Patent Publication Number: US-11397050-B2

Title: Softgel drying machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority benefit from China Patent Application No. 201910374329.7, filed on May 7, 2019 in the State Intellectual Property Office of the P.R.C, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application is related to the field of drying machine, and more specifically, to softgel drying machine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is necessary to use an air-drying system with a tumbler to air-dry the softgel when manufacturing a softgel. However, current softgel drying machine are all single in-line, limiting softgels production throughput. In addition, during high volume production, populating the softgels inside the holding tumbler may increase the tendency for the softgel to bombard inside the tumbler. As such, the softgels are easily to be broken, increasing the chance for the softgels to stick together, and/or hindering the aesthetic of the softgel finish product. Therefore, it is not conducive either for fine production or for resource conservation. 
     Evidently, a need remains for a softgel drying machine to provide a multi-line for more efficient, faster production, and reduction in product defect for high volume production. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application discloses a softgel a multi-line drying machine to provide faster and more efficient softgel drying. 
     The softgel drying machine comprises a casing, a plurality of first tumblers, a plurality of second tumblers, a pneumatic conveying device and an air-drying system. 
     The casing comprises an air generation chamber and an air circulation chamber, wherein the air circulation chamber comprises a first circulation chamber and a second circulation chamber, at least one tumbler is located at the first circulation chamber, at least one second tumbler is located at the second circulation chamber, totaling of four tumbler per unit. The first drying chamber comprises a first air inlet and a first air outlet, the second drying chamber comprises a second air inlet and a second air outlet. 
     The plurality of first tumblers is disposed for reversing softgels, wherein the plurality of first tumblers is located at the first circulation chamber. 
     The plurality of second tumblers is disposed for reversing softgels, wherein the plurality of second tumblers is located at the second circulation chamber. 
     The pneumatic conveying device is coupled to the air circulation chamber. 
     The air-drying system is located at the air generation chamber and comprises a blower fan, an air return duct and an air supply port. The blower fan is coupled to the air circulation chamber. The air return duct is coupled to the blower fan. The air supply port is coupled to the first air inlet and the second air inlet. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, wherein the softgel drying machine comprises a pair of the first tumblers and a pair of the second tumblers. The air circulation chamber comprises a pair of the first drying chambers and a pair of the second drying chambers, wherein one of the first tumbler is located at one of the first drying chamber correspondingly, and one of the second tumbler is located at one of the second drying chamber correspondingly. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, wherein the air circulation chamber further comprises an empty chamber located between the first circulation chamber and the second circulation chamber. One side surface of the first drying chamber close to the empty chamber is a semi-cylindrical surface. The first air inlet is located at a lower side of the semi-cylindrical surface of the first drying chamber, and the first air outlet is located at an upper side of the semi-cylindrical surface of the first drying chamber. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, wherein the air circulation chamber further comprises an empty chamber located between the first circulation chamber and the second circulation chamber. One side surface of the first drying chamber close to the empty chamber is a semi-cylindrical surface. One side surface of the second drying chamber close to the empty chamber is a semi-cylindrical surface. The second air inlet is located at a lower side of the semi-cylindrical surface of the second drying chamber, and the second air outlet is located at an upper side of the semi-cylindrical surface of the second drying chamber. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, wherein the first tumblers in the first circulation chamber is coaxially disposed. The second tumblers in the second circulation chamber is coaxially disposed as well. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, wherein each of the first tumbler comprises a first tumbler inlet, and each of the second tumbler comprises a second tumbler inlet. The pneumatic conveying device comprises a first conveying pipe and a second conveying pipe, the first conveying pipe is coupled to the first tumblers by passing through the first tumbler inlets, and the second conveying pipe is coupled to the second tumblers by passing through the second tumbler inlets. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the softgel drying machine further comprises a cold air supply duct and an air supply duct. The cold air supply duct is located at the air circulation chamber, the cold air supply duct is coupled to the first air supply opening and the second air supply opening. An installation direction of the cold air supply duct is the same as an axial direction of the first tumblers and the second tumblers. The air supply duct is coupled to the cold air supply duct and the air supply port of the air-drying system. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, wherein the air-drying system further comprises an evaporator coupled to the air supply port. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, wherein the air-drying system further comprises a dehumidification module coupled to the air supply port. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the soft gel drying machine further comprises a first tumbler motor coupled to the plurality of first tumblers. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the soft gel drying machine further comprises a second tumbler motor coupled to the plurality of second tumblers. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, wherein each of the first tumbler comprises a first tumbler body and a first tumbler mesh located at the tumbler body, and each of the second tumbler comprises a second tumbler body and a second tumbler mesh located at the second tumbler body. 
