Device applied to integrated operation process of tobacco loading, moisture regaining, tobacco unloading and grading of flue-cured tobacco curing barn

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of flue-cured tobacco devices, and discloses a flue-cured tobacco curing barn tobacco loading, moisture regaining, tobacco unloading and grading integrated operation process device which is characterized in that a curing barn is correspondingly modified, a spaced frame structure in the curing barn is removed, and a track is additionally arranged on the ground; a tobacco loading frame structure is designed, tobacco clamps are directly pushed into a curing barn after being placed, and cured tobacco leaves are directly pushed out of the curing barn; and a moisture regaining device matched with the tobacco loading frame structure is designed. By taking tobacco loading, tobacco unloading and moisture regaining as core links and modifying a matched curing barn, mechanical equipment replaces manual operation in the process that fresh tobacco leaves enter the curing barn and tobacco leaves are graded after being cured. The utility model has wide application, and can be matched with fire coal curing barns, firewood curing barns, biomass curing barns, pure electricity curing barns, air energy curing barns and the like for use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of tobacco curing equipment, and in particular relates to an integrated operation process of loading, rehumidifying, unloading and grading tobacco in a tobacco curing barn. Background Technology

[0002] The tobacco harvesting, curing, and grading process is a crucial production stage with the most intensive labor input and the highest labor intensity. It is characterized by its tight production timeframe and concentrated maturity. If the leaves in the field are not harvested in time, it will seriously affect the yield and quality of tobacco leaves, thereby reducing the economic benefits for growers and affecting the stability of raw material supply.

[0003] Therefore, there is a wide range of research on reducing labor costs, improving quality and efficiency in this area.

[0004] First, a series of innovative reforms will be implemented in the cigarette blending model. Currently, there are several types of cigarette blending models:

[0005] The first type is the traditional method of using tobacco poles to bind tobacco: depending on the size, part and moisture content of the fresh tobacco leaves, generally 2-3 leaves are picked up per bunch, and about 100-130 leaves are picked up per pole by hand. The leaves are tied to both sides of the tobacco pole with tobacco rope. About 10-20cm of space is left at both ends of the tobacco pole for loading the tobacco onto the tobacco rack set up in the curing room.

[0006] The second category involves tobacco weaving devices. In recent years, with the shortage of rural labor, these devices have undergone reform and innovation to further facilitate intensive production. A comb-type tobacco clamp, along with a matching workbench, has begun to be used in production. This weaving method improves upon the traditional tobacco pole weaving method by using metal clamps to hold the base of the tobacco leaves. Surveys in relevant production areas indicate that using the comb-type tobacco clamp can reduce the number of workers required.

[0007] The third type involves large-box curing in some production areas. After harvesting, the tobacco leaves are directly stacked into large boxes using a conveyor system. These boxes are then pushed into the curing barn by forklifts. Traditional tobacco racks in the curing barn are removed, eliminating the need for hanging poles or clamps for curing.

[0008] Secondly, innovations and improvements have been made in the tobacco loading and unloading production process:

[0009] Tobacco woven with tobacco sticks and tobacco woven with tobacco clips, currently, tobacco produced in the following areas can be categorized as follows:

[0010] The first type is the traditional manual tobacco loading method: After the bundled or clamped tobacco leaves are transported one by one to the curing barn, a designated person (strong laborer) provides a ladder to place the tobacco poles on fixed tobacco racks inside the curing barn. After the tobacco leaves are cured, the tobacco clamps (pole) are removed one by one by the workers using the ladder, and the tobacco leaves are taken to the grading room for re-moistening treatment before grading.

[0011] The second type is mechanical loading: the woven or clamped tobacco leaves are placed in a lifting device, and the tobacco leaves are mechanically placed onto fixed tobacco racks inside the curing barn. After curing, the tobacco leaves are manually removed one by one by using a ladder, and the tobacco leaves are pulled to the grading room for re-moistening treatment before grading.

