Traditional Chinese medicine softening device

Abstract

The utility model provides a traditional Chinese medicine softening device, and relates to the technical field of traditional Chinese medicine processing equipment, the traditional Chinese medicine softening device comprises a support and a softening box arranged on the support, one end of the top of the softening box is provided with a feed hopper, and the lower part of one side of the softening box is provided with a discharge port; the softening box is internally provided with a plurality of groups of conveying belts driven by a power unit, the plurality of groups of conveying belts are sequentially arranged from top to bottom in the softening box according to the feeding direction, and the movement directions of two adjacent conveying belts are opposite: the length of the front ends of the odd-array conveying belts is greater than that of the even-array conveying belts, and the length of the rear ends of the odd-array conveying belts is greater than that of the even-array conveying belts. The rear ends of the even-number conveying belts are longer than the odd-number conveying belts. One end of the conveying belt at the lowermost part extends into the discharging opening; steam pipes are arranged below the double groups of conveying belts; therefore, the technical problems that when the medicinal materials are softened, the medicinal materials are stacked together, and the medicinal materials are not uniformly wetted can be solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of Chinese medicinal material processing equipment, specifically a Chinese medicinal material softening device. Background Technology

[0002] Traditionally, Chinese medicinal herbs are not steam-softened before slicing. This results in the herbs being quite hard during slicing, easily wearing down the slicing tools, and producing a lot of fragments, leading to significant waste and affecting the quality of the finished product. Therefore, softening the herbs is crucial for slicing, and the quality of softening directly affects the quality of the processed slices. Different softening methods are required for different medicinal herbs.

[0003] 1. Moisture Absorption and Rehydration Method: This method involves placing the medicinal materials on a mat on a damp surface to allow them to absorb moisture and soften before slicing. This method is generally preferred for medicinal materials with high oil and sugar content, such as Achyranthes bidentata, Angelica sinensis, and Scrophularia ningpoensis.

[0004] II. Hot Steam Softening Method: This method involves blanching the medicinal materials in boiling water or steaming them, allowing the hot water or steam to penetrate the internal tissues and accelerate softening before slicing. This method is generally suitable for medicinal materials whose active ingredients are not significantly affected by heat treatment, such as licorice and sparganium. Hot steam softening can overcome the mold growth that occurs with water-based softening. For herbs like scutellaria and apricot kernel, heat can destroy coexisting enzymes, thus preserving the active ingredients.

[0005] III. Vacuum Heating Softening Method: This method involves washing the cleaned medicinal materials and then using a pressure-reducing device to create a negative pressure environment by evacuating air and introducing hot steam. This allows the medicinal materials to absorb the hot steam, accelerating their softening process. This method significantly shortens the softening time, and the low moisture content of the medicinal materials facilitates drying. It is suitable for medicinal materials whose components are stable when exposed to heat.

[0006] IV. Vacuum-Reduced Cold Soaking Softening Method: This method uses a vacuum device to extract gas from the gaps between medicinal materials, and the negative pressure quickly draws in water, allowing the water to penetrate the tissues of the medicinal materials and accelerating softening. This method softens the medicinal materials with water at room temperature, and can shorten the soaking time, reduce the loss of active ingredients, and prevent mold growth.

[0007] V. Pressurized Cold Soaking Softening Method: This method involves placing clean medicinal materials and water into a pressure-resistant container, and using a pressurizer to force water into the tissues of the medicinal materials to accelerate softening. Regardless of the method chosen, the principles of "less soaking, more moistening" and "thorough soaking until all water is used up" must be adhered to.

[0008] Existing herbal softening equipment involves placing the herbs in a steamer-like box and introducing steam from the bottom to soften them. However, in practice, the herbs are often piled up together. This can easily lead to a large amount of water accumulating on the herbs at the bottom after prolonged wetting, while the herbs on the upper layers are not easily moistened. This can cause the loss of effective components and a reduction in efficacy. Utility Model Content

[0009] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a traditional Chinese medicine softening device that prevents medicinal materials from piling up together and becoming unevenly moistened during softening.

[0010] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is:

[0011] A traditional Chinese medicine softening device includes a support frame and a softening box mounted on the support frame. A feed hopper is located at one end of the top of the softening box, and a discharge port is located at the lower part of one side of the softening box. The softening box contains multiple arrays of conveyor belts driven by a power unit. These multiple arrays of conveyor belts are arranged sequentially from top to bottom within the softening box according to the feeding direction. Adjacent conveyor belts move in opposite directions: the front end of the single-array conveyor belt is longer than the rear end of the double-array conveyor belt, and the rear end of the double-array conveyor belt is longer than the single-array conveyor belt. The lowermost conveyor belt extends into the discharge port. Steam pipes are located below each of the double-array conveyor belts.

