JP2001033391A - Apparatus for discriminating grade of granular article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the accuracy of an analytical result by analyzing both surfaces of a granular article. SOLUTION: An apparatus for discriminating the grade of a granular article is equipped with a granular article holding means 22 formed of a material pervious to the light from a light source, light sources 30, 34 for irradiating both surfaces of the granular article supplied to the granular article holding means 22 with lights, background plates 42, 45, 49 becoming the standards of the reflected light or transmitted light of the granular article, imaging means 31,35 for obtaining a plurality of image signals consisting of the reflected image signals of both surfaces of the granular article irradiated by the light sources 30, 34, the transmitted image signals of both surfaces thereof and the oblique light image signal of the single surface thereof, an image processing part for converting a plurality of the image signals obtained by the imaging means 31, 35 to the optical data related to the grade of the granular article, an operational control means for discriminating the grade of the granular article on the basis of the optical data obtained by the image processing part and a display means for simultaneously displaying or printing the granular article grade discriminating result obtained from the operational control means and the optical data obtained from the image processing part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a granular article position discriminating apparatus for analyzing the quality (quality) of granular materials such as agricultural and marine products, other foods and industrial materials.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Granules such as grains, pellets, chip capacitors, tablets and the like are judged by using a quality judging device to determine the degree of foreign matter or defective products in the sample or the degree thereof, and calculate the mixing ratio thereof to obtain a product quality rank. To determine or quality management standards.

[0003] As an example of an apparatus for determining the quality of particulate matter, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-292344. In this method, the number of grains is calculated based on the grading, immature grains, damaged grains, colored grains, and the like contained in a rice grain sample of a cereal grain to be produced. This rice grain quality discriminating device rotates a disk provided with a plurality of sampling holes on an outer peripheral edge, irradiates light to each sample rice grain in the sampling hole, and receives a reflected light amount and a transmitted light amount of the rice grain. Like that. The rice grain detector is provided above the disk, splits the amount of vertically reflected rice grain into long-wavelength components and short-wavelength components, and receives two light-receiving elements that receive the light of each wavelength. And a vertical transmission light receiving element for receiving the vertical transmission light amount, and a body crack detection light receiving element for receiving the oblique transmission light amount of rice grains. Then, discrimination data is calculated from the amounts of light received by these four light receiving elements, and the quality of each rice grain is determined by the discrimination data and a predetermined discrimination algorithm.

Further, by acquiring images of a plurality of sample rice grain images to obtain image data, the contour of the rice grain is determined from the image data, and the color of the rice grain image determined by the contour and the contour is further determined. There is an apparatus for determining the quality of granular material that determines the quality of rice grains using the above-described determination algorithm.

[0005]

However, in the apparatus for judging the quality of a granular material disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-292344, the rice grain detecting section receives the vertical reflected light amount obtained by irradiating the rice grain from the light source. Of the rice grain, one light-receiving element for receiving vertically transmitted light, and one light-receiving element for detecting cracks in the body that receives the amount of obliquely transmitted rice grains. He could not say that he had optical information. For example, optical information for judging the quality of rice grains only by the spectral ratio of vertically reflected light such as blue dead rice and immature rice is determined only by information from the surface of rice grains (that is, the amount of reflected light obtained from above the rice grains). The information from the back surface of the rice grain (the amount of reflected light obtained from below the rice grain) was not considered. Although rare, the discrimination may not be performed accurately due to abnormal color tone only on the back surface of the rice grain or the shadow of the device affecting the rice grain.

[0006] Even in the latter type of quality determining device configured to capture an image of a sample rice grain and obtain image data, the method of obtaining optical information from only one side of the rice grain maintains high quality quality determination. Could not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a granular material quality discriminating apparatus which can analyze both surfaces of a granular material and improve the accuracy of the analysis result.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a granular material holding means formed of a material which transmits a light beam from a light source, and to a granular material supplied to the granular material holding means. A light source that irradiates light from the light source, a background plate that serves as a reference for reflected light or transmitted light of the granular material, and the granular material irradiated by the light source, a reflection image on both front and back surfaces, a transmission image on both front and back surfaces, and an oblique image on one surface A plurality of image signals obtained by the image processing unit; an image processing unit converting the plurality of image signals obtained by the imaging unit into optical information related to the quality of the granular material; and an image processing unit obtained by the image processing unit. Calculation control means for determining the granular article position based on the obtained optical information, and display means for simultaneously displaying or printing the granular article position determination result obtained from the calculation control means and the optical information obtained from the image processing unit. To Obtain, took the technical means that.

Thus, the granular material supplied to the granular material holding means is irradiated with a light beam from a light source on both the front and back surfaces of the granular material, and is composed of a reflected image signal on both front and back surfaces and a transmitted image signal on both front and back surfaces by the photographing means. A plurality of image signals can be obtained, and an image signal of a granular object can be obtained from different viewpoints of the photographing unit. Then, by comparing the front and back reflection images of the granular material, and comparing the front and back transmission images, the characteristic item of the granular material can be extracted. For example, if there is a slight black spot on only one surface of the granular material, it is determined to be a damaged particle, the quality of the granular material can be accurately determined, and the accuracy of the analysis result can be improved. In addition, since the quality is determined based on the image signal obtained from the granular material, a sample image is created from the image signal, and these are printed and displayed at the same time, so that the reliability of the quality determination result is improved.

