An automatic combined machine for popcorn fan drying and classifying screen material
By designing an automated modular machine, the problem of multi-stage processing after popcorn preparation was solved, achieving efficient screening and drying, reducing costs and improving processing efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- 福建焕华新材料科技有限公司
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, popcorn preparation involves multiple processing steps, including soaking, air drying, extraction, and bagging. This results in long production lines, high labor and equipment costs, and low processing efficiency.
Design an automated combined machine, including a bag-type material loading trough, a screening and drying tower, an amplifying blower body, a vibrating screen and shaking platform, a three-position material hopper device, a primary screening and drying tower, a screening tray trough, and a blower. The machine forms an automated pipeline conveying system through the combination of air supply pipelines and blowers, achieving efficient screening and drying of particulate materials.
It achieves efficient screening and drying of popcorn kernels, reduces labor costs, reduces equipment costs, improves processing efficiency, and can handle emergency shutdowns in case of equipment failure.
Smart Images
Figure CN119426154B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention is an automated combination machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, belonging to the field of automation. Background Technology
[0002] Large-scale complete sets of equipment in an automated system, also known as automated devices, refer to the process by which machines or devices operate or are controlled automatically according to prescribed procedures or instructions without human intervention. The preparation and processing of popcorn kernels, as well as subsequent bagging, require different automated production line steps to achieve integrated popcorn production and processing. Currently, the commonly used technologies have the following shortcomings that need optimization:
[0003] The process of making popcorn involves many steps, including soaking, air drying, extraction, and packaging. The drying process and material screening require manual adjustment and continuous operation of multiple sets of equipment, which can lead to long periods of standing. In addition, the conveyor connections of the equipment production line need to be lengthened to facilitate emergency shutdown in case of equipment failure. However, the lengthy production line results in high labor and equipment costs and low processing efficiency. Summary of the Invention
[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the purpose of this invention is to provide an automated combination machine for popcorn drying and grading screening, which solves the problem that the popcorn preparation process, including soaking, air drying, extraction, and bagging, requires many steps. The drying and screening of popcorn in the environment requires manual step-by-step debugging and continuous operation of multiple sets of equipment, and the equipment production line needs to be lengthened to facilitate emergency stop for any equipment failure. However, the lengthy production line results in high labor and equipment costs and low processing efficiency.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an automated combined machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, comprising: a bag-type material loading trough, a material drying tower, an amplifying blower body, a vibrating screen and shaking platform, a three-position material hopper device, a primary screening and drying tower, a material hopper tray, an air supply pipeline, and a blower. The amplifying blower body is installed at the lower left corner of the bag-type material loading trough, and the material drying tower is installed directly above the bag-type material loading trough. The amplifying blower body is interconnected with the blower via the air supply pipeline. The material hopper tray is mechanically connected to the air supply pipeline via valves and is perpendicular to the pipeline. The material hopper tray is installed on the front side of the vibrating screen and shaking platform. The three-position material hopper device... The hopper device is installed directly above the primary screening and drying tower. The vibrating screen and shaking platform is installed at the front of the bottom of the primary screening and drying tower. The three-position hopper device is interconnected with the primary screening and drying tower. The air supply pipe is inserted into the upper left corner of the screening and drying tower and is interconnected with each other. The amplifying fan body is equipped with an air inlet, a ventilation ring groove, and a wingspan propeller. The air inlet is installed inside the ventilation ring groove. The air inlet and the ventilation ring groove are an integral structure and their axes are collinear. There are five wingspan propellers installed together around the axis of the ventilation ring groove. The rear side of the axis of the ventilation ring groove is mechanically connected to the wingspan propeller through a shaft-driven motor. The ventilation ring groove is installed at the lower left corner of the bag-carrying trough.
[0006] To optimize the above technical solution, the following further measures are taken:
[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, the wingspan propeller is composed of a wingspan fan plate, a propeller strut, and a bearing wheel. The wingspan fan plate is nested in the upper right corner of the propeller strut and is on the same vertical plane, and the bearing wheel is inserted in the lower left corner of the propeller strut.
[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, the bag-carrying trough is composed of a receiving bag, a supporting spring plate, and a concave trough. The receiving bag is installed inside the concave trough and the axes are collinear. The supporting spring plate is inserted into the concave trough. The receiving bag and the supporting spring plate are fitted with a clearance fit.
