JPH02234057A - Instrument for automatically measuring moisture tea leaf under processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To uniformize drying and to stably obtain products having the improved quality by executing the control based on the electric signal from the measured moisture of the tea leaves under processing from a tea making machine. CONSTITUTION:The processed tea leaves in a rolling and drying cylinder 1 of the tea making machine A are kicked up onto a conveyor 26 from an aperture 18 as the conveyor 26 runs, thus forming the layer suitable for the measurement and arriving at the position of a moisture measuring means 32 at the time of moisture measurement. This means 32 generates an electric signal at a preset value by measuring the moisture contained in the tea leaves and operates a controller 33. The adjusting and closing of the processing conditions are executed when the measured value attains a desired value in such a manner. The rolling and drying conditions of the processed tea leaves are completely uniformized and the products having the uniform and good quality are stably obtd.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] a. Purpose of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is an automatic tea leaf moisture measuring device during processing used in crude tea production.Specifically, the tea leaves being processed in a tea making machine are taken out to the outside, and their moisture is accurately measured using a meter. This invention relates to a device that accurately determines the degree of machining based on this measured value.

(Prior art) Conventionally, when processing tea leaves using a rough rolling machine, medium rolling machine, etc., the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the machine is measured by a measuring means, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 50-38554, and the temperature of the exhaust gas is measured by a measuring means. When the temperature does not reach the set temperature, an electrical signal is generated from the measuring means, and processing conditions are controlled based on this signal, thereby maintaining the dryness of the tea leaves at a constant level and producing a high-quality product with uniform quality. Such methods are known.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, the method for measuring the exhaust gas temperature described above is based on the premise that the exhaust temperature and the moisture content of tea leaves are proportional, but the exhaust temperature and the moisture content of tea leaves are actually is not proportional, and varies considerably depending on the variety of original leaves, field, fertilizer management, weather, and other conditions.

Therefore, if the processing conditions are uniformly controlled at a constant exhaust temperature, that is, the processing conditions are adjusted or the processing is stopped, the processed tea leaves will have considerable unevenness in rolling and drying, and the purpose of obtaining a uniform, high-quality product will not be achieved. It was impossible.

The present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it measures the moisture content of tea leaves being processed from a tea making machine, generates an electric signal based on this moisture value, and controls the tea leaves based on this. The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic tea leaf moisture measuring device during processing that can completely unify rolling conditions and stably obtain products of uniform and high quality.

mouth. Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The means of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned objects is to take out processed tea leaves in a drying barrel of a tea making machine through an opening in a wall surface and stack them to a thickness suitable for measurement. A tea leaf moisture automatic method during processing, comprising a means for taking out processed tea leaves, and a measuring means installed opposite to the tea leaves taken out by the taking out means, for measuring the moisture content of the tea leaves and emitting an electric signal according to the moisture content. This is due to the configuration of the measuring device, and if the tea leaf extracting device used in this device were to continuously extract tea leaves, a considerable amount of tea leaves would be extracted, resulting in a shortage of the specified amount of kneading. This is a combination of a means to return the taken out tea leaves to the original rolling and drying barrel, and a means for temporarily taking out the tea leaves.If the amount taken out is small and the insufficient amount of rolling drying is not a problem, there is a means for sending the taken out tea leaves to the next tea making machine. When taking out tea leaves temporarily, the removed tea leaves are stored in a container and then fed into the original tea making machine or the next tea making machine. You may also do this.

