EA047456B1 - METHOD OF SORTING GRAIN - Google Patents

Description

Field of technology

The present invention relates to a method for sorting grain. In particular, the present invention relates to a device and method for sorting cereal grain on a line, with a production capacity (100 t/h), ensuring individual storage based on a selected parameter of the cereal grain considered for sorting.

State of the art

The criteria for the acceptance of cereal grain for use in various industries require the measurement of a number of cereal grain parameters. This ensures the identification of the most suitable cereal grain lots, as well as the storage and subsequent use of homogeneous cereal grain lots.

Some current solutions offered to industries for measuring cereal grain quality parameters are based mainly on individual sampling of each received bulk batch of cereal grain and then measuring them using laboratory equipment. Some companies have developed methods and devices that allow measuring large quantities of cereal grain, but the throughput with which such equipment can be processed remains a limiting factor. Various companies offer solutions for in-line measurement of various cereal grain parameters that either have limited system throughput and are therefore not suitable for production scale, or the measured values are collected for information purposes only, without any action to separate different cereal grain batches based on the quality of the cereal grain.

US 2013/168301 A1 discloses a device and method for sorting particles such as seeds, grain, etc. US Patent No. 4,057,146 A discloses an optical device for sorting beans or grain that provides sorting by size and color. US Patent 5,779,058 A describes a device for sorting grain by color.

A method and device for sorting grain are described in the inventors' U.S. Patent No. US 8,569,644 for analyzing grain on-line and separating grain into lots based on one or more measured parameter values, such as, for example, protein content or moisture content. The separating process separates the grain into homogeneous lots, which is desirable for subsequent grain processing. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved method and device of this type.

The essence of the invention

According to the present invention, a method is provided for analyzing bulk grain on a line and dividing the grain into batches, wherein each batch corresponds to at least one pre-selected value of a grain parameter, which includes:

continuously feeding grain through an in-line measuring station, analyzing the grain by emitting light onto the grain passing through the in-line measuring station and detecting light reflected from the grain to provide a spectrum of the grain, converting the spectrum into said or each parameter value, and dividing the grain on the line into batches in response to said or each measured parameter value of the grain, characterized in that the method includes controlling the flow of grain through the measuring station to form an optically dense layer of grain at the measuring station to reflect the light emitted onto the grain.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes directing grain to deliver grain in a flow of an optically dense layer of grain past a sensor head at a measuring station.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes feeding grain through a loading chute having a sensor unit installed in the side wall of the loading chute at a measuring station, passing the grain delivered through the loading chute into a funnel installed on the side wall of the sensor unit, forming an optically dense layer of grain by means of the funnel and feeding the grain in a flow of the optically dense layer of grain to the side wall past the sensor head of the sensor unit installed on the side wall.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes directing grain to feed grain in a flow of an optically dense layer of grain past a sensor unit at a measuring station, feeding grain through a loading chute having a sensor unit mounted on a side wall of the loading chute at the measuring station, passing grain fed through the loading chute through a funnel mounted on the side wall in the sensor unit, forming an optically dense layer of grain by means of the funnel and feeding grain in a flow of the optically dense layer of grain to the side wall past a sensor head of the sensor unit mounted on the side wall, directing grain between the side walls of the tapering funnel protruding outward from the side wall of the loading chute for grain on which the sensor unit is mounted, and between an inclined guide flap and the side wall of the chute, wherein the inclined guide flap extends between the side walls of the funnel and is spaced apart from the side wall of the chute on which the sensor unit is mounted, wherein

- 1 047456 The specified inclined guide flap tapers inward from the inlet opening of the funnel to the side wall of the trough on which the sensor unit is mounted.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes transporting grain through a measuring station on a grain feed conveyor having a number of spaced blades mounted inside and moving through a corresponding chute by moving the blades through the corresponding chute of the conveyor and forming an optically dense layer of grain in the chute between each adjacent pair of blades.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes transporting grain through a measuring station on a grain feed conveyor enclosed in a housing and having a number of spaced blades installed inside and moving through a corresponding chute by moving the blades through the corresponding chute of the conveyor and forming an optically dense layer of grain in the chute between each adjacent pair of blades, wherein the measuring station is installed on the side wall of the housing and has a sensor unit installed on the side wall of the housing on the side of the grain feed conveyor for measuring the optically dense layer of grain formed between each adjacent pair of blades.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes forming an optically dense layer of grain having a thickness of at least 5 cm.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes emitting near infrared light onto an optically dense layer of grain to create a near infrared spectrum of the grain.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a device for analyzing bulk quantities of grain on a line and separating the grain into two or more batches in response to at least one measured value of a grain parameter, the device comprising:

a measuring station with a sensor unit;

means for feeding grain past the sensor unit in an optically dense layer of grain;

a light emitter at the measuring station, configured to emit light onto the optically dense layer of grain for reflection back to the sensor unit;

a sensor unit for detecting light reflected from the grain to provide a spectrum;

means for converting the spectrum into at least one grain parameter value; and means for dividing the grain into two or more batches in response to the measured parameter value.

