Folding device

Abstract

This invention provides a rice hulling device that can properly hull even long-grain rice. [Solution] The present invention comprises an impeller and a casing, wherein the impeller has a plurality of blades arranged around a grain supply section and a plurality of guide blocks arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of blades, the blades include a guide surface having a first base end on the radially central side of the impeller and a first tip on the radially opposite side of the first base end, the guide surface has a flat portion at least at the end on the first tip side, the guide block includes an inclined guide surface having a second base end on the radially blade side and a second tip on the radially opposite side of the second base end, the second base end is located on a first virtual plane extended from the flat portion, and the straight-line distance from the intersection of the first virtual plane and a second virtual plane extending from the second tip in a direction perpendicular to the first virtual plane to the second base end is set to be greater than or equal to the straight-line distance from the second tip to the intersection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice hulling device for separating paddy into rice hulls and brown rice.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a rice hulling device including an impeller rotatable in one direction about a predetermined axis as a rotation center, and a casing housing the impeller.

[0003] In this type of rice hulling device, the impeller includes a rice supply portion that discharges the supplied paddy from the rotation center side to the outside in the radial direction by the rotation of the impeller, and a plurality of blade plates arranged around the rice supply portion, the plurality of blade plates being arranged radially about an axis serving as the rotation center, and a plurality of guide block bodies arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of blade plates so as to protrude outward in the radial direction from the blade plates. A guide surface that is inclined in the rotation direction (one direction side) with respect to the blade plate and faces the rotation center side of the impeller is formed at a portion of each of the plurality of guide block bodies protruding from the blade plate.

[0004] Thereby, in this type of rice hulling device, the paddy discharged from the rice supply portion to the outside in the radial direction is guided to the outside in the radial direction along the blade plates by the action of centrifugal force. Further, the paddy guided to the outside in the radial direction along the blade plates reaches the guide surface of the block body and rolls on the guide surface or collides with the guide surface. As a result, a resistance and an impact force are applied to the surface of the paddy, and thus, the rice hulls on the surface of the paddy are cracked, and the paddy is separated into rice hulls and brown rice.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] By the way, there are two types of rice: short-grain rice and long-grain rice. Both require hulling (dehulling) to become brown rice, but the hulling device with the above configuration may not be able to properly hull long-grain rice.

[0007] To explain in more detail, since the grain length of long-grain rice is longer than that of short-grain rice, long-grain rice has more limited directions in which it can roll compared to short-grain rice. Therefore, when hulling long-grain rice with the above-described rice hulling device, some grains may remain on the guide surface of the guide block without being able to roll, and subsequent grains may accumulate one after another because they cannot come into contact with the guide surface of the guide block.

[0008] As a result, the necessary resistance and impact force are not applied to subsequent grains, and the grains remaining on the guide surface and subsequent grains remain in that state, sometimes failing to separate into husk and brown rice. In addition, because long-grain brown rice is long and slender (long grain length), it can break or crack when it collides with the guide surface, which tends to increase the amount of broken rice produced.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention provides a rice hulling device that can properly hull even long-grain rice. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The rice hulling apparatus of the present invention comprises an impeller rotatable in one direction with a predetermined axis as its center of rotation, and a casing housing the impeller, wherein the impeller comprises a rice supply section surrounding the center of rotation, capable of discharging rice supplied inside radially outward, a plurality of blades arranged around the rice supply section, a plurality of blades arranged radially with respect to the axis, and a plurality of guide blocks arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of blades, a plurality of guide blocks arranged to protrude radially outward from the corresponding blade, and each of the plurality of blades has a first base end on the radially central side of the impeller and in the radial direction A guide surface having a first tip opposite to the first base end, including a guide surface facing one direction, the guide surface having a flat portion at least at the end on the first tip side, the guide block body is an inclined guide surface having a second base end on the vane side and a second tip opposite to the second base end in the radial direction, including an inclined guide surface extending outward in the radial direction on the one direction side and inclined with respect to the flat portion, the second base end is located on a first virtual plane extending from the flat portion, and the straight-line distance from the intersection of the first virtual plane and a second virtual plane extending from the second tip in a direction perpendicular to the first virtual plane to the second base end is set to be greater than or equal to the straight-line distance from the second tip to the intersection. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, even long-grain rice can be properly hulled. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a view from the guest room side of a rice processing device, including a rice hulling device according to one embodiment of the present invention, arranged inside a building. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a view from the machine room side of a rice processing device, including the rice hulling device according to the same embodiment, arranged inside a building. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a plan view of the rice processing equipment, including the rice hulling device according to the same embodiment, arranged inside a building. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the processing flow of a rice processing apparatus including a rice hulling device according to the same embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a rice processing machine, including a rice hulling device according to the same embodiment, viewed from one side. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the rice processing machine, including the rice hulling device according to the same embodiment, from the other side. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a rice processing machine including a rice hulling device according to the same embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Figure 5. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a rice processing machine including a rice hulling device according to the same embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 5. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a side view of a rice processing machine including a rice hulling device according to the same embodiment, showing the inside of the rice hulling device and the air sorting device (blower) exposed. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the impeller of the rice hulling apparatus according to the same embodiment. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is an enlarged side view of the casing of the rice hulling apparatus according to the same embodiment, with the closure portion removed. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a partially enlarged view including the guide block of the rice hulling apparatus according to the same embodiment, and is an enlarged view of part XII of Figure 11. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a partially enlarged view including the guide block of the rice hulling apparatus according to the same embodiment, and is a partially enlarged view of the state in which long-grain rice is being hulled (dehulled). [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the rice hulling apparatus of the same embodiment. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a partially enlarged view of a rice hulling apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially enlarged view illustrating another form of the guide block. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a partially enlarged view of a rice hulling apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially enlarged view illustrating another form of the guide block. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, a rice hulling device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] The rice hulling device according to this embodiment performs rice hulling (husking process) on the hulls of long-grain rice. In the Codex standard (the world food standard formulated by the International Food Standards Commission), the grain length / grain width ratio of short-grain rice is defined as 1.9 or less, and the grain length / grain width ratio of long-grain rice is defined as 3.0 or more. Here, the grain length means the major axis (length) of paddy rice, and the grain width means the minor axis (width) of paddy rice. The rice hulling device of this embodiment performs rice hulling on the hulls of long-grain rice in the Codex standard.

