KR100594936B1 - Automatic pepper sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an individualization apparatus for automatically individualizing a plurality of peppers, in order to dramatically reduce the time and labor taken by the worker to individually sort and sort peppers by hand, and to increase the accuracy of sorting. A rating discriminating unit for determining a rating by image processing the individualized pepper; And it provides an automatic pepper sorting machine having a sorting discharge unit for automatically discharging the pepper to the grade outlet corresponding to the corresponding grade.

Description

Automatic pepper sorter

1 is a side view showing an automatic pepper sorting machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a plan view showing an automatic pepper sorting machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a side view schematically showing a metering supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a perspective view schematically showing a singulator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Brief description of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

10: Hopper Conveyor 20: Dosing device

21: Proximity sensor 30: Input conveyor

40: individualization device 41: first feeder unit

42: second feeder unit 43: vibration motor

44: cushioning means 50: grading unit

55: acceleration conveyor 60: classification discharge unit

61: main conveyor 62: air spray nozzle

63: rating outlet 64: discharge conveyor

65 rotary encoder 70 control unit

80: collection box

The present invention relates to a pepper sorting machine, and more specifically, a worker simply pours a plurality of peppers into a hopper conveyor, sorts the peppers according to a row, individualizes them, and determines a grade for each individual by using image processing. It relates to an automatic red pepper sorting machine which automatically discharges them to the rating outlet.

Peppers harvested from the mountain must be sorted and packaged by grade before they are shipped to the market. In the past, such pepper selection is mostly dependent on manpower. Therefore, labor is required a lot, and the accuracy of screening is not high by the subjective judgment of the worker.

By the way, the pepper is slightly bent the body, a lot of the bent portion of the many peppers harvested and stored because of the overall curved shape is often tangled with each other. Therefore, in order to mechanically sort peppers, a supply unit for individualizing and supplying peppers, a rating unit for determining a grade of the supplied peppers, and a discharge unit for discharging individual peppers to a rating outlet according to the determined grades should be provided.

In order to achieve viability and screening accuracy in pepper selection, all three parts must be mechanized automatically and efficiently.

In order to increase the accuracy of such selection, Korean Patent No. 10-0496024 discloses a green pepper sorting machine using image processing.

According to the present invention, an image processing unit for acquiring an image of a green pepper and a control unit for processing the selected image information and selecting and transmitting a driving signal to a driving unit are carried out by a feed tray. Ratings are determined for each individual. It is then discharged into a graded discharge collection box by a plurality of airjet nozzles installed to selectively discharge individually fed green peppers.

The present invention has the advantage of increasing the objectification and accuracy of the sorting operation by using the image processing by the machine visual, but the worker must save the labor force bar to individually feed the tangled green pepper to the transfer tray individually There was a problem of not achieving viability.

The present invention is to solve the above problems and automatically individualize a plurality of peppers supplied, and determine the grade by processing the individualized pepper, automatically discharge the pepper to the grade outlet according to the grade determined by grade The purpose is to provide an automatic pepper sorter that can be screened.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an individualization apparatus having a feeder unit and a vibration generating unit for vibrating the feeder unit at least one or more bones to which the object is transferred is formed to be inclined downward; A grading unit comprising an image acquiring unit for acquiring an image of the object to be transferred transferred through the individualizing apparatus and an image processing unit for processing the image information obtained therefrom; An acceleration conveyor positioned between the individualization device and the grade discriminating unit and moving at a speed higher than a traveling speed of the object to be selected in the individualization device to widen the interval in the direction of travel of the object to be selected; And it provides an automatic pepper sorting machine comprising a classification discharge unit for discharging the graded to be screened for each grade.

Here, the feeder part of the individualization device is a feeder of one end formed with two bones, and the feeder is provided with a reinforcing material so that the vibration excitation force applied from the vibration generating part is uniformly transmitted throughout the feeder. In addition, the feeder unit of the individualization device may be connected to the first feeder unit formed with four bones and inclined downwardly with the rear end of the first feeder unit, and may include a second feeder unit formed with two valleys.

