Continuous ring type vinegar spraying machine and vinegar spraying method thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to vinegar brewing technical field, especially to a kind of continuous ring type vinegar spraying machine, including rack and annular conveying mechanism, vinegar output mechanism, the annular conveying mechanism includes upper conveying layer and lower conveying layer;The rack is located at the upper input end of upper conveying layer and is provided with feeding mechanism, the rack is located at the lower output end of lower conveying layer and is provided with discharging mechanism;The rack is located above upper conveying layer, is located above lower conveying layer and is respectively provided with more than two pouring mechanism, each pouring mechanism forms multistage pouring along the conveying direction, the rack is located below upper conveying layer, is located below lower conveying layer and is provided with vinegar collection mechanism corresponding with pouring mechanism, each vinegar collection mechanism forms multistage collection.It solves the technical problems such as high labor intensity, low washing efficiency in traditional solid-state vinegar spraying process.A kind of continuous ring type vinegar spraying method is proposed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vinegar brewing technology, and in particular to a continuous ring-type vinegar extraction machine and its vinegar extraction method. Background Technology

[0002] Vinegar fermentation is generally divided into two methods: solid-state fermentation and liquid-state fermentation. In solid-state fermentation, grains are first fermented into alcohol, which is then converted into vinegar. That is, alcohol is oxidized to acetic acid under solid, loose mash conditions. After fermentation, acetic acid and other effective components remain in the vinegar mash. The vinegar needs to be extracted from the mash using water through a leaching process to obtain vinegar that can be used for seasoning or drinking.

[0003] Traditional vinegar extraction processes are quite primitive. Early methods involved soaking the vinegar mash in holes dug in the bottom of vats before draining, or extracting it through tubes, similar to wine extraction. Industrial production often uses a multi-tiered system where the vinegar mash is placed in a pool with a partition at the bottom. Water is poured over the mash, and it soaks overnight before the raw vinegar is released. Since a single rinsing cycle cannot completely extract the vinegar, three to four rinsing cycles are typically required. With each rinsing cycle, the volume of subsequent leaching increases, but the concentration remains very low. Only the first leaching has significant utilization value; the subsequent low-concentration leaching has a weak taste and low concentration. Discarding it directly would be wasteful, while recycling it requires repeated rinsing in multiple pools, making the process cumbersome and complex – a long-standing problem in the industry.

[0004] While existing technologies include integrated turning and turning machines, such as the integrated feeding, turning, spreading, adding koji, and replenishing slurry machine disclosed in Chinese Patent Publication No. CN203999571U, which includes a frame, a drive roller driven by a power device and a driven roller corresponding to the drive roller rotatably connected to the frame, the drive roller and the driven roller are covered with a mash conveyor belt, a feeding hopper is installed at the front of the frame, the feeding hopper is provided with a top feeding port, a side feeding door and a bottom feeding port, a turning and cooling device is installed on the frame behind the feeding hopper, a mash leveling device is installed on the frame behind the turning and cooling device, a ventilation chamber is installed on the frame, a koji feeding bin is installed at the rear of the frame, a koji feeding port is provided at the bottom of the koji feeding bin, a koji uniform distribution device is also installed on the frame corresponding to the koji feeding port, and a slurry replenishing device is connected to the rear of the frame. However, its main function is to turn the mash, and it does not form a continuous vinegar leaching cycle. At present, there is a lack of continuous vinegar leaching equipment in China that can realize continuous feeding, continuous leaching, and continuous discharge, and can perform gradient reuse of low-concentration leachate, avoid wastewater generation, and increase the concentration and yield of raw vinegar.

[0005] Therefore, how to solve the problems of high labor intensity and low rinsing efficiency in traditional solid-state leaching vinegar process has become an urgent technical problem to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, to address the aforementioned problems, this invention proposes a continuous annular vinegar rinsing machine, which solves the technical problems of high manual labor intensity and low rinsing efficiency in traditional solid vinegar rinsing processes. A continuous annular vinegar rinsing method is subsequently proposed.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a continuous annular vinegar extraction machine, characterized in that it includes a frame and an annular conveying mechanism and a vinegar output mechanism disposed on the frame for conveying vinegar mash. The annular conveying mechanism includes an upper conveying layer disposed on the frame for conveying vinegar mash and a lower conveying layer disposed on the frame below the upper conveying layer for conveying vinegar mash. The upper and lower conveying layers are used to support the conveying of vinegar mash and to allow liquid to pass through. The upper conveying layer is designated as the upper input end on one side and the upper output end on the other side. The lower conveying layer is designated as the lower input end on one side and the lower output end on the other side and the lower output end on the other side. When the vinegar mash is output from the upper output end, it enters the lower input end. The annular conveying mechanism forms a complete conveying cycle from the upper input end, the upper output end, the lower input end, the lower output end, and the upper input end. A feeding mechanism is provided at the upper input end of the upper conveying layer on the frame for temporary storage and input of vinegar mash; The frame is equipped with a discharge mechanism at the lower output end of the lower conveying layer for temporary storage and output of vinegar mash; The frame is provided with two or more pouring mechanisms above the upper conveying layer and above the lower conveying layer, and each pouring mechanism forms a multi-stage pouring along the conveying direction. The frame is provided with vinegar collection mechanisms corresponding to the pouring mechanisms below the upper conveying layer and below the lower conveying layer, and each vinegar collection mechanism forms a multi-stage collection. Each vinegar collection mechanism is equipped with a delivery mechanism for outputting vinegar from the collection mechanism. The delivery mechanism closest to the upper input end is connected to the next-level irrigation mechanism or the vinegar output mechanism. The delivery mechanism of the next-level vinegar collection mechanism is connected to the vinegar output mechanism. The remaining delivery mechanisms are connected to at least one irrigation mechanism in the opposite direction for vinegar delivery. The irrigation mechanism closest to the lower output end is connected to an external water supply mechanism.

