JP2011047692A - Color sorting machine and method for operation control of color sorting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color sorting machine with a simple composition and a method for controlling the operation of the color sorting machine surely inspecting an abnormality of the sorting equipment of the color sorting machine. <P>SOLUTION: The color sorting machine includes: a feeder for sending out a sorting object; a supply cylinder for supplying the sorting object to the feeder; a chute for falling the sorting object sent out of the feeder; a discrimination sensor arranged at the lower end of the chute; an air jet device in which an air jet orifice and a valve for sorting a defective product by jetting air; and a valve control means for controlling opening and closing of the valve based on the discrimination result of the discrimination sensor, wherein an abnormality inspection means is provided for inspecting the operation abnormality of the air jet device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a color sorter, and more particularly to a color sorter abnormality inspection means and a color sorter operation control method using the inspection means.

Conventionally, a color sorter that sorts and removes defective products such as different color grains contained in grains such as rice has been known, and various types have been developed.
This color sorter has a structure in which to-be-sorted items such as granular materials supplied from a supply cylinder are made to flow evenly onto the chute while adjusting the flow rate with a feeder, and is irradiated from an illumination device provided at the lower part of the chute. When the transmitted light is transmitted through the object to be sorted, the transmittance and the amount of light, or the reflectance and the amount of light when it is reflected are inspected by a discrimination sensor to determine whether it is a defective product. In this method, air is ejected from an air ejection device provided thereunder to remove defective products and the like flowing down.

  Since these color sorters cannot perform accurate sorting if there is an abnormality in the facilities for discrimination and removal, it is necessary to periodically check whether these facilities are operating normally.

  Here, abnormalities occurring in the sorting equipment of the color sorter include abnormalities in the camera used for the discrimination sensor, abnormal transmission of the signal from the camera, abnormal analysis of the signal, abnormal transmission of the injection signal from the analysis means to the air injection device And abnormal operation of the valve of the air injection device due to seizure, abnormal supply of air, and the like.

  However, even if no abnormality is inspected in these mechanisms, if the air injection device has an air passage failure due to dust or dirt, and the air is not finally injected from the air injection device, accurate sorting cannot be performed. Therefore, in the end, it is possible to inspect whether or not the air is actually normally injected when defective products pass from each of the injection ports of the air injection device during operation of the color sorter. Most important.

  In the past, the color sorter was idled before or during the sorting operation, and the pseudo foreign matter was moved manually to the discrimination sensor so as to correspond to each of the jet ports, From one to the other, it was inspected whether the air was actually injected normally.

In recent years, color sorters that detect abnormalities in the air system and electrical system, such as the color sorter described in Patent Document 1, have been developed.
Specifically, in the color sorter according to Patent Document 1, an airtight tank is provided between a compressed air supply source and a compressed air supply port of an air injection device, and the air pressure in the tank is detected to detect the air system. Is a signal for opening and closing the solenoid valve provided in the compressed air supply port provided with a current inspection circuit between the wiring that detects the abnormality and connects the solenoid valve and the solenoid valve controller? By detecting this, the abnormality of the electric system is inspected.

  Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a method for inspecting whether air is actually normally injected from the spray port of the spray pump using a vibration sensor while operating the spray pump.

JP 2006-150178 A JP 2004-113995 A

  However, an inspection method in which a conventional color sorter is operated idly and moved by hand while moving a pseudo foreign object to a distinction sensor so as to correspond to each of the ejection ports not only takes a long time for the inspection. However, it is a heavy labor for the inspector, and there is a problem that the operating efficiency of the color sorter decreases. That is, since the air injection device used in the color sorter corresponds to each of the grooves of the chute where the granular material flows down, as shown in FIG. 3, about 90 injection ports are provided even with only one unit. Therefore, if it is going to test | inspect each of these injection nozzles, a long time will be required for a test | inspection, the burden of the person who test | inspects will become large, and operating efficiency will fall.

  On the other hand, the color sorter described in Patent Document 1 is a conventional color sorter having an airtight tank as an air system abnormality detection unit and a drive timing circuit, a transistor, an amplifier, a pass / fail judgment circuit, and a resistor as an electric system abnormality detection unit. This requires a facility that was not available, and thus has a problem that the mechanism becomes complicated.

  Moreover, the color sorter described in Patent Document 1 also has a problem that it is not possible to inspect each of the injection ports.

Furthermore, the color sorter described in Patent Document 1 also has a problem that even when it is determined that these inspection means are operating normally, the abnormal state of the color sorter cannot be completely inspected.
That is, even when the color sorter described in Patent Document 1 detects that compressed air having a predetermined pressure is supplied to the compressed air supply port, and detects that a normal signal is transmitted to the solenoid valve. This is because when air passage obstruction such as clogging occurs inside the air injection device, compressed air is not injected from the injection port, and normal sorting is not performed.