[0015] The rice hulling device may be a single device, but in this embodiment, it is incorporated into a rice processing device that processes paddy rice into polished rice. That is, the rice hulling device of this embodiment is incorporated into a rice processing device that performs a series of processes including rice hulling (husking process) on paddy rice and polishing the brown rice selected after rice hulling into polished rice. Accordingly, in the following description, the configuration of the entire rice processing device 1 will be described, and the rice hulling device will be described in detail together.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rice processing device 1 is intended for processing the paddy rice brought in by the user (customer) and is arranged inside the building B. Accordingly, a partition wall BW that divides the internal space of the building B into two is arranged inside the building B, and the inside of the building B is partitioned by the partition wall BW into a machine room MR where the rice processing device 1 is arranged and a guest room GR where the user (customer) stays. In this embodiment, the machine room MR and the guest room GR are arranged side by side in the depth direction of the building B with the partition wall BW in between (see FIG. 3).

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rice processing device 1 includes a charging hopper 2 having a charging section 20 for charging the paddy rice brought in by the user and a white rice discharging section 720 for discharging the polished white rice. The charging section 20 of the charging hopper 2 and the white rice discharging section 720 are exposed to the guest room GR through openings formed in the partition wall BW.

[0018] This type of rice processing device 1 includes an operating panel 10 having an operating surface 100 for user operation, and the operating surface 100 of the operating panel 10 is exposed to the passenger compartment GR through an opening formed in the partition wall BW together with the input hopper 2 and the polished rice output section 720. As a result, users staying in the passenger compartment GR can set the degree of polishing (partial polishing), input paddy rice, and output polished rice.

[0019] Let me explain in more detail. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the rice processing device 1 includes an input hopper 2 having an input section 20 for inputting long-grain rice hulls, a foreign matter removal device 3 for removing foreign matter mixed in with the rice hulls input to the input hopper 2, a rice hulling device 4 for hulling the rice hulls from which the foreign matter has been removed (separating them into hulls and brown rice), a wind separation device 5 for separating the separated hulls and brown rice, a stone remover 6 for removing impurities such as stones contained in the brown rice separated by the wind separation device 5, and a rice polishing device 7 for performing a rice polishing process to remove bran from the brown rice.

[0020] In this embodiment, the rice processing device 1 is equipped with conveying devices 8 and 9 that transport the material to be processed (paddy rice, brown rice) between independent devices, due to the arrangement (layout) of each device.

[0021] Specifically, the rice processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a first conveying device 8 that transports the paddy rice fed into the input hopper 2 to a foreign matter removal device 3, and a second conveying device 9 that transports the brown rice from which stones have been removed by the stone remover 6 to a rice polishing device 7.

[0022] The input hopper 2 is located in the machine room MR, with the input section 20 positioned at an opening in the partition wall BW. The input hopper 2 has a discharge section 21 for discharging the input rice. The discharge section 21 is located below the input section 20. The input hopper 2 has a body section 22 that is formed to narrow downwards, with the upper end opening forming the input section 20 and the lower end opening forming the discharge section 21. As a result, the rice that is input into the input section 20 is guided to the discharge section 21 by free fall or by guidance from the body section 22.

[0023] The first conveying device 8 receives the rice grains discharged from the discharge section 21 of the input hopper 2 and conveys them to the foreign matter removal device 3. The first conveying device 8 is a conveyor, and in this embodiment, a bucket conveyor is used. Specifically, the foreign matter removal device 3 is positioned higher than the discharge section 21 of the input hopper 2. Accordingly, the first conveying device 8 conveys (raises) the rice grains discharged from the discharge section 21 of the input hopper 2 upward and supplies them to the foreign matter removal device 3. Although not specifically mentioned below, chutes (not numbered) are placed between independent devices to move the materials to be processed, such as rice grains, by incline, so that the materials to be processed, such as rice grains, can be transferred between devices.

[0024] The foreign matter removal device 3, the rice hulling device 4, and the wind separation device 5 may each be independent devices, but in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the foreign matter removal device 3, the rice hulling device 4, and the wind separation device 5 are assembled on a single common frame F, forming a rice processing device A that performs foreign matter removal, rice hulling, and separation in a series. In this embodiment, since the foreign matter removal device 3, the rice hulling device 4, and the wind separation device 5 are each a component of the rice processing device A, in the following description these components will be treated as part of the rice processing device A, the foreign matter removal device 3 will be referred to as the foreign matter removal unit, the rice hulling device 4 as the rice hulling unit, and the wind separation device 5 as the wind separation unit.

[0025] The rice hulling processing device A comprises a frame A1 and a device body A2 positioned on the frame A1. The frame A1 supports the device body A2 at a predetermined height. That is, the frame A1 secures space below the device body A2 for positioning a stone remover 6.

[0026] The main body of the apparatus A2 includes a foreign matter removal section 3, a rice hulling section 4, and an air separation section 5. More specifically, the main body of the apparatus A2 has a sheet metal frame F that supports the foreign matter removal section 3, the rice hulling section 4, and the air separation section 5.

[0027] Frame F is formed in a box shape by combining steel plates and is designed to support the foreign matter removal section 3, the rice hulling section 4, and the air separation section 5 according to their respective arrangements. Specifically, frame F in this embodiment includes a lower frame Fa placed on a stand A1 and an upper frame Fb connected to the upper end of the lower frame Fa. The lower frame Fa supports the rice hulling section 4 and the air separation section 5, and the upper frame Fb supports the foreign matter removal section 3.

[0028] Each of the lower frame Fa and the upper frame Fb has outer walls Wa and Wb that are rectangular in shape when viewed from above. Each of the outer walls Wa and Wb of the lower frame Fa and the upper frame Fb includes a pair of side walls SW1a, SW2a, SW1b, SW2b that are spaced apart and facing each other in the lateral direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and front walls FWa, FWb and rear walls RWa, RWb that are spaced apart in the front-to-back direction perpendicular to the vertical and lateral directions, with both ends of the front walls FWa, FWb and rear walls RWa, RWb connected to the pair of side walls SW1a, SW2a, SW1b, SW2b in the lateral direction.

[0029] The pair of side walls SW1a, SW2a, SW1b, SW2b, the front walls FWa, FWb, and the rear walls RWa, RWb are interconnected to form an integrated structure, the outer walls Wa, Wb, which are rectangular frame-shaped structures in plan view. In this embodiment, the lateral spacing between the pair of side walls SW1b, SW2b of the upper frame Fb is set to be the same as the lateral spacing between the pair of side walls SW1a, SW2a of the lower frame Fa. The pair of side walls SW1b, SW2b of the upper frame Fb are positioned above the pair of side walls SW1a, SW2a of the lower frame Fa and are connected to the pair of side walls SW1a, SW2a of the lower frame Fa. In contrast, the front-to-back spacing between the front wall FWb and the rear wall RWb of the upper frame Fb is set to be narrower than the front-to-back spacing between the front wall FWa and the rear wall RWa of the lower frame Fa. As a result, the outer wall Wb of the upper frame Fb is smaller in the front-to-back direction than the outer wall Wa of the lower frame Fa. Accordingly, the outer wall Wb of the upper frame Fb is positioned offset from the front wall FWa of the outer wall Wa of the lower frame Fa. The lower end opening of the outer wall Wa of the lower frame Fa is closed by a bottom plate (not numbered), and the upper end opening of the outer wall Wb of the upper frame Fb is closed by an upper top plate (not numbered). In addition, the portion of the upper end opening of the lower frame Fa where the upper frame Fb is not positioned is also closed by a lower top plate (not numbered).

