Automatic detection device for dairy products

Abstract

The invention discloses an automatic detection device for dairy products. The method is suitable for the technical field of solid dairy product detection. The device comprises a vertical driving part which is arranged above a solid dairy product conveying line and installed on a mechanical arm, the output end of the vertical driving part is connected with a horizontal angle adjusting part, the output end of the horizontal angle adjusting part is connected with a mounting frame, four self-cut-off type samplers are evenly installed on the mounting frame in the circumferential direction of the mounting frame, and the four self-cut-off type samplers are connected with the horizontal angle adjusting part. A transmission mechanism is assembled between the mounting frame and the four self-cut-off type samplers, a vertical jacking mechanism is constructed between the output end of the vertical driving part and the self-cut-off type samplers, a cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism is arranged on one side of the solid dairy product conveying line, and a sampling slide is arranged on the lower portion of the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism. According to the invention, the sampling is more representative, the operation is standardized, the efficiency is greatly improved, the detection is more accurate, and the human risk is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of dairy product testing, specifically, it relates to an automatic dairy product testing device. Background Technology

[0002] Solid dairy product samples inherently suffer from uneven component distribution, and insufficient sampling points can lead to unrepresentative results. This is especially true for cheese, whose hard texture makes sampling particularly difficult. The composition of the surface, middle, and inner layers of the same cheese block differs significantly: the surface layer, due to contact with air, experiences rapid moisture evaporation and salt precipitation, resulting in lower fat content and potentially more than 10 times the mold / yeast count compared to the inner layer; in hard cheeses, the curd may not fully fuse, potentially leading to localized protein clumps. Concentrating sampling points in these clumps can result in inflated protein levels. While routine testing typically involves 1-3g of sample, cheese may contain localized accumulations of trace contaminants, and small sample sizes can easily miss contamination sites, leading to false negatives.

[0003] Most existing methods rely on manual sampling. Manual sampling often depends on experience, selecting visually uniform areas and neglecting the surface, edges, and areas prone to defects. This leads to significant differences in sampling results from different operators for the same batch of products. The sampling range is limited; for large packages or blocks of cheese, manual sampling is difficult to penetrate deeply, often only sampling from the surface or openings, missing areas with uneven internal composition, resulting in distorted whole-sample representations. Furthermore, non-automatic sampling lacks precise measurement control. Due to the hard texture of cheese, it is difficult to quickly and accurately weigh samples manually, and the test results for solid samples are sensitive to the sample quantity.

[0004] Therefore, the core flaw of manual sampling lies in excessive human intervention and insufficient standardization. On the one hand, the subjectivity and skill differences inherent in manual operation lead to poor sampling consistency and insufficient representativeness; on the other hand, the lack of specialized equipment and standardized procedures results in problems such as contamination, component loss, and secondary distortion. These flaws directly lead to large deviations in test results, failing to reflect the true quality of the product. This is especially true for solid dairy products with uneven composition and unique textures, such as cheese, which may miss key safety risks, posing potential threats to production quality control and market supervision. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides an automatic dairy product testing device that makes sampling more representative, standardizes operations, significantly improves efficiency, makes testing more accurate, and reduces human risk.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: An automatic dairy product testing device includes a vertical drive unit disposed above a solid dairy product conveyor line and mounted on a robotic arm. A horizontal angle adjustment unit is connected to the output end of the vertical drive unit, and a mounting frame is connected to the output end of the horizontal angle adjustment unit. Four self-cutting samplers are evenly mounted on the mounting frame along its circumference. A transmission mechanism is assembled between the mounting frame and the four self-cutting samplers. A vertical top connection mechanism is constructed between the output end of the vertical drive unit and the self-cutting samplers. A cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism is provided on one side of the solid dairy product conveyor line, and a sampling glass slide is disposed at the lower part of the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism.

[0007] Furthermore, the mounting frame includes a frame body with a connecting shaft at its center, the connecting shaft being coaxially connected to the output end of the horizontal angle adjustment component, and four connecting arms being evenly constructed along its circumference on the frame body, with each of the self-cutting samplers being rotatably assembled onto the corresponding connecting arm.

[0008] Furthermore, a strip-shaped hole extending along its length is constructed on the connecting arm, and an adapter is assembled in the strip-shaped hole. The self-cutting sampler is rotatably connected to the adapter. An adjusting screw extending along the length of the connecting arm is threadedly connected to the end of the connecting arm away from the frame. One end of the adjusting screw is rotatably connected to the adapter, and the other end of the adjusting screw is equipped with an operating handwheel or a drive motor. When a drive motor is used, the output shaft of the drive motor is coaxially connected to the adjusting screw, and the body of the drive motor is detachably connected to the connecting arm.

[0009] Furthermore, the self-cutting sampler includes a sampling tube mounted on a mounting frame, and a sampling nozzle with a gradually decreasing diameter along the vertical direction is constructed at the lower end of the sampling tube. Multiple strip-shaped notches are uniformly opened along the circumference of the sampling nozzle, and each strip-shaped notch extends vertically upward from the lower end of the sampling nozzle to the lower part of the sampling tube.

[0010] Furthermore, the vertical top connection mechanism includes an adapter frame installed on the output end of the vertical drive component, an assembly ring connected to the adapter frame is provided below the adapter frame, and four vertical top connection components are evenly installed along the circumference of the lower end of the assembly ring, with the lower end of each vertical top connection component aligned with the upper end of the corresponding self-cutting sampler.

