Automatic conveyor for food packaging

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of agricultural product conveying, and particularly relates to an automatic conveyor for food packaging, which comprises a frame body, a conveying assembly arranged on the frame body and used for food conveying, two drive shafts rotatably arranged in the frame body, a conveying belt arranged between the two drive shafts, a plurality of air holes obliquely arranged on the surface of the conveying belt, the plurality of air holes being linearly arranged along the surface of the conveying belt, an air cavity arranged in the conveying belt, and an air flow fan arranged on the frame body and used for air supply of the air cavity, so that the contact and friction between the strawberries and the conveying belt can be effectively reduced, and the surface of the strawberries is prevented from being damaged during the conveying process, thereby preventing the bad fruit rate of the strawberries during subsequent packaging from being increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural product conveying technology, and in particular to an automatic conveyor for food packaging. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of agricultural product processing and packaging, the transportation of soft and fragile foods such as strawberries and cherries has long faced the technical challenge of high breakage rates. Traditional conveying methods rely on solid contact surfaces such as belts, rollers, or sponges. This inevitably leads to relative sliding and friction between the food and the conveyor belt, causing problems such as skin abrasion, stem snagging, and juice leakage, directly affecting product appearance and subsequent packaging quality. Furthermore, strawberries often retain residual field moisture, dust, and pollen on their surface after harvesting. If not treated during transportation, this juice residue can easily cause mold growth, shortening shelf life.

[0003] In existing technologies, some solutions use sponges or flexible materials as the conveying surface. Although this can alleviate friction damage, it has drawbacks such as bacteria growing after the sponge absorbs juice, fibers getting caught on the fruit stem, and the need for frequent cleaning and replacement. These drawbacks lead to an increased rate of spoiled fruit and seriously affect the quality of the products packaged by the equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of the prior art by proposing an automatic conveyor for food packaging.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: including a frame; and further including:

[0006] A conveying assembly for transporting food is mounted on a frame. The conveying assembly includes two drive shafts rotatably mounted inside the frame. A conveyor belt is disposed between the two drive shafts. Multiple sets of air holes are inclinedly opened on the surface of the conveyor belt. The multiple sets of air holes are linearly opened along the surface of the conveyor belt, and multiple protrusions are disposed between each pair of air holes. The conveyor belt is hollow inside and has an air chamber inside. When the conveyor belt moves, the airflow in the air chamber is ejected through the air holes to form an air film on the surface of the food.

[0007] The frame is equipped with an airflow fan for supplying air to the air chamber.

[0008] Preferably, the drive shaft is provided with a communication component for airflow entry, and when the drive shaft rotates, the airflow enters the air chamber through the drive shaft.

[0009] Preferably, the connecting component includes multiple guide ports opened on one of the drive shafts, and a fixed ring is fixedly provided at the end of one of the drive shafts. The drive shaft is hollow inside, and a rotating ring is rotatably provided on the fixed ring. The airflow fan communicates with the drive shaft through the rotating ring.

[0010] Preferably, the frame is provided with a return assembly for airflow recirculation and foreign object collection, and the return assembly is located on the upper side of the conveyor belt. When airflow is ejected from the air hole, suction is generated in the return assembly.

[0011] Preferably, the recirculation assembly includes a recirculation plate fixedly mounted on the frame. The upper side of the recirculation plate is frustum-shaped. A flow equalization plate is fixedly mounted inside the recirculation plate. Multiple through holes are equally spaced on the flow equalization plate. The recirculation plate communicates with the airflow fan, and a filter plate is provided at the communication point.

[0012] Preferably, a conical shroud is provided inside the reflux plate, and two baffles are movably arranged on the conical shroud. A flexible connecting plate is provided at the connection between the baffles and the conical shroud.

[0013] Preferably, a tensioning assembly is provided between the drive shaft and the frame, and when air is ejected from the air hole, the air enters the tensioning assembly to keep the conveyor belt in a taut state.

