Tofu product making apparatus

Abstract

The tofu product manufacturing equipment provided by the application reduces manual intervention and improves production efficiency through the cooperation of various systems; the laser range finder, tension sensor, pressure sensor, etc. are used to realize accurate control of the thickness of soy milk, the tension of the bean bag cloth, and the position of the sheet plate, thereby guaranteeing product quality and being suitable for various products such as thin dry beancurd skin and thick dry beancurd sheet. Meanwhile, the drawer is used to pull finished products, and the operation is simple and fast. The equipment has strong environmental adaptability, the air blowing pipe can prevent the lens of the laser range finder from condensing water mist, and the stable operation of the equipment in a humid environment is ensured. The sensor monitors abnormal conditions, triggers an alarm or automatically adjusts, and improves the reliability of the equipment. Through structure optimization and intelligent control, the equipment solves the problems of low efficiency, poor precision and single function of traditional tofu manufacturing equipment, is suitable for industrialized batch production, and has significant economic benefits and market competitiveness.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of tofu product manufacturing, and in particular to a tofu product manufacturing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Dried tofu and tofu jerky are important members of traditional Chinese bean products. Although their names are similar, they each have their own unique characteristics. Dried tofu, often called "qianzhang" in northern China, is a sheet of tofu as thin as paper, with a soft yet chewy texture, making it ideal for cold dishes, stir-fries, or as a wrapper for pancakes. Tofu jerky, on the other hand, is a further processed block product with a firmer and chewier texture. It is usually seasoned or braised, giving it a rich, savory flavor. It can be eaten directly as a snack or is a common ingredient in dishes.

[0003] Their traditional handmade preparation methods are similar. First, carefully selected soybeans are soaked, ground, and filtered to obtain a rich raw soy milk. Then, a coagulant is added to the boiled soy milk to coagulate it into tofu curds. Finally, they are shaped using different molds and pressures: to make dried tofu, the tofu curds are wrapped in layers of cloth and gently pressed to remove water, forming thin sheets; while to make dried tofu, they are filled into molds and subjected to heavy pressure to thoroughly remove water, forming firm cubes, which are often then braised or baked to enhance their flavor.

[0004] While handmade production preserves traditional flavor, it also faces some common challenges. The biggest challenge lies in low production efficiency; heavy reliance on manual labor results in limited output and high costs. Furthermore, the numerous manual steps are difficult to standardize, causing fluctuations in product quality such as texture and firmness, and insufficient consistency between batches. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems of low production efficiency, difficulty in standardizing manual operation steps, and poor product quality stability in the production of dried tofu and tofu by hand.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a tofu product making equipment, characterized in that it includes an equipment frame;

[0007] The equipment frame is equipped with a soy milk spreading system, a tofu product box system, a sensor system, and a control system;

[0008] The soy milk spreading system is suspended on the top of the equipment frame. The soy milk spreading system includes parallel guide rails, a rotating screw, a soy milk spreading pipe, a soy milk valve, and a soy milk metering device.

[0009] The rotating screw is connected to a micro motor via a coupling; the soy milk spreading pipe is slidably connected to the guide rail and engages with the rotating screw via a screw block; the soy milk valve and the soy milk metering device are connected in series at the outlet end of the soy milk spreading pipe.

[0010] The tofu product box system is located at the bottom of the equipment frame. The tofu product box system includes a detachable tofu product box, a lower lifting and extrusion component, and an upper extrusion plate.

[0011] The upper extrusion plate is positioned directly above the tofu product box, and the lower lifting extrusion member is positioned directly below the tofu product box;

[0012] The sensor system is mounted on the top of the device frame, and the sensor system includes: an infrared sensor assembly and a laser rangefinder module;

[0013] The infrared sensor array is aligned with the moving path of the soy milk spreading pipe, and the laser rangefinder module is aligned with the inside of the tofu product box to monitor the height of the soy milk.

[0014] The control system includes: a touch screen controller and a control circuit board, wherein the touch screen controller is electrically connected to the control circuit board, and the touch screen controller is used to receive user input parameters for soy milk thickness and spreading speed.

[0015] The control system is configured as follows:

[0016] The touchscreen controller displays in real time the location of the soy milk spreading pipe detected by the infrared sensor combination and the height of the soy milk monitored by the laser rangefinder module.

[0017] Based on the soy milk thickness parameters and spreading speed parameters, the target moving speed of the soy milk spreading pipe is calculated, and the motor speed of the rotating screw is dynamically adjusted based on the soy milk height in the tofu product box.

[0018] When the infrared sensor array detects the starting signal of the soy milk spreading pipe, the soy milk valve is automatically opened;

[0019] When the infrared sensor combination detects the end signal of the soy milk spreading pipe or reaches the set height threshold, the soy milk valve is automatically closed and the soy milk spreading pipe is withdrawn.

[0020] Record data for each operation and provide suggested options for reducing component usage on the touchscreen controller;

[0021] Based on user feedback on suggested options, the parameter settings for subsequent operations are automatically adjusted.

[0022] In one feasible implementation, the bottom of the equipment frame is provided with a drawer, the drawer is slidably connected to the equipment frame via a slide rail, and the drawer is provided with a handle on the side facing away from the equipment frame;

[0023] The drawer has load-bearing plates on both sides inside, and the micro motor is mounted on the load-bearing plates to support the guide rail and the rotating screw. The tofu product box is located inside the drawer.

[0024] One feasible implementation also includes: a bean curd cloth laying system;

[0025] The bean curd cloth laying system includes: a bean curd cloth rotating shaft, a tension sensor, and a bean curd cloth release motor;

[0026] The rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth is slidably mounted on the guide rail and moves back and forth along the track of the guide rail. Bean curd cloth is wound on the rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth.

[0027] The tension sensor is integrated at one end of the rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth to monitor the slack of the bean curd cloth and feed the data back to the control circuit board to adjust the release speed of the bean curd cloth;

[0028] The other end of the rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth is equipped with a bean curd cloth release motor, which is used to drive the rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth to rotate.

[0029] In one feasible implementation, the bean curd cloth laying system includes: a first electromagnetic coupler and a rotary encoder;

[0030] The first electromagnetic coupler is connected to the output shaft of the bean curd cloth release motor and is used to control the direction and speed of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft;

[0031] The rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth is configured as follows:

[0032] When the first electromagnetic coupler is energized, the rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth rotates according to a preset direction and speed; when the first electromagnetic coupler is de-energized, the rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth stops rotating.

[0033] The rotary encoder is connected to the rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth.

[0034] The rotary encoder is used to record the number of rotations of the rotating shaft of the bean curd cloth after the release motor is turned on.

[0035] One feasible implementation also includes a strut system;

[0036] The pressure bar system includes a chain roller shaft with a pressure bar at a low position, a chain roller shaft with a pressure bar at a high position, and a pressure bar motor;

[0037] The high-position chain roller shaft with pressure bar is suspended directly above the soy milk spreading pipe to press the starting end of the bean curd cloth; the low-position chain roller shaft with pressure bar is located on both sides of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft to press the bean curd cloth on the inner edge of the tofu product box;

[0038] The pressure bar motor is located at both ends of the chain roller shaft with pressure bar at the low position and the chain roller shaft with pressure bar at the high position, so as to drive the chain roller shaft with pressure bar at the low position and the chain roller shaft with pressure bar at the high position to rise and fall.

[0039] The pressure bar motor is also connected to a pressure bar encoder, which is used to determine the position of the chain roller shaft with pressure bar at the low position and the chain roller shaft with pressure bar at the high position.

[0040] The touchscreen controller has a lever enable option and a lever disable option, and the control system is further configured as follows:

[0041] When the laser rangefinder module detects that the height of the corner of the bean curd cloth is within a preset threshold range, the pressure bar system is automatically disabled.

[0042] When the user selects the lever activation option, and the laser rangefinder module detects that the height of the bean curd cloth corner exceeds the preset threshold range, the lever system is activated to perform the pressing process.

[0043] When the user selects the lever disable option, the clamping process is skipped.

[0044] One feasible implementation also includes: a sheet plate storage system and a sheet plate transport system;

[0045] The sheet metal storage system includes: a sheet metal storage drawer, an electric push rod for lifting the drawer, a drawer guide rod, a limit block, and a lifting plate;

[0046] The sheet metal storage drawer is connected to the bottom of the equipment frame via a slide rail, and the drawer lifting electric push rod is located inside the sheet metal storage drawer;

[0047] There are four drawer guide rods, which are respectively set at the four corners of the sheet metal storage drawer;

[0048] The sheet storage drawer contains a sheet and a lifting plate. The drawer guide rod is used to guide the position of the lifting plate. The drawer lifting electric push rod is used to lift the lifting plate. The sheet is laid in layers on top of the lifting plate.

[0049] The limiting blocks are located at the four corners of the lifting plate to restrict the position of the thin plate;

[0050] The sheet transport system connects the sheet storage drawer and the tofu product box;

[0051] The sheet is transported to the tofu product box via the sheet transport system.

[0052] In one feasible implementation, the sheet plate storage system further includes: an infrared laser rangefinder and an electronic scale;

[0053] The infrared laser rangefinder is installed inside the sheet metal storage drawer. The infrared laser rangefinder is configured to monitor the number and height of the sheet metal in the sheet metal storage drawer, and to issue a supplementary prompt through the touch screen controller when the remaining number of sheet metal is lower than a set threshold.

[0054] The electronic scale is fixedly mounted on the lifting plate and placed below the sheet plate. The electronic scale is configured to monitor the weight of the sheet plate in the sheet plate storage drawer.

[0055] In one feasible implementation, the sheet plate has a dense permeable mesh, and the sheet plate is one of a silicone rubber sheet reinforced with stainless steel wire, a PVDC thin plastic sheet, and a stainless steel microporous plate covered with gauze.

[0056] In one feasible implementation, the sheet metal transport system includes: a sheet metal transport channel, transport rollers, and roller motors;

[0057] The sheet transport channel is an arc-shaped or straight channel, with one end connected to the sheet storage drawer and the other end connected to the tofu product box;

[0058] The transport roller is embedded in the inner wall of the sheet transport channel, and the roller motor is connected to one end of the transport roller, which is used to drive the transport roller to rotate.

[0059] In one feasible implementation, the sheet metal transport system further includes: a roller pressure sensor and a roller conductive slip ring;

[0060] The surface of the transport roller is covered with a rubber layer, and the roller pressure sensor is integrated inside the rubber layer. The roller pressure sensor is used to monitor the contact pressure between the transport roller and the sheet plate.

[0061] The conductive slip ring of the roller shaft is provided at the tail end of the transport roller shaft;

[0062] The pressure signal from the roller pressure sensor of the transport roller is transmitted to the control circuit board through the roller conductive slip ring.

[0063] The control circuit board is configured as follows:

[0064] When the real-time pressure value of the pressure signal is detected to be continuously lower than the preset lower pressure threshold for a set time, the rotation speed of the transport roller where the current sheet is located is automatically reduced, and the adjacent downstream transport roller is activated to accelerate rotation.

[0065] If the real-time pressure value of the pressure signal exceeds the preset pressure upper limit threshold, the transport roller where the current sheet is located will be stopped immediately and a reverse rotation action will be triggered to release the pressure.

