A high-efficiency machine for producing Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb).

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of Shenqu (a type of medicinal fermentation) production technology, specifically to a high-efficiency Shenqu processing machine, comprising: a frame as an installation base; a conveying mechanism mounted on the frame for conveying materials; and an extrusion mechanism located at the end of the conveying mechanism for extruding materials into strip-shaped products. The extrusion mechanism has a forming mesh at its outlet, configured to divide the material into multiple material streams, which then converge to form the strip-shaped product, creating a porous structure within the product. The beneficial effect of this invention is that the forming mesh at the outlet of the extrusion mechanism, configured to divide the material into multiple material streams that converge to form a strip-shaped product with a porous internal structure, optimizes the internal structure of the material, promotes moisture diffusion, and improves drying efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of Shenqu production, and specifically relates to an extrusion mechanism for a high-efficiency Shenqu production machine. Background Technology

[0002] Shenqu (also known as Shenqu for short) is a traditional and commonly used Chinese medicinal herb. It is made from flour, bitter almonds, red beans, and fresh artemisia annua, knotweed, and cocklebur through fermentation and processing. It has the effects of promoting digestion, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and is widely used in clinical prescriptions and prepared Chinese medicines. In the processing of Shenqu, the shaping process is a key step. The fermented Shenqu material needs to be shaped and cut into uniform pieces for subsequent drying, storage, and use.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream equipment in the production of Shenqu (a type of fermented wheat bran) granules mostly adopts an integrated extrusion molding and cutting structure. Its working principle is as follows: the fermented Shenqu material is fed into the extrusion mechanism, extruded into a long strip shape through the extrusion die, and then cut into Shenqu granules of a set size by a cutter. However, existing Shenqu granule making machines have technical defects in actual production, affecting production efficiency and product quality, as follows:

[0004] Existing Shenqu (fermented wheat bran) forming machines mostly use a single-hole extrusion die. After fermentation, the Shenqu material is extruded through the die, forming strips of dense Shenqu. The Shenqu pieces formed by subsequent cutting are also dense. Because the Shenqu material itself contains a lot of moisture, and the internal moisture of the dense structure is difficult to diffuse to the surface, dehydration in the subsequent drying process can only be achieved by the evaporation of surface moisture, resulting in a slow drying rate and significantly extended drying time. At the same time, to ensure that the internal moisture of the dense Shenqu pieces can be completely evaporated to the limit specified in the pharmacopoeia, high-temperature hot air must be continuously supplied or the drying time must be extended. This not only increases energy consumption such as electricity and heat, but also easily leads to uneven drying, causing the Shenqu pieces to deteriorate such as surface scorching, internal mold, and souring, affecting the product's appearance and internal quality.

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, some existing technologies attempt to accelerate the drying rate by optimizing subsequent drying processes (such as increasing drying temperature and hot air volume), but this further increases energy consumption. Other existing technologies attempt to add drying excipients to the material before extrusion to reduce moisture, but adding drying excipients will inevitably introduce foreign impurities, affecting the pharmaceutical purity of Shenqu.

[0006] Therefore, a highly efficient machine for producing Shenqu (a type of medicinal liquor) is needed to overcome the aforementioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a high-efficiency machine for producing Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb), thus achieving the goal of solving the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technical solution: a high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb), comprising: a frame as an installation base; a conveying mechanism disposed on the frame for conveying materials; and an extrusion mechanism disposed at the end of the conveying mechanism for extruding materials into strip-shaped products; wherein, a forming mesh is provided at the outlet of the extrusion mechanism, the forming mesh being configured to divide the material into multiple material streams, and to cause the multiple material streams to merge after passing through the forming mesh to form the strip-shaped product, thereby creating a void structure inside the strip-shaped product.

[0009] As a further improvement to the above technical solution:

[0010] The extrusion mechanism includes: a collection bin, located at the end of the conveying mechanism, for receiving the material conveyed by the conveying mechanism; an extrusion bin, connected to the bottom of the collection bin; at least one extrusion bin, connected to the bottom of the extrusion bin; and a spiral extrusion shaft, rotatably disposed inside the extrusion bin and the collection bin; wherein, after the spiral extrusion shaft rotates, it extrudes the material into the interior of the extrusion bin, and then discharges it through the forming mesh at the discharge port at the end of the extrusion bin to form a strip-shaped product.

[0011] The extrusion chamber is rotatably located at the bottom of the extrusion chamber; the extrusion chamber rotates when extruding material so that the strip-shaped product has a spiral structure.

[0012] The extrusion mechanism includes a drive structure for driving the extrusion chamber to rotate; the drive structure includes: a drive gear, rotatably disposed at the end of the spiral extrusion shaft extending out of the extrusion chamber; and a gear ring, coaxially fixed to the outside of the extrusion chamber and meshing with the drive gear; wherein, when the spiral extrusion shaft rotates, it drives the drive gear to rotate, thereby driving the extrusion chamber to rotate through the gear ring.

[0013] A guide cylinder for guiding the strip-shaped product is provided below the discharge port of the extrusion chamber.

[0014] The spiral extrusion shaft is connected to a cutter shaft, and a cutting blade is fixedly connected to the end of the cutter shaft at the end of the guide cylinder.

