A tea stem and leaf separator for matcha and its control method

Abstract

This invention relates to a tea stem and leaf separation unit for matcha and its control method, comprising a feeding device, a stem and leaf separator disposed at the discharge end of the feeding device, and a stem and leaf cleaning machine disposed below the stem and leaf separator. A leaf conveyor is disposed below the tea leaf discharge port of the stem and leaf cleaning machine, and a stem and stem conveyor is disposed below the tea stem and stem discharge port of the stem and leaf cleaning machine. As can be seen from the above technical solution, this invention can realize continuous and automated production of stem and leaf separation in matcha processing, which is of great significance to the high-quality processing, clean and continuous production of matcha and the sustainable and healthy development of related industries.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to matcha processing technology, specifically to a tea stem and leaf separation unit for matcha and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of my country's tea industry, matcha and its products are increasingly popular among Chinese consumers and are widely used in biscuits, baked goods, milk tea, and other fields, showing huge market potential. The traditional Chinese matcha production process involves: picking, washing, steaming, drying, stem and leaf separation, grinding, and sieving. Currently, most tea stem and leaf separation equipment is in stand-alone form, resulting in low efficiency and poor separation quality. Furthermore, its mechanical structure is not conducive to automating and continuously producing the tea stem and leaf separation process. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a tea stem and leaf separation unit for matcha. This separation unit can realize continuous and automated production of matcha stem and leaf separation according to the production needs of different specifications of tencha. It is of great significance to the high-quality processing, clean and continuous production of matcha and the sustainable and healthy development of related industries.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: including a feeding device, a stem and leaf separator installed at the discharge end of the feeding device, and a stem and leaf cleaning machine installed below the stem and leaf separator. A leaf conveyor is provided below the tea leaf discharge port of the stem and leaf cleaning machine, and a stem and stem conveyor is provided below the tea stem and stem discharge port of the stem and leaf cleaning machine.

[0005] The stem and leaf separator includes a stem and leaf separation tank fixed on a frame. A first separation toothed cylinder and a second separation toothed cylinder are arranged in a stepped manner inside the stem and leaf separation tank. The height of the first separation toothed cylinder is higher than that of the second separation toothed cylinder. A first screen is arranged concentrically with the first separation toothed cylinder below the first separation toothed cylinder, and a first crushing zone is formed between the first separation toothed cylinder and the first screen. A second screen is arranged concentrically with the second separation toothed cylinder below the second separation toothed cylinder, and a second crushing zone is formed between the second separation toothed cylinder and the second screen. Both the first screen and the second screen are connected to the stem and leaf separation tank.

[0006] The first and second separating tooth cylinders have the same structure, each including a tooth cylinder fixed to the stem-leaf separation groove by a drive shaft and a cutting device disposed on the tooth cylinder. The cutting device includes multiple sets of tooth cutters evenly disposed on the tooth cylinder in the circumferential direction and a tooth posture adjustment mechanism disposed inside the tooth cylinder and connected to the multiple sets of tooth cutters at the same time.

[0007] The toothed cutter is an integral structure, including a columnar cutter body rotatably connected to the wall of the toothed cylinder, a strip-shaped toothed cutter fixed on the columnar cutter body, the strip-shaped toothed cutter being located outside the toothed cylinder, the length of the strip-shaped toothed cutter being greater than that of the columnar cutter body and one end of the strip-shaped toothed cutter being flush with the columnar cutter body, the non-flush end of the columnar cutter body having a circular blind hole concentrically arranged with the columnar cutter body, and the non-flush end of the columnar cutter body also having a connecting rod perpendicular to the outer wall of the columnar cutter body, the connecting rod and the axis of the strip-shaped toothed cutter being in the same plane, and the end of the connecting rod having a cylindrical pin perpendicular to the connecting rod;

[0008] The gear posture adjustment mechanism includes a sleeve connected to a drive shaft via a bearing. A star-shaped connector is fixed to one end of the outer wall of the sleeve. The star-shaped connector includes a connecting cylinder fixed to the outer wall of the sleeve and connecting rods evenly distributed circumferentially on the outer wall of the connecting cylinder. The connecting rods are provided with straight grooves that engage with cylindrical pins on the gear cutter. A gear ring is fixed to the other end of the outer wall of the sleeve. The gear ring meshes with a rack. The rack is slidably fixed in a rack groove. Both ends of the rack groove are fixed to the inner wall of the gear cylinder. A limiting electric push rod is provided at one end of the rack groove. The push rod end of the limiting electric push rod points towards the rack and is fixedly connected to the rack end.

[0009] The gear cylinder is a cylindrical structure with openings at both ends. Its internal center is fixedly connected to the drive shaft via a star-shaped support frame. One end of the drive shaft is connected to a third motor via a coupling, and the other end of the drive shaft is connected to a conductive slip ring.

[0010] The cylinder wall of the toothed cylinder is provided with a connecting groove for accommodating a columnar blade along its end. The columnar blade is rotatably fixed in the connecting groove. The two side walls of the connecting groove are arc-shaped to match the columnar blade. The bottom part of the connecting groove is provided with a positioning pin that rotatably matches a circular blind hole.

[0011] The star-shaped support frame is symmetrically provided with two sets of tooth posture adjustment mechanisms on both sides. The two sets of tooth posture adjustment mechanisms cooperate with two sets of cutting devices, and the two sets of cutting devices are symmetrically arranged along the length of the tooth cylinder.

[0012] The feeding device includes a vertical belt elevator and a leaf leveling machine. The feed end of the vertical belt elevator is equipped with an electromagnetic vibrating feeder, and the leaf leveling machine is located below the discharge end of the vertical belt elevator. The leaf leveling machine includes a leaf leveling machine base frame connected to the machine frame, a first electromagnetic vibration groove and a second electromagnetic vibration groove installed in a stepped manner from the feed direction to the discharge direction on the leaf leveling machine base frame. The first electromagnetic vibration groove is set higher than the second electromagnetic vibration groove. A first leaf leveling guide plate and a spiral blade leaf leveling device are arranged in sequence above the first electromagnetic vibration groove. A second leaf leveling guide plate and a spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device are arranged in sequence above the second electromagnetic vibration groove. The first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leaf leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate and the spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device sequentially perform leaf leveling four times on the tea stem and leaf separation raw material entering the leaf leveling machine.

[0013] The first electromagnetic vibration groove and the second electromagnetic vibration groove are both arranged in an inclined manner. The feed end of the first electromagnetic vibration groove and the second electromagnetic vibration groove are both higher than the discharge end, and the discharge end of the first electromagnetic vibration groove and the second electromagnetic vibration groove are both open. The angle between the bottom surface of the first electromagnetic vibration groove and the horizontal plane is 2 to 5°.

[0014] The first and second uniform blade guide plates have the same structure, both being V-shaped uniform blade guide plates with an obtuse included angle. The spiral blade uniform blade device includes a first rotating shaft and spiral uniform blades fixed on the first rotating shaft. Two sets of spiral uniform blades are arranged along the length of the first rotating shaft, and the two sets of spiral uniform blades have a symmetrical structure and opposite rotation directions. The first rotating shaft is driven to rotate by a first motor. The spiral nail tooth uniform blade device includes a second rotating shaft and spiral nail teeth arranged spirally on the second rotating shaft. Two sets of spiral nail teeth are arranged along the length of the second rotating shaft, and the two sets of spiral nail teeth have a symmetrical structure and opposite rotation directions. The second rotating shaft is driven to rotate by a second motor.

[0015] The height between the first uniform blade guide plate and the spiral blade uniform blade device and the first electromagnetic vibration groove is adjustable, and the height between the second uniform blade guide plate and the spiral nail tooth uniform blade device and the second electromagnetic vibration groove is adjustable. The two ends of the first uniform blade guide plate and the second uniform blade guide plate, and the two ends of the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are respectively connected to the output end of the electric push rod.

