Pet food production and processing device equipped with clean fermentation technology

Abstract

The application relates to the field of pet food production and processing, and provides a pet food production and processing device applying clean fermentation technology equipment, which comprises a raw material pretreatment system, a modular biological fermentation system, a vacuum conveying system, an extrusion granulation system, a cleaning and sterilization system and a central control system which are sequentially connected according to a technological process. The raw material pretreatment system comprises a mixing bin, a fluid conditioning and stirring assembly which is arranged in the mixing bin and comprises a hollow rotating shaft and a spraying port, a shearing pumping assembly which is connected to the bottom of the mixing bin, and a distribution body which is internally provided with a rotating distribution piece, and a discharge port is arranged at the lowest part of the edge of the rotating distribution piece to realize residue-free distribution to a downstream fermentation unit. The application realizes fluidization, sterile conditioning and zero dead angle accurate distribution of materials in a closed environment, and builds a whole-process sterile barrier through full-closed negative pressure conveying and a distributed in-situ cleaning network.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of pet food production and processing, specifically to a pet food production and processing device that utilizes clean fermentation technology. Background Technology

[0002] In the pet food fermentation production process, raw material pretreatment and the distribution of fermentation materials are crucial steps determining the final product quality and biosafety. Existing pretreatment equipment typically uses simple mechanical stirring combined with external heating or post-treatment spraying for mixing and conditioning. This method often fails to achieve uniform temperature and humidity distribution within the material when processing high-viscosity, high-protein pet food slurries, easily creating mixing dead zones, leading to incomplete sterilization or uneven fermentation substrate. Furthermore, when distributing the pretreated slurry to multiple parallel fermenters, traditional valves or T-junctions lack flow guidance designs for high-viscosity fluids, making it easy for material to accumulate and deposit in valve chambers or pipe walls. These residues become a breeding ground for microorganisms in the warm and humid environment of continuous production, not only posing a risk of cross-contamination between batches but also severely limiting the cleaning efficiency and operational stability of the production line. Therefore, there is an urgent need for equipment that can simultaneously achieve efficient homogenization and in-situ sterilization during the pretreatment stage and can distribute the slurry to multiple fermentation units without residue. In addition, existing production lines mostly use open or semi-open transfer methods between processes, lacking closed-loop transportation and online cleaning and sterilization capabilities throughout the entire process. Environmental bacteria can easily invade materials during process transfer, further exacerbating product quality fluctuations and biosafety risks. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the problems of existing technologies, such as the difficulty in achieving both homogeneity and sterilization in the pretreatment of pet food fermentation materials, the potential for material residue buildup during multi-path distribution, and the risk of contamination from open transfer between processes, this application proposes a pet food production and processing device equipped with clean fermentation technology. This device achieves fluidized aseptic conditioning of materials in a closed environment, precise distribution with zero dead angles, and closed production and in-situ cleaning and sterilization throughout the entire process.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution: A pet food production and processing device using clean fermentation technology includes the following components connected sequentially in the process flow: a raw material pretreatment system configured to convert pet food base materials and fermentation start-up substrate into a fluid slurry; a modular bio-fermentation system connected downstream of the raw material pretreatment system configured to perform controlled bio-fermentation of the fluid slurry to generate fermented material; a vacuum conveying system connected between the modular bio-fermentation system and the extrusion granulation system configured to use negative pressure to drive the fermented material through a fully enclosed transfer and perform a degassing process; an extrusion granulation system connected downstream of the vacuum conveying system configured to extrude the fermented material into shape; a cleaning and sterilization system fluidly connected to the material contact pipelines and cavities of the raw material pretreatment system, modular bio-fermentation system, vacuum conveying system, and extrusion granulation system configured to perform in-situ cleaning and in-situ sterilization; and a central control system connected to the raw material pretreatment system, modular bio-fermentation system, vacuum conveying system, extrusion granulation system, and cleaning and sterilization system, configured to coordinate and control the automated operation of the entire process.

[0005] The raw material pretreatment system includes: a mixing chamber configured to hold pet food base materials and fermentation start-up substrate; a fluid conditioning and stirring assembly located within the mixing chamber, comprising a hollow rotating shaft with internal fluid channels and a stirring component located on the outer wall of the hollow rotating shaft, wherein multiple spray nozzles communicating with the fluid channels are provided on the wall of the hollow rotating shaft, configured to spray conditioning fluid onto the materials through the spray nozzles during the rotation and stirring process; a shear pumping assembly connected to the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber, configured to perform shear fluidization treatment on the materials output from the mixing chamber and pump them out; and a distribution body connected to the output end of the shear pumping assembly, wherein a rotating distribution assembly is provided within the distribution body, the rotating distribution assembly comprising a rotating distribution component with a guide slope, wherein a discharge port is provided at the lowest point of the edge of the rotating distribution component, configured to guide the received fluidized materials along the guide slope to the discharge port by rotation, so as to distribute them to multiple downstream fermentation units without residue.

[0006] The above solution integrates the conditioning fluid delivery channel inside the stirring shaft, allowing the spraying action to occur directly in the core turbulent zone of the material, avoiding localized over-wetting or sterilization blind spots caused by surface spraying. Combined with the bottom shear pumping action, high-viscosity materials are forcibly converted into a uniform fluid, providing a uniform physical state for subsequent processes. Simultaneously, the guide slope and edge discharge port design of the rotating distribution component allow the material to be discharged along a specific trajectory under the combined action of gravity and centrifugal force, eliminating the static retention zone within the traditional valve chamber and structurally blocking the physical basis for biofilm formation. Based on this, the entire system, through fully enclosed negative pressure conveying and an integrated in-situ cleaning and sterilization architecture, extends the sterility advantages of the pre-treatment to the entire production line, eliminating the risk of contamination from open transfers between processes and achieving full-process biosafety control from raw material input to finished product granulation.

[0007] In one embodiment, the agitator includes a first agitator ribbon and a second agitator ribbon with opposite rotation directions, which are coaxially mounted on a hollow rotating shaft; the shear pumping assembly includes a shear pump, the input end of which is connected to the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber, and the output end of which is connected to the distribution body.

[0008] This implementation enhances the axial and radial circulation of highly viscous materials within the silo through the convective shearing effect of the double reverse spiral ribbons, further improving the dispersion uniformity of the spray fluid; the shearing conveying pump serves as the terminal execution unit for fluidization processing, ensuring that the materials entering the distribution body have sufficient fluidity to adapt to the rotating distribution structure.

[0009] In one embodiment, a second motor is installed on the outside of the mixing chamber, and the output shaft of the second motor is connected to one end of the hollow rotating shaft. The other end of the hollow rotating shaft is connected to a steam and sterile water pipeline through a sealed rotary joint. The steam and sterile water pipeline is configured to deliver steam or sterile water to the fluid channel as conditioning fluid. The diameter of the spray nozzle is 2mm to 5mm. A first rotary valve is installed at the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber, and a shearing pump is installed below the first rotary valve. The top of the mixing chamber is sealed with a mixing chamber cover.

[0010] This specific structure limits the dynamic access method of the conditioning medium and the range of spray orifice diameter, ensuring the sealing reliability of the rotating shaft and the penetration force of the spray jet under high temperature and high pressure sterilization conditions; the setting of the first rotary valve provides a stable feed back pressure for the shear pump, preventing cavitation and isolating pressure fluctuations in the chamber.