[0008] Furthermore, a leveling mechanism is provided on the frame between the feeding mechanism and the first pouring mechanism and / or in front of the lower input end for spreading and leveling the vinegar mash on the annular conveyor mechanism.

[0009] Furthermore, the leveling mechanism includes a leveling roller, a leveling drive mechanism for driving the leveling roller to rotate, and multiple leveling plates provided on the leveling roller.

[0010] Furthermore, the feeding mechanism or discharging mechanism includes a temporary storage tank, the upper end of which has a feeding port and the lower end of which has a discharging port, and a material feeding auger mechanism is provided on the discharging port of the temporary storage tank.

[0011] Furthermore, the temporary storage tank is a cone shape that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and a rotary level switch is provided on the upper and / or lower part of the inner wall of the temporary storage tank.

[0012] Furthermore, the vinegar output mechanism includes a first vinegar output pipe and a second vinegar output pipe arranged in parallel. A first vinegar switch is provided on the first vinegar output pipe, and a vinegar filtration mechanism is provided on the second vinegar output pipe. A second vinegar switch and a third vinegar switch are provided on both ends of the vinegar filtration mechanism on the second vinegar output pipe.

[0013] Furthermore, the infusion mechanism includes a first infusion pipe connected to the vinegar collection mechanism, a first infusion switch located at the output end of the first infusion pipe, a second infusion pipe connected to the middle of the first infusion pipe, a second infusion switch located on the second infusion pipe, an infusion pump connected to the second infusion switch, a third infusion pipe connected to the output end of the infusion pump, a third infusion switch located at the output end of the third infusion pipe, a fourth infusion pipe connected to the third infusion pipe, and a fourth infusion switch located on the fourth infusion pipe. The third infusion switch is connected to the corresponding watering mechanism.

[0014] Furthermore, the vinegar collection mechanism includes a collection tank, the bottom of which is provided with a vinegar collection port, and the first infusion pipe is connected to the vinegar collection port. A material level sensor is installed inside the collection tank.

[0015] Furthermore, the external water supply mechanism includes a water supply pipeline, on which a tap water flow meter and an electronic flow regulating valve are sequentially installed. The electronic flow regulating valve is used to regulate the inlet water flow supplied to the watering mechanism near the lower output end.

[0016] A continuous cyclic etchant method based on the same inventive concept includes the following steps: S1. The solid-state fermented vinegar mash is fed into the upper input end of the upper conveying layer of the ring conveyor through the feeding mechanism, and then slowly conveyed from the upper input end to the upper output end along the upper conveying layer. S2. During the process of conveying the vinegar mash along the upper conveying layer, the vinegar mash is sprayed in multiple stages along the conveying direction by two or more spraying mechanisms located above the upper conveying layer. After the vinegar liquid penetrates the vinegar mash layer, it is collected in multiple stages by the corresponding vinegar liquid collection mechanism located below the upper conveying layer. S3. After the vinegar mash is conveyed to the upper output end, the vinegar mash falls into the lower input end located below the upper output end, and is slowly conveyed from the lower input end to the lower output end along the lower conveying layer. S4. During the process of conveying the vinegar mash along the lower conveying layer, the vinegar mash is sprayed in multiple stages along the conveying direction by two or more spraying mechanisms located above the lower conveying layer. After the vinegar liquid penetrates the vinegar mash layer, it is collected in multiple stages by the corresponding vinegar liquid collection mechanism located below the lower conveying layer. S5. The vinegar collected by each vinegar collection mechanism is output through the corresponding delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism closest to the upper input end connects the vinegar to the next level of the rinsing mechanism or to the vinegar output mechanism. The delivery mechanism of the next level vinegar collection mechanism is connected to the vinegar output mechanism. The remaining delivery mechanisms respectively deliver the vinegar in the reverse conveying direction to at least one level of the rinsing mechanism for back rinsing. The rinsing mechanism near the lower output end is connected to the external water supply mechanism to perform the final rinsing of the vinegar mash delivered to the lower output end. S6. The vinegar mash after leaching is output by the discharge mechanism, and the resulting vinegar liquid is output by the vinegar liquid output mechanism.

[0017] Furthermore, in steps S2 and S4, the rinsing mechanism located above the upper conveying layer and above the lower conveying layer is provided with four rinsing positions, forming eight-stage rinsing and eight-stage collection along the conveying direction, with the concentration of vinegar solution at each stage varying gradient along the conveying direction.

[0018] Furthermore, after the vinegar mash is fed into the upper conveying layer through the feeding mechanism, it is first spread and leveled by the leveling mechanism to control the thickness of the vinegar mash layer on the upper conveying layer to about 40cm before multi-stage pouring.

[0019] Furthermore, in step S2 and / or step S4, the conveying speed of the vinegar mash on the annular conveyor mechanism is controlled to be 1-2 cm per minute, so that the time for the vinegar mash to complete one cycle on the annular conveyor mechanism is about 2 hours.

[0020] Furthermore, in steps S2 and S4, each level of the pouring mechanism forms a concentration gradient along the conveying direction, and the concentration of vinegar solution poured by the pouring mechanism near the input end is higher than the concentration of vinegar solution poured by the pouring mechanism near the output end.

[0021] Furthermore, in steps S2 and S4, when the vinegar liquid penetrates the vinegar mash layer, the vinegar mash layer itself forms a filter layer, and the relatively clean vinegar liquid is returned to the previous stage of the more turbid vinegar mash layer for rinsing, so that the turbid liquid is reverse-adsorbed by the vinegar mash layer, and the removal rate of turbidity in the rinsed vinegar liquid reaches more than 95%.

