Bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device, it is related to bread production equipment field, to solve the problem of low precision, slow response, difficult maintenance of existing equipment temperature and humidity control, device includes flow guide shell and three-way switch valve, motor, impeller and annular heating pipe are equipped in flow guide shell, rear mesh cover helps air circulation, front end protective cover with flow guide cone;Three-way switch valve is connected with air pipe, steam pipe and air pipe, gas delivery can be switched, mounting bracket and auxiliary frame with temperature and humidity sensor are arranged on the outer wall of ring, sensor feedback data to control system, automatically adjust motor speed, heating tube power and three-way valve state.The device realizes accurate and stable control of temperature and humidity, airflow is uniformly transported, and has simple structure and high degree of automation, which is suitable for large-scale production of bread.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of bread production equipment technology, and in particular to a bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device. Background Technology

[0002] In bread production, fermentation is one of the key steps that determines bread quality. The fermentation of bread dough requires a suitable and stable temperature and humidity environment; the precision and stability of temperature and humidity control during fermentation directly affect bread production efficiency and product quality.

[0003] Existing bread fermentation equipment has significant technical shortcomings in temperature and humidity control. Traditional fermentation chambers typically employ a unified heating and humidification system, regulating temperature and humidity by installing heating elements and humidifiers within the chamber. However, this method suffers from low efficiency and uneven distribution of temperature and humidity. Because the heating elements and humidifiers are fixed in their positions, their effective range is limited, resulting in significant temperature and humidity differences between different areas within the fermentation chamber. Areas closer to the heating elements and humidifiers tend to have higher temperatures and humidity, while areas further away have lower temperatures and humidity. This leads to inconsistent fermentation progress and quality of dough placed in different locations, severely impacting batch consistency of bread products.

[0004] Furthermore, existing fermentation equipment has a slow response time for temperature and humidity regulation. When the temperature and humidity inside the fermentation chamber deviate from the set values, the equipment takes a considerable amount of time to adjust them back to the target range. During this process, the fermentation state of the dough is already affected. Additionally, some equipment uses direct spraying into the fermentation chamber for humidification, which can easily lead to excessively high humidity in localized areas, causing water droplets to adhere to the dough surface and affecting dough quality. Moreover, the existing equipment has a complex structure and cumbersome connections between various functional components. When the equipment malfunctions and requires repair, the disassembly and installation process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, increasing maintenance costs and downtime, and reducing bread production efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, this application provides a bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device to meet the requirements. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this application is to provide a bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device. Through optimized structural design, it achieves precise and stable control of temperature and humidity, improves the response speed and uniformity of temperature and humidity regulation, simplifies the equipment structure, reduces the difficulty of operation and maintenance, and can meet the needs of modern large-scale bread production.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0008] A bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device includes a flow guide housing and a three-way switching valve.

[0009] The front of the flow guide shell is a columnar shell. The columnar structure design facilitates stable gas flow within the shell, reduces airflow turbulence, and ensures uniform gas delivery. The rear of the flow guide shell is equipped with a mesh cover, which acts as a filter to prevent external impurities from entering the flow guide shell and causing damage to components such as the motor, impeller, and heating tube inside the shell. At the same time, it does not affect the normal flow of gas, allowing air in the fermentation chamber to circulate within the flow guide shell, improving the efficiency and speed of temperature and humidity regulation. The rear end of the mesh cover is equipped with a gas guide pipe, which serves as a gas delivery channel for introducing hot steam or room temperature air into the flow guide shell. The flow guide shell contains a fan frame and a heating tube. The fan frame is equipped with a motor, and the output end of the motor is equipped with an impeller. The impeller blows air forward, and the motor drives the impeller to rotate, generating airflow. The airflow flows within the flow guide shell and, after being heated by the heating tube, forms a hot airflow, providing the necessary temperature environment for bread fermentation.