[0015] A worm gear is fixedly connected to the end of the spiral extrusion shaft, a worm gear meshing with the worm gear is rotatably mounted on the frame, and a drive source for driving the worm gear to rotate is mounted on the frame.

[0016] A high-efficiency machine for producing Shenqu (a type of medicinal liquor) also includes a drying mechanism, which is mounted on the machine frame and is used for dehydrating the material.

[0017] The drying mechanism includes: a heating roller, which is disposed above the conveying mechanism and is used to press the material into a sheet while heating the material; and a fan, which is disposed above the conveying mechanism and is used to blow and dry the sheet material.

[0018] The heating roller is equipped with a sprocket three for power input.

[0019] The conveying mechanism is equipped with a sprocket one for power input, and the worm gear is equipped with a sprocket two. The sprocket one and sprocket two are connected to the drive source via a chain one, and the sprocket three is connected to the drive source via a chain two.

[0020] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present invention are as follows:

[0021] This application provides a high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu Ding with an extrusion mechanism. A forming screen is provided at the discharge port of the extrusion mechanism. The forming screen is configured to divide the material into multiple material streams and then merge them to form a strip-shaped product with an internal void structure, thereby optimizing the internal structure of the material to promote moisture diffusion. It has the advantages of improving drying efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and reducing the risk of spoilage.

[0022] The extrusion chamber proposed in this application rotates during material extrusion. As the material leaves the extrusion chamber through the forming mesh, it is subjected to a torsional force generated by the rotational motion. This torsional force, combined with the axial extrusion motion of the material, causes the strip-shaped product to naturally exhibit a spiral structure during its formation. Because the spiral structure increases the surface area of ​​the product and the contact area between material flows, it is beneficial for subsequent drying, baking, and other processing steps.

[0023] This application utilizes the rotational motion of the spiral extrusion shaft itself as a power source, and achieves effective driving of the extrusion chamber through a gear transmission mechanism composed of a drive gear and a gear ring. This design avoids the complexity of configuring a separate drive source for the extrusion chamber, simplifies the overall structure of the machine, and reduces manufacturing costs and maintenance difficulty. More importantly, because the rotation of the extrusion chamber is directly linked to the rotation of the spiral extrusion shaft, the two maintain precise synchronization, thereby ensuring that the material can be stably endowed with a uniform spiral structure during the extrusion process. Attached Figure Description

[0024] 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:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a first-view structural schematic diagram of the extrusion mechanism of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the extrusion mechanism of the present invention from a second perspective;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the extrusion mechanism of the present invention.

[0029] In the diagram: 1. Frame; 2. Conveying mechanism; 3. Extrusion mechanism; 31. Collection bin; 32. Extrusion chamber; 33. Extrusion chamber; 34. Spiral extrusion shaft; 35. Guide cylinder; 36. Cutting blade; 37. Worm gear; 38. Worm; 4. Drive structure; 41. Drive gear; 42. Gear ring; 5. Drive source; 6. Sprocket 1; 7. Sprocket 2; 8. Drying mechanism; 81. Heating roller; 82. Fan; 83. Sprocket 3; 9. Forming mesh. Detailed Implementation

[0030] 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 for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0031] See Figures 1 to 4 This invention discloses a high-efficiency Shenqu Ding production machine. Traditional Shenqu Ding production machines suffer from slow drying rates and prolonged drying times due to the difficulty of moisture diffusion within the dense material, resulting in increased energy consumption such as electricity and heat.

[0032] In response, this application proposes a high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb). The equipment includes a frame 1, serving as the mounting base; a conveying mechanism 2, mounted on the frame 1, for conveying materials; and an extrusion mechanism 3, located at the end of the conveying mechanism 2, for extruding materials into strip-shaped products. The extrusion mechanism 3 has a forming mesh 9 at its outlet, configured to divide the material into multiple material streams, which then converge after passing through the mesh 9 to form the strip-shaped product, creating a porous structure within the product.

[0033] For ease of understanding, the following explains some key terms in this embodiment:

[0034] The frame 1 serves as the support structure for the equipment, used to install and fix various functional components, ensuring the stability and integrity of the equipment during operation.

[0035] The conveying mechanism 2 is responsible for continuously or intermittently feeding the material to be processed from the feed end to the extrusion mechanism 3, and its function is to realize the automated and continuous supply of materials.

[0036] The extrusion mechanism 3 is the core component for material forming. Its function is to extrude the received material from a mold of a specific shape through extrusion to form a strip-shaped product with a predetermined cross-sectional shape.

[0037] The forming mesh 9 is a component with a specific hole or slit structure, which is installed at the discharge port of the extrusion mechanism 3. Its function is to forcibly divide the incoming material into multiple independent material streams, and after these material streams pass through the mesh, they are made to re-merge, thereby forming a non-dense void structure inside the strip-shaped product formed by the merger.

[0038] Material flow refers to the independent, elongated material that is segmented when it passes through the holes or gaps of the forming mesh 9.

[0039] Strip-shaped products refer to strip-shaped objects with a certain length and cross-sectional shape formed after being processed by the extrusion mechanism 3 and the forming mesh 9.

[0040] A porous structure refers to the non-solid, non-dense pores inside a strip-shaped product, which facilitates the diffusion and evaporation of moisture.

