Spiral conveying device for automated conveying of cans

Through the atomization cooling and blow-drying technology of the spiral conveying equipment for automatic can conveying, the problem of long-term cooling time and cumbersome operation of canned normal pressure cooling is solved, and rapid cooling and drying is achieved, and production efficiency is improved.

WO2025091668A1PCT designated stage expired Publication Date: 2025-05-08JIANGXI YIFANG AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/CN2023/141053
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-11-01
Filing Date
2023-12-22
Publication Date
2025-05-08

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing cans take a long time to cool at normal pressure, have low natural cooling efficiency, and need to wipe dry water stains after cooling, which is cumbersome to operate.

Method used

The spiral conveying equipment for automatic can conveying cans is used to spray coolant mist through the atomization cooling equipment to quickly cool the cans. Then, the water stains on the surface are quickly dried by blowing the air blowing equipment to avoid rust.

Benefits of technology

The rapid cooling and surface drying of cans are achieved, reducing the cumbersomeness of cooling operations and improving the production efficiency of cans.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A spiral conveying device for automated conveying of cans, comprising a spiral conveying device body, an atomization cooling device (6), and an air blowing device (13). The spiral conveying device body is used for conveying cans, the spiral conveying device body comprising a first housing (1), a conveying device (2) and a support column (3), wherein the support column (3) is mounted inside the conveying device (2), and the conveying device (2) is mounted in the first housing (1). The atomization cooling device (6) is mounted on one side of the spiral conveying device body; and the support column (3) is provided with a plurality of spray holes (3011) matching the atomization cooling device (6), the spray holes (3011) being used for spraying mist generated by the atomization cooling device (6) outwards. The air blowing device (13) is mounted at the end of the spiral conveying device body; by means of blowing air, the air blowing device (13) removes cooling liquid attached to the outer surfaces of the cans; and the support column (3) is provided with air jet holes (3021) matching the air blowing device (13), air generated by the air blowing device (13) being ejected through the air jet holes (3021). The spray holes (3011) and the air jet holes (3021) are arranged in an array along the outer wall of the support column (3).
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Description

Screw conveying equipment for automated canned food conveying

[0001] Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of canned food production, in particular to a spiral conveying device for automatic canned food conveying.

[0003] Background Art

[0004] The automated canned food production process is generally as follows: raw material selection → soaking and cleaning → peeling and cutting → hardening → pre-cooking → cooling → sugar liquid making → canning → exhaust and sealing → sterilization → cooling → finished product.

[0005] After canning, the cans are typically pasteurized. This involves placing the cans in a high-pressure steamer or water bath for sterilization. Typically, the cans are boiled at around 121°C for 20-30 minutes to completely kill bacteria and other microorganisms.

[0006] After sterilization, canned goods need to be cooled while maintaining a certain pressure within the retort. This is primarily used for high-temperature, high-pressure sterilization, particularly for cans that are susceptible to deformation and damage after high-pressure sterilization. After pressurized cooling, they need to be cooled again at ambient pressure. Atmospheric pressure cooling is primarily used for cans sterilized at ambient pressure and some cans sterilized at high pressure. Canned goods can be cooled within the retort, in a cooling pool, immersed in running cooling water, or cooled naturally. After cooling, any water stains on the cans need to be wiped dry before labeling and packaging.

[0007] Technical issues

[0008] Existing cans take a lot of time to cool at normal pressure. If natural cooling is used, the cooling efficiency is low. After cooling through a sterilizer or cooling pool, the water stains on the surface of the cans need to be wiped dry, making the cooling operation cumbersome.

[0009] Technical Solutions

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a spiral conveying device for automatic conveying of cans, which can spray out cooling liquid in the form of mist, vaporize the mist by the temperature of the can itself, so that the can can be cooled quickly, and then the cooling mist attached to the surface of the can is quickly blown dry by the blowing device to avoid rusting of the metal cover or the metal can body. It can quickly cool the cans and reduce the tedious operation of cooling the cans, thereby improving the production efficiency of the cans.