[0011] In one implementation, a rotating chamber is provided inside the material distribution body, and the rotating material distribution component is a rotating block set inside the rotating chamber. The rotating block has an inclined concave platform structure. The discharge port is opened at the outermost and lowest end of the bottom surface of the rotating block. The bottom wall of the rotating chamber is connected to at least two discharge pipes, and the discharge port is configured to connect with each discharge pipe in sequence when the rotating block rotates.

[0012] The inclined concave platform structure forms a natural self-cleaning guide surface, preventing materials from lingering on the inclined surface; the discharge port is located at the lowest geometric point and at the outermost edge of the rotation trajectory, ensuring that residual materials are completely discharged at the end of each discharge, thus solving the risk of cross-contamination during multi-path switching.

[0013] In one implementation, the material distribution body is provided with a feeding channel and a rotating chamber from top to bottom. The feeding channel is configured to guide the fluidized material output by the shearing pumping component into the rotating chamber. The rotating block is sealed and rotated to the bottom wall of the material distribution body. A fourth motor is connected to the bottom end of the rotating block. The fourth motor is configured to drive the rotating block to rotate in the rotating chamber. A lifting base is provided below the fourth motor. The lifting base is configured to drive the fourth motor and the rotating block to perform lifting and adjustment.

[0014] In one embodiment, the top of the mixing chamber is sealed with a mixing chamber cover, and a feed inlet is provided above the mixing chamber cover; a pair of feeding blocks are provided in the middle section of the interior of the mixing chamber, and the pair of feeding blocks have a funnel-shaped structure that is inclined towards the center, configured to guide the material falling from the feed inlet to the central area of ​​the mixing chamber.

[0015] The funnel-shaped feeding block precisely guides the feed point to the effective working area of ​​the mixing component, avoiding the accumulation of dry powder material at the edge of the bin wall to form unmixed dead zones, thus ensuring the consistency of batch materials.

[0016] In one implementation, a partition plate is provided below the mixing chamber cover, and a pair of rotating conveying rollers are installed between the two sides of the partition plate and the mixing chamber cover. A pair of first motors are installed above the mixing chamber cover, and the pair of first motors drive the corresponding rotating conveying rollers to rotate, configured to prevent bridging of materials entering from the feed inlet. A first rotating washing ball is installed in the middle section of the partition plate, and the first rotating washing ball is configured to receive external cleaning fluid and perform in-situ cleaning of the inner wall of the mixing chamber.

[0017] In one implementation, the modular bio-fermentation system includes at least two fermentation tanks. The top of each fermentation tank is equipped with a fermentation tank cover, and the fermentation tank cover is equipped with a feed valve and a second rotating washing ball. The feed valve is connected to the discharge pipe at the bottom of the distribution body. A stirring shaft driven by a third motor is installed inside the fermentation tank. A first blade and a second blade are installed on the stirring shaft. A second rotary valve is installed at the lower end of the fermentation tank.

[0018] This structure ensures that the transfer of fluidized slurry from the pretreatment unit to the fermentation unit is entirely in a closed state through the sealed connection between the feed valve and the bottom discharge pipe of the distribution body; the double-layer blades are arranged in layers along the stirring shaft axis, which can adapt to the dynamic evolution of liquid level changes and material rheological properties during fermentation, and ensure the uniformity of the fermentation system.

[0019] In one embodiment, the vacuum conveying system includes a vacuum material pipeline connected to a second rotary valve. One end of the vacuum material pipeline is equipped with an air inlet filter, and the other end is connected to a negative pressure feed chamber. The upper end of the negative pressure feed chamber is connected to a vacuum pump through an exhaust pipe, and the lower end is connected to an extrusion granulation system through a third rotary valve.

[0020] This structure establishes a sealed negative pressure environment, which on the one hand achieves air-isolated transfer of fermentation materials from the fermenter to the granulator, blocking the contamination path of environmental bacteria flowing between processes; on the other hand, the negative pressure state can effectively remove carbon dioxide and other volatile metabolic gases generated during fermentation and remaining in the viscous slurry, preventing the gas from expanding rapidly at the high temperature and high pressure of the granulation die head, causing the surface of the particles to burst or the inside to form voids.

[0021] In one implementation, the cleaning and sterilization system includes an ozone water reaction assembly, a first output tank, and a second output tank; the first output tank is in fluid communication with a first rotating washing ball in the raw material pretreatment system, and the second output tank is in fluid communication with a second rotating washing ball in the modular bio-fermentation system.

[0022] This distribution architecture supplies cleaning media to the pretreatment and fermentation units separately via independent output tanks, achieving physical loop isolation. The raw material pretreatment zone handles materials with high organic loads, making cleaning difficult; while the fermentation zone is extremely sensitive to chemical residues and microbial contamination. Independent supply to each zone allows for setting cleaning parameters based on the hygiene risk level and dirt characteristics of the two areas, ensuring cleaning effectiveness while avoiding cross-interference in the cleaning loops. Beneficial effects

[0023] The pet food production and processing apparatus provided in this application, through a hollow rotating shaft with built-in fluid channels and wall spray nozzles, shifts the injection point of conditioning and sterilization media from the traditional silo wall or top to the core of material turbulence. Utilizing stirring and shear force, it achieves instantaneous microscopic dispersion of the media, fundamentally eliminating heat and mass transfer dead zones in the processing of high-viscosity materials, and significantly improving the uniformity and biosafety of the fermentation substrate. Simultaneously, the rotating dispensing component uses geometric shape and gravity guidance to replace the traditional valve-based cut-off flow channel, ensuring that the material is always in a dynamic sliding state during the distribution process, eliminating valve cavity residue and biofilm growth, and guaranteeing the hygienic consistency of multi-parallel fermentation processes. Based on this, the entire system, through the deep integration of fully enclosed negative pressure conveying and a distributed in-situ cleaning network, constructs a sterile barrier throughout the pretreatment, fermentation, conveying, and granulation processes, effectively solving the technical contradiction of balancing efficiency and hygiene in existing pet food fermentation production, and providing reliable equipment support for the large-scale manufacturing of high-quality functional pet food. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the pet food cleaning and fermentation production and processing device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the mixing chamber structure of the raw material pretreatment system according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of a modular bio-fermentation system according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the vacuum delivery system according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a structural layout diagram of the cleaning and sterilization system according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a structural view of the material distribution body and lifting drive assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Among them, 1-raw material pretreatment system, 2-modular bio-fermentation system, 3-vacuum conveying system, 4-extrusion granulation system, 5-cleaning and sterilization system, 6-central control system, 7-material distribution body, 8-feeding channel, 9-rotary chamber, 10-rotating block, 11-feeding port, 12-feeding pipe, 13-lifting base, 14-fourth motor, 101-mixing chamber body, 102-mixing chamber cover, 103-first motor, 104-rotary conveyor roller, 105-feeding port, 106-feeding block, 107-second motor, 108-first stirring ribbon, 109-second stirring ribbon, 110 - Spray nozzle, 111- Steam and sterile water pipeline, 112- First rotary valve, 113- Shear conveying pump, 114- First rotating washing ball, 201- Fermentation tank body, 202- Fermentation tank cover, 203- Third motor, 204- Feed valve, 205- Second rotating washing ball, 206- First impeller, 207- Second impeller, 208- Second rotary valve, 301- Vacuum material pipeline, 302- Inlet filter, 303- Negative pressure feed hopper, 304- Vacuum pump, 305- Third rotary valve, 501- Ozone water reaction assembly, 502- First output tank, 503- Second output tank. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. Example