In another embodiment of the invention, the means for feeding grain past the sensor unit in an optically dense layer of grain comprises a funnel having tapering side walls leading to a narrowed section of the neck, wherein the sensor head of the sensor unit is installed on the side of the neck section for streaming grain transfer in the optically dense layer of grain in front of the sensor head.

In another embodiment of the invention, the measuring station is installed on a grain loading chute, wherein the measuring station has a sensor unit installed on the side wall of the grain loading chute, a funnel installed inside the grain loading chute, wherein the funnel comprises tapering side walls of the funnel protruding outward from the side wall of the grain loading chute on which the sensor unit is installed, an inclined guide flap extending between the side walls of the funnel and spaced apart from the side wall of the chute on which the sensor unit is installed, wherein said inclined guide flap tapers inward from the inlet opening of the funnel to the side wall of the chute on which the sensor unit is installed.

In another embodiment of the invention, the inclined guide flap is curved between the inlet end and the outlet end of the inclined guide flap.

In another embodiment of the invention, the outlet ends of the tapering side walls of the funnel are connected to a section of the neck of the funnel having parallel neck walls extending outward from each side wall of the funnel.

In another embodiment of the invention, the outlet end of the inclined guide flap partially extends into the section of the funnel neck between the walls of the neck.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, the means for feeding grain in the form of an optically dense layer of grain comprises a feeding conveyor for grain having a number of spaced blades that move along a corresponding tray to form an optically dense layer of grain in the tray between adjacent pairs of blades, wherein the sensor unit is mounted on the side of the tray.

In another embodiment of the invention, the means for feeding grain in an optically dense layer of grain comprises a grain feed conveyor having a number of spaced blades that move along a corresponding chute in a position extending vertically upward from the bottom wall of the chute to form an optically dense layer of grain in the chute between adjacent pairs of blades, wherein the grain feed conveyor is mounted inside a housing having an input end for grain connected to a loading chute for grain and an output end for grain having at least one unloading chute, wherein the grain feed conveyor communicates between the input end for grain and the output end for grain of the housing, wherein the measuring station is mounted on the side

- 2 047456 on the side wall of the housing and has a sensor unit mounted on the side wall of the housing on the side of the grain feed conveyor for measuring the optically dense layer of grain formed between each adjacent pair of blades on the grain feed conveyor.

Brief description of graphic materials

This invention will be better understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given solely as an example, with reference to the accompanying graphic materials, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a grain sorting device for implementing the method of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is another schematic illustration of a device for sorting grain;

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a measuring station forming a section of the device;

Fig. 4 is another schematic illustration of the measuring station;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for implementing another method of sorting grain according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an additional perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detailed schematic illustration of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 5.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the drawings and first to Fig. 1-4, a device for sorting grain according to the present invention is illustrated, designated essentially by the reference number 1. The device 1 comprises a grain loading chute 2 for feeding bulk cereal grain into the device 1. An in-line measuring station 3 analyzes selected parameters of the grain fed through the loading chute 2 into the device 1. The grain loading chute 2 is discharged onto a horizontal grain sorting conveyor 4, which discharges the grain into storage bins 5, 6 in response to one or more measured grain parameters determined at the measuring station 3.

The measuring station 3 has a sensor unit 7, which contains a near infrared (NIR) light source for emitting light on the grain fed through the grain loading chute 2. The light is reflected from the grain, and the sensor 7 registers the reflected light to provide a grain spectrum. The spectrometer 8, connected to the sensor unit 7, converts the spectrum into one or more corresponding pre-selected grain parameter values. The grain parameter values created by the spectrometer 8 are fed to the controller 9. Then, the controller 9 controls the operation of the sorting conveyor 4 in response to the measured grain parameter values for feeding cereal grain to the storage bin 5, 6 having a grain parameter corresponding to the measured grain parameter.

Two storage bins 5, 6 are shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 by way of illustration, although it should be understood that any desired number of storage bins may be provided. Discharge chutes 10, 11 communicate between the sorting conveyor 4 and each bin 5, 6. The inlet opening 12 of the first discharge chute 10 has a guide plate 14, movable by means of a pneumatic cylinder 15 between a closed position across the inlet opening 12, closing the inlet opening 12, and an open position to ensure the discharge of cereal grain from the sorting conveyor 4 through the discharge chute 10 and into the storage bin 5.

