Production process and device of clary sage granules

Abstract

The application discloses a production process and device of clary sage granules. The application comprises a rack, characterized in that the upper part of the rack is provided with a mixing cylinder, the mixing cylinder is provided with a feeding hopper, a partitioned liquid supply assembly, a stirring assembly and a water content detection assembly, a granulation channel is connected with a granulation cylinder, the granulation cylinder is provided with a granulation screen cylinder, and the production device further comprises a controller. Through the sequential switching of the first reversing valve and the second reversing valve, the first mixture formed by the extract and the soluble starch enters the boiling drying cylinder through the straight channel, the first dried material is returned to the mixing cylinder through the closed pulverizer, the soft material formed by the second water supply enters the granulation cylinder through the granulation channel, and the second drying is completed in the same boiling drying cylinder, the open transfer of the intermediate material is reduced, the extrusion roller and the hole cleaning roller are respectively arranged outside and inside the granulation screen cylinder, the soft material is pressed through the screen hole by the extrusion roller, the screen hole blocking probability is reduced, and the hole cleaning tooth and the extrusion roller are prevented from interfering with each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of traditional Chinese medicine preparation production technology, and in particular to a process and apparatus for producing Shenxiangcao granules. Background Technology

[0002] Shenxiangcao granules are mainly made from medicinal slices such as Shenxiangcao, Artemisia annua, and Arctium lappa through decoction, filtration, concentration, ingredient mixing, granulation, drying, sizing, and overall mixing. The water extracts of the above-mentioned Chinese medicinal slices contain polysaccharides, viscous substances, and other water-soluble components. The concentrated extract has high viscosity. When the extract is mixed with soluble starch, problems such as local clumping, extract adhering to the inner wall of the equipment, and inconsistent wetting of excipients are likely to occur.

[0003] In the secondary granulation process of sage granules, the extract is usually mixed with soluble starch and dried first. Then the dried mixture is transferred to a pulverizer for crushing. After that, it is put back into the mixing equipment, water is added to make a soft material, and then it is transferred to the granulation equipment and drying equipment. The multiple open transfers between different processes increase the risk of material loss, dust diffusion and cross-contamination.

[0004] In addition, purified water is usually added in a centralized manner, and the moisture content of different parts of the material is not easy to be consistent. This may cause some materials to be too wet and sticky, while some materials may be too dry and loose. Sticky soft materials are also prone to clogging the granulation screen when passing through the granulation screen, which reduces the discharge speed and causes differences in particle size and dryness. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a production process and device that can be adapted to the secondary granulation process of sage granules. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a process and apparatus for producing sage granules. The process establishes a primary drying and crushing return path and a secondary wet granulation output path through a first reversing valve and a second reversing valve. The process also controls the uniformity of moisture content of the soft material through zone detection and zone replenishment, and reduces the probability of clogging of the granulation screen holes through corresponding internal and external extrusion rollers and cleaning rollers.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A process and apparatus for producing sage granules, comprising a frame, a mixing cylinder on the upper part of the frame, and a feeding hopper, a zoned liquid supply assembly, a stirring assembly, and a moisture content detection assembly. The bottom of the mixing cylinder is connected to a first reversing valve via a discharge valve. The first reversing valve has a straight channel and a granulation channel. The granulation channel is connected to a granulation cylinder. A granulation sieve cylinder is provided inside the granulation cylinder. An extrusion roller is provided on the inner side of the granulation sieve cylinder. A cleaning roller that moves circumferentially synchronously with the extrusion roller is provided on the outer side of the granulation sieve cylinder. The outlet of the straight channel and the outlet of the granulation cylinder are both connected to the fluidized bed drying cylinder. The fluidized bed drying cylinder is equipped with an air distribution plate, and a hot air assembly is connected below the air distribution plate. The discharge end of the boiling dryer is selectively connected to the return pipe or the classifying screen through a second reversing valve, and the return pipe is connected to the feed hopper through a crusher. The large particle outlet of the grading screen is connected to a rapid granulator, and the outlet of the rapid granulator is connected to the feed end of the grading screen. The production device also includes a controller.

[0007] Preferably, the partitioned liquid supply assembly includes a liquid supply ring pipe arranged around the mixing cylinder, the liquid supply ring pipe is connected to a plurality of independent control valves, each of the independent control valves is connected to at least one atomizing nozzle extending into the mixing cylinder, and the water content detection assembly includes a plurality of water content detection probes arranged at intervals along the circumference of the mixing cylinder and flush with the inner wall of the mixing cylinder, the plurality of water content detection probes corresponding to the liquid supply areas corresponding to the plurality of atomizing nozzles respectively.