The photographing means is provided above the granular material holding means and captures a reflection image of the surface of the granular material, a transmission image of the surface of the granular material, and a transmission image of oblique light. And a lower camera that captures a reflection image of the back surface of the granular material and a transmission image of the back surface of the granular material, so that the surface reflection image, the transmission surface image, and the back surface reflection image of the granular material are provided by at least two cameras. Since five types of image signals, that is, a rear-surface transmission image and an oblique-light transmission image, can be obtained, the quality of the granular material can be accurately determined with a simple configuration.

The light source is provided above the granular material holding means and irradiates the surface of the granular material, and the lower light source is provided below the granular material holding means and irradiates the back surface of the granular material. Provided on the side of the lower light source, and a surface light source for irradiating the granular material obliquely, if the upper light source, the lower light source and the surface light source power ON / OFF control,
Surface reflected light, surface transmitted light, back surface reflected light, back surface transmitted light, and oblique light transmitted light of the granular material can be obtained, and an image signal can be obtained by a camera.

Further, when the upper light source and the lower light source are formed as annular light sources, if the measuring point is located at the center of the annular light source, the measuring point is irradiated with light from all directions (360 °). As a result, it is possible to prevent overlapping of the granular materials and the shadow of the granular material holding means, and it is possible to obtain a clear image signal.

[0013] The background plate includes a lower reflected light background plate, a lower transmitted light background plate, and an oblique light transmitted light background plate provided below the granular material holding means, and provided above the granular material holding means. Since it is composed of a plurality of background plates consisting of an upper reflected light background plate and an upper transmitted light background plate, a lower reflection image, a lower transmission image, an oblique light transmission image, an upper reflection image, and an upper transmission image are sequentially obtained. In doing so, it is possible to select an optimal background plate for each image.

The arithmetic and control means is provided with a control device for controlling the photographing means, the light source and the background plate. In the control device, the upper camera acquires a transmission image of the surface of the granular material. In this case, the lower light source is turned on and the lower transmitted light background plate is selected, and when the upper camera acquires a reflected image signal of the surface of the granular material, the upper light source is turned on and the lower reflected light background is obtained. Select the board,
When the lower camera acquires the transmitted image signal of the back of the granular material, the upper light source is turned on and the background plate for the upper transmitted light is selected, and the lower camera acquires the reflected image signal of the back of the granular material. Control for turning on the lower light source and selecting the upper reflected light background plate, and turning on the surface light source and selecting the oblique light transmission background plate when the upper camera acquires a one-sided oblique light transmission image signal. Therefore, for example, if a program is stored in the control device so as to repeatedly execute the image acquisition operation, the image acquisition can be automated.

The granular material holding means is formed on a rotating disk, continuously transfers the granular material supplied from one end of the rotating disk to a measuring point, and a plurality of the granular materials on the measuring point are photographed by the photographing means. When the configuration is such that the granular material on the rotating disk is continuously discharged from the other end, when the number of quality measurements of the granular material is large, a new rotating signal can be obtained simply by rotating the rotating disk. The granules are continuously transferred to the measuring point,
The measured particulate matter can be continuously discharged, and the operation at the time of measurement is simplified.

On the other hand, when the granular material holding means is formed on a slide plate in which the granular materials are arranged in a plurality of rows in a single-layer state, when the plurality of image signals are obtained by the photographing means, the granular materials are arranged neatly on the slide plate. Since an image signal of the granular material in the state is obtained, an image signal that is less unsightly and has a clear appearance is obtained compared to an image signal in which the granular material is irregular (aligned).

The arithmetic and control means obtains optical information and shape information from a granular material having a known quality, and uses the granular material having a known quality as an objective variable, and analyzes the granular product by analyzing the optical information and the shape information as an explanatory variable. Since the position discriminant is stored and the quality discriminating process is performed by the granular article position discriminant, the quicker the value to be substituted into the item discriminant, the faster the discrimination.

The arithmetic and control means creates a sample image for each particle for each granular article from the optical information obtained from the image processing section, and based on the particle number ratio of the granular material and a predetermined total number of particles, Another particle number is calculated, the sample images are arranged based on the calculation result, and the granular article position determination result and the sample image are displayed or printed at the same time. Even if the total number of grains is larger than the determined total number, a sample image is created by taking out the image of the grade determination from the image of the granular material according to the grade-specific grain number calculated based on the total grain number and the grain number ratio. This sample image is the same as the quality determination particle number ratio, and even if the particle number is different from the particle number of the granular material, the sample image has high reliability.

The optical information includes the hue of the granular material, the color of the granular material, and the luminance of the granular material, and the shape information includes the length of the granular material,
Obtain information such as width and area. In other words, the difference in luminance obtained by the transmitted light of the granular material can be detected as the outer shape of the granular material and the inner shape according to the different color part or the inner material of the granular material, and information including various elements is included. can do. The information based on the reflected light of the granular material can clearly grasp the color of the granular material. The optical information based on the transmission and reflection described above makes it possible to determine the outer shape, the inner quality, and the color.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the granular article position discriminating apparatus. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a granular article position discriminating apparatus. The granular article position discriminating apparatus 1 acquires an image based on transmitted light of a granular object and an image based on reflected light from a granular object, and obtains a plurality of samples. A photographing means 2 comprising a camera for photographing the granular material; and a camera connected to the photographing means 2 for converting a signal of the granular material obtained by photographing with the camera into optical information relating to the quality of the granular material. Image processing means 3 (for example, a “PCI bus board”) that performs image processing such as, and the like, and determines the granular article position based on the optical information obtained by the image processing means 3 to determine the quality of the sample image An arithmetic control means 4 (for example, a "personal computer") for simultaneously outputting the number of particles and the particle number ratio based on the sample image, and a printer for printing the sample image output from the arithmetic control means 4 and the number of particles and the particle number ratio. 5, it consists of a color display 6 for displaying these. The image processing means 3 may be any commercially available image processing board, and the arithmetic control means 4 is provided with image processing application software for performing image processing using this board.

