Automated food ash content tester

Abstract

This invention discloses an automated food ash content tester, comprising: an outer casing, and a heating furnace, a crucible mounting support device, a weighing device, and a lifting device disposed within it; and an image recognition device, a liquid dispensing device, a furnace plug opening and closing device, and an operation control device disposed outside it. The crucible mounting support device includes a sample tray and a rotary lifting drive mechanism connected to the sample tray to drive its vertical lifting and rotation. The supporting end of the weighing device extends upward into the heating chamber, and the lifting device is configured to vertically lift the crucible located above it out of the heating furnace. The image recognition device is used to photograph the contents of the crucible located below it; the furnace plug opening and closing device is used to remove the furnace plug clamped on the heating furnace to expose the crucible containing carbon particles; and the liquid dispensing device is used to drip the required water into the crucible below through a first furnace plug hole. This invention's tester has a high degree of automation, high testing efficiency, saves time and labor, and provides high accuracy in test results.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of flour ash content testing devices in the food industry, and in particular, to an automated food ash content tester. Background Technology

[0002] In the food industry, the current procedure for testing the ash content of flour is generally as follows: First, the flour sample is manually heated on a hot plate with a small flame to fully carbonize it until there is no smoke. Then, the carbonized product is placed in a muffle furnace and burned at 550℃ ± 25℃ for 4 hours. After cooling to about 200℃, it is taken out and placed in a desiccator to cool for another 30 minutes. If carbon particles are found in the burning residue before weighing, a small amount of water should be added to the sample to moisten it and loosen the clumps. After the water is evaporated, it is burned again until there are no carbon particles, which indicates that the ashing is complete and it can be weighed. Then, the burning is repeated until the difference between two consecutive weighings does not exceed 0.5mg, which is considered constant weight. Finally, the operator calculates the ash content using a formula.

[0003] The entire ash content testing process has a low degree of automation, long testing time, and low testing efficiency. It relies almost entirely on manual operation, and the operation steps are cumbersome. This not only results in high workload but also makes it easy to make mistakes, leading to inaccurate test results, low test accuracy, and poor test stability. In addition, there is a risk of burns to personnel during manual operation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides an automated food ash content tester to solve the technical problems of low automation, long testing time, low testing efficiency, low accuracy of test results, and risk of burns to personnel in existing testing methods.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:

[0006] An automated food ash content tester includes: an outer casing that opens and closes vertically; a heating furnace, a crucible mounting support device, a weighing device, and a lifting device disposed within the outer casing; an image recognition device, a liquid dispensing device, and a furnace plug opening and closing device disposed on the top surface of the outer casing; and an operation control device disposed on the side of the outer casing. The outer casing has an upper mounting cavity and a lower mounting cavity that are separated vertically. The heating furnace is disposed in the upper mounting cavity and opens and closes vertically, containing a heating chamber for heating. The crucible mounting support device includes a sample tray disposed within the heating chamber for circumferentially mounting the crucible, and a rotational lifting drive connected to the sample tray for driving its vertical lifting and rotation. The mechanism includes a rotary lifting drive mechanism located in the lower mounting cavity; a weighing device and a lifting device are also located in the lower mounting cavity, with the supporting end of the weighing device extending upward into the heating cavity; the lifting device is configured to lift the crucible located above it out of the heating furnace; an image recognition device is used to photograph the items in the crucible located below it to identify the quantity, size, and position of the carbon particles in the crucible and provide feedback to the operation control device; a furnace plug opening and closing device is used to remove the furnace plug that is stuck on the heating furnace so that the crucible containing the loose carbon particles to be dripped, located below the first furnace plug hole, is exposed; and a liquid dripping device is used to drip the required water into the crucible below through the first furnace plug hole.

[0007] Furthermore, the outer casing includes an upper cover and a lower casing that are fitted together. The inner cavity of the lower casing is divided into an upper mounting cavity and a lower mounting cavity arranged sequentially by a partition. The upper mounting cavity of the lower casing and the inner cavity of the upper cover are connected to form a complete upper mounting cavity. The heating furnace includes an upper furnace body and a lower furnace body that are fitted together. The upper furnace body is fixed in the upper mounting cavity of the upper cover, and the lower furnace body is located in the upper mounting cavity of the lower casing. The upper furnace body and the lower furnace body are respectively connected to an operation control device for heating.

