A slicing device and method for processing Chinese medicinal materials

Abstract

This invention provides a slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials, including a screening system, a feeding system, a slicing system, and a collection system. A first motor drives a transmission shaft and an eccentric block on the side plate of the sieve box, causing the sieve box to vibrate and achieve screening. The feeding system uses a chain conveyor belt to transport the screened material to the slicing system for reciprocating linear cutting, and then the material slides down into the storage bin of the collection system. This invention integrates screening, feeding, slicing, and collection functions, cleverly achieving integrated collection of Chinese medicinal material slices, improving the efficiency and productivity of Chinese medicinal material slicing, and reducing the manual labor intensity during the processing. It also incorporates detailed functions such as extrusion, sorting, and manual unloading, ensuring the stability of slicing processing and the continuity of transportation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of traditional Chinese medicine processing technology, specifically to a slicing device and method for processing traditional Chinese medicine. Background Technology

[0002] The statements in this section are merely background information relating to this disclosure and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs, guided by TCM theory, are used to prevent, treat, and diagnose diseases, and also to aid in patient recovery and health maintenance. TCM possesses unique advantages in treating various diseases, especially chronic and complex ones. Many TCM formulas, refined through thousands of years of experimentation, have demonstrated excellent therapeutic effects for specific ailments.

[0004] Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) originated in China and consists of drugs used to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases or regulate bodily functions under the guidance of TCM theory. Specifically, it includes plant-based medicines, animal-based medicines, mineral-based medicines, as well as some chemical and biological products. TCM raw materials refer to those that meet pharmaceutical standards and generally refer to the original plant, animal, or mineral materials after removing non-medicinal parts. Medicinal materials without specified processing requirements are all raw materials and should be processed according to the cleaning section of the General Rules for Processing Medicinal Materials in the appendix.

[0005] Some Chinese medicinal herbs need to be sliced ​​before they can be used in medicine. Traditionally, slicing Chinese medicinal herbs manually requires a lot of manpower and time, which is labor-intensive and inefficient. Therefore, some slicing devices for Chinese medicinal herbs have been developed. Most common Chinese medicinal herb slicing devices can only slice one type of herb at a time and are not suitable for slicing multiple herbs at the same time. When you want to slice multiple herbs, you often have to slice them one by one, which leads to low efficiency.

[0006] Some existing technologies have achieved continuous and rapid slicing of Chinese medicinal materials, improving slicing efficiency. However, they suffer from problems such as the inability to control the slice thickness, the inability to screen and classify the materials, and low automation. For example, Chinese patent application number CN202011444419.8 discloses a Chinese medicinal material slicing device and method for processing Chinese medicinal materials. The slicing blades of this device are fixed by blade fastening bolts, which can continuously and rapidly slice Chinese medicinal materials, improving slicing efficiency. However, the slice thickness is uncontrollable, and the product specifications are limited. Chinese patent application number CN202020963556.1 discloses a Chinese medicinal material slicing machine that uses a drive motor to drive the blades to move up and down reciprocally to slice Chinese medicinal materials. This ensures the sensitivity, stability, and cutting quality of the blade operation. However, it cannot screen the Chinese medicinal materials, cannot classify products of different specifications, and has a low level of automation. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention proposes a slicing device and method for processing Chinese medicinal materials, which integrates functions such as feeding, slicing, and collection, realizing integrated collection of Chinese medicinal material slices. It aims to solve the problems of low work efficiency, uncontrollable slice thickness, and low level of automation in existing technologies for slicing Chinese medicinal materials.

[0008] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0009] A slicing device and method for processing Chinese medicinal materials, comprising:

[0010] A screening system includes a screen box supported by a base. The base supports the screen box at two ends along its length, which has a height difference to tilt the screen box. A first motor is installed on one side plate of the screen box. The first motor drives a transmission shaft and an eccentric block to vibrate the screen box. Multiple sets of screening rods are laid in the screen box, and the distance between the multiple sets of screening rods gradually increases along the tilt direction of the screen box.

[0011] A feeding system, located below the screening system, includes a frame. A support baffle and a conveyor baffle are fixedly connected to the upper part of the frame, together supporting the screen box. A chain conveyor belt is laid on the upper part of the feeding system. An extrusion plate, inclined at an angle along the conveying direction, is connected to the rear section of the chain conveyor belt. The extrusion plate is connected to an extrusion rod roller at the end of the chain conveyor belt. The chain conveyor belt is driven by a second electric motor.

[0012] The slicing system is located at the end of the feeding system. It has a slicing blade and a slicing plate. The slicing blade is fixed on a small cover plate. The small cover plate is slidably connected to the inverted frame. The small cover plate and the slicing blade are driven by a third motor to perform reciprocating linear motion.

[0013] The collection system, located outside the slicing system, has a discharge plate, a storage box and a discharge port.

[0014] More preferably, in the screening system, the screen box is a vibrating screen box, and a spring assembly is provided at the connection between the screen box and the base support. The spring assembly includes a spring base, a spring and a spring upper seat connected sequentially from bottom to top. The spring upper seat is fixed to the side plate of the screen box, and the spring base is rigidly connected to the base support.

[0015] The sieve box is provided with steel beams at intervals for fixing the sieve screen support.

[0016] More preferably, the first motor is fixed on the first motor base, the first motor base is rigidly connected to the side plate of the screen box through the first motor base support, the side plates of the screen box are provided with holes and bearing seats are installed, the transmission shaft is fixed to the bearing seats and passes through the screen box laterally, and the bearing seats are provided with eccentric blocks on the outside.

[0017] The motor pulley of the first motor is connected to the intermediate transmission pulley via a triangular conveyor belt, and the intermediate transmission pulley is connected to the drive shaft.

[0018] More preferably, in the feeding system, the chain conveyor belt is divided into no less than three columns along the conveying direction, and any column of the chain conveyor belt is separated by a partition plate to achieve area division; the extrusion plate is fixed between the partition plate and the support baffle.

