JP2001224513A - Tea leaf crusher - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prolong the time from feeding and grinding of tea leaves to discharging of tea leaves from an outer peripheral side of an upper mortar and a lower mortar. SOLUTION: In a main body 16, a mortar storing recessed part 28 is formed. The upper mortar 26 and lower mortar 24 are stored in the mortar storing recessed part 28 relatively rotatable around a center shaft L and tea leaves are ground and crushed between the motors 26 and 24. In the upper mortar 26, a feeding hole 26a for feeding tea leaves in which an upper surface of the lower mortar 24 is exposed to a bottom surface is penetratingly formed at the center.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handy type tea leaf crusher for grinding and crushing tea leaves into powder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional tea leaf crusher 100 is shown in FIGS.
0, size, weight,
An AC electric motor (not shown) provided in the apparatus is operated by a commercial AC power supply of AC 100 volts or the like supplied from the outside, and a die accommodating recess formed in an upper part of the apparatus by the electric motor. Lower mill 106 side of upper mill 104 and lower mill 106 arranged in 102 rotates. The upper mill 104 is non-rotatably disposed in the mill accommodating recess 102. Then, tea leaves are supplied between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 from the input hole 108 opened at a position slightly eccentric from the center axis of the upper mill 104, and the tea leaves are supplied between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106. That is, the powder is ground and crushed into a powder, and falls on the inner bottom surface of the die accommodating recess 102.

[0003] The structure of the mortar accommodating recess 102 of the apparatus and the mounting structure of the upper mill and the lower mill into the mortar accommodating recess 102 will be described in further detail. First, the structure of the die accommodating recess 102 will be described. In the center of the inner bottom surface of the mortar accommodating recess 102,
An output shaft 110, which is driven to rotate by an electric motor and fits into the lower surface of the lower mill 106 in an uneven manner, and a leaf spring 112 which is integrally attached to the output shaft 110 and rotates. In addition, a plurality of locking portions 114 are provided on the inner wall surface of the die accommodating concave portion 102 at equal angular intervals so as to be at the same height from the bottom surface of the die accommodating concave portion 102.

Next, a connection structure between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 will be described. The upper mill 104 is made of ceramic and formed in a disk-shaped outer shape, a screw insertion hole 116 for inserting a connecting screw described later is provided on a central axis, and tea leaves are placed at a position slightly eccentric from the central axis. Is provided. An upper groove (not shown) for grinding tea leaves is formed on the lower surface of the upper mill 104. The upper mill 104 is adhered and fixed in a synthetic resin holding frame 118 formed in an inverted dish shape. Holding frame 118
An exposure hole 118a that exposes a central portion of the upper mill 104, including the screw insertion hole 116 and the insertion hole 108, is formed in a central portion of the upper die 104. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the holding frame 118, locking protrusions 118 b that engage with the locking portions 114 formed on the inner wall surface of the die accommodating concave portion 102 are provided so as to project at the same number and at equal angular intervals as the locking portions 114. ing. Exposure hole 118a of holding frame 118
Is covered with a lid member 120 formed in a disk shape using a synthetic resin. A hole 120a for a connecting screw is formed in the lid member 120.
And a hole 120b for an input hole.

[0005] The lower mill 106 is made of ceramic and has a disk-shaped outer shape. A second screw insertion hole (not shown) for inserting a connection screw, which will be described later, is arranged on the center axis. A lower groove 122 is formed to grind the surface. The connection screw 124 is formed on the second mill 106
Screw insertion hole and screw insertion hole 1 formed in upper mill 104
An external thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end, and a disk-shaped flange 124a is formed on the lower end. The output shaft 110 protruding from the inner bottom surface of the die accommodating recess 102 is provided on the lower surface of the flange 124a.
A fitting portion 124b is formed to fit the concave and convex. The connection screw 124 is formed using a synthetic resin material.
The lower mill 106 and the connection screw 124 are inserted into the second screw insertion hole from below the lower mill 106, and the upper surface of the flange 124 a of the connection screw 124 and the lower mill 106
Are bonded together with an adhesive. Lower mill 1
06 and the connecting screw 124 are integrated, the tip of the connecting screw 124 projects from the upper surface of the lower mill 106. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the lower mill 106, a band body 12 made of a synthetic resin, on which an outer peripheral surface is integrally formed with a scraping blade 126 for scraping powdered pulverized tea leaves.
8 is wound and attached.

[0006] The connecting structure between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 includes a connecting screw 124 protruding from the upper surface of the lower mill 106.
Is inserted into the screw insertion hole 116 of the upper mill 104, and the lower mill 10
6 and the lower surface of the upper mill 104 are brought into contact with each other. And
With the cover member 120 closing the exposure hole 118 a of the holding frame 118, the connecting screw 124 protruding from the cover member 120.
The cover member 120 and the upper die 1 are screwed between the nut member 130 and the flange of the connection screw 124.
04 and the lower mill 106 are integrally connected. In this state, the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 are rotatable with each other. The upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 connected in this manner are inserted into the mill accommodating recess 102 with the lower mill 106 down, and the holding frame 118 is attached to the output shaft 110 downward. It is slightly lowered against the urging force of the spring 112 so that the locking projection 118b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holding frame 118 is lower than the locking portion 114 formed on the inner wall surface of the die accommodating recess 102. Further, in this state, the holding frame 118 is slightly rotated, and the engagement protrusion 118 b is engaged so as to contact the lower surface of the engagement portion 114. As a result, the lower mill 106, the upper mill 104, and the holding frame 118 (which are collectively referred to as a mill structure) integrally connected by the leaf spring 112 attached to the output shaft 110 are urged upward. Also, the ridge structure is brought into contact with the lower surface of the
2. Further, the uneven fitting state between the flange of the connecting screw 124 and the output shaft 110 is also maintained. Since the lower mill 106 and the upper mill 104 are held in the mill accommodating recess 102 by the holding frame 118, the lower mill 106 is
Comes into contact with the upper mill 104 at a pressure corresponding to the urging force of

