Cream production remelt device and cream production system

Abstract

The application discloses a butter production remelting device and a butter production system. The butter production remelting device comprises a material collecting mechanism and a heat exchange mechanism. The material collecting mechanism is configured to be connected to a quench kneader in a pipeline to receive semi-solid material, and a cutting mechanism is arranged in the material collecting mechanism and configured to cut the semi-solid material. The heat exchange mechanism is connected to the material collecting mechanism in a pipeline and configured to heat the semi-solid material to liquefy the semi-solid material, and the heat exchange mechanism is further configured to be connected to an emulsification kettle in a pipeline to make the liquefied material flow back to the emulsification kettle. The device physically cuts the semi-solid material with high viscosity through the cutting mechanism, and realizes rapid liquefaction and backflow through the heat exchange mechanism, effectively improving the problems of high health risk, high energy consumption and production interruption in the manual offline recovery mode, and improving the operation efficiency of the production line while ensuring food safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of food processing equipment technology, and in particular to a cream production remelting device and a cream production system. Background Technology

[0002] Margarine is a solid or semi-solid emulsified food product with a certain degree of plasticity, made primarily from vegetable oils through emulsification, rapid cooling, and kneading. In continuous mass production of margarine, the emulsion solution typically requires rapid cooling and kneading to achieve a specific crystal structure and texture. However, during production line start-up, debugging, formula switching, or fluctuations in production conditions, the rapid cooling and kneading unit may produce some non-compliant semi-solid semi-finished products.

[0003] Currently, the industry primarily handles these defective products by manually or using simple equipment to collect them into a material cart, remelting them, and then manually returning them to the emulsification kettle for secondary production. However, this method has the following problems: First, the transportation and heating processes disrupt the continuity of production, and the energy consumption of reheating the material from room temperature to a molten state is high. Second, during collection and transfer, the material is in an open environment, easily exposed to external air and impurities, increasing the risk of microbial contamination and making it difficult to meet increasingly stringent food hygiene standards. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application discloses a cream production remelting device and a cream production system, which can improve the problems of high hygiene risks, high energy consumption and production interruption in manual offline recycling methods, and improve the operating efficiency of the production line while ensuring food safety.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, this application discloses a butter production remelting apparatus, which is applied in a butter production system, the butter production system including a quench kneader and an emulsifying tank, and the butter production remelting apparatus comprising: A material collection mechanism is configured to be connected by a pipe to the quench kneader to receive semi-solid material. The material collection mechanism is provided with a cutting mechanism configured to cut the semi-solid material. A heat exchange mechanism is provided, with pipes connected to the material collection mechanism. The heat exchange mechanism is configured to heat the semi-solid material to liquefy it. The heat exchange mechanism is also configured to be piped to the emulsification vessel to allow the liquefied material to flow back into the emulsification vessel.

[0006] As an optional implementation, the material collection mechanism includes: A material collection trough is configured to be connected by a pipe to the quench kneader, and the cutting mechanism is disposed within the material collection trough; A conveying pump is disposed between the material collection mechanism and the heat exchange mechanism. The inlet of the conveying pump is connected to the outlet of the material collection tank, and the outlet of the conveying pump is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange mechanism. The conveying pump is configured to pump the cut semi-solid material to the heat exchange mechanism.

[0007] By incorporating a material collection mechanism including a material collection trough and a conveying pump, the material collection trough is connected to the quench kneader via pipes, and the cutting mechanism is built into the receiving cavity of the collection trough. The conveying pump is installed on the transmission path between the material collection trough and the heat exchange mechanism. The pump's suction inlet is connected to the discharge outlet at the bottom of the material collection trough, and the pump's discharge outlet is connected to the heat exchange mechanism via pipes. In this way, during operation, the semi-solid material discharged from the quench kneader first falls into the material collection trough, where it is initially cut by the cutting mechanism. Subsequently, the conveying pump starts, generating negative pressure to draw in the cut material and push it into the heat exchange mechanism. This structural design effectively improves the conveying problem of high-viscosity semi-solid materials. Although the material's volume is reduced after processing by the cutting mechanism, it still retains high viscosity and low flowability. Furthermore, the internal flow channels of the subsequent heat exchange mechanism are relatively narrow, which may cause significant resistance to material flow. By adding the conveying pump, sufficient outlet pressure can be provided to overcome the resistance within the heat exchange mechanism and connecting pipes, thereby propelling the high-viscosity material forward.