[0019] More preferably, the bottom of the screening rod is provided with staggered dividing plates. The lower end of the dividing plate is connected to the partition plate of the chain conveyor belt, and the upper end is connected to the support baffle above the chain conveyor belt. The dividing plate is inclined so that the screened medicinal materials slide into different areas of the chain conveyor belt.

[0020] More preferably, the feeding system further includes a ratchet rod structure, which is installed on the outside of the extrusion rod roller and includes a ratchet rod roller. The ratchet rod roller has a ratchet rod intermediate shaft, which passes through a hole in the support baffle and connects to a ratchet on the outside of the support baffle. A manual crank is provided on the ratchet, which includes a rocker arm, a rocker arm spring, an upper pawl, and a lower pawl. The upper pawl and the lower pawl are connected by the rocker arm spring, and the upper pawl and the lower pawl respectively mesh with the outer teeth and inner teeth of the ratchet.

[0021] More preferably, in the feeding system, the touch screen and control cabinet are mounted on the frame, and the control cabinet contains PLC control components. Pulse signals are transmitted to the second motor through twisted-pair cables. The second motor is fixedly connected to the second motor bracket and is driven by the chain conveyor belt. The extrusion rod intermediate shaft inside the extrusion rod roller is fixedly connected to the two sides of the frame or the extension of the support baffle. The extrusion rod roller is sleeved on the outside of the extrusion rod intermediate shaft and can roll around the extrusion rod intermediate shaft.

[0022] More preferably, in the slicing system, the third motor is located inside the motor housing, and the inverted frame further includes a large cover plate. The large cover plate is a double-layer structure with a gap in the middle and has a receiving cavity. Two support rods extend from the receiving cavity. The inner side of the support rods has a rack groove. The small cover plate is located in the receiving cavity of the large cover plate. The small cover plate is connected to the large cover plate through the meshing of the racks on both sides with the rack grooves. The end of the rack is fixedly connected to a transverse rack shaft. The rack shaft is connected to the motor rotating shaft of the third motor through a connecting rod to realize reciprocating linear transmission.

[0023] More preferably, the collection system is located at the discharge end of the slicing system, the unloading plate is inclined along the discharge end, the storage box is located at the lower part of the unloading plate, and the storage box body is provided with no less than two storage box partitions, which are parallel to the partition tenons of the unloading plate in the vertical direction and have the same number, so as to realize a one-to-one correspondence between the unloading and collection areas. The storage box partitions make at least three chutes form inside the storage box, and the chutes extend to the outer wall of the storage box to form a discharge port. Each of the chutes is provided with a discharge port baffle at the discharge port.

[0024] A method for slicing Chinese medicinal materials, using a slicing apparatus for processing Chinese medicinal materials as described in any of the preceding claims, includes the following steps:

[0025] S1. The screening system uses a vibrating screen box to initially screen Chinese medicinal materials according to their coarseness or fineness;

[0026] S2. The feeding system transports Chinese medicinal materials of different thicknesses to the slicing system at a set speed;

[0027] S3, the slicing system performs reciprocating slicing of Chinese medicinal materials;

[0028] The thickness of Chinese medicinal herbs can be controlled by adjusting the slicing interval.

[0029] S4. The collection system uses storage bins to collect Chinese medicinal materials of different sizes.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0031] The technical solution of this invention integrates functions such as screening, feeding, slicing, and collection, and ingeniously realizes the integrated collection of Chinese medicinal material slices, improving the efficiency and productivity of Chinese medicinal material slicing and reducing the manual labor intensity in the process of processing Chinese medicinal material slices.

[0032] The technical solution of this invention takes into account the different types and diameters of medicinal materials. The design of the screening system uses a screening device to screen the medicinal materials according to their coarseness. The thickness of the medicinal material slices is controlled by adjusting the conveying speed of the feeding system within a certain range. The slicing blade is connected to the drive motor through an internal crank-slider mechanism, realizing the up-and-down linear reciprocating motion of the slicing blade to slice the material. After slicing, the medicinal materials fall into the collection system along the inclined discharge plate under the action of gravity. The equipment is stable and highly versatile.

[0033] This invention addresses the common issue in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) processing, particularly during conveyor belt transport, where residual material often remains at the end of the feeding system after slicing. This is due to the necessary gap between the conveyor belt and the slicing blades for slicing. The device incorporates a ratchet feeding mechanism. During slicing, the ratchet rotates forward to compress the TCM, facilitating slicing. After slicing, the ratchet can be manually reversed by cranking an external lever, removing the remaining material. This ensures stable slicing and prevents confusion when switching TCM types. The device guarantees orderly operation, improves production efficiency, utilizes a durable and stable conveyor belt, and provides continuous material transport, facilitating subsequent work and reducing manpower requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1(a) is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the left side of the slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to the present invention;

[0035] Figure 1(b) is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the right side of the slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a front view of the slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to the present invention;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a top view of the slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a front view of a screening system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a screening system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the screening box of a screening system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the screen box housing and screen rod structure of a screening system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 8 This is a top view of a screening system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 9 This is a front view of a feeding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 10 This is a top view of a feeding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 11 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a feeding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 12 This is a partially enlarged view of a feeding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the ratchet lever structure of a feeding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 14 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the ratchet lever of a feeding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 15 This is a partially enlarged view of a slicing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a slicing blade according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the connection relationship of the slicing blades according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a slicing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram of the collection system structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 20 A PLC ladder diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] In the diagram: 1. Screening system; 101. Screen box; 102. Base support; 103. Spring base; 104. Spring; 105. Spring upper seat; 106. Screen box side plate; 107. Screen box steel beam; 108. Screening mesh support; 109. First motor; 110. First motor base; 111. First motor base support; 112. Intermediate transmission pulley; 113. V-belt; 114. Motor pulley; 115. Drive shaft; 116. Eccentric block; 117. Bearing seat; 118. Screening rod; 119. Material distribution plate; 120. Feed chute;

