Ice cream core injection device

Abstract

The invention relates to an ice cream core injection device, and aims to solve the problems of inaccurate core injection, easy backflow, poor stability and the like of existing equipment. The device mainly comprises a portal frame, a lifting assembly, a guide assembly, a linkage assembly and a core injection assembly. The lifting air cylinders are arranged at the lower ends of the supporting legs and can integrally ascend and descend to be matched with a production line. The lifting assembly comprises a transition frame, an up-down moving frame, a connecting rod and a lifting air cylinder, and multi-layer stable linkage lifting is achieved through air cylinder driving. The four linkage assemblies are distributed in a rectangular shape, through cooperation of the swing arms, the kidney-shaped notches and the sliding blocks, the upper moving frame and the lower moving frame generate accurate displacement difference, and it is guaranteed that the injection pipe is accurately inserted into ice cream. The core injection assembly comprises a core injection pump body, a piston and an injection pipe and is matched with a double-one-way valve system, precise suction, storage and discharge of chocolate are achieved, and backflow and waste are completely eradicated. The guide assemblies are meshed through gears and racks to guarantee stable lifting of the device. The whole design realizes precise control of chocolate core injection depth and quantity, is adaptive to a high-speed production line, improves product quality and production efficiency, and has remarkable innovativeness and practicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ice cream production equipment technology, and in particular to a device for automatically completing chocolate filling on an ice cream production line. Background Technology

[0002] Chocolate filling is a key process in ice cream production. Existing filling equipment generally suffers from the following problems: (1) Inaccurate control of filling depth leads to irregular shapes of chocolate bars, affecting product quality. (2) Liquid chocolate is prone to backflow during filling, causing waste and equipment contamination. (3) Poor overall equipment stability makes it difficult to adapt to the needs of high-speed production lines. (4) Low precision in the fit between the filling components and the ice cream, making it impossible to ensure uniform filling volume for each ice cream.

[0003] Patent application CN200420063282.1 discloses a small-scale flavored ice cream machine. The machine includes a housing, an extrusion device, a refrigeration unit, and an ice-making tank. The machine improves the extrusion device by installing a rolling scraper and a stirring blade on a cross-shaped fixing frame. The rolling scraper can both rotate on its own axis and revolve around a central point, allowing low- to medium-grade raw materials to be stirred into a fine, white, high-grade mixture under the action of the stirring blade and the rolling scraper, thus producing high-quality extruded frozen desserts. The machine can also be equipped with a quick-freezing chamber, a filling tank, and a chocolate syrup tank, enabling the production of various types of extruded ice cream, including filled, crispy, and mixed-filling ice cream, to cater to different tastes.

[0004] However, the small-sized fancy ice cream machine described in the aforementioned patented technology cannot solve the defects of the existing technology, nor does it provide any technical inspiration for solving the existing problems. This invention aims to provide an efficient, precise, and stable ice cream filling device to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings of the existing technology. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an ice cream filling device to solve the problems mentioned in the background art above:

[0006] (1) How to ensure precise control of the depth and amount of chocolate filling so that the chocolate bars in each ice cream are regular in shape and have a consistent fullness.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0008] An ice cream filling device;

[0009] Includes a gantry frame, lifting components, several linkage components, and at least one set of core injection components;

[0010] The lifting assembly includes a transition frame, an upper moving frame, a lower moving frame, several connecting rods, and at least one lifting cylinder. The cylinder body of the lifting cylinder is fixedly connected to the gantry frame. The piston rod end of the lifting cylinder extends downward and is fixedly connected to the transition frame. The upper moving frame, the transition frame, and the lower moving frame are arranged in parallel from top to bottom. The upper end of the connecting rod is fixedly connected to the upper moving frame. The transition frame has several through holes corresponding to several connecting rods. The lower end of the connecting rod passes through the corresponding through hole of the transition frame and is fixedly connected to the lower moving frame.

[0011] The linkage component includes a swing arm, a first slider and a second slider. The near end of the swing arm is hinged to the gantry frame, and the far end of the swing arm extends towards the upward moving frame. A first waist-shaped groove is opened on the side wall of the far end of the swing arm. The first slider is set on the upper moving frame and the second slider is set on the transition frame. Both the first slider and the second slider can reciprocate along the first waist-shaped groove.

