Discharging device for solid food raw materials

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of food processing equipment, in particular to a blanking device for solid food raw materials. Comprising a discharging device, the discharging device is provided with a feeding port and a discharging port, the discharging port faces downwards, and the feeding port is formed above the discharging port; the electromagnetic switch valve comprises a valve, a valve core and an electromagnetic mechanism for driving the valve core; the valve is arranged at the discharge hole; the electromagnetic mechanism comprises an electromagnet, a movable armature and a reset elastic piece which are fixedly arranged, the elastic movable end of the reset elastic piece is connected to the movable armature, and the movable armature and the electromagnet are oppositely arranged; and the electromagnetic switch valve opens the movable armature to impact the blanking device. And materials adhered to the wall of the device or near the valve port can be effectively shaken off through impact, so that blockage or bridging is prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food processing equipment technology, and in particular to a feeder for solid food raw materials. Background Technology

[0002] Adding solid food ingredients such as oatmeal, nuts, dried fruit, icing sugar, chocolate powder, or matcha powder to desserts like yogurt, ice cream, and milkshakes can significantly enhance the texture and flavor of the finished product, thereby better meeting users' personalized taste needs.

[0003] Existing technologies often employ a material silo combined with gravity flow for material feeding. However, different raw materials vary significantly in particle size, moisture content, viscosity, and flowability, making them prone to blockage, bridging, or adhesion near the discharge port. This results in poor feeding or inaccurate metering, making it difficult to achieve stable and precise quantitative control, which in turn affects product standardization and user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this section is to outline some aspects of embodiments of the invention and to briefly describe some preferred embodiments. Such simplifications or omissions should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0005] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention is proposed.

[0006] A feeder for solid food ingredients; It includes a feeding device, which has an inlet and an outlet, the outlet facing downwards, and the inlet being located above the outlet; It also includes an electromagnetic switching valve, which includes a valve, a valve core, and an electromagnetic mechanism for driving the valve core; The valve is located at the discharge port; The electromagnetic mechanism includes a fixed electromagnet, a movable armature, and a reset elastic element. The elastic movable end of the reset elastic element is connected to the movable armature, and the movable armature is disposed opposite to the electromagnet. The electromagnetic switch valve opens, causing the movable armature to strike the feeding device.

[0007] The above design, with its top-in, bottom-out structure, facilitates gravity-driven feeding of solid materials, and the electromagnetic switching valve effectively prevents leakage when not in operation. Utilizing electromagnetic force to drive the valve core's opening and closing provides a fast response, laying the foundation for precise feeding control. The movable armature impacts the feeding device, meaning that at the moment the valve core opens or closes, the movable armature mechanically impacts the feeding device. This impact effectively dislodges material adhering to the device wall or near the valve port, preventing blockage or bridging, and is particularly suitable for sticky or easily caking solid food ingredients. In some embodiments, the valve of the electromagnetic switching valve can be a combination of the feeding device's outlet and the valve core. The reset elastic element can be a spring.

[0008] Preferably, when the feeding device discharges material, the electromagnetic switch valve is connected to a periodic current, and the movable armature drives the valve core to move up and down periodically at a preset frequency and stroke, sprinkling solid material in the device. This transforms the continuous material flow into intermittent, pulsed sprinkling, a mode similar to vibratory feeding. For materials prone to bridging or with poor flowability, continuous micro-vibration helps maintain material flow and prevent blockage. By adjusting the frequency and duty cycle of the electrical signal, the amount of material discharged per unit time can be precisely controlled, achieving more accurate quantitative control.

[0009] Preferably, the valve core includes a plug and a vertical connecting rod, wherein the plug is a conical plug; the vertical connecting rod passes through the inner cavity of the feeding device from bottom to top and connects to the movable armature. The vertical connecting rod provides clear guidance, ensuring stable movement trajectory of the valve core and accurate opening and closing positions. The conical plug and conical valve port provide reliable sealing and good centering, and can also assist in the spillage of solid materials.

