Rice hulling plant

Abstract

To provide a rice hulling plant which is simple as a device, is inexpensive, and improves sorting accuracy.SOLUTION: A rice hulling plant 1 separates grains after rice hulling into rough rice and hulled rice on a rocking sorting plate 51a by a hulling roll 20. The rice hulling plant 1 has a determination part 62 for imaging a distribution image of the rough rice and the hulled rice by a camera (imaging means) 59 for imaging the upper surface of the rocking sorting plate 51a, reading the image as imaging information, and comparing recommendation distribution image information previously storing a recommendation distribution state with the imaging information, and determining the image, and performs sorting control so that the image approaches a recommendation distribution image from the determination result of the determination part 62.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice hulling plant. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional rice hulling plant is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-47146 (Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes that an imaging means is provided for imaging the surface of a swaying sorting plate, and the distribution state of the unhulled rice and brown rice is evaluated based on the imaging information, and the inclination angle of the swaying sorting plate and the partition plate are controlled. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 7-47146 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned document, binary image information of unhulled and brown rice is created and image processing is performed so that each grain can be evaluated. This requires improving the computational processing capacity of the image data, and the equipment is complex and expensive.

[0005] In view of this situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a rice hulling plant that is simple and inexpensive as an apparatus and has improved sorting accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The rice hulling plant of this invention, which separates grains after hulling with a dehulling roll into rice and brown rice on a oscillating sorting plate, includes an imaging means for capturing an image of the distribution of rice and brown rice on the oscillating sorting plate and capturing it as image information, a judgment unit for comparing the image information with a recommended distribution area including recommended distribution image information in which a recommended distribution state is stored in advance, and a sorting control means for sorting the rice and brown rice so as to approach the recommended distribution area based on the judgment result of the judgment unit.

[0007] A recommended distribution area including recommended distribution image information for unhulled rice and brown rice is stored, the distribution state of unhulled rice and brown rice is imaged on the upper surface of the oscillating sorting plate by an imaging means, and the deviation between the layer (group) of unhulled rice and the layer (group) of brown rice is read from the image data, and automatic judgment and sorting control are performed, thereby improving sorting accuracy while maintaining a simple judgment method, and providing an inexpensive rice hulling plant.

[0008] Preferably, the sorting control means includes an inclination angle adjustment control means for adjusting the inclination angle of the oscillating sorting plate.

[0009] Since the inclination angle of the oscillating sorting plate can be adjusted, it is possible to improve sorting efficiency and sorting accuracy.

[0010] More preferably, the rice hulling plant includes a husking process as a pre-process for oscillating sorting using the oscillating sorting plate, and if the recommended distribution range is not reached even after adjusting the inclination angle of the oscillating sorting plate using the inclination angle adjustment means for a predetermined period of time, a husking rate control is executed to adjust the husking rate in the husking process.

[0011] If the recommended distribution range is not reached even after adjusting the inclination angle using the inclination angle adjustment control for a specified period of time, it is possible to improve the sorting efficiency and sorting accuracy by executing dehusking rate control to adjust the dehusking rate.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the rice hulling plant includes a supply amount adjustment process, which adjusts the amount of grains supplied to the oscillating sorting plate, as a subsequent process to the hulling process, and is characterized in that if the recommended distribution range is not reached even after performing hulling rate control in the hulling process for a predetermined period of time, the supply amount adjustment process is executed.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, if the amount of grain supplied to the oscillating sorting plate is adjusted in the supply amount adjustment process but does not reach the recommended distribution range, the oscillating sorting machine is stopped and manual readjustment is performed, and then automatic control is started again.

[0014] The sorting control means may store the recommended distribution image information according to the variety of grain.

[0015] The recommended distribution image information is stored according to the grain variety, making it possible to handle a wide variety of grain varieties.

[0016] The sorting control means may include a machine learning algorithm.