[0014] Preferably, the tensioning assembly includes two track plates fixedly mounted on the frame, a slide plate slidably mounted inside the track plates, a drive shaft rotatably mounted inside the slide plate, an airbag mounted on one side of each track plate, one end of the airbag being fixedly mounted to the slide plate, a spring sleeved on the outside of the airbag, and a telescopic rod mounted on both the upper and lower sides of the airbag. An air collection box is mounted on the frame and located below the conveyor belt. When the conveyor belt rotates, the air holes at the bottom of the conveyor belt communicate with the air collection box, and the air collection box communicates with the airbag.

[0015] Preferably, the frame is provided with a drive assembly for driving the drive shaft to rotate and driving the airflow fan to rotate. The drive assembly includes a drive motor mounted on the frame, the output end of the drive motor is connected to the airflow fan, and the output end of the drive motor is provided with a reduction gearbox, through which the drive motor drives the drive shaft to rotate.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0017] By using angled air holes to form a continuously upward air film on the conveyor belt surface, fragile foods are suspended in a non-contact state during transport, reducing friction and preventing surface damage. This significantly reduces the spoilage rate of soft agricultural products like strawberries. Simultaneously, the airflow from the air holes acts on the food surface, blowing away moisture and impurities. Combined with the negative pressure suction of the upper return assembly, this creates a blowing and suction cleaning cycle, achieving simultaneous surface cleaning during transport. This avoids mold problems caused by juice residue and ensures the quality of subsequent food processing. The airflow discharged from the bottom of the conveyor belt is introduced into the tensioning assembly, driving the airbag to expand and keeping the conveyor belt taut throughout operation. This allows for self-adaptive tension adjustment of the conveyor belt using the equipment's own airflow, reducing the frequency of manual maintenance and ensuring long-term operational stability. The conical hood and baffle structure within the return plate automatically open to form a dust suction channel when the airflow fan is operating and automatically closes when the machine stops to prevent foreign objects from scattering, effectively collecting impurities and facilitating subsequent cleaning. This improves the equipment's environmental friendliness and ease of maintenance. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the front structure proposed in this invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the rear structure proposed in this invention;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the lower volume structure proposed in this invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a partial upper structure proposed in this invention;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the partial front structure proposed in this invention. Figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the partial front internal structure proposed in this invention;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a partial lower structure proposed in this invention;

[0025] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the partial frontal cross-sectional structure proposed in this invention. Figure 2 .

[0026] In the diagram: 1. Frame; 2. Conveying assembly; 21. Conveyor belt; 22. Drive shaft; 23. Air chamber; 24. Air hole; 25. Protrusion; 3. Connecting assembly; 31. Guide port; 32. Fixed ring; 33. Rotating ring; 4. Airflow fan; 5. Return assembly; 51. Return plate; 52. Flow equalization plate; 53. Conical cover; 54. Baffle; 55. Filter plate; 6. Tensioning assembly; 61. Track plate; 62. Slide plate; 63. Airbag; 64. Spring; 65. Telescopic rod; 66. Air collection box; 7. Drive assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0028] The terms used in this invention, such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "middle," and "one," are merely for clarity of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Any changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of the invention.

[0029] Reference Figures 1-8 An automated conveyor for food packaging includes a frame 1 and further includes:

[0030] A conveying assembly 2 for food transportation is installed on the frame 1. The conveying assembly 2 includes two drive shafts 22 rotatably installed inside the frame 1. A conveyor belt 21 is provided between the two drive shafts 22. Multiple sets of air holes 24 are opened at an angle on the surface of the conveyor belt 21. The multiple sets of air holes 24 are opened linearly along the surface of the conveyor belt 21. Multiple protrusions 25 are provided between every two sets of air holes 24. The conveyor belt 21 is hollow inside and has an air chamber 23 inside. When the conveyor belt 21 moves, the airflow in the air chamber 23 is ejected through the air holes 24 to form an air film on the food surface.