[0011] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a spiral conveying device for automatic conveying of cans, including a spiral conveying device body, an atomizing cooling device, and an air blowing device. The spiral conveying device body is used to convey cans, and the spiral conveying device body includes a first shell, a conveying device and a support column. The support column is installed inside the conveying device, and the conveying device is installed in the first shell. The atomizing cooling device is installed on one side of the spiral conveying device body. The support column is provided with a plurality of spray holes matching the atomizing cooling device, and the spray holes are used to spray out the mist generated by the atomizing cooling device. The air blowing device is installed at the tail of the spiral conveying device body. The air blowing device cleans the coolant attached to the surface of the can by blowing air. The support column is provided with an air jet hole matching the air blowing device, and the gas generated by the air blowing device is ejected from the air jet hole. The spray hole and the air jet hole are arranged in an array along the outer wall of the support column.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the conveying equipment includes a front conveying part, a middle conveying part and a rear conveying part, and a protective cover matching the rear conveying part is fixedly connected to the first shell, and the upper end of the protective cover is connected to an exhaust gas treatment device, and the exhaust gas treatment device is used to treat the gas between the first shell and the protective cover.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the exhaust gas treatment device includes a fourth shell, a condensing device and a filtering device, and the condensing device and the filtering device are both installed inside the fourth shell. The condensing device is used to condense the gas to be treated, and the filtering device is used to filter the condensed liquid.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, a liquid collecting tank is provided at the bottom of the first through hole, a filter plate matching the liquid collecting tank is installed on the first shell, and the liquid collecting tank is connected to the exhaust gas treatment equipment.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, the atomizing cooling device includes a second shell, a water pump and a water outlet pipe. The second shell is filled with a coolant for reducing the temperature of the can. The water pump is used to pump the coolant into the water outlet pipe for atomization and spraying.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, an air supply pipe is fixedly connected to the blowing device, a heat exchange pipe is fixedly connected to one end of the air supply pipe away from the blowing device, a heating component matching the heat exchange pipe is installed in the support column, and the heating component is used to heat the gas inhaled by the blowing device.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, a plurality of sorting devices are provided at the tail end of the spiral conveying device, and the plurality of sorting devices are used to sort the cans.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, the spiral conveying device further comprises a video detection system, and the video detection system is used to detect the food in the can for inspection.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the video detection system includes multiple cameras, an Internet of Things module, and an intelligent analysis module. The multiple cameras are arranged along the spiral direction of the conveying equipment, and the multiple cameras are used to photograph the ingredients in the cans.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, a labeling device is provided on the spiral conveying device, and the labeling device is used to perform labeling operations on the cans located on the spiral conveying device.

[0021] Beneficial effects

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the spiral conveying equipment for automatic can conveying according to the present invention can spray cooling liquid in the form of mist, vaporize the mist by the temperature of the can itself, so that the can can be cooled down quickly, and then the cooling mist attached to the surface of the can is quickly dried by the blowing equipment to avoid rusting of the metal cover or the metal can body. It can quickly cool the can and reduce the tedious operation of cooling the can, thereby improving the production efficiency of the can.

[0023] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG1 is a structural schematic diagram of a spiral conveying device for automatic canned food conveying according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG2 is a second structural schematic diagram of a spiral conveying device for automatic canned food conveying according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG3 is a third structural schematic diagram of a spiral conveying device for automatic canned food conveying according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG4 is a half-sectional view of a spiral conveying device for automatically conveying cans according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of point A in FIG4 .

[0029] FIG6 is a partial half-section view of a spiral conveying device for automatic can conveying according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a conveying device and a support column according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a labeling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG9 is a partial half-sectional view of a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of an exhaust gas treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of labeling by a labeling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG12 is a second partial half-section view of the spiral conveying equipment for automatic can conveying according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Description of main reference numerals:

[0037] 1. First housing; 101. First through-hole; 102. Second through-hole; 103. Liquid collecting tank; 104. Filter plate; 2. Conveying device; 201. Front conveying unit; 202. Middle conveying unit; 203. Rear conveying unit; 3. Support column; 301. Front support column; 3011. Spray hole; 302. Middle support column; 3021. Spray hole; 303. Rear support column; 4. Electromagnet block; 5. Protective cover; 501. Observation window; 6. Atomizing cooling device; 601. Sealing cover; 602. Second housing; 603. Third housing; 604. Water pump; 605 , water inlet pipe; 606, water outlet pipe; 7, chlorine replenishment equipment; 8, labeling equipment; 801, first roller; 802, second roller; 803, mounting frame; 8031, mounting plate; 804, transfer roller; 805, labeling paper; 806, motor; 9, sorting equipment; 10, exhaust gas treatment equipment; 1001, fourth shell; 1002, air inlet pipe; 1003, air outlet pipe; 1004, condensing equipment; 1005, filtering equipment; 1006, connecting pipe; 11, heating part; 12, lead-out rod; 13, blowing equipment; 1301, gas pipe; 1302, heat exchange pipe.

