Yoghourt fermentation quality detection mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of yoghurt fermentation, and discloses a yoghurt fermentation quality detection mechanism, which comprises a fermentation tank, a temperature detection part installed in the fermentation tank and used for detecting temperature distribution and quality factors of a yoghurt sample, a sampling part installed in the temperature detection part and used for sampling fermented yoghurt in a sealed state, and a control part installed in the fermentation tank and used for controlling the temperature distribution and quality factors of the yoghurt sample. The sealing part is mounted at a tank opening of the fermentation tank and is used for sealing and detecting a yogurt fermentation process, the infectious microbe detection part is mounted on the sealing part, a three-electrode system is used for detecting yogurt fermentation quality indexes, and the design of the sealing part and the sampling part is adopted, so that sealed sampling and detection are realized, yogurt and a sample are prevented from being exposed to air; the outer cover and the inner cover of the sealing part are matched, a sealing environment is created during fermentation and sampling, the sampling part completes operation in the temperature detection part, mixing of infectious microbes is reduced, it is guaranteed that the detection result truly reflects the quality of yoghourt in the fermentation tank, misjudgment caused by interference of the infectious microbes is prevented, and control over the follow-up production process is prevented from being affected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of yogurt fermentation, and particularly to a quality detection mechanism for yogurt fermentation. Background Art

[0002] In the process of yogurt fermentation production, fermentation quality detection is a key link to ensure product quality. At present, the conventional sampling and detection method commonly used in the industry is to extract a certain amount of yogurt samples from the fermentation tank and transfer them to the laboratory environment for operations such as component analysis and microorganism detection.

[0003] During the sampling process, the yogurt samples need to be exposed to the external environment, and the air itself contains a large number of microorganisms such as bacteria, molds, and yeasts. When the yogurt comes into direct contact with the air, these miscellaneous bacteria are extremely likely to adhere to the surface of the samples and rapidly multiply by utilizing the rich nutrients such as proteins, sugars, and fats in the yogurt. In the conventional detection process, after the samples are taken out of the fermentation tank, they need to go through multiple operation links such as transfer and sub-packaging before entering the detection equipment, which further increases the exposure time and contamination risk of the samples. In order to reduce the contamination of miscellaneous bacteria, enterprises need to invest a large amount of manpower and material resources to maintain the cleanliness of the detection environment, increasing the production cost.

[0004] Before traditional detection equipment conducts detection, the samples need to wait for analysis in an open container, and completely sealed detection cannot be achieved, resulting in a continuous increase in the probability of miscellaneous bacteria contamination. Once miscellaneous bacteria are mixed into the yogurt samples, it will not only interfere with the accuracy of the detection results, making it impossible to truly reflect the actual quality of the yogurt in the fermentation tank, but also may affect the adjustment and control of the subsequent production process due to misjudgment of the fermentation process, ultimately causing problems such as a decline in product quality and a shortening of the shelf life. Therefore, a quality detection mechanism for yogurt fermentation is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] (I) Technical Problems to be Solved Aiming at the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a quality detection mechanism for yogurt fermentation, which solves the problems that traditional detection of yogurt samples cannot achieve complete sealing, is prone to contact with air, increases contamination, and reduces detection accuracy and quality.

[0006] (II) Technical Solutions To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: A quality detection mechanism for yogurt fermentation includes a fermentation tank. A temperature detection unit is installed inside the fermentation tank for detecting the temperature distribution and quality factors of yogurt samples. A sampling unit is installed inside the temperature detection unit for sampling fermented yogurt in a sealed state. A sealing unit is installed at the mouth of the fermentation tank for sealing and detecting the yogurt fermentation process. A miscellaneous bacteria detection unit is installed on the sealing unit for detecting yogurt fermentation quality indicators using a three-electrode system.