[0010] One port of the three-way switching valve is connected to the gas guide pipe, and the other two ports are connected to the steam pipe and the air pipe, respectively. The three-way switching valve can switch the connection status of the gas guide pipe with the steam pipe and the air pipe. Through the switching action of the three-way switching valve, different gases can be transported alternately. When it is necessary to increase the humidity of the fermentation environment, the three-way switching valve is adjusted to the state where the gas guide pipe is connected to the steam pipe. Steam enters the guide housing through the gas guide pipe and mixes with the airflow generated by the impeller to form an airflow with a certain humidity, which is then transported to the fermentation area. When it is not necessary to increase the humidity, but only to adjust the temperature or supplement fresh air, the three-way switching valve is adjusted to the state where the gas guide pipe is connected to the air pipe. Outside air enters the guide housing through the air pipe, is heated by the heating pipe, and forms hot air which is then transported to the fermentation area. Alternatively, room temperature air can be directly transported to the fermentation area to meet different temperature and humidity adjustment requirements.

[0011] Furthermore, a protective cover is detachably connected to the front end of the flow guide housing via bolts. The protective cover protects the components at the front end of the flow guide housing, preventing operators from accidentally touching rotating parts such as the impeller during equipment operation, ensuring operational safety, and also preventing foreign objects from entering the flow guide housing. The detachable bolt connection facilitates the removal and installation of the protective cover. When it is necessary to inspect or maintain components such as the impeller and heating tube inside the flow guide housing, the protective cover can be removed simply by unscrewing the bolts, making operation convenient.

[0012] Furthermore, a guide shroud is provided on the rear side of the fan frame, which covers the motor. The guide shroud can protect the motor, prevent the airflow from directly impacting the motor, and guide the flow direction of the airflow in the guide housing, reduce airflow resistance, and improve airflow delivery efficiency. A guide cone is provided on the rear side of the protective cover, which is coaxially arranged with the impeller. The arrangement of the guide cone can make the airflow generated by the impeller flow more concentrated and stable forward, avoid the airflow from dispersing or vortexing at the front end of the guide housing, ensure the uniformity of airflow delivery, increase the airflow delivery distance, and thus improve the range of temperature and humidity control.

[0013] Furthermore, the heating tube is annular and located in front of the impeller, with its size matching that of the impeller. The annular structure of the heating tube creates a ring-shaped heating area within the guide housing. When the airflow generated by the impeller passes through the heating tube, it makes full contact with the tube, ensuring uniform heating and preventing localized overheating or underheating. The location of the heating tube in front of the impeller ensures that the airflow is heated before being delivered to the fermentation area, improving the response speed of temperature regulation. The matching size of the heating tube to the impeller ensures a reasonable layout within the guide housing, preventing it from being too large and affecting airflow, or too small and resulting in insufficient heating area, thus ensuring effective heating.

[0014] Furthermore, a ring is fitted around the outside of the flow guide shell, and a mounting bracket is provided on the outer wall of the ring. The mounting bracket is used to install and fix the flow guide shell. The ring can provide a certain degree of protection for the flow guide shell, reducing damage to the flow guide shell from external collisions. The mounting bracket facilitates the installation and fixing of the entire device in a suitable position on the fermentation equipment, such as the side wall, top, or support of the fermentation chamber. The mounting bracket can achieve stable installation of the device, preventing shaking or displacement of the equipment during operation and ensuring normal operation of the equipment.

[0015] Furthermore, an auxiliary frame is provided on the outer wall of the ring, and a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor are mounted on the auxiliary frame. The temperature sensor and the humidity sensor can monitor the temperature and humidity information of the fermentation area in real time and transmit the monitored data to the control system. The control system compares the preset temperature and humidity parameters with the actual monitoring data, and then controls the working status of the motor, the heating tube, and the three-way switching valve to achieve automatic adjustment of temperature and humidity. The auxiliary frame provides a stable installation position for the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, ensuring that the sensors can accurately and stably monitor the temperature and humidity of the fermentation environment.

[0016] Furthermore, the mounting bracket is located at the top of the ring, and the auxiliary bracket is located at the bottom of the ring. Positioning the mounting bracket at the top of the ring allows for more reasonable stress distribution and more stable installation during the mounting and fixing process. Positioning the auxiliary bracket at the bottom of the ring allows the temperature and humidity sensors to be located away from the airflow housing, avoiding the influence of temperature and humidity from the airflow within the airflow housing, thus improving the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the monitoring data and providing a reliable basis for precise temperature and humidity control.

