JP2000210626A - Defective article detector, and adjusting jig and adjusting method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a defective article detector in which position adjustment of a long size, belt like reflecting surface arranged on the back part side of a presence predetermined place where a granular body group is present in the shape of a long size belt and a light receiving position of a light receiving means having resolution along the longitudinal direction of the presence predetermined place can be easily and suitably performed. SOLUTION: In plural places in the longitudinal direction of the reflecting surface hm, indicating parts HB with which the light receiving means can read that the place is a central position CL in the width direction of the reflecting surface hm are formed. Adjustment is made so that the light receiving position of the light receiving means is positioned at the central position CL.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating means for illuminating a particle group as an object to be inspected in a long band at a point where the particle is to be detected. A light-receiving means for receiving light from the expected existence location side in a state having a resolution along the longitudinal direction of the expected existence location; and a light-receiving direction of the light-receiving means, which is installed at a location on the back side of the expected existence location. A long band-shaped projection surface for projecting light having the same or substantially the same brightness as detection light from a proper one of the inspection objects toward the light receiving means, and detecting the light from the inspection object. Based on light receiving information of the light receiving unit that receives light and the light projected from the projection surface, it is determined whether or not the amount of received light is out of a proper light amount range for detection light from a proper one of the inspection objects. The determination means for performing Vignetting defective product detecting device, and,
The present invention relates to an adjusting jig and an adjusting method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the above-mentioned defective object detecting device, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-239330, a group of particles, for example, a group of rice, as inspection objects is transported in a state of being spread in a lateral direction and used for detection. When the expected location is reached, the rice grains present in a long strip along the longitudinal direction of the expected location are illuminated by an illumination light source such as a fluorescent lamp, and C
A reflection surface as a projection surface, which is arranged in a light receiving direction of the light receiving means such as a CD line sensor and located on the back side of the expected existence position, is illuminated by the light source, and the rice grain group is directed from the reflection surface to the light receiving means. The light having the same or substantially the same brightness as the detection light from the appropriate object is reflected. Then, in the light receiving unit that receives the detection light reflected by or transmitted through the rice grain group and the reflection light from the reflection surface, the plurality of light receiving units arranged at a predetermined resolution along the longitudinal direction of the expected existence position are respectively provided. If the amount of received light is out of the appropriate light amount range for the appropriate object set in advance, defective rice such as colored rice, stone, plastic,
It is determined that a defect such as glass is present, and air is discharged from a predetermined nozzle among a plurality of jutting nozzles juxtaposed with respect to the defect in the rice grain group transferred to a position on the lower side of the expected position. Is sprayed to separate the path from the proper one.

In addition, there are a transmitted light type and a reflected light type as the light receiving means, and a reflection surface for transmitted light is provided for the transmitted light type light receiving means, and a reflected light type light receiving means is provided. Is provided with a reflection surface for reflected light. In an actual apparatus, both light receiving means are provided, or one of a transmitted light type and a reflected light type is provided. Further, in the reflected light type light receiving means, a reflecting surface for reflected light (for a group of rice grains, a white surface corresponding to the brightness of the rice grains) is formed in a narrow band shape, and the reflecting surface is brought close to both sides in the width direction of the reflecting surface. Regions having different reflectivities (black surfaces) are formed, and light reflected from the black regions is refracted by a foreign substance such as a transparent glass piece by a reflected light type light receiving means. (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
-239330).

Here, if the light receiving position of the CCD line sensor, that is, the line-shaped detection range is displaced from the above-mentioned expected location where the rice grain group is present in a long strip shape, a defective object is expected at the expected existence location. In the prior art, it is not possible to properly determine whether or not there is a defect, and based on the determination, it is not possible to appropriately perform an operation of separating a defective object by air on the downstream side of the route. A member that indicates the location of the rice grain group at the location, for example, a thin rod that indicates the location of the rice grain group at the tip is disposed in a state that intersects the longitudinal direction of the location where the rice grain group is to be located, and the light receiving signal of the CCD line sensor is observed. Meanwhile, the light receiving means is rotated around the optical axis or swinged around the axis along the expected location so that the detected signal at the tip of the rod appears in the received light signal. It was way. If the width of the reflecting surface is wide due to the above adjustment, it is not necessary to adjust the light receiving position of the light receiving means (CCD line sensor) with respect to the reflecting surface. There is a possibility that the light receiving position of the light receiving means may not be located at the first position. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the light receiving position of the light receiving means for the narrow reflecting surface. The adjustment of the light receiving position with respect to the reflection surface is performed so that the light reception signal of the CCD line sensor is equal to or higher than a certain level over the entire width in the longitudinal direction of the reflection surface.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, a member (a thin rod or the like) indicating the position where the rice grain cluster is present is manually positioned and adjusted at the expected position. Installation was troublesome. Also, with the narrow reflecting surface, the light receiving position of the CCD line sensor is merely adjusted so that the light receiving signal of the CCD line sensor is equal to or higher than a certain level over the entire width in the longitudinal direction of the reflecting surface. If the position is adjusted to the end position in the width direction, the light receiving position may deviate from the reflecting surface due to vibrations during operation or the like, and a proper detecting operation may not be performed. Even if the light reception signal of the line sensor is low,
Since the direction of the shift is not known, there is a problem that the adjustment of the light receiving position is not easy. Incidentally, by adjusting the light receiving position of the light receiving means to the appropriate position with respect to the expected existence location, based on the light receiving information of the light receiving means at the expected existence location, the plurality of air is located on the lower side of the route than the expected existence location. The timing of the ejection operation of the ejection nozzle is in an appropriate state, but as described above, after adjusting the light reception position of the light receiving means with respect to the expected existence position, if the light reception position is further adjusted with respect to the reflection surface, Since the above timing deviates from the proper state, it is necessary to adjust the deviation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art by setting the long strip-shaped projection surface and the light receiving position of the light receiving means to the projection surface. To provide a defective object detection device that can easily and quickly determine whether or not the position is properly adjusted in the width direction of the device, and easily adjust the light receiving position of the light receiving means with respect to the expected location. After the adjustment jig that can be performed, and after adjusting the light receiving position of the light receiving means with respect to the expected location, when adjusting the light receiving position with respect to the projection surface, a plurality of air ejecting portions are formed based on the light receiving information of the light receiving means. It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustment method for adjusting the timing of the ejection operation to an appropriate value.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus, wherein a granular material group as an object to be inspected is present in a long band shape at a predetermined location for detection. Illuminating means for illuminating the expected existence location, light receiving means for receiving light from the expected existence location side with a resolution along the longitudinal direction of the expected existence location, and a light receiving direction of the light receiving means, A long strip-shaped projection that is installed at a location on the back side of the expected location and projects light having the same or substantially the same brightness as detection light from a proper one of the inspection objects toward the light receiving unit. Surface, based on the light receiving information of the light receiving means for receiving the detection light from the inspection object and the projection light from the projection surface, the amount of light received with respect to the detection light from the proper one of the inspection object Whether it is out of the appropriate light amount range And a discriminating means for discriminating the position, wherein the light receiving means can read at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the projection surface, the central position in the width direction of the projection surface. A display portion is formed.

(Exemplary Action of the Invention) An expected location for detection in which a group of granular materials as an inspection object is present in a long strip shape is illuminated by illumination means, and along the longitudinal direction of the expected location. By light receiving means for receiving light from the expected existence place side in a state having resolution, the detection light from the inspection object and the light receiving direction of the light receiving means are installed at a position on the back side of the expected existence place. The projection light from a long, strip-shaped projection surface that projects light having the same or substantially the same brightness as the detection light from the proper one of the inspection objects toward the light receiving means is received, and the granular It is determined whether or not the amount of light received by the light receiving unit that receives the detection light from the body group and the projection light from the projection surface is out of the appropriate light amount range for the detection light from the appropriate one of the inspection objects. In the defective object detection device, Possible display part read by the light receiving means to be a central position in the width direction of the projection surface is formed at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the reflecting surface is received by the light receiving means. (Effect of Claim 1) Therefore, based on the light receiving information of the light receiving means that has read the display portion, it is accurately determined whether or not the light receiving position of the light receiving means is located at the center position in the width direction of the projection surface. This makes it possible to reliably obtain a defective object detection device in a proper state in which the light receiving position of the light receiving means is located at the central position in the width direction of the projection surface.

(Structure of Claim 2) In Claim 2, in Claim 1, it is determined whether the display portion is located at one end or the other end in the width direction with respect to the center position. It is configured to be readable by light receiving means. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a display portion readable by the light receiving means to determine whether the projection surface is located at one end or the other end in the width direction with respect to the center position in the width direction is received by the light receiving means. Is done. (Effect of Claim 2) Therefore, based on the light receiving information of the light receiving means which has read the display portion, the light receiving position of the light receiving means is different from the one end in the width direction with respect to the center position in the width direction of the projection surface. Since it is possible to determine which side of the end side is misaligned, based on this, it is adjusted in the direction in which the misalignment is reduced, and the light is received at the central position in the width direction of the projection surface. The light receiving position of the means can be quickly and easily adjusted to the position where the light receiving position is located, whereby the preferable means of claim 1 is obtained.

