JPH07132076A - Germinating device for grain - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a germinating device for grain capable of supplying a uniform temperature distribution in a grain layer, carrying out excellent germination. CONSTITUTION:This germinating device for grain is equipped with a CASTEN 70 having a grain layer 70 packed with grain, an air mixing chamber 60 communicated through an air sending means 8 to the CASTEN and a circulating air flow channel 30 for the circulating air flow and a cooling air flow channel 20 for the cooling air flow which are communicated with the air mixing chamber. The device partially circulates air passing from the air mixing chamber through the grain layer in the CASTEN through the circulating air flow channel to the air mixing chamber, taking cooling air of the outside air into the cooling air flow channel, sending the cooling air to the air mixing chamber to regulate the temperature of air passing through the grain layer in CASTEN. Dampers 21, 25 and 35 provided with a divergence adjusting means 90 to control a flow rate are installed at inlets of the circulating air and the cooling air to the air mixing chamber.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a grain germination apparatus,
In particular, it relates to a grain germination apparatus used for malt production and bean sprouts production.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a malting process for producing malt from wheat, air containing water is continuously sent to the wheat for about 1 week to cause germination in the shell of wheat (at this time, After that, the roots are sent to the drying process where the germination of the wheat is stopped and the roots removed from the wheat are removed.

To further describe the malting process, malting is carried out in a so-called "casten" box, in which grains (here, "wheat" is exemplified) are filled. The grain layer is formed, and moist air is continuously supplied from below the grain layer.
Under such an operation, heat is generated from the wheat along with germination of wheat, and the whole grain layer or a part of the grain layer becomes high temperature. There was an inconvenience that it had an adverse effect and that a germination operation with smooth and uniform quality could not be performed.

In order to deal with such a problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 49-124295 (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 52-31036) discloses that a return duct from a malting chamber is connected to an inlet of a blower, and , A malting apparatus has been proposed in which an outside air intake duct is branched into this connected duct, and dampers are provided in both ducts to adjust the amount of passing air. This is done by detecting the temperature and changing the damper opening appropriately by driving the motor. And, according to this, the supply temperature to the malting room can be adjusted.

[0005]

However, in such damper opening adjustment, since the damper opening constantly fluctuates with time under the rapid feedback based on the detected temperature, the following inconveniences occur. Was pointed out.

That is, since the opening ratio of the damper opening constantly changes, that is, the flow rate of the air supplied to the malting room changes, the temperature distribution in the grain layer does not become uniform (the flow rate does not flow uniformly). ), Variations in germination and growth of wheat occur. Also, if the temperature in the grain layer rises too much, opening the damper abruptly will dry the wheat abruptly, adversely affecting germination. Also, when the damper is completely closed,
The wheat temporarily falls into an oxygen-deficient state, which again adversely affects germination. Further, regarding the control itself, there is a problem that it is difficult to control the temperature due to a delay time between the ventilation temperature and the actual grain layer temperature, that is, a time delay in the control response. In addition, there is also a problem that a failure due to humidity is likely to occur in a humid environment due to the use of an electric control device called a motor drive.

For this reason, it is said that it is often the case that the adjustment of the opening of the damper opening is not yet automated, and that the manual adjustment is performed solely by relying on the operator's long experience and can. is there.

However, even in the case of manual adjustment, it is still necessary to control the temperature while constantly changing the opening ratio of the damper opening, which makes the operation complicated and makes the temperature distribution in the grain layer uniform. I have problems such as not becoming.

The present invention was devised under these circumstances, and its purpose is to obtain a uniform temperature distribution in a grain layer with a simple control method and to rapidly dry grains. (EN) It is intended to provide a grain germination device capable of preventing a temporary oxygen deficiency state of wheat and wheat and performing good germination uniformly in a layer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a grain germination apparatus which is free from damage due to moisture even in a humid environment.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve such an object, the inventors of the present application have earnestly studied, and as a result, provided a means capable of appropriately setting and changing the maximum opening degree of the damper, and the germination target By setting in advance the optimum maximum opening degree according to the type of grain etc., and controlling the temperature inside the casten by opening and closing the damper,
The inventors have found that stable operation is possible in an intermediate opening range in which the opening and closing operation of the damper is extremely small, and thus germination can always be carried out at a stable flow rate, leading to the present invention.

