A pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guide device

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of food processing technology, specifically a pre-prepared food processing material distribution and guiding device. It includes a material distribution mechanism and several guiding mechanisms. The material distribution mechanism includes a feeding hopper, a fixed frame, a distributing hopper, and a base. The bottom of the distributing hopper has a distributing pipe, and the top of the base has several through slots. The guiding mechanisms include guide slides and discharge pipes, with the first ends of the guide slides on the guiding mechanisms corresponding to the positions of the multiple through slots. This pre-prepared food processing material distribution and guiding device, through its integrated material distribution and guiding structure, integrates the feeding hopper, distributing hopper, base, and guide slides into the same fixed frame. A lead screw drives the distributing hopper to reciprocate along a linear direction, replacing the circular rotation for material exchange. This eliminates the need for dedicated supports and redundant rotation space for independent functional modules, resulting in a compact overall structure, small footprint, and flexible adaptability to the installation and use needs of small spaces such as restaurants.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of food processing technology, specifically to a pre-prepared food processing material distribution and guiding device. Background Technology

[0002] In pre-prepared food processing, ingredient sorting is a crucial link between raw material handling and cooking, directly impacting production efficiency and the uniformity of food quality. After being chopped and prepared, ingredients must be precisely delivered to each cooking unit according to the specified proportions. This process must adapt to the diverse characteristics of ingredients, such as granules and chunks, while also meeting the continuous operation requirements of large-scale production. Efficient ingredient sorting provides stable support for standardized processing and is a vital technological guarantee for improving the quality and efficiency of the pre-prepared food industry.

[0003] Chinese patent application CN113647799B discloses a food ingredient feeding device, an automatic food ingredient feeding and cooking machine, and a food ingredient feeding, cooking, and serving conveying device. This device includes a rotating chamber containing several food boxes with openings at the bottom, a rotating mechanism, and a rotating drive mechanism. The rotating drive mechanism is connected to the rotating mechanism, and the food boxes are positioned circumferentially on the rotating mechanism. A discharge port is located on one side of the rotating chamber's bottom. Each food box has a cover plate at its bottom, which is slidably connected to the food box. A pushing mechanism is located on one side of the discharge port, above the funnel, adjacent to and at the same level as one side of the cover plate. A cover plate box for storing the cover plate is located on the other side of the cover plate. This food ingredient feeding device, automatic food ingredient feeding and cooking machine, and food ingredient feeding, cooking, and serving conveying device require no manual assistance for food preparation, retrieval, and cooking. They can automatically feed ingredients and cook, reducing the labor intensity of chefs, improving cooking efficiency, and enhancing hygiene.

[0004] The ingredient feeding device, automatic feeding and cooking machine, and ingredient feeding, cooking, and serving conveyor device, with their circumferential layout of a rotating ring and multi-module distributed design, result in a wide horizontal space occupation and a large overall volume. This makes it difficult to accommodate in limited spaces such as restaurant kitchens and small processing rooms, and it is prone to conflict with other equipment or operating areas, affecting the workflow in the kitchen. In view of this, we propose a pre-prepared food processing and ingredient distribution guiding device. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a pre-prepared food processing and distribution guiding device to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: A pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guide device includes: The dispensing mechanism is used to selectively dispense pre-prepared food ingredients. The dispensing mechanism includes a feeding hopper, a fixed frame fixedly connected below the feeding hopper, a dispensing hopper fitted inside the fixed frame and capable of reciprocating along the length of the fixed frame, and a base located below the dispensing hopper and fixedly connected to the fixed frame. The feeding hopper has a discharge port at its bottom end, the bottom end of which extends into the dispensing hopper. A lead screw and a crossbar are rotatably connected inside the fixed frame. The lead screw is threadedly connected to the dispensing hopper, and the crossbar is slidably connected to the dispensing hopper. A motor is coaxially fixedly connected to the end of the lead screw. The dispensing hopper has a dispensing pipe at its bottom end, and the top of the base has several through-slots. The dispensing pipe can be aligned with different through-slots by the lateral movement of the dispensing hopper within the fixed frame. A plurality of guiding mechanisms are provided for receiving pre-cooked food materials discharged from the dispensing mechanism. Each guiding mechanism includes a guide slide fixed to the bottom of the base and a discharge pipe connected to the end of the guide slide. The first ends of the guide slides on the plurality of guiding mechanisms correspond to the positions of a plurality of through slots, and the end of the discharge pipe extends toward the cooking unit for stir-frying the pre-cooked food.

