PROCESSING EQUIPMENTS

Indented cylinder

This helps to separate seeds according to the length. The equipment consists of a slightly inclined horizontal rotating cylinder and a movable separating trough. The inside surface has small closely spaced hemispherical indentations. Small seeds are pressed into the indents by centrifugal force and can be removed. The larger seeds flows in the centre of the cylinder and is discharged by gravity.

Magnetic separator

The magnetic separator separates seed according to its surface texture or related seed characteristics. First, seed is treated with iron filings, which adhere to rough surface alone. The treated seed lot is passed over a revolving magnetic drum and separated from smooth, uncoated seed. It may help to add varied amounts of water while mixing seed and powder, depending on the seed type. At any rate, the effectiveness of magnetic separation depends on the components of the seed lot and on the powder and water used in the treating operation. The greater the difference between surface textures of the seed lot’s components, more effective will be the separation.