[0010] Preferably, an elastic lever is disposed above the feeding device, the elastic lever being partially fixed to the feeding device and at least one end suspended in the air; a movable armature is connected to a actuating block, the movable armature sliding up and down to drive the actuating block to actuate the elastic lever, generating continuous vibration to shake off solid material. Based on the original impact vibration, an elastic lever is added as a high-frequency vibration source. The continuous vibration of the actuated elastic lever can be more effectively transmitted to the inner wall of the feeding device and the material itself, shaking off solid material and significantly improving the anti-clogging capability.

[0011] Preferably, the elastic lever is made of 304 stainless steel; the actuating block is provided with a serrated surface for actuating the elastic lever. 304 stainless steel is not easily affected by magnetic force, and the serrated surface can generate a stronger, impactful vibration when actuating the smooth elastic lever, rather than smooth friction, thereby generating a more effective vibration waveform to shake off the material.

[0012] Preferably, the device also includes an isolation valve, which is disposed on the side wall or inside the feeding device; the isolation valve is an electromagnetic induction isolation valve; the isolation valve includes a valve plate that extends into the inner cavity of the feeding device, dividing the feeding device into upper and lower parts, the upper part being a feeding hopper and the lower part being a metering hopper. When the isolation valve is closed, a space of a defined volume is formed in the metering hopper below it. By controlling the amount of material added to the metering hopper, the metered quantity of each feeding can be achieved. This physically separates the continuous feeding process from the intermittent, controlled feeding process, avoiding the influence of feeding impact or hopper pressure on the feeding accuracy.

[0013] Preferably, the isolation valve is a split-type isolation valve, comprising two valve plates that can move in opposite directions, extending into and engaging from opposite side walls of the feeding device. The two valve plates engaging from the middle allows for cleaner cutting off of materials that may bridge or clump, and is less prone to jamming by solid materials compared to a single-sided open gate. The split-type isolation valve also moves more smoothly, contributing to improved reliability of its operation.

[0014] Preferably, the device also includes an interlock control module that controls the power supply circuits of the isolation valve and the solenoid valve. The interlock control module has two interlock energized contacts; the isolation valve is energized and connected to one contact, and the solenoid valve is energized and connected to the other contact. When the interlock control module supplies power to the solenoid valve to open it for discharging, it cuts off the power supply to the isolation valve to close it. Conversely, when the interlock control module supplies power to the isolation valve to open its valve plate for replenishing, it cuts off the power supply to the solenoid valve to close it. This design mandates two working phases for the feeding device: replenishment and discharge. During replenishment, the isolation valve is open, the solenoid valve is closed, and the metering hopper is connected to the feed hopper and filled with solid material. During discharge, the isolation valve is closed, the solenoid valve is open, and the metering hopper is connected to the discharge port and emptied. The interlock fundamentally prevents simultaneous inflow and outflow caused by the simultaneous opening of both valves, thus ensuring the accuracy of each discharge and avoiding functional malfunctions due to misoperation.

[0015] Preferably, the interlock control module is a single-pole double-throw switch or a circuit controller with interlock logic; when switching the power supply circuit of the two interlock energized contacts, a 3-5 second interval is set. This 3-5 second interval ensures that the other valve is opened only after the previous valve is completely closed and the material in the chamber is stable. This avoids quantitative errors caused by overlapping valve actions or unstable material.

[0016] Preferably, the feeding device is configured with an upper part and a lower part, which are detachably connected, and the valve core is a detachable valve core. This facilitates quick replacement of metering bins of different volumes, shapes, or materials and corresponding valves to adapt to different materials with significant differences in particle size and flowability, such as large nuts and fine powders.