[0030] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the foreign matter removal device 3 is located within the outer wall Wb of the upper frame Fb. The foreign matter removal unit 3 includes a screen conveyor 30. The screen conveyor 30 includes an electric motor M1 (see Figure 6), a drive roller 300 driven by the electric motor M1 which rotates around a horizontal axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, a driven roller 301 arranged parallel or approximately parallel to the drive roller 300 which is rotatable around an axis extending in the horizontal direction, and an endless annular screen belt 302 stretched between the drive roller 300 and the driven roller 301.

[0031] Furthermore, the foreign matter removal unit 3 includes a first chute 31 that receives the rice grains transported by the first conveying device 8 via a chute arranged between the devices, and supplies the received rice grains onto the screen belt 302. In addition, the foreign matter removal device 3 includes a leveling plate 32 for uniformly leveling the rice grains supplied onto the screen belt 302.

[0032] An opening for receiving rice grains is formed at a predetermined position on the top plate of the upper frame Fb located above the screen conveyor 30. Accordingly, the first chute 31 is positioned at a location corresponding to the opening in the top plate. The first chute 31 includes an inclined plate 31a, and the inclination of the inclined plate 31a guides the received rice grains onto the screen belt 302. The screen belt 302 has numerous holes or slits (holes in this embodiment) through which the rice grains to be sorted fall. That is, the screen belt 302 drops rice grains of a predetermined diameter (grain size). In this embodiment, the screen belt 302 is made of mesh material. The screen belt 302 may consist of a plurality of first wires extending laterally, a plurality of first wires arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, and a second wire extending in the circumferential direction, and may exhibit a grid-like or ladder-like structure by connecting the plurality of first wires to the second wires.

[0033] The foreign matter removal unit 3 is equipped with a sorting member 33 below the screen conveyor 30 to prevent mixing of rice grains that fall through the screen belt 302 with foreign matter that is transported by the screen belt 302 and falls.

[0034] The sorting member 33 divides the area below the screen conveyor 30 into a rice husk collection section 33a for collecting rice husks and a foreign matter collection section 33b for collecting foreign matter, in the front-rear direction. Below the rice husk collection section 33a, a second chute 34 is positioned to guide the rice husks to the rice hulling section 4, and below the foreign matter collection section 33b, a third chute 35 is positioned to guide the collected foreign matter to a collection container. Both the second chute 34 and the third chute 35 include inclined plates 34a and 35a that slope downwards, and the inclination of these plates 34a and 35a guides the target object (rice husks or foreign matter) toward a designated destination.

[0035] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the rice hulling unit 4 of this embodiment is an impeller-type rice hulling device. More specifically, the rice hulling unit 4 comprises a rice hulling processing unit 40 that separates the rice from the hull and brown rice, and a rice hulling guide unit 45 (see Figure 8) that guides the rice supplied from the foreign matter removal unit 3 (rice hull recovery unit 33a) to the rice hulling processing unit 40.

[0036] The rice hulling section 4 (rice hulling section 40) includes an impeller 41 that can rotate in one direction about a predetermined axis as the center of rotation, and a casing 42 that houses the impeller 41. The rice hulling device 4 (rice hulling section 40) also includes a liner 43 housed in the casing 42.

[0037] As shown in Figures 8, 10, and 11, the impeller 41 includes a grain supply section 410 surrounding the center of rotation, capable of discharging grains supplied to the interior radially outward; a plurality of blades 411... arranged around the grain supply section 410, arranged radially around an axis; and a plurality of guide blocks 412... arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of blades 411..., arranged to protrude radially outward from the corresponding blades 411.... Furthermore, the impeller 41 of this embodiment includes a pair of disc-shaped support plates 413, 414 that sandwich the plurality of blades 411... and the plurality of guide blocks 412... in the direction extending along the axis, and are arranged concentrically with each other. Furthermore, the impeller 41 has a drive shaft 415 that serves as the center of rotation, and the drive shaft 415 extends outward from one of the pair of support plates 413, 414 and is connected to the other support plate 414.

[0038] The rice grain supply unit 410 distributes the supplied rice grains along the axial direction and supplies them into the space between adjacent blades 411…. More specifically, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the rice grain supply unit 410 comprises a plurality of compartment forming plates 410a… arranged at predetermined intervals along the axial direction, each of which is formed in an annular shape and arranged concentrically, and a plurality of connecting members 410b… arranged around the axis, which connect adjacent compartment forming plates 410a…. The plurality of compartment forming plates 410a… and the connecting members 410b… are integrated to form an external cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, one end of the rice grain supply unit 410 is fixed to one of the support plates 413. In other words, of the multiple compartment-forming plates 410a..., the compartment-forming plates 410a... located on one side in the direction in which the axis extends are fixed to one of the support plates 413. That is, one end of the rice grain supply unit 410 is fixed concentrically to one of the support plates 413 from which the drive shaft 415 extends outward (see Figures 8 and 10).

[0039] As a result, a region enclosed by adjacent partition-forming plates 410a... in the axial direction and adjacent connecting members 410b... in the circumferential direction forms a grain passage section 416 through which grains can pass. In other words, in the grain supply section 410 with the above configuration, multiple grain passage sections 416 through which grains can pass are formed in both the axial and circumferential directions. Note that the grain hulling section 4 (grain hulling device 4) of this embodiment is intended for long-grain rice, so the width of the grain passage section 416 (the spacing between partition-forming plates 410a... in the axial direction) is set to be wider than the short diameter of the long-grain rice to be processed and narrower than the long diameter (grain length) of the long-grain rice to be processed. As a result, the grains pass through the grain passage section 416 with their long diameter (grain length) positioned perpendicular to the axis that is the rotation center of the impeller 41. In other words, multiple (many) grains are supplied between adjacent blades 411... in the circumferential direction, while maintaining their orientation.

[0040] As shown in Figure 12, each of the multiple blades 411... has a guide surface GS that has a first base end E1a on the radially central side of the impeller 41 and a first tip end E1b on the radially opposite side of the first base end E1a, and includes a guide surface GS that faces in one direction. That is, the multiple blades 411... guide the rice supplied from the rice supply unit 410 radially outward by centrifugal force accompanying rotation, while sliding along the guide surface GS that extends along the radial direction. Each blade 411... is formed of a plate-shaped metal material and forms a wide guide surface GS.

