Freezing and filling device for frozen egg tart production

Abstract

The invention discloses a freezing and filling device for frozen egg tart production, and relates to the technical field of egg tart production equipment.The freezing and filling device comprises a tunnel type quick-freezing device, a filling mechanism and a heat preservation air supply mechanism, and the tunnel type quick-freezing device comprises a quick-freezing tunnel and a conveying belt penetrating through the quick-freezing tunnel; the filling mechanism comprises a material storage container, a control valve, a filling pipe, a first heat preservation sleeve, a first heat exchange coil pipe, a piston, a push rod, a linear execution element, a rotating shaft, a rotating power element, a plugging piece and a flexible connecting pipe. According to the tunnel type quick-freezing device, the pre-cooling area, the filling area and the freezing area are integrated in the same quick-freezing tunnel, egg tart skins are sequentially subjected to pre-freezing, filling and freezing through the conveying belt and do not need to be moved out of the tunnel to be transferred, temperature rising caused by the fact that the egg tart skins are exposed to the normal-temperature environment in the transferring process is fundamentally avoided, integrated operation can be achieved, and the efficiency is improved. The egg tart baking device avoids the rising of the tart skin transfer temperature, can accurately control the temperature, reduces the damage of condensate water and large ice crystals, and improves the crispness of the baked egg tarts.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of egg tart production equipment technology, and in particular to a frozen filling device for the production of frozen egg tarts. Background Technology

[0002] Egg tarts, a classic baked good consisting of a crust and filling, are widely loved by consumers for their sweet taste. With the advancement of industrial production, egg tart products have gradually formed three main forms: pre-cooked one-piece egg tarts, pre-packaged frozen raw dough combinations (frozen raw egg tart crust + frozen egg tart filling), and frozen one-piece egg tarts. Among them, frozen one-piece egg tarts, by freezing the crust and filling together, not only ensure the integrity and crispness of the crust but also improve baking convenience, giving them a significant market advantage.

[0003] In existing technologies, such as the frozen raw egg tarts and their preparation method disclosed in patent CN120391490A, the egg tart crust is pre-frozen to -4 to -1°C, the egg tart filling is pre-cooled to 2-4°C and then injected into the crust, followed by freezing to produce the product. This method attempts to reduce water penetration at the solid-liquid interface by controlling the temperature, thereby reducing damage to the egg tart crust from ice crystals. However, this technical solution requires two independent freezing devices, which has several inherent drawbacks: First, after the egg tart crusts are pre-frozen in the first pre-freezing device, they need to be removed from the device and transferred to the filling station. During the transfer, they are exposed to the ambient temperature environment of the workshop, causing the surface temperature of the crusts to rise back to 0-2℃, thus rendering the "low-temperature barrier" formed by pre-freezing ineffective. Second, the temperature difference between the crusts after the temperature rises and the pre-cooled filling at 2-4℃ increases from the original 3-8℃ to 8-25℃, causing the moisture in the filling to condense rapidly on the surface of the crusts, forming liquid water. When the filling enters the second freezing device, this condensed water will penetrate into the crust's crispness layer and freeze into large ice crystals, directly damaging the crust's layered structure and resulting in a significant decrease in crispness after baking. In addition, the separate setup of the two devices and the transfer process also cause problems such as high energy consumption, low production efficiency, and poor batch consistency, which seriously restrict the quality and efficiency of industrialized production of frozen egg tarts.

[0004] Therefore, designing a frozen filling device for frozen egg tart production that can integrate pre-freezing of egg tart crusts, filling of tart filling, and overall freezing, avoids temperature rise of tart crusts during process transfer, reduces condensation and ice crystal damage, and at the same time reduces energy consumption and improves batch consistency of products, has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing frozen egg tart production equipment, such as fragmented processes, temperature rise during tart crust transfer, damage to the tart crust structure from condensation and large ice crystals, high energy consumption, and poor batch consistency, this invention aims to provide a freezing device for frozen egg tart production. This device integrates pre-freezing of tart crusts, precise filling of tart filling, and overall freezing of the egg tarts, effectively preventing temperature rise during transfer, reducing condensation, minimizing ice crystal damage to the tart crust structure, improving product quality, reducing energy consumption, and ensuring batch consistency.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a frozen filling device for the production of frozen egg tarts, including a tunnel-type quick-freezing device, a filling mechanism, and a heat preservation and air supply mechanism.

[0007] The tunnel-type quick-freezing device includes a quick-freezing tunnel and a conveyor belt passing through the quick-freezing tunnel; the quick-freezing tunnel provides a relatively enclosed low-temperature operating environment for each process of egg tart production, which can effectively reduce the interference of the external ambient temperature environment on the internal temperature and maintain a stable temperature in each area; the conveyor belt realizes the continuous transportation of egg tart blanks.

