A beverage sterilization device

By introducing a guide slope and a pressing cam that is elastically connected to a sliding block in the beverage sterilization device, combined with a three-dimensional sterilization method using an auger and an ultraviolet heating plate, the problems of uneven material mixing and easy damage to the stirring mechanism are solved, achieving uniform sterilization and equipment protection.

CN224936483UActive Publication Date: 2026-11-06
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202522723507.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Filing Date
2025-12-23
Publication Date
2026-11-06
Estimated Expiration
2035-12-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing beverage sterilization devices suffer from uneven mixing due to a single material flow path, resulting in sterilization dead zones. Furthermore, the stirring mechanism lacks buffer protection, making it prone to motor damage and leading to low reliability.

Method used

The material is uniformly diffused and thoroughly sterilized by using a combination of a pressure cam with a guide slope, a sliding block, and a spring in an elastic floating connection, along with a spiral auger, ultraviolet germicidal lamp, and heating plate.

Benefits of technology

It improves the uniformity of material mixing, prevents damage to the mixing mechanism, extends equipment life, and achieves a comprehensive and efficient sterilization effect.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

This utility model relates to the technical field of beverage processing equipment and discloses a beverage sterilization device, including a sterilization tank and a drive motor. A drive shaft is rotatably connected inside the sterilization tank, with an auger fixed at the bottom of the drive shaft. A sliding hole is provided in the middle of the drive shaft, and a sliding block is slidably connected inside the sliding hole. The upper and lower sides of the sliding block are connected to the hole walls via springs. A pressing cam is movably fitted onto the outer wall of the drive shaft. The pressing cam is fixedly connected to the sliding block and floats elastically. Protective sleeves are fixed above and below the pressing cam to cover the sliding hole. An ultraviolet sterilization lamp and a heating plate are also provided inside the tank. This utility model breaks the single flow path by using the guide slope of the pressing cam in conjunction with the auger to promote uniform material diffusion. The elastic connection structure protects the drive mechanism from impact, and the combination of light and heat achieves dual three-dimensional sterilization, improving sterilization efficiency and equipment reliability.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of beverage processing equipment technology, and in particular to a beverage sterilization device. Background Technology

[0002] In the beverage production and processing process, sterilization is a key process to ensure product hygiene and safety and extend shelf life. Sterilization tanks are usually used in conjunction with heating or ultraviolet irradiation to process raw materials. In order to ensure the sterilization effect, a stirring mechanism is often installed in the tank to promote the flow of materials.

[0003] However, existing beverage sterilization equipment has certain limitations in its stirring method. Its internal stirring structure mostly uses simple paddles or screws to drive the material in a single axial circulation within the tank. This flow method easily causes uneven distribution of the material in the cross-section, resulting in inconsistent heating or irradiation between the central and peripheral areas, thus creating sterilization dead zones and affecting the quality stability of the final product. In addition, existing stirring drive mechanisms usually use rigid connections. When there are undissolved lumps in the beverage raw materials or when the viscosity suddenly increases, the rigid transmission chain cannot provide buffering, which can easily lead to motor overload and burnout or damage to the transmission shaft, reducing the reliability and lifespan of the equipment.

[0004] Therefore, this utility model proposes a beverage sterilization device to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the common problems in existing beverage sterilization devices, such as uneven mixing due to a single material flow path, the easy formation of sterilization dead zones, and low reliability due to the lack of buffer protection in the stirring mechanism, this utility model aims to provide a beverage sterilization device with an improved structure that can effectively solve the above problems.

[0006] This utility model provides a beverage sterilization device, including: a sterilization tank as the main container, and a drive motor fixed on the top surface of the sterilization tank; as well as core components such as a drive shaft, auger, pressing cam, sliding block, spring, heating plate and ultraviolet sterilization lamp integrated inside.

[0007] The sterilization tank is rotatably connected to the drive shaft inside. The output end of the drive motor passes through the top surface of the sterilization tank and is fixedly connected to the top surface of the drive shaft to provide power. A spiral auger is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the drive shaft near the bottom.

