Automatic sauce supply system

Abstract

The utility model discloses an automatic sauce feeding system, which comprises a filtering unit, a first storage tank, a second storage tank and a controller, the filtering unit comprises a filtering device used for filtering sauce and a second storage tank used for receiving the filtered sauce; the sterilization unit comprises sterilization equipment and a second storage tank, the second storage tank is connected with the first storage tank and used for inputting sauce to the sterilization equipment, and the sterilization equipment is used for sterilizing the sauce; the input end of the temporary storage tank is connected with the filtering unit so as to receive the filtered sauce, and the output end of the temporary storage tank is connected with the sterilizing unit so as to convey the sauce to sterilizing equipment; the pipeline regulation and control valve group is arranged on a connecting pipeline of the filtering equipment, the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the temporary storage tank; the control system integrally controls the filter unit, the sterilization unit and the pipeline regulation and control valve group, so that independent filtration, independent sterilization or collaborative filtration and sterilization of the sauce are realized, continuous operation of sauce production is realized, intermediate storage requirements are reduced, energy consumption and cleaning cost are reduced, and production efficiency and flexibility are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of food processing, in particular to an automatic sauce feeding system. Background Art

[0002] The traditional soy sauce production process typically involves multiple steps, including raw material processing, fermentation, filtration, storage, and final sterilization. Filtration is a key step in removing impurities from the soy sauce, while sterilization is crucial for ensuring product safety and extending its shelf life. However, in existing technologies, filtered soy sauce often needs to be stored in specialized tanks until the subsequent sterilization equipment is ready, after which the soy sauce in the tanks is transferred to the sterilization equipment for processing via a pumping device. However, this intermittent production method presents some significant problems. First, due to the time gap between filtration and sterilization, a sufficiently large storage tank must be set up to store the filtered soy sauce, which not only takes up a large amount of space, but also increases construction costs and consumes a lot of resources. Second, the time waiting for the sterilization equipment to be ready and the waiting time during the material transfer process result in wasted work time. Overall, the discontinuous production model makes it difficult for the entire production line to achieve optimal operating conditions, reducing overall production efficiency.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a technical solution that can effectively connect the filtration and sterilization processes to achieve continuous production, reduce intermediate storage requirements, reduce energy consumption, and improve production efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention proposes an automatic sauce feeding system that integrates filtration and sterilization units with an intelligent control system. This system enables continuous sauce production, significantly reduces the need for intermediate storage, lowers energy consumption and cleaning costs, improves production efficiency and flexibility, and ensures stable product quality.

[0005] The automatic sauce feeding system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0006] A filtering unit, comprising a filtering device and a first storage tank, wherein the filtering device is used to filter the sauce, and the first storage tank is capable of receiving the filtered sauce;

[0007] A sterilization unit includes a sterilization device and a second storage tank, wherein the second storage tank is connected to the first storage tank and is used to input the sauce into the sterilization device, and the sterilization device is used to sterilize the sauce;

[0008] A temporary storage tank, wherein the input end of the temporary storage tank is connected to the filtering unit to receive the filtered sauce, and the output end of the temporary storage tank is connected to the sterilization unit to transport the sauce to the sterilization equipment;

[0009] A pipeline regulating valve group is provided on the connecting pipelines of the filtering device, the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the temporary storage tank;

[0010] A control system is provided for integrated control of the filtering unit, the sterilization unit and the pipeline regulating valve group to drive the filtering unit to filter the sauce alone and store the sauce in the first storage tank; or, drive the sauce in the second storage tank to be input into the sterilization device and sterilize the sauce alone; or, drive the filtering unit and the sterilization unit to work together to filter and sterilize the sauce in sequence.

