JP2001300434A - Apparatus for distinguishing granular material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for distinguishing granular material which makes the distinction of granular material which has been impossible so far, possible by a minimum number of light receiving means. SOLUTION: The apparatus has a transfer means 4 for transferring the granular material, illumination means 9, 10 for illuminating the material transferred by the means 4, light receiving means 7a, 7b for receiving light obtained from the illuminated material, a peak detecting means 21 which detects the peak of a granular material light receiving signal and outputs a peak signal, a comparison means 23 which is provided corresponding to the grades of the material predetermined by comparison parts 23a, 23b for comparing the peak signal with a prescribed threshold and outputs a signal when the peak signal is compared with the threshold in each comparison part 23a, 23b, and the peak signal exceeds the threshold, and a distinction means 24 for distinguishing the grade of the material based on the output signal of each comparison part 23a, 23b in the comparison means 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to signal processing of a granular material discriminating apparatus for distinguishing a granular material such as grain into a plurality of qualities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a granular material discriminating device for discriminating a granular material such as grain into a plurality of qualities, for example, a granular material color sorting device and a granular article position discriminating device are known. First, the granular material color sorting apparatus sorts a granular product such as a grain into a non-defective product and a non-defective product and sorts the defective product. The granular material color sorting apparatus includes a transferring unit that transfers the granular material, an illuminating unit that irradiates light to the granular material transferred by the transferring unit, and a reflected light or a transmitted light from the irradiated granular material. A light receiving means having a light receiving sensor for detecting, a detecting means for comparing the detection light of the light receiving means with a preset threshold value to determine a good product or a defective product; And a sorting means for sorting the items.

On the other hand, the granular article position discriminating apparatus discriminates a granular substance such as a grain into a plurality of qualities and displays the discrimination result. The granular article position discriminating apparatus includes, for example, a transfer unit that transfers kernels, an illumination unit that includes respective illumination units that irradiate green light and red light to the kernels transferred by the transport unit, and A light-receiving sensor that detects light in a wavelength range A that is a part of the red light shown in FIG. 12 and light in a wavelength range B that is a part of the green light shown in FIG. A light receiving means having a light receiving sensor for detecting the quality of the grain based on the detection light of the light receiving means, and a display means for displaying the result of the determination by the determining means. is there. If the grain is, for example, brown rice, the discriminating means adjusts the brown rice based on the detected light amount detected by the light receiving unit, and the light amount ratio between the light amount in the wavelength range A and the light amount in the wavelength range B, immature blue, Discriminate into grades such as dead rice and damaged grains.

[0004]

By the way, the quality of brown rice obtained by removing dried rice (fir) with a known hulling machine is such that the sized and blue immature grains, which are regarded as good, and defective And the damaged grains. The selection of non-defective products and defective products of brown rice is generally performed by a known grain sorter that sorts according to the size of the mesh of the sorting net. However, on the non-defective side sorted by the grain sorter, not only the sized grains and the green immature grains are not sorted. In other words, the sized and blue immature grains that are good
Generally, the grain size is larger than the defective blue dead rice and damaged grains, but among the defective blue dead rice and damaged grains, there are particles of the same size as good products. Sometimes. For this reason, defective particles having the same size as non-defective products do not pass through the mesh of the sorting net and are included in the non-defective products.

[0005] Brown rice is sorted in this way, and the grade of brown rice also fluctuates depending on the amount of defective products contained in the non-defective products. Therefore, it is conceivable to use the above-mentioned granular material color sorting apparatus in order to improve the accuracy of sorting good and bad brown rice. However, the granular material color sorting apparatus can improve the sorting accuracy, but reduces the yield of good products. The reason is as follows. As shown in FIG. 12, the detection light obtained from each grade of brown rice is sized in a wavelength range A for the granular material color sorting apparatus to discriminate between good and defective granular materials. The amount of light is small in the order of damaged grains, dead blue rice, and immature grains. At this time, the threshold for discriminating a good product from a defective product is set as a value T between the detected light amount obtained from the sized particles and the detected light amount obtained from the damaged particles. Accordingly, the discriminating means discriminates into two categories of sized grains and damaged grains / blue dead rice / blue immature grains, and discriminates into two categories of sized / blue immature grains and damaged grains / blue dead rice. It was impossible.

Therefore, in order to improve the accuracy of sorting non-defective and non-defective brown rice and to perform the selection without lowering the yield of non-defective rice, the above-mentioned granular color sorting apparatus and a plurality of grains are discriminated. It can be realized by combining the above-mentioned granular article position determination device.
That is, the lighting means, the light receiving means, and the discriminating means of the granular article position discriminating apparatus are applied to the basic configuration of the granular material color discriminating apparatus, and the discriminating means sorts brown rice, damage grains, dead blue rice, and blue immature grains. Is determined for each quality, and the quality is sorted for each quality by the sorting means. However, such a sorting apparatus is not preferable because the apparatus becomes large and the cost increases. That is, the granular article position determination device must include at least the light receiving sensor for detecting the light in the wavelength range A and the light receiving sensor for detecting the light in the wavelength range B in the light receiving means. .