[0056] 2. Feeding system; 201. Support baffle; 202. Touch screen; 203. Control cabinet; 204. Second motor; 205. Second motor bracket; 206. Chain conveyor belt; 207. Extrusion rod roller; 208. Ratchet rod roller; 209. Conveying baffle; 210. Extrusion plate; 211. Extrusion rod intermediate shaft; 212. Ratchet rod; 213. Ratchet rod intermediate shaft; 214. Ratchet; 215. Rocker arm; 216. Rocker arm spring; 217. Upper pawl; 218. Lower pawl; 219. Base bracket; 220. Divider plate; 221. Frame;

[0057] 3. Slicing system; 301. Slicing plate; 302. Slicing blade; 303. Rack; 304. Small cover plate; 305. Large cover plate; 306. Motor housing; 307. Third motor; 308. Rack shaft; 309. Motor rotating shaft; 310. Connecting rod; 311. Inverted frame; 312. Frame rod; 313. Receiving cavity; 314. Rack groove; 315. Rack;

[0058] 4. Collection system; 401. Unloading plate; 402. Storage bin; 403. Storage bin partition; 404. Discharge port baffle; 405. Storage bin support; 406. Slide groove; 407. Separating tenon. Detailed Implementation

[0059] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0060] It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and intended to provide further illustration of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0061] Based on the current application status and market demand of Chinese herbal medicine slicing machines in my country, this invention focuses on the design of slicing and sorting collection, developing the most reasonable and practical slicing method. It considers the transmission function of the medicinal materials, especially strengthening the design of the feeding and unloading mechanisms for root and rhizome herbs. The cutting process should be adjusted according to production conditions, and the blades should be properly maintained. To provide a basis for the actual operation and automatic control of the Chinese herbal medicine slicing device, the optimal operating parameters of the slicing machine are determined.

[0062] The feeding system 2 is connected to the medicinal herb slicing system 3, which in turn is connected to the collection system 4. The feeding system 2 feeds the materials to be processed into the medicinal herb slicing system 3, which slices the received materials and then allows the sliced ​​medicinal herbs to fall into the collection system 4 under the influence of gravity. The screening system 1 uses a vibrating screen to screen the medicinal herbs according to their size, while the feeding system 2 uses a chain conveyor belt 206 to transport them to the medicinal herb slicing system 3. The medicinal herb slicing system 3 uses a motor-driven crank-slider mechanism to drive the slicing blade 302 to reciprocate up and down to slice the medicinal herbs. Under the action of shearing force, the medicinal herbs are sliced. The collection system 4 collects the sliced ​​medicinal herbs and discharges them through its outlet.

[0063] Example 1:

[0064] This embodiment provides a slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials, including a screening system 1, a feeding system 2, a slicing system (3) and a collection system 4. The screening system 1 screens the Chinese medicinal materials to be sliced ​​according to their coarseness. The feeding system 2 uses a chain conveyor belt 206 to transport the Chinese medicinal materials screened by the screening system 1 to the Chinese medicinal material slicing system 3 at a certain speed. The Chinese medicinal material slicing system 3 uses a slicing blade 302 that moves up and down to slice the material. The material is then transported downwards to the collection system 4 by the pressure of the sliced ​​Chinese medicinal materials and by gravity along an inclined discharge plate. The sliced ​​Chinese medicinal materials are collected. After slicing is completed, the sliced ​​Chinese medicinal materials can be taken out by opening the discharge port of the collection system 4 and then further processed.

[0065] In this embodiment of a slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials, the screening system 1 has a sieve box 101. The sieve box 101 is supported by a base support 102 with a height difference. In this embodiment, four sets of vertical support columns are used to support the sieve box 101, with each pair of columns having the same height, so that the sieve box 101 forms a gradient (inclination). The sieve box 101 is a vibrating sieve box, and a spring assembly is used at the connection between the sieve box 101 and the base support 102. The spring assembly includes a spring base 103, a spring 104, and a spring upper seat 105 connected in sequence. The spring upper seat 105 is fixed to the side plate 106 of the sieve box, and the spring base 103 is rigidly connected to the base support 102. A first motor 109 is installed on the side plate of the screen box 101. The first motor 109 is fixed on the first motor base 110. The first motor base 110 is rigidly connected to the side plate 106 of the screen box through the first motor base support 111. The side plates of the screen box 101 have holes for mounting bearing seats 117. The drive shaft 115 is fixed to the bearing seat 117 and passes through the screen box 101 laterally. An eccentric block 116 is provided on the outside of the bearing seat 117. The motor pulley 114 of the first motor 109 is connected to the intermediate drive pulley 112 through the triangular conveyor belt 113. The intermediate drive pulley 112 is connected to the drive shaft 115. The first motor 109 drives the drive shaft 115 and the eccentric block 116 to rotate. Since the eccentric block 116 is not located at the center of the shaft, it will generate an outward force during rotation. It will generate a short displacement once every rotation, which, together with the drive shaft 115, drives the screen box 101 to achieve overall vibration.

[0066] In this embodiment, the sieve box 101 is an open-top box. The sieve box 101 is provided with steel beams 107 at intervals for fixing the screening mesh support 108. The steel beams 107 also connect the two side walls of the sieve box 101 and fix it in place. The screening mesh support 108 carries medicinal materials and can also fix and support the sieve mesh (not shown in the figure). The mesh openings are rationally set according to the type of medicinal material, providing pre-screening for special medicinal materials and screening needs. The sieve mesh can be replaced to enhance the applicability of this device. Multiple sets of screening rods 118 are laid in the bottom of the sieve box 101, and the spacing between the multiple sets of screening rods 118 gradually increases along the inclined direction of the sieve box 101.

