JP2001211830A - Rubbing and drying machine for green tea manufacturing and spatula used thereor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide both a new rubbing and drying machine for green tea manufacture capable of responding to a need not requiring formation of tea leaves into a needle bar state as minutely as a tea manufacturing process by a conventional fine rubbing machine and supplying green tea having a refreshing flavor and not steamed and a spatula used therefor. SOLUTION: Tea leaves are finely rubbed by rolling hands 7 driven to be rotated. Spatulas 72 at the tips of the rubbing hands are obtained by connecting spatula elements 73 divided into several parts in the lengthwise direction in a foldable and bendable manner and each spatula element 73 is independently urged to a rubbing plate 4 side by each separate urging member 71. The spatulas 72 are wavy when seen from the side and have three or more projected parts close to the rubbing plate 4 side. Further the action range of one spatula 72 occupys >=80 deg. when seen from the side of the rubbing plate 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tea-making / drying machine suitable for performing a fine-rubbing step for further twisting processed tea leaves having undergone a middle-rubbing step, and a spatula used for the same.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, tea leaves which have been subjected to a middle rubbing process by a middle rubbing machine are finished in a sencha style by a fine rubbing machine, or are dried by a re-dryer and a dryer without a fine rubbing process to be finished in a Yongkong tea style. There were two ways. Among these, when using a fine massager, there are also other purposes, such as raising the flavor, but the main purpose is mainly to shape the needle bar-shaped tea leaves unique to sencha.

[0003] In recent years, however, the demand for tea leaves has become diversified. For example, in the case of tea drinks and foodstuffs in cans, and in the case of young people who are not particular about the shape of tea leaves, as described above. There is an increasing number of cases where it is not necessary to shape the tea leaves into a unique needle-bar shape. Also, from the taste point of view, there is a tendency that the number of consumers who prefer clean and unsteamed tea is increasing.

[0004]

[Technical Problems Attempted to Be Developed] The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and responds to the need not to be required to shape tea leaves into a needle bar as carefully as before, and the taste is not stuffy. This is an attempt to develop a new tea making and drying machine capable of providing tea and a spatula used for the same.

[0005]

The tea-making and drying machine according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a teaket which is rotatably driven in a fixed kneading drum, and presses the tea leaves onto a kneading machine while heating the tea leaves. And processing tea leaves including at least a fine rubbing step. According to the present invention, compared to a conventional massaging machine in which a massaging plate swings and performs a massaging, the tea is not squeezed strongly, so that a tea having a good color, a clear taste, and not stuffy can be obtained. Therefore, when it is provided as a canned tea drink or as an ingredient, it is suitable for, for example, young people who are not particular about the shape of processed tea leaves. Further, since the structure is simpler than that of the conventional fine massaging machine, it can be manufactured at low cost.

Further, in addition to the above requirements, the tea making and drying machine according to claim 2 is characterized in that the spatula at the tip of the massager is formed by connecting a spatula element divided into several pieces in the longitudinal direction so as to be freely bent. Each of the spatula elements is independently urged toward the kneading machine side by a separate urging member. According to the present invention, the spatula is divided into several spatula elements, each of which is independently urged toward the kneading machine, so that any part of the spatula is properly biased and the tip of the spatula rises substantially. There is no possibility that the part is not twisted.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above requirements, in addition to the above requirements, the spatula of the massager is wavy as viewed from the side, and the convex portion approaching the massager side has three protrusions. It is characterized by having more than two places. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can catch in more tea leaves in the recessed part between the convex parts of a spatula, catching more tea leaves.

[0008] Further, in addition to the above requirements, the tea brewing and drying machine according to claim 4 is characterized in that the working range of one spatula of the rubber occupies 80 ° or more when viewed from the side of the rubbing machine. It is characterized by the following. According to this invention, since the distance from when the tea leaves are caught by the spatula to when they are separated is long, the shaping is moderately performed.