[0016] The stem and leaf cleaning machine includes a cleaning tank, a stepped screen disposed in the cleaning tank, and a double crank for driving the cleaning tank to reciprocate. The cleaning tank is mounted on a first crankshaft 24 and a second crankshaft 25 and is located directly below the stem and leaf separator. The rear part of the cleaning tank is located below the first screen, and the front middle part of the cleaning tank is located below the second screen.

[0017] The cleaning trough consists of a bottom plate, two side plates, and a rear plate. The rear plate is a mesh screen. The bottom plate is a non-planar plate, formed by joining an inclined first bottom plate and a second bottom plate. The joint of the first bottom plate and the second bottom plate is higher than the other end of the first bottom plate and the second bottom plate, respectively, and the end of the second bottom plate is lower than the end of the first bottom plate. A gap is left between the rear plate and the first bottom plate to form a tea leaf outlet. The front end of the cleaning trough is open, and this open end forms a tea stem outlet.

[0018] The stepped screen is located above the second base plate and consists of multiple sets of equidistant, parallel, and inclined fish-eye screens. The screen holes of the fish-eye screens face away from the centrifugal fan. The fish-eye screens are fixed to the side trough plates and have a gap between them and the second base plate. The angle between the fish-eye screens and the horizontal plane is 20-30°. A centrifugal fan is provided in front of the tea stem discharge port. The air outlet of the centrifugal fan faces the tea stem discharge port and its air outlet is parallel to the fish-eye screens.

[0019] The double crank includes a first crankshaft and a second crankshaft that are rotatably connected to the bottom of the cleaning tank. The first crankshaft and the second crankshaft have the same structure, and the crank arm of the first crankshaft and the crank arm of the second crankshaft are both 30mm in length. The first crankshaft is driven by a fourth motor.

[0020] The first base plate is an inclined plate that is set at a 45° angle from the joint of the first base plate and the second base plate toward the rear groove plate, and the second base plate is an inclined plate that is set at a 10-20° angle from the joint of the first base plate and the second base plate toward the direction away from the rear groove plate.

[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method for a tea stem and leaf separation unit for matcha, comprising the following steps:

[0022] S1: The controller starts the vertical belt elevator. The electromagnetic vibrating feeder at the feed end of the vertical belt elevator shakes the dried tea stems and leaves to separate the raw materials and feeds them evenly into the leaf equalizer.

[0023] S2: Synchronized with S1, the controller starts the first electromagnetic vibration tank and the second electromagnetic vibration tank. The leaf leveling machine will pass the tea stem and leaf separation raw material fed by the vertical belt elevator through the first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leaf leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate and the spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device for four times, and then feed it into the stem and leaf separator through the second electromagnetic vibration tank for stem and leaf separation.

[0024] S3: Synchronized with S2, when the leaf leveling machine is working, the controller adjusts the vibration frequency of the first and second electromagnetic vibration grooves according to the different feeding speeds of the tea stem and leaf separation raw materials to achieve different feeding speeds. At the same time, according to the material layer uniformity and thickness requirements of different tea stem and leaf separation raw materials, the controller adjusts the extension and retraction lengths of the corresponding electric push rods of the first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate, and the spiral nail tooth leveling device, thereby adjusting the distance between the first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral nail tooth leveling device and the corresponding electromagnetic vibration grooves to achieve the feeding of different tea stem and leaf separation raw materials with uniformity and thickness.

[0025] S4: Synchronized with S2, the controller starts the third motor, causing the first separating gear cylinder and the second separating gear to rotate along the drive shaft, and the tea stem and leaf separation raw materials complete the first and second stem and leaf separation in the first crushing zone and the second crushing zone;

[0026] S5: Synchronized with S4, when the stem and leaf cleaning machine is working, the controller controls the tooth posture adjustment mechanism according to the production requirements of different specifications of matcha raw materials, so that the distance between the tooth blade of the first separating tooth cylinder and the first screen is greater than the distance between the tooth blade of the second separating tooth cylinder and the second screen. On this basis, the specifications of the tea leaves separated from the stems and leaves are controlled by adjusting the distance between the tooth blade and the first screen and the tooth blade and the second screen, so as to achieve the purpose of producing matcha raw materials of different specifications.

[0027] S6: Synchronized with S4, the controller starts the fourth motor and centrifugal fan. The fourth motor drives the first crankshaft to rotate, thereby causing the cleaning tank and the stepped screen to reciprocate. The tea leaves and tea stems falling from the stem and leaf separator undergo a cleaning process in the cleaning tank during the falling process, so that the tea leaves and tea stems are separated. The separated tea stems are discharged from the tea stem discharge port, and the separated tea leaves are discharged from the tea leaf discharge port.

[0028] S7: Synchronized with S6, the separated tea stems fall onto the stem conveyor and are transported away; the separated tea leaves fall onto the leaf conveyor and are transported away.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial technical effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0030] 1) This invention achieves stem and leaf separation of tea stem and leaf raw materials through a specially designed stem and leaf separator. The separator includes a stepped separation toothed cylinder, and the separation toothed cylinder includes strip-shaped toothed cutters arranged circumferentially along its axial direction. With the cooperation of the strip-shaped toothed cutters and a first or second screen, the tea stem and leaf raw materials are separated. Due to the different material properties, when the raw material leaves are cut, the leaves break while the stems remain tough and do not break. The stepped separation toothed cylinder and... The first screen forms the first crushing zone, and the second screen forms the second crushing zone. The distance between the toothed blade and the first screen in the first crushing zone is greater than the distance between the toothed blade and the second screen in the second crushing zone. The tea stem and leaf separation raw materials pass through the first crushing zone and the second crushing zone in sequence, completing two different degrees of stem and leaf separation, improving the quality of stem and leaf separation. The stem and leaf separation raw materials located in the crushing zone formed by the separation toothed cylinder and the screen can be carried into the next stem and leaf separation process or fall into the stem and leaf cleaning machine along the movement direction of the separation toothed cylinder.

[0031] 2) This invention can adjust the posture of the toothed blades in the separating toothed cylinder in real time through the tooth posture adjustment mechanism in the separating toothed cylinder, that is, adjust the distance between the toothed blades and the first or second screen, and realize the separation of stems and leaves of different leaf specifications according to different needs in the actual production process; at the same time, since the leaves in the tea stem and leaf separation raw material gradually separate from the stems during the stem and leaf separation process, the leaf content in the raw material becomes less and less. Through the tooth posture adjustment mechanism, the distance between the toothed blades of the first separating toothed cylinder and the first screen is made greater than the distance between the toothed blades of the second separating toothed cylinder and the second screen. On this basis, the posture of the toothed blades is finely adjusted according to the actual stem and leaf separation quality, and a higher quality stem and leaf separation is achieved on the basis of two stem and leaf separations of different degrees.

[0032] 3) The stem and leaf cleaning machine in this invention adopts a separation method combining air separation and vibration screening to achieve the separation and cleaning of stems and leaves. Based on the different proportions of tea leaves and stems in the material falling from the three discharge points (through the primary screen, secondary screen, and the discharge port at the end of the stem and leaf separator), the first set of fish-eye screens at the front of the cleaning tank is positioned directly below the discharge port at the end of the stem and leaf separator; three sets of fish-eye screens at the front of the cleaning tank are positioned directly below the second screen; and three sets of fish-eye screens near the rear of the cleaning tank are positioned directly below the first screen. A centrifugal fan faces the front of the cleaning tank. Utilizing the difference in specific gravity between leaves and stems in the falling material (i.e., the different time leaves and stems spend in the air), and simultaneously using the wind field created by the centrifugal fan, the stems and leaves in the wind field are separated. The leaves and stems are separated from each other. In addition, the stems and leaves that fall onto the fish-eye screen or the second bottom plate of the stem and leaf cleaner will be thrown up by the reciprocating vibration of the cleaning tank. The leaves and stems will be separated from each other by the different time they stay in the air and the wind field formed by the centrifugal fan, thus improving the sorting quality. The purpose of choosing the fish-eye shape of the screen holes and having the screen holes facing away from the centrifugal fan is that, under the action of the wind, the leaf-shaped tea leaves cannot pass through the screen holes of the fish-eye screen, thus preventing the tea leaves from falling through the screen holes, while the tea stems can fall through the screen holes. When the stems are stuck in the screen holes, the reciprocating vibration of the fish-eye screen can break the stems in the screen holes, causing them to slide down the screen or fall through the screen holes, thus better separating the tea leaves and tea stems.

