Ultrasonic extraction equipment for caffeine in tea leaves

Abstract

The invention discloses ultrasonic extraction equipment for caffeine in tea leaves, which comprises a kettle body and a vibration box hoisted at the axis of the inner side of the kettle body, a plurality of uniformly distributed ultrasonic generators are arranged in the vibration box, the bottom of the inner side of the kettle body is fixedly connected with a grinding disc, and an opposite grinding piece is movably arranged at the position, deviating from the axis, above the grinding disc. By combining ultrasonic treatment with mechanical crushing, the crushing efficiency and the crushing degree of tea leaves are improved, the stirring piece can move in the direction of the supporting rod, the tea leaves floating on the liquid level or above can be conveyed downwards in cooperation with the blade design and the rotating motion of the stirring piece, meanwhile, materials at the bottom are overturned upwards to be homogenized, and the crushing efficiency is improved. The movement of the opposite-grinding piece can push tea leaves, avoid material accumulation, prevent repeated grinding of the same batch of tea leaves, and realize functional linkage of grinding operation, material collection and pushing, stirring and directional material conveying under the same driving traction, so that the tea leaves can be uniformly dispersed, and the tea leaves can be fully decomposed under the action of high-frequency sound waves.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tea processing technology, and in particular to an ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional methods for extracting caffeine from tea typically involve hot water soaking, organic solvent extraction, or alkaline solution immersion. These methods suffer from drawbacks such as long extraction times, high solvent consumption, low extraction efficiency, and environmental unfriendliness. In recent years, ultrasonic technology has been widely applied in the extraction field due to its advantages of high efficiency, speed, and environmental friendliness.

[0003] Ultrasonic technology utilizes its cavitation effect; the localized high temperature and pressure generated by the collapse of tiny bubbles produced by high-frequency vibration can disrupt the cell walls of tea leaves, accelerating the dissolution and release of caffeine. This not only improves caffeine extraction efficiency and reduces production costs but also provides technical support for the development of novel functional tea products. Ultrasonic waves have a frequency of 2×10⁻⁶. 4 -10 7 Hz sound waves, when propagating through a material medium, cause mechanical vibrations in the medium's particles, thus interacting with the medium. In the ultrasonic extraction of caffeine from tea leaves, the cavitation effect of ultrasound is crucial. When ultrasound acts on a liquid, it generates numerous tiny bubbles. These bubbles, during their growth and collapse, produce localized high temperatures and pressures, which can disrupt the cell walls of the tea leaves, making it easier for caffeine to be released. Compared to traditional methods such as soaking and boiling, ultrasonic extraction can significantly shorten extraction time and increase the caffeine extraction rate. For example, ultrasonic technology can increase the caffeine extraction efficiency from green tea by 35%. Furthermore, the extraction process involves relatively low temperatures and short interaction times, which better preserves the structure and activity of caffeine. This technology is worthy of widespread application.

[0004] However, existing ultrasonic extraction equipment still has some shortcomings in the process of extracting caffeine from tea leaves. For example, Chinese patent application number 202320497033.6 discloses an ultrasonic extraction vessel for aminoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal, including a vessel body with multiple support lugs welded to its circumference. Multiple circumferential first and second openings are arranged along the circumference of the vessel body, with the first and second openings arranged side-by-side. The first opening is located between two adjacent support lugs, and the second opening is located directly below the first opening. The vessel also includes a vibration unit, with each of the first and second openings cooperating with a vibration unit. Each vibration unit includes an outer sealing cover, an intermediate connecting layer, and a vibration box. The intermediate connecting layer is located between the outer sealing cover and the vibration box. At least a portion of the vibration box is located within one of the first or second openings. Multiple ultrasonic generators are installed within the cavity of the vibration box and are fixed inside. This solves the problems of insufficient stirring and incomplete reaction of materials within the vessel body in existing technologies. When applied to the extraction of caffeine from tea leaves, the stirring blades cause the solvent inside the vessel to rotate centrifugally, which may lead to solid-liquid separation. The tea leaves tend to pool towards the outside and top, making uniform dispersion difficult. Relying solely on ultrasound to process tea leaves has limited effectiveness and is not conducive to the full extraction of caffeine. Manual removal of waste is necessary, and because the tea leaves are small, they adhere to the inside of the vessel, making cleaning difficult and affecting processing efficiency and the quality of subsequent caffeine extraction.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to invent an ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea, which overcomes the technical defects mentioned in the background art, in order to address the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: An ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine from tea includes a vessel body and a vibrating box suspended at the center of the vessel body's inner side. The vibrating box contains multiple evenly distributed ultrasonic generators. A grinding disc is fixedly connected to the bottom of the vessel body's inner side, and a grinding element is movably arranged above the grinding disc at a position offset from the center of the axis. An annular support plate is slidably sleeved on the outer side of the grinding element, and three follower plates arranged in a circular array are provided on the outer side of the annular support plate. Three drive motors arranged in a circular array are fixedly connected to the bottom of the vessel body, and the output shaft of each drive motor extends to the inner side of the vessel body and is connected to a C-shaped traction frame. A support rod coaxial with the output shaft of the drive motor is installed at the top of the C-shaped traction frame. A longitudinal groove is formed on the support rod, and an agitator is slidably connected to the outer side of the support rod through the longitudinal groove. One end of the follower plate is movably sleeved on the closed end of the C-shaped traction frame. The inner side of the vessel is provided with an inverted cylinder with an opening at the bottom. The top axis of the inverted cylinder is provided with a through-hole that matches the outer diameter of the vibration box. The outer wall of the inverted cylinder is attached to the inner wall of the vessel and slides together, moving between the first stop position and the second stop position. Three electric push rods are fixedly connected to the top of the vessel body, and the output ends of the electric push rods pass through the vessel body and the inverted cylinder and are connected to the arc-shaped lifting plate. The top of the agitator is fixedly connected to a limit ring, and the three arc-shaped lifting plates respectively fit into the concave part of the middle of the limit ring and slide in cooperation with the outer wall of the limit ring. The top of the inverted cylinder is equipped with a linkage locking mechanism, which allows the agitator and the inverted cylinder to switch between a linkage state and a de-linkage state.

