A tofu processing cloth membrane forming machine

Abstract

This utility model discloses a tofu processing membrane forming machine, including a first conveying mechanism with a horizontal conveying surface and a filter membrane tensioned on the outer side of the conveying surface; forming baffles disposed at both ends of the filter membrane and fixed to the first conveying mechanism; and a second conveying mechanism disposed above the first conveying mechanism. The conveying direction of the second conveying mechanism is adapted to the conveying direction of the first conveying mechanism to press and convey the tofu on the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism. This forming machine uses the filter membranes on the first and second conveying mechanisms to press and convey the tofu, so as to remove excess water from the tofu and form firm tofu. Compared with conventional tofu forming devices, it can form tofu without forming molds, thus eliminating the demolding process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of soybean food processing, specifically a tofu processing film forming machine. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the tofu pressing process commonly used in the industry is the traditional manual-assisted mechanical pressing method. The specific operation process is roughly as follows: First, the operator evenly pours the tofu curds to be pressed into a molding mold pre-lined with a filter cloth. Then, the operator moves the molding mold containing the tofu curds directly under the pressure plate of the pressure plate press, either manually or with the aid of a simple conveyor, ensuring the mold is aligned to avoid uneven pressure during subsequent pressing. Finally, the pressing equipment is started, causing the pressure plate to slowly descend and apply pressure to the tofu curds in the mold. This pressure is maintained for a period of time to allow water to drain and the tofu to solidify; this process is the pressing stage.

[0003] However, the aforementioned traditional tofu pressing and molding process has many problems that urgently need to be solved in practical production applications, which seriously restricts the large-scale and efficient production of tofu: Firstly, the pressing time is too long, resulting in low production efficiency. In traditional processes, the pressure applied to the tofu by the pressing plate is static and rigid, with pressure only transmitted downwards from the top. This limits the drainage path of moisture inside the tofu, which can only slowly seep out through the filter cloth from the side or bottom of the mold. To ensure sufficient drainage of excess moisture and meet the required quality standards for tofu products, a long holding time is typically necessary. For large-scale production enterprises, this excessively long pressing time leads to low equipment utilization, making it difficult to increase tofu production per unit time and meet the large market demand for tofu products.

[0004] Secondly, the demolding process is cumbersome, labor-intensive, and prone to product loss. After the pressing process is complete, the formed tofu needs to be demolded, that is, removed from the mold. Because there is a certain degree of adhesion between the tofu and the filter cloth and the inner wall of the mold after it is formed, the operator must first remove the mold from under the pressure plate, then manually peel the filter cloth off the surface of the tofu, and finally remove the tofu from the mold. This demolding process relies entirely on manual operation, which is not only cumbersome and time-consuming, increasing the company's labor costs, but also prone to damage to the edges and deformation of the tofu due to improper operation during the manual peeling of the filter cloth and removal of the tofu, resulting in product loss, reducing the product qualification rate, and further increasing production costs.

[0005] Thirdly, the equipment has a low degree of automation, resulting in poor production process stability. In traditional processes, manual intervention is required at every stage, from mold movement and positioning to demolding. This manual operation is inherently random and uncertain. For example, if the operator fails to precisely align the mold with the pressure plate during mold movement and positioning, uneven pressure on the tofu during pressing will lead to quality problems such as inconsistent density and varying hardness in the formed tofu. Furthermore, the control of pressing pressure and holding time relies heavily on the operator's experience and judgment, making precise control difficult. This results in significant quality fluctuations between different batches of tofu, failing to guarantee product quality stability and consistency, and impacting consumer acceptance. Utility Model Content

[0006] Therefore, in order to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings, this utility model provides a tofu processing membrane forming machine. The forming machine utilizes the filter membrane on the first conveying mechanism and the second conveying mechanism set above the first conveying mechanism, combined with the forming baffle on the side, to realize the automated extrusion forming of tofu, which is convenient for continuous production. At the same time, during the extrusion forming process, the tofu can be pressed and shaped without forming molds, eliminating the subsequent demolding process and further improving the processing efficiency.

[0007] This utility model is implemented as follows: a tofu processing membrane forming machine includes a first conveying mechanism, the conveying surface of which is horizontal and a filter membrane is tensioned and set on the outside of the conveying surface. Forming baffles are disposed at both ends of the filter membrane and fixed on the first conveying mechanism; The second conveying mechanism is located above the first conveying mechanism; The conveying direction of the second conveying mechanism is adapted to the conveying direction of the first conveying mechanism to press and convey the tofu on the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism.

[0008] Preferably, the first conveying mechanism includes a frame and a plurality of support rollers that are arranged inside the frame and rotate. The support rollers are arranged at the same height and have sprockets at their ends. The filter membrane is tensioned on the support rollers at the outer ends. A chain is arranged at the inner end of the frame. The sprockets on the support rollers mesh with the chain. A first motor that drives the chain is arranged at the outer end of the frame.