[0067] How does the screening system 1 work in this section?

[0068] Chinese medicinal herbs enter the screen box 101 through the feed trough 120 or a screen. Upon powering on, the first motor 109 operates, driving the eccentric blocks 116 connected to the drive shaft 115 to rotate horizontally, vertically, and tilt. These three movements are transmitted to the screen surface. The reason for these horizontal, vertical, and tilting movements is that the working principle of the eccentric blocks 116 is based on the principle of centrifugal force in physics. When the eccentric blocks 116 rotate with the drive shaft 115, because they are not located at the center of the shaft, they generate an outward force. The magnitude and direction of this force change with the position of the eccentric blocks 116. In a complete rotation, each eccentric block 116 goes from its closest point to its farthest point. During this process, the centrifugal force also changes from minimum to maximum and back to minimum. This centrifugal force changes with the position of the eccentric blocks 116, thus generating forces in different directions. The material falls onto the distribution plate 119 below under these three movements, and then slides onto different conveying channels on the chain conveyor belt 206. The steel beam 107 of the screen box provides necessary support for the entire screen box 101, ensuring its stability and durability under high-intensity vibration. The main function of the screen mesh support 108 is to fix and support the screen mesh, ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of the screening process. The spring 104 in the vibrating screen box 101 not only acts as the main vibration spring, providing the necessary vibration force, but also as a vibration isolation spring, reducing the dynamic load transmitted from the equipment to the foundation. The screening rods 118 are designed with increasing spacing from the feed chute 120 to the end of the screen box 101, so that under the action of the vibrating screen, the Chinese medicinal materials fall onto the distribution plate 119 below according to their different thicknesses and slide into different conveying channels.

[0069] In this embodiment, a feeding system 2 for a slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials is located below a screening system 1. It has a frame 221, with a fixedly connected support baffle 201 and conveying baffle 209 on the upper part of the frame 221. The support baffle 201 and conveying baffle 209 together support the sieve box 101, and the conveying baffle 209 also ensures that materials do not leak during conveying. A chain conveyor belt 206 is laid on the upper part of the feeding system 2. An inclined extrusion plate 210 is connected to the rear section of the chain conveyor belt 206. The extrusion plate 210 is connected to an extrusion rod roller 207 at the end of the chain conveyor belt 206. An extrusion rod intermediate shaft 211 inside the extrusion rod roller 207 is fixedly connected to both sides of the frame 221 or the extension of the support baffle 201. The extrusion rod roller 207 is sleeved around the extrusion rod intermediate shaft 211 and can roll around it.

[0070] The chain conveyor belt 207 is driven by the second motor 204; the chain conveyor belt 206 is divided into no less than three columns along the conveying direction, and any column of chain conveyor belts 206 is separated by a partition plate 220 to achieve area division; the extrusion plate 210 is fixed between the partition plate 220 and the support baffle 201.

[0071] In the feeding system 2, the touch screen 202 and the control cabinet 203 are mounted on the frame 221. The control cabinet 203 contains the PLC control components and transmits pulse signals to the second motor 204 through twisted pair cables. The second motor 204 is fixedly connected to the second motor bracket 205 and is driven by the chain conveyor belt 206 through the chain. The chain drives the chain plate to move forward and convey materials.

[0072] The feeding system 2 also includes a ratchet rod structure, which is installed on the outside of the extrusion rod roller 207. The ratchet rod structure includes a ratchet rod roller 208, in which a ratchet rod intermediate shaft 213 is provided. The ratchet rod intermediate shaft 213 passes through a hole in the support baffle 201 and connects to a ratchet 214 on the outside of the support baffle 201. A manual crank is provided on the ratchet 214. The manual crank includes a rocker arm 215, a rocker arm spring 216, an upper pawl 217, and a lower pawl 218. The upper pawl 217 and the lower pawl 218 are connected by the rocker arm spring 216. The upper pawl 217 and the lower pawl 218 respectively mesh with the external teeth and internal teeth of the ratchet 214.

[0073] It should be noted in conjunction with the screening system 1 in the first part that the bottom of the screening rod 118 is provided with staggered material distribution plates 119. The lower end of the material distribution plate 119 is connected to the partition plate 220 of the chain conveyor belt 206, and the upper end is connected to the support baffle 201 above the chain conveyor belt 206. The material distribution plate 119 is set at an angle to block and slide the screened medicinal materials.

[0074] The working principle of feeding system 2 in this section:

[0075] After being screened by the screening system 1, the Chinese medicinal herbs slide down the separating plate 119 into different conveying channels separated by the partition plate 2. The touch screen 202 controls the PLC to start the second motor 204, which transmits power to the chain connected to the chain plate through the chain transmission, thereby driving the chain plate to move forward and move the material. Various grades of Chinese medicinal herbs of different coarseness move forward in multiple conveying channels under the conveyor belt 206. When they reach the extrusion plate 210, the height of the feed end of the extrusion plate 210 is greater than the upper end of the channel, allowing the Chinese medicinal herbs to enter easily. The extrusion plates 210 are arranged at an angle, and the height of the conveying channel decreases as the Chinese medicinal herbs are transported forward, thereby squeezing and compacting the Chinese medicinal herbs. The squeezed and compacted Chinese medicinal herbs continue to be conveyed forward and reach the extrusion roller. At cylinder 207, the lower end of the extrusion rod roller 207 is parallel to the discharge end of the extrusion plate 210. The extrusion rod roller 207 further compacts the Chinese medicinal materials, preparing them for the next step of slicing. This prevents the Chinese medicinal materials from splashing during the slicing process due to insufficient compaction. During the conveying process of slicing, the ratchet rod roller 208 plays the same compacting role. When changing the type of Chinese medicinal materials to be sliced, or when slicing is stopped, if some short, unsliced ​​Chinese medicinal materials remain between the end of the chain conveyor belt 206 and the slicing blade 302, the ratchet rod 212 can be rotated in the reverse direction. This reverse rotation of the ratchet rod 212 drives the ratchet rod roller 208 to squeeze out the remaining Chinese medicinal materials in the machine, thereby avoiding potential processing hazards and preventing product material mixing.

