A cooling tunnel for durian ice tamales

Abstract

The utility model provides a cooling tunnel for durian ice zong, including cooling tunnel box, cooling pipeline subassembly of fixed mounting in the inside of cooling tunnel box is linked with refrigerator case, refrigerator case fixed mounting is in the outside of cooling tunnel box, and the cooling cavity that refrigerator case is set up with cooling tunnel box is linked with through exhaust pipe, the both ends of cooling tunnel box are provided with corresponding tunnel mouth to have penetrated, and every tunnel mouth place all fixed mounting has the support plate, rotates and is installed with the conveying roller on the support plate, one conveying roller is fixed with the servo motor output end fixed mounting outside support plate, and the conveying belt is assembled on the conveying roller, the utility model discloses through non straight blow gentle cooling, avoids ice zong moisture loss and frostbite, keeps soft glutinous mouth feel and full form, and the source branch pipe forms the surrounding type even low temperature field, and solves the problem of uneven cooling, and the energy -conserving of cold quantity circulation, compact structure, maintenance is simple, and the product quality and stability are promoted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of cooling tunnel technology, and in particular relates to a cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of the food industry, the variety of frozen foods has become increasingly rich. Durian ice rice dumplings, as a new type of product that combines traditional rice dumpling making techniques with the characteristics of modern frozen desserts, are very popular in the market. Because the filling of durian ice rice dumplings is rich in moisture and fat, and the outer skin is made of glutinous rice, the freezing process requires extremely high precision. If the freezing speed is too slow, large ice crystals will form, severely damaging the cell structure, resulting in a soft, soggy texture, watery texture, and loss of flavor after thawing.

[0003] Existing cooling tunnels mostly employ forced convection cooling, which uses high-powered fans to directly blow cold air onto the product surface. While this method offers high cooling efficiency, the high-speed airflow continuously removes moisture from the product surface, causing the durian ice dumpling's skin to dry and crack, increasing its hardness and resulting in the so-called "freeze-burn" phenomenon. This severely impacts the product's appearance, taste, and commercial value. Furthermore, traditional air-cooled tunnels suffer from poor temperature uniformity, creating cooling dead zones that can lead to uneven cooling effects within the same batch of products, resulting in inconsistent quality.

[0004] Therefore, it is essential to invent a cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings. Utility Model Content

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings, including a cooling tunnel box, a cooling pipe assembly, a refrigeration unit, an exhaust pipe, a cooling cavity, a tunnel entrance, a support plate, a servo motor, and a conveyor belt. The cooling pipe assembly, which is fixedly installed inside the cooling tunnel box, is connected to the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit is fixedly installed outside the cooling tunnel box, and the refrigeration unit is connected to the cooling cavity of the cooling tunnel box through the exhaust pipe. Corresponding tunnel entrances are opened through both ends of the cooling tunnel box, and a support plate is fixedly installed at each tunnel entrance. A conveyor roller is rotatably installed on the support plate, and one of the conveyor rollers is fixed to the output end of a servo motor fixedly installed outside the support plate. The conveyor belt is mounted on the conveyor roller.

[0006] Preferably, the cooling pipe assembly includes a cooling delivery main pipe, an external connecting pipe, cold source branch pipes, and a cooling discharge pipe. The cooling delivery main pipe is fixedly installed inside the cooling tunnel box, and one end of the cooling delivery main pipe is fixedly extended out of the cooling tunnel box and connected to the refrigeration unit through the external connecting pipe. Several cold source branch pipes installed on the cooling delivery main pipe are connected to the cooling cavity provided in the cooling tunnel box through the cooling discharge pipe.

[0007] Preferably, the cooling conveying main pipe is located directly above the conveyor belt, and the cooling conveying main pipe is fixedly installed inside the cooling tunnel box. The cooling conveying main pipe is connected to the inverted "L"-shaped cold source branch pipe, and the lower end of the cold source branch pipe is connected to the cooling discharge pipe.

[0008] Preferably, the horizontal part of the cold source branch pipe is connected to the cooling conveying main pipe, and its vertical part is connected to the corresponding cooling discharge pipe. The cold source branch pipes are divided into two groups, and the cold source branch pipes located on the same horizontal line are one group.

