Feeding device of tumbling machine

Abstract

The utility model discloses a feeding device of a tumbling machine, which belongs to the technical field of tumbling machines and comprises a support assembly, a tipping bucket dumping assembly and a tumbling cylinder, the support assembly is used for supporting the whole feeding device, the tipping bucket dumping assembly is hinged to one end of the support assembly and can rotate forwards and backwards around a hinged end point to turn and swing, and the tumbling cylinder is used for supporting the tipping bucket dumping assembly. The tumbling barrel is arranged at the top of the support assembly, a skip car used for containing food raw materials is clamped below the side, back on to the tumbling barrel, of the overturning hopper and located at the clamping end of the tipping bucket dumping assembly, and a protective cover shell used for covering the skip car is fixedly connected to the position, located over the skip car, of one side of the overturning hopper. A feeding output port is formed in the end, close to the tumbling barrel, of the overturning hopper, and an anti-blocking overturning assembly is arranged in the feeding output port. According to the utility model, the problems of unsmooth blanking, serious residue, blockage and the like caused by thick materials, large blocks or narrow outlets in the prior art are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of tumbling machines, and in particular to a feeding device for a tumbling machine. Background Technology

[0002] Tumbling machines are key pieces of equipment in meat processing, widely used in the curing and tenderizing processes of products such as ham, sausages, bacon, and braised products. Their working principle involves rotating, tumbling, and massaging the meat within a sealed drum, allowing the curing solution to penetrate evenly into the meat tissue, thereby improving the product's water retention, tenderness, and yield. For efficient tumbling, the cut meat pieces and auxiliary materials must be accurately, completely, and hygienically fed into the tumbling drum. Therefore, the supporting feeding device, as a crucial component of the pre-tumbling processing stage, directly impacts the automation level, operational efficiency, and food safety control capabilities of the entire production line.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream feeding methods for tumblers in the industry still rely on manual handling and dumping or simple hydraulic lifting buckets. These existing technologies still have a series of drawbacks. When handling manually, operators need to first load 50-150 kg of meat into plastic buckets or stainless steel basins, and then lift them to the tumbler inlet position, which is 1.2-1.8 meters high, for dumping. This process usually requires 2-3 people to work together, and the frequent bending, lifting, and climbing can easily cause lumbar muscle strain, shoulder injuries, or even slips and falls.

[0004] During the tilting process of the simple lifting hopper, meat chunks often bounce off the edge of the feed inlet due to the impact force. Alternatively, when processing large pieces of meat or highly viscous materials (such as reconstituted meat with added carrageenan or soy protein), the materials often form a stable "arch bridge structure" (i.e., bridging effect) due to mutual compression at the narrow hopper outlet. Even when the hopper is tilted to a vertical position, the internal material cannot fall, causing blockage. Operators have to use iron rods to poke out the material or disassemble the hopper for cleaning, reducing feeding efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a feeding device for a tumbling machine to solve the problems of high labor intensity, low efficiency, easy material blockage, poor material discharge, and material adhesion to the inner wall of the hopper affecting hygiene and discharge integrity in the existing technology. This device integrates a tipping structure, an anti-blocking tipping mechanism, and an anti-sticking discharge mechanism, combined with automated control and tilt angle adjustment functions, to achieve efficient, stable, hygienic, and quantitative automatic feeding operations, significantly improving the automation level and process reliability of pre-tumbling treatment in meat products and other food processing.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a feeding device for a tumbling machine, comprising a support assembly, a tilting bucket assembly, and a tumbling drum. The support assembly supports the entire feeding device; the tilting bucket assembly is hinged to one end of the support assembly and can rotate and oscillate around the hinged end; the tumbling drum is disposed on the top of the support assembly. The tilting assembly includes a tilting hopper fixed to its free end for conveying food materials into the tumbling drum. A trolley for holding food ingredients is held below the tilting hopper on the side facing away from the tumbling drum and at the clamping end of the tilting assembly. A protective cover for covering the trolley is fixedly connected to one side of the tilting hopper and directly above it. A feeding output port is located at the end of the tilting hopper near the tumbling drum, and an anti-blocking tilting assembly is installed inside this port. Simultaneously, an anti-sticking discharge assembly is installed on the outer wall of the protective cover. This assembly, powered by the anti-blocking tilting assembly, reciprocates against the outer wall of the protective cover, preventing material from adhering to its inner wall and ensuring smooth discharge.

