Automatic slicing and grading device and method for fresh processing of cistanche

Abstract

The application discloses a fresh Cistanche processing automatic slicing and grading device and method, and relates to the field of traditional Chinese medicinal material processing. The device comprises an automatic slicing machine, a Cistanche adjusting structure and a Cistanche grading structure. The adjusting structure realizes single-piece separation through feeding of a stirring frame and a feeding baffle, and calibrates the slices in the grading tank to be in a vertical state. The grading structure moves the slices through a conveying belt, and guides the slices to be aligned with the sorting holes through a guide rod, and collects the slices from a first-level sorting hole, a second-level sorting hole and a discharge hole according to sizes. The method comprises the steps of slice conveying, stirring and guiding, single-piece separation, tank guiding and conveying belt grading. The application solves the problems of high cost, low efficiency, poor precision and easy blockage in the prior art, has the advantages of low cost, high efficiency, high precision and high stability, and can be widely applied to the field of fresh Cistanche processing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of traditional Chinese medicine processing, specifically to an automated slicing and grading device and method for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of fresh Cistanche processing, grading after slicing is a crucial step in ensuring product quality consistency and meeting the demands of different market specifications. However, existing fresh Cistanche slicing and grading technologies still face the following pressing technical challenges, making them difficult to adapt to the needs of large-scale, high-efficiency processing:

[0003] 1. In the existing technology, when using image recognition technology to achieve high-precision grading of Cistanche deserticola slices, although objective classification can be achieved by scanning the size, shape and other features of the slices, it requires the configuration of a high-resolution imaging module, an image processing server and a dedicated algorithm system, resulting in significantly high initial investment costs and subsequent maintenance costs. At the same time, image recognition technology has strict requirements on the light intensity of the processing environment and the cleanliness of the slice surface. However, after Cistanche deserticola is sliced ​​while fresh, a small amount of mucus or impurities are easily attached to the surface, which can easily lead to misjudgments in image recognition. An additional pre-processing process is required, which further increases the cost and complexity of industrial applications and makes it difficult to popularize in small and medium-sized processing enterprises.

[0004] 2. To control costs, some processing scenarios still rely on manual grading of Cistanche deserticola slices. Operators must judge the size, thickness, and other characteristics of the slices based on subjective experience and manually sort them. On the one hand, manual grading is extremely inefficient, with the average daily processing capacity per person usually less than 1 / 5 of that of mechanical grading equipment, which cannot meet the "short-term, large-scale" processing needs of the Cistanche deserticola harvest season. On the other hand, different operators have different judgment standards, and even the same operator is prone to fatigue and misjudgment after working for a long time, resulting in dimensional deviations in the slices after grading the same batch, making it difficult to guarantee the stability of product quality. In addition, the manual sorting process can easily cause squeezing and damage to the soft fresh slices, further reducing the product qualification rate.

[0005] 3. Existing mechanical grading methods for sliced ​​Cistanche deserticola mostly use general sieve grading equipment for granular materials, and their core drawback is:

[0006] Low precision in grading specifications: Fresh Cistanche deserticola slices are mostly irregular in shape (due to the different shapes of the raw materials, the slices are prone to fan-shaped, oval and other irregular structures). Traditional sieves can only screen the "maximum outer diameter" through a single aperture, and cannot simultaneously match the differences in the length, width and thickness of the slices. This results in some slices with similar size but different shapes being mistakenly classified into the same grade. The grading precision is far from meeting the market's requirement for "uniform size".

[0007] Large-scale operations are prone to clogging: When fresh Cistanche deserticola is sliced, the thickness is usually only 0.3-1.0cm. It is soft in texture and has a sticky surface. When using traditional vibrating screens for grading, the slices are prone to sticking together due to vibration and compression, or getting stuck at the edge of the screen aperture, forming a blockage. Frequent machine shutdowns are required for cleaning, which not only interrupts the processing flow but also easily causes damage to the slices. Especially in large-scale processing scenarios with a daily processing capacity of over 10 tons, the clogging problem is more frequent, and the stability of continuous equipment operation is extremely poor.

[0008] Application limitations: Existing screen-type mechanical grading equipment is mostly designed to sort "Cistanche deserticola particles formed by crushing slices". Its screen aperture and vibration parameters are optimized for granular materials, and its adaptability to whole fresh slices of Cistanche deserticola is insufficient. If it is used directly for grading whole slices, problems such as "poor sieving" or "over-crushing" are likely to occur, making it difficult to balance grading efficiency and slice integrity.

[0009] In summary, among the existing technologies for slicing and grading fresh Cistanche deserticola, the high-precision solution is too costly, the manual solution is inefficient, and the traditional mechanical solution has poor adaptability and is prone to clogging. None of the three can simultaneously meet the requirements of large-scale processing with "low cost, high efficiency, high precision, and high stability". There is an urgent need for an automated grading technology solution that can overcome the above technical bottlenecks. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Based on this, the purpose of this invention is to provide an automated slicing and grading device and method for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola, so as to solve the technical problems of "high cost of image recognition scheme, low efficiency of manual grading, and poor accuracy and easy clogging of traditional mechanical grading" in the existing fresh Cistanche deserticola slicing and grading technology, and to achieve the large-scale processing requirements of "low cost, high efficiency, high precision and high stability".

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an automated slicing and grading device and method for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola, the device comprising an automated slicer, a Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure, and a Cistanche deserticola grading structure, the three being sequentially connected via a material conveying path to form an automated production line of "slicing-posture adjustment-grading"; the method, based on the above device, achieves grading through steps of slice conveying, stirring and guiding, single-slice separation, material trough guiding, and conveyor belt grading.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, the "slicing" and "grading" processes are integrated into one design, eliminating the need for additional transfer procedures and significantly shortening the processing cycle. At the same time, by replacing manual labor and high-cost image recognition equipment with mechanical structures, the efficiency and accuracy of grading are improved while reducing equipment investment and maintenance costs.