[0017] The sorting control means uses a machine learning algorithm, which improves sorting accuracy. Effect of the Invention

[0018] The device stores recommended distribution image information for unhulled rice and brown rice, captures an image of the distribution of unhulled rice and brown rice on a oscillating sorting plate by an imaging means, reads the deviation between the recommended distribution image information and the captured image data of the layer (group) of unhulled rice and the layer (group) of brown rice, and automatically determines and controls sorting so that the distribution of unhulled rice and brown rice on the upper surface of the oscillating sorting plate approaches the recommended distribution image information, thereby providing a simple and inexpensive rice hulling plant with improved sorting accuracy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a flow sheet of a rice hulling plant according to this embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a rice hulling plant. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a dehusking winnowing device. [Figure 4] A diagram showing the configuration of the husking roll pressure adjustment mechanism. [Diagram 5] A diagram showing the configuration of the husking roll pressure adjustment mechanism. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a roll swinging unit. [Figure 7] 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the sorting state and angle adjustment in the sorting main body. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the rice hulling plant. [Figure 9]FIG. 2 illustrates a wind monitor. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing undesirable sorting states in a rocking sorting plate. [Figure 11] 1 is a flowchart showing the process of a rice hulling plant. [Figure 12] 1 is a flowchart showing the process of a rice hulling plant. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a rice hulling plant according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a flow sheet of a rice hulling plant, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the rice hulling plant.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the rice hulling plant 1 is equipped with a raw material elevator 10, a roll tank 11, a dehusking and winnowing device 12, a mixed grain elevator 13, a mixed rice tank 14, a oscillating sorting device 15, and a brown rice elevator 16, and is a facility for producing brown rice by supplying rice as the raw material, performing dehusking and sorting while controlling each part with an equipment control device 18 (see Figure 2).

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the rice hulling plant 1 is configured by mounting a dehusking / winnowing device 12 above a trembling sorting device 15, and a work floor 2a is provided around the outer periphery of the upper part of the trembling sorting device 15 in a horizontally outward protruding manner, and a staircase 2b is provided for moving up and down to the work floor 2a.

[0024] First, the configuration of each part will be described with reference to each drawing and following the flow of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the raw material elevator 10 supplies raw material rice that has been subjected to the rough screening process in the previous process to a supply port 10a, and transports the rice upward. The transported rice flows out from a raw material outlet 10b formed at the top end of the raw material elevator 10 and falls into a roll tank 11.

[0025] The roll tank 11 is for temporarily storing the raw rice and has the function of supplying a fixed amount of rice to the dehusking / winnowing device 12 by a raw material supply mechanism 11b provided at the outlet 11a.

[0026] In addition, the raw material supply mechanism 11b is electrically connected to the equipment control device 18 (see Figure 8) and is configured to supply an amount of rice to the husking and winnowing device 12 according to a raw material supply amount control signal transmitted from the equipment control device 18.

[0027] The dehusking and winnowing device 12 is equipped with a roll-type dehusking section 25 that performs a dehusking process on the supplied rice grains, and a winnowing section 26 that removes rice husks and rice bran (immature rice) from the processed material after the dehusking process.

[0028] The roll-type husking section 25 is a section that performs husking processing by pressing the rice between a pair of built-in husking rolls 20L, 20R (see FIG. 3).

[0029] More specifically, the rice grains supplied from the roll tank 11 are passed through a raw material passage 21 shown in Fig. 3 and dropped onto a pair of dehusking rolls 20L, 20R in the roll-type dehusking section 25. The dehusking rolls 20L, 20R rotate inward at different speeds driven by a dehusking roll motor 20a (see Fig. 4), and the dropped rice grains are clamped and pressed against the dehusking rolls 20L, 20R, causing friction to perform the dehusking process.

[0030] The roll-type husking section 25 is also provided with a husking roll pressure adjustment mechanism 20b (see FIG. 4) that moves the husking roll 20L closer to or farther away from the fixed husking roll 20R, making it possible to adjust the pressure on the rice passing between the husking rolls 20L and 20R. The husking roll pressure adjustment mechanism 20b includes an air pressure adjustment section 28a, an air cylinder 28b, and a roll rotation section 28c.

[0031] The air pressure adjustment unit 28a is electrically connected to the equipment control device 18, and upon receiving a clamping force adjustment signal transmitted from the equipment control device 18, adjusts an internal regulator (not shown) to control the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the air cylinder 28b.

[0032] The air cylinder 28b is connected to the air pressure adjustment unit 28a via an air tube 20c, and expands and contracts a piston rod 28d (see FIG. 6) according to the pressure of the compressed air supplied.

[0033] The roll rotating section 28c is a mechanism for moving the husking roll shaft 17L around a rotation path centered on a rotation shaft 29a shown in FIG. 5 by extension and contraction of a piston rod 28d of an air cylinder 28b.