[0012] Category 3: Box-type curing: After curing, the large box is pushed out of the curing room, and the tobacco leaves are poured directly into the grading room for re-moistening treatment before grading.

[0013] Methods for rehydration:

[0014] The first type is cold air rehumidification: Currently, most tobacco-growing areas adopt the cold air rehumidification mode, that is, the tobacco leaves are placed on shelves or directly piled on the ground, and the water is atomized to increase the humidity of the space through the rehumidification machine commonly found on the market.

[0015] The second type is steam rehumidification: Some studies have shown that steam rehumidification of tobacco leaves is more effective. However, due to the current structure of rehumidification equipment, it is rarely used in curing barns. Cold air rehumidification is more common.

[0016] In summary, many scholars have conducted relevant research and made some progress on how to save working time, reduce labor input, and lower labor costs in the intermediate links of tobacco leaf processing, including tobacco weaving, packing, unloading, and grading after rehydration.

[0017] However, current improvements are mostly limited to specific aspects. Taking the current tobacco-binding method, which primarily uses tobacco clips, as an example, in production areas, manual loading and unloading of tobacco is still the main method. While mechanical loading has been reported, its widespread application is difficult due to space limitations in the curing barn. Manual loading remains the primary method in production areas. After curing, the tobacco leaves are relatively dry, and to avoid damage, unloading is still mainly done manually. Secondly, box-type curing greatly saves manpower in tobacco binding, loading, and unloading. However, this method also has significant limitations. Firstly, due to its structure, it's impossible to monitor the curing process continuously and control temperature and humidity appropriately, making it difficult to maintain consistent curing quality. Secondly, the disorderly stacking of tobacco leaves in box-type curing causes significant inconvenience for post-curing rehydration and grading. Therefore, promoting this type of curing method is difficult.

[0018] Currently, cold-air rehumidifiers are the primary method for rehumidifying tobacco leaves in curing barns, as these types of machines are quite common in the market and are frequently used in tobacco-growing areas. The biggest limitation of this type of rehumidifier is that in dry and cold weather, the rehumidification time is long and the rehumidification effect is not significant.

[0019] Based on the above analysis, the problems and shortcomings of the existing technology are as follows:

[0020] The existing main operation process has problems such as excessive labor intensity and excessive manual input. The process of tobacco leaves from harvesting to entering the curing barn and then leaving the curing barn for grading is a continuous process with multiple links. How to organically combine these links and further streamline the operation process to improve the quality and efficiency of the operation? Utility Model Content

[0021] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, this utility model provides a device for the integrated operation process of loading, rehumidifying, unloading and grading tobacco in tobacco curing barns.

[0022] This utility model is implemented as follows: a device for the integrated operation process of loading, rehumidifying, unloading, and grading tobacco in a tobacco curing barn, comprising:

[0023] The components for modifying the drying room include removing the frame structure that divides the drying room and adding tracks to the ground.

[0024] The tobacco loading frame structure facilitates the placement of tobacco clips and allows them to be directly pushed into the curing room for curing. After curing, the tobacco leaves can be directly pushed out.

[0025] The rehumidification device that is matched with the tobacco loading frame structure adopts a metal tube frame structure with fine holes, so that the moisture is evenly distributed between the tobacco blades.

[0026] Furthermore, the modified tobacco drying room assembly includes two parallel tracks, each 8 meters long and 5 centimeters wide, with a track spacing of 1.3 meters, to facilitate the movement of the tobacco rack.

[0027] Furthermore, the specifications of the smoke-holding frame structure are 2 meters long, 1.3 meters wide, and 3 meters high, and each curing barn consists of 6 smoke-holding frame units; the smoke-holding frame unit is a stretchable metal square tube set structure, with through-type screw holes on the inner and outer square tubes for fixing with metal screws when in a fixed position, the vertical spacing of the screw holes is 1 meter, and the diameter of the screw holes is about 5 centimeters; the upper ends of both sides of the smoke-holding frame unit are equipped with hooks, and the bottom end is equipped with wheels with the same width as the track, with a load-bearing capacity of 800 kg.

