Abstract: A method for measuring ash content of food stuff is carried out by 1) preparing, with respect to food stuff samples whose ash content values are known, a calibration curve by a non-linear analysis of absorbance values and the known ash content of each sample, the absorbance values being obtained by irradiating light having particular wavelengths containing at least an ultraviolet ray band wavelength, the particular wavelength being specific to organic ingredients well coupled to inorganic ingredients which result in the ash content, and 2) deriving, with respect to a sample whose ash content value is unknown, an ash content value of the sample from absorbance values obtained by irradiating, on the sample, light having the particular wavelengths containing at least the ultraviolet ray band wavelength and from the calibration curve prepared in advance by the non-linear analysis.

Abstract: A method for measuring ash content of food stuff is carried out by 1) preparing, with respect to food stuff samples whose ash content values are known, a calibration curve by a non-linear analysis of absorbance values and the known ash content of each sample, the absorbance values being obtained by irradiating light having particular wavelengths containing at least an ultraviolet ray band wavelength, the particular wavelength being specific to organic ingredients well coupled to inorganic ingredients which result in the ash content, and 2) deriving, with respect to a sample whose ash content value is unknown, an ash content value of the sample from absorbance values obtained by irradiating, on the sample, light having the particular wavelengths containing at least the ultraviolet ray band wavelength and from the calibration curve prepared in advance by the non-linear analysis.

Abstract: Rice and other grains are inspected by a video camera system, and the data are processed to determined grain measurements, whether each grain is broken, and to obtain measures such as the percent broken by weight of a sample of rice. The apparatus takes a sample of grains or a stream of grains, and conveys it into view of a video camera. The grains in the camera's view are illuminated by an illumination system. After the grain images have been acquired by the camera and electronics, the grains are then removed from the camera's viewing area to an output stream or hopper, and uninspected grains may be conveyed into the camera's view to continue the process. The image data is processed to identify individual grains and then to perform measurements on them.

Abstract: A water adding control apparatus includes a microwave detecting unit which enables the detection of microwave value proportional to the water content amount of the water added grain and which makes it unnecessary to make calculations for an estimated water content value of the water added grains. The water adding process is started by inputting initial water adding amount, the microwave value of the raw grain after the addition of water is measured, the measured microwave value is set as the target microwave value which serves as control reference, and the water adding amount is feed-back controlled for the actually measured microwave value to constantly match the target microwave value.

Abstract: A husking apparatus for cereals comprises a pair of rolls provided parallel to each other with a clearance therebetween, and an inclined guide chute situated above the rolls. The guide chute slides down cereal grains between the rolls, and the rolls rotate in opposite directions, respectively, to nip and shell the cereal grains therebetween. The guide chute and the rolls are located so that a guide surface of the guide chute is substantially perpendicular to a line connecting the centers of rotational shafts, and that an extension line from the guide surface passes within a range of .+-.10 mm on both sides of a middle point of the clearance between the first and second rolls. The guide surface of the guide chute has such an inclination that the cereal grains spread all over a width of the guide surface in the substantially single layer of a band-like shape and are accelerated up to a speed less than peripheral speeds of the rolls while they slide down along the guide surface.

Abstract: A content measuring apparatus has a light source for irradiating near infrared light on a leaf, a light intensity detecting device for receiving transmitted light from the leaf, an operation means for calculating the light absorbance of the leaf from the intensity of transmitted light and computing a content percent of the leaf based on a content percent estimation equation.

Abstract: The field of the invention is food drying apparatus and methods. In particular, the invention discloses a rotary dryer which dries food granules, such as rice, by rotation within a perforated cylindrical barrel, to prepare the rice for packaging. The dryer provides high velocity drying zones along its length, and high temperatures may be used.