[0011] Furthermore, the transmission mechanism includes a first transmission rack and a second transmission rack that are cross-arranged and movably connected at the intersection. A transmission gear is coaxially mounted outside each sampling tube. Each transmission gear is connected to the corresponding first transmission rack or second transmission rack. A drive motor and a driven gear are mounted at the output end of the horizontal angle adjustment component. A drive gear is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor. The drive gear meshes with the driven gear, and the driven gear meshes with the first transmission rack and the second transmission rack respectively.

[0012] Furthermore, a movable groove is provided in the middle of the first transmission rack, and an insertion part is constructed in the middle of the second transmission rack, the insertion part being movably inserted into the movable groove; four limiting posts are fixedly connected to the mounting bracket at intervals along its circumference, and two limiting grooves are respectively provided on the first transmission rack and the second transmission rack, each limiting groove extending along the length direction of the corresponding first transmission rack or second transmission rack, and the limiting post being movably assembled in the corresponding limiting groove.

[0013] Furthermore, the cold grinding and material homogenizing mechanism includes an upper pressure cover, a cold grinding component, and a reciprocating material placement table arranged sequentially downwards in a vertical direction. The upper end of the upper pressure cover is connected to an adapter arm via a vertical electric cylinder. One end of the adapter arm is connected to an adapter shaft, and the sampling glass slide is placed on the reciprocating material placement table.

[0014] Furthermore, the cold grinding assembly includes a cold grinding vessel mounted on a support base. The lower part of the cold grinding vessel has a semi-circular cross-section and a cooling chamber. A medium inlet connector and a medium outlet connector communicating with the cooling chamber are respectively constructed on two opposite sides of the cold grinding vessel. Powder discharge holes are evenly distributed at the lower end of the cold grinding vessel. A cold grinding roller is rotatably connected inside the cold grinding vessel, and a transmission wheel is coaxially connected to one axial end of the cold grinding roller.

[0015] Furthermore, the reciprocating material feeding platform includes a material support plate disposed below the cold grinding assembly. The two sides of the material support plate are slidably connected to the lower part of the cold grinding assembly. The material support plate is threadedly connected to the transmission screw, and the transmission screw is coaxially connected to the output shaft of the power motor.

[0016] The technological advancements achieved by this invention compared to existing technologies, due to the aforementioned structure, are as follows: The mounting frame of this invention features four self-cutting samplers evenly distributed circumferentially. These samplers can simultaneously sample from different areas of the cheese, including the surface, middle, edge, and center, covering key areas with significant differences in cheese composition (such as high-salt surfaces, high-moisture inner layers, and areas with localized protein clumping). This completely overcomes the limitations of manual single-point sampling, avoids missing localized enrichment points of trace contaminants, and effectively reduces the risk of false negatives. Through precise control of the robotic arm and vertical drive components, the sampling depth and quantity can be set according to testing standards, avoiding fluctuations in sample quantity caused by the hard texture of the cheese during manual weighing. This ensures consistent sample quantity for each batch, solves the problem of sensitivity to sample quantity in solid sample testing, and improves the comparability of results.

[0017] Before sampling, the vertical top-connecting mechanism opens each self-cutting sampler to the sampling position. A vertical drive unit drives the mounting frame downwards, inserting the self-cutting sampler into the cheese. Then, the vertical top-connecting mechanism moves upwards and disengages from the self-cutting sampler, causing the lower part of the sampler to retract. The transmission mechanism then rotates, causing the sampler's root to separate from the cheese under torsional force. When transferring the sample to the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism, the vertical top-connecting mechanism opens the self-cutting sampler and gradually ejects the sample, discharging it into the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism. The cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism cold grinds the sample and evenly spreads the ground powder onto the sampling slide. Near-infrared spectroscopy is then used for detection.

[0018] This invention, from the vertical top-mounted mechanism opening the self-cutting sampler and inserting it into the cheese, to the retraction of the self-cutting sampler and the transmission mechanism driving the sample to cut off the sample, and finally to the sample transfer and ejection, requires no manual operation throughout the entire process. It completely avoids subjective biases such as relying on experience to select sampling points, inconsistent crushing force, and insufficient mixing during manual sampling, ensuring a completely uniform sampling process for different batches and different operators, and significantly improving result consistency. The self-cutting sampler, through retraction and rotational cutting, can quickly separate from the cheese body, avoiding fat melting and loss caused by manual cutting. When the vertical top-mounted mechanism ejects the sample, it is directly discharged to the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism, reducing sample contact with the outside environment, avoiding cross-contamination and component loss during manual transfer, and preserving the original state of the sample.

[0019] This invention's cold-grinding homogenizing mechanism crushes cheese samples at low temperatures, avoiding problems such as fat melting, protein denaturation, and vitamin oxidation caused by grinding at room temperature. Simultaneously, it grinds the sample into a uniform powder and spreads it onto a sampling slide, resolving interference from near-infrared spectral detection signals caused by the dense texture and uneven particle size of cheese, thus improving the detection accuracy of nutritional components and adulteration indicators. The uniform coverage of the cold-ground powder on the sampling slide ensures sufficient and uniform contact between light and the sample during near-infrared spectroscopy detection, avoiding detection signal deviations caused by uneven particle size and spreading, further improving the stability and accuracy of the detection results.

[0020] This invention seamlessly integrates sampling, cutting, transfer, cold grinding, slab preparation, and near-infrared detection, eliminating the need for manual step-by-step operations and significantly reducing the testing time for a single batch of samples. Four self-cutting samplers simultaneously sample, and the cold grinding homogenization mechanism processes samples in batches, greatly improving efficiency compared to manual single-sample pretreatment and adapting to the continuous quality control requirements of production lines. No professional sampling skills or familiarity with the distribution characteristics of cheese components are required from operators; the entire process can be completed simply through equipment program control. This avoids problems such as microbial contamination caused by improper manual aseptic operation and traceability difficulties due to incomplete sampling records, while also reducing the workload of operators.