[0013] Furthermore, a feeding rack is fixedly installed at the discharge port of the automated slicer. The feeding rack is inclined at 30°-45°, and its inner wall is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene. The inclined downward end of the feeding rack is connected to the upper end of the Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, a tilt angle of 30°-45° can be used to achieve stable transport of slices by gravity, avoiding the accumulation of slices during transport; the polytetrafluoroethylene coating can reduce the adhesion between the mucus on the surface of fresh Cistanche deserticola slices and the unloading rack, preventing slices from sticking together and ensuring smooth transport.

[0015] Furthermore, the Cistanche adjusting structure is composed of a Cistanche feeding rack, a Cistanche stirring rack, and a Cistanche grading rack assembled from top to bottom. The Cistanche stirring rack includes feeding blades and a rotating connecting plate. The feeding blades are arc-shaped and staggered from the feeding holes. The Cistanche grading rack is provided with an inclined feeding plate, a feeding baffle, and a grading trough. The feeding baffle and the inclined feeding plate form a gap that allows only a single piece of Cistanche to pass through. A sliding limiting baffle is provided on one side of the grading trough.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solutions, the arc-shaped feed blades can avoid scratching the soft fresh slices, and the staggered feed holes design can prevent slices from getting stuck in the holes; the single-slice spacing can forcibly separate stacked slices, ensuring that the slices entering the grading process are all single slices, avoiding misjudgment caused by multiple slices being stacked; the sliding limit baffle can adjust the width of the grading trough according to the slice thickness, preventing slices from being side by side, ensuring that the slices enter the grading structure in a single vertical row, and further improving the grading accuracy.

[0017] Furthermore, the drive chamber of the Cistanche grading frame is provided with a screw slide, a pusher frame and a connecting frame. The connecting frame passes through the inner wall of the Cistanche grading frame and is connected to the limiting baffle and the feeding baffle respectively.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the lead screw slide can synchronously drive the limit baffle and the feed baffle to move through the push frame and the connecting frame, so as to realize the synchronous adjustment of the "single piece interval" and the "grading trough width", which can adapt to slices of different thicknesses from 0.3-1.0cm. It can meet diverse processing needs without changing parts and improve the adaptability of the equipment.

[0019] Furthermore, the Cistanche grading structure includes a conveyor belt structure, a protective frame, and a receiving frame. An arc-shaped guide rod is provided on one side of the inner wall of the protective frame, and a primary sorting hole, a secondary sorting hole, and a discharge hole are provided at intervals on the other side. The receiving frame has an independent discharge chamber that corresponds one-to-one with the sorting hole and the discharge hole.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the arc-shaped guide rod can guide the vertically positioned slices to the sorting hole side, ensuring that the slice edge is aligned with the sorting hole and avoiding misclassification due to slice position deviation; sorting holes of different diameters can achieve three-level grading of "small-medium-large" specifications to meet different market demands; the independent discharge chamber can prevent the slices from mixing after grading and ensure product quality uniformity.

[0021] Furthermore, the conveyor belt surface of the conveyor belt structure is provided with anti-slip ridges, and the conveying speed can be adjusted within the range of 0.5-2m / min.

[0022] By adopting the above technical solutions, the anti-slip ridges can increase the friction between the conveyor belt and the slices, preventing the slices from sliding and shifting during the conveying process, and ensuring accurate grading position; the adjustable conveying speed can be flexibly adjusted according to the slice specifications and processing volume, avoiding the accumulation of slices in the protective frame or insufficient grading, and improving the stability of equipment operation.

[0023] Furthermore, a feeding ramp is fixed above the feeding baffle of the Cistanche deserticola adjusting structure, and the bottom end of the feeding ramp extends into the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack.

[0024] By adopting the above technical solution, stacked slices that do not pass through single-slice intervals can be guided back to the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack along the feeding slope, realizing secondary conveying and separation, avoiding slice waste, and improving raw material utilization.

[0025] Furthermore, the automated slicing and grading method for fresh Cistanche deserticola processing includes the following steps: S1: slice conveying pretreatment, S2: Cistanche deserticola stirring and guiding, S3: single slice separation and posture calibration, S4: grading trough guiding and conveyor belt conveying, S5: conveyor belt grading and receiving.

[0026] By adopting the above technical solution, the single-piece separation and attitude calibration in step S3 can ensure the uniformity of the slice shape, and the multi-level sorting hole grading in step S5 can accurately distinguish slices of different sizes. The entire process does not require manual intervention and can achieve continuous operation. The daily processing capacity can reach more than 15 tons, which is far higher than the efficiency of manual grading, and the grading deviation rate is ≤5%, which meets the dual requirements of efficiency and accuracy for large-scale processing.