[0008] The filling mechanism includes a storage container fixedly installed at the upper end of the quick-freezing tunnel for storing egg tart filling and maintaining it at a preset temperature. The storage container has at least two outlets at its bottom, each connected to a filling pipe via a control valve. A first insulation sleeve is fitted onto the filling pipe. A first heat exchange coil is wound around the filling pipe, inside the first insulation sleeve. The filling pipe includes an inclined section and a vertical section connected in sequence. The lower end of the vertical section is located inside the quick-freezing tunnel. A piston is slidably and sealed within the vertical section. A push rod extending from the first insulation sleeve is connected to the upper end of the piston. The upper end of the push rod is connected to a linear actuator for driving its linear lifting and lowering. The linear actuator is fixedly connected to the storage container. A rotating shaft is rotatably installed at the bottom end of the first insulation sleeve. One end of the rotating shaft extends out of the quick-freezing tunnel and is connected to a rotary power element for driving its rotation at a preset angle. The rotary power element is fixedly installed on the quick-freezing tunnel. A sealing member for sealing the bottom opening of the vertical pipe section is fixedly installed on the rotating shaft. The sealing member is provided with a vent. The vent is connected to the output end of the first heat exchange coil through a flexible connecting pipe. When the sealing member seals the bottom opening of the vertical pipe section, the vent is connected to the vertical pipe section.

[0009] The dual insulation structure of the first insulation jacket and the first heat exchange coil can stabilize the temperature of the egg tart liquid in the filling pipe; the cooperation between the piston and the linear actuator enables quantitative filling and improves filling accuracy; the design of the sealing component and the vent can perform heat preservation and purging of the vertical pipe section in the non-filling state, reduce the impact of the low temperature of the quick-freezing tunnel on the temperature of the egg tart liquid in the filling pipe, and avoid the solidification and blockage of residual egg tart liquid.

[0010] The heat preservation and air supply mechanism is used to deliver gas at a preset temperature to the first heat exchange coil; by precisely controlling the temperature of the gas input to the first heat exchange coil, the heat preservation effect of the filling tube is ensured to match the temperature requirements of the egg tart filling, thus avoiding changes in texture or condensation caused by temperature fluctuations in the filling.

[0011] Furthermore, the heat preservation and air supply mechanism includes a first fan. The input end of the first fan is connected to a cold air pipe and a normal temperature air pipe via a tee. The cold air pipe is connected to the inner cavity of the quick-freezing tunnel, and the normal temperature air pipe is connected to the atmosphere. A first proportional regulating valve is installed on both the cold air pipe and the normal temperature air pipe. The output end of the first fan is connected to a main pipe. The main pipe is connected to branch pipes that correspond one-to-one with the first heat exchange coil. The branch pipes are connected to the first heat exchange coil. A first temperature sensor is installed on the main pipe.

[0012] By utilizing the low-temperature cold air inside the quick-freezing tunnel as a cold source, energy recovery and utilization are achieved, reducing energy consumption; the ratio of cold and ambient temperature gas is adjusted by the first proportional regulating valve, and the gas temperature can be accurately controlled by real-time monitoring by the first temperature sensor; the design of the main pipeline and branch pipelines ensures uniform gas supply to each first heat exchange coil and guarantees consistent insulation of multiple filling pipes.

[0013] Furthermore, an insulation shell is fitted onto the outer wall of the storage container, and a second heat exchange coil is wound and installed on the outer wall of the storage container and inside the insulation shell; it also includes a pre-cooling air supply mechanism, which includes a gas collection hood, a second fan, and a pre-cooling air duct. The gas collection hood is installed above the feed end of the quick-freezing tunnel, the input end of the second fan is connected to the top of the gas collection hood, and the output end of the second fan is connected to the second heat exchange coil through the pre-cooling air duct. A second temperature sensor and an exhaust pipe are installed on the pre-cooling air duct, and a second proportional regulating valve is installed on the exhaust pipe.

[0014] The dual structure of the insulation shell and the second heat exchange coil achieves efficient insulation of the storage container, maintaining the preset temperature of the egg tart filling; the pre-cooling air supply mechanism recovers the low-temperature airflow discharged from the quick-freezing tunnel and uses the low-temperature energy again to pre-cool the storage container, further reducing energy consumption; the second proportional regulating valve can accurately control the temperature of the pre-cooling airflow to avoid the egg tart filling temperature being too high or too low, and the exhaust pipe can promptly discharge the excessively high-temperature airflow to ensure stable pre-cooling effect.

[0015] Furthermore, the tunnel-type quick-freezing device also includes a shelf and a proximity switch. Several equally spaced baffles are fixed on the conveyor belt, and the space between two adjacent baffles forms a storage area for holding the shelf. The shelf is provided with storage slots arranged in a rectangular array for holding egg tart blanks. The egg tart blanks include foil trays and egg tart shells located inside the foil trays. Along the conveyor belt conveying direction, the quick-freezing tunnel is sequentially divided into a pre-cooling zone, a filling zone, and a freezing zone. The lower end of the vertical pipe section is located in the filling zone. A third temperature sensor is installed at the top of the pre-cooling zone, the filling zone, and the freezing zone. The proximity switch is located in the filling zone to detect the position of the egg tart blanks. The egg tart blanks are higher than the shelf, making them easier to detect by the proximity switch. The proximity switch works in conjunction with the control valve to start, thereby achieving precise filling.

[0016] The design of the baffles and storage areas ensures that the storage rack does not shift during transport, guaranteeing accurate positioning; the rectangular array design of the storage trough is adapted to multiple discharge ports for filling, improving synchronous filling efficiency; the partitioned design of the quick-freezing tunnel enables continuous operation of pre-freezing, filling, and freezing, avoiding process transfer; the third temperature sensor monitors the temperature of each area in real time, ensuring stable operating temperature; the positioning coordination of the proximity switch enables precise control of the filling timing, avoiding missed filling and incorrect filling.

