A cleaning system for chili raw materials

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of pepper cleaning, and particularly relates to a cleaning system for pepper raw materials, which comprises a feeding assembly, a cleaning assembly and a discharging assembly, and feeding belts and discharging belts are arranged on the two sides of a cleaning cylinder respectively. The cleaning cylinder is installed on a cleaning frame and filled with cleaning liquid, and a first brush cylinder, an ultrasonic inner cylinder and a second brush cylinder are sequentially arranged in the cleaning cylinder. First transmission components and second transmission components are arranged between adjacent cylinder bodies respectively. A driving member drives the first brush cylinder to rotate, the first transmission components drive the ultrasonic inner cylinder to rotate reversely, and the second transmission components drive the second brush cylinder to rotate reversely relative to the ultrasonic inner cylinder. Thus, a cleaning interval with alternating rotation directions is formed, the rolling posture of the peppers in the cleaning liquid is repeatedly changed, the fruit stem connecting part and the fruit wrinkle part are fully contacted with the cleaning liquid, the problem of insufficient cleaning of hidden parts caused by the similar posture of the peppers is solved, and the cleaning uniformity of the pepper raw materials and the continuous processing efficiency are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of chili pepper cleaning technology, and more particularly to a cleaning system for chili pepper raw materials. Background Technology

[0002] Chili peppers are a commonly used agricultural raw material in the condiment and food processing industry. During the harvesting, transportation and storage process, impurities such as mud, dust and leaf fragments easily adhere to the surface of chili peppers. Therefore, before drying, crushing, pickling or other deep processing of chili peppers, it is usually necessary to clean the raw materials to reduce the impact of surface impurities on subsequent processing and product quality.

[0003] Currently, the cleaning of chili raw materials usually involves soaking, rinsing, agitation, or manual turning. During continuous processing, the chili raw materials pass through the corresponding cleaning area with the conveyor equipment, and surface impurities are removed by water flow impact or mutual friction between raw materials. However, chili peppers are lightweight, easy to float, and have irregular shapes. During the cleaning process, they tend to move in a relatively fixed posture with the water flow, making it difficult to achieve full turning, resulting in some surfaces not being in full contact with the cleaning medium.

[0004] In particular, the connection between the stem and the fruit of a chili pepper, as well as the depressions and folds on the surface of the fruit, are prone to accumulating mud, sand, and small impurities. Conventional washing methods can clean the exposed surface of chili peppers to a certain extent, but their ability to clean the hidden parts mentioned above is limited. Simply extending the washing time or increasing the water flow intensity will not only increase the amount of water used and the washing time, but may also cause damage to the chili pepper skin and the stem to fall off, affecting the integrity of the raw chili pepper.

[0005] In addition, in some existing continuous cleaning equipment, the movement state of raw materials and the cleaning effect at each stage are relatively simple. Chili peppers tend to gather, overlap or maintain similar movement postures, resulting in differences in the degree of cleaning in different parts. It is difficult to balance cleaning efficiency, cleaning uniformity and raw material integrity. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The main objective of this invention is to provide a cleaning system for chili pepper raw materials, which aims to alleviate the problem that existing cleaning systems have difficulty cleaning the connection between the chili pepper stem and the fruit, as well as the depressions and wrinkles on the surface of the fruit.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a cleaning system for chili pepper raw materials, the system comprising: The feeding assembly includes a feeding belt; A cleaning assembly includes a cleaning frame, a cleaning cylinder, and a driving component. The cleaning cylinder contains a first roller component, an ultrasonic cleaning component, and a second roller component. A feeding belt is disposed on one side of the cleaning cylinder. The first roller component includes a first brush cylinder, and the second roller component includes a second brush cylinder. The first and second brush cylinders are movably disposed at both ends of the ultrasonic cleaning component, and the output end of the driving component is connected to the first brush cylinder. The ultrasonic cleaning component includes an ultrasonic inner cylinder. A first transmission component is disposed between the first brush cylinder and the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and a second transmission component is disposed between the ultrasonic inner cylinder and the second brush cylinder. A feeding assembly, comprising a feeding belt, wherein the feeding hopper is disposed on the other side of the cleaning cylinder; The cleaning cylinder and the driving component are mounted on the cleaning frame, and the cleaning cylinder is filled with cleaning fluid. When the first brush cylinder rotates along the axis of the cleaning cylinder via the drive component, the ultrasonic cleaning component is rotated in the opposite direction via the first transmission component. When the ultrasonic cleaning component rotates, the second brush cylinder is rotated in the opposite direction via the second transmission component.

[0008] Optionally, the first transmission component and the second transmission component have the same structure. Both the first transmission component and the second transmission component are planetary gear sets and are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the ultrasonic inner cylinder along the axial direction.

[0009] Optionally, the first transmission component includes a first gear ring, a first sun gear, a first planetary carrier, and a plurality of first planetary gears. The first gear ring is fixedly disposed at the end of the first brush cylinder away from the driving component. The plurality of first planetary gears are rotatably disposed on the first planetary carrier and respectively mesh with the inner wall of the first gear ring. The first planetary carrier is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder. The first sun gear meshes with the plurality of first planetary gears externally, and the first sun gear is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic inner cylinder.