[0009] Preferably, the horizontal portion of the cold source branch pipe is located above the conveyor belt, the vertical portion is located on the side of the conveyor belt, and the two cooling discharge pipes are located below the two sides of the conveyor belt.

[0010] Preferably, the area of ​​the conveyor belt inside the cooling tunnel box is the cooling section, with its front and rear ends extending outwards. At each tunnel opening of the cooling tunnel box, two support plates are fixedly installed. The two support plates form a group, and a conveyor roller is rotatably installed between each group of support plates. One of the support plates in one group has a servo motor fixedly installed on its exterior via a motor mount. The output end of the servo motor is fixed to one end of the conveyor roller rotatably installed on the support plate in that group.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention utilizes a cooling pipe assembly positioned above the conveyor belt to create a stable low-temperature environment through cold source branch pipes and a cooling cavity. The cooling process primarily relies on cold radiation and natural air convection, avoiding the excessive moisture loss and surface frost damage caused by strong winds blowing directly onto the product surface in traditional equipment. This gentle, non-direct-blowing cooling method maximizes the preservation of the durian ice rice dumpling's soft, chewy texture and plump shape, preventing it from becoming watery and deformed after thawing, thus significantly improving its quality.

[0012] In this invention, the cold source branch pipes of the cooling pipe assembly are inverted and distributed on both sides and above the conveyor belt. Working in conjunction with the cooling cavity, they create a surrounding, uniform low-temperature field within the cooling tunnel box. This ensures that the durian ice dumplings at every position on the conveyor belt can exchange heat under essentially the same low-temperature environment, solving the problem of uneven cooling in traditional equipment and guaranteeing the consistency and stability of product quality between batches.

[0013] This invention organically combines refrigeration, conveying, and cooling space, featuring a compact structure and clear process. The cooling capacity is circulated within a closed system, resulting in high heat exchange efficiency. Compared to traditional tunnels that continuously transport large volumes of cold air, it boasts higher energy utilization and more energy-efficient operation. Furthermore, the device has few moving mechanical parts (primarily the conveyor belt), and its pipe-like structure is less prone to dust accumulation, reducing equipment failure rates and the difficulty of daily maintenance and cleaning. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a partial cross-sectional structural diagram of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the cooling pipe assembly of this utility model.

[0017] In the picture: 1. Cooling tunnel box; 2. Cooling pipe assembly; 21. Main cooling conveying pipe; 22. External connecting pipe; 23. Cold source branch pipe; 24. Cooling discharge pipe; 3. Refrigeration unit; 4. Exhaust pipe; 5. Cooling cavity; 6. Tunnel entrance; 7. Support plate; 8. Servo motor; 9. Conveyor belt. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0019] In the description of the embodiments, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "both ends," "one end," and "the other end," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the present invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. In the description of the utility model, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0020] As attached Figure 1 To be continued Figure 3 As shown: This utility model provides a cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings, comprising a cooling tunnel box 1, a cooling pipe assembly 2, a refrigeration unit 3, an exhaust pipe 4, a cooling cavity 5, a tunnel entrance 6, a support plate 7, a servo motor 8, and a conveyor belt 9. The cooling pipe assembly 2, which is fixedly installed inside the cooling tunnel box 1, is connected to the refrigeration unit 3. The refrigeration unit 3 is fixedly installed outside the cooling tunnel box 1. The refrigeration unit 3 is connected to the cooling cavity 5 of the cooling tunnel box 1 through the exhaust pipe 4. Corresponding tunnel entrances 6 are opened through both ends of the cooling tunnel box 1. A support plate 7 is fixedly installed at each tunnel entrance 6. A conveyor roller is rotatably installed on the support plate 7. One of the conveyor rollers is fixed to the output end of the servo motor 8, which is fixedly installed outside the support plate 7. The conveyor belt 9 is mounted on the conveyor roller.

