Hulling device

Abstract

The present invention provides a hulling device capable of properly hulling even long grain rice.　The hulling device according to the present invention includes an impeller (41) and a casing (42). The impeller (41) has a plurality of blades (411) arranged around a unhulled-rice supply part (410) and a plurality of guide block bodies (412) arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of blades (411). The blades (411) include guide surfaces (GS) having a first base end (E1a) on a radially central side of the impeller (41) and a first tip end (E1b) on the other side of the first base end (E1a) in the radial direction. The guide surface (GS) has a flat surface portion (FS2) at least at an end portion on the first tip end (E1b) side. The guide block body (412) includes an inclined guide surface (GSt) having a second base end (E2a) on the blade (411) side in the radial direction and a second tip end (E2b) on the other side of the second base end (E2a). The second base end (E2a) is located on a first imaginary plane (VS1) which is an extension of the flat surface portion (FS2), and the linear distance (L1) from an intersection (CP) of the first imaginary plane (VS1) and a second imaginary plane (VS2) extending from the second tip end (E2b) in a direction orthogonal to the first imaginary plane (VS1) to the second base end (E2a) is set to be greater than or equal to the linear distance (L2) from the second tip end (E2b) to the intersection (CP).

Description

Paddy hulling device

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

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

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

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

[0005] Japanese Patent Publication "Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-144380"

[0006] By the way, there are short-grain rice and long-grain rice, and in either case, to obtain brown rice, it is necessary to perform paddy hulling (dehusking). However, in the paddy hulling device having the above configuration, long-grain rice may not be properly hulled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0013] The following describes a rice hulling apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.

[0014] The rice hulling apparatus according to this embodiment performs hulling (dehulling) on ​​long-grain rice. The Codex Alimentarius standard (a global food standard established by the International Food Standards Committee) specifies that the grain length / grain width ratio for short-grain rice is 1.9 or less, and for long-grain rice, it is 3.0 or more. Here, grain length refers to the major axis (length) of the brown rice, and grain width refers to the minor axis (width) of the brown rice. The rice hulling apparatus of this embodiment performs hulling on long-grain rice as defined in the Codex Alimentarius standard.

[0015] The rice hulling device may be a standalone device, but in this embodiment, it is incorporated into a rice processing device that processes paddy rice into polished rice. That is, the rice hulling device in this embodiment is incorporated into a rice processing device that performs a series of processes: hulling (dehulling) of paddy rice and polishing the brown rice that has been sorted after hulling into polished rice. Accordingly, the following description will explain the overall configuration of the rice processing device 1, and also provide a detailed explanation of the rice hulling device.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the rice processing device 1 is intended for processing rice brought in by the user (customer) and is located inside building B. Accordingly, a partition wall BW is placed inside building B, dividing the interior space of building B into two sections. The partition wall BW divides the interior space of building B into a machine room MR where the rice processing device 1 is located and a guest room GR where the user (customer) stays. In this embodiment, the machine room MR and the guest room GR are arranged in the depth direction of building B with the partition wall BW in between (see Figure 3).

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the rice processing device 1 comprises an input hopper 2 having an input section 20 for inputting paddy rice brought by the user, and a polished rice extraction section 720 for extracting polished rice. The input section 20 of the input hopper 2 and the polished rice extraction section 720 are exposed to the passenger compartment GR through an opening formed in the partition wall BW.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0044] The second reinforcing piece 411c connects the tip (first tip E1b) side of the blade body 411a with an increased interval and the tip side of the first reinforcing piece 411b. A space for arranging the base end portion of the guide block body 412... is formed between the tip portion of the blade body 411a and the tip portion of the first reinforcing piece 411b. For this reason, the second reinforcing piece 411c is arranged at a position that does not obstruct the arrangement of the guide block body 412...

[0045] The guide surface GS has a flat portion FS2 at least at the end portion on the first tip E1b side. That is, the guide surface GS has the flat portion FS2 at the end portion on the first tip E1b side, thereby finally determining the direction in which the flat portion FS2 extends as the direction for guiding (inducing) the paddy.

[0046] The guide surface GS may be a continuous flat portion FS2 over the entire area from the first base end E1a to the first tip E1b. However, the guide surface GS of the present embodiment is formed so as to change the paddy guiding direction on the first base end E1a side to the first tip E1b side. That is, the guide surface GS includes a flat portion FS1 (hereinafter referred to as the first flat portion FS1) on the first base end E1a side and a flat portion (hereinafter referred to as the second flat portion FS2) on the first tip E1b side, and the second flat portion FS2 is connected to the first flat portion FS1 and extends in an inclined direction with respect to the first flat portion FS1 to determine the final paddy guiding direction. That is, the blade body 411a of the blade plate 411... is bent at the end portion on the tip side in the radial direction with respect to the portion on the base end side thereof.

[0047] In the present embodiment, the first flat portion FS1 extends in the radial direction centered on the drive shaft 415 (rotation center) of the impeller 41 (starting point). On the other hand, since the second flat portion FS2 is inclined with respect to the first flat portion FS1 extending in the radial direction, it is formed so as to intersect the radial direction (direction orthogonal to the center line of the drive shaft 415). Therefore, the paddy discharged from the paddy supply unit 410 is guided in the radial direction by the first flat portion FS1 and then moves along the second flat portion FS2.

[0048] The guide block body 412... is a resin molded body having elasticity. The guide block body 412... has an inclined guide surface GSt having a second base end E2a on the side of the blade plate 411... in the radial direction and a second tip E2b on the opposite side of the second base end E2a, and includes an inclined guide surface GSt that extends on one side and outward in the radial direction and is inclined with respect to the second flat portion FS2. The inclined guide surface GSt may be formed in a planar shape, but in the present embodiment, it is formed in an arc-shaped surface having a top between the tip and the base end and protruding in the rotational direction.