[0028] like Figure 1As shown, this embodiment provides a pet food production and processing device using clean fermentation technology. The device includes a raw material pretreatment system 1, a modular bio-fermentation system 2, a vacuum conveying system 3, an extrusion granulation system 4, a cleaning and sterilization system 5, and a central control system 6, connected in sequence according to the process flow. The raw material pretreatment system 1 converts pet food base materials and fermentation start-up substrate into a fluid slurry. The modular bio-fermentation system 2 performs controlled bio-fermentation on the slurry. The vacuum conveying system 3 uses negative pressure to drive the fermentation material through a fully enclosed transfer and performs a degassing process. The extrusion granulation system 4 extrudes the fermentation material into shape. The cleaning and sterilization system 5 performs in-situ cleaning and sterilization on all material contact pipelines and cavities. The central control system 6 coordinates and controls the automated operation of the entire process.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the raw material pretreatment system 1 constitutes the core front-end unit of the pet food clean fermentation production line, aiming to solve the technical problems of uneven mixing of high-viscosity fermentation substrate in the pretreatment stage, dead corners in sterilization, and easy residue in multi-channel distribution. The raw material pretreatment system 1 mainly includes a mixing chamber 101, a fluid conditioning and stirring assembly, a shearing pumping assembly, and a dispensing body 7.

[0030] The mixing chamber 101 is configured to hold pet food base materials and fermentation starter substrate, serving as a sealed reaction container for physical mixing and biochemical conditioning of the materials. Specifically, the mixing chamber 101 is typically made of stainless steel, possessing pressure and corrosion resistance, and its volume can be adapted to the production line's capacity requirements. In this embodiment, the mixing chamber 101 not only serves as a storage unit but also acts as a carrier for subsequent fluid conditioning and shearing processes. Its structural design must ensure the smooth flow of the internal flow field and avoid structural grooves that are difficult to clean.

[0031] The fluid conditioning and stirring assembly is housed within the mixing chamber 101. It includes a hollow rotating shaft with internal fluid channels and a stirring element disposed on the outer wall of the hollow rotating shaft. Multiple spray nozzles 110, communicating with the fluid channels, are located on the wall of the hollow rotating shaft. The fluid conditioning and stirring assembly is configured to spray conditioning fluid onto the material through the spray nozzles 110 during the rotational stirring process. The core of this structural design lies in integrating the conveying path of the conditioning medium within the stirring shaft, achieving a "stirring and in-situ spraying" operation mode. Specifically, when the stirring element drives the material in a macroscopic circulation motion within the chamber, the conditioning fluid (such as steam, sterile water, or enzyme solution) is transported to the spray nozzles 110 via the fluid channels inside the hollow rotating shaft and directly injected into the core turbulent zone of the material. Compared to traditional fixed nozzles on the silo wall or top spraying methods, this follow-up in-situ injection mechanism ensures that the conditioning fluid is dispersed to the microscopic level of the material by the shear force generated by stirring the moment it is sprayed. This fundamentally eliminates heat and mass transfer dead zones caused by incomplete spray coverage, and also avoids material clumping caused by localized over-wetting, significantly improving the uniformity and sterilization thoroughness of the fermentation substrate. It should be understood that although the figure shows the spray nozzles distributed in the middle section of the shaft, in other embodiments, the density and angle of the spray nozzles can be adjusted according to the rheological characteristics of the material, as long as the function of in-situ fluid dispersion during stirring is achieved.

[0032] A shear pumping assembly is connected to the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber 101 and configured to perform shear fluidization treatment on the material output from the mixing chamber 101 and pump it out. Given that pet food fermentation materials generally have high protein, high sugar, and high viscosity characteristics, simple mechanical stirring often fails to achieve a fluid state suitable for pipeline transportation and precise distribution. This embodiment uses a shear pumping assembly to utilize the strong shearing, impact, and turbulence effects generated by high-speed rotating components to forcibly transform the semi-solid or high-viscosity slurry discharged from the bottom of the chamber into a uniform fluid medium. This process not only provides the power source for material transportation but also extends the pretreatment process, ensuring that the material entering the downstream distribution unit has stable rheological properties and preventing distribution and metering errors caused by material viscosity fluctuations. Simultaneously, placing this assembly at the bottom of the mixing chamber 101 facilitates gravity-assisted feeding and ensures that the material inside the chamber can be completely evacuated, reducing residual material between batches.

[0033] The distribution body 7 is connected to the output end of the shear pumping assembly. A rotating distribution assembly is installed within the distribution body 7. This assembly includes a rotating distribution component 10 with a guide slope. A discharge port 11 is located at the lowest point of the edge of the rotating distribution component 10. The rotating distribution assembly is configured to guide the received fluidized material along the guide slope to the discharge port 11 through rotation, thereby distributing it to multiple downstream fermentation units without residue. This is the key structure in this embodiment that addresses the pain point of cross-contamination. Specifically, the rotating distribution component 10 does not employ a traditional valve core-cutoff flow channel, but rather constructs a dynamic gravity-guided system. When the fluidized material falls into the distribution body 7, it naturally adheres to the guide slope of the rotating distribution component 10. As the rotating distribution component 10 rotates, the material, under the vector superposition of gravity and centrifugal force, continuously converges and flows out along the slope towards the discharge port 11 at the lowest point of the edge. Because the guide slope itself does not have a static chamber to accommodate materials, and the discharge port 11 is always at the lowest point in its geometric position, the materials are always in a dynamic sliding state during the distribution and switching process, and cannot form a residence area in the distribution body. This distribution method based on geometric shape and mechanical guidance completely eliminates the risk of scale accumulation of highly viscous materials in the valve cavity, and physically blocks the basis for biofilm formation, thereby ensuring the hygienic consistency and operational stability of the multi-parallel fermentation process. Example

[0034] In one embodiment, the mixing component includes a first mixing screw 108 and a second mixing screw 109 with opposite rotation directions, which are coaxially mounted on a hollow rotating shaft; the shearing pumping assembly includes a shearing conveying pump 113, the input end of which is connected to the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber 101, and the output end of which is connected to the material distribution body 7. Specifically, as... Figure 2 As shown, the first stirring ribbon 108 and the second stirring ribbon 109 are arranged in a double-layer nested or parallel configuration in space, and their spiral angles are diametrically opposed. When both rotate synchronously with the hollow rotating shaft, a complex convective shear flow field is formed inside the mixing chamber 101: one layer of ribbons pushes the material upward along the axial direction, while the other layer drives the material downward. This bidirectional forced convection not only eliminates the stratification phenomenon that is easily formed by traditional unidirectional stirring, but also generates a high-intensity shear band at the junction of the two ribbons, greatly enhancing the micro-mixing efficiency of high-viscosity pet food slurry. At the same time, the shear conveying pump 113, as the terminal execution unit of fluidization treatment, directly receives the discharge from the bottom of the mixing chamber 101 at its input end. It uses the high-speed relative motion between the rotor and stator to apply further mechanical shearing and turbulent disturbance to the material, completely transforming the premixed semi-solid matrix into a homogeneous fluid medium, thereby ensuring that the material entering the downstream distribution body 7 has stable rheological characteristics and avoiding distribution and metering deviations caused by viscosity fluctuations.

