JP2001235460A - Egg inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an egg inspection device capable of highly accurately detecting an abnormal egg even in the case that the temperature of the device processing transmission light fluctuates. SOLUTION: A thermometer 53 is arranged in the neighborhood of sensor blocks 51, 51, etc., of a board 50, and the temperatures measured by the thermometer 53 are given to a calculator 59. In the calculator 59, the relation of the ambient temperature and temperature dependency characteristic value of each sensor block 51, 51, 51 is previously set, and the calculator 59 obtains the temperature dependency characteristic value corresponding to the temperature given from the thermometer 53. The calculator 59 reads first to third dark signal values, the temperature dependency characteristic value is subtracted from the read first to third dark signal values respectively, and first to third temperature correction dark signal values are found. The calculator 59 obtains first to third external light correction inspection signal values removing the influence of external light contained in first to third inspection signals by subtracting the corresponding first to third temperature correction dark signal values from the first to third inspection signal values.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for non-destructively inspecting an egg for internal abnormalities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Chicken eggs produced in poultry farms include spotted eggs in which small clots are mixed in eggshells, flesh-like substances floating in egg whites, and flesh-coated eggs in which meat substances are entangled in caraza. Since abnormal eggs are mixed, non-destructive inspection is performed to determine whether or not a plurality of collected eggs are abnormal eggs in order to ship normal eggs.

In order to non-destructively inspect an egg, an inspector holds the egg over light emitted from a light source such as a fluorescent lamp and visually judges whether or not the egg is abnormal. However, while such an inspection requires a skilled inspector, there is a problem that even an experienced inspector cannot perform inspection work for a long time. Therefore, the following egg testing devices have been developed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a main configuration of an egg inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-735, and reference numeral 90 denotes a light projector. The floodlight 90 incorporates a halogen lamp 91 and a reflector 92 which are arranged at an appropriate distance from the side of the egg E, and the light emitted from the halogen lamp 91 is directly or reflected by the reflector 92 and is a light projection lens. It is incident on 93. The light incident on the projection lens 93 is
There, it is collimated and emitted from the projection lens 93.
The parallel light emitted by the light projecting lens 93 passes through the slit 94 and irradiates the side of the egg E, and the transmitted light transmitted through the egg E is incident on the condenser lens 105 of the light receiver 100.

On the light exit side of the condenser lens 105, two half mirrors 106 and 107 are separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the direction of the optical axis so as to form an angle of 45 ° with respect to the optical axis of the condenser lens 105. The light emitted from the condenser lens 105 is disposed at a first position reflected by one half mirror 106, passes through one half mirror 106, and passes through the other half mirror 10.
7, the second position, both half mirrors 106,
Focus on the third position after passing through 107. Phototransistors 111, 112, and 113 are disposed at the first to third positions, respectively.

The phototransistor 11 located at the first position
An optical filter 101 for transmitting light having a wavelength of 620 nm is disposed on the light-entering side of No. 1 and a light having a wavelength of 575 nm is transmitted on the light-entering side of the phototransistor 112 disposed at the second position. An optical filter 102 is provided, and an optical filter 10 for transmitting light having a wavelength of 590 nm is provided on the light incident side of the phototransistor 113 disposed at the third position.
3 are arranged. Then, the phototransistors 111 to 113 arranged at the first to third positions correspond to the corresponding optical filters.
The transmitted lights 101 to 103 are photoelectrically converted, and the first to third signals are output to an arithmetic unit 120 via an analog / digital converter (A / D converter) 115.

The arithmetic unit 120 normalizes the second signal by dividing the second signal by the third signal. If the level of the normalized signal is lower than a predetermined level, it is determined that the egg is a bloody egg. . If the first signal is lower than a predetermined level, the computing unit 120 determines that the egg is putrefactive. Thus, the intensity of the transmitted light of 590 nm, which changes depending on the color of the eggshell, such as white or brown, normalizes the intensity of the transmitted light of 575 nm absorbed by the clot, so that the effect of the color of the eggshell can be reduced. it can.

