Huller and sorter

Abstract

To provide a mixed rice lifter (4) of a rice hulling and sorting machine and a finished rice lifter (7) thereof in which residual rice of respective bottom parts is efficiently removed.SOLUTION: A rice hulling and sorting machine comprises the steps of: a residual rice process operation in which a circulation / discharge switching valve (59) is switched, when storage of a mixed rice tank (5) is specified quantity or less during rice hulling and sorting operation, to the circulation side, residual unhulled-rice is returned, when the circulation / discharge switching valve (59) is switched to the circulation side, to a hulling device (2) to be hulled, and then the circulation / discharge switching valve (59) is switched to the discharge side again so that the residual rice is discharged through a finished rice lifter 7 to outside of the machine; and a cleaning mode operation in which air from a compressor (41) is jetted, when the circulation / discharge switching valve 59 is switched to the discharge side after the residual rice process operation, into a mixed rice lifter (4) and then the air is jetted into the finished rice lifter 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice huller and sorter, and more particularly to a conveying device that conveys rice to a multi-stage oscillating sorting plate that separates unhulled rice and brown rice by gravity, and a residual rice processing device for removing the rice from the conveying device outside the machine. [Background technology]

[0002] In conventional rice hulling and sorting machines, an air nozzle is provided with an air outlet facing the bottom of the mixed rice lifting machine in order to remove mixed rice such as unhulled rice and brown rice remaining at the bottom of the mixed rice lifting machine, and further, an air nozzle is provided with an air outlet facing the bottom of the brown rice lifting machine in order to remove brown rice and other rice remaining at the bottom of the brown rice lifting machine (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-55280 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] According to the configuration of Patent Document 1, the air jet from the air nozzle can remove the unhulled rice and brown rice that tend to remain at the bottom of the mixed rice lifter and the brown rice lifter.

[0005] The present invention aims to efficiently remove residual rice from the bottom of the mixed rice elevator (4) and the finished rice elevator (7). [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides the following technical means to solve the above problems.

[0007] The invention according to claim 1 comprises a huller (2) for husking rice grains, a winnowing section (3) for winnowing the mixed rice that is the husked grains, a mixed rice elevator (4) for lifting the mixed rice, a mixed rice tank (5) for storing the mixed rice, a vibration sorting device (6) for sorting the mixed rice, and a finished rice elevator (7) for lifting the finished brown rice, Air is sprayed towards the bottom of the mixed rice elevator (4) and the finished rice elevator (7). For mixed rice elevator An air nozzle (40) and an air nozzle (46) for a finishing rice elevator are provided, a circulation / discharge switching valve (59) that switches between a discharge side that guides the sorted brown rice of the oscillating sorting plate (14) to the finished rice elevator (7) and a circulation side that guides the sorted brown rice to the re-sorting path (13); During the husking and sorting operation, when the mixed rice tank (5) falls below a predetermined level, the circulation / discharge selector valve (59) is switched to the circulation side, and when the circulation / discharge selector valve (59) is switched to the circulation side, the remaining rice is returned to the husker (2) and husked, and then the circulation / discharge selector valve (59) is switched back to the discharge side, and the remaining rice is discharged outside the machine via the finished rice elevator (7), thus completing the remaining rice processing operation. When the circulation / discharge switching valve (59) switches to the discharge side during the residual rice treatment operation, air from the compressor (41) Air nozzle for mixed rice elevator (40) Air is sprayed onto the mixed rice elevator (4), and then Air from the compressor (41) is fed through the air nozzle (46) for the finishing lift. It is characterized by a cleaning mode operation in which air is sprayed onto the finishing rice elevator (7).