Further, in addition to the above requirements, the tea making and drying machine according to claim 5 is characterized in that the rotating shaft to which the massager is fixedly attached is provided so as to be able to approach and separate from the massager. Things. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the distance between a spatula and a kneading machine can be adjusted according to the shaping condition of a tea leaf.

Further, in addition to the above requirements, the tea making and drying machine according to claim 6 is characterized in that, when the tea leaves are heated, hot air is blown into the kneading drum and the kneading machine is heated. It is a feature. According to this invention, since the heating is performed by the hot air and the rubbing machine, the drying can be performed evenly and evenly.

Further, in addition to the above requirements, the tea making and drying machine according to claim 7 is characterized in that the spatula of the massager has elasticity. According to the present invention, a soft twist is performed without damaging the tea leaves, as if by a human hand.

Further, in addition to the above requirements, the tea making and drying machine according to claim 8 is characterized in that an anti-slip cover is provided on the surface of the spatula of the massager.
According to the present invention, at the stage of the fine rubbing process, the tea leaves are quite dry and are slippery when stuffed in. However, the spatula cover prevents the spatula from slipping.

[0013] Furthermore, in addition to the above requirements, the tea making and drying machine according to claim 9 is characterized in that the massager is driven to rotate in one direction or in both forward and reverse directions. According to the present invention, particularly in the case of rotationally driving in both the forward and reverse directions, a proper shaping is performed by appropriately rotating in the reverse direction to insert the tea leaves.

Further, in the spatula used in the tea-making and drying machine according to claim 10, the tea leaves are placed on a rubbing machine, and the tea leaves are wrapped while being heated on the rubbing machine by a rotary-driven rubbing machine. In the spatula in the massager of the tea making and drying machine that performs the drying and kneading of the processed tea leaves, the spatula is configured such that a spatula element divided into several pieces in the longitudinal direction is bendably connected, and each spatula element is , And are independently biased toward the kneading machine. According to the invention,
The spatula is divided into several spatula elements, each of which is urged independently to the kneading machine side, so that any part of the spatula is properly biased and the tip of the spatula rises and is substantially trapped at that point Is not done.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a tea making and drying machine according to the present invention and a spatula used for the same will be described based on the illustrated embodiment. What is indicated by reference numeral 1 in the drawing is a tea making and drying machine according to the present invention, which is used in the fine rubbing step of further shaping the tea leaves after the middle rubbing step of sencha and further shaping the tea leaves in the present embodiment. is there. Therefore, in the present embodiment, specifically, the tea making and drying machine 1 according to the present invention is used in place of the conventional fine and crushing machine using the swinging type crushing and pressing machine.
Can be replaced by a middle massage machine (a device having a massager that is rotationally driven in a rotationally driven massage drum) after a green tea production line. Specifically, as in the present embodiment,
In addition to the case where it is used in place of the fine rubbing machine alone, there is a case where it is used in place of the middle rubbing machine and the fine rubbing machine, the case where it is used in place of the fine rubbing machine and the dryer, and the case where it is used in place of the medium rubbing machine, the fine rubbing machine and the dryer. That is, according to the tea making and drying machine according to the present invention,
At least a fine rubbing step of shaping the tea leaves into a needle bar shape is performed, and in addition to this fine rubbing step, the latter half of the middle rubbing step and the drying step can be covered as appropriate.

The tea-making / drying machine 1 has a metal frame stretched on the side of a machine frame 2 constructed in a rectangular frame shape to form a massaging drum 3, and a semi-cylindrical massaging machine 4 is provided at a lower portion. Is provided. An upper door 3a formed of a wire mesh is provided on the upper surface of the massaging drum 3 so that moisture evaporates. Further, an air guide 5 for guiding hot air from a hot air generator provided outside to the inside of the massaging drum 3 is provided at an upper rear portion of the massaging drum 3.

