JP2006234744A - Granular material selector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a granular material selector capable of enlarging process capacity by widening the width size of the route width direction of the measurement region with a compact arrangement without enlarging the whole size of the device and also without widening the view angle of the light receiving means. <P>SOLUTION: The device comprises: the object matter transferring means TI for transferring the granular body group in a wide spreading state along the width direction while making pass through the measurement area; the light receiving means 5 for receiving light from the measurement area in a state of wide viewing angle spreading route width direction; the illumination means 4 for illuminating the measurement area; the evaluation means for evaluating the light receiving amount of every unit light receiving area of a plurality of unit light receiving areas equivalent to a plurality of unit light receiving area; and the light path formation means 9 for guiding light of light reflection type by folding back the light from the measurement area in the direction of a light axis so as to receive the contracted image of measurement area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes, for example, an object transfer means for transferring a granular material group such as rice grains and resin pellets in a single layer while passing through a measurement target region and in a horizontally expanded state arranged in a plurality of rows along a path width direction, A light receiving means for receiving light from the measurement target region in a resolution state in which a range smaller than the size of the body is a unit light reception target range and having a viewing angle widening in the path width direction; and the measurement target Based on the light receiving information of the light receiving means and the illuminating means that illuminates the entire width or almost the full width of the area in the horizontal direction of the path, light is received for each of the plurality of unit light receiving ranges corresponding to the plurality of unit light receiving target ranges in the measurement target area. The present invention relates to a granular material sorting apparatus provided with an evaluation means for evaluating the amount.

  The granular material sorting apparatus having the above-described configuration is, for example, a resolution in which a range smaller than the size of the granular material is set as a unit light receiving target range by the light receiving means while transferring a granular material group such as rice grains so as to pass through the measurement target region. Receiving light from the measurement target region in the state, and evaluating the received light amount for each of the plurality of unit light reception ranges corresponding to the plurality of unit light reception target ranges in the measurement target region based on the light reception information, However, there is a configuration in which a defective object evaluated as being out of the appropriate light amount range is separated into a path different from that of a normal object by a separating means such as an air ejection device at a position lower than the measurement target region. In such a granular material sorting apparatus, conventionally, the light receiving means having a viewing angle that spreads in the path width direction is arranged in a state where light from the measurement target area directly enters, and an image of the measurement target area is displayed. It was the structure which receives light (for example, refer patent document 1). The light receiving means includes a CCD sensor having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a line in order to obtain a light receiving amount for each of the plurality of unit light receiving ranges corresponding to the plurality of unit light receiving ranges, and a measurement target region. An optical system (specifically, an optical lens or the like) that guides light to the CCD sensor is provided.

JP 2001-272353 A

  In the above conventional configuration, the light receiving means is arranged in a state in which light from the measurement target region is directly incident and receives an image of the measurement target region, and thus has the following disadvantages.

  That is, in the granular material sorting apparatus as described above, in order to increase the transfer amount of the granular material group that transfers the measurement target region and increase the processing amount per unit time, Although it is necessary to increase the width dimension in the path width direction of the area, in the conventional configuration as described above, in order to increase the width dimension in the path width direction of the measurement target area, It is necessary to widen the wide viewing angle (see FIG. 17).

  However, when the viewing angle is widened, the image of the measurement target area received by the light receiving means is transferred so as to pass through the measurement target area by the object transfer means in the vicinity of the end in the path width direction. A plurality of unit light-receiving ranges corresponding to a plurality of unit light-receiving target ranges based on the light-receiving information of the light-receiving means when the granular material group is displaced in the perspective direction with respect to the light-receiving means due to disturbance of conveyance. When evaluating the amount of received light every time, there is a possibility that appropriate evaluation cannot be performed.

  In other words, since the light receiving means receives light from the measurement target area with a viewing angle that extends in the width direction of the path, the measurement target received by the light receiving means 5 as shown in FIG. The light from the region has a larger inclination angle α with respect to the optical axis (see OL in FIG. 17) of the light receiving means 5 as it becomes closer to both ends in the lateral direction of the path, but when the viewing angle is increased, the inclination angle α increases. Therefore, when evaluating a granular material, the granular material may be erroneously evaluated.

  This point will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, the granular material group is transported in a single layer state and in a horizontally expanded state arranged in a plurality of rows along the path width direction. In FIG. 18, Q1, Q2, Q3... Are illustrated as a plurality of columns to which the granular material is transferred, and there is an abnormal portion q in the light receiving target range of the granular material located in the second column Q2 from the left end. The case where the thing exists is shown. When the inclination angle of the light receiving means 4 with respect to the optical axis direction of the light receiving means 4 from both ends in the path width direction in the measurement target region is increased (see the inclination angle α1 in FIG. 18), the appropriate positions set in advance are arranged side by side. In this case, it is possible to properly evaluate the granular material in each column, but the defective object having the abnormal portion q in the light receiving target range of the granular material located in the second column Q2 from the left end is the light receiving means. If the position is shifted in the direction of approaching the light receiving means along the optical axis direction 5, there is a risk of erroneously evaluating that there is a defect in the first column Q1 from the left end from the light receiving information of the light receiving means. .

  Therefore, as a means for avoiding such disadvantages, it is conceivable to increase the optical path length from the measurement target area to the light receiving means by largely separating the light receiving means and the measurement target area. In this way, even if the width dimension in the path width direction of the measurement target area is increased, the viewing angle when receiving the image of the measurement target area by the light receiving means 5 can be narrowed, and the path width in the measurement target area can be reduced. The inclination angle of the light receiving means 4 with respect to the optical axis direction of the light receiving means 4 from both ends in the direction can be made as small as possible to reduce the possibility of erroneous evaluation as described above even if the granular material is displaced (see FIG. 18 inclination angle α2). However, in the case of such a configuration, the light receiving means and the measurement target region must be arranged in a state of being largely separated along the optical axis direction, and a large installation space is required, resulting in a large size of the entire apparatus. There is a disadvantage that will become.

  An object of the present invention is to appropriately evaluate a granular material without making the entire apparatus large in size and having a compact arrangement configuration, and without widening the viewing angle of the light receiving means. The object is to provide a granular material sorting apparatus that can increase the processing capacity by increasing the width dimension in the width direction.