[0010] Optionally, the second transmission component includes a second gear ring, a second sun gear, a second planetary carrier, and a plurality of second planetary gears. The second gear ring is fixedly disposed at one end of the second brush cylinder near the ultrasonic inner cylinder. The plurality of second planetary gears are rotatably disposed on the second planetary carrier and respectively mesh with the inner wall of the second gear ring. The second planetary carrier is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder. The second sun gear meshes with the outer wall of the plurality of second planetary gears respectively, and the second sun gear is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic inner cylinder.

[0011] Optionally, a cleaning hole is provided at the center of both the first sun gear and the second sun gear, and the inner cavity of the first brush cylinder, the inner cavity of the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and the inner cavity of the second brush cylinder are connected in sequence through the corresponding cleaning holes to form a cleaning channel.

[0012] Optionally, the inner walls of the first brush cylinder, the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and the second brush cylinder are all provided with spiral brushes, which extend spirally along the axial direction of the corresponding cylinder. The inner walls of the first brush cylinder, the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and the second brush cylinder are provided with through holes, and a water outlet is provided at the bottom of the cleaning cylinder.

[0013] Optionally, the system further includes a spray washing assembly, which includes a spray washing pipe and a spray washing pump. The spray washing pump is mounted on a cleaning rack, and the spray washing pipe is connected to the spray washing pump. The spray washing pipe is disposed inside the first brush cylinder, the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and the second brush cylinder.

[0014] Optionally, an ultrasonic generator is provided on the inner wall of the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and a connecting rod is provided on the outer periphery of the ultrasonic inner cylinder, with the two ends of the connecting rod connected to the outer periphery of the ultrasonic inner cylinder and the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder, respectively.

[0015] Optionally, a plurality of nozzles are spaced apart on the spray pipe, and the plurality of nozzles are respectively disposed inside the first brush cylinder, the ultrasonic inner cylinder and the second brush cylinder, and positioned above the surface of the cleaning fluid.

[0016] Optionally, the cleaning cylinder has openings at both ends, and sealing caps are provided at the openings.

[0017] The beneficial effects that this invention can achieve are as follows: This invention addresses the problems in existing cleaning equipment by arranging a first brush cylinder, an ultrasonic inner cylinder, and a second brush cylinder within a cleaning drum along the chili pepper conveying direction. A first transmission component is positioned between the first brush cylinder and the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and a second transmission component is positioned between the ultrasonic inner cylinder and the second brush cylinder. A driving component rotates the first brush cylinder, causing the ultrasonic inner cylinder to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the first brush cylinder, and the second brush cylinder to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the ultrasonic inner cylinder. Simultaneously, a continuous cleaning path is formed by the feeding belt, the cleaning drum containing cleaning liquid, and the unloading belt. This alleviates the problems of chili peppers easily floating, agglomerating, and maintaining similar postures in existing cleaning equipment, and the difficulty in ensuring sufficient contact between the cleaning liquid and the stem joint, as well as the concave and folded areas of the fruit. The continuous change in rotation direction between adjacent cleaning zones allows for repeated alteration of the force direction and rolling posture of the chili peppers as they enter the ultrasonic inner cylinder from the first brush and then the second brush, increasing the contact opportunities between the chili pepper surfaces and the cleaning solution and the cleaning areas within the cylinder. The first brush first scrubs away surface deposits, the ultrasonic inner cylinder further loosens small impurities in hidden areas, and the second brush then cleans the loosened impurities. This achieves continuous feeding, zoned cleaning, and continuous unloading of chili pepper raw materials, improving cleaning uniformity and the cleanliness of the stems and folds, while reducing efficiency loss and raw material damage caused by simply extending the soaking time or increasing the rinsing intensity. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 This is another structural schematic diagram of the cleaning system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the cleaning system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a partial schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the cleaning system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0019] Figure label: 1-Feeding component, 2-Cleaning component, 3-Unloading component, 4-Spraying component; 11-Feeding belt; 21-Cleaning frame, 22-Cleaning cylinder, 23-Driver, 24-First roller assembly, 25-Ultrasonic cleaning assembly, 26-Second roller assembly, 27-First transmission assembly, 28-Second transmission assembly, 29-Cleaning hole, 300-Cleaning cavity, 301-Spiral brush, 302-Through hole, 303-Outlet; 241 - First brush holder; 251-Ultrasonic inner cylinder, 252-Ultrasonic generator, 253-Connecting rod; 261 - Second brush holder; 271-First gear ring, 272-First sun gear, 273-First planet carrier, 274-First planet gear; 281-Second gear ring, 282-Second sun gear, 283-Second planet carrier, 284-Second planet gear; 31-Feeding belt; 41-Spray pipe, 42-Spray pump.

