Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a mixed system and a method of separation of quarantine
weed seeds from grains, which is operated with fluid artificial fillets and is intended
for grain post-processing equipment, to provide superior quality.
Background Art
[0002] In practice, various technical solutions are known for equipment and installations
for disposal of quarantine weed seeds (dodder) from seed material, (clover, alfalafa
seeds, rice, etc.) which work in stationary mode using the principle of electromagnetic
or magnetic drum, as well as those with velvet separators. All quarantine weed seeding
plants that implement these technical solutions are designed for a certain type of
seed - dedicated technological process and the adjustment systems of the functional
parameter are manually operated, using classic mechanisms (screw nuts, levers, etc.),
depending on the degree of grains contamination.
[0005] The disadvantages of these equipments are:
- the equipment's with velvet rollers, separates the quarantine weed seeds with full
tegument and smash or damaged seeds are omitted;
- the equipment with magnetic drums separates full tegument but also damaged, or broken
weed seeds, but the iron powder to be used is expensive and easily loses its ferromagnetic
quality if it is not well stored;
- the humidified material flow regulating systems are usually provided with classic
actuators (gears, screw-nuts, levers etc.) that sometimes are difficult to correlate
and match to the material type;
- the equipment using iron filings presents additional purchase costs from unique suppliers
from abroad;
- the magnetic or electromagnetic drums equipments must be placed in well-ventilated
warehouses with low humidity and operators must wear dust and fine powders masks.
[0006] The technical problem solved by this solution, according to the invention, consists
in the realization of a mixed system and a method for separation of quarantine weed
seeds from grains powered by artificial muscles, which are easily adapted to the different
types of seeds, to assures a cleaner working environment for operators, to capitalise
some quarantine weed seeds in immune-stimulant treatments, and also the processed
grains to have level of purity, as is specified by the trading market regulations.
Summary of invention
[0007] The mixed system of separation of quarantine weed seeds from grains is powered by artificial fluid muscles and is incorporated in a supporting framework
made of aluminium profiles to allow a light construction, that can be easily installed
in warehouses, and is provided with collecting funnels of dodder seeds treated with
glycerine, of dodder coated with iron powder, of grain collection and also a processed
material collection, but also with fastening and positioning elements of the coupling
elements of the other systems.
[0008] A second component is a seed mixing subsystem with a glycerine solution (water and glycerine) which
allows to make a mixing process with a special construction helicoidally conveyor,
provided with nozzles that spray solution over the raw material, and thus the material
is prepared for the first type of separation. The processed material is evacuated
by a directing system driven by a fluid artificial muscle.
[0009] The third component consists in a separation subsystem of glycerol treated seeds in two steps with two
belts made of two try-laminated material, so that this two-stage separation are positioned
one above the other, and from structurally point of view they are configured in a
mirror, the processed material passes between them by a directing system driven by
a fluid artificial muscle.
[0010] The fourth component is an iron powder coating subsystem, using a two-stage horizontal helicoidally conveyor.
The rotation of the upper conveyor is transmitted to the lower helicoidally conveyor
thorough a transmission. The material collected from the exit third component is transported
to the wetting facility connected to a water source so that, after the seeds have
been wetted, they pass to the lower floor where an iron powder pulverising installation
covers the seeds, after the seeds are mixed. These are directed to the magnetic separation
subsystem by means of a flexible tube, in the same configuration as in glycerine mixing
system.
[0011] The fifth component consists of a vibratory table on which is placed an adjustable vibrator motor. At
the fixed end are mounted two pneumatic vibration dampers, one on one side and the
other on the opposite side, two more pneumatic vibration dampers on the vertical direction,
at the movable end there are two other pneumatic vibration dampers. The compression
fluid artificial muscle has two roles, one as damp the vertically vibrations and the
other, to ensure the material flow angle in accordance with processed material and
its humidity.