[0008] As an optional implementation, the pipeline connecting the delivery pump and the heat exchange mechanism is provided with a heat insulation structure, and / or the pipeline connecting the heat exchange mechanism and the emulsification kettle is provided with a heat insulation structure.

[0009] An insulation structure can be installed on the pipeline connecting the delivery pump and the heat exchange mechanism. This insulation structure covers the outer wall of the pipeline along its extension direction, aiming to heat the material flowing inside. This is because materials like margarine are prone to heat loss during pipeline transport due to low ambient temperatures. Installing an insulation structure in the upstream pipeline from the delivery pump to the heat exchange mechanism helps maintain the temperature of the semi-solid material, preventing it from solidifying due to temperature drops, thus effectively reducing frictional resistance within the pipeline. Furthermore, an insulation structure can also be installed in the downstream pipeline from the heat exchange mechanism to the emulsifying tank. This is because, although the material has been heated to a liquid state, if cooling occurs during its flow to the emulsifying tank, the liquid oily material can easily re-solidify at the pipe wall. In this case, the downstream insulation structure ensures that the material remains in a liquefied state above its melting point until it reaches the emulsifying tank, thus ensuring smooth flow throughout the entire transport process.

[0010] As an optional implementation, the butter production remelting apparatus further includes an insulated pipe connected to the heat exchange mechanism to receive condensed circulating hot water from the heat exchange mechanism, and at least a portion of the insulated pipe extends into the insulation structure to insulate the insulation structure.

[0011] The butter remelting unit is equipped with insulated pipes. One end of the pipe connects to one of the outlets of the heat exchange mechanism, and the other end connects to the interior of the insulation structure on the pipe. During operation, the heat exchange mechanism typically uses high-temperature steam as the main heat source. After heat exchange with the semi-solid material, the steam condenses to form high-temperature hot water. The insulated pipe is configured to transport this condensed circulating hot water to the insulation structure between the transfer pump and the heat exchange mechanism, and between the heat exchange mechanism and the emulsification tank. In this way, the high-temperature hot water flows within the insulation structure, utilizing the waste heat of the hot water to insulate the material inside the pipe.

[0012] Introducing this hot water into the insulation structure through insulated pipes not only utilizes the residual heat energy of the original heat exchange mechanism, reducing the overall energy consumption of the butter production remelting unit, but also, since the main purpose of pipe insulation is to prevent heat loss, using hot water for insulation is gentler than using steam directly.

[0013] As an optional implementation, the heat exchange mechanism is configured as a plate heat exchanger, the heat exchange mechanism comprising: frame; Multiple heat exchange plates are stacked together, and the heat exchange plates are disposed on the frame; A heat medium pipeline is disposed in the frame and passes through the heat exchange plate. The heat medium pipeline is configured to carry a heating medium to heat the semi-solid material.

[0014] The heat exchange mechanism is specifically constructed as a plate heat exchanger, which mainly consists of a frame, multiple stacked heat exchange plates, and heat medium pipes. The frame serves as the supporting structure, fixing the heat exchange plates together. These heat exchange plates can be stacked sequentially in the same direction, forming fluid channels between adjacent plates. The heat medium pipes are located on the fixed plates or clamping plates of the frame and penetrate the heat exchange plates, used to introduce external high-temperature steam into specific fluid channels. The semi-solid material and the heating medium flow separately in adjacent fluid channels, isolated by the heat exchange plates and achieving indirect heat conduction, thus transforming the semi-solid material into a flowing state. Therefore, the material in the plate heat exchanger is heated more uniformly, effectively avoiding coking due to excessively high local temperatures or recrystallization blockage due to insufficient heating, which is beneficial for meeting the high-efficiency processing requirements in the production process.

[0015] As an optional implementation, the heat exchange plate is detachably mounted on the frame.

[0016] This detachable connection structure is crucial for handling high-viscosity food materials like margarine. Because margarine contains a large amount of oil and emulsifiers, it easily accumulates dirt or a charred layer in the dead corners of the flow channels under prolonged heating, and ordinary rinsing is often insufficient to completely remove these residues. By detachably mounting the heat exchange plates within the frame, cleaning the heat exchange mechanism requires only removing each plate individually for wiping and cleaning, thus meeting hygiene standards in the food processing industry. Furthermore, the detachable design allows maintenance personnel to replace only the damaged plate when one heat exchange plate fails, rather than replacing the entire unit, reducing costs.

[0017] As an alternative implementation, the cutting mechanism is configured as an auger screw conveyor, including a rotating shaft and helical blades disposed on the rotating shaft, the helical blades being configured to cut semi-solid materials during rotation.

