TWI847404B - Food puffing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A food puffing device includes a base set, a transmission shaft, a sleeve, an extrusion screw and a screw removal mechanism. The transmission shaft is located within the base set. The sleeve is fixed in the base set. The extruding screw is rotatably located in the sleeve, and coaxially connected to one end of the transmission shaft, and the extruding screw is formed with a first screwing portion. The screw removal mechanism is rotatably located in the transmission shaft, and formed with a second screwing portion. The second screwing portion and the first screwing portion are engaged with each other. When the screw removal mechanism is rotated to enable the second screwing portion to be rotated along the first screwing portion, the extrusion screw can gradually move away from the screw removal mechanism so as to extend from the sleeve relative to the transmission shaft.

Description

Food expansion device

The present invention relates to a food expansion device, and more particularly to a food expansion device capable of removing an extrusion screw.

Generally speaking, the extruder uses a motor to rotate the screw in the sleeve to squeeze the food, so that the food is gradually heated and pressurized in the sleeve during the extrusion process. When the food is extruded and returns to normal pressure, the food will change its external structure rapidly, thus producing the so-called extrusion effect. When the extruder is finished, the screw needs to be pulled out of the sleeve for subsequent maintenance and cleaning.

However, since the food material has a high viscosity due to the heating and pressure in the sleeve, generally speaking, it is difficult for the operator to easily extract the screw from the sleeve. Therefore, if the operator relies on brute force to extract the screw, it is not only time-consuming and laborious, but also easily causes the risk of injury over a long period of time.

It can be seen that the above technology still has inconveniences and defects, and needs to be further improved. Therefore, how to effectively solve the above inconveniences and defects is one of the important research and development topics at present, and has also become a goal that needs to be improved urgently in the current related fields.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a food puffing device to solve the difficulties mentioned in the above-mentioned prior art.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a food puffing device. The food puffing device includes a base assembly, a drive shaft, a sleeve, an extrusion screw and a screw removal mechanism. The drive shaft is located in the base assembly and synchronously linked to a drive motor. The drive shaft has a through passage. The sleeve is fixed in the base assembly. The extrusion screw is rotatably located in the sleeve and coaxially connected to one end of the drive shaft. The extrusion screw has a first threaded portion located in the through passage. The screw removal mechanism is rotatably located in the through passage and has a second threaded portion. The second threaded portion and the first threaded portion are threadedly engaged with each other. When the screw is rotated out of the mechanism so that the second threaded portion is threaded along the first threaded portion, the extrusion screw can gradually move away from the screw out of the mechanism and extend from the sleeve in the direction relative to the drive shaft.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned food puffing device, the screw removal mechanism further includes an axial screw and a handle. The axial screw is located in the through-channel and extends out of the through-channel from one end of the drive shaft opposite to the sleeve, and the second threaded connection is located at one end of the axial screw. The handle is located outside the through-channel and fixed to the other end of the axial screw for rotating the axial screw.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned food puffing device, the handle includes a connecting portion, a lever and a fixing bolt. The other end of the axial screw is inserted into the connecting portion, and the fixing bolt passes through the connecting portion, the axial screw located in the connecting portion, and connects the end of the lever, wherein the long axis direction of the lever is orthogonal to the long axis direction of the axial screw, and is coaxial with the long axis direction of the fixing bolt.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned food puffing device, the first threaded connection portion includes a screw hole and an internal thread, the screw hole is recessed in one end surface of the extrusion screw, and the internal thread is formed on the inner wall of the screw hole. The second threaded connection portion includes a column and an external thread, the column is located in the through-channel and is coaxially connected to one end of the axial screw, and the external thread is formed on the surface of the column and is threaded with the internal thread of the first threaded connection portion.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned food puffing device, there is a limiter in the driving shaft. The limiter is located in the through-channel to interfere with the screw removal mechanism so that the screw removal mechanism cannot be pulled away from the driving shaft.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned food puffing device, the screw removal mechanism further includes an annular body. The annular body is sleeved on the axial screw, connected to and surrounding the axial screw. The limiting portion is a receiving groove connected to the through-channel, the diameter of the receiving groove is larger than the diameter of the through-channel, and the receiving groove receives the annular body, and the inner wall of the receiving groove abuts against the annular body to limit the annular body from escaping from the transmission shaft and the through-channel.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned food puffing device, the transmission shaft has a connecting gear, which surrounds and is fixedly connected to the transmission shaft and is connected to the transmission motor.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned food puffing device, the extrusion screw includes a screw body and a first thread. The screw body is rotatably disposed in the sleeve. The first thread is formed on the screw body, and the first thread has the same or different pitches.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned food puffing device, the extrusion screw further includes at least one extrusion rib. The extrusion rib connects the screw body and the first thread, wherein the long axis direction of the extrusion rib is parallel to the long axis direction of the screw body.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned food puffing device, the sleeve includes a cylindrical body and a second thread. The cylindrical body is fixed in the base assembly, and the cylindrical body is provided with an extrusion cavity for accommodating an extrusion screw. The second thread is formed on the inner wall of the extrusion cavity and faces the first thread. The second thread has the same or different pitch.

