Digital black tea fermentation machine

Abstract

The utility model discloses a digital black tea fermentation machine, and relates to the technical field of tea processing equipment. The device comprises a conveying mechanism, a ventilation mechanism, an oxygen supply mechanism and a control mechanism. The conveying mechanism adopts a polyurethane mesh belt, an independent air chamber and an oxygen supply mechanism are arranged below the polyurethane mesh belt, and independent regulation and control of temperature, humidity and oxygen concentration are achieved through a centrifugal fan and a gas distributor. The control mechanism monitors environmental parameters of all layers in real time through sensors, and precise closed-loop control is achieved through a PLC. According to the utility model, the problems of non-uniform temperature and humidity, insufficient oxygen supply and difficulty in continuous production of the traditional fermentation equipment are solved, and the black tea fermentation efficiency and the quality consistency are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of tea processing equipment, specifically to a digital black tea fermentation machine. Background Technology

[0002] Black tea is a fully fermented tea, named for the red color of its brewed tea liquor and leaves. It is made from the buds and leaves of the tea plant, refined through typical processes such as withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying. During fermentation, the chemical reactions of tea polyphenols in black tea are reduced by more than 90%, and new components such as theaflavins and thearubigins are produced. Black tea contains amino acids, mainly γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and L-theanine, which help improve osteoporosis symptoms such as joint pain and increase bone density. It can also alleviate menopausal symptoms such as insomnia, unstable blood pressure, and irritability. However, for people with excessive stomach acid, the caffeine in black tea may hinder acid control and could cause discomfort.

[0003] Traditional black tea fermentation equipment mostly uses single-layer static fermentation boxes or simple conveyor belt structures, which have the following drawbacks: uneven temperature and humidity control, single-point air supply leading to large temperature and humidity gradients within the box, affecting fermentation uniformity; insufficient oxygen supply, with low oxygen diffusion efficiency during static fermentation and a lack of directional oxygen supply design in dynamic conveying equipment; poor continuous operation capability, with single-layer structures occupying a large area and unable to achieve continuous feeding and layered control; reliance on manual experience, with lagging environmental parameter adjustment, making it difficult to adapt to the processing requirements of different tea varieties. Therefore, we propose a digital black tea fermentation machine. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a digital black tea fermentation machine in order to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model specifically adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A digital black tea fermentation machine, comprising:

[0007] A fermenter, wherein a panel is movably mounted on the front of the fermenter via a hinge;

[0008] The conveying mechanism comprises three sets evenly arranged in the vertical direction and located inside the fermenter. Each set of the conveying mechanism includes multiple drive shafts evenly arranged in the horizontal direction. A drive wheel is sleeved on the circumferential surface of each drive shaft, and a conveyor belt is sleeved on the outer circumferential wall of the drive wheel.

[0009] A ventilation mechanism is provided below the conveying mechanism. The ventilation mechanism includes an independent air chamber, an air distribution plate is provided inside the independent air chamber, and an adjustable centrifugal fan is connected to the rear side of the independent air chamber.

[0010] An oxygen supply mechanism is provided in the independent air chamber. The oxygen supply mechanism includes a gas distributor. An oxygen generator is connected to the rear side of the gas distributor via a solenoid valve. Multiple oxygen nozzles are evenly arranged in the horizontal direction on the output side of the gas distributor.

[0011] The control mechanism includes temperature sensors, humidity sensors, and oxygen concentration sensors evenly arranged horizontally inside the fermenter. The control mechanism also includes a PLC controller located at the upper left side of the fermenter. The PLC controller regulates the fan speed, oxygen flow rate, and temperature and humidity parameters through a PID algorithm.

[0012] Furthermore, the conveyor belt is made of polyurethane mesh belt and coated with a food-grade silicone oil anti-stick coating. The surface of the conveyor belt has evenly distributed ventilation holes with a diameter of 2-3 mm and a porosity of 30%-40%. The mesh belt thickness is 5-10 mm, and the edge of the conveyor belt is provided with anti-deviation guide strips.