[0017] Beneficial effects: Through multiple mechanical means—impact vibration of the movable armature, periodic opening and closing of the feed, and vibration of the elastic lever—the clogging problem of viscous and easily agglomerated materials is effectively solved. By introducing an isolation valve to form a quantitative hopper, and an interlocking control module, a reliable volumetric quantitative method is established. Detailed design, such as the action interval time, ensures the repeatability and accuracy of the quantitative measurement. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. 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. Wherein: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of one embodiment of a feeder for solid food ingredients provided by the present invention; Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a feeder for solid food ingredients provided by the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a feeder for solid food ingredients provided by the present invention.

[0019] In the diagram, 1 is the feeding device; 11 is the feed inlet; 12 is the discharge outlet; 2 is the valve core; 21 is the plug; 22 is the vertical connecting rod; 3 is the electromagnetic mechanism; 4 is the isolation valve; 41 is the valve plate; 5 is the metering bin; and 6 is the movable armature. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more readily understood, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the invention. However, the invention may also be practiced in other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0022] Secondly, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the schematic diagrams. When detailing the embodiments of the present invention, for ease of explanation, the cross-sectional views illustrating the device structure will be partially enlarged, not according to the usual scale. Furthermore, the schematic diagrams are merely examples and should not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In addition, actual fabrication should include three-dimensional spatial dimensions of length, width, and depth.

[0023] Furthermore, the term "one embodiment" or "embodiment" as used herein refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation of the invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" appearing in different places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a single embodiment or an embodiment selectively excluded from other embodiments. Example

[0024] Reference Figures 1-3 A feeder for solid food ingredients.

[0025] It includes a feeding device 1, which has an inlet 11 and an outlet 12, the outlet 12 facing downwards, and the inlet 11 being disposed above the outlet 12; It also includes an electromagnetic switching valve, which includes a valve, a valve core 2, and an electromagnetic mechanism 3 for driving the valve core 2; The valve is located at the discharge port 12; The electromagnetic mechanism 3 includes a fixed electromagnet, a movable armature 6, and a reset elastic element. The elastic movable end of the reset elastic element is connected to the movable armature 6, and the movable armature 6 is arranged opposite to the electromagnet. When the electromagnetic switch valve is opened, the movable armature 6 strikes the feeding device 1.

[0026] The above design, with its top-in, bottom-out structure, facilitates gravity-driven feeding of solid materials, and the electromagnetic switch valve effectively prevents material leakage when not in operation. The valve core 2 is driven by electromagnetic force, providing a fast response and laying the foundation for precise feeding control. The movable armature 6 impacts the feeding device 1, meaning that at the moment the valve core 2 opens or closes, the movable armature 6 mechanically impacts the feeding device 1. This impact effectively dislodges material adhering to the device wall or near the valve port, preventing blockage or bridging, and is particularly suitable for sticky or easily caking solid food ingredients. The valve of the electromagnetic switch valve can be the outlet 12 of the feeding device 1. The reset elastic element can be a spring.

[0027] Preferably, when the feeding device 1 discharges material, the electromagnetic switch valve is connected to a periodic current, and the movable armature 6 drives the valve core 2 to move up and down periodically at a preset frequency and stroke, sprinkling solid material in the device. This transforms the continuous material flow into intermittent, pulsed sprinkling, a mode similar to vibratory feeding. For materials prone to bridging or with poor flowability, continuous micro-vibration helps maintain material flow and prevent blockage. By adjusting the frequency and duty cycle of the electrical signal, the amount of material discharged per unit time can be precisely controlled, achieving more accurate quantitative control.

[0028] Preferably, the valve core 2 includes a plug 21 and a vertical connecting rod 22, wherein the plug 21 is a conical plug 21; the vertical connecting rod 22 passes through the inner cavity of the feeding device 1 from bottom to top and connects to the movable armature 6. The vertical connecting rod 22 provides clear guidance, ensuring stable movement trajectory of the valve core 2 and accurate opening and closing positions. The conical plug 21 provides reliable sealing and good centering with the conical valve port, and can also assist in the spillage of solid materials.