[0033] 4) The leaf leveling machine of this invention has a first electromagnetic vibration groove, a second electromagnetic vibration groove, a first leaf leveling guide plate, a spiral blade leaf leveling device, a second leaf leveling guide plate, and a spiral toothed leaf leveling device arranged on its base frame. Because the leaf leveling guide plate has a V-shaped structure and a gap between it and the electromagnetic vibration groove, when the tea stem and leaf separation raw material on the electromagnetic vibration groove passes through the first and second leaf leveling guide plates, the raw material moves from the middle to both sides along the leaf leveling guide plates and passes through the gap between the leaf leveling guide plates and the electromagnetic vibration groove, thereby achieving a leaf leveling effect; the spiral blade leaf leveling device... When the spiral toothed leaf-shaping device rotates, it conveys the tea stem and leaf separation material on the electromagnetic vibration groove from the middle to both sides, achieving a uniform leaf effect. At the same time, the spiral toothed leaf-shaping device disperses the tea stem and leaf separation material. The tea stem and leaf separation material conveyed from the vertical belt elevator is evenly conveyed into the stem and leaf separator through these four leaf-shaping processes to achieve the stem and leaf separation process. Because the separation toothed blades in the stem and leaf separator are arranged along the axis of the separation toothed cylinder, the uniform tea stem and leaf separation material in the axis direction is conducive to achieving higher quality stem and leaf separation.

[0034] Meanwhile, the first leaf-uniforming guide plate, the spiral blade leaf-uniforming device, the second leaf-uniforming guide plate, and the spiral nail-tooth leaf-uniforming device are all fixed to the base frame of the leaf-uniforming machine by electric push rods on both sides. While the leaf-uniforming machine is performing leaf-uniforming work, the extension amount of the corresponding electric push rod can be adjusted in real time according to the different material layer uniformity and material layer thickness requirements of the tea stem and leaf separation raw materials fed into the stem and leaf separator. This adjusts the distance between the first leaf-uniforming guide plate, the spiral blade leaf-uniforming device, the second leaf-uniforming guide plate, the spiral nail-tooth leaf-uniforming device and the corresponding electromagnetic vibration groove, thereby achieving different material layer uniformity and thickness of the tea stem and leaf separation raw materials. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention after removing the vertical belt conveyor;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the stem and leaf separator of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the toothed cylinder of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the toothed cutter of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the toothed cutter of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the sleeve, the star-shaped connector, and the gear ring of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the toothed cutter and the toothed cylinder of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the tooth posture adjustment mechanism and the tooth cutter of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0044] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 Enlarged view of part A;

[0045] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the tooth posture adjustment mechanism and the tooth cutter of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0046] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the first separating gear cylinder of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0047] Figure 13This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the first separating gear cylinder of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0048] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the extreme positions of the tooth attitude adjustment mechanism of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0049] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the extreme positions of the tooth attitude adjustment mechanism of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0050] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the stem and leaf cleaning machine of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tank of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram and a partially enlarged view of the fish-eye sieve of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 19 This is a front view of the cleaning tank of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 20 This is a schematic diagram of the leaf leveling machine of the present invention.

[0055] The labels in the above figures are as follows: stem and leaf separator 1, frame 10, stem and leaf separation trough 11, first separation toothed cylinder 12, toothed cylinder 121, star-shaped support frame 1211, connecting groove 1212, positioning pin 1213, second separation toothed cylinder 13, first screen 14, second screen 15, drive shaft 16, third motor 161, conductive slip ring 162, toothed blade 17, columnar blade body 171, strip toothed blade 172, circular blind hole 173, connecting rod 174, cylindrical pin 175, tooth posture adjustment mechanism 18, sleeve 181, star-shaped connector 182, connecting cylinder 1821, connecting rod 1822, straight groove 1823, toothed ring 184, rack 185, rack groove 186, limit electric push rod 187, stem and leaf cleaner 2, cleaning trough 2 1. Trough bottom plate 211, First bottom plate 2111, Second bottom plate 2112, Rear trough plate 212, Fish-eye screen 22, Centrifugal fan 23, First crankshaft 24, Second crankshaft 25, Fourth motor 26, Tea leaf discharge port 27, Tea stem discharge port 28, Leaf conveyor 3, Stem conveyor 4, Vertical belt elevator 5, Electromagnetic vibrating feeder 51, Leaf leveling machine 6, Leaf leveling machine base frame 60, First electromagnetic vibration trough 61, Second electromagnetic vibration trough 62, First leaf leveling guide plate 63, Spiral blade leaf leveling device 64, First rotating shaft 641, Spiral leaf leveling blade 642, Second leaf leveling guide plate 65, Spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device 66, Second rotating shaft 661, Spiral nail tooth 662, First motor 67, Second motor 68, Electric push rod 69. Detailed Implementation

[0056] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0057] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 17 , Figure 19 The illustrated tea stem and leaf separation unit for matcha includes a feeding device, a stem and leaf separator 1 disposed at the discharge end of the feeding device, and a stem and leaf cleaning machine 2 disposed below the stem and leaf separator 1. A leaf conveyor 3 is disposed below the tea leaf discharge port 27 of the stem and leaf cleaning machine 2, and a stem and stem conveyor 4 is disposed below the tea stem and stem discharge port 28 of the stem and leaf cleaning machine 2. The feeding device includes a vertical belt elevator 5 and a leaf leveling machine 6. An electromagnetic vibrating feeder 51 is disposed at the feed end of the vertical belt elevator 5, and the leaf leveling machine 6 is located below the discharge end of the vertical belt elevator 5. The feeding device in this invention is used to uniformly transport the tea stem and leaf separation raw material to the stem and leaf separator 1. The stem and leaf separator 1 is used to separate the stems and leaves of the tea stem and leaf separation raw material and transport them to the stem and leaf cleaning machine 2. The stem and leaf cleaning machine 2 cleans the separated stems and leaves. The cleaned tea leaves enter the leaf conveyor 3 through the tea leaf outlet 27 and are transported to the leaf collection area. The cleaned tea stems enter the stem conveyor 4 through the stem outlet 28 and are transported to the stem collection area. Both the leaf conveyor 3 and the stem conveyor 4 are belt conveyors.

[0058] Further, such as Figure 3 As shown, the stem and leaf separator 1 includes a stem and leaf separation groove 11 fixed on the frame 10. A first separation toothed cylinder 12 and a second separation toothed cylinder 13 are arranged in a stepped manner in the stem and leaf separation groove 11. The height of the first separation toothed cylinder 12 is higher than that of the second separation toothed cylinder 13. A first screen 14 is arranged concentrically with the first separation toothed cylinder 12 below the first separation toothed cylinder 12. A first crushing zone is formed between the first separation toothed cylinder 12 and the first screen 14. A second screen 15 is arranged concentrically with the second separation toothed cylinder 13 below the second separation toothed cylinder 13. A second crushing zone is formed between the second separation toothed cylinder 13 and the second screen 15. The first screen 14 and the second screen 15 are both connected to the stem and leaf separation groove 11, and both the first screen 14 and the second screen 15 are semi-circular arc-shaped screens.

[0059] Further, such as Figure 8 , Figure 12 , Figure 13 As shown, the first separating toothed cylinder 12 and the second separating toothed cylinder 13 have the same structure, each including a toothed cylinder 121 fixed to the stem-leaf separating groove 11 via a drive shaft 16 and a cutting device disposed on the toothed cylinder 121. The cutting device includes multiple sets of toothed cutters 17 evenly disposed circumferentially on the toothed cylinder 121 and a tooth posture adjustment mechanism 18 disposed inside the toothed cylinder 121 and simultaneously connected to the multiple sets of toothed cutters 17.