[0066] In one feasible implementation, the sheet metal transport system further includes: an infrared sensor for the transport channel;

[0067] The infrared sensors for the transport channel are installed at both ends of each of the transport rollers. The infrared sensors for the transport channel are used to monitor the position and length of the sheet in the sheet transport channel and output position and length signals to the control circuit board.

[0068] The control circuit board is configured as follows:

[0069] When the position signal detects that multiple sheets are stacked in the sheet transport channel, it triggers the adjacent downstream transport roller to reverse in order to separate the excess sheets.

[0070] When the length signal detects that the length of the sheet exceeds the standard length of a single sheet, transportation will be stopped immediately and an alarm will be triggered.

[0071] In one feasible implementation, the sheet metal transport system further includes: a second electromagnetic coupler;

[0072] The second electromagnetic coupler is disposed on the transport roller shaft, and the second electromagnetic coupler is used to control the power connection of the transport roller shaft;

[0073] The transport roller is configured as follows:

[0074] When the second electromagnetic coupler is energized, the transport roller rotates according to a preset direction and speed; when the second electromagnetic coupler is de-energized, the transport roller stops rotating.

[0075] In one feasible implementation, a lifting component system is also included, which is disposed between the sheet conveying system and the tofu product box. The lifting component system includes: an upper structural plate, a middle structural plate, a lower structural plate, and a lifting motor.

[0076] The upper and lower structural plates are fixed in parallel to the bottom of the equipment frame top plate directly above the tofu product box, and are connected by four corner bolts to form a fixed spacing.

[0077] The bottom of the upper structural plate and the top of the lower structural plate are both fitted with longitudinally arranged needle rollers, which together form a sliding guide rail;

[0078] The intermediate layer structural plate is slidably nested between the upper and lower structural plates. The inner edge of the intermediate layer structural plate is processed with a stepped thin edge step, which is used to engage the edge of the thin plate and limit the displacement of the front end of the thin plate.

[0079] The intermediate layer structural plate is centrally fixed with an intermediate layer rack guide rail, with the toothed surface of the intermediate layer rack guide rail facing upwards;

[0080] The support at the top of the upper structural plate is equipped with a lifting gear via a bearing, and the lifting gear meshes with the rack guide rail of the middle layer.

[0081] The output shaft of the lifting motor passes vertically downward through the upper structural plate, and the end of the output shaft of the lifting motor is fixedly connected to the lifting gear. The lifting motor is used to drive the gear to rotate, and through the rack and pinion guide, it drives the middle structural plate to slide horizontally outward, releasing the thin sheet into the tofu product box.

[0082] In one feasible implementation, the lifting component system further includes: a lifting encoder and a lifting infrared sensor;

[0083] The lifting encoder is located at the tail of the lifting motor, and the lifting encoder is used to feed back the sliding displacement of the intermediate layer structure plate to the control circuit board in real time.

[0084] The lifting infrared sensor is embedded inside the thin-edge step of the intermediate layer structural plate. The lifting infrared sensor is used to detect and verify the position of the thin plate and output a position verification signal to the control circuit board.

[0085] The control circuit board is configured as follows:

[0086] Based on the position verification signal, the lifting motor is activated to drive the intermediate layer structure plate to slide outward;

[0087] The speed of the lifting motor is dynamically adjusted by the sliding displacement fed back in real time by the lifting encoder, so as to release the thin plate at a uniform speed.

[0088] When the position verification signal detects that the thin plate has completely detached from the stepped thin edge step, the lifting motor is immediately stopped and a reverse reset action is triggered.

[0089] When the deviation between the sliding displacement and the position verification signal exceeds the set tolerance, an emergency stop is executed and an alarm is triggered.

[0090] In one feasible implementation, the laser rangefinder module is equipped with an air blower, the air outlet of the air blower is aligned with the lens surface of the laser rangefinder module at an angle of 15°-30°, and a tangential airflow layer is formed.

[0091] The air blowing pipe includes: a primary air blowing pipe and a secondary air blowing pipe;

[0092] The primary air blowing pipe directly hits the lens of the laser rangefinder module to remove condensed water mist.

[0093] The secondary air blowing tube annularly covers the laser penetration hole of the laser rangefinder module and continuously delivers airflow into the measurement channel to form a positive pressure barrier;

[0094] The air blowpipe is connected to an air tank and an electric pump. The air tank is used to provide compressed air, and the electric pump is used to stabilize the pressure of the compressed air.

[0095] In one feasible implementation, the temperature sensor and the laser rangefinder module are mounted side by side on the top of the device frame, with the temperature sensor facing the inside of the tofu product box to monitor the temperature of the soy milk and obtain the soy milk temperature signal.

[0096] The temperature sensor is electrically connected to the control circuit board to transmit the soy milk temperature signal to the control system.

[0097] The control system is also configured to:

[0098] Receive the soy milk temperature signal, and when the soy milk temperature is higher than the preset temperature range, wait for the soy milk to cool down;

[0099] When the temperature of the soy milk meets the preset temperature range, the tofu production process is started.

[0100] This application provides a tofu product making equipment that reduces manual intervention and improves production efficiency through the coordinated operation of various systems. It employs a laser rangefinder, tension sensor, and pressure sensor to achieve precise control over soy milk thickness, bean curd cloth tension, and thin sheet plate position, ensuring product quality. It is applicable to various products such as thin dried tofu skin and thick dried tofu slices. It has strong environmental adaptability; an air blower prevents condensation on the laser rangefinder lens, ensuring stable operation in humid environments. Sensors monitor abnormal conditions, triggering alarms or automatic adjustments to improve equipment reliability. Through structural optimization and intelligent control, the equipment solves the problems of low efficiency, poor precision, and limited functionality found in traditional tofu making equipment, making it suitable for industrial-scale mass production and offering significant economic benefits and market competitiveness. Attached Figure Description

[0101] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0102] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a tofu product making device shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0103] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a tofu product making device shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0104] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of tofu production equipment, shown from another perspective;

[0105] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bean curd cloth laying system shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0106] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a bean curd cloth laying system illustrated in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0107] Figure 6 This is an exemplary embodiment of the present application illustrating the internal structure of a tofu production apparatus for a tofu product box without mesh;

[0108] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a tofu product making device shown in another exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0109] Figure 8This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a sheet plate storage system and a sheet plate transport system according to an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0110] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating a sheet plate storage system and a sheet plate transport system according to an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0111] Figure 10 yes Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of tofu product making equipment;

[0112] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a sheet metal storage system with an electronic scale, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0113] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a lifting component system shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0114] Attached image annotations:

[0115] 10-Frame; 11-Soy milk spreading system; 12-Tofu product box system; 13-Sensor system; 14-Drawer; 20-Soy milk cloth laying system; 21-Pressure rod system; 30-Sheet plate storage system; 31-Sheet plate transport system; 32-Lifting component system;

[0116] 111-Guide rail; 112-Rotating screw; 113-Soy milk spreading pipe; 121-Tofu product box; 122-Lifting extrusion component; 123-Upper extrusion plate; 131-Infrared sensor assembly; 132-Laser rangefinder module; 133-Temperature sensor; 141-Handle; 142-Load-bearing plate;

[0117] 201-Rotating shaft of bean curd cloth; 202-Release motor of bean curd cloth; 211-Chain roller shaft with pressure bar at low position; 212-Chain roller shaft with pressure bar at high position; 213-Pressure bar motor;

[0118] 301 - Sheet plate storage drawer; 302 - Drawer lifting electric push rod; 303 - Drawer guide rod; 304 - Limit block; 305 - Lifting plate; 306 - Electronic scale; 311 - Sheet plate transport channel; 312 - Transport roller; 313 - Roller motor; 321 - Upper structural plate; 322 - Lower structural plate; 323 - Middle structural plate; 324 - Middle rack and pinion guide; 325 - Lifting motor; 326 - Lifting gear. Detailed Implementation

[0119] The exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as being limited to the examples set forth herein;

[0120] Dried tofu and tofu jerky are traditional Chinese soy products, though their names are similar, they are quite different. Dried tofu (or thousand-layer tofu) is thin, sheet-like, chewy, and often used in cold dishes or stir-fries; while tofu jerky is a firm block made by pressing, braising, and seasoning, and can be eaten directly. Both traditionally require core steps in their handmade production, such as soaking soybeans, grinding them into a paste, and adding coagulant to form the tofu. Dried tofu is made into thin sheets by light pressing, while tofu jerky requires heavier pressing and further braising and roasting. However, this handmade method generally suffers from low production efficiency, high reliance on manual labor, difficulty in hygiene control, and inconsistent product quality, hindering its large-scale development. Although handmade production preserves traditional flavor, its production process also faces some common problems. The biggest challenge lies in low production efficiency; the high reliance on manual labor results in limited output and high costs. At the same time, the numerous manual operations are difficult to standardize, causing fluctuations in product texture and firmness, and insufficient consistency between batches.

[0121] To solve the above problems, refer to Figure 1-5 As shown, this application provides a tofu product making equipment, wherein the equipment frame 10 serves as the main support structure, and the equipment frame 10 is equipped with a soy milk spreading system 11, a tofu product box system 12, a sensor system 13, and a control system.

[0122] A soy milk spreading system 11 is suspended from the top of the equipment frame 10. The soy milk spreading system 11 consists of a guide rail 111, a rotating screw 112, a soy milk spreading pipe 113, a soy milk valve, and a soy milk metering device. The rotating screw 112 is connected to a micro motor via a coupling. The soy milk spreading pipe 113 engages with the rotating screw 112 via a screw block and slides along the guide rail 111 to achieve horizontal reciprocating motion. The soy milk valve and the soy milk metering device are connected in series at the outlet end of the soy milk spreading pipe 113 for controlling the flow rate and metering.

[0123] Specifically, there are two guide rails 111 installed on the left and right sides above the tofu product box 121. Each guide rail 111 is suspended from the top plate of the equipment frame 10 by front and rear support seats, or the guide rail 111 is directly fastened to the top plate of the equipment frame 10 with screws. The guide rail 111 has matching slider accessories that can be connected to the next level of accessories.

[0124] The rotating screw 112 is also located on the left and right above the tofu product box 121. Each rotating screw 112 has a matching screw block. Each rotating screw 112 can also be suspended on the top plate of the equipment frame 10 through the front and rear support seats.

[0125] The rotary screw 112 is equipped with a miniature motor and a flexible drive chain or toothed belt, a coupling, and a rotary encoder. The rotary screw 112 is equipped with a miniature motor and a flexible drive chain or toothed belt and coupling at either the front or rear end, as well as a rotary encoder that provides forward or backward distance data. The power and signal cables of the miniature motor and rotary encoder are connected to the corresponding terminals on the upper part.

[0126] The soy milk spreading pipe 113 is located at the upper front and upper rear of the tofu product box 121. The soy milk spreading pipe 113 is mounted on the screw block fitting of the rotating screw 112 and the sliding fitting of the guide rail 111. The soy milk spreading pipe 113 moves forward and backward above the tofu product box 121, spreading and releasing soy milk in layers before retracting to its original position. The sliding fitting of the guide rail 111 can also be a guide rod, etc.

[0127] The soybean milk spreading pipe 113 is equipped with a normally closed electric valve, such as a normally closed electrically controlled butterfly valve, and an electrically controlled metering device suitable for measuring the flow rate of viscous soybean milk, such as a small-diameter oval gear flow meter or a small-diameter turbine flow meter.