[0008] Furthermore, the upper furnace body is provided with a first viewing window and a first furnace plug hole, and the upper cover is provided with a second viewing window and a second furnace plug hole respectively corresponding to the first viewing window and the first furnace plug hole; the image recognition device, the second viewing window, the first viewing window and the weighing device are arranged in a vertical line, and the first viewing window is also provided with a light-transmitting lens for sealing it; the second furnace plug hole, the first furnace plug hole and the lifting device are arranged in a vertical line, and the furnace plug is inserted into the second furnace plug hole and the first furnace plug hole at the same time.

[0009] Furthermore, a flue gas exhaust channel is formed between the upper furnace body and the upper cover to allow the flue gas generated during heating and burning to be discharged outward; a flue gas exhaust hole is provided on the upper furnace body to connect the flue gas exhaust channel and the heating chamber; an air inlet connecting the flue gas exhaust channel is provided through one side of the edge of the upper cover, and an induced draft fan connecting the flue gas exhaust channel is connected to the other side of the edge of the upper cover; the automated food ash content tester also includes a thermocouple installed in the heating furnace for detecting temperature, and the thermocouple is connected to the operation control device.

[0010] Furthermore, the sample tray is provided with several through-holes evenly spaced around its circumference, and the crucible is installed in the corresponding sample tray hole; the rotary lifting drive mechanism includes a rotary lifting drive component vertically supported in the lower mounting cavity, and a vertically arranged rotating shaft whose bottom end is fixed to the output end of the rotary lifting drive component. The rotary lifting drive component is connected to an operation control device. The upper end of the rotating shaft passes through a partition plate and the lower furnace body and extends into the heating chamber. The sample tray is installed on the outer circle of the upper end of the rotating shaft and is fixed to the rotating shaft by a pin.

[0011] Furthermore, the weighing device includes a weighing module disposed in the lower mounting cavity, a weighing rod vertically supported on the weighing module, and a tray fixed to the top of the weighing rod; the weighing module is connected to an operation control device, the weighing rod is disposed corresponding to the first viewing window, and the weighing rod extends upward through the partition and the lower furnace body and then into the heating cavity, and the tray is located in the heating cavity.

[0012] Furthermore, the lifting device includes a lifting drive component disposed in the lower mounting cavity, a connecting seat fixed to the telescopic end of the lifting drive component, and a vertically arranged push rod whose bottom end is fixed to the connecting seat by screws; the lifting drive component is connected to an operation control device, and the push rod is used to lift the crucible upward into the first furnace plug hole after passing through the partition plate, the lower furnace body, and the sample plate hole on the sample plate in sequence under the action of the lifting drive component.

[0013] Furthermore, the liquid dispensing and dripping device includes a liquid dispensing tank for storing water, a liquid outlet pipe connected to the liquid dispensing tank, a pump-valve integrated machine connected to the liquid outlet pipe, a four-axis robotic arm connected to the liquid outlet end of the liquid outlet pipe, and a drip tube connected to the drive end of the four-axis robotic arm; the pump-valve integrated machine and the four-axis robotic arm are respectively connected to an operation control device; the four-axis robotic arm is provided with a flow path for liquid flow, the liquid outlet end of the liquid outlet pipe is connected to the flow path inside the four-axis robotic arm through a connection port opened on the four-axis robotic arm, and the drip tube is connected to the outlet end of the flow path inside the four-axis robotic arm.

[0014] Furthermore, the furnace plug opening and closing device includes a three-axis robotic arm fixed to the upper cover and an opening and closing gripper connected to the drive end of the three-axis robotic arm; the three-axis robotic arm and the opening and closing gripper are respectively connected to the operation control device.

[0015] Furthermore, the upper cover and the lower chamber are also hinged by two sets of hinge structures set on the left and right sides; the automated food ash content tester also includes two sets of opening air rods, which are respectively set on the left and right sides of the lower chamber and connected to the operation control device; the opening air rods are vertically supported in the lower mounting cavity, and the upper end of the opening air rods passes through a partition and is connected to the upper cover, so that the upper cover can rotate with the hinge structure as the fulcrum during the extension and retraction process to open or close the chamber.

[0016] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] When using the automated food ash content tester of this invention to test the ash content of flour, the entire testing process involves minimal human intervention and a high degree of automation. This significantly reduces the workload of operators and the risk of burns during operation. Furthermore, the automatic weighing, automatic heating, and automatic calculation of ash content results result in high automation, high testing efficiency, and saves time and effort. Moreover, the combined use of an image recognition device, an operation control device, and a liquid dispensing device enables precise identification and titration, thereby improving the accuracy and precision of the ash content test results. The ability to repeatedly burn the flour and detect carbon particles after burning ensures thorough ash content testing, further enhancing the accuracy of the ash content test results.