[0017] In summary, the technical effects and advantages of this utility model are as follows:

[0018] 1. Precise Temperature and Humidity Control: By incorporating a heating element and a three-way switching valve, separate and coordinated control of temperature and humidity are achieved. The heating element adopts a ring structure and matches the impeller size, ensuring uniform heating of the airflow and guaranteeing the uniformity and stability of temperature regulation. The three-way switching valve can flexibly switch between steam and air delivery, precisely controlling humidity according to fermentation requirements. The rear mesh cover facilitates air circulation within the fermentation chamber, accelerating temperature and humidity regulation efficiency and solving the problems of low accuracy and slow speed in existing equipment, effectively improving bread fermentation quality.

[0019] 2. Uniform and stable airflow delivery: The columnar structure at the front of the air guide shell, the air guide cover at the rear of the fan frame, and the air guide cone at the rear of the protective cover work together to guide the airflow to flow stably and in a concentrated manner within the shell, reducing airflow turbulence and eddy phenomena. This ensures that the treated airflow (hot or humid airflow) is delivered evenly to the fermentation area, avoiding uneven temperature and humidity distribution within the fermentation area and ensuring the consistency of the dough fermentation state in different locations.

[0020] 3. Simple structure and convenient operation: The connection between the components of the device is simple and reasonable. For example, the protective cover at the front end of the guide shell is detachably connected by bolts, which facilitates the inspection and maintenance of internal components. The three-way switching valve is easy to operate and can quickly switch gas delivery, reducing the difficulty of the operator's work. At the same time, the overall structure is compact and occupies little space, making it easy to install and use in bread fermentation equipment of different specifications.

[0021] 4. High degree of automation: The temperature and humidity sensors installed on the auxiliary rack can monitor the temperature and humidity data of the fermentation environment in real time and feed the data back to the control system. The control system can automatically control the motor speed, heating power of the heating tube, and switching status of the three-way switching valve to achieve automatic adjustment of temperature and humidity, reduce manual intervention, reduce labor costs, improve bread production efficiency, and avoid the impact of human operation errors on the fermentation process.

[0022] 5. Comprehensive component protection: The mesh cover at the rear of the air guide housing prevents impurities from entering the housing and damaging internal components; the air guide cover at the rear of the fan frame protects the motor from direct airflow impact; the protective cover prevents operators from accidentally touching rotating parts and prevents foreign objects from entering the air guide housing, thus comprehensively ensuring the safety of equipment components and the personal safety of operators, and extending the service life of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application 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 application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a front view structural diagram of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This utility model Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the AA cross-sectional structure;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the flow guide shell of this utility model.

[0028] In the diagram: 1. Guide housing; 2. Three-way switching valve; 3. Steam pipe; 4. Air pipe; 5. Mounting bracket; 6. Auxiliary bracket; 7. Fan bracket; 8. Protective cover; 9. Heating tube; 10. Mesh cover; 11. Air guide pipe; 50. Ring sleeve; 60. Temperature sensor; 61. Humidity sensor; 70. Motor; 71. Impeller; 72. Guide shroud; 80. Guide cone. Detailed Implementation

[0029] 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.

[0030] Example: Reference Figure 1-4 The bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device shown includes a flow guide housing 1 and a three-way switching valve 2.

[0031] The front of the flow guide housing 1 is made into a columnar shape to ensure sufficient flow space for airflow within the housing, while avoiding an excessively large housing volume that occupies too much space. A mesh cover 10 is fixedly connected to the rear of the flow guide housing 1, which can effectively filter external impurities and facilitate gas circulation. An air guide pipe 11 is connected to the rear end of the mesh cover 10. One end of the air guide pipe 11 is connected to the mesh cover 10, and the other end is connected to one interface of the three-way switching valve 2.

[0032] A fan frame 7 and a heating tube 9 are fixedly installed inside the flow guide housing 1 by bolts. The fan frame 7 is located inside the flow guide housing 1 near the rear. A motor 70 is fixedly installed on the fan frame 7 by bolts. The output end of the motor 70 is connected to the impeller 71. When the motor 70 drives the impeller 71 to rotate, it can generate a stable forward airflow. The airflow speed can be controlled by adjusting the speed of the motor 70.

[0033] The heating tube 9 has a ring-shaped structure that matches the diameter of the impeller 71. The heating tube 9 is fixedly installed inside the guide housing 1 by a bracket and is located in front of the impeller 71. The heating power of the heating tube 9 can be adjusted by the control system to achieve precise temperature control and cover the common temperature range required for bread fermentation.

