Egg beating device for pancake machine

Abstract

The invention discloses an egg beating device for a pancake machine. The egg beating device comprises a fixed base plate, a controller, driving motors, a firing pin, a force storage spring, an upper half cup, a lower half cup, an air blowing pump and multiple sets of sensors. All the components are planned through the controller, and automatic operation of breaking the egg through the firing pin in a force storage mode and blowing air to guide out egg liquid is achieved. The device solves the problems that eggshells are easy to remain and egg liquid is unevenly spread in an existing device, and has the advantages of improving food hygiene and safety, optimizing pancake quality, being stable and reliable in operation, adapting to various production scenes and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food processing equipment technology, specifically to an egg-beating device for a pancake maker. Background Technology

[0002] With the trend towards automation in food processing, the large-scale and standardized production of pancakes has become an important direction for industry development. The egg-beating process, as a crucial step in pancake making, directly impacts the production efficiency, product quality, and food safety of automated equipment. Currently, the egg-beating structures used in pancake machines fall into two main categories: one mimics manual operation with a mechanical gripping and breaking mechanism, and the other uses blades to cut the eggshell. However, both types of structures suffer from numerous insurmountable technical defects, severely hindering the development of automated pancake production.

[0003] The core principle of mechanical gripping and splitting structures that mimic human hand operation is to use a robotic arm or gripper to hold the eggshell on both sides and then apply relative force to split the shell in the middle, allowing the egg liquid to flow into the pancake pan. However, this structure has significant shortcomings: Firstly, eggshell thickness and strength vary from person to person, making it difficult to precisely control the gripping force of the mechanical gripper. Too little force will not be enough to split the shell, while too much force will easily break it. The broken shell fragments will flow out with the egg liquid and mix into the pancake, affecting not only the pancake's taste and appearance but also posing food safety hazards and increasing the workload and cost of subsequent quality inspection. Secondly, this structure cannot pre-treat the egg yolk; the whole yolk will fall directly onto a specific area of ​​the pancake. Due to the yolk's high viscosity, the pancake robot's spreading mechanism cannot evenly spread the egg liquid on the pancake surface, resulting in uneven egg liquid distribution, with some areas having too much and others too little, leading to uneven texture and poor quality stability after cooking.

[0004] While the egg-breaking mechanism using blades to cut eggshells reduces the probability of the eggshell being completely broken to some extent, it still presents several problems: After the blades cut the eggshell, an additional mechanism is needed to separate the eggshell segments to extract the egg liquid, resulting in high structural complexity and increasing the manufacturing cost and maintenance difficulty of the equipment; during the cutting process, if there is a deviation in the contact position between the blade and the eggshell, small eggshell fragments may still be generated, and the blades will wear down after long-term use, further reducing the stability of the cutting; in addition, this structure also cannot solve the problem of the egg yolk falling in a concentrated manner and being difficult to spread, and an additional stirring mechanism is still needed to break up the egg yolk after the egg liquid is extracted, which not only increases the space occupied by the equipment but also extends the production cycle and reduces production efficiency.

[0005] Meanwhile, in the large-scale production of pancakes, existing egg-beating devices have a low level of automation. Some parts require manual assistance to place eggs or clean up residual eggshell fragments, making it impossible to achieve fully automated operation and difficult to meet the demands of high-volume production. Furthermore, the existing devices use a rather crude method for discharging egg liquid, resulting in low precision in the egg liquid's drop position, further increasing the difficulty of subsequent spreading processes and leading to a low yield rate for pancake products. Therefore, developing an egg-beating device for pancake machines that can avoid eggshell breakage, automatically break up egg yolks, and achieve precise egg liquid discharge has become an urgent need to address the shortcomings of existing technologies and promote the upgrading of automated pancake production. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the technical problems of existing egg-beating mechanisms, such as eggshells easily breaking and mixing into the egg liquid, and egg yolks falling in concentrated areas and making it difficult to spread the egg liquid evenly, this invention provides an egg-beating device for a pancake maker, which achieves the purpose of preventing eggshells from falling and breaking up the egg yolks so that the egg liquid can be spread evenly.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technical means:

[0008] A beating device for a pancake maker includes a fixed base plate. A controller, a lifting screw motor, and a motor mounting bracket are sequentially connected from top to bottom on one side of the fixed base plate. The transmission end of the lifting screw motor is connected to a lifting transmission screw, which is slidably connected to a lifting connecting plate that is inserted into the fixed base plate. An upper limit sensor and a lower limit sensor, connected to the fixed base plate, are respectively provided on the upper and lower sides of the lifting connecting plate. A rotating motor is connected to the motor mounting bracket. The transmission end of the rotating motor is connected to a rotating drag located at the bottom of the fixed base plate. Both ends of the rotating drag are connected to a lower half-cup with an egg liquid hole at the bottom.

