Portable Processing Plant for Grain Identity Preservation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional system for moving agricultural commodities from farm to market lacks traceability and identity preservation, leading to increased transportation costs, inventory risks, and financial challenges due to the mixing of commodities and reliance on inaccurate sampling for grading and dockage determination.
Innovation Solution
A portable processing plant apparatus and method that allows for on-site processing, cleaning, and grading of commodities while preserving the identity of the source farm, using conveyors, scales, and cleaning modules to separate and weigh clean and dockage streams, with a computer system for controlling the flow and payment based on actual net weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If commodities are mixed together at commercial facilities, then storage efficiency and economies of scale are improved, but traceability and identity preservation are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the commodity handling process into separate segments: farm-level processing, transport, and commercial facility processing. Each segment maintains identity preservation through dedicated storage bins and conveyors that keep commodities from different farms separate until the final mixing point, allowing traceability to be maintained while enabling efficient storage at each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable processing plant acts as an intermediary between the farm and commercial facility. It performs cleaning, grading, and weighing operations in the field, then transfers processed commodities to commercial facilities. This intermediary maintains identity preservation throughout the chain while enabling efficient handling, resolving the contradiction between mixing for efficiency and maintaining traceability.
2Productivity
If conventional sampling methods are used for grading, then processing speed is maintained, but measurement precision and reliability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical sampling and grading with automated electronic weighing scales and computer-controlled conveyors. The electronic scales provide precise, continuous weight measurements of commodities as they move through the processing plant, eliminating the need for manual sampling while maintaining high processing speed. The computer system automatically records and processes this data, ensuring both speed and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing plant performs self-service grading and weighing operations automatically as commodities flow through the system. The electronic scales continuously measure weight, and the computer system automatically determines grade and dockage based on predefined criteria, eliminating the need for separate manual sampling operations. This self-service approach maintains both speed and measurement precision simultaneously.
3Productivity
If commodities are transported to distant commercial facilities, then centralized processing and economies of scale are improved, but transportation costs and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a portable processing plant that can be dynamically positioned at different locations based on farm proximity and market requirements. Rather than fixed centralized facilities, the processing capability moves with the commodities from the farm, performs initial processing and weighing, then transfers to commercial facilities. This dynamic approach reduces transportation distance and time while maintaining the ability to access centralized processing efficiencies when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable processing plant performs preliminary cleaning, grading, and weighing operations at the farm level before commodities are transported to commercial facilities. This preliminary action reduces the volume and value of commodities that need to be transported, as only the processed and weighed material needs to be moved. This significantly reduces transportation time and costs while still enabling access to centralized commercial processing efficiencies.
4Productivity
If dockage is removed at distant terminals, then processing capability is improved, but transportation costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dockage removal process is segmented into two stages: initial cleaning and grading at the portable farm-level processing plant, then final processing at commercial facilities. This segmentation allows the complex dockage removal capability to be deployed only where needed, rather than requiring full processing capability at every location. The system complexity is reduced by having the portable plant handle only the essential preliminary operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a portable, movable processing plant that can be deployed to specific locations when needed and then moved on. Rather than maintaining permanent, complex processing infrastructure at multiple locations, the system uses a single portable unit that performs the necessary dockage removal and grading functions temporarily at farm locations, then relocates to the next position. This reduces overall system complexity while maintaining processing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable processing plant apparatus is transported to a location convenient to a freight supplier or like destination and then set up to receive gross agricultural commodities and discharge clean agricultural commodities into a clean commodity receptacle, such as a rail car. A batch of commodity from a farm location is received into a storage bin. The batch is conveyed in a stream through a gross scale, cleaning module, and net scale and into a receptacle, such as a rail car. A gap is created between the stream of one batch and the stream of the next, and a computer is operative to control flow of the commodity streams. The computer can store batch identity information, and record the source farm location of the commodity in each receptacle.