A freeze-drying device

Abstract

This invention discloses a freeze-drying device, including a freeze-drying chamber. The freeze-drying chamber contains multiple rings of medium flow components for circulating a cooling medium. Annular baffles are provided between adjacent rings of medium flow components, forming a freeze-drying channel. A discharge component is located below the freeze-drying channel, connected to a drive assembly for blocking and discharging material at the bottom outlet of the freeze-drying channel. The discharge component includes a blocking section, a discharge port, and a guide surface for guiding material above the blocking section to the discharge port. This freeze-drying device has advantages such as improved uniformity of material heating, freeze-drying efficiency, and overall effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food and pharmaceutical packaging machinery and equipment, specifically to a freeze-drying device. Background Technology

[0002] Chinese patent application number 202511170035.4 discloses a freeze-drying system, including a freeze-drying tank and a cold trap. The freeze-drying tank contains an annular heat-conducting jacket and a material sleeve. Multiple heat-conducting baffles are arranged between the annular heat-conducting jacket and the material sleeve, spaced apart along the circumference of the annular heat-conducting jacket. A material drying chamber is formed between two adjacent heat-conducting baffles. The cold trap is connected to the material drying chamber. A material guiding and equalizing component is provided between the material drying chamber and the inlet of the freeze-drying tank to evenly distribute the material into each material drying chamber. A material blocking component is provided between the material drying chamber and the outlet of the freeze-drying tank. This freeze-drying system has the following shortcomings: 1) The internal space of the freeze-drying tank is wasted, the feeding and discharging are not utilized, the freeze-drying efficiency is poor, and the product heating uniformity is poor. 2) The heat-conducting structure facilitates the transfer of energy to the material for sublimation, but the gas sublimated from the product during freeze drying is difficult to flow upward and cannot be easily extracted. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a freeze-drying device that can improve the uniformity of material heating, freeze-drying efficiency and effect.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A freeze-drying apparatus includes a freeze-drying chamber. The freeze-drying chamber has multiple rings of medium flow components for circulating cooling medium inside. Annular baffles are provided between adjacent rings of medium flow components, and freeze-drying channels are formed between adjacent baffles. A discharge component is provided below the freeze-drying channels in the freeze-drying chamber. The discharge component is connected to a drive assembly for blocking and discharging material at the bottom outlet of the freeze-drying channels. The discharge component includes a blocking part, a discharge port, and a guide surface for guiding the material above the blocking part to the discharge port.

[0005] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: The material blocking part is ring-shaped and has multiple rings. The material discharge port is the gap between the material blocking parts. Each of the material blocking parts is connected into one piece by a connecting block and corresponds to the bottom of each freeze-drying channel. The driving component is connected to the material blocking part.

[0006] The material guiding surface is located between the material blocking part and the material discharge port.

[0007] The discharge component also includes a lifting shaft connected to the drive assembly, and the innermost baffle is coaxially fixed on the lifting shaft.

[0008] The partition component has a sublimation channel inside for gas to escape, and the side wall of the sublimation channel has an airflow hole connecting the sublimation channel and the freeze-drying channel.

[0009] The freeze-drying chamber is provided with a feeding chamber and a discharging chamber at its upper and lower ends, respectively, and the freeze-drying channel connects the feeding chamber and the discharging chamber.

[0010] The freeze-drying chamber is equipped with a rotating material dispensing component above the freeze-drying channel.

[0011] The rotating shaft of the rotating dispensing component passes through the center of the freeze-drying chamber and extends to the bottom of the freeze-drying chamber.

[0012] The barrier component is a double-layer perforated plate, and the medium flow component is a coil.

[0013] The freeze-drying chamber has a cylindrical space inside, and the medium flow component and the partition component are both located in the cylindrical space and are coaxial with the cylindrical space.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: The freeze-drying equipment of this invention uses a medium flow component to cool and heat the material within the freeze-drying channels to complete the freeze-drying process. By setting multiple concentric circular medium flow components and baffle components, multiple annular freeze-drying channels are formed within the freeze-drying chamber, greatly utilizing the internal space of the chamber and ensuring that the material is evenly distributed within each channel. This not only improves the uniformity of heating but also enhances freeze-drying efficiency. Furthermore, a discharge component is located below the freeze-drying channels to intercept and release material at the bottom outlet. During freeze-drying, the discharge component intercepts the material at the bottom outlet, keeping it within the channels and improving the freeze-drying effect. Once freeze-drying is complete, the discharge component descends, opening the outlet to allow the material to drain. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the freeze-drying equipment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified structural diagram of point A in the middle.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the discharge component of the freeze-drying equipment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the freeze-drying chamber of the freeze-drying equipment of the present invention.