[0035] Furthermore, a second motor 107 is installed outside the mixing chamber 101, and the output shaft of the second motor 107 is connected to one end of the hollow rotating shaft. The other end of the hollow rotating shaft is connected to a steam and sterile water pipeline 111 through a sealed rotary joint. The steam and sterile water pipeline 111 is configured to deliver steam or sterile water to the fluid channel as a conditioning fluid. The diameter of the spray nozzle 110 is 2mm to 5mm. A first rotary valve 112 is installed at the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber 101, and a shear transfer pump 113 is installed below the first rotary valve 112. In this specific structure, the second motor 107 provides the power source for the entire fluid conditioning and stirring assembly, while the sealed rotary joint is the key hub for realizing dynamic media injection. It allows the hollow rotating shaft to continuously receive high-temperature steam or sterile water from the outside through the steam and sterile water pipeline 111 while rotating at high speed, ensuring the continuity of the sterilization and conditioning process. Regarding the orifice design of the spray nozzle 110, this application limits it to a specific range of 2mm to 5mm, based on optimization results derived from extensive process validation. For example, when processing low-viscosity sterile water or enzyme preparation solutions, a small orifice diameter close to 2mm can achieve a higher spray velocity, which is beneficial for forming a fine atomization effect and promoting rapid dispersion of the liquid in the material. Conversely, when injecting high-viscosity steam condensate or nutrient paste, a large orifice diameter close to 5mm can effectively reduce flow resistance and prevent liquid supply pulsation caused by excessive back pressure. Conversely, if the diameter of the spray nozzle 110 is less than 1mm, it is very easy to cause blockage when processing pet food slurry with high solids content, leading to production interruption. If the diameter is greater than 8mm, the jet penetration is significantly reduced, and the conditioning fluid cannot penetrate into the core of the material, easily forming a local over-wet zone on the surface, which in turn affects the uniformity of the fermentation substrate. In addition, the first rotary valve 112 is located between the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber 101 and the shear transfer pump 113, playing a crucial role in buffering and stabilizing the flow. Because the shear pump 113 generates periodic suction and discharge pulsations during operation, if it is directly connected to an open silo bottom, it is highly susceptible to cavitation due to instantaneous negative pressure, which can damage the pump body and cause flow fluctuations. The first rotary valve 112 provides a stable back pressure to the pump inlet through the throttling effect of its rotary valve core, effectively suppressing cavitation and isolating the pressure fluctuations inside the mixing silo 101 from interfering with the downstream precision material distribution system, thus ensuring the smooth operation of the entire line. Example

[0036] In one implementation, the material distribution body 7 is further provided with a rotating chamber 9, and the rotating material distribution component 10 is a rotating block 10 disposed within the rotating chamber 9. The rotating block 10 has an inclined concave platform structure; the discharge port 11 is a discharge port 11 opened at the outermost and lowest end of the bottom surface of the rotating block 10. The bottom wall of the rotating chamber 9 is connected to at least two discharge pipes 12, and the discharge port 11 is configured to sequentially connect with each discharge pipe 12 when the rotating block 10 rotates. Specifically, as follows... Figure 6 As shown, the geometry of the rotating block 10 is the core physical basis for achieving residue-free dispensing in this embodiment. The inclined concave platform structure is not a simple inclined or conical surface, but rather a dynamically guiding curved surface with self-cleaning properties. The concave curved surface shape allows the material falling onto it to naturally converge towards the central axis under the action of gravity, preventing the material from splashing outwards or sticking to the wall; while the inclined angle provides a downward component of gravity along the curved surface, ensuring that high-viscosity slurry can continuously slide down without remaining on the surface. More importantly, the discharge port 11 is precisely set at the outermost and lowest end of the bottom surface of the rotating block 10. When the rotating block 10 rotates, the centrifugal force on the material is directed outwards, and the direction of gravity is downwards; the vector superposition of the two forces points precisely to this lowest end position. This mechanical design ensures that the material is always in a state of being actively "thrown out" during the discharge process, rather than being passively flowed out. In contrast, if the discharge port is located at a point other than the lowest or outermost point, the centrifugal force generated by rotation will push some material into the dead end, leading to accumulation. If the guide surface is changed to a plane, there is a lack of centripetal convergence effect, and material is prone to forming a stagnation zone at the edge. Therefore, this combination of specific geometry and spatial location eliminates the risk of cross-contamination during multi-path switching and distribution in principle.

[0037] Furthermore, the internal structure of the material distribution body 7 is provided with a discharge channel 8 and a rotating chamber 9 from top to bottom. The discharge channel 8 is configured to guide the fluidized material output from the shearing pump assembly into the rotating chamber 9. The rotating block 10 is sealed and rotatably mounted to the bottom wall of the material distribution body 7. A fourth motor 14 is connected to the bottom end of the rotating block 10, which is configured to drive the rotating block 10 to rotate within the rotating chamber 9. A lifting base 13 is provided below the fourth motor 14, which is configured to drive the fourth motor 14 and the rotating block 10 to perform lifting and adjustment. The discharge pipe 12 is connected to the bottom wall of the material distribution body 7, and the discharge port 11 is located at the lowest end of the rotating block 10. In this specific structure, the discharge channel 8, as a transitional connector between the upstream shearing pump assembly and the downstream rotating chamber 9, not only plays a role in precise flow guidance but also avoids the high-speed fluidized material from directly impacting the rotating sealing surface, thus extending the service life of the sealing assembly. The fourth motor 14 provides precise angular positioning power to the rotating block 10, ensuring that the discharge port 11 can accurately align with the target discharge pipe 12. Of particular note is the functional design of the lifting base 13, which is not merely a supporting component but also a crucial adjustment mechanism ensuring the long-term stable operation and hygiene safety of the system. On one hand, during equipment operation, due to wear on the sealing surface or thermal expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes, the lifting base 13 can finely adjust the axial position of the rotating block 10 to compensate for gaps and maintain a constant sealing pressure, preventing leakage or pressure loss due to seal failure. On the other hand, during in-situ cleaning, the lifting base 13 can drive the rotating block 10 to descend or rise as a whole, creating an open flushing gap between it and the bottom wall of the distribution body 7. This action completely exposes the originally tightly fitted sealing contact surface to the cleaning fluid, thoroughly solving the problem of traditional fixed rotary valve sealing surfaces being difficult to clean and prone to biofilm growth, truly achieving sterilization of the entire system without dead angles. It should be understood that although this embodiment shows the lifting base 13 located below the fourth motor 14, in other embodiments, the lifting drive mechanism can also be integrated inside the motor or use lateral lifting, as long as the active adjustment function of the axial position of the rotating block 10 can be achieved. Example

