Automatic production line for sausage products and production method

Abstract

The invention provides an automatic production line for sausage products and a production method, and belongs to the technical field of food processing.The production line is characterized in that a first conveying mechanism and a second conveying mechanism which are perpendicular in conveying direction are arranged in a storage box; the casing is independently placed in the container, and a magnetic ring is coaxially mounted at one end of the casing; the filling device extends in the first direction, a hopper is arranged at the input end, and a rotary disc is arranged at the conveying end. Casing pipes which are parallel to each other are arranged on the turntable; a slip ring matched with the magnetic ring is arranged on the casing pipe; an electromagnet is arranged in the sliding ring and connected with the rotating disc through an air cylinder. The feeding mechanism comprises a turnover shifting fork; the end part of the shifting fork is U-shaped; the rope binding device is located on the side, away from the rotary disc, of the casing pipe and provided with coaxial through holes corresponding to the casing pipe. According to the technical scheme, automatic sleeving can be realized through the slip ring on the casing pipe only by loading the casing into a specified container and installing the magnetic ring at one end in the casing arrangement process, so that the requirement of full-automatic production is met.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application belongs to the technical field of food processing, and particularly relates to an automatic production line and production method for sausage products. BACKGROUND

[0002] As a kind of meat product with a long history and unique flavor, sausage has been favored by consumers for a long time due to its convenient consumption, moderate shelf life and rich taste, and occupies an important position in the food processing industry. As a core packaging material in the production process of sausage, casing not only bears the basic functions of wrapping meat stuffing and fixing shaping, but also directly affects the taste, preservation effect, food safety and flavor formation of sausage, and is one of the key factors determining the quality of sausage products.

[0003] In the early stage of the development of the sausage production industry, the production process was mainly manual operation. Natural casing has been widely used due to its natural material advantages. Natural casing is mainly made of small intestine, large intestine, bladder and other organs of healthy livestock, which are processed by scraping, oil removal, salting or drying, etc. The natural characteristics of animal tissues are retained, which has the advantages of flexible texture, good air permeability, edible and good biocompatibility, etc. It can make the sausage realize uniform flavor penetration in the processing process of smoking and air drying, and form a unique natural taste, which is the core advantage that various types of artificial casing cannot completely replace.

[0004] However, with the upgrading of the food processing industry and the continuous expansion of market demand, sausage production has gradually shifted to large-scale, standardized and automated direction. Full-automatic production line has become the mainstream trend of the industry development. However, the inherent characteristics of natural casing make it difficult to adapt to the efficient, precise and standardized requirements of automatic production, which has gradually become a core bottleneck restricting the upgrading of sausage production automation, so the above problems need to be solved. SUMMARY

[0005] In view of the above defects or deficiencies in the prior art, an automatic production line and production method for sausage products are provided.

[0006] In a first aspect, the application provides an automatic production line and production method for sausage products, comprising a storage box, the inside of the storage box is respectively provided with a first conveying mechanism and a second conveying mechanism perpendicular to the conveying direction, for storing and automatically feeding the casing; The casing is independently placed in the container, and a magnetic ring is coaxially installed at one end; The magnetic ring is located outside the container, and the diameter is relatively larger than the outlet of the container; a filling device, the filling device extends in a first direction, the input end is provided with a hopper, and the conveying end is provided with a rotating disc which can rotate relative to the conveying end; The rotating disc is provided with parallel casing pipes for installation and filling of the casing sleeve; The casing pipe is provided with a matching slip ring corresponding to the magnetic ring for magnetic attraction and driving of the magnetic ring; The slip ring is internally provided with an electromagnet connected with the rotating disc through an air cylinder; The feeding mechanism includes a reversible shift fork for driving the magnetic ring to be connected with the casing pipe; The end of the shift fork is in U shape for avoiding the container and connecting with the magnetic ring; The rope tying device is located on the side of the casing pipe away from the rotating disc and is provided with a coaxial through hole corresponding to the casing pipe.

[0007] Further, The number of the casing pipes includes two, the extension direction is parallel to the first direction, and the arrangement direction is parallel to the vertical direction; The two casing pipes are respectively connected with the output ends of the filling device through a three-way valve; The three-way valve is respectively connected with the casing pipe and the filling device through a hose; The single rotation angle of the rotating disc is 180° for switching the positions of the two casing pipes; The rotating direction of the rotating disc is positive and negative rotation alternately.

[0008] Further, The first conveying mechanism includes a conveying belt extending along the first direction; The conveying belt is embeddedly installed at the bottom of the storage box for conveying the containers to be connected with the feeding mechanism in sequence; The second conveying mechanism is located on one side of the conveying belt and includes a push plate extending along the first direction, forming a storage area with the conveying belt; The pushing direction of the push plate is perpendicular to the first direction for conveying the containers to the conveying belt in sequence and in batches.