[0038] Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0039] The specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it should be understood that the protection scope of the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments.

[0040] Unless expressly stated otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprise" or variations such as "include" or "comprising", etc., will be understood to include the stated elements or components but not to exclude other elements or other components.

[0041] Referring to Figures 1 to 12 , a spiral conveying device for automated canned food conveying according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a spiral conveying device body, an atomizing cooling device 6, and an air blowing device 13. The spiral conveying device body is used to convey canned food. The atomizing cooling device 6 is mounted on one side of the spiral conveying device body and matches the spiral conveying device body to cool the canned food being transported on the spiral conveying device body. The air blowing device 13 is used to treat water stains on the outer surface of the can to prevent the water stains from adhering to the can body and causing rust on the metal parts of the can body.

[0042] The air blowing device 13 is generally an air pump.

[0043] As shown in Figures 1 to 3 , the screw conveyor includes a main body, which includes a first housing 1, a conveying device 2, and a support column 3. The conveying device 2 is mounted within the first housing 1, and the support column 3 is mounted within the conveying device 2. Both ends of the support column 3 are welded to the first housing 1. A connector is fixedly connected between the support column 3 and the conveying device 2. The connector and the support column 3 are used to support the conveying device 2. Generally, the connector is a metal block that is welded between the support column 3 and the conveying device 2.

[0044] As shown in Figure 9, the conveyor 2 uses a conveyor belt for transport. The middle portion of the conveyor 2 is a fixed plate, with the upper and lower ends of the plate forming the conveyor belt. The upper end of the conveyor belt houses an electromagnet 4. The electromagnet 4 is able to attract the cans because the conveyor 2 is spiral-type. Once the electromagnet 4 attracts the cans, the electromagnet 4 ensures that the cans do not become detached from the conveyor 2 as they are carried along.

[0045] Specifically, the electromagnet block 4 is an electromagnet that is powered by wireless power supply, thereby ensuring that the electromagnet block 4 can rotate with the conveying device 2 on the conveying device 2 without being affected by the cable.

[0046] The cans include a can body and a lid. Typically, the can body is made of metal, glass, cardboard, or other materials, while the lid is typically metal. Electromagnet block 4 typically adheres to the metal lid. If the can body is metal, electromagnet block 4 can also adhere to the metal body. This ensures that the cans do not become detached from conveyor 2 during transport.

[0047] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the conveyor 2 includes a front conveyor section 201, a middle conveyor section 202, and a rear conveyor section 203. The middle conveyor section 202 is located between the front conveyor section 201 and the rear conveyor section 203. The front conveyor section 201 is horizontally disposed, while the middle conveyor section 202 is vertically disposed with respect to the horizontal plane, at a predetermined angle to the horizontal plane. The rear conveyor section 203 is spirally disposed and arranged parallel to the front conveyor section 201. After the cans have undergone the sterilization process and pressurized cooling, atmospheric cooling is required. A robotic arm or other can transfer device is used to place the cans on the conveyor 2, causing the lids to adhere to the electromagnet block 4. This mutual attraction between the lids and the electromagnet block 4 largely ensures the stability of the cans during transportation on the conveyor 2 and reduces the likelihood of the cans becoming detached from the conveyor 2 during transportation.

[0048] The cans pass through the front conveyor 201, the middle conveyor 202 and the rear conveyor 203 in sequence. When the cans are located on the middle conveyor 202, the can body and the food exert pressure between the can body and the cover. If the sealing between the cover and the can body is poor, the cover is not well sealed on the can body, and the cover and the can body will separate, thereby enabling a preliminary test of the sealing effect between the cover and the can body.