  The granular material sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes an object transporting means for transporting a granular material group in a single layer while passing through a measurement target region and in a horizontally expanded state arranged in a plurality of rows along a path width direction, and a granular material. A light receiving means for receiving light from the measurement target region in a resolution state in which the range smaller than the unit light reception target range and a viewing angle spreading in the lateral direction of the path, and the measurement target region The light receiving amount for each of the plurality of unit light receiving ranges corresponding to the plurality of unit light receiving target ranges in the measurement target region based on the light receiving information of the light receiving unit and the illuminating unit that illuminates the full width or almost the full width of the path width direction And an evaluation means for evaluating the measurement object, wherein the first characteristic configuration is such that the light receiving means receives the reduced image of the measurement target area from the measurement target area. The in that it includes a light reflection type optical path bending forming means for guiding the light receiving means is folded back in the optical axis direction in the light receiving means.

  According to the first characteristic configuration, the target object transporting means transports the granular material group so as to pass through the measurement target region in a single layer state and in a horizontally expanded state arranged in a plurality of rows along the path lateral width direction. The means receives light from the measurement target region in a resolution state in which a range smaller than the size of the granular body is a unit light reception target range and has a viewing angle that extends in the path width direction. Then, the light from the measurement target region is transmitted in the optical axis direction of the light receiving unit so that the light receiving unit receives an image obtained by reducing the image of the measurement target region by the bending optical path forming unit. In this state, it is guided to the light receiving means.

  When the bending optical path forming means is described further, this bending optical path forming means is configured in a light reflection type, and in a state where the light from the measurement target area is folded back in the optical axis direction in the light receiving means, in other words, measurement The light from the target area is reflected and folded back in the optical axis direction of the light receiving means to form a bent optical path, leading to the light receiving means, and the optical path length from the measurement target area to the light receiving means is increased. Can do. In addition, at this time, the light from the measurement target area is guided to the light receiving means so that the light receiving means receives an image obtained by reducing the image of the measurement target area. As a specific configuration for that purpose, for example, a light reflecting surface formed in a planar shape is used to reflect light from the measurement target region, or a light reflecting surface formed in a concave shape is used. There is a configuration that reflects light from the measurement target region.

  As a result, it is possible to increase the optical path length from the measurement target area to the light receiving means without increasing the separation distance between the place where the light receiving means is installed and the measurement target area. Even when the width dimension in the path width direction of the measurement target region is increased in order to improve, the viewing angle of the light receiving means is not increased, so that the granular material can be properly evaluated. Moreover, the distance between the place where the light receiving means is installed and the measurement target region can be reduced, and a compact arrangement can be achieved without increasing the size of the entire apparatus.

  Therefore, it is possible to make a compact arrangement configuration without increasing the size of the entire apparatus, and it is possible to appropriately evaluate the granular material without widening the viewing angle of the light receiving means, and to perform measurement. It has become possible to provide a granular material sorting apparatus capable of increasing the processing capacity by increasing the width dimension of the target region in the path width direction.

  According to a second characteristic configuration of the present invention, in addition to the first characteristic configuration, the bent optical path forming means includes a first light reflector that reflects light from the measurement target region, and the first light reflector. And a second light reflector that reflects the reflected light and guides it to the light receiving means, and each of the first light reflector and the second light reflector has a flat light reflecting surface. It is in the point formed and formed in the shape.

  According to the second characteristic configuration, the light from the measurement target region is reflected by the first light reflector that is configured by forming the light reflection surface in a planar shape, and the first light reflector reflects the light. In the light receiving means, the reflected light is reflected by a second light reflector configured by forming a light reflecting surface in a planar shape, and the light receiving means receives an image obtained by reducing the image of the measurement target region. The light is guided to the light receiving means while being folded back in the optical axis direction.

  In this way, the bent optical path forming means can be configured with a simple configuration in which a pair of light reflectors each having a simple configuration configured by forming a light reflecting surface in a flat shape is provided, resulting in a significant increase in cost. It is possible to suitably implement claim 1 without any disadvantage.

  According to a third characteristic configuration of the present invention, in addition to the first characteristic configuration, the bending optical path forming unit includes a first light reflector that reflects light from the measurement target region, and the first light reflector. And a second light reflector that reflects the reflected light and guides it to the light receiving means, and the light reflecting surface of the first light reflector is formed in a concave shape, and the second light reflector The light reflecting surface of the light reflector is formed in a planar shape or a convex shape.

  According to the third characteristic configuration, the light from the measurement target region is reflected by the first light reflector that is configured by forming the light reflecting surface in a concave shape, and the first light reflector is used. The reflected light is reflected by a second light reflector having a light reflecting surface formed in a planar shape or a convex shape so that the light receiving means receives an image obtained by reducing the image of the measurement target region. The light receiving means is guided to the light receiving means while being folded back in the optical axis direction.

  As described above, since the first reflector has a concave light reflecting surface, when light from the measurement target area is reflected by the first reflector, a plurality of unit light receiving targets in the measurement target area are used. The light from each of the ranges is reflected in a bent state so as to be gathered to the center side in the path width direction of the measurement target region by the concave reflecting surface. As a result, light is reflected while the image of the measurement target region is reduced. For example, the light reflected by the first reflector is reflected by a second light reflector formed by forming a light reflecting surface in a planar shape or a convex shape, and guided to the light receiving means.

  If comprised in this way, the light of each of the several unit light reception object range in a measurement object area | region will be reflected by the 1st reflector in the state near to the optical axis direction of a light-receiving means as much as possible, and the image of a measurement object area | region will be obtained. Therefore, a bent optical path is formed so that an image reduced in size can be received by the light receiving means, and the granular material group transferred so as to pass through the measurement target region by the object transferring means is caused by the disturbance of the conveyance. Even if the position may shift in the direction that intersects the width direction of the path, it should be less likely to be erroneously evaluated as the amount of light received in the unit light receiving target range of the adjacent column instead of the target unit light receiving target range. Is possible.

  In addition, as described above, the light reflecting surface of the first light reflector is formed in a concave shape, and when light is reflected by the first reflector, the center side in the path width direction of the measurement target region Therefore, the length of the second light reflector along the lateral width direction of the second light reflector is shortened compared to, for example, the first light reflector having a planar shape. The apparatus can be made compact.

  As the second light reflector, either a light reflecting surface formed in a planar shape or a convex surface formed can be used, but the light reflecting surface of the second light reflector is used. When formed in a convex shape, the first and second light reflectors and the light receiving means can be applied as they are when the first and second light reflectors are each formed in a planar shape. There is.

