BG99632A - Method and device for automatic classification of eggs according to their freshness - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the method of the egg that moves and rotates simultaneously from a roller conveyor, three focused monochromatic beams moving in parallel planes, the average of which passes through the axis and the rotation of the egg. The three the beam sequentially scans it in time and is scattered / emitted by it light is measured synchronously is the movement of the falling rays. Conversions of the signals are analyzed and the size and location of the the air chamber, the location, mobility and integrity of the yolk, after which eggs are sorted according to their flesh. White and brown eggs are scanned with radiation of different wavelengths, which is automatically selected. The device consists of a scanning light system for the eggs (1), comprising a movable housing (3), a light source (4) and a light source (4) mounted thereon optical elements (5-14) for collating, filtering, focusing, and separating the three-beam light LI, L2, L3, a rotating reflective mirror (15), and a cylindrical lens (17) for directing the rays perpendicular to the axis of the beam rotation of eggs, sensor (19) for measuring synchronization, optoelectronic shell color measurement elements (27-34), linear photodetector (20) for

Description

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatic sorting of fresh eggs, which will find application in determining the suitability of eggs for consumption and reproduction at the points of handling and hatching.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A method and apparatus for determining the freshness of eggs is known, whereby a white light source is mounted in a half-dark box with two opposite openings. One is placed on a quality egg and the other is used for visual observation. This determines the size and location of the air chamber of the egg, which is used to judge its freshness (1).

Also known is a device that contains a white light source that emits parallel rays that fall on a quality egg. The rays that pass through it are "captured" by a rotating light switch and a photomultiplier. The characteristics of the "caught" beams are judged on the quality of the egg (2).

The disadvantages of the known solutions are the following:

- Eggs are laid manually and their removal is slow;

- Assessment is visual and subjective;

- The color of the egg shell is not taken into account, which affects the accuracy of the assessment;

- Not determined at the same time as the same technically

means the size and location of the air chamber, the shape, location and motility of the yolk, from which factors determine the freshness of the eggs;

- The spectral properties of the three main constituents of the egg - egg whites, yolks and shells are not taken into account, which makes it difficult to determine the freshness factors of the eggs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a device and method for identifying the freshness of eggs by the principle of scanning them with focused light rays and accurately determining the size and location of the air chamber, the location, integrity and mobility of the yolk, taking into account the color of the shell, with which achieves greater accuracy, objectivity and process automation.

The problem is solved by a method and a device for performing the method according to which the eggs are scanned in time with three monochromatic light rays moving in parallel planes, one of which passes through the axis of rotation of the egg and the other two are arranged symmetrically on both sides at a certain distance from it. Part of the light penetrating the egg is scattered and another part is emitted from the opposite side of the egg, each of the three scanning beams corresponding to a separate signal. The size and location of the air chamber, the location, integrity and mobility of the yolk are determined by the magnitude and shape of the signals - analogues of the intensity of the scattered / emitted light of the three scaffolds. ·· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ни ни нирарара ни

According to the invention, the eggs are placed on a conveyor in special nests in such a way that they make a gradual and rotational motion around their axis. The three monochromatic rays are obtained from a white light source with collimating, filtering, focusing and dividing optics. They are directed to a rotating reflecting mirror and a cylindrical lens such that, when rotating the mirror, they are directed perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the egg, whereby the central beam moves from one pole to the other, describing one meridian and the remaining two rays. curves corresponding to the sections of the two lateral planes with the surface of the egg. The light that penetrates the egg is scattered inside, penetrates beyond the shell, and the intensity of part of it is measured by a linear photodetector lens, which is synchronized with the movement of the incident three beams so that it scans the opposite side of the egg.

Before starting the measurement of the scattered / emitted light from the egg, it is illuminated with a second white light source, and the intensity of the light reflected from the egg is measured by two photodetectors sensitive in the yellow Y and the near infrared IR of the spectrum, respectively. Calculate the Y / IR ratio of the signals from the photodetectors used to detect the color of the shell. If Y / IR> 1, the egg has a white shell; if Y / IR <1, the egg has a brown shell. When the egg has a white shell, the dividing optics emits scanning rays with a wavelength λ _Β in the blue region of the spectrum, and when the egg has a brown shell, rays with a wavelength Zg are sent in the green region.

