JP2006296355A - Processing equipment for lowering caffeine of tea raw leaf - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processing equipment for lowering caffeine of tea raw leaves capable of efficiently lowering caffeine with an amount of hot water as small as possible. <P>SOLUTION: This processing equipment for lowering caffeine of tea raw leaves lowers caffeine of tea raw leaves through spraying, per kg of tea raw leaves, 50-250L hot water of pressure of 0.01-0.5 MPa to tea raw leaves. The equipment is composed of a conveyor having a porous transfer surface to transfer tea raw leaves, a hot water pipe having a hot water nozzle which jets out hot water toward the almost whole area of the transfer surface from the upper side of the transfer surface, a hot water pipe having a hot water nozzle which jets out hot water toward the first half of the transfer surface from the lower side of the transfer surface, and a steel plate set on the lower side of the latter half of the transfer surface so as to nearly contact the transfer surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing caffeine contained in fresh tea leaves.

As a device for eluting caffeine from fresh tea leaves, the fresh tea leaves are transported on a conveyor belt, passed through the hot water in the boiling tank, and then passed through the cooling water in the cooling tank, and at the same time the cooling water shower After adhering to water and washing and cooling, there is a method of removing adhering water with a dehydrator (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-135902

  In the conventional technique, the boiling tank itself is large, a large amount of hot water is required, and a lot of energy is required. Since fresh tea leaves directly enter the boiling tank, the tea leaves are likely to get dirty, and the temperature of the tea leaves input part is low, the temperature of the take-out part tends to be high, and there is temperature unevenness. Moreover, when the concentration of caffeine eluted gradually increased, a large amount of hot water in the entire boiling tank had to be drained and supplied, which required a large amount of water. In order to filter the hot water in the boiling tank, a filtration tank is necessary. However, since fresh tea leaves are continuously supplied, it is difficult to effectively filter the hot water in the boiling tank. Since the net conveyor was installed in the boiling tank, it was difficult to clean the boiling tank and the net conveyor, and there was a problem in maintenance. In addition, when the fresh tea leaves are immersed, a large amount of hot water adheres to the fresh tea leaves, and there is a problem that it takes much time for the subsequent drying process.

  In the raw tea leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus according to claim 1, 50 to 250 liters of hot water having a pressure of 0.01 to 0.5 MPa is sprayed on fresh tea leaves per 1 kg of fresh tea leaves to reduce the caffeine of fresh tea leaves. In claim 2, the raw tea leaf low caffeine treatment device of claim 1 is ejected from the conveyor having a water-permeable transfer surface for transferring fresh tea leaves and from the upper side of the transfer surface toward substantially the entire transfer surface. A hot water pipe provided with a hot water nozzle, a hot water pipe provided with a hot water nozzle for jetting hot water from the lower part of the transfer surface toward the first half of the transfer surface, and a lower part of the second half of the transfer surface provided so as to be substantially in contact with the transfer surface It consists of a steel plate. In claim 3, the hot water nozzles of the fresh tea leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus of claim 2 are arranged in a staggered arrangement at appropriate intervals. According to a fourth aspect, the shape of the hot water nozzle of the fresh tea leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus according to the second or third aspect is a fan shape. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the fresh tea leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect is provided with a fresh water pipe provided with a fresh water nozzle for ejecting fresh water onto the tea leaves after the hot water treatment. When fresh water is sprayed on the hot water-treated tea leaves, it has the effect of washing off the adhering hot water (containing the eluted caffeine) and the temperature of the tea leaves. In Claim 6, the tea fresh leaf low caffeine processing apparatus of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 is provided with the blower provided with the high pressure air blower outlet which blows high pressure air to the tea leaf after a hot water or fresh water process . Since the adhering water remains on the tea leaves after the hot water or fresh water treatment, the adhering water is blown off with the high pressure air of the blower.