[0009] Further, The length of the conveying belt is relatively greater than the length of the push plate, and the end away from the feeding mechanism is respectively located at the side wall of the storage box; The end of the storage box close to the feeding mechanism is provided with an extension part corresponding to the conveying belt; The extension part includes baffles respectively located on both sides of the conveying belt and having a relatively small height than the containers.

[0010] Further, The push plate is driven by a stepping motor, and both ends thereof extend to the outside of the storage box; The storage bin has matching slotted holes corresponding to the push plate for the push plate to pass through; The stepper motor is driven by the push plate via a worm gear. The worm extends along the first direction, and its two ends are respectively connected to the two ends of the push plate via lead screws; The lead screw is rotatably mounted on the storage box, with one end threadedly connected to the push plate and the other end connected to the worm through a worm gear.

[0011] Furthermore, The magnetic ring includes a permanent magnet section and a docking section that are independent of each other; The permanent magnet part and the docking part are respectively annular, and their inner diameters match the diameter of the casing tube; The docking part is made of magnetic material and is used to press the end of the casing onto the permanent magnet part.

[0012] Furthermore, The end of the shift fork furthest from the magnetic ring is mounted on the base via a hinge shaft and is driven to rotate by a servo motor; The servo motor and the hinge shaft are connected by a matching worm gear mechanism; The end of the shift fork near the magnetic ring has a matching groove corresponding to the magnetic ring, which is used to form a positioning with the magnetic ring.

[0013] Furthermore, It also includes auxiliary devices; The auxiliary device includes a sliding sleeve located on the side of the tying device away from the casing tube and a cutter located on the side closer to the casing tube; The sliding sleeve has an internal interlayer, and the inner wall has air holes that communicate with the interlayer and are evenly distributed. The outer wall has an air nozzle that communicates with the interlayer and is connected to an external negative pressure device. The cutter is slidably mounted on the tying device and is used to cut the sausage casing.

[0014] Furthermore, The auxiliary device also includes a lifting plate located below the sausage casing tube; The lifting plate is equipped with rollers on both sides of the sausage casing tube; The two active rollers are slidably connected to the lifting plate via sliding blocks; The two slides are connected by a bidirectional lead screw for synchronous and reverse driving.

[0015] Secondly, this application provides a method for producing sausage products, characterized by comprising the following steps: S100: First, put the casings into the container, and then put the container into the storage bin; S200, the second conveying mechanism transports containers in batches to the first conveying mechanism; S210, the first conveying mechanism transports the containers one by one to the feeding mechanism; S300, the feeding mechanism transports the magnetic ring to the casing tube; S310, the cylinder is connected to the magnetic ring through the slip ring and drives the magnetic ring to be sleeved on the sausage casing tube; S400, the turntable rotates 180° to switch the casing tube with the casing on it to the top and fill it; S500, the rope-tying device ties the filled sausage casings to a fixed length.

[0016] The advantages and positive effects of this application are: This technical solution only requires loading the casings into a designated container and installing a magnetic ring at one end during the casing preparation process. Automatic fitting is then achieved via a slip ring on the casing tube, thus meeting the requirements of fully automated production. The rotating fork allows for displacement of the magnetic ring and effectively changes its axial direction, facilitating both storage and installation. Simultaneously, the storage bin incorporates a first and a second conveying mechanism with perpendicular conveying directions, enabling automatic docking between the container and the fork, as well as automatic loading of the stored containers, thereby effectively achieving full automation. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Other features, objects, and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the automated production line and production method for sausage products provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the storage bin for the automated production line and production method for sausage products provided in this application embodiment; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the turntable for the automated production line and production method for sausage products provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting plate of the automatic production line and production method for sausage products provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0018] The text labels in the diagram are as follows: 100-Storage bin; 110-Container; 120-Magnetic ring; 130-Shift fork; 131-Base; 200-Filling device; 210-Hopper; 220-Turntable; 230-Casting tube; 231-Slip ring; 240-Cylinder; 300-Tie-up device; 310-Sliding sleeve; 320-Cutter; 330-Lifting plate; 331-Roller. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0020] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. This application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0021] As mentioned in the background section, this application proposes an automated production line and method for sausage products, including a storage bin 100. The storage bin 100 is internally equipped with a first conveying mechanism and a second conveying mechanism perpendicular to the conveying direction, used for storing sausage casings and automatically feeding them. The sausage casings are independently placed inside a container 110, with a magnetic ring 120 coaxially mounted at one end. The magnetic ring 120 is located outside the container 110, and its diameter is relatively larger than the outlet of the container 110. A filling device 200 extends along a first direction, with a hopper 210 at the input end and a rotatable turntable 220 at the conveying end. Parallel sausage casing tubes 230 are arranged on the turntable 220. The casing tube 230 is used for fitting and filling the casing; a matching slip ring 231 is provided on the casing tube 230 corresponding to the magnetic ring 120, for magnetic attraction and driving with the magnetic ring 120; an electromagnet is provided inside the slip ring 231, which is connected to the turntable 220 through a cylinder 240; a feeding mechanism is provided, which includes a flip-up fork 130 for driving the magnetic ring 120 to dock with the casing tube 230; the end of the fork 130 is U-shaped, for avoiding the container 110 and docking with the magnetic ring 120; a rope tying device 300 is located on the side of the casing tube 230 away from the turntable 220, and a coaxial through hole is provided corresponding to the casing tube 230.