[0041] This embodiment provides a high-efficiency machine for producing Shenqu (a type of medicinal liquor). The equipment includes a frame 1, which serves as the support and mounting foundation for the entire equipment. The frame 1 can be constructed from a welded steel frame or from a cast, one-piece base to ensure the stability and load-bearing capacity of the equipment during operation.

[0042] A conveying mechanism 2 is installed on the frame 1, and its main function is to convey materials. The conveying mechanism 2 can take many forms. For example, it can be a belt conveyor driven by a motor, which continuously conveys materials from the feed hopper to the inlet of the extrusion mechanism 3.

[0043] The extrusion mechanism 3 is located at the end of the conveying mechanism 2 and is used to extrude materials into strip-shaped products. The extrusion mechanism 3 can be a simple extrusion cylinder with a screw inside, which uses mechanical force to extrude materials from the discharge port. For example, materials are pushed into a cylinder and then extruded from a die hole at the end of the cylinder by the rotational motion of the screw.

[0044] A forming mesh 9 is provided at the discharge port of the extrusion mechanism 3. The forming mesh 9 can be a metal plate with multiple small holes, such as a perforated plate or a woven mesh, and its hole diameter and hole spacing can be designed according to the required material flow size. The forming mesh 9 is fixed at the discharge port of the extrusion mechanism 3 to ensure that all extruded material must pass through the forming mesh 9.

[0045] The forming mesh 9 is configured to divide the material into multiple material streams. When the material passes through the forming mesh 9 under the pressure of the extrusion mechanism 3, it is forcibly divided into multiple independent, elongated material streams due to the presence of multiple independent holes in the forming mesh 9. The diameter or cross-sectional shape of these material streams is determined by the hole size of the forming mesh 9.

[0046] The multiple material streams converge after passing through the forming mesh 9 to form the strip-shaped product. Specifically, after the multiple material streams are extruded from the holes of the forming mesh 9, outside the outlet, due to the viscosity and surface tension of the material itself, as well as the subsequent extrusion pressure, these independent material streams will re-contact and merge within a short distance to form a whole strip-shaped product. However, the parts of the independent material streams that have not contacted and merged form the voids inside the strip-shaped product.

[0047] As a result, a void structure is formed inside the strip-shaped product. As the material flow re-converges after passing through the forming mesh 9, tiny voids or channels are formed between the material flows during the convergence process. These voids are encased inside the final strip-shaped product, thus making the strip-shaped product no longer a dense, solid structure, but a structure with internal voids.

[0048] The high-efficiency Shenqu (medicated leaven) forming machine provided in this application divides the material into multiple streams by setting a forming mesh 9 at the discharge port of the extrusion mechanism 3. These streams converge after passing through the forming mesh 9, resulting in a porous structure inside the final strip-shaped product. This porous structure increases the internal specific surface area of ​​the Shenqu, facilitating the diffusion of internal moisture outwards. This helps to accelerate the subsequent drying process, shorten drying time, and reduce energy consumption. Simultaneously, the more uniform drying process reduces the occurrence of surface scorching, internal mold growth, and souring, ensuring product quality and pharmaceutical purity.

[0049] This application further proposes a specific structure for the extrusion mechanism 3, which includes a material collection bin 31, an extrusion bin 32, at least one extrusion bin 33, and a spiral extrusion shaft 34.

[0050] The collection bin 31 is located at the end of the conveying mechanism 2. Its main function is to receive the material conveyed by the conveying mechanism 2 and provide buffer and storage space for the subsequent extrusion process. The collection bin 31 is usually designed as a funnel-shaped container with a certain volume to ensure that the material can smoothly enter the extrusion chamber 32 from the conveying mechanism 2, thereby ensuring a continuous and stable supply of material.

[0051] The extrusion chamber 32 is connected to the bottom of the collection chamber 31, and its main function is to perform preliminary extrusion of the material. Through its connection with the collection chamber 31 and the extrusion chamber 33, the extrusion chamber 32 ensures that the material is gradually compressed and pushed towards the extrusion chamber 33 under the action of the screw extrusion shaft 34. The structural design of the extrusion chamber 32 should facilitate material flow and compaction, providing a uniform material flow for the subsequent fine extrusion in the extrusion chamber 33, thereby improving extrusion efficiency and product quality.

[0052] The extrusion chamber 33, connected to the bottom of the extrusion chamber 32, is a key component for the final extrusion molding of materials. The extrusion chamber 33 receives material from the extrusion chamber 32 and, driven by the screw extrusion shaft 34, extrudes the material through the forming mesh 9 at its end. There can be one or more extrusion chambers 33; multiple extrusion chambers 33 can achieve multi-channel extrusion to improve production efficiency. The inner wall of the extrusion chamber 33 is typically designed to be smooth to reduce material flow resistance. Its structure should be able to withstand extrusion pressure and ensure that the material is evenly stressed as it passes through the forming mesh 9.

[0053] The spiral extrusion shaft 34, rotatably mounted inside the extrusion chamber 32 and the collection chamber 31, is the core power component of the extrusion mechanism 3. It applies thrust to the material through rotation, achieving material conveying, compression, and extrusion. The design of the spiral blades of the spiral extrusion shaft 34, such as pitch, depth, and shape, is crucial to the material conveying efficiency and extrusion effect. The placement of the spiral extrusion shaft 34 inside the collection chamber 31 and the extrusion chamber 32 ensures that the entire process, from receiving the material for initial extrusion to final extrusion, is under control.