[0060] Specifically, such as Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the gear cylinder 121 is a cylindrical structure with openings at both ends. Its interior center is fixedly connected to the drive shaft 16 via a star-shaped support frame 1211. One end of the drive shaft 16 is connected to a third motor 161 via a coupling, and the other end is connected to a conductive slip ring 162. The inner ring of the conductive slip ring 162 is fixedly connected to the drive shaft 16, and the outer ring is fixed to the blade separation groove 11. The cylinder wall of the gear cylinder 121 has a connecting groove 1212 along its end inwards to accommodate a cylindrical blade 171. The cylindrical blade 171 is rotatably fixed within the connecting groove 1212. The two side walls of the connecting groove 1212 are arc-shaped to mate with the cylindrical blade 171. The bottom of the connecting groove 1212 has a positioning pin 1213 that rotatably engages with a circular blind hole 173.

[0061] Specifically, such as Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, the toothed cutter 17 is an integral structure, including a columnar cutter body 171 rotatably connected to the wall of the toothed cylinder 121, a strip-shaped toothed cutter 172 fixed on the columnar cutter body 171, the strip-shaped toothed cutter 172 being located outside the toothed cylinder 121, the length of the strip-shaped toothed cutter 172 being greater than that of the columnar cutter body 171, and one end of the strip-shaped toothed cutter 172 being flush with the columnar cutter body 171, the non-flush end of the columnar cutter body 171 being provided with a circular blind hole 173 concentrically arranged with the columnar cutter body 171, and the non-flush end of the columnar cutter body 171 also being provided with a connecting rod 174 perpendicular to the outer wall of the columnar cutter body 171, the axis of the connecting rod 174 being in the same plane as the axis of the strip-shaped toothed cutter 172, and the end of the connecting rod 174 being provided with a cylindrical pin 175 perpendicular to the connecting rod 174.

[0062] Specifically, such as Figure 7 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 , Figure 11As shown, the gear posture adjustment mechanism 18 includes a sleeve 181 connected to the drive shaft 16 via a bearing. A star-shaped connector 182 is fixed to one end of the outer wall of the sleeve 181. The star-shaped connector 182 includes a connecting cylinder 1821 fixed to the outer wall of the sleeve 181 and connecting rods 1822 evenly distributed circumferentially on the outer wall of the connecting cylinder 1821. The connecting rods 1822 are provided with straight slots 1823, which mate with the cylindrical pins 175 on the gear cutter 17. The other end of the outer wall of the sleeve 181 is fixed with a gear ring 184, which meshes with the rack 185. The rack 185 is slidably fixed in the rack groove 186. The two ends of the rack groove 186 are respectively fixed to the inner wall of the gear cylinder 121. One end of the rack groove 186 is provided with a limit electric push rod 187. The push rod end of the limit electric push rod 187 points to the rack 185 and is fixedly connected to the end of the rack 185. The limit electric push rod 187 has a limit switch inside. The gear posture adjustment mechanism 18 pushes the rack 185 to slide in the rack groove 186 through the limit electric push rod 187. The rack 185 drives the gear ring 184 to rotate, and the gear ring 184 drives the sleeve 181 and the star-shaped connector 182 to rotate synchronously. At this time, the cylindrical pin 175 connected in the straight groove 1823 will slide in the straight groove 1823, thereby driving the columnar cutter body 171 in the gear cutter 17 to rotate in the connecting groove 1212, realizing the posture adjustment of the strip gear cutter 172.

[0063] Furthermore, when the connecting rod 1822 of the star-shaped connector 182 in the tooth posture adjustment mechanism 18 is collinear with the connecting rod 174 of the tooth cutter 17, the distance between the strip tooth cutter 172 on the first separating tooth cylinder 12 and the second separating tooth cylinder 13 and the corresponding first screen 14 and second screen 15 is minimized. Figure 14 As shown, the limit electric push rod 187 is at its minimum stroke at this time; when the limit electric push rod 187 is at its maximum stroke, the strip toothed cutters 172 on the first separating toothed cylinder 12 and the second separating toothed cylinder 13 rotate to their limit positions. At this time, the distance between the strip toothed cutters 172 on the first separating toothed cylinder 12 and the second separating toothed cylinder 13 and the corresponding first screen 14 and second screen 15 is the maximum. Figure 15 As shown.

[0064] The gap between the toothed blade 17 and the screen in the stem and leaf separator 1 affects the size of the separated tea leaves. The smaller the gap, the smaller the size of the separated tea leaves. The tooth posture adjustment mechanism 18 in the first separating toothed cylinder 12 and the second separating toothed cylinder 13 in the stem and leaf separator 1 can adjust this gap in real time to realize the production of matcha raw materials of different sizes.

[0065] In this embodiment, two sets of tooth posture adjustment mechanisms 18 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the star-shaped support frame 1211. The two sets of tooth posture adjustment mechanisms 18 cooperate with the two sets of cutting devices, and the two sets of tooth posture adjustment mechanisms 18 are in the same posture. The two sets of cutting devices are symmetrically arranged along the length of the tooth cylinder 121. Each cutting device includes five sets of toothed cutters 17. Correspondingly, five connecting rods 1822 are arranged along the circumference of the sleeve 181 on the star-shaped connector 1822. Each connecting rod 1822 is provided with a straight groove 1823. The cylindrical pin 175 at the end of the connecting rod 174 in the toothed cutter 17 is connected in this straight groove 1823.

[0066] During operation, two sets of third motors 161 are started. The two sets of third motors 161 drive the tooth cylinders 121 in the first separating tooth cylinder 12 and the second separating tooth cylinder 13 to rotate through two sets of transmission shafts 16. The controller adjusts the distance between the tooth blades 17 and the corresponding screens through the tooth posture adjustment mechanisms 18 in the first separating tooth cylinder 12 and the second separating tooth cylinder 13, so that the distance between the tooth blades 17 on the first separating tooth cylinder 12 and the first screen 14 is greater than the distance between the tooth blades 17 on the second separating tooth cylinder 13 and the second screen 15.

[0067] The raw materials for tea stem and leaf separation are conveyed to the stem and leaf separator 1 by the vertical belt conveyor 5 via the leaf leveling machine 6. The raw materials entering the stem and leaf separator 1 first enter the first crushing zone formed between the first screen 14 and the first separating toothed cylinder 12 for the first stem and leaf separation. Since the raw materials in the first crushing zone are all whole leaves, and the distance between the toothed blades 17 and the first screen 14 is relatively large, the crushed material falling through the first screen 14 consists of tea leaves containing only a very small amount of small stems. The remaining raw materials in the first crushing zone are carried by the first separating toothed cylinder 12 to the second crushing zone formed between the second screen 15 and the second separating toothed cylinder 13 to complete the second stem and leaf separation. Since the raw materials after the first stem and leaf separation are mostly stems with a small amount of leaves, the distance between the second screen 15 and the toothed blades 17 of the second separating toothed cylinder 13 in the second crushing zone is smaller, thus completing the stem and leaf separation of the remaining raw materials. In the initial state, the distance between the toothed blade 17 of the first separating toothed cylinder 12 and the first screen 14 is greater than the distance between the toothed blade 17 of the second separating toothed cylinder 13 and the second screen 15. Based on this, the posture of the toothed blade 17 can be finely adjusted according to the actual stem and leaf separation quality, so as to achieve higher quality stem and leaf separation based on two stem and leaf separations of different degrees.