[0009] Preferably, the second conveying mechanism includes two support plates, which are disposed above the forming baffles on both sides of the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism; Several tension rollers are positioned between two support plates and are kept rotating; The compression film is fitted onto the outer end of the tension roller.

[0010] Preferably, the pressing film is sleeved on the outer end of the tensioning roller to form a vertical section and a horizontal section. The horizontal section of the pressing film is inclined to the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism and its highest point is located on the side of the vertical section. The vertical section of the pressing film is close to the feed end of the first conveying mechanism. At least two tensioning rollers are included at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal sections of the pressing film. One tensioning roller is located at the inner end of the pressing film, and another one or more tensioning rollers are located at the outer end of the pressing film. A second motor for driving the tensioning rollers to rotate is provided on the outside of the support plate.

[0011] Preferably, a gear is provided on the outside of the tension roller at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal sections of the pressing film, and the tension roller at the outer end of the pressing film and the tension roller at the inner end of the pressing film maintain gear meshing and rotate in opposite directions.

[0012] Preferably, there is a gap between the molded baffle and the filter membrane for liquid to pass through.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: This forming machine achieves continuous conveying and dynamic pressing of tofu through the synchronous linkage of the first conveying mechanism (carrying the filter membrane and tofu) and the second conveying mechanism (providing the upper pressing force), combined with the closed pressing space formed by the side forming baffle. On the one hand, there is no need for frequent manual handling of molds and alignment of the pressing plate; the conveying mechanism can automatically and evenly feed the tofu into the pressing area, and after pressing, it can be directly conveyed to the next process, eliminating the time wasted in traditional processes such as mold transfer and waiting for demolding. On the other hand, during the dynamic pressing process, the pressure is transmitted bidirectionally from top to bottom, and with the all-round water filtration effect of the filter membrane, the water discharge path inside the tofu is shorter and more efficient, significantly increasing the tofu yield per unit time and fully meeting the needs of large-scale mass production.

[0014] Meanwhile, in traditional processes, the molding mold is the core carrier for tofu shaping, but this also leads to a tedious demolding step after pressing, requiring manual removal of the filter cloth and tofu. This is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also prone to damage to the tofu edges and deformation due to improper operation. This patented technology, through a combination design of "conveyor mechanism + forming baffle," can complete tofu shaping without relying on a fixed molding mold: the side forming baffle only serves to limit the width of the tofu during pressing. After pressing, it moves synchronously with the conveyor mechanism, allowing the tofu to adhere directly to the filter membrane and be output by the first conveyor mechanism, naturally detaching from the pressing area, completely eliminating the demolding step in the traditional process. This design not only reduces manual operation steps and lowers labor costs for enterprises, but also avoids the adhesion and loss of tofu to the mold and filter cloth during demolding, significantly reducing production costs.

[0015] Furthermore, manual intervention is required in processes such as mold handling, demolding, and filter cloth cleaning. This not only increases the risk of operational errors but also raises the probability of microbial contamination of the tofu due to frequent contact between humans and materials, making it difficult to meet the hygiene standards of modern food processing. The core pressing process of this forming machine (tofu conveying, pressing, and output) is completed entirely through the mechanical coordination of the conveying mechanism and the forming baffle. Humans only need to perform auxiliary operations during the raw material loading process, significantly reducing the frequency of human-machine contact. At the same time, the equipment can also be equipped with a cleaning component to achieve timed cleaning of the filter membrane on the conveying mechanism, ensuring the hygiene and safety of the tofu products from the production process. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the specific embodiments of the present invention to explain the present invention, but do not constitute any limitation on the present invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a frontal view of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a side view of the present invention. Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of section AA in the middle; Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram from another perspective of the present invention; In the diagram: 1. Frame; 2. Filter membrane; 3. First motor; 4. Forming baffle; 5. Support plate; 6. Tension roller; 7. Pressing membrane; 8. Second motor; 9. Gear; 10. Chain; 11. Support roller. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described in detail below through specific embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for illustration and explanation of this utility model and are not intended to limit this utility model in any way. The accompanying drawings in this utility model are only for illustrative purposes and to facilitate understanding of the embodiments and are not intended to limit this utility model in any way.

[0018] It should be noted that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc. shown in the accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to limit the conditions under which the present invention can be implemented. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and purposes that the present invention can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention.

[0019] As described in the background section, existing tofu forming methods typically employ molding molds and pressing mechanisms for pressing and shaping. This method has low forming efficiency and requires manual demolding afterward, making it difficult to automate production. Furthermore, the demolding process can easily cause damage to the edges and corners of the tofu.

[0020] For the reasons stated above, please refer to the appendix for solutions to these problems. Figure 1 ~Appendix Figure 5 This utility model provides a tofu processing membrane forming machine, including a first conveying mechanism, whose conveying surface is a horizontal plane and a filter membrane 2 is tensioned and set on the outside of the conveying surface; Forming baffles 4 are disposed at both ends of the filter membrane 2 and fixed on the first conveying mechanism; The second conveying mechanism is located above the first conveying mechanism; The conveying direction of the second conveying mechanism is adapted to the conveying direction of the first conveying mechanism to press and convey the tofu on the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism.

