月: 2023年11月

What Is a Corn Shelling Machine?

A corn shelling machine, also known as a corn thresher, is designed for harvesting and shelling corn. Corn, an annual plant in the grass family, is a vital food source for humans and livestock feed. It is cultivated worldwide, with its harvesting season stretching from summer to fall. Beyond food, corn is also used for producing starch, oil, isomaltulose, and bioethanol.

The corn sheller plays a crucial role during harvest, with types varying from those combining harvesting and shelling, to those dedicated solely to shelling. These machines, which may also shell other crops like wheat and sunflowers, vary in size from large to small.

Uses of Corn Shelling Machine

Corn shelling machines are essential in corn farms. Smaller farms typically use manual picking and stationary shellers, while large-scale farms employ mechanized shellers, which may be towed or self-propelled, often with corn or reel headers for simultaneous harvesting and shelling.

Principle of Corn Shelling Machine

1. Harvesting

Machines designed for harvesting corn kernels often use a combine with a corn header for both harvesting and shelling. The corn header grasps the stalk, cuts the stem and leaves, and then separates the female ears for shelling.

2. Shelling

Shelling involves separating the kernels from the cob using a stainless steel cutter and airflow to remove debris, leaving clean corn.

Features of Corn Shelling Machine

1. Efficient Operation

These machines enable high-speed harvesting, with typical speeds ranging from 1 to 2 m/s, increasing efficiency.

2. High Precision Harvesting

They precisely separate female ears, minimizing loss and ensuring accurate separation.

3. Accommodates Lodging

The machines can harvest corn affected by wind or rain, capable of handling left-lodging, right-lodging, and opposite-lodging harvesting.

Types of Corn Shelling Machine

1. Classification by Mobility

• Self-Propelled: Combines with corn headers or reel headers, designed for simultaneous corn harvesting and shelling. Some use crawlers for movement.
• Towed: Wheeled machines towed by trailers, performing both harvesting and shelling, powered via PTO.
• Stationary: Designed for shelling manually harvested ears, these are often human-powered and smaller in size.

2. Classification by Header Type

Corn shelling machines use different headers, such as corn headers for efficient high-speed harvesting and reel headers for versatility but with more stalk lodging and ear loss.

Choosing a Corn Shelling Machine

1. Harvesting Capacity

Consider both the harvesting and drying capacity, especially since corn kernels have high moisture content and require drying to prevent mold or decay.

2. Cost

A corn shelling attachment to a combine can be cost-effective. For sweet corn, tractor-compatible attachments are available.

3. Harvesting Method

Choose between corn headers and reel headers based on the desired harvesting method, with corn headers being more efficient for high-speed processing.

What Is a Capacitive Touch Sensor?

A capacitive touch sensor is a device that detects changes in capacitance in an electric field.

Capacitance refers to the amount of stored charge in a conductor, like a capacitor. The human body, being a conductor capable of carrying an electric current, generates capacitance when a part of it, such as a fingertip, approaches a touch panel’s surface. This interaction between the body and the sensor’s electrodes allows capacitive touch sensors to support multi-touch gestures with multiple fingers. These sensors are widely used in various products, including smartphones, due to their ability to function on curved surfaces, flexibility, and excellent water resistance.

Uses of Capacitive Touch Sensor

Capacitive touch sensors find extensive use in devices like smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, ATMs, ticket vending machines, and wearable devices. They serve functions such as detecting if wireless earphones are worn and measuring the remaining liquid in high-precision devices like alcohol dispensers. Kits and modules for capacitive touch sensors are often used as switch modules or film sensors in various applications.

Principle of Capacitive Touch Sensor

Capacitive touch sensors work by detecting changes in capacitance when a conductor, such as a human touch, interacts with sensor electrodes. Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO) electrodes are commonly used in these sensors. The sensor operates by forming a pseudo capacitor between the conductive object and the electric field, registering the capacitance increase as a touch.

