Freeze drying device for preparing probiotic preparation

Abstract

According to the freeze-drying device for preparing the probiotic preparation, a freezing cavity of the freeze-drying device is provided with a plurality of independent sub-cavities, each sub-cavity is connected with a freezing chamber and a vacuum pump through a branch channel, and each sub-cavity is provided with an independent air inlet valve, so that cross contamination caused by mutual interference is avoided; in the actual use process, multiple different probiotic raw materials can be freeze-dried at the same time, even if the device is in the working state, the freeze-drying process of one probiotic raw material can still be selectively closed, the probiotic raw materials can be opened to be taken out or replaced, each sub-chamber can be independently detached and cleaned, and the device is convenient to use. The device is more convenient and flexible to use, greatly improves the efficiency of freeze-drying preparation of probiotic preparations, saves energy consumption, is simple in structure, and can realize industrial production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of freeze-drying technology, and specifically relates to a freeze-drying apparatus for preparing probiotic preparations. Background Technology

[0002] A freeze-drying apparatus is a drying device that directly converts the moisture in raw materials for biological products into a gaseous state under vacuum after freezing. Freeze-drying apparatuses are commonly used to prepare high-quality dried samples, such as in the production of probiotic formulations. Freeze-drying apparatuses can efficiently remove moisture from probiotic raw materials while preserving the activity of the probiotics.

[0003] Probiotic preparations typically contain a variety of different probiotics, such as Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces boulardii, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus paracasei, which require a combination of strains. Because Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces boulardii are highly different and incompatible, mixing and freezing them together can inhibit each other. Therefore, they need to be freeze-dried separately before being mixed to prepare the compound preparation. Thus, it is necessary to freeze-dry Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces boulardii separately first.

[0004] However, when using existing freeze-drying equipment, if both Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces boulardii are placed together in the same freeze-drying chamber, cross-contamination can easily occur during the vacuum drying process. This makes it difficult to accurately control the ratio of the two bacterial agents in subsequent compounding processes. Therefore, it is often necessary to perform drying in different freeze-drying devices, or to freeze-dry only one bacterial agent at a time, and then thoroughly clean it before freezing-drying the other bacterial agent. The operation process is complicated, which seriously affects the efficiency of probiotic compound preparation in the laboratory, prolongs the research and development process, and wastes human and material resources.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to find a freeze-drying device that can be used for freeze-drying of multiple different bacterial agents simultaneously without cross-influence, thereby improving the preparation efficiency of probiotic compound preparations. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a freeze-drying apparatus for preparing probiotic preparations. The apparatus's freezing chamber is equipped with multiple independent sub-chambers, each connected to the freezing chamber and vacuum pump via branch channels and each having its own independent air inlet valve, preventing mutual interference and cross-contamination. In practical use, multiple different probiotic raw materials can be freeze-dried simultaneously. Even when the apparatus is in operation, the freeze-drying process of one probiotic raw material can be shut down, and the raw material can be opened to remove or replace it. Furthermore, each sub-chamber can be independently disassembled and cleaned, making it more convenient and flexible to use. This significantly improves the efficiency of freeze-drying for preparing probiotic preparations, saves energy, and has a simple structure, enabling industrial production.

[0007] This invention provides a freeze-drying apparatus for preparing probiotic preparations. The apparatus includes a freezing chamber, a freezing room, and a vacuum pump connected sequentially from top to bottom. The freezing chamber contains two or more sub-chambers, each of which is used to place and freeze-dry a raw material.

[0008] Existing freeze-drying equipment has only one freezing chamber. The materials placed in the freezing chamber are all in the same space, which can easily cause mutual interference and cross-contamination. Therefore, only one type of material can be placed, such as only one type of probiotic, and multiple different probiotics cannot be placed at the same time.

[0009] This invention improves the freezing chamber of a freeze-drying device by dividing it into multiple independent sub-chambers. Each sub-chamber operates independently and does not affect the others. Therefore, different probiotics are placed in different sub-chambers, thus eliminating cross-contamination and improving the preparation efficiency of probiotic preparations.

[0010] Furthermore, the vacuum pump is connected to each sub-chamber through the central chamber of the freezing chamber.

[0011] Furthermore, the opening end of the freezer compartment is provided with a sealing cover, and the sealing cover is provided with connecting holes, the number of which is the same as the number of sub-chambers.