[0049] The angle between the can and the horizontal plane can be 90°, less than 90°, or greater than 90°. Generally, when the can is on the middle conveyor 202, an angle less than 90° is preferred. The stone inside the can moves toward the end away from the lid, causing the can and the food to exert a greater force on the connection between the can and the lid.

[0050] The angle between the can and the horizontal plane is determined by the angle at which the middle conveyor 202 is set. When the middle conveyor 202 is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the angle between the can and the horizontal plane is equal to 90°. When the angle between the middle conveyor 202 and the horizontal plane is acute, the angle between the can and the horizontal plane is greater than 90°. When the angle between the middle conveyor 202 and the horizontal plane is obtuse, the angle between the can and the horizontal plane is less than 90°.

[0051] As shown in Figure 2, the first shell 1 is located on one side of the middle conveying part 202 and is provided with a first through hole 101. A collection box is installed in the first through hole 101. If the cover body and the can body are not sealed well, resulting in the can body and the cover body being separated, the can body will fall into the collection box, which is convenient for storing the can bodies that are not sealed well.

[0052] Preferably, multiple weight sensors can be positioned between the electromagnet block 4 and the conveyor 2 to measure the weight of cans adsorbed on the electromagnet block 4. Since cans are placed on the conveyor 2 at a constant frequency, multiple weight sensors correspond to the location of each can. When a can is on the middle conveyor section 202, the weight sensor detects a decrease in weight, indicating that the can body and lid are detached. At this point, the weight sensor controls the electromagnet block 4 to detach the lid from the electromagnet block 4. That is, after the lid and can body are detached, both the lid and can body fall into a collection bin, and the lid alone does not proceed to the next step.

[0053] After passing through the middle conveyor 202, the cans enter the rear conveyor 203. Since the rear conveyor 203 is spirally arranged, the cans will move along the direction set by the rear conveyor 203. During the movement, a certain amount of wind will be generated, which can cool the cans to a certain extent.

[0054] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the support column 3 is hollow and includes a front support column 301, a middle support column 302, and a rear support column 303. Blocks are welded between the front support column 301 and the middle support column 302, and between the middle support column 302 and the rear support column 303. The blocks serve to isolate the interior spaces of the front support column 301, the middle support column 302, and the rear support column 303. The front support column 301 is provided with a plurality of spray holes 3011, which are compatible with the atomizing cooling device 6. One end of the atomizing cooling device 6 is mounted inside the front support column 301. When the atomizing cooling device 6 is activated, it sprays water mist from the front support column 301 through the spray holes 3011. Since the cans are still warm after being removed from the retort sterilization process, the sprayed water mist adheres to the can's surface. The heat from the can evaporates the water mist, allowing the can to cool down quickly.

[0055] Referring to FIG4 in conjunction with FIG12 , the atomizing cooling device 6 includes a second housing 602, a water pump 604, and a water outlet pipe 606. The second housing 602 is filled with a coolant for lowering the temperature of the cans. The water pump 604 is used to pump the coolant into the water outlet pipe 606 for atomization, and then spray it from the water outlet pipe 606 onto the surface of the cans to achieve a cooling effect. The water outlet pipe 606 is provided with a plurality of atomizing holes that match the spray holes 3011. The water outlet pipe 606 is fixedly connected to a plurality of atomizing nozzles that match the atomizing holes. Specifically, the liquid in the second housing 602 is pumped into the water outlet pipe 606 by the water pump 604 and sprayed out through the atomizing nozzles. The sprayed water mist adheres to the surface of the cans, reducing the temperature of the cans themselves and vaporizing the water mist, thereby achieving a rapid cooling effect.

[0056] The water outlet pipe 606 is provided with multiple atomizing nozzles from left to right. Preferably, the atomizing nozzles on the left and right spray different amounts of coolant. The coolant sprayed by the atomizing nozzles on the left contacts the cans first, allowing for a small amount of spray, while the atomizing nozzles on the right spray a larger amount of coolant. This prevents the cans from suddenly contacting a large amount of coolant, thereby preventing the cans from exploding due to thermal expansion and contraction.

