FI77928B - ANORDNING FOER BEHANDLING AV FROE. - Google Patents

Description

77928

SEED HANDLING DEVICE

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating seeds according to the preamble of claim 1 for drying, cleaning and sorting them.

Known equipment usually includes a separate drying device, i.e. a dryer or drying cabinet. After drying, the seeds are cleaned with various equipment and species-10 are rolled. Sorting is usually done with different sized screens and airflow based on weight differences. The disadvantages of the prior art are the multiple working time, and in the so-called weight sorting the distribution between germinating and non-germinating seeds is insufficient because the seed lot with garbage is 15 equally dry.

A combined grain drying and sorting device is already known from the Finnish patent publication 19995. This device comprises two nested horizontal rotating cylinder-20 blades: drying and sorting cylinders. The grain is moved by means of buckets mounted on the inner circumference of the cylinders in the direction of their axes in one direction in the inner cylinder and in the opposite direction by the outer cylinder part. A stream of hot air is arranged to pass through the cylinders to dry the grain. The outer cylinder shell forms a screen sorter divided into two parts along the length of the cylinder; the first, which passes through the small-grained grain, and the second, which passes through the large-grained grain. Beneath each of the first and second screen screens is a funnel 30 connected by a counterweight flap to a rising air screen channel. The air lifts the grain up the channel until the channel expands and large grains heavier than the others fall into their own compartment, from where they are brought out through their own channel. The lighter portion of the grain continues to rise in the airflow mu-35 in the duct until it expands again and the grain remains 2,77928 heavier in its own tray, from where it is sucked out of the bag through its own duct.

The disadvantage of the above-mentioned device is e.g. space requirement 5 and a complex and therefore expensive structure in terms of manufacturing. To save space, the channels of the weight sorter are arranged to follow the sheath of the rotating outer cylinder, but it becomes expensive to manufacture such curved parts. In addition, in the device, the grain is dried en-10 sin, after which the sorting is only performed. The processing process is one-way; the circulation of grain to the device is not arranged.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate e.g. the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a new type of device for drying and simultaneously cleaning and sorting seeds, in particular small and light seeds such as forest tree seeds. To achieve this, the device according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in the appended claims.

The device according to the invention achieves many advantages, the following of which should be noted. The seed mass is rotated continuously in the device; cleaning, sorting and drying take place simultaneously. This allows the device to be cleaned and sorted more accurately. At the same time, the drying time is shortened and the drying of the seeds takes place evenly. A single device can handle small batches of seed-30 economically and with good efficiency. This is especially important when handling forest tree seeds, where batch sizes are, for example, in the range of 10 kg to 20 kg. On the other hand, if the amount of seed to be treated is large, several devices according to the invention can be connected together in connection with the same feed and discharge device.

3,77928

A significant advantage of the device according to the invention, especially in the treatment of forest tree seeds, can be considered to be the better separation of germinating and dead seeds brought about by the wetting of the seed mass and the continuous circulation of seeds in the device. The seeds of forest trees are currently moistened to remove the wing blades. In this case, dead and living or germinating seeds also absorb different amounts of water and their weight differences increase. In addition, the 10 seeds that die during drying release their moisture faster than the living ones. Due to the continuous circulation in the device according to the invention and the different moisture contents of the above-mentioned seeds, the living seeds circulate heavier in the device and ultimately remain in the drying unit of the device, while the dead seeds are screened lighter with other debris in the device compartments.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front sectional view of a seed treatment device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the seed treatment device of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a straight front view;

Figure 4 shows an apparatus with a plurality of seed treatment devices;

Fig. 5 shows a second seed treatment device according to the invention in a front view and Fig. 6 in a partial sectional view.

The device according to the invention comprises a drying unit 1, a weight sorting unit 2 and a screening unit 3 in an integral combination. The units are arranged inside the body 4 of the device 35 so that there is a weight sorting unit 2 at the top, a screening unit 3 at the bottom and a drying unit 1 at the bottom. The body is airtight.

4,77928

The weight sorting unit 2 comprises a main channel 5, which is most preferably vertical and extends through the sorting unit 2. The main channel 5 extends from its central part to one or more, e.g. two, side channels 6 and 7. The side channels 6 and 7 are connected to one or more compartments 8 and 9, respectively. The side channels 6 and 7 are most preferably parallel to the main channel 5 and connected to the main channel at the bottom. The tops of the side channels 6 and 7 open directly into the trays 8 and 9. The sides of the trays 8 and 9 may be directly limited to the body 4, 10 of the device as in Figures 1-3, but may also consist of loose boxes or the like. The bottoms 10 and 11 of the trays 8 and 9 are arranged to be inclined so as to face the front of the device and the body 4 on which the tray emptying hatches 12 and 13 are mounted.