[0008] The invention as set forth in claim 2 is characterized in that in the invention as set forth in claim 1, the cleaning mode operation initially performs continuous air ejection and switches to intermittent air ejection midway through. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, residual rice in the mixed rice elevator and the finished rice elevator can be efficiently removed by supplying air. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] Front perspective view of rice huller and sorter [Figure 2]Front view of the internal structure of the rice huller and sorter [Figure 3] Sorting distribution status of the rocking sorting plate [Figure 4] Front view (a) and side view (b) of the shaking separator [Figure 5] Perspective view of the unhulled rice separator [Figure 6] Internal perspective front view including a partial arrow view of the mixed rice distribution section [Figure 7] (a) Exploded perspective view of the foreign object receiver and (b) side view of the main part [Figure 8] Diagram showing the transmission state and compressed air distribution connection state [Figure 9] (a) A cross-sectional view of the mixed rice transport trough and the mixed rice elevator, and (b) a cross-sectional view of the back showing the mixed rice transport trough and the second air nozzle installation status. [Figure 10] Figure 9(a) Cross-sectional view of the lower part of the mixed rice elevator indicated by AA [Figure 11] (a) Front view showing the arrangement of the hoses connected to the air nozzle, (b) left side view, and (c) plan view of the elevator connection part of the mixed rice transport trough [Figure 12] (a) Top perspective view of the control panel and its surroundings, (b) Front view of the control panel and its surroundings [Figure 13] A perspective view showing the interlocking structure of the operation lever and other main parts. [Figure 14] Control Block Diagram [Figure 15] flowchart [Figure 16] Time Chart DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] First, the entire rice huller and sorter to which the present invention is applied will be described.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the rice hulling and sorting machine 1 is composed of a rice hulling device 2 at the left end of the front side of the machine body, a winnowing section 3 equipped with a rice husk duct 3a, a mixed rice elevator 4 and a mixed rice tank 5 arranged at the rear of the machine, a long oscillating sorting device 6 that receives the mixed rice tank 5 at the rear, and a finished rice elevator 7 at the side of the device.

[0014] As shown in the front view of Figure 2, the internal structure of the rice huller and sorter 1 is such that a rice hopper 2a for storing rice grains is placed above a roll-type rice huller 2, the hulled grains from the rice huller 2 are winnowed by a winnowing section 3, and the separated rice husks are discharged from a rice husk duct 3a, and the winnowed grains (a mixture of rice grains and brown rice) are stored in a mixed rice tank 5 by a mixed rice elevator 4, and this mixed rice is supplied from the mixed rice tank 5, which has an adjustable supply, to the sorting start end H of the oscillating sorting device 6, and the brown rice is gravity-sorted on the shaking up side by the left-right swinging action of the oscillating sorting device 6, and the sorted brown rice is partitioned by placing a movable brown rice partition plate 8 at the sorting end end T in line with the sorting area A of the brown rice, and the sorted brown rice is discharged as finished brown rice via a discharge path 9 leading to the finished rice elevator 7 (Figure 3).

[0015] On the other hand, by arranging a movable rice partition plate 10 to match the rice area B of the oscillating sorting device 6, the sorted rice in the rice area B is returned to the hulling device 2 again via a re-hulling path 12 leading to the thrower 11, and the remaining mixed rice sorted into the mixed rice area C is circulated and supplied again to the oscillating sorting device 6 via a re-sorting path 13 leading to the mixed rice elevator 4. In this way, as the hulling work progresses, brown rice is sorted and discharged from the brown rice area A as finished brown rice by the finished rice elevator 5.

[0016] The oscillating sorting device 6 will now be described in detail. As shown in the front view (a) and side view (b) of Figure 4, the device is made up of an integrated sorting section in which long oscillating sorting plates 14 are fixed in multiple stages by side plates 14a, 14b, and a mixed rice distribution section made up of distribution receivers 15 on the upper back side of the sorting section that receive mixed rice and distribute it to each oscillating sorting plate 14. The left side plate 14a, which is the lower side of the oscillating section, is equipped with an unhulled / brown rice separator 16 that guides the sorted rice in the unhulled area B to the re-hulling path 12.

[0017] The multi-stage oscillating sorting plates 14 that make up the oscillating sorting device 6 each have a large number of sorting recesses 14c formed in them, and by tilting left and right while receiving mixed rice from the distribution receiving section 15 with the right side of the plate as a whole tilted higher in the left-right direction and the rear end of the sorting start end side H being higher, the grains are gravity sorted with each front end being the sorting end side T. On the up-swinging side of the oscillating sorting plate 14, a brown rice region A of the brown rice layer is formed, on the down-swinging side, a rice paddy region B of the rice paddy layer is formed, and in the middle, a mixed rice region C of the mixed rice layer is formed.

[0018] Each oscillating sorting plate 14 of the oscillating sorting device 6 is provided with a paddy guide opening 17 on the side of the sorting end side T of the paddy area B to remove paddy from the paddy area B, and a box-shaped paddy / brown rice separator 16 is attached via a side plate 14a at a position opposite to the side of the paddy guide opening 17. Paddy from the paddy area B of each oscillating sorting plate 14 flows into the paddy / brown rice separator 16 through the paddy guide opening 17, where it separates brown rice mixed in with the paddy, guides the paddy to the re-hulling path 12, and guides the brown rice to the re-sorting path 13.