(Structure of Claim 3) According to Claim 3, in Claim 1 or 2, the light receiving means is configured to detect both lateral outer sides of the expected location and the projection surface. Is configured to have a surplus on both lateral outer sides of the inspection detection range that is detected in correspondence with the expected location by the light receiving unit, and the display portion includes the surplus on the projection surface. Is formed in a portion corresponding to. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the light receiving means for detecting the projection surface on both sides and the outside of the expected location is also provided on both sides and the outside of the inspection target detection range detected in correspondence with the expected existence location. The display portion formed on a portion corresponding to the surplus on the projection surface is received by light receiving means. (Effect of Claim 3) Therefore, when the display portion is formed within the inspection detection range of the light receiving means, the projection light from the display portion is used as noise information with respect to the detection light from the particulate group. Compared with the possibility of mixing, it is possible to reliably prevent noise information from being mixed in such a display portion, and the preferred means of claim 1 or 2 is obtained.

(Structure of Claim 4) In Claim 4, in any one of Claims 1 to 3, the display portion has a convex shape protruding toward the center position along the width direction of the projection surface. The projection is formed by projecting a light amount different from the projection light amount from the projection. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the display, a convex portion having a shape protruding toward the center position along a width direction of the projection surface is formed so as to project an amount of light different from an amount of light projected from the projection surface. The part is received by the light receiving means. (Effect of Claim 4) Therefore, when the light receiving means receives the projection light from the display portion formed in the convex portion, the light receiving amount at the convex portion is different from the light receiving amount at the projection surface. It is possible to easily determine from the difference in the amount of received light that the light receiving means is receiving light at the display portion, that is, that the light receiving position of the light receiving means is deviated from the center position. The preferred means of paragraph 1 is obtained.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, a light amount different from a light amount projected from the projection surface is provided on both lateral sides in the width direction of the projection surface. Is provided with a projection unit for detecting foreign matter. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the display portion formed on the projection surface is provided on both lateral sides in the width direction with a projection unit for detecting foreign matter that projects an amount of light different from the amount of light projected from the projection surface. Received. (Effect of Claim 5) Therefore, in order to allow the light from the projection part for foreign matter detection to be refracted and received by a transparent glass piece or the like located at the expected location and to be detected as a foreign matter, A projection unit for detecting foreign matter that projects an amount of light different from the amount of light projected from the projection surface is provided on both lateral sides in close proximity, for example, even in a projection surface having a small width, the width of the projection surface It is possible to accurately determine whether or not the light receiving position of the light receiving means is located at the center position in the direction, so that the suitable means according to any one of claims 1 to 4 can be obtained.

(Structure of Claim 6) According to Claim 6, in any one of Claims 1 to 5, the light receiving information of the light receiving means is replaced with the light receiving information of each part along the longitudinal direction of the expected location. Display means for displaying the information so as to be visually recognized is provided. (Function of Claim 6) The light receiving information of the light receiving means is displayed on the display means so that the light receiving information at each part along the longitudinal direction of the expected location can be visually recognized. (Effect of Claim 6) Therefore, it is possible to easily and easily recognize the light receiving information at each part along the longitudinal direction of the expected location by the display information displayed on the screen of the display means, etc. The preferred means of any one of claims 1 to 5 is obtained.

(Structure of Claim 7) According to Claim 7, in any one of Claims 1 to 6, the light receiving means is rotatable and adjustable around an optical axis along the light receiving direction, and It is configured to be swingably adjustable about an axis along the longitudinal direction of the location where it is expected to exist. (Function of Claim 7) The light receiving means is rotated and adjusted about an optical axis along the light receiving direction so as to correct the positional deviation of the light receiving position of the light receiving means with respect to the center position in the width direction of the projection surface. The swing adjustment is performed around the axis along the longitudinal direction of the expected location. (Effect of Claim 7) Therefore, for example, if the projection surface which is disposed relatively close to the back side of the expected location and is provided with a dustproof structure or the like is adjustable, the adjustment structure becomes complicated. The structure of the entire apparatus can be simplified by arranging the light-receiving means in a relatively free state at a position distant from the expected existence position so as to be adjustable. The preferred means according to any one of (1) to (6) is obtained.

(Structure of Claim 8) In Claim 8, a group of granular materials as an object to be inspected is configured to be present in a long band shape at a location where detection is to be performed, and the planned location is illuminated. Illuminating means, light receiving means for receiving light from the expected existence place side in a state having a resolution along the longitudinal direction of the expected existence place, and light receiving direction of the light receiving means and the back side of the expected existence place Installed at
A long, strip-shaped projection surface that projects light having the same or substantially the same brightness as detection light from a proper one of the inspection objects toward the light receiving unit, and detection light from the inspection object and Based on the light receiving information of the light receiving unit that receives the projection light from the projection surface, it is determined whether or not the amount of received light is out of a proper light amount range for detection light from a proper one of the inspection objects. An adjusting jig for the defective object detection device, which is located at the expected location and is received by the light receiving device, and is used for performing adjustment based on the received light information. An appropriate position display section is provided at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the adjustment jig to display an appropriate position in the width direction of the inspection object existing in a band shape at the expected location.

(Advantage of the Invention) An appropriate position display portion for displaying an appropriate position in the width direction of the inspection object existing in a band shape at the expected position is formed at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the adjusting jig. An adjustment jig for the defective object detection device is located at the expected existence position in the defective object detection device, received by the light receiving means, and is adjusted based on the received light information. (Effect of Claim 8) Therefore, the adjustment jig positioned at the expected location is received by the light receiving means, and the adjustment jig is received based on the light reception information of the appropriate position display portions formed at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the jig. Thus, it is possible to determine the positional relationship between the appropriate position in the width direction of the inspection object existing in a band shape at the expected location and the light receiving position of the light receiving means. An adjustment jig that can appropriately adjust the positional relationship between the means and the light receiving position is obtained.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, the position of the proper position display portion is one of the one end and the other end in the width direction with respect to the proper position. Is configured to be displayed. (Effect of Claim 9) The proper position display section for displaying which of the one end side and the other end side in the width direction is the proper position in the width direction of the inspection object with the light receiving means. Is done. (Effect of Claim 9) Therefore, based on the light reception information of the proper position display section, the position of the proper position and the light receiving position of the light receiving means are shifted to one of the one end and the other end in the width direction. Since it is possible to determine whether or not there is an error, it is possible to quickly and easily perform the adjustment by setting the adjustment direction in a direction in which the displacement becomes smaller, based on the determination. Is obtained.

(Structure of Claim 10) According to Claim 10, in Claim 8 or 9, the proper position display section is configured to display the amount of displacement in the width direction with respect to the proper position. . (Effect of Claim 10) The proper position display section for displaying the amount of displacement in the width direction with respect to the proper position in the width direction of the inspection object is received by the light receiving means. (Effect of Claim 10) Therefore, it is possible to determine the amount of positional deviation between the proper position and the light receiving position of the light receiving means based on the light receiving information of the proper position display unit. 10. The means according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the adjustment amount is increased in a state where the positional deviation is large, and the adjustment amount is reduced as the positional deviation becomes smaller, so that the adjustment can be performed quickly and accurately. Is obtained.

(Structure of Claim 11) According to Claim 11, in any one of Claims 8 to 10, the adjusting jig is used for adjusting a focal position of the light receiving means. A display is formed. (Function of Claim 11) The focal position adjusting display section is read by the light receiving means, and the focal position of the light receiving means is adjusted based on the read information. (Effect of Claim 11) Therefore, the focus position of the light receiving means is adjusted by directly measuring the adjustment jig placed at the location where the inspection object is supposed to exist. The focus position can be adjusted accurately using the same adjustment jig that adjusts the light receiving position. In addition, the method can be easily performed, and thus the preferable means according to any one of claims 8 to 10 can be obtained.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect, the granular material group as the inspection object according to any one of the eighth to eleventh aspects is provided in a belt-like state along the predetermined transport path. While being transported to the planned location and the separation location on the lower side of the route than the location of the expected location, the proper and defective materials in the group of granular materials transported to the separation location are separated into different routes. A plurality of air ejection portions for ejecting air are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the expected location, and a positioning portion fitted to the air ejection portion is provided for positioning with respect to the plurality of air ejection portions. I have. (Effect of Claim 12) A group of granules as an inspection object is transported along a predetermined transport path in a belt-like state to the expected location and a separation point on the lower side of the location from the location of the expected location. Defective object detection in which a plurality of air ejecting portions for ejecting air to separate a proper object and a defective object from the group of granular materials transferred to the separation portion into different paths are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the expected existence portion. In the device, an adjustment jig whose positioning portion is fitted to the air ejection portion and positioned with respect to the plurality of air ejection portions is received by the light receiving means, and adjustment is performed based on the received light information. (Advantage of claim 12) Therefore, an adjusting jig which is reliably positioned in a fitting state with a plurality of defective separating jetting portions which are juxtaposed at a separating position on the lower side of the path from the expected existence position for detection. By using this, it is possible to properly adjust the light receiving means for receiving the group of granular materials present in the elongated band shape at the expected location, and thus the preferable means according to any one of claims 8 to 11 is obtained. Can be