[0012] The filling assembly includes a filling pump body, a filling piston, and an injection tube. The filling pump body is fixedly connected to the transition frame. The filling pump body has a cavity with an opening at the lower end face. The upper part of the filling pump body has a feed port that communicates with an external chocolate jar. The filling piston extends into the filling pump body from the opening at the lower end face. The filling piston is fixedly connected to the lower moving frame. The upper end of the injection tube passes through the filling piston and communicates with the cavity. The lower end of the injection tube extends downward.

[0013] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows.

[0014] Furthermore, the linkage component also includes a mounting plate and at least one third slider. The upper movable frame has a second waist-shaped slot, the length direction of which is consistent with the length direction of the upper movable frame. The third slider and the first slider are respectively disposed on both sides of the mounting plate. The third slider can move freely along the second waist-shaped slot, and the first slider can move freely along the first waist-shaped slot of the swing arm.

[0015] Furthermore, it also includes a guide assembly, which includes a support shaft, two gears and two racks. The support shaft is mounted on the upper movable frame. The two gears correspond one-to-one with the two racks. The two gears are respectively mounted on the support shaft. The two racks are respectively vertically fixed to both sides of the gantry frame. The gears mesh with the corresponding racks.

[0016] Furthermore, a first check valve is provided at the inlet of the core injection pump body, and a second check valve is provided between the core injection piston and the injection pipe.

[0017] Furthermore, the core-injection piston includes a piston body and a split sleeve. A through groove is opened inside the piston body, and the split sleeve is fixedly connected in the through groove of the piston body. The piston body and the split sleeve form a valve body chamber. The inner hole of the piston body is connected to the cavity of the core-injection pump body, and the upper end of the injection pipe extends into the split sleeve and is connected to the valve body chamber.

[0018] The second check valve is arranged in the valve body cavity. The second check valve includes a return spring and a steel ball. One end of the return spring abuts against the lower cavity wall of the valve body cavity, and the other end of the return spring is fixedly connected to the steel ball. The steel ball can contact the edge of the lower port of the split sleeve.

[0019] Furthermore, the gantry frame has legs on both sides, and lifting cylinders are installed at the lower ends of the legs.

[0020] Furthermore, it includes several core injection components, all of which are arranged sequentially at intervals along the width direction of the gantry.

[0021] With this structure, the main body of the gantry is an inverted U-shaped gantry, with lifting cylinders installed at the lower ends of the two side legs. This allows for overall lifting and lowering to adapt to ice cream production lines of varying heights, ensuring flexible deployment and precise docking of the equipment within the production line. The lifting assembly drives the transition frame and two layers of moving frames to lift synchronously via lifting cylinders, providing a stable vertical motion platform for the core-filling assembly and ensuring the continuity and accuracy of the core-filling action.

[0022] The four sets of linkage components are arranged in a rectangular shape, and the clever combination of swing arm, waist-shaped slot and slider design ensures that the upper and lower moving frames maintain a precise displacement difference during the lifting process. This ensures that the injection tube of the filling component can be accurately inserted into the ice cream at the predetermined depth and smoothly pulled out, effectively avoiding the distortion of the chocolate bar shape.

[0023] The filling pump body of the filling assembly is connected to the transition frame, and the internal cavity is connected to the external chocolate jar. The filling piston, through a unique split structure and valve chamber design, combined with a double one-way valve system, achieves precise intake, storage and discharge of liquid chocolate, ensuring that the filling amount of each ice cream is uniform and consistent, and there is no material waste or equipment contamination during the filling process.

[0024] The guide assembly ensures the stability of the entire device during the lifting process, enabling it to adapt to the rhythm of high-speed production lines and improve production efficiency and product qualification rate.

[0025] The beneficial technical effects of this ice cream filling device are:

[0026] (1) By controlling the precise displacement of the linkage components and the precise suction and discharge design of the filling components, the precise control of the chocolate filling depth and amount is ensured, so that the chocolate bars in each ice cream are regular in shape and have consistent fullness, which greatly improves the product quality and stability.

[0027] (2) The coordinated operation of the lifting component and the guiding component ensures the stability and reliability of the device during high-speed operation, and can be seamlessly connected with modern ice cream production lines, significantly improving production efficiency and meeting the needs of large-scale production.