[0008] Preferably, the stirring assembly includes a stirring shaft, a stirring paddle, and a wall scraper. The outer side of the wall scraper is provided with a flexible scraper that elastically contacts the inner wall of the mixing cylinder. The first reversing valve is provided with a guide plate for selectively connecting a straight channel or a granulation channel. The straight channel is provided with a pusher screw, and the inner wall of the straight channel is provided with an anti-sticking layer.

[0009] Preferably, both the extrusion roller and the cleaning roller are connected to an annular drive frame that rotates around the granulation screen cylinder. The cleaning roller is located behind the extrusion roller in the direction of movement, and the cleaning roller is spaced 15° to 45° from the extrusion roller along the circumference of the granulation screen cylinder. The cleaning roller is connected to the annular drive frame through an elastic floating bracket. The outer circumference of the cleaning roller is provided with elastic cleaning teeth. The maximum outer diameter of the elastic cleaning teeth is smaller than the screen hole diameter of the granulation screen cylinder. The depth to which the elastic cleaning teeth enter the screen hole is 0.3 to 0.8 times the thickness of the granulation screen cylinder 10.

[0010] Preferably, the boiling drying cylinder has a side discharge port above the air distribution plate, and the second reversing valve is connected to the side discharge port. The second reversing valve has a return port and a screening port. After the first drying is completed, the return port is connected to the return pipe, and after the second drying is completed, the screening port is connected to the grading screen.

[0011] Preferably, the grading screen includes an upper No. 1 screen and a lower No. 5 screen arranged from top to bottom. The discharge end of the upper No. 1 screen is connected to the rapid granulator through a coarse particle return pipe. The rapid granulator is equipped with a 12-mesh granulator screen. A qualified particle outlet is provided between the upper No. 1 screen and the lower No. 5 screen. A fine powder collection outlet is provided below the lower No. 5 screen.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: 1. The present invention allows the first mixture formed by the extract and soluble starch to enter the boiling drying cylinder through a straight channel by sequentially switching the first reversing valve and the second reversing valve. The material dried for the first time is returned to the mixing cylinder by the pulverizer in a closed manner. The soft material formed by the second water replenishment enters the granulation cylinder through the granulation channel and completes the secondary drying in the same boiling drying cylinder. This allows the two production stages to share the mixing and drying equipment, reducing the open transfer of intermediate materials.

[0013] 2. This invention adopts a cyclic control method of "deceleration detection - zoned pulse replenishment - restoration of stirring and homogenization - re-detection" to avoid misalignment between the detection area and the replenishment area caused by continuous material movement. At the same time, it combines the output torque of the stirring motor to judge the soft material formation state, so that the amount and position of purified water added have detectable control basis.

[0014] 3. In this invention, a squeezing roller and a cleaning roller are respectively set inside and outside the granulation screen cylinder. The squeezing roller presses the soft material through the screen holes, and the cleaning roller, located behind it in the direction of movement, enters the corresponding screen hole to loosen the residual material. The elastic floating bracket limits the entry depth of the cleaning teeth, which can reduce the probability of screen hole blockage and avoid interference between the cleaning teeth and the squeezing roller.

[0015] 4. The pusher screw in the straight channel can actively convey the viscous first mixture. Combined with the anti-sticking layer on the inner wall of the straight channel, it reduces the possibility of adhesion, bridging and blockage of the viscous material formed by the extract and soluble starch at the reversing position. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a process and apparatus for producing sage granules; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the connection structure of the mixing cylinder, the zoned liquid supply component, and the moisture content detection component in a process and apparatus for producing vanilla granules; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the first reversing valve in a process and apparatus for producing sage granules; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of a fluidized bed drying cylinder in a process and apparatus for producing vanilla granules. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the extrusion roller, granulation screen cylinder, and cleaning roller in a process and apparatus for producing sage granules. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of a grading screen and a rapid granulator in a process and apparatus for producing vanilla granules. Figure 7 This is a process flow diagram of a process and apparatus for producing sage granules.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Frame; 2. Mixing cylinder; 3. Feed hopper; 4. Zoned liquid supply assembly; 41. Liquid supply ring pipe; 42. Independent control valve; 43. Atomizing nozzle; 5. Stirring assembly; 51. Stirring shaft; 52. Stirring paddle; 53. Scraper frame; 6. Moisture content detection assembly; 61. Moisture content detection probe; 7. Discharge valve; 8. First reversing valve; 81. Straight channel; 82. Granulation channel; 83. Guide plate; 84. Push screw; 85. Anti-sticking layer; 9. Granulation cylinder; 91. Annular granulation chamber; 92. Annular drive frame; 10. Granulation screen cylinder; 11. Extrusion roller. ; 12. Cleaning roller; 121. Elastic floating support; 122. Elastic cleaning teeth; 13. Boiling drying cylinder; 131. Side discharge port; 14. Air distribution plate; 15. Hot air assembly; 16. Second reversing valve; 161. Return material interface; 162. Screening interface; 17. Return material pipe; 18. Crusher; 19. Grading screen; 191. Upper layer No. 1 screen; 192. Lower layer No. 5 screen; 193. Coarse particle return pipe; 194. Qualified particle outlet; 195. Fine powder collection outlet; 20. High-speed granulator; 201. Twelve-mesh granulator screen; 21. Controller. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0020] Example 1: Production Equipment Reference Figures 1 to 7 The herb granule production device includes a frame 1, a mixing cylinder 2 fixedly installed on the upper part of the frame 1, and a fluidized bed drying cylinder 13 installed below the mixing cylinder 2, so that the initial mixture and the wet granules obtained from the secondary granulation can be conveyed from top to bottom.

