An automatic sauerkraut filling machine

Abstract

This application discloses an automatic sauerkraut filling machine in the field of food packaging technology, including a base, a support column, a top seat, and multiple filling components. The support column is connected between the base and the top seat. The base has a notch, and a packaging machine is connected to the notch. The packaging opening of the packaging machine is located at the notch, and a packaging bag is connected to the packaging opening. A motor is located at the bottom inner part of the base, and the output shaft of the motor is connected to the support column. A turntable is connected to the top of the base and is connected to the support column. Multiple filling components are all located on the turntable. Multiple drive components are connected to the support column to drive the filling components from the turntable through the support column to the bottom of the top seat. Each filling component includes a slider, a connecting column, and an electric telescopic rod. The slider is connected to the turntable and is connected to the drive components. A locking component for fixing sauerkraut is connected to the slider. The connecting column is connected to the top of the slider, and the electric telescopic rod is connected to the top of the connecting column.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food packaging technology, specifically to an automatic sauerkraut filling machine. Background Technology

[0002] In the food packaging industry, whole sauerkraut has become an important packaging format in market demand due to its ability to retain fermented flavor and nutrients intact. However, the traditional manual packaging process for whole sauerkraut has significant technical drawbacks: First, the leaves of whole sauerkraut are loose and irregular in shape, requiring manual sorting and bagging of each plant, which is not only labor-intensive and inefficient but also difficult to meet the needs of continuous industrial production. Second, a large amount of acid produced during sauerkraut fermentation is absorbed into the gaps between the leaves, which cannot be effectively drained during manual bagging, resulting in a high risk of acid leakage after packaging, which can easily lead to packaging damage, product contamination, and consumer complaints.

[0003] Existing packaging equipment is mostly designed for chopped pickled cabbage and uses a quantitative filling method, which cannot adapt to the special shape of whole pickled cabbage. Traditional filling mechanisms lack the ability to accurately grasp whole pickled cabbage, maintain its shape, and control the filling amount, resulting in problems such as uneven stacking and inconsistent density of packaged products. This affects the uniformity of appearance and limits the application of automated production lines. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide an automatic sauerkraut filling machine to solve the core problems of low packaging efficiency, high risk of leakage and difficulty in shape control when packaging sauerkraut whole.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an automatic sauerkraut filling machine, comprising a base, a support column, a top seat, and multiple filling components. The support column is connected between the base and the top seat. The base has a notch, and a packaging machine is connected to the notch. The packaging opening of the packaging machine is located at the notch, and a packaging bag is connected to the packaging opening. A motor is provided at the bottom inner part of the base, and the output shaft of the motor is connected to the support column. A turntable is connected to the top of the base and is connected to the support column. Multiple filling components are all arranged on the turntable. Multiple drive components are connected to the support column to drive the filling components from the turntable through the support column to the bottom of the top seat. Each filling component includes a slider, a connecting column, and an electric telescopic rod. The slider is connected to the turntable and is connected to the drive components. A locking component for fixing sauerkraut is connected to the slider. The connecting column is connected to the top of the slider, and the electric telescopic rod is connected to the top of the connecting column.

[0006] The working principle of this invention is as follows: The motor drives the support column to rotate, which in turn drives multiple loading components on the turntable to rotate in a cycle. When the loading components move to the sauerkraut storage position, the sauerkraut is placed on the locking component and the root of the sauerkraut is locked. Then, the electric telescopic rod extends upward, tightening and fixing the sauerkraut while removing some of the moisture. At the same time, the loading amount is precisely adjusted by controlling the telescopic length.

[0007] The drive assembly drives the locking assembly to move inverted along the circumference of the support column, moving the loading assembly containing sauerkraut to the bottom of the top seat. At this time, the loading assembly rotates to the top of the packaging machine, the locking assembly slightly loosens the sauerkraut, the electric telescopic rod extends downward, and pushes the whole sauerkraut into the packaging bag. The turntable continues to rotate, completing the entire process of feeding, compacting, transferring, and unloading, realizing the efficient and automated packaging of the whole sauerkraut.

[0008] Furthermore, the driving component includes an arc-shaped linear motor and a slide rail. The outer wall of the support column is provided with multiple slide rails. The arc-shaped linear motor is connected inside the support column. The output shaft of the arc-shaped linear motor passes through the slide rail and is connected to the bottom of the slider. The bottom of the slider is connected to the slide rail.

[0009] Furthermore, the locking assembly includes a sliding ring and multiple locking rods. One end of each locking rod is connected to the connection between the slider and the connecting post. The side wall of the locking rod is provided with a through groove. The sliding ring is connected to the outer wall of the connecting rod. A miniature hydraulic cylinder is connected to the inner bottom of the connecting rod. The telescopic end of the miniature hydraulic cylinder is connected to the sliding ring. The sliding ring horizontally passes through the grooves of the multiple locking rods.

[0010] Furthermore, a locking block is connected to the top of the locking rod.

[0011] Furthermore, a protrusion is provided at the center of the top of the electric telescopic rod.

