Automatic hops particle adding system

Abstract

The utility model discloses an automatic hops particle adding system which comprises a plurality of hops particle storage tanks, a metering scale, a caterpillar track module, a pneumatic sending tank, a compressed air pipeline and a plurality of hops particle dissolving tanks, the metering scale is arranged on the caterpillar track module, and the caterpillar track module conveys the metering scale to a discharge port of a target hops particle storage tank. A discharge port of the metering scale is connected with the pneumatic sending tank, a discharge port of the pneumatic sending tank is connected with the hops particle dissolving tank through a compressed air pipeline, and the hops particle dissolving tank is connected with the boiling pot. According to the hops particle adding device, hops particles can be automatically added, the accuracy and the controllability of the hops particle adding process are guaranteed, and the production efficiency and the production safety are improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model belongs to beer hop adding technical field, concretely relates to a hop pellet automatic adding system. BACKGROUND

[0002] Compared with hop extract, hop pellets can bring more unique flavor to beer; nowadays, the market has various requirements for beer quality and flavor, and beer factories usually use hop pellets to produce products to cater to market tastes. With the increase in the production of beer of different tastes and types, the frequency and types of hop pellets added are also increased. At present, most beer factories in the industry add hop pellets manually, that is, hop pellets are directly put into the boiling kettle manhole cover. Manual addition of hop pellets has the following shortcomings:

[0003] 1) Long working hours for single addition: hop pellets are usually stored in a low-temperature storage room, and are transported to the site by manual operation for unpacking and addition; and in order to shorten the opening time of the boiling kettle manhole cover, two operators usually cooperate to operate;

[0004] 2) It is difficult to accurately control the amount of addition: the amount of addition depends on manual weighing, and errors are likely to occur;

[0005] 3) There is a safety risk in the addition process: when the boiling kettle manhole cover is opened for addition, high-temperature steam in the boiling kettle is likely to scald the operator.

[0006] In addition, although some beer factories use hop pellet automatic adding equipment to automatically add hops, most of these hop pellet automatic adding equipment are fixed hop pellet storage tanks, which realize automatic addition through weight reduction weighing; in large-scale production, the hop pellet storage tank has a large storage capacity, and the accuracy of weight reduction weighing is difficult to guarantee. Moreover, the fixed hop pellet storage tank weight reduction weighing is difficult to balance the storage capacity and variety diversity, has poor expandability, is not conducive to the collocation of multiple varieties of hop pellets, and limits its application in large-scale, multi-variety beer production. UTILITY MODEL CONTENTS

[0007] In order to overcome the above technical defects, the utility model provides a hop pellet automatic adding system, which realizes automatic addition of hop pellets, guarantees the accuracy and controllability of the hop pellet addition process, and improves production efficiency and production safety.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the utility model provides a hop pellet automatic adding system, which comprises:

[0009] A plurality of hop pellet storage tanks, a metering scale, a chain track module, a pneumatic sending tank, a compressed air pipeline and a plurality of hop pellet dissolving tanks, the metering scale is arranged on the chain track module, the chain track module conveys the metering scale to the discharge port of the target hop pellet storage tank,

[0010] The discharge outlet of the metering scale is connected with the pneumatic conveying tank, the discharge outlet of the pneumatic conveying tank is connected with the hop flower particle dissolving tank through the compressed air pipeline, and the hop flower particle dissolving tank is connected with the boiling pot.

[0011] Further, the chain track module comprises a chain track, a chain wheel, a variable frequency reducer and a plurality of position sensing probes, the chain wheel is connected with the output shaft of the variable frequency reducer and is arranged in the inner circle of the chain track at both ends;

[0012] The position sensing probes are arranged on one side of the chain track and correspond to the discharge outlet of the hop flower particle storage tank, two position sensing probes are arranged at each position where the position sensing probes are arranged.

