Equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash and methods for steaming and distillation.

Abstract

This invention discloses a baijiu (Chinese liquor) brewing technology field, specifically a baijiu mash mixing and steaming device and a steaming distillation method. The device includes a tilting mechanism and a housing with a mixing chamber. The tilting mechanism comprises a first column and a second column. The housing includes a material hopper, a support frame, and a steaming distillation hopper. The steaming distillation hopper includes a hopper body with a bottom plate inside. The bottom plate has multiple through holes forming a steaming grate. The material hopper and the steaming distillation hopper are detachably connected to the support frame via a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is mounted on the support frame. One end of the support frame is rotatably mounted on the first column via a drive shaft, and the other end is rotatably mounted on the second column via a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft has a feed channel running through its axis. The support frame has a feed inlet, one end of which communicates with the feed channel, and the other end communicates with the mixing chamber. The end of the rotating shaft away from the support frame is connected to a feeding mechanism. This device and method can save steaming time, thereby improving baijiu production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of baijiu brewing technology, and in particular to a baijiu mash mixing and steaming equipment and a steaming distillation method. Background Technology

[0002] In the traditional production of strong-aroma baijiu, loading the still and distillation are two core steps that directly affect the yield, quality, flavor, and safety of the liquor. Loading the still involves placing the fermented and mixed mash into the still. Currently, there are two main methods of loading the still in the baijiu industry: the traditional "manual loading" and the rapidly developing "robot loading." To ensure the effectiveness of loading the mash, it is necessary to spread it gently and evenly, and to probe for steam before loading. After loading, the still is covered, and the distillation process begins.

[0003] Both existing manual and robotic steam loading methods have limitations. Manual steam loading relies heavily on the operator's experience and feel, making it susceptible to subjective factors such as physical strength and emotions. Misjudgment or improper operation can easily lead to steam leakage and collapse, resulting in low alcohol yield and affecting alcohol quality. Robotic steam loading, on the other hand, uses infrared thermal imagers to sense the surface temperature of the mash. This is easily affected by the complex environment of the brewing workshop, which may lead to decreased sensor stability, uneven material surfaces, and affect the uniformity of steam penetration, thus impacting distillation efficiency. Therefore, currently, both manual and robotic steam loading are not very effective, and the steam loading time for both is 40-50 minutes. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: how to quickly complete the steaming process.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is: The equipment for mixing and feeding baijiu mash includes a tilting mechanism and a housing with a mixing chamber. The tilting mechanism includes a first column and a second column arranged at relative intervals. The housing includes a material hopper, a support frame, and a feeding hopper that are sequentially sealed and fastened to form the mixing chamber. The feeding hopper includes a hopper body with a bottom plate near its lower end on the inner side. The bottom plate has multiple through holes to form a steaming grate. The material hopper and the feeding hopper are detachably connected to the support frame via a clamping assembly, which is fixedly installed on the support frame. One end of the support frame is rotatably mounted on the first column via a drive shaft, and the other end is rotatably mounted on the second column via a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft has a feeding channel running through it. The support frame has a feeding port opposite the feeding channel. One end of the feeding port is connected to the feeding channel, and the other end is connected to the mixing chamber. The end of the rotating shaft away from the support frame is connected to a feeding mechanism for feeding materials into the mixing chamber through the feeding channel and the feeding port.

[0006] Furthermore, the aforementioned bucket body is fixedly and sealed to a pot body at one end near the grate. The pot body has a distillation chamber, and multiple through holes are connected to the distillation chamber. A steam coil is provided at the bottom of the pot body. One end of the steam coil is a sealed end, and the other end passes through the side wall of the pot body. A first valve is provided inside the steam coil near the end that passes through the pot body. Multiple air holes are opened on the ring side of the steam coil. A water inlet connected to the distillation chamber is provided on the ring side of the pot body near the grate. A drain outlet connected to the distillation chamber is provided at the bottom of the pot body. Both the water inlet and the drain outlet are equipped with second valves.

[0007] Furthermore, the aforementioned hopper body and the aforementioned pot body are integrally formed structures, with the steamer grate component snapped onto the end of the hopper body near the pot body.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes a control module, and the aforementioned flipping mechanism, feeding mechanism and clamping assembly are all electrically connected to the control module; the aforementioned clamping assembly includes a plurality of pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinders fixedly disposed on the ring side of the support frame, the plurality of pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinders are arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the support frame, and the plurality of the aforementioned pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinders are all electrically connected to the control module.

[0009] Furthermore, the aforementioned feeding mechanism includes a feeding bracket and a feeding pipe, a high-pressure air pipe, and a high-pressure blower connected in sequence. The end of the feeding pipe away from the high-pressure air pipe is connected to the aforementioned feeding channel. A screw feeder located above the feeding pipe is fixedly installed on the feeding bracket. The inlet end of the screw feeder is connected to a feeding hopper located above it, and the outlet end of the screw feeder is connected to the aforementioned feeding pipe. Both the aforementioned high-pressure blower and the aforementioned screw feeder are electrically connected to the aforementioned control module.

[0010] Furthermore, the aforementioned feeding mechanism includes an inclined chain conveyor electrically connected to the aforementioned control module. The lower end of the inclined chain conveyor is located on the ground, and the end face of the higher end is at the same horizontal plane as the opening end face of the aforementioned feeding hopper. A lifting hopper is fixedly installed on the upper side of the inclined chain conveyor. The aforementioned tilting mechanism includes a servo-driven turntable electrically connected to the aforementioned control module and located inside the first column. The drive end of the aforementioned servo-driven turntable is connected to the drive shaft.

