A food thawing apparatus

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of food thawing equipment, solve and add conveying equipment to thawing pool to the thawing of meat block, meat block possibly due to gravity and buoyancy imbalance, leading to the retention and uneven distribution of meat block, and then leading to part of meat block conveying failure, affect the problem of overall thawing efficiency.The utility model is fixed with multiple groups of pole lever on the first conveying belt of the first conveying equipment, pole lever top end is located at thawing water liquid level, meat block is moved to left by transmission effect, can avoid meat block float or stay due to buoyancy effect, while pole lever is spaced along front and back direction, can ensure that meat block is evenly distributed in conveying process, reduce local accumulation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of thawing equipment technology, and in particular to a food thawing device. Background Technology

[0002] The slaughter and initial processing of meat are carried out in specialized slaughter and processing plants. After slaughter, live poultry and livestock are cooked and boiled before being refrigerated. When food processing plants process the food, refrigerated trucks are used to transport pre-processed frozen cooked foods such as duck offal, chicken offal, pork chunks, and beef chunks from the processing plant. These foods must first be thawed before further seasoning and processing can be carried out.

[0003] Currently, water-based thawing technology is widely used for thawing frozen meat due to its ease of operation and controllable cost. Its principle involves using water as a heat transfer medium, employing circulating water or immersion to transfer heat to the frozen meat, causing ice crystals to melt and restoring the meat's elasticity. To improve efficiency, existing technologies typically incorporate conveying equipment into the thawing tank for continuous and automated operation. This method effectively increases production efficiency and reduces manual labor costs. However, this technology still has some limitations in practical applications. The meat may become stagnant and unevenly distributed due to an imbalance between gravity and buoyancy, leading to conveying failure of some pieces and affecting overall thawing efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problem in the prior art where adding a conveying device to a thawing tank to thaw meat blocks can lead to imbalances in gravity and buoyancy, resulting in meat block retention and uneven distribution, and consequently, failure of some meat block conveying, thus affecting the overall thawing efficiency, this invention proposes a food thawing device.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is: a food thawing device, including a thawing tank, a support frame at the bottom of the thawing tank, the thawing tank including a thawing part extending in a square shape along the left and right sides and a lifting part inclined from top to bottom and from left to right, the left end of the thawing part and the right end of the lifting part are fixedly connected and communicate with each other.

[0006] The thawing section is equipped with thawing water, and the right end of the thawing section is the feed inlet. The thawing section is equipped with a first conveying device, which is located in the thawing water. The first conveying device is used to convey the meat pieces from right to left to the right end of the lifting section during the thawing process.

[0007] The first conveying device includes two first conveying rollers arranged at left and right intervals. A first conveyor belt is driven on the two first conveying rollers together. The first conveyor belt has a porous mesh structure, and water inside the thawing pool can pass through the first conveyor belt.

[0008] The first conveyor belt is fixedly equipped with multiple sets of levers spaced apart along its extension direction. Each set includes multiple levers spaced apart along the front-back direction. The top of the lever located at the top is located at the surface of the thawing water and is used to push the meat pieces to the left.

[0009] Preferably, a baffle is fixedly provided at the right end of the thawing section. The baffle is located between the first conveying device and the inner wall of the thawing section, and multiple first grooves are provided on the baffle for the lever to pass through.

[0010] Preferably, the bottom of the inner wall of the thawing section is fixedly provided with multiple sets of nozzles spaced apart in the left-right direction, each set including multiple nozzles spaced apart in the front-back direction, and an air compressor is fixedly provided on the thawing tank, the air compressor being connected to multiple nozzles through branch air pipes.

[0011] Preferably, the top of the thawing section is detachably provided with a mounting frame, and the first conveying device is mounted on the mounting frame and installed inside the thawing section via the mounting frame;

[0012] Four rectangular U-shaped guide rails with their openings facing the thawing section are fixedly installed on the thawing section. The U-shaped guide rails are connected to the interior of the thawing section. The mounting frame includes a U-shaped rod that slides through two corresponding U-shaped guide rails at the front and rear. The U-shaped rod has a bottom opening structure. The first conveying roller is rotatably mounted on the inner bottom of the U-shaped rod through a bearing. A connecting rod is fixed between the tops of the two U-shaped rods. A lifting hook is fixed in the middle of the connecting rod to move the mounting frame and the first conveying equipment out of the thawing section as a whole through external lifting equipment.