  On the other hand, the inspection method described in Patent Document 2 has an advantage that it is possible to inspect whether or not air is actually normally injected from the most important injection port.

However, the inspection method described in Patent Document 2 is a method used for product inspection of spray pumps used for cosmetic containers and the like, as described in Paragraph 0010 of Patent Document 2, between a good product and a defective product. It takes advantage of the slight differences in sound that are recognized.
In addition, as described in paragraph 0011 of Patent Document 2, the inspection method is such that a slight noise in the inspection environment greatly affects the inspection result, and paragraph 0012 excludes the influence of this slight noise. Therefore, it is described that it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality based on the low-frequency component of the inspected signal.

  Therefore, in an environment where other equipment such as a color sorter coexists, even if the operation of the color sorter is stopped, it is difficult to eliminate the influence of noise from other equipment. For this reason, there is a problem that this inspection method cannot be applied to the abnormality inspection of the color sorter.

Furthermore, the inspection method described in Patent Document 2 performs Fourier transform on the signal inspected by the vibration sensor when the spray pump is operated, and analyzes based on a low frequency signal component equal to or lower than a predetermined frequency included in the inspection signal. To do.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide software for performing Fourier transform, and there is a problem that the analysis mechanism becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and for each of the injection ports of the air injection device, whether or not the air is actually normally injected when a defective product passes. The purpose is to provide a color sorter capable of reliably and quickly inspecting, and also reliably detecting which of a number of jet nozzles are abnormal, and an operation control method for the color sorter. And
Furthermore, it aims at provision of the operation control method of the color sorter which can also test | inspect also about abnormality of sorting facilities other than an air injection apparatus, and a color sorter.

  In order to achieve the above object, a color sorter according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a feeder that feeds a sorting object, a supply cylinder that supplies the sorting object to the feeder, and a sorting object that is fed from the feeder. A chute to flow down, a discrimination sensor provided at the lower end of the chute, an air injection device provided with an air injection port and a valve for injecting air to select defective products, and a valve based on the discrimination result of the discrimination sensor In the color sorter provided with the valve control means for controlling opening and closing, an abnormality inspection means for inspecting an operation abnormality of the air injection device is provided.

  The color sorter according to claim 2 of the present invention is configured to use a vibration sensor or a sound sensor as the abnormality inspection means.

  The color sorter according to claim 3 of the present invention has a configuration in which discrimination sensor inspection means for inspecting that the normal light amount change information is transmitted from the discrimination sensor to the valve control means is added to the abnormality inspection means. It is.

  In the color sorter according to claim 4 of the present invention, the discrimination sensor inspection means includes a camera and a shielding material that shields the front surface of the camera, and the shielding material shields each element of the camera, thereby controlling the valve. It is configured to check whether or not each valve corresponding to each element is controlled to open and close by the means.

  The color sorter according to claim 5 of the present invention is configured such that the shielding material is a cleaning member that cleans and moves a lens of the camera or a protective material for protecting the lens.

  The color sorter according to claim 6 of the present invention has a configuration in which a signal transmission inspection means for inspecting that the opening / closing control signal is transmitted from the valve control means to the valve is added to the abnormality inspection means.

  The color sorter according to claim 7 of the present invention is configured to use a magnetic sensor for the signal transmission inspection means.

  In the color sorter operation control method according to claim 8 of the present invention, the abnormality inspection means includes a peak value of the voltage value or current value acquired by the vibration sensor or the sound sensor, and a threshold value stored in advance. When the peak value is detected to be equal to or less than the threshold value, the sorting operation is controlled.

  The operation control method of the color sorter according to claim 9 of the present invention is such that the discrimination sensor inspection means has a shielding material that shields the front surface of the discrimination sensor, and is acquired by the discrimination sensor when shielded by the shielding material. When it is detected that the light quantity value is out of the discrimination area for discriminating between the non-defective product and the defective product stored in advance, the sorting operation is controlled.

  In the color sorter operation control method according to claim 10 of the present invention, the signal transmission inspection means compares the peak value of the voltage value or current value acquired by the magnetic sensor with a threshold value stored in advance. When the peak value is detected to be equal to or less than the threshold value, the sorting operation is controlled.

(Air injection device)
The air injection device in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can inject air from the injection port to defective products in the object flowing down from the chute. In order to accurately select defective products, it is preferable to be able to inject compressed air. In order to inject compressed air with good timing, a valve such as an electromagnetic valve is preferably used. However, when it is not necessary to strictly control injection, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism such as a valve.

