Patent Publication Number: US-2023149936-A1

Title: Apparatus for removing the husk from grain

Description:
The invention relates to a device for the dehusking of husk cereals, in particular as laboratory or small-quantity peeler of husk cereals and for the production of dehusked husk cereal seeds. 
     In contrast to the so-called naked grain, the cereal grains of which can be exposed by threshing, husk grains are provided with spelts which are firmly closed around the grains and which are indigestible for humans and have to be removed in special devices. Among other things, husk cereals include, but are not limited to, spelt, grain, emmer or rice, as well as oats, millet and buckwheat. In these types of cereal, it is necessary to remove the husks before processing. For this purpose, so-called peeling mills are known from the general state of the art, which are, for example, for husk cereals. In this context, in particular in the case of the cereal variety spelt, it is referred to as dehusking. 
     Other devices known from the state of the art include so-called underrotor peeling devices, in which a dehusking between stone wheels is carried out. However, such devices can often lead to damage to the surface of the grain, so that with such devices from the prior art the germination ability of the grain cannot be ensured. 
     In DE 38 038 58 A1, a spelt peeling machine is shown, in which a rotatable friction disc and a non-rotatable friction disc are arranged in a housing in such a way that the axes of the friction discs lie horizontally, so that the net weight of the discs does not affect the gap spacing between the discs. The friction discs are provided with friction grooves which run in a star shape from the inside to the outside and have a V-shaped or cone-shaped cross-section. The friction disks can be manufactured completely or partially from a rubber or plastic. 
     The AT 357 009 B shows a device for removing fruit skin and pulp and for partial drying of washed cereals and legumes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,791,254 discloses a seed peeler comprising two partially elastic discs. For this purpose, the rotating and non-rotating shafts can be constructed in such a way that the side facing the fruit consists of a plastic or rubber. 
     DE 306225 describes a machine for the dehusking of cereals, in which the grain is guided against a solid disc which rotates rapidly in a housing and which is provided on the circumference with strips which generate air swirl which effects the opening of the entrained husks within the housing. 
     In DE 270156, a mill with a mounted centrifugal separator is described, in which the viewing wing is used by replacing the drum jacket surrounding it, for peeling and dehulling (dehusking, roughening), for the purpose of being able to carry out the three process steps, dehusking, peeling and flour preparation, with one and the same machine. 
     In particular, the two last-mentioned devices had horizontal axis of the peeling devices, so that the high mechanical loads which are produced by downwardly falling grain, which are not distributed symmetrically in the peeling device, are produced when the husking device is released. 
     Due to the increasing use of husk cereals as cereal species in food production, large-scale industrial plants have become established, in which a separation of husk and grain is carried out only after dehusking in a separate plant. 
     Against this background, the inventor has now found the object of providing an improved device for the dehusking of husk cereals, which can be used as laboratory or small-quantity peeler of husk cereals and for the production of dehusked husk cereal seeds. 
     This object is achieved by the independent patent claim  1 . Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are in each case objects of the dependent claims. These can be combined with one another in a technologically meaningful manner. The description, in particular in connection with the drawing, further characterizes and specifies the invention. 
     In accordance with the invention, there is provided a device for the dehusking of husk cereals, in particular as laboratory or small-quantity peeler of husk cereals and for the production of dehusked husk cereals, which comprises a peeling device which comprises a first disk and a second disk which is movable relative to the first disk and which can be driven about a vertical axis of rotation wherein the disks enclose a working space between their main surfaces having a surface made of a plastic material, which working space can be filled by a filling hole of the first disk in the region of its centre point with husk grain, wherein by rotation of the second disk a peeling off of grain and husk of the husk grain takes place by means of a radial movement along the disks so that grain and husk of the husk grain leave the peeling device on the outer circumference via an outlet opening, which opens into a collecting vessel via a downpipe, wherein the downpipe has a lateral supply air opening, which is acted upon by an air flow such that husk leaves the downpipe laterally in front of the collecting vessel. 
     Accordingly, in the device according to the invention, a peeling device for removing husk is extended in such a way that the functionality of air flow separation is supplemented in order to separate the husk via an air flow. In this case, the grain and husk of the husk grain leave the peeling device via the exit opening, wherein only the grain is received in the collecting vessel, while husk leaves the downpipe laterally. Accordingly, it is not necessary, as has already been shown in the state of the art, to provide a separate device for dehusking and for separating by air flow. Furthermore, the device according to the invention has a peeling device in which the moving second disk is driven about the vertically arranged axis of rotation. In this case, the main surfaces of the disks enclose the working space in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, so that the filling opening ensures a uniform distribution during filling via the two disks of the peeling device. Unlike the already known mills with a horizontal axis of rotation, there are no asymmetrical thermal loads in the peeling direction, which significantly improves the service life of the device according to the invention. Such a construction is advantageous, in particular, in the dehusking of husk cereals in small quantities or for analysis purposes in a laboratory for quality control, since in a single step, dehusking and separation of grain and husk takes place. Due to the homogeneous temperature distribution in the interior of the peeling mechanism, the disks of the peeling mechanism can be selected relatively compactly with respect to their dimensions, so that a hand-held device can be created, which is easy to operate and can be used in many ways. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the first disk and the second disk each have a carrier plate, which are preferably made of aluminium. 