However, in the egg test apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-735, the light projector 90 has a built-in halogen lamp 91 and a reflector 92, and the light receiver 100 has half mirrors 106 and 107 and a phototransistor. 111, 112, 113
, The A / D converter 115 and the arithmetic unit 120 are built-in, so that both the light emitter 90 and the light receiver 100 are large in the horizontal direction, and require a large space for installing the egg tester. In some cases, it was not possible to attach an egg inspection device to the egg transport device. Therefore, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 11-3061.
No. 37 discloses the following egg testing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing an egg tester disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-306137, in which reference numeral 204 denotes a light source,
It is a rectangular parallelepiped egg inspection device main body that incorporates an optical bandpass filter, an arithmetic unit, and the like. On the upper surface of the egg tester main body 204,
A light projector 202 for irradiating the egg with light and a light receiver 203 for receiving the transmitted light transmitted through the egg are attached at a distance in the long side direction of the egg test apparatus main body 204, and a light source between the light projector 202 and the light receiver 203 is provided. A plurality of eggs are transported along the transport path 205 by an egg transporter (not shown).
Are transported in a line.

Light emitted from a light source provided in the egg testing apparatus main body 204 is incident on a first optical fiber (not shown), and is opened at a portion of the light projector 202 facing the light receiver 203 by the first optical fiber. The light exit hole is guided to the exit hole, and the light exits from the exit hole. The light emitted from the light emitter 202 is received by the light receiver 203.
The light enters the light entrance hole 233 opened in the portion facing the light exit hole. A second optical fiber (not shown) is provided in the light receiver 203, and the light receiving end of the second optical fiber is a light entrance hole.
233. The light passing through the light entrance 233 enters the light receiving end of the second optical fiber, and is guided into the egg testing apparatus main body 204 by the second optical fiber.

The light guided into the egg testing apparatus main body 204 enters a photoelectric converter via an optical band-pass filter that allows light in a required wavelength band to pass there, and is converted into an electric signal corresponding to the light intensity there. The electric signal is amplified by an amplifier, and the amplified signal is converted into a digital signal by an analog / digital converter and supplied to a computing unit. An arithmetic expression for calculating a value representing the internal state of the egg and a threshold for determining whether or not the egg has an internal abnormality are preset in the arithmetic unit, and the arithmetic unit is an analog / digital converter. Is compared with a threshold value obtained by substituting the value of the signal given from the above into the arithmetic expression, and when the value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, a signal is output indicating that an internal abnormality exists in the egg.

As described above, the light is guided from the light source of the egg inspection apparatus main body 204 to the light projector 202 by the first optical fiber, and the second light is transmitted from the light receiver 203 for receiving the transmitted light of the egg to the egg inspection apparatus main body 204.
Since the transmitted light is guided to the optical fiber,
Since the 202 and the light receiver 203 are compact, and the egg testing device can be installed in a small space, the egg testing device can be attached to an existing egg transport device.

[0013]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 11-30
In the egg inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6137, the egg inspection apparatus main body 204
Since a device for processing transmitted light of the egg E, such as a photoelectric converter and an amplifier, and a light source are provided therein, the temperature of the device changes due to heat emitted from the light source. Since the characteristics of these devices fluctuate according to a change in temperature, the detection accuracy of abnormal eggs also fluctuates in accordance with a change in temperature.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to detect abnormal eggs with high accuracy even when the temperature of a device for processing transmitted light fluctuates. An object of the present invention is to provide an egg inspection apparatus.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an egg detecting apparatus comprising: a light source; a first light guide for guiding light emitted from the light source; and a light guide for the light guided by the first light guide. A light projector that emits light to the egg, a light receiver to which the transmitted light transmitted through the egg is incident, a second light guide that guides the transmitted light that is incident to the light receiver, and light guided by the second light guide A signal generator that generates a signal having a value according to the intensity of the egg, and an egg inspection apparatus that includes a detector that detects an internal abnormality of an egg based on the generated signal, and is disposed near the signal generator. A thermometer, wherein the detector uses a temperature measured by the thermometer to correct the value of the signal related to the transmitted light, and determines whether an internal abnormality is present based on the corrected value. And means for determining

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the egg inspection apparatus according to the first aspect, the shutter is further provided with an openable and closable shutter for blocking light emitted from the projector, and a driving device for opening and closing the shutter. A controller for controlling the opening / closing operation of the driving device, wherein the detector outputs a closing drive command to the controller, and the signal generator outputs a predetermined timing after the closing drive command is output. Means for storing the generated signal, wherein the correction means determines a relationship between a temperature near the signal generator and a value of a dark signal generated by the signal generator in a dark state. Means for calculating the value of the dark signal at the temperature measured by the thermometer, and means for calculating a correction value for correcting the value of the signal related to the transmitted light from the value of the obtained dark signal and the value of the stored signal. It is further characterized by comprising:

In the egg testing apparatus of the present invention, a thermometer is provided near a signal generator for generating a signal corresponding to the intensity of transmitted light of the egg guided from the light receiver by the second light guide. In addition, the thermometer gives the temperature it measures to the detector.
Then, the correction means of the detector obtains a correction value for correcting the value of the signal using the temperature measured by the thermometer, for example, as in the second invention.