The second discharge chute 11, which is located downstream from the first discharge chute 10, can be provided with a similar guide plate or can be open, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, when the guide plate 14 in the inlet opening 12 of the first discharge chute 10 is open, the cereal grain is fed into the first bin 5, and when the guide plate 14 is closed, the cereal grain is fed into the second bin 6. The controller 9 regulates the operation of the guide plate 14 in response to the measured grain parameters to feed the cereal grain into the desired bin 5, 6 to collect uniform cereal grain in each bin 5, 6.

The sorting conveyor 4 has a body 16 of box-shaped cross-section with an input end 17 and an output end 18. Inside the body 16, a feed conveyor 19 for grain is installed for feeding grain through the body 16 between the input end 17 and the output end 18 of the body 16. Grain is unloaded from the loading chute 2 onto the feed conveyor 19 for grain at the input end 17 of the body 16 and is transported by the feed conveyor 19 for grain to the output end 18 of the body 16 for unloading through one of the unloading chutes 10, 11.

In particular, with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the in-line measuring station 3 is shown in more detail. In this case, the sensor unit 7 is mounted on the lower side wall 20 of the loading chute 2 for grain. The funnel 21 is mounted inside the loading chute 2 on the same axis as the sensor unit 7 for feeding a portion of the grain passing through the loading chute 2 in a flow of optically dense grain layer past the sensor unit 7. The flow of optically dense grain layer has a depth of about 5 cm at the inner surface 22 of the lower side wall 20 of the loading chute 2.

The funnel 21 has an upper tapering section 26 with inwardly tapering side walls 23,

- 3 047456

24, leading to the lower narrowed section 25 of the neck, inside which the sensor head of the sensor unit 7 is installed. The side walls 23, 24 of the funnel and the section 25 of the neck protrude outward from the inner surface 22 of the lower side wall 20 of the trough 2. The section 25 of the neck is formed by two spaced apart essentially parallel walls 33, 34 of the neck, extending outward and downward from each side wall 23, 24 of the funnel and forming their continuations.

In addition, the inclined guide flap 27 narrows the passage 28 for grain through the funnel 21 between the inlet opening 29 and the outlet opening 30 of the funnel 21. This ensures a constant grain depth in the sensor unit 7 during the feeding of cereal grain through the loading chute 2 for grain to improve the accuracy of the sensor. The inclined guide flap 27 extends between the side wall 23, 24 of the funnel and is spaced apart from the lower side wall 20 of the loading chute 2. The inclined guide flap 27 tapers inward from the inlet opening 29 of the funnel 21 to the lower side wall 20 of the loading chute 2. The outlet end 32 of the flap 27 is spaced apart from the inner surface 22 of the lower side wall 20 of the loading chute 2 for grain by the required distance to create the required depth of the grain layer flow on the sensor unit 7, which in this case is about 5 cm. The inclined guide flap 27 can be straight or curved between the inlet end 31 and the outlet end 32 of the inclined guide flap 27.

In use, grain is fed through a loading chute 2 via an in-line measuring station 3. A sensor unit 7 emits NIR light onto the grain fed through the grain loading chute 2. The light is reflected from the grain and the sensor 7 registers the reflected light to provide a spectrum of the grain. A spectrometer 8, connected to the sensor unit 7, converts the spectrum into one or more corresponding pre-selected grain parameter values. The grain parameter values generated by the spectrometer 8 are fed to a controller 9. The controller 9 then controls the operation of the sorting conveyor 4 in response to the measured grain parameter values to feed cereal grain into a storage bin 5, 6 having a grain parameter corresponding to the measured grain parameter.

Next, with reference to Fig. 5-8, another device for sorting grain according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, designated essentially by reference numeral 40. Parts similar to the parts described earlier are designated by the same reference numerals. The device 40 has a loading chute 42 for grain, discharged into the input end 50 of the sorting conveyor 44 for grain. The sorting conveyor 44 for grain has a body 46 of box-shaped section, in the lower part of which an elongated chute 47 is installed. The feeding conveyor 48 for grain is installed inside the body 46 in such a way that the lower passage 49 of the feeding conveyor 48 for grain is located in the chute 47 and moves along it between the input end 50 and the output end 51 of the body 46 for feeding grain coming from the loading chute 42 at the input end 50 into the unloading chutes 10, 11 at the output end 51 of the body 46.

The feed conveyor 48 for grain has two spaced apart parallel endless drive chains 52, 53 mounted on drive sprockets 54, 55 at the output end 51 of the housing 46. The drive mechanism 56 rotates the drive sprockets 54, 55, which are mounted on the drive shaft 58, connected with the possibility of actuation to the drive mechanism 56. The opposite ends of each drive chain 52, 53 are secured on corresponding rotating sprockets (not shown) mounted on the rotating shaft 59 at the input end 50 of the housing 46.