[0013] Furthermore, the adjustable centrifugal fan is a variable frequency fan, and a temperature and humidity regulating unit is connected to the rear side of the lower independent air chamber through an air duct. An air inlet is opened on the rear side of the middle independent air chamber, and a dehumidification outlet is opened on the rear side of the upper independent air chamber.

[0014] Furthermore, each of the independent air chambers is equipped with a connecting block at both ends. The connecting block on the left side of the upper independent air chamber has a through groove inside, and the connecting block on the right side of the middle independent air chamber has a through groove inside. A flow guide plate is installed at the lower end of the through groove, and the lower end of the flow guide plate abuts against the upper end of the conveyor belt.

[0015] Furthermore, the oxygen output concentration of the gas distributor is 3-8% vol, and the response time of the solenoid valve is ≤0.5s.

[0016] Furthermore, the PLC controller has a human-machine interface on its front, and the PLC controller has multiple preset fermentation process curves. The human-machine interface displays the temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration and equipment operating status of each layer in real time.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0018] 1. This utility model features three sets of conveying mechanisms stacked vertically, with each layer independently adjustable, increasing space utilization by 40%-60%. The conveyor belt is made of polyurethane mesh belt, which combines breathability and flexible support. The porosity is optimized to 30%-40%, preventing tea leaves from sticking together. The ventilation holes allow for gas flow, and the anti-deviation guide strips restrict the movement of tea leaves inside the conveyor belt, preventing them from falling off.

[0019] 2. This utility model of adjustable centrifugal fan can achieve independent control of temperature and humidity. Multi-layer independent control ensures that different batches of tea are in the best fermentation environment, effectively improving the uniformity of fermentation. It also has a continuous production function, which can effectively improve the production efficiency. The adjustable centrifugal fan and zoned air supply design save 15%-20% energy. The aperture of the flow equalization plate gradually decreases from bottom to top. After the airflow is evenly distributed, the heating of each component is more balanced, reducing local overheating and indirectly improving the energy efficiency ratio.

[0020] 3. With the cooperation of temperature sensor, humidity sensor and oxygen concentration sensor, this utility model can monitor the environmental parameters of each layer in real time, and use PLC controller to realize precise closed-loop control. That is, the temperature sensor, humidity sensor and oxygen concentration sensor and PLC controller realize real-time parameter feedback and dynamic adjustment, and digital control makes the fermentation success rate ≥95%. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the present invention from a frontal view.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a front sectional view of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the rear view angle of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the conveying mechanism in this utility model;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the ventilation mechanism and the diversion plate in this utility model;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the oxygen supply mechanism in this utility model;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a working block diagram of this utility model.

[0028] Reference numerals: 1. Fermenter; 2. Conveying mechanism; 21. Drive shaft; 22. Drive wheel; 23. Conveyor belt; 24. Anti-deviation guide strip; 3. Ventilation mechanism; 31. Independent air chamber; 32. Flow equalization plate; 33. Adjustable centrifugal fan; 34. Temperature and humidity regulating unit; 35. Air inlet; 36. Exhaust outlet; 4. Oxygen supply mechanism; 41. Gas distributor; 42. Solenoid valve; 43. Oxygen generator; 44. Oxygen nozzle; 5. Control mechanism; 51. Temperature sensor; 52. Humidity sensor; 53. Oxygen concentration sensor; 54. PLC controller; 55. Human-machine interface; 6. Drainage plate; 7. Panel; 8. Hinge. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 7 This utility model provides a digital black tea fermentation machine, comprising:

[0031] Fermenter 1, with a panel 7 movably mounted on the front of fermenter 1 via hinge 8.

[0032] The hinge 8 is used to connect the panel 7 to the fermentation machine 1, and the panel 7 can be opened and closed by the hinge 8. The tea leaves can be put in and taken out by opening and closing the panel 7.

[0033] The conveying mechanism 2 has three sets of conveying mechanisms evenly arranged in the vertical direction and located inside the fermenter 1. Each set of conveying mechanisms 2 includes multiple drive shafts 21 evenly arranged in the horizontal direction. Each drive shaft 21 has a drive wheel 22 sleeved on its circumferential surface, and a conveyor belt 23 is sleeved on the outer circumferential wall of the drive wheel 22.

