Spiral feeding equipment for fully mixing dry and wet materials of grain byproducts

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides spiral feeding equipment for mixing grain by-product dry and wet materials. The spiral feeding equipment comprises a spiral conveying mechanism and a base. A feed port, a discharge port and a driving motor are arranged at two ends of the spiral conveying mechanism, and an enzymatic hydrolysate injection port is integrated close to the feed port. Dynamic inclination adjustment of the spiral conveying mechanism is achieved through the base, the longitudinal supporting frame and the transverse rotating shaft, lifting mechanisms are arranged at the two ends of the spiral conveying mechanism, and displacement increments in opposite directions are output through the two lifting mechanisms so that the spiral conveying mechanism can rotate. According to the embodiment, the limitation of traditional fixed spiral feeding equipment is broken through, the spiral axis angle is changed in a dynamic inclined mode, the gravity component of materials and blade pushing force form multidirectional shearing force, and block mass dispersion is enhanced; when the inclination angle is increased, the contact pressure of the spiral blade is increased, and the mechanical tearing effect on the viscous block mass is enhanced; the eddy current effect is caused by the difference of inclined and horizontal motion trails of the materials, the stacking form is reconstructed, and a continuous adhesion layer is broken.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of mixing dry and wet materials of grain by-products. More specifically, it relates to a screw feeder for thoroughly mixing dry and wet materials of grain by-products. Background Technology

[0002] Wheat bran, germ, rice bran, corn husk, miscellaneous grain bran, and brewer's grain by-products, such as wheat bran, germ, rice bran, corn husk, miscellaneous grain bran, and brewer's grain residue, are rich in macromolecular fiber components such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, resulting in a rough texture and poor digestibility. Enzymatic hydrolysis technology can enable the high-value utilization of these by-products. Existing technologies utilize screw extruders to achieve continuous raw material supply and continuous enzymatic hydrolysis, improving hydrolysis efficiency. However, in this method, dry powder materials of different densities mix with water to form a mud-like material with high viscosity and poor flowability. This mud-like material is difficult to form effective turbulence during horizontal conveying, leading to insufficient penetration of the hydrolysate and uneven mixing between various raw materials and the hydrolysate. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a screw feeder for thoroughly mixing dry and wet grain by-products, which ensures uniform distribution between cellulose raw materials and enzymatic hydrolysate in the screw feeder, thereby solving at least one of the problems existing in the prior art.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] The first aspect of this disclosure provides a screw feeder for thoroughly mixing dry and wet materials of grain by-products, including a screw feeder and a base;

[0006] The screw feeder includes a screw conveying mechanism, an inlet and an outlet respectively disposed at both ends of the screw conveying mechanism, and a drive motor for driving the screw conveying mechanism. An enzymatic hydrolysate injection port communicating with the inlet is provided at one end of the screw conveying mechanism near the inlet.

[0007] A support frame is longitudinally arranged on the base;

[0008] The spiral conveying mechanism is rotatably connected to the support frame;

[0009] The base is provided with lifting mechanisms at both ends near the screw conveyor mechanism; the output ends of the two lifting mechanisms are respectively connected to the screw conveyor mechanism.

[0010] The two lifting mechanisms output displacement increments in opposite directions to cause the screw conveyor mechanism to rotate.

[0011] Optionally, the output end of the drive motor is connected to the end of the screw conveyor near the feed port to drive the screw conveyor to convey materials.

[0012] Optionally, the distance between the lifting mechanism near the feed inlet and the support frame is smaller than the distance between the lifting mechanism near the discharge outlet and the support frame.

[0013] Optionally, the lifting mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder.

[0014] Optionally, a first protective plate is fixedly installed at each end of the screw conveyor mechanism;

[0015] The spiral conveying mechanism is connected to the lifting mechanism through the first protective plate.

[0016] Optionally, a second protective plate is fixedly installed on the screw conveyor mechanism, and the screw conveyor mechanism is rotatably connected to the support frame through the second protective plate.

[0017] Optionally, the output end of the drive motor is provided with a torque sensor for monitoring the operating torque of the screw conveyor mechanism.

[0018] Optionally, a displacement monitoring module for monitoring the longitudinal displacement of the screw conveyor mechanism is provided on the base near the lifting mechanism.