[0007] Preferably, the temperature detection part includes a guiding cover. A heating sheet is installed on the outer wall of the top cover opening of the guiding cover. Legs are installed on the outer wall of the bottom cover opening of the guiding cover. A support rod is fixedly connected to each leg. The top of the support rod is fixedly connected to an insulating cover. A USB socket is arranged at the top of the insulating cover. A cable is connected between the insulating cover and the guiding cover.

[0008] Preferably, the guiding cover is fixedly connected to the bottom inner wall of the fermentation tank through legs. The heating sheet is electrically connected to the USB socket through a cable.

[0009] Preferably, the sampling part includes a sliding column. The sliding column is slidably connected to the inner wall of the guiding cover. Two holding rods are fixedly connected to the top of the sliding column. An adsorption sheet is fixedly connected to the top of the sliding column. A sampling dish is arranged at the bottom of the sliding column. A threaded groove is opened at the bottom of the sliding column. The top opening of the sampling dish is arranged. A threaded sleeve is fixedly connected to the top edge of the opening of the sampling dish. The sampling dish is threadedly connected to the threaded groove through the threaded sleeve.

[0010] Preferably, the bottom outer wall of the sampling dish is attached to the bottom inner wall of the fermentation tank. Eight feed holes are circumferentially opened on the outer wall of the sampling dish. A detection hole is opened at the center of the bottom of the sliding column. A detection electrode is slidably connected to the inner wall of the detection hole. A thermistor is arranged in the detection electrode. A tension spring is elastically connected between the top of the inner wall of the detection hole and the detection electrode. A positioning hole is opened at the center of the top of the sliding column. The positioning hole is communicated with the top of the inner wall of the detection hole.

[0011] Preferably, the sealing part includes an outer cover and an inner cover. Support arms I are circumferentially connected between the outer cover and the inner cover. A transparent plate is fixedly connected between every two support arms I. A support arm II is fixedly connected to the top edge of the outer cover. A working plate is fixedly connected to the top of the support arm II.

[0012] Preferably, the outer cover is installed on the tank opening of the fermentation tank. The inner cover is slidably sleeved on the outer wall of the insulating cover. The top of the insulating cover is attached to the bottom of the working plate.

[0013] Preferably, the miscellaneous bacteria detection part includes a chassis. A through hole is opened in the middle of the chassis. A power socket is arranged on the outer wall of the chassis. A USB plug and a connection electrode are installed on the bottom of the working plate. A magnet is also installed on the bottom of the working plate. Two guiding holes are opened on the working plate. Both of the two guiding holes are communicated with the through hole.

[0014] Preferably, the chassis is installed on the top of the working plate. The connection electrode is aligned with the positioning hole and the detection electrode on the same vertical line. The magnet and the adsorption sheet attract each other with opposite polarities. The USB plug is plugged into the USB socket.

[0015] Preferably, a microcontroller, an ADC, a voltage source module, a signal conditioning module, and a communication module are arranged in the chassis. The USB plug is electrically connected to the microcontroller. A reference electrode and a counter electrode are also arranged in the chassis. The connection electrode, the reference electrode, and the counter electrode are all electrically connected to the microcontroller.

[0016] (III) Beneficial Effects Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism, which has the following beneficial effects: 1. The yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism adopts the design of a sealing part and a sampling part to achieve sealed sampling and detection, avoiding the exposure of yogurt and samples to the air. The outer cover and the inner cover of the sealing part cooperate to create a sealed environment during fermentation and sampling. The sampling part completes the operation inside the temperature detection part, reducing the mixing of miscellaneous bacteria, ensuring that the detection results truly reflect the quality of yogurt in the fermentation tank, preventing misjudgment caused by the interference of miscellaneous bacteria, and avoiding affecting the subsequent production process control.

[0017] 2. The yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism uses the temperature detection part to utilize a heating sheet and a thermistor, combined with a heat transfer model, to detect the temperature distribution of yogurt to obtain quality parameters. The miscellaneous bacteria detection part is based on a three-electrode system and a microcontroller to measure electrochemical signals and analyze indicators such as the acidity, protein content, and miscellaneous bacteria contamination of yogurt. These detection means monitor the fermentation process in multiple dimensions in real time, providing accurate data support for quality control during the production process, helping to adjust the fermentation process in a timely manner, and ensuring the stability of product quality.