When the output shaft 110 rotates in this state, the lower mill 106 also rotates. Accordingly, the lower shaft 106 is connected to the holding frame 118 through the hole 120b of the lid member 120, specifically, through the hole 120b. Upper mill 1 being fixed
When the tea leaves are put in from the input hole 108 of 04, the tea leaves are engaged with the mortar accommodating recess 102 through the holding frame 118, and the lower mill 1 that rotates with the upper mill 104 in a non-rotating state (stopped state).
06 and ground into a powder. Then, the powdered tea leaves are discharged from the outer peripheral side of the lower mill 106 and fall on the inner bottom surface of the mill accommodating recess 102. The fallen powdery tea leaves are scraped off by a scraping blade 126 of a band body 128 wound around the rotating lower mill 106.
It is raked in a collection container 132 detachably attached to a part of the mortar accommodating recess 102.

[0008]

However, in the conventional tea leaf pulverizer, the charging hole 108 into which the tea leaves are charged is not located on the center axis of the upper mill 104, but is disposed at an eccentric position. The tea leaves that have entered between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 move between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 in the outer circumferential direction while being ground. The longer the moving distance between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106, the longer the grinding time is, the more the tea leaves are crushed into finer powder. If the tea leaves are fed from the feeding hole 108 at an eccentric position shifted from the central axis, the moving distance between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 of the tea leaves is from the position of the feeding hole 108 to the outer periphery of each of the mills 104, 106. Therefore, there is a problem that the distance from the central axis to the input hole is not used effectively and is not efficient.

Further, the time during which the tea leaves are ground between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106, that is, the time from when the tea leaves are ground to when the tea leaves are discharged from the outer peripheral side of the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106. As described above, it is preferable that the length is longer. However, the lower surface of the upper mill 104 and the upper surface of the lower mill 106 in which the groove for grinding the tea leaves is formed as in the conventional example are perpendicular to the central axis. When it is formed on a flat surface, the tea leaves moving in the outer circumferential direction while being crushed between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 only move horizontally, so that the tea leaves move relatively smoothly in the outer circumferential direction. As a result, there is a problem that the time during which the tea leaves are ground between the upper mill 104 and the lower mill 106 is reduced. Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tea leaf crusher capable of lengthening the time from being charged to being crushed and discharged from the outer peripheral side of the upper mill and the lower mill. To provide.

[0010]

The present invention has the following arrangement to achieve the above object. That is, the tea leaf crusher according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured such that the main body portion in which the mortar accommodating recess is formed and the mortar accommodating recess are accommodated in the mortar accommodating recess so as to be relatively rotatable about a central axis. In a tea leaf crusher comprising an upper mill and a lower mill to grind and grind the tea leaves, the upper mill has, in the center thereof, an input hole for tea leaves into which the upper surface of the lower mill is exposed at the bottom penetrates. It is characterized by being formed.

According to this, since the tea leaves are introduced between the upper mill and the lower mill through the injection hole formed at the center of the upper mill, the tea leaves are injected from the injection hole arranged at an eccentric position as in the conventional case. In comparison with the case where the outer diameter of the upper mill and the lower mill is the same, the moving distance to the outer rim of the upper mill and the lower mill of the tea leaves can be made longer, and as a result, the grinding time can be lengthened. Thus, a finer powder can be obtained.

Further, in the tea leaf crusher according to claim 2 of the present invention, further, the upper surface of the lower mill is formed as a tapered surface that becomes gradually lower from the outer peripheral side toward the center axis, and the lower surface of the upper mill is And a taper surface corresponding to the upper surface of the lower mill so as to be in close contact with the upper surface of the lower mill.

[0013] According to this, the tea leaves moving from the center of each mill to the outer peripheral side must move up the slope against the gravity, and the time to move to the outer peripheral side becomes longer. For this reason, the grinding time can be prolonged, and the powder can be made even finer.

Further, in the tea leaf crusher according to claim 3 of the present invention, a tea leaf introduction groove extending in a peripheral direction from a lower edge of the input hole is formed on a lower surface of the upper mill. It is characterized by.

[0015] According to this, the tea leaves put into the input hole of the upper mill are supplied between the upper mill and the lower mill through the tea leaf introduction groove extending in the radial direction of the upper mill. Providing the tea leaf introduction groove increases the surface area of the wall surface of the upper mill that intersects with the surface of the lower mill that rotates relatively, so that the tea leaves can be smoothly supplied between the upper mill and the lower mill.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a tea leaf crusher according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First,
The configuration of the tea leaf crusher 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the tea leaf crusher 10 includes, in order from the top, an upper lid 12, a hopper 14, a main body (consisting of an upper bowl base 18 and a lower main body case 20) 16,
Each member is formed of a synthetic resin material. Also, in particular, the hopper 14
The collection container 22, and a part of the main body case 20 (wall surface corresponding to a discharge port to be described later) 20a externally check the amount of tea leaves to be powdered and the condition and amount of the powdered tea leaves. It is formed of a transparent synthetic resin material as much as possible.