[0008] Furthermore, the drive shaft, the pressing cam, and the sliding block are combined via a specific elastic floating structure. Specifically, the outer wall of the drive shaft has a through sliding hole, and the sliding block is slidably connected inside the sliding hole. Springs are fixedly connected between the top surface of the sliding block and the top surface of the inner wall of the sliding hole, and between the bottom surface of the sliding block and the bottom surface of the inner wall of the sliding hole. Limit plates are fixedly connected to the top and bottom surfaces of the sliding block. The pressing cam is movably sleeved on the outer wall of the drive shaft, and the inner wall of the pressing cam is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the sliding block, allowing the pressing cam to rotate with the sliding block and float axially. Protective sleeves are fixedly connected to the top and bottom surfaces of the pressing cam, and the protective sleeves are movably sleeved on the outer wall of the drive shaft. An installation plate and several heating plates arranged in a circular array are also fixedly connected inside the sterilization tank. The ultraviolet germicidal lamp is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the installation plate.

[0009] Preferably, the outer surface of the pressing cam has a downwardly inclined guide slope. This slope structure is used to squeeze and guide the material to all sides during rotation. At the same time, the outer diameter of the protective sleeve is designed to be larger than the diameter of the sliding hole, so as to always cover the opening of the sliding hole and prevent the material from entering the internal mechanism.

[0010] Preferably, the mounting plate is disposed above the pressure cam, and a clearance hole is provided at the center of the top surface of the mounting plate. The drive shaft passes through the clearance hole and does not contact the inner wall of the clearance hole, ensuring that there is no interference between the rotating part and the stationary part.

[0011] Preferably, the ultraviolet germicidal lamps are distributed in a spiral coil shape on the bottom surface of the mounting plate, and the coverage area of ​​the ultraviolet germicidal lamps corresponds to the area above the pressing convex plate, so as to uniformly and intensely sterilize the material that has been turned over there.

[0012] Preferably, the heating plate is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the sterilization tank, and the heating plate is mainly distributed on the outer side of the area between the auger and the pressing cam, for contact heat conduction sterilization of the material settling along the tank wall.

[0013] Preferably, the limiting plate is located inside the sliding hole, and the side of the limiting plate away from the sliding block is machined into an arc-shaped surface, which is adapted to the shape of the inner wall of the sliding hole to reduce sliding friction and prevent jamming.

[0014] Preferably, a feed cylinder is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the sterilization tank near the top surface. The feed cylinder is inclined downward and its interior is connected to the interior of the sterilization tank, so as to facilitate the smooth sliding of raw materials into the tank.

[0015] Preferably, a discharge valve is installed at the center of the bottom surface of the sterilization tank. The input end of the discharge valve extends into the interior of the sterilization tank and is located directly below the auger, using the reverse thrust of the auger to assist in material discharge.

[0016] Preferably, a number of supports are fixedly connected to the outer side of the bottom surface of the sterilization tank, and the supports are arranged in a circular array to provide stable support.

[0017] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] 1. This utility model solves the problems in the prior art where the material flows only in a single axial direction in the tank, resulting in uneven mixing, and the problem that the rigid stirring mechanism is prone to damage to the motor when encountering hard blocks or resistance. It breaks the single circulation path and strongly diffuses the material in all directions to improve the uniformity of mixing. It also achieves the technical effect of automatically generating axial buffer displacement to protect the drive mechanism and extend the service life of the equipment when encountering overload resistance.

[0019] 2. This utility model solves the problem that existing single sterilization methods often have blind spots or incomplete sterilization by setting ultraviolet sterilization lamps at the top inside the tank and heating plates arranged in an array on the inner wall of the tank. It achieves a three-dimensional dual synergistic effect of using ultraviolet light to sterilize the material that tumbles to the center and using the heating plates to sterilize the material that flows through the tank wall by heat conduction, thereby improving the sterilization efficiency and thoroughness of beverage raw materials.