[0021] In summary, this device, through its integrated design of multi-point precise sampling, automated process, cold grinding and homogenization, and near-infrared detection, comprehensively solves the core defects of non-automatic sampling of solid dairy products such as cheese, including insufficient representativeness, large human error, non-standard operation, and sample distortion. It achieves high representativeness, high standardization, high accuracy, and high efficiency throughout the entire testing process, which not only meets the rapid quality control needs of industrial production but also provides reliable technical support for market supervision. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof.

[0023] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cold grinding and material homogenization mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the vertical drive component, horizontal angle adjustment component, mounting bracket, transmission mechanism, and four self-cutting samplers connected in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the mounting frame, transmission mechanism, and four self-cutting samplers in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a partial structural diagram of the connection between the transmission mechanism and the self-cutting sampler in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure shown from another angle; Figure 7 for Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the structure shown; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first vertical top connection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second vertical top connection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cold grinding and material homogenizing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a longitudinal structural cross-sectional view of the cold grinding and material equalization mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view of the cold grinding and material homogenizing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Components labeled: 100-Mounting bracket, 101-Frame body, 102-Connecting arm, 103-Strip hole, 104-Connecting block, 105-Limiting post, 200-Self-cutting sampler, 201-Sampling tube, 202-Sampling nozzle, 203-Strip notch, 204-Adapter, 205-Limiting flange, 206-Adjusting screw, 207-Operating handwheel, 300-Transmission mechanism, 301-Mounting plate, 302-Drive motor, 303-Driving gear, 304-Driven gear, 305-First transmission rack, 306-Moving groove, 307-Second transmission rack, 308-Insertion part, 309-Transmission gear, 310-Limiting groove, 400-Horizontal angle adjustment component, 401-Connecting shaft, 500-Vertical drive component, 600-Vertical Top-connecting mechanism, 601-first connecting seat, 602-connecting plate, 603-first assembly ring, 604-first cylinder, 605-top connecting rod, 606-first top connector, 607-second connecting seat, 608-second assembly ring, 609-second cylinder, 610-second top connector, 700-cold grinding and material equalization mechanism, 701-transfer arm, 702-transfer shaft, 703-vertical electric cylinder, 704-upper pressure cover, 705-cold grinding kettle, 706-cooling chamber, 707-medium inlet connector, 708-medium outlet connector, 709-powder discharge hole, 710-cold grinding roller, 711-shaft, 712-drive wheel, 713-support seat, 714-sampling glass slide, 715-material support plate, 716-drive screw, 717-power motor. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are for illustrative and explanatory purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0026] This invention discloses an automatic detection device for dairy products, such as... Figures 1-12As shown, the system includes a vertical drive unit 500, a horizontal angle adjustment unit 400, a mounting bracket 100, a transmission mechanism 300, a vertical top-connection mechanism 600, a cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism 700, and four self-cutting samplers 200. The vertical drive unit 500 is positioned above the solid dairy product conveyor line, with its upper end mounted on a robotic arm. The horizontal angle adjustment unit 400 is connected to the output end of the vertical drive unit 500. This horizontal angle adjustment unit 400 is typically an angle adjustment motor, while the vertical drive unit 500 is typically an electric cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder. The output end of the horizontal angle adjustment unit 400 is connected to the mounting bracket 100. The four self-truncation samplers 200 are evenly mounted on the mounting frame 100 along its circumference. A transmission mechanism 300 is assembled between the mounting frame 100 and the four self-truncation samplers 200. A vertical top-connection mechanism 600 is constructed between the output end of the vertical drive member 500 and the four self-truncation samplers 200. A cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism 700 is located on one side of the solid dairy product conveyor line, and a sampling glass slide 714 is installed at the lower part of the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism 700.

[0027] The working principle and advantages of this invention are as follows: This invention features a mounting frame 100 with four circumferentially distributed self-cutting samplers 200, capable of simultaneously sampling from different areas of cheese, including the surface, middle, edge, and center. This covers key areas with significant differences in cheese composition (such as high-salt surfaces, high-moisture interiors, and areas with localized protein clumping), completely overcoming the limitations of manual single-point sampling, avoiding missing localized enrichment points of trace contaminants, and effectively reducing the risk of false negatives. Through precise control of the robotic arm and vertical drive unit 500, the sampling depth and quantity can be set according to testing standards, avoiding fluctuations in sample quantity caused by the hard texture of cheese during manual weighing. This ensures consistent sample quantity for each batch, solves the problem of sensitivity to sample quantity in solid sample testing, and improves the comparability of results.

[0028] Before sampling, the vertical top-connecting mechanism 600 pushes each self-cutting sampler 200 into the sampling state. The vertical drive member 500 drives the mounting bracket 100 to move downward, so that the self-cutting sampler 200 is inserted into the cheese. Then, the vertical top-connecting mechanism 600 moves upward and disengages from the self-cutting sampler 200. The lower part of the self-cutting sampler 200 retracts inward. Then, the transmission mechanism 300 is controlled to drive the self-cutting sampler 200 to rotate. In this way, the root of the sample separates from the cheese under the action of torsional force. When the sample is transferred to the cold grinding homogenizing mechanism 700, the vertical top-connecting mechanism 600 pushes open the self-cutting sampler 200 and gradually pushes out the sample inside, discharging it into the cold grinding homogenizing mechanism 700. The cold grinding homogenizing mechanism 700 cold grinds the sample and evenly spreads the cold-ground powder on the sampling glass slide 714. Then, near-infrared spectroscopy is used for detection.