[0038] In one embodiment, the top of the mixing chamber 101 is sealed with a mixing chamber cover 102, and a feed inlet 105 is provided above the mixing chamber cover 102; a pair of discharge blocks 106 are provided in the middle section of the interior of the mixing chamber 101, and the pair of discharge blocks 106 have a funnel-shaped structure inclined towards the center, configured to guide the material falling from the feed inlet 105 towards the central area of ​​the mixing chamber 101. Specifically, as Figure 2As shown, the pair of feed blocks 106 are not simply baffles, but constitute a precise material guiding system. During the feeding process of pet food raw materials, especially powdery or granular base materials, if they fall directly into the hopper, they are easily splashed to the edge of the hopper wall due to centrifugal force or airflow disturbance, forming a static accumulation area that is difficult for the bottom mixing component to reach. This embodiment, by setting funnel-shaped feed blocks 106 inclined towards the center, forcibly changes the initial falling trajectory of the material, causing it to converge and fall precisely into the core working area of ​​the fluid conditioning and mixing component below. This active flow guidance design eliminates the mixing dead zones in the feeding stage from the source, ensuring that each batch of material is entrained in a high-intensity shearing and conditioning flow field in the shortest possible time, significantly improving the uniformity and efficiency of the pretreatment process. It should be understood that although a pair of symmetrically arranged feed blocks are shown in the figure, in other embodiments, structures such as annular cone hoppers or multi-plate guide plates can also be used, as long as they can achieve the function of converging and guiding edge materials towards the central area.

[0039] Furthermore, a partition plate is provided below the mixing chamber cover 102. A pair of rotating conveyor rollers 104 are installed between the two sides of the partition plate and the mixing chamber cover 102. A pair of first motors 103 are installed above the mixing chamber cover 102. The pair of first motors 103 drive the corresponding rotating conveyor rollers 104 to rotate, configured to prevent bridging of the material entering from the feed inlet 105. A first rotating washing ball 114 is installed in the middle section of the partition plate. The first rotating washing ball 114 is configured to receive external cleaning fluid and perform in-situ cleaning of the inner wall of the mixing chamber 101. In this structure, it is particularly important to emphasize the functional boundary and spatial independence of the rotating conveyor rollers 104 and the hollow rotating shaft in the aforementioned embodiment. The rotary conveyor roller 104 is located in the uppermost feed buffer zone of the silo. Its rotational speed, torque, and blade design are specifically optimized for breaking up and promoting the flow of loose powders. It operates intermittently or continuously only during the feeding phase to prevent high-viscosity powders from bridging and clogging at the feed inlet, ensuring continuous feeding. The hollow rotary shaft below is located in the main reaction zone in the lower middle part of the silo, responsible for deep mixing, shearing, and in-situ spray conditioning of all materials in the silo. The two are physically separated by a partition plate, and each performs its own function without interfering with the other. This layered, independently driven design avoids the problems of large motor load fluctuations and easy seal failure caused by balancing feeding and stirring in traditional single-shaft through-type structures. It also facilitates independent adjustment of the feeding rate and stirring intensity for different working conditions. In addition, the first rotary washing ball 114, installed in the middle section of the partition plate, occupies the geometric high point in the upper part of the silo. Compared to fixed nozzles mounted on the side walls, this centrally positioned high-level layout allows the cleaning fluid to cover the inner top surface of the mixing chamber cover 102, the lower surface of the partition plate, and the upper sealing area of ​​the hollow rotating shaft without obstruction in an umbrella-shaped spray trajectory. These areas are typically blind spots in traditional CIP cleaning, making them prone to dust or condensate residue and mold growth. The in-situ cleaning by this washing ball completely solves the hygiene problem of the chamber top, providing a reliable structural guarantee for fully enclosed aseptic production. Example

[0040] In one embodiment, a first rotating washing ball 114 is installed above the interior of the mixing chamber 101. The first rotating washing ball 114 is configured to be in fluid communication with an external cleaning and sterilization system 5 to receive sterilization fluid output from the cleaning and sterilization system 5, and to perform in-situ cleaning and sterilization of the inner cavity of the mixing chamber 101 and the fluid conditioning and stirring assembly. Specifically, as... Figure 2 and Figure 5As shown, this fluid connectivity forms the physical link between the pretreatment unit and the plant-wide hygiene control network. In actual engineering implementation, the first rotating washing ball 114 is connected to the output end of the cleaning and sterilization system 5 via a sanitary pipeline passing through the mixing chamber cover 102 or the upper part of the chamber. The pipeline is typically equipped with an automatic control valve group to precisely switch between cleaning, rinsing, or sterilization processes according to instructions from the central control system. When a production batch ends or a formula change is required, the high-temperature hot water, steam, or ozone water prepared by the cleaning and sterilization system 5 is pressurized and transported to the first rotating washing ball 114. Driven by the fluid reaction force, the washing ball rotates automatically, forming a 360-degree spray coverage area with no dead angles. This in-situ cleaning (CIP) and in-situ sterilization (SIP) mechanism allows the mixing chamber 101 and its complex internal fluid conditioning and stirring components to meet food-grade hygiene standards without manual disassembly, completely eliminating the risk of leakage and secondary contamination caused by disassembling and reassembling seals. It should be understood that although this embodiment uses the first rotating washing ball as the cleaning execution terminal, in other embodiments, a fixed multi-nozzle array or a lifting spray bar can also be used, as long as it can achieve fluid connection with the external cleaning system and complete the function of full-coverage cleaning of the inner cavity. More importantly, this interface design elevates the hygiene control of the pretreatment device from a single-machine level to a system level, making it an indispensable pre-node in the entire fully enclosed aseptic production process. This ensures that the high-viscosity pet food fermentation substrate has established a reliable biosafety barrier before entering the downstream fermentation unit, fundamentally guaranteeing the stability of the clean fermentation process and the uniformity of product quality. Example

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a pet food production and processing device using clean fermentation technology, which constitutes a complete clean fermentation production platform. The pet food production and processing device includes a raw material pretreatment system 1, a modular bio-fermentation system 2, a vacuum conveying system 3, an extrusion granulation system 4, a cleaning and sterilization system 5, and a central control system 6, connected sequentially according to the process flow. The initial design intention of this system architecture is to seamlessly extend the aseptic and fluidization advantages established in the front-end pretreatment stage to the subsequent fermentation, conveying, and molding processes through a fully enclosed process link, thereby solving the problems of contamination risk and quality fluctuations that are difficult to avoid in traditional open or semi-open production lines.

[0042] The raw material pretreatment system 1 is the pet food fermentation material pretreatment and distribution device described in any of Examples 1 to 5 above, configured to convert pet food base materials and fermentation start-up substrate into a fluid slurry. Specifically, this system, as the starting point of the entire production line, not only undertakes the basic functions of material mixing and conditioning, but also, through its built-in fluid conditioning and stirring components and shear pumping components, completely transforms high-viscosity solid or semi-solid raw materials into a homogeneous, pumpable fluid medium. This fluidization process is a prerequisite for the stable operation of all subsequent processes. It eliminates the negative impact of material morphology differences on the uniformity of fermentation inoculation and the stability of pipeline transportation, while also providing seamless fluid contact conditions for online cleaning.