[0034] As shown in Figures 5 and 6(A), the roll rotation section 28c comprises a rotation shaft 29a, a cylindrical rotation shaft outer cylinder body 29b through which the rotation shaft 29a is inserted, a cylindrical husking roll shaft outer cylinder body 29d through which the husking roll shaft 17L that rotates the husking roll 20L is inserted, and an outer cylinder connecting piece 29e that connects the two outer cylinder bodies 29b, 29d.

[0035] In addition, the tip of the aforementioned piston rod 28d is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the husking roll shaft outer cylinder 29d, and by extending and contracting the piston rod 28d, the husking roll shaft 17L is rotated on an arc trajectory centered on the rotating shaft 29a, as shown in Figures 6(A) and (B), thereby making it possible to adjust the pressing force on the rice passing between the husking rolls 20L and 20R.

[0036] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 3, the processed material dehulled by the dehulling rolls 20L, 20R is guided by the guide plates 22a, 22b and falls from the drop port 23 to the winnowing section 26. The processed material includes unhulled rice, rice husks, etc., generated by the dehulling process.

[0037] In the winnowing section 26, the air inside is caused to flow by the suction force of an intake fan 24 (see FIG. 1) provided at the bottom of the dehusking winnowing device 12, and this flowing air removes the rice husks and rice bran.

[0038] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the winnowing section 26 generates an airflow inside the winnowing section 26 by sucking air inside the winnowing section 26 using the aforementioned intake fan 24 through a suction port 27 opening at approximately the center of the winnowing section 26, while allowing air to flow in through an air inlet 37 formed below the dehusking winnowing device 12.

[0039] The interior of the winnowing section 26 is provided with partitions to form air passages so that the treated materials can be separated appropriately, and the separated treated materials can be transported out as appropriate.

[0040] That is, the wind selection section 26 is equipped with a wind selection guide plate 32 formed from a rear wall 30 by intermittently setting a number of plate-like bodies upright, extending from the lower left side to the upper right side of the internal space 31, an arc-shaped guide plate 33 that guides the air flow that reaches the upper right tip of the wind selection guide plate 32 downward, and a suction port guide plate 34 that guides the air flow guided downward along the arc-shaped guide plate 33 to the underside of the wind selection guide plate 32.

[0041] The winnowing guide plate 32 is roughly divided into three parts: a first winnowing guide plate 32a disposed at a low position on the left end in the drawing, a second winnowing guide plate 32b disposed at approximately the center of the winnowing guide plate 32, and a third winnowing guide plate 32c disposed from the middle to the upper right end with its tip curved downward in an arc shape, which are disposed at intervals from each other.

[0042] The first winnowing guide plate 32a is a guide plate for guiding the air flow flowing in from the air inlet 37 to the left side of the winnowing section .

[0043] The second winnowing guide plate 32b and the third winnowing guide plate 32c are guide plates that form a winnowing air passage 32d between themselves and the guide plate 22b, and that guide the materials to be treated together with the airflow while winnowing them.

[0044] Further, at the bottom of the selection air passage 32d, there is provided an airflow control valve 66 for controlling the air volume of the air passage. The airflow control valve 66 is an automatic valve whose opening is adjusted by a motor in accordance with the processing amount.

[0045] Between the first winnowing guide plate 32a and the second winnowing guide plate 32b, a first removal section 35 is provided for removing brown rice and unhulled rice (hereinafter also referred to as first grains) that are not easily swept away by the air current, and the first grains can be removed from the rear surface of the winnowing device 12 by driving a first removal auger 35a disposed in the first removal section 35. A supply port 13a (Fig. 1) of the mixed grain elevator 13 is disposed on the rear surface side of the first removal section 35, and the removed first grains are lifted and transported by the mixed grain elevator 13 (Fig. 1) to be put into the mixed rice tank 14.

[0046] In addition, a second removal section 36 is provided between the second winnowing guide plate 32b and the third winnowing guide plate 32c to remove the rice which is somewhat susceptible to being swept away by the air current. By driving the second removal auger 36a arranged in the second removal section 36, the rice is transported to the front side of the page in Figure 3 and removed from the second removal outlet 36c (see Figure 2) provided on the left side of the rice hulling plant 1 via the second drop path 36b.

