JP2008018419A - Optical body division sorting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical body division sorting machine not erroneously determining a normal grain having no crack portion by an embryonic portion and surface scratches as a body division grain when the body division grain mixed into a material rice grain is optically determined. <P>SOLUTION: In a determination part in a body division determination means 18, a first rice grain image (existence of embryonic portion and surface scratches) is obtained from transmission light of the rice grain light-received by a first CCD sensor built-in in a CCD camera of an optical detection means 6, a second rice grain image (existence of body division portion, embryonic portion and surface scratches) is obtained based on a transmission light of the rice grain light-received by a second CCD sensor built-in in the CCD camera, and a difference of the light amount of the rice grain image of both is operated, thereby, an image of only the crack portion is obtained to determine the body division grain. Thereby, determination of the body division grain can be accurately performed without receiving an adverse influence by the embryonic portion and the surface scratches and a yield of a product is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical body split sorting machine that optically discriminates and sorts shell split grains contained in raw rice grains such as brown rice and polished rice.

  Conventionally, the optical body split sorter that optically discriminates and sorts rice grains having cracks inside (hereinafter referred to as “body split grains”) contained in the raw rice grains is known, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose the above. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, this optical body split sorter 100 constitutes an inclined chute 200 that feeds raw rice grains downward and moves the raw rice grains to a falling locus G in the vicinity of the lower end of the inclined chute 200. The optical detection means 300 and the sorting means 400 are disposed at the position along the line. The optical detection means 300 is disposed on one side of the falling locus G, and is disposed on the other side with an irradiation unit 300a that irradiates the optical detection position P on the falling locus G with a linear laser beam, A CCD camera 300b for detecting light at the optical detection position P. The optical body split sorter 100 configured as described above causes the raw rice grains to flow down by the inclined chute 200, and when the raw rice grains pass the optical detection position P of the fall locus G, the optical detection means 300 Each rice grain is irradiated with laser light, and the transmitted light is received by the CCD camera 300b. Based on the detected light reception data, the body split discriminating means 500 is used to perform signal processing to identify the split grain. The torn shell grains were sorted by the sorting means 400.

JP 2005-265519 A Japanese Patent No. 3642172

By the way, the optical body split sorter 100 has the following problems. The torso split discriminating means 500 identifies an overall image (overall image) of each rice grain based on the received light data, and a linear dark shadow data portion corresponding to a crack portion in the identified overall image of each rice grain. When it is detected, it is discriminated as a torn body. However, rice grains have a germ portion, and the surface may have a skin shift (scratch), and this germ portion and the skin shift portion adversely affect the discrimination accuracy when discriminating the torso. I found out. In other words, if there are germ parts and skin misalignment parts in the rice grain, these parts also appear as dark shadows, just like crack parts. The product was misclassified and selected, which was a factor in reducing the product yield.
Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an optical waist sorter that does not erroneously discriminate normal grains that do not have cracks due to embryo parts or skin misalignment parts as body split grains when discriminating the torso. It is a technical subject to provide

In order to solve the above problem, according to claim 1,
Transfer means for aligning and transferring each rice grain of raw material;
An irradiation unit for irradiating the optical detection position in the falling locus of the rice grains emitted from the transfer means and a CCD sensor for detecting transmitted light from each rice grain passing through the optical detection positions. An optical detection means for optical detection by providing a CCD camera;
A body split discriminating means for discriminating the body split grain by detecting the presence or absence of cracks in each rice grain based on the transmitted light detected by the optical detection means;
Sorting means for sorting the body split grains determined by the body split discrimination means;
In an optical body split sorter having
The CCD camera is disposed at a position where the optical axis of the CCD camera intersects at a substantially right angle at the optical detection position of the fall locus, and the first CCD sensor and the second CCD sensor which individually receive light of a plurality of different colors. With
The irradiation unit includes a first color irradiation unit and a second color irradiation unit that irradiate light of different colors from 600 nm to 710 nm red light, 500 nm to 580 nm green light, and 420 nm to 520 nm blue light. The first color irradiation unit is disposed on the optical axis of the CCD camera that has passed through the optical detection position, or the optical detection is performed on one side and the other side across the optical axis of the CCD camera. One irradiation unit and the other irradiation unit are individually disposed at a position where the inner angles formed by the optical axes of the positions and the optical axis of the CCD camera are substantially the same, and the second color irradiation unit is Arranged at a position that does not overlap with the optical axis of the CCD camera,
The body split discrimination means creates a first rice grain image from the transmitted light detected by the first CCD sensor and creates a second rice grain image from the transmitted light detected by the second CCD sensor. Provided a discriminator for calculating the difference in the amount of light between the rice grain image and the second rice grain image to identify the cracked part in the rice grain and discriminate the body split grain,
Technical measures were taken.

