A rapid sterilization method and sterilization device for beverage processing

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of beverage processing technology, specifically a rapid sterilization method and sterilization device for beverage processing, including a sterilization kettle and a transfer vehicle placed in the sterilization kettle, and also including: two rotating rings, on each rotating ring there are several hollow rotating shafts connected to rotate at equal intervals along the circumferential direction; several pallets, on the top of each pallet there are several beverage placement components provided along the radial direction of the hollow rotating shaft; several expansion and contraction mechanisms, for making the beverage placement components on the pallets expand or contract with each other. The present invention provides a main rotating shaft, a rotating ring, a hollow rotating shaft and a pallet. When the main rotating shaft rotates, the rotating ring and the hollow rotating shaft cooperate to drive each pallet to rotate along the main rotating shaft. When the pallet rotates to a certain height and there is no other pallet blocking it, the beverage cans on the pallet can be fully in contact with hot water, thereby being able to quickly sterilize the beverage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of beverage processing, in particular to a rapid sterilization method and a sterilization device for beverage processing. Background Art

[0002] When processing beverages, the process involved includes raw material processing, mixing and blending, filling, sterilization and packaging. At present, retorts are generally used to sterilize beverages after filling to ensure the safety and hygiene of the products.

[0003] A retort is a device that sterilizes items through high pressure and high temperature. It usually uses a water spray sterilization method. Nozzles on both sides and the top of the retort spray mist-like hot water onto the surface of the beverage can to sterilize the beverage in the can. The temperature is uniform without dead corners, and the heating and cooling are rapid.

[0004] In the prior art, the poured beverage is typically placed in a sterilization basket, multiple baskets are then stacked on a transfer cart, and the cart is finally pushed into the retort for sterilization. However, during use, it was discovered that the stacked sterilization baskets create a certain degree of obstruction in the upper and lower directions. Specifically, the upper sterilization baskets obstruct the lower sterilization baskets, preventing the lower sterilization baskets from receiving sufficient hot water spray. This, in turn, hinders the hot water from fully contacting the beverage cans, resulting in low sterilization efficiency. To address this issue, we have proposed a rapid sterilization method and device for beverage processing that effectively address these drawbacks. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a rapid sterilization method and sterilization device for beverage processing, so as to solve the problems raised in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0006] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions: A rapid sterilization device for beverage processing, comprising a sterilization kettle and a transfer vehicle placed in the sterilization kettle, and further comprising:

[0007] Two fixed plates, the two fixed plates are fixed on the top of the transfer vehicle at intervals along the axial direction of the retort;

[0008] A main rotating shaft, which is rotatably connected between two fixed plates through the cooperation of bearings and shaft seats, and a power source for driving the main rotating shaft to rotate is installed on one of the fixed plates;

[0009] Two rotating rings, the two rotating rings are fixed on the main rotating shaft at intervals along the axial direction of the main rotating shaft, and a plurality of hollow rotating shafts are rotatably connected to each rotating ring at equal intervals along the circumferential direction, and each hollow rotating shaft is parallel to the main rotating shaft;

[0010] A plurality of support plates, each of which is fixedly mounted between two opposite hollow rotating shafts, and a plurality of beverage placement components are arranged on the top of each support plate along the radial direction of the hollow rotating shaft;

[0011] A plurality of unfolding and retracting mechanisms are respectively arranged on each supporting plate and are used to make each beverage placement component on the supporting plate unfold or retract.

[0012] Optionally, a mounting cavity is provided inside the support plate; the extension and retraction mechanism includes two movable plates slidably connected to the mounting cavity, and a driving assembly for moving the two movable plates away from or towards each other is provided on the support plate;

[0013] The sides of the two movable plates that are away from each other extend outside the installation cavity, and a side plate is fixed on the sides of the two movable plates that are away from each other; a beverage placement assembly located on the innermost side is fixed to the middle of the support plate, and the two beverage placement assemblies located on the outermost side are respectively fixed to the tops of the two movable plates;

[0014] A variable distance connector is connected between two adjacent beverage placement components. The variable distance connector includes a plurality of slide grooves fixed on one of the beverage placement components, and a slide rod sliding in each slide groove is fixed on the other beverage placement component.

[0015] Optionally, the drive assembly includes a fixed shell fixed to the bottom of the support plate and connected to the mounting cavity, wherein two worms are rotatably connected in the fixed shell through a bearing and a shaft seat, and the two worms are arranged axially spaced apart from each other along the hollow rotating shaft, and ends of the two worms that are away from each other extend outside the fixed shell;

[0016] A worm wheel meshing with each worm is provided in the installation cavity, and a bidirectional threaded rod perpendicular to the worm is fixed in the middle of each worm wheel. Each bidirectional threaded rod is connected to the installation cavity through the cooperation and rotation of the bearing and the shaft seat, and thread grooves spirally matched with the two ends of the bidirectional threaded rod are respectively opened on the two movable plates.