[0011] According to the automatic sauce feeding system of the embodiment of the present invention, there are at least the following beneficial effects: the integrated filtration unit, sterilization unit, temporary storage tank and control system realize the seamless connection and continuous operation between the filtration and sterilization processes in the sauce production process. Specifically, the sensor is used to monitor the status of the production line in real time, and the material supply ratio is automatically adjusted according to actual needs to ensure that the production line is always in an efficient operation state, which not only reduces the demand for intermediate storage tanks and reduces storage costs, but also significantly reduces the energy consumption caused by frequent pumping of materials; in addition, since the number of times the material is transferred between different tanks is reduced, the overall cleaning frequency of the system is also reduced, thereby saving a large amount of water resources and chemical cleaning agents used for CIP cleaning, further reducing operating costs; at the same time, the continuous production mode improves production efficiency, shortens the production cycle, and enables enterprises to respond to changes in market demand more quickly and enhance market competitiveness; overall, the system provides a more economical, efficient and environmentally friendly solution for sauce production companies by optimizing material flow paths and control strategies.

[0012] According to the automatic sauce feeding system described in some embodiments of the present invention, the pipeline regulating valve group includes a first control valve, which is arranged at the input end of the first storage tank to allow the filtered sauce to be input into the first storage tank.

[0013] According to the automatic sauce feeding system described in some embodiments of the present invention, the pipeline regulating valve group includes a second control valve and a third control valve. The second control valve is arranged at the input end of the second storage tank to allow the sauce filtered by the filtering equipment to be input into the second storage tank; the third control valve is arranged at the input end of the second storage tank to allow the sauce stored in the first storage tank to be input into the second storage tank.

[0014] According to the automatic sauce feeding system described in some embodiments of the present invention, the pipeline regulating valve group includes a fourth control valve, and the fourth control valve is arranged at the input end of the temporary storage tank to allow the sauce stored in the first storage tank to be input into the temporary storage tank.

[0015] According to the automatic sauce feeding system described in some embodiments of the present invention, the pipeline regulating valve groups are all pneumatic control valves.

[0016] According to the automatic sauce feeding system described in some embodiments of the present invention, the output ends of the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the temporary storage tank are all provided with a driving pump to pump the sauce outward.

[0017] According to the automatic sauce feeding system described in some embodiments of the present invention, the driving pump is a clear liquid pump.

[0018] According to the automatic sauce feeding system described in some embodiments of the present invention, the first storage tank and the second storage tank are both provided with a material quantity detection device to detect the amount of the sauce.

[0019] According to the automatic sauce feeding system described in some embodiments of the present invention, the material quantity detection device includes a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor, the first pressure sensor is arranged at the lower part of the first storage tank, and the second pressure sensor is arranged at the lower part of the second storage tank.

[0020] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description and will become apparent from the following description or learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the automatic sauce feeding system according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the existing sauce feeding system.

[0024] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0025] Filtration unit 100; filtration device 110; first storage tank 120; first clear liquid pump 121; first pressure sensor 122;

[0026] Sterilization unit 200; sterilization equipment 210; second storage tank 220; second clear liquid pump 221; second pressure sensor 222;

[0027] Temporary storage tank 300; third clear liquid pump 310;

[0028] Pipeline control valve group 400; first control valve 410; second control valve 420; third control valve 430; fourth control valve 440;

[0029] Control system 500. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following describes embodiments of the present invention in detail. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended only to explain the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientations, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, "several" means one or more, "many" means more than two, "greater than," "less than," and "exceed" are understood to exclude the number itself, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the number itself. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is solely for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and is not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, implicitly specifying the number of the indicated technical features, or implicitly specifying the order of the indicated technical features.

[0033] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, and connecting should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.

[0034] In the description of the present invention, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the exemplary expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0035] In the traditional soy sauce production process, it usually needs to go through multiple steps, including raw material processing, fermentation, filtration, storage and final sterilization. Among them, filtration is the key step to remove impurities in soy sauce, and sterilization is an important link to ensure product safety and extend shelf life. However, in the existing technology, the filtered soy sauce often needs to be stored in a special storage tank first until the subsequent sterilization equipment is ready, and then the soy sauce in the storage tank is transferred to the sterilization equipment for processing through a pumping device. For example, referring to Figure 2 The sauce feeding system includes a filtering unit 100 and a sterilization unit 200. The soy sauce filtered by the filtering unit 100 needs to be transported to the temporary storage tank 300 first, and then the soy sauce in the temporary storage tank 300 is transferred to the sterilization unit 200 for sterilization after the sterilization equipment 210 is ready. However, this intermittent production method has some significant problems. On the one hand, due to the time interval between filtration and sterilization, a sufficiently large storage tank must be set up to store the filtered soy sauce, which not only takes up a lot of space, but also increases construction costs and consumes a lot of resources. On the other hand, the time waiting for the sterilization equipment to be prepared and the waiting time during the material transfer process both lead to a waste of working hours. Overall, the discontinuous production mode makes it difficult for the entire production line to reach the optimal operating state, reducing the overall production efficiency.