[0013] Further, the metering scale comprises a hopper, a weighing sensor and a movable scale seat, the hopper is connected with the discharge outlet of the hop flower particle storage tank, the weighing sensor is arranged on the movable scale seat, the movable scale seat is arranged on the chain track, and a metal block is arranged on the same side of the front end and the rear end of the movable scale seat for contacting and sensing the position sensing probes.

[0014] Further, the system further comprises:

[0015] A refrigerated alcohol water pipeline is connected with the hop flower particle storage tank and is used for providing refrigeration conditions for the hop flower particle storage tank;

[0016] A nitrogen pipeline is connected with the hop flower particle storage tank and is used for providing nitrogen for the inside of the hop flower particle storage tank;

[0017] A cleaning liquid pipeline is connected with the hop flower particle storage tank and the pneumatic conveying tank and is used for cleaning the hop flower particle storage tank and the pneumatic conveying tank;

[0018] The compressed air pipeline is further connected with the hop flower particle storage tank and is used for drying the inside of the hop flower particle storage tank after cleaning.

[0019] Further, the system further comprises a metering scale cleaning module, the metering scale cleaning module comprises a cylinder-driven sealing cover and a pressure-resistant hose, the cylinder-driven sealing cover is used for sealing the inlet of the hopper of the metering scale, and one end of the pressure-resistant hose is connected with the cleaning liquid pipeline and the other end is provided with a cleaning ball and is used for cleaning the hopper of the metering scale.

[0020] Further, the system further comprises a plurality of conversion valves and a separator, the discharge outlet of the pneumatic conveying tank is connected with the separator through the conversion valve arranged on the compressed air pipeline, and the discharge outlet of the separator is connected with the hop flower particle dissolving tank.

[0021] Further, the bottom of the hop particle storage tank is provided with a spiral pipe, a spiral motor, a discharge valve, a backflow valve and a steering elbow pipe with a cylinder, the spiral pipe is arranged at the discharge port of the hop particle storage tank, the spiral in the spiral pipe is connected with the output shaft of the spiral motor, one end of the spiral pipe is connected with the steering elbow pipe through the discharge valve, and the other end is connected with the liquid receiving port of the CIP pipeline through the backflow valve.

[0022] The steering elbow pipe is used to be connected with the metering scale or the cylinder is driven to rotate and be connected with the other liquid receiving port of the CIP pipeline.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the hop particle automatic adding system has the following beneficial effects:

[0024] The utility model discloses a kind of hop particle automatic adding systems, including several hop particle storage tanks, metering scale, chain track module, pneumatic sending tank, compressed air pipeline and several hop particle dissolving tanks, metering scale is arranged on chain track module, chain track module is conveyed to the metering scale at target hop particle storage tank discharge port, the discharge port of metering scale is connected with pneumatic sending tank, the discharge port of pneumatic sending tank is connected with hop particle dissolving tank by compressed air pipeline, hop particle dissolving tank is connected with boiling pot.When hop particle is added, chain track module is conveyed to the metering scale at target hop particle storage tank discharge port, hop particle enters the hopper of metering scale;Then chain track module is conveyed to the metering scale above pneumatic sending tank, hop particle is released into pneumatic sending tank, and hop particle is transported into separator by compressed air of pneumatic sending tank to enter hop particle dissolving tank and enter boiling pot;Realize the automation of hop particle, guarantee the accuracy and controllability of hop particle adding process, improve production efficiency and production safety. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] The specific embodiment of the utility model is further explained in detail in combination with the drawings, and wherein:

[0026] Figure 1 It is the structure schematic view of hop particle automatic adding system described in embodiment 1;

[0027] Figure 2 It is the related structure schematic view of hop particle storage tank of hop particle automatic adding equipment described in embodiment 1;

[0028] Figure 3 It is the structure schematic view of metering scale of hop particle automatic adding system described in embodiment 1;

[0029] Figure 4 It is the structure schematic view of chain track module of hop particle automatic adding system described in embodiment 1;