  According to the optical torso sorter according to the present invention, the discriminating part provided in the torso discriminating means detects the cracked part, the germ part and the skin deviation part based on the transmitted light detected by the first CCD sensor built in the CCD camera. A first rice grain image is formed, and a second rice grain image in which a germ portion and a skin shift portion appear and a crack portion does not appear based on the transmitted light detected by the second CCD sensor built in the CCD camera is formed. Forming and calculating the light amount difference between the two images to cancel (determine) only the crack image by canceling the image of the germ portion and the skin shift portion. Therefore, when discriminating the torso split grains, there is no possibility of erroneously discriminating normal grains that do not have cracks due to the influence of the image of the embryo part and the skin shift part as the torn split grains. Therefore, it becomes possible to accurately sort the body split grains, and the product yield is improved.

  FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an optical body split sorter 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main part. The optical body split sorter 1 includes a raw material tank 2 for storing raw rice grains K, a vibrating feeder 4 for sequentially feeding raw rice grains discharged from the raw material tank 2 to an inclined chute 3 to be described later, A transfer means 5 comprising an inclined chute 3 is configured. In this embodiment, the downward inclination angle of the inclined chute 3 is 45 degrees. A plurality of grooves 3a are formed adjacent to the inclined surface of the inclined chute 3 along the flow direction, and the raw rice grains K are made to flow in alignment with the length direction of the rice grains (FIG. 3 (a)). )reference). In this embodiment, the width W of the groove 3a is 3.3 millimeters corresponding to the width dimension of the rice grain K. In the vicinity of the lower end portion of the inclined chute 3, an optical detection means 6 and a sorting means 6a are sequentially arranged at a position along the rice grain drop locus G.

  The optical detection means 6 has an optical detection position P on the fall locus G as a center, and constitutes an irradiation unit 7 on one side and a CCD camera 8 on the other side (see FIG. 2). The irradiation unit 7 includes a first color irradiation unit 9 that irradiates the optical detection position P with a first color light (green light in the present embodiment), and light of a color different from the first color irradiation unit 9 ( In this embodiment, the second color irradiating unit 10 irradiates red light). The first color irradiating unit 9 includes a first irradiating unit 12 provided on one side of the optical axis 11 of the CCD camera 8 and a second irradiating unit 13 provided on the other side. The one irradiating unit 12 and the other irradiating unit 13 include an inner angle α1 formed by the optical axis (optical path) 12a of the one irradiating unit 12 and the optical axis 11 of the CCD camera 8, and the optical axis ( (Optical path) 13a and the inner angle α2 formed by the optical axis 11 of the CCD camera 8 are arranged at positions where they are substantially the same angle. In this embodiment, the inner angle α1 and the inner angle α2 are both 25 degrees. Even if the inner angles α1 and α2 are slightly different due to the assembly errors of the CCD camera 8 and the irradiating unit 7, both angles are included in the range of the substantially same angle. On the other hand, the second color irradiation unit 10 is disposed at a position where the optical axis 10 a of the irradiation light of the second color irradiation unit 10 does not overlap with the optical axis 11 of the CCD camera 8. The CCD is an abbreviation for “Charge Coupled Devices”.