[0007] Preferably, the bottom of the feeding hopper has a downward protruding structure, the discharge port has a tubular structure and is connected to the interior of the feeding hopper, and several fixing plates are fixed between the front and rear surfaces of the feeding hopper and the front and rear inner walls of the fixing frame. In this design, the downward-protruding bottom of the feeding hopper and the tubular discharge port guide the material to be discharged in a concentrated manner, reducing residue, while the fixing plate strengthens the connection between the feeding hopper and the fixing frame, improving structural stability.

[0008] Preferably, the fixed frame has a rectangular frame structure, the lead screw and crossbar are located on the same horizontal plane and are both parallel to the length direction of the fixed frame, the motor is installed on the outer surface of the fixed frame, and several fixed feet are installed on the rear end face of the fixed frame. In this setup, the rectangular frame structure provides stable support for the fixed frame, the parallel arrangement of the lead screw and crossbar ensures smooth movement of the distributing hopper, and the fixed feet facilitate the overall installation of the device.

[0009] Preferably, the bottom of the material distribution hopper has a downward convex structure, and guide seats are fixed at both the front and rear end faces of the material distribution hopper. The lead screw axially passes through one of the guide seats and is threadedly connected to the guide seat, and the crossbar axially passes through the other guide seat and is slidably connected to the guide seat. In this design, the downward-protruding bottom of the dispensing hopper facilitates the flow of material into the dispensing pipe, the guide seat provides a mounting carrier for the lead screw and crossbar, and the combination of threads and sliding allows the dispensing hopper to move precisely back and forth.

[0010] Preferably, the bottom end of the base is provided with a plurality of slots, the number of slots and through slots are equal and their positions correspond one to one, the bottom end of the through slot is connected to the slot, and the top end of the guide slide is sleeved and fixed in the corresponding slot. In this setting, the correspondence between the slot and the through slot ensures that the guide slide is installed in a precise position, and the fixed method of sleeve makes the guide slide and the base firmly connected, reducing shaking during feeding.

[0011] Preferably, connecting plates are installed on both the left and right end faces of the base, and the top ends of the two connecting plates are fixedly connected to the left and right end faces of the fixed frame, respectively. In this configuration, the connecting plate enhances the connection strength between the base and the fixed frame, making the overall structure of the material distribution mechanism more stable and preventing loosening after long-term use.

[0012] Preferably, a number of mounting rods are fixed on the front surface of the base. The number of mounting rods is equal to the number of through slots and their positions correspond one-to-one. The front surface of the dispensing tube is provided with sensing protrusions. Multiple proximity switches are spaced apart along the movement direction of the dispensing tube. The multiple proximity switches are correspondingly installed on the top of the mounting rods. When the dispensing hopper drives the dispensing tube to move, the sensing protrusions move synchronously with it. When the proximity switches sense the sensing protrusions, they trigger the dispensing tube to stop moving. The stopping position of the dispensing tube corresponds one-to-one with the setting position of each proximity switch, so that the dispensing tube can selectively stop at the through slot position corresponding to any proximity switch. In this setup, the combination of the sensing bump and the proximity switch enables automatic and precise positioning of the dispensing tube, eliminating the need for manual control of the stop position and improving the accuracy and efficiency of dispensing.

