A horizontal sterilization autoclave for food production

Abstract

This utility model belongs to the field of food sterilization technology, specifically a horizontal sterilizing autoclave for food production. It includes a vessel body, a gas circulation assembly installed within the sterilization chamber, an annular groove on the inner wall of the chamber, a rotating ring fitted within the annular groove, a rotating cylinder mounted on the inner wall of the rotating ring, multiple guide plates mounted on the inner wall of the rotating cylinder, a large gear mounted on the inner wall of the rotating cylinder, a small gear mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor, and a gas guide pipe installed on the inner wall of the sterilization chamber. Hot steam is ejected from multiple nozzles in the gas guide pipe, flowing upwards to preheat the food in the material cart. During this process, the rotating cylinder drives the multiple guide plates to rotate, and the guide plates circulate the gas within the sterilization chamber, ensuring a uniform temperature within the sterilization chamber. This structure accelerates preheating time, allowing the vessel to quickly reach the operating temperature, thus improving preheating efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of food sterilization technology, specifically a horizontal sterilization autoclave for food production. Background Technology

[0002] Horizontal autoclaves are commonly used thermal sterilization equipment in the food industry. They are mainly used for the sterilization of canned foods, soft-packaged foods, beverages, and other products to ensure food safety and extend shelf life. Horizontal autoclaves are widely used due to their simple operation and rapid sterilization.

[0003] A Chinese patent, CN 218126787 U, discloses a horizontal sterilizer for food production, comprising a vessel body with lids movably connected to both ends; a sliding assembly arranged along the length of the vessel body for a food-carrying trolley to enter the vessel body via the sliding assembly; at least one set of sterilization components for sterilizing the food inside the vessel body; at least one set of heating components for high-temperature sterilization of the food inside the vessel body; and a pressurization component for increasing the pressure inside the vessel body. This horizontal sterilizer for food production combines high-temperature, high-pressure, and ultraviolet sterilization methods to sterilize the food inside the sterilizer, effectively killing various bacteria and improving the sterilization effect; furthermore, a spiral cooling water pipe is arranged inside the sterilizer body, enabling rapid cooling of the vessel body, saving a significant amount of cooling time and improving the efficiency of sterilizing multiple batches of food.

[0004] Existing horizontal sterilizers typically use steam to heat and sterilize food during the sterilization process. However, hot steam tends to rise and cause temperature stratification, which increases the preheating time and results in low preheating efficiency. Therefore, a horizontal sterilizer for food production is proposed to address the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and solve the problems existing in the existing technology, this utility model proposes a horizontal sterilization autoclave for food production.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is a horizontal sterilizing autoclave for food production, including an autoclave body, a support base installed on the bottom side of the autoclave body, a PLC controller installed on the side wall of the autoclave body, an autoclave lid installed on the autoclave body, and a sterilization chamber inside the autoclave body. A gas circulation assembly is installed inside the sterilization chamber, the gas circulation assembly including two annular grooves. An annular groove is formed on the inner wall of the sterilization chamber, and a rotating ring is assembled in the annular groove. A rotating cylinder is installed on the inner wall of the rotating ring, and multiple guide plates are installed on the inner wall of the rotating cylinder. A large gear is installed on the inner wall of the rotating cylinder. A placement groove is formed inside the autoclave body, and a drive motor is installed in the placement groove. A small gear is installed on the output shaft of the drive motor, and the small gear interacts with the large gear. The sterilization chamber is equipped with a gas guide pipe with multiple nozzles. A pump is installed on the outer wall of the vessel, with a first conduit at one end and a second conduit at the other end, connected to the gas guide pipe. An exhaust pipe is installed on the side wall of the vessel, and solenoid valves are installed on the exhaust pipe and the first conduit. Hot steam is ejected from the multiple nozzles in the gas guide pipe, flowing upwards to preheat the food in the material cart. During this process, a rotating cylinder drives multiple guide plates to rotate, which in turn circulate the gas in the sterilization chamber, ensuring a uniform temperature. This structure accelerates preheating time, allowing the vessel to quickly reach the working temperature, thus improving preheating efficiency.