(Abnormality inspection means)
The abnormality inspection means for inspecting the operation abnormality of the air injection device in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can inspect whether air is actually normally injected from the injection port of the air injection device, for example, Various inspection means such as vibration, sound, distortion, load, displacement, magnetism, position, image, and temperature sensor can be used.
Among these, it is preferable to use a vibration sensor or a sound sensor because the configuration is simple and accurate determination can be made.

The signal analysis method in the abnormality inspection means of the present invention is not particularly limited, for example, a method for determining an abnormality when the waveform of the inspected signal does not match the waveform at the normal time, or a volume higher than a predetermined volume (decibel). For example, a method of determining an abnormality when the inspection is performed.
And since it is not a complicated analysis mechanism and is easy to determine, the abnormality inspection means stores in advance the peak value of the voltage value or current value acquired by the vibration sensor or the sound sensor. It is preferable to adopt a method of determining that an abnormality occurs when the value is compared and it is inspected that the peak value is equal to or less than the threshold value.

  The installation position of the abnormality inspection means of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a position capable of inspecting a signal necessary for determining whether or not the abnormality inspection means is abnormal. If there is a concern that the inspection capability will decrease due to vibration caused by the electromagnet attached to the feeder or vibration when the material to be sorted flows down the chute, it is preferable to install in the vicinity of the air injection device, More preferably, it is installed on the support member of the air injection device.

(Distinguishing sensor inspection means)
The abnormality inspection means of the present invention can be provided with means for inspecting the abnormality of the discrimination sensor.
Here, the discrimination sensor has a mechanism for converting the amount of light inspected by a camera such as a CCD and the like into a digital signal, and in order to discriminate the object to be sorted flowing down from each groove of the chute, each element of the camera or a predetermined sensor This element region is assigned so as to correspond to each groove of the chute.

The image photographed by the camera is analyzed by the valve control means for controlling the opening and closing of the valve, and then the opening and closing control of the injection valve corresponding to each groove of the chute is performed by the valve control means.
Here, the valve control means is assigned so that each injection port of the air injection device corresponds to each element of the camera or a predetermined element region in order to perform opening / closing control of the valve of the injection port corresponding to each groove of the chute. It has become a mechanism.

Therefore, as the discrimination sensor inspection means of the present invention, for example, the amount of light captured by the camera is artificially changed by covering or moving the front of the camera lens with a shielding member or the like, and information such as a change in the amount of light at that time For example, checking whether or not is normal.
And from the point that it is possible to inspect whether or not the discrimination sensor is operating corresponding to each ejection port, the amount of light captured for each element of the camera or each predetermined element region is artificially changed, It is preferable to inspect whether information such as a change in light quantity at that time is normal.

Here, a protective material such as glass or a transparent plastic plate is usually installed on the front surface of the camera in order to protect the lens from dust and the like generated when the object to be sorted flows down from the chute. Since dust or the like also adheres to these protective materials, in the color sorter, the protective material is often cleaned with a cleaning material such as a wiper before or during the sorting operation.
Therefore, this cleaning material is also used as a shielding member in the discrimination sensor inspection means of the present invention, such as a change in the amount of light of each element of the camera or a predetermined element region that occurs when the cleaning material moves the protective material for cleaning. By inspecting whether or not the signal is recognized by the valve control means, it is possible to inspect the abnormality of the discrimination sensor while cleaning the protective material.

  In addition to the discrimination sensor that discriminates the color of the object to be selected, there are various discrimination sensors such as a discrimination sensor that discriminates the material of grass, seeds, glass, stone, etc. in the object to be selected. However, the type and quantity of the discrimination sensor used in the color sorter of the present invention is not particularly limited, and a plurality of types of discrimination sensors can be used as necessary, or a discrimination for discriminating colors. Only one type of discrimination sensor such as a discrimination sensor for discriminating a sensor or material can be used.

The method for analyzing information in the discrimination sensor inspection means of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, the light quantity value acquired by the discrimination sensor when shielded by the shielding material is used to discriminate the normal state stored in advance. There is a method for determining that the sensor is abnormal when it is detected that the sensor exceeds the light amount value transmitted when the sensor is shielded by the shielding material.
And since it does not become a complicated analysis mechanism and it is easy to determine, the light quantity value acquired by the discrimination sensor when it is shielded by the shielding material is the non-defective product in the object to be sorted stored in advance. It is preferable to adopt a method of determining an abnormality when it is detected that the determination area is out of the determination area for determining a defective product.

  Such an analysis method also has an advantage that it can be inspected at the same time whether or not a discrimination region for selecting good products and defective products is normally stored and discriminated in the valve control means.