  In addition to the first to third feature configurations, the fourth feature configuration of the present invention is a normal product if the light receiving amount of light received by the light receiving device is not out of the appropriate light amount range. It is configured to evaluate and evaluate as an abnormal object when the amount of received light is outside the appropriate light amount range, and based on the evaluation result of the evaluation means, the granular material transfer by the object transfer means rather than the measurement target area Separating means for separating and sorting the granular material evaluated as the normal material and the granular material evaluated as the abnormal material into different transfer paths at a location on the lower side in the direction is provided, and the illuminating means includes the measurement object When viewed in a direction along the width direction of the path of the region, an illumination unit is provided on each of the upper side and the lower side of the granular material transport direction with respect to the optical axis when the light receiving means receives the detection light, Transfer Any one of the illumination unit provided on the upper side in the direction and the illumination unit provided on the lower side in the granular material transport direction is configured by a linear light source that directly illuminates the measurement target region, and the granularity The other of the illuminating unit provided on the upper side of the body transfer direction and the illuminating unit provided on the lower side of the granular material transfer direction reflects the light emitted by the linear light source, and the measurement is performed by the reflected light. It is in the point comprised with the light reflector which illuminates a target area | region.

  According to the fourth characteristic configuration, the evaluation unit evaluates the received light amount received by the light receiving unit as a normal object if the received light amount is not outside the appropriate light amount range, and the received light amount is outside the appropriate light amount range. However, such an evaluation is performed for each of the plurality of unit light receiving ranges corresponding to the plurality of unit light receiving target ranges in the measurement target region. Then, based on the evaluation result of the evaluation unit, the separation unit executes a process of separating and sorting the normal object and the abnormal object in different transfer paths at a position lower in the transfer direction than the measurement target region. . That is, in the evaluation based on the amount of light received in a plurality of unit light receiving ranges, it corresponds to a granular material located in a part corresponding to the unit light receiving target range evaluated as an abnormal object and a unit light receiving target range evaluated as a normal object. The granular material located in the part is separated into different transfer paths.

  The linear light source in the illuminating means directly illuminates the measurement target region over the entire width in the path width direction or substantially the entire width. On the other hand, the light reflector in the illumination means reflects the light emitted from the line light source, and the reflected light causes the measurement target region to pass through the entire width in the path width direction from an illumination direction different from the illumination direction by the line light source. Or illuminate almost the entire width. That is, since the granular material group positioned in the measurement target region is individually illuminated by the line-shaped light source and the light reflector from different directions, the granular material group, for example, whose outer peripheral surface is a curved surface Even so, it is possible to perform illumination well in a state without illumination unevenness. Further, since the light reflector reflects light from the line light source, it does not need to emit light by itself, has a simple structure compared to the line light source, and may fail even if used for a long time. Since there are few, according to the said structure, it becomes possible to make the failure incidence rate as the whole apparatus low, and to improve the reliability of an apparatus.

  The line-shaped light source may deteriorate due to aging with use of the apparatus and the light emission amount may decrease, but the light amount reflected by the light reflector to illuminate the granular material group will also decrease by the same amount. Therefore, the granular material groups located in the measurement target region can always be illuminated with the same or substantially the same amount of light from different directions. Then, since the illumination light quantity for illuminating the granular material group is the same or the same in any region of the outer peripheral surface of the granular material to be measured by the light receiving means, when the light receiving means measures the light quantity, Even if the unit light receiving target range is measured at a location on the upper side in the transfer direction in the granular material, or is measured at a location on the lower side in the transfer direction, there is a difference in the amount of light received. Will not come out. As a result, for example, different judgment criteria are set corresponding to the case where the unit light receiving target range in the light receiving means targets the upper side in the transfer direction of the object and the case in which the lower side in the transfer direction is the target. Even if the processing configuration of the evaluation selection unit is not complicated, it is possible to appropriately perform evaluation selection based on the amount of received light measured by the light receiving unit.

  According to a fifth characteristic configuration of the present invention, in addition to the fourth characteristic configuration, the illumination light reflector and the linear light source are provided in a state of being aligned along the granular material transport direction, and the illumination The light reflector is provided in a state of being located on the lower side of the granular material transport direction than the line-shaped light source.

  According to the fifth characteristic configuration, the illumination light reflector is provided in a state of being located on the lower side of the granular material transfer direction than the line-shaped light source. It is necessary to provide the separation means as described above, but the light reflector for illumination can be installed at a place near the separation means with a smaller installation space than the line-shaped light source. Therefore, it is possible to make the installation space of the separating means as wide as possible and to satisfactorily install without interfering with the light reflector for illumination.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a granular material sorting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the granular material sorting apparatus, a wide plate-like shooter 1 is installed at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane, and a storage tank provided on the upper side of the shooter 1 The rice grain group k as a granular body group whose outer peripheral surface is conveyed by the vibration feeder 3 and supplied from the curved surface 2 is a horizontally expanded state in which the upper surface of the shooter 1 is arranged in a plurality of rows along the path width direction in a single layer state. (See FIG. 3). Since FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation, there are places where the arrangement of the apparatus configuration is different from those in FIGS. The shooter 1 is a flat shooter formed on a flat guide surface over the entire width in the width direction. In addition, since it aims at making it transfer in a single layer state here, even if a particle | grain partially overlaps by a flow state and it becomes a two-layer state etc., it is contained in the concept of a single layer state.

  The storage tank 2 stores rice grains k supplied from an external rice mill or the like, and normal or defective products re-sorted after the primary sorting of the rice grains k from the outside. The amount of rice grains k dropped from the storage tank 2 onto the vibration feeder 3 to the shooter 1 is adjusted by changing the conveying speed of the rice grains k due to the vibration of the vibration feeder 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a measurement target region J for the rice grain group k is set in the planned transfer path IK in which the rice grain group k moves and drops from the lower end of the shooter 1. In addition, the rice grain group k is configured to be transferred so as to pass through the measurement target region J in a single layer state and in a horizontally expanded state arranged in a plurality of rows along the path width direction. Therefore, the object to be transported by the vibration feeder 3 and the shooter 1 in a horizontally expanded state in which the granular body group whose outer peripheral surface is a curved surface passes through the measurement target region and is arranged in a plurality of rows along the path width direction. A transfer means TI is configured.

  Further, illumination means 4 for illuminating the entire width or almost the entire width in the path width direction in the measurement target region J is provided. Specifically, as the illumination means 4, the front side illumination means 4B located on the apparatus front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the scheduled transfer path IK and the rear side illumination means located on the apparatus rear side (right side in FIG. 1). 4A, and the front side illuminating means 4B and the rear side illuminating means 4A are light when the light receiving means 5 receives the detection light in the direction view along the lateral width direction of the measurement target region J, respectively. Illumination units S1 and S2 are provided on the upper side and the lower side of the granular material transfer direction with respect to the axis OL, respectively, and the measurement target region J is illuminated by these illumination units S1 and S2.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the illumination unit 4 will be described.
First, the rear side illumination means 4A will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the rear surface side illumination means 4A has two cylindrical shapes that directly illuminate the measurement target region J over the entire width or almost the entire width in the path width direction on the front side of the scheduled transfer path IK. A line-shaped light source 41A configured by arranging fluorescent lamps, and the measurement target region J is routed from an illumination direction that is different from the illumination direction by the line-shaped light source 41A by reflecting the light emitted from the line-shaped light source 41A. And a light reflector 42A that illuminates the entire width in the horizontal width direction or substantially the entire width, and is configured to illuminate the measurement target region J from a plurality of different illumination directions.