[0020] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

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

[0024] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the meaning of "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions; for example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0025] Example 1: Please refer to the attached document as well. Figures 1 to 4 A cleaning system for chili pepper raw materials, the system comprising: Feeding assembly 1, the feeding assembly 1 including feeding belt 11; Cleaning assembly 2 includes a cleaning frame 21, a cleaning cylinder 22, and a driving component 23. The cleaning cylinder 22 is equipped with a first roller component 24, an ultrasonic cleaning component 25, and a second roller component 26. The feeding belt 11 is disposed on one side of the cleaning cylinder 22. The first roller component 24 includes a first brush cylinder 241, and the second roller component 26 includes a second brush cylinder 261. The first brush cylinder 241 and the second brush cylinder 261 are respectively movably disposed at both ends of the ultrasonic cleaning component 25, and the output end of the driving component 23 is connected to the first brush cylinder 241. The ultrasonic cleaning component 25 includes an ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. A first transmission component 27 is disposed between the first brush cylinder 241 and the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and a second transmission component 28 is disposed between the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and the second brush cylinder 261. The feeding assembly 3 includes a feeding belt 31, which is disposed on the other side of the cleaning cylinder 22; The cleaning cylinder 22 and the driving component 23 are mounted on the cleaning frame 21, and the cleaning cylinder 22 is filled with cleaning fluid. When the first brush cylinder 241 rotates along the axis of the cleaning cylinder 22 via the drive member 23, the ultrasonic cleaning member 25 is rotated in the opposite direction via the first transmission member 27. When the ultrasonic cleaning member 25 rotates, the second brush cylinder 261 is rotated in the opposite direction via the second transmission member 28.

[0026] In this embodiment, the first transmission component 27 and the second transmission component 28 have the same structure. Both the first transmission component 27 and the second transmission component 28 are planetary gear sets and are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 along the axial direction.

[0027] In this embodiment, the first transmission component 27 includes a first gear ring 271, a first sun gear 272, a first planetary carrier 273, and a plurality of first planetary gears 274. The first gear ring 271 is fixedly disposed at the end of the first brush cylinder 241 away from the driving component 23. The plurality of first planetary gears 274 are rotatably disposed on the first planetary carrier 273 and respectively mesh with the first gear ring 271. The first planetary carrier 273 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder 22. The first sun gear 272 respectively meshes with the plurality of first planetary gears 274 externally, and the first sun gear 272 is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251.

[0028] In this embodiment, the second transmission component 28 includes a second gear ring 281, a second sun gear 282, a second planetary carrier 283, and a plurality of second planetary gears 284. The second gear ring 281 is fixedly disposed at one end of the second brush cylinder 261 near the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. The plurality of second planetary gears 284 are rotatably disposed on the second planetary carrier 283 and respectively mesh with the inner side of the second gear ring 281. The second planetary carrier 283 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder 22. The second sun gear 282 respectively meshes with the outer side of the plurality of second planetary gears 284, and the second sun gear 282 is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251.

[0029] In this embodiment, the center of the first sun gear 272 and the second sun gear 282 are provided with cleaning holes 29. The inner cavity of the first brush cylinder 241, the inner cavity of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and the inner cavity of the second brush cylinder 261 are connected in sequence through the corresponding cleaning holes 29 to form a cleaning cavity 300.

[0030] In this embodiment, an ultrasonic generator 252 is provided on the inner wall of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and a connecting rod 253 is provided on the outer periphery of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. The two ends of the connecting rod 253 are respectively connected to the outer periphery of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder 22.

[0031] In this embodiment, the cleaning cylinder 22 has openings at both ends, and sealing caps are provided at the openings.

[0032] It should be noted that the feeding component 1, the washing component 2, and the unloading component 3 are arranged sequentially according to the conveying direction of the chili raw materials. The discharge side of the feeding belt 11 corresponds to one end of the washing cylinder 22, and the feed side of the unloading belt 31 corresponds to the other end of the washing cylinder 22, so that the chili raw materials can enter the washing cylinder 22 from the feeding belt 11 and fall to the unloading belt 31 after washing. The feeding belt 11 and the unloading belt 31 can adopt the mesh belt conveying structure commonly used in food processing equipment. The mesh belt surface can also be provided with baffle strips at intervals to reduce the situation of the chili raw materials slipping or accumulating when conveyed at an incline. When the unloading belt 31 adopts a mesh belt structure, the washing liquid carried on the surface of the chili can drip down through the mesh holes so as to perform preliminary drainage after washing.

[0033] The washing frame 21 is mainly used to support the washing cylinder 22, the driving component 23 and the corresponding transmission structure. It can be formed by connecting stainless steel profiles or metal profiles that have been treated with anti-corrosion. The washing cylinder 22 is horizontally arranged on the washing frame 21, and the driving component 23 is arranged below the washing cylinder 22 and connected to the washing frame 21 through structures such as mounting bases and shock absorbers. The driving component 23 can be a motor or a driving mechanism formed by combining a motor and a reducer. When a reducer is used, the rotation speed of the first brush cylinder 241 is reduced first and the output torque is increased so that the first brush cylinder 241 can maintain stable rotation when the washing cylinder 22 contains chili raw materials and washing liquid. A vibration damping pad can also be set between the driving component 23 and the washing frame 21 to reduce the vibration generated by the driving component 23 during operation from being transmitted to the washing cylinder 22.