[0027] In summary, the present invention has the following main beneficial effects:

[0028] 1. This invention significantly reduces processing costs by replacing high-cost solutions and inefficient manual labor with a mechanical structure, making it suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The core structure is a complementary combination of a Cistanche deserticola regulating structure and a Cistanche deserticola grading structure: In the Cistanche deserticola regulating structure, the Cistanche deserticola stirring rack (arc-shaped feeding blades + rotating connecting plate + drive power supply) and the Cistanche deserticola grading rack (sloping feeding plate + feeding baffle + single-piece interval) work together: the drive power supply drives the rotating connecting plate and feeding blades to continuously convey slices, and the "single-piece interval" formed by the inclined feeding plate and feeding baffle forces the slices to separate and stack, completing the pre-processing of single slices without manual sorting, replacing the labor cost of manual grading; In the Cistanche deserticola grading structure, the conveyor belt structure (anti-slip textured conveyor belt) + protective frame (arc-shaped guide rod + primary sorting hole + secondary sorting hole + discharge hole) + receiving rack (independent discharge chamber) are used. The curved guide rod guides the vertical slice to align with sorting holes of different diameters, achieving three-level classification of "small-medium-large". It eliminates the need for a high-resolution imaging module and a dedicated algorithm, replacing image recognition solutions. The initial investment cost of the equipment is reduced by more than 60%, and there are no subsequent algorithm maintenance costs.

[0029] 2. This invention achieves large-scale continuous operation through a seamless end-to-end structural connection, significantly improving processing efficiency. The core structure is a closed-loop connection of "automatic slicing machine - Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure - Cistanche deserticola grading structure": The automated slicing machine (feeding rack) and the Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure (Cistanche deserticola feeding rack) are connected: The feeding rack (30°-45° inclination + PTFE coating) ensures that the slices are smoothly transported to the adjustment structure without accumulation or jamming, achieving a seamless transition between the "slicing-adjustment" stages; The Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure (grading trough + feeding ramp) and the Cistanche deserticola grading structure (conveyor belt) are connected... The grading trough (with a bottom slope and a limiting baffle) guides the vertically arranged slices to fall precisely into the conveyor belt. Slices that do not pass through the single-slice intervals are guided back to the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack along the feeding slope and then conveyed a second time by the feeding blades, forming a closed loop of "conveyor-separation-guide back-conveyor" to avoid raw material waste. The entire process requires no manual transfer or machine shutdown for cleaning, and the daily processing capacity can reach more than 15 tons, which is 5 times more efficient than manual grading.

[0030] 3. This invention significantly improves grading accuracy and avoids misjudgment by combining "horizontal to vertical" posture control with a precise sorting structure. The core structure consists of "posture calibration of the Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure and alignment and sorting of the Cistanche deserticola grading structure": The Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure (sloping feed plate + feed baffle + limiting baffle + screw slide) works as follows: The sloping feed plate and feed baffle form an interval that allows only one slice to pass through, forcibly separating and stacking the slices; The screw slide, through the push frame and connecting frame, drives the limiting baffle to adjust the width of the grading trough, preventing the slices from side by side and ensuring that the slices naturally turn into a vertical state with "long sides and narrow top and bottom" along the sloping surface of the trough, achieving uniform posture; The Cistanche deserticola grading structure (arc-shaped guide rod + multi-specification sorting holes) The curved guide rod guides the vertical slices to the sorting hole side, ensuring that the "length on both sides" of the slice is precisely aligned with the primary sorting hole (3-5cm), the secondary sorting hole (5-8cm), and the discharge hole (≥8cm). The slice will only fall when its complete length matches the diameter of the sorting hole (e.g., a 5cm long slice will not fall from a 3cm diameter sorting hole). The grading deviation rate is ≤5%, solving the problem of "half-size misjudgment" in traditional horizontal sorting.

[0031] 4. This invention reduces equipment blockage and slice breakage rates through anti-adhesion and vibration-resistant structural design, ensuring continuous and stable operation. The core structure is composed of "anti-overlapping of the Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure and smooth conveying of the Cistanche deserticola grading structure": The Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure (single-piece interval + feeding slope) prevents multiple slices from overlapping and sticking at the source. Unpassable overlapping slices are guided back along the feeding slope, preventing accumulation at the intervals and eliminating blockage in the adjustment process; The Cistanche deserticola grading structure (anti-slip textured conveyor belt + smooth inner wall protective frame) increases friction with the slices on the conveyor belt surface, preventing slices from sliding and accumulating; the inner wall of the protective frame is made of smooth plastic material, reducing the frictional resistance of the slices and achieving grading without vibration, avoiding slice breakage caused by traditional screen vibration. The slice breakage rate is reduced from more than 10% in traditional mechanical sorting to less than 2%, and the equipment continuous operation failure rate is <3%.

[0032] 5. This invention, through its adjustable structure and multi-specification design, adapts to different thicknesses of slices and market demands, enhancing the equipment's versatility. The core structure is designed with "synchronous adjustment driven by a screw slide and multi-specification sorting holes": The Cistanche grading rack (screw slide + push frame + connecting frame + limit baffle + feed baffle) works as follows: The screw slide outputs driving force, which synchronously moves the limit baffle and feed baffle through the push frame and connecting frame, achieving synchronous adjustment of the "grading trough width" and "single slice interval." This allows for the adaptation of fresh Cistanche slices of different thicknesses (0.3-1.0cm) without requiring component replacement. The protective frame (multi-specification sorting holes) and the receiving rack (independent discharge chamber) work as follows: The primary sorting hole (3-5cm), secondary sorting hole (5-8cm), and discharge hole (≥8cm) form three grading specifications. The independent discharge chamber within the receiving rack corresponds one-to-one with the sorting holes, meeting the different market demands for slice size and improving equipment adaptability and product market coverage. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the Cistanche deserticola regulating structure and the Cistanche deserticola grading structure in this invention;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the Cistanche deserticola regulating structure and the Cistanche deserticola grading structure in this invention. Figure 1 ;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the Cistanche deserticola regulating structure and the Cistanche deserticola grading structure in this invention. Figure 2 ;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the Cistanche deserticola regulating structure and the Cistanche deserticola grading structure in this invention. Figure 3 ;

[0038] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the Cistanche deserticola grading frame in this invention. Figure 1 ;

[0039] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the Cistanche deserticola grading frame in this invention. Figure 2 ;

[0040] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the Cistanche deserticola grading frame in this invention. Figure 3 ;

[0041] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the Cistanche deserticola grading frame and the Cistanche deserticola grading structure in this invention;

[0042] Figure 10This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the graded structure of Cistanche deserticola in this invention.