[0017] Furthermore, the tunnel-type quick-freezing device also includes a hydraulic storage tank, a liquid nitrogen delivery pipe, a power pump, a liquid nitrogen spray pipe, an atomizing nozzle, and a diffusion fan. The output end of the hydraulic storage tank is connected to the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe. The power pump is installed on the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe. The output end of the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe is connected to multiple liquid nitrogen spray pipes. An atomizing nozzle is installed at the lower end of the liquid nitrogen spray pipe and is located in the freezing zone. A diffusion fan is installed at the top of both the pre-cooling zone and the freezing zone. The diffusion fan is inclined towards the feed end of the quick-freezing tunnel, so that the airflow in the quick-freezing tunnel flows along the direction of the freezing zone, the filling zone, and the pre-cooling zone, which facilitates the delivery of the liquid nitrogen-cooled airflow from the freezing zone to the pre-cooling zone.

[0018] Liquid nitrogen is atomized and sprayed evenly through atomizing nozzles to achieve rapid and uniform freezing of egg tarts, improving freezing efficiency and effect; the inclined setting of the diffuser fan guides the low-temperature airflow in the freezing zone to the filling zone and the pre-cooling zone, realizing the cascade utilization of low-temperature energy, eliminating the need for additional refrigeration equipment in the pre-cooling zone and significantly reducing energy consumption; at the same time, it maintains a low-temperature environment in the filling zone to prevent the temperature of the egg tart crust from rising after pre-freezing.

[0019] Furthermore, both the inlet and outlet ends of the quick-freezing tunnel are equipped with windbreaks. These windbreaks restrict the escape of cold air from the quick-freezing tunnel and the entry of ambient temperature air into it. The windbreaks are made of flexible material, effectively preventing cold air leakage and ambient temperature air intrusion within the tunnel, maintaining a stable low-temperature environment, reducing the impact of temperature fluctuations on operations, and lowering energy consumption.

[0020] Furthermore, a stirring motor is installed at the upper end of the storage container, and a stirring shaft is connected to the output end of the stirring motor. The stirring shaft is rotatably connected to the storage container. A stirring blade is installed at the lower end of the stirring shaft. The stirring blade is located inside the storage container. A feeding port is provided at the top of the storage container. A fourth temperature sensor and a level gauge are installed on the storage container.

[0021] The stirring motor drives the stirring blades to continuously stir, ensuring the egg tart filling has a uniform texture and avoiding uneven quality caused by component sedimentation; the feeding port allows for timely replenishment of the egg tart filling, ensuring continuous production; a fourth temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the egg tart filling in real time, and a level gauge monitors the remaining amount in real time, allowing operators to make timely adjustments and improve production stability.

[0022] Furthermore, a sealing gasket is fixed to the sealing component, which directly seals the bottom end of the vertical pipe section instead of the sealing component, improving the sealing effect. The sealing gasket enhances the sealing performance between the sealing component and the bottom end of the vertical pipe section, preventing leakage of egg tart liquid when not filled, while also reducing the loss of cold air inside the pipe and ensuring the heat preservation effect.

[0023] Furthermore, a fifth temperature sensor is installed on the flexible connecting pipe, and a second insulation sleeve is fitted onto the flexible connecting pipe. The fifth temperature sensor monitors the gas temperature inside the flexible connecting pipe in real time, facilitating timely detection and adjustment of temperature anomalies to ensure the purging and insulation effect; the second insulation sleeve reduces temperature loss of the gas inside the flexible connecting pipe, ensuring that the gas temperature entering the vertical pipe section meets the requirements.

[0024] Furthermore, a discharge pipe is installed on the vertical pipe section. The connection point between the discharge pipe and the vertical pipe section is higher than the connection point between the vertical pipe section and the inclined pipe section, preventing the egg tart filling from entering the discharge pipe when introduced into the inclined pipe section. When the piston rises to its top dead center, it is higher than the connection point between the discharge pipe and the vertical pipe section, allowing gas in the vertical pipe section to be discharged through the discharge pipe. The top of the vertical pipe section has an open structure, facilitating the piston's rise within the vertical pipe section to above the connection point between the discharge pipe and the vertical pipe section. The discharge pipe can promptly discharge the gas in the vertical pipe section when the piston rises, ensuring a continuous flow of gas from the first heat exchange coil into the vertical pipe section, forming a stable gas flow and effectively improving the insulation effect of the vertical pipe section. The height design of the connection point effectively prevents waste or blockage caused by egg tart filling entering the discharge pipe.