Abstract: A pretreatment process in a flour milling method in which raw wheat grains are first polished and the polished grains are ground and milled for producing end flour, includes a first, a second, a third polishing step, and a step of adding water. In the first polishing step a pericarp of each wheat grain is removed, in the second polishing step a seed coat of each raw wheat grain is removed, and in the third polishing step a part of cell walls of aleuron layer cells that was in contact with the removed seed coat is removed so that a cell membrane of the aleuron layer cell is caused to be ruptured and that a substance in the aleuron layer cell is caused to be in a state which permits the substance to flow out.

Abstract: An induction motor as driving apparatus includes two stators in which two rotor cores each formed in a squirrel cage type are rotatably mounted on a common rotary axis; two stators which respectively surround the two rotors and on which stator windings are respectively wound; and a switching device which supplies power by sequentially switching between one side of either the one stator winding or the other stator winding and both the sides of the two stator windings. Starting characteristics and operation characteristics of an induction motor are improved thereby enlarging applications of the induction motor, enhancing operation efficiency, and reducing power consumption.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flow rate measuring apparatus measures and calculates a flow rate of granules based on a measurement of capacitance which changes according to the quantity of the granules flowing at a granule passage. The measuring apparatus includes a granule flow pipe which is coupled to the granule passage and is provided in the course of the granule passage, a capacitance detector provided to the granule flow pipe, shutters respectively provided at an upper end and a lower end of the granule flow pipe, for cutting off the flow of granules, the shutters being individually operable, and a load cell type weight detector independently supporting the granule flow pipe. The shutters, the load cell type weight detector, and the capacitance detector are connected to a calculation control device. The measuring apparatus provides a flow rate which is not influenced by the moisture content or the density of the granules.

Abstract: By a load detector, a magnitude of a dynamic load, depending on a downward-flow impact of a particulate material flowing through a flow passage, is measured, and also a magnitude of a static load, corresponding to a total amount of the particulate material flown through a predetermined position for a predetermined time period, is measured. A value of a dynamic load-type flow rate of the particulate material, corresponding to a measured value of the dynamic load, is calculated from the measured value of the dynamic load by a first calculation formula, and also a value of an actual flow rate of the particulate material is calculated from a measured value of the static load during the predetermined time period by a second calculation formula. A correction factor for bringing the dynamic load-type flow rate value, depending on the difference of the particulate materials, into agreement with the actual flow rate value is found.

Abstract: The color sorting apparatus includes a grain guide device, a grain feeder, an illumination device for illuminating the grain, an optical detector consisting of an optical detection section for receiving the light from the illuminated grain and a background, and ejector for rejecting the grain. The illumination device employs at least one light source having spectral energy distribution in both the visible light region and the near infrared region. At least one set of the optical detection device for monitoring a predetermined detection field is provided. The optical detection section of the optical detection device includes a first light receiving sensor having high sensitivity to the visible light region and a second light receiving sensor having high sensitivity to the near infrared region.

Abstract: Raw wheat grains are polished after being subjected to a first water addition and being tempered, and the polished wheat grains are ground after being subjected to a second water addition and being tempered. The first water addition is to cause the raw wheat grains to have a water content of 12-14%. The tempering of the raw wheat grains is performed for 16-36 hours so that the water sufficiently penetrate into the inside of the raw wheat grains. The method of flouring includes the steps of measuring a water content of the flour obtained by the grinding of the grains, comparing the amount of the measured water content with a predetermined target water content of the flour, and adjusting the amount of water to be added during the second water addition if there is a difference between the measured water content and the predetermined target water content.

Abstract: In an abrasive type vertical grain milling machine, there are mounted, on a main shaft extending generally vertically and disposed rotatably in an upright bran-removing cylinder, a screw roll for feeding grain, a plurality of abrasive milling rolls disposed below the screw roll in spaced relation to each other along the main shaft for abrading the grain, and a rotary roll disposed below the plurality of abrasive milling rolls for sending out the grain having been abraded to a grain discharge portion in such a manner that the plurality of abrasive milling rolls and the rotary roll are located within the bran-removing cylinder, a gap defined between the abrasive milling rolls adjacent to each other forming a jet-air slot, the bran-removing cylinder being communicated with a grain supply portion at an upper end thereof and with the grain discharge portion at a lower end thereof. A lower part of the bran-removing cylinder is extended downward so as to face horizontally to the rotary roll.

