Oil filtering and sterilizing system and control method thereof

Abstract

An oil filtering and sterilizing system and a control method thereof are suitable for filtering edible oil. The oil filtering and sterilizing system comprises a frying unit, an oil filtering unit, a motor unit and a sterilizing unit. The frying unit comprises a shell defining a frying groove and a discharge port, and a discharge valve corresponding to the discharge port in position. The oil filtering unit comprises an oil filtering container, a small-aperture filter screen and a large-aperture filter screen; the oil filtering container defines a containing groove and is aligned to the discharge port; the small-aperture filter screen is positioned above the containing groove; the large-aperture filter screen is positioned above the small-aperture filter screen. The motor unit comprises a guide pipe communicated with the containing groove and a motor body. The edible oil is filtered through the oil filtering unit, and the edible oil which flows back into the frying groove after being filtered is sterilized through the sterilization unit, so that the quality of the edible oil is ensured, and the service life of the edible oil is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an oil filtering system, in particular to an oil filtering and sterilizing system and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Currently, businesses selling fried foods often use an existing deep fryer to fry the fried foods. The deep fryer has a deep frying tank for containing edible oil, a discharge port connected to the deep frying tank, and a heating source for heating the edible oil in the deep frying tank.

[0003] However, frying food often generates a large amount of frying crumbs. If not removed in time, the quality of the edible oil will be degraded, resulting in the fried food having a greasy smell or producing carcinogens. The methods for removing the frying crumbs include using a long-handled colander, or manually filtering with oil filter paper having a chemical composition, or sprinkling oil filter powder into the frying tank to precipitate the frying crumbs.

[0004] However, manual salvaging is inefficient and can only salvage a small amount of fried crumbs. It is not possible to salvage relatively fine crumbs, which will still cause the quality of the edible oil to decline. In addition, after sprinkling the oil filter powder, the edible oil still needs to be manually discharged, and then the precipitated fried crumbs need to be cleaned, such as by flushing the frying tank with clean water. However, this cleaning method will increase operating time and costs, and the efficiency still needs to be improved. Moreover, sprinkling oil filter powder or using oil filter paper in the edible oil inevitably makes people worry about whether chemical substances will remain in the edible oil, and repeated use may affect human health. Obviously, the existing oil filtering method still has room for improvement. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an oil filtering and sterilizing system and a control method thereof which can overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0006] The oil filtering and sterilizing system of the present invention is suitable for filtering edible oil, and the oil filtering and sterilizing system comprises a frying unit, an oil filtering unit, a motor unit and a sterilizing unit; the frying unit comprises a shell defining a frying tank and a discharge port connected to the frying tank, a discharge valve corresponding to the discharge port and used to open or close the discharge port, and a heating source for heating the frying tank, wherein the frying tank is used to accommodate the edible oil; the oil filtering unit comprises an oil filtering container defining a receiving tank and used to filter the edible oil at the discharge port, and a heating source arranged in the oil filtering container. and a small-aperture filter located above the containing tank, and a large-aperture filter arranged in the oil filter container and located above the small-aperture filter, the containing tank is used to accommodate the edible oil filtered by the large-aperture filter and the small-aperture filter; the motor unit includes a conduit connected to the containing tank, and a motor body connected to the conduit, the motor body is used to drive the edible oil located in the containing tank to flow back into the frying tank through the conduit; the sterilization unit is used to sterilize the edible oil flowing back into the frying tank.

[0007] The oil filtering and sterilizing system of the present invention, the sterilizing unit comprises a top cover for shielding the frying tank, and an ultraviolet lamp connected to the top cover and facing the frying tank.

[0008] The oil filtering and sterilization system of the present invention comprises a shell having two side panels arranged at an interval, and a main shell connecting the side panels and spaced to a limited height relative to the bottom surfaces of the side panels in the top-to-bottom direction, the frying tank being formed by the top surface of the main shell being recessed toward the bottom surface of the main shell in the top-to-bottom direction, the discharge port being opened on the bottom surface of the main shell and connected to the frying tank, the main shell and the side panels jointly defining a storage space located below the frying tank for placing the oil filtering unit and the motor unit.

[0009] The oil filtering and sterilizing system of the present invention, the housing further comprises a plurality of fryer rollers arranged on the bottom surface of the side plate.