[0018] 3. The yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism adopts a modular design. For example, the sampling dish is connected to the sliding column through a threaded sleeve, and the outer cover of the sealing part is detachably installed on the fermentation tank, which is convenient for disassembly, replacement, and cleaning, improving the convenience and hygiene of equipment use, reducing the maintenance cost. The insulating cover isolates the current during sampling and detection, ensuring the safety of the detection process, avoiding affecting the detection results due to current problems, and preventing safety accidents.

[0019] 4. The yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism uses the communication module of the miscellaneous bacteria detection part to upload the measurement data to the cloud server or interact with other devices, realizing remote monitoring and data analysis. The operator can obtain the fermentation information in real time, handle problems in a timely manner, improve the production management efficiency, and meet the requirements of modern production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism proposed by the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the fermentation tank of a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism proposed by the present invention; Figure 3Connection diagram of the temperature detection part and the sealing part of a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism proposed by the present invention; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the temperature detection part of a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism proposed by the present invention; Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the sampling part of a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism proposed by the present invention; Figure 6 Exploded view of the sampling part of a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism proposed by the present invention; Figure 7 Connection diagram of the sealing part and the miscellaneous bacteria detection part of a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism proposed by the present invention; Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the structure of the chassis of a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism proposed by the present invention.

[0021] In the figure: 1, fermentation tank; 2, temperature detection part; 21, guiding cover; 22, heating sheet; 23, support leg; 24, support rod; 25, insulating cover; 26, USB socket; 27, cable; 3, sampling part; 31, sliding column; 32, grip bar; 33, adsorption sheet; 34, sampling dish; 35, feed hole; 36, detection hole; 37, detection electrode; 38, tension spring; 39, positioning hole; 4, sealing part; 41, outer cover; 42, inner cover; 43, first support arm; 44, second support arm; 45, working plate; 5, miscellaneous bacteria detection part; 51, chassis; 52, through hole; 53, power socket; 54, USB plug; 55, connection electrode; 56, magnet; 57, guiding hole. Specific implementation mode

[0022] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0023] Please refer to Figure 1-8 , the present invention provides a technical solution: a yogurt fermentation quality detection mechanism, including a fermentation tank 1, a temperature detection part 2 is installed inside the fermentation tank 1 for detecting the temperature distribution of the yogurt sample and its quality factors, a sampling part 3 is installed inside the temperature detection part 2 for sampling the fermented yogurt in a sealed state, a sealing part 4 is installed at the mouth of the fermentation tank 1 for sealing the detection of the yogurt fermentation process, and a miscellaneous bacteria detection part 5 is installed on the sealing part 4 for detecting the quality indexes of the yogurt fermentation by using a three-electrode system.

[0024] In the present invention, the thermal conductivity of yogurt is related to quality factors such as its composition, concentration, fermentation state, etc. The temperature detection unit 2 includes a guiding cover 21. A heating sheet 22 is installed on the outer wall of the top cover opening of the guiding cover 21. Legs 23 are installed on the outer wall of the bottom cover opening of the guiding cover 21. A support rod 24 is fixedly connected to each leg 23. The top of the support rod 24 is fixedly connected to an insulating cover 25. A USB socket 26 is provided at the top of the insulating cover 25. A cable 27 is connected between the insulating cover 25 and the guiding cover 21. The guiding cover 21 is fixedly connected to the bottom inner wall of the fermentation tank 1 through the legs 23. The heating sheet 22 is electrically connected to the USB socket 26 through the cable 27.

