JP2009189936A - Beans-bearing pod discriminating structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beans-bearing pod discriminating structure capable of discriminating the bean-bearing state of a pod, and properly discriminate the bean-bearing state of a pod. <P>SOLUTION: In a pod discriminating device 10, a beans-bearing pod 18 is conveyed forward by a second belt 30, and passes through a gap between a light projection section 34 of a photoelectric sensor 32 and a light receiving section 36, and light projected by the section 34 and not interrupted by the bean-bearing pod 18 is received by the light receiving section 36 to measure the thickness of the pod 18 at each position. Thus, the bean 22 bearing state of the pod 20 can be properly discriminated by the number of positions at which the thickness of the pod 18 is not smaller than a specified value and the number of positions at which the thickness of the pod is smaller than the specified thickness. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fruit discrimination structure for determining a bean accommodation state in a cocoon.

  As a method for finely selecting the green soybean cake, there is a method in which an image of the green soybean cake is acquired by a CCD camera, and an outer shape and a discolored portion of the green soybean cake are extracted by an image processing unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Here, it is preferable that such a method for finely sorting the soybean pods can appropriately determine the state of the beans contained in the pods.
JP 2005-279524 A

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a fruit-fruit discriminating structure capable of appropriately discriminating the state of beans contained in a grape.

  The fruit discriminating structure according to claim 1 is a measuring means for measuring the thickness of the fruit in which beans are accommodated in the straw, and a discriminating means for discriminating the accommodation state of the beans in the straw based on the measurement result of the measuring means. It is equipped with.

  The fruit discriminating structure according to claim 2 is the fruit discriminating structure according to claim 1, wherein the measuring means projects a light projecting unit that projects light onto the fruit, and the light projecting unit projects light. And a light receiving portion that receives light that is not blocked.

  The fruit discriminating structure according to claim 3 is the fruit discriminating structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the discriminating means includes the number of positions of the fruit having a predetermined thickness or more and the position of the fruit having a thickness less than the predetermined thickness. It is characterized by discriminating the accommodation state of the beans in the basket based on at least one of the numbers.

  The fruit discriminating structure according to claim 4 is the fruit discriminating structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the measuring means measures the thickness of the fruit that is relatively moved. It is said.

  In the fruit judging structure according to claim 1, the measuring means measures the thickness of the fruit and the judging means judges the bean accommodation state in the straw based on the measurement result of the measuring means. For this reason, the accommodation state of the bean in the basket can be appropriately determined.

  In the fruit discriminating structure according to the second aspect, in the measuring means, the light projecting section projects light onto the fruit, and the light receiving section receives light that is projected by the light projecting section and is not blocked by the fruit. For this reason, the measuring means can appropriately measure the thickness of the fruit.

  In the fruit discriminating structure according to claim 3, the discriminating means determines the accommodation state of the beans in the grape based on at least one of the number of positions of the fruit fruit having a predetermined thickness or more and the number of positions of the fruit fruit less than the predetermined thickness. Determine. For this reason, the accommodation state of the bean in the basket can be more appropriately determined.

  In the fruit discrimination structure according to claim 4, the measuring means measures the thickness of the fruit that is relatively moved. For this reason, a measurement means can be reduced in size.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of the main part of a fruit sorting apparatus 10 according to an embodiment configured by applying the fruit judgment structure of the present invention, and FIG. The main part of the sorting apparatus 10 is shown in a side view as viewed from the right. Further, FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the fruit sorting apparatus 10 viewed from the right side. In the drawing, the front of the fruit sorting apparatus 10 is indicated by an arrow FR, and the upper part of the fruit sorting apparatus 10 is indicated by an arrow UP.

  The fruit sorting apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a first conveyor 12 as a conveying means. In the first conveyor 12, an endless belt-shaped first belt 16 is wound around a pair of first rollers 14, and the first conveyor 12 is driven to rotate the pair of first rollers 14. As the first belt 16 is rotated, the upper portion of the first belt 16 is moved forward, and the lower portion of the first belt 16 is moved rearward. For this reason, the fruit 18 (in the present embodiment, the fruit of edamame) is placed on the upper portion of the first belt 16, so that the fruit 18 is conveyed forward by the first belt 16.

  The fruits 18 placed on the upper part of the first belt 16 are those after they have been detached from the branches by a detaching machine (not shown) or manually, and the fruits 18 are usually A predetermined number of beans 22 (fruits and fruits) are accommodated in the basket 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the fruit 18 in which two beans 22 are stored in the basket 20).

  An alignment portion 24 is provided on the upper side of the first belt 16, and the alignment portion 24 aligns the fruits 18 conveyed forward by the first belt 16 in a line in the front-rear direction, and the length of the fruits 18. Keep the direction in the front-rear direction.