Thus, through the structures of the above embodiments, even though the food has a higher viscosity due to heating and pressurization in the sleeve, the food puffing device of the present invention can still smoothly extract the screw from the sleeve by manpower, which not only saves time and cost, but also reduces the risk of injury to personnel.

The above description is only used to explain the problem to be solved by the present invention, the technical means for solving the problem, and the effects produced, etc. The specific details of the present invention will be introduced in detail in the following implementation method and related drawings.

The following will disclose multiple embodiments of the present invention with drawings. For the purpose of clarity, many practical details will be described together in the following description. However, it should be understood that these practical details should not be used to limit the present invention. In other words, in each embodiment of the present invention, these practical details are not necessary. In addition, for the purpose of simplifying the drawings, some commonly used structures and components will be depicted in the drawings in a simple schematic manner.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a food puffing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line segment AA of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the food puffing device 10 includes a forming mold 100, a base assembly 200, an extrusion screw assembly 300, a transmission module 600, and a screw removal mechanism 700. The base assembly 200 includes an inlet 221, an outlet 231, and a receiving space 240. The receiving space 240 is formed inside the base assembly 200 and is connected to the inlet 221 and the outlet 231, respectively. The inlet 221 is formed at one side of the base assembly 200, and the outlet 231 is formed at one end of the base assembly 200, and the transmission module 600 is installed at one end of the base assembly 200 opposite to the outlet 231. The molding die 100 fixedly covers the outlet 231, and the molding die 100 has a die hole 110 connected to the outlet 231.

The transmission module 600 has a transmission shaft 610 and a linkage gear 620. The transmission shaft 610 is located in the base assembly 200 and is synchronously linked to a transmission motor (not shown). The transmission shaft 610 has a through passage 611. The long axis direction L1 of the through passage 611 is the same as the long axis direction L1 of the transmission shaft 610. The linkage gear 620 surrounds and is fixedly connected to the transmission shaft 610 for linkage with the transmission motor.

The extrusion screw assembly 300 includes a sleeve 400 and an extrusion screw 500. The sleeve 400 is fixedly disposed in the accommodating space 240. The extrusion screw 500 is rotatably disposed in the sleeve 400 and is coaxially connected to one end of the transmission shaft 610. The extrusion screw 500 has a first threaded portion 540 located in the through-channel 611. A portion of the screw removal mechanism 700 is rotatably disposed in the through-channel 611 and has a second threaded portion 720 located in the through-channel 611. The second threaded portion 720 complements the first threaded portion 540 in appearance and is movably threaded with the first threaded portion 540.