[0017] Optionally, the drive assembly further comprises a first pulley fixed to the outer end of each worm, a connecting shaft rotatably connected in a hollow rotating shaft adjacent to each first pulley, and both ends of each connecting shaft extend outside the hollow rotating shaft;

[0018] A second pulley connected to the adjacent first pulley is fixed at one end of the two connecting shafts that are close to each other, and a gear is fixed at one end of the two connecting shafts that are away from each other;

[0019] An arc-shaped inner rack and an arc-shaped outer rack are fixed to the proximal end of the upper end of the inner surface of each fixed plate; when the main rotating shaft rotates counterclockwise, when the gear engages with the arc-shaped outer rack, the beverage placement components on the support plate are driven to expand with each other; when the gear engages with the arc-shaped inner rack, the beverage placement components on the support plate are driven to fold with each other.

[0020] Optionally, a plurality of support rods are fixed on the side where the two side panels are close to each other, and a through hole corresponding to each support rod is opened on each beverage placement component.

[0021] Optionally, the beverage placement assembly includes a base arranged on the top of the pallet, two support seats are fixed on the top of the base at axial intervals along the hollow rotating axis, a flip shaft is connected between the two support seats through the cooperation of bearings and shaft seats for rotation, and a number of beverage can placement net cylinders are fixed on the flip shaft at equal intervals along the axial direction.

[0022] Optionally, pull ropes are fixed at both ends of the flip shaft, iron blocks are fixed at the free ends of each pull rope, and a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet are respectively provided on the left and right sides of each iron block, and each first electromagnet and each second electromagnet are fixed on the top of the base.

[0023] Optionally, a guide block is fixed to the lower end of the iron block, a guide rod that movably passes through the guide block is fixed to the base, and springs located on both sides of the guide block are sleeved on the guide rod;

[0024] In a normal state, the elastic force applied by the spring causes the iron block to be located between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, thereby placing the beverage can on the mesh cylinder in a vertical state.

[0025] Optionally, an outer frame corresponding to each support plate is fixed on the outer ring of each rotating ring, an external conductive head is fixed on each outer frame, and each external conductive head is electrically connected to each first electromagnet on the corresponding support plate;

[0026] An inner frame corresponding to each support plate is fixed on the inner ring of each rotating ring, and an inner conductive head is fixed on each inner frame, and each inner conductive head is electrically connected to each second electromagnet on the corresponding support plate;

[0027] A plurality of outer conductive sheets and a plurality of inner conductive sheets are fixed circumferentially to the upper end of the inner surface of each fixed disk, and the outer conductive sheets and the inner conductive sheets are staggered and arranged, and the outer conductive sheets and the inner conductive sheets are electrically connected to an external power supply respectively;

[0028] When the main rotating shaft rotates counterclockwise until the beverage placement components on the pallet are fully unfolded, the outer conductive head contacts the outer conductive sheet, and the first electromagnets are energized to cause the beverage can placement net cylinder to flip to the right along the flip axis; when the inner conductive head contacts the inner conductive sheet, the second electromagnets are energized to cause the beverage can placement net cylinder to flip to the left along the flip axis.

[0029] The present invention also proposes a rapid sterilization method for beverage processing, which is applicable to the above-mentioned rapid sterilization device for beverage processing and comprises the following steps:

[0030] Step 1: Place beverage cans filled with beverages on each beverage placement component;

[0031] Step 2: Push the transfer cart into the retort and close the retort door;

[0032] Step 3: Use a water spray sterilization method to spray hot water mist onto the surface of the beverage can through the nozzles on both sides and the top of the sterilizer to sterilize the beverage in the beverage can;

[0033] Step 4: During the sterilization process, the main rotating shaft is driven by the power source to rotate slowly counterclockwise, thereby driving each support plate to rotate slowly along the main rotating shaft and keep the support plate in a horizontal state;

[0034] Step 5: When the support plate rotates to a certain height, the expansion and contraction mechanism drives the beverage placement components on the support plate to expand relative to each other, so that the beverage cans can fully contact with the hot water, thereby achieving rapid sterilization;

[0035] Step 6: Maintaining the fully expanded state, after rotating to a certain distance, the expansion and retraction mechanism drives the beverage placement components on the support plate to retract with each other to adapt to the radial accommodation space in the autoclave;

[0036] Step 7: After sterilization is completed, open the autoclave door and push the transfer cart out of the autoclave.

[0037] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a rapid sterilization method and sterilization device for beverage processing, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0038] 1. The present invention provides a main rotating shaft, a rotating ring, a hollow rotating shaft and a supporting plate. When the main rotating shaft rotates, the rotating ring and the hollow rotating shaft cooperate to drive each supporting plate to rotate along the main rotating shaft. Moreover, since the hollow rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the rotating ring, the supporting plate can always be in a horizontal state under the action of gravity. With this structure, when the supporting plate rotates to a certain height and there is no other supporting plate blocking it, the beverage cans on the supporting plate can fully contact with hot water, thereby quickly sterilizing the beverage.