[0034] The washing cylinder 22 is filled with washing liquid, meaning that the washing cylinder 22 is kept at a level sufficient for washing chili peppers. It is not required that the washing liquid completely fills the entire internal space of the washing cylinder 22. In actual use, the washing liquid should at least cover the lower area of ​​the washing cavity 300 so that the chili peppers entering the washing cylinder 22 can fully contact the washing liquid. At the same time, a certain space is reserved at the top of the washing cylinder 22 to accommodate the liquid surface fluctuations caused by the chili peppers being turned over. The washing liquid can be clean water or a washing liquid that meets the requirements of food processing. The washing cylinder 22 and the internal components that come into contact with the chili pepper raw materials are preferably made of food-grade stainless steel, which facilitates rinsing and maintenance after the washing operation.

[0035] In one specific embodiment, the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261 are coaxially arranged along the axial direction of the cleaning cylinder 22. Alternatively, a permissible coaxiality deviation can be maintained while ensuring the continuous passage of chili peppers. The first brush cylinder 241 and the second brush cylinder 261 are located at the two ends of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 along the axial direction, and their internal spaces are interconnected, allowing the chili pepper raw material to pass through the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261 in sequence.

[0036] In one specific embodiment, the first brush cylinder 241 and the second brush cylinder 261 can be installed inside the cleaning cylinder 22 through a combination structure of bearing housing, annular guide rail and support wheel or other rotating support structure capable of bearing radial load. For example, annular guide rail, rolling bearing, etc. can be provided on the outer periphery of the first brush cylinder 241 and the second brush cylinder 261, and support wheel that rolls with the annular guide rail is provided on the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder 22 so that the corresponding brush cylinder can rotate relative to the cleaning cylinder 22. The support wheel can be arranged at intervals along the circumference of the corresponding brush cylinder to distribute the load formed by the chili raw material, cleaning liquid and the brush cylinder itself.

[0037] During the cleaning process, the drive unit 23 first drives the first brush cylinder 241 to rotate around the axis of the cleaning cylinder 22. The output end of the drive unit 23 and the first brush cylinder 241 can be connected by belt drive, chain drive or gear drive. In the embodiment of belt drive, pulleys are respectively provided on the output shaft of the drive unit 23 and the end of the first brush cylinder 241. The two pulleys are connected by a belt. The drive unit 23 drives the first brush cylinder 241 to rotate. A flexible brush body can be provided on the inner wall of the first brush cylinder 241. It is preferred to use food-grade nylon bristles or other brushing materials that are not easy to damage the skin of the pepper. When the first brush cylinder 241 rotates, the pepper raw material is supported, pushed and rubbed by the brush body, and rolls and turns in the cleaning liquid, thereby initially cleaning the mud, dust and leaf debris attached to the outer surface of the pepper.

[0038] The first transmission component 27 and the second transmission component 28 have the same structure, which means that both transmission components are planetary gear sets consisting of a gear ring, a sun gear, a planet carrier, and several planet gears. The two transmission components can be set up in terms of power input and power output components according to their positions. The two planetary gear sets are symmetrically arranged along the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, which is beneficial to make the transmission force act on the two ends of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 respectively, reducing the deflection caused when the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 is only subjected to force on one side, and at the same time forming a continuous power transmission relationship between the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261.

[0039] More specifically, the first gear ring 271 is an annular structure with internal teeth. A plurality of first planetary gears 274 are disposed within the space enclosed by the first gear ring 271 and mesh with the inner surface of the first gear ring 271. The plurality of first planetary gears 274 can be evenly distributed along the circumference of the first sun gear 272 to ensure that the meshing force on the first sun gear 272 is relatively balanced. The first planetary gears 274 are rotatably mounted on the first planetary carrier 273 via axles. The first planetary carrier 273 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder 22. Therefore, the first planetary carrier 273 remains fixed during the cleaning process, and the first planetary gears 274 can rotate around their respective axles.

[0040] When the drive unit 23 drives the first brush cylinder 241 to rotate, the first brush cylinder 241 drives the first gear ring 271 to rotate synchronously. The first gear ring 271 drives several first planetary gears 274 to rotate through internal meshing. Since the first planetary carrier 273 is fixed to the cleaning cylinder 22, the axial position of the first planetary gears 274 is restricted by the first planetary carrier 273. Under the action of the first gear ring 271, the first planetary gears 274 mainly rotate on their own axis and further drive the first sun gear 272 located at the center to rotate. According to the transmission relationship of gear ring input, planetary carrier fixation and sun gear output, the rotation direction of the first sun gear 272 is opposite to the rotation direction of the first gear ring 271, thereby causing the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 fixedly connected to the first sun gear 272 to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the first brush cylinder 241.

[0041] Several second planetary gears 284 are rotatably mounted on the second planetary carrier 283 and mesh with the second sun gear 282 and the second gear ring 281 respectively. When the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 rotates, the second sun gear 282 rotates synchronously with the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and transmits power to the second gear ring 281 through the several second planetary gears 284. Since the second planetary carrier 283 remains fixed, the rotation direction of the second gear ring 281 is opposite to the rotation direction of the second sun gear 282. The second gear ring 281 then drives the second brush cylinder 261 to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251.