[0029] Preferably, an elastic lever is provided above the feeding device 1, the elastic lever is partially fixed to the feeding device 1, and at least one end is suspended; the movable armature 6 is connected to a actuating block, the movable armature 6 slides up and down to drive the actuating block to actuate the elastic lever to generate continuous vibration and shake off solid material. Based on the original impact vibration, an elastic lever is added as a high-frequency vibration source. The continuous vibration of the actuated elastic lever can be more effectively transmitted to the inner wall of the feeding device 1 and the material itself, shaking off solid material and significantly improving the anti-clogging capability.

[0030] Preferably, the elastic lever is made of 304 stainless steel; the actuating block is provided with a serrated surface for actuating the elastic lever. 304 stainless steel is not easily affected by magnetic force, and the serrated surface can generate a stronger, impactful vibration when actuating the smooth elastic lever, rather than smooth friction, thereby generating a more effective vibration waveform to shake off the material.

[0031] In use, solid food ingredients are added to the storage bin of the feeding device 1 through the inlet 11. When feeding is required, an electrical signal is sent to the electromagnetic mechanism 3 of the solenoid valve. The electromagnet is energized, generating magnetic force that overcomes the elastic force of the reset elastic element. The movable armature 6 drives the valve core 2 to extend downward, thereby opening the valve of the outlet 12. During the lifting process of the valve core 2, the end or a specific part of the movable armature 6 impacts the outer shell of the feeding device 1, generating a mechanical impact vibration, which helps to loosen any material that may be stuck near the outlet 12. The material falls from the outlet 12 under the action of gravity. The solenoid valve is periodically connected to the power supply. This causes the movable armature 6 and the valve core 2 to perform short-stroke reciprocating up-and-down movements at a preset frequency. This continuous, small-amplitude, high-frequency switching action, on the one hand, sends the material out in a shaking or spilling manner, which helps to maintain material flow and prevent bridging; on the other hand, the impact of the movable armature 6 with each opening and closing plays a continuous anti-clogging and material-clearing role. The feeding rate can be precisely adjusted by changing the pulse frequency and duty cycle.

[0032] The elastic lever and the actuating block, while the movable armature 6 moves up and down to drive the valve core 2, the actuating block connected to it periodically actuates the elastic lever fixed above the device. After the elastic lever is actuated, it generates high-frequency vibration, which is transmitted to the wall of the feeding device 1 through its fixed point, forming a continuous and active vibration on the material layer. This effectively prevents the adhesion and blockage of damp and sticky materials on the silo wall, ensuring smooth feeding. Example

[0033] Reference Figures 1-3 This is the second embodiment of the present invention, which is based on the previous embodiment.

[0034] Preferably, the device also includes an isolation valve 4, which is disposed on the side wall or inside the feeding device 1; the isolation valve 4 is an electromagnetic induction isolation valve 4; the isolation valve 4 includes a valve plate 41, which extends into the inner cavity of the feeding device 1 and divides the feeding device 1 into upper and lower parts, the upper part being a feeding hopper and the lower part being a metering hopper 5. When the isolation valve 4 is closed, a space of a defined volume can be formed in the metering hopper 5 below it. By controlling the amount of material added to the metering hopper 5, the metered quantity of each feeding can be achieved. This physically separates the continuous feeding process from the intermittent, controlled feeding process, avoiding the influence of feeding impact or hopper pressure on the feeding accuracy.

[0035] Preferably, the isolation valve 4 is a split-type isolation valve 4, which includes two valve plates 41 that can move in opposite directions, extending into and engaging from opposite side walls of the feeding device 1. The two valve plates 41 engage from the middle, which can more cleanly cut off materials that may bridge or clump, and is less prone to being jammed by solid materials compared to a single-sided open gate. The split-type isolation valve 4 moves more smoothly, which helps improve the reliability of its operation.