[0047] Then, when the rice husks, which are most likely to be swept away by the air current, reach the upper right end of the winnowing guide plate 32, they are guided together with the air current by the arc-shaped guide plate 33 and reach the dust separation chamber 38. This dust separation chamber 38 is a space with a relatively large cross-sectional area surrounded by the third winnowing guide plate 32c, the arc-shaped guide plate 33, and the suction port guide plate 34, and reduces the speed of the air current so that the rice husks are gravitationally separated from the air current.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, a rice husk removal section 39 for removing the rice husks separated by gravity is provided at the bottom of the dust separation chamber 38, and the rice husks can be removed from the back side of the husking / winnowing device 12 by driving a rice husk removal auger 39a arranged in the rice husk removal section 39.

[0049] The airflow from which the rice husks have been separated passes through the exhaust port 40 between the curved tip of the third winnowing guide plate 32c and the suction port guide plate 34, and is sucked in through the suction port 27 while traveling along the underside of the third winnowing guide plate 32c.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the first grain subjected to the dehusking process is transported upward by a mixed grain elevator 13 and stored in a mixed rice tank 14.

[0051] The mixed rice tank 14 is for temporarily storing the first rice grains, and has the function of supplying a fixed amount of the first rice grains to the oscillating sorting device 15 by a first rice grain supply mechanism 14b provided at its outlet 14a.

[0052] In addition, the first grain supply mechanism 14b is electrically connected to the equipment control device 18 and supplies the first grain to the oscillating sorter 15 in an amount according to a first grain supply amount control signal transmitted from the equipment control device 18.

[0053] In the oscillating sorting device 15, a sorting main body 51 (FIG. 7(B)) inclined both in the front-rear and left-right directions is disposed in a space surrounded in a substantially sealed manner by an outer casing 50.

[0054] The sorting main body 51 is configured by stacking flat oscillating sorting plates 51a (FIG. 7(B)) having projections and recesses on their upper surfaces in a plurality of stages.

[0055] In addition, the sorting main body 51 is connected to a swinging drive unit arranged at the bottom of the sorting main body 51, and by driving the swinging drive unit, the sorting main body 51 (each swinging sorting plate 51a) swings, so that the rice is sorted into a brown rice layer consisting of brown rice, a mixed layer consisting of brown rice and unhulled rice, and a rice layer consisting of unhulled rice, as shown in Figure 7 (A).

[0056] In addition, a sorting body angle adjustment mechanism 52 (see Figure 8) arranged at the bottom of the sorting main body 51 is connected to the sorting main body 51, and is configured to adjust the tilt angle of the sorting main body 51 (each oscillating sorting plate 51a) in the left-right direction, as shown in Figure 7 (B).

[0057] This sorting main body angle adjustment mechanism 52 is electrically connected to the equipment control device 18 and adjusts the inclination angle of the sorting main body 51 to an angle according to an angle adjustment signal transmitted from the equipment control device 18.

[0058] That is, the sorting body angle adjustment mechanism 52 operates as an inclination angle adjustment means for adjusting the inclination angle of the oscillating sorting plate 51a, thereby making it possible to improve sorting efficiency and sorting accuracy.

[0059] 7(A), the brown rice partition plate 53a is a partition plate for separating brown rice from a mixture of brown rice and unhulled rice, and the unhulled rice partition plate 53b is a partition plate for separating a mixture of brown rice and unhulled rice from unhulled rice. The brown rice partition plate 53a and the unhulled rice partition plate 53b are connected to each other by a connecting bar 53c that spans between them.

[0060] In addition, a partition position adjustment mechanism 54 is connected to the brown rice partition plate 53a, and by driving the partition position adjustment mechanism 54, the brown rice partition plate 53a and the connecting bar 53c are connected to each other. The position of the partition plate 53b for separating unhulled rice is adjustable.

[0061] This partition position adjustment mechanism 54 is composed of a position adjustment motor 54a, a rotating shaft 54b attached to the drive shaft of the position adjustment motor 54a, and a connecting piece 54c that is connected to the brown rice partition plate 53a while being screwed into a male threaded area formed on the rotating shaft 54b.