[0007] Furthermore, the anti-blocking tipping assembly includes a second rotating shaft rotatably mounted in the feeding output port, at least two anti-blocking tipping plates symmetrically welded to the periphery of the second rotating shaft, and a servo motor mounted on the outer wall of the tipping hopper for driving the rotation of the second rotating shaft. The servo motor is securely mounted on the outside of the tipping hopper via a fixed base, and both ends of the second rotating shaft are connected to the tipping hopper via bearings to ensure smooth rotation. During operation, the servo motor drives the second rotating shaft and the anti-blocking tipping plates to continuously rotate within the feeding output port, agitating or tipping the material, effectively preventing blockage and accelerating the material's transport into the tumbling drum.

[0008] Furthermore, the end of the second rotating shaft away from the servo motor extends to the other side of the tilting hopper and is supported by the first fixing sleeve. Its end is integrally connected to an extension shaft for transmitting power to the anti-stick feeding assembly.

[0009] The anti-stick feeding assembly includes two support columns symmetrically welded to the top surface of the protective cover, a first rotating shaft rotatably mounted between their top ends, a second fixed sleeve fixedly mounted in the middle of the first rotating shaft, a fixed connecting rod welded to the outer wall of the second fixed sleeve, and a striking ball suspended from the bottom of the fixed connecting rod by a hanging rope. Both ends of the first rotating shaft are connected to the support columns via sealed bearings to ensure rotational sealing and stability. The striking ball is preferably made of rubber, which can effectively reduce noise and prevent damage to the equipment when striking the protective cover. One end of the first rotating shaft is connected to the aforementioned extension shaft via a chain drive structure, thereby synchronously transmitting the power of the anti-blocking and tipping assembly to the anti-stick feeding assembly, achieving a linkage-type anti-stick function without the need for an additional motor.

[0010] The chain drive structure includes a first sprocket, a second sprocket, and a chain, which are respectively interference-fitted to the extension ends of the extension shaft and the first rotating shaft, and are connected by chain drive. The structure is compact and the transmission is reliable.

[0011] To enhance the structural strength of the anti-blocking tipping plate, each of its opposite ends is integrally formed with a conical base, which is fixed to the outer wall of the second rotating shaft by welding, effectively preventing breakage due to excessive force during the tipping process.

[0012] In terms of structural layout, the support assembly consists of a support base and two U-shaped support frames symmetrically welded to both sides of its top surface; the tipping bucket assembly includes a U-shaped tipping arm, a material cart clamping arm, and an L-shaped support base. The U-shaped tipping arm is hinged to one end of the U-shaped support frame, and its free end is welded with two material cart clamping arms for clamping the upper part of the material cart and an L-shaped support base for supporting the bottom of the material cart. Two first hydraulic cylinders are symmetrically installed on the top surface of the support base, and the top of their piston rods are hinged to the side rods of the U-shaped tipping arm. Through hydraulic extension and retraction, the U-shaped tipping arm is driven to rotate around the hinge point to achieve automatic tipping action.

[0013] The material cart is detachably connected to the tilting hopper via a locking bolt knob: when tightened, the material cart is fixed on the L-shaped support base and held by the material cart clamp arm; when loosened, the material cart can be pulled out for cleaning or replacement, making operation convenient.

[0014] In addition, this device integrates a tumbling tilt adjustment mechanism, including a support bridge, auxiliary support rollers, and second hydraulic cylinders. The support bridge is hinged to the top of the U-shaped support frame, and has four sets of auxiliary support rollers to support the tumbling drum. Two second hydraulic cylinders are hinged between the support base and the support bridge, and the tilt angle of the support bridge is adjusted by telescoping, thereby changing the working angle of the tumbling drum to adapt to different process requirements. The tail end of the tumbling drum is connected to the drive motor and reducer via a belt drive system to realize the tumbling operation. The U-shaped tilting arm and the support bridge share the connecting shaft on the support base, but they rotate independently without interfering with each other. The entire machine is controlled by a PLC in the control box to achieve automated operation. The inner wall of the protective cover is coated with an anti-stick coating to further reduce material residue and improve cleaning efficiency and food safety.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the technical effects and advantages of this utility model are as follows:

[0016] The feeding device of this tumbler integrates the entire feeding process—from loading to positioning to tilting—into a single, mechanized operation. This structure eliminates the heavy manual labor of lifting materials from the ground-based material drum and pouring them into the tumbler's feed inlet. Operators only need to load the material into the low-position trolley and push it into the clamping position, significantly reducing labor intensity. Simultaneously, the trolley is stably clamped by the trolley clamping arms and the L-shaped support base, and rigidly locked by the locking bolt knob, preventing slippage or tipping during the tilting process and ensuring operational safety. Thus, it achieves efficient, safe, and labor-saving automatic tilting and feeding, significantly improving feeding efficiency and operational reliability compared to existing technologies that rely on manual or semi-mechanical assistance.

