A cupcake feeding device

Abstract

The application relates to a cupcake feeding device, belonging to the field of food processing, which comprises a feeding mechanism and a supporting mechanism. The feeding mechanism is arranged on the supporting mechanism. The feeding mechanism comprises a hopper and a plurality of discharge pieces in communication with the hopper. The discharge pieces are provided with a plurality of discharge pipes. The discharge pipes are arranged around the connection between the discharge pieces and the hopper. The supporting mechanism comprises a tray. The tray is located below the discharge pieces. During operation, the cake liquid in the hopper is transported to the discharge pieces and is synchronously injected into the boxes carried by the tray through the surrounding discharge pipes, forming independent annular material body areas. An initial gap exists between adjacent areas due to the shunting. In subsequent baking, the material body areas are expanded and shaped, the gap is retained, and finally a petal-shaped cake body with a natural breaking shape is formed, thereby accurately realizing the target appearance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of food processing, and in particular to a cupcake feeding device. Background Technology

[0002] In the context of food consumption upgrading, cupcakes, as a type of baked goods that combines edibility and aesthetics, have seen their appearance become a key factor influencing their market competitiveness. Among them, a type of cupcake that resembles a blooming flower after baking and has multiple petals with a broken appearance between the petals is more likely to attract consumers' attention due to its unique design, thus meeting the end market's demand for personalized and aesthetically pleasing baked goods.

[0003] In related technologies, with the automation transformation of the food industry, the production process of cupcakes has gradually transitioned from traditional manual operation to mechanized processing. As one of the core links that determines the shape of the cake base, the feeding process is currently the mainstream cupcake feeding mechanism in the industry. Its discharge generally adopts a straight single discharge pipe structure, which squeezes the cake material into the cake cup placed on the receiving tray at a uniform speed through a single channel, and the material is evenly distributed in the cake cup.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned existing technical solutions have significant drawbacks. Since the straight single discharge pipe can only achieve unidirectional and overall injection of the material, the material does not have a preset shape partition in the cake cup. As a result, after high-temperature baking, the cake base will naturally form a flat and continuous outline, and cannot form the aforementioned petal-like broken structure. In order to achieve the target appearance effect, some manufacturers need to add manual trimming process after baking, which increases labor costs and production time, and reduces overall production efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a cupcake feeding device.

[0006] The cupcake feeding device provided in this application adopts the following technical solution: it includes a feeding mechanism and a support mechanism. The feeding mechanism is disposed on the support mechanism. The feeding mechanism includes a feeding component and multiple discharge components. The multiple discharge components are connected to the feeding component. Each discharge component is provided with multiple discharge pipes. The discharge pipes are arranged around the connection point between the discharge component and the feeding component as an axis. The support mechanism includes a material tray, which is disposed below the discharge components.

[0007] By adopting the above technical solution, the cake batter is first conveyed from the feeding component to multiple discharge parts connected to the hopper. Then, it is simultaneously injected into the box carried by the tray of the supporting mechanism through multiple discharge pipes arranged around the connection between the discharge part and the hopper on each discharge part. Since the multiple discharge pipes are distributed in a circular manner, the cake batter in the box will form independent and ring-shaped material areas. There are initial gaps between adjacent material areas due to the difference in the path of the distribution injection. During the subsequent baking process, each independent material area will expand and solidify on its own as the temperature rises, and the initial gaps between adjacent areas will be retained during the expansion process, eventually forming multiple complete petal-shaped structures. The petal-shaped structures between adjacent petal-shaped structures present a natural fracture, thus accurately achieving the petal-shaped appearance of the target cake.

[0008] Preferably, the discharge component is provided with a first connecting part, the first connecting part is detachably connected to the feeding assembly, and the first connecting part communicates with the interior of the feeding assembly.

[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, when it is necessary to adjust the number of petals in the final cupcake, it is only necessary to disassemble the connection between the current first connecting part and the feeding component and replace the feeding part with a preset number of feeding tubes to achieve the desired change. For example, when it is necessary to make a cake with three, four or six petals, it can be replaced with a feeding part equipped with three, four or six feeding tubes respectively. At the same time, the first connecting part is internally connected to the feeding component, which can ensure that the replaced feeding part can still stably receive the cake liquid conveyed by the hopper and accurately divert it into the box carried by the lower tray through its own different number of feeding tubes.