[0021] The top of the mixing cylinder 2 is equipped with a feed hopper 3, which is used to feed soluble starch, fine powder obtained after the first drying, and other solid materials. The mixing cylinder 2 is also equipped with an extract feeding port. The inner diameter of the extract feeding port is larger than the liquid outlet diameter of the atomizing nozzle 43, so that the high viscosity extract enters the mixing cylinder 2 through an independent feeding path, avoiding the extract clogging the atomizing nozzle 43.

[0022] The zoned liquid supply assembly 4 includes a liquid supply ring pipe 41 arranged around the upper part of the mixing cylinder 2. The liquid supply ring pipe 41 is connected to multiple independent control valves 42 in the circumferential direction. Each independent control valve 42 is connected to one or more atomizing nozzles 43. The multiple atomizing nozzles 43 are respectively oriented towards different circumferential areas inside the mixing cylinder 2.

[0023] The moisture content detection component 6 includes multiple moisture content detection probes 61. The moisture content detection probes 61 are near-infrared moisture content detection probes or microwave moisture content detection probes, and are flush with the inner wall of the mixing cylinder 2 to reduce the impact and adhesion of materials to the moisture content detection probes 61.

[0024] Multiple water content detection probes 61 are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the mixing cylinder 2 and can be staggered along the height direction. Each water content detection probe 61 corresponds to the liquid supply area of ​​at least one atomizing nozzle 43.

[0025] The controller 21 is electrically connected to multiple moisture content detection probes 61 and independent control valves 42. When performing liquid replenishment control, the controller 21 first slows down or stops the stirring assembly 5 to reduce the material movement speed. Then, it collects the detection values ​​of each moisture content detection probe 61 and opens the independent control valve 42 corresponding to the low moisture content area, so that the corresponding atomizing nozzle 43 performs pulse liquid replenishment.

[0026] After a single pulse replenishment is completed, the controller 21 closes the independent control valve 42 and resumes operation of the stirring assembly 5, causing the material to be agitated and homogenized again. After the set homogenization time, the controller 21 reduces the stirring speed again and collects the detection values ​​of each moisture content detection probe 61.

[0027] The above-mentioned detection, replenishment and homogenization processes are repeated until the maximum difference in moisture content between the detection areas enters the preset range of 0.5 to 2.0 percentage points, and the output torque of the stirring motor enters the soft material torque range determined by process verification.

[0028] The stirring assembly 5 includes a stirring shaft 51, a stirring paddle 52, and a wall scraper 53. The stirring shaft 51 is arranged along the axial direction of the mixing cylinder 2 and is driven by a stirring motor. The stirring motor is connected to the controller 21 through a frequency converter. The controller 21 can obtain the output torque of the stirring motor based on the current or torque calculation value fed back by the frequency converter.

[0029] The stirring paddles 52 are staggered along the axial and circumferential directions of the stirring shaft 51 to push the material to form axial tumbling and circumferential circulation. The wall scraper 53 is located outside the stirring paddles 52. The outer edge of the wall scraper 53 is provided with food-grade silicone rubber or polytetrafluoroethylene flexible scraper strips. The flexible scraper strips are in elastic contact with the inner wall of the mixing cylinder 2 and are used to scrape off the extract and soft material adhering to the inner wall of the mixing cylinder 2.

[0030] The bottom of the mixing cylinder 2 is connected to the first reversing valve 8 through the discharge valve 7. The first reversing valve 8 is provided with a straight channel 81, a granulation channel 82 and a guide plate 83. The guide plate 83 can rotate under the drive of the reversing actuator, so that the discharge valve 7 can selectively connect with the straight channel 81 or the granulation channel 82.