[0009] On the other side of the fixed base plate, there is a movable plate connected to the lifting connecting plate. From top to bottom, the movable plate is connected to a reciprocating screw motor and a positioning plate. The transmission end of the reciprocating screw motor is connected to a reciprocating transmission screw that is rotatably connected to the positioning plate. The reciprocating transmission screw is connected to a limit hook, which is connected to a return spring. The limit hook is slidably inserted into a guide plate with a protruding top, connected to the movable plate. A position sensor connected to the movable plate is located on one side of the top of the guide plate. The bottom of the positioning plate is connected via a guide tube to an upper half corresponding to a set of lower cups. The cup has a limiting seat at the top of the positioning plate that is connected to the movable plate. The limiting seat and the corresponding side of the positioning plate are connected to a positioning tube. The positioning tube is inserted with a firing pin that passes through the limiting seat, the positioning tube, the positioning plate, the guide tube, and the upper half of the cup in sequence and is movably engaged with the limiting hook. The side of the firing pin is connected to a boss at the bottom of the positioning tube. The top of the firing pin is connected to a limiting block at the top of the positioning tube. A storage spring is provided between the boss and the positioning tube and sleeved on the outside of the firing pin. One side of the upper half of the cup is provided with an air pump connected to the movable plate. The air pump is connected to the guide tube through a pipe.

[0010] The lifting screw motor, upper limit sensor, lower limit sensor, rotation motor, position sensor, reciprocating screw motor, and air pump are all connected to the controller.

[0011] Preferably, the fixed base plate is connected to the movable plate via a guide chain.

[0012] Preferably, the motor mounting bracket is connected to a positioning sensor on the corresponding side of the lower half of the cup, and the positioning sensor is connected to the controller.

[0013] Preferably, the lower half of the cup is connected to multiple sets of evenly distributed fixing plates.

[0014] Preferably, the lower half of the cup is integrally manufactured with the fixing plate.

[0015] Preferably, the fixing plate is provided in three groups, and the three groups of fixing plates are distributed circumferentially.

[0016] Preferably, the bottom of the egg liquid hole is provided with a guide plate that connects to the lower half of the cup.

[0017] Preferably, the air pump is provided with multiple sets.

[0018] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. Improve food hygiene and safety, and eliminate the potential risks associated with eggshell residue.

[0020] The device abandons the traditional methods of breaking eggs by "clamping and breaking" or "cutting with a blade," instead employing a design where a firing pin charges and punctures the eggshell, fundamentally avoiding the problem of excessive mechanical force causing eggshell breakage. Simultaneously, the egg liquid is discharged through an egg liquid hole at the bottom of the lower half of the cup, combined with an airflow, ensuring the eggshell remains confined within the enclosed space formed by the upper and lower halves of the cup. This prevents the generation of fine eggshell fragments, completely eliminating the hygiene risks of eggshell contamination with the egg liquid. It eliminates the need for additional quality control and impurity removal steps, reducing hygiene management costs during production and ensuring the food safety of the pancake products.

[0021] 2. Optimize the egg mixture spreading effect to improve the quality of pancake making.

[0022] The device utilizes an airflow design to guide the egg mixture. As the egg mixture flows through the holes, it is impacted by the airflow and friction against the hole walls, naturally breaking up the yolk and creating a uniform egg mixture without the need for an additional stirring mechanism. Simultaneously, a guide plate at the bottom of the lower half of the cup precisely guides the egg mixture to a pre-set area on the pan. Combined with the rotation of the pan, the robot easily and evenly spreads the egg mixture, effectively solving the problems of uneven egg distribution and inconsistent texture after cooking caused by concentrated yolk drop in traditional devices. This significantly improves the quality stability and appearance consistency of the pancake products.

[0023] 3. Achieve fully automated operation throughout the entire process and improve production efficiency.

[0024] The device, through a controller, coordinates the lifting screw motor, rotation motor, and reciprocating screw motor, along with multiple precision positioning components such as upper limit sensors and positioning sensors, to achieve fully automated operation of the entire process of "power accumulation-positioning-egg breaking-exporting-resetting." The entire process requires no manual assistance in placing eggs, cleaning eggshells, or intervening in the egg-breaking process, effectively reducing manual intervention and lowering labor costs. Simultaneously, the alternating rotation design of the double lower cups enables continuous egg-beating operations, significantly shortening the single-round egg-beating cycle and adapting to the demands of large-scale, high-capacity pancake production, thus significantly improving overall production efficiency.

[0025] 4. The structural design is stable and reliable, reducing equipment maintenance costs.

[0026] The device features an integrated design for the lower cup and fixing plate, enhancing component connection strength, reducing assembly errors, and preventing egg positioning deviations caused by loose components. The coordinated design of the limit hook and return spring ensures the stability of the firing pin's charging and releasing action. Multiple air pumps thoroughly remove residual egg liquid, preventing component jamming due to solidification and reducing cleaning difficulty and maintenance frequency. Furthermore, the modular connection of all motors and sensors facilitates future inspection and component replacement, further reducing long-term maintenance costs.

[0027] 5. Highly adaptable, expanding application scenarios

[0028] The core component parameters of the device, such as the half-cup size, striking pin stroke, and lifting height, can be flexibly adjusted according to different egg sizes, such as free-range eggs and factory-farmed eggs, and the production needs of pancakes, making it highly adaptable. At the same time, the device has a compact overall structure, occupies little space, and can be easily integrated into various fully automated pancake production lines without requiring significant modifications to existing lines. It is suitable not only for large-scale production in large food processing plants but also for standardized production scenarios in small chain restaurants, thus broadening the device's application scope.