[0039] 2. The present invention incorporates beverage placement assemblies and an expansion and retraction mechanism. When the tray rotates to a certain height, the expansion and retraction mechanism causes the beverage placement assemblies on the tray to expand relative to each other, facilitating the flow of hot water between adjacent beverage placement assemblies. This ensures that beverage cans are fully exposed to the hot water, resulting in a more effective sterilization effect. Under normal conditions, the expansion and retraction mechanism causes the beverage placement assemblies on the tray to retract relative to each other, allowing them to better fit within the radial accommodation space within the retort.

[0040] 3. The present invention is equipped with a flip shaft, a beverage can placement net tube, a pull rope, an iron block, a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet. When the beverage placement components on the support plate are in a fully expanded state, the beverage can placement net tube can be driven to flip left and right, so that the beverage can can swing left and right, more comprehensively contacting the hot water, less likely to have dead corners, effectively ensuring the sterilization effect, and greatly improving the sterilization efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the power source of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of point A in the middle;

[0044] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of the fixed disk of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 5 A top view of the fixed disk of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of point B in the middle;

[0047] Figure 7 for Figure 5 Middle CC section view;

[0048] Figure 8 This is a structural schematic diagram of the beverage placement assembly of the present invention in a folded state;

[0049] Figure 9 This is a structural schematic diagram of the beverage placement assembly of the present invention in an expanded state;

[0050] Figure 10 This is a structural schematic diagram of a beverage can of the present invention with the net cylinder placed in a vertical state;

[0051] Figure 11 This is a structural schematic diagram of the beverage can of the present invention, in which the net cylinder is placed in a state of tilting to the right;

[0052] Figure 12 This is a structural diagram of the beverage can of the present invention, in which the net cylinder is placed in a state of being tilted to the left;

[0053] Figure 13 This is a circuit diagram of the present invention.

[0054] Figure: 1, autoclave; 2, transfer car; 3, fixed plate; 4, main rotating shaft; 5, power source; 6, rotating ring; 7, hollow rotating shaft; 8, support plate; 9, beverage placement assembly; 901, base; 902, support seat; 903, flip axis; 904, beverage can placement net cylinder; 905, pull rope; 906, iron block; 907, first electromagnet; 908, second electromagnet; 909, guide block; 9010, guide rod; 9011, spring; 10, extension and retraction mechanism; 1001, movable plate; 1002, drive assembly; 10021, fixed Shell; 10022, worm; 10023, worm wheel; 10024, bidirectional threaded rod; 10025, thread groove; 10026, first pulley; 10027, connecting shaft; 10028, second pulley; 10029, gear; 1003, side plate; 1004, slide groove; 1005, slide rod; 1006, support rod; 11, mounting cavity; 12, arc-shaped inner rack; 13, arc-shaped outer rack; 14, through hole; 15, outer frame; 16, outer conductive head; 17, inner frame; 18, inner conductive head; 19, outer conductive sheet; 20, inner conductive sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0056] Example 1: Please refer to Figures 1 to 13 , a rapid sterilization device for beverage processing, comprising a sterilization kettle 1 and a transfer vehicle 2 placed in the sterilization kettle 1; the sterilization kettle 1 injects water into the spray pipe through a high-efficiency circulation pump, a filter and a high-efficiency heat exchanger, and then sprays the hot water in an atomized form onto the surface of the beverage can through a spray nozzle, forming a water film from top to bottom to transfer heat, thereby sterilizing the beverage in the beverage can. This is an existing technology and will not be described in detail here.

[0057] This embodiment further includes: two fixed disks 3 , a main rotating shaft 4 , two rotating rings 6 , a plurality of supporting plates 8 and a plurality of unfolding and retracting mechanisms 10 .

[0058] Among them, two fixed plates 3 are fixed on the top of the transfer vehicle 2 at intervals along the axial direction of the sterilizer 1, and a number of weight-reducing holes are opened on each fixed plate 3 to reduce the weight; at the same time, the existence of the weight-reducing holes makes it difficult for the fixed plate 3 to completely block the water mist.

[0059] Secondly, the main rotating shaft 4 is connected between the two fixed disks 3 through the cooperation and rotation of the bearing and the shaft seat. A power source 5 for driving the main rotating shaft 4 to rotate is installed on one of the fixed disks 3. In this embodiment, the power source 5 adopts a reduction motor, which drives the main rotating shaft 4 to rotate slowly counterclockwise through the reduction motor. This is the existing technology and will not be repeated here.

[0060] Furthermore, two rotating rings 6 are fixed to the main rotating shaft 4 at intervals along its axial direction. Several hollow rotating shafts 7 are rotatably connected to each rotating ring 6 at equal intervals along its circumference, each of which is parallel to the main rotating shaft 4. Each support plate 8 is fixedly mounted between two opposing hollow rotating shafts 7. Atop each support plate 8, several beverage placement assemblies 9 are radially disposed about the hollow rotating shafts 7 for placing filled and sealed beverage cans. Because the hollow rotating shafts 7 are rotatably connected to the rotating rings 6, gravity maintains the support plates 8 in a constant horizontal position.

