JP3424109B2 - Fresh tea leaf moisture measuring device and method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the Invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for measuring the water content of fresh tea leaves being transferred by means of a moisture meter of a non-contact type sensor, and more particularly to accurately measuring the water content of fresh tea leaves being transferred. It is related to the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a means for measuring the water content of tea leaves, there has been a method of measuring the transferred tea leaves with a microwave moisture meter which is a non-contact sensor while transferring the tea leaves by a conveyor or the like. is there. However, such a measurement method using a microwave moisture meter was able to obtain an accurate and reliable moisture value to some extent in tea leaves that have undergone the steaming process, but in raw tea leaves that have not undergone the steaming process, It was not possible to obtain a reliable moisture value.

This is because in a microwave moisture meter, even for samples (tea leaves) having the same water content, the microwave absorptivity differs due to the difference in the sample densities, causing an error in the measured value. That is, the tea leaves that have undergone the steaming step are in a high density state in which the bulk is reduced by being steamed or put in, and the density is uniform,
It was possible to obtain an accurate moisture value with a certain degree of reliability. On the other hand, raw tea leaves that have not undergone the steaming process have a small density and non-uniformity due to the fact that they are not steamed, they have not been mixed in, and they have not been beaten with a stirring blade. I couldn't get the value. Furthermore, even among the raw tea leaves having such a small density and unevenness, there is a difference that the ones withered due to the shape of the tea leaves have a relatively high density and the fresh ones have a small density. Getting the value was more difficult.
For this reason, the water content of raw tea leaves is not actually measured in a state where the tea leaves are transferred on a line or the like, and the raw tea leaves of a certain weight are sampled and measured by an appropriate moisture meter in a substantially stationary state.

[0004]

[Technical Items Attempted to Develop] The present invention has been made from such a background, and it is possible to transfer raw tea leaves on a belt conveyor by transferring them at a constant density or in a state closer to a constant density. This is an attempt to develop a moisture measuring device and method for accurately measuring the moisture content of fresh tea leaves.

[0005]

[Means for achieving the purpose]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fresh water content measuring apparatus for measuring the moisture content of fresh tea leaves to be transferred by a moisture meter of a non-contact type sensor. Almost parallel to
A press conveyor that applies a belt conveyor that holds and transfers fresh tea leaves is also provided along with the transfer conveyor.
The amount of water can be measured while making the density of raw tea leaves
And are characterized by.

Further, in the fresh tea leaf water content measuring apparatus according to claim 2, in addition to the requirements according to claim 1, the water content meter comprises a microwave transmitting / receiving antenna, and the transmitting / receiving antenna is the transfer conveyor. It is characterized in that it is provided so as to sandwich the press conveyor and the press conveyor.

Furthermore, in addition to the requirements of claim 1 or 2, the apparatus for measuring the moisture content of fresh tea leaves according to claim 3 measures the weight of fresh tea leaves that are transferred by being sandwiched by the transfer conveyor and the press conveyor. It is characterized by having a weight scale.

Further, in the fresh tea leaf moisture measuring apparatus according to a fourth aspect, in addition to the requirements according to the first, second or third aspect, the pressing force when the fresh tea leaf of the press conveyor is held is adjustable. It is characterized in that an adjusting mechanism is provided.

Furthermore, in the fresh tea leaf water content measuring device according to claim 5, in addition to the requirements according to claim 4, the pressure adjusting mechanism includes an elevating mechanism for holding the press conveyer up and down, and a pressing mechanism according to the principle of leverage. And a balancer rod having a weight to reduce the weight of the conveyor.

Furthermore, a fresh tea leaf water content measuring device according to a sixth aspect of the invention is, in addition to the requirements of the first, second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, a potentiometer for measuring a distance between the transfer conveyor and the press conveyor. It is characterized by being equipped with.

Further, in the method for measuring the water content of fresh tea leaves according to claim 7, the fresh tea leaves are held in a pressed state by two belt conveyors , one above the other , and transferred while making the density of the fresh tea leaves uniform.
Those made as characterized by measuring the water content of the fresh tea leaves with a moisture meter of the non-contact sensor Te.