[0057] Specifically, as shown in FIG12 , a sealing cover 601 is installed at the upper end of the second shell 602. After the sealing cover 601 is opened, coolant can be added to the second shell 602. A third shell 603 is also fixedly connected to the interior of the second shell 602, and a water pump 604 is installed inside the third shell 603. The third shell 603 is a sealed box shell. The third shell 603 is in contact with the coolant to prevent the coolant from entering the third shell 603 and causing water to enter the water pump 604. By arranging a water inlet pipe 605 and a water pump 604 in the second shell 602, even if the water pump 604 is used for a long time, the temperature of the water pump 604 can be effectively reduced by the coolant, allowing the water pump 604 to operate for a long time.

[0058] The upper end of the third housing 603 is clamped with a first sealing cover, which seals the water pump 604 in the third housing 603. The water pump 604 can be repaired and maintained by removing the first sealing cover.

[0059] A water inlet pipe 605 is threadedly fixed to the water pump 604. The water inlet pipe 605 contacts the coolant in the second housing 602. The coolant flows from the water inlet pipe 605 into the water pump 604 and then into the water outlet pipe 606. The coolant is then sprayed from the water outlet pipe 606 onto the surface of the can through the atomizing hole and the spray hole 3011.

[0060] Generally, the coolant is water, which needs to be chlorinated to maintain a residual effective chlorine content of 1 to 3 ppm in the water to prevent secondary contamination of the cans by the coolant after sterilization.

[0061] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a protective cover 5 is also rotatably connected to the main body of the spiral conveying device. The protective cover 5 is covered on the upper end of the first shell 1, sealing the rear end conveying part 203 within the protective cover 5 and the first shell 1. That is, the first shell 1 and the protective cover 5 form a closed space, and the rear end conveying part 203 is installed in the closed space formed by the first shell 1 and the protective cover 5. That is, the support column 3 is also sealed between the first shell 1 and the protective cover 5, and the coolant sprayed from the atomizing cooling device 6 is not easy to remain outside the main body of the spiral conveying device. The protective cover 5 is connected to the exhaust gas treatment device 10, which can treat the coolant between the first shell 1 and the protective cover 5.

[0062] The protective cover 5 is provided with an observation port 501 , through which the conditions of the cans on the rear conveying portion 203 and the operation of the atomizing cooling device 6 and the blowing device 13 can be observed.

[0063] Specifically, since the coolant sprayed by the atomizing cooling device 6 contacts the cans in the form of mist, the cans vaporize the mist through their own temperature precipitation. Since the coolant contains certain disinfectants, in order to prevent the disinfectants from flowing out and affecting people, the vaporized mist is treated by the exhaust gas treatment device 10.

[0064] As shown in FIG3 , the exhaust gas treatment device 10 includes a fourth housing 1001, a condensing device 1004, and a filtering device 1005. Both the condensing device 1004 and the filtering device 1005 are mounted within the fourth housing 1001. The condensing device 1004 is used to condense the gas to be treated, and the filtering device 1005 is used to filter the condensed liquid. An air inlet pipe 1002 is connected to the condensing device 1004. The end of the air inlet pipe 1002, which is away from the condensing device 1004, is connected to the protective cover 5. Through the cooperation of the air inlet pipe 1002 and the condensing device 1004, water vapor between the first housing 1 and the protective cover 5 can be drawn into the condensing device 1004 for condensation. After condensation, a first liquid is obtained. The first liquid is then transported to the filtering device 1005 for filtration. The filtered water is then transported to the atomizing cooling device 6.

[0065] Preferably, multiple branch pipes can be installed at one end of the air intake pipe 1002 close to the protective cover 5, and the branch pipes are installed in sequence at the upper end of the protective cover 5. The multiple branch pipes are used to extract water vapor from different areas. A detection device can be installed on the branch pipe. When the detection device detects that there is more water vapor in the current branch pipe, the extraction power of the current branch pipe is detected.

[0066] Specifically, the first liquid contains a certain amount of disinfectant, which can be filtered through the filtering device 1005 to obtain the second liquid, which is relatively pure water.

[0067] As shown in FIG10 , a connecting pipe 1006 is installed between the condensing device 1004 and the filtering device 1005. The connecting pipe 1006 connects the condensing device 1004 and the filtering device 1005, and the first liquid enters the filtering device 1005 through the connecting pipe 1006. An outlet pipe 1003 is installed at the lower end of the filtering device 1005. The outlet pipe 1003 is connected to the atomizing cooling device 6, and the second liquid enters the atomizing cooling device 6 through the outlet pipe 1003.