More specifically, a camera serving as the photographing means 2 includes a light receiving element (for example, an area sensor of 512 × 440 pixels), and a signal photographed by the camera is input to the image processing means 3. . Image processing means 3
Is an A / D converter 3a that performs analog-to-digital conversion of an input signal (NTSC signal), and converts the converted digital signal into optical information (for example, YU
A processing unit 3 for converting a V (brightness, color difference) signal and this YUV signal into an HSI (hue, color, luminance) signal which is further converted;
b and a storage unit 3 having a predetermined storage capacity (for example, a capacity capable of storing about 40 data of 512 × 512 pixels).
c, and an output port 3d for outputting the optical information of the processing unit 3b as an image. A color monitor 7 is connected to the output port 3d to visually display an input image or an image processed by the image processing means 3. The signal processing operation of the processing unit 3b is operated by an image processing application stored in the arithmetic and control unit 4 described later.

The arithmetic control means 4 includes a CPU (central processing element) 4a, a PCI bus 4b which is an input / output port of the image processing means 3, an output port 4c for outputting print data to the printer 5, and A read-only storage element (hereinafter referred to as “RO”) storing a relational expression for determination, a program, and the like.
M), a read / write storage element (hereinafter referred to as “RAM”) 4e for storing an image processing application, image data, and the like, and an input port 4f for inputting data from the outside. The input unit 4 such as a keyboard or a touch panel is connected to the input port 4f. By the way, as an image processing application stored in the RAM 4e, “Visual C +
+ ”(Registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation) or the like is used. Therefore, when data photographed by the camera of the photographing unit 2 is input to the signal processing unit 3, the processing unit 3b of the image processing unit 3 is operated by the image processing application to convert the signal form from the NTSC signal to the YUV signal. Or convert the YUV signal into an HSI signal. The procedure for determining which part of the converted signal is used for the data processing of the quality determination is controlled by a program stored in the ROM 4d separately from the image processing application.

Next, referring to FIG. 2 to FIG.
The measurement unit provided with is described. FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of the measuring unit provided with the photographing means,
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the feeder of the measuring section and the granular material holding means, and particularly, the granular material holding means is a glass disk. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the measuring unit mainly includes a rotating disk 22 that is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 21 of a stepping motor 20, and a feeder device 24 ( (Hereinafter referred to as “feeder”) and a photographing point 26 of the photographing means 2 installed on the other side of the outer peripheral edge of the rotating disk 22. The feeder 24 includes a hopper 29 for storing sample particulate matter above a trough 28, and the particulate matter 25 supplied from the hopper 29 to one side of the rotating disk 22 via the feeder 24 is rotated by the motor 20. It is moved to the photographing point 26 on the other side.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the granular material holding means, in which the granular material holding means is formed on a slide plate. The slide plate 7 is formed of a material that transmits a light beam from a light source, for example, an acrylic resin, and has a plurality of rows of grooves 8 so that the granular materials are arranged in a plurality of rows in a single layer state. The supply of the granular material to the slide plate 7 is performed by the feeder device 24, and it is preferable that a groove similar to the slide plate 7 is formed on the bottom surface. At the start of measurement, the slide plate 7 moves in the direction of arrow A to move the granular material to the photographing point 26. At the end of measurement, the slide plate 7 further moves in the direction of arrow A to discharge the granular material and become empty. The sliding plate 7 moves in the direction of arrow B to supply new granular material.

When a plurality of image signals are obtained from the granular material on the slide plate 7 by the photographing means, an image signal of the granular material arranged in an orderly manner on the slide plate 7 is obtained. An image signal that is less unsightly and has a clear appearance can be obtained as compared with an image signal in which the granular materials are not uniform (aligned).

In FIG. 2 and FIG.
Is provided with a sight line of sight 27 perpendicular to the rotating disk 22 or the slide plate 7, and an annular light source 30, a camera 31, and a light source provided between the camera 31 and the light source above the sight line of sight 27. Slit 32 (not shown in FIG. 4). On the other hand, a similar light source 34
, Camera 35, and slit 36 (not shown in FIG. 4)
And are arranged. Then, the camera 31 and the camera 3
5 is supplied onto the photographing point 26 through the slits 31 and 36, respectively, and photographs the granular material illuminated by the light sources 30 and 34. Further, beside the light source 34, a surface light source 38 for obliquely illuminating the granular material on the rotating disk 22 is provided.
Is provided. The light sources 30, 34 and 38 use LEDs,
It is preferable that the wavelength range be a visible light range of 420 nm to 700 nm.