[0013] Preferably, two reinforcing rods are fixedly provided between the two U-shaped rods, with the two reinforcing rods and the connecting rod arranged in a triangular pattern in space.

[0014] Preferably, the mounting frame is provided with a drive mechanism, which is connected to the first conveying device in a transmission manner, and the drive mechanism is used to drive the first conveying device in a transmission manner;

[0015] The drive mechanism includes a first drive motor, which is fixedly installed on the front side of the right U-shaped rod. A rotating shaft extending in the front-back direction is rotatably mounted on the inner side of the right U-shaped rod. The front end of the rotating shaft passes through the U-shaped rod and is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the first drive motor through a coupling. Two first universal wheels spaced apart front to back are fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft. Two second universal wheels spaced apart front to back are fixedly mounted on the front and rear ends of the first conveyor roller located on the right. The first universal wheels and second universal wheels located in the same front-back direction are vertically aligned. A flat belt is driven on the vertically aligned first universal wheels and second universal wheels.

[0016] Preferably, a collection device is provided at the left end of the lifting section, and a second conveying device is provided inside the lifting section. The second conveying device is used to convey the thawed meat pieces from the bottom of the lifting section upward to the collection device. The second conveying device includes two second conveying rollers spaced apart along the extension direction of the lifting section. A second conveyor belt is driven on the two second conveying rollers. A second drive motor is fixedly provided on the lifting section. The output shaft of the second drive motor passes through the lifting section and is fixedly connected to the second conveying roller located below through a coupling.

[0017] Preferably, the outer surface of the second conveyor belt is fixedly provided with a plurality of lifting plates spaced apart along its extension direction. The lifting plates extend in the front-back direction and are used to lift the meat pieces to move upward.

[0018] Preferably, the right end of the second conveying device is located to the lower left of the left end of the first conveying device, and a guide plate is fixedly provided between the first conveying device and the second conveying device, which is inclined from top to bottom and from right to left. The guide plate has multiple second grooves for the lever to pass through.

[0019] Advantages of this utility model: (1) This utility model fixes multiple sets of levers on the first conveyor belt of the first conveying device. The top of the lever is located at the surface of the thawing water. Through the transmission action, the meat pieces are pushed to the left, which can prevent the meat pieces from floating or stagnating due to buoyancy. At the same time, the levers are spaced apart along the front and back direction, which can ensure that the meat pieces are evenly distributed during the conveying process and reduce local accumulation.

[0020] (2) By setting nozzles at the bottom of the defrosting section, high-pressure bubble groups are sprayed out. The bubbles pass through the first conveyor belt and continuously impact the meat pieces, causing them to roll and further preventing them from stagnating. The impact force of the bubbles and the pushing force of the lever work together to ensure that the meat pieces are heated evenly during the conveying process, thereby improving defrosting efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 This utility model Figure 1 Structural cross-sectional view of the thawing tank;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first conveying device and mounting frame of this utility model.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Thawing tank; 101. Thawing section; 102. Lifting section; 103. Support frame; 2. First conveying equipment; 201. First conveying roller; 202. First conveyor belt; 203. Toggle bar; 3. Baffle; 301. First groove; 4. Nozzle; 5. Mounting frame; 501. U-shaped guide rail; 502. U-shaped rod; 503. Connecting rod; 504. Lifting hook; 505. Reinforcing rod; 6. Drive mechanism; 601. First drive motor; 602. Rotating shaft; 603. First caster wheel; 604. Second caster wheel; 605. Flat belt; 7. Second conveying equipment; 701. Second conveying roller; 702. Second conveyor belt; 703. Second drive motor; 704. Lifting plate; 8. Guide plate; 801. Second groove. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0027] Example 1: A food thawing device, such as Figure 1 As shown, the device includes a thawing tank 1 with a support frame 103 at its bottom. The thawing tank 1 includes a thawing section 101 extending horizontally in a square shape and a lifting section 102 inclined from top to bottom and from left to right. The left end of the thawing section 101 is fixedly connected to and communicates with the right end of the lifting section 102. Thawing water is provided inside the thawing section 101, and the right end of the thawing section 101 is the feed inlet. A first conveying device 2 is provided inside the thawing section 101, located within the thawing water. The first conveying device 2 is used to convey the meat pieces during the thawing process from right to left to the right end of the lifting section 102. Specifically, the first conveying device 2 includes two first conveying rollers 201 spaced apart horizontally, with a common driving mechanism on the two first conveying rollers 201. The system includes a first conveyor belt 202 with a porous mesh structure. Water inside the thawing tank 1 can pass through the first conveyor belt 202 to reduce the impact on the water flow inside the thawing tank 1. Multiple sets of levers 203 are fixedly installed on the first conveyor belt 202 and spaced apart along its extension direction. Each set includes multiple levers 203 spaced apart along the front-back direction. The top of the lever 203 located at the top is located at the surface of the thawing water. Meat pieces in two adjacent sets of levers 203 can be conveyed to the left by the first conveyor belt 202 driving the levers 203, so as to avoid the meat pieces from being stuck and unevenly distributed due to the imbalance of gravity and buoyancy, so that the meat pieces can be effectively conveyed and the overall thawing efficiency can be improved.