[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, the vibrating screen shaking platform is composed of a base frame, a feeding trough, a vibrating screen surface, a motor vibrating seat, a machine table, and a loading box trough. The base frame is inserted into the bottom of the vibrating screen surface and the machine table. The vibrating screen surface is installed inside the machine table and is on the same water surface. The motor vibrating seat is close to the bottom of the vibrating screen surface and the machine table. The loading box trough is installed in the lower right corner of the machine table, and the feeding trough is installed in the upper left corner of the machine table.
[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the three-position hopper device consists of a hopper body, a suction fan, and an extraction pipe. The suction fan is installed on the front side of the bottom of the hopper body, and the extraction pipe is inserted into the right side of the hopper body and is interconnected with it.
[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the screening tray is composed of a mesh horizontal plate, a corrugated mesh surface, a honeycomb mesh horizontal plate, a tray groove, and a discharge port. The mesh horizontal plate and the honeycomb mesh horizontal plate are respectively installed on the upper and lower sides of the corrugated mesh surface. The mesh horizontal plate, the corrugated mesh surface, and the honeycomb mesh horizontal plate are all inserted into the tray groove. The tray groove and the discharge port are an integral structure and are interconnected.
[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the wing-shaped fan plate is a double semi-circular fan blade frame structure with V-grooves, which facilitates the generation of double vortexes by the double blades to extract materials and improve the efficiency of material conveying and the progress of drying and screening.
[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the mesh plate is an arc-shaped composite mesh plate structure with ellipsoidal petal mesh on the upper and lower parts of the middle partition plate, which facilitates the matching and subdivision of popcorn particles in the upper and lower vibrating screens.
[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the honeycomb grid plate is a composite mesh plate structure with honeycomb holes forming a passageway between the upper and lower partition plates, which facilitates the matching and subdivision of popcorn particles in the upper and lower vibrating screens.
[0015] Beneficial effects
[0016] This invention relates to an automated combination machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower. The operator starts a blower, connecting the air intake and exhaust pipes to the grading and drying towers. Popcorn kernels are soaked in water and enter the extraction hopper. The extraction is then fed into the hopper via a three-position hopper device and a blower. The kernels are then discharged into the primary drying tower, where they are fed into the vibrating screen's discharge chute. The base frame supports the vibrating screen and the machine platform, allowing the popcorn kernels discharged from the discharge chute to pass through a vibrating motor. The vibration-driven feeding system delivers materials to the loading hopper, and then the material is fed to the loading hopper via a screen tray. This creates a system where small particles are fed to the loading hopper and large particles are fed to the screen tray. The air supply pipe then guides the particles through the air inlet and ventilation ring of the blower. A rear-mounted shaft-driven motor rotates the bearing wheel of the propeller, lifting the propeller support rod and flipping the blades. This allows the particles to flow along the material drying tower through the material guide bag's material-supporting spring plate and concave trough, ensuring efficient material collection and bagging in the receiving bag.
[0017] The advantages that can be achieved after operating this invention are as follows:
[0018] By combining the bag-type material trough with the screening tray, and through the amplification of the blower body, the air conveying pipeline, and the blower, an automated pipeline conveying and blower unit is formed to achieve the effect of blower and exhaust linkage. This allows the screening and drying tower and the primary screening and drying tower to work together to efficiently feed and screen materials. The low-position vibrating screen and shaking platform box-type material loading and the secondary extraction of material from the screening and drying tower to the final screening and bagging of the bag-type material trough are also highly efficient. The operation has been transformed from multiple manual operations to a single manual debugging and start-up of the equipment. Material can be added first and then loaded at the outlet. This is flexible and convenient, reduces the cost of conveying equipment and labor costs, and the long-term operation of the blower increases the workload and improves the batch quality of processed products. Attached Figure Description
[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings in the description of the embodiments will be described in detail below, so that other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent:
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an automated combination machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, according to the present invention.
[0021] Figure 2 This is a detailed cross-sectional structural diagram of the material loading groove of the bag in this invention.
[0022] Figure 3 This is a detailed three-dimensional structural diagram of the amplification fan body of the present invention.
[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the working state of the amplification fan body of the present invention.
[0024] Figure 5 This is a detailed side-view three-dimensional structural diagram of the vibrating screen shaking table of the present invention.
[0025] Figure 6 This is a detailed three-dimensional structural diagram of the three-dimensional hopper device of the present invention.
[0026] Figure 7 This is a detailed cross-sectional structural diagram of the screening tray trough of the present invention.
[0027] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional perspective structural diagram of the propeller of the present invention in its working state.