[0061] With the above structure, when the power source 5 is working and drives the main rotating shaft 4 to rotate slowly counterclockwise, it can drive the two rotating rings 6 to rotate slowly counterclockwise synchronously, and then drive the support plate 8 which always remains in a horizontal state to rotate slowly counterclockwise; when the support plate 8 rotates to a certain height and there is no other support plate 8 blocking it above, the beverage cans on the support plate 8 can be fully in contact with the hot water, so that the beverages can be quickly sterilized, which solves the problem in the prior art that the sterilization baskets stacked together will form a certain obstruction in the upper and lower directions.

[0062] The following is a detailed description of the unfolding and retracting mechanism 10:

[0063] Each expansion and retraction mechanism 10 is provided on each support plate 8 and is used to expand or retract the beverage placement components 9 on the support plate 8. Specifically, a mounting cavity 11 is provided within the support plate 8 for mounting other components. The expansion and retraction mechanism 10 includes two movable plates 1001 slidably connected within the mounting cavity 11. A drive assembly 1002 is provided on the support plate 8 for moving the two movable plates 1001 away from or toward each other. The side of the two movable plates 1001 that is away from each other extends outside the mounting cavity 11. A side plate 1003 is fixed to the side of the two movable plates 1001 that is away from each other. In this embodiment, a number of support rods 1006 are fixed to the side of the two side plates 1003 that is close to each other. Each beverage placement component 9 is provided with a perforation 14 that corresponds to each support rod 1006. When the beverage placement components 9 are in the expanded state, the support rods 1006 can support each beverage placement component 9.

[0064] The innermost beverage placement assembly 9 is fixed to the center of the support plate 8, maintaining its position throughout. The two outermost beverage placement assemblies 9 are respectively fixed to the tops of two movable plates 1001 and can move with the movable plates 1001. A variable-pitch connector is connected between adjacent beverage placement assemblies 9. This connector includes several chutes 1004 fixed to one beverage placement assembly 9, and a slide rod 1005 fixed to the other beverage placement assembly 9, which slides within each chute 1004.

[0065] With the above structure, when the driving assembly 1002 drives the two movable plates 1001 away from each other, it can drive the two outermost beverage placement assemblies 9 away from each other, thereby driving the slide rod 1005 to slide within the slide groove 1004 until it reaches the limit, thereby driving the adjacent beverage placement assemblies 9 to move outward, and repeating this process until all beverage placement assemblies 9 are fully deployed. After deployment, hot water can flow between the two adjacent beverage placement assemblies 9, so that the beverage cans can be fully exposed to the hot water, achieving a better sterilization effect.

[0066] When the driving component 1002 drives the two movable plates 1001 closer to each other, it can drive the two outermost beverage placement components 9 closer to each other, and then drive the slide rod 1005 to slide in the slide groove 1004 until it reaches the limit position, and then push the adjacent beverage placement components 9 to continue to move inward. This is repeated until each beverage placement component 9 is completely retracted to reduce the space occupied by the lateral position, so that it can better adapt to the radial accommodation space in the sterilizer 1.

[0067] In this embodiment, the drive assembly 1002 includes a fixed housing 10021 secured to the bottom of the support plate 8 and communicating with the mounting cavity 11, for mounting other components. Two worms 10022 are rotatably connected within the fixed housing 10021 via bearings and axle seats. The two worms 10022 are spaced apart along the axial direction of the hollow rotating shaft 7. The ends of the two worms 10022, facing away from each other, extend outside the fixed housing 10021, facilitating connection to other power output structures to drive the rotation of the worms 10022. A worm wheel 10023 is disposed within the mounting cavity 11, meshing with each worm 10022 one by one. A bidirectional threaded rod 10024, perpendicular to the worm 10022, is fixed to the center of each worm wheel 10023. Each bidirectional threaded rod 10024 is rotatably connected to the mounting cavity 11 via the cooperation of a bearing and a shaft seat. A threaded groove 10025 is formed on each of the two movable plates 1001, which helically cooperates with the ends of the bidirectional threaded rod 10024. When the worm 10022 rotates, the cooperation between the worm 10022 and the worm wheel 10023 drives the bidirectional threaded rod 10024 to rotate, thereby driving the two movable plates 1001 away from or toward each other through the helical cooperation between the bidirectional threaded rod 10024 and the threaded groove 10025.

[0068] It is worth mentioning that the drive assembly 1002 further includes a first pulley 10026 fixed to the outer end of each worm 10022, a connecting shaft 10027 rotatably connected within the hollow rotating shaft 7 adjacent to each first pulley 10026, and both ends of each connecting shaft 10027 extend outside the hollow rotating shaft 7. A second pulley 10028, which is transmission-connected to the adjacent first pulley 10026, is fixed to one end of the two connecting shafts 10027 that is close to each other, and a gear 10029 is fixed to one end of the two connecting shafts 10027 that is away from each other; when the connecting shaft 10027 rotates, the worm 10022 can be driven to rotate through the cooperation of the first pulley 10026 and the second pulley 10028.