  Accordingly, one of the illumination unit S1 provided on the upper side of the granular material transfer direction and the illumination unit S2 provided on the lower side of the granular material transfer direction, that is, illumination provided on the upper side of the granular material transfer direction. The part S1 is composed of a linear light source 41A that directly illuminates the measurement target region over the entire width or almost the entire width in the path width direction, and the other of the illumination parts S1 and S2, that is, the granular material transfer The illumination unit S2 provided on the lower side of the direction reflects the light emitted by the linear light source 41A, and the reflected light reflects the light to be measured from the illumination direction different from the illumination direction by the linear light source 41A. It is configured by a light reflector 42A that illuminates over the entire width or almost the entire width in the path width direction.

  The outer peripheral part of the rice grain group as the granular body group is a substantially circular shape or a substantially elliptical shape in cross section, and the outer peripheral surface is a curved surface, but for the rice grain group located in the measurement target region J, As described above, by illuminating from different directions, it is possible to illuminate well in a uniform state with as little illumination unevenness as possible.

  The line-shaped light source 41A is provided with a curved diffuse reflector 43 having a matte white coating on the inner surface in a state of covering the back side and part of the side. The light reflector 42A is narrow in the rice grain transfer direction and is formed in a long rectangular shape along the longitudinal direction of the line light source 41A, and the reflection surface is configured as a mirror surface. When the line light source 41A and the light reflector 42A are assembled in the apparatus, the light quantity illuminated by the line light source 41A and the light quantity illuminated by the light reflector 42A are the same in the measurement target region J. Alternatively, the adjustment is performed so that the inclination angle of the linear light source 41A with respect to the measurement target region J becomes an appropriate angle so as to be substantially the same, and then the fixed position is assembled. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the light reflector 42A is configured to be supported by a support bracket 44 that is common to the background light amount adjusting unit 8 as described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the linear light source 41A is positioned on the upper side, that is, the upper side in the transfer direction of the rice grain group, and the light reflector 42A is positioned on the lower side, that is, the lower side in the transfer direction of the rice grain group. Therefore, as will be described later, when the air blowing device 6 for separating defectives is provided on the lower side in the transfer direction than the measurement target region J, the installation space is made as wide as possible without causing interference with the light reflector 42A. It is a configuration that can be installed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front side illumination unit 4B directly applies the upper side outer surface part located on the upper side in the transfer direction of the rice grain group k located in the measurement target region J, similarly to the rear side illumination unit 4A. A line-shaped light source 41B configured by arranging two cylindrical fluorescent lamps to illuminate, and the light emitted from the line-shaped light source 41B is reflected, and the rice grains located in the measurement target region J are reflected by the reflected light. The light reflector 42B illuminates the lower side outer surface portion located on the lower side in the transfer direction, but the arrangement configuration of each member is merely symmetrical with respect to the measurement target region J in the front-rear direction. Other than that, since it is the same as the rear side illumination means 4A, detailed description is omitted.

  The front side light receiving device 5B that receives the reflected light reflected from the front side of the measurement target region J by the illumination light from the front side illumination unit 4B, and the rear side of the measurement target region J is the illumination light from the rear side illumination unit 4A. And a rear surface side light receiving device 5A that receives the reflected light reflected by the light receiving device 5A, and the light receiving devices 5A and 5B constitute light receiving means 5 that receives light from the measurement target region J.

  Each of the light receiving devices 5A and 5B includes a plurality of light receiving elements 5a that receive light from the wide measurement target region J in a state of being juxtaposed along the width direction of the measurement target region J. The detection light from the measurement target region J is received in a resolution state where the smaller range is the unit light reception target range. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, each of the light receiving devices 5A and 5B has a range p smaller than the size of each rice grain in the rice grain group (for example, a range smaller than 1/10 of the size of the rice grain). And a monochrome type CCD sensor unit 50 in which a plurality of light receiving elements 5a having respective light receiving target ranges are arranged side by side in correspondence with the wide measurement target region J, and within a set viewing angle range The optical system 51 includes a condensing lens 51a (see FIG. 17) that functions as a condensing unit that condenses more incident light and guides it to a plurality of light receiving elements. Each of the light receiving devices 5A and 5B receives, as will be described later, an image of the rice grain group k positioned in the measurement target region J over the entire width or almost the entire width of the measurement target region J in the path lateral width direction. For example, the light receiving information is sequentially extracted from each light receiving element 5a from the right end side to the left end side of the measurement target region J in FIG.

A background light amount adjustment unit 8 that projects light toward the light receiving devices 5A and 5B is provided at a position corresponding to the background of the measurement target region J when the measurement target region J is viewed from the light receiving devices 5A and 5B. It has been. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the background light amount adjustment unit 8 includes a plurality of LED light emitting elements 80 that are arranged in a dense state along the horizontal width direction of the measurement target region J, and the plurality of LED light emitting elements 80 are installed. And a diffusing plate 81 for diffusing the light emitted from the plurality of LED light emitting elements 80. Then, an LED substrate 82 on which a plurality of LED light emitting elements 80 are installed is attached inside the casing 83 in a state of being attached to the heat sink 84. As shown in FIG. 7, a light control device 85 that can change and adjust the light emission outputs of the plurality of LED light emitting elements 80 is provided. The light control device 85 is based on a control command from the control device 24 described later. The light emission output of the LED light emitting element 80 is configured to be changed and adjusted.
Although this change adjustment is performed by manual setting, based on the measurement result of the light receiving means 5, based on the command from the control device 24 depending on the type of granular material to be measured. The light amount may be automatically adjusted.

  The light from the measurement target region is received by the light receiving unit 5 so that the light receiving unit 5 receives a reduced image of the image of the measurement target region on each of the apparatus front side and the apparatus rear side of the scheduled transfer path IK. There is provided a light reflection type bent optical path forming means 9 that is folded back in the optical axis direction and guided to the light receiving means 5.