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, a baffle 3 is fixedly provided at the right end of the defrosting section 101. The baffle 3 is located between the first conveying device 2 and the inner wall of the defrosting section 101 to prevent the meat pieces from falling below the first conveying device 2 when entering the defrosting section 101. The baffle 3 has multiple first grooves 301 for the lever 203 to pass through, so that the lever 203 can pass through the first grooves 301 normally for rotation.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the bottom inner wall of the defrosting section 101 is fixedly provided with multiple sets of nozzles 4 spaced apart in the left-right direction. Each set includes multiple nozzles 4 spaced apart in the front-back direction. An air compressor is fixedly provided on the defrosting tank 1. The air compressor is used to draw in and compress air. For those skilled in the art, the air compressor is a well-known technology and is not shown in the figure, so it will not be described in detail. The air compressor is connected to multiple nozzles 4 through branch air pipes. The air compressor is used to spray the compressed high-pressure air vertically upward from the bottom of the defrosting section 101 through the nozzles 4 to form a dense bubble group. The dense bubble group passes through the porous mesh structure of the first conveyor belt 202 and continuously impacts the frozen meat pieces placed on the conveyor belt, causing the meat pieces to roll during the conveying process, thereby improving the defrosting uniformity and efficiency.

[0030] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, a mounting frame 5 is detachably provided on the top of the defrosting section 101. The first conveying device 2 is mounted on the mounting frame 5 and is installed inside the defrosting section 101 via the mounting frame 5. The first conveying device 2 can be quickly disassembled via the mounting frame 5. Specifically, four rectangular U-shaped guide rails 501 with their openings facing the same direction are fixedly provided on the defrosting section 101. The U-shaped guide rails 501 are connected to the interior of the defrosting section 101. The mounting frame 5 includes a U-shaped rod 5 that slides through two corresponding U-shaped guide rails 501. 02. The U-shaped rod 502 has a bottom opening structure. The first conveying roller 201 is rotatably mounted on the inner bottom of the U-shaped rod 502 via a bearing. A connecting rod 503 is fixed between the tops of the two U-shaped rods 502. A lifting hook 504 is fixed in the middle of the connecting rod 503. By hooking the hook 504 with an external lifting device, the connecting rod 503 can be lifted vertically, causing the U-shaped rod 502 to slide upward along the U-shaped guide rail 501, thereby moving the mounting frame 5 and the first conveying device 2 out of the thawing section 101 as a whole, which is convenient for cleaning and maintenance.

[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, two reinforcing rods 505 are fixedly installed between the two U-shaped rods 502, with a front-to-back interval. The two reinforcing rods 505 and the connecting rod 503 are arranged in a triangular pattern in space, which can enhance the stability of the overall structure of the mounting frame 5. The reinforcing rods 505 are made of hollow stainless steel tubes, which reduces the overall weight while ensuring strength.