According to a thirteenth aspect, in the thirteenth aspect, the adjustment jig is provided with an ejection position display portion for displaying positions corresponding to a plurality of air ejection portions. (Advantage of the Invention) An adjusting jig provided with an ejection position display portion for displaying positions corresponding to the plurality of air ejection portions is received by the light receiving means. (Effect of Claim 13) Therefore, the positional relationship between each position of the light receiving means and the plurality of ejection portions in the longitudinal direction of the planned existence location is set to an appropriate state based on the light reception information read from the ejection position display portion. In other words, since the setting of the positional relationship is accurately performed by directly measuring the adjustment jig placed at the location where the inspection object is to be inspected, defective objects in the group of granular materials are detected at the expected location. By properly operating the ejection portion corresponding to the set position, it is possible to properly separate the proper object from the defective object, and to use the same adjustment jig as used for adjusting the light receiving position. Is set, the setting can be easily performed together with the adjustment of the light receiving position, so that the suitable means of claim 12 can be obtained.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the defective object detecting device according to the seventh aspect, the proper position is displayed by using an adjusting jig for the defective object detecting device according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect. The light receiving direction of the light receiving means is adjusted so that the light receiving position of the display means is located at the appropriate position based on the information obtained by reading the portion, and then, based on the information obtained by reading the display portion of the projection surface, The light receiving direction of the light receiving means is adjusted so that the light receiving position of the display means is located at the center position, and then each light receiving means of the light receiving means corresponding to each of the plurality of air ejection portions is adjusted using the adjusting jig. The amount of time from determining the amount of deviation from the proper position at the position and determining the presence of a defective object at the expected existence location based on the amount of deviation until activating the plurality of air ejection units. The interval is Adjusted for jet part each be set.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the light receiving position of the light receiving means and the air blowing part are determined based on the light receiving information of the light receiving means which reads the proper position display part of the adjusting jig positioned with respect to the air blowing part. So that the positional relationship with
Rotation adjustment about the optical axis along the light receiving direction of the light receiving means and swing adjustment about the axis along the longitudinal direction of the expected location are performed, and then light reception information obtained by reading the display portion of the projection surface The rotation adjustment and the swing adjustment of the light receiving means are performed so that the light receiving position of the display means is located at the central position based on the above, and then the adjustment positioned with respect to the air ejection portion is performed. The appropriate position display portion of the jig is read, and the shift amount from the appropriate position in the width direction of the expected existence position at each light receiving position of the light receiving means corresponding to each of the air ejection portions is determined, and the shift amount is determined. After the presence of a defective object is determined at the expected location based on the above, a time interval until the plurality of air ejection units are activated is adjusted and set for each of the plurality of air ejection units. (Effect of Claim 14) Therefore, an adjusting jig is set at the expected existence position, and the light receiving position of the light receiving means with respect to the group of granular materials existing in a long band shape at the expected existence position is set to be greater than the expected existence position. Also, after adjusting the positional relationship with a plurality of defective air separation parts that are juxtaposed at the separation point on the lower side of the transfer path to the appropriate position, the light receiving position of the light receiving means is located at the center position in the width direction of the projection surface With the light receiving direction of the light receiving means adjusted so as to be located accurately, set the adjusting jig again at the above-mentioned expected existence position, and set each light receiving position of the light receiving means in the longitudinal direction of the expected existence position to the width of the expected existence position. In the case where it is shifted from the appropriate position in the direction, based on the amount of each shift, the time until the air ejection section is operated after the determination of the defective at the expected existence location is adjusted. At the center position in the width direction The light receiving position of the light means can be adjusted to the appropriate position where it is located, and the air ejection section corresponding to the defective object detected at the expected location is ejected at the appropriate timing to separate the appropriate object from the defective object Thus, an adjustment method for a defective object detection device that can be adjusted so as to perform the adjustment properly is obtained. That is, the adjustment jig placed at the location where the inspection object is to be located is directly measured based on the air ejection portion, and the deviation from the appropriate distance of the distance from each air ejection portion to the light receiving position of the light receiving means is accurately determined. It is possible to accurately adjust the ejection timing of each air ejection section based on the deviation.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a defective object detecting apparatus, an adjusting jig and an adjusting method for the defective object detecting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. With reference to the drawings, a description will be given of a case where the defective object detection and separation processing is performed while transferring along the scheduled transfer path with the inspection target as an inspection target.

FIGS. 1 to 4 (note that FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the operation of the defective object detection and separation processing, and therefore, the arrangement of the device configuration is different from that of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). As shown in FIG. 1, a wide plate-like shooter 1 is installed at a predetermined angle (for example, 60 degrees) with respect to a horizontal plane, and is conveyed by a feeder 9 from a storage tank 7 provided on the upper side of the shooter 1. The supplied rice grain group k is transported while being guided downward in a state where the upper surface of the chute 1 is further spread in the lateral direction. Here, the shooter 1 is a plane shooter formed on a flat guide surface over the entire width in the width direction.
Here, since the purpose is to transfer the particles in a single layer state, even if the particles partially overlap depending on the flow state to form a two-layer state or the like, it is included in the concept of a single layer state.

The storage tank 7 stores inspection objects such as brown rice supplied from an external huller and milled rice supplied from a rice mill, and subjects the inspection objects from outside to a primary sorting process. The proper or defective products obtained in this way are stored for re-sorting. The tank 7 is formed in a tapered cylindrical shape toward the lower end, and the supply amount of the rice grain group k dropped from the tank 7 onto the feeder 9 to the shooter 1 is adjusted by changing the transport speed of the rice grain group k by the vibration of the feeder 9. Is done.

In the flow path in which the rice grain group k flows down from the lower end of the chute 1, a linear detection expected location J (hereinafter, referred to as a detection location J) in which the rice grain group k is present in a long strip shape. Are set, and linear light sources 4A and 4B composed of fluorescent lamps and the like as illumination means for illuminating the detection location J, and illumination light from the linear light sources 4A and 4B is reflected by the rice grain group k at the detection location J. A reflection line sensor 5B for receiving the reflected light is provided on the same side as the detection point J. On the other hand, on the opposite side of the detection position J from the installation position of the linear light sources 4A and 4B,
A transmission line sensor 5A is provided for receiving the transmitted light of the illumination light from A and 4B transmitted through the rice grain group k at the detection location J.

Air is blown toward the downstream from the detection point J in the downstream direction to the rice grain k or foreign matter determined to be defective based on the light reception information at the detection point J, and the air is blown from the normal flow direction of the rice grain k. An air blowing device 6 for separating in the lateral direction is provided, and the air blowing device 6
A plurality (20) of the injection nozzles 6a are juxtaposed in such a manner that the entire width of the granular material group is divided into a plurality of sections with a predetermined width corresponding to each of the plurality of sections. It is configured to be activated. That is, the rice grain group k is transferred from the lower end of the shooter 1 in a belt-like state to the detection point J and the separation point on the downstream side of the detection point J along the flow-down path as the planned transfer path, and is also transferred to the separation point. Injection nozzles 6a as a plurality of air ejection portions for ejecting air to separate a proper product (normal rice) and a defective product from the rice grain group k into different paths are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the detection location J. Have been.

Then, a receiving portion 2B for good rice which collects normal rice grains k which proceeds without being blown by the air from the injection nozzle 6a, and a normal rice grain k which is blown by the air. A receiving portion 3B for collecting defective rice such as colored rice or cracked rice separated laterally from the flow or a foreign matter such as stone or glass fragments is provided, and a receiving portion 2B for good rice is provided. The defective port 3B is formed in a tubular shape elongated in the width direction and surrounds the good rice port 2B.
Are formed. The rice grains k collected at the good rice receiving portion 2B and the defectives collected at the defective product receiving portion 3B are collected by the tank 7 of the inspection apparatus for re-sorting and the like.
Or, it is transported to another inspection device.

As shown in FIG.
A and 5B depict a plurality of light receiving portions 5a each having a range p (for example, about one-tenth of the size of rice grain k) smaller than the size of each rice grain k in the rice grain group as a light receiving target range. Are arranged in a line so as to correspond to the linear detection points J over a range including the lateral outer portion of the detection points J. Specifically, a monochrome type CCD sensor unit 50 in which light receiving elements as a plurality of light receiving units 5a are arranged in a straight line, and an image of a rice grain group k at a detection location J are placed on each light receiving element of the CCD sensor. And an optical system 51 for forming an image. In each of the line sensors 5A and 5B, for example, in FIG. 3, each light reception information is sequentially extracted from each light reception unit 5a from the left end to the right end of the detection point J.

As described above, the light receiving means 5 for receiving light from the detection point J in a state having resolution along the longitudinal direction of the detection point J is constituted by the two line sensors 5A and 5B. The two line sensors 5A and 5B are configured to detect both lateral outer sides of the detection location J.

