Fully automatic popcorn machine

Abstract

Provided in the present invention is a fully automatic popcorn machine, comprising a housing, wherein a popcorn forming device, a popcorn preparation device and an auxiliary-ingredient warming device are provided in the housing. The popcorn forming device conveys formed popcorn to the popcorn preparation device; the auxiliary-ingredient warming device conveys flavored sauces to the popcorn preparation device; and finally, the popcorn preparation device prepares the formed popcorn. The fully automatic popcorn machine of the present invention functions stably, has a simple structure, is easy to assemble and disassemble, and facilitates repair and maintenance.

Description

A fully automatic popcorn machine

[0001] This application is based on four Chinese patent applications with application numbers 202322086922.6 (filing date is August 3, 2023), 202322492933.4 (filing date is September 13, 2023), 202323094406.4 (filing date is November 15, 2023), and 202323287742.0 (filing date is December 1, 2023), and claims the priority of the above four Chinese patent applications. All or part of the contents of the four Chinese patent applications are hereby introduced into this application as a reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of food processing equipment, in particular to a popcorn machine. Background Art

[0003] Existing popcorn vending machines on the market usually require the addition of various flavorings to enhance the taste during the popcorn production process. However, existing popcorn machines have the following drawbacks in terms of adding flavorings, cleaning, and power control:

[0004] 1. Sugar form and melting time

[0005] Traditional sugar is in granular form, which takes a long time to melt during the cooking process. This not only affects production efficiency, but may also cause the sugar to not melt completely during the cooking process, thereby clogging the delivery pipe, making the output taste unstable or even unable to be output, affecting the taste of the popcorn.

[0006] 2. Structure and Problems of Adding Flavorings

[0007] When adding flavorings to existing popcorn machines on the market, due to their large structural space, not only flavorings are wasted, but also different flavors are easily mixed, further affecting the taste of the food; and this traditional popcorn machine is very difficult to clean.

[0008] 3. Cleaning issues

[0009] The sugar-oil mixture and popcorn will stick to the popcorn making cavity after long-term use. If it is not cleaned properly, the sugar-oil mixture will remain in the making cavity. Existing popcorn machines generally require manual cleaning, which is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also may not be cleaned thoroughly, affecting the hygiene of the equipment.

[0010] 4. Power and usage scenarios

[0011] In order to achieve the effect of fast production, popcorn machines on the market generally use higher power. However, due to circuit limitations, many venues generally do not support the use of high-power equipment, which limits the use scenarios of popcorn machines.

[0012] Summary of the Invention

[0013] In order to overcome the problems existing in the related art, the present invention provides a fully automatic popcorn machine that can effectively prevent the coagulation of flavor sauces, ensure the normal delivery of flavor sauces, and effectively clean the stirring chamber to avoid residual sugar and oil mixture, thereby improving the taste of popcorn.

[0014] The present invention provides a fully automatic popcorn machine, which includes: an auxiliary material heat preservation device, the auxiliary material heat preservation device includes an auxiliary material cavity, an auxiliary material tank is provided in the auxiliary material cavity, the auxiliary material tank is connected to a delivery pipe, the delivery pipe is connected to a drive output mechanism, and the delivery pipe extends out of the auxiliary material cavity; the drive output mechanism drives the auxiliary material in the auxiliary material tank to be output from the auxiliary material cavity through the delivery pipe; a heater is provided in the auxiliary material cavity, and the heater heats the auxiliary material tank and the delivery pipe in the auxiliary material cavity.

[0015] Preferably, the auxiliary material cavity is connected to a heat-insulating pipe, and the delivery pipe is passed through the heat-insulating pipe.

[0016] Preferably, one end of the insulation pipe is connected to the auxiliary material chamber, and the other end is connected to a insulation chamber.

[0017] Preferably, the heat preservation chamber is connected to a circulation pipe, and the circulation pipe is connected to the heater.

[0018] Preferably, the auxiliary material cavity is connected to a heating element, and the heating element is connected to an exhaust fan, and the exhaust fan extracts hot air from the auxiliary material cavity and provides it to the heating element.

[0019] Preferably, the fully automatic popcorn machine also includes a popcorn making device, which includes a making mechanism, and the making mechanism includes a stirring motor, a stirring rod and a stirring shell; the stirring shell is provided with a stirring chamber with an opening at the lower end; one end of the stirring rod is mechanically connected to the stirring motor, and the other end extends into the stirring chamber; the stirring chamber is connected to a flavor feed pipe, and the flavor feed pipe is connected to the delivery pipe.