Further, in the method for measuring the water content of fresh tea leaves according to claim 8, in addition to the requirements according to claim 7, the height of the fresh tea leaves to be held and transferred is measured with a potentiometer, and the measured value is obtained. Accordingly, the moisture content measured by the moisture meter of the non-contact sensor or the moisture content obtained by calculating the moisture content and the weight measured by the weight scale is corrected. . The above objects are intended to be achieved by these inventions.

[0013]

The green tea leaves introduced into the transfer conveyor are pressed and transferred so as to be sandwiched between the press conveyors. The state of the raw tea leaves at this time is a high density state in which the number of the raw tea leaves per volume is large, and even withered raw tea leaves or fresh raw tea leaves are transferred with a uniform density.
When adjusting the pressing force of the press conveyor, the weight of the balancer rod is moved to make the weight of the press conveyor apparently heavier or lighter.

The weight of fresh tea leaves moving on the transfer conveyor is continuously measured by a weight meter, and the water content is measured by a water meter. At this time, the water content measured by the water content meter can be obtained with extremely accurate data because the raw tea leaves are transferred in a uniform density state. Further, when the potentiometer is provided, the distance between the transfer conveyor and the press conveyor, that is, the height of the fresh tea leaves to be transferred is measured.

Then, the amount of water per unit weight of fresh tea leaves, that is, the water content, is obtained from the measurement data measured by the weight scale and the moisture meter. Note that when configured with a potentiometer, the approximate density of fresh tea leaves to be transferred is obtained from the difference in the distance between the transfer conveyor and the press conveyor, and by further correcting the error in the obtained water content or water content, It is possible to accurately determine the water content or water content of raw tea leaves.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. In the description, first, the raw tea leaf water content measuring apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described, and then the raw tea leaf water content measuring method of the present invention will be described while explaining the operation mode thereof. Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes a fresh tea leaf moisture measuring device according to the present invention, which is carried by the transfer conveyor 10 and the press adjusting mechanism 30 against the machine frame 2 while pressing the fresh tea leaf A. Press conveyor 2 to be transported with
0 and a weight scale 6 for measuring the weight of the fresh tea leaf A being transferred
A moisture meter 7 for measuring the amount of water in the fresh tea leaf A that is held and transferred by the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20, and a potentiometer 8 for measuring the distance between the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20. It comprises a control panel 9 to which the signals of the weighing scale 6, the moisture scale 7 and the potentiometer 8 are transmitted.

Each member will be described below. First machine frame 2
This is roughly classified into a conveyor machine frame 3 for holding the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20, a moisture meter machine frame 4 for holding the moisture meter 7, and a load cell for the conveyor machine frame 3. It is roughly divided into a weighing machine frame 5 which is held via the weighing machine 6 described above, and these are installed on the support base B as an example. The shape of the machine frame 2 can take any suitable form. For example, the support base B is not particularly provided, and the weight scale machine frame 5 holding the conveyor machine frame 3 and the moisture measurement machine frame 4 are placed on the floor surface. The configuration may be such that it is installed directly.

Next, the transfer conveyor 10 will be described.
As shown in the rear view of FIG. 3, the transfer conveyor 10 comprises a driving roller 11 and a driven roller 12 around which an endless belt 13 is wound. To drive the belt 13, a chain 16 is wound between a sprocket 14 provided on one end side of the drive roller 11 and a sprocket 15 provided on the rotation shaft of the drive motor M1, and the rotational drive of the drive motor M1 is transmitted. Done. The receiving portion 17 on the receiving side of the raw tea leaf A is provided with a side plate 18 and the like so that the raw tea leaf A does not spill sideways. Reference numeral 19 is a pinch roller, and the slip angle between the drive roller 11 and the belt 13 is prevented by increasing the winding angle of the belt 13 around the drive roller 11. Transfer conveyor 1 configured as described above
0 is fixedly provided below the conveyor frame 3 framed in the shape of a rectangular box.