[0062] The position adjustment motor 54a is electrically connected to the equipment control device 18, and rotates the drive shaft by a predetermined amount by receiving a position adjustment signal from the equipment control device 18. The rotating shaft 54b rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the drive shaft of 54a, thereby moving the screwed connecting piece 54c in the left-right direction, and moving the brown rice partition plate 53a and the unhulled rice partition plate 53b together.

[0063] A sorting status detection sensor 55 for detecting the sorting status of the unhulled rice is disposed at the upper end of the unhulled rice partition plate 53b, and the sorting status detection sensor 55 is electrically connected to the equipment control device 18. The sorting status detection sensor 55 receives infrared rays reflected by the mixture and unhulled rice flowing down while being sorted, generates a signal according to the amount of light, and transmits it to the equipment control device 18 as a sorting status signal.

[0064] The equipment control device 18 calculates the boundary position between the mixture and unhulled rice from the sorting status signal transmitted from the sorting status detection sensor 55, and moves the position of the unhulled rice partition plate 53b to the boundary position by driving the position adjustment motor 54a.

[0065] The position in Figure 7(A) corresponds to the position of the lower end of the oscillating sorting plate 51a shown in Figure 1, and the three outlets A to C at the lower end of the oscillating sorting plate 51a shown in Figure 1 correspond to the outlets for the brown rice layer, the mixed layer, and the unhulled layer, respectively.

[0066] Next, a camera (imaging means) for capturing an image of the distribution of unhulled rice and brown rice on the upper surface of each oscillating sorting plate 51a of the sorting main body 51 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the camera 59, which is provided at the position shown in Fig. 7(B), is configured to capture an image of the discharge section at the lower end of the sorting main body 51, from which the brown rice layer of the sorting main body 51, the mixture layer of brown rice and unhulled rice, and the unhulled rice layer of unhulled rice have been sorted as described in Fig. 7(A).

[0067] Here, the brown rice layer and the unhulled rice layer are collected as they are, and the mixture layer is circulated as described later and separated into the brown rice layer and the unhulled rice layer.

[0068] The imaging unit 60 is shown in Figures 7(A) and (C). As shown in Figures 7(A) and (C), the discharge section at the end of the sorting main body 51 serves as the imaging unit 60. The above-mentioned components are adjusted so that the ratio of the brown rice layer, the mixture layer, and the unhulled rice layer in this imaging unit 60 matches the ratio in a predetermined master image (recommended distribution image information).

[0069] Here, as shown in Fig. 7(C), the ratio in the master image is set to a state where the brown rice layer and the mixed layer and the rice layer are in a ratio of approximately 9:1 at the discharge section on the upper surface of the oscillating sorting plate 51a. This is based on the empirical rule that such an adjustment makes the sorting state of the oscillating sorting plate 51a and the performance of the rice hulling plant 1 most stable.

[0070] In reality, the sorted items are processed at high speed, so when photographing, the shutter speed of the camera 59 is adjusted, green light is irradiated, and other appropriate conditions are used to photograph the items.

[0071] Up to this point, we have explained the sorting state of non-glutinous rice and glutinous rice. Wheat and barley do not undergo dehusking because a trembling sorting machine is used to remove impurities. Therefore, the only imaging criterion on the trembling sorting plate 51a is whether the grain layers are neatly spread out at the end. Therefore, for wheat and barley, a green light is not necessary.

[0072] Next, the control contents in this embodiment will be described, in which the imaging unit 60 of the rice hulling plant 1 takes an image using the camera 59, compares it with a preset master image, and performs the desired sorting.

[0073] In this embodiment, in a rice hulling plant 1 in which grains processed by the husking rolls 20 are separated on a oscillating sorting plate 51a into unhulled rice and brown rice, or into granulated rice and impurities, etc., a distribution image of unhulled rice and brown rice, etc., is captured by a camera 59 that captures an image of the upper surface of the oscillating sorting plate 51a and read as image information. This is compared with a master image and a number of OK / NG images previously stored in a memory 64 (see FIG. 8), and judged by a judging unit 62 (see FIG. 8), and sorting control is performed based on the judgment result so as to approach the recommended distribution image information. The judging unit 62 is composed of a CPU. Therefore, the judging unit 62 operates as a sorting control means.

[0074] In addition, for multiple OK / NG images, the judgment accuracy can be improved by adding or changing them as necessary.

[0075] With this configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of sorting while maintaining a simple judgment method, and to produce an inexpensive device.