[0018] In addition to the objectives, features, and advantages described above, the present invention has other objectives, features, and advantages. The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the figures. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the spatial structure of an automated food ash content tester according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified schematic diagram of the partial structure at point A in the middle;

[0022] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the open state of the automated food ash content tester.

[0023] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the first cross-sectional view of the automated food ash content tester.

[0024] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the second cross-sectional front view of the automated food ash content tester.

[0025] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the spatial structure of the furnace plug opening and closing device;

[0026] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A partial spatial structure diagram of the liquid delivery and dripping device;

[0027] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 A partial spatial structure diagram of the liquid delivery and dripping device;

[0028] Figure 9 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the partial spatial structure of the upper and middle furnace body;

[0029] Figure 10 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the spatial structure of the central lifting device.

[0030] Legend:

[0031] 2. Outer casing; 201. Upper mounting cavity; 202. Lower mounting cavity; 203. Smoke exhaust duct; 21. Top cover; 22. Lower casing; 23. Partition; 24. Hinge structure;

[0032] 3. Heating furnace; 301. Heating chamber; 302. First furnace plug hole; 303. First viewing window; 304. Smoke exhaust hole; 31. Upper furnace body; 32. Lower furnace body;

[0033] 4. Crucible mounting support device; 41. Sample tray; 421. Rotary lifting drive component; 422. Rotating shaft; 43. Pin shaft;

[0034] 5. Weighing device; 51. Weighing module; 52. Weighing beam; 53. Pallet;

[0035] 6. Lifting device; 61. Lifting drive component; 62. Connecting seat; 63. Lifting rod;

[0036] 7. Image recognition device;

[0037] 8. Liquid dispensing and dripping device; 81. Liquid dispensing tank; 82. Liquid outlet pipe; 83. Pump and valve integrated unit; 84. Four-axis robotic arm; 841. Connection port; 85. Dropper;

[0038] 9. Furnace plug opening and closing device; 91. Three-axis robotic arm; 92. Opening and closing grippers;

[0039] 10. Operating control device; 11. Crucible; 12. Furnace plug; 13. Transparent lens; 14. Exhaust fan; 15. Thermocouple; 16. Opening valve; 17. Carbon granules. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different ways as defined and covered below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0041] Those skilled in the art will understand that, unless specifically stated otherwise, the term "comprising" as used in this specification means the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, components, and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, components, and / or combinations thereof. It should be understood that when we say a component is "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or connected via an intermediate component. The term "and / or" as used herein includes all or any unit and all combinations of one or more associated listed items. The terms "first" and "second," etc., in this specification and claims are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a particular order.

[0042] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an automated food ash content tester, comprising: an outer casing 2 that opens and closes vertically, a heating furnace 3, a crucible mounting support device 4, a weighing device 5, and a lifting device 6 disposed within the outer casing 2, an image recognition device 7, a liquid dispensing device 8, and a furnace plug opening and closing device 9 disposed on the top surface of the outer casing 2, and an operation control device 10 disposed on the side of the outer casing 2. The outer casing 2 has an upper mounting cavity 201 and a lower mounting cavity 202 that are separated vertically. The heating furnace 3 is disposed within the upper mounting cavity 201 and has a heating cavity 301 for heating. The crucible mounting support device 4 includes a sample tray 41 disposed within the heating cavity 301 for circumferentially mounting crucibles 11, and a rotary lifting drive mechanism connected to the sample tray 41 to drive its vertical lifting and rotation. The rotary lifting drive mechanism is disposed within the lower mounting cavity 202. Weighing device 5 and lifting device 6 are respectively installed in the lower mounting cavity 202, with the supporting end of weighing device 5 extending upward into the heating cavity 301. Lifting device 6 is configured to move up and down to lift crucible 11, located above it, out of the heating furnace 3. Image recognition device 7 is used to take pictures of the items in crucible 11 located below it to identify the quantity, size, and position of carbon particles 17 in crucible 11 and provide feedback to operation control device 10. Furnace plug 12 opening and closing device is used to remove the furnace plug 12 that is stuck on the heating furnace 3 so that crucible 11 containing loose carbon particles to be dripped, located below the first furnace plug hole 302, is exposed. Liquid dripping device 8 is used to drip the required water into crucible 11 below through the first furnace plug hole 302.

