JP2002039940A - Method and apparatus for detection of turning into cavitation in specimen - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for the detection of turning into cavitation of a specimen, where whether the cavitation exists in all specimens can be detected surely and precisely, without damaging the specimens and without spoiling their quality. SOLUTION: A gourd A is irradiated with near-infrared light B, which is irradiated from a near-infrared light projection device 11, and the near-infrared light B which is transmitted through a gourd A is received by a near-infrared light-receiving device 12. A CPU 20 compares detection information to be output by the device 12 with comparison information stored in a comparison- information storage device 25, and it determines whether a cavity Aa exists at the inside of the pepo shape A and the progress state of the cavity Aa. On the basis of the determination, the gourd A, which does not contain cavities and which are not cavitated, is sorted and treated according by items, on the basis of the detection information. The gourd A, which is being cavitated or which has advanced in cavitating is discarded, or collected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to fruits and vegetables such as cucumber, oranges, apples, tomatoes, persimmons, pears, peaches, melons and the like, agricultural products such as cucumbers, eggplants, carrots, and yams, seafood, foods and the like. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting cavitation of an object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when the cucumber of the above example is too ripe,
Although the inside is hollowed out, it is difficult to detect the presence or absence of a hollow from the outside, so that non-standard uri which is not suitable for sale may be accidentally shipped. Therefore, as a method of detecting a cavity inside the uri, for example, irradiating the uri with radiation such as X-rays or infrared rays, receiving the radiation transmitted through the uri with a light receiver, and storing the transmitted dose output by the light receiver in advance. There is a method of comparing with the comparison dose thus determined to determine whether or not there is a cavity inside the uri.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned method, if the amount of radiation applied to the cucumber is large, the detection accuracy is increased, but the cucumber cells may be destroyed or the quality may be impaired. Therefore, the radiation dose and time must be limited, and if the detection time required for one cucumber is short, it is difficult to accurately detect the size and shape of the cavity. In addition, there is a problem that the radiation must be shielded so as not to leak to the outside, and the configuration of the entire apparatus becomes complicated.

[0004] In addition, when a visual inspection is performed with the eyes of an operator, the judgment criteria are different depending on the operator, and thus the judgment results tend to vary. Also, if a large number of cucumber brought in from one producer is visually inspected one by one, the inspection work takes time and labor, and the cucumber extracted at the start of the work or during the work must be visually inspected. There is a problem that it is impossible to inspect cucumber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention detects the presence or absence of a cavity based on the amount of detection light transmitted through an object to be detected without damaging the object or deteriorating the quality. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting cavitation of an object, which can accurately and reliably detect the presence or absence of an object cavity, and a device therefor.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An object to be detected which irradiates the object with detection light transmitted through the object, and compares the detection information of the detection light transmitted through the object with comparison information to detect the presence or absence of a cavity in the object. Is a method for detecting hollowing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detection light projecting means for irradiating the detection object with the detection light transmitted through the detection object, and receiving the detection light transmitted through the detection object. Detection light receiving means for outputting detection information of the detection light, comparison information storage means for storing comparison information for determining the presence or absence of a cavity inside the object, and detection information output by the detection light receiving means And a hollowing detection method for determining whether or not there is a cavity by comparing the comparison information stored in the comparison information storage means with the hollowing determination means, and a device therefor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the detection light comprises light having a specific wavelength suitable for detecting the cavity of the object. And a method and apparatus for detecting cavitation of an object to be detected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and a device for detecting cavitation of an object to be detected using near infrared light as the detection light, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect. And

[0010] The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1,
A method and an apparatus for detecting cavitation of an object in which the detection light is set to a specific wavelength included in a range of approximately 0.7 nm to approximately 1.2 nm in combination with the configuration described in 2, 3, or 4. It is characterized by the following.

[0011]

According to the present invention, if there is a cavity inside the object, the amount of transmitted near infrared light or other detection light transmitted through the object increases, so that the detection light detected at that time is increased. By simply comparing the detection information of the target object with the comparison information of the normal target object, the presence / absence and progress of all the target objects can be accurately and reliably determined from the outside without damaging the target object or deteriorating the quality. Can be detected. In addition, since the detection is performed mechanically, there is no artificial determination error, and the work of determining whether there is a cavity inside the detected object and the operation of sorting and processing the detected object by item are performed accurately. I can do it.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show an apparatus for detecting hollowing of fruit and vegetables used for detecting hollowing of cucumber, which is an example of an object to be detected, and FIG. 1 and FIG.
Is a near-infrared light projecting device 11 that irradiates near-infrared light B to uri A (for example, bitter gourd = bitter melon), receives near-infrared light B transmitted through uri A, and A near-infrared light receiving device 12 for outputting a detection signal, a conveyer 13 of a material and color arrangement that conveys the uri A at a constant speed and does not provide any support when receiving the near-infrared light B; And an article detection sensor 14 for detecting that A has arrived.