Here, the sorting discharge unit, the main conveyor to which the object to be selected is transported; An air spray nozzle positioned at a side of a row to which the object to be transferred is provided and providing blow air to the object to be placed in the conveyor; And measuring means for measuring a displacement amount of the conveyor belt, wherein the measuring means is a rotary encoder.

And, the feeder unit is provided with a vibration motor, the vibration vibrating force (vibrating force) of each of the vibration motor is characterized in that it can be adjusted independently.

In addition, an input conveyor connected to the front end of the individualization device to be inclined upward to pull the selected object to a predetermined height or more; A hopper conveyor in which a worker pours a sorted object; And interposed between the front end of the input conveyor and the rear end of the hopper conveyor, it is possible to rotate in the vertical direction around the pivot axis in accordance with the weight of the object to be deposited, the operation of the hopper conveyor in accordance with the rotation angle It is preferable to further include a metering device for providing an on-off signal to adjust.

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In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention comprises a personalization device having a feeder unit and a vibration generating unit for vibrating the feeder unit at least one or more bones to which the object to be transferred is formed to be inclined downward; A grading unit comprising an image acquiring unit for acquiring an image of the object to be transferred transferred through the individualizing apparatus and an image processing unit for processing the image information obtained therefrom; An acceleration conveyor positioned between the individualization device and the grade discriminating unit and moving at a speed higher than a traveling speed of the object to be selected in the individualization device to widen the interval in the direction of travel of the object to be selected; In order to discharge the classified object to be classified by class, the main conveyor to which the object to be selected is transported, which is located on the side of the row where the object is transported, and the air injection to provide blow air to the object to be placed on the main conveyor. A fractionation discharge section comprising a nozzle and measurement means for measuring a displacement amount of the main conveyor belt; An input conveyor connected upwardly to the front end of the individualization device to lift the selected object more than a predetermined height; A hopper conveyor on which the object to be loaded is loaded; It is interposed between the input conveyor and the hopper conveyor, it is possible to rotate in the vertical direction around the pivot axis in accordance with the weight of the object to be deposited, the on-to adjust the operation of the hopper conveyor in accordance with the rotation angle A fixed quantity supply device for providing an off signal; And position measuring means for detecting a falling height of the metering device, wherein the vibration generator is a vibration motor capable of adjusting vibration excitation force, and a vibration vibrating force of the vibration motor is uniform throughout the feeder part. The feeder unit is provided with an automatic pepper sorting machine is provided with a reinforcing material to be delivered.
Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

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1 is a side view showing an automatic pepper sorter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view showing an automatic pepper sorter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the automatic pepper sorting machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the hopper conveyor 10; Metering supply device 20; Input conveyor 30; Individualization device 40; Acceleration conveyor 55; Grading unit 50; And a fractional discharge part 60.

First, the overall function and operation of the automatic pepper sorting machine having the above components will be described.

When a worker pours a number of peppers into the hopper conveyor 10 to have a suitable thickness, the pepper goes up the input conveyor 30 along the hopper conveyor 10 via the feeding conveyor 20 to be supplied to the individualization device 40. do.

At this time, if the quantity of pepper supplied from the hopper conveyor 10 is excessively large, the metering supply device 20 is rotated downwardly around the rotating shaft installed at one end by the weight of the pepper, and the predetermined angle or more The operation of the hopper conveyor 10 is stopped by the position measuring means 21 for detecting the rotation. Therefore, it serves to ensure that the pepper is supplied within the allowable range for complete individualization.

Peppers of a predetermined amount supplied to the individualization device 40 are aligned to four rows of valleys 41a formed to be inclined downwardly by the vibration generating unit 43 of the individualization device 40 and transported downward. Four rows of valleys 41a lead from the middle of the individualization device 40 back to two rows of valleys 42a, where the peppers are again aligned in two rows and transported downward.
The peppers arranged in two rows and transferred to the acceleration conveyor 55 are completely individualized by further openings in the advancing direction between the peppers by the acceleration conveyor 55 moving faster than the feeding speed in the individualizing device 40.