[0043] When using the automated food ash content tester of this invention to test the ash content of flour, the specific testing process is as follows: Before the experiment, open the outer casing 2 and the heating furnace 3, and place the empty crucibles 11 sequentially onto the sample tray 41; then close the heating furnace 3 and the outer casing 2, and rotate the lifting drive mechanism to rotate the sample tray 41 until crucible 11 of number "0" is aligned with the weighing device 5. Then, the lifting drive mechanism is rotated down, and crucible 11 falls onto the tray at the top of the weighing device 5. The weight of crucible 11 is automatically fed back to the operation control device 10. Then, the lifting drive mechanism is rotated up, and the sample tray 41 is rotated to the next crucible position. The above steps are repeated. The process continues until all crucibles 11 are weighed and recorded by the system. Then, the outer casing 2 and the heating furnace 3 are opened, and samples of the specified weight are placed into the empty crucibles (excluding crucible 11 at position "0") using a measuring spoon. The outer casing 2 and the heating furnace 3 are then closed, and the process of weighing the empty crucibles is repeated to complete the weighing of all samples. The sample weight data is then transmitted to the operation control device 10 for storage. Next, the heating furnace 3 begins to heat up. When the temperature reaches the carbonization temperature, it is maintained for a period of time to allow the flour to fully carbonize. Then, the temperature is further increased to 550℃ ± 25℃ and calcined for 4 hours. Finally, the detection of carbon particles in the calcination residue before weighing begins.

[0044] The rotary lifting drive mechanism drives the sample tray 41 to rotate sequentially. The image recognition device 7 begins to photograph each of the ignited crucibles, recording whether there are carbon particles in the residue inside the crucibles. Crucibles with carbon particles are marked, and the quantity, location, and size of the carbon particles are determined. This information is then fed back to the operation control device 10. The operation control device 10 controls the rotary lifting drive mechanism to rotate the sample tray 41, causing the first crucible 11 requiring dripping to rotate below the first furnace plug hole 302. The operation control device 10 then controls the furnace plug opening and closing device 9 to remove the furnace plug 12 from the first furnace plug hole 302. At this time... The lifting device 6 rises, lifting the corresponding crucible 11 away from the sample tray 41. When it reaches the top position, the lifting device 6 stops working. The liquid dripping device 8, based on the carbon particle position and size information provided by the image recognition device 7, accurately drips water into the crucible 11. After the dripping of all carbon particles in the crucible is completed, the lifting device 6 descends, and the crucible 11 after dripping is placed back into the sample tray 41. The sample tray 41 then rotates to the next crucible 11 to be dripped, and the above actions are repeated to complete the dripping of all carbon particles in all crucibles. Finally, the furnace plug opening and closing device 9 resets and inserts the furnace plug 12 into the first furnace plug hole 302.

[0045] The heating furnace 3 is heated again to 550℃±25℃ and ignited for a certain time. The above steps are repeated until there are no carbon particles in all the ignited samples. The above steps of weighing the empty crucible are repeated to weigh all the ignited samples and transmit the data to the operation control device 10. Then the heating furnace 3 is heated again to 550℃±25℃ and ignited for a certain time. The above steps of weighing the residual weight are repeated and the data is transmitted to the operation control device 10. The operation control device 10 automatically calculates the sample with a constant weight where the difference between the two weighings before and after the repeated ignition does not exceed 0.5 mg, and automatically calculates the ash content result.

[0046] When using the automated food ash content tester of this invention to test the ash content of flour, the entire testing process involves minimal human intervention and is highly automated. This significantly reduces the workload of operators and the risk of burns during operation. Furthermore, the automatic weighing, automatic heating, and automatic calculation of ash content results result in high automation and testing efficiency, saving time and effort. Moreover, the coordinated operation of the image recognition device 7, the operation control device 10, and the liquid dispensing device 8 enables precise identification and titration, thereby improving the accuracy and precision of the ash content test results. The device also allows for repeated burning and post-burning carbon particle detection, ensuring thorough ash burning of the flour and further enhancing the accuracy of the ash content test results.