Next, the background plate will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the configuration of the background plate provided in the measuring section. Photographing point 26 of measurement unit and light source 30
Between the background plate 4 so as to block the line of sight 27
2 is inserted, and a background plate 45 is inserted between the photographing point 26 and the light source 34 so as to block the line of sight 27. The background plate 42 is formed integrally with two types of a milky white plate 40 and a black plate 41, and the background plate 45 is similarly formed integrally with two types of a milky white plate 43 and a black plate 44, and the background plate 42 and the background plate are similarly formed. 4
5 is formed interchangeably. That is, as shown in FIG.
The background plate 42 (milky white plate 40, black plate 41), background plate 45 (milky white plate 43, black plate 44), and no background plate 48 are rotatably switched by the rotation of the motor 46. It is arranged so that it can be done. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a configuration of a background plate provided on the light source 34.
A background plate 49 made of a black plate is inserted so as to be freely interchangeable so as to block the line of sight 27, and a stepping motor 50 is inserted.
And is rotatably formed by being rotatably supported by a rotary shaft 51 of the first embodiment.

Next, the control means of the photographing means 2 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control device of the photographing means 2. The control device 60 shown in FIG. 7 includes an input / output port 62
And a read storage element (ROM) 63 and a read / write storage element 64 (RAM). The input / output port 62 includes a motor driving unit 64 and a feeder driving unit 2.
4 and the light source driving unit 65 are connected, respectively.
The upper camera 31 and the lower camera 35 are connected to the input / output port 62. Then, the motor driving unit 64
Includes a rotating disk motor 20 and a background plate motor 46.
, And the background plate motor 50 is connected. A command is sent from the CPU 61 to each of the motors 20, 46, 50 by a program stored in the ROM 63 in advance, and the rotation of each motor 20, 46, 50 is controlled. The light source driving unit 65 includes an upper light source 30 and a lower light source 34.
And a surface light source 38 that illuminates at an angle.
Then, a command is sent from the CPU 61 by a program stored in the ROM 63 in advance, and the light sources 30, 34, 3
8 is turned on and off. The upper camera 31 and the lower camera 35 perform photographing according to a command from the control device 60, and image data obtained by the photographing is sent to the image processing means 3 according to a command from the control device 60.

The ROM 63 shown in FIG.
A program as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is stored. First, when the measurement is started by charging the sample particulate matter from the hopper 29 shown in FIG. 2, the feeder 24 is driven (step 7-1), and the motor 20 is driven to rotate (step 7-2). Is supplied from the feeder 24 to the rotating disk 22 in a layered state. Granular object is a rotating disk 2
When a fixed amount is supplied to the feeder 2 in an arc shape, the feeder 24 is stopped (step 7-3), and when the granular material reaches the photographing point 26, the rotating disk is also stopped (step 7).
-4) (see FIG. 3).

The upper transmitted light is measured by a background plate motor 46.
Is rotated by a predetermined amount, the milky white plate 43 is moved to the position of the viewpoint 27, the lower light source 34 is turned on, and the transmitted light of the granular material is photographed from above by the upper camera 31 (step 7-). 5). Then, the image data is sent to the image processing means 3 (the image data obtained at this time has, for example, an image of about 450 granular materials).

The upper reflected light is measured by the background plate motor 46.
Is rotated by a predetermined amount, the black plate 44 is moved to the position of the viewpoint 27, the light source 34 is turned off, the upper light source 30 is turned on, and the upper camera 31 captures the reflected light of the granular material from above. (Step 7-6). And
This image data is sent to the image processing means 3.

Similarly, the lower transmitted light is measured by rotating the background motor 46 by a predetermined amount, moving the milky white plate 40 to the position of the viewpoint 27, turning on the upper light source 30, and using the lower camera 35 to generate granular light from below. This is performed by photographing the transmitted light of the object (step 7-7). Then, the image data is sent to the image processing means 3.

Similarly, the lower reflected light is measured by rotating the background motor 46 by a predetermined amount, moving the black plate 41 to the position of the viewpoint 27, turning off the light source 30, turning on the lower light source 34, and lowering the lower light source 34. This is performed by photographing the reflected light of the granular material from below with the camera 35 (step 7-8). Then, the image data is sent to the image processing means 3.

Finally, the oblique light transmission is measured by rotating the background motor 46 by a predetermined amount, moving the background plateless 48 to the viewpoint 27 position, rotating the background plate motor 50 by a predetermined amount, and viewing the black plate 49 from the viewpoint. Then, the light source is switched to the surface light source 38, turned on, and the upper camera 31 takes a picture of transmitted light due to oblique light of the granular material from above (step 7-9). Then, the image data is sent to the image processing means 3.

When the photographing of the five screens in steps 7-5 to 7-9 is completed, the rotating disk motor 20
Is rotated by a predetermined amount, and the photographed particulate matter is discharged to discharging means (not shown), and the measurement is completed (step 7-10).
It is preferable that the arithmetic control means 4 for performing the image processing and the control device 60 for performing the photographing timing of the camera be electrically connected to each other. If the program is stored so as to repeatedly execute the operations from Step 7 to Step 7-9, automation can be performed.

The image data from step 7-5 to step 7-9 is sent to the image processing means 3 and subjected to image processing according to the program stored in the ROM 4d of the arithmetic and control means 4.