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The red peppers, which are individualized and arranged in two rows, are graded by an image acquisition unit (not shown) and an image processing unit (not shown) installed in the grade discrimination unit 50, and are supplied to the classification discharge unit 60. Know the position of the pepper at a specific time calculated from the displacement amount of the conveyor measured by the displacement amount measuring means 65 of the fractionation discharge part 60 and the distance from the image acquisition position to the respective air injection nozzles 62. By supplying blow air to the pepper with a specific air spray nozzle 62, the pepper is automatically sorted by the graded discharge port 63 for each grade.

Hereinafter, the function and operation of each component will be described.

The hopper conveyor 10 is a conveyor in which a worker can pour pepper, which is to be selected. The hopper conveyor 10 may be used by any means that can transfer the pepper from a certain position to a constant position at a constant speed, it is preferable to use a material such as PVC belt so as not to slip between the belt of the pepper and the conveyor. A worker can obtain the primary individualization effect by dispersing and pouring pepper to a certain thickness.

The fixed amount supply device 20 is connected to the rear end of the hopper conveyor 10 so as to be inclined downward, and one end of the fixed amount supply device 20 on the side of the hopper conveyor 10 becomes a rotation axis so as to rotate a predetermined angle in the vertical direction. have. The lower portion of the metering supply device 20 is provided with a position measuring means 21 for detecting the falling height of the metering supply device 20, the ON to stop the operation of the hopper conveyor 10 when a pepper of a predetermined weight or more is deposited. To generate a -off signal.

The position measuring means 21 may be a proximity sensor, a limit switch, an ultrasonic sensor, or a photo sensor, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Any positioning sensor that can be generated will be said to belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

However, since the photosensor is vulnerable in a dusty environment, it is preferable to use a capacitive proximity sensor using the principle that the capacitance changes according to the distance.

The input conveyor 30 is installed to be inclined upward toward the rear end of the metering feeder 20 and serves to transfer the peppers fed through the hopper conveyor 10 and the metering feeder 20 to a high position. do. At this time, in order to prevent the pepper from rolling downward due to its own weight, the protruding bar 30a formed at a predetermined interval in the conveying direction of the conveyor 30 is provided on the surface.

The individualization device 40 includes a feeder unit in which hollows 41a and 42a for arranging peppers in a predetermined row are formed to be inclined downward, and vibration generating units 43 and 44 installed below the feeder unit.

The feeder parts 41 and 42 are formed to be inclined downward from the rear end of the feeding conveyor 30 toward the rear, and the four feeders 41 and the valleys 41a are formed in the first feeder part 41 of the first half. Two peaks and valleys 42a are formed in the second feeder portion 42. In addition, a vibration generating unit including a vibration generating unit 43 and a shock absorbing unit 44 is positioned below the first feeder unit 41 and the lower surface of the second feeder unit 42.

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As the vibration generating means 43, a vibration motor 43 having an unbalance weight may be used, and the unbalance weight of the vibration motor 43 adjusts the unbalanced amount according to the angle of the fixed weight and the adjustment weight. This can change the vibrating force. The vibration motor 43 is attached to the bottom surfaces of the first feeder part 41 and the second feeder part 42, so that the vibration generated by the vibration motor 43 is generated by the first feeder part 41 and the second. Each of the feeders 42 is to be delivered.
In addition, the feeder unit as another embodiment of the individualization apparatus according to the present invention is a feeder of one stage having two rows of valleys, the feeder is provided with a reinforcement (not shown), the vibration excitation force generated from the vibration motor by the reinforcement It works uniformly over the entire part of the feeder.