[0008] Preferably, the linkage locking mechanism includes an air pump and an airbag stopper. A storage sleeve is installed on the outer side of the top of the through hole of the electric push rod output shaft and the inverted cylinder. A rubber sleeve is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the storage sleeve, and the rubber sleeve is tightly fitted to the electric push rod output shaft. The airbag stopper is bonded to the inner wall of the storage sleeve, and a through hole is opened on the outer wall of the storage sleeve. The air pump is installed at the top of the outer wall of the inverted cylinder, and three air pipes are led out from the air pump output end through a diverter pipe. The three air pipes pass through the through holes of the three storage sleeves respectively and communicate with the airbag stopper. An annular groove is opened on the electric push rod output shaft. In the linkage state, the airbag stopper is inflated and engages with the annular groove.

[0009] Preferably, the vessel body includes a metal can and a lower cover plate, wherein the lower cover plate is supported by legs, the metal can is detachably installed on the top of the lower cover plate by flanges and bolts, and a sealing packing is embedded between the metal can and the lower cover plate. The top of the metal can and the cross-sectional shape of the lower cover plate are both arched. When the vessel is in the first stopping position, a sealed cavity is formed between the top of the inverted cylinder and the inner top wall of the metal can. The grinding disc is located at the inner axis of the lower cover plate. When the vessel is in the second stopping position, the bottom of the inverted cylinder contacts the edge of the lower cover plate.

[0010] Preferably, an output channel extends through the shaft of the grinding workpiece, and a filter layer is movably disposed at the top of the output channel. At least two U-shaped slots are opened inside the output channel, and a slide rod is provided in each U-shaped slot, which slides and engages with the inner wall of the U-shaped slot. A linear spring is sleeved on the outside of the slide rod. The filter layer is detachably connected to the top of the slide rod by screws. A sealing gasket is provided at the bottom of the filter layer at the corresponding position of the output channel, and the sealing gasket on the surface of the filter layer adheres to the top of the output channel when no external force is applied.

[0011] Preferably, a liquid storage tank is installed on the outer wall of the lower cover plate, and the liquid storage tank is located directly below the grinding disc and coaxially distributed with the output channel. The liquid storage tank is funnel-shaped, and the bottom end of the liquid storage tank is connected to a discharge pipe through a right-angle bend. The discharge pipe is equipped with a ball valve. A hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected at the bottom of the right-angle bend and at the axial position corresponding to the output channel, and is equipped with a hydraulic mechanism for powering the hydraulic cylinder. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder is driven to a valve seat in the shape of a frustum. The valve seat is attached to and slidably connected to the inside of the output channel. An elastic compression block is installed at the axial position of the top of the valve seat, and an overflow weir groove is opened on the inner wall of the output channel.

[0012] Preferably, the agitator consists of a sleeve and three torsion blades. The three torsion blades of the same agitator are arranged in a ring array on the outside of the sleeve. The inside of the sleeve is fixed with a protrusion that cooperates with the longitudinal sliding groove on the support rod, and the limiting ring is coaxially distributed with the sleeve.

[0013] Preferably, the number of turns of the outer spiral of the torsion blade of the sleeve is 0.3-0.5, and the inner wall height of the inverted cylinder is... h The combined length of the sleeve and the limiting circlip is s The length of the support rod is l ,but h>l>s .

[0014] Preferably, a feed inlet is provided on one side of the top of the reactor body, and a feeding pipe coaxially distributed with the feed inlet is passed through the top of the inverted cylinder. A sealing plate is detachably installed on the top of the feeding pipe, and the outer wall of the feeding pipe is in contact with the feed inlet and slides in cooperation with the inner wall of the feed inlet.

[0015] Preferably, a scraping ring is installed at the bottom outer side of the inverted cylinder and at the opening position, and the scraping ring is made of rubber, while the inverted cylinder is made of transparent plastic.

[0016] The ultrasonic extraction equipment also includes a liquid level sensor and a microcontroller. The liquid level sensor is used to sense the liquid level height of the material in the vessel. The microcontroller is equipped with an A / D converter and a D / A converter at its input and output terminals, respectively. The liquid level sensor is electrically connected to the A / D converter. The microcontroller's connection terminal is also equipped with a timer and a controller. The controller is used to control the operation of the ultrasonic generator. The drive motor, electric push rod, air pump, and hydraulic mechanism are all electrically connected to the D / A converter.