[0020] Preferably, the popcorn making device further includes a cleaning mechanism, which includes a shell, a drain pipe and a nozzle; the shell is used to abut against the lower end opening of the stirring shell; the drain pipe is connected to the bottom of the shell, and the nozzle is installed on the shell; the nozzle is connected to a water inlet pipe, and the water inlet pipe is connected to a heating mechanism.

[0021] Preferably, the heating mechanism includes a heating element and a hot air inlet pipe connected to the heating element; the water inlet pipe is connected to the heating element through a water inlet joint, and the hot air inlet pipe is connected to the stirring chamber.

[0022] Preferably, the hot air inlet pipe is sleeved outside the stirring rod, and the hot air inlet pipe extends into the stirring chamber.

[0023] Preferably, a through hole is provided at one end of the hot air inlet pipe extending into the stirring chamber.

[0024] Preferably, the shell is funnel-shaped, and a drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the shell, and the drain outlet is connected to the drain pipe.

[0025] Preferably, a positioning block is provided on the inner edge of the shell, and the positioning block is used to fit with the bottom of the stirring chamber; or the positioning block is used to abut against the bottom edge of the popcorn cup.

[0026] Preferably, the popcorn making device further includes a cup-lifting mechanism, which includes a cup-lifting motor, a push rod and a connecting seat; the connecting seat is connected to the drain pipe, one end of the push rod is connected to the cup-lifting motor, and the other end is connected to the connecting seat.

[0027] Preferably, the fully automatic popcorn machine further comprises a popcorn forming device, the popcorn forming device comprises a popcorn generating chamber, the popcorn generating chamber is connected with a drop pipe and a discharge pipe; the drop pipe is connected to a hopper, and the discharge pipe is connected to the stirring chamber.

[0028] Preferably, the popcorn generating chamber is connected to a heat storage and heating mechanism, which includes a heat storage pipe and a heating pipe. A blower is provided at one end of the heat storage pipe, and the other end is connected to the heating pipe through a first connecting pipe. The heating pipe is connected to the popcorn generating chamber through a second connecting pipe.

[0029] Preferably, a heating rod is provided in the heat storage tube, and a first hot air cavity is formed between the inner wall of the heat storage tube and the heating rod; a heating wire is provided in the heating tube, and a second hot air cavity is formed between the inner wall of the heating tube and the heating wire; the first hot air cavity and the second hot air cavity are connected through the first connecting tube; the blower inputs the airflow into the first hot air cavity for rapid preheating, and then enters the second hot air cavity to quickly heat up to the required temperature.

[0030] Preferably, the popcorn forming device further comprises a mounting plate, the hopper is arranged on the mounting plate, and the discharge port of the hopper is connected to the drop pipe through a measuring device.

[0031] Preferably, the measuring device includes a shell, a feed trough is provided on one side of the shell, and a discharge trough is provided on the other side, the feed trough is connected to the hopper, and the discharge trough is connected to the drop pipe; a drop block is provided between the feed trough and the discharge trough, and a drop trough is provided on one side of the drop block, and the feed trough, the discharge trough and the drop trough are located on the same vertical axis.

[0032] Preferably, a driving motor is provided on the outside of the shell, and a motor shaft of the driving motor is connected to the blanking block.

[0033] Preferably, the fully automatic popcorn machine also includes a cup dropping device, which includes a cup dropping channel and a cup pushing mechanism; the cup dropping channel is installed on the mounting plate, and the cup dropping channel is used to place popcorn cups; the cup pushing mechanism is arranged below the cup dropping channel, and a cup holder is installed on the cup pushing mechanism, and the cup holder is driven by the cup pushing mechanism to reciprocate between the cup dropping channel and the stirring shell.

[0034] The technical solution provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0035] By setting up the auxiliary material insulation device as a whole and utilizing the heater to transport heat, the auxiliary material cavity is kept warm, so that the auxiliary material tank in the auxiliary material cavity and the flavor sauce in the delivery pipe are kept at a certain temperature, effectively preventing the flavor sauce from condensing, ensuring the normal delivery of the flavor sauce, and thus improving the taste of the popcorn; and the principle is simple, the function is stable, the structure is simple, and it is easy to disassemble and install, and easy to repair and maintain.