[0029] This invention, from the vertical top-feeding mechanism 600 opening the self-cutting sampler 200 and inserting it into the cheese, to the retraction of the self-cutting sampler 200 and the drive mechanism 300 cutting off the sample, and finally the sample transfer and ejection, requires no manual operation throughout the entire process. This completely avoids subjective biases such as relying on experience to select sampling points, inconsistent crushing force, and insufficient mixing during manual sampling, ensuring a completely uniform sampling process for different batches and different operators, significantly improving result consistency. The self-cutting sampler 200, through retraction and rotational cutting, can quickly separate from the cheese body, avoiding fat melting and loss caused by manual cutting. When the vertical top-feeding mechanism 600 ejects the sample, it is directly discharged to the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism 700, reducing sample contact with the outside environment, avoiding cross-contamination and component loss during manual transfer, and preserving the original state of the sample.

[0030] The cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism 700 of this invention crushes cheese samples at low temperatures, avoiding problems such as fat melting, protein denaturation, and vitamin oxidation caused by grinding at room temperature. Simultaneously, it grinds the sample into a uniform powder and spreads it onto the sampling slide 714, resolving interference from the dense texture and uneven particle size of cheese that could affect near-infrared spectral detection signals, thus improving the accuracy of detection of nutritional components and adulteration indicators. The uniform coverage of the cold-ground powder on the sampling slide 714 ensures sufficient and uniform contact between light and the sample during near-infrared spectroscopy detection, avoiding detection signal deviations caused by uneven particle size and spreading, further improving the stability and accuracy of the detection results.

[0031] This invention seamlessly integrates sampling, cutting, transfer, cold grinding, slab preparation, and near-infrared detection, eliminating the need for manual step-by-step operations and significantly reducing the testing time for a single batch of samples. Four self-cutting samplers simultaneously sample 200 samples, while the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism processes 700 samples in batches. Compared to manual single-sample pretreatment, efficiency is greatly improved, adapting to the continuous quality control requirements of production lines. No professional sampling skills or familiarity with cheese component distribution characteristics are required from operators; the entire process can be completed simply through equipment program control. This avoids problems such as microbial contamination caused by improper manual aseptic operation and traceability difficulties due to incomplete sampling records, while also reducing the workload of operators.

[0032] In summary, this device, through its integrated design of multi-point precise sampling, automated process, cold grinding and homogenization, and near-infrared detection, comprehensively solves the core defects of non-automatic sampling of solid dairy products such as cheese, including insufficient representativeness, large human error, non-standard operation, and sample distortion. It achieves high representativeness, high standardization, high accuracy, and high efficiency throughout the entire testing process, which not only meets the rapid quality control needs of industrial production but also provides reliable technical support for market supervision.

[0033] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 , Figure 7 As shown, the mounting frame 100 includes a frame body 101. A connecting shaft 401 is coaxially constructed at the center of the frame body 101, and the upper end of the connecting shaft 401 is coaxially connected to the output end of the horizontal angle adjustment component 400. Four connecting arms 102 are evenly constructed along the circumference of the frame body 101. Each self-cutting sampler 200 is rotatably mounted on the corresponding connecting arm 102. When the frame body 101 has a disc-shaped structure, the connecting arms 102 extend outward along the radial direction of the frame body 101. A strip-shaped hole 103 extending along the length direction is constructed on the connecting arm 102. A connector 204 is assembled in the strip-shaped hole 103. Limiting flanges 205 are respectively constructed at the upper and lower ends of the connector 204. The two limiting flanges 205 are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the connecting arm 102. The self-cutting sampler 200 is rotatably connected to the connector 204. An adjusting screw 206 is threadedly connected to the end of the connecting arm 102 away from the frame 101. The adjusting screw 206 extends along the length of the connecting arm 102. One end of the adjusting screw 206 is rotatably connected to the adapter 204, and the other end of the adjusting screw 206 is equipped with an operating handwheel 207 or a drive motor. When a drive motor is used, the output shaft of the drive motor is coaxially connected to the adjusting screw 206, and the body of the drive motor is detachably connected to the connecting arm 102.

[0034] In this embodiment, the connecting arm 102 extends radially along the disc-shaped frame 101. Combined with the slotted hole 103 and the adjusting screw 206, the distance between the self-cutting sampler 200 and the center of the frame 101 can be precisely adjusted by sliding the adapter 204 via the operating handwheel 207 or the drive motor. Whether it's small, individually packaged cheese or large cheese blanks, the spacing of the self-cutting sampler 200 can be flexibly set to achieve full coverage of the center, edges, surface, and depth. This avoids the limitations of manual sampling, which can only sample the surface / partial areas due to product size differences, ensuring consistent sampling representativeness for products of different sizes.

[0035] In this embodiment, the horizontal angle adjustment component 400 can drive the frame 101 to rotate as a whole. Combined with the radial adjustment of the self-cutting sampler 200 on the connecting arm 102, it can accurately locate the high-defect areas of the cheese. For example, for cheese with a risk of localized mold contamination on the surface, the radial position of the self-cutting sampler 200 and the angle of the frame 101 can be adjusted to specifically sample the suspicious areas, improving the targeting of risk screening and avoiding omissions caused by visual selection during manual sampling.