[0068] After the second stem and leaf separation, tea leaves with a small amount of small stems fall through the second screen 15, while the remaining tea stem and leaf separation raw material in the second crushing zone is carried out of the second crushing zone by the second separation toothed cylinder 13 and falls from the discharge port at the end of the stem and leaf separator 1. The raw material for separating tea stems and leaves is conveyed to the stem and leaf separator 1 by the vertical belt conveyor 5 via the leaf leveling machine 6. During the movement of the separator between the screen and the separating toothed cylinder, the raw material is shredded due to the obstruction of the screen. When the toothed blade 17 and the screen act on the raw material simultaneously, the raw material is shredded. In this process, the screen acts as a fixed blade and the toothed blade 17 acts as a moving blade. The raw material for separating tea stems and leaves is whole tea leaves after drying. Because the material characteristics of the stems and leaves in whole tea leaves are different, when the raw material is cut by the screen and the toothed blade 17, the leaves break first and fall through the screen, while the stems are tough and relatively difficult to break. After two separations, the stems and leaves are carried out of the stem and leaf separator 1 by the second separating toothed cylinder 13, thus achieving the separation of stems and leaves.

[0069] Further, such as Figure 16 , Figure 17 , Figure 18 , Figure 19 As shown, the stem and leaf cleaning machine 2 includes a cleaning tank 21, a stepped screen disposed in the cleaning tank 21, and a double crank that drives the cleaning tank 21 to reciprocate. The cleaning tank 21 is mounted on the first crankshaft 24 and the second crankshaft 25 and is located directly below the stem and leaf separator 1. The middle and rear part of the cleaning tank 21 is located below the first screen 14, and the middle and front part of the cleaning tank 21 is located below the second screen 15. A tea leaf discharge port 27 is arranged on the rear side of the stem and leaf cleaning machine 2, and a tea stem and stalk discharge port 28 is arranged on the front side of the stem and leaf cleaning machine 2.

[0070] Specifically, the cleaning trough 21 consists of a bottom plate 211, two side plates, and a rear plate 212. The rear plate 212 is a mesh screen, which provides ventilation and prevents the tea leaves from moving backward. The bottom plate 211 is a non-planar plate, formed by joining an inclined first bottom plate 2111 and a second bottom plate 2112. The joint of the first bottom plate 2111 and the second bottom plate 2112 is higher than the other end of the first bottom plate 2111 and the second bottom plate 2112, respectively, and the end of the second bottom plate 2112 is lower than the end of the first bottom plate 2111. A gap is left between the rear plate 212 and the first bottom plate 2111 to form a tea leaf outlet 27. The front end of the cleaning trough 21 is open, and this open end forms a tea stem outlet 28. More specifically, the first base plate 2111 is an inclined plate that is inclined at 45° from the joint of the first base plate 2111 and the second base plate 2112 toward the rear groove plate 212, and the second base plate 2112 is an inclined plate that is inclined at 10 to 20° from the joint of the first base plate 2111 and the second base plate 2112 toward the direction away from the rear groove plate 212.

[0071] Specifically, the stepped screen is located above the second base plate 2112 and consists of multiple sets of equidistant parallel and inclined fish-eye screens 22. The fish-eye screens 22 are fixed to the side trough plates and have gaps between them and the second base plate 2112. The angle between the fish-eye screens 22 and the horizontal plane is 20-30°. In this embodiment, six sets of equidistant parallel and inclined fish-eye screens 22 are arranged above the second base plate 2112. The screen holes of the fish-eye screens 22 face away from the centrifugal fan 23. The first set of fish-eye screens 22 near the front of the cleaning tank 21 is located directly below the discharge port at the end of the stem and leaf separator 1. At the same time, the three sets of fish-eye screens 22 near the front of the cleaning tank 21 are located directly below the second screen 15, and the three sets of fish-eye screens 22 near the middle and rear of the cleaning tank 21 are located directly below the first screen 14. The purpose of selecting the fish-eye shape for the sieve holes of the fish-eye sieve 22 is that, under the action of wind, the leafy tea leaves cannot pass through the sieve holes of the fish-eye sieve 22, thus preventing the tea leaves from falling through the sieve holes, while the tea stems can fall through the sieve holes; and when the stems are stuck in the sieve holes, the reciprocating vibration of the fish-eye sieve 22 can break the stems in the sieve holes, causing them to slide down the fish-eye sieve 22 or fall through the sieve holes.

[0072] Specifically, a centrifugal fan 23 is provided in front of the tea stem discharge port 28. The air outlet of the centrifugal fan 23 is directly opposite the tea stem discharge port 28 and its air outlet is parallel to the fish-eye screen 22.

[0073] Specifically, the double crank mechanism includes a first crankshaft 24 and a second crankshaft 25 rotatably connected to the bottom of the cleaning tank 21. The first crankshaft 24 and the second crankshaft 25 have the same structure, and the crank arm AB of the first crankshaft 24 and the crank arm CD of the second crankshaft 25 are both 30mm in length. The first crankshaft 24 is driven by a fourth motor 26. The first crankshaft 24, the second crankshaft 25, and the cleaning tank 21 constitute a double crank mechanism. The first crankshaft 24 and the second crankshaft 25 are rotatably connected to the support base through bearings. The fourth motor 26 is a geared motor, model CH-18-3-200, with a motor speed of 400-500 r / min.

[0074] During operation, the fourth motor 26 drives the first crankshaft 24 to rotate. The first crankshaft 24 drives the double crank mechanism and the stepped screen, which are composed of the first crankshaft 24, the second crankshaft 25, and the cleaning tank 21, to reciprocate. The centrifugal fan 23 blows air into the cleaning tank 21. The tea leaves containing a very small amount of small-sized stems that fall through the first screen 14 have a falling space far from the air outlet of the centrifugal fan 23. The tea leaves and a small amount of small-sized stems that fall through the second screen 15 have a falling space close to the air outlet of the centrifugal fan 23. The remaining stems and leaves separated by the second separating cylinder 13 and carried out of the second crushing zone have a falling space relatively closer to the air outlet of the centrifugal fan 23.

[0075] Because tea stems have a higher specific gravity than tea leaves, the difference in specific gravity between the stems and leaves is utilized to separate the mixed tea leaves from the stems through air separation. Tea leaves containing only a very small amount of small stems that pass through the first screen 14 are separated by a relatively low air separation intensity, as they contain only a very small amount of small stems and are mostly tea leaves; therefore, they are placed away from the outlet of the centrifugal fan 23. Tea leaves containing only a small amount of small stems that pass through the second screen 15 are separated by a normal air separation intensity, as they contain only a small amount of small stems and are mostly tea leaves; therefore, they are placed closer to the outlet of the centrifugal fan 23. The remaining stems and leaves carried out of the second crushing zone by the second separating cylinder 13 are mostly relatively large stems, and are therefore placed closer to the outlet of the centrifugal fan 23. The relatively light tea leaves are moved by the wind during the fall to the rear plate 212 of the cleaning trough 21, and move down along the screen of the rear plate 212, falling from the tea leaf outlet 27 on the rear side of the cleaning trough 21 onto the leaf conveyor 3 below the outlet.

[0076] The relatively heavy tea stems and some tea leaves that were blocked by the stems during wind separation fall onto the stepped screen in front of the cleaning tank 21. When the tea stems and leaves on the stepped screen are not thrown up, the downward force of the tea stems on the stepped screen is greater than the frictional force and wind force they experience along the screen surface. They will slide down the screen surface and fall onto the second bottom plate 2112 of the cleaning tank 21 or fall through the screen holes of the fish-eye screen 22 onto the second bottom plate 2112 of the cleaning tank 21. During the vibration of the cleaning tank 21, they fall along the second bottom plate 2112 through the tea stem discharge port 28 onto the stem conveyor 4 below the tea stem discharge port 28. The downward force of the tea leaves on the stepped screen is less than the frictional force and wind force they experience along the screen surface. They will not slide down the screen surface and will be thrown up in the next vibration zone of the stepped screen. When tea stems and leaves on the stepped screen are thrown up, the tea leaves, due to their lower specific gravity, stay in the air for a longer time and are carried backward by the wind to the rear plate 2112 of the cleaning tank 21, and then move downward along the screen, falling from the tea leaf outlet 27 on the rear side of the cleaning tank 21 onto the leaf conveyor 3. The tea stems, due to their higher specific gravity, stay in the air for a shorter time and are affected by the wind for a shorter period, falling back onto the stepped screen. The tea stems that fall onto the second bottom plate 2112 of the cleaning tank 21, during the vibration of the cleaning tank 21, fall along the second bottom plate 2112 through the tea stem outlet 28 onto the stem conveyor 4.