[0019] Optionally, a buffer pad is provided between the hydraulic cylinder and the base.

[0020] Optionally, the outer side of the screw conveyor is provided with a housing, the edge of the housing is sealed to the outer surface of the screw conveyor, and there is a gap between the housing and the screw conveyor to form a water bath channel; the housing is provided with an inlet and an outlet.

[0021] The beneficial effects of this disclosure are as follows:

[0022] In this disclosure, because viscous materials tend to form clumps and have poor flowability, traditional fixed screw conveyors rely solely on the shearing force of rotating blades, which is insufficient to fully disperse viscous clumps. This disclosure utilizes a lifting mechanism to dynamically tilt the screw conveyor around its axis, creating a variable screw axis angle. As the tilt angle changes, the direction of the resultant force of the material's gravity component and the blade pushing force within the screw channel alters, generating multi-directional shearing forces. The contact pressure between the screw blades and the material increases with the angle, forcibly tearing apart the viscous clumps. Furthermore, the difference in the material's trajectory between the tilted and horizontal sections creates a vortex effect, further breaking up the clumps. This enhances the mixing effect, resulting in more uniform mixing of various materials and the enzymatic hydrolysate. In addition, the angle change restructures the material's accumulation pattern within the screw channel, disrupting the continuous adhesion of viscous materials, preventing bridging and blockage, and further enhancing the mixing effect of various materials and the enzymatic hydrolysate. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first embodiment of the spiral feeder of this disclosure is shown.

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a second embodiment of the spiral feeder of this disclosure is shown.

[0026] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a third embodiment of the spiral feeder of this disclosure is shown.

[0027] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the casing of this disclosure is shown.

[0028] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the second protective plate of this disclosure is shown.

[0029] Figure 6 This diagram shows the structural connection between the rotation adjustment device and various equipment disclosed herein.

[0030] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the material cylinder of this disclosure is shown.

[0031] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the structure of the spiral shaft and spiral blades disclosed herein is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To more clearly illustrate this disclosure, the following description, in conjunction with embodiments and accompanying drawings, provides further insight. Similar components in the drawings are indicated by the same reference numerals. Those skilled in the art should understand that the specific description below is illustrative rather than restrictive and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0033] This utility model provides a screw feeder for fully mixing dry and wet materials of grain by-products, including a screw feeder and a base;

[0034] The screw feeder includes a screw conveying mechanism, an inlet and an outlet respectively disposed at both ends of the screw conveying mechanism, and a drive motor for driving the screw conveying mechanism. An enzymatic hydrolysate injection port communicating with the inlet is provided at one end of the screw conveying mechanism near the inlet.

[0035] A support frame is longitudinally arranged on the base;

[0036] The spiral conveying mechanism is rotatably connected to the support frame;

[0037] The base is provided with lifting mechanisms at both ends near the screw conveyor mechanism; the output ends of the two lifting mechanisms are connected to the screw conveyor mechanism.

[0038] Two lifting mechanisms output displacement increments in opposite directions to cause the screw conveyor mechanism to rotate.

[0039] In this embodiment, because viscous materials tend to clump and have poor flowability, traditional fixed screw conveyors rely solely on the shearing force of rotating blades, which is insufficient to fully disperse viscous clumps. This embodiment utilizes a lifting mechanism to dynamically tilt the screw conveyor around its axis, creating a variable screw axis angle. As the tilt angle changes, the direction of the resultant force of the material's gravity component and the blade's pushing force within the screw channel alters, generating multi-directional shearing forces. The contact pressure between the screw blades and the material increases with the angle, forcibly tearing apart the viscous clumps. Furthermore, the difference in the material's trajectory between the tilted and horizontal sections creates a vortex effect, further breaking up the clumps. This enhances the mixing effect, resulting in a more uniform mixture of various materials and the enzymatic hydrolysate. In addition, the angle change restructures the material's accumulation pattern within the screw channel, disrupting the continuous adhesion of viscous materials, preventing bridging and blockage, and further enhancing the mixing effect of various materials and the enzymatic hydrolysate.