[0047] Optionally, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the outer casing 2 includes an upper cover 21 and a lower casing 22 that are fitted together. The inner cavity of the lower casing 22 is divided into an upper mounting cavity 201 and a lower mounting cavity 202 arranged sequentially by a partition 23. The upper mounting cavity 201 of the lower casing 22 and the inner cavity of the upper cover 21 are connected to form a complete upper mounting cavity 201. The heating furnace 3 includes an upper furnace body 31 and a lower furnace body 32 that are fitted together. The upper furnace body 31 is fixed in the upper mounting cavity 201 of the upper cover 21, and the lower furnace body 32 is located in the upper mounting cavity 201 of the lower casing 22. The upper furnace body 31 and the lower furnace body 32 are respectively connected to the operation control device 10 for heating, thereby improving heating efficiency and ensuring that the crucible 11 is heated evenly. In this optional solution, the upper furnace body 31 is fixed inside the upper mounting cavity 201 of the upper cover 21, so that the heating furnace 3 can be opened simultaneously when the upper cover 21 is opened, which is convenient to operate; a heat insulation pad is provided below the lower furnace body 32, and the lower furnace body 32 is supported on the partition plate 23 by the heat insulation pad to avoid the influence of high temperature on the lower mounting cavity 202. At the same time, multiple heat dissipation holes are provided on the side wall of the lower housing 22 corresponding to the upper mounting cavity 201.

[0048] Optionally, such as Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 9As shown, a first viewing window 303 and a first furnace plug hole 302 are provided through the upper furnace body 31, and a second viewing window and a second furnace plug hole are provided through the upper cover 21, respectively corresponding to the first viewing window 303 and the first furnace plug hole 302. The image recognition device 7, the second viewing window, the first viewing window 303, and the weighing device 5 are arranged vertically and correspondingly. The first viewing window 303 is also provided with a light-transmitting lens 13 for sealing it to prevent heat from leaking out of the heating furnace 3 when it is working. The first viewing window 303 and the weighing device 5 are connected by the first viewing window 303 and the second viewing window to observe the weighing operation of the weighing device 5. The second furnace plug hole, the first furnace plug hole 302, and the lifting device 6 are arranged vertically and correspondingly. The furnace plug 12 is inserted into both the second furnace plug hole and the first furnace plug hole 302, or the furnace plug 12 can be inserted only into the first furnace plug hole 302.

[0049] Preferably, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, a smoke exhaust channel 203 is formed between the upper furnace body 31 and the upper cover 21 to allow the fumes generated during heating and burning to be discharged outwards. A smoke exhaust hole 304 is provided on the upper furnace body 31, connecting the smoke exhaust channel 203 and the heating chamber 301. An air inlet connecting the smoke exhaust channel 203 is provided through one side of the edge of the upper cover 21, and an induced draft fan 14 connecting the smoke exhaust channel 203 is connected to the other side of the edge of the upper cover 21. During operation, the induced draft fan 14 introduces fresh air from outside into the smoke exhaust channel 203, while simultaneously drawing out the fumes generated during burning within the smoke exhaust channel 203, effectively preventing fumes from being discharged through the various holes on the top of the upper cover 21. The automated food ash content tester also includes a thermocouple 15 installed inside the heating furnace 3 for temperature detection. The thermocouple 15 is connected to the operation control device 10 for accurate temperature detection inside the heating furnace 3 and real-time feedback to the operation control device 10.

[0050] Optionally, such as Figure 4 As shown, the sample tray 41 has several through-holes evenly spaced along its circumference, and the crucible 11 is installed in the corresponding sample tray hole. The rotary lifting drive mechanism includes a rotary lifting drive component 421 (using an existing mature integrated or combined device capable of driving the sample tray 41 to rotate and lift) vertically supported in the lower mounting cavity 202, and a vertically arranged rotating shaft 422 whose bottom end is fixed to the output end of the rotary lifting drive component 421. The rotary lifting drive component 421 is connected to the operation control device 10. The upper end of the rotating shaft 422 passes through the partition plate 23 and the lower furnace body 32 and extends into the heating cavity 301. The sample tray 41 is installed on the outer circle of the upper end of the rotating shaft 422 and is fixed to the rotating shaft 422 by a pin 43. In this optional scheme, the rotary lifting drive mechanism is connected to the operation control device 10 to drive the sample tray 41 to lift or rotate as needed.

[0051] Optionally, such as Figure 4As shown, the weighing device 5 includes a weighing module 51 disposed in the lower mounting cavity 202, a weighing rod 52 vertically supported on the weighing module 51, and a tray 53 fixed to the top of the weighing rod 52. The weighing module 51 is connected to the operation control device 10. The weighing rod 52 is disposed corresponding to the first viewing window 303, and extends upward through the partition 23 and the lower furnace body 32 before entering the heating cavity 301. The tray 53 is located in the heating cavity 301. During the weighing operation, the rotating lifting drive 421 descends, causing the tray 53 to descend, so that the crucible 11 falls onto the tray 53. The weight of the crucible 11 is then transferred to the weighing module 51 through the weighing rod 52. The weighing module 51 finally feeds back the weighing result to the operation control device 10.

