Roughing device

Abstract

This invention provides a coarse sorting device that can improve sorting accuracy by adjusting the supply amount according to the thickness of the grain layers. [Solution] The coarse sorting device comprises a storage tank for storing grain, an air separation unit for removing some of the impurities from the grain, a sieve 41 that oscillates and causes the grain supplied from the air separation unit to flow down in an inclined direction, a detection unit 48 (first sensor 48a to third sensor 48c) for detecting the thickness of the grain layer supplied to the sieve 41, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the amount of grain supplied according to the detection result of the detection unit 48.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rough selection device for removing impurities (such as leaves and stems) from cereal grains such as grains and beans.

Background Art

[0002] A rough selection device for removing impurities from grains and beans is used as a loading facility in storage facilities (such as country elevators and rice centers) for grain (a mixture of refined grains such as grains and beans and impurities). Such a rough selection device has a selection unit that shakes a sieve to selectively remove impurities. In the rough selection device, it has been proposed to provide a camera for detecting the distribution state of grains (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventional rough selection devices have a sieve that can swing along an inclined direction, a selection unit for selecting the object to be sorted, a detection means (such as a camera) for detecting the distribution state of the object to be sorted moving on the sieve, and an adjustment means for performing an adjustment operation so that the object to be sorted on the sieve reaches a recommended distribution state according to the detection result of the detection means.

[0005] However, in conventional rough selection devices, there is a problem that dust and the like adhere to the lens of the camera, resulting in deteriorated detection accuracy. Also, since the layer thickness of the object to be sorted cannot be detected, it has been difficult to perform discrimination control that takes into account the flow-down state with respect to the supply amount of the object to be sorted.

[0006] This disclosure is made to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a coarse sorting device that can improve sorting accuracy by adjusting the supply amount according to the thickness of the grain layers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The coarse sorting device according to this disclosure is a coarse sorting device for removing impurities from grains, and may be configured to include: a storage tank for storing the grains; an air separation unit for removing a portion of the impurities from the grains; a sorting unit for causing the grains supplied from the air separation unit to flow down in an inclined direction by oscillating; a detection unit for detecting the layer thickness of the grains supplied to the sorting unit; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the amount of grains supplied according to the detection result of the detection unit.

[0008] In the coarse sorting apparatus according to this disclosure, the detection unit may be provided at least two or more locations spaced apart along the inclination direction, and may be configured to output a comparative value of the layer thickness of the grains detected at each location as the detection result.

[0009] In the rough sorting apparatus according to this disclosure, the detection unit may be configured to include a first sensor provided at the upstream end in the inclination direction and a second sensor provided in the middle part in the inclination direction.

[0010] In the rough sorting apparatus according to this disclosure, the detection unit may be configured to include a third sensor provided at the downstream end in the inclination direction.

[0011] In the rough sorting apparatus according to this disclosure, the detection unit may be configured to be located in the center of the sorting unit in the width direction perpendicular to the inclination direction.

[0012] In the coarse sorting apparatus according to this disclosure, the sorting section may be provided in multiple stages, and the detection section may be configured to detect the layer thickness of the grains in any one of the sorting sections.

[0013] In the rough sorting apparatus according to this disclosure, the detection unit may be configured as a non-contact sensor that irradiates the grains with a detection wave and detects the layer thickness of the grains based on the reflected wave from the grains.

[0014] In the rough sorting apparatus according to this disclosure, the detection unit may be configured to have an aeration mechanism for cleaning the detection surface.

[0015] In the rough sorting device according to this disclosure, the adjustment unit may be configured to stop driving simultaneously or after a certain period of time has elapsed when the amount stored in the storage tank falls below a certain amount.

[0016] In the rough sorting apparatus according to this disclosure, the sorting unit may be configured to stop driving after a certain period of time has elapsed when the adjustment unit stops driving.

[0017] In the rough sorting device according to this disclosure, the detection unit may be configured such that its mounting position in the inclined direction is adjustable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to this disclosure, sorting accuracy can be improved by adjusting the supply amount according to the thickness of the grain layers. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a rough sorting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the storage tank and the air selection section. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the oscillating sieve section. [Figure 4] This is a schematic top view showing the area around the top sieve. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the detection unit. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the rough sorting device. [Figure 7]It is a schematic top view (part 1) showing the uppermost sieve periphery when the position of the sensor is adjusted. [Figure 8] It is a schematic top view (part 2) showing the uppermost sieve periphery when the position of the sensor is adjusted. [Figure 9] It is an enlarged perspective view showing the sensor mounting plate and the sieve.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a rough selection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] The rough selection device 10 has a configuration in which a storage tank 20, a winnowing section 30, and a swing sieve section 40 are arranged in order from above. In FIG. 2 described later, the internal structures of the storage tank 20 and the winnowing section 30 are shown, and in FIG. 3, the internal structure of the swing sieve section 40 is shown.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structures of the storage tank and the winnowing section.