[0028] (3) The dual check valve system effectively prevents backflow and leakage of liquid chocolate during the filling process, which avoids material waste, reduces the difficulty of equipment cleaning and maintenance costs, and keeps the production environment clean and hygienic.

[0029] (4) The overall lifting gantry structure and adjustable linkage component design enable the device to adapt to ice cream products of different specifications and sizes as well as diverse production line layouts, with wide applicability and versatility, providing flexible process solutions for ice cream manufacturers. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ice cream filling device.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a right view of an embodiment of the ice cream filling device.

[0032] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Sectional view along AA.

[0033] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of part B.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the lifting assembly, linkage assembly, guide assembly, and filling assembly in an embodiment of the ice cream filling device (only one set of guide assemblies is shown in the figure).

[0035] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the lifting component in an embodiment of the ice cream filling device.

[0036] Explanation of the labels in the diagram:

[0037] Gantry frame-100; outrigger-110; lifting cylinder-120; transition frame-210; lifting cylinder-220; upper moving frame-230; second waist-shaped slot-231; lower moving frame-240; connecting rod-250; swing arm-310; first waist-shaped slot-311; first slider-320; second slider-330; third slider-340; mounting plate-350; core injection assembly-400; core injection pump body-410; cavity-411; feed port-412; core injection piston-420; piston body-421; split sleeve-422; valve body chamber-423; injection pipe-430; first one-way valve-440; steel ball-451; return spring-452; support shaft-510; gear-520; rack-530. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0039] The terms “vertical,” “horizontal,” “left,” “right,” and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the specification of this invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0041] Please see Figures 1 to 6 .

[0042] This ice cream filling device includes a gantry frame 100, a lifting assembly, a guide assembly, four sets of linkage assemblies, and a filling assembly 400 (to more clearly show the structure of this ice cream filling device, only one filling assembly 400 is shown in this embodiment).

[0043] The gantry frame 100 is generally in the shape of an inverted U-shape. The gantry frame 100 has legs 110 on both sides, and the lower end of the legs 110 is equipped with a lifting cylinder 120.

[0044] The lifting assembly includes a transition frame 210, an upper moving frame 230, a lower moving frame 240, multiple connecting rods 250, and two lifting cylinders 220. The cylinder body of the lifting cylinder 220 is fixedly connected to the gantry frame 100. The piston rod end of the lifting cylinder 220 extends downward and passes through the upper moving frame 230, which is fixedly connected to the transition frame 210. The lifting cylinder 220 controls the transition frame 210, the upper moving frame 230, and the lower moving frame 240 to move up and down. The upper moving frame 230, the transition frame 210, and the lower moving frame 240 are arranged in parallel from top to bottom. The upper moving frame 230 and the lower moving frame 240 are fixed by multiple connecting rods 250. The upper end of the connecting rod 250 is fixedly connected to the upper moving frame 230. The transition frame 210 has multiple through holes corresponding to the multiple connecting rods 250. The lower end of the connecting rod 250 passes through the corresponding through hole of the transition frame 210 and is fixedly connected to the lower moving frame 240.

[0045] The four sets of linkage components are arranged in a rectangular pattern. Each linkage component includes a swing arm 310, a first slider 320, a second slider 330, a mounting plate 350, and two third sliders 340. The near end of the swing arm 310 is hinged to the gantry frame 100, and the far end of the swing arm 310 extends towards the upward moving frame 230. A first waist-shaped slot 311 is formed on the side wall of the far end of the swing arm 310, and a second waist-shaped slot 231 is formed on the upward moving frame 230. The length direction of the second waist-shaped slot 231 is consistent with the length direction of the upward moving frame 230. The third sliders 340... The first slider 320 and the second slider 340 are respectively disposed on both sides of the mounting plate 350. The third slider 340 can move freely along the second waist-shaped groove 231. The first slider 320 can move freely along the first waist-shaped groove 311 of the swing arm 310. The first slider 320 is disposed on the upper moving frame 230. The half shaft is fixedly connected to the transition frame 210. The second slider 330 is mounted on the half shaft. The second slider 330 is disposed on the transition frame 210. Both the first slider 320 and the second slider 330 can reciprocate along the first waist-shaped groove 311.