[0010] Preferably, each of the discharge pipes includes a straight section and a vertical section, the straight section and the vertical section are fixedly connected and communicate with each other, each straight section is fixedly connected and communicates with the first connecting section.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, each straight section is fixedly connected to each other and to the first connecting section, which ensures that when the cake batter in the feeding component flows to each straight section through the first connecting section, the pressure and flow rate of the material in each channel remain uniform. The vertical fixed connection design between the straight section and the vertical section can guide the cake batter to flow through the straight section and then be accurately injected into the box carried by the lower tray in a vertical downward direction, ensuring that the material in each discharge tube falls into the preset petal-shaped area in the box, ensuring that the petal-shaped cake formed by subsequent baking is of regular size and the breakage between adjacent petals is uniform.

[0012] Preferably, the feeding assembly includes a hopper and a diverter, the diverter being disposed between the hopper and the discharge component, the diverter having multiple diverting channels inside, the diverting channels being respectively connected to the hopper and the first connecting part, and the diverting channels corresponding one-to-one with the discharge component.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, the diverter is located between the hopper and the discharge unit. The diverter has multiple diverting channels that are connected to the first connecting parts of the hopper and the discharge unit and correspond one-to-one with the discharge unit. It can first perform preliminary directional diversion of the cake liquid output from the hopper, so that the cake liquid is accurately distributed to the first connecting part of each discharge unit according to the preset path, so that the feed amount and pressure between each discharge unit are set evenly. Since each diverting channel corresponds to a diverter, it can ensure that the amount of cake liquid obtained by each discharge unit is consistent, providing a uniform raw material base for the secondary diversion and injection of multiple discharge pipes on each discharge unit.

[0014] Preferably, the first connecting portion is perpendicular to the lower surface of the diverter, and the straight portion is uniformly arranged around the first connecting portion as an axis.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the vertically set first connecting part provides a stable and central support base for the subsequent layout of the straight parts. The straight parts are evenly arranged around the first connecting part as the axis, so that each straight part and the vertical tube fixed vertically to the straight part are equidistantly distributed in the circumferential direction. When the cake batter flows through the first connecting part to each straight part, the amount and pressure of the batter in each vertical part are consistent, thereby making the cake batter in the lower tray box form multiple petal-shaped prototypes that are equal in size and symmetrical in a ring with the first connecting part as the center.

[0016] Preferably, the feeding mechanism further includes a plurality of feeding valves, each of which corresponds to one of the discharging components, and the feeding valves are fixed to the diverting component.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, since multiple feeding valves correspond one-to-one with the discharge components and are fixed to the diversion component, each feeding valve can individually control the on / off connection between the corresponding diversion channel within the diversion component and the first connection part of the discharge component. When it is necessary to close a certain discharge port component, only the corresponding feeding valve needs to be closed to cut off the cake batter supply to that discharge port component, thus pausing the operation of a single discharge port component. Conversely, opening the feeding valve can restore the diversion channel's supply of cake batter to that discharge port component, ensuring normal feeding of the discharge port component. This can adapt to diverse production rhythms, such as when the material tray is full of cake batter. If some boxes are not placed in place, or if the number of boxes being filled at the same time needs to be reduced, the filling of specific outlet parts can be paused by closing the corresponding feeding valve to improve the controllability of the production process. The feeding valve can also control the flow rate of the cake batter by adjusting the size of the diversion channel, which can ensure that the cake batter is injected into the box at an appropriate speed, reducing the waste of batter due to excessive flow rate or excessive filling and overflow, and also reducing insufficient filling or stagnation and clumping of batter in the channel due to excessive flow rate. This lays the foundation for the formation of a uniform and regular petal-shaped structure in subsequent baking.

[0018] Preferably, the support mechanism includes a rod frame and a support frame, the rod frame is disposed above the support frame, the feeding mechanism is disposed above the rod frame, and the material tray is disposed on the support frame.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, the support frame can stably bear the entire weight of the rod frame, the feeding mechanism and the material tray. The rod frame is erected above the support frame and supports the feeding mechanism. Through the height adaptation of the rod frame, the discharge part of the feeding mechanism and the material tray on the support frame below can form a strict vertical alignment relationship, ensuring that the multiple discharge pipes arranged around the discharge part can be accurately aligned with the boxes placed in the material tray.

[0020] Preferably, the pole includes a connecting column, the diverter is provided with a second connecting part, the second connecting part is fixedly connected to the diverter, the second connecting part is provided with a groove, and the groove is inserted into the connecting column.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, the installation or disassembly of the diverter can be completed by inserting and removing the groove and the connecting column. By installing and disassembling the diverter, the diverter, together with the hopper and the discharge part connected to the diverter, can be removed from the frame as a whole, which greatly simplifies the maintenance operation process. Operators can easily clean the diverter channel, the inner wall of the hopper, and the discharge pipe of the discharge part.