[0040] In one example, such as Figure 1 As shown, the screw feeder includes a screw feeder 01, which includes a screw conveying mechanism 013, an inlet 011 and an outlet 012 respectively disposed at both ends of the screw conveying mechanism 013, and a drive motor 018 for driving the screw conveying mechanism 013. It also includes a base 02 and a rotation adjustment device 08. A support frame 03 is longitudinally disposed on the base 02. The support frame 03 can be two, respectively disposed on both sides of the screw conveying mechanism 013, or it can be one, disposed on one side of the screw conveying mechanism 013. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0041] The screw conveyor mechanism 013 is rotatably connected to the support frame 03 and rotates around a horizontally arranged shaft on the support frame 03; the screw conveyor mechanism 013 is provided with an enzymatic hydrolysate injection port 016 connected to the feed inlet 011 at one end; the base 02 is provided with lifting mechanisms 04 at both ends near the screw conveyor mechanism 013; the output end of the lifting mechanism 04 is connected to the screw conveyor mechanism 013.

[0042] If the screw feeder is conveying materials, the rotation adjustment device 08 controls the two lifting mechanisms 04 to output displacement increments in opposite directions, causing the screw conveyor mechanism 013 to rotate. This causes the screw conveyor mechanism 013 to oscillate back and forth within a preset rotation angle range, generating multi-dimensional shear force during rotation to enhance the mixing effect. This also prevents material from accumulating in a certain area, reducing the formation of dead zones. Specifically, in this embodiment, the preferred rotation angle range of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 is -30° to 30°.

[0043] It should be noted that the output end of the lifting mechanism and the screw conveyor mechanism can be connected by hinge or abutment, as long as the screw conveyor mechanism can rotate. This disclosure does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0044] In one example, the end of the screw conveyor near the feed inlet is always higher than the end of the screw conveyor near the discharge outlet. If the screw feeder is conveying materials, the rotating adjustment device will rotate the screw conveyor by a preset angle to raise the screw conveyor from its initial position by a preset angle. The screw shaft of the screw conveyor forms a certain angle with the base, causing the material to be subjected to the component of gravity during the conveying process, and the material is directly output to facilitate the conveying of materials.

[0045] In one example, such as Figure 2 The lifting mechanism 04 near the inlet 011 and the lifting mechanism 04 near the outlet 012 have the same adjustment range. If the screw feeder is conveying materials, the rotating adjustment device 08 controls the lifting mechanism 04 to raise the outlet 012 of the screw conveyor 013 by a preset angle. Similarly, the screw shaft of the screw conveyor 013 forms a certain angle with the base 02, causing the material to be subjected to the component of gravity during the conveying process. Some particles or fibers cannot be directly pushed to the outlet by the screw blades due to their own weight, thus forming a dynamic accumulation zone at the input end. The material in the accumulation zone undergoes secondary backflow due to the continuous rotation of the screw blades. The incompletely conveyed material repeatedly collides and interweaves with the newly fed material, enhancing the mixing of the enzymatic hydrolysate and cellulose raw materials.

[0046] In one example, the rotation adjustment device can be a programmable logic rotation adjustment device to control the lifting mechanism. The rotation adjustment device controls the two lifting mechanisms to output displacement increments in opposite directions so that the screw conveyor rotates.

[0047] In another example, the rotation adjustment device is a current signal generator or a voltage signal generator. The current signal generator or voltage signal generator can be configured to output two opposite preset analog signals; the absolute values ​​of the two opposite preset analog signals are the same. The output terminals of the current signal generator or voltage signal generator are respectively connected to two lifting mechanisms to control the two lifting mechanisms to output displacement increments in opposite directions, thereby causing the screw conveyor mechanism to rotate. The preset analog signals can be a fixed value; or they can be multiple values ​​set according to time.

[0048] In one possible implementation, a housing is provided on the outer side of the screw conveyor mechanism, with the edge of the housing sealed to the outer surface of the screw conveyor mechanism. A gap exists between the housing and the screw conveyor mechanism to form a water bath channel. An inlet and an outlet are provided on the housing. In this embodiment, the water bath channel between the housing of the screw conveyor mechanism and the lifting mechanism maintains the optimal temperature required for enzyme activity inside the screw conveyor mechanism, preventing a decrease in enzyme activity due to temperature fluctuations. In this embodiment, the water bath channel is annular to ensure uniform heating of the screw conveyor mechanism.