[0029] 6. Precise positioning and control enhance operational stability.

[0030] The device is equipped with multiple precision detection components, including upper limit sensors, lower limit sensors, position sensors, and positioning sensors, which can provide real-time feedback on the position status of each actuator. The controller precisely regulates the start, stop, and travel of each motor based on the sensor signals, ensuring accurate alignment of the upper and lower cups, precise piercing of the egg by the firing pin, and accurate extraction of the egg liquid. This effectively avoids problems such as failed egg breaking and spillage caused by positioning deviations, significantly improving the stability and reliability of the device's operation and reducing material waste during production. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the rotating motor and the rotating tow tractor of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the firing pin and the limiting hook of the present invention;

[0035] In the attached figures, the following labels are used:

[0036] 1. Fixed base plate; 2. Controller; 3. Guide chain; 4. Lifting screw motor; 5. Upper limit sensor; 6. Lifting connecting plate; 7. Lifting transmission screw; 8. Lower limit sensor; 9. Movable plate; 10. Rotary motor; 11. Motor fixing bracket; 12. Positioning sensor; 13. Rotary drag; 14. Lower half cup; 15. Fixing plate; 16. Egg liquid hole; 17. Guide plate; 18. Upper half cup; 19. Guide tube; 20. Positioning plate; 21. Firing pin; 22. Boss; 23. Storage spring; 24. Limiting block; 25. Reciprocating transmission screw; 26. Positioning sensor; 27. Reciprocating screw motor; 28. Positioning tube; 29. ​​Limiting seat; 30. Guide plate; 31. Limiting hook; 32. Return spring; 33. Air pump. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] like Figure 1-4 As shown, an egg-beating device for a pancake maker includes a fixed base plate 1. A controller 2, a lifting screw motor 4, and a motor mounting bracket 11 are connected sequentially from top to bottom on one side of the fixed base plate 1. The transmission end of the lifting screw motor 4 is connected to a lifting transmission screw 7. The lifting transmission screw 7 is connected to a lifting connecting plate 6 that is slidably inserted into the fixed base plate 1. The upper and lower sides of the lifting connecting plate 6 are respectively provided with an upper limit sensor 5 and a lower limit sensor 8 connected to the fixed base plate 1. The motor mounting bracket 11 is connected to a rotating motor 10. The transmission end of the rotating motor 10 is connected to a rotating drag 13 located at the bottom of the fixed base plate 1. The two ends of the rotating drag 13 are respectively connected to a lower half cup 14 with an egg liquid hole 16 at the bottom.

[0039] On the other side of the fixed base plate 1, there is a movable plate 9 connected to the lifting connecting plate 6. The movable plate 9 is connected from top to bottom to a reciprocating screw motor 27 and a positioning plate 20. The transmission end of the reciprocating screw motor 27 is connected to a reciprocating transmission screw 25 that is rotatably connected to the positioning plate 20. The reciprocating transmission screw 25 is connected to a limit hook 31. The limit hook 31 is connected to a reset spring 32. The limit hook 31 is slidably inserted into a guide plate 30 with a protrusion on the top connected to the movable plate 9. One side of the top of the guide plate 30 is provided with a position sensor 26 connected to the movable plate 9. The bottom of the positioning plate 20 is connected to an upper half cup 18 corresponding to a set of lower half cups 14 through a guide tube 19. The top of the positioning plate 20... The unit is provided with a limiting seat 29 connected to the movable plate 9. The limiting seat 29 and the corresponding side of the positioning plate 20 are connected to a positioning tube 28. The positioning tube 28 is inserted with a firing pin 21 that passes through the limiting seat 29, the positioning tube 28, the positioning plate 20, the guide tube 19, and the upper half cup 18 in sequence and is movably engaged with the limiting hook 31. The side of the firing pin 21 is connected to a boss 22 located at the bottom of the positioning tube 28. The top of the firing pin 21 is connected to a limiting block 24 located at the top of the positioning tube 28. A storage spring 23 is provided between the boss 22 and the positioning tube 28 and sleeved on the outside of the firing pin 21. The side of the upper half cup 18 is provided with an air pump 33 connected to the movable plate 9. The air pump 33 is connected to the guide tube 19 through a pipe.

[0040] The lifting screw motor 4, upper limit sensor 5, lower limit sensor 8, rotation motor 10, position sensor 26, reciprocating screw motor 27, and air pump 33 are respectively connected to the controller 2.

[0041] The fixed base plate 1 is connected to the movable plate 9 via the guide chain 3.

[0042] The advantages of the above settings are:

[0043] 1. Improve the stability of the moving plate lifting: The guide chain 3 can limit and guide the lifting movement of the moving plate 9, preventing the moving plate 9 from shifting left or right or swaying during the up and down movement, and ensuring that the moving plate 9 drives the upper half cup 18, firing pin 21 and other components to move accurately.

