JPH0254892B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to the weight of tea leaves when they occupy a unit volume,
In other words, the present invention relates to a completely new method and device for measuring the apparent density of tea leaves.

Conventionally, in the tea manufacturing process, the amount of tea leaves processed was determined by the weight per unit time (Kg/h), and the tea manufacturing conditions such as rotation speed and temperature of each process machine were determined based on the weight.

However, these days, as people's tastes are shifting toward "tea with good taste," in order to meet the demand for "cheap and delicious tea!", no matter how high the precision of only the weight flow rate and process control, it is not enough. It is not possible to obtain a sufficiently good and uniform product.

This is because the rolling process, which is repeated many times in different forms throughout the entire tea manufacturing process, depends not only on the capacity of the rolling chamber of the processing machine, but also on the volume of the tea leaves themselves that are put into the chamber. This is because the degree of kneading changes.

On the other hand, the capacity of transport machines such as belt conveyors and bucket conveyors between each process machine can be easily understood by the volumetric flow rate m ³ /h. For this reason, measuring the apparent density of tea leaves is extremely important not only for managing each process but also for matching the capacity of each process machine and transport machine.

In particular, measuring the apparent density of green tea leaves allows us to know the properties of raw materials before processing.
This will provide extremely useful information for the subsequent series of tea manufacturing operations.

In the past, attention was focused only on making the weight flow rate uniform, and no consideration was given to making the volumetric flow rate of tea leaves uniform or understanding the apparent density.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and by measuring the times t and T required for feeding, the apparent density of the current tea leaves is determined from the ratio of the apparent density of the current tea leaves to the reference tea leaf apparent density ρ ₀ . It measures the density ρ.

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.

In this embodiment, the apparent density of green tea leaves is measured, and for this purpose the measuring cabinet is placed directly above the hopper of a leaf feeder that feeds green tea leaves into a steamer.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a leaf feeder, which is made up of a circulating belt with 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 scraping hand that is suspended from the belt surface of the leaf feeder and is movable up and down, 5 is a hopper provided at the starting end of the belt, and 6 is a drive motor for the belt that is capable of continuously varying the belt speed. Use a variable speed motor.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a transport machine that continuously feeds green tea leaves into the apparent density measuring device of the present invention, and a scraper 8 is arranged on the belt surface of the machine 7 during transport so that the green tea leaves are sent out almost constantly. Set up

Reference numeral 9 denotes an apparent density measuring device of the present invention, which includes a weighing case 13 that is located directly above the hopper 5 of the leaf feeder 1, has a drop door 10 on its lower side, and is supported on a support frame 11 via a lever 12 so as to be vertically movable. Allocate.

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, its front panel 23 includes input devices 24 and 25 for the weight and volume of the reference tea leaves, an indicator light 26 for the apparent density of the reference tea leaves, and an indicator for the current apparent density of the tea leaves. Indicator light 2
7, etc., and inside thereof there is a counter 28 that starts when tea leaves begin to be put into the weighing cabinet 13 and stops when the photoelectric tube 19 detects the top of the tea leaves, and a counter 28 that starts when the desired weight of fresh tea leaves is put in and starts operation. Piece 1
7 and the counter 29 that stops when it comes into contact with the limit switch 18, and those counters 2
It houses an arithmetic circuit 30 that calculates the current apparent density of tea leaves based on the values of 8 and 29 and manual input values of the weight and volume of reference tea leaves, and a control circuit 31 that issues various drive commands to link with other related equipment before and after. .

Note that the counters 28 and 29 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.

In the case of this embodiment, since the apparent density of the reference tea leaves is input manually, preliminary preparations such as inputting the weight and volume of the reference tea leaves are first 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 of the front panel 23 of the control box 22, and the reference tea leaf apparent density ρ ₀ is calculated and displayed on the indicator light 26 using the formula ρ ₀ =W/V.

Next, considering the further use of the present invention, tea manufacturing conditions for each processing machine suitable for this reference tea leaf will be set. This is done by empirically adjusting conditions such as the speed of the leaf feeder 1, the height of the scraper 4, the steam volume of the steamer 2, the rotation _speed of the barrel, and the rotation speed of the stirring shaft in accordance with the standard apparent density of tea leaves ρ 0. This is done by experimenting with the obtained value or an appropriate value for a while and setting the value that is actually optimal for the tea leaves. With this, the preliminary preparation is completed.

Therefore, after emptying the weighing case 13 and confirming that the drop door 10 is closed, the transporter 7 is driven to start feeding the green tea leaves into the weighing case 13, and at the same time, the counter 28, Start 29. 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 28, 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 issuing a signal to stop the counter 29, which increases the time T from the start of feeding until the Wkg is fed.
is measured. Then, when t and T are measured, the arithmetic circuit 30 calculates the equation t/Tρ ₀ (where t<T), and calculates this value from the indicator light 27 on the front panel 23.
to be displayed. Now, the raw tea leaves that were put into the weighing cabinet 13, that is, the current apparent density of the tea leaves ρ
has been measured. After that, wait until the previously measured tea leaves in the hopper 5 of the leaf feeder 1 (the reference tea leaves that were put in in the preliminary preparation) are sent out, and then
Open the drop door 10 of No. 3 and transfer the fresh tea leaves just measured to the leaf feeder 1. Then, the green tea leaves are eventually fed into the steamer 2 and tea processing is performed.