  A second conveyor 26 as a moving means is provided on the front side and the lower side of the first conveyor 12, and the rear end of the second conveyor 26 is disposed below the front end of the first conveyor 12. In the second conveyor 26, an endless belt-shaped second belt 30 is wound around the pair of second rollers 28, and the second conveyor 26 is driven to rotate the pair of second rollers 28. As the second belt 30 is rotated, the upper part of the second belt 30 is moved forward, and the lower part of the second belt 30 is moved rearward. As a result, the fruits 18 conveyed forward by the first belt 16 are dropped from the front end of the first belt 16 onto the upper portion of the second belt 30 so that the fruits 18 are aligned in a line in the front-rear direction. It is conveyed forward by the second belt 30 with its longitudinal direction directed in the front-rear direction.

  A photoelectric sensor 32 as a measuring unit is provided on the upper side of the second belt 30. The photoelectric sensor 32 is a sensor for sensing light, and a light projecting unit 34 and a light receiving unit 36 are provided. The light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36 are disposed in contact with the left and right outer sides of the second belt 30 and face each other. The light projecting unit 34 is directed to the light receiving unit 36 for a certain time (for example, 2 msec). A certain amount of light can be projected every time, and the light receiving unit 36 can receive the light projected from the light projecting unit 34.

  When the fruit 18 conveyed forward by the second belt 30 passes between the light projecting part 34 and the light receiving part 36, the light receiving part 36 is projected from the light projecting part 34 and blocked by the fruit 18. Without receiving the received light, the light projected from the light projecting unit 34 and received by the fruit 18 is received.

  Therefore, when the fruit 18 does not pass between the light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36, the light receiving unit 36 receives the maximum amount of light (the maximum amount of light that can be received from the light projecting unit 34). ) Is received. On the other hand, when the fruit 18 passes between the light projecting part 34 and the light receiving part 36, the light receiving part 36 receives a smaller amount of light as the fruit 18 is thicker. As a result, the photoelectric sensor 32 can measure the thickness of each continuous longitudinal position of the fruit 18 based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 36.

  For example, when a longitudinal position where the beans 22 are not accommodated in the cocoon 20 in the cocoon 18 (hereinafter referred to as “cocoon position”) passes between the light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36, the cocoon position of the cocoon 18. Since the thickness of the light receiving portion 36 is thin, the light receiving unit 36 receives a high amount of light (a slightly smaller amount of light than the maximum amount of light). On the other hand, when a longitudinal position (hereinafter referred to as “actual position”) in which the beans 22 are accommodated in the basket 20 in the fruit 18 passes between the light projecting part 34 and the light receiving part 36, the actual position of the fruit 18 Therefore, the light receiving unit 36 receives a low amount of light (a small amount of light compared to the high amount of light).

  The photoelectric sensor 32 is connected to a control unit 38 serving as a determination unit, and the photoelectric sensor 32 outputs a signal having a lower photoelectric level to the control unit 38 as the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 36 is smaller.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, in the control unit 38, “莢 level” and “real level” are set in advance for the photoelectric level of the signal input from the photoelectric sensor 32. “Wrinkle level” is the photoelectric level when the wrinkle position of the fruit 18 passes between the light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36. The “real level” is the photoelectric level when the actual position (the position where the thickness of the beans 22 is a specific thickness) of the fruit 18 passes between the light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36. . Further, when the fruit 18 does not pass between the light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36, the photoelectric level becomes the “highest level”.

  The control unit 38 determines that the fruit 18 has passed between the light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36 while the photoelectric level becomes less than the “highest level” and then becomes the “highest level” again. The counter 18 counts the number of times the photoelectric level becomes “以下 level” or less and the number of times the photoelectric level becomes “actual level” or less for the fruit 18.

  In the control unit 38, a “non-defective product lower limit count” and a “non-defective product upper limit ratio” are preset for the fruit 18. The “non-defective product lower limit count” is the number of times that the photoelectric level is less than or equal to the “actual level” in the case of the fruit 18 in which the bean 20 having a predetermined number (two in the present embodiment) of a specific thickness or more is accommodated in the jar 20. To be. The “non-defective product upper limit ratio” is the number of beans 22 having a specific thickness greater than or equal to a predetermined number (one in the present embodiment) and beans 22 having a thickness less than one specific thickness. The number of times that the photoelectric level becomes “莢 level” or less relative to the number of times that the photoelectric level becomes “actual level” or less in the case of the fruit 18 (including or not including the number of times that the photoelectric level becomes “actual level” or less) Of the ratio.