[0043] Modular bio-fermentation system 2 is connected downstream of raw material pretreatment system 1 and is configured to perform controlled bio-fermentation of fluid slurry to generate fermented material. In specific implementations, this system typically includes multiple fermentation tanks connected in parallel or series, capable of receiving fluid slurry from raw material pretreatment system 1 and conducting microbial metabolic reactions under precisely controlled temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions. Since the upstream input material has undergone sufficient fluidization and in-situ sterilization, fermentation system 2 can directly start the cultivation process under aseptic conditions without additional preheating or sterilization waiting time, significantly shortening the batch cycle. It should be understood that although the figure shows two parallel fermentation tanks, in other implementations, the number and layout of fermentation units can be flexibly adjusted according to production capacity requirements, such as using a multi-tank rotation mode to achieve continuous output, as long as the functional requirements of controlled bio-fermentation are met.

[0044] Vacuum conveying system 3 connects the modular bio-fermentation system 2 and the extrusion granulation system 4, configured to use negative pressure to drive the fermentation material through a fully enclosed transfer and perform a degassing process. This is a crucial hub for ensuring the biosafety of the entire production line and the physical quality of the product. Specifically, by establishing a sealed negative pressure environment, this system achieves air-isolated transfer of fermentation material from the fermenter to the granulator, completely blocking the contamination path of environmental bacteria flowing between processes. Furthermore, the negative pressure effectively removes carbon dioxide and other volatile metabolic gases generated during fermentation and remaining in the viscous slurry. This simultaneous degassing mechanism is essential for subsequent extrusion granulation because it prevents the rapid expansion of gas at the high-temperature, high-pressure granulation die from causing the granule surface to burst or forming internal voids, thus ensuring that the finished pet food has a dense, uniform texture and good water resistance.

[0045] The extrusion granulation system 4 is connected downstream of the vacuum conveying system 3 and is configured to extrude fermented materials into pellets. This system receives degassed fermented materials and transforms them into pet food pellets of specific shapes and sizes through screw extrusion and die forming. Because the material entering the system has undergone front-end fluidization homogenization and mid-stage vacuum degassed treatment, its rheological properties are highly stable and bubble-free, enabling the extrusion granulation process to achieve higher output and better product appearance consistency with lower energy consumption.

[0046] The cleaning and sterilization system 5 is fluidly connected to the material contact pipelines and cavities of the raw material pretreatment system 1, the modular bio-fermentation system 2, the vacuum conveying system 3, and the extrusion granulation system 4, and is configured to perform in-situ cleaning and sterilization. In this embodiment, the cleaning and sterilization system 5 is not an isolated external auxiliary device, but a hygiene assurance network deeply integrated into the production line. Through distributed pipeline interfaces, it provides high-temperature hot water, steam, or chemical sterilizing agents to the material contact surfaces of the aforementioned core units, enabling the entire production line to complete fully automated CIP / SIP operations without disassembling any components. This system-level in-situ cleaning capability fundamentally eliminates the uncertainty and risk of human contamination associated with manual cleaning, ensuring hygiene and safety when switching between different batches and formulations of products.

[0047] The central control system 6 is connected to the raw material pretreatment system 1, the modular bio-fermentation system 2, the vacuum conveying system 3, the extrusion granulation system 4, and the cleaning and sterilization system 5, and is configured to coordinate and control the automated operation of the entire process. As the nerve center of the entire line, the central control system 6 is not only responsible for the start-up, shutdown, and parameter adjustment of each unit, but more importantly, it realizes cross-system logical interlocking and data traceability. For example, when the cleaning and sterilization system 5 is in operation, the central control system 6 will automatically lock other production units to prevent misoperation; or, based on the liquid level feedback from the vacuum conveying system 3, it will automatically adjust the discharge rate of the upstream fermentation system and the feeding speed of the downstream granulation system to maintain the material balance of the entire line. This highly integrated automated control transforms the clean fermentation process from a theoretical possibility into a stable, repeatable, and verifiable production capability in the industrial field.

[0048] Through the organic integration of the above-mentioned system-level architecture, the pet food production and processing device provided in this embodiment successfully constructs a closed-loop aseptic production system that runs through the entire process of feeding, pretreatment, fermentation, conveying, granulation, and cleaning. It not only inherits the technical advantages of the front-end pretreatment device in homogenization, conditioning, and residue-free distribution, but also amplifies these advantages to the entire production line scale through the synergistic effect of vacuum-sealed transfer and distributed in-situ cleaning network, effectively solving the industry problem of the difficulty in balancing efficiency, quality, and biosafety in existing pet food fermentation production. Example

[0049] In one implementation, the modular bio-fermentation system 2 includes at least two fermentation tanks 201. Each fermentation tank 201 has a fermentation tank cover 202 at its top. A feed valve 204 and a second rotating washing ball 205 are installed on the fermentation tank cover 202. The feed valve 204 is connected to the discharge pipe 12 at the bottom of the distribution body 7 in the raw material pretreatment system 1. A stirring shaft driven by a third motor 203 is installed inside each fermentation tank 201. A first impeller 206 and a second impeller 207 are installed on the stirring shaft. A second rotary valve 208 is installed at the lower end of each fermentation tank 201. Specifically, as... Figure 3 As shown, the fermentation tank 201 serves as the core reactor for biotransformation, and at least two tanks are configured to support multiple batches of parallel fermentation or alternating production, thereby matching the continuous output capacity of the front-end pretreatment system. The feed valve 204 directly connects to the discharge pipe 12 at the bottom of the distribution body 7 in the aforementioned embodiment. This rigid or flexible sealing connection ensures that the fluidized slurry is transferred from the pretreatment unit to the fermentation unit in a completely sealed state, thoroughly isolating it from the risk of intrusion by ambient air and contaminants. Regarding the stirring structure, the first impeller 206 and the second impeller 207 are arranged in layers along the stirring shaft axis. Typically, the first impeller 206 is located in the upper layer, responsible for mixing and gas dispersion near the liquid surface, while the second impeller 207 is located in the lower layer, responsible for suspending the material at the bottom of the tank and overall circulation. This double-layer impeller combination can adapt to changes in liquid level and the dynamic evolution of material rheological properties during fermentation, ensuring the uniformity of the fermentation system. Furthermore, although not shown in detail in the figure, the side wall of the fermentation tank 201 typically has multiple sensor interfaces for installing process monitoring probes such as temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. These interfaces allow the fermentation process to be sensed and controlled in real time. However, this application does not limit the specific model, accuracy, or response time of the sensors, as long as they have the corresponding physical installation interface and signal transmission channel. The second rotary valve 208 is installed at the bottom of the tank, serving both as a discharge control valve after fermentation and as a drain outlet during in-situ cleaning. Its sanitary design ensures thorough discharge without dead zones.

[0050] Furthermore, the vacuum conveying system 3 includes a vacuum material pipeline 301 connected to the second rotary valve 208. One end of the vacuum material pipeline 301 is equipped with an air inlet filter 302, and the other end is connected to a negative pressure feed chamber 303. The upper end of the negative pressure feed chamber 303 is connected to a vacuum pump 304 via an exhaust pipe, and the lower end is connected to the extrusion granulation system 4 via a third rotary valve 305. Specifically, as... Figure 4As shown, this system forms a closed-loop logistics hub between the fermentation back end and the granulation front end. The vacuum pump 304 continuously draws air to maintain the negative pressure feed hopper 303 and its connected pipelines at a set negative pressure level, creating a stable material conveying driving force. The air inlet filter 302 is located at the air inlet end of the vacuum material pipeline 301. Its core function is to filter and sterilize the air entering the system while adjusting the air intake to control the suction rate, preventing the introduction of external contaminants due to pressure balancing operations. The negative pressure feed hopper 303 acts as a buffer container, effectively decoupling the rhythm difference between the intermittent discharge from the upstream fermenter and the continuous feeding from the downstream granulator, ensuring the smooth operation of the entire line. The third rotary valve 305 is located at the bottom outlet of the negative pressure feed hopper 303. Its special rotor structure, while enabling continuous material discharge, plays a crucial airlock role, allowing solids or high-viscosity fluids to pass through while preventing reverse airflow, thus maintaining the stability of the upstream negative pressure environment and ensuring the effectiveness of the degassing process.