[0069] An arcuate inner rack 12 and an arcuate outer rack 13 are fixed to the proximal end of the inner surface of each fixed plate 3. During the counterclockwise rotation of the main rotating shaft 4, when the gear 10029 engages with the arcuate outer rack 13, it can drive the connecting shaft 10027 to rotate, thereby driving the worm 10022 to rotate, and then driving the two movable plates 1001 to move away from each other, so that the beverage placement components 9 on the support plate 8 can be spread out. When the gear 10029 engages with the arcuate inner rack 12, it can drive the connecting shaft 10027 to rotate, thereby driving the two movable plates 1001 to move toward each other, and then driving the beverage placement components 9 on the support plate 8 to retract. With this structure, the rotation of the rotating ring 6 is used as the power to expand or retract the beverage placement components 9 on the support plate 8, without the need for additional power components, which is more energy-efficient.

[0070] It should be added that a certain distance is left between the arc-shaped inner rack 12 and the arc-shaped outer rack 13 so that each beverage placement component 9 on the pallet 8 can continue to rotate a certain distance when it is in a fully expanded state, thereby ensuring that the beverage cans can be in full contact with hot water to ensure the sterilization effect.

[0071] The beverage placement component 9 is described in detail below:

[0072] The beverage placement assembly 9 includes a base 901 disposed on top of the support plate 8. In this embodiment, a perforation 14 is provided on the base 901. Two support seats 902 are fixed to the top of the base 901 at intervals along the axial direction of the hollow rotating shaft 7. A tilting shaft 903 is rotatably connected between the two support seats 902 via a bearing and a shaft seat. A plurality of beverage can placement nets 904 are fixed to the tilting shaft 903 at equal intervals along the axial direction. The upper ends of the beverage placement nets 904 are open for placing and removing beverage cans. A plurality of mesh holes are evenly distributed on the side walls and bottom walls of the beverage placement nets 904 to ensure that beverage cans can properly contact hot water. In this embodiment, the tilting shaft 903 adopts a multi-segment structure, so that it can be fixed to multiple beverage can placement nets 904. When the tilting shaft 903 rotates, it can drive each beverage can placement net 904 on the same axis to rotate synchronously.

[0073] In this embodiment, pull ropes 905 are fixed to both ends of the tilting shaft 903. An iron block 906 is fixed to the free end of each pull rope 905. A first electromagnet 907 and a second electromagnet 908 are respectively provided on the left and right sides of each iron block 906. Each first electromagnet 907 and each second electromagnet 908 are fixed to the top of the base 901. When the first electromagnet 907 is energized, it can move the iron block 906 to the left; when the second electromagnet 908 is energized, it can move the iron block 906 to the right.

[0074] It should be noted that a guide block 909 is fixed to the lower end of the iron block 906, and a guide rod 9010 is fixed to the base 901, which is movable through the guide block 909. When the iron block 906 moves left and right under the action of the electromagnet, it can drive the guide block 909 to slide left and right on the guide rod 9010. Springs 9011 are sleeved on the guide rod 9010, located on both sides of the guide block 909, to apply an elastic force to the guide block 909 between the first electromagnet 907 and the second electromagnet 908. Under normal conditions, the elastic force applied by the spring 9011 keeps the iron block 906 positioned between the first electromagnet 907 and the second electromagnet 908, thereby pulling the drawstring 905 to keep the beverage can placement net 904 in a vertical position.

[0075] With the above structure, when the first electromagnet 907 and the second electromagnet 908 are in the power-off state, the elastic force applied by the spring 9011 causes the iron block 906 to be located between the first electromagnet 907 and the second electromagnet 908, so that the beverage can placement net tube 904 is in a vertical state by pulling the pull rope 905, and hot water can be sprayed onto the surface of the beverage can in the vertical state.

[0076] When the first electromagnet 907 is energized, it drives the iron block 906 toward the first electromagnet 907, thereby pulling the tilting shaft 903 via the pull rope 905, and then driving the beverage can to place the mesh tube 904 and tilt it to the right, allowing hot water to be sprayed onto the surface of the beverage can in a state tilted to the right. When the second electromagnet 908 is energized, it drives the iron block 906 toward the second electromagnet 908, thereby pulling the tilting shaft 903 via the pull rope 905, and then driving the beverage can to place the mesh tube 904 and tilt it to the left, allowing hot water to be sprayed onto the surface of the beverage can in a state tilted to the left. The state of the beverage can is constantly changing, allowing it to come into contact with the hot water more comprehensively, making it less likely to have blind spots, effectively ensuring the sterilization effect, and greatly improving the sterilization efficiency.

[0077] It is worth mentioning that an outer frame 15 corresponding to each support plate 8 is fixed on the outer ring of each rotating ring 6, and an external conductive head 16 is fixed on each outer frame 15. Each external conductive head 16 is electrically connected to each first electromagnet 907 on the corresponding support plate 8; it should be added that the external conductive heads 16 on the two rotating rings 6 are opposite to each other, and the two opposite external conductive heads 16 are electrically connected to the two leads of the first electromagnet 907 respectively.