[0019] The labels in the diagram represent: 1. Freeze-drying chamber; 11. Cylindrical space; 2. Medium flow component; 3. Baffle component; 4. Freeze-drying channel; 5. Sublimation channel; 6. Feeding chamber; 7. Discharge chamber; 8. Rotary material distribution component; 81. Rotary shaft; 9. Discharge component; 91. Material baffle; 911. Guide surface; 92. Discharge port; 93. Connecting block; 94. Lifting shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0022] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0023] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "assembly," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0024] Figures 1 to 4 An embodiment of the freeze-drying equipment of the present invention is shown. The freeze-drying equipment of this embodiment includes a freeze-drying chamber 1. The freeze-drying chamber 1 is provided with multiple rings of medium flow components 2 for circulating cooling medium. An annular partition component 3 is provided between adjacent rings of medium flow components 2. A freeze-drying channel 4 is formed between adjacent partition components 3. The freeze-drying chamber 1 is provided with a discharge component 9 below the freeze-drying channel 4. The discharge component 9 is connected to a drive assembly for blocking and discharging material at the bottom outlet of the freeze-drying channel 4. The discharge component 9 includes a blocking part 91, a discharge port 92, and a guide surface 911 for guiding the material above the blocking part 91 to the discharge port 92.

[0025] In this freeze-drying equipment, the medium flow component 2 is used to cool and heat the material within the freeze-drying channel 4 to complete the freeze-drying process. By setting multiple concentric circular medium flow components 2 and baffle components 3, multiple annular freeze-drying channels 4 are formed within the freeze-drying chamber 1, greatly utilizing the internal space of the freeze-drying chamber 1 and allowing the material to be evenly distributed within each freeze-drying channel 4. This not only improves the uniformity of material heating but also helps to increase freeze-drying efficiency. Furthermore, a discharge component 9 is set below the freeze-drying channel 4 to intercept and discharge material at the bottom outlet of the freeze-drying channel 4. That is, during the freeze-drying process, the discharge component 9 intercepts the material at the bottom outlet of the freeze-drying channel 4, keeping the material within the freeze-drying channel 4, which improves the freeze-drying effect. After freeze-drying is completed, the discharge component 9 descends, opening the outlet to allow the material to be discharged.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the baffle 91 is annular with multiple rings, and the discharge port 92 is the gap between the baffles 91. Each baffle 91 is connected as a whole by a connecting block 93 and corresponds to the lower part of each freeze-drying channel 4. The drive component is connected to the baffle 91. The discharge component 9 can be raised and lowered. When the discharge component 9 rises, the top of the annular baffle 91 contacts the bottom of the partition component 3 or the side wall of the freeze-drying channel 4, sealing the lower outlet of the freeze-drying channel 4 and baffled the material. When freeze-drying is complete and discharge is required, the discharge component 9 descends, the baffle 91 disengages from the partition component 3, the bottom outlet of the freeze-drying channel 4 is opened, and the material is guided through the guide surface 911 to the discharge port 92 between the baffles 91, and then falls from the discharge port 92 (i.e., the gap). This integrated baffle and guide design is compact in structure and reliable in operation.

[0027] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as Figure 3 As shown, a guide surface 911 is located between the baffle 91 and the discharge port 92. Specifically, the guide surface is an inclined surface located at the top of the baffle 91 and tilted towards the discharge port 92. The design of the guide surface 911 reduces the contact area with the material, making it easier for the material to slide off and preventing material residue. Meanwhile, to ensure the stability of the lifting operation, the discharge component 9 also includes a lifting shaft 94 connected to the drive assembly, with the innermost baffle 91 coaxially fixed to the lifting shaft 94.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the interior of the partition component 3 is provided with a sublimation channel 5 for gas overflow, and the side wall of the sublimation channel 5 is provided with an airflow hole connecting the sublimation channel 5 and the freeze-drying channel 4.