[0019] Inside the unhulled / brown rice separator 16, there are provided perforated plates 16a with a number of mesh holes that allow brown rice mixed in with the unhulled rice to pass through, the number of which corresponds to the number of stages of the oscillating sorting plates 14. Below each perforated plate 16a, there is provided a brown rice guide plate 16b that receives the brown rice that has passed through the mesh. In other words, the perforated plates 16a and the brown rice guide plates 16b are arranged alternately in the vertical direction.

[0020] On the brown rice discharge side of the brown rice guide plate 16b, a brown rice guide passage 18 is provided to guide all the brown rice discharged from each brown rice guide plate 16b, and this brown rice guide passage 18 is connected to the re-sorting path 13. In addition, a rice husk guide passage 19 is provided to guide all the rice that has not leaked through the perforated plates 16a of each stage, and this rice husk guide passage 19 is connected to the re-hulling path 12.

[0021] In this embodiment, the brown rice guide passage 18 is disposed on the side of the brown rice guide plate 16b, and the unhulled rice guide passage 19 is disposed in front of the perforated plate 16a.

[0022] Each perforated plate 16a is separated from the brown rice guide passage 18 by a rice partition wall 16S, the brown rice guide plate 16b is connected to the brown rice guide passage 18, each perforated plate 16a is connected to the rice guide passage 19, and the brown rice guide plate 16b is separated from the rice guide passage 19 by a rice partition wall 16G. In other words, the perforated plate 16a, the brown rice guide plate 16b, the rice guide passage 19, the brown rice guide passage 18, the rice partition wall 16S, and the brown rice partition wall 16G are provided inside the box body of the rice / brown rice separator 16.

[0023] The unhulled rice in the unhulled area B flows into the perforated plate 16a of the unhulled / brown rice separator 16 through the perforated plate 16a and the unhulled rice guide port 17 provided in each of the multi-stage oscillating sorting plates 14. The brown rice mixed in through the perforated plate 16a leaks through, and the unhulled rice remaining on the perforated plate 16a flows into the unhulled rice guide path 19 while being prevented from flowing into the unhulled rice guide path 18 by the perforated plate 16S, and then falls into and is guided to the re-hulling path 12. The brown rice that leaks through the perforated plate 16a falls onto the brown rice guide plate 16b and is supplied, and while being prevented from flowing into the unhulled rice guide path 19 by the perforated plate 16G, it enters the brown rice guide path 18 and falls, and is guided to the re-sorting path 13. With this configuration, the brown rice mixed in with the unhulled rice removed from the unhulled area B can be sorted accurately without retention by sorting at each stage.

[0024] In this case, by providing the paddy / brown rice separator 16 along the outside of the side plate 14a and forming a long sorting process using the long perforated plate 16a in the front-to-rear direction, the accuracy of sorting between paddy and brown rice can be improved, thereby reducing the amount of brown rice returning to the huller 2 and the amount of brown rice with loose skin due to second hulling.In addition, the sorted brown rice can be quickly re-sorted via the re-sorting path 13.

[0025] Furthermore, by providing each brown rice guide plate 16b with an inclination angle that sends brown rice to the brown rice guide passage 18 below the perforated plate 16a of the rice husk guide opening 17, the sorted grains that have fallen through the perforated plate 16a are quickly guided, enabling efficient re-sorting without retention. Furthermore, the perforated plate 16a is positioned parallel to the oscillating sorting plate 14, and like the oscillating sorting plate, is configured to be inclined downward in the front-to-back direction, allowing the rice husks to be smoothly discharged into the rice husk guide passage 19.

[0026] In addition, by connecting a re-sorting connecting section 18a, which is provided at an angle below the oscillating sorting plate 14, to the lower end of the brown rice guide passage 18 and connecting the re-sorting connecting section 18a to the re-sorting path 13, the re-sorting connecting section 18a is provided behind the paddy guide passage 19, and the transport processes for the paddy and brown rice separated by the paddy / brown rice separator 16 can be configured simply.