• ·

When two laser sources with wavelengths of λ _Β and λθ are used instead of the first light source, the dividing optics sends the respective radiation to scan the eggs as above, depending on the color of their shell.

When two LEDs are used instead of the second white light source to measure the reflectivity of the shell, they emit in its yellow and infrared IR spectra, respectively.

The process of scanning and measuring the scattered / emitted light from the egg is continuous as the egg rotates about an axis at an angle of > 180 °. One scan of the egg from one end to the other with the three rays yields, respectively, three signal realizations corresponding to the three parallel scanning beams. The three conversions are analyzed individually and compared with each other, which results in a criterion for classifying eggs according to their degree of freshness.

The method implementation device consists of a system for scanning the eggs carried by the conveyor conveyor, comprising a movable housing with a white light source mounted therein and optical elements for collimating, filtering, focusing and dividing light into three beams rotating reflective mirror and cylindrical lens for directing the three light rays perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the eggs, sensor for illumination and measurement, optoelectronic elements for measuring the color of the shell Ata, a linear photodetector for scanning measurement of scattered / emitted light and a process control and classification system for eggs containing comparators and • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

The device is used as follows:

The eggs laid on the conveyor conveyor are carried by it, while simultaneously rotating. The body of the device is positioned above the egg, moving in synchrony with the egg as it rotates at an angle of> 180 ° and returns to the next egg. At the beginning of the straight-laced egg course of the hull, the color of the shell is measured and the scanning radiation is switched with the corresponding wavelength. Then the three light rays, guided by the appropriate technical means, scan, alternating in time, the surface of the eggs from one end to the other. Beam alternation is performed by alternating the feed beam with each new turn - a new working stroke of the mirror, or by alternating the three beams continuously during one working stroke. The light emitted from each egg corresponding to the scanning beam is measured by a photodetector that scans a narrow strip from the surface of the egg in synchrony with the movement of the incident beams. The characteristics of the electrical signals obtained determine the freshness of the eggs.

The advantages of the method are:

- Inspection of progressively and simultaneously rotated eggs by a roller conveyor, whereby the optoelectronic system does not interfere with the movement of the eggs and does not exert additional mechanical effects on them.

- Determine the color of the shell and scan the eggs in monochromatic light according to the spectral properties of the shell, the protein and the yolk. White eggs

they scan with a wavelength in the blue region of the spectrum, and brown eggs with a wavelength in the green region. This provides a more accurate definition of freshness.

- The eggs are scanned in time with three focused light rays moving in parallel planes, one passing through the axis of rotation of the egg and the other two arranged symmetrically on both sides. One scan of the egg from one end to the other with three beams yields three signal conversions, respectively. This allows, after rotating the egg at an angle of > 180 °, to determine the size and location of the air chamber, the location, mobility and integrity of the yolk and eggs to be classified according to their freshness.

Description of the attached figures

FIG. 1 Optical diagram for obtaining three monochromatic beams, for motion of the three monochromatic beams, for measuring the color of the shell and of the photodetector for scanning the measurement of the light emitted from an egg.

FIG. 2 Axonometric drawing of a scanning illumination of an egg with three rays L1, L2, L3 and scanning measurement of the light emitted by it.

FIG. 3 Signals corresponding to eggs with different locations of the air chamber and the yolk.