That is, between the light source and the first light guide, or
A shutter is arranged on the exit side or the like of the light guide, and a driving device for opening and closing the shutter and a controller for controlling the opening and closing operation of the driving device are provided. The detector gives a closing drive command to the controller at an appropriate timing, such as when starting up or when the transportation of the egg is temporarily interrupted, and the controller causes the driving device to close the shutter. . At a predetermined timing after the output of the closing drive command, that is, when the shutter is in the closed state, the signal generated by the signal generator is stored. In the means for calculating the correction value described above, the relationship between the temperature near the signal generator and the value of the dark signal generated by the signal generator in the dark state is set in advance, and the means for calculating the correction value includes: The value of the dark signal at the temperature measured by the thermometer is determined from the temperature measured by the thermometer and the above relationship, and the correction value is calculated by, for example, subtracting the determined dark signal value from the stored signal value.

The detector corrects the value of the signal related to the transmitted light, for example, by subtracting the correction value from the value of the signal related to the transmitted light using the correction value calculated as described above. Then, it is determined whether or not there is an internal abnormality based on the corrected value. As described above, since the signal generated by the signal generator is corrected by the temperature, the egg can be inspected with high accuracy regardless of the temperature change of the signal generator.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an egg inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which egg inspection is performed by the egg inspection apparatus 1 shown in FIG. A transport device 68 for transporting a plurality of eggs E, E,.
A plurality of arms 66, 66 suspended from a plurality of support members (not shown) are arranged in a row at predetermined intervals. At the lower ends of the arms 66, 66,..., There are provided holding portions 67, 67,. , ... are pinched.

Each of the support members described above is slidably supported by a horizontal rail (not shown) back and forth. Each of the support members is moved in one direction by a driving device (not shown), whereby each arm is moved. 66, 66, ... and clamping parts 67, 6
The eggs E, E,... Sandwiched between 7,... Are transported in the arrow direction. .., Which are provided in an egg testing apparatus 1 described later, and which face the transport area of the eggs E, E,... It is arranged.

The egg inspection apparatus 1 includes the above-described light emitter 2 and light receiver 3 and an egg inspection apparatus main body 4 in which a light source and an arithmetic unit, which will be described later, are provided in a rectangular parallelepiped casing 40. The light emitting side cover 20 and the light receiving side cover 30 are arranged on the upper surface of the housing 40 of the egg inspection apparatus main body 4 at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface of the housing 40. The egg E passes through the transport path 5 between the side cover 20 and the light receiving side cover 30.

Each of the light-emitting side cover 20 and the light-receiving side cover 30 has a substantially right-angled triangular shape in side view and a hexagonal shape in which one side of a rectangle is trapezoidal in plan view.
The light-receiving side cover 30 is arranged so that both upper bottom portions face each other. That is, the light emitting side cover 20 and the light receiving side cover 30
The center of the opposing surface is a parallel portion parallel to each other, and both sides thereof are tapered portions expanding toward the ends. Therefore, the transport path 5 has a narrow width at the center and gradually widens toward both ends, and is a so-called drum-like shape in plan view. In the case of transporting and inspecting eggs having a minor axis of up to about 50 mm, the width of the central portion of the transport path 5 described above is about 64 mm.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the egg testing apparatus main body 4 shown in FIG. The egg inspection apparatus main body 4 incorporates a light source 41 in which a halogen lamp 43, a reflector 44 and a heat ray cut filter 45 for cutting off heat rays (infrared rays) are provided in a housing 42.
Are connected. The light emitted from the halogen lamp 43 is directly or reflected by the reflector 44 and is incident on the heat ray cut filter 45, and the light whose heat ray is cut by the heat ray cut filter 45 is incident on the optical fiber 21.

The optical fiber 21 divides a plurality of strands into one thick bundle and the same three thin bundles. Thick bundle of light projecting fibers 22 has through holes 48 that
The reference fiber 23, 23, 23 of the fine bundle extends to the substrate 50 on which an amplifier 56 and an arithmetic unit 59 described later are mounted. is there. A light exit hole 24 that penetrates the light-emitting side cover 20 is opened substantially at the center of the surface of the light-emitting side cover 20 facing the transport path 5. The light exit end 25 of the light projecting fiber 22 is arranged such that the axis of light emitted from the light exit end 25 coincides with the central axis of the light exit hole 24.