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown, the mounting frame 5 is equipped with a drive mechanism 6, which is connected to the first conveying device 2. The drive mechanism 6 is used to drive the first conveying device 2 to convey the meat pieces. Specifically, the drive mechanism 6 includes a first drive motor 601, which is fixedly installed on the front side of the right U-shaped rod 502. A rotating shaft 602 extending in the front-back direction is rotatably passed through the inner side of the right U-shaped rod 502. The front end of the rotating shaft 602 passes through the U-shaped rod 502 and is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the first drive motor 601 through a coupling. Two spaced-apart parts are fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft 602. The first universal wheel 603 and the first conveyor roller 201 located on the right side of the first conveyor roller 201 are each fixed with two second universal wheels 604 spaced apart. The first universal wheel 603 and the second universal wheel 604 are vertically aligned in the same front-to-back direction. The vertically aligned first universal wheel 603 and the second universal wheel 604 are jointly driven by a flat belt 605. The first drive motor 601 can drive the rotating shaft 602 to rotate, and then drive one of the first conveyor rollers 201 to rotate through the first universal wheel 603, the second universal wheel 604 and the flat belt 605, thereby driving the first conveyor belt 202 to drive.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, a collection device is provided at the left end of the lifting section 102. The collection device is used to collect the thawed meat pieces. For those skilled in the art, the collection device is well known technology and is not shown in the figure, so it will not be described in detail. A second conveying device 7 is provided inside the lifting section 102. The second conveying device 7 is used to convey the thawed meat pieces from the bottom of the lifting section 102 upward to the collection device. The second conveying device 7 includes two second conveying rollers 701 that are spaced apart along the extension direction of the lifting section 102. A second conveyor belt 702 is driven on the two second conveying rollers 701. A second drive motor 703 is fixedly provided on the lifting section 102. The output shaft of the second drive motor 703 passes through the lifting section 102 and is fixedly connected to the second conveying rollers 701 located below through a coupling.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, a plurality of lifting plates 704 are fixedly provided on the outer surface of the second conveyor belt 702 at intervals along its extension direction. The lifting plates 704 extend in the front-back direction and are used to lift the meat pieces to move upward.

[0035] like Figure 2As shown, the right end of the second conveying device 7 is located to the lower left of the left end of the first conveying device 2. A guide plate 8 is fixedly provided between the first conveying device 2 and the second conveying device 7, which is inclined from top to bottom and from right to left. The guide plate 8 can guide the meat block to enter the second conveying device 7 smoothly. Multiple second grooves 801 are provided on the guide plate 8 for the lever 203 to pass through, so that the lever 203 can pass through the second grooves 801 normally and rotate.

[0036] Working principle: During the thawing process, frozen meat pieces enter the thawing tank 1 through the feed inlet at the right end of the thawing section 101 and fall onto the first conveyor belt 202 of the first conveying device 2. The first conveyor belt 202 has a porous mesh structure, allowing thawing water to pass freely and reducing water flow resistance. The lever 203 on the conveyor belt pushes the meat pieces to the left during transmission, preventing the meat pieces from getting stuck due to the imbalance between gravity and buoyancy. The nozzle 4 at the bottom of the thawing section 101 sprays high-pressure bubbles, which pass through the first conveyor belt 202 and continuously impact the meat pieces, causing them to tumble and improving the uniformity of thawing. The thawed meat pieces are then conveyed by the first conveying device 2 to the right end of the lifting section 102 and enter the second conveying device 7. The second conveyor belt 702 of the second conveying device 7 is equipped with a lifting plate 704. Driven by the second drive motor 703, the lifting plate 704 lifts the meat pieces from the bottom of the lifting section 102 and moves them upwards, finally conveying the meat pieces to the collection device for centralized collection.

[0037] The mounting frame 5 can be quickly disassembled via U-shaped guide rails 501 and U-shaped rods 502. External hoisting equipment can be connected to the hoisting hooks 504 to move the first conveying equipment 2 out of the thawing section 101 as a whole, making it easy to clean and maintain.

[0038] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims and not by the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within this invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A food thawing device, characterized in that: The thawing tank (1) includes a thawing pool (1), the bottom of which is provided with a support frame (103). The thawing pool (1) includes a thawing section (101) extending in a square shape along the left and right sides and a lifting section (102) inclined from top to bottom and from left to right. The left end of the thawing section (101) is fixedly connected to and communicates with the right end of the lifting section (102). The thawing section (101) is equipped with thawing water. The right end of the thawing section (101) is the feed inlet. The thawing section (101) is equipped with a first conveying device (2). The first conveying device (2) is located in the thawing water. The first conveying device (2) is used to convey the meat pieces from right to left to the right end of the lifting section (102) during the thawing process. The first conveying device (2) includes two first conveying rollers (201) spaced apart on the left and right. A first conveyor belt (202) is driven on both first conveying rollers (201). The first conveyor belt (202) has a porous mesh structure, and the water inside the thawing pool (1) can pass through the first conveyor belt (202). The first conveyor belt (202) is fixedly provided with multiple sets of levers (203) spaced apart along its extension direction. Each set includes multiple levers (203) spaced apart along the front-back direction. The top of the lever (203) located at the top is located at the surface of the thawing water and is used to push the meat pieces to the left.