[0044] 2. Ensure precise alignment: Through guide positioning, it can ensure that the upper half cup 18 is accurately aligned with the lower half cup 14 during the descent and closes, avoiding problems such as uneven pressure on the egg and the firing pin 21 failing to accurately pierce the egg due to deviation;

[0045] 3. Reduce component wear: Reduce sliding friction between the moving plate 9 and the fixed base plate 1, reduce the load on the lifting screw motor 4, and extend the service life of the motor and transmission components;

[0046] 4. Adaptable to different scenarios: Whether it is a small and compact device or a large-scale production device, the guiding function of the guide chain 3 can improve the overall operational stability, especially suitable for scenarios where multiple sets of upper / lower half cups are operating simultaneously.

[0047] A positioning sensor 12 is connected to the corresponding side of the motor mounting bracket 11 and the lower half cup 14, and the positioning sensor 12 is connected to the controller 2.

[0048] The advantages of the above settings are:

[0049] 1. Achieve precise positioning: It can detect the rotation position of the lower half cup 14 in real time, ensuring that the lower half cup 14 containing the egg moves accurately to the position directly below the upper half cup 18. The positioning error can be controlled at the millimeter level, providing precise positional assurance for subsequent pressing and egg breaking actions.

[0050] 2. Basic Automation Control: Positioning sensor 12 feeds back the position signal to controller 2 in real time. Controller 2 then precisely controls the start and stop of rotating motor 10 based on this signal. No manual observation of the positioning is required, thus automating the egg positioning process and improving work efficiency.

[0051] 3. Adaptable to multi-station alternating operation: In the continuous operation scenario of multiple sets of lower cup 14, each set of lower cup 14 corresponds to a set of positioning sensors 12, which can realize precise switching of multiple workstations and ensure the orderliness of continuous operation.

[0052] 4. Avoid misoperation: If the lower half of the cup 14 does not reach the preset position, the positioning sensor 12 will not provide any signal feedback, and the controller 2 can prevent the subsequent pressing and egg-breaking actions from starting, thus avoiding problems such as egg breakage and egg liquid spillage caused by positioning deviation.

[0053] The lower half of the cup 14 is connected to multiple sets of evenly distributed fixing plates 15.

[0054] The advantages of the above settings are:

[0055] 1. Stable egg fixation: Multiple evenly distributed fixing plates 15 can limit and clamp the egg from different directions, preventing the egg from shaking or shifting during the operation of the device, and ensuring that the firing pin 21 can accurately pierce the eggshell.

[0056] 2. Protect the integrity of the egg: The clamping force of the fixing plate 15 on the egg is gentle and even, which will not squeeze the egg too much and cause the eggshell to crack prematurely, thus ensuring the integrity of the egg before it breaks.

[0057] 3. Adaptable to eggs of different sizes: By reasonably designing the elasticity or spacing of the fixing plate 15, it can adapt to eggs of different sizes, improving the adaptability of the device;

[0058] 4. Assists in the flow of egg liquid: The distribution of the fixing plate 15 will not block the egg liquid hole, and at the same time, it can reduce the egg liquid residue in the cup when blowing air to discharge the egg liquid, and assist the egg liquid to flow smoothly to the egg liquid hole.

[0059] The lower half of the cup 14 and the fixing plate 15 are made as one piece.

[0060] The advantages of the above settings are:

[0061] 1. Improved structural strength: The one-piece molded structure avoids gaps and loosening problems caused by assembly connections, enhances the overall load-bearing capacity of the lower half cup 14 and the fixed plate 15, and can better withstand the reaction force of the egg and the vibration during the operation of the device;

[0062] 2. Reduce assembly errors: No subsequent assembly of fixing plates is required, which can accurately ensure the distribution position and angle of fixing plates 15, avoiding the egg being not firmly fixed or inaccurately positioned due to assembly deviations;

[0063] 3. Reduced production and maintenance costs: The simplified production process reduces the number of parts, thereby lowering production, transportation, and assembly costs; at the same time, the integrated structure reduces the likelihood of parts falling off or being damaged, thus reducing maintenance frequency and costs.

[0064] 4. Improved hygiene: The one-piece molded structure has no assembly gaps, which can prevent egg liquid, debris and other impurities from remaining in the gaps, making it easy to clean and meeting the hygiene requirements of food processing.

[0065] There are three sets of fixing plates 15, which are distributed circumferentially.

[0066] The advantages of the above settings are:

[0067] 1. Balanced force distribution: The three sets of fixed plates 15 distributed in a circle can limit the egg from the three vertices of the triangular stable structure, so that the clamping force on the egg is evenly distributed and avoids excessive local force that could cause the egg to break.

[0068] 2. Optimal fixation effect: The limiting space formed by the three sets of fixing plates 15 is adapted to the spherical structure of the egg. Compared with two or four sets of fixing plates, it can ensure stable fixation without excessively restricting the placement of the egg, making it convenient for staff or automatic egg loading mechanisms to put in the egg.

[0069] 3. Reserved space for egg liquid flow: Sufficient gaps are left between the three sets of fixing plates 15 to ensure that the egg liquid will not be blocked, so that the egg liquid can flow smoothly to the egg liquid hole after the egg is broken. At the same time, it is easy for the airflow to act on the entire egg liquid area, reducing residue.

[0070] 4. Simplified structure: Under the premise of ensuring the fixing effect, the design of three sets of fixing plates 15 can simplify the one-piece molding process and reduce the production difficulty compared with more sets of fixing plates 15.