[0128] After the soy milk spreading pipe 113 enters the tofu product box 121, it can branch out into two outlets. Specifically, when the soy milk spreading pipe 113 enters the equipment from the outside of the tofu product box 121, it is redistributed into two branch pipes through a stainless steel tee pipe interface. When these two branch pipes need to move, they can be replaced with two branch pipes made of soft material, which supply the soy milk spreading pipe 113 in front of the tofu product box 121 and the soy milk spreading pipe 113 in the back of the tofu product box 121 respectively.

[0129] The soy milk spreading pipe 113 needs to reciprocate above the tofu product box 121. Therefore, in order to improve durability and withstand liquid temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius, the pipe material of the soy milk spreading pipe 113 is a food-grade silicone reinforced hose or a food-grade PU reinforced hose.

[0130] The soy milk dispensing pipe 113 is fitted with a sleeve made of 304 stainless steel at the outlet of the tofu product box 121. Since the pipe carries liquid substances after the tofu curd is crushed, the sleeve is designed by evenly opening a long strip of holes along its length or evenly distributing slightly larger round holes to facilitate the even flow of soy milk. The outlet of the soy milk is not directly downward, but has a slight upward angle so that the soy milk can accurately enter the tofu product box 121. The sleeve can also be rotated and the angle adjusted within a certain range.

[0131] Furthermore, the tofu product box system 12 is located at the bottom of the equipment frame 10 and includes a detachable tofu product box 121, a lower lifting and extrusion member 122, and an upper extrusion plate 123. The upper extrusion plate 123 is fixed directly above the tofu product box 121, and the lower lifting and extrusion member 122 is located directly below the tofu product box 121, adjusting the extrusion pressure through vertical movement.

[0132] The sensor system 13 is mounted on the top of the frame 10. The infrared sensor assembly 131 is aligned with the moving path of the soy milk spreading pipe 113, and the laser rangefinder module 132 is aligned with the inside of the tofu product box 121. The touch screen controller of the control system is electrically connected to the control circuit board. After the user inputs the soy milk thickness and spreading speed parameters through the touch screen, the control system calculates the target moving speed of the soy milk spreading pipe 113 based on the parameters, and monitors the soy milk height in real time through the laser rangefinder module 132 to dynamically correct the motor speed of the rotating screw 112.

[0133] When the infrared sensor assembly 131 detects the start signal of the soy milk spreading pipe 113, the soy milk valve is automatically opened to begin spreading; when the end signal is detected or the set height threshold is reached, the soy milk valve is closed and the soy milk spreading pipe 113 is withdrawn. The system records data for each operation and displays suggested options for reducing the use of components on the touchscreen, adjusting subsequent parameters based on user feedback.

[0134] Specifically, during the layered soy milk spreading process, when the soy milk spreading pipe 113, which is positioned behind the tofu product box 121, moves forward to spread soy milk, it is detected by the infrared sensor assembly 131 installed on the side wall of the equipment when it approaches the front of the tofu product box 121. The soy milk spreading pipe 113 then stops moving forward.

[0135] Similarly, the soy milk spreading pipe 113, positioned in front of the tofu product box 121, spreads soy milk from front to back on the upper part of the tofu product box 121 under the drive of the motor. When it approaches the rear of the tofu product box 121, it is detected by the infrared sensor assembly 131 installed on the side wall of the equipment. The soy milk spreading pipe 113 stops moving forward, and at this time, the infrared sensor assembly 131 is powered off and stops working.

[0136] At this time, the rotary encoder of the micro motor that propels the soy milk spreading pipe 113 forward also records the corresponding position. The system settings will also stop the motor from moving forward. The rotary encoder and the infrared sensor combination 131 back up and verify the relevant position. At the same time, the soy milk spreading pipe 113 behind automatically closes the pipe electrical control valve, and the pipe no longer flows out soy milk.

[0137] The two soy milk spreading pipes 113 move backward under the drive of the motor, returning to the stop position of the rear limit switch. During this backward movement, they pass the infrared sensor assembly 131 located behind the tofu product box 121. After passing this position, they continue moving backward a short distance and stop at the rear limit position set by the system. At this point, the infrared sensor assembly 131 is powered off and stops working.

[0138] Both soy milk spreading pipes 113 spread soy milk back and forth, and in this case, the bean curd cloth is a single layer of isolation in the soy product. Understandably, the system can also be set up with only one soy milk spreading pipe 113, in which case the bean curd cloth is equivalent to a double layer of isolation in the soy product.

[0139] After the soy milk is layered and spread, a pressing command is triggered, and the lower lifting and pressing component 122 starts. The lower lifting and pressing component 122 consists of four corner-distributed electric push rods, whose vertical lifting stroke is controlled by a rotary encoder, smoothly lifting the tofu product box 121 upwards. Simultaneously, the upper pressing plate 123, fixed above the tofu product box 121, begins to press down under the drive of a motor, forming a bidirectional synergistic pressure with the lower lifting and pressing component 122. During this process, the system monitors the pressure difference between the upper and lower parts in real time, dynamically adjusting the lifting speed to ensure uniform force on the tofu layers and to squeeze out the generated soy milk, thus completing the tofu product production.

[0140] It is understandable that, in addition to electric push rods, the lower lifting and pressing component 122 may also employ ball screw slide lifting, synchronous belt drive lifting, electric cylinder lifting, pneumatic cylinder lifting, and other different lifting power components. This application does not impose specific limitations.

[0141] During the layering of soy milk, to ensure that the required amount is met, three laser rangefinder modules 132 are installed on the top plate of the equipment frame 10. Holes (e.g., about 5mm holes) are drilled in the upper part of the tofu product box 121. Infrared laser points with a diameter larger than the diameter required for infrared emission and return can pass through the holes in the tofu product box 121 and reflect the information on the height change of the soy milk already spread inside the tofu product box 121. By installing three laser rangefinder modules 132 at different positions on the top of the tofu product box 121 (front / middle / back), the real-time height information sensed can be transmitted to the control system.

[0142] Furthermore, the touchscreen controller can be used to configure the operation of relevant equipment components, and these settings are transmitted to the control circuit board of the back-end control system.

[0143] The touchscreen controller settings can include the following: 1. The thickness of each layer of soy milk after it is flattened. The equipment comes with basic product thickness settings such as "thin dried tofu skin" and "thick dried tofu slices," but the operator can also directly adjust the thickness of each layer of soy milk on the touchscreen; 2. The thickness of each layer of bean curd cloth when flattened and not expanded, and the thickness of each layer after soaking in water, are known according to the program settings, or the thickness information of other different isolation layer materials; 3. The length, width, and height dimensions of the box and the maximum total volume of the box; 4. The number of "thin dried tofu skin" and "thick dried tofu slices" required by the operator on the touchscreen and the time required for completion are known; 5. Real-time information on how many layers of soy milk and bean curd cloth isolation layers have been spread; 6. The operator can set the running speed of the motor driving the rotating screw of the soy milk pipe at the front, back, and middle stages on the touchscreen interface. Assuming the soy milk flows at a constant speed, the thickness of the soy milk layer at relevant locations can be adjusted by varying the forward speed, such as making it thinner or thicker; 7. Allows the operator to set the overall soy milk flow rate adjustment and fine-tune the flow rate at different stages (before, during, and after) when spreading each layer of soy milk on the touch screen interface.

[0144] Understandably, when the soy milk is layered and spread, the electronic metering device on the soy milk spreading pipe 113 will record and upload information such as the volume and weight of each layer of soy milk being spread, as well as the corresponding number of times the soy milk is spread. The control system will make relevant decisions based on the above data, the total volume of the tofu product box 121 known to the system, and the total demand set by the user on the touch screen controller.

[0145] In summary, the tofu product making equipment of this embodiment uses the equipment frame 10 as the main supporting structure and integrates a soy milk spreading system 11, a tofu product box system 12, a sensor system 13 and a control system, thereby realizing the automated production of tofu products.

[0146] The soy milk spreading system 11 is located at the top of the equipment frame 10 and consists of a guide rail 111, a rotating screw 112, a soy milk spreading pipe 113, a soy milk valve, and a soy milk metering device. A micro motor drives the rotating screw 112, causing the soy milk spreading pipe 113 to reciprocate horizontally along the guide rail 111, thereby precisely controlling the spreading position and thickness of the soy milk. The soy milk spreading pipe 113 is made of food-grade material to ensure durability and high-temperature resistance, and is equipped with an electrically controlled metering device to accurately measure the soy milk flow rate.

[0147] The tofu product box system 12 is located at the bottom of the equipment frame 10 and includes a detachable tofu product box 121, a lower lifting and extrusion component 122, and an upper extrusion plate 123. Through the bidirectional synergistic pressure of the lower lifting and extrusion component 122 and the upper extrusion plate 123, the tofu product is subjected to uniform pressure and the slurry is discharged, ensuring the quality of the tofu product.

[0148] The sensor system 13 includes an infrared sensor assembly 131 and a laser rangefinder module 132, which are used to detect the movement path of the soy milk spreading pipe 113 and the soy milk level inside the tofu product box 121, respectively. By monitoring and feeding back data in real time, the control system can dynamically adjust the motor speed of the rotating screw 112 to ensure the accuracy and efficiency of soy milk spreading.

[0149] The control system is centered around a touchscreen controller, electrically connected to the control circuit board. Users can set parameters such as soy milk thickness, spreading speed, and product quantity via the touchscreen. The control system calculates and controls the equipment's operation based on these parameters. Simultaneously, the control system also features intelligent early warning and data storage functions, enabling real-time monitoring of equipment status and recording of operational data, providing strong support for optimizing the production process and improving production efficiency.

[0150] This embodiment of the application ensures that the soybean milk spreading pipe 113 moves at a uniform speed along a predetermined path through the coordinated movement of the guide rail 111 and the rotating screw 112. Combined with the real-time height feedback from the laser rangefinder module 132, precise control of the soybean milk thickness is achieved. The start / end point detection function of the infrared sensor combination 131 avoids manual intervention and improves the level of automation. The linkage control between the soybean milk metering device and the valve further ensures the accuracy of the flow rate. The overall structure integrates various systems through the frame 10 to form a closed-loop control process, solving the technical problems of low efficiency and uneven thickness in traditional manual spreading, and is suitable for industrial mass production.

[0151] In some embodiments of this application, the bottom of the equipment frame 10 is provided with a drawer 14, which is slidably connected to the equipment frame 10 via a slide rail. The side of the drawer 14 facing away from the equipment frame 10 is provided with a handle 141, and the inside of the drawer 14 is provided with load-bearing plates 142 on both sides. A micro motor is provided on the load-bearing plate 142 to support the guide rail 111 and the rotating screw 112. The tofu product box 121 is provided inside the drawer 14.

[0152] The drawer 14 serves as a storage unit for holding the tofu product box 121, and allows for convenient retrieval of the finished product through a pull-out action. The handle 141 provides a gripping point for the user, reducing the effort required to open and close the drawer. The load-bearing plate 143 serves as a support structure for the power system, used to fix the micro motor and bear the weight of the guide rail 111, the rotating screw 112, and the load during operation.

[0153] When preparing to make soy products, the operator first holds handle 141 and pushes drawer 14, causing the slider to slide along the track into the bottom of the equipment frame 10, thus closing drawer 14. After processing, the operator holds handle 141 again to pull out drawer 14, takes out the formed tofu product box 121, and completes one processing cycle.