[0034] An external motor can be connected to any drive shaft 21 to achieve the purpose of overall conveying. The drive shaft 21 can drive the drive wheel 22 and the conveyor belt 23 on its outer wall to rotate, thus achieving the purpose of tea conveying. The three sets of conveying mechanisms 2 are stacked vertically, and each layer can be independently controlled, increasing the space utilization rate by 40%-60%.

[0035] Ventilation mechanism 3 is located below conveying mechanism 2. Ventilation mechanism 3 includes independent air chamber 31. An equalization plate 32 is installed inside independent air chamber 31. An adjustable centrifugal fan 33 is connected to the rear side of independent air chamber 31.

[0036] The independent air chamber 31 ensures the installation stability of the flow equalization plate 32. The flow equalization plate 32 enables more even heating of each component, reduces local overheating, and indirectly improves the energy efficiency ratio. The adjustable centrifugal fan 33 can change the impeller speed in real time through a frequency converter or mechanical adjustment device to achieve precise control of air volume and pressure, meeting the needs of different working conditions. The adjustable centrifugal fan 33 can achieve independent control of temperature and humidity. Multi-layer independent control ensures that different batches of tea are in the best fermentation environment, effectively improving fermentation uniformity. It also has a continuous production function, which can effectively improve production efficiency. The adjustable centrifugal fan 33 and the zoned air supply design save 15%-20% energy.

[0037] The oxygen supply mechanism 4 is located in an independent air chamber 31. The oxygen supply mechanism 4 includes a gas distributor 41. An oxygen generator 43 is connected to the rear side of the gas distributor 41 via a solenoid valve 42. Multiple oxygen nozzles 44 are evenly arranged in the horizontal direction on the output side of the gas distributor 41.

[0038] The gas distributor 41 precisely controls the gas flow rate to avoid oversupply and reduce energy costs. The cooperation between the solenoid valve 42 and the oxygen generator 43 can precisely control the fluid flow rate and velocity. The oxygen nozzle 44 is used to inject oxygen. The oxygen concentration can be independently controlled through the oxygen supply mechanism 4.

[0039] The control mechanism 5 includes a temperature sensor 51, a humidity sensor 52, and an oxygen concentration sensor 53 that are evenly arranged in the fermenter 1 along the horizontal direction. The control mechanism 5 also includes a PLC controller 54 located at the upper left side of the fermenter 1. The PLC controller 54 regulates the fan speed, oxygen flow rate, and temperature and humidity parameters through a PID algorithm.

[0040] Temperature sensor 51 is used for real-time temperature monitoring, humidity sensor 52 is used for real-time humidity monitoring, and oxygen concentration sensor 53 is used for real-time oxygen concentration monitoring. With the cooperation of temperature sensor 51, humidity sensor 52, and oxygen concentration sensor 53, environmental parameters of each layer can be monitored in real time, and precise closed-loop control is achieved using PLC controller 54. That is, temperature sensor 51, humidity sensor 52, and oxygen concentration sensor 53 and PLC controller 54 achieve real-time parameter feedback and dynamic adjustment. Digital control makes the fermentation success rate ≥95%.

[0041] In this embodiment, preferably, the conveyor belt 23 is a polyurethane mesh belt with a food-grade silicone oil anti-stick coating. The surface of the conveyor belt 23 has uniformly distributed ventilation holes with a diameter of 2-3 mm and a porosity of 30%-40%. The mesh belt thickness is 5-10 mm, and the edge of the conveyor belt 23 is provided with anti-deviation guide strips 24. The polyurethane mesh belt has both air permeability and flexible support. The porosity is optimized to 30%-40% to prevent tea leaves from sticking together. Polyurethane has excellent resistance to chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents, and can adapt to corrosive environments such as chemical and food processing, extending the service life of equipment. It has a temperature resistance range of -40℃ to +150℃ and can operate stably in high-temperature environments (such as dryers and heat treatment equipment) to avoid deformation or melting. The food-grade silicone oil is non-toxic and chemically stable, and can maintain its performance in high-temperature, low-temperature, and acid-alkali environments to ensure long-term anti-sticking effect. The ventilation holes allow gas to flow, and the anti-deviation guide strips 24 can restrict the movement of tea leaves inside the conveyor belt 23 to prevent them from falling off.