Further, in the wavelength region A and the wavelength region B, the difference in the amount of light detected from each of the green immature grain, the blue dead rice, and the damaged grain is very small. The detected light amount is amplified, and the quality is determined based on the amplified detected light amount. However, since the amplified detection light amount includes much noise, it is difficult to accurately determine the quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a granular material discriminating apparatus which can discriminate with a minimum number of light receiving means, which was impossible in the past.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a transfer means for transferring a particulate matter, and an illumination for irradiating the granular matter transferred by the transfer means with light. Means, light receiving means for receiving light obtained from the particulate matter irradiated with light by the lighting means, and a peak for detecting the peak value of the particulate matter light reception signal received by the light receiving means and outputting the peak value signal Value detecting means, and a comparing section for comparing a peak value signal output from the peak value detecting means with a predetermined threshold value are provided in correspondence with a plurality of grades of the predetermined granular material. Comparing the value signal with the threshold value, outputting a signal when the peak value signal exceeds the threshold value, and determining the quality of the granular material based on the output signals of the individual comparison units in the comparison means. Determination means for determining It was taken technical means that comprises a.

The peak value detecting means sequentially detects the peak value of the light receiving signal of the particulate matter received by the light receiving means and sequentially outputs the peak value signal to each comparing section of the comparing means. Each comparing section compares the peak value signal with a predetermined threshold value and outputs a signal to the determination means when the peak value signal exceeds the predetermined threshold value. The determination means determines the quality of the granular material based on the output signal from each comparison unit. According to claim 1, FIG.
Paying attention to the fact that the detected light quantity differs for each grade of the granular material as shown in (1), the grade is determined based on the peak value of the detected light quantity. Therefore, it is possible to determine the quality of the granular material by the minimum number of light receiving means without providing two light receiving sensors for detecting the light in the wavelength range A and the light receiving sensor for detecting the light in the wavelength range B as in the related art. it can.

According to the second aspect, the transfer means for transferring the granular material, the illuminating means for irradiating the granular material transferred by the transfer means with light, and the illuminating means obtainable from the illuminated granular material. Light receiving means for receiving the received light, peak value detecting means for detecting the peak value of the particulate matter light receiving signal received by the light receiving means and outputting the peak value signal, and detecting the peak value signal from the peak value detecting means. An A / D converter for converting into a digital signal and a comparison unit in which a digital threshold value corresponding to a predetermined granular quality is set are provided in correspondence with a plurality of qualities of the granular material. And comparing the digital peak value signal of the particulate matter light reception signal output from the peak value detection means via the A / D converter with the digital threshold value, so that the digital peak value signal matches the digital threshold value. did Comparison means for outputting a signal to come and take technical means that includes a discriminating means for discriminating the quality of the granular object based on the output signals of the individual comparison unit in said comparison means.

The peak value detecting means sequentially detects the peak value of the particulate matter light receiving signal received by the light receiving means and sequentially outputs the peak value signal to the A / D converter. The A / D converter converts the peak value signal into a digital signal and sequentially outputs the digital signal to each comparing section of the comparing means. Each comparing unit compares the digital peak value signal from the A / D converter with a digital threshold value set in advance corresponding to the quality of the granular material, and the digital peak value signal matches the digital threshold value. At the time, a signal is output to the determination means. The determination means determines the quality of the granular material based on the output signal from each comparison unit. FIG.
Paying attention to the fact that the detected light quantity differs for each grade of the granular material as shown in (1), the grade is determined based on the peak value of the detected light quantity. Therefore, the same effect as in the first aspect can be obtained, and the peak value signal of the particulate matter reception signal and the threshold value set in each comparison unit are digital values. Of the comparison is less than that of the comparison with the analog signal.

According to claim 3, claim 1 or claim 2
In addition to the above, a technical means of providing a display means for displaying a result of the determination by the determination means is provided. Therefore, the granular object discriminating apparatus can be a granular article position discriminating apparatus that discriminates the quality of the granular material and displays the discrimination result on the display unit. Since the granular article position determination device determines the quality based on the peak value of the granular object light receiving signal, even if the difference between the granular object light receiving signals is very small, it can perform more accurate determination than before. .