Next, since the moisture measuring means is required to be able to quickly and accurately measure the moisture content of the tea leaves taken out by the taking out means, it is possible to irradiate the tea leaves with infrared rays and measure the moisture content based on changes in the reflected state. Although we used an infrared moisture measuring means that has the function of emitting an electric signal when a preset moisture value is reached, the present invention is not limited to this method.
Of course, other methods can be used as long as they perform the same function, and the electrical signal emitted by this measuring means at the set value is used for processing control or alarm, and is not a control signal. Based on this signal, each operating part, for example, means for adjusting the temperature and air volume of the hot air generator, means for adjusting the number of revolutions of the kneading hands, means for discharging tea leaves from the kneading drum, and multiple tea making machines. In a continuous tea machine that sequentially flows tea leaves, the flow state of the tea leaves is transmitted to a means for controlling the flow,
Each of the above-described operations may be performed automatically, or in the case of an alarm signal, some or all of the above-mentioned controls may be performed manually based on the alarm signal, but are the above-mentioned automatic controls being performed correctly? , is used to check whether or not.

(Function) In the apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the moisture value at which the moisture measuring means generates an electric signal is set in advance, and the tea leaves are rolled and dried by the tea making machine, and the tea leaves are then processed. When it is time to measure the moisture content of tea leaves, open the lid of the opening and operate the conveyor, and some of the tea leaves being processed in the drying drum will be thrown out from the opening onto the conveyor, making it suitable for measurement. layer and reach the position of the moisture measuring means. Then, the measuring means measures the moisture content of the tea leaves, and when the moisture content reaches a set value, it generates an electric signal to activate the controller, and if the signal is generated during processing, the temperature and air volume of the hot air, If the kneading conditions are changed by controlling the rotation speed of the kneading hands and a signal is generated at the end of processing, the tea leaf discharging means is activated to terminate the processing by discharging the tea leaves, and further, In the case of a continuous tea machine that processes tea leaves by sequentially passing them through multiple tea machines with different rolling and drying conditions, adjust the tea leaf passage time of each tea machine or some of them. By adjusting the overall processing time, it is possible to process the tea leaves in the best possible condition and to make it completely uniform.

Note that the electrical signal mentioned above is optical. Based on the sound alarm signal, it is possible to artificially change the drying conditions by adjusting the hot air temperature, air volume, and number of rotations of the kneading hands, or to discontinue processing by discharging the tea leaves. This alarm signal is generated at the same time as the control signal, and this alarm can be used to check whether automatic control operations are being performed accurately or not, thereby preventing the production of defective products due to automatic control malfunctions. be.

(Example) Next, an example of the implementation of the automatic tea leaf moisture measuring device during processing according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

The tea making machine A shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a coarse rolling machine with a fixed barrel, and has a mouth 2 opened at the top of a tea leaf rolling/drying barrel 1 for inputting and exhausting tea leaves. A pool 3 is provided, a semicircular kneading bottom b is provided at the bottom as shown in Fig. 1, a rotary shaft 4 is passed through the center, and known kneading hands 5 and leaf palms 6 are arranged in a desired arrangement. An opening/closing part 7 is provided on the above-described semicircular kneading bottom b, and this opening/closing part 7 is linked with an opening/closing means 8 using a motor (cylinder), etc., and a closing means 9 for keeping the tea leaves closed during processing. The opening/closing part 7 is closed to process the tea leaves, and when processing is completed, the opening/closing part 7 is opened to discharge the tea leaves, and after discharge, the opening/closing lid 7 is closed to process the next tea leaf. It is made to be rubbed roughly.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a hot air supply duct provided on the back of the tea leaf drying drum 1, which has a Suita port 11 that blows air toward the rolling bottom b and is opened over the entire length of the tea leaf drying drum 1, and this duct 1G As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a known hot air generator 12 is installed.
is connected.