[0068] As shown in Figures 4 and 5 , a liquid collection trough 103 is provided at the bottom of the first through hole 101. This trough 103 collects water droplets produced by the atomized coolant. A filter plate 104 is mounted on the first housing 1 to match the trough 103 and filter out particulate impurities. The trough 103 is connected to the exhaust gas treatment device 10, allowing the exhaust gas treatment device 10 to pump liquid from the trough 103 into the exhaust gas treatment device 10 for treatment.

[0069] Because the second liquid delivered by the exhaust gas treatment device 10 to the atomizing cooling device 6 is pure water, when mixed with the chlorine-containing coolant in the atomizing cooling device 6, the chlorine content in the coolant is reduced. Therefore, a chlorine replenishment device 7 is placed above the atomizing cooling device 6. The chlorine replenishment device 7 is used to detect the chlorine content of the coolant in the atomizing cooling device 6 and can also replenish chlorine based on the detected chlorine content.

[0070] Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the chlorine replenishment device 7 includes a chlorine tank and a chlorine content detector. The chlorine content detector is located inside the mist cooling device 6 and is used to monitor the chlorine content of the coolant. If the chlorine content detector detects that the chlorine content of the coolant is too low, it controls the chlorine tank to replenish the mist cooling device 6 with a matching amount of chlorine, ensuring that the chlorine content of the coolant is within the normal range.

[0071] As shown in Figures 1-6 , the air blowing device 13 is mounted at the rear of the screw conveyor body. It uses air to remove coolant adhering to the cans' surfaces. A heating assembly compatible with the air blowing device 13 is mounted within the tail support column 303. This heating assembly heats the air blown by the air blowing device 13, rapidly drying any moisture from the cans' surfaces.

[0072] Specifically, the middle support column 302 is provided with a plurality of air jet holes 3021, through which the air sucked in by the air blowing device 13 is ejected. As shown in FIG1 , the air blowing device 13 is connected to an air delivery pipe 1031. A heat exchange pipe 1302 is mounted on the end of the air delivery pipe 1031 away from the air blowing device 13. Heat exchange pipe 1302 is identical to air delivery pipe 1301 and is compatible with the heating assembly. Heat exchange pipe 1302 is spirally shaped and sleeved onto the heating assembly. As air passes through heat exchange pipe 1302, it is heated and ultimately blown onto the cans, drying any coolant remaining on the cans' surfaces.

[0073] As shown in Figure 6, the heating assembly includes a heating unit 11 and an outlet rod 12. The heating unit 11 is used to heat the outlet rod 12. The outlet rod 12 is located inside the middle support column 302. The heating unit 11 is a long column. The heat exchange tube 1302 is sleeved on the heating unit 11. The heating unit 11 is located inside the rear support column 303 and is used to heat the outlet rod 12. The outlet rod 12 then heats the air.

[0074] Preferably, an air filter device may be provided on the air delivery pipe 1301 to filter the air sucked in by the air blowing device 13 to prevent dust and other impurities in the air from being blown onto the surface of the cans and affecting the quality of the cans.

[0075] As shown in FIG7 , the spray holes 3011 and the air jet holes 3021 are arranged in an array along the outer wall of the support column 3. Since the rear conveyor 203 is spiral-shaped, the spray holes 3011 and the air jet holes 3021 align with the rear conveyor 203. As the cans move along the rear conveyor 203, they come into contact with multiple spray holes 3011 and air jet holes 3021, allowing them to be processed from all angles.

[0076] As shown in Figures 1-6 , multiple sorting devices 9 are installed at the tail end of the spiral conveyor. These devices are used to sort canned goods. When a can reaches the tail end of the spiral conveyor, the electromagnet block 4 loses its attraction, releasing the can from the spiral conveyor. The can then falls onto the sorting device 9, which then transports the can to the packaging area. By installing multiple sorting devices 9, a single spiral conveyor can accommodate multiple packaging stations.

[0077] As shown in FIG2 , the first housing 1 is provided with second through holes 102. There are generally six second through holes 102, with three second through holes 102 forming a group. Each group of second through holes 102 is arranged opposite each other, and different sorting devices 9 are installed in each of the oppositely arranged second through holes 102. Different sorting devices 9 are used to transport cans to different locations.