[0076] In this embodiment, the slicing system 3 of a slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials is located at the end of the feeding system 2. It has a slicing plate 301 and a slicing knife 302. The slicing knife 302 is fixed on a small cover plate 304. The small cover plate 304 is slidably connected to the inverted frame 311. The small cover plate 304 and the slicing knife 302 are driven by a third motor 307 to perform reciprocating linear motion.

[0077] In the slicing system 3, the third motor 307 is located inside the motor housing 306. The inverted frame 311 also includes a large cover plate 305. The large cover plate 305 is a double-layer structure with a gap in the middle and has a receiving cavity 313. Two support rods 312 extend from the receiving cavity 313. The inner side of the support rods 312 has a rack groove 314. The small cover plate 304 is located in the receiving cavity 313 of the large cover plate 305. The small cover plate 304 is connected to the large cover plate 305 through the meshing of the racks 303 on both sides with the rack grooves 314. The end of the rack 303 is fixedly connected to the transverse rack shaft 308. The rack shaft 308 is connected to the motor rotating shaft 309 of the third motor 307 through the connecting rod 310 to realize reciprocating linear transmission.

[0078] The working principle of slicing system 3 in this section:

[0079] The medicinal herbs are conveyed from the feeding system 2 onto the slicing plate 301. Upon powering on, the third motor 307 drives the motor shaft 309 to rotate. The rotation of the motor shaft 309 drives the connecting rod 310, converting the circular motion on the motor shaft 309 into linear reciprocating motion on the connecting rod 310. The connecting rod 310 is connected to the rack shaft 308, and the teeth on the rack shaft 308 mesh with the rack 303 at the lower end of the small cover plate 304, transmitting the motion to the rack 303 connected to the small cover plate 304. This drives the small cover plate 304 to perform linear reciprocating motion (converting the reciprocating linear motion of the rack shaft 308 into the reciprocating linear motion of the small cover plate 304). The slicing blade 302 connected to the small cover plate 304 then performs a linear reciprocating slicing action, completing the slicing process. As more medicinal herbs are continuously conveyed, while slicing new herbs, previously sliced ​​herbs are pushed into the collection system 4.

[0080] This embodiment discloses a collection system 4 for a slicing device used in processing traditional Chinese medicine. Located outside the slicing system 3, the system includes a discharge plate 401, a storage box 402, and a discharge port. The collection system 4 is positioned at the discharge end of the slicing system 3. The discharge plate 401 is inclined along the discharge end. The storage box 402 is located below the discharge plate 401. The storage box 402 has at least two storage box partitions 403 inside, which are parallel to and have the same number of partition tenons 407 on the discharge plate 401 in the vertical direction, achieving a one-to-one correspondence between the discharge and collection areas. The storage box partitions 403 form at least three chutes 406 inside the storage box 402. The chutes 406 extend to the outer wall of the storage box 402 to form a discharge port. Each chute 406 has a discharge port baffle 404 at its discharge port.

[0081] This embodiment of a slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials divides the chain conveyor belt 206 into no less than three columns along the conveying direction, or more. It is used in conjunction with the material distribution plate 119 to distribute the material in the sieve box to different areas of the chain conveyor belt 206. After the division, the slicing system 3 and the collection system 4 of this device correspond to each other. For example, the design of the extrusion plate 210 of the slicing system 3 corresponds one-to-one with the width of the chain conveyor belt 206 after the division. The design (width) of the extrusion rod roller 207 of the slicing system 3 corresponds one-to-one with the width of the chain conveyor belt 206 after the division. The tooth thickness, tooth pitch, etc. of the extrusion rod roller 207 are also designed specifically. The chute 406 of the collection system 4 corresponds one-to-one with the material conveying path.

[0082] This section collects information on the working principle of System 4:

[0083] After the Chinese medicinal materials are continuously sliced, sliced ​​Chinese medicinal materials are continuously produced. As the sliced ​​Chinese medicinal materials accumulate and are pushed down by their own gravity, they slide onto the unloading plate 401 and fall into the storage box 402, completing the collection of sliced ​​Chinese medicinal materials. When the discharge process is to be completed or the number of sliced ​​Chinese medicinal materials in the storage box 402 is too large, the discharge port can be opened by sliding the discharge port baffle 404 to complete the discharge work.

[0084] This embodiment also provides a slicing method for processing Chinese medicinal materials, using the above-mentioned slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials, including the following steps:

[0085] S1. Screening system 1 uses a vibrating screen box to initially screen Chinese medicinal materials according to their coarseness or fineness;

[0086] S2, The feeding system 2 transports Chinese medicinal materials of different thicknesses to the slicing system 3 at a set speed;

[0087] S3, the slicing system 3 performs up-and-down reciprocating slicing of Chinese medicinal materials;

[0088] The thickness of Chinese medicinal herbs can be controlled by adjusting the slicing interval.

[0089] S4. The collection system 4 uses the storage bin 402 to collect Chinese medicinal materials of different specifications.

[0090] The technical solution of this invention integrates functions such as screening, feeding, slicing, and collection, and ingeniously realizes the integrated collection of Chinese medicinal material slices, improving the efficiency and productivity of Chinese medicinal material slicing and reducing the manual labor intensity in the process of processing Chinese medicinal material slices.

[0091] The technical solution of this invention takes into account different types and diameters. The screening system 1 is designed to screen Chinese medicinal materials according to their coarseness using a screening device. The thickness of the slices is controlled by adjusting the conveying speed of the feeding system 2 within a certain range. The slicing blade 302 is connected to the drive motor through an internal crank-slider mechanism, which realizes the up-and-down linear reciprocating motion of the slicing blade 302 to slice the material. After slicing, the Chinese medicinal materials fall into the collection system 4 along the inclined discharge plate under the action of gravity. The equipment is stable and highly versatile.