  In Claim 7, the tea fresh leaf low caffeine processing apparatus of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 is provided with a hot water tank for supplying hot water to the hot water pipe. It is equipped with a device for measuring in-concentration and hot water temperature, a water supply valve, and a drain valve. When the specified caffeine concentration is reached, supply of fresh tea leaves and heating of the hot water tank are stopped, and hot water in the hot water tank is discharged. Then, water supply and heating are performed, and when the hot water reaches a predetermined temperature, supply of fresh tea leaves is started. When steam from a boiler is injected into the water in the hot water tank to heat the water, it does not require as much steam as the conventional immersion type. The temperature of the hot water ejected from the hot water nozzle determines the heating of the hot water tank so that the value of the temperature sensor provided at the position where the hot water hits becomes a predetermined value. This hot water is sent to a hot water nozzle attached to the hot water pipe at an appropriate interval by a hot water pump provided in the hot water tank. By changing the number of rotations of the hot water pump with an inverter, the amount of hot water can be adjusted, and the hot water pressure can be changed accordingly. Further, if the treatment of fresh tea leaves is continued for a long time, the caffeine concentration in the hot water tank becomes high, and it is not suitable as low caffeinated treated water. Therefore, it is necessary to replace hot water. The timing of replacing the hot water is to detect the caffeine concentration with a caffeine concentration sensor (replace caffeine concentration with turbidity, permeability or color, turbidity with turbidity sensor, transparency with permeability sensor, color May be detected by a color difference sensor), when the caffeine concentration reaches a predetermined value. When replacing hot water, the supply of fresh tea leaves to the transfer surface is first interrupted and heating of the hot water tank is stopped. After the tea fresh leaf confirmation sensor provided on the tea leaf discharge side stops confirming the tea fresh leaf, heating of the hot water tank is interrupted after a predetermined time, and then the drain electromagnetic valve is opened to measure the hot water lower limit water level. When the completion of drainage is detected by the lower limit water level sensor, the drainage solenoid valve is closed. Thereafter, the water supply electromagnetic valve is opened to supply water, and when the upper limit water level sensor detects, the water supply electromagnetic valve is closed and heating is performed. When the value of the hot water tank temperature sensor reaches a predetermined value, the hot water pump is operated and ejected from the hot water nozzle. The temperature of the hot water ejected from the hot water nozzle is measured by a temperature sensor. When the temperature of the hot water reaches a predetermined value, fresh tea leaves are supplied again to the transfer surface, and the low caffeine treatment is continued. In Claim 8, the tea leaf processing amount measuring apparatus and the hot water tank for supplying hot water to a hot water pipe are added to the tea fresh leaf low caffeine processing apparatus of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Provided with a device for measuring the water level and hot water temperature in the hot water tank, a water supply valve, and a drain valve, and when the predetermined amount of tea leaves is reached, the supply of fresh tea leaves and heating of the hot water tank are stopped, After discharging hot water from the hot water tank, water supply and heating are performed, and when the hot water reaches a predetermined temperature, supply of fresh tea leaves is started.

  In claim 9, the hot water sprayed to the fresh tea leaves on the transfer surface is collected and supplied to the hot water tank in the fresh tea leaf low caffeine treatment device of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. And a filter tank in the middle or front and back of the pipe, the filter medium is detachably installed in the filter tank, and an overflow is detected to detect that hot water is flowing above the filter medium installation surface. An overflow water channel provided with a sensor is provided. When hot water flows through the overflow water channel, it is determined that the filter medium is clogged. In Claim 10, the filter medium of the fresh tea leaf low caffeine processing apparatus of Claim 9 consists of a filter and an adsorption filter medium. Hot water used for the treatment of fresh tea leaves is collected by a hot water collecting plate, transferred to a filtration tank by piping, passed through a filter that is detachably placed in the filtration tank, and then passed through a filter medium and filtered. To do. The filtered hot water is heated to a predetermined temperature in a hot water tank and then used again for a low caffeine treatment. If the filter in the filter tank or filter material such as adsorption filter material becomes clogged, hot water will flow into the overflow channel, so if the filter is clogged, an overflow sensor will be installed in the overflow channel to replace the filter. It is possible to inform the person, there is no need for constant monitoring, manpower can be saved, and maintenance is easy.