     It has been found that for homogeneous temperature distribution in the interior of the peeling unit, advantageously the two disks each have a carrier plate, wherein in particular carrier plates made of aluminium are used, which has a high thermal conductivity, has the necessary mechanical stability and can nevertheless be manufactured cost-effectively. Other materials having high thermal conductivity, such as metals such as copper or metal alloys, may also be used. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the material consisting of a temperature-stable and elastic material is a plastic material or a natural rubber. A food-genuine polyurethane can be applied to the main surfaces of the first disk or the second disk. However, the plastic material may also be made of silicone on the main surfaces of the first disk or of the second disk. 
     However, materials with a high thermal conductivity are unsuitable for dehusking husk cereals, so that the region of the two disks delimiting the working space is coated with a plastic material which can be selected for the removal of husk grain, in particular as a food-genuine polyurethane. In order to develop seed grains for the production of seed, it has been found that a silicone material is advantageous since, after leaving the device according to the invention, it has a high driving force after leaving the device according to the invention. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the material that is stable and elastic from a temperature-stable and elastic material is connected to the carrier plate in a form-fitting or material-locking manner. 
     Advantageously, the plastic material is glued onto the carrier plate, so that, in a simple manner, worn temperature-stable and elastic material can be exchanged. However, it is also conceivable to spray the carrier plate or a vulcanizing process. In other applications, a blank of the temperature-stable and elastic material can also preferably be screwed onto the carrier plate by means of countersunk screws. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the second disk is coupled to an electric motor. 
     The second disk, which is movable about the axis of rotation, is advantageously coupled to an electric motor, which can contain, without further deflection or transmission order, directly as a component the axis of rotation. In this way, a compact construction can be achieved in which the components of the electric motor are arranged in a space-saving manner around the vertical axis of rotation. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the electric motor is additionally coupled to a suction fan for generating the air flow. However, a further electric motor can also be additionally coupled to a suction fan for generating the air flow. 
     The suction fan required for applying the air flow can also be coupled to the electric motor driving the second disk. In other embodiments, it is likewise possible to provide alternatively a wide electric motor which is used only for the suction fan. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the axial spacing of the disks can be variably adjusted. In this case, the second disk can be provided with a spindle drive in order to adjust the distance from the first disk, in particular in a range between 0.1 mm and 10 mm. In particular in the case of husk cereals, the proportion of the husk to be removed is quite considerable in respect of the entire grain prior to the dehusking, so that, for example, when filling with approx. 5 litres of original husk cereal grain, a collecting container or collecting bag of 6 litres or more would be filled with the device according to the invention, whereas in the collecting vessel only 0.2 to 0.5 litres of dehusked husk grain. In order to be able to adjust the dehusking process precisely, it is also necessary to precisely adjust the position of the two disks relative to one another. The invention uses an axial adjustment, wherein the first disk can be moved in the axial direction relative to the first disk. For this purpose, in particular, a spindle drive can be provided which, with corresponding precision threads, permits reproducibility of the spacing of the two disks with high accuracy. Typically, the distance is changed in a range between 1 mm and 10 mm, the distance being adjustable more precisely than 0.1 mm. In the device according to the invention, the second disk is moved together with the axis of rotation and the electric motor, wherein overlapping housing sections are assigned to both the first disk and the second disk along the outer circumference of the peeling device so that, even in the event of an adjustment of the distance of the first disk to the second disk, there is no gap on the outer circumference, through which husk or husk grain could leave the device according to the invention. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first disk is thermally connected to a main body of the device. 
     Since only the second disk is moved, the first disk can advantageously be thermally connected to a main body of the device in order to be able to remove the heat produced during the dehusking via the main body. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the main surface of the of the first disk recedes in the radial direction in the opposite direction to the second disk to the second disk in the radial direction. 
     The configuration of the region of the filling opening is important, in particular, for the first disk for good filling with husk grain, wherein here in particular a wedge-shaped design which widens towards the centre point has proven successful. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, one or more strippers are arranged below the second disk, which strippers support the leaving of grain and husk of the husk grain in the direction of the outlet opening. 
     In order to improve the leaving of grain and husk, the second disk is provided with a stripper or a plurality of strippers which, due to the rotational movement of the second disk, push the material located under the second disk in the direction of the outlet opening. As a result of the centrifugal forces, grain and husk thus arrive at the outlet opening, which therefore only has to be arranged over a small region on the outer circumference of the peeling device, so that the downpipe only has to have a small diameter. 
     Furthermore, a method for the dehusking of husk cereals, in particular as laboratory or small-quantity peeler of husk grains, and for the production of dehusked husk cereal seeds with a device, as described above, is specified, which delivers approximately 1 kg of corresponding grain or seed per minute. 
     For small amounts of up to, for example, 200 kg, the device according to the invention can advantageously be used in a method for dehusking husk grain, so that, in addition to an application in a laboratory, the production in a small mill is also conceivable. Likewise, the device according to the invention can also be used in a seed producer. 
    