[0022] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: 1. The cake batter in the hopper is first delivered to each discharge component, and then simultaneously injected into the box carried by the tray through multiple surrounding discharge pipes on each discharge component. Due to the surrounding diversion of the batter, the cake batter in the box will form independent and ring-shaped material areas. There are initial gaps between adjacent areas due to the difference in the diversion path. During the subsequent baking process, each independent material area expands and sets as the temperature rises, and the initial gaps between adjacent areas are preserved, eventually forming multiple complete petal-shaped structures. The petal-shaped structures between adjacent petal-shaped structures show a natural break, thus accurately achieving the petal-shaped appearance of the target cake. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An enlarged diagram of A in the diagram.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Feeding assembly; 11. Hopper; 12. Diverter; 121. Diverter channel; 122. Connecting port; 123. Second connecting part; 1231. Groove; 2. Discharge component; 21. First connecting part; 22. Discharge pipe; 221. Straight part; 222. Vertical part; 3. Material tray; 4. Feeding valve; 5. Rod frame; 51. Connecting column; 52. Support column; 6. Support frame; 7. Fixing component. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-4 This application will be described in further detail.

[0029] This application discloses a cupcake feeding device. (Refer to...) Figure 1 It includes a feeding mechanism and a support mechanism, wherein the feeding mechanism is located on the support mechanism.

[0030] Specifically, the feeding mechanism includes multiple discharge components 2 and a discharging assembly 1. The discharging assembly 1 includes a hopper 11 and a diverter 12. The hopper 11 is a container for storing cake batter and has a large capacity to meet the feeding needs for a certain period of time. The hopper 11 has a conical shape. The diverter 12 is located between the hopper 11 and the discharge components 2. (Refer to...) Figure 2The diverter 12 has multiple diverting channels 121 inside, which are connected to the hopper 11 and are connected to multiple discharge devices 2 in a one-to-one correspondence. The function of the diverter 12 is to evenly distribute the cake material in the hopper 11 to each discharge device 2. In this embodiment, there are three discharge devices 2, which correspond to three diverting channels 121 inside the diverter 12.

[0031] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 Furthermore, the discharge component 2 is provided with a first connecting part 21, which is detachably connected to the diverter 12. Specifically, the outer wall of the first connecting part 21 is provided with threads, and the lower end of the diverter 12 is provided with a corresponding connecting port 122. There are three connecting ports 122, which are connected to the three diverting channels 121 inside the diverter 12. The side wall of the connecting port 122 is provided with internal threads, and the outer wall of the first connecting part 21 and the inner wall of the connecting port 122 are threaded together to fix the discharge component 2 to the lower end of the diverter 12.

[0032] Furthermore, the discharge component 2 is also provided with multiple discharge pipes 22. In this embodiment, four discharge pipes 22 are provided. The four discharge pipes 22 are evenly arranged around the first connecting part 21 as the axis. Each discharge pipe 22 includes a straight part 221 and a vertical part 222. The straight part 221 and the vertical part 222 are vertically fixed and connected. The straight part 221 and the first connecting part 21 are evenly arranged around the axis, and the straight part 221 and the first connecting part 21 are fixedly connected and connected. At the same time, the support mechanism also includes a material tray 3. The material tray 3 is arranged below the multiple discharge components 2 and is used to place boxes.

[0033] This explains that the cake batter in the hopper 11 is first initially directionally diverted by the diverter 12. The diverter 12 has three diverting channels 121 inside to ensure that the cake batter is evenly distributed to each outlet 2 along a preset path. The first connecting part 21 of each outlet 2 is vertically arranged and communicates with the diverting channel 121. Since the straight part 221 is evenly arranged around the first connecting part 21, and the first connecting part 21 is connected to the straight part 221, and the straight part 221 is vertically fixed and connected to the vertical part 222, the cake batter can be evenly distributed from the hopper 11 to the diverter. Channel 121, passing through the first connecting part 21, the straight part 221 and the vertical part 222 in sequence, vertically injects into the box carried by the material tray 3 located below the discharge part 2, forming a surrounding diversion injection. When the cake batter is injected into the box through the discharge pipe 22, it forms independent and ring-shaped material areas. Adjacent material areas have initial gaps due to the difference in diversion injection paths. During the baking process, each independent material area expands and sets on its own as the temperature rises, and the initial gaps are retained, eventually forming multiple complete petal-shaped structures with natural breaks between adjacent petals.