[0046] The filling assembly 400 includes a filling pump body 410, a filling piston 420, and an injection tube 430. The filling pump body 410 is fixedly connected to the transition frame 210. The filling pump body 410 has a cavity 411 with an opening at its lower end face, and an inlet 412 communicating with an external chocolate jar is provided at the upper part of the filling pump body 410. The filling piston 420 extends into the filling pump body 410 from the opening at its lower end face. The filling piston 420 includes a piston body 421 and a split sleeve 422. The piston body 421 is fixedly connected to the lower moving frame 240. A through groove is opened on the lower end face of the piston body 421. The split sleeve 422 is threaded into the through groove of the piston body 421. The piston body 421 and the split sleeve 422 form a valve body chamber 423. The inner hole of the piston body 421 communicates with the cavity 411 of the core injection pump body 410. The upper end of the injection pipe 430 extends into the split sleeve 422 and communicates with the valve body chamber 423. The lower end of the injection pipe 430 extends downward.

[0047] A first check valve 440 is provided at the inlet 412 of the core injection pump body 410. Since the first check valve 440 is installed on the outside of the core injection pump body 410, a commercially available check valve can be selected. The first check valve 440 restricts liquid chocolate to enter the cavity 411 only from the external chocolate can. A second check valve is provided between the core injection piston 420 and the injection pipe 430. The second check valve is arranged in the valve body chamber 423. The second check valve includes a return spring 452 and a steel ball 451. One end of the return spring 452 abuts against the lower cavity wall of the valve body chamber 423, and the other end of the return spring 452 is fixedly connected to the steel ball 451. The steel ball 451 can contact the lower port edge of the split sleeve 422. The second check valve restricts the liquid chocolate to be output downward only through the cavity 411, the valve body chamber 423, and the injection pipe 430.

[0048] The guide assembly includes a support shaft 510, two gears 520 and two racks 530. The support shaft 510 is mounted on the upper movable frame 230. The two gears 520 correspond one-to-one with the two racks 530. The two gears 520 are respectively mounted on the support shaft 510. The two racks 530 are respectively vertically fixed to both sides of the gantry frame 100. The gears 520 mesh with the corresponding racks 530.

[0049] When in use, this ice cream filling device is placed on the ice cream production line. First, two lifting cylinders 120 are started simultaneously. The lifting cylinders 120 drive the gantry frame 100 and the ice cream filling device to be lifted as a whole. The ice cream to be filled enters the work station via the conveyor.

[0050] Then, the reverse-start lifting cylinder 120 lowers the entire ice cream filling device to its lowest position. The two lifting cylinders 220 of the lifting assembly extend downwards, driving the transition frame 210 downwards. The transition frame 210, through four sets of linkage components, drives the upper moving frame 230 and the lower moving frame 240 downwards. However, because both the first slider 320 and the second slider 330 move along the first waist-shaped groove 311, the transition frame 210 and the lower moving frame 240 move upwards at different distances. The liquid chocolate material in the outer chocolate can is drawn into the cavity 411 by the filling pump body 410 and the filling piston 420 of the filling assembly 400. Simultaneously, the second one-way valve prevents the liquid chocolate material from being discharged through the injection pipe 430 until the lower end of the injection pipe 430 is inserted into the ice cream to the predetermined depth.

[0051] Finally, the two lifting cylinders 220 of the lifting assembly retract, causing the transition frame 210 to move upward. The transition frame 210, through four sets of linkage components, drives the upper moving frame 230 and the lower moving frame 240 to move upward. Similarly, since the first slider 320 and the second slider 330 both move along the first waist-shaped groove 311, the transition frame 210 and the lower moving frame 240 move upward at different distances. The filling piston 420 of the filling assembly 400 squeezes the liquid chocolate material in the cavity 411 and discharges it from the injection pipe 430. The amount of liquid chocolate material discharged through the lower port of the injection pipe 430 exactly fills the hole left by the ice cream when the injection pipe 430 is pulled out. The liquid chocolate material is pre-cooled and becomes a columnar chocolate bar. During this process, the first one-way valve 440 prevents the liquid chocolate material from being discharged from the feed port 412.

[0052] In addition, depending on the size of the ice cream, different sized filling components 400 are used. By adjusting the interval between the first slider 320 and the second slider 330, the amount of liquid chocolate material discharged from the lower port of the injection tube 430 can be just enough to fill the hole left by the injection tube 430 when the ice cream is pulled out.