According to claim 4, claim 1 or claim 2
In addition to the above, a technical means is provided in which there is provided a selection means for receiving a signal from the determination means and selecting a granular material having a quality to be sorted. Therefore, the granular material discriminating device can be a granular material color sorting device that distinguishes the quality of the granular material and sorts the granular material of the grade to be sorted by the sorting means. The granular material color sorter discriminates, for example, the size of brown rice, immature grain, immature green grain, dead blue rice, and damaged grain, and determines the quality of non-defective grain, immature grain and immature grain. Since it can be sorted into two categories: dead rice and damaged grains, there is an effect of improving the accuracy of selecting good products and improving the yield of good products.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth aspect, a technical means is provided in which the selection means includes a selection section corresponding to each quality to be selected. Therefore, the granular materials to be sorted can be sorted for each quality. Therefore, in the granular material color sorter, if the granular material is, for example, brown rice, it can perform one-grade sorting, for example, sorting of blue dead rice, and the sorted blue dead rice is a raw material such as rice crackers. It can be.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a technical means is adopted in which the illuminating means is a green light source or a red light source. Therefore, by irradiating the granular material with green light or red light, the difference in the granular material light-receiving signal obtained from each of the qualities is larger than in the related art, so that the grace can be accurately determined.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a technical means is provided in which the light receiving means includes a filter that transmits green light or red light. Therefore, the light obtained from the granular material can be received by the light receiving unit as green light or red light by the filter without using the green light source or the red light source as the illumination unit. As a result, the difference between the light receiving signals of the particulate matter obtained from each of the qualities is larger than in the related art, so that the qualities can be accurately determined.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the granular material discriminating apparatus of the present invention is applied to a granular material color sorting apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. Granules shall be brown rice. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part schematically showing a main part and an internal structure of a granular color sorting apparatus 1. At the upper part, a granular material supply unit 4 including a vibration feeder device 2 and a tank unit 3 is provided.
On the other hand, an inclined plate-shaped chute (transfer means) 5 for transferring brown rice supplied from the vibrating feeder device 2 to a predetermined locus is provided below the granular material supply unit 4. The chute 5 releases and supplies brown rice to an optical detector 6 as a light receiving unit.

The optical detecting section 6 comprises a front optical detecting section 6a and a rear optical detecting section 6b substantially symmetrically about the locus of the brown rice discharged from the lower end of the chute 5. In each of the optical detection units 6a and 6b, for example, S
Visible light receiving portions (light receiving means) 7a and 7b each having an i-sensor element and an amplifier are provided corresponding to the width direction of the chute 5. Further, the fluorescent lamps 9a, 9b and 10a, 10
b, and background plates 13a and 13b of the same color as the sized particles for the respective visible light receiving portions. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelengths of the sized, unripe green, blue dead rice, and damaged grains, which are the grades of brown rice, and the amount of detected light. In this embodiment,
The wavelength range B (5) which is a part of the green light shown in the graph of FIG.
40-550 nm) filter (not shown)
Is provided on the light incident side of each of the visible light receiving portions 7a and 7b. Also,
Wavelength range A which is a part of red light in place of the filter
A filter (not shown) that transmits light of (670 to 680 nm) may be provided on the light incident side of each of the visible light receiving units 7a and 7b. In addition, the visible light receiving sections 7a and 7b are not provided with the filter, and the light source is used in the wavelength range A (670 to 680n).
m) or light in the wavelength range B (540 to 550 nm). In the present embodiment, the optical detection units are provided on the front side and the rear side, but may be provided on only one of them.

A sorting means 15 is provided below the optical detector 6 along the direction in which the brown rice falls. The sorting means 15 includes a nozzle 1 for injecting air to a falling locus of brown rice.
6 are provided in the width direction of the chute 5. The nozzle 16 has a first quality to be sorted (here, a damaged grain).
And a lower nozzle 16b for selecting brown rice of the second grade (here, blue dead rice). Each of the upper nozzle 16a and the lower nozzle 16b is driven by a driving unit 18 having an electromagnetic valve corresponding to each nozzle.
It is connected to a high-pressure air source (not shown). Driving means 18
Is connected to a signal processing means 17 which will be described later, and the solenoid valve corresponding to each nozzle is opened for a very short time by the selection signal from the signal processing means 17 to inject air from the nozzle. Further, the visible light receiving sections 7a, 7b
Are connected to the driving means 18 via the signal processing means 17.

Next, the configuration of the signal processing means 17 will be described with reference to FIG. The signal processing means 17 is provided with a peak value detecting means (peak hold circuit) 21 for detecting a peak value of a signal from the visible light receiving portions 7a and 7b and outputting a peak value signal. The A / D which outputs a 3-bit digital signal is provided to the peak value detecting means 21.
The ratio means 23 constituted by a plurality of comparison units 23a and 23b is connected via the converter 22. Each comparison unit 23a,
Setters 49a and 49b for setting digital threshold values are connected to each of 23b. Each setting device 49
A predetermined digital value is set in each of the comparison units 23a and 23b by a and 49b, for example, corresponding to the quality of brown rice, for example, blue dead rice and damaged grains. In the present embodiment, a digital threshold value of “101” corresponding to the detected light amount H of the damaged particle shown in FIG. 5 is set in the comparison unit 23a, and the comparison unit 23b is also set in FIG. A digital threshold value of "110" corresponding to the detected light quantity J of the dead blue rice is set. Each of the comparison units 23a and 23b is connected to a determination unit 24 for determining the quality. Further, the determining means 24 is connected to the sorting means 15.