[0010] The oil filtering and sterilizing system of the present invention comprises an oil filtering container having a container body and a plurality of container rollers arranged on the bottom surface of the container body.

[0011] In the oil filtering and sterilization system of the present invention, the mesh number of the small-aperture filter is between 240 meshes and 260 meshes, and the mesh number of the large-aperture filter is between 110 meshes and 130 meshes.

[0012] The control method of the oil filtering and sterilizing system of the present invention is implemented through the oil filtering and sterilizing system and the material storage unit, the oil filtering and sterilizing system comprises a frying unit, an oil filtering unit and a motor unit, the frying unit comprises a shell defining a frying tank and a discharge port connected to the frying tank, a discharge valve corresponding to the discharge port, and a heating source for heating the frying tank, the oil filtering unit comprises an oil filtering container defining a receiving tank, a small-aperture filter screen arranged in the oil filtering container and above the receiving tank, and a large-aperture filter screen arranged in the oil filtering container and above the small-aperture filter screen, the motor unit comprises a conduit connected to the receiving tank, and a motor body arranged in the oil filtering container, the control method of the oil filtering and sterilizing system comprises the following steps: (A) stopping the heating source of the frying unit from heating the edible oil in the frying tank; (B) stopping the oil filtering container of the oil filtering unit from heating the edible oil in the frying tank; (C) the discharge valve of the frying unit opens the discharge port, so that part of the edible oil in the frying tank flows into the oil filter container through the discharge port, and flows into the containing tank through the large-aperture filter screen and the small-aperture filter screen; (D) the oil filter container of the oil filter unit is moved away from the discharge port, and the storage unit is positioned below the discharge port, so that part of the fried crumbs in the frying tank falls into the storage unit through the discharge port due to its own weight; (E) the storage unit is moved away from the discharge port, and the oil filter container of the oil filter unit is positioned below the discharge port again; and (F) the conduit is connected to the frying tank at a side opposite to the containing tank, and the motor body of the motor unit applies force to the conduit to drive the edible oil in the containing tank to flow back into the frying tank through the conduit.

[0013] The control method of the oil filtering and sterilizing system of the present invention further comprises a sterilizing unit, the sterilizing unit comprises a top cover, and an ultraviolet lamp connected to the top cover, and the control method of the oil filtering and sterilizing system further comprises a step (G) following step (F), a step (H) following step (G), and a step (I) following step (H): (G) allowing the edible oil that flows back into the frying tank to flush the frying crumbs remaining in the frying tank, and then flows into the oil filtering container through the discharge port, and passes through the large-aperture filter screen and the small-aperture filter screen to flow into the containing tank; (H) allowing the discharge valve of the frying unit to close the discharge port, and then allowing the motor body of the motor unit to apply force to the conduit to drive the edible oil in the containing tank to flow back into the frying tank through the conduit; (I) allowing the top cover of the sterilizing unit to cover the frying tank, and then allowing the ultraviolet lamp to face the frying tank and irradiate the frying tank with ultraviolet rays to sterilize the edible oil that flows back into the frying tank.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the edible oil is filtered by the large-pore filter and the small-pore filter of the oil filter unit, and the edible oil in the containing tank is driven by the motor body to flow back into the frying tank through the conduit, and finally the edible oil flowing back into the frying tank is sterilized by the sterilization unit, so as to ensure the quality of the edible oil so that consumers can eat healthily, extend the service life of the edible oil and thus reduce the cost of the operator, and reduce the fumes generated during the frying operation to improve the working environment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 is a partial three-dimensional exploded view illustrating an embodiment of the oil filtering and sterilizing system of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional combined diagram, illustrating the relative relationship between the frying unit and the material storage unit of the embodiment;

[0018] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional combined diagram illustrating the relative relationship between the oil filter unit, the motor unit and the container cover of the embodiment;

[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the oil filter unit and the motor unit of the embodiment;

[0020] Figure 5 is a flow chart of the control method of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 An embodiment of the oil filtering and sterilizing system of the present invention is suitable for filtering edible oil (not shown in the figure), and the embodiment includes a frying unit 1, an oil filtering unit 2, a motor unit 3 and a sterilizing unit 4.

