Sterilizing equipment and sterilizing method for jam

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of food production equipment, in particular to jam sterilization equipment and a sterilization method thereof.The jam sterilization equipment comprises a pot body and a sterilization table, the sterilization table is separably arranged in the pot body, supporting pipes are vertically fixed to the four corners of the top side of the sterilization table, and a plurality of shaft pipes are longitudinally communicated between every two supporting pipes on the same side; a plurality of brackets are transversely connected between the two shaft tubes with the same height, and the brackets with the same height are longitudinally arranged and matched to form a supporting frame for supporting a jam tray; and the shaft tube is in running fit with the supporting tube. A heat source directly acts on jam materials through the air holes densely distributed in the top side of the supporting pipe, targeted accurate heating is achieved, compared with overall heating or fixed nozzle heating of traditional equipment, the heat conduction distance can be shortened, the via hole conduction degree of each layer of bracket is determined by the weight of the materials of the corresponding layer, layered independent heat source supply adjustment is achieved, and heating efficiency is improved. The trays with different material filling amounts can obtain corresponding heat doses, so that the sterilization effect is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food production equipment, specifically to a sterilization device and method for jam. Background Technology

[0002] Jam is a semi-solid food made primarily from fruits and sugars through boiling and concentration. Its production process requires sterilization to kill bacteria, molds, yeasts, and other microorganisms, ensuring shelf life and preventing spoilage. Jam sterilization equipment, as a core processing tool, directly determines the product's safety, quality, flavor retention, and production efficiency. Currently, steam sterilizers and high-pressure sterilizers are the mainstream equipment for jam sterilization.

[0003] Existing jam sterilization equipment has problems in practical applications, such as fixed heat source outlet positions, uneven material placement, and poor adaptability. Specifically, the heat source outlets of traditional jam sterilization equipment are steam nozzles or heat conduction holes, which are mostly fixed in layout, either concentrated on the side wall or top of the pot, or evenly distributed in specific positions on fixed shelves. The spray direction and coverage cannot be adjusted according to the actual placement of the material. In actual production, due to placement deviations of jam trays, differences in the amount of material filled in different trays (e.g., some trays are full while others are only half full), and thickness differences in jam within the same tray caused by uneven pouring, the distribution of material in the sterilization space becomes significantly uneven. Fixed heat source outlets cannot specifically cover areas with dense material, nor can they avoid areas with sparse or empty material. This results in a mismatch between heat source distribution and material distribution. Where material is thick and heavy, the heat source cannot penetrate sufficiently due to the inability to focus its supply, leading to incomplete sterilization of microorganisms and a risk of spoilage. Conversely, where material is sparse or absent, the heat source is over-supplied, resulting in energy waste and the potential for surrounding material to scorch or lose flavor due to localized overheating.

[0004] Furthermore, with a fixed heat source outlet and a fixed structure, traditional equipment often uses a tray rack structure with a fixed layer spacing, which further exacerbates the problem of uneven sterilization. When there are differences in the weight and thickness of the jam in the tray, the heat source cannot be distributed as needed, and the heat penetration of the heavy-load layer is difficult; while the light-load layer suffers from excessive heat, resulting in a large loss of heat-sensitive components such as vitamins and fruit aroma. Manually adjusting the tray spacing or steam flow is inefficient, has large errors, and is difficult to adapt to production needs.

[0005] Furthermore, the pot body inside the existing high-temperature sterilization pot is under high pressure. The pot lid unlocking of traditional equipment is mostly a single operation step, which requires manual operation to release pressure. If the operator makes a mistake and opens the lid without performing the pressure release step, it can easily cause steam explosion or high-temperature material splashing accidents, which pose safety hazards. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a jam sterilization device and method to solve the above-mentioned problems. The heat source acts directly on the jam material through the densely distributed air holes on the top side of the tray, achieving targeted and precise heating. Compared with traditional equipment that heats the whole or uses fixed nozzles, it can shorten the heat conduction distance. The conductivity of the through holes in each tray is determined by the weight of the corresponding layer of material, realizing independent adjustment of the heat source supply for each layer. Trays with different material filling amounts can obtain corresponding heat doses, improving the sterilization effect, as detailed below.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: The present invention provides a jam sterilization device, including a pot body and a sterilization platform. The sterilization platform can be detachably installed inside the pot body. Support pipes are vertically fixed at the four corners of the top side of the sterilization platform. Multiple shaft pipes are longitudinally connected between two support pipes on the same side. Several brackets are horizontally connected between two shaft pipes of equal height. Several brackets of equal height are arranged longitudinally and cooperate to form a support frame for supporting the jam tray. The shaft tube and the support tube are rotatably coupled. The bracket includes a support tube and two piston tubes. The two piston tubes are respectively located at both ends of the support tube, and the support tube and the piston tubes are connected by a flexible tube. The piston tube penetrates the side wall of the shaft tube. A port plug is fixed at the outer end of the piston tube, and a through hole is penetrated through the side wall of the piston tube on the outer side of the shaft tube. A spring is sleeved on the outer side of the piston tube. The spring presses against the port plug to keep the through hole out of the shaft tube. When no jam tray is placed on the top side of the bracket, the through hole is kept out of communication with the inner cavity of the shaft tube. The top side of the support tube is densely covered with air holes.

[0008] Preferably, the through hole has an oblong shape, and the length direction of the through hole is parallel to the axis of the piston tube, and the compression stroke of the spring is greater than the length of the through hole.

[0009] Preferably, a sealing sleeve is provided on the outer side of the shaft tube corresponding to the piston tube, the piston tube passes through the sealing sleeve and slides and seals with the inner wall of the sealing sleeve, the outer port of the sealing sleeve expands outward to form a retaining edge, and the end of the spring abuts against the outer side of the retaining edge.