  The first color irradiation unit 9, the first irradiation unit 12, the other irradiation unit 13, and the second color irradiation unit 10 can each irradiate light having directivity with respect to the optical detection position P. To do. For example, a line laser light emitter may be used, but more preferably, an LED (light emitting diode) with little variation in irradiation light in the left-right direction may be used. When each LED is used, each LED is composed of an LED element 13b and a condenser lens 13c as shown in FIG. 2, and the light emitted from the LED element 13b is reflected by the condenser lens 13c as shown by a broken line in FIG. The light is condensed and irradiated to the optical detection position P in a horizontal line.

  The first color irradiation unit 9 using an LED uses green light of 500 nm to 580 nm, and the LED element used in this example has a center wavelength of 520 nm and a half width of 50 mm. Similarly, the second color irradiation unit 10 using LEDs used red light of 600 nm to 710 nm, and the LED elements used in this example were those having a center wavelength of 630 nm and a half width of 18 mm. In the present invention, the first color irradiating unit 9 and the second color irradiating unit 10 need only be able to irradiate light of different colors as described above. In addition to the combination of red light, it may be combined with blue light of 400 nm to 520 nm. The light amount adjustment of the first color irradiation unit 9 and the second color irradiation unit 10 will be described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the CCD camera 8 includes a lens 14, a dichroic prism (spectral means) 15, a color CCD line sensor (first CCD sensor) 16, and a color CCD in order from the light incident direction. A line sensor (second CCD sensor) 17 is provided. The color CCD line sensor 16 detects red transmitted light from the transmitted light detected from the rice grains K at the optical detection position P by the spectral action of the dichroic prism (spectral means) 15, while the color CCD line is detected. Similarly, the sensor 17 detects green transmitted light by the spectral action of the dichroic prism 15. Each of the color CCD line sensor 16 and the color CCD line sensor 17 is connected to the body split discriminating means 18 so as to send detected transmitted light data (electrical signal).

  The color CCD line sensor 16 and the color CCD line sensor 17 are composed of a plurality of light receiving elements connected in a line shape (in a horizontal row) as conceptually shown in FIG. A plurality of light receiving elements are assigned to each of the plurality of grooves (channels) 3a so that the transmitted light from the rice grains K falling from the grooves (channels) 3a can be received. Further, by integrating the lens 14, the dichroic prism 15, the color CCD line sensor 16 and the color CCD line sensor 17, etc., the rice grains are based on the transmitted light of the two colors (two wavelengths) detected from the same rice grain K. There is no deviation between the rice grain images when forming the image.

  In the present embodiment, the selecting means 6a is high-pressure air blasting means 6a that blasts high-pressure air like an air gun. In addition, a plate spring type using a solenoid is used. Also good. The high-pressure air blowing means 6a has one blowing port 6c for each groove (channel) 3a so as to blow high-pressure air toward the dropping locus G below the optical detection position P. A nozzle 6b formed by connecting a plurality of provided jet nozzles 6c is provided (FIG. 3B). Each jet port 6c of the nozzle 6b is connected to each electromagnetic valve via a pipe line, and each electromagnetic valve communicates with a high-pressure air source. Each of the solenoid valves is connected to the ejector valve driving means 25, and receives a blast signal from the ejector valve driving means 25 to instantaneously open and close the valves. Thereby, high-pressure air such as an air gun is instantaneously blown, and defective particles are removed from the drop locus G and sorted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the body split discrimination means 18 includes an input / output circuit (I / O) 19 connected to each of the color CCD line sensor 16 and the color CCD line sensor 17 built in the CCD camera 8, and An image processing circuit 20 connected to the input / output circuit (I / O) 19, a central processing unit (CPU) 21 and a read / write storage unit (RAM) 22 connected to the image processing circuit 20, and the central processing unit 21 includes a read-only memory (ROM) 23 and an input / output circuit (I / O) 24 connected to 21. The input / output circuit 24 is connected to the ejector valve driving means 25. In the present embodiment, the determination unit 18 a refers to the image processing circuit 20, the central processing unit 21, the read / write storage unit 22, and the read-only storage unit 23.

  Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. The raw material rice grains K are sequentially supplied from the raw material tank 2 to the upstream side of the inclined chute 3 by the vibration action of the vibration feeder 4 which is the transfer means 5. Each raw rice grain K supplied to the inclined chute 3 enters the groove 3a, flows down while the direction (posture) of the rice grains is aligned in the length direction, and is discharged from the terminal portion. Each released raw rice grain K falls in the posture along the fall trajectory G, and is always lit when passing through the optical detection position P. The green light from the first color irradiation unit 9 is always lit. And red light from the second color irradiation unit 10 are irradiated.

  The CCD camera 8 detects the transmitted light from each rice grain K that has received green and red irradiation light at the optical detection position P. The transmitted light is split into green light and red light by the dichroic prism 15 after passing through the lens 14 of the CCD camera 8, and the green transmitted light is scanned (received) by the color CCD line sensor 17. Is transmitted (received) by the color CCD line sensor 16.

  The light reception signal (red) scanned by the color CCD line sensor 16 is sequentially sent to the image processing circuit 20 via the I / O 19 of the body split discrimination means 18, and the image processing circuit 20 is sequentially detected. A rice grain image (image) at the optical detection position P (on the horizontal line) is formed based on the red transmitted light. Each rice grain image (image) created based on this red transmitted light is shown in FIG. 6 (a), in which each image of the cracked part, the germ part and the skin misalignment part appears in the whole shape of the rice grain. It becomes the 1st rice grain image (there is a crack part, an embryo part, and a skin shift part). The first rice grain image is sequentially stored in the RAM 22.

  On the other hand, the light reception signal (green) scanned by the color CCD line sensor 17 is also sequentially sent to the image processing circuit 20 in the torso splitting discriminating means 18 via the I / O 19. A rice grain image (image) at the optical detection position P (on the horizontal line) is formed based on the sequentially detected green transmitted light. As shown in FIG. 6B, each rice grain image (image) based on the green transmitted light is an image of only the germ part and the skin misalignment part without the crack part appearing in the whole shape of the rice grain. Is a second rice grain image (see FIG. 6B).

  As described above, the cracked portion does not appear (is not detected) in the second rice grain image because the irradiation light from the one irradiation unit 12 and the other irradiation unit 13 is centered on the optical axis 11 of the CCD camera 8. This is because dark shadows caused by light being refracted at the cracked part cancel each other against the same angle (the inner angle α1 = inner angle α2) with respect to the rice grain (trunk grain) K at the detection position P, When light is irradiated from only one oblique direction to the rice grain (trunk grain) K, the light is refracted at the crack portion, and a dark shadow appears on the surface of the rice grain. If the inner angles α1 and α2 are 70 degrees or less, the same effect can be obtained. When the internal angle exceeds 70 degrees, dark shadows at the cracked portion are emphasized and cancellation is incomplete, and problems such as a decrease in detection accuracy of the skin shift portion and the germ portion occur. The second rice grain image 2 (FIG. 6B) is stored in the RAM 22 sequentially.

  Next, the first rice grain image and the second rice grain image are read from the RAM 22, and the second rice grain image (germ part and skin) is determined from the light quantity of the first rice grain image (crack part, embryo part and skin displacement part). A subtraction process is performed to subtract the amount of light (only the shift portion) (FIG. 7). By this subtraction process, both the germ portion and the skin displacement portion are canceled and canceled, so that only the crack portion remains in the obtained image. As a result, it is possible to take out a crack image of only the waist part (see crack image).

  In addition, the light quantity of the said 1st color irradiation part 9 and the 2nd color irradiation part 10 is an embryo part between a 1st rice grain image and a 2nd rice grain image by a subtraction process, as shown in the said FIG. It is necessary to make adjustments in advance so that only the crack image remains, so that the image (light amount), the image of the skin misalignment portion (light amount), and the rice grain contours are canceled out and do not remain in the image as much as possible. In the unlikely event that the image of the germ part (light quantity), the image of the skin shift part (light quantity) and the image of the rice grain outline remain thin, for example, it is binarized by a threshold value that distinguishes it from the light quantity of the crack image It is only necessary to perform processing and clarify only the crack image.