[0043] In the diagram: 1. Automated slicer; 11. Feeding rack; 2. Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure; 21. Support frame; 22. Cistanche deserticola feeding rack; 23. Cistanche deserticola feeding rack; 24. Cistanche deserticola mixing rack; 241. Feeding blade; 242. Rotating connecting plate; 243. Feeding hole; 25. Drive power supply; 26. Drive mounting frame; 27. Cistanche deserticola grading rack; 28. Feeding and grading chamber; 281. Inclined feeding plate; 28 2. Feeding support frame; 283. Feeding baffle; 284. Discharge ramp; 285. Grading trough; 286. Limiting baffle; 29. ​​Drive chamber; 291. Screw slide; 292. Pushing frame; 293. Connecting frame; 3. Cistanche deserticola grading structure; 31. Conveyor belt structure; 32. Protective frame; 33. Guide rod; 34. Primary sorting hole; 35. Secondary sorting hole; 36. Discharge hole; 37. Receiving frame. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0045] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

[0046] Example 1

[0047] Reference Figures 1-10 The above describes an automated slicing and grading device for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola.

[0048] The device comprises an automated slicer 1, a Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure 2, and a Cistanche deserticola grading structure 3. These three components are sequentially connected via a material conveying path to form an automated production line of "slicing-posture adjustment-grading". The structure and connection relationship of each component are as follows:

[0049] Automated slicer 1

[0050] The automated slicer 1 is an existing mature fresh herb slicing equipment (such as the improved XCJ-800 model). Its core function is to slice fresh Cistanche deserticola into slices of a fixed thickness. The slice thickness can be adjusted within the range of 0.3-1.0 cm via the control panel. A feeding rack 11 is fixedly installed at the discharge port of the automated slicer 1. The feeding rack 11 is inclined at 30°-45° (to avoid slice accumulation). Its inclined downward end is connected to the upper feed port of the Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure 2. The sliced ​​Cistanche deserticola is smoothly transported into the Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure 2 by gravity. The inner wall of the feeding rack 11 is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (to reduce the stickiness of the slices and prevent them from sticking together).

[0051] Cistanche deserticola regulates structure 2

[0052] The Cistanche adjusting structure 2 is installed on one side of the automated slicer 1 and fixed to the ground or processing table by a support frame. Its core function is to receive sliced ​​Cistanche, adjust the slicing posture (from horizontal to vertical), and separate individual slices to avoid stacking and affecting grading accuracy. The Cistanche adjusting structure 2 is composed of a Cistanche feeding rack 22, a Cistanche stirring rack 24, and a Cistanche grading rack 27, which are assembled from top to bottom.

[0053] Cistanche deserticola storage rack 22

[0054] It has a cylindrical hollow structure, with the bottom fixed by a support frame 21, and a Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 23 welded to the outer side of the upper end; the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 23 is funnel-shaped, with its inlet connected to the outlet end of the unloading rack 11, and its outlet connected to the inside of the Cistanche deserticola dispensing rack 22, for guiding the slices conveyed by the unloading rack 11 into the dispensing rack.

[0055] Cistanche deserticola mixing rack 24

[0056] The inner center of the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 22 is rotatably mounted and coaxially arranged with the feeding rack. After assembly, they form a sealed circular chamber (to prevent slices from falling out). The Cistanche deserticola stirring rack 24 consists of feeding blades 241 and a rotating connecting plate 242. The rotating connecting plate 242 is a circular metal plate, with one side located inside the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 22 and the other side abutting against the outer wall of the feeding rack (sealed by a sealing ring), thus sealing the interior of the feeding rack. A feeding hole 243 is provided on the side of the rotating connecting plate 242 inside the feeding rack. The feeding hole 243 corresponds to the discharge port of the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 23, ensuring that slices can enter the chamber between the feeding rack and the stirring rack through the feeding hole 243. The feeding blades 241 are provided in groups of 4-6, all of which are arc-shaped metal pieces (to avoid scratching the slices). The slices are arranged in an evenly spaced circular pattern and fixed to one side of the rotating connecting plate 242 inside the feeding rack. The feeding blades 241 are completely offset from the feeding holes 243 (to prevent the slices from getting stuck). The height of the feeding blades 241 matches the inner diameter of the feeding rack. When rotating, they can move the slices in the chamber along the circumferential direction to a certain height and fall to the Cistanche grading rack 27 below by gravity. The outer wall of the Cistanche feeding rack 22 is fixed with a driving power supply 25 through a driving mounting bracket 26. The driving power supply 25 is a stepper motor (power 0.75kW, speed adjustable from 5-20r / min). Its output shaft is connected to the central shaft of the rotating connecting plate 242 through a coupling, which can drive the rotating connecting plate 242 and the feeding blades 241 to rotate synchronously, so as to achieve uniform feeding of the slices.

[0057] Cistanche grading rack 27

[0058] It has a cylindrical structure and is fixed to the bottom of the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 22. It is coaxially connected with the feeding rack and its interior is divided into a feeding and grading chamber 28 (upper part) and a driving chamber 29 (lower part) along the axial direction.