[0022] Furthermore, in step S5, the vinegar in each vinegar collection mechanism is monitored by a level sensor. When the vinegar in the collection tank reaches the set level, the liquid pump is started to pump the vinegar to the next stage of the pouring mechanism, the previous stage of the pouring mechanism, or the vinegar output mechanism.

[0023] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. The continuous annular vinegar rinsing machine as defined in this claim combines the upper and lower conveying layers into a complete conveying cycle through an annular conveying mechanism. This allows the vinegar mash to complete a primary continuous rinsing in the upper layer and then naturally fall into the lower layer to complete a secondary continuous rinsing, thereby achieving continuous feeding, continuous rinsing, and continuous discharge of solid vinegar mash. This completely changes the traditional intermittent vinegar rinsing operation mode of vats and pools. Because both the upper and lower conveying layers are equipped with two or more rinsing mechanisms and correspondingly multi-stage vinegar collection mechanisms, low-concentration vinegar liquid is returned to the previous layer in the reverse conveying direction in conjunction with various liquid delivery mechanisms. The multi-stage rinsing mechanism creates a concentration gradient in the rinsing liquid, which can be repeatedly reused. This not only improves the extraction rate and concentration of raw vinegar but also avoids the waste and wastewater treatment pressure caused by directly discarding low-concentration vinegar. At the same time, the rinsing mechanism near the lower output end is connected to the external water supply system, ensuring the supply of clean water for the final rinsing and the complete recovery of residual vinegar in the vinegar mash. The entire equipment has a compact structure, small footprint, and high degree of automation, enabling 24-hour continuous operation and unattended operation. It significantly reduces labor intensity, improves workshop hygiene conditions, and greatly increases unit production capacity and the stability of raw vinegar quality.

[0024] 2. A leveling mechanism is set between the feeding mechanism and the first rinsing mechanism and / or in front of the lower input end. This allows the vinegar mash to be spread evenly before entering the rinsing process, ensuring a uniform material layer thickness and avoiding uneven rinsing caused by excessively thick or thin local areas. This improves the efficiency of vinegar rinsing and the consistency of vinegar extraction.

[0025] 3. The leveling mechanism adopts a structure of leveling rollers, leveling drive mechanism and multiple leveling plates. It has a simple structure and reliable operation. It can continuously spread and level the vinegar mash during the conveying process, further improving the uniformity of the material layer and the washing effect.

[0026] 4. The feeding or discharging mechanism adopts a temporary storage tank and a material distribution auger mechanism is set at the discharge port, which can realize the temporary storage and uniform distribution of vinegar mash, ensure continuous and stable feeding and discharging, and avoid blockage and material accumulation.

[0027] 5. The temporary storage tank adopts a conical structure with a larger top and a smaller bottom and is equipped with a rotary level switch, which facilitates the smooth falling of materials. At the same time, the material level can be monitored in real time to prevent overflow or empty material, thereby improving the safety and automation level of the equipment operation.

[0028] 6. The vinegar output mechanism adopts parallel first and second vinegar output pipes and is equipped with a filtration mechanism, which can filter the vinegar when needed to ensure the cleanliness of the output vinegar, and facilitates switching and online maintenance.

[0029] 7. The infusion mechanism, through a combination of multiple pipelines and switches, can flexibly realize the backflow of vinegar between different levels of sprinkling mechanisms, cross-level transportation, and delivery to the vinegar output mechanism, meeting the needs of different concentration gradient control and process adjustment.

[0030] 8. The vinegar collection mechanism adopts a collection tank with a collection port at the bottom and is equipped with a material level sensor, which can detect the liquid level in the collection tank in a timely manner and automatically start the delivery pump to realize the automated control of vinegar collection and transportation.

[0031] 9. The external water supply system uses a tap water flow meter and an electronic flow regulating valve to supply water in a quantitative manner, so that the final rinsing water volume is synchronized with the feed volume, ensuring stable rinsing effect and saving water.

[0032] 10. The claims of this method are based on the above-mentioned continuous ring-type vinegar leaching machine, which organically integrates the continuous conveying, multi-stage leaching, multi-stage collection, countercurrent leaching and final clean water rinsing of solid vinegar mash into a complete continuous vinegar leaching process, realizing the streamlined, continuous and automated production of vinegar leaching from solid vinegar mash, significantly improving the extraction rate and concentration of raw vinegar, avoiding the discharge of low-concentration waste liquid, and reducing labor intensity and management complexity.

[0033] 11. Four rinsing positions are set in the upper and lower conveying layers respectively, forming an eight-stage rinsing and eight-stage collection, so that the concentration of vinegar solution changes in a gradient along the conveying direction, further improving rinsing efficiency, raw vinegar concentration and yield.

[0034] 12. By using a leveling mechanism to control the thickness of the vinegar mash layer to about 40cm, the leaching liquid can be ensured to penetrate the material layer evenly, avoiding local short circuits or leaching dead corners, and improving the uniformity of vinegar leaching and extraction effect.

[0035] 13. Controlling the conveying speed of the vinegar mash to 1-2 cm per minute, with one cycle taking about 2 hours, allows the vinegar mash to fully contact the rinsing liquid, ensuring sufficient rinsing time and improving the vinegar extraction rate and the quality of the raw vinegar.

[0036] 14. Each level of the irrigation mechanism forms a concentration gradient along the conveying direction. The concentration of the irrigation liquid near the input end is higher than that near the output end, which conforms to the principle of countercurrent extraction and can achieve the highest extraction efficiency with the least amount of water.

[0037] 15. The vinegar mash layer itself forms a filter layer, and the cleaner vinegar liquid is returned to the previous stage of the more turbid vinegar mash layer for rinsing, so that the turbidity is reverse-adsorbed, and the turbidity removal rate reaches more than 95%, reducing the burden of subsequent clarification and filtration.

