JP2782519B2 - Method and apparatus for automatically cleaning tea machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for automatically cleaning the inside of a kneading and drying drum of a tea making machine.

[Prior art] In a tea making machine such as a leaf punching machine or a rough rubbing machine, a tea leaf having a large amount of water is stirred and rubbed on a rubbing bottom on which a bamboo pile is laid. Adheres,
This adhered material is generally called "bitter", and the above-mentioned attachment is called "bitter". Then, during repeated tea-making, the above-mentioned "astringent" gradually becomes thick and adheres to bamboo bamboos, rough hands, and the like. As a result, the stirring and kneading operation of the tea leaves is also hindered.

It is extremely difficult to remove the above-mentioned "astringent" in a tea maker because it is extremely hard to remove the astringent. Therefore, at present, the worker removes the "astringent" by washing with water or the like while being relatively soft.

In the above-mentioned work, usually, the processing of the tea leaves is stopped about once a day or half a day, and a sponge or a stitch (hereinafter referred to as a sponge or a stitch for one cup) corresponding to the volume of a single tea leaf that is batch-operated in a tea maker. Abbreviated) into a kneading and drying drum of a tea maker, and rotating the hand and fir hand while sprinkling water on the washing member, the above-mentioned abrasion is scraped off and the bamboo is cleaned. . Then, the take-out door provided at the rubbing bottom is opened, and the cleaning member wet with the cleaning water is taken out on the lower conveyor, and then the cleaning member is manually carried out.

On the other hand, bamboo shoots and the like blown with a large amount of hot air at a high temperature are dried in the massaging and drying drum.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the operation of supplying and collecting the cleaning member, the operation of starting and stopping watering and drying, and the like during the conventional cleaning operation described above are all performed by the operator, the burden on the operator is reduced. It is extremely large and must be performed by several people, which is a major problem in tea factories, which tend to be short of staff.

In addition, the washing water injected into the kneading and drying drum during the washing of the above-mentioned tea making machine is often in a state of being poured during the operation, so that the washing water often overflows and overflows around the tea making machine. The wiring of the cable may also be immersed in water, causing an accident such as electrical leakage, and furthermore, the tea making operation may be performed by wetting the transport means provided at the lower part due to leakage from the extraction door part provided on the rubbing bottom. There is a risk of adversely affecting the tea leaves that are taken out when it is transferred to, and when drying in the kneading and drying drum, the bamboo pile that is wet is rapidly dried because of the high temperature and large amount of hot air supplied. There was a problem that a remarkable difference in moisture was caused on the front and back sides, and the portion was easily broken or an unfixed portion was easily floated.

Furthermore, when the washing water is discharged, the washing member that has been wet with the part of the washing water is received and collected by a conveying means such as a conveying conveyor, so that the conveying surface of the conveying conveyor becomes wet. When returning to the operation, when the tea leaves are carried out, there is a problem that the quality of the tea leaves is reduced due to the wetness of the dried tea leaves due to the tea making operation, and a part of the tea leaves adheres to the conveying surface.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-described problems, and does not overflow the washing water, does not damage the bamboo shoots, and can be automatically carried out without wetting the transport conveyor. And its device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An automatic cleaning method and an apparatus for a tea machine according to the present invention include:
In order to achieve the above object, the method includes, as a method, a kneading and drying drum having a lower portion having a semi-cylindrical rubbing bottom, being exposed to hot air while stirring and kneading the tea leaves put into the rubbing and drying drum, and keeping a stowage. During the tea making operation in the tea making machine that dries, the washing operation is started when a preset time or time has been reached, and a sponge for one cup, a cleaning member such as a hemp is put into the kneading and drying drum, and the pouring is performed. When the washing member is stirred and kneaded to wash the rubbed bottom and the like, drained after a lapse of a predetermined time, hot air is supplied while stirring and kneading the washing member, and the washing member and the kneading and drying drum are dried. The washing member is taken out and collected, the washing operation is completed, and the tea making operation is performed by putting tea leaves into the kneading and drying drum again, and
As the apparatus, means for setting the time or time of the start of the washing operation during the tea making operation, and storing the washing member such as a sponge or a limp, and at the start of the washing, the stored washing member is rubbed and dried by the tea making machine. A means for supplying the inside of the body, a means for supplying the washing water into the kneading and drying body, a means for holding the washing water and agitating and kneading the washing member in the same manner as in tea production, and the kneading and drying body Means for discharging the washing water in the inside, means for detecting the degree of dryness in the kneading drum after washing water drainage, means for removing the washing member and recovering it to the above-mentioned storage unit, It is characterized by comprising a means for returning to the tea making operation, and furthermore, in the present apparatus, a saucer having a shape covering the transport means is inserted between the kneading and drying drum and the transport means disposed below the drum. It has a detachable configuration.