[0012] Furthermore, each sub-chamber is connected to a connecting hole on the sealing cover via a branch channel, thereby communicating with the vacuum pump; the connecting hole is equipped with a sealing ring, and a seal can be achieved after the branch channel is inserted.

[0013] The sealing cover is essentially a multi-functional panel, primarily used to connect the freezer compartment and each sub-compartment and to provide a seal.

[0014] Furthermore, each branch channel is equipped with a valve, which is used to control the connection or disconnection between each sub-chamber and the freezing chamber.

[0015] In some embodiments, the valve is an electric valve that can be controlled by an electric switch.

[0016] In some configurations, the valve is located below the sealing cap.

[0017] Furthermore, the freezing chamber is cylindrical, and there are four sub-chambers, each of which is a sector-shaped column. The four sub-chambers together form a complete cylindrical freezing chamber.

[0018] Furthermore, each sub-chamber is equipped with a shelf for placing raw materials to be dried; the shelf is covered by a transparent glass cover, which is fan-shaped and can cover the shelf from top to bottom.

[0019] In some embodiments, the shelf can be multi-layered, such as three-layered, with each layer used to hold raw materials to be dried. However, the same type of raw material, such as the same type of probiotic, must be placed on the same shelf to prevent cross-contamination.

[0020] In some embodiments, the number of glass enclosures is four, and each glass enclosure has a cross-shaped support in the middle. The cross-shaped support can provide support for the glass enclosures and prevent the glass enclosures from tilting or colliding with each other.

[0021] Furthermore, the sealing cover is provided with a sealing strip that contacts the bottom surface of each glass cover, so that the glass cover and the sealing cover are combined to achieve a sealed state.

[0022] It is evident that the sealing cap added to the opening end of the freezer compartment plays a crucial role in this device. It allows one freezer compartment to connect to multiple sub-chambers simultaneously through the various connecting holes on the sealing cap. Furthermore, it enables sealing of the interior of each sub-chamber by combining the sealing strip on the sealing cap with each sub-chamber.

[0023] In some embodiments, the opening end of the freezer compartment is provided with a first sealing ring to seal the contact portion between the sealing cover and the opening end; the outer periphery of the sealing cover is provided with a second sealing ring to seal the arc edge of the bottom surface of each sector column when the sealing cover contacts each glass cover; the upper surface of the sealing cover is provided with a "cross-shaped sealing strip" to seal each straight edge of the bottom surface of each sector column.

[0024] Furthermore, each glass cover is equipped with an air inlet valve at its top to regulate the pressure of each sub-chamber, thereby opening the sub-chamber.

[0025] Furthermore, the intake valve is equipped with a filter membrane for filtering the incoming air.

[0026] The air inlet valve can be either a manual or an electric valve. When it is necessary to remove the dried probiotic preparation from each sub-chamber, the air inlet valve must be opened first to ensure that the internal and external pressures are consistent before the glass cover can be opened smoothly.

[0027] In some methods, if the required freeze-drying time differs for each different probiotic strain, the freeze-drying time of the probiotic raw material in each sub-chamber can be controlled separately. Once the probiotic raw material in one sub-chamber has completed freeze-drying, the vacuuming and freeze-drying of that sub-chamber can be stopped independently. Simply disconnect the valve of the corresponding branch channel of that sub-chamber and open the air inlet valve to remove the probiotic preparation from that sub-chamber, while the probiotic raw material in other sub-chambers can continue to undergo freeze-drying.

[0028] Furthermore, the freezing chamber is equipped with a condenser for capturing water vapor that sublimates during the freeze-drying process; the condenser is a ring-shaped coil of pipes that surrounds the inner wall of the freezing chamber, and the central chamber of the condenser is connected to each sub-chamber and the vacuum pump, respectively.

[0029] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0030] A novel freeze-drying device is provided that can effectively prevent cross-contamination between different raw materials;

[0031] By setting the freezing chamber of the freeze-drying device into multiple independent sub-chambers, each sub-chamber can independently complete the freeze-drying work, and the sub-chambers will not interfere with each other or cause cross-contamination.

[0032] By setting a multi-functional sealing cover at the opening end of the freezer compartment, multiple sub-chambers can be connected to one freezer compartment at the same time through the various connecting holes on the sealing cover; and the sealing strips on the sealing cover can be combined with each sub-chamber to achieve sealing, thus sealing the interior of each sub-chamber.

