JP2000283649A - Method and apparatus for drying and heating tea leaf - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively dry as desired to spread hot air without unevenness by erecting an outer case at a wall member of a burning material in a tee leaf container, forming a plurality of stages of tea leaf placing shelves in the case, and providing an exhaust gas regulating member in an upper portion of the case. SOLUTION: A tea leaf container 2 has a flowing means 15 for forming a placing shelf 14 of tea leaves by standing an outer case 13 at a wall member 3a of a burning material 1 so as to become a plurality of stages in the case 13, and an exhaust means 13. The case 13 of them is formed substantially in the same box shape as the material 1. An exhaust regulating member 19 of an exhaust means 16 is provided in an upper portion of the case 13. Many exhaust ports 20 are perforated at a top of the case 13 in the member 19. The ports 20 are closed or opened by a slidably operating member to exhaust hot air fully filled in the case 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for drying and burning tea leaves which have undergone a certain tea-making process and which adjust the water content and flavor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the production of green tea and the like, tea leaves after the fine rubbing process are put into a dryer and have a moisture content of 4 to 5%.
The moisture is adjusted to a degree. This dryer is a shelf type, a transfer type,
The body rotation type and the like are known, and among them, the shelf-type dryer puts a number of shelves containing tea leaves in a drying room,
By forcibly blowing air from below with a hot air generator such as a burner and forcibly exhausting air from an upper air blower, drying time can be reduced and mass production can be achieved.

[0003] However, in this dryer, the tea leaves on the lowermost shelf are still exposed to a high temperature with a high water content. Does not proceed smoothly, resulting in poor drying or discoloration of appearance, resulting in poor finish. In addition, due to forced air supply and exhaustion of hot air, tea leaves come into contact with a lot of air and become over-oxygenated, deteriorating the quality of the tea leaves. It often escapes and passes, so that it is difficult for the hot air to uniformly flow through the entire surface of the tea leaves on all shelves, and drying unevenness is likely to occur. In addition, due to processing that emphasizes the finished color, fragrance could not be sufficiently output.

[0004] The above-mentioned feeding type dryer puts tea leaves on a wire mesh belt or an endless track conveyor which is adjusted endlessly in a drying chamber, and forcibly sends hot air and upper part while moving the tea leaves. It is dried by forced exhaust from, but a large space is required to arrange the conveyor in the drying room, so the hot air permeable space becomes large, a large amount of hot air is required, and the above-mentioned shelf type In the same manner as described above, deterioration of tea leaf quality and uneven drying are caused.

[0005] Further, the rotary drum type dryer heats a rotating horizontal cylinder containing tea leaves or supplies hot air to the inside of the cylinder to dry the tea leaves. Since it comes into contact with the cylindrical body, it may become reddish brown, damage its bud tips and bud bases, and further, it may be whitened to form powder and deteriorate its quality. Each of them has various problems, and there is a strong demand in the art for an apparatus capable of finishing tea leaves having high quality drying and good aroma.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned demands, and comprises attaching a tea leaf container provided with a tea leaf flowing means on a combustion body provided with a heat source by a charcoal fire in a frame. By performing the drying and burning of the tea leaves by direct fire by charcoal fire in the burning body, it is possible to reliably perform the desired drying evenly distributed by the hot air, and the upper layer of the tea leaf container is almost in an oxygen-free state. Tea burner and method for reproducing finished tea leaves with high quality with good color, aroma, and nourishment by reproducing fragrance of tea which is not presently possible. It is intended to provide.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a combustion apparatus comprising: a combustion body; and a tea leaf container provided above the combustion body. A frame body having an upper part opened by being surrounded by a wall member, an outside air intake port provided in the wall member of the frame body, and a heat source including charcoal provided in the frame body and a receiver for containing the charcoal. An opening / closing door provided on at least one side surface of the wall member of the frame body, wherein the tea leaf container is provided with an outer frame erected on the wall member of the combustion body, and a plurality of steps into the outer frame. The tea leaf drying and burning apparatus is provided with a flow means for forming a tea leaf mounting shelf so as to satisfy the above condition, and an exhaust means having an exhaust adjustment member provided on the outer frame.

[0008] Further, the flow means has a mounting shelf which is formed in a gas-permeable state with a large number of air holes dispersed therein, and which is formed in a non-air-permeable state without the air holes. Wherein, all stages are formed on the air-permeable mounting shelf, and at least those located at the lowermost stage in the lower stage or a plurality of stages from the lowermost stage are formed in a non-air-permeable manner without the ventilation holes. And the used shelf is selectively used.