[0042] Based on the above power transmission process, the first brush cylinder 241 and the second brush cylinder 261 rotate in the same direction, while the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 rotates in the opposite direction to the first brush cylinder 241 and the second brush cylinder 261. The first brush cylinder 241 serves as the initial power input end of the entire cylinder transmission structure. Under the action of a driving component 23, it completes the linkage of the three cylinders, reducing the installation space required to set up driving devices for the three cylinders separately, and also reducing the process of adjusting the speed and synchronizing multiple driving devices separately. The gear ring, sun gear and planetary gear in the first transmission component 27 and the second transmission component 28 can be selected as stainless steel gears or engineering plastic gears with water resistance and wear resistance as needed. By adjusting the number of teeth of the gear ring and the sun gear, the rotational speed relationship between the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and the second brush cylinder 261 can also be set.

[0043] Considering that the planetary gear set is located inside the washing cylinder 22, annular protective covers can be respectively installed on the outer sides of the first transmission component 27 and the second transmission component 28. The middle of the annular protective cover retains a channel for the chili raw material to pass through, and its outer periphery covers the meshing positions of the gear ring, planetary gears and sun gear, in order to reduce the entry of chili peppers, fruit stems or fallen leaves into the gear meshing gap. The annular protective cover can be installed on the corresponding planetary carrier with a detachable structure so that it can be opened regularly for cleaning and inspection of the gears. The material used for gear lubrication should be compatible with the usage requirements of the food washing equipment, or the lubrication position can be separated from the washing cavity 300 by a sealing structure.

[0044] Both the first sun gear 272 and the second sun gear 282 have cleaning holes 29 at their centers, ensuring that the two sun gears, while performing their transmission function, do not obstruct the transport path of the chili pepper raw material. The inner cavity of the first brush cylinder 241 communicates with the inner cavity of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 through the cleaning hole 29 on the first sun gear 272, and the inner cavity of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 communicates with the inner cavity of the second brush cylinder 261 through the cleaning hole 29 on the second sun gear 282, thereby forming a cleaning cavity 300 extending axially along the cleaning cylinder 22. The diameter of the cleaning hole 29 should meet the requirements for the passage of the chili pepper raw material, and an annular solid portion should be reserved around the cleaning hole 29 to accommodate the sun gear teeth. In actual design, the diameter of the cleaning hole 29 can be determined according to the maximum external dimensions of the chili pepper to be cleaned to avoid the chili pepper getting stuck at the connection point of adjacent cylinders.

[0045] The first sun gear 272 and the second sun gear 282 facing the cleaning cavity 300 can also form an arc transition surface or be provided with a guide ring to reduce the hard collision between the pepper and the edge of the sun gear when passing through the cleaning hole 29. The guide ring can be made of food-grade elastic material or smooth stainless steel material and is coaxially set with the cleaning hole 29. The spiral brushes 301 in the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and the second brush cylinder 261 can also be continuous or interconnected at the corresponding cleaning holes 29, so that the pepper can pass smoothly through the cleaning hole 29 under the push of the spiral brushes 301 and continue to move towards the discharge side of the cleaning cylinder 22.

[0046] A connecting rod 253 is provided on the outer periphery of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. The connecting rod 253 provides radial support to the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, reducing the sway during rotation. Since the cleaning cylinder 22 remains fixed while the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 needs to rotate, at least one connection is made between the connecting rod 253 and the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 or the cleaning cylinder 22 to prevent the connecting rod 253 from locking the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. In one specific structure, the inner end of the connecting rod 253 is fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and a support wheel is rotatably provided on the outer end of the connecting rod 253. An annular guide rail that mates with the support wheel is provided on the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder 22. When the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 rotates, the connecting rod 253 rotates with the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the support wheel rolls along the annular guide rail, thereby maintaining the rotational capability of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 while providing radial support.

[0047] In another feasible structure, a support bearing is fitted around the outer periphery of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. One end of the connecting rod 253 is connected to the outer ring of the support bearing, and the other end is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder 22. The inner ring of the support bearing is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. The ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 rotates relative to the connecting rod 253 and the cleaning cylinder 22 via the support bearing. Multiple connecting rods 253 can be arranged along the circumference of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. Each connecting rod 253 shares the weight of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and the chili raw material inside, keeping the axis of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 in a predetermined position. The connecting rods 253 are preferably positioned to avoid the first transmission component 27, the second transmission component 28, and the ultrasonic generating assembly, so as not to affect the gear transmission and the installation of the ultrasonic generating assembly.

[0048] The openings at both ends of the washing cylinder 22 form the entry and exit points for the chili raw materials, respectively. Both openings are equipped with sealing caps. The sealing caps are mainly used to cover the annular gap between the end of the washing cylinder 22 and the adjacent rotating cylinder, limiting the large outflow of washing liquid from both ends of the washing cylinder 22. At the same time, they reduce the assembly gap between the outer periphery of the chili raw materials, stems, or impurities and the inner wall of the washing cylinder 22. The sealing caps can be annular caps, whose outer periphery is detachably connected to the end of the washing cylinder 22. The middle part retains the inlet or outlet corresponding to the washing cavity 300. Therefore, the sealing caps do not completely close the conveying path of the chili raw materials.