First, step 7-5 and step 7-7
The image processing of the image data by the transmitted light shown in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the image processing. The arithmetic and control unit 4 takes in the transmitted image data (NTSC signal) of the photographed sample granular material (step 8-1), and obtains the transmitted image data (NTSC signal). Into a YUV (brightness, color difference) signal, and
c (step 8-2). next,
The arithmetic control means 4 instructs a binarization process for each pixel using a luminance signal among the YUV (brightness, color difference) signals in the storage unit 3c on the basis of a predetermined threshold value (step 8).
-3). If the binarization process is performed, the outline of the granular object can be grasped as shown in FIG. 10, and therefore, a process for extracting the outline of the granular object is instructed (step 8-4). Since these image data include data of a plurality of granular materials, labeling is performed by attaching a symbol for identifying each granular material (step 8-5).

When the outline of the granular object is obtained, the area of the granular object is obtained from the number of pixels inside the outline, and the width and length are determined by determining the major axis and the minor axis of the figure by image processing. (Step 8-7). Furthermore, YUV (brightness, color difference)
Using the luminance signal among the signals, a command is issued to extract an edge image from the luminance signal (step 8-6). The edge image is an image obtained by differentiating a luminance (brightness) signal, and is processed so as to extract a portion having a luminance (brightness) gradient as a signal. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the granular material is partially colored or the inner material has an opaque portion, the outline of the granular material or the boundary portion different in color from the others has a brightness (brightness). Edge) exists, so if these are edge image processed,
An image as shown in FIG. 12 can be processed and extracted.
Next, in order to extract the characteristics of the granular material, a histogram of an edge image signal is created for each granular material from the edge image for each pixel (luminance (brightness)) (step 8-8).

Then, from the luminance (brightness) signal itself, an instruction is made to create a histogram of the luminance (brightness) signal for each granular material (step 8-9).

The outline of the granular material obtained in step 8-7 is used as shape information, and a YUV (brightness, color difference) signal,
The luminance (brightness) signal, the histogram of the edge image obtained in step 8-8, and the histogram of the luminance signal obtained in step 8-9 are used as optical information. The above five characteristic items are stored in the RAM 4e of the arithmetic and control unit 4 in a label corresponding to each granular material (step 8-10). From the image data by the transmitted light, the diffused light transmitted through the milky white background plate is detected as light related to the shape of the granular material and the internal material of the granular material, and the individual shape and the amount of transmitted light of the sample granular material are detected. Thus, it is possible to acquire a feature related to the shape of the granular material and a feature of the amount of transmitted light. In addition,
The luminance signal to be processed here can be a monochrome signal.

Next, step 7-6 and step 7-8
The image processing of the image data by the reflected light shown in FIG. FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the image processing. The arithmetic and control unit 4 takes in the reflection image data (NTSC signal) of the photographed sample granular material (step 12-1), and acquires the reflection image data (NTS).
C) is instructed to be converted into a YUV (brightness, color difference) signal and stored in the storage unit 3c (step 12-2).
Then, the arithmetic and control unit 4 instructs the YUV (brightness, color difference) signal in the storage unit 3c to be converted into an HSI (hue, color, luminance) signal and stored (step 12-3).
Next, an instruction is issued to extract an edge image by extracting an SI (color, luminance) signal (step 12-4). The contents of the edge image are as described above. Further, in order to extract the characteristics of the granular material, the HSI (hue, color, luminance) signal is used to extract the HSI (hue, color,
An instruction is made to create a histogram of the (luminance) signal (step 12-5). From the edge image of the SI (color, luminance) signal, an instruction is made to create a histogram of the edge image for each granular object (step 12-6). here,
YUV (brightness, color difference) signal, HSI (hue, color, luminance) signal, histogram of HSI signal obtained in step 12-5, SI (color,
A histogram of an edge image of a (luminance) signal is used as optical information. The above four characteristic items are stored in the RAM 4 of the arithmetic control unit 4.
e. At this time, the label attached at the time of the transmission image processing may be used and stored in the label for each granular material. Further, a label for reflection image processing may be attached separately from the transmission image processing, and the data may be stored so as to correspond to data of the same granular material. As described above, from the image data due to the reflected light, that is, from the reflected light obtained from the granular material with the black plate as the background, it is detected as light related to the color of the granular material,
By detecting the reflected light of each sample particle,
The feature relating to the color of the granular material can be obtained. Note that the signal here is a color signal.

The image processing of the oblique light transmission image data will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of the image processing.
Captures the captured oblique light image data (NTSC signal) (step 13-1), and acquires the oblique light image data (NTSC signal).
SC signal) is converted to a YUV (brightness, color difference) signal and stored in the storage unit 3c (step 13-).
2). Next, the arithmetic and control unit 4 stores the YUV data in the storage unit 3c.
An edge image is extracted from the (brightness, color difference) signal using the luminance signal (step 13-3). This will be described with reference to FIG. 15. When a crack is generated inside the granular material and oblique light is irradiated substantially perpendicularly to the crack surface, the light irradiation side looks bright at the crack surface and the other looks dark. . At this time, when an edge image which is a differentiation process relating to luminance (brightness) is extracted, as shown in FIG. 16, a crack portion can be extracted as a line crossing (or longitudinally cutting) the granular material. Next, in order to extract the characteristics of the granular material, the arithmetic control means 4
Instructs to Hough-transform the edge image to specify the line accompanying the crack (step 13-4). Here, the YUV (brightness, color difference) signal of the granular material, the edge image obtained in step 13-3, and the buffed value obtained in step 13-4 are used as optical information. The above three characteristic items are stored in the RAM 4e of the arithmetic and control unit 4. At this time,
The label for each granular material may be diverted to correspond to the label attached during the transmission image processing.