[0013] Preferably, the guide slide gradually slopes downward from the material dispensing mechanism toward the cooking unit, the discharge pipe has a bent pipe structure, and the bottom end of the discharge pipe is threaded with an end pipe that can be detached from the discharge pipe. In this setup, the inclined guide slide uses gravity to assist the material in sliding down, reducing the risk of material jamming, while the detachable end tube makes it easy to adjust the discharge direction according to the position of the cooking unit, improving the adaptability of the device.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: This pre-prepared food processing and distribution guide device integrates the feeding hopper, distribution hopper, base, and guide slide into a single fixed frame through an integrated distribution guide structure. The distribution hopper is driven by a screw to move back and forth in a linear direction instead of rotating in a ring for material exchange. This eliminates the need for dedicated brackets and redundant rotation space for independent functional modules, resulting in a compact overall structure, small footprint, and flexible adaptability to the installation and use needs of small venues such as restaurants. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the material distribution mechanism in this utility model; Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the material distribution mechanism in this utility model from a top-down perspective; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the material distribution mechanism of this utility model from a low angle. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the guiding mechanism in this utility model; The meanings of the labels in the diagram are as follows: 100. Material distribution mechanism; 110. Feed hopper; 111. Discharge port; 112. Fixing plate; 120. Fixing frame; 121. Lead screw; 122. Motor; 123. Crossbar; 124. Fixing foot; 130. Material distribution hopper; 131. Material distribution pipe; 132. Guide seat; 133. Sensing protrusion; 140. Base; 141. Through slot; 142. Slot; 143. Connecting plate; 144. Mounting rod; 145. Proximity switch; 200. Guiding mechanism; 210. Guide slide; 220. Discharge pipe; 230. End pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0017] Please see Figures 1-5 A pre-prepared food processing material distribution and guiding device includes a material distribution mechanism 100 and a guiding mechanism 200, which work together to achieve precise material distribution and directional conveying of pre-prepared food materials. The material distribution mechanism 100 is the core component. A feeding hopper 110 is fixedly connected to a fixed frame 120 via several fixed plates 112. The fixed plates 112 connect the front and rear surfaces of the feeding hopper 110 to the front and rear inner walls of the fixed frame 120, ensuring the feeding hopper 110 is stably mounted above the fixed frame 120. The bottom of the feeding hopper 110 protrudes downwards, guiding materials towards the center and reducing material residue on the inner wall of the feeding hopper 110. The discharge port 111 at its bottom is tubular, further constraining the material's falling path and ensuring concentrated material entry into the distribution hopper 130. The bottom of the discharge port 111 extends directly into the distribution hopper 130 below, ensuring that all material in the feeding hopper 110 falls completely into the distribution hopper 130.

[0018] like Figures 1-4 As shown, in this invention, the fixed frame 120 has a rectangular frame structure, with a lead screw 121 and a crossbar 123 rotatably connected to its inner side. The lead screw 121 and the crossbar 123 are on the same horizontal plane and are both parallel to the length direction of the fixed frame 120. This parallel layout ensures that the material distribution hopper 130 is subjected to balanced force and avoids jamming during movement. The motor 122 is installed on the outer surface of the fixed frame 120, and the output end of the motor 122 is coaxially fixedly connected to the end of the lead screw 121. The motor 122 can drive the lead screw 121 to rotate around its own axis. The distributing hopper 130 is fitted inside the fixed frame 120. Guide seats 132 are fixed on both its front and rear end faces. The lead screw 121 axially passes through one of the guide seats 132 and is threaded to it. The crossbar 123 axially passes through the other guide seat 132 and is slidably connected to it. The threaded and sliding cooperation structure allows the rotation of the lead screw 121 to be converted into a smooth linear motion of the distributing hopper 130, improving the accuracy of position adjustment. When the lead screw 121 rotates, the distributing hopper 130 can move smoothly back and forth along the length of the fixed frame 120.

[0019] like Figures 2-4 As shown, specifically, the bottom of the distributing hopper 130 also protrudes downwards to facilitate the rapid flow of material into the distributing pipe 131, which is used to discharge internal material. The front surface of the distributing pipe 131 is provided with sensing protrusions 133. Correspondingly, several mounting rods 144 are fixed to the front surface of the base 140. Proximity switches 145 are mounted on the top of each mounting rod 144. The number of mounting rods 144 and proximity switches 145 are equal to the number of slots 141 at the top of the base 140, and their positions correspond one-to-one. When the distributing hopper 130 moves the distributing pipe 131, the sensing protrusions 133 move synchronously. Upon sensing the sensing protrusions 133, the proximity switches 145 trigger the distributing pipe 131 to stop. This sensing mechanism enables automatic positioning of the distributing pipe 131, eliminating the need for manual judgment of the stopping position, reducing operational errors, and ensuring precise alignment of the distributing pipe 131 with the corresponding slot 141.