The kneading machine 4 will be described in detail. The massaging machine 4 is formed by laminating a plurality of members, and as shown in FIG. 3, a heat insulating material 41 is provided on an upper part of an outer iron plate 40 which is bent in a semicircular shape, and heat is generated thereon by a heat transfer wire or the like. A heating sheet 42 is provided, and an inner iron plate 43 is further provided thereon. And, in the front half, a duct plate 44 made of aluminum is provided. By the way this duck board 4
Reference numeral 4 denotes a step formed in a step-like manner as in the case of an ordinary fine-milling machine, but the height of the step is set lower than that of the conventional fine-milling machine so that tea leaves do not enter between the stages. In addition, as the material of the dough plate 44, various materials other than aluminum can be used instead, and for example, a synthetic resin such as a fluororesin which hardly adheres to tea can be used instead. The rubbing disc 4 is provided with a take-out door 4a for taking out the tea leaves after the fine rubbing. In addition to the structure in which the massaging machine 4 itself generates heat, the tea leaves on the massaging machine may be heated by a burner provided with the massaging machine below.

A rotary shaft 6 is installed substantially through the center of the massaging drum 3 and is rotatably supported by bearings 8. As shown in FIG. 4, the bearing 8 is supported by a bearing block 9 that can move obliquely back and forth, and the bearing block 9 is screwed to a screw shaft 10. The screw shaft 10 is connected to a gap adjusting handle 13 via a universal joint 11 and a relay rod 12, and by rotating the gap adjusting handle 13 at this end, the bearing block 9 can be moved obliquely back and forth. The rotating shaft 6 can be moved obliquely back and forth. Note that the rotating shaft 6 is set so as to move downward as it moves forward. The movement of the rotating shaft 6 and the amount of hot air can be automatically performed by measuring the moisture value of the processed tea leaves with a sensor.

Next, the massager 7 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the massager 7 has a massager arm rod 70 fixedly attached to the rotating shaft 6, a spatula 72 rotatably attached to the free end side of the massager arm rod 70, and a spatula 72. And a biasing member 71 for adjusting the kneading pressure. As shown in FIG. 3, the spatula 72 is formed in a wavy shape as viewed from the side, and has four protrusions 72 a protruding toward the kneading machine 4 as an example. The spatula 72 is a feature of the present invention in that a spatula element 73 divided into two in the longitudinal direction is connected by a hinge 76 in a bendable node shape, and each spatula element 73 is independently biased by a biasing member 71. Powered by In the present embodiment, the spatula 72 is divided at the tip end. However, various embodiments can be adopted, such as dividing around the center of the spatula 72 or dividing into three spatula elements 73. Further, the urging member 71 is specifically,
A sliding rod 71A is slidably locked to a mounting arm 78 attached to the massaging arm rod 70, and the distal end of the sliding rod 71A is rotatably connected to a spatula 72, and the compression coil spring 71B is used to rotate the sliding rod 71A. The sliding rod 71A is held. The massagers 7 as described above are attached as a pair as an example, and the interval between the spats 72 of the pair of massagers 7 is set to about 1 cm. Note that the massager 7 is provided with several massagers 7 at different angular positions of the rotating shaft 6, so that the tea leaves at the same location are rotated once by one rotation of the rotating shaft 6. May be performed.

The specific structure of the spatula 72 will be described. The spatula 72 has an elastic body 75 such as a soft urethane foam adhered to the surface side of a metal plate 74 formed in a wavy shape so as to have an elastic feeling like a human hand, and furthermore, a non-slip cover 77 made of cloth such as cotton. To prevent slipping. The width of the spatula 72 is set to be about 90 mm as an example, which is relatively wide as compared with that of a rough massage machine or the like. As a feature of the present invention, a spatula 7
The working range of 2 occupies a range of about 90 ° as viewed from the side of the massaging machine 4. The working range of the spatula 72 is about 80 °.
The above is preferred.

As described above, the tea making and drying machine 1 of the present embodiment is provided with only the massager 7 on the rotating shaft 6.
In addition, the leaves to disperse the tea leaves in the massager 3
A brush for scraping off the tea leaves stuck to the massaging disc 4 may be provided on the rotating shaft 6.