Thus, when the motor drives the transmission module 600 to rotate, the transmission module 600 drives the extrusion screw 500 and the screw removal mechanism 700 to rotate synchronously, so that the extrusion screw 500 can rotate in the sleeve 400, thereby executing the process of extruding and compressing the food. Therefore, the food will be pushed into the forming mold 100 through the discharge port 231 in the extrusion screw assembly 300, and finally extruded from the mold hole 110, thereby instantly expanding into a food of a specific shape. On the contrary, when the rotating screw is removed from the mechanism 700 and the second threaded portion 720 is rotated along the first threaded portion 540, the extrusion screw 500 can gradually move away from the screw removal mechanism 700 and extend from the sleeve 400 in a direction relative to the drive shaft 610.

More specifically, the base assembly 200 includes a base body 210, a front cover 220 and an end cover 230. The base body 210, the front cover 220 and the end cover 230 are assembled together in sequence, so that the above-mentioned accommodation space 240 of the base assembly 200 is simultaneously formed in the base body 210, the front cover 220 and the end cover 230. Further, the base body 210 has a first end 211 and a second end 212 opposite to each other, a portion of the drive shaft 610 of the drive module 600 is located in the accommodation space 240, and the other portion thereof extends out of the accommodation space 240 from the second end 212 of the base body 210. The front cover 220 is locked to the first end 211 of the base 210, and the end cover 230 is locked to one end of the front cover 220 opposite to the base 210 by a twist lock, wherein the discharge port 231 is formed on the end surface of the end cover 230 facing away from the front cover 220, and the inlet port 221 is formed on the front cover 220.

The sleeve 400 has a cylindrical body 410 and a second thread 420. The cylindrical body 410 is fixed in the accommodating space 240, and an extrusion chamber 411 is provided in the cylindrical body 410. The extrusion chamber 411 is connected to the discharge port 231, and the extrusion chamber 411 is used to accommodate the extrusion screw 500. The second thread 420 is formed on the inner wall of the extrusion chamber 411 and faces the first thread 520. The second thread 420 has the same pitch. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the second thread may also have a different pitch (e.g., 1:2), or the cylindrical body 410 may also have no thread.

The extrusion screw 500 further includes a screw body 510 and a first thread 520. The screw body 510 is rotatably positioned in the extrusion chamber 411, that is, the screw body 510 has a long axis direction L1 that is the same as the through channel 611, and the screw body 510 can rotate around the long axis direction L1. The screw body 510 has a front end 511 and a rear end 512 that are opposite to each other. The front end 511 of the screw body 510 extends from the extrusion chamber 411 into the molding die 100. The other end of the screw body 510 is inserted into the through channel 611 and is coaxially connected to the drive shaft 610 so as to rotate synchronously with the drive module 600. The first threaded portion 540 of the extrusion screw 500 is formed at the rear end 512 of the screw body 510 and is located in the through passage 611. The first thread 520 is formed at a portion of the screw body 510 close to the front end 511 thereof, and the first thread 520 has the same pitch. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the first thread 520 may also have different (e.g., 1:2) pitches.

In this embodiment, the first threaded portion 540 includes a screw hole 541 and an internal thread 542, the screw hole 541 is recessed in the end surface of the rear end 512 of the screw body 510, and the internal thread 542 is formed on the inner wall of the screw hole 541. The second threaded portion 720 of the screw removal mechanism 700 includes a column 721 and an external thread 722, the column 721 is located in the through-channel 611 and is coaxially connected to one end of the axial screw 710, and the external thread 722 is formed on the surface of the column 721 and is threadedly engaged with the internal thread 542 of the first threaded portion 540.

Thus, when the outer thread 722 rotates along the inner thread 542 in the clockwise direction C1, the column 721 can gradually extend into the screw hole 541, so that the extrusion screw 500 and the screw removal mechanism 700 can be more firmly combined; conversely, when the outer thread 722 rotates along the inner thread 542 in the counterclockwise direction C2, the column 721 can gradually extend out of the screw hole 541, so that the extrusion screw 500 can gradually disengage from the screw removal mechanism 700.