[0011] Furthermore, a hopper conveying mechanism is provided between the first column and the second column. The hopper conveying mechanism includes a lifting platform and a pair of spaced slide rails passing through the first column and the second column. The bottom of the lifting platform is slidably mounted on the pair of slide rails via a drive assembly. Both the hopper conveying mechanism and the drive assembly are electrically connected to the control module. The drive assembly includes a feeding motor fixedly mounted on the bottom of the lifting platform. The feeding motor is electrically connected to the control module. The output end of the feeding motor is rotatably connected to a drive shaft via a bevel gear set. The drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the bottom of the lifting platform, and drive wheels are fixedly mounted on both ends of the shaft. The two drive wheels respectively roll in cooperation with the pair of slide rails.

[0012] Furthermore, the aforementioned support frame includes a main frame, within which a fixed frame is fixedly connected. The fixed frame has concentric clearance openings relative to the aforementioned feed inlet. The central axis of the feed inlet and the central axis of the support rod are perpendicular to each other. When the shell is in operation, the opening end face of the material hopper and the opening end face of the upper distillation hopper are respectively in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the fixed frame.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes a dust collection mechanism, which includes a suction hood mounted on top of the housing. The side of the suction hood away from the housing is connected to a suction duct, and the suction duct is sequentially connected to a dust collector and a fan.

[0014] The steam distillation method includes the following steps: S1, using any of the above-mentioned equipment for mixing and feeding baijiu mash, the mash and materials are mixed. The above-mentioned materials are grain powder and rice husks added in batches and sequentially, or rice husks added separately.

[0015] S2, after the lees and materials are mixed and all the mixed lees have entered the upper still distillation hopper, the turning mechanism stops driving the shell to rotate, and the upper still distillation hopper and material hopper are removed from the support frame in sequence, and the stilling is completed.

[0016] S3, the upper still distillation hopper is transferred to the distillation position, and the mixed mash in the upper still distillation hopper is distilled.

[0017] S4. After distillation, the distillation bucket is transferred to the above-mentioned baijiu mash mixing and loading equipment. The loading distillation bucket, material bucket, and support frame with the distilled mash are installed. The turning mechanism turns 180 degrees and then stops, and the distilled mash enters the material bucket.

[0018] S5, remove the material hopper and the upper still distillation hopper from the support frame in sequence, and the still is discharged.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this invention are: The equipment is equipped with a housing and a tilting mechanism. The housing includes an upper distillation hopper and a material hopper, and is equipped with a feeding mechanism, a drive shaft, and a rotating shaft. A feeding channel is opened on the rotating shaft, and a feeding port is opened on the support frame to complete the feeding and mixing of the mash. Based on this, the support frame, upper distillation hopper, and material hopper can be installed and disassembled through the setting of clamping components, so that the mash and material can be directly fed into the upper distillation hopper after being evenly mixed to complete the feeding. Compared with the traditional feeding method, the feeding time is saved by 40-50 minutes. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the equipment for mixing and loading baijiu mash into a still according to the present invention; Figure 2This is the second schematic diagram of the structure of the equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash according to the present invention; Figure 3 This is one of the partial structural schematic diagrams of the equipment for mixing and loading baijiu mash into a still according to the present invention; Figure 4 This is the second partial structural schematic diagram of the equipment for mixing and loading baijiu mash into a still according to the present invention; Figure 5 This is the third partial structural schematic diagram of the equipment for mixing and loading baijiu mash into a still according to the present invention; Figure 6 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the hopper conveying mechanism in the baijiu mash mixing and steaming equipment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is the second schematic diagram of the hopper conveying mechanism in the baijiu mash mixing and steaming equipment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the material hopper in the baijiu mash mixing and steaming equipment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the upper still distillation hopper in the baijiu mash mixing and upper still equipment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is the second schematic diagram of the structure of the upper still distillation hopper in the baijiu mash mixing and loading equipment of the present invention; Figure 11 This is the fourth partial structural schematic diagram of the equipment for mixing and loading baijiu mash into a still according to the present invention; Figure 12 yes Figure 11 A magnified view of part A in the image; Figure 13 This is the fifth partial structural schematic diagram of the equipment for mixing and loading baijiu mash into a still according to the present invention; Figure 14 This is the sixth partial structural schematic diagram of the equipment for mixing and loading baijiu mash into a still according to the present invention; The diagram is labeled as follows: 1-Shell, 11-Mixing Chamber, 12-Material Hopper, 13-Support Frame, 131-Feed Inlet, 132-Fixed Frame, 1321-Allowing Opening, 133-Main Frame, 14-Upper Distillation Hopper, 141-Hopper Body, 142-Steam Grate, 1421-Bottom Plate, 1422-Through Hole, 15-Clamping Assembly, 151-Pneumatic Self-Locking Clamping Cylinder, 16-Pot Body, 161-Distillation Chamber, 162-Steam Coil, 163-First Valve, 164-Water Inlet, 165-Drain Outlet, 166-Air Hole, 167-Second Valve, 2-Tilting Mechanism, 21-First Column, 22-Second Column, 23-Drive Shaft, 24-Servo Driven Turntable, 25 - Rotary shaft, 26- Feeding channel, 3- Control module, 4- Feeding mechanism, 41- Feeding bracket, 42- Feeding hopper, 43- High-pressure air duct, 44- High-pressure blower, 45- Feeding duct, 46- Screw feeder, 47- Loading assembly, 471- Inclined chain conveyor, 472- Lifting hopper, 5- Hopper conveying mechanism, 51- Lifting platform, 511- Receiving platform, 512- Lifting frame, 513- Servo electric telescopic cylinder, 52- Slide rail, 53- Loading motor, 54- Gear set, 55- Drive shaft, 56- Drive wheel, 57- Driven wheel, 58- Driven shaft, 6- Dust collection mechanism, 61- Suction hood, 62- Suction duct, 63- Dust collector, 64- Exhaust fan. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Example 1 like Figures 1-14As shown, the equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash includes a tilting mechanism 2 and a housing 1 with a mixing chamber 11. The tilting mechanism 2 includes a first column 21 and a second column 22 arranged at relative intervals. The housing 1 includes a material hopper 12, a support frame 13, and a steaming distillation hopper 14, which are sequentially sealed and fastened to form the mixing chamber 11. The steaming distillation hopper 14 includes a hopper body 141, and a bottom plate 1421 is provided on the inner side of the hopper body 141 near its lower end. The bottom plate 1421 has multiple through holes 1422 forming a steaming grate 142. The material hopper 12 and the steaming distillation hopper 14 are detachably connected to the support frame 15 via a clamping assembly 15. On the frame 13, the clamping assembly 15 is fixedly installed on the support frame 13. One end of the support frame 13 is rotatably mounted on the first column 21 via the drive shaft 23, and the other end is rotatably mounted on the second column 22 via the rotating shaft 25. The rotating shaft 25 has a feeding channel 26 running through it. The support frame 13 has a feeding port 131 opposite to the feeding channel 26. One end of the feeding port 131 is connected to the feeding channel 26, and the other end is connected to the mixing chamber 11. The end of the rotating shaft 25 away from the support frame 13 is connected to the feeding mechanism 4, which is used to feed materials into the mixing chamber 11 through the feeding channel 26 and the feeding port 131. The first column 21 and the second column 22 are both made of stainless steel. Preferably, the material hopper 12 and the upper distillation hopper 14 are both cuboid structures, and the support frame 13 is a rectangular frame. This structure can facilitate the stability of the material hopper 12 and the upper distillation hopper 14 in subsequent processes and the convenience of transportation. The material hopper 12 and the upper distillation hopper 14 can also be cylindrical structures. Correspondingly, the support frame 13 is an annular frame that fits into the two unit hoppers. That is, the shapes of the material hopper 12, the upper distillation hopper 14, and the support frame 13 can be adjusted according to actual needs. The first column 21 is equipped with an active motor, and the drive end of the active motor is connected to the active shaft 23. A bearing is provided between the active shaft 23 and the first column 21. The rotating shaft 25 is rotatably connected to the second column 22 through a bearing. The hopper body 141 and the bottom plate 1421 can be fixed by welding. Preferably, the outer side of the bottom plate 1421 is on the same plane as the end face of the lower end of the hopper body 141 (the open end is the upper end, and the other end is the lower end).