[0027] The distribution receiver 15 is provided below the mixed rice tank 5 and supplies the mixed rice from the mixed rice tank 5 through a wide transfer gutter 15a to a distribution gutter 14d that distributes the mixed rice from the back side of the multi-stage oscillating sorting plate 14 to each stage. The distribution receiver 15 shown in the perspective front view including a partial arrow view in Figure 6 has a horizontally positioned receiving perforated plate 20 with perforations 20a formed therein to separate long foreign objects D mixed in with the mixed rice, and a side discharge port 21 formed at the discharge end for discharging the long foreign objects D to the side. Between the discharge end of the receiving perforated plate 20 and the side discharge port 21, a sorting perforated plate 22 with perforations 22a formed therein is provided, allowing the mixed rice to drip down and be supplied to the uppermost oscillating sorting plate 14. The perforations 22a are formed at least across the entire width of the receiving perforated plate 20 on the discharge end side. Almost the majority of the mixed rice drips down from the receiving perforated plate 20 into the transfer trough 15a and is transferred to the distribution trough 14d, and a transfer rack may be appropriately formed in the transfer trough 15a.

[0028] On the swinging down side of the distribution receiving section 15, an equalizing valve 23 for adjusting the flow rate is provided so that the amount of water flowing from the distribution gutter 14d to each stage of the swinging sorting plate 14 can be made uniform. In addition, the subsequent sorting section perforated plate 22 is a short section that is slightly inclined upward toward the side discharge port 21, so that the transport of long foreign objects D is delayed while the remaining mixed rice is allowed to drip down.

[0029] The receiving perforated plate 20 configured as described above distributes and supplies the mixed rice received from the mixed rice tank 5 to each of the oscillating sorting plates 14 by causing it to leak onto the mixed rice flow-down plate 15a below due to its oscillating action, and long foreign objects D in the mixed rice remaining on the receiving perforated plate 20 are transferred to its terminal end by the oscillating motion. These long foreign objects D then move to the sorting perforated plate 22, where the mixed rice mixed with the long foreign objects D leaks down and is supplied to the uppermost oscillating sorting plate 14, while the long foreign objects D are discharged from the side discharge port 21. Therefore, with the simple configuration of the receiving perforated plate 20 and the sorting perforated plate 22, long foreign objects D such as straw chips can be discharged one after another.

[0030] In this case, by arranging the sorting section perforated plate 22 in a position opposite the uppermost oscillating sorting plate 14, the mixed rice can be supplied to the oscillating sorting plate 14 without the need for any special guide members. In addition, by forming the sorting section perforated plate 22 with an upward inclination up to the side discharge outlet 21, the movement of long foreign objects D is suppressed, and the mixed rice can be reliably allowed to leak down.

[0031] 7(a) and 7(b), the foreign object receiver 21D that receives the long foreign objects D from the side discharge outlet 21 is configured by providing a receiving plate portion 24b that can be opened in an opening formed in a protruding portion 24a of an exterior cover 24 that covers the back side of the oscillating sorting plate 14 directly below the side discharge outlet 21. In other words, the receiving plate portion 24b forms a part of the exterior cover 24.

[0032] This foreign object receiver 21D pivotally supports the receiving plate 24b so that it can be opened using a hinge or the like, thereby preventing foreign objects from entering from the outside when closed, and also receives and stores long foreign objects D separated from the mixed rice received in the mixed rice distribution section through the side discharge port 21. By rotating and opening the receiving plate section 24b at a position to the side of the machine, the stored foreign objects D are dropped and discharged outside the machine using the receiving plate section 24b as an inclined guide, so that the stored foreign objects D can be stored in a storage member (not shown) located below without the operator having to touch them.

[0033] In this case, by providing a partition 24c surrounding the opening formed in the protruding portion 24a, it is possible to prevent the foreign matter D received by the receiving plate portion 24b from scattering.

[0034] The transmission configuration of each part of the rice huller and sorter using the motor 25 (Figure 8) transmits power from the motor 25 via the first belt 26 to the roll shaft 2c that supports the hulling rolls 2b, 2b of the rice huller 2, and from this roll shaft 2c via the second belt 27, power is transmitted to the oscillating shaft 28a of the hulled rice transport shelf 28, the linked shaft 4a of the mixed rice elevator 4, the second spiral 29 shaft, and the linked shaft of the oscillating sorter 6, etc. The elevator 4 interlocking shaft 4a transmits power to the mixed rice elevator 4 interlocking shaft 4a and the mixed rice spiral 31 shaft via the third belt 30, the second spiral 29 shaft transmits power to the fan 3c shaft of the suction blower 3b via the fourth belt 32, the oscillating sorting device 6 interlocking shaft 6a transmits power to the oscillating crank shaft 6b via the fifth belt 33, and the finishing rice elevator 7 shaft transmits power via the sixth belt 34.