[0030] Label description: 1, hop pellet storage tank; 1-1, spiral pipe; 1-2, spiral motor; 1-3, discharge valve; 1-4, steering elbow; 1-5, backflow valve; 2, metering scale; 2-1, hopper; 2-2, weighing sensor; 2-3, mobile scale seat; 3, chain track module; 3-1, chain track; 3-2, sprocket; 3-3, frequency reducer; 3-4, position sensing probe; 4, pneumatic sending tank; 5, compressed air pipeline; 6, hop pellet dissolving tank; 7, boiling pot; 8, refrigerated alcohol water pipeline; 9, nitrogen pipeline; 10, CIP cleaning liquid pipeline; 11, CIP pipeline; 12, metering scale cleaning module; 13, conversion valve; 14, separator; 15, cleaning liquid collection tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The preferred embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are merely intended to illustrate and explain the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] The present embodiment discloses a kind of hop pellet automatic adding system, as shown in Figure 1 Including several hop pellet storage tanks 1, metering scale 2, chain track module 3, pneumatic sending tank 4, compressed air pipeline 5 and several hop pellet dissolving tanks 6, metering scale 2 is arranged on chain track module 3, chain track module 3 is sent to the discharge port of target hop pellet storage tank 1 by metering scale 2, the discharge port of metering scale 2 is connected with pneumatic sending tank 4, the discharge port of pneumatic sending tank 4 is connected with hop pellet dissolving tank 6 by compressed air pipeline 5, hop pellet dissolving tank 6 is connected with boiling pot 7.

[0034] In the present embodiment, it also includes refrigerated alcohol water pipeline 8, nitrogen pipeline 9 and CIP cleaning liquid pipeline 10, refrigerated alcohol water pipeline 8 is connected with hop pellet storage tank 1, for providing cold storage conditions for hop pellet storage tank 1;Nitrogen pipeline 9 is connected with hop pellet storage tank 1, for providing nitrogen for the inside of hop pellet storage tank 1, prevent hop pellet oxidation;CIP cleaning liquid pipeline 10 is connected with hop pellet storage tank 1 and pneumatic sending tank 4 respectively, for cleaning hop pellet storage tank 1 and pneumatic sending tank 4, avoid long idle time when hop pellet residue metamorphism;Compressed air pipeline 5 is also connected with hop pellet storage tank 1, with electric heater, for the warm air drying of the inside of cleaned hop pellet storage tank.

[0035] Specifically, hop pellet storage tank 1 is a stainless steel storage tank with insulation jacket, cold alcohol water is passed in the jacket to keep the temperature in hop pellet storage tank in line with the cold storage conditions of hop pellets. The hop pellet feeding port of hop pellet storage tank 1 is provided with a barcode recognition device for identifying the barcode on the hop pellet packaging bag to identify the variety of hop pellets. For example,Figure 2 The bottom of the hop pellet storage tank 1 is equipped with a spiral tube 1-1. The spiral motor 1-2 drives the spiral inside the spiral tube 1-1 to work, so as to control the discharge speed of hop pellets by controlling the rotation speed. The rotation speed can be controlled by first being fast and then slowing down. The spiral tube 1-1 works in conjunction with the metering scale 2 to achieve precise control of the discharge amount of hop pellets.

[0036] One end of the spiral tube 1-1 is connected to a cylinder-driven steering bend 1-4 via a discharge valve 1-3. When the hop pellet storage tank 1 is in use, the steering bend 1-4 rotates above the center line of the weighing scale 2 for easy discharge. When the hop pellet storage tank 1 is in cleaning mode, the steering bend 1-4 rotates above the liquid inlet of the CIP pipe 11, forming a cleaning fluid return pipeline to prevent cleaning fluid leakage into the weighing scale 2 and achieve independent cleaning of the hop pellet storage tank 1. The other end of the spiral tube 1-1 is connected to the liquid inlet of the CIP pipe 11 via a return valve 1-5 to discharge the cleaning fluid and waste liquid during the cleaning of the hop pellet storage tank 1, forming a cleaning fluid return pipeline.