Next, the press conveyor 20 will be described. This press conveyor 20 also has a driving roller 2 as shown in the rear view of FIG.
An endless belt 24 is wound around 1 and the driven roller 22, and two relay driven rollers 23 are arranged on the receiving side of the raw tea leaf A to bend the rotation path of the belt 24 obliquely upward. , So that the fresh tea leaf A can be easily received. As shown in the front view of FIG. 2, the belt 24 is driven by driving a chain 27 between a sprocket 25 provided on one end of the drive roller 21 and a sprocket 26 provided on the rotary shaft of the drive motor M2. This is performed by transmitting the rotational drive of the motor M2. Reference numeral 28 is a pinch roller.

The press conveyer 20 constructed as described above is held on the conveyer frame 3 by the pressure adjusting mechanism 30 so as to be located above the transfer conveyer 10. The pressure adjusting mechanism 30 includes an elevating mechanism 30A that holds the press conveyor 20 so that the press conveyor 20 can be moved up and down, and a balancer rod 35 having a weight 36 that reduces the weight of the press conveyor 20 according to the lever principle.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the elevating mechanism 30A has two machine frame rotating shafts 31 rotatably provided on the conveyor machine frame 3 and two machine frame rotating shafts 31 rotatably provided on the press conveyor 20. The press conveyor rotating shaft 32, the connecting arm 33 for fixing and connecting the two machine frame rotating shafts 31 and the press conveyor rotating shaft 32, respectively, and the rotation angles of the two machine frame rotating shafts 31 are synchronized. It consists of a three-section parallel link 34 connected to two machine frame rotating shafts 31 so as to be performed accurately and with no time difference. The press conveyor rotating shaft 32 and the connecting arm 33 may be connected rotatably. The press conveyor 2 having such a configuration
0 is oscillated so that it can be moved up and down in parallel with the transfer surface of the transfer conveyor 10 at all times. Reference numeral 3a is a stopper that regulates the ascending / descending range of the press conveyor 20.

The lifting mechanism 30A constructed as described above
The balancer rod 35 is connected to one of the machine frame rotating shafts 31 of 1. This is intended to reduce the weight of a part of the press conveyor 20 and the elevating mechanism 30A because the whole weight of the fresh tea leaves A is too heavy.
Specifically, the vicinity of the center of the balancer rod 35 is attached to the conveyor machine frame 3 and is used as a fulcrum, and one end of the elevator mechanism 30
It is fixedly connected to the end of the machine frame rotary shaft 31 of A and is used as the working end. The balancer rod 35 is provided with a weight 36 slidably, and the pressing force of the press conveyor 20 can be adjusted by changing the position of the weight 36.

Next, the potentiometer 8 will be described. The potentiometer 8 measures the distance of the gap between the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20, and corrects the measured value of the water content by the water content meter 7 according to the approximate density of the fresh tea leaves A. Of course, it is intended to make the amount of water accurately measured by making the density of the raw tea leaves A uniform and transferring it more accurately. Therefore, the raw tea leaf water content measuring device 1 of the present invention, in particular, the potentiometer 8 is used. It does not matter if it is not provided. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the potentiometer 8 is provided with a meter main body 8a fixed to the lower part of the conveyor frame 3, and a rack rod 8c having teeth meshing with the meter gear 8b inside the meter main body 8a. It projects above the meter body 8 a, and the tip of this rack rod 8 c is connected to the press conveyor 20. Therefore, formally, the height of the press conveyor 20 is measured, but since the transfer conveyor 10 is held on the conveyor frame 3 at a constant height, the height between the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20 is reduced. It is possible to measure the distance of the gap.