[0034] One port of the three-way switching valve 2 is connected to the air guide pipe 11 via a flange, and the other two ports are connected to the steam pipe 3 and the air pipe 4 via flanges, respectively. The other end of the steam pipe 3 is connected to an external steam generator. By adjusting the opening of the three-way switching valve 2, the amount of steam entering the guide housing 1 can be controlled, thereby regulating the humidity of the fermentation environment to meet the humidity requirements for bread fermentation. The other end of the air pipe 4 is connected to the outside, and an air filter is installed on the pipe to filter impurities in the air and ensure that the air entering the guide housing 1 is clean.

[0035] The front end of the flow guide housing 1 is detachably connected to a protective cover 8 by bolts. The protective cover 8 is circular and its diameter is the same as the outer diameter of the flow guide housing 1. A flow guide cone 80 is fixedly installed on the rear side of the protective cover 8. The cone is conical and its tip faces the impeller 71. The flow guide cone 80 is coaxial with the impeller 71 and can guide the airflow generated by the impeller 71 to be output more concentratedly from the opening of the protective cover 8.

[0036] A guide shroud 72 is fixedly installed on the rear side of the fan frame 7 by bolts. The guide shroud 72 is horn-shaped, with the large end covering the motor 70 and the small end facing the mesh cover 10. The guide shroud 72 can protect the motor 70 from direct airflow impact and guide the airflow to flow smoothly in the guide housing 1.

[0037] A ring 50 is fitted around the outside of the flow guide housing 1. The ring 50 is fixed to the flow guide housing 1 by set screws. A mounting bracket 5 and an auxiliary bracket 6 are fixedly installed on the outer wall of the ring 50 by welding. The mounting bracket 5 is located at the top of the ring 50 and has four mounting holes. The entire device can be fixed to the top wall or support of the fermentation chamber by bolts. The auxiliary bracket 6 is located at the bottom of the ring 50 and is U-shaped. A temperature sensor 60 and a humidity sensor 61 are fixedly installed on the auxiliary bracket 6. The detection ends of the two sensors face the fermentation area and can monitor the temperature and humidity data of the fermentation area in real time. The control system automatically controls the speed of the motor 70, the heating power of the heating tube 9, and the working status of the three-way switching valve 2 according to the preset temperature and humidity parameters to realize automatic adjustment of temperature and humidity.

[0038] The working principle of this device is as follows: When using this device to control the temperature and humidity of bread fermentation, first, the device is fixedly installed in a suitable position in the bread fermentation chamber by the mounting bracket 5, so that the opening of the protective cover 8 faces the fermentation area. The detection ends of the temperature sensor 60 and the humidity sensor 61 can accurately monitor the temperature and humidity of the fermentation area.

[0039] Once the power to the device is turned on, the temperature and humidity parameters required for bread fermentation are preset in the control system. After the control system is started, the temperature sensor 60 and humidity sensor 61 begin to monitor the temperature and humidity data of the fermentation area in real time and feed the data back to the control system.

[0040] When the temperature in the fermentation zone is detected to be too low, the control system automatically activates the heating element 9 and adjusts its power based on the difference between the actual and set temperatures. The three-way switching valve 2 keeps the air pipe 4 connected to the air guide pipe 11, allowing clean air to enter the guide housing 1. Simultaneously, air outside the guide housing 1 is filtered by the mesh cover 10 before entering the guide housing 1. Guided by the guide shroud 72, the airflow flows towards the impeller 71, then passes through the impeller 71 and is accelerated before being blown out. It is then uniformly heated by the annular heating element 9, forming a hot airflow. Guided by the guide cone 80 behind the protective cover 8, the hot airflow is concentrated and delivered from the opening of the protective cover 8 to the fermentation zone, gradually increasing the temperature. As the temperature rises, the temperature sensor 60 continuously provides data. When the target temperature is reached, the control system reduces the power of the heating element 9 and simultaneously slows down the motor 70 to maintain a stable output of hot airflow, keeping the temperature in the fermentation zone within a stable range.