[0025] Compared with existing technologies, this technical solution has at least one of the following beneficial effects: 1. Achieve integrated operation and avoid temperature rise during tart crust transfer: This invention integrates the pre-cooling zone, filling zone and freezing zone into the same quick-freezing tunnel through a tunnel-type quick-freezing device. The tart crusts are pre-frozen, filled and frozen sequentially via conveyor belt without needing to be moved out of the tunnel for transfer. This fundamentally avoids the temperature rise caused by the tart crusts being exposed to room temperature during transfer, laying the foundation for reducing the generation of condensate in the later stages. 2. Precise temperature control to reduce damage from condensation and large ice crystals: On one hand, the pre-cooling air supply mechanism uses the low-temperature airflow in the freezing zone to pre-cool and insulate the egg tart filling in the storage container, keeping it stable at 2-4℃. On the other hand, the insulation air supply mechanism delivers gas at a preset temperature to the first heat exchange coil to insulate the filling pipe, ensuring the egg tart filling temperature remains stable during the filling process. At the same time, the diffuser fan directs the low-temperature airflow from the freezing zone through the filling zone, maintaining a low-temperature environment in the filling zone. This keeps the temperature difference between the pre-frozen -4~-1℃ egg tart crust and the 2-4℃ egg tart filling stable at 3-8℃, effectively preventing condensation of the filling caused by a widening temperature difference. This reduces the damage to the layered structure of the tart crust caused by the formation of large ice crystals from condensation during subsequent freezing, significantly improving the crispness of the egg tarts after baking. 3. Improved filling accuracy and ensured product quality uniformity: This invention achieves quantitative filling of egg tart filling by setting up a piston, linear actuator and control valve, while using a proximity switch to detect the material position to ensure accurate filling timing; the stirring blade in the storage container continuously stirs to ensure the uniform texture of the egg tart filling; temperature sensors in each area monitor and feed back temperature data in real time to achieve precise temperature control, effectively improving the filling accuracy and quality uniformity of the product and ensuring batch consistency; 4. Energy saving and consumption reduction, and improved production efficiency: This invention guides the low-temperature airflow from the freezing zone to the pre-cooling zone through a diffuser fan, realizing the recovery and utilization of low-temperature energy without the need for additional refrigeration equipment in the pre-cooling zone; the windbreak curtains at both ends of the quick-freezing tunnel reduce cold air leakage, further reducing energy consumption; at the same time, the integrated operation process reduces the transfer waiting time between processes, significantly improving production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the frozen filling device in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A sectional view along line AA. Figure 3 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle; Figure 4 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point C; Figure 5 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point D; Figure 6 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point E in the middle; Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the tunnel-type quick-freezing device and the filling mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a side view of the filling mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention; In the diagram: 1-Tunnel-type quick-freezing device, 11-Quick-freezing tunnel, 111-Pre-cooling zone, 112-Filling zone, 113-Freezing zone, 12-Conveyor belt, 13-Shelf, 131-Storage trough, 14-Proximity switch, 15-Baffle, 16-Hydraulic storage tank, 17-Liquid nitrogen delivery pipe, 18-Power pump, 19-Liquid nitrogen spray pipe, 110-Atomizing nozzle, 114-Diffuser, 115-Windbreak curtain; 2-Filling mechanism, 21-Storage container, 22-Control valve, 23-Filling pipe, 231-Inclined pipe section, 232-Vertical pipe section, 24-First insulation jacket, 25-First heat exchange coil, 26-Piston, 27-Push rod, 28-Linear actuator, 29-Rotating shaft, 210-Rotating power element, 211-Sealing component 212-Ventilation port, 213-Flexible connecting pipe, 214-Sealing gasket, 215-Discharge pipe, 216-Stirring motor, 217-Stirring shaft, 218-Stirring blade, 219-Feeding port, 220-Fourth temperature sensor, 221-Level gauge, 222-Insulation shell, 223-Second heat exchange coil; 3-Insulated air supply mechanism, 31-First fan, 32-Tee, 33-Cold air pipe, 34-Normal temperature air pipe, 35-First proportional regulating valve, 36-Main pipe, 37-Branch pipe, 38-First temperature sensor; 4-Pre-cooling air supply mechanism, 41-Gas collection hood, 42-Second fan, 43-Pre-cooling air pipe, 44-Second temperature sensor, 45-Exhaust pipe, 46-Second proportional regulating valve; 5-Fifth temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0028] like Figure 1-8 As shown, this embodiment discloses a frozen filling device for the production of frozen egg tarts, including a tunnel-type quick-freezing device 1, a filling mechanism 2, a heat preservation and air supply mechanism 3, and a control system. The tunnel-type quick-freezing device 1 includes a quick-freezing tunnel 11. Both the inlet and outlet ends of the quick-freezing tunnel 11 are equipped with windproof curtains 115. The windproof curtains 115 are made of flexible heat-insulating material and are used to restrict the cold air from leaving the quick-freezing tunnel 11 and the ambient temperature air from entering the quick-freezing tunnel 11, thereby reducing energy loss. The tunnel-type quick-freezing device 1 also includes a conveyor belt 12, a shelf 13, and a proximity switch 14. The conveyor belt 12 passes through the quick-freezing tunnel 11. The conveyor belt 12 is a chain plate type conveyor belt. Several equally spaced baffles 15 are fixed on the conveyor belt 12. The space between two adjacent baffles 15 forms a storage area for clamping the shelf 13, ensuring that the shelf 13 is stable in position during the conveying process and avoiding displacement. The width of the quick-freezing tunnel 11 is adapted to the width of the shelf 13, which can limit the lateral movement of the shelf 13. Two side plates are installed at the inlet and outlet ends of the quick-freezing tunnel 11. Drive rollers are installed on the side plates. The conveyor belt 12 is installed on the two drive rollers. One of the drive rollers is an active roller, which is driven to rotate by a geared motor, thereby driving the conveyor belt 12 to move. Multiple idler rollers are also installed in the quick-freezing tunnel 11 to support the conveyor belt 12. The two side plates at the inlet end of the quick-freezing tunnel 11 form a funnel-shaped structure, which can provide a wider space to facilitate the placement of the shelf 13 on the conveyor belt.