[0007] Preferably, a guide rail is installed on the inner wall of the sterilization chamber, and four pulleys are placed on the guide rail. A material cart is mounted on the pulleys. The material cart has a mesh structure. A pressure gauge is installed on the reactor body, and the probe of the pressure gauge is located inside the sterilization chamber. A temperature sensor is installed on the outer wall of the reactor body, and the probe of the temperature sensor is located inside the sterilization chamber. The PLC controller is connected to the drive motor, pump, pressure gauge, temperature sensor, and solenoid valve through internal circuitry. By placing food in the material cart (the mesh structure of the material cart does not affect the heating and sterilization of the food), and then placing the pulleys of the material cart on the guide rail, the material cart can be placed stably on the horizontal structure of the guide rail, realizing convenient food loading. Since the pulleys can roll stably on the guide rail with low friction, the material cart can be easily removed, which helps to improve the convenience of food loading and unloading.

[0008] The advantages of this utility model are:

[0009] 1. This utility model uses hot steam ejected from multiple nozzles in the air guide pipe. The hot steam flows from bottom to top to preheat the food in the material cart. During this process, the rotating cylinder drives multiple guide plates to rotate, and the guide plates drive the gas in the sterilization chamber to circulate, so that the temperature in the sterilization chamber is uniform. This structure can speed up the preheating time, so that the inside of the autoclave can quickly reach the working temperature, which is beneficial to improving the preheating efficiency.

[0010] 2. This utility model places food in a material cart with a mesh structure, which does not affect the heating and sterilization of the food. Then, the pulleys of the material cart are placed on the guide rail. Since the guide rail is horizontal, the material cart can be placed stably on the guide rail, realizing convenient food loading. Because the pulley can roll stably on the guide rail and the friction is small, the material cart can be easily removed, which helps to improve the convenience of loading and unloading food. Attached Figure Description

[0011] 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.

[0012] Figure 1 This is a first-person perspective 3D structural diagram;

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the gas circulation component;

[0014] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the pinion;

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal three-dimensional structure of the vessel.

[0016] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the material cart.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Reactor body; 2. Support base; 3. PLC controller; 4. Reactor lid; 5. Sterilization chamber; 501. Annular groove; 502. Rotating ring; 503. Rotating cylinder; 504. Guide plate; 505. Large gear; 506. Drive motor; 507. Small gear; 6. Air guide pipe; 601. Nozzle; 602. Pump; 603. First guide pipe; 604. Second guide pipe; 605. Exhaust pipe; 7. Guide rail; 701. Pulley; 702. Material cart; 8. Pressure gauge; 9. Temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0018] 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 scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0019] Please see Figure 1-4 As shown, a horizontal sterilizing autoclave for food production includes a vessel body 1, a support base 2 mounted on the bottom side of the vessel body 1, a PLC controller 3 mounted on the side wall of the vessel body 1, a vessel lid 4 mounted on the vessel body 1, and a sterilization chamber 5 inside the vessel body 1. A gas circulation assembly is installed inside the sterilization chamber 5, and the gas circulation assembly includes two annular grooves 501. Annular grooves 501 are formed on the inner wall of the sterilization chamber 5, and a rotating ring 502 is fitted inside each annular groove 501. A rotating... The rotating cylinder 503 has multiple guide plates 504 installed on its inner wall, and a large gear 505 installed on its inner wall. The vessel body 1 has a placement slot inside, in which a drive motor 506 is installed. A small gear 507 is installed on the output shaft of the drive motor 506, meshing with the large gear 505. An air guide pipe 6 is installed on the inner wall of the sterilization chamber 5, and multiple nozzles 601 are installed on the air guide pipe 6. A pump 6 is installed on the outer wall of the vessel body 1. 02. A first conduit 603 is installed at one end of the pump 602, and a second conduit 604 is installed at the other end of the pump 602. The other end of the second conduit 604 is connected to the air guide pipe 6. An exhaust pipe 605 is installed on the side wall of the vessel body 1. Solenoid valves are installed on the exhaust pipe 605 and the first conduit 603. During operation, existing horizontal sterilizers usually use steam to heat and sterilize food during the sterilization process. However, hot steam tends to rise and cause temperature stratification, which increases the preheating time and results in low preheating efficiency. By placing the food into the material cart 702, placing the material cart 702 on the guide rail 7, and closing the vessel lid 4, hot steam is introduced into the first conduit 603. Then, the pump 602 guides the hot steam into the second conduit 604, and then from the second conduit 604 into the air guide pipe 6. Finally, the hot steam is sprayed out from multiple nozzles 601 of the air guide pipe 6. The hot steam flows from bottom to top to preheat the food in the material cart 702.