[0092] The technical solution of this invention takes into account that during the processing of Chinese medicinal materials, especially when materials are conveyed by a conveyor belt, a portion of material often remains in the device at the end of the feeding system 2 after slicing. This is because a gap must be maintained between the end of the conveyor belt and the slicing blade 302 of the slicing system 3 for slicing. This device is designed with a ratchet feeding mechanism, that is, the feeding system 2 utilizes a ratchet structure. During the slicing process, the ratchet 212 rotates forward to compress the Chinese medicinal materials, facilitating slicing by the slicing system 3. After the slicing process is completed, the ratchet 212 can be manually reversed by cranking the external rocker arm 215 of the ratchet 212, thereby conveying the residual Chinese medicinal materials out of the device. This ensures the stability of the slicing process and avoids confusion when switching types of Chinese medicinal materials by conveying residual Chinese medicinal materials into new types of Chinese medicinal materials. It can ensure the orderly operation of each link, improve production efficiency, and use the 206 chain plate conveyor belt to transport materials. It has a durable structure, runs smoothly, and has strong impact resistance, ensuring the continuity of material transportation, providing convenience for subsequent work and reducing the need for manpower.

[0093] Example 2

[0094] Analysis of the principle behind controlling slice thickness: By calculating the time interval between the completion of one slice and the start of the next slice by the slicing blade 302, the length of medicinal material conveyed by the feeding system 2 to the slicing blade 302 during this time is the slice thickness at that moment. Therefore, the slice thickness is controlled by adjusting the conveying speed of the feeding system 2.

[0095] (1) PLC design for controlling the conveying speed of feeding system 2:

[0096] Control logic:

[0097] The control logic for controlling the motor speed is as follows: the motor is turned "on" and "off" by the "switch" button. In the "on" state, the second motor 204 continues to run at the initial speed. A new pulse frequency value is entered in the "value box". Then the "speed change" button is clicked. With the output of the new pulse frequency, the second motor 204 will run at the new speed. When the switch is in the "off" state, the second motor 204 stops rotating.

[0098] Electrical component selection:

[0099]

[0100] I / O allocation:

[0101]

[0102] Combination Figure 20 In one embodiment of the present invention, a PLC ladder diagram is provided, in which an auxiliary relay set to M3 is used as a normally open contact as a switch, and two auxiliary relays connected in parallel are used as normally closed contacts and normally open contacts, and are simultaneously set to M2. After M2, the PLSY command, which sends pulse signals to the stepper motor drive, is executed.

[0103] PLSY command:

[0104]

[0105] D5 represents the data register, which stores the pulse frequency data. Generally, the pulse frequency can be defined directly using "K + number". By using the data register in conjunction with the touch screen (202), the pulse frequency can be defined by writing the data into the D5 register on the touch screen (202).

[0106] K0 indicates that the second motor 204 should run continuously, and the data of K0 is the pulse width data;

[0107] Y000 represents the position of pulse data on the PLC. Here, the Y000 interface of the PLC is used as the pulse output port to output pulse signals through the PLC.

[0108] Setup of Touchscreen 202:

[0109] A touchscreen setup 202 should include at least two "status buttons" and one "value box," with "start" and "speed change" buttons, and the target frequency can be entered in the value box.

[0110] Select the "Bit Status Toggle Switch" when using the "Start" button, and define it as M3 in the write address.

[0111] The "speed change" status button should be reset, equivalent to a physical button. That is, pressing the button on the touch screen 202 is "connected", and releasing it resets it to "disconnected", thus enabling the PLC program to switch the state of the auxiliary relay M2.

[0112] In order to display the input data after input, the "numerical box" has the same read / write address, which is D5 on the PLC.

[0113] After connecting the touchscreen program to the touchscreen 202, the touchscreen controls the switching of the second motor 204. Simultaneously, during operation, the pulse frequency of the second motor 204 is adjusted (i.e., the motor speed is adjusted), thereby controlling the motor speed and consequently the slice thickness.

[0114] (2) Calculation of the slice time interval:

[0115] The slicing blade 302 completes one slicing operation in the following time: In the crank-slider mechanism, if one process is completed in 360°, then one complete up-and-down transport is achieved for every revolution of the crank. Since the third motor 307 is directly connected to the motor shaft 309, the rotational speed of the motor shaft 309 is z revolutions per minute. The rotational speed of the motor shaft 309 is converted into an angular velocity ω per second.

[0116] The formula relating rotational speed z and angular velocity ω is as follows:

[0117]

[0118] z – The speed of the third motor is z revolutions per minute (RPM).

[0119] Since the motor shaft 309 completes one operation every 360 degrees (or 2π radians), the time T required for one operation can be calculated as follows:

[0120]

[0121] Substituting into the angular velocity expression above:

[0122]

[0123] Therefore, the time required for the slider of motor shaft 309 to complete one slice from the lowest position and return to the lowest position in one operation is:

[0124]

[0125] Unit conversion:

[0126]

[0127] Calculation of slice thickness:

[0128] Within this time T, the conveying distance is equal to the thickness of the slice, which can be obtained by multiplying the conveying speed by the time interval.

[0129] The specific values ​​are:

[0130]

[0131] (3) Calculation of conveying speed:

[0132] Based on the pulse frequency calculation formula:

[0133]

[0134] n – Speed ​​of the second motor (revolutions per second, RPS);

[0135] F represents the number of pulses required per revolution of the third motor 307 (encoder resolution);

[0136] F-Motor Encoder Resolution Selection:

[0137] For applications that do not require precise control (such as large conveyor systems or general motor control), a lower resolution encoder can be selected to reduce costs. For these applications, encoders with a resolution of 1000 to 5000 PPR (pulses per revolution) are usually sufficient.