[0017] By designing a feeding output port at the end of the tipping hopper near the tumbling drum, and integrating an anti-blocking tipping component therein, while simultaneously installing an anti-sticking feeding component powered by this component on the outer wall of the protective casing, the material not only falls by gravity during the pouring process but also receives active agitation and vibration assistance. When the servo motor drives the anti-blocking tipping plate to rotate at the outlet, it effectively disperses accumulated material and prevents bridging blockage. Meanwhile, the same power source synchronously drives the striking ball via chain drive to periodically strike the outer wall of the protective casing, and the resulting vibration is transmitted to the inner wall. Combined with the anti-sticking coating, this causes adhering meat scraps or marinade to fall off. This linkage mechanism requires no additional motor, resulting in a compact and energy-efficient structure. Thus, a dual anti-blocking and anti-sticking collaborative feeding function is achieved, solving problems such as poor feeding, severe residue, and blockage caused by viscous materials, large lumps, or narrow outlets in existing technologies. This ensures that the material is transferred into the tumbling drum, improving raw material utilization and equipment hygiene.

[0018] By placing the tumbling drum directly on top of the support assembly and precisely aligning the feed output port of the tilting hopper with the feed inlet of the tumbling drum, the entire feeding path is minimized, the drop is controllable, and the sealing is excellent. Material falls directly from the tilting hopper into the tumbling drum, avoiding the contamination risks, structural complexity, and cleaning dead zones associated with intermediate conveying links (such as screw conveyors and belts). Simultaneously, the protective cover covers the material cart and outlet area during tilting, creating a partially enclosed space and reducing splashing and dust escape. This achieves a short-process, low-pollution, and highly hygienic closed-loop feeding function, which better meets the stringent hygiene requirements of food processing environments compared to existing open or long-distance conveyor feeding devices. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of this utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the tilting hopper of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the protective cover of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission structure of the first and second sprockets of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the conical base portion of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the L-shaped support base of this utility model;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the first pulley and the second pulley of this utility model.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0028] In the diagram: 1. Support assembly; 2. Tilting bucket assembly; 3. Tumbling tilt adjustment mechanism; 4. Tumbling drum; 5. Material cart; 6. Tilting hopper; 7. Protective cover; 8. Support base; 9. U-shaped support frame; 10. First hydraulic cylinder; 11. Second hydraulic cylinder; 12. Control box; 13. Material cart clamping arm; 14. Feeding output port; 15. U-shaped tilting arm; 16. Tumbling drum feed inlet; 17. Support bridge; 18. Support seat; 19. Support auxiliary roller; 20. Fixed seat; 21. Servo motor; 22. Locking screw 23. Bolt knob; 24. Anti-blocking tipping plate; 25. Anti-stick coating; 26. First fixing sleeve; 27. First sprocket; 28. Chain; 29. ​​Second sprocket; 30. Support column; 31. Striking ball; 32. First rotating shaft; 33. Sealed bearing; 34. Second fixing sleeve; 35. Fixing rod; 36. Lifting rope; 37. Second rotating shaft; 38. Conical base; 39. Extension shaft; 40. L-shaped support base; 41. Belt; 42. First pulley; 43. Second pulley; 44. Drive motor; 45. Reducer. Detailed Implementation

[0029] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. In other instances, certain technical features well-known in the art have not been described in order to avoid confusion with the present invention.

[0030] Unless otherwise defined, the directions mentioned herein, such as up, down, left, right, front, back, inside, and outside, are based on the directions shown in the figures of this utility model, and are explained here together.