[0052] Optionally, such as Figure 5 and Figure 10 As shown, the lifting device 6 includes a lifting drive 61 disposed in the lower mounting cavity 202, a connecting seat 62 fixed to the telescopic end of the lifting drive 61, and a vertically arranged push rod 63 whose bottom end is fixed to the connecting seat 62 by screws. The lifting drive 61 (using an existing mature structure) is connected to the operation control device 10. The push rod 63 is used to lift the crucible 11 upward into the first furnace plug hole 302 after passing through the partition 23, the lower furnace body 32, and the sample plate hole on the sample plate 41 in sequence under the action of the lifting drive 61. In this optional embodiment, the lifting device 6 is used to lift the crucible 11 containing carbon particles upward out of the heating furnace 3 for subsequent titration operations.

[0053] Optionally, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the liquid dispensing and dripping device 8 includes a liquid dispensing tank 81 for storing water, a liquid outlet pipe 82 connected to the liquid dispensing tank 81, a pump-valve integrated machine 83 connected to the liquid outlet pipe 82, a four-axis robotic arm 84 (using an existing mature structure) connected to the liquid outlet end of the liquid outlet pipe 82, and a drip tube 85 connected to the drive end of the four-axis robotic arm 84. The pump-valve integrated machine 83 and the four-axis robotic arm 84 are respectively connected to the operation control device 10. The four-axis robotic arm 84 is provided with a flow path for liquid flow. The liquid outlet end of the liquid outlet pipe 82 is connected to the flow path inside the four-axis robotic arm 84 through a connection port 841 opened on the four-axis robotic arm 84, and the drip tube 85 is connected to the outlet end of the flow path inside the four-axis robotic arm 84.

[0054] Optionally, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6As shown, the furnace plug 12 opening and closing device includes a three-axis robotic arm 91 (using an existing mature structure) fixed on the upper cover 21, and an opening and closing gripper 92 (using an existing mature structure) connected to the drive end of the three-axis robotic arm 91. The three-axis robotic arm 91 and the opening and closing gripper 92 are respectively connected to the operation control device 10. During operation, the image recognition device 7 starts to take pictures of each of the ignited crucibles 11, records whether there are carbon particles in the residue inside the ignited crucibles 11, marks the crucibles 11 with carbon particles, and determines the number, position and size of the carbon particles, and transmits this information to the operation control device 10; the operation control device 10 controls the sample tray 41 to rotate the crucible 11 to be titrated to below the first furnace plug hole 302, the furnace plug opening and closing device 9 opens the opening and closing gripper 92 and moves it above the furnace plug 12, the three-axis robotic arm 91 descends to the gripping position, the opening and closing gripper 92 closes, and the furnace plug 12 is removed; at this time, the lifting device 6 rises, and the lifting rod 63 pushes... The corresponding crucible 11 is disengaged from the sample plate hole on the sample plate 41. When it reaches the top position, the lifting device 6 stops working. The liquid dispensing device 8, based on the carbon particle position and size information provided by the image recognition device 7, enables the dropper 85, driven by the four-axis robotic arm 84, to find the corresponding carbon particle. When the dropper 85 reaches above the carbon particle, the liquid dispensing device 8 transfers the liquid in the liquid tank 81 to the dropper 85 through the pump-valve integrated machine 83 for precise dispensing. The dispensing of all carbon particles in the crucible 11 is completed. The lifting device 6 then descends, and the crucible 11 after dispensing is returned to the sample plate 41. The sample plate 41 rotates to the next crucible 11 to be dispensed, and the above actions are repeated.

[0055] Optionally, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the upper cover 21 and the lower chamber 22 are also hinged by two sets of hinge structures 24 arranged on the left and right sides. The automated food ash content tester also includes two sets of opening air rods 16 (using existing mature structures). The two sets of opening air rods 16 are respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the lower chamber 22 and are respectively connected to the operation control device 10. The opening air rods 16 are vertically supported in the lower mounting cavity 202, and the upper end of the opening air rods 16 passes through the partition 23 and connects to the upper cover 21, so that the upper cover 21 can rotate around the hinge structure 24 as the fulcrum to open or close the chamber during the extension and retraction process. In this optional solution, the automatic opening and closing of the outer chamber 2 is realized by setting two sets of opening air rods 16, reducing the workload of the operator.