Here, the discrimination area in this case is as follows.
As described above, as a discrimination sensor used in a sorting device such as a color sorter, in addition to a sensor for discriminating the color of the sorting object, materials such as grass fruit, seeds, glass, stone, etc. in the sorting object are used. There is a sensor to discriminate.
Since these various discrimination sensors also have different threshold values for determining whether or not they are defective, depending on the case, a sensor that is determined to be defective when it is below a specific threshold may be identified. In some cases, a sensor that discriminates a defective product is used in combination when the threshold is exceeded.
Therefore, the discrimination region in the above case means that discrimination based on the threshold value of each sensor is performed even when these plural types of sensors are used in combination with the discrimination sensor.

(Signal transmission inspection means)
The abnormality inspection means of the present invention may be provided with a signal transmission inspection means for inspecting that an opening / closing control signal is transmitted from the valve control means for controlling opening / closing of the valve to the valve.

Here, the signal transmission inspecting means is not particularly limited as long as it is a means for inspecting that a control signal for opening and closing the valve, that is, a voltage or current is flowing normally. For example, a fuse, a breaker, a circuit protector, a thermal Examples of the means include a relay and a voltage detector.
And it is preferable to use a magnetic sensor using electromagnetic induction or the Hall effect because of its simple configuration, and among them, it is preferable to use a Hall element sensor because it can test from direct current to high frequency alternating current. That is, by applying a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the current of the wiring connecting the valve control means and the valve flows, the direction perpendicular to both the current direction and the magnetic field direction when the current flows in the wiring Voltage or current.

Also, the method of analyzing the signal inspected by the signal transmission inspection means is not particularly limited, and examples include means such as analysis software and an electric circuit.
And since it is not a complicated analysis mechanism and is easy to determine, the peak value of the voltage value or current value acquired by the Hall element sensor is compared with the threshold value stored in advance, It is preferable to adopt a method of determining that an abnormality occurs when it is inspected that the peak value is equal to or less than the threshold value.

(Operation control means)
The color sorter according to the present invention may be provided with operation control means for controlling the sorting operation when the abnormality inspection means detects an abnormality.
Here, the specific control method of the sorting operation is not particularly limited, and the position of the injection port where the abnormality is detected may be displayed on the monitor screen, or the shutdown control of the power source for emergency stopping all the movable members. Alternatively, the control for turning on the emergency lamp, the control for stopping the supply of the selection object such as stopping the vibration of the feeder, or the combination of these may be used.

  According to the color sorter according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the abnormality inspection means for inspecting the operation abnormality of the air injection device is provided, the injection port which is the most important among the abnormalities generated by the color sorter is provided. Therefore, it can be checked whether or not the air is actually injected normally.

  According to the color sorter according to claim 2 of the present invention, since the vibration sensor or the sound sensor is used as the abnormality inspection means, the air is actually normally injected from the injection port while having a simple configuration. It is possible to inspect whether or not it is present.

  According to the color sorter according to the third aspect of the present invention, the discrimination sensor inspection means for inspecting that the normal light quantity change information is transmitted from the discrimination sensor to the valve control means is added to the abnormality inspection means. Therefore, it is possible to inspect whether or not the object to be sorted is normally recognized by the discrimination sensor.

  According to the color sorter according to claim 4 of the present invention, the discrimination sensor inspection means includes a camera and a shielding material that shields the front surface of the camera, and shields the shielding element when it moves each element of the camera. Therefore, it is inspected whether or not each valve corresponding to each element is controlled to be opened and closed by the valve control means, so that the discrimination sensor is operated so as to correspond to each of the injection ports of the air injection device. In addition, it is possible to reliably and promptly check whether or not there is a large number of the injection ports, and to reliably detect which of the injection ports is abnormal.

According to the color sorter according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the shielding material is a cleaning member for cleaning the camera lens or the protective material for protecting the lens, the discrimination sensor is cleaned while cleaning the protective material. Abnormalities can also be examined.
In addition, since the discrimination sensor inspection means is added to the abnormality inspection means, it is possible to inspect whether or not air is actually normally injected from the injection port while cleaning the protective material.

According to the color sorter according to claim 6 of the present invention, since the abnormality inspection means is added with the signal transmission inspection means for inspecting that the opening / closing control signal is transmitted from the valve control means to the valve, It is also possible to inspect whether or not is controlled to open and close.
Further, the signal transmission inspection means is added to the abnormality inspection means, and the discrimination sensor inspection means according to claim 4 and the cleaning member according to claim 5 are added to the abnormality inspection means, thereby cleaning the protective material. However, it is possible to inspect whether or not the valve is controlled to open or close.

  According to the color sorter according to claim 7 of the present invention, since the magnetic sensor is used for the signal transmission inspection means, it is possible to inspect whether the valve is controlled to open or close while having a simple configuration. Can do.