[0031] The straight channel 81 bypasses the granulation cylinder 9 and is directly connected to the boiling drying cylinder 13. The inner wall of the straight channel 81 is provided with an anti-sticking layer 85, which is made of polytetrafluoroethylene material or a food-grade coating with low surface energy.

[0032] A pusher screw 84 is rotatably installed inside the straight channel 81, and the pusher screw 84 is driven by a pusher motor located outside the first reversing valve 8. When the first mixture formed by the extract and soluble starch enters the straight channel 81, the pusher screw 84 actively pushes the first mixture to the fluidized bed drying cylinder 13, reducing the possibility of bridging of viscous materials inside the straight channel 81.

[0033] The granulation channel 82 is connected to the granulation cylinder 9. A cylindrical granulation sieve 10 is fixedly installed inside the granulation cylinder 9. The granulation sieve 10 uses a twelve-mesh sieve. An annular granulation collection chamber 91 is formed between the granulation sieve 10 and the granulation cylinder 9. The bottom of the annular granulation collection chamber 91 is connected to the boiling drying cylinder 13.

[0034] The extrusion roller 11 is located inside the granulation screen cylinder 10, and the cleaning roller 12 is located outside the granulation screen cylinder 10. Both the extrusion roller 11 and the cleaning roller 12 are connected to the annular drive frame 92, which is located at the upper end of the granulation screen cylinder 10 and is driven by a drive motor to rotate around the axis of the granulation screen cylinder 10.

[0035] The soft material enters the interior of the granulation screen cylinder 10 through the granulation channel 82. When the annular drive frame 92 rotates, the extrusion roller 11 rolls along the inner circumference of the granulation screen cylinder 10, pressing the soft material through the screen holes of the granulation screen cylinder 10. The wet particles squeezed out from the screen holes enter the annular collection chamber 91 and enter the boiling drying cylinder 13 from the bottom of the annular collection chamber 91.

[0036] The cleaning roller 12 is located behind the extrusion roller 11 in the direction of movement. The two are spaced 15° to 45° apart in the circumferential direction of the granulation screen cylinder 10. The cleaning roller 12 is connected to the annular drive frame 92 through the elastic floating bracket 121, so that the cleaning roller 12 can elastically retract in the radial direction of the granulation screen cylinder 10.

[0037] Multiple elastic cleaning teeth 122 are provided on the outer periphery of the cleaning roller 12. The elastic cleaning teeth 122 are made of food-grade silicone rubber material. The maximum outer diameter of the elastic cleaning teeth 122 is smaller than the sieve hole diameter of the granulation sieve cylinder 10, and the depth of their entry into the sieve hole is 0.3 to 0.8 times the thickness of the granulation sieve cylinder 10.

[0038] After the extrusion roller 11 passes through the corresponding sieve hole, the wet particles first leave the sieve hole and enter the annular collection chamber 91. Then the cleaning roller 12 passes through the sieve hole, and the elastic cleaning teeth 122 apply a reverse loosening action to the soft material remaining in the sieve hole. Since the cleaning roller 12 and the extrusion roller 11 are staggered in the circumferential direction, the elastic cleaning teeth 122 will not directly contact the extrusion roller 11.

[0039] A distribution plate 14 is provided inside the boiling drying cylinder 13. A hot air assembly 15 is connected below the distribution plate 14. The hot air assembly 15 includes a blower, an air filter unit, an air heating unit, a temperature detection unit, and an air inlet regulating valve. The filtered and heated air enters from below the distribution plate 14 and passes through the distribution plate 14, causing the material above the distribution plate 14 to form a fluidized state.

[0040] The upper part of the boiling drying cylinder 13 is provided with a trapping and filtering structure to trap the material powder rising with the airflow. The boiling drying cylinder 13 is provided with a side discharge port 131 above the air distribution plate 14 to prevent the dried material from passing through the air distribution plate 14 and being discharged.

[0041] The side discharge port 131 is connected to the second reversing valve 16. The second reversing valve 16 has a return port 161 and a screening port 162. The return port 161 is connected to the crusher 18 through the return pipe 17. The outlet of the crusher 18 is connected to the feed hopper 3 through the return pipe 17. A negative pressure conveying fan can be installed on the return pipe 17 so that the crushed fine powder is returned to the mixing drum 2 in a closed state.

[0042] The screening interface 162 is connected to the grading screen 19, and the first reversing valve 8, the second reversing valve 16, the hot air assembly 15, the crusher 18 and the negative pressure conveying fan are all electrically connected to the controller 21.