[0036] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent through a more detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals generally represent like components throughout the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 1: A perspective view of the fully automatic popcorn machine of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2: Another perspective view of the fully automatic popcorn machine of the present invention

[0040] Figure 3: A partial enlarged view of the fully automatic popcorn machine of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the heat storage heating mechanism of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a popcorn forming device according to the present invention;

[0043] Figure 6 is another perspective view of the popcorn forming device of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 7: Schematic diagram of the structure of the hopper and the measuring device of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 8 is another perspective view of the fully automatic popcorn machine of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the manufacturing mechanism of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 10: A schematic structural diagram of the manufacturing mechanism and the cup-top mechanism of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the cup-lifting mechanism of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 12: A top view of the cleaning mechanism of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 13: A schematic structural diagram of a fully automatic popcorn machine according to the present invention;

[0051] Figure 14 is a perspective view of the auxiliary material heat preservation device of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 15 is another structural diagram of the fully automatic popcorn machine of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 16: Another stereoscopic view of the auxiliary material heat preservation device of the present invention.

[0054] Figure symbols: Chassis 1; popcorn generating chamber 2; drop pipe 3; discharge pipe 4; heat storage and heating mechanism 5; first connecting pipe 501; second connecting pipe 502; heating rod 503; first hot air chamber 504; heating wire 505; second hot air chamber 506; mounting plate 6; hopper 7; feeder 8; housing 801; feed chute 802; discharge chute 803; drop block 804; drop chute 805; drive motor 806; stirring motor 9; stirring rod 10; stirring head 101; stirring housing 11; stirring chamber 110; cover plate 12; flavor feed pipe 13; guide ring 14; exhaust pipe 15; heating element 16; Hot air inlet pipe 17; through hole 170; shell 18; drain outlet 180; positioning block 181; drain pipe 19; nozzle 20; cup-pushing motor 21; push rod 22; connecting seat 23; spring 24; slider 25; slide rail 26; cup-dropping channel 27; cup-pushing mechanism 28; cup holder 280; auxiliary material chamber 29; auxiliary material tank 30; delivery pipe 31; drive output mechanism 32; heater 33; insulation pipe 34; insulation chamber 35; circulation pipe 36; hot element 37; exhaust fan 38; popcorn forming device 100; popcorn making device 200; auxiliary material insulation device 300; cup-dropping device 400. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present invention more thorough and complete and to fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0056] The terms used in this invention are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms "a," "the," and "the" used in this invention and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0057] It should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. may be used to describe various information in the present invention, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from each other. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first information may also be referred to as the second information, and similarly, the second information may also be referred to as the first information. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0058] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0059] 1 and 2 , the low-power fully automatic popcorn machine with a cleaning function of the present invention includes a chassis 1 , in which a popcorn forming device 100 , a popcorn making device 200 , and an auxiliary material heat preservation device 300 are arranged; wherein the popcorn forming device 100 conveys the formed popcorn to the popcorn making device 200 , and the auxiliary material heat preservation device 300 conveys the flavor sauce to the popcorn making device 200 .

[0060] Referring to Figures 3 to 5 , the popcorn forming device 100 includes a popcorn generating chamber 2, the upper ends of which are connected to a drop pipe 3 and a discharge pipe 4, respectively. The popcorn generating chamber 2 is also connected to a heat storage and heating mechanism 5. The heat storage and heating mechanism 5 includes a heat storage pipe and a heating pipe. One end of the heat storage pipe is provided with a blower, and the other end is connected to the heating pipe via a first connecting pipe 501. The heating pipe is connected to the popcorn generating chamber 2 via a second connecting pipe 502. The heating pipe is provided with a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting its internal temperature, and a first insulation layer is provided within the heat storage pipe.

[0061] Furthermore, a heating rod 503 is installed within the heat storage tube, forming a first hot air chamber 504 between the inner wall of the heat storage tube and the heating rod 503. A heating wire 505 is installed within the heating tube, forming a second hot air chamber 506 between the inner wall of the heating tube and the heating wire 505. The first and second hot air chambers 504 and 506 are connected via a first connecting tube 501. A blower inputs air into the first hot air chamber 504 for rapid preheating, and then enters the second hot air chamber 506 for rapid heating to the desired temperature, resulting in high heating efficiency.

[0062] In this embodiment, the heat storage tube is first heated to a temperature close to that required for popcorn making and then the heat storage tube is kept warm. When popcorn needs to be made, the blower is used to blow air into the heat storage tube, causing the airflow to heat up rapidly. At the same time, the heating tube is heated so that the preheated hot air is heated by the heating tube to obtain hot air of the required temperature. The hot air then enters the popcorn generating chamber 2, heats the corn kernels in the popcorn generating chamber 2 to form popcorn, and blows the popcorn into the discharge pipe 4 for output. The entire structure is more compact and simple. Moreover, when not working, the heating tube does not need to be turned on. It is only necessary to keep the heat storage tube at a constant temperature. The power consumption is lower than that of existing equipment, effectively ensuring the stability of the popcorn machine and increasing the service life of the popcorn machine.