[0018] A rotating shaft is horizontally mounted inside the material collection trough, constructing the cutting mechanism as an auger screw conveyor. On one hand, when semi-solid material exits the quench kneader and falls into the collection trough, it is typically in a low-temperature (e.g., 15-30℃) and poorly fluid blocky form due to the recent quenching process. At this point, the auger screw conveyor can drive the screw blades to rotate, continuously cutting into the semi-solid material and slicing large pieces. On the other hand, for materials like margarine, relying solely on gravity flow often leads to blockages at the pump inlet. The screw blades generate axial thrust, continuously pushing the cut material towards the pump inlet. This method allows the pump to achieve a better filling rate and reduces production anomalies caused by feed interruptions.

[0019] As an optional implementation, a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor are provided on the pipeline connecting the heat exchange mechanism and the emulsification vessel. The temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the material when it leaves the heat exchange mechanism, and the pressure sensor is used to detect the pressure of the material when it leaves the heat exchange mechanism.

[0020] Temperature and pressure sensors are installed on the connecting pipeline between the heat exchange mechanism and the emulsifying tank. These sensors are located near the outlet of the heat exchange mechanism and are in direct contact with the fluid inside the pipe. The temperature sensor is configured to monitor the temperature of the material after heat exchange in real time. The pressure sensor is configured to monitor the fluid pressure in this pipe section in real time. Therefore, if the temperature sensor detects a value below the preset melting point range (e.g., 40°C), the operator can determine that the material has not completely melted and adjust the flow rate of the heating medium in the heat exchange mechanism or reduce the flow rate of the delivery pump in a timely manner, effectively preventing unmelted solid particles from entering the emulsifying tank. The pressure sensor's monitoring function is mainly reflected in the rapid increase in pressure inside the pipe if the material recrystallizes and causes blockage. In this case, the pressure sensor can detect the abnormal pressure in the pipe, allowing the operator to quickly assess the situation and clear the blockage, thus improving the operational stability of the butter remelting unit.

[0021] Secondly, this application also discloses a cream production system, which includes: Rapid cooling kneading machine; An emulsifying vessel configured to store liquid raw materials; And a butter production remelting apparatus as described in the first aspect, the butter production remelting apparatus being connected between the quench kneader and the emulsifying kettle.

[0022] This cream production system includes a quench kneader, an emulsifying tank, and the aforementioned cream remelting device. Therefore, this system achieves the beneficial effects of the cream remelting device. Specifically, by connecting the cream remelting device between the outlet of the quench kneader and the inlet of the emulsifying tank, the system constructs a closed-loop circulation system. The cutting mechanism within the remelting device cuts the hard, semi-solid material discharged from the quench kneader, and the heat exchange mechanism liquefies it, allowing substandard semi-finished products to be converted into liquid raw materials and returned to the emulsifying tank. This method avoids the hygiene problems associated with manual recycling, where materials are exposed to the external environment. Simultaneously, the system directly pumps the recycled material into the emulsifying tank, saving energy compared to reheating the material before it enters the tank. Therefore, the cream production system of this application, while ensuring high hygiene standards in food processing, improves the continuous operation efficiency and automation level of the production line.

[0023] As an optional implementation, the discharge port of the quench kneader is provided with a defective product discharge valve, and the inlet of the material collection mechanism is sealed to the defective product discharge valve through a pipe.

[0024] The quench kneader has an integrated defective product discharge valve at its discharge port, and the inlet of the material collection mechanism is sealed to this valve via a pipe. This defective product discharge valve is configured to switch between the qualified product flow path and the recycled remelting flow path. When the quench kneader is in the start-up preheating, process parameter adjustment, or pre-shutdown venting stage, the produced material often has quality problems such as substandard crystal structure and hardness. At this time, the defective product discharge valve opens, opening the channel to the material collection mechanism and guiding these substandard semi-solid materials directly into the butter production remelting unit in a sealed state. This sealed connection design enables rapid valve switching and also improves hygiene and operational safety.