[0031] This embodiment provides, for example Figures 1 to 7 The feeding device of a tumbling machine shown includes: a support assembly 1 for supporting the entire feeding device; a tipping bucket assembly 2 hinged to one end of the support assembly 1 and capable of rotating and oscillating around the hinge end; a tumbling drum 4 disposed on the top of the support assembly 1; a tipping hopper 6 for conveying food material into the tumbling drum 4 is fixed to the free end of the tipping bucket assembly 2; a trolley 5 for holding food material is clamped at the clamping end of the tipping bucket assembly 2 on the side opposite to the tumbling drum 4; a protective cover 7 for covering the trolley 5 is fixedly connected to one side of the tipping hopper 6 and directly above the trolley 5; a feeding output port 14 is provided at the end of the tipping hopper 6 near the tumbling drum 4; an anti-blocking tipping assembly is provided in the feeding output port 14; and an anti-sticking feeding assembly is provided on the outer wall of the protective cover 7, which can prevent the material from sticking to the inner wall by reciprocatingly striking the protective cover 7 with the power of the anti-blocking tipping assembly.

[0032] In this embodiment, the anti-blocking tipping assembly includes a second rotating shaft 36 rotatably mounted in the feeding output port 14, at least two anti-blocking tipping plates 23 symmetrically welded to the outer wall of the second rotating shaft 36, and a servo motor 21 mounted on one side of the outer wall of the tipping hopper 6 and capable of driving the second rotating shaft 36 to rotate. A mounting base 20 for supporting the servo motor 21 is welded to the outer wall of the tipping hopper 6. Both ends of the second rotating shaft 36 are connected to the tipping hopper 6 via bearings. This allows the servo motor 21 to drive the second rotating shaft 36 to rotate in the feeding output port 14, and the second rotating shaft 36 to drive the at least two anti-blocking tipping plates 23 to rotate in the feeding output port 14, thereby agitating or stirring the food material and preventing it from clogging in the feeding output port 14. This agitation of the food material accelerates its feeding and conveying to the tumbling drum 4. By incorporating a second rotating shaft 36 driven by a servo motor 21 and symmetrically welded anti-blocking tipping plates 23 in the feeding output port 14, along with the design of the fixed base 20 and bearing support structure, the anti-blocking tipping assembly can continuously rotate and agitate during material descent. The servo motor 21 provides precise and controllable speed and torque, while the anti-blocking tipping plates 23 actively move and agitate accumulated meat chunks or sticky materials at the outlet, effectively disrupting the "arch bridge effect" or localized compaction. This achieves dynamic anti-blocking and accelerated discharge functions. Compared to existing technologies that rely solely on gravity for natural descent and are prone to blockages at narrow outlets, this significantly improves discharge smoothness and batch consistency, avoiding downtime for cleaning or material residue caused by blockages.

[0033] In this embodiment, a first fixing sleeve 25 is welded to the outer wall of the second rotating shaft 36 on the other side of the servo motor 21. The end of the second rotating shaft 36 away from the servo motor 21 is rotatably mounted in the first fixing sleeve 25 via a bearing and is integrally connected to an extension shaft 38, which extends to the outside of the first fixing sleeve 25. By setting the first fixing sleeve 25 and extending the extension shaft 38 at the end of the second rotating shaft 36 away from the servo motor 21, the power output end of the anti-blocking tipping component can be led out to the outside of the tipping hopper 6, providing a reliable power interface for subsequent linkage with other functional modules (such as the anti-stick feeding component). This extension structure not only ensures the stability of the main shaft rotation but also avoids arranging complex transmission mechanisms inside the tipping hopper 6, simplifying the sealing and cleaning difficulties. Thus, it achieves efficient power output and a compact structural layout. Compared with the existing technology that requires additional motor drive auxiliary devices, it saves space, cost, and energy consumption, and improves system integration.

[0034] In this embodiment, the anti-sticking feeding assembly includes two support columns 29 symmetrically welded to the top surface of the protective cover 7, a first rotating shaft 31 rotatably mounted between the top ends of the two support columns 29, a second fixing sleeve 33 fixedly mounted in the middle of the periphery of the first rotating shaft 31, a fixing connecting rod 34 welded to the outer wall of the second fixing sleeve 33, and a striking ball 30 fixed to the bottom end of the fixing connecting rod 34 by a suspension rope 35. Sealed bearings 32 are fixedly embedded inside the top ends of both support columns 29, and the outer walls at both ends of the first rotating shaft 31 are interference-fitted with the inner rings of the sealed bearings 32. By providing an anti-sticking feeding assembly consisting of support columns 29, the first rotating shaft 31, the fixing connecting rod 34, and a striking ball 30 suspended by a suspension rope 35 on the top of the protective cover 7, and utilizing the sealed bearings 32 to ensure rotational sealing, this assembly can indirectly remove adhering substances from the inner wall through external vibration without contacting the material. Under the influence of gravity and inertia, the striking ball 30 swings with the first rotating shaft 31 and periodically impacts the outer wall of the casing. The resulting vibration waves are transmitted to the inner surface, causing the attached fine meat scraps or marinade to fall off. This achieves a non-contact, low-damage anti-stick cleaning function. Compared with existing technologies that rely on manual scraping or high-pressure water washing, this method protects the equipment coating, reduces downtime for cleaning, and improves continuous production capacity.

