JPS6359099B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring split rice present in rice grains such as polished rice.

If milled rice contains more than a certain percentage of split rice, it will affect the taste after cooking, so it is necessary to check the content from time to time during the rice milling process.

To check, it is necessary to measure the number of split rice grains in supplemented rice grains (polished rice), and one method for this measurement is conventionally to put sample rice grains and water in a carton, leave it to stand, and then measure it with the naked eye after 20 to 25 minutes. The method of counting split rice is adopted.

This method has the advantage that the split rice becomes conspicuous as a result of water absorption, making it easy to count, but it is time-consuming and impractical. The present invention aims to automate this method.

The measuring method of the present invention is to leave rice grains in water, then let the rice grains flow down in a row along with water, and on the way, the amount of light that passes through the passing rice grains is received, and changes in the amount of received light are detected.

In this method, the transmission of light is adopted as
This is because the detection of the split grains is carried out optically, and the amount of transmitted light of the shell split number is lower than that of normal grains, which can be used as a detection element and is suitable for automation of measurement.

By leaving the sample rice grains in water for several minutes, the difference in the amount of transmitted light between split grains and normal grains can be expanded.

By allowing the rice grains to flow down with the water, the rice grains can be automatically and individually separated for light transmission.

Therefore, according to this method, the rice grains flow down with the water, and along the way, the split grains are optically detected, making it possible to automatically measure the rice grains.
At that time, because the rice grains were exposed to water, the difference in the amount of transmitted light between split grains and normal grains was expanded.
Optical discrimination is reliable.Since the rice grains flow down with the water, the water acts as a carrier for the rice grains and no special transport means is required.Moreover, the movement is smooth and there is no need for a line to detect the rice grains. It is easy to form a shape, and the detection of shell-split grains becomes accurate.

In addition, as an embodiment of this method, the number of sample grains can be determined in advance by using two light receivers, one for detecting normal grains and one for detecting shell-split grains, and detecting both the number of shell-split grains and the number of normal grains. There is no need to keep track of it. Detection of normal grains is based on the difference in the amount of transmitted light between water and normal grains.

Next, a measuring device of the present invention that implements the above measuring method will be described based on an illustrated embodiment.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a hopper, which is equipped with an airtight lid 3 having a ventilation hole 2, and has a discharge port 6 (FIG. 2) with a watertight opening/closing valve 5 at the deepest part of the bottom of the hopper body 4.

7 is a chute arranged on a gentle slope and has a single channel in the center. In the middle of the chute 7, there is a light transmitting section 8 made of transparent glass or the like that extends at least along the flow path.
is formed.

Reference numeral 9 indicates a light emitter, and reference numeral 10 indicates a light receiver consisting of a photo sensor such as a phototransistor, which are located on both sides of the light transmitting portion 8 of the chute 7.

A counting device 11 is connected to the light receiver 10. The counting device 11 integrates the number of times a certain decrease in the amount of light received by the light receiver 10 as a signal, and visually displays the result.

The chute 7 is connected to the discharge port 6 of the hopper 1, and the flow path of the chute 7 and the discharge port 6 of the hopper 1 are connected via the on-off valve 5.

It goes without saying that each of the above-mentioned components is fixedly arranged in a case or the like containing them by appropriate means.

To use this measuring device, first, the on-off valve 5
With the discharge port 6 closed, a fixed amount of sample rice grains and sufficient water are placed inside the hopper 1, the airtight lid 3 is placed on the hopper, and the hopper is left for several minutes. Then, when the on-off valve 5 is opened and the discharge port 6 is opened, both the water and the sample rice grains flow out. The outflow rate is determined by the ventilation hole 2 of the airtight lid 3.
Depends on the size of. That is, the force of the water flowing out from the outlet 6 is controlled by the vent hole 2 to such an extent that it accompanies the rice grains one by one.

The water and rice grains that have exited the outlet 6 flow as a single line through the channel of the chute 7 and pass through the light transmitting section 8 . At this time, when the split grain passes through, the amount of transmitted light decreases due to the presence of the split part, so the light receiver emits one signal and is detected as split rice.

According to this measuring device, the measurement is reliable because it detects sample rice grains that have been left in water for several minutes.The existence of the air hole 2 and the single channel allows the rice grains to separate individually and pass through the light transmitting part. , the sample rice grains can be inspected individually, and the measurement can be performed automatically by opening the on-off valve 5 by allowing the water and rice grains to naturally flow down the chute and by adopting an optical detection means.
The structure is simple and the method of use is simple.

Regarding the embodiment of this device, it is advantageous that the diameter of the outlet 6 of the hopper 1 is sufficiently larger than the short axis of the rice grains, but smaller than twice that. In this way, it becomes easy to extract sample rice grains one by one from the collection of sample rice grains that tend to accumulate at the deepest part of the bottom of the hopper 1 through the discharge port 6.

Furthermore, if a vibrator 12 is attached to the hopper wall near the discharge port 6, the vibrations will make it easier for rice grains to pass through the discharge port 6, and no clogging will occur.

To add more detail to the illustrated embodiment, reference numeral 13 is a seal ring made of rubber or the like, which is provided along the upper edge of the hopper body 4, and which connects the body 4 and the sealing lid 3.
Perfect contact with. The main body 4 and the sealing lid 3 are screwed together with screws 14 so that they can be removed. 15 is a case, and 16 is an inclination adjustment device for the chute 7. light receiver 10,
The dosing device 9 is housed at both ends of a cylindrical body 17 that is integrally attached to the chute 7, and condensing lenses 18 and 19 are arranged between them. In the case of the figure, there are two light receivers 10, 10a for detecting split grains and 10b for detecting normal grains. When the vibrator 12 is used, a part of the support of the hopper 1 may be made of the elastic body 20. The on-off valve 5 is of a sliding type and is operated by a solenoid 21. The on-off valve may be operated manually, or the solenoid may be equipped with a timer so that it can be operated several minutes later. 22 is a container that receives the measured sample rice grains and water flowing out.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention in cross section, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged front sectional view of the main parts of the same. 1...Hopper, 2...Vent hole, 3...Sealing lid, 5...Opening/closing valve, 6...Exhaust port, 7...Chute, 8...Light transmitting part, 9...Emitter, 10...Light receiving vessel, 11... counting device, 12... vibrator.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. After rice grains are left in water, the rice grains are allowed to flow down together with water in a row, and along the way, light is transmitted through the rice grains and received, and changes in the amount of received light are detected. This method of measuring split rice is characterized by: 2. A hopper with a discharge port having a watertight opening/closing valve at the bottom, a hopper communicating with the discharge port and forming a light supply part in the middle, an inclined chute, a light emitter and a light receiver arranged with respect to the light supply part. What is claimed is: 1. A split rice measuring device comprising: a container; and a counting device connected to the light receiver.