A tea leaf receiving hopper with buffering function for tea leaf dry-wet and color sorting machine
By using multi-layer flexible storage bags and airbag components in the receiving hopper of the tea dry and wet sorting color sorter, combined with adjustable baffles and deflectors, the impact problem when tea leaves fall is solved, achieving flexible buffering and impact-free unloading of tea leaves, thus improving the integrity of tea leaves and the continuity of production.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-05-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-24
AI Technical Summary
When tea leaves fall into the receiving hopper, the impact force generated by gravity causes the tea leaves to break, affecting the integrity of the tea.
Design a receiving hopper for a dry and wet tea sorting machine, comprising multi-layer flexible storage components and an adjustable baffle structure. Utilize flexible storage bags and airbag components to provide cushioning and prevent direct collision between tea leaves and the hard bottom of the box. Control the size and speed of the discharge port through drive components and deflection components to achieve flexible cushioning and impact-free unloading.
It effectively reduces the tea breakage rate, prevents tea from accumulating and being squeezed against the inner wall of the hopper, ensures the integrity of the tea and the continuity of production, reduces dust, achieves impact-free unloading and slow descent, and improves the quality of tea.
Smart Images
Figure CN122443746A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of receiving hopper technology, and in particular to a receiving hopper for a dry and wet tea color sorter with a buffering function. Background Technology
[0002] In the tea processing industry, color sorters are a type of equipment that automates the grading of materials based on optical properties. Tea dry and wet color sorters are suitable for sorting dry tea and wet tea (i.e., fresh tea leaves). Currently, a receiving hopper is usually used for centralized material collection during discharge. The bottom of the receiving hopper is generally equipped with two discharge ports, which are connected to the finished product receiving hopper and the waste product receiving hopper, respectively, to ensure that the good and bad materials after sorting do not mix during the discharge process, thus meeting the requirements of continuous production.
[0003] In tea processing production lines, a collection box is usually installed at the bottom of the receiving hopper to receive the tea material discharged from the receiving hopper. In actual operation, the tea leaves fall from the receiving hopper in a continuous flow and directly enter the collection box. Because the falling process of the tea leaves is continuous, the material will generate a certain impact due to the acceleration of gravity when falling into the collection box. In particular, the tea leaves falling into the collection box in the initial stage need to make direct hard contact with the bottom wall of the box, and the impact force is greater. This repeated hard collision can easily cause the tea leaves to break, thus affecting the integrity of the tea.
[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this application proposes a receiving hopper with a buffering function for a color sorter that can sort tea leaves both dry and wet. Summary of the Invention
[0005] This invention proposes a receiving hopper with a buffer function for color sorting of both dry and wet tea leaves. It solves the problem in related technologies where the material directly impacts the bottom of the receiving hopper when it receives falling tea leaves, resulting in a large impact force that causes the tea leaves to break and affects the integrity of the tea leaves.
[0006] The present invention proposes a receiving hopper for a color sorter that sorts tea leaves by both dry and wet materials and has a buffering function, comprising a receiving hopper body and a driving component;
[0007] The main body of the receiving hopper includes an upper hopper and a lower hopper. The bottom of the upper hopper is connected to a finished product hopper and a waste product hopper. The lower hopper is located below the finished product hopper. A flexible storage component is provided inside the lower hopper.
[0008] The bottom of the hopper is equipped with two baffles that support the flexible storage component. A discharge port for the flexible storage component to pass through is formed between the two baffles. The two baffles are driven to deflect by a drive component to change the size of the discharge port.
[0009] As a further optimization of the present invention, the flexible storage component includes multiple storage bags, which are sequentially arranged inside the hopper from the inside to the outside. The top and bottom of each storage bag are open, and an upper drawstring is threaded through the outer periphery of the top of the storage bag and a lower drawstring is threaded through the outer periphery of the bottom.
[0010] As a further optimization of the present invention, the driving component includes an electric push rod, and support legs are installed on both sides of the bottom of the hopper. One end of the baffle is rotatably connected to the hopper, and an electric push rod is hinged to each of the two support legs. The driving ends of the two electric push rods are respectively hinged to the bottom of the other end of the two baffles.
[0011] As a further optimization of the present invention, each of the two baffles is equipped with a downwardly inclined deflector at one of its adjacent ends, and the two deflectors have an inverted octagonal opening structure.
[0012] As a further optimization of the present invention, the deflecting component includes a rotating rod, a deflecting plate, and a torsion spring. A slot is opened at one adjacent end of the two baffles. A horizontally arranged rotating rod is rotatably installed in each of the two slots. A downwardly inclined deflecting plate is fixedly fitted on each of the two rotating rods. An inverted octagonal opening structure is formed between the two deflecting plates. A torsion spring is fitted at the end of the rotating rod, and the two ends of the torsion spring are respectively connected to the inner wall of the slot on the deflecting plate and the baffle.