In the above-described image data of transmitted light, reflected light and oblique light, the acquisition of reference light data by the reference plate serving as a reference is omitted, but the brightness and image of the reference plate must be previously taken as reference data. Accordingly, each image data can be corrected, and more specifically, the luminance and color of the background plate as the background can be averaged.

Now, the determination of the quality of the granular material will be described with reference to FIG.
A granular article position relational expression is stored in the ROM 4d in advance.
You. This granular article position relational expression is, for example, as follows:
I'm asking. From the granular material of which quality is known in advance,
The area (X₁ a), circularity (X
₂a), length (X₃a), width (X₄a), the granular material
Histogram of the image signal (X₅a), brightness of granular material
Signal histogram (X₆a), granular material by reflection image
HSI signal histogram (X₇a), the granular material
Image histogram (X₈a), Grain by oblique light image
Huff-transformed signal (X₉a) and
Then, the information is described as an explanatory variable (X_na) and the granular material
Perfect grain (T₁) And unfinished grains (T₂), In the grain
Sizing (T₃), Immature grains (T₄), Dead rice (T₅) Eyes
Variable (T_a), Such as multiple regression analysis
A linear analysis is performed.

(Equation 1) In addition to the above, a granular article position relational expression for obtaining a granular article position whose quality is unknown may be created by nonlinear analysis such as a neural network. In other words, the quality of the granular material whose quality is unknown can be specified by the information given by the transmitted light image, the reflected light image, or the oblique light image and the granular article position relational expression. The above-described information is merely an example, and it is not a necessary condition to use all information. A known analysis method can be used for the linear analysis and the non-linear analysis.

Further, the entire control program of the arithmetic and control unit 4 after image processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
7 is a control flowchart of the arithmetic control means 4. First, image data of a sample granular material is obtained from the camera 2 (step 16-1), converted into processable image data, and stored in the storage unit 3c (step 16-2). The image data obtained here is subjected to image processing for each granular material by the arithmetic control means 4 and the image processing means 3 as described above (step 16-3). For example, image-processed shape information and optical information of 450 particles are obtained. Is obtained. Based on the shape information and the optical information and the granular article position relational expression, the quality is calculated and specified for each label of the granular material (step 16-4), and the number of particles for each quality is calculated (step 16-5). Further, the grain number ratio is calculated for each quality (step 16-5). For example, YUV (brightness, color difference) obtained by processing reflection image data
The image processing unit instructs the image processing unit to obtain image data for each particle by dividing the image by the signal and store it in the storage unit 3c (step 16-7). In the image processing here, first, the outer shape of each granular material is determined based on the transmitted light image data as described above, and the reflected light image data of the same label is divided for each particle based on the outer shape. You may want to sort them eventually. When the sample image is created by using the reflected light image data, the color is clear and visually good. The arithmetic control means 4 simultaneously converts the determined number of grains and the grain number ratio for each quality and the image data (for example, 450 grains) for each grain into a predetermined format from the output port 4c to the color printer 5 or the color display 6. (Step 16-8). At this time, as an example of printing, FIG.
As shown in FIG. As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a sample image of a sample granular material obtained as an image in addition to the quality, the number of grains for each quality, and the grain number ratio.
As a result, the quality can be determined based on the photographing data of the sample granular material, and a sample image can also be created.

When all 450 grains are output as an image as a granule, the above procedure may be used. However, due to the size of the printing paper surface by the color printer 5 or the resolution by the display 6, only about 100 granules are required. If printing and display are not possible, output processing is performed as shown in FIG. That is, instead of (step 16-7) of FIG. 17, the number of grains for each quality is calculated from the grain number ratio for each quality and the number of printable and displayable grains of 100 shown in FIG. 19 (step 18-7). ). The storage unit 3c according to the number of grains for each quality
(Step 18)
-8). The determined number of grains and the grain number ratio for each quality, and the selected 100 pieces of image data are simultaneously set in a predetermined format and output from the output port 4c to the color printer 5 or the color display 6 (step 1).
8-9). At this time, as an example of printing, grain quality determination data as shown in FIG. 20 is finished.

FIG. 21 shows another embodiment of FIG. 19, in which, instead of the step 16-7 in FIG. 17, the grain ratio for each quality and the number of 100 printable and displayable grains are used. The number is calculated (step 20-7). Then, one piece of image data representing quality is selected from the image data in the storage unit 3c for each quality (step 20-).
8). Next, the image data obtained by copying the image data representative of the number of particles and the ratio of the number of particles for each quality and the number of particles to the number of particles is set in a predetermined format, and output from the output port 4c to the color printer 5 or the color printer. This is output to the display 6 (step 20-9).

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, the granular material supplied to the granular material holding means is irradiated with the light from the light source on both the front and back surfaces of the granular material, and the reflected image signals on the front and back surfaces are shot by the photographing means. Also, a plurality of image signals composed of transmission image signals on both front and back sides can be obtained, and an image signal of a granular object can be obtained from different viewpoints of the photographing unit. That is, by comparing the front and back reflection images of the granular material or comparing the front and back transmission images, the characteristic item of the granular material can be extracted. For example, erroneous measurement in the case where there is a slight black spot on only one surface of the granular material is eliminated, and the quality of the granular material can be accurately determined, and the accuracy of the analysis result can be improved. In addition, since the quality is determined based on the image signal obtained from the granular material, a sample image is created from the image signal, and these are printed and displayed at the same time, so that the reliability as the quality determination result is improved. .