[0043] The grading sieve 19 includes an upper No. 1 sieve 191 and a lower No. 5 sieve 192 arranged from top to bottom. The No. 1 sieve and the No. 5 sieve are medicinal sieves.

[0044] Large particles that cannot pass through the upper No. 1 sieve 191 enter the high-speed granulator 20 through the coarse particle return pipe 193. The high-speed granulator 20 is equipped with a twelve-mesh granulator 201. After the high-speed granulator 20 granulates the large particles once, it re-transports the granulated particles to the feed end of the grading sieve 19.

[0045] Particles that pass through the upper No. 1 sieve 191 but not the lower No. 5 sieve 192 are discharged through the qualified particle outlet 194, while fine powder that passes through the lower No. 5 sieve 192 is discharged through the fine powder collection outlet 195 and measured separately.

[0046] The rapid granulator 20 is independent of the granulation cylinder 9, thereby avoiding the use of the extrusion roller 11 for processing wet soft materials to forcibly extrude large dry particles, thus improving the stability of the drying particle granulation process.

[0047] Example 2: Production process of sage granules This example illustrates a production batch of 12,000 bags, each weighing 5g.

[0048] 1. Ingredients Weigh out 36 kg of fragrant herbs, 36 kg of Artemisia annua, and 36 kg of burdock seeds. The total weight of the three types of herbs is 108 kg.

[0049] Weigh out 0.6 kg of citric acid and 0.6 kg of aspartame. Analyze the solid content of the extract, and calculate the amount of soluble starch to be added based on the target yield, extract mass, extract solid content, citric acid mass, and aspartame mass.

[0050] The amount of soluble starch to be added can be calculated using the following formula: Soluble starch mass = target yield - extract mass × extract solids content - citric acid mass - aspartame mass.

[0051] In actual production, the production process can be checked based on equipment residue, sampling volume, and production loss, but the formulation ratio of each raw material will not be changed.

[0052] 2. Decoction extraction Add the sliced ​​herbs of *Sedum aizoon*, *Artemisia annua*, and *Arctium lappa* to a multi-functional extraction tank. First, add eight times the total weight of the herbs in drinking water (864 kg of drinking water) and decoct for one hour. After decoction, pass the liquid through a 200-mesh sieve into a storage tank.

[0053] Add drinking water, six times the total weight of the medicinal herbs (648 kg), to the dregs after the first decoction, and decoct again for 1 hour. Filter the second decoction through a 200-mesh sieve and combine it with the first decoction.

[0054] 3. Reduced pressure concentration and paste formation The combined medicinal solution is fed into an external circulation concentrator for concentration under reduced pressure, with the concentration temperature controlled below 90°C. When the relative density of the concentrate approaches 1.20, it is fed into a paste-collecting concentrator.

[0055] Concentration continued under reduced pressure, with the concentration temperature maintained below 90℃. Concentration was stopped and the extract collected when the relative density of the concentrate reached 1.23–1.28 at 60–70℃. The extract yield was controlled at 25%–32% of the total mass of the medicinal slices.

[0056] 4. Pretreatment of auxiliary materials Dissolve 0.6 kg of citric acid in 0.6 kg of purified water, then add 0.6 kg of aspartame and the citric acid solution to the extract and stir until evenly dispersed.

[0057] Citric acid is pre-dissolved in purified water, which reduces the possibility of excessively high local concentrations when citric acid is added directly to the extract in solid form.

[0058] 5. Initial mixing and drying Soluble starch is fed into mixing drum 2 through hopper 3. With stirring assembly 5 in operation, pretreated extract is gradually added to mixing drum 2. Stirring paddle 52 agitates the soluble starch and extract, while scraper 53 simultaneously scrapes away material adhering to the inner wall of mixing drum 2.

[0059] After mixing for 10 minutes, the controller 21 controls the guide plate 83 of the first reversing valve 8 to move, so that the discharge valve 7 is connected to the straight channel 81. The discharge valve 7 is opened and the pusher screw 84 is started, so that the first mixture enters the boiling drying cylinder 13 through the straight channel 81.

[0060] The hot air assembly 15 inputs filtered hot air into the boiling dryer 13 to perform the initial drying of the first mixture. The initial drying temperature is determined based on the thermal stability of the components in the extract, and is preferably controlled below 80°C. The initial drying continues until the mixture no longer exhibits significant sticking and can be pulverized into fine powder by the grinder 18.