[0049] For the complete cleaning process of chili raw materials, the chili to be cleaned is first conveyed to the first brush cylinder 241 by the feeding belt 11. The driving component 23 drives the first brush cylinder 241 to rotate. The brush body or spiral brush 301 inside the first brush cylinder 241 drives the chili to roll in the cleaning liquid and performs preliminary brushing of the mud and debris attached to the outer surface of the chili. During the rotation, the spiral brush 301 also pushes the chili along the axial direction of the cleaning cylinder 22, causing the chili to gradually move towards the cleaning hole 29 of the first sun wheel 272 and enter the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 through the cleaning hole 29.

[0050] When the chili pepper enters the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 from the first brush cylinder 241, the original rolling direction and force state of the chili pepper change because the rotation direction of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 is opposite to that of the first brush cylinder 241. The ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 drives the cleaning liquid to move in the opposite direction, creating liquid disturbances with different directions between adjacent cleaning areas. The chili pepper continues to roll in the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the ultrasonic generating component simultaneously transmits ultrasonic vibrations to the cleaning liquid, causing the small impurities attached to the fruit stem joint, the fruit depression, and the surface folds to gradually loosen. The chili pepper continuously changes its orientation during the rolling process, allowing the above-mentioned positions to come into contact with the cleaning liquid subjected to ultrasonic action multiple times.

[0051] After the chili peppers enter the second brush cylinder 261 through the cleaning hole 29 of the second sun wheel 282, the second brush cylinder 261 rotates in the opposite direction to the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, causing the rolling state of the chili peppers to change again. The second brush cylinder 261 brushes the impurities that have been loosened by the ultrasonic action again and continues to push the chili peppers toward the discharge side of the cleaning cylinder 22. When the spray washing component 4 is configured, the nozzle on the spray washing pipe 41 can also spray cleaning liquid onto the surface of the chili peppers during the rolling process, washing the connection between the stem and the fruit and the fruit folds. The cleaned chili peppers are discharged through the middle of the sealing cover at the other end of the cleaning cylinder 22 and fall onto the feeding belt 31 for conveying and draining.

[0052] Based on the above structure, the first transmission component 27 and the second transmission component 28 sequentially transmit the power output from a drive component 23 to the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261, forming multiple cleaning zones with adjacent rotation directions within the cleaning cylinder 22. The planetary gear set is equipped with a central cleaning hole 29 while transmitting power, so that the transmission structure is located around the cleaning channel and will not block the continuous conveying of chili raw materials. The connecting rod 253 and the corresponding rotating support structure restrict the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 from radial displacement. The sealing cover covers and seals the assembly gaps at both ends of the cleaning cylinder 22. During continuous conveying, the chili peppers are sequentially subjected to rolling brushing, ultrasonic cleaning, and re-rolling brushing, and their movement posture changes when entering adjacent cleaning zones. This helps to improve the cleaning degree of the chili pepper stem connection and the fruit folds, while maintaining continuous feeding and continuous discharge of chili raw materials.

[0053] Example 2: In this embodiment, the cleaning solution in the cleaning cylinder 22 can be clean water, preferably slightly acidic electrolyzed water with calcium chloride.

[0054] Specifically, calcium chloride solution and hydrochloric acid are used as electrolytes, and electrolysis is performed using a DC power supply to maintain the pH of the resulting cleaning solution within the range of 5.0–6.5 and the effective chlorine concentration within the range of 10 mg / L–20 mg / L. For example, electrolysis using 30V DC power yields slightly acidic electrolyzed water with a pH of approximately 5.5. During use, the pH, effective chlorine concentration, and redox potential of the cleaning solution can be monitored, and replenishment or replacement can be performed based on the impurity content and effective chlorine consumption. The effective chlorine in the cleaning solution can act on microorganisms and some residues on the surface of the chili peppers, while calcium ions help maintain the firmness of the chili pepper tissue, reducing the possibility of the chili peppers softening too quickly after washing.

[0055] More specifically, the ultrasonic generator 252, located on the inner wall of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, can be understood as an ultrasonic generating component for generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations. It includes a sealed housing and an ultrasonic transducer located within the sealed housing. The ultrasonic transducer is connected to the wall of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and is used to convert electrical signals into mechanical vibrations, which are then transmitted to the cleaning fluid through the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. The ultrasonic power supply can be located outside the cleaning rack 21 or the cleaning cylinder 22 and supplies power to the ultrasonic transducer that rotates with the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 through a connecting rod 253, a conductive slip ring, a sliding contact line, or a rotating conductive connector. The ultrasonic generating components can be spaced apart along the circumference or axial direction of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and embedded in the mounting groove formed on the inner wall of the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251. The mounting groove is covered by a sealing plate to reduce direct collision between the chili raw material and the ultrasonic generating components or the fruit stems.

[0056] When the ultrasonic generator is working, cavitation bubbles are formed in the cleaning fluid. The growth and collapse of the cavitation bubbles generate liquid disturbance and shearing action, which gradually loosens the mud, microorganisms and other impurities attached to the joint of the pepper stem and the surface folds, while promoting the entry of slightly acidic electrolyzed water of calcium chloride into the above-mentioned parts.