[0020] like Figures 2-3As shown, the base 140 is located below the hopper 130. The top ends of the connecting plates 143 installed on its left and right end faces are fixedly connected to the left and right end faces of the fixed frame 120, respectively. The connecting plates 143 can connect the base 140 and the fixed frame 120 into a whole, forming a stable overall support structure. The top of the base 140 has several through slots 141 that are open from top to bottom, and the bottom has several corresponding slots 142. The bottom ends of the through slots 141 and the slots 142 are connected, and the connected structure provides a continuous channel for the material to fall, and at the same time provides a positioning reference for the installation of the guide mechanism 200, providing a channel for the material to fall and the installation of the guide mechanism 200. Several fixing feet 124 are installed on the rear end face of the fixed frame 120. The fixing feet 124 are used to fix to the wall or other positions to fix the guide mechanism 200, so that the entire device can be stably fixed on the working plane.

[0021] like Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, in addition, multiple sets of guide mechanisms 200 are provided corresponding to the through slots 141. The multiple sets allow the device to selectively feed materials to multiple cooking units. Each set of guide mechanisms 200 includes a guide slide 210 and a discharge pipe 220. The top of the guide slide 210 is fitted and fixed in the slot 142 of the base 140. The fitted and fixed method facilitates the installation and disassembly of the guide slide 210, reducing maintenance difficulty. Its head end is precisely connected to the through slot 141, and it gradually slopes downward from the dispensing mechanism 100 toward the cooking unit. The inclined structure can use gravity to assist the material to slide down, reducing the risk of material residue and jamming in the slide. The guide slide 210 is connected to the discharge pipe 220 at its end. The discharge pipe 220 adopts a bent pipe structure. The bent pipe design can flexibly adapt to the position of the cooking unit and prevent the material from spilling when it falls. Its bottom end is threadedly connected to a detachable end pipe 230. The detachable end pipe 230 is easy to disassemble and clean, and prevents oil stains from adhering during long-term cooking. The end of the end pipe 230 extends directly to the cooking unit for stir-frying pre-cooked dishes, realizing the directional delivery of materials.

[0022] It is worth noting that the motor 122 and proximity switch 145 involved in this utility model are existing conventional technologies, and will not be described in detail here. In order to achieve convenient control of the material distribution path, the device is connected to an independent control switch. The control switch integrates control buttons in the same number as the through slot 141. Each button forms a linkage control loop with a set of proximity switches 145 and motor 122. According to the actual material distribution needs, the operator can press the corresponding button on the control switch. After the button is triggered, a drive signal is sent to the motor 122, which drives the lead screw 121 to rotate, thereby driving the material distribution hopper 130 to move along the length of the fixed frame 120. When the sensing protrusion 133 on the material distribution pipe 131 moves with the material distribution hopper 130 to the proximity switch 145 corresponding to the button, the proximity switch 145 will send a stop signal to the motor 122, so that the material distribution hopper 130 stops precisely at the target position, and the material distribution pipe 131 is aligned with the corresponding through groove 141, ultimately achieving the purpose of freely selecting materials to be conveyed to the target guide mechanism 200. The operation is simple and the positioning is accurate.

[0023] In this embodiment, the pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guide device is used as follows: First, the device is securely installed on the working surface using the fixing feet 124 on the rear side of the fixed frame 120. The end tube 230 of the guide mechanism 200 is adjusted according to the position of the cooking unit to ensure that the end of the end tube 230 is precisely aligned with the opening of the cooking unit. Then, the pre-prepared food materials are poured into the feeding hopper 110. The materials fall into the dispensing hopper 130 through the discharge port 111 at the bottom of the feeding hopper 110. The motor 122 is started to drive the lead screw 121 to rotate. The dispensing hopper 130 moves smoothly along the crossbar 123 inside the fixed frame 120. When the sensing protrusion 133 of the dispensing tube 131 moves to the position of the proximity switch 145 corresponding to the target through slot 141, the proximity switch 145 triggers the motor. 122 stops, and the dispensing pipe 131 is precisely aligned with the through groove 141. Then, the material in the dispensing hopper 130 falls through the dispensing pipe 131 into the through groove 141 of the base 140, and then enters the guide slide 210 fixed in the lower slot 142 through the through groove 141. Under the action of gravity, the material slides down the inclined guide slide 210, and falls into the corresponding cooking unit through the discharge pipe 220 and the end pipe 230. Finally, when the feeding of the channel is completed, the motor 122 is started again to adjust the position of the dispensing hopper 130 so that the dispensing pipe 131 is aligned with the next through groove 141. The above feeding steps are repeated. After all the feeding is completed, the motor 122 is turned off, and the residual material in the feeding hopper 110, the dispensing hopper 131 and the guide slide 210 is cleaned.