[Operation] The method and the apparatus for automatically cleaning a tea machine according to the present invention include:
In advance, for example, a time or time of 12 hours or 2:00 pm is set, and at that time or time, the operation is automatically shifted from the tea making operation to the washing operation. The washing member such as sponge or limp is automatically supplied into the kneading and drying drum of the tea making machine, and the washing member is supplied by hand and fir like hand during the tea making operation while supplying washing water at the same time. Stir and knead.

Since the rubbed bottom is strongly pressed and rubbed by the stirring and kneading of the above-mentioned cleaning member, the astringent adhered to the rubbed bottom and the leafy hands and fir hands is removed within a predetermined time set in advance, and the washing water is removed. Mix with.

In the above-mentioned washing operation, the washing water supplied into the kneading and drying drum may leak from the opening / closing part of the take-out door provided at the kneading drum, but in the present invention, the washing water is provided at the kneading and drying drum. The tray for receiving the leakage from the extraction door portion is disposed so as to be freely inserted and removed between the extraction door and the transfer means disposed below the extraction door. The tray is inserted so as to cover the conveying means, and the tray is withdrawn from the lower part of the kneading and drying drum during the tea making operation.

Next, the washing water mixed with astringent water is drained by the drainage means, and hot air is supplied after the drainage.However, even if the washing water is drained, the washing member still contains water, so only the bamboo pile at the bottom of the rubbing is removed. Instead of drying quickly, dry relatively slowly and uniformly with the cleaning member.

And, in the above-mentioned drying, if the drying is excessively performed, the resistance of the cleaning member sharply increases, and the stirring and kneading means such as a leafy hand and a fir hand are damaged, so that the drying is controlled by the dryness detecting means and the drying is automatically terminated. I do.

Where the rub-drying drum and the cleaning member have been dried by the above drying, take out the cleaning member using a tea leaf take-out means,
The tea leaves are carried out as it is by the conveyor for carrying out the tea leaves, and are conveyed to the cleaning member storage unit by the conveyor branched from the carrying-out conveyor.

When the washing operation is completed as described above, the operation returns to the normal tea making operation by the return means.

And, in the tea production, the operation continues during the busy season of tea production regardless of day and night, and the control of the feeding and removal of tea leaves to and from the tea machine and the accompanying conveyor and the like, and the control of the tea making conditions are entirely described. Since it is controlled by the line control panel or the individual control panels that communicate with each other, the above-mentioned transition to the cleaning operation, supply of the cleaning water, stirring and kneading of the cleaning member, setting of the cleaning time, drying, etc. are described above. It can be easily implemented by issuing a command in conjunction with the line control panel.

[Embodiment] Figs. 1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention, which will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are cutaway views of the front and right sides of the tea maker 1. FIG.

The rough tea making machine 1 of the present embodiment has a lower part formed in a semi-cylindrical shape, a bamboo bamboo 12 is laid on the bottom part of the semi-cylindrical shape to form a kneading bottom 11, and an upper part has a square kneading and drying drum 10, Spindle 14 that is rotatably mounted horizontally at the center of 10 and has multiple leafy hands and fir-arms
Hot air outlet 15 provided on the back of the kneading and drying drum 10;
It has a normal configuration including a hot air generator 16 provided integrally with the back of the teak and a measuring pool 17 for tea leaves installed on the upper part of the kneading and drying drum 10.