The upper part of the main channel 5 is connected to the inlet channel 14, through which the seeds to be treated are introduced into the device. The vacuum channel 15 is connected to the side channels 6, 7 of the weight sorting unit of the tube 16, 17, preferably to the upper parts of the compartments 8, 9 above them. Control valves 18, 19 are arranged in the pipes 16, 17. The inlet duct 14 is preferably provided with a valve.

The screening unit 3 is located below the weight sorting unit 2, 25, in particular below the main channel 5. This preferably consists of a vibrating screen 20, which may be provided with one or more screens. If a single sieve is used, the diameter of its holes should be slightly larger than the diameter of the seed so that only the seeds pass through the sieve.

30

The screening unit 3 is preferably provided with two screens 21 and 22, as shown in Figures 1-3. The first or upper screen is provided with holes slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the seed to be treated and the second or 35 lower screen is provided with holes slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the seed. Below the screens there is a base plate 23. The screens 21, 22 and the base plate 23 are arranged in an inclined position 5 77928 so as to extend towards the front of the body 4. Between the screening unit 3 and the front of the body 4, one or more compartments are placed, in the embodiment of Figures 1-3, two compartments 24 and 25 for rubbish and the like. The bottoms 26, 27 of the trays 24 and 25 5 are lower than the screening unit 3 and are preferably arranged in an inclined position towards the front of the body 4, which has empty hatches 28, 29 for each compartment, respectively.

The inclined surface of the first screen 21 terminates above the first compartment 24 and the inclined surface of the bottom plate 23 of the screens above the second compartment 25. The surface of the second screen 22 is connected to a channel 30 or the like having e.g.

a base or guide plate 31 by means of which the seeds can be transferred to the actual drying unit 1 via this channel 15.

The drying unit 1 is arranged below the screening unit 3. The seeds preferably fall directly from the screening unit through a channel, guide plates or the like into the drying unit 20. The drying unit 1 comprises a drying silo 32, the rear and side walls of which preferably join the frame 4. The front wall is formed at least in part by a partition wall 33 against the trays 24, 25. The bottom 32 is formed of a highly air permeable funnel 34, preferably a steel wire mesh or a torn sheet. The lower space 35 between the lower part of the body 4 and the hopper 34 can be connected via a valve 36 to the hot air duct 38. In this embodiment, the valve 36 is arranged to be opened and closed by a lever 37.

30

The hopper 34 is connected to a feed device 39, which is driven, for example, by an electric motor 40. The feed device can be a conveyor such as a feed wheel or a screw conveyor. To circulate the seeds in the units 1, 2 and 3 of the device, the first end 35 of the feeder 39 is connected to the channel 41 to the main channel 5 of the weight sorting unit 2 above the connection points of the side channels 6, 7. To empty the device, the other end 77928 ό of the supply device 39 is connected to an outlet duct 42 provided with a valve 43. To ensure air circulation, the warm air duct 38 is connected by a duct 38a to the supply device 39.

It is advantageous to provide the front sides of the trays 8, 9 and 24, 25 with glass surfaces 44a, so that their filling can be easily monitored. Drainage is performed through hatches 12, 13 and 28, 29 if necessary. The rear of the device can be similarly provided with glass surfaces 44b.

10

Several seed treatment devices according to the invention can be connected together as shown in Fig. 4. In this case, common seed supply, vacuum and emptying devices can be used for all devices. The feeders 15 comprise a hopper 45 on the bottom of which is placed an arm feeder 46, such as a screw feeder or a housing feeder with motors. The supply device 46 is connected by connecting ducts or pipes 47 to the inlet duct 14 of each treatment device in this embodiment. The vacuum device comprises a vacuum cleaner 20 48 with its motors 49. The vacuum cleaner 48 is connected to a vacuum duct 15 common to the treatment devices. A silo 50 for sorting waste is preferably arranged below the vacuum cleaner 48 in connection with the vacuum duct 15. The discharge device comprises a discharge silo 51 which can be connected by means of a valve 52 to a vacuum duct 15 and connection ducts or pipes 53 connected to the outlet duct 42 of each treatment device. The bottom part of the discharge silo 51 is provided with a discharge hatch 54 or a valve. can be packed in suitable storage and / or transport containers. It is also advantageous to connect the hot air ducts 38 of the treatment devices to the main hot air duct 55 and to provide a suitable hot air blower or the like known per se.