[0033] It can freeze-dry multiple different probiotic raw materials at the same time;

[0034] During operation, the freeze-drying process of one type of probiotic raw material can be shut down at will, and the probiotic raw material can be opened to be removed or replaced.

[0035] Each sub-chamber can be disassembled and cleaned independently, making it more convenient and flexible to use, greatly improving the efficiency of freeze-drying in the preparation of probiotic preparations, and saving energy.

[0036] It has a simple structure and can be mass-produced industrially. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a freeze-drying apparatus for preparing probiotic preparations;

[0038] Figure 2 Explosion-view image of a freeze-drying apparatus for preparing probiotic preparations;

[0039] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing cap structure;

[0040] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the sub-chamber structure;

[0041] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a freeze-drying apparatus that uses only one of its sub-chambers;

[0042] Figure 6 An explosion image of a freeze-drying apparatus using only one of its sub-chambers;

[0043] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a freeze-drying apparatus for preparing probiotic preparations. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are intended to facilitate the understanding of the present invention and do not constitute any limitation thereof.

[0045] Example 1: Freeze-drying apparatus for preparing probiotic preparations

[0046] The freeze-drying apparatus 1 for preparing probiotic preparations provided in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, the system includes a freezing chamber 2, a freezing room 3, and a vacuum pump 4 connected sequentially from top to bottom. The freezing chamber 2 contains two or more sub-chambers 5, each of which is used to hold and freeze-dry a raw material. The vacuum pump 4 is connected to each sub-chamber 5 through a chamber 6 in the middle of the freezing room 3.

[0047] like Figure 2 As shown, the opening end 7 of the freezer chamber 3 is equipped with a sealing cover 8, and the sealing cover 8 has connecting holes 9. The number of connecting holes 9 is the same as the number of sub-chambers 5. The branch channels 10 communicating with the sub-chambers 5 can be inserted into the connecting holes 9. Each sub-chamber 5 is connected to a connecting hole 9 on the sealing cover 8 through a branch channel 10, thereby communicating with the vacuum pump 4; a sealing ring is provided on the connecting hole 9 (the connecting hole 9 and the branch channel 10 can also be directly integrated into a single structure), and a seal can be achieved after the branch channel 10 is inserted. Figure 3 As shown, the sealing cover 8 is essentially a multi-functional panel, primarily used to connect the freezer compartment 3 and each sub-chamber 5 and to provide a seal. Each branch channel 10 is equipped with a valve 12, used to control the connection or disconnection between each sub-chamber 5 and the freezer compartment 3. The valve 12 is an electric valve, controllable by an electric switch. Preferably, the valve 12 is located below the sealing cover 8.

[0048] The freezing chamber 2 is cylindrical, and there are four sub-chambers 3, each of which is a sector-shaped column. Figure 4 The four sub-chambers 3 together form a complete cylindrical freezing chamber 2. Each sub-chamber 3 is equipped with a shelf 13. Figure 2 The shelf 13 is used to place raw materials to be dried. A transparent glass cover 14 is provided outside the shelf 13. The glass cover 14 is fan-shaped and can cover the shelf 13 from top to bottom. The shelf 13 can be multi-layered, such as three or five layers, etc. Each layer can be used to place raw materials to be dried, but the same type of raw material, such as the same type of probiotic raw material, must be placed on the same shelf 13 to prevent cross-contamination. There are four glass covers 14, each with a cross-shaped support 15 in the middle. The cross-shaped support 15 provides support for the glass cover 14, preventing it from tilting or colliding with each other. Furthermore, when only one glass cover 14 is used (…), Figures 5-6 The cross-shaped bracket 15 can also effectively prevent the glass cover 14 from tipping over.

[0049] like Figure 3 The sealing cover 8 is provided with a sealing strip 16 that contacts the bottom surface of each glass cover 14, so that the glass cover 14 and the sealing cover 8 are combined to achieve a sealed state, and it is also used to fix the cross-shaped bracket 15. It can be seen that the sealing cover 8 added to the opening end 7 of the freezer compartment 3 plays a very important role in this device. It can connect multiple sub-chambers 5 to one freezer compartment 3 at the same time through the various connecting holes 9 provided on the sealing cover 8; at the same time, it can achieve a seal by combining the sealing strip 16 on the sealing cover 8 with each sub-chamber 5 and the cross-shaped bracket 15, so as to achieve a seal inside each sub-chamber 5. The opening end 7 of the freezer compartment 3 is provided with a first sealing ring 17 ( Figure 2 The sealing cover 8 is used to seal the part in contact with the opening end 7; a second sealing ring 18 is provided around the sealing cover 8 to seal the arc edge 20 of the bottom surface 19 of each fan-shaped column when the sealing cover 8 is in contact with each glass cover 14; a "cross-shaped" sealing strip 16 is provided on the upper surface of the sealing cover 8 to seal each straight edge 21 of the bottom surface 19 of each fan-shaped column.