  According to the operation control method of the color sorter according to claim 8 of the present invention, the abnormality inspection means stores in advance the peak value of the voltage value or current value acquired by the vibration sensor or the sound sensor. Since it is configured to control the sorting operation when it is detected that the peak value is equal to or less than the threshold value, air is actually supplied from the injection port while having a simple configuration. It is possible to perform the operation by reliably detecting whether or not the fuel is normally injected.

According to the operation control method of the color sorter according to claim 9 of the present invention, the discrimination sensor inspection means has the shielding material that shields the front surface of the discrimination sensor, and the discrimination sensor when shielded by the shielding material. When it is detected that the light quantity value obtained by the above is out of the discrimination area for discriminating between the non-defective product and the non-defective product stored in advance, the sorting operation is controlled. Therefore, while having a simple configuration, the operation can be performed by reliably detecting whether the object to be sorted is normally recognized by the discrimination sensor.
Further, it is possible to simultaneously check whether or not the discrimination area for selecting good and defective products is normally stored in the valve control means.

  According to the operation control method of the color sorter according to claim 10 of the present invention, the signal transmission inspection means includes a peak value of the voltage value or current value acquired by the magnetic sensor, and a threshold value stored in advance. Since the operation control means is configured to control the sorting operation when it is detected that the peak value is less than or equal to the threshold value, the valve control means has a simple configuration. Operation can be performed by reliably detecting whether an open / close control signal is transmitted to the valve.

It is a side view of the color sorter of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the selection mechanism of the color sorter | selector of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which looked at the air injection apparatus used for the color sorter | selector of this invention from the front. It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary of a Hall element sensor. It is a schematic diagram which shows the Hall element sensor used for the color sorter | selector of this invention. It is a test | inspection flowchart of the abnormality test | inspection means of this invention. It is a schematic diagram of a monitor screen showing the inspection result of the color sorter of the present invention. It is a test | inspection flowchart of the discrimination | determination sensor test | inspection means of this invention. It is a test | inspection flowchart of the signal transmission test | inspection means of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is merely an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a side view of a color sorter according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a sorting mechanism portion of the color sorter according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the color sorter 1 according to the present invention includes a supply cylinder 2, a feeder 3, a chute 4, a color discrimination sensor 5a, a foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b, an objective illumination 6, and a background illumination 7. , Background 8, protective material 9, cleaning member 10, air injection device 11, separation hopper 12, non-defective product port 13, defective product port 14, abnormality inspection unit 15, discrimination sensor inspection unit 16, signal transmission inspection unit 17, operation control It comprises means 18, electromagnetic valve control means 19 and the like.

A compressed air injection port 20 is provided on the front surface of the air injection device 11, and a compressed air supply pipe 21 for supplying compressed air to the air injection device 11 is connected to the rear surface. An electromagnetic valve 22 for injecting the compressed air supplied into the air injection device 11 from the compressed air injection port 20 is provided on the back surface of the compressed air injection port 20.
The air injection device 11 is fixed by a support member 23, and a vibration sensor 24 is installed on the support member 23.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which the air injection device used in the color sorter of the present invention is viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 3, the air injection device 11 is provided with 90 compressed air injection ports 20 in one unit, and a vibration sensor 24 is installed on the support member 23 of the air injection device 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the abnormality inspecting unit 15 includes an operation control unit 18, a vibration sensor 24, an amplifier 25, and an A / D converter 26 as main components.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the discrimination sensor inspection means 16 includes a color discrimination sensor 5a, a foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b, a protective material 9, a cleaning member 10, and a solenoid valve control means 19 as main components.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, one color discrimination sensor 5a is installed in the center on the back side of the color sorter 1, and two foreign matter discrimination sensors 5b are installed so as to sandwich the center color discrimination sensor 5a. Has been. One color discrimination sensor 5a is installed on the front side of the color sorter.

  The front of the lens 27 of the discrimination sensor 5 is protected by a protective material 9 made of glass, and the protective material 9 is provided with a cleaning member 10 for cleaning and moving the surface.

  The electromagnetic valve control means 19 includes a binarizing converter 28, a buffer 29, and a processing means 30 as main components. The buffer 29 is connected to the operation control means 18, and the processing means 30 is connected to the electromagnetic valve 22 through the drive substrate 31.

The signal transmission inspection means 17 includes an A / D converter 26 and a hall element sensor 32 as main components. Here, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the Hall element sensor, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the Hall element sensor used in the color sorter of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the Hall element sensor 32 is installed such that a magnetic field is applied in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which a current flows through the wiring 33 connecting the electromagnetic valve control means 19 and the electromagnetic valve 22. The hall element sensor 32 is connected to the operation control means 18 through the A / D converter 26 by the wiring 34.