[0078] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the spiral conveyor is equipped with a labeling device 8, which is used to label the cans on the spiral conveyor. The labeling device 8 is generally installed at the rear end of the middle support column 302 and is used to label the cans after they are dried.

[0079] As shown in Figure 8 , the labeling device 8 includes a pair of mounting frames 803, a first roller 801, a second roller 802, and a transfer roller 804. The mounting frames 803 are welded to one side of the first housing 1. A labeling slot is defined between the first housing 1 and the protective cover 5 for mounting the transfer roller 804. The first roller 801 and the second roller 802 are both rotatably connected between the pair of mounting frames 803, with the transfer roller 804 positioned to align with the tank body.

[0080] Specifically, a mounting plate 8031 ​​is welded to one side of the mounting frame 803. A motor 806 matching the second roller 802 is placed on the mounting plate 8031, and the second roller 802 is driven by the motor 806. A roll-type label 805 is sleeved on the first roller 801. The inner wall of the label 805 contacts the first roller 801, and one end of the label 805 is bonded to the second roller 802. As the second roller 802 rotates, the label 805 on the first roller 801 is wound around the second roller 802.

[0081] As shown in Figure 11, S1 represents the can body. The transfer roller 804 separates the label from the backing paper. As the cans move on the rear conveyor 203, the label and can body come into contact, enabling labeling. Of course, after labeling, the label attached to the can body can be reattached using a robotic arm. Other labeling devices can also be used in conjunction with the conveyor 2 to label the cans.

[0082] The spiral conveyor also includes a video detection system for inspecting the food inside the cans. Specifically, the video detection system includes multiple cameras, an Internet of Things module, and an intelligent analysis module. The multiple cameras are arranged along the spiral direction of the conveyor 2 and are used to capture the food inside the cans. The multiple cameras enable a comprehensive view of the food inside the cans.

[0083] The captured video is transmitted via the IoT module to the intelligent analysis module, which uses the color of the stone to determine the quality of the canned food. For example, a well-cooked food will have a darker color, while an undercooked food will have a lighter color. The quality of the canned food is determined by the color of the stone. Cans deemed defective by the video detection system are transported to a re-inspection station via sorting equipment 9 for manual re-inspection.

[0084] Among them, multiple cameras are generally installed near the middle support column 302. There is no coolant near the middle support column 302, which can prevent the coolant from adhering to the camera and affecting normal shooting.

[0085] When the spiral conveyor is in use, cans are first placed on the front conveyor section 201. When the front conveyor section 201 transports the cans to the middle conveyor section 202, the middle conveyor section 202 is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, resulting in a certain angle between the cans and the middle conveyor section 202. The cans will exert a certain pressure on the lid. If the can and lid are not sealed properly, the can will fall off the lid. After the can falls off, the weight sensor can make the lid fall off with the can, and eventually enter the collection box for collection. When the collection box is full, the cans, lids, and food in the collection box can be cleaned up in a unified manner.

[0086] After passing the middle conveyor 202, the cans are transported to the rear conveyor 203. The cans move along the rear conveyor 203, with the support column 3 positioned at the center of gravity of the rear conveyor 203. The front support column 301 and the atomizing cooling device 6 work together to spray coolant onto the cans. The coolant is sprayed onto the cans' surfaces in the form of a mist. After pressurized cooling, the cans still maintain a certain temperature. The coolant adhering to the cans' surfaces in the form of a mist is vaporized by the cans' own heat, achieving a rapid cooling effect. Because the rear conveyor 203 is spiral, the cans are sprayed in all directions as they move along the rear conveyor 203.

[0087] After the mist formed by the coolant is dried by the can, water vapor will be formed. The water vapor is extracted through the exhaust gas treatment equipment 10. After treatment, it is transformed into liquid and transported to the inside of the atomizing cooling equipment 6 again for secondary use.

[0088] The chlorine replenishing device 7 installed on the mist cooling device 6 can monitor the chlorine content in the mist cooling device 6 in real time. If the chlorine content is too low, the chlorine replenishing device 7 can add a corresponding amount of chlorine to the coolant in the mist cooling device 6.