[0020] 3. This utility model solves the problems in the prior art where materials tend to settle at the bottom of the tank and cannot participate in circulation, and where the discharge speed is slow and residue is easily caused by relying on gravity. It achieves the technical effect of continuously lifting the bottom material to participate in circulation and sterilization when rotating in the forward direction, and actively pumping the material downward into the discharge valve when rotating in the reverse direction to achieve fast and residue-free discharge. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a beverage sterilization device proposed in this utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the drive shaft portion of a beverage sterilization device proposed in this utility model;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the pressing convex part of a beverage sterilization device proposed in this utility model;

[0024] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the sliding hole portion of a beverage sterilization device proposed in this utility model.

[0025] Legend:

[0026] 1. Sterilization tank; 101. Support; 102. Feed cylinder; 103. Discharge valve; 2. Drive motor; 201. Drive shaft; 202. Screwdriver; 203. Heating plate; 204. Pressing cam; 205. Sliding hole; 206. Sliding block; 207. Spring; 208. Limiting plate; 3. Mounting plate; 301. Ultraviolet sterilization lamp; 302. Clearance hole; 4. Protective cover. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. 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.

[0028] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 This utility model provides a beverage sterilization device, which aims to solve the structural defects in the prior art where beverage raw materials only flow in a single axial direction in the sterilization tank 1, resulting in uneven mixing and dead corners in sterilization.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the main structure of the beverage sterilization device includes a sterilization tank 1, which serves as a reaction vessel, and a drive motor 2 fixedly installed at the center of the top surface of the sterilization tank 1. Several supports 101 arranged in a circular array are fixedly connected to the outer side of the bottom surface of the sterilization tank 1. The supports 101 are used to stably support the sterilization tank 1 on the ground. A feed cylinder 102 that is inclined downwards is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the sterilization tank 1 near the top surface. The inside of the feed cylinder 102 is connected to the inside of the sterilization tank 1 to facilitate the feeding of raw materials. A discharge valve 103 is installed at the center of the bottom surface of the sterilization tank 1. The input end of the discharge valve 103 extends to the bottom of the inside of the sterilization tank 1 to discharge materials.

[0030] Inside the sterilization tank 1, a drive and stirring system is constructed. A drive shaft 201 is rotatably connected to the central axis of the sterilization tank 1. The output end of the drive motor 2 passes through the top wall of the sterilization tank 1 and is fixedly connected to the top surface of the drive shaft 201, thereby providing rotational power for the entire stirring system. A spiral auger 202 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the drive shaft 201 near the bottom. The auger 202 is located directly above the discharge valve 103. When the auger 202 rotates with the drive shaft 201, it can lift the material deposited at the bottom of the sterilization tank 1 upward to form a circulating flow. In addition to the lifting mechanism at the bottom, the device also integrates a pressing component with elastic buffer function and a three-dimensional sterilization component distributed around the drive shaft 201 in the upper middle part to achieve uniform diffusion and thorough sterilization of the material.

[0031] The mounting base of the elastic pressure assembly is located in the middle region of the drive shaft 201. A rectangular sliding hole 205 is radially opened in the drive shaft 201 at this position. A matching sliding block 206 is accommodated and slidably connected inside the sliding hole 205. The width of the sliding block 206 matches the width of the sliding hole 205 to ensure that the drive shaft 201 can push the sliding block 206 to rotate synchronously through the hole wall when it rotates. Springs 207 are fixedly connected between the top surface of the sliding block 206 and the top surface of the inner wall of the sliding hole 205, and between the bottom surface of the sliding block 206 and the bottom surface of the inner wall of the sliding hole 205. The sliding block 206 is elastically positioned in the center region of the sliding hole 205 by the preload of the upper and lower springs 207.

[0032] Meanwhile, the pressing cam 204 is movably sleeved on the outside of the drive shaft 201 and is fixedly connected to the part of the sliding block 206 that extends out of the surface of the drive shaft 201 through its inner hole wall. This connection method allows the pressing cam 204 to obtain rotational torque from the sliding block 206, even though it is not directly fixed to the shaft. It can also follow the sliding block 206 to compress the spring 207 and thus float slightly up and down along the axial direction of the drive shaft 201. The outer surface of the pressing cam 204 is constructed with a downwardly inclined guide slope. The material lifted by the auger 202 is forcefully squeezed in all directions by the rotational centrifugal force and the guide slope.