[0154] This embodiment utilizes a sliding connection design between the drawer 14 and the equipment frame 10, eliminating the need for bending over or disassembling parts when taking out and placing the tofu product box 121. This reduces the labor intensity of operators, improves work efficiency, and enables quick removal and short-term storage of tofu products. The load-bearing design of the load-bearing plate 142 ensures structural stability, while also allowing for quick manual operation, resulting in lower costs and energy consumption.

[0155] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figures 4-6 As shown, it also includes: a bean curd cloth laying system 20, which includes: a bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201, a tension sensor and a bean curd cloth release motor 202.

[0156] The rotating shaft 201 of the bean curd cloth is slidably mounted on the guide rail 111, sharing the same track with the bean curd milk spreading pipe 113. It moves back and forth along the track via a rotating screw and drive motor, used for winding, releasing, and laying the bean curd cloth. The rotating shaft 201 is wound with the bean curd cloth. One end integrates a tension sensor to monitor the slack of the bean curd cloth and feeds the data back to the control circuit board; the other end is connected to a bean curd cloth release motor 202, which drives the rotating shaft 201 to rotate and release the bean curd cloth. A rotary encoder is also installed to record the number of rotations in real time and feed it back to the control circuit board, providing data support for the accurate calculation of the amount of bean curd cloth released. The surface of the rotating shaft 201 is treated with an anti-slip texture to ensure tight winding of the bean curd cloth and no slippage during release. It is made of food-grade stainless steel, meeting the hygiene standards for tofu product production.

[0157] The tension sensor is a miniature tensile sensor with a food-grade stainless steel fully encapsulated structure. It is installed at the end extension of the rotating shaft 201 of the bean curd cloth, directly acting on the release end of the bean curd cloth. A high-sensitivity strain gauge monitors the tension value of the bean curd cloth in real time. The sensor data is transmitted to the control circuit board via cable. The system dynamically adjusts the speed of the bean curd cloth release motor 202 based on a preset tension threshold. When the tension is too low, the release speed is increased to avoid wrinkles; when the tension is too high, the speed is slowed down to prevent breakage, forming a closed-loop feedback control.

[0158] The release motor 202 for the bean curd cloth is a stepper motor, rigidly connected to the end of the rotating shaft 201 of the bean curd cloth via a coupling. Its speed is adjusted by the control circuit board based on the feedback signal from the tension sensor and the rotation data of the rotary encoder. The motor is equipped with a reduction gear set to ensure low-speed, high-torque output, meeting the requirement of slow and uniform release of the bean curd cloth.

[0159] Specifically, before spreading the soy milk, the system starts, and the rotating shaft 201 of the bean curd cloth moves along the guide rail 111 to a designated position above the tofu product box 121. At this time, the bean curd cloth release motor 202 drives the rotating shaft 201 of the bean curd cloth to rotate, and releases the bean curd cloth synchronously. The tension sensor monitors the tension value of the bean curd cloth and transmits it to the control circuit board. If an abnormal tension is detected, the control circuit board adjusts the speed of the motor 202 and the count of the rotary encoder to adjust the release speed and release amount of the bean curd cloth to ensure that the bean curd cloth is laid inside the tofu product box 121.

[0160] This embodiment addresses the technical problems of low efficiency, easy contamination, and poor molding quality caused by uneven tension of the bean curd cloth in traditional manual laying. By using the slide rail drive of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201, encoder measurement, real-time feedback from the tension sensor, and closed-loop control of the release motor 202, the bean curd cloth acts as an isolation layer to prevent direct contact between the soy milk and the tofu product box 121, facilitating subsequent layered extrusion molding. The three work together to ensure the accuracy of bean curd cloth laying, effectively avoiding the problems of low efficiency and easy contamination of traditional manual laying. At the same time, the application of food-grade materials ensures the hygiene and safety of tofu products, providing reliable technical support for the continuous and standardized production of multi-layer tofu products.

[0161] In some embodiments of this application, the bean curd cloth laying system 20 further includes: a first electromagnetic coupler and a rotary encoder. The first electromagnetic coupler is installed at one end of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201, between the bean curd cloth release motor 202 and the rotary encoder, and realizes power transmission or disconnection through electromagnetic attraction, and controls the direction and speed of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201.

[0162] When the first electromagnetic coupler is energized, its internal armature engages, rigidly connecting the output shaft of the bean curd cloth release motor 202 to the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201, driving the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201 to rotate according to the preset direction and speed; when the power is off, the armature disengages, the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201 stops rotating, and returns to a free state, which can adapt to the angle adjustment requirements during pressure rod action or single-layer laying. The rotary encoder is connected to the tail of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201 through a coupling, and adopts an incremental encoding structure to record the number of rotations, speed and direction of the shaft in real time, and feeds back the data to the control circuit board in the form of pulse signals.

[0163] During the laying process, the control circuit board calculates the release amount of the bean curd cloth based on the preset dimensions of the tofu product box 121, the number of layers, and the specifications of the bean curd cloth, combined with the rotation data fed back by the rotary encoder, using the formula "Release Length = Number of Rotations × Shaft Circumference". When multiple layers of bean curd cloth are required, the first electromagnetic coupler remains energized, and the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201 is electromagnetically attracted to follow the preset direction and speed to ensure uniform laying of the bean curd cloth, preventing the bean curd cloth from rolling up and significantly improving laying efficiency. When the first electromagnetic coupler is de-energized, the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201 can be freely adjusted to determine the angle and position of the bean curd cloth release, avoiding bean curd cloth twisting or uneven tension. In addition, the real-time data from the rotary encoder is also used to verify the feedback value of the tension sensor. When the deviation between the two data exceeds the threshold, the system automatically alarms and adjusts the control parameters to further ensure laying accuracy.

[0164] Understandably, even with the same tofu product box 121 and the same rotation speed of the bean curd cloth release motor 202, the released length of bean curd cloth will vary significantly when the diameter of the rolled bean curd cloth on the rotating shaft 201 is different. Therefore, a "bean curd cloth shaft motor release speed model" can be established in the control system to determine how to control the rotation speed of the bean curd cloth release motor 202 based on the length of the material used and the diameter of the product wound from this batch of material.

[0165] Specifically, the model is based on the known length, width, and height of the bean product box, and transmits the thickness of each soy milk spread through real-time tracking data from the laser rangefinder module 132. The release rate is then calculated based on the diameter and length of each roll of bean curd cloth. For example, what diameter can be formed by winding 100 meters of dry, new bean curd cloth in a slightly taut state? And what is the final diameter of the bean curd cloth if it is not taut and is wound loosely? In this way, the release rate can be matched by establishing a relevant model on the control system.

[0166] This embodiment achieves flexible switching between single-layer and multi-layer laying modes through the power switching function of the first electromagnetic coupler, reducing the number of motors and lowering equipment complexity. The rotary encoder's rotation recording and direction monitoring functions ensure precise control of the bean curd cloth length, avoiding material waste. It solves the problem of difficult power coordination during multi-layer laying, and further improves system reliability and laying accuracy through data cross-validation.

[0167] In some embodiments of this application, the device further includes a pressure bar system 21. The pressure bar system 21 includes a low-position chain roller shaft 211 with a pressure bar, a high-position chain roller shaft 212 with a pressure bar, and a pressure bar motor 213. The high-position chain roller shaft 212 is suspended directly above the soy milk spreading pipe 113 and is used to press the starting end of the bean curd cloth; the low-position chain roller shaft 211 is located on both sides of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201 and is used to press the bean curd cloth on the inner edge of the tofu product box 121. The pressure bar motor 213 drives the low-position chain roller shaft 211 and the high-position chain roller shaft 212 to rise and fall. A pressure bar encoder is connected to the tail of the motor to record the positions of the low-position chain roller shaft 211 and the high-position chain roller shaft 212 with pressure bars.

[0168] Specifically, the low-position chain roller shaft 211 with pressure bar uses a stainless steel metal rod as its shaft, with a coiled metal chain wound around its surface. It is connected to the guide rail 111 of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201 via slider accessories on both sides, and moves synchronously with the back-and-forth movement of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201. Its control logic is based on the height of the soy milk liquid level fed back by the laser rangefinder module 132. After calculation by the control system, the low-position chain roller shaft 211 is driven to descend to a position 3-5mm away from the liquid surface. Therefore, when the low-position chain roller shaft 211 with pressure bar descends, it can flatten the soy milk liquid to avoid accumulation; when the low-position chain roller shaft 211 with pressure bar contacts the edge of the tofu product box 121, it presses the edge of the bean curd cloth with the chain to ensure that it is tightly adhered to the soy milk layer.

[0169] The high-position chain roller shaft 212 with pressure bar also adopts a stainless steel metal rod and chain structure. It is suspended on the front and rear sides of the upper part of the tofu product box 121 through an extension accessory, and its tail is connected to a micro motor and pressure bar encoder. When the bean curd cloth rotating shaft 201 begins to release the bean curd cloth, the high-position chain roller shaft 212 with pressure bar is driven to descend by the micro motor, pressing down on the starting end of the bean curd cloth. At this time, the matching tension sensor can detect the tension change of the bean curd cloth in real time to prevent the starting end from shifting or loosening. The pressure bar encoder records the descent position of the high-position chain roller shaft 212 with pressure bar to ensure that the clamping force is moderate, preventing the bean curd cloth from slipping and avoiding excessive squeezing that would cause soy milk to overflow.

[0170] The pressure rod motor 213 is a servo motor, connected via a coupling to the transmission mechanisms of the chain roller shaft 211 with the pressure rod at the lower position and the chain roller shaft 212 with the pressure rod at the higher position, and has forward and reverse rotation functions and speed adjustment capability. The pressure rod motor 213 integrates a pressure rod encoder at the tail end, which records the lifting position of the shaft in real time and feeds it back to the control circuit board to form a closed-loop control.

[0171] The control system's touchscreen has a lever enable / disable option. When the laser rangefinder module 132 detects an abnormal height at the corner of the bean curd cloth, the control system automatically adjusts the motor speed based on the encoder's position data, driving the chain roller shaft 211 or 212 to precisely press down and eliminate wrinkles or warping. If the corner height is normal, the lever system is automatically disabled via the touchscreen option to avoid unnecessary intervention.

[0172] This embodiment achieves double compression of the bean curd cloth's edge and starting end through the coordinated operation of the low-position pressure bar chain roller shaft 211 and the high-position pressure bar chain roller shaft 212. The low-position pressure bar chain roller shaft 211 ensures a smooth edge, while the high-position pressure bar chain roller shaft 212 prevents displacement of the starting end. The automatic adjustment function of the pressure bar system 21 ensures the flatness of the bean curd cloth. The position recording function of the pressure bar encoder enables precise control of the pressure bar height, avoiding excessive compression. The linkage between the laser rangefinder module 132 and the pressure bar system 21 solves the problem of the bean curd cloth easily lifting after laying, leading to soy milk leakage, thus improving the product forming quality.

[0173] Based on the above embodiments, this application provides a first working mode for a tofu product making device. The complete process of the first working mode is summarized as follows:

[0174] S100: Equipment initialization and parameter setting: The user selects the type of tofu product (thin dried tofu skin or thick dried tofu slices) through the touch screen controller and inputs parameters such as soy milk thickness and spreading speed.