[0020] During this process, the hot steam rises but has difficulty sinking, resulting in temperature stratification in sterilization chamber 5. Temperature sensor 9 (model PT100) cannot accurately measure the temperature inside sterilization chamber 5; barometer 8 (model Y-150) cannot accurately measure the air pressure inside sterilization chamber 5.

[0021] Through the operation of the gas circulation component, the PLC controller 3 controls the drive motor 506 to operate, driving the small gear 507 to rotate. The small gear 507 drives the large gear 505 to rotate, which in turn drives the rotating cylinder 503 to rotate. The rotating cylinder 503 drives multiple guide plates 504 to rotate, and the guide plates 504 circulate the gas in the sterilization chamber 5, ensuring a uniform temperature within the sterilization chamber 5. This allows the temperature sensor 9 to accurately measure the temperature within the sterilization chamber 5. The operating temperature is typically between 115-135℃. The temperature sensor 9 monitors the temperature within the sterilization chamber 5 in real time and sends a detection signal to the PLC controller 3. When the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor 9 reaches the operating temperature value, the PLC controller 3 controls the solenoid valve on the first conduit 603 to close, stopping the supply of hot steam to the sterilization chamber 5. Preheating is then complete, and the food is heated and sterilized within the operating temperature range. This structure can accelerate the preheating time, allowing the reactor body 1 to quickly reach the operating temperature, which is beneficial for improving preheating efficiency.

[0022] Please see Figure 5 As shown, a guide rail 7 is installed on the inner wall of the sterilization chamber 5, and four pulleys 701 are placed on the guide rail 7. A material cart 702 is installed on the pulleys 701. The material cart 702 has a mesh structure plate. A pressure gauge 8 is installed on the autoclave 1, and the probe of the pressure gauge 8 is located inside the sterilization chamber 5. A temperature sensor 9 is installed on the outer wall of the autoclave 1, and the probe of the temperature sensor 9 is located inside the sterilization chamber 5. The PLC controller 3 is connected to the drive motor 506, pump 602, pressure gauge 8, temperature sensor 9, and solenoid valve through internal circuitry. During operation, the existing horizontal sterilization autoclave sterilizes food... During the process, it is difficult to conveniently load and unload food, resulting in poor convenience. By placing the food in the material cart 702, whose plate has a grid structure, it will not affect the heating and sterilization of the food. Then, the pulley 701 of the material cart 702 is placed on the guide rail 7. Since the guide rail 7 has a horizontal structure, the material cart 702 can be placed stably on the guide rail 7, realizing convenient loading and unloading of food. Since the pulley 701 can roll stably on the guide rail 7 and the friction is small, the material cart 702 can be easily removed, which helps to improve the convenience of loading and unloading food.