  The subtraction process shown in FIG. 7 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, each rice grain cross section of the first rice grain image (crack part, germ part and skin slip part) and second rice grain image (only germ part and skin slip part) shown in A. of FIG. The amount of light (waveform) in a continuous row of imaging data) is taken as a graph, and the subtraction process will be specifically described using this amount of light (waveform). First, B. (1) of FIG. 8 shows the light quantity (waveform) in each rice grain cross section of the first rice grain image and the second rice grain image, and as shown in the figure, cracks and germs are formed in the waveform. A part and a skin shift part are detected. Next, the difference between the two waveforms shown in (1) above is calculated, and as a result, the waveform shown in B. (2) of FIG. 8 is obtained. Thereby, the sprouting waveform corresponding to the crack portion is detected by the germ portion and the skin shift portion canceling each other in each rice grain image. Next, the process of raising the waveform level of the cracked portion shown in (2) above from the minus region to the plus region is performed, and the waveform obtained by this processing is shown in FIG. Furthermore, the waveform shown in the above (3) is subjected to differential processing to clarify the waveform of the crack portion, and the waveform obtained by this processing is shown in FIG. In this way, the light amount subtraction process in the first rice grain image and the second rice grain image is performed in units of each rice grain cross section (a sequence of continuous imaging data), leaving only the crack image.

  Next, the CPU 21 counts the number of pixels of the crack image left as described above. The number of counts is compared with a threshold value for discriminating the body division set in advance in the ROM 23, that is, the number of continuous pixels for judging the body portion, and if the comparison result is equal to or greater than the threshold value, Is determined (specified). On the other hand, if the count is less than the threshold value, the body split portion is canceled and this is not determined as the body split grain.

  Next, when the cylinder split grains are specified, the CPU 21 outputs a signal to the ejector valve drive circuit 25 via the I / O 24, and the ejector valve drive circuit 25 detects each of the grooves in which the cylinder split grains are detected. (Channel) The electromagnetic valve in the high-pressure air blast means 6a corresponding to 3a is operated with a predetermined delay time to generate a blast signal to actuate the electromagnetic valve, and the jet is emitted from the blast port 6c of the nozzle 6b corresponding thereto. The body split grains are selected from the fall locus G by wind (air gun). At this time, the center position and the like of the torn grains are detected by a known method (for example, Japanese Patent No. 3722354), and a signal is output to the solenoid valve corresponding to the detected center position to determine the center position of the torn grains. It is also possible to make a blast and to sort the torn grains more reliably.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if the rice grain has a germ portion or a skin slip portion in addition to the crack portion, the image of the germ portion or the skin slip portion is canceled to obtain a crack image of only the crack portion. Therefore, when discriminating the body split grain, normal grains that do not have cracks are not erroneously discriminated as body split grains based on the image of the embryo part or the skin shift part. Therefore, it becomes possible to accurately discriminate and sort the torn grains, which improves the product yield.

  In addition, in the said Example, although said 1st color irradiation part 9 was comprised by two of the one irradiation part 12 and the other irradiation part 13, you may comprise by one (refer FIG. 9). When the first color irradiation unit 9 is composed of a single piece, the inner angle is set to 0 (zero), and the irradiation optical axis 9a of the first color irradiation unit 9 is the optical axis 11 of the CCD camera 8. It is necessary to arrange at a position where polymerization occurs. Thereby, the same effect as the said invention is obtained.

  In the present invention, when obtaining an image of a crack portion by canceling an image of a germ portion or a skin shift portion by subtraction processing, in the above embodiment, the first rice grain image 1 to the second rice grain image are used. However, on the contrary, the first rice grain image may be subtracted from the second rice grain image to obtain a crack image of the crack portion.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the CCD sensor is composed of two of the color CCD line sensor 17 and the color CCD line sensor 16, but may be one. For this purpose, for example, a filter that transmits green light and a filter that transmits red light are alternately mounted on adjacent light receiving elements in the color CCD line sensor, and the first light is received based on reception of each color. A rice grain image 1 and a second rice grain image can also be created.

  As a modification of the present invention, the first color irradiating unit 9 and the second color irradiating unit 10 are alternately lit, and the light receiving sensor (CCD sensor) is composed of one color light (one wavelength), The light by each lighting can be received, respectively, and the first rice grain image 1 and the second rice grain image can be created based on the received light data.

