the tunnel oven is in an optimized state.

[0062] Please see Figure 5 In the actual baking process, the intelligent control system performs at least the following steps.

[0063] Step S10: Obtain the food category and weight data.

[0064] It allows food to be placed on a tray and its weight data to be acquired via a weight acquisition unit.

[0065] Step S20: Based on the food category and weight data, obtain its corresponding calorie data.

[0066] Based on the food category and a preset food category-specific heat capacity and temperature range comparison table, the caloric data required for food heating is generated.

[0067] The required heat can be defined as Q, and obtained through Q = m × c × ΔT. Here, Q represents the specific heat capacity of the food (in joules per kilogram per degree Celsius), c represents the mass of the food (in kilograms), and ΔT represents the temperature change during food processing (in degrees Celsius).

[0068] The flow rate V of the hot air can be obtained based on the heat Q and the temperature obtained by the sensor.

[0069] Specifically, the formula Where ρ represents air density (unit: kg / m³, c) p The specific heat capacity of air at constant pressure (unit: joules / (kg·°C)) and ΔT air Characterizes the difference between hot air temperature and inlet air temperature (in degrees Celsius).

[0070] Step S30: Determine the operating speed of the conveyor chain, generate a hot air-position-temperature reference table, and adjust the hot air and temperature at the corresponding positions of the food in real time based on the reference table.

[0071] Specifically, the intelligent control system uses a position sensor module to obtain the real-time position of the tray within the tunnel oven. Based on the tray's position on the conveyor belt and its corresponding hot air flow rate (V), it adjusts the temperature data and hot air flow rate within the corresponding area in real time. Therefore, the tunnel oven can effectively heat foods with different heat requirements, significantly improving its applicability and enabling simultaneous heating of various foods.

[0072] In summary, this invention discloses an intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production. Through its multi-layer conveying structure, food can be processed simultaneously at different levels, while the hot air circulation system ensures uniform distribution of hot air within the oven cavity. This allows each layer of food to receive the same level of heat, avoiding the temperature difference problem between upper and lower layers commonly found in traditional tunnel ovens. Furthermore, the temperature sensors in the intelligent control system can monitor the temperature at different locations within the oven cavity in real time and accurately. The central processing unit precisely adjusts the operating status of the heating and cooling elements based on this data, stabilizing the oven temperature within the set range with minimal temperature fluctuations. Simultaneously, the hot air circulation system can adjust the flow rate and temperature of the hot air according to the processing requirements of different foods. A suitable hot air flow rate allows a uniform, dry outer shell to quickly form on the food surface, locking in internal moisture and resulting in good taste and appearance during baking or drying. Therefore, it effectively improves upon the uneven temperature distribution and other technical problems encountered in current tunnel ovens during practical use.

[0073] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

[0074] Furthermore, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text implies three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution that simultaneously satisfies both A and B. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

Claims

1. An intelligent hot air circulation multi-layer tunnel oven for food production, characterized in that, include: The tunnel furnace body has a sealable furnace cavity inside, and the tunnel furnace body is equipped with a hot air circulation system and an environmental monitoring system. The hot air circulation system is used to generate circulating hot air in the furnace cavity, and the environmental monitoring system is used to monitor the temperature and wind speed parameters at different locations inside the tunnel furnace body in real time. A multi-layer conveying structure, located within the furnace cavity, is used for conveying food. The multi-layer conveying structure includes at least two layers of conveying chains that are parallel to each other and spaced apart in the vertical direction, and each conveying chain is equipped with an independent drive device. A temperature regulating device, comprising a heating element and a cooling element, is used to precisely regulate the temperature of different areas within a furnace cavity. The heating element is used to heat the furnace cavity when the temperature is below a set value, and the cooling element is used to cool the furnace cavity when the temperature is above a set value. as well as The intelligent control system is communicatively connected to the hot air circulation system, the multi-layer conveying structure, and the temperature regulation device to realize intelligent control of the tunnel furnace operation. The drive device is connected to the intelligent control system and can adjust the conveying speed of the conveyor chain according to production needs. The surface of the conveyor chain is also provided with an anti-slip structure, which can be used to prevent food from sliding or shifting during the conveying process. The anti-slip structure includes anti-slip protrusions. The multi-layer conveying structure integrates a weight sensing unit and a position sensing unit. The weight sensing unit is a pressure sensing module set on the top of the anti-slip protrusion of the conveyor chain, and the position sensing unit is a position sensing module linked to the conveyor chain. The intelligent control system can generate a hot air-position-temperature reference table based on the food weight data obtained by the weight sensing unit, the real-time food position data obtained by the position sensing unit, and the temperature and wind speed data obtained by the environmental monitoring system through a preset heat calculation model. It can adjust the temperature and hot air flow rate of the corresponding food position on the multi-layer conveying structure in real time to adapt to the processing needs of different types and weights of food. The specific execution steps of the intelligent control system are as follows: Step S10: Obtain the food category and weight data; Step S20: Based on the food category, retrieve the pre-stored specific heat capacity parameters, combine them with weight data and a preset temperature range, and calculate the heat capacity using the heat formula. Calculate the amount of heat required to heat the food, and then combine this with the air density ρ and the specific heat capacity at constant pressure. and the temperature difference between hot air and incoming air Through formula Calculate the appropriate hot air flow rate; Step S30: Based on the real-time location data of the food and the calculated heat and hot air flow parameters, a hot air-location-temperature comparison table is generated. The working status of the heating elements and cooling elements in the corresponding area and the wind speed of the circulating fan are dynamically adjusted to achieve precise temperature control throughout the food processing process.

2. The intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hot air circulation system includes: Hot air generator, circulating air duct, circulating fan and return air device; The hot air generator is used to generate hot air, the circulating fan drives the hot air to circulate in the furnace cavity through the circulating air duct, and the return air device is used to recover the air in the furnace cavity back to the hot air generator or the circulating air duct.

3. The intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production according to claim 2, characterized in that: The circulating air duct includes multiple air outlets, which are evenly arranged on the side wall of the tunnel furnace body.

4. The intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production according to claim 2, characterized in that: The intelligent control system includes a central processing unit and a communication module; and the environmental monitoring system includes multiple sensor modules. The sensor module is used to monitor the temperature, wind speed, and food position parameters inside the tunnel oven in real time, and transmits the monitoring data to the central processing unit; and The central processing unit allows control of the hot air circulation system, multi-layer conveying structure, and temperature regulation device according to preset programs and monitoring data; the communication module is used to enable communication between the intelligent control system and external devices to achieve remote monitoring and operation of the tunnel furnace.

5. The intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sensor module includes: Temperature sensor, wind speed sensor, position sensor; The temperature sensors are distributed at different locations within the oven cavity to accurately measure the temperature distribution within the oven cavity; the wind speed sensor is installed in the circulating air duct to monitor the wind speed of the hot air; and the position sensor is installed on the multi-layer conveying structure to monitor the position and conveying status of the food.

6. The intelligent hot air circulating multi-layer tunnel oven for food production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating element is electrically heated and / or gas-fired heated; and the cooling element is air-cooled and / or water-cooled.

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