[0071] The bottom of the egg liquid hole 16 is provided with a guide plate 17 that is connected to the lower half cup 14.

[0072] The advantages of the above settings are:

[0073] 1. Precisely guides the flow of egg liquid: It can precisely guide the egg liquid flowing out of the egg liquid hole 16 to the preset area of ​​the pancake pan, avoiding the egg liquid from spilling randomly. It is especially suitable for multiple sets of egg beating devices to operate simultaneously or for assembly line production scenarios, ensuring that the egg liquid is accurately dripped onto the corresponding pan.

[0074] 2. To help the egg liquid be evenly distributed: The guide plate 17 can form a stable flow channel when the egg liquid flows out, reducing splashing when the egg liquid drips. At the same time, in conjunction with the rotation of the pot, the egg liquid can be spread more smoothly and the evenness of the spread can be improved.

[0075] 3. Reduce egg residue: The tilt angle of the guide plate 17 can guide the egg liquid to slide down quickly, avoiding egg liquid residue and solidification around the egg liquid hole, reducing cleaning difficulty and ensuring the hygiene of the device;

[0076] 4. Adaptable to different cookware sizes: By adjusting the length and tilt angle of the guide plate 17, it can adapt to pancake pans of different diameters, improving the device's adaptability to different scenarios.

[0077] The air pump 33 is equipped with multiple sets.

[0078] The advantages of the above settings are:

[0079] 1. Improved egg liquid export efficiency: Multiple air pumps 33 can provide more sufficient and uniform airflow, which can quickly blow out the egg liquid in the upper half cup 18, the lower half cup 14 and the guide tube 19, shorten the egg liquid export time, improve the single-round egg beating efficiency, and adapt to the needs of large-scale continuous production.

[0080] 2. Ensure no egg liquid residue: Multiple airflows can cover the entire egg liquid flow area, avoiding egg liquid residue in the cup or pipe due to dead corners caused by a single airflow, reducing material waste, and preventing parts from getting stuck after the residual egg liquid solidifies.

[0081] 3. Flexible airflow intensity adjustment: The start / stop or power of some air pumps 33 can be controlled independently by the controller 2. The airflow intensity can be adjusted according to the consistency of the egg liquid, the size of the eggs, etc., to avoid the egg liquid splashing due to excessive airflow or the incomplete extraction due to insufficient airflow.

[0082] Working principle

[0083] This device uses controller 2 as the core control unit, which coordinates the lifting screw motor 4, the rotation motor 10, the reciprocating screw motor 27, and other actuators. It works in conjunction with various sensors to achieve precise positioning and completes the egg-beating operation according to an automated process of "power preparation - egg positioning - egg breaking - egg liquid discharge - reset preparation". The working principles and structural functions of each stage are as follows:

[0084] I. Preparation and Accumulation Phase

[0085] 1. The controller 2 sends a start signal to the reciprocating lead screw motor 27. The reciprocating lead screw motor 27 drives the reciprocating transmission lead screw 25 to rotate, which drives the limit hook 31 connected to it to slide along the guide plate 30 until the limit hook 31 moves to the bottom of the side boss 22 of the firing pin 21 and supports the boss 22.

[0086] 2. The reciprocating screw motor 27 continues to run, driving the firing pin 21 to move upward synchronously through the boss 22. The limiting block 24 at the top of the firing pin 21 only serves to prevent the firing pin 21 from completely penetrating the limiting seat 29. At this time, the firing pin 21 cannot continue to move upward only due to the elastic force of the storage spring 23. The storage spring 23, which is sleeved on the outside of the firing pin 21, is compressed and stored between the boss 22 and the positioning tube 28.

[0087] 3. When the position sensor 26 next to the guide plate 30 detects that the boss 22 has reached the preset position, it sends a signal to the controller 2. The controller 2 then controls the reciprocating screw motor 27 to stop, and the power storage preparation is completed.

[0088] II. Egg Positioning Stage

[0089] 1. The staff puts the egg into one of the lower half cups 14. Three sets of fixing plates 15 distributed around the circumference of the lower half cup 14 limit and fix the egg to prevent it from moving.

[0090] 2. Controller 2 starts the rotating motor 10, which drives the rotating drag 13 to rotate, causing the two sets of lower cups 14 at both ends of the rotating drag 13 to rotate synchronously;

[0091] 3. When the positioning sensor 12 on the motor mounting bracket 11 detects that the lower half cup 14 containing the egg has moved directly below the upper half cup 18, it sends a positioning signal to the controller 2. The controller 2 then controls the rotating motor 10 to stop, ensuring that the egg is precisely positioned directly below the firing pin 21.

[0092] III. The Pressing and Breaking Stage

[0093] 1. The controller 2 sends a downward signal to the lifting screw motor 4. The lifting screw motor 4 drives the lifting transmission screw 7 to rotate, which drives the lifting connecting plate 6 to slide downward along the fixed base plate 1, thereby driving the movable plate 9 connected to the lifting connecting plate 6 to move downward synchronously. The guide chain 3 between the fixed base plate 1 and the movable plate 9 can improve the downward stability.