[0036] In this embodiment, the adjusting screw 206 adopts a threaded drive design, which, in conjunction with the drive motor (or manual fine adjustment via the operating handwheel 207), enables millimeter-level precise control of the radial position of the self-cutting sampler 200. Compared to manual adjustment of the sampling position based on experience, this design ensures complete uniformity of sampling parameters across different batches and operators, resolving the sensitivity of solid sample testing to sampling position and quantity. This significantly reduces the RSD (relative standard deviation) of parallel sample test results, improving data comparability. The adjusting screw 206 supports both manual and automatic drive modes via the operating handwheel 207. For small dairy companies or laboratory scenarios, manual adjustment via the operating handwheel 207 reduces equipment costs. For continuous testing scenarios on large production lines, a drive motor can be installed to achieve automated adjustment of the sampling position (in conjunction with the production line control system, automatically calling preset parameters according to product specifications), eliminating the need for manual intervention and improving batch testing efficiency.

[0037] The limiting flanges 205 at the upper and lower ends of the adapter 204 engage with both sides of the connecting arm 102, allowing the adapter 204 to slide smoothly along the strip hole 103 while limiting its vertical swaying or tilting during sampling. When the vertical drive 500 drives the self-cutting sampler 200 to insert into the hard cheese, this structure ensures that the self-cutting sampler 200 always maintains a vertical posture, avoiding inconsistent sampling depths caused by tilting, ensuring that the four self-cutting samplers 200 simultaneously acquire a uniform sample amount, and further improving sampling stability.

[0038] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figures 5-7 As shown, the self-cutting sampler 200 includes a sampling tube 201 and a sampling nozzle 202. The sampling tube 201 is rotatably mounted on the adapter 204 to achieve a rotatable connection with the mounting bracket 100. The sampling nozzle 202 is coaxially located at the lower end of the sampling tube 201. The diameter of the sampling nozzle 202 gradually decreases downward in the vertical direction. The sampling nozzle 202 is made of an elastic material, such as food-grade elastic plastic or an elastic metal sheet. Multiple strip-shaped notches 203 are evenly provided along the circumference of the sampling nozzle 202. Each strip-shaped notch 203 extends vertically upward from the lower end of the sampling nozzle 202 to the lower part of the sampling tube 201.

[0039] In this embodiment, the sampling nozzle 202 tapers vertically downwards (forming a conical structure). Compared to a straight-mouth sampler, this concentrates the force area at the tip during insertion, significantly reducing resistance when inserting into hard cheese. Whether it's hard cheddar cheese or semi-hard cheese, it can be quickly penetrated by the vertical drive component 500, avoiding sampler deformation or cheese breakage due to excessive resistance. This solves the problems of laborious manual sampling and cutting, and the risk of damaging the sample's shape. The evenly spaced strip-shaped notches 203 on the sampling nozzle 202 release the compressive stress inside the cheese during insertion, while allowing a small amount of airflow. This prevents negative pressure from forming inside the sampling tube 201 due to the dense texture of the cheese, and avoids sample clumping that blocks the sampling channel. The tapered design of the sampling nozzle 202 works in conjunction with the rotation function of the sampling tube 201. When the self-cutting sampler 200 is inserted into the cheese, the transmission mechanism 300 drives the sampling tube 201 to rotate around the adapter 204. The side wall of the conical sampling nozzle 202 can cut the connection between the sample and the cheese body like a blade. At the same time, the strip-shaped notch 203 can further reduce the frictional resistance during cutting, avoid sample loss caused by pulling and breaking during manual cutting, and ensure that the sample shape is intact and the composition is consistent with the original state. When it is necessary to transfer the sample to the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism 700, the vertical top-connecting mechanism 600 opens the sampling nozzle 202. In this way, after the sampling nozzle 202 is opened by elastic deformation, the diameter is significantly increased, which can quickly discharge the cheese sample and avoid the problems of sample jamming and poor discharge caused by the original small diameter. During the elastic expansion process, the inner wall of the sampling nozzle 202 can fully expand. Combined with the guiding effect of the strip-shaped notch 203, the sample can be discharged from the bottom of the sampling tube 201 to the edge of the sampling nozzle 202 without any dead corners, preventing cheese crumbs from getting stuck on the inner wall of the sampling nozzle 202 or at the strip-shaped notch 203 due to diameter limitations. After the vertical top-connecting mechanism 600 disengages, the sampling nozzle 202 automatically returns to its original diameter due to its own elasticity, requiring no manual adjustment or disassembly for cleaning, and can directly enter the next sampling cycle. After elastic return, the sampling nozzle 202 returns to a tight state, effectively preventing external dust, microorganisms, or impurities from entering the sampling tube 201, avoiding cross-contamination during the next sampling.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vertical top-connecting mechanism 600 includes an adapter frame mounted on the output end of the vertical drive member 500. An assembly ring is disposed below the adapter frame and connected thereto. Four vertical top-connecting components are evenly mounted circumferentially on the lower end of the assembly ring, with the lower end of each vertical top-connecting component aligned with the upper end of the corresponding self-truncation sampler 200. Specifically, the vertical top-connecting mechanism 600 is available in two forms, such as... Figure 8As shown, the first type of vertical top-connecting mechanism 600 includes a first connecting seat 601, which is connected to the output end of the vertical drive member 500. The first connecting seat 601 is connected to two first cylinders 604 via a connecting plate 602. Both first cylinders 604 are connected to a first assembly ring 603 (the first assembly ring 603 is one embodiment of the aforementioned assembly ring). Four top-connecting rods 605 are connected to the lower end of the first assembly ring 603. A first top connector 606 is fixed to the lower end of each top-connecting rod 605. The combination of the top-connecting rods 605 and the first top connectors 606 constitutes one embodiment of the aforementioned vertical top-connecting member. Figure 9 As shown, the second type of vertical top connection mechanism 600 includes a second connecting seat 607, which is connected to the output end of the vertical drive member 500. The second connecting seat 607 is connected to a second assembly ring 608 (the second assembly ring 608 is another embodiment of the above-mentioned assembly ring). Four second cylinders 609 are connected to the lower end of the second assembly ring 608. A second top connector 610 is fixed to the lower end of each second cylinder 609. The combination of the second cylinders 609 and the second top connectors 610 constitutes another embodiment of the above-mentioned vertical top connection member.