[0025] In this embodiment, in order to achieve sealed sampling and prevent yogurt samples and yogurt from being exposed to the air, the sampling unit 3 includes a sliding column 31. The sliding column 31 is slidably connected to the inner wall of the guiding cover 21. Two grip rods 32 are fixedly connected to the top of the sliding column 31. An adsorption sheet 33 is fixedly connected to the top of the sliding column 31. A sampling dish 34 is provided at the bottom of the sliding column 31. A threaded groove is opened at the bottom of the sliding column 31. The top of the sampling dish 34 is open. A threaded sleeve is fixedly connected to the top edge of the opening of the sampling dish 34. The sampling dish 34 is threadedly connected to the threaded groove by the threaded sleeve. The use of threaded detachable connection and modular design facilitate replacement and cleaning. The bottom outer wall of the sampling dish 34 is in contact with the bottom inner wall of the fermentation tank 1. Eight feeding holes 35 are circumferentially opened on the outer wall of the sampling dish 34. A detection hole 36 is opened at the center of the bottom of the sliding column 31. A detection electrode 37 is slidably connected to the inner wall of the detection hole 36. A thermistor is provided inside the detection electrode 37. The thermistor monitors the temperature change of the detection electrode 37 and the temperature distribution of the surrounding yogurt, thereby collecting data. A tension spring 38 is elastically connected between the top of the inner wall of the detection hole 36 and the detection electrode 37. The elastic reset of the tension spring 38 can always keep the detection electrode 37 received in the detection hole 36. A positioning hole 39 is opened at the center of the top of the sliding column 31. The positioning hole 39 is communicated with the top of the inner wall of the detection hole 36.

[0026] It should be noted that, in order to provide a suitable sealed environment during yogurt fermentation and sampling, the sealing unit 4 includes an outer cover 41 and an inner cover 42. Support arms 43 are circumferentially connected between the outer cover 41 and the inner cover 42. A transparent plate is fixedly connected between every two support arms 43. The transparent plate is used to directly observe the color change during yogurt fermentation from the outside. A support arm 44 is fixedly connected to the top edge of the outer cover 41. A working plate 45 is fixedly connected to the top of the support arm 44. The outer cover 41 is installed on the mouth of the fermentation tank 1. The inner cover 42 is slidably sleeved on the outer wall of the insulating cover 25. The top of the insulating cover 25 is in contact with the bottom of the working plate 45. The insulating cover 25 is used to isolate the current in real time during sampling detection, improving the detection safety.

[0027] It should be noted that the potential difference in the three - electrode system is used to judge the degree of yogurt fermentation. The metabolites of miscellaneous bacteria have redox activity and will undergo redox reactions on the surface of the detection electrode 37. By detecting the reaction current, it is judged whether there is contamination by miscellaneous bacteria. The miscellaneous bacteria detection part 5 includes an organic case 51. A through - hole 52 is opened in the middle of the case 51. A power socket 53 is arranged on the outer wall of the case 51. A USB plug 54 and a connection electrode 55 are installed at the bottom of the working plate 45. A magnet 56 is also installed at the bottom of the working plate 45. Two guiding holes 57 are opened on the working plate 45, and both of the two guiding holes 57 are communicated with the through - hole 52. The case 51 is installed on the top of the working plate 45. The connection electrode 55 is aligned with the positioning hole 39 and the detection electrode 37 on the same vertical line. The magnet 56 and the adsorption piece 33 attract each other with opposite polarities. When the magnet 56 attracts the adsorption piece 33, it can ensure that the sliding column 31 does not fall off, improving the stability during sample detection. The USB plug 54 is inserted into the USB socket 26. Inside the case 51, there is a microcontroller Arduino - Mega - 2560 which has enough resources to handle data acquisition and processing tasks in electrochemical measurements. The ADC (ADS1115) has differential input and single - ended input modes and can meet the high - precision acquisition requirements for weak signals in electrochemical measurements. The voltage source module LM317 can be used to provide an excitation voltage for the electrode system. By adjusting its output voltage, different experimental requirements can be met. The signal conditioning module (composed of an operational amplifier LM358 and related resistors and capacitors) is used to amplify, filter and other process the weak current or potential signals output by the electrode system, improving the quality and stability of the signals so that the ADC can accurately acquire them. The communication module ESP8266 - Wi - Fi module facilitates uploading the measurement data to the cloud server or performing data interaction with other devices to achieve remote monitoring and data analysis. The USB plug 54 is electrically connected to the microcontroller. A reference electrode (calomel electrode) and a counter electrode (platinum electrode) are also arranged inside the case 51. The connection electrode 55, the reference electrode and the counter electrode are all electrically connected to the microcontroller.