  In the eleventh aspect, the fresh tea leaf cutting machine for cutting the fresh tea leaves is provided in advance in the tea fresh leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or tenth aspect. In particular, when the bulk of fresh tea leaves is large, a process for cutting fresh tea leaves with a fresh tea leaf cutting machine is added in advance to maintain the distance between the fresh tea leaves and the hot water nozzle and eliminate the portions that are not exposed to hot water. By reducing the bulk of the fresh tea leaves, the effect of soaking the fresh tea leaves is increased by the steel plate provided so as to be substantially in contact with the lower side of the net conveyor in the latter half of the hot water treatment chamber.

  According to claim 1 of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently reduce caffeine. If the pressure of hot water is too high, the fresh tea leaves will be damaged, and further, the hot water will be scattered and scattered on the net conveyor, causing unevenness in the space, but if the pressure is too low, the hot water will simply be tea. Just hitting fresh leaves cannot reduce caffeine. Also, if the amount of hot water is too small, caffeine cannot be reduced, and if there is too much hot water, the effect of reducing caffeine does not change, and the effect of efficiently reducing caffeine with as little hot water as possible There is.

  According to claim 2, hot water is sequentially applied to fresh tea leaves, and the tea leaves whose bulk is reduced by about half are brought into close contact with each other to form a plate shape. In this case, the reduction of caffeine proceeds. According to the third aspect, hot water can be applied evenly to fresh tea leaves. According to the fourth aspect, the hot water can be uniformly applied to the fresh tea leaves with a small amount of hot water. According to the fifth aspect, when fresh water is sprayed on the hot water-treated tea leaves, there are an effect of washing off the adhering hot water (containing the eluted caffeine) and an effect of rapidly reducing the temperature of the tea leaves. According to the sixth aspect, since the adhering water remains in the tea leaves after the hot water or fresh water treatment, the adhering water is blown off with the high-pressure air of the blower, and the time for the subsequent drying process can be shortened.

  According to claims 7 and 8, it is possible to reduce the amount of caffeine of fresh tea leaves continuously and efficiently by performing the process of replacing the hot water in the hot water tank with a minimum required amount of hot water, less energy consumption. It is efficient with less water contamination. According to the ninth and tenth aspects, the filter medium (filter and adsorption filter medium) can be easily attached and detached, and even if clogging occurs, it can be reused immediately after washing. It is not necessary to arrange a plurality of filters so as to become finer and to wash all the filters simultaneously. Washing is also easy by providing a transfer surface for transferring tea leaves, a hot water tank, and a filtration tank for low caffeine treatment. When a filtration tank is installed on the hot water tank, separation is easy and cleaning is easy. According to the eleventh aspect, there is an effect that the tea leaves are soaked by the steel plate by providing a fresh tea leaf cutting machine to reduce the bulk of the fresh tea leaves. As a result, it is possible to reduce caffeine efficiently while having low running cost and easy maintenance, and there is an effect that it is possible to provide an inexpensive product without incurring equipment costs.

  This will be described with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes an endless net conveyor, which is made of stainless steel in this embodiment. However, any material can be used as long as it is made of wire mesh, resin, cloth, or the like and has a shape with water permeability like a net. Reference numeral 2 denotes a hopper for feeding fresh tea leaves onto the net conveyor 1 while storing an appropriate amount of fresh tea leaves installed on the net conveyor 1, and 3 is a conveyor for supplying fresh tea leaves to the hopper 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a green tea leaf confirmation sensor, and a photoelectric sensor is used in this embodiment. The raw tea leaf confirmation sensor 4 detects that a predetermined amount of fresh tea leaves supplied from the conveyor 3 is accumulated in the hopper 2, stops the operation of the conveyor 3 when the predetermined amount is accumulated, and operates the conveyor 3 when no tea leaf is detected. To resume. 5 is a stirrer, which makes the thickness of fresh tea leaves fed from the hopper 2 constant. Reference numeral 6 denotes a hot water treatment chamber, which is a space where hot water is applied to fresh tea leaves, and a net conveyor 1 is stretched.