And the above-mentioned rough tea making machine 1 is provided with the following means in order to carry out the present invention. That is, one of the belt conveyors 20 is provided with a hopper 22 capable of storing a full amount of a cleaning member 21 such as a sponge or a limp, and a belt conveyor.
The other of 20 faces the upper end of the massaging drum 10, and the cleaning member 21 is supplied into the massaging drum 10 from the hopper 22 by the operation of the conveyor belt 20.

Above the massaging drum 10, supply means 23 capable of sprinkling the washing water over the massaging drum 10 and a solenoid valve 24 for supplying / stopping the washing water disposed in the pipe of the massaging means are provided. In addition, a motor-operated valve 25, 25 for opening and closing drainage disposed in a drainage port 13 and a water distribution pipe connected to the drainage port 13 is provided on both lower side walls of the rubbing and drying 10 described above. I have.

Further, a dryness detecting means 26 for providing two electrodes on the bamboo bamboo face 12 of the above-mentioned kneading bottom 11 and detecting the degree of dryness on the bamboo bamboo face 12 from a change in resistance between the two electrodes, A water level sensor 27 is provided for detecting the level of the cleaning water when the cleaning water is stored in the water tank 10.

Further, 41 has a shape such that it covers the conveyor 3 below the take-out door 18 provided on the rubbing bottom 11 of the tea making coarse rubbing machine 1, and can be inserted into and removed from the rubbing bottom 11 and the conveyor 3. In a saucer, the saucer 41 is placed on a drain gutter 45 during the tea making operation,
At the time of the cleaning operation, the front end of the pan 41 is pulled out via the hanging fastener 44, and the front end of the pan 41 is fixed to the side wall of the stop cover 43.
Hook on the tip of At this time, the rear end of the tray 41 is placed on the drain gutter 45 and is inclined with its rear part down, so that drainage and the like received by the tray 41 can easily flow. In addition, the receiving tray 41 can be inserted and removed between the kneading bottom 11 and the conveyor 3 by a manual operation of an operator or by an air cylinder.

Each of the above means is automatically controlled in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, and the control is performed by the control device 30 shown in the block diagram of FIG. Therefore,
Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 5, if there is a change in the cleaning start time or the like, it is inputted, and the process proceeds or returns depending on whether or not the cleaning time has been reached. When the time has been reached, a cleaning signal from the control panel 6 described later is transmitted. The control device 30 receives the cleaning member 21 and operates the belt conveyor 20 for conveying the cleaning member 21 to rub the cleaning member 21 with the dry drum 10.
Put in. At this time, the receiving pan 41 (shown in FIG. 5) is inserted between the transfer bottom and the kneading bottom, which is located above the drain gutter 45, and then the washing time timer 32 is started, and the water level in the kneading and drying cylinder 10 is adjusted to a predetermined level. , The solenoid valve 24 is closed if it has been reached, and if it has not been reached, the solenoid valve is
When the cleaning time elapses, the electric valve 25 is opened and the timing timer is started. When the timing timer elapses, the electric valve 25 is closed and the first cleaning is completed.

When the first cleaning is completed and the second cleaning is further performed, the above-described cleaning time timer is started, and the same operation as described above is performed.