[0077] Further, such as Figure 20As shown, the leaf leveling machine 6 includes a leaf leveling machine base frame 60 connected to the machine frame 10, a first electromagnetic vibration groove 61 and a second electromagnetic vibration groove 62 installed in a stepped manner from the feeding direction to the discharging direction on the leaf leveling machine base frame 60. The first electromagnetic vibration groove 61 is set higher than the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62. A first leaf leveling guide plate 63 and a spiral blade leaf leveling device 64 are arranged sequentially above the first electromagnetic vibration groove 61. A second leaf leveling guide plate 65 and a spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device 66 are arranged sequentially above the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62. The first leaf leveling guide plate 63, the spiral blade leaf leveling device 64, the second leaf leveling guide plate 65 and the spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device 66 perform leaf leveling four times on the tea stem and leaf separation raw material entering the leaf leveling machine 6 in sequence.

[0078] Specifically, the first electromagnetic vibration groove 61 and the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62 have the same structure, using the GZV4 model electromagnetic vibration groove. Both the first electromagnetic vibration groove 61 and the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62 are arranged at an angle, with the inlet end of both the first electromagnetic vibration groove 61 and the outlet end of both the first electromagnetic vibration groove 61 and the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62 being higher than the outlet end. The outlet ends of both the first electromagnetic vibration groove 61 and the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62 are open, and the angle between the bottom surface of the first electromagnetic vibration groove 61 and the horizontal plane is 2-5°. In this embodiment, the vibration frequency of both the first electromagnetic vibration groove 602 and the second electromagnetic vibration groove 603 can be adjusted by the control system to regulate their feeding speed.

[0079] Specifically, the first uniform blade guide plate 63 and the second uniform blade guide plate 65 have the same structure, both being V-shaped uniform blade guide plates with an obtuse angle. The spiral blade uniform blade device 64 includes a first rotating shaft 641 and spiral uniform blades 642 fixed on the first rotating shaft 641. Two sets of spiral uniform blades 642 are arranged along the length direction of the first rotating shaft 641, and the two sets of spiral uniform blades 642 have a symmetrical structure and opposite rotation directions. The first rotating shaft 641 is driven to rotate by a first motor 67. The spiral nail tooth uniform blade device 66 includes a second rotating shaft 661 and spiral nail teeth 662 arranged spirally on the second rotating shaft 661. Two sets of spiral nail teeth 662 are arranged along the length direction of the second rotating shaft 661, and the two sets of spiral nail teeth 662 have a symmetrical structure and opposite rotation directions. The second rotating shaft 661 is driven to rotate by a second motor 68.

[0080] During operation, the vertical belt conveyor 5 transports the dried tea stem and leaf separation material to the leaf leveling machine 6. The first electromagnetic vibration trough 61 is then energized and vibrates, conveying the tea stem and leaf separation material forward. Thicker pieces of tea stem and leaf separation material on the first electromagnetic vibration trough 61 are obstructed by the first leaf leveling guide plate 63 and tend to move to the left and right sides of the trough. The tea stem and leaf separation material passes through the gap between the first leaf leveling guide plate 63 and the first electromagnetic vibration trough 61, completing the first leaf leveling. Simultaneously with the first electromagnetic vibration trough 61 being energized and vibrating, the first motor 67 drives the first rotating shaft 641 and the spiral leaf leveling blades 642 fixed on the first rotating shaft 641 to rotate synchronously. The two sets of spiral leaf leveling blades 642 respectively convey the tea stem and leaf separation material to the left and right sides of the first electromagnetic vibration trough 61, achieving the second leaf leveling.

[0081] The second electromagnetic vibration groove 62 is energized and vibrates, causing the tea stem and leaf separation material within it to be conveyed forward. The material is obstructed by the second leaf-leveling guide plate 65 and tends to move to the left and right sides of the groove. The material passes through the gap between the guide plate 65 and the groove, completing the third leaf-leveling process. Simultaneously with the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62's energization, the second motor 68 drives the second rotating shaft 661 and the spiral nail teeth 662 fixed to it to rotate synchronously. The two sets of spiral nail teeth 662 disperse the tea stem and leaf separation material and convey it to the left and right sides of the groove, achieving the fourth leaf-leveling process. After the fourth leaf-leveling process, the tea stem and leaf separation material is conveyed along the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62 to the stem and leaf separator 1 below.

[0082] Specifically, the height between the first uniform blade guide plate 63 and the spiral blade uniform blade device 64 and the first electromagnetic vibration groove 61 is adjustable, as is the height between the second uniform blade guide plate 65 and the spiral nail-tooth uniform blade device 66 and the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62. Both ends of the first uniform blade guide plate 63 and the second uniform blade guide plate 65, and both ends of the first rotating shaft 641 and the second rotating shaft 661 are connected to the output end of the electric push rod 69. The base of the electric push rod 69 is fixed to the uniform blade machine frame 60. That is, the distance between the first uniform blade guide plate 63 and the spiral blade uniform blade device 64 and the first electromagnetic vibration groove 61, and the distance between the second uniform blade guide plate 65 and the spiral nail-tooth uniform blade device 66 and the second electromagnetic vibration groove 62 are changed by the extension and retraction of the electric push rod 69. In this embodiment, a total of eight sets of electric push rods 69 are provided. The eight sets of electric push rods 69 have the same structure and are equipped with internal limit switches. Preferably, the electric push rods 69 on both sides of the same uniform blade guide plate and uniform blade device are limited to the same elongation by the control system to ensure that the uniform blade guide plate and uniform blade device are in a horizontal state.

[0083] While the leaf leveling machine 6 is performing leaf leveling, the extension of the electric push rods 69 corresponding to the first leaf leveling guide plate 63, the spiral blade leaf leveling device 64, the second leaf leveling guide plate 65, and the spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device 66 can be adjusted in real time through the control system according to the uniformity and thickness of the material layer of the tea stem and leaf separation raw material finally fed into the stem and leaf separator 1. This adjusts the distance between the first leaf leveling guide plate 63, the spiral blade leaf leveling device 64, the second leaf leveling guide plate 65, the spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device 66 and the bottom of the corresponding electromagnetic vibration tank, thereby achieving different material layer uniformities and thicknesses of the tea stem and leaf separation raw material.

[0084] Furthermore, the stem and leaf separator 1, stem and leaf cleaning machine 2, leaf conveyor 3, stem and stalk conveyor 4, vertical belt elevator 5, leaf leveling machine 6, etc. in this invention are all controlled by a controller, and the circuit inside the toothed cylinder 121 is connected to the outside through a conductive slip ring 162.

[0085] The present invention also provides a control method for a tea stem and leaf separation unit for matcha, comprising the following steps:

[0086] S1: The controller starts the vertical belt elevator. The electromagnetic vibrating feeder at the feed end of the vertical belt elevator shakes the dried tea stems and leaves to separate the raw materials and feeds them evenly into the leaf equalizer.

[0087] S2: Synchronized with S1, the controller starts the first electromagnetic vibration tank and the second electromagnetic vibration tank. The leaf leveling machine will pass the tea stem and leaf separation raw material fed by the vertical belt elevator through the first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leaf leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate and the spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device for four times, and then feed it into the stem and leaf separator through the second electromagnetic vibration tank for stem and leaf separation.

[0088] S3: Synchronized with S2, when the leaf leveling machine is working, the controller adjusts the vibration frequency of the first and second electromagnetic vibration grooves according to the different feeding speeds of the tea stem and leaf separation raw materials to achieve different feeding speeds. At the same time, according to the material layer uniformity and thickness requirements of different tea stem and leaf separation raw materials, the controller adjusts the extension and retraction lengths of the corresponding electric push rods of the first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate, and the spiral nail tooth leveling device, thereby adjusting the distance between the first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral nail tooth leveling device and the corresponding electromagnetic vibration grooves to achieve the feeding of different tea stem and leaf separation raw materials with uniformity and thickness.