The linear light sources 4A and 4B obliquely lower the detection point J so as to illuminate the rice grain group k from a plurality of directions inclined with respect to the light receiving directions of the transmission line sensor 5A and the reflection line sensor 5B. Light source 4A that illuminates from above
And two linear light sources 4A and 4B of an upper light source 4B for illuminating the detection location J from obliquely above.
A and 4B are held by the frame 22 while maintaining the inclined illumination angle. In addition, since the detection point J is illuminated from different directions by changing the illumination angle of the illumination light, even if the rice grain k is shifted from the normal detection point J in the horizontal direction, the detection point J is preferably kept as uniform as possible. You will be able to illuminate.

In the light receiving direction of each of the line sensors 5A and 5B and on the back side of the detection point J, the same or substantially the same brightness as the detection light from a proper one (normal rice) of the rice grain group k is provided. A reflection surface hm is provided as a long band-like projection surface for projecting light toward each of the line sensors 5A and 5B. The linear light sources 4A and 4B are arranged so as to illuminate the reflection surfaces hm and hm. Specifically, as the reflection surface hm, in the light receiving direction of the transmission line sensor 5A and on the back side of the detection point J,
The transmission line sensor 5A transmits light having the same or substantially the same brightness as the transmitted light transmitted through a proper one (normal rice) of the rice grain group k.
A reflection plate for transmitted light 8A provided with a reflection surface for transmitted light hm that reflects toward the light source, while a reflection line sensor 5B is provided.
In the light receiving direction, the light having the same or substantially the same brightness as the light reflected by the proper one (normal rice) of the rice grain group k is directed to the reflection line sensor 5B on the back side of the detection point J. A reflection plate for reflected light 8A having a reflection surface for reflected light hm that reflects the light is provided.

The linear light sources 4A and 4B, the reflection line sensor 5B, and the transmitted light reflection plate 8A are
The transmission line sensor 5 is stored in one of the storage portions 13B.
A and the reflection plate for reflected light 8B are stored in the other storage portion 13A. In addition, both storage parts 13A, 13B are formed in an integral box body having a common side plate, and both storage parts 13A, 13B.
Each is provided with light transmitting windows 14A and 14B made of plate-shaped transparent glass on the side facing the detection location J. Here, the two windows 14A and 14B are arranged in a state (V-shape) in which the distance from each other decreases toward the lower side. Although not shown, a cleaning nozzle 26 is provided for blowing air in the longitudinal direction on the surfaces of both windows 14A and 14B to remove dust and the like adhering to the windows (see FIG. 5).

The transmitted light reflecting plate 8A is formed in an elongated shape with an L-shaped cross section. A long bracket 22a having a U-shaped cross section is fixed to the frame 22 for supporting the light source by screws, and the bracket 22a is provided at a corner of the bracket 22a opposite to the fixing portion to the frame 22. The transmitted light reflecting plate 8A is screwed to the bracket 22a with the corners of the transmitting light reflecting plate 8A abutted. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the reflecting plate for reflected light 8B serves as the reflecting surface hm so that the region 8a having the same reflectance as the good rice of the rice k is illuminated by the linear light sources 4A and 4B. Formed in a longitudinal shape corresponding to the entire width of the group k,
Further, a black coating 8b is formed on the plate member so as to form black regions 8b on both sides of the longitudinal region 8a. That is, on both lateral sides in the width direction of the region 8a as the reflection surface hm, the foreign matter detection reflection portion 8b as a foreign matter detection projection portion that projects an amount of light different from the amount of light projected from the reflection surface hm is provided. ,by this,
As shown in FIG. 8, the light from the black foreign matter detection reflection portion 8b is refracted by a transparent glass piece g or the like located at the detection location J and received by the reflection line sensor 5B.
The glass piece g or the like is configured to be detected as a foreign substance. Here, each reflection surface hm has a surplus portion on both lateral outer sides of the inspection detection range KH (see FIG. 7) detected by the line sensors 5A and 5B corresponding to the detection location J. It is configured as follows.

Further, at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the reflection surface hm for reflected light, it is determined that the central position CL in the width direction of the reflection surface hm is the reflection line sensor 5.
B forms a readable display portion HB, and determines whether the display portion HB is located at one end or the other end in the width direction with respect to the center position CL by the reflection line sensor 5B. It is configured to be readable. Specifically, the display portion HB uses the black region 8b to project an amount of light different from the amount of light projected from the reflection surface hm, and the central portion along the width direction of the reflection surface hm. The reflective surface hm is formed at a portion corresponding to a surplus provided on both lateral outer sides of the inspection detection range on the reflection surface hm. In FIG. 7, one wide convex portion is formed on the upper side with respect to the center position CL, and two narrow convex portions are formed on the lower side with respect to the center position CL with a space therebetween. ing.

A display for displaying the received light information of the reflection line sensor 5B, which has read the display portion HB, so that the received light information at each portion along the longitudinal direction of the detection location J, that is, at each of the light receiving portions 5a, can be visually recognized. The means is a console 2 described later.
1 (see FIG. 21). Then, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, when the light receiving position ji of the reflection line sensor 5B on the reflection surface hm coincides with the center position CL, the light reception waveform of the reflection line sensor 5B is substantially flat. When the light receiving position ji of the reflection line sensor 5B is shifted upward in a state parallel to the center position CL, the waveform becomes a waveform (FIG. 13). When a wide convex portion is read and a waveform whose output value is lowered is displayed (FIG. 14), and the light receiving position ji of the reflection line sensor 5B is shifted downward in a state parallel to the center position CL. Shows a waveform in which a narrow convex portion is read and the output value is reduced at each end of the light reception waveform of the reflection line sensor 5B (FIG. 15), and the light reception position ji of the reflection line sensor 5B is displayed. Detection location J In an oblique state in which one of the left and right sides is shifted downward with respect to the center position CL and the other side is shifted upward with respect to the center position CL, a narrow projection is formed on one end side of the received light waveform of the reflection line sensor 5B. The waveform whose output value is lowered by reading the shape portion is displayed, and the waveform whose output value is lowered by reading the wide convex portion is displayed on the other end side (FIG. 16), whereby the reflection line sensor 5B is displayed. Of the light receiving position ji with respect to the center position CL of the reflection surface hm is determined.

As shown in FIG. 4, the outer plate of the storage portion 13A facing the detection point J has an opening for passing the detection light for transmitted light and an opening for positioning the reflection plate 8B for reflected light. Having a front plate portion 29 and the reflection plate for reflected light 8B
A rear plate portion 28 connected to the front plate portion 29 so as to receive the lower portion of the window portion 14A, and a window receiving plate portion 27 connected to the rear plate portion 28 to receive the lower end portion of the window portion 14A. First, the reflection plate 8B for reflected light is set in a state where the window 14A is removed, and the reflection surface hm faces the detection point J, and then the lower end portion is received by the window receiving plate 27. The window 14A thus formed is superimposed on the reflection plate 8B for reflected light, and the upper end of the window 14A is fixed by a leaf spring type stopper 25 screwed to the outer plate of the housing 13A.

Next, a structure for adjusting the light receiving direction of each of the line sensors 5A and 5B will be described. In addition, both line sensors 5
Since the adjustment structures of A and 5B are configured in the same manner, the reflection line sensor 5B will be described as an example in FIGS.
It will be explained by. A base body 52 is screwed to the bottom side of the storage portion 13B, and a pair of trapezoidal vertical plates 53 is screwed to left and right side surfaces of the base body 52 to stand upright. Pivot pin 53 attached to
As a result, the sensor holder 54 is pivotally supported so as to be swingable about the horizontal axis. An annular holding frame 55 for holding the CCD sensor unit 50 and the optical system 51 is fitted in the center of the sensor holding body 54 in a circumferentially slidable manner. A fixing pin 55 a for fixing the holding frame 55 to the sensor holder 54 is screwed to the upper part of the sensor holder 54. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the fixing pin 55a is loosened, the holding frame 55 can slide, and when the fixing pin 55a is tightened, the holding frame 55 can be slid.
Is fixed.

A vertical plate 56 is screwed to the rear side surface of the base body 52 and stands upright. The vertical plate 56 is pressed against a lower portion of the sensor holder 54 by a pushing bolt 5.
6a is screwed, and the head of a pulling bolt 56b screwed to the sensor holder 54 through an insertion hole 56c formed in a vertically long hole shape is received by the vertical plate 56. That is, when the push bolt 56a is tightened while turning the pull bolt 56b in the direction opposite to the tightening direction with respect to the sensor holder 54, as shown in FIG.
When the upper part of the sensor holder 54 swings rearward, while turning the pulling bolt 56b in the tightening direction with respect to the sensor holder 54 and turning the pushing bolt 56a in the opposite direction to the tightening direction, As shown in FIG. 12B, the upper part of the sensor holder 54 swings forward.

As described above, each of the line sensors 5A and 5B
However, it is configured to be rotatable and adjustable around an optical axis along a light receiving direction toward the detection location J and swingable around an axis along the longitudinal direction of the detection location J.