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

Claims

1. A pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guiding device, characterized in that, include: The dispensing mechanism (100) is used to selectively dispense pre-prepared food ingredients. The dispensing mechanism (100) includes a feeding hopper (110) for dispensing ingredients, a fixed frame (120) fixedly connected below the feeding hopper (110), a dispensing hopper (130) sleeved inside the fixed frame (120) and capable of reciprocating along the length of the fixed frame (120), and a base (140) located below the dispensing hopper (130) and fixedly connected to the fixed frame (120). The bottom end of the feeding hopper (110) is provided with a discharge port (111), the bottom end of which extends into the dispensing hopper (111). Inside the hopper (130), a screw (121) and a crossbar (123) are rotatably connected within the fixed frame (120). The screw (121) is threadedly connected to the hopper (130), and the crossbar (123) is slidably connected to the hopper (130). A motor (122) is coaxially fixedly connected to the end of the screw (121). A distribution pipe (131) is provided at the bottom of the hopper (130), and several through slots (141) with a top-bottom open shape are provided at the top of the base (140). Through the lateral movement of the hopper (130) within the fixed frame (120), the distribution pipe (131) can be aligned with different through slots (141). A plurality of guiding mechanisms (200) are provided for receiving pre-cooked food materials discharged from the dispensing mechanism (100). The guiding mechanism (200) includes a guide slide (210) fixed to the bottom end of the base (140) and a discharge pipe (220) connected to the end of the guide slide (210). The first ends of the guide slides (210) on the plurality of guiding mechanisms (200) correspond to the positions of a plurality of through slots (141) respectively. The end of the discharge pipe (220) extends toward the cooking unit for stir-frying pre-cooked food.

2. The pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the feeding hopper (110) is convex downwards, the discharge port (111) is tubular and connected to the inside of the feeding hopper (110), and several fixing plates (112) are fixed between the front and rear surfaces of the feeding hopper (110) and the front and rear inner walls of the fixing frame (120).

3. The pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed frame (120) has a rectangular frame structure. The lead screw (121) and the cross bar (123) are located on the same horizontal plane and are parallel to the length direction of the fixed frame (120). The motor (122) is installed on the outer surface of the fixed frame (120). Several fixed feet (124) are installed on the rear end face of the fixed frame (120).

4. The pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the hopper (130) is convex downwards. Guide seats (132) are fixed on both the front and rear end faces of the hopper (130). The screw (121) passes through one of the guide seats (132) axially and is threaded to the guide seat (132). The crossbar (123) passes through the other guide seat (132) axially and is slidably connected to the guide seat (132).

5. The pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom end of the base (140) is provided with a number of slots (142). The number of slots (142) and the number of through slots (141) are equal and their positions correspond one to one. The bottom end of the through slot (141) is connected to the slot (142). The top end of the guide slide (210) is fitted and fixed in the corresponding slot (142).

6. The pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base (140) has connecting plates (143) installed on both the left and right end faces. The tops of the two connecting plates (143) are fixedly connected to the left and right end faces of the fixed frame (120) respectively.

7. The pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Several mounting rods (144) are fixed on the front surface of the base (140). The number of mounting rods (144) is equal to the number of through slots (141) and their positions correspond one-to-one. The front surface of the distribution pipe (131) is provided with sensing protrusions (133). Multiple proximity switches (145) are provided at intervals along the movement direction of the distribution pipe (131). Multiple proximity switches (145) are correspondingly installed on the top of several mounting rods (144). When the distribution hopper (130) drives the distribution pipe (131) to move, the sensing protrusions (133) move synchronously with it. When the proximity switch (145) senses the sensing protrusions (133), it triggers the distribution pipe (131) to stop moving. The stopping position of the distribution pipe (131) corresponds one-to-one with the setting position of each proximity switch (145), so that the distribution pipe (131) can selectively stop at the position of any through slot (141) corresponding to any proximity switch (145).

8. The pre-prepared food processing and dispensing guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide slide (210) gradually slopes downward from the dispensing mechanism (100) toward the cooking unit. The discharge pipe (220) has a bent pipe structure. The bottom end of the discharge pipe (220) is threaded with an end pipe (230), which can be detached from the discharge pipe (220).

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