JP2009034647A - Optical sorter for sorting out cracked rice particles - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical sorter for sorting out cracked rice particles capable of adjusting a rejection rate for cracked rice particles, whereby the yield of product rice can be improved. <P>SOLUTION: The optical sorter for sorting out cracked rice particles is so constituted that a rejection rate for cracked rice particles can optionally be set and inputted and cracked rice particles can be rejected according to the inputted rejection rate, whereby the product yield can optionally be fine-tuned. In addition, the optical sorter is so constituted that a threshold for a crack length can optionally be set and inputted so as to reject cracked rice particles having a crack longer than the threshold (such as severely cracked rice particles) and to ignore cracked rice particles having a crack not longer than the threshold (such as slightly cracked rice particles) allowing them to be left un-rejected and to mingle in the product rice particles, whereby the product yield can optionally be fine-tuned. Further in addition, by virtue of the capability of optionally setting and inputting a rejection rate for cracked rice particles, the product yield can further be improved by ignoring the severely cracked rice particles at an optional ratio relative to the whole of the severely cracked rice particles leaving them un-rejected and allowing them to mingle in the product rice particles. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

  Conventionally, this type of optical body split sorter is known to optically discriminate and sort rice grains having cracks (hereinafter referred to as “body split grains”) contained in the raw rice grains. (For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2). As shown in FIG. 8, the optical body split sorter 100 constitutes an inclined chute 200 that moves raw rice grains down, and in the vicinity of the lower end of the inclined chute 200, the raw rice grains fall on a trajectory R of the raw rice grains. The optical detection means 300 and the sorting means 400 are disposed along the position. On the one side of the optical detection means 300, an irradiation unit 300a for irradiating the optical detection position Y with a line-shaped laser beam is arranged so as to sandwich the optical detection position Y on the fall locus R. The CCD camera 300b that detects light at the optical detection position Y is disposed on the other side. The optical body split sorter 100 configured in this way emits laser light to the raw rice grains passing through the optical detection position Y when the raw rice grains fall along the falling locus R from the lower end of the inclined chute 200. Irradiation and transmission of the transmitted light are performed, and based on the detected light reception data, the cylinder split discriminating means 500 provided separately determines and sorts the cylinder split grains.

JP 2005-265519 A Japanese Patent No. 3642172

By the way, the quality grade of the product rice grain (brown rice or polished rice) is not only the moisture value and the sizing ratio of the product rice grain, but also the ratio of the damaged grains such as the split grain contained in the product rice grain, the defective grains such as colored grains and foreign matters. Is classified into 1 grade, 2 grade, and 3 grade (agricultural product inspection method). At this time, as for the reference of the mixing ratio of the defective product, the colored particles and foreign matters have a reference value of the mixing ratio, but are not determined for the body split grains, Has been. For this reason, it is necessary to sort the colored particles and foreign matters so as to satisfy the standard value. However, for the barrel split particles, it is only necessary to sort the whole mixture ratio including the colored particles and foreign matters within the standard value. Is. Along with this, the optical body split sorter has the ability to adjust the selection rate of the body split grains and adjust the product yield separately from the ability to sort the core split grains accurately without missing one grain. It has been needed. However, when adjusting the screening ratio of the split body grain in the conventional optical splitting machine, even if the threshold value for crack detection (detection light level value) is finely adjusted, the screening ratio of the split body grain is stable. It was difficult to adjust to.
Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention has a technical problem to provide an optical cylinder splitting machine capable of adjusting the selection ratio of the cracked grains and improving the product yield. Is.

In order to solve the above problem, according to claim 1,
Transfer means for aligning and transferring raw rice grains;
An irradiation unit for irradiating the optical detection position in the fall trajectory of the rice grain emitted from the transfer means and a CCD line sensor for detecting transmitted light from each rice grain passing through the optical detection position. An optical detection means provided with 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 body split discriminating means is connected to a selection ratio setting input means for setting and inputting a selection ratio setting value of the body split grains, and the body split discrimination is performed so that the selection ratio set and input by the selection ratio setting input means is obtained. The technical means of connecting the selection instruction | indication means which outputs the selection signal which classify | selects only arbitrary cylinder split grains from the cylinder split grain which the means discriminate | determined was taken.