[0041] When the humidity in the fermentation area is detected to be too low, the control system automatically switches the three-way switching valve 2 to connect the air guide pipe 11 and the steam pipe 3, and opens the control valve on the steam pipe 3. Steam generated by the external steam generator enters the three-way switching valve 2 through the steam pipe 3, and then enters the guide housing 1 through the air guide pipe 11. At this time, the motor 70 runs, and the airflow generated by the impeller 71 mixes thoroughly with the steam in the guide housing 1, forming an airflow with suitable moisture content. The mixed airflow passes through the heating pipe 9 (if the temperature is within the acceptable range, the heating pipe 9 is in a heat preservation state to prevent steam condensation), and is then guided to the fermentation area by the guide cone 80, gradually increasing the humidity in the fermentation area. The humidity sensor 61 monitors humidity changes in real time. When the humidity reaches the acceptable range, the control system reduces the opening of the control valve on the steam pipe 3, reducing the steam input. Simultaneously, based on feedback from the temperature sensor 60, if the temperature drops slightly due to the addition of steam, the power of the heating pipe 9 can be appropriately increased to ensure that both temperature and humidity are maintained within the set range.

[0042] When the temperature in the fermentation zone is detected to be too high, the control system will first shut off the heating element 9 and keep the motor 70 running. Simultaneously, it will control the three-way switching valve 2 to connect the air duct 11 to the air pipe 4. Outside air, filtered by the filter on the air pipe 4, enters the guide housing 1 and flows rapidly through it under the action of the impeller 71, forming a room-temperature airflow that is delivered to the fermentation zone. This airflow carries away excess heat from the fermentation zone, achieving cooling. When the temperature sensor 60 detects that the temperature has reached the target level, the control system will reduce the speed of the motor 70 and, based on the humidity level, decide whether to switch back to the steam pipe 3 connection state to ensure stable humidity.

[0043] When excessive humidity is detected in the fermentation area, the control system immediately closes the control valve of steam pipe 3, switches the three-way switching valve 2 to connect the air duct 11 and air pipe 4, and simultaneously increases the speed of motor 70 to accelerate the delivery of dry air at room temperature. After entering the fermentation area, the dry air mixes with the humid air, promoting air circulation, accelerating the evaporation of moisture in the fermentation area, and reducing humidity. Humidity sensor 61 continuously provides data feedback; when the humidity reaches the target level, the control system restores the motor 70 speed to normal, maintaining stable operation of the device.

[0044] Once the bread has finished fermenting, the operator can shut down the device and cut off the power supply through the control system, completing one fermentation cycle. To perform the next batch of fermentation, simply reset the corresponding temperature and humidity parameters, and the device will automatically start operating according to the above workflow.

[0045] The electromechanical connections involved in this utility model are common practices used by those skilled in the art, and technical inspiration can be obtained through a limited number of experiments; they are common knowledge.

[0046] Components not described in detail in this article are existing technologies.

[0047] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Although the present utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A temperature and humidity control device for bread fermentation, characterized in that, include: A flow guide housing (1) is provided. The front part of the flow guide housing (1) is a columnar housing. The rear part of the flow guide housing (1) is provided with a mesh cover (10). The rear end of the mesh cover (10) is provided with an air guide pipe (11). The flow guide housing (1) is provided with a fan frame (7) and a heating pipe (9). The fan frame (7) is provided with a motor (70). The output end of the motor (70) is provided with an impeller (71). The impeller (71) blows air forward. A three-way switching valve (2) has one port connected to the air pipe (11) and the other two ports connected to the steam pipe (3) and the air pipe (4) respectively. The three-way switching valve (2) can switch the connection state between the air pipe (11) and the steam pipe (3) and the air pipe (4).

2. The bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the flow guide housing (1) is detachably connected to a protective cover (8) by bolts.

3. The bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fan frame (7) is provided with a flow guide shroud (72) on the rear side, which covers the motor (70). The protective cover (8) is provided with a flow guide cone (80) on the rear side, which is coaxially arranged with the impeller (71).

4. The bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating tube (9) is annular and located in front of the impeller (71). The size of the heating tube (9) matches that of the impeller (71).

5. The bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow guide housing (1) is fitted with a ring (50) on its outside. The outer wall of the ring (50) is provided with a mounting bracket (5) for mounting and fixing the flow guide housing (1).

6. The bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device according to claim 5, characterized in that: An auxiliary frame (6) is provided on the outer wall of the ring (50), and a temperature sensor (60) and a humidity sensor (61) are provided on the auxiliary frame (6).

7. The bread fermentation temperature and humidity control device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The mounting bracket (5) is located at the top of the ring (50), and the auxiliary bracket (6) is located at the bottom of the ring (50).

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