[0022] In this embodiment, the storage bin 100 is used to store and automatically supply sausage casings. It is internally equipped with a first conveying mechanism and a second conveying mechanism whose conveying directions are perpendicular to each other. The first and second conveying mechanisms cooperate to achieve the orderly storage and automatic individual feeding of the containers 110 containing sausage casings.

[0023] In this embodiment, the sausage casings are individually sorted and placed into a dedicated container 110 during the pretreatment stage. A magnetic ring 120 is coaxially fixed at one end of the sausage casing. The magnetic ring 120 is located outside the container 110, and its diameter is designed to be larger than the outlet diameter of the container 110, thereby structurally limiting the casing and preventing it from completely retracting into the container 110 during subsequent processing.

[0024] In this embodiment, the filling device 200 extends along a predetermined first direction. The input end of the filling device 200 is provided with a hopper 210 for receiving and temporarily storing sausage filling, while its conveying end is equipped with a turntable 220 that can rotate around its own axis. At least two casing tubes 230 for fitting casings and filling are fixedly installed on the turntable 220, with the extending directions of the casing tubes 230 being parallel to each other. On the casing tube 230, corresponding to the position of the magnetic ring 120 at the end of the casing, a slip ring 231 is fitted, which can slide along the axial direction of the casing tube 230. The slip ring 231 integrates an electromagnet, which generates magnetism when energized, allowing it to attract the magnetic ring 120 on the casing. The slip ring 231 is connected to the turntable 220 via a cylinder 240, which can drive the slip ring 231 and the attracted magnetic ring 120 to move along the axial direction of the casing tube 230.

[0025] In this embodiment, the feeding mechanism is used to transfer sausage casings from the conveying end of the storage bin 100 to the installation station and dock with the casing tube 230. The core driving component of this feeding mechanism is a reciprocating flip-up fork 130. The end of the fork 130 is constructed with a U-shaped structure, which allows it to avoid the main body of the container 110 during operation, thereby directly and stably docking and clamping with both sides of the magnetic ring 120. Through the flipping motion of the fork 130, the end of the sausage casing with the magnetic ring 120 can be accurately moved to the position aligned with the end of the casing tube 230.

[0026] In this embodiment, the tying device 300 is located at the end of the casing tube 230 away from the turntable 220, and its position corresponds to the outlet center axis of the casing tube 230. The tying device 300 has a through hole coaxial with the casing tube 230, through which the filled and shaped sausage product can pass, and the tying device 300 performs fixed-length segmentation and end-tying operations.

[0027] The automated production line provided in this embodiment achieves automated feeding of sausage casings through a vertically arranged conveying mechanism within the storage bin 100. It creatively utilizes the magnetic attraction between the magnetic ring 120 and the electromagnetic slip ring 231, combined with a flip-up fork 130 with a specific U-shaped end, to achieve automatic and precise placement of natural sausage casings onto the casing tube 230. This effectively solves the problem of feeding natural sausage casings in automated production and provides a foundation for fully automated continuous production of sausage products.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the number of sausage casing tubes 230 includes two, with their extension direction parallel to the first direction and their arrangement direction parallel to the vertical direction; the two sausage casing tubes 230 are respectively connected to the output end of the filling device 200 through a three-way valve; the three-way valve is connected to the sausage casing tubes 230 and the filling device 200 through a flexible hose; the turntable 220 rotates at a single angle of 180°, used to switch the positions of the two sausage casing tubes 230; the rotation direction of the turntable 220 is alternating between forward and reverse rotation.

[0029] In this embodiment, the conveying end of the filling device 200 is provided with a turntable 220 that can rotate relative to the filling device 200. Two parallel sausage casing tubes 230 are arranged side-by-side on the turntable 220. The extending directions of the two sausage casing tubes 230 are parallel to the extending direction of the main body of the filling device 200, i.e., the first direction. In terms of spatial arrangement, the two sausage casing tubes 230 are arranged vertically.