[0010] Preferably, the hose is a corrugated hose or a rubber hose with an internal steel wire reinforcement layer. A rotating frame is provided on the outside of the hose. The rotating frame includes two sets of clamps that are respectively fitted onto the outer wall of the tube holder and the piston tube. A rotating arm is connected between the two sets of clamps. The rotation center of the rotating arm coincides with the center of the hose.

[0011] Preferably, a rubber ring is fixed to the outside of the support tube to accommodate the end of the shaft tube, and the support tube supports the shaft tube to rotate in a sealed manner through the rubber ring.

[0012] Preferably, a combined pipe is connected to the outside of the support pipe behind the sterilization station, and a pot cover and a tail cover are respectively provided at the front and rear ends of the pot body. A self-sealing pipe that can be detachably connected to the combined pipe is provided on the tail cover, and a heat source pipe is connected to one end of the self-sealing pipe that extends out of the tail cover.

[0013] Preferably, the combined pipe includes a connecting section of two supporting pipes, with a combined section extending rearward from the middle of the connecting section. The combined section is a circular pipe structure. The self-sealing pipe includes a large-diameter section fixed to the tail pipe. A conical section and a small-diameter section are sequentially connected to the front side of the large-diameter section. The combined section passes through and connects to the small-diameter section. A fixing frame is provided on the inner wall of the connection between the conical section and the small-diameter section. A connecting rod is slidably inserted through the fixing frame. One end of the connecting rod is fixed with a movable frame that abuts against the port of the combined section. A compression spring is sleeved on the outside of the connecting rod to keep the movable frame pressed against the combined section outward. The other end of the connecting rod is fixed with a cap that can press against and close the conical section. The diameter of the cap is smaller than the inner diameter of the large-diameter section. The cap serves as an automatic opening and closing structure for the heat source channel formed by the self-sealing pipe and the combined pipe.

[0014] Preferably, corner plates are fixed on both sides of the pot body, and a guide rail is fixed on the top side of the corner plates. A guide slider that slides longitudinally with the guide rail is provided on the bottom side of the sterilization platform. A locking component for locking the pot lid is provided on the outside of the pot body. When the pot lid is closed, the pot lid presses backward against the sterilization platform to keep the combined section of the combined tube pressed against the movable frame inward. Simultaneously, the compression spring is compressed, and the connecting rod pushes the lid away from the conical section to open the heat source channel.

[0015] Preferably, the outer side of the pot body is provided with a rotating seat to support the opening and closing of the pot lid, and the bottom side of the pot body is provided with a frame. The pot lid has a locking block protruding outward on the side near the locking component. The outer end of the locking block is vertically connected to a locking post. The locking component includes a constraint frame rotatably connected to the outer side of the pot body. The inner side of the constraint frame is provided with a receiving groove for accommodating the locking block and locking the locking post. The receiving groove includes a snap-fit ​​section and a separation section that form a T-shaped through groove. The side of the constraint frame near the separation section is threaded with a push rod that presses the locking block into the snap-fit ​​section. The outer end of the push rod is fixed with a handwheel.

[0016] The sterilization method of the jam sterilization equipment includes the following steps: a. Open the pot lid and pull the sterilization platform outwards. Use the guide rails to support the multiple shaft tubes and brackets as they detach from the pot body. Place the tray containing the jam material onto the multi-layered support frame composed of multiple shaft tubes. The weight of the jam and the tray presses down on the support frame, causing the support frame, which is placed on the material and acts as a support structure, to move downwards under pressure. During this process, as the support tubes move downwards, the piston tube slides through the outer shaft tubes. As the support tubes move downwards, the flexible hose at the connection between the support tubes and the piston tubes deforms to allow the support frame to change from a flat shape to a concave shape. b. Simultaneously, the piston tube drives the shaft tube to rotate under the support of the rubber ring, pulling the horizontal piston tube downwards to an inclined state. At the same time, the top of the piston tube moves towards the direction of extending into the sealing sleeve, and the spring compresses. The through hole of the piston tube gradually extends into the inner cavity of the shaft tube and connects, completing the conduction action between the piston tube and the shaft tube. The downward displacement distance of the support frame under pressure is proportional to the weight of the material placed on it. The through hole is an oblong hole extending along the axis of the piston tube in the length direction. That is, the heavier the material placed on the support frame, the longer the through hole extends into the shaft hole, which means that the degree of connection between this layer of support frame and the outer shaft tube is higher, and the faster the heat source is introduced into this layer of support frame. c. Adapt the concave depth of the tray and the heat source introduction speed to the amount of material being carried, and automatically adjust the concave depth of the tray according to the amount of material placed, thereby automatically adjusting the spacing between adjacent trays. This eliminates the need for manual control of the amount of material placed in multiple trays, and automatically adjusts the tray height and changes the heat source supply according to the amount of material placed on trays of different heights. d. After closing the pot lid, the pot lid presses the sterilization platform backward, which in turn pushes the combined section of the combined pipe backward to push the movable frame, and simultaneously compresses the compression spring to push the cap at the rear end of the connecting rod away from the cone section, releasing the sealing state of the cap on the inner cavity of the self-sealing pipe. The support pipe is automatically connected to the external heat source pipeline along the combined pipe and the self-sealing pipe. The external high-temperature steam enters the bracket along the support pipe and the shaft pipe, and enters several tubes supporting the material through the through holes of the bracket. The material is precisely sterilized along the air holes on the top side of the tube. Similarly, after opening the pot lid, the compression spring pushes the movable frame back to its original position, the cap is pressed against the cone section, and the heat source pipeline is automatically disconnected. e. Specifically, when the pot lid needs to be opened, turn the handwheel to rotate the push rod. Utilizing the threaded engagement between the constraint frame and the push rod, the push rod is supported to move towards the direction of disengaging from the locking block. During the movement of the push rod from the locking section to the separating section of the receiving groove, there are two motion processes. When the push rod is in the locking section but has not yet entered the separating section, it is in the pressure relief and venting stage. At this time, the push rod, as a limiting structure, can still restrict the locking block from moving to the separating section. That is to say, in this state, the locking rod cannot disengage from the locking section along the separating section, so the pot lid cannot be fully opened during this pressure relief and venting stage. Only a gap can be opened on the side of the locking component, along which pressure is relieved and vented. The push rod acts as a safety structure to prevent the internal high pressure from forcing the pot lid open at the moment of opening. When the push rod rotates to disengage from the locking section and enter the separating section, the locking block can move into the separating section along the exposed locking section. Since the separating section allows the locking rod to disengage from the constraint frame, it is in the unlocking stage. The constraint frame is flipped outward to disengage the locking rod, forcibly completing the pressure relief and unlocking actions in sequence.