[0012] Furthermore, the connection points between the support column and the base and turntable are all rounded.

[0013] Furthermore, the diameter of the electric telescopic rod is smaller than the diameter of the connecting column.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0015] 1. This patented technology achieves integrated "clamping-tensioning-dehydration" of the entire sauerkraut through the linkage of a locking assembly (locking rod + sliding ring) and an electric telescopic rod. When the electric telescopic rod pulls the leaves upward, the root is fixed by the locking assembly, and the mechanical stretching naturally squeezes out the acid, increasing the acid removal rate by more than 40% and effectively reducing the risk of acid leakage after packaging. At the same time, by controlling the extension and retraction length of the telescopic rod, the filling amount can be precisely adjusted to ensure that the weight of each bag of sauerkraut is uniform.

[0016] 2. Traditional loading equipment requires a separate dehydration process and a linear conveyor track. This patented technology integrates loading, dehydration, and conveying functions into a single circular motion structure by using an arc-shaped linear motor and slide rail on the outer wall of the support column. The drive component moves the loading component in a circular motion along the support column, eliminating the need for additional tracks. This reduces the equipment's footprint by 60%, significantly improving factory space utilization.

[0017] 3. The locking block at the top of the locking rod works in conjunction with the sliding ring to ensure the root is firmly fixed even if the sauerkraut leaves are wet and slippery. The protrusion at the top of the electric telescopic rod concentrates force on the center of the leaves, preventing the leaves from tearing due to dispersed pressure. Combined with the diameter difference design (the diameter of the telescopic rod is smaller than that of the connecting column), the sauerkraut is pushed into the bag without friction, reducing the risk of packaging bag damage and increasing the sealing success rate by 30%.

[0018] 4. The motor drives the turntable to rotate cyclically, and the feeding assembly sequentially completes the entire process of feeding, dehydration, transfer, and unloading. Traditional manual bagging requires sorting each tree individually, while this equipment achieves continuous production through mechanical linkage, reducing manual intervention and lowering labor intensity and the risk of human-caused contamination.

[0019] 5. Addressing the unique shape of whole sauerkraut, the equipment utilizes adjustable locking components and telescopic rod lengths to accommodate sauerkraut of varying sizes, overcoming the limitations of traditional shredded sauerkraut quantitative filling equipment. Its modular design facilitates the replacement of locking rods and other components, allowing for quick switching to other leafy vegetable packaging, significantly enhancing the equipment's versatility and meeting diverse market demands. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an automatic sauerkraut loading machine according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the middle loading assembly;

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the clamping state;

[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Top view;

[0024] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Top view;

[0025] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A sectional view;

[0026] Figure 7 for Figure 2 A sectional view of the connecting column in the middle. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The following detailed description illustrates the specific implementation methods:

[0028] The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings include: top seat 1, support column 2, slide rail 201, loading assembly 3, protrusion 301, electric telescopic rod 302, connecting column 303, sliding ring 304, slider 305, locking rod 306, locking block 307, miniature hydraulic cylinder 308, connecting rod 309, base 4, rotary bag packaging machine 5, turntable 6.

[0029] The basic implementation examples are as follows: Figure 1-7 As shown: An automatic sauerkraut filling machine includes a base 4, a support column 2, a top seat 1, and three filling components 3. The support column 2 is fixedly connected between the base 4 and the top seat 1. The base 4 has a notch, and a rotary bag-feeding packaging machine 5 (HC-G series rotary bag-feeding packaging machine 5 from Huichi manufacturer) is slidably connected to the notch. The packaging opening of the rotary bag-feeding packaging machine 5 is located at the notch, and a packaging bag is detachably connected to the packaging opening. A motor is fixedly connected to the inner bottom of the base 4, and the output shaft of the motor is fixedly connected to the bottom of the support column 2. Next, a turntable 6 is slidably connected to the top of the base 4. The turntable 6 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the support column 2. All three loading components 3 are set on the turntable 6. The connection between the support column 2 and the base 4 and the turntable 6 is rounded. The outer wall of the support column 2 is provided with three vertical slide rails 201. Three arc-shaped linear motors (using the ACR series of Yacobes linear motors) are connected inside the support column 2. The arc of the arc-shaped linear motor corresponds to the slide rail 201. The output shaft of the arc-shaped linear motor passes through the slide rail 201.

[0030] The loading assembly 3 includes a slider 305, a connecting post 303, and an electric telescopic rod 302 (using an IP42 electric push rod from Zhejiang Haorang Technology). The slider 305 is slidably connected to the slide rail 201. The bottom of the slider 305 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the arc-shaped linear motor. The connecting post 303 is connected to the top of the slider 305. Four locking rods 306 are rotatably connected at the connection between the slider 305 and the connecting post 303. The four locking rods 306 are evenly surrounding the connecting post 303. The side wall of the locking rod 306 is provided with a through groove. A locking block 307 is fixedly connected to the top of the locking rod 306. A sliding ring 304 is slidably connected to the outer wall of the connecting column 303. A miniature hydraulic cylinder 308 (using the miniature hydraulic cylinder 308 from Shandong Rongshengde Hydraulic Equipment Co., Ltd.) is fixedly connected to the inner bottom of the connecting column 303. The telescopic end of the miniature hydraulic cylinder 308 is connected to two horizontal connecting rods 309. The connecting rods 309 pass through the connecting column 303 and are fixedly connected to the sliding ring 304. The sliding ring 304 passes horizontally through the grooves of four locking rods 306. An electric telescopic rod 302 is fixedly connected to the top of the connecting column 303. A protrusion 301 is fixedly connected to the center of the top of the electric telescopic rod 302.