  As described above, the control unit 38 determines that the fruit 18 is a non-defective product (莢 20) based on the number of times that the photoelectric level is “below level” or less and the number of times that the photoelectric level is not more than “actual level”. It is determined (determined) whether the fruit 18) contains a predetermined number or more of beans 22 having a specific thickness or more, or is defective (the fruit 18 other than the non-defective product).

  As shown in FIG. 3, an ejector 40 (sorting device) constituting a sorting unit is provided below the front end of the second belt 30, and the ejector 40 is conveyed forward by the second belt 30 to the second belt 30. 2 is arranged in front of the fall trajectory of the fruit 18 that freely falls from the front end of the belt 30. The ejector 40 is made operable by, for example, a solenoid or a driving force of air, and the ejector 40 is operated when the fruits 18 that freely fall one by one from the front end of the second belt 30 reach the rear of the ejector 40. Thus, the ejector 40 instantaneously flips the fruit 18 to the rear side, and the fall trajectory of the fruit 18 is changed to the rear side.

  The ejector 40 is connected to the control unit 38, and the ejector 40 is made operable by the control of the control unit 38. As a result, when the fruit 18 determined to be non-defective by the control unit 38 reaches the rear of the ejector 40, the ejector 40 is not actuated so that the fall trajectory of the fruit 18 is not changed to the rear side. On the other hand, when the fruit 18 determined as a defective product by the control unit 38 reaches the rear of the ejector 40, the ejector 40 is operated to change the fall locus of the fruit 18 to the rear side.

  A sorting plate 42 constituting a sorting unit is provided below the ejector 40, and the upper end of the sorting plate 42 is arranged behind the fall trajectory of the fruit 18 that freely falls from the front end of the second belt 30. ing. The front side of the sorting plate 42 is a non-defective region, and the control unit 38 determines that the product is a non-defective product, and the fruit 18 whose fall trajectory is not changed to the rear side by the ejector 40 falls to the front side of the sorting plate 42. On the other hand, the rear side of the sorting plate 42 is set as a defective product region, and the fruit 18 whose control unit 38 determines that the product is non-defective and whose fall trajectory is changed to the rear side by the ejector 40 falls to the rear side of the sorting plate 42. To do.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  In the fruit sorting apparatus 10 having the above configuration, the fruit 18 is conveyed forward by the first belt 16, and the fruit 18 is aligned in a line in the front-rear direction by the alignment unit 24, and the longitudinal direction is directed in the front-rear direction. To be. Further, the fruits 18 are dropped from the front end of the first belt 16 to the second belt 30, and the fruits 18 are aligned in a line in the front-rear direction and are moved forward by the second belt 30 in a state where the longitudinal direction is directed in the front-rear direction. As a result, the fruit 18 passes between the light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36 of the photoelectric sensor 32.

  The light projecting unit 34 projects a certain amount of light toward the light receiving unit 36 at regular time intervals, and the light receiving unit 36 receives the light projected from the light projecting unit 34. For this reason, the light 18 projected from the light projecting unit 34 is blocked by the fruit 18 and the light quantity received by the light receiving part 36 is reduced, so that the photoelectric sensor 32 can reduce the light intensity of the fruit 18 based on the light quantity received by the light receiving part 36. The thickness for each longitudinal position is measured, and a signal with a lower photoelectric level is output to the control unit 38 as the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 36 is smaller.

  The control unit 38 determines that the fruit 18 passes between the light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36 while the photoelectric level becomes less than the “highest level” and then becomes the “highest level” again. .

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the fruit 18, the number of times the photoelectric level becomes “以下 level” or less is one or more, and the number of times the photoelectric level becomes “莢 level” or less is less than the “non-defective product lower limit number”. , It is determined that only beans 22 having a specific thickness of less than a predetermined number (two) are contained in the basket 20, and the fruit 18 is determined as a defective product (small fruit fruit).

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the number of times that the photoelectric level falls below the “莢 level” in the fruit 18 is 1 or more and the number of times the photoelectric level falls below the “莢 level” is 0, It is determined that only beans 22 having a thickness less than the specific thickness are accommodated, and the fruit 18 is determined to be defective (unripe fruit).

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the fruit 18, the number of times the photoelectric level becomes “莢 level” or less is one or more times, and the number of times that the photoelectric level becomes “莢 level” or less with respect to the number of times the photoelectric level becomes “real level” or less. When the ratio is larger than the “non-defective product upper limit ratio”, beans 20 having a specific thickness of less than a predetermined number (two) and one or more beans 22 having a specific thickness of less than a predetermined number (two) are accommodated in the basket 20. Thus, the fruit 18 is determined as a defective product (low-ripe fruit).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the number of times that the photoelectric level of the fruit 18 is equal to or less than the “flaw level” is one or more, and when the fruit 18 is not determined as a defective product in FIGS. (Two) It is determined that beans 22 having a specific thickness or more are contained, and the fruit 18 is determined to be a non-defective product.