[0056] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automated food ash content tester, characterized in that, include: The outer casing (2) is designed to open and close vertically, and the heating furnace (3), crucible mounting support device (4), weighing device (5) and lifting device (6) are installed inside the outer casing (2), as well as the image recognition device (7), liquid dispensing device (8) and furnace plug opening and closing device (9) are installed on the top surface of the outer casing (2), and the operation control device (10) is installed on the side of the outer casing (2). The outer casing (2) is provided with an upper mounting cavity (201) and a lower mounting cavity (202) that are separated into upper and lower sections. The heating furnace (3) is located in the upper mounting cavity (201) and is designed to open and close vertically and has a heating cavity (301) for heating. The crucible mounting support device (4) includes a sample plate (41) located in the heating cavity (301) for mounting the crucible (11) circumferentially, and a rotary lifting drive mechanism connected to the sample plate (41) for driving it to move up and down and rotate. The rotary lifting drive mechanism is located in the lower mounting cavity (202). Weighing device (5) and lifting device (6) are respectively installed in the lower mounting cavity (202), and the supporting end of weighing device (5) extends upward into the heating cavity (301). The lifting device (6) is set up to lift the crucible (11) located above it out of the heating furnace (3). Image recognition device (7) is used to take pictures of the items in the crucible (11) located below it, so as to identify the quantity, size and position of carbon particles (17) in the crucible (11) and feed back to the operation control device (10). The furnace plug (12) opening and closing device is used to remove the furnace plug (12) stuck on the heating furnace (3) so that the crucible (11) containing loose carbon particles to be dripped is exposed below the first furnace plug hole (302). The liquid dripping device (8) is used to drip the required water into the crucible (11) below through the first furnace plug hole (302). The outer casing (2) includes an upper cover (21) and a lower casing (22) that are fitted together; the heating furnace (3) includes an upper furnace body (31) and a lower furnace body (32) that are fitted together. The upper furnace body (31) is provided with a first viewing window (303) and a first furnace plug hole (302) through it. The upper cover (21) is provided with a second viewing window and a second furnace plug hole respectively corresponding to the first viewing window (303) and the first furnace plug hole (302). The image recognition device (7), the second viewing window, the first viewing window (303) and the weighing device (5) are arranged in a vertical line, and the first viewing window (303) is also provided with a light-transmitting lens (13) for sealing it to prevent the heating furnace (3) from working. During operation, the heat inside leaks out through the first viewing window (303), and the first viewing window (303) and the weighing device (5) correspond to each other through the first viewing window (303) and the second viewing window, so as to observe the weighing operation of the weighing device (5); the second furnace plug hole, the first furnace plug hole (302) and the lifting device (6) are arranged vertically, and the furnace plug (12) is inserted into both the second furnace plug hole and the first furnace plug hole (302), or the furnace plug (12) can be inserted only into the first furnace plug hole (302); The rotary lifting drive mechanism drives the sample tray (41) to rotate sequentially. The image recognition device (7) begins to take pictures of each of the ignited crucibles, recording whether there are carbon particles in the residue inside the crucibles after ignition. The crucibles with carbon particles are marked, and the number, position, and size of the carbon particles are determined. This information is then fed back to the operation control device (10). The operation control device (10) controls the rotary lifting drive mechanism to rotate the sample tray (41) so that the first crucible (11) that needs to be dripped rotates to below the first furnace plug hole (302). The operation control device (10) controls the furnace plug opening and closing device (9) to take out the furnace plug (12) in the first furnace plug hole (302). At this time, the lifting device... The lifting device (6) is raised, lifting the corresponding crucible (11) away from the sample plate (41). When it reaches the top position, the lifting device (6) stops working. The liquid dripping device (8) uses the carbon particle position and size information provided by the image recognition device (7) to accurately drip water into the crucible (11). After the liquid dripping work of all carbon particles in the crucible is completed, the lifting device (6) is lowered, and the crucible (11) after dripping is placed back into the sample plate (41). The sample plate (41) is then rotated to the next crucible (11) to be dripped. The above actions are repeated to complete the liquid dripping work of all carbon particles in all crucibles. Finally, the furnace plug opening and closing device (9) is reset, and the furnace plug (12) is inserted into the first furnace plug hole (302). A flue gas passage (203) is formed between the upper furnace body (31) and the upper cover (21) to allow the flue gas generated by heating and burning to be discharged outward; a flue gas hole (304) is provided on the upper furnace body (31) to connect the flue gas passage (203) and the heating chamber (301); an air inlet connecting the flue gas passage (203) is provided through one side of the edge of the upper cover (21), and an induced draft fan (14) connecting the flue gas passage (203) is connected to the other side of the edge of the upper cover (21). The liquid dispensing device (8) includes a liquid dispensing tank (81) for storing water, an outlet pipe (82) connected to the liquid dispensing tank (81), a pump-valve integrated machine (83) connected to the outlet pipe (82), a four-axis robotic arm (84) connected to the outlet end of the outlet pipe (82), and a dropper (85) connected to the drive end of the four-axis robotic arm (84). The pump-valve integrated machine (83) and the four-axis robotic arm (84) are respectively connected to the operation control device (10). The four-axis robotic arm (84) is provided with a flow path for liquid flow. The outlet end of the outlet pipe (82) is connected to the flow path in the four-axis robotic arm (84) through the connection port (841) opened on the four-axis robotic arm (84), and the dropper (85) is connected to the outlet end of the flow path in the four-axis robotic arm (84).