[0041] In this embodiment, four vertical top connectors are evenly distributed around the circumference of the assembly and aligned with the four self-cutting samplers 200, enabling synchronous top connection and disengagement. Before sampling, the vertical top connectors synchronously open the sampling nozzle 202 to the sampling state, avoiding sampler posture deviation caused by misalignment of a single vertical top connector; during sample discharge, the samples are synchronously pushed out, ensuring that the samples from the four self-cutting samplers 200 enter the cold grinding and equalization mechanism 700 simultaneously and evenly, avoiding uneven cold grinding accumulation caused by the lag in sample discharge from a single self-cutting sampler 200, and ensuring a unified rhythm throughout the entire process.

[0042] The first type of vertical top-connecting mechanism 600 drives the overall first assembly ring 603 to rise and fall through two first cylinders 604, which in turn drives the four top-connecting rods 605 to move synchronously. It features a simple structure, few parts, low failure rate, and low maintenance cost. It is suitable for small and medium-sized dairy enterprises, laboratories, and other scenarios with low batch testing frequency, or for softer solid dairy products (such as soft cheese and whey protein powder). It can complete the operation without excessive top-connecting force, balancing practicality and economy.

[0043] The second type of vertical top-feeding mechanism 600 has four top-feeding components, each equipped with an independent second cylinder 609, allowing for individual adjustment of the top-feeding stroke and force of each component. For example, if a significant amount of sample remains in a self-cutting sampler 200, the top-feeding force of the corresponding second cylinder 609 can be increased to ensure complete sample discharge. It is suitable for continuous testing on large production lines (requiring high frequency and high reliability), for difficult-to-discharge samples such as hard cheese, or for scenarios with extremely high discharge accuracy requirements (such as trace contaminant detection requiring no sample residue). Independent control enhances operational flexibility and the thoroughness of discharge.

[0044] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figures 4-6 As shown, the transmission mechanism 300 includes a drive motor 302, a first transmission rack 305, and a second transmission rack 307. The drive motor 302 is mounted on the output end of the horizontal angle adjustment component 400 via a mounting plate 301. The first transmission rack 305 and the second transmission rack 307 are arranged crosswise and movably connected at the intersection. A transmission gear 309 is coaxially mounted on the outside of each sampling tube 201, and each transmission gear 309 is connected to the corresponding first transmission rack 305 or second transmission rack 307. A driven gear 304 is coaxially mounted on the output end of the horizontal angle adjustment component 400, and a driving gear 303 is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor 302. The driving gear 303 meshes with the driven gear 304, and the driven gear 304 meshes with both the first transmission rack 305 and the second transmission rack 307. In this embodiment, a movable groove 306 is provided in the middle of the first transmission rack 305, and an insertion part 308 is constructed in the middle of the second transmission rack 307, the insertion part 308 being movably inserted into the movable groove 306. Four connecting blocks 104 are constructed on the mounting bracket 100, each connected to one of the four connecting arms 102, and a limiting post 105 is fixedly connected to each connecting block 104. Two limiting grooves 310 are respectively provided on the first transmission rack 305 and the second transmission rack 307, each limiting groove 310 extending along the length direction of the corresponding first transmission rack 305 or second transmission rack 307, and the limiting post 105 is movably assembled within the corresponding limiting groove 310.

[0045] This embodiment utilizes a transmission method consisting of a drive motor 302, a driving gear 303, a driven gear 304, a first transmission rack 305, a second transmission rack 307, and a transmission gear 309. Only one drive motor 302 is needed to simultaneously drive four self-cutting samplers 200. Compared to multiple motors driving separately, this method ensures that the rotation speed and angle of the four self-cutting samplers 200 are completely consistent, allowing for synchronous separation of the sample from the cheese body. This avoids sample tearing and loss caused by the lag in cutting off individual self-cutting samplers 200, ensuring the morphological integrity and compositional consistency of the four sets of samples. The first transmission rack 305 and the second transmission rack 307 are cross-arranged and movably connected in the middle (the insertion part 308 cooperates with the movable slot 306), enabling the simultaneous driving of four circumferentially distributed self-cutting samplers 200 within a limited space. This avoids the problems of traditional parallel rack layouts occupying large spaces and failing to cover circumferential samplers. This implementation allows the transmission mechanism 300 to fit seamlessly with the mounting bracket 100 and the self-cutting sampler 200, resulting in a more compact overall device that is suitable for production line environments with limited space. The movable slot 306 of the first transmission rack 305 and the insertion portion 308 of the second transmission rack 307 form a sliding fit. When the driven gear 304 drives the first transmission rack 305 and the second transmission rack 307, they can move flexibly in intersecting directions without interference, avoiding jamming or component wear caused by the intersecting movement directions of the first and second transmission racks 305 and 307. Simultaneously, this implementation ensures that the first and second transmission racks 305 and 307 can synchronously drive the corresponding transmission gears 309 to rotate, further improving the coordination of the four self-cutting samplers 200.