[0038] 16. By detecting the liquid level through a level sensor and automatically starting the delivery pump, the collection and transportation of vinegar liquid is automated, reducing manual intervention and ensuring stable operation of continuous production. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A structural diagram of the right-view state.

[0041] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the vinegar output mechanism.

[0042] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the upper feeding mechanism.

[0043] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding mechanism.

[0044] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the vinegar collection mechanism and the infusion mechanism working together.

[0045] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the irrigation mechanism and the external water supply mechanism working together.

[0046] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0047] Figure label: 11. Upper conveyor layer; 12. Lower conveyor layer; 13. Upper feeding mechanism; 14. Lower feeding mechanism; 111. Upper input end; 112. Upper output end; 121. Lower input end; 122. Lower output end; 131. Chain drive mechanism; 132. Feeding plate; 2. Vinegar output mechanism; 21. First vinegar output pipe; 22. Second vinegar output pipe; 23. First vinegar switch; 24. Vinegar filtration mechanism; 25. Second vinegar switch; 26. Third vinegar switch; 31. Feeding mechanism; 32. Discharging mechanism; 311. Temporary storage tank; 312. Feed inlet; 313. Discharge outlet; 314. Screw conveyor mechanism; 315. Rotary paddle level switch; 4. Pouring mechanism; 5. Vinegar collection mechanism; 51. Collection tank; 52. Vinegar collection port; 53. Material level sensor; 6. Infusion mechanism; 611. First infusion line; 612. First infusion switch; 621. Second infusion line; 622. Second infusion switch; 631. Third infusion line; 632. Third infusion switch; 641. Fourth infusion line; 642. Fourth infusion switch; 65. Infusion pump; 7. External water supply system; 71. Water supply pipeline; 72. Tap water flow meter; 73. Electronic flow regulating valve; 8. Leveling mechanism; 81. Leveling roller; 82. Leveling drive mechanism; 83. Leveling plate; 9. Vinegar mash. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The present invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Example 1

[0049] See Figures 1 to 8 The present invention provides a continuous annular vinegar extraction machine, including a frame (not shown in the figure) and an annular conveying mechanism for conveying vinegar mash 9 and a vinegar output mechanism 2 disposed on the frame.

[0050] The annular conveying mechanism includes an upper conveying layer 11 on the frame and a lower conveying layer 12 on the frame below the upper conveying layer 11. The upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12 are used to support the conveying of vinegar mash 9 and to allow liquid to pass through.

[0051] Both the upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12 are support structures with mesh, such as conveyor belts or conveyor chain plates. The mesh aperture is smaller than the particle size of the vinegar mash material, so that the vinegar mash 9 can remain on the upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12 and be carried away, while the washing liquid can penetrate the mesh and fall into the vinegar liquid collection mechanism 5 below.

[0052] In another embodiment, the annular conveying mechanism further includes an upper feeding mechanism 13 mounted on the frame for feeding the vinegar mash 9 on the upper conveying layer 11, and a lower feeding mechanism 14 mounted on the frame for feeding the lower conveying layer 12. Both the upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12 are perforated support belts or plates with mesh openings smaller than the particle size of the vinegar mash material. The upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12 no longer have active conveying capabilities but only serve as supports.

[0053] In another embodiment, the upper feeding mechanism 13 can be a chain drive mechanism 131, on which a feeding plate 132 is provided to feed the vinegar mash 9 on the upper conveying layer 11. Similarly, the lower feeding mechanism 14 has the same structure, using the feeding plate 132 to feed the vinegar mash 9 on the lower conveying layer 12.

[0054] In another embodiment, the upper feeding mechanism 13 and the lower feeding mechanism 14 are combined to form a ring transmission structure. That is, by setting a chain drive mechanism 131 and a feeding plate 132 on the chain drive mechanism 131, a ring circuit is formed, which simultaneously acts on the upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12 to realize the conveying of vinegar mash.

[0055] Of course, the upper feeding mechanism 13 and the lower feeding mechanism 14 can also be configured as other conventional structures that can realize the conveying of vinegar mash 9 on the upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12, such as using a synchronous belt for feeding, using a cylinder to drive a push plate for pushing, etc.

[0056] The upper conveying layer 11 is designated as having an upper input terminal 111 on one side and an upper output terminal 112 on the other side. The lower conveying layer 12 is designated as having a lower input terminal 121 on one side, below the upper output terminal 112, and a lower output terminal 122 on the other side, below the upper input terminal 111. When the vinegar mash 9 is output from the upper output terminal 112, it falls into the lower input terminal 121 under gravity. The annular conveying mechanism forms a complete conveying cycle with the upper input terminal 111, upper output terminal 112, lower input terminal 121, lower output terminal 122, and upper input terminal 111. That is, the vinegar mash 9 is first conveyed in one direction on the upper conveying layer 11, reaches the upper output terminal 112, flips over and falls to the lower input terminal 121 of the lower conveying layer 12, then is conveyed in the opposite direction on the lower conveying layer 12, and finally outputs from the lower output terminal 122. Thus, the annular conveying mechanism forms a continuous conveying path with two layers and opposite directions.

[0057] A feeding mechanism 31 is provided on the frame at the upper input end 111 of the upper conveying layer 11 for temporary storage and input of vinegar mash 9. A discharging mechanism 32 is provided on the frame at the lower output end 122 of the lower conveying layer 12 for temporary storage and output of vinegar mash 9.

[0058] The frame is equipped with two or more pouring mechanisms 4 located above the upper conveying layer 11 and above the lower conveying layer 12, respectively. Each pouring mechanism 4 forms a multi-stage pouring process along the conveying direction. In this design, four pouring mechanisms 4 are located above the upper conveying layer 11 and above the lower conveying layer 12, respectively. The frame is also equipped with vinegar collection mechanisms 5 corresponding to the pouring mechanisms 4 located below the upper conveying layer 11 and below the lower conveying layer 12, forming a multi-stage collection process.