[0035] In this embodiment, the striking ball 30 is made of rubber, which reduces noise when it strikes the outer wall of the protective cover 7. One end of the first rotating shaft 31 extends to the outside of the support column 29 and is connected to the extension shaft 38 via a chain drive structure. By using rubber for the striking ball 30 and connecting it to the extension shaft 38 via a chain drive structure, the anti-stick feeding assembly can achieve synchronous operation by fully utilizing the power source of the anti-blocking and tipping assembly. The rubber material absorbs impact energy during striking, significantly reducing noise and preventing dents or damage to the stainless steel cover from metal collisions. The chain drive (first sprocket 26, second sprocket 28, chain 27) has a simple structure, stable transmission ratio, and is easy to maintain. Thus, a quiet, energy-saving, and non-externally driven linkage anti-stick function is achieved. Compared with the existing technology of independently configuring a vibration motor or pneumatic striking device, this reduces system complexity and failure rate, while meeting the low-noise and clean environment requirements of food processing workshops. The chain drive structure includes a first sprocket 26 that is interference-fitted around the extension shaft 38, a second sprocket 28 that is interference-fitted at the extension end of the first rotating shaft 31, and a chain 27 that drives between the first sprocket 26 and the second sprocket 28.

[0036] In this embodiment, each of the two anti-blocking tipping plates 23 has an integrally formed conical base portion 37 at one opposite end. The two conical base portions 37 are welded to the outer wall of the second rotating shaft 36 at their opposite ends, providing stable support for the anti-blocking tipping plates 23 and preventing breakage during material handling. By integrally forming the conical base portion 37 at the base of the anti-blocking tipping plate 23 and welding it to the outer wall of the second rotating shaft 36, the stress on the tipping plate is evenly distributed to the rotating shaft body through the conical transition structure when subjected to impacts from large pieces of meat or high-frequency agitation. The conical structure serves as both a reinforcing rib and a support platform. This achieves a highly reliable and long-life tipping structure, significantly improving the equipment's durability and operational stability compared to the easily deformed, broken, and frequently replaced simple tipping plates in existing technologies.

[0037] In this embodiment, the support assembly 1 includes a support base 8 and two U-shaped support frames 9 that are symmetrically welded to the top surface of the support base 8. The tipping bucket assembly 2 includes a U-shaped tilting arm 15 hinged between one end of the two U-shaped support frames 9, two material cart clamping arms 13 symmetrically welded to the side wall of the U-shaped tilting arm 15 away from the U-shaped support frame 9, and an L-shaped support base 39 welded to the bottom surface of the U-shaped tilting arm 15 away from the U-shaped support frame 9. Two first hydraulic cylinders 10 are symmetrically installed on the top surface of the support base 8 and near the end of the U-shaped tilting arm 15. The top ends of the piston rods of the two first hydraulic cylinders 10 are respectively hinged to the inner walls of the two side rods of the U-shaped tilting arm 15, so that the first hydraulic cylinders 10 drive the piston rods by extending, so that the piston rods push the U-shaped tilting arm 15 to tilt and swing around the hinge point. By designing the support assembly 1 as a combination of a support base 8 and an inverted U-shaped support frame 9, and by specifying the tipping bucket assembly 2 as a U-shaped tipping arm 15, a material cart clamping arm 13, an L-shaped support base 39, and a hydraulic tipping mechanism driven by a first hydraulic cylinder 10, the entire tipping action is made smooth, with balanced force and precise positioning. The U-shaped support frames 9 on both sides provide a rigid frame, and the synchronous pushing of the first hydraulic cylinder 10 ensures that the U-shaped tipping arm 15 does not deflect. The L-shaped support base 39 and the material cart clamping arm 13 form a double constraint of "bottom support + top clamping". Thus, a highly stable and safe automatic tipping function is achieved. Compared with the existing simple tipping buckets with single-sided hinges or single hydraulic cylinder drives, it effectively prevents the risk of the material cart 5 shaking, slipping, or even overturning during tipping, ensuring the safety of operators and the integrity of materials.