That is, when the article detection sensor 14 detects the arrival of the urea A, the near-infrared light B emitted from the near-infrared light projecting device 11 is irradiated on the urea A and transmitted through the urea A. The near-infrared light B is received by the near-infrared light receiving device 12 and a detection signal is output.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the hollowing-out detection device 10. A CPU 20 built in the device main body 19 (for example, a personal computer) drives and controls each circuit device in accordance with a program stored in a ROM 21. In addition to controlling the stop, it has a built-in timer that measures the elapsed time. The RAM 22 stores data necessary for the detection process.

The comparison information storage device 24 is, for example, a PROM
It is composed of writable and readable storage devices such as
Comparison information for comparing hollowing is stored in advance.
In other words, the near-infrared light B is applied to the normal urea A before hollowing, and the near-infrared light receiving device 12 detects the near-infrared light B transmitted through the urea A. The detection information output from the device 12 is stored as comparison information. Further, information necessary for detecting a hollow portion may be input or changed using an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and an input pen.

The conveyor driving unit 25 drives the conveyor 13 composed of, for example, a belt conveyor at a preset speed. Further, the transport conveyor 13 may be composed of, for example, a barrocket conveyor, a roller conveyor, a free tray, or the like. Alternatively, instead of the transport conveyor 13, for example, the uri A may be placed on a free tray or transported by being held by an adsorbent or an arm.

The article detection sensor 14 is composed of, for example, a reflection-type photoelectric sensor, and outputs a signal for detecting that urea A has arrived immediately before the light projection range of the near-infrared light projector 11. Further, the article detection sensor 14 may be constituted by a detection sensor such as a limit switch or a proximity switch.

The near-infrared light projecting device 11 is constituted by a light source for projecting near-infrared light or light containing near-infrared light, such as a halogen lamp having high luminance, for example, approximately 0.7 nm.
Near infrared light B having a specific wavelength within a range of about 1.2 nm is irradiated from the side (or upper and lower) of the urea A. In addition, the near-infrared light projecting device 11 is connected to a urea A such as an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp, a xenon lamp, and a tungsten lamp.
Composed of a light source having the necessary luminance to transmit light,
The wavelength of the near-infrared light B is approximately 0.7 nm or less, approximately 1.2 nm.
The above may be changed.

The near-infrared light receiving device 12 receives the near-infrared light by dispersing the transmitted light transmitted through the urea A into visible light and near-infrared light, for example, or receives the transmitted near-infrared light. B is a black-and-white or color imaging camera that receives only B light, irradiates the urea A before cavitation shown in FIG. A signal proportional to the amount of light B received is digitized and output as detection information.
Further, the near-infrared light receiving device 12 may be constituted by a light receiving device such as a CCD camera or an image element.

The display device 26 is composed of a display and a monitor.
The result of the judgment of step 20 is displayed.

Further, according to the size, shape and length of the uri A, the projection angle and the projection range of the near-infrared light projecting device 11, the number of the projecting devices, the near-infrared light receiving device 12 The light receiving angle, the light receiving range, and the number of light receiving devices may be changed.

The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and a method for detecting hollowing of uri A by the hollowing detection device 10 will be described below. First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the article detection sensor 14 detects the urea A transported by the transport conveyor 13, the CPU 20 sets the urea A in the projection range of the near-infrared light projector 11. The time until transport is measured. When a predetermined time has elapsed and it is determined that the light reaches the light projecting range, the near infrared light B emitted from the near infrared light projecting device 11 is irradiated onto a specific portion or substantially the entire surface of the urine A. A near-infrared light receiving device 1 for near-infrared light B transmitted through A
Light is received at 2. Further, the near-infrared light B is transmitted to the conveyor 13.
May be continuously irradiated on the uri A.

The CPU 20 compares the detection information output from the near-infrared light receiving device 12 with the comparison information stored in the comparison information storage device 25, and determines whether or not the cavity Aa exists inside the uri A. The progress of the cavity Aa is determined. and,
Based on the light receiving information output by the near infrared light receiving device 12,
The maximum value, the minimum value, and the average value of the transmitted light amount of the near-infrared light B transmitted through the urea A are calculated, and the density in the bright part and the dark part substantially corresponds to the shape of the urea A surface. The value and the degree of dispersion of the near-infrared light B are calculated.

For example, in the case of Uri A in FIG. 4, the amount of received near-infrared light B received by the near-infrared light receiving device 12 is a maximum value = 7.
2, the minimum value = 33, the average value = 50, and the dispersion degree = 29. The numerical value is smaller than Uri A in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the detection information output from the near-infrared light receiving device 12 and the comparison information storage are stored. Since the comparison information stored in the device 24 substantially matches, it is determined that there is no cavity or before the cavity is formed. Uri A, which is substantially equal to or less than a preset numerical value, is sorted for each item based on the detection information.