[0022] The frying unit 1 includes a housing 11 defining a frying tank 111 and a discharge port 112 communicating with the frying tank 111, a discharge valve 12 corresponding to the discharge port 112 and used to open or close the discharge port 112, a heating source 13 for heating the frying tank 111, a temperature control knob 14 installed on the housing 11 and used to adjust the output temperature of the heating source 13, and a switch knob 15 installed on the housing 11 and used to open or close the heating source 13. In this embodiment, the heating source 13 is a gas combustion heater.

[0023] The housing 11 has two side panels 113 spaced apart, a main housing 114 connected between the side panels 113 and spaced apart from the bottom surface of the side panels 113 by a limited height along a top-bottom direction D1, and a plurality of fryer rollers 116 disposed on the bottom surface of the side panels 113. The frying tank 111 is formed by the top surface of the main housing 114 being recessed toward the bottom surface of the main housing 114 along the top-bottom direction D1, and is used to accommodate the edible oil. The discharge port 112 is opened on the bottom surface of the main housing 114 and communicates with the frying tank 111. The main housing 114 and the side panels 113 jointly define a receiving space 115 located below the frying tank 111, and the receiving space 115 is used to accommodate the oil filter unit 2 and the motor unit 3. In this embodiment, the number of the fryer rollers 116 is four.

[0024] See also Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The oil filter unit 2 includes an oil filter container 21 defining a groove 211 and used for filtering oil at the discharge port 112, a small-pore filter screen 22 disposed in the oil filter container 21 and located above the groove 211, and a large-pore filter screen 23 disposed in the oil filter container 21 and located above the small-pore filter screen 22. If storage is required, a container cover 24 can be provided on top of the large-pore filter screen 23.

[0025] See also Figure 4 The oil filter container 21 comprises a container body 212 defining the container groove 211, a plurality of container rollers 213 disposed on the bottom surface of the container body 212, and an oil filter handle 214 fixed to the container body 212. The container groove 211 is used to accommodate the edible oil filtered by the large-aperture filter 23 and the small-aperture filter 22. In this embodiment, the number of the container rollers 213 is four.

[0026] The small-pore filter 22 is positioned in the container body 212 and above the container tank 211. In this embodiment, the mesh number of the small-pore filter 22 is between 240 meshes and 260 meshes.

[0027] The large-aperture filter 23 is connected to the top of the container body 212, and has a hollow frame 231 installed on the top of the container body 212, and a mesh 232 disposed in the frame 231. In this embodiment, the mesh number of the large-aperture filter 23 is between 110 meshes and 130 meshes.

[0028] See also Figure 1 and Figure 4The motor unit 3 includes a conduit 31 connected to the containing groove 211 and a motor body 32 connected to the conduit 31 .

[0029] The motor body 32 is used to drive the edible oil in the containing tank 211 to flow back into the frying tank 111 through the conduit 31 .

[0030] The sterilization unit 4 includes a top cover 41 for shielding the frying tank 111 , and an ultraviolet lamp 42 connected to the top cover 41 and facing the frying tank 111 .

[0031] See also Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 , a control method is implemented through the embodiment and a storage unit 5, and the control method comprises the following steps:

[0032] Step S11: The heating source 13 of the frying unit 1 stops heating the edible oil in the frying tank 111. At this time, since the frying operation is completed, the frying tank 111 contains not only the remaining edible oil but also the corresponding frying crumbs.

[0033] Step S12: Make the oil filter container 21 of the oil filter unit 2 correspond to the position of the discharge BCPI-240362 Page 6 / 8

[0034] Below the mouth 112.

[0035] Step S13: See Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the discharge valve 12 of the frying unit 1 opens the discharge port 112, so that part of the edible oil in the frying tank 111 flows into the oil filter container 21 through the discharge port 112, first passes through the large-pore filter 23, and then passes through the small-pore filter 22, until it flows into the container tank 211.

[0036] More precisely, after the discharge port 112 is opened by the discharge valve 12, most of the remaining edible oil can flow into the oil filter container 21 through the discharge port 112 for subsequent oil filtering. At this time, a certain proportion of fried crumbs (about 20% of the total weight) will flow into the oil filter container 21 through the discharge port 112 along with most of the remaining edible oil.

[0037] Step S14: See Figure 2 and Figure 5, the oil filter container 21 of the oil filter unit 2 is moved away from the discharge port 112, and the storage unit 5 is positioned to correspond to the lower side of the discharge port 112, so that part of the fried crumbs in the frying tank 111 can fall into the storage unit 5 through the discharge port 112 due to its own weight.