In addition, the extrusion screw 500 further includes at least one extrusion rib 530. The extrusion rib 530 connects the screw body 510 and the first thread 520, wherein the long axis direction L1 of the extrusion rib 530 is parallel to the long axis direction L1 of the screw body 510. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The screw removal mechanism 700 further includes an axial screw 710 and a handle 730. The axial screw 710 is located in the through-channel 611 and extends out of the through-channel 611 from one end of the transmission shaft 610 opposite to the sleeve 400, and the second threaded portion 720 is located at one end of the axial screw 710. The handle 730 is located outside the through-channel 611 and is fixed to the other end of the axial screw 710. The axial screw 710 has a long axis direction L1 that is the same as the through-channel 611, and the handle 730 includes a connecting portion 731 and a lever 732. The other end of the axial screw 710 is inserted into the connecting portion 731, and a fixing bolt 733 passes through the connecting portion 731, the axial screw 710 located in the connecting portion 731, and is connected to the end of the lever 732. The long axis direction L2 of the lever 732 is orthogonal to the long axis direction L1 of the axial screw 710, and is coaxial with the long axis direction L2 of the fixing bolt 733. In addition, the screw removal mechanism 700 further includes an annular body 740. The annular body 740 is sleeved on the axial screw 710 and surrounds the axial screw 710.

A limiting portion 630 is further provided in the through-channel 611 of the driving shaft 610. The limiting portion 630 is located in the through-channel 611 to interfere with the screw removal mechanism 700 so that the screw removal mechanism 700 cannot be withdrawn from the driving shaft 610. For example, the limiting portion 630 is a receiving groove 631 connected to the through-channel 611, the diameter of the receiving groove 631 is larger than the diameter of the through-channel 611, and the receiving groove 631 receives the annular body 740, and the inner wall of the receiving groove 631 abuts against the annular body 740 to limit the annular body 740 from being separated from the driving shaft 610 and the through-channel 611.

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C are sequential operation diagrams of removing the extrusion screw 500 of the food puffing device 10 of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4A, when an operator wants to remove the extrusion screw 500, the operator first removes the forming mold 100 and the end cover 230 in sequence, so that a portion of the first thread 520 extends out of the front cover 220 of the base assembly 200.

As shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, although there is a material F with a high viscosity (indicated by dots) between the extrusion screw 500 and the sleeve 400, once the operator starts to manually rotate the axial screw 710 several times through the lever 732, so that the axial screw 710 remains idle in the through-channel 611, the thread 722 starts to rotate counterclockwise as the screw moves out of the mechanism 700. By rotating along the inner thread 542 toward C2, the cylinder 721 can gradually extend out of the screw hole 541, and finally the extrusion screw 500 can overcome the resistance of the food material F with a higher viscosity in the sleeve 400, gradually move away from the screw moving out mechanism 700, and extend from the sleeve 400 in the direction T relative to the drive shaft 610, so that the operator can easily pull the extrusion screw 500 out of the sleeve 400.

Thus, through the structures of the above embodiments, even though the food has a higher viscosity due to heating and pressurization in the sleeve, the food puffing device of the present invention can still smoothly extract the screw from the sleeve by manpower, which not only saves time and cost, but also reduces the risk of injury to personnel.

Finally, the above disclosed embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all of them can be protected by the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application.

10: Food puffing device 100: Forming mold 110: Mold hole 200: Base assembly 210: Base body 211: First end 212: Second end 220: Front cover 221: Inlet 230: End cover 231: Outlet 240: Accommodation space 300: Extrusion screw assembly 400: Sleeve 410: Cylindrical body 411: Extrusion chamber 420: Second thread 500: Extrusion screw 510: Screw body 511: Front end 512: Rear end 520: First thread 530: Extrusion rib 540: First screw connection part 541: screw hole 542: internal thread 600: transmission module 610: transmission shaft 611: through channel 620: linkage gear 630: limiter 631: receiving groove 700: screw removal mechanism 710: axial screw 720: second screw connection 721: column 722: external thread 730: handle 731: connection part 732: lever 733: fixing bolt 740: ring AA: line segment C1: clockwise direction C2: counterclockwise direction F: food material L1, L2: long axis direction T: direction

In order to make the above and other purposes, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention more clearly understandable, the attached drawings are described as follows: Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a food puffing device of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a decomposition diagram of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line segment AA of Figure 1; and Figures 4A to 4C are continuous operation diagrams of removing the extrusion screw of the food puffing device of Figure 3.