Next, in the case of Uri A in FIG. 5, the amount of received light is a maximum value = 98, a minimum value = 26, an average value = 52, and a degree of dispersion = 1.
Since the transmitted light amount and the degree of dispersion of the near-infrared light A are larger than that of Uri A in FIG. 4 and smaller than Uri A in FIG.
It is determined that cavitation is in progress.

Next, in the case of Uri A in FIG. 6, the amount of received light is the maximum value = 255, the minimum value = 46, the average value = 154, and the degree of dispersion = 1900. Is larger than uri A in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is determined that hollowing is in progress.

Since the above-mentioned urine A before hollowing is excellent in quality and conforms to a preset standard, it can be sorted and processed according to items such as excellent, excellent and good. Further, the comparison standard may be reduced to a level that includes uri A in FIG. On the other hand, urea A in which hollowing is in progress and hollowing in is determined to be out of the standard, and is conveyed to, for example, a disposal process or a recovery process.

Further, the urea A is temporarily stopped in the projection range of the near-infrared light projecting device 11 and irradiated with near-infrared light B,
The near-infrared light B transmitted through the urea A may be received by the near-infrared light receiving device 12 or the like.

As described above, if the cavity Aa is inside the uri A, the amount of transmitted near-infrared light B increases, and the variance of the density value increases due to the shape of the uri A surface. When the detection information of the infrared light B and the comparison information of the normal urea A stored in advance are compared, the presence or absence of the cavity Aa and the progress of the cavity Aa can be reliably detected from outside the urea A. In addition, since the detection is performed mechanically, there is no artificial determination error, and the determination whether or not the cavity Aa is present inside the uri A and the operation of sorting and processing the uri A by item are accurately and reliably performed. I can do it.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the object to be detected according to the present invention corresponds to Uri A of the embodiment, and similarly, the detection light is the near-infrared light B and the cavity. Aa
Corresponding to other light that can detect the detection light, the detection light projection means,
Corresponding to the near-infrared light projecting device 11, the detection light receiving means corresponds to the near-infrared light receiving device 12, the comparison information storage means corresponds to the comparison information storage device 24, and the hollowing determination means, The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, although it corresponds to the apparatus main body 19 and the CPU 20 having the determination processing function.

As long as the cavity Aa inside the uri A can be detected, the luminance and wavelength of the near-infrared light B may be changed. In addition, the detection wavelength is not limited to the specific wavelength of the near-infrared light B, but may be a detection light having a far-infrared light or another wavelength, or a detection light having a desired color (for example, red or blue). May be used for detection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hollowing detection method by a hollowing detection device.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a light emitting state and a light receiving state of near-infrared light.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the hollowing detection device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state inside the uri before it is hollowed out.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the inside of a uri in which hollowing is in progress.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the inside of the uri where hollowing has progressed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Uri Aa: Cavity B: Near-infrared light 10: Cavitation detecting device 11: Near-infrared light projecting device 12: Near-infrared light receiving device 13: Conveyor 19: Device body 20: CPU 24: Comparison information Storage device

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Gentaro Kakemizu 66 Takaoka-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime F-term in Technoishi Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2G051 AA05 AB06 BA06 BC01 CA03 CB02 DA06 EB01 EC01 2G059 AA05 BB11 DD12 EE01 FF01 FF06 HH01 HH06 KK MM01 MM03 MM05 MM09 PP01

Claims (5)

[Claims] An object is illuminated with detection light transmitted through the object, the detection information of the detection light transmitted through the object is compared with comparison information, and the presence or absence of a cavity inside the object is detected. A method for detecting cavitation of an object to be detected. A detection light projecting means for irradiating the detection object with a detection light transmitted through the detection object; a detection light transmitting means for receiving the detection light transmitting the detection object; and detecting detection information of the detection light. Detection light receiving means for outputting, comparison information storage means for storing comparison information for determining the presence or absence of a cavity inside the object, detection information output by the detection light receiving means, and comparison information storage means And a hollowing-out judging means for judging the presence or absence of a cavity by comparing the comparison information stored in the object with the comparison information. 3. The method or apparatus for detecting cavitation of an object according to claim 1, wherein the detection light comprises light having a specific wavelength suitable for detecting the cavity of the object. . 4. The method or apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detection light is near-infrared light. 5. The detection light according to claim 1, wherein said detection light is set to a specific wavelength within a range of about 0.7 nm to about 1.2 nm.
Or the method or apparatus for detecting cavitation of an object according to 4.