Plant husbandry – Water culture – apparatus or method – Cultivating chamber
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-23
2002-04-02
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3644)
Plant husbandry
Water culture, apparatus or method
Cultivating chamber
Reexamination Certificate
active
06363656
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for germinating grain automatically. More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus and method that allow the grain such as oats, wheat, barley, etc. to be washed, germinated, and dried automatically in only the apparatus and on an industrial scale.
2. Prior Art
Generally, many studies prove that a dietary life heavily consisting of convenience food or meats can cause an increase in diseases of adult people because of acid poisoning of the blood. As a countermeasure to prevent these diseases of adult people, it is recommended that meat in the diet should be changed to a diet of cereals, and animal fat ingestion should be reduced. The grain and vegetable diets are recommended for ingesting much dietetic fiber that is lacking in the meat diet. Generally, grain such as brown rice, oats, wheat, barley, etc. contain the dietetic fiber in a large volume. If we ingest grains like brown rice in large quantities, immunity to disease is increased and the acid poisoning of blood can be prevented, since blood is changed into having an alkaline characteristic. As a result, the effects of aging will be prevented and the function of internal organs will be strengthened.
In particular, the grain germinated to a length of about 2.5° C. contain dietetic fiber, minerals, various vitamins, and calcium, etc. in a much larger volume. Also, the germinated grain can be cooked conveniently with smooth and sweet taste.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,273 (issued to Jesse D. Johnson) discloses a seed germinating device and method of use which allow seeds to be soaked in an aqueous solution and then aerated for germinating.
Conventionally, the grain is washed by manual processes at first, and then the washed grain will germinate by keeping the grain in a germination tank containing water. That is, a small amount of grain is soaked in water and kept covered with water for a predetermined period. The grain soaked in water will germinate after about 52 to 64 hours. Hereinafter, the germinated grain is transferred from the germination tank to a separate apparatus for drying. Duration for drying the grain is about 48 to 52 hours. We can obtain the germinated grain by repeating the process described above.
However, this method described above requires a large number of laborers because the grain germinates by a number of manual processes. Also, this method has a disadvantage of requiring a long period and makes it impossible to obtain the germinated grain automatically and on a large scale. Moreover, the grain obtained is not generally in a homogeneous state because the grain germinates while contacting the atmosphere.
Therefore, a problem occurred because the price of the germinated grain rose. However, various germinated grains has been widely consumed since they are good for the health.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is proposed to solve the above problems of the conventional art.
It is the first object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for germinating grain that make it possible to produce the germinated grain in a large quantity in a short period by allowing the grain to be washed, germinated, and dried in only the apparatus.
It is the second object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for germinating grain that make it possible to produce the germinated grain at a low cost and with few laborers.
It is the third object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for germinating grain that make it possible to produce the germinated grain automatically by using electronic control devices without manual processes.
It is the fourth object of the present invention to obtain the germinated grain of good quality by spraying water that is heated, purified, and disinfected on the grain under optimum condition.
In order to achieve the above objects, an apparatus for germinating the grain according to the present invention comprises a drum for containing the grain to be germinated having a plurality of drain holes pierced through a surface thereof and an insulating cover covering the drum for preventing heat within the drum from radiating, the drum capable of rotating about an axis thereof; spraying means extending through the drum in longitudinal direction thereof, for spraying water on the grain; treating means connected to an end of the spraying means for heating, purifying, and increasing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, while circulating the water to be supplied to the spraying means; and blowing means connected to a portion of the drum, for heating, purifying, and blowing air into the drum.
Here, both of the end portions of the drum have a hollow truncated cone shape. The drum further comprises a plurality of distributing plates protruded from an inner surface of the drum along a longitudinal direction thereof for substantially distributing and remixing the grain by the rotation of the drum. The drum further comprises at least one ultraviolet lamp attached to the spraying means to sterilize the inside of the drum.
Meanwhile, the apparatus further comprises at least one lifter located at one end portion of the insulating cover, for elevating a portion of the insulating cover to help the germinated grain discharge when the germination is completed, and at least one hinge located at the other end portion of the insulating cover, for rotatably securing the drum while the lifter lifts the drum.
Meanwhile, the spraying means comprises a washing pipe with a plurality of nozzles each having a relatively larger diameter to wash the grain by spraying the water on the grain, and a germinating pipe with a plurality of nozzles each having a relatively smaller diameter to maintain the humidity inside the drum at a predetermined level for germination by spraying the water on the grain, the washing pipe and the germinating pipe mounted on the drum at a predetermined interval to avoid interruption of the rotation of the drum.
The treating means comprises a reservoir for containing the circulating water, a circulating pump connected to one position of the reservoir for circulating the water to be supplied to the spraying means, a washing pump located between one end of the washing pipe and another portion of the reservoir for supplying the circulating water to the washing pipe, and a germinating pump located between one end of the germinating pipe and another portion of the reservoir for supplying the circulating water to the germinating pipe.
Also, the treating means comprises a thermal sensor attached at an inner position of the reservoir to sense the temperature of the circulating water, a controller electrically connected to the thermal sensor to generate a control signal as a result of sensing of the thermal sensor, and a heater located in a selected position of the water treating means to heat the circulating water to a predetermined temperature according to the control signal.
Also, the treating means comprises a water purifier located in a selected position of the treating means and including pieces of porphyritic feldspar to purify the circulating water.
Also, the treating means comprises an oxygen supplier located at a selected position of the treating means to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the circulating water.
Also, the treating means comprises an ozone generator located between one end of a germinating pipe and one portion of the reservoir for providing the circulating water with an amount of ozone to disinfect the grain and the drum.
Meanwhile, the blowing means comprises a first ventilator connected to an end of the drum for heating the air to a predetermined temperature and supplying it into the drum at a predetermined temperature while the washed grain is germinating and a second ventilator connected to the end of the first ventilator at the end of the drum for heating the air to a predetermined temperature and supplying it into the drum while the germinated grain is being dried, the second ventilator ha
Gellner Jeffrey L.
Lahive & Cockfield LLP
Poon Peter M.
LandOfFree
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