[0034] Furthermore, when adjusting the number of petals, it is only necessary to disconnect the connection between the current discharge part 2 and the hopper 11. When replacing the discharge part 2 equipped with a preset number of discharge pipes 22, it is only necessary to unscrew the current discharge part 2 and replace it with a discharge part 2 with a different number of discharge pipes 22 to complete the replacement. For example, a three-petal cake corresponds to three discharge pipes 22, a four-petal cake corresponds to four discharge pipes 22, and a six-petal cake corresponds to six discharge pipes 22. This allows for rapid switching of the number of petals. By accurately diverting and injecting through different numbers of discharge pipes 22, a petal prototype of equal size and ring symmetry is formed.

[0035] Furthermore, the feeding mechanism also includes multiple feeding valves 4, which correspond one-to-one with the discharge component 2. The feeding valves 4 are fixed on the side wall of the diverter 12.

[0036] Furthermore, since multiple feeding valves 4 correspond one-to-one with the discharge component 2 and are fixed to the diversion component 12, each feeding valve 4 can individually control the connection and disconnection between the corresponding diversion channel 121 in the diversion component 12 and the discharge component 2 and the first connecting part 21. When it is necessary to close a certain discharge port component, it is only necessary to close the corresponding feeding valve 4 to cut off the cake liquid supply to the discharge component 2 and realize the suspension of operation of a single discharge port component. Conversely, opening the feeding valve 4 can restore the diversion channel 121 to deliver cake liquid to the discharge component 2, ensuring normal feeding of the discharge component 2 and adapting to diverse production rhythms. For example, when some boxes on the tray 3 are not placed in place, or when it is necessary to reduce the number of boxes feeding at the same time, the feeding of a specific discharge component 2 can be suspended by closing the corresponding feeding valve 4 to improve the controllability of the production process.

[0037] At the same time, the feeding valve 4 can also control the flow rate of the cake batter by adjusting the size of the diversion channel 121, which can ensure that the cake batter is injected into the box at an appropriate speed, reducing the waste of batter due to excessive flow rate or excessive overflow, and also reducing insufficient filling or stagnation and clumping of batter in the channel due to excessive flow rate, laying the foundation for the formation of a uniform and regular petal-shaped structure in subsequent baking.

[0038] On the other hand, the support mechanism also includes a rod frame 5 and a support frame 6. The rod frame 5 is disposed above the support frame 6. In this embodiment, there are two rod frames 5, which are fixed to both ends of the support frame 6. The rod frame 5 includes a connecting column 51 and a support column 52. There are two support columns 52. The two ends of the connecting column 51 are fixedly connected to the two support columns 52 respectively, and the ends of the two support columns 52 away from the connecting column 51 are threadedly connected to the support frame 6.

[0039] Furthermore, the diverter 12 is provided with a second connecting part 123. There are two second connecting parts 123, which are located at both ends of the diverter 12. The second connecting parts 123 are fixedly connected to the diverter 12. Each second connecting part 123 has a groove 1231 at both ends, which is inserted into the connecting post 51.

[0040] This demonstrates that the installation or removal of the diverter 12 can be completed by inserting or removing the groove 1231 and the connecting post 51. By installing and removing the diverter 12, the diverter 12, together with the hopper 11 and the discharge part 2 connected to the diverter 12, can be removed from the frame 5 as a whole, which greatly simplifies the maintenance operation process. Operators can easily clean the diverter channel 121 in the diverter 12, the inner wall of the hopper 11, and the discharge pipe 22 of the discharge part 2.

[0041] Furthermore, the second connecting part 123 is provided with a plurality of fixing members 7. The fixing members 7 are threadedly engaged with the outer wall of the second connecting part 123 away from the diverter 12. The fixing members 7 are close to the groove 1231. After the groove 1231 is inserted into the connecting post 51, the fixing members 7 are tightened. One end of the fixing members 7 abuts against the connecting post 51, and the other end of the fixing members 7 abuts against the outer wall of the second connecting part 123, thereby fixing the second connecting part 123 to the connecting post 51, and further fixing the feeding mechanism to the rod frame 5.

