JP2539647B2 - Tea making machine with automatic cleaning cycle - Google Patents

Description

Description: [Industrial field of use] The present invention relates to a tea making apparatus having a washing cycle capable of automatically washing the inside of a tea making machine.

[Prior Art] Among the tea making machines, in the rough kneading machine for drying the tea leaves that have just been steamed and are soft and easily crushed, while stirring and kneading,
During the work, a part of the tea leaves gradually adheres to the bottom of the kneading machine, the rough-cutting hands, and the fraying hands, etc., and during continuous work for a long time, a layer of crushed tea leaves of about 5 to 10 mm is formed and the tea leaves are In order to properly stir and knead
Since the gap between the tea leaves is important, the thicker the layer of crushed tea leaves, the less the operation such as stirring the tea leaves becomes insufficient.

Therefore, conventionally, the processing of tea leaves is stopped about once every half day or once a day, and a watermelon or sponge, which is approximately equivalent to the volume of tea leaves processed in the tea making machine, is put into the tea making machine, for example, a rough kneader. Then, while sprinkling water on it, rotate the leaf roughening hand and the fir hand and scrape off the layer of crushed tea leaves adhering to the above-mentioned massage bottom, leaf roughing hand, and fir hand with the above melon or sponge to clean it. After that, the take-out door at the bottom of the massager and the front door were opened to collect the melon and sponge.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-described conventional work requires a lot of workers for each tea making machine, and it takes a lot of time and labor. It got wet and needed extra time to dry it.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tea making apparatus having an automatic washing cycle capable of automatically and efficiently performing the washing operation of the tea making machine as described above.

[Means for Solving the Problem] A tea-making device provided with an automatic cleaning cycle according to the present invention,
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one or a plurality of tea making machines equipped internally with means for stirring or kneading tea leaves, water supply means for supplying water or hot water into the tea making machine, and the one or more tea making machines Of tea leaves for each tea making machine, a feeding and unloading conveyor arranged in order in the unloading section, and a dispensing and feeding means capable of dispensing and feeding the objects to be discharged from the unloading conveyor to the next tea making machine or another direction. And a hopper for storing a sponge or the like in an amount corresponding to the volume of one tea leaf operated in the tea making machine at the lower part of the distribution and supply means, and the delivery end of the hopper is the starting end of the tea making machine. Storage and supply means for sponge, etc. connected to the input part,
It is characterized in that it comprises a control device for sequentially operating the storage and supply means, the water supply means, the respective conveyors, and the distribution means in response to a manual operation or a command of a preset timer or the like.

[Operation] During normal tea making operation, the cleaning gourd or sponge is stored in the hopper, and when a cleaning instruction is given, the sponge is first stored in the tea making machine by operating the storage and supply means. When water is supplied by the water supply means while pouring into the water, and at the same time the leaf-grabbing hand or the rubbed hand is rotated, the sponge or the like is agitated by the leaf-sharpened hand or the rubbed hand, or the leaf-washed hand or the rubbed hand is rubbed while it is in a twisted state. It will be rubbed against the massage bottom, and they will be washed cleanly, and when it becomes clean, stop the water supply and open the take-out door, take out the sponge etc. with the remaining water and discharge it onto the conveyor. Let it be transported as it is.

When one or more tea making machines are installed in parallel, the sponge etc. have a distribution and supply means in front of the take-out conveyor. To be done.

When each tea making machine is installed in series from the feeding and unloading conveyor, the unloading conveyor is connected to the next tea making machine via the next feeding conveyor, so sponge etc. can be directly connected to the next tea making machine. Will be put in.

Then, in the next tea making machine, in the same manner as described above, the water supply is started and the leaf roughening hand and the fir hand are rotated to perform washing for a predetermined time, and then the take-out door is opened to take out the sponge used for washing and the like. Deliver to tea making machine. In this manner, the sponge and the like are sequentially repeated, and when the sponge reaches the distribution / supply means, the sponge branches into the other, is stored in the hopper below the storage, and is stored until the next cleaning device.

[Embodiment] The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and Figs. 1 to 3 are a front view, a plan view and a right side view in the case of one tea making machine, and 4 to 6
The figures show a front view, a plan view and a right side view when the tea making machines are installed in parallel, and FIGS. 7 to 9 show a front view, a plan view and a right side view when the tea making machines are installed in series. It is a thing.

First, a case where there is one tea making machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Each tea making machine is provided with a cleaning cycle. For example, when the tea making rough kneader 1 is taken as an example, the rough kneading machine 1 A tea leaf measuring pool 11 for measuring a single tea leaf which is usually processed by the tea coarse kneading machine 1 is arranged on the upper part of the above, and a tea leaf feeding conveyor 12 is arranged on it. In addition, a gutter-shaped vibrating conveyor, which is a take-out conveyor, is provided below the tea making coarse kneader 1.
15 is provided with its conveying surface slightly inclined, and a vertical bucket conveyor 16 is provided following the vibration conveyor 12. Further, below the take-out portion chute 17 of the bucket conveyor 16, a forward / reverse rotatable belt conveyor 18 as a distribution means is arranged.