In the above embodiment, the peak value detecting means and the A / D converter are provided in the signal processing means, but they may be provided in the visible light receiving section.

Next, the operation of the granular material color sorting apparatus 1 will be described. When brown rice is supplied to the chute 5 from the granular material supply unit 4, the brown rice draws a predetermined falling trajectory from the lower end of the chute 5 and falls while receiving light from the fluorescent lamps 9a and 9b. The visible light receiving units 7a and 7b receive the diffused light from the brown rice at the viewpoint O set on the falling trajectory, and analog detection signals (granular part received signals) a1, a2, a3 and a4 amplified by the amplifier. Are sequentially output to the peak value detecting means 21 (see FIG. 3). In the peak value detecting means 21, the analog detection signals a1, a2, a
3 and a4 are sequentially detected, and peak value signals b1, b2, b3 and b4 are sequentially output to the A / D converter 22 (see FIG. 3). The A / D converter 22 outputs 3-bit digital signals “001”, “100”, “101”, and “11” corresponding to the peak value signals b1, b2, b3, and b4.
0 ”sequentially from each of the comparing units 23a, 23a of the comparing unit 23.
b (see FIG. 3). The comparing unit 23a compares the predetermined threshold value “110” with the digital signal “00”.
"1", "100", "101", and "110" are sequentially compared, and a signal is output to the determination means 24 when the values match. The judging means 24 judges from the signal sent from the comparing section 23a that the quality of the granular material is "blue dead rice", and outputs a sorting signal to the driving means 18 of the sorting means 15. The driving means 18 opens the solenoid valve corresponding to the lower nozzle 16b for a very short time after a predetermined delay time, and ejects air from the lower nozzle 16b. The blasted air causes the discriminated blue dead rice to be repelled from the falling trajectory and is discharged outside the machine through the blue dead rice discharge path 14.

On the other hand, also in the comparing section 23b, a predetermined threshold value "101" and the digital signal "00"
"1", "100", "101", and "110" are sequentially compared, and a signal is output to the determination means 24 when the values match. The judging means 24 judges from the signal sent from the comparing section 23b that the quality of the granular material is "damage grain", and outputs a sorting signal to the driving means 18 of the sorting means 15. The driving means 18 opens the solenoid valve corresponding to the upper nozzle 16a for a very short time after a predetermined delay time, and ejects air from the upper nozzle 16a. The “damaged particles” determined by the blast air are repelled from the falling trajectory, and are discharged outside the machine through the damaged particle discharge path 19.

In this embodiment, as described above, A / D
Since a comparison unit is provided and each comparison unit performs a comparison based on a digital value instead of an analog value, there is little variation in the comparison due to the influence of the outside air temperature or the like. Therefore, the quality can be determined more accurately than when the analog signal is used.

Next, a modification of the signal processing means will be described with reference to FIG. A signal processing means 42, which is a modified example of the signal processing means, determines the quality based on an analog signal. The signal processing unit 42 has a configuration in which the A / D converter 22 of the signal processing unit 17 is removed, and includes a peak value detection unit 44, a plurality of comparison units 45a, 45b, and 45.
A comparison means 62 having c, 45d, 45e and a judgment means 46 are provided. A plurality of comparison units 45a, 45b, 4
Setters 50a, 50b, 50c, 50 for setting analog thresholds are provided in each of 5c, 45d, 45e.
d and 50e are connected. As will be described below with reference to FIG. 5, a threshold value c1 smaller than the detected light amount value obtained from the immature blue grains is set from the setting unit 50a in the comparison unit 45a. In the comparing section 45b, a threshold value c2 larger than the detected light amount value obtained from the immature blue grains and smaller than the detected light amount value obtained from the damaged grains is set from the comparator 50b. In the comparing unit 45c, a threshold value c3 larger than the detected light amount value obtained from the damaged particles and smaller than the detected light amount value obtained from the sized particles is set from the comparator 50c. In the comparing section 45d, a threshold value c4 larger than a detected light amount value obtained from the sized rice and smaller than a detected light amount value obtained from the blue dead rice is set from the comparator 50d. In the comparing section 45e, a threshold value c5 larger than the detected light amount value obtained from the blue dead rice is set from the comparator 50e. Each of the comparison units 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d, 45e has
It is connected to determination means 46 for determining the quality. further,
The discriminating means 24 is connected to the sorting means 15.