[0050] Each glass cover 14 has an air inlet valve 23 at its top 22 to regulate the pressure of each sub-chamber 5, thereby opening the sub-chamber 5. The air inlet valve 23 contains a filter membrane 24 to filter the incoming air. The air inlet valve 23 can be a manual or electric valve. When it is necessary to remove the dried probiotic preparation from each sub-chamber 5, the air inlet valve 23 must be opened first to ensure consistent internal and external pressure before the glass cover 14 can be opened smoothly. If different probiotics require different freeze-drying times, the freeze-drying time of the probiotic raw material in each sub-chamber 5 can be controlled separately. When the probiotic raw material in one sub-chamber 5 has completed freeze-drying, the vacuuming and freeze-drying of that sub-chamber 5 can be stopped independently. Simply disconnect the valve 12 of the corresponding branch channel 9 of that sub-chamber 5 and open the air inlet valve 23 to remove the probiotic preparation from that sub-chamber 5, while the probiotic raw materials in other sub-chambers 5 can continue to undergo freeze-drying.

[0051] like Figure 7 As shown, the freezer chamber 3 is equipped with a condenser 25, which is used to capture the sublimated water vapor during the freeze-drying process. The condenser 25 is a ring-wound pipe 26 that surrounds the inner wall 27 of the freezer chamber 3. The middle chamber 6 of the condenser 25 is connected to each sub-chamber 5 and the vacuum pump 4, respectively.

[0052] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A freeze-drying apparatus for preparing a probiotic formulation, characterized in that, It includes a freezing chamber (2), a freezing room (3) and a vacuum pump (4) connected from top to bottom. The freezing chamber (2) contains two or more sub-chambers (5), each sub-chamber (5) is used to place and freeze-dry a raw material.

2. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The vacuum pump (4) is connected to each sub-chamber (5) through the middle chamber (6) of the freezing chamber (3).

3. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein The opening end (7) of the freezer (3) is provided with a sealing cover (8), and the sealing cover (8) is provided with a connecting hole (9). The number of connecting holes (9) is the same as the number of sub-chambers (5).

4. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein Each sub-chamber (5) is connected to a connecting hole (9) on the sealing cover (8) via a branch channel (10), thereby communicating with the vacuum pump (4); the connecting hole (9) is provided with a sealing ring, and the branch channel (10) can be sealed after insertion.

5. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein Each branch channel (10) is equipped with a valve (12) for controlling the connection or disconnection between each sub-chamber (5) and the freezing chamber (3).

6. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein The freezing chamber (2) is cylindrical, and there are four sub-chambers (5). Each sub-chamber (5) is a fan-shaped column, and the four sub-chambers (5) together form a complete cylindrical freezing chamber (2).

7. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein Each sub-chamber (5) is equipped with a shelf (13) for placing raw materials to be dried; the shelf (13) is surrounded by a transparent glass cover (14), which is a fan-shaped column that can cover the shelf (13) from top to bottom.

8. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein The sealing cover (8) is provided with a sealing strip (16) that contacts the bottom surface of each glass cover (14), so that the glass cover (14) and the sealing cover (8) are combined to achieve a sealed state.

9. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 8, wherein Each glass cover (14) has an air inlet valve (23) at its top (22) to regulate the pressure of each sub-chamber (5) and thus open the sub-chamber (5); the air inlet valve (23) is equipped with a filter membrane to filter the incoming air.

10. The freeze-drying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein The freezing chamber (3) is equipped with a condenser (25) for capturing water vapor sublimated during the freeze-drying process; the condenser (25) is a ring-wound pipe (26) surrounding the inner wall (27) of the freezing chamber (3), and the middle chamber (6) of the condenser (25) is connected to the sub-chamber (5) and the vacuum pump (4) respectively.

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