[0036] Preferably, the device further includes an interlock control module that controls the power supply circuit between the isolation valve 4 and the solenoid valve. The interlock control module has two interlock energized contacts; the isolation valve 4 is energized and connected to one contact, and the solenoid valve is energized and connected to the other contact. When the interlock control module supplies power to the solenoid valve to open it for material discharge, it cuts off the power supply to the isolation valve 4 to close it. Conversely, when the interlock control module supplies power to the isolation valve 4 to open its valve plate 41 for material replenishment, it cuts off the power supply to the solenoid valve to close it. This design mandates two operating phases for the feeding device 1: replenishment and discharge. During replenishment, the isolation valve 4 is open, the solenoid valve is closed, and the metering hopper 5 is connected to the feed hopper and filled with solid material. During discharge, the isolation valve 4 is closed, the solenoid valve is open, and the metering hopper 5 is connected to the discharge port 12 and emptied. Interlocking fundamentally prevents simultaneous inflow and outflow caused by the simultaneous opening of two valves, thus ensuring the accuracy of each material feed and avoiding functional malfunctions caused by misoperation.

[0037] Preferably, the interlock control module is a single-pole double-throw switch or a circuit controller with interlock logic; when switching the power supply circuit of the two interlock energized contacts, a 3-5 second interval is set. This 3-5 second interval ensures that the other valve is opened only after the previous valve is completely closed and the material in the chamber is stable. This avoids quantitative errors caused by overlapping valve actions or unstable material.

[0038] Preferably, the feeding device 1 is configured with an upper part and a lower part, which are detachably connected, and the valve core is a detachable valve core. This facilitates quick replacement of quantitative bins 5 with different volumes, shapes, or materials and corresponding valves to adapt to different materials with significant differences in particle size and flowability, such as large nuts and fine powders.

[0039] During use, the upper feed hopper of the feeding device 1 is pre-stored with sufficient solid raw materials. A complete working cycle consists of two interlocked stages: feeding and discharging, which are automatically controlled by the interlock control module. The interlock control module activates the isolation valve 4 while simultaneously deactivating the solenoid valve. The two valve plates 41 of the isolation valve 4 retract towards each other under electromagnetic force, opening the passage. At this time, material in the upper feed hopper flows into the lower metering hopper 5 under gravity until it fills the fixed space defined by the volume of the metering hopper 5. After replenishment, the interlock control module cuts off the power supply to the isolation valve 4. The valve plates 41 of the isolation valve 4 quickly extend and close under the action of their reset mechanism, cleanly and efficiently cutting off the material flow, tightly closing the passage, and physically isolating the metering hopper 5 from the feed hopper.

[0040] The interlock control module has a 3-5 second interval when switching. During this time, both valves are closed. This ensures that the isolation valve 4 is fully closed and that the material already filled in the metering bin 5 reaches a stable accumulation state after settling.

[0041] After the material feeding interval ends, the interlock control module switches the circuit to supply power to the solenoid valve while keeping the isolation valve 4 de-energized and closed. The solenoid valve opens, its valve core 2 extends downward, and the movable armature 6 strikes the feeding device 1, generating vibration. The precisely measured material in the metering bin 5 is discharged through the discharge port 12 under the assistance of gravity and possible vibration, completing one precise feeding cycle. Finally, the interlock control module can automatically or according to instructions switch back to the replenishment stage to start the next work cycle.

[0042] It is important to note that the constructions and arrangements of this application shown in several different exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative. Although only a few embodiments are described in detail in this disclosure, those who consult this disclosure will readily understand that many modifications are possible without substantially departing from the novelty and advantages of the subject matter described in this application. For example, variations in the size, dimensions, structure, shape, and proportions of various elements, as well as parameter values ​​such as temperature, pressure, installation arrangement, use of materials, color, orientation, etc. For instance, an element shown as integrally formed may be composed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be inverted or otherwise altered, and the nature or number or position of discrete elements may be changed or altered. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be changed or rearranged according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any "device plus function" clause is intended to cover the structure performing the function described herein, and not only structurally equivalent but also equivalent in structure. Other substitutions, modifications, alterations, and omissions may be made in the design, operation, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, but extends to various modifications that still fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0043] Furthermore, in order to provide a concise description of exemplary embodiments, not all features of actual embodiments, i.e., those features that are not relevant to the currently considered best mode for carrying out the invention, or those features that are not relevant to implementing the invention, may be omitted.