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Examples of carrying out the invention

In FIG. 1 shows a system for scanning eggs 1, moved and simultaneously rotated by a traditional roller conveyor 2, which contains opto-electronic elements fixed to the housing 3, performing reciprocating movement in synchrony with the movement of the eggs. The system consists of a light source 4, a collimator 5, a light-emitting plate 6, a reflecting mirror 7, two interference filters 8 and 9, transmitting light, respectively, in the blue λ _Β and green a _g spectral regions, focusing optics 10, light guide 11, directional 1 light to the inputs of an optical switch 12, the output of which is connected to the input of an optical demultiplexer 13 containing two optical switches not shown in the drawing. At the outputs of the demultiplexer three lights are obtained our beam L1, L2, L3 in the form of pulses alternating sequentially in time, which, focused by optics 14, are directed to the axis of rotation of the reflecting mirror 15. The axis 16 of the mirror coincides with the focal line of a cylindrical lens 17. as a result of which the rays L1, L2, L3 move parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the egg 18, with the median beam L1 passing mentally through the axis 18, scanning the surface of the egg from one pole to the other, describing the meridians on its surface, and the two lateral rays L2 and L3 spaced from the center day beam at equal distances d, scan the surface, describing on it complex curves predetermined by the shape of the egg shell. At each turn of the char 15, the egg is illuminated by only one ray, so that for three [turns, it is scanned sequentially by the three rays L1, L2, L3.

y: The beam alternation is performed by the demultiplexer 13 along the span of a control microcomputer not shown in FIG. 1, who • · • · · · · ·

it receives information about the position of the mirror 15 from the angular displacement sensor 19. The scattered / emitted light from the egg is converted into an electrical signal from a linear photodetector 20 with a lens 21 that is directed toward the incident beam side of the egg. Sensitive photocells of the photodetector 20 are controlled by the computer in synchronization with the movement of the rays L1, L2 or L3 so as to detect the emitted light only from that portion of the shell which is present along the incident beam at the time of scanning. Thus, the scanning of the egg is performed either by the incident light L1, L2, L3, or by the received light 22. Part of the light emitted from the source 4 by a focusing lens 23, a light guide 24, and an optical switch 25 is directed to the inspected egg . Before the housing 3 is positioned on the egg, the computer receives a signal from sensor 26, switches on the optical switch 25, and part of the egg surface is illuminated in white light. The reflected light through the lens 27, the dichroic mirror 28 and the filters 29 is converted by photodetectors 30 and 31, which are sensitive in the yellow and near infrared regions of the spectrum, respectively. Amplified by amplifiers 32 and 33, electrical signals are sent to a comparator 34, which sends a logical signal to the computer. If the egg is white, the output of comparator 34 is set to "1" and the computer switches the optical switch 12 to the blue filter 8, if the egg is brown, the signal from the comparator 34 is "0" and the computer switches the optical switch 12 to the green filter 9. The color limit of switching of the comparator 34 is adjusted by a potentiometer 35. When the housing moving in the right direction 3 is positioned on the egg such that the middle beam L1 passes through the axis of rotation 18, sensor 36 sends "1". to the computer and to the first input of the logic element Item 37 - the type 2I, giving permission to start the measuring process. However, the process begins when the computer receives information from the angular displacement sensor 19 that the rays L1, L2, L3 are at the beginning of their turn and the output of the logic element 37 connected to the computer is set to "1". This occurs when one of the three rays L1, L2, or L3 touches the egg shell and the signal U of the photodetector 20 exceeds a certain threshold level Up = const. U and Up are fed to the two inputs of comparator 38, which switches and sends "1" to the second input of circuit 37. The threshold level Up is adjusted with a potentiometer 39. Measurement of the scattered / emitted light from an egg by its successive scanning L1, L2, L3 is discontinued each time the mirror 15 is rotated when the same rays are moving at the end of their stroke, information to which is obtained from the sensor 19 and when "0" is found at the output of the circuit 37 due to the condition In <Cf. The measurement process is stopped after the egg is rotated at an angle of> 180 ° and the sensor 36 sends a signal "0" to the computer, informing it that the housing 3 is reversed for positioning over the next egg.

Terminals 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 are connected to digital inputs, and terminals 45, 46, 47 and 48 are connected to digital outputs on the computer. Terminal 49 is connected to an analog input through which the computer receives signals from the photodetector 20 during the egg scanning process. The signals are analyzed by groups, with each group containing three signal realizations measured by scanning the eggs with the three rays L1, L2 and L3 respectively. As a result of the analysis, the size and location of the airspace are determined.

• · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · The measure, location, mobility and integrity of the yolk, on the basis of which the computer classifies the eggs according to their degree of freshness and sends signals to known technical means for separating the eggs from the total flow into two or more fractions (Fig. 1).

In FIG. 2 shows, in an axonometric drawing, the scanning illumination of an egg and its scanning measurement of the scattered / emitted light from the egg. Using the rotating mirror 15 and the cylindrical lens 17, the rays L1, L2, L3 are always directed perpendicular to the axis of rotation 18 of the egg 1, describing curves 50, 51 and 52. The lens 21 projects the bottom of the egg on the sensitive photodetector of the linear photodetector 20, which are synchronized with the movement of the rays L1, L2, L3.

In FIG. 2 shows the signals m _1} m ₂ , m ₃ corresponding to the rays L1, L2, L3, which scan eggs of different freshness:

position Opposition Arrangement in fresh, good-quality egg, edible and reproducible;

an unclean egg with a large air chamber;

an egg with an air chamber displaced from its normal position;

items d, e, e - loose eggs, strongly displaced and wholly broken yolk, unfit for consumption and reproduction.

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Literature

1. US 3,767,303.10 / 1973, Jeans Fonfounis, G01 N33 / 08.

2. USSR, 705333,12 / 1979, V. H. Arzamostsev, G01 N33 / 08.

Claims (4)

1. A method for automatically sorting eggs by freshness, characterized in that the egg is illuminated by three focused and parallel monochromatic rays which are directed perpendicularly to the axis of the egg, transported and rotated simultaneously by a roller conveyor the beam moves in a plane passing through the axis of rotation of the egg, and the other two rays move in two planes parallel to the first and spaced equal to the first, the three rays scan the surface of the egg, alternating alternately in time it measures the scattered / emitted light from the sections of the egg opposite to the incident beams, analyzed individually and compared with each other the three realizations of the signals obtained by scanning the egg with each of the three beams, simultaneously determining the size and location of the the air chamber, the location, the mobility and the integrity of the yolk and the eggs are classified in two or more classes, depending on the degree of their freshness. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the three monochromatic rays scan the surface of the egg, moving from one end to the other with the help of a rotating reflecting mirror and a cylindrical lens, wherein the middle ray describes the meridians and the other two rays describe curves corresponding to the intersection of the two lateral planes with the surface of the egg such that, at one revolution of the mirror, the egg is scanned with only one light beam, or with the three light rays alternating in series with in time. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the color of the shell is measured and, depending on whether the shell is white or brown, the eggs are scanned with monochromatic light with a wavelength of blue or green, respectively. areas of the spectrum. 4. An automatic fresh egg sorting apparatus, characterized in that it consists of a scanning system for measuring and measuring eggs (1), carried by a roller conveyor (2), comprising a movable housing (3) with fixed ones. light source (4), collimator (5), light-emitting plate (6), reflecting mirror (7) and filters (8) and (9), selective in the green and blue spectral regions, focusing optics (10), light guides (11) for connecting light to an optical switch (12), an optical demultiplexer (13) for dividing the light three-ray edema, collimating / focusing optics (14), rotating reflecting mirror (15), cylindrical lens (17) for directing the rays perpendicular to the egg axis, angular displacement sensor (19) for rotating reflecting mirror, linear photodetector (20) and lens (21) of the same photodetector, optics (23) and optical fiber (24) connected to an optical switch (25), sensors (26) and (36) for housing positioning (3), dichroic mirror ( 28), filters (29) and photodetectors (30) and (31), photocurrent amplifiers (32) and (33) whose inputs are connected respectively to photodetectors is (30) and (31) and their outputs are connected to the two inputs of the comparator (34), a logic circuit (37) whose inputs are connected to the outputs of the sensor (36) and the comparator (38), one input of which is connected to the output of the photodetector (20) and the other to the potentiometer (39), electrical terminals (40), (41), (42), (43), (44), (45), (46), (47), (48) and (49) to connect the system to the computer.