[0035] Next, the mixed rice transport configuration and the remaining rice processing configuration will be explained with reference to Figures 9 and 10. The mixed rice screw 31 is placed in the mixed rice transport trough 35, and is configured to receive the polished rice flowing down from the polished rice transport shelf 28 of the huller 2 and the mixed rice in the re-sorting path 13 and transport them to the mixed rice elevator 4. The mixed rice elevator 4, which has multiple buckets 4b, 4b... attached to an endless belt 4c and wound around upper and lower pulleys 4u, 4d, is installed at the rear of the body of the huller and sorter 1, behind the winnowing section 3. The transfer terminal side of the mixed rice transport trough 35 is connected to the lower end of the mixed rice elevator 4. The connecting portion 35a of this mixed rice transfer gutter 35 is fixed to the grain scooping side (downward process side) of the buckets 4b, 4b..., and the mixed rice transferred within the mixed rice transfer gutter 35 by the rotation of the mixed rice spiral 31 is guided downward to the bottom of the mixed rice elevator 4 through a connecting opening to the lower end side wall of the elevator 4.

[0036] An on-off valve 36 is provided along the conveying direction of the mixed rice transfer gutter 35, and is configured to be able to open and close the bottom of the mixed rice transfer gutter 35, allowing the discharge of residual rice that accumulates at the bottom of this transfer gutter 35. Below the on-off valve 36, a residual rice receiving box 37 is provided as a residual rice receiving section to receive the discharged residual rice.

[0037] The mixed rice elevator 4 is erected behind the body of the rice huller and sorter 1, leaving a space for the second belt 27, i.e., an appropriate distance behind the rear cover 38 that covers the rear of the body, and the terminal end of the transfer gutter, which is the connection part 35a of the mixed rice transfer gutter 35, is also located behind the body, and the bottom opening of the mixed rice transfer gutter 35 and the corresponding opening / closing valve 36 are arranged in a section inside the body of the machine.

[0038] A first air nozzle 40 is disposed at the bottom of the mixed rice elevator 4. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the first air nozzle 40 is attached to the side wall opposite to the side connected to the mixed rice transfer gutter 35, and the air jet direction (C) of the first air nozzle 40 is set diagonally downward toward the bottom of the mixed rice elevator 4. Compressed air is supplied to this first air nozzle 40 via a connecting hose 42 from a compressor 41 installed in front of the body of the rice huller and sorter 1.

[0039] As described above, since the first air nozzle 40 is provided, after the hulling and sorting operation is completed, the remaining rice at the bottom of the mixed rice elevator 4 is lifted up by the air sprayed from the nozzle, and can be efficiently scooped up by the buckets 4b, 4b, etc.

[0040] A second air nozzle 43 is provided at the connecting portion 35a of the mixed rice transfer trough 35 with the mixed rice elevator 4. The second air nozzle 43 is attached to the upper wall of the mixed rice transfer trough 35, with the nozzle spray direction facing upstream of the transfer direction (B), opposite to the transfer direction (B) of the mixed rice spiral 31. The support 44 of the second air nozzle 43 consists of a base plate 44a and an upward bulge 44c with a nozzle mounting surface 44b, and is attached corresponding to a hole formed in the upper wall of the connecting portion 35a of the mixed rice transfer trough 35. The nozzle mounting surface 44b forms an angle α with the horizontal plane, determining the spray direction (A) of the second air nozzle 43.

[0041] In this way, by providing the second air nozzle 43, after the hulling and sorting operation is completed, the mixed rice spiral 31 and the mixed rice elevator 4 are driven, and by opening the on-off valve 36 and spraying air from the second air nozzle 43, the mixed rice that is about to be transferred to the transfer terminal end of the mixed rice transfer gutter 35 can be collected into the remaining rice receiving box 37 through the opening of the on-off valve 36. Because the connection part 35a of the mixed rice transfer gutter 35 does not have an on-off valve 36, the remaining rice can be moved in the opposite direction to the transfer direction by the second air nozzle 43 to the location of the on-off valve 36 by spraying air, thereby minimizing the amount of remaining rice.

[0042] Furthermore, a third air nozzle 45 is provided at the start of the mixed rice transfer gutter 35 in the direction of mixed rice transfer, and a fourth air nozzle 46 is provided at the bottom of the finished rice elevator 7. The third air nozzle 45 promotes the discharge of residual rice in the mixed rice transfer gutter 35 downward through the on-off valve 36. It is also attached using an inspection cover 47 attached to the front of the machine, making inspection and replacement work easy. It is equipped with a support part 48 having a base plate 48a and a nozzle mounting surface 48b. The fourth air nozzle 46 splashes up residual rice at the bottom of the finished rice elevator 7, increasing the efficiency of the bucket.