[0033] To protect the internal precision sliding fit structure, the top and bottom surfaces of the sliding block 206 are fixedly connected to limit plates 208. The limit plates 208 are located inside the sliding hole 205, and the side of the limit plates 208 away from the sliding block 206 is machined into an arc-shaped surface that fits against the inner wall of the sliding hole 205 to limit displacement and prevent jamming. At the same time, the top and bottom surfaces of the pressing cam 204 are respectively extended and fixed with cylindrical protective sleeves 4. The protective sleeves 4 are tightly and slidably fitted on the smooth outer wall of the drive shaft 201, and their length is designed to completely cover the opening of the sliding hole 205 to ensure that external beverage raw materials cannot invade the interior of the sliding hole 205.

[0034] Based on the above embodiments, the present invention may further include the following preferred technical solutions to further improve sterilization efficiency and ease of operation:

[0035] As a preferred embodiment, in order to enhance the sterilization effect of the device and achieve all-round coverage without dead angles, such as Figure 2 As shown, an installation plate 3 is fixedly installed inside the sterilization tank 1. The installation plate 3 is located above the pressing cam 204. The clearance hole 302 opened at the center of the top surface of the installation plate 3 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the drive shaft 201 to ensure that the two do not contact each other. The ultraviolet sterilization lamp 301 fixed on the bottom surface of the installation plate 3 preferably adopts a spiral coil tube structure or a multi-circle concentric ring distribution. This structure can make maximum use of the surface area of ​​the installation plate 3, so that the high-intensity ultraviolet radiation can evenly cover the space above the pressing cam 204, ensuring that every piece of material tumbled here can receive a sufficient dose of light for sterilization.

[0036] As another preferred implementation, in order to synergistically utilize the heat effect for sterilization, such as Figure 2 As shown, several heating plates 203 are attached to the inner wall of the sterilization tank 1 in a circular array. These heating plates 203 are mainly distributed on the outer side of the height area between the auger 202 and the pressing cam 204. When the material thrown to the sides by the pressing cam 204 falls down the tank wall, it will flow directly over the surface of the high-temperature heating plates 203, thereby quickly killing the heat-resistant bacteria in the material through heat conduction, realizing a dual three-dimensional sterilization mode that combines central illumination and peripheral heating.

[0037] As another preferred embodiment, in order to improve the convenience and efficiency of feeding and discharging materials, such as Figure 1 As shown, the feed cylinder 102 is designed as a funnel-shaped structure with a certain inclination angle, which uses gravity to assist the material to slide into the tank. The discharge valve 103 located at the bottom is directly connected to the auger 202. This layout allows the auger 202 to actively push the material down into the discharge valve 103 like a screw pump in the reverse discharge mode, thereby greatly shortening the discharge time and reducing the residue at the bottom of the tank.

[0038] The working principle of this beverage sterilization device is as follows:

[0039] When it is necessary to sterilize beverage raw materials, the raw materials are first put into the sterilization tank 1 through the feed cylinder 102. Then, the drive motor 2 is started. The drive motor 2 drives the drive shaft 201 and the auger 202 fixed at its bottom to start rotating. The spiral blades of the auger 202 generate an upward thrust during rotation, which continuously lifts the raw materials deposited at the bottom of the sterilization tank 1 upward, forming an axial flow from bottom to top.

[0040] When the lifted material reaches the middle of the drive shaft 201, it will encounter the pressing cam 204, which rotates synchronously with the shaft. The pressing cam 204 uses the guide slope on its surface to forcefully squeeze the material that was originally flowing axially to all sides and throw it against the inner wall of the sterilization tank 1. This process not only breaks the single circulation path and promotes the uniform dispersion of the material, but also, when the pressing cam 204 is subjected to a large reaction force from the material or impact from hard blocks, the internal sliding block 206 will compress the spring 207, causing the pressing cam 204 to perform a small amount of axial floating buffer along the drive shaft 201, thereby protecting the drive mechanism from rigid impact damage. At the same time, the protective sleeve 4 always covers the sliding hole 205 to prevent the material from getting stuck.