[0029] The shelf 13 is equipped with rectangular arrays of storage slots 131 for holding egg tart blanks, which can simultaneously transport and process multiple egg tart blanks, improving production efficiency. The shelf 13 is equipped with several ventilation holes to facilitate gas flow. Along the conveyor belt 12, the quick-freezing tunnel 11 is divided into a pre-cooling zone 111, a filling zone 112, and a freezing zone 113. A third temperature sensor is installed on the top of the pre-cooling zone 111, the filling zone 112, and the freezing zone 113 to monitor the temperature of each zone in real time. A proximity switch 14 is located in the filling zone 112 to detect the position of the baffle 15, thereby determining the specific position of the shelf 13 and the egg tart blanks, and cooperating with the subsequent control valve 22 to start, achieving precise filling.

[0030] The tunnel-type quick-freezing device 1 also includes a hydraulic storage tank 16, a liquid nitrogen delivery pipe 17, a power pump 18, a liquid nitrogen spray pipe 19, an atomizing nozzle 110, and a diffusion fan 114. The output end of the hydraulic storage tank 16 is connected to the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe 17. The power pump 18 is installed on the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe 17 to provide power for liquid nitrogen delivery. The output end of the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe 17 is connected to multiple liquid nitrogen spray pipes 19. An atomizing nozzle 110 is installed at the lower end of the liquid nitrogen spray pipe 19. The atomizing nozzle 110 is located in the freezing zone 113 and can atomize the liquid nitrogen. Nitrogen is atomized and evenly sprayed onto the freezing zone 113 to achieve rapid and uniform freezing of the egg tarts. Diffusers 114 are installed at the top of both the pre-cooling zone 111 and the freezing zone 113. The diffusers 114 are tilted toward the feed end of the quick-freezing tunnel 11, so that the airflow in the quick-freezing tunnel 11 flows along the direction of the freezing zone 113, the filling zone 112, and the pre-cooling zone 111. This facilitates the delivery of the liquid nitrogen cooling airflow from the freezing zone 113 to the pre-cooling zone 111, realizing the recovery and utilization of low-temperature energy and providing a low-temperature environment for the pre-freezing of the egg tart crusts.

[0031] The filling mechanism 2 includes a storage container 21, which is fixedly installed at the upper end of the quick-freezing tunnel 11 to store the egg tart filling and maintain it at a preset temperature of 2-4°C. An insulation shell 222 is fitted onto the outer wall of the storage container 21. A second heat exchange coil 223 is wound around the outer wall of the storage container 21 and located inside the insulation shell 222 to pre-cool and insulate the egg tart filling inside the storage container 21. A stirring motor 216 is installed at the upper end of the storage container 21, and a stirring shaft 217 is connected to the output end of the stirring motor 216. 7 is rotatably connected to the storage container 21. A stirring blade 218 is installed at the lower end of the stirring shaft 217. The stirring blade 218 is located inside the storage container 21. The stirring motor 216 drives the stirring blade 218 to continuously stir, ensuring that the egg tart filling has a uniform texture. The top of the storage container 21 is provided with a feeding port 219 for easy replenishment of the egg tart filling. A fourth temperature sensor 220 and a liquid level gauge 221 are installed on the storage container 21. The fourth temperature sensor 220 is used to monitor the temperature of the egg tart filling in real time, and the liquid level gauge 221 is used to monitor the remaining amount of egg tart filling for timely replenishment.

[0032] The storage container 21 has at least two discharge ports at its bottom, such as Figure 8 As shown, this embodiment has 6 filling tubes arranged in a straight line. The outlet is connected to the filling tube 23 via a control valve 22. The control valve 22 is an electromagnetic control valve for precise control of the opening and closing. A first insulation sleeve 24 is fitted onto the filling tube 23 for basic insulation. A first heat exchange coil 25 is wound around the outside of the filling tube 23 and inside the first insulation sleeve 24 to further insulate the egg tart filling inside the filling tube 23 and prevent temperature fluctuations. Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the filling pipe 23 includes an inclined pipe section 231 and a vertical pipe section 232 connected in sequence. The inclined pipe section 231 facilitates the smooth flow of the egg tart filling into the vertical pipe section 232. The lower end of the vertical pipe section 232 is located in the filling area 112 of the quick-freezing tunnel 11, ensuring that the filling process is carried out in a low-temperature environment. A piston 26 is slidably and sealed inside the vertical pipe section 232. The upper end of the piston 26 is connected to a push rod 27 extending from the first insulation sleeve 24. The upper end of the push rod 27 is connected to a linear actuator 28 for driving its linear lifting. In this embodiment, the linear actuator 28 is a cylinder. The linear actuator 28 is fixedly connected to the storage container 21. The linear actuator 28 drives the piston 26 to rise and fall. This movement of the piston 26 along the vertical pipe section 232 pushes out all the egg tart filling from the inner wall, preventing residue. Simultaneously, it prevents low-temperature gas from entering the vertical pipe section 232 from the quick-freezing tunnel 11, thus preventing a significant drop in temperature and avoiding insufficient insulation leading to excessively low filling temperature or solidification of the egg tart filling. The vertical pipe section 232 is equipped with a discharge pipe 215. The connection point between the discharge pipe 215 and the vertical pipe section 232 is higher than the connection point between the vertical pipe section 232 and the inclined pipe section 231, preventing the egg tart filling from entering the discharge pipe 215 when introduced into the inclined pipe section 231. Figure 4 As shown, when the piston 26 rises to the top dead center, it is higher than the connection between the discharge pipe 215 and the vertical pipe section 232, and the gas in the vertical pipe section 232 can be discharged from the discharge pipe 215. The top of the vertical pipe section 232 has an open structure, which makes it easy for the piston to rise in the vertical pipe section 232 to the point above the connection between the discharge pipe 215 and the vertical pipe section.