[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: Bag-1, Screening and Drying Tower, Amplifying Fan Body, Vibrating Screen Shaking Platform, Three-position Material Bin Device, Primary Screening and Drying Tower, Screening Pan, Air Pipe, Blower, Receiving Bag, Material Support Spring Plate, Concave Material Trough, Air Inlet, Ventilation Ring Groove, Wings Propeller, Base Frame, Discharge Groove, Vibrating Screen Surface, Motor Vibration Seat, Machine Table, Loading Box, Material Bin Body, Material Bin, Extraction Fan, Extraction Pipe, Bag Mesh Horizontal Plate, Corrugated Mesh Surface, Honeycomb Mesh Horizontal Plate, Pan Mouth Groove, Discharge Port, Wings Fan Plate, Propeller Support Rod, Bearing Wheel, 333. Detailed Implementation
[0029] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.
[0030] Example 1:
[0031] Please see Figures 1-8 This invention provides an automated combined machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower. Its structure includes: a bag-type material loading trough 1, a screening and drying tower 2, an amplifying blower body 3, a vibrating screen and shaking platform 4, a three-position hopper device 5, a primary screening and drying tower 6, a screening tray trough 7, an air supply pipe 8, and a blower 9. The amplifying blower body 3 is installed at the lower left corner of the bag-type material loading trough 1, and the screening and drying tower 2 is installed directly above the bag-type material loading trough 1. The amplifying blower body 3 is interconnected with the blower 9 via the air supply pipe 8. The screening tray trough 7 is mechanically connected to the air supply pipe 8 via a valve and is perpendicular to it. The screening tray trough 7 is installed in front of the vibrating screen and shaking platform 4, and the three-position hopper device 5 is installed directly above the primary screening and drying tower 6. The vibrating screen 4 is installed on the front side of the bottom of the primary screening and drying tower 6. The three-position material hopper device 5 is interconnected with the primary screening and drying tower 6. The air supply pipe 8 is inserted into the upper left corner of the screening and drying tower 2 and is interconnected with it. The amplifying fan body 3 is provided with an air inlet 31, a ventilation ring groove 32, and a wingspan propeller 33. The air inlet 31 is installed inside the ventilation ring groove 32. The air inlet 31 and the ventilation ring groove 32 are an integral structure and their axes are collinear. There are five wingspan propellers 33, which are installed together around the axis of the ventilation ring groove 32. The rear side of the axis of the ventilation ring groove 32 is mechanically connected to the wingspan propellers 33 through a shaft-driven motor. The ventilation ring groove 32 is installed at the lower left corner of the bag-carrying trough 1.
[0032] Please see Figure 8The propeller 33 consists of a blade 331, a propeller support rod 332, and a bearing wheel 333. The blade 331 is nested in the upper right corner of the propeller support rod 332 and is on the same vertical plane. The bearing wheel 333 is inserted in the lower left corner of the propeller support rod 332. The blade 331 is a double semi-circular blade with a V-groove, which facilitates the generation of double vortexes by the double blades to extract materials and conduct materials efficiently, increasing the conveying capacity and the drying and screening process. The bearing wheel 333, in conjunction with the bearing ring of the shaft-driven motor, drives the propeller support rod 332 to form a propeller rotation operation that is highly efficient.
[0033] Please see Figure 2 The bag-carrying trough 1 consists of a receiving bag 11, a supporting spring plate 12, and a concave trough 13. The receiving bag 11 is installed inside the concave trough 13 and the axes are collinear. The supporting spring plate 12 is inserted into the concave trough 13. The receiving bag 11 and the supporting spring plate 12 are fitted with a clearance. The receiving bag 11 is responsible for receiving the material, and the supporting spring plate 12 provides shock absorption and prevents the bag from breaking efficiently.
[0034] Please see Figure 5 The vibrating screen 4 consists of a base frame 41, a feeding trough 42, a vibrating screen surface 43, a motor vibration seat 44, a machine table 45, and a loading box trough 46. The base frame 41 is inserted into the bottom of the vibrating screen surface 43 and the machine table 45. The vibrating screen surface 43 is installed inside the machine table 45 and is on the same water surface. The motor vibration seat 44 is close to the bottom of the vibrating screen surface 43 and the machine table 45. The loading box trough 46 is installed at the lower right corner of the machine table 45. The feeding trough 42 is installed at the upper left corner of the machine table 45. The vibrating screen surface 43 and the machine table 45 form an integrated operation effect of front-position screening and rear-position screening.