[0046] In this embodiment, the limiting post 105 on the connecting block 104 of the mounting bracket 100 is movably mounted in the limiting groove 310 and can slide along the length of the connecting arm 102. This allows the first transmission rack 305 / second transmission rack 307 to move freely while limiting the offset of the first transmission rack 305 / second transmission rack 307 in the direction perpendicular to the transmission direction (such as up-and-down shaking or left-and-right tilting). When the drive motor 302 drives the first transmission rack 305 and second transmission rack 307 to move, the limiting structure ensures that the first transmission rack 305 and second transmission rack 307 always maintain a stable posture, avoiding misalignment caused by vibration or long-term use. This prevents meshing deviation (such as tooth disengagement or tooth biting) between the transmission gear 309 and the first transmission rack 305 / second transmission rack 307, ensuring the long-term stability and service life of the transmission mechanism 300. The length of the limiting groove 310 can indirectly limit the movement distance of the first transmission rack 305 / second transmission rack 307, thereby controlling the maximum rotation angle of the self-cutting sampler 200, avoiding excessive rotation of the self-cutting sampler 200 due to the loss of control of the drive motor 302, preventing the sampling tube 201 from colliding and being damaged with the mounting bracket 100 and connecting arm 102, or the sample from spilling due to excessive rotation angle, thus providing safety protection for the operation of the device.

[0047] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figures 10-12 As shown, the cold grinding and material equalization mechanism 700 includes an upper pressure cover 704, a cold grinding assembly, and a reciprocating material placement table arranged sequentially downwards in a vertical direction. The upper end of the upper pressure cover 704 is connected to an adapter arm 701 via a vertical electric cylinder 703. One end of the adapter arm 701 is connected to an adapter shaft 702, and a sampling glass slide 714 is placed on the reciprocating material placement table. The cold grinding assembly includes a cold grinding vessel 705 mounted on a support base 713. The lower cross-section of the cold grinding vessel 705 is semi-circular, and the cold grinding vessel 705 has a cooling chamber 706. A media inlet connector 707 and a media outlet connector 708 communicating with the cooling chamber 706 are respectively constructed on two opposite sides of the cold grinding vessel 705. Powder discharge holes 709 are evenly distributed at the lower end of the cold grinding vessel 705. A grinding roller 710 is installed inside and at the lower part of the grinding kettle 705. The grinding roller 710 is coaxially connected to a shaft 711, which is rotatably mounted on a support base 713. A transmission wheel 712 is coaxially connected to one axial end of the shaft 711. The reciprocating feeding table includes a material support plate 715 located below the grinding assembly. The two sides of the material support plate 715 are slidably connected to the lower part of the grinding assembly. The material support plate 715 is threadedly connected to a transmission screw 716, which is coaxially connected to the output shaft of a power motor 717.

[0048] In this embodiment, the cold grinding vessel 705 has a built-in cooling chamber 706. A low-temperature coolant (such as liquid nitrogen or ethylene glycol solution) is introduced through the media inlet connector 707 and the media outlet connector 708, which stably controls the temperature during the cold grinding process within a low-temperature range. For heat-sensitive components in cheese (such as fat, vitamins A / D, and heat-sensitive microorganisms), this avoids the melting of fat and the oxidative decomposition of vitamins caused by frictional heat during room-temperature grinding, ensuring that the sample composition remains consistent with its original state. This solves the problems of high-temperature damage to samples and deviations from true values ​​in traditional grinding methods. The lower part of the cold grinding vessel 705 has a semi-circular structure that fits tightly against the outer surface of the cold grinding roller 710, allowing for enveloping grinding of the sample. This avoids incomplete grinding and large residues caused by defects in the shape of the vessel during the grinding process of block cheese. Simultaneously, the cold grinding roller 710 is driven by a shaft 711 and a transmission wheel 712, with a uniform and controllable rotation speed, capable of grinding the cheese sample into a uniform powder of 80-100 mesh, meeting the particle size requirements for subsequent near-infrared detection. In this embodiment, the lower end of the cold grinding kettle 705 is covered with uniform powder discharge holes 709. The powder after cold grinding can fall uniformly through the small holes, avoiding uneven powder thickness caused by single-point feeding and local accumulation. Compared with manual pouring of powder, it can ensure that the amount of powder fed in each batch of samples is consistent with the initial distribution, laying a uniform foundation for subsequent sheeting.

[0049] In this embodiment, the power motor 717 drives the transmission screw 716 to rotate, causing the material support plate 715 (which holds the sampling glass slide 714) to slide back and forth along the lower part of the cold grinding assembly. As the powder falls, the reciprocating motion of the material support plate 715 evenly spreads the powder onto the sampling glass slide 714, forming a uniform thin layer of consistent thickness, completely solving the problems of uneven thickness and localized agglomeration caused by manual slide preparation. This uniform spreading allows near-infrared light to fully and evenly contact the sample, reducing detection signal deviations caused by differences in light scattering and significantly improving the detection accuracy of indicators such as proteins, fats, and contaminants.

[0050] In this embodiment, the upper pressure cap 704 is driven to rise and fall by a vertical electric cylinder 703. When the blocky / granular sample discharged from the cut-off sampler 200 enters the cold grinding tank 705, the upper pressure cap 704 can apply downward pressure to press the sample between the cold grinding tank 705 and the cold grinding roller 710, avoiding sample jamming at the tank opening and interruption of grinding. Especially for hard cheese blocks, it can help the sample quickly enter the grinding area, shorten the pretreatment time, and improve batch processing efficiency.