[0175] S200: Soy Milk Spreading and Level Control: The soy milk spreading system 11 is activated, and the rotating screw 112 drives the soy milk spreading pipe 113 to move along the guide rail 111. When the infrared sensor assembly 131 detects the starting signal of the soy milk spreading pipe 113, the soy milk valve automatically opens, and the soy milk metering device begins to measure. During the spreading process, the laser rangefinder module 132 monitors the soy milk level in the soy milk product box 121 in real time, and the control system dynamically adjusts the motor speed of the rotating screw 112 to ensure a uniform soy milk layer thickness. When the soy milk spreading pipe 113 reaches the end point or reaches the set height threshold, the soy milk valve closes, and the soy milk spreading pipe 113 retracts.

[0176] S300: Automatic Bean Curd Sheet Laying: The bean curd sheet laying system 20 starts, and the bean curd sheet rotating shaft 201 moves along the guide rail 111 to above the bean curd product box 121. The bean curd sheet release motor 202 drives the bean curd sheet rotating shaft 201 to rotate and release the bean curd sheet. The tension sensor monitors the slack of the bean curd sheet in real time and feeds back to the control circuit board, and the system adjusts the release speed accordingly. If multiple layers of bean curd sheet are required, the first electromagnetic coupler is energized, and the bean curd sheet rotating shaft 201 moves according to the preset direction and speed; when laying a single layer, the first electromagnetic coupler is de-energized, and the bean curd sheet rotating shaft 201 rotates freely and the angle can be adjusted. The rotary encoder records the number of rotations of the bean curd sheet rotating shaft 201 and accurately calculates the release length of the bean curd sheet.

[0177] S400: Flattening Process of the Pressure Rod System: The pressure rod system 21 engages, with the high-position chain roller shaft 212 pressing the starting end of the bean curd cloth, and the low-position chain roller shaft 211 pressing the inner edge of the soy milk / tofu product box 121. The pressure rod motor 213 drives the chain roller shafts 212 and 211 at both positions to rise and fall, and the pressure rod encoder records the position data. The control system automatically enables / disables the pressure rod system based on feedback from the laser rangefinder module 132: if the height of the bean curd cloth corners is normal, the pressure rod is disabled; if abnormal and the user enables the pressure rod option, the pressure rod system is activated to eliminate wrinkles or warping.

[0178] S500: Extrusion Molding and Drainage Control: After the spreading and bean curd cloth are laid, the lower lifting extrusion component 122 and the upper extrusion plate 123 work together to apply a set pressure and time to the bean curd layer. The extrusion parameters (pressure, time) are automatically adjusted by the control system according to user input.

[0179] S600: Data Recording and Optimization Feedback: The control system records the data from this operation (such as spreading speed, compression pressure, amount of bean curd cloth used, etc.) and displays optimization suggestions such as "reduce component usage" on the touchscreen controller. Users can adjust subsequent parameter settings based on these suggestions to achieve continuous optimization of the production process.

[0180] This working mode achieves efficient and precise production of thin / thick dried tofu products through fully automated control of the entire process, including soy milk spreading, bean curd cloth isolation, pressing rod flattening, and extrusion molding. Combined with sensor feedback and dynamic parameter adjustment, it solves the problems of low efficiency and uneven thickness in traditional manual production.

[0181] Furthermore, the tofu product making equipment of this application also provides a second working mode, which is implemented in conjunction with the following embodiments.

[0182] Specifically, in some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figures 7-10As shown, the equipment also includes a sheet plate storage system 30 and a sheet plate transport system 31. The sheet plate storage system 30 includes a sheet plate storage drawer 301, a drawer lifting electric push rod 302, a drawer guide rod 303, a limiting block 304, and a lifting plate 305. The sheet plate storage drawer 301 is connected to the bottom of the frame 10 via a slide rail, and the drawer lifting electric push rod 302 and four guide rods 303 are installed inside. The lifting plate 305 is placed inside the sheet plate storage drawer 301, where the sheet plates are laid in layers, and the limiting block 304 restricts the position of the sheet plates.

[0183] Specifically, the sheet material storage drawer 301 is made of stainless steel, with both the drawer door and bottom plate being metal structures. The bottom plate surface is covered with dense perforations for easy drainage. The sheet material storage drawer 301 is slidably connected to the bottom of the equipment frame 10 via multiple sets of stainless steel slide rails, ensuring smooth pushing and pulling. Its bottom is fixed to the equipment frame 10 by metal limit pads to prevent sliding and deviation. The drawer lifting electric push rod 302 is fixed to the bottom of the sheet material storage drawer 301 and connected to the top of the lifting plate 305. The electric push rod 302 is driven by a motor to extend and retract, realizing the automatic lifting and lowering of the sheet material. The electric push rod 302 is equipped with an encoder, which precisely controls the lifting height through pulse counting to ensure accurate docking of the sheet material with the sheet material transport system 31.

[0184] The drawer guide rods 303 consist of four vertically installed metal rods located at the four corners of the sheet metal storage drawer 301. They are fixed to the equipment frame 10 with flat-head screws and pass through the pre-drilled holes in the lifting plate 305, ensuring that the lifting plate 305 remains horizontal during lifting and lowering, preventing tilting or jamming. The limit block 304, made of wear-resistant metal, is fixed to the inner wall of the sheet metal storage drawer 301 and the surface of the lifting plate 305. Its dimensions match the edge of the sheet metal, physically preventing horizontal movement of the sheet metal during transport. When the sheet metal storage drawer 301 is pulled out or pushed in, the limit block 304 guides the sheet metal into the predetermined position, ensuring positioning accuracy. The surface of the lifting plate 305 is smoothed to reduce sliding friction of the sheet metal. Its lifting and lowering is controlled by the control system according to program instructions. When additional sheet metal is needed, the drawer lifting electric push rod 302 drives the plate to rise to the interface height of the sheet metal transport system 31, achieving seamless connection with the sheet metal transport system 31. The sheet conveying system 31 is connected at one end to the outlet of drawer 301, and at the other end extends directly above the tofu product box 121.

[0185] This embodiment solves the problems of low efficiency and easy contamination associated with traditional manual handling by centrally storing and automatically replenishing the thin sheet storage system 30. The coordinated action of the drawer lifting electric push rod 302 and the guide rod 303 ensures the vertical stacking stability of the thin sheets; the limiting block 304 prevents positional deviation during transportation. Combined with the thin sheet transportation system 31, precise delivery of the thin sheets is achieved, forming a fully automated control process with the soy milk spreading system 11 and the bean curd cloth laying system 20, significantly improving the production efficiency and quality consistency of both thin and thick dried tofu skins.

[0186] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 11 As shown, the sheet metal storage system 30 also includes an infrared laser rangefinder and an electronic scale 306; the infrared laser rangefinder is used to monitor the quantity and height of the sheet metal. Specifically, the infrared laser rangefinder emits infrared light and receives reflected signals; simultaneously, the infrared beam in the vertical direction of the infrared laser rangefinder can monitor the stacking height and quantity of the sheet metal.

[0187] When the remaining number of sheet metal sheets falls below a preset threshold (e.g., 50 sheets) or the stacking height drops below the safety line, the infrared laser rangefinder transmits a signal to the control circuit board, triggering the replenishment prompt function of the touchscreen controller. The prompt may manifest as a pop-up window displaying the message "Insufficient sheet metal sheets, please replenish promptly," or simultaneously activating an audible and visual alarm, alerting the operator through flashing yellow warning lights and intermittent buzzer sounds. The control system also records the sheet metal sheet consumption rate and predicts replenishment time using algorithms. A "one-click replenishment" shortcut button can be provided on the touchscreen controller. When the operator clicks this button, the sheet metal sheet storage drawer 301 automatically pops out to its maximum opening position for quick replenishment.

[0188] The electronic scale 306 is fixedly mounted on the lifting plate 305 and placed below the sheet plate. The electronic scale 306 is configured to monitor the weight of the sheet plates in the sheet plate storage drawer 301. Based on the standard weight of a single sheet plate, the total weight monitored can be converted into the real-time number of sheet plates in the drawer. In actual use, the electronic scale collects the total weight of the drawer and the sheet plates inside, and then divides it by the standard weight of a single sheet plate to obtain the number of sheet plates.

[0189] The infrared laser rangefinder calculates the quantity by measuring the height of the stacked thin sheets inside the drawer (based on the standard thickness of a single sheet). The two methods work on different principles. The weight conversion result of the electronic scale and the height conversion result of the infrared laser rangefinder can be mutually verified. When the two results are consistent, it indicates that the number of thin sheets is accurately counted. If there is a discrepancy, it suggests that there may be uneven thickness of the thin sheets, abnormal weight, or improper stacking, which requires further investigation.

[0190] This embodiment utilizes infrared sensors to achieve real-time monitoring of the quantity of thin tofu sheets. Combined with the weight detection of an electronic scale, this assists in verifying quantity accuracy and prevents production interruptions due to material depletion. A replenishment reminder function alerts operators to replenish supplies promptly, ensuring production continuity and improving production management efficiency. Furthermore, the infrared laser rangefinder's infrared detection technology offers advantages such as non-contact operation, high precision, and fast response, making it suitable for monitoring the quantity of lightweight, flat materials like thin tofu sheets. The electronic scale's monitoring of individual sheet weight further ensures product specification consistency, collectively guaranteeing the continuous production quality of both thin and thick dried tofu skins.

[0191] In some embodiments of this application, the sheet plate has a dense permeable mesh, and the sheet plate is one of a silicone rubber sheet reinforced with stainless steel wire, a PVDC thin plastic sheet, and a 304 stainless steel microporous plate covered with gauze.

[0192] When using silicone rubber sheets reinforced with stainless steel wire, the sheet thickness is 2mm, with an internally embedded stainless steel wire woven mesh. This retains the flexibility of silicone rubber while addressing the insufficient rigidity of pure silicone rubber through the metal mesh. This material can withstand 90℃ high-temperature soy milk and quickly returns to a flat state after bending, making it suitable for layup scenarios requiring frequent shape adjustments.

[0193] When using polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) thin plastic sheets, the sheet thickness is 2mm, and dense permeable holes are directly processed through molding. PVDC material has excellent chemical stability, and its performance does not degrade after long-term contact with high-temperature soy milk. Its easy processing characteristics result in a uniform distribution of permeable holes, making it suitable for the requirements of water permeability and softness in the production of thin dried tofu skin.

[0194] When using a 304 stainless steel microporous plate covered with gauze, the plate thickness is 0.5-0.8mm. It is made of 1 / 4H to 1 / 2H hard stainless steel, and dense micropores are formed through a punching process. The surface is covered with fine cotton gauze and reinforced with double layers around the edges. This structure ensures water permeability while preventing the metal edges from scratching operators through the gauze layer. It is suitable for applications requiring high extrusion pressure in the production of thick dried tofu slices.

[0195] All materials used comply with food contact material regulations. The permeable mesh design ensures that water can easily seep out during the extrusion of each layer of soy milk, improving the density of the soy products. During production, the thin sheet acts as an isolation layer, laid out simultaneously with the soy milk. After extrusion, it easily separates from the soy products, enabling continuous production.

[0196] This embodiment ensures the durability and permeability of the thin sheet through the design of specific materials and structures. The stainless steel wire-reinforced silicone rubber sheet combines flexibility and strength, the PVDC plastic sheet is resistant to chemical corrosion, and the 304 stainless steel microporous sheet covered with gauze improves surface smoothness. The permeable mesh structure allows water in the soy milk to drain quickly, forming a uniform tofu layer, solving the problems of easy deformation and poor permeability of traditional thin sheets, and improving product quality.