[0059] An inclined feed plate 281 is fixed inside the feeding and grading chamber 28. The inclined feed plate 281 is inclined at 45°, and a feed engagement frame 282 is welded to its top. The feed engagement frame 282 is an arc-shaped guide groove, corresponding one-to-one with 4-6 feed blades 241. It can receive the slices falling from the feed blades 241 and guide the slices to slide onto the inclined feed plate 281. A feed baffle 283 is also fixed inside the feeding and grading chamber 28. The feed baffle 283 is located above the inclined feed plate 281, and its bottom end is an inclined surface with the same angle as the inclined feed plate 281 (to ensure uniform spacing). A single slice interval is formed between the two (the interval size is 0.4-1.1cm, slightly larger than the slice thickness, allowing only a single slice to pass through). The upper end of the feed baffle 283 has an arc-shaped structure (to avoid slice accumulation), and the baffle... A feeding ramp 284 is fixed at the top; the bottom end of the feeding ramp 284 extends into the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 22, which can guide slices that have not passed through the single-piece interval in the stacked state back to the feeding rack to achieve secondary conveying; a grading trough 285 is opened at the center of the Cistanche deserticola grading rack 27. The grading trough 285 is a rectangular trough with the bottom end set at 30°. Its upper end is connected to the bottom end of the inclined feeding plate 281, which can receive single slices that slide down from the single-piece interval and guide the slices to slide down the ramp; a limiting baffle 286 is slidably set on one side of the grading trough 285. The limiting baffle 286 can move left and right along the width direction of the trough to adjust the width of the grading trough 285 (adjustment range 1-2cm) to adapt to slices of different thicknesses and prevent the slices from being arranged side by side in the trough (ensuring that the slices slide down in a single vertical row).

[0060] Inside the drive chamber 29, a lead screw slide 291 (stroke 50mm, positioning accuracy ±0.1mm) is fixed. A pusher frame 292 is fixed on the slider of the lead screw slide 291, and a connecting frame 293 is welded to the other end of the pusher frame 292. The connecting frame 293 is an L-shaped metal rod, the top of which passes through the inner wall of the Cistanche deserticola grading frame 27 and is fixedly connected to the limiting baffle 286 and the feeding baffle 283. When the lead screw slide 291 is running, the pushing frame 292 and the connecting frame 293 can drive the limiting baffle 286 and the feeding baffle 283 to move synchronously, so as to realize the synchronous adjustment of the single slice interval and the width of the material groove, which can adapt to slices of different thicknesses (e.g., when the slice thickness is 0.5cm, the single slice interval is adjusted to 0.6cm and the width of the material groove is adjusted to 1cm).

[0061] Cistanche deserticola grading structure 3

[0062] The Cistanche grading structure 3 is fixed to the outer wall of the Cistanche feeding rack 22 and communicates with the grading trough 285 of the Cistanche adjusting structure 2. Its core function is to drive the vertically positioned single slices to move and to grade them according to size. The Cistanche grading structure 3 consists of a conveyor belt structure 31, a protective frame 32, and a receiving rack 37.

[0063] The protective frame 32 is a rectangular hollow frame, fixed to the outer wall of the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 22. One end of it is connected to the bottom of the grading trough 285 (the slices can slide into the protective frame from the trough). The inner wall is made of smooth plastic material (to reduce friction).

[0064] The conveyor belt structure 31 is installed inside the protective frame 32. Its conveyor belt surface is provided with anti-slip ridges (to prevent the slices from sliding). The conveying speed can be adjusted within the range of 0.5-2m / min. The upper surface of the conveyor belt is flush with the bottom of the grading trough 285, which can receive the slices that slide down from the trough and drive the slices to move along the length of the protective frame 32.

[0065] A guide rod 33 is fixed on one side of the inner wall of the protective frame 32. The guide rod 33 is an arc-shaped protrusion located above the conveyor belt. It can guide the slices on the conveyor belt to deviate to the other side of the protective frame 32 (the sorting hole side) to ensure that the edge of the slice is aligned with the sorting hole and avoid misclassification.

[0066] On the other side of the inner wall of the protective frame 32, primary sorting holes 34 and secondary sorting holes 35 are provided at intervals along the direction of conveyor belt movement. The end of the protective frame 32 is provided with a discharge hole 36. The diameter of the primary sorting hole 34 is 3-5cm (suitable for small-sized slices), the diameter of the secondary sorting hole 35 is 5-8cm (suitable for medium-sized slices), and the diameter of the discharge hole 36 is ≥8cm (suitable for large-sized slices). The edges of each hole are rounded (to avoid scratching the slices).

[0067] The receiving rack 37 is fixed to the bottom outer wall of the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 22, located directly below the protective rack 32. It has three inlets at its upper end, which correspond to the primary sorting hole 34, the secondary sorting hole 35, and the discharge hole 36, respectively. The inside of the receiving rack 37 is divided into three independent feeding chambers by partitions, which are used to collect small, medium, and large-sized slices, respectively. The bottom of the feeding chamber is equipped with a drawer-type material box (for easy material retrieval).

[0068] In the actual processing of this embodiment, addressing the core defects of existing mechanical sorting methods (such as traditional horizontal sieve sorting) such as "high misjudgment rate in grading, susceptibility to the placement posture of slices, and poor adaptability," this invention achieves efficient and precise grading of fresh Cistanche deserticola slices through "posture control-precise sorting coordination between Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure 2 and Cistanche deserticola grading structure 3," using an innovative "horizontal to vertical" sorting posture. The specific advantages and structural coordination logic are as follows:

[0069] Existing mechanical sorting methods mostly adopt a horizontal conveying + screen screening mode. Since fresh Cistanche deserticola slices are mostly irregular ovals (due to the difference in the shape of the raw material), when placed horizontally, the length and width dimensions of the slices are randomly oriented towards the screen aperture. Once the slice moves to the screen aperture and exceeds half of its own size, it will fall off due to gravity, resulting in "misclassification of grading despite not meeting the size standard" (e.g., a slice with a length of 5cm and a width of 3cm, when placed horizontally with its width facing the 3cm aperture screen, is easy to fall out of the aperture and be mistakenly classified as a small-sized slice). At the same time, during the horizontal conveying process, the slices are prone to screen blockage due to disorderly placement (side by side, stacked), requiring frequent machine stops for cleaning, and the vibration of the screen can easily cause soft slices to break.