[0138] The formula can be rewritten as the formula for calculating motor speed:

[0139]

[0140] n – The third motor has a speed of 307 revolutions per second (n rpm);

[0141] F represents the number of pulses required for the third motor to complete one revolution (encoder resolution);

[0142] The chain drive has 17 teeth in each component, with a tooth ratio of 1:1:1. Therefore, theoretically, the rotational speed of the rollers in the chain conveyor belt 206 is the same as that of the third motor 307, both being n. The linear speed of the conveyor belt is affected by the roller diameter. The larger the roller diameter and the longer the circumference, the faster the linear speed at the same rotational speed.

[0143] The formula for calculating the linear speed of the 206 chain conveyor belt is as follows:

[0144]

[0145] v - linear velocity (m / s);

[0146] d - Drum diameter (m);

[0147] n - The third motor has a speed of 307 revolutions per second (RPS).

[0148] The thickness of the slice can be obtained by multiplying the linear speed v of the chain conveyor belt 206 by the time T to complete one slice.

[0149]

[0150] Slice thickness;

[0151]

[0152]

[0153] L is a unit of meters (m).

[0154] z – The rotational speed of the third motor 307 (z revolutions per minute, RPM).

[0155] d - Drum diameter (m);

[0156] n - The third motor has a speed of 307 revolutions per second (RPS).

[0157] F represents the number of pulses required for the third motor to complete one revolution (encoder resolution);

[0158] Example 3

[0159] This embodiment provides a slicing device and method for processing Chinese medicinal materials. Based on Embodiment 1, it provides detailed examples and calculations for the selection of the motor and PLC, as well as the design of the slice thickness.

[0160] Electric motor selection:

[0161] F - indicates that the number of pulses required for the second motor to rotate once (encoder resolution) is 2000 PPR;

[0162] z - The speed of the third motor is 100 revolutions per minute (RPM);

[0163] PLC selection:

[0164] The pulse frequency range that a PLC can output is 10-1000Hz;

[0165] Calculation of slice thickness:

[0166] According to the calculation formula in the foregoing embodiments:

[0167]

[0168] L is a unit of meters (m).

[0169] z – The rotational speed of the third motor 307 (z revolutions per minute, RPM).

[0170] d – Drum diameter (m) – In this embodiment, the drum diameter is 0.5m;

[0171] n - The third motor has a speed of 307 revolutions per second (RPS).

[0172] F represents the number of pulses required for the motor to complete one revolution (encoder resolution);

[0173] When the pulse frequency is 1000Hz, substituting into the formula yields a slice thickness L of 0.47122m.

[0174] When the pulse frequency is 10Hz, substituting into the formula yields a slice thickness L of 0.0047122m.

[0175] Therefore, based on the desired slice thickness of the Chinese medicinal materials, the slice thickness can be controlled by substituting the corresponding pulse frequency into the formula.

[0176] The technical solution of this invention integrates functions such as screening, feeding, slicing, and collection, and ingeniously realizes the integrated collection of Chinese medicinal material slices, improving the efficiency and productivity of Chinese medicinal material slicing and reducing the manual labor intensity in the process of processing Chinese medicinal material slices.

[0177] The technical solution of this invention takes into account different types and diameters. The screening system is designed to screen Chinese medicinal materials according to their coarseness using a screening device. The thickness of the slices is controlled by adjusting the conveying speed of the feeding system within a certain range. The slicing blade 302 is connected to the drive motor through an internal crank-slider mechanism, realizing the up-and-down linear reciprocating motion of the slicing blade 302 to slice the material. After slicing, the Chinese medicinal materials fall into the collection system along the inclined discharge plate under the action of gravity. The equipment is stable and highly versatile.

[0178] This invention addresses the issue that during the processing of Chinese medicinal herbs, especially when materials are conveyed via conveyor belts, a portion of material often remains at the end of the feeding system after slicing. This is because a gap must be maintained between the end of the conveyor belt and the slicing blade 302 of the slicing system for slicing. This device incorporates a ratchet feeding mechanism. During slicing, the ratchet rotates forward to compress the medicinal herbs, facilitating slicing. After slicing, the ratchet can be manually reversed by cranking an external lever, removing the remaining material from the device. This ensures the stability of the slicing process and prevents confusion when switching between different types of medicinal herbs. It can ensure the orderly operation of each link, improve production efficiency, and use chain plate conveyor belts to transport materials. The structure is durable, the operation is stable, and the impact resistance is strong, ensuring the continuity of material transportation, providing convenience for subsequent work and reducing the need for manpower.

[0179] The above description, in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of the present invention. It should not be construed that the specific implementation of the present invention is limited to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, various simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and all such modifications and substitutions should be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials, characterized in that, include: The screening system (1) includes a screen box (101), which is supported by a base support (102). The base support (102) has a height difference at both ends along the length direction so that the screen box (101) is tilted. A first motor (109) is provided on one side plate of the screen box (101). The first motor (109) is used to drive the transmission shaft (115) and the eccentric block (116) to drive the screen box (101) to vibrate. Multiple sets of screening rods (118) are laid in the screen box (101). The spacing between the multiple sets of screening rods (118) gradually increases along the tilt direction of the screen box (101). The feeding system (2) is located at the lower part of the screening system (1) and includes a frame (221). The upper part of the frame (221) is provided with a fixedly connected support baffle (201) and a conveying baffle (209). The support baffle (201) and the conveying baffle (209) together support the screen box (101). The upper part of the feeding system (2) is covered with a chain plate conveyor belt (206). The rear section of the chain plate conveyor belt (206) is connected to an extrusion plate (210) set at an inclined angle along the conveying direction. The extrusion plate (210) is connected to the extrusion rod roller (207) at the end of the chain plate conveyor belt (206). The chain plate conveyor belt (206) is driven by a second motor (204). The feeding system (2) also includes a ratchet rod structure, which is installed on the outside of the extrusion rod roller (207) and includes a ratchet rod roller (208). The ratchet rod roller (208) is provided with a ratchet rod intermediate shaft (213). The ratchet rod intermediate shaft (213) passes through a hole opened on the support baffle (201) and connects to a ratchet (214) on the outside of the support baffle (201). A manual crank is provided on the ratchet (214). The slicing system (3) is located at the end of the feeding system (2). It has a slicing plate (301) and a slicing knife (302). The slicing knife (302) is fixed on a small cover plate (304). The small cover plate (304) is slidably connected to the inverted frame (311). The small cover plate (304) and the slicing knife (302) are driven by a third motor (307) to perform reciprocating linear motion. A collection system (4) is located outside the slicing system (3). The collection system (4) is used to collect slices of Chinese medicinal materials of different sizes.