[0041] More specifically, each of the multiple blades 411... includes a plate-shaped blade body 411a including a guide surface GS, a plate-shaped first reinforcing piece 411b positioned circumferentially apart from the blade body 411a, and a second reinforcing piece 411c extending circumferentially and connected to the blade body 411a and the first reinforcing piece 411b.

[0042] In this embodiment, the blade body 411a is arranged to extend radially around the axis that serves as the center of rotation (the center line of the drive shaft 415), and the base end on the rotation center side (first base end E1a) is close to or in contact with the rice grain supply section 410 (connecting member 410b).

[0043] In contrast, the first reinforcing piece 411b is arranged such that the distance from the blade body 411a increases as it extends radially outward. In this embodiment, the base end of the first reinforcing piece 411b (one end on the central side of the impeller 41) is connected to the blade body 411a. As a result, the blade body 411a and the first reinforcing piece 411b are arranged in a V-shape when viewed from the side. Therefore, the surface of the first reinforcing piece 411b that faces away from the direction of rotation (one direction) of the impeller 41 is inclined with respect to the radial direction. That is, the surface of the first reinforcing piece 411b that faces away from the direction of rotation (one direction) of the impeller 41 contacts the grains discharged radially from the grain supply unit 410 and has the function of guiding the grains toward the guide surface GS of the adjacent blades 411...

[0044] The second reinforcing piece 411c connects the tip (first tip E1b) of the vane body 411a, where the spacing has been widened, to the tip of the first reinforcing piece 411b. A space is formed between the tip of the vane body 411a and the tip of the first reinforcing piece 411b for positioning the base ends of the guide block bodies 412.... Therefore, the second reinforcing piece 411c is positioned so as not to obstruct the positioning of the guide block bodies 412....

[0045] The guide surface GS has a flat portion FS2 at least at the end on the first tip E1b side. In other words, the guide surface GS has a flat portion FS2 at the end on the first tip E1b side, and the direction in which this flat portion FS2 extends ultimately determines the direction in which the rice grains are guided.

[0046] The guide surface GS may be a continuous planar section FS2 extending from the first base end E1a to the first tip end E1b, but the guide surface GS in this embodiment is formed to change the direction of guidance of the rice grains on the first base end E1a side to the first tip end E1b side. That is, the guide surface GS includes a planar section FS1 on the first base end E1a side (hereinafter referred to as the first planar section FS1) and a planar section on the first tip end E1b side (hereinafter referred to as the second planar section FS2), which is connected to the first planar section FS1 and extends in an inclined direction relative to the first planar section FS1, and determines the final direction of guidance of the rice grains. That is, the blade body 411a of the blade plates 411... has its radial tip end bent relative to the portion closer to the base end.

[0047] In this embodiment, the first planar section FS1 extends radially from the drive shaft 415 (center of rotation) of the impeller 41 as its center (starting point). In contrast, the second planar section FS2 is inclined with respect to the first planar section FS1 which extends radially, and is therefore formed to intersect with the radial direction (the direction perpendicular to the center line of the drive shaft 415). Consequently, the rice grains released from the rice grain supply section 410 are guided radially by the first planar section FS1 and then move along the second planar section FS2.

[0048] The guide block 412... is an elastic resin molded body. The guide block 412... includes an inclined guide surface GSt having a second base end E2a on the vane plate 411... side and a second tip end E2b on the opposite side of the second base end E2a in the radial direction, and including an inclined guide surface GSt that extends radially outward in one direction and is inclined with respect to the second planar portion FS2. The inclined guide surface GSt may be formed in a planar shape, but in this embodiment, it is formed in an arcuate shape that has a apex between the tip and the base end and protrudes toward the rotational direction.

[0049] Each guide block 412... includes a first portion 412a that overlaps at least a part with the side of the vane 411... opposite to the guide surface GS, and a second portion 412b extending from the first portion, the second portion 412b including the inclined guide surface GSt.

[0050] More specifically, the guide block 412... has a first portion 412a positioned on the vane plate 411... side, and a second portion 412b including an inclined guide surface GSt, which is continuous with the first portion 412a. In this embodiment, the second portion 412b extends from the first portion 412a in a direction inclined with respect to the first portion 412a. The thickness of the second portion 412b in the direction perpendicular to the inclined direction is set to be thinner towards the tip in the inclined direction.

[0051] In order to maintain a constant relative positional relationship between the blade plate 411… (blade body 411a) and the second part 412b (inclined guide surface GSt), the first part 412a is provided with a positioning part 412c for positioning with the blade plate 411…. The positioning part 412c is formed in a planar shape and is formed so as to be able to be superimposed in a surface contact state on the back surface of the second planar part FS2 of the blade body 411a. As a result, the guide block body 412… is configured so that the inclined guide surface GSt and the planar part FS2 (second planar part FS2) of the blade plate 411… are in an appropriate positional relationship for hulling long-grain rice.

[0052] Specifically, the second base end E2a of the inclined guide surface GSt is located on the first virtual plane VS1, which is an extension of the second planar section FS2. Based on this, the straight-line distance L1 from the intersection point CP of the first virtual plane VS1 and the second virtual plane VS2, which extends from the second tip E2b in a direction perpendicular to the first virtual plane VS1, to the second base end E2a is set to be greater than or equal to the straight-line distance L2 from the second tip E2b to the intersection point CP.

[0053] As a result, as shown in Figure 13, the inclined guide surface GSt is inclined at an angle of 135° or more with respect to the first virtual plane VS1 on the blade 411 side (and 45° or less with respect to the first virtual plane VS1 on the outer circumference side of the impeller 41). Consequently, the rice grains, guided by the flat section FS2 and moving in the direction extending the first virtual plane VS1, collide with the inclined guide surface GSt at an incident angle θ1 of 45° or less. Consequently, the force acting on the rice grains in the direction of travel (along the second flat section FS2) is decomposed into a component force along the inclined guide surface GSt and a component force perpendicular to the inclined guide surface GSt. The resultant force of these components acts in a direction, i.e., the exit angle θ2 with respect to the inclined guide surface GSt is 45° or less, causing the grains to be repelled.

[0054] As a result, even if the hulls of long-grain rice collide with the inclined guide surface GSt, a large opposing force resulting from the collision does not act on the hulls, thus preventing the brown rice from breaking. Furthermore, because the inclined guide surface GSt is tilted at an angle of 135° or more with respect to the first virtual plane VS1, even if the hulls of long-grain rice are pressed against the inclined guide surface GSt, the pressing force is decomposed into components along the direction of the inclined guide surface GSt. Therefore, the hulls do not remain stuck on the inclined guide surface GSt, but instead slide and move along it. Consequently, the hulls are prevented from accumulating on the inclined guide surface GSt, and the hulls can be allowed to collide with the inclined guide surface GSt.