That is, according to the present invention, a castene having a grain layer filled with grains, an air mixing chamber communicated with the casten via a blower, and a circulating air flow passage communicated with the air mixing chamber. And a cooling air flow path, and a part of the air that has passed through the grain layer in the casten from the air mixing chamber is circulated again to the air mixing chamber through the flow path of the circulating air, and the outside air flows into the cooling air flow path. Take in cooling air,
A grain germination device for adjusting the temperature of air passing through a grain layer in a casten by mixing this cooling air into an air mixing chamber, wherein the circulating air and cooling air inflow ports of the air mixing chamber are , Each of which is provided with a damper having an opening adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate, and the opening adjusting means is provided with a means capable of appropriately changing the maximum opening of the damper, and the grain to be germinated The optimum maximum opening degree according to the type is set in advance, and the temperature inside the casten is controlled by opening and closing the damper.

The opening and closing of the damper is performed in a fully open state, a fully closed state, or an intermediate opening range, and during steady operation, the damper is mainly opened in an intermediate opening range which is 40 to 90% of the maximum open range. Configured to be done.

Further, at least two or more dampers having opening degree adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate are provided at the inlet of the circulating air of the air mixing chamber, at least one of which is The damper was always open.

Further, the opening adjusting means includes an operating arm connected to a stroke portion of the pneumatic operating device, first and second connecting arms connected to the operating arm, and the first and second connecting arms. A first and a second slide arm connected to a second connection arm; and a connection arm connected to the first and second slide arms and also connected to a damper arm, the operating arm and the first arm The first and second connecting arm connecting portions can be selectively connected within a preset connecting position range, whereby the maximum opening degrees of the dampers on the circulating air side and the cooling air side are variably set. As configured.

Further, the pneumatic actuator is constructed to be a diaphragm.

[0016]

In the grain germination apparatus of the present invention, the opening adjusting means is connected to the damper for adjusting the flow rate, and the opening adjusting means is a means for appropriately setting and changing the maximum opening of the damper. It is equipped with this opening adjustment means to preset the optimum damper maximum opening according to the type of grain to be germinated, and the temperature inside the casten is controlled by opening and closing the damper. The number of times of opening and closing the damper inside is extremely small, and it is possible to germinate grains under extremely stable conditions.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 schematically shows a schematic configuration diagram of the grain germination apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the apparatus portion from the vicinity of the circulating air and cooling air inlets of the air mixing chamber to the casten. FIG. 3 and FIG.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining an example of an opening degree adjusting unit for adjusting the flow rate together with the operation, and FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a temperature control method of the present apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the grain germination apparatus 1 of the present invention has a plurality of casten chambers 10a arranged in parallel.
10h, and a circulating air flow path 30 and a cooling air flow path 20 connected to the casten chamber portions 10a ... 10h. 10h has the same individual configuration, and of these, the casten chamber portion 10a will be described as a representative example with reference to FIG. 2 (note that each individual casten chamber portion is charged). The varieties etc. may differ, and the conditions suitable for germination, the time of preparation, etc. may be set individually). As shown in FIG. 2, the casten chamber portion 10a includes a casten 70 having a grain layer 77 filled with grains to be germinated, and an air mixing communicating with the casten 70 via a blowing unit 8 such as a fan. It has a chamber 60 and dampers 21, 25, 31, 35 provided in the vicinity of the air inlet of the air mixing chamber 60 and connected to opening degree adjusting means (described later) for adjusting the flow rate of air. There is. Such dampers 21, 25, 31, 3
The circulation air flow passage 30 and the cooling air flow passage 20 are connected to the air mixing chamber 60 via 5, respectively. Then, the relatively high temperature circulating air 30a and the relatively low temperature cooling air 20a flowing through the circulating air passage 30 and the cooling air passage 20, respectively, pass through a predetermined damper, and then the air mixing chamber 60. The mixed air is forced into the casten 70 by the blowing means 8 and passes through the grain layer 77. In addition,
The grain layer 77 in the casten 70 is held at an intermediate position by a support member having holes such as a wire mesh, and a lower portion thereof is usually a hollow portion 74.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the vicinity of the casten chamber portion 10a of the circulating air flow passage 30 and the cooling air passage 20 is downstream of the casten chamber portion 10a via the recovery port 39 and the recovery port 29, respectively. (Part after passing through the grain layer 77). As a result, the part 30b of the relatively high temperature air that has passed through the grain layer 77 becomes to circulate in the circulation air flow path 30, while the grain layer 77 is also circulated.
The part 20b of the relatively high temperature air that has passed through the air flows into the cooling air flow path 20 and is mixed there with the outside air 24a introduced from the outside air intake port 24 to form the cooling air 20a. ing.