[0030] In this embodiment, to facilitate the distribution and switching of filling material to the two casing tubes 230, a three-way valve is installed between the material output end of the filling device 200 and the input ends of the two casing tubes 230. One inlet of the three-way valve is connected to the output end of the filling device 200 via a flexible hose, and its two outlets are respectively connected to the corresponding casing tubes 230 via other flexible hoses. The flexible hose connection method provides the necessary flexibility and room for movement for the relatively moving parts in the system.

[0031] In this embodiment, the rotation control of the turntable 220 has a specific mode. Its single rotation angle is set to 180 degrees. Through each precise 180-degree rotation, the turntable 220 can interchange the positions of the two sausage casing tubes 230 located at the top and bottom. For example, the sausage casing tube 230 that has just been casing-fitted and is located at the bottom position can be switched to the top filling position, while the sausage casing tube 230 that has been filled and is located at the top can be switched to the bottom for casing fitting or maintenance. In addition, the rotation direction of the turntable 220 is designed to alternate between forward and reverse rotation.

[0032] This embodiment employs a scheme where two casing tubes 230 are arranged side-by-side and connected to the filling device 200 via a three-way valve and a flexible hose. Combined with the 180-degree alternating forward and reverse rotation of the turntable 220, the casing-setting station and the filling station are separated and operated in a cyclical alternation. While one casing tube 230 is filling, the other casing tube 230 can perform preparatory work such as casing setting in parallel, significantly reducing production line waiting time and effectively improving the continuity and efficiency of the entire sausage production process.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the first conveying mechanism includes a conveyor belt extending along the first direction; the conveyor belt is embedded in the bottom of the storage bin 100 for conveying the containers 110 sequentially to dock with the feeding mechanism; the second conveying mechanism is located on one side of the conveyor belt and includes a pusher plate extending along the first direction, forming a storage area between the pusher plate and the conveyor belt; the pushing direction of the pusher plate is perpendicular to the first direction, for conveying the containers 110 sequentially and in batches onto the conveyor belt.

[0034] In this embodiment, the storage bin 100 is equipped with two sets of cooperating conveying mechanisms, namely a first conveying mechanism and a second conveying mechanism. The first conveying mechanism is specifically a conveyor belt extending along a first direction (i.e., the main conveying direction of the production line). This conveyor belt is embedded in the bottom of the storage bin 100, with its conveying plane slightly lower than or equal to the bottom plate of the storage bin 100, and is used to carry and directionally convey containers 110 loaded with sausage casings. The purpose of the conveyor belt is to transport the containers 110 sequentially and one by one to the designated loading station corresponding to the loading mechanism.

[0035] In this embodiment, the second conveying mechanism is located on one side of the conveyor belt, and its main body is a pusher plate extending along the same first direction. Between the pusher plate and the side of the conveyor belt, a centralized storage area is naturally formed within the storage bin 100 for batch storage of containers 110 to be used. The main direction of movement of the pusher plate is perpendicular to the first direction, that is, perpendicular to the running direction of the conveyor belt. Through reciprocating pushing motion along this vertical direction, the pusher plate can sequentially and in batches push the containers 110 in the storage area laterally to the starting end of the conveyor belt, thereby completing the connection from batch storage to linear conveying.

[0036] In this embodiment, the conveyor belt of the first conveyor mechanism enables precise and continuous linear feeding of the container 110, while the pusher plate of the second conveyor mechanism enables automated replenishment from the storage area to the feed line. The two mechanisms work vertically together in the conveying direction to form a highly efficient automatic feeding system, ensuring that the casings can be continuously and stably supplied to the subsequent casing stations. This is one of the key foundational links for achieving full automation of the production line.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the length of the conveyor belt is relatively greater than the length of the push plate, and the end away from the feeding mechanism is located on the side wall of the storage box 100; the end of the storage box 100 near the feeding mechanism is provided with an extension corresponding to the conveyor belt; the extension includes baffles located on both sides of the conveyor belt and with a height relatively smaller than that of the container 110.

[0038] In this embodiment, the overall length of the conveyor belt installed inside the storage bin 100 is designed to be significantly greater than the length of the push plate in the aforementioned second conveying mechanism.

[0039] Specifically, the conveyor belt extends from the end furthest from the feeding mechanism, i.e., its starting end, and terminates near the side wall of the storage bin 100. This arrangement allows the container 110 to be gathered from a wider area inside the storage bin 100 to the starting point of the conveyor belt, facilitating a smooth connection with the pushing action of the pusher plate.