[0023] When a tilting and mixing process is required, first check and adjust the position of the support frame 13 (adjusted by rotating the drive shaft 23) so that the plane of the side of the support frame 13 closest to the ground is parallel to the horizontal ground. Then, use a forklift to transport the empty upper distillation hopper 14 directly below the support frame 13. The upper distillation hopper 14, now directly below the support frame 13, is positioned between the first column 21 and the second column 22. Next, use the forklift to adjust the height of the upper distillation hopper 14 in the longitudinal direction of the tilting and mixing equipment. During this process, the upper distillation hopper 14 moves upward. When the open end face of the upper distillation hopper 14 engages with the side of the support frame 13 closest to the ground, the forklift stops moving the upper distillation hopper 14 upward. At this point, the clamping assembly 15 works to fix the upper distillation hopper 14 onto the support frame 13. Then, the forklift moves backward to release the upper distillation hopper 14. The motor starts, driving the drive shaft 23 to rotate. The support frame 13 rotates, and the upper distillation hopper 14 tilts accordingly. The support frame 13 rotates 180 degrees and then stops. Personnel load an appropriate amount of baijiu mash (the mash before distillation) into the material hopper 12 and use a forklift to move the material hopper 12 containing the baijiu mash directly below the support frame 13. The forklift then adjusts the height of the material hopper 12 in the longitudinal direction of the tilting mixing equipment. During this process, the material hopper 12 moves upward. When the open end of the material hopper 12 engages with the side of the support frame 13 closest to the ground, the forklift stops the upward movement of the material hopper 12. At this point, the clamping assembly 15 works again to fix the material hopper 12 onto the support frame 13. The forklift then moves backward, releasing the material hopper 12. The housing 1 is then installed, and the preparation work for the tilting mixing equipment is complete. Then, the materials to be added (different types of mash require different materials before distillation; some require batches of grain and chaff added sequentially, while others require chaff alone; if the materials require batches of grain and chaff added sequentially, this step only involves adding grain) are fed into the feeding mechanism 4. The feeding mechanism 4 operates, gradually feeding grain powder (materials requiring batches of grain and chaff added sequentially) or chaff (materials requiring chaff alone) into the mixing chamber 11 through the feeding channel 26 and the feeding port 131. During the operation of the feeding mechanism 4, the drive motor starts synchronously, and the housing 1 rotates accordingly. The baijiu mash and the added materials (grain powder or chaff alone) are thoroughly mixed. After the feeding is completed, the feeding mechanism 4 stops working. After the drive motor rotates for a certain period of time, i.e., after the mixing is completed, the drive shaft 23 stops rotating. At this time, the plane of the side of the support frame 13 closest to the ground is parallel to the horizontal ground, and the upper distillation hopper 14 needs to be closer to the bottom than the support frame 13. Then, control the forklift so that the forklift forks fit against the bottom of the upper still hopper 14, the clamping assembly 15 is released, and the upper still hopper 14 is disassembled from the support frame 13. If the material is a single bran husk material, the mixing of the material and the mash is now complete, and the mash is fed into the still.If the materials are grains and bran that need to be added in batches and sequentially, then this step only completes the mixing of grain powder and mash. After the upper still hopper 14 is unloaded, it needs to stand for 1-2 hours before using a forklift to move the upper still hopper 14 to the position where it is installed with the support frame 13, and then use the clamping assembly 15 to install and fix it. The drive motor starts again, and the housing 1 rotates accordingly. At the same time, the feeding mechanism 4 works, gradually feeding the bran (the materials are grains and bran that need to be added in batches and sequentially) into the mixing chamber 11 through the feeding channel 26 and the feeding port 131. After mixing is completed, the drive shaft 23 stops rotating, and at this time, the plane of the side of the support frame 13 closest to the ground is parallel to the horizontal ground, and the upper still hopper 14 needs to be closer to the bottom than the support frame 13. Then, control the forklift so that the forklift forks fit against the bottom of the upper still hopper 14, the clamping assembly 15 is released, the upper still hopper 14 is disassembled from the support frame 13, and the stilling is completed.