[0012] In one embodiment, the bottom of the softening box is arc-shaped.

[0013] In one embodiment, the bottom of the softening tank is connected to a condensate outlet pipe.

[0014] In one embodiment, the conveyor belt is a mesh chain conveyor belt.

[0015] In one embodiment, a front baffle is provided above the front end of the single array of conveyor belts and inside the softening box.

[0016] In one embodiment, a rear baffle is provided above the rear end of the conveyor belt of the dual array and inside the softening box.

[0017] In one embodiment, one end of each of the plurality of steam pipes passes through the softening box and is connected to a steam main pipe, one end of which is connected to a steam generator.

[0018] In one embodiment, the softening box is provided with an air outlet at the top, and the air outlet is connected to the steam main pipe through an exhaust pipe.

[0019] In one embodiment, the exhaust pipe is equipped with an air pump.

[0020] In one embodiment, the steam main pipe is equipped with a steam valve.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0022] This invention utilizes a support frame and a softening box mounted on the support frame. The softening box has a feed hopper at one end of its top and a discharge port at the lower side. Inside the softening box are multiple arrays of conveyor belts driven by a power unit. These multiple arrays of conveyor belts are arranged sequentially from top to bottom in the feeding direction, with adjacent conveyor belts moving in opposite directions. The front end of the single array conveyor belt is longer than the double array conveyor belt, and the rear end of the double array conveyor belt is longer than the single array conveyor belt. The bottommost conveyor belt extends into the discharge port. Steam pipes are located below each of the double array conveyor belts. This invention solves the technical problems of medicinal materials piling up and uneven wetting during softening. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a front cross-sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a front cross-sectional view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a side cross-sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0026] In the diagram: 5. Support frame, 10. Softening box, 11. Feed hopper, 12. Discharge port, 13. Condensate outlet pipe, 14. Front baffle plate, 15. Rear baffle plate, 16. Air outlet, 17. Exhaust pipe, 18. Air pump, 20. Conveyor belt, 21. Steam pipe, 22. Main steam pipe, 23. Steam generator, 24. Steam valve. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment includes a support 5 and a softening box 10 disposed on the support 5; in this embodiment, the bottom of the softening box 10 is arc-shaped, and the bottom of the softening box 10 is connected to a condensate outlet pipe 13; thus, the condensate in the softening box 10 is discharged through the outlet pipe 13.

[0030] The softening box 10 has a feed hopper 11 at one end of its top and a discharge port 12 at the lower side of its side; thus, the medicinal materials that need to be softened are fed into the feed hopper 11 and the softened medicinal materials are discharged through the discharge port 12.

[0031] The softening box 10 is equipped with a complex array conveyor belt 20 driven by a power unit. In this embodiment, the power unit includes a servo motor. The operation of the servo motor drives the complex array conveyor belt 20 to run and transport the medicinal materials.

[0032] In this embodiment, the conveyor belt 20 is a mesh chain conveyor belt.

[0033] Multiple array conveyor belts 20 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom inside the softening box 10 according to the feeding direction. The movement directions of adjacent conveyor belts 20 are opposite: the front length of the single array conveyor belt 20 is longer than the length of the double array conveyor belt 20, and the rear length of the double array conveyor belt 20 is longer than the length of the single array conveyor belt 20. Therefore, during the conveying process of the multiple array conveyor belts 20, the medicinal materials are evenly spread on the conveyor belts 20. When the medicinal materials fall from one conveyor belt to another, it can simultaneously achieve the function of turning them over.

[0034] In this embodiment, one end of the bottom conveyor belt 20 extends into the discharge port 12; thus, the softened medicinal materials are transported to the discharge port 12 through the bottom conveyor belt 20, realizing the output of the softened medicinal materials.

[0035] A front baffle plate 14 is provided above the front end of the single-array conveyor belt 20 and inside the softening box 10; a rear baffle plate 15 is provided above the rear end of the double-array conveyor belt 20 and inside the softening box 10; thus, the front baffle plate 14 and the rear baffle plate 15 can prevent the medicinal materials from falling to the bottom of the softening box 10 when they are conveyed on the multiple-array conveyor belt 20.

[0036] Each of the two arrays of conveyor belts 20 is equipped with a steam pipe 21 below it; that is, one end of each of the multiple steam pipes 21 passes through the softening box 10 and is connected to a steam main pipe 22, and one end of the steam main pipe 22 is connected to a steam generator 23; thereby, the steam generator 23 delivers steam to the softening box 10 through the steam main pipe 22 and the steam pipe 21 to soften the medicinal materials.

[0037] The softening box 10 is provided with an air outlet 16 at the top, which is connected to the steam main pipe 22 through an exhaust pipe 17; and an air pump 18 is provided on the exhaust pipe 17; thereby realizing the circulation of steam in the softening box 10.