[0012] The mixed system, according to the invention, has also a fluid operating subsystem
which includes, in addition to compressive and traction fluid artificial muscles other
passive and active fluid circuit elements, as a main control and command subsystem
placed in a central panel. Here are grouped the analogue and digital signals transmitted
by the functional parameter transducers, by passive and active network elements, known
per se, the system working operations are commanded by a PLC technology connected
with a touch screen digital interface.
[0013] The separation method has as a starting point the determination of grains contamination degree by laboratory
samples, percentage of weed seeds and smash one and involves the seeds mixing with
a glycerine solution, followed by glycerine-treated seeds separation, so that the
separated grains will have low weed mixture that will be again moistened with a predetermined
amount of water and coated with iron powder. The wetting process is carried out at
the upper level and the iron powder coating on a lower layer, and thus, the excess
liquid does not allow the iron powder to adhere to the housing and favour it's adhering
to the weed seed surfaces. The method is requires after that a new magnetic separation
step and the final product it is consist of free weed seeds grains. The method is
implemented using a modern control technology type PLC of fluid power operation with
latest generation actuators, namely compression and traction fluidic artificial muscle.
[0014] The mixed system and method of separation of quarantine weed seeds from grains has
the following advantages:
- the technological process to eliminate the quarantine weed seeds separates all types
of fractions;
- the reduction of the iron powder amount used and respectively processing costs reduction;
- the adaptability increase of the separation systems according to material type, on
its humidity and its contamination level, by implementing innovative driving systems
that can be centrally controlled and their operating fluid power presents a maximum
safety (gas inert, compressed air, etc.);
- decrease of the pollution's degree of operator's work environment; also the machine
working process can be made by one person, if it is integrated into a technological
flow;
- application's field increase of weed separation equipment, due to its capacity to
adapt and to be programmed for various working conditions in accordance cereal farmers
and processors requirements.
Brief description of drawings
[0015] The following is an example of invention's accomplishment, in connection with Figures
1, 2 and 3, which are:
Fig. 1 Block diagram of mixed system of quarantine weed seeds separation from grains powered
by fluid artificial muscles;
Fig. 2 - Mixed system and separation method of quarantine weed seeds from grains powered
by fluid artificial muscles - detailed scheme;
Fig. 3 - Section through the laminate belt.
Description of embodiments
[0016] Mixed separation system of quarantine weed seeds from grains powered by fluid artificial
muscle, according to the invention, is composed of a functional components series,
hereinafter referred to as subsystems.
[0017] The support framework -
subsystem I - is made of aluminium profiles to provide the system with a lightweight construction
that can easily be assembled in the warehouses, it is provided with two funnels to
collect the dodder seeds treated with glycerine
20, a passage funnel
35, an iron powder coated funnel
61 and another processed grain collecting funnel
54, but also some guide elements such as
21, 26, 27, 47, 77 and positioning of couplers
24, 31, 59, 60 of the mixed system components.
[0018] The
subsystem II glycerine solution seed mixing (water and glycerine) is mounted on the support framework
I and consists of a horizontal special construction helically conveyor
1, a full spiral and a cut spiral, driven in the revolution motion using the belt wheel
79, from an electric motor
10, which is provided with a belt wheel
14 and a trapezoidal belt
12. The parasitic weed seeds
2 and the crop seeds
3 are covered with a glycerine solution sprayed by some nozzles
11, which are connected to a distribution installation controlled by a servo--controlled
valve
9 connected to a tank
4, which is provided with a vertical mixer
5, a level sensor
6, two electro-controlled valves
7 and 8, that is connected to water source
F1 and glycerine
F2. The treated seeds are discharged from the mixer conveyor by means of a corrugated
tube
19 which guides the feedstock to the separation system by means of a traction fluidic
artificial muscle
17, which is fixed to one end to the conveyor coverage and at the other end to the coupling
element
18, on which two transducers, one to monitor its position
15 and a pressure
16. The mixing process is carried out continuously as long as the feed hopper is provided
with feedstock and the level sensor
80 is activated. Monitoring the displacement of coupling element
18 with the position transducer
15, results in the grains and seeds coverage with an ecological and volatile substance
which increases the degree of separation.