[0043] The compressor 41 is installed at the front of the rice huller / sorter 1 body, and an air filter 50 and an air valve 51 are connected in series to the compressor 41 on a front cover 49 on the front side of the body. The air valve 51, which switches the air supply on and off, branches into two and is connected to a first connection hose 42a and a second connection hose 42b, of which the first connection hose 42a is connected to the third air nozzle 45 and the fourth air nozzle 46 via a branching portion midway. On the other hand, the second connection hose 42b is extended to the rear of the body and connected to the first air nozzle 40 and the second air nozzle 43. The air valve 51 is one form of switching means, but is in the form of an electromagnetically operated directional control valve as described below.

[0044] An operating lever 55 is provided on the front of the winnowing section 3 so as to be operable back and forth along a guide groove 56 in the left-right direction.

[0045] When the operating lever 55 is operated to the first operating position at the left end of the guide groove 56, the rice shutter valve 57 is in the closed state, the swing drive device 58 is in the off state, the circulation / discharge changeover valve 59 is switched to the circulation state, and the "start / stop" lamp L1 is lit. When the operating lever 55 is switched to the second operating position at the middle part in the left-right direction of the guide groove 56, the rice shutter valve 57 is in the open state, the swing drive device 58 is in the driven state, and the circulation / discharge changeover valve 59 is switched to the circulation state, and the "circulation" lamp L2 is lit. When the operating lever 55 is switched to the third operating position at the right end of the guide groove 56, the rice shutter valve 31 is in the open state, the swing drive device 32 is in the driven state, and the circulation / discharge changeover valve 59 is switched to the discharge state, and the "discharge" lamp L3 is lit.

[0046] The circulation / discharge switching valve 59 is configured to switch between the discharge side, which guides the sorted brown rice on the surface of the oscillating sorting plate 14 to the finished rice elevator 7 via the discharge path 9, and the circulation side, which guides the sorted brown rice to the re-sorting path 13. When the amount of sorted material on the surface of the oscillating sorting plate 14 decreases, unhulled rice becomes mixed in with the finished brown rice, so the circulation / discharge switching valve 59 can be switched to the circulation side, and the rice can be returned from the re-sorting path 13 to the mixed rice elevator 4 and returned to the oscillating sorting plate 14, while a portion can be returned to the huller 2 via the re-hulling path 12, allowing the remaining rice to be hulled and sorted in conjunction with the re-hulling process. This circulation / discharge switching valve 59 is configured to be switched by a circulation / discharge switching motor M1, as shown in Figure 13. In addition, the operating lever 55 and the circulation / discharge switching valve 59 are linked by a circulation / discharge operating wire 60, and are configured so that the rice shutter valve 57, the oscillating on / off pulley 61, and the circulation / discharge switching valve 59 are switched by operating the operating lever 55.

[0047] The gap between the hulling rolls 2b, 2b is adjusted by driving a roll gap adjusting motor M2.

[0048] An operation panel 61 is provided at the top center of the front of the rice huller and sorter. A power on / off switch 63, an operation switch 64, a stop switch 65, etc. are provided on one of the left and right sides (the right side in the illustration) of this operation panel 61. A digital display 66 and a display changeover switch 67 are provided above the operation panel 61.

[0049] A valve switch 68 for switching the air valve 51 is provided on one side of the operation panel 61 and operation lever 55 when viewed from the front, that is, on the left side in the illustrated example, at a position close to the guide groove 56 of the operation lever 55. The air valve 51 has the function of not only switching between supplying and stopping air, but also switching the direction to supply air to either the first connection hose 42a side or the second connection hose 42b side, and is configured to switch between a first position for supplying air to the first connection hose 42a, a neutral second position for stopping the air supply, and a third position for supplying air to the second connection hose 42b, and is in the form of an electromagnetically operated directional control valve. The valve switch 68 is configured to be able to switch to three positions by rotating right or left from a central neutral position, and is configured to excite an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown) so that when the switch 68 is rotated to the right, the air valve 51 is switched to the first position (A), when the switch 68 is in the neutral position, the valve 51 is switched to the second position (B), and when the switch 68 is rotated to the left, the valve 51 is switched to the third position (C).