[0070] The present invention completely solves the above problems through the following structural combination:

[0071] The posture calibration of the Cistanche granules adjustment structure 2: The inclined feeding plate 281 and the feeding baffle 283 in the Cistanche granules grading frame 27 form an interval that allows only a single slice to pass through, forcibly separating the stacked horizontal slices; at the same time, the limiting baffle 286 on one side of the grading trough 285 (adjusted by the screw slide 291, push frame 292, and connecting frame 293 of the drive chamber 29) can adjust the width of the grading trough 285 according to the slice thickness, preventing the slices from being side by side, and ensuring that when the slices slide down the inclined surface at the bottom of the grading trough 285, they naturally turn into a vertical state that is "long on both sides and narrow at the top and bottom" - this process achieves the uniform posture of the slices from "horizontally messy" to "vertically single row" through the structural cooperation of "single slice interval to prevent stacking + limiting baffle 286 to prevent side by side", avoiding misjudgment of grading due to differences in placement position;

[0072] The precise sorting mechanism of the Cistanche grading structure 3: After the vertically positioned slices slide into the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt structure 31 within the protective frame 32, the arc-shaped guide rod 33 on the inner wall of the protective frame 32 guides the slices to one side of the sorting hole, ensuring that the "length on both sides" of the slices aligns with the sorting holes (first-level sorting hole 343-5cm, second-level sorting hole 355-8cm, discharge hole 36≥8cm); since the height of the slices is always less than its length in the vertical position, it will only fall out of the hole when the complete length of the slice is less than the diameter of the sorting hole (e.g., a slice with a length of 5cm and a width of 3cm, vertically...). When placed upright, the slices will not fall into the primary sorting hole 34 with a length of 3cm, as the complete length of 5cm is greater than the hole diameter of 3cm. They will continue to move to the secondary sorting hole 355-8cm and fall out of the hole, accurately classifying them as medium-sized slices. This completely avoids the problem of "misjudgment of half-sized slices falling out". At the same time, the anti-slip embossed surface of the conveyor belt structure 31 and the smooth inner wall of the protective frame 32 cooperate to ensure that the vertical slices are transported smoothly without accumulation or blockage, and can be classified without vibration, which greatly reduces the slice breakage rate (from more than 10% in traditional mechanical sorting to less than 2%).

[0073] Automated slicing and grading method for fresh Cistanche deserticola processing

[0074] The above-mentioned device is used to slice and grade fresh Cistanche deserticola, specifically including the following steps:

[0075] S1: Slice delivery pretreatment

[0076] Start the automated slicer 1 and adjust the slice thickness (e.g., 0.5cm) according to processing requirements; after removing the mud and sand from the fresh Cistanche deserticola, feed it into the feed inlet of the automated slicer 1. The slicer cuts the Cistanche deserticola to a fixed thickness. The cut slices of Cistanche deserticola are then smoothly conveyed to the Cistanche deserticola feed rack 23 of the Cistanche deserticola adjustment structure 2 under the action of gravity through the inclined feed rack 11.

[0077] S2: Cistanche deserticola mixing and feeding

[0078] Turn on the drive power supply 25 on the outside of the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 22 and set the speed to 10 r / min. The drive power supply 25 drives the rotating connecting plate 242 and the feeding blade 241 to rotate synchronously. The slices in the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 23 enter the chamber between the feeding rack and the mixing rack through the feeding hole 243. When the feeding blade 241 rotates, it drives the slices to move along the circumferential direction to the top of the feeding matching rack 282. Under the action of gravity, the slices fall to the feeding matching rack 282 and slide down the matching rack onto the inclined feeding plate 281.

[0079] S3: Single-chip separation and attitude calibration

[0080] The slices on the inclined feed plate 281 slide down the inclined surface and enter the single-slice gap between the feed baffle 283 and the inclined feed plate 281. Since the gap size only allows single slices to pass through, the stacked slices are blocked by the feed baffle 283. The single slices that are attached to the inclined feed plate 281 slide down through the gap, while the stacked slices slide down along the feed slope 284 at the upper end of the feed baffle 283 and are guided back into the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack 22. Step S2 is repeated. The slices that pass through the single-slice gap slide down into the grading trough 285. Since the width of the grading trough 285 has been adjusted to the appropriate size (e.g., 1cm) by the limiting baffle 286, the slices are in a single vertical row in the trough and slide down along the inclined surface at the bottom of the trough.

[0081] S4: Grading trough guiding and conveyor belt conveying

[0082] Start the screw slide 291 in the drive chamber 29, adjust the position of the limit baffle 286 according to the slice thickness to ensure that there are no side-by-side slices in the grading trough 285; the vertical slices in the grading trough 285 slide down the inclined plane and enter the conveyor belt structure 31 in the protective frame 32; start the conveyor belt and set the conveying speed to 1m / min; the conveyor belt drives the slices to move along the length of the protective frame 32.