[0023] Working principle: Existing horizontal sterilizers typically use steam to heat and sterilize food during the sterilization process. However, hot steam tends to rise, causing temperature stratification, which increases preheating time and reduces efficiency. By placing food into a material cart 702, positioning it on guide rail 7, and closing the lid 4, hot steam is introduced into the first conduit 603. The pump 602 then guides the steam into the second conduit 604, and from there into the air duct 6. Finally, the steam is ejected from multiple nozzles 601 in the air duct 6, flowing upwards to preheat the food in the material cart 702. During the process, the hot steam rises but has difficulty sinking, causing temperature stratification within the sterilization chamber 5. Temperature sensor 9 (model PT100) cannot accurately measure the temperature within sterilization chamber 5; pressure gauge 8 (model Y-150) also cannot accurately measure the pressure within sterilization chamber 5. Through the operation of the gas circulation component, PLC controller 3 controls the drive motor 506, which in turn drives the pinion gear 507 to rotate. The pinion gear 507 drives the large gear 505 to rotate, which in turn drives the rotating cylinder 503 to rotate. The rotating cylinder 503 then drives multiple guide vanes 504 to rotate, and the guide vanes 504 circulate the gas within sterilization chamber 5. The circulating flow ensures a uniform temperature within the sterilization chamber 5, allowing the temperature sensor 9 to accurately measure the temperature. The operating temperature is typically between 115-135℃. The temperature sensor 9 monitors the temperature in the sterilization chamber 5 in real time and sends a detection signal to the PLC controller 3. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 9 reaches the operating temperature, the PLC controller 3 closes the solenoid valve on the first conduit 603, stopping the flow of hot steam into the sterilization chamber 5, thus completing preheating. Afterward, the food is heated and sterilized within the operating temperature range. This structure accelerates the preheating time, allowing the reactor body 1 to quickly reach the operating temperature, which is advantageous. To improve preheating efficiency: Existing horizontal sterilizers make it difficult to conveniently load and unload food during the sterilization process, resulting in poor convenience for food loading and unloading. By placing the food in the material cart 702, whose plate has a grid structure, it will not affect the heating and sterilization of the food. Then, the pulleys 701 of the material cart 702 are placed on the guide rail 7. Since the guide rail 7 has a horizontal structure, the material cart 702 can be placed stably on the guide rail 7, realizing convenient loading of food. Since the pulleys 701 can roll stably on the guide rail 7 and the friction is small, the material cart 702 can be easily removed, which helps to improve the convenience of food loading and unloading.

[0024] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model.

Claims

1. A horizontal retort for food production, characterized by: The apparatus includes a vessel body (1), a support base (2) installed on the bottom side of the vessel body (1), a PLC controller (3) installed on the side wall of the vessel body (1), a vessel lid (4) installed on the vessel body (1), and a sterilization chamber (5) inside the vessel body (1), which is equipped with a gas circulation assembly. The gas circulation assembly includes two annular grooves (501). An annular groove (501) is provided on the inner wall of the sterilization chamber (5). A rotating ring (502) is installed in the annular groove (501). A rotating cylinder (503) is installed on the inner wall of the rotating ring (502). Multiple guide plates (504) are installed on the inner wall of the rotating cylinder (503). A large gear (505) is installed on the inner wall of the rotating cylinder (503). A placement groove is provided inside the vessel body (1). A drive motor (506) is installed in the placement groove. A small gear (507) is installed on the output shaft of the drive motor (506). The small gear (507) meshes with the large gear (505).

2. The horizontal retort according to claim 1, wherein: An air duct (6) is installed on the inner wall of the sterilization chamber (5), and multiple nozzles (601) are installed on the air duct (6).

3. The horizontal retort according to claim 1, wherein: A pump (602) is installed on the outer wall of the vessel body (1). A first conduit (603) is installed at one end of the pump (602), and a second conduit (604) is installed at the other end of the pump (602). The other end of the second conduit (604) is connected to the gas pipe (6). An exhaust pipe (605) is installed on the side wall of the vessel body (1). Solenoid valves are installed on the exhaust pipe (605) and the first conduit (603).

4. The horizontal retort according to claim 1, wherein: The sterilization chamber (5) is equipped with a guide rail (7) on its inner wall. Four pulleys (701) are placed on the guide rail (7). A material cart (702) is installed on the pulleys (701). The material cart (702) has a grid structure plate.

5. A horizontal sterilizing autoclave for food production according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pressure gauge (8) is installed on the vessel body (1), and the probe of the pressure gauge (8) is located inside the sterilization chamber (5). A temperature sensor (9) is installed on the outer wall of the vessel body (1), and the probe of the temperature sensor (9) is located inside the sterilization chamber (5).

6. A horizontal sterilizing autoclave for food production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PLC controller (3) is connected to the drive motor (506), pump (602), pressure gauge (8), temperature sensor (9) and solenoid valve through its internal circuit.

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