The operation of the signal processing means 42 will be described below. The visible light receiving units 7a and 7b receive diffused light from the brown rice at the viewpoint O set on the falling trajectory, and convert an analog detection signal (granular light reception signal) amplified by the amplifier into a peak value detection unit. 44. The peak value detecting means 44 detects a peak value based on the analog detection signal and outputs an analog peak value signal to each of the comparing sections 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d, and 45e. Each of the comparing sections 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d, 45
e compares the set threshold value with the peak value signal, and outputs the signal to the determination means 46 when the peak value signal exceeds the threshold value. Upon receiving a signal only from the comparison unit 45a, the determination unit 46 determines “blue immature grain”,
If a signal is received only from the comparison unit 45a and the comparison unit 45b, it is determined as “damage grain”. If a signal is received only from the comparison unit 45a, the comparison unit 45b, and each of the ratio units 45c, it is determined as “grain sizing”. When receiving signals from the comparing sections 45b, 45c, and 45d, it is determined that the rice is "blue dead rice".
When the grading target grade “damaged grain” or “blue dead rice” is discriminated by the deciding means 46, a grading signal is output from the deciding means 46 to the grading means 15 as shown in the embodiment, "Damaged grains" and "blue dead rice" are sorted out.

As described above, the granular material color sorting device 1 to which the granular material discriminating device of the present invention is applied distinguishes a digital threshold value or a peak value signal corresponding to a predetermined peak value signal of the quality of the granular material. A plurality of comparators in which analog threshold values are set compare the peak value signal of the received light signal detected from the particulate matter with the threshold value, and when the peak value signal matches the threshold value or the peak value signal is detected. When the threshold value is exceeded, a signal is output to the discriminating means, and the discriminating means discriminates the quality of the granular material based on the output signals of the individual comparing sections, and displays the discrimination result on the display means, and also outputs the discrimination result A sorting signal is output to sort brown rice by quality. As described above, it is possible to determine the quality of the peak value signal based on the peak value signal of the particulate matter light receiving signal, and to select the "damage grain" and "blue dead rice" of the quality to be sorted. In addition, it is possible to improve the accuracy of non-defective product selection as compared with the conventional method, and to include immature blue grains on the non-defective product side (clean product side). Therefore, the yield of non-defective products can be improved as compared with the related art. Furthermore, by providing sorting means for each product to be sorted,
Since “damaged grains” and “blue dead rice” can be individually sorted, the selected “blue dead rice” can be used, for example, as a raw material for rice crackers.

Next, an embodiment in which the particulate matter discriminating apparatus of the present invention is applied to a granular article position discriminating apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 will be described. Granules shall be brown rice. FIG.
Shows a side sectional view of the granular article position determination device 25. FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the disk 26 of the granular article position determination device 25. The disk 26 is provided with a concave portion 26a around the circumference capable of arranging the granular material, and is rotatable in the arrow Q direction about the rotation shaft 28 to transfer the granular material. The disk 26 is mounted on a transparent plate 27 having a larger diameter, and the rotating shaft 28 is driven to rotate by a drive motor 29 (deceleration motor). Disk 26
And the transparent plate 27 are inclined and the base 30 together with the drive motor 29 are tilted.
It is fixed to. An optical detection unit 31 is provided at the upper part of the inclined disk 26, and a particulate supply unit 32 is provided at the lower part of the inclined disk 26. A storage portion S is provided around the transparent plate 27 in the direction of rotation from below the inclined portion, and a partition wall R is provided to enable storage of granular materials.

The optical detecting section 31 is disposed above the vertical line of the concave portion 26a,
A visible light receiving portion (light receiving means) 34 with the viewpoint recess 33 as a viewpoint, a light source 48 for irradiating the viewpoint recess 33 with light from below the transparent plate 27, and a light source 35a for irradiating the viewpoint recess 33 with light from above. , 35b. further,
A shielding provided with a line-of-sight slit connecting the visible light receiving unit 34 and the viewpoint recess 33 between the light source 35 and the visible light receiving unit 34 so that the visible light receiving unit 34 does not directly receive the light of the light source 35. A plate 36 is provided. In the present embodiment, a filter (not shown) that transmits light in the wavelength range B (540 to 550 nm), which is a part of the green light shown in the graph of FIG. other than this,
Each visible light receiving unit 34 is not provided with the filter, and the light source is the wavelength range A (670 to 680 nm) or the wavelength range B
(540-550 nm).

The granular article position discriminating device 25 is provided with a selecting means 37 at a position where the optical detecting section 31 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction of arrow Q. The sorting means 37 includes sorting nozzles 38a and 38b for sorting the granular materials by quality.
38c, 38d and the sorting nozzles 38a, 38b, 38
There is provided a driving means B connected to each of c and 38d, and a high-pressure air source (not shown) connected to the driving means B. Furthermore, each sorting nozzle 38a, 38b, 38c, 3
Receiving path 3 for receiving each of the selected granular materials 8d
9a, 39b, 39c and 39d are provided. The visible light receiving unit 34 of the optical detection unit 31 and the driving unit B are connected via a signal processing unit 40 described later.

