JPS6227781B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention involves weighing tea leaves in batches at a constant weight at regular intervals, feeding the tea leaves into a leaf feeder hopper, and controlling the speed of the leaf feeder to steadily feed the tea leaves into a steamer. The present invention relates to a constant weight supply method of tea leaves and an apparatus therefor.

As a method for constantly supplying a constant weight of tea leaves, there are two methods: one is to continuously supply tea leaves by controlling the delivery speed of a weighing conveyor or a supply feeder, and the other is to supply a fixed amount in batches at regular intervals.

The present invention relates to the latter method of supplying a constant weight in batches and improvements to the device.

Conventionally, this method has been disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 52-151797, and the device thereof has been disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 54-41496, but these have the following fatal drawbacks, and are extremely difficult to use as a constant weight feeding method and device. It was insufficient.

This is because even if a certain amount of tea leaves are fed to the leaf feeder hopper at a certain time, if the height of the leaf feeder's raking hand and its delivery speed are constant, the apparent density of the tea leaves will change midway. In such a case, it would begin to accumulate in the hopper, or conversely, it would stop midway, making it impossible to constantly supply a constant weight.

The inability to supply a constant weight means uneven steaming in a steamer, and it is impossible to achieve uniform quality.

By the way, in the batch supply method, in order to improve the accuracy of constantly supplying a constant weight, it seems to be possible to shorten the interval between measurements and add more frequently. Since the quantity is extremely small, measurement errors increase, and as a result, accuracy cannot be improved.

The present invention was made in view of these circumstances, and it is possible to constantly supply tea leaves with an accurate constant weight by grasping the apparent density of the tea leaves and controlling the feeding speed of the leaf feeder when weighing. It has been made possible.

Next, after explaining the illustrated embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the method of the present invention using the apparatus of the embodiment will be explained.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a leaf feeder which constitutes a part of the apparatus of the present invention, and is constructed by circulating a belt having a large number of crosspieces protruding from inside the machine frame, and its delivery end faces the input port 3 of the steamer 2.

Reference numeral 4 indicates a scraper that can move up and down and is installed above the conveying surface of the belt of the leaf feeder, 5 is a hopper provided at the starting end of the belt, and 6 is a variable speed drive motor for the belt that allows the belt speed to be continuously varied. Let it be a motor.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a transport machine for substantially constantly feeding green tea leaves into the apparatus of the present invention, and a scraping tool 8 is disposed in the middle of the belt transport surface of the machine 7. Reference numeral 9 denotes a constant weight feeding device of the present invention, which is composed of the leaf feeder 1 and a metering section 9', and the metering section 9' has a drop door 1 on its lower side that opens and closes at regular intervals.
0 to the lever 12 on the support 11.
The housing 13 is disposed directly above the hopper 5 of the leaf feeder 1.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a weight that is movable on a balance rod 15 in order to measure the desired weight of green tea leaves, and the balance rod 15 is rotatably pivoted integrally with the lever 12 and shaft 16. When a predetermined amount of fresh tea leaves is put into the measuring case 13, it is balanced with the measuring case 13,
The operating piece 17 integrated with the balance rod 15 is attached to the support frame 1.
It comes into contact with the limit switch 18 provided at 1.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a tea leaf sensing switch installed on the side surface of the measuring case 13 so as to be adjustable up and down, and in this embodiment, it is a phototube.

20 is a rod for opening and closing the drop door 10;
Reference numeral 1 denotes a motor that drives the rotor 20.

22 is a control box, and in the case of this embodiment, the front panel 23 includes input devices 24 and 25 for the weight and volume of reference tea leaves, a reference rotation speed setting device 26 for the drive motor 6 of the leaf feeder 1, and an input device 26 for setting the current tea leaf weight and volume. There is an apparent density display 27, an opening/closing interval setting device 28 for setting the opening/closing interval S of the drop door 10, and the like. A counter 29 that stops when the phototube 19 detects the upper end of the tea leaves, and a counter 29 that stops when the photocell 19 detects the upper end of the tea leaves, and an actuating piece 17 that operates the limit switch 1 when the desired weight of fresh tea leaves is introduced.
Counter 30 that stops when it comes into contact with 8
The current apparent density of the tea leaves is calculated based on the values of the counters 29 and 30 and the manual input values of the weight and volume of the reference tea leaves, and an electric power generator that issues a command to the drive motor 6 of the leaf feeder 1 to correct the rotation speed. It houses a control circuit 31, a circuit 32 that issues various commands to cooperate with other front and rear related equipment, and the like.

Note that the counters 29 and 30 are configured in a circuit such that they are reset each time the weighing case 13 is opened.

Next, the method of the present invention will be explained.

As a preliminary preparation, operations such as inputting the weight and volume of the reference tea leaves are performed.

As the reference tea leaves, it is preferable to use green tea leaves that are processed in relatively large quantities, have the largest number of buds, and have the highest apparent density.