[0089] S4: Synchronized with S2, the controller starts the third motor, causing the first separating gear cylinder and the second separating gear to rotate along the drive shaft, and the tea stem and leaf separation raw materials complete the first and second stem and leaf separation in the first crushing zone and the second crushing zone;

[0090] S5: Synchronized with S4, when the stem and leaf cleaning machine is working, the controller controls the tooth posture adjustment mechanism according to the production requirements of different specifications of matcha raw materials, so that the distance between the tooth blade of the first separating tooth cylinder and the first screen is greater than the distance between the tooth blade of the second separating tooth cylinder and the second screen. On this basis, the specifications of the tea leaves separated from the stems and leaves are controlled by adjusting the distance between the tooth blade and the first screen and the tooth blade and the second screen, so as to achieve the purpose of producing matcha raw materials of different specifications.

[0091] S6: Synchronized with S4, the controller starts the fourth motor and centrifugal fan. The fourth motor drives the first crankshaft to rotate, thereby causing the cleaning tank and the stepped screen to reciprocate. The tea leaves and tea stems falling from the stem and leaf separator undergo a cleaning process in the cleaning tank during the falling process, so that the tea leaves and tea stems are separated. The separated tea stems are discharged from the tea stem discharge port, and the separated tea leaves are discharged from the tea leaf discharge port.

[0092] S7: Synchronized with S6, the separated tea stems fall onto the stem conveyor and are transported away; the separated tea leaves fall onto the leaf conveyor and are transported away.

[0093] When the tea stem and leaf separator unit starts working, the raw material is first dispersed in an electromagnetic vibrating feeder, and then evenly fed into the first electromagnetic vibrating trough of the leaf leveling machine via a vertical belt elevator. After entering the leveling machine, the raw material undergoes four leveling processes: the first leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leveling device, the second leveling guide plate, and the spiral nail tooth leveling device, before being conveyed to the stem and leaf separator via the second electromagnetic vibrating trough. The raw material undergoes two separate processes in the first and second crushing zones, and then falls through a screen into the stem and leaf cleaning machine. In the cleaning machine, the tea stems and leaves are separated from the stems and leaves through the reciprocating motion of the cleaning trough and the stepped screen. The separated stems and leaves fall from the stem outlet into the stem conveyor, while the separated leaves fall from the leaf outlet into the tea conveyor.

[0094] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tea stem and leaf separation unit for matcha, characterized in that: It includes a feeding device, a stem and leaf separator (1) installed at the discharge end of the feeding device, and a stem and leaf cleaning machine (2) installed below the stem and leaf separator (1). A leaf conveyor (3) is provided below the tea leaf discharge port (27) of the stem and leaf cleaning machine (2), and a stem and stem conveyor (4) is provided below the tea stem and stem discharge port (28) of the stem and leaf cleaning machine (2). The stem and leaf separator (1) includes a stem and leaf separation groove (11) fixed on a frame (10). The stem and leaf separation groove (11) is provided with a first separation toothed cylinder (12) and a second separation toothed cylinder (13) arranged in a stepped manner. The height of the first separation toothed cylinder (12) is higher than that of the second separation toothed cylinder (13). A first screen (14) is provided below the first separation toothed cylinder (12) and is concentrically arranged with the first separation toothed cylinder (12). A first crushing zone is formed between the first separation toothed cylinder (12) and the first screen (14). A second screen (15) is provided below the second separation toothed cylinder (13) and is concentrically arranged with the second separation toothed cylinder (13). A second crushing zone is formed between the second separation toothed cylinder (13) and the second screen (15). The first screen (14) and the second screen (15) are both connected to the stem and leaf separation groove (11). The first separating toothed cylinder (12) and the second separating toothed cylinder (13) have the same structure. Each includes a toothed cylinder (121) fixed on the stem-leaf separating groove (11) by a transmission shaft (16) and a cutting device disposed on the toothed cylinder (121). The cutting device includes multiple sets of toothed cutters (17) evenly disposed on the toothed cylinder (121) in the circumferential direction and a tooth posture adjustment mechanism (18) disposed inside the toothed cylinder (121) and connected to the multiple sets of toothed cutters (17) at the same time. The toothed cutter (17) is an integral structure, including a columnar cutter body (171) rotatably connected to the wall of the toothed cylinder (121). A strip-shaped toothed cutter (172) is fixed on the columnar cutter body (171). The strip-shaped toothed cutter (172) is located outside the toothed cylinder (121). The length of the strip-shaped toothed cutter (172) is greater than that of the columnar cutter body (171), and one end of the strip-shaped toothed cutter (172) is flush with the columnar cutter body (171). The non-flat end of the cylindrical blade (171) is provided with a circular blind hole (173) concentrically arranged with the cylindrical blade (171), and the non-flat end of the cylindrical blade (171) is also provided with a connecting rod (174) perpendicular to the outer wall of the cylindrical blade (171). The connecting rod (174) and the axis of the strip toothed blade (172) are in the same plane, and the end of the connecting rod (174) is provided with a cylindrical pin (175) perpendicular to the connecting rod (174). The gear posture adjustment mechanism (18) includes a sleeve (181) connected to a transmission shaft (16) via a bearing. A star-shaped connector (182) is fixed to one end of the outer wall of the sleeve (181). The star-shaped connector (182) includes a connecting cylinder (1821) fixed to the outer wall of the sleeve (181) and connecting rods (1822) evenly distributed circumferentially on the outer wall of the connecting cylinder (1821). The connecting rods (1822) are provided with straight slots (1823), and the straight slots (1823) are connected to the gear cutter (17). The cylindrical pin (175) is engaged with the sleeve (181); the other end of the outer wall of the sleeve (181) is fixed with a toothed ring (184), which meshes with the rack (185). The rack (185) is slidably fixed in the rack groove (186). The two ends of the rack groove (186) are respectively fixed to the inner wall of the toothed cylinder (121). One end of the rack groove (186) is provided with a limiting electric push rod (187). The push rod end of the limiting electric push rod (187) points to the rack (185) and is fixedly connected to the end of the rack (185).

2. The tea stem and leaf separator for matcha according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gear cylinder (121) is a cylindrical structure with openings at both ends. Its internal center is fixedly connected to the transmission shaft (16) through a star-shaped support frame (1211). One end of the transmission shaft (16) is connected to the third motor (161) through a coupling, and the other end of the transmission shaft (16) is connected to a conductive slip ring (162). The cylindrical wall of the toothed cylinder (121) is provided with a connecting groove (1212) for accommodating the columnar blade (171) along its end. The columnar blade (171) is rotatably fixed in the connecting groove (1212). The two side walls of the connecting groove (1212) are arc-shaped to cooperate with the columnar blade (171). The bottom part of the connecting groove (1212) is provided with a positioning pin (1213) that rotatably cooperates with the circular blind hole (173). The star-shaped support frame (1211) is symmetrically provided with two sets of tooth posture adjustment mechanisms (18) on both sides. The two sets of tooth posture adjustment mechanisms (18) are respectively matched with two sets of cutting devices. The two sets of cutting devices are symmetrically arranged along the length of the tooth cylinder (121).

3. The tea stem and leaf separator for matcha according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding device includes a vertical belt elevator (5) and a leaf leveler (6). The feed end of the vertical belt elevator (5) is equipped with an electromagnetic vibrating feeder (51), and the leaf leveler (6) is located below the discharge end of the vertical belt elevator (5). The leaf leveler (6) includes a leaf leveler base frame (60) connected to the frame (10), a first electromagnetic vibration groove (61) and a second electromagnetic vibration groove (62) installed in a stepped manner from the feed to the discharge direction on the leaf leveler base frame (60). The first electromagnetic vibration groove (61) is set above the second electromagnetic vibration groove (62). Above the first electromagnetic vibration groove (61) are arranged a first leaf-equalizing guide plate (63) and a spiral blade leaf-equalizing device (64). Above the second electromagnetic vibration groove (62) are arranged a second leaf-equalizing guide plate (65) and a spiral nail tooth leaf-equalizing device (66). The first leaf-equalizing guide plate (63), the spiral blade leaf-equalizing device (64), the second leaf-equalizing guide plate (65) and the spiral nail tooth leaf-equalizing device (66) sequentially perform four leaf-equalizing operations on the tea stem and leaf separation raw materials entering the leaf-equalizing machine (6).