[0028] Working principle: The fermenter 1 is used for fermenting yogurt, and the liquid level height of the yogurt does not exceed the horizontal line at the bottom of the heating sheet 22. Before yogurt fermentation, the fluidity is strong and it can fill the inside of the sampling dish 34 through the feed hole 35. The fermentation environment inside the sampling dish 34 is the same as that inside the fermenter 1. After synchronous fermentation, the yogurt becomes thick and is not easy to flow out of the sampling dish 34. During detection, pull the grip 32 to make the sliding column 31 rise into the insulating cover 25. The sampling dish 34 follows and rises and hovers at the position of the heating sheet 22. The connection electrode 55 is inserted into the positioning hole 39 along the trend and passes through the middle of the tension spring 38 and presses the detection electrode 37 downward, so as to prompt the detection electrode 37 to enter the sampling dish 34 to contact the yogurt sample for detection preparation, completing the sampling operation of the thick yogurt in a sealed state.

[0029] After being powered on through the power socket 53, the microcontroller is activated. The USB plug 54 is connected to the USB socket 26, and the heating sheet 22 is operated through the cable 27, thereby heating the yogurt sample. The temperature of the current detection electrode 37 is monitored by the thermistor through temperature heat transfer. Through the analysis of the temperature data, combined with the heat transfer model and the relationship model between the quality and thermal properties of yogurt, the relevant quality parameters of the yogurt are calculated to achieve the detection of the yogurt quality.

[0030] The connection electrode 55 and the detection electrode 37 form a working electrode. The pins of Arduino-Mega-2560, modules such as ADS1115 and ESP8266 are initialized, the communication parameters and working modes are configured, and a program is written to control ADS1115 to collect the response current and potential signals of the electrode system at a certain sampling frequency, and the collected data is stored in the memory of the microcontroller. The collected data is processed such as filtering and calculation to extract useful characteristic information, such as the potential and current values of the redox peak. The processed data is sent to a specified server through the ESP8266-Wi-Fi module to achieve remote monitoring and data analysis. The program enters a loop state, continuously repeating the process of data collection, processing and transmission to monitor the yogurt fermentation quality in real time.

[0031] Using a three-electrode system combined with a microcontroller, a certain voltage and current excitation are applied to the electrode system, the changes in the response current and potential in the circuit are measured, and the measured electrochemical signals are transmitted to the microcontroller for processing. Using the pre-established mathematical models and algorithms, the electrochemical parameters are correlated with the quality indicators of yogurt (such as acidity, protein content, and bacterial contamination) to achieve the detection of the yogurt quality.

[0032] It should be noted that in this article, relational terms such as first and second are only used 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 term "including", "comprising" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not expressly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the statement "including a..." does not exclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the said element.

Claims

1. A yogurt fermentation quality inspection institution, characterized in that, Comprising: Fermentation tank (1); Temperature detection unit (2), installed inside the fermentation tank (1), for detecting the temperature distribution of the yogurt sample and its quality factors; Sampling unit (3), installed inside the temperature detection unit (2), for sampling the fermented yogurt in a sealed state; Sealing unit (4), installed at the mouth of the fermentation tank (1), for sealing the detection of the yogurt fermentation process; Contamination detection unit (5), installed on the sealing unit (4), for detecting the quality indicators of yogurt fermentation using a three-electrode system.