[0055] In this embodiment, the straight-line distance L1 from the intersection point CP to the second base end E2a is set to be the same as the straight-line distance L2 from the second tip end E2b to the intersection point CP.

[0056] In this way, the inclined guide surface GSt is inclined at 135° with respect to the first virtual plane VS1, which is an extension of the second planar section FS2. As a result, the rice grains, guided by the planar section FS2 and moving in the direction in which the first virtual plane VS1 extends, collide with the inclined guide surface GSt at an incidence angle θ1 of 45°. Consequently, the force acting on the rice grains in the direction of travel (along the second planar section FS2) is decomposed into a component force along the inclined guide surface GSt and a component force perpendicular to the inclined guide surface GSt. The resultant force of these components then acts in the direction in which it acts, i.e., the exit angle θ2 with respect to the inclined guide surface GSt is 45°, and the grains are repelled in the rotational direction (one direction).

[0057] As a result, even if the hulls of long-grain rice collide with the inclined guide surface GSt, a large opposing force resulting from the collision does not act on the hulls, thus preventing the brown rice from breaking. Furthermore, because the inclined guide surface GSt is inclined at 135° with respect to the first virtual plane VS1, which is an extension of the second planar section FS2, even if the hulls of long-grain rice are pressed against the inclined guide surface GSt, the pressing force is decomposed into components along the direction of the inclined guide surface GSt. Therefore, the hulls do not remain in contact with the inclined guide surface GSt, but instead slide and move along it. Consequently, the hulls are not allowed to accumulate on the inclined guide surface GSt, allowing them to collide with the surface, which breaks the hulls and separates the brown rice from the hulls.

[0058] As shown in Figures 8 and 10, the pair of support plates 413 and 414 sandwich the multiple vane plates 411... and the multiple guide block bodies 412... in the direction extending along the axis, and are arranged concentrically with each other.

[0059] Multiple vane plates 411... and multiple guide block bodies 412... are fixed to a pair of support plates 413, 414. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, bolts S,S are inserted through the guide block body 412... along with the pair of support plates 413, 414 located on both sides, and nuts (not shown) are screwed onto the bolts S,S to fix them to the pair of support plates 413, 414. In this embodiment, a fastener 417 is positioned on the outside of the other support plate 414, and two bolts S,S are inserted through the fastener 417, and then these two bolts S,S are inserted through the pair of support plates 413, 414 and one guide block body 412.... Figure 10 shows the state in which the two bolts S,S are inserted through the fastener 417.

[0060] Of the pair of support plates 413 and 414, a circular hole 413a is provided in the center of one support plate 413, and a boss 414a is attached to the center of the other support plate 414, to which the drive shaft 415 is connected in a manner that allows torque transmission.

[0061] As a result, the drive shaft 415, while connected to the boss 414a, passes through the inside of the rice grain supply unit 410 and the hole 413a in one of the support plates 413, and extends outward from one of the support plates 413.

[0062] As shown in Figures 9, 11, and 14, the casing 42 has a peripheral wall 420 surrounding the outer circumference of the impeller 41, and an outlet 421 opening on the peripheral wall 420, which discharges the husks and brown rice (husks and brown rice separated by hulling) that are removed as the impeller 41 rotates. Both ends of the peripheral wall 420 in the direction in which the axis of the impeller 41 extends are open. Accordingly, the casing 42 has a pair of closing parts 422, 423 that close the openings at both ends of the peripheral wall 420. Thus, the peripheral wall 420 and the pair of closing parts 422, 423 define a housing space for housing the impeller 41. One of the closing parts 422 that closes the opening at one end of the peripheral wall 420 is formed in the shape of a plate, and an opening is formed in this closing part 422 for inserting the drive shaft 415 and the rice husk guide 451, which will be described later. Accordingly, one of the closure sections 422 is fixed to the frame F (one of the side walls SW1a) (see Figure 8). In contrast, the central part of the other closure section 423, which closes the other end opening of the peripheral wall 420, bulges outward to avoid the boss 414a of the other support plate 414 of the impeller 41.

[0063] In this embodiment, the discharge port 421 that opens on the peripheral wall 420 is formed in a rectangular shape. Accordingly, the casing 42 is a rectangular tubular duct connection portion 424 corresponding to the discharge port 421, and a duct D1 that leads to the inlet port 510 of the air selection unit 5, which will be described later, is connected to the duct connection portion 424 that is connected to the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 420.

[0064] The liner 43 is formed in the shape of a strip using a soft material such as urethane. The liner 43 is arranged overlapping the inner surface of the peripheral wall 420 with a gap between it and the outer circumference of the impeller 41.

[0065] The distance (gap) between the impeller 41 and the liner 43 is set to be wider than the grain length (length in the longitudinal direction) of the long-grain rice to be processed.

[0066] As described above, when the rice grains come into contact with the inclined guide surface GSt of the guide block 412..., they are flung forward in the direction of rotation (one direction). As a result, the rice grains that have not yet separated into hulls and brown rice also collide with the liner 43, as shown in Figure 13, causing the hulls to break and the brown rice to be extracted from the hulls. In Figure 13, the rice grains and brown rice are shown as ellipses, and the hulls are shown as small pieces (short lines).

[0067] As shown in Figure 8, the rice hull guide section 45 comprises a hopper 450 located below the rice hull collection section 33a, and a rice hull guide body 451 connected to the hopper 450, which guides the rice hulls in the hopper 450 to the rice hulling section 40. The rice hull guide body 451 is formed in a cylindrical shape, located on the same axis as the axis of the impeller 41, and its width in the axial direction is approximately the same as the width of the impeller 41 in the axial direction. One end of the rice hull guide body 451 is connected to the hopper 450, and the rice hull guide body 451 protrudes outward from the frame F (one side wall SW1a). The rice hull guide body 451 protruding from the frame F (one side wall SW1a) passes through a hole (opening) in one of the closure sections 422 and is loosely fitted into the rice hull supply section 410 of the impeller 41 inside the casing 42. Accordingly, the other end of the rice husk guide 451 is closed, and a bearing Be that supports the drive shaft 415 is attached to it.

[0068] Multiple rice husk discharge openings 451a... are formed in a portion of the outer circumference of the rice husk guide 451, spaced apart in the circumferential direction (see Figure 10). Specifically, multiple rice husk discharge openings 451a... are formed over a predetermined range on the outer circumference of the rice husk guide 451, extending from the lowest end position toward the downstream side in the rotational direction of the impeller 41. Each rice husk discharge opening 451a... is an elongated hole that is long in the axial direction and narrow in the circumferential direction, and is formed in a manner that it is spaced apart in the circumferential direction with a gap narrower than the circumferential opening width.