[0049] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 1 As shown, both ends of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 are provided with drive ends. The output end of the drive motor 018 is connected to the drive end of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 near the feed inlet 011, so that the drive motor 018 drives the screw blades inside the screw conveyor mechanism 013 to rotate. Since the material is added from the feed inlet 011, setting the drive motor 018 near the feed inlet 011 is beneficial to shorten the distance between the point of application of power and the resistance concentration area, fundamentally optimizing the force transmission path of the screw conveyor.

[0050] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 1 As shown, the distance between the lifting mechanism 04 near the feed inlet 011 and the support frame 03 is smaller than the distance between the lifting mechanism 04 near the discharge outlet 012 and the support frame 03. Since the drive motor 018 is located near the feed inlet 011, the screw conveyor mechanism 013 on the feed inlet 11 side of the support frame 03 is heavier. Based on the lever principle, the distance between the lifting mechanism 04 near the feed inlet 011 and the support frame 03 is smaller, which can balance the stress on the lifting mechanism 04. While ensuring the efficient operation of the screw conveyor mechanism 013, the stability and reliability of the system are significantly improved.

[0051] In one specific implementation, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a housing 014 is provided on the outside of the screw conveyor mechanism 013, and a gap exists between the housing 014 and the screw conveyor mechanism 013 to form a water bath channel 017. Water at a preset temperature is filled into the inlet so that the water bath channel 017 forms a circulation system through the inlet and outlet. Since the enzyme hydrolysate needs to maintain a suitable temperature after mixing with the material, the water bath channel 017 forms a circulation system through the inlet and outlet, which can precisely regulate the fluid temperature in the channel. This design can maintain the optimal reaction temperature when the enzyme hydrolysate and the material are mixed, avoiding the decrease in enzyme activity caused by temperature fluctuations.

[0052] In another example, such as Figure 5As shown, a first protective plate 06 is fixedly installed on the outer casing 014 at both ends of the screw conveyor mechanism 013; the outer casing 014 of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 is connected to the output end of the lifting mechanism 04 through the first protective plate 06. If the lifting mechanism 04 pushes, the protective plate can protect the outer casing 014 from damage.

[0053] In one possible implementation, the lifting mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder;

[0054] The fixed end of the hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to the base;

[0055] The drive end of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the screw conveyor mechanism.

[0056] In this embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder has a high load capacity. A typical hydraulic cylinder can provide a thrust of up to 50kN-200kN, which meets the tilt angle adjustment requirements of the screw feeder in the material conveying state.

[0057] Furthermore, the hydraulic cylinder control accuracy can reach ±0.1mm, meeting the high-precision tilt angle adjustment requirements of the screw feeder. The hydraulic system can withstand extreme temperatures from -20℃ to 80℃ and has excellent dustproof and waterproof performance, making it more durable.

[0058] In one possible implementation, a buffer pad (not shown in the figure) is provided between the drive end of the hydraulic cylinder and the base. In this embodiment, the buffer pad provides a certain displacement buffer for the lifting mechanism (i.e., the hydraulic cylinder used in this embodiment) during adjustment, preventing damage to the screw conveyor mechanism due to different opposite displacements of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0059] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 5 As shown, the screw conveyor mechanism 013 has a first protective plate 06 fixedly installed at both ends;

[0060] The screw conveyor mechanism 013 is connected to the output end of the lifting mechanism 04 through the first protective plate 06.

[0061] If the lifting mechanism 04 drives the screw conveyor mechanism 013 to rotate, the first protective plate 06 can protect the screw conveyor mechanism 013.

[0062] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 5 As shown, a second protective plate 05 is fixedly installed on the screw conveyor mechanism 013. The screw conveyor mechanism 013 is rotatably connected to the support frame 03 through the second protective plate 05 and rotates around a horizontally arranged pivot on the support frame 03.

[0063] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 6 As shown, a torque sensor 07 for monitoring the operating torque of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 is provided at the output end of the drive motor 018.

[0064] The first communication terminal of the rotation adjustment device 08 is connected to the torque sensor 07, and the second control terminal is connected to the drive motor 018.

[0065] In this embodiment, the rotation adjustment device 08 can monitor the operating load of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 according to the torque sensor 07. When the torque is greater than the preset value, the rotation angle of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 can be adjusted to raise the height of the feed port 011 and lower the height of the discharge port 012, making it easier for the material to be discharged from the discharge port 012, reducing material accumulation, and reducing the torque of the screw conveyor mechanism 013.