[0061] After the initial drying is completed, controller 21 connects the second reversing valve 16 to the return port 161. The dried mixture is discharged from the side outlet 131 and enters the pulverizer 18, which pulverizes the dried mixture into fine powder. The fine powder is then returned to the feed hopper 3 via the return pipe 17 under negative pressure conveying.

[0062] The initial drying, crushing, and recycling processes are all completed within a relatively closed path.

[0063] 6. Second mixing and zonal fluid replacement After the fine powder is returned to mixing drum 2, the stirring component 5 runs for 30 minutes to ensure that the fine powder is fully mixed.

[0064] After mixing is completed, the controller 21 reduces the operating speed of the stirring component 5 or temporarily stops the stirring component 5, and multiple moisture detection probes 61 detect the moisture content of the material in different areas of the mixing drum 2.

[0065] The controller 21 compares multiple moisture content detection values ​​and opens the independent control valve 42 corresponding to the low moisture content area. The corresponding atomizing nozzle 43 then pulses liquid into that area. After each pulse liquid replenishment, the independent control valve 42 closes, and the stirring assembly 5 resumes operation, ensuring that the replenished purified water is evenly dispersed as the material is agitated.

[0066] After the set homogenization time, the stirring component 5 slows down or stops again, and the moisture content detection probe 61 re-detects the moisture content of different areas. The above process is repeated until the maximum difference in moisture content between different areas reaches 0.5 to 2.0 percentage points, and the output torque of the stirring motor enters the preset soft material torque range.

[0067] The resulting soft material should be able to be clumped together when held in the hand, and crumble when lightly pressed or tapped.

[0068] 7. Wet granulation The controller 21 closes the straight channel 81 and connects the first reversing valve 8 to the granulation channel 82. After the discharge valve 7 is opened, the soft material enters the interior of the granulation screen cylinder 10 through the granulation channel 82.

[0069] The annular drive frame 92 drives the extrusion roller 11 and the cleaning roller 12 to move circumferentially along the granulation screen cylinder 10. The extrusion roller 11 first presses the soft material through the twelve-mesh sieve of the granulation screen cylinder 10 to form wet granules. The wet granules enter the annular collection chamber 91 between the granulation screen cylinder 10 and the granulation cylinder 9, and then enter the fluidized bed drying cylinder 13 from the annular collection chamber 91.

[0070] After the extrusion roller 11 passes, the cleaning roller 12 enters the corresponding area, and the elastic cleaning teeth 122 loosen the residual material in the screen holes. When the cleaning roller 12 encounters greater resistance, the elastic floating support 121 drives the cleaning roller 12 to retreat away from the granulation screen cylinder 10, so as to avoid the elastic cleaning teeth 122 being forcibly squeezed or broken.

[0071] 8. Secondary drying After the wet particles enter the boiling drying cylinder 13, the hot air assembly 15 inputs filtered and heated air below the air distribution plate 14, causing the wet particles to form a fluidized state above the air distribution plate 14.

[0072] The secondary drying temperature is controlled below 80℃. During the drying process, samples are taken periodically to test the moisture content of the particles until the moisture content of the particles does not exceed 3%.

[0073] After the secondary drying is completed, the controller 21 causes the second reversing valve 16 to close the return port 161 and open the screening port 162, so as to transport the dried particles to the grading screen 19.

[0074] 9. Screening, granulation and total mixing The dried granules first pass through the upper layer No. 1 sieve 191, and then through the lower layer No. 5 sieve 192.

[0075] Large particles that cannot pass through the upper No. 1 sieve 191 enter the high-speed granulator 20 through the coarse particle return pipe 193 and are granulated once through the 12-mesh granulator 201. The granulated particles are returned to the grading sieve 19 and do not undergo a second coarse particle granulation to avoid excessive pulverization of the particles.

[0076] Particles that pass through the upper No. 1 sieve 191 but not the lower No. 5 sieve 192 are discharged from the qualified particle outlet 194. Fine powder that passes through the lower No. 5 sieve 192 is discharged from the fine powder collection outlet 195 and is weighed separately from the large particles.

[0077] Place the qualified particles into the three-dimensional motion mixer and run the three-dimensional motion mixer at a drive frequency of 50Hz for a total of 15 minutes.

[0078] The mixed granules are packed into clean low-density polyethylene bags, the bags are sealed tightly, and then temporarily stored in stainless steel drums. The material balance of intermediate products is controlled at 98%–100%.

[0079] 10. Packaging The qualified senna granules are packaged in 5g bags, and the packaging material is polyethylene pharmaceutical composite film.