[0037] In this embodiment, as Figure 3 and 4 The weighing scale 2 includes a hopper 2-1, a weighing sensor 2-2, and a movable weighing base 2-3. The inlet of the hopper 2-1 corresponds to the outlet of the hop pellet storage tank 1, with the discharge point located at the center bottom of the hopper. A gate valve is installed at the outlet. The weighing sensor 2-2 is a three-point support type and is mounted on the movable weighing base 2-3, which is mounted on the track module 3. A metal block 2-4 is also installed on the same side of the front and rear ends of the movable weighing base 2-3 to trigger the position sensing probe located next to the track. The weighing scale 2 is also equipped with a distance positioning device to send the real-time position of the weighing scale to the host computer.

[0038] In this embodiment, a weighing scale cleaning module 12 is also included. The weighing scale cleaning module 12 includes a cylinder-driven sealing cover and a horizontally mounted pressure-resistant hose. The cylinder allows the sealing cover to move up and down. A CIP cleaning fluid pipeline 10 is connected to the pressure-resistant hose to provide cleaning fluid. When the weighing scale 2 needs cleaning, the track module 3 transports the weighing scale 2 to the weighing scale cleaning module 12. The cylinder moves downward, causing the sealing cover to press against the material inlet of the hopper. The washing ball at one end of the pressure-resistant hose enters the hopper for cleaning. A CIP pipeline 11 is located below the cleaning position to receive cleaning fluid and waste fluid, forming a cleaning fluid return pipeline. After cleaning, the compressed air pipeline 5 is controlled to work, drying the hopper 2-1. The external weighing scale cleaning module can solve the influence of the CIP cleaning fluid pipeline on the accuracy of the weighing scale. In this embodiment, as... Figure 3, the chain track module 3 comprises a chain track 3-1, a chain wheel 3-2, a variable frequency speed reducer 3-3 and a plurality of position sensing probes 3-4, the chain wheel 3-2 is connected with the output shaft of the variable frequency speed reducer 3-3 and is arranged in the inner circle of both ends of the chain track 3-1, and the position sensing probes 3-4 are arranged on one side of the chain track 3-1 and correspond to the discharge port of the hop pellet storage tank 1, two position sensing probes 3-4 are arranged at each position, specifically, the position sensing probes 3-4 are arranged at positions corresponding to the discharge port of the hop pellet storage tank 1 on one side of the chain track 3-1, and each position is provided with one position sensing probe 3-4 at the same distance from the discharge port, specifically, the chain track 3-1 comprises a transmission chain and a chain track, the transmission chain is laid on the chain track, the metering scale 2 is arranged on the transmission chain, Figure 2 The transmission chain is not drawn in its entirety.

[0039] The chain track module 3 further comprises a position sensor, which feeds back the position of the metering scale to the upper computer in real time, and the upper computer determines the initial speed according to the position of the metering scale and the position of the target hop pellet storage tank and controls the variable frequency speed reducer to start working at the initial speed (the required initial speed is calculated according to the distance between the two by the upper computer, which is prior art and will not be described here). When one of the position sensing probes on one side of the chain track below the target hop pellet storage tank is in contact with one metal block of the metering scale, the chain track moves step by step; when the two position sensing probes are in contact with the two metal blocks at the front and rear ends of the moving scale seat of the metering scale respectively, it indicates that the metering scale has reached the target hop pellet storage tank, and the chain track stops moving.