[0066] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 5 As shown, cleaning and maintenance covers 015 are detachably installed at both ends of the screw conveyor mechanism 013. The covers are detachable, allowing for visual inspection or partial repair of the screw, blades, and bearings without disassembling the entire machine, thus shortening maintenance time. Adhesive materials or foreign objects can be directly cleaned through the covers, avoiding the cumbersome procedures of traditional maintenance. Specifically, in this embodiment, the cleaning and maintenance covers 015 are bolted to the screw conveyor mechanism 013. A handle is installed on the cleaning and maintenance covers 015.

[0067] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 6 As shown, a displacement monitoring module 09 for monitoring the longitudinal displacement of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 is respectively installed on the base 02 and near the lifting mechanism 04; the rotation angle of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 can be inferred from the displacement. The specific acquisition end of the displacement monitoring module 09 points towards the screw conveyor mechanism 013. The second communication end of the rotation adjustment device 08 is connected to the displacement monitoring module 09. In this embodiment, the displacement monitoring module 09 acquires the longitudinal displacement of the screw conveyor mechanism 013 in real time. The lifting mechanism 04 drives the screw mechanism to tilt, and the displacement deviation can be corrected in real time according to the longitudinal displacement, avoiding uneven material conveying or angle deviation caused by mechanical errors. It should be noted that the displacement monitoring module 09 can use a device with distance detection, such as a laser distance sensor, and this embodiment does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0068] In a specific example, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the screw conveying mechanism includes a material cylinder 0131, a screw shaft 0132 rotatably connected to both ends of the material cylinder 0131, and screw blades 0133 disposed on the screw shaft 0132. This embodiment can realize screw feeding, which can stably output materials.

[0069] In the description of this disclosure, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly, for example, they can be fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can be mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can be direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they can be internal connections between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0070] It should also be noted that, in the description of this disclosure, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0071] Obviously, the above embodiments of this disclosure are merely examples for clearly illustrating this disclosure, and are not intended to limit the implementation of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is impossible to exhaustively list all implementation methods here. Any obvious variations or modifications derived from the technical solutions of this disclosure are still within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A screw feeder for thoroughly mixing dry and wet materials from grain by-products, characterized in that, include: Screw feeder and base; The screw feeder includes a screw conveying mechanism, an inlet and an outlet respectively disposed at both ends of the screw conveying mechanism, and a drive motor for driving the screw conveying mechanism. An enzymatic hydrolysate injection port communicating with the inlet is provided at one end of the screw conveying mechanism near the inlet. A support frame is longitudinally arranged on the base; The spiral conveying mechanism is rotatably connected to the support frame; The base is provided with lifting mechanisms at both ends near the screw conveyor mechanism; the output ends of the two lifting mechanisms are respectively connected to the screw conveyor mechanism. The two lifting mechanisms output displacement increments in opposite directions to cause the screw conveyor mechanism to rotate.

2. The screw feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The output end of the drive motor is connected to the end of the screw conveyor near the feed port to drive the screw conveyor to transport materials.

3. The screw feeder according to claim 2, characterized in that, The distance between the lifting mechanism near the feed inlet and the support frame is smaller than the distance between the lifting mechanism near the discharge outlet and the support frame.

4. The screw feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lifting mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder.

5. The screw feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The screw conveyor mechanism is fixedly installed with a first protective plate at each end; The spiral conveying mechanism is connected to the lifting mechanism through the first protective plate.

6. The screw feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, A second protective plate is fixedly installed on the screw conveyor mechanism, and the screw conveyor mechanism is rotatably connected to the support frame through the second protective plate.

7. The screw feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The output end of the drive motor is equipped with a torque sensor for monitoring the operating torque of the screw conveyor mechanism.

8. The screw feeder according to claim 7, characterized in that, The base is equipped with displacement monitoring modules near the lifting mechanism for monitoring the longitudinal displacement of the screw conveyor mechanism.

9. The screw feeder according to claim 4, characterized in that, A buffer pad is provided between the hydraulic cylinder and the base.

10. The screw feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer side of the spiral conveying mechanism is provided with a shell, and there is a gap between the shell and the spiral conveying mechanism to form a water bath channel; the shell is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet.

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