  Reference numeral 7A denotes a hot water pipe, which is branched into four as shown in FIG. 3 in this embodiment, and is installed above the net conveyor 1 at an appropriate interval. A hot water nozzle 8 </ b> A is provided in the hot water pipe 7 </ b> A so as to eject hot water toward the net conveyor 1. In the present embodiment, eight hot water nozzles 8A are provided in one hot water pipe 7A, and a total of 32 hot water nozzles 8A are provided. As shown in FIG. 6, the hot water nozzle 8A has a fan-shaped jet shape in a wide range, and jets hot water to the fresh tea leaves, and is provided so that the hot water hits the fresh tea leaves without any gaps (not a fan-shaped jet shape). As long as hot water can be uniformly applied to fresh tea leaves, other spout shapes may be used). Reference numeral 7B denotes a hot water pipe provided below the net conveyor 1, and 8B denotes a hot water nozzle provided so that hot water hits the front half of the transfer surface from below toward the fresh tea leaves on the net conveyor 1 without any gap. A steel plate 9 is disposed under the net conveyor 1 so as to be substantially in contact with the net conveyor 1 in the latter half of the transfer surface. The hot water ejected from the hot water nozzle 8A is accumulated on the steel plate 9, and the tea leaves are transferred while being immersed in the hot water on the steel plate 9 while being transferred on the net conveyor 1. As a result, caffeine can be efficiently eluted, and an efficient low caffeine treatment can be performed without increasing the pressure. Reference numeral 10 denotes a drive motor for driving the net conveyor 1, and an inverter 34 adjusts the number of rotations of the drive motor 10 to adjust the transfer speed of the net conveyor 1, that is, the tea leaf processing time. Reference numeral 16 denotes a temperature sensor, which is provided at a position where hot water from the hot water nozzle 8A hits reliably. The temperature sensor 16 measures the temperature of the hot water and adjusts the hot water temperature.

  A hot water collecting plate 39 provided below the hot water treatment chamber 6 collects hot water ejected from the hot water nozzles 8A and 8B. 59 and 60 are valves, 13 is a pipe, and 56 is a drain pipe. Hot water collected by the hot water collecting plate 39 opens the valves 59 and 60 as necessary, and opens the valve 59 to the drain pipe 56. If 60 is opened, it will flow to the pipe 13. Reference numeral 26 denotes a tea leaf confirmation sensor provided on the tea leaf discharge side of the net conveyor 1, which checks whether or not fresh tea leaves are discharged. 41 is a conveyor for conveying the discharged tea leaves to the next tea making apparatus (not shown).

  37 is a fresh water tank, 52 is a water pipe, and 53 is a valve. The valve 53 is opened, and water is stored in the fresh water tank 37 from the water pipe 52. Reference numeral 11 denotes a fresh water pump, and reference numeral 12 denotes a fresh water nozzle. The fresh water pump 11 draws fresh water from the fresh water tank 37, passes through the fresh water pipe 42, and jets from the fresh water nozzle 12 to the tea leaves. In this embodiment, eight fresh water nozzles 12 are provided. The fresh water ejected from the fresh water nozzle 12 flows to the hot water collecting plate 39 and merges with the hot water ejected from the hot water nozzles 8A and 8B. 35 is a ball tap, and the fresh water in the fresh water tank 37 keeps a predetermined water level. If the predetermined water level can be maintained, the ball tap need not be used. In this embodiment, the fresh water tank 37 is provided. However, the water pipe 52 may be directly connected to the fresh water pipe 42 without providing the fresh water tank 37. 66 is a valve, and 67 is a pressure gauge. By opening and closing the valve 66, the fresh water nozzle 12 is ejected. 45 is a drain pipe and 46 is a valve. When water is discharged from the fresh water tank 37, the valve 46 is opened and discharged to the drain groove 58.

  36 is a high-pressure air outlet, 24 is a blower, and 40 is a duct. The high-pressure air outlet 36 is provided after the fresh water nozzle 12 and is installed toward the tea leaves. The high-pressure air generated in the blower 24 is blown from the high-pressure air outlet 36 to the tea leaves through the duct 40.