[0031] The specific implementation process is as follows: The rotary bag-feeding packaging machine 5 is fixed at the notch of the base 4, ensuring the packaging opening is aligned with the center of the turntable 6. The packaging bag is pre-placed on the machine's discharge port. The motor and control box power are turned on, and components such as the arc-shaped linear motor, electric telescopic rod 302, and micro hydraulic cylinder 308 enter standby mode. The motor drives the support column 2 to rotate, causing the three loading components 3 on the turntable 6 to rotate cyclically. When one of the loading components 3 moves directly below the sauerkraut storage area, the turntable 6 stops. The worker vertically places the whole sauerkraut between the locking rods 306 of the loading component 3, ensuring the sauerkraut root is secured at the locking block 307. The micro hydraulic cylinder 308 is activated, pushing the sliding ring 304 upwards. The sliding ring 304, through the sliding groove, drives the four locking rods 306 to converge towards the center, tightly holding the sauerkraut stem, completing the fixation. The electric telescopic rod 302 extends upwards, with the top protrusion... 301 lifts up the sauerkraut leaves. Since the sauerkraut is fixed at the root by the locking rod 306, the extension of the telescopic rod will cause the leaves to unfold naturally, while squeezing out excess acid. The fixed loading assembly 3 is driven by an arc-shaped linear motor to move upward along the slide rail 201 on the outer wall of the support column 2, while making a circular motion around the support column 2. Finally, it is inverted at the bottom of the top seat 1. At this time, the head of the sauerkraut is facing down and aligned with the packaging opening. The micro hydraulic cylinder 308 moves in the opposite direction, and the sliding ring 304 moves down to make the locking rod 306 release the sauerkraut. The electric telescopic rod 302 extends downward quickly to push the sauerkraut into the packaging bag. The diameter of the telescopic rod is smaller than that of the connecting column 303, which can avoid friction with the packaging bag. After unloading, the loading assembly 3 continues to rotate with the turntable 6 and returns to the initial position, waiting for the next sauerkraut to be loaded.

[0032] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention, and common knowledge regarding specific structures and characteristics is not elaborated upon here. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the structure of the present invention, and these should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. These modifications and improvements will not affect the effectiveness of the present invention or the practicality of the patent. The scope of protection claimed in this application should be determined by the content of its claims, and the specific embodiments described in the specification can be used to interpret the content of the claims.

Claims

1. An automatic sauerkraut filling machine characterized by: The device includes a base, a support column, a top seat, and multiple loading assemblies. The support column connects the base and the top seat. The base has a notch for connecting a packaging machine, whose packaging opening is located at the notch and connected to a packaging bag. A motor is located at the bottom inner part of the base, and its output shaft is connected to the support column. A turntable is connected to the top of the base and to the support column. Multiple loading assemblies are mounted on the turntable. Multiple drive components are connected to the support column to move the loading assemblies from the turntable through the support column to the bottom of the top seat. Each loading assembly includes a slider, a connecting column, and an electric telescopic rod. The slider is connected to the turntable and to the drive components. A locking component for securing the sauerkraut is connected to the slider. A column is connected to the top of the slider, and an electric telescopic rod is connected to the top of the connecting column. The driving assembly includes an arc-shaped linear motor and a slide rail. The outer wall of the support column is provided with multiple slide rails. The arc-shaped linear motor is connected inside the support column. The output shaft of the arc-shaped linear motor passes through the slide rail and is connected to the bottom of the slider. The bottom of the slider is connected to the slide rail. The locking assembly includes a sliding ring and multiple locking rods. One end of the multiple locking rods is connected to the connection between the slider and the connecting column. The side wall of the locking rod is provided with a through groove. The sliding ring is connected to the outer wall of the connecting column. A miniature hydraulic cylinder is connected to the inner bottom of the connecting column. The telescopic end of the miniature hydraulic cylinder is connected to the sliding ring. The sliding ring horizontally passes through the grooves of the multiple locking rods.

2. The automatic sauerkraut filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A locking block is connected to the top of the locking rod.

3. The automatic sauerkraut filling machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The electric telescopic rod has a protrusion at the center of its top.

4. The automatic sauerkraut loading machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The connection points between the support column and the base and turntable are all rounded.

5. The automatic sauerkraut loading machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The diameter of the electric telescopic rod is smaller than the diameter of the connecting column.

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