[0040] In this embodiment, a structural extension is specifically provided at the end of the storage bin 100 near the feeding mechanism, i.e., the discharge end of the conveyor belt. This extension directly receives the end of the conveyor belt, and its main structure includes two baffles fixed to both sides of the conveyor belt. The height of these two baffles is intentionally designed to be lower than the overall height of the container 110. When the container 110 is transported to this location by the conveyor belt, the baffles on both sides can guide and limit its movement, preventing the container 110 from shifting laterally or tipping over when it is about to enter the feeding station, while also ensuring that the baffles are not too high and obstruct the operation of the feeding mechanism (such as the shift fork 130) on the magnetic ring 120 in the container 110.

[0041] This embodiment optimizes the convergence path of container 110 from the storage area to the conveyor line by extending the conveyor belt to the side wall of the container. By setting extensions with baffles of specific heights at key workstations, effective guidance and preliminary constraint of container 110 are achieved before precise positioning. These structures work together to improve the reliability and stability of the automatic feeding process, providing an accurate material supply basis for the subsequent automatic casing installation.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the push plate is driven by a stepper motor, with both ends extending to the outside of the storage bin 100; the storage bin 100 has matching slotted holes corresponding to the push plate for the push plate to pass through; the stepper motor is driven by the push plate via a worm gear; the worm gear extends along the first direction, with both ends connected to the two ends of the push plate via lead screws; the lead screw is rotatably mounted on the storage bin 100, with one end threadedly connected to the push plate and the other end connected to the worm gear via a worm wheel.

[0043] In this embodiment, the push plate in the second conveying mechanism is powered by a stepper motor. Both ends of the push plate are designed to extend to the outside of the storage box 100 for easy drive connection. To accommodate the through-type installation and reciprocating motion of the push plate, a strip-shaped hole matching the shape of the push plate is provided on the corresponding side wall of the storage box 100. This strip-shaped hole allows the push plate to pass freely through the box wall without interference during movement.

[0044] In this embodiment, the rotational power output by the stepper motor is transmitted to the push plate through a worm gear transmission mechanism.

[0045] Specifically, a worm extending in a first direction is connected to the output shaft of a stepper motor. A lead screw is connected to each end of the worm. Each lead screw is rotatably mounted on a corresponding support structure of the storage bin 100. One end of the lead screw meshes with the worm via a worm gear, thereby converting the worm's rotational motion into the lead screw's own rotation; the other end of the lead screw is connected to the corresponding end of the push plate via a threaded pair.

[0046] When the stepper motor starts and drives the worm gear to rotate, it drives the lead screws at both ends to rotate synchronously. Since the two ends of the push plate are threaded to the two lead screws respectively, the rotational motion of the lead screws is converted into linear reciprocating motion of the push plate along a direction perpendicular to the lead screw axis. By controlling the rotation angle and direction of the stepper motor, the pushing distance and reciprocating cycle of the push plate can be precisely controlled, thereby realizing the sequential and quantitative horizontal pushing of the containers 110 in the storage area onto the conveyor belt of the first conveying mechanism.

[0047] This embodiment employs a stepper motor combined with a worm gear-lead screw drive scheme, providing a compact, self-locking, and high-precision drive method for the pusher plate. The design of synchronously driving both ends of the pusher plate with dual lead screws effectively ensures the smoothness and straightness of the pusher plate's movement, avoids jamming or skew, and ensures the reliability and batch consistency of the transfer of container 110 from the storage area to the conveyor line.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic ring 120 includes a permanent magnet part and a docking part that are independent of each other; the permanent magnet part and the docking part are respectively annular, and their inner diameters match the diameter of the casing tube 230; the docking part is made of a magnetic material and is used to press the end of the casing onto the permanent magnet part.

[0049] In this embodiment, the permanent magnet part is a ring-shaped body made of permanent magnet material (such as ferrite, neodymium iron boron, etc.), and the constant magnetic field it generates is used to generate an attraction force with the electromagnet in the slip ring 231 on the casing tube 230. The docking part is also a ring-shaped body, but its material is a soft magnetic material that can be magnetized (such as low carbon steel, silicon steel, etc.). It does not generate a permanent magnetic field itself, but has good magnetic permeability.

[0050] In this embodiment, the inner diameters of both the permanent magnet section and the docking section are precisely machined to ensure they match the outer diameter of the casing tube 230, allowing the magnetic ring 120 to be smoothly fitted onto the casing tube 230 and slide along its axial direction. In the installed state, the end of the casing is held between the permanent magnet section and the docking section.

[0051] Specifically, under the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, the connecting part is attracted and pressed onto the permanent magnet, thus firmly clamping the end of the casing between the two annular components. This design achieves reliable fixation of the casing through magnetic force, and the annular pressing method of the connecting part can also evenly distribute the pressure, avoiding damage to the fragile natural casing.