1. Self-Capacitance Method

The self-capacitance method involves a single sensor electrode. It is highly sensitive and can function through thick covers. However, this method may mistakenly recognize untouched areas as touch points in multi-touch scenarios, particularly in projection-type setups, which use XY electrode rows or columns for determining touch positions.

2. Mutual-Capacitance Method

The mutual-capacitance method uses separate transmitting and receiving electrodes. It detects touch by noting changes in the electric field between these electrodes when a hand interferes with the field. This method is used in projection-type capacitive touch sensors, which support multi-touch and allow intuitive operations like zooming and pinching.

Types of Capacitive Touch Sensors

1. Surface-Type

Surface-type sensors have electrodes at the substrate’s corners, detecting touch through changes in capacitance on the surface. They are durable, resistant to contaminants, and cost-effective, but do not support multi-touch.

2. Projection-Type

Projection-type sensors, with orthogonally arranged ITO electrodes, detect changes in capacitance at specific coordinates. They are suitable for multi-touch but are more complex and may be susceptible to noise, requiring controller ICs for optimal performance.

What Is a Cable Locator?

A cable locator is a device used to detect the position and depth of buried electric and communication cables, both underground and within walls.

Cable locators are designed to accommodate various depths. Some models are capable of detecting cables in challenging areas such as roads or locations with obstacles. In addition to identifying the position and depth of cables, they can also detect damaged areas. By applying the means of cable position detection, cable locators can also detect other objects such as rebar, water pipes, and bracing.

Uses of Cable Locator

Cable locators are primarily used for the following purposes:

1. Detection of Power Cables and Communication Cables

Cable locators are used to examine the position, depth, and breakage points of high and low-voltage power cables. The detection of power cables is crucial for the maintenance, development, and troubleshooting of power transmission networks.

They are also used to investigate the position, depth, and connection status of communication cables such as telephone lines, coaxial cables, and LAN cables. Detecting communication cables is essential for the maintenance, development, and troubleshooting of communication networks.

2. Detection of Gas Pipes and Water Pipes

Cable locators are employed not only for cable detection but also for detecting other objects. For example, they are useful for examining the position, depth, and leakage points of metal gas pipes and water pipes. Detecting gas pipes and water pipes is crucial for the maintenance, development, and response to leaks in piping networks.

Principle of Cable Locator

Cable locators primarily comprise a transmitter, a receiver, and a display unit. The transmitter sends an electrical signal to the target cable, while the receiver picks up this signal to obtain information about the cable. If the target cable is exposed, the transmitter can be directly connected to it for signal transmission. If the cable is buried underground or within a wall, the transmitter is placed on the ground or the wall surface to transmit the electrical signal indirectly.

The electrical signal sent from the transmitter flows through the cable. During this process, weak electromagnetic waves are generated around the cable. By detecting these waves as probing signals, the receiver can determine the position and depth of the cable. It’s important to note that the transmitter emits an alternating current signal with specific frequency and intensity.

The receiver is equipped with an antenna and detects the weak electromagnetic waves around the cable. By moving the receiver, it is possible to detect the position and depth of the target cable. The results are displayed on the display unit.

Other Information about Cable Locators

1. Reasons Why Cable Locators Can Detect Pipes

Cable locators can detect metal gas pipes and water pipes. Since metals are conductive, applying an electric current to each pipe generates weak electromagnetic waves around them, similar to cables.

By detecting these electromagnetic waves as probing signals, it is possible to determine the position and depth of each pipe. Furthermore, if there is a leak, the probing signal in that area changes, allowing the identification of the leak location.

2. Functions of Cable Locators

Cable locators are equipped with various functions, including two fundamental ones as follows:

Continuous Depth Measurement Function
This function continuously measures depth in real time. The depth is displayed on the screen in real-time, providing insight into the depth variation. Sudden changes in depth can be easily identified.

Peak Hold Function
When using a cable locator to search for pipes, for example, the probing signal is maximum (peak value) directly above the targeted pipe. Therefore, cable locators have a peak hold function that memorizes this peak value.