The novelty of this subsystem consists in the fact that the is provided with a material discharging element powered by an innovative actuator, respectively a
traction fluid artificial muscle, in order to place the raw material right on the
separation surface of subsystem III.
[0019] The subsystem III glycerine-treated seed separation is mounted on the support framework of subsystem
I and consists of two adjustable subsystems
III.a and
III.b, consisting of the same constructive elements and are orientated in the mirror, one
over the other, so that the material processed by the subsystem
III.a is routed to subsystem
III.b, by a collecting funnel
35 which is provided with a seed direction system identical to one that is placed on
the glycerine solution seed mixing system II.
[0020] The subsystem III.a is composed of a laminated belt
23 made of a textile insertion rubber band
81 on which it is glued using an adhesive
82 a synthetic velvet
83, which has the role of transporting the dodder seeds
2 upstream and collecting them in funnel
20 which is driven in translational motion by a roller
84 connected at a rotating electric motor
34, on which a revolution transducer
33 is located, the other end of the belt
23 passes over the roller
24, a rotary brush
37, a pre-tensioner roller
28 and
25 that are actuated by two fluid artificial muscles, a compression fluid artificial
muscle
88 and a traction fluid artificial muscle
17 that are guided by levers
86 and
87 on a translation system
27. To allow the belt
23 to tilt according to the slope angle
α, which the processed material has to slide, is powered by the compression fluid artificial
muscle
85, actuator that is provided at one end with a pressure transducer
30 and a revolution system
31, at the other end is placed a rotatable coupling element solidary with lever
22 that is sliding on a support
21. The angle
α is measured by a displacement transducer
32 which is positioned on a connecting element
26. A pressure transducer
29 pre-tensions the belt, so that don't slide onto the motor reel
84. The slope angle is influenced by the processed material physical - mechanical properties
as well as its humidity.
The novelty of this subsystem consists in the fact that has: a three laminated separated belt with a specific material designed to archive a specific
separation process; novel tensioner device that uses innovative actuators, respectively
fluid artificial muscles, configured according to pneumotronic / hydrotonic principles,
in order lower its weight, its maintenance and to increase the system adaptability
to the technological requirements and of seed processors.
[0021] The subsystem IV iron powder coating subsystem is mounted on support framework of subsystem I and
consists of a two-stage horizontal helical conveyor with two special construction
shaft's
85 and
86, a full spiral and a cut spindle, which is driven in the revolution motion by the
trapezoidal belt
45 wrapped onto the well
79 mounted on an electric motor
76. The revolution motion from the upper conveyor
85 is transmitted to a lower conveyor
86 using a belt transmission
46. The material collected from the subsystem III output through a duct
38, enters in subsystem IV and is transported towards a wetting installation
39 which is connected to a water source
F1 controlled by an proportional valve
8 which supplies a reservoir
39 provided with a level transducer
80 and a hydraulic servo-valve
9 connected to the sprinkler system. After the seeds have been wetted, the grains pass
throw the lower conveyor where the weed seeds are coated with iron powder that is
pulverized by installation
41, that is provided with special nozzles
43 which are supplied by a peristaltic pump
44 that is connected to tank
40, in which is placed a vertical pallet mixer
87 and a level transducer
80. After that the weed seeds are coated then are directed to the magnetic separation
subsystem V, by means of a beaded tube, identical of the one described in glycerine
blending subsystem II.
The novelty of this subsystem consists in the fact that the wetting process is carried
out at the upper level and the iron covering process at the lower level and the excess liquid does not allow
the iron powder to adhere to the housing and favour its adhesion to the weeds seed
surface.