[0069] Inside the rice hull guide 451, there is a discharge blade 452 attached to the drive shaft 415, which rotates around the same axis as the impeller 41. The discharge blade 452 is integrally formed on the outer circumference of the boss portion fitted onto the drive shaft 415. The discharge blade 452 is formed in such a way that it protrudes radially outward. Each discharge blade 452 is formed so that the amount of radial outward protrusion gradually decreases as it approaches the hopper 450. In this way, rice hulls supplied from the hopper 450 can easily enter the inside of the rice hull guide 451.

[0070] As described above, one end of the drive shaft 415 is rotatably supported by a bearing Be attached to the rice hull guide section 45. In contrast, the other end of the drive shaft 415 passes through one side wall SW1a and the other side wall SW2a of the casing 42 (one of the closing sections 422) of the rice hulling section 40, and is rotatably supported by the other side wall SW2a via a bearing Be2. The output of the electric motor M2 (see Figure 7) is transmitted to this drive shaft 415. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, a pulley P1 is attached to the other end of the drive shaft 415, and a pulley P2 is also attached to the output shaft of the electric motor M2 supported by the frame F, and an endless annular belt VB is stretched over these pulleys P1 and P2. In this embodiment, a pulley P3 is also attached to the rotating shaft 502 of the blower 50 of the air separation unit 5, and a belt VB is stretched over these pulleys P1, P2, and P3, and a single electric motor M2 drives the rice hulling unit 4 and the blower 50 of the air separation unit 5.

[0071] As shown in Figure 9, the processed material, separated into brown rice and hulls by the hulling (dehulling) process, is transported from the outlet 421 of the casing 42 through the duct D1 to the air separation section 5 by the airflow generated by the rotation of the impeller 41 (see Figure 4). In addition, since the hulling section 40 is connected to the air separation section 5 via the duct D1, the processed material is also transported to the air separation section 5 by the airflow of the air separation section 5 (suction by the blower 50).

[0072] As shown in Figures 7 and 9, the air separation unit 5 includes a blower 50 (see Figure 9) and a separation air passage 51 connected to the air intake 500a of the blower 50, which separates the brown rice and the hulls separated in the hulling unit 4 (hulling unit 40) (see Figure 7).

[0073] As shown in Figure 9, the blower 50 includes a blower casing 500 and a blower blade 501 housed within the blower casing 500.

[0074] The blower casing 500 has an intake port 500a in the region including the rotation center of the blower blade 501, and an exhaust port 500b in a portion of the region facing the outer circumference of the blower blade 501.

[0075] The blower casing 500 is fixed to one side wall SW1a of the casing 42 (one of the closed sections 422) of the rice hulling section 40. A rotating shaft 502 is attached to the blower blade 501. The rotating shaft 502 passes through a pair of side walls SW1a and SW2a and is rotatably supported by each of the pair of side walls SW1a and SW2a via bearings. A pulley P3 is attached to the rotating shaft 502, and as described above, an endless annular belt VB is wrapped around the pulley P3 attached to the rotating shaft 502, the pulley P2 attached to the output shaft of the electric motor M2, and the pulley P1 attached to the drive shaft 415 (see Figure 5).

[0076] The intake port 500a of the blower 50 is connected to the sorting air passage 51, and the blower 50 draws in air from the sorting air passage 51, creating a negative pressure environment within the sorting air passage 51. The exhaust port 500b of the blower 50 is connected to a duct D2 that is connected to a rice husk collection silo (not shown) located outside building B.

[0077] Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the sorting air passage 51 connects an input port 510 into which rice husks and brown rice are fed in a mixed state, a brown rice discharge port 511 for discharging brown rice, and a rice husk collection port 512 for collecting rice husks.

[0078] In this embodiment, the input port 510 of the air separation unit 5 is located on the upper surface of the main body A2 of the apparatus. The input port 510 of the air separation unit 5 is connected to a duct D1 that leads to the discharge port 421 of the hulling unit 40. Consequently, the brown rice discharge port 511 is located below the input port 510. In this embodiment, the brown rice discharge port 511 is located on the lower surface of the main body A2 of the apparatus (the bottom plate of the frame F). As a result, the sorting air passage 51 connects the input port 510 and the brown rice discharge port 511, communicating vertically. Furthermore, the husk collection port 512 is located above the brown rice discharge port 511.

[0079] The sorting air passage 51 is formed by arranging inclined plates 513a, 513b, and 513c in a multi-stage vertical configuration from the input port 510 to the husk collection port 512, with the inclined plates 513a, 513b, and 513c sloping downwards towards the top, and is formed from above to a diagonal downward direction. In addition, multiple baffle plates 514... are appropriately placed in the sorting air passage 51, and the material being processed, which descends diagonally downwards along the inclined plates 513a, 513b, and 513c in sequence, interferes with the baffle plates 514..., thereby separating the brown rice from the husks.

[0080] The air separation unit 5 uses the suction (airflow) of the blower 50 to carry lighter materials such as rice husks and straw to the rice husk collection port 512 on an upward airflow, while carrying heavier materials such as brown rice down along the inclined plates 513a, 513b, and 513c to be discharged from the brown rice discharge port 511. The rice husks and other materials that reach the rice husk collection port 512 are then transported to the rice husk collection silo via the blower 50 and duct D2.

[0081] As shown in Figure 2, the stone remover 6 is an oscillating (vibrating) feeder. Specifically, the stone remover 6 has a transfer plate 60 positioned below the brown rice discharge port 511 of the air separation unit 5, and a vibration motor (not shown) that oscillates (vibrates) the transfer plate 60. The transfer plate 60 is inclined downwards, and by oscillating (vibrating) driven by the vibration motor, it separates brown rice with a difference in specific gravity from impurities such as stones. That is, the lighter brown rice flows down along the inclination of the transfer plate 60 and is discharged from one end of the transfer plate 60 on the downward side, while heavier impurities such as pebbles are raised on the transfer plate 60 on the opposite side from the downward side and discharged from the other end of the transfer plate 60. The impurities such as pebbles fall from the other end of the transfer plate 60 and are collected in a collection container.

[0082] The second conveying device 9 is a conveyor, and in this embodiment, a bucket conveyor is used, similar to the first conveying device 8. The second conveying device 9 transports the brown rice that has passed through the stone removal machine 6 to the rice polishing device 7. That is, the brown rice after the sorting process by the stone removal machine 6 is lifted and transported by the second conveying device 9 and supplied to the rice polishing device 7.