  A hot water tank 17 stores hot water. 18 is a boiler, 43 is a steam pipe, and 19 is a steam injection hole. The steam injection hole 19 is opened at a part of the tip of the steam pipe 43, and that part is immersed in the hot water tank 17, and steam generated by the boiler 18 is generated. It ejects from the steam injection hole 19. 54 on the steam pipe 43 is a pressure gauge, 55 is a valve, and these adjust the steam feed condition. A hot water tank temperature sensor 20 measures the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank 17. Reference numeral 14 denotes a hot water pump. The hot water pump 14 pumps the hot water through the hot water pipe 7 and sends the hot water to the hot water pipes 7A and 7B and the hot water nozzles 8A and 8B. Reference numeral 15 is an inverter, and 47 is a hot water flow meter of the hot water pipe 7, and the amount of hot water sent by the hot water pump 14 is adjusted by the inverter 15 while watching the hot water flow meter 47. This also changes the hot water pressure. 48 is a pressure gauge of the hot water pipe 7A, 49 is a valve of the hot water pipe 7A, 50 is a pressure gauge of the hot water pipe 7B, 51 is a valve of the hot water pipe 7B, and it is necessary to eject hot water from the hot water nozzles 8A and 8B. In response, the valves 49 and 51 are opened and closed. The pressure gauges 48 and 50 are for checking the pressure of the hot water and adjust the pressure of the hot water to a desired value.

  A transparent glass tube 38 is provided in a U shape on the side wall of the hot water tank 17. The glass tube 38 is transparent in order to monitor the quality and level of hot water. Reference numeral 25 denotes a caffeine concentration sensor, which measures the caffeine concentration in hot water and replaces hot water when the caffeine concentration increases. Reference numeral 28 denotes a lower limit water level sensor, and reference numeral 30 denotes an upper limit water level sensor, which is used to keep the amount of hot water constant or to replace hot water. 44 is a drain pipe, and 27 is a drain electromagnetic valve. When the hot water is replaced, the drain electromagnetic valve 27 is opened to drain water from the drain pipe 44. The water supply electromagnetic valve 29 and the drainage electromagnetic valve 27 do not need to be electrical when the hot water is not automatically replaced, and may not be electromagnetic valves as long as they can be automatically moved. In this embodiment, the hot water tank 17 is used, but if hot water can be supplied, hot water may be directly supplied from the outside without using the hot water tank 17, or a hot water tank having a different structure may be used.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a filtration tank, which is installed on the hot water tank 17 in this embodiment, but hot water from the filtration tank 23 may be transported by piping instead of being on the hot water tank 17. In the filtration tank 23, hot water ejected from the hot water nozzles 7 </ b> A and 7 </ b> B is collected on the hot water collection plate 39 and is allowed to flow above the filter medium in the filtration tank 23 through the pipe 13. Reference numeral 21 denotes a filter, which may be a single sheet, but a plurality of sheets are more efficient, and are detachably installed in the filtration tank 23. In the case of a plurality of sheets, they are installed so as to become finer from top to bottom. In this embodiment, two sheets are installed, the upper is a rough wire mesh of about 40 mesh, and the lower is a fine wire mesh of about 250 mesh. 22 is an adsorptive filter material, and in this embodiment, liquid phase coconut shell-based granular activated carbon, which is a kind of activated carbon, is available at low cost and can be regenerated. ,I do not care. Reference numeral 31 denotes an overflow water channel, which is provided above these filter media. An overflow sensor 32 is provided in the middle of the overflow water channel 31. If hot water passes through the overflow water channel 31, it is detected by the overflow sensor 32, and it can be determined that one of the filter media (the filter 21 and the adsorption filter media 22) is clogged. In addition, for example, a method in which an electrode rod is installed in the overflow water channel 31 with the filtration tank as the ground side may be used.

  Reference numeral 33 denotes a fresh tea leaf cutting machine, which is provided in front of the hopper 2 and cuts fresh tea leaves in advance before putting the fresh tea leaves into the hopper 2. Depending on the size (bulk) of fresh tea leaves, it is not necessary to pass the fresh tea leaf cutting machine 33, so it is installed as necessary.