[0021] In this embodiment, the first conveying mechanism includes a frame 1 and a plurality of support rollers 11 that are arranged inside the frame 1 and rotate. The support rollers 11 are arranged at the same height and have sprockets at their ends. The filter membrane 2 is tensioned on the support rollers 11 at the outer end. A chain 10 is arranged at the inner end of the frame 1. The sprockets on the support rollers 11 mesh with the chain. A first motor 3 that drives the chain 10 is arranged at the outer end of the frame 1.

[0022] As described above, support rollers are set to support the filter membrane, which facilitates the subsequent pressing and drainage of the tofu to form tofu. At the same time, the gaps between the support rollers can drain the water during the pressing of the tofu.

[0023] In this embodiment, the second conveying mechanism includes two support plates 5, which are disposed above the forming baffles 4 on both sides of the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism; Several tension rollers 6 are positioned between two support plates 5 and are kept rotating; The compression film 7 is fitted onto the outer end of the tension roller 6.

[0024] Furthermore, the pressing film 7 is sleeved on the outer end of the tensioning roller 6 to form a vertical section and a horizontal section. The horizontal section of the pressing film 7 is inclined to the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism and the highest point is set on the side of the vertical section. The vertical section of the pressing film 7 is close to the feed end of the first conveying mechanism. The tensioning roller 6 at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal sections of the pressing film 7 includes at least two rollers. One tensioning roller 6 is set at the inner end of the pressing film 7, and another one or more tensioning rollers 6 are set at the outer end of the pressing film 7. A second motor 8 for driving the tensioning roller 6 to rotate is provided on the outside of the support plate 5.

[0025] As described above, the vertical section of the pressing film facilitates automatic feeding of the tofu pudding and forms a barrier to prevent it from overflowing during feeding. The horizontal section of the pressing film, which is inclined to the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism, facilitates pressing the tofu pudding between the two conveying mechanisms, thereby forming an extrusion molding.

[0026] In this embodiment, a gear 9 is provided on the outside of the tension roller 6 at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal sections of the pressing film 7. The tension roller 6 at the outer end of the pressing film 7 and the tension roller 6 at the inner end of the pressing film 7 maintain gear meshing and rotate in opposite directions.

[0027] As mentioned above, the tension rollers at the outer end of the tensioning film not only support the tensioning film but also perform preliminary cleaning of it.

[0028] In this embodiment, there is a gap between the molded baffle 4 and the filter membrane 2 for liquid to pass through.

[0029] In this embodiment, the conveying speeds of the first conveying mechanism and the second conveying mechanism are kept consistent.

[0030] The above description is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present utility model. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present utility model. All equivalent changes or modifications made under the technical spirit of the present utility model should fall within the patent scope covered by the present utility model.

Claims

1. A tofu processing film forming machine, characterized in that: include, The first conveying mechanism has a horizontal conveying surface and a filter membrane tensioned on the outer side of the conveying surface; Forming baffles are disposed at both ends of the filter membrane and fixed on the first conveying mechanism; The second conveying mechanism is located above the first conveying mechanism; The conveying direction of the second conveying mechanism is adapted to the conveying direction of the first conveying mechanism to press and convey the tofu on the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism.

2. The tofu processing film forming machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first conveying mechanism includes a frame and a plurality of support rollers that are rotated within the frame. The support rollers are set at the same height and have sprockets at their ends. The filter membrane is tensioned on the support rollers at the outer ends. A chain is provided at the inner end of the frame. The sprockets on the support rollers mesh with the chain. A first motor that drives the chain is provided at the outer end of the frame.

3. The tofu processing film forming machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second conveying mechanism includes two support plates, which are disposed above the forming baffles on both sides of the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism; Several tension rollers are positioned between two support plates and are kept rotating; The pressure film is fitted onto the outer end of the tension roller.

4. The tofu processing film forming machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pressing film is sleeved on the outer end of the tensioning roller to form a vertical section and a horizontal section. The horizontal section of the pressing film is inclined to the conveying surface of the first conveying mechanism and the highest point is set on the side of the vertical section. The vertical section of the pressing film is close to the feed end of the first conveying mechanism. The tensioning roller at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal sections of the pressing film includes at least two rollers. One tensioning roller is set on the inner end of the pressing film, and another one or more tensioning rollers are set on the outer end of the pressing film. A second motor for driving the tensioning roller to rotate is set on the outside of the support plate.

5. The tofu processing film forming machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: A gear is provided on the outside of the tension roller at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal sections of the pressing film. The tension roller at the outer end of the pressing film and the tension roller at the inner end of the pressing film maintain gear meshing and rotate in opposite directions.

6. The tofu processing film forming machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: There is a gap between the molded baffle and the filter membrane for liquid to pass through.

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