～Tomi: The Winnowing Fan / Rotary Winnowing Machine～
information
This is a machine that uses the power of wind to separate rice grains from debris. Here is how it works:
1. Turn the handle
When you turn the handle by hand, the internal blades rotate, creating a strong gust of wind inside the wooden box.
2. Pour the rice from the top
Rice is dropped and scattered from the top of the hopper (container).
3. Blown away by the wind!
As the rice falls, wind is blown from the side. The distance the particles fly changes depending on their weight.
With the wind blowing, the mixture is separated into three different outlets:
Closest outlet: Heavy, high-quality, fully-formed rice grains drop straight down.
Middle outlet: Slightly lighter grains or those still with their husks attached fall here.
Farthest outlet: Extremely light debris, such as straw waste and empty husks, is blown completely out of the machine.
Operating it was mainly women's work, but during the early Meiji era, only a minority of farming households owned a Tomi.