[0025] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are: This application provides a butter remelting apparatus and a butter production system. By incorporating a cutting mechanism within the material collection system and utilizing a heat exchange mechanism for heat exchange, the material is conveyed to the emulsification tank, thus forming a closed-loop circuit from the quench kneader to the emulsification tank. On one hand, the cutting mechanism physically cuts high-viscosity semi-solid materials, effectively solving the problem of directly pumping large, hard materials through pipelines, ensuring smooth material flow in the production circuit. On the other hand, the heat exchange mechanism rapidly heats and liquefies the cut material, directly returning it to the emulsification tank, avoiding microbial contamination caused by exposure to the external environment. This avoids the high hygiene risks, high energy consumption, and low processing efficiency associated with manual recycling of defective semi-solid materials. Therefore, this device, through the physical cutting of high-viscosity semi-solid materials and the rapid liquefaction and return via a heat exchange mechanism, effectively improves the high hygiene risks, high energy consumption, and production interruptions associated with manual offline recycling methods, enhancing production line efficiency while ensuring food safety. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first butter production remelting apparatus disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second butter production remelting apparatus disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the third butter production remelting apparatus disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the fourth butter production remelting apparatus disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cream production system disclosed in the embodiments of this application.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: Cream production system - 400; Emulsifying kettle - 300; Quenching kneader - 200; Cream production remelting device-100; material collection mechanism-1; material collection tank-10; cutting mechanism-11; rotating shaft-111; spiral blade-112; conveying pump-2; Heat exchange mechanism -3; Frame -31; Heat exchange plate -32; Heat medium pipeline -33; Insulation structure-4; Insulation pipe-5; Defective product discharge valve-6; Temperature sensor-71; Pressure sensor-72. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0030] In this application, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0031] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0032] Furthermore, the terms "installation," "setting," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0033] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are primarily used to distinguish different devices, components, or parts (which may be the same or different in specific type and construction), and are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, components, or parts. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0034] As described in the background section of this application, in the continuous production of margarine, defective products generated during the rapid cooling and kneading process are typically in a low-temperature, high-viscosity semi-solid state. Existing offline recycling methods not only pose hygiene risks due to the exposure of materials to the external environment, but also make it difficult for semi-solid, hard materials to be directly returned to the emulsification tank through conventional fluid pipelines due to their extremely poor flowability. Furthermore, refilling after heating causes unnecessary heat loss and interruption of the production process.

[0035] Based on this, this application discloses a cream production remelting device and a cream production system. By setting a cutting mechanism in the material collection tank, the semi-solid material is first cut to destroy the hardened structure inside the material. Then, the material is heated by a heat exchange mechanism to transform it from a semi-solid to a liquid state, so that it can be backfilled into the emulsification tank. This avoids microbial contamination caused by the material being exposed to the external environment, improves the problems of high hygiene risk, high energy consumption and production interruption in manual offline recycling methods, and improves the operating efficiency of the production line while ensuring food safety.

[0036] The following will provide a detailed description of the butter production remelting apparatus and butter production system of this application, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first butter production remelting apparatus disclosed in this application. This application discloses a butter production remelting apparatus applied in a butter production system, which includes a quench kneader 200 and an emulsifying tank 300. The butter production remelting apparatus includes a material collection mechanism 1 and a heat exchange mechanism 3. The material collection mechanism 1 is configured with a pipe connected to the quench kneader 200 to receive semi-solid materials. The material collection mechanism 1 is equipped with a cutting mechanism 11, which is configured to cut the semi-solid materials.

[0038] The heat exchange mechanism 3 is connected to the material collection mechanism 1 via a pipe. The heat exchange mechanism 3 is configured to heat the semi-solid material to liquefy it. The heat exchange mechanism 3 is also configured to be connected to the emulsification tank 300 via a pipe so that the liquefied material flows back into the emulsification tank 300.

[0039] It is worth noting that semi-solid materials are material states with a certain degree of hardness and plasticity formed after rapid cooling and crystallization, such as margarine, shortening, butter or other edible oils. This application will use margarine as an example for the following explanation.

[0040] Specifically, this cream production remelting device is applied to a cream production system and mainly consists of a material collection mechanism 1 and a heat exchange mechanism 3. The process is as follows: The material collection mechanism 1 is connected to the rear end of the quench kneader 200 via a pipeline and is used to discharge unqualified semi-solid materials during production line start-up, debugging, or formula switching. The material collection mechanism 1 is equipped with a cutting mechanism 11, which cuts the semi-solid material entering the collection mechanism, thereby transforming large pieces of semi-solid material into smaller particles or materials with a certain degree of fluidity. The material processed by the cutting mechanism 11 is then conveyed to the heat exchange mechanism 3. The heat exchange mechanism 3 is connected to the material collection mechanism 1 via a pipeline, and the material then undergoes indirect heat exchange with the heating medium within the heat exchange mechanism 3, rapidly raising the material temperature above its melting point (e.g., 40℃-50℃), causing the semi-solid material to transform into a liquid state. The liquefied material then flows directly back to the emulsifying tank 300 via a pipeline.