2. The slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the screening system (1), the screen box (101) is a vibrating screen box. A spring assembly is provided at the connection between the screen box (101) and the base support (102). The spring assembly includes a spring base (103), a spring (104) and a spring upper seat (105) connected sequentially from bottom to top. The spring upper seat (105) is fixed on the side plate (106) of the screen box. The spring base (103) is rigidly connected to the base support (102). The sieve box (101) is provided with sieve box steel beams (107) at intervals for fixing the sieve screen support (108).

3. The slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first motor (109) is fixed on the first motor base (110), and the first motor base (110) is rigidly connected to the side plate (106) of the screen box through the first motor base support (111). The side plates of the screen box (101) have holes for mounting bearing seats (117). The transmission shaft (115) is fixed to the bearing seat (117) and passes through the screen box (101) laterally. The bearing seat (117) has an eccentric block (116) on its outer side. The motor pulley (114) of the first motor (109) is connected to the intermediate transmission pulley (112) via a triangular conveyor belt (113), and the intermediate transmission pulley (112) is connected to the transmission shaft (115).

4. The slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the feeding system (2), the chain conveyor belt (206) is divided into no less than three columns along the conveying direction. Each column of the chain conveyor belt (206) is separated by a partition plate (220) to achieve area division. The extrusion plate (210) is fixed between the partition plate (220) and the support baffle (201). Two support baffles (201) are set on each side along the conveying direction. The conveying baffle (209) is set at the starting end of the chain conveyor belt (206) and is vertically set between the two support baffles (201).

5. A slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bottom of the screening rod (118) is provided with staggered material distribution plates (119). The lower end of the material distribution plate (119) is connected to the partition plate (220) of the chain conveyor belt (206), and the upper end is connected to the support baffle (201) above the chain conveyor belt (206). The material distribution plate (119) is inclined so that the screened medicinal materials slide to different areas of the chain conveyor belt (206).

6. A slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The manual crank includes a crank (215), a crank spring (216), an upper pawl (217), and a lower pawl (218). The upper pawl (217) and the lower pawl (218) are connected by the crank spring (216). The upper pawl (217) and the lower pawl (218) respectively mesh with the outer and inner teeth of the ratchet (214).

7. A slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the feeding system (2), the touch screen (202) and the control cabinet (203) are mounted on the frame (221). The control cabinet (203) contains the PLC control element and transmits the pulse signal to the second motor (204) through the twisted pair. The second motor (204) is fixedly connected to the second motor bracket (205) and is driven by the chain conveyor belt (206) through the chain. The extrusion rod intermediate shaft (211) in the extrusion rod roller (207) is fixedly connected to the two sides of the frame (221) or the extension of the support baffle (201). The extrusion rod roller (207) is sleeved on the outside of the extrusion rod intermediate shaft (211) and can roll around the extrusion rod intermediate shaft (211).

8. A slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the slicing system (3), the third motor (307) is located inside the motor housing (306). The inverted frame (311) also includes a large cover plate (305). The large cover plate (305) is a double-layer structure with a gap in the middle and has a receiving cavity (313). Two support rods (312) extend from the receiving cavity (313). A rack groove (314) is provided on the inner side of the support rod (312). The small cover plate (304) is located on the... In the receiving cavity (313) of the large cover plate (305), the small cover plate (304) is connected to the large cover plate (305) through the meshing of the racks (303) on both sides with the rack groove (314). The end of the rack (303) is fixedly connected to the transverse rack shaft (308). The rack shaft (308) is connected to the motor rotating shaft (309) of the third motor (307) through the connecting rod (310) to realize reciprocating linear transmission.

9. A slicing device for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to claim 5, characterized in that, The collection system (4) is located at the discharge end of the slicing system (3). The collection system (4) has a discharge plate (401), a storage box (402) and a discharge port. The discharge plate (401) is inclined along the discharge end. The storage box (402) is located at the lower part of the discharge plate (401). The storage box (402) has at least two storage box partitions (403) inside. The partitions (407) of the discharge plate (401) are parallel to each other in the vertical direction and have the same number, so as to realize the one-to-one correspondence between the discharge and collection areas. The storage box partitions (403) make at least three chutes (406) form inside the storage box (402). The chutes (406) extend to the outer wall of the storage box (402) to form a discharge port. Each of the chutes (406) has a discharge port baffle (404) at the discharge port.

10. A method for slicing Chinese medicinal materials, using the slicing apparatus for processing Chinese medicinal materials according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1, Screening System (1) The Chinese medicinal materials are initially screened according to their coarseness through a vibrating screen box; S2, The feeding system (2) delivers Chinese medicinal materials of different thicknesses to the slicing system (3) at a set speed. S3, Slicing System (3) performs up-and-down reciprocating slicing of Chinese medicinal materials; The thickness of Chinese medicinal herbs can be controlled by adjusting the slicing interval. S4. Collection system (4) uses storage bins (402) to collect Chinese medicinal materials of different specifications.

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