When cleaning is completed, hot air is rubbed by hot air request signal
When the dryness reaches a predetermined value due to the hot air, the hot air is further supplied when the dryness has not reached the predetermined value, and a predetermined value and a cleaning member removal request signal are output.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a conveyor for feeding tea leaves into the measuring pool 17 described above, and reference numeral 3 denotes a conveyor disposed below the take-out door 18 provided on the rubbing bottom 11 of the rub-drying drum 10 to remove the tea leaves or the cleaning member 21. Conveyor 4 is a bucket conveyor which communicates with the conveyor 3 and unloads an object to be conveyed in a vertical direction. Reference numeral 5 designates the tea leaves received from the bucket conveyor 4 to the next tea machines 7, 8. A belt conveyor for conveying toward the other end faces the hopper (storage unit) 22 of the above-described belt conveyor 20, and when the object to be conveyed is the cleaning member 21, the belt is reversed so that Of the cleaning member 21 can be put into the hopper 22. Reference numeral 6 denotes a line control panel for controlling tea making conditions, process time, tea leaf input and take-out operations, and associated conveyor operation and stop in each of the tea machines 7, 8 and the like.

The flowchart of the control of the tea making and roughing machine 1 by the line control panel 6 in FIG. 6 will be described. During a normal tea making operation, a predetermined time or time is reached, and a washing operation request signal is received. If the pool 17 is in the middle of weighing, the supply is temporarily stopped when the weighing pool 17 is full, and the tea leaves stored in the weighing pool 17 are subjected to the rough rubbing operation. When the supply to the measuring pool 17 has already been stopped, when the coarse kneading operation is completed without performing the above operation, a washing operation OK signal is issued, at the same time the hot air generator is closed, and the washing OK signal is sent. The cleaning device described above is performed by the control device 30 receiving the command.

When the cleaning operation is completed, a hot air request signal is received, and before the completion of the cleaning operation, the cleaning is continued. At the completion of the operation, the hot air generator is operated to output a cleaning member removal signal according to the dryness, and the removal door 18 is provided.
, The conveyor conveyor 3 and the bucket conveyor 4 are operated, the belt conveyor 5 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the take-out time timer is started. When the unloading time has elapsed, the unloading door 18 is closed, and the conveyors 3, 4, and 5 are stopped,
If the removal is not completed, the removal is performed again, a hot air request signal is issued, and the cleaning operation is completed.

In the present embodiment, the inside of the kneading and drying cylinder 10 is washed twice as described above. That is, as described in the description of the flowchart of FIG. 5, the first washing is performed while the water is accumulated up to the position of the water level sensor 27, and then the washing water that is contaminated due to the mixing of the astringent water is once drained and newly washed The second cleaning is performed while storing the cleaning water. Therefore, when the first time is over, the main astringency is removed, and the second time, the details and the rubbed bottom 11 and the cleaning member 21 are thoroughly cleaned, so that the cleaning effect becomes extremely high. Uses less water compared to.

The water level sensor 27 is "ON" when the washing water reaches a predetermined position.
Otherwise, any signal that outputs an "OFF" signal may be used. Also,
By providing the overflow pipe 42 at the position of the water level sensor 27, the water level sensor 27 can be removed, but in this case, it is necessary to supply the washing water in a flowing manner.

The dryness may be such that a signal of “ON” is output when the resistance value of the sensor exceeds about 1 MΩ, and an signal of “OFF” is output when the resistance value is lower than about 1 MΩ. How to dry depends on the type of cleaning member 21,
It is better to be able to adjust the set value. Further, instead of the dryness detecting means 26, the drying time may be set by time. However, in this case, it is necessary to set the time carefully so that the cleaning member 21 does not dry too much.

Also, in order not to deteriorate the quality of the tea leaves, it is necessary to perform a rough rubbing operation on the tea leaves being accumulated in the measuring pool 17 before shifting to the washing operation. Is completed, the line control panel 6 outputs a "cleaning operation OK signal" to the control device 30 as described above. In the control apparatus 30, but sends a "cleaning operation request signal" to the line control board 6 becomes the cleaning time agent T ₀ set by the setting means 31, then receives a "cleaning operation OK signal" of the first cleaning The operation is started.

The cleaning water is drained by opening the motor-operated valve 25 of the drain port 13 for the time set by the timing timer 32 (about 5 minutes). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tray 41 is inserted between the take-out door 18 and the conveyor 3 and the take-out door 18 is slightly opened to such an extent that the washing water is gradually spilled. In addition, the time required for the drainage can be shortened, and the astringent mixed in the drainage flows out together with the drainage without remaining in the kneaded bottom 11. The receiving tray 41 is configured to allow the received washing water to flow to a drain through a drain gutter 45.