[0024] The storage tank 20 is a part that temporarily stores the received grains (objects to be sorted), and has a hopper 21, a receiving port 22 provided above the hopper 21, and a supply port 23 provided below the hopper 21. Further, a lead roller 24 is arranged at the supply port 23, and by changing the rotation speed of the lead roller 24, the supply amount of grains from the storage tank 20 to the winnowing section 30 can be adjusted. That is, the supply amount of grains can be increased by increasing the rotation speed of the lead roller 24, and the supply amount of grains can be decreased by decreasing the rotation speed. The storage tank 20 is provided with an upper limit sensor S1 and a lower limit sensor S2 for detecting the storage amount, and based on this detection result, the supply amount of grains can be adjusted.

[0025] The air separation section 30 is a part that removes relatively light impurities from the supplied grain and has a first air passage 31 and a second air passage 32. The first air passage 31 and the second air passage 32 are connected along the direction of airflow within the air passages, with the second air passage 32 located downstream of the first air passage 31. An external fan 33 is located on the air passage outlet 321 side of the second air passage 32. When the external fan 33 is driven, it draws air from the air passage outlet 321 side of the second air passage 32, generating airflow within the first air passage 31 and the second air passage 32.

[0026] The first air passage 31 is configured such that the upstream side in the airflow direction is lower and the downstream side is higher, causing the airflow to flow diagonally upward. The second air passage 32 is configured such that the upstream side in the airflow direction is higher and the downstream side is lower, causing the airflow to flow downward.

[0027] Furthermore, a grain inlet 311, a grain outlet 312, and an air intake 313 are provided on the upstream side of the first air passage 31. The grain inlet 311 is formed on the upper surface of the air passage wall, and the grain outlet 312 is formed on the lower surface of the air passage wall. The grain inlet 311 is an opening for taking grain from the storage tank 20 into the first air passage 31 via the lead roller 24. The grain outlet 312 is an opening for sending grain from the first air passage 31 to the oscillating sieve section 40. The air intake 313 is an opening for taking in air from the outside when the external fan is driven.

[0028] When grain is supplied from the grain inlet 311 while airflow is generated in the first air passage 31 and the second air passage 32, relatively light impurities rise through the first air passage 31 with the airflow and are sent to the second air passage 32, where they are discharged from the air passage outlet 321. On the other hand, relatively heavy impurities and refined grains pass through the first air passage 31 but do not reach the second air passage 32. Instead, they fall through the first air passage 31 due to their own weight and are sent from the grain outlet 312 to the sorting intake port 40a (see Figure 3) of the oscillating sieve section 40.

[0029] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the oscillating sieve section, and Figure 4 is a schematic top view showing the area around the uppermost sieve. Note that in Figure 4, for the sake of readability, only the components around the uppermost sieve 41 of the oscillating sieve section 40 are shown, and some components have been omitted.

[0030] The oscillating sieve section 40 has a sieve 41 (an example of a sorting section) whose mesh surface is inclined slightly (about 4 ± 0.5°) from the horizontal, and the sieve 41 is capable of oscillating along the inclination direction H. The sieve 41 is connected to a drive source such as a motor via a crank mechanism, and the sieve 41 oscillates when the drive source is driven.

[0031] The grains fed from the air separation section 30 to the oscillating sieve section 40 pass through the equalization tray 42 and are placed on the higher-angled end (high-position end 41a) of the sieve 41. As the sieve 41 oscillates, the grains move along the inclination direction H to the lower side. The equalization tray 42 has the function of equalizing the grains placed on the sieve 41 in the width direction W of the sieve 41 (a direction perpendicular to the inclination direction H). The refined grains contained in the grains fall through the mesh of the sieve 41, while impurities that do not pass through the mesh reach the lower-angled end (low-position end 41b) and are discharged to the outside of the coarse sorting device 10 from the impurity outlet 45. The refined grains that fall from the sieve 41 are collected on a collection platform 43 installed below the sieve 41 and discharged to the outside of the coarse sorting device 10 from the refined grain outlet 44 through the refined grain collection port 43a. Furthermore, if it is desired to further separate seeds (such as small grass seeds) that are mixed in with the refined grain, a mesh with smaller holes than the sieve 41 can be provided on the collection platform 43, and the collection platform 43 can be divided into upper and lower sections for separation (see Figure 4). At this time, the seeds are discharged to the outside of the coarse sorting device 10 through the seed collection port 43b and the seed outlet 46. Impurities that reach the lower end 41b are discharged to the outside of the coarse sorting device 10 through the impurities outlet 45.

