WO2021074730A1

WO2021074730A1 - Device for chopping dried plants

Info

Publication number: WO2021074730A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/059147
Authority: WO
Inventors: Max SANDHERR; Jacques Schaeffer
Original assignee: My Tea Cup Ag
Priority date: 2019-10-16
Filing date: 2020-09-30
Publication date: 2021-04-22
Also published as: CH716714A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for chopping dried plants, more particularly for chopping dried tea leaves, herbs and other dryable plants and their constituents. The aim of the invention is to gently chop the above-mentioned product. For this purpose, a device which comprises a housing (1) with an inlet (6) at the top for the product to be chopped and an outlet (7) at the bottom for the chopped product, as well as at least one rotatable and driven roller (2, 3) which corresponds with at least one comb (15), wherein a cutting device (30) with at least one rotatable cutting blade (33) is arranged downstream of the at least one roller (2, 3) and the outlet (7), respectively.

Description

Device for shredding dry plants

The invention relates to a device for comminuting dry plants, in particular for comminuting dried tea leaves, herbs and other dryable plants and their constituents, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Devices of the generic type for comminuting or cutting up tea leaves are known from the prior art. In this case, rollers rotatably arranged in a housing are used, which are equipped with cams, cutting edges or the like. are occupied. As a counterpart, another such roller or a comb-like element can be assigned, the tea leaves in the cavities, respectively. The gap between the roller and the counterpart can be broken, cut or sheared off. The tea leaves are supplied from a storage container located above the roller. The crushed tea leaves are picked up below the roller, for example in a collection and discharge device, and carried away.

Frequently, several gaps are arranged in the vertical direction, the size reduction being from coarse to fine. The rollers and combs thus have different geometries and / or are operated with different parameters, as z. As disclosed in GB 2158338 A, GB 132765, GB 282147 or EP 2660161 A1. As a result of the intensive crushing, the cell structures of the tea leaves are also destroyed and ingredients or Flavors are lost. In addition, taste-reducing dusts etc. attach.

Also known is the comminution of tea leaves in the nip of a pair of rollers with cutting rollers, among others. according to GB 820726 A, GB 559937 A, SU 454020 A1 or SU 400305 A1.

Another such device is disclosed in EP 2660161 A1. Here, three rollers are arranged above or below one another in a housing. A feed funnel for the supply of tea leaves is arranged above the uppermost roller and a funnel-shaped discharge device for the crushed tea leaves is arranged below the lowermost roller. By means of V-shaped inclined guide plates, which merge into a comb on the end face facing the roller, the tea leaves are guided to the rollers, where they are shredded between the cutting cams of the roller and the cutting elements of the comb. The crushed tea leaves fall in the direction of the roller below, respectively. after the third roller into the discharge device, the comminution again taking place from coarse to fine. The shredding takes place in a protective gas atmosphere by blowing nitrogen into the housing.

As with the rest of the prior art, there is an adjustment, respectively. Adjustment of the shredding parameters horizontally from the side and in particular from the front by adjusting mechanisms arranged on the housing.

Furthermore, WO 2018020339 A1 shows a device for comminuting dry plants, which comprises a housing with an inlet on top for the material to be shredded and an outlet for the comminuted material on the bottom. In the housing, downstream of the inlet, at least two identical, rotatable and driven rollers are arranged in at least two levels as single roller passages one above the other, at least one roller per level.

To the left or right of each roller, baffles directed obliquely towards the rollers towards the side wall of the housing are arranged, which are provided with correspondingly structured, structured combs at the level of the rollers. Each roller corresponds to at least one adjustable comb.

The plant matter is comminuted by drawing in the material fed in via the inlet between the roller and the comb, with cams and grooves or grooves of the rotating rollers causing the comminuted material to be carried along and discharged.

Cutting tobacco or tea is also known. US 4401205 discloses a device for cutting tobacco by means of rotating knives and a fixed counter knife. The tobacco is fed to the rotating knives by means of a belt conveyor. A similar cutting device is shown, for example, in GB 1578878 A.