[0052] This embodiment cleverly separates the function of providing adsorption force from the function of performing physical clamping by designing the magnetic ring 120 as a combined structure consisting of an independent permanent magnet part and a docking part. This structure not only ensures a stable and reliable magnetic connection with the slip ring 231, providing a power basis for automated casing installation, but also achieves non-destructive and firm clamping of the casing end, ensuring that the casing will not loosen or shift during subsequent traction, filling and other processes, thus improving the reliability of the entire automated production process.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the end of the shift fork 130 away from the magnetic ring 120 is mounted on the base 131 via a hinge shaft and is driven to rotate by a servo motor; the servo motor and the hinge shaft are connected by a matching worm gear mechanism; the end of the shift fork 130 near the magnetic ring 120 is provided with a matching groove corresponding to the magnetic ring 120 for positioning with the magnetic ring 120.

[0054] In this embodiment, the shift fork 130 is fixed and driven by the end of it away from the magnetic ring 120.

[0055] Specifically, the end of the shift fork 130 is mounted on a fixed base 131 on the production line frame via a hinge shaft, thereby enabling the shift fork 130 to rotate around the axis of the hinge shaft.

[0056] In this embodiment, the flipping motion of the shift fork 130 is powered by a servo motor. The servo motor is connected to the aforementioned hinge shaft via a worm gear mechanism.

[0057] Specifically, the output shaft of the servo motor drives the worm gear to rotate, and the worm gear meshes with a worm wheel mounted on the hinge shaft. When the servo motor is working, the worm gear drives the worm wheel, thereby driving the hinge shaft and the shift fork 130 fixed thereon to rotate precisely by a specific angle. Using a worm gear mechanism for transmission not only accurately converts the rotational motion of the servo motor into the oscillation of the shift fork, but also has the advantages of a large transmission ratio, compact structure, and a self-locking function in the event of power failure, maintaining the stability of the shift fork position.

[0058] In this embodiment, at the working end of the shift fork 130 near the magnetic ring 120, one side of its U-shaped opening is further optimized to match the shape of the magnetic ring 120, and a groove matching the outer contour of the magnetic ring 120 is machined. When the shift fork 130 is flipped to the working position and approaches the magnetic ring 120, this groove can precisely accommodate and fit the local outer surface of the magnetic ring 120, thereby effectively positioning and holding the magnetic ring 120 in the radial and axial directions, preventing the magnetic ring 120 from sliding or shifting during gripping and transfer.

[0059] In this embodiment, the fork 130 is hinged to the base 131 and driven by a servo motor in conjunction with a worm gear mechanism, achieving precise control over the fork's flipping angle and speed. Simultaneously, a groove matching the magnetic ring is provided at the working end of the fork, significantly improving the centering, stability, and success rate when gripping the magnetic ring. These designs collectively ensure that the feeding mechanism can accurately and stably transfer the magnetic ring 120 at the end of the casing to the position where it docks with the casing tube 230, laying a solid foundation for subsequent automated nesting processes.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, an auxiliary device is further included; the auxiliary device includes a sliding sleeve 310 located on the side of the tying device 300 away from the casing tube 230 and a cutter 320 located on the side of the casing tube 230; the sliding sleeve 310 has an internal interlayer, and the inner wall has air holes that communicate with the interlayer and are evenly distributed, and the outer wall has an air nozzle that communicates with the interlayer and is connected to an external negative pressure device; the cutter 320 is slidably mounted on the tying device 300 and is used to cut the casing.

[0061] In this embodiment, the auxiliary device mainly includes two functional components: a sliding sleeve 310 and a cutter 320. In terms of position, the sliding sleeve 310 is located on the side of the tying device 300 away from the casing tube 230, that is, in the forward direction after the sausage product is tied with a rope; while the cutter 320 is located on the side of the tying device 300 closer to the casing tube 230.

[0062] In this embodiment, the sliding sleeve 310 is a cylindrical component with a hollow sandwich structure inside. Several small air holes are evenly distributed on the inner wall of the sliding sleeve 310, and these air holes are all connected to the internal sandwich space. A dedicated air nozzle is provided on the outer wall of the sliding sleeve 310, which is also connected to the internal sandwich space and is connected to a negative pressure device (e.g., a vacuum pump) outside the production line via a pipeline.

[0063] In this embodiment, the cutter 320 is mounted on the body of the rope-tying device 300 and can slide under the drive of a driving mechanism (such as a cylinder or linear motor). Its sliding path is usually set perpendicular to the forward direction of the sausage product.