[0063] In addition, the popcorn forming device 100 also includes a mounting plate 6, on which a hopper 7 is provided. The discharge port of the hopper 7 is connected to the drop pipe 3 through a metering device 8. The metering device 8 can quantitatively control the drop of the hopper 7 to prevent excessive material from falling into the popcorn generating chamber 2 and causing blockage.

[0064] Referring to Figures 6 and 7 , the metering device 8 includes a housing 801, with a feed chute 802 disposed on one side and a discharge chute 803 disposed on the other. The feed chute 802 is connected to the hopper 7, and the discharge chute 803 is connected to the discharge pipe 3. Furthermore, a discharge block 804 is disposed between the feed chute 802 and the discharge chute 803, and a discharge chute 805 is disposed on one side of the discharge block 804. The feed chute 802, discharge chute 803, and discharge chute 805 are located on the same vertical axis.

[0065] A driving motor 806 is provided on the outside of the shell 801, and the motor shaft of the driving motor 806 is connected to the blanking block 804; the driving motor 806 drives the blanking block 804 to rotate, so that the blanking trough 805 switches its position between the feed trough 802 and the discharge trough 803, so that the material falls from the feed trough 802 into the blanking trough 805 first, and then the blanking trough 805 is rotated to the discharge trough 803, so that the material falls into the blanking pipe 3, and the structure is simple and stable.

[0066] 6 , 8 and 9 , a popcorn making device 200 is connected to an end of the discharge pipe 4 away from the popcorn generating chamber 2 . The popcorn making device 200 includes a making mechanism, a cleaning mechanism, a cup-lifting mechanism and a hot air heating mechanism. The cleaning mechanism and the hot air heating mechanism are both connected to the making mechanism, and the cup-lifting mechanism is connected to the cleaning mechanism.

[0067] The production mechanism includes a stirring motor 9, a stirring rod 10, and a stirring housing 11. The stirring housing 11 has a stirring chamber 110 with an open bottom. The upper end of the stirring rod 10 is mechanically connected to the stirring motor 9, and the lower end extends into the stirring chamber 110. The lower end of the stirring rod 10 is equipped with a "∪"-shaped stirring head 101, which allows the stirring rod 10 to better stir the popcorn and flavor sauce. The stirring motor 9 drives the stirring rod 10 to rotate, thoroughly stirring the popcorn and flavor sauce in the stirring chamber 110, making the popcorn taste better.

[0068] Furthermore, a cover plate 12 is provided at the upper end of the mixing housing 11. A flavor feed pipe 13 is connected to the cover plate 12. This feed pipe 13 connects the auxiliary material heat preservation device and the mixing chamber 110. Flavor sauces (e.g., flavored sugars) delivered from the auxiliary material heat preservation device are added to the mixing chamber 110 through the flavor feed pipe 13. The cover plate 12 is also provided with multiple guide rings 14. One guide ring 14 is connected to the discharge pipe 4, while the remaining guide rings 14 are connected to the exhaust pipe 15. Both the discharge pipe 4 and the exhaust pipe 15 are connected to the mixing chamber 110.

[0069] The hot air heating mechanism includes a heating element 16 and a hot air inlet pipe 17 connected to the heating element 16. The hot air inlet pipe 17 is sleeved around the stirring rod 10 and extends through the cover plate 12 into the stirring chamber 110. The inner wall of the hot air inlet pipe 17 does not contact the stirring rod 10, preventing the stirring rod 10 from rubbing against the inner wall of the hot air inlet pipe 17 during rotation, thereby damaging the stirring rod 10 and the hot air inlet pipe 17.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment, a through hole 170 is provided at one end of the hot air inlet pipe 17 extending into the stirring chamber 110; the hot air generated by the heating element 16 passes through the hot air inlet pipe 17 and then blows evenly toward the entire stirring chamber 110 through the through hole 170, so that the flavor sauce entering the stirring chamber 110 is heated and melted, and is better evenly blended with the popcorn.

[0071] It is understandable that in other embodiments, the hot air inlet pipe 17 does not need to be placed outside the stirring rod 10, but can directly pass through the cover plate 12 and be inserted into the stirring chamber 110, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0072] Referring to Figures 10 to 12, the cleaning mechanism includes a shell 18, a drain pipe 19 and a nozzle 20; wherein, the drain pipe 19 is connected to the bottom of the shell 18, and the nozzle 20 is installed on the shell 18; the drain pipe 19 is connected to the top cup device, and the diameter of the drain pipe 19 is set to be larger to allow the wastewater / corn kernel residue to be discharged smoothly.