[0053] The above description is only one embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these should also be considered to fall within the protection scope of the present invention. For example, the number of core injection components, multiple sets of core injection components are arranged between the transition frame and the lower moving frame, and multiple sets of core injection components are arranged sequentially at intervals along the width direction of the gantry.

Claims

1. An ice cream filling device, characterized in that: It includes a gantry (100), a lifting assembly, several linkage assemblies, and at least one set of core injection assemblies (400); The lifting assembly includes a transition frame (210), an upper moving frame (230), a lower moving frame (240), several connecting rods (250), and at least one lifting cylinder (220). The cylinder body of the lifting cylinder (220) is fixedly connected to the gantry frame (100). The piston rod end of the lifting cylinder (220) extends downward and is fixedly connected to the transition frame (210). The upper moving frame (230), the transition frame (210), and the lower moving frame (240) are arranged in parallel from top to bottom. The upper end of the connecting rod (250) is fixedly connected to the upper moving frame (230). The transition frame (210) has several through holes corresponding to several connecting rods (250). The lower end of the connecting rod (250) passes through the corresponding through hole of the transition frame (210) and is fixedly connected to the lower moving frame (240). The linkage assembly includes a swing arm (310), a first slider (320), and a second slider (330). The near end of the swing arm (310) is hinged to the gantry frame (100), and the far end of the swing arm (310) extends towards the upward moving frame (230). A first waist-shaped slot (311) is opened on the side wall of the far end of the swing arm (310). The first slider (320) is set on the upward moving frame (230), and the second slider (330) is set on the transition frame (210). Both the first slider (320) and the second slider (330) can reciprocate along the first waist-shaped slot (311). The filling assembly (400) includes a filling pump body (410), a filling piston (420), and an injection tube (430). The filling pump body (410) is fixedly connected to the transition frame (210). The filling pump body (410) has a cavity (411) with an opening at the lower end face. The upper part of the filling pump body (410) has a feed port (412) that communicates with an external chocolate jar. The filling piston (420) extends into the filling pump body (410) from the opening at the lower end face. The filling piston (420) is fixedly connected to the lower moving frame (240). The upper end of the injection tube (430) passes through the filling piston (420) and communicates with the cavity (411). The lower end of the injection tube (430) extends downward.

2. The ice cream filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The linkage assembly also includes a mounting plate (350) and at least one third slider (340). The upper movable frame (230) has a second waist-shaped slot (231). The length direction of the second waist-shaped slot (231) is consistent with the length direction of the upper movable frame (230). The third slider (340) and the first slider (320) are respectively arranged on both sides of the mounting plate (350). The third slider (340) can move freely along the second waist-shaped slot (231), and the first slider (320) can move freely along the first waist-shaped slot (311) of the swing arm (310).

3. The ice cream filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a guide assembly, which includes a support shaft (510), two gears (520) and two racks (530). The support shaft (510) is mounted on the upper movable frame (230). The two gears (520) correspond one-to-one with the two racks (530). The two gears (520) are respectively mounted on the support shaft (510). The two racks (530) are respectively vertically fixed to both sides of the gantry frame (100). The gears (520) mesh with the corresponding racks (530).

4. The ice cream filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The core injection pump body (410) is provided with a first check valve (440) at the feed port (412) and a second check valve is provided between the core injection piston (420) and the injection pipe (430).

5. The ice cream filling device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The core injection piston (420) includes a piston body (421) and a split sleeve (422). The piston body (421) has a through groove, and the split sleeve (422) is fixedly connected in the through groove of the piston body (421). The piston body (421) and the split sleeve (422) form a valve body chamber (423). The inner hole of the piston body (421) communicates with the cavity (411) of the core injection pump body (410). The upper end of the injection pipe (430) extends into the split sleeve (422) and communicates with the valve body chamber (423). The second check valve is arranged in the valve body chamber (423). The second check valve includes a return spring (452) and a steel ball (451). One end of the return spring (452) abuts against the lower cavity wall of the valve body chamber (423), and the other end of the return spring (452) is fixedly connected to the steel ball (451). The steel ball (451) can contact the edge of the lower port of the split sleeve (422).

6. The ice cream filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gantry (100) has legs (110) on both sides, and a lifting cylinder (120) is provided at the lower end of the legs (110).

7. The ice cream filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It includes several core injection assemblies (400), all of which are arranged sequentially at intervals along the width direction of the gantry (100).

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