[0017] The present invention has the following beneficial effects: Multiple drive motors synchronously and one-to-one drive multiple C-shaped traction frames cause the agitator to rotate. Simultaneously, the multiple C-shaped traction frames, follower plates, and annular support plates work together to cause the grinding component to rotate, forming a grinding interaction with the grinding disc. Ultrasonic treatment combined with mechanical crushing improves crushing efficiency and the fineness of tea powder. Driven by an electric push rod, the agitator can move along the direction of the support rod. Its blade design and rotational motion can convey tea floating on or above the liquid surface downwards, while simultaneously turning over the material at the bottom for homogenization. The movement of the grinding component can push the tea, preventing material accumulation and avoiding repeated grinding of the same batch of tea. This achieves the linkage of grinding, material collection and pushing, stirring, and directional material conveying functions under the same drive traction, allowing the tea to be evenly dispersed and fully decomposed by high-frequency sound waves.

[0018] By setting up a filter layer, an output channel, and internal blocking components, the ball valve is opened to ensure unobstructed discharge. The hydraulic mechanism is controlled to retract the output end of the hydraulic cylinder and drive the valve seat downward. The opening and closing of the output channel and the size of the opening can be adjusted to regulate the flow rate and velocity of the fluid. Under the filtration of the filter layer, the solvent containing caffeine is discharged first, and the remaining substances can be further ground and crushed to achieve solid-liquid separation, improve extraction efficiency, and ensure extraction quality. Moreover, the position adjustment of the blocking components can meet the requirements of working in a sealed environment of the vessel, solid-liquid separation operation, and slag discharge operation without the need for additional discharge ports and filter mechanisms.

[0019] The inverted cylinder, which is set inside the vessel, can be flexibly locked with the agitator and the inverted cylinder (12) by means of a linkage locking mechanism. It enters the linkage state, controls the electric push rod to work, and forms a piston-like effect. It pushes down like a syringe pumping air. When it goes down, the pressure of the mixture inside the vessel increases, and the residual solvent can be further precipitated and seep down from the filter layer, improving the discharge efficiency and effective extraction rate. At the same time, it can scrape and clean the surface of the vessel and the vibrating box. After it reaches the second stop position, the output end of the electric push rod pulls the inverted cylinder to move upward, cooperates with the valve seat at the bottom to seal, and pushes the fluid in the output channel upward to perform negative pressure backwashing, which can clean the residue in the filter holes of the filter layer, reduce the residue of the material, facilitate subsequent use, and realize the automatic cleaning of the equipment.

[0020] By introducing an intelligent control system, the liquid level sensor detects and feeds back the liquid level information to determine the liquid level position and depth. It actively controls the electric push rod to work. With the cooperation of the arc-shaped pick plate and the limit ring, the top of the agitator is always positioned above the liquid surface, conveying the material floating on the liquid surface downwards. A vortex is formed below the liquid surface, allowing the material at the bottom to be turned up. It can also automatically run according to the time setting, performing automated operations from processing to discharge. Only one person is needed to assist, freeing up labor and improving the intelligence and automation level of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional view of the overall structure of the ultrasonic extraction device provided by the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 A first-view perspective perspective view of a partial half-section structure of the ultrasonic extraction device provided by the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 A second-view perspective perspective view of a partial half-section structure of the ultrasonic extraction device provided by the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the agitator and the inverted cylinder in the disengaged state of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the agitator and the inverted cylinder in a linked state in the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional view of the linkage and cooperation structure of the grinding mechanism and the stirring component in this invention.

[0027] Figure 7 For the present invention Figure 6 The exploded view of the structure shown in the image is from a first-person perspective.

[0028] Figure 8 For the present invention Figure 6 The exploded view of the structure shown in the image is from a second perspective.

[0029] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the inverted cylinder and its connecting structure in this invention.

[0030] Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional view of the distribution structure of the agitator and the limiting ring in this invention.

[0031] Figure 11 This is a partial cross-sectional view showing the cooperative structure of the output channel, filter layer, and valve seat in this invention.

[0032] Figure 12 For the present invention Figure 11 The diagram shows the structure (output channel closed state).

[0033] Figure 13 For the present invention Figure 11 The diagram shows the structure (output channel open state).

[0034] Figure 14 For the present invention Figure 11 The diagram shows the structure (with the filter layer pushed upwards).

[0035] Figure 15 The system control flowchart of the intelligent control system involved in the ultrasonic extraction equipment provided by the present invention.

[0036] Among them are: 1. Kettle body; 2. Vibration box; 3. Grinding disc; 4. Grinding component; 5. Annular support plate; 6. Follower plate; 7. Drive motor; 8. C-shaped pull frame; 9. Support rod; 10. Longitudinal groove; 11. Agitator; 12. Inverted cylinder; 13. Through-hole; 14. Electric push rod; 15. Arc-shaped lifting plate; 16. Limiting ring; 17. Linkage locking mechanism; 18. Output channel; 19. Filter layer; 10. Recessed lettering 20. Slotted opening - 21. Slide bar - 22. Linear spring - 23. Liquid storage tank - 24. Discharge pipe - 25. Ball valve - 26. Right angle bend - 27. Hydraulic cylinder - 28. Valve seat - 29. Elastic extrusion block - 20. Overflow weir - 30. Feed inlet - 31. Feeding pipe - 32. Sealing plate - 33. Scraper ring - 34. Liquid level sensor - 35. Microcontroller - 36. Timer - 37. Controller - 38. Metal can - 101; Lower cover - 102; Support legs - 103; Sealed cavity - 104; Sleeve-111; Twisted blade-112; Air pump-171; airbag stop-fit-172; storage sleeve-173; rubber sleeve-174; through hole-175; annular groove-176. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific preferred embodiments.