[0028] Furthermore, the rehumidification device includes a perforated metal tube frame device, which has a structure and specifications similar to the cigarette rack. Three layers of perforated metal tubes are arranged horizontally on a single-sided upright frame. Each perforated metal tube is 0.5 meters long, and the diameters of the holes at both ends are different. The larger end has a diameter of 5 centimeters, and the smaller end has a diameter of 4.8 centimeters, which facilitates insertion and connection according to space requirements during operation.

[0029] Furthermore, the heating steam device is a closed heating pipe metal container. The upper end of the container is connected to a water inlet pipe and an air outlet pipe. The number of air outlet pipes is designed according to actual needs. A plastic sealing sleeve is equipped outside the heating steam device. The specification of the sealing sleeve is 2.5 meters in length, 1.8 meters in width, and 3.5 meters in height. There are zippers at the front and rear ends, which is convenient for operators to observe the tobacco leaf rewetting situation.

[0030] Combined with the above technical solutions and the solved technical problems, please analyze the advantages and positive effects of the technical solution to be protected by the present utility model from the following aspects:

[0031] First, the present utility model is designed as a metal frame structure that can be stretched in multiple layers up and down. As a tobacco placement rack unit, 6 units are designed for each baking room for combined application. After the tobacco leaves are clamped with tobacco clamps and placed on the tobacco placement rack, they are directly pushed into the baking room, avoiding the high-intensity operation link of loading each pole (clip) onto the kang, saving manpower and time. After the tobacco leaf baking is completed, the tobacco placement rack unit is directly pushed out of the baking room, avoiding the artificial waste and leaf breakage caused by unloading each pole manually.

[0032] The rewetting device supporting the present utility model is first a steam heat rewetting method. For tobacco-growing areas where the weather is too dry and cold during the mature harvesting and baking period of tobacco leaves and it is not easy to rewet under natural conditions, especially in the northern tobacco-growing areas, the steam rewetting method has a fast and uniform rewetting speed, and the rewetting effect is also significantly better than the cold air rewetting commonly used in current tobacco houses.

[0033] For the lifting device supporting the present utility model, commonly available products with high applicability in the market are selected, and a pulling force of 300 kg can meet the requirements.

[0034] The present utility model has a simple structure. After repeated experimental verification, it has an obvious effect on improving the quality of tobacco leaves and is easy to be popularized on a large scale. This is a necessary condition for a product to enter the consumer market to benefit more consumers.

[0035] Second, the expected benefits and commercial value after the transformation of the technical solution of the present utility model are:

[0036] The technical solution of the present utility model is a further improvement and innovation based on the operation process and organizational framework that have been implemented in this production area. After transformation, it will greatly save labor costs. The current manual loading of about 5 strong laborers per furnace can be transformed into 1 - 2 ordinary laborers; there is no unloading link, and the baked tobacco leaves are directly pushed into the tobacco house for grade sorting, saving about 5 laborers per furnace; the rewetting of tobacco leaves per furnace can save 2 - 3 days, and the utilization rate of the baking room is increased by more than 50%.

[0037] The patented device is simple to manufacture, and the required materials and components are readily available in the market, resulting in low production costs. Maintenance and parts replacement are also convenient, perfectly meeting the current demand of growers for low-cost production. Once put into production, it will have broad application and promotion prospects due to its labor-saving and labor-intensive nature. Furthermore, the patented device is designed with a pull-out or foldable structure, facilitating storage and transportation.

[0038] The technical solution of this utility model fills a technical gap in the industry both at home and abroad: the current improvements and innovations in related links in China are more limited to a single link and have not been organically integrated. This utility model improves the continuous operation links by making them into process devices, which not only improves quality and efficiency, but also focuses on reducing operating costs, labor intensity and shortening operation time.