[0038] More precisely, the fried crumbs in the frying tank 111 account for about 80% of the total weight. Then, the fried crumbs that fall into the storage unit 5 through the discharge port 112 due to their own weight account for about 70% of the total weight. In other words, the fried crumbs that remain and stick to the frying tank 111 account for about 10% of the total weight.

[0039] Step S15: See Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 , move the material storage unit 5 away from the discharge port 112 , and then move the oil filter container 21 of the oil filter unit 2 to a position corresponding to the lower side of the discharge port 112 again.

[0040] Step S16: connect the conduit 31 to the frying tank 111 at a side opposite to the receiving tank 211 , and then apply force to the conduit 31 by the motor body 32 of the motor unit 3 to drive the edible oil in the receiving tank 211 to flow back into the frying tank 111 through the conduit 31 .

[0041] Step S17: The cooking oil that flows back into the frying tank 111 flushes the fried crumbs (accounting for about 10% of the total weight) remaining in the frying tank 111, thereby producing a flushing and cleaning effect. After flushing, the cooking oil that flows back into the frying tank 111 and the remaining fried crumbs flow into the oil filter container 21 through the discharge port 112, and pass through the large-aperture filter screen 23 and the small-aperture filter screen 22 to flow into the container 211.

[0042] Step S18: the discharge valve 12 of the frying unit 1 closes the discharge port 112 , and the motor body 32 of the motor unit 3 applies force to the conduit 31 to drive the edible oil in the container 211 to flow back into the frying tank 111 through the conduit 31 .

[0043] Step S19: The top cover 41 of the sterilization unit 4 covers the frying tank 111, and the ultraviolet lamp 42 faces the frying tank 111 and irradiates the frying tank 111 with ultraviolet rays to sterilize the edible oil flowing back into the frying tank 111. Thus, the edible oil in the frying tank 111 is completely filtered and continuously sterilized, thereby extending the service life of the edible oil.

[0044] According to actual tests by the applicant, the frying operation is performed daily for a period of time, which is substantially between 4 and 6 hours. After the frying operation is stopped, the edible oil is first filtered by the oil filter unit 2 and the motor unit 3, and then the edible oil is sterilized by the sterilization unit 4 until the frying operation is performed again the next day. The present invention filters and sterilizes the edible oil until the fourth day, and the total polar compound content of the edible oil is only 18%, which is lower than the international standard (25%).

[0045] Therefore, the oil filtering and sterilizing system and control method of the present invention can produce the following effects:

[0046] (i) The edible oil is filtered through the oil filter unit 2, and a physical filtering method is used throughout the process to ensure that the filtered edible oil has no chemical residues, so that consumers can eat healthily.

[0047] (ii) The edible oil is filtered by the oil filter unit 2, and the edible oil that flows back into the frying tank 111 is sterilized by the sterilization unit 4, thereby extending the service life of the edible oil and reducing the cost of the operator.

[0048] (iii) The edible oil is filtered by the oil filter unit 2, and the edible oil that flows back into the frying tank 111 is sterilized by the sterilization unit 4, thereby reducing the oil smoke generated during the frying operation and improving the working environment.

[0049] (iv) The edible oil is filtered by the oil filter unit 2, and the motor body 32 drives the edible oil in the container 211 to flow back into the frying tank 111 through the conduit 31, so as to flush the frying crumbs remaining in the frying tank 111, thereby reducing the difficulty of cleaning the frying tank 111, greatly reducing the cleaning time, and improving the operating efficiency.

[0050] In summary, the oil filtering and sterilizing system and control method thereof of the present invention can achieve multiple goals at one stroke through the above components and steps, and can indeed achieve the purpose of the present invention.

[0051] BCPI-240362 Page 8 / 8

[0052] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. That is, any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and description of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An oil filtering and sterilizing system, suitable for filtering edible oil, characterized in that: The oil filtering and sterilizing system comprises a frying unit, an oil filtering unit, a motor unit and a sterilizing unit; the frying unit comprises a shell defining a frying tank and a discharge port connected to the frying tank, a discharge valve corresponding to the discharge port and used to open or close the discharge port, and a heating source for heating the frying tank, the frying tank is used to accommodate the edible oil; the oil filtering unit comprises an oil filtering container defining a receiving tank and used to filter the oil at the discharge port, a small-aperture filter screen arranged in the oil filtering container and located above the receiving tank, and a large-aperture filter screen arranged in the oil filtering container and located above the small-aperture filter screen, the receiving tank is used to accommodate the edible oil filtered by the large-aperture filter screen and the small-aperture filter screen; the motor unit comprises a conduit connected to the receiving tank, and a motor body connected to the conduit, the motor body is used to drive the edible oil in the receiving tank to flow back into the frying tank through the conduit; the sterilizing unit is used to sterilize the edible oil flowing back into the frying tank.