A tea making machine in the next step is arranged at one end of the belt conveyor 18 described above, but a stainless endless net belt 62 is stretched below the other end of the belt conveyor 18. A storage and supply means 6 such as a sponge including a hopper portion 61 capable of storing a sponge corresponding to the volume of tea leaves for one tea making (hereinafter referred to as one sponge) at its starting end.
Is provided, and the end of the delivery end of the storage and supply means 6 is connected to the tea making and kneading machine 1. Further, 63 is a scraping and leveling device on the hopper 61.

Further, 68 is a water supply means mounted on the upper rear surface in the tea making and kneading machine 1, and the water supply means is a long gas pipe provided with a large number of water sprinkling holes, and is arranged in the gas pipe. The supplied water is operated and stopped by turning on and off the installed solenoid valve 69. However, in practical use, it suffices if the tea making coarse kneader 1 simply has an outlet for water that can be supplied.

7 is a controller for a cleaning cycle, which will be described later, and may use a control means (not shown) for normal tea making,
Alternatively, it may be provided separately, but here, only the control relating to cleaning will be described.

According to the operation sequence during cleaning, when the worker presses the cleaning start switch SW71, the endless net belt 62 operates for a predetermined time, and the one-time sponge of the hopper 61 is thrown into the tea coarse kneader 1. , Solenoid valve 69 is turned on at the same time
Then water is supplied (sprinkling). Therefore, when the main shaft 13 equipped with a rough hand, a rough hand, etc. is rotated and the cleaning time t1 preset by the control unit elapses, the solenoid valve 69 is turned off, and the opening / closing means 14 for the take-out door of the tea making and kneading machine 1 is opened. When turned on, the sponge and the like in the rough kneader are taken out onto the vibration conveyor along with the remaining water, and are carried out toward the bucket conveyor 16.

In the tea making coarse kneading machine 1, since the kneading bottom 1 ′ and the like are wet, the drying time t2 set in advance when the take-out is completed
Only the hot air generator (not shown) supplies hot air to dry the kneading bottom 1'and the like.

On the other hand, sponges and the like carried onto the bucket conveyor 16 are discharged from the chute 17 at the other end, but unlike during normal tea making, since the belt conveyor 18 is reversed, the sponges and the like are at the other end of the conveyor 18. Is dropped into the hopper 61 and stored as it is.

In the above-mentioned state, the sponge and the like still contain a large amount of water, so if the water removing means 67 for dehydrating the water of the sponge or the like is provided while being dropped from the conveyor 18 into the hopper section 61, the sponge or the like is provided. It dries quickly, which allows sponges to last longer. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, a water-absorbing roller 66 is provided to compress the sponge or the like, the sponge or the like is compressed and dehydrated by the roller 66, and the water removing roller of the roller 66 is used.
65 should be provided.

The tea making coarse kneader 1 can immediately shift to a normal tea making operation when the above-mentioned sponge is dried, and the above series of washing operations constitutes one washing cycle.

Next, a case where a plurality of tea making machines are arranged in parallel will be described. Basically, the same as the case where there is one tea making machine described above, and therefore only different points will be described based on FIGS. 4 to 6. That is, the two tea makers 1 and 2 have a common cleaning cycle, and the endless net belt 62 of the supply and storage means 6 for sponge or the like is relatively short.
A common feeding conveyor 12 is arranged on the delivery end side via two belt conveyors 25 and 26.

When the cleaning start switch SW71 of the tea making machine 1 is pressed, the belt of the feeding conveyor 12 is rotated in the normal direction, so that the sponge or the like supplied from the supplying and storing means 6 is fed from the left end of the feeding conveyor 12 to the measuring pool 11 (in this case, the measuring pool The bottom of the tea making machine is introduced into the tea making machine, and a washing cycle similar to that in the case of one tea making machine is performed.

If the sponge or the like is already stored in the hopper portion 61 of the supplying and storing means 6 even if the tea making machine 1 finishes the washing time t1 and is in the middle of the drying time during the washing cycle described above, the washing cycle start switch of the tea making machine 2 is pressed. Thus, the cleaning cycle of the tea making machine 2 can be started. In this case, the belt of the feeding conveyor 12 is reversed and sponges or the like are fed from the right end of the feeding conveyor 12 through the measuring pool 21 to the tea making machine 2.
Will be supplied within.

In the case described above, the supply and storage means 6 includes a storage portion A such as a sponge having a hopper portion 61, and the storage portion A.
Conveyor 25 from the delivery end of to the common input conveyor 12,
Since it is configured separately from the 26 conveyors B, even if there are various arrangements of the tea making machines, the storage A can be used in common, and the length of the conveyor B only needs to be changed. It is good in terms of production, inventory control, placement and efficiency.

Further, a case where a plurality of tea making machines are installed in series will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. In this case, one tea leaf for one tea making is used for each tea making machine 1, 2, 3 during normal tea making.
The cleaning cycle of each tea making machine 1, 2, and 3 is sequentially performed by sequentially moving the sponge and the like so as to sequentially move and make tea.