[0038] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "left side," "right side," "upper part," "lower part," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. "First," "second," etc., do not indicate the importance of the components, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. The specific dimensions used in this embodiment are only for illustrating the technical solution and do not limit the scope of protection of this invention.

[0039] like Figure 1-14 As shown, an ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine from tea includes a vessel body 1 and a vibrating box 2 suspended at the inner axis of the vessel body 1. The vessel body 1 includes a metal tank 101 and a lower cover plate 102. The lower cover plate 102 is suspended by support legs 103. The metal tank 101 is detachably mounted on top of the lower cover plate 102 via flanges and bolts. A sealing packing is embedded between the metal tank 101 and the lower cover plate 102. The top of the metal tank 101 and the lower cover plate 102 both have an arched cross-sectional shape. Figure 3 As shown, the vibration box 2 is detachably installed on the vessel body 1 via screws; the vibration box 2 contains multiple evenly distributed ultrasonic generators; a grinding disc 3 is fixedly connected to the bottom inner side of the vessel body 1, and a grinding element 4 is movably installed above the grinding disc 3 at an off-center position; the grinding element 4 can be a solid structure or a sealed counterweight cylinder with added counterweight inside for adjusting the grinding pressure; an annular support plate 5 is slidably sleeved on the outer side of the grinding element 4, and three follower plates 6 arranged in a ring array are provided on the outer side of the annular support plate 5; three drive motors 7 arranged in a ring array are fixedly connected to the bottom of the vessel body 1, and each drive motor 7 outputs... The output shaft extends to the inside of the vessel body 1 and is connected to a C-shaped pull frame 8. A support rod 9, coaxial with the output shaft of the drive motor 7, is installed at the top of the C-shaped pull frame 8. In the embodiment given in this solution, multiple drive motors 7 are used for synchronous drive, and the multiple drive motors 7 have the same power, and their direction of rotation and speed are consistent to ensure the stability of the drive structure. In other embodiments, a synchronous transmission system can also be designed to use a high-power motor for synchronous drive. A longitudinal sliding groove 10 is provided on the support rod 9, and an agitator 11 is slidably connected to the outside of the support rod 9 through the longitudinal sliding groove 10. One end of the follower plate 6 is movably sleeved on the closed end of the C-shaped pull frame 8. Specifically, the C-shaped traction frame 8 includes two horizontal plates and a rotating shaft. The two horizontal plates are distributed in parallel, and each end of the horizontal plate has a corresponding coaxial insertion hole. The rotating shaft is fixedly installed between two through holes on the same side by a locking rod. The two through holes on the other side are fixedly installed on the output end of the drive motor 7 and the support rod 9 by a locking rod, respectively. In addition, the follower plate 6 and the rotating shaft are rotated together by bearings.

[0040] Furthermore, it can be combined with an electric heater and a temperature control device to make the temperature inside the pot 1 adjustable, allowing the tea leaves to undergo ultrasonic treatment at a set temperature and power.

[0041] Commonly used solvents include ethanol and sodium carbonate aqueous solution. For example, some studies have used 95% ethanol as a solvent to extract caffeine from tea leaves using ultrasound-assisted extraction.

[0042] The power, time, and temperature of ultrasound have a significant impact on extraction efficiency. For example, one experimental study showed that the optimal extraction conditions for green tea after ultrasonic pretreatment in 95% solvent for 5 minutes were 20% ultrasonic power and 70℃. Another study found that using a 0.5% Na₂CO₃ aqueous solution at 80℃ for liquid-solid extraction, combined with ultrasound-assisted extraction for 20 minutes, can significantly improve extraction efficiency.

[0043] An inverted cylinder 12 with an open bottom is provided on the inner side of the vessel body 1. A through-hole 13 matching the outer diameter of the vibration box 2 is opened at the top axis of the inverted cylinder 12. The outer wall of the inverted cylinder 12 is attached to the inner wall of the vessel body 1 and slides in fit, moving between the first stop position and the second stop position. When the inverted cylinder 12 is in the first stop position, a sealed cavity 104 is formed between the top of the inverted cylinder 12 and the inner top wall of the metal can 101. The grinding disc 3 is located at the inner axis of the lower cover plate 102. When the inverted cylinder 12 is in the second stop position, the bottom of the inverted cylinder 12 is in contact with the edge of the lower cover plate 102.

[0044] A feed inlet 31 is provided on one side of the top of the vessel body 1. A feeding pipe 32, which is coaxially distributed with the feed inlet 31, passes through the top of the inverted cylinder 12. A sealing plate 33 is detachably installed on the top of the feeding pipe 32. The outer wall of the feeding pipe 32 is in contact with the feed inlet 31 and slides in cooperation with the inner wall of the feed inlet 31.

[0045] Scraper rings 34 are installed at the bottom outer side of the inverted cylinder 12 and at the opening 13. The scraper rings 34 are made of rubber, while the inverted cylinder 12 is made of transparent plastic. This facilitates material discharge while ensuring the airtightness of the environment during material processing. Furthermore, to improve the visibility of this equipment, a transparent observation port can be provided on the vessel body 1 to facilitate observation of the internal processing conditions.