[0024] The forklift then carries the upper still hopper 14 into the subsequent distillation process. The drive shaft 23 rotates 180 degrees, bringing the bottom of the material hopper 12 close to and parallel to the horizontal ground. The forklift (either the same forklift or another) then holds the material hopper 12, and the clamping assembly 15 releases it. Because the bottom of the upper still hopper 14 has multiple through holes 1422, the forklift can directly transport the upper still hopper 14 to the distillation position in the distillation process (the distillation position is existing equipment in the distillation process, equipped with a pot bottom, steam passage, still lid, and condenser, etc. Preferably, the dimensions of the upper still hopper 14 can be referenced to the bottom pot and the corresponding lid) for distillation. After distillation is complete (the cleaning of the distillation equipment at the bottom of the pot and other locations will not be elaborated here; it can be done according to the existing process and handling methods), the upper distillation hopper 14, carrying the distilled mash, arrives below the support frame 13. At this time, the support frame 13 has been connected to the material hopper 12 (preferably a new material hopper 12), and the material hopper 12 has been rotated above the support frame 13. Then, a forklift is used to transport the upper distillation hopper 14 to the position where it is fastened to the support frame 13. The clamping assembly 15 is activated to fix the upper distillation hopper 14 to the support frame 13. Then, the forklift moves backward, releasing the upper distillation hopper 14. The drive motor starts, driving the drive shaft 23 to start rotating. After the drive shaft 23 rotates 180 degrees, it stops rotating, and the upper distillation hopper 14 flips up above the support frame 13, and the distilled mash enters the material hopper 12. Then, the material hopper 12 and the upper distillation hopper 14 are disassembled in sequence according to the method of disassembling and assembling the material hopper 12 and the upper distillation hopper 14, and the steaming is completed.

[0025] In this design, during the mixing process of the stilling equipment, the feeding mechanism 4 can uniformly feed grain powder or rice husks into the mixing chamber 11 at a certain speed, achieving uniform mixing of the added materials (grain powder and rice husks added in batches and sequentially, or rice husks alone) with the liquor mash. For the mash before distillation, adding rice husks makes the mash looser after mixing. Good uniformity and a looser state in the liquor mash allow for direct distillation, which is beneficial for increasing the alcohol yield. Adding grain powder is to provide starch raw materials for the next round of fermentation, thereby increasing the alcohol yield. Meanwhile, the equipment incorporates a detachable material hopper 12, support frame 13, and upper distillation hopper 14 within its casing 1. This allows the mixed mash and materials to directly enter the upper distillation hopper 14 after mixing, thus completing the loading of the mash into the still, saving 40-50 minutes of loading time and improving the overall efficiency of baijiu production. It also eliminates the need for transport containers, reducing the amount of cleaning required later. Furthermore, the detachable casing 1 allows personnel to observe its interior during cleaning, and cleaning tools can easily reach the cleaning area, reducing cleaning difficulty. The equipment also features a still unloading function.