  The operation of the above apparatus will be described. First, prepare fresh water and hot water before starting to supply fresh tea leaves. The fresh water opens the valve 53 of the water pipe 52 and fills the fresh water tank 37 with fresh water. The hot water opens the water supply electromagnetic valve 29 of the water pipe 52, fills the hot water tank 17 with water, supplies steam from the boiler 18 through the steam pipe 43 into the hot water tank 17 through the steam injection hole 19, and then the hot water tank. The water in 17 is heated, and hot water temperature is made into about 90-98 degree | times (it measures with the hot water tank temperature sensor 20). The hot water temperature is adjusted by adjusting the amount of combustion of the burner 68 provided in the boiler 18. When the hot water reaches about 90 to 98 degrees, the hot water pump 14 draws up the hot water, passes through the hot water pipe 7, opens the valves 49 and 51 to the hot water pipes 7A and 7B, and heats from the hot water nozzles 8A and 8B. Spout water. The hot water ejected from the hot water nozzle 8A is measured by the temperature sensor 16, and when it reaches about 90 to 98 degrees, the preparation of the hot water is completed. In parallel with this, the pressure of the hot water is measured by the pressure gauges 48 and 50, and the hot water pump 14 is adjusted by the inverter 15 so that the pressure becomes 0.01 to 0.5 MPa. The pressure is preferably 0.05 to 0.1 MPa, and more preferably 0.08 to 0.1 MPa in the above range. Moreover, the pressure of the hot water nozzle 8A and the hot water nozzle 8B may be the same or different, and it is optimal when the hot water nozzle 8A is 0.08 MPa and the hot water nozzle 8B is 0.1 MPa. The processing time for applying hot water to fresh tea leaves is adjusted by the transfer speed of the net conveyor 1, and the transfer speed of the net conveyor 1 is 90 to 150 seconds by changing the rotation speed of the drive motor 10 of the net conveyor 1 by the inverter 34. It is good to adjust so that it becomes.

  When these set values reach predetermined values, fresh tea leaves are supplied to the hopper 2 by the conveyor 3. The fresh tea leaves are made to have a uniform thickness by the scraping and leveling device 5 and sent to the hot water treatment chamber 6. In the first half of the hot water treatment chamber 6, the hot water blows out from the upper and lower hot water nozzles 8A and 8B. Is eluted and reduced. In the second half of the hot water treatment chamber 6, the hot water ejected from the upper hot water nozzle 8 </ b> A hits the hot water accumulated in the steel plate 9 and is reduced by elution. This is because tea leaves that have been weakened by hot water adhere to each other, become plate-like, and even if the pressure of the hot water nozzle 8B from the bottom of the tea leaves is increased, the tea leaves are not lifted one by one, but as a lump. Since most of the hot water bounces off and falls, the hot water is not used effectively, and the hot water for each tea leaf is bad and not efficient. It is more efficient to store hot water and soak tea leaves.

  When caffeine is eluted in the hot water treatment chamber 6, the fresh tea leaves reach a temperature near the hot water temperature, so the fresh water ejected from the fresh water nozzle 12 is sprayed on the tea leaves, the hot water containing caffeine is washed away, and the temperature of the tea leaves is adjusted. Lower rapidly. Thereafter, air is blown from the high-pressure air outlet 36 to blow off hot water and fresh water adhering to the tea leaves. Thus, the tea leaves are reduced in caffeine, and the tea leaves discharged from the net conveyor 1 are conveyed by the conveyor 41 to a tea making apparatus (not shown) in the next process.

  On the other hand, hot water or water hitting the tea leaves is collected on the hot water collecting plate 39. If the valve 59 is open, it passes through the drain pipe 56 to the drain groove 57, and if the valve 60 is open, it passes through the pipe 13 and the filtration tank. 23. In the filtration tank 23, the hot water passes through the filter 21 and the adsorption filter material 22, is filtered, and enters the hot water tank 17. The hot water tank 17 mixes with water that has entered from the water pipe 52, is heated, is sent again to the hot water pipes 7, 7A, and 7B, and the hot water circulates.