[0042] The implementation principle of a cupcake feeding device according to an embodiment of this application is as follows: the support mechanism is based on the support frame 6 as the bottom base. The two rods 5 fixed above the support frame 6 are connected to the grooves 1231 of the second connecting parts 123 at both ends of the diverter 12 through the connecting column 51. The diverter 12 and the hopper 11 and the discharge part 2 connected to the diverter 12 are fixedly and securely fixed on the rods 5. At the same time, the material tray 3 above the support frame 6 is set below the discharge part 2 to accurately carry the box to be filled.

[0043] The liquid material first enters the diversion component 12 located between the hopper 11 and the discharge component 2. The three diversion channels 121 in the diversion component 12 correspond one-to-one with the three discharge components 2, and the liquid material is evenly distributed to the first connecting part 21 of each discharge component 2 according to the preset path. Since the straight part 221 is evenly surrounded by the first connecting part 21 as the axis and is connected to the first connecting part 21, and the straight part 221 is also vertically fixed and connected to the vertical part 222, after the liquid material is diverted by the first connecting part 21, it can be vertically injected into the box of the lower material tray 3 along the straight part 221 and the vertical part 222, forming a surrounding diversion injection. The four discharge pipes 22 make the material body area inside the box independent and ring-shaped. Adjacent areas have initial gaps due to the difference in diversion paths. During subsequent baking, each material body area expands and shapes on its own, and the initial gaps are retained, eventually forming a petal structure with natural fracture.

[0044] Multiple feeding valves 4 correspond one-to-one with the discharge components 2 and are fixed to the side wall of the diverter 12. They can control the opening and closing of the corresponding diverter channel 121 individually, and can also control the flow rate of the liquid by adjusting the size of the diverter channel 121. If the number of petals needs to be adjusted, simply unscrew the threaded connection between the discharge component 2 and the diverter 12, and replace the discharge component 2 with the corresponding number of discharge pipes 22 to quickly switch the petal specifications.

[0045] In addition, during maintenance, it is only necessary to loosen the fixing part 7 and pull out the plug-in connection between the second connecting part 123 and the connecting column 51 to remove the diverter 12, hopper 11 and discharge part 2 as a whole from the frame 5. This allows for convenient and comprehensive cleaning of the diverter channel 121, the inner wall of the hopper 11 and the discharge pipe 22, greatly simplifying the maintenance process and ensuring the long-term stable operation of the device.

[0046] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A cupcake feeding device, characterized in that: The device includes a feeding mechanism and a support mechanism. The feeding mechanism is mounted on the support mechanism. The feeding mechanism includes a feeding component (1) and multiple discharge components (2). The multiple discharge components (2) are connected to the feeding component (1). Each discharge component (2) is provided with multiple discharge pipes (22). The discharge pipes (22) are arranged around the connection between the discharge component (2) and the feeding component (1) as an axis. The support mechanism includes a material tray (3). The material tray (3) is located below the discharge component (2).

2. The cupcake feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The discharge component (2) is provided with a first connecting part (21), the first connecting part (21) is detachably connected to the feeding component (1), and the first connecting part (21) communicates with the interior of the feeding component (1).

3. The cupcake feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the discharge pipes (22) includes a straight section (221) and a vertical section (222). The straight section (221) is vertically fixed and connected to the vertical section (222). Each of the straight sections (221) is fixedly connected to and connected to each other. Each of the straight sections (221) is fixedly connected to and connected to the first connecting section (21).

4. The cupcake feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The feeding assembly (1) includes a hopper (11) and a diverter (12). The diverter (12) is disposed between the hopper (11) and the discharge component (2). The diverter (12) has multiple diverting channels (121) inside. The diverting channels (121) are respectively connected to the hopper (11) and the first connecting part (21). The diverting channels (121) correspond one-to-one with the multiple discharge components (2).

5. The cupcake feeding device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first connecting part (21) is perpendicular to the lower surface of the diverter (12), and the straight part (221) is uniformly arranged around the first connecting part (21) as an axis.

6. The cupcake feeding device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The feeding mechanism also includes multiple feeding valves (4), each of which corresponds to one of the discharge components (2), and the feeding valves (4) are fixed on the diverter (12).

7. The cupcake feeding device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The support mechanism includes a rod frame (5) and a support frame (6). The rod frame (5) is located above the support frame (6). The feeding mechanism is located above the rod frame (5). The material tray (3) is located on the support frame (6).

8. The cupcake feeding device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The frame (5) includes a connecting post (51), and the diverter (12) is provided with a second connecting part (123). The second connecting part (123) is fixedly connected to the diverter (12), and the second connecting part (123) is provided with a groove (1231). The groove (1231) is inserted into the connecting post (51).

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