Next, regarding the bent optical path forming means 9 positioned on the rear side of the scheduled transfer path IK, the support structure for the first reflector 10, the second reflector 11, and the light receiving device 5A will be described in detail.
That is, the bending optical path forming means 9 includes a first reflector 10 that reflects light from the measurement target region J, and a second reflector 11 that reflects light reflected by the first reflector 10. And each of the first reflector 10 and the second reflector 11 is formed by forming a light reflection surface in a planar shape, and each of the reflectors 10 and 11 reflects the light. The surfaces 10a and 11a are mirror surfaces, and are formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a support stay 14 bent in a substantially U-shape is provided over the left and right side walls of the storage casing 13 as an apparatus frame. The reflectors 10 and 11 and the light receiving device 5A are supported near the center in the longitudinal direction. That is, the first reflector 10 is attached and supported through the support bracket 15 fixedly extended from the support stay 14. The first reflector 10 is supported by the support bracket 15 so as to be rotatable around the horizontal axis X1 along the horizontal direction of the path, and a plurality of adjusting screws 16 are applied to the reflector 10. It is possible to fix the position of the first reflector 10 by tightening it in the attached state, and the axis of the first reflector 10 can be changed by rotating each adjusting screw 16 to change the position. The tilt angle around X1 can be changed, adjusted and fixed.

  The second reflector 11 and the light receiving device 5 </ b> A are configured to be fixedly attached to the support stay 14 in a state of being integrally assembled by the support 17. That is, the support 17 is composed of a bottom plate 17a and left and right support plates 17b fixed upright from both left and right sides of the bottom plate 17a. It is configured to extend toward the J side, and is configured to be attached in a state where the second reflector 11 is bridged across the left and right support plates 17b in the vicinity of the distal end portion in the extending direction. Similarly to the first reflector 10, the second reflector 11 is supported by the left and right support plates 17b so as to be rotatable around the axis X2 along the lateral direction of the path. It is possible to fix the position of the second reflector 11 by tightening the screw 18 applied to the second reflector 11 and to change the position by rotating each adjustment screw 18. Thus, the tilt angle of the second reflector 11 around the axis X2 can be changed, adjusted and fixed.

  Further, the light receiving device holder 19 for holding the light receiving device 5A is pivotally supported by the left and right support plates 17b so as to be rotatable around the axis X3 along the horizontal direction of the path. The position of the light receiving device holder 19, that is, the light receiving device 5 </ b> A is fixed by tightening the adjusting screws 20 provided on the support plate 17 b on the upper and lower sides of the axis X <b> 3 in contact with the light receiving device holder 19. In addition, the angle of inclination of the light receiving device 5A around the axis X3 can be changed, adjusted, and fixed by rotating each adjusting screw 20 to change the position. Note that an opening 14 </ b> A for allowing the light receiving device holder 19 to rotate is formed at a location of the support stay 14 where the light receiving device 5 </ b> A is located.

  With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 15, the light from the measurement target region J is received in the direction of the optical axis in the light receiving unit 5 so that the light receiving unit 5 receives an image obtained by reducing the image of the measurement target region J (see FIG. A bent optical path forming means 9 is formed which is folded back in the direction along the line OL) and led to the light receiving means 5. The bent optical path forming means 9 located on the front side of the apparatus with respect to the scheduled transfer path IK has the same configuration, and the arrangement configuration is symmetric in the front and rear, and the other configurations are the same.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front side illumination means 4B, the front side light receiving device 5B, the front side background light amount adjusting unit 8, and the front side bent optical path forming means 9 are housed in the front side storage casing 13, and the rear side. The side illuminating means 4A, the rear side light receiving device 5A, the rear side background light amount adjusting unit 8, and the rear side bent optical path forming means 9 are accommodated in a rear casing housing casing 13, and the both casings 13 have side plates. Each storage casing 13 is provided with transmission windows 13A and 13B made of plate-like transparent glass on the side facing the measurement target region J.

  Normal air is blown against defectives such as rice grains and foreign matters determined to be defective based on the light reception information in the measurement target area J at the separation point on the lower side of the path from the measurement target area J of the scheduled transfer path IK. An air spraying device 6 for separating the rice grains k from the moving direction is provided. The air spraying device 6 includes a plurality of spray nozzles 6a and a plurality of sections having a predetermined width over the entire width of the scheduled transfer path IK. The spray nozzles 6a of the sections where defectives are present are operated by juxtaposing them in a state corresponding to the sections divided and formed. Therefore, the air blowing device 6 constitutes a separating unit that separates normal and defective materials in the granular material group transferred to the separation location into different paths. Although not described in detail, the air blowing device 6 is integrated with an air switching valve for switching and operating an air ejection state for changing and adjusting the air state so that the ejection nozzle 6a in a section where a defective object exists is operated. It is the composition which is prepared for.

And for the good rice which collects the normal rice grain k which advances as it is without receiving the blowing of the air from the said injection nozzle 6a among the rice grain groups k which flow down along the predetermined path | route from the lower end part of the shooter 1. Receiving portion 21 and for defective items such as colored rice and shell cracked rice separated from the flow of normal rice grains k by blowing air, or foreign matter such as stones and glass pieces. The receptacle 22 is provided, the receptacle 21 for good rice is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape in the width direction, and the receptacle for defectives is surrounded by the receptacle 21 for good rice. A portion 22 is formed. Note that the rice grains k collected at the receiving part 21 for good rice and the defectives collected at the receiving part 22 for defectives are stored in the storage tank 2 of this apparatus for re-sorting. Or it is conveyed to another sorter.
As shown in FIG. 1, a console 23 for displaying and inputting information is installed in an upper oblique portion on the front side, and a cover K covering the outer surface of the apparatus is attached to the machine frame.

  Next, the control configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, a microcomputer-based control device 24 is provided, and image signals from both the light receiving devices 5 </ b> A and 5 </ b> B and operation information from the console 23 are input to the control device 24. . On the other hand, from the control device 24, a driving signal for the lighting circuit 25 for lighting the line light sources 41A and 41B, a driving signal for a plurality of electromagnetic valves 26 for turning on / off each air supply to each injection nozzle 6a, and A driving signal for the vibration feeder vibration generator 3A and a control command signal to the dimmer 85 are output.

  And using the said control apparatus 24, the light-receiving amount of each said light-receiving device 5A, 5B is sampled by the setting time interval, and the light quantity value of the sampled light-receiving amount is appropriate with respect to the detection light from the normal thing in a rice grain group. A discrimination processing unit 100 as an example of an evaluation unit that discriminates whether or not the light amount ranges ΔE1 and ΔE2 are out of the range is configured. Specifically, the discrimination processing means 100 samples the received light amount of each light receiving element 5a of the light receiving device 5B on the front side at set time intervals, and the sampled light amount value is set for each light receiving element 5a. Whether the light amount is outside the proper light amount range ΔE2 is determined for each light receiving element 5a, and the amount of light received by each light receiving element 5a of the light receiving device 5A on the rear side is sampled at a set time interval, and the sampled light amount value Is determined for each light receiving element 5a to determine whether or not the light amount of each light receiving element 5a is out of the appropriate light amount range ΔE1 set for each light receiving element 5a. The presence of a defective object is detected when it is outside ΔE2.

