Background of the Present Invention
Field of Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a kind of machinery for packaging which is
used in food and pharmaceutical industries, and more particularly to a tunnel type
sterilizing dryer for food and pharmaceutical industries.
Description of Related Arts
[0002] In food and pharmaceutical packaging machinery industries, a tunnel type
sterilizing dryer is divided into a preheating section, a heating section and a cooling
section, and all of them are mainly used for completing the process of bottles drying,
sterilization and removing the pyrogen, and cooling. Every section completes
different process, and bottles on a conveyor belt continuously pass through them via I
the inlet and the outlet of them. Also air must be prevented from flowing freely during
each section. In the oven box of heating section, the temperature of cycling air is up to
300-350 (°C). If a large amount of hot air flows from the oven box of the heating
section into the oven box of the preheating section and the cooling section,
components in the preheating section and the cooling section would be damaged.
Comparably, if a large amount of cold air flows from the oven box of the preheating
section or the cooling section into the oven box of the heating section, the effect of
heating and sterilization would be decreased. However, the height of opening at the
inlet and the outlet must be high enough to fit bottles with different specification and
height. Then a partition board which can move up/down according to the height of the
bottle is mounted at the inlet and the outlet. Usually, a rack is mounted on the partition
board; a gear is mounted on the main transmission shaft; the gear drives the rack to ?
adjust up/down. It comes up with a high accuracy that the cooperation of the gear and
the rack and the adjustable center distance between the gear and rack is too small. So
when the oven box of the heating section is heated, the side of the box body would be
anamorphic stretching for the effect of hot expansion, and the deformation is up to 2-6
2 (mm), which would distort the partition board which is mounted on the box body.
Then, the center distance becomes smaller, more severely, it's a dead lock between the
gear and the rack, so as not to be adjusted at not.
Summary of the Present Invention
[0003] Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the technical problem of a
tunnel type sterilizing dryer. The present invention provides a self-adaptive partition
board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer which is simple and compact in size,
low in cost, convenient in operation, good in reliability, and could adjust selfadaptively
according to the hot expansion and cold contraction.
[0004] Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent
from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the [
instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.
[0005] According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and
advantages are attained by the followings:
[0006] A self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer,
comprises a partition board and a partition board opening/closing mechanism
mounted on an outer side board of a box, wherein the partition board is connected
with a self-adaptive adjusting mechanism which contains a pressure rod, a roller J
wheel and a pressure spring, wherein the middle of the pressure rod is connected with
a pivot and the pressure rod could rotate around the pivot, wherein roller wheel is
connected with one end of the pressure rod via a rolling shaft and contacts with the
partition board, wherein the pressure spring is arranged between the other end of the
pressure rod and outer side board of the box.
[0007] The present invention is further improved with the following features:
3 [0008] The partition board opening/closing mechanism comprises a main
transmission shaft and one or more sprocket drive unit which is mounted on the main |
transmission shaft. The sprocket drive unit comprises a drive sprocket, a driven
sprocket, and a drive chain which revolves around the drive sprocket and the driven
sprocket. The drive sprocket is right above the driven sprocket and is fixed on the
main transmission shaft, and the drive chain is connected with the partition board via
a connection plate. The middle of the pressure rod is sleeved on the main transmission
shaft and pressure rod could rotate around the main transmission shaft.
[0009] One end of the main transmission shaft is connected with a hand wheel or an
output end of a motor.
[0010] The connection plate is "L" shaped, the vertical segment of the L-shaped
connection plate is connected with the driven sprocket and could move up/down along
with the driven sprocket; the horizontal segment of the L-shaped connection plate is
fixedly connected with the partition board.
[0011] The main transmission shaft is fixed on the top end of the outer side board of
the tunnel type sterilizing dryer via a top mounting holder; the driven sprocket is fixed
on the bottom end of the outer side board of the tunnel type sterilizing dryer via a
bottom mounting holder.
[0012] The bottom mounting holder is provided with a kidney-shaped hole or an
elongated slot used for fixing the driven sprocket.
[0013] Compared to conventional technologies, the advantageous effect of the
present invention is as follows:
[0014] 1 > The self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing
dryer of the present invention is simple and compact in size, low in cost, convenient
in operation, good in reliability. When heated at high temperatures, the gap between
the partition board and the oven box body can be adjusted in real-time via the
4 ;
self-adaptive adjusting mechanism; in other words, it could self-adjust the
deformation of the oven box, so as to ensure the seal effect of the partition board.