In addition, in the middle of the cooling air flow path 20, FIG.
As shown in (3), the spray water supply device 26 is installed so as to increase the humidity of the supplied cooling air 20a (in some cases, a cooling effect is also added).

As the spray water supply device 26, any device capable of supplying water in an extremely fine mist state may be used. For example, various devices such as an ultrasonic sprayer, a rotary plate sprayer and a pressure nozzle sprayer can be adopted. . Of course, circulating air flow path 30
This spray water supply device may be newly provided on the side as well.

The final ends of the cooling air passages 20 are respectively connected to the casting chambers 10a ... 10h. In FIG. 1, the connection passages 22a to 22h are clearly shown for the sake of clarity. However, these are substantially synonymous with the cooling air flow path 20 in FIG. Note that reference numerals 41, 42, 43, and 44 in FIG. 1 respectively indicate exhaust ports, from which air corresponding to the amount of outside air introduced from the outside (outside air intake port 24) is released. The air volume of the entire device is balanced.

In such an apparatus, as described above, dampers are installed at the inlets of the circulating air 30 and the cooling air 20 in the air mixing chamber 60 to adjust the respective air flow rates, and these dampers are installed. Is connected to an opening adjustment means. The opening adjustment means is provided with a configuration in which the maximum opening of the damper can be appropriately set and changed, and the setting of the maximum opening depends on the type of grain to be germinated, the production area, the variety, and the germination. It is set in advance based on data according to the state, the water content, the temperature and the humidity of the circulating air and the cooling air, and the like. And, once the opening is set, the temperature control inside the casten is to open the damper fully,
It is performed by fully closing or adjusting the intermediate opening range. Normally, the damper opening during steady operation is performed in the intermediate opening range. The intermediate opening range is 40 to 90% of the maximum opening when the damper is fully opened. In the present invention, as described above, the damper maximum opening setting is set based on the data according to the type of grain to be germinated, etc., so that the opening of the damper maximum opening is 40 to 90%. By operating in a certain intermediate opening range (usually, it will settle to a certain opening that can be said to be one point that does not change during operation), the damper opening and closing is small, that is, the stable area where the flow rate hardly changes. Continuous operation becomes possible. As a result, it is possible to promote uniform germination of grains with stable quality.

An example of a suitable opening adjusting means of the opening adjusting means will be described with reference to FIG. The opening adjusting means 90 shown in FIG. 3 is, for example, an L-shaped actuating arm 9 connected to a stroke portion of a pneumatic actuating device such as a diaphragm 91.
2 (connected by a connecting pin 91a) and this operating arm 9
First connection arm 94 connected at two points 2
And the second connecting arm 95 and these connecting arms 9
4, 95 are respectively connected to the ends (connecting pins 94a, 95
the first slide arm 96 and the second slide arm 97 which are connected by a), one end is connected to the substantially central portion of these slide arms 96, 97 (connected by connecting pins 96a, 97a), and the other end. Is a damper arm 2
Intermediate connecting arm 10 connected to the tips of 6, 36
5, 107, and an arm 108 connecting the damper arms 22 and 26.