[0040] The metering scale provided by the utility model can achieve the following effects:

[0041] 1) The incremental measurement realizes accurate measurement, reduces the influence of hop pellet addition amount difference on the measurement accuracy, and improves the universality of the hop pellet storage tank. In the production of special beer, in order to increase the diversity of flavor, it is often necessary to add a plurality of hop pellets, and the addition amount of hop pellets of different varieties is quite different, for example, the addition amount of hop pellets of different varieties is from more than ten kilograms to more than one hundred kilograms, and the hop pellet storage capacity is from several hundred kilograms to several thousand kilograms. If the weight loss type measurement of the storage tank is adopted, due to the large weight of the storage tank body and the small addition amount, it is difficult to accurately measure. If the capacity and measurement module of the weight loss storage tank are classified according to the addition amount, the universality of the storage tank will be poor. The incremental measurement considers only the weighing range of the addition amount, the difference is small, and the accuracy is not affected by the storage capacity.

[0042] 2) The degree of freedom of hop pellet storage is improved, the chain track module can convey the metering scale to the target hop pellet storage tank, so that the metering scale can "actively track" the corresponding variety hop pellet storage tank, so that one mobile metering scale can realize multi-line multi-variety production, which is not limited by the variety diversity and the position of the hop pellet storage tank, and it is not necessary to place the hop pellets that need to be added at the same time in adjacent storage tanks.

[0043] 3) Realize the hop granule storage tank on-demand expansion, as long as the track length is increased according to the demand, the hop granule storage tank can be increased, so as to meet the increase of hop granule varieties.

[0044] 4) Save equipment investment and maintenance cost. The mobile metering scale saves a large number of weighing sensors compared with the fixed and weight-reducing metering scale, and the mobile type can simplify the later stage conveying system. A set of conveying system is shared by multiple formulations, which improves the utilization rate of system equipment, saves investment, and reduces cleaning and maintenance difficulty.

[0045] In the embodiment, a plurality of switching valves 13 and separators 14 are further included, the discharge port of the pneumatic sending tank 4 is connected with the separators 14 through the switching valves 13 arranged on the compressed air pipeline 5, the discharge port of the separator 14 is connected with the hop granule dissolving tank 6, the compressed air pipeline 5 conducts positive pressure conveying of the hop granule, and the flow direction of the hop granule is controlled by opening the corresponding switching valve 13. The separator 14 is a cyclone type centrifugal separator, which is used to realize the separation of compressed air and hop granule. The hop granule in the separator 14 is deposited in the lower part of the separator 14, and the compressed air is discharged from the upper part of the separator 14, so that the heat carried by the air when the air is discharged from the exhaust pipe after entering the boiling kettle 7 cannot be condensed and recovered by the heat recovery system, causing additional heat loss.

[0046] Specifically, the hop granule dissolving tank 1 is a stainless steel tank with stirring, which is used for pretreatment of the hop granule, dissolving the hop granule released by the separator 14 in the wort drawn back by the boiling kettle 7, and conveying back to the boiling kettle 7 to realize hop granule addition.

[0047] Specifically, the cleaning liquid collecting tank 15 is further included, which is connected with the cleaning liquid return pipeline and used to receive and store the return cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid is conveyed to the CIP tank by the return pump.

[0048] When the hop granule storage tank is cleaned, the turning elbow is turned to above the CIP pipeline liquid inlet, forming a cleaning liquid return pipeline; the return valve is opened, so that the return valve is connected with the CIP pipeline to form another cleaning liquid return pipeline, and the in-pipe cleaning of the hop granule storage tank is started. Most of the cleaning liquid is returned to the cleaning liquid collecting tank through the CIP pipeline of the turning elbow machine, and then pumped to the CIP tank. In the later stage of the cleaning process of the hop granule storage tank, the return valve is closed, and the spiral motor is started for spiral cleaning. After cleaning, the compressed air pipeline is controlled to work, and the hop granule storage tank and the spiral are dried.