[0076] Next, a specific sorting method will be described. Figures 11 and 12 are flow charts for explaining the sorting control carried out by the sorting control means in this embodiment to separate unhulled rice from brown rice in the rice hulling plant 1. Here, the sorting control means includes a rocking sorting process using the rocking sorting plate 51a, a subsequent husking process, and a subsequent supply amount adjustment process.

[0077] 11, in order to start up the rice hulling plant 1, start-up conditions are determined (step S10, hereinafter, step is omitted). The start-up conditions will be explained. Here, a case where non-glutinous rice is used as the grain variety will be explained.

[0078] There are five start-up conditions, which are as follows: First, it is determined whether the roll pressure of the husking roll 20 is the standard pressure (e.g., 0.35 MPa), whether the wind power control valve 66 is at the home position (this can be determined by the value of the potentiometer (see FIG. 9)), whether the sorting angle position of the oscillating sorting plate 51a is the standard position (whether LS15 is ON), whether the various switching valves are in the standard position (number 2 is circulation, and whether the remaining rice is circulated), and whether the supply amount to the oscillating sorting plate 51a is the lower limit LS standard.

[0079] Here, the standard position of the sorting angle of the oscillating sorting plate 51a is LS15, which is located midway between the upper end (LS13) and the lower end (LS14). The standard position of the supply amount to the oscillating sorting plate 51a is the encoder value based on the lower limit LS (for example, 50 is the standard value).

[0080] If the start-up conditions are not met (NG in S10), the rice hulling plant 1 will not start, and a message indicating that start-up is not possible will be displayed on a touch panel (not shown). If the start-up conditions are met in S10 (OK in S10), the wind power is checked (S11). If the wind power is within the appropriate range (OK in S11), wind power control continues, and the oscillating sorting plate 51a is normally controlled (S12). That is, normal control is performed until the grain layer spreads over the oscillating sorting plate 51a and the brown rice is discharged.

[0081] If the wind power confirmation in S11 is not appropriate (NG in S11), feedback control is performed, wind power adjustment is performed (S13), and the process returns to S11. This wind power adjustment is performed by referring to the wind power monitor 68 shown in Fig. 9. Here, the wind power monitor 68 is classified into idle (yellow), too strong (red), appropriate (green), too weak (red), and stopped (black), and is controlled to be appropriate (green).

[0082] The control conditions here are as follows when the dehusking roll 20 is pressed: The wind force monitor 68 performs feedback control so that the light converges to the appropriate level (green), and the motor is controlled based on the average value of the potentiometer (e.g., 40 times average in 10 seconds). The motor is controlled every 2 seconds (timer value, changeable), and the wind force check interval is every 30 seconds.

[0083] Once these checks have been completed, the imaging unit 60 shown in FIG. 7(C) is imaged by the camera 59, and the imaged result is compared with a preset master image (S14). If the comparison result between the master image and the multiple OK and NG images is good (OK in S14), the rice layer is monitored (S15). If the rice layer monitoring result is good (OK in S15), the process returns to S14 and the image is compared with the master image again (S14), and if it is OK, the rice layer is monitored again (S15). Here, S14 to S15 are repeated. The rice hulling plant 1 is stopped depending on whether the raw material runs out or if it is necessary to interrupt or finish the work.

[0084] Here, the judgment unit 62 (sorting control means) includes a machine learning algorithm, and the master image for sorting control is determined using the machine learning algorithm. That is, about 50 images each of the preferable images on the oscillating sorting plate 51a shown in Fig. 7(C), the master image and images similar to the master image (OK images), and the images of unfavorable sorting results (NG images) shown in Fig. 10(A) and Fig. 10(B) are stored in advance in the memory 64, and the sorting conditions are changed by comparing them and judging whether they match the master image.

[0085] If the comparison with the master image in S14 is unfavorable (NG in S14), or if the monitoring of the rice layer is unfavorable in S15 (NG in S15), it is determined whether the rice layer is wide (S16). If the rice layer is wide ("Wide" in S16), the sorting angle of the oscillating sorting plate 51a is lowered (DOWN) for 2 seconds (S17), and this is compared with the master image every 30 seconds (S21).

[0086] Here, the rice grain layer being "wide" refers to the case where the rice grain layer is about 2 / 10 of the original width (Figure 7(C)), as shown in Figure 10(A).