On the other hand, according to claim 2,
Transfer means for aligning and transferring raw rice grains;
An irradiation unit for irradiating the optical detection position in the fall trajectory of the rice grain emitted from the transfer means and a CCD line sensor for detecting transmitted light from each rice grain passing through the optical detection position. An optical detection means provided with 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
A crack length threshold value setting means for setting and inputting the crack length of the rice grain for determining whether or not to make a split grain to be selected in the torso split discrimination means is connected to the torso split discrimination means Technical measures were taken.

Further, the body split discrimination means is connected to a selection ratio setting input means for setting and inputting a selection ratio of the body split grains, and the body split is set so that the selection ratio set and inputted by the selection ratio setting input means is obtained. It is preferable to connect a selection instruction means for outputting a selection signal for selecting only an arbitrary body split grain from the body split grains determined by the determination means to the selection means.
Furthermore, the crack length threshold value setting input means may set and input the number of pixels for determining the length composed of continuous pixels corresponding to the crack.

  According to the optical barrel splitting machine according to the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily set and input the sorting ratio setting value of the barrel split grain, and the cylinder split grain can be sorted so as to become the set sorting ratio, so that the product yield can be reduced. Can be fine-tuned freely.

  Also, the crack length threshold can be arbitrarily set and entered, and among the cracked grains, the cracked grains exceeding the crack length threshold (heavy cracked grains, etc.) are selected and crack lengths are selected. Since the body split grains (light barrel split grains, etc.) below the threshold value are overlooked without entering the product, the product yield can be finely adjusted freely. In addition to this, by making it possible to arbitrarily set and input the selection ratio of the split body grain, the product can be overlooked without selecting the split body grain at an arbitrary selection ratio from the above heavy shell split grain, etc. Yield can also be improved.

  FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an optical body split sorter 1 according to the present invention. The optical body split sorter 1 includes a raw material tank 2 for storing raw rice grains G, 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 G are caused to flow in alignment with the length direction of the rice grains ((( 1) and (2)). In the present embodiment, the width W of the groove 3a was 3.3 millimeters corresponding to the width dimension of the rice grain G. 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 falling trajectory R of the rice grains.

  The optical detection means 6 forms an irradiation unit 7 on one side of the optical detection position Y on the fall locus R and a CCD camera 8 on the other side.

  The irradiation unit 7 can irradiate the optical detection position Y with directional light. For example, a line laser emitter may be used, but in this embodiment, an LED (light emitting diode) 7 with little variation in the irradiation light in the left-right direction is used, and a plurality of the LEDs 7 are arranged in parallel. Each LED 7 is composed of an LED element 7a and a condenser lens 7b as shown in FIG. 1, and the light emitted by each LED element 7a is condensed by the condenser lens 7b to be at the optical detection position Y. On the other hand, it is irradiated in a horizontal line. In the present embodiment, the LED 7 has an LED element that emits white light. The LED 7 is disposed at a position where the optical axis (optical path) 7c emitted by the LED 7 does not overlap with an optical axis (optical path) 8b of the CCD camera 8 described later.

  The CCD camera 8 includes a monochrome type CCD line sensor 8a and a condenser lens (not shown), and the CCD line sensor 8a can scan (receive light) the optical detection position Y in a horizontal line. Thus, the optical axis (optical path) 8b is adjusted. The CCD line sensor 8a is electrically connected to a body split discrimination means 10 to be described later so that imaging data (electrical signal) is sent. The CCD line sensor optically detects one rice grain by a plurality of light receiving elements. For example, the width direction of one rice grain is 20 light receiving elements (pixels) and the length direction is 12 What can be detected by a light receiving element (pixel) is preferable (see FIG. 6).