[0041] This closed-loop connection method, utilizing the cutting mechanism 11 to pre-cut the semi-solid material, effectively improves the problem of hardened butter after rapid cooling being difficult to pump directly or clogging pipes. Simultaneously, the heat exchange mechanism 3 can melt the semi-solid material without contact with the external environment. This design not only avoids the risk of bacterial growth due to prolonged exposure during material transfer, but also, because the material itself is maintained at a certain temperature (e.g., 15-30℃) before entering the material collection mechanism 1, and since the butter remelting device is directly connected to the butter production line, there is no need to remove the material to avoid heat loss. This effectively reduces heat energy consumption and improves the overall operating efficiency and food safety of the production line.

[0042] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second butter production remelting device disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The material collection mechanism 1 includes a material collection tank 10 and a conveying pump 2. The material collection tank 10 is configured to be connected to the quench kneader 200 by a pipe. The cutting mechanism 11 is disposed in the material collection tank 10. The conveying pump 2 is disposed between the material collection mechanism 1 and the heat exchange mechanism 3. The inlet of the conveying pump 2 is connected to the outlet of the material collection tank 10, and the outlet of the conveying pump 2 is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange mechanism 3. The conveying pump 2 is configured to pump the cut semi-solid material to the heat exchange mechanism 3.

[0043] Specifically, the material collection tank 10 is connected to the quench kneader 200 via a pipe, and the cutting mechanism 11 is built into the receiving cavity of the collection tank. A delivery pump 2 is installed on the transmission path between the material collection tank 10 and the heat exchange mechanism 3. The suction port of the delivery pump 2 is connected to the discharge port at the bottom of the material collection tank 10, and the discharge port of the delivery pump 2 is connected to the heat exchange mechanism 3 via a pipe. During operation, the semi-solid material discharged from the quench kneader 200 first falls into the material collection tank 10, where it is initially cut by the cutting mechanism 11. Subsequently, the delivery pump 2 starts, generating negative pressure to suck in the cut material and push it into the heat exchange mechanism 3.

[0044] This structural design effectively improves the conveying problem of high-viscosity semi-solid materials. Although the material is reduced in volume after being processed by the cutting mechanism 11, it still retains the characteristics of high viscosity and low fluidity. Furthermore, the internal flow channel of the subsequent heat exchange mechanism 3 is relatively narrow, which will cause significant resistance to the material flow. However, by adding the conveying pump 2, sufficient outlet pressure can be provided to overcome the resistance in the heat exchange mechanism 3 and the connecting pipes, thereby propelling the high-viscosity material forward.

[0045] It is understood that the transfer pump 2 is preferably a rotary pump because of its positive displacement conveying characteristics, making it particularly suitable for conveying media containing soft particles or high viscosity. Alternatively, the transfer pump 2 can also be a single screw pump, gear pump, or piston pump, as long as it meets the hygienic conveying requirements for high-viscosity food materials; this embodiment does not impose specific limitations in this regard.

[0046] It is understood that the material collection tank 10 is usually made of food-grade stainless steel (such as 304 stainless steel or 316L stainless steel), and its shape can be funnel-shaped, cylindrical or rectangular. This embodiment does not make any specific limitation on this.

[0047] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the cutting mechanism 11 is constructed as an auger screw conveyor, including a rotating shaft 111 and a screw blade 112 disposed on the rotating shaft 111. The screw blade 112 is configured to cut semi-solid materials when rotating.

[0048] Specifically, the rotating shaft 111 is horizontally mounted inside the material collection tank 10, constructing the cutting mechanism 11 as an auger screw conveyor. On one hand, when semi-solid material is discharged from the quench kneader 200 and falls into the collection tank, it is typically in a low-temperature (e.g., 15-30℃) and poorly fluid blocky form due to the quenching process. At this time, the auger screw conveyor can drive the screw blades 112 to rotate, continuously cutting into the semi-solid material and slicing large pieces. On the other hand, for materials like margarine, relying solely on gravity flow often leads to blockages at the inlet of the conveying pump 2. Furthermore, the screw blades 112 generate axial thrust, continuously pushing the cut material towards the inlet of the conveying pump 2. This method allows the conveying pump 2 to achieve a better filling rate, reducing production anomalies caused by feeding interruptions.

[0049] It is understood that the edge of the spiral blade 112 can be designed as a serrated or wavy structure, which makes it easier to cut materials containing hard crystalline blocks. This embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0050] It is understood that the rotating shaft 111 can be a single-axis structure, or a dual-axis or multi-axis structure, thereby producing a stronger cutting effect. This embodiment does not make specific limitations on this.