35 7 77928

The seed treatment device according to the invention described above operates as follows. Assume that forest tree seeds are treated. The seed mass is moistened to remove the airfoils and poured into the hopper 45. The vacuum cleaner 48 is started. The vacuum cleaner 48 creates a vacuum in the vacuum duct 15 and further in the pressure sorting unit 2 of one or more treatment devices, depending on whether the valves 18, 19 are set closed or open. By means of the control valves 18, 19, the rising air flow in the side channels 6, 7 of the weight sorting unit 2 is adjusted to suit. The feeder 46 is started and begins to feed seed pulp from the hopper 45 through the connecting passage 47 to it or to the processing devices with the valve of the inlet passage 14 open. Through the inlet duct 14, the seed mass falls into the main duct 5 of the weight sorting unit 2. 15 The rising air flow in the main duct 5 separates here the so-called during the filling phase of the handling device, light flying wings and the like debris, from which the light parts pass through the control valve 18, 19 to the vacuum duct 15 and further to the waste silo 50. The expansion of the upper part of the Si ducts 6, 7 into a compartment 8, 9 ai-2q causes heavy parts from the above sorting waste. into these compartments. These are emptied, if necessary, through the hatches 12, 13.

The pre-purified seed mass falls through the weight sorter 2 into the screening unit 3. If the vibrating screen 20 of the screening unit 3 is provided with two screens 21, 22, as shown in Figures 1-3, the seeds pass through the first screen 21 and flow along the surface of the second screen 22 due to vibration and gravity. the drying unit 1 to the drying silo 32. The debris larger than the seed flows along the first screen 21 into the tray 24. The debris smaller than the seed falls through the second screen 22 into the bottom 23 of the screen and flows down into the tray 25.

When the seed batch to be treated has been transferred from the hopper 45 through the pre-cleaning and screening described above to the drying silo 32 of the drying unit 1, the actual drying and sorting step follows. The valve 36 (securing the supply air) which was almost closed during filling is opened from the hand lever 37 and the hot air blower is started. The feeder 39 in the bottom hopper 34 of the drying silo 32 is started and this starts to feed the seed mass to the channel 41 and further to the weight sorting unit 2. Since the channel 41 is empty, the prevailing vacuum creates a strong air flow in the channel, raising the seed mass to the top of the main channel 5. From here, the seed mass falls through the adjusted weight sorting already described above to the vibrating screen 20, from where the seed mass 10 falls into the drying silo 32 and further through the feeder 39 into the pressure treatment unit 2. There is a vacuum in the drying silo 32 which causes warm drying air to flow from the hot 38 through the seed mass there. At the same time, the seed mass is in constant motion towards the bottom of the hopper 34 15. In this way, the seed mass continuously circulates the weight 1 through the sorting unit 2, the screening unit 3 and the drying unit 1. A good seed part separates efficiently and drying takes place quickly and evenly.

After the seed mass has been cleaned, sorted and dried, i.e. it has circulated in the treatment device for a sufficient time, the control valves 18, 19 are closed, the valve 52 of the discharge silo 51 and the valve 43 of the discharge channel 42 are opened. The feed device 32 is connected to the feed duct 42, whereby the drying sieve-25 10 starts to be emptied into the discharge silo 51, from where it is taken for further processing. As can be seen, the emptying of the processing device takes place by means of means associated with the processing device, and no separate conveyors are required.

After emptying, the valve 36 of the hot air duct 38 is almost closed again. Valves 52 and 43 are closed and control valves 18, 19 are suitably set, after which a new seed batch can be fed to the treatment device.

: 35

Figures 5 and 6 show another embodiment of a processing device according to the invention. The weight sorting unit 2, the screening unit 3 and partly also the drying unit 1 correspond to the corresponding units of the processing device already described in connection with Figures 1-3. Their organs and parts have therefore been used interchangeably in this context by reference numeral. The differences are mainly related to the drying unit 1.

5

In the channel 30 leaving the screening unit 3, through which the seeds pass to the drying unit 1, a housing feed wheel 56 or a similar member is arranged. This prevents air circulation through the duct 30 up to the screening unit and the IQ further forward. An additional hot air duct 57 is arranged in the upper part of the drying silo 32 from the warm air duct 38. In addition, the hot air duct 38 is connected by a control valve to a space 35 below the bottom 34 of the silo, which is suitably perforated. This space 35 is connected to a duct or an opening 15 58, which may have a flap valve for adjusting its size, to the duct 41. such as a feed wheel which dispenses seed mass as it rotates from the bottom of the silo 32 to the duct 41. In this embodiment, the warm air circulates largely through the 2q seed mass in the drying silo and further through the silo bottom 34 to the hen 41, which also absorbs air directly from the warm air duct 38 through the opening 58 and space 35. With this arrangement, the operation of the drying unit 1 is made more efficient and, on the other hand, the circulation of air and at the same time the transfer of seed mass by means of air throughout the apparatus is improved.