[0022] The
subsystem V is mounted on support framework of subsystem I and consists of a vibratory table
50 made of galvanized or stainless steel sheet on which an adjustable vibrator
51 is mounted. At the fixed end there are placed two pneumatic vibration dampers
49, one on one side and the other on the opposite side, and another two pneumatic vibration
dampers
88 for the vertical vibrations, and also at the movable end
90 are placed other two pneumatic vibration dampers
49. The compression fluid artificial muscles
85 has two rolls, one as a pneumatic vibration dampers for the vertically vibrations
and the other, to ensure the material flow angle
θ in accordance with processed material type and its humidity, this parameter is motorized
by a position transducer
32, which is located on the equipment frame and is correlated with supply pressure of
actuator
85. The movable telescopic end
90 is joint with lever
48 that is sliding on support
47. The magnetic drum
53 is positioned on the support framework subsystem I and is driven by a variable revolution
electric motor
55 and on the shaft
60 is mounted a support for the rotating brush
59 and its axis is guided by the element
91 that is sliding on support
56, thus adjust the drum cleaning brush angle
σ that detaches the iron powder covered seeds and iron powder particles from magnetic
surface, the frictional force enhanced by the rotary brush
62 is generated by the compression artificial muscle
92. The seeds which are trained in the sliding movement on surface
50 are guided by an element
52. The magnetic separation subsystem has a high degree of novelty given by its comprises:
six pneumatic vibration dampers which attenuate vibrations generated by the vibratory
mass on two directions, four of them are located in the transverse direction at the
table ends and other two vertical pneumatic dampers in the material outlet; one positioning
device that uses fluid artificial muscles in the raw material feed section, in order
to generate the material processed sloping angle in accordance with grains type and
its humidity, which is in fact higher than the previous process, and also attenuates
the vertical vibrations in that area, fact that leads to higher system reliability
and eliminating vibrations at the framework level. Also, the magnetic drum rotating
brush can be easily positioned because it slides onto its frame and the cleaning process
is controlled by a fluid artificial muscle that generates the required pressure force
in order to remove the most persistent materials, fact that directly influences the
magnetic separation process performance.
[0023] The subsystem VI fluid drive plant is made from several compressing fluid artificial muscles
85, 88, 92 and traction fluid artificial muscle
17, quick couplings elements
94, flexible fluid tubes
93, several valve platform
36 with five electro valves which are controlled by the signals generated by command
and control subsystem VII, and also a working fluid preparation group
65, which generally comprises filters, regulators, lubricating device, pump or compressor
sources known per se.
The novelty of this subsystem consists in the fact that the subsystem is made from last generation actuators, namely fluid artificial muscles,
which give increased compliance, adaptability, low weight and safety driven. This
actuators are although known themselves, but their combination is a novelty element
and is implemented for the first time in the cereal processing equipment field. These
actuators can be operated by liquids (water, emulsions, etc.) and also by gases media
(compressed air, inert gases, etc.) and can be easily command and controlled by both
classical and innovative equipment's.
[0024] The subsystem VII is a command and control component of technologic process and centralizes in the
central control unit the analogue and digital signals that generated by displacement
transducers
15 and
32, level transducers, pressure transducers
16, 29 and
30, force transducer
29, rotary speed transducers
33 and 58, according to a predefined plan. Also is provided with an electrical signal source,
transformers, relays, amplifiers, signal filters, fans, Start / Stop push button and
emergency button
94, signalling lamps
70, PLC and an operation touchscreen digital interface
69.
[0025] The separation method of quarantine weed seeds from grains using fluid artificial muscles, according to the invention involves carrying out
specific steps implemented on the system described according to the invention, thus:
Step 1, determining the contamination grain degree by laboratory samples, percentage of full
tegument and smash weed seeds percentages.
Step 2, establishing the glycerine solution concentration, the iron powder dosage and the
water dosage required for wetting.