  In the present embodiment, the sorting means 9 is the high-pressure air blast means 9 that blows high-pressure air like an air gun, but may be a leaf spring type means using a solenoid. The high-pressure air blast means 9 is configured by arranging a blast nozzle 9a so as to blast high-pressure air toward an arbitrary position downstream of the optical detection position Y in the fall locus G. As shown in (2) of FIG. 2, the blast nozzle 9a is configured by arranging a plurality of blast ports 9b side by side so as to correspond to the respective grooves (channels) 3a. Each of the air outlets 9b is connected to an air valve (electromagnetic valve) (not shown) provided corresponding to each of the air outlets 9b via a pipe line, and each air valve communicates with a high pressure air chamber. When a defective product is detected and a selection signal is issued, the air valve corresponding to the channel that detected the defective product is instantaneously opened and closed, and high-pressure air is blown from the corresponding air blowing port 9b. The non-defective product is configured to be selectively removed from the fall trajectory R.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the body split discrimination means 10 includes an input / output circuit (I / O) 11 connected to the CCD line sensor 8a built in the CCD camera 8, and the input / output circuit (I / O). 12 connected to the image processing circuit 12, a central processing unit (CPU) 13 connected to the image processing circuit 12, a read / write storage unit (RAM) 14 connected to the central processing unit 13, and connected to the central processing unit 13 The read-only storage unit (ROM) 15 and the input / output circuit (I / O) 16 are included. While the input / output circuit 16 is connected to the ejector valve driving means 17, a selection ratio input section (selection ratio setting input means) 18 and / or a crack length threshold value input section (crack length) which is a feature of the present invention. Threshold value setting input means) 19. In addition, the ROM 15 incorporates a body split discrimination program in advance.

  Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. The raw material rice grains G 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 G supplied to the inclined chute 3 enters the groove 3a, flows down while being aligned in the length direction of the rice grain (posture), and is discharged from the terminal portion. Each released raw rice grain R falls in the posture along the fall trajectory R and is irradiated with red light from the irradiation unit (LED) 7 when passing through the optical detection position Y. The CCD camera 8 scans and images (detects transmitted light) the CCD line sensor 8a.

  The imaging data detected by the CCD line sensor 8a sequentially enters the image processing circuit 12 of the torso split discrimination means 18, and the image processing circuit 12 forms a rice grain image (image) based on the imaging data. And temporarily stored in the RAM 14.

The characteristic operation of the present invention will be described below.
Example 1: (See FIG. 4)
The first embodiment is a cylinder split selection operation using only the selection ratio input unit 18 described above (the crack length threshold value input unit 19 is not used). The sorting ratio input unit 18 is used by the operator to set and input the sorting ratio of the body split grains prior to the sorting operation of the optical body split sorter 1. Hereinafter, an example in which the set value of the selection ratio of the split body grain is set to “50%” will be described with reference to FIG. When entering the selection ratio set value, for example, a known grain quality discriminator or the like is used to measure the mixing ratio of the torn rice grains mixed in the raw rice grain G, and the measured value is used as a reference. It is preferable to input the set value (the same applies to Example 3 described later). The CPU 13 executes the body split determination program of the first embodiment built in the ROM 15 as follows.

  First, based on the rice grain image data temporarily stored in the RAM 14 shown in (1) of FIG. 4, whether or not there is a crack in the rice grain image is a threshold setting input unit (not shown). From the crack judgment threshold value (detection light level value) set and input in advance, the lower rice grains imaged in order are discriminated in order and discriminated as shown in (2) of FIG. The body split grains are counted in order (see (3) in FIG. 4). Next, the CPU (selection instructing means) 13 sets, for example, all of the 30 split grains shown in (3) of FIG. 4 on the basis of the set and input selection ratio “50%” of the split split grains. Among them, for example, only count numbers 1 to 5, count numbers 11 to 15, and count numbers 21 to 25 are selected so that only 50% of the determined torn particles are blown out. Thus, the selection signal is output to the ejector valve driving means 17 ((4) in FIG. 4). As a result, 50% of the cylinder split grains consisting of count numbers 6 to 10, count numbers 16 to 20, and count numbers 26 to 30 other than the above are overlooked without being sorted and become non-defective products (products), and the product yield is improved. . It should be noted that the same procedure as described above is performed when the selection ratio setting value of the body split grain is set to, for example, “20%” or “80%”.