The photographing means is provided above the granular material holding means and captures a reflection image of the surface of the granular material, a transmission image of the surface of the granular material, and a transmission image of oblique light. And a lower camera that captures a reflection image of the back surface of the granular material and a transmission image of the back surface of the granular material, so that the surface reflection image, the transmission surface image, and the back surface reflection image of the granular material are provided by at least two cameras. Since five types of image signals, that is, the back side transmission image and the oblique light transmission image, can be obtained, the quality of the granular material can be accurately determined with a simple configuration.

The light source is provided above the granular material holding means and irradiates the surface of the granular material, and the lower light source is provided below the granular material holding means and irradiates the back surface of the granular material. Provided on the side of the lower light source, and a surface light source for irradiating the granular material obliquely, if the upper light source, the lower light source and the surface light source power ON / OFF control,
Surface reflected light, surface transmitted light, back surface reflected light, back surface transmitted light, and oblique light transmitted light of the granular material can be obtained, and an image signal can be obtained by a camera.

Further, when the upper light source and the lower light source are formed as annular light sources, if the measuring point is located at the center of the annular light source, the measuring point is irradiated with light from all directions (360 °). As a result, it is possible to prevent overlapping of the granular materials and the shadow of the granular material holding means, and it is possible to obtain a clear image signal.

The background plate includes a lower reflected light background plate, a lower transmitted light background plate, and an oblique light transmitted light background plate provided below the granular material holding means, and provided above the granular material holding means. Since it is composed of a plurality of background plates consisting of an upper reflected light background plate and an upper transmitted light background plate, a lower reflection image, a lower transmission image, an oblique light transmission image, an upper reflection image, and an upper transmission image are sequentially obtained. In doing so, it is possible to select an optimal background plate for each image.

The arithmetic control means is provided with a control device for controlling the photographing means, the light source and the background plate. In the control device, the upper camera acquires a transmission image of the surface of the granular material. In this case, the lower light source is turned on and the lower transmitted light background plate is selected, and when the upper camera acquires a reflected image signal of the surface of the granular material, the upper light source is turned on and the lower reflected light background is obtained. Select the board,
When the lower camera acquires the transmitted image signal of the back of the granular material, the upper light source is turned on and the background plate for the upper transmitted light is selected, and the lower camera acquires the reflected image signal of the back of the granular material. Control for turning on the lower light source and selecting the upper reflected light background plate, and turning on the surface light source and selecting the oblique light transmission background plate when the upper camera acquires a one-sided oblique light transmission image signal. Therefore, for example, if a program is stored in the control device so as to repeatedly execute the image acquisition operation, the image acquisition can be automated.

The granular material holding means is formed on a rotating disk, continuously transfers the granular material supplied from one end on the rotating disk to a measuring point, and a plurality of the granular materials on the measuring point are photographed by the photographing means. When the configuration is such that the granular material on the rotating disk is continuously discharged from the other end, when the number of quality measurements of the granular material is large, a new rotating signal can be obtained simply by rotating the rotating disk. The granules are continuously transferred to the measuring point,
The measured particulate matter can be continuously discharged, and the operation at the time of measurement is simplified.

On the other hand, when the granular material holding means is formed on a slide plate in which the granular materials are arranged in a plurality of rows in a single layer state, when the plurality of image signals are obtained by the photographing means, they are arranged neatly on the slide plate. Since an image signal of the granular material in the state is obtained, an image signal that is less unsightly and has a clear appearance is obtained compared to an image signal in which the granular material is irregular (aligned).

The arithmetic and control means obtains optical information and shape information from the granular material of known quality, and uses the granular material of known quality as an objective variable, and analyzes the granular product by analyzing the optical information and the shape information as explanatory variables. Since the position discriminant is stored and the quality discriminating process is performed by the granular article position discriminant, the quicker the value to be substituted into the item discriminant, the faster the discrimination.

The arithmetic control means creates a sample image for each grain based on the optical information obtained from the image processing section for each granular article, and determines the quality based on the grain number ratio of the granular material and a predetermined total number of grains. Another particle number is calculated, the sample images are arranged based on the calculation result, and the granular article position determination result and the sample image are displayed or printed at the same time. Even if the total number of grains is larger than the determined total number, a sample image is created by taking out the image of the grade determination from the image of the granular material according to the grade-specific grain number calculated based on the total grain number and the grain number ratio. This sample image is the same as the quality determination particle number ratio, and even if the particle number is different from the particle number of the granular material, the sample image has high reliability.

The optical information includes the hue of the granular material, the color of the granular material, and the luminance of the granular material, and the shape information includes the length of the granular material,
Obtain information such as width and area. In other words, the difference in luminance obtained by the transmitted light of the granular material can be detected as the outer shape of the granular material and the inner shape according to the different color part or the inner material of the granular material, and information including various elements is included. can do. The information based on the reflected light of the granular material can clearly grasp the color of the granular material. The optical information based on the transmission and reflection described above makes it possible to determine the outer shape, the inner quality, and the color.

[0060]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a granular article position determination device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an internal structure of a measuring unit provided with a photographing unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a feeder and a granular material holding unit of a measuring unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the granular part holding means.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a configuration of a background plate.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the arrangement and rotation of the background plate.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of a photographing unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a photographing unit.

FIG. 9 is a processing flowchart of image data of transmitted light.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image obtained by binarizing transmitted light image data.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of transmitted light image data before image processing.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image obtained by performing edge processing on the image of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a processing flowchart of image data of reflected light.