[0078] An inner frame 17 corresponding to each support plate 8 is fixed on the inner ring of each rotating ring 6, and an inner conductive head 18 is fixed on each inner frame 17. Each inner conductive head 18 is electrically connected to each second electromagnet 908 on the corresponding support plate 8; it should be added that the inner conductive heads 18 on the two rotating rings 6 are opposite to each other, and the two opposite inner conductive heads 18 are electrically connected to the two leads of the second electromagnet 908 respectively.

[0079] Several outer conductive sheets 19 and several inner conductive sheets 20 are circumferentially fixed to the upper end of the inner surface of each fixed disk 3. Each outer conductive sheet 19 and each inner conductive sheet 20 are staggered and electrically connected to an external power source. It should be noted that the outer conductive sheets 19 on the two fixed disks 3 are opposite each other, and the two opposing outer conductive sheets 19 are electrically connected to the positive and negative poles of the external power source, respectively. The inner conductive sheets 20 on the two fixed disks 3 are opposite each other, and the two opposing inner conductive sheets 20 are electrically connected to the positive and negative poles of the external power source, respectively.

[0080] When the two rotating rings 6 rotate synchronously, the outer conductive sheets 19 and inner conductive sheets 20 are staggered. Therefore, when the two opposing outer conductive heads 16 contact the corresponding outer conductive sheets 19, the first electromagnets 907 on the corresponding support plate 8 are energized. At this time, the two inner conductive heads 18 corresponding to the support plate 8 are not in contact with the corresponding inner conductive sheets 20, so the second electromagnets 908 on the support plate 8 are de-energized. Under these conditions, the iron blocks 906 on the support plate 8 move toward the corresponding first electromagnets 907, thereby causing all beverage can placement nets 904 on the support plate 8 to tilt to the right.

[0081] When the two opposing inner conductive contacts 18 contact the corresponding inner conductive sheets 20, the second electromagnets 908 on the corresponding support plate 8 are energized. At this point, the two outer conductive contacts 16 corresponding to the support plate 8 are no longer in contact with the corresponding outer conductive sheets 19, and therefore the first electromagnets 907 on the support plate 8 are de-energized. Under these conditions, the iron blocks 906 on the support plate 8 move toward the corresponding second electromagnets 908, thereby causing all beverage can placement nets 904 on the support plate 8 to tilt leftward. The staggered arrangement of the outer conductive sheets 19 and the inner conductive sheets 20 enables alternating on and off switching of the first electromagnets 907 and second electromagnets 908, allowing the beverage cans to swing back and forth, better contacting the hot water within the retort 1 and thus rapidly sterilizing the beverage cans.

[0082] It should be noted that each outer conductive sheet 19 and each inner conductive sheet 20 are located between the arc-shaped inner rack 12 and the arc-shaped outer rack 13, so that only after each beverage placement component 9 on the pallet 8 is in a fully expanded state, the first electromagnet 907 and the second electromagnet 908 are alternately powered on and off to drive the beverage can to swing left and right, so as to ensure that the beverage can has enough swinging space.

[0083] With the above structure, when the main rotating shaft 4 rotates counterclockwise until the beverage placement assemblies 9 on the support plate 8 are fully extended, and the outer conductive contacts 16 come into contact with the outer conductive sheet 19, the first electromagnets 907 are energized, causing the beverage can placement net 904 to flip rightward along the flip axis 903, thereby causing the beverage can to swing rightward. When the inner conductive contacts 18 come into contact with the inner conductive sheet 20, the second electromagnets 908 are energized, causing the beverage can placement net 904 to flip leftward along the flip axis 903, thereby causing the beverage can to swing leftward. This allows the beverage can to continuously change its state, allowing for more comprehensive contact with hot water.

[0084] Example 2: The present invention also proposes a rapid sterilization method for beverage processing, which is applicable to the rapid sterilization device of Example 1 and includes the following steps:

[0085] Step 1: Place beverage cans containing beverages on each beverage placement assembly 9; specifically, place the beverage cans one by one in the beverage can placement net cylinder 904;

[0086] Step 2: Push the transfer cart 2 into the retort 1 and close the retort door;

[0087] Step 3: Using a water spray sterilization method, spray hot water mist onto the surface of the beverage can through the nozzles on both sides and the top of the sterilizer 1 to sterilize the beverage in the beverage can;

[0088] Step 4: During the sterilization process, the power source 5 drives the main rotating shaft 4 to rotate slowly counterclockwise, thereby driving the two rotating rings 6 to rotate synchronously, and then drives each supporting plate 8 to rotate slowly along the main rotating shaft 4, and keeps each supporting plate 8 in a horizontal state at all times;

[0089] Step 5: When the support plate 8 rotates to a certain height (more than half the height of the fixed plate 3), the unfolding and retracting mechanism 10 drives the beverage placement components 9 on the support plate 8 to unfold each other so that the beverage cans can fully contact with the hot water, thereby achieving rapid sterilization;

[0090] Specifically, when the gear 10029 is engaged with the arc-shaped outer rack 13, the connecting shaft 10027 is driven to rotate, thereby driving the worm 10022 to rotate, and then driving the two movable plates 1001 away from each other, so that the beverage placement components 9 on the support plate 8 are unfolded.