[0044] It should be understood that numerous specific implementation decisions can be made during the development of any practical implementation, such as in any engineering or design project. Such development efforts may be complex and time-consuming, but for those of ordinary skill in the art who benefit from this disclosure, the development effort will be a routine task in design, manufacturing, and production without requiring extensive experimentation.

[0045] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A feeder for solid food ingredients, characterized in that: The device comprises a feeding device with an inlet and an outlet, the outlet is downward, and the inlet is arranged above the outlet; The device also comprises an electromagnetic switch valve, which comprises a valve, a valve core and an electromagnetic mechanism driving the valve core; The valve is arranged at the outlet; The electromagnetic mechanism comprises a fixedly arranged electromagnet, a movable armature and a reset elastic member, the elastic active end of the reset elastic member is connected to the movable armature, and the movable armature is arranged opposite to the electromagnet; The movable armature of the electromagnetic switch valve impacts on the feeding device.

2. The solid food material dispenser according to claim 1, characterized by: When the feeding device discharges, the movable armature drives the valve core to move up and down periodically at a preset frequency and stroke, and the solid material in the device is shaken off.

3. The solid food material dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: The valve core comprises a plug and a vertical connecting rod, and the plug is a conical plug; The vertical connecting rod passes through the inner cavity of the feeding device from bottom to top and is connected to the movable armature.

4. The solid food material dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: An elastic tab is arranged above the feeding device, the elastic tab is partially fixed on the feeding device, and at least one end is suspended; The movable armature is connected to a driving block, and the driving block drives the elastic tab to shake off the solid material by driving the elastic tab to vibrate continuously when the movable armature slides up and down.

5. The solid food material dispenser according to claim 4, wherein: The elastic tab is made of 304 stainless steel; The driving block is provided with a sawtooth surface for driving the elastic tab.

6. The solid food stock dispenser of claim 1, wherein: The device also comprises a partition valve, which is arranged on the side wall or inside of the feeding device; The partition valve is an electromagnetic induction partition valve; The partition valve comprises a valve plate, which extends into the inner cavity of the feeding device to divide the feeding device into two parts, an upper part as a feeding bin and a lower part as a quantitative bin.

7. The solid food material dispenser according to claim 6, wherein: The partition valve is a double-leaf partition valve, which comprises two valve plates that can move towards each other and extend into and close from the opposite side walls of the feeding device.

8. The solid food material dispenser according to claim 6, wherein: The device also comprises an interlock control module, which controls the power supply circuit of the partition valve and the electromagnetic switch valve; The interlock control module has two interlocking power supply contacts, the partition valve is connected to one interlocking power supply contact, and the electromagnetic switch valve is connected to the other interlocking power supply contact; When the interlock control module supplies power to the electromagnetic switch valve to open the valve and discharge, it cuts off the power supply to the partition valve to close the valve; When the interlock control module supplies power to the partition valve to open the valve plate and replenish, it cuts off the power supply to the electromagnetic switch valve to close the valve.

9. The solid food material dispenser according to claim 8, wherein: The interlock control module is a single-throw double-pole switch or a circuit controller with interlocking logic; When switching the power supply circuit of the two interlocking power supply contacts, an action interval time of 3-5 seconds is arranged.

10. The solid food stock material dispenser according to claim 1, characterized by: The feeding device is arranged as an upper part and a lower part, the upper part and the lower part are detachably connected, and the valve core is arranged as a detachable valve core.

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