Between the drive chains 52, 53 a plurality of spaced apart scraper blades 60 are installed. Each scraper blade 60 extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the drive chains 52, 53. The grain fed from the loading chute 42 for grain into the housing 46 is collected in a chute 47 between the scraper blades 60 on the lower passage 49 of the feeding conveyor 48 for grain, which projects vertically upward from the lower wall 45 of the chute 47, and is fed along the chute 47 between the input end 50 and the output end 51 of the housing 46 by moving the scraper blades 60 along the chute 47.

In this case, the sensor unit 7 is located on the side wall 62 of the housing 46. The depth of the scraper blades 60 is such that the sensor head of the sensor unit 7 is completely covered by the depth of the grain remaining in the tray 47 between each adjacent pair of scraper blades 60.

The method and device according to the invention are capable of measuring any desired grain parameter, such as protein content, moisture content, etc., in cereal grain during the reception of bulk cereal grain material. The received cereal grain is divided into quality groups based on the different measured levels of the parameter or parameters in question, and each quality group is separated on the line and stored in its own bin 5, 6 by means of the method and device according to the invention. In this way, the cereal grain is separated on the line into homogeneous batches of cereal grain, which ensures consistently high quality of the cereal grain during subsequent processing.

It should be understood that the present invention provides a method and device for high-speed non-destructive measurement in real time and provides a high level of measurement accuracy.

The sensor head of the sensor unit 3 is in direct contact with the cereal grain product and measures the required parameters using NIR technology. In order to ensure that

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Claims (2)

In order for the NIR sensor to provide correct measurement values, measurements are taken in a compact product flow in which the cereal grain is tightly packed together. The compact product flow is continuously illuminated with NIR light. The absorption characteristics and thus the spectrum of the reflected light change depending on the concentration of the parameters in the passing cereal grain. By comparing the reflected light with a calibration database created by the laboratory, relevant properties such as protein content can be determined. The terms contains and includes, as well as any derivatives thereof, the use of which is due to grammatical necessity, should be considered interchangeable and represent the widest possible interpretation. This invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, which may differ both in design and in details within the scope of the appended claims. CLAUSE OF THE INVENTION 1. A method for analyzing bulk grain on a line and dividing the grain into batches, each of which corresponds to at least one preselected value of a grain parameter, which includes continuously feeding grain through an in-line measuring station, analyzing the grain by emitting light onto the grain passing through the in-line measuring station and detecting the light reflected from the grain to provide a spectrum of the grain, converting the spectrum into said or each parameter value, dividing the grain in the line into batches in response to said or each measured value of the grain parameter, wherein the method includes controlling the flow of grain through the measuring station to form an optically dense layer of grain on the measuring station to reflect the light emitted onto the grain, and transporting the grain through the measuring station on a grain feed conveyor located in a housing and having a number of spaced blades mounted inside and moving through a corresponding chute by moving the blades through a corresponding chute of the conveyor and forming an optically dense layer of grain in the chute between each adjacent pair of blades, wherein the measuring station is mounted on a side wall of the housing and has a sensor unit mounted on the side wall of the housing on the side of the grain feed conveyor for measuring the optically dense layer of grain formed between each adjacent pair of blades. 2. A device for implementing the method according to claim 1 for analyzing bulk grain on a line and dividing the grain into two or more batches in response to at least one measured value of a grain parameter, comprising a measuring station having a sensor unit; means for feeding grain past the sensor unit in an optically dense layer of grain; a light emitter at the measuring station, configured to emit light onto the optically dense layer of grain for reflection back to the sensor unit; a sensor unit for detecting light reflected from the grain to provide a spectrum; means for converting the spectrum into at least one grain parameter value; means for dividing grain into two or more batches in response to a measured parameter value, wherein the means for feeding grain in an optically dense layer of grain comprises a grain feed conveyor having a number of spaced blades that move along a corresponding chute in a position extending vertically upward from the bottom wall of the chute to form an optically dense layer of grain in the chute between adjacent pairs of blades, wherein the grain feed conveyor is mounted inside a housing having an input end for grain connected to a loading chute for grain and an output end for grain having at least one unloading chute, wherein the grain feed conveyor is configured to communicate between the input end for grain and the output end for grain of the housing, wherein the measuring station is mounted on a side wall of the housing and has a sensor unit mounted on the side wall of the housing on the side of the grain feed conveyor for measuring the optically dense layer of grain formed between each adjacent pair of blades on the grain feed conveyor. -