4. The tea stem and leaf separator for matcha according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first electromagnetic vibration groove (61) and the second electromagnetic vibration groove (62) are both arranged in an inclined manner. The feed end of the first electromagnetic vibration groove (61) and the second electromagnetic vibration groove (62) are higher than the discharge end, and the discharge end of the first electromagnetic vibration groove (61) and the second electromagnetic vibration groove (62) are both open. The angle between the bottom surface of the first electromagnetic vibration groove (61) and the second electromagnetic vibration groove (62) and the horizontal plane is 2 to 5°. The first uniform blade guide plate (63) and the second uniform blade guide plate (65) have the same structure, both being V-shaped uniform blade guide plates with an obtuse angle; the spiral blade uniform blade device (64) includes a first rotating shaft (641) and spiral uniform blades (642) fixed on the first rotating shaft (641). The spiral uniform blades (642) are arranged in two sets along the length direction of the first rotating shaft (641). The two sets of spiral uniform blades (642) have a symmetrical structure and opposite rotation directions. The first rotating shaft (641) is driven to rotate by a first motor (67); the spiral nail tooth uniform blade device (66) includes a second rotating shaft (661) and spiral nail teeth (662) arranged in a spiral shape on the second rotating shaft (661). The spiral nail teeth (662) are arranged in two sets along the length direction of the second rotating shaft (661). The two sets of spiral nail teeth (662) have a symmetrical structure and opposite rotation directions. The second rotating shaft (661) is driven to rotate by a second motor (68).

5. The tea stem and leaf separator for matcha according to claim 3, characterized in that: The height between the first uniform blade guide plate (63) and the spiral blade uniform blade device (64) and the first electromagnetic vibration groove (61) is adjustable. The height between the second uniform blade guide plate (65) and the spiral nail tooth uniform blade device (66) and the second electromagnetic vibration groove (62) is adjustable. The two ends of the first uniform blade guide plate (63) and the second uniform blade guide plate (65), and the two ends of the first rotating shaft (641) and the second rotating shaft (661) are respectively connected to the output end of the electric push rod (69).

6. The tea stem and leaf separator for matcha according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stem and leaf cleaning machine (2) includes a cleaning tank (21), a stepped screen disposed in the cleaning tank (21), and a double crank that drives the cleaning tank (21) to reciprocate. The cleaning tank (21) is mounted on the first crankshaft (24) and the second crankshaft (25) and is located directly below the stem and leaf separator (1). The rear part of the cleaning tank (21) is located below the first screen (14), and the front middle part of the cleaning tank (21) is located below the second screen (15). The cleaning trough (21) consists of a bottom plate (211), two side plates and a rear plate (212). The rear plate (212) is a screen plate with mesh. The bottom plate (211) is a non-planar plate, which is formed by joining an inclined first bottom plate (2111) and a second bottom plate (2112). The joint of the first bottom plate (2111) and the second bottom plate (2112) is higher than the other end of the first bottom plate (2111) and the second bottom plate (2112), respectively. The end position of the second bottom plate (2112) is lower than the end position of the first bottom plate (2111). A gap is left between the rear plate (212) and the first bottom plate (2111) to form a tea leaf outlet (27). The front end of the cleaning trough (21) is open, and the open end forms a tea stem outlet (28).

7. The tea stem and leaf separator for matcha according to claim 6, characterized in that: The stepped screen is located above the second base plate (2112) and consists of multiple sets of equidistant parallel and inclined fish-eye screens (22). The screen holes of the fish-eye screen (22) face away from the centrifugal fan (23). The fish-eye screen (22) is fixed to the side trough plates and has a gap with the second base plate (2112). The angle between the fish-eye screen (22) and the horizontal plane is 20-30°. A centrifugal fan (23) is provided in front of the tea stem discharge port (28). The air outlet of the centrifugal fan (23) faces the tea stem discharge port (28) and its air outlet is parallel to the fish-eye screen (22).

8. The tea stem and leaf separator for matcha according to claim 6, characterized in that: The double crank includes a first crankshaft (24) and a second crankshaft (25) that are rotatably connected to the bottom of the cleaning tank (21). The first crankshaft (24) and the second crankshaft (25) have the same structure, and the crank arm of the first crankshaft (24) and the crank arm of the second crankshaft (25) are both 30mm long. The first crankshaft (24) is driven by a fourth motor (26).

9. The tea stem and leaf separator for matcha according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first base plate (2111) is an inclined plate that is inclined at 45° from the joint of the first base plate (2111) and the second base plate (2112) toward the rear groove plate (212), and the second base plate (2112) is an inclined plate that is inclined at 10 to 20° from the joint of the first base plate (2111) and the second base plate (2112) toward the direction away from the rear groove plate (212).

10. A control method for a tea stem and leaf separator for matcha according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the following steps: S1: The controller starts the vertical belt elevator. The electromagnetic vibrating feeder at the feed end of the vertical belt elevator shakes the dried tea stems and leaves to separate the raw materials and feeds them evenly into the leaf equalizer. S2: Synchronized with S1, the controller starts the first electromagnetic vibration tank and the second electromagnetic vibration tank. The leaf leveling machine will pass the tea stem and leaf separation raw material fed by the vertical belt elevator through the first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leaf leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate and the spiral nail tooth leaf leveling device for four times, and then feed it into the stem and leaf separator through the second electromagnetic vibration tank for stem and leaf separation. S3: Synchronized with S2, when the leaf leveling machine is working, the controller adjusts the vibration frequency of the first and second electromagnetic vibration grooves according to the different feeding speeds of the tea stem and leaf separation raw materials to achieve different feeding speeds. At the same time, according to the material layer uniformity and thickness requirements of different tea stem and leaf separation raw materials, the controller adjusts the extension and retraction lengths of the corresponding electric push rods of the first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate, and the spiral nail tooth leveling device, thereby adjusting the distance between the first leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral blade leveling device, the second leaf leveling guide plate, the spiral nail tooth leveling device and the corresponding electromagnetic vibration grooves to achieve the feeding of different tea stem and leaf separation raw materials with uniformity and thickness. S4: Synchronized with S2, the controller starts the third motor, causing the first separating gear cylinder and the second separating gear to rotate along the drive shaft, and the tea stem and leaf separation raw materials complete the first and second stem and leaf separation in the first crushing zone and the second crushing zone; S5: Synchronized with S4, when the stem and leaf cleaning machine is working, the controller controls the tooth posture adjustment mechanism according to the production requirements of different specifications of matcha raw materials, so that the distance between the tooth blade of the first separating tooth cylinder and the first screen is greater than the distance between the tooth blade of the second separating tooth cylinder and the second screen. On this basis, the specifications of the tea leaves separated from the stems and leaves are controlled by adjusting the distance between the tooth blade and the first screen and the tooth blade and the second screen, so as to achieve the purpose of producing matcha raw materials of different specifications. S6: Synchronized with S4, the controller starts the fourth motor and centrifugal fan. The fourth motor drives the first crankshaft to rotate, thereby causing the cleaning tank and the stepped screen to reciprocate. The tea leaves and tea stems falling from the stem and leaf separator undergo a cleaning process in the cleaning tank during the falling process, so that the tea leaves and tea stems are separated. The separated tea stems are discharged from the tea stem discharge port, and the separated tea leaves are discharged from the tea leaf discharge port. S7: Synchronized with S6, the separated tea stems fall onto the stem conveyor and are transported away; the separated tea leaves fall onto the leaf conveyor and are transported away.

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