[0080] The packaging machine operates at a speed of 30–60 bags per minute, with a horizontal sealing temperature of 150–210℃ and a vertical sealing temperature of 150–190℃. The filling weight per bag is controlled at 4.725–5.275g, and 10 bags are randomly selected every 15 minutes during the packaging process for weight check.

[0081] The packaging bags should be heat-sealed tightly and flat, with no leakage or empty bags, and the batch number and expiration date information should be clear and complete.

[0082] Working principle In the initial mixing stage, the first reversing valve 8 opens the straight channel 81, and the pusher screw 84 actively feeds the first mixture formed by the extract and soluble starch into the boiling drying cylinder 13. After the initial drying is completed, the second reversing valve 16 opens the return port 161, so that the dried material is crushed by the pulverizer 18 and returned to the mixing cylinder 2, thus forming the initial drying return path of "mixing - straight drying - crushing - return".

[0083] After the fine powder is mixed again and purified water is added, the first reversing valve 8 closes the straight channel 81 and opens the granulation channel 82, allowing the soft material to enter the granulation cylinder 9. The extrusion roller 11 presses the soft material through the granulation sieve cylinder 10, and the cleaning roller 12 moves synchronously with the extrusion roller 11 to clean the sieve holes after the material has passed through. The resulting wet granules enter the fluidized bed drying cylinder 13 for secondary drying.

[0084] After the secondary drying is completed, the second reversing valve 16 opens the screening interface 162, allowing the particles to enter the grading screen 19. Large particles are granulated once by the high-speed granulator 20 and then screened again. Qualified particles are discharged from the qualified particle outlet 194, thus forming the second production path of "re-mixing - zoned liquid replenishment - wet granulation - secondary drying - screening and granulation".

[0085] The two production paths share the mixing cylinder 2 and the boiling drying cylinder 13, but the material flow direction is changed according to the production stage by the first reversing valve 8 and the second reversing valve 16, thus corresponding to the secondary granulation process of sage granules.

[0086] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Any equivalent substitutions or conventional adjustments made by those skilled in the art to the relevant structures, connection methods, or process parameters without departing from the concept of the present invention should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A process for producing sage granules, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Add equal amounts of angelica root, artemisia annua, and burdock seeds to water eight times the total weight of the medicinal materials and decoct for 1 hour. Add equal amounts of angelica root, artemisia annua, and burdock seeds to water six times the total weight of the medicinal materials and decoct for 1 hour. Filter the two decoctions through a 200-mesh sieve and combine them. S2. The combined medicinal solution is concentrated under reduced pressure at a temperature below 90°C until the relative density is close to 1.20, and then concentrated to a relative density of 1.23 to 1.28 to obtain the extract; S3. Add citric acid and aspartame to the extract, mix the extract with soluble starch for 10 minutes, and then send it to the boiling drying zone for the first drying through a straight path. Crush the dried material and return it to the mixing zone through a closed return path. S4. Mix the returned fine powder for 30 minutes, then perform zoned moisture content testing, add purified water to each zone, and homogenize the mixture until a soft material is formed. Pass the soft material through a 12-mesh sieve to form wet granules, and dry them at no more than 80°C until the moisture content does not exceed 3%. S5. The dried granules are sieved sequentially through the upper No. 1 sieve and the lower No. 5 sieve. Large granules are sieved once through a 12-mesh sieve and then sieved again. Particles that pass through the No. 1 sieve but cannot pass through the No. 5 sieve are collected and mixed together.

2. The process for producing sage granules according to claim 1, characterized in that, Based on the production of 1000g of *Sedum aizoon* granules, the following components are included: 600g of *Sedum aizoon*, 600g of *Artemisia annua*, 600g of burdock seed, 10g of citric acid, 10g of aspartame, and the soluble starch is supplemented according to the target production amount.

3. The process for producing sage granules according to claim 1, characterized in that: The yield of the extract is 25% to 32% of the total mass of the medicinal slices. The mass of soluble starch added is determined by subtracting the mass of dry matter, citric acid and aspartame in the extract from the target yield. The mass of dry matter in the extract is determined by multiplying the mass of the extract by the solid content of the extract.

4. The process for producing sage granules according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S4, after the fine powder is stirred, it enters a detection state of slowing down or stopping stirring, and the moisture content of different areas is detected. Pulse replenishment is performed on areas with moisture content lower than the preset moisture content range of the prepared soft material. Then stirring is resumed to homogenize and the detection is repeated until the maximum difference in moisture content of each area is 0.5 to 2.0 percentage points, and the output torque of the stirring motor enters the preset soft material torque range. In step S5, a three-dimensional motion mixer is used for total mixing. The driving frequency of the three-dimensional motion mixer is 50Hz, and the total mixing time is 15 minutes.