[0094] 2. As the movable plate 9 moves downward, the upper half cup 18, which is connected to the bottom of the positioning plate 20 through the guide tube 19, moves downward as well, until it is tightly pressed against the top of the egg, thus completing the secondary fixation of the egg;

[0095] 3. The controller 2 restarts the reciprocating lead screw motor 27, which drives the reciprocating transmission lead screw 25 to move the limit hook 31 and the firing pin 21 up a short distance. When the limit hook 31 slides to the top protrusion of the guide plate 30, the protrusion pushes the limit hook 31 to open outward and disengage from the boss 22.

[0096] 4. The energy storage spring 23 releases its force instantly, pushing the firing pin 21 to strike downwards rapidly, passing through the guide tube 19 and the upper half cup 18 in sequence before accurately piercing the eggshell.

[0097] IV. Egg Liquid Extraction Stage

[0098] 1. After the egg is cracked, the firing pin 21 is lifted upward by the restoring force of the storage spring 23 to avoid obstructing the flow of egg liquid;

[0099] 2. Controller 2 starts air pump 33. The airflow generated by air pump 33 is delivered to guide tube 19 through pipe. The airflow acts downward on the cracked egg and blows the egg liquid out from the egg liquid hole 16 at the bottom of the lower half cup 14.

[0100] 3. When the egg liquid flows through the egg liquid hole 16, it is naturally broken up by the impact of airflow and friction against the hole wall; at the same time, the guide plate 17 at the bottom of the lower half cup 14 guides the egg liquid to drip precisely into the preset area of ​​the pancake maker, preparing for subsequent spreading.

[0101] V. Reset Preparation Stage

[0102] 1. After the egg liquid is completely discharged, the controller 2 first turns off the air pump 33, and then controls the lifting screw motor 4 to run in reverse, driving the lifting connecting plate 6 and the movable plate 9 to slide upward; when the lifting connecting plate 6 triggers the upper limit sensor 5, the upper limit sensor 5 sends a signal, the controller 2 controls the lifting screw motor 4 to stop, and the movable plate 9 returns to the initial high position.

[0103] 2. The rotating motor 10 is started again, driving the rotating drag 13 to rotate, and the empty lower half cup 14 is rotated to the position directly below the upper half cup 18. The lower half cup 14, which has been beaten, is rotated out to the loading and unloading position.

[0104] 3. The limit hook 31 is reset under the elastic force of the reset spring 32, waiting for the next round of power accumulation. The entire device returns to the initial state and can enter the next egg beating cycle.

[0105] Example 1

[0106] Compact Implementation for Small Chain Restaurants

[0107] I. Details of Structural Adjustment

[0108] This embodiment addresses the needs of small chain restaurants with limited space and moderate daily production capacity (500-800 pancakes), optimizing structural compactness through specific adjustments:

[0109] 1. The size of the fixed base plate 1 is reduced to 300mm×200mm×10mm, and aluminum alloy is used to reduce weight; only one set of guide chains 3 is retained between the movable plate 9 and the fixed base plate 1 to simplify the connection structure;

[0110] 2. The rotating tray 13 is equipped with only one set of lower cup 14. The inner diameter of the lower cup 14 is adapted to the regular size of a regular egg (45-50mm). The internal fixing plate 15 retains three sets of circumferential distribution and is made of food-grade silicone material (to avoid squeezing and breaking the egg).

[0111] 3. One air pump 33 is set up with a power of 0.3kW and the pipe diameter is reduced to 8mm to ensure sufficient airflow and save energy.

[0112] 4. Lifting screw motor 4 and reciprocating screw motor 27 are selected from micro stepper motors, with models 28HS24-1004 and 28HS24-0604 respectively, to reduce the overall height of the equipment (total height controlled within 500mm).

[0113] II. Work Process

[0114] 1. Power preparation: The controller 2 controls the reciprocating lead screw motor 27 to start, which drives the limit hook 31 to support the boss 22 of the firing pin 21 to move upward. The power storage spring 23 is compressed and power is stored. The position sensor 26 stops after detecting the boss 22.

[0115] 2. Egg positioning: The staff puts the egg into the lower half cup 14, and the fixing plate 15 limits and fixes it; the controller 2 starts the rotating motor 10, which drives the rotating drag 13 to rotate. The positioning sensor 12 stops after detecting that the lower half cup 14 is directly below the upper half cup 18.

[0116] 3. Pressing and breaking the egg: The lifting screw motor 4 drives the movable plate 9 to move down, and the upper half cup 18 presses and holds the egg; the reciprocating screw motor 27 continues to drive the limit hook 31 to move up, the guide plate 30 protrudes and pushes the limit hook 31 to disengage from the boss 22, and the storage spring 23 pushes the firing pin 21 to break the egg;

[0117] 4. Egg liquid discharge: The firing pin 21 is lifted by the restoring force of the storage spring 23; the controller 2 starts the air pump 33, and the airflow blows the egg liquid out from the egg liquid hole 16. The guide plate 17 guides the egg liquid to drip into the small pancake pan (30cm in diameter).

[0118] 5. Reset preparation: Air pump 33 is turned off, lifting screw motor 4 drives movable plate 9 to move up and reset; rotating motor 10 drives rotating drag 13 to rotate out the lower half cup 14, the staff takes out the eggshell, and the device waits for the next operation.