An inner region of a cup-shaped (bottomed cylindrical) bowl base 18 located at an upper portion of the main body 16 includes a lower mill 24 and an upper mill 26 which grind and crush tea leaves into powder. It functions as a die accommodating recess 28 to be accommodated. The upper lid 12 is detachably attached to the upper end opening of the hopper 14 by press-fitting. The hopper 14 is detachably mounted on the upper part of the main body 16 by fitting the lower part thereof into the die accommodating recess 28. Further, the collection container 22 is detachably attached to the opening at the lower end of the main body case 16 by press fitting.

Next, FIG. 1 to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. [Main Body] The main body 16 is formed in a cylindrical body having an outer diameter (about 50 mm) that can be grasped with one hand. The main body 16 includes a cylindrical main body case 20 as described above, and a lower accommodating recess 2 having a lower portion fitted into an upper portion thereof.
And a bowl base 18 having a cylindrical shape with a bottom that functions as 8. A battery accommodating portion (not shown) is formed inside the main body case 20. In the battery accommodating portion,
As shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal direction of the main body case 20 (the center axis L
The battery 21 is arranged along the (direction). Body case 20
In order to make the outer diameter of the as small as possible. The battery 21 can be taken in and out of the battery housing by attaching the battery cover 30 detachably attached to the bottom of the main body case 20 to the main body case 2.
It can be done by removing from zero.

An electric motor 32 is arranged inside the main body case 20 along the longitudinal direction of the main body case 20 (in the direction of the central axis L). This is for making the outer diameter of the main body case 20 as small as possible as in the case of the battery 21. The electric motor 32 is supplied with electric power from the battery 21 and rotates.
Further, near the inner periphery of the main body case 20, a discharge hole 34 that opens from the upper part to the lower part of the main body case 20 and is opened along the longitudinal direction of the main body case 20, avoiding the battery housing portion and the electric motor 32. I have. On the surface of the main body case 20, a slide (sliding in the longitudinal direction of the main body case 20) type power switch 36 is disposed.
The power switch 36 is configured so that the position is maintained between the ON position and the OFF position.
Is moved, power is continuously supplied to the electric motor 32. Thereby, when the tea leaves are continuously crushed, the power switch 36 is continuously used while the user is crushing the tea leaves.
There is no need to press. Further, in the upper part of the inside of the main body case 20, in other words, just below the bowl base 18 (the die accommodating recess 28) inside the main body case 20, the rotational force of the electric motor 32 is reduced and transmitted to the lower die 24. Is disposed.

[Bowl base] Bottom 1 of bowl base 18
8a, that is, a hole is provided at the center of the inner bottom surface of the die accommodating recess 28 along the central axis L.
The tip of the output shaft 38a of the reduction gear mechanism 38 protrudes along the central axis L. Also, the bottom 1 of the bowl base 18
A concentric cylindrical rib 18b centering on the center axis L is provided upright on the upper surface of 8a, that is, on the inner bottom surface of the die accommodating recess 28. In the bowl base 18, an annular region (tea leaf falling region) sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the bowl base 18 and the cylindrical rib 18 b, specifically, on the upper surface of the bottom portion 18 a in this region. The powdered tea leaves fall between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24 that have been cut.

An opening 18c communicating with a discharge hole 34 formed inside the main body case 20 is formed in a part of the tea fall area of the bottom 18a of the bowl base 18. As a result, the powdery tea leaves that have fallen into the tea leaf falling area are discharged from the opening 18c through the discharge holes 34 to below the main body case 20, and as a result, in the collection container 22 attached to the lower end of the main body case 20. Falling (discharged),
Collected. In the inner peripheral surface of the bowl base 18, a fitting groove 1 formed obliquely on the lower outer peripheral surface of the hopper 14 is formed.
As an example, two fitting ribs 18d that engage with 4a are formed diagonally.

[Mill] Next, the structure of the mill arranged in the mill accommodating recess 28 will be described. The mortar is basically formed of an upper mortar 26 and a lower mortar 24, each of which is formed in a disk shape using ceramic, and has a hole formed in the center thereof, penetrating the front and back. The upper mill 26 is mounted alone in the mill accommodating recess 28. On the other hand, the lower mill 24 includes a lower mill 24, a synthetic resin lower mill cradle 40, a synthetic resin lower mortar fixing plate 42 integrally connected to the lower mill cradle 40, and the two members. A spring member (a coil spring is used as an example in the present embodiment, but may be a leaf spring as in the conventional example) 44 which is arranged between the two members and always biases the two members away from each other; It is configured as one lower mortar structure in which resin fixing pins 46 are integrally connected.

[Lower mill structure] First, the lower mill structure will be described in detail. [Lower mill cradle] The lower mill cradle 40 is formed in a cylindrical body having a bottom as shown in FIG. 4, and a columnar projection 40a is formed on the center axis L at the bottom to protrude. The output shaft 38a of the reduction gear mechanism 38 can be inserted into the columnar projection 40a from below the lower mill cradle 40. The output shaft 38a inserted into the columnar projection 40a rotates relative to the output shaft 38a. A connecting portion 40d is formed to be incongruently engaged with the concave and convex. In the present embodiment, a coil spring is used as the spring member 44 as described above, and a columnar projection 40a is formed for positioning the coil spring 44, and the coil spring 44 is externally fitted thereto. When 44 is a leaf spring other than the coil spring (for example, a leaf spring having a shape like a conventional example), it is not particularly necessary to form the columnar projection 40a and form the connecting portion 40d therein.