[0017] The beneficial effects are as follows: 1. This invention uses a support structure consisting of a support tube, a piston tube, and a spring. When the jam tray is placed, the weight of the material presses down on the support tube, causing the piston tube to slide inward along the shaft tube. This allows the through hole to gradually extend into the inner cavity of the shaft tube to conduct the heat source channel. This achieves a corresponding match between the weight of the material, the length of the through hole, and the amount of heat source supplied. That is, the heavier the material and the fuller the tray, the longer the through hole extends and the faster the heat source is introduced. Compared with the defects of traditional equipment where the heat source outlet is fixed and cannot adapt to uneven material distribution, this invention can avoid the problems of incomplete sterilization of multiple material layers and overheating of fewer material layers.

[0018] 2. The angle and spacing of the support frame can be adjusted automatically. When the piston tube slides, it drives the shaft tube to rotate under the support of the rubber ring, causing the horizontal support frame to sink downward to form a groove-shaped support frame. This not only adapts to the weight of the material to achieve stable support, but also automatically adjusts the spacing between adjacent support frames. The heavier the material, the deeper the support frame sinks and the larger the spacing. It can adapt to pallets with different filling amounts without manual intervention, making it more convenient to use.

[0019] 3. The heat source acts directly on the jam material through the densely distributed air holes on the top side of the tray, achieving targeted and precise heating. Compared with traditional equipment that heats the whole or uses fixed nozzles, it can shorten the heat conduction distance. At the same time, the conductivity of the through holes in each layer of the tray is determined by the weight of the corresponding layer of material, realizing independent adjustment of the heat source supply for each layer. In the same batch, trays with different material filling amounts can obtain corresponding heat doses, improving the sterilization effect.

[0020] 4. The guide rail of the inner corner plate of the pot works with the guide slider on the bottom side of the sterilization table to pull the sterilization table out or push it into the pot. Material loading and unloading does not require layer-by-layer operation, the processing time of a single batch is shorter, and the labor intensity is reduced.

[0021] 5. The self-sealing structure is achieved through the cooperation of the combined pipe and the self-sealing pipe. When the pot lid is closed, the pot lid presses against the sterilization platform and pushes the combined section to open the movable frame, and the lid is separated from the conical section to conduct the heat source channel. After the pot lid is opened, the pressure spring resets and pushes the lid to close the conical section, automatically disconnecting the heat source. There is no need to manually control the valve, realizing automatic control of opening the lid to cut off the heat and closing the lid to turn on the heat.

[0022] 6. The constraint frame of the locking component is set with a T-shaped receiving groove. When opening the pot lid, the handwheel must be turned first to move the push rod from the locking section to the separating section. During this stage, the pot lid can only be opened through one pressure relief gap to complete the pressure relief inside the pot. After the push rod is fully inserted into the separating section, the locking block can be moved into the separating section to unlock. This forces the pressure relief and unlocking to be completed in sequence, avoiding steam explosions or material splashing accidents caused by opening the lid without pressure relief.

[0023] 7. After the cover is tightly pressed against the cone section under the action of the compression spring, it can not only automatically close the heat source channel during the opening process, but also prevent the condensate or material residue in the pot from flowing back into the heat source pipeline, avoid pipeline blockage or pollution, and ensure the long-term stable operation of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a front view structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a structural breakdown diagram of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a partial structural breakdown diagram of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the bracket of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a front view of the bracket of the present invention in its idle state; Figure 7 This is a front view structural diagram of the bracket of the present invention under load-bearing conditions; Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of another aspect of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the pot body of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a structural breakdown diagram of the self-sealing tube of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the self-sealing tube and the combined tube of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a structural breakdown diagram of the locking component of the present invention; Figure 13 This is a structural breakdown diagram of the heat source pipeline of the present invention; Figure 14 This is a front view structural diagram of the present invention in the closed state; Figure 15 This is a top view of the structure of the present invention in the closed state; Figure 16 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention in the closed state; Figure 17 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the invention in the closed state from another direction.