[0021] Furthermore, the cooling pipe assembly 2 includes a main cooling conveying pipe 21, an external connecting pipe 22, a cold source branch pipe 23, and a cooling discharge pipe 24. All components are made of food-grade 304 stainless steel (wall thickness 2-3mm, conforming to GB4806.9-2016 standard for metal materials for food contact), ensuring corrosion resistance, easy cleaning, and no harmful substance leaching. The main cooling conveying pipe 21 is horizontally fixedly installed inside the cooling tunnel box 1, and is welded to the top beam of the inner wall of the cooling tunnel box 1 by 6-10 symmetrically arranged stainless steel brackets. The brackets are spaced 1.5-2m apart in the cooling tunnel of the durian ice cream, ensuring the main cooling conveying pipe 21 is installed stably without shaking. One end of the main cooling conveying pipe 21 protrudes through a pre-set through-hole in the side wall of the cooling tunnel box 1. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sealing sleeve is fitted between the through-hole and the outer wall of the main cooling conveying pipe 21 to achieve a seal and prevent cold leakage. 1. The outlet end is connected to the cold air outlet of the refrigeration box 3 through the external connecting pipe 22. The two ends of the external connecting pipe 22 are connected to the cooling conveying main pipe 21 and the outlet of the refrigeration box 3 respectively by flanges. Food-grade silicone sealing gaskets are installed between the flanges, and the bolts are tightened to ensure a tight connection. 16 to 24 cold source branch pipes 23 are evenly welded and installed along the length of the cooling conveying main pipe 21 (adapted to the length of the cooling tunnel box 1 of 5 to 10m, with a spacing of 150 to 200mm). The end of each cold source branch pipe 23 away from the cooling conveying main pipe 21 is connected to the cooling discharge pipe 24 by a threaded connection (PTFE sealing tape is wrapped around the thread to enhance the sealing). The cooling discharge pipe 24 is laid along the length of the cooling tunnel box 1, and its two ends are connected to the interface of the pre-set cooling cavity 5 on the side wall of the cooling tunnel box 1 by welding. Sealing flanges 51 are welded at the interface, and the cold air circulation channel is closed by tightening the bolts.

[0022] Furthermore, the cooling conveyor main pipe 21 is located directly above the conveyor belt 9, with its axis parallel to the running direction of the conveyor belt 9, and its centerline coincides with the width centerline of the conveyor belt 9, ensuring uniform distribution of cooling energy. The cooling conveyor main pipe 21 is fixedly installed on the crossbeam above the cooling tunnel box 1 inside the cooling tunnel box 1 via a stainless steel bracket for use in the cooling tunnel of the durian ice cream. The cooling conveyor main pipe 21 is seamlessly connected to the inverted "L"-shaped cold source branch pipe 23, and the weld seam is polished to avoid dirt accumulation and improve corrosion resistance. The diameter of the branch pipe 23 is 32~40mm. The overall structure is compact and does not occupy the effective conveying space of the conveyor belt 9. The lower end of the cold source branch pipe 23 is detachably connected to the external thread interface of the cooling discharge pipe 24 through an internal threaded joint. A food-grade fluororubber sealing gasket is installed at the joint to ensure that the cold energy does not leak and to facilitate disassembly and cleaning later. The diameter of the cooling discharge pipe 24 is 50~65mm. It adopts a segmented design, with each segment being 1.5~2m long. The segments are connected by flanges for easy maintenance. Each cooling discharge pipe 24 has heat dissipation fins on its outer surface.

[0023] Furthermore, the horizontal part of the cold source branch pipe 23 is vertically welded to the cooling conveying main pipe 21, and its vertical part is vertically welded to the corresponding cooling exhaust pipe 24, ensuring that the cold air flows smoothly without dead corners in the pipe; several cold source branch pipes 23 are evenly divided into two groups, and the two groups of cold source branch pipes 23 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the cooling conveying main pipe 21 (with the center line of the cooling conveying main pipe 21 as the axis of symmetry). All cold source branch pipes 23 in the same group are located on the same horizontal line, ensuring symmetrical cooling of the durian ice dumplings on the conveyor belt 9; the number of cold source branch pipes 23 in each group is 8 to 12, and the distance between two adjacent cold source branch pipes 23 is 150 to 200 mm, which is adapted to the length specifications of the cooling tunnel box 1, so that the coverage of the cold source branch pipes 23 completely covers the cooling part of the conveyor belt 9; the corners of the horizontal and vertical parts of the cold source branch pipe 23 adopt an arc transition design (arc radius 20 to 30 mm) to reduce the resistance of the cold air flow in the pipe and improve the efficiency of cold air conveying.