[0059] Each vinegar collection mechanism 5 is equipped with a delivery mechanism 6 for outputting vinegar from the collection mechanism 5. The delivery mechanism 6 closest to the upper input end 111 is connected to the next-level irrigation mechanism 4 or the vinegar output mechanism 2, and the delivery mechanism 6 of the next-level vinegar collection mechanism 5 is connected to the vinegar output mechanism 2. The remaining delivery mechanisms 6 are connected to at least one irrigation mechanism 4 in the opposite direction of delivery to transport vinegar. The irrigation mechanism 4 closest to the lower output end 122 is connected to an external water supply mechanism 7.

[0060] In this embodiment, the watering mechanism 4 is a water distributor located above the conveying layer. Its structure is a planar frame with multiple mesh holes. After the juice is added, it can naturally disperse and drip onto the vinegar mash layer below. The vinegar collection mechanism 5 is a collection tank 51 located below the conveying layer. The collection tank 51 receives the vinegar that passes through the vinegar mash layer and the mesh holes of the upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12. Example 2

[0061] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 Based on Embodiment 1, a leveling mechanism 8 is provided on the frame between the feeding mechanism 31 and the first pouring mechanism 4 and / or in front of the lower input end 121, for spreading and leveling the vinegar mash 9 on the annular conveying mechanism.

[0062] In this embodiment, the leveling mechanism 8 includes a leveling roller 81, a leveling drive mechanism 82 that drives the leveling roller 81 to rotate, and multiple leveling plates 83 disposed on the leveling roller 81. The leveling roller 81 is arranged across the width of the conveying layer. The leveling drive mechanism 82 drives the leveling roller 81 to rotate. During the rotation, the leveling plates 83 level the accumulated vinegar mash 9, so that the vinegar mash 9 forms a uniformly thick material layer on the upper conveying layer 11. Preferably, the material layer thickness is controlled at about 40 cm. The leveling mechanism 8 is arranged in front of the lower input end 121, so that the vinegar mash 9 falling from the upper output end 112 can be spread and leveled again on the lower conveying layer 12, ensuring that the lower layer is washed evenly. Example 3

[0063] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 The feeding mechanism 31 includes a temporary storage tank 311, with an inlet 312 at the upper end and an outlet 313 at the lower end. A fabric feeding auger mechanism 314 is provided on the outlet 313 of the temporary storage tank 311. The discharging mechanism 32 is the same as the feeding mechanism 31.

[0064] In this embodiment, the temporary storage tank 311 is a cone shape, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, which facilitates the collection of vinegar mash 9 towards the discharge port 313 under gravity. Rotary level switches 315 are respectively installed at the upper and lower ends of the inner wall of the temporary storage tank 311 to detect the high and low levels of material within the tank. When the material reaches the high level, the rotary level switch 315 sends a signal to stop feeding into the temporary storage tank 311; when the material drops to the low level, the rotary level switch 315 sends a signal to start feeding. A feeding auger mechanism 314 is used to evenly transport the vinegar mash 9 from the temporary storage tank 311 to the annular conveyor mechanism, preventing material accumulation and blockage. Example 4

[0065] See Figure 1 , Figure 3 The vinegar output mechanism 2 includes a first vinegar output pipe 21 and a second vinegar output pipe 22 arranged in parallel. A first vinegar switch 23 is provided on the first vinegar output pipe 21. A vinegar filter mechanism 24 is provided on the second vinegar output pipe 22, and a second vinegar switch 25 and a third vinegar switch 26 are provided at both ends of the vinegar filter mechanism 24 on the second vinegar output pipe 22.

[0066] In this embodiment, during normal output, the first vinegar switch 23 is turned on, and the vinegar is directly output through the first vinegar output pipe 21. When filtration of the vinegar is required, the first vinegar switch 23 is turned off, and the second vinegar switch 25 and the third vinegar switch 26 are turned on. The vinegar then enters the vinegar filtration mechanism 24 through the second vinegar output pipe 22 for filtration before being output. The vinegar filtration mechanism 24 can be a mesh filter, a bag filter, or other filtration structures commonly used in the art, used to remove some fine suspended matter from the vinegar. By setting two output pipes in parallel, switching between filtration and direct discharge can be achieved without stopping the system, facilitating online maintenance. Example 5

[0067] See Figure 1 , Figure 6 The infusion mechanism 6 includes a first infusion pipe 611 connected to the vinegar collection mechanism 5, a first infusion switch 612 located at the output end of the first infusion pipe 611, a second infusion pipe 621 connected to the middle of the first infusion pipe 611, a second infusion switch 622 located on the second infusion pipe 621, an infusion pump 65 connected to the second infusion switch 622, a third infusion pipe 631 connected to the output end of the infusion pump 65, a third infusion switch 632 located at the output end of the third infusion pipe 631, a fourth infusion pipe 641 connected to the third infusion pipe 631, and a fourth infusion switch 642 located on the fourth infusion pipe 641. The third infusion switch 632 is connected to the corresponding watering mechanism 4.

[0068] In this embodiment, the first infusion pipeline 611 is connected to the vinegar collection port 52 of the vinegar collection mechanism 5. The vinegar collection mechanism 5 includes a collection tank 51, and the bottom of the collection tank 51 is provided with the vinegar collection port 52. A level sensor 53 is provided inside the collection tank 51 to detect the level of vinegar in the collection tank 51. When the level of vinegar in the collection tank 51 reaches the set level, the level sensor 53 sends a signal to start the infusion pump 65, which pumps the vinegar to the next stage pouring mechanism 4, the previous stage pouring mechanism 4, or the vinegar output mechanism 2.