[0036] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a technical solution that can effectively connect the filtration and sterilization processes to achieve continuous production, reduce intermediate storage requirements, reduce energy consumption, and improve production efficiency.

[0037] For this reason, Figure 1The figure shows the automatic sauce feeding system proposed by the present invention, which includes a filtration unit 100, a sterilization unit 200, a temporary storage tank 300, a pipeline control valve group 400, and a control system 500. The filtration unit 100 is used to filter the sauce, the sterilization unit 200 is used to sterilize the sauce, the temporary storage tank 300 can temporarily store the filtered sauce to feed the sterilization unit 200, and the pipeline control valve group 400 is used to control the transportation route of the sauce. Specifically, the filtration unit 100 includes a filtration device 110 and a first storage tank 120. The filtration device 110 is used to filter the sauce, and the first storage tank 120 can receive the filtered sauce. The sterilization unit 200 includes a sterilization device 210 and a second storage tank 220. The second storage tank 220 is connected to the first storage tank 120 and is used to input the sauce into the sterilization device 210. The sterilization device 210 is used to sterilize the sauce. Furthermore, the input end of the temporary storage tank 300 is connected to the filtration unit 100 to receive the filtered sauce, and the output end of the temporary storage tank 300 is connected to the sterilization unit 200 to transport the sauce to the sterilization device 210. In addition, a pipeline control valve group 400 is provided on the connecting pipelines of the filtration device 110, the first storage tank 120, the second storage tank 220, and the temporary storage tank 300. In use, the control system 500 integrates and controls the filtration unit 100, the sterilization unit 200, and the pipeline control valve group 400 to drive the filtration unit 100 to filter the sauce alone and store it in the first storage tank 120; or to drive the sauce in the second storage tank 220 to be input into the sterilization device 210 and sterilize the sauce alone; or to drive the filtration unit 100 and the sterilization unit 200 to work together to filter and sterilize the sauce in sequence. It should be noted that the integrated filtration unit 100, sterilization unit 200, temporary storage tank 300 and control system 500 realize seamless connection and continuous operation between the filtration and sterilization processes in the sauce production process. Specifically, sensors are used to monitor the status of the production line in real time, and the material supply ratio is automatically adjusted according to actual needs to ensure that the production line is always in an efficient operation state. This not only reduces the demand for intermediate storage tanks and reduces storage costs, but also significantly reduces the energy consumption caused by frequent pumping of materials; in addition, since the number of times materials are transferred between different tanks is reduced, the overall cleaning frequency of the system is also reduced, thereby saving a large amount of water resources and chemical cleaning agents used for CIP cleaning, further reducing operating costs; at the same time, the continuous production mode improves production efficiency, shortens the production cycle, and enables enterprises to respond to changes in market demand more quickly and enhance market competitiveness; overall, the system provides sauce production companies with a more economical, efficient and environmentally friendly solution by optimizing material flow paths and control strategies.