[0026] The aforementioned bucket body 141 is fixedly and sealed to a pot body 16 at one end near the grate 142. The pot body 16 has a distillation chamber 161, and multiple through holes 1422 are connected to the distillation chamber 161. A steam coil 162 is provided at the bottom of the pot body 16. One end of the steam coil 162 is a sealed end, and the other end passes through the side wall of the pot body 16. A first valve 163 is provided inside the steam coil 162 near the end that passes through the pot body 16. Multiple air holes 166 are opened on the circumferential side of the steam coil 162. A water inlet 164 connected to the distillation chamber 161 is provided on the circumferential side of the pot body 16 near the grate 142. A drain outlet 165 connected to the distillation chamber 161 is provided at the bottom of the pot body 16. Both the water inlet 164 and the drain outlet 165 are provided with a second valve 167. Preferably, the steam coil 162 has multiple evenly spaced vents 166 on its side near the bottom of the pot body 16, with the central axis of any vent 166 forming an acute angle with the central axis of the pot body 16. This design allows the steam passing through the vents 166 to be ejected diagonally downwards at a certain angle, thereby achieving uniform and rapid heating of the liquid in the pot. When the steaming process is complete and distillation is required, first bring the steaming hopper 14 to the steam process area. Use a connector to connect the end of the steam coil 162 located outside the pot body 16 to the steam supply pipe (which is existing equipment) at the distillation process area. After the connection is completed, open the first valve 163. Then connect the bottom pipe (which is an existing device in the steam process and has a diaphragm pump) to the inlet 164. Open the second valve 167 and pump yellow water or tail liquor into the distillation chamber 161 through the bottom pipe until the liquid (yellow water or tail liquor) reaches the process requirements. The minimum liquid addition should be enough to cover the steam pipe before stopping the pumping. Close the second valve 167 at the inlet 164 and disconnect the bottom pipe from the inlet 164. During the above process, the second valve 167 at the outlet remains closed. Then, the steam valve of the steam supply pipe is opened. After the steam penetrates to the surface of the mash, the surface of the mash on the upper still hopper 14 is roughly smoothed by hand using bamboo strips or steam probes. After the steam penetration is even, the still lid (existing equipment in the distillation process) is closed, and the alcohol is collected by weight and quality. During the above distillation process, steam enters the liquid in the distillation chamber 161 through the vent 166 of the steam coil 162. After the liquid in the distillation chamber 161 is heated by the steam, it will generate upward steam relatively evenly in various parts of the pot body 16, and finally penetrate to the surface of the mash relatively evenly, completing the distillation of the mash. After the distillation is completed, the first valve 163 is closed, the steam supply pipe is disconnected from the steam coil 162, and the upper still hopper 14 can be transferred, allowing the equipment in the distillation process to be connected to the next upper still hopper 14.Then, the second valve 167 at the outlet is opened, and the water at the bottom of the pot (yellow water or the liquid remaining after the distillation of the tail liquor) in the distillation chamber 161 of the pot body 16 is discharged through the outlet, completing the distillation of the upper still hopper 14. It is then transported to the support frame 13 (via a forklift), and the still is unloaded using the support frame 13, clamping assembly 15, and tilting mechanism 2. This design combines the traditional pot body 16 buried in the ground with the upper still hopper 14, utilizing other equipment in the steam process, such as steam supply pipes, still lids, and bottom pipes, which previously required waiting for the water at the bottom of the pot to drain. This improves the overall efficiency of baijiu brewing.

[0027] The aforementioned hopper body 141 and pot body 16 are integrally formed structures, with the grate component 142 snapped onto the circumferential side of the hopper body 141 near the end of the pot body 16. This integral structure eliminates stress concentration points such as welds or screws between the upper distillation hopper 14 and the pot body 16, resulting in even load distribution, zero gaps, and naturally better waterproof and dustproof sealing performance. The coil design increases the overall length of the steam coil 162 within the distillation chamber 161, thereby increasing the number of vents 166, increasing the total amount of steam entering the distillation chamber 161 per unit time, and accelerating the distillation speed.

[0028] The system also includes a control module 3. The aforementioned flipping mechanism 2, feeding mechanism 4, and clamping assembly 15 are all electrically connected to the control module 3. The clamping assembly 15 includes multiple pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinders 151 fixedly mounted on the circumferential side of the support frame 13. These pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinders 151 are evenly spaced along the circumference of the support frame 13, and are all electrically connected to the control module 3. The control module 3 is a central processing unit (CPU). A CPU is a very large-scale integrated circuit and is the core of a computer's operation and control. Its main function is to interpret computer instructions and process data in computer software. After the housing 1 is assembled, the control module 3 can control the rotation speed of the flipping mechanism 2 and the feeding speed of the feeding mechanism 4. Preferably, the operating speed of the flipping mechanism 2 is 2-5 revolutions per minute, and the feeding speed of the feeding mechanism 4 is 80-85 kg / min. The pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinder 151 is a double-headed pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinder 151, which can output clamping force from both ends (double-headed), and automatically locks mechanically after reaching the end of its stroke. The central axis of the pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinder 151 is parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the support frame 13. When it is necessary to clamp the upper distillation hopper 14 or the material hopper 12, the control module 3 can control the corresponding end of the pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinder 151 to clamp. This design can quickly complete the installation and disassembly of the upper distillation hopper 14 or the material hopper 12 to the support frame 13.

[0029] The aforementioned feeding mechanism 4 includes a feeding bracket 41 and sequentially connected feeding pipe 45, high-pressure air pipe 43, and high-pressure blower 44. The end of the feeding pipe 45 away from the high-pressure air pipe 43 is connected to the aforementioned feeding channel 26. A screw feeder 46 is fixedly installed on the feeding bracket 41 above the feeding pipe 45. The inlet end of the screw feeder 46 is connected to a feeding hopper 42 located above it, and the outlet end of the screw feeder 46 is connected to the aforementioned feeding pipe 45. Both the aforementioned high-pressure blower 44 and the aforementioned screw feeder 46 are electrically connected to the aforementioned control module 3. The screw feeder 46 is a conveying device that uses rotating helical blades to continuously push materials along a closed channel. When materials need to be added to the mixed mash, the operator first starts the screw conveyor 46 and the high-pressure blower 44 via the control module 3. The high-pressure blower 44 starts, and high-pressure air enters the mixing chamber 11 of the shell 1 through the high-pressure air pipe 43, the feeding pipe 45, the feeding channel 26, and the feeding port 131. Simultaneously, the operator puts the materials to be added into the feeding hopper 42. The materials enter the screw conveyor 46 and, under the action of the screw conveyor 46, enter the feeding pipe containing high-pressure air. The high-pressure air then passes through the feeding channel 26 and the feeding port 131 into the mixing chamber 11. This design cleverly utilizes high-pressure air to assist the materials in entering the mixing chamber 11, allowing for more even addition of materials to the mash, thereby improving mixing efficiency and quality.