Next, an adjustment jig for performance inspection and adjustment at the time of shipment, which is located at the detection point J and received by the line sensors 5A and 5B, and various types of light are received based on the received light information. An adjustment jig for the defective object detection device used when performing the adjustment will be described with reference to FIGS.
The adjusting jig 30 includes a jig main body 30A and a positioning portion 30B for positioning the jig 30 with respect to the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a. Specifically, FIG.
19, the positioning portion 30B is fitted and attached to the left and right end nozzles 6a of the 20 ejection nozzles 6a, and the jig body 30A has its lower end positioned above the positioning portion 30B. So that it is received by the bent plate portion on the end side of the positioning portion 30B, and the upper end portion is leaned on the jig surface in parallel with the surface of the shooter 1 so as to be positioned at the detection point J. Is set to The jig main body 30A is, as shown in FIG.
A frosted glass plate processed so as to reflect and transmit light having substantially the same brightness as the detection light from the proper product (normal rice) of the rice grain group k when illuminated by A and 4B is used as a base material. The following various display portions are formed on the surface by black silk printing.

First, at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the adjusting jig 30 (three positions at the center and both right and left sides in the figure), the appropriate position in the width direction of the band k of the rice grains k present in the detection position J (FIG. 17). , A proper position display portion TH for displaying the position of the line indicated by ti) is formed. The proper position display portion TH is provided at one end and the other end of the rice grain group k in the width direction with respect to the proper position ti. The position of the rice grain group k with respect to the appropriate position ti in the width direction is displayed, as well as which position of the rice grain group k is displayed. That is, the appropriate position display part TH of each part is
It is composed of a pair of diagonal lines TH2 symmetrically located with respect to the middle straight line TH1, and the interval between the left and right diagonal lines TH2 is measured. However, the influence of the variation of the pixel width in the image information due to the installation state of each line sensor 5A, 5B such as the light receiving direction, the variation of each line sensor such as the position of the light receiving unit 5a, and the characteristics of the optical system 51 is eliminated. The above TH1 which does not change due to the position shift
The distance between the distance and the nearest FH, which will be described later, is also measured at the same time, and the deviation is determined by the ratio of the distance of the oblique line TH2 to the distance of the straight line. That is, the ratio of the interval values at the appropriate position ti is set as an appropriate ratio, and the light receiving positions of the line sensors 5A and 5B are set at the appropriate position ti.
When the light receiving position shifts from the appropriate position ti to the lower side of the figure when the light receiving position shifts from the appropriate position ti to the lower side of the figure, the ratio becomes smaller than the appropriate ratio. It is determined whether the position is at one end or the other end in the direction, and the amount of positional deviation is determined from the difference between the ratio and the appropriate ratio. At the time of inspection, the value of the ratio is displayed on the display panel 21a, and adjustment is made so as to obtain an appropriate ratio while watching the value.

The jig main body 30A is provided with a focal position adjusting display SH which is read when adjusting the focal position of each of the line sensors 5A and 5B. Specifically, the focus position adjusting display SH is provided with a group of straight lines having different line widths provided at two positions on the left and right and other lines (each of the lines T).
H1, TH2, and FH described later). Then, the second-order differential value is calculated for all of these line images, and each line sensor 5A is set so that the second-order differential value is maximized, that is, the edge of each line image is imaged sharpest. , 5B are adjusted.

Each of the jet nozzles 6 is provided on the jig body 30A.
a display position FH for displaying a position corresponding to the position a. The discharge position display FH includes a straight line TH1 in the middle of the appropriate position display TH and a display SH for focus position adjustment.
The adjusting jig 30 is formed at nine locations in the longitudinal direction with the center position of each straight line indicating the boundary position of each ejection nozzle 6a by using the straight line of (1). The jig body 30
A line NK indicating the boundary position of the 20 ejection nozzles 6a is displayed below A, and each line NK is adjusted according to the boundary position of each ejection nozzle 6a visible immediately below the positioning portion 30B. By setting the jig main body 30A at the detection location J, the jig main body 30A
The lateral position of A is accurately aligned. And
In the position of the appropriate position display part TH and the place where the appropriate position display part TH is not provided, each ejection is determined by the position equally divided (three equally in the figure) between the appropriate position display parts TH on both sides. The boundary position of the nozzle 6a is determined, and the exclusion range of each ejection nozzle 6a and each line sensor 5A, 5B
Is associated with the light receiving position.

As an adjustment procedure, first, the adjustment by the transmission run sensor 5A and the reflection line sensor 5B are sequentially performed using the adjustment jig 30. For example, when the adjustment is first performed by the transmission line sensor 5A, the adjustment jig 30 is set at the detection point J with the silk print surface thereof facing the transmission line sensor 5A, and the focus position is adjusted. The focal position of the transmission line sensor 5A is adjusted based on the information read from the adjustment display section SH,
Next, the light receiving direction of the transmission line sensor 5A is adjusted based on the information read from the appropriate position display portion TH so that the light receiving position of the transmitting line sensor 5A is located at the appropriate position ti (rotation adjustment around the optical axis and Swing adjustment about the axis along the longitudinal direction of the detection point J is performed), and the ejection position display section F
Based on the information obtained by reading H, the transmission line sensor 5
A light receiving position in the horizontal direction corresponding to the plurality of air ejection nozzles 6a of A is set.

Next, in order to perform adjustment by the reflection line sensor 5B, the adjustment jig 30 is moved to the detection position J with its silk-printed surface facing the reflection line sensor 5B.
The focus position of the reflection line sensor 5B is adjusted based on the information read from the focal position adjustment display section SH, and then the reflection position is adjusted based on the information read from the appropriate position display section TH. The light receiving direction of the line sensor 5B is adjusted so that the light receiving position is located at the proper position ti (rotation adjustment around the optical axis and swing adjustment around the axis along the longitudinal direction of the detection point J). .

Next, the adjustment jig 30 is removed from the detection point J, and the light receiving position of the reflection line sensor 5B is located at the center position CL based on the information obtained by reading the display portion of the reflection surface hm. Line sensor for reflection 5B
(The rotation adjustment about the optical axis and the swing adjustment about the axis along the longitudinal direction of the detection point J are performed).
Here, with respect to the light receiving position of the reflected light line sensor 5B, the adjustment jig 30 is adjusted by adjusting the reflection surface hm.
In some cases, the adjustment state may be deviated from the adjustment state performed by using the adjustment jig 30.
B. The amount of deviation from the appropriate position ti at each light receiving position B is determined, and the reflected light line sensor 5
After the presence of a defective object is determined at the detection location J by B, the time interval until the plurality of air ejection portions 6a are activated is adjusted and set for each of the plurality of air ejection portions 6a. The timing of air ejection is adjusted. Specifically, when the adjustment jig 30 is set at the detection position J, the controller 10 described later determines the amount of deviation from the appropriate position ti at each light receiving position of the reflected light line sensor 5B, and The time interval is set automatically. Note that the time interval until the plurality of air ejection portions 6a are activated based on the light receiving information of the transmitted light line sensor 5A is set to a standard value when the light receiving position is located at the appropriate position ti. At this time, a light receiving position in the horizontal direction corresponding to the plurality of air ejection nozzles 6a of the reflection line sensor 5B is set based on the information read from the ejection position display section FH.

By performing the above adjustment, each line sensor 5A,
5B, the light receiving position in the longitudinal direction, and each line sensor 5
A plurality of air ejection nozzles 6a based on light receiving information of A and 5B
Is accurately set, and the focal position and the light receiving position of each of the line sensors 5A and 5B are accurately set.

Next, the overall device configuration of the defect detection device will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, vertical frames F2, F erected on a bottom plate F1 provided with jack bolt type legs F0.
3, F4 are connected by horizontal frames F5, F6, F7 to form a machine frame. An operation console 21 for displaying and inputting information is installed in the upper oblique portion of the front vertical frame F4, a vibration generator 9A for the feeder 9 is installed on the horizontal frame F5, and a power supply box is installed on the bottom plate F1. 17 and an air tank 15 for supplying air to the air blowing device 6 and the cleaning nozzle 26. The box-shaped storage portions 13A and 13B are supported by the vertical frame F4 on the front side and the vertical frame F3 on the rear side, respectively.
Are supported on the upper side by the horizontal frame F6 and on the lower side by the storage section 13B, and the control box 16 is installed on the horizontal frame F7. A rotary light 18 for alarm (referred to as a "patlight") is installed at the upper part of the apparatus, and a cover 12 that covers the outer surface of the apparatus is attached to the machine frame. The cover upper portion 12A of the cover 12 on the front side of each unit is configured to be openable and closable in the vertical direction. With the cover upper portion 12A lifted, the setting of the adjusting jig 30 and the inspection of the inside of the device are performed. Do.

As shown in FIG. 20, the defect detection device is actually composed of four inspection devices (units) SU1, SU2,
The inspection system is configured by arranging SU3 and SU4 in the horizontal direction, and the operation console 21 installed in one of the units SU1 is configured to perform the operation operation for all units.

As shown in FIG. 21, the display console 21 is provided with a display panel 21a formed as a touch panel, a main power switch 21b for turning on / off the power of the apparatus, a feeder switch 21c, and an exclusion switch 21d. ing. Here, when the feeder switch 21c is turned on, the feeders 9 of all units operate collectively, and when the elimination switch 21d is turned on, the air blowing devices 6 of all units operate collectively. Each unit is provided with an LED panel 20 for displaying information during operation and the like, and a pressure gauge 32 indicating the pressure of air supplied from each air tank 15.