[0054] Through the above technical solution, the material collection bin 31, extrusion bin 32, at least one extrusion bin 33, and spiral extrusion shaft 34 arranged inside the extrusion mechanism 3 form a staged, collaborative material handling system. The material collection bin 31 ensures a stable supply of materials, avoiding material accumulation or interruption; the rotation of the spiral extrusion shaft 34 inside the material collection bin 31 and extrusion bin 32 can effectively pre-compress and transport the materials, ensuring that the materials are uniformly mixed before entering the extrusion bin 33. Subsequently, the materials are further extruded in the extrusion bin 33 and discharged through the forming mesh 9. This ensures that the materials pass through the forming mesh 9 with stable pressure and uniform state, thereby significantly improving the forming quality of the strip products and the uniformity and stability of the internal void structure.

[0055] This application further proposes that: the extrusion chamber 33 is rotatably disposed at the bottom of the extrusion chamber 32; the extrusion chamber 33 rotates when extruding material so that the strip product has a spiral structure.

[0056] Specifically, the extrusion chamber 33 is designed to rotate relative to the bottom of the extrusion chamber 32. This rotation is typically achieved by integrating a rotary bearing and a corresponding sealing structure at the interface between the extrusion chamber 33 and the extrusion chamber 32 to ensure smooth material flow while preventing leakage during the rotation of the extrusion chamber 33. This design provides the necessary mechanical basis for the subsequent formation of helical products.

[0057] In detail, when the material is pushed into the extrusion chamber 33 by the screw extrusion shaft 34 and is ready to be discharged through the forming mesh 9, the extrusion chamber 33 is simultaneously driven to perform continuous rotational motion. Rotational power can be provided to the extrusion chamber 33 by an external drive device (such as a motor, gear transmission mechanism, etc.) to maintain its continuous rotation during the material extrusion process. This is a key action to achieve the spiral structure of the strip-shaped product.

[0058] Due to the rotation of the extrusion chamber 33 during material extrusion, the material flow discharged from the forming mesh 9 experiences a tangential torsional force the instant it leaves the extrusion chamber 33. This torsional force, combined with the axial extrusion motion of the material, causes the material flow, which might originally be linear, to undergo a spiral deformation in space. The resulting strip-shaped product will exhibit a three-dimensional spiral shape with a specific pitch and spiral direction. The spiral structure not only increases the surface area of ​​the product but also increases the contact area between the material flows, resulting in a tighter integration between the material flows.

[0059] By employing the above technical solution, while maintaining the internal void structure of the strip-shaped product, this application effectively solves the problem of the single product shape in traditional extrusion methods. When the extrusion chamber 33 rotates during material extrusion, the material, as it exits the extrusion chamber 33 through the forming mesh 9, is subjected to a torsional effect generated by the rotational motion. This torsional effect, combined with the axial extrusion motion of the material, causes the strip-shaped product to naturally exhibit a spiral structure during its formation. Because the spiral structure increases the surface area of ​​the product and the contact area between material flows, it is beneficial for subsequent drying, baking, and other processing steps, thereby improving overall production efficiency.

[0060] This application further proposes an extrusion mechanism 3 including a drive structure 4 for driving the extrusion chamber 33 to rotate. The drive structure 4 is designed to provide rotational power to the extrusion chamber 33, enabling it to rotate at a preset speed and direction, thereby imparting a helical structure to the strip-shaped product during material extrusion.

[0061] Specifically, the drive structure 4 includes a drive gear 41 and a gear ring 42. The drive gear 41 is a key transmission component in the drive structure 4, its main function being to transmit the rotational motion and power of the screw extrusion shaft 34 to the gear ring 42. The drive gear 41 is typically mounted on the end of the screw extrusion shaft 34 extending out of the extrusion chamber 32 via a fixed or keyed connection, ensuring synchronous rotation with the screw extrusion shaft 34. The tooth profile, module, and number of teeth of this gear can be designed according to the required transmission ratio and torque to optimize transmission efficiency and stability. The gear ring 42 is a ring gear that meshes with the drive gear 41. Its main function is to receive the power transmitted by the drive gear 41 and directly apply it to the extrusion chamber 33, thereby driving the extrusion chamber 33 to rotate. The gear ring 42 is typically securely coaxially fixed to the outside of the extrusion chamber 33 by bolts, welding, or integral molding, ensuring synchronization with the extrusion chamber 33 during rotation. Its inner diameter matches the outer diameter of the extrusion chamber 33, and its external teeth precisely mesh with the tooth profile of the drive gear 41 to achieve smooth and reliable meshing transmission.

[0062] Based on this, when the screw extrusion shaft 34 rotates, it drives the drive gear 41 to rotate, which in turn drives the extrusion chamber 33 to rotate via the gear ring 42. When the screw extrusion shaft 34 rotates under the action of the drive source 5 (such as a motor), the drive gear 41 connected to its end extending out of the extrusion chamber 32 also rotates synchronously. The rotational motion of the drive gear 41 transmits power to the gear ring 42 through its meshing with the gear ring 42, which is coaxially fixed outside the extrusion chamber 33, thereby driving the entire extrusion chamber 33 to rotate around its axis. This design achieves mechanical linkage between the extrusion chamber 33 and the screw extrusion shaft 34, ensuring the synchronicity of their rotation.