[0035] Please see Figure 6 The three-position hopper device 5 consists of a hopper body 51, a suction fan 52, and an extraction pipe 53. The suction fan 52 is installed on the front side of the bottom of the hopper body 51, and the extraction pipe 53 is inserted into the right side of the hopper body 51 and is interconnected. Through the combination of the hopper body 51 and the suction fan 52, the three-position extraction pipe 53 can smoothly and efficiently connect to the three-position hopper body 51 to pick up and unload materials.
[0036] Workflow: The operator starts the blower 9, which connects the air supply pipe 8 to the air intake and exhaust pipes, connecting the screening drying tower 2 and the primary screening drying tower 6. Popcorn kernels are then soaked in water and enter the extraction trough. The extraction blower 52 of the three-position hopper device 5 then connects to the extraction pipe 53, drawing the kernels into the hopper body 51. The kernels are then discharged from the hopper body 51 into the primary screening drying tower 6, which connects to the discharge port 42 of the vibrating screen platform 4. The base frame 41 supports the vibrating screen mesh 43 and the machine platform 45, allowing the popcorn kernels output from the discharge port 42 to be vibrated and pushed by the motor vibrating seat 44 into the loading box trough 46. The material is collected and then fed into the material box 46 in front of the material tray trough 7. This creates an effect where small particles are fed into the material box 46 and large particles are fed into the material tray 7. The air supply pipe 8 transports the particles through the air inlet 31 and ventilation ring groove 32 of the amplifying blower body 3. The bearing wheel 333 of the rear-mounted shaft-driven motor rotates the propeller 33, which lifts the propeller support rod 332 and flips the wing fan plate 331. This causes the particles to flow along the material drying tower 2 through the material guide bag trough 1, where the material support spring plate 12 and concave material trough 1 are connected. This allows the material receiving bag 11 to efficiently receive and bag the material.
[0037] Example 2:
[0038] Please see Figures 1-8 This invention provides an automated combined machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower. It is the same as Embodiment 1 in all other respects, except that:
[0039] Please see Figure 7 The screening tray trough 7 is composed of a mesh cross plate 71, a corrugated mesh surface 72, a honeycomb mesh cross plate 73, a tray groove 74, and a discharge port 75. The mesh cross plate 71 and the honeycomb mesh cross plate 73 are respectively installed on the upper and lower sides of the corrugated mesh surface 72. The mesh cross plate 71, the corrugated mesh surface 72, and the honeycomb mesh cross plate 73 are all inserted into the tray groove 74. The tray groove 74 and the discharge port 75 are an integral structure and are interconnected. The septum mesh plate 71 is an arc-shaped composite mesh plate structure with ellipsoidal petal mesh on the upper and lower parts of the middle partition plate, which facilitates the matching and subdivision of popcorn particles in the upper and lower vibrating screens. The honeycomb mesh plate 73 is a composite mesh plate structure with honeycomb holes in the upper and lower parts of the middle partition plate, which also facilitates the matching and subdivision of popcorn particles in the upper and lower vibrating screens. The septum mesh plate 71 and the honeycomb mesh plate 73 are connected on the upper and lower parts of the corrugated mesh surface 72 to input particles one by one and achieve high efficiency of double-layer vibrating screen.
[0040] After the initial material collection and feeding process, the material is dried by air blowing inside the reaction tower. Then, the material is received on the upper layer of the mesh plate 71 of the screening tray 7 and guided one by one through the corrugated mesh surface 72 to the honeycomb mesh plate 73 for the lower layer of vibrating screening. This allows the double-layer vibrating screen in the tray groove 74 to cooperate with the final discharge port 75, which is connected to the valve and the gas pipeline 8 for efficient material delivery.
[0041] This invention, through the combination of the aforementioned components, achieves an automated pipeline conveying and ventilation effect by using the bag-carrying trough 1 and the screening tray trough 7 in conjunction with the amplifying blower body 3, combined with the air conveying pipe 8 and the blower 9. This allows for efficient material feeding and screening in conjunction with the screening and drying tower 2 and the primary screening and drying tower 6. Furthermore, the low-position vibrating screen and shaking platform 4 for box-type material loading and the secondary extraction of material by the screening and drying tower 2 for final screening and bagging into the bag-carrying trough 1 are highly efficient. The system can be transformed from multiple manual operations to a single manual adjustment before starting the equipment. Material is added first, and then loaded at the outlet. This approach flexibly and conveniently reduces the cost of conveying equipment and labor costs. Furthermore, the long-term operation of the blower increases the workload and improves the batch quality of processed products. This addresses the issue that the preparation of popcorn, followed by soaking, air drying, extraction, and bagging, requires many processing steps. The drying environment and material screening would cause multiple sets of equipment to be manually adjusted step by step and continuously coordinated for long periods of time while loading. In addition, the conveyor connection of the equipment production line needs to be lengthened to facilitate emergency stop handling of any equipment failure. However, the lengthy production line has high labor and equipment costs and low processing efficiency.