[0046] Three electric push rods 14 are fixedly connected to the top of the vessel body 1, and the output end of the electric push rods 14 passes through the vessel body 1 and the inverted cylinder 12 and is connected to an arc-shaped lifting plate 15. A limit ring 16 is fixedly connected to the top of the agitator 11, and the three arc-shaped lifting plates 15 respectively fit into the concave center of the limit ring 16 and slide against the outer wall of the limit ring 16. Figure 6 As shown, the arc-shaped pick plate 15 and the limiting ring 16 are slidably engaged, which not only provides support for the limiting ring 16, but also allows the height of the agitator 11 to be adjusted without affecting its rotation. This enables the simultaneous operation of grinding, material collection and pushing, stirring and directional material conveying under the same drive traction, and can also be quickly adjusted to adapt to the liquid level.

[0047] The top of the inverted cylinder 12 is equipped with a linkage locking mechanism 17, which allows the agitator 11 and the inverted cylinder 12 to switch between a linkage state and a de-linkage state. As a preferred embodiment of the linkage locking mechanism 17 provided in this application, it includes an air pump 171 and an airbag stopper 172. A storage sleeve 173 is installed on the outer side of the top of the through hole of the electric push rod 14 and the inverted cylinder 12. A rubber sleeve 174 is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the storage sleeve 173, and the rubber sleeve 174 is tightly fitted to the output shaft of the electric push rod 14. The airbag stopper 172 is bonded to the inner wall of the storage sleeve 173. A through hole 175 is opened on the outer wall of the storage sleeve 173. The air pump 171 is installed at the top of the outer wall of the inverted cylinder 12, and the output end of the air pump 171 leads out three air pipes through the diverter pipe. The three air pipes pass through the through holes 175 of the three storage sleeves 173 respectively and communicate with the airbag stopper 172. An annular groove 176 is opened on the output shaft of the electric push rod 14. In the linkage state, the airbag stopper 172 is inflated and engages with the annular groove 176. Specifically, the airbag stopper 172 is an airbag body that is annular when inflated, and when not inflated, its folds fit against the inner wall of the storage sleeve 173 and do not contact the outer wall of the output shaft of the electric push rod 14.

[0048] With the above structure, the airbag stop 172 and the annular groove 176 make flexible contact, avoiding damage to the output shaft of the electric push rod 14 and extending the service life of the device. In addition, the airbag stop 172 and the rubber sleeve 174 at its bottom cooperate to scrape the solvent and impurities attached to the outer wall of the output shaft of the electric push rod 14, preventing them from overflowing. It can also ensure the airtightness of the bottom of the inverted cylinder 12, forming a functional component similar to a piston.

[0049] The first and second stopping positions set in this application correspond to the highest and lowest points of the travel of the inverted cylinder 12, respectively. When the inverted cylinder 12 is in the first stopping position, the electric push rod 14 uses the arc-shaped lifting plate 15 to lift the agitator 11 to the top, so that it can fall completely within the range of the inverted cylinder 12. During cleaning, it is easy to shake off the solvent and solid impurities attached to the agitator 11 and drip them quickly from the inner wall of the inverted cylinder 12, making it less likely to stick to the wall. When discharging materials and cleaning the inner wall of the vessel 1, the output shaft of the electric push rod 14 is locked to the inverted cylinder 12 by the linkage locking mechanism 17. At this time, when the stirring component 11 is pushed up and down, the inverted cylinder 12 rises and falls synchronously. Since the inverted cylinder 12 is attached to the external connection structure and rubber is installed, it forms a piston-like functional component. When the material is discharged under the traction of the output end of the electric push rod 14, it is pushed down like a syringe pumping air. The pressure of the mixture in the vessel 1 increases and is quickly discharged from the bottom filter layer 19, improving the discharge efficiency, reducing material residue, and facilitating subsequent use. When the output end of the electric push rod 14 pulls the inverted cylinder 12 upward, it cooperates with the bottom valve seat 28 for sealing and the upward-pushing fluid to perform negative pressure backwashing, which can clean the residue in the filter holes of the filter layer 19.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, an output channel 18 extends through the axis of the grinding workpiece 4, and a filter layer 19 is movably installed at the top of the output channel 18. At least two U-shaped slots 20 are formed inside the output channel 18. Each U-shaped slot 20 has a sliding rod 21 that slides against the inner wall of the slot 20, and a linear spring 22 is sleeved on the outside of the sliding rod 21. The filter layer 19 is detachably connected to the top of the sliding rod 21 by screws. A sealing gasket is provided at the bottom of the filter layer 19 at the corresponding position of the output channel 18, and the sealing gasket on the surface of the filter layer 19 adheres to the top of the output channel 18 when not subjected to external force. Specifically, during installation, the upper surface of the filter layer 19 is lower than the massage area surface of the grinding disc 3, leaving a certain gap between the filter layer 19 and the bottom wall of the grinding workpiece 4. Because the grinding part 4 and the grinding disc 3 are eccentrically set, the weight of the grinding part 4 is supported by the grinding grooves on the grinding disc 3, which does not affect the lifting of the filter layer 19. In addition, the grinding part 4 can automatically push away the ground material and introduce new material during the swinging process, thus improving the processing efficiency.