[0041] As the material is thrown to the sides and falls along the tank wall, it undergoes a double sterilization process. First, in the area above the pressing cam 204, the material receives high-intensity irradiation from the ultraviolet germicidal lamp 301 on the bottom surface of the mounting plate 3 for photochemical sterilization. Then, as the material flows through the inner wall area of ​​the sterilization tank 1, the heating plate 203 close to the inner wall performs contact heat conduction sterilization on the material. This three-dimensional mode of central illumination and peripheral heating ensures thorough sterilization. Finally, the processed material gathers at the bottom of the tank, and by controlling the drive motor 2 to reverse, the auger 202 pushes the material downward into the discharge valve 103 for discharge, completing the entire operation process.

[0042] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A beverage sterilization device, comprising a sterilization tank (1) and a drive motor (2) fixed on the top surface of the sterilization tank (1); Its features are, The sterilization tank (1) is rotatably connected to a drive shaft (201), the output end of the drive motor (2) is fixedly connected to the top surface of the drive shaft (201), and an auger (202) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the drive shaft (201) near the bottom. The outer wall of the drive shaft (201) is provided with a sliding hole (205). A sliding block (206) is slidably connected inside the sliding hole (205). A spring (207) is fixedly connected between the top surface of the sliding block (206) and the top surface of the inner wall of the sliding hole (205), and between the bottom surface of the sliding block (206) and the bottom surface of the inner wall of the sliding hole (205). A limit plate (208) is fixedly connected to both the top and bottom surfaces of the sliding block (206). The outer wall of the drive shaft (201) is movably fitted with a pressing cam (204). The inner wall of the pressing cam (204) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the sliding block (206). The top and bottom surfaces of the pressing cam (204) are both fixedly connected with protective sleeves (4). The protective sleeves (4) are movably fitted onto the outer wall of the drive shaft (201). The sterilization tank (1) is fixedly connected with an installation plate (3) and several heating plates (203) arranged in a circular array. The bottom surface of the installation plate (3) is fixedly connected with an ultraviolet sterilization lamp (301).

2. The beverage sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the pressing cam (204) has a downwardly inclined guide slope, and the outer diameter of the protective sleeve (4) is larger than the diameter of the sliding hole (205) to cover the opening of the sliding hole (205).

3. The beverage sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting plate (3) is located above the pressing cam (204). A clearance hole (302) is provided at the center of the top surface of the mounting plate (3). The drive shaft (201) passes through the clearance hole (302) and does not contact the inner wall of the clearance hole (302).

4. The beverage sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ultraviolet germicidal lamps (301) are distributed in a spiral coil shape on the bottom surface of the mounting plate (3), and the ultraviolet germicidal lamps (301) cover the area above the pressing cam (204).

5. The beverage sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating plate (203) is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the sterilization tank (1), and the heating plate (203) is located on the outer side of the area between the auger (202) and the pressing cam (204).

6. The beverage sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting plate (208) is located inside the sliding hole (205). The side of the limiting plate (208) away from the sliding block (206) is an arc-shaped surface, and the arc-shaped surface is adapted to the shape of the inner wall of the sliding hole (205).

7. The beverage sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A feed cylinder (102) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the sterilization tank (1) near the top surface. The feed cylinder (102) is inclined downward and its interior is connected to the interior of the sterilization tank (1).

8. The beverage sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A discharge valve (103) is installed at the center of the bottom surface of the sterilization tank (1). The input end of the discharge valve (103) extends into the interior of the sterilization tank (1) and is located directly below the auger (202).

9. A beverage sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sterilization tank (1) has several supports (101) fixedly connected to the outer side of its bottom surface, and the supports (101) are arranged in a ring array.