[0063] The above technical solution utilizes the rotational motion of the spiral extrusion shaft 34 as a power source, and through a gear transmission mechanism composed of drive gear 41 and gear ring 42, effectively drives the extrusion chamber 33. This design avoids the complexity of configuring a separate drive source for the extrusion chamber 33, simplifies the overall structure of the machine, and reduces manufacturing costs and maintenance difficulty. More importantly, because the rotation of the extrusion chamber 33 is directly linked to the rotation of the spiral extrusion shaft 34, the two maintain precise synchronization, thereby ensuring that the material can be stably endowed with a uniform spiral structure during the extrusion process.

[0064] This application further proposes that a guide cylinder 35 for guiding the strip-shaped product is provided below the discharge port of the extrusion chamber 33. At the same time, a cutter shaft is connected to the spiral extrusion shaft 34, and a cutting blade 36 is fixedly connected to the end of the cutter shaft and disposed at the end of the guide cylinder 35.

[0065] Specifically, the guide tube 35 is configured to provide a stable passage path for the strip-shaped product extruded from the extrusion chamber 33. At the same time, through the gathering effect of the guide tube 35 on the strip-shaped product, multiple material flows can be merged inside the guide tube 35, so that when the extrusion chamber 33 rotates, it can drive the strip-shaped product to rotate to form a spiral structure.

[0066] The guide cylinder 35 can be a hollow cylinder or a channel with a specific cross-sectional shape, whose inner diameter or cavity shape matches the shape of the strip-shaped product to ensure smooth passage. The guide cylinder 35 is typically made of a material with a smooth inner wall to reduce friction and prevent material adhesion. Its position is immediately below the discharge port of the extrusion chamber 33, designed to effectively guide the strip-shaped product as it is extruded, preventing deviation or deformation during free fall. The length of the guide cylinder 35 can be adjusted according to actual production needs to optimize the descent or conveying trajectory of the strip-shaped product.

[0067] Meanwhile, a cutter shaft is connected to the end of the spiral extrusion shaft 34. The function of this cutter shaft is to transmit the rotational power of the spiral extrusion shaft 34 to the cutting blade 36. The cutter shaft is typically a high-strength, wear-resistant metal rod, such as stainless steel or alloy steel, with one end securely connected to the spiral extrusion shaft 34 via a key connection, threaded connection, or integral molding. The other end of the cutter shaft is used to fix the cutting blade 36. The length of the cutter shaft is precisely designed to ensure that the cutting blade 36 can be accurately positioned at the end of the guide cylinder 35, i.e., the position where the strip-shaped product leaves the guide cylinder 35.

[0068] The cutting blade 36 is fixedly connected to the end of the cutter shaft and is disposed at the end of the guide cylinder 35. The cutting blade 36 may consist of one or more blades. When the spiral extrusion shaft 34 rotates, the cutting blade 36 is driven to rotate synchronously through the cutter shaft. The rotation of the cutting blade 36 causes it to periodically sweep across the outlet of the guide cylinder 35, thereby cutting the continuously extruded strip product into t-shaped products of predetermined lengths.

[0069] Through the above technical solution, the guide cylinder 35 can effectively and stably guide multiple strip-shaped products after extrusion, preventing them from tangling or deforming during free fall and effectively maintaining their structural integrity. Simultaneously, the spiral extrusion shaft 34 connects to the cutter shaft and drives the cutting blade 36, located at the end of the guide cylinder 35, to rotate synchronously, achieving instant and precise cutting of the continuously extruded strip-shaped products. This synchronous cutting mechanism ensures that each T-shaped product has a consistent length and regular shape, greatly improving production efficiency and product quality.

[0070] This application further proposes that a worm gear 37 is fixedly connected to the end of the spiral extrusion shaft 34, a worm 38 that meshes with the worm gear 37 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1, and a drive source 5 for driving the worm 38 to rotate is mounted on the frame 1.

[0071] Specifically, the worm gear 37 is a gear with helical teeth, whose main function is to mesh with the worm 38, converting the rotational motion of the worm 38 into its own rotational motion, and further transmitting it to the screw extrusion shaft 34. The worm gear 37 is usually made of wear-resistant material to withstand high torque and long-term operation. It is fixedly connected to the end of the screw extrusion shaft 34 to ensure reliable power transmission. The worm 38 is a helical transmission component that forms a worm gear transmission pair with the worm gear 37. The worm 38 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1, and its helical structure continuously meshes with the teeth of the worm gear 37, thereby driving the worm gear 37 to rotate. The drive source 5 is a device that provides power to the worm 38 to make it rotate. A typical drive source 5 can be an electric motor, which drives the worm 38 to rotate electrically. The drive source 5 is mounted on the frame 1 and connected to the worm 38 through a suitable coupling or transmission mechanism to ensure stable and efficient power transmission.