The light emitted from the light emitting end 25 of the light projecting fiber 22 is applied to the egg E, and the transmitted light transmitted through the egg E is received by the light receiver 3. A light entrance hole 34 is opened in a portion of the light receiving side cover 30 facing the light exit hole 24 described above,
The light-receiving end 35 of the light-receiving fiber 31 is located in the light-receiving side cover 30,
It is arranged to face the light entrance hole 34.

The light incident on the light incident end 35 is guided into the light receiving fiber 31. The receiving fiber 31 is a three-branch fiber in which the same strands of the optical fiber 21 as described above are bundled into three by the same number as each other, and each of the branch fibers penetrates through the upper surface of the housing 40. Substrate 50 through hole 49
Has been extended to. The substrate 50 includes six sensor blocks that incorporate an optical bandpass filter and a photoelectric converter in this order.
51, 51, 51, 51, 51, 51 are attached, of which 3
The light-emitting ends of the branched light-receiving fibers 31, 31, 31 are connected to the two sensor blocks 51, 51, 51, respectively. The light-emitting ends of the above-mentioned reference fibers 23, 23, 23 are connected to the other three sensor blocks 51, 51, 51, respectively.

The three sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 to which the branched light-receiving fibers 31, 31, 31 are connected include, for example, an optical band-pass filter that passes light having a wavelength near 575 nm, which is largely absorbed by blood clots. An optical band-pass filter that transmits light having a wavelength of about 650 nm, the absorption of which differs depending on the color of the eggshell;
Optical bandpass filters for transmitting light having a wavelength of about 20 nm are provided separately, and light guided by the light receiving fibers 31, 31, 31 is applied to optical bandpass filters in the respective sensor blocks 51, 51, 51. The light is incident, and the passing light is emitted to the photoelectric converter.

Further, the aforementioned sensor blocks 51, 51, 51
The reference fibers 23, 23, 23
Are also connected to the three sensor blocks 51, 51, 51
An optical bandpass filter that allows light having a wavelength near 575 nm to pass therethrough, an optical bandpass filter that allows light having a wavelength near 650 nm to pass therethrough, and an optical bandpass filter that allows light having a wavelength near 620 nm to pass therethrough are provided separately. The light source light guided by the optical fibers 23, 23, 23 enters the optical bandpass filters in the sensor blocks 51, 51, 51, and the light passing therethrough is emitted to the photoelectric converter.

Each sensor block 51, 51, 51, 51, 51, 51
The signals respectively output from the photoelectric converters provided in are provided to an amplifier 56, and the amplified signals are provided to an arithmetic unit 59 via an analog / digital (A / D) converter 58. As described above, the branched light receiving fibers 31,
Three sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 to which 31, 31 are connected
Correspond to the wavelength bands of the optical bandpass filters provided in the three sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 to which the reference fibers 23, 23, 23 are connected. Operator 59
Through the A / D converter 58, the light receiving fibers 31, 31,
From the three sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 to which 31 is connected, a first inspection signal (a signal relating to a wavelength around 575 nm of the egg transmitted light) and a second inspection signal (a signal relating to the wavelength around 650 nm of the egg transmitted light) Signal) and the third test signal (620 of the egg transmitted light)
3), three sensor blocks 51, 23 to which the reference fibers 23, 23, 23 are connected.
From 51 and 51, a first reference signal (a signal related to a wavelength around 575 nm of the light source light) corresponding to the first to third inspection signals, a second reference signal (a signal related to a wavelength around 650 nm of the light source light) and A third reference signal (a signal related to a wavelength around 620 nm of the light source light) is provided.

Incidentally, the above-mentioned heat ray cut filter 45
A shutter 46 for blocking light from entering the light incident end of the optical fiber 21 is provided between the light incident end of the optical fiber 21 and
The shutter 46 is driven by an actuator 47 by an optical fiber.
The light enters and exits the optical path to the 21 light entry ends. The reciprocating operation of the shutter 46 by the actuator 47 is controlled by a shutter controller 57. The shutter controller 57 receives a close command and an open command from the arithmetic unit 59 described above, and outputs the eggs E, E,. Prior to testing or eggs E, E, ...
At an appropriate timing during the inspection.

When a close command is given, the shutter controller 57 operates the actuator 47 to advance the shutter 46 to the closed position, that is, to the position where the light incident on the light input end of the optical fiber 21 is blocked. When an open command is given, the actuator 47 is operated to retract the shutter 46 to the open position, that is, the position where light is incident on the light incident end of the optical fiber 21.