A plurality of (for example, three) engagement holes 40b are formed at the bottom of the lower mill receiving table 40 at equal angular intervals on the same circumference centered on the central axis L. In the lower region of the outer peripheral surface of the lower mill receiving table 40, the mill
8, one or more L-shaped scraping blades 40c for scraping tea leaves falling into an annular tea leaf falling area (specifically, eight at equal angular intervals in the present embodiment); It is formed to extend in the direction. This scraping blade 40c
Enters the region (tea leaf falling region) sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the bowl base 18 and the cylindrical rib 18b, and scrapes the powdered tea leaves in this region.

The scraper blades 40c extend from the lower region of the outer peripheral surface of the lower mill cradle 40 to the side once and then extend upward along the outer peripheral surface of the lower mortar cradle 40. The outer shape is formed in an L shape. And the scraping blade 40c
A skirt portion 42 of the lower mill fixing plate 42, which will be described later, is provided between a portion extending above the lower mill and the upper region of the outer peripheral surface of the lower mill receiving table 40.
A gap A into which a enters is formed. The upper region of the outer peripheral surface of the lower mill receiving table 40 has an outer diameter of the lower mill fixing plate 42.
Is formed so as to be able to be inserted into the skirt portion 42a. Specifically, the upper region of the outer peripheral surface of the lower mill receiving table 40 is formed as a tapered surface whose outer diameter gradually decreases as it goes upward, and is inserted into the skirt portion 42a of the lower mill fixing plate 42, that is, It has a structure that can be easily polymerized with the skirt portion 42a. The coil spring 44 is mounted on the columnar projection 40a of the lower mill receiving base 40 from above and fitted externally.

[Lower mill fixing plate] The lower mill fixing plate 42 is formed in a disk shape as shown in FIG. The upper region of the lower mill cradle 40 is inserted into the outer edge of the lower surface of the lower mortar fixing plate 42, that is, a cylindrical skirt portion 42a having an outer diameter covering the upper region of the outer peripheral surface of the lower mill cradle 40. Are formed. On the same circumference around the center axis L on the lower surface of the lower mill fixing plate 42, a plurality of engagement hook pieces 42b corresponding to the engagement holes 40b of the lower mill receiving base 40 (the present embodiment). Then 3
), And are formed to extend at equal angular intervals. At the center of the upper surface of the lower mill fixing plate 42, a cylindrical projection 42c is formed along the central axis L. The cylindrical protrusion 42c is
4 to be inserted into the insertion hole described later formed in the center of
It is formed to have the same length as the insertion hole. The shape of the cylindrical projection 42c when cut along a plane parallel to the central axis L of the inner peripheral surface is formed as a polygon (for example, a hexagon). This is to prevent the fixing pin 46 inserted into the cylindrical projection 42c from rotating with respect to the lower mill fixing plate 42.
In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole formed in the lower mill 24 along a direction orthogonal to the central axis L is formed in a circular shape. Although the cross-sectional shape along the direction orthogonal to the direction of the center axis L of the surface is also formed in a circular shape, the lower mill 24 and the lower mill fixing plate 42
Therefore, it is possible to form both the cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole and the cross-sectional shape of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical projection 42c into the same polygon.

In the present embodiment, since the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical projection 42c have a circular cross-section as described above, there is some space between the lower mill 24 and the lower mill fixing plate 42. A mechanism for preventing rotation is required. So, as an example,
One or more rotation prevention protrusions 42d (two as an example in the present embodiment) are formed on the upper surface of the lower mill fixing plate 42 at a position eccentric from the center axis L, while the lower surface of the lower mill 24
As will be described later, two anti-rotation holes into which the anti-rotation protrusion 42d enters are provided as an example. Accordingly, the lower mill 24 can be coaxially and non-rotatably disposed on the upper surface of the lower mill fixing plate 42. Then, the lower mill receiving table 40 and the lower mill fixing plate 4
2 is connected to the columnar projections 40 of the lower mill cradle 40.
In a state where the coil spring 44 is externally fitted to the lower a cradle 40, the lower mortar fixing plate 42 is moved from above the lower mortar pedestal 40 so that the skirt portion 42 a and the upper region of the outer peripheral surface of the lower mortar pedestal 40 have the skirt portion 42 a outward. Lower mill cradle 40 is positioned so as to overlap in a double cylindrical shape.
Is brought close to the urging force of the coil spring 44. Then, the tip of the engaging hook piece 42b of the lower mill fixing plate 42 is inserted into the engaging hole 40b of the lower mill receiving base 40 so as to protrude from the engaging hole 40b. The edge of the lower surface of the bottom is engaged with the tip of the engagement hook piece 42b. As a result, the lower mill fixing plate 42 and the lower mill receiving table 40 can be integrally rotated, and the tip of the engaging hook piece 42b is
By engaging with the lip on the bottom lower surface side of b, the connection is performed in a state where separation by the coil spring 44 is regulated within a predetermined range. Further, the connected lower mill receiving table 40 and lower mill fixing plate 42
However, when an external force is applied from the outside to approach each other against the urging force of the coil spring 44, a predetermined distance from the state in which the tip of the engaging hook piece 42b is engaged with the edge of the engaging hole 40b. You can approach. Due to this approach, the tip of the engaging hook piece 42b projects from the lower surface of the bottom of the lower mill cradle 40 by an approach distance. Then, the lower mill receiving table 4 is formed by the lower surface of the lower mill fixing plate 42 and the skirt portion 42a formed thereon.
Since the upper portion of the opening 0 is covered and closed, it is possible to effectively prevent the powdered tea leaves from entering between the lower pedestal support 40 and the lower mortar fixing plate 42 and adhering to the coil spring 44. . If the engagement hook pieces 42b are elastically deformed to release the engagement with the engagement holes 40b, the lower mill fixing plate 42 and the lower mill receiving table 40 can be separated.