[0051] This embodiment, from sample feeding into the cold grinding reactor 705, cold grinding, powder discharge, to the reciprocating feeding platform for slide preparation, requires no manual intervention throughout the entire process, avoiding microbial contamination and component loss caused by human contact with the sample. Simultaneously, both the cold grinding assembly and the feeding platform can be disassembled and cleaned periodically, meeting the hygiene requirements for food testing and ensuring the authenticity of the test results. The speed of the cold grinding roller 710, the pressure of the upper pressure cap 704, and the cooling temperature of the cold grinding assembly are all adjustable, making it suitable not only for cheese but also for other solid dairy products such as milk powder and whey protein powder. This allows for parameter adjustments to meet the testing needs of multiple product categories without replacing core components, enhancing the versatility of the device.

[0052] In summary, the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism 700 in this embodiment, through its core advantages of low-temperature cold grinding to protect components, uniform sheeting to optimize detection, automated pretreatment to improve efficiency, and modular design to adapt to multiple scenarios, perfectly solves the problems of component degradation, uneven grinding, low efficiency, and high risk of contamination in the pretreatment of solid dairy products, and provides key support for the accuracy and automation of subsequent near-infrared detection.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic detection device for dairy products, characterized in that: The device includes a vertical drive unit positioned above the solid dairy product conveyor line and mounted on a robotic arm. A horizontal angle adjustment unit is connected to the output end of the vertical drive unit. A mounting frame is connected to the output end of the horizontal angle adjustment unit. Four self-cutting samplers are evenly mounted on the mounting frame along its circumference. A transmission mechanism is assembled between the mounting frame and the four self-cutting samplers. A vertical top-connection mechanism is constructed between the output end of the vertical drive unit and the self-cutting samplers. A cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism is provided on one side of the solid dairy product conveyor line. A sampling glass slide is located at the lower part of the cold grinding and homogenizing mechanism.

2. The automatic dairy product detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting frame includes a frame body with a connecting shaft at the center, the connecting shaft being coaxially connected to the output end of the horizontal angle adjustment component, and four connecting arms being evenly constructed along the circumference of the frame body, with each of the self-cutting samplers being rotatably assembled onto the corresponding connecting arm.

3. The automatic dairy product detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A strip-shaped hole extending along its length is constructed on the connecting arm, and an adapter is assembled in the strip-shaped hole. The self-cutting sampler is rotatably connected to the adapter. An adjusting screw extending along the length of the connecting arm is threadedly connected to the end of the connecting arm away from the frame. One end of the adjusting screw is rotatably connected to the adapter, and the other end of the adjusting screw is equipped with an operating handwheel or a drive motor. When a drive motor is used, the output shaft of the drive motor is coaxially connected to the adjusting screw, and the body of the drive motor is detachably connected to the connecting arm.

4. The automatic dairy product detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The self-cut-off sampler includes a sampling tube mounted on a mounting frame. A sampling nozzle with a gradually decreasing diameter along the vertical direction is constructed at the lower end of the sampling tube. Multiple strip-shaped notches are uniformly opened along the circumference of the sampling nozzle. Each strip-shaped notch extends vertically upward from the lower end of the sampling nozzle to the lower part of the sampling tube.

5. The automatic dairy product detection device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The vertical top connection mechanism includes an adapter frame installed on the output end of the vertical drive component. An assembly ring connected to the adapter frame is provided below the adapter frame. Four vertical top connection components are evenly installed along the circumference of the lower end of the assembly ring. The lower end of each vertical top connection component is aligned with the upper end of the corresponding self-cutting sampler.

6. The automatic dairy product detection device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism includes a first transmission rack and a second transmission rack that are cross-arranged and movably connected at the intersection. A transmission gear is coaxially mounted on the outside of each sampling tube. Each transmission gear is connected to the corresponding first transmission rack or second transmission rack. A drive motor and a driven gear are mounted on the output end of the horizontal angle adjustment component. A drive gear is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor. The drive gear meshes with the driven gear, and the driven gear meshes with the first transmission rack and the second transmission rack respectively.

7. The automatic dairy product detection device according to claim 6, characterized in that: A movable groove is provided in the middle of the first transmission rack, and an insertion part is constructed in the middle of the second transmission rack. The insertion part is movably inserted into the movable groove. Four limiting posts are fixedly connected to the mounting frame at intervals along its circumference. Two limiting grooves are respectively provided on the first transmission rack and the second transmission rack. Each limiting groove extends along the length direction of the corresponding first transmission rack or second transmission rack, and the limiting post is movably assembled in the corresponding limiting groove.

8. The automatic detection device for dairy products according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cold grinding and material homogenization mechanism includes an upper pressure cover, a cold grinding component, and a reciprocating material placement table arranged vertically downwards. The upper end of the upper pressure cover is connected to an adapter arm via a vertical electric cylinder. One end of the adapter arm is connected to an adapter shaft, and the sampling glass slide is placed on the reciprocating material placement table.

9. The automatic dairy product detection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cold grinding assembly includes a cold grinding vessel mounted on a support base. The lower part of the cold grinding vessel has a semi-circular cross-section and a cooling chamber. A medium inlet connector and a medium outlet connector communicating with the cooling chamber are respectively constructed on two opposite sides of the cold grinding vessel. Powder discharge holes are evenly distributed at the lower end of the cold grinding vessel. A cold grinding roller is rotatably connected inside the cold grinding vessel, and a transmission wheel is coaxially connected to one axial end of the cold grinding roller.

10. An automatic dairy product detection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The reciprocating feeding platform includes a material support plate disposed below the cold grinding assembly. The two sides of the material support plate are slidably connected to the lower part of the cold grinding assembly. The material support plate is threadedly connected to the transmission screw, and the transmission screw is coaxially connected to the output shaft of the power motor.

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