Research and Development of Tea Leaves Crushing Machine for Black Tea Production

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to create a prototype of a crushing machine for black tea. The crushing machine consisted of 3 components i.e. main structure, power transmission using 1,450 rpm,1.5 kw, electric motor and crushing unit. The crushing unit consisted of rough crushing part made from meat crushing machine no. 52 and the fine crushing part made from no. 42 meat crushing machine. The components of crushing part were frame, screw shaft compress, crushing blades and crushing plate disc. To test the prototype, young tea shoots were first subjected through withering process for 18 hrs. to
reduce moisture content to 71.68 %, and rolled with a cylindrical rolling machine for 20 min. They were then test crushed with 2 combinations of crushing plate discs; 1st crushing by using 20 mm. and 8 mm. crushing plate discs and 2ndcrushing by using 20 mm. and 6 mm. crushing plate discs. The tests were done in 10 replications, each test using 5 kg of young tea shoots, and at 301 rpm screw shaft speed. Results showed that the machine could operate both rough and fine crushing continuously without interruption. The crushing capacity of machine was 91.22 kg/hr and 69.53 kg/hr respectively. After going through fermenting and drying processes the produced black tea had moisture content of not more
than 13%, dark reddish brown in color and was of good quality.