[0030] The aforementioned feeding mechanism 4 includes an inclined chain conveyor 471 electrically connected to the aforementioned control module 3. The lower end of the inclined chain conveyor 471 is located on the ground, and the end face of the higher end is at the same horizontal plane as the opening end face of the aforementioned feeding hopper 42. A lifting hopper 472 is fixedly installed on the upper side of the inclined chain conveyor 471. The aforementioned tilting mechanism 2 includes a servo-driven turntable 24 electrically connected to the aforementioned control module 3 and located within the first column 21. The drive end of the servo-driven turntable 24 is connected to the drive shaft 23. Figure 4As shown, the servo-driven turntable 24 can be selected from RHYS830 of Ruihua Precision, with a load capacity of 7T. The servo-driven turntable 24 has a rotating output shaft, the central axis of which is collinear with the central axis of the drive shaft 23. The output shaft and the drive shaft 23 are connected by a coupling. The inclined chain conveyor 471 is an industrial device that uses a chain as the traction component and is equipped with chain plates / mesh belts and other load-bearing components to continuously transport materials in an inclined or near-vertical direction. Personnel first put the material to be added to the mash into the lifting hopper 472, and then control the inclined chain conveyor 471 to start through the control module 3, so that the lifting hopper 472 reaches the opening end of the feeding hopper 42, making it convenient for personnel to guide the material in the lifting hopper 472 into the feeding hopper 42. In this design, because the feeding hopper 42 is quite high, it is difficult and dangerous for personnel to carry the added material to the feeding position of the feeding hopper 42 through the climbing frame. It is safer and more convenient to send the added material to the feeding hopper 42 by the inclined chain conveyor 471.

[0031] A hopper conveying mechanism 5 is provided between the first column 21 and the second column 22. The hopper conveying mechanism 5 includes a lifting platform 51 and a pair of spaced slide rails 52 passing between the first column 21 and the second column 22. The bottom of the lifting platform 51 is slidably mounted on the pair of slide rails 52 via a drive assembly. Both the hopper conveying mechanism 5 and the drive assembly are electrically connected to the control module 3. The drive assembly includes a feeding motor 53 fixedly mounted on the bottom of the lifting platform 51. The feeding motor 53 is electrically connected to the control module 3. The output end of the feeding motor 53 is rotatably connected to a drive shaft 55 via a bevel gear set 54. The drive shaft 55 is rotatably mounted on the bottom of the lifting platform 51, and drive wheels 56 are fixedly mounted at both ends. The two drive wheels 56 respectively roll in cooperation with the pair of slide rails 52. The lifting platform 51 is a lifting machine for vertically transporting people or goods, and is also a device for vertical transport in logistics systems such as factories and automated warehouses. Preferably, the lifting platform 51 is an electrically controlled lifting platform 51. The bevel gear set 54 includes a first bevel gear and a second bevel gear with their central axes perpendicular to each other. The first bevel gear and the second bevel gear are in transmission engagement. The first bevel gear is fitted onto the output end of the feeding motor 53, and the second bevel gear is fitted onto the drive shaft 55. A pair of spaced driven wheels 57 are rotatably arranged at the bottom of the lifting platform 51. A single driven shaft 58 is fitted with a driven wheel 57, and the two driven wheels 57 are in rolling engagement with the slide rail 52. The central axes of the two driven wheels 57 are on the same straight line. This design can distribute the weight borne by the two drive wheels 56, increasing the service life of the drive wheels 56.

[0032] When the upper still hopper 14 or material hopper 12 needs to be installed, the control module 3 first controls the drive assembly, that is, controls the feeding motor 53 to start. The feeding motor 53 rotates, driving the first bevel gear to rotate, and the second bevel gear rotates accordingly, which in turn causes the drive shaft 55 to rotate, driving the drive to roll. The lifting platform 51 slides out from between the first column 21 and the second column 22, and then the upper still hopper 14 or material hopper 12 is placed on the lifting platform 51. After placement, the control module 3 controls the feeding motor 53 to rotate in the opposite direction, and the lifting platform 51 re-enters between the first column 21 and the second column 22. When the upper still hopper 14 or material hopper 12 on the lifting platform 51 is directly above the support frame 13, the control module 3 controls the feeding motor 53 to stop driving, and then the lifting platform 51 drives the upper still hopper 14 or material hopper 12 to the clamping position. When it is necessary to disassemble the upper distillation hopper 14 or the material hopper 12, the control module 3 controls the lifting platform 51 to align with the bottom surface of the corresponding upper distillation hopper 14 or material hopper 12. After aligning with the upper distillation hopper 14 or material hopper 12, the lifting platform 51 descends to its initial retracted state. Subsequently, the control module 3 controls the drive assembly to make the lifting platform 51 slide out of the area between the first column 21 and the second column 22, after which the drive assembly stops. This design facilitates the installation and disassembly of the upper distillation hopper 14 and the material hopper 12, and can improve the installation and disassembly speed of the housing 1 to a certain extent.

[0033] The aforementioned support frame 13 includes a main frame 133, within which a fixed frame 132 is fixedly connected. The fixed frame 132 has a concentric clearance opening 1321 relative to the feed inlet 131. The central axis of the feed inlet 131 is perpendicular to the central axis of the support rod. When the housing 1 is in operation, the opening end face of the material hopper 12 and the opening end face of the upper distillation hopper 14 are respectively in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the fixed frame 132. The fixed frame 132 can position the upper distillation hopper 14 and the material hopper 12. Under the premise of ensuring that the upper distillation hopper 14 and the material hopper 12 are engaged with the support frame 13, it can provide a certain support effect for the upper distillation hopper 14 and the material hopper 12, reducing the load force borne by the clamping assembly 15 during the rotation of the housing 1 and extending the service life of the clamping assembly 15.