The L-shaped actuating arm 92 is rotatable by the stroke of the diaphragm about the point P in the figure as a fulcrum. In the L-shaped longitudinal direction, eight connecting holes A1 to A8 are provided. Is drilled at the position calculated in advance.
A first connecting arm 94 connected to the operating arm 92
Eight connecting holes B1 to B8 and C1 to C8 are also formed in the second connecting arm 95 (on the right side in the drawing) at pre-calculated positions (both are formed). There is no particular limit to the number). Then, the numerical value of the operating arm 92, the first connecting arm 94 and the second connecting arm 95.
And are connected at the same numerical values (for example, A 3 and B 3 are connected and A 7 and C 7 are connected as shown in the drawing). By such use, the damper is always designed to be fully opened or closed.
From a different point of view, if the diaphragms 91 are connected at the same numerical value and the stroke of the diaphragm 91 is full, a fully closed state will always occur, and it will not close halfway in advance.
The positions of the eight connecting holes are calculated and provided. The opening of the damper when it is fully opened is set to be larger as the numerical values are connected to each other. By changing the positions of the connecting holes thus connected, the opening ratios of the plurality of dampers can be changed easily and simply, and as a result, the temperature of the air to be sent can be freely selected.

The state shown in FIG. 3 is the diaphragm 91.
In this case, the dampers 21 and 25 on the cooling air side and one damper 35 on the circulating air side are fully closed. On the contrary,
The other damper 31 on the circulating air side is always opened at a constant opening regardless of the presence or absence of the stroke of the diaphragm 91, whereby the circulating air is continuously sent into the grain layer and the temporary oxygen deficiency of the grain is maintained. Can be prevented.

The state shown in FIG. 4 is a state in which the diaphragm 91 has a full stroke, and in this case, the dampers 21 and 25 on the cooling air side and one damper 35 on the circulating air side are fully opened (set beforehand. Maximum opening). The operation from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. When the stroke of the diaphragm 91 advances in the direction of arrow (a), the operating arm 92 causes the point P in the figure to serve as a fulcrum. ) Direction. Then, the first slide arm 96 and the second slide arm 97 slidably move in the arrow (c) direction and the arrow (d) direction via the first connecting arm 94 and the second connecting arm 95, respectively. This allows the damper arm 2
2, 26, 36 rotate, and the dampers 21, 25, 35 are brought into a predetermined fully opened state. Further, by lowering the air pressure supplied to the diaphragm 91 to a predetermined value, the stroke of the diaphragm 91 can be set within a range of 40 to 90% of the maximum value, whereby the intermediate opening range of the opening of the damper. Is achieved. Usually, continuous operation is performed in this intermediate opening range. Since the arm stroke is adjusted by the diaphragm method, unlike electric control devices such as motors, there is no failure due to humidity even in a humid environment.

Next, an example of temperature control of the grain layer will be described with reference to FIG. Thermometer 12 buried in grain layer 77
A temperature recorder 123 and a controller 122 are connected to 0, and the controller 122 further includes a setting device 12
1 and the electropneumatic converter 124 are connected. And
In fact, when the temperature of the grain layer 77 rises above a predetermined set value, a signal is sent by the regulator 122 to the electropneumatic converter 124, which supplies pressurized air to the diaphragm 91 and the diaphragm 91. Is pushed down,
The dampers 21, 25, 35 are opened via the opening adjusting means 90 connected to the diaphragm. On the other hand, when the temperature of the grain layer 77 becomes lower than the predetermined set value, the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the diaphragm 91 decreases, and the dampers 21, 25, 35 close. In addition,
The stroke of the diaphragm can be adjusted by the air pressure supplied as described above, whereby the intermediate opening range of the damper is achieved.