[0057] In one specific embodiment, the ultrasonic power can be set to 88W–132W, and the treatment time can be set to 6min–12min; preferably, an ultrasonic power of 110W and a treatment time of 9min are used. When the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 rotates in the opposite direction to the adjacent brush cylinder, the rolling posture of the chili pepper continuously changes, allowing different surfaces to come into contact with the cleaning solution sequentially, thereby improving the uniformity of the ultrasonic action and the cleaning solution treatment. The ultrasonic power and treatment time should be adjusted according to the chili pepper variety, maturity level, and treatment volume to ensure that attached impurities are fully loosened without causing significant damage to the chili pepper skin.

[0058] Example 3: In this embodiment, the inner walls of the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261 are all provided with spiral brushes 301. The spiral brushes 301 extend spirally along the axial direction of the corresponding cylinder. The inner walls of the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261 are provided with through holes 302. A water outlet 303 is provided at the bottom of the cleaning cylinder 22.

[0059] In this embodiment, the spiral brush 301 is made of food-grade nylon bristles or other flexible brushing materials. When the cylinder rotates, the spiral brush 301 exerts a circumferential pushing and axial pushing effect on the chili raw material, causing the chili to roll, tumble and gradually move to the lower side in the cleaning liquid.

[0060] In a preferred configuration, the spiral brushes 301 inside the first brush cylinder 241 and the second brush cylinder 261 adopt the same spiral direction, while the spiral brushes 301 inside the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 adopt the opposite spiral direction. This is to accommodate the reverse rotation relationship between the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and the two brush cylinders, so that the spiral brushes 301 inside the three cylinders can push the chili peppers to the lower side.

[0061] It should be noted that when the rotation directions of the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261 change, the circumferential force on the chili pepper also changes. After the chili pepper enters the adjacent cylinder from one cylinder, it can change its original rolling posture, causing the stem connection and the folded parts of the fruit to alternately face the spiral brush 301 and the cleaning liquid. The spiral brush 301 can also generate appropriate radial displacement on the chili pepper, causing it to repeatedly tumble under the action of centrifugal force, the resistance of the cleaning liquid, and the contact action of the brush bristles. This improves the cleaning uniformity of different surfaces of the chili pepper and reduces the situation where the chili pepper gathers in the cleaning cavity 300 or moves in a fixed posture.

[0062] The walls of the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261 are all provided with several through holes 302. These through holes 302 are spaced apart circumferentially and axially along the corresponding cylinders to allow the cleaning fluid to flow between the inner cavity of each cylinder and the cleaning cylinder 22, and to discharge mud, sand, and fine debris that have fallen off the surface of the chili peppers with the cleaning fluid. The diameter of the through holes 302 is smaller than the external dimensions of the raw chili peppers, and the edges of the through holes 302 are rounded or chamfered to reduce the possibility of chili pepper stems getting stuck in the through holes 302 or the edges of the through holes 302 scratching the chili pepper skin. The water outlet 303 at the bottom of the cleaning cylinder 22 is preferably located at the lowest position of the cleaning cylinder 22 and can be connected to a drain valve, a filter device, or a circulating water pipe. After opening the drain valve, the cleaning fluid containing mud, sand, and debris can be discharged through the water outlet 303, or it can be filtered and returned to the cleaning cylinder 22, thereby facilitating the replacement and recycling of the cleaning fluid and the cleaning of the inside of the cleaning cylinder 22.

[0063] Example 4: In this embodiment, the system further includes a spray washing assembly 4, which includes a spray washing pipe 41 and a spray washing pump 42. The spray washing pump 42 is disposed on the cleaning rack 21, and the spray washing pipe 41 is connected to the spray washing pump 42. The spray washing pipe 41 is disposed inside the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261.

[0064] In this embodiment, a plurality of nozzles are spaced apart on the spray pipe 41. The nozzles are respectively disposed inside the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 and the second brush cylinder 261, and are positioned above the surface of the cleaning liquid.

[0065] In this embodiment, the spray washing assembly 4 is used to spray washing liquid from above the surface of the washing liquid onto the chili peppers during the rolling conveying process of the chili peppers along with the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261. The spray washing pump 42 is fixedly installed on the washing frame 21. Its inlet end can be connected to an external water supply device, a washing liquid storage device, or a filtered circulating washing liquid, and its outlet end is connected to the spray washing pipe 41. The spray washing pipe 41 extends along the axial direction of the washing cylinder 22 and is sequentially installed inside the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261. The spray washing pipe 41 can be fixed by the sealing cap at the end of the washing cylinder 22 to keep the spray washing pipe 41 stationary and prevent it from rotating with each cylinder. At the same time, it maintains a distance from the spiral brush 301 and the conveying area of ​​the chili pepper raw material.

[0066] The spray pipe 41 is equipped with several nozzles at intervals. These nozzles are located within the corresponding cleaning areas of the first brush cylinder 241, the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251, and the second brush cylinder 261, and are positioned above the surface of the cleaning liquid. The nozzles can be fan-shaped or have multiple spray holes, and their spray direction is towards the area through which the chili pepper raw material passes. As the chili pepper rolls in the cleaning liquid under the action of the spiral brush 301, part of its surface will periodically expose itself above the liquid surface. The cleaning liquid sprayed from the nozzles can directly wash the exposed surface of the chili pepper, the stem connection, and the wrinkled parts of the fruit. As the cylinder continues to rotate, the chili pepper continuously changes its orientation, allowing different surfaces of the same chili pepper to enter the spray range of the nozzles in sequence.