[0026] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows: 1. Pot body; 101. Angle plate; 102. Guide rail; 103. Rotating seat; 104. Frame; 2. Sterilization table; 201. Guide slider; 3. Support tube; 301. Rubber ring; 4. Shaft tube; 401. Sealing sleeve; 402. Edge retainer; 5. Bracket; 501. Support tube; 501a. Air hole; 502. Piston tube; 503. Hose; 504. Port plug; 505. Spring; 506. Through hole; 507. Rotating frame; 6. Combined tube; 601. Connecting section; 602. Combined section; 7. Tail cover; 701. Mounting bolt; 8. 801. Self-sealing pipe; 802. Large diameter section; 803. Small diameter section; 804. Conical section; 805. Connecting rod; 806. Compression spring; 807. Fixing frame; 808. Cover; 809. Movable frame; 9000. Locking assembly; 901. Constraint frame; 902. Receiving groove; 902a. Snap-fit ​​section; 902b. Separation section; 903. Top rod; 904. Handwheel; 10. Pot lid; 10a. Locking block; 10b. Locking post; 10c. Handle; 11. Heat source pipeline; 11a. Tee pipe; 11b. Pump set; 12. Manhole; 12a. Cover plate. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0028] It should be noted that all directional and positional terms used in this invention, such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," "outer," "top," "lower," "lateral," "longitudinal," and "center," are only used to explain the relative positional relationships and connections between components in a specific state (as shown in the accompanying drawings). They are merely for the convenience of describing the invention and do not require the invention to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated.

[0029] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0030] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0031] See Figures 1-17 As shown, the present invention provides a jam sterilization device, including a pot body 1 and a sterilization platform 2. The sterilization platform 2 can be detachably installed inside the pot body 1. Support pipes 3 are vertically fixed at the four corners of the top side of the sterilization platform 2. Multiple shaft pipes 4 are longitudinally connected between two support pipes 3 on the same side. Several brackets 5 are horizontally connected between two shaft pipes 4 of equal height. Several brackets 5 of equal height are arranged longitudinally and cooperate to form a support frame for supporting jam trays, thereby forming a multi-layer independent material support space. The heat source is distributed accordingly through the layered structure. At the same time, the multi-layer design can increase the material capacity of a single sterilization, adapting to the needs of large-scale production. The shaft tube 4 and the support tube 3 are rotatably coupled. The bracket 5 includes a support tube 501 and two piston tubes 502. The two piston tubes 502 are respectively located at both ends of the support tube 501, and the support tube 501 and the piston tubes 502 are connected by a flexible hose 503. The piston tubes 502 penetrate the side wall of the shaft tube 4. A port plug 504 is fixed to the outer end of the piston tube 502, and a through hole 506 penetrates the side wall of the piston tube 502 on the outside of the shaft tube 4 to serve as a communication channel between the piston tube 502 and the inner cavity of the shaft tube 4. The flow rate of the heat source into the bracket 5 is controlled by the conductivity of the through hole 506 to achieve on-demand heating. A spring 505 is fitted and presses against the port plug 504 to keep the through hole 506 out of the shaft tube 4. When no jam tray is placed on the top side of the bracket 5, the through hole 506 and the inner cavity of the shaft tube 4 are kept in a non-communicating state. The top side of the support tube 501 is densely covered with air holes 501a. In this way, when the heat source enters the support tube 501 through the piston tube 502 and the hose 503, it can be evenly sprayed to the bottom and sides of the jam tray through the air holes 501a to achieve precise heating and avoid the problems of local overheating or heating blind spots that exist in traditional fixed nozzle heating. At the same time, the heat interruption design when no material is placed can reduce ineffective energy consumption.