     Based on the above, the softgel drying machine of the present application allows the user to dry softgels faster. In addition, the coaxial layout of the first tumblers and the second tumblers may also increase the efficiency when manufacturing since the pneumatic conveying device may convey the softgels at a same production line. 
     Furthermore, the empty chamber decreases the air moving space, making the air to pass through the air outlet faster and thus improve the overall efficiency. Moreover, the resource can be saved since one pneumatic conveying device can be shared with two rows of tumblers. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the present application will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of disclosed embodiments, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects, features and advantages of the present application will be more readily appreciated upon reference to the following disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify identical components in the various views, and wherein reference numerals with alphabetic characters are utilized to identify additional types, instantiations or variations of a selected component embodiment in the various views, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view showing a softgel drying machine of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  is a view showing the softgel drying machine of the present application with part of a casing, surface of drying chambers and air return ducts being removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of the softgel drying machine of the present application along line  FIG. 3 - FIG. 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view showing the softgel drying machine of the present application with part of the casing, the surface of the drying chambers and the air return ducts being removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present representative embodiments of the present application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a top view showing a softgel drying machine of the present application.  FIG. 2  is a view showing the softgel drying machine of the present application with part of a casing  100 , surface of drying chambers  122 / 123 / 125 / 126  and air return ducts  520  being removed. 
     The softgel drying machine of the present application comprises a casing  100 , a plurality of first tumblers  200 , a plurality of second tumblers  300 , a pneumatic conveying device  400 , an air-drying system  500 , a cold air supply duct  600  (referring to  FIGS. 3-4 ), a first tumbler motor  700  (referring to  FIG. 3 ), a second tumbler motor  800  (referring to  FIG. 3 ) and a sealing partition (referring to  FIG. 4 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the casing  100  comprises an air generation chamber  110  and an air circulation chamber  120 . The air generation chamber  110  is located at lower side compared to the air circulation chamber  120  in the present application only as an example. The air-drying system  700  is located at the air generation chamber  110 . 
     The air circulation chamber  120  comprises a first circulation chamber  121  and a second circulation chamber  124 . The first circulation chamber  121  is located next to and parallel to the second circulation chamber  124 . The first circulation chamber  121  comprises at least one first drying chamber  122 / 123  and the second circulation chamber  124  comprises at least one second drying chamber  125 / 126 . In the present application, there are two first drying chambers  122 / 123  connected end to end and two second drying chambers  125 / 126  connected end to end as an example. As such, there are four drying chambers  122 / 123 / 125 / 126  in the softgel drying machine of the present application. In addition, the first drying chamber  122  and the first drying chamber  123  are independent and the second drying chamber  125  and the second drying chamber  126  are air independent as an example. However, the present application is not limited thereto, the first drying chambers  122 / 123  at the first circulation chamber  121  and the second drying chambers  125 / 126  at the second circulation chamber  124  may be mutually independent, and may also be connected to each other. In the present application, the first drying chambers  122 / 123  and the second drying chambers  125 / 126  are mutually independent, which is advantageous for independent operation of different tumblers  200 / 300 . 
     As such, one of the first tumbler  200  is located at the first drying chamber  122  while another one of the first tumbler  200  is located at the first drying chamber  123 . Similarly, one of the second tumbler  300  is located at the second drying chamber  125  while another one of the second tumbler  300  is located at the second drying chamber  126 . 
     The two first tumblers  200  in the first circulation chamber  121  are coaxially disposed in the corresponding drying chambers  122 / 123 . The two second tumblers  300  in the second circulation chamber  124  are coaxially disposed in the corresponding drying chambers  125 / 126 . The coaxially structure is more beneficial for the pneumatic conveying device  400  to convey the softgels. However, it should be noted that the first tumblers  200  and the second tumblers  300  can be set in any direction and any position, as long as the softgels can be dried. 
     The first tumbler  200  and the second tumbler  300  are the same in the present application as an example. However, the shape, size or overall structure etc. may be different as long as the tumblers can dry the softgels. The following description utilizes the first tumbler  200  as an example. The related description can be applied to the second tumblers  300  as well. 
     The tumbler  200  comprises a tumbler body  210  and a tumbler mesh  220 . The tumbler mesh  220  is located at the tumbler body  210 . Specifically, an opening is located at the tumbler body  210  while the tumbler mesh  220  covers the opening. As such, the air may flow in and out the tumbler  200  via the tumbler mesh  220  without dropping out. The first tumbler  200  comprises a first tumbler inlet  210  and the first tumbler outlet  220 . The first tumbler inlet  210  and the first tumbler outlet  220  are located at the center of the corresponding sides of the first tumbler  200 . The second tumbler  300  comprises a second tumbler inlet  310  and the second tumbler outlet  320 . The second tumbler inlet  310  and the second tumbler outlet  320  are located at the center of the corresponding sides of the second tumbler  300 . The above structure is better to facilitate feeding the softgels into the tumblers  200 / 300 . 