[0051] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, a liquid storage tank 23 is installed on the outer wall of the lower cover plate 102, and the liquid storage tank 23 is located directly below the grinding disc 3 and coaxially distributed with the output channel 18. The liquid storage tank 23 is configured as a funnel shape, and the bottom end of the liquid storage tank 23 is connected to a discharge pipe 24 through a right-angle bend 26. The discharge pipe 24 is equipped with a ball valve 25. A hydraulic cylinder 27 is fixedly connected at the bottom of the right-angle bend 26 and at the axial position corresponding to the output channel 18. A hydraulic mechanism powering the hydraulic cylinder 27 is also provided. A frustum-shaped valve seat 28 is connected to the output end of the hydraulic cylinder 27. The valve seat 28 is fitted and slidably connected to the inside of the output channel 18. An elastic compression block 29 is installed at the axial position of the top of the valve seat 28, and an overflow weir groove 30 is formed on the inner wall of the output channel 18. When the output end of the hydraulic cylinder 27 pushes the valve seat 28 into the output channel 18, the elastic compression block 29 fully lifts the filter layer 19, separating the filter layer 19 from the output channel 18. A discharge channel is formed at its outer edge. At this time, the bottom end of the valve seat 28 corresponds exactly to the overflow weir groove 30, facilitating the concentrated discharge of internal residual materials and achieving the purpose of cleaning the inside of the vessel body 1 without disassembly.

[0052] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the agitator 11 is composed of a sleeve 111 and three torsion blades 112. The three torsion blades 112 of the same set of agitators 11 are arranged in a ring array on the outside of the sleeve 111. A protrusion that cooperates with the longitudinal sliding groove 10 on the support rod 9 is fixed on the inside of the sleeve 111, and the limiting ring 16 is coaxially distributed with the sleeve 111.

[0053] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the number of turns of the outer spiral of the torsion blade 112 of the sleeve 111 is 0.3-0.5, and the inner wall height of the inverted cylinder 12 is...h The combined length of the sleeve 111 and the limiting ring 16 is s The length of support rod 9 is l ,but h>l>s .

[0054] like Figure 15 As shown, the ultrasonic extraction equipment also includes a liquid level sensor 35 and a microcontroller 36. The liquid level sensor 35 is used to sense the liquid level height of the material inside the vessel 1. In actual layout, the liquid level sensor 35 is installed in a position that does not affect operation, such as on the vibrating box 2. The microcontroller 36 has an A / D converter and a D / A converter at its input and output terminals, respectively. The liquid level sensor 35 is electrically connected to the A / D converter. The microcontroller 36 also has a timer 37 and a controller 38 at its connection terminals. The controller 38 is used to control the operation of the ultrasonic generator and can also automatically operate according to the time setting, in conjunction with the timer 37. The drive motor 7, electric push rod 14, air pump 171, and hydraulic mechanism are all electrically connected to the D / A converter. In operation, the liquid level sensor 35 senses and feeds back the liquid level information to determine the liquid level position and depth. The microcontroller 36 then actively controls the extension and retraction of the output end of the electric push rod 14. Through the cooperation of the arc-shaped pick plate 15 and the limiting ring 16, the top of the agitator 11 is always positioned above the liquid surface. This allows floating substances to be transported downwards for grinding. The multiple agitators 11 create a vortex below the liquid surface, causing material at the bottom to rise. Combined with the ultrasonic generator, this improves the crushing effect, resulting in more thorough caffeine separation. When the liquid level is too low or cleaning is required, the output end of the electric push rod 14 is moved upwards to the top, corresponding to the inside of the inverted cylinder 12 at the first stopping position. At this time, the agitator 11 is completely above the liquid surface. Controlling the efficient rotation of the agitator 11 helps to shake off solvent and impurities adhering to its outer surface. Further control of the air pump 171 allows the agitator 11 and the inverted cylinder 12 to switch from a decoupled state to an coupled state. By further controlling the extension of the output end of the electric push rod 14, the surfaces of the vessel body 1 and the vibration box 2 can be automatically cleaned, which improves the intelligence and automation of the equipment.

[0055] The circuits and controls involved in this invention are all existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0056] The process of extracting caffeine from tea leaves (Liubao tea is used in this embodiment) using this equipment is as follows: Tea leaves that have been soaked and washed in warm water (to improve extraction efficiency, the tea leaves can be pre-cut into small pieces) are mixed with an appropriate amount of solvent and poured into the vessel body 1 through the feeding pipe 32. Figure 12As shown, at this time, valve seat 28 completely blocks the output channel 18, and sealing plate 33 is covered, so that the mixture of tea and solvent is in a closed environment. The ultrasonic generator is started, and the high-frequency sound waves generated can crush large particles in the mixture, destroy the cell walls of tea leaves, and make it easier for caffeine to be released from tea leaves and dissolve in solvent.

[0057] First, control the inverted cylinder 12 and the agitator 11 to be in a disengaged state. Then, start multiple sets of drive motors 7, which drive multiple C-shaped pull frames 8 to rotate around the center line of the output shaft of the corresponding drive motor 7. The support rod 9, which is coaxial with it, rotates synchronously, driving the agitator 11, which is sleeved on the outside, to rotate. At the same time, multiple C-shaped pull frames 8 move and pull multiple follower plates 6, so that the annular support plate 5 carries the grinding piece 4 to rotate and form a grinding action with the grinding disc 3, further mechanically crushing the settled tea leaves. With the drive of the electric push rod 14, the agitator 11 can move along the direction of the support rod 9 under the limit of the longitudinal sliding groove 10. Figure 4 As shown, the blade design of the agitator 11 and its rotational motion can convey the tea leaves floating on or above the liquid surface downwards, while simultaneously turning the material at the bottom upwards for homogenization. Furthermore, when the grinding element 4 is working on the grinding disc 3, it can further push the tea leaves, prevent material accumulation, prevent repeated grinding of the same batch of tea leaves, and enable the tea leaves to be evenly dispersed, facilitating full decomposition by high-frequency sound waves.