  The fruit 18 that has passed between the light projecting unit 34 and the light receiving unit 36 is further conveyed forward by the second belt 30, and freely falls from the front end of the second belt 30, thereby reaching the rear of the ejector 40. .

  When the fruit 18 determined to be non-defective by the control unit 38 reaches the rear of the ejector 40, the ejector 40 is not actuated so that the fall trajectory of the fruit 18 is not changed, and the fruit 18 is separated from the sorting plate 42. It falls to the good product area on the front side. On the other hand, when the fruit 18 determined as a defective product by the control unit 38 reaches the rear of the ejector 40, the ejector 40 is actuated to change the fall trajectory of the fruit 18 to the rear side. 18 falls into a defective product area on the rear side of the sorting plate 42. As a result, the fruits 18 are sorted into non-defective products and defective products.

  Here, as described above, the photoelectric sensor 32 measures the thickness of each fruit 18 in the longitudinal direction, and the control unit 38 stores the beans 22 in the basket 20 based on the measurement result of the photoelectric sensor 32 (fruit 18 And the thickness and number of beans 22 contained in the cocoon 20). For this reason, the accommodation state of the beans 22 in the basket 20 can be properly determined, and the fruits 18 can be appropriately sorted into non-defective products and defective products.

  As described above, in the photoelectric sensor 32, the light projecting unit 34 projects light onto the fruit 18, and the light receiving unit 36 receives light that is projected by the light projecting unit 34 and is not blocked by the fruit 18. For this reason, the photoelectric sensor 32 can appropriately measure the thickness of each position of the fruit 18 in the longitudinal direction.

  Further, as described above, the control unit 38 determines that the number of positions of the fruit 18 that is equal to or larger than the predetermined thickness (the number of times the photoelectric level becomes “real level” or less) and the number of positions of the fruit 18 that are less than the predetermined thickness (photoelectric level). The number of times that the bean 22 is contained in the cocoon 20 is determined based on the number of times that the cocoon 22 is equal to or less than “the strawberry level”. For this reason, the accommodation state of the beans 22 in the basket 20 can be more appropriately determined.

  Further, as described above, the photoelectric sensor 32 measures the thickness of each fruit 18 conveyed by the second belt 30 at each longitudinal position. For this reason, it is not necessary for the photoelectric sensor 32 to simultaneously measure the thickness of each position in the longitudinal direction of the fruit 18, and the photoelectric sensor 32 can be reduced in size.

  In this embodiment, the green soybean fruit is used as the fruit 18, but the common fruit, pea or broad bean fruit may be used as the fruit 18.

It is the top view seen from the upper part which shows the principal part of the fruit sorting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the side view seen from the right which shows the principal part of the fruit sorting device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is the schematic diagram seen from the right side which shows the fruit sorting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the time change of the photoelectric level which a photoelectric sensor outputs, when a fruit is discriminate | determined as inferior goods (small fruit fruit) in the fruit selection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the time change of the photoelectric level which a photoelectric sensor outputs, when a fruit is discriminate | determined as inferior goods (unripe fruit) in the fruit selection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the time change of the photoelectric level which a photoelectric sensor outputs when a fruit is discriminate | determined as inferior goods (low-ripe fruit) in the fruit selection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the time change of the photoelectric level which a photoelectric sensor outputs, when a fruit is discriminate | determined as a non-defective product in the fruit sorting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Fruit sorting device (fruit discriminating structure)
18 莢 fruit 20 ２２ 22 beans 32 photoelectric sensor (measuring means)
34 Light Emitting Unit 36 Light Receiving Unit 38 Control Unit (Determination Unit)

Claims (4)

A measuring means for measuring the thickness of the fruit in which the beans are contained in the straw;
A discriminating means for discriminating the accommodation state of the beans in the basket based on the measurement result of the measuring means;
Fruit discriminating structure with The measuring means includes
A light projecting unit that projects light on the fruits,
A light receiving unit that receives the light that is projected by the light projecting unit and is not blocked by the fruit; and
The fruit discrimination structure according to claim 1, wherein:   The determination means determines whether or not the beans are contained in the cocoon based on at least one of the number of positions having a thickness greater than or equal to a predetermined thickness of the fruit and the number of positions having a thickness less than the predetermined thickness of the fruit. The fruit discrimination structure according to claim 2.   The fruit determination structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the measuring means measures the thickness of the fruit that is relatively moved.

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