Figure 3 of the drawing shows a system in which multiple tea machines A similar to those in Figure 1 are installed together, each with different rolling and drying conditions, and each tea machine A performs the rough rolling process in sections. A relay means 13 such as a vertical conveyor is arranged between the tea making machines A, and the tea leaves that have been partially processed by the tea making machine A in the previous stage are sent to the next tea making machine A by this relay means 13, thereby being processed for the next time. These steps are performed sequentially to obtain coarsely rolled tea leaves with the desired degree of rolling. FIG. 4 of the drawing shows a drying barrel 1 of a tea making machine A similar to that shown in FIG.
．． The tea leaves are divided into 15 sections, the rolling conditions of each rolling chamber 15 are different, and the rough rolling process is continuously performed by flowing the thorn tea leaves into each of these rolling chambers 15. wall 14
A rotary blade type extractor 17 rotated by a drive means 16 is mounted on the side wall on the downstream side with respect to the flow of tea leaves, and although not shown in the drawing, there is a tea leaf extractor 17 of a swinging type or an elevating type. The extracting means 17 is stopped until a specified amount of tea leaves have accumulated in the rolling drying chamber 15 in front of it, and then is activated to transfer a portion of the tea leaves one by one to the next rolling drying chamber 15.
and each rolling drying chamber 15 holds a predetermined layer of tea leaves.
The tea leaves are made to reach a predetermined rolling degree before being discharged into the final drying chamber 15. Reference numeral 18 denotes an opening through which the processed tea leaves are thrown out from the drying barrel 1 of the tea making machine A, which is provided at the top of the rolling bottom b as shown by the solid line in FIG. As shown, a door-type opening/closing lid 19 is attached with a hinge 20, and a cylinder is attached to this opening/closing lid 19. An opening/closing means 21 such as a motor (not shown) is linked, or the opening/closing lid 19 is provided on an inspection door 21 provided at the top of the drying drum 1 as shown by the chain line in FIG. 1 to open and close the opening. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, guides 22 extending to the sides are provided above and below the opening 1B, and sliding door type opening/closing M23 are engaged with these guides 22, so that the opening/closing lid 23 is fitted with a cylinder. , opening/closing means 2 using a motor etc.
4 in conjunction with the opening/closing means 21.4, the opening/closing means 21. 24
When the moisture to be measured is reached, the opening/closing means 21 is closed by the timer 25. 24 to open and close the lid 19. 23 is opened to allow some of the processed tea leaves to splash out onto the conveyor described later.In batch-type or section-type tea leaf processing, the water content of the extracted tea leaves reaches a set value and is measured. When the means measures and emits an electrical signal, this signal causes the opening/closing means 21. 24 to open and close 1219. Close 23 and set timer 2 to watch the tea leaves pop out.
Next opening/closing lid by 5 19. It should be stopped until 23 is opened, but in the case of continuous processing, open and close! 19.
23 is left open to allow the tea leaves to jump out continuously, and measurement is also performed continuously.This opening 18 is opened when the tea leaves are taken out and returned to the original kneading barrel 1. If it is to be sent to the next drying cylinder 1, it should be provided on the terminal side of the drying cylinder 1.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a conveyor that receives the tea leaves thrown out from the opening 18 and transfers them while forming a deposited layer suitable for moisture measurement.The opening 18 is provided at the starting end side of the drying drum 1 as shown in FIG. In this case, the starting end of the conveyor 26 faces the lower part of the opening 18, the ending end faces the entrance of the return vertical conveyor 21, and the taken out tea leaves are carried by the vertical conveyor 27 to the top of the mouth 2 of the tea machine A. , mouth 2 by chute 28
Alternatively, as shown by the solid line in Fig. 3, the starting end of the conveyor 26 should face the lower part of the opening 18 provided on the starting end side of the drying drum 1, and the terminal end should be connected to the tea making machines in the front and rear stages. Chute 2 that drops tea leaves to the entrance of the vertical conveyor 13 that relays A
Vertical conveyor 1 for relaying the tea leaves taken out
3 to return it to the original tea making machine A, or if the opening 18 is provided at the terminal end of the drying drum 1 in the previous stage as shown by the chain line in FIG. The terminal end faces the chute 29 that drops the tea leaves to the entrance of the relay vertical conveyor 13, and is sent to the next drying cylinder 1. A surrounding plate 30 is provided to securely receive the tea leaves and transfer them without spilling them outside.