The invention is based on the object of further improving such a device for comminuting dry plants, in particular for comminuting dried tea leaves, herbs and other dryable plants and their constituents and, in particular, a lower dust content in the finely comminuted material and a more homogeneous one Particle distribution achieved resp. so that a higher yield can be achieved while still gently comminuting the said material.

The object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

The device comprises a housing with an overhead inlet for the plant material to be shredded, crushed, and an outlet located below for the shredded material.

In the housing, downstream of the inlet, there is at least one rotatable and driven roller which corresponds to at least one comb.

According to the invention, the outlet is followed by a cutting device which has at least one rotatable cutting knife in a housing.

The comminution (breaking) of the material takes place in a first step by pulling the material fed in via the inlet between the roller and the comb, with cams and grooves or grooves of the rotating rollers causing the crushed material to be entrained and discharged, unless this is already due to gravity . In a second step, the broken material is finely cut by means of the at least one rotatable cutting knife.

The device according to the invention makes it possible, in particular, to gently comminute dried tea leaves or other dried plants or plant components in such a way that the desirable properties are retained. I. E. Cell walls are preserved or are only minimally damaged, and when preparing tea, an optimal taste development is achieved or high extraction is achieved. This makes it possible, even with tea or similar, which can be portioned in capsules, to extract a sufficient number of aromas from the tea material despite a short contact time with hot water. The cut tea is more homogeneous, the extraction of aromas is higher.

At the same time, the plant parts are further comminuted by means of the cutting device. The proportion of too finely comminuted plant parts (dust portion) is significantly reduced by the pre-comminution according to the invention or the combination of breaking and cutting, so that the taste is improved, the yield increases and the soiling of the device is reduced. The energy requirement of the machines for breaking and cutting is low. Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The cutting knife is advantageously arranged on a drivable shaft and the shaft is preferably equipped with three or more odd numbers of cutting knives. Furthermore, the cutting knife (s) is / are preferably arranged in a housing which is partially designed in the form of a sieve plate or has a sieve plate.

In a preferred embodiment, four rollers are arranged in two levels one above the other in the housing, two individual rollers per level as individual roller passages. In the upper level, the individual rollers are at a greater distance from one another than in the lower level, the lower roller (s) being fed by means of gravity.

Each roller corresponds to at least one adjustable comb.

Preferably, to the left or right of each roller towards the side wall of the housing, guide plates are arranged which are directed obliquely towards the rollers and which are provided with correspondingly structured, structured combs at the level of the rollers.

The rollers should not be arranged vertically one above the other. The offset of the center distances between the roller on the upper level and the roller on the lower level should be at least 10mm.

The rollers can be configured identically; That is, the dimensions and configuration of the rollers, and preferably also the comminution parameters of each roller, are the same.

This roller arrangement allows adjustment of the distance between roller and comb, respectively. an adjustment of the comb in the vertical direction and using adjustment mechanisms from above, the adjustment mechanisms being arranged in or above the upper level, taking into account the adjustability of the combs of the lower level.

At the same time, this enables a compact, modular arrangement of several devices next to one another in series and / or one behind the other as a package arrangement, for an increase in the shredding capacity.

In another embodiment, the rollers in each plane can also be arranged in pairs, each roller pair being arranged so that the rollers rotate against each other, respectively. engage in each other, the speed, analogous to the arrangement of individual rollers, can be varied.

After the first step of breaking the dried plants or plant parts, these are forcibly metered into the cutting device. The cutting blades of the cutting device used in the second step can be arranged radially or tangentially.

An embodiment of the device with only one roller per level is according to the invention.

The cams preferably have a flea P (or the grooves a corresponding depth) of at least 3.5 mm and a width W of up to 6 mm. The distance L between two cams (or the width of the groove) in the axial and radial direction is less than or at most equal to the width W of the cams.

On both levels, a part and feed plate for the material to be shredded is arranged between the rollers, which is triangular in shape between the rollers with the tip pointing upwards.

In a further preferred embodiment, the device is provided with means for aspiration, in particular for continuous operation of the device and a dust extraction that becomes necessary as a result.

The cut parts of the plant are preferably sieved. The device according to the invention can also be designed to be stationary or movable.

The process of comminution (breaking and cutting) is preferably carried out in an oxidative normal atmosphere in the housing of the device.