  Further, the discrimination processing means 100 divides, for each light receiving element 5a of each light receiving device 5A, 5B, a set number of received light quantity data obtained by the sampling from a dark side to a bright side in a plurality of stages. A frequency distribution (also referred to as a histogram) for each light quantity value obtained is obtained, and the appropriate light quantity ranges ΔE1 and ΔE2 are set based on the frequency distribution. Specifically, in a state in which the illumination light amount from the illumination unit 4 is sufficiently stable, first, light from the background light amount adjustment unit 8 is received without flowing the rice grain group k, and the received light amount is inspected. Make sure that the amount of light is sufficient. Next, while flowing the rice grain group k, a set number of received light amount data is sampled for each light receiving element 5a of each light receiving device 5A, 5B, and the received light amount data is converted into 256 steps of digital values. In this case, the air blowing device 6 is not operated.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the discrimination processing means 100 is a continuous region (indicated by diagonal lines in the figure) in which the power value for each light quantity value continuously exists from the dark side to the bright side in the frequency distribution hg. The upper light quantity value TH1 is set in correspondence with the position near the upper end of (shown), and the upper limit value T1 of the appropriate light quantity ranges ΔE1 and ΔE2 is set at a position away from the upper light quantity value TH1 on the bright side by the set light quantity K1. In addition, the lower light amount value TH2 is set in correspondence with the position near the lower end of the continuous region, and the appropriate light amount range ΔE1, is set at a position away from the lower light amount value TH2 on the dark side by the set light amount K2. The lower limit value T2 of ΔE2 is set. The setting of the upper light quantity value TH1 and the lower light quantity value TH2 will be described later. The set light amounts K1 and K2 are set in advance as control constants.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the discrimination processing means 100 is brighter than the upper light quantity value TH1 in the set number of received light quantity data obtained for each set time by the sampling. When the light quantity value is included, the upper light quantity value TH1 is moved by a set amount to the bright side, while the set number of received light quantity data does not include a light quantity value brighter than the upper light quantity value TH1. When the upper light quantity value TH1 is moved to the dark side by a set amount, and the received light quantity data of the set number includes a light quantity value that is darker than the lower light quantity value TH2, the lower While the side light quantity value TH2 is moved to the dark side by a set amount, when the light quantity data of the set number does not include a light quantity value darker than the lower light quantity value TH2, the lower light quantity value TH2 is changed. Move the set amount to the bright side Performing cell correction process for each set time.

The set amount is one step in the 256-step received light amount data, and the values of the set light amounts K1 and K2 are set to values larger than the set values. In (a) of FIG. 9, since a light quantity value brighter than the upper light quantity value TH1 is included in the set number of received light quantity data obtained by sampling, the upper light quantity value TH1 is increased by one step on the bright side. On the other hand, since the light amount value darker than the lower light amount value TH2 is not included, the lower light amount value TH2 is moved to the bright side by one step, and the lower light amount value TH2 is just at the lower end of the continuous region. The position is shown.
In FIG. 9 (b), after (a), both the light quantity value brighter than the upper light quantity value TH1 and the light quantity value darker than the lower light quantity value TH2 are included in the set number of received light quantity data obtained by sampling. Since it is not included, the upper light amount value TH1 is moved one step to the dark side, and the lower light amount value TH2 is moved one step to the bright side.
In FIG. 9C, after (B), since the light quantity data of the set number obtained by sampling does not include a light quantity value brighter than the upper light quantity value TH1, the upper light quantity value TH1 is darkened. While the light amount value darker than the lower light amount value TH2 is included, the lower light amount value TH2 is moved one step toward the dark side.
Thereafter, by performing the same correction process, the upper light amount value TH1 is fixed at or near the upper end portion of the continuous region, and the lower light amount value TH2 is fixed at or near the lower end portion of the continuous region. Become.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the discrimination processing means 100 is configured to detect the difference U1 between the light amount value U1 between the upper end light amount value U1 corresponding to the upper end portion of the continuous region and the lower end light amount value D1 corresponding to the lower end portion of the continuous region. When -D1 is larger than the set value HK, the correction process is executed, and when the light amount difference U1-D1 between the upper end light amount value U1 and the lower end light amount value D1 is smaller than the set value HK, The correction process is configured to stop.
That is, the set value HK is set so that the difference U1-D1 in the light amount value is larger than the set value HK as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. When the rice grain group does not pass through the measurement target region J, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 10, in order to receive only the reflected light from the reflectors 8A and 8B, the frequency distribution of the received light amount data Corresponding to the narrowing of the width of the hg continuous area, the light amount difference UH−DH between the upper end light amount value UH and the lower end light amount value DH is set to be smaller than the set value HK.
Therefore, when the rice grain group passes the measurement target region J, the correction process is executed, and the upper limit value T1 and the lower limit value T2 of the appropriate light amount ranges ΔE1, ΔE2 are sequentially corrected. When the region J has not been passed, the execution of the correction process is stopped, and the upper limit value T1 and the lower limit value T2 of the appropriate light amount ranges ΔE1, ΔE2 when the rice grain group has passed the measurement target region J immediately before. The value of is held.

As described above, the upper limit value T1 and the lower limit value T2 of the appropriate light amount ranges ΔE1, ΔE2 on the front side and the rear side set and corrected for each light receiving element 5a of each line sensor 5A, 5B are as shown in FIG. 11, the data is stored in a memory LUT (front side and rear side LUT) in the control device 24 as a lookup table for defect detection processing.
That is, for each light receiving element 5a represented by position data i (i = 0 to [number of light receiving elements-1]), a range of all light amount values j (the 256 step light amount values) that can take the sensor output voltage. If each value j is within the appropriate light quantity range ΔE1, ΔE2 while changing the value, “0” is stored as a determination output in the corresponding address (i, j) of the memory LUT, and the appropriate light quantity ranges ΔE1, ΔE2 are set. If not, “1” is stored as the determination output at the corresponding address (i, j) of the memory LUT. When the determination is made, the position data i (i = 0 to [the number of light receiving elements−1]) of the light receiving elements 5a of the line sensors 5A and 5B and the position thereof are determined with respect to the memory LUT created above. When the light quantity value j of each light receiving element 5a at i is input, a determination output “0” is output for each light receiving element 5a when it is normal, and a determination output “1” is output when it is defective. Therefore, the determination is performed based on this.