To explain the control structure, as shown in FIG. 5, a control device 10 using a microcomputer is provided, and the control device 10 includes the image signals from both line sensors 5A and 5B and the console 21 And operation information from is input. On the other hand, from the control device 10, each drive signal for display on the console 21 and each LED panel 20, the drive signal for the lighting circuit 19 for lighting the linear light sources 4A and 4B, and the rotating lamp 18 are operated. A drive signal to be performed, a drive signal to a plurality of electromagnetic valves 11 for turning on and off each air supply to each injection nozzle 6a,
A drive signal for the feeder vibration generator 9A and a drive signal for an electromagnetic valve 26A for turning on and off the air supply to the cleaning nozzle 26 are output.

Then, the control device 10 is used to detect light (transmission detection light and reflection detection light) from the rice grain group k.
Based on the light receiving information of the transmission and reflection line sensors 5A and 5B that receive the reflected light from each of the reflection surfaces hm, the amount of light received is from the proper one (good rice) in the rice grain group k. A determination means 100 is provided for determining whether or not the detection light is out of an appropriate light amount range. Specifically, the determination means 100 is provided with the transmission line sensor 5A.
And each light reception information of the reflection line sensor 5B,
For each of the light receiving sections 5a provided in each of the line sensors 5A and 5B, it is determined whether or not the amount of light received by each of the light receiving sections 5a is out of an appropriate light amount range (ΔEt for transmitted light, ΔEh for reflected light). Do.

Next, a correction process for setting the appropriate light amount range will be described. When the illumination light amounts from the illumination light sources 5A and 5B are sufficiently stable, each line sensor 5
After adjusting the light receiving position for A and 5B, the detection light from the glass plate on which the display unit is not printed in the same outer shape as the jig main body 30A, that is, the detection light from the proper rice grain group k is substantially the same. A frosted glass plate processed so as to reflect and transmit light of the same brightness is positioned at the detection point J (see FIG. 19), and each light reception information received by each line sensor 5A, 5B is used as reference light reception amount information. Ask. That is, as shown in FIG. 24, for each light receiving portion 5a of each of the line sensors 5A and 5B, the reference light receiving amount Si of the transmitted light and the reference light receiving amount Si ′ of the reflected light (i = 0 to [number of light receiving portions− 1))
At the same time, the average value S for each reference light reception amount Si, Si '
m, Sm ′ (this process is called “reference data creation”).

Further, a change in the amount of illumination light from the illumination light sources 5A and 5B is detected. Specifically, when the illumination light amount is sufficiently stable, as shown in FIG.
For each light receiving portion 5a of the reflection line sensor 5B that receives the reflected light from B, the output voltage r [i] (i = 0 to [the number of light receiving portions-1]) is measured as a reference illumination light value, An average value rm for all the light receiving units is obtained (this process is referred to as “illumination light correction data creation”). On the other hand, at the latest time when an actual inspection is performed, the reflection reflector 8B
The output voltage r '[i] of each light receiving portion 5a of the reflection line sensor 5B that receives the reflected light from the light source is measured, the average value rm' of all the light receiving portions is obtained, and the reference illumination light amount obtained first is obtained. Average value rm and average value r of the latest illumination light value
The ratio (rm '/ rm) to m' is defined as a change rate of the illumination light amount.

In order to obtain a stable state of the illumination light amount, for example, at the time of shipment adjustment, the adjustment, the measurement of the reference light amount, and the like are performed after a sufficient time has elapsed after lighting. In the actual inspection operation, a time interval for performing the cleaning operation is set (for example, 30 minutes), and the inspection is performed. When the time of the cleaning interval elapses, the windows 14A and 14B are opened by the cleaning nozzle 26.
Is cleaned, and after the cleaning, the illumination light amount is measured.

Then, for each sensor output voltage j of the transmitted light and the reflected light, the reference light receiving amount Si, Si 'of each light receiving section 5a with respect to the average value Sm, Sm' of the reference light receiving amount is canceled out. In order to multiply the average value Sm, Sm 'of the light quantity by the ratio of the reference light receiving quantity Si, Si' of each light receiving section 5a, and further to cancel the influence of the fluctuation of the light quantity, the change rate of the light quantity (rm '/ rm) ), The corrected output voltage jt of the transmitted light sensor 5B (sensor corrected output) and the corrected output voltage jh of the reflected light sensor 5A (sensor corrected output). Get.

[0059]

## EQU1 ## Sensor correction output jt = j × (Sm / Si) ×
(Rm / rm ′) Sensor correction output jh = j × (Sm ′ / Si ′) × (rm
/ Rm ')

Next, sensitivity correction processing is performed on the sensor correction outputs jt and jh. Here, the sensitivity value is set to the standard value (100). In the actual inspection operation, when the sensitivity value is set to be larger than 100 (for example, 110) as shown in the following equation, each sensor correction output jt from the average value Sm, Sm 'of the reference light receiving amount is set. , Jh, the detected light receiving amount is corrected to increase so that the deviations (jt−Sm) and (jh−Sm ′) become large, and when the sensitivity value is set to be smaller than 100 (for example, 90), the deviation (jt−Sm) S
m), the sensitivity correction output j of the transmitted light and the reflected light, in which the detected light reception amount is corrected to decrease so that (jh-Sm ') becomes smaller.
k, jk ′ are obtained.

[0061]

## EQU2 ## Sensitivity correction output jk = (sensitivity value / 100) × (j
t−Sm) + (Sm) Sensitivity correction output jk ′ = (sensitivity value / 100) × (jh−S
m ') + (Sm')

That is, if the sensitivity value is increased to a value greater than 100 to increase the amount of received light, the increased amount of received light tends to deviate from the appropriate light amount range, thereby increasing the sensitivity of defect determination. When the received light amount is reduced by making the received light amount smaller, the received light amount of the transmitted light and the reflected light with respect to the appropriate light amount range is reduced so that the decreased corrected light amount does not easily deviate from the appropriate light amount range and the sensitivity of defect determination becomes low. The sensitivity is corrected.

Next, the setting of the appropriate light amount range will be described in detail. The display panel 21a provided on the console 21 is used to sequentially select the units SU1 to SU4 to set the appropriate light amount range. Perform the operation. First, when the main power switch 21b is turned on and operated, the operation panel 2 is turned on.
1a is the initial screen shown in FIG. 22, and the initial screen includes four unit number displays 60 under each unit S.
U1, 2, 3, 4 processing speed set value 61, feeder 9
The current state of the flow rate setting value 62 and the sensitivity setting value 63 is shown. Here, the three units SU1, SU2, and SU3 are used for inspection objects from outside.
The primary sorting is performed at a high processing speed, and the process of secondary sorting of non-defective products after the primary sorting by the three units SU1, SU2, SU3 is set to be performed at a low processing speed by the unit SU4. I have. Further, at the lower part of the screen, a display location 65 of the cumulative use time of the light source and a display location 66 of the current operation mode are provided. In the exclusion rate display area 64, when the exclusion operation is actually performed, the frequency thereof is displayed as a bar graph.

Then, a setting change key 6 at the lower right of the initial screen
When a finger or the like is touched, the screen changes to a setting change screen shown in FIG. 23. The setting change screen includes an operation mode switching setting key 70, a feeder key 71 for setting the flow rate of the feeder 9, and a feeder / exclusion switch. An ON / OFF key 72, a time adjustment clock key 73, an adjustment mode setting key 74, the sensitivity setting key 75, a light source stabilization time setting key 76, a cleaning interval setting key 77, and a manual exclusion key 78 are provided. In addition, a monitor screen key 79 for returning to the original initial screen is provided at the lower left of the screen. Here, touching the adjustment mode key 74 switches to the adjustment mode display screen for performing the various adjustments described above, and touching the sensitivity setting key 75 switches to the sensitivity setting screen to change the sensitivity of the four units. Values can be set for each unit.

Then, the mode is switched to the above-mentioned operation mode, each unit is selected, and a predetermined amount of rice grain group k is caused to flow down for a predetermined time to obtain a data group of each light reception information by the transmitted light and the reflected light. The received light data is subjected to the above-described sensor correction output processing and sensitivity correction output processing at the standard sensitivity value, and the received light data of the transmitted light and the reflected light after the correction are changed from the dark side to the light side. Since the frequency distribution for each received light amount is obtained and displayed on the display panel 21a, in each of the transmitted or reflected light, the range between the upper limit and the lower limit of each frequency distribution display is defined as the range of the transmitted light. An appropriate light amount range ΔEt or an appropriate light amount range ΔEh of reflected light is set.