[0024] Furthermore, the horizontal portion of the cold source branch pipe 23 extends horizontally to the area above the conveyor belt 9. The free end of the horizontal portion is 50-80mm from the wide edge of the conveyor belt 9, and the lower surface of the horizontal portion is 300-400mm from the upper surface of the conveyor belt 9. This ensures that the cold energy can be effectively radiated to the surface of the durian ice dumpling without affecting the stable conveying of the ice dumpling. The vertical portion of the cold source branch pipe 23 extends vertically downward and is located on the side of the conveyor belt 9. The inner wall of the vertical portion is 20-30mm from the side of the conveyor belt 9, and the height of the vertical portion is adapted to the distance from the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 9 to the cooling discharge pipe 24 (ensuring that the lower end of the vertical portion is precisely connected to the cooling discharge pipe 24). Two cooling discharge pipes 24 are located on both sides below the conveyor belt 9 and are laid parallel to each other along the length of the cooling tunnel box 1. The cooling discharge pipes 24 are fixedly installed on the bottom inner wall of the cooling tunnel box 1 by stainless steel brackets for the cooling tunnel of the durian ice dumplings. The brackets are spaced 1.5~2m apart to ensure that the cooling discharge pipes 24 are installed firmly. The upper surface of the cooling discharge pipe 24 is 100~150mm away from the lower surface of the conveyor belt 9 to avoid interference with the conveyor belt 9 and to facilitate the collection of a small amount of condensation generated during the cooling process. The outside of the cooling discharge pipe 24 is wrapped with 20mm thick polyurethane insulation cotton 242 to reduce the loss of cold energy during the conveying process inside the pipe.

[0025] Furthermore, the conveyor belt 9 is made of food-grade PU material, with anti-slip bumps evenly distributed on its surface at 5mm diameter and 10mm spacing to increase the friction between the durian ice cream and the belt surface, preventing slippage during conveying. The area of ​​the conveyor belt 9 inside the cooling tunnel box 1 is the cooling section, the length of which is consistent with the internal length of the cooling tunnel box 1 (5~10m). Its front and rear ends extend 300~500mm to the outside of the cooling tunnel box 1, forming a feeding transition section and a discharging transition section, facilitating connection with equipment in the preceding and following processes. Two support plates 7 are fixedly installed at each tunnel opening 6 of the cooling tunnel box 1. The two support plates 7 form a group, and each group of support plates 7 is made of carbon steel with powder coating (thickness 8~10mm), symmetrically fixed on both sides of the tunnel opening 6. The support plates 7 are fixedly connected to the side wall of the cooling tunnel box 1 by expansion bolts, and rubber sealing gaskets are added to the connection surface to enhance the sealing of the tunnel opening 6. Each group of support plates 7 is fixedly installed at each tunnel opening 6. A conveyor roller (made of 304 stainless steel, 50-60mm in diameter, and with a length matching the width of the conveyor belt 9) is rotatably mounted between the plates 7 via food-grade sealed bearings (model 6204). The two ends of the conveyor roller are interference-fitted with the inner ring of the bearing, and the outer ring of the bearing is fixed to the bearing seat of the support plate 7 by bolts. A servo motor 8 is fixedly mounted on the outer side of one set of support plates 7 (the set near the discharge end) via a motor base 81. The motor base 81 is made of cast iron and is fixedly connected to the support plate 7 by expansion bolts. The servo motor 8 is model MSME022G1U (power 0.75-1.5kW, speed range 5-20r / min). Its output end is fixed to one end of the conveyor roller rotatably mounted between the support plates 7 via a flexible coupling 82. The flexible coupling 82 is made of food-grade rubber and plays a role in buffering and shock absorption, ensuring that the power of the servo motor 8 is smoothly transmitted to the conveyor roller, driving the conveyor belt 9 to run at a uniform speed.

[0026] The working principle is as follows: First, the durian ice dumplings to be cooled are placed on the feeding transition section of the conveyor belt 9. After the servo motor 8 is started, it drives the connected conveyor roller to rotate. The conveyor roller drives the conveyor belt 9 to run smoothly under the support of the support plate 7, so that the durian ice dumplings enter the cooling section inside the cooling tunnel box 1 through the tunnel opening 6.

[0027] The refrigeration unit 3 starts up and generates cold air. The cold air is delivered to the cooling delivery main pipe 21 through the external connecting pipe 22. The cooling delivery main pipe 21 distributes the cold air evenly to each cold source branch pipe 23 arranged along its length.