[0013] As a further optimization of the present invention, a rubber layer is attached to the surface of the deflection plate.
[0014] As a further optimization of the present invention, the inner walls on both sides of the hopper are provided with airbag components that abut against the receiving bag.
[0015] As a further optimization of the present invention, the airbag component includes an airbag body and an air supply unit. Loading slots are provided on both inner walls of the hopper. An airbag body is connected to each of the two loading slots. The airbag body is adapted to the outer periphery of the receiving bag. A connector installed on the outer periphery of the hopper is connected to the airbag body through an air guide pipe. An air supply unit is detachably connected to the connector.
[0016] As a further optimization of the present invention, the air supply unit includes an air supply pipe and a plug. The plug is connected to one end of the air supply pipe and the plug and connector are plugged in and engaged. The other end of the air supply pipe is used to connect to an air pump.
[0017] As a further optimization of the present invention, an exhaust valve for venting is installed on the connector.
[0018] The above-described technical solution of the present invention has the following beneficial technical effects:
[0019] 1. By placing multi-layered containment bags inside the hopper, and using the innermost containment bag to directly receive the tea leaves, direct collision between the tea leaves and the hard bottom of the hopper is avoided, reducing the breakage rate of the tea leaves. At the same time, the outer containment bag acts as a buffer layer, preventing the tea leaves from being squeezed against the inner wall of the hopper after accumulation, further protecting the integrity of the tea leaves. In addition, after filling, the containment bags are automatically discharged by untying the top drawstring, achieving impact-free unloading. It also solves the problem of tea dust being stirred up when traditional tea leaves fall to the ground. Furthermore, the multi-layered structure ensures continuous production and tea quality.
[0020] 2. When the tea bag is full, and the outlet between the two baffles is insufficient for the bag to discharge, a driving mechanism can be used to deflect the two baffles downwards, thereby widening the outlet between them and facilitating the discharge of the full tea bag. Furthermore, to prevent the outermost tea leaves from impacting the baffles when the bag is discharged, this invention includes deflecting elements at adjacent ends of the two baffles. These deflecting elements have an inverted octagonal opening structure, allowing the tea-filled bag to fall and deflect the two deflecting elements in opposite directions. The elastic deflection on one side can effectively reduce the hard impact on the inner and outer layers of tea leaves in the container bag. In addition, the two deflection parts can effectively slow down the falling speed of the container bag, allowing it to fall slowly to the ground and reduce its impact upon landing. The above design, through the controllable opening and closing of the baffle and the elastic buffering of the deflection parts, ensures that the container bag filled with tea leaves can be discharged smoothly, while avoiding hard contact between the tea leaves and the deflection parts during the discharge process. At the same time, it achieves a slow descent of the container bag, further reducing the risk of tea leaf breakage during the falling process.
[0021] 3. As the multi-layered containment bags are removed one by one, a fixed amount of gas can be sequentially injected into the airbag body through the air supply unit in the airbag component. This ensures that the airbag body always maintains flexible contact with the containment bags and can adapt to the gradual reduction of the space occupied by the containment bags, ensuring that the tea leaves are always flexibly constrained during the collection process. After a batch of containment bags has collected all the tea leaves, the gas inside the airbag body can be discharged through the exhaust valve in the airbag component to start the cycle of collecting the next batch of tea leaves. The above design, through the adaptive inflation compensation mechanism of the airbag body, can still maintain flexible support for the outer containment bags after the inner containment bags are removed one by one, ensuring that each containment bag can complete the receiving of materials in a stable buffer environment. Attached Figure Description
[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a receiving hopper with a buffering function for color sorting of tea leaves that is both dry and wet, as proposed in this invention.
[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the hopper in this invention;
[0024] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the flexible storage component in this invention;
[0025] Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 2 Enlarged view of A in the middle;
[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the deflection element in this invention.
[0027] Reference numerals: 1. Receiving hopper body; 11. Feeding hopper; 111. Finished product hopper; 112. Waste hopper; 12. Discharging hopper; 121. Support leg; 122. Electric push rod; 2. Flexible storage component; 21. Container bag; 22. Upper drawstring; 23. Lower drawstring; 3. Baffle; 31. Deflector; 311. Rotating rod; 312. Deflector plate; 313. Torsion spring; 314. Rubber layer; 4. Airbag component; 41. Airbag body; 411. Air duct; 412. Connector; 413. Exhaust valve; 42. Air supply unit; 421. Air supply pipe; 422. Plug. Detailed Implementation
[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these descriptions are merely exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known structures and techniques are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concept of the invention.