By the way, since the take-out door 18 has a slight gap even in the closed state due to its structure, at the time of washing, the washing water leaks little by little from the above-mentioned gap, and falls on the transport conveyor 3 provided thereunder and accumulates. Would. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the tray 41 is inserted forward before the cleaning time timer 32 is started (as shown in FIG. 5) as described above, and when the cleaning is completed (as shown in FIG. 5). Since the water is retracted, the washing water does not fall on the conveyor 3, so that there is no problem in the transfer of the tea leaves. For example, even if the joining portion of the take-out door 18 is sealed, the tea leaves taken out are often narrowed and the washing water easily leaks. Therefore, it is more effective to insert and remove the tray 41 as in this embodiment.

Further, the cleaning water supply means 23 includes a long main shaft 14 and side walls,
The thing provided with the nozzle which can sprinkle the massage bottom 11 uniformly is good. In the present embodiment, the use of the water level sensor 27 at the start of cleaning makes it possible to maintain the cleaning water from the cleaning water supply unit at a constant water level, so that the cleaning water can overflow. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the accident that occurs.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the washing operation is automatically started in advance when the time or time to start the washing operation is reached, and when the washing is completed, the process shifts to the normal tea making operation, so that a large number of conventional workers are required. The burden on the workers can be reduced by making the work that was done unattended,
If the start time of the washing operation is set at the time of the change of the operator, the change can be made more easily and the transfer can be performed smoothly.

After the washing is completed, for example, washing is performed with water, and the subsequent drying operation in the kneading and drying drum 10 is performed by stirring and washing the washing member 21 containing water.
Since the bamboo pile 12 is dried while being kneaded, the bamboo pile 12 can be dried relatively gently together with the cleaning member 21 without being rapidly dried, so that the bamboo pile 12 does not hurt or float. Also, if the cleaning member 21 is left wet,
Although it rots and becomes weak, it is stored after being dried, so it does not become the above-mentioned state, it can be used for washing many times, and wets the surface of each conveyor during unloading Not even. Therefore, when the tea leaves are subsequently carried out, the tea leaves are not wetted and the quality is not degraded.

Further, in the present embodiment, the drying end time when drying in the kneading and drying drum 10 is automatically determined by the dryness detecting means 26, so that the cleaning member 21 is not over-dried or insufficient, and particularly the cleaning member. If the 21 is too dry, the burden on the leafy hands and fir-hands increases, and it is easy to damage them and the cleaning member 21 is easily broken. However, this is not the case in the present embodiment. Also, for the tea machine 1,
Since it is provided with the means 20 capable of supplying the cleaning member 21 for the batch, it can be automatically supplied at the start of cleaning, and further,
Connect the other end of the belt conveyor 5 or the chute to the above-mentioned means 20.
The cleaning member 21 can be automatically stored by guiding the cleaning member 21 to the storage unit.

[Effects of the Invention] The automatic cleaning method and the apparatus for a tea machine according to the present invention include:
At a preset time or time,
In this washing operation, a washing member such as a sponge corresponding to the volume of a single batch of tea leaves to be batch-operated in a tea maker is put into the kneading and drying drum, and at the same time, the washing water is washed. And agitate and knead it with a leafy hand or a fir hand in the same manner as in the tea making operation. Stirring of the aforementioned cleaning materials
Since the kneaded bottom is strongly pressed and rubbed by kneading, within the set time, the sticking of the above-mentioned kneading bottom, leafy hands and fir hands is removed and mixed with the washing water, and after the washing is completed, the said sticking is mixed. The washing water thus discharged is discharged, and hot water is supplied while stirring the washing member still containing water after draining to dry it together with the kneading and drying drum.