[0039] This utility model solves a long-standing technical problem that people have long desired to address but have been unable to solve successfully: It fundamentally solves the high-intensity manual loading and unloading of tobacco by moving the loading process from the confined space inside the curing barn to a larger outdoor space, facilitating the replacement of manual labor with machinery. Simultaneously, it saves on the unloading process, conserving labor and avoiding production losses caused by tobacco breakage during unloading. After the tobacco leaves are directly pushed into the curing barn, a steam rehumidification device rapidly and evenly rehumidifies them, significantly saving time and improving rehumidification quality. Through systematic improvements to the operational model and research on supporting equipment, the production cycle is shortened, achieving a fully mechanized operation mode centered on the external movement of the tobacco rack in the curing barn, truly solving the technical challenge of replacing manual labor with machinery.

[0040] The technical solution of this utility model overcomes technical bias: This utility model is an integrated operation process of a supporting device with an externally moved cigarette rack as the core. The cigarette rack can also be designed as a fixed device that does not pull out. The cigarette loading operation of cigarette clips (pole) of different heights can be completed by the existing cigarette clip loading machinery. Alternatively, a hollow perforated tube can be designed on the cigarette rack and directly connected to the rehumidification device without designing a separate rehumidification pipe. All of the above can be designed according to actual production needs. Attached Figure Description

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the device design provided by this utility model embodiment, which is applied to the integrated operation process of loading, rehumidifying, unloading, and grading tobacco in a tobacco curing barn.

[0042] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the drying room track provided in this embodiment of the utility model;

[0043] Figure 3 This is the cigarette rack unit provided in this embodiment of the utility model;

[0044] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the lifting device provided in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0045] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the rehumidification device provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0046] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the steam heating device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the rehumidification sealing device provided in this embodiment of the utility model;

[0048] In the diagram: 1. Ground track of the drying room; 2. Smoke rack unit; 3. Lifting device; 4. Rehumidification device; 5. Heating and steam generation device; 6. Rehumidification sealing device; 7. Track; 8. Drying room; 9. Metal frame structure; 10. Frame fixing screw holes and fixing screws; 11. Smoke rack moving wheels; 12. Lifting metal ring; 13. Smoke rack horizontal support frame; 14. Motor; 15. Metal cable; 16. Lifting cable; 17. Metal hook; 18. Rehumidification device support frame; 19. Perforated steam pipe; 20. Steam pipe outlet; 21. Larger diameter section of steam pipe; 22. Smaller diameter section of steam pipe; 23. Rehumidification rack air inlet; 24. Water inlet; 25. Heating pipe switch; 26. Heating pipe; 27. Heating water tank; 28. Air outlet; 29. ​​Plastic sheet; 30. Opening and closing zipper; 31. Sealing device support frame; 32. Sealing device moving wheels. Detailed Implementation

[0049] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this utility model.

[0050] like Figure 1 This utility model provides a device for the integrated operation of loading, rehumidifying, unloading, and grading tobacco in a tobacco curing barn. First, the curing barn is modified by removing the central frame structure and adding tracks to the ground. Second, a loading frame structure is designed so that the tobacco clips are placed and directly pushed into the curing barn, and the cured tobacco leaves are directly pushed out. Third, a rehumidifying device is designed to match the loading frame structure. This device saves labor at each stage, reduces labor intensity, decreases operational steps, and improves operational quality.

[0051] This utility model relates to a curing barn operating system. The system, through the collaboration of a series of components, achieves lifting, heating, rehumidification, and sealing control of the tobacco racks. First, a ground track 1 is installed on the floor of the curing barn, and a tobacco rack unit 2 is mounted on the track 7. The tobacco rack unit is connected to the track via tobacco rack moving wheels 11, allowing it to move laterally along the track. A lifting device 3, including a lifting metal ring 12 and a lifting cable 16, enables the vertical lifting of the tobacco racks, facilitating placement and removal. An electric motor 14 drives the lifting metal ring, and the metal cable 15 controls the lifting of the tobacco racks, adjusting the utilization efficiency of the curing barn's internal space.

