Tea Rolling Processing

I. From "Experience-Based" to "Data-Driven": The Urgent Need for Automation Upgrades in Tea Machinery

As the hometown of tea, China has achieved a mechanization rate of over 90% in bulk tea production. However, behind this seemingly "mechanized" process, most tea processing stages remain stuck in a crude phase of "motor on, either full speed or stop." The current tea processing technology is still in a transitional stage from "mechanization" to "basic automation," lagging behind the refinement level of the food industry.

Against the backdrop of "replacing humans with machines" and "improving quality and efficiency," the CHRH inverter, as a core device for AC motor speed regulation, is moving from industrial applications to tea processing workshops, becoming the "key" to enhancing tea quality.

II. The Rolling Transformation: Why Rolling Machines Need CHRH Inverters the Most

Rolling is a critical process that determines tea leaf appearance (twisting rate) and internal quality (cell disruption rate). Traditional rolling machines use fixed-speed gear transmission, which has three major shortcomings:

1.Non-adjustable speed: They operate at only one speed. Tender leaves require "slow rolling" to maintain color, while older leaves need "fast rolling" to promote twisting—traditional machines cannot accommodate both.

2.Difficult pressure control: Traditional methods rely on manual handwheel pressure adjustment based on the operator’s experience. This not only involves high labor intensity but also makes it difficult to ensure consistent quality within the same batch.

3.Inaccurate positioning: After rolling, the tea outlet (hopper bottom) lacks precise positioning, leading to spillage and preventing automated integration.

III. Technical Innovation: How the CHRH Inverter Solution Reshapes the Rolling Process

Installing the CHRH B-series 4.0KW inverter is not just about changing the startup method—it represents an electrical and intelligent transformation of the rolling machine. Combined with a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and HMI (Human-Machine Interface), the CHRH inverter enables precise control over the tea-making process.

1. Achieving "Light–Heavy–Light" Flexible Automation
The CHRH inverter, working with a PLC, automatically adjusts motor speed and torque according to a preset process curve.

·Initial rolling: Low-frequency operation, gentle twisting to avoid damaging leaf veins.

·Mid-rolling: Medium-to-high frequency operation with pressure application to fully disrupt leaf cells and release tea juice.

·Final rolling: Speed and pressure reduction to allow the tea mass to naturally unfold and form tight strips.

2. Dual-Purpose: Linked Control of Rolling Drum Speed and Pressure
Modern inverter technology enables not only speed adjustment but also torque control. In advanced applications, the CHRH inverter can switch operating modes:

·Swing arm motor (torque mode): Constant torque control for pressing cap lifting, providing stable and controllable rolling pressure without manual handwheel operation.

·Tea discharge motor (speed mode): Using the CHRH inverter’s DC braking function to achieve precise positioning of the rolling drum, ensuring accurate resetting of the tea door and improving loading/unloading efficiency.

IV. Core Advantages: More Than Just Energy Savings

Applying CHRH inverters to tea rolling machines brings multi-dimensional value:

·Quality improvement (core value): Precise control of cell disruption rate (optimally between 45%–65%) solves the traditional problems of "either too many fines or poor twisting," significantly improving twisting rate and tea infusion durability.

·Energy savings (significant benefit): The CHRH inverter automatically adjusts current based on load. Under light or no load, it reduces speed, achieving actual energy savings of 20%–30%.

·Lower operational barriers (labor optimization): Higher automation greatly simplifies operation. Even without years of experience, tea farmers can produce high-quality tea by setting parameters, addressing labor shortages.

·Production line integration (future trend): The CHRH inverter provides standard communication interfaces (e.g., RS485), allowing seamless integration into intelligent green/black tea production lines, enabling data exchange with fixation machines and dryers, and paving the way for "unmanned workshops."

From manual rolling to mechanical rolling, the first leap was in productivity. From fixed-speed machinery to variable-frequency intelligence, the second leap is in quality. In the increasingly competitive tea market, stable quality control is the foundation of a brand. The application of CHRH inverters to tea rolling machines is not just about installing a speed regulator—it is about equipping the traditional tea industry with a digital brain.