[0072] Through the above technical solution, the screw extrusion shaft 34 is driven by a worm gear transmission mechanism. The worm 38 is driven by the drive source 5 and meshes with the worm wheel 37 fixedly connected to the end of the screw extrusion shaft 34. This transmission method can provide a large reduction ratio, thereby converting the higher speed of the drive source 5 into the lower and more stable speed required by the screw extrusion shaft 34, while significantly increasing the output torque. This enables the die-making machine to effectively process high-viscosity or high-density materials, ensuring that the material is fully extruded and uniformly conveyed inside the extrusion mechanism 3. In addition, the inherent self-locking characteristic of the worm gear transmission can prevent the screw extrusion shaft 34 from reversing when the drive source 5 stops working, thereby avoiding material backflow or deformation of the extruded product, and improving the stability and safety of the production process.

[0073] In practical use, the meshing point of the worm gear 37 and the worm 38 is covered with a housing to prevent material from contacting the meshing point of the worm gear 37 and the worm 38.

[0074] In some embodiments described above in this application, a high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of fermented wheat product) is proposed. The machine feeds material into an extrusion mechanism 3 via a conveying mechanism 2, and the material is extruded by a spiral extrusion shaft 34 to form a strip-shaped product with a porous structure. Simultaneously, a drive source 5 drives the spiral extrusion shaft 34. However, in the production process of Shenqu, the material often contains high moisture content before extrusion molding. If effective dehydration is not performed, the internal structure of the extruded strip-shaped product may become unstable, easily deformed, or stick together. Furthermore, the subsequent drying time is long, energy consumption is high, and it may even affect the final quality and storage stability of the product.

[0075] In this regard, this application further proposes that the aforementioned high-efficiency Shenqu (a type of medicinal liquor) processing machine also includes a drying mechanism 8, which is mounted on the frame 1 and used for dehydrating the material. The core function of the drying mechanism 8 is to effectively remove moisture from the material to reduce its moisture content and improve the physical properties of the product, such as hardness and brittleness. This mechanism can be implemented using various technologies, such as heating the material through hot air convection, infrared radiation, microwave heating, or contact heat transfer to promote the evaporation of moisture inside the material. Simultaneously, ventilation or dehumidification methods can be combined to promptly remove the evaporated moisture, thereby improving drying efficiency.

[0076] The drying mechanism 8 includes a heating roller 81 and a fan 82.

[0077] The heating roller 81, positioned above the conveying mechanism 2, is primarily used to press the material into a sheet shape while simultaneously heating it. Specifically, the heating roller 81 can consist of a pair of opposing rollers, with the material passing between them under the drive of the conveying mechanism 2. The rollers may have heating chambers inside, allowing heating of the material to be achieved by introducing heat media such as steam or hot oil, or by using electric heating. Through pressing, the material's thickness decreases, and its surface area increases, which facilitates rapid moisture evaporation. The surface of the heating roller 81 can be designed as a smooth surface or with a specific texture, depending on the material's characteristics, to optimize the pressing and heating effects.

[0078] A blower 82, positioned above the conveying mechanism 2, is used to blow and dry the sheet material. Specifically, the blower 82 can be a centrifugal blower or an axial flow blower, driven by a motor to rotate the impeller at high speed, generating a powerful airflow. This airflow acts directly on the sheet material after it has been processed by the heating roller 81, rapidly removing the moisture evaporated from the material's surface, thereby accelerating the drying process. The blower 82 can be positioned downstream of the heating roller 81 to ensure that the material is immediately blown and dried after being pressed and heated, maximizing drying efficiency. To further improve the drying effect, the airflow blown by the blower 82 can also be preheated hot air.

[0079] Through the above technical solution, the drying mechanism 8 presses the material into sheets and heats it using heating rollers 81, significantly increasing the surface area and temperature of the material, thereby accelerating the evaporation of moisture inside the material. Subsequently, the blower 82 blows these sheets to dry them, quickly removing the evaporated moisture and preventing it from recondensing on the material surface, further improving drying efficiency. This drying method, which combines mechanical pressing, heating, and forced convection, ensures that the material reaches the ideal moisture content before entering the extrusion mechanism 3, thus guaranteeing the quality and production efficiency of the final strip product.

[0080] This application further proposes that a sprocket 3 83 for power input is provided on the heating roller 81; a sprocket 1 6 for power input is provided on the conveying mechanism 2; a sprocket 2 7 is provided on the worm gear 38; the sprocket 1 6 and the sprocket 2 7 are connected by a chain 1 and a drive source 5; and the sprocket 3 83 is connected by a chain 2 and a drive source 5.

[0081] Specifically, sprocket 6 serves as the power input interface for conveying mechanism 2. Its function is to receive power from external sources and drive conveying mechanism 2 to achieve continuous material transport. As a mechanical transmission element, sprocket 6 transmits rotational motion and torque to the drive shaft of conveying mechanism 2, thereby ensuring smooth material transport. Sprocket 6 can be fixed to the drive shaft of conveying mechanism 2 and connected to an external power source via a chain. Its dimensions and number of teeth can be designed according to the required transmission ratio and torque to ensure that the conveying speed and load-bearing capacity meet production requirements.

[0082] Sprocket 7 is the power input interface for worm 38, used to receive external power and drive worm 38 to rotate. Worm 38 meshes with worm wheel 37, which in turn drives the screw extrusion shaft 34 to rotate, thereby realizing the extrusion of material. The role of sprocket 7 here is to transmit power from drive source 5 to worm 38, ensuring that screw extrusion shaft 34 can perform extrusion operation at a preset speed and torque. Sprocket 7 is usually fixed to the shaft end of worm 38 by key connection or bolts. Its design should consider the transmission ratio with sprocket 6 to achieve coordinated operation between conveying mechanism 2 and extrusion mechanism 3.