[0050] As described above, the air valve 51 can be switched by the operator operating the valve switch 68, allowing for appropriate disposal of remaining rice in line with the progress of the work. For example, when disposing of remaining rice in the mixed rice elevator 4, the valve switch 68 is rotated leftward from the neutral second position (C) to switch the air valve 51 to the third position (C). This allows air to be sprayed from the first air nozzle 40 and the second air nozzle 43 via the second connecting hose 42b, disposing of the remaining rice below the mixed rice elevator 4. On the other hand, when disposing of remaining rice in the finishing rice elevator 7, the valve switch 68 is rotated rightward from the neutral position (B) to switch the air valve 51 to the first position (C). This allows air to be sprayed from the third air nozzle 45 and the fourth air nozzle 46 via the first connecting hose 42a, disposing of the remaining rice in the mixed rice transfer trough 35 and below the finishing rice elevator 7.

[0051] The valve switch 68 as a switching operation means for the air valve 51 is rotated to supply air nozzles 45, 46 to the mixed rice elevator 4 on one side of the neutral position in the center, and air nozzle 40 to the finished rice elevator 7 on the other side of the neutral position, so that the air valve 51 as a switching operation means can be configured while operating the operation panel 62, making operation while operating the operation panel 61 easier.

[0052] The control panel 62 and the valve switch 68 as a switching operation means are provided on the front side of the machine body, and of these, the control panel 62 is located between the huller 2 and the winnowing section 3 when viewed from the front, and the valve switch 68 is located between the control panel 62 and the huller 2, that is, in the illustrated example, the valve switch 68 is located on the left side of the control panel 62, and the direction of rotation is set so that air is sprayed to the mixed rice elevator 4 by rotating the valve switch 68 left from the neutral position, and to the finished rice elevator 7 by rotating it right from the neutral position, so that the positions of the two elevators 4, 7 are aligned and easy to see. In this case, the "circulation" lamp L2 in the second operation position and the "discharge" lamp L3 in the third operation position are used by operating the control lever 55. In other words, when air is being sprayed onto the mixed rice elevator 4, the "circulation" lamp L2 is turned on, and when air is being sprayed onto the finished rice elevator 7, the "discharge" lamp L3 is turned on, allowing the operator to confirm which area is in cleaning mode operation.

[0053] Next, the air injection control in the remaining rice processing process at the end of the hulling and sorting work will be explained based on Figure 15. When the operation switch is turned on, the main motor 25 is turned on and each part of the device is driven (S101, S102). When the operation lever 55 is moved from the first operation position to the second operation position, the rice shutter valve 57 opens and the hulling and sorting work starts (S103, S104).

[0054] The dehusked mixed rice and unhusked brown rice circulates within the machine for a while, and when it is detected that a predetermined weight has accumulated in the mixed rice tank 5, the circulation / discharge switching valve 59 switches to the discharge side, and the sorted brown rice is removed from the machine via the finished rice elevator 7 (S105 to S108).

[0055] As the hulling and sorting work nears the end and the mixed rice tank 5 falls below a predetermined weight, the circulation / discharge selector valve 59 is switched to the circulation side, and the remaining rice processing operation begins (S109-S111). That is, when the circulation / discharge selector valve 59 is switched to the circulation side, the remaining rice is circulated within the machine and returned to the huller 2 for husking, and after a predetermined time has passed, the circulation / discharge selector valve 59 is switched back to the discharge side, and the remaining rice is discharged outside the machine via the finished rice elevator 7 (remaining rice processing operation, S109-S114).

[0056] During the internal circulation of the remaining rice and until a predetermined time has elapsed after the circulation / discharge switching valve 59 has switched to the discharge side, the air valve 51 is switched to the third position, supplying air from the compressor 41 to the second connecting hose 42b, spraying air into the mixed rice elevator 4 to process the remaining rice. The valve is then switched to the first position (A), supplying air to the first connecting hose 42a, spraying air into the finished rice elevator 7 to process the remaining rice (cleaning mode operation, S115-S117). During this cleaning mode operation, the air flow is switched from continuous to intermittent. The continuous air flow promotes the discharge of the remaining rice from the bottom of the elevator, and the subsequent intermittent air flow effectively discharges even traces of remaining rice. When the cleaning mode operation ends, the main motor 25 is turned off, and all components of the device are deactivated (S118).

[0057] After the husking and sorting process is completed, operating the re-cleaning mode switch 69 turns on the main motor 25, and after a predetermined period of idle operation in which each component is driven, the compressor 41 starts. Furthermore, the air valve 51 is switched to the third position, which supplies air to the second connecting hose 42b, and air is sprayed to the mixed rice elevator 4 to process the remaining rice. Thereafter, the air valve 51 is switched to the first position, which supplies air to the first connecting hose 42a, and air is sprayed to the finishing rice elevator 7 to process the remaining rice (re-cleaning mode operation, S119-S121). During the re-cleaning mode operation, care must be taken when handling the operating lever 55. Specifically, when the operating lever 55 is returned to the first operating position at the left end of the guide groove 56, the re-cleaning mode operation is inhibited. When the initial setting mode, which adjusts the gap between the husker rolls 2b and 2b, is entered, the re-cleaning mode operation can be avoided.