[0028] Cold air flows in the horizontal and vertical parts of the cold source branch pipe 23. Since the horizontal part of the cold source branch pipe 23 is located above the conveyor belt 9 and the vertical part is located on the side of the conveyor belt 9, the cold source branch pipe 23 exchanges heat with the air inside the cooling tunnel box 1 through the pipe wall, thereby indirectly cooling the durian ice dumplings on the conveyor belt 9 and avoiding direct impact of cold air on the ice dumplings.

[0029] After the air has completed heat exchange with the durian ice rice dumpling, it is collected through the cooling exhaust pipe 24 and enters the cooling cavity 5 set in the cooling tunnel box 1.

[0030] The air in the cooling cavity 5 flows back to the refrigeration unit 3 through the exhaust pipe 4, and after being re-cooled by the refrigeration unit 3, it forms circulating cold air, continuously providing a cold source for the cooling process. The cooled durian ice dumplings continue to run on the conveyor belt 9 and are transported out of the cooling tunnel box 1 through the tunnel opening 6 at the other end of the cooling tunnel box 1, completing the entire cooling operation.

[0031] Any technical solution that achieves the above-mentioned technical effects by utilizing the technical solution described in this utility model, or by designing a similar technical solution inspired by the technical solution described in this utility model, falls within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings, characterized in that, The cooling tunnel box (1), cooling pipe assembly (2), refrigeration unit (3), exhaust pipe (4), cooling cavity (5), tunnel entrance (6), support plate (7), servo motor (8), and conveyor belt (9) are included. The cooling pipe assembly (2) fixedly installed inside the cooling tunnel box (1) is connected to the refrigeration unit (3). The refrigeration unit (3) is fixedly installed outside the cooling tunnel box (1). The refrigeration unit (3) is connected to the cooling cavity (5) set in the cooling tunnel box (1) through the exhaust pipe (4). The cooling tunnel box (1) has corresponding tunnel entrances (6) through both ends. The support plate (7) is fixedly installed at each tunnel entrance (6). A conveyor roller is rotatably installed on the support plate (7). One of the conveyor rollers is fixed to the output end of the servo motor (8) fixedly installed outside the support plate (7). The conveyor belt (9) is assembled on the conveyor roller.

2. The cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The cooling pipe assembly (2) includes a cooling conveying main pipe (21), an external connecting pipe (22), a cold source branch pipe (23), and a cooling discharge pipe (24). The cooling conveying main pipe (21) is fixedly installed inside the cooling tunnel box (1). One end of the cooling conveying main pipe (21) is fixedly protruding from the cooling tunnel box (1) and connected to the refrigeration unit (3) through the external connecting pipe (22). Several cold source branch pipes (23) installed on the cooling conveying main pipe (21) are connected to the cooling cavity (5) provided in the cooling tunnel box (1) through the cooling discharge pipe (24).

3. A cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The cooling conveying main pipe (21) is located directly above the conveyor belt (9). The cooling conveying main pipe (21) is fixedly installed inside the cooling tunnel box (1) and connected to the inverted "L"-shaped cold source branch pipe (23). The lower end of the cold source branch pipe (23) is connected to the cooling discharge pipe (24).

4. A cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The horizontal part of the cold source branch pipe (23) is connected to the cooling conveying main pipe (21), and its vertical part is connected to the corresponding cooling discharge pipe (24). Several cold source branch pipes (23) are divided into two groups, and the cold source branch pipes (23) located on the same horizontal line are one group.

5. A cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The horizontal part of the cold source branch pipe (23) is located above the conveyor belt (9), and its vertical part is located on the side of the conveyor belt (9). The two cooling discharge pipes (24) are located below the two sides of the conveyor belt (9).

6. A cooling tunnel for durian ice dumplings as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The area inside the cooling tunnel box (1) where the conveyor belt (9) is located is the cooling section, with its front and rear ends extending outwards. At each tunnel opening (6) of the cooling tunnel box (1), two support plates (7) are fixedly installed. The two support plates (7) form a group, and a conveyor roller is rotatably installed between each group of support plates (7). One of the support plates (7) in one group has a servo motor (8) fixedly installed on its exterior via a motor mount. The output end of the servo motor (8) is fixed to one end of the conveyor roller rotatably installed on the support plate (7) in that group.

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