[0083] Sprockets 6 and 7 are connected via chain 1 and drive source 5. This connection method aims to provide power to both the conveying mechanism 2 and the worm gear 38 (which in turn drives the screw extrusion shaft 34) through a common drive source 5. Chain 1, as a flexible transmission element, enables long-distance transmission and allows for a certain degree of installation error. Distributing the power of drive source 5 to sprockets 6 and 7 via chain 1 simplifies the overall transmission system and enables synchronous or proportional linkage of components. A main sprocket can be mounted on the output shaft of drive source 5, and chain 1 bypasses the main sprocket, sprocket 6, and sprocket 7 to form a multi-point transmission system. By adjusting the gear ratio of the sprockets, the relative speed of the conveying mechanism 2 and the screw extrusion shaft 34 can be precisely controlled to adapt to the needs of different materials and production processes.

[0084] Sprocket 3 83 is connected to drive source 5 via chain 2. Sprocket 3 83 is the power input interface for heating roller 81, used to receive external power and drive heating roller 81 to rotate. Heating roller 81 is responsible for pressing material into sheets and heating it in drying mechanism 8. By transmitting power from drive source 5 to sprocket 3 83 via chain 2, the coordinated operation of heating roller 81 with conveying mechanism 2 and extrusion mechanism 3 can be ensured, achieving continuous material processing and drying. Another main sprocket can be installed on the output shaft of drive source 5, with chain 2 bypassing this main sprocket and sprocket 3 83. This design links the rotation of heating roller 81 to the main power source of the entire system, facilitating centralized control and coordination.

[0085] Through the above technical solution, the power input of the conveying mechanism 2, the extrusion mechanism 3, and the heating roller 81 in the drying mechanism 8 is unified through sprocket 6, sprocket 7, and sprocket 83, and connected to the same drive source 5 via chains 1 and 2. This centralized power transmission design effectively avoids the complexity of configuring a separate drive source for each working component, thus significantly simplifying the overall structure of the machine and reducing manufacturing costs and maintenance difficulty. Simultaneously, since all key working components are driven by the same drive source 5, by rationally designing the sprocket transmission ratio, precise synchronization and coordination can be ensured between the material conveying speed of the conveying mechanism 2, the extrusion speed of the spiral extrusion shaft 34, and the pressing and heating speed of the heating roller 81. This guarantees continuous, stable, and efficient material processing throughout the entire production process, avoiding problems such as material accumulation, blockage, or uneven processing caused by mismatched component speeds, further improving the production efficiency and product quality of the Shenqu Ding machine.

[0086] The above technical solution is illustrated by a specific example below:

[0087] First, the fermented Shenqu (a type of fermented medicinal ingredient) material is fed into the conveyor mechanism 2. The conveyor mechanism 2, mounted on the frame 1, is responsible for smoothly transporting the material forward. Before the material enters the extrusion mechanism 3, a drying mechanism 8 located above the conveyor mechanism 2 performs preliminary treatment. The heating roller 81 in the drying mechanism 8 presses the material into flakes while simultaneously heating it, while a blower 82 blows and dries the flakes to remove some surface moisture, preparing them for subsequent extrusion molding. The heating roller 81 obtains power from the drive source 5 via its sprocket 83, ensuring its normal operation.

[0088] Subsequently, the pre-processed material is conveyed by the conveying mechanism 2 to the extrusion mechanism 3 at its end. Inside the extrusion mechanism 3, the material first enters the collection bin 31 and then falls into the extrusion bin 32, which is connected to it at the bottom. A spiral extrusion shaft 34 is rotatably disposed inside the extrusion bin 32 and the collection bin 31. A worm gear 37 is fixedly connected to the end of the spiral extrusion shaft 34, which meshes with a worm 38 rotatably disposed on the frame 1. The worm 38 is driven to rotate by a drive source 5 disposed on the frame 1. When the drive source 5 is activated, it drives the worm gear 37 to rotate through the worm 38, thereby driving the spiral extrusion shaft 34 to rotate. The rotation of the spiral extrusion shaft 34 extrudes the material from the extrusion bin 32 into the extrusion bin 33, which is connected to it at the bottom.

[0089] A forming mesh 9 is provided at the discharge port of the extrusion chamber 33. Unlike the existing technology where a single round die head extrudes to form a dense, solid strip-shaped product, this forming mesh 9 is configured to divide the incoming material into multiple material streams. These material streams converge after passing through the forming mesh 9, forming a strip-shaped product with an internal porous structure. This porous structure allows moisture inside the strip-shaped product to diffuse more easily to the surface, facilitating the subsequent drying process.

[0090] To further optimize the product structure, the extrusion chamber 33 rotates during material extrusion, resulting in a spiral structure for the extruded strip-shaped product. This spiral structure further increases the surface area of ​​the product. The rotation of the extrusion chamber 33 is achieved by a drive structure 4. The drive structure 4 includes a drive gear 41 rotatably mounted on the end of the spiral extrusion shaft 34 extending out of the extrusion chamber 32, and a gear ring 42 coaxially fixed to the outside of the extrusion chamber 33 and meshing with the drive gear 41. When the spiral extrusion shaft 34 rotates, it drives the drive gear 41 to rotate, and the drive gear 41 then drives the extrusion chamber 33 to rotate via the gear ring 42.