[0038] In this embodiment, the L-shaped support base 39 supports and lifts the material cart 5. The free ends of the two material cart clamping arms 13 clamp the upper part of the material cart 5. Locking bolt knobs 22 are threaded through the outer walls of both sides of the tilting hopper 6, and the screw ends of the two locking bolt knobs 22 are connected to one end of the outer wall of the material cart 5. This allows the material cart 5 to be secured by tightening the two locking bolt knobs 22 when it needs to be locked on the L-shaped support base 39 and between the two material cart clamping arms 13. When it needs to be pulled out, the locking bolt knobs 22 are loosened, allowing the screw ends of the locking bolt knobs 22 to disengage from the material cart 5. By providing locking bolt knobs 22 that can be tightened / loosened on both sides of the tilting hopper 6 to connect the material cart 5, the material cart can be securely locked onto the tilting platform for tipping operations, and can also be quickly unlocked and pulled out for cleaning or replacement after the operation. This mechanical locking method requires no electrical or pneumatic components, has a simple structure, rapid response, and high reliability. This enables the material cart fixing function to be quick to install and disassemble, and easy to clean and maintain. Compared with the existing welding fixing or snap-fit ​​connection, it is more in line with the hygiene requirements of the food industry for equipment that can be disassembled and is easy to clean.

[0039] In this embodiment, one end of the tumbling drum 4 has a tumbling drum inlet 16, which receives food material output from the feeding output port 14. The top surface of the support base 8 is also provided with a tumbling tilt angle adjustment mechanism 3. The tumbling tilt angle adjustment mechanism 3 includes a support frame bridge 17 hinged between the top ends of two U-shaped support frames 9, support auxiliary rollers 19 rotatably installed at the four corners of the top surface of the support frame bridge 17, and two second oil cylinders 11 hinged to the top surface of the support base 8. The piston rods of the two second cylinders 11 are respectively hinged to the end of the support bridge 17 away from the U-shaped flip arm 15. When the piston rods of the second cylinders 11 extend and push the support bridge 17, the support bridge 17 can swing around the hinge point near the U-shaped flip arm 15 to adjust the tilt angle of the tumbling drum 4. The tail end of the tumbling drum 4 is interference-fitted with a first pulley 41. The bottom end face of the support bridge 17 is fixed with a drive motor 43 and a reducer 44. The drive motor 43 and the reducer 44 are connected. The output shaft of the reducer 44 is interference-fitted with a second pulley 42. The second pulley 42 and the first pulley 41 are connected by a belt 40. The drive motor 43 and the reducer 44 drive the second pulley 42 to rotate. Through the transmission of the belt 40, the first pulley 41 drives the tumbling drum 4 to rotate under the auxiliary support of the four auxiliary support rollers 19 on the top of the support bridge 17, thereby improving the tumbling of the food in the inner cavity of the tumbling drum 4. Support seats 18 are fixed to the top surface of each of the two U-shaped support frames 9 near the end of the material cart 5. A connecting shaft is fixed in each of the two support seats 18. The two side rod ends of the U-shaped tilting arm 15 are connected to the connecting shaft via bearings. The outer walls of both sides of the support frame bridge 17 near the end of the U-shaped tilting arm 15 are also connected to the connecting shaft via bearings, allowing both the U-shaped tilting arm 15 and the support frame bridge 17 to rotate independently on the connecting shaft. A control box 12 is installed on the outer wall of one of the U-shaped support frames 9. The control box 12 contains a PLC for controlling the opening and closing of various electronic components in the entire device. The inner wall of the protective cover 7 is provided with an anti-stick coating 24.

[0040] Working principle

[0041] The tumbler's feeding device allows the operator to load the food ingredients to be processed, such as cut meat chunks or marinade mixtures, into the feeding cart 5. The cart 5 is then pushed to the front of the device, accurately aligned, and slid into the L-shaped support base 39. The position is adjusted so that the upper part of the cart 5 is held by the two cart clamping arms 13 from both sides, while the bottom is supported by the L-shaped support base 39, forming a stable clamping state.