[0029] Example 1
[0030] like Figure 1-5 As shown, the present invention proposes a receiving hopper for a dry and wet tea color sorter with a buffering function, comprising a receiving hopper body 1 and a driving component;
[0031] The main body of the receiving hopper 1 includes an upper hopper 11 and a lower hopper 12. The bottom of the upper hopper 11 is connected to the finished product hopper 111 and the waste hopper 112. The lower hopper 12 is located below the finished product hopper 111, and a flexible storage component 2 is provided inside the lower hopper 12.
[0032] The bottom of the hopper 12 is equipped with two baffles 3 that support the flexible storage component 2. A discharge port for the flexible storage component 2 to pass through is formed between the two baffles 3. The two baffles 3 are driven to deflect by a drive component to change the size of the discharge port.
[0033] The flexible storage component 2 includes multiple storage bags 21, which are sequentially arranged inside the hopper 12 from the inside out. Both the top and bottom of the storage bags 21 have openings. An upper drawstring rope 22 is threaded through the outer periphery of the top of the storage bag 21, and a lower drawstring rope 23 is threaded through the outer periphery of the bottom.
[0034] The flexible storage component 2 is placed inside the hopper 12. Since the flexible storage component 2 consists of multiple storage bags 21 arranged sequentially from the inside out, the innermost storage bag 21 can be pre-placed on the bottom of the finished product hopper 111, and then its upper drawstring 22 is tied to the outer perimeter of the finished product hopper 111 to secure the inner storage bag 21. Subsequently, the lower drawstring 23 at the bottom of the innermost storage bag 21 is tightened to seal its bottom. The upper drawstring 22 and lower drawstring 23 on the remaining storage bags 21 are also kept secure. When the tea leaves enter the feeding hopper 11, the finished product enters the finished product hopper 111. Waste material, under the action of the color sorter's blowing system, enters the waste hopper 112 and is then discharged. The finished product entering the finished product hopper 111 falls directly into the inner receiving bag 21. The design of the receiving bag 21 prevents the tea leaves from being subjected to hard impacts, and the outer receiving bag 21 prevents the inner wall of the feeding hopper 12 from squeezing the tea leaves as they gradually accumulate. The outer receiving bag 21 can... As a buffer layer, it provides flexible cushioning. When the inner tea-filled container bag 21 is full, its upper drawstring 22 can be untied from the finished product hopper 111. Under gravity, the inner tea-filled container bag 21 is discharged from the outlet between the two baffles 3 at the bottom of the discharge hopper 12. Then, the upper drawstring 22 on the tea-filled container bag 21 is tied back, and the cycle of receiving the next container bag 21 begins. The above design places the multi-layered container bags 21 in the discharge hopper 12 and utilizes... The innermost receiving bag 21 directly receives the tea leaves, avoiding direct collision between the tea leaves and the hard bottom of the box, thus reducing the breakage rate of the tea leaves. At the same time, the outer receiving bag 21 acts as a buffer layer, preventing the tea leaves from being squeezed against the inner wall of the hopper 12 after accumulation, further protecting the integrity of the tea leaves. In addition, after filling, the receiving bag 21 is automatically discharged by untying the upper drawstring 22, achieving impact-free unloading. It also solves the problem of tea dust being stirred up when traditional tea leaves fall to the ground. Moreover, the multi-layer structure is continuously replaced, ensuring production continuity and tea quality.
[0035] In this embodiment, the driving component includes an electric push rod 122. Support legs 121 are installed on both sides of the bottom of the hopper 12. One end of the baffle 3 is rotatably connected to the hopper 12. Electric push rods 122 are hinged on both support legs 121. The driving ends of the two electric push rods 122 are respectively hinged to the bottom of the other end of the two baffles 3.
[0036] When the tea-filled container bag 21 needs to be discharged, the electric push rods 122 hinged on the two support legs 121 retract synchronously, pulling the two baffles 3 to deflect downwards around their rotational connection point with the hopper 12, thereby widening the discharge port between the two baffles 3. After the container bag 21 is discharged, the two electric push rods 122 push the two baffles 3 to reset, thereby supporting the container bag 21.