Here, the vibration motor 43 is illustrated as the vibration generating means 43, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the vibration can be applied in the vertical direction or the left and right directions within a range that can be easily changed and created by those skilled in the art. Any means will be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

In addition, in order to prevent noise and destruction caused by vibrations applied to the feeder parts 41 and 42, elastic springs are provided as buffering means 44 at each corner of the first feeder part 41 and the second feeder part 42. Intervened. Here, the shock absorbing means 44 is illustrated as an elastic spring, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and any means for cushioning within a range that can be easily changed and created by those skilled in the art is within the protection scope of the present invention. something to do.

In addition, the feeder portions 41 and 42 are preferably made of stainless steel which is hardly corroded.

When vibration is generated in the vibration generating unit 43 by the individualizing device 40 having such a configuration, the peppers located in the first feeder unit 41 are arranged in four rows and are transferred downward. As it is conveyed to the part 42, it is arranged in two rows and continues to be conveyed, so that individualization occurs. The reason why the first feeder part 41 and the second feeder part 42 are configured in two stages so as to be reduced from four rows to two rows, respectively, is that in the case of the first stage, an empty space may occur in the transfer row during the transfer process. This is because peppers are closely aligned and there is little concern about the occurrence of empty space. At this time, in order to achieve a smooth individualization action, it is preferable to increase the vibration excitation force of the second feeder unit 42 rather than the vibration excitation force of the first feeder unit 41 to widen the alignment interval in the advancing direction of the peppers.
On the other hand, according to another embodiment of the individualization apparatus according to the present invention, two rows of peppers arranged in the first stage feeder having two rows of valleys are transferred to the acceleration conveyor 55 to be described later. At this time, it is preferable to increase the rigidity of the feeder by installing a reinforcing material in the feeder of the first stage in order to ensure that the vibration excitation force generated in the vibration motor is uniformly transmitted over the entire length of the feeder of the first stage. And, if the amount of pepper supplied by adjusting the metering device is set to be appropriate, it is also possible not to generate an empty space in each row of aligned pepper.

Acceleration conveyor 55 is installed at the rear end of the individualization device 40, and has a conveyor moving at a higher speed than the conveying speed of the pepper in the individual device (40). Acceleration conveyor 55 is preferably using a urethane belt to mitigate the impact of falling pepper. The space in the advancing direction of the peppers, which have been transferred in two rows by the acceleration conveyor 55, is further widened to achieve complete individualization.

The grade discriminating unit 50 is located at the rear end of the acceleration conveyor 55. The grading unit 50 may include an image obtaining unit (not shown) for obtaining an image of an individualized pepper; And an image processor (not shown) for processing the obtained image to determine the grade by a grade determination algorithm.

As an image acquisition means, an analog CCD (charge coupled device) camera may be used, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Of course, it belongs to the protection scope of the present invention.

Although not shown in the figure, the image acquisition means further includes a light source unit (not shown) for accurately obtaining a clear image as well as a camera.

Although not shown in the drawing, the image processing unit also receives a signal obtained from the image acquiring means through a interface cable and includes a frame grabber (not shown) and a central processing unit having a built-in grading algorithm for classifying a digital image. Not shown). Here, various means such as a microcontroller or a personal computer exist as the central processing unit, but in order to perform image processing in a short time, it is preferable to use a computer with a high-performance CPU.

The classification discharge unit 60 includes a main conveyor 61; A rating outlet 63; Discharge conveyor 64; Air spray nozzles 62; Rotation displacement measuring means (65); And a control unit 70.

The main conveyor 61 is installed on the rear end side of the individualization device 40 so as to be horizontal to the ground.

The grade discharge port 63 is provided with five pairs at both sides of the main conveyor 61, and one discharge conveyor 64f is provided at the rear end of the main conveyor 61. The number of rating outlets 63 may be at least two or more, and in the above case, pepper of the same grade is discharged into the two rating outlets 63 of each pair, and the discharge conveyor 64f at the rear end. In the furnace, peppers that are not discharged to both sides are discharged, so it is divided into six grades, and peppers are automatically selected and discharged.