  If the treatment of fresh tea leaves is continued for a long time, the caffeine concentration in the hot water tank 17 becomes high, making it unsuitable as treated water, and it is necessary to replace the hot water. The procedure for replacing hot water is shown in FIG. The timing for replacing the hot water is determined when the caffeine concentration sensor 25 detects the caffeine concentration and reaches a predetermined value (or when the processing amount of fresh tea leaves reaches a predetermined amount). First, the supply of fresh tea leaves to the hopper 2 is interrupted, and the tea leaf confirmation sensor 26 provided on the tea leaf discharge side confirms that there are no tea leaves on the transfer surface, and after a predetermined time, steam to the water in the hot water tank 17 After the heating by is stopped, the drainage electromagnetic valve 27 is opened, the lower limit water level sensor 28 detects that the hot water level has reached the lower limit, and the drainage is completed. When drainage is completed, the drainage electromagnetic valve 27 is closed and the water supply electromagnetic valve 29 is opened to supply water. When the upper limit water level sensor 30 detects that the hot water level has reached the upper limit, the water supply electromagnetic valve 29 is closed and heating is started. To do. When the value of the hot water tank temperature sensor 20 reaches a predetermined value, the hot water pump 14 is operated and hot water is ejected from the hot water nozzles 8A and 8B. The temperature of the hot water ejected from the hot water nozzle 8A is measured by the temperature sensor 16, and if the value of the temperature sensor 16 reaches a predetermined value, fresh green leaves are supplied again to the hopper 2 and the low caffeine processing is continued.

  When the bulk of fresh tea leaves is large, by adding a step of cutting the fresh tea leaves in advance before the low caffeine treatment by the fresh tea leaf cutting machine 33, by maintaining the distance between the fresh tea leaves and the upper hot water nozzle 8A, The spray angle is maintained, the portion where hot water does not contact is not generated, and the tea leaves are immersed by the steel plate 9 substantially in contact with the lower side of the net conveyor 1 in the latter half of the hot water treatment chamber 6 by reducing the bulk of the tea leaves. There is also an effect.

  After all the green tea leaves are processed, the water supply valve 53, the water supply electromagnetic valve 29, the valve 55, the valves 49 and 51, the valve 66 and the valve 60 are closed, the water discharge valve 59, the water discharge electromagnetic valve 27 and the valve 46 are opened, Unnecessary hot water and water are discharged to the drain grooves 57 and 58.

  While the fresh tea leaves are moving in the hot water treatment chamber 6, 50 to 250 liters of hot water having a pressure of 0.01 to 0.5 MPa and a hot water temperature of 90 to 98 ° C. per kg of fresh tea leaves ejected from the hot water nozzle 8 (this The range of 80 to 160 liters is desirable, and 100 to 150 liters is the most suitable), so that the green tea leaves treated with a treatment time of 90 to 150 seconds contain about 50% or more of the total amount of caffeine in hot water. Can be eluted.

The front schematic of this invention. The front view of the processing apparatus of this invention. The top view of the processing apparatus of this invention. The front view of the filtration tank and hot water tank of this invention. The figure which showed the flowchart of the replacement | exchange procedure of water. The perspective view which showed the ejection shape of the hot water nozzle. The figure which showed the data of the low caffeine process.