[0069] Specifically, by controlling the opening and closing combinations of the first infusion switch 612, the second infusion switch 622, the third infusion switch 632, and the fourth infusion switch 642, multiple delivery paths can be achieved: (1) When it is necessary to output vinegar directly or to clean, turn on the first infusion switch 612 and turn off the second infusion switch 622. Vinegar or cleaning solution is output directly through the first infusion pipeline 611. (2) When it is necessary to pump the vinegar solution to the designated watering mechanism 4, close the first infusion switch 612, open the second infusion switch 622 and the third infusion switch 632, and the vinegar solution enters the infusion pump 65 through the second infusion pipe 621 and is then transported to the corresponding watering mechanism 4 through the third infusion pipe 631. (3) When it is necessary to send the vinegar back to other pipelines in the reverse direction, it can be sent through the fourth liquid delivery pipeline 641 and the fourth liquid delivery switch 642 to meet the process adjustment requirements. Example 6

[0070] See Figure 1 , Figure 7 The external water supply mechanism 7 includes a water supply pipeline 71, on which a tap water flow meter 72 and an electronic flow regulating valve 73 are sequentially installed. The electronic flow regulating valve 73 is used to regulate the inlet water flow supplied to the watering mechanism 4 near the lower output end 122.

[0071] In this embodiment, the tap water flow meter 72 is used to detect the water flow in the water supply pipeline 71 in real time. The electronic flow regulating valve 73 adjusts the valve opening according to the feed rate and process requirements to synchronize the water supply with the feed rate on the annular conveyor mechanism. The rinsing mechanism 4 near the lower output end 122 uses clean water to perform a final rinse on the vinegar mash 9, washing out as much residual vinegar as possible and improving the yield of raw vinegar. Example 7

[0072] See Figures 1 to 8 This embodiment provides a continuous annular vinegar leaching method, applied to the aforementioned continuous annular vinegar leaching machine, including the following steps: S1. The solid-state fermented vinegar mash 9 is fed into the upper input end 111 of the upper conveying layer 11 of the annular conveying mechanism through the feeding mechanism 31. The upper feeding mechanism 13 then slowly conveys the vinegar mash 9 from the upper input end 111 to the upper output end 112 along the upper conveying layer 11. After the vinegar mash 9 is fed into the upper conveying layer 11 through the feeding mechanism 31, it is first spread and leveled by the leveling mechanism 8 to control the thickness of the vinegar mash 9 layer on the upper conveying layer 11 to about 40cm, and then multi-stage rinsing is performed.

[0073] S2. During the process of conveying the vinegar mash 9 along the upper conveying layer 11, the vinegar mash 9 is sprayed in multiple stages along the conveying direction by two or more spraying mechanisms 4 located above the upper conveying layer 11. After the vinegar liquid penetrates the vinegar mash layer, it is collected in multiple stages by the corresponding vinegar liquid collection mechanism 5 located below the upper conveying layer 11.

[0074] S3. After the vinegar mash 9 is conveyed to the upper output end 112, the vinegar mash 9 falls into the lower input end 121 located below the upper output end 112, and the lower feeding mechanism 14 drives the vinegar mash 9 to be slowly conveyed from the lower input end 121 to the lower output end 122 along the lower conveying layer 12.

[0075] S4. During the process of conveying the vinegar mash 9 along the lower conveying layer 12, the vinegar mash 9 is sprayed in multiple stages along the conveying direction by two or more spraying mechanisms 4 located above the lower conveying layer 12. After the vinegar liquid penetrates the vinegar mash layer, it is collected in multiple stages by the corresponding vinegar liquid collection mechanism 5 located below the lower conveying layer 12.

[0076] S5. The vinegar collected by each vinegar collection mechanism 5 is output through the corresponding delivery mechanism 6. The delivery mechanism 6 closest to the upper input end connects the vinegar to the next level rinsing mechanism 4 or to the vinegar output mechanism 2. The delivery mechanism 6 of the next level vinegar collection mechanism 5 is connected to the vinegar output mechanism 2. The remaining delivery mechanisms 6 respectively deliver the vinegar in the reverse conveying direction to at least one level rinsing mechanism 4 for back rinsing. The rinsing mechanism 4 closest to the lower output end 122 is connected to the external water supply mechanism 7 to perform final rinsing on the vinegar mash 9 delivered to the lower output end 122.

[0077] S6. The vinegar mash 9 after being leached with vinegar is output by the discharge mechanism 32, and the resulting vinegar liquid is output by the vinegar liquid output mechanism 2.

[0078] In this embodiment, the rinsing mechanism 4 located above the upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12 are respectively provided with four rinsing positions, forming eight stages of rinsing and eight stages of collection along the conveying direction. The concentration of vinegar at each stage varies gradient along the conveying direction. The concentration of vinegar rinsed by the rinsing mechanism 4 near the input end is higher than that of vinegar rinsed by the rinsing mechanism 4 near the output end. When the vinegar penetrates the vinegar mash layer, the vinegar mash layer itself forms a filter layer, and the relatively clean vinegar is returned to the previous stage of more turbid vinegar mash layer for rinsing, so that the turbid liquid is reverse-adsorbed by the vinegar mash layer. The removal rate of turbidity in the rinsed vinegar reaches more than 95%.

[0079] The conveying speed of the vinegar mash 9 on the circular conveyor is controlled at 1-2 cm per minute, so that the time for the vinegar mash 9 to complete one cycle on the circular conveyor is about 2 hours. The vinegar liquid level in each vinegar liquid collection mechanism 5 is detected by the material level sensor 53. When the vinegar liquid in the collection tank 51 reaches the set material level, the liquid pump 65 is started to pump the vinegar liquid to the next stage pouring mechanism 4, the previous stage pouring mechanism 4, or the vinegar liquid output mechanism 2.