Next, the moisture meter 7 which is held in the moisture meter frame 4 and measures the moisture content of the fresh tea leaf A transferred will be described. First, the moisture meter frame 4 will be described. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1 and the left side view of FIG. 4, the U-shaped sliding arm 41 to which the moisture meter 7 is attached and the sliding arm 41 are A holding mechanism 42 slidably held by a linear mechanism 43. Explaining the linear mechanism 43, a drive motor M3 is attached to the upper part of the holding arm 42, and the drive motor M3 includes a linear head 43a.
3b is connected to the sliding arm 41 via a mounting bracket 44. A slide pin 41a is provided at the upper and lower ends of the sliding arm 41, and the slide pin 41a is fitted into the slide hole 42a of the holding arm 42 so that the sliding arm 41 can slide up and down. M3
The movable arm 43b is slid by driving, and the sliding arm 41 slides up and down.

Next, the moisture meter 7 will be described. This is a microwave transmitting antenna 7A and a microwave receiving antenna 7B.
The transmitting antenna 7A is provided on the upper part of the sliding arm 41, and the receiving antenna 7B is provided on the lower part of the sliding arm 41. And these transmitting antennas 7A
The receiving antenna 7B and the receiving antenna 7B are arranged to face each other so as to sandwich the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the transmitting antenna 7A is arranged so that the microwave propagation path is inclined and intersects so as not to be orthogonal to the transfer surface of the transfer conveyor 10.
And the receiving antenna 7B. This is raw tea leaf A
Alternatively, the microwave contacting the belts 13 and 24 does not reach the receiving antenna 7B by being transmitted, and is reflected so as not to interfere with the microwave transmitted from the transmitting antenna 7A. The arrangement is adopted.

Next, the control panel 9 has a microcomputer therein, is connected to the weight scale 6, the moisture meter 7 and the potentiometer 8 and also has the drive motors M1 and M.
2, connected to M3. A large number of control programs and arithmetic programs are written in the storage device of the microcomputer.

As the installation location of the raw tea leaf moisture measuring apparatus 1 as described above, a bypass for sampling may be provided in the tea processing line in front of the steamer and the measurement may be performed there. If the yield is not deteriorated by the amount or the like, it may be provided on the tea processing line for measurement.

The fresh tea leaf water content measuring device 1 of the present invention is constructed as described above, and the raw tea leaf water content measuring method of the present invention will be described together with the description of this operation mode. (I) Transferring Mode of Raw Tea Leaf A Raw tea leaf A put in the receiving portion 17 of the transfer conveyor 10
Are transferred by the belt 13 that is rotationally driven, and abut on the press conveyor 20. Then, as it is sandwiched by the press conveyor 20, it is further transferred to the microwave propagation path side of the moisture meter 7. The state of the raw tea leaves A that are sandwiched and transferred will be described. The raw tea leaves A are pressed by the press conveyor 20, the number of the raw tea leaves A per volume is large, and the raw tea leaves A are transferred with a uniform density. . The pressing force of the press conveyor 20 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the weight 36 of the balancer rod 35. For example, in order to weaken the pressing force of the balancer rod 35 in FIG.
It may be moved away from (rightward), or conversely, to increase the pressing force, on the contrary, the weight 36 may be moved closer to the machine frame rotating shaft 31 side (leftward).

(Ii) Measurement of water content and weight of raw tea leaf A, calculation of water content, and total weight of raw tea leaf A moving on the transfer conveyor 10 is continuously measured by the weight scale 6 and given as predetermined data. It is transmitted to the control panel 9. Then, microwave is transmitted from the transmitting antenna 7A of the moisture meter 7 to the receiving antenna 7B for the raw tea leaf A whose density is held by the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20 in the middle of the transfer. At this time, the output value of the microwave after being partially absorbed by the raw tea leaf A is transmitted to the control panel 9 as coded signal data. Further, the distance between the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20 is measured by the potentiometer 8 and transmitted to the control panel 9 as predetermined data.