[0083] The rice milling apparatus 7 includes a brown rice hopper 70 for temporarily storing brown rice supplied from the second conveying apparatus 9, and a rice milling processing unit 71 for milling the brown rice supplied from the brown rice hopper 70. The rice milling processing unit 71 includes a rice milling roll (not shown) that is driven to rotate around a vertical axis, a mesh member (not shown) that surrounds the rice milling roll and defines the rice milling chamber, and a case that surrounds the mesh member. With brown rice supplied to the rice milling chamber, the rice milling processing unit 71 rotates the rice milling roll inside the chamber by the drive of a drive motor, thereby separating the bran from the brown rice. A duct D3 connected to the suction port of a suction blower 73 is connected to the case to suck up the separated bran, leaving only milled white rice in the rice milling chamber. The sucked bran passes through the suction blower 73 and is separated from the gas (air) by a cyclone located outside building B and recovered. Furthermore, a pressure adjustment mechanism (not shown) is used to adjust the pressure so that the brown rice in the milling chamber is milled at the appropriate pressure, and that the rice obtained has the desired degree of whiteness (partial milling) selected by the customer.

[0084] As shown in Figure 1, the polished rice obtained after the milling process is stored in the polished rice hopper 72, and then customers collect it from the polished rice outlet 720, which is the discharge port of the polished rice hopper 72, using a separately prepared collection bag GB.

[0085] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0086] In the above embodiment, a rice processing device A in which a foreign matter removal device 3, a rice hulling device 4, and a wind separation device 5 are integrally assembled has been described, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the foreign matter removal device 3, the rice hulling device 4, and the wind separation device 5 may each be configured as separate, independent devices, and these may be arranged appropriately to perform foreign matter removal, rice hulling, and wind separation. Also, in the above embodiment, the rice hulling device 4 is integrated with a device such as a rice polishing device 7 and is part of a rice processing device 1 capable of processing from paddy rice to polished rice, but the rice hulling device 4 may be a separate and independent device from the rice polishing device 7. Furthermore, as in the above embodiment, the rice hulling device 4 may of course be part of the rice processing device A.

[0087] In the above embodiment, the inclined guide surface GSt of the guide block body 412 of the rice hulling device (rice hulling section) 4 is formed in an arcuate shape, but is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 15, the inclined guide surface GSt may be formed in a planar shape in whole or in part between the base end (second base end E2a) and the tip end (second tip end E2b).

[0088] In the above embodiment, regarding the setting of the inclined guide surface GSt of the guide block 412, the straight-line distance L1 from the intersection point CP to the second base end E2a was set to be the same as the straight-line distance L2 from the second tip end E2b to the intersection point CP, but is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 16, the straight-line distance L1 from the intersection point CP of the first virtual plane VS1 and the second virtual plane VS2 extending from the second tip end E2b in a direction perpendicular to the first virtual plane VS1 to the second base end E2a may be set to be longer than the straight-line distance L2 from the second tip end E2b to the intersection point CP.

[0089] In the above embodiment, the thickness of the second portion 412b of the guide block 412 in the direction perpendicular to the inclination direction is set to be thinner towards the tip side in the inclination direction, but it is not limited to this. The thickness of the second portion 412b of the guide block 412 in the direction perpendicular to the inclination direction may be the same from the base end to the tip in the inclination direction.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the tip end of the blade body 411a of the blade plate 411... is bent relative to the portion closer to the base end, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire blade body 411a may be formed in a straight, flat shape. In this case, the entire guide surface GS becomes a flat portion FS2, so the setting criterion for the inclined guide surface GSt of the guide block 412 is naturally the guide surface GS (flat portion FS2).

[0091] The above embodiments are as described above, and the present invention (preferred embodiments thereof) provides a rice hulling device 4 as described in the following items.

[0092] (Item 1) The impeller 41 comprises an impeller 41 that can rotate in one direction with respect to a predetermined axis as its center of rotation, and a casing 42 that houses the impeller 41, wherein the impeller 41 includes a grain supply section 410 surrounding the center of rotation, which can discharge grain supplied to the inside radially outward, a plurality of blades 411... arranged around the grain supply section 410, which are arranged radially with respect to the axis, and a plurality of guide block bodies 412... arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of blades 411... which are arranged to protrude radially outward from the corresponding blades 411..., and each of the plurality of blades 411... has a first base end E1a on the radially central side of the impeller 41 and a first tip E1 on the radially opposite side of the first base end E1a A rice hulling device 4 comprising a guide surface GS having b, including a guide surface GS facing in one direction, wherein the guide surface GS has a planar portion FS2 at least at the end on the side of the first tip E1b, and the guide block body 412... is an inclined guide surface GSt having a second base end E2a on the side of the vane plate 411... in the radial direction and a second tip E2b on the opposite side of the second base end E2a, and includes an inclined guide surface GSt that extends outward in the radial direction on the one-way side and is inclined with respect to the planar portion FS2, wherein the second base end E2a is located on a first virtual plane VS1 which is an extension of the planar portion FS2, and the straight-line distance L1 from the intersection point CP of the first virtual plane VS1 and the second virtual plane VS2 which extends from the second tip in a direction perpendicular to the first virtual plane VS1 to the second base end E2a is set to be greater than or equal to the straight-line distance L2 from the second tip E2b to the intersection point CP.

[0093] According to the rice hulling device 4 of item 1, the inclined guide surface GSt is inclined at an angle of 135° or more with respect to the direction of travel of the rice supplied from the rice supply unit 410 (the direction along the flat portion FS2 (first virtual single surface) of the guide surface GS). As a result, when the rice hulling device collides with the inclined guide surface GSt, it is either flung forward (in one direction) in the direction of rotation or guided radially outward along the inclined guide surface GSt towards the impeller 41. This prevents the accumulation of long-grain rice hulling on the inclined guide surface GSt, even when processing long-grain rice, and allows the hulling (dehulling) of the rice hulling to occur through collision with the inclined guide surface GSt. Furthermore, because the direction of the force acting on the rice hulling device is changed, the impact force acting on the rice hulling device is mitigated, preventing the long-grain brown rice from breaking or being crushed. Therefore, the rice hulling device 4 of item 1 can properly hull even long-grain rice.

[0094] (Item 2) The aforementioned guide block 412... is an elastic resin molded body, as described in item 1 of the rice hulling device 4.

[0095] According to the rice hulling device 4 in item 2, the impact force when the rice grains collide can be further mitigated, and the brown rice of long grain rice is more reliably prevented from breaking or being crushed.