[0009] A burning body made of a refractory member and a tea leaf container provided above the burning body are provided, and the tea leaves supplied from above the tea leaf container into the tea leaf container are sequentially flowed from above by the flow means. There is a tea leaf drying and burning method in which the tea leaves are moved downward to dry and burn the tea leaves by direct fire by charcoal fire in the combustion body.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a tea leaf drying and burning apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, A is a tea leaf drying and burning apparatus that employs the tea leaf drying and burning method of the embodiment of the present invention.
It is basically constituted by the tea leaf container 2 provided on the upper part of the burner 1.

[0011] The combustion body 1 is composed of a frame body 3 and
It consists of an outside air intake 4, a heat source 5, and an opening / closing door 6. Among these, the frame body 3 has four side faces surrounded by a fire-resistant wall member 3a made of a fire-resistant brick or a metal plate. An opening 7 is formed in the shape of a vertically long cube having a deep depth.

The above-mentioned outside air intake port 4 is provided at one or more locations below the wall member 3a of the frame body 3 and takes in combustion air from a heat source 5 described later into the frame body 3. By providing the air at a position lower than the height position where the heat source 5 is installed, the fresh air uniformly contacts the heat source 5 to generate combustion air.

The above-mentioned heat source 5 is provided in the frame 3 and comprises a ignited charcoal 8 and a receiver 9 for accommodating the charcoal 8. The receiver 9 is parallel to the vertically long frame 3. , Two sets are provided substantially over the entire length and at a predetermined interval. As shown in FIG. 1, the portion into which the charcoal 8 enters is formed in a gutter shape formed in a V-shaped cross section, and a through-hole 10 for taking in combustion air is formed in a V-shaped side plate portion. A large number of them are evenly scattered so that efficient combustion air can be supplied to all of the upper and lower charcoals 8 accommodated in the receiver 9. An enclosing member 11 is provided upright at a predetermined height in a peripheral portion of an upper edge of the portion, and is mounted on a support member 12 provided in the frame 3 so as to be able to be pulled out.

The opening / closing door 6 is provided with a wall 3a of the frame 3.
That is provided on at least one lateral side, that is, the front part, is attached in a double-opened manner, and draws out the receiver 9 of the heat source 5 out of the frame 3 to supply, take out, or clean the charcoal 8. Therefore, the outside air intake 4 may be additionally provided.

Further, the above-mentioned tea leaf container 2 comprises a combustion body 1
The frame 13 comprises an outer frame 13 erected on the wall member 3a, a flow means 15 in which a plurality of shelves 14 of tea leaves b are formed in the outer frame 13, and an exhaust means 16. Of these, the outer frame 13 is formed in a box shape having substantially the same shape as the combustion body.

The above-mentioned fluidizing means 15 performs predetermined drying and burning by hot air from the heat source 8 which rises naturally as the tea leaves b processed in the outer frame 13 flow in a meandering manner from top to bottom. As shown in FIG. 2, a series of endless conveyors are erected in a plurality of stages in the height direction, as shown in FIG. 2, or as shown in FIG. In addition to this, a plurality of stages of mounting shelves are formed in the height direction, for these mounting shelves, at a predetermined timing,
Any means can be selected as long as the mechanism has a so-called fluidity that can gradually transfer the tea leaves b from above to below.

The flow means 15 shown in FIG. 2 supports a large number of mounting shelves 14 having one end rotatably supported on a chain conveyor, and the tea leaves b are layered. When the mounting shelf 14 is engaged with the receiving guide 17, the mounting shelf 14 is maintained in a substantially horizontal state. When the mounting shelf 14 is disengaged from the receiving guide 17, it is rotated downward by its own weight to move downward. The tea leaves b are delivered to the mounting shelf 14 of the traveling conveyor. Further, the mounting shelf 14 has a large number of ventilation holes 14a scattered so as not to allow the tea leaves b to pass therethrough so as to allow good communication of hot air. A number of pieces are arranged so as to be connected at a predetermined pitch in the length direction.
An appropriate amount of transfer to the lower mounting shelf 14 is obtained.

The flow means 15 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a number of shelves 14 arranged side by side on a multi-stage chain conveyor having different transfer directions for each stage without any gap. When the placing shelf 14 on which the b is placed in a layered manner reaches the end portion, the tea leaf b falls and is transferred to the placing shelf 14 at the start end of the conveyor running below. Further, the mounting shelf 14 is provided with a large number of ventilation holes 14a scattered so that the tea leaves b do not pass therethrough so as to allow good communication of hot air. For those located at a plurality of stages from the lowermost stage, the non-air-permeable mounting shelf 14 having no vent hole 14a is selectively used in accordance with the tea leaves b to be processed.