[0058] After processing, open ball valve 25 to unblock discharge pipe 24, control the hydraulic mechanism to retract the output end of hydraulic cylinder 27 and drive valve seat 28 downward, as follows. Figure 13 As shown, the opening and closing of the output channel 18 and the size of the opening can be adjusted to achieve the regulation and control of the fluid flow rate and velocity. Under the filtration of the filter layer 19, the solvent containing caffeine is discharged first, and the remaining substances can be further ground and crushed (solvent can be added during this process).

[0059] When cleaning the inside of the equipment is required, the output end of the electric push rod 14 is moved upward to the top, corresponding to the inside of the inverted cylinder 12 at the first stop position. At this time, the agitator 11 is completely above the liquid surface. Controlling the agitator 11 to rotate efficiently can shake off the solvent and impurities attached to its outside. Further controlling the air pump 171 to work can realize the transition from the disengaged state to the linked state between the agitator 11 and the inverted cylinder 12. Further controlling the output end of the electric push rod 14 to extend and press down the locking structure between the agitator 11 and the inverted cylinder 12, pushing down like a syringe pump through a piston-like action, the pressure of the mixture in the vessel 1 increases, and the residual solvent can further precipitate and seep down from the filter layer 19, improving the discharge efficiency and effective extraction rate. At the same time, it can scrape and clean the surface of the vessel 1 and the vibrating box 2, such as... Figure 5As shown, after reaching the second stop position, the output end of the electric push rod 14 pulls the inverted cylinder 12 upward, which is sealed with the valve seat 28 at the bottom, and pushes the fluid in the output channel 18 upward to perform negative pressure backflushing, which can clean the residue in the filter pores of the filter layer 19, reduce the residue of the material, and facilitate subsequent use; thus realizing the automatic cleaning of the equipment.

[0060] During the cleaning process, it can be rinsed with clean water, and the bottom output port can be used in conjunction with the operation. At the output end of the hydraulic cylinder 27, the valve seat 28 is pushed into the output channel 18, and the elastic compression block 29 fully lifts the filter layer 19, causing the filter layer 19 to separate from the output channel 18, forming a discharge channel at its outer edge. Figure 14 As shown, at this time, the bottom of the valve seat 28 corresponds exactly to the position of the overflow weir 30, and the residual slag inside the vessel can be discharged in a concentrated manner, achieving the purpose of cleaning the inside of the vessel 1 without disassembly.

[0061] The solvent containing dissolved caffeine is collected, and tea residue is removed by filtration. The filtrate is further processed, such as by liquid-liquid extraction and rotary evaporation under reduced pressure, to remove impurities and concentrate the caffeine. Finally, caffeine crystals are obtained through sublimation.

[0062] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. For those skilled in the art, various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and these variations still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea, comprising a vessel body (1) and a vibrating box (2) suspended at the inner axis of the vessel body (1), wherein the vibrating box (2) is provided with a plurality of uniformly distributed ultrasonic generators, characterized in that: A grinding disc (3) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the inner side of the vessel body (1), and a grinding element (4) is movably arranged above the grinding disc (3) at a position offset from the axis. An annular support plate (5) is slidably sleeved on the outer side of the grinding element (4), and three follower plates (6) arranged in an annular array are provided on the outer side of the annular support plate (5). Three drive motors (7) arranged in an annular array are fixedly connected to the bottom of the vessel body (1), and the output shaft of each drive motor (7) extends to the inner side of the vessel body (1) and is connected to a C-shaped pull frame (8). A support rod (9) coaxial with the output shaft of the drive motor (7) is installed at the top of the C-shaped pull frame (8). A longitudinal sliding groove (10) is opened on the support rod (9), and an agitator (11) is slidably connected to the outer side of the support rod (9) through the longitudinal sliding groove (10). One end of the follower plate (6) is movably sleeved on the closed end of the C-shaped pull frame (8). The inner side of the vessel body (1) is provided with an inverted cylinder (12) with an opening at the bottom end. The top axis of the inverted cylinder (12) is provided with a through-hole (13) that matches the outer diameter of the vibration box (2). The outer wall of the inverted cylinder (12) is attached to the inner wall of the vessel body (1) and slides to fit, moving between the first stop position and the second stop position. The top of the vessel body (1) is fixedly connected to three electric push rods (14), and the output end of the electric push rods (14) passes through the vessel body (1) and the inverted cylinder (12) and is connected to an arc-shaped pick plate (15). The top of the agitator (11) is fixedly connected to a limiting ring (16), and the three arc-shaped pick plates (15) respectively fit into the concave part of the middle of the limiting ring (16) and slide in cooperation with the outer wall of the limiting ring (16). The top of the inverted cylinder (12) is equipped with a linkage locking mechanism (17) to switch the agitator (11) and the inverted cylinder (12) between the linkage state and the de-linkage state.