2. The quality inspection agency for yogurt fermentation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature detection unit (2) includes a guiding cover (21). A heating sheet (22) is installed on the outer wall of the top cover opening of the guiding cover (21). Legs (23) are installed on the outer wall of the bottom cover opening of the guiding cover (21). A support rod (24) is fixedly connected to each leg (23). The top of the support rod (24) is fixedly connected to an insulating cover (25). A USB socket (26) is provided at the top of the insulating cover (25). A cable (27) is connected between the insulating cover (25) and the guiding cover (21).

3. A yogurt fermentation quality inspection institution according to claim 2, characterized in that: The guiding cover (21) is fixedly connected to the bottom inner wall of the fermentation tank (1) through the legs (23). The heating sheet (22) is electrically connected to the USB socket (26) through the cable (27).

4. A yogurt fermentation quality inspection institution according to claim 3, characterized in that: The sampling unit (3) includes a sliding column (31). The sliding column (31) is slidably connected to the inner wall of the guiding cover (21). Two gripping rods (32) are fixedly connected to the top of the sliding column (31). An adsorption sheet (33) is fixedly connected to the top of the sliding column (31). A sampling dish (34) is provided at the bottom of the sliding column (31). A threaded groove is provided at the bottom of the sliding column (31). The top opening of the sampling dish (34) is provided. A threaded sleeve is fixedly connected to the top edge of the opening of the sampling dish (34). The sampling dish (34) is threadedly connected to the threaded groove through the threaded sleeve.

5. A yogurt fermentation quality inspection institution according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bottom outer wall of the sampling dish (34) is in contact with the bottom inner wall of the fermentation tank (1). Eight feeding holes (35) are provided around the outer wall of the sampling dish (34). A detection hole (36) is provided at the center of the bottom of the sliding column (31). A detection electrode (37) is slidably connected to the inner wall of the detection hole (36). A thermistor is provided inside the detection electrode (37). A tension spring (38) is elastically connected between the top inner wall of the detection hole (36) and the detection electrode (37). A positioning hole (39) is provided at the center of the top of the sliding column (31). The positioning hole (39) is communicated with the top inner wall of the detection hole (36).

6. The quality inspection institution for yogurt fermentation according to claim 5, characterized in that: The sealing unit (4) includes an outer cover (41) and an inner cover (42). Support arms one (43) are connected around between the outer cover (41) and the inner cover (42). A transparent plate is fixedly connected between every two support arms one (43). A support arm two (44) is fixedly connected to the top edge of the outer cover (41). A working plate (45) is fixedly connected to the top of the support arm two (44).

7. A yogurt fermentation quality inspection institution according to claim 6, characterized in that: The outer cover (41) is installed on the mouth of the fermentation tank (1). The inner cover (42) is slidably sleeved on the outer wall of the insulating cover (25), and the top of the insulating cover (25) is in contact with the bottom of the working plate (45).

8. A yogurt fermentation quality inspection institution according to claim 7, characterized in that: The miscellaneous bacteria detection unit (5) includes a chassis (51). A through hole (52) is formed in the middle of the chassis (51). A power socket (53) is arranged on the outer wall of the chassis (51). A USB plug (54) and a connection electrode (55) are installed at the bottom of the working plate (45). A magnet (56) is further installed at the bottom of the working plate (45). Two guiding holes (57) are formed in the working plate (45), and both of the two guiding holes (57) are communicated with the through hole (52).

9. A yogurt fermentation quality detection institution according to claim 8, characterized in that: The chassis (51) is installed on the top of the working plate (45). The connection electrode (55), the positioning hole (39), and the detection electrode (37) are aligned on the same vertical line. The magnet (56) and the adsorption sheet (33) attract each other with opposite polarities. The USB plug (54) is plugged into the USB socket (26).

10. A yogurt fermentation quality inspection institution according to claim 9, characterized in that: A microcontroller, an ADC, a voltage source module, a signal conditioning module, and a communication module are arranged in the chassis (51). The USB plug (54) is electrically connected to the microcontroller. A reference electrode and a counter electrode are further arranged in the chassis (51). The connection electrode (55), the reference electrode, and the counter electrode are all electrically connected to the microcontroller.

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