Below, the basic operation | movement of the color sorter | selector 1 in this Embodiment is demonstrated.
First, the flow rate of the sorting object 35 supplied to the feeder 3 from the supply cylinder 2 provided at the lower end of a hopper (not shown) is adjusted by the feeder 3 and is flowed down to the chute 4 by orderly feeding.

  Next, the object to be sorted 35 flowing down while accelerating the chute 4 is irradiated with light by the objective illumination 6, and the light transmitted or reflected through the object to be sorted 35 is read by the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b. .

Here, in the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b, the light of the object to be sorted 35 is based on the light transmittance, reflectance, light quantity, etc., when the background 8 is irradiated with the background illumination 7 in advance. When the transmittance, reflectance, light amount, etc. are within a certain range, it is determined as a non-defective product 35 a and is allowed to flow down to the good product port 13 in the separation hopper 12.
On the other hand, when the light transmittance, reflectance, light quantity, etc. of the object to be sorted 35 are out of a certain range, it is determined as a defective product 35b and air is injected from the air injection device 11 to in the separation hopper 12. It flows down to the defective product port 14.

Next, the operation of the abnormality inspection means 16 in the present embodiment will be described.
Before or during the sorting operation, the operation control means 18 moves the cleaning member 10 so as to correspond to each of the ejection ports, and each element of the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b (not shown). Artificially change the amount of light captured by.

At this time, the binarizing converter 28 in the electromagnetic valve control means 19 is operated by the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b. Are compared with the discrimination area for sorting out, and it is determined that the defective product 35b has flowed down.
Then, the judgment results of the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b are aggregated in the processing means 30, and when any one of the discrimination sensors judges that the defective product 35b has flowed down, the processing means 30 moves to the drive substrate 31. A valve opening signal of the compressed air injection port 20 corresponding to the element whose light quantity has changed is transmitted.
Thereafter, the voltage required to open and close the electromagnetic valve 22 in the drive substrate 31 is adjusted, a predetermined voltage is sent to the electromagnetic valve 22, and compressed air is injected from the compressed air injection port 20.

  Here, when compressed air is injected, vibration generated from the air injection device 11 is measured by the vibration sensor 24, amplified by the amplifier 25, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 26, and operation control means. 18 is analyzed.

At this time, if there is a passage failure of the compressed air in the air injection device 11 or the compressed air injection port 20, the vibration generated from the air injection device 11 changes, and the peak of the voltage value or current value is generated. The value becomes lower.
Therefore, the operation control means 18 compares the acquired peak value of the voltage value or current value with a threshold value stored in advance, and when it is detected that the peak value is less than or equal to the threshold value. Judge as abnormal.

  If the operation control means 18 determines that there is an abnormality, the operation control means 18 controls the sorting operation such as displaying on the monitor screen and stopping the vibration of the feeder.

FIG. 6 is an inspection flow chart of the abnormality inspection means of the present invention, and shows the flow of determination performed in the operation control means 18 in more detail.
First, in step 1 of FIG. 6, a compressed air injection port 20 to be inspected is set from among the compressed air injection ports 20 of the air injection device 11.
Next, by moving the cleaning member 10 in step 2, the light quantity of the elements of the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b corresponding to the compressed air injection port 20 to be inspected is artificially changed, and the inspecting compression is performed. Compressed air is injected from the air injection port 20.
Next, in step 3, the stabilization of the peak value (digital signal) of the voltage value or current value measured by the vibration sensor 24 is performed.
Next, in step 4, a stable peak value (digital signal) of the voltage value or current value is acquired.
Next, in step 5, the injection of compressed air from the compressed air injection port 20 is stopped.
Next, in step 6, the peak value (digital signal) of the voltage value or current value acquired in step 4 is compared with the threshold value, and the peak value (digital signal) of the voltage value or current value is equal to or less than the threshold value. Is determined to be abnormal.
Next, it is checked whether or not all the compressed air injection ports 20 have been inspected due to the completion of step 6 in step 7, and if the inspection has been completed, the process proceeds to step 8; In step 9, the next compressed air injection port 20 is inspected.
Finally, the monitor screen 36 displays that the compressed air injection port 20 determined to be abnormal in step 8 is an abnormal injection from the compressed air injection port 20.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a monitor screen showing the inspection result of the color sorter of the present invention. Since the air injection device 11 of the present embodiment has 90 compressed air injection ports 20 in one unit, the respective injection port indications 37 in the monitor screen 36 are displayed for the compressed air injection ports 20 determined to be abnormal. It will change to yellow.