[0015] 2^ The self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing
dryer of the present invention, whose partition board opening/closing mechanism is
adjusted by means of a chain. With a partition board hanging on the drive chain and
the drive sprocket driving the drive chain to rotate around the driven sprocket, the run of
the drive chain brings the partition board to move up/down, so as to implement the
open/close action. Because of its low transmission accuracy, the drive chain is low in
machining accuracy and is convenient for assembly. At the same time, the drive
chain's transmission accuracy couldn't be affected by the small deformation of the j
oven box at the process of hot expansion and cold contraction. When the temperature I
in the oven box increased at work, the up/down action of the partition board still can
be stable and reliable.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0016] Fig. 1 is a front illustration of a self-adaptive partition board assembly for a
tunnel type sterilizing dryer according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] Fig. 2 is a top illustration of a self-adaptive partition board assembly for a
tunnel type sterilizing dryer according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0018] Fig. 3 is a side cross-section illustration of a self-adaptive partition board
assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer according to the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] Description of numerical references:
5
[0020] K conveyor belt; 2 > oven box of heating section; 3 > inlet of oven box; 4^
partition board; 5 ^ connection plate; 6 ^ drive chain; 7 ^ top mounting holder; 8 > drive
sprocket; 9^ main transmission shaft; l(h hand wheel; 11 > bottle; 12N driven sprocket; 13^
bottom mounting holder; 14 -. pressure rod; 15 ^ rolling shaft; 16 ^ roller wheel; 17 > pressure
spring.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0021] The self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer
is further described with the accompanying drawings and illustrative examples as
follows.
[0022] Referring to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 of the drawings, a self-adaptive partition
board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention comprises a partition board 4 and a partition
board opening/closing mechanism mounted on an outer side board of a box. The
partition board 4 is connected with a self-adaptive adjusting mechanism which
comprises a pressure rod 14, a roller wheel 16 and a pressure spring 17. The middle of
the pressure rod 14 is connected with a pivot and the pressure rod 14 could rotate
around the pivot. The roller wheel 16 is connected with one end of the pressure rod 14
via a rolling shaft 15 and contacts with the partition board 4.The pressure spring 17 is
arranged between the other end of the pressure rod 14 and the outer side board of the
box. In use, a pressure is provided by the pressure spring 17 to push the partition
board 4 cling to the outer side of the oven box of heating section 2. With temperature
in the oven box increasing, the oven box of heating section 2 distorts for hot
expansion, and the deformation at the inlet of oven box 3 is more severe than any
other place. The partition board 4 is pushed outwards by the plate at the inlet of oven
box 3. Then, the roller wheel 16 swings outwards; the pressure spring 17 shrinks for
the pushing power provided by the pressure rod 14. With the temperature out the oven
box decreasing, the outer side of the oven box of the heating section 2 shrinks for cold
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contraction; the pressure spring 17 release the pressure, and the partition board 4 still
clings to the outer side of the oven box of heating section 2 via the transmission of the
pressure rod 14.
[0023] In this embodiment, the partition board opening/closing mechanism
comprises a main transmission shaft 9 and one or more sprocket drive unit which is
mounted on the main transmission shaft 9. The sprocket drive unit comprises a drive
sprocket 8, a driven sprocket 12, and a drive chain 6 which revolves around the drive
sprocket 8 and the driven sprocket 12. The drive sprocket 8 is right above the driven
sprocket 12 and is fixed on the main transmission shaft 9. The drive chain 6 is
connected with the partition board 4 via a connection plate 5. An opening is provided
at the middle of the pressure rod 14, with which the pressure rod 14 sleeves on the
main transmission shaft 9 and rotates around it. One end of the main transmission
shaft 9 is connected with a hand wheel 10 or an output end of a motor According to
the actual needs, a manual or an automatic way can be used for driving the main
transmission shaft 9 to complete the movement of up/down of the partition board 4, so
as to implement the open/close action.
[0024] In this embodiment, the connection plate 5 is "L" shaped. The vertical
segment of L-shaped connection plate 5 is connected with the driven sprocket 12 and
move up/down along the driven sprocket 12; the horizontal segment of the L-shaped
connection plate 5 is fixedly connected with the partition board 4.