31 is a vibrating conveyor that sends the tea leaves taken out from the tea making machine A to the next stage tea making machine A. It is installed at the bottom of the tea leaf outlet 7 of the previous stage tea making machine A, and its terminal end is connected to the relay vertical conveyor 13.
It is facing the entrance of.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a means for measuring the moisture content of the processed tea leaves taken out, which is installed above the conveyor 26, and this means 32 irradiates the processed tea leaves with infrared rays that include wavelengths that are absorbed by moisture and wavelengths that are not absorbed. Then, the amount of moisture is measured by the change in the intensity of diffuse reflection of wavelengths that are not absorbed by moisture, and an electric signal proportional to this is generated. When this electric signal reaches the desired moisture value, the control described later is performed. It is designed to issue commands to activate alarms and alarms.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a controller that operates based on the electric signal generated by the moisture measuring means 32, and as shown in FIG.
In batch processing, the temperature of the hot air can be controlled by various adjustment means during processing. The drying conditions are changed by adjusting the air volume and the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 3, and the lid 7 is opened and closed at the end of processing.
The opening/closing means 8 of the tea leaves are operated to collect the tea leaves, and in continuous processing in which the tea leaves are fluidized and mixed in a plurality of tea making machines A with different rolling and drying conditions, the means 11 for controlling the flow state of the tea leaves is operated. When controlling the operation to adjust the time for tea leaves to pass through each kneading/drying chamber 15, and further activating the alarm 35 to perform the above-mentioned manual operation of the automatic control, or confirming the automatic control. When this is to be done, the alarm 35 is activated to notify the time.

Although not shown in the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention can also be used in a rotating barrel type roughing machine, but since it is similar to the above-mentioned fixed barrel type roughing machine, detailed explanation will be omitted.

C. Effects of the Invention (a) As mentioned above, the device according to the present invention takes out the tea leaves being processed from the tea machine, measures their moisture content, and when the measured value reaches a desired value, adjusts the processing conditions. Since cutting is carried out, it is possible to completely unify the rolling and drying conditions of processed tea leaves and to stably obtain products of uniform and high quality.

(b) The taken out tea leaves can be returned to the original place by the returning means, or sent to the next place by the feeding means, so that there is no problem in processing and the tea leaves are not wasted.

(C) The electric signal emitted by the moisture measuring means can operate the controllers of each operating part, and not only can adjustments of processing conditions, termination, flow adjustment, etc., be automatically controlled, but also an alarm can be activated and each operation It is possible to manually perform part or all of the control of a section, or to check whether automatic control is being performed correctly. It has the following unique effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing an embodiment of the device according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment. Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional side view showing the tea waste removal means of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a portion showing another embodiment of the opening in the tea leaf removal means. It is a front view. In the figure, A is a tea making machine, 1 is a drying drum in tea making machine A, 18.
26 is a means for taking out tea leaves, 32 is a means for measuring the moisture content of tea leaves, 27 is a means for returning tea leaves, 13 is a means for both returning and feeding tea leaves, and 33 is a controller. Patent applicant: Akitsu Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Agent: Mikio Segawa, patent attorney! Ward

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A means for taking out processed tea leaves that takes out the processed tea leaves in the drying barrel of the tea making machine through an opening in the wall and stacks them to a thickness suitable for measurement; An automatic tea leaf moisture measuring device during processing, characterized in that it is equipped with a measuring means for measuring the moisture content of the tea leaves and emitting an electric signal according to the moisture content. (2) An automatic tea leaf moisture measuring device during processing, characterized in that a tea leaf return means for returning the tea leaves taken out to the tea leaf take-out means according to claim (1) to the original tea making machine is linked. (3) An automatic tea leaf moisture measuring device during processing, characterized in that the tea leaf extracting means according to claim (1) is linked with a feeding means for transporting the extracted tea leaves to the next tea making machine. (4) An automatic tea leaf moisture measuring device during processing, characterized in that the moisture measuring device according to claim (1) is linked with a controller or an alarm for each operating section operated by an electric signal.