Next, the specific usage and control of the opening adjusting means will be described with reference to two examples. It is assumed in advance that the low temperature air is in the range of 7 to 8 ° C and the high temperature air is in the range of 15.5 to 16.5 ° C. (1) When keeping the grain layer at 18 ° C. Adjust the setting device 121 to 18 ° C. Connect the connecting hole A6 of the operating arm 92 and the connecting hole B6 of the first connecting arm 94 For connecting the operating arm 92 The hole A3 and the connecting hole C3 of the second connecting arm 95 are connected. When the diaphragm opening degree is 100%, the temperature of the mixed air (incoming air temperature) is 14.8 to 15.3 ° C. When the layer is 18 ° C or higher, it is fully opened, when it approaches 18 ° C, it starts to close, when it is 18 ° C or less, it fully closes, and when the temperature of the grain layer rises due to the heat of germination, it gradually opens, for example, 50 to 90% intermediate opening degree. In the area 1
Control at 8 ° C. Stable in a certain intermediate opening range. (2) When keeping the grain layer at 14 ° C. Adjust the setting device 121 to 14 ° C. Connect the connecting hole A4 of the operating arm 92 and the connecting hole B4 of the first connecting arm 94 For connecting the operating arm 92 The hole A7 and the connecting hole C7 of the second connecting arm 95 are connected. When the diaphragm opening is 100%, the temperature of the mixed air (air temperature) is 11.5-12.0 ° C, so that the grain When the layer is 14 ° C or higher, it is fully opened, when it approaches 14 ° C, it begins to close, when it is 14 ° C or less, it fully closes, and when the temperature of the grain layer rises due to the heat of germination, it gradually opens, for example, an intermediate opening of 40-70%. In the area 1
Control at 4 ° C. Stable in a certain intermediate opening range.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described.

First, during normal so-called steady operation, the dampers 21, 25 on the cooling air side and the damper 35 on the circulating air side are provided.
Is opened at a predetermined set opening degree, and the damper 31 on the circulating air side is always kept open as described above, and the grain layer 77 in the casting 70 from the air mixing chamber 60 is kept open.
Part of the air that has passed through the recovery port 39 and the recovery port 29
And is branched into the circulation air flow passage 30 and the cooling air flow passage 20. The air 30b that has flowed into the circulating air passage 30 is used as the circulating air having a relatively high temperature,
0, passes through the opened damper, and flows into the air mixing chamber 60 in the casten chamber.

On the other hand, the air flowing into the cooling air flow passage 20 is mixed with the outside air 24a introduced from the outside air intake 24, thereby forming the cooling air 20a, which passes through the spray water supply device 26. As a result, while being humidified, it flows through the cooling air flow path 20, passes through the opened damper, and flows into the air mixing chamber 60 in the casten chamber.
In the air mixing chamber 60, the cooling air 20a and the circulating air 30b flowing from the circulating air passage 30 are mixed. The mixed air is blown into the casten 70 including the grain layer 77 by the blower 8. Part of the air that has passed through the grain layer 77 returns to the original state, passes through the recovery port 39 and the recovery port 29, and is branched into the circulating air flow channel 30 and the cooling air flow channel 20. The other part of the air that has passed through the grain layer 77 is exhausted through the exhaust ports 41, 4
Exhausted from 2, 43, 44.

In this state, the operation is usually carried out for a long time. Thereafter, when the temperature of the grain layer 77 becomes higher than the predetermined set value, the signal is sent to the electropneumatic converter 124 by the regulator 122 as described above, whereby the compressed air is supplied to the diaphragm 91, The diaphragm 91 is pushed down, and the dampers 21, 2 are pressed through the opening adjusting means connected to the diaphragm 91.
Nos. 5 and 35 are opened to a preset fully open opening degree. On the other hand, when the temperature of the grain layer 77 becomes lower than the predetermined set value, the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the diaphragm 91 decreases, and the dampers 21, 25, 35 close.