[0052] Secondly, the system regulates the humidity inside the curing barn through the rehumidification device 4 to maintain appropriate humidity for the tobacco. The rehumidification device is fixed inside the curing barn by the rehumidification sealing sleeve device 6 and the rehumidification device support frame 18. The air inlet 23 of the rehumidification frame is connected to the water inlet 24, and water is introduced into the rehumidification system through a pipe. The heating and steam generation device 5 delivers steam to the rehumidification device through the perforated steam pipe 19 and the steam pipe outlet 20 to regulate humidity control during the rehumidification process. The heating device heats the water source through the heating pipe 26 and the heating water tank 27 to generate steam. The steam is delivered to the steam pipeline through the larger diameter section 21 of the steam pipe, and then the flow rate and pressure are adjusted through the smaller diameter section 22 of the steam pipe to ensure a uniform rehumidification effect.

[0053] Next, the steam-generating heating device 5 regulates the steam output and water temperature through a heating water tank and heating pipe control system. Inside the heating water tank, heating pipe 26 heats the water source, and the generated steam is transported to the rehumidification device in the curing barn via a steam pipe. The heating pipe switch 25 controls the steam supply, ensuring efficient system operation. The rehumidification device maintains suitable humidity within the curing barn, ensuring that the tobacco's quality is not affected by dryness during the curing process.

[0054] Finally, the system's sealing device support frame 31 and sealing device moving wheels 32 form a sealed structure via plastic sheet 29 and opening / closing zipper 30. This sealing device ensures the stability of the internal environment of the curing barn, preventing steam leakage or external environmental interference. In a sealed environment, the rehumidification and heating processes are more efficient, ensuring the curing quality and flavor of the tobacco. Through the cooperation and coordination of the above components, the system can effectively control temperature, humidity, and the movement of the tobacco rack, completing the ideal curing and rehumidification process for the tobacco.

[0055] This utility model provides an integrated operating device for loading, rehumidifying, unloading, and grading tobacco in a tobacco curing barn. Through the coordinated work of its components, it significantly improves the efficiency and convenience of the tobacco curing process. First, the track 7 installed on the floor of the curing barn provides a stable channel for the movement of the tobacco rack unit. Two tracks are laid side by side along the floor of the curing barn 8 with appropriate spacing so that the moving wheels 11 of the tobacco rack unit can run stably on the tracks, thereby achieving smooth transportation of tobacco leaves from loading to unloading.

[0056] The tobacco rack unit is designed to hold a large amount of tobacco leaves and is securely connected to the lifting metal ring 12 of the lifting device via metal hooks 17. During loading or unloading, the lifting device, driven by a motor 14, pulls the lifting cable 16 via a metal cable 15, causing the transverse support frame 13 of the tobacco rack to rise or fall accordingly. This lifting system design allows the height of the tobacco rack to be easily adjusted to meet the loading and unloading needs of tobacco leaves in different positions, thereby achieving efficient tobacco leaf movement and grading.

[0057] The rehumidification device is fixed in a suitable position by a rehumidification device support frame 18, supporting three layers of horizontally arranged perforated steam pipes 19. Steam is evenly released onto the tobacco leaves through the steam pipe outlets 20, ensuring uniform moisture distribution and achieving the ideal rehumidification effect. The steam pipes are designed with interconnected pipes of large diameter 21 and small diameter 22, allowing steam to be released gradually at different pipe diameters, ensuring more uniform moisture distribution. The rehumidification rack air inlet 23 is responsible for the uniform injection of steam, thereby stably controlling the humidity of the rehumidification.