[0091] Step 6: Maintaining the fully expanded state, after rotating to a certain distance, the expansion and contraction mechanism 10 drives the beverage placement components 9 on the support plate 8 to retract with each other to adapt to the radial accommodation space in the retort 1;

[0092] Specifically, when the gear 10029 meshes with the arcuate inner rack 12, it drives the connecting shaft 10027 to rotate, thereby driving the two movable plates 1001 closer together, and further driving the beverage placement assemblies 9 on the support plate 8 to retract. It should be noted that before the support plate 8 descends to half the height of the fixed plate 3, the beverage placement assemblies 9 on the support plate 8 need to be in a completely retracted state to ensure that they do not come into contact with the retort 1 or other components inside the retort 1.

[0093] In the process from being fully expanded to being folded, the first electromagnets 907 and the second electromagnets 908 on the support plate 8 are alternately turned on and off, so that the beverage cans can swing back and forth left and right, so that they can come into contact with hot water more comprehensively, and there are less dead corners. The sterilization effect is effectively guaranteed and the sterilization efficiency is greatly improved.

[0094] Step 7: After sterilization is completed, open the autoclave door, push the transfer vehicle 2 out of the autoclave 1, and then take out the beverage cans.

[0095] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, etc., are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or device. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or device comprising the element.

[0096] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, and that the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A rapid sterilization device for beverage processing, comprising a sterilization kettle (1) and a transfer vehicle (2) placed in the sterilization kettle (1), characterized in that: Also includes: Two fixed plates (3), the two fixed plates (3) are fixed to the top of the transfer vehicle (2) at intervals along the axial direction of the sterilizer (1); A main rotating shaft (4), the main rotating shaft (4) being rotatably connected between two fixed disks (3) through the cooperation of a bearing and a shaft seat, and a power source (5) for driving the main rotating shaft (4) to rotate is installed on one of the fixed disks (3); Two rotating rings (6), the two rotating rings (6) are fixed on the main rotating shaft (4) at intervals along the axial direction of the main rotating shaft (4), and a plurality of hollow rotating shafts (7) are rotatably connected to each rotating ring (6) at equal intervals along the circumferential direction, and each hollow rotating shaft (7) is parallel to the main rotating shaft (4); A plurality of support plates (8), each support plate (8) being fixedly mounted between two opposite hollow rotating shafts (7), and a plurality of beverage placement components (9) being arranged on the top of each support plate (8) along the radial direction of the hollow rotating shaft (7); a plurality of unfolding and retracting mechanisms (10), each unfolding and retracting mechanism (10) being respectively arranged on each support plate (8) and used for making each beverage placement component (9) on the support plate (8) unfold or retract mutually; The support plate (8) has an installation cavity (11) formed therein; the unfolding and retracting mechanism (10) comprises two movable plates (1001) slidably connected to the installation cavity (11); and a driving assembly (1002) for moving the two movable plates (1001) away from or towards each other is provided on the support plate (8); The sides of the two movable plates (1001) that are away from each other extend outside the mounting cavity (11), and a side plate (1003) is fixed to the sides of the two movable plates (1001) that are away from each other; a beverage placement assembly (9) located on the innermost side is fixed to the middle of the support plate (8), and the two beverage placement assemblies (9) located on the outermost side are respectively fixed to the tops of the two movable plates (1001); A variable-pitch connector is connected between two adjacent beverage placement components (9), the variable-pitch connector comprising a plurality of slide grooves (1004) fixed on one of the beverage placement components (9), and a slide rod (1005) that slides in each slide groove (1004) fixed on the other beverage placement component (9).

2. A rapid sterilization device for beverage processing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive assembly (1002) comprises a fixed shell (10021) fixed to the bottom of the support plate (8) and connected to the installation cavity (11). Two worms (10022) are rotatably connected in the fixed shell (10021) via a bearing and a shaft seat. The two worms (10022) are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the hollow rotating shaft (7). The ends of the two worms (10022) that are away from each other extend outside the fixed shell (10021). A worm wheel (10023) meshing with each worm (10022) is provided in the installation cavity (11), and a bidirectional threaded rod (10024) perpendicular to the worm (10022) is fixed in the middle of each worm wheel (10023). Each bidirectional threaded rod (10024) is rotatably connected to the installation cavity (11) through the cooperation of a bearing and a shaft seat. Threaded grooves (10025) spirally cooperating with the two ends of the bidirectional threaded rod (10024) are respectively provided on the two movable plates (1001).