[0197] In some embodiments of this application, the sheet metal transport system 31 includes: a sheet metal transport channel 311, a transport roller 312, and a roller motor 313. The sheet metal transport channel 311 is an arc-shaped or straight channel, with the transport roller 312 embedded inside. The surface of the roller is covered with a rubber layer to increase friction. The roller motor 313 drives the transport roller 312 to rotate, pushing the sheet metal along the sheet metal transport channel 311.

[0198] Specifically, the sheet material transport channel 311 adopts an arc-shaped design, consisting of two side uprights, a large outer arc-shaped plate, and a small inner arc-shaped plate. The channel frame is made of stainless steel or rigid engineering plastic, and its internal net dimensions match the size of the sheet material with a small margin to ensure smooth passage. The upper part of the sheet material transport channel 311 connects to the sheet material storage drawer 301, and the lower part extends directly above the tofu product box 121, realizing full automation of the sheet material process from storage to laying.

[0199] The conveyor roller 312 is a small-diameter, thick-walled stainless steel tube roller shaft, with a diameter of 10mm and a wall thickness of 2mm. Rolling bearings are installed on both sides to ensure flexible rotation. The conveyor roller 312 is fixed to the vertical edge of the "U-shaped" slot in the metal frame by compression springs at both ends and a top cover. Multiple sets of conveyor rollers 312 are set in each section of the conveying channel. Each conveyor roller 312 is driven by an independent roller motor 313, forming a segmented conveying structure.

[0200] The roller motor 313 is a miniature motor with forward and reverse rotation functions, equipped with an encoder. The roller motor 313 drives the transport roller 312 to rotate, and the encoder records the number of rotations of the roller motor 313 in real time and feeds the data back to the control circuit board to accurately control the transport speed and position of the sheet.

[0201] In this embodiment, the arc-shaped sheet transport channel 311 adapts to the spatial layout requirements of the equipment, the transport roller 312 improves the operating efficiency of the sheet, and the combined effect of the roller motor 313 and the encoder realizes the precise control of the sheet position. The segmented conveying structure further ensures the stability of transportation, improves the handling efficiency, and enhances the level of production automation.

[0202] In some embodiments of this application, the sheet metal transport system 31 further includes a roller pressure sensor and a roller conductive slip ring to achieve precise pressure control and stable signal transmission during the transport process.

[0203] The surface of the transport roller 312 is covered with a 4mm thick rubber layer. The compressive elasticity of the rubber layer can adapt to changes in the thickness of the sheet metal, preventing slippage or jamming during transportation. The roller pressure sensor is a miniature thin-film pressure sensor, integrated inside the rubber layer of the transport roller 312. It is deployed at multiple points along the length of the stainless steel tube shaft, in the middle and on both sides, to monitor the contact pressure between the transport roller 312 and the sheet metal in real time. The roller pressure sensor circuit is led out through pre-set holes in the stainless steel tube and transmitted to the control circuit board via the roller's conductive slip ring.

[0204] A conductive slip ring is installed at the tail end of the transport roller 312. Its inner rotating end is connected to the roller pressure sensor circuit, and its outer stationary end is connected to the control system interface, ensuring stable transmission of pressure signals even when the transport roller 312 is rotating. When the sheet metal contacts the transport roller 312, the roller pressure sensor converts the pressure value into an electrical signal, which is fed back to the control system in real time through the conductive slip ring. The control circuit board adjusts the roller speed according to the pressure signal: when the real-time pressure value is continuously lower than the preset lower threshold, the current transport roller 312 speed is reduced and the adjacent downstream transport roller 312 is activated to accelerate; when the pressure value exceeds the preset upper threshold, the current transport roller 312 is stopped and reverse rotation is triggered to release the pressure.

[0205] This embodiment achieves precise monitoring of contact pressure during the transport of thin sheet metal through the integrated design of a roller pressure sensor. The introduction of a conductive slip ring on the roller ensures the real-time performance and stability of signal transmission and pressure data. These two components, combined with the roller motor 313 and encoder, form a closed-loop control system, enabling real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment of contact pressure during transport. This prevents the thin sheet metal from stalling due to insufficient pressure or being damaged due to excessive pressure, thus improving the automation level and production reliability of thin sheet metal transport.

[0206] In some embodiments of this application, the sheet metal transport system 31 further includes: an infrared sensor for the transport channel; to achieve accurate position monitoring and anomaly handling during the sheet metal transport process. The infrared sensor for the transport channel adopts an infrared through-beam design, installed in pairs at both ends of each transport roller 312, with the probe facing the transport position of the transport roller 312, forming a transverse infrared detection beam. The sensor's power and signal lines are connected to designated interfaces on the control circuit board to ensure stable signal transmission.

[0207] When the sheet enters the sheet transport channel 311, the infrared beam of the transport channel infrared sensor on the corresponding transport roller 312 is blocked, and the transport channel infrared sensor transmits a signal to the control system. The control system calculates the sheet length in real time by using the duration of beam blocking and the encoder data of the transport roller 312, and compares it with the preset standard length. If multiple sheets are detected to be stacked (the beam blocking time exceeds the single sheet passage threshold), the control system immediately triggers the downstream transport roller 312 to reverse, using the friction between the transport roller 312 and the sheet to separate the excess sheets and prevent stacking jamming. If the sheet length exceeds the standard (the beam blocking range exceeds the sensor spacing), the system stops transport and activates a red alarm light and a buzzer alarm, while displaying an error code on the touch screen controller to prompt the operator for handling.

[0208] This embodiment avoids blockages caused by stacking or process errors caused by exceeding length limits through real-time monitoring by infrared sensors in the transportation channel, ensuring the standardization of the transportation process and product consistency, improving the stability of automated production, realizing precise adjustment of the thin sheet position and rapid response to anomalies, and further ensuring the continuous production quality of thin dried tofu skin and thick dried tofu slices.

[0209] In some embodiments of this application, the sheet metal transport system 31 further includes a second electromagnetic coupler to achieve flexible power control of the transport roller 312. The second electromagnetic coupler is installed between the stainless steel tube rubber transport roller 312 and the roller motor 313, and is connected by a coupling to ensure smooth power transmission. When the second electromagnetic coupler is energized, the transport roller 312 rotates according to a preset direction and speed, driving the sheet metal along the sheet metal transport channel 311; when the second electromagnetic coupler is de-energized, the power connection between the transport roller 312 and the roller motor 313 is disconnected, the transport roller 312 stops rotating and enters a free state, allowing for manual position adjustment or handling of abnormal situations.

[0210] The control system dynamically controls the on / off state of the second electromagnetic coupler based on the position signal of the sheet detected by the infrared sensor. For example, when the sheet reaches the predetermined position, the second electromagnetic coupler is de-energized, and the transport roller 312 stops rotating to prevent excessively long sheet transport. When it is necessary to adjust the sheet spacing, the second electromagnetic coupler is energized, and the transport roller 312 rotates synchronously to ensure uniform sheet distribution. In addition, the encoder records the number of rotations of the roller motor 313, which, in conjunction with the control logic of the second electromagnetic coupler, enables precise adjustment of the sheet transport speed.

[0211] This embodiment solves the problem of power coordination difficulties in multi-roller conveyor systems by utilizing the power switching function of the second electromagnetic coupler, thereby improving the flexibility and reliability of thin sheet conveying. It enables flexible switching between independent rotation of a single roller and synchronous rotation of multiple rollers. Synchronous rotation is suitable for long-distance transport, improving efficiency; independent rotation is suitable for local adjustments, avoiding system downtime due to a single roller failure, thus improving equipment reliability and maintenance convenience. The coordinated control of the second electromagnetic coupler with the roller motor 313 and the infrared sensor in the conveying channel enables real-time adjustment of the thin sheet position and rapid response to anomalies, further ensuring the continuous production quality of both thin and thick dried tofu skins.

[0212] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figures 10-12 As shown, the equipment also includes a lifting component system 32, which is disposed between the sheet conveying system 31 and the tofu product box 121. The lifting component system 32 includes an upper structural plate 321, a middle structural plate 323, a lower structural plate 322, and a lifting motor 325.

[0213] The upper structural plate 321 and the lower structural plate 322 are fixed parallel to each other at the bottom of the top plate of the frame 10 and connected by four corner bolts to form a fixed spacing. The upper structural plate 321 and the lower structural plate 322 are assembled by multiple sets of needle rollers to form a "double-layer longitudinal needle roller guide rail structure plate". The needle rollers are installed longitudinally along the length direction to ensure smooth sliding of the middle structural plate 323.

[0214] The intermediate layer structural plate 323 is slidably nested between the upper layer structural plate 321 and the lower layer structural plate 322. Its inner edge is processed with a stepped thin edge step. The step surface engages with the edge of the thin plate and restricts the front displacement to prevent the thin plate from shifting during transportation.

[0215] A centrally located intermediate layer rack and pinion guide 324 is fixed to the intermediate layer structural plate 323, with its teeth facing upwards and meshing with the lifting gear 326. A lifting motor 325 is mounted on the top support of the upper layer structural plate 321, with its output shaft passing vertically downwards through the upper layer structural plate 321 and its end fixedly connected to the lifting gear 326. When the motor 325 starts, the gear 326 rotates, driving the intermediate layer rack and pinion guide 324, which in turn causes the intermediate layer structural plate 323 to slide horizontally along the needle roller guide, thus achieving the lifting and releasing action of the thin plate.

[0216] The control system monitors the number of rotations of the lifting motor 325 in real time to control the sliding position of the intermediate layer structure plate 323. When the sheet is transported above the lifting component system 32, the lifting motor 325 drives the intermediate layer structure plate 323 to extend inward, with the stepped platform supporting the edge of the sheet; upon release, the lifting motor 325 reverses, the intermediate layer structure plate 323 slides outward, and the sheet falls into the tofu product box 121 under gravity. A miniature electromagnetic clutch is installed between the motor 325 and the gear 326, which can quickly cut off power transmission in abnormal situations to ensure equipment safety.

[0217] This embodiment solves the problems of easy jamming and inaccurate positioning of the lifting mechanism by cooperating with the needle roller guide rail and the gear and rack transmission structure. The stepped thin-edge step design effectively restricts the displacement of the thin sheet, and the coordinated control with the thin sheet transportation system 31 realizes the full automation of the thin sheet from transportation to laying, which significantly improves the production efficiency and quality stability of thin dried tofu skin and thick dried tofu slices.

[0218] In some embodiments of this application, the lifting component system 32 further includes a lifting encoder and a lifting infrared sensor to achieve precise control and anomaly detection during the release process of the thin plate. The lifting encoder is installed at the tail of the lifting motor 325 and connected to the shaft of the lifting motor 325 via a coupling. It records the number of rotations of the lifting motor 325 in real time and feeds the displacement back to the control circuit board. The encoder data is used to dynamically adjust the speed of the lifting motor 325 to ensure that the intermediate layer structural plate 323 slides at a uniform speed, avoiding positional displacement of the thin plate due to speed fluctuations.

[0219] An infrared sensor is embedded inside the stepped thin-edge step of the intermediate layer structural plate 323, employing an infrared through-beam design to vertically detect the edge position of the thin plate. When the thin plate completely falls into the tofu product box 121, the sensor outputs a position verification signal to the control system; if the thin plate is still partially stuck on the step, the system extends the running time of the motor 325 until it is completely detached.