[0038] Refer again Figure 1In some embodiments of the present invention, the pipeline control valve assembly 400 includes a first control valve 410. The first control valve 410 is disposed at the input end of the first storage tank 120 to allow the filtered sauce to be input into the first storage tank 120. This ensures that the filtered sauce can enter the first storage tank 120 accurately and without error, avoiding material misfeeding or leakage, and improving the stability and safety of the system. This design allows the filtered sauce to be effectively collected and prepared for subsequent processes. Furthermore, the pipeline control valve assembly 400 includes a second control valve 420 and a third control valve 430. The second control valve 420 is disposed at the input end of the second storage tank 220 to allow the sauce filtered by the filtration device 110 to be input into the second storage tank 220. The third control valve 430 is disposed at the input end of the second storage tank 220 to allow the sauce stored in the first storage tank 120 to be input into the second storage tank 220. This enhances the system's ability to precisely control the flow of materials. When the filtration device 110 directly supplies sauce to the sterilization device 210, the sauce can be quickly transferred to the second storage tank 220 by opening the second control valve 420. When there is sufficient sauce in the first storage tank 120, especially when the filtration device 110 is not in operation and the sterilization device 210 is operating alone, the third control valve 430 allows the sauce to be transferred to the second storage tank 220 for sterilization. This dual control valve design not only improves the flexibility of material management, but also ensures efficient material flow even under different production modes. Furthermore, the pipeline control valve group 400 includes a fourth control valve 440, which is arranged at the input end of the temporary storage tank 300 to allow the sauce stored in the first storage tank 120 to be input into the temporary storage tank 300, providing additional buffering capacity for the system. When the first storage tank 120 is full and the second storage tank 220 does not need more materials, the fourth control valve 440 can be opened to safely transfer the excess sauce to the temporary storage tank 300 to prevent waste caused by overflow and ensure that the continuous operation of the production line is not affected, which not only optimizes material management but also improves the fault tolerance and stability of the entire system. Optionally, the pipeline control valve group 400 is all pneumatic control valves, that is, the first control valve 410, the second control valve 420, the third control valve 430 and the fourth control valve 440 are all pneumatic control valves, which can simplify the design of the control system 500 and bring the advantages of fast response, easy operation and low maintenance cost. In addition, the pneumatic control valve has high reliability and long service life, which reduces the failure rate of the system and improves the stability of long-term operation.

[0039] In some embodiments of the present invention, refer to Figure 1The output ends of the first storage tank 120, the second storage tank 220 and the temporary storage tank 300 are all provided with drive pumps to pump the sauce outward. It is easy to understand that the output ends of the first storage tank 120, the second storage tank 220 and the temporary storage tank 300 are all equipped with drive pumps, which ensures that the material transmission task can be completed efficiently and stably whether in the internal transfer or external transportation process. In this regard, the presence of the drive pump reduces the problem of production interruption caused by insufficient pumping and ensures the continuity of production. Optionally, the drive pump is a clear liquid pump. For example, the output end of the first storage tank 120 is provided with a first clear liquid pump 121, the output end of the second storage tank 220 is provided with a second clear liquid pump 221, and the output end of the temporary storage tank 300 is provided with a third clear liquid pump 310. It is particularly suitable for conveying clear liquids such as filtered sauces. In addition, clear liquid pumps generally have higher efficiency and lower wear, are suitable for long-term continuous operation, help reduce energy consumption and extend equipment life.

[0040] In some embodiments of the present invention, both the first storage tank 120 and the second storage tank 220 are provided with a material quantity detection device to detect the amount of sauce. The introduction of the material quantity detection device enhances the automation level of the system, reduces the need for manual intervention, and can monitor the amount of sauce in each tank in real time. This enables the control system 500 to make timely adjustments based on the actual inventory situation, avoids the risk of overfilling or running with empty tanks, and ensures smooth production. Specifically, refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments of the present invention, the material level detection device includes a first pressure sensor 122 and a second pressure sensor 222. The first pressure sensor 122 is disposed at the bottom of the first storage tank 120, and the second pressure sensor 222 is disposed at the bottom of the second storage tank 220. It should be noted that the high sensitivity and accuracy of the pressure sensors enable the system to more precisely manage material flow, further optimizing the efficiency and stability of the production process. In this way, the system can more accurately sense changes in the liquid level within the tank, thereby achieving precise control of material flow.

[0041] In summary, the following operating modes are available.

[0042] (1) When filtering alone: ​​the filtering device 110 is turned on and the sterilizing device 210 is turned off;

[0043] The first control valve 410 is opened, the second control valve 420 is closed, and the sauce is transported to the first storage tank 120; when the sauce in the first storage tank 120 reaches a high level, the third control valve 430 is closed, and the fourth control valve 440 is opened to transport the sauce in the first storage tank 120 to the temporary storage tank 300.