[0058] The steam heating device includes a heating element switch 25 and a heating element 26, connected to a heating water tank 27. Water is injected into the tank through the inlet 24. After heating, steam enters the perforated steam pipe through the outlet 28 and is evenly distributed into the dehumidification device. The external sealed device support frame 31 provides stable support for the plastic sheet 29. It can be easily wrapped around the dehumidification device through the zipper 30 to form a sealed space, and is equipped with wheels 32 for easy movement and operation, ensuring temperature and humidity control during the dehumidification process.

[0059] like Figure 2 As shown, two tracks are installed side by side in the middle of the drying room. The tracks are 8m long, 5cm wide, and 1.3m apart.

[0060] like Figure 3As shown, this utility model utilizes a stretchable three-layer tobacco rack unit made of metal as its core device. After the woven tobacco clips are placed on the rack, a lifting device raises them to the desired height, avoiding the safety hazards of manual climbing for tobacco loading and reducing labor intensity. The stretchable tobacco rack unit uses materials and its assembled specifications consistent with the tobacco loading structure inside the curing barn to meet current curing process requirements. Current curing barns generally include a tobacco loading chamber and a heating chamber. The tobacco loading chamber is 8m long, 2.7m wide, and 3.5m high. The tobacco rack consists of upper, middle, and lower layers, with a spacing of approximately 0.8-1m between each layer. The loading capacity is 4500kg, and the cured tobacco leaves weigh approximately 500kg or more. The material is metal, used to support the weight of the fresh tobacco. The smoke-collecting rack unit designed in this utility model is 2m long, 1.3m wide, and 2m high. Each curing barn consists of 6 units. The smoke-collecting support frame is designed as a tubular structure made of metal, with a steel pipe thickness of 2cm. The bottom layer has a diameter of 8cm, the second layer has a diameter of 6cm, and the third layer has a diameter of 4cm. Screw holes are designed at the top of the bottom layer and the bottom of the second layer for fixing with screws. Each layer of the smoke-collecting rack is equipped with a 1cm diameter metal rod at 0.5m intervals to strengthen the support. The bottom of the smoke-collecting rack is equipped with wheels for easy movement. The wheels are less than 5cm wide and have a total load capacity of 800kg. The wheels are common commercially available wheels with fixing devices. Metal rings 12 are designed on both sides of the smoke-collecting rack support frame 9 for connecting the lifting device.

[0061] like Figure 4 As shown, this utility model provides a rehumidification rack with a length of 2m, a width of 1.3m, and a height of 2m. The rehumidification pipe is divided into two types of metal pipes: horizontal and vertical. The vertical rehumidification pipe has a thickness of 0.2cm and a diameter of 5cm. Horizontal air outlet pipes are designed on the vertical pipe at heights of 0.1m, 1.1m, and 2.1m from the ground, respectively. Steam is distributed upward from the tip of the lower end of the tobacco clip.

[0062] Steam is introduced into the horizontal pipe from the vertical pipe 23. The horizontal pipe has evenly distributed vent holes 20. Each horizontal pipe is 0.5m long. During operation, the horizontal pipes are connected to the required length.

[0063] When the dehumidification rack is not in use, the horizontal pipes can be removed for easy storage.

[0064] After the tobacco rack unit 2 is pushed out of the curing barn, the rehumidification device 4 is spliced ​​together, and the rehumidification pipes are distributed to the gaps at the bottom of the tobacco clamps. The steam vents distribute the water vapor evenly into the tobacco leaves to rehumidify them.

[0065] like Figure 5As shown, the lifting device provided by this utility model is a lightweight product currently available on the market, with a total load capacity of 800kg sufficient to meet the requirements. The lifting end features lifting metal cables 16 spaced 1.3m apart, with hooks 17 at the ends. When lifting the tobacco rack, these hooks connect to metal rings 12. The motor 14 rotates, and the metal cables 15 lift the tobacco rack to the desired position. After securing the fixing screws 10, the spatial position of each layer of tobacco leaves is fixed. Removing the fixing screws 10 lowers the upper tobacco rack, facilitating tobacco leaf sampling.