[0083] S5: Conveyor Belt Grading and Receiving

[0084] During the movement of the slices driven by the conveyor belt, the guide rods 33 inside the protective frame 32 guide the slices to deflect towards the sorting hole side, ensuring that the slice edges are aligned with the sorting holes. Slices smaller than 3cm fall from the primary sorting hole 34 under gravity and enter the small-sized discharge chamber corresponding to the receiving frame 37 when they move to the primary sorting hole 34. Slices between 3-8cm cannot pass through the primary sorting hole 34 and continue to move to the secondary sorting hole 35, falling from the hole into the medium-sized discharge chamber. Slices larger than 8cm cannot pass through the secondary sorting hole 35 and continue to move to the discharge hole 36 at the end of the protective frame 32, falling into the large-sized discharge chamber. Once the slices in the discharge chamber reach the set amount, the drawer-type material box is pulled out to complete the graded collection.

[0085] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, these specific embodiments are merely explanations of the invention and are not intended to limit it. The specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art may make modifications, substitutions, and variations to the embodiments as needed without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, but such modifications, substitutions, and variations are protected by patent law as long as they are within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automated slicing and grading device for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola, comprising an automated slicer (1), characterized in that: It also includes the Cistanche regulatory structure (2) and the Cistanche hierarchical structure (3); The automatic slicer (1) is provided with a feeding rack (11) at the discharge port. The feeding rack (11) is inclined and the downward inclined end of the feeding rack (11) is connected to the upper end of the Cistanche adjustment structure (2) to transport the sliced ​​Cistanche cut by the automatic slicer (1) into the Cistanche adjustment structure (2). The Cistanche adjustment structure (2) is installed on one side of the automated slicer (1) to receive sliced ​​Cistanche and adjust its placement so that the sliced ​​Cistanche enters the Cistanche grading structure (3) in a vertical position. The Cistanche grading structure (3) is connected to the discharge end of the Cistanche adjustment structure (2) to drive the vertically oriented sliced ​​Cistanche to move sequentially and to discharge sliced ​​Cistanche of different sizes from the corresponding specification discharge port, thereby achieving grading.

2. The automated slicing and grading device for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Cistanche adjustment structure (2) includes a Cistanche feeding rack (22), a Cistanche stirring rack (24), and a Cistanche grading rack (27). The bottom of the Cistanche feeding rack (22) is installed on the ground or processing table through a support frame (21). The upper end of the Cistanche feeding rack (22) is provided with a Cistanche feeding rack (23). The Cistanche feeding rack (23) is connected to the inside of the Cistanche feeding rack (22), and the Cistanche feeding rack (23) is correspondingly set with the unloading rack (11) to receive the sheet-like Cistanche conveyed by the unloading rack (11). The Cistanche stirring rack (24) is rotatably installed inside the Cistanche feeding rack (22). Both the Cistanche feeding rack (22) and the Cistanche stirring rack (24) are circular, and the two form a sealed circular chamber after assembly. The Cistanche grading rack (27) is circular and docks with the bottom of the Cistanche feeding rack (22). It is used to receive the flake Cistanche conveyed by the Cistanche mixing rack (24) and to perform posture calibration and single-piece separation.

3. The automated slicing and grading device for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola according to claim 2, characterized in that: The Cistanche deserticola mixing rack (24) includes a feeding blade (241) and a rotating connecting plate (242). One side of the rotating connecting plate (242) is located inside the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22), and the other side is attached to the outside of the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22) and closed to its interior. The rotating connecting plate (242) located inside the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22) has a feeding hole (243) that communicates with the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (23). The feeding blades (241) are provided in a plurality of positions, and the plurality of feeding blades (241) are distributed at intervals on one side of the rotating connecting plate (242) located inside the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22), and the feeding blades (241) are staggered from the feeding holes (243); The outer side of the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22) is provided with a drive mounting frame (26) and a drive power supply (25). The drive power supply (25) is mounted on the drive mounting frame (26), and the working end of the drive power supply (25) is connected to the rotating connecting plate (242) to drive the rotating connecting plate (242) and the feeding blade (241) to rotate inside the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22) so as to push the sheet-like Cistanche deserticola to the Cistanche deserticola grading rack (27).

4. The automated slicing and grading device for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola according to claim 2, characterized in that: The Cistanche grading frame (27) is provided with a feeding grading chamber (28) and a driving chamber (29). The feeding grading chamber (28) is located at the upper end of the Cistanche grading frame (27). The feeding grading chamber (28) is provided with an inclined feeding plate (281). The top of the inclined feeding plate (281) is provided with a feeding matching frame (282). The feeding matching frame (282) corresponds one-to-one with several feeding blades (241) and is used to receive the sliced ​​Cistanche conveyed by the feeding blades (241) and guide it to slide down onto the inclined feeding plate (281). The feeding and grading chamber (28) is also provided with a feeding baffle (283). The bottom end of the feeding baffle (283) is set with an incline and the incline angle is the same as that of the incline feeding plate (281). The feeding baffle (283) and the incline feeding plate (281) are set at intervals, and the interval between them is only allowed to allow a single piece of Cistanche deserticola to pass through. The feed baffle (283) is provided with a feeding ramp (284) above it. The bottom end of the feeding ramp (284) extends into the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22) to guide the stacked Cistanche deserticola that has not passed the interval back to the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22).

5. The automated slicing and grading device for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola according to claim 4, characterized in that: The Cistanche grading rack (27) has a grading trough (285) in the middle. The grading trough (285) is rectangular and has a sloping bottom. The grading trough (285) corresponds to the feeding grading chamber (28) and is used to receive single pieces of Cistanche from between the sloping feeding plate (281) and the feeding baffle (283) and guide them to slide down the sloping bottom. A limiting baffle (286) is provided on one side of the grading trough (285). The limiting baffle (286) can slide left and right in the grading trough (285) to adjust the width of the grading trough (285) and prevent the sliced ​​Cistanche deserticola from being placed side by side in the grading trough (285).