[0031] An airflow fan 4 for supplying air to the air chamber 23 is installed on the frame 1. Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5Using an existing spiral feeder, food is placed on conveyor belt 21. Various types of food are available, including fragile and expensive produce like strawberries. Taking strawberries as an example, the spiral feeder transports strawberries onto conveyor belt 21, while simultaneously driving drive shaft 22 to move the conveyor belt 21. As the conveyor belt 21 moves, gas in the air chamber 23 is ejected through air holes 24 on the surface of drive shaft 22. When the gas is ejected from the air holes 24, it acts on the surface of the strawberries, forming an air film on the underside of the strawberries. In other words, the gas ejected from the air holes 24 reduces the contact area between the strawberries and the conveyor belt 21. Furthermore, as the conveyor belt 21 moves, the air holes 24 are inclined... The airflow acting on the strawberry surface causes it to tilt and move. As the conveyor belt 21 moves, the strawberry comes into contact with the protrusion 25. The protrusion 25, in conjunction with the tilted air hole 24, moves the strawberry, effectively reducing the contact and friction between the strawberry and the conveyor belt 21. This prevents damage to the surface of the strawberry during transportation, thus avoiding an increase in the spoilage rate during subsequent packaging. At the same time, the airflow acting on the surface of the strawberry can blow away moisture and impurities, achieving a cleaning effect. Furthermore, the reduced contact between the strawberry and the conveyor belt 21 also prevents the strawberry juice from sticking to the conveyor belt 21, which could lead to mold growth and affect the quality of subsequent food products.

[0032] Preferred, Figure 6 The drive shaft 22 is provided with a connecting component 3 for airflow entry. When the drive shaft 22 rotates, the airflow enters the air chamber 23 through the drive shaft 22, and then enters the air chamber 23 through the connecting component 3, so as to ensure the gas in the air hole 24 is ejected, and at the same time ensure the movement of the conveyor belt 21.

[0033] Preferred, Figure 6 The connecting component 3 includes multiple guide ports 31 opened on one of the drive shafts 22, and a fixed ring 32 is fixedly installed at the end of one of the drive shafts 22. The drive shaft 22 is hollow inside, and a rotating ring 33 is rotatably installed on the fixed ring 32. The airflow fan 4 is interconnected with the drive shaft 22 through the rotating ring 33. When the drive shaft 22 rotates, the two drive shafts 22 can effectively drive the conveyor belt 21 to rotate, thereby conveying the strawberry food. Since the fixed ring 32 and the rotating ring 33 are rotatable, when the guide port 31 rotates, the fixed ring 32 rotates inside the rotating ring 33. At the same time, the gas generated in the airflow fan 4 enters the drive shaft 22 through the fixed ring 32 and the rotating ring 33. Since the drive shaft 22 is provided with guide ports 31, the gas in the drive shaft 22 enters the air chamber 23 in the conveyor belt 21 through the guide ports 31, thereby ensuring that the airflow in the air hole 24 is continuously ejected, so as to reduce the friction and contact between the food and the conveyor belt 21 and reduce the damage to the fruit.

[0034] Preferred, Figure 7 The frame 1 is equipped with a return component 5 for airflow recirculation and foreign object collection. The return component 5 is located on the upper side of the conveyor belt 21. When airflow is ejected from the air hole 24, suction is generated in the return component 5. The airflow ejected from the air hole 24 is upward, and the suction generated by the return component 5 is also upward. Therefore, when suction is generated in the return component 5, the suction can not only help the fruit move upward, but also the impurities and foreign objects blown off the surface of the fruit by the airflow can be collected through the return component 5 to reduce the floating of foreign objects.

[0035] Preferred, Figure 7 and Figure 8 The reflux assembly 5 includes a reflux plate 51 fixedly mounted on the frame 1. The upper side of the reflux plate 51 is frustoconical. A flow equalization plate 52 is fixedly mounted inside the reflux plate 51. The flow equalization plate 52 has multiple through holes at equal intervals. The reflux plate 51 is interconnected with the airflow fan 4, and a filter plate 55 is installed at the connection point. When the airflow fan 4 is working, the exhaust port of the airflow fan 4 delivers gas to the air chamber 23, while the airflow generated by the airflow fan 4's air inlet is drawn in through the reflux plate 51. Since the reflux plate 51 is positioned above the conveyor belt 21, the reflux plate 51 and the air holes 24 create a blowing and sucking effect, which reduces the frictional contact between the fruit and the conveyor belt 21, while also absorbing impurities blown away by the air holes 24, ensuring the smooth transport of the fruit and achieving an automatic conveying and cleaning effect.