That is, when the washing start switch SW71 is pressed, the endless net belt 62 and the belt conveyor 25 are operated, one sponge or the like is put into the tea making machine 1, and the washing cycle of the tea making machine 1 starts. Then, when the cleaning time t1 ends,
The sponge and the like required for cleaning are taken out and carried out to the next tea making machine 2. In the tea making machine 2, the sponge or the like that has been carried out is put into the tea making machine 2 and, at the same time, a cleaning cycle of the sponge is started. After the washing of the tea making machine 3 is completed, the sponge or the like carried out there is branched to the other side by the branch chute 37 provided at the take-out portion of the bucket conveyor 36, dropped into the hopper portion 61 of the supply and storage means 6, and stored. It is stored until the time of cleaning.

In this case, as in the case where a plurality of tea making machines are arranged in parallel, as in the case where there is only one tea making machine, the distribution means is not the forward / reverse rotatable belt conveyor 18 but is appropriately provided inside. The branch chute 37 is provided with a switching damper 35 that is operated by an actuator. As a result, the cost can be reduced as compared with the belt conveyor 18, and the space can be saved.

The case where there is one washing machine and the case where there are a plurality of washing machines in parallel or in series have been described, but in common to them, sprinkling of water is performed for each tea making machine 1 during the washing time t1. Most of the spills over the vibration conveyor 15, which is the take-out conveyor below, from the gaps of the outlet door attachment part and the side wall water outlet, etc., but the running surface of the vibration conveyor 15 faces the next bucket conveyor 16. Since it is slightly descending and inclined, the above-mentioned spilled water and the water taken out together with the sponge etc. at the time of taking out sequentially flow out toward the bucket conveyor 16, and then a part of the charging portion of the bucket conveyor 16 is drilled. Since it is discharged from the drainage port 16 'formed in this way, water does not spill and collect around the tea making machine.

In addition, the hopper 61 of the supply and storage means 6 such as sponge
Since the bottom surface of the sponge is formed by the endless net belt 62, if a sponge or the like that still contains water is stored after collection, some water will flow out from the stored sponge, but If it is received by the saucer 62 'provided at the lower part, the water is separated from the sponge and the sponge and the like are easily dried, and if the drainage opening is provided in the saucer 62', the surroundings will not be wet.

In each of the cases described above, the worker starts the cleaning cycle by pressing the start switch 71, but the preset time, for example, every 12 hours or 24 hours in conjunction with the normal tea making operation control panel. If the feeding of tea leaves is stopped and the cleaning cycle is automatically started, the labor is further saved and the burden on the operator is reduced.

Even in the above-mentioned case, the tea leaves are moved between the tea making machines one after another, and the time during which the tea is sequentially made is cut, and a sponge or the like is put in the same manner as the tea leaves to move the tea making machines to perform a sequential cleaning cycle. The time during which each tea making machine is stopped for cleaning is shortened, and the operating efficiency is extremely good.

[Advantages of the Invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically wash a tea making machine, which was conventionally performed by two or three people, in a short time, thereby reducing the burden on the operator, and It is intended to improve the operation efficiency of tea making machines.

In addition, a sponge required for cleaning is stored on the supply and storage means arranged between tea making machines, and this is put into the tea making machine when necessary, so that no space is required for storage. It is space-saving and can be put in and taken out in an extremely short time, as compared with the case where a sponge or the like is brought from another place every washing operation.

Further, according to the cleaning means of the present invention, water is not spilled around the tea making machine and the worker is not wetted, so that extra labor is not required.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment in which there is one tea making machine, FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a right side view, and FIG. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which a plurality of tea making machines are installed in parallel, FIG. 4 is a front view, FIG. 5 is a plan view, FIG. 6 is a right side view, and FIGS. Figure 9 shows
FIG. 7 is a front view, FIG. 8 is a plan view, and FIG. 9 is a right side view showing an embodiment in which a plurality of tea making machines are installed in series. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control device in an embodiment having one tea making machine, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a water removing means such as a sponge. 1, 2, 3: Tea roughing machine (tea making machine) 15, 25, 35: Vibration conveyor (take-out conveyor) 16, 26, 36: Bucket conveyor 12: Input conveyor, 6: Supply and storage means 18: Belt conveyor, 37 : Branch shoot 67: Water removal means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. One or a plurality of tea making machines having means for stirring or kneading tea leaves therein, a water supplying means for supplying water or hot water into the tea making machines, and each of the one or a plurality of tea making machines. Injecting and unloading conveyors arranged in order in the tea leaves, unloading section, and distribution supply means capable of distributing and delivering the objects to be discharged discharged from the unloading conveyor to the next tea making machine or another direction, and the distribution A hopper that stores a sponge or the like in an amount corresponding to the volume of one tea leaf operated in the tea making machine is provided in the lower part of the supply means, and the delivery end of the hopper is connected to the input part of the tea making machine. And a control device for sequentially operating the storage and supply means, the water supply means, the conveyors, and the distribution means according to a preset timer or the like. Tea having an automatic cleaning cycle.