Step 3, adjusting the functional parameters, as: the processed material flow, the helical
conveyor revolution speed n1 and n3, as well as the electric motors revolution speed n2, n4, n5 and the motors 87, the III and V subsystems slope angles α and θ, the fluid artificial muscles supply pressure that depends on the separated material
hectolitres weight;
Step 4, supplying the glycerine, water and iron powder tanks, with the right quantities and
in accordance with the data obtained from the first step, because the glycerine is
volatile and the iron powder is easily oxidized if it is kept in the untighten container
and loses its magnetizing capacity;
Step 5, performing a pre-separation process according to the following successive steps:
- stage 1 - connecting the equipment to the power source;
- stage 2 - placing the collection vessels (bags, conveyors, etc.) to the collector system;
- stage 3 - checking the control subsystem VII, if all the connected components are operating
or if errors occur,
- stage 4 - supplying the equipment with raw material;
- stage 5 - supervising the technological process;
- stage 6 - taking at least three samplings from separated material, namely from funnel 61 after 10 minutes of operation;
- stage 7 - determining the purity degree and the material collected quality in funnels 20, 38 and 54, and establish if there are good grains in these sorts;
- stage 8 - reseting the operating parameters for engines 87, if the material collected in step 7 contains good grains and the stage 6 is remade;
- stage 9 - continuing the separation process if only weed seeds and smash ones are collected;
Step 6, determining the final purity degree by sampling at least 3 samples from the funnel
61;
Step 7, bringing the separation system to its initial operation state, by emptying the glycerine
and powder tanks, cleaning the magnetic drum and the mixing systems, and also disconnecting
the system from the electric and water supply if the separation process is completed.
1. A mixed system of separation of quarantine weed seeds from grains, commanded and controlled
by subsystem VII that uses the PLC technology on the pneutronic or hydrotonic power system that is
placed on the support framework subsystem I, characterized in that it comprises the glycerine solution seed mixing subsystem II, the glycerine-treated seed separation subsystem III, the iron powder coating subsystem IV, the magnetic weed seed separation subsystem V and the fluid driven subsystem VI.
2. A mixed system of separation of quarantine weed seeds from grains according to claim
1, characterized in that the subsystem II glycerine solution seed mixing has a material discharging element made from the corrugated
tube 19 which guides the feedstock to the separation system by means of the traction fluidic
artificial muscle 17, which is fixed to one end to the conveyor coverage and at the other end to the coupling
element 18, on which two transducers, one to monitor its position 15 and a pressure one 16, the monitoring of these working parameters ensuring that the weed seeds are covered
with an ecological and volatile substance that increases the separation degree and
places the raw material right on the subsystem III separation surface.
3. A mixed system of separation of quarantine weed seeds from grains according to claim
1, characterized in that the subsystem III glycerine solution seed mixing consists of two adjustable subsystems III.a and III.b, so that the material processed by the subsystem III.a is directed to the subsystem III.b via the collecting funnel 35 provided with the seed direction system, so that the subsystem III.a is composed from the three laminated material belt 23, made of the textile insertion rubber band 81 on which it is glued to the synthetic adhesive 82 and the synthetic velvet 83, which has the role of transport the weed seeds 2 upstream and them in the funnel 20, which is driven in translational motion by the roller 84 connected at the rotating electric motor 34, on which the revolution transducer 33 is located, the other end of the belt 23 passes over the roller 24, the rotary brush 37, the pre-tensioner roller 28 and 25 that are actuated by two fluid artificial muscles, the compression fluid artificial
muscle 88 and the traction fluid artificial muscle 17 that are guided by the levers 86 and 87 on the translation system 27, allowing the belt 23 to tilt according to the slope angle α, which the processed material has to slide, is powered by the compression fluid artificial
muscle 85, actuator that is provided at one end with the pressure transducer 30 and the revolution system 31, at the other end is placed a rotatable coupling element solidary with lever 22 that is sliding on a support 21, thus angle α is measured by the displacement transducer 32 which is positioned on the connecting element 26, so that the pressure transducer 29 pre-tensions the belt, so that don't slide onto the motor reel 84.
4. A mixed system of separation of quarantine weed seeds from grains according to claim
1, characterized by that the subsystem IV iron powder coating subsystem is provided with the powder material mixing conveyor,
in which the wetting process is carried out at the superior level and the weed seed
iron coating process at the lower level, so the excess liquid does not allow the iron
powder to adhere to the housing and favour its adhesion to the weeds seed surface.