[0220] The control circuit board compares the sliding displacement fed back by the encoder with the position verification signal from the infrared sensor. When the deviation between the two exceeds the set tolerance (e.g., ±1mm), the system immediately stops the lifting motor 325 and triggers a reverse reset action. At the same time, an error code is displayed on the touch screen controller, and a buzzer alarm is activated. In addition, the lifting infrared sensor also has an auxiliary detection function for the sheet length. If multiple sheets are found to be lifted simultaneously, the system will control the transport roller 312 to reverse, separate the excess sheets, and then continue the release action.

[0221] This embodiment achieves precise control and anomaly detection during the release process of the thin plate by combining a lifting encoder and an infrared sensor. Dynamic adjustment of the displacement ensures the uniformity of the release speed, avoiding damage to the thin plate due to excessive speed; deviation detection between the position verification signal and the displacement ensures the accuracy of the release position, solving the problem of uncontrollable release process in traditional equipment and improving system reliability and safety.

[0222] Based on the above embodiments, the tofu product making equipment of this application provides a second working mode, and the entire process can be summarized as follows:

[0223] S100: Equipment Initialization and Parameter Setting: The operator selects the type of tofu product (thin dried tofu skin or thick dried tofu slices) via the touchscreen controller and simultaneously adjusts the spreading thickness, extrusion pressure, and extrusion time parameters. The infrared laser rangefinder in the thin sheet storage drawer 301 monitors the number of thin sheets in real time, and triggers a replenishment prompt if the number falls below a threshold.

[0224] S200: Sheet Plate Transportation and Positioning: The drawer-lifting electric push rod 302 of the sheet plate storage system 30 lifts the sheet plate on the lifting plate 305 to the picking position. The transport roller 312 of the sheet plate transport system 31 rotates under the drive of the roller motor 313, and transports the sheet plate along the transport channel 311 by the friction between the surface rubber layer and the sheet plate. The infrared sensor in the transport channel monitors the position and length of the sheet plate. If stacking or excessive length is detected, it triggers the downstream transport roller 312 to reverse and separate or to stop the alarm.

[0225] S300: Thin Sheet Lifting and Release: After the thin sheet enters the lifting component system 32, the stepped thin edge of the intermediate layer structural plate 323 engages with its edge, lifting the infrared sensor to verify the position and output a signal. The lifting motor 325 drives the gear 326 to mesh with the intermediate layer rack guide rail 324, driving the intermediate layer structural plate 323 to slide outward along the needle roller guide rail, uniformly releasing the thin sheet into the tofu product box 121. The lifting encoder provides real-time feedback on the sliding displacement, dynamically adjusting the motor speed to ensure release accuracy.

[0226] S400: Soy Milk Spreading and Isolation Layer Laying: The rotating screw 112 of the soy milk spreading system 11 moves under the drive of a micro motor. The soy milk spreading pipe 113 is positioned directly above the thin sheet plate via the guide rail 111. The soy milk valve opens, and soy milk is spread according to the set thickness. The infrared sensor combination 131 monitors the spreading path, and the laser rangefinder module 132 detects the soy milk height inside the tofu product box 121. The control system dynamically corrects the spreading speed to ensure that each layer of soy milk is evenly covered.

[0227] S500: Multi-layer cycle and extrusion molding: Repeat steps S200-S400, alternately laying thin sheets and soy milk to form a multi-layer structure. After completing the set number of layers, the lower lifting extrusion member 122 and the upper extrusion plate 123 extrude the composite layer inside the tofu product box 121.

[0228] S600: Product Output and Data Recording: After extrusion, the tofu product box 121 completes its final shaping through an independent drain valve or natural seepage, and the operator removes the finished product. The control system records data such as the spreading thickness and extrusion pressure of this operation, and provides optimization suggestions on the touch screen controller, adjusting subsequent parameters based on user feedback.

[0229] The second working mode provided in this application achieves fully automated production of thin dried tofu skin / thick dried tofu slices through the coordinated control of various systems, solving the problems of low efficiency and uneven thickness in traditional manual operation, and significantly improving product consistency and production efficiency.

[0230] In some embodiments of this application, the air blower installed with the laser rangefinder module 132 employs a multi-stage airflow design to ensure the cleanliness and stability of the laser measurement channel. The air blower is made of stainless steel and is fixed to the side wall of the housing of the laser rangefinder module 132. Its air outlet is aligned with the lens surface at an angle of 15°-30° to form a tangential spiral airflow layer.

[0231] The air blowpipe consists of a primary air blowpipe and a secondary air blowpipe. The primary air blowpipe shines directly onto the lens surface, using a high-speed airflow to strip away condensed water mist or soy milk splatter. The secondary air blowpipe surrounds the laser penetration hole in a ring shape, continuously supplying dry air into the measurement channel, forming a positive pressure barrier to prevent external steam or dust from entering.

[0232] The air supply system of the air blowpipe consists of an air tank and an electric pump. The air tank has a built-in pressure sensor, and the start and stop of the electric pump are adjusted by the control circuit board to ensure stable compressed air pressure. When the laser rangefinder module 132 detects abnormal measurement data, the control system automatically triggers the intermittent purging function of the air blowpipe: the primary air blowpipe pulses air, while the secondary air blowpipe maintains a continuous low-speed airflow. The two work together to remove lens dirt and maintain a dry environment in the measurement channel.

[0233] This embodiment solves the fogging problem of the laser rangefinder module 132 in humid environments through a multi-stage airflow design using an air blowing pipe. The first-stage blowing pipe directly removes water mist, while the second-stage blowing pipe forms a positive pressure barrier to prevent external moisture from entering the measurement channel, ensuring the accuracy of laser ranging. The combination of the air tank and electric pump provides a stable air source pressure, avoiding the decrease in purging effect caused by air pressure fluctuations, improving the environmental adaptability and measurement reliability of the sensor system, and is suitable for the precise control of soy milk thickness during the production of thin dried tofu skin and thick dried tofu slices.

[0234] In some embodiments of this application, the sensor system 13 further includes a temperature sensor 133. The temperature sensor 133 is mounted side-by-side with the laser rangefinder module 132 on the top of the device frame 10. The temperature sensor 133 is aligned with the inside of the tofu product box 121 to monitor the temperature of the soy milk and obtain a soy milk temperature signal. The temperature sensor 133 is electrically connected to the control circuit board to ensure that the temperature signal is reliably transmitted to the control system.

[0235] During operation, the control system receives a temperature signal and executes preset logic: when the temperature of the soy milk is detected to be higher than the preset range, the system pauses the process and waits for the temperature to drop naturally; when the temperature is within the preset range, the system immediately starts the tofu production process.

[0236] It is understandable that during the production of soy products, excessively high temperatures in the soy milk can lead to excessive protein denaturation, affecting the coagulation effect. In this embodiment, the control system executes the production process using real-time temperature signals. When the temperature exceeds the preset range, the system automatically pauses the process and waits for natural cooling, preventing damage to the process from high temperatures. When the temperature reaches the target range, the process is immediately restarted, ensuring that each batch of soy milk is produced under optimal temperature conditions, effectively improving the quality stability of tofu products. The electrical connection and automated linkage between the temperature sensor 133 and the control system reduce the workload and operational errors of manual monitoring. The system's automatic processing of temperature signals and control of the process makes the production flow smoother, improves production efficiency, and further enhances the automation and intelligence level of tofu product production.

[0237] In summary, this embodiment, through the reasonable setting of temperature sensors and their linkage with the control system, not only solves the problems of inaccurate temperature monitoring and reliance on manual process control in traditional tofu production, but also ensures product quality and flavor, and promotes the intelligent upgrading of the production process, thus having significant practical value.

[0238] The tofu production equipment provided in this application reduces manual intervention and improves production efficiency through the coordinated operation of various systems. It employs laser rangefinders, tension sensors, and pressure sensors to achieve precise control over soy milk thickness, bean curd cloth tension, and thin sheet position, ensuring product quality. It also features mode switching capabilities, making it suitable for various products such as thin dried tofu skin and thick dried tofu slices. It exhibits strong environmental adaptability; an air blower prevents condensation on the laser rangefinder lens, ensuring stable operation in humid environments. Sensors monitor abnormal conditions, triggering alarms or automatic adjustments to enhance equipment reliability. Through structural optimization and intelligent control, the equipment solves the problems of low efficiency, poor precision, and limited functionality inherent in traditional tofu production equipment. It is suitable for industrial-scale mass production, offering significant economic benefits and market competitiveness.

[0239] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the disclosure in the specification and the embodiments. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A tofu product making equipment, characterized in that, Includes the equipment frame (10); The equipment frame (10) is equipped with a soy milk spreading system (11), a tofu product box system (12), a sensor system (13) and a control system; The soy milk spreading system (11) is suspended on the top of the equipment frame (10). The soy milk spreading system (11) includes a parallel guide rail (111), a rotating screw (112), a soy milk spreading pipe (113), a soy milk valve, and the soy milk metering device. The rotating screw (112) is connected to a micro motor via a coupling. The soy milk spreading pipe (113) is slidably connected to the guide rail (111) and engages with the rotating screw (112) via a screw block. The soy milk spreading pipe (113) has the soy milk valve and the soy milk metering device connected in series at its outlet end. The tofu product box system (12) is located at the bottom of the equipment frame (10). The tofu product box system (12) includes a detachable tofu product box (121), a lower lifting and extrusion member (122), and an upper extrusion plate (123). The upper extrusion plate (123) is located directly above the tofu product box (121), and the lower lifting extrusion member (122) is located directly below the tofu product box (121). The sensor system (13) is mounted on top of the device frame (10), and the sensor system (13) includes: an infrared sensor assembly (131) and a laser rangefinder module (132); The infrared sensor assembly (131) is aligned with the moving path of the soy milk spreading pipe (113), and the laser rangefinder module (132) is aligned with the inside of the tofu product box (121) to monitor the height of the soy milk; The control system includes: a touch screen controller and a control circuit board, wherein the touch screen controller is electrically connected to the control circuit board, and the touch screen controller is used to receive user input parameters for soy milk thickness and spreading speed. The control system is configured as follows: The touch screen controller displays in real time the position of the soy milk spreading pipe (113) detected by the infrared sensor combination (131) and the height of the soy milk monitored by the laser rangefinder module (132); Based on the soy milk thickness parameters and spreading speed parameters, the target moving speed of the soy milk spreading pipe (113) is calculated, and the motor speed of the rotating screw (112) is dynamically corrected based on the soy milk height in the tofu product box (121). When the infrared sensor assembly (131) detects the starting signal of the soy milk spreading pipe (113), the soy milk valve is automatically opened; When the infrared sensor assembly (131) detects the end signal of the soy milk spreading pipe (113) or reaches the set height threshold, it automatically closes the soy milk valve and retracts the soy milk spreading pipe (113). Record data for each operation and provide suggested options for reducing component usage on the touchscreen controller; Based on user feedback on the suggested options, adjust the parameter settings for subsequent operations.

2. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the equipment frame (10) is provided with a drawer (14), the drawer (14) is slidably connected to the equipment frame (10) through a slide rail, and the drawer (14) has a handle (141) on the side facing away from the equipment frame (10); The drawer (14) has load-bearing plates (142) on both sides inside. The micro motor is mounted on the load-bearing plates (142) to support the guide rail (111) and the rotating screw (112). The tofu product box (121) is located inside the drawer (14).

3. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Bean curd cloth laying system (20); The bean curd cloth laying system (20) includes: a bean curd cloth rotating shaft (201), a tension sensor, and a bean curd cloth release motor (202); The rotating shaft (201) of the bean curd cloth is slidably mounted on the guide rail (111) and moves back and forth along the track of the guide rail (111). Bean curd cloth is wound on the rotating shaft (201). The tension sensor is integrated at one end of the rotating shaft (201) of the bean curd cloth to monitor the slack of the bean curd cloth and feed the data back to the control circuit board to adjust the release speed of the bean curd cloth; The other end of the rotating shaft (201) of the bean curd cloth is provided with a bean curd cloth release motor (202), which is used to drive the rotating shaft (201) of the bean curd cloth to rotate.

4. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bean curd cloth laying system (20) includes: a first electromagnetic coupler and a rotary encoder; The first electromagnetic coupler is connected to the output shaft of the bean curd cloth release motor (202) and is used to control the direction and speed of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft (201); The rotating shaft (201) of the bean curd cloth is configured as follows: When the first electromagnetic coupler is energized, the bean curd cloth rotating shaft (201) rotates according to the preset direction and speed. When the first electromagnetic coupler is de-energized, the bean curd cloth rotating shaft (201) stops rotating. The rotary encoder is connected to the rotating shaft (201) of the bean curd cloth; The rotary encoder is used to record the number of rotations of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft (201) after the bean curd cloth release motor (202) is turned on.

5. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, It also includes a strut system (21); The pressure bar system (21) includes a chain roller shaft (211) with a pressure bar at a low position, a chain roller shaft (212) with a pressure bar at a high position, and a pressure bar motor (213); The high-position chain roller shaft (212) with pressure bar is suspended directly above the soy milk spreading pipe (113) and is used to press the starting end of the bean curd cloth; the low-position chain roller shaft (211) with pressure bar is located on both sides of the bean curd cloth rotating shaft (201) and is used to press the bean curd cloth on the inner edge of the tofu product box (121); The pressure rod motor (213) is located at both ends of the chain roller shaft (211) with pressure rod at the low position and the chain roller shaft (212) with pressure rod at the high position, so as to drive the chain roller shaft (211) with pressure rod at the low position and the chain roller shaft (212) with pressure rod at the high position to lift and lower. The pressure bar motor (213) is also connected to a pressure bar encoder, which is used to determine the position of the chain roller shaft (211) with pressure bar at the low position and the chain roller shaft (212) with pressure bar at the high position. The touchscreen controller has a lever enable option and a lever disable option, and the control system is further configured as follows: When the laser rangefinder module (132) detects that the height of the corner of the bean curd cloth is within a preset threshold range, the pressure bar system (21) is automatically disabled. When the user selects the lever activation option, and the laser rangefinder module (132) detects that the height of the bean curd cloth corner exceeds the preset threshold range, the lever system (21) is activated to perform the pressing process; When the user selects the lever disable option, the clamping process is skipped.

6. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Thin sheet storage system (30) and thin sheet transport system (31); The sheet metal storage system (30) includes: a sheet metal storage drawer (301), a drawer lifting electric push rod (302), a drawer guide rod (303), a limit block (304), and a lifting plate (305); The sheet metal storage drawer (301) is connected to the bottom of the equipment frame (10) via a slide rail, and the drawer lifting electric push rod (302) is located inside the sheet metal storage drawer (301); There are four drawer guide rods (303), which are respectively set at the four corners of the sheet metal storage drawer (301); The sheet storage drawer (301) contains a sheet and a lifting plate (305). The drawer guide rod (303) is used to guide the position of the lifting plate (305). The drawer lifting electric push rod (302) is used to lift the lifting plate (305). The sheet is laid in layers on top of the lifting plate (305). The limiting blocks (304) are located at the four corners of the lifting plate (305) to limit the position of the thin plate; The sheet transport system (31) connects the sheet storage drawer (301) and the tofu product box (121); The sheet is transported to the tofu product box (121) via the sheet transport system (31).

7. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The thin-plate storage system (30) also includes: an infrared laser rangefinder and an electronic scale (306); The infrared laser rangefinder is installed in the sheet storage drawer (301). The infrared laser rangefinder is configured to monitor the number and height of the sheet in the sheet storage drawer (301). When the number of remaining sheet is lower than a set threshold, a supplementary prompt is issued through the touch screen controller. The electronic scale (306) is fixedly mounted on the lifting plate (305) and placed below the sheet plate. The electronic scale (306) is configured to monitor the weight of the sheet plate in the sheet plate storage drawer (301).

8. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The sheet has a dense permeable mesh, and the sheet is one of the following: a silicone rubber sheet reinforced with stainless steel wire, a PVDC thin plastic sheet, and a 304 stainless steel microporous plate covered with gauze.

9. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The sheet metal transport system (31) includes: a sheet metal transport channel (311), a transport roller (312), and a roller motor (313); The sheet transport channel (311) is an arc-shaped or straight channel. One end of the sheet transport channel (311) is connected to the sheet storage drawer (301), and the other end is connected to the tofu product box (121). The transport roller (312) is embedded in the inner wall of the sheet transport channel (311), and the roller motor (313) is connected to one end of the transport roller (312). The roller motor (313) is used to drive the transport roller (312) to rotate.

10. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that, The sheet metal transport system (31) also includes: a roller pressure sensor and a roller conductive slip ring; The surface of the transport roller (312) is covered with a rubber layer, and the roller pressure sensor is integrated inside the rubber layer. The roller pressure sensor is used to monitor the contact pressure between the transport roller (312) and the sheet plate. The conductive slip ring of the roller shaft is provided at the tail end of the transport roller shaft (312); The pressure signal from the roller pressure sensor of the transport roller (312) is transmitted to the control circuit board through the roller conductive slip ring; The control circuit board is configured as follows: When the real-time pressure value of the pressure signal is detected to be continuously lower than the preset lower pressure threshold for a set time, the rotation speed of the transport roller (312) where the current sheet plate is located is automatically reduced, and the adjacent downstream transport roller (312) is activated to accelerate rotation. If the real-time pressure value of the pressure signal exceeds the preset pressure upper limit threshold, the transport roller (312) where the current sheet plate is located will be stopped immediately and a reverse rotation action will be triggered to release the pressure.

11. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that, The sheet metal transport system (31) also includes: an infrared sensor for the transport channel; The infrared sensors for the transport channel are installed at both ends of each of the transport rollers (312). The infrared sensors for the transport channel are used to monitor the position and length of the sheet in the sheet transport channel (311) and output position and length signals to the control circuit board. The control circuit board is configured as follows: When the position signal detects that multiple sheets are stacked in the sheet transport channel (311), it triggers the adjacent downstream transport roller (312) to reverse in order to separate the excess sheets; When the length signal detects that the length of the sheet exceeds the standard length of a single sheet, transportation will be stopped immediately and an alarm will be triggered.

12. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 11, characterized in that, The sheet metal transport system (31) further includes: a second electromagnetic coupler; The second electromagnetic coupler is disposed on the transport roller (312), and the second electromagnetic coupler is used to control the power connection of the transport roller (312); The transport roller (312) is configured as follows: When the second electromagnetic coupler is energized, the transport roller (312) rotates according to the preset direction and speed. When the second electromagnetic coupler is de-energized, the transport roller (312) stops rotating.

13. The tofu product making equipment according to any one of claims 6-12, characterized in that, It also includes a lifting component system (32), which is disposed between the sheet plate transport system (31) and the tofu product box (121). The lifting component system (32) includes: an upper structural plate (321), a middle structural plate (323), a lower structural plate (322), and a lifting motor (325). The upper structural plate (321) and the lower structural plate (322) are fixed in parallel to the bottom of the top plate of the equipment frame (10) directly above the tofu product box (121), and are connected by four corner bolts to form a fixed spacing; The bottom of the upper structural plate (321) and the top of the lower structural plate (322) are both fitted with longitudinally arranged needle rollers, which together form a sliding guide rail; The intermediate layer structural plate (323) is slidably nested between the upper layer structural plate (321) and the lower layer structural plate (322). The inner edge of the intermediate layer structural plate (323) is processed with a stepped thin edge step, which is used to engage the edge of the thin plate and limit the displacement of the front end of the thin plate. The intermediate layer structural plate (323) is centrally fixed with an intermediate layer rack guide rail (324), and the tooth surface of the intermediate layer rack guide rail (324) faces upward; The support at the top of the upper structural plate (321) is equipped with a lifting gear (326) via a bearing, and the lifting gear (326) meshes with the intermediate layer rack guide rail (324); The output shaft of the lifting motor (325) passes vertically downward through the upper structural plate (321), and the end of the output shaft of the lifting motor (325) is fixedly connected to the lifting gear (326). The lifting motor (325) is used to drive the gear (326) to rotate, and through the rack guide rail (324) drive the middle structural plate (323) to slide outward horizontally, releasing the thin plate into the tofu product box (121).

14. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 13, characterized in that, The lifting component system (32) also includes: a lifting encoder and a lifting infrared sensor; The lifting encoder is located at the tail of the lifting motor (325), and the lifting encoder is used to feed back the sliding displacement of the intermediate layer structure plate (323) to the control circuit board in real time. The lifting infrared sensor is embedded in the thin edge step of the intermediate layer structure plate (323). The lifting infrared sensor is used to detect and verify the position of the thin plate and output a position verification signal to the control circuit board. The control circuit board is configured as follows: Based on the position verification signal, the lifting motor (325) is activated to drive the intermediate layer structure plate (323) to slide outward; The speed of the lifting motor (325) is dynamically adjusted by the sliding displacement fed back in real time by the lifting encoder, so as to release the thin plate at a uniform speed. When the position verification signal detects that the thin plate has completely detached from the stepped thin edge step, the lifting motor (325) is immediately stopped and a reverse reset action is triggered. When the deviation between the sliding displacement and the position verification signal exceeds the set tolerance, an emergency stop is executed and an alarm is triggered.

15. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser rangefinder module (132) is equipped with an air blower. The air outlet of the air blower is aligned with the lens surface of the laser rangefinder module (132) at an angle of 15°-30°, forming a tangential airflow layer. The air blowing pipe includes: a primary air blowing pipe and a secondary air blowing pipe; The primary air blowing tube directly hits the lens of the laser rangefinder module (132) to remove condensed water mist; The secondary air blowing pipe annularly covers the laser penetration hole of the laser rangefinder module (132) and continuously delivers airflow into the measurement channel to form a positive pressure barrier; The air blowpipe is connected to an air tank and an electric pump. The air tank is used to provide compressed air, and the electric pump is used to stabilize the pressure of the compressed air.

16. The tofu product making equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor system (13) also includes a temperature sensor (133), which is installed side by side with the laser rangefinder module (132) on the top of the equipment frame (10). The temperature sensor (133) is aligned with the inside of the tofu product box (121) to monitor the temperature of the soy milk and obtain the soy milk temperature signal. The temperature sensor (133) is electrically connected to the control circuit board to transmit the soy milk temperature signal to the control system; The control system is also configured to: Receive the soy milk temperature signal, and when the soy milk temperature is higher than the preset temperature range, wait for the soy milk to cool down; When the temperature of the soy milk meets the preset temperature range, the tofu production process is started.

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