[0051] In other embodiments, the cutting structure can also be a twin-screw extruder, a plunger cutter, or a gear cutter.

[0052] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the heat exchange mechanism 3 is constructed as a plate heat exchanger. The heat exchange mechanism 3 includes a frame 31, a plurality of stacked heat exchange plates 32 and a heat medium pipe 33. The heat exchange plates 32 are disposed on the frame 31, and the heat medium pipe 33 is disposed on the frame 31 and passes through the heat exchange plates 32. The heat medium pipe 33 is configured to carry a heating medium to heat the semi-solid material.

[0053] Specifically, the heat exchange mechanism 3 is constructed as a plate heat exchanger, which mainly consists of a frame 31, multiple stacked heat exchange plates 32, and heat medium pipes 33. The frame 31 serves as the supporting structure, fixing the multiple heat exchange plates 32 together. These heat exchange plates 32 can be stacked sequentially in the same direction, forming fluid channels between adjacent heat exchange plates 32. The heat medium pipes 33 are set on the fixing plate or clamping plate of the frame 31 and pass through the heat exchange plates 32, used to introduce external high-temperature steam into specific fluid channels. The semi-solid material and the heating medium flow in adjacent fluid channels, and the two are isolated by the heat exchange plates 32 and achieve indirect heat conduction, thereby turning the semi-solid material into a flowing material. Therefore, the material in the plate heat exchanger is heated more uniformly, effectively avoiding the problems of coking due to excessively high local temperatures or recrystallization blockage due to insufficient heating, which is conducive to meeting the high-efficiency processing requirements in the production process.

[0054] It is understood that the heat exchange plate 32 is usually made of food-grade stainless steel (such as 304 or 316L stainless steel) that is corrosion-resistant and has good thermal conductivity, and this embodiment does not specifically limit it.

[0055] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the heat exchange plate 32 is detachably mounted on the frame 31.

[0056] Specifically, this detachable connection structure is of great significance for handling high-viscosity food materials such as margarine. Because margarine contains a large amount of oil and emulsifiers, it is prone to forming dirt or a charred layer in the dead corners of the flow channels under prolonged heating conditions. Ordinary rinsing is insufficient to completely remove these residues. However, by detachably mounting the heat exchange plates 32 within the frame 31, when cleaning the heat exchange mechanism 3 is required, each heat exchange plate 32 can be individually removed and wiped clean, thus meeting the hygiene standards of the food processing industry. Furthermore, the detachable design allows maintenance personnel to replace only the damaged plate when a particular heat exchange plate 32 fails, rather than replacing the entire device, thereby reducing costs.

[0057] It is understood that manufacturers can adjust the total heat exchange area by increasing or decreasing the number of heat exchange plates 32 in the frame 31 according to the needs of the back-end emulsifying kettle 300, thereby matching different production scales. This embodiment does not make specific limitations in this regard.

[0058] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the third butter production remelting apparatus disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The pipeline connecting the delivery pump 2 and the heat exchange mechanism 3 is provided with a heat insulation structure 4.

[0059] Specifically, an insulation structure 4 can be installed on the pipeline connecting the delivery pump 2 and the heat exchange mechanism 3. This insulation structure 4 covers the outer wall of the pipeline along its extension direction, aiming to heat the material flowing inside. This is because materials like margarine are prone to heat loss due to the low temperature of the external environment during pipeline transport. Installing the insulation structure 4 in the upstream section of the pipeline between the delivery pump 2 and the heat exchange mechanism 3 helps maintain the temperature of the low-temperature semi-solid material, preventing it from solidifying due to temperature drops, thereby effectively reducing frictional resistance within the pipeline.

[0060] In some embodiments, a heat insulation structure 4 can also be installed in the downstream pipeline from the heat exchange mechanism 3 to the emulsifying tank 300. Although the material has been converted into a liquid state by heating, if the temperature drops during the flow to the emulsifying tank 300, the liquid oily material is prone to re-solidify at the pipe wall. At this time, the downstream heat insulation structure 4 can keep the material in a liquefied state above its melting point before reaching the emulsifying tank 300, thereby ensuring the smoothness of the entire conveying process.

[0061] It is understandable that the insulation structure 4 can be a jacketed structure, using circulating hot water, low-pressure steam, or heat transfer oil introduced into the jacket as a heat tracing medium. Of course, the insulation structure 4 can also be a heating wire wrapped around the outside of the pipe, in conjunction with the insulation cotton layer, which can also control the pipe temperature; this embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0062] In addition, the insulation structure 4 may also include an insulation material layer covering the outermost layer of the pipe, such as polyurethane foam, rock wool or aerogel felt, to reduce heat loss to the external environment. This application does not specifically limit this.