[0038] In addition, a steam valve 24 is provided on the steam main pipe 22.

[0039] Example 2

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment includes a support 5 and a softening box 10 disposed on the support 5; in this embodiment, the bottom of the softening box 10 is arc-shaped, and the bottom of the softening box 10 is connected to a condensate outlet pipe 13; thus, the condensate in the softening box 10 is discharged through the outlet pipe 13.

[0041] The softening box 10 has a feed hopper 11 at one end of its top and a discharge port 12 at the lower side of its side; thus, the medicinal materials that need to be softened are fed into the feed hopper 11 and the softened medicinal materials are discharged through the discharge port 12.

[0042] The softening box 10 is equipped with a complex array conveyor belt 20 driven by a power unit. In this embodiment, the power unit includes a servo motor. The operation of the servo motor drives the complex array conveyor belt 20 to run and transport the medicinal materials.

[0043] In this embodiment, the conveyor belt 20 is a mesh chain conveyor belt.

[0044] Multiple array conveyor belts 20 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom inside the softening box 10 according to the feeding direction. The movement directions of adjacent conveyor belts 20 are opposite: the front length of the single array conveyor belt 20 is longer than the length of the double array conveyor belt 20, and the rear length of the double array conveyor belt 20 is longer than the length of the single array conveyor belt 20. Therefore, during the conveying process of the multiple array conveyor belts 20, the medicinal materials are evenly spread on the conveyor belts 20. When the medicinal materials fall from one conveyor belt to another, it can simultaneously achieve the function of turning them over.

[0045] In this embodiment, one end of the bottom conveyor belt 20 extends into the discharge port 12; thus, the softened medicinal materials are transported to the discharge port 12 through the bottom conveyor belt 20, realizing the output of the softened medicinal materials.

[0046] A front baffle plate 14 is provided above the front end of the single-array conveyor belt 20 and inside the softening box 10; a rear baffle plate 15 is provided above the rear end of the double-array conveyor belt 20 and inside the softening box 10; thus, the front baffle plate 14 and the rear baffle plate 15 can prevent the medicinal materials from falling to the bottom of the softening box 10 when they are conveyed on the multiple-array conveyor belt 20.

[0047] Each of the two arrays of conveyor belts 20 is equipped with a steam pipe 21 below it; that is, one end of each of the multiple steam pipes 21 passes through the softening box 10 and is connected to a steam main pipe 22, and one end of the steam main pipe 22 is connected to a steam generator 23; thereby, the steam generator 23 delivers steam to the softening box 10 through the steam main pipe 22 and the steam pipe 21 to soften the medicinal materials.

[0048] In addition, a steam valve 24 is provided on the steam main pipe 22.

[0049] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although the technical solutions of this utility model have been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A traditional Chinese medicine softening device, characterized in that: Includes a support (5) and a softening box (10) mounted on the support (5). The softening box (10) has a feed hopper (11) at one end of its top and a discharge port (12) at the lower part of one side. The softening box (10) is equipped with multiple array conveyor belts (20) driven by a power unit. The multiple array conveyor belts (20) are arranged sequentially from top to bottom in the feed direction inside the softening box (10). The movement directions of two adjacent conveyor belts (20) are opposite: the front end of the single array conveyor belt (20) is longer than the length of the double array conveyor belt (20), and the rear end of the double array conveyor belt (20) is longer than the length of the single array conveyor belt (20). The lowermost conveyor belt (20) extends to the discharge port (12) at one end. Each double array conveyor belt (20) is equipped with a steam pipe (21) below it.

2. The traditional Chinese medicine softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the softening box (10) is arc-shaped.

3. The herbal medicine softening device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom of the softening box (10) is connected to a condensate outlet pipe (13).

4. The herbal medicine softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveyor belt (20) is a mesh chain conveyor belt.

5. The herbal medicine softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A front baffle (14) is provided above the front end of the conveyor belt (20) of the single array and inside the softening box (10).

6. The herbal medicine softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A rear baffle (15) is provided above the rear end of the conveyor belt (20) of the double array and inside the softening box (10).

7. The herbal medicine softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of each of the plurality of steam pipes (21) passes through the softening box (10) and is connected to a steam main pipe (22), and one end of the steam main pipe (22) is connected to a steam generator (23).

8. The traditional Chinese medicine softening device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The softening box (10) is provided with an air outlet (16) at the top, and the air outlet (16) is connected to the steam main pipe (22) through an exhaust pipe (17).

9. The traditional Chinese medicine softening device according to claim 8, characterized in that: An air pump (18) is provided on the exhaust pipe (17).

10. The traditional Chinese medicine softening device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The steam main pipe (22) is equipped with a steam valve (24).

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