2. The food thawing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: A baffle (3) is fixedly provided at the right end of the defrosting section (101). The baffle (3) is located between the first conveying device (2) and the inner wall of the defrosting section (101). Multiple first grooves (301) are provided on the baffle (3) for the lever (203) to pass through.

3. The food thawing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the inner wall of the thawing section (101) is fixedly provided with multiple sets of nozzles (4) spaced apart in the left and right direction. Each set includes multiple nozzles (4) spaced apart in the front and back direction. An air compressor is fixedly provided on the thawing tank (1). The air compressor is connected to multiple nozzles (4) through branch air pipes.

4. The food thawing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the defrosting section (101) is detachably provided with a mounting frame (5), and the first conveying device (2) is provided on the mounting frame (5). The first conveying device (2) is provided inside the defrosting section (101) through the mounting frame (5). Four rectangular U-shaped guide rails (501) with openings facing the thawing section (101) are fixedly provided on the thawing section (101). The U-shaped guide rails (501) are connected to the interior of the thawing section (101). The mounting frame (5) includes a U-shaped rod (502) that slides through two corresponding U-shaped guide rails (501) at the front and rear. The U-shaped rod (502) has a bottom opening structure. The first conveying roller (201) is rotatably mounted on the inner bottom of the U-shaped rod (502) through a bearing. A connecting rod (503) is fixed between the tops of the two U-shaped rods (502). A lifting hook (504) is fixed in the middle of the connecting rod (503) to move the mounting frame (5) and the first conveying device (2) out of the thawing section (101) as a whole through an external lifting device.

5. The food thawing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: Two reinforcing rods (505) are fixedly installed between the two U-shaped rods (502) and spaced apart. The two reinforcing rods (505) and the connecting rod (503) are arranged in a triangular shape in space.

6. The food thawing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The mounting bracket (5) is provided with a drive mechanism (6), which is connected to the first conveying device (2) for transmission. The drive mechanism (6) is used to drive the first conveying device (2) for transmission. The drive mechanism (6) includes a first drive motor (601), which is fixedly installed on the front side of the right U-shaped rod (502). The inner side of the right U-shaped rod (502) is rotatably provided with a rotating shaft (602) extending in the front-back direction. The front end of the rotating shaft (602) passes through the U-shaped rod (502) and is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the first drive motor (601) through a coupling. Two first universal wheels (603) are fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft (602) with a front-back spacing. Two second universal wheels (604) are fixedly provided at the front and rear ends of the first conveyor roller (201) located on the right. The first universal wheels (603) and the second universal wheels (604) located in the same front-back direction are vertically corresponding. The vertically corresponding first universal wheels (603) and the second universal wheels (604) are jointly driven by a flat belt (605).

7. The food thawing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: A collection device is provided at the left end of the lifting section (102). A second conveying device (7) is provided inside the lifting section (102). The second conveying device (7) is used to convey the thawed meat pieces from the bottom of the lifting section (102) upward to the collection device. The second conveying device (7) includes two second conveying rollers (701) spaced apart along the extension direction of the lifting section (102). A second conveyor belt (702) is driven on the two second conveying rollers (701). A second drive motor (703) is fixedly provided on the lifting section (102). The output shaft of the second drive motor (703) passes into the lifting section (102) and is fixedly connected to the second conveying roller (701) located below through a coupling.

8. The food thawing equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The outer surface of the second conveyor belt (702) is fixedly provided with a plurality of lifting plates (704) spaced apart along its extension direction. The lifting plates (704) extend in the front-back direction and are used to lift the meat pieces to move upward.

9. A food thawing device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The right end of the second conveying device (7) is located to the lower left of the left end of the first conveying device (2). A guide plate (8) is fixedly provided between the first conveying device (2) and the second conveying device (7) and is inclined from top to bottom and from right to left. Multiple second grooves (801) are provided on the guide plate (8) for the lever (203) to pass through.

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