[0087] In S21, if the comparison result is favorable (OK in S21), the process returns to S14. If the comparison with the master image is unfavorable (NG1 in S21), the process returns to S17, the sorting angle is lowered (DOWN) for 2 seconds, and the image is compared with the master image again every 30 seconds (S21). This process is repeated up to 5 times (S22).

[0088] If the paddy layer is judged to be "narrow" in S16 as shown in Fig. 10(B), the sorting angle of the oscillating sorting plate 51a is made flat (UP) for two seconds (S18), and after 30 seconds have passed, the image is compared with the master image (S19). If the comparison result is favorable (OK in S19), the process returns to S14. If the comparison with the master image is unfavorable (NG1 in S19), the process returns to S18 and the sorting angle is increased for two seconds. This is repeated up to five times (S20), and the image is compared with the master image again (S19).

[0089] As described above, in this embodiment, sorting control is performed by adjusting the inclination angle of the oscillating sorting plate 51a. As a result, it is possible to improve sorting efficiency and sorting accuracy. The above steps are included in the oscillating sorting process.

[0090] In S19, if the comparison with the master image is still unfavorable (NG2 in S19), the roll pressure is reduced (-0.03 MPa) and a comparison with the master image is performed after one minute (S24). If the comparison result is favorable (OK in S24), the process returns to S14. If the comparison with the master image is unfavorable (NG1 in S24), the process returns to S23. This process is repeated up to five times (or up to an upper limit) (S32).

[0091] In S21, if the comparison with the master image is still unfavorable (NG2 in S21), the roll pressure of the husking roll 20 is increased (UP) by +0.03 MPa in order to increase the husking rate (S25). One minute after this is done, it is compared with the master image (S26). If the comparison result is good (OK in S26), the process returns to S14. In S26, if the comparison with the master image is unfavorable (NG1 in S26), the roll pressure is increased (+0.03 MPa) up to a maximum of five times or up to the upper limit (S27), and the image is compared with the master image again (S26). This is the entire husking process.

[0092] As described above, in this embodiment, if the recommended distribution range shown in the master image is not reached even after the tilt angle adjustment by the tilt angle adjustment means is performed for a predetermined time, the roll pressure of the husking roll 20 is changed to adjust the husking rate, thereby implementing dehusking rate control. As a result, it becomes possible to improve the sorting efficiency and sorting accuracy.

[0093] In S24, if the comparison with the master image is still not favorable (NG2 in S24), the supply amount to the oscillating sorting plate 51a is increased for 3 seconds (S33), and after 1 minute, a comparison with the master image is performed (S34). This is repeated a maximum of 5 times or until it is fully open (S35). In S34, if the comparison result is favorable (OK in S34), the process returns to S14.

[0094] On the other hand, if the comparison with the master image is still unfavorable in S26 (NG2 in S26), the supply amount to the oscillating sorting plate 51a is reduced for three seconds (S28), and a comparison with the master image is made one minute later (S29).

[0095] If the comparison result is good (OK in S29), the process returns to S14. If the comparison with the master image is not good (NG1 in S29), the process returns to S28, where the supply amount to the oscillating sorting plate 51a is reduced for three seconds and then compared with the master image again (S29). This is repeated a maximum of five times or until the plate is fully closed (S30). The process up to this point is included in the supply amount adjustment process.

[0096] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the recommended distribution image cannot be obtained even if the husking rate is changed, a process is performed to reduce the supply amount to the oscillating sorting plate 51a.

[0097] Normally, an image similar to the master image is obtained by the process up to this point, but if the comparison with the master image is still unfavorable in S34 (NG2 in S34), the oscillating sorting plate 51a is temporarily stopped and an announcement is made on a touch panel (not shown) (S31). After checking the state of the oscillating sorting plate 51a, it is manually readjusted, and then sorting machine control is resumed (control is resumed from F under S12 in FIG. 11).

[0098] As described above, in this embodiment, when the desired recommended distribution image cannot be obtained even if the supply amount to the oscillating sorting plate 51a is reduced, the oscillating sorting plate 51a is temporarily stopped.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the master image as the recommended distribution image information is described as being of non-glutinous rice, but other grain varieties may be used. Examples of other grain varieties include glutinous rice, wheat, barley, feed rice, malt, etc. Such selection of grain varieties is performed on a touch panel (not shown) before starting up the rice hulling plant 1.