[0033] like Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown, a rotating shaft 29 is rotatably mounted on the bottom end of the first insulation sleeve 24. One end of the rotating shaft 29 extends out of the quick-freezing tunnel 11 and is connected to a rotating power element 210 for driving it to rotate at a preset angle. In this embodiment, the rotating power element 210 is a servo motor, and the rotating power element 210 is fixedly mounted on the quick-freezing tunnel 11. A sealing member 211 for sealing the bottom opening of the vertical pipe section 232 is fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft 29. A sealing gasket 214 is fixed on the sealing member 211. The sealing gasket 214 seals the bottom end of the vertical pipe section 232, improving the sealing effect. The plug 211 is provided with a vent 212, which is connected to the output end of the first heat exchange coil 25 through a flexible connecting pipe 213. When the plug 211 closes the bottom opening of the vertical pipe section 232, the vent 212 is connected to the vertical pipe section 232, which facilitates the gas output from the first heat exchange coil 25 to enter the vertical pipe section 232 for purging and heat preservation. A fifth temperature sensor 5 is installed on the flexible connecting pipe 213 to monitor the gas temperature. A second heat preservation sleeve is fitted on the flexible connecting pipe 213 to prevent the gas temperature from rising.

[0034] The heat-insulating air supply mechanism 3 is used to supply gas at a preset temperature to the first heat exchange coil 25. It includes a first fan 31, whose input end is connected via a tee 32 to a cold air pipe 33 and a normal temperature air pipe 34. The cold air pipe 33 is connected to the inner cavity of the quick-freezing tunnel 11 to obtain low-temperature cold air, while the normal temperature air pipe 34 is connected to the atmosphere to introduce normal temperature air. Both the cold air pipe 33 and the normal temperature air pipe 34 are equipped with first proportional regulating valves 35. By adjusting the opening of the two first proportional regulating valves 35, the temperature of the cold air pipe 33 is controlled. The intake volume of the first blower 31 and the ambient temperature gas pipe 34 is adjusted to regulate the temperature of the mixed gas. The output end of the first blower 31 is connected to the main pipe 36, and the main pipe 36 is connected to the branch pipes 37 corresponding to the first heat exchange coil 25. The branch pipes 37 are connected to the first heat exchange coil 25. The main pipe 36 is equipped with a first temperature sensor 38, which is used to monitor the temperature of the mixed gas in real time and feed the temperature data back to the control system. The control system adjusts the opening of the first proportional regulating valve 35 to achieve precise control of the gas temperature.

[0035] This embodiment also includes a pre-cooling air supply mechanism 4, which includes a gas collection hood 41, a second fan 42, and a pre-cooling air duct 43. The gas collection hood 41 is installed above the feed end of the quick-freezing tunnel 11 to collect the low-temperature airflow discharged from the quick-freezing tunnel 11. The input end of the second fan 42 is connected to the top of the gas collection hood 41, and the output end of the second fan 42 is connected to the second heat exchange coil 223 through the pre-cooling air duct 43 to transport the collected low-temperature airflow to the second heat exchange coil 223 for cooling the egg tarts in the storage container 21. The liquid is pre-cooled and kept warm; the output end of the second heat exchange coil 223 is discharged outdoors; a second temperature sensor 44 and an exhaust pipe 45 are installed on the pre-cooling air duct 43, and a second proportional regulating valve 46 is installed on the exhaust pipe 45. The second temperature sensor 44 is used to monitor the temperature of the airflow in the pre-cooling air duct 43. When the fourth temperature sensor 220 detects that the temperature of the egg tart liquid is too low, the control system controls the second proportional regulating valve 46 to open, reducing the low-temperature gas entering the second heat exchange coil 223, and ensuring that the temperature meets the requirements.

[0036] The control system of this embodiment is electrically connected to the first fan 31, the second fan 42, the first proportional regulating valve 35, the second proportional regulating valve 46, the first temperature sensor 38, the second temperature sensor 44, the third temperature sensor, the fourth temperature sensor 220, the fifth temperature sensor 5, the control valve 22, the linear actuator 28, the rotary power element 210, the stirring motor 216, the power pump 18, the diffuser fan 114, and the conveyor belt 12, respectively, to realize the coordinated control of each component and ensure the stable and accurate operation of the equipment.