[0042] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative examples of the invention. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various modifications or additions to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods to substitute them, without departing from the invention or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An automated combined machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, comprising: The components include a bag-type material loading trough (1), a screening and drying tower (2), an amplifying blower body (3), a vibrating screen and shaking platform (4), a three-position material silo device (5), a primary screening and drying tower (6), a screening tray trough body (7), an air transmission pipeline (8), and a blower (9), characterized in that: The amplifying blower body (3) is installed at the lower left corner of the bag material loading trough (1), the screening drying tower (2) is installed directly above the bag material loading trough (1), the amplifying blower body (3) is connected to the blower (9) through the air supply pipe (8), the screening tray trough body (7) is mechanically connected to the air supply pipe (8) through the valve, the screening tray trough body (7) is installed on the front side of the vibrating screen shaking platform (4), the three-position hopper device (5) is installed directly above the primary screening drying tower (6), the vibrating screen shaking platform (4) is installed on the front side of the bottom of the primary screening drying tower (6), the three-position hopper device (5) is connected to the primary screening drying tower (6), and the air supply pipe (8) is inserted into the upper left corner of the screening drying tower (2); The amplification fan body (3) is provided with an air inlet (31), a ventilation ring groove (32), and a wingspan propeller (33). The air inlet (31) is installed inside the ventilation ring groove (32). The air inlet (31) and the ventilation ring groove (32) are an integral structure. Five wingspan propellers (33) are provided and installed together around the axis of the ventilation ring groove (32). The rear side of the axis of the ventilation ring groove (32) is mechanically connected to the wingspan propellers (33) through a shaft motor. The ventilation ring groove (32) is installed at the lower left corner of the bag material loading groove (1). The wingspan propeller (33) is composed of a wingspan fan plate (331), a propeller support rod (332), and a bearing wheel (333). The wingspan fan plate (331) is nested in the upper right corner of the propeller support rod (332), and the bearing wheel (333) is inserted in the lower left corner of the propeller support rod (332). The screening tray (7) is composed of a mesh horizontal plate (71), a corrugated mesh surface (72), a honeycomb mesh horizontal plate (73), a tray groove (74), and a discharge port (75). The mesh horizontal plate (71) and the honeycomb mesh horizontal plate (73) are respectively installed on the upper and lower sides of the corrugated mesh surface (72). The mesh horizontal plate (71), the corrugated mesh surface (72), and the honeycomb mesh horizontal plate (73) are all inserted into the tray groove (74). The tray groove (74) and the discharge port (75) are an integral structure.
2. The automated combined machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that: The bag-type material loading trough (1) is composed of a receiving bag (11), a supporting spring plate (12), and a concave material trough (13). The receiving bag (11) is installed inside the concave material trough (13), and the supporting spring plate (12) is inserted into the concave material trough (13). The receiving bag (11) and the supporting spring plate (12) cooperate with each other.
3. The automated combined machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that: The vibrating screen shaking table (4) is composed of a base frame (41), a feeding trough (42), a vibrating screen surface (43), a motor vibration seat (44), a machine table (45), and a loading box trough (46). The base frame (41) is inserted into the bottom of the vibrating screen surface (43) and the machine table (45). The vibrating screen surface (43) is installed inside the machine table (45). The motor vibration seat (44) is close to the bottom of the vibrating screen surface (43) and the machine table (45). The loading box trough (46) is installed at the lower right corner of the machine table (45). The feeding trough (42) is installed at the upper left corner of the machine table (45).
4. The automated combination machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that: The three-dimensional hopper device (5) consists of a hopper body (51), a suction fan (52), and an extraction pipe (53). The suction fan (52) is installed on the front side of the bottom of the hopper body (51), and the extraction pipe (53) is inserted into the right side of the hopper body (51).
5. The automated combined machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that: The wingspan fan plate (331) is a double semi-circular fan blade frame structure with V-groove.
6. The automated combined machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that: The septum cross plate (71) is an arc-shaped composite mesh structure with ellipsoidal petal mesh on the upper and lower parts of the cross plate.
7. The automated combined machine for drying and grading popcorn using a blower, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that: The honeycomb grid horizontal plate (73) is a composite mesh plate structure with honeycomb holes inside, forming a passageway shape on the upper and lower parts of the middle horizontal plate.