[0119] III. Adapted Scenarios

[0120] Small chain breakfast shops, community pancake stalls, and other scenarios with limited space and moderate production capacity can be directly integrated into small fully automatic pancake machines, which can be operated by a single person, with low equipment purchase and maintenance costs.

[0121] Example 2

[0122] Continuous operation implementation examples adapted for large-scale production

[0123] I. Details of Structural Adjustment

[0124] This embodiment addresses the needs of large-scale production in food processing plants (daily capacity of over 2000 servings) and improves continuous operation efficiency. Specific adjustments include:

[0125] 1. The rotary drag 13 adopts a disc structure with 4 sets of lower cups 14 evenly arranged around the circumference. Each set of lower cups 14 corresponds to a set of positioning sensors 12, realizing multi-station alternating operation.

[0126] 2. Two sets of upper cups 18, guide tubes 19 and hammer assembly (hammer 21, power storage spring 23, etc.) are set parallel to each other at the bottom of the active plate 9, which are simultaneously adapted to two sets of lower cups 14 to improve the efficiency of single egg beating.

[0127] 3. The air pump 33 is set with 4 groups, divided into 2 groups and one group corresponding to the upper half cup 18. The power is selected as 0.5kW to ensure that the egg liquid is quickly and without residue.

[0128] 4. A new automatic egg-feeding mechanism (connected to controller 2) is added, with egg-feeding channels set for the four lower half cups 14, so that eggs can be automatically placed in without manual intervention;

[0129] 5. The lifting screw motor 4 is a high-power stepper motor (model 42HS48-2004) to increase the lifting speed of the movable plate 9; a new lower limit sensor 8 is added to accurately control the downward stroke of the movable plate 9.

[0130] II. Work Process

[0131] 1. Power preparation: The two sets of firing pin assemblies complete the power preparation simultaneously (the process is the same as in Example 1); the automatic egg feeding mechanism feeds the eggs into the two empty lower half cups 14, and the fixing plate 15 limits and fixes them;

[0132] 2. Egg positioning: Controller 2 starts the rotating motor 10, which drives the disc-type rotating drag 13 to rotate. The two sets of positioning sensors 12 simultaneously detect that the lower half cup 14 with the egg has moved to directly below the two sets of upper half cups 18 and then stops.

[0133] 3. Egg breaking and pressing: The lifting screw motor 4 drives the movable plate 9 to move down, and the two sets of upper cups 18 simultaneously press and hold the egg; the two sets of firing pin assemblies simultaneously complete the egg breaking action;

[0134] 4. Egg liquid discharge: Two sets of firing pins 21 are lifted synchronously; four sets of air pumps 33 are started synchronously to blow the egg liquid in the two lower half cups 14 out of the egg liquid hole 16. The guide plate 17 guides the egg liquid to drip onto the pancake cooker on the production line (interval setting, synchronously receiving egg liquid).

[0135] 5. Reset preparation: The air pump 33 is turned off, and the movable plate 9 moves up to reset; the rotating motor 10 drives the rotating drag 13 to rotate, and the two sets of lower cups 14 that have completed the egg beating are rotated out to the automatic shell cleaning mechanism (to remove the eggshells). At the same time, the two new sets of lower cups 14 with eggs move to the bottom of the upper cup 18 and enter the next cycle to achieve continuous and uninterrupted operation.

[0136] III. Adapted Scenarios

[0137] Large-scale food processing plants, pancake production bases, and other high-production scenarios can be integrated into fully automated pancake production lines, with automatic egg feeding, automatic shell cleaning, and automatic spreading mechanisms to significantly improve production efficiency.

[0138] Example 3

[0139] Intelligent optimization implementation for precise control

[0140] This embodiment is designed for high-end catering or customized pancake production needs, improving the precision control of the egg-beating process. Specific adjustments include:

[0141] I. Details of Structural Adjustment

[0142] 1. Motor upgrade: The lifting screw motor 4, the rotating motor 10, and the reciprocating screw motor 27 are all servo motors, with models MSMZ042A1A, MSMZ022A1A, and MSMZ012A1A respectively, to achieve millimeter-level precise positioning;

[0143] 2. New sensors: A pressure sensor (connected to controller 2) is added to the inside of the upper half cup 18 to detect the pressure of the upper half cup 18 on the egg in real time; a pressure sensor is added to the bottom of the firing pin 21 to detect the impact force at the moment of breaking the egg;

[0144] 3. Egg liquid hole 16 optimization: It adopts an adjustable hole diameter structure (hole diameter range 5-10mm), and the hole diameter is controlled by controller 2 to adapt to egg liquids of different consistency (such as diluted egg liquid with added water).

[0145] 4. Controller 2 upgrade: Select a PLC controller with touch screen (model FX3U-48MT / ES-A), which can preset parameters such as pressing force and firing pin stroke for different egg types (free-range eggs and factory-farmed eggs) and supports one-click switching.

[0146] II. Work Process

[0147] 1. Parameter settings: The operator selects the egg type (such as free-range eggs) on the touch screen of controller 2, and presets the pressing force (0.5MPa), firing pin stroke (30mm), and egg liquid hole diameter (8mm).