     The pneumatic conveying device  400  is communicated with the air circulation chamber  120  for conveying softgels. Specifically, the pneumatic conveying device  400  comprises a first conveying pipe  410  and a second conveying pipe  420 . The first conveying pipe  410  is coupled to the first tumblers  200  via passing through the first tumbler inlets  210 . The second conveying pipe  420  is coupled to the second tumblers  300  via passing through the second tumbler inlets  310 . 
     The pneumatic conveying device  400  of the present application can be any type of device, such as a common conveyor belt motor, a numerical control motor, etc., as long as the softgels can be conveyed into the first tumblers  200  and the second tumblers  300 . In the present application as an example, the pneumatic conveying device  400  use a pneumatic control divider to switch the divider from side to side at a set time interval to divert flow of the product between the first two tumblers, which is more conducive to distribute the softgels evenly between the first two tumblers. In comparing to a single line dryer, this multi-line dryer divides the softgel into two tumbler allowing more space softgel to move, less bombardment, easier for air to flow to dry the softgel and thereby improving the production efficiency, product through put with less defect. 
     It should be noted that the transportation of the softgels may be in any manner. The softgel drying machine of the present application utilizes the form of a transport pipe. The softgels are blown into the tumblers  200 / 300  by the pneumatic conveying device  400  through the transport pipe to prevent the softgels from adhering to the transport pipe. 
     Initially, the pneumatic conveying device  400  conveyed the softgel into one of the first tumbler  200 . The first tumbler  200  is driven by a first tumbler motor  700  (referring to  FIG. 3 ) and rotate constantly during each drying stage. When the softgels are ready to be unloaded, the first tumblers  200  will rotate in reverse conveying the softgel to the another first tumbler  200  in the series. The same concept can be utilized for the second tumblers  300 . It should be noted that multiple softgel drying machine can be connected to each other for additional tumblers if need. In this case, each drying chamber  122 / 123 / 125 / 126  is connected to a build-in air-drying system that continuous recirculate high velocity dried cold air inside the drying chamber  200  and the tumbler  500  to dry the softgel. 
     The present application is not limited in the amount of the softgel drying machine units connecting together. That is to say, the third, fourth etc. of the softgel drying machine may also be utilized if necessary, depending on production demand 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of the softgel drying machine of the present application along line  FIG. 3 - FIG. 3  in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a front view showing the softgel drying machine of the present application with part of the casing  100 , the surface of the drying chambers  122 / 123 / 125 / 126  and the air return ducts  520  being removed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the empty chamber  127  is disposed between the first circulation chamber  121  and the second circulation chamber  125 . One side surface of the first drying chamber  122  close to the empty chamber  127  is a semi-cylindrical surface. In addition, an upper side of the semi-cylindrical surface of the first drying chamber  122  is provided with a first air outlet  122   a  for discharging return air in the first drying chamber  122 . A lower side of the semi-cylindrical surface of the first drying chamber  122  is provided with a first air inlet  122   b  for inputting dry cold air. The above structure can be applied to the first drying chamber  123  (referring to  FIG. 1 ). 
     Similarly, one side surface of the second drying chamber  125  close to the empty chamber  127  is a semi-cylindrical surface. In addition, an upper side of the semi-cylindrical surface of the second drying chamber  125  is provided with a second air outlet  125   a  for discharging return air in the second drying chamber  125 . A lower side of the semi-cylindrical surface of the second drying chamber  125  is provided with a second air inlet  125   b  for inputting dry cold air. The above structure can be applied to the second drying chamber  126  (referring to  FIG. 1 ). 
     It can be understood that one side of the drying chambers  122 / 123 / 125 / 126  close to the empty chamber  127  may be a surface of any shape, such as a square shape or a circular arc shape. In the present application as an example, the drying chambers  122 / 123 / 125 / 126  comprises a semi-cylindrical surface, which can be consistent with the tumblers  200 / 300 , and is more convenient for equipment installation and maintenance. 
     It should be noted that the number of the first air outlet, the first air inlet, the second air outlet and the second air inlet may be any number, and may be adjusted according to the actual demands for the cold air. 
     In addition, it should be noted that the arrangement positions of the first air inlet, the first air outlet, the second air inlet and the second air outlet may be located at any position. In the present application as an example, the first air inlet  122   b  and the second air inlet  125   b  are disposed on the lower side, and the first air outlet  122   a  and the second air outlet  125   a  are disposed on the upper side, which is more favorable for the input and discharge of cold air and hot air since the air generation chamber  110  is located at the lower side compared to the air circulation chamber  120 . 