At the timing when the shutter 46 is located at the closed position, the arithmetic unit 59 outputs the light receiving fibers 31, 31,
The first to third dark signals output from three sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 to which 31 is connected are taken in, respectively.
The values of the captured first to third dark signals are stored.

A thermometer 53 for measuring the ambient temperature is provided near the sensor blocks 51, 51,... On the substrate 50, and the temperature measured by the thermometer 53 is given to an arithmetic unit 59. As shown in FIG. 4, the arithmetic unit 59 includes light receiving fibers 31, 31,.
The ambient temperature and the input value from each of the sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 (hereinafter referred to as the temperature-dependent characteristic values) when the sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 to which the sensor block 31 is connected are darkened without applying light. And the computing unit 59 obtains a temperature-dependent characteristic value corresponding to the temperature given from the thermometer 53.

The arithmetic unit 59 stores the first to first data stored as described above.
The third dark signal value is read, and the temperature-dependent characteristic values are subtracted from the read first to third dark signal values, respectively, to obtain first to third temperature-corrected dark signal values. The arithmetic unit 59 is
By subtracting the corresponding first to third temperature-corrected dark signal values from the first to third inspection signal values, the first to third external signals in which the influence of external light included in the first to third inspection signals is removed. Obtain an optical correction inspection signal value.

The arithmetic unit 59 divides the first to third external light correction inspection signal values by the corresponding first to third reference signal values to obtain first to third rehabilitation signal values, and obtains the first rehabilitation signal values. Is divided by the second rehabilitation signal value and the third rehabilitation signal value is divided by the second rehabilitation signal value, whereby the first rehabilitation signal value and the third rehabilitation signal value are divided.
A normalization process for removing the influence of the eggshell color from the rehabilitation signal value is performed to obtain a first normalized signal value and a third normalized signal value. A first threshold value and a second threshold value for determining the quality of the egg are set in advance in the arithmetic unit 59, and the arithmetic unit 59 determines whether the first normalized signal value is larger than the first threshold value or not. It is determined whether the converted signal value is larger than the second threshold value, and if any of the signal values is larger than the threshold value, it is determined that the egg is abnormal and the signal is output. In some cases, the egg is determined to be a normal egg and its signal is output.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts sequentially showing the operation of the arithmetic unit 59 shown in FIG. The arithmetic unit 59 waits until a predetermined time elapses after being activated (step S
1) When a predetermined time has elapsed, a close command is given to the shutter controller 57 (step S2). The arithmetic unit 59 includes a shutter 46
At the timing when the
Three sensor blocks 51, 5 to which 31, 31, 31 are connected
The first to third dark signals output from the first and the 51st are taken, and the values of the first to third dark signals are updated and stored (steps S3 and S4).

After giving the opening command to the shutter controller 57 (step S5), the arithmetic unit 59 waits until the timing at which the transmitted light of the egg E is obtained (step S10), and judges that the timing has been reached. If the light receiving fiber 31,
First to third inspection signals output by sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 to which 31, 31 are connected, and reference fibers
The first to third reference signals output by the sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 to which 23, 23, 23 are connected are captured (step S11), and the temperature measured by the thermometer 53 is captured (step S12).

As described above, the relationship between the ambient temperature and the temperature-dependent characteristic values of the sensor blocks 51, 51, 51 is set in the computing unit 59 in advance. Temperature-dependent characteristic values corresponding to the temperatures are obtained (step S13). The arithmetic unit 59 reads the stored first to third dark signal values (step S14), subtracts the temperature-dependent characteristic values from the read first to third dark signal values, respectively, and performs first to third temperature correction. A dark signal value is obtained (step S15). The arithmetic unit 59 subtracts the corresponding first to third temperature correction dark signal values from the first to third inspection signal values to obtain first to third external light correction inspection signal values (step S16).

The computing unit 59 divides the first to third external light correction inspection signal values by the corresponding first to third reference signal values to obtain first to third rehabilitation signal values (step S17). By dividing the first rehabilitation signal value by the second rehabilitation signal value and dividing the third rehabilitation signal value by the second rehabilitation signal value, a first normalized signal value and a third normalized signal value are obtained (step S1).
8). The first threshold and the second threshold for judging the quality of the egg are set in advance in the calculator 59, and the calculator 59 determines whether the first normalized signal value is larger than the first threshold (step S19). ,
It is determined whether the third normalized signal value is greater than the second threshold value (step S20). If any of the signal values is greater than the threshold value, it is determined that the egg is abnormal and the signal is output (step S20). S22) If all the signal values are equal to or smaller than the threshold value, it is determined that the egg is a normal egg and the signal is output (step S21).