Longitudinal cross-sectional view of the optical body split sorter of the present invention Enlarged view of the main parts of the optical body split sorter Cross-sectional view of tilt chute of the optical body split sorter Schematic configuration of the CCD camera of the optical body sorter Block diagram of means for discriminating torso of the optical torso sorter The first rice grain image and the second rice grain image in the operation of the optical body split sorter Subtraction processing of first rice grain image and second rice grain image in the operation of the optical body split sorter Detailed explanatory diagram of the subtraction process Modification of the first color irradiation unit of the present invention Longitudinal sectional view of a conventional optical body split sorter

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical body split sorter 2 Raw material tank 3 Inclination chute 3a Groove 4 Vibrating feeder 5 Transfer means 6 Optical detection means 6a Sorting means 6b Nozzle 6c Air blowing port 7 Irradiation part 8 CCD camera 9 First color irradiation part 9a Irradiation optical axis ( Light path)
10 Second color irradiation unit 10a Irradiation optical axis (optical path)
11 Transmission optical axis 12 One irradiation part 12a Irradiation optical axis (optical path)
13 Other irradiation part 13a Irradiation optical axis (optical path)
13b LED element 13c Condensing lens 14 Lens 15 Dichroic prism (spectral means)
16 Color CCD line sensor (first CCD sensor)
17 Color CCD line sensor (second CCD sensor)
18 Body Split Discriminating Unit 18a Discriminating Unit 19 Input / Output Circuit (I / O)
20 Image processing circuit 21 Central processing unit (CPU)
22 Read / write memory (RAM)
23 Read-only memory (ROM)
24 I / O circuit (I / O)
25 Ejector valve drive circuit 26 Transparent plate 100 Optical body split sorter 200 Inclination chute 300 Optical detection means 300a Irradiation part 300b Light receiving part 400 Sorting means 500 Body split discrimination means K Rice grain P Optical detection position

Claims (4)

Transfer means for aligning and transferring each rice grain of raw material;
An irradiation unit for irradiating the optical detection position in the falling locus of the rice grains emitted from the transfer means and a CCD sensor for detecting transmitted light from each rice grain passing through the optical detection positions. An optical detection means for optical detection by providing a CCD camera;
A body split discriminating means for discriminating the body split grain by detecting the presence or absence of cracks in each rice grain based on the transmitted light detected by the optical detection means;
Sorting means for sorting the body split grains determined by the body split discrimination means;
In an optical body split sorter having
The CCD camera is disposed at a position where the optical axis of the CCD camera intersects at a substantially right angle at the optical detection position of the fall locus, and the first CCD sensor and the second CCD sensor which individually receive light of a plurality of different colors. With
The irradiation unit includes a first color irradiation unit and a second color irradiation unit that irradiate light of different colors from 600 nm to 710 nm red light, 500 nm to 580 nm green light, and 420 nm to 520 nm blue light. The first color irradiation unit is disposed on the optical axis of the CCD camera that has passed through the optical detection position, or the optical detection is performed on one side and the other side across the optical axis of the CCD camera. One irradiation unit and the other irradiation unit are individually disposed at a position where the inner angles formed by the optical axes of the positions and the optical axis of the CCD camera are substantially the same, and the second color irradiation unit is Arranged at a position that does not overlap with the optical axis of the CCD camera,
The body split discrimination means creates a first rice grain image from the transmitted light detected by the first CCD sensor and creates a second rice grain image from the transmitted light detected by the second CCD sensor. An optical body split sorter comprising: a discriminating unit that calculates a light amount difference between a rice grain image and a second rice grain image to identify a cracked part in the rice grain and discriminate the body split grain. The optical body split sorter according to claim 1, wherein the inner angle is 70 degrees or less. The first CCD sensor and the second CCD sensor are color CCD line sensors, and the CCD camera spectrally separates the transmitted light detected from the optical detection position into the first color and the second color, and individually The optical body split sorter according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a spectroscopic unit for entering light into one and the other of the CCD line sensor. The optical body split sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first color irradiation unit and the second color irradiation unit are configured by LEDs.

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