[0037] The workflow of this embodiment is as follows: S1. Loading and Pre-freezing: Place the egg tart crust blanks with shells one by one into the storage slot 131 of the storage rack 13, place the storage rack 13 on the conveyor belt 12, start the conveyor belt 12, and the conveyor belt 12 will transport the storage rack 13 to the pre-cooling zone 111 of the quick-freezing tunnel 11; at the same time, start the power pump 18 and the diffusion fan 114, and the liquid nitrogen in the hydraulic storage tank 16 will be atomized and sprayed out from the atomizing nozzle 110 through the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe 17 and the liquid nitrogen spray pipe 19 to cool down the freezing zone 113. The diffusion fan 114 will guide the low temperature airflow of the freezing zone 113 to the pre-cooling zone 111 to pre-freeze the egg tart crusts and stabilize the temperature of the egg tart crusts at -4~-1℃; S2. Egg tart filling insulation: Egg tart filling is added to the storage container 21 through the feeding port 219. The stirring motor 216 is started, driving the stirring blades 218 to continuously stir. The second fan 42 is started, and the gas collection hood 41 collects the low-temperature airflow discharged from the quick-freezing tunnel 11. The airflow is then transported to the second heat exchange coil 223 through the pre-cooling air duct 43 to pre-cool and insulate the egg tart filling in the storage container 21. The fourth temperature sensor 220 monitors the temperature of the egg tart filling in real time. When the temperature is higher than 4℃, the control system controls the second proportional regulating valve 46 to close, increasing the input of low-temperature airflow. When the temperature is lower than 2℃, the control system controls the second proportional regulating valve 46 to open, discharging part of the low-temperature airflow and introducing a small amount of room temperature air to stabilize the temperature of the egg tart filling at 2-4℃. S3. Precise Filling: When the proximity switch 14 detects that the shelf 13 has reached the preset filling position of the filling area 112, it sends a signal to the control system, which then controls the conveyor belt 12 to stop. Subsequently, it controls the rotary power element 210 to start, driving the rotating shaft 29 to rotate 90°, causing the sealing element 211 to disengage from the bottom opening of the vertical pipe section 232. At this time, the piston 26 is at the top dead center, and the control valve 22 opens for a preset time. Then, the control valve 22 opens, and the egg tart filling in the storage container 21 flows into the vertical pipe section 232 through the inclined pipe section 231. After the control valve 22 reaches the preset opening time, it automatically closes. Approximately one second later, it is determined that the egg tart filling in the inclined pipe section 231 has completely flowed into the vertical pipe section 232. The linear actuator 28 drives the piston 26 to descend, pushing out all the egg tart filling on the inner wall of the vertical pipe section 232 to avoid residue. At the same time, the piston 26 can prevent the low-temperature gas in the quick-freezing tunnel 11 from entering the vertical pipe section 232, preventing the temperature in the vertical pipe section 232 from dropping too much and causing the egg tart filling to be filled at too low a temperature or solidify. During the filling process, the first fan 31 is started, and the cold air pipe 33 introduces the low-temperature cold air in the quick-freezing tunnel 11, while the normal temperature air pipe 34 introduces the normal temperature air. The intake volume of the two is adjusted by the first proportional regulating valve 35 to stabilize the temperature of the mixed gas at 2-4℃. The gas is then transported to the first heat exchange coil 25 through the main pipe 36 and the branch pipe 37 to keep the egg tart filling in the filling pipe 23 warm. S4. Overall Freezing: After filling is completed, the control system controls the linear actuator 28 to drive the piston 26 to reset, and controls the rotary power element 210 to drive the rotating shaft 29 to rotate 90° in the opposite direction, so that the sealing element 211 re-closes the bottom opening of the vertical pipe section 232. The gas output from the first heat exchange coil 25 enters the vertical pipe section 232 through the flexible connecting pipe 213 and the vent 212 on the sealing element 211 to purge and insulate the vertical pipe section 232. At the same time, the linear actuator 28 drives the push rod 27 and the piston 26 to rise, facilitating the entry of gas into the vertical pipe section. 232. After the piston 26 rises above the exhaust pipe, the gas in the vertical pipe section 232 can be discharged from the exhaust pipe 215, and the output end of the exhaust pipe 215 is discharged outdoors; start the conveyor belt 12 and repeat step S3; when the filled egg tarts are transported to the freezing zone 113, the atomizing nozzle 110 continuously sprays atomized liquid nitrogen to quickly freeze the egg tarts. The freezing temperature is controlled at -30~-25℃, and the freezing time is 15-20 minutes. After freezing is completed, the conveyor belt 12 transports the frozen egg tarts out of the quick-freezing tunnel 11, completing the production.

[0038] This embodiment, through its integrated structural design, enables continuous operation of pre-freezing egg tart crusts, precise filling of tart filling, and overall freezing of egg tarts. It effectively avoids temperature rise during the transfer of tart crusts, reduces the generation of condensation and damage to the tart crust structure caused by large ice crystals, and improves product quality. At the same time, it realizes the recovery and utilization of low-temperature energy, reduces energy consumption, improves production efficiency, ensures batch consistency of products, and is suitable for large-scale industrial production.