The arithmetic unit 59 determines whether or not a stop command has been given (step S30), and repeats the operations from step S10 to step S30 until it determines that it has been given.

In the present embodiment, an optical band-pass filter having a predetermined wavelength band is provided for detecting abnormal eggs caused by contamination of blood clots and putrefaction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It goes without saying that an optical bandpass filter that transmits light in a wavelength band corresponding to other internal abnormalities such as mixing may be provided.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first to third dark signals are updated and stored at the time of activation of the egg inspection apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first to third dark signals are updated every hour or every two hours. The update may be stored at appropriate time intervals, or the first to third dark signals may be updated and stored each time the arm 66 that does not hold the egg in the transport device 68 occurs.

Note that, in the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the description does not limit the present invention to the structure of the accompanying drawings.

[0045]

As described above in detail, in the egg testing apparatus according to the present invention, since the signal generated by the signal generator is corrected by the temperature, the signal is kept high regardless of the temperature change of the signal generator. The present invention has excellent effects, such as the ability to inspect eggs with high accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an egg inspection apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which egg inspection is performed by the egg inspection apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an egg inspection apparatus main body shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a table showing a relationship between an ambient temperature and a temperature-dependent characteristic value when a sensor block is in a dark state without light.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart sequentially showing the operation of the arithmetic unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart sequentially showing the operation of the arithmetic unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a main part of an egg inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-735.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing an egg inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-306137.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 egg testing device 2 light emitting device 3 light receiving device 4 egg testing device main body 22 light emitting fiber 23 reference fiber 31 light receiving fiber 40 housing 46 shutter 51 sensor block 53 thermometer 59 arithmetic unit 66 arm 67 holding portion 68 transport device E egg

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yuji Watanabe 2-35 Jinbucho, Yao-shi, Osaka Inside Kubota Electronic Technology Center Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuji Izuno 2-35 Jinbucho, Yao-shi, Osaka Shares Inside the Kubota Electronics Technology Center (72) Keiichi Nariyama 2-35 Jinbucho, Yao-shi, Osaka Prefecture Inside the Kubota Electronics Technology Center Co., Ltd. (72) Noriko Nomura 2-35 Shinbucho, Yao-shi, Osaka Inside the Kubota Electronic Technology Center Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akio Kamata 2-35 Jinmucho, Yao-shi, Osaka F-term inside the Kubota Electronic Technology Center Co., Ltd. 2G059 AA05 BB11 CC20 DD12 EE01 EE11 FF06 GG10 HH02 HH06 JJ02 JJ13 JJ17 JJ22 JJ23 KK01 KK03 MM01 MM05 MM09 MM10 NN02

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A light source (41), a first light guide (22) for guiding light emitted from the light source (41), and a light guided by the first light guide (22) to an egg. A light projector (2) for emitting light, a light receiver (3) on which transmitted light transmitted through the egg is incident, a second light guide (31) for guiding the transmitted light incident on the light receiver (3), (2) A signal generator (51, 56) for generating a signal having a value corresponding to the intensity of light guided by the light guide (31), and a detector for detecting an internal abnormality of the egg based on the generated signal (59), wherein the thermometer (5) disposed near the signal generator (51, 56).
3) the detector (59) includes a correction unit that corrects the value of the signal related to the transmitted light using the temperature measured by the thermometer (53), and an internal abnormality based on the corrected value. Means for determining whether or not the egg is an egg. 2. A shutter (46) provided to be openable and closable so as to block light emitted from the light projector (2).
A driving device (47) for driving the shutter (46) to open and close; and a controller (57) for controlling the opening and closing operation of the driving device (47). The detector (59) includes the controller (57). And a means for storing the signal generated by the signal generator (51, 56) at a predetermined timing after the output of the closing drive command. The thermometer (5) is determined based on a preset relationship between the temperature near the signal generator (51, 56) and the value of the dark signal generated by the signal generator (51, 56) in a dark state.
The apparatus further includes means for calculating the value of the dark signal at the temperature measured in 3), and means for calculating a correction value for correcting the value of the signal related to the transmitted light from the value of the obtained dark signal and the value of the stored signal. The egg testing device according to claim 1, wherein