    
     
       Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a side view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for producing de-ionized husk grain seeds, 
         FIG.  2    shows the device from  FIG.  1    in a sectional view, 
         FIG.  3    shows a detail of the device according to the invention from  FIG.  2    in the sectional view; 
         FIG.  4    shows a further detail of the device according to the invention in a side view with partially removed components; and 
         FIG.  5    shows a further detail of the device according to the invention in a side view. 
     
    
    
     In the figures, identical or identically acting components are provided with the same reference numerals. 
       FIG.  1    shows, in a side view, a device  2  for the dehusking of husk cereals, which can be used as laboratory or small-quantity peeler of husk grains and for the production of dehusked husk grain seeds. For this purpose, the device  2  has a peeling device  4 . The peeling device  4  can be supplied via a funnel  6  to husk grain. The feed of husk cereals via the funnel  6  can be adjusted by means of a slide  8 , which can have a cross-section in the interior of the funnel  6  in such a way that the quantity reached in the peeling device  4  can be adjusted. Below the peeling device  4 , an electric motor  10  connected thereto, the function of which will be explained below, is arranged. 
     Furthermore, the device  2  has an aspiration  12  which separates grain and husk from the peeling device  4 , as will be explained below. For this purpose, the device has a suction fan  14 , which is connected to the aspiration  12  by means of a hose  16  and, on the other hand, forms a connection to a collecting container  20  over a further hose line  17 . The husk separated from the grain is discharged via this path. The grain arrives in the collecting vessel  24 . This process, also referred to as air separation, can be regulated both via a speed control of a further electric motor  26  of the suction fan  14  and via a further slide  18  at an outlet  22  of the collecting container  20 . The further slide  18  thus acts like an exhaust air throttle which limits the air flow through this path. In this case, husk at the lower end of the collecting container  20  can be filled, for example, into a transport bag, while the air leaves this path via the outlet  22  of the collecting container  20 . 
     In order to provide mechanical stability to the device  2 , a plurality of main bodies  30 ,  32 ,  34  connected via struts are provided, wherein the central main body  30  is arranged above the suction fan  14 , the lower main body  32  carries the further electric motor  26  of the suction fan, and the upper main body  34  provides a termination of the peeling device  4 . The main bodies are connected to one another via corresponding struts  36 . 
     The peeling device  4  has in its interior a first disk  40  and a second disk  42 , wherein the second disk is driven by the electric motor  10  via a vertically arranged axis of rotation  44 . 
       FIG.  2    shows a sectional view of the device  2 , wherein the vertical sectional plane is arranged centrally through the axis of rotation  44 . It can be seen that the aspiration  12  merges via an outlet opening  46  into a downpipe  48 , the lower end  50  of which is arranged above the collecting vessel  24 . A supply air opening  52 , which is connected to the hose line  16  and thus to the suction fan  14  via a suction channel  54 , has been provided on the downpipe  48 . In the region of the supply air opening  52 , an air flow is generated via the suction fan  14 , which air stream is adjusted via the above-described controllability in such a way that husk is separated from the suction fan  14  via the hose line  16  and does not pass into the collecting vessel  24 . 
     A more detailed representation of the peeling device  4  and the aspiration  12  is given below in the enlarged representation of  FIG.  3   . It can be seen that both the first disk  40  and the second disk  42  are constructed in two parts, wherein the first disk  40  is composed of a first carrier plate  62  and a first cover  64  made of a temperature-stable and elastic material while the second disk  42  consists of a second carrier plate  66  and a second coating  68  of a temperature-stable and elastic material is formed. The first disk  42  is connected to the upper base body  34  so that the heat generated by the base body  34  can be absorbed. 
     Toward the axis of rotation  44 , the first disk  42  is formed with a decreasing transverse section, wherein the first disk  42  is in full surface contact with the upper base body  34 , so that wedge-shaped depressions  70  are formed which widen towards the axis of rotation  44 . As a result of the configuration of these wedge-shaped regions  70 , the supply of husk grains in the region of a filling opening  78  close to the axis of rotation  44  can be optimized. The first coating  64  or the second coating  68  is typically bonded to the support plates  62  and  66 , respectively, as a plastic material. In this case, food-genuine polyurethane or a silicone material can be used. Besides these materials, ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers or a natural rubber material may also be included. Usually, different material materials are used in the dehusking of husk cereals and in the production of seed. In addition to the elastic property and the temperature stability, a further characteristic variable is the slip inhibition with respect to the husk grain, which should be taken into account in the selection of materials. The slip inhibition can also be modified in a targeted manner via the surface condition, so that, depending on the material, smooth, corrugated surfaces or surfaces provided with micro structuring are also used. As a result of the selection of the material, the husk grain can be put into a rotational movement or swirl, so that during the passage of the peeling device  4  grain and husk completely separate, without only being peeled off locally. 