[0032] As an optional implementation, the through hole 506 has an oblong shape, and the length direction of the through hole 506 is parallel to the axis of the piston tube 502. The compression stroke of the spring 505 is greater than the length of the through hole 506. With this configuration, the through hole 506 can be gradually adjusted to be completely closed, partially open, and fully open as the material weight changes, by adapting the oblong shape to the compression stroke of the spring 505. This also avoids the through hole 506 being limited in length due to insufficient compression of the spring 505, which would not meet the heat source requirements of the heavy-load material. At the same time, the length-to-diameter ratio design of the oblong shape can accurately control the adjustment accuracy of the heat source flow rate, so that the heat source supply of each layer of bracket 5 forms a linear matching relationship with the material weight. This can effectively solve the defects of the traditional equipment with fixed heat source flow rate and inability to adapt to material load differences, and improve the consistency of sterilization temperature of the same batch of materials. A sealing sleeve 401 is provided on the outside of the shaft tube 4 corresponding to the piston tube 502. The piston tube 502 passes through the sealing sleeve 401 and slides and seals with the inner wall of the sealing sleeve 401. This ensures that when the piston tube 502 slides along the shaft tube 4, the heat source inside the shaft tube 4 will not leak from the gap between the two, avoiding energy waste and local temperature fluctuations caused by leakage. The outer port of the sealing sleeve 401 expands outward to form a retaining edge 402. The end of the spring 505 abuts against the outside of the retaining edge 402 to provide a stable support base structure for the spring 505. This ensures that the spring 505 can always apply an outward elastic force to the piston tube 502, so that the through hole 506 can stably detach from the shaft tube 4 when no material is placed. At the same time, the retaining edge 402 can limit the sliding stroke of the piston tube 502, preventing the piston tube 502 from detaching from the sealing sleeve 401 due to excessive sliding, and ensuring the integrity of the sealing structure. With this setting, the piston tube 502 can achieve the dual functions of sliding and sealing, which can meet the needs of dynamic adjustment of the heat source channel and prevent heat source leakage from affecting sterilization efficiency and safety. The flexible hose 503 is either a corrugated pipe or a rubber hose with an internal steel wire reinforcement layer, preferably a rubber hose with an internal steel wire reinforcement layer. This is because the internal steel wire reinforcement layer provides both good flexibility and structural strength. It can bend and deform according to the angle of the bracket 5 to meet the rotation requirements between the bracket 501 and the piston tube 502, and it can withstand pressure and temperature changes during heat source transmission, preventing pipe rupture or deformation after long-term use. Simultaneously, the steel wire reinforcement layer prevents the flexible hose 503 from becoming wrinkled and blocked due to excessive bending, ensuring the unobstructed flow of heat source. A rotating bracket 507 is provided on the outside of the flexible hose 503. 07 includes two sets of clamps respectively fitted onto the outer walls of the support tube 501 and the piston tube 502. A rotating arm is connected between the two sets of clamps. The rotation center of the rotating arm coincides with the center of the hose 503. With this configuration, the rotating frame 507 can support the relative rotation of the support tube 501 and the piston tube 502, preventing the hose 503 from excessively twisting due to unrestrained rotation, and further protecting the structural integrity of the hose 503. At the same time, the clamp design of the rotating frame 507 can enhance the connection stability between the hose 503 and the support tube 501 and the piston tube 502, prevent the hose 503 from falling off due to excessive heat source pressure, and ensure the continuity and reliability of heat source transmission. A rubber ring 301 is fixed on the outside of the support tube 3 to accommodate the end of the shaft tube 4. The support tube 3 supports the shaft tube 4 to rotate in a sealed manner through the rubber ring 301. This arrangement facilitates the dual functions of sealing and rotation between the shaft tube 4 and the support tube 3. Specifically, the elastic material of the rubber ring 301 can fit tightly against the outer wall of the shaft tube 4 to prevent heat from leaking from the gap between the two. At the same time, the rubber ring 301 can reduce the resistance when the shaft tube 4 rotates, ensuring that the shaft tube 4 can rotate smoothly with the sliding of the piston tube 502, avoiding wear of parts due to excessive friction, and extending the service life of the equipment. A combination pipe 6 is connected to the outer side of the support pipe 3 behind the sterilization station 2. A pot cover 10 and a tail cover 7 are respectively installed at the front and rear ends of the pot body 1. A self-sealing pipe 8, detachably connected to the combination pipe 6, is installed on the tail cover 7. One end of the self-sealing pipe 8 extends out of the tail cover 7 and is connected to a heat source pipe 11. The heat source pipe 11 includes a tee pipe 11a connected to the self-sealing pipe 8, and one end of the tee pipe 11a is connected to a pump unit 11b supplying heat. Multiple sterilization pots can be connected in series through the heat source pipe 11 to form a multi-station sterilization system. When one sterilization pot is activated... During sterilization, the heat source is smoothly introduced into other unopened sterilization pots through the heat source pipeline 11. The top of the sterilization pot is equipped with a manhole 12, and the top opening of the manhole 12 is equipped with a cover plate 12a, which provides an operating passage during equipment maintenance or internal cleaning. The sealing design of the cover plate 12a can ensure a high-pressure sealed environment inside the pot 1 during sterilization, preventing heat source leakage and external impurities from entering. At the same time, the detachable structure of the cover plate 12a makes it easy for operators to quickly open or close the manhole 12, improving the convenience of equipment maintenance. The combined pipe 6 includes a connecting section 601 of two supporting pipes 3. A combined section 602 is connected to the middle of the connecting section 601 and extends rearward. The combined section 602 is a circular pipe structure. The self-sealing pipe 8 includes a large-diameter section 801 fixed to the tail pipe. A tapered section 803 and a small-diameter section 802 are connected sequentially to the front of the large-diameter section 801. The combined section 602 passes through and connects to the small-diameter section 802. A fixing frame 805 is provided on the inner wall of the connection between the tapered section 803 and the small-diameter section 802. A connecting rod 804 slides through the fixing frame 805. One end of the connecting rod 804 is fixed. There is a movable frame 807 that abuts against the port of the combined section 602, and a compression spring 804a is sleeved on the outside of the connecting rod 804 to keep the movable frame 807 pressed against the combined section 602. The other end of the connecting rod 804 is fixed with a cover 806 that can press against the closed cone. The diameter of the cover 806 is smaller than the inner diameter of the large diameter section 801. The cover 806 serves as an automatic opening and closing structure for the heat source channel formed by the self-sealing pipe 8 and the combined pipe 6. Both the movable frame 807 and the fixed frame 805 are hollow structures to avoid obstructing the unobstructed state of the inner cavity channel of the self-sealing pipe 8.

[0033] Angle plates 101 are fixed on both sides inside the pot body 1. A guide rail 102 is fixed on the top side of the angle plate 101. A guide slider 201 that slides longitudinally with the guide rail 102 is provided on the bottom side of the sterilization platform 2. A locking component 9 for locking the pot lid 10 is provided on the outside of the pot body 1. When the pot lid 10 is closed, the pot lid 10 presses back against the sterilization platform 2 to keep the combined section 602 of the combined pipe 6 pressed against the movable frame 807 inward. The compression spring 804a is compressed simultaneously. The connecting rod 804 pushes the sealing cover 806 away from the cone section 803 to conduct the heat source channel. This achieves synchronous control of the pot lid 10 closing and the heat source conduction, eliminating the need for manual opening of the heat source valve and simplifying the operation process. At the same time, the compression-type conduction design can ensure the sealing of the connection between the combined pipe 6 and the self-sealing pipe 8, preventing heat source leakage at the channel connection and improving energy utilization. A rotating seat 103 is provided on the outer side of the pot body 1 to support the rotation and opening / closing of the pot lid 10, and a frame 104 is provided on the bottom side of the pot body 1. A locking block 10a protrudes outward from the side of the pot lid 10 near the locking component 9. A locking pin 10b is vertically connected to the outer end of the locking block 10a. The locking component 9 includes a constraint frame 901 rotatably connected to the outer side of the pot body 1. A receiving groove 902 is provided on the inner side of the constraint frame 901 to accommodate the locking block 10a and lock the locking pin 10b. The receiving groove 902 includes a snap-fit ​​section 902a and a separation section 902b that form a T-shaped through groove. A pressing locking block 10a extension is threadedly engaged on the side of the constraint frame 901 near the separation section 902b. The top rod 903 of the insert connector 902a has a handwheel 904 fixed to its outer end. Through the cooperation of the locking block 10a, locking post 10b and constraint frame 901, the lid 10 is securely locked, preventing the lid 10 from loosening due to high pressure inside the pot body 1 during sterilization. At the same time, the design of the receiving groove 902 and the top rod 903 forms a forced pressure relief and unlocking step. Simply turn the handwheel 904 to adjust the position of the top rod 903 to complete the pressure relief before unlocking, avoiding safety accidents caused by opening the lid without depressurization. The setting of the handwheel 904 improves the convenience of adjusting the top rod 903 and reduces the labor intensity of the operator.