  FIG. 12 exemplifies the determination of defectives in the light receiving outputs of the light receiving devices 5A and 5B. In FIG. 12, e0 is an output voltage level with respect to standard reflected light from normal rice grains. When the output voltage of the light receiving element 5a is smaller than the appropriate light amount range ΔE1, ΔE2, e1 and e2 are higher than normal rice grains. Also, the presence of a defective rice grain or the like having a low light reflectance is determined, and if it is larger than the appropriate light amount ranges ΔE1 and ΔE2, the presence of a foreign substance having a reflectance higher than that of a normal rice grain is determined.

  And when the presence of a defective thing is discriminate | determined among the rice grain groups k which passed the measurement object area | region J, the control apparatus 24 conveys the rice grain group k from the measurement object area | region J to the injection position of the injection nozzle 6a. As the time interval required for the operation has elapsed, the air blowing device 6 is operated to blow the air from the spray nozzles 6a in the section corresponding to the position of the defective product to separate it from the normal rice grain path. Then, normal rice grains are collected in the receiving portion 21 for good rice, and foreign substances such as defective rice or stones and glass pieces are collected in the receiving portion 22 for defective items. Therefore, in this embodiment, a plurality of unit light receiving ranges corresponding to a plurality of unit light receiving target ranges in the measurement target region based on the light receiving information of the light receiving unit by the discrimination processing unit 100 configured by the control device 24. Evaluation means for evaluating the amount of received light is configured for each.

Next, the appropriate light quantity range setting process and the appropriate light quantity range correction process will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
In the setting process of the appropriate light amount range, after turning on the power of the apparatus, first, the reflected light from each of the reflecting plates 8A and 8B for each light receiving element 5a in a state where rice grains are not supplied to the measurement target region J. A set number of received light amount data are sampled, and an average value Ta of the received light amount data is obtained for each light receiving element 5a. At this time, based on the average value Ta of the received light amount data for each light receiving element 5a, it is confirmed that the received light amount from each background light amount adjusting unit 8 is a sufficient amount of light for inspection.

  Next, in the state where the supply of rice grains to the measurement target region J is started, the received light amount data of a set number of light from the measurement target region J is sampled for each light receiving element 5a in the same manner as described above. When sampling is completed, the supply of rice grains to the measurement target region J is stopped. For each light receiving element 5a, the maximum light amount value Tmax and the minimum light amount value Tmin of the light reception amount data are obtained, and the upper side deviation ΔT1 (Tmax−Ta) and the lower side deviation ΔT2 (Ta−Tmin) from the average value Ta. In order to remove the extremely large value of the upper side deviation ΔT1 and the lower side deviation ΔT2 corresponding to the number of the light receiving elements, the larger one of the upper side deviation ΔT1 and the lower side deviation ΔT2 Choose the nth (eg 10th) one.

  Next, the selected upper deviation ΔT1 is added to the average value Ta to obtain an upper set value TH1, and further, the set value K1 is added to the upper set value TH1 to obtain an upper limit value of the appropriate light quantity ranges ΔE1 and ΔE2. The process of obtaining T1, and subtracting the selected lower deviation ΔT2 from the average value Ta to obtain the lower set value TH2, and further subtracting the set value K2 from the lower set value TH2 The process of obtaining the lower limit value T2 of the appropriate light amount ranges ΔE1 and ΔE2 is performed for each light receiving element 5a, and finally, the memory LUT is created based on the set upper limit value T1 and lower limit value T2.

  In the correction process of the appropriate light amount range, rice grains are supplied to the measurement target region J, and it is determined whether the light reception amount of each light receiving element 5a is out of the appropriate light amount ranges ΔE1 and ΔE2. For each light receiving element 5a, a set number of received light quantity data is sampled every set time (for example, several seconds to several tens of seconds), and the frequency distribution is created for the sampled received light quantity data. Next, it is determined whether or not the difference U1-D1 between the upper end light amount value U1 and the lower end light amount value D1 of the continuous region in the frequency distribution is larger than the set value HK, and the difference between the light amount values U1-D1. Is not larger than the set value HK, the following processing is not performed.

  When the light quantity value difference U1-D1 is larger than the set value HK, first, if there is light quantity value data brighter than the current upper set value TH1 in the frequency distribution, the upper set value TH1. Is increased by 1 and if there is no light quantity value data brighter than the current upper set value TH1, the value of the upper set value TH1 is decreased by 1. Next, in the frequency distribution, if there is light quantity value data darker than the current lower set value TH2, the value of the lower set value TH2 is decreased by 1 to make it lower than the current lower set value TH2. If there is no dark light quantity value data, the lower set value TH2 is incremented by one.

  Finally, the upper limit value T1 and the lower limit value T2 of the appropriate light quantity ranges ΔE1, ΔE2 are changed in accordance with the change of the upper set value TH1 and the lower set value TH2, and the changed upper limit value T1 and lower limit value T2 are converted into data. Based on this, the contents of the memory LUT are modified.

  And the control apparatus 24 is based on the discrimination | determination information of a defect, When the defect of a rice grain or presence of a foreign material is discriminate | determined among the rice grain groups k transferred to the measurement object area | region J of both the said light receiving devices 5A and 5B. As the transfer time from the measurement target region J to the air injection position by the injection nozzle 6a elapses, the defective rice grains or foreign matters flowing down from each injection nozzle 6a in the section corresponding to the position. Blow air away from the normal rice grain path.

[Another embodiment]
Next, another embodiment of the particulate inspection apparatus will be described.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the bending optical path forming unit reflects the light reflected by the first light reflector and the first light reflector that reflects the light from the measurement target region. A second light reflector that leads to the light receiving means, and each of the first light reflector and the second light reflector is formed by forming a light reflecting surface in a planar shape. However, instead of such a configuration, the following configuration may be used.

That is, the bent optical path forming means reflects the first light reflector that reflects the light from the measurement target region, and the second light that reflects the light reflected by the first light reflector and guides it to the light receiving means. The light reflecting surface of the first light reflector is formed in a concave shape, and the light reflecting surface of the second light reflector is formed in a planar shape or a convex shape. It may be configured. For example, as shown in FIG. 16 (a), the first light reflector 10A has a light reflecting surface formed in a concave shape, and the light reflecting surface of the second light reflector 11 has a planar shape similar to that of the above embodiment. It is good also as what is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 16 (b), the first light reflector 10A may be formed with a light reflecting surface having a concave shape and the light reflecting surface of the second light reflector 11A may be formed with a convex shape. Good.
At this time, the dimension of the first light reflector in the path width direction is substantially the same as the width in the path width direction in the measurement target area. Can be reflected in the second light reflector in a state in which the image of the measurement target region is reduced.