[0148] 2. Power preparation: The reciprocating lead screw motor 27 driven by the servo motor drives the limit hook 31 to move precisely, and the power storage spring 23 is compressed to the preset stroke (dual positioning by position sensor 26 + servo motor).

[0149] 3. Egg positioning: After the egg is placed in the lower half of the cup 14, the rotating motor 10 drives the rotating drag 13 to rotate precisely, with the positioning error controlled within ±0.5mm;

[0150] 4. Egg breaking with pressure: The lifting screw motor 4 drives the movable plate 9 to move down, and the upper half cup 18 presses the egg. The pressure sensor provides real-time feedback on the force, and the downward movement stops after reaching the preset value (0.5MPa). The firing pin 21 breaks the egg according to the preset stroke, and the bottom pressure sensor ensures that the breaking force is moderate (avoiding excessive impact that causes the yolk to break too quickly).

[0151] 5. Egg liquid export: According to the preset egg liquid hole diameter, the controller 2 adjusts the hole size, and the air pump 33 starts according to the preset airflow intensity (which can be adjusted by the controller) to accurately export the egg liquid;

[0152] 6. Reset Preparation: Each component is precisely reset according to the preset program, and the controller 2 records the egg-beating parameters for subsequent traceability and optimization.

[0153] III. Adapted Scenarios

[0154] In high-end breakfast chains, customized pancake shops, and other scenarios with high requirements for pancake quality, it can achieve precise adaptation of different types of eggs and different egg liquid states, ensuring the consistency of egg liquid distribution and taste in every pancake.

[0155] The examples provided in this invention are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations, and any obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An egg-beating device for a pancake maker, characterized in that, The system includes a fixed base plate (1). A controller (2), a lifting screw motor (4), and a motor mounting bracket (11) are connected sequentially from top to bottom on one side of the fixed base plate (1). The transmission end of the lifting screw motor (4) is connected to a lifting transmission screw (7). The lifting transmission screw (7) is connected to a lifting connecting plate (6) that is slidably inserted into the fixed base plate (1). The upper and lower sides of the lifting connecting plate (6) are respectively provided with an upper limit sensor (5) and a lower limit sensor (8) connected to the fixed base plate (1). The motor mounting bracket (11) is connected to a rotating motor (10). The transmission end of the rotating motor (10) is connected to a rotating drag (13) located at the bottom of the fixed base plate (1). The two ends of the rotating drag (13) are respectively connected to a lower half cup (14) with an egg liquid hole (16) at the bottom. On the other side of the fixed base plate (1), there is a movable plate (9) connected to the lifting connecting plate (6). The movable plate (9) is connected from top to bottom to a reciprocating screw motor (27) and a positioning plate (20). The transmission end of the reciprocating screw motor (27) is connected to a reciprocating transmission screw (25) that is rotatably connected to the positioning plate (20). The reciprocating transmission screw (25) is connected to a limit hook (31). The limit hook (31) is connected to a reset spring (32). The limit hook (31) is slidably inserted into a guide plate (30) with a protrusion on the top connected to the movable plate (9). On one side of the top of the guide plate (30) is a position sensor (26) connected to the movable plate (9). The bottom of the positioning plate (20) is connected to an upper half cup (18) corresponding to a set of lower half cups (14) through a guide tube (19). The top of the positioning plate (20) is... A limiting seat (29) is provided to be connected to the movable plate (9). A positioning tube (28) is connected to the corresponding side of the limiting seat (29) and the positioning plate (20). A firing pin (21) is inserted into the positioning tube (28) and passes through the limiting seat (29), the positioning tube (28), the positioning plate (20), the guide tube (19), and the upper half cup (18) in sequence and is movably engaged with the limiting hook (31). A boss (22) is provided at the bottom of the positioning tube (28) on the side of the firing pin (21). A limiting block (24) is provided at the top of the positioning tube (28) on the top of the firing pin (21). A storage spring (23) is provided between the boss (22) and the positioning tube (28) and sleeved on the outside of the firing pin (21). An air pump (33) is provided on one side of the upper half cup (18) and connected to the movable plate (9). The air pump (33) is connected to the guide tube (19) through a pipe. The lifting screw motor (4), upper limit sensor (5), lower limit sensor (8), rotation motor (10), position sensor (26), reciprocating screw motor (27), and air pump (33) are respectively connected to the controller (2).

2. The egg-beating device for a pancake maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed base plate (1) is connected to the movable plate (9) via a guide chain (3).

3. The egg-beating device for a pancake maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The motor mounting bracket (11) is connected to a positioning sensor (12) on the corresponding side of the lower half cup (14), and the positioning sensor (12) is connected to the controller (2).

4. The egg-beating device for a pancake maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower half of the cup (14) is connected to a number of evenly distributed fixing plates (15).

5. The egg-beating device for a pancake maker according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lower half of the cup (14) and the fixing plate (15) are made as a single piece.

6. The egg-beating device for a pancake maker according to claim 5, characterized in that, The fixing plate (15) is provided in three sets, and the three sets of fixing plates (15) are distributed circumferentially.

7. The egg-beating device for a pancake maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the egg liquid hole (16) is provided with a guide plate (17) that is connected to the lower half cup (14).

8. The egg-beating device for a pancake maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air pump (33) is provided in multiple sets.

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