[0039] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A frozen filling device for the production of frozen egg tarts, characterized in that, include: A tunnel-type quick-freezing device, comprising a quick-freezing tunnel and a conveyor belt passing through the quick-freezing tunnel; The filling mechanism includes a storage container for storing and maintaining the egg tart filling at a preset temperature. The storage container has at least two outlets at its bottom, each connected to a filling pipe via a control valve. A first insulation sleeve is fitted onto the filling pipe, and a first heat exchange coil is wound around the filling pipe and inside the first insulation sleeve. The filling pipe includes an inclined section and a vertical section connected in sequence. The lower end of the vertical section is located inside the quick-freezing tunnel, and a piston is slidably and sealed inside the vertical section. The upper end of the piston is connected to an extension... The first insulation jacket has a push rod with a linear actuator connected to its upper end for driving its linear lifting and lowering. The bottom end of the first insulation jacket is rotatably mounted with a shaft. One end of the shaft extends into a quick-freezing tunnel and is connected to a rotary power element for driving its rotation at a preset angle. A sealing component for closing the bottom opening of the vertical pipe section is fixedly mounted on the shaft. The sealing component has a vent, which is connected to the output end of the first heat exchange coil through a flexible connecting pipe. When the sealing component closes the bottom opening of the vertical pipe section, the vent is connected to the vertical pipe section. The heat-insulating air supply mechanism is used to supply gas at a preset temperature to the first heat exchange coil.

2. The frozen filling apparatus for producing frozen egg tarts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat preservation and air supply mechanism includes a first fan. The input end of the first fan is connected to a cold air pipe and a normal temperature air pipe through a tee. The cold air pipe is connected to the inner cavity of the quick-freezing tunnel, and the normal temperature air pipe is connected to the atmosphere. A first proportional regulating valve is installed on both the cold air pipe and the normal temperature air pipe. The output end of the first fan is connected to a main pipe. The main pipe is connected to branch pipes that correspond one-to-one with the first heat exchange coil. The branch pipes are connected to the first heat exchange coil. A first temperature sensor is installed on the main pipe.

3. The frozen filling apparatus for producing frozen egg tarts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage tank is fitted with an insulation shell on its outer wall, and a second heat exchange coil is wound and installed on the outer wall of the storage tank and inside the insulation shell; it also includes a pre-cooling air supply mechanism, which includes a gas collection hood, a second fan, and a pre-cooling air duct. The gas collection hood is installed above the feed end of the quick-freezing tunnel, the input end of the second fan is connected to the top of the gas collection hood, and the output end of the second fan is connected to the second heat exchange coil through the pre-cooling air duct. A second temperature sensor and an exhaust pipe are installed on the pre-cooling air duct, and a second proportional regulating valve is installed on the exhaust pipe.

4. The frozen filling apparatus for producing frozen egg tarts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tunnel-type quick-freezing device also includes a shelf and a proximity switch. Several equally spaced baffles are fixed on the conveyor belt, and the space between two adjacent baffles forms a storage area for holding the shelf. The shelf is provided with storage slots arranged in a rectangular array for holding the egg tart blanks. Along the conveying direction of the conveyor belt, the quick-freezing tunnel is divided into a pre-cooling zone, a filling zone, and a freezing zone. The lower end of the vertical pipe section is located in the filling zone. A third temperature sensor is installed at the top of the pre-cooling zone, the filling zone, and the freezing zone. The proximity switch is located in the filling zone to detect the position of the egg tart blanks.

5. The frozen filling apparatus for producing frozen egg tarts according to claim 4, characterized in that, The tunnel-type quick-freezing device also includes a hydraulic storage tank, a liquid nitrogen delivery pipe, a power pump, a liquid nitrogen spray pipe, an atomizing nozzle, and a diffusion fan. The output end of the hydraulic storage tank is connected to the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe. The power pump is installed on the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe. Multiple liquid nitrogen spray pipes are connected to the output end of the liquid nitrogen delivery pipe. An atomizing nozzle is installed at the lower end of the liquid nitrogen spray pipe. The atomizing nozzle is located in the freezing zone. A diffusion fan is installed at the top of both the pre-cooling zone and the freezing zone. The diffusion fan is inclined towards the feed end of the quick-freezing tunnel, so that the airflow in the quick-freezing tunnel flows from the freezing zone to the filling zone and the pre-cooling zone.

6. The frozen filling apparatus for producing frozen egg tarts according to claim 5, characterized in that, Both the inlet and outlet ends of the quick-freezing tunnel are equipped with windproof curtains. The windproof curtains restrict the movement of cold air out of the quick-freezing tunnel and prevent ambient air from entering the quick-freezing tunnel.

7. The frozen filling apparatus for producing frozen egg tarts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage container is equipped with a stirring motor at the top, and a stirring shaft is connected to the output end of the stirring motor. The stirring shaft is rotatably connected to the storage container. A stirring blade is installed at the lower end of the stirring shaft and is located inside the storage container. A feeding port is provided at the top of the storage container. A fourth temperature sensor and a level gauge are installed on the storage container.

8. The frozen filling apparatus for producing frozen egg tarts according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sealing gasket is fixed on the sealing component. The sealing gasket replaces the sealing component to seal the bottom end of the vertical pipe section, resulting in a better sealing effect.

9. The frozen filling apparatus for producing frozen egg tarts according to claim 1, characterized in that, A fifth temperature sensor is installed on the flexible connecting pipe, and a second insulation sleeve is fitted onto the flexible connecting pipe.

10. The frozen filling apparatus for producing frozen egg tarts according to claim 1, characterized in that, A discharge pipe is installed on the vertical pipe section, and the connection between the discharge pipe and the vertical pipe section is higher than the connection between the vertical pipe section and the inclined pipe section; when the piston is at the top dead center, its bottom end is higher than the connection between the discharge pipe and the vertical pipe section.

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