[0036] Preferred, Figure 8 A conical shroud 53 is provided inside the return plate 51, and two baffles 54 are movably installed on the conical shroud 53. A flexible connecting plate is provided at the connection between the baffles 54 and the conical shroud 53. In the initial state, the two baffles 54 are closed. When the return plate 51 generates suction, the baffles 54 gradually open, and the gas flows. When the airflow fan 4 is turned off, the two baffles 54 automatically move down and close, so that the sucked foreign objects fall above the baffles 54, which facilitates the collection of foreign objects and facilitates subsequent cleaning.

[0037] Preferred, Figure 3 A tensioning component 6 is provided between the drive shaft 22 and the frame 1. When air is ejected from the air hole 24, the air enters the tensioning component 6 to keep the conveyor belt 21 in a taut state. The air discharged from the lower side of the conveyor belt 21 is collected. The air is used to keep the conveyor belt 21 always in a taut state, reducing the steps of manual adjustment and enabling it to form an adaptive tension adjustment.

[0038] Preferred, Figure 3The tensioning assembly 6 includes two track plates 61 fixedly mounted on the frame 1. A slide plate 62 is slidably mounted inside the track plate 61. A drive shaft 22 is rotatably mounted inside the slide plate 62. An airbag 63 is mounted on one side of the track plate 61, and one end of the airbag 63 is fixedly mounted to the slide plate 62. A spring 64 is sleeved on the outside of the airbag 63. A telescopic rod 65 is mounted on both the upper and lower sides of the airbag 63. An air collection box 66 is mounted on the frame 1 and is located below the conveyor belt 21. When the conveyor belt 21 rotates, the air holes 24 at the bottom of the conveyor belt 21 communicate with the air collection box 66, and the air collection box 66 communicates with the airbag 63. When the conveyor belt 21 rotates, the air holes 24 at the bottom of the conveyor belt 21 communicate with the air collection box 66. Airflow is ejected from the vent 24, reducing the friction between the fruit and the conveyor belt 21. The vent 24 at the bottom of the conveyor belt 21 moves into the gas collection box 66, where it collects the gas. The collected gas is then transported through a hose to the air bladder 63, causing it to inflate. When the air bladder 63 inflates, the telescopic rod 65 and spring 64 limit and guide the direction of movement of the air bladder 63, allowing the slide plate 62 to slide within the track plate 61. The sliding of the slide plate 62 ensures that the conveyor belt 21 on the drive shaft 22 remains taut, thus guaranteeing the stability of the equipment during operation and preventing the conveyor belt 21 from loosening after prolonged use. It also reduces the need for manual adjustment.

[0039] Preferred, Figure 1 A drive assembly 7 is provided on the frame 1 for driving the drive shaft 22 to rotate and driving the airflow fan 4 to rotate. The drive assembly 7 includes a drive motor mounted on the frame 1. The output end of the drive motor is connected to the airflow fan 4. A reduction gearbox is provided at the output end of the drive motor. The drive motor drives the drive shaft 22 to rotate through the reduction gearbox. When the drive motor is working, it drives the airflow fan 4 to rotate, thereby generating airflow. When the drive motor drives the reduction gearbox to work, the speed at the output end of the reduction gearbox is adjusted to be slower. At this time, the output end of the reduction gearbox can drive the drive shaft 22 to rotate, thereby controlling the operation of the conveyor belt 21.