[0049] The utility model provides a kind of automatic addition system of hop granule, staff according to production plan stores different hop granule batch in corresponding hop granule storage tank, when hop granule is added, chain track module is conveyed to target hop granule storage tank discharge port by metering scale, hop granule is discharged screw through the tank bottom of storage tank and enters the bunker of metering scale;Then chain track module is conveyed to pneumatic sending tank above by metering scale, and hop granule is released to pneumatic sending tank;Pneumatic sending tank is transported by compressed air all hop granule to corresponding separator in corresponding hop granule dissolving tank upstream, hop granule is released to hop granule dissolving tank by separator, after boiling kettle reflux wort dissolving, reenter boiling kettle;Realize the automation of hop granule addition, guarantee the accuracy and controllability of hop granule addition process, improve production efficiency and production.In addition, the utility model is also provided with independent metering scale cleaning module and cleaning pipeline and hop granule refrigeration oxygen isolation measure, hop granule storage tank, movable metering scale realizes independent cleaning, guarantee the sanitary quality of process.

[0050] The above is only the preferred embodiment of the utility model, and does not limit the utility model in any form, so any modification, equivalent change and modification made according to the technical essence of the utility model to the above embodiment, without departing from the technical scheme of the utility model, still belongs to the scope of the technical scheme of the utility model.

Claims

1. A hop pellet automatic addition system characterized by, The hop particle storage tank, the metering scale, the chain track module, the pneumatic conveying tank, the compressed air pipeline and the hop particle dissolving tank are connected. The metering scale is provided with a discharge port connected with the pneumatic conveying tank, and the discharge port of the pneumatic conveying tank is connected with the hop particle dissolving tank through the compressed air pipeline.

2. The hop pellet automatic addition system according to claim 1, characterized by, The chain track module comprises a chain track, a chain wheel, a variable frequency reducer and a plurality of position sensing probes. The position sensing probes are arranged on one side of the chain track and correspond to the discharge ports of the hop particle storage tanks.

3. The hop pellet automatic addition system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The metering scale comprises a hopper, a weighing sensor and a movable scale base.

4. The hop pellet automatic addition system according to claim 3, characterized by, The hopper is provided with an inlet corresponding to the discharge port of the hop particle storage tank. The weighing sensor is arranged on the movable scale base, and the movable scale base is arranged on the chain track. The movable scale base is further provided with a metal block on the same side of the front and rear ends, which is used for contact sensing with the position sensing probes. The system further comprises a refrigerated alcohol water pipeline connected with the hop particle storage tank for providing refrigeration conditions for the hop particle storage tank. A nitrogen pipeline is connected with the hop particle storage tank for providing nitrogen for the interior of the hop particle storage tank.

5. The hop pellet automatic addition system according to claim 4, characterized by, A cleaning liquid pipeline is connected with the hop particle storage tank and the pneumatic conveying tank for cleaning the hop particle storage tank and the pneumatic conveying tank.

6. The hop pellet automatic addition system according to claim 1, characterized by, The compressed air pipeline is further connected with the hop particle storage tank for drying the interior of the hop particle storage tank after cleaning.

7. The hop pellet automatic addition system according to claim 1, characterized by, The system further comprises a metering scale cleaning module, which comprises a cylinder-driven sealing cover and a pressure-resistant hose. The cylinder-driven sealing cover is used to seal the inlet of the hopper of the metering scale. One end of the pressure-resistant hose is connected with the cleaning liquid pipeline, and the other end is provided with a cleaning ball for cleaning the hopper of the metering scale. The system further comprises a plurality of conversion valves and a separator. The discharge port of the pneumatic conveying tank is connected with the separator through the conversion valve arranged on the compressed air pipeline. The hop particle storage tank is provided with a spiral pipe, a spiral motor, a discharge valve, a reflux valve and a steering elbow pipe with a cylinder. The spiral pipe is arranged at the discharge port of the hop particle storage tank. One end of the spiral pipe is connected with the steering elbow pipe through the discharge valve, and the other end is connected with the liquid inlet of the CIP pipeline through the reflux valve. The steering elbow pipe is used to be connected with the metering scale or to be connected with the other liquid inlet of the CIP pipeline by the cylinder.

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