[0066] like Figure 6 As shown, this invention utilizes a novel design for a 2000kW heated steam rehumidification device. The device measures 30cm wide, 50cm long, and 30cm high, and includes a built-in heating tube 26. Heating is controlled by a switch 25.

[0067] Cold water is added to the water tank 27 of the device through the water inlet pipe 24. The power switch 25 is turned on, and the water is boiled through the heating pipe 26. The steam is then connected to the dehumidification rack 23 through the steam outlet 28. The connection can be made using a metal pipe of the same diameter.

[0068] like Figure 7 As shown, in order to prevent steam waste and improve the rehumidification effect, after the smoke rack unit 2 and the rehumidification device 4 are combined and connected to the heating and steam generation device 5, the sealing device 6 is used to seal the smoke rack unit and the rehumidification device by moving the wheels 32.

[0069] The sealing device measures 2.5m in length, 1.8m in width, and 3.5m in height, and the sealing material is designed to be plastic sheet 29.

[0070] The support is provided by metal rods 31, and the support frame is covered with plastic sheeting 29. Each support frame is spaced 0.5m apart. When needed for operation, the support frame can be stretched open by using wheels 32 to provide a seal. When not in use, it can be stacked for easy storage.

[0071] After connecting the plastic sheet with zipper 30, a relatively enclosed space is formed. Unzipping the zipper allows entry to observe the re-moistening process. Once the tobacco leaves have reached the required moisture level, the wheel 32 is pushed, the sealing device 6 is removed, and the grading personnel remove the tobacco clips from the tobacco rack to carry out the grading operation.

[0072] The grading personnel remove the rehydrated cigarette clips from the bottom layer of the cigarette rack for grading. For the higher-layer cigarette clips, the fixing screws 10 are removed, and the cigarette rack descends with the support frame to a height easily accessible for sampling by the staff. This completes the integrated process of loading, rehydrating, unloading, and grading cigarettes.

[0073] This step, which originally required 5-10 people, can now be completed by 2-3 people, significantly reducing labor intensity, improving production safety, and making it suitable for a wider range of workers.

[0074] The process of tobacco leaves going from harvesting to entering the curing barn and then from leaving the curing barn to grading is a continuous, multi-stage process. The guiding principle of this utility model patent is to organically combine these stages, further streamline the operation, and improve the quality and efficiency of the operation.

[0075] First, the curing barn was modified by adding tracks to the ground and moving the built-in fixed smoke racks to the outside. The smoke racks were designed as multiple units according to the size of the curing barn, and the smoke clips (pole) were operated outdoors, which broke through the limitation that mechanical operation could not be carried out due to the narrow space inside the curing barn.

[0076] Secondly, by improving the cigarette rack unit into a liftable structure, it is possible to place cigarette clips (pole) in a lower space, which greatly reduces the intensity of work and improves the safety of work.

[0077] Third, the tobacco leaves are directly pushed out of the tobacco rack unit after curing, avoiding the loss caused by tobacco leaf breakage during manual unloading. At the same time, the tobacco leaves are taken out of the oven immediately after curing, without the need for them to re-moisten before unloading, which shortens the time distance between batches. During the concentrated harvesting and curing period, this improves the utilization rate of the curing barn and reduces the loss of yield and quality caused by untimely harvesting.

[0078] Fourth, the rehumidification machine has been improved to use steam. In drier or cooler tobacco-growing areas, steam rehumidification is far more effective than cold air rehumidification. Currently, most tobacco-growing areas rely on cold air rehumidification. By purchasing rehumidification machines from the market, tap water is atomized and diffused into the tobacco barn space, increasing air humidity to rehumidify the tobacco leaves. However, in some tobacco-growing areas during the harvesting and curing season, the dryness or low temperatures make cold air rehumidification time-consuming, extending the work cycle. Steam rehumidification, with its rapid and uniform operation, will greatly solve this problem and can be widely applied in various tobacco-growing areas.