The invention has been described above mainly with reference to two preferred embodiments thereof, but it is clear that the invention can be modified in many ways within the scope of the appended claims. For example, trays 8 and 9 and 24 and 28, respectively, can be connected, and the valves are provided with actuators and remote control. The device according to the invention can, of course, be used by connecting it to a suitable vacuum source and an air or warm air source. . 25 such as directly to the outside air. Instead of the emptying silo, the seed batch can be fed directly from the device into a sack or other container. The device according to the invention can, of course, be used for the treatment of a wide variety of seeds, not just forest tree seeds. It should be noted that the units 1, 2 and 3 of the device form an airtight whole and are connected to the outside air only via the inlet and outlet ducts 14, 42, the vacuum duct 13 and the air duct 38.

Claims (6)

An apparatus for treating seeds for drying, cleaning and sorting them, the apparatus comprising a drying unit (1), a weight sorting unit (2) and a screening unit (3) in an integral combination, the drying unit (1) consisting of a drying silo (32) based on an air-permeable funnel (34) or the like, the lower space (35) of which can be connected via a valve (36) to an air duct (38) and in which the drying unit (1) the seed mass is dried by means of air; wherein the weight sorting unit (2), in particular for separating light ingredients from the seed mass, comprises a main channel (5) which is preferably vertical and extends through the sorting unit, and which main channel (5) extends from its center to one or more side channels (6, 7) connected to one or more compartments (8, 9) in which the separated ingredient is collected; wherein the screening unit (3), in particular for separating 20 components of different sizes from the seed mass, is provided with one or more screens (21, 22) and is associated with one or more compartments (24, 25) for debris or the like and an outlet channel (30); and wherein in the weight sorting unit and the screening unit the sorting and purification of the seed mass takes place in the air stream based on weight differences and by means of screens, characterized in that the units (1, 2, 3) are arranged inside the body (4) so as to form an airtight unit (2), a bottom-30 side screening unit (3) and a bottom drying unit (1); and that the main channel (5) of the weight sorting unit (2) is connected to an inlet channel (14) through which the seeds are introduced into the device and a vacuum channel (15) to one or more side channels (6, 7) 35 of the weight sorting unit; and that the screening unit (3) is located below said main channel (5); and that the suppository (34) of the drying unit (1) is connected via a feed device (39) and a channel (41) to the main channel (5) of the weight sorting unit (2) for circulating seeds in the device and to the discharge channel (42) for removing seeds from the device. the terminal (42) is then connectable to the vacuum channel (15); and the units of the device are only connected to the outside of the device via an inlet and outlet duct (14, 42), a vacuum duct (15) and an air duct (38). Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum duct (15) is connected to the pressure sorting unit (2) by at least one control valve (18, 19). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the screening unit (3) consists of an inclined vibrating screen (20) provided with one or more screens (21, 22) connected to the compartments (24, 25) and to the drying unit (1). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a housing feed wheel (56) or a similar member is arranged in the channel (30) leaving the screening unit (3). Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that an additional air duct (57) is arranged in the upper part of the drying silo (32) from the air duct (38). 13 77928 1. Anordning for use in connection with Tork-Ning, rentsning and sorting av dessa, vilken anordning omfattar en torkningsenhet (1), en viktsorteringsenhet 5 (2) och en s & llningsenhet (3) som en enhetlig combin- tion, där torkningsen ) best & r av en torksilo (32), vars botten utgörs av en mycket luftgenomsläpplig tratt (34) ell motsvarande, varvid ett utrytnrae (35) under denna via en ventil (36) kan förenas med en luft-10 channels (38) and vilken torkenhet (1) frömassan torkas med hjälp av luft; with regard to the number of shares (2), the number of items on the list of the best and most important channels (5), the number of items and the number of parts of the genome sorted, and 5 of the same number sidokanaler (6, 7), which is further adapted to the front (8, 9), and is preferably used in the best direction; for the first time (3), the shield for the best and the last of the 20 years and for the first time (21, 22) and the same for the first and second half (24, 25) for the group (24, 25). och en utloppskanal (30); and in the case of random sorting and sorting of the screen and in the form of a mixture of 25 bases with the same size as in the case of 4 and more of the following (3, 2) anordningens enheter (1, 2, s & dant sätt, att de bildar en lufttät helhet och att viktsorteringsenheten (2) är upptill, s & llningsenheten (3) under 30 denna och torkningsenheten (1) nedtill; and the entertainment channel (5) and the transmission channel (2) are connected to the inlet channel (14), the genome is selected from the input channel and the underground channel (15) with the communication channel (6, 7) and the transmission channel (35) of undertryck and victualling; och att s & llningsenheten (3) is placerad under these entertainment channels (5); och att Tratten (34) i torkningsenheten (1) via en