In the present invention, the opening adjusting means 90 is connected to the damper for adjusting the flow rate, and the opening adjusting means 90 is provided with means for appropriately setting and changing the maximum opening of the damper. Therefore, the optimum opening degree of the damper is preset according to the type of grain to be germinated by the opening degree adjusting means, and particularly, the normal operation is performed in the intermediate opening range of 40 to 90% of the maximum opening degree. Therefore, the number of times the damper is opened and closed during the operation of the device is extremely small, and the germination of the grain can be performed under extremely stable conditions.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the dampers in which the opening degree adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate are connected are installed at the inlets of the circulating air and the cooling air to the air mixing chamber. The opening adjustment means is provided with a means for changing the maximum opening of the damper as appropriate, and the optimum maximum opening according to the type of grain to be germinated is set in advance to control the temperature inside the casten. By opening and closing the damper, a simple control method can be used to obtain a uniform temperature distribution in the grain layer, prevent rapid drying of the grain, and perform good germination evenly in the layer. .
Further, at the inlet of the circulating air to the air mixing chamber, at least two dampers having an opening degree adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate are provided, and at least one of them is always opened. Therefore, it is possible to prevent rapid drying of grains and temporary oxygen deficiency of wheat, and good germination can be uniformly performed in the layer. In addition, since the arm stroke adjustment is performed by the diaphragm method, unlike electric control devices such as motors, there is no failure due to humidity even in a humid environment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the schematic configuration of a grain germination apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an apparatus portion from the vicinity of an inlet of circulating air and cooling air of an air mixing chamber to a casting.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of an opening degree adjusting means for adjusting a flow rate together with an operation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the opening degree adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate together with the operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a temperature control method of the present apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Grain germination device 20 ... Cooling air flow path 30 ... Circulating air flow path 21, 25, 31, 35 ... Damper 60 ... Air mixing chamber 70 ... Casten 77 ... Grain layer 90 ... Opening degree adjusting means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Isao Tanaka 2-1-1 Osu, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. Hiroshima factory (72) Shunji Kawate 2-1 Osu, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima -1 Kirin Beer Co., Ltd. Hiroshima Factory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A castene having a grain layer filled with grains, an air mixing chamber communicated with the castene via a blowing means, and a circulating air flow passage communicated with the air mixing chamber through which circulating air flows. And a cooling air flow path through which cooling air flows, and part of the air that has passed through the grain layer in the casten from the air mixing chamber is circulated again to the air mixing chamber via the circulation air flow path, and the cooling air A germination device for grains, wherein cooling air of outside air is taken into a flow path, and the cooling air is mixed into an air mixing chamber to adjust the temperature of air passing through a grain layer in a casten, the air mixing chamber. At the inlets of the circulating air and the cooling air to the, a damper equipped with an opening adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate is installed respectively, the opening adjusting means, the maximum opening of the damper is appropriately Equipped with means for constant change, the optimum maximum opening according to the type of grain to be germinated is set in advance, and the temperature inside the casten is controlled by opening and closing the damper. apparatus. 2. The opening and closing of the damper is performed in a fully open state, a fully closed state, or in an intermediate opening range, and during steady operation, it is mainly performed in an intermediate opening range which is 40 to 90% of the maximum opening at full opening. The germination apparatus for grains according to claim 1, which is performed. 3. The inlet of the circulating air to the air mixing chamber is provided with at least two dampers having opening degree adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate, at least one of which is The germination device for grains according to claim 1, wherein the damper is always open. 4. The opening adjustment means comprises an operating arm connected to a stroke portion of a pneumatic operating device, first and second connecting arms connected to the operating arm, and first and second connecting arms. A first and a second slide arm connected to the connection arm, and a connection arm connected to the first and second slide arms and also connected to a damper arm. The second connecting arm connecting portion can be selectively connected within a preset connecting position range, whereby the maximum opening degree of the damper on the circulating air side and the cooling air side can be variably set. The germination device for grains according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is characterized in that. 5. The grain germination device according to claim 4, wherein the pneumatic actuator is a diaphragm.