In the above drying, the kneading and drying drum is dried together with the washing member containing water, so that the bamboo stick at the bottom of the kneading is dried slowly and uniformly with the washing member without quickly drying only the bamboo stick. It does not float. Then, in the drying, the drying is controlled by the dryness detecting means, and the drying is automatically terminated. When the drying drum and the cleaning member are dried by the above drying, the cleaning member is taken out, and is carried out by the carry-out conveyor to the cleaning member storage unit via the carry-out belt conveyor.

Further, in the present invention, the tray is detachably provided between the take-out door provided at the bottom of the kneading and drying unit and the transporting means provided at the lower portion thereof, so that the tray is provided during the cleaning operation. The transport means is inserted to the lower part of the take-out door to cover the transport means and receives the washing water leaking from the take-out door and the drainage after cleaning, so that the transport means does not get wet, so There is no problem in transporting tea leaves.
It does not affect tea quality.

When the washing operation is completed as described above, the operation returns to the normal tea making operation. During the busy season of tea production, the operation continues regardless of day and night, so that the input and output of tea leaves of the tea machine and the control of the accompanying conveyor and the control of the tea production conditions are controlled by a line control panel that controls the whole. Therefore, the operation shifts to the above-mentioned cleaning operation, the supply of the cleaning water, the stirring of the cleaning member,
Automatic control of kneading, setting of washing time, drying, etc. is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front cutaway view of a rough tea making machine, FIG. 2 is a right side cutout view, and FIG. 3 is a plan layout of a plurality of tea making machines. FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control device, FIG.
The figure is a flowchart of the control relating to the tea making and roughing machine of the line control panel. 1: Tea making machine, 10: Massage dryer, 12: Bamboo bamboo 16: Hot air generator, 21: Cleaning member, 22: Hopper 20: Belt conveyor (supply / return means of cleaning member 21) 23: Cleaning water supply means, 26: Dryness detection means 25: Drainage means (motorized valve of drain port 24) 30: Control device, 6: Line control panel

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tea-making operation in a tea-making machine, comprising a rubbing and drying drum having a semi-cylindrical rubbing bottom at a lower portion, wherein the tea leaves put into the rubbing and drying drum are stirred and rubbed, are exposed to hot air, and are dried while keeping a stile. In the meantime, when a preset time or time has been reached, the process shifts to a washing operation, and a sponge corresponding to the volume of tea leaves for a single batch operation performed by a tea machine, a washing member such as a henchma is put into a kneading and drying drum, The washing member is stirred and kneaded while performing water injection to wash the rubbed bottom and the like, and drained when a predetermined washing is performed, and hot air is supplied while stirring the washing member. An automatic washing apparatus for a tea making machine, wherein when the drying drum has dried, the cleaning member is taken out and collected, the cleaning operation is completed, and tea leaves are again put into the kneading drying drum to perform a tea making operation. 2. A washing tray, which can be inserted and removed between the above-mentioned kneading and drying drum and the conveying means disposed below the drum, so as to cover the conveying means between the kneading and drying drum and the conveying means during a cleaning operation. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tray is retracted after the washing water is discharged. 3. A means for setting the time or time of the start of a washing operation during a tea making operation, storing a washing member such as a sponge or a fringe, and removing the stored washing member at the start of washing the lower part of the tea making machine. A means for supplying into the semi-cylindrical kneading and drying drum, a means for supplying washing water into the kneading and drying drum, and a stirrer for holding the supplied washing water and stirring the washing member in the same manner as in tea production. Means for kneading, means for discharging the washing water in the kneading and drying cylinder, means for detecting the degree of dryness in the kneading and drying cylinder after draining the washing water, and a storage section for taking out the dried washing member and taking out the above An automatic cleaning apparatus for a tea machine, comprising: means for recovering a tea machine; and means for returning to a normal tea manufacturing operation after the completion of the washing operation. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a saucer for covering said transport means is removably inserted between said kneading and drying drum and said transport means disposed below said drum. Automatic cleaning equipment for tea machines.