The comminuted material can then be filled into capsules under a nitrogen atmosphere, similar to coffee capsules.

The shredded material can then be filled into a tea bag or other brewing aid.

The invention is described in more detail below in exemplary embodiments with reference to a drawing. In the drawing they show

1: a device according to the invention in a simplified representation,

Fig. 2: the device according to Fig. 1 in side view,

3: the device according to the invention in a different design,

Fig. 4: a roller (Fig. 4a) and details of the roller (Fig. 4b), Fig. 5: an arrangement of rollers in pairs,

6: an aspiration of the device according to the invention and FIG. 7: an adjusting device according to the invention for a comb.

A device according to the invention (Fig. 1) for comminuting dry plants, for example dried tea leaves, comprises in the example a housing 1 in which, in the example, four identical rollers 2, 3 made of steel are arranged on two levels 4, 5 one above the other, two rollers 2, 3 per level 4, 5. In the upper level 4, the rollers 2 are at a greater distance from one another than in the lower level 5.

Above the upper level 4 there is a funnel-shaped inlet 6 for uncomminuted tea leaves, from which they reach the upper rollers 2 in free fall, the lower rollers 3 being fed essentially by means of gravity. Below the lower rollers 3 in the housing 1 there is an outlet 7 for comminuted tea leaves, from which the broken tea leaves pass into a cutting device 30.

Inlet 6 and outlet 7 can extend over the entire length of the rollers 2, 3.

A feed device 9 for uncomminuted tea leaves is assigned to the inlet 6 (FIG. 2), from which the inlet 6 is loaded. The feed device 9 can be controlled and regulated with regard to the amount of tea leaves to be supplied per unit of time.

The rollers 2, 3 have a length of approx. 530 mm, but could also be up to approx. 800 mm long. They are continuously provided on the circumferential surface 12 with cams 24 and grooves or grooves 25, as they are sufficiently known from the prior art. Two adjacent cams 24 are each spaced apart from one another in the axial and radial directions by a groove 25. In the axial direction of the roller 2, 3, the cams 24 are equidistant from one another, analogously in the radial direction on the circumference. The axial and the radial size of the distance between two cams 24 can be selected to be the same or different.

The cams 24 have a flea P of at least 3.5 mm and a width W of up to 6 mm (cf. FIG. 4b). A smaller value for the fleas P and larger values for the width W impair the throughput and the degree of comminution. The distance L between two cams, respectively. the width of the groove 25 is selected to be smaller than the width W of the cams 24 in the axial and radial directions.

In general, W> L and W <2L.

The rollers 2, 3 can be operated at a variable speed, whereby the speed of the individual rollers 2, 3 should not differ from one another.

The rollers 2, 3 can be identical in both levels 4, 5 or differently designed for each level 4, 5. With different configurations, the rollers 2 of the upper level 4 are designed and operated in such a way that they cause the tea leaves to be more coarsely comminuted in comparison to the lower level 5. In the lower level 5, the pre-shredded tea leaves are then finely shredded.

The rollers 2, 3 are also assigned baffles 13, 14 directed obliquely towards them, which equalize the flow of the tea leaves fed in over the length of the roller and feed the tea leaves to the rollers 2, 3 (FIGS. 1, 3).

At the level of the rollers 2, 3, the guide plates 13, 14 are designed like a comb and also have cams and grooves that mesh / interact with the cams 24 and grooves 25 of the rollers 2, 3. The combs 15 can also be designed as separate elements which are arranged on the guide plates 13, 14.

To increase the comminution capacity per roller 2, 3, two combs 15 can be assigned to each roller 2, 3, shown in simplified form in FIG. 4a. The combs 15 are arranged approximately parallel or at a slight angle to one another. Such an embodiment doubles the capacity per roller 2, 3 with comparatively little additional expenditure for the second comb 15.

On both levels, a guide plate 14 (part and feed plate) for the material to be shredded is arranged between the rollers, which is triangular and shaped with the tip upwards (FIG. 7). The guide plate 14 is an adjusting device 23 for setting the combs in the vertical direction, respectively. the distance between the roller and the comb 15 is assigned.