[0079] Fifth, the lifting device that comes with the smoke rack is simple and easy to operate, raising and lowering the smoke rack to the specified height in stages, reducing the danger and labor intensity of manual climbing.

[0080] Based on the calculation of the middle leaves in a typical curing barn, each batch of tobacco weighs approximately 4500 kg, with each bundle weighing about 3 kg, totaling about 750 bundles. The traditional method of loading tobacco requires about 5 strong laborers to carry the bundles to the curing barn. Using a ladder, the bundles are placed from the ground down and from the inside out onto the fixed tobacco racks inside the curing barn, which is labor-intensive. This invention divides the fixed tobacco rack inside the curing barn into 6 small units and moves the tobacco rack units outside the curing barn. This solves the limitations of the curing barn's limited space and the difficulty of using machinery to replace manual labor. At the same time, the tobacco rack units are designed with an extendable structure, allowing workers to easily place the bundles onto the units from a low position. After one layer is filled, the tobacco rack is lifted to the required height using a traction lifting device. This step can be completed by 1-2 people, saving labor and effort.

[0081] Taking the middle leaves as an example, the tobacco curing cycle takes about 6 to 7 days. In the traditional curing mode, after curing, the oven door needs to be opened and the leaves need to be naturally rehydrated for 1 to 2 days to avoid the leaves breaking due to excessive dryness during unloading. After rehydration, the leaves are manually unloaded from the tobacco rack in the curing barn and piled into the tobacco sorting room. After further rehydration, they are graded and bundled for sale. The unloading process generally requires at least 5 people to work together. This patent allows a single person to directly push out the tobacco rack, saving about 800 yuan in labor costs per batch.

[0082] By implementing this utility model, after the curing is completed, the tobacco leaves are pushed into the grading room, covered with a sealing cover, and connected to the steam rehumidification device. In about 1 to 2 hours, the tobacco leaves can be rehumidified. The rehumidification process for each batch can be saved by about 2 to 3 days, increasing the utilization rate of the curing barn by more than 50%.

[0083] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," "tail," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. In addition, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0084] The above description is only a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model, and within the spirit and principles of this utility model, should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A device for the integrated operation of loading, rehumidifying, unloading, and grading tobacco in a tobacco curing barn, characterized in that, include: The components for modifying the drying room include removing the frame structure that divides the drying room and adding tracks to the ground. The tobacco loading frame structure facilitates the placement of tobacco clips and allows them to be directly pushed into the curing room for curing. After curing, the tobacco leaves can be directly pushed out. The rehumidification device that is matched with the tobacco loading frame structure adopts a metal tube frame structure with fine holes, so that the moisture is evenly distributed between the tobacco blades.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The modified tobacco drying room assembly includes two parallel tracks, each 8 meters long and 5 centimeters wide, with a track spacing of 1.3 meters, to facilitate the movement of the tobacco rack.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The specifications of the tobacco rack structure are 2 meters long, 1.3 meters wide, and 3 meters high. Each curing barn consists of 6 tobacco rack units. The tobacco rack unit is a stretchable metal square tube assembly structure. The inner and outer square tubes are provided with through-type screw holes so that they can be fixed in place by metal screws. The vertical spacing of the screw holes is 1 meter, and the diameter of the screw holes is 5 centimeters. The upper ends of both sides of the tobacco rack unit are provided with hooks, and the bottom end is equipped with wheels that are the same width as the track, with a load-bearing capacity of 800 kilograms.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The rehumidification device includes a perforated metal tube frame device. The structure and specifications of the frame device are similar to those of the cigarette rack. Three layers of perforated metal tubes are arranged horizontally on a single-sided upright frame. Each perforated metal tube is 0.5 meters long, and the diameters of the holes at both ends are different. The diameter of the larger end is 5 centimeters, and the diameter of the smaller end is 4.8 centimeters, which facilitates the insertion and connection according to space requirements during operation.

Images