  Further, the bending optical path forming means is not limited to a configuration including two reflectors, and may be a configuration including one reflector, or a configuration including three or more reflectors. Any structure may be used as long as the light from the measurement target region is folded back in the optical axis direction of the light receiving unit and guided to the light receiving unit so that the light receiving unit receives the reduced image.

(2) In the above embodiment, each of the first reflector and the second reflector is configured such that the inclination angle can be changed and adjusted by the adjusting screw. However, such an angle adjusting means is provided. It is good also as a structure provided with a position fixed state without.

(3) In the above embodiment, when the evaluation unit evaluates the granular material based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit is an appropriate light amount. If it is not out of the range, it is determined as a normal object, and if the amount of received light is out of the appropriate light amount range, it is determined as an abnormal object. It may be configured so as to evaluate and sort small and large particles.

(4) In the above embodiment, as the light receiving means, the front side light receiving means 5B located on the front side of the apparatus of the scheduled transfer path IK and the rear side light receiving means 5A located on the rear side of the apparatus are provided. As described above, the front side illumination unit 4B located on the front side of the apparatus in the scheduled transfer path IK and the rear side illumination unit 4A located on the rear side of the apparatus are provided. However, the front side light receiving unit 5B and the front side illumination unit 4B are provided. It is good also as a structure provided only with 5 A of back surface side light-receiving means, and 4 A of back surface side illumination means.

(5) In the above embodiment, each of the front-side illumination unit 4B and the rear-side illumination unit 4A serving as the illumination unit directly illuminates the measurement target region, and the light emitted from the line-shaped light source. The illumination light reflector for illuminating the measurement target region from a direction different from the illumination direction of the line-shaped light source is illustrated as an example. For example, a plurality of line light sources may be provided, and the measurement target regions may be illuminated from different directions by the plurality of line light sources.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, the object transfer means is exemplified as having the flat shooter formed on the flat guide surface over the entire width in the path width direction, but is not limited to such a structure. For example, it may be configured by a grooved shooter formed in a state where linear grooves are arranged in a plurality of rows along the path width direction, and the granular material group may be transferred by the plurality of rows of grooves.

(7) In the above embodiment, the light receiving means may be a tube tube type television camera in addition to the monochrome type CCD sensor. Further, instead of a monochrome type, a color type CCD sensor may be used, and for example, the presence or absence of defective rice or foreign matter may be determined with higher accuracy from the amount of received light for each of the color information R, G, and B.

(8) In the above embodiment, the separation means sprays air on the defective object and separates it into a path different from the normal object. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the defective object is sucked with air. May be separated by mechanical contact, or may be separated by mechanical contact action.

(9) In the above embodiment, the case where the granular material group is the rice grain group is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, inspecting the presence or absence of defectives or foreign matters in resin pellets or the like.

Whole side view of powder inspection equipment Side view of the main part Perspective view of the main part The figure which shows the structure of a background light quantity adjustment part The figure which shows the structure of a bending optical path formation means The figure which shows the structure of a bending optical path formation means Block diagram of control configuration The figure which shows the light reception state of the light receiving means Graph explaining the setting and correction processing of the appropriate light amount range Graph explaining the correction process for the appropriate light intensity range Block diagram of memory for defect determination Waveform diagram of line sensor light receiving output voltage Flow chart of control operation Flow chart of control operation The figure which shows schematic structure of a bending optical path formation means The figure which shows the structure of the bending optical path formation means in another embodiment. Explanatory drawing showing the light receiving state of the light receiving means The figure for demonstrating the subject of this invention

Explanation of symbols

4 Illuminating means 5 Light receiving means 6 Separating means 9 Bending optical path forming means 10 First reflector 10a Reflecting surface 11 Second reflector 11a Reflecting surface 41A, 41B Linear light sources 42A, 42B Illuminating light reflector 100 Evaluation means TI object transfer means

Claims (5)

An object transfer means for transferring the granular material group in a horizontally expanded state arranged in a plurality of rows along the path width direction while passing through the measurement target region;
A light receiving means for receiving light from the measurement target region in a resolution state in which a range smaller than the size of the granular body is a unit light reception target range and having a viewing angle widening in the path width direction;
Illuminating means for illuminating the entire width or almost the entire width of the measurement target region in the path width direction;
A granular material sorting apparatus provided with evaluation means for evaluating the amount of received light for each of a plurality of unit light receiving ranges corresponding to a plurality of unit light receiving target ranges in the measurement target region based on light reception information of the light receiving means. ,
Forming a light-reflecting bent optical path that folds light from the measurement target area in the optical axis direction of the light receiving means and guides it to the light receiving means so that the light receiving means receives a reduced image of the image of the measurement target area A granular material sorting apparatus comprising means. The bending optical path forming means is
A first light reflector that reflects light from the measurement target region, and a second light reflector that reflects the light reflected by the first light reflector and guides it to the light receiving means. The granular material sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first light reflector and the second light reflector is formed by forming a light reflection surface in a planar shape. The bending optical path forming means is
A first light reflector that reflects light from the measurement target region, and a second light reflector that reflects the light reflected by the first light reflector and guides it to the light receiving means. The light reflecting surface of the first light reflector is formed in a concave shape, and the light reflecting surface of the second light reflector is formed in a planar shape or a convex shape. The granular material sorting apparatus as described. The evaluation means evaluates as a normal object if the amount of light received by the light receiving means is not outside the proper light amount range, and evaluates as an abnormal object if the light reception amount is outside the appropriate light amount range. Configured,
Based on the evaluation result of the evaluation means, the granular material evaluated as the normal material and the granular material evaluated as the abnormal material at a location on the lower side of the granular material transfer direction by the object transfer means than the measurement target region. And separating means for separating and sorting into different transfer paths,
When the illumination means is viewed in a direction along the path width direction of the measurement target region, each of the upper side and the lower side in the granular material transfer direction with respect to the optical axis when the light receiving means receives the detection light. An illumination unit is provided, and one of the illumination unit provided on the upper side of the granular material transfer direction and the illumination unit provided on the lower side of the granular material transfer direction directly illuminates the measurement target region A light source and the other of the illumination unit provided on the upper side of the granular material transfer direction and the illumination unit provided on the lower side of the granular material transfer direction is the light emitted from the line light source. The granular material sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a light reflector that reflects and illuminates the measurement target region with the reflected light.   The illumination light reflector and the line light source are provided in a state of being aligned along the granular material transport direction, and the illumination light reflector is more in the granular material transport direction than the line light source. The granular material sorter according to claim 4, which is provided in a state of being located on the lower side.

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