[0073] The housing 18 is pressed against the bottom of the stirring housing 11 by the cup-lifting mechanism, allowing the cleaning mechanism to effectively clean the stirring chamber 110. The nozzle 20 is connected to a water inlet pipe, which is connected to a water inlet connector, which is connected to the heating element 16. Clean water is heated by the heating element 16 and converted into hot water / steam before entering the stirring chamber 110, allowing the cleaning mechanism to achieve a better cleaning effect.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, the shell 18 is funnel-shaped and has a drain port 180 at the bottom. The drain port 180 is connected to the drain pipe 19 to facilitate the collection and discharge of waste water and residue after cleaning, effectively avoiding blockage. A plurality of positioning blocks 181 are provided on the inner edge of the shell 18. During cleaning, the bottom of the stirring chamber 110 is pressed against the positioning block 181, and water is introduced from the water inlet joint at the same time. Hot water / steam is sprayed from the nozzle 20 from bottom to top, evenly flushing the stirring chamber 110, and there is no sanitary dead corner; after the flushing is completed, the waste water and corn kernel residue will pass through the drain port 180 and be discharged from the drain pipe 19 to the waste water bucket, thereby achieving a cleaning effect and effectively keeping the equipment dry and sanitary.

[0075] The cup-lifting mechanism includes a cup-lifting motor 21, a push rod 22, and a connecting base 23. The connecting base 23 is connected to the drain pipe 19. One end of the push rod 22 is connected to the cup-lifting motor 21, and the other end is connected to the connecting base 23. Furthermore, a spring 24 is provided between the push rod 22 and the connecting base 23. When the push rod 22 moves to the limit of its travel, the spring 24 acts as a buffer.

[0076] Furthermore, the connecting base 23 is connected to a slider 25, which is slidably connected to a slide rail 26. The cup-lifting motor 21 drives the push rod 22 to drive the slider 25 to slide along the slide rail 26, thereby driving the connecting base 23 to slide, and further driving the drain pipe 19 and the housing 18 to slide, so that the housing 18 lifts the popcorn cup, thereby playing the role of lifting the cup.

[0077] Referring to Figures 6 and 8 , the chassis 1 also includes a cup dropper 400, which includes a cup dropper channel 27 and a cup pusher mechanism 28. The cup dropper channel 27 is mounted on the mounting plate 6, and popcorn cups are placed in the cup dropper channel 27. The cup pusher mechanism 28 is positioned below the cup dropper channel 27 and is equipped with a cup holder 280. The cup pusher mechanism 28 drives the cup holder 280 to reciprocate between the cup dropper channel 27 and the mixing housing 11, allowing the cup holder 280 to receive cups and popcorn.

[0078] 6, 10, and 12, in the present invention, when the cup is lifted, the cup is transported to the top of the shell 18 and to the bottom of the stirring shell 11 by the cup pushing mechanism 28; then the cup lifting motor 21 drives the push rod 22 to drive the slider 25 to slide along the slide rail 26, thereby driving the connecting seat 23 to slide, and then driving the drain pipe 19 and the shell 18 to slide, lifting the popcorn cup to the stirring shell 11, so that the popcorn cup is sleeved outside the stirring shell 11;

[0079] During this process, the positioning block 181 presses against the bottom edge of the popcorn cup to ensure that the popcorn cup moves upward smoothly; at this time, the bottom of the cup will fit into the bottom edge of the stirring shell 11, and only the bottom of the cup participates in the stirring, thereby effectively avoiding the situation where the adhesive of the popcorn cup melts due to heating and stirring, causing the cup to crack.

[0080] It is understandable that in other embodiments, the method of making popcorn is not limited to using a popcorn cup attached to the bottom of the stirring chamber 110. Other structures, such as iron sheets, can also be used according to actual production needs and are not limited thereto.

[0081] During cleaning, the cup pushing mechanism 28 is reset, and then the cup pushing motor 21 drives the push rod 22 to drive the slider 25 to slide along the slide rail 26, thereby driving the connecting seat 23 to slide, and then driving the drain pipe 19 and the shell 18 to slide, so that the positioning block 181 fits with the bottom of the stirring chamber 110; at the same time, water is introduced from the water inlet joint, and the cleaning water will be heated by the heating element 16 and converted into hot water / steam. The water / steam is sprayed from the nozzle 20 from bottom to top, evenly flushing the stirring chamber 110; after flushing is completed, the water / corn kernel residue passes through the drain port 180 and is discharged from the drain pipe 19 to the waste water bucket, thereby achieving the cleaning effect.