[0080] Taking the above conveying layer 11 as an example, a first upper pouring mechanism, a second upper pouring mechanism, a third upper pouring mechanism, and a fourth upper pouring mechanism are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction. Correspondingly, a first upper vinegar collection mechanism, a second upper vinegar collection mechanism, a third upper vinegar collection mechanism, and a fourth upper vinegar collection mechanism are arranged below. The vinegar mash 9 moves slowly from the upper input end 111 to the upper output end 112, passing through the first to fourth upper pouring mechanisms in sequence.

[0081] The vinegar collected by the fourth upper vinegar collection unit has the lowest concentration and is returned to the third upper rinsing unit via the infusion mechanism 6 for rinsing the vinegar mash before it enters the fourth upper rinsing zone. The vinegar collected by the third upper vinegar collection unit is returned to the first upper rinsing unit. The vinegar collected by the second upper vinegar collection unit can be output as high-concentration raw vinegar via the vinegar output mechanism 2. The vinegar collected by the first upper vinegar collection unit is returned to the second upper rinsing unit. The reason for this method is that the vinegar collected by the first upper vinegar collection unit may be relatively turbid. If it were to be output directly, it would need to be filtered when passing through the vinegar output mechanism 2. The purpose of outputting it to the second upper rinsing unit is to use the vinegar mash for filtration. The vinegar collected by the second upper vinegar collection unit is also a high-concentration vinegar and can be output as high-concentration raw vinegar via the vinegar output mechanism 2.

[0082] Taking the lower conveying layer 12 as an example, a first lower pouring mechanism, a second lower pouring mechanism, a third lower pouring mechanism, and a fourth lower pouring mechanism are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction. Correspondingly, a first lower vinegar collection mechanism, a second lower vinegar collection mechanism, a third lower vinegar collection mechanism, and a fourth lower vinegar collection mechanism are arranged below it. The vinegar mash 9 moves slowly from the lower input end 121 to the lower output end 122, passing through the first to fourth lower pouring mechanisms in sequence.

[0083] The fourth lower watering mechanism is connected to the external water supply mechanism, the fourth lower vinegar collection mechanism is connected to the third lower watering mechanism, the third lower vinegar collection mechanism is connected to the second lower watering mechanism, the second lower vinegar collection mechanism is connected to the first lower watering mechanism, and the first lower vinegar collection mechanism is connected to the fourth upper watering mechanism.

[0084] Through eight stages of rinsing and collection in two layers, acetic acid can be fully extracted from the vinegar mash, while avoiding the direct waste of low-concentration vinegar.

[0085] Of course, the first upper vinegar collection mechanism can also be connected to the vinegar output mechanism. In this case, the vinegar collected by the third upper vinegar collection mechanism is sent back to the second upper pouring mechanism, and the vinegar collected by the second upper vinegar collection mechanism is sent back to the first upper pouring mechanism.

[0086] In addition, each vinegar collection unit can supply different spraying units according to actual needs, or it can be transported to other external equipment for processing before being supplied to the spraying unit again. That is, the vinegar collection unit and the spraying unit can be two separate systems that are not directly connected. The spraying unit is supplied with vinegar by an external liquid system, and the vinegar collection unit collects it for centralized processing outside. Example 8

[0087] This example illustrates the method for treating turbidity in vinegar.

[0088] Because vinegar mash contains bran, chaff, and distiller's grains, a large amount of particulate and flocculent matter remains after fermentation, resulting in a relatively turbid liquid when freshly leached. In this invention, once the vinegar mash layer stabilizes on the conveyor layer, it forms its own filter layer. The relatively clean vinegar liquid is then returned to the previous, more turbid vinegar mash layer for rinsing. Suspended particles in the turbid liquid are reverse-adsorbed by the vinegar mash layer, significantly reducing the turbidity of the re-leached vinegar liquid. Through multi-stage countercurrent rinsing, the removal rate of turbidity in the leached vinegar liquid can reach over 95%. The remaining small amount of fine suspended matter can be removed through subsequent clarification, heat treatment, and filtration, thereby reducing the load on subsequent processing. Example 9

[0089] refer to Figures 1 to 8 This embodiment illustrates the operation mode and maintenance characteristics of the equipment.

[0090] The ring conveyor operates continuously. The vinegar mash 9 enters from the upper input end 111, passes through the upper conveying layer 11 and the lower conveying layer 12 in sequence, and is output from the lower output end 122, forming a continuous vinegar leaching process in which the feeding and discharging directions are opposite and the liquid and solid flows are staggered. The equipment can operate continuously for 24 hours without human intervention and has a high degree of automation.

[0091] Due to its tracked ring conveyor structure, the mechanical components are relatively small and experience low wear. When a part malfunctions, it can be quickly accessed for repair and replacement, preventing prolonged downtime. Compared to circular vertical equipment, this invention eliminates the need for a large spindle and main motor, resulting in lower equipment costs and easier maintenance.