[0032] The sieves 41 (and collection platform 43) may be provided in multiple stages (two stages in Figure 3) within the oscillating sieve section 40. If multiple stages of sieves 41 are provided, the equalization tray 42 distributes the grains evenly across the multiple stages of sieves 41.

[0033] The sieve 41 is equipped with a detection unit 48 (first sensor 48a to third sensor 48c) for detecting the thickness of the layer of supplied grain. The thickness of the grain layer corresponds to the height of the grain piled on the sieve 41. If the coarse sorting device 10 has multiple sieves 41, the detection unit 48 may be provided for one sieve 41, or for each sieve 41. Figure 3 illustrates a configuration in which the detection unit 48 is provided only on the upper sieve 41 of two upper and lower sieves 41. In this way, when multiple sieves 41 are provided, the amount of grain supplied can be appropriately controlled by reflecting the detection result from any of the sieves 41. Furthermore, costs can be reduced by minimizing the number of detection units 48 required.

[0034] In this embodiment, the detection unit 48 is an infrared sensor. That is, the detection unit 48 is a non-contact sensor that irradiates the grains with a detection wave and detects the thickness of the grain layer on the sieve 41 based on the reflected wave from the grains. By using a non-contact sensor that is less affected by small dust particles, the thickness of the grain layer can be detected with high accuracy. The detection unit 48 may use a different method as long as it can detect the thickness of the grain layer; for example, an optical sensor may be used.

[0035] Furthermore, the detection unit 48 may be provided with an aeration mechanism 47 (see Figure 5) for cleaning the detection surface facing the sieve 41. The aeration mechanism 47 sprays air onto the detection surface at regular intervals, blowing away any deposits on the detection surface and enabling stable detection over a long period of time.

[0036] In this embodiment, the detection unit 48 includes a first sensor 48a provided at the upstream end (high-position end 41a) in the inclination direction H, a second sensor 48b provided in the middle of the inclination direction H, and a third sensor 48c provided at the downstream end (low-position end 41b) in the inclination direction H. The detection unit 48 detects the thickness of the grain layer using the first sensor 48a and the second sensor 48b, and outputs a comparison value between the two as the detection result. The third sensor 48c detects the presence or absence of grain based on the grain layer thickness. In addition to the grain layer thickness, the first sensor 48a and the second sensor 48b may also detect the presence or absence of grain.

[0037] As the grains placed on the sieve 41 from the high-position end 41a move along the inclined direction H due to the swiveling of the sieve 41, the refined grains fall out, gradually reducing the thickness of the grain layer. Therefore, by comparing the thickness of the grain layer immediately after being supplied to the sieve 41 with the thickness of the grain layer at a position where it has been sufficiently transported, the degree of sorting can be grasped in detail. Furthermore, by detecting the presence or absence of grains at the end of the sieve 41 and reflecting this in the detection results, the sorting accuracy can be further improved.

[0038] During operation of the rough sorting device 10, the drive of the lead roller 24 and the oscillating sieve section 40 may be stopped if the amount of material stored in the storage tank 20 falls below the position of the lower limit sensor S2. The timing of stopping the lead roller 24 and the oscillating sieve section 40 may be at the same time as when the amount of material stored falls below the position of the lower limit sensor S2, or after a certain period of time has elapsed. By stopping the drive of the lead roller 24 and the oscillating sieve section 40, idling stop can be achieved when there is no material to be sorted.

[0039] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the rough sorting device.

[0040] In the rough sorting device 10, first, the amount of material stored in the storage tank 20 is determined based on the detection results of the upper limit sensor S1 and the lower limit sensor S2. Then, when the lower limit sensor S2 is ON, the lead roller 24 is driven in the inv mode after a preset time has elapsed (approximately 10 seconds). On the other hand, when the lower limit sensor S2 is OFF, the lead roller 24 is stopped after a preset time has elapsed (approximately 15 seconds). The time for driving or stopping the lead roller 24 may be adjusted as appropriate.