[0040] Working principle:

[0041] The drive motor starts, causing the airflow fan 4 to rotate at high speed. Simultaneously, the airflow is reduced in speed by the reduction gearbox, driving the drive shaft 22 to rotate, and the conveyor belt 21 begins to move. The airflow generated by the airflow fan 4 enters the hollow drive shaft 22 through the rotating ring 33 and the fixed ring 32, and then enters the air chamber 23 inside the conveyor belt 21 through the guide port 31 on the drive shaft 22. When the conveyor belt 21 moves, the gas in the air chamber 23 is continuously ejected upward from multiple sets of air holes 24 inclined on its surface, forming a layer of air film on the surface of the conveyor belt 21.

[0042] When the spiral feeder delivers fragile foods such as strawberries onto the conveyor belt 21, the inclined airflow creates a lifting force at the bottom of the strawberries, reducing the contact area between the strawberries and the surface of the conveyor belt 21. Simultaneously, the protrusions 25 on the surface of the conveyor belt 21, together with the inclined airflow, cause slight movement of the strawberries during transport, preventing prolonged contact of the same area with the conveyor belt 21 and thus avoiding fixed friction damage. This also helps the airflow to evenly distribute across the strawberry surface, improving dust removal and drying efficiency. The airflow also blows away moisture and impurities from the surface of the strawberries, achieving a cleaning effect.

[0043] When the conveyor belt 21 rotates, the sealed gas collection box 66 installed at its bottom collects the leaked gas and transports it through pipelines to the air bladder 63 of the tensioning assembly 6. The air bladder 63 inflates, pushing the slide plate 62 to slide along the track plate 61, which in turn moves the drive shaft 22, keeping the conveyor belt 21 taut at all times. The pressure relief valve automatically releases pressure when the air bladder 63 is too high to prevent over-inflation. The spring 64 and the telescopic rod 65 guide and limit the expansion direction of the air bladder 63.

[0044] The return assembly 5 above the conveyor belt 21 operates simultaneously: the air inlet of the airflow fan 4 is connected to the return plate 51, generating negative pressure suction within the return plate 51. The baffle 54 on the conical shroud 53 opens upwards under suction, allowing airflow to flow upwards from the surface of the conveyor belt 21. The airflow from the air holes 24 lifts impurities and moisture blown off the strawberry surface, drawing them in under the negative pressure within the return plate 51. After passing through the flow equalization plate 52 and the filter plate 55, the airflow enters the airflow fan 4, forming a cycle of airflow. The sucked-in impurities are intercepted by the filter plate 55, and some larger foreign objects settle above the conical shroud 53 when the airflow fan 4 is turned off due to the automatic closing of the baffle 54, facilitating subsequent cleaning.

[0045] Beneficial effects:

[0046] By creating a continuously upward air film on the surface of the conveyor belt 21 through the inclined air holes 24, fragile food items are suspended in a non-contact state with the conveyor belt 21 surface during transportation. This reduces friction between the food and the conveyor belt 21, preventing surface damage and significantly lowering the spoilage rate of soft agricultural products such as strawberries. Simultaneously, the airflow from the air holes 24 acts on the food surface, blowing away moisture and impurities. Combined with the negative pressure suction of the upper return component 5, a blowing and suction cleaning cycle is formed, achieving simultaneous surface cleaning of the food during transportation. This avoids mold problems caused by juice residue and ensures food safety. To ensure the quality of subsequent food processing, the airflow discharged from the bottom of the conveyor belt 21 is introduced into the tensioning component 6 to drive the airbag 63 to expand, so that the conveyor belt 21 is always in a taut state during operation. This achieves the purpose of adaptive tension adjustment of the conveyor belt 21 by utilizing the airflow of the equipment itself, reducing the frequency of manual maintenance and ensuring the stability of long-term operation. The conical cover 53 and baffle 54 structure in the return plate 51 of the equipment automatically open to form a dust suction channel when the airflow fan 4 is working, and automatically closes when the machine stops to prevent foreign objects from falling, achieving the purpose of effective collection of impurities and facilitating subsequent cleaning, thus improving the environmental friendliness and maintenance convenience of the equipment.