[0044] (2) Filtration and sterilization coordinated operation: filtration device 110 is turned on, and sterilization device 210 is turned on;

[0045] When the second storage tank 220 is at a low position, the first control valve 410 is closed and the second control valve 420 is opened, and the sauce is transported to the second storage tank 220 for use by the sterilization device 210;

[0046] When the second storage tank 220 is at a high position, the first control valve 410 is opened, the second control valve 420 is closed, and the sauce is transported to the first storage tank 120;

[0047] When the first storage tank 120 is at a high position and the second storage tank 220 is at a low position, the third control valve 430 is opened and the fourth control valve 440 is closed, and the sauce in the first storage tank 120 is transported to the second storage tank 220 for use by the sterilization device 210;

[0048] When the first storage tank 120 and the second storage tank 220 are at high positions at the same time, the fourth control valve 440 is opened, the third control valve 430 is closed, and the sauce in the first storage tank 120 is transported to the temporary storage tank 300 .

[0049] (3) Separate sterilization operation: the filtration device 110 is shut down and the sterilization device 210 is started;

[0050] When the second storage tank 220 is at a low position, the third control valve 430 is opened, the fourth control valve 440 is closed, and the sauce in the first storage tank 120 is transferred to the second storage tank 220 until the sauce in the first storage tank 120 is emptied.

[0051] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes can be made within the scope of knowledge possessed by ordinary technicians in the relevant technical field without departing from the purpose of the present invention.

Claims

1. Automatic sauce feeding system, characterized by: include: A filtering unit, comprising a filtering device and a first storage tank, wherein the filtering device is used to filter the sauce, and the first storage tank is capable of receiving the filtered sauce; A sterilization unit includes a sterilization device and a second storage tank, wherein the second storage tank is connected to the first storage tank and is used to input the sauce into the sterilization device, and the sterilization device is used to sterilize the sauce; A temporary storage tank, wherein the input end of the temporary storage tank is connected to the filtering unit to receive the filtered sauce, and the output end of the temporary storage tank is connected to the sterilization unit to transport the sauce to the sterilization equipment; A pipeline regulating valve group is provided on the connecting pipelines of the filtering device, the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the temporary storage tank; A control system is provided for integrated control of the filtering unit, the sterilization unit and the pipeline regulating valve group to drive the filtering unit to filter the sauce alone and store the sauce in the first storage tank; or, drive the sauce in the second storage tank to be input into the sterilization device and sterilize the sauce alone; or, drive the filtering unit and the sterilization unit to work together to filter and sterilize the sauce in sequence.

2. The automatic sauce feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipeline regulating valve group includes a first control valve, which is arranged at the input end of the first storage tank to allow the filtered sauce to be input into the first storage tank.

3. The automatic sauce feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipeline regulating valve group includes a second control valve and a third control valve. The second control valve is arranged at the input end of the second storage tank to allow the sauce filtered by the filtering equipment to be input into the second storage tank; the third control valve is arranged at the input end of the second storage tank to allow the sauce stored in the first storage tank to be input into the second storage tank.

4. The automatic sauce feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipeline regulating valve group includes a fourth control valve, and the fourth control valve is arranged at the input end of the temporary storage tank to allow the sauce stored in the first storage tank to be input into the temporary storage tank.

5. The automatic sauce feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipeline control valve groups are all pneumatic control valves.

6. The automatic sauce feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Output ends of the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the temporary storage tank are all provided with driving pumps for pumping the sauce outward.

7. The automatic sauce feeding system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The driving pump is a clear liquid pump.

8. The automatic sauce feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first storage tank and the second storage tank are both provided with a material quantity detection device to detect the quantity of the sauce.

9. The automatic sauce feeding system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The material quantity detection device includes a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor. The first pressure sensor is arranged at the lower part of the first storage tank, and the second pressure sensor is arranged at the lower part of the second storage tank.

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