[0082] 10 , 13 , and 14 , the auxiliary material heat preservation device 300 includes an auxiliary material chamber 29 , within which is disposed an auxiliary material tank 30 , which is connected to a delivery pipe 31 , which is connected to a drive output mechanism 32 , and which extends out of the auxiliary material chamber 29 . The drive output mechanism 32 drives the flavor sauce in the auxiliary material tank 30 out of the auxiliary material chamber 29 through the delivery pipe 31 .

[0083] A heater 33 is provided in the auxiliary material cavity 29, which heats the auxiliary material cavity 29 and thereby heats the auxiliary material tank 30 and the delivery pipe 31 in the auxiliary material cavity 29, so that the flavor sauce stored in the auxiliary material tank 30 and the delivery pipe 31 is kept at a certain temperature and will not condense, sink to the bottom of the auxiliary material tank 30 or clog the delivery pipe 31, thereby effectively ensuring the stable output of the auxiliary material and ensuring the taste and mouthfeel of the product.

[0084] In this embodiment, the auxiliary material chamber 29 is equipped with multiple auxiliary material tanks 30, including an oil storage tank and multiple flavor tanks, which provide the popcorn making device with a variety of flavors, allowing the popcorn making device to produce popcorn with a variety of flavors. The drive output mechanism 32 is a metering pump, which extracts a certain amount of flavor sauce each time and provides it to the popcorn making device, ensuring the popcorn produced by the popcorn making device has a stable flavor. The heater 33 provides heat to the auxiliary material chamber 29, maintaining the auxiliary material chamber 29 at a certain temperature. This keeps the flavor sauce in the auxiliary material tanks 30 in a melted state, allowing it to better blend with the popcorn, resulting in a more flavorful popcorn.

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary material chamber 29 is connected to an insulated pipe 34. The delivery pipe 31 is disposed within the insulated pipe 34 and then extends out of the insulated pipe 34 to connect to the flavor feed pipe 13. Flavor sauces are supplied through the flavor feed pipe 13 and introduced into the mixing chamber 110 for making popcorn, effectively preventing the flavor sauces from condensing on the delivery pipe 31 and affecting the flavor of the popcorn.

[0086] In another preferred embodiment, a heat preservation chamber 35 is provided between the heat preservation pipe 34 and the flavor feed pipe 13, and the heat preservation pipe 34 and the flavor feed pipe 13 are connected through the heat preservation chamber 35. One end of the heat preservation pipe 34 is connected to the auxiliary material chamber 29, and the other end is connected to the heat preservation chamber 35. Hot air in the auxiliary material chamber 29 flows through the heat preservation pipe 34 into the heat preservation chamber 35, so that the delivery pipe 31 located in the heat preservation pipe 34 and the heat preservation chamber 35 is maintained at a certain temperature, so that the flavor sauce in the delivery pipe 31 does not coagulate.

[0087] Furthermore, the heat preservation chamber 35 is also connected to an observable circulation pipe 36 (that is, the circulation pipe 36 is a transparent or translucent pipe, and the interior of the circulation pipe 36 can be observed), and the circulation pipe 36 is connected to the heater 33. The heat preservation chamber 35 is a transfer site, so that the heat in the heat preservation pipe 34 is returned to the heater 33 through the circulation pipe 36, reducing the heating energy consumption of the heater 33, saving energy consumption, and realizing the circulation of hot air. The heater 33 provides heat and insulation to the auxiliary material chamber 29 by conveying hot air. It should be noted that the hot air leading to the heat preservation pipe 34 will pass through the heat preservation chamber 35 and eventually return to the auxiliary material chamber 29 through the circulation pipe 36, forming a hot air circulation insulation system.

[0088] In addition, the auxiliary material chamber 29 is connected to a heating element 37, and the heating element 37 is connected to an exhaust fan 38. The exhaust fan 38 extracts the hot air from the auxiliary material chamber 29 and provides it to the heating element 37. The hot air in the auxiliary material chamber 29 is reused for the heating element 37, effectively reducing the energy consumption required for the heating element 37 to generate heat, and at the same time reducing the heating time of the heating element 37.

[0089] In this embodiment, there is one heating element 37, which provides heat for the automatic popcorn machine. Referring to Figures 15 and 16 , in other embodiments, there may be multiple heating elements 37, such as two heating elements 37, both of which are connected to the auxiliary material chamber 29. The heated air from the auxiliary material chamber 29 is supplied to the heating element 37, further reducing the energy consumption and heating time required by the heating element 37.

[0090] Optionally, the auxiliary material cavity 29 is a closed space, and a temperature detector (not shown) is provided in the auxiliary material cavity 29 to detect the temperature in the auxiliary material cavity 29; and a second insulation layer is provided on the inner wall of the auxiliary material cavity 29 to effectively prevent heat diffusion in the auxiliary material cavity 29.