[0025] In this embodiment, the main transmission shaft 9 is fixed on the top end of
the outer side board of the oven box of the heating section 2 via a top mounting holder
7, and the main transmission shaft 9 is arranged to get through the installation hole of
the top mounting holder 7. The driven sprocket 12 is fixed on the bottom end of the
outer side board of the tunnel type sterilizing dryer via a bottom mounting holder 13,
and the bottom mounting holder 13 is fixed on the bottom end of the outer side board
of the oven box of the heating section 2 via a pin. In order to adjust the center distance
7 ;
between the drive sprocket 8 and the driven sprocket 12, the bottom mounting holder
13 is provided with a kidney-shaped hole or an elongated slot which can be used for
fixing the driven sprocket 12.
[0026] The present invention's working principle is as follows: Put the bottle 11 on
the conveyor belt 1; with the run of the conveyor belt 1, bottle 11 would be sent into
the oven box of heating section 2 via the inlet of oven box 3, and be sent out the oven
box of heating section 2 via the outlet of oven box 3. When rotating anti-clockwise the
hand wheel 10, the main transmission shaft 9 drives the drive sprocket 8 to rotate
anti-clockwise, then the left side of the drive chain 6 moves upwards, the right side of
the drive chain 6 brings partition board 4 to move downwards, in such a manner that
the partition board 4 could close down the inlet of oven box 3 of the oven box of
heating section 2 ,even to a full close. On the contrary, when rotating clockwise the
hand wheel 10, the drive chain 6 brings with the partition board 4 to moves upwards.
It makes the size of the inlet of oven box 3 big enough to fit bottles 11 with different
kinds entering continuously into the oven box of heating section 2 to get heated and
sterilized. When the oven box of heating section 2 distorts outwards for the hot
expansion, the transmission clearances of the drive chain 6 whose components are |
connected one by one is big enough to distort along with it while not to get stuck. [
[0027] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present
invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not i
intended to be limiting.
[0028] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully
and effectively accomplished. Its embodiments have been shown and described for
the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present
invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore,
this invention includes all modifications encompassed, such as apply the present
invention at the cooling section of the oven box, and replace the roller wheel with other
8
low friction mechanics, and etc., within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We Claim:
l.A self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer,
comprising: a partition board (4) and a partition board opening/closing mechanism
moimted on an outer side board of a box, wherein said partition board (4) is coimected
with a self-adaptive adjusting mechanism which contains a pressure rod (14), a roller
wheel (16) and a pressure spring (17), wherein the middle of said pressure rod (14) is
coimected with a pivot and wherein said the pressure rod (14) could rotates around the
pivot, wherein said roller wheel (16) is connected with one end of the pressure rod
(14) via a rolling shaft (15) and contacts with the partition board (4), wherein said the
pressure spring (17) is arranged between the other end of the pressure rod (14) and
outer side board of the box.
2. The self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterihzing dryer,
as recited in claim 1, wherein said partition board opening/closing mechanism
comprises a main transmission shaft (9) and one or more sprocket drive unit which is
mounted on the main transmission shaft (9), wherein said sprocket drive unit
comprises a drive sprocket (8),a driven sprocket (12),and a drive chain (6) which
revolves around the drive sprocket (8) and the driven sprocket (12), wherein said
drive sprocket (8) is right above the driven sprocket (12) and is fixed on the main
transmission shaft (9), wherein said drive chain (6) is connected with the partition
board (4) via a connection plate (5), wherein the middle of said pressure rod (14) is
sleeved on the main transmission shaft (9) and the pressure rod (14) could rotate
around the main transmission shaft (9).
3. The self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterihzing dryer,
as recited in claim 2, wherein one end of said main transmission shaft (9) is connected
with a hand wheel (10) or an output end of a motor.
4. The self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer,
as recited in claim 2 or 3, wherein said cormection plate (5) is "L" shaped, the vertical
segment of wherein said L-shaped coimection plate (5) is coimected with the driven
sprocket (12) and move up/down along the driven sprocket (12), the horizontal
segment of wherein said L-shaped connection plate (5) is fixedly connected with the
10
partition board (4).
5. The self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer,
as recited in claim 2 or 3, wherein said main transmission shaft (9) is fixed on the top
end of the outer side board of the tunnel type sterilizing dryer via a top mounting
holder (7), wherein said driven sprocket (12) is fixed on the bottom end of the outer
side board of the tunnel type sterilizing dryer via a bottom mounting holder (13).
6. The self-adaptive partition board assembly for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer,
as recited in claim 5, wherein said bottom mounting holder (13) is provided with a
kidney-shaped hole or an elongated slot which is used for fixing the driven sprocket
(12).