[0042] In this embodiment, preferably, the adjustable centrifugal fan 33 is a variable frequency fan. The rear side of the lower independent air chamber 31 is connected to the temperature and humidity regulating unit 34 through an air duct. The rear side of the middle independent air chamber 31 is provided with an air inlet 35, and the rear side of the upper independent air chamber 31 is provided with a dehumidification outlet 36. The variable frequency fan realizes smooth stepless adjustment of air volume, avoids the surge phenomenon of traditional fans, and ensures system stability. The temperature and humidity regulating unit 34 uses a high-precision temperature and humidity sensor to monitor environmental changes in real time. The system can accurately adjust the cooling / heating and humidification / dehumidification functions to ensure that the environment is stable within the set range and reduce energy waste. The air inlet 35 is used to inject fresh air, and the dehumidification outlet 36 is used to dehumidify.

[0043] In this embodiment, preferably, each independent air chamber 31 has a connecting block installed at both ends. The connecting block on the left side of the upper independent air chamber 31 has a through groove, and the connecting block on the right side of the middle independent air chamber 31 has a through groove. A flow guide plate 6 is installed at the lower end of the through groove, and the lower end of the flow guide plate 6 abuts against the upper end of the conveyor belt 23. The through groove and the flow guide plate 6 can achieve the purpose of guiding the tea leaves. The fermentation machine 1 has connecting grooves on both sides, and the connecting blocks are movably connected to the connecting grooves. With the cooperation of the connecting blocks and the connecting grooves, the connection stability between the independent air chamber 31 and the fermentation machine 1 can be guaranteed, and the independent air chamber 31 and the fermentation machine 1 can be separated for easy assembly and installation.

[0044] In this embodiment, preferably, the oxygen output concentration of the gas distributor 41 is 3-8% vol, and the response time of the solenoid valve 42 is ≤0.5s.

[0045] In this embodiment, preferably, the PLC controller 54 is provided with a human-machine interface 55 on the front, and the PLC controller 54 is preset with multiple sets of fermentation process curves, and the temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration and equipment operating status of each layer are displayed in real time through the human-machine interface 55.

[0046] The working principle and usage process of this utility model: The hinge 8 is used to connect the panel 7 and the fermentation machine 1, and the panel 7 can be opened and closed under the action of the hinge 8. The tea leaves can be put in and taken out by opening and closing the panel 7.

[0047] The drive shaft 21 can drive the drive wheel 22 and the conveyor belt 23 on its outer wall to rotate, thus achieving the purpose of tea transportation. The three sets of conveying mechanisms 2 are stacked vertically, and each layer can be independently controlled, improving the space utilization rate by 40%-60%. The conveyor belt 23 is made of polyurethane mesh belt and is coated with a food-grade silicone oil anti-stick coating. The surface of the conveyor belt 23 has evenly distributed ventilation holes with a diameter of 2-3mm and a porosity of 30%-40%. The mesh belt thickness is 5-10mm, and the edge of the conveyor belt 23 is provided with anti-deviation guide strips 24. The polyurethane mesh belt has both air permeability and flexible support, and the porosity is optimized to 30%-40% to prevent tea from sticking together. The ventilation holes can allow gas to flow. By setting the anti-deviation guide strips 24, the movement of tea leaves inside the conveyor belt 23 can be restricted to prevent them from falling off.

[0048] The adjustable centrifugal fan 33 can achieve independent control of temperature and humidity. Multi-layer independent control ensures that different batches of tea are in the optimal fermentation environment, effectively improving fermentation uniformity. It also has a continuous production function, which can effectively improve production efficiency. The adjustable centrifugal fan 33 and the zoned air supply design save 15%-20% energy. The flow equalization plate 32 can achieve more even heating of each component, reduce local overheating, and indirectly improve the energy efficiency ratio. The variable frequency fan can achieve smooth stepless adjustment of air volume, avoid the surge phenomenon of traditional fans, and ensure system stability. The temperature and humidity regulating unit 34 uses a high-precision temperature and humidity sensor to monitor environmental changes in real time. The system can accurately adjust the cooling / heating and humidification / dehumidification functions to ensure that the environment is stable within the set range and reduce energy waste. The air inlet 35 is used to inject fresh air, and the dehumidification outlet 36 is used for dehumidification.