The signal processing means 40 will be described with reference to FIG. The signal processing means 40 includes a peak value detecting means (peak hold circuit) for detecting a peak value of a signal from the visible light receiving unit 34 and outputting a peak value signal.
55 are provided. The peak value detecting means 55 is connected to the comparing means 54 having a plurality of comparing sections 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d via an A / D converter 51 which outputs a 3-bit digital signal. Each comparison unit 52a,
Setting devices 60a, 60b, 60c, and 60d for setting digital thresholds are connected to 52b, 52c, and 52d. Each of the comparison units 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d
Determination means 56 is connected. Further, the determination means 56
Is connected to a driving means B of the sorting means 37 and a display section 41 for displaying a determination result. It should be noted that the number of the comparison units is the same as the number of the quality to be determined.

Each of the comparing sections 52a, 52b, 52c, 5
In 2d, different 3-bit digital threshold values are set in advance. In the present embodiment, the comparison unit 5
2a, a digital threshold value of “100” corresponding to the detected light amount M of the blue immature grains is set from the setting unit 60a.
A digital threshold value of “011” corresponding to the detected light amount H of the damaged particle is set in the comparing unit 52b from the setting unit 60b. The comparator 52c stores a digital threshold value of “011” corresponding to the detected light amount L of sizing in the setting unit 60.
The digital threshold value of “010” corresponding to the detected light amount J of the blue dead rice is set in the comparison unit 52d from the setting unit 60d.

Next, the operation of the granular article position determining device 25 will be described. Granules shall be brown rice. The brown rice supplied to the storage unit S from the granular material supply unit 32 is rotated by the drive motor 29 in the direction of arrow Q in each of the recesses 2 of the disk 26.
6a are supplied one by one. Each brown rice supplied to each concave portion 26a is rotated by the rotation of the disk 26 so that
Pass under The visible light receiving portion 34 is provided at the viewpoint concave portion 33.
It receives the reflected light and transmitted light from the brown rice that has entered
As shown in (5), the analog detection signals (granular portion light receiving signals) d1, d2, d3 and d4 amplified by the amplifier are sequentially output to the peak value detecting means 55. In the peak value detecting means 55, the analog detection signals d1, d2, d3, d
4 and sequentially output peak value signals e1, e2, e3, and e4 to the A / D converter 51.
The A / D converter 51 outputs the peak value signals e1, e2, e
3 bit digital signal “01” corresponding to 3, e4
"1", "101", "010", and "100" are sequentially output to the comparison units 52a, 52b, 52c, and 52d of the comparison unit 54.

The comparators 52a, 52b, 52c, and 52d compare a predetermined threshold value with the digital signal "01".
"1", "101", "010", and "100" are sequentially compared, and a signal is output to the determination means 56 when the values match. The determination means 56 determines that the quality of the granular material is “blue immature grain” based on the signal sent from the comparison unit 52a, and the quality of the granular material is “damage grain” based on the signal sent from the comparison unit 52b. It is determined that there is. The signal sent from the comparing unit 52c determines that the quality of the granular material is “regulated”, and the signal sent from the comparing unit 52d determines that the quality of the granular material is “blue dead rice”. . The determination means 56
The brown rice is counted for each grade, for example, the number of counts is displayed on the display unit 41 and the sorting unit 3
7 outputs a selection signal to the driving means B. The driving means B receives the sorting signal and injects air from the sorting nozzle 38a when the quality is "regular grain" to sort it into the receiving path 39a. When the quality is "blue immature grain", the sorting means 38b. The air is jetted to sort in the receiving path 39b. Also,
The driving means B receives the sorting signal and injects air from the sorting nozzle 38c when the quality is "blue dead rice" and sorts it into the receiving path 39c, and when the quality is "damaged grain", the sorting means 38d. The air is jetted to sort in the receiving path 39d.

Next, a modification of the signal processing means 40 will be described with reference to FIG. The signal processing means 40
The signal processing means 47, which is a modified example of the above, judges the quality by using an analog signal. The signal processing means 47 includes a peak value detecting means 57 and a plurality of comparing sections 58a, 58b, 58
A comparison means 53 having c, 58d, 58e and a judgment means 59 are provided. A plurality of comparison units 58a, 58b, 5
8c, 58d, 58e are setting devices 61a, 61b, 61
c, 61d and 61e are connected. As shown in FIG. 10, a threshold value G1 smaller than a detected light amount value obtained from immature blue grains is set in the comparing unit 58a from the setting unit 60a. In the comparing section 58b, a threshold value G2 larger than the detected light amount value obtained from the blue immature grains and smaller than the detected light amount value obtained from the damaged grains is set from the setting device 61b. In the comparing unit 58c, a threshold value G3 larger than the detected light amount value obtained from the damaged particles and smaller than the detected light amount value obtained from the sized particles is set from the setting unit 61c. In the comparing unit 58d, a threshold value G4 larger than the detected light amount value obtained from the sized rice and smaller than the detected light amount value obtained from the blue dead rice is set from the setting unit 61d. Comparison section 58e
, A threshold value G5 larger than the detected light amount value obtained from the blue dead rice is set from the setting unit 61e. Each comparison unit 58
A, 58b, 58c, 58d, 58e are connected to a determination means 59 for determining the quality. Further, the determination means 59 is connected to the selection means 37 and the display means 41.