The offset of the center distances between the roller 2 of the upper level 4 to the roller 3 of the lower level 5 should be at least 10mm in order to ensure the adjustability of the combs 15 in both levels 4, 5 from above. In another embodiment, instead of individual roller passages, the rollers 2, 3 can also be arranged in pairs, in at least one of the planes 4, 5, with a roller gap 16 between them (FIG. 5). They rotate relative to one another, cams 24 and grooves 25 of both rollers 2, 3 are interlocked with one another. The distance between the rollers, respectively. the roller gap 16 can also be adjusted from above by means of adjusting devices not explicitly shown in FIG. 5.

This design also enables a very compact design and a higher capacity per roller 2, 3, since the speed can be increased compared to individual roller passages.

The adjustment of the rollers 2, 3 and in particular the combs 15 takes place in the vertical direction and with flanging from above by means of the adjustment device 23 at least in the upper level 4, but preferably in both levels (FIG. 7). This enables a very compact construction of the device according to the invention with a small base area and thus also a very dense arrangement of several devices next to and / or one behind the other.

The cutting device 30 with an essentially cylindrical housing 31 is arranged downstream of the outlet 7. A drivable shaft 32 is arranged in the housing 31 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing 31. The shaft 32 is equipped with three rotatable cutting knives 33. In the embodiment shown (FIG. 1), three cutting blades 33 are arranged tangentially on the circumference of the shaft 32 at a distance of 120 ° in each case.

Although it is possible to achieve the necessary comminution of the tea leaves with just one cutting knife, it limits the throughput and increases the dwell time in the housing 31, which in turn leads to a higher proportion of dust. In the lowest region of the housing 31, a sieve plate 34 is arranged, through the sieve openings of which the cut tea leaves are discharged. The size of the sieve openings can be 2-10mm or up to 20mm, for example.

The speed of the shaft 32 can be varied. In another, not explicitly shown embodiment, the cutting device 30 can also be arranged inside the housing 1.

Experiments by the applicant have shown that the cutting of the dust content, i. H. too finely chopped tea leaves are significantly reduced.

The cut tea leaves fall in free fall onto a device for transporting them away, for example a conveyor belt 8.

The tea leaves are comminuted in a normal oxidative atmosphere in the device according to the invention.

For continuous operation, the device according to the invention can be provided with an aspiration system in order to prevent the deposition of tea dust or the like. Prevent particles. For this purpose, a perforated tube 17 made of stainless steel is provided for each level 4, 5, which is arranged on one side in the housing 1 by means of a food-approved flange seal 18 (FIG. 6). One end of the tube 17 protrudes from the housing 1 and the other end is exposed and open in the housing 1. The tube 17 extends largely over the length of the rollers 2, 3. Via a flange connection 19 which is provided with a throttle 22 , and a hose 20, the tube 17 is connected to a suction device 21 shown in a simplified manner. The suction device 21 can in turn be coupled to an exhaust air filter, preferably an explosion-proof exhaust air filter.

All adjustment and control processes are preferably carried out electronically, but manual control is also possible.

The device according to the invention, as well as the feed device 9, can be arranged in a stationary manner or, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, be mounted on mobile frames 10, 11. Here, the frame 10 for the device according to the invention can also accommodate the conveyor belt 8.

In a very simple way of the device, only a single roller 2 can be provided. In this case, the roller 2 is also arranged downstream of the inlet 6 in the vertical direction, but corresponds to two combs 15, as shown in FIG. 5.

An adjustment of the combs 15 is in turn provided in the vertical direction and using at least one adjustment mechanism from above, the adjustment mechanism in or above the housing 1, respectively. which is arranged in this embodiment single level 4. List of reference signs