When the lower mill receiving table 40 and the lower mill fixing plate 42 are connected to each other, the coil springs 44 interposed therebetween are provided.
The lower mill receiving table 40 and the lower mill fixing plate 42 are constantly urged in the direction away from each other by the urging force, but the separation is restricted when the tip of the engaging hook piece 42b engages with the engaging hole 40b. Is done. Since the length of the engaging hook piece 42b is longer than the length of the skirt portion 42a plus the thickness of the bottom of the lower mill cradle 40, the lower mill cradle 4
In a state where no external force other than the urging force from the coil spring 44 is applied between the lower mortar fixing plate 42 and the lower mortar fixing plate 42, the lower surface of the lower mortar fixing plate 42 and the upper end of the lower mortise cradle 40 are connected as shown in FIG. And a gap C between the lower end of the skirt portion 42a of the lower mill fixing plate 42 and the scraping blade 40c of the lower mill receiving base 40. Therefore, the lower mill receiving table 40 and the lower mill fixing plate 4
When an external force in the direction of approaching each other is applied to the lower die receiving table 40 and the lower die fixing plate 42, the tip of the engaging hook piece 42b is engaged with the engaging hole 40b, and the above B or It is possible to approach the urging force of the coil spring 44 by the distance of the narrower one of the gaps of C. When the external force is released, the lower die receiving base 40 and the lower die fixing plate 42 are separated from each other by the urging force of the coil spring 44 until the tip of the engaging hook piece 42b engages with the engaging hole 40b.

[Lower mill] As shown in FIG. 6, an insertion hole 24a penetrating the front and back is formed along the center axis L at the center of the lower mill 24 formed in a disk shape using ceramic. Is formed with a lower groove 24b for grinding tea leaves, and two anti-rotation holes 24c are formed on the lower surface at positions eccentric from the center axis L. The entire upper surface of the lower mill 24 is formed as a tapered surface that gradually decreases from the outer peripheral side toward the insertion hole 24a. A virtual plane D orthogonal to the center axis L of the tapered surface
Is about 1 to 2 degrees. The lower surface of the lower mill 24 is formed in a plane parallel to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis L.

[Fixing Pin] The fixing pin 46 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, is formed using a synthetic resin material,
A columnar body 4 having an umbrella-shaped flange 46a formed at the upper end.
6b and a second blade 46c extending laterally on the outer peripheral surface of the columnar body 46b. The lower end of the columnar body 46b extends further below the second blade 46c, and this portion is pressed into a cylindrical projection 42c protruding from the upper surface of the lower mill fixing plate 42.

More specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the columnar body 46b along the central axis L is polygonal in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical projection 42c.
6 can rotate integrally with the lower mill fixing plate 42, that is, the lower mill 24 without shifting. Also, the columnar body 46b
The outer shape of the second blade 46c formed on the outer peripheral surface is formed as a substantially rectangular plate as an example, and the second blade 46c is arranged along the central axis L of the columnar member 46b from the lower surface of the flange 46a, Two columns are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to the center axis L of the columnar body 46b. More specifically, when the column 46b is viewed from above, the second blades 46c are configured to extend in opposite directions along the radial direction.

The fixing pin 46 is inserted into a feed hole of the upper mill 26 or a feed hole formed in the hopper 14 as described later, and rotates in an inner region of the feed hole or the feed hole. For this reason, the distance E (see FIG. 2) of the outer peripheral edge of the second blade 46c from the center axis L of the columnar body 46b is determined by the inner diameter of the input hole of the upper mill 26 and the inner diameter of the supply hole formed in the hopper 14 described later. The diameter is set to be slightly smaller than the diameter. In other words, the inner diameter of the input hole and the supply hole is formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the virtual cylinder drawn when the outer peripheral end (outer peripheral edge) of the second blade 46c of the columnar body 46b rotates. The distance E is the cylindrical projection 4 into which the fixing pin 46 is press-fitted.
The lower die 24 is attached to the upper surface of the lower die fixing plate 42, and the cylindrical projection 42 is viewed from above through the insertion hole 24 a of the lower die 24.
c, by pressing the lower end of the columnar body 46b of the fixing pin 46 until the lower end surface of the second blade 46c comes into contact with the upper surface of the cylindrical projection 42c, so that the lower end surface of the second blade 46c is Insertion hole 24 formed approximately the same length as the length
The lower mortar 24 can be fixed on the lower mortar fixing plate 42 without backlash by simultaneously contacting with the edge of a (which is also the upper surface of the lower mortar 24).

[Upper mill] As shown in FIG. 7, an insertion hole 26a penetrating the front and back is formed along the center axis L at the center of the upper mill 26 formed of a ceramic disk. .
The inner diameter of the upper region F of the charging hole 26a is formed larger than that of the lower region G so that a ring-shaped protrusion, which will be described later, formed on the bottom of the hopper 14 can be fitted therein. The inner diameter of the lower region G of the input hole 26a is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 24a formed in the lower mill 24. For this reason, the central portion of the upper surface of the lower mill 24 is exposed in the charging hole 26a.

The outer peripheral region H on the upper surface of the upper mill 26 is formed to have a predetermined width over the entire circumference and to be recessed so that the plate thickness is slightly reduced. In the outer peripheral area, a plurality of regulating ribs 26b are provided at equal angular intervals (for example, at 90 ° intervals) about the input hole 26a so as to protrude in the radial direction. The cross-sectional shape of the restricting rib 26b along the circumferential direction (in other words, along the direction perpendicular to the radial direction) is formed in a triangular shape (an isosceles triangle as an example). An upper groove 26c for grinding and crushing the tea leaves is formed on the lower surface of the upper mill 26. The entire lower surface of the upper mill 26 is formed as a tapered surface that gradually projects downward from the outer peripheral side toward the input hole 26a (the thickness of the upper mill 26 gradually increases). The taper angle α of the tapered surface with respect to the virtual plane D orthogonal to the central axis L is the same angle (approximately 1
(An angle in the range of up to 2 degrees) so that the lower surface of the upper mill 26 and the upper surface of the lower mill 24 can be relatively rotated in close contact with each other.