Example 2: (See FIG. 5)
The second embodiment is a cylinder split selection operation using only the above-described crack length threshold value input unit 19 (the selection ratio input unit 18 is not used). The crack length threshold value input unit 19 determines the length (size) of the crack K (whether or not the operator determines to be the split grain to be sorted prior to the sorting operation of the optical cylinder splitting machine 1). Hereinafter, it is used to set and input a “crack length threshold value” in advance. Hereinafter, an example in which the crack length threshold is set and input to, for example, “15 dots (pixels)” will be described with reference to FIG. When inputting the crack length threshold value, for example, in the same manner as in Example 1, for example, using a known grain quality discriminator or the like in advance, measure the mixing ratio of the split rice grains mixed in the raw rice grain G, An arbitrary set value may be input with reference to this measured value. The CPU 13 executes the body split discrimination program of the second embodiment built in the ROM 15 as follows.

  First, based on the rice grain image data temporarily stored in the RAM 14 shown in (1) of FIG. 5, whether or not there is a crack in the rice grain image is not shown as in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 (2) is determined from the lower rice grain image on the drawing (FIG. 5) in the order in which the images were picked up by the crack determination threshold (detected light level value) set and inputted in advance from the threshold setting input unit. As shown in FIG. Next, the CPU 13 determines whether or not the crack length of each cracked grain exceeds 15 dots based on the set crack length threshold value “15 dots (pixels)” for each cracked grain. Judgment.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (3) and FIG. 6, when the crack length exceeds 15 dots, the particles are selected (FIG. 6 (A)), If the crack length is 15 dots or less, it is determined that the crack is not overlooked and is a non-defective product (product) ((B) in FIG. 6). As a result, the body split grains are narrowed down by the crack length, the body split grains to be selected are determined to be the grains shown in (4) of FIG. 5, and the selection signal is sent to the ejector so as to select the body split grains. Output to the valve driving means 17. Therefore, since the cracked grains whose crack length is smaller than the set value enter the product without being selected, the product yield is improved. According to the second embodiment, since the cracked grains having a long crack length are selected and the cracked grains having a short crack length enter the product, the quality of the product is better than the method according to the first embodiment. Note that the same procedure as described above is performed when the crack length threshold value of the body split grain is set to, for example, “10 dots” or “8 dots” (see (C) and (D) of FIG. 6). .

Example 3: (FIG. 7)
The third embodiment is a body split selection operation using both the crack length threshold value input unit 19 and the selection ratio input unit 18 described above. Hereinafter, an example in which the crack length threshold is set to “15 dots (pixels)” and the selection ratio setting value for the split body grain is set to “30%” will be described with reference to FIG. . The CPU 13 executes the body split discrimination program of the third embodiment built in the ROM 15 as follows.

  First, based on the rice grain image data temporarily stored in the RAM 14 shown in (1) of FIG. 7, whether or not there is a crack in the rice grain image is the same as in the first and second embodiments. In accordance with a crack determination threshold value (detection light level value) set and inputted in advance from a threshold setting input unit (not shown), the image is discriminated from the lower rice grain image on the drawing (FIG. 7) in the order of image pickup (( As shown in 2), the body split grain is determined. Next, the CPU 13 determines whether or not the crack length of each cracked grain exceeds 15 dots based on the set crack length threshold value “15 dots (pixels)” for each cracked grain. Judgment. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7 (3) and FIG. 6, when the crack length exceeds 15 dots, it is determined as a grain to be selected (FIG. 6 (A)), On the other hand, when the crack length is 15 dots or less, the product is overlooked to be a non-defective product (product) ((B) in FIG. 6). As a result, as shown in (4) in FIG. The body split grains are narrowed down as the selection target grains. Next, the narrowed body split grains are counted in the narrowed-down order (judgment order) ((5) in FIG. 7).