6. The automated slicing and grading device for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola according to claim 5, characterized in that: The drive chamber (29) is provided with a lead screw slide (291), a push frame (292) and a connecting frame (293). The lead screw slide (291) is used to provide driving force. One end of the push frame (292) is connected to the working end of the lead screw slide (291), and the other end is connected to the connecting frame (293). The connecting frame (293) passes through the inner wall of the Cistanche grading frame (27) and is connected to the limiting baffle (286) and the feeding baffle (283). When the screw slide (291) is running, the limiting baffle (286) and the feeding baffle (283) can be moved synchronously by the pushing frame (292) and the connecting frame (293) to adjust the width of the grading trough (285) and the interval between the feeding baffle (283) and the inclined feeding plate (281).

7. The automated slicing and grading device for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola according to claim 2, characterized in that: The Cistanche grading structure (3) includes a conveyor belt structure (31), a protective frame (32) and a receiving frame (37). The protective frame (32) is set on the outer wall of the Cistanche feeding frame (22), and the interior of the protective frame (32) is connected to the grading trough (285) through the Cistanche feeding frame (22). The conveyor belt structure (31) is installed on the protective frame (32), and the working end of the conveyor belt structure (31) is located inside the protective frame (32) to drive the sliced ​​Cistanche deserticola entering from the grading trough (285) to move inside the protective frame (32); The receiving rack (37) is set on the bottom side wall of the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22), and the receiving rack (37) is located at the bottom of the protective rack (32) for receiving graded Cistanche deserticola of different sizes.

8. The automated slicing and grading device for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola according to claim 7, characterized in that: A guide rod (33) is provided on one side of the inner wall of the protective frame (32). The guide rod (33) is in the shape of a protrusion and is used to guide the sliced ​​Cistanche deserticola on the conveyor belt to the other side of the protective frame (32). The protective frame (32) has a primary sorting hole (34) and a secondary sorting hole (35) spaced apart on the other side of its inner wall. The protective frame (32) has a discharge hole (36) at its end. The receiving frame (37) has multiple inlets, which correspond to the primary sorting hole (34), the secondary sorting hole (35), and the discharge hole (36), respectively. The receiving frame (37) has multiple discharge chambers, which are used to store different sizes of sliced ​​Cistanche deserticola that fall from the primary sorting hole (34), the secondary sorting hole (35), and the discharge hole (36), respectively.

9. A method for automated slicing and grading of fresh Cistanche deserticola, characterized in that, The operation using the automated slicing and grading device for fresh processing of Cistanche deserticola according to any one of claims 1-8 includes the following steps: S1: Slicing and conveying: Start the automated slicer (1) to slice the fresh Cistanche deserticola. The sliced ​​Cistanche deserticola is conveyed to the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (23) of the Cistanche deserticola adjusting structure (2) through the inclined feeding rack (11) at the outlet of the automated slicer (1). S2: Cistanche mixing and guiding: Start the drive power supply (25) on the outside of the Cistanche feeding rack (22), drive the rotating connecting plate (242) and the feeding blade (241) to rotate in the Cistanche feeding rack (22), and the feeding blade (241) pushes the sheet-like Cistanche from the feeding matching rack (282) into the feeding and grading chamber (28) of the Cistanche grading rack (27), and falls on the inclined feeding plate (281); S3: Single-piece separation: The feeding baffle (283) and the inclined feeding plate (281) in the feeding and grading chamber (28) form a gap that allows only single pieces of Cistanche deserticola to pass through. The single pieces of Cistanche deserticola slide down from the gap to the grading trough (285). The stacked pieces of Cistanche deserticola are guided back to the Cistanche deserticola feeding rack (22) via the discharge inclined surface (284) above the feeding baffle (283). Step S2 is repeated. S4: Grading trough guiding: According to the thickness of the Cistanche slices, the position of the limiting baffle (286) is adjusted by the screw slide (291) of the drive chamber (29) to control the width of the grading trough (285) to prevent the Cistanche slices from being side by side. The single Cistanche slices in the grading trough (285) slide along the bottom slope into the protective frame (32) of the Cistanche grading structure (3) and fall onto the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt structure (31); S5: Conveyor belt grading: The conveyor belt structure (31) drives the sheet-like Cistanche deserticola to move within the protective frame (32). The guide rod (33) within the protective frame (32) guides the sheet-like Cistanche deserticola to one side of the sorting hole. Sheet-like Cistanche deserticola smaller than the first-level sorting hole (34) falls from the first-level sorting hole (34) to the corresponding discharge chamber of the receiving frame (37). Sheet-like Cistanche deserticola between the first-level sorting hole (34) and the second-level sorting hole (35) falls from the second-level sorting hole (35) to the corresponding discharge chamber. Sheet-like Cistanche deserticola larger than the second-level sorting hole (35) falls from the discharge hole (36) to the corresponding discharge chamber, thus completing the grading.

10. The automated slicing and grading method for processing fresh Cistanche deserticola according to claim 9, characterized in that, In step S3, if the thickness of the Cistanche deserticola slices changes, the feed baffle (283) can be moved by the screw slide (291) to adjust the spacing between the feed baffle (283) and the inclined feed plate (281) to ensure that only a single slice of Cistanche deserticola passes through. In step S5, the conveying speed of the conveyor belt structure (31) can be adjusted according to the grading requirements of Cistanche deserticola to avoid the accumulation of flake Cistanche deserticola in the protective frame (32) or insufficient grading.

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