Abstract: Water is circulated in the processing of food products, such as rice, and in quantities sufficient to avoid undesirable clumping within processing machinery. Further, recycled water produced during the processing of food products is recirculated and reabsorbed by the food products. A portion of the water which contains cooked starch is drained off, and the remainder is recirculated in the processing of additional food products. In one application, a method and apparatus for recirculating water in the processing of rice is provided, whereby the ratio of the amount of water used and/or excreted in the processing of the rice as compared to the amount of cooked rice is less than or equal to about 3:1 by volume.

Abstract: A color sorting apparatus for beans includes a transferring device for transferring beans to be sorted to a detection position, an illuminating device for illuminating the bean at the detection position, a light receiving device for receiving a transmitted light transmitted through the bean and outputting a detection signal, a control device for operating the detection signal, comparing the detection signal operated with a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the bean is a good or defective one, and outputting an ejection signal when the bean is determined as a defective one, and a sorting device for removing the defective bean based on the ejection signal. The transferring device includes two endless belts defining therebetween a parallel gap on which the beans are held and a driving motor for driving the endless belts.

Abstract: On a stator core, there are wound T-connection primary generating windings such that the second and third single-phase windings are respectively arranged at positions electrically orthogonal to the first single-phase winding. The winding number of the first single-phase winding is 31/2 times that of the second single-phase winding or the third single-phase winding. The stator excitation windings are also wound on the stator core, which are connected to the center taps of the primary generating windings through a control rectifier. A plurality of field windings are wound on a rotor core. The field windings are arranged at positions where they are magnetically coupled with both the odd-order spatial higher harmonic components of armature reaction magnetic fields produced by currents flowing in the primary generating windings and the static magnetic fields produced by current flowing in the stator excitation windings.

Abstract: At least a pair of metal rolls having different peripheral speeds with each other are removably mounted to respective rotary shafts in a cantilever form. The axial length of each of the metal rolls is between 100 and 500 mm and the peripheral speed of the high speed roll is between 12 and 30 meter/second. A cover is fitted to a milling chamber that houses therein the paired metal rolls and has a transparent member at least as a part thereof. With such an arrangement, the rolls can be replaced with ease and the milling operation carried out in the milling chamber can be easily monitored through the transparent member.

Abstract: In a husking apparatus comprising: a husking portion having a pair of husking rolls which are adjustable in clearance between them and rotated in opposite directions with different peripheral speeds to perform husking of paddy grain; and a supply portion disposed above the husking portion for supplying paddy grain to be husked to the husking portion, wherein the supply portion is so constructed as to supply paddy grain from the supply portion to the husking portion in the form of a layer in such a manner that a thickness of the layer of a flow of paddy grain becomes not greater than two grains at the husking portion, and the supply portion is so constructed as to supply paddy grain to the husking portion at a speed not less than a flowing-down speed corresponding to a minimum husking throughput desired of the husking apparatus so that husking is performed with a throughput not less than the minimum husking throughput, it is possible to enhance the husking throughput while minimizing the breakage of paddy grai

Abstract: A grain sorting apparatus includes a conveyor belt mechanism for conveying grains, fed by a feed mechanism onto a conveying surface separately from each other at an upstream region with respect to a conveying direction, to a downstream end so that the grains are discriminated and sorted by a discriminating mechanism and a sorting mechanism when dropping from the downstream end along a predetermined path, the belt mechanism being disposed so that the conveying surface thereof declines as going downstream with respect to the conveying direction to prevent the grains being carried by the belt mechanism from rolling toward the upstream direction on the conveying surface of the belt mechanism. It is therefore possible to prevent the grains from rolling on the conveying surface of the conveyor belt mechanism toward the upstream direction relative to the conveying surface of the conveyor belt even when a conveying velocity of the conveyor belt mechanism is high.