By storing the peak value, the cable locator can notify the operator if they pass the target pipe, making it user-friendly even for inexperienced users.

3. Rental of Cable Locators

Cable locators are specialized measuring instruments and expensive devices. Additionally, the required type and performance vary depending on usage frequency and purpose. Therefore, cable locator rental services are available, offering various types and performance levels at a lower cost. Users can rent cable locators and receive instructions on usage and precautions, making these rental services widely utilized.

What Is an Automatic Welding Helmet?

An automatic welding helmet is a type of protective gear worn by operators during arc welding, designed to automatically adjust the light transmission.

In arc welding, intense light harmful to the eyes is generated, and without protective measures, various hazards can occur to the eyes. Additionally, sparks generated during welding pose a risk of burns when they come into contact with the skin.

Therefore, operators engaged in arc welding are required to wear protective gear to safeguard their eyes and face. Types of protective gear include handheld, head-worn, and automatic welding helmets. The automatic welding helmet is a high-performance protective gear that reacts to the ignition of the arc, creating a shading film using a liquid Crystal Filter to protect the eyes from harmful light.

Uses of Automatic Welding Helmet

The automatic welding helmet is used to protect the eyes and face of workers during welding operations. Harmful effects on the human body during welding include damage to the eyes from intense spatter light, burns from spatter, and inhalation of welding fumes.

Spatter is metal particles that splatter when heated during arc welding, emitting intense light along with heat. Ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of 200nm to 380nm and visible light in the range of 400nm to 570nm are particularly harmful to the eyes. Additionally, spatter can cause burns to the skin due to its high temperature.

The automatic welding helmet is a head-worn facegear that covers the entire area above the neck, protecting the head and face. The facial shield automatically darkens upon sensing the arc light, protecting the head, face, and eyes from heat and harmful light.

Certain automatic welding helmets also offer protection against welding fumes.

Welding fumes are metal particles that become airborne when metal spatter during welding cools and forms clusters of metal microparticles. Welding fumes, appearing as white smoke, can accumulate in the body when inhaled, leading to severe health issues such as lung cancer and neurological disorders.

Principle of Automatic Welding Helmet

The automatic welding helmet includes sensors that detect the ignition of the arc, a facial shield with an embedded liquid crystal filter, and batteries, solar cells, or both for driving the system.

Sensors are mounted on the automatic welding helmet, ranging from one to several. When the sensors detect the ignition of the arc, a signal is instantly sent to the liquid crystal filter, forming a shading film to reduce the light transmission. The degree of shading varies among products, and some helmets allow adjustment to several levels of shading.

The faster the shading speed from the detection of the arc to the formation of the shading film, the shorter the time the eyes are exposed to potential damage. Shading speeds can be as fast as 0.1 milliseconds.

When the arc is no longer detected, the time taken for the shading film to disappear is called the return speed. The return speed is considerably slower, ranging from tens to about 200 milliseconds, compared to the shading speed.

Additionally, ultraviolet filters (UV filters) and infrared filters (IR filters) are stacked in front and behind the liquid crystal filter. This provides a certain level of eye protection even when the shading film is not active. As a result, the facial shield of the automatic welding helmet is tinted like sunglasses when the liquid crystal filter is not in operation, reducing the transmission of harmful light to some extent.

How to Choose an Automatic Welding Helmet

When selecting an automatic welding helmet, consider factors such as shading level, response speed, weight, and comfort.

The shading level must be chosen appropriately. Insufficient shading against arc light can lead to eye damage due to accumulated exposure. Conversely, excessive shading can make it difficult to see the work area, reducing efficiency. The selection should consider the intensity of the arc during work and the ambient lighting conditions.

Some automatic welding helmets come with a shading adjustment feature.

The faster the response speed, the shorter the time the eyes are exposed to potential damage. Therefore, it is advisable to choose a helmet with a fast response speed.

Furthermore, since automatic welding helmets are worn on the head and may not be frequently removed during extended work periods, it is essential to choose a lightweight helmet with good weight balance to minimize strain on the neck.