     The first air inlet  122   b  and the second air inlet  125   b  in the present application are connected to each other via the cold air supply duct  600  for increasing the efficiency. However, the present application is not limited thereto as long as the cold air can be supplied to the first drying chambers  122 / 123  and the second drying chambers  125 / 126 . The detail of the cold air supply duct  600  will be described later with  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , the air-drying system  500  comprises at least one drying fan  510 , at least one air return duct  520 , at least one air return port  530 , a dehumidification module  540 , at least one evaporator  550 , at least one air supply port  560 , at least one air supply duct  570  and at least one air supply central duct  580 . 
     Since the softgel drying machine comprises two air circulation chamber  121 / 124 , the air-drying system  500  may comprise a pair of related components for drying and supplying the air. Specifically, the air-drying system  500  comprises a pair of drying fan  510 , a pair of air return duct  520 , a pair of air return port  530 , a pair of evaporator  550 , a pair of air supply port  560  and a pair of air supply duct  570 . However, the present application is not limited thereto, the air-drying system  500  may comprise only one drying fan  510 , one air return duct  520 , one air return port  530 , one evaporator  500 , one air supply port  560  and one air supply duct  570  as long as the air can be cooled. 
     The blower fanblower fans  510  are utilized for driving the return air to blow to the air return ports  530  through the air return ducts  520 . 
     The dehumidification module  540  is utilized for dehumidifying the return air. It should be noted that a filler in the dehumidification module  540  can be any material, as long as drying can be implemented. The dehumidification module  540  of the present application utilizes active silica gel as the filler, which has better drying effects, as an example. 
     The evaporators  550  are utilized for refrigerating the supply air. It should be noted that a common air-drying system usually has a surface cooler installed separately behind the air return port  530  and the dehumidification module  540  for refrigerating. However, since there is still a distance between the air supply port  560  and the surface cooler, it is easy to cause the temperature of the cold air temperature to change and the cold air with optimum temperature cannot be outputted. Therefore, the present application provides evaporators  550  within the air generation chamber  110  and near the air supply ports  560  to improve the quality of the cold air. 
     Finally, the cold air may pass the air supply ports  560  and the air supply ducts  570  to the air circulation chamber  120  via the air supply central duct  580 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the cold air supply duct  600  is utilized for conveying the dry cold air. The first air inlet  122   b  and the second air inlet  125   b  are communicated with the cold air supply duct  600 . In addition, the air supply ports  560  are communicated with the cold air supply duct  600  through the air supply ducts  570  and the air supply central duct  580 . An installation direction of the cold air supply duct  600  is the same as an axial direction of the tumblers  200 / 300 . 
     It can be understood that the cold air supply duct  600  is a strip-shaped duct disposed along the transport direction of the softgels. In order to increase the amount of cold air, a plurality of air outlets may be disposed in the cold air supply duct  600  corresponding to the first air inlet  122   b  and the second air inlet  125   b . The specific number can be adjusted according to actual production needs. 
     It can be understood that the number of the cold air supply duct  600  can be any number. The softgel drying machine of the present application comprises only one cold air supply duct  600  as an example. 
     The first tumbler motor  700  is coupled to the first tumblers  200 . The second tumbler motor  800  is coupled to the second tumblers  300 . The tumbler motors  700 / 800  are utilized for driving the corresponding tumblers  200 / 300 . The first tumbler motor  700  is shared by two first tumblers  200  and the second tumbler motor  800  is shared by two second tumblers  300  as an example. However, the multiple first tumbler motor  700  and the multiple second tumbler motor  800  can be set up as well. The present application is not limited in the amount of the tumbler motor. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the air generation chamber  110  and the air circulation chamber  120  may be communicated to each other or may be sealed. In the present application as an example, the sealing partition  900  is utilized to separate the air generation chamber  110  and the air circulation chamber  120  so as to ensure the airtightness in the air circulation chamber  120 . 
     The sealing partition  900  is provided with an opening for communicating the air supply ducts  570 . The air supply ducts  570  are penetrated through the sealing partition  900  and are communicated with the cold air supply duct  600 . Airtighted connection is kept at a connected portion between the air supply ducts  570  and the sealing partition  900 . 
     Based on the above, the softgel drying machine of the present application allows the user to dry multi-categories of softgels via providing double-row tumblers as the first tumblers and the second tumblers. In addition, the coaxial layout of the first tumblers and the second tumblers may also increase the efficiency when manufacturing since the pneumatic conveying device may convey the softgels at a same production line. 
     Furthermore, the empty chamber decreases the air moving space, making the air to pass through the air outlet faster and thus improve the overall efficiency. Moreover, the resource can be saved since one pneumatic conveying device can be shared with two rows of tumblers. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present application without departing from the scope or spirit of the present application. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present application cover modifications and variations of this application provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.