In the present embodiment, between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24, there is provided a charging hole 2 formed at the center of the upper mill 26.
The tea leaves are supplied from 6a, but the structure of the input hole 26a is
In the structure in which the lower edge of the input hole 26a is close to the upper surface of the lower mill 24 over the entire circumference, it is difficult for the tea leaves supplied in the input hole 26a to be smoothly supplied between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24. . For this reason, a part of the lower end side edge of the input hole 26a of the upper mill 26 is cut out, and a predetermined length extending in the outer peripheral direction from the lower edge of the inner peripheral surface of the input hole 26a is formed on the lower surface of the upper mill 26. 26d is provided with one or more tea leaf introduction grooves 26d. For example, the tea leaf introduction groove 26d of the present embodiment has a structure in which the cross-sectional shape along the circumferential direction is triangular, and the cross-sectional area of the triangle gradually decreases from the side of the input hole 26a toward the outer peripheral direction. . Thereby, the planar shape of the tea leaf introduction groove 26d viewed from the lower surface of the upper mill 26 also becomes a triangle. Further, the planar shape of the tea leaf introduction groove 26d viewed from the lower surface of the upper mill 26 may be formed such that its apex is an isosceles triangle located on a radius extending radially from the central axis L of the upper mill 26. Although it is good, it is preferable that the upper mill 26 is formed in a triangle in which the oblique side in the rotation direction relative to the lower mill 24 is longer than the other oblique sides. This is because the tea leaves introduced into the introduction hole 26a of the upper mill 26 act so as to be positively taken into the tea leaf introduction groove 26d. As described above, by providing the tea leaf introduction groove 26d, the upper mill 2 intersecting with the upper surface of the lower mill 24 which rotates relatively.
6, the tea leaves are smoothly and efficiently supplied between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24.

[Hopper] As shown in FIG.
It is formed in a bottomed cylindrical body so that tea leaves to be crushed can be accommodated inside. The hopper 14 is detachably mounted on the upper portion of the main body 16 by fitting the lower portion of the hopper 14 into the die accommodating recess 28. Also, the bottom 14b of the hopper 14
A supply hole 14c for supplying tea leaves between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24 is formed at the center. And hopper 14
The upper surface of the bottom portion 14b is formed in a mortar shape (also called a funnel shape) having a supply hole 14c opened in the center, and the opening edge of the supply hole 14c on the lower surface of the bottom portion 14b is formed to protrude in a ring shape. I have. This protruding portion is called a ring-shaped protrusion 14d. Here, the inside diameter of the supply hole 14c is formed to be the same as the inside diameter of the lower region G formed in the small diameter of the input hole 26a formed in the upper mill 26. As a result, the tea leaves in the hopper 14 are supplied halfway through the supply holes 14c and the input holes 26a.
Can be smoothly supplied between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24 without being caught in the seam between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24.

The outer diameter of the ring-shaped projection 14d is formed to be the same as the inner diameter of the upper region F formed in the large diameter of the input hole 26a formed in the upper mill 26. As a result, the ring-shaped projection 14d of the hopper 14 is
In the upper region F, the center axis L of the hopper 14, that is, the center axis L of the main body 16, that is, the axis of the output shaft 38a and the center axis L of the upper mill 26 can be matched. . On the upper surface of the bottom portion 14b of the hopper 14, a tea leaf shearing rib 14e extending radially from the supply hole 14c is formed. The rib 14e for shearing tea leaves
Is to shorten the long tea leaves by shortening them with the second blades 46c formed on the fixing pins 46, so that the tea leaves
In order not to support when dropping to 6a, it is possible to smoothly supply between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24.

On the lower surface of the bottom portion 14b of the hopper 14, when the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24 are housed in the mill housing recess 28 and the hopper 14 is mounted on the upper part of the main body 16,
The pressing rib 14f which comes into contact with the upper surface of the upper mill 26 and presses the upper mill 26 toward the inner bottom surface of the die accommodating recess 28 is provided in the supply hole 1
A plurality is provided at equal angular intervals around the center 4c. In the present embodiment, four are provided at 90-degree intervals as an example. Outer peripheral end J of hopper 14 of pressing rib 14f
Is configured to extend slightly below the inner peripheral portion so as to be able to enter a ring-shaped concave portion formed in the outer peripheral region of the upper mill 26. The pressing rib 14f has a function of pressing the upper surface of the upper mill 26 downward by this structure, and the outer peripheral side end J interferes with the regulating rib 26b formed in the outer peripheral region H of the upper mill 26, so that the upper mill 26 Also performs the function of regulating rotation.

The mounting structure of the hopper 14 on the upper part of the main body 16 is, for example, a pair of fitting grooves 14a symmetrical with respect to the central axis L on the lower outer peripheral surface of the hopper 14 fitted into the die accommodating recess 28. On the other hand, a pair of fitting ribs 18d is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the die accommodating recess 28 as described above. After the lower portion of the hopper 14 is inserted into the die accommodating recess 28 from above, the hopper 14 is rotated in a predetermined direction with respect to the main body 16 by a small amount, so that the ribs 18d are fitted into the oblique regions of the fitting grooves 14a. Are inserted into each other, and the hopper 14 is attached to the main body 16. In addition, fitting groove 1
The convex portion K (which may be a concave shape) formed on the distal end side of the oblique area of 4a is fitted with the fitting rib 18d, and the fitting groove 14a and the fitting rib 18 once fitted are fitted.
This is for preventing d from coming off unless it is forcibly rotated in the opposite direction.