During this time, the counters 28 and 29 are reset in the apparent density measuring device 9, and measurement of the next green tea leaf begins.

In this way, the apparent density of the current tea leaves is measured one after another, and by displaying this, it is possible to numerically understand the properties of the current tea leaves.

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

In other words, the operator refers to the display of the current apparent density ρ of the tea leaves and adjusts, for example, the speed of the leaf feeder 1, the height of the scraper 4, etc., so that a constant weight of tea leaves is always accurately steamed. The amount of steam, barrel rotation speed, and stirring shaft rotation speed of the steamer 2, or the hot air temperature and main shaft rotation speed of the rough scraper,
The apparent density of standard tea leaves ρ ₀
By comparing with the above, it becomes possible to correct the tea manufacturing conditions set in the pre-preparation and perform processing suitable for the properties of the current tea leaves.

In the case of this example, the current tea leaf apparent density ρ
is simply displayed on the front panel 23,
Although we have made it possible to correct the tea manufacturing conditions manually, it is of course also possible to output the current measured apparent density of tea leaves to the tea manufacturing condition control mechanism and have each tea manufacturing condition automatically corrected. It is.

In addition, the reference tea leaf apparent _density ρ ₀ was calculated and displayed by manually inputting W and V. The capacity V up to, with a weight of 1
It is also possible to automatically input the weight W at position 4 and automatically calculate and display the apparent density ρ ₀ of the reference tea leaves.

Further, the counter 29 is set to start at the same time as the raw tea leaves are put into the weighing cabinet 13, so that the counter 29 starts at a time T.
However, when the counter 28 is stopped by the signal from the phototube 19, the counter 29 starts and the limit switch 18 turns on.
By measuring the time s until T=
It may be determined by calculating t+s.

In the method of the present invention, a sensing switch such as a phototube is moved and fixed at a height that closes the desired amount WKg, and the internal volume Vm ³ up to that height is determined to determine the reference tea leaf apparent density ρ ₀ Kg/m ³ in advance. Then,
The measuring cabinet is emptied and tea leaves are started to be put into the cabinet at a constant rate, and the counter is started and the time t until the sensing switch such as the photocell detects the tea leaves is continued. The current apparent density ρ of tea leaves is determined by the formula ρ = t/Tρ _0. Therefore, the current apparent density ρ of tea leaves is equal to the reference tea leaf apparent density ρ ₀ It can be obtained very easily by multiplying by X. In other words, it has become possible to easily obtain numerical information that is extremely important in determining the tea manufacturing conditions for each processing machine. Also, due to this,
If you set the tea manufacturing conditions for the reference tea leaves to the most preferable values from a table etc. determined empirically or after some trial, even if the properties of the tea leaves change afterwards, the current tea manufacturing conditions will match the tea manufacturing conditions for the reference tea leaves. If you make a correction to compensate for the change in apparent density, even if you are not an expert, you will be able to set the tea manufacturing conditions that are currently favorable for the tea leaves with a high degree of accuracy. You can expect an improvement in quality. This effect is more effective in mass-producing tea factories where the number of skilled workers is insufficient. In other words,
This is because even tea at mass prices is subject to sufficient quality control.

In addition, according to the device of the present invention, not only can the apparent density of tea leaves be measured at present, but also the mechanical structure such as the support frame and measuring casing 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. Additionally, when currently measuring the apparent density of tea leaves, the weight is always measured at fixed weight intervals, making it possible to strictly control the weight input to each process machine in the tea manufacturing process. Coupled with the ability to make adjustments, it becomes possible to perform tea making work 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, 7...Transporter, 10...Drop door, 11...Support frame, 13...Weighing cabinet, 14...
Weight, 15... Balance rod, 17... Operating piece, 1
8...Limit switch, 19...Phototube, 2
8, 29...Counter, 30...Arithmetic 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
The apparent density of standard tea leaves ρ ₀ Kg/m ³ is determined in advance, and then the measuring cabinet is emptied and tea leaves are started to be introduced almost constantly into the cabinet.
The time t from starting the counter until the sensing switch such as the phototube detects tea leaves, and the time t until the tea leaves are continuously added and the Wkg is finished being added.
A method of measuring the apparent density of tea leaves, in which the current apparent density ρ of the tea leaves is determined using the formula ρ=t/Tρ ₀ . 2. The method for measuring the apparent density of tea leaves according to claim 1, wherein the tea leaves are fresh tea leaves. 3. 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 loading door that can be opened and closed;
The housing 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 device for measuring the apparent density of tea leaves, comprising: a counter that measures the time until the tea leaves have reached the peak density; and an arithmetic circuit that calculates the current apparent density of tea leaves based on the reference apparent density of tea leaves from the measurement value of the counter.