By the way, since the same grade rating outlet 63 is formed on both sides, and the collection box 80 is one for each grade, the red pepper discharged to the rating outlet 63 of one side is transferred to the collecting box 80 on the other side. The discharge conveyors 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d and 64e are used for this purpose.

The air spray nozzle 62 is installed at the center of the main conveyor 61 in the direction parallel to the traveling direction of the conveyor. Air spray nozzles 62 in the automatic pepper sorting machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention are installed in a total of 10 by 5 each in two rows so as to supply the blow air to the pepper in each pair of rating outlet (63).

Although not shown in the drawing, the air injection nozzle 62 includes a compressor for supplying compressed air; An air tank for storing compressed air; A solenoid valve is further provided to control the flow of compressed air from the air tank to the air injection nozzle.

Measuring means 65 is installed to be connected to the rotating shaft of the motor for driving the main conveyor 61 serves to measure the transfer displacement of the conveyor belt. As a measuring means, a rotary encoder may be used. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is possible to measure the feed displacement of the main conveyor 61 belt within a range that can be easily changed and replaced by a person skilled in the art. Any means will be said to belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

The controller 70 receives a signal generated from the rotary encoder 65 and a signal from the image processor to control the driving device of the classification discharge unit 60. As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 70 used a programming logic controller (PLC). PLC refers to a programmable control device that uses sequence control as a basic function and enables feedback control in addition to functions such as data operation, arithmetic operation, and data transmission. Since PLC is already known to those skilled in the art, no further explanation is required. something to do.

Hereinafter, an algorithm for discharging the graded pepper to the corresponding grade discharge port 63 by using the air spray nozzle 62 will be described.

The rotary encoder 65 generates the number of pulses according to the rotational displacement of the main conveyor motor shaft as an output signal. Then, the feed displacement of the main conveyor 61 belt, that is, the number of output pulses of the rotary encoder according to the distance from the image photographing position of the camera to the respective grade outlets 63 is given as a design value. Therefore, when the number of pulses corresponding to the distance from the image capturing position to the corresponding grade outlet 63 is inputted by the grade discriminating unit 50, the air spray nozzles located on the same line as the corresponding grade outlet 63 ( 62) by operating the compressed air by ejecting the pepper to the corresponding grade outlet (63) is automatically selected pepper.

Automatic pepper sorting machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the metering supply hopper (not shown); Individualization apparatus; Acceleration conveyor; Grading unit; And a fraction discharge portion.

The individualizing device, the acceleration conveyor, the grading part and the sorting discharge part are the same as in the first embodiment, so refer to those described in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the functions of the hopper conveyor, the metering supply device and the input conveyor of the first embodiment will be described. Only replaceable hoppers will be described.

The fixed-quantity supply hopper is installed on the front side of the front side of the individualization device which is installed inclined downwardly toward the rear, and serves to transport the appropriate amount of pepper to the individualization device. The hopper has a bottleneck structure in which the width becomes narrower toward the lower side, and it is preferable to have a quantitative supply means for discharging an appropriate amount.

As a preferred embodiment of the metering supply means may be provided with a control plate for adjusting the opening ratio of the lower groove of the hopper. At this time, the pepper may be provided with a vibration generating means capable of vibrating the hopper to prevent the tangling of each other and stagnated in the lower groove of the hopper.

By the above configuration, the appropriate amount of peppers supplied from the quantitative supply hopper is individualized through the individualization device and the acceleration conveyor, and the selection is automatically completed by the corresponding grades through the grade discriminating unit and the sorting discharge unit.

According to the automatic pepper selector according to the present invention, an individualizing device for automatically individualizing a plurality of pepper; A rating discriminating unit for determining a rating by image processing the individualized pepper; And a sorting discharge part for automatically discharging red pepper to a grade discharge port corresponding to the corresponding grade.