2. The oil filtering and sterilizing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sterilization unit includes a top cover for shielding the frying tank, and an ultraviolet lamp connected to the top cover and facing the frying tank.

3. The oil filtering and sterilizing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell has two side panels arranged at an interval, and a main shell body connected between the side panels and spaced to a limited height relative to the bottom surfaces of the side panels in the top-bottom direction. The frying tank is formed by the top surface of the main shell body being recessed toward the bottom surface of the main shell body along the top-bottom direction. The discharge port is opened on the bottom surface of the main shell body and connected to the frying tank. The main shell body and the side panels jointly define a storage space located below the frying tank for the oil filter unit and the motor unit to be placed therein.

4. The oil filtering and sterilizing system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The housing also has a plurality of fryer rollers disposed on the bottom surface of the side plate.

5. The oil filtering and sterilizing system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The oil filter container comprises a container body and a plurality of container rollers arranged on the bottom surface of the container body.

6. The oil filtering and sterilizing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mesh number of the small-aperture filter is between 240 meshes and 260 meshes, and the mesh number of the large-aperture filter is between 110 meshes and 130 meshes.

7. A control method for an oil filtering and sterilizing system, which is implemented by an oil filtering and sterilizing system and a material storage unit, wherein the oil filtering and sterilizing system comprises a frying unit, an oil filtering unit and a motor unit, wherein the frying unit comprises a housing defining a frying tank and a discharge port connected to the frying tank, a discharge valve corresponding to the discharge port, and a heating source for heating the frying tank, wherein the oil filtering unit comprises an oil filtering container defining a receiving tank, a small-aperture filter screen disposed in the oil filtering container and above the receiving tank, and a large-aperture filter screen disposed in the oil filtering container and above the small-aperture filter screen, wherein the motor unit comprises a conduit connected to the receiving tank, and a motor body disposed in the oil filtering container, wherein: The control method of the oil filtering and sterilizing system comprises the following steps: (A) stopping the heating source of the frying unit from heating the edible oil in the frying tank; (B) positioning the oil filter container of the oil filter unit to correspond to the position below the discharge port; (C) causing the discharge valve of the frying unit to open the discharge port, so that part of the edible oil in the frying tank flows into the oil filter container through the discharge port, first passes through the large-aperture filter screen, then passes through the small-aperture filter screen, and finally flows into the containing tank; (D) moving the oil filter container of the oil filter unit away from the discharge port, and moving the storage unit to a position corresponding to the lower side of the discharge port, so that the fried crumbs in the frying tank can fall into the storage unit through the discharge port due to their own weight; (E) moving the material storage unit away from the material discharge port, and then positioning the oil filter container of the oil filter unit to correspond to the position below the material discharge port; and (F) connecting the conduit to the frying tank at a side opposite to the containing tank, and then causing the motor body of the motor unit to apply force to the conduit to drive the edible oil in the containing tank to flow back into the frying tank through the conduit.

8. The control method of the oil filtering and sterilizing system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The oil filter sterilization system further comprises a sterilization unit, wherein the sterilization unit comprises a top cover and an ultraviolet lamp connected to the top cover. The control method of the oil filter sterilization system further comprises a step (G) subsequent to step (F), a step (H) subsequent to step (G), and a step (I) subsequent to step (H): (G) allowing the edible oil that flows back into the frying tank to flush the frying crumbs remaining in the frying tank and then flow into the oil filter container through the discharge port, and passes through the large-aperture filter and the small-aperture filter to flow into the containing tank; (H) causing the discharge valve of the frying unit to close the discharge port, and causing the motor body of the motor unit to apply force to the conduit to drive the edible oil in the tank to flow back into the frying tank through the conduit; and (I) The top cover of the sterilization unit covers the frying tank, and the ultraviolet lamp faces the frying tank and irradiates the frying tank with ultraviolet rays to sterilize the edible oil flowing back into the frying tank.

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