The tea leaves b are supplied continuously or intermittently as appropriate by a hopper 18 with an openable and closable lid 18a provided on the upper part of the outer frame 13 to supply the tea leaves b to a vibration conveyor or the like provided at the lower part of the outer frame 13. It is discharged from the carrying out means 40.

The exhaust means 16 is provided above the outer frame 13 and appropriately discharges the hot air filling the outer frame 13. In discharging the hot air, an exhaust adjusting member 19 is provided.
It is performed by. This exhaust adjustment member 19
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a large number of exhaust ports 20 are formed in the top of the outer frame 13 and the exhaust ports 20 are closed or opened by a slidable operating member 21. By adjusting the opening degree of the exhaust port 20 by the operation member 21, the temperature and the flow rate in the tea leaf container 2 and the combustion chamber 1 can be obtained as desired.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, reference numeral 22 denotes a supply port of the charcoal 8 provided in the outer frame 13 of the tea leaf container 2, which is always closed by an opening / closing lid 23. Inspection of the condition of 8 and replenishment of missing charcoal 8
By providing the tea leaf container 2 at a location where outside air does not easily enter, the temperature inside the tea leaf container 2 is not reduced, and the supply of excess oxygen is prevented.

1 to 3, 24a and 24b
Is a thermometer that detects the temperature inside the tea leaf container 2, and a thermometer 24 a is provided at a low place of the outer frame 13 in the tea leaf container 2 to detect the temperature near the heat source 5, and 24
b is provided at an intermediate portion of the outer frame 13 in the tea leaf container 2 and detects the entire temperature inside the tea leaf container 2.

A predetermined open space 25 is formed between the heat source 5 of the combustion body 1 and the flowing means 15 of the tea leaf container 2 to receive a strong direct fire from the heat source 5. It is possible to create a predetermined atmospheric temperature in the space portion 25 and to naturally raise the hot air with as little uniform temperature as possible. By arranging the regulating member 26 formed in a predetermined outer shape such as a mountain shape, it is possible to rectify, circulate, or accumulate hot air from the heat source 5 to obtain a more uniform temperature, Hot air can be raised in all directions.

Accordingly, the apparatus A and the method for drying and burning tea leaves of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above have the following effects. In the outer frame 13 of the tea leaf container 2, for example, the flow means 15 is formed such that ten (eight in the figure) shelves 14 are formed in the height direction.
Is arranged.

Further, the ignited charcoal 8 is uniformly placed in the receiver 9 of the heat source 5 and accommodated in the frame 3 of the combustion body 1, and the combustion chamber 1 and the tea leaf accommodation chamber 2 are set to an appropriate temperature, for example. , 50 ° C to 90 ° C.

First, at the start of drying and burning, the flow means 15 is operated so as to run at a predetermined speed, and the upper part of the outer frame 13 is placed on the mounting shelf 14 of the flow means 15 located at the uppermost stage. The tea leaves b are stored in layers on the mounting shelf 14 by feeding them in appropriate amounts from a hopper 18 provided in the storage shelf 14 by a transfer conveyor (not shown).

In this state, the hot air generated by the charcoal 8 of the heat source 5 naturally rises, hits the bottom surface of the mounting shelf 14 of each stage in the flowing means 15 and penetrates the mounting shelf 14 in all directions and flows in the flowing direction. The hot air gradually ascends upwards and naturally rises while meandering and flowing to the center and all corners of the outer frame 13 upward.

In this way, when the tea leaves b put into the uppermost mounting shelf 14 are separated from the receiving guide 17 as the flowing means 15 travels, the tea leaves b are dropped by a fixed amount on the immediately lower mounting shelf 14. It is inserted and transferred. When this falls,
The tea leaves b are given an operation of being agitated and loosened, and the heated portion of the surface layer and the unheated portion of the central portion are mixed,
Uniform heating is applied to the entire layer, and a predetermined drying process is performed in a substantially oxygen-free state by the hot air that has passed through the ventilation holes 14a and the hot air at the outer peripheral portion of the tea leaf layer and the far infrared rays emitted from the charcoal 8. The flow means 15
Is transported to the lower stage as the vehicle travels.