Domestic storage information (please note in the order of storage institution, date, and number) None Foreign storage information (please note in the order of storage country, institution, date, and number) None

10: Food puffing device 100: Forming mold 110: Mold hole 200: Base assembly 210: Base body 220: Front cover 221: Feeding port 230: End cover 300: Extrusion screw assembly 600: Transmission module 610: Transmission shaft 620: Linking gear 700: Screw removal mechanism 730: Handle AA: Line segment C1: Clockwise direction C2: Counterclockwise direction L1, L2: Long axis direction

Claims (10)

A food puffing device comprises: a base assembly; a drive shaft located in the base assembly and synchronously linked to a drive motor, wherein the drive shaft has a through passage; a sleeve fixed in the base assembly; an extrusion screw rotatably located in the sleeve and coaxially connected to one end of the drive shaft, and the extrusion screw has a first threaded portion located in the through passage. ; and a screw removal mechanism rotatably disposed in the through-channel, having a second threaded portion, the second threaded portion and the first threaded portion being threadedly engaged with each other, wherein when the screw removal mechanism is rotated so that the second threaded portion is threaded along the first threaded portion, the extrusion screw can gradually move away from the screw removal mechanism and extend from the sleeve in a direction relative to the drive shaft. The food puffing device as described in claim 1, wherein the screw removal mechanism further comprises: an axial screw, located in the through-channel and extending out of the through-channel from one end of the drive shaft opposite to the sleeve, wherein the second threaded portion is located at one end of the axial screw; and a handle, located outside the through-channel and fixed to the other end of the axial screw, for rotating the axial screw. A food puffing device as described in claim 2, wherein the handle comprises a connecting portion, a lever and a fixing bolt, wherein the other end of the axial screw is inserted into the connecting portion, and the fixing bolt passes through the connecting portion, the axial screw located in the connecting portion, and connects the end of the lever, wherein the long axis direction of the lever is orthogonal to the long axis direction of the axial screw, and is coaxial with the long axis direction of the fixing bolt. The food puffing device as described in claim 2, wherein the first threaded portion comprises a screw hole and an internal thread, the screw hole is recessed in one end surface of the extrusion screw, and the internal thread is formed on the inner wall of the screw hole; and the second threaded portion comprises a column and an external thread, the column is located in the through-channel and is coaxially connected to one end of the axial screw, and the external thread is formed on the surface of the column and is threadedly engaged with the internal thread of the first threaded portion. As described in claim 2, the food puffing device further comprises a limit portion in the driving shaft, the limit portion being located in the through-channel to interfere with the screw removal mechanism so that the screw removal mechanism cannot be pulled out of the driving shaft. The food puffing device as described in claim 5, wherein the screw removal mechanism further comprises: an annular body, sleeved on the axial screw, connected to and surrounding the axial screw, wherein the limiting portion is a receiving groove connected to the through-channel, the diameter of the receiving groove is larger than the diameter of the through-channel, and the receiving groove receives the annular body, and the inner wall of the receiving groove abuts against the annular body to limit the annular body from the drive shaft and the through-channel. The food puffing device as described in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft has a connecting gear, the connecting gear surrounds and is fixedly connected to the drive shaft, and is connected to the drive motor. A food expansion device as described in claim 1, wherein the extrusion screw comprises: a screw body rotatably disposed in the sleeve; and a first thread formed on the screw body, wherein the first thread has the same or different pitches. The food puffing device as described in claim 8, wherein the extrusion screw further comprises: at least one extrusion rib connecting the screw body and the first thread, wherein the long axis direction of the extrusion rib is parallel to the long axis direction of the screw body. A food expansion device as described in claim 8, wherein the sleeve comprises: a cylindrical body fixed in the base assembly, the cylindrical body having an extrusion chamber for accommodating the extrusion screw; and a second thread formed on the inner wall of the extrusion chamber and facing the first thread, wherein the second thread has the same or different pitch.

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