[0042] Tighten the two locking bolt knobs 22 so that the screw ends press against the outer wall of the material cart 5, thus rigidly fixing the material cart 5 during the tilting process and preventing it from slipping when tipped over. The protective cover 7 has been pre-fixed to one side of the tilting hopper 6 and naturally covers the material cart 5, forming a semi-enclosed space, which not only prevents material from splashing but also provides a structural basis for subsequent anti-sticking and impact protection.

[0043] The operator starts the feeding program by controlling the electrical box 12. The PLC control system issues a command, and the two first cylinders 10 extend their piston rods in sync, pushing the U-shaped tilting arm 15 to tilt upward around its hinge point with the U-shaped support frame 9. As the U-shaped tilting arm 15 swings, its free end drives the tilting hopper 6, the material cart 5 and the protective cover 7 to rotate upward as a whole until the feeding output port 14 of the tilting hopper 6 is precisely aligned with the feeding port 16 of the tumbling drum. At this time, the material in the material cart 5 begins to slide into the tilting hopper 6 under the action of gravity and enters the tumbling drum 4 through the feeding output port 14.

[0044] During or after the flipping process, the PLC controls the servo motor 21 to start. The servo motor 21 drives the second rotating shaft 36 to rotate continuously within the feeding output port 14 through the fixed base 20. At least two anti-blocking flipping plates 23 welded to the second rotating shaft 36 rotate accordingly, stirring, turning or flipping the material accumulated at the outlet. This effectively prevents large pieces of meat or sticky materials from forming an "arch bridge effect" or causing blockage at the narrow outlet. The conical base 37 enhances the structural strength of the anti-blocking flipping plate 23, ensuring reliability under long-term high-frequency flipping operations.

[0045] The extension shaft 38 at the end of the second rotating shaft 36 rotates synchronously with the rotating shaft, driving the first sprocket 26 on it to rotate. Through the chain 27, the power is transmitted to the second sprocket 28, which in turn drives the first rotating shaft 31 to reciprocate between the tops of the two support columns 29. The fixed connecting rod 34 in the middle of the first rotating shaft 31 swings accordingly, causing the rubber material striking ball 30 suspended at the bottom to periodically strike the outer wall of the protective cover 7. The vibration generated by the striking is transmitted to the inner wall of the protective cover 7. Combined with the anti-stick coating 24 on its surface, it effectively shakes off small meat scraps or marinade residues adhering to the inner wall, ensuring that the material falls completely and avoiding waste and cross-contamination.

[0046] When the set time is reached or the sensor confirms that the material has been basically emptied, the servo motor 21 stops, the first oil cylinder 10 retracts the piston rod, and the U-shaped tilting arm 15 drives the entire tilting bucket assembly to slowly fall back to the initial horizontal position. The operator loosens the locking bolt knob 22 and pulls the material cart 5 out of the L-shaped support base 39 and the material cart clamping arm 13 for cleaning or to prepare for the next batch of material loading.

[0047] After the material is fed, the PLC can automatically trigger the tumbling program. The two second oil cylinders 11 extend and retract according to the process requirements, adjust the tilt angle of the support bridge 17, thereby changing the tilt angle of the tumbling drum 4 and optimizing the tumbling effect. The drive motor 43 starts, and after the speed is reduced and the torque is increased by the reducer 44, the tumbling drum 4 is driven to rotate smoothly under the support of the four support auxiliary rollers 19 through the transmission chain of the second pulley 42 → belt 40 → first pulley 41. The material is tumbled, thrashed and massaged in the tumbling drum 4, and the pickling, tenderizing or mixing process is completed in a vacuum or normal pressure environment.

[0048] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A feeding device for a tumbling machine, characterized in that, include: Support assembly (1) is used to support the entire feeding device; The tipping bucket assembly (2) is hinged to one end of the support assembly (1) and can rotate and swing about the hinge end point in both directions. A tumbling drum (4) is positioned on top of the support assembly (1); The tipping assembly (2) has a tipping hopper (6) fixed at its free end for conveying food materials to the tumbling drum (4). The tipping hopper (6) is located below the side of the tumbling drum (4) and is clamped at the clamping end of the tipping assembly (2) for holding food materials. A protective cover (7) for covering the food cart (5) is fixedly connected to one side of the tipping hopper (6) and directly above the food cart (5). The tipping hopper (6) has a feeding output port (14) at one end near the tumbling drum (4). An anti-blocking tipping assembly is provided in the feeding output port (14). The outer wall of the protective cover (7) is provided with an anti-sticking feeding assembly that can be reciprocated by the power of the anti-blocking tipping assembly to prevent the food from sticking to the inner wall.