Explanation of symbols

1 Net conveyor 2 Hopper 3 Conveyor 4 Green tea leaf confirmation sensor (hopper)
5 Scraping and equalizing device 6 Hot water treatment room 7 Hot water pipe 7A Hot water pipe (top)
7B Hot water pipe (bottom)
8A Hot water nozzle (top)
8B Hot water nozzle (bottom)
9 Steel plate 10 Drive motor 11 Fresh water pump 12 Fresh water nozzle 13 Piping 14 Hot water pump 15 Inverter (hot water pump)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 Temperature sensor 17 Hot water tank 18 Boiler 19 Steam injection hole 20 Hot water tank temperature sensor 21 Filter 22 Adsorption filter material 23 Filter tank 24 Blower 25 Caffeine concentration sensor 26 Tea fresh leaf confirmation sensor 27 Drainage solenoid valve 28 Lower limit water level sensor 29 Water supply solenoid valve 30 Upper water level sensor 31 Overflow channel 32 Overflow sensor 33 Brown leaf cutting machine 34 Inverter (drive motor)
35 Ball tap 36 High-pressure air outlet 37 Fresh water tank 38 Glass tube 39 Hot water collecting plate 40 Duct 41 Conveyor 42 Fresh water pipe 43 Steam pipe 44 Drain pipe (hot water tank)
45 Drain pipe (fresh water tank)
46 Valve (Shimizu tank)
47 Hot water flow meter 48 Pressure gauge 49 Valve 50 Pressure gauge 51 Valve 52 Water pipe 53 Valve 54 Pressure gauge (steam pipe)
55 Valve (steam pipe)
56 Drain Pipe 57 Drain Groove 58 Drain Groove 59 Valve 60 Valve 61 Frame 62 Sprocket 63 Chain 64 Drain Pipe 65 Drain Pipe 66 Fresh Water Nozzle 67 Pressure Gauge 68 Burner

Claims (11)

  A fresh tea leaf low caffeine treatment device characterized in that 50 to 250 liters of hot water having a pressure of 0.01 to 0.5 MPa is sprayed on fresh tea leaves per 1 kg of fresh tea leaves to reduce caffeine in fresh tea leaves.   Conveyor with a water-permeable transfer surface for transferring fresh tea leaves, a hot water pipe with a hot water nozzle for jetting hot water from above the transfer surface toward almost the entire transfer surface, and a transfer surface toward the first half of the transfer surface The fresh tea leaf low according to claim 1, comprising a hot water pipe provided with a hot water nozzle for ejecting hot water from below and a steel plate provided substantially in contact with the transfer surface below the latter half of the transfer surface. Caffeine processing equipment.   3. The tea fresh leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hot water nozzles are arranged in a staggered arrangement at appropriate intervals.   4. The tea fresh leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hot water nozzle has a fan shape.   The fresh tea leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein a fresh water pipe having a fresh water nozzle for ejecting fresh water is provided on the tea leaves after the hot water treatment.   6. A fresh tea leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a blower having a high-pressure air outlet for blowing high-pressure air to hot tea or fresh water-treated tea leaves is provided.   A hot water tank for supplying hot water to the hot water pipe is provided, and the hot water tank is equipped with a device for measuring the water level, caffeine concentration and hot water temperature, a water supply valve, and a drain valve, and reaches a predetermined caffeine concentration. Then, the supply of fresh tea leaves and the heating of the hot water tank are stopped, the hot water in the hot water tank is discharged, the water is supplied and heated, and when the hot water reaches a predetermined temperature, the supply of fresh tea leaves is started. Item 1. The fresh caffeine treatment apparatus for tea leaves according to Item 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.   A tea leaf processing amount measuring device and a hot water tank for supplying hot water to the hot water pipe are provided, the hot water tank is equipped with a device for measuring the water level and hot water temperature, a water supply valve, and a drain valve. When the specified amount of water is reached, the supply of fresh tea leaves and heating of the hot water tank are stopped, the hot water in the hot water tank is discharged, water is supplied and heated, and the supply of fresh tea leaves starts when the hot water reaches a predetermined temperature. The tea leaves low caffeine treatment apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.   A pipe for collecting hot water sprayed to the tea leaves on the transfer surface and supplying it to the hot water tank, and a filtration tank in the middle or front and back of the pipe are provided, and the filter medium is detachably installed in the filter tank. An overflow water channel having an overflow sensor for detecting that hot water is flowing at a position higher than the installation surface is provided, and when hot water flows in the overflow water channel, it is determined that the filter medium is clogged. Item 9. The tea caffeine low caffeine treatment device according to Item 7 or 8.   The tea leaf low caffeine treatment device according to claim 9, wherein the filter material comprises a filter and an adsorbent filter material.   11. A fresh tea leaf low caffeine treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fresh tea leaf cutting machine for cutting fresh tea leaves is provided in advance.

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