When the hopper 14 having the above structure is mounted on the upper part of the main body 16, the bottom 14
The pressing rib 14f formed on the upper b contacts the upper surface of the upper mill 26 and slightly lowers by a small amount, against the urging force of the coil spring 44, the upper mill 26, the lower mill 24, the lower mill fixing plate 42, and the fixing pin. 4
6 is depressed. The amount of the depression is defined by B shown in FIG. 3 formed between the lower mill fixing plate 42 and the lower mill cradle 40.
The distance is set in advance so as to fall within the shorter one of the distances between the gaps C and C. As a result, the urging force of the coil spring 44 is always applied between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24, and the urging force is supplied between the upper mill 26 and the lower mill 24 at a pressure determined by the urging force of the coil spring 44. Tea leaves can be ground and crushed into powder.

[Recovery Container] The recovery container 22 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape (cup shape) as shown in FIG.
The shape of the upper surface of a is formed as a tapered surface that becomes gradually lower from the outer peripheral side toward the center axis L side. Thereby, the discharge hole 34 formed near the outer periphery inside the main body case 20 is formed.
Powdered tea leaves discharged from the bottom of the collection container 22
Even if it falls on a part of the outer peripheral side of 2a and starts to be piled up at that part, the bottom portion 22 which has a tapered surface at the stage where it is slightly piled up
It gradually collapses toward the center of the bottom 22a along the line a. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the tea leaves from accumulating immediately below the discharge holes 34 and clogging the discharge holes 34. After the tea leaves have been powdered, the collection container 22 is removed from the main body case 20, and the tea leaves accumulated therein are scooped with a spoon or the like and put into hot water only. Is also effective in that the tea leaves in the collection container 22 accumulate in the recessed central portion and the tea leaves are easily scooped.

Next, the operation of the tea leaf crusher 10 for crushing (grinding) the tea leaves will be described. The main body 16 is grasped by hand, the upper lid 12 is removed, and the tea leaves are put into the hopper 14.
Note that the collection container 22 is fitted in the lower part of the main body case 20 in advance. Then, the power switch 36 disposed on the surface of the main body case 20 is slid to move to the ON position, and the electric current is supplied from the battery 21 to the electric motor 32. Since the power switch 36 is of a sliding type, once it is moved to the ON position, power can be continuously supplied to the electric motor 32 even if the finger is removed from the power switch 36, and the power switch 36 is turned to the ON position with a finger. The trouble of keeping holding is eliminated. When the electric motor 32 operates, the reduction gear mechanism 38 is driven to rotate, and the output shaft 38a rotates, and the lower mill receiving table 40 fitted with the output shaft 38a, the lower mill fixing plate 42, the lower mill 24, and The fixing pin 46 pressed into the lower mill fixing plate 42 rotates.

The upper mill 26 pressed by the hopper 14 in the direction of the lower mill 24 has a regulating rib 26 formed on its upper surface.
When b interferes with the pressing rib 14f formed on the lower surface of the bottom portion 14b of the hopper 14, the rotation is suppressed, and then the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 relatively rotate around the axis of the output shaft 38a, The tea leaves put between the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 can be crushed. The tea leaves put into the hopper 14 are the bottom portion 14 of the hopper 14 formed in a mortar shape.
It moves while sliding little by little toward the supply hole 14c side along the upper surface of b.

In this movement, the elongated needle-shaped tea leaves, in particular, are moved between the tea leaf shearing rib 14 e formed on the upper surface of the bottom 14 b of the hopper 14 and the second blade 46 c formed on the fixing pin 46. The tea leaves are folded and fall into the supply holes 14c in a shortened state. The originally short tea leaves fall directly into the supply hole 14c. The tea leaves that have fallen into the supply hole 14c fall on the upper surface of the lower mill 24 through the input hole 26a that communicates with the supply hole 14c, and thereafter the lower mill 24 mainly passes through the tea leaf introduction groove 26d formed in the lower mill 24. And the upper mill 26 are supplied.

The tea leaves supplied between the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 are ground between the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 and pulverized into powder. It gradually moves toward the outer circumference. At this time, in the present embodiment, since the main body 16 and the hopper 14 are formed to have a diameter that can be held by hand, the diameters of the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 are also placed on a tabletop as in the related art. The diameter of the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 built in the large-sized tea leaf crusher to be used is formed to be extremely smaller than the diameter. However, as described above, since the surface shape of the upper groove forming region of the lower mill 24 is formed so as to gradually increase from the center to the outer peripheral direction, even if the diameters of the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 are small, The lower mill 24 and the upper mill 2 are supplied from an input hole 26a formed in the center of the mill 26, and
6 can be extended until it is discharged from the outer peripheral edge. In other words, the time for grinding between the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 becomes longer. Therefore, it can be pulverized so finely as to be inferior to the conventional example.