[0034] The system also includes a dust collection mechanism 6, which comprises a suction hood 61 mounted on top of the housing 1. A suction duct 62 is connected to the side of the suction hood 61 away from the housing 1. The suction duct sequentially connects to a dust collector 63 and an exhaust fan 64. When the housing 1 rotates, the control module 3 can activate the dust collection mechanism 6, causing the exhaust fan 64 to draw dust-laden gas flowing from the multiple through holes 1422 through the suction hood 61 and the suction duct 62 into the dust collector 63. This design reduces dust in the working environment, providing a more comfortable environment.

[0035] Example 2 like Figures 1-14 As shown, the steam distillation method includes the following steps: S1. Using any of the above-described distillation equipment for mixing and loading baijiu mash as described in Example 1, the mash and materials are mixed. The materials are grain powder and rice husks added in batches and sequentially, or rice husks added separately. The mash to be mixed is placed into the distillation hopper 14. The material hopper 12 and the distillation hopper 14 are connected to the support frame 13 in sequence as described in Example 1. After the housing 1 is installed, the tilting mechanism 2 drives the housing 1 to rotate, and at the same time, the feeding mechanism 4 feeds the material into the mixing chamber 11 of the housing 1 for mixing. This step is to ensure that the material and mash are mixed evenly, improve the uniformity of the mash, make it loose, and thus improve the subsequent alcohol yield.

[0036] S2, after the lees and materials are mixed and all the mixed lees have entered the upper still hopper 14, the turning mechanism 2 stops driving the housing 1 to rotate, and the upper still hopper 14 and the material hopper 12 are removed from the support frame 13 in sequence, and the stilling is completed; after the mixing is completed (the personnel can control the turning speed and turning time of the turning mechanism 2 according to the actual amount of lees, the amount of materials and the progress of material addition), the turning mechanism 2 drives the upper still hopper 14 to rotate to the point where the support frame 13 is directly below the direction of gravity (that is, the plane of the side of the support frame 13 closest to the ground is parallel to the horizontal ground, and the upper still hopper 14 needs to be closer to the bottom than the support frame 13), the turning mechanism 2 stops rotating, and the mixed lees are all entered into the upper still hopper 14 under the action of gravity. According to the method mentioned in Example 1, the upper still hopper 14 and the material hopper 12 are removed from the support frame 13 in sequence, and the stilling is completed.

[0037] S3, transfer the upper still hopper 14 to the distillation position and distill the mixed mash in the upper still hopper 14; the distillation process varies slightly depending on the structure of the upper still hopper 14 in the corresponding baijiu mash mixing and upper still equipment, and the specific operation can be performed according to the description in Example 1.

[0038] S4. After distillation, the distillation bucket is transferred to the above-mentioned baijiu mash mixing and loading equipment. The loading distillation bucket 14 with the distilled mash, the material bucket 12 and the support frame 13 are installed. The flipping mechanism 2 is flipped 180 degrees and then stopped. The distilled mash enters the material bucket 12. It is recommended to use a new material bucket 12 in this step.

[0039] S4, the material hopper 12 and the upper still distillation hopper 14 are removed from the support frame 13 in sequence, and the still is discharged.

[0040] This top-distillation method ensures good uniformity and a loose texture of the mash after mixing with the top-distillation equipment. After entering the 14th bucket of the top-distillation hopper, steam distillation can be started directly, saving 40-50 minutes of distillation time and improving production efficiency to some extent. Distillation using this method yields alcohol with comparable quality to traditional processes. Experiments have verified that the yield increases by 20% with the top-distillation method. The double-bottom-distillation method produces higher quality alcohol, with a cleaner body, less off-flavors and impurities, and a significantly improved pass rate for Grade B and above. Furthermore, traditional methods of unloading the still often involve lifting the still with a crane and then opening the bottom for unloading. Currently, more mechanized distilleries often use robotic arms to flip the still for unloading, a cumbersome process that requires additional equipment. The method described above makes unloading much more convenient.

[0041] In summary, this application provides a fermented mash mixing and steaming equipment and a steaming distillation method. The fermented mash turning and mixing equipment feeds material into the rotating shell 1 via high-pressure air feeding, resulting in good mixing performance. Combined with the steaming distillation hopper 14, and the detachable shell 1, the fermented mash and other materials can be directly fed into the steaming distillation hopper 14 after being uniformly mixed, saving 40-50 minutes of steaming time. Simultaneously, the steaming distillation hopper 14 can be directly connected to existing equipment such as steam pipes for the distillation process, greatly improving production efficiency. Furthermore, this equipment can also perform the unloading process, making it a multi-functional machine.

Claims

1. A device for mixing and steaming baijiu mash, comprising a turning mechanism (2) and a housing (1) having a mixing chamber (11), characterized in that: The flipping mechanism (2) includes a first column (21) and a second column (22) arranged at relative intervals. The housing (1) includes a material hopper (12) that is sequentially sealed and fastened to form the mixing chamber (11), a support frame (13), and an upper distillation hopper (14). The upper distillation hopper (14) includes a hopper body (141). A bottom plate (1421) is provided on the inner side of the hopper body (141) near its lower end. The bottom plate (1421) has multiple through holes (1422) to form a steamer grate (142). The material hopper (12) and the upper distillation hopper (14) are detachably connected to the support frame (13) by a clamping assembly (15). The clamping assembly (15) is fixedly installed on the support frame (13). The support frame (13) is rotatably mounted on the first column (21) via the drive shaft (23) at one end and on the second column (22) via the rotating shaft (25) at the other end. The rotating shaft (25) is provided with a feeding channel (26) along its axis. The support frame (13) is provided with a feeding port (131) relative to the feeding channel (26). One end of the feeding port (131) is connected to the feeding channel (26), and the other end is connected to the mixing chamber (11). The end of the rotating shaft (25) away from the support frame (13) is connected to a feeding mechanism (4). The feeding mechanism (4) is used to feed materials into the mixing chamber (11) through the feeding channel (26) and the feeding port (131).