[0034] A handle 10c is provided on the outside of the pot lid 10, and a mounting bolt 701 for fixing and connecting the pot body 1 is provided on the outside of the tail cover 7.

[0035] The sterilization method of the jam sterilization equipment includes the following steps: a. Open the pot lid 10 and pull the sterilization platform 2 outward. Using the guide rail 102, the sterilization platform 2 supports the multiple shaft tubes 4 and the bracket 5, allowing it to detach from the pot body 1. Place the tray containing the jam material onto the multi-layered support frame composed of the multiple shaft tubes 4. The weight of the jam and the tray presses down on the bracket 5, causing the support frame, which holds the material, to move downward under pressure (initially, the bracket 5 is horizontal; see [reference]). Figure 6 After the material is placed, bracket 5 is in a concave state, see Figure 7 During this process, as the support tube 501 moves downward and the piston tube 502 slides through the outer shaft tube 4, the flexible hose 503 at the connection between the support tube 501 and the piston tube 502 deforms to allow the support frame to change from a flat shape to a groove shape. b. Simultaneously, the piston tube 502 drives the shaft tube 4 to rotate under the support of the rubber ring 301, pulling the horizontal piston tube 502 downward to an inclined state. At the same time, the top of the piston tube 502 moves towards the direction of extending into the sealing sleeve 401, and the spring 505 is compressed. The through hole 506 of the piston tube 502 gradually extends into the inner cavity of the shaft tube 4 and connects, completing the conduction action between the piston tube 502 and the shaft tube 4. The downward displacement distance of the support frame under pressure is proportional to the weight of the material placed on it. The through hole 506 is an oblong hole extending along the axis of the piston tube 502 in the length direction. That is, the heavier the material placed on the support frame, the longer the through hole 506 extends into the shaft hole, which means that the degree of connection between this layer of support frame and the outer shaft tube 4 is higher, and the faster the heat source is introduced into this layer of support frame. c. Adapt the concave depth of the tray and the heat source introduction speed to the amount of material being carried, and automatically adjust the concave depth of the tray according to the amount of material placed, thereby automatically adjusting the spacing between adjacent trays. This eliminates the need for manual control of the amount of material placed in multiple trays, and automatically adjusts the tray height and changes the heat source supply according to the amount of material placed on trays of different heights. d. After closing the pot lid for 10 minutes (see...) Figure 14-17 The lid 10 presses the sterilization platform 2 backward, which in turn presses the combined section 602 of the combined pipe 6 to push the movable frame 807 backward, and simultaneously compresses the compression spring 804a to push the cap 806 at the rear end of the connecting rod 804 away from the cone section 803, thereby releasing the sealing state of the cap 806 on the inner cavity of the self-sealing pipe 8. The support pipe 3 is automatically connected to the external heat source pipe 11 along the combined pipe 6 and the self-sealing pipe 8. The external high-temperature steam enters the bracket 5 along the support pipe 3 and the shaft pipe 4, and enters several support tubes 501 that support the material through the through hole 506 of the bracket 5. The material is precisely sterilized along the air hole 501a on the top side of the support tube 501. Similarly, after the lid 10 is opened, the compression spring 804a pushes the movable frame 807 back to its original position, the cap 806 is pressed against the cone section 803, and the heat source pipe 11 is automatically disconnected. e. Specifically, when the pot lid 10 needs to be opened, the handwheel 904 is turned to drive the push rod 903 to rotate. Utilizing the threaded engagement between the constraint frame 901 and the push rod 903, the push rod 903 is supported to move in the direction of disengaging from the locking block 10a. During the movement of the push rod 903 from the engaging section 902a of the receiving groove 902 to the separating section 902b, there are two motion processes. When the push rod 903 is still in the engaging section 902a but has not yet entered the separating section 902b, it is in the depressurization and venting stage. At this time, the push rod 903, as a limiting structure, can still restrict the locking block 10a from moving to the separating section 902b. In other words, in this state, the locking rod cannot disengage along the separating section 902b. The locking section 902a is designed so that the lid 10 cannot be fully opened during the depressurization and venting phase. Only a gap near the locking component 9 can be opened to release pressure and vent gas. The push rod 903 serves as a safety structure to prevent the internal high pressure from pushing the lid 10 open at the moment of opening. When the push rod 903 rotates to disengage from the locking section 902a and enter the separation section 902b, the locking block 10a can move into the separation section 902b along the exposed locking section 902a. Since the separation section 902b allows the locking rod to disengage from the constraint frame 901, the constraint frame 901 is flipped outward to disengage the locking rod during the unlocking phase, forcibly completing the depressurization and unlocking actions in sequence.