First, the weight 14 on the balance rod 15 is moved and fixed at a position where the desired weight W kg of green tea leaves is to be measured.
Preferably, a scale for measuring green tea leaves is carved on the balance rod 15.

Next, when the transporter 7 is driven and green tea leaves are introduced, the weighing case 13, which had been raised due to the weight of the weight 14, gradually lowers rotatably. At the same time, the actuating piece 17 rotates upward and comes into contact with the limit switch 18 when the Wkg is turned on.
Transporter 7 stops at that signal, and weighing cabinet 1 of green tea leaves
Input to 3 will be temporarily suspended.

Therefore, the phototube 19 is moved upward or downward until its optical axis coincides with the upper end of the stack of green tea leaves, and then fixed at that height. Then, the photocell 1
The volume Vm ³ of the green tea leaves put into the weighing cabinet 13 from a height of 9 is read. In advance, the upper and lower guide rails 19' of the phototube 19 may be calibrated to indicate the volume at that position.

Therefore, W and V are input to the input devices 24 and 25 on the front panel 23 of the control box 22.

Next, the throughput per unit time and the optimum opening/closing interval S of the drop door 10 are determined in consideration of the throughput of the steamer 2, the degree of steaming, etc. Then, the feed speed Um/s of the leaf feeder is determined by referring to a relationship table between the throughput per unit time and the feed speed of the leaf feeder, which has already been determined based on standard tea leaves. Once the feed speed of this leaf feeder has been determined, the reference rotation speed setting device 2
Step 6: Find and set the rotation speed (R) rpm of the drive motor that produces the speed Um/s from another conversion table.

Therefore, if the scale of the reference rotation speed setter 26 is displayed in m/s or kg/h rather than in rpm, it is easier to use since there is no need to refer to relational tables or conversion tables each time.

Next, set the previously determined time interval S seconds in the opening/closing interval setting device 28.

With this, the preliminary preparation is completed.

So, I started the leaf feeder 1 and steamer 2, and opened the drop door 1.
0, transfer the reference tea leaves that were introduced in the preliminary preparation to the leaf feeder hopper 5, and then empty the weighing cabinet 13. After confirming that the drop door 10 is closed, open the transporter 7. Drive the tea leaves into the weighing cabinet 13
At the same time, counters 29 and 30 are started. Thereafter, green tea leaves are thrown in almost constantly from the transporter 7 due to the action of the scraper 8, and eventually the leaves become so large as to block the optical axis of the phototube 19. At this time, the phototube 19 issues a signal to stop the counter 29, indicating that Vm ³ of green tea leaves have been introduced into the weighing cabinet 13, and the time (t) is measured.

On the other hand, fresh tea leaves continue to be added after that, and eventually Wkg will be added. At this time, the actuating piece 17 comes into contact with the limit switch 18, stopping the transporter 7 and interrupting the feeding of green tea leaves, as well as emitting a signal to stop the counter 30, and emitting the time from the start of feeding until the Wkg is fed ( T) is measured. Then, when (t) and (T) are measured, the electric control circuit 31 calculates the equation tW/TV (where t<T), and displays this value on the display 27 of the front panel 23. This means that the apparent density of the fresh tea leaves that have been placed in the weighing cabinet 13, that is, the current tea leaves, has been measured. Thereafter, when the set time S seconds has elapsed, the drop door 10 of the weighing cabinet 13 is opened, and the fresh tea leaves just measured are transferred to the hopper 5 of the leaf feeder 1. At the same time, in the electric control circuit 31, the setting value (R) of the reference rotation speed setting device 26 and the measured value (T) of the counters 29 and 30 are set.
(t), a rotation speed change command is issued to the drive motor 6 of the leaf feeder 1 so that its rotation speed becomes R×T/trpm. For this reason, the leaf feeder is now the weighed leaf feeder 1.
The tea machine transferred to the machine will be sent out at a speed of U×T/tm/s.

On the other hand, in the constant weight supply device 9, the counter 29,
30 reset is performed and the measurement of the next green tea leaf begins. In other words, when the density of tea leaves changes to tW/TV, the tea leaves are sent out at a speed of U x T/t, and control is performed so that a constant weight of 3600 W/S (Kg/h) of tea leaves is always supplied per unit time. . For this reason, the steamer is constantly supplied with an accurate and constant weight of fresh tea leaves, so there is no fluctuation in the input weight, and there is no unevenness such as over-steaming or under-steaming, and uniform steaming can be achieved. It becomes like this.

In the case of this embodiment, the W and V of the reference tea leaves are input manually, but the upper and lower fixed positions of the phototube 19 are automatically sensed, and the volume V up to the phototube 19 is calculated based on the position of the weight 14. It is also possible to input the weight W automatically.

In addition, the counter 30 was configured to start as soon as the green tea leaves were put into the weighing cabinet 13 to calculate the time (T), but the counter 30 started from the moment the counter 29 was stopped by the signal from the phototube 19. Limit switch 18
It may be determined by measuring the time (t') until the switch is turned ON and calculating T=t+t'.