[0029] To address the problem of the difficulty in successfully removing sublimated gases from materials in existing technologies, such as... Figure 2As shown, in this embodiment, a sublimation channel 5 for gas overflow is provided inside the partition component 3. An airflow hole (not shown in the figure) connecting the sublimation channel 5 and the freeze-drying channel 4 is provided on the side wall of the sublimation channel 5. During freeze-drying, the water vapor generated by the sublimation of the material enters the sublimation channel 5 inside the partition component 3 through the airflow hole, and flows upward or downward along the sublimation channel 5 to the main pipeline (not shown in the figure) connected to the external vacuum system, where it is extracted. This design, integrating the sublimation channel 5 inside the partition component 3, allows the gas flow channel to penetrate deep into all locations of the material distribution, greatly shortening the flow path of the water vapor and avoiding the problem of affecting freeze-drying efficiency and product quality due to the inability to expel gas in a timely manner.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as Figure 1 As shown, to achieve continuous operation of the freeze-drying process, the freeze-drying chamber 1 has an inlet chamber 6 and an outlet chamber 7 at its top and bottom, respectively, and the freeze-drying channel 4 connects the inlet chamber 6 and the outlet chamber 7. The material to be freeze-dried enters from the inlet chamber 6 at the top and fills into each freeze-drying channel 4 by gravity. After freeze-drying is completed, the material is discharged from the outlet chamber 7 at the bottom. This vertical layout makes full use of gravity and simplifies the material feeding and discharging structure.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the freeze-drying chamber 1 is equipped with a rotating material distribution component 8 above the freeze-drying channels 4. The rotating material distribution component 8 rotates and distributes the material evenly into each freeze-drying channel 4. Driven by a driving device (not shown in the figure), the rotating material distribution component 8 evenly sprinkles or guides the material falling from above into each ring of freeze-drying channels 4, avoiding local accumulation of material and ensuring that the amount of material in each freeze-drying channel 4 is basically consistent, thereby ensuring the uniformity of product drying.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rotating shaft 81 of the rotating dispensing component 8 passes through the center of the freeze-drying chamber 1 and extends to the bottom of the freeze-drying chamber 1. This design can leave more space for the top feeding chamber 6, and also facilitates the placement of the drive device at the bottom of the equipment, thus lowering the center of gravity of the equipment.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the partition component 3 is preferably a double-layer perforated plate. The cavity in the middle of the double-layer structure forms the sublimation channel 5, and the mesh on the perforated plate constitutes the airflow holes connecting the freeze-drying channel 4 and the sublimation channel 5. This structure is simple, easy to process, and has good ventilation. To optimize heat exchange efficiency, the medium flow component 2 is preferably a coil, through which circulating heat transfer oil or other cooling / heating media are introduced.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as Figure 1As shown, to further optimize the internal structural layout of the equipment, a cylindrical space 11 is provided inside the freeze-drying chamber 1. The medium flow component 2 and the partition component 3 are both located inside the cylindrical space 11 and are coaxial with the cylindrical space 11. The coaxial arrangement ensures the symmetry of the entire temperature field and airflow field, and ensures that the processing conditions of materials in all freeze-drying channels 4 are basically the same, which is the key to achieving high-quality and high-efficiency freeze-drying.

[0035] While the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can make many possible variations and modifications to the technical solutions of the present invention, or modify them into equivalent embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention, without departing from the scope of the present invention, should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A freeze-drying apparatus, comprising a freeze-drying chamber (1), characterized in that: The freeze-drying chamber (1) is provided with multiple rings of medium flow components (2) for circulating cooling medium. A ring-shaped baffle component (3) is provided between adjacent rings of medium flow components (2). A freeze-drying channel (4) is formed between adjacent baffle components (3). The freeze-drying chamber (1) is provided with a discharge component (9) below the freeze-drying channel (4). The discharge component (9) is connected to a drive assembly for blocking and discharging material at the bottom outlet of the freeze-drying channel (4). The discharge component (9) includes a blocking part (91), a discharge port (92), and a guide surface (911) for guiding the material above the blocking part (91) to the discharge port (92).

2. The freeze-drying equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The baffle (91) is annular and has multiple rings. The discharge port (92) is the gap between the baffles (91). Each baffle (91) is connected into one unit by a connecting block (93) and corresponds to the bottom of each freeze-drying channel (4). The drive assembly is connected to the baffle (91).

3. The freeze-drying equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The guide surface (911) is located between the baffle (91) and the discharge port (92).

4. The freeze-drying equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The discharge component (9) also includes a lifting shaft (94) connected to the drive assembly, and the innermost baffle (91) is coaxially fixed on the lifting shaft (94).

5. The freeze-drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The partition component (3) has a sublimation channel (5) for gas to escape inside, and the side wall of the sublimation channel (5) has an airflow hole that connects the sublimation channel (5) and the freeze-drying channel (4).

6. The freeze-drying equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The freeze-drying box (1) has an inlet chamber (6) and an outlet chamber (7) at its upper and lower ends, respectively, and the freeze-drying channel (4) connects the inlet chamber (6) and the outlet chamber (7).

7. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that: The freeze-drying box (1) is equipped with a rotating material distribution component (8) above the freeze-drying channel (4).

8. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that: The rotating shaft (81) of the rotating dispensing component (8) extends through the center of the freeze-drying box (1) to the bottom of the freeze-drying box (1).

9. The freeze-drying equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The partition component (3) is a double-layer perforated plate, and the medium flow component (2) is a coil.

10. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that: The freeze-drying chamber (1) is provided with a cylindrical space (11), and the medium flow component (2) and the partition component (3) are both located in the cylindrical space (11) and are coaxial with the cylindrical space (11).

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