  Next, the CPU (sorting instruction means) 13 selects only 30% of the narrowed body split grains based on the set and inputted sort ratio setting value “30%” of the core split grains. As shown in FIG. 7 (5), for example, of the 20 whole body split grains, the selection signal so that only the body split grains with count numbers 1 to 3 and the body split grains with count numbers 11 to 13 are selected. Is output to the ejector valve driving means 17. As a result, 70% of the body split grains composed of count numbers 4 to 10 and count numbers 14 to 20 other than the above are overlooked without being sorted and become non-defective products (products), and the product yield is improved. According to the sorting method of Example 3, it is an effective sorting method when it is desired to further improve the product yield after adding the broken grains having a small crack length to the product to improve the product yield. The same procedure as described above is performed when the input set value for the crack length threshold and the input set value for the selection ratio of the cracked grains are different from the above.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the optical body split sorter of this invention is shown. (1) is a longitudinal sectional view of the inclined chute, and (2) is a view showing the positional relationship between the groove (channel), the CCD line sensor and the blast nozzle in the inclined chute. The block diagram of a body split discrimination | determination means is shown. 2 shows a conceptual body split discrimination flow in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 7 shows a conceptual body split discrimination flow in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The figure which shows the discrimination | determination method of the cylinder split grain of the selection object by a crack length threshold value. 12 shows a conceptual body split discrimination flow in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the optical type body split sorter of a prior art example is shown.

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 7 Irradiation part (LED)
7a LED element 7b Condensing lens 8 CCD camera 8a CCD line sensor 8b Optical axis (optical path)
9 Sorting means 9a Injection nozzle 9b Injection port 10 Body split discrimination means 11 Input / output circuit (I / O)
12 Image processing circuit 13 Central processing unit (CPU)
14 Read / Write Memory (RAM)
15 Read-only memory (ROM)
16 Input / output circuit (I / O)
17 Ejector valve driving means 18 Sorting ratio input section (sorting ratio setting input means)
19 Crack length threshold value input section (crack length threshold value setting input means)
G Raw rice grain K Crack P Pixel R Falling locus W Groove width Y Optical detection position

Claims (4)

Transfer means for aligning and transferring raw rice grains;
An irradiation unit for irradiating the optical detection position in the fall trajectory of the rice grain emitted from the transfer means and a CCD line sensor for detecting transmitted light from each rice grain passing through the optical detection position. An optical detection means provided with 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 body split discriminating means is connected to a selection ratio setting input means for setting and inputting a selection ratio setting value of the body split grains, and the body split discrimination is performed so that the selection ratio set and input by the selection ratio setting input means is obtained. An optical body split sorter characterized by connecting a sorting instruction means for outputting a sorting signal for sorting only arbitrary barrel split grains from the body split grains determined by the means to the sorting means. Transfer means for aligning and transferring raw rice grains;
An irradiation unit for irradiating the optical detection position in the trajectory of the rice grains emitted from the transfer means with a light line that irradiates horizontally and a CCD line sensor for detecting transmitted light from each rice grain that passes through the optical detection positions. An optical detection means provided with 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
A crack length threshold value setting means for setting and inputting the crack length of the rice grain for determining whether or not to select the split grain to be selected by the torso split discrimination means is connected to the torso split discrimination means. An optical body split sorter characterized by   The body split discriminating means is connected to a sorting ratio setting input means for setting and inputting a sorting ratio of the body split grains, and the body split discriminating means so as to have the sorting ratio set and inputted by the sorting ratio setting input means. 3. The optical body split sorter according to claim 2, further comprising a sorting instruction means for outputting a sorting signal for sorting only an arbitrary barrel split grain from the barrel split grains determined by.   4. The optical body split sorter according to claim 3, wherein the crack length threshold value setting input means sets and inputs the number of pixels for discriminating the length of continuous pixels corresponding to the crack.

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