5. A sage granule production apparatus for implementing the production process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a frame (1), characterized in that, The upper part of the frame (1) is provided with a mixing cylinder (2), and the mixing cylinder (2) is provided with a feed hopper (3), a partitioned liquid supply assembly (4), a stirring assembly (5) and a water content detection assembly (6). The bottom of the mixing cylinder (2) is connected to the first reversing valve (8) through the discharge valve (7). The first reversing valve (8) is provided with a straight channel (81) and a granulation channel (82). The granulation channel (82) is connected to a granulation cylinder (9). A granulation sieve cylinder (10) is provided inside the granulation cylinder (9). An extrusion roller (11) is provided on the inner side of the granulation sieve cylinder (10). A cleaning roller (12) that moves circumferentially synchronously with the extrusion roller (11) is provided on the outer side of the granulation sieve cylinder (10). The outlet of the straight channel (81) and the outlet of the granulation cylinder (9) are both connected to the boiling drying cylinder (13). The boiling drying cylinder (13) is provided with an air distribution plate (14), and a hot air assembly (15) is connected below the air distribution plate (14). The discharge end of the boiling drying cylinder (13) is selectively connected to the return pipe (17) or the grading screen (19) through the second reversing valve (16), and the return pipe (17) is connected to the feed hopper (3) through the crusher (18). The large particle outlet of the grading screen (19) is connected to the rapid granulator (20), and the outlet of the rapid granulator (20) is connected to the feed end of the grading screen (19). The production device also includes a controller (21).

6. The apparatus for producing sage granules according to claim 5, characterized in that, The partitioned liquid supply assembly (4) includes a liquid supply ring pipe (41) arranged around the mixing cylinder (2), the liquid supply ring pipe (41) is connected to a plurality of independent control valves (42), each of the independent control valves (42) is connected to at least one atomizing nozzle (43) extending into the mixing cylinder (2), the water content detection assembly (6) includes a plurality of water content detection probes (61) arranged circumferentially along the mixing cylinder (2) and flush with the inner wall of the mixing cylinder (2), the plurality of water content detection probes (61) correspond to the liquid supply areas corresponding to the plurality of atomizing nozzles (43).

7. The apparatus for producing vanilla granules according to claim 5, characterized in that, The stirring assembly (5) includes a stirring shaft (51), a stirring paddle (52), and a wall scraper (53). The outer side of the wall scraper (53) is provided with a flexible scraper that elastically contacts the inner wall of the mixing cylinder (2). The first reversing valve (8) is provided with a guide plate (83) for selectively connecting the straight channel (81) or the granulation channel (82). The straight channel (81) is provided with a pusher screw (84), and the inner wall of the straight channel (81) is provided with an anti-sticking layer (85).

8. The apparatus for producing sage granules according to claim 5, characterized in that, The extrusion roller (11) and the cleaning roller (12) are both connected to an annular drive frame (92) that rotates around the granulation screen cylinder (10). The cleaning roller (12) is located behind the extrusion roller (11) in the direction of movement, and the cleaning roller (12) is located at a circumferential interval of 15° to 45° along the granulation screen cylinder (10) from the extrusion roller (11). The cleaning roller (12) is connected to the annular drive frame (92) through an elastic floating bracket (121). The outer periphery of the cleaning roller (12) is provided with elastic cleaning teeth (122). The maximum outer diameter of the elastic cleaning teeth (122) is smaller than the sieve hole diameter of the granulation screen cylinder (10). The depth to which the elastic cleaning teeth (122) enter the sieve hole is 0.3 to 0.8 times the thickness of the granulation screen cylinder (10).

9. The apparatus for producing sage granules according to claim 5, characterized in that, The boiling drying cylinder (13) has a side discharge port (131) above the air distribution plate (14). The second reversing valve (16) is connected to the side discharge port (131). The second reversing valve (16) has a return port (161) and a screening port (162). After the first drying is completed, the return port (161) is connected to the return pipe (17). After the second drying is completed, the screening port (162) is connected to the grading screen (19).

10. The apparatus for producing sage granules according to claim 5, characterized in that, The grading screen (19) includes an upper No. 1 screen (191) and a lower No. 5 screen (192) arranged from top to bottom. The upper No. 1 screen (191) is connected to the high-speed granulator (20) through a coarse particle return pipe (193). The high-speed granulator (20) is equipped with a twelve-mesh granulator screen (201). A qualified particle outlet (194) is provided between the upper No. 1 screen (191) and the lower No. 5 screen (192). A fine powder collection outlet (195) is provided below the lower No. 5 screen (192).

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