[0091] The spiral strip-shaped product extruded from the extrusion chamber 33 enters the guide cylinder 35 located below its outlet for guidance. The spiral extrusion shaft 34 is connected to a cutter shaft, and a cutter 36 located at the end of the guide cylinder 35 is fixedly connected to the end of the cutter shaft. When the strip-shaped product passes through the guide cylinder 35, the cutter 36 rotates or swings periodically, cutting the continuous strip-shaped product into Shenquding of a predetermined length.

[0092] The power transmission of the entire equipment is provided by drive source 5. Drive source 5 is connected to sprocket 6 on conveying mechanism 2 and sprocket 7 on worm gear 38 via chain 1, thereby driving conveying mechanism 2 and spiral extrusion shaft 34. At the same time, drive source 5 is also connected to sprocket 83 on heating roller 81 via chain 2, driving drying mechanism 8.

[0093] Through the aforementioned collaborative process, this high-efficiency Shenqu (a type of fermented wheat bran) production machine can produce Shenqu Ding with an internal porous structure and a spiral shape. Compared to solid Shenqu Ding produced by existing technologies, this porous structure allows internal moisture to escape more easily during the subsequent drying process, significantly increasing the drying rate and shortening the drying time. This not only reduces energy consumption during the drying process but also avoids quality problems such as surface scorching, internal mold, and souring caused by uneven drying, thereby improving the overall production efficiency and product quality of Shenqu Ding.

[0094] The terms “first” and “second” are used to distinguish similar objects, rather than to describe or indicate a specific order or sequence.

[0095] The term "comprising" or any other similar term is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus / device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent in such process, method, article, or apparatus / device.

[0096] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high-efficiency machine for producing Shenqu (a type of medicinal liquor), characterized in that, include: The frame (1) serves as the mounting base; Conveying mechanism (2), mounted on frame (1), is used for conveying materials; and The extrusion mechanism (3) is located at the end of the conveying mechanism (2) and is used to extrude materials into strip-shaped products; The extrusion mechanism (3) is provided with a forming mesh (9) at the discharge port. The forming mesh (9) is configured to divide the material into multiple material streams and make the multiple material streams merge after passing through the forming mesh (9) to form the strip product, so that a void structure is formed inside the strip product.

2. The high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The extrusion mechanism (3) includes: The material collection bin (31) is located at the end of the conveying mechanism (2) and is used to receive the material conveyed by the conveying mechanism (2); The extrusion chamber (32) is connected to the bottom of the collection chamber (31); At least one extrusion chamber (33) is connected to the bottom of the extrusion chamber (32); and The spiral extrusion shaft (34) is rotatably disposed inside the extrusion chamber (32) and the collection chamber (31); When the spiral extrusion shaft (34) rotates, it squeezes the material into the interior of the extrusion chamber (33), and then discharges it through the forming mesh (9) at the discharge port at the end of the extrusion chamber (33) to form a strip product.

3. The high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The extrusion chamber (33) is rotatably disposed at the bottom of the extrusion chamber (32); the extrusion chamber (33) rotates when extruding material so that the strip product has a spiral structure.

4. The high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The extrusion mechanism (3) includes a drive structure (4) for driving the extrusion chamber (33) to rotate. The driving structure (4) includes: The drive gear (41) is rotatably disposed at the end of the spiral extrusion shaft (34) extending out of the extrusion chamber (32); and The gear ring (42) is coaxially fixed to the outside of the extrusion chamber (33) and meshes with the drive gear (41); When the spiral extrusion shaft (34) rotates, it drives the drive gear (41) to rotate, thereby driving the extrusion chamber (33) to rotate through the gear ring (42).

5. The high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb) according to claim 3, characterized in that, Below the discharge port of the extrusion chamber (33) is a guide cylinder (35) for guiding the strip-shaped product. The spiral extrusion shaft (34) is connected to a cutter shaft, and a cutting blade (36) is fixedly connected to the end of the cutter shaft at the end of the guide cylinder (35).

6. The high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The end of the spiral extrusion shaft (34) is fixedly connected to a worm wheel (37), and a worm (38) that meshes with the worm wheel (37) is rotatably mounted on the frame (1). A drive source (5) for driving the worm (38) to rotate is mounted on the frame (1).

7. The high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb) according to claim 6, characterized in that, Also includes: The drying mechanism (8) is set on the frame (1) and is used to dehydrate the material.

8. The high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The drying mechanism (8) includes: A heating roller (81), positioned above the conveying mechanism (2), is used to press the material into a sheet while simultaneously heating it; and A blower (82) is installed above the conveying mechanism (2) and is used to blow and dry the sheet material.

9. The high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The heating roller (81) is provided with a sprocket three (83) for power input.

10. The high-efficiency production machine for Shenqu (a type of medicinal herb) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism (2) is provided with a sprocket one (6) for power input, and the worm gear (38) is provided with a sprocket two (7). The sprocket one (6) and the sprocket two (7) are connected by a chain one and a drive source (5) for transmission. The sprocket three (83) is connected by a chain two and a drive source (5) for transmission.

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