[0041] Next, the thickness of the grain layer in the sieve 41 is determined based on the detection results from the detection unit 48. Here, the values ​​detected by each sensor and the comparison values ​​are compared with a preset threshold. If the result is determined to be OK, the grain layer thickness is appropriate, and the operation of each part is maintained as is. On the other hand, if the result is determined to be NG, the rotation speed of the lead roller 24 is increased if the grain layer is narrow or thin, and the rotation speed of the lead roller 24 is decreased if the grain thickness is wide or thick, thereby adjusting the grain supply amount to be appropriate.

[0042] In this embodiment, a configuration with sensors in three locations is shown, but it is not limited to this. It is sufficient to have at least two sensors spaced apart along the inclination direction H, and the difference in grain layer thickness detected by each sensor should be output as the detection result. In this way, by taking into account not only the presence or absence of grain but also the degree of sorting based on the layer thickness in the inclination direction H, the sorting accuracy can be further improved. Furthermore, by making the mounting position of each sensor (mainly the second sensor 48b) adjustable along the inclination direction H, it is possible to accommodate sorting differences due to differences in grain (rice, wheat, soybeans, etc.). Specifically, the sensor mounting plate 51, to which each sensor is attached, is attached to the sieve 41. The sensor mounting plate 51 is provided with plate fixing holes 51a for screwing it to the sieve 41. The sieve 41 is provided with multiple mounting holes 41c corresponding to the plate fixing holes 51a, at regular intervals along the inclination direction H, and the mounting position of the sensors can be changed as appropriate (see Figures 7 and 8). Furthermore, the plate fixing holes 51a may be elongated along the inclination direction H so that the mounting position relative to the sieve 41 can be adjusted (see Figure 9).

[0043] The first sensor 48a to the third sensor 48c are located in the center of the sieve 41 in the width direction W. By placing the detection unit 48 in a position where there is little bias in the amount of grain supplied, it is possible to detect an appropriate layer thickness.

[0044] The detection result from the detection unit 48 is transmitted to the adjustment unit, which changes the rotation speed of the lead roller 24. In this way, sorting accuracy can be improved by adjusting the supply amount according to the thickness of the grain layers. In the control of the adjustment unit, it is sufficient to set a threshold for the thickness of the grain layers, and it is only necessary to decide whether to adjust the supply amount based on whether the threshold is exceeded.

[0045] Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and do not constitute a limiting interpretation. Accordingly, the technical scope of this disclosure is not to be interpreted solely by the embodiments described above, but is defined based on the claims. This includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of equivalents to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 Rough selection device 20 Storage tanks 30 Wind selection department 40 Oscillating sieve section 41. Sieve (an example of a sorting section) 42 equal portion trays 43 Collection Tray 43a Granule collection port 43b Seed collection port 44 Fine grain outlet 45 Exhaust material exit 46 Seed outlet 47 Aeration mechanism 48 Detection unit 48a First sensor (an example of a detection unit) 48b Second sensor (an example of a detection unit) 48c Third sensor (an example of a detection unit) S1 Upper limit sensor S2 Lower Limit Sensor

Claims

1. A coarse sorting device that removes impurities from grains, A storage tank for storing the aforementioned grain, A wind separation unit that removes a portion of the impurities from the grains, A sorting unit that causes the grain supplied from the wind separation unit to oscillate and flow downward in an inclined direction, A detection unit for detecting the layer thickness of the grains supplied to the sorting unit, The system includes an adjustment unit that adjusts the amount of grain supplied according to the detection result of the detection unit. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

2. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 1, The detection unit is provided at least two or more locations spaced apart along the inclination direction, and outputs a comparative value of the grain layer thickness detected at each location as the detection result. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

3. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 2, The detection unit includes a first sensor provided at the upstream end in the inclination direction and a second sensor provided at the intermediate part in the inclination direction. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

4. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 3, The detection unit includes a third sensor provided at the downstream end in the inclination direction. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

5. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 1, The detection unit is provided in the center of the sorting unit in the width direction perpendicular to the inclination direction. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

6. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 1, The sorting section is provided in multiple stages, The detection unit detects the layer thickness of the grains in any one of the sorting units. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

7. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 1, The detection unit is a non-contact sensor that irradiates the grain with a detection wave and detects the layer thickness of the grain based on the reflected wave from the grain. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

8. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 7, The detection unit has an aeration mechanism for cleaning the detection surface. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

9. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 1, The adjustment unit shall stop operating simultaneously or after a certain period of time has elapsed when the amount of liquid stored in the storage tank falls below a certain amount. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

10. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 1, The sorting unit shall stop operating after a certain period of time has elapsed if the adjustment unit stops operating. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

11. A rough sorting apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, The detection unit is adjustable in its mounting position in the inclined direction. A rough sorting device characterized by the following.

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