The microcomputer in the control panel 9 calculates the water content of the raw tea leaves A from the transmitted measurement data. The calculation will be briefly described below. First, from the weight scale 6 and the moisture meter 7. Accumulate transmitted measurement data. The accumulation in the present embodiment is, for example, to perform data processing several times to several tens times per second, and calculate an average value in a state in which the data processing is accumulated for approximately one minute. When the cumulative detected weight of the raw tea leaf A measured by the weight meter 6 is W, the cumulative detected water content of the raw tea leaf A measured by the moisture meter 7 is M, and the water content is G, the following formula 1 is obtained. The water content G is determined.

[0031]

[Equation 1]

In the equation, a and b are added with appropriate values because the actual water content cannot be obtained at 100 × M / W. The transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 2
The difference in the approximate density of the raw tea leaves A caused by the interval of 0, the error in the water content due to the installation mode of the moisture meter 7, the time lag, and the like are corrected. Note that the correction based on the rough density of the raw tea leaves A is performed based on the measurement data of the potentiometer 8, but it may of course be performed not when calculating the water content G but when calculating the cumulative detected water content M. .

[0033]

Other Embodiments The basic embodiment of the present invention is as described above, but the following modifications can be made. For example, the pressure adjusting mechanism 30
As shown in FIG. 7A, the elevating mechanism 30A of FIG.
Guide block 51 that can be freely rolled on bearing block 5
It is also possible to slide 2 so as to raise and lower. In this embodiment, as an example, the balancer rod 35 and the press conveyor 20 are connected via the pulley 53 and the wire 54.

As the balancer, an urging member 55 such as a cylinder or a coil pull may be applied so that the press conveyor 20 is hung while being urged (see FIG. 7B).

When pressing the raw tea leaf A, it is not always necessary to press it from above, and as shown in FIG. 7 (c), the lower transfer conveyor 10 can be raised and lowered and is pressed by urging it upward. Such a configuration may be adopted.

Furthermore, even if both the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20 are fixed to the conveyor frame 3,
The fresh tea leaves A can be transferred with a uniform density to some extent, and the interval between the transfer conveyor 10 and the press conveyor 20 can be set to be slightly wide so that the yield is not deteriorated.

[0037]

According to the fresh tea leaf water content measuring device of the first aspect, the fresh tea leaf A is pressed by the press conveyor 20 and transferred in a state where the density is made uniform while the moisture meter 7 of the non-contact type sensor is used. Since the water content is measured, the measurement accuracy becomes very good.

Further, according to the fresh tea leaf moisture measuring apparatus of the second aspect, the measuring time required for accurate measurement is small and the measuring time is shorter than that of measuring with other moisture meters such as infrared ray moisture meters. Is faster and can be measured more accurately.

Further, according to the fresh tea leaf water content measuring apparatus of the third aspect, since the weight meter 6 is provided, the water content per unit weight, that is, the water content can be calculated. It is possible to save the trouble of separately setting and measuring.

Further, according to the fresh tea leaf moisture measuring apparatus of the fourth aspect, there is a problem that the fresh tea leaf A is stuck or the belt conveyor is stopped without applying an excessive pressing force to the fresh tea leaf A. Does not happen.

Furthermore, according to the fresh tea leaf moisture measuring apparatus of claim 5, when the drag force of the fresh tea leaf A is larger than the pressing force of the press conveyor 20, the press conveyor 20 moves according to the drag force, and Increase the distance from the transfer conveyor 10. Therefore, the raw tea leaves A are pushed very smoothly while pressing the raw tea leaves A to make the density uniform.

Further, according to the fresh tea leaf moisture measuring apparatus of the sixth aspect, the transfer conveyor 1 is constituted by the potentiometer 8.
Since the distance between 0 and the press conveyor 20 is measured, it is possible to obtain the approximate density of the raw tea leaves A according to the distance, and to make the obtained water content or water content closer to a more accurate numerical value. Can be corrected.

According to the fresh tea leaf water content measuring method of claim 7, the water content is measured by the water content meter 7 of the non-contact type sensor while the fresh tea leaf A is transferred while being pressed in a state where the density is made uniform. Therefore, the measurement accuracy becomes very good.