[0089] When the can is located in the middle support column 302, the blowing device 13 and the heating component cooperate to make the jet hole 3021 eject hot air outward. The hot air can dry the coolant remaining on the can, and avoid the metal cover and can body from rusting due to the coolant not being dried. After drying, it is also convenient to carry out labeling operations. The labeling device 8 can label the can after the can is dried. After labeling is completed, the can moves to a position close to the sorting device 9, the adsorption between the electromagnet block 4 and the cover body is lost, and the can falls on the sorting device 9, and is transported to the packaging area by the sorting device 9 for packaging. There are multiple sorting devices 9, and multiple sorting devices 9 correspond to multiple packaging stations.

[0090] When the cans move on the rear-end conveyor 203, the video detection system will also inspect the ingredients in the cans and judge the quality of the ingredients by judging the color of the ingredients. If it is determined that the ingredients in the cans are spoiled or not cooked thoroughly, the problematic cans will be transported to the re-inspection station through one of the sorting devices 9 for manual re-inspection.

[0091] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention are for purposes of illustration and description. These descriptions are not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it is apparent that many variations and modifications are possible in light of the foregoing teachings. The exemplary embodiments have been selected and described for the purpose of explaining the specific principles of the invention and their practical application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to realize and utilize a variety of exemplary embodiments of the invention and various options and modifications. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. Screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying, characterized in that: include: A spiral conveying device body, the spiral conveying device body is used to convey cans, the spiral conveying device body comprises a first shell, a conveying device and a support column, the support column is installed inside the conveying device, and the conveying device is installed in the first shell; Atomizing cooling equipment, the atomizing cooling equipment is installed on one side of the main body of the spiral conveying equipment, and the supporting column is provided with a plurality of spray holes matching the atomizing cooling equipment, and the spray holes are used to spray out the mist generated by the atomizing cooling equipment; An air blowing device, which is installed at the tail of the main body of the spiral conveying device and cleans the coolant attached to the surface of the can by blowing air; The support column is provided with an air jet hole matching the air blowing device, and the gas generated by the air blowing device is ejected from the air jet hole; The spray holes and the air jet holes are arranged in an array along the outer wall of the support column.

2. The screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveying equipment includes a front conveying part, a middle conveying part and a rear conveying part. A protective cover matching the rear conveying part is fixedly connected to the first shell. The upper end of the protective cover is connected to an exhaust gas treatment device, and the exhaust gas treatment device is used to treat the gas between the first shell and the protective cover.

3. The screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying according to claim 2, characterized in that: The exhaust gas treatment device includes a fourth shell, a condensing device and a filtering device, both of which are installed inside the fourth shell. The condensing device is used to condense the gas to be treated, and the filtering device is used to filter the condensed liquid.

4. The screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: A liquid collecting tank is provided at the bottom of the first through hole, a filter plate matching the liquid collecting tank is installed on the first shell, and the liquid collecting tank is connected to the exhaust gas treatment equipment.

5. The screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying according to claim 1, characterized in that: The atomizing cooling device comprises a second shell, a water pump and a water outlet pipe. The second shell is filled with a cooling liquid for lowering the temperature of the cans. The water pump is used to pump the cooling liquid into the water outlet pipe for atomization and spraying.

6. The screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying according to claim 1, characterized in that: The blowing device is fixedly connected with an air supply pipe, one end of the air supply pipe away from the blowing device is fixedly connected with a heat exchange pipe, a heating component matching the heat exchange pipe is installed in the support column, and the heating component is used to heat the gas sucked in by the blowing device.

7. The screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of sorting devices are arranged at the tail end of the spiral conveying device, and the plurality of sorting devices are used to sort the cans.

8. The screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that: The spiral conveying device also includes a video detection system, which is used to detect the food in the can.

9. The screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying according to claim 8, characterized in that: The video detection system includes multiple cameras, an Internet of Things module and an intelligent analysis module. The multiple cameras are arranged along the spiral direction of the conveying equipment, and the multiple cameras are used to shoot the ingredients in the cans.

10. The screw conveying equipment for automatic canned food conveying according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spiral conveying device is provided with a labeling device, and the labeling device is used to perform labeling operations on the cans located on the spiral conveying device.

Citation Information

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