2. The automated food ash content tester according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner cavity of the lower housing (22) is divided into an upper mounting cavity (201) and a lower mounting cavity (202) arranged sequentially by a partition (23), and the upper mounting cavity (201) of the lower housing (22) and the inner cavity of the upper cover (21) are connected to form a complete upper mounting cavity (201). The upper furnace body (31) is fixed in the upper mounting cavity (201) of the upper cover (21), and the lower furnace body (32) is located in the upper mounting cavity (201) of the lower box body (22). The upper furnace body (31) and the lower furnace body (32) are respectively connected to the operation control device (10) for heating.

3. The automated food ash content tester according to claim 2, characterized in that, The automated food ash tester also includes a thermocouple (15) installed in the heating furnace (3) for detecting temperature, and the thermocouple (15) is connected to the operation control device (10).

4. The automated food ash content tester according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sample plate (41) is provided with several through holes evenly spaced in the circumferential direction, and the crucible (11) is installed in the corresponding sample plate hole; The rotary lifting drive mechanism includes a rotary lifting drive component (421) vertically supported in the lower mounting cavity (202) and a rotating shaft (422) vertically arranged with its bottom end fixed to the output end of the rotary lifting drive component (421). The rotary lifting drive component (421) is connected to the operation control device (10). The upper end of the rotating shaft (422) passes through the partition plate (23) and the lower furnace body (32) and then extends into the heating chamber (301). The sample plate (41) is installed on the outer circle of the upper end of the rotating shaft (422) and is fixed to the rotating shaft (422) by a pin (43).

5. The automated food ash content tester according to claim 2, characterized in that, The weighing device (5) includes a weighing module (51) disposed in the lower mounting cavity (202), a weighing rod (52) vertically supported on the weighing module (51), and a tray (53) fixed to the top of the weighing rod (52). The weighing module (51) is connected to the operation control device (10), the weighing rod (52) is set in accordance with the first viewing window (303), and the weighing rod (52) extends upward through the partition (23) and the lower furnace body (32) and then into the heating chamber (301), and the tray (53) is located in the heating chamber (301).

6. The automated food ash content tester according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lifting device (6) includes a lifting drive (61) disposed in the lower mounting cavity (202), a connecting seat (62) fixed to the telescopic end of the lifting drive (61), and a vertically arranged top rod (63) whose bottom end is fixed to the connecting seat (62) by screws. The lifting drive (61) is connected to the operation control device (10). The push rod (63) is used to lift the crucible (11) upward into the first furnace plug hole (302) after passing through the partition plate (23), the lower furnace body (32), and the sample plate hole on the sample plate (41) in sequence.

7. The automated food ash content tester according to claim 2, characterized in that, The furnace plug (12) opening and closing device includes a three-axis robotic arm (91) fixed on the upper cover (21) and an opening and closing gripper (92) connected to the drive end of the three-axis robotic arm (91). The three-axis robotic arm (91) and the opening and closing gripper (92) are respectively connected to the operation control device (10).

8. The automated food ash content tester according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper cover (21) and the lower box (22) are also hinged by two sets of hinge structures (24) arranged on the left and right sides; The automated food ash content tester also includes two sets of opening air rods, which are located on the left and right sides of the lower box (22) and are respectively connected to the operation control device (10). The opening air rod is vertically supported in the lower installation cavity (202), and the upper end of the opening air rod is connected to the upper cover (21) after passing through the partition plate (23), so that the upper cover (21) can rotate with the hinge structure (24) as the fulcrum during the extension and retraction process to open or close the box.

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