[0092] Although the invention has been specifically shown and described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in form and detail may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, all of which shall be within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A continuous annular vinegar extraction machine, characterized in that, It includes a frame and an annular conveying mechanism and a vinegar output mechanism mounted on the frame. The annular conveying mechanism includes an upper conveying layer mounted on the frame for conveying vinegar mash and a lower conveying layer mounted on the frame below the upper conveying layer for conveying vinegar mash. The upper and lower conveying layers are used to support the conveying of vinegar mash and to allow liquid to pass through. The upper conveying layer is designated as the upper input end on one side and the upper output end on the other side. The lower conveying layer is designated as the lower input end on one side and the lower output end on the other side and the lower output end on the other side. When the vinegar mash is output from the upper output end, it enters the lower input end. The annular conveying mechanism forms a complete conveying cycle from the upper input end, the upper output end, the lower input end, the lower output end, and the upper input end. A feeding mechanism is provided at the upper input end of the upper conveying layer on the frame for temporary storage and input of vinegar mash; The frame is equipped with a discharge mechanism at the lower output end of the lower conveying layer for temporary storage and output of vinegar mash; The frame is provided with two or more pouring mechanisms above the upper conveying layer and above the lower conveying layer, and each pouring mechanism forms a multi-stage pouring along the conveying direction. The frame is provided with vinegar collection mechanisms corresponding to the pouring mechanisms below the upper conveying layer and below the lower conveying layer, and each vinegar collection mechanism forms a multi-stage collection. Each vinegar collection mechanism is equipped with a delivery mechanism for outputting vinegar from the collection mechanism. The delivery mechanism closest to the upper input end is connected to the next-level irrigation mechanism or the vinegar output mechanism. The delivery mechanism of the next-level vinegar collection mechanism is connected to the vinegar output mechanism. The remaining delivery mechanisms are connected to at least one irrigation mechanism in the opposite direction for vinegar delivery. The irrigation mechanism closest to the lower output end is connected to an external water supply mechanism.

2. The continuous annular vinegar extraction machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding mechanism or discharging mechanism includes a temporary storage tank, the upper end of which has a feeding port and the lower end of which has a discharging port. A material feeding auger mechanism is provided on the discharging port of the temporary storage tank.

3. A continuous annular vinegar extraction machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The temporary storage tank is a cone shape that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. Rotary paddle level switches are respectively installed on the upper and / or lower ends of the inner wall of the temporary storage tank.

4. A continuous annular vinegar extraction machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vinegar output mechanism includes a first vinegar output pipe and a second vinegar output pipe arranged in parallel. A first vinegar switch is provided on the first vinegar output pipe, and a vinegar filtration mechanism is provided on the second vinegar output pipe. A second vinegar switch and a third vinegar switch are provided at both ends of the vinegar filtration mechanism on the second vinegar output pipe.

5. A continuous annular vinegar extraction machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The infusion mechanism includes a first infusion pipe connected to the vinegar collection mechanism, a first infusion switch located at the output end of the first infusion pipe, a second infusion pipe connected to the middle of the first infusion pipe, a second infusion switch located on the second infusion pipe, an infusion pump connected to the second infusion switch, a third infusion pipe connected to the output end of the infusion pump, a third infusion switch located at the output end of the third infusion pipe, a fourth infusion pipe connected to the third infusion pipe, and a fourth infusion switch located on the fourth infusion pipe. The third infusion switch is connected to the corresponding watering mechanism.

6. A continuous annular vinegar extraction machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The vinegar collection mechanism includes a collection tank, and a vinegar collection port is provided at the bottom of the collection tank. The first infusion pipe is connected to the vinegar collection port. A material level sensor is installed inside the collection tank.

7. A continuous annular vinegar extraction machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The external water supply mechanism includes a water supply pipeline, on which a tap water flow meter and an electronic flow regulating valve are sequentially installed. The electronic flow regulating valve is used to regulate the inlet water flow supplied to the watering mechanism near the lower output end.

8. A continuous annular vinegar leaching method, applied to a continuous annular vinegar leaching machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. The solid-state fermented vinegar mash is fed into the upper input end of the upper conveying layer of the ring conveyor through the feeding mechanism, and then slowly conveyed from the upper input end to the upper output end along the upper conveying layer. S2. During the process of conveying the vinegar mash along the upper conveying layer, the vinegar mash is sprayed in multiple stages along the conveying direction by two or more spraying mechanisms located above the upper conveying layer. After the vinegar liquid penetrates the vinegar mash layer, it is collected in multiple stages by the corresponding vinegar liquid collection mechanism located below the upper conveying layer. S3. After the vinegar mash is conveyed to the upper output end, the vinegar mash falls into the lower input end located below the upper output end, and is slowly conveyed from the lower input end to the lower output end along the lower conveying layer. S4. During the process of conveying the vinegar mash along the lower conveying layer, the vinegar mash is sprayed in multiple stages along the conveying direction by two or more spraying mechanisms located above the lower conveying layer. After the vinegar liquid penetrates the vinegar mash layer, it is collected in multiple stages by the corresponding vinegar liquid collection mechanism located below the lower conveying layer. S5. The vinegar collected by each vinegar collection mechanism is output through the corresponding delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism closest to the upper input end connects the vinegar to the next level of the rinsing mechanism or to the vinegar output mechanism. The delivery mechanism of the next level vinegar collection mechanism is connected to the vinegar output mechanism. The remaining delivery mechanisms respectively deliver the vinegar in the reverse conveying direction to at least one level of the rinsing mechanism for back rinsing. The rinsing mechanism near the lower output end is connected to the external water supply mechanism to perform the final rinsing of the vinegar mash delivered to the lower output end. S6. The vinegar mash after leaching is output by the discharge mechanism, and the resulting vinegar liquid is output by the vinegar liquid output mechanism.

9. The continuous cyclic leaching method for acetic acid according to claim 8, characterized in that, In steps S2 and S4, the rinsing mechanism located above the upper conveying layer and above the lower conveying layer is provided with four rinsing positions, forming eight-stage rinsing and eight-stage collection along the conveying direction, with the concentration of vinegar solution at each stage varying gradient along the conveying direction.

10. A continuous cyclic leaching method for acetic acid according to claim 8, characterized in that, In step S2 and / or step S4, the conveying speed of the vinegar mash on the annular conveyor mechanism is controlled to be 1-2 cm per minute, so that the time for the vinegar mash to complete one cycle on the annular conveyor mechanism is about 2 hours.

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