[0036] By using the elastic support structure of the support tube 501, piston tube 502 and spring 505, when the jam tray is placed, the weight of the material presses down on the support tube 501, causing the piston tube 502 to slide inward along the shaft tube 4. This allows the through hole 506 to gradually extend into the inner cavity of the shaft tube 4 to conduct the heat source channel. This achieves a corresponding match between the weight of the material, the length of the through hole 506 and the amount of heat source supplied. That is, the heavier the material and the fuller the tray, the longer the through hole 506 extends, and the faster the heat source is introduced. Compared with the defects of traditional equipment with fixed heat source outlets and inability to adapt to uneven material distribution, this avoids the problems of incomplete sterilization of multiple material layers and overheating of fewer material layers.

[0037] The angle and spacing of the support frame can be adjusted automatically. When the piston tube 502 slides, it drives the shaft tube 4 to rotate under the support of the rubber ring 301, causing the horizontal support frame 5 to be recessed downward to form a groove-shaped support frame. This not only adapts to the weight of the material to achieve stable support, but also automatically adjusts the spacing between adjacent support frames. The heavier the material, the deeper the support frame is recessed and the larger the spacing. It can adapt to pallets with different filling amounts without manual intervention, making it more convenient to use.

[0038] The heat source acts directly on the jam material through the densely distributed air holes 501a on the top side of the tray 501, achieving targeted and precise heating. Compared with traditional equipment that heats the whole or uses fixed nozzles, it can shorten the heat conduction distance. At the same time, the conductivity of the through holes 506 in each layer of the tray 5 is determined by the weight of the corresponding layer of material, realizing independent adjustment of the heat source supply for each layer. In the same batch, trays with different material filling amounts can obtain corresponding heat doses, improving the sterilization effect.

[0039] The guide rail 102 of the inner corner plate 101 of the pot body 1 cooperates with the guide slider 201 on the bottom side of the sterilization table 2, so that the sterilization table 2 can be pulled out or pushed into the pot body 1 as a whole. Material loading and unloading does not require layer-by-layer operation, the processing time of a single batch is shorter, and the labor intensity is reduced.

[0040] The self-sealing structure is achieved through the cooperation of the combined pipe 6 and the self-sealing pipe 8. When the pot lid 10 is closed, the pot lid 10 presses against the sterilization table 2, pushing the combined section 602 to open the movable frame 807, and the sealing lid 806 disengages from the conical section 803 to conduct the heat source channel. After the pot lid 10 is opened, the compression spring 804a resets and pushes the sealing lid 806 to close the conical section 803, automatically disconnecting the heat source. There is no need to manually control the valve, realizing automatic control of opening the lid to cut off the heat and closing the lid to allow the heat to pass through.

[0041] The constraint frame 901 of the locking component 9 is equipped with a T-shaped receiving groove 902. When opening the pot lid 10, the handwheel 904 must be turned first to move the push rod 903 from the locking section 902a to the separating section 902b. During this stage, the pot lid 10 can only open one pressure relief gap to complete the pressure relief inside the pot. After the push rod 903 has fully entered the separating section 902b, the locking block 10a can be moved into the separating section 902b to unlock, thus forcibly completing the pressure relief and unlocking in sequence, avoiding steam explosions or material splashing accidents caused by opening the lid without pressure relief.

[0042] After the cover 806 is tightly pressed against the cone section 803 under the action of the compression spring 804a, it can not only automatically close the heat source channel during the opening process, but also prevent the condensate or material residue in the pot from flowing back to the heat source pipeline 11, avoid pipeline blockage or pollution, and ensure the long-term stable operation of the equipment.

[0043] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A sterilization apparatus for jam, characterized by: Including the pot body (1) and the sterilization platform (2), the sterilization platform (2) can be separated and arranged in the pot body (1), the top side of the sterilization platform (2) is vertically fixed with the support pipe (3) in four corners, and the two support pipes (3) on the same side are longitudinally communicated with a plurality of shaft pipes (4), and the two shaft pipes (4) of the same height are transversely connected with a plurality of brackets (5), and the plurality of brackets (5) of the same height are longitudinally arranged and cooperatively composed of the supporting frame of the jam tray; The shaft pipe (4) is rotatably connected with the support pipe (3), the bracket (5) comprises a bracket pipe (501) and two piston pipes (502), the two piston pipes (502) are arranged at both ends of the bracket pipe (501), and the bracket pipe (501) and the piston pipe (502) are communicated through a hose (503), the piston pipe (502) penetrates the side wall of the shaft pipe (4), the outer end of the piston pipe (502) is fixed with a port plug (504), and the side wall of the piston pipe (502) outside the shaft pipe (4) penetrates a through hole (506), the piston pipe (502) is sleeved with a spring (505) outside, the spring (505) outwardly abuts against the port plug (504) to keep the through hole (506) from being out of the shaft pipe (4), when the bracket (5) is not placed with the jam tray, the through hole (506) and the inner cavity of the shaft pipe (4) are not communicated, and the top side of the bracket pipe (501) is densely provided with air holes (501a).

2. The apparatus for sterilizing jam according to claim 1, wherein: The through hole (506) is a waist-shaped hole structure, and the length direction of the through hole (506) is parallel to the axis direction of the piston pipe (502), and the compression stroke of the spring (505) is greater than the length of the through hole (506).

3. The apparatus for sterilizing jam according to claim 2, wherein: The shaft pipe (4) is provided with a sealing sleeve (401) outside the piston pipe (502), the piston pipe (502) penetrates the sealing sleeve (401) and is in sliding sealing cooperation with the inner wall of the sealing sleeve (401), the outer end of the sealing sleeve (401) is expanded to form a stop edge (402), and the end of the spring (505) abuts against the outer side of the stop edge (402).

4. The apparatus for sterilizing jam according to claim 3, wherein: The hose (503) is a corrugated pipe or a rubber pipe with an embedded steel wire reinforcing layer, a rotating frame (507) is arranged outside the hose (503), the rotating frame (507) comprises two groups of clamps clamped on the outer walls of the bracket pipe (501) and the piston pipe (502), a rotating arm is connected between the two groups of clamps, and the rotating center of the rotating arm coincides with the center of the hose (503).