[0064] In this embodiment, after the casing is automatically fitted, the end is an open structure. At this time, the sliding sleeve 310 can pass through the tying device 300 and be directly inserted into the casing tube 230. At this time, the casing can be adsorbed onto the inner wall of the sliding sleeve 310 by negative pressure, and then the casing is carried through the tying device 300 and tied and sealed. Conversely, when the casing is used up, the cutter 320 can effectively cut the casing and separate it from the magnetic ring 120.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary device further includes a lifting plate 330 located below the sausage casing tube 230; rollers 331 are respectively provided on both sides of the lifting plate 330; the two active rollers 331 are slidably connected to the lifting plate 330 through sliding blocks; the two sliding blocks are connected by a bidirectional lead screw for synchronous and reverse driving.

[0066] In this embodiment, the auxiliary device includes a lifting plate 330 disposed below the sausage casing tube 230. The lifting plate 330 can move vertically up and down via a linear drive mechanism (such as a cylinder, electric push rod, or screw jack), so that its working plane can be close to or away from the sausage casing tube 230 above, in order to adapt to different support height requirements.

[0067] In this embodiment, on the working plane of the lifting plate 330, a roller 331 is symmetrically arranged on both sides of the casing tube 230. The axes of these two rollers 331 are perpendicular to the axis of the casing tube 230, and their wheel surfaces are used to clamp and drive the casing from both sides, thereby completing the entire casing installation.

[0068] In this embodiment, each roller 331 is mounted on an independent slide. Both slides are slidably mounted on the lifting plate 330, and their sliding direction is constrained to be along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the sausage casing tube 230, that is, the two slides can move closer to or further away from each other.

[0069] In this embodiment, the two slides are mechanically linked by a bidirectional lead screw. The two ends of the bidirectional lead screw have threaded sections with opposite directions of rotation, which respectively engage with the two slides. When the bidirectional lead screw rotates around its own axis under the drive of a driving device (such as a stepper motor), the opposite threads at both ends drive the two slides to move synchronously and in opposite directions along the lifting plate 330, thereby achieving precise adjustment of the distance between the two rollers 331.

[0070] In this embodiment, the roller 331 can rotate by being driven by a motor; at the same time, the fork 130 is also equipped with a sensor that is linked to the motor. When the end of the casing passes the sensor, the motor will receive a signal and, based on the distance between the fork and the end of the casing tube 230, ensure that the end of the casing is exactly at the end of the casing tube 230, thereby forming a casing with a flat end, ensuring that it can be properly connected with the sliding sleeve 310.

[0071] Secondly, please propose a method for producing sausage products, including the following steps: S100, first put the casing into container (110), then put container (110) into storage box (100); S200, the second conveying mechanism transports containers (110) in batches to the first conveying mechanism; S210, the first conveying mechanism conveys the containers (110) one by one to the feeding mechanism; S300, the feeding mechanism transports the magnetic ring (120) to the casing tube (230); S310, the cylinder (240) is connected to the magnetic ring (120) through the slip ring (231) and drives the magnetic ring to be sleeved on the sausage casing tube (230); S400, the turntable (220) rotates 180° to switch the casing tube (230) fitted with the casing to the top and fill; S500, the rope-tying device (300) ties the filled casings to a fixed length.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, the core innovation of the automated production line provided by this technical solution lies in a dedicated system designed to address the challenges of automated feeding and casing of natural sausage casings. This system includes a traction casing mechanism based on magnetic rings and slip rings, a storage bin with vertical conveying capabilities, and a flipping fork for precise casing transfer. In the actual construction of a complete production line, to achieve full automation from raw material processing to finished product output, those skilled in the art can and should organically combine the aforementioned innovative modules with conventional sausage production equipment widely used in the industry.

[0073] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and an explanation of the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of the invention involved in this application is not limited to technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above-described technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by arbitrary combinations of the above-described technical features or their equivalents without departing from the inventive concept. For example, technical solutions formed by substituting the above features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions disclosed in this application.

Claims

1. An automated production line for sausage products, characterized in that, include: The storage bin (100) is equipped with a first conveying mechanism and a second conveying mechanism with the conveying direction perpendicular to each other, for storing sausage casings and automatically feeding them. The casing is placed independently in the container (110), and a magnetic ring (120) is coaxially installed at one end. The magnetic ring (120) is located outside the container (110) and its diameter is relatively larger than the outlet of the container (110); A filling device (200) extends along a first direction, with a hopper (210) at the input end and a turntable (220) that can rotate relative to it at the conveying end. The turntable (220) is provided with parallel sausage casing tubes (230) for fitting and filling with the sausage casing; The casing tube (230) is provided with a matching slip ring (231) corresponding to the magnetic ring (120), which is used to magnetically attract and drive the magnetic ring (120); The slip ring (231) is equipped with an electromagnet inside, and is connected to the turntable (220) via a cylinder (240); The feeding mechanism includes a flip-up fork (130) for driving the magnetic ring (120) to dock with the casing tube (230); The end of the fork (130) is U-shaped, used to avoid the container (110) and connect with the magnetic ring (120); A rope-tying device (300) is located on the side of the sausage casing tube (230) away from the turntable (220), and a coaxial through hole is provided corresponding to the sausage casing tube (230).