The powdered tea leaves discharged from the gap on the outer peripheral side between the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 have a tea falling area (the inside of the bowl base 18) formed on the inner bottom surface of the mortar accommodating recess 28 immediately below. It falls into an annular area sandwiched between the peripheral surface and the cylindrical rib 18b). And the rotating lower mill cradle 4
The main body case 20 is scraped by the scraping blades 40c formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body case 20 and is formed in a part of the tea fall area.
Is dropped into the discharge hole 34 through the opening 18c formed in the inside. The powdered tea leaves dropped in the discharge hole 34 fall through the discharge hole 34 into the collection container 22 attached to the lower part of the main body case 20 and accumulate. Since the outer peripheral wall surface 20a of the main body case 20 in which the hopper 14 and the discharge hole 34 are formed and the collection container 22 are formed of a transparent resin, the user loses all the tea leaves put in the hopper 14,
The tea leaves can be crushed while confirming that the powdered tea leaves no longer fall into the discharge hole 34 or the collection container 22.

When the crushing of the tea leaves is completed, the power switch 36 is slid to the off position with a finger to stop the supply of electric current to the electric motor 32, and the crushing operation is completed. As in the present embodiment, the diameter of the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 is made smaller than that of the conventional example, so that the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26 accumulate in the upper groove 26c and the lower groove 24b formed in the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26, respectively. The amount of tea leaves that are not discharged to the outside is very small, and the difference between the amount of tea leaves put in the hopper 14 and the amount of tea leaves that are actually powdered and collected in the collection container 22 can be reduced. It becomes possible to powder natural tea leaves.

In addition, it is necessary to periodically clean the lower mill 24 and the upper mill 26. In this case, too, the hopper 14 is simply removed from the main body 16 to accommodate the upper mill 26 and the lower mill structure. It can be taken out from the recess 28. Therefore, after being once removed from the mortar accommodating recess 28 as in the prior art,
The work of loosening the nut member 130 that integrates the lower mill 24 with the lower mill 24 and removing the lower mill 24 from the holding frame 118 becomes unnecessary, and cleaning can be performed extremely easily. Also, after cleaning,
Even when the lower mill structure and the upper mill 26 are mounted in the mill accommodating recess 28, the lower mill structure is first inserted into the mill accommodating recess 28, and the upper mill 26 is inserted into the insertion hole 26 a by the fixing pin 46. And placed on the upper surface of the lower mill 24, and then the hopper 14 is
6, the center axis L of the upper mill 26 is positioned with respect to the center axis L of the hopper 14, the upper mill 26 is pressed by the hopper 14 toward the lower mill 24, and the upper mill 26 And the lower mill structure can be fixed with one touch, and the mounting work can be easily performed. Incidentally, the tea leaf crusher of the present invention,
Of course, it can be used when powdering long and narrow food ingredients such as dried small fish other than tea leaves.

[0049]

According to the tea leaf crusher according to the first aspect of the present invention, the tea leaves are introduced between the upper mill and the lower mill through an injection hole formed in the center of the upper mill. When the outer diameter of the upper mill and the lower mill is the same, the moving distance to the outer rim of the upper mill and the lower mill of the tea leaves is longer than when the upper mill and the lower mill are the same. It is possible,
As a result, the grinding time can be prolonged, and the powder can be made into a finer powder. Also,
According to the tea leaf crusher according to claim 2 of the present invention, the tea leaves moving from the center portion of each mortar to the outer peripheral side must move so as to climb a slope against gravity, and to the outer peripheral side. Travel time is longer. For this reason, the grinding time can be prolonged, and the powder can be made even finer. In addition, according to the tea leaf crusher according to claim 3 of the present invention, the tea leaves put into the input hole of the upper mill and the upper mill and the lower mill through the tea leaf introduction groove extending in the radial direction of the upper mill. Supplied during. By providing the tea leaf introduction groove, since the surface area of the wall surface of the upper mill that intersects with the surface of the lower mill that rotates relatively increases, the tea leaves can be smoothly supplied between the upper mill and the lower mill. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view at a level at which a user can disassemble a tea leaf crusher according to an embodiment of the present invention, for explaining the overall configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the tea leaf crusher of FIG. 1 in an assembled state.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tea leaf crusher of FIG. 1 in an exploded state.

4A is a plan view of a lower mill cradle, FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C is a bottom view of FIG.

FIG. 5A is a plan view of a lower mill fixing plate, and FIG.
(C) is a bottom view of (a).

FIG. 6A is a plan view of a lower mill, and FIG. 6B is an X- view of FIG.
X is a sectional view, and (c) is a bottom view of (a).

7A is a plan view of an upper mill, and FIG. 7B is an X- view of FIG.
X is a sectional view, and (c) is a bottom view of (a).

8A is a plan view of a hopper, FIG. 8B is a side view of FIG. 8A, and FIG. 8C is a bottom view of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of an example of a conventional tea leaf crusher at a level that can be disassembled by a user.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the mortar structure of FIG. 9 in an assembled state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 tea leaf crusher 16 main body 24 lower mill 26 upper mill 26a insertion hole 28 mill receiving recess L center axis

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A main body portion having a mortar accommodating recess formed therein, and an upper mortar and a lower mortar accommodated in the mortar accommodating concave portion so as to be rotatable relative to each other about a central axis, and to grind and crush tea leaves between each other. A tea mill comprising a mortar, wherein the upper mill is formed at the center thereof with an input hole for tea leaves into which the upper surface of the lower mill is exposed on the bottom surface, and is formed through the upper mill. vessel. 2. An upper surface of the lower mill is formed as a tapered surface that gradually decreases from an outer peripheral side toward a central axis, and an upper surface of the lower mill is in close contact with an upper surface of the lower mill. The tea leaf crusher according to claim 1, wherein the tea leaf crusher is formed on a tapered surface corresponding to (a). 3. The tea leaf crusher according to claim 1, wherein a tea leaf introduction groove extending in a peripheral direction from a lower edge of the input hole is formed on a lower surface of the upper mill.