The tea brewing and drying machine of the present invention and the spatula used for the same have the above-described specific forms, and the operation thereof will be described below. First, the heating mode of the tea leaves will be described. The hot air sent from the hot air generator is sent through the air guide 5 into the kneading drum 3 to heat the tea leaves, and is also heated by the heat transfer of the heating sheet 42 of the kneading machine 4. Is done. The evaporated vapor is released from the upper door 3a of the upper wire mesh.

Next, the twisting action of the spatula 72 will be described. Since the working range of the spatula 72 occupies about 90 ° as viewed from the side of the rubbing machine 4 and is long, it is excellent in formability. In addition, the projections 72a are formed in a wavy shape and have many projections 72a.
Many tea leaves are often held in the recess 72b between them, and the shaping is moderately performed. Further, the spatula 72 is divided into the spatula elements 73 and is independently urged toward the kneading machine 4 side, so that the tip end of the spatula 72 does not separate from the kneading machine 4 and lacks in the squeezing action. The spatula 72 has elasticity, and the twisting is performed without damaging the tea leaves as if it were performed by a human hand. Further, the spatula 72 prevents the tea leaves from slipping, so that a reliable twisting can be expected.

The rotational speed of the massager 7 (rotary shaft 6) is changed in accordance with the elapsed time, and rotates at a high speed at first, and then rotates at a low speed as it is finished. Specifically, as an example, the rotation speed is changed from 28 to 18 rpm. Furthermore, it is preferable that the rotation direction of the massager 7 is not limited to one direction, and that the rotation is appropriately reversely performed for a short time in order to perform a more uniform shaping.

The position of the rotary shaft 6 is changed in accordance with the elapsed time of the rotation, and the first half of the process is as shown in FIG.
The distance between the spatula 72 and the kneading machine 4 is set to be wide as shown by the solid line, and the latter half is located diagonally downward and forward as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 4 is set short, and at the time of final finishing, it is again moved obliquely backward and wide.

The tea leaves shaped as described above are not generally needle-bar-shaped as compared with the conventional fine-milling machine, but are finished in tea leaves having a good color and a clear taste. In terms of shape, well-shaped tea leaves are shaped like a needle bar almost as well as conventional fine massagers, but those that have been somewhat roughened are mixed in as a whole. Regarding the color, when the tea leaves are mixed with a conventional fine-milling machine, the tea leaves are finished in dark green (moss green), but according to the tea-making / drying machine 1 of the present invention, the tea leaves are finished in bright green (light green).

[0027]

According to the tea making and drying machine of the first aspect, since the finely rubbing of the processed tea leaves is performed by the spatula 72 of the rotatably driven rubber 7, the oscillating type of the conventional rubbing plate is used. Compared to processing with a fine massager, tea leaves are not strongly inserted,
Tea with good color, clean taste, and not stuffy. Therefore, when it is provided as a canned tea drink or as an ingredient, it is suitable for, for example, young people who are not particular about the shape of processed tea leaves. In addition, compared to conventional fine massagers,
Since the structure is simple, it can be manufactured at low cost.

According to the tea making and drying machine of claim 2,
The spatula 72 is divided into several spatula elements 73, each of which is independently urged toward the kneading machine 4, so that any part of the spatula 72 is properly urged, and the tip of the spatula rises, substantially In that case, there is no chance that the twist will not be performed.

Further, according to the tea making and drying machine of claim 3,
The spatula 72 has a wavy shape as viewed from the side, and has three or more convex portions 72a approaching the kneading machine 4 side.
In the concave portion 72b between the convex portions 72a of the spatula 72, more tea leaves can be trapped and inserted.

Further, according to the tea making and drying machine of the fourth aspect, the working range of one spatula 72 occupies 80 ° or more when viewed from the side of the massaging machine 4, so that the spatula 72 captures the tea leaves. The distance from the end to the separation is long and the shaping is moderately performed.

Furthermore, according to the tea making and drying machine of the fifth aspect, the rotating shaft 6 is provided so as to be able to approach and separate from the kneading machine 4, so that the spatula 72 and the kneading machine 4 are adjusted according to the shaping condition of the tea leaves. You can adjust the distance between

Further, according to the tea making and drying machine of the sixth aspect, the heating of the tea leaves is carried out by blowing hot air into the kneading drum 3 and by heating the kneading plate 4. No even drying can be done.