2. The automated production line for sausage products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the intestinal casing tubes (230) includes two, with the extension direction parallel to the first direction and the arrangement direction parallel to the vertical direction; The two casing tubes (230) are respectively connected to the output end of the filling device (200) via three-way valves; The three-way valve is connected to the casing tube (230) and the filling device (200) respectively via flexible hoses; The turntable (220) rotates 180° at a time and is used to switch the positions of the two casing tubes (230); The turntable (220) rotates alternately in both forward and reverse directions.

3. The automated production line for sausage products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first conveying mechanism includes a conveyor belt extending along the first direction; The conveyor belt is embedded in the bottom of the storage box (100) and is used to transport the container (110) to dock with the feeding mechanism in sequence; The second conveying mechanism is located on one side of the conveyor belt and includes a push plate extending along the first direction, forming a storage area between itself and the conveyor belt; The pushing direction of the pusher plate is perpendicular to the first direction, and is used to transport the containers (110) sequentially and in batches onto the conveyor belt.

4. The automated production line for sausage products according to claim 3, characterized in that, The length of the conveyor belt is relatively greater than the length of the push plate, and the end away from the feeding mechanism is located at the side wall of the storage box (100); The storage bin (100) has an extension at one end near the feeding mechanism, corresponding to the transmission belt; The extension includes baffles located on both sides of the conveyor belt and with a height relatively smaller than that of the container (110).

5. The automated production line for sausage products according to claim 3, characterized in that, The push plate is driven by a stepper motor and extends to the outside of the storage box (100) at both ends; The storage bin (100) has matching slotted holes corresponding to the push plate for the push plate to pass through; The stepper motor is driven by the push plate via a worm gear. The worm extends along the first direction, and its two ends are respectively connected to the two ends of the push plate via lead screws; The lead screw is rotatably mounted on the storage box (100), with one end threadedly connected to the push plate and the other end connected to the worm through a worm gear.

6. The automated production line for sausage products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The magnetic ring (120) includes a permanent magnet section and a docking section that are independent of each other; The permanent magnet part and the docking part are respectively annular, and their inner diameters match the diameter of the casing tube (230); The docking part is made of magnetic material and is used to press the end of the casing onto the permanent magnet part.

7. The automated production line for sausage products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the shift fork (130) away from the magnetic ring (120) is mounted on the base (131) via a hinge shaft and is driven to rotate by a servo motor; The servo motor and the hinge shaft are connected by a matching worm gear mechanism; The fork (130) has a matching groove at one end near the magnetic ring (120) to form a positioning with the magnetic ring (120).

8. The automated production line for sausage products according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes auxiliary devices; The auxiliary device includes a sliding sleeve (310) located on the side of the rope-tying device (300) away from the casing tube (230) and a cutter (320) located on the side of the casing tube (230). The sliding sleeve (310) has an internal interlayer, and the inner wall has air holes that communicate with the interlayer and are evenly arranged. The outer wall has an air nozzle that communicates with the interlayer and is connected to an external negative pressure device. The cutter (320) is slidably mounted on the rope-tying device (300) for cutting the sausage casing.

9. The automated production line for sausage products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The auxiliary device also includes a lifting plate (330) located below the sausage casing tube (230). Rollers (331) are respectively provided on both sides of the sausage casing tube (230) on the lifting plate (330). The two active rollers (331) are slidably connected to the lifting plate (330) via sliding blocks; The two slides are connected by a bidirectional lead screw for synchronous and reverse driving.

10. A production method comprising an automated production line for sausage products according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S100, first put the casing into container (110), then put container (110) into storage box (100); S200, the second conveying mechanism transports containers (110) in batches to the first conveying mechanism; S210, the first conveying mechanism conveys the containers (110) one by one to the feeding mechanism; S300, the feeding mechanism transports the magnetic ring (120) to the casing tube (230); S310, the cylinder (240) is connected to the magnetic ring (120) through the slip ring (231) and drives the magnetic ring to be sleeved on the sausage casing tube (230); S400, the turntable (220) rotates 180° to switch the casing tube (230) fitted with the casing to the top and fill; S500, the rope-tying device (300) ties the filled casings to a fixed length.

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