3. A rapid sterilization device for beverage processing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The drive assembly (1002) further includes a first pulley (10026) fixed to the outer end of each worm (10022), a connecting shaft (10027) rotatably connected within a hollow rotating shaft (7) adjacent to each first pulley (10026), and both ends of each connecting shaft (10027) extend outside the hollow rotating shaft (7); A second pulley (10028) in transmission connection with an adjacent first pulley (10026) is fixed at one end of the two connecting shafts (10027) that are close to each other, and a gear (10029) is fixed at one end of the two connecting shafts (10027) that are away from each other. An arcuate inner rack (12) and an arcuate outer rack (13) are fixed to the proximal end portion of the upper end of the inner surface of each fixed plate (3); when the main rotating shaft (4) rotates counterclockwise, when the gear (10029) and the arcuate outer rack (13) are engaged, the beverage placement components (9) on the support plate (8) are driven to expand relative to each other; when the gear (10029) and the arcuate inner rack (12) are engaged, the beverage placement components (9) on the support plate (8) are driven to retract relative to each other.

4. A rapid sterilization device for beverage processing according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of support rods (1006) are fixed on one side of the two side panels (1003) close to each other, and a perforation (14) corresponding to each support rod (1006) is provided on each beverage placement component (9).

5. The rapid sterilization device for beverage processing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The beverage placement assembly (9) comprises a base (901) arranged on the top of the support plate (8), two support seats (902) are fixed on the top of the base (901) at intervals along the axial direction of the hollow rotating shaft (7), a turning shaft (903) is rotatably connected between the two support seats (902) through a bearing and a shaft seat, and a plurality of beverage can placement net cylinders (904) are fixed on the turning shaft (903) at equal intervals along the axial direction.

6. A rapid sterilization device for beverage processing according to claim 5, characterized in that: Pull ropes (905) are fixed at both ends of the flip shaft (903), an iron block (906) is fixed at the free end of each pull rope (905), a first electromagnet (907) and a second electromagnet (908) are respectively provided on the left and right sides of each iron block (906), and each first electromagnet (907) and each second electromagnet (908) are fixed to the top of the base (901).

7. A rapid sterilization device for beverage processing according to claim 6, characterized in that: A guide block (909) is fixed to the lower end of the iron block (906), a guide rod (9010) that movably passes through the guide block (909) is fixed to the base (901), and springs (9011) located on both sides of the guide block (909) are sleeved on the guide rod (9010); In a normal state, the elastic force applied by the spring (9011) causes the iron block (906) to be located between the first electromagnet (907) and the second electromagnet (908), thereby placing the beverage can placement net cylinder (904) in a vertical state.

8. A rapid sterilization device for beverage processing according to claim 7, characterized in that: An outer frame (15) corresponding to each support plate (8) is fixed on the outer ring of each rotating ring (6), an external conductive head (16) is fixed on each external frame (15), and each external conductive head (16) is electrically connected to each first electromagnet (907) on the corresponding support plate (8); An inner frame (17) corresponding to each support plate (8) is fixed on the inner ring of each rotating ring (6), an inner conductive head (18) is fixed on each inner frame (17), and each inner conductive head (18) is electrically connected to each second electromagnet (908) on the corresponding support plate (8); A plurality of outer conductive sheets (19) and a plurality of inner conductive sheets (20) are fixed along the circumferential direction on the upper end of the inner surface of each fixed disk (3), each outer conductive sheet (19) and each inner conductive sheet (20) are staggered and distributed with each other, and each outer conductive sheet (19) and each inner conductive sheet (20) are electrically connected to an external power supply respectively; When the main rotating shaft (4) rotates counterclockwise until each beverage placement assembly (9) on the support plate (8) is fully unfolded, and the outer conductive head (16) contacts the outer conductive sheet (19), each first electromagnet (907) is in an energized state, so that the beverage can placement net cylinder (904) is flipped to the right along the flip axis (903); when the inner conductive head (18) contacts the inner conductive sheet (20), each second electromagnet (908) is in an energized state, so that the beverage can placement net cylinder (904) is flipped to the left along the flip axis (903).

9. A rapid sterilization method for beverage processing, applicable to the rapid sterilization device for beverage processing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The steps include: Step 1: placing beverage cans containing beverages on each beverage placement component (9); Step 2: Push the transfer vehicle (2) into the sterilization kettle (1) and close the kettle door; Step 3: Using a water spray sterilization method, spray hot water in a mist form onto the surface of the beverage can through nozzles on both sides and the top of the sterilizer (1) to sterilize the beverage in the beverage can; Step 4: During the sterilization process, the main rotating shaft (4) is driven by the power source (5) to rotate slowly counterclockwise, thereby driving each support plate (8) to rotate slowly along the main rotating shaft (4), and keeping the support plate (8) in a horizontal state; Step 5: When the support plate (8) rotates to a certain height, the unfolding and retracting mechanism (10) drives the beverage placement components (9) on the support plate (8) to unfold to each other, so that the beverage cans can fully contact with the hot water, thereby achieving rapid sterilization; Step 6: Maintaining the fully expanded state, after rotating to a certain distance, the expansion and contraction mechanism (10) drives the beverage placement components (9) on the support plate (8) to retract with each other to adapt to the radial accommodation space in the sterilizer (1); Step 7: After the sterilization is completed, open the autoclave door and push the transfer vehicle (2) out of the autoclave (1).

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