[0091] The technical solution provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0092] 1. By setting a heat storage heating mechanism 5 to be connected with the popcorn generating chamber 2, when popcorn needs to be made, the inside of the heat storage tube is blown by the blower, so that the air flow is rapidly heated, and the heating tube is heated at the same time, so that the preheated hot air can be heated by the heating tube to obtain hot air of the required temperature; then the hot air enters the popcorn generating chamber 2 to heat the corn kernels in the popcorn generating chamber 2 to form popcorn, and the popcorn is blown into the discharge pipe 4 for output, and the whole structure is more compact and simple; and when not working, the heating tube does not need to be turned on, and it is only necessary to keep the heat storage tube at a constant temperature. The power consumption is lower than that of existing equipment, which effectively ensures the stability of the popcorn machine and increases the service life of the popcorn machine.

[0093] 2. By providing a water inlet connector connected to the heater 16, clean water is heated by the heater 16 and converted into hot water / steam before entering the stirring chamber 110, achieving a more effective cleaning effect, effectively preventing residual sugar and oil mixture, and improving the popcorn taste. Simultaneously, by providing a nozzle 20 within the housing 18, hot water / steam is ejected from the nozzle 20 from bottom to top, evenly flushing the stirring chamber 110 and eliminating any blind spots. After the flushing is complete, the wastewater and corn kernel residue are discharged through the drain 180, achieving a more effective cleaning effect.

[0094] 3. By fixedly connecting the connecting seat 23 with the drain pipe 19, the cleaning mechanism also has the function of steadily lifting the cup; the connecting seat 23 and the slide rail 26 are used to connect the push rod 22, so that the low-power fully automatic popcorn machine of the present invention can flexibly design the size of the drain outlet 180, effectively avoiding the phenomenon of popcorn blocking the drain outlet 180 and affecting drainage.

[0095] 4. By providing an insulation layer in the auxiliary material chamber 29 to insulate the auxiliary material tank 30 and its delivery pipe 31, the flavor sauce therein is stored at a certain temperature, effectively preventing the flavor sauce from condensing and sinking to the bottom of the auxiliary material tank 30 or clogging the delivery pipe 31, thereby ensuring the stable output of the flavor sauce and ensuring the taste and mouthfeel of the popcorn.

[0096] 5. The bottom of the popcorn cup of the present invention fits in with the bottom edge of the stirring shell 11, and only the bottom of the cup participates in stirring, thereby effectively avoiding the situation where the popcorn cup adhesive melts and causes the cup to crack due to heating and stirring; at the same time, a positioning block 181 is used to support the cup, leaving a drainage pipe 19 of sufficient diameter to discharge corn residue, effectively avoiding blockage; and when cleaning, the shell fits in with the bottom of the stirring chamber 110 through the positioning block 181 for cleaning, and the waste water flows directly into the waste water bucket through the pipe, keeping the equipment dry and hygienic.

[0097] 6. The auxiliary material insulation device 300 of the present invention is overall set up to use the heater 33 to transport heat to keep the auxiliary material chamber 29 warm, so that the auxiliary material tank 30 in the auxiliary material chamber 29 and the flavor sauce in the delivery pipe 31 are kept at a certain temperature, effectively avoiding the condensation of the flavor sauce and ensuring the normal operation of the flavor sauce delivery. In addition, the principle is simple, the function is stable, the structure is simple, and it is easy to disassemble and install, and easy to repair and maintain.

[0098] 7. The present invention provides a popcorn forming device and an auxiliary material insulation device to respectively convey the formed popcorn and flavor sauce to the popcorn making device, thereby dividing the popcorn forming and the addition of flavor sauce into two independent modules; compared with the traditional popcorn machine, sugar granules, oil, and corn kernels are made in one pot at one time, which effectively improves the taste of the popcorn and makes the produced popcorn taste better.

[0099] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative, non-exhaustive, and not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is selected to best explain the principles of the embodiments, their practical applications, or improvements to existing technologies, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A fully automatic popcorn machine, characterized in that: include: An auxiliary material insulation device, the auxiliary material insulation device includes an auxiliary material cavity, an auxiliary material tank is arranged in the auxiliary material cavity, the auxiliary material tank is connected to a delivery pipe, the delivery pipe is connected to a driving output mechanism, and the delivery pipe extends out of the auxiliary material cavity; the driving output mechanism drives the auxiliary material in the auxiliary material tank to be output from the auxiliary material cavity through the delivery pipe; a heater is arranged in the auxiliary material cavity, and the heater heats the auxiliary material tank and the delivery pipe in the auxiliary material cavity.

2. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The auxiliary material cavity is connected with a heat-insulating pipeline, and the delivery pipe is passed through the heat-insulating pipeline.

3. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: One end of the heat preservation pipe is connected to the auxiliary material cavity, and the other end is connected to a heat preservation cavity.

4. The fully automatic popcorn machine as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The heat preservation chamber is connected with a circulation pipeline, and the circulation pipeline is connected with the heater.

5. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The auxiliary material cavity is connected to a heating element, and the heating element is connected to an exhaust fan. The exhaust fan extracts hot air from the auxiliary material cavity and provides it to the heating element.

6. The fully automatic popcorn machine as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: The fully automatic popcorn machine also includes a popcorn making device, which includes a making mechanism, and the making mechanism includes a stirring motor, a stirring rod and a stirring shell; the stirring shell is provided with an open stirring chamber; one end of the stirring rod is mechanically connected to the stirring motor, and the other end extends into the stirring chamber; the stirring chamber is connected to a flavor feed pipe, and the flavor feed pipe is connected to the conveying pipe.

7. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The popcorn making device also includes a cleaning mechanism, which includes a shell, a drain pipe and a nozzle; the shell is used to abut against the opening of the stirring shell; the drain pipe is connected to the bottom of the shell, and the nozzle is installed on the shell; the nozzle is connected to a water inlet pipe, and the water inlet pipe is connected to a heating mechanism.

8. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The heating mechanism comprises a heating element and a hot air inlet pipe connected to the heating element; the water inlet pipe is connected to the heating element through a water inlet joint, and the hot air inlet pipe is connected to the stirring chamber.

9. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The hot air inlet pipe is sleeved outside the stirring rod, and the hot air inlet pipe extends into the stirring chamber.

10. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: One end of the hot air inlet pipe extending into the stirring chamber is provided with a through hole.

11. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The shell is funnel-shaped, and a drain port is provided at the bottom of the shell, and the drain port is communicated with the drain pipe.

12. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: A positioning block is provided on the inner edge of the shell, and the positioning block is used to fit with the stirring chamber; or the positioning block is used to abut against the edge of the popcorn cup.

13. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The popcorn making device also includes a cup-lifting mechanism, which includes a cup-lifting motor, a push rod and a connecting seat; the connecting seat is connected to the drain pipe, one end of the push rod is connected to the cup-lifting motor, and the other end is connected to the connecting seat.

14. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The fully automatic popcorn machine also includes a popcorn forming device, which includes a popcorn generating chamber, and the popcorn generating chamber is connected with a drop pipe and a discharge pipe; the drop pipe is connected to a hopper, and the discharge pipe is connected to the stirring chamber.

15. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 14, characterized in that: The popcorn generating chamber is connected with a heat storage and heating mechanism, which includes a heat storage pipe and a heating pipe. A blower is arranged at one end of the heat storage pipe, and the other end is connected with the heating pipe through a first connecting pipe. The heating pipe is connected with the popcorn generating chamber through a second connecting pipe.

16. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 15, characterized in that: A heating rod is arranged in the heat storage tube, and a first hot air cavity is formed between the inner wall of the heat storage tube and the heating rod; a heating wire is arranged in the heating tube, and a second hot air cavity is formed between the inner wall of the heating tube and the heating wire; the first hot air cavity and the second hot air cavity are connected through the first connecting tube; the blower inputs the airflow into the first hot air cavity for rapid preheating, and then enters the second hot air cavity to quickly heat up to the required temperature.

17. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 15, characterized in that: The popcorn forming device further comprises a mounting plate, the hopper is arranged on the mounting plate, and the discharge port of the hopper is connected to the drop pipe through a measuring device.

18. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 17, characterized in that: The metering device includes a shell, a feed trough is provided on one side of the shell, and a discharge trough is provided on the other side, the feed trough is connected to the hopper, and the discharge trough is connected to the drop pipe; a drop block is provided between the feed trough and the discharge trough, and a drop trough is provided on one side of the drop block, and the feed trough, the discharge trough and the drop trough are located on the same vertical axis.

19. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 18, characterized in that: A driving motor is arranged outside the shell, and a motor shaft of the driving motor is connected to the blanking block.

20. The fully automatic popcorn machine according to claim 17, characterized in that: The fully automatic popcorn machine also includes a cup dropping device, which includes a cup dropping channel and a cup pushing mechanism; the cup dropping channel is installed on the mounting plate, and the cup dropping channel is used to place popcorn cups; the cup pushing mechanism is arranged below the cup dropping channel, and a cup holder is installed on the cup pushing mechanism, and the cup holder is driven by the cup pushing mechanism to move between the cup dropping channel and the stirring shell.

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