Furthermore, according to the tea making and drying machine of the seventh aspect, since the spatula 72 has elasticity, the spatula 72 does not damage the tea leaves and can be softly wrapped as if by a human hand. Done.

Further, according to the tea making and drying machine of the eighth aspect, the anti-slip cover 77 is provided on the surface of the spatula 72, so that the tea leaves are considerably dry at the fine kneading process stage and are tightly packed. Although it is sometimes slippery, the spatula 72 prevents the spatula 72 from slipping.

Further, according to the tea making and drying machine of the ninth aspect, since the massager 7 is driven to rotate in one direction or in both forward and reverse directions, especially when the massager 7 is driven to rotate in both forward and reverse directions, By rotating in the opposite direction and twisting in the tea leaves, a well-shaped shaping is performed.

Furthermore, according to the spatula used in the tea making and drying machine according to the tenth aspect, the spatula 72 of the rotationally driven massager 7 is divided into several spatula elements 73, each of which is independently independent of the massaging machine 4. Since it is urged to the side, proper urging is performed at any portion of the spatula 72, and the tip of the spatula is not lifted up and substantially no portion is sunk.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of a tea making and drying machine of the present invention in a see-through manner.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal side view showing the structure of the spatula and the structure of the kneading machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing how the position of the rotation axis is changed by a gap adjustment handle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Tea making and drying machine 2 Machine frame 3 Massage drum 3a Upper door 4 Massager 4a Take-out door 40 Outer iron plate 41 Heat insulator 42 Heating sheet 43 Inner iron plate 44 Duc plate 5 Wind guide 6 Rotating shaft 7 Massager 70 Massager arm rod 71 Force member 71A Sliding rod 71B Compression coil spring 72 Spatula 72a Convex part 72b Concave part 73 Spatula element 74 Metal plate 75 Elastic body 76 Hinge 77 Non-slip cover 78 Mounting arm 8 Bearing 9 Bearing block 10 Screw shaft 11 Universal joint 12 Relay rod 13 Gap adjustment handle

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A tea machine comprising a massager rotatably driven in a fixed massage drum, wherein the tea leaf is pressed on a rubbing plate while heating the tea leaf to perform processing of the tea leaf including at least the fine rubbing step. Tea making and drying machine. 2. A spatula at a tip end of the massager is formed by connecting a spatula element divided into several pieces in a longitudinal direction so as to be freely bendable, and each spatula element is independently provided by a separate urging member. 2. The tea making and drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the tea making and drying machine is urged toward the kneading machine. 3. The spatula according to claim 1, wherein the spatula of the massager has a wavy shape as viewed from the side, and has three or more convex portions approaching the massager side. Tea making and drying machine. 4. The tea making and drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the working range of one spatula of the massager occupies 80 ° or more as viewed from the side of the massager. Machine. 5. The tea making and drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft to which the massager is fixedly attached is provided so as to be able to approach and separate from the massager. 6. The heating of the tea leaves is performed by blowing hot air into a kneading drum and heating the kneading machine.
The tea making and drying machine described. 7. The tea making and drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the spatula of the massager has elasticity. 8. The slipper cover is provided on the surface of the spatula of the massager.
3. The tea-making / drying machine according to 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. 9. The massager according to claim 1, wherein the massager is driven to rotate in one direction or in both forward and reverse directions.
4. The tea-making and drying machine according to 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. 10. A tea-making / drying machine which puts tea leaves on a rubbing machine, wraps the tea leaves on a rubbing machine while heating the tea leaves with a rotary drive, and dries and rubs the processed tea leaves. In the spatula in the massager, the spatula is formed by connecting a spatula element divided into several pieces in the longitudinal direction so as to be freely bent, and each spatula element is independently biased toward the massager side. A spatula for use in a tea making and drying machine characterized by the following.