5. The apparatus for sterilizing jam according to claim 4, wherein: The support pipe (3) is fixed with a rubber ring (301) outside, the end of the shaft pipe (4) penetrates the rubber ring (301), and the support pipe (3) supports the shaft pipe (4) for sealing rotation through the rubber ring (301).

6. The apparatus for sterilizing jam according to claim 5, wherein: The outside of the support pipe (3) behind the sterilization platform (2) is communicated with a combination pipe (6), the front and rear ends of the pot body (1) are respectively provided with a pot cover (10) and a tail cover (7), the tail cover (7) is provided with a self-sealing pipe (8) detachably connected with the combination pipe (6), and one end of the self-sealing pipe (8) penetrating out of the tail cover (7) is communicated with a heat source pipe (11).

7. The apparatus for sterilizing jam according to claim 6, wherein: The combination pipe (6) comprises two connecting sections (601) of the support pipes (3), the middle part of the connecting section (601) is communicated backward with a combination section (602), the combination section (602) is a circular pipe structure, the self-sealing pipe (8) comprises a large-diameter section (801) fixed on the tail pipe, the front side of the large-diameter section (801) is sequentially communicated with a tapered cylinder section (803) and a small-diameter section (802), the combination section (602) penetrates and communicates with the small-diameter section (802), the inner wall of the connection part of the tapered cylinder section (803) and the small-diameter section (802) is provided with a fixing frame (805), the fixing frame (805) is slidably provided with a connecting rod (804), one end of the connecting rod (804) is fixed with a movable frame (807) abutting to the port of the combination section (602), the outer side of the connecting rod (804) is sleeved with a compression spring (804a) keeping the movable frame (807) outward abutting to the combination section (602), the other end of the connecting rod (804) is fixed with a cover (806) capable of abutting to the closed tapered cylinder, and the diameter of the cover (806) is smaller than the inner diameter of the large-diameter section (801), the cover (806) serves as an automatic opening and closing structure of the heat source channel composed of the self-sealing pipe (8) and the combination pipe (6).

8. The apparatus for sterilizing jam according to claim 7, wherein: The pot body (1) is fixed with an angle plate (101) on both sides, the top side of the angle plate (101) is fixed with a guide rail (102), the bottom side of the sterilization table (2) is provided with a guide sliding block (201) slidingly matched with the guide rail (102), the outer side of the pot body (1) is provided with a locking assembly (9) locking the pot cover (10), in the closed state of the pot cover (10), the pot cover (10) is pressed backward to the sterilization table (2) to keep the combination section (602) of the combination pipe (6) abutting to the movable frame (807) inward, simultaneously compressing the compression spring (804a), and the connecting rod (804) pushes the cover (806) to separate from the tapered cylinder section (803) to guide the heat source channel.

9. The apparatus for sterilizing jam according to claim 8, wherein: The outer side of the pot body (1) is provided with a rotating seat (103) supporting the rotation opening and closing of the pot cover (10), and the bottom side of the pot body (1) is provided with a rack (104), the side of the pot cover (10) close to the locking assembly (9) protrudes outwardly with a locking block (10a), the outer end of the locking block (10a) is vertically connected with a locking column (10b), the locking assembly (9) comprises a constraint frame (901) rotationally connected to the outer side of the pot body (1), the inner side of the constraint frame (901) is provided with a containing groove (902) containing the locking block (10a) and locking the locking column (10b), the containing groove (902) comprises a clamping section (902a) and a separation section (902b) forming a T-shaped through groove, the side of the constraint frame (901) close to the separation section (902b) is threadedly matched with a top rod (903) compressing the locking block (10a) extending into the clamping section (902a), and the outer end of the top rod (903) is fixed with a hand wheel (904).

10. The sterilization method of the sterilization apparatus for jam according to claim 9, wherein The method comprises the following steps: a. The tray containing jam material is placed on the multi-layer tray frame composed of multi-layer shaft pipes (4), so that the tray and the weight of the jam drive the shaft pipe (501) to move downward and drive the piston pipe (502) to produce relative displacement in the shaft pipe (4), so that the tray frame automatically changes from a horizontal state to a concave state; b. The piston pipe (502) compresses the spring (505) during the downward movement of the shaft pipe (501) and gradually extends the through hole (506) provided therein into the inner cavity of the shaft pipe (4), so that the piston pipe (502) and the shaft pipe (4) form a variable conduction channel that changes with the degree of downward movement of the tray frame, so that the amount of heat introduced is automatically matched with the weight of the material carried by the tray frame. The heavier the material, the faster the heat source is introduced into the layer of the tray frame; c. Through the linkage of the concave degree of the tray frame, the heat source introduction speed and the amount of material carried, the height and the interlayer spacing of the multi-layer tray frame are automatically adjusted according to the amount of material placed in each layer. The opening degree of the variable conduction channel is proportional to the weight of the material; d. When the pot cover (10) is closed, the sterilization table (2) is pressed by the pot cover (10), the combination section (602) of the combined pipe (6) drives the movable frame (807) and compresses the compression spring (804a), so that the self-sealing pipe (8) automatically switches from the closed state to the state of being in communication with the external heat source pipe (11). The external high-temperature steam is introduced into the tray frame along the support pipe (3) and the shaft pipe (4), and the jam material is sterilized in multiple layers through the shaft pipe (501). When the pot cover (10) is opened, the compression spring (804a) pushes the movable frame (807) to reset, and the cover (806) is tightly fitted into the conical cylinder section (803). The self-sealing pipe (8) automatically disconnects the heat source pipe (11).

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