Next, the operation of the discrimination sensor inspection means 17 in this embodiment will be described.
Before or during the sorting operation, the operation control means 18 moves the cleaning member 10 to artificially change the amount of light captured by each element of the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b.

In the binarization converter 28, a discrimination area for sorting the light quantity value detected by each element of the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b and the non-defective product and the defective product stored in advance. And the element corresponding to the compressed air injection port 20 is determined to be abnormal when it is detected that the detected light amount value is out of the determination region.
In the determination in the binarization converter 28, the reliability can be further improved by performing a double check using a plurality of binarization converters 28.

  Information on the elements corresponding to the compressed air injection ports 20 determined to be abnormal is accumulated in the buffer 29, and after the inspection of all the elements of the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b is completed, the operation control means 18 from the buffer 29 is completed. The information stored in is transmitted.

  Based on the transmitted information, the operation control means 18 controls the sorting operation such as displaying on the monitor screen and stopping the vibration of the feeder.

FIG. 8 is an inspection flow chart of the discrimination sensor inspection means of the present invention, and shows the flow of determination performed in the electromagnetic valve control means 19 in more detail.
First, in step 1 of FIG. 8, the buffer 29 in the electromagnetic valve control means 19 is cleared, and the previous inspection result is erased.
Next, in step 2, the amount of light captured by each element of the color discrimination sensor 5a is artificially changed by moving the cleaning member 10 from left to right as viewed from the front of the color sorter 1.
Next, in step 3, the light quantity of each element of the color discrimination sensor 5a is measured.
Next, in step 4, the binarization converter 28 compares the light amount of each element acquired in step 3 with a threshold value. If the light amount of each element is equal to or less than the threshold value, the element corresponding to the compressed air injection port 20 is compared. Is determined to be abnormal.
Next, in step 5, the movement of the cleaning member 10 is stopped.
Next, in step 6, the inspection result is stored in the buffer 29.
Next, the inspection results accumulated in the buffer 29 in step 7 are transmitted from the buffer 29 to the operation control means 18.
Next, the buffer 29 is cleared in step 8, and the inspection results accumulated in steps 2 to 7 are erased.
Next, in step 9, the cleaning member 10 is moved from right to left as viewed from the front of the color sorter 1, thereby artificially changing the amount of light captured by each element of the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b.
Next, in step 10, the light quantity of each element of the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b is measured.
Next, in step 11, the binarization converter 28 compares the light amount of each element acquired in step 10 with a threshold value. If the light amount of each element is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the element corresponding to the compressed air injection port 20. Is determined to be abnormal.
Next, in step 12, the movement of the cleaning member 10 is stopped.
Next, in step 13, the inspection result is stored in the buffer 29.
Next, the inspection result stored in the buffer 29 in step 14 is transmitted from the buffer 29 to the operation control means 18.
Finally, in step 15, based on the inspection results in step 4 and step 11 received by the operation control means 18, the color discrimination sensor 5a or foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b of the compressed air injection port 20 corresponding to the element is abnormal. Is displayed on the monitor screen 36.

  Specifically, each of the injection port indications 37 in the monitor screen 36 of FIG. 7 is determined to be abnormal for the foreign matter determination sensor 5b, such as green for the compressed air injection port 20 determined to be abnormal for the color determination sensor 5a. The compressed air injection port 20 changes color to blue or the like.

  In this embodiment, the discrimination sensor inspection means 17 is operated before or during the sorting operation. However, it can also be operated during the sorting operation as necessary.

Finally, the operation of the signal transmission inspection means 17 in the present embodiment will be described.
As described above, when a valve opening / closing signal is transmitted from the electromagnetic valve control means 19 to the electromagnetic valve 22, the Hall element sensor 32 generates a voltage or current in a direction perpendicular to both the current direction and the magnetic field direction.

  The voltage or current generated from the Hall element sensor 32 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 26 and sent to the operation control means 18 through the wiring 34.

At this time, when a transmission abnormality has occurred in the valve opening / closing signal transmitted from the electromagnetic valve control means 19 to the electromagnetic valve 22, the peak value of the voltage value or current value generated from the Hall element sensor 28 becomes low.
Therefore, the operation control means 18 compares the peak value of the voltage value or current value generated from the Hall element sensor 28 with the threshold value stored in advance, and detects that the peak value is below the threshold value. If it is determined to be abnormal.

  If the operation control means 18 determines that there is an abnormality, the operation control means 18 controls the sorting operation such as displaying on the monitor screen and stopping the vibration of the feeder.