Furthermore, according to the method for measuring the moisture content of raw tea leaf according to claim 8, the height of the raw tea leaf A held by the potentiometer 8 and transferred, in other words, the raw tea leaf A transferred.
Since the thickness of the layer is measured, it is possible to obtain the approximate density of the raw tea leaves A according to the height, and it is possible to correct the obtained water content or water content so as to approach a more accurate numerical value. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fresh tea leaf moisture measuring apparatus of the present invention in a perspective and exploded manner.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the periphery of a conveyor machine frame of the fresh tea leaf moisture measuring apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the periphery of the same conveyor frame.

FIG. 4 is a left side view showing the conveyor machine frame and the moisture meter machine frame with some members removed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the above-mentioned pressure adjusting mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the potentiometer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view showing other various embodiments of the fresh tea leaf moisture measuring apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Fresh tea leaf moisture measuring device Two machine frames 3 Conveyor frame 3a stopper 4 Moisture analyzer frame 5 Weighing machine frame 6 scale 7 Moisture meter 7A transmitting antenna 7B receiving antenna 8 Potentiometer 8a Meter body 8b meter gear 8c rack rod 9 control panel 10 Transfer conveyor 11 Drive roller 12 Driven roller 13 belt 14 sprockets 15 sprockets 16 chains 17 Receiving department 18 side plate 19 pinch rollers 20 Press conveyor 21 Drive roller 22 Driven roller 23 Relay driven roller 24 belts 25 sprockets 26 sprockets 27 chains 28 pinch rollers 30 Press adjustment mechanism 30A lifting mechanism 31 Machine frame rotation axis 32 Press conveyor rotating shaft 33 Connection arm 34 parallel links 35 Balancer rod 36 weights 41 Sliding arm 41a slide pin 42 Holding arm 42a slide hole 43 Linear mechanism 43a linear head 43b mover 44 Mounting bracket 51 Guide rail 52 bearing block 53 pulley 54 wire 55 Biasing member M1 drive motor M2 drive motor M3 drive motor A raw tea leaves B support

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device for measuring the water content of fresh tea leaves to be transferred by a moisture meter of a non-contact type sensor, which faces the transfer surface of a transfer conveyor to which a belt conveyor is applied and which is used to transfer the fresh tea leaves together with the transfer conveyor. It is equipped with a press conveyor that applies a belt conveyor that holds and transfers it .
Measures the water content while equalizing the density of the fresh tea leaves being transferred
An apparatus for measuring the moisture content of raw tea leaves. 2. The moisture meter comprises a microwave transmitting / receiving antenna, and the transmitting / receiving antennas are provided so as to face each other so as to sandwich the transfer conveyor and the press conveyor. The raw tea leaf moisture measuring device according to 1. 3. The fresh tea leaf moisture measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a weight scale for measuring the weight of the fresh tea leaf sandwiched and transported by the transfer conveyor and the press conveyor. . 4. The fresh tea leaf water content measuring device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a pressing adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting a pressing force when holding the fresh tea leaf of the press conveyor. . 5. The pressure adjusting mechanism comprises an elevating mechanism for holding the press conveyor so as to be able to move up and down, and a balancer rod having a weight for reducing the weight of the press conveyor according to the lever principle. 4. The fresh tea leaf water content measuring device according to 4. 6. The fresh tea leaf water content measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a potentiometer for measuring a distance between the transfer conveyor and the press conveyor. 7. Raw tea leaves are provided on two upper and lower belt conveyors.
Ri and clamped in the pressing state, fresh tea leaves Water content measurement method characterized by the amount of water to <br/> transport fresh tea leaves with uniform density of the raw tea leaves is measured with a moisture meter of the non-contact sensor . 8. The height of the fresh tea leaves to be held and transferred is measured by a potentiometer, and the water content measured by the water content meter of the non-contact sensor or the water content and weight is measured according to the measured value. The method for measuring the water content of fresh tea leaves according to claim 7, wherein the water content obtained by calculating the weight measured by the meter is corrected.