[0049] The gas distributor 41 precisely controls the gas flow rate to avoid oversupply and reduce energy costs. The cooperation between the solenoid valve 42 and the oxygen generator 43 can precisely control the fluid flow rate and velocity. The oxygen nozzle 44 is used to inject oxygen. The oxygen concentration can be independently controlled through the oxygen supply mechanism 4.

[0050] With the cooperation of temperature sensor 51, humidity sensor 52 and oxygen concentration sensor 53, the environmental parameters of each layer can be monitored in real time, and precise closed-loop control can be achieved by using PLC controller 54. That is, temperature sensor 51, humidity sensor 52 and oxygen concentration sensor 53 and PLC controller 54 realize real-time parameter feedback and dynamic adjustment. Digital control makes the fermentation success rate ≥95%.

[0051] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A digital black tea fermentation machine, characterized in that, include: Fermenter (1), the front of which is movably mounted with a panel (7) via a hinge (8); The conveying mechanism (2) is arranged in three groups evenly in the vertical direction and located inside the fermenter (1). Each group of the conveying mechanism (2) includes multiple drive shafts (21) evenly arranged in the horizontal direction. Each drive shaft (21) has a drive wheel (22) sleeved on its circumferential surface. The outer circumferential wall of the drive wheel (22) is sleeved with a conveyor belt (23). Ventilation mechanism (3) is located below the conveying mechanism (2). The ventilation mechanism (3) includes an independent air chamber (31). A flow equalization plate (32) is provided inside the independent air chamber (31). An adjustable centrifugal fan (33) is connected to the rear side of the independent air chamber (31). Oxygen supply mechanism (4), the oxygen supply mechanism (4) is set in the independent air chamber (31), the oxygen supply mechanism (4) includes a gas distributor (41), the rear side of the gas distributor (41) is connected to an oxygen generator (43) through a solenoid valve (42), and multiple oxygen nozzles (44) are evenly arranged in the horizontal direction on the output side of the gas distributor (41). The control mechanism (5) includes a temperature sensor (51), a humidity sensor (52) and an oxygen concentration sensor (53) uniformly arranged in the horizontal direction inside the fermenter (1). The control mechanism (5) also includes a PLC controller (54) arranged on the upper left side of the fermenter (1). The PLC controller (54) regulates the fan speed, oxygen flow rate and temperature and humidity parameters through a PID algorithm.

2. The digital black tea fermentation machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveyor belt (23) is made of polyurethane mesh belt and coated with food-grade silicone oil anti-stick coating. The surface of the conveyor belt (23) is uniformly distributed with 2-3 mm diameter air holes, the porosity is 30%-40%, the mesh belt thickness is 5-10 mm, and the edge of the conveyor belt (23) is provided with anti-deviation guide strips (24).

3. The digital black tea fermentation machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjustable centrifugal fan (33) is a variable frequency fan. The rear side of the lower independent air chamber (31) is connected to a temperature and humidity control unit (34) through an air duct. The rear side of the middle independent air chamber (31) is provided with an air inlet (35), and the rear side of the upper independent air chamber (31) is provided with a dehumidification outlet (36).

4. The digital black tea fermentation machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the independent air chambers (31) has a connecting block installed at both ends. The connecting block on the left side of the upper independent air chamber (31) has a through groove inside, and the connecting block on the right side of the middle independent air chamber (31) has a through groove inside. A flow guide plate (6) is installed at the lower end of the through groove, and the lower end of the flow guide plate (6) abuts against the upper end of the conveyor belt (23).

5. The digital black tea fermentation machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oxygen output concentration of the gas distributor (41) is 3-8% vol, and the response time of the solenoid valve (42) is ≤0.5s.

6. The digital black tea fermentation machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PLC controller (54) has a human-machine interface (55) on its front side, and the PLC controller (54) has multiple preset fermentation process curves. The human-machine interface (55) displays the temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration and equipment operating status of each layer in real time.

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