1 housing

2 reel 3 reel

4 upper level

5 lower level

6 inlet

7 outlet 8 conveyor belt

9 dining equipment

10 frame

11 frame

12 peripheral surface 13 guide plate

14 baffle

15 comb

16 nip

17 pipe 18 flange seal

19 flange connection

20 hose

21 Extraction device

22 Throttle 23 Adjustment device 24 cams

25 groove

30 cutting device

31 housing 32 shaft

33 cutting knife

34 Sieve plate

L Width of a groove P Height of a cam W Width of a cam

Claims

1 . Device for the comminution of dry plants, in particular for the comminution of dried tea leaves, herbs and other dryable plants and their components by comminution, breaking, by means of rotatably arranged rollers which are equipped with cams (24) or cutting edges, the device comprising a housing (1 ) with an inlet (6) at the top for the material to be shredded and an outlet (7) at the bottom for the shredded, broken material and at least one rotatable and driven roller (2, 3) which corresponds to at least one comb (15) , characterized in that the at least one roller (2, 3), respectively. the outlet (7) is followed by a cutting device (30) with at least one rotatable cutting knife (33).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting device (30) is provided with a substantially cylindrical housing (31) which receives a drivable shaft (32) on which the at least one, but preferably three, cutting knife (33 ), is arranged, and that the housing (31) is also provided with a sieve plate (34) through whose sieve openings the cut material can be discharged.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two or more, preferably identical rollers (2, 3) are arranged, which are in at least two or more levels (4, 5) one above the other, each with at least one roller (2, 3) per level (4, 5) are provided, and that to the left or right of each roller (2, 3) towards the side wall of the housing (1) inclined guide plates 13, 14 directed towards the rollers (2, 3) ) are arranged, which are provided with at least one structured comb (15) at the level of the rollers (2, 3).

4. Device according to one of claims to 3, characterized in that two rollers (2, 3) per level (4, 5) are arranged, the rollers (2) of the upper level (4) being at a greater distance from one another than that Rolls (3) in the lower level (5), and an offset of the axial distances between the roller (2) of the upper level (4) and the roller (3) of the lower level (5) should be at least 10mm.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rollers (2, 3) are arranged in pairs, each pair of rollers being arranged so that the rollers (2, 3) rotate against each other in a roller gap (16 ) interlocking, and that the speed of the rollers (2, 3) can be varied.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one or each roller (2, 3) are assigned two combs (15).

7. Device according to one of claims to 6, characterized in that an adjustment of the combs (15), respectively. the distance between the roller (2, 3) and the comb (15) is provided in the vertical direction and while manipulating at least one adjusting mechanism from above, with at least one adjusting mechanism being arranged in or above the upper level (4).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is provided with an aspiration, with and without aspiration a normal atmosphere prevails in the housing (1).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is designed to be stationary or movable and / or that it can be arranged in units, modularly and compactly next to one another and / or one behind the other.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cams (24) have a height (P) of at least 3.5mm and a width (W) of up to 6mm, and that the distance (L) between two cams (24), respectively. the width of the groove (25) in the axial and radial directions is selected to be smaller than the width (W) of the cams (24), respectively. (W) <2 (L).

11. Device for shredding dry plants, in particular for shredding dried tea leaves, herbs and other dryable plants and their components by shredding by means of a rotatably arranged roller which is equipped with cams (24) or cutting edges, the device has a housing (1) with an overhead inlet (6) for the material to be shredded and an underlying outlet (7) for the shredded material, wherein the roller (2) is arranged downstream of the inlet (6) in the vertical direction and corresponds to two combs (15) , and where for Adjustment of the combs (15) in the vertical direction and with handling from above an adjusting mechanism is provided which is arranged in or above the housing (1), characterized in that the outlet (7) has a cutting device (30) with at least one rotatable cutting knife (33) is subordinate.

12. A method for comminuting dry plants, in particular for comminuting dried tea leaves, herbs and other dryable plants and their components, characterized by a first step of breaking the plants or plant parts, followed by a second step of cutting the broken plants or plants. Plant parts.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the breaking plants by means of at least one rotatably arranged roller (2, 3) which corresponds to at least one comb (15) and the cutting is carried out by means of at least one rotatable cutting knife (33).

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the breaking takes place by means of at least two rotatably arranged rollers (2, 3).

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the cut plant parts are sieved.

16. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that after the first step of breaking the plant or plant parts, these are forcibly metered into a cutting device (30) with the at least one cutting knife (33).

17. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the cutting knife (s) (33) of the cutting device (30) used in the second step are arranged radially or tangentially.