Rice cleaning - Quality starts at the beginning
Before paddy can be processed in the rice mill, it is necessary to record the input to the mill and clean the product thoroughly by removing impurities such as dust and foreign matter. Machines used in the cleaning sections include weighers, classifiers and destoners. A good cleaning section is a vital part of the rice mill since it has direct impact on the efficiency of the further processes. 
 
Cleaning with Buhler – advantages of Buhler rice cleaning equipment
 
The Transflowtron dosing weigher doses the paddy into the process and at the same time records the weight of the paddy being fed into the mill. Buhler’s Classifier Separator is used to remove straw, sand, stones, paper etc. from the paddy. It incorporates design features that make it a highly versatile machine that can be used for a variety of applications. Using an aspiration system and vibrating screen mechanism, the classifier separates out foreign matter with efficiency. The Vibrostoner separates heavy impurities such as stone and glass using the principle of difference in floating velocities of the individual particles. Any residual ferrous items still remaining are removed from the paddy flow by a magnet. 
 
 
Rice hulling TopHusk DRHC + DRSD
  
Hulling is the process of removing husk from paddy. This is achieved by the gentle action of rubber rolls applied to the paddy, after which the husk aspirator separates the husk from the rice by means of air aspiration. The brown rice then passes into the paddy separator which separates any unhulled kernels from the brown rice and recycles them into the huller. 
The hulling process in a Buhler mill is carried out by the TopHusk which hulls paddy with great care and efficiency. A bundle of innovations have made the TopHusk the world’s leading rubber roll huller.
 

• A chute feeder ensures precise feeding of paddy kernels thereby minimising breakage.
• The unique automatic feed point controller compensates for roll wear.
• Accurate husk separation eliminates mixed fraction.

The paddy husk is collected from a separate outlet while the hulled kernels pass into the Royselect Table Separator, which separates unhulled kernels and routes them back to the TopHusk. The Royselect incorporates specially designed impact walls which, combined with the inclined table, accelerate the product in the opposite direction. The lighter fractions (hulled rice) moves upwards while the heavier fraction (unhulled paddy) moves downwards to the separating chamber.
The Rotosort sizes rice by thickness. The rice grains are gravity-fed into the screen drums at a continuous rate. The smaller fractions (immature grain) pass through the screen while the overtails are delivered to the outlet. 
 
Whitening and polishing of rice-HighPoly DRPA / DRPF
  
During whitening and polishing bran layers are removed from the brown rice. This not only enhances the appearance of the rice but also increases its shelf life, since the lipids contained in the embryo and the bran layers are highly susceptible to enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidation. The bran removal is best achieved in several steps to ensure evenly milled rice grains with minimum brokens and optimum uniformity. The whitened rice is then polished to give it a finish up to silkiness. 
 
High yield process – advantages of Buhler whitening and polishing equipment
 

• Uniform and gentle whitening
• Intensive cooling
• Hygienic process
• Excellent rice surface finish
• Economic operation

 
Whitening and Polishing with Buhler
During whitening, clean brown rice (output of the hulling section) is processed by the removal of bran and whitening. This is achieved in the TopWhite where the rice is guided into the processing chamber and is carefully whitened by abrasive rings and the screen. The unique design of the TopWhite ensures that rice is whitened uniformly and gently. Efficient aspiration leads to a cool and hygienic process making the TopWhite the ideal tool to obtain sparkling whitened rice. 
The final polishing of the whitened rice is achieved in the HighPoly which polishes rices by gentle rubbing of rice kernels against each other, giving it a dust free surface and silky lustre.  
This makes the product highly visible and attractive on market shelves. The Blancostar and SmartPoly can be used for small capacity applications. 
 

Rice grading- Twin Rotostar MPAQ
 
Grading is the process of removing the brokens from head rice and sorting them into well defined fractions of different length. 
 
Superior quality output – advantages of Buhler rice grading equipment
 

• Separation in well defined fractions
• No loss of head rice in the broken fractions
• Large capacity
• Modular arrangement
• Low power consumption

 
Optical sorting of rice- SORTEX Z+
 
 
Optical inspection is the final quality control and enhancement step in the rice mill. Discoloured grains and optionally chalky kernels are removed to yield a first grade product. 
 
SORTEX Z+ - a revolution in optical sorting

• Highest sorting efficiency
• Minimum product loss
• Sorting capacities to match your needs
• Broken rice monitoring

 
Buhler - a world leader in sorting
Buhler’s Sortex range of colour sorters are proven world-over in colour sorting of rice and variety of other grains, pulses and beans. The sorters combine a visible and an infra-red waveband to give highly effective colour sorting and removal of glass from the product. 
Working at up to speeds of 9 tons of grain per hours these machines remove discoloured kernels, peck defects and foreign material, especially glass from all types and forms of rice. 
Buhler’s Sortex range of colour sorters have been designed to service the specific needs of long, medium or short grain rice processors. Whether the kernels are processed as brown rice, white rice or par-boiled rice, these sorters add maximum value to the final product.