Apparatus and system for assessing paddy rice grains

#This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Australian Patent Application No. 2020903107, filed on Aug. 31, 2020, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

#The present disclosure relates generally to apparatus and systems for assessing milling quality of paddy rice grains.

#Estimating whole grain yield of a harvested crop is important in rice agriculture. Whole grain yield (WGY) of a paddy sample is calculated as the percentage of whole grains (measured by weight) present in the sample after milling, which involves de-hulling to remove the grain hull, and polishing to remove the bran layer, relative to the original paddy sample weight. A whole grain is defined as a grain having a length equal to or greater than 75% of a defined average whole grain length for a specific grain variety. In milling practice, WGY is determined after removing broken grains with an indent cylinder. The WGY of a harvested crop will determine the content of the crop which is saleable and consequently affect the value of the harvest.

#Embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an apparatus for assessing paddy grains;

#FIGS. 2 to 4 are isometric views of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in stages of partial disassembly;

#In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates an apparatus 10 for assessing paddy rice grains. The apparatus 10 includes: a light source 12; a camera 14 secured in a fixed position spaced from the light source 12; and a grain tray 16 mountable between the light source 12 and the camera 14. The grain tray 16 defines a plurality of elongate openings 18, each opening 18 defining opposed ends 20, 22 and being dimensioned to receive a paddy rice grain between the ends 20, 22. The light source 12 is operable in a first mode to illuminate one end 20 of at least some of the openings 18 of the grain tray 16, and operable in a second mode to illuminate the opposed end 22 of the at least some of the openings 18. In each mode, the light source 12 transmits light through the at least some of the openings 18 and towards the camera 14. The camera 14 is operable to capture a first image of the at least some of the openings 18 simultaneously with the light source 12 being operated in the first mode, and a second image of the at least some of the openings 18 simultaneously with the light source 12 being operated in the second mode.

#FIG. 1 illustrates the apparatus 10 in an assembled state and FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate the apparatus 10 in partially disassembled states.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a housing 24 to which a control and display panel 27 is mounted. The housing 24 defines a slot 25 dimensioned to receive the grain tray 16. FIG. 2 illustrates the apparatus 10 with the housing 24 removed to expose the camera 14 and the grain tray 16. A second light source, in the form of four linear LED arrays 26, are arranged proximally to and surrounding the camera 14. The linear arrays 26 are operable to illuminate an operatively upper side of the grain tray 16.