Next, the appropriate light amount range ΔEt,
Based on ΔEh, as shown in FIG. 26, a memory LUT (a transmitted light LUT and a transmitted light LUT) that stores determination data at the time of actual defect detection processing as a look-up table is as follows. Created. (1) For each light receiving unit 5a represented by position data i (i = 0 to [number of light receiving units-1]), the output voltage j of each line sensor 5A, 5B can be obtained as in the following equation. The average value Sm, Sm 'of the above-mentioned reference light receiving amount and the reference light receiving amount Si of each light receiving unit 5a are added to each value j while changing the value within a range of all values (for example, 256 levels when an 8-bit signal is used). , Si '
And the rate of change of the illumination light quantity (rm ′)
/ Rm) to obtain a correction value for the output voltage j. If the correction value is within the appropriate light amount range ΔEt, ΔEh, the memory L
"0" is stored as the judgment output in the corresponding address (i, j) of the UT, and if the value is out of the appropriate light amount range ΔEt, ΔEh,
“1” is stored as a judgment output at the corresponding address (i, j) of the memory LUT. In the actual operation, the illumination light amount is different from the first one. Therefore, the data of the change rate (rm '/ rm) of the illumination light amount is obtained for each inspection operation, and the data of the memory LUT is changed accordingly. Rewrite and use.

[0067]

## EQU3 ## Correction value of transmitted light output j = j × (Sm / Si) ×
(Rm / rm ') Correction value of reflected light output j = j * (Sm' / Si ') * (r
m / rm ')

(2) The memory LUT created above
With respect to the position data i (i = 0 to [the number of light receiving units−1]) of the light receiving unit 5a and the line sensors 5 at the position i.
When the output voltage j of each A and 5B is input, each light receiving unit 5
Regarding a, a judgment output “0” is output for a normal rice grain, and a judgment output “1” is output for a defective rice grain.

Next, a specific description will be given of the determination of a defective object in the light receiving output of each of the line sensors 5A and 5B for transmitted light and reflected light. In the case of transmitted light, as shown in the corrected output waveform of the transmitted light line sensor 5A in FIG.
If the corrected output voltage corresponding to the amount of light received by each light receiving unit 5a is within the appropriate light amount range ΔEt for the rice grain group k, the presence of normal rice grains is determined. Alternatively, the presence of a foreign substance is determined. In the figure, e0
Is the output voltage level for standard transmitted light from normal rice grains. Then, when the light amount is smaller than the appropriate light amount range ΔEt, it is determined whether there is a defective rice grain or a foreign substance (for example, black stone) having a transmittance lower than that of a normal rice particle, and when it is larger than the appropriate light amount range ΔEt. The presence of the defective rice grain k on the light side, which has a higher transmittance than the normal rice grain k, or the presence of the foreign matter is determined. An example of the defective rice grain k or foreign matter on the light side is a thin colored transparent glass piece. In FIG. 27, the output voltage (light reception amount) of the light receiving portion 5a is determined by the position where a part of the rice grain k has a colored portion, the position of a black stone or the like (indicated by e1), and the position where a cracked portion exists. (Indicated by e2)
Is located below the appropriate light amount range ΔEt,
Further, in the case where there is a foreign substance or the like having a transmittance higher than that of normal rice grains, the state is illustrated above the appropriate light amount range ΔEt as shown in a position e4.

On the other hand, in the case of the reflected light, as shown in the corrected output waveform of the line sensor 5B for reflected light in FIG.
When the corrected output voltage corresponding to the amount of light received by each light receiving unit 5a is within the appropriate light amount range ΔEh, the presence of a normal rice grain is determined. Is determined. In the figure, e0 'is an output voltage level for standard reflected light from normal rice grains. In FIG. 28, a position (shown by e1 ′) where a part of the rice grain k is present and a position (e1) where a cracked portion exists are shown.
2 ′) illustrates a state deviating downward from the appropriate light amount range ΔEh, and when a foreign substance such as a glass piece exists, the position e3 ′ is moved to the position e3 ′ by strong direct reflected light from the foreign substance. As shown in the figure, a state where the light amount deviates upward from the appropriate light amount range ΔEh is illustrated. Although not shown, the reflectance of a black stone or the like is very small, so that the waveform deviates greatly from the appropriate light amount range ΔEh to the lower side.
Even when the light from the black region 8a is refracted and received by the glass piece, the light deviates from the appropriate light amount range ΔEh to the lower side.

If the controller 10 determines that there is a defective rice grain or the presence of a foreign substance in the rice grain group k transferred to the detection location J of the line sensors 5A and 5B, the controller 10 sets the adjustment setting. As the time interval elapses,
Air is blown from the ejection nozzles 6a of the section corresponding to the defective rice grain or foreign matter flowing down, thereby separating the defective rice grain or foreign matter from the path of the normal rice grain.

Next, the operation of detecting a defective object and separating and removing the defective object will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. At the time of shipment adjustment (FIG. 29), after the power of the apparatus is turned on, it is confirmed that the illumination light amount is sufficiently stabilized. First, the mode is switched to the adjustment mode, and the adjustment jig 30 is moved to the detection position J. To adjust the focal position and the light receiving direction of each of the line sensors 5A and 5B, and adjust the light receiving position of the transmitted light line sensor 5A to correspond to the exclusion range of each nozzle 6a. The adjustment (1) is performed for the sensor 5A and then for the reflected light line sensor 5B, and then the adjustment jig 30 is removed from the detection location J to determine the light receiving position of the reflected light line sensor 5B. Reflection surface hm for reflected light
Adjustment (2) is performed to adjust the position to the center in the width direction, and then the adjustment jig 30 is reset to the detection position J to correspond the light receiving position of the reflected light line sensor 5B and the exclusion range of each nozzle 6a. In addition, adjustment (3) for adjusting and setting the ejection timing of each ejection nozzle 6a based on the received light information of the reflected light line sensor 5B is performed. Next, the mode is switched to the operation mode, the above-mentioned “reference data creation” is performed, and further, each process of the first “illumination light correction data creation” is performed. Correction and sensitivity correction (however, a standard sensitivity value) are performed, and the frequency distribution with respect to the received light amount is displayed. Then, the upper limit value and the lower limit value for the appropriate light amount ranges ΔEt and ΔEh are set on the display screen (“threshold value setting”), and a memory LUT is created based on the appropriate light amount ranges ΔEt and ΔEh.

At the time of normal inspection operation (FIG. 30), first,
After the power of the apparatus is turned on, the sensitivity value and the like are set, and the warm-up operation is performed for a set time, and then the latest “lighting correction data creation” at that time is performed to execute the lighting light quantity. Is calculated, and the data of the change rate of the illumination light amount and the appropriate light amount ranges ΔEt, ΔE
h to rewrite the data in the memory
Create a UT. Then, the inspection is started by supplying the rice grain group k to the chute 1 using the memory LUT after the correction. Then, when the set cleaning interval (for example, 30 minutes) has elapsed, the supply of the rice grain group k is stopped to stop the inspection, the cleaning nozzle 26 is operated to clean the windows 14A and 14B, and the “lighting” after cleaning is performed. The “light correction data creation” is performed to calculate the data of the change rate of the illumination light amount, and the data in the memory is rewritten in the same manner as described above to create the memory LUT. Thereafter, the inspection is started by supplying the rice grain group k to the shoot 1 using the memory LUT after the correction.

[Alternative Embodiment] In the above embodiment, the display portion HB for displaying the center position CL in the width direction of the reflecting surface hm is provided with a reflectance different from that of the reflecting surface hm in the width direction of the reflecting surface hm. In the case of forming a convex portion having a shape protruding toward the center position side along the line, two narrow convex portions are provided on the upper side, and one wide convex portion is provided on the lower side. However, the specific configuration of the convex portion is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 31A, three narrow convex upper portions are provided on the upper side, and two convex upper portions are provided on the lower side. A wide convex portion may be provided.

Further, the display portion HB is not configured to be able to read either the one end or the other end in the width direction with respect to the center position.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 (b), it may be constituted by small black circles provided at the center position CL and provided on the left and right, respectively. Further, the display portion HB is provided in an extra portion provided on both lateral outer sides of the inspection detection range KH detected by the light receiving means (the reflected light line sensor 5B). You may make it provide in the part corresponding to KH.

In the above embodiment, the reflecting surface hm for reflected light is used.
On both lateral sides in the width direction of (8a), there is provided a projection unit (8b) for detecting foreign matter that projects an amount of light different from the amount of light projected from the reflecting surface for reflected light, that is, the reflecting surface for reflected light hm (8).
Although the width of a) is configured to be narrow, the reflection surface for transmitted light also projects on both lateral sides in the width direction from the reflection surface for transmitted light, similarly to the reflection surface for reflected light. It is also possible to provide a projection unit for detecting foreign matter that projects a light amount different from the light amount, and configure the reflection unit with a narrow reflecting surface.

In the above embodiment, the projection surface hm arranged on the back side of the expected existence position is illuminated by the illumination light source, and is the same or substantially the same as the detection light from the proper one of the inspection objects. Although the reflective surface hm configured to reflect the light of the brightness toward the light receiving unit 5 is provided, the reflective surface hm is not provided with such a reflective surface. A so-called backlight type in which light from an illumination light source is transmitted through frosted glass and projected toward the light receiving means 5 may be used. In this case, the surface of the ground glass constitutes the projection surface hm.