[0049] The guide block body 412... includes a first part 412a at least partially overlapped with the surface of the blade plate 411... on the side opposite to the guide surface GS, and a second part 412b extending from the first part, and the second part 412b includes the inclined guide surface GSt.

[0050] More specifically described, the guide block body 412... has a first part 412a disposed on the side of the blade plate 411... and a second part 412b including the inclined guide surface GSt, and the second part 412b is continuous with the first part 412a. In the present embodiment, the second part 412b extends from the first part 412a in a direction inclined with respect to the first part 412a. The thickness in the direction orthogonal to the inclined direction of the second part 412b is set to be thinner toward the tip side in the inclined direction.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0070] As described above, one end of the drive shaft 415 is rotatably supported by a bearing Be attached to the rice hull guide section 45. In contrast, the other end of the drive shaft 415 passes through one side wall SW1a and the other side wall SW2a of the casing 42 (one of the closed sections 422) of the rice hulling section 40, and is rotatably supported by the other side wall SW2a via a bearing Be 2. The output of the electric motor M2 (see Figure 7) is transmitted to this drive shaft 415. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, a pulley P1 is attached to the other end of the drive shaft 415, and a pulley P2 is also attached to the output shaft of the electric motor M2 supported by the frame F, and an endless annular belt VB is stretched over these pulleys P1 and P2. In this embodiment, a pulley P3 is also attached to the rotating shaft 502 of the blower 50 of the air separation unit 5, and a belt VB is stretched over these pulleys P1, P2, and P3, and a single electric motor M2 drives the rice hulling unit 4 and the blower 50 of the air separation unit 5.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0093] According to the rice hulling device 4 of item 1, the inclined guide surface GSt is inclined at an angle of 135° or more with respect to the direction of travel of the rice supplied from the rice supply unit 410 (the direction along the flat portion FS2 (first virtual single surface) on the guide surface GS). As a result, when the rice hulls collide with the inclined guide surface GSt, they are either flung forward (in one direction) in the direction of rotation, or guided radially outward along the inclined guide surface GSt to the impeller 41. As a result, even if the target of processing is long-grain rice, the long-grain rice hulls do not accumulate on the inclined guide surface GSt, and the rice can be hulled (dehulled) by collision with the inclined guide surface GSt. In addition, because the direction of the force acting on the rice is changed, the impact force acting on the rice is mitigated, preventing the brown rice of the long-grain rice from breaking or being crushed. Therefore, the rice hulling device 4 in item 1 can properly hull even long-grain rice.

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

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

[0096] (Item 3) The impeller 41 has a pair of support plates 413, 414, each formed in the shape of a disc, which sandwich the plurality of blades 411... and the plurality of guide blocks 412... in the direction extending along the axis, and the pair of support plates 413, 414 are arranged concentrically with respect to each other, and the plurality of blades 411... and the plurality of guide blocks 412... are fixed to the pair of support plates 413, 414, the rice hulling device 4 according to Item 1 or Item 2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0108] (Item 9) The rice hulling device 4 according to any one of Items 1 to 8, wherein the inclined guide surface GSt has a top between the tip and the base and is formed in the shape of an arc protruding in the direction of rotation.

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

[0110] 4: Rice hulling device (rice hulling section) 41: Impeller 42: Casing 43: Liner 410: Rice hulling supply section 411: Blade 412: Guide block 412a: First section 412b: Second section 413: Support plate 414: Support plate 420: Peripheral wall 421: Discharge port CP: Intersection E1a: First base end E1b: First tip E2a: Second base end E2b: Second tip FS2: Flat section (second flat section) GS: Guide surface GSt: Inclined guide surface L1: Straight-line distance L2: Straight-line distance VS1: First virtual plane VS2: Second virtual plane

Claims

1. An impeller that can rotate in one direction with respect to a predetermined axis as its center of rotation, and a casing that houses the impeller, wherein the impeller comprises: a grain supply section surrounding the center of rotation, capable of discharging grain supplied to the interior radially outward; a plurality of blades arranged around the grain supply section, the plurality of blades arranged radially with respect to the axis; and a plurality of guide blocks arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of blades, the plurality of guide blocks arranged to protrude radially outward from the corresponding blade, wherein each of the plurality of blades has a guide surface having a first base end on the radially central side of the impeller and a first tip on the radially opposite side of the first base end, and includes the guide surface facing in one direction, and the guide surface has a flat portion at least at the end on the first tip side. The guide block body is an inclined guide surface having a second base end on the vane side and a second tip on the opposite side of the second base end in the radial direction, and includes an inclined guide surface that extends outward in the radial direction on one side and is inclined with respect to the planar portion, the second base end is located on a first virtual plane that extends from the planar portion, and the straight-line distance from the intersection of the first virtual plane and a second virtual plane extending from the second tip in a direction perpendicular to the first virtual plane to the second base end is set to be greater than or equal to the straight-line distance from the second tip to the intersection.

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

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

4. The rice hulling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide block body includes a first portion which overlaps at least one part with the surface of the vane opposite to the guide surface, and a second portion which extends from the first portion, and the second portion includes the inclined guide surface.

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

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

7. A rice hulling device according to claim 1, comprising a liner housed inside the casing, wherein the casing has a peripheral wall surrounding the outer circumference of the impeller, and an outlet opening on the peripheral wall for discharging the husks and brown rice removed as the impeller rotates, and the liner is arranged overlapping the inner surface of the peripheral wall at a distance from the outer circumference of the impeller.

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

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

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