At this time, when the temperature inside the tea leaf container 2 is different from the predetermined temperature, that is, when the temperature is high, the exhaust adjusting member 1 of the exhaust means 16 provided above the tea leaf container 2 is provided.
By operating 9, hot air is discharged from the exhaust port 20 provided at the top of the outer frame 13 to lower the temperature. Further, when the temperature inside the tea leaf container 2 becomes low, the temperature inside the tea leaf container 2 is increased by supplying charcoal 8 to the receiver 9 from the supply port 22 provided in the outer frame 13.

Thus, after a certain heating time has elapsed,
The tea leaves b initially supplied to the mounting shelf 14 near the lowermost stage reach, and the initial tea leaves b having a high water content transferred to the vicinity thereof have the green color of the tea leaves b without burning the surface thereof. While maintaining the condition, the water content is gradually removed from the center at the beginning of the charging and the water content is gradually removed from the center thereof, and the drying proceeds satisfactorily. In the part, since the heat generated by the heat source 5 in the combustion body 1 gradually increases, the tea leaves b are subjected to a burning process and are flavored,
The water content is adjusted to about 4 to 5%.

When the fluidizing means 15 shown in FIG. 3 is used, drying and burning are carried out while being sequentially transferred from the upper part to the lower part as in the above-described embodiment. Alternatively, if the mounting shelves 14 located at a plurality of stages from the lowermost stage are formed in a non-air permeable shape having no vent hole 14a, the heat generated by the heat source 5 in the combustion body 1 gradually increases at this heated portion. Therefore, the tea leaves b are subjected to a burning process to give a scent.

At this time, the non-air-permeable mounting shelf 14 is made to correspond to the lowermost portion or a plurality of stages from the lowermost portion, so that the ventilation holes 14a in the air-permeable mounting shelf 14 of the upper conveyor.
From the tea leaves b is received by the non-air-permeable mounting shelf 14 and is not dropped to the heat source 5, so that the burning odor caused by the scorching of the tea leaves b is determined during the product or processing. Does not adhere to tea leaves b.

[0033]

According to the present invention constructed as described above, since the drying proceeds in the step of gradually moving downward from the tea leaves of the uppermost fluidizing means, the tea leaves may be exposed to high temperatures when the water content is high. No discoloration of the appearance is suppressed, and the core water of the tea leaves is removed, and the drying of the core water proceeds smoothly, a good dry state is obtained and the tea leaves of high quality are processed. . In addition, since hot air is naturally sent and exhausted by a direct fire method using a charcoal fire, there is no interference of excessive air even with tea leaves, and the deterioration of quality resulting in a hyperoxic state is suppressed, and the mounting shelf is placed on the shelf. Hot air is uniformly applied to the entire surface of the tea leaves, and drying unevenness does not occur. And so on.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional front view showing an embodiment of a tea leaf drying and burning apparatus employing a tea leaf drying and burning method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view showing another example of the flow means of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A tea leaf drying and burning device b tea leaf 1 burner 2 tea leaf container 3 frame 3a wall member 4 outside air intake 5 heat source 6 door 8 charcoal 9 receiver 13 outer frame 14 mounting shelf 15 flowing means 16 exhaust means 19 exhaust adjustment Element

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A frame comprising a combustion body and a tea leaf container provided on an upper portion of the combustion body, wherein the combustion body has four side surfaces surrounded by wall members and an upper portion opened, An external air intake provided in a wall member of the body, and a heat source provided in the frame and including a charcoal and a receiver that stores the charcoal; and the tea leaf container is erected on a wall member of the combustion body. And a flow means in which tea leaf mounting shelves are formed so as to form a plurality of stages in the outer frame, and an exhaust means having an exhaust adjusting member provided above the outer frame. A tea leaf drying and burning apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The flow means has a mounting shelf in which a plurality of ventilation holes are scattered and formed in an air-permeable state, and the mounting shelf is formed in a non-air-permeable state without the ventilation holes. Wherein, all stages are formed on the air-permeable mounting shelf, and at least those located at the lowermost stage in the lower stage or a plurality of stages from the lowermost stage are formed in a non-air-permeable manner without the ventilation holes. The tea leaf drying and burning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage shelf is selectively used. 3. A burning body made of a refractory member, and a tea leaf container provided on an upper portion of the burning body. Tea leaves supplied from above the tea leaf container into the tea leaf container are sequentially flowed from above by a flow means. A method for drying and burning tea leaves, wherein the tea leaves are moved downward to dry and burn tea leaves by direct fire by charcoal fire in the combustion body.