     At one point, the outlet opening  46 , which, as described above, leads to the downpipe  48  is located on the circumferential side of the two disks  40 ,  42 . The electric motor  10  is directly connected to the second disk  42 , wherein the combination of the electric motor  10 , the second disk  42 , the downpipe  48  and the lower housing area  72  of the peeling device  4  can be displaced jointly in the axial direction of the axis of rotation  44  in order to determine the distance between the first disk  40  and the second disk  42  can be designed to be adjustable, for example in a range between 0.1 mm and 10 mm. 
     For this reason, the hose line  16  is flexible in order to be able to compensate for the changing distance between the aspirator  12  and the suction fan  14  when the assembly is in use. Lateral housing sections  74  and  76  are formed so as to overlap, so that when the distance between the first disk  40  and the second disk  42  is adjusted, no lateral openings result at the peeling device  4 . In the enlarged illustration of  FIG.  3   , the slot-shaped configuration of the supply air opening  52  can also be clearly seen, as well as the configuration of the aspiration  12  in the interior. 
       FIG.  4    again shows a part of the device  2 , in which a large part of the components of the peeling device  4  and below the aspiration  12  have been removed. In this embodiment, the region below the second disk  42  can be seen, wherein the lower housing region  72  is still present, which is arranged directly above the electric motor  10 . It can be seen that, in the region below the second disk  42 , two strippers  80  connected thereto are provided, which are fixedly connected to the second disk  42 , so that material is guided through the rotational movement of the second disk  42  in the direction of the outlet opening  46  during operation of the device  2 . 
     A further aspect is explained below with reference to  FIG.  5   .  FIG.  5    shows a detailed view of the side of the electric motor  10 , where it can be seen in  FIG.  5    that the electric motor  10  is movable up or down on rails  84  via a plurality of sliders  82 , wherein the movement of the electric motor  10  takes place via a spindle drive  86  which has a flange  88  which causes a threaded rod  90  to rotate so that via a corresponding counter element on the electric motor  10  (not shown in  FIG.  5   ), which is provided with an internal thread and is penetrated by the wound rod  90 , a vertical displacement of the electric motor  10  can be achieved. By selecting a corresponding thread shape in the case of play as a fine thread, a very precise adjustment can take place here. A transmission ratio would also be possible. 
     In a method for dehusking husk grain, in particular as a laboratory or small-quantity peeler of husk cereal grain and for the production of dehusked cereal seeds, a device  2  can be used as described above, which delivers approximately 1 kg of corresponding grain or seed per minute. 
     The features mentioned above and the features which can be found in the claims and those which can be found in the claims can be advantageously realized both individually and in various combinations. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described, but can be modified in many ways within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
     
         
           2  device 
           4  peeling device 
           6  funnel 
           8  slide 
           10  Electric motor 
           12  aspiration 
           14  Suction blower 
           16  Hose line 
           17  further hose line 
           18  further slide 
           20  collection container 
           22  output 
           24  collection vessel 
           26  further electric motor 
           28  further slide 
           30  middle main body 
           32  lower main body 
           34  upper main body 
           36  struts 
           40  First disk 
           42  Second disk 
           44  Axis of rotation 
           46  Outlet opening 
           48  Downpipe 
           50  End 
           52  Supply air opening 
           54  Suction channel 
           62  First carrier plate 
           64  First coating 
           66  Second carrier plate 
           68  second coating 
           70  wedge-shaped region 
           72  Housing region 
           74  Second housing section 
           76  First housing section 
           78  Filling opening 
           80  Stripper 
           82  Glider 
           84  rails 
           86  Spindle drive 
           88  Hand wheel 
           90  Threaded rod