[0100] In the above embodiment, the ratio in the master image is set to a state in which the brown rice layer and mixed layer and the unhulled layer are in a ratio of approximately 9:1 at the discharge section on the upper surface of the oscillating sorting plate, but strictly speaking, the best situation is when the sorting plate surface (base material) is visible for about 1 cm in the unhulled layer area (right end of the oscillating sorting plate 51a) for non-glutinous rice.

[0101] In the above embodiment, the case where the method is applied to a specific grain has been described, but it is also possible to select any new grain, visually set a plurality of suitable master images and unsuitable images, and use them to select any grain. In this case, the determination unit performs deep learning.

[0102] In the above embodiment, a partition plate for separating brown rice and unhulled rice is provided at the outlet of the oscillating sorting plate. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may not be provided.

[0103] In the above embodiment, the dehulling method is described as being of the roll type, but this is not limiting and may be of an impact type or the like.

[0104] In the above embodiment, in order to obtain a master image, the steps were changed in the sorting angle of the oscillating sorting plate, the husking rate was improved, and the amount of grain supplied to the oscillating sorting plate was changed. However, this is not limited to the above and the order may be changed depending on the grain.

[0105] Furthermore, the time and number of control operations in each process, the roll pressure value, etc. may be made to be changeable as desired depending on the operating conditions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1. Rice hulling plant 10 Raw material elevator 11 Roll Tank 12 Slipping wind selection device 13 Mixed grain lift 14 Mixed rice tank 15. Swinging sorting device 16 Brown rice lifting machine 17 Husking roll shaft 18 Facility control device 20L, 20R Husking Roll 21 Raw material aisle 24 Intake fan 26 Wind selection department 32 Windscreening Information Board 37 Air inlet 51 Sorting main body 51a Swinging sorting plate 52 Sorting angle adjustment mechanism 55 Sorting status detection sensor 59 Camera (imaging means) 60 Imaging unit 62 Judgment section 64 Memory 68 Wind Monitor

Claims

1. A rice hulling plant separates the grains after husking with a husking roll into husked rice and brown rice on a rocking sorting plate. An imaging means for capturing an image of the distribution of the unhulled rice and the brown rice on the oscillating sorting plate as imaging information; a determination unit for comparing a recommended distribution region including recommended distribution image information in which a recommended distribution state is stored in advance with the imaging information and making a determination; A sorting control means for sorting the unhulled rice and the brown rice so as to approach the recommended distribution region based on the judgment result of the judgment unit, The recommended distribution state is characterized in that when the rice is sorted into a brown rice layer consisting of brown rice, a mixed layer consisting of brown rice and unhulled rice, and an unhulled rice layer consisting of unhulled rice, the ratio of the brown rice layer and the mixed layer to the unhulled rice layer is a predetermined ratio.

2. 2. The rice hulling plant according to claim 1, wherein the sorting control means includes an inclination angle adjusting means for adjusting the inclination angle of the oscillating sorting plate.

3. The rice hulling plant includes a husking process as a pre-process of the rocking sorting process by the rocking sorting plate, A rice hulling plant as described in claim 2, characterized in that if the recommended distribution range is not reached even after adjusting the inclination angle of the oscillating sorting plate by the inclination angle adjustment means for a predetermined period of time, a hulling rate control is executed to adjust the hulling rate in the hulling process.

4. The rice hulling plant includes a supply amount adjustment process for adjusting the amount of the grains supplied to the oscillating sorting plate as a process subsequent to the husking process, 4. The rice hulling plant according to claim 3, further comprising a step of: executing the supply amount adjustment step when the recommended distribution range is not reached even after a predetermined period of time of controlling the hulling rate in the hulling step.

5. A rice hulling plant as described in claim 4, characterized in that if the recommended distribution range is not reached even when the amount of grain supplied to the oscillating sorting plate is adjusted in the supply amount adjustment process, the oscillating sorting process is temporarily halted.

6. 2. The rice hulling plant according to claim 1, wherein the sorting control means stores the recommended distribution image information according to the variety of the grain.

7. 7. The rice hulling plant according to claim 6, wherein the varieties of grains include rice, non-glutinous rice, glutinous rice, feed rice, wheat, barley, and malting barley.

8. 2. A rice hulling plant as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sorting control means includes a machine learning algorithm.

Images