FIG. 9 is an inspection flow chart of the signal transmission inspection means of the present invention, and shows the flow of determination performed in the operation control means 18 in more detail.
First, in step 1 of FIG. 9, the compressed air injection port 20 to be inspected is set from the compressed air injection ports 20 of the air injection device 11.
Next, by moving the cleaning member 10 in step 2, the light quantity of the elements of the color discrimination sensor 5a and the foreign matter discrimination sensor 5b corresponding to the compressed air injection port 20 to be inspected is artificially changed, and the inspecting compression is performed. Compressed air is injected from the air injection port 20. That is, a necessary voltage is transmitted from the solenoid valve control means 19 to the solenoid valve 22 via the drive board 32.
Next, in step 3, the stabilization of the peak value (digital signal) of the voltage value or current value measured by the Hall element sensor 28 is performed.
Next, in step 4, a stable peak value (digital signal) of the voltage value or current value is acquired.
Next, in step 5, the injection of compressed air from the compressed air injection port 20 is stopped. That is, power transmission from the electromagnetic valve control means 19 to the electromagnetic valve 22 is stopped.
Next, in step 6, the peak value (digital signal) of the voltage value or current value acquired in step 4 is compared with the threshold value, and the peak value (digital signal) of the voltage value or current value is equal to or less than the threshold value. Is determined to be abnormal.
Next, it is checked whether or not all the compressed air injection ports 20 have been inspected due to the completion of step 6 in step 7, and if the inspection has been completed, the process proceeds to step 8; In step 9, the next compressed air injection port 20 is inspected.
Finally, the fact that the compressed air injection port 20 determined to be abnormal in step 8 is abnormal in transmission of the control signal from the electromagnetic valve control means 19 to the electromagnetic valve 22 is displayed on the monitor screen 36.

  Specifically, for the compressed air injection port 20 that has been determined to be abnormal in signal transmission, each injection port display 37 in the monitor screen 36 of FIG. 7 changes to red or the like.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for abnormality inspection of a sorting facility of a color sorter that sorts and removes defective products such as different color particles contained in granular materials such as grains, plastics and medicines.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color sorter 2 Supply cylinder 3 Feeder 4 Chute 5 Discrimination sensor 6 Objective illumination 7 Background illumination 8 Background 9 Protective material 10 Cleaning member 11 Air injection device 12 Separation hopper 13 Good product mouth 14 Defective product mouth 15 Abnormality inspection means 16 Discrimination sensor inspection means 17 Signal transmission inspection means 18 Operation control means 19 Electromagnetic valve control means 20 Compressed air injection port 21 Compressed air supply pipe 22 Electromagnetic valve 23 Support member 24 Vibration sensor

Claims (10)

A feeder for sending out the items to be sorted;
A supply cylinder for supplying the material to be sorted to the feeder;
A chute for flowing down the object to be sorted sent out from the feeder;
A discrimination sensor provided at the lower end of the chute;
An air injection device provided with an air injection port and a valve for injecting air to select defective products;
In a color sorter provided with valve control means for controlling the opening and closing of the valve based on the discrimination result of the discrimination sensor,
A color sorter comprising an abnormality inspection means for inspecting an operation abnormality of the air injection device. In the abnormality inspection means,
The color sorter according to claim 1, wherein a vibration sensor or a sound sensor is used. In the abnormality inspection means,
The color sorter according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a discrimination sensor inspection unit that inspects that normal light amount change information is transmitted from the discrimination sensor to the valve control unit. . The discrimination sensor inspection means is
A camera,
A shielding material for shielding the front of the camera;
By the shielding material shielding each element of the camera,
The color sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein whether or not each valve corresponding to each element is controlled to be opened and closed by the valve control means. The shielding material is
The color sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the color sorter is a cleaning member that moves and cleans the lens of the camera or a protective material for protecting the lens. In the abnormality inspection means,
6. The color sorter according to claim 1, further comprising signal transmission inspection means for inspecting that an opening / closing control signal is transmitted from the valve control means to the valve. . In the signal transmission inspection means,
The color sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a magnetic sensor is used. The abnormality inspection means is
A peak value of a voltage value or a current value acquired by the vibration sensor or the sound sensor;
Compare with the pre-stored threshold,
When it is detected that the peak value is less than or equal to the threshold value,
An operation control method for a color sorter characterized by controlling sorting operation. The discrimination sensor inspection means is
It has the shielding material that shields the front surface of the discrimination sensor,
The light quantity value acquired by the discrimination sensor when shielded by the shielding material,
When it is detected that it is out of the discrimination area for discriminating between the non-defective product and the defective product stored in advance,
An operation control method for a color sorter characterized by controlling sorting operation. The signal transmission inspection means is
A peak value of a voltage value or a current value acquired by the magnetic sensor;
Compare with the pre-stored threshold,
When it is detected that the peak value is less than or equal to the threshold value,
An operation control method for a color sorter characterized by controlling sorting operation.

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