[0063] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the cream production remelting device also includes an insulated pipe 5, which is connected to the heat exchange mechanism 3 to receive the condensed circulating hot water in the heat exchange mechanism 3. At least a portion of the insulated pipe 5 extends into the insulation structure 4 to insulate the insulation structure 4.

[0064] Specifically, the butter remelting unit is equipped with an insulated pipe 5. One end of the insulated pipe 5 is connected to one of the outlets of the heat exchange mechanism 3, and the other end is connected to the interior of the insulation structure 4 on the pipe. During operation, the heat exchange mechanism 3 typically uses high-temperature steam as the main heat source. After heat exchange with the semi-solid material, the steam condenses to form high-temperature hot water. The insulated pipe 5 is configured to transport this condensed circulating hot water to the insulation structure 4 between the transfer pump 2 and the heat exchange mechanism 3, and between the heat exchange mechanism 3 and the emulsifying tank 300. In this way, the high-temperature hot water flowing within the insulation structure 4 utilizes the residual heat of the hot water to insulate the material inside the pipe. Introducing this hot water into the insulation structure 4 through the insulated pipe 5 not only utilizes the residual heat energy of the original heat exchange mechanism 3, reducing the overall energy consumption of the butter remelting unit, but also, since the main purpose of pipe insulation is to prevent heat loss, using hot water for insulation is gentler than directly using steam for insulation.

[0065] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fourth butter production remelting apparatus disclosed in the embodiments of this application. A temperature sensor 71 and a pressure sensor 72 are provided on the pipeline connecting the heat exchange mechanism 3 and the emulsification kettle 300. The temperature sensor 71 is used to detect the temperature of the material when it leaves the heat exchange mechanism 3, and the pressure sensor 72 is used to detect the pressure of the material when it leaves the heat exchange mechanism 3.

[0066] Specifically, a temperature sensor 71 and a pressure sensor 72 are installed on the connecting pipe between the heat exchange mechanism 3 and the emulsifying tank 300. These two sensors are located near the outlet end of the heat exchange mechanism 3 and are in direct contact with the fluid inside the pipe. The temperature sensor 71 is configured to monitor the temperature of the material after heat exchange in real time. The pressure sensor 72 is configured to monitor the fluid pressure within this pipe section in real time.

[0067] If the temperature sensor 71 detects a value below the preset melting point range (e.g., 40°C), the operator can determine that the material has not completely melted, and thus adjust the flow rate of the heating medium in the heat exchange mechanism 3 or reduce the flow rate of the delivery pump 2, effectively preventing unmelted solid particles from entering the emulsification tank 300. The monitoring function of the pressure sensor 72 is mainly reflected in the fact that if the material in the pipeline recrystallizes and forms a blockage, the pressure inside the pipe will rise sharply. At this time, the pressure sensor 72 can detect the abnormal pressure in the pipeline, allowing the operator to quickly make a judgment and clear the pipeline, thereby improving the operational stability of the butter production remelting unit.

[0068] It is understood that the temperature sensor 71 can be a resistance temperature detector (RTD) or a thermocouple, and this embodiment does not specifically limit it.

[0069] It is understood that the pressure sensor 72 can be a diaphragm pressure transmitter, whose pressure-sensing diaphragm is flush with the inner wall of the pipe, which can reduce the accumulation of viscous materials in the pressure inlet. This embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0070] Understandably, the cream production remelting device is also connected to a PLC control system. The PLC control system can adjust the opening of the steam valve of the heat exchange mechanism 3 according to the temperature value fed back by the temperature sensor 71, thereby realizing the control of the discharge temperature.

[0071] Secondly, such as Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a cream production system 400 disclosed in an embodiment of this application. This application also discloses a cream production system 400, including a quench kneader 200, an emulsifying kettle 300, and a cream production remelting device as described in the first aspect, wherein the emulsifying kettle 300 is configured to store liquid raw materials, and the cream production remelting device is connected between the quench kneader 200 and the emulsifying kettle 300.