[0096] (Item 3) The impeller 41 has a pair of support plates 413, 414, each formed in the shape of a disc, which sandwich the plurality of blades 411... and the plurality of guide blocks 412... in the direction extending along the axis, and the pair of support plates 413, 414 are arranged concentrically with respect to each other, and the plurality of blades 411... and the plurality of guide blocks 412... are fixed to the pair of support plates 413, 414, as described in item 1 or item 2.

[0097] According to the rice hulling device 4 of item 3, since the multiple blades 411... and the multiple guide blocks 412... are fixed in a state sandwiched between a pair of support plates 413 and 414, the relative positional relationship between the guide blocks 412 and the blades 411 can be kept constant. In other words, the relative positional relationship between the guide blocks 412 and the blades 411 can be maintained in a state suitable for hulling (dehulling) long-grain rice.

[0098] (Item 4) The guide block 412... includes a first portion 412a which overlaps at least one part with the side of the vane 411... opposite to the guide surface GS, and a second portion 412b which extends from the first portion, wherein the second portion 412b includes the inclined guide surface GSt, as described in any one of items 1 to 3 of the rice hulling device 4.

[0099] According to the rice hulling device 4 of item 4, the relative positional relationship between the guide block 412 and the blade plate 411 can be kept constant.

[0100] (Item 5) The rice hulling device 4 according to item 4, wherein the second portion 412b extends from the first portion 412a in a direction that is inclined with respect to the first portion 412a.

[0101] According to the rice hulling device 4 of item 5, since the second part 412b extends from the first part 412a in a direction that is inclined relative to the first part 412a, it becomes easier to set the angle of the inclined guide surface GSt.

[0102] (Item 6) The rice hulling device 4 according to item 5, wherein the thickness of the second portion 412b in the direction perpendicular to the inclined direction is set to be thinner towards the tip side in the inclined direction.

[0103] According to the rice hulling device 4 of item 6, the second part 412b is formed in a tapered shape, which suppresses the occurrence of wobble (vibration) of the second part 412b during high-speed rotation.

[0104] (Item 7) A rice hulling device 4 according to any one of items 1 to 6, comprising a liner 43 housed inside the casing 42, wherein the casing 42 has a peripheral wall 420 surrounding the outer circumference of the impeller 41, and an outlet 421 opening on the peripheral wall 420 for discharging the husks and brown rice removed as the impeller 41 rotates, and the liner 43 is arranged on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 420 at a distance from the outer circumference of the impeller 41.

[0105] According to the rice hulling device 4 of item 7, the rice grains, which move radially due to the rotation of the impeller 41, collide with the liner 43. Therefore, the impact force acting on the rice grains can be mitigated. In addition, wear of the casing 42 (wear due to collision with rice grains) is prevented, and if the liner 43 wears out, rice hulling can be performed by simply replacing the liner 43.

[0106] (Item 8) The aforementioned interval is set to be wider than the longitudinal length of the long-grain rice to be processed, as described in item 7 of the rice hulling device 4.

[0107] According to the rice hulling device 4 of item 8, long-grain rice can pass between the liner 43 and the impeller 41. Therefore, it is possible to prevent rice grains from getting stuck between the liner 43 and the impeller 41.

[0108] (Item 9) The inclined guide surface GSt has a apex between the tip and the base end and is formed in the shape of an arcuate surface protruding in the direction of rotation, as described in any one of items 1 to 8.

[0109] According to the rice hulling device 4 of item 9, when a grain collides with the inclined guide surface GSt, it can be deflected in different directions. That is, when the inclined guide surface GSt is formed in an arc shape, the direction in which the tangent extends differs at each position, so the direction in which the grain is deflected differs depending on where it collides. This increases the opportunities for grains to collide with each other, improving the efficiency of the rice hulling (threshing) process. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 4: Rice hulling device (rice hulling section) 41: Impeller 42: Casing 43: Liner 410: Rice Hull Supply Department 411: Blade 412: Guide Block 412a: Part 1 412b:Second part 413: Support plate 414: Support plate 420: Peripheral wall 421: Outlet CP: intersection E1a: First base E1b: 1st tip E2a: 2nd proximal end E2b: Second tip FS2: Plane part (second plane part) GS: Guide surface GSt: Inclined guideway L1: Straight line distance L2: Straight line distance VS1: First virtual plane VS2: Second virtual plane

Claims

1. An impeller capable of rotating in one direction with a predetermined axis as the center of rotation, The casing comprises the impeller, The impeller is, A rice grain supply unit surrounding the aforementioned center of rotation, the rice grain supply unit capable of discharging the rice grains supplied inside radially outward, A plurality of blades arranged around the rice grain supply unit, comprising a plurality of blades arranged radially around the axis, The system comprises a plurality of guide blocks arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of vane plates, the plurality of guide blocks arranged to protrude radially outward from the corresponding vane plate, Each of the aforementioned plurality of vanes is A guide surface having a first base end on the radially central side of the impeller and a first tip on the radially opposite side of the first base end, including the guide surface facing in one direction, The guide surface has a flat portion at least at the end on the first tip side, The guide block body includes an inclined guide surface having a second base end on the vane side and a second tip opposite the second base end in the radial direction, and including an inclined guide surface that extends outward in the radial direction on one side and is inclined with respect to the flat portion, The second base end is located on a first virtual plane that extends the planar portion, A rice hulling device in which the straight-line distance from the intersection of the first virtual plane and the second virtual plane extending from the second tip in a direction perpendicular to the first virtual plane to the second base end is set to be greater than or equal to the straight-line distance from the second tip to the intersection.

2. The rice hulling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide block is an elastic resin molded body.

3. The impeller has a pair of support plates, each formed in the shape of a disc, which sandwich the plurality of blades and the plurality of guide blocks in the direction extending along the axis, and the pair of support plates are arranged concentrically with each other. The rice hulling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of vanes and the plurality of guide blocks are fixed to the pair of support plates.

4. The aforementioned guide block body is, A first portion is superimposed on the surface of the vane opposite to the guide surface, It includes a second portion extending from the first portion, The rice hulling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second part includes the inclined guide surface.

5. The rice hulling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second portion extends from the first portion in a direction inclined with respect to the first portion.

6. The rice hulling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of the second portion in a direction perpendicular to the inclined direction is set to be thinner towards the tip side in the inclined direction.

7. The casing is fitted with a liner, The aforementioned casing is The peripheral wall surrounding the outer circumference of the impeller, It has an outlet opening on the peripheral wall for discharging the husks and brown rice that have been removed as the impeller rotates, The rice hulling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liner is arranged on the inner surface of the peripheral wall at a distance from the outer circumference of the impeller.

8. The rice hulling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the interval is set to be wider than the longitudinal length of the long-grain rice to be processed.

9. The rice hulling device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the inclined guide surface has a apex between the tip and the base and is formed in the shape of an arc protruding in the direction of rotation.

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