Therefore, firstly, it is possible to drastically reduce the time and labor required for workers to individually and selectively sort peppers by hand.

Secondly, since image discrimination is performed by image processing based on machine vision, the accuracy of screening can be enhanced.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

An individualization apparatus having a feeder portion having at least one bone to which a to-be-selected object is conveyed downwardly inclined and a vibration generating portion for vibrating the feeder portion; A grading unit comprising an image acquiring unit for acquiring an image of the object to be transferred transferred through the individualizing apparatus and an image processing unit for processing the image information obtained therefrom; An acceleration conveyor positioned between the individualization device and the grade discriminating unit and moving at a speed higher than a traveling speed of the object to be selected in the individualization device to widen the interval in the direction of travel of the object to be selected; And Automatic pepper sorting device comprising a classification discharge unit for discharging the graded blood to be classified by grade. The method of claim 1, The vibration generating unit automatic pepper sorting device including a vibration motor that can adjust the vibration excitation force. The method of claim 1, The individualization apparatus may include a first feeder unit having at least two bones formed therein, a second feeder unit inclined downwardly connected to a rear end of the first feeder unit, and having fewer bones than the number of bones formed in the first feeder unit; An individualization apparatus including a vibration generating unit capable of independently adjusting vibration excitation force applied to the first feeder unit and the second feeder unit; The method of claim 1, An input conveyor connected upwardly to the front end of the individualization device to lift the selected object more than a predetermined height; A hopper conveyor on which the object to be loaded is loaded; And Interposed between the input conveyor and the hopper conveyor, it is possible to rotate in the vertical direction around the pivot axis in accordance with the weight of the object to be deposited, on-off to control the operation of the hopper conveyor in accordance with the rotation angle Automatic pepper sorting machine further comprises a metering device for providing a signal. The method of claim 4, wherein Automatic pepper sorting machine is further provided with a position measuring means for detecting the falling height of the metering device. The method of claim 5, The position measuring means is automatic pepper sorter, characterized in that the capacitive proximity sensor. The method of claim 1, The classification discharge unit, A main conveyor to which the rated object to be classified is transferred; An air spray nozzle positioned at a side of a column to which the object to be transferred is provided and providing blow air to the object to be placed in the main conveyor; And Automatic pepper sorting device having a measuring means for measuring the displacement amount of the main conveyor belt. An individualization apparatus having a feeder portion having at least one bone to which a to-be-selected object is conveyed downwardly inclined and a vibration generating portion for vibrating the feeder portion; A grading unit comprising an image acquiring unit for acquiring an image of the object to be transferred transferred through the individualizing apparatus and an image processing unit for processing the image information obtained therefrom; An acceleration conveyor positioned between the individualization device and the grade discriminating unit and moving at a speed higher than a traveling speed of the object to be selected in the individualization device to widen the interval in the direction of travel of the object to be selected; And In order to discharge the classified object to be classified by class, the main conveyor to which the object to be selected is transported, which is located on the side of the row where the object is transported, and the air injection to provide blow air to the object to be placed on the main conveyor. It comprises a nozzle and a discharge section comprising a measuring means for measuring the displacement amount of the main conveyor belt, The vibration generating unit is a vibration motor capable of adjusting the vibration excitation force, the automatic pepper sorting machine is provided with a reinforcing material in the feeder unit so that the vibration vibrating force (vibrating force) of the vibration motor is uniformly transmitted throughout the feeder unit. The method of claim 8, An input conveyor connected upwardly to the front end of the individualization device to lift the selected object more than a predetermined height; A hopper conveyor on which the object to be loaded is loaded; It is interposed between the input conveyor and the hopper conveyor, it is possible to rotate in the vertical direction around the pivot axis in accordance with the weight of the object to be deposited, the on-to adjust the operation of the hopper conveyor in accordance with the rotation angle A fixed quantity supply device for providing an off signal; And Automatic pepper sorting apparatus further comprises a position measuring means for detecting the falling height of the metering device.

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