In the above embodiment, the light receiving direction of the light receiving means is adjusted based on the information read by the light receiving means (reflected light line sensor 5B) on the display portion HB. The direction may be kept as it is, and the position of the reflection surface hm may be moved to be adjusted.

In the above embodiment, the adjusting jig 30 is composed of the jig body 30A and the positioning portion 30B for positioning the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a. The unit 30B and the unit 30B may be formed as an integral member. When the adjustment jig 30 is formed of the above two members, as described above, instead of the jig main body 30A, the positioning member 30B can position and set the reference member for creating reference data. There are advantages that can be done. In the above embodiment, the positioning unit 30
Although B is fitted to the plurality of air ejection portions 6a for positioning, it may be positioned to the air ejection portion 6a by means other than fitting. Also in the case of fitting, instead of being fitted inside the air ejection portion 6a, it may be fitted outside while sandwiching the outer surface of the member constituting the air ejection portion 6a.

In the above embodiment, the light receiving direction of the light receiving means (line sensors 5A, 5B) is adjusted when the adjustment jig 30 is positioned at the expected location J, but the light receiving direction is adjusted. The positions of the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a may be adjusted according to the deviation of the light receiving position of the means (line sensors 5A, 5B) from the appropriate position ti.

In the above embodiment, the adjustment of the light receiving direction of the light receiving means (line sensors 5A and 5B) by the adjustment jig 30 and the adjustment of the light receiving position of the light receiving means (line sensor 5B) with respect to the reflection surface hm are described. It was performed manually by the operator, but by the automatic operation of the defect detection device,
The adjustment may be made automatically.

In the above embodiment, the light receiving means is constituted by the light receiving means for transmitted light (transmitted light line sensor 5A) and the means for reflected light (reflected light line sensor 5B). The presence / absence of a defective object is determined based on the light reception information of the transmission line 5B. May be used to determine the presence or absence of a defective object. In addition, the line sensor 5
For A and 5B, a TV camera of an image pickup tube type may be used in addition to a monochrome type CCD line sensor, and a color type CCD sensor instead of a monochrome type CCD sensor may be used. The presence or absence of defective rice or foreign matter may be determined with higher accuracy.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the granular material group as the inspection object is the rice particle group k such as polished rice or brown rice is described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. And exclusion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a defective object detection device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the main part.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the main part.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control configuration.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a light receiving state of a line sensor.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a reflection surface;

FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating foreign object detection using light refraction.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a structure for adjusting the light receiving direction of the line sensor.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing an adjustment state of a light receiving direction of the line sensor.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a part of a light receiving direction adjustment structure of the line sensor.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing an adjustment state of a light receiving direction of the line sensor.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an adjustment state of a light receiving direction of a line sensor.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an adjustment state of a light receiving direction of a line sensor.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an adjustment state of a light receiving direction of a line sensor.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of an adjustment state of a light receiving direction of a line sensor.

FIG. 17 is a front view and a detection waveform diagram of an adjustment jig.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of the adjustment jig.

FIG. 19 is a side view showing a mounting state of the adjustment jig.

FIG. 20 is an overall front view of the inspection apparatus.

FIG. 21 is a front view of a console.

FIG. 22 is a front view showing a display example of the display panel of the console.

FIG. 23 is a front view showing a display example of the display panel of the console.

FIG. 24 is an output waveform diagram of a light receiving unit when creating reference data.

FIG. 25 is an output waveform diagram showing illumination light change data.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a memory for determining a defect;

FIG. 27 is an output waveform diagram after correction of the transmitted light line sensor.

FIG. 28 is an output waveform diagram after correction of the reflected light line sensor.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a control operation.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a control operation.

FIG. 31 is a front view showing a reflection surface according to another embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 illuminating means 5 light receiving means 6a air ejection part 21a display means 100 discrimination means HB display part hm projection surface HG foreign matter detection projection part J expected existence location KH inspection detection range TH proper position display part FH ejection position display part SH focus Display for position adjustment

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Naoto Ikeda 64 Ishizu-Kitacho, Sakai-shi, Osaka F-term in Kubota Sakai Works Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2G059 AA05 BB11 CC20 DD12 EE01 EE02 EE13 FF01 GG03 KK04 MM02 MM03 MM05 MM10 PP04 3F079 AC15 BA05 CA41 CA44 CB25 CB30 CB32 CB33 CB34 CB35 CB38 CC03 DA06

Claims (14)

[Claims] An illumination unit configured to illuminate the expected existence position, wherein a particle group as an inspection object is present in a long band shape at an expected existence position for detection; A light-receiving means for receiving light from the expected existence location side in a state having a resolution along a direction; and A long band-shaped projection surface that projects light having the same or substantially the same brightness as the detection light from the appropriate object toward the light receiving unit, and the detection light from the inspection object and the projection surface Determining means for determining whether or not the amount of received light is out of a proper light amount range for detection light from a proper one of the inspection objects based on light receiving information of the light receiving means for receiving the projection light of Defective inspection provided An apparatus, wherein a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the projection plane, the projection surface defect-detection apparatus to which the display portion is formed readable by said light receiving means to be a central position in the width direction of the. 2. The light receiving unit according to claim 1, wherein the display portion is configured to be readable by the light receiving means as to which of the one end and the other end in the width direction with respect to the center position. Defective detector. 3. The light receiving means is configured to also detect both lateral outer sides of the expected location, and the projection surface is detected by the light receiving means in correspondence with the expected location. 3. The defect according to claim 1, wherein a surplus portion is provided on both lateral outer sides of the inspection detection range, and the display portion is formed in a portion corresponding to the surplus portion on the projection surface. Object detection device. 4. A display device according to claim 1, wherein said display portion has a convex portion projecting toward said central position along a width direction of said projection surface so as to project an amount of light different from an amount of light projected from said projection surface. The defective object detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured by: 5. A projection for foreign matter detection which projects an amount of light different from the amount of light projected from the projection surface on both lateral sides in the width direction of the projection surface. The defective object detection device according to the paragraph. 6. A display means for displaying the light receiving information of said light receiving means so that the light receiving information at each part along the longitudinal direction of said expected location can be visually recognized.
The defective object detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 7. The light receiving means is configured to be rotatable and adjustable around an optical axis along the light receiving direction, and to be swingably adjustable around an axis along a longitudinal direction of the expected location. The defective object detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. An illuminating means for illuminating the expected existence position, wherein the particle group as the inspection object is present in a long band shape at the expected existence position for detection, and a length of the expected existence position. A light-receiving means for receiving light from the expected existence location side in a state having a resolution along a direction; and A long band-shaped projection surface that projects light having the same or substantially the same brightness as the detection light from the appropriate object toward the light receiving unit, and the detection light from the inspection object and the projection surface Determining means for determining whether or not the amount of received light is out of a proper light amount range for detection light from a proper one of the inspection objects based on light receiving information of the light receiving means for receiving the projection light of Defective inspection provided In the apparatus, an adjustment jig for a defective object detection device which is positioned at the expected existence position and is received by the light receiving means, and is used when performing adjustment based on the received light information, wherein a length of the adjustment jig is An adjustment jig for a defective object detection device, in which an appropriate position display portion for displaying an appropriate position in a width direction of an inspection object existing in a band shape at the expected existence position is formed at a plurality of positions in the direction. 9. The defect according to claim 8, wherein the proper position display unit is configured to display which of the one end and the other end in the width direction with respect to the proper position. Adjustment jig for object detection device. 10. The adjusting jig for a defective object detecting device according to claim 8, wherein said proper position display section is configured to display a positional shift amount in said width direction with respect to said proper position. 11. The adjusting jig for a defective object detecting device according to claim 8, wherein a focus position adjusting display portion which is read when adjusting a focal position of said light receiving means is formed. Utensils. 12. The granular material group as the inspection object,
In the belt-like state, while being transported along the planned transfer path to the planned existence point and the separation point on the lower side of the path from the position of the planned existence point, of the granular material group transferred to the separation point A plurality of air ejection portions for ejecting air to separate a proper object and a defective object into different paths are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the planned existence portion, and air ejection is performed for positioning with respect to the plurality of air ejection portions. The adjusting jig for a defective object detection device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising a positioning portion fitted to the portion. 13. An ejection position display section for displaying positions corresponding to the plurality of air ejection sections.
Adjustment jig for the described defective object detection device. 14. The defective object detecting device according to claim 7, wherein the display is performed based on information obtained by reading the proper position display portion using an adjusting jig for the defective object detecting device according to claim 12. The light receiving direction of the light receiving means is adjusted so that the light receiving position of the means is located at the appropriate position, and then the light receiving position of the display means is set to the central position based on information obtained by reading a display portion of the projection surface. The light receiving direction of the light receiving means is adjusted so as to be located, and then the amount of deviation from the proper position at each light receiving position of the light receiving means corresponding to each of the plurality of air ejection portions using the adjustment jig. After the presence of a defective object is determined at the expected location based on the amount of deviation, the time interval between the activation of the plurality of air ejection units and the time interval between the activation of the plurality of air ejection units are respectively determined by the plurality of air ejection units. Adjust and set Adjustment method for defective object detection device.