Furthermore, in the case of this embodiment, the apparent density of the current tea leaves is displayed, so that the properties of the current tea leaves can be numerically understood.

This becomes extremely useful information when adjusting the tea manufacturing conditions of each processing machine when manufacturing the tea leaves.

In other words, the worker can, for example, determine the steam volume, barrel rotation speed, and stirring shaft rotation speed of the steamer 2, or the hot air temperature, main shaft rotation speed, and hot air volume of the coarse rolling machine, by referring to the display of the current apparent density of tea leaves. By comparing the tea manufacturing conditions with reference tea leaves, it becomes possible to correct the tea manufacturing conditions set in the preliminary preparation and perform processing suitable for the properties of the current tea leaves.

In the method of the present invention, a sensing switch such as a phototube installed in a measuring case is moved and fixed at a height that occupies a desired amount W kg, and while the internal volume Vm ³ up to that height is determined, After setting the feeding speed of the leaf feeder to U, the measuring cabinet is emptied and the current tea leaves are started to be put into the cabinet almost constantly. At the same time, the counter is started and the sensing switch such as the phototube is turned on. The time it takes to detect the tea leaves (t) and the time it takes to continue adding the tea leaves (T) are determined, and the tea leaves in the measuring cabinet that have just been put in are transferred to the leaf feeder at regular intervals. At the same time, the feed speed of the leaf feeder was corrected to U x T/t, and this was repeated every time the desired amount W kg was measured.
It is possible to constantly supply tea leaves with an accurate constant weight.

In addition, in this process, the apparent density of tea leaves can be easily obtained, making it easy to numerically obtain extremely important information in determining the tea manufacturing conditions of each processing machine. In addition, if you set the tea-making conditions for the reference tea leaves to the most preferable values from a table determined empirically or after some trial, even if the properties of the tea leaves change afterwards, the tea-making conditions for the reference tea leaves will be the same. By making corrections commensurate with changes in the apparent density of the current tea leaves, even non-experts can set the tea-making conditions to be favorable for the current tea leaves with considerable accuracy. As a result, it has become possible to accurately supply tea at a constant weight, and together with this, a significant improvement in the quality of tea production can be expected.

In addition, according to the device of the present invention, not only can tea leaves of a certain weight be accurately supplied, but the mechanical structure such as the support frame and measuring case is
Since the structure is similar to that of the conventional simple measuring device seen in the publication, there are many parts that can be used, and manufacturing costs can be reduced. In addition, since the apparent density of tea leaves can now be easily obtained, the weight input to each process machine in the tea manufacturing process can be strictly regulated, and tea manufacturing operations can be performed under uniform conditions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention apparatus including front and rear equipment, and FIG. 2 is a front panel view of the control box. 1... Leaf feeder, 5... Hopper, 6... Drive motor, 7... Transport machine, 9... Constant weight feeding device,
9'...Measuring part, 10...Drop door, 11...Support frame, 13...Measuring box, 14...Weight, 15...
Balance rod, 17... Actuation piece, 18... Limit switch, 19... Phototube, 24, 25... Input device, 26... Reference rotation speed setting device, 27... Display device, 28... Opening/closing interval setting device, 29, 30... Counter, 31... Electric control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Tea leaves are placed in a measuring case, and a sensing switch such as a phototube installed in the case is moved and fixed at a height that accounts for the desired amount W kg, and the internal volume up to that height is Vm ³
At the same time, set the delivery speed of the leaf feeder to U according to the desired throughput of the steamer, then open the drop door to transfer the tea leaves to the leaf feeder, and empty the weighing cabinet. As soon as tea leaves are started to be put into the cabinet almost constantly, the counter is started and the time (t) until the sensing switch such as the phototube detects the tea leaves is continued, and Wkg is added. Find the time (T) for each to finish, and
When a certain period of time S (S>T) has passed since the start of feeding, the tea leaves in the measuring cabinet that have just been fed are transferred to the leaf feeder, and the feed speed of the leaf feeder is corrected to U x T/t. A constant weight supply method of tea leaves that is repeated every time the desired amount W kg is measured. 2. A weight movable on a balance rod and a weighing case balanced via the rod are supported on a support frame so as to be movable up and down, and the bottom of the case is a drop door that opens and closes at regular intervals, and a drop door is provided directly below the drop door. is equipped with a hopper of a leaf feeder, the measuring case is equipped with a sensing switch such as a phototube that can be adjusted up and down, and the support frame is equipped with a limit switch that engages with the operating piece of the balance rod. A counter that measures the time until each of the phototube sensing switch and limit switch is activated, a reference rotation speed setting device for the drive motor of the leaf feeder, and the measured value of the counter and the setting value of the reference rotation speed setting device. A constant weight tea leaf feeder equipped with an electric control circuit that calculates and issues a speed change command to the drive motor of the leaf feeder.