2. The ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea according to claim 1, characterized in that: The linkage locking mechanism (17) includes an air pump (171) and an airbag stopper (172). A storage sleeve (173) is installed on the outer side of the top of the through hole of the electric push rod (14) and the inverted cylinder (12). A rubber sleeve (174) is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the storage sleeve (173), and the rubber sleeve (174) is tightly fitted with the output shaft of the electric push rod (14). The airbag stopper (172) is bonded to the inner wall of the storage sleeve (173). The outer wall of the inverted cylinder (12) has a through hole (175). The air pump (171) is installed at the top of the outer wall of the inverted cylinder (12). The output end of the air pump (171) leads out three air pipes through the diverter pipe. The three air pipes pass through the through holes (175) of the three storage sleeves (173) and are connected to the airbag stop (172). The output shaft of the electric push rod (14) has an annular groove (176). In the linkage state, the airbag stop (172) is inflated and engages with the annular groove (176).

3. The ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea according to claim 2, characterized in that: The vessel body (1) includes a metal tank (101) and a lower cover plate (102), wherein the lower cover plate (102) is suspended by a support leg (103), the metal tank (101) is detachably installed on the top of the lower cover plate (102) by a flange and bolts, and a sealing packing is embedded between the metal tank (101) and the lower cover plate (102). The top of the metal tank (101) and the cross-sectional shape of the lower cover plate (102) are both set as arched. When the inverted cylinder (12) is in the first docking position, a sealed cavity (104) is formed between the top of the inverted cylinder (12) and the inner top wall of the metal tank (101). The grinding disc (3) is located at the inner axis of the lower cover plate (102), and when the inverted cylinder (12) is in the second docking position, the bottom of the inverted cylinder (12) is in contact with the edge of the lower cover plate (102).

4. The ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea according to claim 3, characterized in that: The grinding part (4) has an output channel (18) running through its shaft, and a filter layer (19) is movably provided at the top of the output channel (18). The output channel (18) has at least two U-shaped slots (20) inside. Each U-shaped slot (20) has a slide rod (21) that slides in cooperation with the inner wall of the U-shaped slot (20), and a linear spring (22) is sleeved on the outside of the slide rod (21). The filter layer (19) is detachably connected to the top of the slide rod (21) by screws. A sealing gasket is provided at the bottom of the filter layer (19) and at the corresponding position of the output channel (18). When the filter layer (19) is not subjected to external force, the sealing gasket on the surface of the filter layer (19) is in contact with the top of the output channel (18).

5. The ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea according to claim 3, characterized in that: The lower cover plate (102) is equipped with a liquid storage tank (23) on its outer wall. The liquid storage tank (23) is located directly below the grinding disc (3) and is coaxially distributed with the output channel (18). The liquid storage tank (23) is funnel-shaped, and the bottom end of the liquid storage tank (23) is connected to a discharge pipe (24) through a right-angle bend (26). The discharge pipe (24) is equipped with a ball valve (25). A hydraulic cylinder (27) is fixedly connected at the bottom of the right-angle bend (26) and at the axial position corresponding to the output channel (18), and is equipped with a hydraulic mechanism for powering the hydraulic cylinder (27). The output end of the hydraulic cylinder (27) is connected to a valve seat (28) in the shape of a frustum. The valve seat (28) is attached to and slidably connected to the inside of the output channel (18). An elastic compression block (29) is installed at the axial position of the top of the valve seat (28), and an overflow weir groove (30) is opened on the inner wall of the output channel (18).

6. The ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea according to claim 1, characterized in that: The agitator (11) consists of a sleeve (111) and three twisting blades (112). The three twisting blades (112) of the same set of agitators (11) are arranged in a ring array on the outside of the sleeve (111). The sleeve (111) has a protrusion fixed on the inside that cooperates with the longitudinal sliding groove (10) on the support rod (9), and the limiting ring (16) is coaxially distributed with the sleeve (111).

7. An ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea according to claim 6, characterized in that: The number of turns of the outer spiral of the twisted blade (112) of the sleeve (111) is 0.3-0.5, and the inner wall height of the inverted cylinder (12) is... h The combined length of the sleeve (111) and the limiting ring (16) is s The length of the support rod (9) is l ,but h>l>s .

8. The ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top side of the vessel body (1) is provided with a feed inlet (31), and the top of the inverted cylinder (12) is provided with a feeding pipe (32) that is coaxially distributed with the feed inlet (31). The top of the feeding pipe (32) is detachably equipped with a sealing plate (33). The outer wall of the feeding pipe (32) is in contact with the feed inlet (31) and slides with the inner wall of the feed inlet (31).

9. An ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea according to claim 1, characterized in that: Scraping rings (34) are installed at the bottom outer side of the inverted cylinder (12) and at the opening (13). The scraping rings (34) are made of rubber, and the inverted cylinder (12) is made of transparent plastic.

10. An ultrasonic extraction device for caffeine in tea according to claim 5, characterized in that: It also includes a liquid level sensor (35) and a microcontroller (36). The liquid level sensor (35) is used to sense the liquid level height of the material in the vessel (1). The input and output terminals of the microcontroller (36) are respectively equipped with an A / D converter and a D / A converter. The liquid level sensor (35) is electrically connected to the A / D converter. The connection terminal of the microcontroller (36) is also equipped with a timer (37) and a controller (38). The controller (38) is used to control the operation of the ultrasonic generator. The drive motor (7), electric push rod (14), air pump (171) and hydraulic mechanism are all electrically connected to the D / A converter.

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