The operation of the signal processing means 47 will be described below. The visible light receiving unit 34 receives the reflected light and the transmitted light from the brown rice that has entered the viewpoint concave portion 33, and outputs an analog detection signal (a particulate light reception signal) amplified by the amplifier to the peak value detection unit 57. . The peak value detecting means 5
In 7, a peak value is detected based on the analog detection signal, and an analog peak value signal is output to each of the comparators 58.
a, 58b, 58c, 58d, and 58e. Each of the comparing sections 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d, 58e compares the set threshold value with the peak value signal, and outputs a signal to the judging means 59 when the peak value signal exceeds the threshold value. . The judging means 59 judges "green immature grain" when receiving a signal only from the comparing section 58a, and judges "damage grain" when receiving a signal only from the comparing section 58a and the comparing section 58b. When the signal is received only from the 58b and the respective ratio units 58c, it is determined that the particle size is “regulated”, and the comparison unit 58a,
When receiving signals from the comparing unit 58b, the comparing unit 58c, and the comparing unit 58d, it is determined that the rice is “blue dead rice”. The judging means 59 counts the brown rice for each grade, displays the count number on the display section 41, for example, and
And outputs a selection signal to the driving means B. The driving means B receives the sorting signal and selects the sorting nozzle 3 when the quality is “sizing”.
Air is injected from 8a and sorted into the receiving path 39a,
When the quality is "blue immature grain", air is jetted from the sorting nozzle 38b to sort the product into the receiving path 39b. The driving means B receives the sorting signal and, when the quality is "blue dead rice", injects air from the sorting nozzle 38c to receive the air.
c, and when the grade is “damaged grain”, the sorting nozzle 3
Air is jetted from 8d to sort in the receiving path 39d.

As described above, according to the granular article position determining device 25 to which the granular material determining device of the present invention is applied, a digital threshold value or a peak value signal corresponding to a predetermined peak value signal of the quality of the granular material is obtained. A plurality of comparison units in which analog thresholds to be distinguished are set compare the peak value signal of the light reception signal detected from the particulate matter with the threshold value, and the peak value signal matches the threshold value or the peak value signal Outputs a signal to the discriminating means when the value exceeds the threshold value, the discriminating means discriminates the quality of the granular material based on the output signals of the individual comparing sections, and displays the discrimination result on the display means, A sorting signal is output to the means to sort brown rice by quality. As described above, since the quality of the peak value signal is determined based on the peak value signal of the granular material light receiving signal, even if the difference between the granular portion light receiving signals obtained from the brown rice is minute, accurate quality A determination can be made.

[0039]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a particulate matter discriminating apparatus, comprising: transport means for transporting particulate matter; illuminating means for irradiating the particulate matter transported by the transport means with light; Light receiving means for receiving light obtained from the irradiated granular material; peak value detecting means for detecting a peak value of a light receiving signal of the granular material received by the light receiving means and outputting the peak value signal; A comparing section for comparing the peak value signal output from the detecting means with a predetermined threshold value is provided corresponding to a plurality of grades of the predetermined granular material, and each of the comparing sections compares the peak value signal with the threshold value. do it,
Comparing means for outputting a signal when the peak value signal exceeds a threshold value, and discriminating means for discriminating the quality of the granular material based on output signals of individual comparing units in the comparing means. .