[0072] The cream production system 400 includes a quench kneader 200, an emulsifying tank 300, and the aforementioned cream production remelting device. Therefore, this system can achieve the corresponding beneficial effects of the cream production remelting device. Specifically, by connecting the cream production remelting device between the outlet of the quench kneader 200 and the inlet of the emulsifying tank 300, the system constructs a closed-loop circulation circuit. The cutting mechanism 11 within the remelting device cuts the hard, semi-solid material discharged from the quench kneader 200 and uses the heat exchange mechanism 3 to heat and liquefy it, allowing substandard semi-finished products to be converted into liquid raw materials and returned to the emulsifying tank 300. This method avoids the hygiene problems associated with material exposure to the external environment in manual recycling. Simultaneously, the system directly pumps the recycled material into the emulsifying tank 300, saving energy compared to reheating the material before it enters the emulsifying tank 300. Therefore, the cream production system 400 of this application, while ensuring high hygiene standards in food processing, improves the continuous operation efficiency and automation level of the production line.

[0073] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the discharge port of the rapid cooling kneader 200 is equipped with a defective product discharge valve 6, and the inlet of the material collection mechanism 1 is sealed to the defective product discharge valve 6 through a pipe.

[0074] Specifically, a defective product discharge valve 6 is integrated at the discharge port of the quench kneader 200, and the inlet end of the material collection mechanism 1 is sealed to the defective product discharge valve 6 via a pipe. The defective product discharge valve 6 is configured to switch between the qualified product flow path and the recycling remelting flow path. When the quench kneader 200 is in the start-up preheating, process parameter adjustment, or pre-shutdown venting stage, the produced material often has quality problems such as substandard crystal form and hardness. At this time, the defective product discharge valve 6 opens, opening the channel to the material collection mechanism 1, guiding these substandard semi-solid materials directly into the butter production remelting unit in a sealed state. This sealed connection design enables rapid valve switching and also improves hygiene and operational safety.

[0075] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A butter production remelting apparatus, characterized in that, The butter production remelting device is used in a butter production system, which includes a quench kneader and an emulsifying tank. The butter production remelting device includes: A material collection mechanism is configured to be connected by a pipe to the quench kneader to receive semi-solid material. The material collection mechanism is provided with a cutting mechanism configured to cut the semi-solid material. A heat exchange mechanism is provided, with pipes connected to the material collection mechanism. The heat exchange mechanism is configured to heat the semi-solid material to liquefy it. The heat exchange mechanism is also configured to be piped to the emulsification vessel to allow the liquefied material to flow back into the emulsification vessel.

2. The butter production remelting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material collection mechanism includes: A material collection trough is configured to be connected by a pipe to the quench kneader, and the cutting mechanism is disposed within the material collection trough; A conveying pump is disposed between the material collection mechanism and the heat exchange mechanism. The inlet of the conveying pump is connected to the outlet of the material collection tank, and the outlet of the conveying pump is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange mechanism. The conveying pump is configured to pump the cut semi-solid material to the heat exchange mechanism.

3. The butter production remelting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pipeline connecting the delivery pump and the heat exchange mechanism is provided with a heat insulation structure, and / or the pipeline connecting the heat exchange mechanism and the emulsification kettle is provided with a heat insulation structure.

4. The butter production remelting apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cream production remelting device also includes an insulated pipe connected to the heat exchange mechanism to receive condensed circulating hot water from the heat exchange mechanism. At least a portion of the insulated pipe extends into the insulation structure to insulate the insulation structure.

5. The butter production remelting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange mechanism is configured as a plate heat exchanger, and the heat exchange mechanism includes: frame; Multiple heat exchange plates are stacked together, and the heat exchange plates are disposed on the frame; A heat medium pipeline is disposed in the frame and passes through the heat exchange plate. The heat medium pipeline is configured to carry a heating medium to heat the semi-solid material.

6. The butter production remelting apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The heat exchange plate is detachably mounted on the frame.

7. The butter production remelting apparatus according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The cutting mechanism is configured as an auger screw conveyor, including a rotating shaft and helical blades disposed on the rotating shaft, the helical blades being configured to cut semi-solid materials during rotation.

8. The butter production remelting apparatus according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, A temperature sensor and a pressure sensor are installed on the pipeline connecting the heat exchange mechanism and the emulsification tank. The temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the material when it leaves the heat exchange mechanism, and the pressure sensor is used to detect the pressure of the material when it leaves the heat exchange mechanism.

9. A cream production system, characterized in that, include: Rapid cooling kneading machine; An emulsifying vessel configured to store liquid raw materials; And a butter production remelting apparatus as described in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the butter production remelting apparatus is connected between the quench kneader and the emulsifying kettle.

10. The cream production system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The discharge port of the quench kneader is equipped with a defective product discharge valve, and the inlet of the material collection mechanism is sealed to the defective product discharge valve through a pipe.

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