2. The equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The hopper body (141) is fixedly and sealed to a pot body (16) at one end near the steamer grate (142). The pot body (16) has a distillation chamber (161), and multiple through holes (1422) are connected to the distillation chamber (161). A steam coil (162) is provided at the bottom of the pot body (16). One end of the steam coil (162) is a sealed end, and the other end passes through the side wall of the pot body (16). The steam coil (162) is located near the end of the pot body (1422). A first valve (163) is provided at one end of the pot (16), and multiple air holes (166) are provided on the ring side of the steam coil (162). A water inlet (164) communicating with the distillation chamber (161) is provided on the ring side of the pot body (16) near the steam grate (142). A drain outlet (165) communicating with the distillation chamber (161) is provided at the bottom of the pot body (16). A second valve (167) is provided on both the water inlet (164) and the drain outlet (165).

3. The equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The hopper body (141) and the pot body (16) are integrally formed structures, and the steamer grate (142) is snapped onto the end of the hopper body (141) near the pot body (16).

4. The equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a control module (3), and the flipping mechanism (2), feeding mechanism (4) and clamping assembly (15) are all electrically connected to the control module (3); the clamping assembly (15) includes a plurality of pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinders (151) fixed on the ring side of the support frame (13), the plurality of pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinders (151) are arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the support frame (13), and the plurality of pneumatic self-locking clamping cylinders (151) are all electrically connected to the control module (3).

5. The equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding mechanism (4) includes a feeding bracket (41) and a feeding pipe (45), a high-pressure air pipe (43) and a high-pressure blower (44) connected in sequence. The end of the feeding pipe (45) away from the high-pressure air pipe (43) is connected to the feeding channel (26). A screw feeder (46) located above the feeding pipe (45) is fixedly installed on the feeding bracket (41). The inlet end of the screw feeder (46) is connected to a feeding hopper (42) located above it. The outlet end of the screw feeder (46) is connected to the feeding pipe (45). The high-pressure blower (44) and the screw feeder (46) are both electrically connected to the control module (3).

6. The equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding mechanism (4) includes an inclined chain conveyor (471) electrically connected to the control module (3). The lower end of the inclined chain conveyor (471) is located on the ground, and the end face of the higher end is on the same horizontal plane as the opening end face of the feeding hopper (42). A lifting hopper (472) is fixedly installed on the upper side of the inclined chain conveyor (471). The flipping mechanism (2) includes a servo-driven turntable (24) electrically connected to the control module (3) and located in the first column (21). The driving end of the servo-driven turntable (24) is connected to the drive shaft (23) for transmission.

7. The equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A hopper conveying mechanism (5) is provided between the first column (21) and the second column (22). The hopper conveying mechanism (5) includes a lifting platform (51) and a pair of spaced slide rails (52) passing through the first column (21) and the second column (22). The bottom of the lifting platform (51) is slidably mounted on the pair of slide rails (52) through a drive assembly. The hopper conveying mechanism (5) and the drive assembly are both electrically connected to the control module (3). The drive assembly includes a feeding motor (53) fixedly mounted on the bottom of the lifting platform (51). The feeding motor (53) is electrically connected to the control module (3). The output end of the feeding motor (53) is rotatably connected to a drive shaft (55) through a bevel gear set (54). The drive shaft (55) is rotatably mounted on the bottom of the lifting platform (51) and both ends are fixedly mounted with drive wheels (56). The two drive wheels (56) are respectively in rolling cooperation with a pair of slide rails (52).

8. The equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The support frame (13) includes a main frame (133), and a fixed frame (132) is fixedly connected inside the main frame (133). The fixed frame (132) has a concentric clearance opening (1321) relative to the feed inlet (131). The central axis of the feed inlet (131) and the central axis of the support rod are perpendicular to each other. When the shell (1) is working, the opening end face of the material hopper (12) and the opening end face of the upper steam distillation hopper (14) are respectively in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the fixed frame (132).

9. The equipment for mixing and steaming baijiu mash as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a dust collection mechanism (6), which includes a suction hood (61) covering the housing (1), and a suction pipe (62) connected to the side of the suction hood (61) away from the housing (1). The suction pipe is connected to a dust collector (63) and a blower (64) in sequence.

10. The method of distillation using a top-steamer, characterized by: Includes the following steps: S1, using the baijiu mash mixing and steaming equipment as described in any one of claims 1-9, the mash and materials are mixed, wherein the materials are grain powder and rice husks added in batches and sequentially or rice husks added separately. S2, after the lees and materials are mixed and all the mixed lees have entered the upper still distillation hopper (14), the flipping mechanism (2) stops driving the housing (1) to rotate, and removes the upper still distillation hopper (14) and the material hopper (12) from the support frame (13) in sequence, and the stilling is completed; S3, transfer the upper still distillation hopper (14) to the distillation position and distill the mixed mash in the upper still distillation hopper (14); S4. After distillation, the distillation bucket is transferred to the baijiu mash mixing and loading equipment. The loading distillation bucket (14), material bucket (12) and support frame (13) with the distilled mash are installed. The flipping mechanism (2) is flipped 180 degrees and then stopped. The distilled mash enters the material bucket (12). S5, remove the material hopper (12) and the upper still distillation hopper (14) from the support frame (13) in sequence, and the still is discharged.

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