[0067] The nozzle in the first brush cylinder 241 is mainly used to disperse the mud and sand attached to the surface of the chili peppers and to perform preliminary cleaning in conjunction with the spiral brush 301; the nozzle in the ultrasonic inner cylinder 251 is used to promote the flow of cleaning fluid, so that the loosened fine impurities are removed from the surface of the chili peppers; the nozzle in the second brush cylinder 261 is used to further rinse away the impurities and cleaning fluid remaining on the surface of the chili peppers.

[0068] The nozzles in different cleaning areas can be equipped with control valves to adjust the spraying state of the corresponding area according to the degree of contamination of the chili peppers. The spraying pressure should be sufficient to remove loose impurities without damaging the chili pepper skin or causing the stems to fall off. This allows the spraying action, along with rolling brushing and ultrasonic cleaning, to complete the continuous cleaning process of the chili pepper raw materials.

[0069] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the patent. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the description and drawings of the present invention, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the scope of patent protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cleaning system for pepper raw material, characterized by, The system includes: The feeding assembly includes a feeding belt; A cleaning assembly includes a cleaning frame, a cleaning cylinder, and a driving component. The cleaning cylinder contains a first roller component, an ultrasonic cleaning component, and a second roller component. A feeding belt is disposed on one side of the cleaning cylinder. The first roller component includes a first brush cylinder, and the second roller component includes a second brush cylinder. The first and second brush cylinders are movably disposed at both ends of the ultrasonic cleaning component, and the output end of the driving component is connected to the first brush cylinder. The ultrasonic cleaning component includes an ultrasonic inner cylinder. A first transmission component is disposed between the first brush cylinder and the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and a second transmission component is disposed between the ultrasonic inner cylinder and the second brush cylinder. A feeding assembly, comprising a feeding belt disposed on the other side of the cleaning cylinder; The cleaning cylinder and the driving component are mounted on the cleaning frame, and the cleaning cylinder is filled with cleaning fluid. When the first brush cylinder rotates along the axis of the cleaning cylinder via the drive component, the ultrasonic cleaning component is rotated in the opposite direction via the first transmission component. When the ultrasonic cleaning component rotates, the second brush cylinder is rotated in the opposite direction via the second transmission component.

2. The chili raw material cleaning system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first transmission component and the second transmission component have the same structure. Both the first transmission component and the second transmission component are planetary gear sets and are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the ultrasonic inner cylinder along the axial direction.

3. The chili raw material cleaning system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first transmission component includes a first gear ring, a first sun gear, a first planetary carrier, and a plurality of first planetary gears. The first gear ring is fixedly disposed at the end of the first brush cylinder away from the driving component. The plurality of first planetary gears are rotatably disposed on the first planetary carrier and respectively mesh with the inner wall of the first gear ring. The first planetary carrier is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder. The first sun gear meshes with the plurality of first planetary gears externally, and the first sun gear is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic inner cylinder.

4. The chili raw material cleaning system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The second transmission component includes a second gear ring, a second sun gear, a second planetary carrier, and a plurality of second planetary gears. The second gear ring is fixedly disposed at one end of the second brush cylinder near the ultrasonic inner cylinder. The plurality of second planetary gears are rotatably disposed on the second planetary carrier and respectively mesh with the inner wall of the second gear ring. The second planetary carrier is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder. The second sun gear meshes with the outer wall of the plurality of second planetary gears respectively, and the second sun gear is fixedly connected to the ultrasonic inner cylinder.

5. The chili raw material cleaning system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The first sun gear and the second sun gear each have a cleaning hole at their center. The inner cavity of the first brush cylinder, the inner cavity of the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and the inner cavity of the second brush cylinder are connected in sequence through the corresponding cleaning holes to form a cleaning channel.

6. The chili raw material cleaning system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner walls of the first brush cylinder, the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and the second brush cylinder are all provided with spiral brushes. The spiral brushes extend in a spiral shape along the axial direction of the corresponding cylinder. The inner walls of the first brush cylinder, the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and the second brush cylinder are provided with through holes. A water outlet is provided at the bottom of the cleaning cylinder.

7. The chili raw material cleaning system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The system also includes a spray washing assembly, which includes a spray washing pipe and a spray washing pump. The spray washing pump is mounted on a cleaning rack, and the spray washing pipe is connected to the spray washing pump. The spray washing pipe is disposed inside the first brush cylinder, the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and the second brush cylinder.

8. The chili raw material cleaning system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An ultrasonic generator is provided on the inner wall of the ultrasonic inner cylinder, and a connecting rod is provided on the outer periphery of the ultrasonic inner cylinder. The two ends of the connecting rod are respectively connected to the outer periphery of the ultrasonic inner cylinder and the inner wall of the cleaning cylinder.

9. A chili raw material cleaning system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The spray pipe is provided with a number of nozzles at intervals. The nozzles are respectively located inside the first brush cylinder, the ultrasonic inner cylinder and the second brush cylinder, and are positioned above the surface of the cleaning fluid.

10. The chili raw material cleaning system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning cylinder has openings at both ends, and sealing caps are provided at the openings.

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