[0037] Example 2
[0038] Based on Embodiment 1, in order to prevent the tea leaves located on the outermost side of the receiving bag 21 from impacting the baffle 3 when the receiving bag 21 is discharged from the outlet, this embodiment provides deflector 31 at one adjacent end of the two baffles 3, and the two deflector 31 have an inverted octagonal opening structure, as detailed below:
[0039] In this embodiment, each of the two baffles 3 has a downwardly inclined deflector 31 installed at one of its adjacent ends, and the two deflectors 31 have an inverted octagonal opening structure.
[0040] When the container bag 21 filled with tea leaves is discharged from the outlet, the outer periphery of the container bag 21 comes into contact with the two deflecting members 31, forcing the two deflecting members 31 to elastically deflect to the opposite side, and the inverted eight-shaped opening expands accordingly, allowing the container bag 21 to pass smoothly. During this process, the deflecting members 31 provide flexible guidance and cushioning for the container bag 21, effectively reducing the hard impact between the tea leaves and the baffle 3, while slowing down the falling speed of the container bag 21, allowing it to descend slowly.
[0041] In this embodiment, the deflection component 31 includes a rotating rod 311, a deflection plate 312, and a torsion spring 313. The two baffles 3 have slots at their adjacent ends. A horizontally arranged rotating rod 311 is rotatably installed in each of the two slots. A downwardly inclined deflection plate 312 is fixedly fitted on each of the two rotating rods 311. An inverted octagonal opening structure is formed between the two deflection plates 312. A torsion spring 313 is fitted at the end of the rotating rod 311, and the two ends of the torsion spring 313 are respectively connected to the inner wall of the slot on the deflection plate 312 and the baffle 3.
[0042] When the receiving bag 21 falls, it squeezes the deflection plate 312. The deflection plate 312 drives the rotating rod 311 to rotate. The torsion spring 313 deforms under force to generate elastic force, realizing the elastic deflection of the deflection plate 312. The elastic force of the torsion spring 313 can not only buffer the impact force of the falling receiving bag 21, but also drive the deflection plate 312 to automatically reset after the receiving bag 21 is discharged, restoring the inverted eight-opening structure, without affecting the next material receiving.
[0043] In this embodiment, a rubber layer 314 is attached to the surface of the deflection plate 312;
[0044] A rubber layer 314 covers the surface of the deflector plate 312. The flexible material further buffers the impact force of the contact between the container bag 21 and the deflector plate 312, preventing the tea leaves from colliding and breaking with the hard deflector plate 312. The rubber layer 314 can also prevent the deflector plate 312 from scratching the container bag 21, preventing the tea leaves from spilling and ensuring a clean and complete unloading process.
[0045] Example 3
[0046] Based on Embodiments 1 and 2, in order to ensure that each layer of receiving bag 21 can complete the receiving of materials in a stable buffer environment, an airbag component 4 is provided on the inner wall of the feeding hopper 12, as follows:
[0047] In this embodiment, airbag components 4 that abut against the receiving bag 21 are provided on both sides of the inner wall of the hopper 12. The airbag component 4 includes an airbag body 41 and an air supply part 42. Loading slots are provided on both sides of the inner wall of the hopper 12. An airbag body 41 is connected to each of the two loading slots. The airbag body 41 is adapted to the outer periphery of the receiving bag 21. A connector 412 installed on the outer periphery of the hopper 12 is connected to the airbag body 41 through an air guide pipe 411. The air supply part 42 is detachably connected to the connector 412.
[0048] As the multi-layered containment bags 21 are removed one by one, the space inside the hopper 12 gradually increases. At this time, the airbag body 41 in the airbag component 4 is filled with a fixed amount of gas and expands under the action of the air supply unit 42. The outer periphery of the airbag body 41 is adapted to the outer periphery of the containment bag 21 and forms a flexible contact, providing adaptive flexible support for the remaining containment bags 21. As the containment bags 21 are reduced layer by layer, the airbag body 41 continues to maintain the constraint on the containment bags 21, ensuring that each layer of containment bags 21 completes the receiving of materials in a buffer environment.
[0049] In this embodiment, the air supply unit 42 includes an air supply pipe 421 and a plug 422. The plug 422 is connected to one end of the air supply pipe 421 and is plugged into the connector 412. The other end of the air supply pipe 421 is used to connect to an air pump.
[0050] One end of the air supply pipe 421 is connected to an air pump to obtain an air source, and the other end is quickly connected to the connector 412 via a plug 422 to achieve air circuit connection. The gas generated by the air pump enters the airbag body 41 through the air supply pipe 421, plug 422, connector 412, and air guide pipe 411 to complete inflation.
[0051] In this embodiment, an exhaust valve 413 for venting is installed on the connector 412;
[0052] When a batch of tea leaves is collected and needs to be replaced, the operator opens the exhaust valve 413. The compressed gas in the airbag 41 is quickly discharged through the air pipe 411 and the connector 412, and the airbag 41 contracts. Then the next batch of tea leaves can be collected.