[0051] More importantly, the cleaning and sterilization system 5 includes an ozone water reaction assembly 501, a first output tank 502, and a second output tank 503. The first output tank 502 is connected to the first rotating washing ball 114 in the raw material pretreatment system 1, and the second output tank 503 is connected to the second rotating washing ball 205. Specifically, as... Figure 5As shown, this allocation architecture embodies the sophisticated hygienic design of this application at the system integration level. The ozone water reaction component 501 serves as the source of the sterilization medium, preparing ozone water with broad-spectrum sterilization capabilities and no residue on-site. Unlike traditional single-loop cleaning systems, this embodiment specifically sets up a first output tank 502 and a second output tank 503 as independent allocation nodes. The first output tank 502 specifically supplies cleaning fluid to the first rotating washing ball 114 of the raw material pretreatment system 1, while the second output tank 503 specifically supplies cleaning fluid to the second rotating washing ball 205 of the modular bio-fermentation system 2. This physical loop isolation has extremely important technical significance: on the one hand, the materials processed in the raw material pretreatment zone contain a large amount of unfermented protein, starch, and oil, resulting in a very high organic load, making cleaning difficult and prone to foaming; while the fermentation zone is in a pure culture or controlled fermentation state, extremely sensitive to chemical residues and microbial contamination. If the same cleaning loop is shared, the high concentration of organic residues in the pretreatment zone can easily flow back to the fermentation zone with the cleaning liquid, causing serious cross-contamination and even leading to the failure of the entire batch fermentation. On the other hand, independent loops allow for the setting of optimal cleaning medium concentration, flow rate, pressure, and cleaning procedure sequence for each of the two areas based on their respective hygiene risk levels and dirt characteristics. For example, a high-concentration, high-flow-rate powerful rinsing mode can be used for the pretreatment zone, while a low-concentration, gentle, fine sterilization mode can be used for the fermentation zone. This ensures cleaning effectiveness while avoiding damage to the passivation layer or seals on the inner wall of the fermenter due to over-cleaning, and reduces operating costs. It should be understood that although this embodiment uses ozone water as the sterilization medium and a dual-tank distribution as an example, in other embodiments, hot water, steam, or other chemical disinfectants can be selected according to process requirements, or more output tanks can be added to cover the independent cleaning needs of the vacuum conveying system 3 and the extrusion granulation system 4, as long as the design principle of independent supply in zones and avoidance of cross-interference is followed. Example

[0052] This embodiment provides a specific application scenario for the aseptic pretreatment and multi-path distribution of high-viscosity pet food slurry. The aim is to verify the effectiveness of the static structural features in the aforementioned embodiments during collaborative operation through a dynamic process under actual working conditions. In this application scenario, the processed material is pet food fermentation slurry with a moisture content exceeding 40%. This type of material has extremely high viscosity and thixotropy, and is prone to powder bridging or localized drying at room temperature, posing stringent challenges to the equipment's mixing uniformity, fluidization capacity, and hygiene control level.

[0053] During the production operation phase, the material first enters the mixing chamber 101 through the feed inlet 105. At this time, a pair of rotating conveyor rollers 104 located at the top of the chamber operate continuously under the drive of the first motor 103. Their special blade structure applies an active anti-bridging force to the falling high-moisture viscous powder, effectively preventing the material from forming a stable arched bridge at the feed inlet, ensuring continuous and stable gravity feeding. Subsequently, the material passes through the funnel-shaped discharge block 106 and is precisely guided to the core mixing zone in the lower part of the chamber. In this area, the fluid conditioning and stirring assembly begins to perform the key homogenization and sterilization tasks: the second motor 107 drives the hollow rotating shaft to rotate at high speed, driving the first stirring ribbon 108 and the second stirring ribbon 109 to generate strong axial convection and radial shear; at the same time, high-temperature steam or sterile water is injected into the fluid channel inside the hollow shaft through a sealed rotary joint, and sprayed directly into the turbulent core zone of the material in the form of a jet from the spray nozzles 110 with a diameter of 2mm to 5mm on the wall. This "stirring and in-situ spraying" operation mode allows the conditioning fluid to be dispersed to the microscale by high-intensity mechanical shear force the moment it is sprayed out. This not only rapidly increases the overall temperature of the material to reach the sterilization threshold, but also completely eliminates local overheating or cold spots caused by external heating or surface spraying, ensuring the physicochemical homogeneity and biological safety of the fermentation substrate.

[0054] The semi-solid slurry, after thorough conditioning and sterilization, collects at the bottom of the mixing chamber 101 under gravity. After being pressurized by the first rotary valve 112, it enters the shear transfer pump 113. The shear transfer pump 113 uses the high-speed relative motion between the rotor and stator to apply further mechanical shearing and turbulent disturbance to the high-viscosity slurry, forcibly transforming it into a homogeneous fluid medium with stable rheological properties. The fluidized material is then pumped to the discharge channel 8 inside the distribution body 7 and falls onto the rotating block 10 inside the rotating chamber 9. Driven precisely by the fourth motor 14, the rotating block 10, which has an inclined concave platform structure, rotates sequentially to align with different discharge pipes 12. Since the surface of the rotating block 10 has no static receiving chamber and the discharge port 11 is always located at the outermost and lowest end of the bottom surface, the material continuously slides down along the guide slope and is actively thrown out under the vector superposition of gravity and centrifugal force, realizing residue-free switching and distribution to multiple parallel fermentation tanks. This dynamic distribution process completely eliminates the risk of scale buildup in the valve cavity from the perspective of high-viscosity slurry, and physically blocks the pathway of cross-contamination between batches.

[0055] When a production batch ends or a formula change is required, the system automatically switches to in-situ cleaning and sterilization mode. At this time, the sterilizing fluid prepared by the ozone water reaction component 501 in the cleaning and sterilization system 5 is independently supplied via the first output tank 502 to the first rotating washing ball 114 at the top of the mixing chamber 101, and via the second output tank 503 to the second rotating washing ball 205 in the downstream fermentation system. The pressurized sterilizing fluid drives the washing balls to rotate automatically, forming a 360-degree full-coverage spray field, performing thorough CIP / SIP operations on the inner cavity of the mixing chamber 101, the outer wall of the hollow rotating shaft, the surface of the rotating block 10, and all material contact pipelines. This mechanism, combining independent zoned supply with dynamic intermittent cleaning, ensures that the entire system can be restored to a food-grade sterile state without manual disassembly, verifying the reliability and superiority of the technical solution in dealing with the complex working conditions of high-viscosity pet food fermentation production.