[0058] FIG. 16 shows details of the relationship between the remaining rice disposal operations in S111 and S112 in FIG. 15, the cleaning mode operations in S115 to S117, and the re-cleaning mode operations in S119 to S121.

[0059] 15, the transition to cleaning mode operation in S115 to S117 may be configured so that the mode automatically transitions to S115 after the remaining rice discharge operation in S114 for each hulling and sorting operation, or the cleaning mode operation may be executed only when the cleaning mode switch 70 provided on the operation panel 62 is manually operated before starting operation. The digital display unit 66 is configured to display the remaining time of cleaning mode operation in countdown, so that the operator can be notified.

[0060] During cleaning mode operation or re-cleaning mode operation, the operation switching output of the valve switch 68 that switches the air valve 51 can be performed automatically without rotating the switch 68. In Fig. 16, a valve switch is shown, but this is a contrasting notation for outputting a signal corresponding to the first, second, or third position from the control unit, and the configuration is such that signals corresponding to these positions are automatically output to switch and control the air valve 51 without the need to manually rotate the valve switch 68.

[0061] Although the air valve 51 is in the form of an electromagnetically operated directional control valve, it may be in the form of a switching valve operated by a mechanical spool, and this switching valve may be mechanically linked with a switching operation device that replaces the valve switch 68 using a wire, rod, or the like. In short, it is sufficient that the switching valve that can be switched to the first, second, or third position is linked with a switching operation means that links electrically or mechanically.

[0062] As mentioned above, the cleaning mode operation and re-cleaning mode operation are provided, so no residual rice is left at the bottom of the mixed rice elevator 4 or the finished rice elevator 7. Incidentally, the air injection time is configured to be changeable, and is set to a standard time depending on the grain variety to be hulled and sorted, for example, for non-glutinous rice, but the air injection time is lengthened for naked barley. Since naked barley is prone to dust accumulation, extending the time improves the removal of contaminants that may get mixed in. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 2 Husking device 2b Hulling roll 3 Wind selection department 4b Bucket 4 Mixed rice elevator 6. Oscillating sorting device 7b Bucket 7 Finishing rice elevator 40 First air nozzle (air nozzle) 46 4th air nozzle (air nozzle) 51 Air valve (switching means) 55 Operating lever 59 Circulation / discharge switching valve 62 Control panel 68 Valve switch (switching operation means)

Claims

1. The rice hulling system includes a rice husker (2) for husking rice grains, a winnowing section (3) for winnowing the mixed rice that is the husked grains, a mixed rice elevator (4) for lifting the mixed rice, a mixed rice tank (5) for storing the mixed rice, a vibration sorting device (6) for sorting the mixed rice, and a finished rice elevator (7) for lifting the finished brown rice. An air nozzle (40) for the mixed rice elevator and an air nozzle (46) for the finished rice elevator are provided to spray air toward the bottom of the mixed rice elevator (4) and the finished rice elevator (7), respectively. a circulation / discharge switching valve (59) is provided which switches between a discharge side that guides the sorted brown rice of the oscillating sorting plate (14) to the finished rice elevator (7) and a circulation side that guides the sorted brown rice to the re-sorting path (13); When the mixed rice tank (5) falls below a predetermined volume during the husking and sorting operation, the circulation / discharge selector valve (59) is switched to the circulation side, and when the circulation / discharge selector valve (59) is switched to the circulation side, the remaining rice is returned to the husker (2) and husked, and then the circulation / discharge selector valve (59) is switched back to the discharge side, and the remaining rice is discharged outside the machine via the finished rice elevator (7), thereby completing the remaining rice processing operation. When the circulation / discharge switching valve (59) is switched to the discharge side during the residual rice processing operation, air from the compressor (41) is jetted from the air nozzle (40) for the mixed rice elevator to the mixed rice elevator (4), and then the air from the compressor (41) is jetted from the air nozzle (46) for the finished rice elevator to the finished rice elevator (7), in a cleaning mode operation.

2. 2. The rice huller and sorter according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning mode operation starts with continuous air injection and switches to intermittent air injection midway through.

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