[0053] In a specific embodiment, the feeding hopper 11, the finished product hopper 111, and the waste hopper 112 are all made of elastic materials. When the tea leaves enter the feeding hopper 11, they can act as a buffer to reduce the impact on the tea leaves. Furthermore, after being buffered and slowed down by the elastic feeding hopper 11 and the elastic finished product hopper 111, the material falls into the receiving bag 21, further reducing the impact force and effectively protecting the integrity of the tea leaves.
[0054] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the embodiments are not limited to the specific implementation methods described above. The specific implementation methods described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of the embodiments described above, all of which are within the protection scope of the embodiments described above.
Claims
1. A receiving hopper for a dry and wet tea color sorter with a buffering function, characterized in that, Includes the receiving hopper body (1) and the driving component; The receiving hopper body (1) includes an upper hopper (11) and a lower hopper (12). The bottom of the upper hopper (11) is connected to a finished product hopper (111) and a waste hopper (112). The lower hopper (12) is located below the finished product hopper (111). A flexible storage component (2) is provided inside the lower hopper (12). The bottom of the hopper (12) is equipped with two baffles (3) that support the flexible storage component (2). A discharge port for the flexible storage component (2) is formed between the two baffles (3). The two baffles (3) are driven to deflect by a drive component to change the size of the discharge port.
2. A receiving hopper with a buffering function for a tea dry and wet sorting color sorter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible storage component (2) includes multiple storage bags (21), which are sequentially fitted and placed inside the hopper (12) from the inside to the outside. The top and bottom of each storage bag (21) are open. An upper drawstring (22) is threaded through the outer periphery of the top of each storage bag (21), and a lower drawstring (23) is threaded through the outer periphery of the bottom.
3. A receiving hopper with a buffering function for a tea dry and wet sorting color sorter according to claim 2, characterized in that, The driving component includes an electric push rod (122), and two support legs (121) are installed on both sides of the bottom of the hopper (12). One end of the baffle (3) is rotatably connected to the hopper (12), and an electric push rod (122) is hinged on each of the two support legs (121). The driving ends of the two electric push rods (122) are respectively hinged to the bottom of the other end of the two baffles (3).
4. A receiving hopper with a buffering function for a tea dry and wet sorting color sorter according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two baffles (3) are each equipped with a downwardly inclined deflector (31) at one of their adjacent ends. The two deflectors (31) have an inverted octagonal opening structure.
5. A receiving hopper with a buffering function for a tea dry and wet sorting color sorter according to claim 4, characterized in that, The deflecting component (31) includes a rotating rod (311), a deflecting plate (312), and a torsion spring (313). The two baffles (3) have slots at their adjacent ends. A horizontally arranged rotating rod (311) is rotatably installed in each of the two slots. A downwardly inclined deflecting plate (312) is fixedly fitted on each of the two rotating rods (311). An inverted octagonal opening structure is formed between the two deflecting plates (312). A torsion spring (313) is fitted at the end of the rotating rod (311), and the two ends of the torsion spring (313) are respectively connected to the inner wall of the slot on the deflecting plate (312) and the baffle (3).
6. A receiving hopper with a buffering function for a tea dry and wet sorting color sorter according to claim 5, characterized in that, The surface of the deflection plate (312) is connected to a rubber layer (314).
7. A receiving hopper with a buffering function for a tea dry and wet sorting color sorter according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both sides of the inner wall of the hopper (12) are provided with airbag components (4) that abut against the receiving bag (21).
8. A receiving hopper with a buffering function for a tea dry and wet sorting color sorter according to claim 7, characterized in that, The airbag component (4) includes an airbag body (41) and an air supply unit (42). Loading slots are provided on both sides of the inner wall of the hopper (12). An airbag body (41) is connected to each of the two loading slots. The airbag body (41) is adapted to the outer periphery of the receiving bag (21). A connector (412) installed on the outer periphery of the hopper (12) is connected to the airbag body (41) through an air guide pipe (411). An air supply unit (42) is detachably connected to the connector (412).
9. A receiving hopper with a buffering function for a tea dry and wet color sorting machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, The air supply unit (42) includes an air supply pipe (421) and a plug (422). The plug (422) is connected to one end of the air supply pipe (421), and the plug (422) is plugged into the connector (412). The other end of the air supply pipe (421) is used to connect to an air pump.
10. A receiving hopper with a buffering function for a tea dry and wet color sorting machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, An exhaust valve (413) for venting is installed on the connector (412).