2. The feeding device for a tumbling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The anti-blocking and tipping assembly includes a second rotating shaft (36) rotatably installed in the feeding output port (14), at least two anti-blocking and tipping plates (23) symmetrically welded to the outer wall of the second rotating shaft (36), and a servo motor (21) installed on one side of the tipping hopper (6) and capable of driving the second rotating shaft (36) to rotate.

3. The feeding device for a tumbling machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second rotating shaft (36) is located away from the servo motor (21) and on the other side of the outer wall of the tilting hopper (6) with a first fixed sleeve (25) welded on it. The second rotating shaft (36) is located away from the servo motor (21) and is rotatably installed in the first fixed sleeve (25) through a bearing and is integrally connected with an extension shaft (38). The extension shaft (38) extends to the outside of the first fixed sleeve (25).

4. The feeding device for a tumbling machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The anti-stick feeding assembly includes two support columns (29) symmetrically welded to the top surface of the protective cover (7), a first rotating shaft (31) rotatably installed between the top ends of the two support columns (29), a second fixing sleeve (33) fixedly installed in the middle of the periphery of the first rotating shaft (31), a fixing connecting rod (34) welded to the outer wall of the second fixing sleeve (33), and a striking ball (30) fixed to the bottom end of the fixing connecting rod (34) by a hanging rope (35).

5. The feeding device for a tumbling machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The striking ball (30) is a rubber ball, which reduces noise when the striking ball (30) strikes the outer wall of the protective cover (7). One end of the first rotating shaft (31) extends to the outside of the support column (29) and is connected to the extension shaft (38) through a chain drive structure.

6. The feeding device for a tumbling machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The chain drive structure includes a first sprocket (26) with an interference fit around the extension shaft (38), a second sprocket (28) with an interference fit at the extension end of the first rotating shaft (31), and a chain (27) that drives between the first sprocket (26) and the second sprocket (28).

7. The feeding device for a tumbling machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The two anti-blocking tipping plates (23) are integrally formed with a conical base (37) at opposite ends. The opposite ends of the two conical bases (37) are welded to the outer wall of the second rotating shaft (36), so that the conical bases (37) can support and stabilize the anti-blocking tipping plates (23) and prevent the anti-blocking tipping plates (23) from breaking when tipping.

8. The feeding device for a tumbling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The support assembly (1) includes a support base (8) and two U-shaped support frames (9) that are symmetrically welded to the top surface of the support base (8) in an inverted manner. The tipping bucket assembly (2) includes a U-shaped tilting arm (15) hinged between one end of the two U-shaped support frames (9), two material cart clamping arms (13) symmetrically welded to the side wall of the U-shaped tilting arm (15) away from the U-shaped support frame (9), and an L-shaped support base (39) welded to the bottom surface of the U-shaped tilting arm (15) away from the U-shaped support frame (9). Two first hydraulic cylinders (10) are symmetrically installed on the top surface of the support base (8) and near the end of the U-shaped tilting arm (15). The top of the piston rod of the two first hydraulic cylinders (10) is respectively hinged to the inner wall of the two side rods of the U-shaped tilting arm (15), so that the first hydraulic cylinder (10) drives the piston rod by extending, so that the piston rod pushes the U-shaped tilting arm (15) to tilt and swing around the hinge point.

9. The feeding device for a tumbling machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The L-shaped support base (39) supports and lifts the material cart (5). The free ends of the two material cart clamping arms (13) clamp the upper part of the material cart (5). The outer walls of both sides of the tilting hopper (6) are threaded through with locking bolt knobs (22). The screw ends of the two locking bolt knobs (22) are connected to one end of the outer wall of the material cart (5).

10. The feeding device for a tumbling machine according to claim 9, characterized in that: One end of the tumbling drum (4) has a tumbling drum inlet (16), which receives food material output from the feeding output port (14). The top surface of the support base (8) is also provided with a tumbling tilt angle adjustment mechanism (3). The tumbling tilt angle adjustment mechanism (3) includes a support frame bridge (17) hinged between the top ends of two U-shaped support frames (9), a support auxiliary roller (19) rotatably installed at the four corners of the top surface of the support frame bridge (17), and two second oil cylinders (11) hinged to the top surface of the support base (8).

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