[0047] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic conveyor for food packaging, comprising a frame (1): characterized in that, Also includes: A conveying assembly (2) for food transportation is installed on the frame (1). The conveying assembly (2) includes two drive shafts (22) rotatably installed inside the frame (1). A conveyor belt (21) is provided between the two drive shafts (22). Multiple sets of air holes (24) are opened obliquely on the surface of the conveyor belt (21). The multiple sets of air holes (24) are opened linearly along the surface of the conveyor belt (21). Multiple protrusions (25) are provided between each two sets of air holes (24). The conveyor belt (21) is hollow inside. An air chamber (23) is provided inside the conveyor belt (21). When the conveyor belt (21) moves, the airflow in the air chamber (23) is ejected through the air holes (24) to form an air film on the food surface. The frame (1) is provided with an airflow fan (4) for supplying air to the air chamber (23).

2. The automatic conveyor for food packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive shaft (22) is provided with a communication component (3) for airflow entry, and when the drive shaft (22) rotates, the airflow enters the air chamber (23) through the drive shaft (22).

3. The automatic conveyor for food packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting component (3) includes multiple guide ports (31) opened on one of the drive shafts (22), and a fixed ring (32) is fixedly provided at the end of one of the drive shafts (22). The drive shaft (22) is hollow inside. A rotating ring (33) is rotatably provided on the fixed ring (32), and the airflow fan (4) is interconnected with the drive shaft (22) through the rotating ring (33).

4. An automatic conveyor for food packaging according to claim 3, characterized in that, The frame (1) is provided with a return assembly (5) for airflow return and foreign object collection, and the return assembly (5) is located on the upper side of the conveyor belt (21). When airflow is ejected from the air hole (24), suction is generated in the return assembly (5).

5. An automatic conveyor for food packaging according to claim 4, characterized in that, The reflux assembly (5) includes a reflux plate (51) fixedly mounted on the frame (1). The upper side of the reflux plate (51) is frustum-shaped. A flow equalization plate (52) is fixedly mounted inside the reflux plate (51). Multiple through holes are equally spaced on the flow equalization plate (52). The reflux plate (51) is interconnected with the airflow fan (4), and a filter plate (55) is provided at the connection point.

6. An automatic conveyor for food packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that, The return plate (51) is provided with a conical cover (53), and two baffles (54) are movably provided on the conical cover (53). A flexible connecting plate is provided at the connection between the baffles (54) and the conical cover (53).

7. An automatic conveyor for food packaging according to claim 6, characterized in that, A tensioning assembly (6) is provided between the drive shaft (22) and the frame (1). When air is ejected from the air hole (24), the air enters the tensioning assembly (6) to keep the conveyor belt (21) in a tensioned state.

8. An automatic conveyor for food packaging according to claim 7, characterized in that, The tensioning assembly (6) includes two track plates (61) fixedly mounted on the frame (1). A slide plate (62) is slidably mounted inside the track plate (61). The drive shaft (22) is rotatably mounted inside the slide plate (62). An airbag (63) is mounted on one side of the track plate (61), and one end of the airbag (63) is fixedly mounted to the slide plate (62). A spring (64) is sleeved on the outside of the airbag (63). A telescopic rod (65) is mounted on both the upper and lower sides of the airbag (63). An air collection box (66) is mounted on the frame (1), and the air collection box (66) is located on the lower side of the conveyor belt (21). When the conveyor belt (21) rotates, the air hole (24) at the bottom of the conveyor belt (21) communicates with the air collection box (66), and the air collection box (66) communicates with the airbag (63).

9. An automatic conveyor for food packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that, The frame (1) is provided with a drive assembly (7) for driving the drive shaft (22) to rotate and driving the airflow fan (4) to rotate. The drive assembly (7) includes a drive motor installed on the frame (1). The output end of the drive motor is connected to the airflow fan (4) for transmission. The output end of the drive motor is provided with a reduction gearbox. The drive motor drives the drive shaft (22) to rotate through the reduction gearbox.

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