[0056] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A pet food production and processing device using clean fermentation technology, characterized in that, Including connections made in the order of the process flow: The raw material pretreatment system (1) is configured to convert pet food base materials and fermentation starter substrate into a fluid slurry; A modular bio-fermentation system (2) is connected downstream of the raw material pretreatment system (1) and is configured to carry out controlled bio-fermentation of the fluid slurry to generate fermented material; A vacuum conveying system (3) is connected between the modular bio-fermentation system (2) and the extrusion granulation system (4), and is configured to use negative pressure to drive the fermentation material to perform a fully enclosed transfer and degassing process; The extrusion granulation system (4) is connected downstream of the vacuum conveying system (3) and is configured to extrude the fermentation material into shape. The cleaning and sterilization system (5) is fluidly connected to the material contact pipelines and cavities in the raw material pretreatment system (1), the modular bio-fermentation system (2), the vacuum conveying system (3), and the extrusion granulation system (4), and is configured to perform in-situ cleaning and in-situ sterilization. The central control system (6) is connected to the raw material pretreatment system (1), the modular bio-fermentation system (2), the vacuum conveying system (3), the extrusion granulation system (4) and the cleaning and sterilization system (5) by signal connection, and is configured to coordinate and control the automated operation of the entire process; The raw material pretreatment system (1) includes: A mixing chamber (101) is configured to contain the pet food base material and the fermentation starter substrate; A fluid conditioning and stirring assembly is disposed inside the mixing chamber (101), including a hollow rotating shaft with a fluid channel inside and a stirring component disposed on the outer wall of the hollow rotating shaft. The wall of the hollow rotating shaft is provided with a plurality of spray nozzles (110) communicating with the fluid channel, configured to spray conditioning fluid onto the material through the spray nozzles (110) during the rotation and stirring process. A shear pumping assembly, connected to the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber (101), is configured to perform shear fluidization treatment on the material output from the mixing chamber (101) and pump it out; The material distribution body (7) is connected to the output end of the shear pumping assembly. The material distribution body (7) is provided with a rotating material distribution assembly. The rotating material distribution assembly includes a rotating material distribution component (10) with a guide slope. A discharge port (11) is provided at the lowest point of the edge of the rotating material distribution component (10). It is configured to guide the received fluidized material along the guide slope to the discharge port (11) by rotation, so as to distribute it to multiple downstream fermentation units without residue.

2. The pet food production and processing apparatus using clean fermentation technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stirring component includes a first stirring ribbon (108) and a second stirring ribbon (109) with opposite rotation directions, and the first stirring ribbon (108) and the second stirring ribbon (109) are coaxially mounted on the hollow rotating shaft; The shear pumping assembly includes a shear pump (113), the input end of which is connected to the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber (101), and the output end of which is connected to the material distribution body (7).

3. A pet food production and processing device using clean fermentation technology according to claim 2, characterized in that, A second motor (107) is provided on the outside of the mixing chamber (101), and the output shaft of the second motor (107) is connected to one end of the hollow rotating shaft. The other end of the hollow rotating shaft is connected to a steam and sterile water pipe (111) via a sealed rotary joint. The steam and sterile water pipe (111) is configured to deliver steam or sterile water to the fluid channel as the conditioning fluid. The diameter of the spray nozzle (110) is 2 mm to 5 mm; A first rotary valve (112) is installed at the bottom outlet of the mixing chamber (101), and the shearing pump (113) is installed below the first rotary valve (112). The top of the mixing chamber (101) is sealed with a mixing chamber cover (102).

4. A pet food production and processing device using clean fermentation technology as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The material distribution body (7) is provided with a rotating chamber (9), and the rotating material distribution component (10) is a rotating block (10) provided in the rotating chamber (9). The rotating block (10) has an inclined concave platform structure. The discharge port (11) is located at the outermost and lowest end of the bottom surface of the rotating block (10). The bottom wall of the rotating chamber (9) is connected to at least two discharge pipes (12). The discharge port (11) is configured to connect with each of the discharge pipes (12) in sequence when the rotating block (10) rotates.

5. A pet food production and processing apparatus using clean fermentation technology according to claim 4, characterized in that, The material distribution body (7) is provided with a feeding channel (8) and a rotating chamber (9) from top to bottom inside. The feeding channel (8) is configured to introduce the fluidized material output by the shear pumping assembly into the rotating chamber (9). The rotating block (10) is sealed and rotated to the bottom wall of the material distribution body (7). The bottom end of the rotating block (10) is connected to a fourth motor (14), which is configured to drive the rotating block (10) to rotate in the rotating chamber (9). A lifting base (13) is provided below the fourth motor (14), and the lifting base (13) is configured to drive the fourth motor (14) and the rotating block (10) to perform lifting and adjusting.

6. A pet food production and processing apparatus using clean fermentation technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the mixing chamber (101) is sealed with a mixing chamber cover (102), and a feed inlet (105) is provided above the mixing chamber cover (102). The mixing chamber (101) has a pair of feeding blocks (106) in the middle section. The pair of feeding blocks (106) have a funnel-shaped structure that is inclined towards the center and are configured to guide the material falling from the feed inlet (105) to the central area of ​​the mixing chamber (101).

7. A pet food production and processing apparatus using clean fermentation technology according to claim 6, characterized in that, A partition plate is provided below the mixing chamber cover (102). A pair of rotating conveying rollers (104) are installed between the two sides of the partition plate and the mixing chamber cover (102). A pair of first motors (103) are installed above the mixing chamber cover (102). The pair of first motors (103) drive the corresponding rotating conveying rollers (104) to rotate, which is configured to prevent bridging of the material entering from the feed inlet (105). A first rotating washing ball (114) is installed in the middle section of the isolation plate. The first rotating washing ball (114) is configured to receive external cleaning fluid and perform in-situ cleaning on the inner wall of the mixing chamber (101).

8. A pet food production and processing apparatus using clean fermentation technology according to claim 1, characterized in that, The modular bio-fermentation system (2) includes at least two fermentation tanks (201). The top of each fermentation tank (201) is provided with a fermentation tank cover (202). The fermentation tank cover (202) is equipped with a feed valve (204) and a second rotating washing ball (205). The feed valve (204) is connected to the discharge pipe (12) at the bottom of the distribution body (7). The fermentation tank (201) is equipped with a stirring shaft driven by a third motor (203), and a first blade (206) and a second blade (207) are installed on the stirring shaft. A second rotary valve (208) is installed at the lower end of the fermentation tank (201).

9. A pet food production and processing apparatus using clean fermentation technology according to claim 8, characterized in that, The vacuum conveying system (3) includes a vacuum material pipeline (301) connected to the second rotary valve (208). One end of the vacuum material pipeline (301) is provided with an air inlet filter (302), and the other end is connected to a negative pressure feed chamber (303). The upper end of the negative pressure feed chamber (303) is connected to a vacuum pump (304) through an exhaust pipe, and the lower end is connected to the extrusion granulation system (4) through a third rotary valve (305).

10. A pet food production and processing apparatus using clean fermentation technology according to claim 9, characterized in that, The cleaning and sterilization system (5) includes an ozone water reaction assembly (501), a first output tank (502), and a second output tank (503). The first output tank (502) is in fluid communication with the first rotating washing ball (114) in the raw material pretreatment system (1), and the second output tank (503) is in fluid communication with the second rotating washing ball (205).

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