The peak value detecting means sequentially detects the peak value of the light receiving signal of the particulate matter received by the light receiving means and sequentially outputs the peak value signal to each comparing section of the comparing means. Each comparing section compares the peak value signal with a predetermined threshold value and outputs a signal to the determination means when the peak value signal exceeds the predetermined threshold value. The determination means determines the quality of the granular material based on the output signal from each comparison unit. According to claim 1, FIG.
Paying attention to the fact that the detected light quantity differs for each grade of the granular material as shown in (1), the grade is determined based on the peak value of the detected light quantity. Therefore, it is possible to determine the quality of the granular material by the minimum number of light receiving means without providing two light receiving sensors for detecting the light in the wavelength range A and the light receiving sensor for detecting the light in the wavelength range B as in the related art. it can. For example, when the granular material discriminating device of claim 1 is applied to a granular material color sorting device, it is possible to determine the quality of brown rice, that is, sized, immature green, blue dead rice, and damaged grain, and that the quality is good. Since it can be classified into two categories, i.e., sized and immature grains and aged rice and damaged grains, which are inferior products, there is an effect of improving the accuracy of selecting good products and improving the yield of good products. Further, when the particulate matter discriminating apparatus of claim 1 is applied to a granular article position discriminating apparatus, the quality is discriminated based on the peak value of the particulate matter light receiving signal, so that the difference between the particulate light receiving signals is very small. However, it is possible to make a more accurate determination than before.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part schematically showing a main part and an internal structure of a granular color sorting apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing means in the granular material color sorting device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating signals of a visible light receiving unit, a peak value detecting unit, and an A / D converter according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a modified example of the signal processing means in the granular material color sorting device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength and the amount of detected light and the threshold value, which are the grades of brown rice, sized, immature green, dead blue rice and damaged grains.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a granular article position discrimination device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a disk of the granular article position determination device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing unit in the granular article position determination device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a modification of the signal processing means in the granular article position determination device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength and the detected light amount and the threshold value of the sized, unripe green, dead blue and damaged grains, which are the grades of brown rice.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating signals of a visible light receiving unit, a peak value detecting unit, and an A / D converter according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength and the amount of detected light, which is the quality of brown rice, sized, immature green, dead blue and damaged grains, and a conventional threshold value.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Granular material color sorter 2 Vibration feeder 3 Tank part 4 Granular material supply part 5 Chute 6 Optical detection part 6a Front optical detection part 6b Rear optical detection part 7a Visible light receiving part (light receiving means) 7b Visible light receiving part (light receiving) Means 9a Fluorescent lamp 9b Fluorescent lamp 10a Fluorescent lamp 10b Fluorescent lamp 13a Background plate 13b Background plate 14 Blue dead rice discharge path 15 Sorting means 16 Nozzle 16a Upper nozzle 16b Lower nozzle 17 Signal processing means 18 Driving means 19 Damaged particle discharge path 20 Refined product discharge path 21 Peak value detection means 22 A / D converter 23a Comparison unit 23b Comparison unit 24 Judgment unit 25 Granular article position discrimination device 26 Disk 26a Depression 27 Transparent plate 28 Rotating shaft 29 Drive motor 30 Base 31 Optical detection unit 32 Granular material supply unit 33 Viewpoint concave part 34 Visible light receiving unit (light receiving unit) 35a Light source 35b Light source 36 Shielding plate 37 Selection means 38a Selection nozzle 38b Selection nozzle 38c Selection nozzle 38d Selection nozzle 39a Receiving path 39b Receiving path 39c Receiving path 39d Receiving path 40 Signal processing means 41 Display means 42 Signal processing means 44 Peak value detection means 45a 45b comparison unit 45c comparison unit 45d comparison unit 46 determination unit 47 signal processing unit 48 light source 49a comparison unit 49b comparison unit 50a setting unit 50b setting unit 50c setting unit 50d setting unit 51 A / D converter 52a comparison unit 52b comparison unit 52c comparison Unit 52d comparing unit 53 comparing unit 54 comparing unit 55 peak value detecting unit 56 determining unit 57 peak value detecting unit 58a comparing unit 58b comparing unit 58c comparing unit 58d comparing unit 58e comparing unit 59 determining unit 60a setting unit 60b setting unit 60c setting 60d setter 61a setter 61b setter 61c setter 61d setter 61e setter 62 comparison means B driving means O viewpoint R partition wall S reservoir

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A transferring means for transferring a granular material, an illuminating means for irradiating the granular material transferred by the transferring means with light, and receiving light obtained from the granular material irradiated with light by the illuminating means. Light receiving means, peak value detecting means for detecting the peak value of the particulate matter light receiving signal received by the light receiving means and outputting the peak value signal, and a predetermined value for the peak value signal output from the peak value detecting means. A comparison unit for comparing with a threshold value is provided corresponding to a plurality of grades of the predetermined granular material, and in each individual comparison unit, a peak value signal is compared with a threshold value, and the peak value signal exceeds the threshold value. A granular material discriminating apparatus comprising: comparing means for outputting a signal when necessary; and determining means for determining the quality of the granular material based on output signals of individual comparing units in the comparing means. 2. A transfer means for transferring the granular material, an illuminating means for irradiating the granular material transferred by the transferring means with light, and receiving light obtained from the granular material irradiated with light by the illuminating means. Light receiving means, peak value detecting means for detecting the peak value of the particulate matter light receiving signal received by the light receiving means and outputting the peak value signal, and converting the peak value signal from the peak value detecting means into a digital signal An A / D converter and a comparison unit in which a digital threshold value corresponding to a predetermined quality of the granular material is set are provided corresponding to a plurality of quality of the granular material. The digital peak value signal of the particulate matter reception signal output from the means via the A / D converter is compared with a digital threshold value, and a signal is output when the digital peak value signal and the digital threshold value match. Out Comparing means for particulate determination apparatus characterized by comprising a determining means for determining the quality of the granular object based on the output signals of the individual comparison unit in said comparison means. 3. The particulate matter discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a result of the discrimination by said discriminating means. 4. A granular material discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selecting means for receiving a signal from said discriminating means and selecting a granular material having a quality to be sorted. 5. The granular material discriminating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sorting means includes a sorting unit corresponding to each quality of the sorting object. 6. The particulate matter discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said illuminating means is a green light source or a red light source. 7. The particulate matter discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light receiving means includes a filter for passing green light or red light.