FIG. 14 is a processing flowchart of oblique light image data.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of oblique light image data before image processing.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image obtained by performing image processing on oblique light image data.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the granular article position determination device.

FIG. 18 is an example of measurement results of printed quality determination.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating another procedure for creating a sample image.

FIG. 20 is an example of a quality determination measurement result created and printed according to another flowchart.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating another procedure for creating a sample image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Granular article position discriminating apparatus 2 Camera 3 Image processing means 4 Arithmetic control means 5 Printer 6 Color display 7 Slide plate 8 Groove 20 Stepping motor 21 Rotating shaft 22 Rotating disk 23 One side 24 Feeder device 25 Granular object 26 Shooting point 27 Shooting line of sight 28 trough 29 hopper 30 light source 31 camera 32 slit 34 light source 35 camera 36 slit 40 milky white plate 41 black plate 42 background plate 43 milky white plate 44 black plate 45 background plate 46 stepping motor 47 rotation axis 48 no background plate 49 background plate 50 stepping motor 51 Rotary axis

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takahiro Doi 2-30 Saijo Nishihoncho, Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture F-term in Satake Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2G051 AA04 AB03 AB06 AB07 BA01 BA04 BA20 CA04 CB01 CB02 DA08 EA14 EA17 EB05 EC02 ED14 ED22

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A granular material holding means formed of a material which transmits a light beam from a light source, a light source for irradiating the granular material supplied to the granular material holding device with light from both front and back surfaces, a reflected light of the granular material or A background plate that serves as a reference for transmitted light, and a photographing unit that acquires a plurality of image signals including a reflection image on both front and back surfaces, a transmission image on both front and back surfaces, and an oblique light image on one side, for the particulate matter irradiated by the light source, An image processing unit for converting a plurality of image signals obtained by the photographing means into optical information relating to the quality of the granular material, and arithmetic control for determining a granular article position based on the optical information obtained by the image processing unit And a display unit for simultaneously displaying or printing the granular article position determination result obtained from the arithmetic control unit and the optical information obtained from the image processing unit. 2. An upper camera which is provided above the granular material holding means and captures a reflection image of the surface of the granular material, a transmission image of the surface of the granular material, and a transmission image of oblique light,
The granular article position discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lower camera provided below the granular material holding unit and configured to capture a reflection image of the back surface of the granular material and a transmission image of the back surface of the granular material. 3. The light source is provided above the granular material holding means and irradiates the surface of the granular material, and the lower light source is provided below the granular material holding means and irradiates the back surface of the granular material. The granular article position determining device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a light source and a surface light source provided on a side of the lower light source and irradiating the granular material obliquely. 4. The granular article position determination device according to claim 3, wherein the upper light source and the lower light source are formed as annular light sources. 5. A background plate for lower reflected light, a background plate for lower transmitted light, and a background plate for oblique light transmitted light, provided below the granular material holding means, and above the granular material holding means. The granular article position discriminating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of background plates comprising an upper reflected light background plate and an upper transmitted light background plate. 6. The arithmetic and control unit is provided with a control device for controlling the photographing unit, the light source, and the background plate, and the control device is configured such that the upper camera acquires a transmission image of the surface of the granular material. In this case, the lower light source is turned on and the lower transmitted light background plate is selected, and when the upper camera acquires a reflected image signal of the surface of the granular material, the upper light source is turned on and the lower reflected light background is obtained. When the lower camera acquires a transmitted image signal of the back surface of the granular material, the lower camera turns on the upper light source and selects the background plate for the upper transmitted light, and the lower camera selects the reflected image signal of the back surface of the granular material. When acquiring, the lower light source is turned on and the upper reflected light background plate is selected, and when the upper camera acquires a one-side oblique light transmission image signal, the surface light source is turned on and the oblique light transmission background is obtained. The granular article position discriminating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein control for selecting a plate is performed. 7. The granular material holding means is formed on a rotating disk, continuously transfers the granular material supplied from one end on the rotating disk to a measuring point, and captures the granular material on the measuring point as the photographing means. 2. The granular article position discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of image signals are obtained by the following, and thereafter, the particulate matter on the rotating disk is continuously discharged from the other end. 8. The granular article position discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the granular material holding means is formed on a slide plate on which the granular materials are arranged in a plurality of rows in a single layer state. 9. The arithmetic control means obtains optical information and shape information from a granular material having a known quality, analyzes the granular material having a known quality as an objective variable, and analyzes the optical information and the shape information as explanatory variables. 2. The granular article position discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the granular article position discriminant is stored, and the quality discriminating process is performed by the granular article position discriminant. 10. The arithmetic and control unit creates a sample image for each particle for each granular article from optical information obtained from the image processing unit, and based on a particle number ratio of the granular material and a predetermined total number of particles. 10. The granular material discriminating apparatus according to claim 1 or 9, wherein the number of grains for each grade is calculated, sample images are arranged based on the calculation result, and the granular article position discrimination result and the sample image are simultaneously displayed or printed. . 11. The optical information includes a hue of a granular material,
The granular article position discriminating apparatus according to claim 1 or 9, wherein the granular article position discriminating apparatus includes a color of the granular material and a luminance of the granular material. 12. The granular article position discriminating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the shape information obtains information such as the length, width, and area of the granular material from the luminance of the granular material in the optical information.