5. A mixed system of separation of quarantine weed seeds from grains according to claim
1, it is characterized in that the, subsystem V seed magnetic separation is made from the vibratory table 50 made of galvanized or stainless steel sheet on which the adjustable vibrator 51 is mounted, and at the fixed end there are placed two pneumatic vibration dampers
49, one on one side and the other on the opposite side, and another two pneumatic vibration
dampers 88 for the vertical vibrations, and also at the movable end 90 are placed other two pneumatic vibration dampers 49, and the compression fluid artificial muscles 85 has two rolls, one as a pneumatic vibration dampers for the vertically vibrations
and the other, to ensure the material flow angle θ in accordance with processed material type and its humidity, this parameter is motorized
by the position transducer 32, which is located on the equipment frame and is correlated with supply pressure of
actuator 85, the movable telescopic end 90 is joint with lever 48 that is sliding on support 47, and the magnetic drum 53 is positioned on the support framework subsystem I and is driven by a variable revolution
electric motor 55 and on the shaft 60 is mounted the support for the rotating brush 59 and its axis is guided by the element 91 that is sliding on support 56, thus adjust the drum cleaning brush angle σ that detaches the iron powder covered seeds and iron powder particles from magnetic
surface, the frictional force enhanced by the rotary brush 62 is generated by the compression artificial muscle 92, and thus the seeds which are trained in the sliding movement on surface 50 are guided by the element 52.
6. A mixed system of separation of quarantine weed seeds from grains according to claim
1, characterized in that the subsystem VI fluid drive plant incorporates a combination that is the first time implemented in
cereal processing equipment powered with fluid artificial muscles, respectively the
compression muscle 85 and 88, and the traction muscle 17, which can be operated by liquids (water, emulsion, etc.) and gases (compressed air,
inert gases etc.), and can be easily commanded and controlled by a wide range of classical
and innovative equipment's, for this reason the subsystem has increased compliance,
adaptability, low weight and safety driven.
7. A separation method of quarantine weed seeds from grains implemented on the system
according to claim 1, characterized in that it involves the following steps:- Step 1, determining the contamination grain degree by laboratory samples, percentage of full
tegument and smash weed seeds percentages; -Step 2, establishing the glycerine solution concentration, the iron powder dosage and the
water dosage required for wetting- new step.-Step 3, adjusting the functional parameters, as: the processed material flow, the helical
conveyor revolution speed n1 and n3, as well as the electric motors revolution speed n2, n4, n5 and the motors 87, the III and V subsystems slope angles α and θ, the fluid artificial muscles supply pressure that depends on the separated material
hectolitres weight ;-Step 4, supplying the glycerine, water and iron powder tanks, with the right quantities and
in accordance with the data obtained from the first step, because the glycerine is
volatile and the iron powder is easily oxidized if it is kept in the untighten container
and loses its magnetizing capacity;-Step 5, performing a pre-separation process according to the following successive stages:-
stage 1 - connectig the equipment to the power source;- stage 2 - placing the collection vessels (bags, conveyors, etc.) to the collector system;-
stage 3 - checking the control subsystem VII, if all the connected components are operating
or if errors occur,- stage 4 - supplying the equipment with raw material;- stage 5 - supervising the technological process;- stage 6 - taking at least three samplings from separated material, namely from funnel 61 after 10 minutes of operation;- stage 7 - determining the purity degree and the material collected quality in funnels 20, 38 and 54, and establish if there are good grains in these sorts;- stage 8 - reseting the operating parameters for engines 87, if the material collected in step 7 contains good grains and the stage 6 is remade;-
stage 9 - continuing the separation process if only weed seeds and smash ones are collected;-Step 6, determining the final purity degree by sampling at least 3 samples from the funnel
61;-Step 7, bringing the separation system to its initial operation state, by emptying the glycerine
and powder tanks, cleaning the magnetic drum and the mixing systems, and also disconnecting
the system from the electric and water supply if the separation process is completed.